An Eldorian Boilermaker

Posted on Sat Dec 2nd, 2023 @ 8:45am by Captain Samuel Woolheater & Crewman Adelaide Kirkby & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant J'airesh Mora-Heath & Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: DECK 32 - Marine Country
Timeline: MD3 - In the morning
3287 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Since 2268, the Eldorian people had been in the business of transporter technology. Technically, they referred to their business as a "matter to energy upload and then an energy to matter download". That's what they had on the brochures. But it was just transporter technology. Of course, having transporter tech at such an early date gave one unique and specific advantages.

Take, for example, what Doctor J'airesh Mora-Heath has in her medpak case. Developed by the Eldorians in 2356, the Intravascular Noronumenpenephrine Endosubcutaneous Plasmamembraneous Transport Inhibition Injection (INEPTII for short) was something of a modern miracle. And yet it was hardly ever used and certainly underappreciated. Perhaps it was all of those nasty "side-effects" one could get? Or perhaps people just needed to get more education on the subject. In either case, there was enough of the INEPTII to "tag" 80 marines. And who said doctors don't make housecalls anymore...?


DECK THIRTY-TWO - MARINE COUNTRY

Captain Woolheater was talking with a few of the marine medics, waiting for the arrival of the MXO and the MARDET CO. As they waited, Sam asked about the transporter inbhibitor injection. He hated calling it by its name, "Ineptii". Sounded much too close to "Inept" and that's the last thing he wanted to think about while getting an injection.

"It's really amazing stuff. The ability to 'innoculate' ground infantry, marine guard at a diplomatic outpost without the use of subdermal implants is..."

"Is what? Exactly?" Sam asked the medic.

"It's amazing that it works so well. So...there are...a few...nnneeeaahhhh...side effects. But most humans tolerate them pretty well. And considering that you can't be locked on to or beamed away as long as the elements are present in the subject bloodstream..."

Sam crossed his arms, "What side effects?"

The door leading to David's office slid open, and the MXO walked out towards the gathering Marines. "Sam? How are we looking? While I know a few Marines already received their inhibitor injections up in Main Sickbay, are the rest assembled here for when the Colonel and Doctor Mora-Heath arrives?"

"XO on DECK!" Sam said as soon as he spotted Captain Tonelly. The officers and platoon CO's came to attention. Answering the Captain's question, "Aye sir, we're all green here" he said. Only then realizing the unintentional pun he had made. "Company is assembled on the deck. Colonel Azhul and Doctor Mora-Heath are enroute."

David nodded, then said aloud, "Stand easy, Marines!" When everyone adjusted their stance, he continued. "As you may or my not know, the Elysium has come across the territory of a race known to not only be slavers, but advanced enough in their technology that, nearly a century ago, snatched an entire Constitution class vessel and her crew, and brought them here. A few years back, that same ship was discovered by a Starfleet vessel, adrift in a nebula. Most of the crew was accounted for, though had no memory of the event." His gaze moved across the formation as he spoke.

"Apparently, that ship's CO recorded a message, which was inserted into the computer, in case another Starfleet vessel encountered this species. Well, ladies and gentlemen...we are that ship. They are called Thaih'ea and they do not respect life as we do. If they get on this ship, they will do their damnedest to take our friends and loved ones! We aren't going to let that happen!"

Without hesitation, "Sir! No Sir!" came the unified reply. Crewman Adelaide Kirkby heard that reply all the way in the Admin section of the marine barracks and got up from her desk to look out the window towards the medical bay. There she saw the XO talking with the platoon CO's. She rubbed the spot on her neck where the transport inhibitor chip had been implanted and wondered just how different the injection would be for them.

Stepping through the doors into Marine Country, Naxea strode through the admin corridor and continued her way to the assembly area as her footsteps echoed in the large bay as she entered. "Sounds like I missed something," she said, grinning.

Seeing the Colonel approach from the corner of his eye, David snapped to attention and bellowed. "ATTENTION ON DECK!"

The formation snapped to rigid attention in a loud thumping of boots on deck plating. Once they were ready, David performed a crisp about face, putting his back to the formation. He then waited for Naxea to step forward and assume command from him.

She came to a halt in front of David. She had always been impressed with his professionalism.

When she stepped in front of him, David saluted her smartly. "Unit ready for your command, Ma'am!"

Naxea returned the salute. "Thank you, Captain. Take your position."

After she returned his salute and took command from him, David lowered his salute, performed a left face and marched to his position behind the formation.

Naxea was quiet as she looked at each Marine. "Marines. I know you've all heard the scuttlebutt about how powerful these Thai'hea are but as far as I know, they have never faced Starfleet Marines, let alone the Sixty-Second Marine Detachment. In my opinion we have the best warriors and Marines in Starfleet. We will make these Thai'hea fear death and to fear the Starfleet Marine Corps. If they try to board this ship they will not leave. We have set up transport inhibitor free zones about the ship. At those points we will make those bastards pay for even thinking of attacking the Elysium--our home. Setting foot on this ship will be a death sentence for them."

David took in a sharp breath and shouted out a war cry that legend says the ancient warriors from the Greek nation state of Sparta would shout out, in reponse to what their beloved leader, King Leonidas, said to them when preparing for battle. "OH-AHH!"

The sound of the assembled company, "OOH-AAHHHHHH!" sent a corkscrew shiver up Sam's spine. It was a thrilling kind of a sound. Indeed, the many rend the skies with that loud shout. From inside the admin office, the civillian secretarial staff looked up and out the window at the parade ground. Adele looked up and out on the assembled marines. ~Oh shit!~ she thought. And the deck thundered as the echo faded.

Naxea nodded, satisfied at the response. "Each deck except Marine Country will have a transport inhibitor free section. Each of these sections will have Security backed by a Marine fireteam waiting in ambush. If there is to be a boarding party, Captain Woolheater, you will command the boarding team while Captain Tonelly and I remain behind to coordinate the teams on the Elysium. Any questions?"

"Aye Colonel! First Platoon is ready!" he said as he acknowledged her command. With a nod, Sam in a loud voice broke the company's formation, "Companyyyyyy...FALL OUT! LINE UP AT THE FAR TABLE!"

J'Air had been sent to assist with the Marines' 'special' inhibitors. She was fascinated with the whole new technology of the advancements that these adaptations were boasting. As a scientist she was 100% raring to go to get them installed and to see if they did all they were claimed to be capable of and yet as a Doctor she did have a slight contradiction of thinking in concerns for what side-effects they might also bring to the party as it were. Her trusty medbag was full of its usual equipment and 'tricks' as Chuck would lightly call them when he was joking around but today she had an extra specially kitted out 'trolley' filled with the stars of the moment.

She stood appearing patient, to one side until the Marines were ready to invite her forward to start with the installations and she did her best not to look as if she had divided feelings regarding this. Armed with her impenetrable 'doctors' face, she sterilised her hands and lined up her vials and boxes. Her stomach fluttered a little as she glanced quickly into the line of Marine faces, all forming up to receive their "special" medicine. An involuntary shiver passed down her spine and she shook it off by straightening her sleeves and pushing them right back as if about to undertake an operation.

As three marine medics came to the distribution point and cleaned up to assist Dr. Mora-Heath saying, "How can we help?"

"Great, I've got the installations here. If you could get everyone lined up in four lines, we can get started. Let me show you the first one .. or two.. then you can take it on when you're confident?" She began to load up a dose and showed them what to do. The whole four-line production began and in no time at all, the Marines began to get mass protection.

"Doctor? The injection module flashes red after I inject the patient. Then it goes to green after a few seconds. Is that what it's supposed to do? Why does it do that?"

"Yes, It's supposed to do that. The module discharges its chemical properties into the patient and for a second or two it needs to stay where it is to complete the transfer. While it's red, you don't withdraw it, but instead you wait until it returns green to signify that it's finished delivering and then you can move on." J'Air explained.

The medics nodded in understanding and continued their work.

David stood off to the side, as he watched the unit receive their injections. As an El Aurian, his biology would reject the nanites, and even an inhibitor chip, from being inserted into his body. It was what prevented the Borg from being able to assimilate his people.

Sam was third in line awaiting his turn. There was a marine ahead of them that was holding things up. He got out of line and stepped up to the front, "Is there a problem here?" he asked the marine medic.

A member of the third platoon's rifleman said, "Hell yes there is a problem. What are you injecting us with? I heard the rest of the crew are getting transporter inhibitor chips? Why do we have to get this shit? I want to know what you're putting in my body?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Sam could see that other marines were "concerned" too. It was probably best to address this issue right from the start. The Colonel was at the other end of the furthest table. The MXO was closer. Sam looked at the marine and then the medic, "Can you tell us what this is specialist?"

The medic replied, "I know what it is, I know it uses medical nanites. I know that SFMC has used it in the past, two years ago for the skirmishes on Ephos VII."

Sam tried to allay their fears, "Sounds good enough for me! What are you worried about? The docs say it works. C'mon son. We be like Popeye and this be our spinach." He smiled warmly and then offered his arm out and an unrolled sleeve to receive the injection.

The medic said, "Goes in at the neck Captain." Finding the meatiest part Sam's neck, the hypospray hissed as the INEPTI was administered. It felt cold going in. And for a moment, Sam felt dizzy and woozy. His vision blurred and he almost lost his balance, "Ohhhh...wow...its like the last few steps of a Dublin bar crawl. Without the bar crawl."

J'Air watched as best she could as she hyposprayed her own patients, waited for the green confirmation and then let each Marine go with a reassuring smile. All the time she was trying to keep an eye out to be aware of what the other lines were experiencing. One or two patients visibly stumbled and held their temples, rubbing them as if those were the injection sites, not their necks. One threw up within two minutes of receiving his formula but in general, not too many others showed signs of not taking the treatment well.

Crewman Adelaide Kirkby and the rest of the marine administrative staff were off to the side, not quite sure if they were part of the marines or part of the regular crew compliment. They hesitated a moment and Adele approached the Colonel and the MXO, Captain Tonelly, "Colonel Azhul? Sorry to bother you Colonel and Captain. A few of the secretaries and I. Well, we were wondering if we should also get an injection? We're not...really...part of SFMC..." she trailed off unsure of just where the office staff stood and whether or not they were part of the detachment or not.

Naxea turned and looked at Adele. "You may not be a Marine, Creman Kirkby, but you work for me and are essential to the running of the detachment so yes, you can get this injection if you wish to," she told the woman, grinning.

A happy smile, of belonging, brightened her face, "Thank you Colonel. Thank you Captain Tonelly. I'll...I'll tell the others. We weren't sure." She went and told the rest of the admin support staff and they were about fifty-percent. Three opted for the INEPTI injection, just like the marines and three opted for the inhibitor chip. They were excused and legft to go get chipped. When it was Adele's turn, she recieved the injection from Doctor Mora-Heath. "You think I can do this Doctor? I mean...if these marines are feeling bad; what's in store for us?" she indicated to the other two administrative aides.

J'Airesh was pleased that things all seemed to be going well. She was watching intently for side-effects and noticed some of the patients looking a little pale and one or two even actually gagging but all in all, they did seem to be reacting well.

After a few minutes of dizziness, vomiteria and/or some mild disorientation, the Eldorian tranporter inhibitor and the medical nanites were coursing through their veins. It was time to see how effective the transporter inhibitor injection was...exactly. Samuel approached the doctor and asked, "Good to see you gain Doctor Mora-Heath. I never got to thank you for the surgery you did on my flippin' leg. I didn't have any pain at all and in a few hours, I was right as rain. Thank you for that."

"You're more than welcome Captain, I was just doing my job." J'Air responded modestly. "I'm very happy you've recovered so well from that. How are you feeling today, with this new inhibitor shot?"

Sam answered, "Well, I held breakfast down if that's what you mean. I'm feeling better as time goes by. The real question now is...did it work? Can anyone see us on their sensors and can they capture us with a transporter lock?"

David stepped forward. "Let's see, Sam." He reached up and tapped his commbadge. "Captain Tonelly to Transporter Room Four. Try to lock on to Captain Woolheater and beam him to your location."

A disembodied feminine voice could be heard on the other end of the communications channel. "Stand by, Sir. Temping to find the Captain's signal and lock on..." a few beats passed. Then, "I'm sorry, Sir...I can't lock onto the Captain's biosignature. I've tried everything I can think of to circumvent the tags, but...even with the tags. I should've at least been able to detect him. In fact...I just widened my scan, Sir, and the only biosignals I am picking up, at your location, are yours and the non-marine staff personnel."

David grinned as he replied. "Thank you, Chief. That's all we needed to know. Tonelly out." He doubletapped his commbadge, ending the call. Looking over to Sam and J'airesh he stated, "Well, at least we can't lock on with our tech. Only time will tell if the Thaih'ea can with theirs."

Sam nodded. Satisfied that at least what they thought would happen; did happen and no transporter lock was acquired. At least the masking of lifesigns and blurring effects were operating as they should be. At the same time, this was for known species and for known technology. It would remain to be seen if the INEPTI worked on the tech that the Thai'hea had. For that matter, the rest of the crew was just as vulnerable. There were no 100% guarantees that the transporter inhibitors that worked in known space would work this far out and with a totally alien species. It was likely to work. And the math showed that converting matter to energy - no matter how near or far one was from Federation space - worked the same. They were the "Laws of Physics" after all.

Sam acknowledged the XO, "Aye sir." Turning his attention to Doctor Mora-Heath, "Doctor? How long can we expect the inhibitor effects to last? How often, if any, do we need to get a new injection of..." he forgot the name and ended up with, "...the...stuff. The medicine?"

"Well, as far as we have tested we can be sure of it working for about 72 hours without any problem. After that it begins to wear off slowly but it holds differently to different individuals and/or species/hybrids, so we can't be certain 100%. What we *can* do is to reinject if we remain within dangerous areas of space but I need to warn you that each dosage will affect the patient with more or varying severity. We don't know yet if it will also increase, or decrease in efficacy as well as symptoms. It's all very new." J'Air explained in as much detail as she could be 100% sure of.


"I think it will also be important to note that these new injections take a toll on the patient. Max of three or four injections and then the patient is at risk for sleep deprivation, hunger, slowed reflexes so to protect patients and maintain safe protocols, each injection would probably require 8 hours of downtime to recoop. They are also cummulative and with extended or prolonged use - i.e about six or more they can cause chemical dependency and risk of addiction.

We would need all our and your medical staff to carefully monitor how much a patient has had and when their injection time was, or we might find their lives could be at risk from overdosing."

J'Air looked apologetic.

A marine medic stepped up and said, "It's not an issue. It's what we do. We can download the data from today's injections into their medical records. We can arrange a schedule from there" the medic said with optimisim and support. Doctor Mora-Heath next spoke and said,

"and the good news is that the nanodes can help patients heal..... but it's a hotly debated theory that there are enough pros to offset the cons, so I would advise 100% caution and no close watching is too close, in my opinion. We owe it to these brave soldiers to be both sensible, caring and responsible with this level of new and dangerous tech." she finished looking at each of her colleagues one at a time to see how much they seemed to have taken on board and how worried they looked.

Sam and Adelaide exchanged a concerned look. She offered, "I'm sure everything will be fine. Right?" she looked at Woolheater. He nodded, "It'll be fine. With so many medics looking after us, the MXO and the Colonel too; we're all good here." He thanked J'airesh, "Doctor, thank you for making all of this possible. We're giving ourselves options and alternatives. You are appreciated."


[OFF:]

Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea
&
Lieutenant J'airesh Mora-Heath
&
Captain David Tonelly
&
Crewman Adelaide Kirkby

Signed off by:
Captain Samuel Woolheater