Non-Fault Failure

Posted on Thu Sep 5th, 2024 @ 3:51pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Commander Emergency Medical Hologram & Petty Officer 1st Class Kipp Lak & Commander Siora Carberos

2,187 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Firebird /DS 18
Timeline: Interlude

[ON]

Malcom sat in his Ready Room, waiting for the whole scenario to unfold. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He knew that, depending on how things went, he would have to have a conversation With Chief Harlan, and he was not looking forward to that.

"Captain Llwyedd, that is no way for a commanding officer to sit. It will simply give you neck pain that will require medical assistance at some point."

Malcom opened his eyes to see the familiar form of the Emergency Medical Hologram. He sat forward.

"Thank you, Doctor," Malcom said. "Your wisdom in all things medical is as impressive as it is needed. Please, sit down."

The EMH's eyes narrowed but ultimately took the compliment in stride and sat down in the offered chair. "I'm surprise, sir, that you don't have Commander Kataxes here for this discussion," the EMH said with slight smirk.

"Yes the CMO is quite busy handling numerous patients on multiple ships. Apparently there's an outbreak of Jileliep Fever on one of the Bajoran ships."

The EMH leaned forward. Jileliep Fever is quite dangerous and requires careful handling of those infected. Maybe after I finish here I should go and... assist doctor Kataxes."

Malcom held up a hand. "I don't think that's necessary. Additionally, I will have more for you to do. Now, tell me, what did you find out on the case I assigned to you?"

The EMH nodded. "Sir, I have reviewed all pertinent medical cases with similar outcomes. I have also reviewed temporal guidelines to Medical Personnel in these circumstance. My professional medical recommendation is that Chief Arlan Harlan is no longer qualified to continue as the Chief Engineer on the USS Firebird."

"Why?" Malcom asked.

"There are roughly seven hundred thousand entries into temporal aging, reversion and related occurrences. The primary factor in this situation is that, regardless of what our scans show or what people think, there is a non-zero chance that the Arlan Harlan currently with our timeline is not the same one who entered the Gamma Quadrant with us."

"You already told me that his scans match perfectly and his brainwave activities are almost exactly a match," Malcom said. He was trying not to lose his temper. "This all sounds like a bureaucratic technicality."

The EMH nodded. "Oh, I certainly can see why someone who isn't trained in temporal mechanics or medical brainwaves would say that. But the reality is, Captain, that Chief Harlan was affected by an unknown temporal ray that regressed him to his current, younger self. We don't know what side effects still my manifest, any of which could result in a negative outcome. Frankly, just the level of hormones in his body is dangerous enough. Either way, he is a medical and security risk and as such, you must remove him from his position until we are able to transfer him to a more advanced Starfleet facility."

Malcom sat quietly for a moment, trying to come up with a way out of what he had to do. However, even if he didn't understand temporal mechanics or medical brainwaves, he did understand the regulations about officers who represented a security risk. Finally he nodded.

"Thank you, doctor. I appreciate your expertise and your discretion in this matter. You are not to discuss this with anyone except myself or my successor if I should become incapacitated or deceased," Malcom said.

"Understood, sir," the EMH replied.

"Dismissed," Malcom said and the EMG disappeared.

"Kipp!" Malcom yelled and the door opened immediately, revealing the familiar form of his yeoman.

"Sir?"

"Unfortunately we will need someone to take over as our new Chief Engineer. I need someone experienced. I don't think anyone on the ship will do. Any ideas?" Malcom asked.

Kipp nodded. "I've been keeping track of all the personnel who have arrived at DS18 and organizing them by specialty. I've, well you've, been assigning the quarters and duties on the station to help speed up repairs."

"I'm so industrious," Malcom said dryly.

"You are," Kipp said and then continued. "I believe there is a clear candidate who fits the bill."

"Name?"

"Commander Siora Carberos," Kipp said.

"Alright. Please extend an invitation to Commander Carberos and have them join me at their earliest convenience," Malcom said and then leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

---

DS18 was just one of those stations that felt like home to Siora. She had been around the quadrant many times it felt and every time she set foot on a Starfleet installation it always felt decorated as if to attract someone into a new home.

She was feeling good about this, this change she was looking for. Recently she'd relinquished command of the USS Aristotle, a small science and engineering vessel, after a 4 year research trip in the Covalli system. An odd piece of technology was found but at this time was unexplainable, a mystery.

Making her way to the USS Firebird, as an invite had came her way from its Captain, she had a little skip in her step. Before she knew it she was on board and pressing the chime next to the ready room door.

"Come in," Malcom said and watched the door open to reveal a slender young woman dressed in a crisp Starfleet uniform with Engineering colors. Malcom smiled and stood up.

"Commander Carberos, thank you for coming so quickly. I know that things around DS18 are a bit hectic. Please, have a seat," he said and also sat. "Unfortunately with our connection to the Alpha Quadrant, I don't have very many details about your recent service in Starfleet. Would you be able to fill me in?"

Entering the room she was pleased to be greeted with a smile and the respect of the captain standing. Some officers chose to remain sitting when welcoming officers into their sanctum but it was nice to see someone with manners. "You're welcome, Captain. I was quite surprised by your invite," she commented as she came into the room further, gave a small bow as a sign of respect to him and also a greeting, before sitting down in front of him.

"Of course," Siora added as she was asked about her service record. Usually, it was better coming from someone's mouth, a screen could be so dry. "I've been involved with Starfleet for 35-36 years now or so." she scrunched up her nose as she thought. "First I was a civilian engineer advising on Borg related defences and technologies. I was granted a commission in 2382 and again assisted in the development of technologies both offensive and defensive whilst working with the Starfleet Corps of Engineers at Starbase One and in San Francisco, a beautiful place." she smiled as her mind drifted to days spent in the sun. "I commanded an engineering/science vessel, the USS Aristotle, on a 4-year research mission to the Covalli system to investigate their premature supernova. That assignment ended recently and I was visiting DS18 whilst considering what to do next."

She often got comments that no-one fully believed she had spent 35 years in Starfleet and looked the way she did. People usually forgot to check the species marker in files as well as her ripe old age.

Malcom listened intently as the Commander summarized her experience. He wasn't surprised by the longevity of her career or by the variety of her experience. Malcom might be overworked but he always knew the details of the people he interacted with. Mostly thanks to the work of his yeoman.

"I remember hearing about the Aristotle's mission. It was shortly before I took command of the Firebird actually. I wonder why you chose to give up command. You clearly are a capable officer and you did one of the hardest things a starship Captain has to do. Finish the mission. Why not take on a new challenge with the Aristotle?" Malcom asked.

"This is just a different type of command," Siora replied. "I still have people working under me, supervision of staff, etc, but I know you mean a command position," she added. "To be honest, I'm in no rush. I'm 285 and have plenty of life to live. My mission was to solve that riddle. I completed the mission but didn't quite solve the mystery. Taking a step back gives me time, and I wanted to focus on new challenges. Also, I find that when there is less pressure on someone they relax and can see things better by taking that step back."

Malcom smiled. It sounded like Commander Carberos was an answer to his pressing problem.

"Commander, as you are aware, the wormhole is closed. I had my science team investigating the matter and now most of them have disappeared as well. To make matters worse, I've got ships piling up that were in the Gamma Quadrant and planning to return home but are now stuck here. Oh, and I have a half-built, half-destroyed space station to take care of because, for better or worse, I'm the ranking officer in the quadrant," Malcom said. He paused to let the torrent of words sink in.

"Frankly, I need someone like you right now. Your expertise is invaluable. I propose to name you the Chief Engineer of the Firebird with additional duties as project manager of the repairs of DS18. It's not a small job. I won't force it on you but I would be glad to have you on my team. What do you think?"

Siora pushed her hand through her hair along the side of her face tucking it behind her ear as she did so. The pink highlights were not entirely Starfleet-approved but she was unorthodox in personality and liked to stand out in appearance.

"Yes, the closure of the wormhole did give those that are on DS18 a bit of a scare," Siora stated. Being with limited lifespans often panicked when cut off from quick routes to home, or even whilst travelling elsewhere. "People talk to me, price of being a Listener I suppose but as the wormhole is closed it would seem to me that people need a beacon, somewhere to focus themselves." she began to think out loud. "If we focus on the reconstruction of DS18, get those that are 'stuck' here something to do it should alleviate rising tensions and give people a common goal. Also, if we don't get that wormhole back open then we are all stuck here and will need a base of some sort." she shrugged.

"Sounds like a thrilling challenge to me." Siora almost beamed.

It was odd given the dire straits they were in but she was always a glass-half-full kind of gal to use a Human expression.

"Sign me up," Siora added slapping the table lightly with one hand.

"I'm glad to hear it," he said and stood once more, motioning for her to do the same.

"Computer, begin recording. I, Captain Malcom Llywedd, do hereby appoint Commander Siora Carberos as Chief Engineer of the USS Firebird until such time as contact is restored and Starfleet Command can confirm or deny a permanent post. Commander Carberos is hereby added to all Command Staff level clearances, authorization Llwyedd Seven Two Alpha Romeo."

<=>Completed<=> The computer intoned a moment later.

Malcom grinned. "Welcome to the ship, Commander. Feel free to schedule meetings with any of your engineers. I would also coordinate with Lieutenant Woodhouse, our Chief of Ops. And I should also warn you about Chief Harlan, the previous chief. During the battle, he was hit with an age regression attack and he's basically a teenager. Our medical staff has declared him temporarily unfit for command positions. It's a really strange situation."

"Thank you, Captain. I'll be sure to liaise with Lieutenant Woodhouse and I'll check in on Chief Harlan. It can't be easy to go through what he is and I always make sure my people know I am there for them." she gave a subconscious nod to that effect. "Temporal events, regressions are tricky stuff. If I was a scientist I could maybe have helped more as my people have great experience in time-related situations," she added quite solemnly.

"One thing at a time, Commander," Malcom said. "Much like your Aristotle, Firebird is a small ship and every one of my crew is like family. I will always give you my full support. Get settled in and then get to work. If you need me, contact Kipp and he will get us in a room somewhere. Dismissed," Malcom said with a smile.

"Of course sir." Siora dipped her head in agreement. "And thank you," she added with a quick snap to before turning and leaving the ready room. Guess her time off would have to wait.

[OFF]

Captain Malcom Llwyedd
Commanding Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Commander Siora Carberos
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Commander Siora Carberos
Chief Engineer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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