Ensign Jino Esot - Lifting the Veil, Part 2
Quentin Beck
Kel: Is there any chance we could channel power form the Ronin into the containment gird? Reinforce it to buy us some time?
Esot: As a temporary measure, certainly, though I suspect it will be quite a drain on the Ronin's resources. The closer we are to the leak, the more interference it will cause, and the more we will have to compensate.
Solana: Response
The Orion looked to them again.
Aduko: I was set to leave, to be honest. But I was concerned about a runaway reaction, especially after that last lash spike. Enthusiastic response rose five-hundred and fifty percent...and it looked like neighboring cells reacted in kind. ::He sighed, and delivered the next statement in deadpan.:: We really should get out of here while we still can...
tr'Kharis: ::a thin, knowing smile:: And yet… here we are. Still discussing solutions instead of leaving. How optimistic of us.
Captain V'Len turned around and gave Soldu an incredulous look, having apparently overheard their conversation.
Kel: ::sternly:: As I've already stated Administrator, leaving is not an option on the table.
Aduko: Easy there, Antenna. We're going to help. ::He gave Aduko a pat on the shoulder and moved towards Security Solana, speaking to her next.:: Let me help with those pattern enhancers.
tr'Kharis: Of course. Cooperation first. ::a pause, eyes never leaving Kel:: Tell me… how long do you intend to keep us here, Starfleet?
As the pair of Orions moved to set up the pattern enhancers, Jino turned to approach one of the consoles that Aduko had pointed out.
Solana: Response
Kel: This radiation is already disrupting subspace, I'm not sure we could even generate a stable warp field. ::turning back to Esot:: Ensign get a hold of engineering. Get them working on setting up a power transfer.
She nodded, setting her padd on the corner of the console and logging into the dome's comm system to send the message.
Aduko: ::He was, at first, speaking to Solana, tone frustrated but placating.:: Look, it's a good idea alright? And the faster we-- ::Then he heard Kel's news, and his head whipped around to look at the captain.:: What? That's...new behavior.
Jino turned to look back at the small group, brows raising slightly at the sudden shift happening again. The Romulan approached Kel.
tr'Kharis: If you insist, Mr Kel. ::spreading his hands, magnanimous:: We do, as it happens, have casualties. Everyone here is suffering radiation sickness—some… more profoundly than others. ::his good eye sharpens:: Transport them to your state-of-the-art sickbay. Expend your resources. Try to save the reactor. ::leaning forward just a fraction:: And when you realise you cannot… then we will depart this place.
Jino pressed her lips together. It was not desperation, as she had originally believed - or at least, not entirely - it was resignation. tr'Kharis had, at some point, made up his mind that the dome was a lost cause. Perhaps it was.
There was a time when people thought Cardassia was a lost cause as well.
Setting her jaw, Esot turned back to the console and drew up as much information as she could on their attempts to repair the leak. They had tried… a surprising number of things, actually, though almost all of them had only a very small chance of success to begin with. She sighed.
Esot: I am instructing the Ronin to connect with the dome's systems to enhance the grid's power supply. I believe it should be enough to stabilize the leak for… at least six hours. It will not repair it by any means, but it should prevent the damage from progressing while we investigate.
Solana/Kel/Aduko: Response
Meanwhile, Solana and Aduko had managed to get the transport enhancers working, and those injured were shepherded into the center of the large hexagon. While she worked on her console, she watched the Romulan, eyes narrowing a little when she noticed he kept looking up. She tried to follow his gaze, somewhat easier since it was only one eye actually looking, but all she could see was darkness.
Shaking her head, she started looking down at the console again… but noticed a subtle movement out of the corner of her eye, a reflection of ultraviolet light that most would not be able to see. It lasted for only a moment, but it was so unexpected as to draw her attention entirely, and her head snapped up just in time to see whatever it was plummet from the ceiling and strike the deck.
A Tholian.
Her hand dropped to the sidearm slung into the holster on the thigh of her suit, though she didn't know what good it might do against such a creature.
tr'Kharis: ::voice flat, dangerous, already reaching for his disruptor:: Now you’ve done it, Starfleet. Kill it. Immediately. It will attempt to transmit to the others.
The Tholian creature twitched—frills erected from its carapace, a high-pitched harmonic whine beginning to build.
The Romulan drew his disruptor but failed to fire, and it was obvious why - the compact talus moved quickly out of his sight, approaching her feet. Eyes widening, she drew her phaser as well, though the glove made it difficult to grip and she fumbled with it.
Esot: The others?
Solana/Kel/Aduko: Response
tr'Kharis: ::through clenched teeth:: Careful. They have a… tendency to detonate when damaged.
Jino stumbled back a few steps, but the small Tholian had stopped approaching her and instead turned to dart for an empty space between them, traveling through the makeshift transporter pad.
Esot: I would suggest stopping it before it inadvertently beams to the ship.
Solana/Kel/Aduko: Response
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/Kel/Aduko: Response
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.
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.
Cardassia was more than a little familiar with the Tholian Assembly - they shared a border, after all - but so far as she knew, there had been little interaction aside from a few skirmishes here and there. Even so, there were stories told to Cardassian children about the horrific rock-people that could boil them alive, if they were to misbehave. She shivered.
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/Kel/Aduko/tr'Kharis: Response
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/Kel/Aduko/tr'Kharis: Response
The console near her trilled and she turned to it, tapping a control.
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/Kel/Aduko/tr'Kharis: Response
Esot: In light of this new information, perhaps we should consider changing our objectives?
Solana/Kel/Aduko/tr'Kharis: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
Ensign Jino Esot (PNPC)
Assistant Operations Manager
USS Ronin NCC-34523
A238810SA0
As written by Quentin Beck