Ensign Herrick: Not Enough Room
Mark P
((Arboretum at Cor-el Ridge, Esh-o Colony))
After a few seconds, the pneumatics failed and the door fell swiftly into the landing pad with another shrill metallic crash. It didn’t take an engineer to figure out that the York was going to need quite a bit of love if they were going to get it space worthy again. Looking back up, their gaze was greeted by a number of observers gawking at them.
Kel: ::looking between Corelli and Herrick:: are we going to be able to fix that door?
Herrick: Well, nothing motivates an engineer like a clock… so (unconvincingly) yes?
Richards: Response
Nephesh: Who are you?
A very small voice had asked the question. In another direction, several people in the crowd were pushed left and right as a grey Ephemeral working-class strode up to them.
Sechts: ::shouting sourly:: You can't park that here!
Kel: ::looking at Anton:: He's got a generous definition of parking.
Nephesh: You crushed a plant!
Herrick: oO (sarcastically) Yes, of course the plant is a priority — not the crashed shuttle on top of it Oo
Richards: Response
Corelli: What?
Having shoved his way through the crowd the Zet shook his fist at them and Richards moved to the front of the group.
Sechts: This pad is administered by Kareg Vel Grade Seven Associate of Sub-division 71 of the Mining Guild. He ::emphasizing he:: He reports to Pitorian Keg'Lars'Shmi' Krenic.
There was grumbling heard within the crowd after Sechts finished speaking. Josh hadn’t heard of this ‘Krenic’ before but given the way the man was tossing the name around, it seemed to be an intimidation play. He held back, seeing how the senior officers would handle the situation. V’Len and Richards seemed to be observing the situation.
Richards: Response
Kammus took a breath to respond, then held it about 3 seconds too long.
Corelli: Those aren't even real words.
Sechts: ::growling:: If you're going to leave this heap here you need to pay. Otherwise it's forfeit to the Mining Guild.
V'Len turned around and regarded the damaged shuttle. Josh suspected he was trying to determine if there was anything salvageable left that the Zet could get their hands on. It wasn’t worth the risk of letting the Zet get any further edge in this community.
Richards: Response
Corelli: Well, I tell you what; you charge me for 40 hours of parking here, and we will pay at that time. Our corporate accountant is in orbit, they will handle the transaction.
Sechts: Payment arrangements can be made via your TidBitter™ profile. ::shoving dated PADD toward Richards::
Herrick: (quietly) Do you think the head of the colony is in on this?
V'Len looked at Herrick and shrugged his shoulders. The same concerned voice of the plant spoke up again; a small Esh-o child that had taken a few steps from the crowd toward them.
Nephesh: Oh, if you want the boss, that’s actually Engish-go-ondesh!
With this new piece of intrigue, the York crew turned towards the youngling.
Corelli: Hey, ::kneeling down to eye level:: You know the boss? Can you take us?
Richards: Response
The Zet seemed to be surveying the shuttle, perhaps not used to the level of resistance to pay. While he debated what his next move, the Esh-o child spoke again.
Nephesh: I know the way, I can show you!
This caught Sechts attention, and he issued his demand for money again.
Sechts: Where do you think you're going? You haven't arranged payment.
Richards : Response
The child started off on their way towards Engish-go-ondesh, the crew following right behind. As they were being led away by the Esh-o child, Kammus raised his voice and called back to the seemingly infuriated Zet.
Corelli: I'm sorry angry padd person, you'll have to put it on our bill....
It seemed Sechts' authority ended at the door as he did not follow them as they left the arboretum. Josh was wondering if the shuttle would still be there when they came back. Looking around at the people starting at them he realized that losing the shuttle was a small price to pay in exchange to save all of them.
As they dredged on, the architecture changed quickly from a somewhat hospitable area into rough industrial design. Wires and piping hung everywhere. For Nephesh, this didn’t pose a problem as their short height kept them from bumping into anything but the crew had to dodge several live hanging wires and low-hanging pipes.
In an unassuming small building, glued to the side of an otherwise unremarkable wall was a large Esh-o. Faint yellow light spilled out from the single window onto the street. The dim alleyway hid the grime from direct view.
The young Esh-O Led them through a doorway with exuberance, and at the back of the room a much larger Esh-O was seated behind a desk. The desk itself was covered in all sorts of mechanical parts. The objects didn’t seem recognizable to Josh at first, but as he continued to look at them, one of them seemed to look like a spanner — he’d have to see it action. Had they run into another engineer?
Nephesh / Richards: Response
Engish-go-ondesh: ::regarding Nephesh:: Who have you dragged into my office this time, nephew? ::looking at the Starfleet officers:: I'm afraid I can't help you all with jobs, I'm rather busy. Aphris seems to have sent a nebula monster to eat my mines.
Corelli: Oh, actually we're here to stop the nebula monsters from eating your asteroid and destroying the colony.
Kel: ::picking his hat up off his head:: Hello there.
Kammus raised an eyebrow towards Nephesh.
Herrick: Nice to meet you, you are Engish-go-ondesh? oO The big cheese here? Oo
Engish-go-ondesh: Response
Nephesh / Richards: Response
Engish-go-ondesh: ::folding his arms and regarding the aliens:: My engineers have been trying to figure out something for days. We've even paid the Zet for consultation. ::sourly:: With nothing to show for it. Why should I believe you can help?
Corelli: Starfleet engineers have a way of dealing with such things. By the way, who is this yelling Zet? Something about paying for parking?
The large Esh-O rose from his desk and begin strolling over.
Engish-go-ondesh: He's simply the Zet handler for the area. We've outsourced some of the cleaning and maintenance activities to the Zet. He reports up the ladder to some higher up. If you ask me he has something stuck in his posterior.
Kel: I could take a look at that for him. I'm a doctor.
The corner of Josh’s mouth turned upward at the universal translator’s conversion of the old colloquialism. And, at the doctor’s genuine offer to help.
Nephesh / Richards: Response
Engish-go-ondesh: ::looking at Corelli and Herrick:: So engineers (beat) what is your plan?
Corelli: Oh the plan! Yes, well we need you to split this asteroid in half.
There seemed to be a bit of brief silence before anyone spoke again.
Kel: Obviously we'll need to make sure everyone is safe, but once we split your asteroid we can pull the safe end away from the nebula.
Nephesh / Kev / Engish / Richards: Response
Engish’s face appeared a bit contorted; amused and concerned etched into it at the same time.
Engish-go-ondesh: I think you should have brought more doctors along. If you don't do it just right you could do as much damage as the nebula.
Josh felt that he hadn’t really offered anything of value yet on this away mission. First impressions were everything and being memorable meant the opportunity to perhaps get pushed up in rotation for the next off-ship encounter.
Herrick: Your concern is valid sir. (beat) That’s why it would be helpful if you were able to share any data you have about the asteroid this colony sits on. Composition, density, how the tunnels are structured. The more precise you are, the better our chances would be.
Corelli / Nephesh / Kel / Richards: Response
Engish seemed to be considering the situation carefully. Aside from the thrum of the atmospheric generators, the room was silent for several seconds before the Esh-o spoke again.
Engish-go-ondesh: The asteroid is full of passages several of which lead far from here and toward the nebula. We have explosives that would allow for a big bang. ::pausing:: How do you propose to move the colony once the separation has occurred. Assuming we're not all dead.
Corelli / Nephesh / Richards: Response
The Esh-O walked to a large table in the room and the rest of the group followed and gathered around the table. A holographic display glowed to life. It showed the asteroid and the nebula at one end. The colony was represented and stretching out from the colony was a network of what must have been mining shafts and tunnels.
Engish-go-ondesh: We can place explosives anywhere in the mining network. There are several sites to choose from.
Looking at the map, the best location to lay the explosives was painfully clear. The main shaft ran deep through the asteroid, making it the most viable candidate to have a relatively clean split. However, this meant that the mining operation would be severely impacted — most likely for years, if not decades. He was sure the others had come to the same conclusion, maybe even the Esh-o himself. But, given the magnitude of the issue, he though he’d leave it to the more senior officers to address.
Corelli / Nephesh / Richards: Response
While they continued to explore options, the doctor took a moment to shift the conversation in another direction — prepping for the worst case scenario.
Kel: ::looking at Engish:: Can I ask how many people are in this colony? More importantly, how many can you evacuate if necessary?
Engish-go-ondesh: There are 9,287 souls here. I have transport for 2, maybe 3000.
Corelli / Nephesh / Richards: Response
That was far more casualties than V'Len wanted to think about. He turned to Richards and Corelli.
Kel: We should contact Oumuamua. We need them to come here to rescue these people in case our plan fails.
Corelli / Nephesh / Richards: Response
Herrick: But that leaves a shortfall of 2,000 folks since the ‘Oumuamua can only carry about 4,000 evacuees. There isn’t enough room. Are there any other decently-sized crafts in the vicinity?
Corelli / Nephesh / Kel / Richards: Response
The lights in the room flickered momentarily, like a brown out.
Herrick: Is that normal, or something new?
Corelli / Nephesh / Kel / Richards: Response
Tags/TBC