Star Trek RPG - Mission #2: "Primum Nil Nocere"

T'Var's testimony makes Kylah give a little sigh of relief. Of course she refrains from giving the doctor a look of gratitude, but she makes a note to thank her later on.

Now, as she listens to Waite's version of what happened, she barely manages to keep her eyes from narrowing in contempt. But Lieutenant Collins raises a good question, and so Kylah decides to bide her time in calling the so-called doctor on the major discrepency she believes will prove that his attempt at pushing the blame onto the Sakathians is a pathetic lie.

T'Var remains silent. If Waite had anything of use to share, she believes he would've done so by now.

Perhaps it is best to let Federation authorities decide whether these Sakathian experiments truly met ethical guidelines and standards.

For the first time that meeting, Rangin speaks up. "Which other Sakathian species were you experimenting on, and what were the results of those trials?"

Dr. Waite looks clearly uncomfortable. "Director Geb was especially interested in the, uh, military applications of our research. She wanted quicker and more extensive modifications that would bring about faster results. I had the impression that she was under quite a bit of pressure from the Sakathian government, and prodded us in turn." He thinks a moment. "We weren't experimenting on any other Sakathian species by the time your ship arrived, but earlier we had done clinical trials with about two dozen indigenous reptiles, small mammals and insects. Those tests had run their course, though, and we then switched to Sakathian volunteers."

Rangin coughs slightly into one hand. "...and the results of those tests?"

"All within normal parameters," Waite says. "Changes in physiology and brain chemistry pretty much as we predicted. Nothing, er, zombie-like."

Kylah has waited long enough for the others--particularly Dr. T'Var, whose memory is probably even better than her own--to bring up the inconsistencies in Waite's story. She can sit on her hands no longer.

"I wish to ask some questions, if I may, sir," she says, addressing the Captain with the polite words rather than the human doctor. Then her gaze shifts to Waite, no less sharp than the dagger she would still like to throw at him. "Dr. Waite. Why did you hide the true nature of these experiments from us, even when asked directly? According to our briefing, the research involved the 'reaction of living tissue to subspace fields.' Hardly an accurate description. There was certainly no mention of genetic engineering such as you describe now. And yet when you were asked if the Sakathians were hiding anything from us--knowing what we believed to be the nature of your experiments--you said they were not. But you knew very well that what was going on in that laboratory was not what we were told, and that the Captain and our Science Officer should have been informed of its dangerous nature. Why, then, the lie?"

Kylah sits even straighter in her chair, trying to maintain her composure. "And now, ever since the experiment went awry, you have maintained that all this research was at the Sakathians' behest. That they pressured you, they demanded things of you." She shakes her head. "I recall, even if you do not, that you told us that it was 'important to your work that you have the goodwill of Geb and the Sakathian government.' Dr. Pierce also made a similar implication when she said you were there only by their leave and with their permission. I put it to you now, doctor: if the Sakathians were the ones forcefully demanding all this research, why did you seem to fear they'd cancel it so quickly?"

Waite looks squarely at Kylah. "I was not at liberty, at the time, to fully disclose what we were doing. We had a confidentiality agreement with the Sakathians, and it didn't have an exception for Starfleet. The subspace field experiments were a tiny part of the overall project, but we used that as a blind. A cover story, if you will. I had no idea, when your ship arrived, that the project was as dangerous as it turned out to be. But when the project went awry, as you say, and we had to get out of there, once our lives were obviously at stake, I was able to tell you more - but I'm sure you remember how reluctant I was to disclose the true nature of the project, even then. The Sakathians might have cancelled the project, at great cost to the University, if they foresaw problems, or if they weren't getting what they wanted. Even now, after this... debacle, they might bring a claim against the University for loss of life, loss of property, on the station. So even now, there's a limit to what I can tell you."

"Even now?" Collins resists the temptation to pound on the table "Lives have been lost! Property destroyed! And the Federation's tenuous relationship with the Sakathians surely shattered! Who are you protecting now? Where do your allegiances lie?"

"...and did you colleagues all accept the same risk as well?", adds Rangin. "Did they all know what was happening on that station?"

T'Var does her best to follow the conversations going on around her. To be honest, she'd rather be elsewhere, continuing her research with Dr. Bucci.

"Dr. Waite, after all that has transpired, I believe total honesty would be the most logical way to move forward. We need the insights only you can provide," T'Var says. "You have taken a vow to protect and preserve life. This should be your only priority right now -- not a claim against the university or any other issue this situation might create," T'Var tells him with as strong a tone as possible for a Vulcan.

"I understand what you're all saying," Waite says, "but I really have told you pretty much all I can. I am still well aware of my oath as a doctor, T'Var - primum nil nocere, 'first, do no harm' - but as I've said before, there's nothing more I can tell you that would be of any use in your treatment of Mr. Fujishiro. Please, put yourself in my shoes. I don't want to talk myself out of my medical license, or into a cell on a penal colony, either Federation or Sakathian." He is now almost pleading. "I was the sole survivor, as far as I know, of the entire Miskatonic University research team, and you don't think that already weighs on my conscience?"

"Well then, tell us the stuff that's not of use. Tell. Us. Everything." Collins is channelling her rising nausea into anger. At least she won't have to run to the head in the middle of this meeting.

Kylah looks at Waite, a disgusted little smile curling her lip. "Weighing on your conscience," she echoes. "Dr. Waite. You have no guilt whatsoever weighing on your conscience. And you lie, and I suspect you will continue to lie as long as you can." She pauses, then glances for a meaningful moment at T'Var before adding softly: "No, it is not suspicion. I know this."

Waite glares at Kylah, then stands and impassively says, "I refuse to sit here and be insulted, Captain. I've told you all I can. I will be in my room until we arrive at Starbase 27 tomorrow."

"Very well," says Singh. "But you'll be confined to quarters until then. I suspect Starfleet is going to have more questions for you. Mr. Collins, please escort Dr. Waite to his quarters."

Dr. Waite says nothing to Collins in the corridors unless she speaks to him.

After they've left, Singh says mildly, "I understand your frustration, Mr. Kylah, and I really can't say I'm an admirer of our guest, but I do expect a certain level of decorum from my junior officers. A word to the wise."

She then asks Dr. Villa and Science Officer Roble, "You'll have that report ready for Starfleet by tomorrow?"

Villa looks at Roble and he nods. The Yorktown's CMO says, "Yes, ma'am. It might be quite awhile, if ever, before he gets back into a lab or a classroom."

Singh pushes back her chair. "Very well. If there's nothing else, gentlemen...? Thank you for your time and your input. Dismissed."

"Aye, Captain." Collins grips Waite's upper arm as they walk, not too roughly, but firmly enough for him to know she will not abide any effort to elude her. When they get to his quarters, she only says "here you go." Then once is he inside and the door is shut, Collins calls for a security detail for outside his door. When the detail arrives, she goes to the gym to work off her anger with some fight training.

Dr. Waite walks with an air of wounded dignity that Collins finds tremendously irritating, but she keeps her cool. Ensigns Mahmoud and Three Crows, in red shirts and with phaser-2s on their hips, soon take up posts outside the door to his quarters, which Mahmoud locks. "I'll let Mr. Vargas know you need some personal time," he says with a smile.

Collins arrives at the Gym to find that Lt. Joseph Bancroft, the ship's astrophysicist, is looking for a sparring partner. He already has on a boxing helmet and gloves. She can get her own from the Gym's supply room.

"Would you join me for a cup of tea?," T'Var asks Kylah. "If Dr. Waite 'knows' anything that might help Fujishiro, I need to find out and quickly."

T'Var's research is going nowhere. Perhaps Kylah's insights will prove useful. The Vulcan doctor is determined to do everything within her power to save Fujishiro -- despite the prognosis.

Collins returns form the supply room suitably outfitted and jokes with Bancroft "Think you can take me, Lieutenant?" and she assumes an appropriate pose.

Kylah is abashed by the Captain's comments and for a few uncertain seconds is tempted to ask permission to speak to her privately. But every instinct she's learned for more than twenty years pulls against her. She just nods and makes a brief apology to the senior officers, then starts out.

When T'Var asks her to join her, Kylah hesitates, noting the others walking out around them. "I'm afraid I've told you all I know," she murmurs, then hesitantly touches T'Var's arm. "I am sorry," she says in a flat tone, looking at the older woman.

"Are you certain?" T'Var asks Kylah softly.

After a moment, Kylah nods. "However," she says once she looks at T'Var to see if her meaning has been understood, "I think there might be much to gain if we were to talk to him together--though considering his feelings about me, that may be difficult to arrange. Unless you believe you hold sway with him," Kylah adds tactfully.

T'Var lightly touches Kylah on the arm, then nods in understanding.

"I will see what I can do," she says.

Bancroft grins and says, "Let's find out, shall we?" When both are ready and the match begins, he comes at her with an aggressive flurry of blows. She defends herself ably, then begins throwing a few punches of her own. Back and forth it goes, with neither boxer clearly superior. They have a good workout, though, and Collins feels a sense of release afterwards, despite her aches and pains.

"Thank you, Mr. Bancroft. We should do this again some time." Collins shakes hands with the astrophysicist, then showers and returns to duty.

T'Var will return to Sickbay. She will check on Fujishiro's condition, then continue her research -- futile though it may be -- with Dr. Bucci.

The doctor is unsure as to how she should approach Dr. Waite. Could she appeal to their past relationship? He seems so very different from the young man she knew years ago.

Or perhaps T'Var should just accept the fact that Fujishiro is lost. This would not be the first time T'Var has lost a patient and it will certainly not be the last.

Rangin mutters bitterly to himself as they are dismissed from the room. "Primum Nil Nocere", or in his case, do nothing in case you make it worse. Its a concept, not the rule. The oath is to preserve life, not sit aside and watch someone die. But worse for who I wonder: the Sakathians, Mr Fujishiro, or more likely him. Of course, if he can ignore the problem for long enough,it will just go away. Pathetic."

Rangin decides that getting some rest is probably the best answer before seeing when he is allowed back to work. While doing so, he will go over the logs uploaded from the shuttle on the the experiments on the sakathian animals. It's probably the one area he may have a greater understanding of. It may not help Mr Fujishiro, but it may provide insight into what was going on.

Collins takes her seat at the previously-unmanned Tactical console on the Bridge just as Pourtash relieves Ens. Horst Leventhal at the Helm. Ens. Luisa Guzman is at Navigation; she nods and smiles at Collins as the Security officer assumes her post. Checking her instruments, Collins sees that the ship's phaser banks, photon torpedo tubes and deflector shields all show green. The Captain is in the big chair, talking quietly with the First Officer, who stands to her left. The stars stream past silently on the forward viewscreen as the Yorktown proceeds to Starbase 27.

In Sickbay, T'Var finds that Fujishiro's condition is unchanged: the young Japanese woman remains comatose, in a persistent vegetative state, and is now kept alive only by life support. She has lost a little weight and looks slightly gaunt, although T'Var, checking her chart, sees that she has had adequate nutrition. Dr. Villa, looking worried, discusses her condition with T'Var and says, "I've considered transferring her to the starbase hospital. It's bigger than Sickbay, of course, but I suspect the quality of care would be no better, and I'd just as soon keep her here among friends. What do you think?"

Rangin remembers that Dr. Villa already approved him for halftime duty. Science Officer Roble has not insisted that he stand a watch, however. In looking over the reports of the wide range of experiments on Sakathian animals by the joint Sakathian-Miskatonic U. research team, the xenobiologist finds nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing to contradict what Dr. Waite told him and the rest of the boarding party.

T'Var is thoughtful for a moment as she considers Dr. Villa's question.

"I believe Mr. Fujishiro, if given the option herself, would prefer to remain here with her shipmates -- whatever the outcome," T'Var tells the CMO.

Dr. Villa nods thoughtfully. "I suspect you're right. I'll think about it a bit more." She looks at Fujishiro, sighs and crosses her arms.

While looking back over the records, Rangin wonders, did any of the sakathian creatures experimented on have claws that injected poison? Thinking of it, does the same apply to Sakathians?

He's clutching at straws, but wondering if Dr Waite was a little less ethical than he led on.

Rangin looks more carefully over the data which Dr. Waite and Ens. Kylah downloaded. Not all of the Sakathian lower lifeforms are fully described (perhaps a reflection of the Sakathians' latent xenophobia), but none are described as having claws that inject poison, a feature significant enough that he would otherwise have expected it to be noted.

Returning to duty, Kylah tries not to let her distraction affect her work. However, as soon as she gets a chance, she sends a message to T'Var asking if they might have a private meeting at the doctor's convenience.

She also contacts Lt. Thalen, wondering if any headway has been made in decrypting Chief Porr's thur'lel, and offers any assistance if knowledge of Sakathian might be of any use in determining any code structure--a doubtful prospect but she decides there's no harm in offering.

Rangin leans back rubbing his eyes and wondering what happened over there. Not cross species hybridisation then as far as he can tell. Unwittingly a bad joke comes to mind, "Question: What do you get if you cross a Sakathian with a Denebian Slime Devil. Answer: Chief Porr". He shakes his head feeling guilty at the thought. It would have been better if the mission had been a bad joke, but Mr Fujishiro is lying in a coma in sickbay and Mr Porr lost his wife to whatever Dr Waite and his associates cooked up in the lab. No, that joke was not funny at all and beneath the standard that should be expected of Federation officers.

He looks up at the ceiling feeling defeated. As to what happened over there, he can't think of any method to find out what happened, and feeding Dr Waite to a Slime Devil doesn't count. He hopes that anyone else looking into it has more success.

He flicks back to see if there are any results of tests they carried out on the new livestock they had bought. More out of curiosity than anything else, wondering what impact the sub space radiation had on such creatures.

T'Var acknowledges Kylah's message and assures her that they can meet in the near future. First though, T'Var will try one more time to convince Henry Waite to tell her everything he knows about the Sakathian experiments.

While a mind meld is probably out of the question -- on moral and ethical grounds -- it wouldn't hurt to do whatever she can to persuade him to come clean.

Waite faces an uncertain fate with the University and the Federation. She might suggest to him that his assistance and full cooperation could keep that fate from destroying his life and career.

T'Var contacts Waite and asks to meet with him as soon as possible.

Unless needed elsewhere, once off duty for the day, Collins will keep her appointment with Dr. Noel. She sends Ben a message that she'll meet him after that, if he's available. They can talk some more over dinner.

Thalen tells Kylah, "Oh, right. Security still has that Sakathian gadget. Let me ask the First Officer what's been found, if anything."

Rangin sees that the subspace field experiments had no apparent effect on the Denebian slime devils or capybaras, but that three of the Bolian storks developed minor tumors after a few days. None were considered lethal, and none had, by the time the project's record-keeping ended shortly before the outbreak of altered Sakathians, resulted in any of the birds dying.

Dr. Waite agrees to meet with Dr. T'Var again, although he is clearly very reluctant. They meet in one of the private observation lounges on Deck 12, in the dorsal connection between the Yorktown's primary and secondary hulls. The Vulcan woman does her best to reason with him, but he says little other than what he's already said. He seems to see greater danger in talking about what happened than in staying tight-lipped. He seems almost like a different person from when the ship first arrived in the Sakath system.

Dr. Helen Noel, the ship's psychiatrist, invites Collins to sit down in her comfortable office, just off Sickbay. "I've discussed your situation a bit with Dr. Villa," she says. "What's on your mind today? How can I help you?"

"To say I'm conflicted is putting it mildly," Collins begins. "I have a career, a good one, in Starfleet. Meeting Ben, er, Ensign Cooper, was a bonus. I never expected it to be a permanent arrangement. But then this" she points, with both hands, to her belly "happened. Ben's first reaction was to run for the hills, and I was okay with that. I expected to terminate the pregnancy once the mission was over." Collins sighs.
"Now he wants the baby, he wants us to be a couple, I'm good with the couple thing, but a baby will take my career in a different direction, one I'm not sure i could be happy with.
"I know I have to talk to Cmdr Vargas and the Captain, but it would help if I could suss out want I want, first."

Rangin makes some brief notes on the experiments out of interest, but beyond that he can't see what else he will be able to do to help Fujishiro.

He leaves a message for Science Officer Roble to see when he would next be required for a shift, then decides he needs something to take his mind off the last couple of days instead of brooding about it.

T'Var listens carefully to everything Waite tells her.

"I know this entire episode has been quite difficult for you, Henry," she says in a soft tone. "I want to help if I can."

The doctor pauses a moment. She needs to choose her words carefully. "I fully understand your concerns because of this matter. Still, you were always a man of honor and integrity, Henry. You truly cared about the healing arts and your responsibilities as a physician."

T'Var reaches out and takes both of his hands in hers. "I am asking for your assistance. I want -- I need -- to do everything possible to save Lt. JG Fujishiro's life. Is there anything -- anything at all -- you can share with me so that I can save my patient's life?"

Dr. Noel nods thoughtfully. She proceeds to ask several questions, waiting for Collins's response to each: "Right off the top of your head, what do you think you want?" "Are you convinced Ben is sincere now, or that he's really thought things through?" "Was his first reaction perhaps more genuine?" "Is he the kind of man you'd want as a father for your child, in an ongoing parenting role for years to come?"

Science Officer Roble soon responds to Rangin, saying, "Dr. Villa told me you might need some time off, and that's fine. If you're up to working halftime, why don't you stand a 1200 to 1600 watch for the next few days, and see how that goes? We have no pressing xenobiology issues at the moment, as it happens."

Dr. Waite seems genuinely moved by T'Var's gesture. He squeezes her hands, then turns away and stands by the observation port, looking out at the stars. He rasps, "No, dammit, T'Var, I wish there were. I would tell you if there were. I don't know Fujishiro well, but she seemed - seems - like a good person, and I don't want anything to happen to her. But as I told you on the shuttle, I'm afraid her condition is terminal. You know all that I know that might be of any use in her treatment." He turns back to her and says intently, "I swear it!"

duplicate post

Collins considers each question, trying not to overthink anything
"Right off the top of your head, what do you think you want?" "I want to make Captain by the time I'm 40."
"Are you convinced Ben is sincere now, or that he's really thought things through? Was his first reaction perhaps more genuine?" "He certainly seems sincere. He's saying all the right things."
"Is he the kind of man you'd want as a father for your child, in an ongoing parenting role for years to come?" "I don't know him well enough yet to answer that. Our relationship has, had?, been mostly physical." Collins smiles wryly "Have they perfected that time travel thing yet? It'd help if I could look ahead a few years." She sighs again. "Let me ask this - has there ever been a pregnant security officer effectively performing duties beyond her fifth month?"

T'Var sighs heavily.

"I believe you, Henry."

She joins him at the observation port. "And my offer still stands. I will help you if I can."

Dr. Noel looks up and taps her stylus against her chin. "After the fifth month? Not that I've heard of... but that's not to say it hasn't happened. We could check with Starfleet Personnel, if that would help. There's no reason you couldn't go on limited duty for a few months and then continue with your career after making childcare arrangements for when you're on duty."

"Thank you, T'Var," Dr. Waite says in the observation lounge. His shoulders slump and he seems beaten down, defeated. "I know I've let you down, terribly so, and I can't tell you how sorry I am. But this is my problem now, and I'll deal with it as best as I can."

Collins considers Dr. Noel's words a few moments. "Thank you, Doctor." Jeremi gets up to leave "Ultimately, I know I have to do what's right for me. I may want to talk with you again, after I've spoken to my CO, and the Captain, and of course Ensign Cooper. But I think I know what I'm going to do." She shakes hands with the doctor, and heads back to her cabin.
Once there she composes a message to Vargas and Singh "Sirs, at your earliest convenience, I would like to meet with both of you to discuss a personal matter. signed Lt. JG Jeremi Collins." She then heads to the mess to meet Ben.

"The best way to 'deal with it' is to be as honest and forthright as possible, Henry," T'Var tells Waite.

The Captain's yeoman responds a few hours later, The Captain and First Officer will meet with you at 1600 tomorrow in the Captain's office.

Dr. Waite says nothing to T'Var, merely nods ruefully and leaves.

The Yorktown arrives at Starbase 27 the next morning. Six other ships are in orbit of the Class M world, including the Yorktown's sister ship, USS Endeavour, here for an overhaul of her warp drive. The starbase is a gleaming, bustling small city of almost five thousand population, most of whom are Starfleet personnel and their families. The Captain grants 48 hours' shore leave to any who wish it.

Pourtash is among the first to beam down. He is within earshot in the Arrivals area when Dr. Waite, who also beamed down, is approached by two tall Andorian men in dark suits.

"Dr. Henry Waite?" one asks.

"Yes?" he says.

The Andorian displays a silver badge. "Deputy Federation Marshal Thuvin. This is Deputy Marshal Rhas. The Federation District Attorney would like to speak with you, Doctor, if you'd accompany us, please."

Waite smiles thinly. "And if I don't?"

The deputy doesn't smile. "We have the authority to hold you for 24 hours for questioning in a pending felony criminal case. You're booked on the Astral Queen, bound for Earth, aren't you, sir? She leaves later today. I'm afraid you'd miss her. We'd prefer you came voluntarily."

Waite sighs. "Lead the way, gentlemen."

Pourtash loses sight of them in the crowd. He pulls out his communicator and tells T'Var what just happened.

Mission #3 has begun: http://www.mellophant.com/forums/sho...-Paradise-quot

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