Caaral Topaz-Smythe decided to cut through a clinic adjacent to a row of offices. The ensign was meeting Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery to discuss the work of noted Doctor Haalvyl. Her work was rooted in virology, though she rose to fame through a long career in frontier medicine. Some of the Science officer’s research turned up information that could even be controversial.

Patients in duty uniforms lined benches as numbers were called. Some nursed bruises from training or accidents. Others simply looked sick or tired. Medical officers and enlisted nurses seemed to represent every Federation race as they moved between bio-monitors and wall panels. Caaral kept his arms tucked behind his back as he weaved through the controlled chaos of the hectic waiting room.

His golden-brown eyes studied each room number as he passed.  The layout seemed less intuitive than the schematics he’d reviewed. Although he aspired to work in medicine, the young officer often spent time working on the other side of Sector Hotel-Turquoise.

A nearby LCARS terminal was lit with arrows. One pointed towards the Deputy Director of General Medicine’s office. He turned towards the corridor, but a large nurse with a striped cloth over his horned head filled the space. The Ensign nodded to him as he passed, “Good morning, Petty Officer.”

The Grazerite grunted politely and gestured with a broad hand. “Good day, Ensign.” Caaral gave a grateful nod and moved along.

He passed a diagnostic chamber, then a pair of hushed counseling rooms. The row of offices lay ahead as the corridor curved in a neat arc towards them. Caaral straightened unconsciously before he reached for the door chime and tapped it. “Good morning, Commander. Ensign Topaz here to discuss our project.”

The door opened and Caaral stepped in, PADD clutched in his grasp.

Ensign Geraldine Parker cleared her throat. “Ensign Topaz, you start with me.”  She waited for him to return to her desk. “Deputy Director Montgomery is particular about schedules and meetings.”  Parker pulled up his appointment on the desk console.  “You’re here to discuss Doctor Haalvyl.”  She had read some of the preparation work with Cassidy.  Interesting stuff.  “I’ll let her know you’re here.”  She stood and entered the office.

“Sure thing”, Caaral said with a downward nod.

Parker returned to the front office, “She’ll see you now.”

“Take care”, the Trill hybrid said without eye contact. He made his way into the Lieutenant Commander’s office.

Cassidy Montgomery looked from her desk and the various PADDs that had her attention moments ago.  “Good morning, Ensign Topaz-Smythe.  Have a seat.”  She handed over one of the PADDs she’d been working on, asking, “How much do you know about Doctor Haalvyl?”

Confident strides took the Ensign to a chair facing Cassidy. “I tell you one thing”, he passed his PADD to her before taking hers and scrolling through her writing. “I know she did a lot of work in the field of virology. I aspire to work in the field. She once came up during a current events lecture at the Academy.” A conflicted look crossed Caaral’s features as he spoke. “She spent her life fighting diseases on worlds barely known to most of the Federation. Her work in identifying the retrovirus mutations responsible for causing Altarian encephalitis remains groundbreaking.”

“There is such a delicate infection of the brain in these cases. Her studies led to many innovative treatments for illnesses like this.” He looked up from her PADD warily. “The only thing is that, I’m not sure if I agree with everything she’s done. I hear they want us to honor her career in medicine on the outskirts of Federation space.” Caaral took a deep breath. “But I found it hard to take notes on what she did out there. She violated the Prime Directive on several occasions. There are even rumors that her research on the Galarian Fever led to the incident on Sarnia Prime. Maybe the less said about certain areas of her work is better.”

Montgomery scrolled through the notes, “If I’m going to have a hand in writing the introduction for the woman, I’m not sure avoiding the criticisms is wise.  Those who will be attending the conference will have done their research on her.”  She glanced at the display on her console, “It’s a small conference, but I’ve heard FNN will be sending at least a string reporter to cover the event.”

His eyes widened nervously at mention of the reporter. Caaral looked through the doctor’s notes, somewhat surprised at her honest take. “I honestly hadn’t considered the possibility that we might just be open.” His fingers tapped to scroll through the writing. “I would still hate to put too much of a damper on things. There has to be a way we can be open and forthright, yet still honor her career.”

Cassidy stared at the doctor’s resume, her eyes searching back and forth for something. She mused, “Something like, ‘Perfection is impossible—a doctor carries the wins and losses in equal measure.’  Find a way to admit some spots on her record aren’t ideal.  Then talk up the successes and advances that have been a part of her career.”  She let out a long sigh, “Whatever we say, however we say it – you can guarantee it’ll broadcast across the Federation and beyond.  Get yourself a career long enough, the archive footage can come back to haunt you.”

“I can’t say I disagree with you. Ethics must be really difficult to balance as a doctor on the frontier. ” The tension seemed to break from the Trill hybrid’s face as he flashed an anxious smile. “She had done a lot of great things in her career. I’m sure we’ll find the right words. I think I’m just so new at writing something like this. If you believe a more honest take is the way to go, I’ll start rewriting what I have so far. I do like how you phrased certain things.”

Caaral looked over to Doctor Montgomery. “I think I’ll revise what I wrote. You can keep my notes so far. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”

Cassidy nodded, marinating on the notes as Caaral left.