Arrival at Disaster

Posted on Tue Nov 20th, 2018 @ 8:51am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Commander Jaeih t'Noramei-McKinley & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Matias Grronkil & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Lieutenant Ian Murphy & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Lieutenant Commander Turak & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen [Taylor] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Various
Timeline: Md4 09h30
3509 words - 7 OF Standard Post Measure

Bridge

Phoenix stood in the command well watching the planet that was now below them as they established a stable orbit. Comms had been monitored for days and the calls for help had gotten worse.

From communications came the call. "Captain, we are being hailed. The planet's council would like us to commence relief operations as soon as possible. "

Phoenix nodded. "And we will. Once all teams are assembled, we will commence beam downs and launch the shuttles." She just prayed they were all ready to go.

Looking up from her console, Lia glanced at the Captain. "I'm afraid I can't understand these readings, for some reason the sensors are not making any sense". She looked back at her console, "Everything is making weird readouts, how can we begin relief operations if we have no idea what the hell is going on".

"I must agree with the Commander. If we do not understand this catastrophe, we may be of less help to those we intend to save. We may be putting the people below in greater peril if we bring them aboard." Arri mentioned.

Justin sat at the bridge operations console, as that way Anje was free to head to the planet and be useful there. He couldn't exactly go on a hike. Pushing buttons, he was good enough for that. "Captain, I could commence a scan of the planet's crust and mantle, this should give science the data they need to determine the cause, or causes, of the troubles."

"Do it Ensign." Phoenix nodded at Ops. "Launch the sensor probes" Phoenix said to Arri. "As many as you think we need. I am also ordering our fighters into the air. They can do fly overs for us."

"Ensign Case." Arri noted. "I need you to prepare a series of twenty-four probes. twelve of them for a full geological analysis and twelve for a gravitic survey."

"Coming right up", Justin responded. He accessed the data they already had about the planet and let the computer select the optimal flight paths for the swarm of probes for this purpose. It took a while but Justin believed that careful preparation would yield swifter results overall.

Continuing to read her confusing instruments, Lia was getting frustrated. "God I wish these bloody readings would just clear up, no matter what I do there seems to be some kind of clutter buggering up the sensors". She looked back up at Arri, "Lieutenant, have you got clear readings on your console?"

Arrianna nodded. "I have noted the disruption on our sensors, Commander. Either this disruption is a side-effect of the cause of the disturbances with the planet below, or the disruption is meant to prevent us from understanding the situation." She turned to the Captain. "Captain, We must prepare ourselves in case the sensor anomalies are malicious in nature. And the Colony's destruction is a part of someone's agenda. Ensign Case, we're going to need to adapt our sensors to this phenomenon."

"Sending out probes now", Justin announced. Their flight pattern had been set so they'd take position around the planet for maximum coverage. Signals could be passed through the planet, compared with what the Elysium computers knew they were at their point of origin, and Justin figured they might find a way to clear the interference that way.

Knowing her crew had it under control, Phoenix nodded her agreement and casually watched them work out of the corner of her eye.

Taking a deep breath, Lia stopped and thought. She looked again at her console, and watched as the display flickered and faded. oO I've seen this before Oo, she thought to herself. Slowly adjusting her screens, she noticed how as things cleared a sudden burst of ~something~ seemed to hit the sensors. If this was being done artificially, there had to be breadcrumbs. With luck Arri would pick up those breadcrumbs, if not????

Comms called out "Sir, we are being hailed. Its the planet. They want to know when our teams will be beaming down."

Phoenix looked at Lia and Arri. "Ladies?" She said calmly. "Can we give them a green light?"

Arri sighed. "For the time being; yes, as the geological activity has calmed, but sensors are still being disrupted. However, If we want answers, we're going to have to go planetside to the source and find out what's going on." She noted. "I'll need an away team, and do bring phasers."

"Lia, go with Arri, and take a team in transporter room 3. I will send down the Shuttles and the others beaming down now." Phoenix said calmly. "Ensign Case, go with them." She wanted to see how the ensign would do down there. "I can handle the Ops station while everyone is off ship."

Justin pointed to the crutches leaning against his console. "I'd love to, Captain, but I'd only be a drag. I can't walk as fast with one leg and these crutches."

"Very well Ensign" Phoenix replied.

Murphy arrived on the bridge without much fanfare, and strolled over to the science console to relieve Arri, only the most minuscule of smirks on his face. Now part of the Academy's teaching roster, he'd managed to keep a rather low profile on the ship -- up until now. "Still never a dull moment, I see."

Arri's eyes began to instantly glare at Ian. "Indeed, 'Lieutenant' Murphy, I could use your assistance at science." She emphasized the fact that his rank did not change since the last time she saw him in order to spite him. As always her insults were polite and subtle.

"Of course, lieutenant." Murphy replied evenly and deferentially, schooling away the little upward quirk of his lips before turning his eyes towards the data readouts from the probes. It took a few moments for him to mentally digest what he was looking at and from where, but once he had his bearings, he began accessing the computer and calling up algorithms to start clearing up the sensor feed so that he could begin to make sense of it. "Got you covered, Lieutenant."

Phoenix smirked and then nodded. "Ah good to see you Ian. Welcome back." Then without further comment she turned back to the viewer.

"Thank you Captain, it's... Interesting to be back." Ian replied, not raising his eyes from his display.

Smiling Phoenix didn't reply as she considered his words. Interesting was indeed the word.

Shuttlebay 1

Mona Lott stood ready in the shuttle that was all set to depart to the planet's surface. The Orion marine was only lightly armed, she had volunteered to help distribute supplies to those in need, and she was used to operate from an open hatch on a shuttle. As long as she didn't have to fly the thing, she was happy enough.

When Turak walked into the shuttlebay, he saw a new face. He had been on the Elysium for all of a week and they were already trying to help an impending natural disaster. Since he wanted to get feet on ground and help with crowd control, he volunteered to go down in the shuttle. He said to the Marine, "Good to meet you Corporal, I'm LTJG Turak. Are we the first to arrive?"

"Someone stuffed all these boxes in the shuttle before I got here", Mona responded. "I'm so glad I'm not a cat, I wouldn't know which one to sit in first." She stepped out of the way to make room for him to climb aboard. "Are you our pilot?" He wasn't in red, but in these situations many people from other departments were recruited to fly shuttles, too.

"No he isn't. I am" the voice from the hatch was brusque and the figure that entered was slim and tall. The Andorian female with ensign pips moved to the pilot's chair. "Ensign Sh'rhilror." She introduced herself.

"You would be correct Ensign, I am your security detail. Are we expecting any others on this mission?" Turak asked with a smile.

The Andorian shrugged. "If we are, they have 2 minutes to get aboard a shuttle. Green lights are coming through. Once the fighters are out and gone we will be going. Please take a seat."

"Room for one more?" Anje asked as she boarded the shuttle, even if she wasn't truly sure what she was going to be doing down there, ~Guess I'll find out when I get there.~

Mona moved out of the way to make room for Anje. "I think we're all set now", she called ahead into the cockpit. "I was hoping you'd come with us to coordinate things down there", she said to Anje. "All I know about logistics is that coffee tastes better if the mess tent is upstream from the latrines."

Not quite knowing what she meant by the coffee remark, Turak quietly buckled himself in for the ride.

"I'll do my best to prevent any cross contamination, Corporal." Anje laughed, "Guess we're going to be there for a while, huh?"

"Attention all, please make sure you are secure. We are ready for departure." The Andorian called from the cockpit as the hatch sealed behind them. "Flight time will be 15 minutes."

"I've packed some spare uniforms just in case we might be left down there for a while, and the ship engaged elsewhere", Mona said. But then, that was her usual preparedness, she always packed a bag with a few essentials when deployed planetside.

Nerinath checked the hatch seal and then the shuttle lifted off for its destination.

ENGINEERING Transporter room

Gallia already had her team assembled and waiting to go down before the order even came, she was thankful Kara and Cdr. Gronkill had let her keep the ad hoc team she built on Eclipse during the recapture of the Elysium, =A=Ens. Norris to Bridge, we're ready to go down at any time.=A=

"So what are we going into, Sir?" Doro asked, he was obviously nervous; Doro was a beast, standing six feet five and muscular, he feared no man. Mother Nature on the other hand, he was scared silly of the bitch.

"My understandin' is we're basically goin' down as firefighters for the first part a' things, Doro." Gallia replied, "Then we can start rebuilding the house once we stop it from burnin' down."

"We'll also have to set up shelters in the safe zone, Sir." Liorga reminded her, it seemed that Norris was just itching to be ablaze again.

"Right." Gallia nodded, like so many times before wondering if Liorga worked for her or vice versa...


Transporter Room 1

Anya Neeze stood ready on the transporter pad, along a number of boxes that were to go out to the aid stations the civilian government had already set up. She was fully briefed on the situation and ready to liaise with the people on the planet's surface, to coordinate what else needed doing.

Fernando entered the transporter room. He saw Anya and his face split into a grin. "Toasty!" He said happily, glad to see someone he knew. He stopped next to her, "So you got assigned to help out at the aid stations as well."

"And we've got a whole list of places to supply", Anya said, waving a PADD for emphasis. "I just hope the aid stations themselves are in stable places." She figured the colony's planners would have made sure of that, but they would not have expected such a perfect storm of disasters.

Fernando nodded at the PADD. "That should definitely keep us busy." He observed, "For quite a while."

"Good thing you're here, too", Anya teased. "I hate having to do all the heavy lifting by myself."

"Ah. I see." Fernando replied, "I am only wanted for my muscles." His eyes alight with mischief.

"Well they will come in handy." Quipped a slim blonde officer in science blue as she entered beside a willowy brunette in Operations yellow. "Dontcha think Jaeih?"

"Hmm?" Came the almost absent minded reply. "Oh yes Chrysanthe, muscles will come in handy." The hybrid Romulan Human began checking the supplies herself.

{"Transporter room 1, you have a go. Beam in point is main staging area."} Came the order over the comm.

Chrysanthe nodded. "Everyone on the Transporter Padd. Lets go."

Jaieh waved the team onto the PADD. "Lets move out"

Medical Bay transporter Room

Estelle's personal medkit over her shoulder, she stood surrounded by boxes and crates of medical supplies, ready to assist the surgeons down on the colony. "Hertz to bridge", she said, "I'm fully boxed in down here, ready to beam to the hospital now."

["Bridge to Medical, we are awaiting the Go order. Please hold."]

Savar entered the Medical Bay, he was fully ready to offer help to those who needed it either through counseling or in helping the doctors treat the injured. Seeing Estelle, he nodded and greeted in her in the usual stoic Vulcan manner, "Doctor."

Estelle cocked her head to the side. "Savar, right?" They hadn't had occasion to work together, and hadn't been introduced. "I am pleased you're coming down with me."

Savar inclined his head slightly, "Correct Doctor. I look forward to our working together. Hopefully our skills will be able to alleviate some of the suffering we will be subjected to as well as bring comfort to those who need it."

"I'll let you focus on the comforting part", Estelle said. "I'm not too good on that front. But the way I see it, I might not have the time to worry about it anyway." She expected to be elbow-deep in casualties for hours.

"A most logical decision Doctor as I am the certified counselor among us." Savar pointed out.

{Medical bay away team. beam out confirmed. You go in 60 seconds.}

"Good luck all of you." The Gorn MD said as he carried on his work on preparing the sickbay. He was sure it would be needed.

"With all that's gorn wrong down there, we're going to need it", Estelle smirked.

"Have room for one more?" Sullivan asked, entering the medical bay transporter room. She'd been busy coordinating with the counseling team, making sure they understood their roles and were evenly spread across medical and emergency response teams. All that was left for her to join a team herself. She had worked with Estelle for a little while now and liked her a lot. She saw this as an opportunity to get to know Savar more directly as well.

"The more the merrier", Estelle said. "We're going to have a lot of traumatised people down there... and they might be missing parts of themselves by the time they wake up." She'd performed emergency surgeries before, with large groups of casualties and small groups of surgeons, and that usually meant things had to be done quickly to save lives, with a pile of body parts ever increasing.

Fighter launch Bay 1

Jessica continued to coordinate the fighters. "C'mon people, move it!"

One of her cadets spoke quietly. "Why is this ship deploying fighters? I thought this was a rescue op" Another continued the small talk. "I dunno. We're near Klingon space, but aren't they our allies?"

Jess responded. "Those are valid questions cadet." She noted. "But you're going to learn very quickly, what may seem like a rescue mission, can turn into a defensive op. Either way, you're in starfleet kid. If they need us flying to defend these colonists. That's what we do. If they need you digging an aqueduct or passing out rations. That's what you're going to do. You kids are pilots. I bet there's shuttles in the bay that you kids can fly, and help out the relief teams."

"I'm a fighter pilot. Ma'am." One of them complained. "That's what I trained for."

"You'll be ready, when I think you're ready. Now get to the bays, that's an order." Jess noted and turned towards one of the fighters.

Gary walked into the fighter bay as Jessica was laying down the law to her cadets. He stayed quiet and moved to his fighter. He leaned against it as Jess finished and turned to the fighters. He raised a hand and motioned her over. "Kids are itchy to fly fighters aren't they?" He observed.

"These things are not the trainers or the holodeck they flew. This feels like my last posting all over again." Jess noted as she prepared her helmet. "And they're being tested. The one who talked back already has marks for insubordination, but I have given him credit for enthusiasm. But this op, Commander. My neck hairs are standing up already, and I don't like that creeping feeling. Commander, if my Betazoid telepathy or empathy starts tingling, I'll let you know."

Gary nodded, "Let you in on a secret Jess. This whole thing feels wrong so you and I are of the same mind. Get in your bird and we'll do some flyovers and see if we can see anything the probes and sensors can't. We'll do this by the numbers. Don't want any foul ups."

"Commander!" A voice called out. It was Lt. commander Harriman. "You have a go Sir. Take those birds out. I am leading an away team of combat engineers and marines down to the surface to the main staging point."

"Very good Mr. Harriman." Gary looked to Jess, "You heard the man, we have a go. Now lets see what we can see." As he climbed into the cockpit, buckled in and started his checklist.

Jess climbed into her Valkyrie Fighter and prepared to launch. "Commander, we're getting telemetry from science's probes. The area around the planet is full of jamming. We'll be able to get visual by looking outside, but with sensors being jammed, we might as well be flying in pea soup. Watch your formation, Pilots!! If any of you run into each other, I'll give your fighters to my cadets!!!"

Transporter Room 3

Arrianna entered the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, this mission is going to be exceptionally hazardous. This is a volunteer mission, and as humans say; we have to get to the root of this problem. Also, if any of you want to back out of this mission, I will not think any less of you. We're going right into the epicenter of these disruptions."

She'd been gone a month and already the dynamics of the crew had changed, as she was no longer second Officer it seemed everyone just expected her to do as she was told. Commander Holmes suddenly felt like a Lt.JG. She nodded as Arri spoke but didn't say anything, perhaps it would be best if she just let them all get on with it. Moving to the rear of the transporter pad, she secured her phaser and tested her Tri-corder. It came back as ok, so she waited to beam down.

"Very well." Arri prepared a hand phaser, her saber, and a tricorder and took the transporter pad with the team. "Energize."

Bridge

Phoenix sent out the GO order to those waiting to beam or fly down. And then she stood and waited for confirmation of arrival.

Those in the Medical Transporter room and transporter room 1 would beam down to the main staging camp.

The fighters would commence a sweep of the entire planet and the shuttles would head down to the Staging camp as well, but they were carrying extra heavy equipment and an industrial replicator. Engineers would beam down to there and assist with camp set up. There would be also, a massive medical tent and tents for those who had lost their homes.

Her teams were well trained. Some would go to the nearby city, others would set up. Once they had the lay of the land and everything set up, rescue and recovery would commence in earnest.

Matias was on the bridge. He had sent down crew to help down there while he monitored from the bridge.

After all the probes had been launched and arrayed themselves around the planet, Justin announced, "Sensor probes are in position. You should be able to figure out something about the source of the interference now."

"Thank you, uh... Ensign. Establishing telemetry now." Murphy responded, linking up the probes to one another and routing their feed through with that of the ship's main deflector so that he could establish a differential analysis and find the source of the planet's woes. "Computer, increase text size by two points." He added after a few moments, not wanting to go blind reading readings.


=/\=

Captain Phoenix Lalor
Commanding officer
USS Elysium

Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium

Lieutenant Ian Murphy
Academy Science Instructor
USS Elysium


Lt. commander Carlos Harriman (NPC)
Strategic Defence Chief
USS Elysium

Lieutenant Chrysanthe Capulet (NPC)
Science Officer
USS Elysium

Lieutenant Jaieh t'Noramei-mckinley (NPC)
Operations Officer
USS Elysium

Ensign Nerinath Sh'rhilror (NPC)
Flight control Officer
USS Elysium

Lt. Savar (NPC)
Counselor
USS Elysium

PO Fernando De La Rosa (NPC)
Security Officer
USS Elysium

Lt. Commander Matias Grronkil
Chief Engineer
USS Elysium