PO2 Lohkina: Root Causes

[Tony Colella]

(( Runabout Sower, High Orbit Around Argratha ))

Lohkina: Pulling up grid 573 by 39 now.

She'd put the magnified, gridded desert below on the front windows, holo-overlaid against a dark background so that they could see more clearly what was below. It was, in effect, one large telescope, though she looked to O'Reilly and the smaller one he'd replicated. Maybe he'd have better luck, since even with their view and the grid, there was still a lot of desert down there, and they were just, essentially, looking. And hoping to get lucky.

Sh’shelor: Moving to 574 by 40. (beat) 574 by 41. (beat) There is something.

Well, well, well. Maybe this was the time to stop by the Quark's franchise -- assuming it had established itself and/or not been shut down -- back at DS14 for some dabo. If, that was, they were going to get so lucky.

O'Reilly: I can see a site, but can’t make out any specific activity. ::he turned towards the console:: I’m not seeing any traffic in or around that area either.

Lohkina: What do you see?

Sh’shelor: 574 by 42. Computer, increase magnification and clarify picture. (does so) What is that?

O’Reilly: Some type of communications array?

Lohkina: That's as good a guess as any. I have no idea.

The grid cell Sh'shelor had highlighted definitely contained some kind of built structure. It might have been Argrathi, but Lohkina wasn't sure. It also was alone in the desert, and that, more than anything, suggested that there was more to it than there seemed to be. What kind of structure didn't need any infrastructure? There were options, of course, but given the context Lohkina was inclined to think that this might be something fairly underhanded.

O’Reilly: Should we notify the ground team or do you think they’ve already arrived?

Lohkina: I'm sure they'll want to know, even if they're already there, if only to know we have eyes on the structure.

Sh’shelor: Response

A moment later, they received an all-band message from the surface:

Team Charlie, Sh’Charva City Medical Station. Reporting increased rage cases, support not required at this time, but please have security or marines on stand by. Smith out. 

O’Reilly: Looks like things might be heating up down there — Team Charlie’s asking for security or marines, but without the OEB, what can we offer?

Lohkina: Something else.

Not personnel, since that was the one thing they weren't equipped to provide. 

Lohkina: Portable force field emitters, maybe? 

The Sower was very well-equipped, as they'd reviewed immediately after leaving the Butler, but that didn't mean that they were an infinite treasure trove. Given time, they could replicate material -- as O'Reilly had done -- but, and unfortunately, the teams below might not have the time to spare.

Sh’shelor: Response

Then, from O'Reilly's observation of the surface:

O’Reilly: It looks like our team is on site.

Lohkina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. At last, some good news. Or, rather, some news that didn't seem to signal an impending crisis. Another crisis.

Lohkina: Good news!

Sh’shelor/O'Reilly: Responses

Meanwhile, she reviewed the text comms she'd established with the teams, to see if there were any new developments there. Indeed, there was one, from Commander Nilsen's team -- no, from Nilsen himself.

Sower, this is Nilsen. We are making headway in understanding the root causes of the Rage. Advise all teams to avoid contact with bodily fluids, as there is a risk of infection. The source is Ketracor, a drug for heart problems, combined with Ketracel-white. Symptoms are euphoria, then anger, aggression, and inhibited cognitive impulses. Please forward all reports to me, confirm crewmembers on Sower, scan for any mention of this on media channels, and stand by for away team reassignments.

She tapped out a quick reply:

Acknowledged, Commander. Will share with other teams now.

Before they did so, however, she sent it to the two lieutenants.

Lohkina: Some more good news. It looks like Commander Nilsen's team knows more about transmission and treatment of the related disease.

Sh’shelor/O'Reilly: Responses

Lohkina: Aye, sending it out now. In just a moment, all the surface teams should have it--

Except, at that moment, the world of the runabout rocked around her and Lohkina, not expecting anything at all like it, was thrown out of her seat. Alarms screamed and lights flashed, and Lohkina tried for a moment to regain her station before the runabout jolted again, her head met the console, and--

Black.

Tags! and END SCENE for Lohkina!

OOC Uh oh! What happened to our eye in the sky? Will the message have gone through? Find out next time (maybe)....

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Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Lohkina

Diplomatic Aide

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)