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Description
Distress Call

Chapter 6

“Enterprise’s latest scans of the impact areas detected no evidence that physical shells or missiles had been used in the attack.” reported Ensign Thomas. “All the evidence continues to suggest that the I.F. used only energy weapons in their attack.”
Lieutenant Commander Rackham said “And I was not aware of any Fleet research into using energy weapons as a delivery system. However. That does not prove that there had been no such research then, or in the time since I’ve come back to this realm.”
Grimmel said “So, that leads us back to the possibility that it’s something from the rescue party.”
Ensign Thomas said “Rhabwar’s Pathologist, Dr. Murchison, has been checking everyone from Starfleet and the Monitor Corps down there and so far has found nothing. Dr. Crusher has found nothing among the Horta or the Vulcan translators. We’ve got a real head-scratcher here.”
Captain Kondeff said over the intercom “The shuttle has just set down and the passengers are about to disembark. I will escort Dr. Conway to your workroom then we’ll get this session started. You may establish contact with Dr Crusher on Enterprise and Dr. Murchison on Rhabwar while we are on our way.”
***
“I asked the pilot to take me to Enterprise first.” explained Dr. Conway. Under Monitor Corps regulations, he, as the senior medical person on the scene, was in charge of the rescue operation. Admiral Terrag had offered no dispute, so Enterprise and the Ender Wiggin fell under Senior Physician Conway’s command for the time being. Therefore. He had the authority to give orders to a Starfleet shuttle pilot. This status also entitled him to speak directly with a ship Captain, or even an Admiral. “I’ve asked this group to come with me, Captain, and Captain Picard has given his approval.”
“Why take them away from their place on Enterprise?” Captain Kondeff had accepted Dr. Conway’s position of responsibility so his question was more for his own curiosity.
“Going to Enterprise first is giving me more time to observe their behavior. To watch for something that might offer a clue. I’ve been told that Wodensfang and Robert had been with Ender’s Dragon Army on the planet when the Queen hatched from her egg. That the Queen did not display any symptoms after that exposure to a Dragon does not mean that there could not be a link to Dragons in this case. Because there are some physiological differences between a Queen and other Formics, and because there is a close friendship between members of the Prime Team and the Dragon Army, I feel that secondary exposure is an avenue that must be explored. And, I have to admit that I have another reason for wanting to take them down there. Dragons are a reality in this realm, but they are an unknown to us at Sector General. These Dragons have agreed to undergo a full exam on Rhabwar to help us remedy that situation.”
Wodensfang said “Stormfly and Horrorcow and I are currently the only three dragons out here, so their sample will be small, but, it will give them something to start with in learning about us.”
“We’ll not be any trouble, sir.” Fishlegs said “We will stay quiet and out of the way while we are visiting your ship.”
“Nonsense. You three and Wodensfang are members of the Prime Team. You are more than qualified to take part in the discussion. Horrorcow and Stormfly may stay with you, or they are welcome to relax in the Dragon Quarters.”
Dr. Conway asked “Would it be possible for me to get a look at the Dragon Quarters while I’m here?”
***
Valentine and Charge Nurse Naydrad were to be secondary participants in the discussion. That meant they heard everything that was said, but their voices would not be transmitted unless they were called upon. They were on Rhabwar with Dr. Murchison. Medical members of the Wiggin crew were in the Post-Op Ward letting the Formic patients get to know a few more of the people who had come to help them.
“Before you begin this discussion” began Dr. Murchison when asked to do a sound check “I want to say that as a test of the new communications network, Diagnostician Thornnaster is taking part in the discussion from Sector General. Give them your sound check Dr. Thornnaster.”
“This is Thorny. Before this gets started, I want to ask if Valentine Wiggin is in this discussion.”
“Yes Dr. Thornnaster. I’m here in Rhabwar with Dr. Murchison.”
“I want you to know something. While Starfleet and the Monitor Corps were calibrating the network, Dr. Crusher included one of your papers in the sample collection of files and documents sent from Enterprise. While I have no firsthand knowledge of the problem on your Earth, I found your argument for a self perpetuating cause and effect cycle between fast-paced editing in the media and Attention Deficit Disorders on present day Earth to be worthy of additional study.” Thornnaster continued before Valentine could respond “For those who do not know me, I am Diagnostician Thornnaster, Chief Diagnostician for Alien Pathology at Sector General. I am a Tralthan, physiological designation, FGLI.”
Charge Nurse Naydrad said in response to Valentine’s look of confusion at the quick change in the conversation “I have come to learn the meaning of that physical expression on Earth-Human DBDGs. That big lumbering six-legged nightmare didn’t intend to slight you. Let me explain. That was high praise. You have been noticed by one of the best, but Diagnosticians generally do not engage in simple conversation when they are focused on a problem. It has to do with those memory tapes. Diagnostician Thornnaster has nine of them in its head.”
“Ten.”
“What was that interruption, Dr. Murchison?”
“Thorny has ten memory tapes now.”
“I stand corrected.” Nurse Naydrad said with some spikes rippling through its fur. “A memory tape holds more than just the medical knowledge accumulated by the donor. It holds other memories, and the personality of the donor. While Dr. Thornnastor’s mind is the only real mind in what passes for a head on that big lumbering Tralthan, to Dr. Thornnastor it seems that it is sharing its mind with ten other beings.”
***
Grimmel had called up Valentine’s paper and was giving it a quick look when Captain Kondeff led Dr. Conway and the kids with their dragons into the room. He said to Mazer, who was seated at the workstation next to his “This doctor has a reputation for thinking beyond the immediately obvious and looking for connections where others wouldn’t think of considering. Seeing him with those dragons and Prime Team members shows me that he has earned that reputation. I’m getting to like him.”
“Me too.” replied Mazer. Then he added “It looks like he’s getting right to it.”
Dr Conway had the kids with their dragons follow him to the front of the room, then he said “I know there are a few in this room who I have not yet met. I am Senior Physician Peter Conway, but know that the full titles are not necessary in conversation. Therefore, when addressing any of the Diagnosticians or Senior Physicians in this conversation, do address us simply as ‘Doctor.’”
Dr. Conway gestured to the dragons “I’ll begin with letting these six beings introduce themselves for the benefit of those listening and watching on the other ships. Three of them are Earth-Human DBDGs and the other three are Dragons, Tentative overall classification DDKG.”
Grimmel watched as Robert, Camicazi then Fishlegs each introduced themselves then let their dragons speak for themselves. However, even though Dragonese was already in the Starfleet translation base, Wodensfang translated Horrorcow’s words.
“Dr. Murchison,” began Dr. Conway after the introductions “These Dragons, and their Human companions, have agreed to meet with you and submit to tests both for investigation into the current problem, and to assist us in building Sector General’s knowledge base on the species. I’ve been told that Dr. Thornnaster is currently in contact with you and is taking part in this discussion. For the immediate investigation, I am most interested in the smoke, or any other residues from a Dragon’s fire breathing function. Beyond that, well, the Pathology Department needs no guidance from me in building a knowledge base. Dr. Thornnaster. If you have not received it yet, you will soon be receiving medical information on Three other Dragons. They are not part of this immediate investigation because they are not at this location. Two of them are back in Earth’s solar system. Both have been treated at Starfleet Medical’s main facility on Earth and have agreed to let Sector General have copies of their medical records. The third is currently serving on one of the Starfleet ships that set the relays in place for the Sub-space Communications Network. Starfleet has instructed that ship, the USS Endeavor, to proceed to Sector General to make Ensign Singebreath, a single-headed Deadly Shadow Dragon, available to the Pathology Department for direct study. I have spoken with Ensign Singebreath through Starfleet’s translation system so it has a general idea of the tests your department will be running and the samples they will be taking.” Dr. Conway grinned then said “Remember, Ensign Singebreath is a fire breather, so be sure that your best trained nurses use their finest needles when they collect the samples.” Mild laughter sounded through the room.
Dr. Thornnastor made a few untranslated sounds then said “Cooperative patients always get the best treatment. We save the dull and bent needles for the newest trainees to use when taking samples from the Senior Physicians.” More laughter filled the room then Dr. Thornnastor said “You specified Ensign Singebreath as a single-headed Deadly Shadow Dragon. That strongly suggests that this sub-species may have more than one head.”
“That is correct.” replied Dr. Conway “I will let Fishlegs give you some additional information.”
“The most common Deadly Shadows are those with one head. A few double-headed Deadly Shadows are known to be living in the Wilderwest. So far, only one triple-headed is known to be in the Wilderwest. That dragon is a riding and companion dragon who I share with my mother. In all of Viking historical knowledge, there have not been any Deadly Shadow Dragons with more than three heads.”
“Do the heads share a common identity?”
“No sir. One head on my dragon is named Innocense, another is named Arrogance.”
“And the third?”
“Patience, because that is what he has to have since he is stuck between the other two.”
Dr. Murchison asked “Is there anything else we should know about Deadly Shadows?”
“Yes.” replied Fishlegs “They can change their skin coloring to blend in with the background. They can become invisible.”
Dr. Thornnastor said “That last bit of information may not be important to your current case, Dr. Conway, but it is certainly information we need to know in preparing for the future when we could have Deadly Shadows as patients, or staff here at Sector General.” Dr. Thornnastor stamped a few of its feet in an untranslated gesture that would be known only to another Tralthan before continuing “This is your meeting to run, Dr. Conway, but I would like to learn more about the GLEGs known as the Formics. Dr. Murchison has told me that the Formic Queen is listening to this discussion and that it is able to communicate through the translation system, or through its translator of choice, an Earth-Human named Andrew Wiggin. Would you please bring it into this conversation.”
“Yes, Dr. Thornnastor. I was just getting to that.”
Grimmel noted the quick series of expressions and shift in body posture Dr. Conway had exhibited during the Diagnostician’s statement then while he had made that reply. Grimmel thought back to something Andrew had said when he had briefed the crew of the Wiggin on the Sector General stories - ‘One does not give orders to a Diagnostician.’ Grimmel now saw the truth in that statement. He also picked up on how beings at Sector General tended to refer to a member of another species as ‘it’ not ‘he’ or ‘she.’
The discussion of the Formics was covering some information that was new to Sector General’s Pathology Department, but it was all information Grimmel and his team had covered in their discussions. He let part of his mind wander to the possibility that dragons could be at the root of the problem. He thought about how the little dragon called Toothless had sat on Useless’s shoulder, then he looked at the way the two smaller dragons continued to sit on the shoulders of their companions here in this conference room. (Horrorcow had grown a bit too large to rest on Fishleg’s shoulder.) Yes, there were plenty of ways a person could carry contamination as residue from close contact with a dragon. It could be smoke residue from the last time the dragon had breather fire. Dropped dragon scales, even traces of saliva. Though. The more he thought about it, the less he felt that the dragons were the cause. None of the dragons had been on the planet during this rescue. Any exposure would have to be secondary and it would have had to have been contact exposure. It had been reported that members of the Dragon Army had helped carry the adult Formics out on stretchers, but they were not needed to assist with bringing the young out of the nursery chamber. Still. The dragons were an unknown to Dr. Conway and being unknown presented many possibilities the doctor would have to investigate to eliminate. Grimmel felt some sympathy for these dragons when he realized what they would have to endure before the possibilities could be eliminated.
His attention was drawn back to the discussion when he realized they were talking about the Horta. Grimmel’s mind kept taking him back to the Horta, but Dr. Murchison had confirmed Dr. Crusher’s findings. He felt there had to be a connection. He just had to find it.
“Are we sure we’ve considered everything about the Horta?” Grimmel asked at an appropriate lull in the conversation “Because I just can’t shake this feeling that we are missing something.”
“Dr. Murchison is very thorough at what she does.” replied Dr. Conway “and I have every reason to expect the same quality in Dr. Crusher’s work.”
“You are right about Dr. Crusher’s work too.” Grimmel said then he shook his head. “However. I can’t shake this feeling. I’m doing another round of searching.”
“Fine.” said Dr. Conway “Do let us know if you find anything new.”
Grimmel called up a transcript of the Devil In The Dark episode then skimmed through it. Coming away from that exercise feeling he had gotten no closer, he returned his attention to the discussion in the room to see where the conversation had drifted now.
Bean had been speaking “... it was the Bean character in the realm of the book series who had figured it out but didn’t say anything. Not me. I was as surprised as the rest of the Dragon Army in my realm when we learned the truth. But, that is a common mistake made in this realm.”
“I assure you that I meant no insult to you, Commander Bean.”
“Don’t sweat it.”
“Excuse me, Commander Bean, Could you repeat that?” Grimmel knew he had just heard something important, and he was close to seeing a connection.
“I said ‘It was the Bean Character in the–’”
“No. I mean your last comment to Sector Marshal Dermod.” Grimmel had looked at Dr. Conway rather than at Bean while giving his clarification of the request. He now thought he had found the connection, but he wanted to hear Bean speak that line again. He hoped that Dr. Conway would see it.
“I said ‘Don’t sweat it.’”
Dr. Conway had been looking at Grimmel since he had interrupted the conversation, so Grimmel saw the sudden change on the doctor’s face. “Do the Horta sweat?” Grimmel, Dr, Conway and Dr. Thornnastor asked the question at the same time.
“I don’t know offhand.” replied Dr. Crusher “But I’m checking the Starfleet Medical database. Here it is. Yes, they do. I can work up a stress test to put them through.”
“No.” replied Dr. Conway. “Not on Enterprise. Will the Formic Queen permit us to return the Horta to the planet where we can do a stress test that accurately - as accurately as we can without exposing any Formic to possible exposure - matches the conditions of the initial exposure?”
“This is Ender speaking for the Queen. Yes I will. But, we must discuss this thoroughly before the test is carried out.”
“Of course.” replied Dr. Conway.

Description
Distress Call

Chapter 6

“Enterprise’s latest scans of the impact areas detected no evidence that physical shells or missiles had been used in the attack.” reported Ensign Thomas. “All the evidence continues to suggest that the I.F. used only energy weapons in their attack.”
Lieutenant Commander Rackham said “And I was not aware of any Fleet research into using energy weapons as a delivery system. However. That does not prove that there had been no such research then, or in the time since I’ve come back to this realm.”
Grimmel said “So, that leads us back to the possibility that it’s something from the rescue party.”
Ensign Thomas said “Rhabwar’s Pathologist, Dr. Murchison, has been checking everyone from Starfleet and the Monitor Corps down there and so far has found nothing. Dr. Crusher has found nothing among the Horta or the Vulcan translators. We’ve got a real head-scratcher here.”
Captain Kondeff said over the intercom “The shuttle has just set down and the passengers are about to disembark. I will escort Dr. Conway to your workroom then we’ll get this session started. You may establish contact with Dr Crusher on Enterprise and Dr. Murchison on Rhabwar while we are on our way.”
***
“I asked the pilot to take me to Enterprise first.” explained Dr. Conway. Under Monitor Corps regulations, he, as the senior medical person on the scene, was in charge of the rescue operation. Admiral Terrag had offered no dispute, so Enterprise and the Ender Wiggin fell under Senior Physician Conway’s command for the time being. Therefore. He had the authority to give orders to a Starfleet shuttle pilot. This status also entitled him to speak directly with a ship Captain, or even an Admiral. “I’ve asked this group to come with me, Captain, and Captain Picard has given his approval.”
“Why take them away from their place on Enterprise?” Captain Kondeff had accepted Dr. Conway’s position of responsibility so his question was more for his own curiosity.
“Going to Enterprise first is giving me more time to observe their behavior. To watch for something that might offer a clue. I’ve been told that Wodensfang and Robert had been with Ender’s Dragon Army on the planet when the Queen hatched from her egg. That the Queen did not display any symptoms after that exposure to a Dragon does not mean that there could not be a link to Dragons in this case. Because there are some physiological differences between a Queen and other Formics, and because there is a close friendship between members of the Prime Team and the Dragon Army, I feel that secondary exposure is an avenue that must be explored. And, I have to admit that I have another reason for wanting to take them down there. Dragons are a reality in this realm, but they are an unknown to us at Sector General. These Dragons have agreed to undergo a full exam on Rhabwar to help us remedy that situation.”
Wodensfang said “Stormfly and Horrorcow and I are currently the only three dragons out here, so their sample will be small, but, it will give them something to start with in learning about us.”
“We’ll not be any trouble, sir.” Fishlegs said “We will stay quiet and out of the way while we are visiting your ship.”
“Nonsense. You three and Wodensfang are members of the Prime Team. You are more than qualified to take part in the discussion. Horrorcow and Stormfly may stay with you, or they are welcome to relax in the Dragon Quarters.”
Dr. Conway asked “Would it be possible for me to get a look at the Dragon Quarters while I’m here?”
***
Valentine and Charge Nurse Naydrad were to be secondary participants in the discussion. That meant they heard everything that was said, but their voices would not be transmitted unless they were called upon. They were on Rhabwar with Dr. Murchison. Medical members of the Wiggin crew were in the Post-Op Ward letting the Formic patients get to know a few more of the people who had come to help them.
“Before you begin this discussion” began Dr. Murchison when asked to do a sound check “I want to say that as a test of the new communications network, Diagnostician Thornnaster is taking part in the discussion from Sector General. Give them your sound check Dr. Thornnaster.”
“This is Thorny. Before this gets started, I want to ask if Valentine Wiggin is in this discussion.”
“Yes Dr. Thornnaster. I’m here in Rhabwar with Dr. Murchison.”
“I want you to know something. While Starfleet and the Monitor Corps were calibrating the network, Dr. Crusher included one of your papers in the sample collection of files and documents sent from Enterprise. While I have no firsthand knowledge of the problem on your Earth, I found your argument for a self perpetuating cause and effect cycle between fast-paced editing in the media and Attention Deficit Disorders on present day Earth to be worthy of additional study.” Thornnaster continued before Valentine could respond “For those who do not know me, I am Diagnostician Thornnaster, Chief Diagnostician for Alien Pathology at Sector General. I am a Tralthan, physiological designation, FGLI.”
Charge Nurse Naydrad said in response to Valentine’s look of confusion at the quick change in the conversation “I have come to learn the meaning of that physical expression on Earth-Human DBDGs. That big lumbering six-legged nightmare didn’t intend to slight you. Let me explain. That was high praise. You have been noticed by one of the best, but Diagnosticians generally do not engage in simple conversation when they are focused on a problem. It has to do with those memory tapes. Diagnostician Thornnaster has nine of them in its head.”
“Ten.”
“What was that interruption, Dr. Murchison?”
“Thorny has ten memory tapes now.”
“I stand corrected.” Nurse Naydrad said with some spikes rippling through its fur. “A memory tape holds more than just the medical knowledge accumulated by the donor. It holds other memories, and the personality of the donor. While Dr. Thornnastor’s mind is the only real mind in what passes for a head on that big lumbering Tralthan, to Dr. Thornnastor it seems that it is sharing its mind with ten other beings.”
***
Grimmel had called up Valentine’s paper and was giving it a quick look when Captain Kondeff led Dr. Conway and the kids with their dragons into the room. He said to Mazer, who was seated at the workstation next to his “This doctor has a reputation for thinking beyond the immediately obvious and looking for connections where others wouldn’t think of considering. Seeing him with those dragons and Prime Team members shows me that he has earned that reputation. I’m getting to like him.”
“Me too.” replied Mazer. Then he added “It looks like he’s getting right to it.”
Dr Conway had the kids with their dragons follow him to the front of the room, then he said “I know there are a few in this room who I have not yet met. I am Senior Physician Peter Conway, but know that the full titles are not necessary in conversation. Therefore, when addressing any of the Diagnosticians or Senior Physicians in this conversation, do address us simply as ‘Doctor.’”
Dr. Conway gestured to the dragons “I’ll begin with letting these six beings introduce themselves for the benefit of those listening and watching on the other ships. Three of them are Earth-Human DBDGs and the other three are Dragons, Tentative overall classification DDKG.”
Grimmel watched as Robert, Camicazi then Fishlegs each introduced themselves then let their dragons speak for themselves. However, even though Dragonese was already in the Starfleet translation base, Wodensfang translated Horrorcow’s words.
“Dr. Murchison,” began Dr. Conway after the introductions “These Dragons, and their Human companions, have agreed to meet with you and submit to tests both for investigation into the current problem, and to assist us in building Sector General’s knowledge base on the species. I’ve been told that Dr. Thornnaster is currently in contact with you and is taking part in this discussion. For the immediate investigation, I am most interested in the smoke, or any other residues from a Dragon’s fire breathing function. Beyond that, well, the Pathology Department needs no guidance from me in building a knowledge base. Dr. Thornnaster. If you have not received it yet, you will soon be receiving medical information on Three other Dragons. They are not part of this immediate investigation because they are not at this location. Two of them are back in Earth’s solar system. Both have been treated at Starfleet Medical’s main facility on Earth and have agreed to let Sector General have copies of their medical records. The third is currently serving on one of the Starfleet ships that set the relays in place for the Sub-space Communications Network. Starfleet has instructed that ship, the USS Endeavor, to proceed to Sector General to make Ensign Singebreath, a single-headed Deadly Shadow Dragon, available to the Pathology Department for direct study. I have spoken with Ensign Singebreath through Starfleet’s translation system so it has a general idea of the tests your department will be running and the samples they will be taking.” Dr. Conway grinned then said “Remember, Ensign Singebreath is a fire breather, so be sure that your best trained nurses use their finest needles when they collect the samples.” Mild laughter sounded through the room.
Dr. Thornnastor made a few untranslated sounds then said “Cooperative patients always get the best treatment. We save the dull and bent needles for the newest trainees to use when taking samples from the Senior Physicians.” More laughter filled the room then Dr. Thornnastor said “You specified Ensign Singebreath as a single-headed Deadly Shadow Dragon. That strongly suggests that this sub-species may have more than one head.”
“That is correct.” replied Dr. Conway “I will let Fishlegs give you some additional information.”
“The most common Deadly Shadows are those with one head. A few double-headed Deadly Shadows are known to be living in the Wilderwest. So far, only one triple-headed is known to be in the Wilderwest. That dragon is a riding and companion dragon who I share with my mother. In all of Viking historical knowledge, there have not been any Deadly Shadow Dragons with more than three heads.”
“Do the heads share a common identity?”
“No sir. One head on my dragon is named Innocense, another is named Arrogance.”
“And the third?”
“Patience, because that is what he has to have since he is stuck between the other two.”
Dr. Murchison asked “Is there anything else we should know about Deadly Shadows?”
“Yes.” replied Fishlegs “They can change their skin coloring to blend in with the background. They can become invisible.”
Dr. Thornnastor said “That last bit of information may not be important to your current case, Dr. Conway, but it is certainly information we need to know in preparing for the future when we could have Deadly Shadows as patients, or staff here at Sector General.” Dr. Thornnastor stamped a few of its feet in an untranslated gesture that would be known only to another Tralthan before continuing “This is your meeting to run, Dr. Conway, but I would like to learn more about the GLEGs known as the Formics. Dr. Murchison has told me that the Formic Queen is listening to this discussion and that it is able to communicate through the translation system, or through its translator of choice, an Earth-Human named Andrew Wiggin. Would you please bring it into this conversation.”
“Yes, Dr. Thornnastor. I was just getting to that.”
Grimmel noted the quick series of expressions and shift in body posture Dr. Conway had exhibited during the Diagnostician’s statement then while he had made that reply. Grimmel thought back to something Andrew had said when he had briefed the crew of the Wiggin on the Sector General stories - ‘One does not give orders to a Diagnostician.’ Grimmel now saw the truth in that statement. He also picked up on how beings at Sector General tended to refer to a member of another species as ‘it’ not ‘he’ or ‘she.’
The discussion of the Formics was covering some information that was new to Sector General’s Pathology Department, but it was all information Grimmel and his team had covered in their discussions. He let part of his mind wander to the possibility that dragons could be at the root of the problem. He thought about how the little dragon called Toothless had sat on Useless’s shoulder, then he looked at the way the two smaller dragons continued to sit on the shoulders of their companions here in this conference room. (Horrorcow had grown a bit too large to rest on Fishleg’s shoulder.) Yes, there were plenty of ways a person could carry contamination as residue from close contact with a dragon. It could be smoke residue from the last time the dragon had breather fire. Dropped dragon scales, even traces of saliva. Though. The more he thought about it, the less he felt that the dragons were the cause. None of the dragons had been on the planet during this rescue. Any exposure would have to be secondary and it would have had to have been contact exposure. It had been reported that members of the Dragon Army had helped carry the adult Formics out on stretchers, but they were not needed to assist with bringing the young out of the nursery chamber. Still. The dragons were an unknown to Dr. Conway and being unknown presented many possibilities the doctor would have to investigate to eliminate. Grimmel felt some sympathy for these dragons when he realized what they would have to endure before the possibilities could be eliminated.
His attention was drawn back to the discussion when he realized they were talking about the Horta. Grimmel’s mind kept taking him back to the Horta, but Dr. Murchison had confirmed Dr. Crusher’s findings. He felt there had to be a connection. He just had to find it.
“Are we sure we’ve considered everything about the Horta?” Grimmel asked at an appropriate lull in the conversation “Because I just can’t shake this feeling that we are missing something.”
“Dr. Murchison is very thorough at what she does.” replied Dr. Conway “and I have every reason to expect the same quality in Dr. Crusher’s work.”
“You are right about Dr. Crusher’s work too.” Grimmel said then he shook his head. “However. I can’t shake this feeling. I’m doing another round of searching.”
“Fine.” said Dr. Conway “Do let us know if you find anything new.”
Grimmel called up a transcript of the Devil In The Dark episode then skimmed through it. Coming away from that exercise feeling he had gotten no closer, he returned his attention to the discussion in the room to see where the conversation had drifted now.
Bean had been speaking “... it was the Bean character in the realm of the book series who had figured it out but didn’t say anything. Not me. I was as surprised as the rest of the Dragon Army in my realm when we learned the truth. But, that is a common mistake made in this realm.”
“I assure you that I meant no insult to you, Commander Bean.”
“Don’t sweat it.”
“Excuse me, Commander Bean, Could you repeat that?” Grimmel knew he had just heard something important, and he was close to seeing a connection.
“I said ‘It was the Bean Character in the–’”
“No. I mean your last comment to Sector Marshal Dermod.” Grimmel had looked at Dr. Conway rather than at Bean while giving his clarification of the request. He now thought he had found the connection, but he wanted to hear Bean speak that line again. He hoped that Dr. Conway would see it.
“I said ‘Don’t sweat it.’”
Dr. Conway had been looking at Grimmel since he had interrupted the conversation, so Grimmel saw the sudden change on the doctor’s face. “Do the Horta sweat?” Grimmel, Dr, Conway and Dr. Thornnastor asked the question at the same time.
“I don’t know offhand.” replied Dr. Crusher “But I’m checking the Starfleet Medical database. Here it is. Yes, they do. I can work up a stress test to put them through.”
“No.” replied Dr. Conway. “Not on Enterprise. Will the Formic Queen permit us to return the Horta to the planet where we can do a stress test that accurately - as accurately as we can without exposing any Formic to possible exposure - matches the conditions of the initial exposure?”
“This is Ender speaking for the Queen. Yes I will. But, we must discuss this thoroughly before the test is carried out.”
“Of course.” replied Dr. Conway.