Medical Protocol

Posted on Sun Jun 8th, 2025 @ 6:18am by Lieutenant Ánderijá "Rija" Rautajärvi & Commander Samantha Howard

1,725 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Cead Mile Failte
Location: Deuterium Control, Deck 13
Timeline: Two days prior to Current Mission

The tricorder chirped.

The diagnostic had taken longer than expected. That was the way with Sovereign-class vessels, Rija was learning--there was always one more subsystem layered into the deck plans, one more interlock folded into the schematics like some ridiculous whispered riddle. Five hours crawling the innards of the Washington, and the Level Two Diagnostic on the propulsion systems had turned up exactly what they all had hoped for: nothing at all.

He passed the tricorder back to Mezron, who blinked in that Benzite manner that looked a little like relief and a little like he was reevaluating his choices in life.

"No anomalies in the port-side injectors," Rija reported, flexing a hand. "That brings us to tank integrity."

Mezron nodded with unquestionable pride. "The deuterium storage matrix on a Sovereign is pressure-regulated in quadrants--not hemispheres. Less redundancy, but more control at a higher burn."

They crossed the length of the fuel bay, stepping around structural supports and the occasional trailing cable left from another technician's earlier pass. Rija paused at the main tank manifold, studying the way in which the housing had been reinforced with some lattice bracing. It was certainly different from the Tohlaar. And the Mare hadn't had the mass profile to handle anything this robust.

"Your first Sovereign-class?" Mezron asked, slightly raising his entire browline.

Rija gave a short nod. "Long-range vessels to-date," he said. "A California and a Nova. But this is... well, expansive."

"Expansive is one way to describe it," Mezron replied with amusement. "It's my understanding there were some handpicked modifications made that differ from a standard Sovereign-class. Don't be surprised if you find compartments that don't match the usual configuration."

"I've already found three," Rija said dryly, passing over a microspanner as the Benzite Ensign wriggled halfway under a coolant conduit. "And I've only been aboard for five days."

Mezron chuckled. "I suggest you give yourself a full week and you'll either fall in love or request a transfer."

Rija smiled faintly. As usual, the smile did not reach his eyes.

He glanced down at the time readout on his data PADD and swore under his breath in Sami. Without thinking, he passed the PADD back to Mezron and pulled off his work gloves in a single motion.

"I'm late," he said, turning toward the exit. "Sickbay appointment."

Mezron wriggled free just long enough to offer a Benzite's version of encouragement--a gloved thumb raised upward and a cheery smile.

Rija waved absently, ducking through the maintenance hatch and into the corridor beyond.

* * *

Location: Sickbay, Deck 7
Timeline: 7 Minutes Later


By the time he reached Deck Seven, he'd wiped most of the dust off his uniform and had tried, unsuccessfully, to flatten the kink in his hair where the diagnostic headset had pressed for too long. His boots echoed along the deck as he crossed into Main Sickbay--the sterile smell of antiseptic and efficient ventilation being the first indication.

The room itself was mostly empty. Glancing around, his eyes landed upon a shorter-than-average, blonde-haired woman scrolling through a data PADD. She turned to face him and Rija counted the pips on her collar--three in total. This was, without a doubt, Commander Howard, the Chief Medical Officer.

Rija hadn't met any of the senior staff yet--aside from Commander Grayson. However, he had familiarized himself with their records in anticipation of their meeting.

He found Howard's personnel file was somewhat sparse though he was quite surprised to note her youthful, vigorous appearance despite the file indicating a human female in her forties. And what's more: she was disarmingly attractive.

"Lieutenant Rautajärvi," he said softly. "I'm reporting for a scheduled physical. Apologies for the delay."

"You're late, but not as late as most usually are," Dr Howard quipped as she placed the padd down on a nearby trolley and approached the newcomer.

"You must be one of the newly transferred personnel. Let me check that you're file is here," she approached him, reaching for another padd and accessing the medical database.

"Save me the time, any highlights I should know about?" Sam asked, retrieving a tricorder from her pocket and beginning to take a series of baseline readings.

Rija felt oddly calm while the doctor scanned him. Her demeanour was welcoming and gentle--exactly what a patient facing a physical exam hopes for.

"I have some scar tissue around my clavicle," Rija replied, recalling his first assignment out of the academy. "And I've had my vision corrected twice since childhood."

"Any ongoing visual issues?" Sam asked as she made a note for her records before turning her attention to the clavicle."There is indeed some nice scar tissue, I can remedy that for you if you like. I'm sure there's a story if you decided to keep the scar."

Rija shrugged. "I don't mind it being removed. I think I kept the scar because it reminds me of something I got through, not something I failed at. And no--no visual issues." He looked around the Sickbay, taking in the large amount of open space and the unoccupied biobeds.

"Doctor," he asked, genuinely curious. "Most physicians I've known have a way of making patients feel like test subjects. You're different." He paused, watching Samantha as she worked. "Have you always wanted to work in medicine?"

Sam smiled warmly, setting down the dermal regenerator she was going to use on the scar. "Ever since I was young." She replied before continuing the physical, chatting as she did so. "The one thing they don't teach you in med school is that being a doctor is 90 percent learning how to relate to a wide variety of people, and 10 percent actual medicine." She paused for a moment, deflecting attention away from herself. "What brings you to the Washington?"

Rija paused before replying, eyes moving to the diagnostic panel behind her as if searching for the right phrasing in its shape. "Officially? I put in for a new assignment after my last posting was put into drydock for an extensive refit. The Washington had a vacancy in Engineering, and I was cleared for transfer."

He paused, then added more quietly, "Unofficially, I've been in motion for a long time. Assignments that lasted months--never more than two years. I know it's not unusual for junior officers, but... it leaves things half-built including friendships, routines, systems." He looked at her, not so much apologetic but just plainly. "I'm hoping this one might last a little longer than the rest."

He watched Samantha as she calibrated the dermal regenerator. "What about you, doctor? Have you been here long enough to call it home?"

Sam couldn't help but laugh at the comment, understanding that it came from a good place. "Well, I was on board when she launched, so I guess in the absence of a real bricks and mortar home, which I do have by the way. Sunny little outback place in the mountains of Australia, I highly recommend visiting in spring or autumn though, it's hotter than the sun in summer and will freeze things best left unfrozen in winter." She finished up the physical and absently tapped at the padd as she recorded the baseline readings. "Seriously though, although I do get back to Earth from time to time, this is where I call home."

"That sounds like a lovely place to live," Rija said, still seated on the biobed. "Australia." He said to himself, rolling the word around on his tongue. While he had heard of Australia a few times while at the Academy, Rija never quite considered it to be a destination. Though, he hadn't done much traveling while on Earth.

"What do you--what does one do--for fun on the Washington?" Rija inquired, catching himself from being too forward.

"You get comfortable, join a few of the interest groups, and meet people." Sam shrugged, realising that not everyone may be as comfortable meeting and making friends on a new boat.

"There's a chess group, parrises squares tournament, botany club. You name it, there's someone on this tub who's interested in it. What floats your boat normally? What do you like to do to chill?"

"Well," he said, thinking of his off-duty activities. "I like to read. I like to carve wood. Some Bajiquan exercises." He smiled sadly, almost to himself. "I suppose those aren't actually group activities. Maybe I'll have to take up parrises squares..."

He looked directly into her piercing blue eyes and felt disarmed momentarily. "So did I pass the physical, doctor?"

"You did indeed unless there is something hidden in your subatomic particles that failed to register." Sam quipped as she regarded this new officer. "There's nothing wrong with enjoying solitude, I would recommend spending time with the rest of the crew in whatever endeavour takes your fancy. It builds a connection of family and trust. Most of us are long timers, I hope you hang around for a while as well."

Rija slid off the biobed and and straightened his uniform. "Thank you, Doctor," he said to Samantha. "It was definitely the easiest and quickest physical I've ever had." He paused, then looked at her again. "And thank you for being kind."

"Everyone should be kind, you never know what someone else is going or had been through." Her eyes ghosted over for a moment, a haunting reminder of her dark past. She shook it off quickly, a learned behaviour to conceal her emotions. "Look after yourself, Lieutenant." She turned and headed back to her office before anyone could comment.

"You as well, doctor."

He nodded politely to her and made his way out of Sickbay. The corridor adjacent felt somehow quieter than when he'd entered. Maybe it was the lighting--or maybe it was something less tangible. The kind of stillness that followed a genuine connection. Rija adjusted the lay of his uniform as he walked out of habit. Not vanity.

He wasn't sure if he'd take up chess or botany or risk the bruises of parrises squares. But for the first time in a long while, the idea of joining--not just serving--didn't feel so remote. The Washington, for all her bulk and bustle, might actually be the place where he could finally put an end to his drifting.

* * *

Lieutenant Ánderijá "Rija" Rautajärvi
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Washington

&

Commander Samantha Howard
Chief Medical Officer
USS Washington

 

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