Lt Alex Storm - Hydroponics needs water? I Gotcha Covered!

[Karen Morris]

(( Holodeck 3, Deck 222, DS 224 ))

It had been awhile since Alex had participated in a drill such as this one.  And while she knew that it was just a simulation, her body was telling her something else.  oO  Yeah.  Tell that to my knees which are burning, and my socks from which I could probably wring out enough water to water all the plants in a typical hydroponics bay. Oo 

Storm: ::to Tho’Bi:: =/\= Any idea how much further, Ensign? =/\= ::to everyone:: =/\= I can imagine it’s getting harder to see with all the sweat. Let’s keep focused. =/\=

But instead of hearing a clear transmission, the ensign's voice came back garbled.

Tho'Bi: ::to Storm:: =/\= There's a junction up ahead ::coms static:: -ake the ladder up one level to Eng- ::coms static:: -ation is affecting coms. Do y- ::coms static:: -nant? =/\=

Alex tried to understand what Tho’Bi was saying.  Her suit comms were sketchy at best.  She checked her HUD to see if comms were down shipwide or if this was just interference.  It seemed to be the latter.  Instead, she focused on what she could sense from the Ensign.  

Storm: ::To Thobi::  =/\= You’re breaking up a bit, Ensign, but I think I caught most of what you’re saying.  We’re taking a ladder up one level.  I trust you.  I’m sure you know the best way to get into engineering.  Remember we’re on the clock.=/\=

Tho'Bi: ::to Storm:: Copy Lieu- ::coms static:: -ving on =/\=

Meris: Response

Tho'Bi: =/\= Hold up =/\=

Everyone in front of Alex stopped moving.  She waited patiently.  The Tactical Officer understood that pushing and rushing everyone wasn’t in anyone’s best interest. She could feel some anxiety, a lot of discomfort, and a bit of frustration.  Alex shied away from a panel that decided it had had enough of the heat.

Tho'Bi: ::to Storm:: =/\= ::coms static:: -atch is fro- ::coms static:: -eat. The hatch is frozen. The coo- ::coms static:: leaked in- ::coms static:: -tion. Re- ::coms static:: coolant ::coms static:: into the junction. =/\=

Alex closed her eyes for a split second and combined what she felt from the engineer with what she could hear in her helmet.

Storm:  =/\=  I copy you, Lieutenant.  Let’s see if we can find another way in.  =/\=

Tho'Bi: =/\= Two meters back th- ::coms static:: vent system ::coms static:: -eat Emergency Coolant ::coms static:: access pan- ::coms static:: -lant chamber shou- ::coms static:: -ty. Repeat coolant cha- ::coms static:: empty. =/\=

Even being able to sense the Ensign’s feelings, this message was harder for her to decipher.  Despite not understanding the whole thing she was further away than two meters.  She didn’t know if perhaps Meris, who was directly in front of her, could see the panel that Tho’Bi was talking about.

Tho'Bi: =/\= At the ::coms static:: chamber there is a sec- ::coms static:: Engineering. Repe- ::coms static:: top of th- ::coms static:: second access pan- ::coms static:: directly to Engin- ::coms static:: =/\=

Tho'Bi: =/\= It’s a ti- ::coms static:: Meris could? Re- ::coms static:: -ight fit, but maybe Ensig- ::coms static:: Copy?

Alex tapped Meris on the ankle and pointed to what she thought was the panel that Tho’bi has mentioned.  It also happened to the one of the panels sparking.

Storm:  ::To Thobi:: =/\= We’re ::coms static:: -king on - ::coms static:: -ly way through? ::coms static:: 

Meris/Tho’Bi: Response

The tactical officer knew she did the right thing hanging back, watching over her team, but right now, she felt useless.  There was no one on their six.  Really, this next maneuver was up to Meris and Bancroft - their pilot and doctor.  

Storm:  =/\=  We ::coms static:: -d time upda- ::coms static::=/\=

It was getting hard to see at all.  There was so much sweat on the inside of her helmet, Alex was almost afraid that it would start shorting out her HUD.  It almost felt like water was pooling in the knees of her suit and the gloves on her hands.

Meris/Tho’Bi/Bancroft: Response

Storm:  =/\= Is ther- ::coms static:: -ay around?

Meris/Tho’Bi/Bancroft: Response

With Meris just before her, Alex caught sight of an exposed crackling conduit just centimeters from the pilot.  She pulled on both of his legs so that he would be as far away from the conduit as she could get them.  If she had been able to get between the conduit and them, she would have, but there wasn’t enough room.  Instead of it exploding, something amazing happened - whether it was because he had gotten the switch flipped before it exploded or because someone else had powered it down, it didn’t blow.

Storm:  =/\= Meris, we- ::coms static:: able to dis- ::coms static:: panel?  Or did yo- ::coms static:: coolant vent- ::coms static::?=/\=

Meris/Tho’Bi/Bancroft: 

~*~

Tags / TBC

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Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2