After seventeen hours of processing refugees from medical quarantine to housing intake, the medical staff was about ready to throw their hands up in the air and call for a department-wide nap. Doctor Theran Jos had, by and large, skirted out of the quarantine and intake procedures, mostly because his specialty surgical skills were generally reserved for emergencies.

But it didn’t get him out of helping the newcomers. With no scheduled surgeries on the docket today, and a cracking good emergency surgeon on duty, Theran was called to use his other skills – those well-practiced social skills and nice smile. Sometimes his surgical lead joked that he kept Theran on the team, half for his skill at neurosurgery and half for his skill at sweet-talking people.

And to be honest, sweet-talking people was far more common than brain surgery.

Lab 13, the Andorian’s antennae quavered as he looked for the office of one Chief Petty Officer Joshua Bryant, who he was assured was one of the most informed and capable people on Starbase Bravo when it came to combining science with replicators. Once the office was located, he rang the chime. “Hello? Chief Bryant, do you have a moment?”

The answer came in a loud clank of a glass rod being set down and cursing. “It seems I do now,” Joshua said with a frustrated sigh. “Computer, results of test Theta-Omicron 1322 is a failure due to outside interference. Do not incorporate into final averages.” The computer chimed in response.

“‘Doctor’ will do fine, if you insist on formalities,” Joshua set down his work gloves and powered down his experiment. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Lieutenant.”

Offering up one of his trademark ‘yes, I was raised on Risa’ smiles, Theran was a little blue ray of sunshine. “I’m Doctor Jos, very pleased to meet you, Chief.  I hope you had a chance to read the missive on the Altraon colony refugees?”

A tragic story, though typical for life in Starfleet, the Altraon star was starting to collapse, and the once beautifully habitable colony world was quickly becoming atmospherically unstable. They had to evacuate before catastrophic seismic activity rocked the planet.

“Apologies, Doctor, since the Vaadwaur invasion, there are hundreds of documents and reports that come out weekly. We try to remain informed as a department, but even the computer is having trouble keeping up with them.” He sat down in a chair. “But I recall something about their world becoming geothermically unstable, causing a chain of global erosive instability, and they had to evacuate.”

Theran gave a nod and pointed both antennae towards Joshua. “You got it. We are taking a large number of refugees onto Starbase Bravo – temporarily, from what I understand. Just enough to get the logistics settled for a subspace move to their final destination.”

As a neurosurgeon and not a planetary geologist, Thera Jos would be the first to admit that he didn’t quite understand the specifics of the evacuation, but he understood the overall gist – planet very dangerous, move everyone off or risk exponential amounts of casualties. So the process was to move everyone off and then figure it out later. Apparently, they were in the figuring-out part.

Joshua nodded, “That’s a reasonable response.” He wrinkled his brow, “I don’t understand where I’m needed, though. I’m happy to help, no question, but I’m not really a logistics officer. Surely there’s someone better than me on the base who can help with it.”

Theran offered a quite angelic-looking smile, bright-eyed and cajoling. “Well, there is something quite specific that I came to you for. Per the reports on the Altraon colony and diet, it hosted a variety of species that adapted to the unique mineral makeup of the planet. Which requires some dietary – and replicator – magic to ensure we’re providing the correct balance of nutrients to the refugees.”

“Well… ‘magic’ is a bit of an oversimplification,” Joshua said, paying more attention to his console than Theran. “It says here Altraons subsist on a diet rich in magnesia and phosphorus minerals. I think I might… yes, I have a plant in mind that’s biosimilar. Computer, display properties of folium petram.” The main screen in Joshua’s office sprang to life, showing a rotating image of a plant. Its stem was a granular crystalline green that caught the light as the model rotated. The stems produced leaves of white dotted with black specks. The plant looked as though it was carved from metamorphic rock.

Fascinated, Theran leaned forward, antennae curling as he absorbed the information. “I have never seen such a … rocky plant before.”

“Geology is a bit out of my wheelhouse, but this plant is composed partially of periclase. Meals made from it might initially be off-putting. Computer, run an analysis of Altraon’s customary meals that could be created using folium petram as its base. Further, display the percentage of success creating them via replicator and the estimated time needed to do so. Account for modifications of known Federation members’ meals that are diet-compatible, which can assist with creation.”

Lists of statistics and percentages scrolled on the screen next to the folium petram model. Joshua’s eyes widened. “Honestly, it’s more than I expected. It looks like the easiest to modify are larish pie, makapa bread, Pok tar, and… tuber root, if you’d like to test it out,” Joshua said with a grin.

Theran pulled back a little. “You mean taste it?” his antennae twitched. “I wonder if it tastes like rocks.”

“I’m not sure,” Joshua considered this for a moment. “I imagine it has an earthy flavor. Or maybe flavored similar to mineral water.”

With a shrug, the animated neurosurgeon considered, “Well, then again, maybe they’re used to that mineral flavor. A few of the refugees did say our food was terribly bland.”

“Hopefully this will spice things up for them,” Joshua chuckled. He typed commands in his console. “I’m transferring instructions on how to modify replicators to create Altraon meals.” He handed Theran a PADD. “It’s based on the computer’s simulated renderings, so I have no idea how helpful they’ll be,” he shrugged. “It looks solid as far as my base understanding goes.”

Theran accepted and read through it, antennae wavering.  “Looks nutritionally sound for my end… I guess the next step is to plug it in and have someone taste test it.” He looked up and offered a bright Risian hand gesture that indicated gratitude. “Thanks!  This helps a lot!”

Joshua nodded, “I’m glad I can help. It’s out of my wheelhouse, but hopefully it helps the Altraons.” He watched as Theran left the science lab, PADD in hand.