Arrival and Meeting the Patient

Posted on Sun Feb 8th, 2026 @ 9:07pm by Captain Maddox Greene & Ensign Nyxala Vireen & Commander Saul Whitford
Edited on on Sun Feb 8th, 2026 @ 9:10pm

1,776 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Echos on the Deck
Location: Sentinel Station
Timeline: Takes place before needing your expertise

Saul Whitford glanced about as he exited the shuttle pod. Turning, he flashed a quick wave at the pilot before looking around at his new surroundings. The deck plates that thudded under his booted feet were shiny and new, built from the most cutting-edge technology the young Federation could muster. He glanced about the shuttle bay located on the bottom-most level of the K-class station and grunted to himself.

I guess this is home, he thought to himself as he wiped a hand through his salt-and-pepper goatee. Whitford had spent a long time in Starfleet, almost half his life by now, and it showed. He was older, slower and just a little thicker around the middle than during his first assignment. He was glad that this posting would at least be staying in one place. Hell, maybe even some old comrades will come calling through.

Standing in the middle of the bay, he was sure he had sent word of his arrival along ahead of him. For a moment he was torn. Should he go and find his new Commanding Officer, or should he wait in place?

The doors to the bay opened as Maddox Greene entered the bay. Surprisingly enough, this place wasn't as packed as the other docking area. Especially when he had arrived yesterday. In all honesty, the Captain was shocked that a single ship had brought Whitford to the station without bringing in other passengers. Just finishing up his conversation with Alexa Truman, he was extremely happy to see his First Officer arrive right on time. Extending his hand, Greene smiled. "Commander Whitford, welcome to Sentinel Station."

Taking the man's hand, Whitford flashed a charming smile of his own as he gripped firmly, 'a pleasure to be here Captain Greene. I haven't been assigned station duty since the beginning of my career at Jupiter.' He chuckled as he released the hand, 'hopefully it'll be a bit more exciting here on the frontier than back home.'

Shaking the hand, Maddox couldn't help but laugh. "I'm going to hold you to that looking for excitement. Arrived yesterday and walked into an incident involving a paralyzed Nausicaan. Needless to say his people aren't happy. The Vulcan Admiral who was supposed to be handling the situation just dropped it on my lap."

Whitford chuckled knowing the Vulcans he had worked with over the years. 'They're pretty blunt aren't they? And not afraid to delegate when it suits them.' He shook his head, 'I'm surprised they're taking as active a role in Federation affairs as they are - I thought they would have withdrawn a bit more after the War.' Leaning in he said with a smile, 'I have a sneaking suspicion they actually like us, whatever that emotionless face tells us.'

He looked around the squeaky clean bay as the shuttle departed for the ship that had delivered him. 'So ... I'm your new First Officer and Head of Operations. I'm happy to jump right in, but maybe you'd like to give me a rundown on the Nausicaans, and maybe your priorities? I've had the spiel from Command but, well, they're not the boots on the ground are they?'

"Don't even get me started on the Vulcans," Greene replied. "Let's get outta here." The Captain led his Whitford out of the shuttle bay and into the corridor. "Command has been keeping this as quite as possible to avoid an interplanetary incident. But let's be honest, it cannot be avoided. While the Admiral's ship was away this place was without any officers and being run by the Chief Petty Officer Truman over the armory. A few Nausicaans visited the station and eventually decided to wreak havoc in one of the establishments. Security shows up to break up the fight and one Nausicaans pulls a knife on a young crewman who fires his phaser. Nausicaans falls over a balcony and here we are today with him paralyzed."

Reaching the turbolift, he pressed the button as they waited. "His companions are currently sitting in a cell, while he is laid up in sickbay. Truman wanted to keep things in house, so waited twenty-fours to report the situation to the hire-ups. Admiral Vedak showed and took over the situation. At this time, we are four days after the incident." The door to the turbolift opened as the stepped in. "Infirmary."

'Damn, they left a non-com in charge of the station?' Whitford shook his head in disbelief. 'He didn't do too bad a job. I probably wouldn't have let Nausicaans on the station myself. Too many variables with them. But the crew reacted well if all they have is an injured Nausicaan.' Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he thought a moment as the turbolift came to a quiet stop and the doors hissed open. 'Do we know if he's going to be able to walk again?'

"He is actually she," the Captain corrected as they stepped out of the turbolift. "Alexa Truman is a former MACO who decided to switch over to the armory division. As far as the injured prisoner walking again. It's looking like a serious no at the moment. Unless we can get a highly skilled surgeon who can perform a miracle."

'That seems a tall order out here - how's the medical staff?' Whitford was beginning to relax into his role, happy and eager to have questions to pepper at his new Commanding Officer. 'It's not going to be great for us if we return the Nausicaan permanently injured. They're an ... aggressive bunch at the best of times, but something like this will bring them swarming into the system. We'd be besieged for a long time.'

Maddox sighed. "Still waiting for the arrival of the Chief Medical Officer." Walking into sickbay, there was several enlisted medical staff buzzing around the room. The person in charge was an Orion female with the rank of Ensign. "Ensign...We're here to see the injured Nausicaan."

The Orion turned her attention to the Captain and Commander, whom she hadn't expected to see. "Ensign Nyxala Vireen, sirs. The patient is this way." Leading them over to a corner in the room, which was under the guard of an armory officer. "I tried doing my best with him. But he needs a serious surgeon, if he is to recover. Which is outside of my range as a nurse."

"How has he been doing, besides the obvious?" the Captain questioned.

"Mostly upset," Vireen answered. "Which is understandable. He needed to be sedated at first. But he's figuring out that causing hasn't gotten him anywhere."

'How long can we keep him safely sedated?' Whitford asked as he let his travel bag slip to the floor with a muffled thud. The man had to fight the surge of revulsion and hatred that choked his throat as he looked on the ugly alien. Whitford remembered the old convoy runs to Alpha Centauri, the need to fight off the Naasuican raiders, some hot and fierce close-quarter combat that had happened. They were savage foes, brutal and strong. And merciless. He had a grudging respect for them, despite the black feelings towards them.

The nurse couldn't help but to catch the look on Whitfords face. "There hasn't been a need to sedate him in over 48 hours. Besides the occasional insult. He's been pleasant by Nausicaan standards."

Turning his head towards the senior officers, the Nausucaan gave a disgusted look. "And you two just happen to be?"

"Captain Maddox Greene and my first officer Commander Saul Whitford," the CO introduced. "I'm sorry that you're in the predicament. But I'm not going to sugarcoat a thing; your actions got you in this bed. But I will do what I can to find the best medical care to get you walking again, hopefully. What's your name?"

"Zhordek Vaul," he answered. "Nobody has given me any information since I have been in this miserable place. What are you doing with my comrades?"

Looking at the nurse, then to his first officer, the Captain sighed. "Your people have been held due to their assault charges. The plan is to visit them soon enough and perhaps release them sometime soon. Going to contact your government and family. Inform them on what has taken place here. Find a viable solution that works for everyone. It's not my intent to hold any of you here indefinitely."

'I'm sorry you're in this situation,' Whitford managed, putting a hand gently on the Nausicaan's shoulder. 'The Federation will do it's best to ensure you're returned home as healthy as possible.' He turned to Greene. 'Captain, a word if I may?' he pointed towards a quiet corner of the infirmary, away from the Nausicaan.

"Excuse us." The Commanding Officer stepped away following Saul to the corner. He was definitely curious to what the man he was just getting to know had to say.

Whitford sighed, then offered the Captain a wan smile. 'He seems in bad condition ... I'm not the biggest fan of Nausicaans after my encounters with them, but it must be hell for the guy, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.' He leaned in. 'How much do we know about Nausicaan government and family units? Will someone come for him? Help him? Or will they just leave him to rot?'

"I'm left with the pleasure of giving his government the news," Maddox mentioned with a deep sigh. "As far as family units, I really don't have a clue about the dynamics of the Nausicaan family. Starfleet has been hesitant about making the call. So, I am assuming that this will be taken very seriously." Turning his head, he briefly looked back in the direction of the patient. "Based on your experience. Do you really think, they would just leave him to rot?"

'I don't know.' Whitford looked over to Vaul, a heated dislike of himself rising like gorge in his throat at how he'd reacted earlier. 'When we've fought them ... they've been pretty merciless and unsentimental. Certainly seen them leave men behind when they've gotten what they've wanted.' He shook his head, 'I don't know if it extends to situations like this.'

Sighing a bit in frustration, the Captain rubbed his forehead. "Will find out soon enough. Going to make the call once we finish up here. Go ahead and get settled in. We can discuss this more in detail later on."

================
Captain Maddox Greene
Commanding Officer
Sentinel Station

Commander Saul Whitford
Executive/Chief Operations Officer
Sentinel Station

Ensign Nyxala Vireen
Head Nurse
Sentinel Station

 

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