A Slight Problem
Posted on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 @ 1:41am by Lieutenant Commander Ian Ryan & Ensign Rachael Owlerson [Ryan] & Captain Christine Applegate & Lieutenant Baktosh Redclaw & Lieutenant Solana Milner & Lieutenant Commander Zayn Satu M.D. & Lieutenant Amelix Milumad & Deka Maran
Mission:
Mission 3: Negotiations
Location: Conference Room, USS Medea
Timeline: 2389 24 at 1115
Ian had just concluded letting Starfleet know about the present situation that the crew of the Medea had ran into. This was a bit unusual in his opinion as he reached down and activated the communications system, "Commander Ryan to the senior staff please report to the Conference Room for debriefing," He remarked.
Deka Maran was nursing a lukewarm mug of tea when the summons came. He took the tea with him and made his way to the nearest most direct lift, taking it to the proper deck. The debriefing was in the Conference Room, and Deka was quick to realize he was the first to arrive when he entered to find just Lieutenant Commander Ryan. "I'm usually one of the last to make it. Looks like I'm the early bird today, Commander."
Rachael entered the conference room, "Lieutenant Yole is not able to come at this time so she sent me in her place. Something came up that required her immediate attention sir."
Ian nodded, "Of course Ensign please have a seat."
Rachael nodded before sitting down at the table in order to listen to the debriefing. She rotated in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest after having pulled herself forward.
Baktosh was next, having done what he could to help Satu and the Captain before working on ship safety and security for the intervening time. Stress showed in his eyes.
Practically leaping in like Tigger, Amelix appeared, light refracting off her head in every direction. "I didn't miss the meeting, did I? I got caught up in this experiment where I had a transposon cutting into some DNA of an Andorian where I was trying to build a resistance to a strain of the Garvenula Virus and I know my alarm went off but I just had to finish what I was doing to record some data...."
Solana sighed as she got the message. She was in the middle of getting things done for the negotiations and had a headache to boot. She made her way into the conference room and smiled at everyone as she took a seat.
Satu was the last to come in, looking slightly frazzled and concerned, still pulling on her uniform jacket. "Sorry I'm late... The Captain got sick and I had to clean it up and get her comfortable. I have a nurse watching her now," she said, taking her seat. She gave Ian and Baktosh a small look, then smiled at the others as she placed a baby monitor on the table.
"At the moment we have the Kazarai and Hunara representatives aboard the ship and we are in orbit of Theta Eridanus Seven. The Captain was on the surface with some security officers and beamed back alone. She came back as a toddler and right now we haven't the slightest clue as to why. For now Captain Applegate is in the care of Doctor Satu. And, we need to carry on with our mission.
"How long will it take to complete the building for the negotiations Ensign Owlerson, Lieutenant Milner?" He asked the Operations and Engineering officers.
"Our estimates are currently a little over 2-days." Owlerson replied.
"A toddler?!" Amelix cried out excitedly. "I will definitely work with Doctor Satu! I can run a series of experiments with her or take them from a different angle. After all, this is unprecedented! And the Doctor and I have been thinking of writing a paper on something. This would be the perfect topic!" She bobbed up and down as she continued, "Let's see. First we would have to run a DNA and RNA scan and then we would have to...."
"No!" Satu said sharply. "Amelix you are not running any tests on her! I've already done a thorough series of scans on her. There is nothing different about her, except the fact that she is approximately two years old."
Solana looked at her commanding officer with a slight look of shock and nervousness. "Well, that's exciting news. At least she's a cute toddler!" Her tone dripping with a mix of nerves and sarcasm. " And yes.. about 2 days, give or take a bit. We haven't had any hiccups yet."
Deka was more amused by the situation than shocked. He had read a lot of reports Federation and Cardassian. Strange things happened when it came to science and exploration, but the Captain now beeing an infant was amusing. "I have not had many interactions with children aside from the Jem'Hadar before they have fully matured, but that does not nearly take as long as it does in Humans and other humanoid species" noted the Vorta. "Would it be possible for me to visit with the Captain? I certainly won't be poking and probing the Captain, running tests. I simply want to observe her."
"No experimenting on the toddler," Ian stated to the Chief Science Officer, "But, I do want you to work with Lieutenant Milner in learning what caused this problem. You may want to coordinate with Doctor Satu as well. We need to understand what happened before we can try and fix the situation."
"But Commander! There's so much that can be learned by studying the Captain as a toddler! We can determine whether she is more a function of her environment or if her personality was already established by this point! We could determine whether she could be retrained in a number of strengths in whatever might be a weakness!"
Amelix, seeing that the Commander was not going to give in, fell silent for a good full second, which was probably a miracle as far as this Tygarian was concerned. "Very well! I'll work with Lieutenant Milner and try and figure out what happened that our Captain was returned like this! Though, it would be very interesting to see if she aged normally again...." Amelix's voice started drifting off as she realized she was going back to experiments on the Captain. "And I'll work with Dr. Satu! She's a lot of fun to work with! I have so many more experiments to run with her! It will be fun to coordinate on more!"
Ian nodded, "Fair enough."
Ian turned to Deka, "As long as Doctor Satu is okay with it then it's fine. She didn't react too well to Lieutenant Redclaw at first, but once she realized he was friendly she was okay. Don't be surprised if she doesn't recognize you or is afraid of you everyone.
"Deka we are going to have to prepare ourselves for the negotiation as well. But, we can discuss that over lunch later?" He questioned then looked at Baktosh, "Make sure security is in place as well. I don't care if the delegations are in the same room as each other I just want to avoid a fight if it happens."
"Of course" replied Dekka. "We're going to want to make sure we do everything that we can not to do anything to cause offense" he added. "Diplomats and dignitaries can be a fickle bunch."
Baktosh nodded in response. His responsibilities were very serious during these negotiations. Order would be maintained.
"I am fine with Deka coming to visit whenever he has time in his duties," she said to Ian, then turned to Deka. "But please, Deka, don't be alarmed if she screams? She has no memory of any of us at the moment, so any non-humans have been scary to her."
"Vorta are known for their soothing voices" he teased. "We could lull our Jem'Hadar to sleep with a soft cooing and a few tubes of white."
There was a small sound from the monitor that Satu had brought with her. But it sounded more like fussing than happiness. A tiny voice came through. "Kiddy...Sadu..."
Satu looked to the monitor then to Ian. "I will coordinate my efforts to assist with figuring out this accident. However, I also must place the Captain's needs high on my list of things to do. I promise it will not interfere with getting her back to her normal self," she said. "On that note, Commander, may I be excused?" She nodded at the monitor to indicate why she wanted to be excused.
Baktosh couldn't help but snort at the little voice coming through the monitor. "I'll accompany you, Doctor. That is, if Commander Ryan approves."
Ian nodded with a slight smile on his face, "Exactly how it should be Doctor."
Satu smiled and nodded to everyone before snatching up the baby monitor and excusing herself. It still felt odd to her that she was literally mothering the Captain right now. But something inside her thoroughly enjoyed having the toddler around.
Baktosh followed closely behind, somehow elated once again to be helping with a small child once again.
Solana looked at the baby monitor and smiled. "She seems like a pretty calm kiddo. I can watch her for a little bit if need be, Satu. I grew up with a bunch of siblings. It would be fun to just hang out with a toddler for a change. Just let me know."
Ian tapped the table, "You have your assignments please keep me informed of your progress. Dismissed."
