Commander Tomas Falt: Reunited

[Tomas Falt]

((Waste disposal area, somewhere aboard the Voth generational ship Igirni)) 

Having pulled himself out of the waste bin he had unceremoniously and unexpectedly landed in Tomas looked around and saw the group were standing in the middle of a long line of bins, all similar to the one he had fallen in. A grav-track of some sort ran alongside the bins, before entering into a tunnel that curved off into the distance.

Falt: This looks like some kind of waste disposal area. Shall we follow the tracks, see where they lead? ::to Frinn:: I'm assuming this ship has a transport system? Maybe we could hitch a ride?

Tanner: A ride would be preferable.

Lim: Best to make sure it’s actually nothing serious before we head off on another adventure.

Tomas nodded and stepped back to give the doctor room to check everyone over with her tricorder.

Frinn: I’m fine…

Falt: ::waving her away:: Only thing I need is a sonic shower.

He glanced over at the last member of the team, Lieutenant Tanner, and felt immediate concern as he realised the man hadn't fared as well as the rest of them. Fortunately, Doctor Lim was at hand.

Lim: You think you can stand?

Frinn: Your light build makes you fragile. But I think I can easily carry you if that’s required.

Tomas shot a cold glance at Frinn in response to that unhelpful comment, but otherwise stayed quiet.

Tanner: Sure, but I might need a boost.

Lim: Do we have an idea of where we are now?

Tanner: We are still on your ship, yes?

Frinn: Absolutely. This is a standard hall configuration, but last time I checked, the waste management area was at least a dozen decks below us… We must have fallen quite a bit. Which is odd, there should be doors blocking our fall long before we fell down so far.

Tomas frowned. He certainly had fallen, but it hadn't felt like several decks.

Falt: Perhaps whatever happened to the Igirni caused us to jump inside the ship somehow?

He didn't actually know of any phenomena that could do that, but he'd long ago learned that there was a first time for everything.

Lim: If we fell, I would have expected more injuries.

Tanner: I definitely fell from at least some height. ::Pausing to acknowledge the point.:: But yes, I don’t think we simply fell between decks as though the floor opened up.

Frinn: You think this wasn’t the result of us falling through the door when the ship spun?

Falt: ::shrugging:: Maybe, but I suggest we hold off on solving mystery until we rejoin the others. ::gesturing down the grav-track:: Let's get moving.

As they began to move he noted Frinn offer to assist Lieutenant Tanner. It was a small gesture, but Tomas appreciated the effort.

Lim: We could try and get back into contact with the others? Maybe they have a better idea of what’s going on.

He tapped his combadge.

Falt: =/\= Falt to Eagle =/\=

There was nothing but a faint static on the line. He tried again...

Falt: =/\= Falt to Adea... =/\=

Still nothing.

Falt: Perhaps we're still too close to the engines. Thrusters that big firing at full power would create serious interference.

The group carried on a bit further down the line.

Tanner: Frinn, on our ship, if someone had fallen down here, there would be some way to get back out.  A shaft, ladder or something.  Is there likely something like that here?

Frinn: Every great hall has several escape routes. Bottom, top and sides. But they can be quite long and wide…

Lim: There should be some kind of repair access to this place. I doubt people are rappelling down or ascending up here and then having to do the opposite once repairs are complete.

Tomas pointed at the tracks.

Falt: I suspect they use these tracks for ease of access. The Igirni is huge after all, they're hardly walking everywhere.

Tanner: ::Suppressing his light agitation at the needed explanation.:: I’m sure most people have been down here, but from a design sense, would there be something?

Lim: There’s got to be something here.

Frinn: If this is the end of a dumping area, the only way might be up… ::He looked, hoping to find a ceiling. But it was much higher than he thought it would be.::

Tomas was struggling to understand why everyone was looking for somewhere to climb up when there were perfectly good tracks to follow. Even the normally sensible Lieutenant Lim was running her hands over the nearest wall, only stopping to tap occasionally.

Lim: There’s a hollow on the other side. There should be some kind of door.

Frinn: Hollow?!

Tomas raised a questioning eyebrow.

Frinn: That can’t be right… There should be at least several layers of reinforced structural material between compartments. If it sounds hollow, then either this was never part of the original design… or someone changed it.

Tanner: Surely on a ship of this age, original designs wouldn’t be much use anymore. 

Tomas shook his head. Given whatever had happened to the Igirni had seemingly caused them to instantly jump locations inside the ship it wasn't crazy to think the same thing might have left hollows in the wall too.

Fatl: I'd say a more likely cause is whatever anomaly affected us before.

Lim: Response

Frinn: Impossible. And I don’t use that lightly. Walls like these do not become hollow by accident. Either someone removed the material from the inside, or something has been taking it.

The Voth paused for a second, considering something. 

Frinn: Unless the ship has been cannibalizing itself. Some old repair systems used to reclaim material from damaged sections, but they are not supposed to touch load-bearing bulkheads. And… those systems have been offline for many generations because they could not be maintained.

Tanner: Seems you’ve answered your own question then. 

Lim / Frinn : Response 

Tanner: Surely, this is to our advantage though? Is it not an opportunity for easy escape? :: Now taking the poignant moment to look up.:: So as to avoid any climbing?

Falt: That would depend on how big the hollow is, where it goes, and whether it is a better option than following the tracks away from the waste area we landed in.

Lim / Frinn: Response

Tomas was aware he was about to have to choose between two options, with no idea of the chances of success for either. He was still trying to decide what to do when he heard a crash up ahead.

Falt: What was that?

As soon as the words left his mouth he realised he'd asked a question they wouldn't have an answer to.

Lim / Frinn / Tanner: Response

Tomas took the lead and set out in the direction of the sound. He'd only travelled twenty meters when he encountered an access door, set into the same wall as the hollow. The door was open, and inside the large room beyond he spotted a familiar face.

Falt: Lieutenant Braya, am I glad to see you. ::noting the Voth standing beside her:: Who's your friend?

Braya / Trashk / Lim / Frinn / Tanner: Response

Aware the Voth with Braya was possibly her kidnapper Tomas feigned bending down to tie his boot lace and drew the type 1 phaser from inside his boot. As he stood up he concealed it in his palm.

Falt: We were just looking for a way out. We thought we'd found a promising hollow, but it was probably this room. I don't suppose you know of a way out, or perhaps where these tracks go?

Braya / Trashk / Lim / Frinn / Tanner: Response

TAG / TBC

Commander Tomas Falt                          

Strategic Operations Officer

USS Eagle-A

J239807TF2