[Silynn]

Starfleet Regional Medical Center, East Asia, Earth
Trauma Center
Jei sat down on a near by chair and closed her eyes. She had been on-duty for the past fourteen hours due to a major accident in the nearby Busan harbor. Jei was tasked with handling the triage of the incoming casualties, all civilians, as the other three medical officers were all more experienced and senior to her. Also, it was a job her direct supervisor, Dr. Chiu, knew she could handle well.

Fortunately, there had been no fatalities, but there was a score of critical and severe injuries. Thus, Jei didn’t have to make any truly hard decisions on this day. After the triage was completed and the patients queued and prepped, Jei began assisting Dr. Chiu with the treatments.

Dr. Chiu exited the surgical theater and sat down next to Jei. “Fine work with the triage, Jei. Text book work. However, you need to work on your application of your treatments. I’m not sure if you are aware, but people are *not* machines. You cannot ‘fix’ them like you would a power matrix… you need to ‘talk’ to them. Let them know you are doing your best for them and put them at ease,” Dr. Chiu lectured.

Jei sat up and nodded in understanding. Christopher Cushing, her previous mentor and dear friend, had given her the same lecture before. “Understood, ma’am. I will work to correct that,” replied Jei.

Dr. Chiu shook her head and gave Jei a smile. “Jei, you’re not a robot either. I have read your file and I made a promise to my dear classmate to make you a medical officer that he would be proud of. Soooo… relax a little. We’re not out in space or in some forward area. We’re here on Earth.”

Jei nodded, yet could not help visualizing and hearing Christopher in place of Dr. Chiu. It was like he was sitting there next to her and not Christopher’s classmate, Commander Eleanor Chiu.

Visualizing Christopher’s friendly and warm smile indeed put Jei at ease.

Nurse Noh suddenly entered the small break room and turned on the vid display. “Ma’ams… you won’t believe this, but another attack on DS9. Major casualties, including the USS ARES and two other starships. It is BAD.”

Jei and Eleanor stood and walked over to the large display detailing the news report. A docking pylon where the ARES and two other ships suffered a catastrophic explosion. The reporter continued on, but Jei’s thoughts were on the few friends she knew were still on the ARES.

“Starfleet Command and DS9 Security have not commented on anything other than the casualties and the extensive damage to the docking pylon and moored ships. Several people that our reporters have spoken to however have painted a bleak picture,” stated the news reporter.

“We have learned that the USS ARES has had several incidents and involvement with criminal syndicates, as well as a major dealing with internal extremists in its own command structure. The history and rapid succession of no less than four Captains in a short time does add levity to this theory,” added the reporter.

“However, the most shocking… which we are waiting for Starfleet Command to verify is that this was a direct retaliation against Captain Mariella Jones. Our sources have reported that she was having dinner with a few of her officers and staff when the explosion occurred. Explosion, as in a targeted bomb, as Captain Jone’s dining room was in the direct path of the explosion. She and those who were dining with her have been listed among the dead by Starfleet, yet Starfleet has not confirmed the cause of death yet… further adds to our suspicions and theories which Starfleet has refused to clarify or answer…”

Eyes turned to Jei, as those in the room knew Jei recently served aboard the USS ARES.

“Lieutenant Han, weren’t you on the ARES?” asked Nurse Noh.

Jei didn’t answer. Instead, she left the break room and walked to her small office. She quickly pulled up the Starfleet medical reports from DS9 and read through the casualty list. She saw a lot of familiar names, many of them friends.

Closing her eyes, Jei put her head down and let her tears flow. Her body racked with small convulsions as her grief overtook her.

The senseless loss of so many good people. Jei knew she would likely be among them, if she had stayed. Yet, she felt their sacrifice was all in vain. A waste of precious life. Christopher was the tip of that iceberg and the final straw for Jei and that cursed ship.