Ensign Tho’Bi - Safe

[Tobi]

((Hanger Bay, Boraxian Vessel - ‘New Hope‘))

In stark contrast to the battered galaxy-weary Boraxian Colony Ship, the Hanger Bay was all sleek surfaces, steady warm metallic light, and gleaming control consoles. The transparent wall of the sparsely appointed control room looked down on the Rail Gun style Launch Tube, and shimmering silver Shuttle Craft. Beyond the transparent decking of the launch bay, the Boraxian City Ship hung in the darkness.

With a twitch of antennae, the Andorian Engineer nodded in the direction of Ensign Meris. 

Tho'Bi: Now they know what to look for, Ensign Meris should be able to review Artemis logs and extrapolate a course.

Silveira: It's as good a shot as any. :: he turned to Meris:: Ensign Meris, beam back and have a look at it. 

The Lieutenant Commander tapped his combadge.

Silveira: =/\= Silveira to Artemis, Ensign Meris to beam up.

Transporter Crew: =/\= Acknowledged Commander. 

A shimmering blue light enveloped Ensign Meris and he was gone.

Silveira: Hopefully we will find out more soon.

Storm: It’s as good of a shot as any.

The duo of tactical officers looked out across the launch bay and the great hexagonal tube jutting out, beyond the transparent decking, and into the black.

Silveira: It is ingenious.

Storm: Or terrifying, depending on your perspective.

The Andorian Engineer was busy tracing power conduits from Main Engineering to the Hanger Bay.

Tho’Bi: I think this Hanger Bay was a recent addition to the ship. ::beat:: It would explain why it is not on any of the Master System Displays.

Silveira: I wonder if we can find some launch records?

Storm: I’d offer to look for you, but Thobi will likely be twice as fast - if not faster than I would be.

The Lieutenant Commander nodded and tipped his head at the young Andorian. 

Silveira: See if you can find anything Ensign. 

Storm: If we can find out if a ship did leave, we’ll at least know if Dariel is on the New Hope or if he truly headed over to the City Ship.

Tho’Bi: Aye, Aye, Sir. ::beat:: on it.

Electric blue Starfleet Operational Base Code cascaded down the flat rectangular display of his PADD. Blue fingers danced across the inputs.

Tho'Bi: ::looking at PADD:: The launch tube has been activated only once ::looks up:: not long after our first away mission beamed back to Artemis. 

Storm: Any chance of finding out who was on that launched shuttle?

Flashes of code; hopeful endeavours met with indifference; for every new corridor, a dead end.

Tho'Bi: ::shakes head:: No. Whoever it was used an anonymous command key. …but I can tell you, it didn't come from this PADD. 

Silveira: Response

Storm: Is there no way for us to track individual Boraxians aboard this monstrosity of a ship?  

The Andorian Engineer looked up from the virtual schematics of the Boraxian PADD Systems that were being gradually mapped by the Ferengi Crawler application. 

Tho'Bi: Artemis sensors are having trouble penetrating the Boraxian hull due to its extremely long exposure to interstellar radiation. 

Silveira: Response

Storm: You’d think that the Artemis with all of her sensors should be able to distinguish between the Boraxians on this ship and find us Dariel if he is here.

Tho'Bi: The hull consists of some unusual alloys ::beat:: they appear to act like a lighting rods for cosmic radiation ::beat:: drawing it away from habitat and Seedery decks ::beat:: unfortunately, they also throw off our sensors.

Silveira/Storm: Response 

The electric blue feed from the Ferengi Crawler stuttered for a moment; as this happened, the lights flickered, their ever-shifting metallic tones interrupted for fragments of seconds.

Tho'Bi: ::to himself:: What the…

The electric blue code spasmed into pixels and artifacts and froze; at the same time, the transparent hexagonal keys on the hefty Boraxian PADD lit up in a quick fire series of liquid metal. The Andorian Engineer turned sharply in the direction of the Lieutenant Commander.

Tho'Bi: ::to Silveira:: Sir, I think we have a pro…. Woooah.

The Andorian’s words were cut short by a blinding surge in light level; and with it, the young Andorian's mind was caught in a flash flood of euphoria. 

Silveira/Storm: Response (if required)

The Andorian's spatial perception spun around him in a maelstrom of vibration and reflection. His one meter ninety centimeters body slumped onto the deck; not that he was aware of this. Gold, bronze, copper, silver, platinum, brass, expanded through the landscapes of his mind.

A familiar voice reached him through the din of colour. In the kaleidoscopic mess of his perception, a four-armed figure stood in the control room with them.

Kalpadu: ::quietly:: This Hanger Bay is new ::beat:: its lights are much brighter than anywhere on the ship. ::almost apologetic:: It's why I had to make you come here.  I was ready to leave, but then you got in the way.

Silveira/Storm: Response 

Kalpadu: I am sorry. I do not think the effects will be permanent. And the lights are programmed to switch back to normal, once the shuttle leaves.

The Andorian had no idea how Lieutenant Commander Silveira or Lieutenant Storm were fairing, his own condition was too discombobulating. With outstretched arms, he attempted to reach the control console. 

Tho'Bi: ::head swimming:: Gonna…. launch…. Shuttle….

Kalpadu: ::to Tho’Bi:: You are wasting your time. The shuttle will not launch without a Boraxian onboard.

Duuurrrrt! The protracted atonal drone of his PADD confirmed Kalpadu's assertion. 

Silveira/Storm: Response 

Kalpadu: Yes ::nods:: I… I sabotaged the transceiver. …but that is all I did.

Thud! The Andorian Engineer slumped back onto the deck and rolled onto his back, his head lulling about.

Silveira/Storm: Response 

Kalpadu: How can you even ask me that? You… you know how dangerous it is out here. It is too much! Too much for the Yurum. 

Tho'Bi: Not.. decision… your… to make….

Kalpadu: Well, I made it. Someone had to. Dariell with his manuals! It was madness!  

Silveira/Storm: Response 

Kalpadu: The Yurum will die out here. ::shakes head:: I can not… I will not let that happen. They belong in the spires… where they are safe.

Silveira/Storm: Response 

Kalpadu: They will never know my face. They will never know their mother's face. ::nods awkwardly:: This is the way. This is our way. And they are safe. All the Yurum need to be safe.

The Boraxian made a move toward the opposite end of the control room, where a short ladder led down to the launch bay.

Silveira/Storm: Response 

Tags/TBC

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11