Stardate: 70819:0000
Title: Hands-on Experience
Author: CMO Ted Matthews
Time: Current
Scene: Sickbay


The young man standing in front of him put a smile on the CMO’s face; it had been a while since anyone had saluted him. On a ship this small if you stick to the over-zealous Starfleet regulation of saluting at senior officers you get arm ache walking from room to room!

"At ease, and you can dispense with the saluting, particularly as in Medical we generally have our hands too full," Ted said with a smile.

"Yes, Sir."

"And you can call me Ted or Dr Matthews if you prefer." The CMO gestured to the chair opposite his desk.

"Thank you."

"I have been over your file and it is very impressive and makes me feel old." Gabriel went to say something but Ted stopped him with a good-natured wave and smile. Completing the course in such a short time showed an impressive level of enthusiasm. "The only thing I can see missing from this..." he gestured at the datapadd with the Ensign’s personnel file on it, "...is hands-on field experience, but that won’t be a problem for long. We may be a small ship, but we are kept busy."

"I have read the past mission reports, Sir, and saw that Medical played a role in all, from developing a cure for the Tharan 3 crisis, to taking care of the both Ferengi refugees from Kah’leel and then the sphere’s evacuees."

Ted was impressed that the Ensign had done his home work on the vessel he had been assigned to.

"Well this mission will no doubt also give us something to do. The race we are about to meet are an unknown quantity. As part of diplomatic relations we will do some medical exchange, if the Captain approves it. As a precaution I like to monitor a random sample of crew who have any contact with not only the inhabitants of the planet, but also those who are exposed to their environment. Base readings for all crew are all on file for comparison."

Ted stood up.

"Let me give you the tour." As they walked out into the main sickbay area Ted introduced the Ensign to other medical personnel.


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Ted Matthews 
CMO
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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