"Dum spiro, spero"

Posted on Sun Sep 15th, 2024 @ 5:25am by Captain Samuel Woolheater & Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 6: Episode 5: A church beyond heaven
Location: DECK THIRTY-TWO - MARINE MEDICAL
Timeline: MD01
1194 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

USS ELYSIUM – DECK THIRTY-TWO – MARINE MEDICAL – FOLLOWING “THE INCIDENT”


Private Christopher Corelli lay motionless on the biobed. Except for his breathing and the life signs above his head on the medical HUD, one might have thought he was dead. His color was ghastly pale and despite the miracle of modern medicine, there are some physical wounds where the best medicine is time itself. Then there are the internal wounds. The broken bones and bruised muscles and other blunt injuries he sustained. The medics fixed those injuries and reset his broken bones and punctured skin. What concerned Captain Woolheater, was the damage that they couldn’t see. The internalized damage, the mental assault, those things that would leave an invisible scar, but scar, nonetheless. Those that are best left to heal in their own time.

Samuel held in his hand a PaDD with the all to brief medical report on it. It was difficult to read. Even more difficult to accept that this happened on a Federation starship and from a Marine detachment.

Sam read the bio, “Twenty-one years old”. He said to no one as he stood off to the side and at the foot of the bed. He turned his attention to Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles and asked, “Staff Sergeant? First of all, thank you for taking care of Private Corelli. I know that you haven’t finished your medical report, is there anything you can tell me that’s not already on his intake form?”

Leilani offered a warm smile as she stood by her patient. “Private Corelli is currently in an induced coma, having consulted with Sickbay I had little choice due to his head injury. His other wounds are mostly healed thanks to modern technology, but there is still swelling on his brain.”

Sam nodded once in understanding and frustration. "We found...ahem!...where he lay bleeding for...we don't know yet...and there is a trail of bloody footprints and...other indicators....that he dragged himself here. From the mess hall. Internal sensors are damaged; never got repaired it would seem. So...trying to put the pieces together." Sam was frustrated and angry that this happened. Really angry but he remained calm and in control and did not let his pain and frustration show too much. "Did he say anything to you or to any of your staff when he got here? I mean, how did he first present to you?"

“He was barely conscious when he came in unfortunately.” Leilani tapped the PADD she was holding. “His injuries do suggest that he could have been attacked, severe head trauma from a blow to the head, and there’s other injuries and bruising to suggest a possible fight.”

Sam felt sad, embarrassed and angry. Embarrassed that this even happened; such a grievous thing to happen to a Marine detachment. And angry at whoever had done this. "Will he live?" he asked.

Leilani nodded. “I think so, he’s showing small signs of improvement already. It’ll be slow progress, but the Private should make a full recovery. He will need counselling as well.”

"Yes...of course. Whatever he needs. I'll contact a Counselor myself. Just to let them know what has happened. I am posting two sentries just for the time being. They will not be in the way but you will control access to him. No visitors except with your approval." He took a deep inward breath. As is he had made a decision about something. Or, come to a compromise. He was lost in his thoughts for a moment and said, "He's only twenty-one..." and he thought about the last time he saw him. Sam was yelling at him to hurry up, don't give up, move your ass. The scene replayed in his mind and he blamed himself. He sighed and looked at her, "Staff Sergeant, will you send me regular reports please? I'd like to be kept informed should the Colonel require an update."

“Of course” Leilani nodded and smiled. “I’ll be in constant contact with Dr Sthilg as well. We’ll do everything we can, that’s a promise.”

Sam nodded, "Thank you" he looked over at the broken body of Private Corelli. Sam knew that he was in the best of care. He also knew that the Marine was safe now. Just try and get past Leilani Charles he though to himself. Added to that were the sentries that he knew he could trust from his own platoon. The Third Platoon was heavy weapons and those Marines had firepower to lug around and they have not been busy since the disaster. They have been assigned to assist Engineering and the repair teams. A task that, it was known, were not thrilled about. And Sam had not even seen a report from Engineering or any repair teams in over a month.

He set the PaDD in his hand down on the tray nearby the biobed and stepped closer to Corelli. This is not how Sam wanted to start his new role as MXO. With an attack and a clearly visible discipline and disorder issue brewing. He knew that Private Corelli was in an induced come to allow him to sleep through bran swelling and the pain and disorientation that would cause. Sam knew that he, most likely, would not hear what he was about to say to him. Sam leaned over and said it anyway. He gently placed a hand on him and said, "Private Christopher Corelli, you have just one job now. Just one. You are to get better, get well. Take all the time you need, but you re to get well. You are safe and nobody is going to hurt you. Do everything the medics tell you. And when you're ready, there will be a place for you. We'll find out who did this to you. They will be held accountable. I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, 'Dum spiro, spero', that's ancient Latin and it applies to you. Consider it your new mantra, 'While I breathe, I hope'. I'll see you later when you are awake."

He stood up straight and then looked at Leilani before leaving the medical room. The doors closed behind him slowly and softly. The din and clinking monitors of the outside nursing station here in the corridor gave a very clinical and cold feel to the area. There were two Marine guards here and Sam recognized them, "You understand that Staff Sergeant Charles has final say over who can see Corelli?"

"Yes sir" they replied in unison. "I understand" one answered. "XO? How are we going to catch the guys that did this? Why would they do this?"

Sam answered, "The old fashioned way. Using our heads and being thorough. Somebody knows something, somebody saw something. If they didn't see the attack itself, then they knew when those Marines returned to their racks. Why they did it? I don't know. But I want to know." He put a hand on one's and then they other's shoulder, "Keep watch, keep our brother safe."

[OFF:]