Ensign Meris - Hot Climb to Nowhere
Meris/Brian
(( Holodeck 3, Deck 222, DS 224 ))
As Alex turned toward the others, Bergmen stopped in front of her.
Bergmen: Lieutenant, take the corridor right from the DC room exit, and start evacuation to the upper decks. My team takes the corridor to the left. Try to get to Main Engineering; we need to patch the breach or manually eject the warp core. Ok?
Storm: Roger that.
Storm double-tapped the helmet, bringing up the HUD so that she could keep track of the situation as they moved.
Storm: =/\= Okay, let’s move. =/\=
Meris: =/\= Aye, Lieutenant. We’re right behind you. =/\=
Tho'Bi: ::strong and clear:: =/\= Aye, aye, Lieutenant. Good to go. =/\=
Bancroft: Response.
Together, the team exited the Damage Control Room. Most people were making a hasty retreat or searching for radiation suits.
Tho'Bi pulled out his tricorder.
Meris: =/\= Are you detecting any life signs in this section? =/\=
Tho'Bi: =/\= Neutrino levels are increasing exponentially ::beat:: we’ve got... maybe ten minutes. =/\=
The Engineer seemed to ignore the pilot's question and Meris frowned for a moment wondering if they'd somehow offended the Andorian - and, if they had, why the Andorian would choose the middle of a drill to act in such a manner. They then looked to Bancroft to answer their question instead.
Bancroft: Response.
As they pressed on, one crewman was dragging another, burned and bleeding, from the area.
Storm: =/\= I know we all want to help them, but that’s not our objective. Let’s keep our eyes forward. We get to work when we get to engineering. =/\=
The J’naii frowned, watching the crewman help the other. Their orders had including beginning evacuation of the sections along their path to Engineering. Orders or not, leaving someone behind never sat right with them. Still, they pointed toward the nearest turbolift.
Meris: =/\= Continue that way. =/\= ::motioning back toward the Aft Damage Control Room:: =/\= In about ten meters is a turbolift junction. Take it to the upper levels. You’ll be safer from the radiation there. =/\=
Once the duo had moved past the group, Meris moved to catch up with Tho'Bi and Storm as Doctor Bancroft brought up the rear.
Tho'Bi: ::to Lieutenant Storm:: =/\= Neutrino levels are increasing exponentially ::beat:: we got... maybe ten minutes. =/\=
Storm: ::to Tho’Bi:: =/\= Understood. You be our timekeeper. At nine minutes no matter what, we’re on our way out. I don’t care what’s going on around us. =/\=
Meris pursed their lips but said nothing. They mentally calculated the nearest escape pods to Main Engineering and decided one minute was going to be a very tight window. Fortunately, they’d already reviewed the ship schematics on the way to DS 224 and knew where the nearest escape pods were located relative to Main Engineering. Of course, they doubted there would be sufficient time to locate and board a pod, launch it, and put sufficient distance between themselves and the ship before the core exploded and took the Artemis with it.
Bancroft: Response.
Alex took the lead with Tho'Bi close behind. Meris and Bancroft brought up the rear.
Tho’Bi: ::to Storm:: =/\= The Jefferies Tube leads directly to Main Engineering ::beat:: But it also takes us directly under the Warp Reactor ::beat:: It’s going to be hot. =/\=
Alex tapped the Engineer on the shoulder and then turned to face Meris and Bancroft.
Storm: =/\= We’re going to take the Jefferies tube as quickly as we can. It’s hot, but we also need to be careful that we don’t tear our suits. Tho’Bi, you take the front and I will bring up the rear. Quickly, but cautiously. Everyone got it? =/\=
Meris: ::nodding:: =/\= Aye, Lieutenant. =/\=
Bancroft: Response.
Meris moved to remove the wall panel that covered the entrance to the Jefferies Tube so that they could access it. They set it aside and looked up to Tho’Bi expectantly.
Storm: =/\= Let’s go, Ensign. You lead the way. Bancroft, you next. Meris, you’re in front of me. =/\=
Tho'Bi/Bancroft: Response.
Meris: =/\= Aye, Lieutenant. =/\=
The J'naii followed Bancroft, noting Storm had deliberately taken the rear position to watch over everyone. It was noble - and also meant Meris had to spend the climb staring at the backside of a very tall doctor.
Stepping through the hatch, Meris began clambering up behind Bancroft. Their view was limited to boots, legs, and the lower half of Bancroft's radiation suit. They kept a casual eye out for any snags in the fabric, but so far all was intact. They couldn’t see Storm, but they could feel the Lieutenant’s presence behind them - both reassuring and a little nerve-wracking.
The heat built quickly, sweat beginning to drip onto Meris’ visor within ten meters. Passing under the warp reactor promised no relief.
Storm: =/\= How we doing up there? Everybody sound off. =/\=
Meris: =/\= Meris. Still good. =/\=
Bancroft/Tho'Bi: Response.
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. =/\=
Meris paused just long enough to swipe their sleeve across their visor. This accomplished absolutely nothing, because the sweat was on the inside. They sighed, deciding to ignore it and keep moving. After all, complaining wouldn’t make it any less damp inside their radiation garment.
Bancroft/Tho'Bi: Response.
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Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14