Photons and Force Fields
Posted on Sun Mar 15th, 2026 @ 4:29am by Lieutenant Lily Marlow & Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya
Edited on on Sun Mar 15th, 2026 @ 5:27am
1,511 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
A Day In The Life
Location: Medical
[Holodeck 3]
Raf was working late updating his holographic "off grid" training program with a few new situations, techniques, and how to find natural remedies when the recourses a sickbay weren't available.
Satisfied with his work he always got a second opinion just incase hi missed something. " Computer. Activate EMH."
"Unable to comply. The EMH program was removed from the Orcrist."
Raf's brow wrinkled. The lack of the EMH was something he should have noticed much earlier but he has assumed it was in place. "On whose orders?"
"Captain Elijah Rutherford."
Raf grumbled but waited to act until he had more information. Perhaps Lily could shine some light on the situation. Deciding it could wait until their morning meeting, he decided to call it quits for the night. Besides he was going to be late for dinner.
Turning he left the holodeck. "Computer, save program."
[0810 - CMO's Office]
Raf was in early after helping Esragg with his studies again. Turning to the replicator behind his desk, "Coffee, Raf1."
Setting the cup on his desk he took a bit of his toast and stabbed some pineapple as he chewed.
Lily had come in right on time for work. She had several things she wished to work out. Besides there was still looking over where she could possibly get a room to perform massage therapy as part of treatments as a whole for the crew.
She had brewed some tea to wake herself up this morning, and was taking a sip of it in the small breakroom. Didn't want to have a mess happen in the sickbay at large.
After finishing her tea, Lily went to greet Raf, a bright sunny smile when she peered in his office.
"Good Morning, Doctor!" she quietly called out.
"Morning! You sure are chipper today." Sipping from his coffee.
"Well its a new day, upon a ship that still has that new ship scent. Never a good thing to be filled with dark clouds and having a morose nature. Something I had to keep that in my mind, despite facing personal storms. How are you doing?" Lily stepping inside the office to take a seat.
"Me? Not bad at all actually, not bad at all. Though I think I might have to initiate a little rumor control."
Lily raised her eyebrow at that. "What sort of rumors are needing control over?" she sat back one arm across her chest as she supported her other arm, her hand cupping her chin.
He chuckled as he grinned, "Like I'm sure you haven't heard... Anyway I had a question for you. I was updating a medical program and was going to have parts of it checked when the computer told me the Captain had the ship's EMH removed. Do you know why?"
Lilyy did a quick intake of her breath lowering her arms and placing them in her lap.
"Yes, at this point of time holograms are not being used outside of the holodeck. Even if it is an EMH. Before we got this new ship, the crew of the Majestic and the ship encountered a station that was run by an AI, as well as holograms. it was supposed to be something in the line of some R and R. It instead ended up being more of trying to survive holographic people trying to kill us. Or went as far as, making people look like they had died. It was horrifying to behold."
A white line formed around her lips, and a pinched expression showed in her eyes. Even though her voice was rather calm, Lily providing this information.
"it was on mine and Jasmine's recommendation that the EMH on the Orcrist not be activated. As members of the crew had issues about Holograms." Lily softly said.
Genuinely concerned he leaned back with coffee. "Really? And how many members of the crew had these issues?"
"Those who had been on Adna Station, a good portion of the crew had been taken and put into cryo-sleep, as the AI was insane. She wanted to become a real person. She thought she could get samples from people and create a body for her." Lily huffed.
To that he shook his head. "So you and others let a single, while traumatic, incident color your perceptions and discontinued the use of a valuable resource. Denying that resource to the whole crew because of the experience of a smaller portion of the crew?"
He raised his hand to ward of her reply. "I'm not trying to minimize what you or anyone went through...but...that that...ummm Can you see how dangerous that can be. Look at the centuries of rampant paranoia even persecution of entire populations that resulted from the Eugenics War on Earth...ok that may not be the best example."
Gesturing to her. "The holodecks...there is case after case of crewmembers, all over the fleet, being injured, even killed when safety protocols have failed. But they are all still fully operational. Why?"
"That is the unanswered question but Raf, you were not there." Lily giving a bit of a frown. " I do see your point, just... insanity of an AI and the experience. I don't know how to explain what happened and imagine having to rescue over half of the crew who were put into stasis? It was a mess."
"I am not biased against all holograms, we had sentient photonic people onboard who were taken someplace safe." Lily wasn't going to say where it was.
He got up and coming around his desk, sitting beside her. "Look. I'm not saying you're prejudiced against holograms and you're right, I wasn't there."
He put a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever had happened must have been horrific for you to have recommended that action and for the Captain to approve it. The last thing I want is to seem like I'm belittling what happened. We can't let ourselves be limited by fear. Fear is dangerous. It's the easiest to fall victim to and the hardest to overcome. But if we let it win...well we might as well just send everyone home."
Dropping his hand he grinned. "You know over a century ago there was a situation on a starship. Moral, technical, ethical...medical dilemma being faced. Most of his people were objecting to want was being proposed. Do you know what the Captain said to his staff?"
"What did the Captain say, and who was the Captain you are referring to?" LIly was interested, in finding out.
Raf remained silent for a moment as he looked at her, a subtle smile growing before he spoke. "Those works were, 'Risk...is our business. That what this starship is all about. That's why we're aboard her.', by then Captain James T. Kirk."
He finished and looked at her, his eyes never wavering.
"Captain James T Kirk. Fascinating truly fascinating." Lily commented with a smile.
She drew in a breath, "There are things that I do need to get over, and i will in time. besides I think that the EMH also needed to go through a security check as well, as in who created it and their security clearance. Probably need to talk to the Captain about that?"
"My thoughts exactly, and I hear Jupiter Station has a new model that just came out as well. How about you set up the meeting and I will pull up the model info, maker background?"
Lily mulled over what Raf had said, then replied. I'll definitely approach him."
She paused, raising an eyebrow looking at Raf.
"Perhaps you should actually approach him; after all you are the CMO." Lily giving a bit of a smile. "He isn't a bad person. Unless you've had a run in with him." she watched him for a moment, wondering about that.
"Oh I've had no issues at all, but you are right. I should take lead on this but with your support we'd have a better change of success. Perhaps Jasmine should be there as well? Or should we speak with her first?"
A bit of a mischievous smile appeared, Lily giving a quiet laugh. "I would say, we talk to her first, but not have her be at the meeting with the Captain. I think that would be little bit-embarrassing for him. And would probably make things rather awkward as well. Don't you think?"
Holding up his hands in surrender. "You know them both much better than I. I'm still the new kid on the block so I have no idea what would embarrass them or not."
"It would be more on the part of the Captain. And yes, I do know them fairly decently. I was on the Captain's previous ship, before the USS Majestic. His previous ship was the USS Nighthawk. I was assistant chief medical officer there."
"Okay then. Shall we go see if the Captain is available?"
"Yes lets do so." Lily nodding in agreement, rising up from her chair.
Lieutenant Lily Marlow
Assistant Chief Medical
USS Orcrist
Lt. Commander Rafael Montoya
CMO
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