So we have a cure?

Posted on Fri Jan 28th, 2022 @ 10:22pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton & Lieutenant Vanessa Jackson

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: Science offices
Timeline: Prior to Ritual

It was still a while before they would hear back from Drex, so. xavier made his way to the science lab, hoping there was some new detail about the illness that was overcoming the inhabitants.of the planet.

Walking into the labs looked around. "So what you guys have so far. Is the Lt going to be alright?"

"The doctor says she'll be fine," Vanessa said, looking up from a terminal. "As for where we're at, I'll let you ask Lieutenant Milumad."

"Lt what's your diagnosis as a scientist. "

"As a scientist, and from what I've seen, I can definitely say that the air quality and the mining conditions are a big part of the problem. The doctor is looking into bacteriological causes, but he hasn't said if he's found anything conclusive. He is sure we have the means on the ship to help the lieutenant."

"That is good to hear, she doesn't seem too worried, more so for the planet."

"Yes," Vanessa said. "That is a greater concern at the moment. At least from a scientific and health perspective."

"Along with everything else." Xavier replied, looking at the computers. "Sometimes I wish I could read all this mumbo jumbo."

"Then you'd be down here instead of on the Bridge," Vanessa said with a smile. "I think you're better suited to command--no offense intended."

"Perhaps you are right Lt. Is there anything you guys require before I return to my tiny corner."

"You'll have to ask the lieutenant and the doctor, I'm afraid." Vanessa couldn't speak for the two department heads.

Amelix kept turning her head to the left and right, light deflecting each time she turned. "Science and medicine are really the same thing if you think about it. However, medicine is just one small portion of it and it is highly specialized." The Tygarian turned her head and flashed a reptilian smile over at the Captain. "If you really want me to take a long look at this, I could! I mean, I love learning new things and I could certainly make my best attempt to figure it out, but I'm more than certain that the doctor would figure it out first, unless, perhaps they're interrelated." She smiled wider at that thought. "Oh, wouldn't that just be the most fun! Science and medical working together?!"

Milton came into the Science lab with several data disks.

"Captain." Milton had the look of a man determined despite a little glowing Pix on his shoulder. "I have some preliminary results and was just heading here to get final verification." He offered a disk to Lt Jackson. "Here is the sample of a particle that could be the culprit, but it is of such a small size that Science particle systems are calibrated to a better range to verify than the Medical. He informed them. "The varied particles in the Galaxy that you study are more diverse and if you could just run a scan to assure I have the correct isolated one would be a help.

Vanessa took the PADD with a nod of thanks. "I'll check it now." She went over to the computer where they'd been analyzing the data from the planet and separating out the various particulates in the atmosphere and copied over the data.

"If Science can verify the particle, that will close the observation and analysis." Offering a PADD to the Captain. "The basics of it comes down to a Gas particle, very small and below the normal scan threshold." He explained. "With the size it gets past most filters and accumulates in the body." He informed. "Prolonged exposure breaks down cell tissue in the cases we have seen. " He took a breath. "The good news is in most cases it is reversible.. but to stage three..." A pained expression crossed his face, Pix dimmed a little as he spoke. "Those in the Intensive care of at Terminal level... cannot be reversed.

Going over the padd. "Stage three thats better than they had yesterday."

Highlighting proportions.

Stage three is on oxygen but with some genetic filtering we could ween out the damage to a degree, those patients will need rehabilitative threapy but will recover with recommendation to finding less harsh environments for their tender lungs, Stage two is hospitalized with symptoms like severe bronchitis but able to full recovery. and the Adaptive screens can be adapted now that we know the size to eliminate further exposure." He grinned. "If Lt. Jackson's tests verify the conclusions I have come to?"

"Luckily the small particle means the farther away from the mines the better and limited exposure to those working the mines would be advised for those affected. With the filters and better air filtrations it should put an end to the dangerous outbreak, but will call for extending diligence to make sure they keep it contained during production."

Xavier sighed, there was nothing they could do in those they had seen down on the planet, however there was hope for the others. "What's the old saying, you can't save everyone... Hopefully we can make their final days painless."

"It should also help show the Federation how important it is to send a team here to help the colonists," Vanessa added.

"Ok, the mine is located in the middle of town... So if we convince them to move the city... How far away from the mine? At this point I am sure they will do anything required." He set the padd down. "Whether we like it or not, it has been partially our fault over the two centuries, with the Cardassian war, and the amping up of our ship production, we kept rising the quantities, so damn right they need to send a team. "

Amelix bounced up from her chair. "I can't believe that there is not a way to save everyone! I'll get right to work on finding something! If medical can't do it, then science can!"

"I don't think Starfleet will let us stay here that long," Vanessa said, chuckling. "But knowing you, you'll be working on the problem until you solve it, whether we're here or not."

She turned to the Captain. "It would depend on how far the particulates have spread, and how hard it would be to commute from the mine to where they live. Ideally, it would be better to move the mine, if there's another location within a hundred kilometers of where they currently live. Otherwise, we'd have to bring in teams to build them a new home, complete with transporters to get to and from the mine."

"Would they be willing to close this mine up though. From my understanding this is their main vein for the ore."

Amelix was not certain how to take her Assistant's reaction. Was that a compliment? Or did she think that she could not handle such an assignment in a timely manner? Whatever the case might be, Amelix was determined to solve the problem. Or was she supposed to be working on creating state of the art medical equipment. Or was it the mystery of her rock? There were always too many thoughts going through her mind.

Xavier thought about it for a moment, "Given the situation, and the structural integrity not up to par with federation protocols, moving the mine will probably be the first order of business. If need be there are robotics that can mine the old shafts until the new mine is properly closed."

"That sounds like it would be the best course of action," Vanessa said. She was sure Amelix would come up with some interesting ideas. She knew never to underestimate what her Chief could accomplish when she put her mind to it.

"If I know the three of you well enough, I highly doubt that this will be the ending point of finding help for those that we can't currently help. What we have is preliminary. I am sure that we won't just stop searching for help for the remaining that is in the terminally ill. Keep working on samples, perhaps we can find a way to help those that we cannot currently. send all notes to other experts, perhaps working together with other experts in the federation will come a cure to help those."

Vanessa nodded.

"Anything else you need, I have connections with certain people, that may assist you." Xavier replied as he rubbed his now missing finger.

Vanessa turned to Amelix for the answer to that question.

Distracted with her own thoughts, there was a quite unsettling silence before Amelix realized that she was being talked to. She blinked and bowed her head, her crystalline protrusions reflecting light around the room and in others' eyes. "Was I supposed to say something?" She blinked again, hoping that she had not embarrassed herself again. "Are we talking about the mines still?"

Without waiting for an answer her speed picked up pace as it often did when she was excited and thought she knew the answer. "You see, these people need to be educated as to the proper way to build a mine. If we cannot evacuate the entire town, we first have to go into the mines and reinforce the ground underneath the town. You simply do not build a mine around a town. The excavations could cause the entire town to fall in. Makes no sense. And the dirt and minerals have to go somewhere. Quite unhealthy! So, first things first, we have to build supports, which for the time being can be done with a series of force fields planted at strategic locations via teleporter to points under the ground. Then, we have to find where the mine is unstable and where it is stable. We build a new tunnel to the stable locations with careful excavation, which could be done with phasers or more laborious tools, but that would be boring, would it not? Oh! And we could use phaser cannons! They would be lovely, wouldn't they?" She perked up and started bobbing up and down in her seat. "Oh, and then, of course, we would have to fill in the old shaft so nobody gets hurt and then move the town. Set it up a proper distance from the mine and give them all the modern technology. Have you seen what they're using for cooking? They may as well be primordial!"

"OK... so a bit more complicated than it is on paper. Good to know." Xavier replied trying to take it all in. "I will explain everything once I arrange for the Federation Mining corps to come in."

Vanessa had nothing to add, so she nodded in agreement.

"I will be sure to visit the Terminal stage Patients. " Milton informed. "It is usally easier with Pix, but they deserve to hearit from me"

Xavier nodded, it kind of felt like a half victory, but it was better than not helping anyone. "If you will excuse me, I've got to prepare to lose a digit.i will be requesting your expertise Dr in a few hrs."