Doctor's Orders
Posted on Fri Aug 28th, 2026 @ 10:07am by Commander Percival "Percy" Tapper & Lieutenant Commander Samuel Jameson & Lieutenant Gabriel Calhoun
1,647 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Escape Velocity
Location: Cochrane Shipyards, Alpha Centauri
Timeline: 10 Days Prior to Launch
Commander Percy Tapper had already begun to learn that a starship could be measured in a number of ways. There was its length, its displacement, its number of decks and laboratories, the amount of antimatter and deuterium it carried in reserve. Of course there were the less official measurements: how many corridors one had to walk before reaching the mess, how many seconds the lift took to arrive from the highest deck to the lowest deck. And then there was the question of how many days a brand-new, state-of-the-art starship would remain in spacedock after it was cleared for launch.
The corridors of Cochrane Shipyards were large enough that it made all of those other general measurements seem rather insignificant. They stretched between docking berths in typically neutral, metallic avenues--often occupied by technicians, cargo carriers, and transiting personnel making some connection before embarking on the next leg of their journey.
Percy walked beside Lieutenant Commander Samuel Jameson, his hands resting loosely at his sides while they made their way toward one of the outer docking ports. Eventide was two weeks overdue for launch but ten days away from an updated launch date.
Although, he reminded himself, that was assuming Cochrane's engineers would stop finding new reasons to delay that day.
Thankfully, nearly two-thirds of her crew had now arrived, which meant the ship was beginning to acquire its tell-tale character that would eventually morph into something resembling a unique identity--the way every ship seems to when a collection of strangers becomes a cohesive unit.
A voice sounded through the corridor comm.
[Transport Quest-Seven has arrived at Docking Port Gamma. Passengers are requested to remain aboard until clearance has been confirmed. Thank you.]
Percy glanced at Sam.
"That should be our doctor's transport."
Earlier in the day, both had received a communique from Starfleet Command that identified Eventide's Chief Medical Officer as a Lieutenant Gabriel Calhoun. The full personnel file was apparently making its way through the same mysterious administrative process that had delayed a dozen other files Percy had requested.
Starfleet bureaucracy operates on a geological timescale sometimes, Percy thought.
"Jameson," he said, turning slightly toward his Executive Officer, "do you know about about this Doctor Calhoun?"
They rounded the corridor and arrived at the airlock to Docking Port Gamma, where a handful of others were waiting for their own people.
Sam shook his head scoffing. "Unfortunately no. We received the transfer orders, but not the personnel files. His records, along with 12 other members of the crew have files in limbo." Huffing humorously. "Figures it would be 13."
"Lucky thirteen."
Calhoun was not a fan of crowded places. The debarkation line from the transport was a crowded place. Nevertheless, he was looking forward to his new posting as CMO of USS Eventide. He’d be able to continue his research and run his own sickbay.
Calhoun finally stepped through the airlock of the shipyard to meet his new Commanding Officer. He saw two men with Commander’s pips. “Gabriel Calhoun reporting as ordered, sirs,” he said as he stood at attention.
Percy smiled and offered his hand.
"Doctor Calhoun. Welcome."
There was little point in making the man stand at attention in a shipyard airlock, particularly when the ship he had been assigned to was still several days away from being ready to actually fly. Percy had been part of Starfleet long enough to appreciate ceremony when it served a purpose, and an equal amount of time in academia to recognize when everyone was content to just get on with the work.
"At ease, Doctor. I'm Commander Percy Tapper. This is Lieutenant Commander Samuel Jameson, Eventide's Executive Officer. We've been expecting you."
“Thank you, Commander. Very glad to be here. I understand we are still some time away from launch, but I was wondering if I could impose. I have several cages of live specimens I use for medical and research purposes. Can we make sure they get handled properly and delivered to Eventide when the time comes?”
Percy looked over at Sam and gave him a subtle nod, indicating he should arrange it.
"Absolutely, doctor."
Sam nodded, as he chimed in. "I'll see it."
Percy looked around at the stream of people emerging from the transport. The airlock had already become congested with the thirty or so people slowly ambling through.
Sam extended his hand to the doctor. "Doctor. Sam Jameson. I'd say welcome aboard but Eventide is elsewhere in yard."
“Yes, sir. I’ve read the specs. Looking forward to serving ship and crew, Commander.”
"I should warn you that Eventide is going through a bit of an interesting time. Cochrane Shipyards is undergoing final diagnostics but they've made great progress." Percy wondered if the sarcastic amusement in his voice properly came through.
"Most of the scientific labs and spaces are ready. Sickbay is among them."
Percy gestured down one of the corridors and the three men began walking.
"She's a strange little ship," he continued. "Small by modern standards, certainly. But her purpose more than makes up for that."
They passed a trio of engineering technicians with an anti-grav unit and moved single-file for a moment to let them pass.
"We're going to be spending a great deal of time very far from home, doctor. There will be worlds where a Starfleet medical facility is the most sophisticated medicine anyone has ever seen, and there will be worlds where it is practically primitive by comparison."
“Of course, Commander. That comes with the assignment. Whatever the case may be, I will be prepared to provide whatever services are needed. Whether it’s patient treatment or advisory in nature. I assume, sickbay will be fully staffed? I have not made myself fully familiar with the roster.”
While they had talked Sam had dropped back, pulling his communicator, and spoke with the Eventide to see that the Doctor's effects and his pets...specimens were taken care of. Once done, he took a few hurried strides to catch up with the pair. "All taken care of. There are a few crew from the Eventide on their way. They will take your things to your quarters and your specimens to sickbay."
“I appreciate that, Commander,” Calhoun said.
Being the ship science officer he was understandably curious. "What research are you working on?"
“After med school, my fellowship was in cardiology, mostly. But I’ve authored studies in neurology. Two papers were published by Starfleet Medical a few years ago. Pretty proud of that. So to answer your question, Commander, my research rests in exo- and ethnoneurology. Neurotransmitters and how they affect neural pathways.”
"Published...nice. I'll have to be sure and read them. I remember reading the reports on the early NX missions. The hallucinogenic effects of pollen on what is now known as Archer IV, the neural effects of Trellium on the Vulcan ship Seleya. I wonder what new discoveries await us? Hopefully nothing as problematic."
“Yes, sir, hopefully. Whatever we encounter, I’m sure the crew will react with the usual resolve and strength worth of the best of Starfleet. You can count on it, Commander.”
Sam nodded, "Of that I have no doubt."
"You're the right person for the job, doctor. Eventide is lucky to have you."
“Very happy to serve, Commander. So what’s a Chief Medical Officer to do while his ship is waiting to be launched? Are we permitted to board. There is a lot of prep I’d like to get done before we get underway.”
Percy smiled at Gabriel's loose eagerness. He could tell right away the new doctor would have a calming effect on every patient he met with based on their brief but ongoing interaction.
"Of course you may board, doctor. I'd recommend getting settled in your quarters and verifying your medical supplies. Get to know your staff. For all the headaches this Bonaventure Mark-Two class has caused, the one thing it does boast is the most sophisticated medical department in Starfleet. Once we launch, no other vessel can make that claim." Percy said the last with a modicum of pride.
"And if you encounter... obstacles... in obtaining any necessary provisions, our Chief Operations Officer, Lieutenant Hunt, is the man to talk to. Failing that, Mister Jameson or myself are your contact points."
“I’ll be sure to do so, Commander. I’m not familiar with this shipyard. Do they have transporters aboard? I’m not afraid to use them… otherwise I can book a shuttlepod. I guess the question should be, are the transporters online aboard Eventide?”
Percy gestured ahead of them. "Eventide is docked via the central tunnel which is a ways down this corridor. Cochrane Shipyards' people are moving cargo and supplies by shuttlepod but the transporters are functional. Some of the lab equipment for our scientists are too bulky for the pattern buffers."
He paused a moment and fixed Gabriel with a curious but gentle look.
"I can understand if you have misgivings about using the transporter..."
He raised his hand to interrupt the Commander. “I do not… I’ve employed them repeatedly during my service. I’ll gladly beam over, sir. Thanks, Commander. See you soon.”
Percy nodded and smiled. "Once again, welcome aboard and we'll talk again soon."
Commander Percival Tapper
Commanding Officer
USS Eventide
Lieutenant Commander Samuel Jameson
Executive Officer & Chief Science Officer
USS Eventide
Lieutenant Gabriel Calhoun, MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Eventide
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