Missing Pieces
Posted on Wed May 13th, 2026 @ 5:42pm by Commander Daynah Ral & Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Commander Richard Dalziel & Lieutenant Commander Zuub & Lieutenant Katya Davi & Lieutenant Amy Gordon & Ensign Nyx Calder
2,265 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Avan's Colony
Location: SS. Adelaide on Quatral Prime
Timeline: A few hours after Puzzle Pieces
Above the colony's dome, the white and grey clouds took on a slightly orange hue, indicating that sun was setting soon over this part of the planet as it rotated through its day/night cycle. Even through the colonies atmospheric shield, the sound of the atmosphere howling, reaching the crew of the SS. Adelaide as they went about their tasks.
Nurse Weld was grim as she looked through the comm line. She was in her office and looked like she hadn’t slept for several days.
Which she hadn’t.
Rubbing at her face, the Grazerite finally said. “Ms. Rix (Ral), I can report that the reset environmental controls are working. My patients are, to a greater or lesser extent recovering. The Amalan…well, she will recover but she’s been removed as Proctor by the colonists at large, so I’ve been asked to speak to you.” She straightened her shoulders, resolved as she said, “On behalf of all of us, I’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done and at the same time apologize for the actions of maybe most of us. You were trying to help in a difficult situation and we likely didn’t make it as easy as we might have.”
Weld wasn’t good at this. She wasn’t happy either. This wasn’t her job. She had sick people to help and things were getting even more complicated, with Amalien being ousted by the colonists committee after Gil Divinis had reached out, very pointedly reminding them of the deal they’d agreed to with the Union, even though they’d claimed salvage on the colony, it was hard to argue with Cardassians when they could obliterate the colony from orbit.
Right now, the Gil wanted the Adelaide gone. She also wanted all the sensor data and logs from transmissions with the Adelaide for some reason. The former proctor was not at the top of the Gil’s favorite people what with her sending out that broad channel distress signal….that apparently shouldn’t have gotten past the comm system governors. The remaining techs were even now trying to figure out what had been done to their computers.
Catching herself, Weld smiled at the monitor and said, “How are our people doing? And what happened to your Captain?”
"Captain Crevins is attending to another matter. Our people are doing well, and recovering. Thank you for asking. As to our work here. It is nothing that a friendly neighbor shouldn't do. Just remember us should we need the favor returned someday." Daynah wanted to say that it was nothing that Starfleet couldn't do. But damned SFI had her hands tied from saying anything like that.
"I understand and you have friends here of course. We'd be happy to see you all again in the future, should you pass this way. You must have business elsewhere, however. When do you think our people will be able to disembark? It goes without saying we deeply appreciate your help."
Katya walked into the crew lounge, eager to find something to eat now that she was out of quarantine. She smiled at everyone, but her focus was on food--or at least a snack--before sitting down. She paused to glance at the conversation between Dayna and Nurse Weld, but her first priority was food.
Not long after Katya made her appearance, Amy came in, having a smile and immediately walking over and getting a snack, she sat down.
"Good to see you, Weld." she commented, Amy taking a bite of the snack.
Zuub had been checking on her patients but her most impertinent ones: Katya and Amy had already arrived. She said nothing, but when she looked at Amy and Katya, her antennae were standing straight up and leaned backwards slightly.
Noticing the odd position of her antennae, Kat assumed the doctor would want to have a word with her and Amy before long. But she'd delay it as long as she could, choosing to smile politely, then turn her attention to the nurse on the viewscreen.
"Nurse Weld, you look like you could use a good meal as well." That would hopefully keep the doctor from asking any questions that couldn't be answered in front of the nurse.
"That is in my future, and I... we appreciate you giving most of us a future, as I said," Weld said, wiping at her brow. "I'm sorry. My head IS swimming a bit. Did you mention where our people are and when you might be releasing them? If you did, I missed it."
Amy was watching, watching Weld, and watching Zuub. She finished off her pastry, then picked up another. Her mouth being somewhat full from the other pastry.
"Doctor, Nurse Weld seems to be overheating." a small piece of crumb flying out of her mouth as she spoke of this. Amy quickly covered her mouth to finish chewing, and trying not to talk with her mouth full.
Zuub's antennae continued to stay stiff and slightly back as she faced Amy. Her face showed no hint of emotion being physically incapable of doing so. "Nurse Weld, your people suffered greatly. Most nearly died. I would rather not see their blood boil. I expect that we can release them in the next twenty-four hours."
Kat thought there might be more to the nurse's appearance and asked, "Nurse Weld, are you don't look well. Has the doctor looked at you?"
Waiving at the pickup, Weld said "I'm recovering, though there is much to do and the colony concerns as well. We must get production back on line as soon as we may. However, if twenty four hours is needed, then we of course will continue to work toward that."
Kat nodded. This was true, but she was also concerned that most of the colonists appeared to be ill from one thing or another.
Zuub finally realized that Weld might have something wrong with her. Her antennae moved upright and slightly forward towards the viewscreen. "Nobody is going to produce anything if they are still sick, including you." The doctor pulled out a medical tricorder and continued, "I could come down and check on you."
Amy matched gaze with Zuub, with a nonchalant expression. She found it more interesting the way the antennae's reaction. She was picking up how to tell what sort of mood Zuub was experiencing. With how the antennae was positioned, it reminded Amy of how a cat's ears would react when they were irritated. There was a flash of an image, in Amy's mind, that of Zuub being a cat with blue fur. Her mouth twitched, trying hard not to smile.
Amy was a loud thinker. Or maybe it was just the time Kat spent working with her that made her more susceptible to Amy's loud surface thoughts. Kat looked at her for a moment, then at Zuub. No. In spite of the telegraphic antennae, she didn't see Zuub as a cat. Or an ant. Maybe a giant blue moth, with or without wings. Or a blue bee. She could almost see Zuub with a stinger.
Did Daynah want the Doc to go back down there? Of course not. However, after having to deal with the Klingon Daynah did not think it best to contest the Doctor on this as well. "Doctor, if you are going down there again. Full quarantine protocols until you can clear people. You would also have to scan yourself before returning to the ship."
"If that is what must be done, then that is what must be done," Zuub answered simply. "I cannot let the Nurse suffer."
Weld rubbed at her face, deciding the crew of the Adelaide talked more than Betezoids. "I'm recovering and plan on taking a bed in my own sickbay once we have an update." She hesitated and then tiredly said, "And honestly, the Gil would very much like you to be gone. I'm sure they'll be tracking your ship and I would rather you be away before a Cardassian patrol vessel shows up."
Zuub's antennae bent backwards as she softly said, "I do not care what the Gil would like. I have a higher oath. Give me your readings, Nurse."
Nurse Weld had a temptation to use a higher oath...several of them herself.
She also toyed momentarily about opening a vein, then realized the good doctor would take that as a challenge.
Then she smiled slightly at the thought of opening several of the Andorian's veins.
Just to be sure.
Sighing, she decided that's what had gotten her in this mess in the first place. "Fine. And I really am fine, doctor. Or will be. She turned and fiddled with a portable bio-sensor and loaded it into the feed to Adelaide."
Zuub waited for the results. When she saw them her antennae started to twitter and warble alternately. "You could use some sleep and more oxygen treatments. Is there anyone else that can take over?"
Probably not, Kat thought. The colony didn't seem to have an abundance of doctors. Not that she saw, anyway. She wondered if she could replicate any parts for the colonists to help them with repairs... But that would require authorization from Daynah, and now was probably not the best time to ask.
"Nurse Weld was the one who was predominately taking care of the patients, when we arrived." Amy responded, The others were there and had witnessed the back and forth between Weld and another patient. Or was it one of the other medical staff.
Daynah listened intently to the conversation. Despite the back and forth the voice of Alaryc came to her head. When it seems that there is no option, invent one, compromise. "I have to agree with the Nurse here. Despite the health issues it is best that we are gone before a Cardassian Patrol rears its ugly head. That said Doctor, I understand that you cannot in good conscious simply leave someone sick and or injured. So, come up with a treatment plan and send it to Nurse Weld. I am sure the Nurse can make sure that it is adhered to. Once the transmission is complete we will be off."
Amy would love to get away from this colony, just too much happened and there was the indication of the New Maquis and she hadn't even spoken to Daynah as to what she had found in the computer room in that colony. What she and Katya had found in the caverns. There was a mystery here, but they did need to go and there was still the data that she had gathered that needed to be gone through.
Looking at Nurse Weld, "I do hope that this will help things out." Amy giving an apologetic smile.
"You've all helped very much and most of us appreciate that," Weld said, summoning a smile. "We DO appreciate your work on our environmentals and all the medical help. Tell me what we need to know and it will be relayed to everyone. Then I will be able to go collapse."
"Good luck," Kat said, sincerely hoping the situation would improve. But having looked at the equipment, she knew it would take a lot of work...and a lot of parts. Still, anything was possible. Her focus needed to be on the Adelaide and making sure it was ship shape and Bristol style.
Zuub left the room. She had a problem with a Klingon that she still needed to solve and it was not going to get solved with Nurse Weld. She said a silent prayer for the nurse's patients and the nurse herself. As far as Zuub could tell, they were relatively hopeless, but how many beings had her skill?
"Glad to assist, Nurse Weld. If there is ever anything else you need don't hesitate to contact us. We will be away momentarily. Adelaide out." Daynah said with a smile and cut the comm channel. She gave the order to dust off as soon as possible. She had to meet the Captain and bend his ear a bit.
From the helm, Nyx had stayed quieter than usual through most of it, which probably meant the universe was ending or she had finally learned restraint.
When Daynah gave the order to dust off, her hands were already moving across the controls.
“About time,” she muttered, not quite loud enough to be rude but definitely loud enough to be Nyx. “This place has terrible air, worse politics, and not nearly enough snacks to justify staying.”
The Adelaide stirred beneath her, systems waking with a low, grateful hum. Nyx’s eyes flicked once toward the blank comm screen where Nurse Weld had been, and for half a second the grin slipped.
“Hope they make it,” she said, quieter.
Then she pulled the ship gently off the pad, her usual crooked smile returning as the landing grid fell away beneath them.
“Alright, sweetheart,” she murmured to the Adelaide. “Let’s get you somewhere nobody’s trying to peel you open.”
Signatures
Commander Daynah Ral
Executive Officer/Chief Science Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Commander Zuub
Chief Medical Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Amy Gordon
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Katya Davi
Chief Operations Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Commander Rhupert Tyree
As Nurse Weld
SS Adelaide
Ensign Nyx Calder
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Commander Richard Dalziel
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Valiant
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