Lt. Dakora - Undue Risk
Travis
((La’kso Canyon - Meranuge IV)
Dakora: Let’s do this.
As Talos was about to go over the edge, Genkos stopped him with one final encouraging statement.
Adea: Everyone comes home, Talos.
Then he was over the edge, on his way down to the treacherous ledge that Jovenan and Luxa had wound up on. With the Security Officers on the other end of the rope, the climb down was relatively easy, with gravity doing the work. The way back up, he knew, wouldn’t be quite as simple.
After a few minutes he stepped down onto the ledge and turned to face Jovenan.
Dakora: Are you alright? ::Beat:: How does she look?
Jovenan: Carefully, Lieutenant. The ledge very narrow.
His foot nudged some pebbles loose and they rolled over the edge, clattering the long way down to the bottom of the canyon, empathizing her point.
Lorana: :: wincing, eager to sound confident :: Nice of you to drop by.
He worked to untie the rope from his improvised harness as they talked.
Dakora: Oh, you know…::He grunted as he freed the rope.:: I was in the neighborhood.
As the people up top hauled the rope up to attach the makeshift stretcher, he kneeled behind Luxa and tried to assess their statuses. He wasn’t an expert on Caitian physiology, but there was something a bit off about the angle of Ensign Lorana’s leg.
Kader: Response
Security Officer: Stretcher, coming down!
Watching as the stretcher gradually lowered down the cliff to them, he had enough to time to feel a pang of guilt over his part in what had happened to both of them. Luxa writhed in obvious pain and Jovenan favored her hand, but he hadn’t had the chance to see how bad it was yet.
Talos had misjudged the situation on the ground before he had all of the Intel and these two had paid the price.
He gritted his teeth as he caught the stretcher, guiding it down to the surface of the ledge. Carefully, he and Jovenan lifted their injured crewmate onto the stretcher, trying to jostle her as little as possible. He then set about strapping her down so that she couldn’t fall out.
When Luxa was good to go, he called up to the team up top.
Dakora: Good to go, take her up!
As the Caitian her stretcher began to rise, she reached out to Jovenan sweetly.
Lorana: :: tears forming, to Jovenan :: Thank you.
It was slow going, but they brought her up the cliff, taking great care to make sure she didn’t swing into the face of it.
From somewhere in the distance a large bird-thing took flight, swooping over them like it was curious who had invaded it’s habitat.
As Luxa’s stretcher disappeared over the lip of the cliff, he heard Genkos’ voice
Adea: Oh Luna, what happened?
With one wounded Ensign in the clear, he shifted attention to Jovenan. His brow furrowed at the pang of guilt he felt rising off of her.
Jovenan: ::to Dakora, regretting:: I’m sorry I ruined the investigation and put everyone in danger. I didn’t realize there would still be people here.
Talos shook his head emphatically.
Dakora: You did absolutely nothing wrong. ::He placed a hand gently on her shoulder.:: You did exactly what I suggested you do. It was only AFTER you left that I became aware that there could be more danger than we thought out here.
Jovenan: Is that’s why you came looking for us
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and nodded.
She had been in a terribly dangerous position–they all had– and he had led them there.
If he would've slowed down and taken a moment to process everything, maybe he would've seen this coming. Maybe…
Dakora: Yes. Practically the moment I found out I started mobilizing your reinforcements. I'm just sorry we didn't get here sooner. ::He sighed and shook his head.:: I'm sorry. Really, I… are you alright?
Again, Talos had noticed her favoring her hand again. He reached out carefully to inspect her injury.
Jovenan: I had a little accident with the rope on the way down here. Help me with the dermal regenerator so I can get back up.
Producing the requested device from the kit, he set about carefully running it over the young science Officer's raw and blistered hands.
Dakora: Ouch. ::He sucked air through his teeth in sympathy:: I'm guessing that does not feel good.
Jovenan: Response
Dakora: There. Is that better? The doc should be able to get 100% when we get topside.
Jovenan: Response
Having done a passable job at repairing her damaged hands, he set about removing his harness and fitting it to Jovenan's much smaller frame.
Talos has never really noticed it before but Jovenan sort of reminded him of his younger sister, Adara. Then again, maybe it was just him projecting his protective feelings onto her in the wake of what had just happened.
Either way, he planned to make it up to Jovenan and all the other Ensigns who had gotten caught up in this mess.
Pulling the harness tight with a final tug, he began to fasten the rope that had been lowered down into it securely.
Dakora: Ok, your all set. Just use your legs to keep distance from the cliff wall ::He smiled.:: and let the them do all the work pulling you up. I'll be right be behind you once you get up there.
Jovenan: Response
((Clearing- La'kso Canyon - Merengue IV))
Eventually, everyone was back in the clearing and off of that treacherous cliff ledge.
Genkos had seemingly stabilized Luxa and Gabe was seeing too it that the prisoners were secure.
Savel: Lieutenant, I recommend we bring Rennol and his accomplice with us for further questioning aboard the Artemis. This place is not safe. Any delays in our departure could lead to further conflict.
Osuna/Rennol: Response
Still dealing with the guilt of having put the pack of Ensigns in danger, he hadn't completely lost sight of the overall goal. He looked to Gabe.
Dakora: Lieutenant Osuna, would you mind having a couple of your men do a quick perimeter search? I'd really ike to know where these guys came from.
Osuna: Response
Talos eyed the prisoners with incredulity. He tried not to think about what mightve happened if Savel and Luxa hadn't been able to stop them. He'd deliver them hog-tied onto Minister Erbil's door himself if he had to.
Fortunately, it seemed they'd have a bit more evidence than that.
One of the security Officers voices called out over the din in the clearing.
Braga: Sirs, I think you should come see this!
Osuna/Savel: Response
Adea/Jovenan/Kader/Lorana: Response
TAG/TBC
======//////======>
Lt. Talos Dakora
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0