The Docs Are In
Posted on Sat Jun 27th, 2026 @ 1:04am by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Lieutenant Vura & Sergeant Audie Fitch & Lieutenant Amelia Zano Psy.D. & Sergeant Azure Thompson & Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke
Edited on on Sat Jun 27th, 2026 @ 8:14am
1,620 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: Sick Bay - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1600 hrs
Amelia had been in Sickbay long enough that afternoon for the rhythm of it to settle around her. The sharper edges of the day had softened into routine: follow-up notes, medication reviews, a quiet word with a crewman whose physical symptoms had more to do with stress than anything a scanner could neatly label. She moved between stations with a PADD tucked against her side, not hurried, not idle, simply fitting herself into the flow of the department where she was needed.
At one of the biobeds, she paused to check a recovery chart, eyes flicking over the latest readings before she added a brief note. Most of her work aboard the Pioneer still lived in counselling, but Sickbay had its own kind of conversation. People spoke differently when they were tired, hurting, or pretending not to be either. Amelia had always found that useful, in its own way. She glanced toward the nurses’ station, aware of Fitch and Thompson nearby, then returned her attention to the PADD as the doors opened.
Vura practically floated into Sickbay. She had not seen much of Hermia lately but she knew that there were casualties and several of them would probably need a counselor. She saw Zano checking in on someone, so Vura naturally drifted over to her. "How are they doing, Amelia? Can I be of assistance?"
Amelia looked up from the biobed as Vura approached, her expression softening with recognition before she glanced back down at the patient. The crewman was awake, though trying very hard to look less uncomfortable than he was, one hand resting carefully against his side while the biobed monitor kept up its quiet rhythm above him.
“Physically, he’s stable,” Amelia said, her voice kept low enough not to make the patient feel discussed rather than included. “A mild concussion, some bruised ribs, and an impressive amount of pride. He had an argument with a cargo brace during a loading drill, and I’m afraid the cargo brace won.”
There was a faint warmth in her tone as she said it, enough to take the sting out.
She shifted slightly toward Vura, making room for her without turning the moment into a formal handover. “I was just asking how much of it he remembers. There are a few fuzzy patches, and I think that’s bothering him more than the bruising.” Amelia glanced briefly at the crewman, then back to Vura. “If you have a few minutes, another calm voice might help. Especially one he doesn’t already associate with telling him to stay in bed.”
"Of course," Vura answered, and went to tend to the sick patient.
Inspections were an unnecessary intrusion in Audie's opinion, but they were still an accepted routine, and she knew that staff had no choice in being subjected to them. And, lucky her, she would have to suffer through two, one here in Sickbay, and the one for the Marines, so she was in her dress uniform, wishing she was back in her princess dress, hunting unicorns with Annie!
And there was work to do on top of everything. For now, her jacket was flung over the back of a chair as she sorted through cabinets, taking inventory, replacing what supplies she could, and listening for signs of an approaching General!
"And this is my department, Medical." Hermia said as she lead her father and Captain X'tal into Sickbay.
Seamus looked around. He knew the importance of medical, but he was still hurt that his only daughter had chosen to serve in the Fleet and not the Corps.
Noticing the two sergeants, he asked. "So, you have Marine medics acting as nurses?"
"Yes, their training an experience in triage and emergency medicine make them an asset to this department, sir." Hermia said.
"Humm." Seamus said. "Perhaps, I should have medics at my new post work with your department for a while, Doctor."
"I'm sure that could be arranged, sir." Hermia said.
"Good, now I'd like to talk to them myself."
As soon as she was aware that the General was on deck, Audie grabbed her jacket and tossed it on, then quickly fastened it, making sure everything was in place. She wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but she hoped she'd just be overlooked!
Seamus approached the two medics. "Sergeants may I have a word?" He asked.
"Aye, Sir." Audie gave a slight nod, wondering what sort of trouble she was in now. She'd managed to keep her nose clean recently, and the only other thing she could think of was Buster, but he was ensconced safely in her quarters... right?
"Aye, Sir." Azure said wondering if he'd heard about her hooch still.
Noticing the Sergeants' apprehension, he said. "You're not in trouble, I just want to ask you, how it is work with the 'Fleet' medics?"
Audie glanced quickly at Azure, relaxing a bit. "It's... good," she replied, not sure what he was looking for. "It's different than the field, of course, but it's a good insight into what happens after we pass off our patients. A chance to see and use more advanced equipment and techniques than what we have access to." She shrugged. "And it's a chance for them to get to know us, know what we can do... and I hope it gives them confidence in what we do."
It wasn't uncommon that advanced care crews, in their pretty, controlled environment, didn't understand what went on in the field, or why sometimes, just getting the patient to Sickbay was the best they could do.
"Thank you, Sergeant, that is very enlightening." Seamus said. Turning to Azure he asked. "Do you agree, Sergeant?"
"Yes, sir." Azure began. "I am also a botanist, and have found plants both useful in healing as well as combat."
"Interesting, I would like to read your work on the combat applications of plants, Sergeant."
"I will send a report to your quarters, later today, Sir." Azure replied.
"Good, good, Sergeants, I've been talking with the CMO, and I would like the two of you to tell my medical staff at Camp Nostromo about your interactions with 'Fleet medical procedures." The General said.
Audie glanced at Azure, then back to the General. "Aye, sir." They were combat field medics, not suited to lectures and other controlled situations. But she'd do as asked, it was part of duty, and honestly, if it helped in the relations between field and Sickbay personnel, it would be worth a bit of discomfort.
"I would be happy to do so, Sir." Azure said.
"Excellent." Seamus said.
"Just give us a head's up," Audie requested, "so there's time to prepare." Or maybe get herself assigned to a project that would preclude her from speaking!
"Of course." Seamus said.
Amelia remained near the biobed, quietly finishing her notes while the General spoke with the Marine medics. She listened without appearing to, noting the careful line Audie walked between honesty and duty, and the way Azure’s botanical comment seemed to catch the General’s interest. There was value in moments like this, she thought, when two parts of the ship’s culture learned to translate themselves to one another without anyone needing to call it counselling.
"Staying out of the lime light, are we Lieutenant?" Captain Feren X'tal asked as she approached Amelia.
Amelia looked up from the PADD, a small smile already forming before she answered. She hadn’t exactly been hiding, but she also hadn’t been volunteering herself for the centre of an inspection if the moment didn’t call for it.
“When one is surrounded by generals, chief medical officers, and Marine sergeants in dress uniform,” she said softly, “it seems polite to let the brighter stars have their orbit.”
There was a lightness to it, warm rather than evasive. Amelia tucked the PADD against her side and gave the Captain her full attention.
“Besides, Captain, I’ve always found Sickbay tells you more when people forget they’re being observed. The medics are doing well. A little tense, perhaps, but honest. That’s usually a better sign than polished answers.”
"Ah, a fellow cultural observer." Feren X'tal said. "The General tends to see people as assets and judges them on how they can best be utilised to complete the mission. I like to learn about those under my command." She explained.
Amelia’s smile warmed at that.
“Then I suspect you’ll learn more than he does today, Captain,” she said softly. “Assets can tell you what a crew can do. People tell you what they’ll endure, what they’ll protect, and why they’ll come back tomorrow.” Her gaze drifted briefly toward the medics, then returned to Feren.“That tends to matter in Sickbay.”
A Joint Post By
Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke
Commanding Officer, Camp Nostromo
Captain Feren X'tal
Aide-de-Camp, Camp Nostromo
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
Sergeant Azure Thompson
Corpsman, Team 1, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Amelia Zano
Medical Officer/Counselor, USS Pioneer
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
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