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DJ McKinny

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About DJ McKinny

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  1. There was good news and bad news.....and the bad news was obvious. The Missouri's sickbay was a bit crowded. There was ample help. The entire medical compliments of both the ship and the former station called Aegis were busy at work. And a secondary facility had been opened.....somewhere. Still, the room was packed and there was a long line down the corridor. But that led to the good news. Most of the injuries were minor...very minor. Only a handful of patients would require an extended stay in sickbay. Many of them weren't suffering physical injuries at all. A lot of the refugees from Aegis were simply in shock. Some couldn't believe what had happened. Others were dealing with various degrees of grief. Most had lost everything they owned. They arrived on Missouri with the clothes on their backs and a couple of their most cherished treasures. There were a few who hadn't been able to save anything. It was the latter group that DJ found most difficult to deal handle. Her last patient had been a young Andorian female. According to her parents, the six year old and her family were relatively new on the station. Their small family unit included a pet. It was called a "mella." The father showed DJ a picture of the animal. It looked like a cross between a cat and ferret with long blue and white hair. This particular "mella" was the child's best friend and constant companion. Unfortunately, during the rush to evacuate, the animal escaped into the busy corridor outside one of the transporter rooms. The family frantically searched for it but to no avail. After half an hour, they were forced to leave it behind. The child was distraught and inconsolable. The parents weren't in much better shape. What could she do for these people? Very little, that's what. There were no medications for these types of injuries. They would require time to heal, especially for the youngest of the evacuees. DJ gave the little girl a mild sedative and a prescription for several sessions with the counselor. She told the parents to stop by tomorrow if their daughter was no better. She watched them as they filed out of the room and quietly wondered where they and the other evacuees would go now that Aegis was no more. The family's private tragedy reminded DJ how fortunate she was to have made it off the station with her pet. Gilbert was safely tucked away in one of the medical labs and she found herself walking in that direction. It had been quite a while since she had checked on him. Opening the door to the lab, she immediately spotted Gilbert, stretched out on the floor, an empty food bowl nest to him. Another bowl with water was also nearby. He looked none the worse for the wear. In fact, he was sleeping so soundly, he didn't notice her coming into the room. Nor did he seem to care that he was no longer alone. The medical lab now housed over a dozen different animals.....primarily Terran pets.....dogs, cats....a couple of turtles and a small fish tank as well as a few exotics that DJ didn't recognize. A mid sized dog of mixed parentage came toward her, tail wagging, and she took a moment to pet his silky black fur before crossing the room to greet Gilbert. He finally lifted his head as she knelt down beside him, his tail thwapping the floor several times before he decided to sit up. The mixed breed followed her more than happy to share in whatever attention she was willing to provide. DJ spend a couple of minutes with the two dogs and then headed back to work. As she was about to leave the lab, something caught her eye. It was blue and white and curled up in a tight knot in a small cage on one of the counters. She stepped closer to the animal and studied it carefully. It was a "mella." Could it be that young girl's lost pet? There was a hastily scribbled note taped to the cage. "Found in transporter room two" was all it said. Rushing from the lab, DJ stepped into the crowded corridor and searched for the Andorian family. She was pretty sure they would be easy to spot but alas, they were no longer in the area. She approached an opps officer who was helping with crowd control. "Did you see an Andorian couple with a little girl?" she asked quickly. "They came out of Sickbay within the last 10 minutes." "Yes, ma'am," he replied with a nod. "They're assigned to cargo bay 3. They're on their way down there." "Do me a favor," she said with a slight smile. "Have someone down there send them back to Sickbay. Tell them we may have found a cure for what ails them." He made the call while DJ was heading back to Sickbay. She didn't know how many "mellas" were on Aegis but what were the odds of more than one being found in a transporter room. Perhaps, just perhaps she would be able to help these people.
  2. Med Lab 2.....not a bad place.....quite nice really.....as far as med labs are concerned. It was larger than the labs found on starships and it was nicely appointed as well.....stocked with state of the art equipment some of which was brand new....meaning it wasn't standard issue on most Starfleet vessels and facilities. In some cases, the equipment wasn't even available to Starfleet...at least not yet. No matter what Drankum might think about "torturers" and their "evil" accessories, he never denied the medical department whatever they asked for. Some suspected he was quick to bring in the newest and most expensive equipment because he received handsome kickbacks on all of the orders. Of course, there was no proof of that and nobody was anxious to look into it. Some questions were better left....unanswered. DJ was grateful for the comfortable environment. She had spent pretty much all of her time in Med Lab 2 searching for answers on the mysterious Athra. She managed to get home every evening in time to shower and sleep for a few hours. Gilbert was annoyed with her. He didn't appreciate the lack of attention and for the past couple of nights, he'd begun to express his displeasure. It wasn't as though she'd abandoned him. Shelly, the 13 year old daughter of one of the engineers, was a great dog sitter. She spent a lot of time with Gilbert....made sure he ate and walked him two or three times a day. She even took him home with her after the 3 o'clock walk so he wouldn't be lonely. Shelly always brought Gilbert back around 2100 hours. DJ would usually make it in by midnight so her aging basset hound wasn't left alone too long during the evenings. But last night and the night before, instead of greeting her at the door, Gilbert looked up from his spot on the living room floor and gave her what could only be described as a dirty look. Then he got up, plodded into the bedroom and settled into his doggie bed. He refused to have anything to do with DJ. She felt terrible about it and made all sorts of promises to Gilbert. She would take him to the holodeck for a romp on the beach and to one of their favorite spots in the Smokey Mountains or wherever he wanted to go. Through it all, he remained aloof and he didn't get up to say good-bye in the morning either. And it was all the Athra's fault. It was now almost 1800 hours. DJ was still in Med Lab 2 where she usually was at this hour. But her heart was elsewhere and her stomach was growling....loudly. But there were still so many questions. She couldn't help thinking the answers were there, right in front of her, hiding in plain sight. So what did they know? Quite a bit but not enough. These creatures, now called the Athra, were highly developed and extremely intelligent. They possessed 64 genes on a regular double helix DNA. However, they bore a striking resemblance to Terran crustaceans. One big difference between the Athra and a crustacan.....these guys had reinforced shells. They were augmented with some kind of metal. What type remained a mystery. The Athra had organs but they were quite different from what you would find in a typical humanoid. Their livers and kidneys were merged as were the heart and lungs...all very efficient. They did have a separate stomach and intestines. They had spinal cords and brains with nerves and those nerves contained neurons....just like humanoids. The neurons were typical. They consisted of soma, dendrites and axons.... again similar to humanoids. But their neural response times were considerably longer than that found in most humans. The axons arose from an axon hillock and they had a myelin sheath. So why did the Athra have such slow neural response times? DJ suspected it was because the axons were so much longer than those found in the typical humanoid. If this data proved accurate, Aegis might be able to use the Athra's slower neural response time against them when these mysterious creatures eventually reappeared. The Athra had proven to be true blue bloods with extremely high erythrocyte counts. In many humanoid species, the erythrocytes were red due to the presence of iron to bind oxygen. The iron binds one oxygen atom per erythrocyte. In Vulcans, copper was the metal of choice The Athra's blood contained osmium which bound three oxygen atoms per erythrocyte and gave the blood its bluish color. Even more intriguing was the proportion of blood volume occupied by the erythrocytes. In humans, it was approximately 38% to 48%. The ratio in the Athra was 76%. In short, this new and challenging enemy functioned quite comfortably in low or no oxygen environments. The Athra were perfectly suited for long distance space travel. They didn't have to breathe very much....if at all. On the flip side, their leukocyte count was extremely low. The leukocytes are part of the immune system, responsible for clotting and closing wounds. The Athra bleed easily and profusely when injured. This weakness might also be used against them. There was another interesting question raised by the discovery of the osmium in the Athra's bloodstream. Osmium is a very heavy metal. The fact it is present in their blood led DJ to believe they originated on a planet with very low gravity. They came from Breen space, an area the Federation knew very little about. It seemed likely there was at least one planet in that sector with both low gravity and an abundance of osmium. One of the newest and most promising discoveries was the presence of high levels of psilosynine. The Athra were likely telepathic and used that trait as their primary means of communications. Lillian seemed to think she might be able to reach out and touch them telepathically. DJ thought it sounded like a reasonable theory but it was extremely risky. If the Athra possessed a hive minded community, Lillian might suffer irreparable damage. Perhaps if they could capture a single living Athra. Even if it was wounded, if they isolated it in a quarantined environment, then Lillian might be able to communicate with that lone individual without threat of a mass attack from the entire hive. Again, it was all speculation at this point but at least they had something on which to base the speculation. Her grumbling stomach disrupted her review of the data. Without another thought, she slipped off her work stool and started shutting down the equipment. She was going home for now. She'd pick up Gilbert on the way and treat him to some human food for dinner. Then they'd go for a long stroll along the dog walk. She could use the break to clear her mind. Perhaps she would come up with a new idea while she was spending a little quality time with her four legged pal. As she ordered the lights off and closed the door behind her, she wondered how much time they had left. The Athra would be back. It was just a question of when and there were still so many unanswered questions.
  3. In spite of their differences, DJ knew something was wrong the moment Nick stepped into Sickbay. He'd been with Drankum and company to welcome Captain Thomas Halloway back to Aegis. Yorktown was also delivering the Aegis science team from TKR 117, the same team that refused to return to the station when ordered to do so by Ambassador Drankum. Leilani Feretti and Le Morte had been off station for quite some time. It was standard operating procedure in such cases for personnel to report to Sickbay for a complete physical. However, Feretti and Le Morte were no where to be seen when Nick returned to the medical facility. DJ connected the dots even before she asked the CMO what happened upstairs. She was absolutely certain Dr. Lepage reminded the Ambassador of this particular protocol. He might even have insisted. But Drankum was still intent on proving who was boss. DJ could only assume he'd ordered the science officers to the brig. For Nick's part, he refused to discuss it, preferring instead to find out why he'd been commed during the welcoming ceremony. It was DJ who'd called him but it was really Mimi who need to talk to Nick. She'd detected the peculiar chip in Chirakis' forearm and gone above and beyond trying to determine exactly what it was. Her attempts were in vain. The function of the chip remained a mystery along with the reason why it was never detected before. The next step was to inform the CMO and request his guidance on how to proceed. DJ assured Mimi she would stand by her during the briefing. Lilllan had agreed to be there as well. McKinny was curious how Nick would choose to proceed. Considering the Commander's background, perhaps it was reasonable for her to have such a device imbedded in her arm. But it was perplexing that it never showed up on any scans until now. Even more concerning was the high level classification surrounding the chip's purpose. There was another issue as well. Eventually, the Ambassador would find out about it. Unless they could prove the device was innocuous, DJ was certain its presence in Chirakis' arm would cast even more suspicion on her. And now there was something else to worry about. Feretti and Le Morte were probably in the brig when they should be in Sickbay undergoing their physicals. DJ already knew what she had to do. Drankum was the chief operating officer on Aegis but even he needed to follow proper procedures. She wasn't above reminding him of that.
  4. For the first time she'd known Nicolas Lepage, DJ felt a little awkward in his presence. They had pursued a personal relationship and now, they were dealing with the consequences. She was still annoyed with him and strongly suspected the feeling was mutual. Because of their disagreement several days ago, they hadn't spent much time together outside Sickbay. The truth was, they hadn't spent any time together outside of regular business hours. If DJ had her way, she would transfer to third watch. The CMO rarely showed up during the wee hours of the morning. That would certainly eliminate the awkwardness. But there was a serious disadvantage to working third watch. The hours were lousy. And she wasn't about to let Nick think he'd won their little battle of wills. Now that some time had passed, DJ was starting to calm down a bit. She could see Nick's point of view although she still didn't necessarily agree with it....at least not all of it. Drankum was the station's commanding officer or manager or whatever you chose to call it. And he wasn't the stupid little Ferengi a lot of the Starfleet staff thought he was. When he issued legitimate orders, those orders should be obeyed. At the same time, Drankum was a tough nut to crack. DJ seriously doubted anyone had actually "cracked" him. That was probably why the elderly diplomat was still on the job at his advanced age. His current problem was his interpersonal communication skills. He didn't have any. They probably weren't needed when dealing with the Ferengi. But on as station such as Aegis, with a staff from around the galaxy, the ability to communicate in an effective and polite manner was an absolute necessity. Drankum seemed determined to ignore that fact. It appeared he thrived on the chaos created by his irascible personality. But this time, he may have bitten off more than even he could chew. She thought Drankum was in the right. But she was uncomfortable with his decision to incarcerate Commander Chirakis. DJ was firmly convinced all of this could have been resolved had the Ambassador and the XO locked themselves in a room and argued it out. Now that he'd started down this path, he was highly suspicious of anyone who even remotely considered disobeying an order. His attitude was not only self-defeating, it was dangerous....for Drankum and everyone else on the station, especially under their current circumstances. There was a powerful enemy gunning for them. They needed to pull together and stand united against these unknown aliens. And that old troll was the root cause for her argument with Nick. She refused to compromise her principals no matter who was involved. But it irked her that Drankum was the cause of her first real falling out with Nick.
  5. Many thanks to Ambassador Drankum for his contributions to this log. An old Earth expression suddenly came to mind....something about fools rushing in where wise men fear to tread. It was quite sight....one she'd never expected to witness much less be a party to. They were in the control center....the heart of Skyharbor Aegis....although the engineers could easily argue that point. There were about eighteen of them and they'd only been there a couple of minutes...but that was all it took. DJ had a lot of questions. She'd hoped to find answers to them when she followed Jorahl out of Sickbay. In that regard, her quest had been somewhat successful. She finally understood why Drankum had been unceremoniously removed from the CT and confined to his quarters. But that only led to more questions and they would have to wait for awhile. "There is nothing to begin, only end. You are hereby under arrest for mutiny, you and your friends." It took a second for the words to register. Did the Ambassador just accuse Commander Chirakis of mutiny? Not only Chirakis but Mr. Porter and Mr. Dabi as well. DJ had no doubt she heard him correctly. Why else would he and his entourage have their weapons drawn and pointed directly at those three. For a moment, she felt a bit odd. She didn't have a weapon. The only thing she brought with her was a standard issue medkit and she wasn't quite sure why she'd bothered bringing it. She'd known Drankum a long time...not well but she'd been in his presence enough to consider him an "acquaintance." She was also fairly certain he had something to do with her reassignment to Aegis. She'd never been able to prove it but deep down, she knew he was behind her sudden transfer. The odd thing was, in spite of all the station had gone through during the years, she had never seen him really angry. Annoyed, yes.....upset, yes.....loud and obnoxious, oh yes. But never genuinely angry...until now. He was positively livid. The Ambassador's face turned bright pink while his ample ears bloomed in a deep red. For a moment, DJ was afraid the elderly Ferengi would suffer a stroke. She was tempted to whip open the medkit and start scanning him. But something stopped her. It was probably that venomous glare of his. "So you have two choices. Either go to the brig and get your bankrupt pips off my control center or be dragged there." "Wait a minute," thought DJ, not daring to speak. "He can't be serious about throwing her in the brig." But he was. The animosity in his voice left no doubt in anyone's mind that he was as serious as a heart attack. To her credit, Commander Chirakis remained calm. It was as though she'd expected something like this to happen. Dabi maintained a passive demeanor but DJ was certain he was breathing fire internally. Porter seemed a bit flustered. He simply didn't understand even after Chirakis explained the situation. And her explanation was dead on. Drankum was in command of the station when he ordered the fighters to withdraw. It was Chirakis who belayed the order and had the Ambassador removed from the control center. She insisted he undergo a psychological evaluation. That could mean only one thing. She thought Drankum was crazy or in cahoots with the enemy. But was he? Apparently not. The enemy ship destroyed itself and they took the fighters with them. Had Chirakis obeyed Drankum's order, the alien vessel would still have self-destructed but the pilots in those fighters would be alive to fly another day. So Drankum had a right to be piqued. That said, DJ was painfully aware of how easy it was to distrust the Ferengi. He seemed to go out of his way to annoy people. She wasn't sure how well he interacted with his staff but she felt confident his relationship with his immediate subordinates left a lot to be desired. Chirakis came from intel. It was only natural for her to be suspicious. Add to the mix Drankum's personality and you have a recipe for disaster. That's what they now had on their hands.....a disaster. But there might still be time to soothe the wounded egos and bring about a more positive resolution than a courts martial. Without even realizing what she was doing, DJ stepped between the Ambassador and Chirakis not allowing herself to think about what might happen if Drankum suddenly pulled the trigger on his disruptor. He certainly looked like he wanted to. "With all due respect, Mr. Ambassador," she said, her quiet tone belying the storm raging within her. "May I suggest the Commander requires a complete physical and psychological exam." Drankum looked directly at her, his eyes piercing into her psyche. Then he blinked and she began to hope he might go along with her idea. "Yes, yes," grumbled the Ferengi, lowering his weapon. "I think that would look good on the balance sheet." DJ smiled slightly as she watched the barrel of his disruptor drop toward the floor. It was then she figured out she had been holding her breath but she tried not to show that she'd been that scared. "Thank you," she replied quietly with a superficial nod. She quickly turned her attention to Chirakis. "Commander, if you'll follow me." DJ wanted to get them both off the CT as quickly as possible. There were too many weapons drawn and an "accident" would only complicate the situation even more. Besides, she didn't want to give Drankum time to change his mind. DJ walked purposefully toward the lift. She didn't look back but she knew the Commander was following her. She also knew at least four others were coming along. She entered the lift and turned around as the others stepped inside. Chirakis remained composed which came as no surprise but she was dismayed by their escorts. They stood around the Commander with their weapons drawn, as though she might suddenly disappear into thin air. "Gentlemen," said DJ, her tone as authoritative as possible. "A little discretion, if you don't mind. Please holster your weapons before the doors open." The escorts looked at each other and then slowly put their weapons away just as the lift doors swished open. DJ pushed ahead of them and led the way into Sickbay.
  6. And that must be why you've heard of C&E. :D
  7. The waiting was the worst part.....knowing the patients were coming but not knowing exactly when. DJ McKinny leaned against one of the biobeds near the main entrance and surveyed the Sickbay. It was a huge facility. It had to be in order to service a station the size of Aegis. DJ spent about fourteen months running this Sickbay. Well, it wasn't exactly this Sickbay. Shortly after she left, the station was very nearly destroyed. The damage was so extensive, Aegis was deemed uninhabitable. The crew was forced to relocate until the station was rebuilt. Maybe that's why this Sickbay still felt a little....unfamiliar to DJ. But the waiting felt very familiar. Whether here or in any of the other medical facilities she'd worked in throughout her career, whenever a crisis arose and casualties were involved, waiting for the patients was definitely the worst part of it all. Once they arrived, there wasn't time to think about anything other than the task at hand. But while waiting, one's imagination was free to run wild. DJ tended to imagine things would be far worse than they usually were. But she'd decided long ago it was better to expect the worst. That way, she would be pleasantly surprised if reality proved her wrong. In this particular situation, she knew Aegis had been attacked and the assault was significant enough to rattle the rafters. But she had no idea if there had been any injuries. She wasn't even sure there had been any physical damage. There were also reports of casualties aboard the various ships engaging their enemy, a species known as 8472. DJ had taken a few minutes to research the notorious 8472. If they proved victorious over the Federation task force, there would be no need to treat the wounded. After finishing off the space faring vessels, 8472 would then focus their wrath on Aegis. The entire station and it's personnel would most likely be lost. But she had no reason to believe such a thing would happen. It had been quiet for the last fifteen minutes or so and that was a good sign. Quiet usually meant the enemy had been repelled, at least for the time being. DJ quietly wondered exactly what was going on in the dark void beyond the station's bulkheads. Was the battle proceeding well? Or was the enemy on the brink of conquest? Did the allies have the where with all to defeat 8472? Or did this fearsome species possess superior technology? Her thoughts were interrupted as the main doors swished open followed by the sounds of urgent voices and hurried footsteps. DJ pushed away from the biobed and walked briskly toward the gurney as the corpsmen rushed the newly arrived patient into Sickbay. The first patient in would be her responsibility. She frowned as she approached the gurney. Her patient was a young Trill male, probably unjoined. The midshipman had obviously been in the wrong place at the wrong time. His left leg was completely gone as was his left forearm. His abdomen had been sliced open as cleanly as if a surgeon had used a scalpel on it. The internal injuries were so extensive, DJ quietly figured the odds of the patient surviving the necessary surgery much less a protracted recovery. But she had to try. If luck was on their side, they just might pull it off. "Move him to surgery," she ordered, stepping back to watch as the corpsmen hustled the patient away, a team of nurses and medical assistants close on their heels. "Get him prepped and start an encephalogram as well." DJ's frown deepened as she hurried to prepare for what would probably be an hours long surgery to save this young Trill's life. She was glad she'd imagined the worst. At least she wasn't shocked by this dreadful injury or the possibility there would be more just like it. But she was also relieved. She no longer had time to think about what was going on outside, to wonder if they were winning or losing. From this point on, her only concern would be her patient. The surgical unit was now her battlefield and it would be an uphill fight....just as daunting and nerve racking as the confrontations those starships had with species 8472.....and a lot more one on one. But it was up to her to win this one. And the only way to succeed was remain confident that victory could be achieved. A few minutes later, DJ McKinny entered the surgical bay to find everyone in place and ready to go. "We'll take our time," she said calmly to the assembled team as they got under way. "And remember, he's a mess but we're here to save him. Defeat is not an option."
  8. It had been a long time since DJ McKinny lived on Aegis and a lot had changed. During her visit with Nick, they had pretty much stayed to themselves, not venturing far beyond Sickbay or the expansive Promenade with it's bustling crowds. Whenever they went out, Nick always led the way so there was no need for DJ to keep track of how they arrived at wherever they were going. But, she had noticed the changes and that, in turn, led her to recall why they were necessary in the first place. About a year after she was transferred to Eglin, Aegis endured a horrendous attack courtesy of the Breen. Along with staggering casualties, the station was left uninhabitable. Many of the surviving crew were reassigned although some returned after repairs were completed. DJ assumed many of the structural modifications as well as the numerous interior alterations were the result of the Breen attack. It was a subject she chose not to discuss with Nick. Considering his close call with death just days before her arrival, she opted not to bring up past incidents that may have been just as close. The attack, like all the others before it, was something she didn't care to think about. So, she tried valiantly not to pay too much attention to the remodeled storefronts along the Promenade or the new design of the crew quarters or even the hugly updated and modernized Sickbay. Instead, she studiously concentrated on Nick and enjoying what time they had together....and she was more than happy to allow him to lead the way around the station. That may have been a mistake, considering the orders she now had tucked under her arm. Unless this was someone's sick idea of a joke, DJ McKinny had been abruptly and unceremoniously transferred back to Aegis. Yesterday, she was convinced it was all a big mistake....a misunderstanding that could be easily resolved. All she had to do was contact her older brother, Robby. He was a full commander assigned to Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, complete with a corner office with a magnificent view of the great bridge and the mighty Pacific beyond. Robby would straighten it out and she'd be on her way home within 24 hours. But things didn't go as she'd hoped. Granted, she spoke to Robby but he'd just heard about the transfer. If it had come down through routine channels, he would have known about it for days. The fact he didn't know about it until five minutes before she called him did not bode well for DJ. Robby promised to investigate and get back to her. Now, it was almost eighteen hours later and she hadn't heard from him. Again, that didn't bode well for DJ. Her new orders specified she was to report to Ops. They would tell her where she was going to live and give her the key code to her new quarters along with any other paperwork the station's administration deemed necessary. She had managed to find her way to the proper office without Nick's assistance. The young officer in charge greeted her cordially. He appeared to be disgustingly pleased with his assignment on Aegis. It was all she could do to keep from biting his head off. But, she managed to resist the urge to take out her frustration on this fresh faced lieutenant. He had nothing to do with her sudden transfer. There was no point dumping on him for simply doing his job. He was well suited for the position too, painstakingly reviewing almost everything about Aegis, from basics about the station's operation to the latest shops now open on the Promenade. DJ wasn't sure how long she could restrain herself from making a snide remark about his overly enthusiastic attitude. She estimated he was about halfway though his presentation when she thanked him for his help and made as quick an exit as possible without appearing rude. Ten minutes later she was standing inside her new quarters. The location was something of a disappointment. They were no where near Nick's quarters but they appeared to be a bit more spacious. Although larger than she expected, they were a tenth the size of the lovely house she'd been living in near Pensacola. The main room was furnished with the standard issue sofa, one chair, a small coffee table and an end table with a lamp. There was also a small desk and computer console tucked away in one corner. Just beyond the living area, the dining room contained a decent sized rectangular table with four chairs. The kitchen was about the same size as Nick's. All of the cabinets and drawers were empty. The bathroom was located along a short hallway off the living room. DJ ordered the light on and peeked inside. She was pleasantly surprised by the ample size of the room and the real bathtub. Even more surprising was the linen closet and the roomy cabinets beneath the sink. A door on the far wall led into the bedroom. .Walking through the bathroom, she slowly opened the door to the bedroom. Inside, DJ found a double bed, one night table with a lamp and a dresser with a mirror. Again, she was pleasantly surprised when she walked in and opened the closet door. It ran the entire length of the room and provided far more storage than she'd expected. Two pillows along with a set of linens and a standard issue bedspread were neatly folded on a shelf inside the closet. Returning to the main living area, the "Physician to the Dips" continued surveying her surroundings. She assumed these quarters were newer. The floor plan differed a little from Nick's quarters. All of the walls were still an antiseptic shade of white and the furniture showed no signs of wear and tear. It looked like no one had ever lived in them before. DJ wondered if that was a good sign or a bad omen. One thing was for certain, the place was depressingly sterile. For a moment, she considered what colors to paint the walls but quickly pushed such thoughts from her mind. Until she heard from Robby, she refused to acknowledge the validity of her new orders. There was no reason for her to waste time thinking about interior decor when she could very well be on her way home within a few hours. But deep down, DJ McKinny was already weighing the odds of her returning to Earth in the near future. With each passing hour, she knew it was more and more likely she would have to remain on Aegis. The only alternative was to resign her commission. Though she'd given it some thought since the previous afternoon, she knew that wasn't a viable alternative. She whirled around as the sound of the comm beeping startled her. For a few seconds, she stood motionless, watching the small red light on the console blink off an on. DJ drew a deep breath and hurried across the room to the small desk, eagerly activating the comm. "This is Dr. McKinny," she said quickly as she pulled out the chair and sat down. "Doctor, this is Aegis control," came the disembodied reply. "You have a priority one message coming in from Starfleet Headquarters." "It's Robby," thought DJ silently. "This is it." "Thank you," she replied a little too firmly. "Please put it through." It took another few seconds for Commander Robert Harrison's image to appear on the small console screen. And in that moment, DJ knew she wouldn't be going home anytime soon.
  9. DJ McKinny was fuming. Under other circumstances, she might have thought it funny....the way people quickly stepped aside as she trudged along toward the nearest turbolift dragging, her luggage behind her. But she saw nothing humorous about this situation and her expression clearly reflected her mind-set. Nick Lepage was following at a discreet distance...and that was probably for the best. Considering her mood, he was wise not to get too close. As hard as she tried not to blame him for this unexpected turn of events, she couldn't help thinking he might have had something to do with it. Fifteen minutes ago, she was about to board a lovely passenger liner for a relaxing trip home....home to Earth....to her pretty little house just a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico and her job at Eglin...a job she loved. Granted, she regretted leaving Aegis because of Nick. But, deep down, DJ had been looking forward to going home and immersing herself in her work. She was more than content with her assignment at Eglin. In spite of her strong feelings for Nick, she had never considered requesting a transfer. The fact was, she hoped to remain at Eglin until she retired. DJ she had so many plans for that facility. Much had already been accomplished but there was still a lot to do. She'd been looking forward to expanding many of the existing programs and implementing new ones. She was even planning to finish a couple of proposals during the trip home so she could present them to Starfleet Medical next week. And then, at the last moment, she was blind sided by a hapless midshipman who'd been tagged to track her down and deliver the bad news. She wondered if he knew what he'd handed her. That might have explained why the young man made such a quick exit. Now, she was so mad, she could barely see straight. Why? What had she done to deserve this? Why did she have to find out about the transfer from a nameless kid who could have cared less how she might feel? Couldn't someone from Starfleet Medical have exercised a little common courtesy and called to give her the news? And what happened to her darling brother, Robby? Surely he knew about the transfer. Why didn't he make an effort to contact her? These questions and more flooded her thoughts as they finally reached the lift. The doors swished open as she approached and DJ entered, hauling her luggage in after her. She remained motionless, staring at the back wall of the car while Nick stepped in and carefully sat a couple of her bags down on the floor. The doors closed behind them but neither spoke. "Please state your destination." The computer's friendly, female voice startled DJ. It also annoyed her. "Earth," she snapped, whirling about to face the front of the car. "My destination is Earth!" There was a momentary pause before the computer politely announced it was unable to comply with her request. DJ was about to make another smart remark but Nick spoke up first. "Ops, please." He'd barely spoken the words before the lift started moving. She glared at him, her frustration mounting. She was hurt and angry and wanted to strike out at someone. Nick was a convenient target. But she was struck by how miserable he looked and she managed to bite her tongue long enough for him to take a step toward her. "You have to believe me, DJ." he pleaded. "I had nothing to do with this. I won't deny I wanted you to stay but not like this." DJ continued studying him closely. If he was pleased about her new orders, his expression didn't reflect it. He seemed genuinely distressed by how upset she was. As badly as she wanted to blame someone, she couldn't see Nick going behind her back to engineer a transfer he knew she didn't want. Besides, she doubted he had the clout to pull off such a thing. She wasn't sure the station CO had the juice to pull this off. "I know," she whispered, looking back toward the lift doors. "I know this isn't your fault." And she meant it. She truly believed Nick was in no way involved. But one thing was for certain....she intended to find out who was responsible and when she did....heaven help them.
  10. A Joint Log by Captain Ayers and DJ McKinny "If it's not one thing, it's another, " mumbled DJ as she strolled through the dog walk with Gilbert. The black and brown basset hound was having the time of his life. Poor Gilbert, since joining Aegis, DJ had neglected him terribly. She never expected she would have to spend so much time at the office or in meetings or at seminars or at after hours chats with upset patients and staff....the list went on and on and on..... Small pleasures, like long walks with Gilbert, were relegated to the bottom of the "To Do List." And there were never enough hours in the day to get half way down the list, much less to the bottom of it. She had gotten home a little earlier than usual that afternoon. As always, Gilbert enthusiastically greeted her at the door, his tail wagging so hard it swung his hips from side to side. When she stooped down to pat him on the head, she could almost hear him pleading with her....."please spend a little time with me today...I miss you so much." So she had gotten down on the floor with "The Brush." She spent 15 minutes running it back and forth over Gilbert's back and another few minutes on his ample belly. She was a little surprised just how ample that belly had become. And that was her fault. Gilbert ate the same amount every day but since their arrival on Aegis, his exercise time had been reduced to practically nothing. Who was to blame for that? He couldn't take himself out. And he sure wasn't going to turn down a meal. That simply wasn't in his nature. She quickly prepared his dinner, taking care to cut back just a little. While Gilbert ate, or rather, inhaled his food, DJ looked for the leash. To her dismay, it took her a few minutes to find it. The moment she picked it up, Gilbert raced to the door and started his happy dance. For the first time in weeks, they were going for a walk. It was way past time, for both of them. DJ always enjoyed walking with Gilbert. As he stopped to read the messages from other dogs and leave his own calling cards, she had time to clear her mind and think of things other than work. She often talked to Gilbert about both important and trivial issues. He always listened even if he didn't pay close attention. More importantly, he never talked back. Of course, the exercise didn't hurt her any either. Perhaps it was because this was the first walk she and Gilbert had taken in weeks, but for some reason, DJ's thoughts kept drifting back to the job, especially the chat she had with Nick Lepage earlier in the day. She was truly impressed with how dedicated Dr. Lepage was to his quest for a cure to the Rixian Plague. She understood the medical complexities of the situation. But she'd never met a Rixian. Nick Lepage had not only met one, he'd worked closely with her, albeit for only a short time. For Nick, this quest had become a personal crusade. He was determined to save Dr. Lanvin and her people. Although she wasn't an expert on Rixian Plague, one thing DJ had going for her was good instincts. She finally learned to trust them years ago and they had served her well. Dr. McKinny knew a disaster when she saw one coming. And she had a gut feeling there was a huge one on the horizon where the Rixians were concerned. What DJ didn't know was how to prepare young Dr. Lepage for "failure." Not his own, personal failure, but the failure of an entire society to make necessary changes before it was too late. In fact Dr. McKinny had a sinking feeling it was already too late for the Rixians. Her biggest fear was how Nick Lepage would react to that. She was lost in thought when she realized Gilbert had stopped walking. She glanced up to find him sniffing someone's foot, his tail wagging happily. She raised her head to find the foot belonged to none other than Captain Nick Ayers. His sudden appearance surprised her. "Good afternoon, Captain," said DJ, wondering how she could have been so distracted she didn't notice him coming her way. She glanced down at the basset hound. "And may I introduce you to Gilbert. I can tell he's pleased to meet you." Nick smiles and leans down to scratch Gilbert behind the ears. Standing he says "I wasn't aware you had a dog as well, Doctor." He nods towards a young Siberian Husky a short distance away "And that is Diamante. Diam for short." Diamante comes wandering over and after considering Gilbert for a few seconds, Diamante nudges the smaller dog playfully. "Curious. I walk Diam here every day usually at this same time and have never noticed you or Gilbert here before. You must walk him at a different time." He pauses then adds "Or I guess I may have just not noticed before. Usually I'm lost in my own thoughts or wi.." He cuts himself off and frowns inwardly. He covers the gaffe by saying "..or distracted by Diam here." DJ frowned slightly and shook her head. "I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I've been so preoccupied lately that I haven't spent much time with Gilbert. But," she continued. "That is something I plan to rectify. Effective immediately, no more late nights at the office, unless there is a bona fide emergency. It isn't good for me or Gilbert and I think I may be setting a poor example for some of my staff." The staff member she was referring to was Nicloas Lepage who was recently ordered to his quarters for 24 hours of rest by none other than the stations' XO. Commander Hawke could have done far worse. Lepage literally questioned her authority. She could have had him disciplined. Fortunately, the Commander realized Lepage's uncharacteristic attitude was the result of exhaustion. Hence the order to spend 24 hours in his quarters catching up on much needed rest. DJ wasn't sure the Captain was aware of the incident. He and Commander Hawke were close. There was a good chance Ethan told him what happened with Lepage. But just in case she hadn't mentioned it, DJ thought it better not say anything. However, thinking about the Hawke/Lepage incident reminded her of something else she wanted to discuss with Ayers. "Which reminds me," she said quickly. "Did you know that Dr. Lepage forwarded his report on Rixian Plague to Dr. Lanvin?" Nick smiles as he feeds a treat to Diamante. "Yes, I do know that Dr. Lepage has done so. Even if I hadn't seen the computer log of all incoming and outgoing transmissions I would have figured he would. Dr. Lepage is not one to let something go..." His smile slips as he considers the Rixian situation "...even if the worst is a probable foregone conclusion. I just hope he can handle what will probably turn out to be a tragedy." Nick pauses momentairly as he straightens to his full height. "Speaking of Dr. Lepage, did he get that rest he needed?" So the Captain knew Commander Hawke had ordered Lepage to his quarters for rest. DJ really wasn't surprised. From the day she arrived on Aegis, she'd strongly suspected Ayers and Hawke were more than friends. Just how much more was none of her business. All she was concerned about was the Captain's reaction to the incident. From his demeanor, he didn't seem all that bothered by it. "Yes," replied DJ with a chuckle. "Dr. Lepage is now well rested. It was very kind of the Commander to give him such leeway. I'm not sure I would have been so generous had he questioned my authority." She tugged on the leash to pull Gilbert back a little. "He's taking this Rixis Project very personally," continued DJ, frowning slightly. "Lepage has invested a great deal of time and energy into the research. But his dedication goes beyond that. He really wants the Rixians to survive. I've talked to him a couple of times about the possibility of failure. To be honest with you, I'm not sure how he'll react." DJ stepped over Gilbert as he tried to walk between her legs. She barely managed to maintain her balance. As her Basset Hound continued sniffing about, she tilted her head slightly and looked directly at the Captain. "If I may ask," she began cautiously. "Why are you so convinced the worst is inevitable?" He sighs and closes his eyes for a few moments. "Because they seem even more entrenched in their xenophobia then they were before. I didn't even have to be empathic or telepathic to pick up on the hatred and fear that was rolling off that Rixian Captain and their Ambassador was just barely better. And from what the Doctor that accompanied them indicated, she and those who are more open minded are rather in the minority. And even she wanted so desperately to cling to their supposed superiority. Unfortunately history often has a way of repeating itself. They did not listen to those that knew better last time..and I very much doubt they're going to listen to those who know better this time. I hope I'm wrong, I sincerely do. All across the galaxy are planets that testify to races long gone..and some that are nearly gone. It would be a tragedy to add one more to the list, yes?" He shakes his head for a moment "Perhaps I'm being overly cynical." He glances at her for a few seconds before continuing. "The Rixians are going to face a cultural upheaval the likes of which I don't think you or Doctor LePage or frankly anyone else on this station quite realizes the scope of. A great dark wave is descending upon them and it's going to destroy everything in its path. Not just one neighborhood, not just one city..not even one province for lack of a better word. Their entire planet is going to be swept up by that wave and when it's through what will remain will either be a species that managed to survive...or a species that will be nothing more than dust blowing in the wind." "And the irony of it isn't lost on me. They came to my people asking for help and when they didn't get what they wanted they retreated into their xenophobia and lashed out at those around them..including those who they came to for help. And finally..they died out or so we thought. And yet centuries later..here they are..in the same exact position they were before..and in the same position my people have been in for the last one hundred or so years." DJ listened intently as Captain Ayers explained himself. She didn't miss the fact he kept mentioning "my people." McKinny knew that Ayers was of mixed pedigree. One parent was El Aurian and the other a Terran human. She couldn't recall which was which but she got the definite impression that Ayers identified quite strongly with his El Aurian heritage. She supposed that was only natural. She'd studied his file thoroughly....twice. He possessed several El Aurian traits that would predispose him to such an allegiance. "You could be right," she replied with a pleasant smile. "You may very well be overly cynical. Then again, it wasn't genetic manipulations or xenophobia that ravaged the El Aurians. In spite of the Borg, some El Aurians survived." DJ again found herself tangled in Gilbert's leash as the short legged hound wove in and around her feet. "It appears the same thing happened with the Rixians, or whatever their ancestors were called, " continued DJ, as she manuevered her dog over to the side of the walkway. "They disregarded the advice they sought from the El Aurians and retreated into their xenophobic parnoia But, somehow, enough of them survived and reproduced. The result....several million Rixians." "I tend to agree with you that the Rixian situation could very well end in tragedy," said DJ while trying to keep Gilbert from pulling her down the walk. "I don't know as much about them as you or Dr. Lepage. But there is a good possibility a substantial percentage will not survive this crisis. So, what do you think we should do for those Rixians who manage to beat the odds?" He considers what she asked for a few seconds then says "That will depend on what they do. If they ask for help I imagine Starfleet would move in to do so. But we can't force our help on them. And it is just as likely that what they face will so completely fracture them as a race that they'll resort to what could diplomatically be called tribal barbarism. In such a case they would lose most of their technology in all likelyhood and would fall under the protection of the Prime Directive. Which means there would be very little if anything we could do for them." He sighs and shakes his head "What happens next is really up to them, Doctor, as cold as that sounds." It did sound cold....very cold. But DJ knew the Captain was right. As she'd tried to explain to Nick Lepage, everything depended on what the Rixians chose to do. "Personally," she stated flatly. "I think they may end up with a civil war on their hands. Lepage sent the entire report to Dr. Lanvin....all of it. Including his determination that genetic engineering is responsible for their current problem. I have a gut feeling word will get out and when it does, there may be hell to pay." DJ paused a moment and gazed off into the distance as she considered the horrors that could await the Rixian people. "The xenophobes won't disappear. Neither will those who've worked so hard to develop their genetic engineering program. But there will be others who want immediate change. And they'll probably want revenge too." The CMO again looked at Ayers. "What is our position on asylum?" "That's kind of what I meant by "tribal barbarism." As for asylum, it would depend on each individual situation. It was mentioned to Dr. Lanvin when she intruded in the arboretum where Et..." He catches himself and frowns slightly. His involvement with Ethan wasn't really a secret and yet he isn't sure he wants to admit it. They didn't really see it as being of anyone elses business. Finally he shakes his head slightly and says "..where Ethan and I had dinner for my birthday last year. But she wouldn't take it and I doubt that will change. Dr. Lanvin is as stubborn as your Dr. LePage is. I'm not sure how willing Starfleet and the Federation would be willing to take asylum requests for an untold amount of people. And to be honest...I'm not sure how well or how fast the Rixians could assi....." Again he frowns at what he nearly said though for very different reasons. "....adjust to life within the Federation." "At the time, Dr. Lanvin may not have felt it necessary to consider asylum," replied DJ. "She could have changed her mind by now. When Lepage contacted her, he said she spoke very....carefully. He took that to mean she was being monitored. I wasn't there so I can't offer an opinion on that. But if Lepage is correct, the situation on Rixis may have deterioriated to the point where Dr. Lanvin and others would be a little more interested in asylum." Gilbert was anxious to resume the walk and wasn't shy about letting DJ know how he felt. He'd been tugging and pulling on the leash all along. Now he started barking. DJ knew she had only a moment more to finish her chat with Captain Ayers. "Would you have any objection if we worked up a contingency for.....rescuing the Rixians who may ask to leave their planet? I'm not saying such a thing would happen. No one on Rixis may ever ask for asylum. Even if they did, the Federation would have to authorized it. But, it would be nice to have a plan of some sort, just in case. Especially when you consider how ill some of those people will be." "From what little I know of Dr. Lanvin I doubt there would ever arise a situation in which she'd request asylum but then omniscient I am not. I will talk to the Admiral about a contingency plan. But you should know, we can't exactly give them the idea of asylum. If any of them request it is going to have to be their idea. And I somehow doubt the Rixian government will be too keen on letting anyone just leave. If they're paranoid enough to monitor Dr. Lanvin's communications, they're paranoid enough to do other things." He sighs quietly "This is going to be messy no matter which way it turns out, Doctor. I hope you and Dr. Lepage are prepared for it." "Thank you, Captain," replied DJ. "I appreciate you speaking to the Admiral." Gilbert continued insisting they continue their walk. "I know it will be messy. As for being prepared, it's difficult to prepare for something with so many unknown variables. Hopefully, we'll hear from Dr. Lanvin soon. Then we'll have a better idea about what's going on and what to expect." Gilbert tugged one last time and DJ was forced to follow. "And thank you for taking the time to chat." She nodded toward her impatient canine with a slight frown. "But if I don't go now, he's going to dislocate my shoulder." She turned and continued down the walkway at the quick pace forced on her by her four legged pal. "Geeze Gilbert," she whispered. "That's the station CO, for crying out loud! Where are your manners?
  11. And then came the bombshell......... DJ knew who Captain Ayers and Commander Hawke were. She'd perused through the medical files for all the senior staff while in route to Aegis. Their telepathic and empathic abilities were duly noted. The fact they possessed such capabilities didn't surprise her. There were many telepaths and empaths in Starfleet, especially among those of Betezed origin. Most of the telepaths and empaths DJ had dealt with in the past were professionally trained counselors or psychiatrists. They used the utmost restraint when utilizing their gifts. Such was not the case with Ethan Hawke and that took DJ by surprise. After considering the facts for a few moments, DJ found herself annoyed that she'd been surprised by the Commander's unexpected question. Hawke was the Chief Executive Officer, not a counselor or healer. Her responsibilities on the station went far beyond the emotional and mental welfare of her subordinates. Her concerns lay elsewhere. It stood to reason she would use her telepathic abilities a bit more quickly. DJ should have known that and been better prepared. She quietly promised herself that she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. The second surprise was one she couldn't have prepared for. Captain Nicholas Ayers was Fiona's "Nick." DJ stepped inside her quarters. As the door closed behind her, she leaned against it and closed her eyes. Never, in a million years, had she expected to meet this particular man. Her thoughts raced back to happier times....the Cairo....her husband and her friends....Fiona....the stunningly beautiful woman with long, dark hair and deep brown eyes...their long chats between patients in Sickbay....many of them about "Nick." It was bad enough that Commander Hawke's question had reopened old wounds. But to find out that Fiona's "Nick" was her new CO.....DJ had very nearly suffered a heart attack. Captain Ayers maintained the utmost control while discussing Fiona. His tone of voice never wavered and his facial expressions remained passive. As the conversation continued, she did notice a hint of sadness in his intense, gold hued eyes. DJ was willing to bet there was a lot more of it hidden deep inside her new commanding officer. But however badly he felt over Fiona's death, the Captain's grief couldn't touch her own. And that was not a road she cared to travel right now. DJ quickly opened her eyes as Gilbert waddled over. The short legged Basset Hound was only eight months old but already full grown. He sat down, looked up at DJ and woofed a couple of times, his tail wagging vigorously. She couldn't help but smile at the long eared, saggy cheeked face staring up her, genuine affection glowing in his chestnut brown eyes. She stooped down and wrapped her arms around him retreating only when his "kisses" threatened to permanently starch her uniform collar to her neck. "There's a dog walk somewhere around here," she said as she stood up, glancing around the room. "I saw it on one of the station's directories." The room was cluttered with unpacked luggage and shipping crates. Fortunately, she quickly spotted Gilbert's leash on the desk. The young ensign who had greeted them upon their arrival must have left it there when he escorted Gilbert to their new quarters. She was grateful he put it someplace where she could easily locate it. Finding anything else in the room was going to be a chore. DJ walked across the room and retrieved the leash, her thoughts drifting back to the day's events. Not only was she still reeling from the revelation that her CO was also Fiona's "Nick," there was another complication she was going to have to deal with. Much to her chagrin, it involved none other than Captain Ayers and one of her staff, a doctor by the name of Victor Images. She had just been introduced to her three primary physicians when the Captain asked to speak privately with Dr. Images. DJ had no idea what they were talking but they were in the CMO's office for quite a while. They continued their discussion even after stepping back into Sickbay and that's when DJ realized there was a problem. Their tone of voice, their words, their body language all indicated a confrontation was taking place. If the Captain had planned on settling it with a private chat, it was obvious to DJ he hadn't succeeded. Something was going on between those two and it wasn't good. Dr. Images was her responsibility so that meant she would have to get involved....and that wasn't good either. Gilbert forced her to change gears. He now stood at her feet, licking her legs. He knew that would get her attention. She looked down at him, the leash dangling from her hand. "Okay," she said quickly and bent over to attach the leash to his collar. Grateful for the distraction, she followed her anxious canine to the door. "Let's go. You're not the only one who needs a walk."
  12. DJ approached her new quarters in something of a daze. This had been one of the longest days of her life and it was only half over. Unlike her hasty departure, the long voyage to Aegis had been quiet and uneventful. She'd been able to carefully review a prerecorded briefing on the station, it's mission and the latest update on an attack that occurred a couple of weeks earlier....an attack her superiors conveniently forgot to mention during her face to face meeting with them. There had been extensive damage to one of the pylons, numerous casualties and some loss of life. One of the medical facilities, there were two on Aegis, had taken a direct hit. The news brought back vivid memories of another attack resulting in total destruction, numerous causalities and extensive loss of life....an attack DJ personally survived and still struggled to deal with. It took her a full day to calm her nerves and refocus on her new assignment. If she wanted to remain in Starfleet, she had to get back on this horse and ride it successfully. She had one year to determine whether or not she could handle it and she was determined to give it her best shot. For the last several hours of her trip to Aegis, DJ poured over the personnel records of just about everyone in the medical department. They all appeared to be quite competent. She was relieved she wouldn't have to concern herself with less than able physicians and medical assistants. But she wouldn't really know what kind of staff she had until she'd met them and gotten a chance to talk to them, work with them and see them in action. That would take time, probably weeks, if not months. She wasn't about to pass judgement on any of them based on reports in personnel files. Things didn't exactly go according to plan once DJ arrived on Aegis. She expected to meet the commanding officer, present her orders and then be escorted to the station's medical facility. Instead, after meeting Captain Ayers, she was introduced to the other department chiefs at a luncheon in one of the station's most popular restaurant/bar....a place called "Drankums." DJ was impressed at how friendly everyone seemed to be. She'd almost made up her mind this wouldn't be such a bad assignment after all. And then came the bombshell.........