MSNPC Joakim Aduko - Time to SCRAM (Safety Control Rod Axe Man) [Part 1/2]

[Tess Evinrude]

((40 hours after the incident— Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))

Joakim preferred the Reactor Dome. The Romulans had built it with practicality in mind, and its thick radiation cap necessitated bulky support columns and reinforced walls. Everything felt solid, every conduit and console had its place, and its redundant, hard-line systems - though outdated - were simple to repair.

By contrast, the Hab Dome was finished later, necessitated by the upscaling pushed on them by their new benefactors. Cheap prefabricated modules housed base staff, quality of life provided by lowest-bidder installation. Refreshers failed often, the wiring and plumbing layout looked to be designed by some first-generation generative artificial neural matrix, and common spaces were far from ergonomic. The Hab Dome's only saving grace was that its foundation was built by the Romulans before the fall of the old empire - strong bones.

It had been a long time since Aduko had interacted with the Federation. The last time Starfleet had come sniffing around, he was still working for the Orion syndicate.

oO Come to think of it, I haven't seen another Orion, let alone the Federation, since. Oo

He waited by the Hab Dome's "conference center", a collection of productivity equipment centered around a central operations area, standing in behind Administrator tr'Kharis like a stereotypical syndicate bodyguard, as if to say, "I've got your back, shodar [1]."

When they beamed aboard in heavy-duty protective suits, Soldu pulled himself away from the operations console and went to meet them. Joakim moved in alongside and studied the helmeted faces of their guests.

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.

Administrator tr’Kharis rested a hand on Aduko’s shoulder, and he felt the Romulan's weight as the man leaned on him for literal support. The Orion didn't budge, didn't let the newcomers see weakness.

oO Particularly not her. Oo

Joakim's eyes narrowed slightly at the armed Starfleet woman of clear Orion heritage, but he addressed the entire group with a quick waggle of his eyebrows.

Aduko: If only the Orion Institute of Cosmology could see me now. ::After a quick, mildly strained smile, Aduko crossed his arms.:: What about you lot?

Solana: Senior Chief Petty Officer Solana. Security.

Kel:  I'm Captain V'Len Kel of the Federation starship USS Ronin.  What exactly is going on here?

Some odd emotion appeared on their captain's face. Starfleet was no doubt accustomed to better accommodations.

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?

Aduko merely snorted at Soldu's description of their crew who had already fled.

oO Not that I blame them. Oo

Kel:  ::nodding at tr'Kharis::  They are for the moment.  I've got a team looking at your reactor now to see what we can do to get under control.

Joakim openly winced. That was not a good idea, there was very little chance of controlling the thing...not now.

Solana: Experimental and dangerous it seems. ::she commented::

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.

The Andorian...with spots...removed his helmet, much to Joakim's surprise. It seeemed that Captain V'Len wanted to talk, face to face. So Aduko would talk.

Aduko: ::Skeptically.:: You do have evacuation capability, Captain...

Kel: I'm afraid it's not that simple.  Whatever is happening her is already disrupting space at the edge of the system.  I have reason to believe that if we abandon this place it could cause a quadrant wide disaster.  

That caught Joakim's attention. He'd ran those numbers, though his nerves and workload following the evacuation meant work was done a bit hastily. The chances of a runaway reaction were unlikely, but not insignificant. There was silence for a moment before another Starfleet crewmember spoke, this one appearing Cardassian. 

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.

Joakim's eyes darted sideways, but he kept his expression neutral. This disaster was theirs, and as much as it was strange to admit, sending outsiders in to assist felt...wrong.

Aduko: Without me, you're likely to make things worse. I'll lead you back in.

Solana: Will that include full access? Won’t do us any good to trip any security protocols trying to keep you from being swallowed.

oO "Will that include full access." Oo He scoffed internally, but kept up neutrality. oO Their Senior Chief Pretty Security Officer better keep her untrained mitts away from my reactor. Oo

Kel: We need everything you can tell us.  ::looking at Esot::  Can you assess what level of containment we currently have and if there is a way to reinforce it?

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.

Their captain nodded.

Solana: Do you have any personnel in need of immediate medical treatment? We can beam them back to the Ronin for care while we try to save the sector from the mess you caused.

Joakim's muscles flexed under his jacket, and he started forward reflexively. He remembered that bullying posture, the superiority complex all too well from his time in the syndicate. He felt tr'Kharis squeeze his shoulder, pulling him back and stopping that reaction before it too went critical.

Aduko: ::Barely keeping his cool, Joakim shook his head at the other Orion.:: Want to save the sector? Save lives? I welcome it. But if you want to vent quips and pass judgment, come at me. Not another word of that to my comrades.

tr'Kharis: Response

He backed down, nostrils flaring.

Kel:  What Chief Solana is trying to say is that we have excellent team on the Ronin that can see to your injured.  We even have a guest aboard who is one of the preeminent surgeons in the Federation.  I've had a team dispatched to begin search and rescue operations here and in the reactor area if needed.  

Esot: Perhaps a bottle of kanar. ::amused:: No, I think that's all I should need.

Their captain took a look around the room, suddenly appearing disquieted.

oO Antennae there should put his helmet back on. Oo

The Orion's natural mild radiation resistance accounted for something, but even he was feeling the effects of this place. He just kept it hidden from the Administrator.

Joakim met the captain's gaze and raised an eyebrow, as if to ask if there were more questions.

Solana: I for one would like to know who you’re working for, Administrator. The radiation we detected here isn’t exactly something available just anywhere. And neither of the groups we know working with it are the sort to have good intentions for its use. Are we going to have to worry about having unpleasant company showing up?

Kel: My security attaché is correct.  It would be beneficial if we could understand who built this facility and why.  We're at a considerable risk here and surprises would not be ideal.

tr'Kharis: Response

Aduko: And to be honest with you, chances are equally likely that they will avoid this disaster. Does that answer your questions? ::He asked neutrally, turning towards the Cardassian.::

Esot: Anything else, sir?

Solana: Aren’t there supposed to be backup safety measures in place for something like this?

Aduko: You got a backup suit on under that suit? Or just more knives? ::He rolled his eyes.:: Place was built well, back when the old Empire laid it down. Since then...safety has been pushed beyond reasonable limits. ::He practically snarled at that.::

((OOC: Getting long, splitting into two parts. This part only has tags for MSNPC tr'Kharis.))

[tr'Kharis Tags/TBC]

[1] Shodar - an Orion title of respect or rank that loosely translates to "chief"

--

Joakim Aduko
2IC & Research Lead
The Lid

--as simmed by--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

R240111TE1