Nature of Medical Emergency

Posted on Tue Oct 6th, 2015 @ 1:08am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Lieutenant

Mission: Commanding the Elements
Location: Capital City Hospital

T-52 hours
The glow of a transporter beam deposited Antos, his nurse and a four man security detail in the middle of a war zone. The transporter officer had said he would put them inside the main hospital but the corridor they were in was deserted and filled with rubble. At the far end the wall had been torn away and lay exposed to the outside.

A flash of lightning showed that outside the building was torrential rain and winds whipping bits of debris into flying missiles.

A door behind them opened and a Vulcan in dripping wet robes appeared.

"Are you the medical team from Starfleet?" he asked, seemly unphased by the devastation around them.

"Yes Sir! We are what we have for medical team." Antos commented with no emotion.

"This way if you would. We had to abandon the structure after the third major earthquake rendered it unsafe. We have established a temporary shelter on the leeward side. It is cold, but if you can stay inside it is dry."

The Vulcan lead them out through the side of the ruin to an area that looked more rubbish tip than hospital. Stone and timber had been piled and sheet iron or thick tarpaulin had been lashed together to try and form some rudimentary protection against the weather

Antos could not believe the conditions they were in. It was worse then the old MASH units of the Korean war era; Makeshift protection, little or no operating room, lack of support. He looked at the security people that were now his orderlies, "You all have basic first aid. The simple abrasions and cuts can be transported. Keep an eye out for infection and unknown contagion need to be isolated. Send them by shuttle or freighter. The more serious one go by transporter and the major cases that can't move stay here for now."

The group quickly moved to there positions and said, "Aye, sir!" as they did what they needed without complaint.

He looked to the nurse, "Help them as they need it until I have to start surgery. Then you will be helping me as well, if possible."

"Aye, sir!" She said as she looked at the mass land of patients. She grabbed a tricorder and weeded out the dead and had them moved to an empty room adjacent and away from the other wounded. This cleared some space up for better separation of the patients. She helped the orderlies from time to time.

He looked towards the engineer, "We need to try to set up a sterile environment for the minor surgical support unit and diagnostics, if possible, and possibly maybe a couple of shield generators and power unit to run them for help with protection from the elements and other debris. Then your job is to try and keep things running and help out if possible."

The Engineer just nodded, "The hospital will probably have a back up generator buried deep if I can get to it, but I'll see about getting you some more juice from these portable units here. I am figuring light is going to be top priority? They'll give you that, and maybe a small SIF for one room, but if you want a stable sterile field, I'm going to need a bigger machine."

"Do what you have to do to keep us going i have a feeling its going to get worse before they get better." Antos commented

Antos started looking over the bodies as he made his way to the center of the room. He quickly tossed notes to go and stay as the makeshift orderly's got the people moving.

They were moving the fast as they could, moving the wounded that was clean of infection and simple to under moderate issues away, and the dead to the make shift morgue. Antos was focusing on the more critical of the patients that were not able to be moved, and the others, as fast as he could to stable and move them on. The EMH will have to take care of the nastier of the patients with life threatening conditions, Antos thought as several were beamed away to the USS Cairns near by in orbit.

Antos did his best not to bother the nurse unless it was truly necessary.

"This was meatball surgery at its best!" Antos said to himself as he stole the nurse to hold a patient down for an amputation of a limb. He truly hared to do this He was glad there was still some numbing agent in the hypospray but he knew it would not last forever, and he knew he could not save the limb the damage was to extensive. As he used and old surgical saw to do the amputation since the laser scalpel failed. Blood gushed from the new wound that had to be made for the mans survival and blood got over the uniform as he tried to cauterized the wound quickly with small mini hand phaser. As the Patient Screamed from the pain he still felt even with the medicine in him.

"I am so sorry! " Antos said as he felt there pain on all levels. Even with the blocks, the further the day went, it got harder for him to keep his control due to the dwindling supplies and lack of moral support for him. Some of the flashbacks from the Dominion war were trying to sneak in again as he wrapped the wound. Remembering several of old ones dying, just for the Dominion pleasure, as they cut them up into pieces with out any pain killers and had to watch them, as well, die from blood loss and the torture. Antos shook his head trying to remove the Dominion images out of his head.

The Nurse appeared at his shoulder, a look of concern on her face, "You've been going for 4 hours straight doctor. You should take a break. You won't be able to keep this up for two straight days."

Antos took a few minutes to relax a bit. but he was still antsy. there was to much to do he thought. As he saw the endless patients.

He tried to keep the others going as he refocused on trying to save the lives he could, as He thought of something to say, as he cleared his throat, "I know this is not an easy assignment, and we all never asked for this, but you're the best of the best, to be here and on the Victory. I appreciate the professionalism and dedication to duty. You all have gone way beyond everyone's expectations."

Antos quick speech to them all seemed to work, as he took a moment for a quick breather, then he continued on the more troubling cases of an unknown contagion. As he scanned what he had left of his tricorder to retrieve all the information he could get of this disease and shipped the result's to the EMH for analysis.

T-48 hours
As time went on most of the medical tools failed as the day went on or ran out of medical supplies. He was truly thankful that the engineers were keeping the shield up for them and helped out with triage as well. Around Midnight, he noticed the engineer trying to keep the shield online as smoke started to come from one shield generators and then sparks flew and rained a shower of sparks of the man.

"Watch out!!" He screamed, making sure no one else was caught in the smoke and sparks. Luckily the man was not hurt just a big black markings on his face and uniform. The fact that he was drenched form rain helped protect him from catching light. It reminded Antos of the old black and white movies that a black man was in costume as a black daisy. The orderly's had to move some patients to another section as now they rain and wind also debris was now coming in through the now downed shield.

"I..." the engineer stuttered, looking at the smouldering unit. "I'll see what I can do. I'd still rather have the big unit from inside if we can spare people to retrieve it."

"Take who you need to get us some safety and protection from the elements. I trust you. If necessary, contact the ship for extra power or shield units." Antos offered as he took another small break before the next set of patients arrived. "Request more meds and beds." Antos added as he took a seat a moment due to everything was caught up.

"Aye, sir," The engineer said, already moving away.

"Nurse when is the next wave or patients are due??" Antos asked, looking worse then he felt at the moment.

"They are just turning up in dribs and drabs, mostly," she replied. "Everyone is trying to get to the space port from the outlying towns, but the weather is taking its toll."

"Oh! Nurse please check on the EMH and give me numbers of open beds or free space available left among the fleet for patients. We will need a fully equipped medical ship or two with this unknown contagion popping up out of the blue is not helping things much. Thank you, nurse." Antos asked.

"We don't HAVE a fully equipped medical ship," the nurse snapped, the last couple of hours had taken their toll on her as well. "Sorry, doctor."

"Its alright nurse. I should have explained myself better. Lets request we get some here as the medical ships go. " Antos Ignored the outburst he could feel the stress cracking hard on her. "I am going to my rounds quickly.And then take a break Then deal with the morgue and the autopsies there until the next set of new patients arrive." He turned away from the nurse so she would relax a bit before the next wave hit. he did what he had to do was his minor series of rounds of the current patients that were still there, Antos did not want to think of dealing with the morgue and the autopsies. All Antos wanted to do is scream in frustration and release some stress but he knew that would not due much for morale.

After finishing the round noting that patients were resting as comfortably as they could under such conditions. And he could feel there worry and concerned for the lack of transportation so they could leave the surface too. Antos did his best not to make them worry and made them comfortable as they all could till the shuttles returned for more injured. Anots sighed hard as he approached the room with all the dead in there. As he looked through the window he saw a table was already set up for him with a body waiting to be examined. All he could do for now was a quick scan of all the bodies first and started the deeper task of finding out what exactly killed them as he went through each body one by one. Trauma, contagion or other issues.

He left the odd bodies that the family wished it to be left alone. He made notes of this and moved on to the next till he was all done. Of course more blood on the uniform after he was finally done. As he had the bodies moved from there to a staging area for the corpses to be placed in Stiroilite sterile field to protect them from there decaying process and preserving the bodies. until the ran out of stirolite. then they would place them in body bags and placed out of the way to be retrieved later on by transporter or by shuttles to take them back to there homeworld or given proper burial.

By this time Antos was tired but he took sometime to rest and lazied on a series of rocks that was like a makeshift recliner and dose off for a bit while he had the chance too. He was lucky he had about a 2 hour nap as did the others rested they all regained some strength during that time. As they started to hear shuttles returning for more wounded to take to the ships in orbit. "He we go folks! Your ride is here!" Antos commented as he heard cheers from some of the patients and others were to out of it to care. "Lets get all we can on the shuttles."

As he watched the others get up and moving the patients to the shuttles that were near by the shield generators that were running to shield them from the still nasty weather and debris still raining down. As an engineering team came off one of the shuttles bringing another series of power units and a replacement shield generator to replace the one that died in the line of duty. The odd engineering team could not believe there eyes of all the damage and and dead that were there along with the still living patients. They quickly placed the units for the other engineers then headed back to the shuttle to return to the ship.

Antos yelled quickly to them. "Thank you gentleman for the resupply. Its greatly appreciated by all." as he turned and finished clearing out the clean wounded from the field as the others that still were contaminated with the contagion were stuck here till he heard something from the EMH. "Lets get the area cleaned up!" the next shuttles with the wounded should be here anytime." Antos commented to all. He could fell the patients disappointments and frustrations because they were not going. It was getting a bit over whelming to Antos. He did his best to block them out. As he started to get reports the storms were going to get worse and patient load might get heavier as well. "Great!!" He snapped a bit louder then he intended. ""Sorry!" as he turned away from the patients now and moved back to the main surgery area they had a chance to create after the area was cleared enough to treat patients better with the extra power from the ship and the others running cables from the hospitals generator system to create lighting and more power to run the MASH Hospital.

"Thank goodness!" as he saw a flicker of lighting starting to come on and his sterile field systems coming online. Along with the other diagnostic equipment. He took a deep breath before he spoke again."Do we have a link to the ship?" Antos inquired. "Everyone take a quick break while you can get something to drink or eat from the rations before the next wave comes."

The engineer replied, "We've got comms, but the link is barely strength two. Voice only, and patchy."

Antos looked at them before they left. "We need reliable communications Please find me a way to have that!!" Antos almost pleading. As the engineers left. Antos turned back to the other without saying any word as he went and took a seat next to Main bio bed that was finally set up and somewhat working. And took a seat on a stool and waited for new patients or a message from the EMH. He let out a sigh of frustration.

"I hate being in the dark," He thought and transmitted not really realizing he did. A Vulcan nearby looked around in confusion and Antos remembered that some Vulcans were telepathic even if it was not as widespread or as developed as the Betazoid ability.

T-44
With a weak dawn came a new development. Despite the best attempts at maintaining a sterile environment, blood, standing water, and tired people had combined to introduce a new threat. A contagion that Antos had detected early but been unable to spend time isolating or treating was beginning to become more evident and even being picked up in people who had not arrived with it.

The Nurse wiped her muddy brow, "It's being transferred between patients. If we separate the infected then we may be able to contain it, but with only you as the doctor, we can't have you moving back and forth between the two groups. You either treat the infected or everyone else. I will work with the other group as best I can, but it is going to slow everything down."

"Yes, let's separate them! If we can keep this contained the better off we will be," Antos was worried about all of his patients. He was looking like he fought a few rounds and started loosing. "You take care of the infected and I will deal with the non infected. You're right I don't need to catch what ever it is, now, or we all could die."

- But it is fine if I die of infection - The nurse thought bitterly. Antos was aware of what the nurse thought, but was also aware that the Nurse took her duty seriously, and disease and death were part of the job. She would do what was asked of her.

"We will need separate transports for each group," she continued, "and any 'plague ships' might find they are not allowed to dock under Starfleet Quarantine rules. that means we will loose one more transport craft each time we fill it with infected."

"Or," suggested a security orderly hesitantly, "We just let it spread and worry about it when we have got everyone off the planet."

"I appreciate the idea! But we will deal with the non infected getting them off the surface first to the ships first, then we can deal or focus on the infected and the dead."

The security officer nodded, "It seems to be mostly Bajoran's at the moment. Maybe the Vulcan's are immune?"

"Move the dead further out and the morgue as well away in a protective shelter that's still left and is sound." and then move all the infected to a protected side of the hospital wing that's still intact. for there safety and protection." We can still deal with the non effected patients here." Antos hated doing this they were segregating all of them more now.

"Aye, Sir," the officer responded. "At least the rain seems to have stopped for now."

"That's true, but it wont last." Antos said calmly as he heard a crack of thunder in the distance.

"You'll need to eat, Doctor," the nurse provided, "And once we set up quarantine, I won't be here to remind you."

"Very well nurse!" Antos sighed. As he heard the other comment. "You will find a way you always do!"

"We should alert Command and the evacuation ships of the situation," the Nurse suggested, picking out a Ration pack from the supplies they had received during the night.

Antos new the nurse was right and he did have the time to do it. As he attempted his combadge, =^= "Dr Antos to captain! =^=

=^=Go ahead Antos,=^= Elijah said on the Comm


=^= We have a new development of an unknown infection or contagion were doing our best to contain. We have separated the dead and the infected from the non infected. I figured we better add the update to you and others! I am still waiting results from the EMH." =^= Antos said with a solemn tone in his voice. Antos hated to give bad new there was enough on the plates now there is more.

=^= Understood, keep my updated.=^= He said before closing the link.

T -36
By four in the afternoon Antos was asleep on his feet. Nearly 24 hours had passed and the pressure hadn't reduced any. A steady stream of sick had been disappearing by transporter and shuttle, but there always seemed plenty to take their place. The number of infected was growing as more cases were brought in, and the Nurse had developed a cough which sounded concerning as well, but there was nothing he could do for her while she was in the isolation ward. At least she was able to sleep, since her patients were somewhat less demanding.

One of the security orderlies appeared in front of him. It took Antos a moment to register through the grey haze of exhaustion that the man was talking to him.

"Sir, we've got a signal from the Victory. The USS Prospero has reached capacity and is moving off. All patients will now be transferred to the Cairns, but we have to use Shuttles as the Cairns needs to keep her shields up. The Agamemnon is still servicing the more remote dwellings."

Antos sighed at the news, "Figures more bad news!"

He knew it was not the man's fault; he was just relaying the information. "Have we heard anything from the EMH??" he asked, as he finished off his last patient for the moment.

"It's a virus, transferred by moisture. Fairly easy to filter out with the transporter biofilters, and manage on a dry starship, but here..." he gestured to the mud and rain.

"Well I hope the get more shuttles then or were going to have to pack them more effectively."

He was getting more worried about his nurse knowing full well she was not doing well, he could feel it. "Please, goddesses, help us!" He said with a small and quick prayer, as He took a moment and tried to lay down again and relax a bit. He took a minute to eat and drink as well.

T-30
He managed to get some sleep towards evening, but was woken by some raised voices yelling in the area outside the surgery. checking the chronometer it was 22:00 local time.

Stepping outside he saw a small, type 15 shuttle pod was parked in the landing area. in front of it his two security guards were trying to break up a fight between a Bajoran civilian and the Starfleet pilot.

The pilot stepped away as soon as he was able to get clear of the man's grasp.

"WO!! WO!! Whats going on here" Antos demanded as he forced himself into the middle of them between the Bajorians and the Pilot. "Calm down and tell me whats going on??"

He tried his best to keep a low tone. He stood his ground trying to make sure they stayed apart. "Well??" he asked, looking back at the pilot and then back at the Bajorians.

"Ensign Howe, USS Carins," the man reported to Antos. "I am the last shuttle pod, and I only have room for three more. When I get back, the Cairns will be at capacity and we have to move off."

"He wants me to leave my wife and child behind to rot in there," the Bajoran bellowed pointing to the isolation tent.

"I don't have room for bedridden patients, and quarantine rules won't allow me to take them anyway," Howe protested.

The Bajoran husband and father made a few explicit remarks about what Howe could do with his quarantine rules.

"I am sorry! Were doing the best we can. You know the rules just as well as the others, and breaching quarantine would cause more issues, including making the Carins to be placed into strict orbit and added to the quarantine with the rest of the infected patients."

"As opposed to leaving them Here to die!" Antos did not need to be a telepath to be aware of the man's distress.

"I am working hard as I can to find a cure for this ailment. You have to be patient. Please," Antos attempted to plead his case. "And the others. It's not the pilots fault; he is following orders too keep all safe."

Antos waited to see what else he had to say, "Please, go back and be with your family. I don't want you hurt or in the brig. We all are scared and tired and also hurting. Please give me the chance to get this cure." Antos pleaded one last time. As he heard the wind to start picking up again.

"I'm not allowed in to my family. They are all in that bloody quarantine tent, and your Starfleet muscle won't let me in." The man growled.

"I am sorry you not contaminated and they are? you know the rules just as well as all of us. I know you want to be with family don't get me wrong i do too.Please be calm and patient were all doing the best we can to get through a tough situation."

"I have room for three if you have anyone who is not bedridden," Howe offered.

"No one left at the moment," One of the security orderlies replied, "unless we start evacuating members of the away team."

"More might come in later," the other supplied, "but I don't think anyone will be able to travel in this storm tonight. How long can you wait?"

"I can't," Howe answered reluctantly. "We have critical patients on board and need to get back to the station as soon as we can. The Agamemnon and Victory are still in orbit, though."

"Go, then, get those people to safety. There might be no choice but to fly in this storm, but its up to the captain on that one," as Antos sighed and a bit heart broken at the whole situation.

The engineer met Antos as he came back into the shelter, "I had an idea about the Morgue, sir. I know you are keen to take as many of the bodies as we can but we are limited in transporter capacity. Well, we could use the Cargo transporters without Quantum Resolution engaged. Personnel transports use Quantum Resolution to maintain life function, but Cargo transporters can be run without them to move large quantities of Non-living material. If we are sure the people are dead, then it won't harm them to be shipped as a mass cargo, though it might upset the Bajorans; not very respectful of the dead and all that."

"Proceed! What ever has to be done. And yes they're all dead, so I don't see why we could not use the cargo transporters to take their remains home, unless they want their dead buried here, then we can do that. If we have to bypass the Bajorians for now until it is necessary," Antos commented as he moved back to a chair and took a seat and had a small bite of jerky and a drink of water.

T -25 hours.
It was 01:00 hours when Antos was roused again by raised voices tensions were at a peak, and his head was throbbing.

Coming outside he again found his security people breaking up an argument between two locals; a Bajoran and a Vulcan. Behind each was a small gathering of their kind.

Antos moved over to the small group and moved in between them both. "Report!" Antos said a bit irritated. He had better things to do then keep putting out fires that other people start he thought.

His security officer reported, "The Agamemnon has reached capacity and is leaving. The Victory is the only ship left now. These... gentlemen feel that it is time to restructure our evacuation plan."

The Vulcan speaks calmly, "I pointed out that it seems logical to give priority to the more valuable members of society."

"By which," the Bajoran fumed, "You mean only Vulcans."

"It is not a Racial distinction," the other countered, "But because of our longer life, we have a greater pool of experience that we provide. Additionally our capacity for longevity makes us a better investment of resources."

Antos felt the tension rising in the Bajorans. A fight could well break out.

"Please calm down!" Antos said quickly as he looked at the Bajorans a moment then back to the Vulcans. "We have one star ship here in orbit and still have the extra shuttles that will still carry people to safety I am sure there is enough room for both groups as long as they're not infected or so badly injured they could die. "Go back to your camps and relax. Pray with the profits for guidance and understanding that we all get out of here safely."

The Bajorans grumbled but did seem to calm a little at the call to their higher cause.

He looked to the Vulcans, "Since you are so long lived and have expertise, maybe one of your scientist or doctors can help me find a cure for this infection that is spreading among the people. Plus we need to find better locations just in case things get worse from the coming storms that were brewing again."

Antos looked at both the Bajorians and Vulcans, "Well, can I get the help or not? Or do I put you all out? Then we can sort this out later after the crisis is over. I do have patients that need me; both Vulcan and Bajoran alike."

One of the Bajorans spoke up. Antos recognized him as the one who brought in his infected wife and child. "I can go and look at the Hospital and see if we can find some secure space inside. I know it is barely sound, but unstable brick walls may end up being better than this tarp and tin shelter.

The Vulcan seemed to consider this, "Many of our medical staff were killed or seriously injured when the hospital collapsed, or have since been moved out with transports. I am a viticulturist, but I will lend what aid I can in your research. I do not believe, with my shattered shoulder, I will be much good at building further accommodation."

Antos looked to the Bajorian. "Please proceed we might need to move soon." Antos said quickly, as the crowd started to disperse, as they had something to do. "Mr. Vulcan all I can say any help is helpful at this point, and I welcome your advice and wisdom in this matter. Please follow me as I get the readings for you."

T-24 hours (2AM)

An hour later Antos was startled by his com pin crackling alive.

=^= Attention all remaining away teams, we have an emergency situation. The solar event has radically shifted and the time table has shifted from twenty four too two hours, I repeat two hours. We are re-prioritizing pick ups. Again, the time table has become two hours and we a re-prioritizing pick ups. Please Acknowledge. =^=

Antos tapped him com-badge. =^="Acknowledged Victory! What are the changes??" =^= Antos asked before the com channel fails again, as he continued to work on more patients. As he waited patiently for the reply.

=^= The infirm and families with children will be given priority. =^=

"No real change here then," The security officer responded when the line went dead.