Ensign Jino Esot - It's Only Paranoia When You're Wrong
Quentin Beck
((Stellar Cartography, Deck 10, USS Ronin))
The data provided by the black box was interesting, if not particularly helpful; for the moment, at least, they were only able to extrapolate information as far back as the Kurosawa's emergence from the anomaly, but the flight plan indicated they were, at least, not displaced in location. They had been coming here purposefully, though for what reason, the logs couldn't show.
What had caught Jino's attention was what the Ronin's sensors had missed - the Kurosawa had not just been bathed in Sencha-wave radiation, it was, quite literally, overflowing with it, but it had been masked behind the chronometric waves that accompanied the anomaly. Using that information, the Cardassian had been able to update the holosimulation to strip out the chronometric patterns entirely, and the S-waves spewed out of the Captain's yacht like a cloud of fog. There was… something else there, too, mixed in with the radiation, but the computer couldn't make heads or tails of it.
While Esot had not been aboard the Ronin for any of their past encounters with said radiation, she had certainly seen more than a few patients come through the Farm with various stages of exposure. She thought Solana might have a better idea, and she looked at the Orion quizzically as she uploaded the data to the Bridge.
Esot: What do you make of this?
Solana: Response
Before they could get too deep into the conversation, the CO's voice filtered through the comm.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Ensign Esot and Chief Solana, please meet me in transporter Room 2. =/\=
Her brows lifted. She had not expected to be going on any kind of away mission, especially not with the Acting Captain himself… but it still bore little resemblance to any of the strange things she'd seen on Endicronimas.
Esot: =/\= This is Ensign Esot. Understood, Captain - we will join you there shortly. We have some additional updates regarding the black box data. =/\=
Solana/Kel: =/\= Response
Before leaving her station, Esot picked up a padd and synchronized it with the computer's current data extrapolation from the black box so she could continue to monitor it; she would also be able to configure a Hazard suit's interface to synchronize with it as well, though there would be some delay depending on how far away they went. She tucked the padd under one arm and gestured for Solana to lead the way.
Esot: After you, Chief.
Solana: Response
As they departed, she offered a nod of farewell to T'Fearne and Dekas.
((Transporter Room 2, USS Ronin))
The pair stepped through parting doors to find the Captain had not yet arrived, but a pair of hazard suits was waiting for them, plus one for Kel when he arrived. The transporter operator was a young Bajoran woman with close-cropped hair and an earring dangling from her lobe. Jino had to give her credit - while she looked rather uncomfortable with the Cardassian's presence, she didn't run away screaming or pull out a phaser to start firing.
It was certainly possible she might wait until initiating the transport - after all, while transporter systems had grown significantly safer over the decades, there were still plenty of examples where something had gone wrong, particularly when a ship was exposed to odd forms of radiation. Even more interestingly, a transporter accident wouldn't necessarily mean she was dead - the possibilities were endless.
She eyed the Bajoran thoughtfully for a moment, trying to decide if she was being paranoid, before starting to climb into her suit. The crewman did not meet her gaze, instead focused intently on one corner of her console.
Esot: It's been some time since I had to put on a suit like this - most of the patients I interacted with at the Farm were in an isolation chamber if there was any active radiation.
Solana: Response
It wasn't long before the Captain's arrival, and Esot stood a little taller, only lacking her helmet, which was tucked underneath one arm.
Esot: Captain Kel.
Kel/Solana: Response
She offered a grim smile, lifting the padd and using her thumb to sync it with her suit before setting the padd aside and twisting her helmet into place.
Esot: Ready as I will ever be.
Kel/Solana: Response
((40 hours after the incident— Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
The transporter beam deposited them on a slightly raised platform in what appeared to be the dome's operations center; the administrator appeared not long after, a Romulan man who appeared, by her measure, to be roughly the same age as she, at least judging by Vulcanoid characteristics. He strode toward them, full of confidence, despite his evident injuries. One did not need a medical tricorder to see the effects of whatever it was they'd been doing down here.
tr’Kharis: ::chin up, squaring shoulders:: I am Administrator Soldu tr’Kharis. Thank you for your… timely offer of aid. ::swallows a bitter taste:: This is my 2IC, and our chief project scientist, Joakim Aduko.
The Romulan rested a hand on Aduko’s shoulder—half in introduction, half to steady himself as his vision wavered again.
Aduko: Response
Kel/Solana: Response
Jino did not speak, instead remaining simply observant of the administrator and his assistant. She made a mental note of their names so she could refer to them later in her notes. She also noted a rather curious look that tr'Kharis gave to Aduko. Romulans were one of the few races to give Cardassians a run for their money when it came to distrust - this man seemed no different.
tr’Kharis: Containment failure of an experimental reactor. An unfortunate accident. We would appreciate assistance evacuating the system. I believe you’ve already encountered some of our… overeager personnel. Are they alive? oO Have they said anything? Oo
Aduko: Response
Even curiouser. Rather than simply relying on her memory (which happened to be photographic, but unfortunately would not have the convenience of searchability), she quietly set the suit's transcription to begin immediately.
Kel/Solana: Response
tr’Kharis: This is not a research base anymore, Mr Kel. It’s an extinction timer and by the gates of Erebus, I intend to leave it before it swallows me.
Aduko: Response
Kel/Solana: Response
Esot: Are you the only ones here?
tr’Kharis: ::deep sigh:: We have a few brave scientists, who volunteered to stay behind at The Lid. Rurat'dari and another are trying to stabilise the reactor, but it has been two days, and they have been unable to patch the leak. Your people are welcome to try Mr Kel.
Aduko: Response
Kel/Solana: Response
The Cardassian looked upward, thinking.
Esot: I will need a closer look at the leak itself, plus access to the records for all of the previous attempts. I will also need access to the reactor's schematics and power systems layout.
tr'Kharis/Aduko/Kel/Solana: Response
Esot: Perhaps a bottle of kanar. ::amused:: No, I think that's all I should need.
tr'Kharis/Aduko/Kel/Solana: Response
She wasn't sure if she should ask for access to the dome's security system and research records… that might be overstepping, since it wouldn't be directly related to the leak. Or shouldn't be, but she would likely need to find evidence of it first before making that kind of request. She looked to Kel.
Esot: Anything else, sir?
tr'Kharis/Aduko/Kel/Solana: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
Ensign Jino Esot (PNPC)
Assistant Operations Manager
USS Ronin NCC-34523
A238810SA0
As written by Quentin Beck