Lt JG Tess Evinrude - Timing is Everything

[Tess Evinrude]

((Flight Deck, Runabout Sojourn, USS Ronin, Ross-580 Gas Giant A, Moon Sigma))

Yet again, Tess and Sybil arrived on the scene at the same time. They approached from different hallways, but the offered the same nod and smile he'd given last time they were assigned away team duty.

Evinrude: Sybil. ::He said, in greeting, shifting the weight of the case he carried to his other hand.:: Ever wore one of these new H-D-E suits?

Nemes: Response

They stepped up the loading ramp of the Sojourn, a Volga-class runabout. Security Chief Kessler and Engineering Chief Tucker were already aboard. The former turned to face them, and Tess realized that he hadn't interacted with the man on a small team since he came aboard.

Evinrude: Lieutenant. Commander. ::He nodded professionally at each in turn.::

Nemes: Response

Tucker pointed to the rear compartment, at some crates.

Tucker: You can settle your gear back there. I’ve had the ship loaded with those environmental suits, the hazardous ones.

The engineering chief moved to an aft console and plunked an equipment case of a different sort on top of it.

Tucker: Command code Tucker - Alpha - Pie

The lid popped open revealing four chunky red wrist-mounted computers, and Marty issued one to each officer present.

Kessler: ::taking the device:: Interestingly bulky. What is it.

Evinrude: ::Fascinated.:: Looks industrial...

Nemes: Response

Tucker: What are they? They are wrist tricorders that will go on the outside of the suit and can withstand most radiation. They’ve been out of circulation, but I fixed them up and refitted them. They’re all up to date with Starfleet standards.

While Kessler looked over the device, Tess started inspecting its clasp and found that it would fit perfectly over the arm of their bulky HDE Suits.

Kessler: I like the thought process Commander. Wearable versus carried. 

Evinrude: ::Tess looked up from his new toy, responding to the security chief.:: Agreed sir. Plus, a hardened piece of equipment should come in handy down there amongst all that Sencha.

Nemes: Response

Marty exchanged a few words with flight ops.

Hicks: Sojourn, this is flight, you’re a go.

Tucker: Thanks, flight. ::turning to the group:: stow your gear and let's get out of here. Tess, take the engineering station, sciences for Lieutenant Nemes, Mr. Keller, if you wouldn’t mind being the copilot.

Kessler confirmed Sojourn's flight readiness, retracting and securing the loading ramp and performing other preflight tasks. Tess took a seat at the runabout's engineering station, positioned up against the starboard side. Though the corresponding emotions didn't appear this time, the memory of his mundane near-death experience on the Strauss did float up to the surface.

With only a little effort, he pushed the memories away and focused on the console in front of him.

((Runabout Sojourn, Ross-580 Gas Giant A, Moon Sigma))

Tucker and Kessler fought the controls the whole way down, but managed to dodge the worst of the radiation without serious incident. Evinrude kept one eye on the sensors while monitoring deflectors and power allocation, paranoid that the Sencha waves might melt through their defenses like butter.

Tucker: Alright, we’re coming in a little hot, Mister Kessler. Can you try to keep us steady for just five minutes so I can set this bucket down?

Kessler: On it Commander.

Nemes: Response

Evinrude: Right, diverting power to deflectors. ::A particularly large jolt shook the runabout.:: And a touch more to inertial dampeners...

They made it through the patch of chop, and Tess brought power draw back down to a sustainable norm.

Tucker: That should do it. We’re about to set down, Mister Kessler, if you would put us into the landing cycle, please.

Sensors showed a burst of concerning readings coming from the nearby facility. Evinrude's concentration was, however, shattered when the runabout landed with a reverberating clank.

Kessler: ::grinning, sarcastically:: Ouch.

Tess gritted his teeth, but met the security chief's eyes with a relieved nod, as if to say "still alive."

Nemes: Response

Tucker: Look, any landing you can walk away from is a good landing. Alright let's get suited up.

Kessler: Aye sir. ::entering several commands:: Securing the ship from flight and scanning surface conditions now.

Exhaling deeply, Tess stood. With a steadying hand on the side bulkhead, he made his way back to the equipment hold and began uncrating his HDE Suit. He removed his uniform, wearing underneath a temperature stabilizing and moisture wicking garment reminiscent of a wetsuit for diving.

Evinrude: ::Mostly to himself.:: Thick shielding, on these.

He assisted anyone who would request help into their suits, and then stood while someone else helped him with the steps in the process easiest done with a partner.

Nemes/Tucker: Response

Kessler: ::securing his wrist tricorder:: Not as heavy on the arm as I was expecting.

Tess took a few experimental steps in the HDE Suit, practiced bending over to pick up an equipment crate, then tried some mobility tests. He attempted to turn around to look behind him, up at the ceiling of the runabout, down at his feet.

Evinrude: Definitely more bulky to move around in, though I agree that you can't feel the strain of any of the weight. Just...a bit sluggish, I suppose.

Kessler retrieved a tactical belt for each of them from equipment storage, then pulled a Type-II phaser from the security locker. He checked the power cell with practiced motions before holstering the weapon on his hip. As Evinrude calibrated his tricorder, the security chief handed out phasers to the rest of them. The man also secured a medkit to his back and Tess followed suit, though his own medkit was slung from his belt opposite the phaser. The last thing the ops officer donned was a portable pneumatic pry bar, resembling a lobster claw the size of a human leg. It clamped onto the hardpoint on the back of the hazard suit.

Evinrude: ::He exhaled, and tested his mobility again.:: Wooh, now I feel the weight.

Nemes/Tucker: Response

Kessler: ::looking to the others who were closer to the consoles with the sensor scans:: What are the sensors says about the surface conditions?

Evinrude let Nemes handle that one, as she was closer to the sensor panel.

Nemes/Tucker: Response

Evinrude: Sounds like we have a break in the proverbial storm, then. ::He turned to look at Lieutenant Kessler.:: There may be some kind of cyclical pattern to the radiation bursts. We should move, sir.

Kessler wordlessly eyed the ops officer, and then nodded at Tucker.

oO Go time. Oo

Nemes/Tucker/Kessler: Response

They secured the loading hatch of the Volga, setting off across the short distance towards the outbuilding that Chief Tucker had identified as a powerplant. Sure enough, readings showed a reasonable generation of power.

Evinrude: Stable readings from up ahead, looks like a standard Romulan powerplant for mid-size structures. ::When they reached the door he began looking for an access panel.:: Nothing experimental...yet.

Nemes/Tucker/Kessler: Response

After the door hissed open, Tess watched as Kessler secured the entryway. He kept his own phaser clipped to his side, but readied himself to draw it.

oO This wrist-mounted tricorder actually does free up a hand! Oo

Evinrude: So it looks like this powerplant feeds in to the larger reactor dome. There must be some kind of power-routing diagram, something that shows a service tunnel or alternate access points. Waltzing down the main corridor would be...inadvisable, unless we can get the timing of those radiation bursts down perfectly.

Nemes/Tucker/Kessler: Response

[Tags/TBC]

--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

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