Log said Doctor Beverly Crusher Chief Medical Log Stardate 43076.2
While en route to Starbase 2 to pick up more medical supplies, I have received a very peculiar message from an officer there, who I've become friends with recently. His crew is small but efficient in aiding all who need medical help. We had been exchanging correspondences for the past few months but the most recent message is what concerns me. I've watched it several times but will need to report the findings to Captain Picard, if there is a risk at Starbase, we need to consider it before we dock and get supplies. They may need our help more than we need theirs.
Getting up from her seat, Beverly walked over to the replicator, "Computer, jasmine tea, hot please." While they were nearing Starbase 2, and she needed to get up to the bridge, she needed to settle her thoughts and collect herself. She picked up the cup of tea and took a few drinks. The smell alone was soothing. Setting it aside, she looked around her quarters and headed out. It was late in the morning, she had done her rounds at sickbay and had checked on everything in the lab. She had a few cultures she was experimenting with but overall, it was a slow day. That had been the morning but having received Lieutenant Snipes' message, Beverly was certain the day would not longer be a gentle one.
Walking down the halls and taking designated turns, she came to the turbolift and stated her destination, the bridge. When she reached it, the doors slid open and she saw the usual crew going about their business. Commander Riker was in his usual seat while all the other officers were reporting their current proximity to the Starbase. From the sounds of it, they would be approaching it rather soon. "Captain," She greeted, walking over to him. "I just received an incoming log from a friend who is stationed at Starbase 2, his name is Jeremy Snipes and I think you should take a look at it." She said. While she had considered requesting that view it privately, she considered that the crew involved also needed to know the potential risks of the situation.
"You haven't been able to contact Starbase 2, have you?" She asked Riker.
"No, we haven't been able to get hold of them, not since our last transmission a day ago." He replied.
"I feared as much." She sighed. Counselor Troi wasn't on the bridge, though if she were, it would be easy to pick up on the feelings of worry and apprehension and sadness. "Computer, play Lt. Snipes incoming messag 7." She instructed. The large monitor in front of them changed from looking out at the dark abyss of space, to the face of a man in the typical blue Starfleet issues uniform. He had green eyes and dark hair. In the background, there was quite a mess. Equipment was everywhere and there could be sounds of fighting off camera. "This is the final message he sent me, it's dated only hours ago." She mentioned.
"Something has happened." Jeremy said as he looked over his shoulder. "We were taken over by four unknown people last night who did not identify themselves to us. They broke in and were immediately very hostile. Whatever they could communicate to us were grunts and gestures. Our attempts to subdue and assess their condition were met with physical attacks. One of our crew, Doctor Miranda, was bitten by one of them. We took blood samples from her but in the meantime, we had no choice but to quarantine the four from the rest of our crew for our own safety. When the test results came back, we found an unknown virus was now present in Doctor Miranda. We were working on a makeshift cure but this morning, everything got worse, much worse." In the background, there were sounds as if someone was trying to break down a barricade.
"As Doctor Miranda grew mores restless and began to regress, in terms of cognitive functions, we had no choice but to quarantine her with the others who were infected. She put up more resistance and ended up getting into a fight with our crew. She killed one member, Ensign Yates, who had just transferred here. The Doctor then went on another rampage and began fighting with the four who were infected. One of them killed her and managed to escape where we had contained them. Other members of our crew ended up getting into fights with those who escaped or got infected themselves." Jeremy quickly explained. "In order to prevent things from spreading, I've disabled the transporter and dislocated the emergency escape pods. I'm staying here, I don't know if I'm infected or not."
Suddenly there was a loud bang and two people entered the small medical room. Jeremy turned around and took out his phaser. "End log." He said as the transmission was cut.
"Whatever happened has escalated quickly." Beverly said and turned to her colleagues. "I know it is a risk to proceed to Starbase 2 given this information but I would like to advise that with caution, we should still check up on the crew. It was never specified who was still alive. It's possible someone is still there, uninfected. If this is the case, isn't it better to go and assess first hand, rather than just report it and get supplies elsewhere?" She expressed. "Snipes could be alive, their cure could be completed." She insisted. "For all we know, it could be a virus that wears off over time but since it causes such extreme cases of violent tendencies and a regression in speech and other functions, we don't know. I'd feel better if I could go down and check every thing out for myself. Lt. Snipes was a good man and while he couldn't make a formal report to Starfleet, he did contact me."
"I'd like to respect that and investigate." She finished, looking to Captain Picard.
"We don't know how it spreads." Riker mentioned. "It could be through a bite or cut or it could be airborne."
"So I'll wear a suit, it shouldn't effect Data, he could come with me to help collect samples and see if anyone still aboard the Starbase 2 needs medical attention. We don't know where these four intruders came from or how they became so out of control. I need to help figure this out." Doctor Crusher said. "I'll be careful."
"We're approaching Starbase 2, Captain." One of the crew informed him as the screen now showed their approach towards the facility.
"We can't ignore this." Beverly pleaded.