Cmdr. Alex Blair & Lt. Lael Rosek: A Needle In A Haystack (TAG: Fiorr)
Jeremy Shaffer
((Joint Space Center, Kranstin, Hocktin))
::Alex stood to the side and watched as Rosek approached the big bear like president and drew a blood sample. For a brief moment, Alex thought doing the job himself but quickly pushed that thought aside grateful that Rosek was there.::
Rosek: ::finishes the blood draw and bandages the site:: You're all set, Mr. President. ::to Blair:: What next, sir?
::Alex nodded and stepped closer to the team again.::
Blair: Let’s get that sample to the Za and we’ll start looking at the president’s maps.
Rosek: ::nods:: =/\=Rosek to Sickbay.=/\=
Fergus: =/\= Go for sickbay. =/\=
Rosek: =/\=Don’t know if you all still need it, but we have that blood sample.=/\=
Fergus: =/\= Yes, we do. The situation has gotten rather complicated up here. =/\=
Rosek: ::nods:: =/\=We can beam it behind a forcefield just in case.=/\=
Fergus: =/\= Under orders from LtCmdr DeVeau, yes. Forcefield engaged. Stand by. =/\=
::Within moments, the container materialized in a shimmer of blue light.::
Rosek: =/\=Keep us apprised. Rosek out.=/\=
Fiorr: Response
::Longza rose from his seat behind the desk and moved to a workstation built into the wall.::
Longza: Give me just a moment and I will pull up the maps, I just need to access my database back in my office.
::Longza pulled out a keyboard and started typing in a series of commands.::
::Lael sighed. This whole situation was such a colossal mess. She’d be happy to have it over with. A heat flash shot through her and she suppressed a gasp of surprise when it combined with a near blinding headache, her legs turning to jelly underneath her. She had to grab the edge of the desk to maintain her balance.::
::Alex watched as the president worked at the console just before Rosek’s legs seemed to give out beneath her. He instinctively reached out to help her, but was quickly stopped as a bout of severe stomach cramps struck him.::
::From his peripheral vision, Longza noticed first the female called Rosek start to fall then the one named Blair grab at his midsection. Unsure of what was happening, the president turned around.::
Longza: What is going on? Is this normal behaviour for your people?
::As the cramps started to lessen, Alex looked at the president.::
Blair: No Mister President, this is not normal. If I had to guess I would say that this is a result of that virus that has afflicted us.
::Lael’s concern for Alex was the only thing that kept her from panicking in that moment. He was starting to show symptoms, which meant it was only just a matter of time. She’d hoped that it was just her paranoia.::
Fiorr: Response
Blair: Hopefully that sample we just sent to our ship will help our doctors find a cure.
::The president looked at him and nodded.::
Longza: I truly hope so.
::Longza reached out and motioned to a monitor built into the wall. Displayed on it was a detailed map of the Justio region of Hocktin with several sections marked in a deep maroon colorr.::
Longza: I’ve found the maps that I told you about. We’ve marked the locations where the Marshall has been known to hide.
::Alex took a few moments to squash down a few more cramps before looking up at the map.::
Blair: I think this could be quite useful. Thank you Mister President.
Fiorr: ?
::Lael exhaled heavily and tried to focus on comparing the map she’d gotten from her tricorder readings with the one the President provided, overlaying the two.::
Rosek: Normally I’d say we split this up, but given the circumstances…
::Alex shook his head as he cut Rosek off mid-sentence.::
Blair: No, given our current state splitting up is not an option.
Fiorr:?
::Alex turned back to the map and started at it for a bit.::
Blair: Mister President, if you had to chose, which of these locations would you say the Marshall is more apt to chose?
::Longza started at the depiction for a moment himself. He had half expected to be asked the question but was not completely prepared to answer it.::
Longza: That is the opportune question isn’t it?
::Longza stared for a moment longer before pointing towards a compound that bordered both a mountain range and the Hocktin Sea.::
Longza: I would say here.
::Alex looked at the map again then turned to face his team.::
Blair: What do you two think? Does that corroborate with your information?
Rosek: ::pauses:: I believe so. But we don’t really have much to go on. ::to Longza:: I believe you had said earlier that he’s likely to retreat to his home province?
::Longza’s first reaction was to question the female on her ability to spot the differences between Justion and Kranstin before he remembered that she was not of his world.::
Longza: Yes I did say that. This compound is deep within the Justio province, the Marshall’s home.
Rosek: ::nods:: Do any of the other possibilities lie in the Justio province?
::Longza stared blankly at Rosek.::
Longza: Yes, each image on this map is from the Justio province. If the Marshall were within the boundaries of Kranstin, we would not be having this conversation.
Fiorr: ?
::Alex shook from yet another stomach cramp before he could speak.::
Blair: Do your scans show anything in that area that could be blocking our scans?
Rosek: ::pauses:: Not from what I can tell, sir. But with the way this planet has been messing with our technology since we got here, I wouldn’t be surprised.
::Alex nodded.::
Fiorr: ?
Rosek: It’s our best bet at the moment. ::pauses:: Maybe the Za can do some scans from orbit to give us a better idea.
::Alex nodded again as the president began speaking again.::
Longza: ::confused:: If your ship can scan things here on the planet, why can’t you simply scan for your people?
::Alex looked at the president, beginning to get a little frustrated with the slow pace of things.::
Blair: Normally we would, but there is something here keeping them from being found. That’s why we need to find them the hard way.
Fiorr: ?
::Instead of speaking a response, Longza nodded.::
::Alex looked at his small team.::
Blair: From my perspective, it’s the only shot we’ve got.
Rosek: ::nods:: Agreed, sir. We’re running out of time. We have no idea how this virus will affect their different biologies if they’ve been exposed.
Fiorr: ?
Blair: We’ll head that direction. Fiorr, reach out to the ship and ask them to run additional scans on those coordinates.
Rosek: Yes, sir.
Fiorr: ?
Blair: Mister President, you are certainly welcome to come with us.
::Longza stared at the man for a moment a little offended that he had asked.::
Longza: Considering what the Marshall has done, I wouldn’t miss this. I’ve also got a few military special operations personnel who will be coming too.
Rosek: ::nods:: We sincerely appreciate your efforts and your assistance, Mr. President. I’m certain our Captain will be making note of this in her report. It might prove helpful if your world applies for Federation membership at any point in the future.
::Alex nodded in agreement as he swept sweat from his brow.::
Longza: It is I who is appreciative. This whole meeting has been a fiasco and I will not allow Numiz to go without facing repercussions from it.
Fiorr: ?
Blair: Well then, let’s get going. We will never find them if we don’t get started.
Longza: After you Commander, my men should be waiting outside.
Fiorr: ?
Rosek: Commander Blair, can I have a moment?
::Alex motioned for the others to keep moving.::
Blair: Yeah, ::to Fiorr and Longza:: we’ll catch up, just give us a moment.
::Once the President and Longza had exited the room, she turned to him, her expression concerned.::
Rosek: Don’t bullshit with me, Alex Blair. How bad is it?
::Alex looked at Rosek intently in disbelief that she had just said what she said. After a moment, Alex relaxed and looked at his friend with concern.::
Blair: Honestly I don’t know. I’m feeling some of the symptoms that Chythar sent down and fearing the worst.
Rosek: ::grimaces:: I’m worried, too. This thing is messing with my ability to think, but I seem to remember he said something about hybrid physiology.
::Alex nodded and for the first time in a while didn’t feel the immediate urge to get away from her.::
Blair: We’ll just have to look out for each other then. The sooner we get the captain and get out of here the better.
Rosek: ::nods:: Agreed. You’re getting out of here alive if I have to carry you myself.
Blair: ::Alex nodded:: We’re both getting out of here alive, and that’s an order Lieutenant.
::Lael grinned wryly. She certainly hoped so. She motioned for Alex to leave first and followed him out the door.::
TAG/TBC
--------------------------------
Lieutenant Lael Rosek, Eng.D.
HCO Officer
USS Za NCC-65305
Training Team/Podcast Team
I238110RH0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Lael_Rosek
&
Cmdr. Alex Blair
Chief Engineer
USS Za
T238906AB0
&
Longza
President
Nation of Kranstin
as simmed by
Commander Alex Blair
Chief Engineer
USS Za
T238906AB0
&
Petty Officer 2nd Class Greywin Fergus
Nurse & MD Student
O239002CS0