First Days - Part 6
Sanek checked off yet another status report, handing the PADD back to the yeoman when he was finished. As the yeoman walked back to the turbolift, Sanek scanned through the damage reports and status messages on the viewscreen ahead. The screen showed what he already knew... his ship was damaged fairly severely. Both C and D decks had received critical damage due to electric overloads of the sensor systems; D desk itself had been vented to space after an explosion caused by the still malfunctioning tetryon banks sparked off secondary explosions of the shield array systems. Commander Vaareler had been able to isolate the hull breach quickly; unfortunately several crew were critically injured and one was lost, sucked into the vacuum of space before the breach was isolated. The secondary explosions had also caused several serious fires to break out... D deck had received the worst of it with electrical fires causing more than forty percent of the deck to be eventually engulfed, while C deck had several blown panels that caused severe smoke and isolated fires that had been extinguished. Many crew were injured with burns and smoke inhalation.
The hull breach had forced Sanek to come out of warp so that the critical damage could be repaired. Damage to systems caused by the explosion that had breached the hull was causing severe power fluctuations and until they could be isolated and controlled, the draw on the warp core was sufficient to make warp speed dangerous to the integrity of the warp engines. As such, they were continuing towards Sol Station at full impulse power until repairs could be completed allowing warp speed. Their current position was approximately two point six five light years from the Kei system; that placed them approximately three point two nine light years from Andoria, where they could turn should their situation become more serious.
Sanek turned to Vaareler. "Commander Vaareler, you have the conn. I'll be in Medical should my presence be required." He got up out of the captain's chair and moved to the turbolift.
Vaareler turned, responding with "Yes, Captain. I have the conn." She moved to the captains seat and sat, familiarizing herself with the ship's current status and systems.
As Sanek stood in the turbolift, he again analyzed his decision to continue projecting the Nadion beam despite the draw on the ship's systems and warp core. The explosion had been an unexpected problem. His calculations had not included the tetryon bank malfunctions being tied to the auxiliary power arrays. His responsibility to the integrity of the ship and to the wounded, and dead, crew was clear. As he considered this, the turbolift came to a stop, and the doors hissed open.
The acrid stench of smoke still lingered in the air, and was an immediate assault on his sense of smell. To his right were several crew working on the corridor panels and lighting. Several panels still had black streaks on them from fire damage. He turned to his left and after a short walk entered Medical.
The waiting room had been converted into another emergency room facility; all the chairs and table had been removed and replaced with temporary cots. Every cot held a crew member... some with burns, some with smoke inhalation victims, some with more serious injuries. Sanek stopped for a moment and surveyed the room, carefully noting each crew member, before he continued into the medical center proper.
Inside, the normally spacious room was now so crowded with temporary cots in addition to the standard medical beds that there was little room with which to move about. The doctors were swiftly moving from cot to cot and bed to bed, checking monitors, conversing with the injured personnel, or giving shots for pain or other necessities. The room was alive with noise, the beeps of respiratory and pulmonary monitors, the groans of burn victims, the quiet chatter of the nurses and doctors.
As it would be illogical to enter the room and make it more difficult for the medical staff to continue their work, Sanek stood to the side out of the way. He finally saw Commander Solida in the far corner where she usually reserved the more critically injured; she was closely examining an injured crew member. As he watched, she suddenly became more animated; she made several attempts at what appeared to be resuscitation before she closed her eyes and lowered her head, and then slowly drew the sheet over the crew member's body. She then looked up and began to move around the bed when she noticed Sanek. An indecipherable expression came over her face, and she picked her way through the room until she was standing before him.
"Captain," she began, rather testily, "is there something I can do for you?"
Sanek noticed the inflection of her tone, and chose to ignore it. "I am here to inquire as to the status of the injured, and each of their prognosis."
Solida's expression became slighly more upset. "You could have done that from the bridge," she challenged.
"That is true, doctor," Sanek replied, "however, I have a responsibility to the crew and to the injured. I have come to lend whatever assistance I can."
"Is that so?" Solida's eyebrow raised. "Then you can follow me to my office, Captain," she stated coldly, and turning, walked off out the door and through the waiting room, threading her way through the cots as she went. Sanek followed, and entered her office behind her, the door hissing shut once he was inside. Her office was typical of her workspace since he'd known her... medical periodicals strewn about, files and papers scattered and stacked on her desk. He noted that she still had the flower he had picked for her, at her request, on Risa many years ago on her desk... still potted and alive.
Solida stepped around her desk and flopped down into her chair. She was obviously exhausted... there were dark circles under her eyes, her normally carefully kept hair was in disarray, and she had smears of what appeared to be soot or dirt on the left side of her face and her forehead. She looked hard at Sanek for a moment.
"What the hell happened, Sanek?" she suddenly almost shouted.
Sanek was quiet for a moment before he replied. "There was an explosion in the particle acceleration circuitry of the tetryon banks that caused electrical feedback through the auxiliary power arrays. This resulted in secondary explosions throughout the array power couplings. The fires were an unfortunate by product of the situation."
"And you didn't consider this possibility before you began projecting the Nadion pulse?"
"Negative. The explosion was an unforseen problem with the tetryon banks. As such it was not part of my power calculations. Had such an issue been prevalent as part of the equation, I would not have ordered the Nadion pulse projected."
Solida threw up her hands. "Well! At least that's something..." She turned to look out the window, gazing at the distant stars for a moment. She sighed heavily and put her head in her hands. "I have a lot of really, seriously hurt people out there," she said quietly, almost in anguish. "Three are now dead... I just lost one of my nurses. He had burns over most of his body." She looked up suddenly, and saw that Sanek was still standing. "Oh Sanek," she said testily, "do sit down, alright?"
"Negative, doctor," Sanek replied. "Sitting while those outside are in need of assistance and care would be illogical."
Solida's eyes narrowed. "And is that supposed to infer something?"
One of Sanek's eyebrows shot up. "I am unaware of any inference. I was merely pointing out a fact." He regarded her for a moment before he continued. "I understand your emotional reaction to the situation. While illogical, it is noted and expected. I have known you for some time, and understand your need to place blame in circumstances such as this. My calculations were in error; as such, it is I that you can - and should - blame for this situation."
Solida's eyes softened, and she shook her head. "No, Sanek. I won't let you off that easy." She almost smiled. "I have known you for some time as well, as you put it." She sighed. "No, I don't blame you. I'm just tired, I'm frustrated and angry, and the pain those outside are going through is wearing on me."
"May I inquire as to the number of injured and their conditions?" Sanek queried.
"Well," Solida began, "I have twelve with burns; three with critical burns that are requiring constant care. Two are serious... the rest, while painful, are not life threatening but may result in scarring I might not be able to remove. A couple of those have broken bones - in one case two broken ribs, and the other a broken femur." She paused for a moment before she continued. "I have six with internal injuries, mostly related to broken bones. One of them happens to be Chief Engineer Gyphid I might add."
"I am aware of his status," Sanek stated.
"Ok," she sighed. "Of the rest, twenty-three, have various painful but non life threatening injuries... several broken arms and legs, contusions, cuts and scrapes, and a couple concussions."
Sanek watched her for a moment. "Then if I may, doctor," he continued, "shall we proceed? I am not a doctor, but as you are aware I have considerable experience in biology and physiological sciences. I can assist where you need."
"Certainly." Solida got up and moved towards a cabinet where she removed several items, one of them an injector. She handed this to Sanek as she moved towards the door. "Take this, it has nanoketoprofen installed. I'd like you to go through each patient outside in the waiting room and ask them if they are in any pain... if they are, give them a single shot of this. It's set for two CC's, which is all they should need. After the shot, monitor their condition for a minute or two to ensure no side effects occur. Most of them will probably fall asleep shortly after the injection." She was all business now.
"Certainly, doctor," Sanek replied, as they both moved towards the door.