How the Marines Stole Back Christmas

Posted on Thu Dec 16th, 2021 @ 6:59am by Commander Sthilg & Captain Natacha Patani

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Before the present mission
1485 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Natacha didn't divide the world in to logical and illogical. She didn't have a Vulcan outlook on things. But she did divide things into the two categories of things worth getting excited about and things to let slide.

Natacha had served with marines who absolutely despised going to see a Starfleet doctor. Others would tolerate a doctor, but balk at going to a non-mammalian one.

Natacha had no problem with getting a checkup. Whatever it took to continue being a squared away marine.

And as far as seeing a Starfleet physician who was a Gorn? Natacha had a theory that a non-mammalian physician might be more clinical in their approach to a mammalian patient than their mammalian colleagues would be. It would be approach that Natacha would appreciate more.

But either way, it wasn't something Natacha could get excited about.

With that mind set, Natacha entered sickbay looking for the chief surgeon.

Said cheif surgeon let out a yawn as he poured himself another coffee. Having to organize the next mission and continuing to do his normal job was getting to the old lizard. As the hot liquid poured down his throat he noticed the doors open and the new stranger step through. Downing the last of the coffee he stepped out of his office and approached her giving her a warm smile. " Hello there i'm doctor Sssthilg can i help you?" He inquired.

The smile on the Gorn's face elicited a tilting of Natacha's head from curiosity. She wondered if the smile meant something else entirely in Gorn culture, and if displaying it on a Federation starship was something the doctor had to teach himself in order to better perform her duties. Natacha had had to unlearn/adapt a few of her own learned behaviors from Randeer III.

"Commander Sthlig?" Natacha began, handing the PADD containing her medical records over to the larger being. The formality in Natacha's voice didn't contain the stiffness found in the speech patterns of new recruits or newly commissioned officers. "Captain Patani. I'm here for my 'getting acquainted' physical."

"Of courssse." He stated warmly as he extended his hand. " Welcome to the Ellysssium. Let'sss get you ssseen to." He said as he lead the way to his office.

There was a slight flinch on her part as Natacha placed the PADD in the proffered hand. "Apologies, Commander," the marine said as she followed the doctor to his office. "You will note on my record I suffer from a mild form of haphephobia. I have no problem in combat or training situations, or during sports. But outside those situations..." she shrugged. "I promise it won't interfere with your examination."

" Forgive me my dear. I ssshould have remembered that. " The gorn responded apologetically. " I can asssure you you won't need to be touched. If you'll follow me we can get it ssstarted." He said leading the way to his office. " Any injuriesss or illnessssss sssince your last checkup not on file?" He inquired as he started tapping on his wrist computer.

"Just one," Natacha said, removing her outer tunic as she hopped on an examination bed. The sleeveless tunic underneath allowed Natacha to trace a slightly discolored line on her upper arm. "Humerus fracture coupled with radial nerve damage. I believe you can see the treatment of both was successful. I was assured that there wouldn't be any visible trace of the injury." Natacha paused before adding, "I was deployed on the fourth moon of Sayntni Two when it happened. ISayntni II is a world out on the fringes," Natacha explained. "The doctor stationed there was a civilian who was always complaining that any records he sent in always got lost in transit. So I have no idea if that ever made it into my medical records or not."

The gorn nodded as he typed up his computer. " No no record here. I'll take a look and i can remove the ssscar. Jussst lay back and let we'll get the ssscan underway. "

Natacha nodded and did as she was instructed. Though the discoloration where she had incurred her injuries was barely visible, Natacha would prefer that it was as completely removed as possible. Natacha knew a number of marines who took as much pride in their scars as if they were ribbons on their uniform. Natacha, though, had grown up in a society where too much scarring brought one's genetic viability into question.

The gorn started up the scanner as he stepped behind his desk and picked up a black leather bag with KDF in faded white letters clearly indicating it had seen many years of service. Pulling out a medical tool that looked like it was from the era of Kirk he took a seat next to her. " Jussst hold ssstill and i can get thisss fixed." He said his white eyes looking at the scar.

Natacha nodded and closed her eyes, relaxing her body.

The gorn switched on the regenerator and slowly moved it along the scar making sure to never touch the new marine. " Ssso how did thisss happen he inquired?"

"A holiday festival gone awry," Natacha began. "I was assigned as head of the security detail to the Federation mission on the fourth moon of Sayntni Two." Natacha paused, as she mused. "The word for moon in the local language is Colas, so I suppose the proper designation for the moon would be Sayntni Colas Two Four."

"There are two sentient species on the moon," Natacha continued, "The Huus and the Green-chas. The Huus are humanoid in appearance and are on the cusp of developing warp travel. The Green-chas are larger, primitive, green furred humanoids who live in semi-tribal groups in the mountains. For some undiscernible reason, the Green-chas take exception to one of the Huus' festivals. One of the bigger Green-chas organized a raid on a storehouse containing festival supplies, somehow circumventing the Huus' advanced security system."

"I led a recovery mission, using primitive weaponry so as not to violate the Prime Directive," Natacha explained. "In the end, I defeated the chief Green-cha to recover the festival supplies."

"But that was only a temporary solution," Natacha continued. "The real solution was provided by Brother Seuss, a leader of a Huus' religious-scientific order. Brother Seuss invited the Green-chas down to participate in the festival. In addition, he's setting up gene therapy clinics to aid the Green-chas. Apparently, a diminished cardiovascular system is hindering the Green-chas scientific and cultural evolution."

The gorn nodded his head as he listened as he carried out his work. " Odd i didn't know the federation had marinesss ssstationed on obsssavation missions." He inquired.

"Technically the Federation Station on Sayntni Colas Two Four isn't an observation post," Natacha answered. "Since the Huus aren't warp capable, it ish't a diplomatic mission either. The Federation requires a presence in the Sayntni system because there are some exotic material in the system including, as I understand it, a naturally occurring allotrope of carbon that extends into higher spatial dimension. The Huus are quite spread out through their system, thus the need for an open Federation presence. I believe the Sayntini system is considered a Federation protectorate of some sort, though I am not versed in the governing jurisprudence."

" Ah, one of the famousss loop holesss of the prime directive." The gorn chuckled. " We encountered many of them when i wasss ssserving in the Klingon defenssse force."

"Marines don't make the decisions," Natacha observed. "We just live and die by the unintended consequences. How do things look, Commander?"

" Well i've been doing thisss for over two hundred yearsss, but i think i ssstill have it." The gorn said as he projected a holo image of the partial removed scar.

"I appreciate it, Commander." Natacha paused before adding, "I suspect, having worked with both Klingons and Marines, you don't often get requests to remove scars."

" Your right there my dear. " The old doctor replied reministly. " In fact i've been asssked to put on sssome fake onesss more than i've removed real onesss."

"All societies have their own standards," Natacha observed. The marine looked at the hologram. "Your work looks complete, Commander. An exemplary job, f J might say so."

" I belive it isss. Let'sss try and not make thisss a regular event." he replied with a cheeky grin. Standing up and returning his tool to his bag he then brought up the computer to look at the results. " And your ssscan hasss finisshed. I sssee no reassson not to declare you fit for duty."

"Thank you, Commander," Natacha said, getting on her feet. She examined her arm directly, gave a satisfied nod, then put her outer tunic. back on. "I doubt the Corps will allow the scenario you envision." Natacha straightened her appearance, gave the Gorn a curt nod, then exited sickbay.

The gorn smiled as he watched her go. She would be an excellent addition to the ship.