Onwards

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:44am by Cailus Griffin & Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant K'Laus & Lieutenant Kalin Brennan-Griffin PhD & Lieutenant Alexandra Alves MD & Lieutenant Commander James Smith & Lieutenant JG Aeryn Jameson
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:58pm

Mission: The Evils Within
Location: Cargo Bay 1

ON:

Nyx was checking off a list of equipment on his PADD as it arrived from storage then was carefully being unloaded by the Dock crew into six neat piles. Everything had to be prepared, and quickly, for the Away Team, who were due to arrive any minute in the Cargo Bay for deployment onto Hesiod Green.

"Check that one." Nyx said, as he pointed to an oxygen pack being unloaded from a metal crate. "There's a kink in the tube." The crewman nodded and quickly started running through diagnostic checks of the pack. Temple's tone was firm but not panicked. He didn't like sending his crew out into the unknown without being with them - he felt it was his duty to be first into the breach - but Nyx also knew Nash would likely parachute through the gravitational storms just to give him a lecture for leaving the Pandora. So he would have to sit this one out, for now, and reconcile himself with helping the team prepare as best they could.

The equipment was ready as the Away Team began to arrive.

Aeryn was surprised to be called up for away team duty, given that Alexandra had been called as well. Knowing Krysia was unable to be included for away treatment duty given her advanced pregnancy, she considered the thought that perhaps Nyx wanted her there in more of an advisory capacity, given her previous position as ships Counsellor. Walking into the cargo bay she smiled and nodded as she greeted Nyx. "Reporting as ordered Captain."

Alexandra wrapped up sickbay - since she and Aeryn were both called to participate in the away team, she had to leave a lower-ranking doctor in charge -, double-checking everything, then headed to the cargo bay. Her colleague was already there, when she walked in, and she also noticed the Captain, inspecting some equipment. "Hello again!" she smiled at Aeryn, then looked at Nyx. "Captain." she nodded.

James made his way to the cargo bay. He was trying to go over everything that could possibly happen in his head, and while this was suppose to be a simple mission he needed to be prepared for anything. Arriving at the cargo bay he entered and smiled as he saw those that were assembled so far. The Captain has assembled a good team for this mission. Turning to the Captain he smiled, “Nyx, let’s see if we can get through this mission with out any trouble.”

"Trouble will be unavoidable when it comes time to pass through the upper atmosphere again," Shae remarked as she checked the Science specific equipment. "It is far easier to land than it is to break free of a planet's atmosphere, and considering how rough our entry was, leaving may prove to be even more problematic," she explained.

Right on her heels, Cailus was all business, his eyes on the rest of the away team rather than the equipment. “The staff at the research base will be able to help us with that,” he said brusquely as he went for one of the EVA suits, keeping a weather eye on the doctors as he began to get suited up. “They must have been dropped off here somehow, likely by another starship, so they’ll have advice on how to re-enter orbit. Assuming that any of them are still alive, anyway.” He paused while putting on the cumbersome boots, his head quirking in realisation. “Even if they are all dead, we’ll likely be able to find out how to leave from the outpost computer.”

Shae nodded as she finished her equipment check. "Aye, this is true," she replied. "It's still likely to be a bumpy ride. Hopefully we will find some data to help us get out and the transit won't be too bad, but I like to expect trouble, that way I'm prepared for it and I can be pleasantly surprised when all goes smoothly," she pointed out, then started to get suited up as well.

"It seems strange," Nyx began, a sentence he had started saying all too often with this mission. "That they had no evacuation plan in the event of an emergency. There's no craft on the surface, no launch pad even. Everything is under ground. I cannot see how Starfleet, with all our rules and regulations on planetary facilities, would leave them without an exit craft Either they ignored all protocols because they didn't believe they would need evacuation or..." He frowned, "They weren't given one."

Aeryn didn’t like the sound of that at all, she finished off suiting up and checked her equipment as well. “Just out of curiosity Captain, what do you have in mind for me? Doctor Alves is obviously medical, do you need me in a Counselling capacity as Lieutenant Kaleri-Smith is unable to attend?”

"We don't know what you're walking into." The Captain explained, "You will be providing support to Doctor Alves."

James also finished checking his equipment as well before replying, “I know it’s not in any of our files but could this be some sort of penal colony? That would explain the lack of any type of craft. They would want their prisoners to stay here and not try to escape.

"The only clear information we've received is that Pithos is a research facility." Nyx replied. He looked over the crew as they finished getting ready. "Now, we've supplied you with this gear as a precaution. Sensors indicate that the planet's surface does contain breathable levels of oxygen, but there are stronger elements of carbon dioxide and other elements which will require the suits and helmets. We estimate you can spend no more than sixty minutes without respirator assistance, so don't risk it. We are hoping that the underground facility has a standard air recycling system, but if they're experienced a major calamity, this may not be functional. Keep your helmets on, folks, I cannot stress this enough."

"Believe me Captain, you will not have to remind anyone twice. The thought of one's helmet coming off under those conditions is...disturbing" replied K'Laus. "Make sure those helmets are on an securely. We cannot afford anything happening to any of you" added the Klingon. "Afraid there's little honor in such a death" he commented.

"Due to the thick surface, transport locks can only be maintained up to twenty kilometres below ground level." Nyx continued, "Our readings show the distress signal is coming from at least twenty-three kilometres down." He looked solemnly to Griffin, "You will need to make that decision to proceed only if necessary." The Captain's eyes moved to the others again, "Your parameters for this mission are to make contact with the facility, assess the threat level to any remaining Federation personnel, and report back immediately. If you believe there is a chance to rescue the team and make it back to the Pandora safely, do so. If you find... nothing. Well, we will need to deactivate the distress signal and leave."

"Thus far, scans have not revealed anything that would impede communications with any significance, but the density of the mantle may cause some interference the deeper we go. I've made some adjustments to the communicators in the suits to compensate, but regardless, be prepared for 'fuzzy' transmissions at that depth," Shae chimed in as she finished suiting up.

Now suited up as well, Cailus put on the equipment belt around the EVA suit before looking around at everyone as they finished getting ready, his helmet in his arms. "Everyone, run a suit diagnostic now, before we head out. Doctors, please stay close to me and Lieutenant Smith at all times while we're out there. We don't know what we're going to find on the planet's surface, but at the very least, it'll be dangerous. Shae, take point. Lieutenant K'Laus, take the rear."

With that, the security chief moved to a small doorway set within the larger cargo bay door. He opened it, and a forcefield promptly snapped on, separating the peaceful interior of the Pandora from the raging hellscape outside. Cailus put on his helmet and waited for the others to join him at the doorway. He looked back at Captain Temple as he clicked on his helmet lights. "We'll get it done, sir."

"Good." Nyx nodded. "And make sure you come home." He added, seriously, giving each one of the team a firm look in the eye to show his concern. "That's an order."

K'Laus grunted. "I have no intention of dying any time soon, Captain. It may be apropos for a Klingon to say 'It's a Good Day to Die,' but I have someone to come home to, and a glorious death can wait."

James smiled, “Krys gave me the same order, I plan on coming back in one piece.”

"See that you do." Nyx said seriously, and he watched pensively as the Away Team departed from the Pandora.

OFF