Down at the medical bay Dr. Stollan was dragging a Benzite security officer between throngs of medical staff who stood scanning impatient crew members and their families as they typed out notes on nearby interfaces.
"Doctor please, I simply don't have time for a medical check at the moment. Perhaps in an hour or..."
"This will take all of twenty seconds, lieutenant," Stollan stated, sitting the Benzite down on an empty bed near the back of the room, "Trust that I don't want to keep you here any more than you want to stay."
The doctor took a medical tricorder from the nearby counter. The Benzite gave a resigned sigh. Beyond the crowd, chief Howell wove into the room, alongside her two science officers with their arms interlinked, carrying a sickly look friend between them. Howell raised an eyebrow at them before diving into the busy-ness of the med bay.
"Your last scan report indicates you had some issues with your Nitro-Oxi implant that resulted in some lung inflammation..."
Stollan frowned as he read this off the scan. There was a short beep as he reset the tricorder and began a new scan, carefully pointing at specific areas on the Benzite's face, neck and chest. He promptly replaced the tricorder on the desk and began to rummage through a cabinet above it.
"I believe that was treated for at my last post doctor, I assure you—Commander Howell!" The officer was surprised at the appearance of the Security chief, who seemed to be looking around the room at the faces of each person in earnest.
"Lieutenant." Howell offered in greeting, giving him a quick glance.
The officer made to stand up but Stollan— noticing this— resolutely placed two hands firmly on the officer's shoulders and sat him back down. Then from the cabinet he brought a hook-like instrument to the officer's face. The benzite froze and gave the instrument a fearful look.
"Doctor I don't know if I'm comfortable with— oh"
Leaning in close to the Benzite, Stollan placed the hook like instrument up the officer's nasal cavity before he could resist any further.
"It seems you have some minor scarring from the treatment. When I countdown to one breathe in deeply. Three, two…"
Howell watched the doctor's procedure with vague interest, but was far more interested in Stollan himself, a Vulcan whom she did not recognize. Stollan— apparently noticing her interest— looked up at her.
"Is there something you need, Commander?"
Howell gave the Benzite officer- who seemed quite frozen with fear with the hook still deep in his nasal cavity- an uncertain look, but Stollan's attention seemed to have completely waned over to her.
"I'm looking for Doctor Vela, I need an updated general medical report." Howell responded promptly.
"I see. I believe I sent an ensign off with an updated report some time ago." Stollan replied, returning their attention to the cringing officer on the bed.
Howell's brow furrowed at Doctor Stollan.
"Doctor I think you've misunderstood, I need a report from the chief medical officer."
Stollan's attention was once again taken away from the Benzite, who was beginning to look cross-eyed at the instrument being held up by the doctor.
"I am the chief medical officer. It seems Doctor Vela had to attend to an emergency family situation back on Earth. I am her replacement."
Howell's frown deepened, "I wasn't told about this."
"I'm certain hardly anyone has had time to notice— ah, yes, one."
The Benzite started at the sharp spray of the instrument and breathed in hastily a half second too late. As the doctor pulled it back out the officer doubled over and coughed harshly.
"I'm chief of security doctor, it's my job to know."
Stollan didn't seem to hear her, instead giving the Benzite a pat on the back.
"Take slow, deep breaths."
After a few moments the Benzite sat back up looking rather dazed. Stollan took one of medical pads in Howell's arms.
"I'll link this up to the real time system so you can receive updates as they come."
"Thank you doctor." Howell responded with heavy gratitude. After a few moments and checking alongside the med bay's mainframe Stollan handed her back the data pad. As Howell turned to leave however, they called out, and Howell reluctantly turned to face the doctor again.
"Commander, I would ask if we'd had any communication with the Cardassians?"
This gave Howell pause and she attempted to recall if they had. As far as she knew there had been no communication with the Cardassians yet.
"I don't believe so, doctor, but I'm sure they can't be more than a few hours away from arriving. You can talk to them then."
"You see, I was told we would have received the first officer's medical files and information on cardassian biology by now, but there are no such files in the med bay data-banks."
"I wouldn't know anything about that, doctor. You'll have to talk to communications on the bridge about that, maybe they can set up a comm line with the Cardassian ship."
He opened his mouth to speak but before they could recall her again Howell swept purposefully back into the crowd.