Rose colored debrief.

Posted on Tue 7th Oct, 2025 @ 11:26pm by Lieutenant Victor Delling MD & Lieutenant Commander Lanis Dhuro MD & Makila i'Hartelhai

910 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: From The Ashes
Location: Sickbay, Deck 83

* * *

After all 35 patients from the Floribunda had been operated on or otherwise treated, Lanis arranged for refreshments to be made available in Sickbay's largest conference room to all of the staff who had pitched in to treat those patients. Platters of sandwiches and other light snacks from a variety of worlds, as well as beverages, adorned the main conference table and the side tables lined up along the wall.

Lanis stood sipping from a tumbler of Terran sweet tea. It was quick, it was easy, and it was ice-cold. Nothing had ever tasted so good. "Dr. Delling, would you prefer I introduce you here or wait until tomorrow, when you formally take charge?"

Makila rested her back against a pylon next to the surgical suite she'd just exited, to get her bearings before entering the conference room. The food was a kindness, for suddenly she was ravenous.

"I suppose now is as good a time as any.". Victor answered after stifling a yawn as he settled down into one of the chairs at the conference room table. A plate was in his hand, and he nibbled a sausage pastry with all of the elegance of a a princess in her bower.

Lanis chuckled. "I can wait until you get some food in you. In fact, I see some hasperat. Give me a moment." He found the platter of hasperat and added a roll of it to his plate. Then he returned to where he'd been standing next to Victor and waited until Delling had at least eaten his sausage roll and taken a sip of his drink before clearing his throat and speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for just a moment," Lanis said in a tone of voice meant to quietly cut through conversation. Once the room fell quiet, he went on. "First, I'd like to thank you all for the outstanding work you did today. It's been a while since we had to handle an emergency of such magnitude."

Good-natured laughter and agreement arose at that. Lanis let it percolate a moment before raising his hand for silence. "There is one further passenger from the Floribunda who I need to introduce. Fortunately, he doesn't need surgery." Someone snickered at that.

Lanis went on. "He alerted the station to the emergency and worked alongside all of us this afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, I have the pleasure to introduce to you Dr. Victor Delling, who will be our new CMO, starting tomorrow. Don't mob him all at once. Dr. Delling?"

"The Floribunda was your transport into the station then, Doctor?" Makila asked as she delicately sipped her tea.

"That's correct." Victor answered with a soft sigh. "I was trying to get a bit of peace before arriving, but you know what they say about the plans of men."

"Welcome" Makila murmured after swallowing what was in her mouth.

"What do they say about the plans of men?" Lanis asked Victor.

"The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear!
An’ forward tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear! " Victor quoted with a boyish grin that erased the lines from his forehead in an instant. "It's a poem by Earth's Robert Burns. It's actually much longer, but the last two stanzas are powerful. "

Applause from the Terran medical staff sounded at the recitation.

Makila's eyes got bigger and bigger until she was staring enrapt at the chief. When he was done she exhaled the breath she was holding, slowly through her teeth. . "Powerfully quoted, sir."

Bright eyes twinkled in gratitude as he inclined his head to her. "Thank you. Earth has many inspiring artists of all ilks. "

"Indeed, Earth's art is one of its many appealing characteristics " Makila grinned at the doctor "I'm partial to the food, myself."

"I've never heard that poem before, but yes, that's quite a powerful message," Lanis said.

Various members of the medical staff came up and introduced themselves to Delling and then resumed their interest in the food and their own conversations. "So, is there any way we can help you get acclimated here?" Lanis asked Victor.

" not that I am currently aware of, though I am not afraid to ask questions and make a bother of myself" his tone made it clear that he was teasing. " I am hoping to onboard a couple of my people to ease the burden that not having a chief has laid upon you."

"That will be much welcomed," Lanis said, "though I'm always happy to delegate. I'll look forward to your questions."

" That's all I can ask. We can set up a weekly meeting during the transitional period, let's say Thursday afternoon to discuss anything that you see lacking or that I need feedback on."

"That sounds fine," Lanis said. "I enjoyed working with you today. I look forward to more of the same--maybe a little less hectic! It's good to have you at Starbase 109, Dr. Delling."

Makila agreed with the sentiment, hoping that his settling in well to the starbase would mean an increase in her teachable hours. The woman was eager to put her residency behind her.

"I am very glad to be here. Thank you all."

 

RSS Feed