Lieutenant JG Niev Galanis - Skopéo Éshaton
Niev Galanis
((SRC Level 18, Deep Space Imaging))
Varati: Commander Iko reported that a pack of Voles was apparently hiding somewhere and that they were currently trying to ‘neutralize’ them…
Taelon: They seem to be shooting then, from what we heard. They might, um, need your leadership, Commander.
Pausing in the work, Niev took a moment to briefly frown. Of course someone had found a reason to start shooting in the middle of a storm evacuation. Niev was mildly surprised that nobody had suggested shooting the storm itself yet.
Galanis: ::mostly to themself:: Where there’s a will to use a phaser, there always seems to be a way…
Varati: But if someone or something is still hiding behind the panels or in the Jefferies tubes, then we should sort this out immediately. We can't afford any more problems today -
With a slightly grim expression on their face, Niev shook their head back and forth.
Galanis: We don’t have time. The storm’s impact is imminent. If anyone chooses to remain in hiding instead of evacuating, then the consequences of that choice belong to them. People have had to hide in inactive warp nacelles to survive a storm of this strength.
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Varati: Argh! That was to be expected... we don't have time for a recalibration now! ::to Annamae:: Where exactly did you hear this "whispering"?
Taelon: And, um, did anyone else hear anything…?
Trying their best to hide the awkward look on their face, Niev shook their head. The truth was that they’d been entirely preoccupied focusing on the storm on the preparations - even if they had heard a whisper, it wouldn’t have registered in their memory. Their gaze shifted over to Annamae, the Centauran appraising the woman for a few moments. The last time Niev and Annamae had interacted hadn’t been face to face. That was the face and voice that had been directing Niev on Frontier Day. Even knowing better, it took conscious effort to stop themself from suspecting her judgement.
It hadn’t been her fault. It hadn’t been any of their faults.
Galanis: If there’s something underhanded afoot, we’ll have a lead. There aren’t many places on the station where you could ride this out.
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Varati: ::to Cmd. Ukinix:: Perhaps we really should focus on activating the torpedoes? Regardless of whether we are dealing with extraordinary energy fields or hidden dark forces. ::pause:: I have a couple of new drones down in the lab... they haven't really been tested yet, but we could still send them straight to the anomalies – after all, it's just metal and technology. If we can save lives with them, whether our own or others', then we should keep that option open, but we need to get them up here immediately before the lights go out!
Niev raised an eyebrow at D’Cyra. They knew how much risk the drones would be at in an environment like that, and it was always a shame to have a prototype destroyed in a test run.
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Taelon: Launch the drones, then, and let’s get the hell out of here…? ::He trailed off into a suggestion, then remembered and steeled himself.:: We need to go.
Niev blinked a few times. Was that a question…?
Varati: Yes, we have to go! All of us! Maybe you can check out what that mysterious whispering is all about as we're leaving. Perhaps it's just a draught?
Galanis: It’s… yes, agreed, sir.
Barberra/Ukinixi: Response
Taelon: Varatri, launch your drones. We’ll take the console’s data and keep it running as long as we can. Barberra, get the sled to the train, and let’s get the hell out of here.
Only three minutes left, the display on Niev’s PADD ticking away, reminding them all how precious little time was left.
Varati: ::to Taelon:: Like I said, they're in the lab... and I have to go down to “The Cellar”, Level 3, Shuttle Bay 4. From there I can launch them... and that's the problem: the shields protect us for a while. But then what? I can't get the drones to the shuttle bay on my own. Launching them isn't a problem. But at the latest on the way back – and we have to assume that the turbolifts and the corkscrew train might not be working anymore – the storm and therefore the radiation will catch us. None of us have received radiation protection yet… My body can withstand the radiation for a while, but what about you?
Niev’s eyes widened in brief alarm. That was certainly a whole lot more elaborate than Niev had been expecting. A remote launch was one thing - risking a life to launch a couple of prototype drones for the sake of it struck the Centauran as absurd. They looked toward the others to gauge their reactions.
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Taelon: Whoever is doing the whispering can either make themselves known, or deal with the gamma radiation. We don’t have - ::He struggled a moment. He did have the image of a lost child in his mind, a stranded engineer, but their reality was stark.:: We don’t have time to search for them.
When storms and vessels collided, it was hard for Niev’s mind to not drift immediately back to home. There was an old phrase for the act and feeling Taelon was trying to put into words on Velestus - Skopéo Éshaton. The Last Viewing, the Final Sweep. Every sailor on the seas of Alpha Centauri understood what it meant. It was the point of no return before the hatches are battened and anyone left on deck was trapped. The moment before setting sail from an island. The ship would sink for no single person. You could do all you can, but there came a point to move on.
Varati: Aye. I can't decide that; I have to go down now, and someone has to at least help me load the drones onto a gravsled – from there on, I can manage on my own. Let's use the EV-suits; there doesn't seem to be any other way.
Galanis: We’ve done all we can. There’s only so much time.
Barberra/Ukinix/Varati: Response
The shaking of the station caused Niev to sway, but they were getting used to being rocked on board a vessel. Their hand instinctively moved to steady their stance by bracing against a nearby console, and their gaze immediately went back to the readouts.
Taelon: Everyone to the train. Now!
Varati: I'm going down; I'm aware of the danger. ::pause:: Please ensure that the turbolifts and the train in the SRC are operational until the very last possible moment! A few floors on foot are no problem, even with an EV-suit, but almost thirty? Nobody can endure that under these conditions. And beaming up with this level of radiation is not a good idea…
Galanis: Yes, sir!
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Varati: Okay, I'm ready - who's coming with me?
Niev held their tongue. It wasn’t their place to speak on the risk versus reward.
Taelon/Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Varati: Let’s go! ::to the others:: See you later. We only need power for the lifts and the shuttle bay. Once we're done, we'll let you know and the systems can be deactivated one by one.
Taelon/Barberra/Ukinix: Response
As D’Cyra and whoever was going with her departed - the androgyne giving them one final look of skepticism - Niev was finishing gathering up their equipment. A couple of PADDs, a tricorder, some extra radiation scanning equipment… Niev suddenly froze. There was a strange sound off to their left - a sort of quick rustle, like the hint of a breeze through through trees.
Galanis: Is someone…?
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
There it was again. More than just a rustling. Distinct, rushed hints of enunciation. To Niev’s ears, it was almost undeniable. They lagged briefly behind the others, head turning skeptically and slowly from left to right as they tried to discern where it came from. The lab? The hallway? It was impossible to tell, and there was no time left. The storm itself was visible out of the viewports. The hatches had been battened. It was time to get somewhere safe.
Niev turned and rushed to catch up with the others at the turbolift.
((SRC Level 9 - Main Entrance & Train Terminal))
The turbolift ride, while shaky, had been thankfully uneventful. As they moved out onto Level 9, Niev glanced at their pad. Around a minute left before the storm would be hitting them in full force.
Galanis: A little over a minute before we’re experiencing the full brunt of the storm, sirs. We’re going to need to be quick about evacuating Lieutenant Taelon and Lieutenant JG Varati.
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Varati: ::to the others of the SRC Team:: =/\= We're almost ready, the drones are ready to go. As soon as everything is safe here, I'll come up too. =/\=
Taelon: =/\= Response? =/\=
Galanis: =/\= Think about your safety first. Anything inanimate is replaceable. =/\=
Barberra/Ukinix: Response
Varati: =/\= Ok! I'm done! The drones are on their way and the gates are closed again! Now I just need the lower lifts and then the train! =/\=
Taelon: =/\= Response? =/\=
TAG!/TBC…
