1stLt Samuel Woolheater - Fishing line back to the fisherman
Radamio
(( Decommissioned Subspace Navigational Array #DDV261 ))
Samuel opened a link to Commander T’Korva’s tricorder and shared the data he had been collecting. They would need to update the Sower with what they found. And they still weren’t done yet. As they examined the building and the archaic equipment here, more questions than answers came up.
T’Korva: Something is not right, why would they beam anything to this location?
Lahl: Response?
The place wasn’t just empty. It had been left. That is…everything except a much newer looking six-person cargo combo transporter pad.
Woolheater: Whatever was here, we missed it.
T’Korva: Did they know we were coming then?
Sam looked to the Argrathi engineer. Of everyone here, Ke might be the best person to have because this would be the most familiar with Argrathi tech. Even if they didn’t have Ke’Partha here, Lieutenant Lahl would, for sure, be able to figure out this stuff.
Lahl: Response?
The transporter pad activated on its own accord and transported to this location an Argrathi medical padd and an envelope. Ke immediately recognized the location depicted on the Argrathi medical device.
Ke: That’s the Central Clinic, I recognize the patterns on the walls, I’ve been there before.
T’Korva: There are a couple teams currently deployed there.
Lahl: Response?
Woolheater recognized 1stLt JoNz was the Marine who had been attacked. He took the letter and opened it. The words “I SEE YOU” were evident.
Woolheater: Damn. This isn’t a distro site. It’s a tripwire. To get whoever was getting too close to reveal ourselves. ::a beat.:: It’s bait. And we walked right into it.
Sam passed the letter around.
Woolheater: No personnel. No staging. No handling infrastructure.
The transporter pad began to cycle again and what appeared to be some type emitter materialized on the beam plate. Sam saw that Ke took a big step backwards.
Lahl: Response?
Woolheater: Yeah, that tracks. That’s what the Sower and maybe even the Butler were detecting from orbit. ::shakes his head:: They built this to be found… but not to be used. ::His gaze returned to the transporter. Then, quieter:: But they didn’t break the line.
Lahl: Response?
Woolheater: If that pattern’s stable, it could still be connected to the source. To them…whoever’s doing this. :: A small beat…measured. He cocked his head:: We could try to ride it back to its origin.
Ke: I can’t fight, I’ve never, I mean I will, but, I…
T’Korva: ::cutting off the engineer while turning to Woolheater:: While that sounds like we would come upon a worthy battle, we need to anticipate that they’d already considered that. There are only four of us, and only two of us ::looking at Lahl with curiosity:: experienced in battle.
Sam nodded. These smugglers had done a pretty good job of anticipating their every move.
T’Korva: No, we report in and stand by for further orders. ::beat:: Send a message to Lieutenant Commander Nilsen.
Samuel had another thought though. They could still trace
the transporter signal if it hadn’t degraded too much. He knew it was possible.
Woolheater: (low) Commander… signal’s still cycling. Residual pattern’s
degrading, but not gone. ::beat:: If this thing’s tied to a relay or a bounce
point, we might be able to catch the direction before the transporter residual
signal collapses. ::glances to Lahl:: Not a lock. Just a vector. I can start it…but you’ll be
faster. Can you help me? Both you and Ke’Partha? How do we find the origin
point of the transporter signal before it disappears?
Lahl: Response?
Woolheater: Maybe we can’t do a home delivery of justice; but we can find out who sent the note and the medical data pad.
Ke/Lahl: Response?
Woolheater: They
know we’re here…and they may still be watching what we do next. Is there a way to mask what we’re doing?
Ke/Lahl: Response?
Woolheater: Letting us know that they’re on to us is a tactic. To throw us off our strat. It’s meant to intimidate; but that doesn’t work if we aren’t intimidated. Recommend we secure the site, pull Argrathi Security in, and keep pressure local. If they’re watching, we make them react. It’s also time to check in with the Sower sir. Coming up on mission time one-three-zero.
[End scene for Woolheater]
OOCThomas: Thanks so much to my scene partners for having me along for this scene. I liked all the creativity and the NPC’s you all created. I loved the part of Lahl driving the big ass hauler in the desert. LOL! Loved that image. 😊
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1stLt Samuel Woolheater, SFMC
Sniper / Infantry Officer
2nd Platoon, Precision Fires & Recon
USS Octavia E. Butler (NCC-82850)
O240111SW4