Ensign Wren- When I lay me down to die Goin' up to the data storage in the sky
Grace McDermott
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
Wren: ::relieved:: Radiation levels are lowering back to safe levels. The shields are strengthening and I’m getting reports that the damage to our hull is minimal.
Kel: Finally some good news.
Delphina let out a sigh of relief, but didn’t let herself unclench completely. They were still waiting to see if the Sheliak ship would suddenly draw, although she wasn’t sure they would. It seemed that they were just as unsure as the Ronin on what was supposed to be going on, but Delphina couldn’t be sure. B’hab seemed determined not to show his hand too early.
T’Fearne: Who else is left on the surface?
Kel: A team under Commander Tucker and a team under Lieutenant Shortrith. Lt. T'Fearne signal them both to get back to the Ronin.
Nicolau: Sir, sensor interference is dropping, we should be able to confirm the location of our people to within a few meters if this keeps up.
Wren: I can’t find their warp signatures just yet, but I’m doing what I can to find them.
T’Fearne: ::worried:: We need to get them back aboard. I can’t risk firing at Hostile One if it’s got our teams on the moon behind it.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Esot. It looks like the cooling system is working. Crank it as high as possible, maybe we can extinguish the reaction all together. =/\=
Esot: =/\= Response =/\=
Nicolau: Whatever they're doing is definitely have an effect, sir...radiation levels are diminishing, energy readings have plateaued...space around the moon is returning to normal, sir. Well...as normal as it ever is in the Isles.
Delphina frowned at her screen, watching each layer of radiation burn away under their scanners, until…. oO Yes, there it is! Oo
Kel: The amount of radiation escaping the lid is diminishing. Ensign Wren can we get a lock on our people?
Wren: Yessir, I have a lock on them now. I’m sending the coordinates to the transporter room. They should be out within a few minutes.
Nicolau: Lieutenant Junior...uh...sorry sir...Ian Junior...sorry...escape course alpha and bravo are plotted and on your board, sir. Bravo takes us within a few hundred meters of some stellar debris that's stuck in the moons orbit if you're looking for an opportunity to...razzle dazzle, sir.
T'Fearne
Delphina zeroed in on the comm signals, letting out a soft sigh of relief as she found the teams. oO Good… maybe we can knock it off with the saber-rattling now… Oo
Wren: I’ve located them, sir. All life signs look strong from here
Kel: Lt. Nicolau what's the status of the black hole?
Nicolau: It appears to be...collapsing, sir. Gravimetric output is down by fifteen percent, radius of the event horizon has contracted significantly.
Delphina took a moment to watch the slow descent of the black hole, eyes widening a little at the sight. Despite all the insanity it had put them through in such a short time, she was still overjoyed at the opportunity to see it. It didn’t make it all worth it, but it did help salve the wound just a little bit.
T'Fearne: Response
O’Connor: So I don’t think it’ll be an issue for us. In fact we might be able to use it to our advantage against that slower ship if need be.
Delphina was suddenly rocked out of her moment of reverence as the ship shuddered, and she immediately clapped her hands over her mouth to stop herself from accidentally reporting a false firing again. The Sheliak ship hadn’t fired.
Kel: Let me guess, our Sheliak friends?
O’Connor: Actually no, it was some sort of aftershock of radiation from the facility. As it shut down it must have built up in the atmosphere then released as one last burst. Shields drained to 37% though.
Nicolau: Outer hull temperature spiked...minor alpha and gamma radiation bleed through the shields but nothing serious...we blew out a few EPS couplings on deck eight...I think we're alright sir.
Evinrude: =/\= Evinrude to Captain Kel...to anyone on the bridge! Orbital weapons fire is impacting near the facility. Teams on the surface are preparing for evac, is it safe to lift off? =/\=
Kel: =/\= Ensign Evinrude stay calm. It's residual energy in the reactor system breaking loose. The power levels are going down, well done. Tell Commander Tucker to link up with Dr. Shortrith's team and get back to the Ronin, ASAP. =/\=
Wren: Shuttles are being activated again. I’ll alert medical to expect our away teams.
T'Fearne: Response
O’Connor: No, it was actually a good thing. I just used the momentum of that blast to move us farther. T’Fearne should have a clear line of fire now.
Delphina kept one eye on the shuttles, before letting herself look to the Sheliak ship. It was just sitting there…..menacingly. As though it hadn’t even noticed the sudden drop of radiation, or the aftershocks.
O’Connor: Incoming message…from the Sheliak vessel.
Nicolau: Any chance you can turn the volume down before he starts speaking?
V'Len rose and pulled down his tunic to smooth it.
Kel: Put them through Commander, thank you.
O’Connor: Aye, on screen
B’hab: =/\= Was it something I said, Captain? =/\=
Kel: =/\= Not at all, Administrator. Some of the reactor components below are coming back on line. You'll note the power level dropping. ::beat:: You're welcome
Delphina began a quick run-through of the engines as they talked. Now that the radiation levels had cleared up a bit, they’d be able to initiate warp if they needed to suddenly make a run for it. She knew she couldn’t feel the core from way over in ops, but part of her felt as though it was vibrating a little, chomping at the bit to get out of here. But, just as soon as she’d felt the energetic shiver, it was gone again. And a Ferengi ship had joined them.
B’hab:=/\= Well, well, well Captian, what do we have here? I’m guessing it was someone smarter than you to get the Fregengi involved. I had no clue your ship came with a lawyer. This could backfire, you know. =/\=
V'Len smiled. Jack Marrow had indeed saved the same. The presence of the Ferengi would mean a long arduous process before anyone could resume control of the facility.
Kel: =/\= I did warn you that I would invoke the Federations right to arbitration. As for backfiring, let's just be thankful that's not happening with the reactor on the surface.
Brac: =/\= This is Liquidator Brac, and I’m escorting an Arbitor as requested by Judge Advocate General Representative Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Morrow of the USS Ronin =/\=
Delphina tilted her head, looking at the Ferengi in front of her. Not a bad choice, but she did feel a little miffed knowing that the data she’d collected could very well end up on Ferengar. But, better an ally of the Federation than the Sheliak… All the same, Delphina still looked down at the PADD, tapping it pensively. oO It would be easy to make a quick copy of it… just for me. Oo
B’hab: =/\= This is none of your business, Ferengi; this is between the Alliance and the Ronin, you have no claim to this system. =/\=
Brac: =/\= You are correct, or were correct. As of this Stardate, the Ferengi Alliance has put in a sizable bid on this system. Which would include whatever is left of the station on the moon. You’re both to remove yourselves within the next hour, or face the consequences. I’m willing to parlay if that is your choice; hostilities will not be tolerated. =/\=
The transmitter shut off, and Delphina finally let herself relax.
Kel: =/\= Well. At least he's given me a more reasonable time table to depart. =/\=
B’hab: =/\= You heard the tube grub, what will it be. =/\=
Kel: =/\= Who am I to get in the way of the Treaty of Armens? We'll be under way shortly. Ronin out. =/\=
For a moment, there was total silence on the bridge, before Delphina let out a nervous snort as everyone around her relaxed at once. It was as though finally, finally everyone had started breathing again.
Nicolau: Sir...did you just....use the Ferengi to out litigate the Sheliak?! We should get our people out of here before those two start flinging injunctions in all directions...last thing we need is an away team crippled by a restraining order.
Kel: ::nodding:: T'Fearne coordinate getting our teams back aboard. Wren, O'Connor get us ready to depart for Deep Space 33. ::turning to Nicolau:: Don't worry too much Lieutenant, I'm sure Mr. Marrow is already filing injunctions and changes of venue. This system will be tied up in red tape for quite some time.
Wren: And that’s assuming that other Ferengi families don’t end up placing bids of their own. It may be irradiated, but it could be a beautiful vacation spot in about thirty years.
T'Fearne/O'Connor: Response
Nicolau: I'll update those course plots to avoid any red tape, sir. I'll alert you immediately if I see any process servers closing in.
V'Len waited, still standing watching the viewscreen. He wondered if it was really over. The Lattice Alliance didn't always follow the treaty the Federation had with the Sheliak. There was also the possibility of Tholian intervention and the Tholians did not negotiate. The minutes seemed to drag by.
T'Fearne/O'Connor: Response
Kel: Excellent! Mr. O'Connor let's get moving. Best speed to DS33.
Surreptitiously, Delphina slipped her PADD back into its bag, before returning her full attention to the task at hand. She could feel the overall anxiety of the ship pull back like the tide. It wasn’t silent, but it was certainly quieter than it had been only minutes before.
Kel: What's our overall status.
Wren: Engineering says that the radiation’s ebbed enough for warp, we should be good to go.
T'Fearne/O'Connor: Response
Kel: ::nodding:: Good. Good work, all of you.
Kel: I'm heading to sickbay to check on our people. Get repairs underway and alert me anything changes. Mr. O'Connor you have the conn.
Wren: ::reflexively:: Thank you, sir
T'Fearne/O'Connor: Response
Delphina sagged back into her chair, pushing her hair out of her face as she pulled it out of the tight bun that had been giving her a headache since this whole thing started. oO You’re safe. Everyone is safe. It’s done. Oo. She had to stifle herself from giggling again as she traced her fingertip against the console, evening out the nacelle output, and sending one last quiet thanks to their dead probes. oO May they rest in peace…. In… I don’t know, the big data storage in the sky…….. And O’Connor is still a baby. Oo
[[End Scene/Act 3/Mission for Delphina Wren]]