Crewman First Class Astrim Dito: Out

[Andy Float]

((OOC: I’m now catching up with Dito, I’ll be on Karakka soon ))

((Shuttlebay, USS Montreal))

::Astrim had been surprised to being chosen to join the First Officer’s away team to the surface of Karakka. He was an Operations Officer (or… sort of, considering he was a crewman) which meant that he was capable with both science and engineering. But it was pretty well known that the Commander was an engineering expert, and the Vulcan scientist already covered the science department. So why Astrim?::

 

oO I don’t know. But I’ll get to leave the ship for a while, so I’m not exactly complaining. Oo

 

:: Astrim joined Commander Rosek in the shuttlebay with his tricorder on his belt. He would not need any other specific equipment, so he travelled lightly. He had arrived when three people were already with the First Officer. ::

Riley: Hand phaser, phaser rifle, armor, and kit all accounted for on my end.

 

Dito: ::in greeting:: First Class Crewman Dito, Operations Officer Trainee, reporting.

 

::He tried a smile but he was sure it just looked like a grimace so he redirected his gaze to the shuttle they would be boarding. Luckily the awkwardness didn’t last long as the Vulcan science officer arrived and joined the group. ::

 

Stennin: Greetings, commander. Lieutenant Stennin reporting in for science duty.

 

Rosek: ::turns to them and nods:: We don’t know exactly what we’re getting into. Lieutenant Hamasaki discovered transmissions from the planet that indicate we might be walking into an ambush.

Sirk: I brought along a few phaser rifles if anyone wants one?

:: Astrim has never been good with phasers. He disliked them and was a terrible shot. It reminded him too much of his childhood with his brother learning all forms of combat he could. They belonged to the Seventh House of Betazed, also known as the House of Courage, but Astrim has never really felt courageous, much less enjoyed fighting. ::

 

:: Naturally then, he declined the offer, even if it was probably not the most sensible choice. ::

 

Dito: I’d rather not, thanks.

:: His other crew mates did not share his opinion, obviously. They had more sense than he did. ::

 

Shin: Thank you, Ensign. :: He said as he reached for a rifle.::
 
Rosek: We can’t risk transport with the interference. We’re better off taking a shuttle. ::to Stennin and Dito:: Do you two think you can mask the shuttle’s impulse trail?

Stennin: With the tetryon radiation in the region, the normal use of a Electromagnetic Field would be hazardous. We could be able to remodulate our shield harmonics to mask our output, however this would have limited effect on short-range or Tachyon-infused scanners.

oO He knows his stuff. Oo

 

Dito: We should stay out of their way, then. And besides, they have no reason to suspect a covert landing to Karakka. By using data on the tetryon signature surrounding the shuttle, we should be able to remodulate our harmonics, as Stennin says.

Rosek: ::nods:: It’s worth a try. ::to Shin, Sirk, and Riley:: We’re going to need a more information on the terrain and anything we can get on the planet’s leadership.

Shin: I'll see what I can learn about their social and political systems, sir.

Sirk: ::nods:: If we approach any friendlies, it’d be a good idea to interrogate them.

Riley: From what I’ve discovered, government seems to be more like a corporation than anything else. There is the one Federation CEO-type figure and three VPs who handle the various trading, mining, and financial affairs of the colony while keeping the peace. Each keeps to themselves and they meet a few times a year to make their report to the Federation.

oO Seems a logical way to handle things considering the business activity in Karakka. Oo

 

Rosek: ::to Dito:: I’m going to need your eyes and ears analyzing those transmissions for anything else you can find.

::For a moment Astrim thought she had referred to his telepathy, but when he realised it was probably not the case, he relaxed again and accepted his mission. ::

 

Dito: Yes, sir, I will.

Rosek: ::smirks:: I’m a bit rusty, but I think I can get us down without chipping the paint.

Shin: My friends in the academy said I was a scary pilot. :: He added with a smirk.::

Stennin: We will need the sensors to determine where to put the shuttle down commander. If we are not intercepted of such operations before that.

:: With that, Stennin approached the shuttle but before he entered he turned to Rosek again.::

Stennin: Permission to board, commander?

Rosek: ::smiles:: Granted. Let’s get this show on the road. If Lenik isn’t here already, we don’t have much time until he arrives.

Riley: If it helps, I’m also a pilot.

Rosek: ::smiles:: I’ll keep that in mind, Lieutenant. I could use an extra set of eyes on our course to make sure nothing pops up in the way.

Dito: I’ll have the tetryon pattern ready, Commander.

::Entering the shuttle, Astrim sat before the comms console but pulled up the tetryon signature from its memory banks. Once he had the information, he sent it to the science console, where Stennin would sit. ::

 

:: Some members of the away team were chattering among themselves, but he paid it no mind until Commander Rosek turned to intervene. ::

Rosek: :: calls out:: Easy, Lieutenant. Crewman Padix was a last-minute addition.

Riley: Crewman Padix is experienced in the field of medicine. Due to the fact environmental conditions on the planet are uncertain as of now, she would be a valuable asset to the team considering that we don’t have a medical officer present. I’d advise allowing her to accompany us to the surface.

Shin: Response

Rosek: ::to Padix:: We need medical support in case something goes wrong.

Padix: Aye, Commander. I’ll perform the best of my ability.

::While Astrim didn’t know the woman, he knew that bringing a medical officer (or crewman as was the case) was always helpful in an away team. Besides, for some reason Astrim had a soft spot for Trills; in his experience, they had turned out to be more empathetic than his own people, despite the fact that they were an empathic species. It might just be a coincidence among his acquaintances, but that was the impression he had all the same. ::

Stennin: That would be only logical, crewman. The people on the surface might need some serious medical aid, if they have fallen victim to whatever ilk has taken hold there.

Dito: I agree. A medic can always come in handy on an away team. ::shrugging:: Who knows, I might just trip and require medical attention. 

:: He smiled at the Trill slightly, but to his surprise, it was actually a true smile for once. ::

 

Riley/Shin: Responses

Rosek: Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. ::enters a command on the console:: =/\=Rosek to Bridge.=/\=

Mei'konda: =/\=Go ahead, Commander. =/\=

Rosek: =/\=We’re ready for launch.=/\=

Mei’konda: =/\=Go ahead, Commander. =/\=

Rosek: ::nods:: =/\=Acknowledged. Rosek out.=/\= ::to the others:: Everyone in and buckle up.

::Astrim did as he was told (well… he preferred the word advised) just as the Commander started the engines and guided the shuttle out of the bay. ::

 

oO Here we go then. Oo

Stennin: Acknowledged, commander. I will begin modulating the shield harmonics forthright. They will need constant attention.

Padix: ::climbs in the shuttle and takes a seat:: Good thing I have my medkit, huh?

Stennin: It is only logical, crewman. However, there are always emergency packages onboard all shuttles. Yet, you possess some instruments that we might not get from a shuttle's kit.

:: Astrim felt agitated. He had since the moment he had stepped inside the shuttlebay. He had waved the feeling off as flight nerves, but there they were, about to embark in their adventure and he felt curious and eager while at the same time agitated. ::

 

oO These are not my feelings Oo

 

::He realised from where — from whom — they were radiating, but he shook his head in yet another attempt to ignore them. The feelings came in waves; they were calm and suddenly they rose to the surface. Someone was not having a great time, that was certain. ::

 

::Astrim looked at the cockpit where their Commander sat. Yup. They were definitely her emotions. ::

 

oO Out, out, out! Oo

 

::Luckily more chatter took his mind off the Commander’s concerns.::

Sirk: The more the merrier I always say. I mean all these phaser rifles might come in handy. ::taps the bag with his foot::

Rosek: ::nods:: It’s always good to have extra supplies. Thank you, Crewman Padix, for being so prepared.

Riley/Shin: Responses

Padix: Does this have anything to do with the accident earlier?
 
Sirk: I’d like to believe that was separate incident, crewman.

Dito: ::to himself:: Belief and reality are often different from one another.

 

Riley/Dito/Shin: Responses

Stennin: It appears the shuttle has also not remained unscathed. I detect a latency of 400 milliseconds. It appears some of the wiring has received a buckle up. We might experience some erratic feedback. ::pauses and looks around:: The shields are ready, Commander. You may depart.

Rosek: ::nods:: There was bound to be a few kinks. Harkrow and his team patched up the critical systems well, though. So we shouldn’t have too many issues. Just keep an eye out for above-nominal energy fluctuations. If levels get too high, we’re going to need to be able to compensate quickly or we’ll need the Montreal to beam us down instead.

—

Ensign Sotak - Engineering Officer

USS Montreal, NCC-64927

A239503S10