Lt JG Tess Evinrude - How Low Can You Go?

[Tess Evinrude]

((Flight Deck, Runabout Sojourn, USS Ronin, Ross-580 Gas Giant A, Moon Sigma))

Evinrude: So it looks like this powerplant feeds in to the larger reactor dome. There must be some kind of power-routing diagram, something that shows a service tunnel or alternate access points. Waltzing down the main corridor would be...inadvisable, unless we can get the timing of those radiation bursts down perfectly.

Nemes: Hm, yes. But we’d need more data for that.  ::she checked her wrist recorder:: Radiation levels have increased slightly. We are currently at 8 millisieverts. Not a cause for immediate concern, but the level is rising. ::beat:: As well as the temperature in her

Security Chief Kessler took in the area, scanning for threats while the others puzzled at the door. Evinrude booted into the linguistics interface of his tricorder, noticing it operating a touch more slowly than he was used to.

Tucker: Does anyone know Romulan by chance?

Kessler: Not as well as I should. But we can run any markings through the linguists database in the tricorders.

Evinrude: Well I recognize a few of these words. "Open...urgent...stop..." ::Cross-referencing his tricorder, he found the obvious - an open switch.:: Got it, it's a three-stage switch...and it appears that the security override is already active. We've got an open door.

((Outbuilding, Near the Reactor Dome - Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))

The door activated once all three mechanisms were activated, opening up to a view of the powerplant's administrative area. The facility seems to stretch down deeper into the distance, angling underground. Tucker motioned for the group to follow him, and Kessler took last position.

Nemes: ::turning to Tess who was walking next to her:: What do you make of those readings?

Sybil pointed to the screen of the bulky device on her wrist.

Tucker: ::looking closely:: I don’t like the look of that Lieutenant. Are we sure it isn’t the Sencha radiation mucking with things?

Kessler: ::looking at his tricorder:: My scans are inconclusive from here. I suppose it could be the Sencha radiation.

Tess was prepared to offer an analysis, but senior officers interjected with a diagnosis of Sencha radiation. With a faint smile, he met Sybil's eyes through their helmets and shrugged.

Evinrude: We'll have to go deeper in. Hopefully the readings clear up.

Nemes: No, it’s not the radiation. I’m picking up something else. There are recurring electrical impulses – not strong, but regular. ::beat, pointing in the direction that they were headed:: They are coming from the direction we’re headed to.

That got Evinrude to lean his bulky suited self towards Nemes to get a better look. Sure enough, something was showing on sensors, and as if on cue, a combination of skittering and a curious metallic grinding could be heard. Tucker turned and threw a look at Kessler, who's hand immediately dropped to his phaser.

Tucker: I’ve got a bad feeling about this…

Kessler: That's not what I think it is, is it?

Quietly, Tess opened his own tricorder's sensor pane and tried to isolate and familiarize himself with the readings. Whatever this was, the two senior officers had seen it before.

Nemes: ::checking the readings again:: Sir. They are moving. Towards us..

Tucker: Mister Kessler, I’m going think we want to make ourselves scarce for a minute or two, if my hunch is right, those are Tholians on the march, but they don’t sound like the normal warrior caste, they’re bigger and make much more noise. Either way, they’re still deadly.

Kessler: I'd prefer to avoid a firefight if we can.

Evinrude: Tholians...

He knew the Ronin had a recent history with them, but that was before he was assigned to the ship. He'd done some reading, however, and knew that - if this came to a fight - it wouldn't be pleasant.

Nemes: Response

The skittering grew closer as the team pressed forward. Tucker pulled his phaser as they advance into a dining area, its decor utilitarian. Tables were upended and strewn everywhere, and much of the mess hall's equipment was still active. No smell, however, filtered through their suits.

Tucker: What do you think, Mister Kessler? From what I can tell, we’ve got maybe a minute or so before they’re on us. And I don’t know if they’ll be friendly. As Tholians, I don’t suspect they’ll want to talk much once they see we have a Starfleet Delta.

Kessler: Looking around the space:: Agreed but we have limited options here.

Tess kept quiet, observing the patterns emitted by the crystalline lifeforms. Their chief of security was present, any tactical analysis on Evinrude's part would be redundant, at best.

Nemes: Response

Tucker: Behind here, hopefully, they’ll just march on through. And why they’re here, I have zero idea.

The ops officer looked up from his tricorder at Tucker's order - it was time to move.

Kessler: I'll take the end closer to the corner, that will put me between the Tholians and you three. Nemes, Evinrude, stay between Tucker and I.

Silently nodding agreement, Tess moved as quickly as he could in the bulky suit and crouched behind the serving bar.

Nemes: Response

Tucker hopped the bartop in his suit and slid off to the other side - an impressive feat - and peeked out from above it. Kessler pulled his phaser as the skittering grew louder, and Evinrude decided it was time to follow suit. He methodically checked settings, deciding on a maximum stun. Starfleet protocol demanded it, and he agreed with the sentiment, but he had practiced enough with the thing since their temporal adventure on Bajor to feel confident that he could adjust settings on the fly.

oO Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Oo

Tucker: ::loooking to Nemes:: How long before they’re on top of us, Lieutenant?

Nemes: Response

Kessler: ::whispering:: Power down anything you can except your phasers.

The order caught him off guard for a moment - their suits required power to maintain breathability and filtration. But with Tholians it was a logical request - their detection abilities relied heavily on the output of energy sources.

Tucker/Nemes: response

By the sound of it, the Tholians were right nearby. Evinrude kept out of sight, ready to pop up if there was need, and he noticed by Kessler's expression that the security officer had spotted something. Then, all sound stopped.

Tess could hear his own faint breathing inside the suit. With its environmental system powered down, his visor was starting to fog.

oO I won't be able to see to fight...or run...if this keeps up! Oo

After a short eternity, the smooth stone-on-stone grinding sound resumed. To their dismay, it sounded as if it was sliding up the other side of the serving counter they were using as cover. Kessler quickly gave a hand signal to drop down, and Tess tried to comply as quietly as he possibly could.

After a moment longer, a sound of crystal on metal clamored out and moved into the distance. The Tholians were on the march, which Kessler verified with a quick peek. He was not, however, relieved.

Kessler: ::whispering:: Five Tholians Commander. Two are carrying something large. Equipment of some sort I think.

Evinrude: ::Equally as quiet.:: Sir. We need to reactivate some of our suit's systems, it's growing stale inside this tin can. ::He gestured as his fogged-over visor.:: I think there's enough interference here from the powerplant and mess hall. ::Gesturing at his tricorder, he showed their security chief the level of background emissions.::

Tucker/Nemes: Response

Kessler: ::still whispering:: Might as well see where they came from and what they are doing. At this point they are between us and the exit anyways.

Tess nodded in agreement, and switched to a different screen on his tricorder.

Evinrude: Been trying to coordinate our readings, get a lay of the land based on emissions. There's a heavy concentration of conduit just past that first length of hallway. I can't guarantee it, but chances are good that it's a service tunnel.

Tucker/Nemes/Kessler: Response

Evinrude: These radiation spikes coming down the main corridor... ::He looked to Nemes.:: You think you have the timing of the bursts down?

Tucker/Nemes/Kessler: Response

[Tags/TBC]

--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

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