MSNPC Joakim Aduko - Hello, CR. Have you tried turning it off and on again? [Part 1/2]

[Tess Evinrude]

((Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))

((OOC: I stitched together the tr'Kharis and Esot scenes to make sure things flow and to pick up some dropped tags. No open tags in Part 1 here.))

Aduko: Something like that. We will, of course, lose life support... ::He replied with a somewhat manic smile.::

Esot: ::mirroring his smile and tapping her helmet:: You will lose life support. Those of us in EV suits will be just fine. But as long as this room is pressurized, and you don't start breathing too hard, you should only suffocate after a few hours.

Solana: Could we isolate the life support systems with a portable power source? At least in areas where we know we have people?

tr'Kharis: ::steepling his finger tips:: It could work. ::musing:: That wouldn’t matter if the majority of my personnel are evacuated. 

Kel: ::looking at tr'Kharis::  We can get some additional EV suits down here if needed, do your people have access to anything similar.  

Solana: I’d be surprised if they didn’t. Unless the Tholians were particularly cruel.

The Cardassian chimed in with a surprising anecdote.

Esot: Cardassian mothers and wetnurses warn their Cardassian children to behave, lest the Tholians come to remove each vertebrae from all three of their spines one at a time. With pictures, if that answers your question.

Aduko's eyes narrowed with curiosity at the woman's remark, and he wondered what cruelties the Cardassian had experienced personally at the hands of these crystalline tormentors. He was interesting in asking more, but the officer began to work with a renewed fervor, programming her hotfix.

Base personnel had, of course, been using what they had on hand. The latest disaster had seen more thirty-year-old Romulan Star Empire hazard containment suits hauled more from storage. They were uncomfortable and antiquated, but engineered to last.

tr'Kharis: Romulan Star Empire hazard-containment suits. Thirty years old. ::a faint hint of pride slips into his tone:: But I think you’ll find them still superior to most modern equivalents. We have been surviving in them… quite adequately.

Soldu rose ponderously to his feet and approached the crates.

Aduko: Let me help you with that, Shodar.

Joakim met him there, and together they unpacked several gray suits with green-tinted helmet visors. Wordlessly, the Orion helped the administrator through a few of the more challenging steps needed to don the suit. It wasn't an admission of weakness; it was standard protocol.

Kel:  Out of curiosity, what is the fuel source to generate this reaction?  I don't suppose we can cut off the supply.

Solana: Hopefully nothing volatile.  

As tr'Kharis helped him with his own suit, Joakim heard the man chuckle when the unusual source of the reactor’s power was mentioned.

tr’Kharis: It’s not from here. ::his boots shifted on the metal floor as he fastened up the suit:: You were close when you guessed a singularity drive. We started with a singularity drive, the untapped potential of a micro black hole was a tremendous boon to have while we were trying to re-build, but it wasn’t enough for the new masters.

The administrator paused to take a deep sigh.

oO Is he going to share that? Oo

Aduko looked away as Soldu began speaking again. He'd walled up his emotions, forcing himself to just numbly accept what they had done. Now the secret was going to come out.

tr’Kharis: They forced us to use the Sencha radiation to soften the fabric of this universe. The reactor now takes power from the heart of a star, but to get close enough, we needed to get it from another universe's star. I believe you call it Ross 580, but not our Ross 580. In that universe the star is diverged from its traditional location, it occupies a trajectory that aligns enough with our location that we can pull from it. The Sench rifts are temporary and close on themselves so we have to keep triggering an opening to feed the reactor. It should have stopped when the reactor lost containment, but it hasn’t yet. ::Glancing at Aduko:: We don’t think it will at this point.

Aduko: ::Turning to face the others again, he felt the sudden need to explain.:: We...the only solace...I, at least, have been able to find is that this system is devoid of life in our universe. I can only hope that their universe is similar.

The Orion set his jaw and looked away.

oO The frelking star is in a different orbit in that universe. That changes the entire model of the system and you know it. Oo

For all Joakim knew, the other system was the central hub of a grand empire, and they were sentencing it to the same fate as the Romulans. What kind of monster would do such a thing?

Captain Kel’s combadge chirped, interrupting any further self-flagellation. One glance at tr'Kharis told him that his comrade was thinking similar thoughts.

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. =/\=

Solana: So we’re about to have company. If the drones are carrying something I’m inclined to say we can’t let them get here and do whatever it is they intend to with whatever they’re carrying. I’d bet a BC cruller that whatever it is involves demo of some kind. Think you can handle the rest of the evac? ::she looked at Aduko and Esot::

Esot: I am a bit focused on preventing the reactor from melting down at the moment, Chief, but I assure you, as soon as I am able, I will start kicking people's asses out of here.

A mission to take on several of the Tholians responsible for this mess: was this his chance to atone?

Aduko: ::Looking up from his sullen introspection.:: You'll need someone to unlock door--

tr'Kharis: ::pointing sharply at his friend, voice suddenly firm:: You stay here. Your brains might be needed yet to help salvage this mess, if such a thing can be done.

Startled, Joakim tore his gaze away from the sight of the Orion woman prepping for battle and stared into the eyes of his boss. His friend.

The silent pause was brief. Aduko quickly came to the conclusion that they both deserved a chance at redemption, and Soldu was right - his expertise would be more useful here.

Aduko: You got it, Shodar. ::With a quick smile, he couldn't help but sass.:: You're outgunned by Starfleet over there...don't let her steal all the glory.

Solana: Someone has to take care of them and as far as I know, I’m the one with the most combat experience against Tholians. I told you I’d come prepared. If they get passed me those should help give you an advantage.

She indicated a small satchel of gear.

Esot: So don't let them get past you. ::smiling grimly:: Give 'em hell, Chief. ::to Aduko:: I would ask you to remain, if you please - you are my good luck charm. So far.

Aduko: ::Twice in as many minutes, someone's words caused Joakim to whirl around in surprise.:: That's the nicest thing a Cardassian has ever said to me. ::He took a few steps closer to the ensign, curious to see her new subroutine but also curious to get a better look at its creator.::

[TBC in Part 2]

--

Joakim Aduko
2IC & Research Lead
The Lid

--as simmed by--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

R240111TE1