=/\= U.S.S. Elara Stardate 10403.07 - "In sickness and in health part III" =/\=

The USS Elara remains orbiting the Santiago colony, otherwise known as Alera IV

The victims of the strange plague rise in numbers by the hour. Could Joseph Timrok be one of them?

=/\= =/\= =/\= Resume Mission =/\= =/\= =/\=

ACTION: Captain Wall is called to talk with the government officials and leaves Mesme in charge of the bridge

CMO Ens Cameron says:
::enters his office and sits at his desk, looking up at the current reports on the sickness, and the effects of the medicine::

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::focuses on those around him - still feeling a bit groggy::

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS: It is not common to be delirious with this disease but your first officer doesn't seem to be talking any sense

CMO Ens Cameron says:
*CO* Wall fae sickbay.  Captain, our latest reports show that the medicine is halting the progression of the disease, but it's no' makin' any dent in curin' it.

CMO Ens Cameron says:
*CO* Jes' thought ye should know.

ACTION: Wall acknowledges the doctor and tells him to continue the work. Any problems he would report to the chief tactical officer

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::acknowledges the Dr with a slight nod of her head:: Self: He doesn't always make sense.

TimS  says:
::Exits the TL on the Bridge and walks towards the CTO:: CTO: Sir, I heard you could use my help?

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ XO: How are you feeling sir?

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
::at tactical pondering over the enigma that he is currently faced with, turns to face the OPS officer:: OPS: Yes. We need to know if the rocks on the polar continents that are releasing radiation were put there by someone and if so, why

SO Krath says:
*Mesme*: Krath to Mesme

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@ ::looks up at the CNS slightly dazed :: CNS: your still here

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
*Krath*: Mesme here, go ahead

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ Dr Ashrun: We will soon see how delirious he is. ::turns back to Timrok as he speaks::

Dr Ashrun says:
@::shakes his head::XO: I am sorry this happened commander. It is most unfortunate you were infected

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@::smiles to him:: XO: Yes still here, how are you feeling now? 

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@ CNS: I've been worse - where did the blonde girl go?

SO Krath says:
*CTO* The rocks have completely lost the radiation, it dissolved into the atmosphere around and its dissipating

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::looks slightly puzzled:: XO: Blonde Girl? I'm not sure whom you are talking about sir. You may have been dreaming it; you have been unconscious for a time.

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::gives the Dr a glance as if to say he could have been right about the XO's state of mind::

CO Capt Wall says:
::in his RR talk with the official::

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@ CNS: no but I saw her here, after I woke up - she is the one who told me about the anti proteins :: see's the look the CNS is giving and doesn't like it::

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Walks towards the OPS console:: CTO: Let's see what's going on... ::Pulls up the probe's data::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ XO: I can assure you the only people in the room with you when you woke up were the doctors and I. Perhaps you were a little hazy when you woke up. ::pauses for a second, with a curious expression on her face:: And what is an anti protein?

Dr Ashrun says:
@::frowns::

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@ ::barks angrily:: CNS: how should I know!

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS: It's not a scientific term but ...

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
*Krath*: So these rocks only have a limited supply of radiation. Could you estimate how long ago it was when they absorbed the radiation?

Dr Ashrun says:
@::shakes head::CNS/XO: Doesn't make sense

CO Capt Wall says:
COM: Official: I have my entire ship working on this sickness I realize the urgency of the situation we are doing everything possible

SO Krath says:
*CTO* Minutes before it was beamed over. It started losing radiation as soon as it got here

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Sees something unusual:: CTO: Sir... The radiation.. It looks like it's emanating from the soil below the rocks, not from the rocks themselves...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::nods at the XO:: 

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@ CNS/Dr: Up until the blonde girl said it, I didn't even know such a thing existed - so she must be real

Ambassador Stok says:
COM:USS Elara: Captain, as you are there advancing slowly the population here is dying. I am not questioning your intents, just your efficiency

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: From the soil?  ::ponders:: could there be something underneath the ground then that we cannot detect?

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ :;turns to the Dr:: XO: And do you know how anti proteins are relevant 

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ Self: Perhaps we are wasting time talking with him, and we should be working on cures.

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@CNS/DR: unless of course these are just the ramblings of a madman ::looks at them both accusingly::

OPS Ens Dalary says:
CTO: Unknown... It just seems like the rocks are only used to disperse the radiation...

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
*Krath*: Understood. We think there maybe be something else generating the radiation down there, keep us informed if you find anything else.

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS/XO: We have reasons to believe the radiation is mutating a protein, at least that is one of the theories. But an anti protein? Against the mutated protein? Like an antibody? I do not know if that makes sense

SO Krath says:
*CTO* Understood, Krath out!

CO Capt Wall says:
COM: Ambassador: this sickness is a difficult mystery; we are finding very little answers for all the questions it arises

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: How long would it take to beam all the rocks from the surface, if we remove the means of dissipating the radiation we might be able to get to grips with the situation?

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ Dr Ashrun: It would seem logical that it would be the oposite of a protein, but how could we test for such a thing when we can't even define it?

Ambassador Stok says:
COM: USS Elara: Very well Captain, I will communicate that to my superiors. santiago colony out!

Dr Ashrun says:
@::shifts his gaze from the CNS to the XO::XO: Didn't your blond girl tell you which protein we are looking for?

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@XO: For now, your ideas are at least somewhere to begin looking. 

CO Capt Wall says:
::turns off his computer and stands up from his desk pulls on his tunic, leaves the RR back on to the bridge::

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@Dr: who? The imaginary one? mm no maybe I should conjure her up again and ask her

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::picks himself up out of his bed::

Dr Ashrun says:
@XO: Why don't you do that commander ::turns to the CNS again:: CNS: This does not make sense

CO Capt Wall says:
::steps on to the bridge walks up to the CTO::

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO: progress report!

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Taps on his console:: CTO: That won't be easy... We can only lock on to the bigger rocks, and even so, it would take over two weeks... Without any other use possible during that period...

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
::turns to see the CO:: CO: Sir we have concluded that the rocks are not the source of the radiation, it appears to be coming from below the surface of the polar continents. We are working on our next move now sir.

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::walks over to the window and looks out::

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Looks up as the CO enters but goes back to his console after a moment::

Dr Ashrun says:
@::still frowning, considering a dozen possibilities::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::nods to the Dr:: Dr Ashrun: Agreed. However, I am sure we can take a small amount of the resources into trying to discover what an anti protein is and if it exists. Perhaps we should go over your data showing proteins to be affected by this illness.

@ACTION: Timrok sees a busy street with many people walking, apparently getting busy to go somewhere

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::is watching the XO as he stands by the window::

@ACTION: One of them suddenly falls to the floor, everyone gets away from that person. Quickly doctors approach from the hospital and take the person in

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO: very good, we need something Ambassador Stok just gave me further news the situation on the colony is getting much worse

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS/XO: Well there is something

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: Try to get a reading of what is underneath those rocks, something must be generating this radiation

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS/XO: But how can we use a cure from a delusion?

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Activates a new sensor sweep on the probes:: CTO: Yes sir..... Awaiting data-stream from the probes...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::still watching the XO:: Dr Ashrun: A cure from anywhere is as effective as any other.

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: Then we will have to try to find him something. Perhaps we should consider sending an away team to the polar continents, if we can resist the radiation that is.

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS/XO: well, the only proteins we know it is altered are the pigments on the Andorian patients. we could perhaps make an antibody against those

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Goes over the incoming data:: CTO: Sensors show nothing odd underneath the rocks... We can't point out what is causing this radiation...

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::shakes his head at what he sees then turns back to the room::

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO/OPS: we have been looking at the surface, but perhaps it is the planet itself

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: It could be that there is a dampening field in operation. There must be something under there

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: What do you mean sir?

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@Dr: how will that help everyone else?

Dr Ashrun says:
@::watches the 2 Starfleet officers unsure of what to think of them::

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Nods:: CTO: Perhaps... But the captain's suggestion would make more sense... It could be caused by recent or past seismic activity in the area... It could have brought up radioactive material... Do we have anything on file, talking about seismic activity in this region?

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO: is the planet stable, what’s the planets core and all the other layers condition is everything normal?

Dr Ashrun says:
@XO: If the antibody targets the mutation then it will target the mutated proteins in everyone and the immune system will destroy them. IF it is a protein, IF the radiation can be dissipated

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: Sir according to these readings the planet is fine, apart from the radiation I am showing no unusual activity

CO Capt Wall says:
::mumbles underneath his breath:: CTO: I was afraid of that

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Taps his console, looking for whatever they had on the planet's tectonic systems and seismic activity::

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::sits back on his bed:: Dr: So if we can't find the source of the radiation then any cure is useless?

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: There have been 300 small earthquakes over the last 2 days; this is nothing out of the ordinary though for a planet of this size.

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO: this radiation had to come from somewhere! ::a little frustration in his voice:: we must find out the source

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ XO: Not entirely, a cure will be needed for people if we get to the worst case scenario of evacuating a planet as the radiation will have caused the start of the illness is a large proportion of the population.

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::Nods:: CNS: true

Dr Ashrun says:
@XO: Your counsellor is right though I am not very comfortable in leaving my home

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: We are working on it sir. But it’s going to take time to narrow down the possibilities...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ XO: However we have to hope the Elara is finding some clues as to the cause of the radiation.

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Frowns:: CTO: Sir....... Look, here is a figure of the tectonic plates on the planet... Don't those pole plates seem very clearly lined out to you?

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@CNS: Really? What have they found?

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO: I understand but time is something we are running out of

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::smiles to the Dr:: Dr Ashrun: I state that is the worst case scenario, hopefully we can find a cure along with the cause of the radiation.

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::shrugs::  XO: I have no idea, the last I heard was on leaving the bridge before we came down here, CTO Mesme was trying to locate the cause of the radiation.

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
::brings up the diagram on his console:: OPS: That’s interesting... and a little strange

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: I understand that sir.

OPS Ens Dalary says:
CTO: My thoughts exactly... Normally, they would go over in each other more fluently, but these simply stop there and then the next starts.... Their borders are too direct to me...

CO Capt Wall says:
::walks over to the CTO and OPS position a looking over what they are looking at as they discuss it::

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS/XO: Our medical facilities are working on the patients; do you think the USS Mendeleiev could start working on your Commander's theory?

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::puts his hands to his temples and starts massaging them::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ XO: Well he did note that radiation covered the planet to about 50km from the surface, other than that I have heard nothing more from Elara.

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: So the question is... what does this mean?

Dr Ashrun says:
@::looks at the XO::CNS: The medicine must be wearing off

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@Dr Ashrun: They would have the best facilities. ::turns to the XO:: XO: Are you alright sir?

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Frowns:: CTO: I wish I had an answer to that.... They could be an underground complex, and this are the walls.. but that's a very long shot...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::is not keen to medicate the XO again to quickly:: 

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@CNS: I'ts just a bit of a headache ::motions for the CNS to take a seat:: look, I've been thinking...

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS: Give me a few minutes, I will contact them myself. it will take a while to convince them but I guess those doctors are willing to try anything

Dr Ashrun says:
@::leaves the room::

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: And if it is a complex it’s the largest one I've ever seen. ::Takes a look at the other fault lines just in case anything else looks "weird"::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::nods to the Dr:: Dr Ashrun: Thank you, if they need more convincing we shall try and talk to them. ::takes a seat near the XO::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::looks to him wondering what he has been thinking:: XO: you've been thinking about what sir?

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::winces slightly:: CNS: I think you should return to the ship, the longer you stay down here the more risk there is of you becoming infected too

OPS Ens Dalary says:
CTO: If only we could get some readings on the fault lines... Or a sample, so we can see how much it has eroded over the years... If it's really the edge of a tectonic plate, it would be subject to heavy wear.. That would leave a lot of marks...

CO Capt Wall says:
OPS/CTO: focus on those unusual areas use whatever resources to confirm as to what they are

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: Yes sir. ::makes his way over to the OPS console::

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::watches the CNS for her reaction::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::thinks for a moment:: XO: A nice thought. Although returning to the ship after spending this long in such a situation may not be the best thing for Elara, the CO agrees with my point here ::is still feeling uncomfortable in this suit and would love to be back in her uniform again::

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Looks at the CTO:: CTO: Do you think it's possible to adjust a probe to maintain it functions under water, so we could get a sample, and perhaps some visual footage of the faultiness?

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@CNS: And if I order you to go?

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: It should be. However the pressure at those sorts of depths are going to to extreme.  It might not be possible to build one in the time frame we have.

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Sighs:: CTO: At the moment, I don't see any other way that would get us the same certainty, other than trying to find an access point to a possible complex...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::looks at him with one of those 'catch 22' faces again taking time to think of her words:: XO: The CO has ordered me to stay and when two orders are in direct contradiction to the others then the general rule is you go with the higher ranking officer, so I am afraid unless you can convince the CO otherwise, we get to spend a bit more time figuring this out down here.

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: It might be possible however to configure the transporters to get a small sample of the plate edge. But we are only talking a few particles.

Dr Ashrun says:
@::enters the room again and wonders if he came at a bad time::

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Nods:: CTO: But in order to do any real valuable research, we would need to get a slab of a few square feet out... That might do it...

CO Capt Wall says:
CTO: consult with ENG in that task; they may have a way to accomplish what you need

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
CO: Aye sir.

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::breathes heavily:: CNS: and what would you do if you didn't have the CO to hide behind? Would you go back then? ::lowers his head into his hands and gasps::

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS: The final stage is a coma, he is progressing too fast. The Mendeleiev has agreed to make the antibody

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
OPS: Well let’s just work with what we have at the moment ::gives his tail a swish:: and hope for some good luck

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
::makes his way back over to tactical::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@::is sitting uncomfortably on her chair, takes a deep breath:: XO: I would not be prepared to risk the Elara and her crew.

CO Capt Wall says:
COM: CNS: Counsellor, the rocks on the surface are not the source of the radiation, but we may have found a lead, something unusual appears at the polar regions of the planet. What is Commander Timrok's condition?

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Nods:: CTO: I'll see what I need to get adjusted to transport a slab the size we need out...

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
*Yellow*: Mesme to Yellow

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::turns back to the Dr:: Dr Ashrun: Thank you, let’s hope they get some results. Do you have any way of slowing the rate of progress for this sickness?

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::whispers:: CNS: tell him I’m ok

Lt. Yellow says:
*CTO* Yellow here sir

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ COM: CO: He is ::again there is a pause while she nods to the XO, then picks her words carefully:: Stable at the minute sir. The Mendeleiev is working on a lead we have to cure the sickness. May I ask about the suspected cause of radiation sir?

Dr Ashrun says:
@CNS: The only thing that had any effect was that medicine you brought but even that has only a limited effect as you noticed

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::mutters painfully::

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
*Yellow*: I've got a job your you Lt. I need you to try and configure a probe that can operate in the sea trenches around the planets polar plates, it needs to have the full range of sensory equipment onboard as well, and we need it ASAP.

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@::glances back at the Dr:: Dr Ashrun: And can he have more of those medicines? Would they be likely to have any more effect? Or have we reached a limit now?

Lt Yellow says:
*CTO* It will take a while sir, science equipment is very fragile. but I will begin working immediately

CO Capt Wall says:
COM: CNS: it is not a suspected cause of yet, in fact we are now trying to find out what is unusual on the scans of the polar region we are still investigating it

Dr Ashrun says:
@::nods and gets a hypo::

CTO LtCmdr Mesme says:
*Yellow*: Understood. Mesme out.

Dr Ashrun says:
@::administers it to the XO::

CO Capt Wall says:
COM: CNS: it may be nothing...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ COM: CO: I see. ::sighs hoping it would have been better news:: Sir, I shall keep you updated with our progress and wish you luck in your investigations.

OPS Ens Dalary says:
::Taps a few buttons, pulling up transport configurations:: CTO: I'll await word from engineering about how long it will take before trying to beam the slab out..... We might destabilize the fault line...

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@::faces the XO again:: XO: Sir how are you feeling.

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@::lifts his head again, listening to the CNS :: CNS: better....

CO Capt Wall says:
COM: CNS: understood, also I talked to the Ambassador a bit ago things have gotten much worse in the colony everyone is believed to be infected

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ ::smiles at his response:: XO: It’s good to hear that. 

XO Cmdr Timrok says:
@ ::nods solemnly::

CNS LtCmdr Janan says:
@ CO: Understood Janan out. ::turns to Ashrun and the XO with a look that illustrates the situation::

=/\= =/\= =/\= End Mission =/\= =/\= =/\=