Ensign Jino Esot: A White Hat
Quentin Beck
((Reactor Dome, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
Esot: I believe I can pick up the Tholian lifesigns now - they are rather spotty. The radiation is still affecting my tricorder.
Zh'taan: I… I’m detecting them as well. ::Attempts further adjustments:: They appear to be heading toward Commander Tucker’s team…
Shortrith: I'm seeing that too.
The Klingon Lieutenant exhaled and gestured to their left.
Shortrith: What about this way?
Jino paused for a moment, studying the screen, then nodded.
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.
Zh'taan: Understood…
Shortrith: It'll probably be best to go that way. But keep your guard up and prepare for the worst.
The Cardassian dipped her head slightly in something approximating a nod before raising her phaser, holding it firmly near the tricorder as she studied the screen. As Jino had predicted, they did not encounter any Tholians, but the radiation levels did indeed begin to spike.
Zh'taan: ::studying his tricorder readings:: We are getting closer to the radiation source.
Shortrith: This whole dome is a radiation source.
Esot: Both statements are correct - it appears the closer we come to the coolant pump room, the greater the radiation levels rise. That fits what we know about the cooling system. So long as we limit the length of our exposure, we should not be in great danger.
The radiation would not affect Jino as much as the others, at least for the time being, but it still made her scales itch.
Zh'taan: Still… no Tholian life signs, but we are fully entering the most heavily irradiated zone. An EV suit would not have been unwelcome… ::He lifts his head from the tricorder:: How are you holding up?
Shortrith: Hold on - you said you could see tholians on the scans but you can't anymore?
She frowned, stopping when the Andorian stopped, gaze focused intently on her tricorder as she shook her head slowly.
Esot: This doesn't make any sense.
Zh'taan: I’m detecting Tholian life signs on all sides — are you picking that up too?!
Shortrith: Ensign Esot said that she had seen the Tholians on the scans… I'm confused. Did they disappear from the tricorder even though we didn't move?
Jino looked to the Lieutenant.
Esot: The closer we get to the radiation source, the more difficult it is for our tricorders to correctly identify any lifesigns. ::thoughtful:: Not to mention the temporal effect caused by the radiation. I believe we are seeing the ghosts of past, present, and future Tholians - but the same small group. Our tricorders may no longer be entirely reliable.
Zh'taan: Response
Shortrith: Okay, now that we're on the same page - let's be cautious and meet up with the others.
She nodded and made an adjustment to her tricorder, which helped to clean up much of her readings.
Esot: Our senses should still be trustworthy, at least for the time being. The both of you should adjust your tricorder reading to focus on Commander Tucker's combadge and filter out any lifesigns. That should limit our confusion.
Zh'taan: Response
Shortrith continued walking before pausing, lifting their tricorder slightly.
Shortrith: What's this - are you guys picking this up?
Jino focused on her tricorder again. There was something familiar tucked in a room just around the corner. Her brows lifted in surprise.
Esot: I believe you may have discovered a transporter room, Lieutenant. Which would be quite the boon, as we will soon require a quick exit.
Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response
Moving to the corner, she peeked around the edge just to be sure there were no Tholians in the hall, then sidled along the wall to the doorway. The controls didn't respond.
Esot: This room is either locked or the radiation levels are having an adverse effect on the controls. I may be able to 'hack' through it, given enough time.
Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response
She looked at her tricorder, then dropped to one knee in front of the room's controls, stowing her phaser and extracting a small cable from the back of her tricorder.
Esot: Commander Tucker's team is much closer now - it looks like they've gone down a level as well. I would suggest–
A crimson beam sliced through the air, missing their group entirely but gouging out a small line into the wall behind them. Jino gritted her teeth, glaring at the direction the beam came from.
Esot: We're not alone. I need cover to get this door open.
Shortrith/Zh'taan: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
Ensign Jino Esot (PNPC)
Assistant Operations Manager
USS Ronin NCC-34523
A238810SA0
As written by Quentin Beck