Ensign Jino Esot - No Easy Path

[Quentin Beck]

((Shuttlecraft USS Anna Pavlova))

Esot: =/\= Anna Pavlova to Bridge. We are looking for clearance to launch. =/\=

Nicolau: =/\= Standby Pavlova, we have an unknown and potentially hostile vessel holding position relative to us. Suggest you...uh...launch aft. Keep the ship between you and the vessel as long as possible. Bridge out. =/\=

The ship's engines rolled to life, sending a comforting vibration through the deck plating. Jino set her padd to the side and logged into one of the consoles so they could display sensor readings and keep an eye on where the visiting ship was located. 

Zh'taan: Shuttle ready for departure. I’ve entered the moon’s coordinates into the computer.

Shortrith: Be careful around the vessel.

She nodded.

Esot: Agreed. We will do the away team little good should we perish en route.

Clearance granted, the shuttle lifted off and flew through the opening bay doors, slicing through space between the Ronin's nacelles as the shuttle's course banked away from the alien ship and through clearer space towards the moon.

She noticed the Klingon counselor occasionally glancing her way. Perhaps she was seeking a reassuring smile? Past experience told Jino hers was more… unsettling. So she simply offered the Lieutenant a nod, turning her attention to drawing up the programming she had already put in place for the other dome.

Zh'taan: Ensign Esot, uh… what do you know about this Sencha radiation emitted by the reactor?

Esot: It can be dangerous in high enough doses and was recently weaponized by the Lattice Alliance with their attempt to destroy Deep Space 33 in 2401. As Doctor Shortrith mentioned earlier, the reactor here is providing a link to an alternate universe's Ross-580 system, from which it is drawing the majority of its power. This link is… unstable. While EV suits would be recommended for long-term exposure, we should not be on the surface long enough to necessitate their use.

It wasn't long before the moon came into view, the shuttle coming to settle in what appeared to be a safe landing zone. 

Zh'taan: ::He exits the shuttle first, tricorder in hand:: I’m not detecting any life signs in the immediate vicinity.

Shortrith: ::explaining:: The radiation can cause interference with our tricorders. Maybe switch them on to the highest setting, they should come up with something.

Jino nodded again, pulling out her own tricorder and making some configuration changes.

Esot: Configuration updated - while there are still no life signs nearby, I am detecting the landing party further ahead. They appear to be approaching the reactor, as requested. 

She noticed Shortrith looking concerned.

Shortrith: Can either of you see the blast?

Esot: It is possible the stream has shifted outside of the normal visual spectrum. I can say, however, that it is still erupting from the building - Cardassian visual acuity extends deeper into ultraviolet territory, and it is quite bright to me.

Zh'taan: Response

Shortrith: =/\= Shortrith to Tucker: We've been sent down to rejoin you guys, where are you?

There was a momentary pause as they waited for a response, but it came fairly quickly.

Tucker/Zh'taan/Evinrude: =/\= Response =/\=

Shortrith: =/\= We'll try to find you. =/\=

Esot: I suggest we keep the comm line open but our end muted for the time being - if they are already under fire, we should not draw more with our voices.

Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response

Raising the tricorder again, she led the trio forward toward a partly open hatch in the dome. Studying it a moment, she closed the tricorder and tucked it into her belt before picking up a discarded spanner and using it to pry the door the rest of the way open.

Esot: This should allow us entry.

Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response

Pulling out her tricorder again, Jino took a moment to locate Tucker's team before indicating the path they should take. Unsurprisingly, the dome was seemingly abandoned.

Esot: They are approximately 500 meters ahead of us.

The comm crackled and they heard part of the conversation on the other end.

Kessler: =/\= Tess, keep going, we need to get to the reactor. ::turning to Tucker:: We need the Tholians to think we are going to affect their work. That should draw them to us and not to Shortrith's team. =/\=

Tucker/Evinrude: response

Jino frowned slightly, having not considered the potential danger - in truth, she hadn't actually intended on leaving the shuttle at all, though the transporters would not have worked without pattern enhancers surrounding the team. She reached down to pull out her phaser, adjusting the setting before looking at the others.

Shortrith/Zh'taan: =/\= Response, assuming comms are left open =/\=

Kessler: =/\= ::rubbing his head through the back of his helmet and looking around:: I know it's not ideal, but I am guessing Shortrith and team have never dealt with Tholians face to face like you and I have.=/\=

Tucker/Evinrude: response

Esot: =/\= I have only seen one up close, as he had been transferred to Division 14 holding. He was… quite large. =/\=

Shortrith/Zh'taan: =/\= Response, assuming comms are left open =/\=

Kessler: =/\= Shortrith, this is Kessler. Be warned, if you encounter Tholians, they are carrying spears with explosive tips. Designed to go off on impact. =/\=

Tucker/Evinrude: response

Jino sighed.

Esot: =/\= Let us endeavour not to encounter them. =/\=

Shortrith/Zh'taan: =/\= Response =/\=

After that, the comm seemed muted on the other end, at least for the time being. Jino shot a look at the others before continuing down the corridor, tricorder raised.

Esot: I believe I can pick up the Tholian lifesigns now - they are rather spotty. The radiation is still affecting my tricorder.

Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response

She paused for a moment, studying the screen, then indicated a pathway to their left.

Esot: Although it will take us longer to connect with Commander Tucker's team, this way should provide us better cover and decreased chances of encountering one of the Tholians. ::a beat:: There is a much higher concentration of Sencha-wave radiation, however.

Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response

[Tags/TBC!]

Ensign Jino Esot (PNPC)

Assistant Operations Manager

USS Ronin NCC-34523

A238810SA0 

As written by Quentin Beck