The Symposium on Emergency Medicine In Hostile Environments was long, mildly informative, and exceedingly boring. Kreed was diligent, though; attending the presentations, speaking with colleagues, putting in the requisite face time with those whose medical abilities he wouldn’t put up against a tribble for fear of the tribble embarrassing them. He nodded at the right times, laughed on cue, and did everything he had been taught to do while going through the publicity tour after his… ‘event’. Even now, several years later, the questions still came into conversation. ‘Did you really save all those people?’ ‘Did you really spend days crushed in a ship maintenance tube?’ Did you really-’ and on and on. ‘It was a team effort.’ he would say in answer to the first (and he truly believed that). ‘I did, but I was unconscious for most of it.’. ‘Yes, I did-’ and on and on he would answer. He was dutiful to the public perception, but truth be told he simply wanted to learn about the advancements on how to deal with an open wound in a toxic environment without compromising the injured subject. It’s not that he minded the attention. He didn’t. He just didn’t really see himself as a hero… no matter what the vids and screamsheets said. So, for the past four days, he had slept in a nice hotel and tried to focus on the work; and let the rest simply fall off his thoughts once he was in his room.

As he was preparing for the night’s banquet, his communicator chirped. [o] Lieutenant Kreed. [o] he said after flipping the device open. [o] Lieutenant, this is Ensign Cartwright in Admiral Jels office. I wanted to let you know that the Admiral has approved your request. You are officially the new Chief Medical Officer of the USS Sentinel. [o] Kreed sighed softly in relief. [o] Thank you, Ensign. When do I report? [o} [o] Immediately. The Sentinel is docked awaiting orders, and your orders have been sent directly to the Commanding officer. Good luck, Lieutenant. [o] [o]Thank you. Kreed out. [c] He paused for a moment and then smiled. He then began to change form the dress uniform to his working one.

Kreed, CMO