Lt JG Tess Evinrude - It's All Over But The Decontaminating

[Tess Evinrude]

((Reactor Dome, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))

Radiation levels were decreasing as the raging reactor deep below them began to cool, and Tess could see the ever-present radiation alert on his wrist-mounted tricorder drop into acceptable levels. But then--

SHHHHH-WHAMAAMMMMMM!

A deep, reverberating explosion rocked the facility. For a moment Tess wondered if this was it, if their work had been for naught and the reactor was blowing its top...but he realized soon that the seismic shock came from the distance, and was felt throughout the facility.

Evinrude: Weapons fire! From above! ::His eyes widened.:: The Ronin...

Taking cover, he opened a channel to their ship.

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? =/\=

Sensors picked up multiple Ronin-registered support vessels on the surface, and even a wheeled passenger rover carried by the Argo-class shuttles. But they were all uncrewed.

oO Surely we can transport to one of them? Oo

Even if they could, a shuttle lifting off the surface of this moon would be an easy target.

Kel: =/\= Lieutenant 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. =/\=

Tucker: =/\= Don’t worry skipper, we’re on our way.. =/\=

Tess hid the expression on his face, resisting the urge to look around at everyone else with incredulity. They'd braved radiation from a melting-down experimental time-warping reactor, Tholian warrior patrols, explosive-tipped spears, and now there were explosions in the distance going off at a magnitude reminiscent of orbital weapons fire...

oO "Stay calm" he says. Oo

He tried his best to take the advice, focusing on his own breathing and what his senses were telling him. He was, for now, alive and unexploded. Ensign Esot came through with some good news, a welcome distraction.

Esot: =/\= I have transporter lock. I'll beam your team out first, Commander, then our team will follow shortly. =/\=

Kessler: ::smiling as he turns to the Tholians further down the tunnel:: You guys want this back?

Esot: =/\= Energizing. =/\=

Just as the transporter began to take hold, Kessler heaved the explosive spear as hard as he could towards the approaching Tholians. As he turned back towards him, Tess could have sworn he caught a grin past the man's visor.

The interior of the shuttle Anna Pavlova shimmered into view, and the lieutenant caught sight of Shortrith.

Shortrith: ::Exhaling:: Let's go.

Tucker: Looking around, yup going to be a tight squeeze.

That was an understatement.

Kessler: At least we're being chased anymore.

Evinrude: How many are coming aboard?

Esot: =/\= Energizing for the second team. =/\=

Tucker: Step back, more people incoming.

Tess made himself as flat as he could against a bulkhead as the others materialized inside the increasingly-cramped shuttlecraft.

Kessler: Anyone need a medkit?

Evinrude: Good here sir. ::He looked around the room inquisitively, and saw that, at first glance, everyone seemed unharmed.::

Esot: Let's get out of here. I'll send you over to the Sojourn.

The Acting CMO nodded to the three of them, and Tess greeted the others briefly, though he barely had room to raise an arm.

Shortrith: It's good to have you with us.

Tucker freed an arm and gave them a short salute as he, Evinrude, and Kessler dematerialized once more.

((Runabout Sojourn, Moon Sigma, Ross-580))

They materialized this time in the runabout Sojourn behind a shimmering force field, to prevent radiation from filling the whole ship.

Tucker: Take off your suits and put them in the containment bin, that way we don’t fill the compartment with radiation. Once that’s done, we’ll get underway.

Kessler: ::starting to remove his suit helmet:: I'll gladly get out of this thing.

Evinrude: I'll go last, we should one-at-a-time this so we don't irradiate each other. ::He said with a hint of humor to his tone.::

Tucker went first, and then moved to take the pilot's console. As he started preflight, Kessler climbed out of his suit and stowed it in the containment locker. A few moments later the security chief sat next to Tucker and pulled up sensors and navigation.

That left Evinrude free to continue monitoring the reactor from the science terminal, behind the flight deck.

Tucker: Hang on, I’m getting us back pronto!

Kessler: Scans look clear from here. Betting the Alliance has their hands full down there right now to worry about chasing us.

Tess passed through the force field and ran mobile decontam one more time on the area they had occupied, beside the hazardous storage locker. As he turned towards the front of the runabout, Kessler gave him a 'job well done' nod. Tess grinned back at him, appreciating the gesture. It would take the junior officer a while yet to feel as if this whole thing was behind them - they still needed to monitor the base, after all, and operations would likely take the brunt of decontamination efforts.

But they were safe, and heading home. He looked forward to checking in with the other away teams, to making up for missing time with T'Fearne and his friends.

[End Mission for Evinrude]

--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

R240111TE1