Task Force: Gamma

Marek · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:25 am Post subject:

Croft heard the Commander, closing his eyes to the screams. "Concentrate." Croft felt the fear inside himself growing, and for a moment began to panic. He focused all of his will on the same drive that drove all his endeavors, anger. The white hot, sometimes all encompassing anger that was normal focused on one point. Now he directed it at the force of will that had assumed control of his body. At first, nothing happened, he could hear the Borg approaching. The screams of his long dead fiance had finally stopped. Then slowly, everything faded. The last thing to fade was the touch of Qech as she gripped his shoulders. Her mind faded to it's normal feeling, mostly emotion, as Croft felt himself return to consciousness. The first thing he noticed was the pain, the torture his body had been put through combined with the pain of thousands of voices. Croft focused on his anger, keeping himself from retreating into his mind. He opened his eyes, to see Calodan screaming in agony. Part of Croft, part of them, wanted to join in. Croft slowly stood, his strained muscles and tendons screaming in protest. He slowly raised a hand towards Calodan, his blood rushing through his veins. CALODAN! JIM! CAN YOU HEAR ME?
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Captain David Brennon · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject:

ACTION

The feedback from the enhanced energy output of the force field was too much for Them to bear. Calodan's body fell into unconsciousness, leaving Lieutenant zh'Rel in the cell alone, as well as ensuring the Captain wouldn't have to launch his friend into the void of deep space.

A matter of hours later, the Hartington arrived at a space station drilled out of a rogue asteroid. Once transported over, the Edenite doctors had little trouble removing the parasites from the unconscious human members of the away team. Lieutenant zh'Rel showed no sign of infection, her Andorian physiology having successfully combated the aliens. Lieutenants Croft and Calodan and Commander Qech were different stories entirely...

***

Location: Inside a secured medical ward, Edenite Medical Facility

Captain Brennon stepped looked out beyond the medical containment field at his three officers laying unconscious beyond. His thoughts turned back to the war, seeing young men and women from dozens of worlds laying helpless, just like his friends, dying on alien worlds far from home, just like his friends... Not this time.

"Captain," the voice of the Edenite doctor rang in the brightly lit white room, "We need to begin soon, sir, if we are going to have any chance at combating the pathogen."

Another command decision... god I hope this is the right thing to do.

"Do it."

***

The first thing that Davynn Bethel realized as she returned to the waking world, was that all she knew was pain. Sore muscles, a few broken ribs and the worst headache she had ever experienced.

The second thing that Davynn Bethel realized upon waking, after the first wave of pain passed was that she called herself "Davynn Bethel".

Something wasn't right.

As she thought harder, memories became clearer... the Hartington, the Away Mission to the freighter... Qech!

A smiling figure came into view, urging calm with his soothing voice.

"Calm down, Davynn, we're trying to help you."

Her vision clearing as she looked around, Davynn could see though the brightness of the clean room, out past a window. Standing there, watching her with compassion -- and no small amount of pain -- set in his eyes, was her Captain.

"About time you woke up, Commander."
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

What sounded like a coursing wind rushed passed her ears as Davynn fought to maintain her hold on Xavier's shoulders. He was pulling them back toward the faces, back toward Calodan. But something was pulling her back, away from Croft. She fought against it, but found the faces were fading into the distance along with her friend. A sharp blast of pain hit her as she woke up in the clean room.

She knew nothing but confusion and pain. Where am I? What's happening?

Davynn fought to sit up as recent memories came flooding back to her, but nothing from her past lives. With a twinge of fear she realized that, for the first time in almost 2 years, she was utterly alone in her mind. It was a terrible feeling.

"Calm down, Davynn, we're trying to help you."

She looked up toward the window when she heard the familiar voice. Her breathing was quick and heavy as her mind fought to retrieve memories that were no longer accessible to her, and Davynn Bethel found that she felt even more disoriented than she had when she'd woken up from her joining. Receiving a new identity, and having one ripped from you were clearly two very different experiences.

She stared at the glass for a moment, looking back at the Captain, unsure of how to respond to his attempt to calm her down.

"About time you woke up, Commander."

She placed a hand to her head, looking up at her Commanding Officer with terrified eyes. If she'd had a thought to spare outside of her worry, she would have feigned her usual calm. No one, especially the Captain, should ever have seen her like this; but that sort of control was not a luxury she had at the moment.

When she finally spoke, her voice sounded panicked and small...

"...The symbiont..."
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Captain David Brennon · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:36 pm Post subject:

Location: Inside a secured medical ward, Edenite Medical Facility

Brennon quickly put his hands up in a defensive manner, responding quickly in an attempt to sooth her fears.

"Is alright. You've been given a telepathic inhibitor, it was the only way to break you out of the mental link with Lieutenant Croft. We need your help, Commander. You, Xavier and Jim are not well... the Edenites don't know enough about Trill or Betazoid physiology to remove the parasites from your systems and Doctor Kiv's knowledge is only in the classroom... You're the only doctor we have that knows enough about your own physiology, Davynn. Kiv could help save Croft, but you and Jim... It's time to go to work, Doctor."

Nearby, an Edenite doctor stood waiting for Davynn. She couldn't remember him standing there before and, most curiously, he was completely exposed, not wearing so much as a face mask, let alone an isolation suit. He bowed his head as he stepped forward and he introduced himself.

"I am Doctor Ortega, I'll be assisting you." Ortega held up a hypo, extending it towards Davynn, slowly. "If you'll allow me, Doctor, I can administer an injection that will slow the progress of the parasites. We've already given you one injection with your Captain's approval, your ship's physician assured him that it was quite safe... if you'd like I can provide you with details on what it is."
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uvek · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:52 pm Post subject:

Uvek paced the bridge of the Hartington. He did not like this, not a bit. No understanding of the infection, nor how to avoid it in the future left them vulnerable in his view, and his history balked at that idea. The lieutenant was a man who liked to be in control, who liked information and not having it irked him.

He ordered Drake and Solana to increase their sensor sweeps of the planet and any ships within range. Short of that, he considered having the Prefect join him onboard so as to 'pick his brain', as the humans say. Another facet of this trip was Phell's oversight of the bridge console alert. Anyone could make a mistake, Uvek knew, but there was a level of concentration and perfection-seeking that caused the Benzite officer to put several crewmen, perhaps the entire ship, at risk. To correct that issue, Uvek momentarily relieved Phell of duty and ordered him to undergo Bridge Officer training upgrades for the next two weeks. Mr. Smith now stood at tactical with the Romulan, and was working the boards with studious awareness and professionalism.

"Any change in the Prefect's fleet, Mr. Smith?" he asked, already knowing there was not, but struggling with a lack of focus.
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Live a life of action...not reaction.

Marek · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:14 pm Post subject:

Croft felt like his head had been filled with mud, hot mud. He thought he had regained control of his body, but had quickly ended up back in the gray fog place. Then he had lost consciousness. Now he was slowly aware of himself again, but something was terrible wrong. His mind was sluggish, he couldn't sense anything, no emotions, no thoughts. He slowly became aware of his body, realizing with a relief that he was in control, at least at the moment. He tried opening his eyes, but the brightness of the light was like an ice pick to his brain. This is worse than the worst hangover I have ever had
He flexed his hands, moved his arms slightly, then his legs, trying to judge how bad of condition he was in. Every movement caused a scream of protest from a strained muscle. He finally just gave up and laid flat, hoping that someone was making progress somewhere, he knew he wasn't going to accomplish anything.
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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject:

Arjim awoke from what felt like the worst nightmare he had ever had. He could hear people talking near him, voices he thought might be the captain, but when he opened his eyes to look everything was just a blur of light. At least he could breathe better, the black gunk seemed to be gone.

Something wasn't right though. He felt..lonely. He was too groggy to place his finger on it but something was definitely wrong. Beyond just physical pains..something wasn't right. He tried to speak, to ask out for someone's help but all he managed was a groan. He opened his eyes and tried to shield them with his right hand, but it was swathed in bandages. What had been going on?
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

"Is alright. You've been given a telepathic inhibitor, it was the only way to break you out of the mental link with Lieutenant Croft. We need your help, Commander. You, Xavier and Jim are not well... the Edenites don't know enough about Trill or Betazoid physiology to remove the parasites from your systems and Doctor Kiv's knowledge is only in the classroom... You're the only doctor we have that knows enough about your own physiology, Davynn. Kiv could help save Croft, but you and Jim... It's time to go to work, Doctor."

The Commander took in the Captain's words, feeling relieved that the effects of being severed from Qech were only temporary. While still slightly disoriented and more than a little sore, the Trill lowered herself from the cot and stood up slowly. So, she wasn't Davynn Qech right now. Thankfully, Davynn Bethel was the only person she needed to be right now.

Her confusion and fear apparently having slipped away, she nodded to the Captain, a look of renewed determination on her face. No other words were needed, and she knew that. He knew that she would lend every once of strength she had to help, or die trying.

"I am Doctor Ortega, I'll be assisting you. If you'll allow me, Doctor, I can administer an injection that will slow the progress of the parasites. We've already given you one injection with your Captain's approval, your ship's physician assured him that it was quite safe... if you'd like I can provide you with details on what it is."

Davynn took the hypo and nodded to Doctor Ortega, turning away from the window where the Captain still stood. "I would like to see the specifications on it, yes. Though I trust Dr. Kiv's word implicitly I think any information on how you combat this virus on humans would be a good starting point."

She followed him to what looked like a very well stocked lab, and a very clean one at that, and expounded on what she would need along the way.

"If I could get the before and after scans of the human members of the Hartington crew, as well as those for Lieutenants Calodan and Croft I can start an overall comparison. I'd particularly like to see some detailed brain scans. From what I've seen the Virus seems particularly fond of the telepathic mind." She saw the other doctor diligently making a checklist with one hand, and preparing the hypospray with the other, and made a note of his obvious efficiency.

"And Doctor, if you'd be so kind as to take a blood sample from me while you're at it. I'm going to need a sample."

When Ortega approached her again, hypospray in hand, Davynn rolled up her sleeves both literally and figuratively.
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Cory Drake · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:58 am Post subject:

Lt. Cory Drake
USS Hartington
Bridge

Drake sat at the science station with Solana, sitting in silence as the two increased their sensor sweeps as ordered by Uvek. It had been a long few days for the entire crew, but no one was complaining because they were all there to help their fellow crew.

"Let's move on to the next sector, Solana," Drake said, pointing to a grid on the monitor in the front of them. "Then we'll do another one of the planet."
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Captain David Brennon · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject:

Location: Inside a secured medical ward, Edenite Medical Facility

The Captain nodded as the two doctors began their work. Brennon prepared to depart, but first spoke through the containment field to his First Officer.

"I'm going to go back to Hartington. Doctor Kiv will be available to assist you both as needed, but for the time being she'll remain on the ship, monitoring the others. If you need anything Davynn, anything at all, just call."

With that, the Captain turned and left.

***

Inside the containment field, Doctor Ortega set down the hypo and lifted up a PADD, handing it to the Trill.

"This is the chemical data on the injection, it will act as a blocker for the parasites, keeping them from accessing any of your motor functions. We had to guess at some of your physiological data, the injections have been strictly calculated for Humans, Augments and Hybrids -- that is to say Human-Augment Hybrids, not Human-Alien Hybrids, we've never had to administer this kind of aid to an alien before."

As she took the PADD, Ortega drew a vial of blood from her arm, set it aside and lifted another PADD.

"Our scans of your crewmen have been typical of our results, regarding the humans at least. The two Human-Alien Hybrids are quite unusual, as are you, Doctor. Our scientists have been combating this plague for decades, and with your help altering the injections to work on alien physiology should be a simple matter. Let's start with the basic DNA data..."

What followed was a crash course in Edenite medicine and the information available on the parasites. It seemed to the Edenites that these aliens resided in deep space, on asteroids and moons uninhabited by humanoid life. With the introduction of Edenite mining on their homes, the parasites took to defending themselves. The humans carried them away and all they seemed to want was to return... unfortunately for the hosts they usually don't survive the removal of the parasites in a natural manner.

"From what we can tell, as the parasites leave the body, they corrupt the base DNA in the nervous system. I've always believed that it was unintentional, but the outcome is always the same. Death of the host. We've developed a treatment that releases the bonds between parasite and host, but with the side effect of killing the parasites."

Ortega took in a breath and sighed, leaning back against the counter. He was clearly disturbed by the effects of the vaccine. Shaking his head he turned back to their work.

"The best we can hope for is to remove the parasites from you and the two Lieutenants, all we need to figure out is how to adjust the vaccine to your physiology."

Nearby, an alarm started calling to the doctors. Looking at the console, Ortega nodded and looked back to Davynn.

"Your friends are waking up."

***

Location: Main Bridge, USS Hartington

Lieutenant Solana nodded and adjusted her sensors as ordered. Her brow cocked ever-so slightly as she did however. She was at a loss as to why they were scanning these open tracts of space. To her credit, she spoke her mind very openly.

"Lieutenant Drake, I am at a loss as to why we are scanning open space. While I do not challenge your authority or command, I would like to know what it is we are looking for."

As the two science officers spoke, the Captain stepped off of the turbolift and back onto the Bridge. He made a B-Line straight for his ready room, slowing down only to issue his orders.

"Mr. Uvek, a moment in the ready room. Lieutenant Drake, you have the bridge."
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uvek · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:36 pm Post subject:

"Mr. Uvek, a moment in the ready room. Lieutenant Drake, you have the bridge."

Uvek nodded to Drake and moved to follow his captain. Things had been slow and there appeared to be no threats. With Chief Smith on the tactical board, Uvek knew things were in good hands.

He stood before the captain at attention and waited for him to speak.
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Live a life of action...not reaction.

Cory Drake · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:14 am Post subject:

Drake nodded and answered the captain as he and Uvek walked into the ready room "Aye Sir."

Drake then turned slightly to face Solana. Funny how the Vulcan didn't know why he wanted scans of open space. "Because, Lieutenant, we were order to keep doing ongoing scans of sectors around us. It may look like there is nothing out there, but you can never be safe. We would stumble upon a cloaked him, a form of the slime stuff flying out there, you never know."

Drake paused, catching himself getting frustrated. It wasn't Solana's fault, he was tired and his holoarm was beginning to ache where the power source was. "We won't do too many scans of open space, just one sector every few hours ... just to be safe, Lieutenant."

Drake was one of those officers that always liked to play it safe, all the way from him elementary school years all the way up to his current year.
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

Davynn listened intently as Dr. Ortega went into his explanations. Of particular interest was his obvious discomfort with having to destroy the parasites to save the host.

Sounds like a decent man she thought to herself. It was good to have something to go on, as she was working with a complete stranger that she could only trust by the Captain's word; not that his word wasn't good enough.

"The best we can hope for is to remove the parasites from you and the two Lieutenants, all we need to figure out is how to adjust the vaccine to your physiology."

Qech looked over the brain scans, hoping something might jump out at her; some clue that would help a theory along. "I don't know" she began, "it seems to me the best you can hope for is saving both parasite and host."

A look of doubt crossed over Ortega's face, but the Trill continued before he could respond.

"You've been working with the same doctors, and the same scientists from the same culture for years. You've obviously made amazing progress and you have some brilliant minds, but with the arrival of the Hartington you have a fresh perspective at your disposal. Why not use it?... Look, I'm not saying that I'll be able to instantly fix what you've been struggling with for years, but if we can tackle to bigger problem, we should."

She flipped to the next screen, a full scan of who she easily recognized as Lieutenant Calodan. She could see the symbiont resting in his abdomen, and the obvious parasite infection that had spread throughout his brain, inhibited only by the injection they had given him.

"Your friends are waking up."

the Commander nodded, looking at the increasing neuron activity in the active scan of his brain. She knew he would realize, as she did, the loss of connection between himself and the symbiont. She knew he'd be confused and afraid, so she approached his cot, trying to force as calming a smile as possible.

"It's alright, Jim. Calodan is still there. It's temporary."

She turned back to Dr. Ortega, who was watching with interest, and felt the need to explain. "I'm sure you've noticed the symbionts. If they're removed, much like your parasites here, we die too. So it's rather natural that realizing the connection is broken we panic a lit-"

Qech broke off her sentence suddenly, her eyes wide in epiphany. "Unless..." she ran to the computer, not stopping to explain herself and opened a com channel to Lieutenant Drake. She was sure he'd be at the science console.

"Lieutenant this is..." she paused, wanting to use her family name, but knowing he would have no idea who she was talking about. "Commander Qech. Send me everything you have on the database about the experimental symbiont removal program on Trill."
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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:20 pm Post subject:

"It's alright, Jim. Calodan is still there. It's temporary."

That explained the confusion he felt. He couldn't feel Calodan...it had been a long while since he felt this alone and helpless. He tried to ask Qech for a status update but his voice just cracked again. As he tried to gather enough moisture in his mouth to speak, something Qech said jumped out at him.

"Send me everything you have on the database about the experimental symbiont removal program on Trill."

He grabbed her arm "NO! That was months ago. I no longer want to lose Calodan..." The effort of speaking and moving exhausted him and he fell back onto the hard cot they had him placed on. He had no idea if he was even coherent enough to be understood at this point. Sleep was so inviting..he could just drift off...NO..she wanted to separate them. He had to stay awake!
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

Before Drake could respond, she heard Calodan yell to her:

"NO! That was months ago. I no longer want to lose Calodan..."

Davynn looked up, understanding what he must have been thinking, and immediately went to his side.

"No, no, Jim... No one is separating you from Calodan. I would never, ever allow anything like that. I just need the information to figure out how to safely extrapolate the parasite infection. It's okay, just rest. I promise, I'm not going to give up, and no one, no one is going to touch the symbiont." She smiled slightly, trying to calm him down. "I'd kick their butts."
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