Lieutenant Jack Kessler - Sitting Ducks

[Joel Cannistraro]

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

So far, things had gone better for the team than Jack thought they might have when they encountered the Tholians. Fortunately they had not had to deal with fight and were ok to continue their investigation. Like the others Jack had turned his suit systems back on, though his suit had not seemed to begin fogging up as bad as the others had done. He really didn't give it much thought at first but seeing the moisture build up on Tucker and Evinrude suits he wondered if his combat training had without him knowing it allowed him to control his breathing given the situation and therefore had slowed the moisture build up in his own suit. A thought to ponder on more another day he guessed.

Tucker: Okay, they’re outside now on the march north towards the Hab.,.

Evinrude: Coast is clear then. I'm reactivating my environmental systems.

Nemes: Response

Kessler: ::looking to Tucker:: Should we inform the others they might have company coming?

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.

Kel: =/\= Understood Commander.  Any advice? =/\=

Tucker: =/\= Keep your head on a swivel, Skipper. Tucker out.  =/\=

Nemes: Response

Kessler: Are we pressing on Commander?

Jack knew they were but it was a question more for the group to prepare themselves and for the two younger officers to prepare themselves for the unknown. The group gathered itself to prepare to head the way the Tholians had come from, deeper into the facility. They moved in pairs, Kessler and Tucker at the front, Nemes and Evinrude behind.

Tucker: Nemes and Evinrude, keep a tight scan going on and readjust for Tholian life signs. You might have to tweak your tricorders to do so.

Evinrude: On it, sir. Looks clear ahead, so far. If we get about three hundred meters further down, we'll miss the chroniton wave entirely.

Nemes: Response

Kessler: I'll take that as good news. 

They moved in silence, well past the section of station that was about to be swept by chronitons. Approximately six hundred meters down, they came to a set of large double doors, with hallways stretching off in either direction. Tucker pulled his phaser rifle in one smooth movement and looked at Kessler with a raised eyebrow. Jack eyed the phaser rifle and then looked back to Tucker and a slanted grin on his face.

Tucker: What? ::he gave a half-grin:: I like to be prepared; it’s why I tend to overpack. Lieutenants, what do your scans say about either hallway or what’s behind those doors, because I’m betting that that’s where our Tholian workers came from.

Evinrude: The source of Sencha is straight ahead, past these security doors. I would recommend not using the main entrance. ::He swept his wrist tricorder towards the left corridor.:: Down this way is that collection of conduit...and sure enough, there's a service tunnel.

Jack held up his left arm and studied the security scans on his wrist Tricorder, following the line that Evinrude was outlining. Silently, to himself Jack nodded in agreement and lowered his arm, turning to Tucker and then Evinrude and Nemes.

Kessler: I agree with Evinrude Commander, that is the safer the route.

Nemes: Response

As they approached the service tunnel, Tucker and Jack covered their exit. The steep but manageable service tunnel grew dark barely twenty meters in, so Evinrude activated his helmet-mounted lights as did Jack. He was starting to think he would have rather stolen Captain Winters Marine EVA suit at this point. These Hazard suits were likely not going to offer much protection from a hostile encounter with the Tholians.

Ahead, they could see what resembled a dead-end, but something was off about the perspective. As they approached it became clear - the service tunnel took a steeper drop than the corridor they had been moving down, turning almost vertical. There were, however, ladder-like steps on either side of a smooth central patch of floor.

Evinrude: It looks like we'll be in for a climb...but it's probably better than being cooked alive back in that main corridor.

Jack looked at the drop and the ladder styled steps. oO Sitting ducks is what we will be. Oo

Kessler: Sir, we start that climb and we are all sitting ducks on that ladder with no cover. We'll need to space ourselves out, make sure the coast is clear. I'd like to go first in case there are any of our friends around down there.

Nemes/Tucker: Response

As the conversation continued and a device was pointed out that looked like something that could be used to lower heavy equipment. It could potentially provide a slight bit of cover and for that Jack was happy.

Evinrude: Oh, good find! I'd wager that thing can hold two of us at a time.

A shrill pierced the darkness behind them. Jack spun on his heels, they had company, returning down the central corridor. oO Of course the five dwarfs would be returning wouldn't they? Probably signing a Tholians version of 'off to work we go'. Oo

Kessler: Down appears to be our only option now Commander. Unless we are going to fight our way out.

Nemes/Tucker: Response

Evinrude: Your call, sir. If we take this path down, I can stay to operate the controls, then set them to auto for the second group's descent...just be sure to catch us. ::He added with a quick flash of a smile.::

Jack glanced at Evinrude and then back to Tucker. He would give Evinrude credit for being gutsy in wanting to stay to operate the controls but he imagined the Lieutenant JG had never faced Tholians before. Jack knew Tucker had and Jack had faced them in a fierce firefight once before. Now was not the time to be betting anyone's lives on inexperience. It was not that Jack did not trust Evinrude to be able to handle himself in a fight. He had read the officer's service jacket and knew Evinrude was well trained. But only two of them had direct firefight experience with Tholians from what Jack knew. That meant only two of them were likely candidates to remain behind and operate the controls.

Kessler: Sorry but I do not agree with that suggestion. Given the mission parameters and the need for success, and first hand experience with Tholians. I am the logical choice to stay behind and defend the lift while the three of you descend.  

Jack was sounding like one of his Vulcan instructors back in Advanced Tactical. 

Nemes/Tucker/Evinrude: Response

Jack respected the Operations officers desire to ensure the team got to safety but there was no time for debate. 

Kessler: ::turning to Tucker:: If we are cornered in here, we have no chance against five Tholians. I recommend the three of you get on the lift, it will be extremely tight but I don't see any other way.

Nemes/Tucker/Evinrude: Response

Jack looked around as the sounds of the approaching Tholians grew louder. There were not many options. They could try and stay ahead of the Tholians or they could alert them to there presence with a distraction. 

Kessler: Can we seal the service tunnel to buy us more time?

Jack looked back to the tunnel and then to Evinrude and Nemes?

Nemes/Tucker/Evinrude: Response

[Tags/TBC]

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Lieutenant Jack Kessler

Chief Tactical/Security Officer

USS Ronin

T239901JK1