Obligation

[T'aral 0]

Medical log: Lt. T'Aral, Chief Medical Officer.

 

The current medical staff consists of two field surgeons, six L.P.N.'s, two other L.N.P., and myself. Of all of these I am the one with the most training with Starfleet procedures and the most experience with multi-species medical requirements. This is an acceptable staff for maintaining this vessel, though I have indicated to all involved that I expect the skill level of my staff to improve out of simple necessity.

 

The maintenance issue in Ward 4 has been managed effectively; we are now at optimum readiness. Initial physicals for the crew are proceeding, seeking to determine if there are any who have issues with warp-speed travel. This also keeps the medical staff busy and grants crew members a break from the quickly developing monotony of space travel - beneficial in all cases.

 

Crewman Green has come aboard with a cold. He has been isolated to prevent infection of the crew, as any pneumonic infection - even one as minor as a cold - can quickly have a detrimental effect on an enclosed crew. I have identified crew members who require monitoring and will have the medical staff observe them regularly within their normal work schedules; there is no need to disrupt the function of the ship, but given that there is time to contain and eliminate this issue prior to arrival on New Vulcan I see no reason not to do so.

 

End Log.

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T'Aral looked about her quarters. While she had considered converting a medical office to her personal room for convienence's sake, T'Aral ultimately decided against it. While crossing through the aseptic locks into the medical ward represented extra steps, there was the point of having proper privacy. There were a few items within her quarters that would require explaining.

 

As the Comanche Creek closed in on New Vulcan, T'Aral was locked in near constant communication with T'Lar - one of the few other priestesses who survived the Vulcan tragedy. T'Aral was not suprised that T'Lar survived: among the clerics, she was one of the most dynamic - able to examine a situation and adapt to it readily with a minimum of information. How many more Vulcans would have survived the tragedy if they had only the sense to take precautionary measures? There were vessels: cargo ships admittedly, but vessels nevertheless, which could have taken additional survivors. Yet it was not the Vulcan Way to retreat without cause, no one understood what the strange ship was doing, there was no logic to their attack, and in their collective memory Vulcan had never been conquered. The Vulcan people lacked the capacity to act in the face of too little information.

 

In her correspondence with T'Lar, T'Aral had made a point of being discreet - transmitting and receiving in ancient Vulcan caligraphy. Not only was it highly complicated, it was virtually unknown outside of the Vulcan society. There was the concern of the Communications Officer, who had already demonstrated an extensive gift for languages. However, T'Aral had confidence that Lt. Kvar would recognize a distinct effort to seek privacy, and would avoid the temptation to pry. Within the messages was a pointed, intense, yet deliberately polite conversation between the two of them. No: T'Aral would not be joining the New Vulcan colony - even in their current condition, individuals had their obligations. In addition to her original intent, T'Aral had received a great deal of medical training from Starfleet. They had a right to expect a return on their investment.

 

There was, however, one thing T'Aral could do for the sect forming on the new colony. Once the ship arrived there were a number of ceremonies to be performed. With luck the Captain would be understanding and grant her both leave and privacy. There was also a council she would need to attend: somehow the ritual of Koon-ut-kal-if-fee needed to be addressed: with their numbers so few and marriage arrangements so disrupted, the Vulcan people couldn't risk the further thinning of their numbers through wedding challenges. Somehow, the ritual would need changing to reduce its lethality - it was simply a matter of logic.

 

As she prepared for the ship's arrival at poVuhlkansu, T'Aral obtained a cargo case and a good amount of packing material. It was small, but within she put the most precious item she could imagine - the remaining stone of Mount Seleya. T'Lar would be sure to give it a treasured place within the new temple: a monument of what was and a link to their past. Receiving it would dull any complaints against her returning to the Comanche Creek after their visit. After masking it sufficiently, T'Aral noted a casual statement on the outer cover: "Cultural Materials - Attn: T'Lar."

 

Several communications would make sure the case arrived at its proper destination. She would see it off the ship personally; once in the hands of the Vulcans it would be safe.