<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Sephone-pilla.JPG)</div>Name:  Dr. Sephone Nagala<br/>Rank:  Major, Colonial Fleet (Reserves)<br/>Position:  Medical Officer<br/><br/>"All hands, all hands, set Condition Two throughout the ship."<br/><br/>The words flowed into Sickbay but barely caused a ripple on the cool surface of Doctor Nagella’s face.  She did, however stop what she was doing for a moment as she expectantly awaited the variation of the words she had heard so often since the shakedown cruise began – “This is a drill” or “Begin drill” – but instead she heard, "Send the word for the XO and CAG to report to CIC immediately.  This is not, I repeat, not a drill."<br/><br/>Obviously, she wasn’t the only one who noticed.  There was a jump in the tension of those around her as the team in the medical bay saw to their duties.<br/><br/>Sephone smiled at the launch bay tech seated in front of her.  “Just a few more minutes and then you can return to duty.”  She said calmly, and returned her attention to his hand. “Just a few more to go.”  Without looking up again, she resumed making the tight and tiny line of stitches that would hold the skin closed.<br/><br/>The minor injury was typical of what she had seen over the past two month.  Most of her patients had been the result of careless injuries, minor burns or fatigue, nothing exciting and no test of her skills.  There were long days of boredom punctuated by brief periods of activity. She tried to use the time well. The Medical Bay had been organized perfectly to regulation specifics.  Everything was placed precisely according to regs, no matter how wasteful or inconvenient.  Since she had the time to spare, she had drawn up a critique of the regulations and included her recommended changes.  She’d make sure her father got it as soon as the Ares returned.<br/><br/>The crewman’s hand was sewn and he was sent on his way, back to light duty – if he promised to be careful.  The Medical Bay was quiet and with no one to attend, Dr. Nagala returned to her office to see to the filing of a typical accident report.  She was sitting at her desk when Heller’s voice came over the Comm. His tone gave him away immediately and she knew the news was going to be bad.<br/><br/>“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ares crew, please prepare yourselves…”<br/><br/>She was out of her office and back with her staff before he could start to explain the gravity of the disaster.  Her place was with them.<br/><br/>“…entire Colonial Fleet has been eliminated, including Admiral Nagala and his flagship, Atlantia…”<br/><br/><em>The Colonies…The Fleet…Father…</em><br/><br/>There was a hush in the Medical Bay.  Heller’s speech had ended yet no one spoke until a sob broke the silence and pandemonium was unleashed. Sephone was bombarded by questions she couldn’t possibly answer – “I don’t know any more than you do.” She calmly explained.  “I’m sure we will be given more information, as it becomes available.”<br/><br/>But beneath her practiced composed exterior, her heart raced and bile rose in her throat. She could feel panic straining to overwhelm her.<br/><br/><em>Focus, Persephone.</em><br/><br/>It only took a single, deeply drawn breath for her to take control of herself and a wave of her hand to get the attention of her staff.  She didn’t hesitate; she took control of them, as well.<br/><br/>“Ladies and gentlemen, our responsibilities lie within these walls and we must make certain we are prepared to meet them.  Lives will depend on us.”<br/><br/>She gave them jobs to do, preparing for the unknown. Little duties, heavy burdens, some of it was just busy work to keep them from falling apart too soon.  Although clearly troubled, each of them set to work with determination.<br/><br/>"Doctor Nagala, this is the XO. I need you in my office ASAP"<br/><br/>“On my way, Major.”<br/><br/>She cast a quick glance over the activity in the Medical Bay, it was under control and likely to remain that way for awhile – so long as there were no new shocks. They could manage without her, for now.<br/><br/>Her pace to the XO’s office was quick but unhurried and her knock on his door was firm.<br/>