Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Point of No Return
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Noelle had felt under the weather for about a week, she forced herself to get up and make her duty shift and would collapse into her bed each night. Finally she knew that she could no longer fulfill her duties. It was with only sheer will power that she made her way to the Captain’s Ready Room and rang the chime.

After another mission in which the situation had been critical and the odds were against them, Glen was enjoying some well deserved down time. At the sound of the chime, he called, “Come in!”

Noelle stepped through the door, looking like death warmed over and hadn’t slept in days if not weeks, she held onto the door frame as she stepped into his office “Captain, the time has…come..” She stammered, her voice barely above a whisper and looking like she was about to collapse in front of him.

Glen immediately stood up, and he attempted to race around to the front of his desk in order to pull out a chair for her. He was shocked at how unwell she looked, but even so, she was still faster than Glen.

“Oh! Shouldn’t you be on a biobed in Sickbay?” he asked. There were plenty of good doctors and other medical staff aboard the Merrimack. He was a little concerned that her healthcare on his vessel was not up to the standards he would expect. Patient safely ought to be the highest priority. How could Miriam and Marthese allow people so sick to roam the ship without being monitored? He determined that he would launch an immediate review into nurse staffing levels, education and the work environment. He would make sure that lessons would be learned.

“At the very least you need a carer for the periods when your illness deteriorates,” said Glen. “…and we need to look after all your emotional, social, practical, psychological, and spiritual needs, in addition to the medical needs. I’m sorry. I thought this had already been arranged for you, but it appears that we have been somewhat lacking. My only excuse is that things have been a little hectic aboard recently with several missions that were touch and go whether we would return or not.”

“One change that I have made for you already was to remove your workload. I have given you the ceremonial position of Physician-in-Chief and I intend to promote someone else to Chief Medical Officer. So, you retain your rank and remain a patron of the medical department, but you no longer have any day to day duties to perform.”

“And while you tried to keep your illness a secret, I’m afraid that it is my duty to know everything about the crew and officers under my command,” added Glen.

Glen, CO

NOelle nodded “Thank you Captain. I think that I need to take a leave of absence and return home for a period of time. Marthese is doing a fine job of running sickbay. I just need time to rest and heal.” She said “If I am able in a few months, I would like to return and continue as Physician in Chief, with your permission sir.” Noelle said quietly, not wanting to admit defeat, yet knowing that she couldn’t remain on the ship in her current state.

CMO