Administrator Soldu tr’Kharis - Watchful Masters (Part 1)
Teayl Thorn
((OOC: Part 1 has no tags))
((40 hours after the incident— Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
When they beamed aboard in heavy-duty protective suits, Soldu pulled himself away from the operations console and went to meet them.
He strode up to the group, half blind in his clouded eye and perhaps compensating for that weakness a little too aggressively. He came to a halt, staring at their would-be rescuers.
tr’Kharis: ::chin lifted, shoulders squared:: 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.
The Romulan rested a hand on Aduko’s shoulder—half in introduction, half to steady himself as his vision wavered again.
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?
Soldu’s good eye glittered with shrewd intelligence and calculation as he took in the Orion, the Cardassian, and the Andorian who seemed to be in charge. He cast a quick warning glance to Joakim, then back to the new arrivals.
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? oO Have they said anything? Oo
Aduko merely snorted.
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.
Solana: Experimental and dangerous it seems. ::she commented::
That was not what Soldu wanted to hear. It would be best if Starfleet were kept well away from the Lid.
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.
Aduko: ::Skeptically.:: You do have evacuation capability, Captain…
The Andorian took his helmet off. He initially thought the man had an unfortunate skin condition, but then realised the spots were likely cosmetic or some genetic variation.
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.
There was silence for a moment before the unnamed Ensign spoke.
Esot: Are you the only ones here?
The Cardassian woman glanced around. Soldu wanted to grind his teeth, but they had become rather loose of late, and he didn’t want to have to swallow another molar. Instead, he gestured to the few exhausted scientists and base staff scattered through the dome.
tr’Kharis: ::deep sigh:: We also 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.
He caught the sideways glance from Aduko, but the man kept his expression neutral.
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.
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?
Soldu kept the sneer off his face. He wouldn’t be telling them anything he didn’t think they needed to know. And he trusted Aduko to keep them looking in the right places and to keep them distracted. It would be unfortunate if they saw too much.
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.
The Andorian 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.
Her tone carried bite.
His brows knotted, Soldu instinctively flung an arm out to hook Aduko’s jacket. Knowing that comment would needle his seconds. And by the look of Princess Security Officer, she would likely break him in half.
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: Easy, Joakim. ::thin sneer:: These Starfleet oO scum Oo officers are here to render their famous aid! Yes, many of us who are left are radiation sick, some more badly affected than others. Is it Starfleet’s practice to blame the sick and injured? Or am I mistaken by what your Mr Vomek offered when he got in contact?
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.
The woman cut the tension in the air with the comment, and Soldu reigned in his temper. If they survived this and the Lattice Alliance didn’t hunt them down to kill everyone, he would gladly split a bottle of kanar, even with a Cardassian lizard.
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.
Head tilting a fraction as if considering an insect beneath glass, Soldu, gave a measured pause.
tr'Kharis: This station predates the supernova, Mr Kel. It was built by the Romulan Star Empire—when such things still meant something. ::a faint, humourless smile touches his mouth:: What it became afterwards… was not our choice. The Romulan Free State is a… diminished entity. Reconstruction requires resources. Vision. Let’s just say we have… investors. ::his good eye sharpened, voice smoothing into something rehearsed and clinical:: The research conducted here serves one purpose only: the survival of my people.
The lie at the end was effortless. It had been true once.
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?[No tags/ TBC in Part 2]
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Soldu tr’Kharis (he/him)
Station Administrator
The Lid
As simmed by
Writer for Lt. JG T'Fearne
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14