Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana - Bug Hunt
Rameses
(( Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
It took a moment as the Tholian was quick and could practically sidestep on a slip of latinum even when moving forward. She’d seen this tactic during the Siege and as soon as she spotted the Tholian’s right legs shift to that side she opened up with a volley of rapid fire phaser bolts into its carapace.
Kel: Nice shooting Chief.
Some of the tension melted away once the Tholian was unconscious.
tr'Kharis: ::reholstering the weapon, adjusting his cuff as if nothing unusual had occurred:: Unfortunate. ::a pause, eye lifting once more to the ceiling:: But necessary… and satisfying. Unfortunately, I believe it fulfilled its purpose. The larger ones may now be aware of your presence. ::Pointing accusingly at Kel:: I told you we should have left.
Esot: The larger ones.
She shook her head, amazed at this new information.
Solana: Warriors. This one is just a scout. We ran into dozens of them in Jeffries Tubes on Thirty Three, scouting for weak points in our lines.
Kel: ::trying to sound cheerful:: Not to worry Ensign Esot. Our security team is top notch. ::scanning the rest of the room:: Let's focus on how this reactor might be brought back under control.
The captain walked over to stand face to face with tr'Kharis.
Kel: Let me guess, ::nodding at the immobilized Tholian:: these are your, not so pleasant, benefactors?
Aduko: Excellent deduction skills, captain. ::He said dryly, returning to what he was doing with the pattern enhancers.:: Getting back to work on these, Shodar, let me know if you need anything.
tr'Kharis: Very well. Since subtlety has been rendered… obsolete. The Lattice Alliance are our investors. ::a small shrug, as if admitting an accounting error:: They are our masters. They control this station.
Soldu gestured sharply toward the distant bulkheads and the direction of The Lid. Jenta composed herself as best as she could to keep herself from squaring up against the Romulan.
tr'Kharis: They maintain a nest of Worker caste in the secondary dome. Engineers. Scientists. Tasked with assisting with reactor and other experimental projects. ::voice cooling further:: And three adult Warrior-caste Tholians remain on the moon. Enforcers. To ensure our obedience… and compliance.
This time several choice Orion curses that would make even a slave boss blink flowed from Jenta’s lips.
Esot: Correct me if I am wrong, Captain Kel, but did the Tholians not attempt to deploy a Sencha-wave based superweapon against Starbase 33?
Solana: Not attempt, they actually fired the damned thing at us. Melted dozens on both sides and damned near split the station in half. I watched two Bolians, a Sheliak and a Tholian all meet an end I wouldn't wish on anyone, in the space of a breath.
Kel: That's correct Ensign. Apparently they think it's the "greatest thing since sliced bread" to borrow a Terran phrase.
tr'Kharis: Response
Esot: Perhaps we have discovered the origin of that superweapon? Or at least something related.
She shot a look at tr'Kharis and her lips thinned.
Esot: Perhaps we have discovered the origin of that superweapon? Or at least something related.
Solana: We can figure that out, but right now we have to keep his place from ripping the quadrant apart with chroniton black holes.
Kel: So tell us. How is power to this reactor regulated? I might be mistaken but this looks to make use of singularity technology.
Aduko: Power to the Sencha reactor? Well, we do have a sustained reaction generating its own power...though not all of its capacity is going to power generation. :: After quick, sardonic laugh.:: Of course, that reaction is now runaway. ::After a beat, he continued.:: We do have two standard-pattern mid-size powerplants here, for auxiliary systems and redundancy.
tr'Kharis: Response
The console near Esot trilled and she turned to it, tapping a control. While Jenta moved the stunned Tholian and used the straps on the packs the pattern enhancers came in to bind the Tholian up temporarily.
Esot: Engineering has responded. They have established a link with the power grid and are beginning the transfer now. We are already seeing some improvement with the leak.
Solana: Good. ::she tapped her comm badge:: =/\= Security Alert. All teams be advised, we’ve encountered a Tholian scout and have been informed that multiple worker-class and three Warrior-class are on site. The former most likely in the hab dome. Ronin, we have one to beam directly to the brig. Advise all phasers set to setting six at minimum to stun. =/\=
Jenta looked to Kel as she spoke, not wanting to overstep in taking the security precautions. While it was her responsibility, she respected the Trilldorian and hoped he’d back her call to secure the scout. One so it wouldn’t pose further issues and two so if this place did need to be abandoned it would be safe from a terrible fate.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Engineering. =/\=
Dohna: =/\= Dohna hear sir. =/\=
Kel: =/\= Lieutenant I want you to prioritize getting the warp drive back online and functional, we may need to beat a hasty retreat. =/\=
Dohna: =/\= Understood Sir.=/\=
tr'Kharis: Response
Aduko: What do you intend to do about the Tholians, who are no doubt rallying to attack after that one got its message out? ::To emphasize, he jerked his head towards the immobilized tangle of crystal.::
oO If Osiris was here I’d say have him hunt them. Oo
Esot: In light of this new information, perhaps we should consider changing our objectives?
Solana: I don’t know if we can. As dangerous as the threat of Tholians being here is, if we don’t try and contain this then who knows what else will start popping out of those rifts. And I don’t know about you but I’d rather not watch any more of our shipmates get blasted to pieces again today if I can help it. Even if they weren’t from our universe.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Rox. =/\=
Rox: =/\= Eh? What's up Captain Doc? =/\=
Kel: ::flatly:: =/\= Hilarious. The Ronin may have guests soon. We're going to need a space for wounded. You know the drill. =/\=
Rox: =/\= I do, his names Stanly. ::pause:: I'm on it Cap. =/\=
Aduko: ::Narrowing his eyes, he tried to tune out the comm call, responding to Solana.:: Nor would I enjoy watching more of our staff here die.
She looked dead at the other Orion with a more compassionate look than he was giving her and nodded.
tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
The Orion took a moment to adjust the setting on both of her sidearms holstered on her thighs to setting level seven. That level was capable of killing most organics, but Tholians and Sheliak it was equivalent to a level two or three stun.
Solana: Whatever we’re going to do I recommend that we do it in pairs. Even if they're not wearing their suits, with all this radiation it’ll be questionable how reliably we can track them with sensors.
Even the one they just dealt with was in its suit because the atmosphere and conditions organics survived in were not conducive to Tholians.
Kel: What are your thoughts on evacuating the crew of this outpost to the Ronin, Chief?
tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
Solana: Well, if we can evacuate everyone then that’ll make things easier. But I recommend we also have the Ronin’s security on alert. Even one worker could cause some damage if it got on board. During the Siege they used workers for demolition and sabotage.
Kel: ::nodding to Solana:: See to it the security team Chief, I've notified sickbay to expect guests.
Aduko: ::To Kel.:: Captain. I am growing anxious here, and it is not the radiation. What is your plan?
Kel: So I have a team currently near what's left of your reactor. What systems should they prioritize repair to?
The captain’s attention returned to the various displays around the room.
Kel: So I have a team currently near what's left of your reactor. What systems should they prioritize repair to?
Aduko: ::Running his hands through his hair, he paced back and forth.:: The Lid has already blown its top, and we can't reseal it until we can slow down the reactor. I'm...not sure if that will be possible...but we should focus on the dampening system, the coolant. It had been overheating even before this latest incident, and it certainly isn't doing much to quench the reaction in its current state.
Solana: So what would? Surely there’s something that could help that you might not have had access to before now?
tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
She watched the Captain pacing a bit. Must be an officer thing, all of them did it.
Kel: To say the Tholians's are an inconvenience is an understatement, but if this disaster continues I suspect it will have consequences for all our home worlds. Our priority has to be getting this situation under control or better still, shut down.
Solana: I doubt the Tholians are going to sit back and let us do that, sir. But at least we already have the Lid on board the Ronin.
tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
Aduko: ::With a look of surprise and appreciation.:: Perhaps, if we could shut off the aberrant power flow from the Sencha reactor. My theory is that its dissonant emissions are what was causing the cooling system to be unreliable. ::After a beat.:: I suppose...we could power the coolant system with our auxiliary powerplants? They'll function like oversized generators.
V'Len considered it a viable option, as viable as any they had. The Ronin's power transfer had already bought them some time, even a minimal slow of the Sencha reaction could improve the situation for the quadrant.
Kel: So, these generators. ::pointing:: If we bring them back online what's likely to happen?
Solana:
tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
Kel: So it’s a break, but not an "off" button.
Aduko: Something like that. We will, of course, lose life support... ::He replied with a somewhat manic smile.::
She did not much care for the smile he gave them as he said that but she looked at the others.
Solana: Could we isolate the life support systems with a portable power source? At least in areas where we know we have people?
tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
Kel: ::looking at tr'Kharis:: We can get some additional EV suits down here if needed, do your people have access to anything similar.
Solana: I’d be surprised if they didn’t. Unless the Tholians were particularly cruel.
Akudo/tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
While adjustments were being made she waved the next batch of evacuees into the pattern enhancers and once it was full she signaled for another beam out.
Kel: Out of curiosity, what is the fuel source to generate this reaction? I don't suppose we can cut off the supply.
Jenta’s ears perked up at hearing that. She truly hoped whatever the fuel source wasn’t anything that could make a big boom. They had enough issues as it was.
Solana: Hopefully nothing volatile.
Akudo/tr'Kharis/Esot: Response
Jenta waved in another group to be beamed away as a chirp from Kel’s commbadge sounded.
Tucker: ::tapping his combadge:: =/\= Tucker to Kel, just a word of warning: there are five worker-drone Tholians headed your way. And they’re carrying something, we’re just not sure what.
She clicked her tongue against her teeth.
Kel: =/\= Understood Commander. Any advice? =/\=
Tucker: =/\= Keep your head on a swivel, Skipper. Tucker out. =/\=
Solid advice.
Solana: So we’re about to have company. If the drones are carrying something I’m inclined to say we can’t let them get here and do whatever it is they intend to with whatever they’re carrying. I’d bet a BC cruller that whatever it is involves demo of some kind. Think you can handle the rest of the evac? ::she looked at Aduko and Esot::
Akudo/tr'Kharis/Esot/Kel: Response
The Orion slid the sling of her phaser rifle around so the rifle settled in front of her suit and she briefly checked both holstered Aquila phasers on her thighs to ensure all her weapons were at setting eight.
Solana: Someone has to take care of them and as far as I know, I’m the one with the most combat experience against Tholians. I told you I’d come prepared. If they get passed me those should help give you an advantage.
She gestured to the satchel sitting near the cases the pattern enhancers had come in. It had a very finite number of concussive and stun grenades. Two each.
Akudo/tr'Kharis/Esot/Kel: Response
Jenta tapped the door controls and held her rifle straight in front of her as the door hissed open. She cleared her corners before stepping fully through it and glance behind her standing halfway in the doorway.
Solana: I suggest you seal this door behind me. I’ll signal when it’s clear.
She said with the confidence of a seasoned combat veteran, but with no bravado. Neither Starfleet Marines or Security were the sort to underestimate a foe they’d fought before. And Tholian workers were no less deadly if you gave them the opening as any other member of the species.
Akudo/tr'Kharis/Esot/Kel: Response
The Orion gave them a nod and quickly disappeared down the corridor towards the direction Chief Tucker had warned them the workers were heading from. Head on a swivel with the rifle following suit. As she stopped by a junction she pressed her back against a wall and took a moment to unsheath one of her curved knives from the small of her back. She held it in her left hand, with a finger through the loop and held the rifle on top of it in the same hand.
This preparation would make the difference should any of the Tholians get too close for her to use her rifle or switch to a sidearm before they were on top of her. She took a slow breath to focus herself and glanced at the bracer of her EV suit to check the tricorder scans. Faint Tholian signatures briefly picked up. They were getting closer but she had some time to find an ambush point to defend.
((ooc: Left it vague so if anyone else wanted to accompany Jenta to head off the Tholians, feel free to join!))
[tags/tbc]
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Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana
Security/Tactical CQC Specialist
As simmed by
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga