[sb118-artemis] Ensign Tho'Bi - Drone Extraction Part 2

[Tobi]

((Timeskip - a two hour drive - The Breetia Forest - New Kehixa, Galaris IV ))

The once bright skies had darkened over.  Rain pelted down onto the rich green and earthy brown landscape.  The Transonic trace led them through an evermore twisting set of roads, that undulated with the increasingly dynamic topography.  Before too long, roads gave out to dirt tracks; the dirt tracks became more broken up and washed out, as they went on.  With that, the world around them became ragged and burnt out; first buildings, then entire settlements lay abandoned; windows imploded, roofs ripped through, the shattered remains of walls; entire lives aborted, wrecked in mid-breath.     

The Grunt was, to the fascination of the Andorian engineer, two grunts locked together, back to back; their conventional 4x4 drivetrains had been switched out for two sets 4x4, grouped together on 360° Rotational Pods; allowing the ‘Double Grunt’ to drive in all manner of direction, including sideways.  This unique drivetrain also allowed the ‘Double Grunt’ to decouple, and function as two separate vehicles.  Steering and console controls were mounted front and rear of the ‘Double Grunt’, allowing the two Grunts to decouple in opposite directions.

The upper hull or shell of the Grunts had been changed out to two taller, more open designs, with a flat rear; the flat rear allowed the two Grunts to lock together.  Once locked together, the rear armored palettes split in half along the vertical axis, and collapsed back onto opposite sides; locking in place to form a strengthening-bulkhead at the center of the ‘Double Grunt’.  The eight seats were modular pods, complete with limited armor built around head, torso, and legs; built in intercom, spare sidearm bay and assault rifle slotted in on the back.  Unlike the ‘Single Grunt’s, this ‘Double Grunt’ did not have weapon systems of its own; much to the Andorian Engineer’s disappointment at not having more toys to play with. 

The Mizarian Lieutenant had volunteered to drive; dragging and coaxing the sprawling metal animal around the tightening bends, and ever-shifting elevation.  The hulking adaptive-tyres, changing shape to grip and claw at the worsening surface; as pothole, crater, and subsidence tore chunks out of the dirt track, leaving great muddy puddles of loose gravel and scattered shrapnel.  Finally, the ‘Double Grunt’ came to a shuddering halt.  

Sadar: The drone’s somewhere in the vicinity, Vai-net, but the trail isn’t readable anymore. I think we need to start our investigation here.

The Andorian Engineer looked up at the overcast skies, as the wind whipped the rain in against the thick, reinforced windowpane.  His biochemistry had once again responded to the danger of his wartorn surroundings.  He felt calm and clear-headed.  Everything slowed.

Tho’Bi: ::talking more to himself:: my friend Zee told me (beat) there are 178 different Ferengi words for rain.  (beat)  I wonder which one this is. 

Gnai/Cole/Bancroft: Response

Vailani: Tho’Bi and Gnai you are with me - we’re going to find this drone. Gila-net, I want you to speak with the locals and find out what you can. Any sign of trouble, contact the Artemis and beam out. Ensign Cole, you stay close to the doctors. Any questions?

Not wishing to bang his head, the Andorian stood slowly to a hunch; he checked his utility belt, in particular Engineering Tricorder and Phaser; then picked up his rucksack.

Tho’Bi:  ::looks at Vailani::  Drone might have anti-tamper systems (beat) ::tilts head one way then other:: might take a while to bypass.

Gnai/Cole/Bancroft: Response

Sadar: We’ll go to the town over there by Grunt. ::lips tightened to a straight line:: I don’t like leaving you here without backup... There’s no guarantee that the Kobyar or Grunden won’t have sentries out here.

Vailani: Let’s not hang around then. 

The Bajoran Lieutenant swung the door open and jumped down onto the ground below; her heavy boots crunched into the gravel and dirt.  The Andorian lengthy stride allowed him to step down onto the rough, waterlogged ground.  With a whir and clunk, and rain streaming down the metal and glass of his suit, the Galadoran Lieutenant joined them.  The green eyes of Lieutenant Vailani studied her Tricorder for a moment or two; she flipped it and showed the Andorian and the Galadoran.

Tho’Bi:  ::looking at Vailani’s Tricorder::  Ultrasonic pulse ::looks at Vailani:: de-designed to trigger self-destruct (beat) if anyone approaches.  ::snaps open his Tricorder and looks down at it:: We should be able to use our Tricorders to create a fake ultrasonic mask to hide our approach ::looks at Vailani:: I can do it (beat) but ::looks across at Gnai:: it’s more Lieutenant Gnai’s area of expertise than mine. 

Gnai:  Response

As the Andorian listened intently to the Galadoran Scientist, he felt the rain ease up.  His dark blue eyes scanned across the overcast skies.

Cole/Bancroft: Response

Tho’Bi: ::turns to Valiani:: at least the rain is easing up ::shrugs::  

Vailani: It does seem to have stopped. :: to Gila and her team :: We rendezvous back here in one federation standard hour. 

Sadar: Agreed... ::slight smile back:: If you’re not here by then, I’m telling the Artemis to forcibly beam you up, just so we’re clear.

The Andorian simply nodded.

Gnai/Cole/Bancroft: Response

((OOC: I kept this OOC: this indicates that the team has now split: Vailani, Tho’Bi and Gnai make up the drone search team and Sadar, Bancroft, and Cole make up the local questioning team))

(( Drone Extraction - The Breetia Forest - New Kehixa, Galaris IV ))

The ‘Double Grunt’ hauled its way along the broken down track; soon only the sound of its eight wheel grinding in the muck and the dirt could be heard.  The tall Andorian turned to the Andorian Lieutenant.

Tho’Bi:  I know the two of you have more Away Mission experience than me (beat) but ::looks up:: with the failing light and my antennae ::looks at Vailani:: respectfully (beat) I think I should take point.

Vailani: Response

Gnai: Response

The Andorain made his way in the direction of the ultrasonic signal.  He found the slip and slide of the mud easy enough to manage; generations of living on ice had apparently prepared him well.  He could sense the leaves and branches shift around them; chaotic patterns of vibration in the air, of which, his mind struggled to make sense.

Tho’Bi:  As we get closer (beat) we’ll have to pre-prepare to create the ultrasonic mask.

Vailani/Gnai: Response

The forest floor began to slope downwards; the Andorian instinctively adjusted his balance to compensate, with this the mess of trees became thicker; he did his best to chart a quiet path through the gathering crisscross of branch and leaf.

In the chaotic vibrations of the living forest, a distant, rhythmic pulse tweaked his antennae.  The Andorian stopped in his tracks and held his hand up to signal the same to the two officers behind him.  He turned slowly.

Tho’Bi:  ::quietly to Vailani:: I can sense the ultrasonic pulse (beat) I think this is close enough ::turns to Gnai:: over to you, Lieutenant.

Vailani/Gnai: Response  

TAG/TBC

(( OOC: Part 2 of 2. )) 

————————————

Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11