The Coward's Weapon (part 1)

Posted on Tue Mar 14th, 2017 @ 7:13am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Helga (Hel) Lowe & Lieutenant Illise Hale & Lieutenant Verdeath Newmark

804 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: USS Calypso
Timeline: Day 3, afternoon

ON

[Science Lab 2]

Illise sat at her desk looking down at the small black case the Commodore had had delivered to her office while she was on the surface. She reached out and opened the clasp holding the contents securely. Inside was a small PADD and a silver vial, tucked carefully into foam padding. The Kings blood - and suspended within, the toxin which had killed him.

The PADD contained the initial test report from the Jenefran science team. She pulled up the data and was dismayed by what she saw. The Jenefrans may have advanced to the point of achieving warp technology, but their medical forensic department left much to be desired. Included an brief break-down of the toxin, identifying only a fraction of the chemical components and labeling the rest as 'unknown'. The official statement from the lead scientist attached at the end of the disappointingly short report had only this to say, 'The toxin present in the blood sample remains of an unknown design and manufacture. Being a synthetic compound containing elements not previously recorded by our scientists, it is our conclusion that the toxin must be of alien origin."

Another flashing sign pointing directly at the Federation.

The nature of the toxin and it's apparent off-world origins worried Illsie. She was not so naive as to believe that it could not be of Federation design, although other outside factors could have provided it to someone on the planet. It was the timing of it's use that looked particularly bad. This was no coincidence. Either someone within the Federation was guilty, or someone wanted them to appear so. As a scientist, she had to remain impartial during the investigation. As an officer of Starfleet and a citizen of the Federation, she found that the whole situation left a bitter taste in her mouth. If the investigation did indeed conclude that the Federation was responsible for the assassination of the King, she would work hard to ensure those responsible were pulled out of the shadows and brought to face justice.

Illise placed the PADD back in the case with the vial and snapped it shut. She stood up from her desk and picked up the case. It was cold in her hands. Exiting her office she crossed the main lab. As she passed, she caught the eye of one of the other scientists.

"If anyone needs me, I will be in the Medical Labs." Illise told her and the woman nodded in acknowledgement. Without another word Illise left the science department.

[Medical Lab]

It only took Illise a few minutes to make the journey through the ship to the Medical Labs, but with her thoughts dark and far away contemplating the possibilities, it felt longer. When she reached the door, Illise entered without breaking stride.

Helga noticed Illise and smiled. "Hello, Lieutenant Hale. Can I help you with anything?"

Illise smiled back at her, feeling instantly better for it. "Hello, Nurse Lowe. I am here to see Dr. Newmark; we have an appointment."

"The Doctor is in lab 3," Helga replied. "Please come this way."

She led Illise through a side door and down a corridor to the door to lab 3. She knocked once and stuck her head inside. "Doctor Newmark, Lieutenant Hale is here to see you."

Newmark looked up from the sample he was working with and gave a nod. "Where is the time getting to Helga?" He said while rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Thank you , would you send her in please?"

Helga stepped back. "Go on in. Let me know if you would like me to bring you some tea later."

"Thank you, but I think we will be quite busy." Illise replied. She hated having to keep the crew away from this. But if the evidence pointed to a Federation source for the toxin, they may need to look at their own personnel before this was over. Not wanting to be rude however, she quickly added, "If I change my mind I will let you know." She gave Helga another friendly smile and entered the lab.

"Then I will leave you and the Doctor to your work," Helga said, turning and heading back to main sickbay.

Newmark was just getting the centrifuge into rotation to break down the varied elements. "Come in Lt Hale, I was just getting the initial readings and beginning to filter through the system so that I can cross reference the Medical Database to start with."

Illise set the case down on a nearby table and opened the clasps. See took out the vial and held it out to the doctor. "The seal is good." She told him.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer

Senior Chief Petty Officer Helga Lowe
Nurse

Lieutenant Verdeath Newmark
Doctor

 

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