Healing for the Suffering

Posted on Sun Mar 1st, 2026 @ 5:14pm by Warrant Officer Emily Douglasdale & Lieutenant Commander Mattys Plaatjes & Major T'Ria & Ensign Kynian Th'kyrheth

1,733 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Operation Shadow
Location: L'Dira: The Grid

Douglasdale landed the shuttle down on the surface in the area known as the Grid. Along with the doctor and science officer, accompanying them were two engineers and two medical personnel to assist with setting up the site. An alien shuttle landing not too far from a residential area was expected to draw attention. A few L'Dira had stepped outside their homes as they watched the shuttle land at the large facility in the distance. The doors, opened as the four enlisted stepped out and unloaded the equipment.

The Advisor Yoto Teef watched the Starfleet team unload the shuttle carrying various amounts of equipment that he was clearly unfamiliar with. Everyone on team was Human, but he shocked to see a female with pointed ears step out the shuttle who clearly wasn't Human and another Andorian. When Starfleet first arrived at the Reach they had a Trill and an Andorian with them. This Federation was a clearly diverse in its members. "Commander Plaatjes...You're Federation is clearly an impressive group."

'It's ... hmm, what do the Vulcans say?' Plaatjes pondered for a moment. 'Ah, yes, 'infinite diversity in infinite combination'. There's nothing we can't achieve while we're working together.' He didn't want to push it but leaned in towards the Advisor, 'I think it's probably the best thing we can leave you with, if we approach these things in a spirit of cooperation ... more can be achieved than trying to go it alone.'

"How could we join your Federation? If we were interested of course."

'You would apply. There are no real pre-requisites that we've established other than needing warp drive, a unified government so we know who we're dealing with,' Plaatjes shrugged, 'you're not actively in conflict with anyone, technically, you've just been er, raiding, for what you need. But I suppose once that stops, and you show that you're changing course it would be viewed favourably.' He shrugged, 'I can't tell you how long an application would take, I'm just a ships' engineer after all.'

Yoto thought about the information that was given to him. The benefits of the Federation danced in his head as he thought about the future and the possibilities. But right he needed to focus on the matters at hand. "All of that can happen in due time. What do you all need from me?"

'The engineering team will need access to the building to start the rebuild. For the medical staff,' Plaatjes nodded in the direction of T'Ria and her two sidekicks, 'a suitable room to be able to monitor your staff and see what issues they can fix for them. Although I'll be in command overall here, please defer to the Major if she makes any medical-related directives. She's more than qualified.'

"I already have a room cleared out for your medical staff," the L'Diran mentioned. "And the staff here has been advised to give your engineers the access they need to work."

'Brilliant,' Plaatjes replied as he spied the science team round the shuttle, 'oh, hey. Maybe you can provide a bit of a guide for the science team, make sure they don't stray into too much trouble out here while they do their work?'

"Yes indeed," Yoto answered. "Seana here will escort your science officer and check out the grounds."

A younger female L'Dira stepped forward and simply nodded to the group. "I am more than happy to assist."

Plaatjes raised a hand towards the two officers from the Meridiant, 'Major, Ensign, great to see you planetside. Like a beam of sunlight to bring us joy, eh?'

Kynian smiled at him and adjusted his grip on his equipment. “If you say so, sir. It’s always nice to be somewhere new, and it looks like there’s a lot here to analyze.” He took another look around, bouncing a little on his heels. “Should be good fun, if you ask me.”

'That's the spirit,' Plaatjes replied with a smile. 'If you need anything, let us know - aim of the game is to help the L'Dira clean up and get on their feet as much as we can. Hopefully they can take it from there.' Looking the Andorian up and down, he gave a nod, 'keep safe, eh?'

“Understood. I’ll keep you informed, sir, but until I know for sure what we’re looking at it’s hard to know what kind of remediation is even possible, let alone practical. Any limitations I should know to set the L’Dira up for success? Don’t want to start a project they couldn’t keep going…” Kynian cut himself off before he could keep asking questions.

'Well ... they've depleted their only source of energy,' Plaatjes said carefully, 'so any remediation offered has to be able to do a lot with very little - if we could set something up that was self-sustaining for long enough to let the L'Dira get back on their feet, I'm sure the Federation could swing by to assist in having something more permanent be put in place.'

Kynian caught on to the careful tone and he stole a glance at the L'Diran. "Good to know, sir. A lot with a little. I'll definitely keep that in mind."

'Good man there,' Plaatjes replied with another beaming smile as he clapped the Andorian on the shoulder, 'if you need anything from us while we're separated, raise us on comms. We won't be too far away, eh?'

"Aye, sir. I'll keep you informed." With that, Kynian stepped off to the side, waiting for a signal to head out.

Major T’Ria stepped down the shuttle ramp with measured precision, the heels of her boots touching alien soil without hesitation. The air was thinner than standard, carrying a faint metallic tang that registered immediately in her senses. Her gaze moved across the facility with quiet efficiency — structural integrity, power signatures, environmental hazards — each observation filed away without visible reaction.

Behind her, the two medical technicians began unloading portable biobeds and diagnostic crates. T’Ria paused only long enough to ensure their movements remained orderly before turning toward Advisor Yoto Teef.

Her expression was composed, neutral — the calm presence of someone who had already begun calculating outcomes.

“I appreciate the preparations,” she said, her tone even. “The sooner we establish a controlled environment, the sooner we can begin stabilizing your personnel.” T'Ria took a small breath, readying herself to continue when...

Teef received a call and held the communicator up to his ear. After quick conversation, he hung up. "Doctor those who are the sickest are currently enroute. They arrive in twenty minutes."

Major T’Ria inclined her head once toward Advisor Teef as the notification came through. Her expression remained composed, the stillness of a physician already shifting into procedural focus. “Understood,” she said calmly. “We will be prepared when they arrive.” She then turned to the two medical personnel accompanying her. “Establish triage immediately. I want biobeds calibrated for local physiology and environmental contamination protocols active before the first patient enters. Begin with noninvasive scans only.”

The two medical officers replied, "Aye, ma'am." As a matter of closed loop communication. They had learned rather quickly that the Vulcan medical officer did not 'govern' by committee. Her orders were law within her 'domain.'

Emily approached Kynian, tapping the Andorian on the shoulder. "I'll accompany you and our escort Seana here to get those soil samples. Hopefully we can come with some good news."

Kynian turned to her, smiling brightly at an excuse to get out of the way before he said something he shouldn't. "If we look hard enough I'm sure there's good news to be found somewhere."

"Now that's positive outlook to have," Douglasdale replied. They stepped into a ground vehicle with Seana, who proceeded to drive off with the science and helm officer to a different location.

Major T’Ria watched the ground vehicle disappear beyond the outer structures of the Grid, the dust settling slowly in its wake. For a moment the activity around her softened into background motion — engineers unloading power couplings, medical staff arranging equipment, the low murmur of unfamiliar L’Diran voices. She turned back toward the improvised medical ward.

“Status,” she asked as she stepped inside. One of the technicians looked up from a diagnostic console. “Biobeds are calibrated, Major. Environmental filters active. We’re still refining atmospheric compensation — trace particulates are higher than expected.”

T’Ria gave a slight nod. “Increase filtration by fifteen percent. Assume cumulative exposure.” She moved between the stations with quiet efficiency, checking settings herself despite the crew’s competence. A tricorder in her hand swept the air — radiation levels low but persistent, irregular spikes pulsing like a faint heartbeat beneath the background noise.

Not lethal. But with prolonged exposure…Her brows drew together almost imperceptibly. T'Ria felt it then — a subtle pressure behind her eyes. Unusual.

A few moments later, the equivalent to a human bus pulled up on the scene. About five L'Dira medical staff exited, followed by about thirty-five patients. Teef approached the group and pointed them in the right direction. The patients all lined up as instructed in the makeshift waiting room.

The head nurse who had stepped off the bus, approached the Major. "Thank you for help, doctor. I'm Medroa, the Head Nurse. Been working with these patients and many others for long time now. Glad to see that our government is finally giving this the serious attention that it deserves."

Major T’Ria turned toward the approaching nurse, her posture straight and composed, hands loosely clasped behind her back as the activity of the medical ward continued around them. The arrival of so many patients at once brought a quiet urgency to the air, yet her expression remained calm — the steady presence of a physician centered in purpose.

“Head Nurse Medroa.” She inclined her head in formal acknowledgment. “We are here to serve,” she said simply. “The alleviation of suffering is a logical priority. Your experience with these patients will be valuable to our efforts.”

The words were direct, absent ornament, yet sincere in their intent.


=================
Lt. Commander Mattys Plaajes
Chief Engineer
USS Meridian

Major T'Ria
Chief Medical Officer
USS Meridian

Ensign Kynian Th'kyrheth
Science Officer
USS Meridian

Warrant Officer Emily Douglasdale
Helm Officer
USS Meridian

 

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