Armon III 1300 hours:

“We need more beds.” Marcus told the local consulate leader Izkra Both “I simply don’t have enough for the wounded and the sick.

“I will do what I can Doctor.” said Izkra Both “Should you not be close to finishing with the wounded? The raid was a week ago.”

Marcus sighed “I have 10 wounded left they were the most heavily wounded and despite my best efforts they remain in need of medical care.” I also have to keep them separate from the infected, in a different building. ”

Izkra made what Marcus would consider a face, and he sensed their annoyance but Izkra nodded “I will have you 20 more beds by sunset.” with a small curt bow Izkra Both left without letting Marcus say goodbye.

The Armonians were a proud amphibian people and truly gender-fluid, able to change their gender as needed for population control.

The problem with this was it made them harder to treat. The Armonians were part of the Federation and space faring. But they were not a race you came across in Star Fleet often. His database on the Merced had very little on them. So treating both wounds and an illness were tricky at best.

Thankfully he had Lieutenant Kim Estry with him, her scientific knowledge had been appreciated as she specialized in xenobiology as well as a few other things. She was helping Marcus make a vaccine for the Armonians as well as their own crew. Currently, they had the vaccine in the works with an estimate of 2 more hours until the first doses were ready to be tested.

The Armonian medical staff had been very welcoming to Marcus and Kim, and they had been tending to the sick as best they could. It had let Marcus focus on the injured as until the vaccine was ready.

Marcus crossed to the other in his hazmat suit and switched in a clean room into another before visiting the injured. The Armonians had not responded as well to the Osteogenic stimulator as Marcus was used to. Many of them were in splints right now, requiring several treatments daily to regenerate the fractures and breaks. He would be able to release five of his patients in the morning as it looked likely that their treatment tonight would be the last they needed.

Marcus made his way to the lab as a call came over his comm badge

“Doctor Anvers” the voice of Captain Spiff echoed a bit in his suit

“Yes Captain?” Ask Marcus

“Be advised that a Vaadwaur Warship has just entered the system and we are moving to an intercept course.”

“Understood sir.” Marcus said his thoughts immediately going to another possible raid.

Marcus went back to Lieutenant Estry and told her what would happened for a bit they would be here without backup outside of their Armonian hosts.

Kim sighed “Well, we knew this was possible. Good news is the vaccine should be ready soon, I have five batches going, one for each race we have on the ship and down here for the locals as well. Simulations are showing a 95% effectivity on all except our guests which came in at 75%.”

Marcus nodded “The Armonian physiology has been challenging for wound treatment to. But 75 is better then 0. We might see if their Doctors can figure out how to fine tune it on their own.” Marcus sighed “I will update our Consulate Liason Both they will be wanting the update.” he took a PADD from her desk containing her research. “They might want a copy.”

Kim nodded “Just a copy though, I will need that back.” she said frowning a bit he sensed her concern “It has all my work on it not just the vaccine.”

Marcus nodded “Handle with care, got it.”

He left the building to head to the consulate to talk to Izkra again and give them the update he had. Armon was a beautiful planet with temperate to tropical temps. Even in the protective suit walking around wasn’t to terrible. The views were lovely. Marcus took a deep breath and looked to the sky seeing a bright red shimmering star shining in the sky. Then he realized it wasn’t a star as it zoomed overhead and hit the medical facility he had left moments before…

Marcus has been thrown forward and knocked out as rubble fell in around him.  Grasping the PADD protectively to his suit clad chest as he watched the medical facility burn his vision fading as he finally passed out and the world went dark.

-to be continued-

Doctor Marcus Anvers

Chief Medical Officer

USS Merced

“The Merced is a ship on the rise.”