"Reporting Status to Command"

Posted on 01 Mar 2026 @ 8:14pm by Commander Suzanna Batenburg & Captain Sabrina Corbin & Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD

1,008 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Silent Inheritance
Location: Cmdr Batenburg's Office

// Commander Suzanna Batenburg's Office //

Immediately upon completing her meeting with the other medical doctors and with Cmdr Harlan, Dr Amberlyn placed a call to the Executive Officer's yeoman, asking for a priority meeting with Cmdr Batenburg. Now she sat in one of the occasional chairs in the anteroom in the Commander's office. She had a PaDD in her hands, which her calm though those who knew her well would have seen the frown of contemplation in her brow.

More cases of Novaryn-C were being reported. How could they stop a polymer in the bodies of these people, children and adults? Basically, how could they flush it out of not only the city water systems, but out of the people.?

"The Commander will see you now, Doctor Amberlyn."

"Thank you," Riah replied automatically, moving from her reverie to the task at hand. She stepped into the Commander's office and stopped inside the door. "Cmdr Amberlyn reporting, with updates on the medical issues on Lathira IV, Ma'am."

"Commander," Suzanna nodded, "please take a seat," she gestured to the chairs across from her desk. She had read the reports, and even if she was not directly involved, it was a concerning situation. As soon as her yeoman had informed her, she'd asked him to clear her schedule for the next hour. "Are we any closer to finding a solution?"

"I believe so, but things are more complicated than just a vaccine and a virus. It turns out there is a degrading polymer which we believe has leached into the water supply. It present in the Kestral Reach population, and is preventing the vaccine from activating properly." Amberlyn went on to relay the information Dr Dunross had found and the subsequent discussion with Chief Engineer Harlan about locating the source of the polymer in the environment of Kestral Reach. "So we are working now to rid the patients of the polymer, or override it, and Engineering will be starting a search for the source of the polymer."

The half Vulcan had raised an eyebrow slightly as she listened to the doctor. "Fascinating," she muttered under her breath, and a concern of course. If the water supply was affected, there was no knowing how far that could reach. And if it was only children were affected now, how much more of the polutant would be needed to start affecting adults as well? "Understood, Doctor. We need to inform the Captain as soon as possible." Suzanna tapped her comm badge, "Batenburg to Corbin. Captain, do you have time for Doctor Amberlyn and I. She has an important update on the situation on the planet."

“Understood, Commander. I’m on my way.”

Moments later, the chime sounded at the door to the Executive Officer’s office.

Sabrina entered at Suzanna’s invitation, duty jacket immaculate as ever, a warm ceramic cup cradled in one hand. Steam curled faintly from the tea, the scent subtle but grounding.

She offered both officers a small, steady look as she stepped fully inside.

“Commander. Doctor.”

Her gaze moved between them, attentive, composed.

“I take it this warrants more than a routine update.”

"It does, Captain," Suzanna stated, "Please take a seat. Commander Amberlyn had an interesting update about the situation on the planet. Doctor, please explain." She didn't want to take the centre seat here, Amberlyn had led the efforts so far, and done an excellent job. She was more than qualified to explain.

“Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Captain,” began Amberlyn. “Doctor Dunross’ research uncovered a polymer in the blood samples of all those in the Kestral Reach area. The polymer is derived from industrial infrastructure product and we suspect it’s leeching into the water supply.” She repeated the entire discovery as she had explained it to Cmdr Batenburg. “We immediately contacted Cmdr Harlan and he’s going to investigate on the surface he has some connections down there. He’ll report back as soon as he finds something definitive. If this is in the water supply, that expands our involvement considerably beyond a medical issue. We continue to search for a way to help the young patients, including the possible placement in stasis of some who are suffering the most neurological issues.”

Suzanna's mind had been running, over all possibilities since Amberlyn had first come to her office. "We should ask the science department to start working on finding ways to help bind this polymer to something, or find otherways to filter it out of the water, while Commander Harlan find out where it leaches from."

Sabrina listened without interruption, her tea warming her hands as the scope of the problem widened in her mind.

A polymer in the water supply.

Not a contained outbreak. Infrastructure. Distribution networks. Reservoirs. Filtration systems sized for an entire colony.

The Arawyn could not simply beam thousands of civilians aboard. Not for treatment. Not for relocation. Any solution would have to function where the people already were.

“Thank you, both of you,” she said evenly. “This is solid work.”

Her gaze shifted briefly to Amberlyn.

“Continue pursuing treatment options and coordinate with Science on binding agents or anything that can neutralize the polymer in the bloodstream.”

Then she looked to Suzanna.

“Commander, I want immediate assessment of the colony’s water safety. Consumption advisories, alternative sourcing, portable filtration if necessary. Please take the lead on that coordination with Engineering and Science. We need to ensure what they’re drinking is safe as quickly as possible.”

She rose, lifting her tea once more.

“I’ll contact colony leadership and brief them on what we know. They’ll need transparency and a plan.”

A steady look between them both.

“We move quickly, and we move carefully.”

"Exactly what I hoped you would say. I'm on it for Medical coordinating with Science. Thank you Captain," replied Amberlyn.

Suzanna merely nodded in agreement.

~~~
Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officer
USS Arawyn

LtCmdr Riah Amberlyn, XMD
Chief Medical Officer

Cmdr Suzanna Batenburg
XO USS Arawyn
Everything fits, otherwise we'll make it fit!

 

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