Lt. Cmdr. Ian O'Connor- The USS Ronin and The Ductwork of Doom
rob mahardy
((Crawl Space, The Lid, Moon Sigma in orbit of Gas Giant A, Ross 580 System))
Ian wasn’t sure how he ended up in the back behind Wren, but T’Fearne took the lead and Renaie slid into the space between T'Fearne and Rurat'dari. Ian still had concerns as they gingerly avoided the one wounded arm but he trusted their judgement.
Ian also wasn’t sure why he was still holding onto the mop with which he almost poked Delpina as she came to an unexpected stop.
Wren: ::pausing at a small collection of wires::.... This looks like a lighting system. Hang on, I can give us ::fiddles with it until the lights dimly turn on:... there we go.
Shortrith: Neat, thanks.
Ian could see now how dilapidated the crawlspace really was.
O’Connor: Nice. Let’s keep moving though. Carefully but expediently. Who knows how structurally sound this passage or any of this building still is.
They prepared to crawl faster if needed.
Rurat'dari: Response
T'Fearne: Commander? If another temporal shear hits…::beat:: Please try to avoid it. I draw the line at taking orders from someone in an infant waste-containment garment.
Renaie allowed themself a smirk.
Wren: ::Trying not to laugh:: What about a geriatric patient?
Shortrith: ::smiling slightly:: We'd be able to understand him better if that were the case.
O’Connor: Hey, I barely understand me now sometimes. And likewise Lieutenant, none of us want to have to change your logical leakage.
Rurat'dari: Response
They came to a fault in the crawlspace. A rent in the tunnel that faint light filtered through.
oO Crap. Dead end? Oo
He squirmed ahead to see better, then realized he was probably a little too close in Delphina’s personal space. He mouthed sorry and scooched back a bit.
T'Fearne: ::whispering:: The tunnel ahead appears structurally compromised. Turn off your lights and go very slow and quiet.
Wren: ::uncoiling herself:: This damage looks new, there’s no rust or aging on the metal that I can see, though I’m without a tricorder at the moment.
Shortrith: ::whispering:: I'd suggest we be careful.
O’Connor: Well it’s obviously a no passing zone so inch your way forward up there.
T'Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
Renaie paused for a moment as Wren seemed to begin speaking.
Wren: Drones. The Tholians have drones that can cut through metal-
Not even a second after Wren spoke, a large crack echoed through the tunnel - the stone ceiling about three metres away from them cracked open, and started to crumble. And…
oO That sound? Is that a battle? Oo
Shortrith: What's going on???
O’Connor: Someone’s shooting somewhere. But it doesn’t seem to be at us… yet. On the plus side it probably means our phasers will work now.
T'Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
Wren: ::trying not to panic:: Keep moving! ::struggling to take out her PADD:: I need a way to mask our bio-signatures, but it’ll take about five minutes!
Shortrith: Do it quickly!
O’Connor: Best you can Ensign, but do it on the move. We can’t get caught in a shoot out in here.
T'Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
Wren: ::Curse word that is redacted by the translator::
Shortrith: Yeah, that's how we're all feeling.
O’Connor: :: blows out a long breath:: Agreed.
T'Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
Shortrith: How far away are we from the life sign?
Wren/T'Fearne/Rurat'dari; Response
O’Connor: ::he whispered back:: So almost right below?
Shortrith: ::stressed:: Well, we need to move faster!
O’Connor: Carefully. There’s lot’s of corrosion… :: the tunnel shook as what they guessed was a nearby wall was blasted:: And there’s that.
Wren/T'Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
Shortrith: If we keep moving, we'll be able to avoid this tunnel getting destroyed, and help the person.
O’Connor: Just keep watching where you're go….
He felt his knee puncture through a rust spot which quickly ripped open dropping Ian’s lower half out of the crawlspace and dangling from the ceiling of the corridor below. He quickly turned the mop, wedging it sideways and holding as he slipped a bit more. As he did he felt jagged metal tearing into his belly.
Wren/T'Fearne/Rurat'dari/Shortrith: Response
O’Connor: Ahhh, help. I’m falling.
He could feel his grip on the mop slipping and the rusted metal edges piercing deeper into his gut.
Wren/T'Fearne/Rurat'dari/Shortrith: Response
It was then he felt small hands wrap around his ankles and pull. More of the passage collapsed and Ian fell awkwardly toward the deck slamming down and immediately blacking out.
Wren/T'Fearne/Rurat'dari/Shortrith: Response
Seeing another face peering down at him the young Bajor fired a wild disrupter shot upward then sprinted away down the corridor.
TBC/Tags
((OOC: Away running a winter camp event ‘til evening of 2/16 so probably won’t be able to simm ‘til Tues. Keep it rolling-I'll catch up.))
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Lieutenant Commander Ian O’Connor
HCO
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240009IO4