The Fishers of Fimdari
Episode Name: The Fishers of Fimdari Written By: Fortunae Cast: Claness, Gorgha, Havaris, Idisha, Merus, and Poole. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Fortunae Aired On: Mon Oct 07 04:19:25 2002 Stardate: 52687.1
Time: Sun Oct 06 20:43:05 2002
Stardate: 52686.4
(Mission Briefing) The colonial government at Fimdari has made a startling report to the Sector Capital at Dulcais. A Bolian aqua-farmer residing on the colony claims that his fishing vessel sensors detected an anomalous mass under the waves near one of his equatorial aqua farming platforms. After his message he failed to return to the small coastal community that he and his family base their operation out of. The Andorian colonial government is not equipped or prepared to make a sub-aquatic search, mainly because of the Andorian dread of large bodies of water so they have asked for Starfleet to send an investigation team. They have attempted fly over scans and orbital scans but have been unable to penetrate the deeper sections of the ocean to be sure that this report was not just a prelude to an unfortunate accident. You have been selected to travel to Fimdari and investigate these reports with a modified light submarine that has been delivered from Dulcais for this purpose.
(Scene) The crew has just beamed down to the Thel'Coara community on Fimdari from the Deneva class transport vessel the U.S.S. Amerigo. The Amerigo has already arranged for the submarine to be delivered down to the nearby harbor via runabout support so it should be in place when the crew arrives. Most of the crew are wearing longer coats over thier uniforms, Field Jacket parkas in black with grey shoulder pads like the uniforms. Lt Havaris and Lt Poole have Phaser III rifles. It is a clear, bright morning. There are no signs of the recent battle for the planet in this sleepy outlaying community. The local temperature is a brisk 29 degrees F.
Havaris takes a few moments to get the lay of the land before lifting his rifle to rest over his shoulder. He puffs some air into his left hand, sending a glance across to Poole that he might offer her a nod. He turns to address the team in general, his breath visible as he speaks, "Okay, people. The sub should be waiting for us down in the harbor. Let's head into the vil and speak with the locals, if there's any here to be spoken to. Provided we're not met by any of the locals, we proceed to the harbor and begin our operations. Any questions?"
Poole shivers almost immediately upon arrival, but buckles down and bears it. She gives Havaris an encouraging grin, then looks to the other officers, letting her excitement about going submarining warm her from inside.
Claness purses his lips as Havaris speaks, then offers him a brief shake of the head to show that he has no questions. He is wearing standard Starfleet Field Jacket over his ADF uniform, although he is wearing his jacket open, the weather not seeming to be an important factor. He looks ready to perform his duty, but anything other than excited about submarining. While his eyes stay on the mission commander, his antenna do swivel from time to time towards the coast.
Merus glances about quietly as he materializes on the planet. Rubbing his hands together after only a few seconds, clearly not used to the climate present on this part of the planet. Looking about the scenery for a few seconds, he turns his attention to Havaris as he speaks, shaking his head in response to the question after he finishes.
The first thing Idisha does upon materializing is take a deep and contented breath. A glance around and a smile comes to his face. Right up until Havaris mentions subs. Then the smile fades and he straightens with a swallow.
Gorgha neither shivers nor seems to revel in the temperature. He remains standoffish but not unapproachable. He nods to Havaris indicating that he has no questions and waits to follow along to the settlement.
The village, though quiescient is not abandoned. This becomes very clear when only moments after the crew have arrived and orientated, many Andorian civilians come out of thier large family lodges and start applauding and cheering the very sight of the officers in the Starfleet uniform. Only a few moments into that, one of them recognizes Lt Poole from the post invasion news feeds and points her out in a loud shout in the Andorian language. The crowd, if possible, gets even more excited and young and old, male and female rush over to the arriving away team to pats their backs, hug them, plant kisses on cheeks and offer to buy them drinks over at the Ale House. This overwhelming display of admiration is only brought to a stop when the town mayor and brewmeister K'ndolar Amurlev (of the locally popular Amurlev FimdAle brand of Andorian ale) pushes his way through and invites the crew to come over to his office and beerhall for any last minute questions.
It's rather impossible to retain mission order, personal composure, or any other notions of protocol and control when being mobbed by thankful villagers. The only order Kusto offers before the throng reaches them is a very sensible one, "Safeties on, power down your weapons." He slings his rifle over his shoulder and begins receiving the handshakes and such, all the while offering Poole a most goofy grin and a shrug of the shoulders. "What's it like being a hero, Lieutenant?" When the crowd draws back to make room for the Mayor, he listens to the offer, offers his thanks, then motions for his people to fall in. "Never refuse Andorian hospitality." Claness receives a wink at that before he moves to follow the Mayor.
"I'm not a hero, sir..." Poole replies, hastily slinging her rifle before giving out her own fair share of handshakes, a hug, and then... lastly a kiss from a little andorian boy. Sighing in relief as the mayor shows up, she politely smiles at the man and says, "Thank you, Mister Mayor..." And then follows proceeds to follow the official, offering a wave to the villagers as she does so.
Claness positively beams at the reception that the party in general, and Lt. Poole in particular, recieve from the throng. He thanks those Andorians that approach him and chats comfortably in Graalen, pointing out which one of the Starfleet Officers is the famous Lt. Poole when asked. He returns the wink of Lt. Havaris, then pressess closer to Poole when the opportunity arises. He half-whispers "You are to them, Lieutenant. Enjoy the praise as much as they enjoy giving it." He offers her a smile, then follows the other officers as the mayor extends his hospitality.
Blinks a few times and nearly stops as the throng of villagers begin to close in on the small group of Starfleet officers. Reaching down to the small phaser on his belt, he fumbles with it slightly, only to realize that it's already got its safety engaged and power off. Shrugging slightly to himself, he slides it back in to the holster, just in time to be ready for an oncoming handshake... and another one. Seeming somewhat relieved, but doing his best to hide it, the young Trill officer glances towards the officials parting the crowd, closing the short gap that had formed between himself and Lieutenant Havaris as the Mayor speaks briefly.
Idisha endures the enthusiasm of the natives with a smile and the general boisterousness of an Andorian. A waving of the hand at the more affectionate of the ladies as he casual mentions his marital status. And then a more officious nod to the mayor and entourage as he falls in line for the jaunt to his offices.
Gorgha arches a shaggy gray eyebrow at an Andorian woman running up to greet the heroes. "Do not hug me." is all he says about the whole affair. He grumbles a bit and follows along to the mayor's home.
The crowd and it's adoration make way, but follow the party from Station 419 across the crunched snow down the lane to the Mayor's Alehouse, where they are turned back by the mayor's husband and wives with assurances that there will be more time to celebrate their guests later. Once inside the comfortably warm and cozy grand room of the alehouse with his immense fireplace alight with a crackling fire, the Mayor welcomes the party formally again. Having heard of the ban on alchohol the crew is currently living under by word of a Merchant Captain that trades between Fimdari and the station, he instead offers them non-alcholoic but quite delicious mulled hot cider and some meat and cheese filled backed pasteries while he recounts the story of the missing Bolian fisherman and his boat. After some pointed questions by the crew and his open and earnest answers, he invites them all to brave once again the mild cold outside and accompany him towards the harbor and their... ship.
Havaris has many a pointed question, but hears only a retelling of the briefing he received prior. Once he and his party are warmed on sufficient amounts of mulled cider and the fireplace, Kusto once more rises to his feet and falls in to follow the Mayor towards the docks, motioning his party into line behind him.
Poole accepts the offered refreshments, eating a pastry and washing it down with sips of hot cider. She listens quietly, leaning up against a wall of the Alehouse. Once they're ready to go, she follows after Kusto, her eagerness to see the submarine extremely apparent.
Never being one to pass up home-made food and drink, Thalev Claness takes a polite portion of everything that is offered to the team. He listens to the mayor recount the story of the fisherman, his eyebrows furrowing in thought more than once as the accounting is retold. "Does the man have a family?" is the only question he asks. Regdless of the answer, he nods once in understanding before following the lead of his mission commander and preparing to leave.
Merus remains quite silent during the entire length of the short meeting, accepting a cup of the mulled cider, but taking only a small portion of the food offered. After finishing off his cup, he glances towards Havaris as he prepares to leave with the Mayor in the lead, moving in to follow him.
Idisha is in much the same mood as Claness, if more enthusiastic. He gladly engages in familial banter, talking about raising children, getting pointers as he's new to the subject, and of course getting a healthy taste of the local cuisine. He does, in fact, seem rather reluctant to depart the blissful scene. But with yet another stoic breath and bracing of will, he departs upon the heels of his fellows.
Gorgha helps himself to just enough cider to be polite but listens to Havaris' questions. Though he has nothing to add, he does take in as much information as possible. He seems eager to leave the warm and familial abode and get on with the mission.
(Act II -- Scene) The crew made the short hike out of the town proper and over the hill that serves not only as a windbreak of the hellishly cold winds that come off this frosty ocean, but also to keep the disturbing vista of the crashing waves and dark blue depths away from the casual observation of the locals. Once over the hill the crew could see the small flotilla of deep-sea fishing vessels, all moored to the dock after the loss of the owner. Bolians in heavy jackets move across these decks, apparently using this time for maintainence. As the Away Team descends the hill with the increasingly more nervous mayor, the Bolians turn their attention towards them with faces full of hope and stoic resignation to the fate of their leader. Further down from the fishing fleet on a clearly pre-fabricated dock, is moored a sleek blue grey submarine with Federation designations. It is about 5 meter as the beam, 10 meters in lengthy with a conning tower reaching 4 meters up from the main deck. The vessel is clearly new and looks out of place when compared to the well weathered fishing fleet. As the group nears the mooring dock, the Mayor wishes them luck, and isn't ashamed at all to hurry back the way he came, stopping only for a final wave and shout of hopes for success from the safety of the top of the windbreak hill.
Havaris lifts a hand of greeting to the Bolians, offering them reassuring nods before motioning the party down to the pre-fab dock and pausing at the edge. He glances over his shoulder at the Andorians, clearly checking in on their resolve, but making no question of it vocally. He looks back out over the dock, nods his head, and reshoulders his weapon to step up to the moored submarine. "You know, fighting in the mountains of Dahkur never gave me much cause for submarine work. I hope one of you knows how to pilot this thing, because I sure don't." Ticking his head in an 'oh well' gesture, he steps out onto the ladder of the conning tower, climbs to the hatch, opens it, and swings his legs onto the ladder to step down into the thing.
Poole makes her way down the dock, watching her step. Then, hefting her rifle once more, she steps onto the submarine, then clambers up the conning tower ladder and then stands at the hatch. Calling down into the vehicle after Havaris, she says, "I'd like to take the helm, if I might."
Being set on fire, eating Klingon food, being married to a Ferengi...all of these things don't seem quite so bad when compared to that blessed submarine. But, sometimes honor and duty have to come before personal wellbeing. With a quickly muttered prayer to any of the 600 gods that might be listening, Claness walks down the -middle- of the dock, stopping at the -middle- of the submarine where he climbs the conning tower, his eyes staying on the ladder and away from the cubic miles and miles of frozen, watery death that is everywhere to be seen. He climbs upto the hatch, asking Poole in a proper syntax but not necessarially a proper tone to "Please move..." and then he climbs into the sub proper, where an audible exhale can be heard even outside. Much better.
Merus follows the other Starfleet officers down the hill and onto the dock, gazing down into the water. An image of contentment, even with the dark undertones of the mission, passes on his face. The water seems to be a comfort, if anything to the young officer. Sighing, he looks at the submarine and begins to board with he rest of the crew.
Idisha watches Claness brace himself and head into the submarine. The look on his face is very much 'oh hell' and the words of Havaris cause a rather expressive look of concern to grace his features. Still, he's not about to be shown up by some jock and another deep breath later he starts walking. He's not really there at all, his eyes are focused on the submarine as he steps onto the dock, one foot after the other. Then there's that gap between the sub and dock where his fingers grasp the rail of the conning tower with a vice grip before clamboring up to the top and into the hatch. Not a word. Not a blink. No, someone else is at the helm right now and its got to be that little fuzzy that he'll pop into in a hundred incarnations. Yes, this is going a long way towards creating in him the enlightenment of a thousand years. Yes. I'll be rewarded in the next life... Not a comforting thought at all.
Gorgha makes his way onto the submarine quietly.
Inside the submarine itself, those in Starfleet find a reassuring familiarity. Forward from the conning tower is a "bridge" complete with a command chair and the typical stations they would find on a starship. The systems seem to be online and purring, indicating the team from the Deneva that dropped the submarine off also started up the power core and likely ran all the post-transportation diagnostics before they returned to orbit.
"Claness, I want you at Ops. Merus, you're at the Sensor station. Idisha, take Engineering. Gorgha..." Kusto scans the bridge for a quiet moment, motioning to one of the secodary Science posts. "Back up Merus, unless we have a medical emergency. You should be able to do general scans from there. I'll take the Command chair and handle weapons from there." Kusto then looks to Poole, "Are you telling me that you feel confident you can pilot this thing, Poole? If not, you take Ops from Claness, and I'll put him in the flight chair." --Direct--
Poole clambers down into the submarine and shuts the hatch behind her. Entering the bridge, she looks to Havaris and says, "I'm confident I can pilot this thing, sir."
Havaris nods at Poole, taking her very much at her word, "Then man your post, Lieutenant. Everyone? Take your stations." Kusto steps up into the command chair, settles in casually, and eyes his terminal, familiarizing himself with his controls. "When ready, Helm, sound our klaxon and inform the harbor we're leaving our moor and pulling away."
With a soft smile, Poole makes her way to the helm controls, taking a seat as she replies, "Aye, aye, skipper." She runs her fingers along the controls, getting a quick feel for them, then plots a course for the coordinates of the Bolians' last signal. "Sounding the klaxon... releasing our moors." She opens a com channel, "This is the ... uh... USS Nautilus," with a glance back at Havaris for approval, "Requesting permission to depart."
Claness nods after the decision of station assignment is cleared up and moves over to the Ops station. After a quick check, he's ready to go and offers both Helm and Command a nod.
Merus steps down into the submarine, glancing about a few seconds before looking to Havaris as he starts issuing orders, nodding, as he is ordered to the sensor station, he begins to move as he responds, "Yes sir." Sitting down at the station he activates it, going over the controls briefly.
"Roger that Nautilus, this is Thel'Coara harbor control. You have clearance to depart, please don't exceed a speed of 15 nauts until you pass beyond the harbor buoy, after which you may safely submerge. Weather reports for the area you are heading towards are for light showers and hail. Smooth Sailing Nautilus, Harbor Master out.
Idisha gives a nod to Havaris and takes a seat at engineering. A quick scan of the readouts and he pulls out his PADD, references the established specs of the drive systems, and whispers a prayer that nothing goes wrong in Graalen.
Gorgha mans his station with a nod to Havaris and begins to familiarize himself with the Federation controls. Better admit to not recognizing a button here than underwater.
The crew settle into thier positions and familiarize themselves with thier controls, one even remembering to close the hatch they all came through. Now sealed in, the vessels sounds very much like a familiar runabout or the ops deck on Station 419.
Havaris checks his weapons systems over in a rather perfunctory fashion before looking up at the various crew. "Ops, see if you can give some extra power to our sensors. I want to know what's out there well before weapons range. Helm, all ahead one quarter. Bring us from the moor and head for the buoy. When on course, increase engines as necessary to reach fifteen nauts. Medical, use your sensors to scan for large life signs out there. It doesn't hurt to have two eyes on the ocean. Engineering, what's our max speed and maneuverability in this thing?" Hey! Orders for everyone. Edwards would be proud.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
"Aye," Poole replies, working the controls and piloting the ship slowly out of the dock, slowly at first and building to fifteen nauts. She keeps a wary eye out for obstacles such as other ships.
<CONTEST> Claness contests his Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
"Aye," Poole replies, working the controls and piloting the ship slowly out of the dock, slowly at first and building to fifteen nauts. She keeps a wary eye out for obstacles such as other ships.
<CONTEST> Claness contests his Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Claness offers an "Aye, sir" back to Havaris as he diverts the power, as requested. He turns to sensors. "Supplemental power is now at your disposal."
Merus nods in the Andorian's direction and begins working with the sensor console, "Aye, thank you," the trill begins to configure the sensors to maximize capacity to the best of the small vessel's ability using the extra power supplied.
GAME: Gorgha spends a courage point.
With the initial paranoia of being underwater out of the way, Idisha sinks into his chair after tucking the PADD away. At least everything is the way it should be. For now. A quick review of the readouts before him and he answers Havaris with a terse efficiency. "Maximum speed rates at roughly two hundred thirty kph. As for maneuverability, we're somewhere around the lines of cutting butter with a knife and turning like a thirty year old freighter missing half of its thrusters. Don't ask her to do cartwheels, sir, but our acceleration is nice.
<CONTEST> Gorgha (claiming advantage) contests his Computer skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Under Poole's steady hand at the helm the crew first navigates away from the dock then out of the harbor until finally sliding under the icy waves. The moment the bridge started sinking and the forward windows began to be covered by the water was a tense one for some, to be sure. Moving to crusing speed, only a few course corrections were required to follow the course. After a few hours the navigational computer chimes to announce they have reached the position where the Bolian reported his sighting.
Bored. Bored. Bored. *Chime*
Kusto stirs in his seat, lifting his head from his fist with a quiet but obvious deep intake of breath. He breaks out of the fugue of hours of near-silent sailing by turning his attention to Merus. "Alright, Sensors. I want to know what's out there. As far as you can see, as deep as you can see, as much as you can see. I want to know what's out there. Helm, full stop. Ops, keep our sensors in juice. Medical, stand by." Kusto turns his chair to face Merus, "What can you see out there?" -- Direct --
GAME: Merus spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Merus (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Merus nods, "Yes sir..." turning his attention away from Havaris' address, he begins to work at the sensor station for a few moments, in silence, as results start to come onto his monitor he speaks as he reads them, "I am picking up trace amounts of polycarbon silicates in the area..." looking up to Havaris, "Perhaps Dr. Gorgha should run a comparison match?"
"That's why he's standing by, Ensign. Medical, see what you can make of it." Kusto swivels his chair back about, fingers slowly drumming on the arm of his chair, expression sternly set and perfectly pensive.
"Full stop, aye, sir..." Poole replies as she brings the submarine to a gentle, but full stop. Then she waits patiently at her controls, listening to the rest of the crew work.
Claness double-checks his power readings, a subtle smile forming on his lips as Lt. Havaris gives him a "keep doing what you're doing...whatever that is" order. Ah, he likes that Bajoran. "Power flow steady, sir." He keeps his eyes on his controls and away from the viewscreen. Nope, don't want to see whats out there.
Merus turns back to his station for a few moments and then looks back up, "Also... it may be of use to note that this part of the ocean is quite deep... it is over one and a half kilometers to the bottom from the surface."
Idisha just keeps doing what he's doing. Keeping everything in the green. Yellow is bad. And red? Lets not talk about red. Red is bad. Water is bad. Red means water...lots and lots of water...
Gorgha pulls up the ship's library and compares it with his readings. He makes an unhappy sound at his findings. "The polycarbon sillicates that Mr. Merus has picked up are not indiginous to this region nor are they used by the colony in any form so they are not runoff of some sort. Their chemical makeup is similar to the complex chemical structures used by the Dominion."
Havaris straightens in his chair at this news, nodding his head vaguely but with a hint of presumption to it. Naturally, this would happen. "Yellow Alert." As the computer takes the order and the running lights engage, Kusto takes in a breath then glances to Claness. "Ops, relay our findings to the harbor for relay to Starfleet. I'm not surprised that there are Dominion holdouts on this rock. Helm, plot a course to follow the silicate residue in the water. Use the Sensor feed to keep us on course. All ahead full, steady as she goes."
<CONTEST> Claness contests his Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Merus (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
"Aye, sir... plotting a course," Poole says as she works the helm, chewing her lip a bit as she does so.
"Aya sir." Thalev allows himself a quick glance forward at icy depths that they currently find themselves in. Quickly he tears his eyes away and concentrates on sending the required message. "Submarine Nautilis I to Thel'Coara harbormaster, we have encountered sensor data that suggests Dominion activity or involvement. Our coordinates are XXX.XX.X. Please send confirmation of the receipt of the datastream containing our findings and forward it and this message to Starfleet..." He continues on, his voice washing out with the sounds of decent.
Merus works at the sensor station, his hands moving quite quickly across the surface of the controls, "Sensors are now automatically extrapolating the correct course corrections and forwarding them to helm to allow them to follow the trail. I will continue monitoring them." The Trill seems presently not overly affected, atleast not openly, by the mention of Dominion or the waters beyond the safety of the small vessel.
From the comstation, "Naut-- One th-- bor control...irmation of coordinates of dom...ity. Will relay...arfleet command.
Idisha watches a view of the readouts change. Most notably the psi of the surrounding water upon the hull plating. Thankfully it is all very much in the green. "Sir, this vessels rated crush depth is well below the ocean bottom. We'll be quite safe." Probably added more for his own sanity and Claness' as the Andorian swallows his stomach and keeps himself from paling much beyond a light cyan.
. o O Gorgha thinks "Of course it's underwater. ... themselves before looking ..."
Gorgha contunues to scan for lifesigns out of the ordinary and compare them to his records.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
(Scene Closing Act II) Down. It's down and down, first gradual then steep. Down so far the sun doesn't go. Down so far the darkness becomes a living thing only stung by the lights of the submarine. A black wall shifting organically before the windows on the bridge. Down and down with Idisha counting off the depth. Dark and Down, down and dark. The horrors of the Andorian hell come to the thoughts of the Andorians. It's not the familiar sterile darkness of space, this darkness is something more hungry, waiting for a slip to catch them. They descend and descend occasionally banking in the descent until the sensor map on the small screen above the window reveals the "bottom" is only a prelude as the course leads deeper towards a trench that falls another kilometer or more into the planet's form. From where they sit, it almost looks like a mouth waiting to close on them.
(Act III) The Nautilus I following the chemical trail of the suspected Dominion presence continues it's downward course into the oceanic trench of Fimdari's western ocean. As Lt Poole tries to slip the vessel into the rough terrain of this anciently formed volcanic terror in the floor of the ocean, she finds the going more difficult. The sensors reveal that the trench itself is rife with cavern openings indicating a network of deeper reaches within, too windy for the sensors to explore without a closer approach. Then, with an alarming reverberation throughout the submarine, there is a contact. The port navigational fin collides with a murky rock outcropping. Warning alarms immediately begin sounding around the bridge and the outcropping breaks under the force of the impact causing some large chunks to rebound off the armored skin of the Nautilus and forcing the sub into an unplanned for adjustment deeper in depth.
. o O Claness thinks "By the gods, that looks like ... mouth! There ... a reason ... we Andorians /walk/ ... legs....*thunk*.....uh'oh."
"Helm...!" Kusto jars in his seat a touch in the collision, swiveling his chair to stare at the back of Poole's head for a long moment before turning back to front, dropping his chin onto an open palm to quietly seethe for a second or two. "Steady. As. She goes." Without being too obvious about it, he glances to the Andorians aboard and makes some rather pointless requests, meant to keep their minds on their teriminals and not on the tonsage of pounds per square inch just itching to make a pleasant jelly of their bones. "Ops, Engineering. Status. Sensors, I want all of these caverns searched. Helm, ahead one quarter. Proceed at current running depth." A pause. "And avoid the walls, please."
Poole winces at the contact, and begins working to correct it's effect, "/Aye/, /Aye/, sir." She forces herself to watch more carefully, to take care where she steers the ship even moreso than she was... gritting her teeth.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Claness contests his Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Claness taps at his console as red, yes, red indicators light his blue-hued face in a ghastly, devilish way. He'd panic about the water-thing, but frankly he doesn't have the time. "Sir, the impact has destroyed the subspace communications array on the upper section of the conning tower. Minor damage to the power relay systems, causing a temporary bleed-off of energy. Compensating....now." With the power locked down, he turns in his chair, looking at Lt. Havaris. "Sir, we are at too great of a depth to have any meaningful communication with the surface, array or no array. Also, our transporters will not reach this depth."
Merus grabs the edges of his console as the small vessel collides with the edge of the trench, keeping himself steady and, more importantly, on his chair. Looking over towards helm a moment, he does his best not to let the events faze him, returning his attention to his station he nods to Havaris, "Aye sir... I've already got that information coming up... we didn't loose the lock on the trail, fortunately, it goes into one of the nearby cavern systems." Looking over the maps brought up by the sensors the Trill continues, "The vessel won't fit inside the entrance, however... the only way to penetrate the cavern is to send a couple people outside..."
Idisha starts spouting off info almost as soon as he's asked. Hell, he was checking the moment they got rocked. A virtual death grip kept Thaal'vor in his chair and his eyes locked on the ships integrity display. "Hull integrity intact. We lost a few plates of the ablative is all..." Just when he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he notes a few red lights. Hmm. Then his stomach sinks at the news of the lack of communications and transport. Yet again there is muttered prayers to the 600 and 2 gods. This time to the rather obscure god of buoyancy. Then he looks to Merus. The words he wants to say are rather plain. /Outside!?/ Are you /nuts!?/ He goes right back to his console. Oh yes. He's not going. He'd kill you first.
Gorgha says, "Internal sensors indicate that the Andorian crewmembers are under a great deal of physiological stress. Though it's probably /psychologically/ induced it would be foolhardy to take that risk. I will volunteer to explore the caves."
. o O Claness thinks "Good. Let the ... go. ... know any ..."
. o O Idisha thinks "She's going ... kill me. ... really ... me. ... her ... be going ... Fimdari. Checking ... an anomalous reading in the ... told me to ... Didn't ... anything about ... sub to ... I'd ... /brave/. ... say. ... Yes, ... be brave...... to kill me... I ... out here first.... gods ... you Serendis ... love."
As Poole attempts to stablized the submarines course after the impact, one of the starboard reactionless thrusters misfires, now doubt from the previous impact anc causes the sub to swerve suddenly. The aft section of the Nautilus impacts another rock outcropping which collapses, but without the previous impact as the Nautilus moves away. Poole rides herd on the controls and then, as if nothing had happened, the sub slinks smoothly through the inky depths.
Havaris closes his eyes to ride out the rocking of the submarine, once more bracing in his chair until the Nautilus is running steady. His fingers uncurl from the seat arms with audible suction, after which he takes a moment to rotate his right wrist and wring his hand out. He nods his head and offers further direction, "Helm, take us ahead to the cave complex indicated by Sensors, then come to full stop. Ops, Engineering, I'll need you aboard. You're to monitor communications and shipboard systems while we're outside the hull. Engineering, see if you can repair any of the damage we've received from the inside. Merus, we don't need your sensor work any more. You are relieved. Gorgha, Merus, you're with me. Helm, you have command." Kusto rises from his seat and begins pacing back to the Pressure suits and weapons lockers. "Trade in your sidearms for the weapons here. They're rated for sub-surface."
Merus once again grabs the sides of his console, his hands getting quite a bit tighter around the edges this side, not because the blow was more serious to the vessel this time, just because it was the second one. As the vessel steadies out he leans back, glancing to Havaris as he reissues orders, nodding once, ans answering "Yes sir," he stands, perhaps a little hesitantly, as he starts to move in Havaris's designated direction. He trades his weapon for the underwater one and keeps it out of the holster, placing it on a ledge as he prepares a pressure suit for himself.
Poole exhales a shaky breath as the ship quits misbehaving and slides smoothy through the deep water. "Aye, sir... bringing the ship in and coming to a full stop." She works the controls, glancing over at the Andorians to see how they're doing.
Claness seems to be doing fine on the outside. A quick look at the set of his jaw may prove otherwise. The occasional sound of teeth grinding together can be heard from the helm chair, but he doesn't seem like he's the type to lose it. "Aye, sir." He says to Havaris. "Standard Federation communicators will more than suffice...unless you travel more than 2km away from the submarine, which is unlikely. Shall I route tactical or sensors through my station, sir?" He looks to Poole, who now has the con.
Idisha is still breathing. Barely. He's leaving a permanent impression in the arm rests of his chair though. With things smoothing out and coming to a stop, he reviews the data before him. "I might be able reroute communications through the dorsal sensor array. It won't be of any use at this depth but its better than nothing. I imagine once we leave the trench we'll be able to communicate." There's a lot of hope in that voice. Its all he has after all. Sanity left about two bumps ago.
Gorgha exchanges his disruptor for the underwater weapon provided. He then sets about finding a suit which will fit him then donning it and preparing to follow Havaris and Merus out.
. o O Idisha begins chanting in his mind. "... all going ... all going to ... to die. Or ... /suffer/ first. ... Oh ... Might as ... fake ... going to ... endeavor. ... better than twiddling thumb and waiting ... it to ...
A few minutes of activity later and the waterlock on the aft dorsal section of the submarine cycles. An isolated closet of light in the deep darkness. From the closet of light emerge three smaller lights, the lights of the helmets on the pressure suits. Using a combination of battery powered aquatic thruster packs and swimming the three ambulate towards the cavern entrance that Merus' scans indicates the chemical path has continued into...
GAME: Merus spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Merus (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Dramatically Fails!
<CONTEST> Merus (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Merus (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
... Abruptly, as the three figures slide through the intense pressure of this depth, a warning alarm sounds inside Havaris' helmet echoed by a similar alarm by the science I/mission ops station on the submarine. Havaris feels a solidity in his lungs, it becomes hard to breath so fast that he can't articulate more than a gurgle before even that is too much. His arms flail for a moment, then as a desperate act of self preservation he adjust his navigational jet to full burn to push him back towards the ship. Doctor Gorgha and Merus, who were behind him thier little formation can clearly see his eyes rolling up in the back of his head through the lit face plate of his suit. It's an easy matter for them to catch him before his course carries him off at a random angle as he loses consciousness. They burn back towards the waterlock, pounding the button for the cycle, and despite it's speed it seems like forever. As soon as the lock clears they are dragging Havaris, suit and all to the small medical closet amidship and with a mighty heave Gorgha lifts Havaris up onto the table and disengages his helmet. The medical scanners on the biobed indicate there was some sort of failure in the atmospheric composition mixture system in the suit, and apparently in the autodiagnostic software as well. Havaris isn't going anywhere, but fortunately a doctor is on hand and can try to save him and prevent any permanent neurological damage. That means, Doctor Gorgha isn't going back outside either... someone has to go, and Starfleet regulations require an away mission team stay in groups of at least two...
Poole opens a com to Gorgha, moving over to the big chair. Her expression one of intense worry, "/Report/."
Doctor Gorgha explains that Havaris is in critical condition but he can save his life -- if left alone to do so. He also indicates that should hurry up with your mission, Havaris is going to need an Infirmary.
Poole puts a hand to her hair, roughing it up a bit as she thinks, muttering "Jimminy cricket..." Then, she looks among what's left of the crew, "Alright, we've got a seriously problem here... I am unwilling to stay down here if it means Havaris' life... But we do have a Bolian captain to find... and the Dominion may still be on this world." She frowns and looks to Merus, "Let's go, ensign... Chakev Claness, I'm instructing you to depart for the surface if... anything should happen."
Claness looks to Lt. Poole, then swallows hard. "I better suit up, Lt. Poole. You are needed on the bridge, Idisha is our only engineer and is vital for the mission to succeed. This information needs to get back to Starfleet and it is vital for the saftey of this planet and this sector that we follow this lead to its end. You, sire, are needed here."
Merus stands rather... shocked after getting Havaris back aboard the ship, he watches Gorgha work for a few moments before snapping out of it and looking to Poole as she starts to reissue orders once more, nodding, he stands in the airlock, not having had a chance to remove his EVA suit, he looks between her and Claness, waiting for a decision.
Idisha just rather stares at Thalev a moment before nodding solemnly to the fellow. Its almost like he just consigned him to death the way he looks at his fellow Andorian. Then the look changes to a subtle approval. As if he has seen the measure of a man and it is Claness. "Sir. If I may be so bold... I believe the Chakev is correct."
Poole stares at Claness a moment and asks, "Are you absolutely sure, Lieutenant?" She doesn't look like she's hesitating: if he says no she's ready to suit on up.
Claness nods. "My duty is clear." He's sweating, but he's willing.
Merus stands near the airlock, waiting for the rest of the second team to suit up. Not expecting to be asked to prepare someone's EVA suit after the last attempts events.
Idisha rises from his chair as if in salute to his lodgemate's bravery. "I would be honored if I might prepare your path my brother." He's an engineer, he can't possibly screw this up right?
. o O Claness thinks "... gods, if I am to ... my loved ... soon, let me die well..../after/ the mission is completed."
Poole steps over to Claness and lays a hand on his shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze. "You'll come back, Lieutenant... just take it slowly. And /double-check/ everything." This last part is said as she looks pointedly to Merus, with a glance to Idisha as well, "Yes, make sure they're suited up correctly." Then. "Find out what the hell is in that cavern."
GAME: Claness spends a courage point.
Claness nods. "Yes sir." He looks to Ensign Maris and manages to give the rattled Ensign a cock-eyed smile. "Lets go find the Dominion.:
GAME: Idisha spends a courage point.
Merus grimaces as he catches Poole's look, looking down at the ground slightly, he looks up at Claness however, as he speaks, nodding, "Very well... I'm ready when you are..."
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Idisha approaches Claness and after giving the man a 'manly' embrace, proceeds to help him into the eva suit. Checking the settings and even lowering the inner temperature to something an Andorian would find just peachy. "Your bimota will know no limit for this, my friend." And with that blessing, he seals Claness into his suit.
Suits checked and double checked after Havaris' horrible accident, the two officers cycle the wetlock again. The chamber fills with chilling death quickly until the red light turns green and the door opens again. The two officers set out for the second try to follow the trail left behind...
<CONTEST> Merus contests his Athletics (Swimming) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Claness (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Swimming) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
The two officers move further and further away from the submarine with confident and deft navigation of the course until finally they come to rest on the floor of the cavern entrance. Distantly they can see the subdued lights coming from the window of the Nautilus I. Moving together deeper inside the pass beyond the mouth of the cavern and around the first corner.
<CONTEST> Merus contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Claness contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Claness settles his feet to the bottom of the cavern, a comforting if ultimately useless gesture, and begins his scan. In a near-mutter, he says "Ensign Merus, give me a full-spectrum scan, maximum range, concentrating on the same signatures you had on sensors." Thalev does the same, extending his use of technology out into the murky, cavernous depths.
Merus plants his feet in the silt that has gathered over the years at the cave floor, his moves slowed by the pressure of the water against his body, the Trill pulls the tricorder from his side and begins scanning the interior of the cave. After a few moments of this, he speaks into his comm, notifying both Claness and the crew on the sub of his results, "I'm detecting what appears to be a small base hidden within the shelf of the ocean trench." Pausing for a few moments and continuing to read the results, "They also hae a small submarine vessel... if I had to guess, I'd say they were using the latter for reconaissance, likely what our Bolian captain detected..." pausing for a few more seconds, "The layout and armaments of the base suggest that they are using it as a staging ground for an attack from the sea against the settlements here..."
Claness growls into his integrated combadge. He glances in his HUD to verify that Merus is getting what he is getting. With a grim nod, Claness mutters "...this is what we came for. Ensign, link up with the sub and get this data back to them...." Clanesses voice trails off for a moment. "Lt. Poole, they are activating the sub. I'm getting energy readings...they are preparing to launch." He looks to Merus. "Lets start back, double-time. But get that data out!."
(cut scene -- Subinterior) Idisha is working on rerouting the communications interlinks to the dorsal sensor array when the data uplink comes to Poole's console from Merus's suitfeed...
"We've got company ensign... I have the data... do you think you could get a transmission off at all?" Poole asks quickly, then tries to see if she can't get closer to her men, to shorten their trip.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Havaris kicks the collective net.
Idisha is rather busy buried neck deep in a console with chips and whatnot strewn about around him. "I'm working on it sir. I think..." There is a moment of silence and static coms from the internal speakers. "I think that did it sir. We'll need to get a little closer to the surface but our coms are running hot!" That at least makes him happy. Content even to clean up his mess and get back to the engineering console.
<CONTEST> Claness (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Swimming) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Merus contests his Athletics (Swimming) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
From the bridge of the Nautilus, Idisha and Poole can see pinpricks of light emerge from nowhere, obviously the away team coming back from the caverns in a hurry...
"Alright, ensign, I'm going to try and calculate a firing solution that will collapse that cavern... I need you to keep an eye on our crewmen...," Poole says as she works her console, biting her lower lip as she does so.
Claness is heaving and moving. "Lt....Poole.....sub on the....way."
Merus breaks out into as fast a spring as he can, but the stress of the situation finally begins to catch up wit the Trill officer as his energy levels drop as he tries to maneuver himself to the friendly submarine at, what is an decent pace, but not an extremely fast one.
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
Idisha nods at Poole's command...and after perhaps a momentary hesitation, voices a thought. "Sir... I think I could beam them out. Into the waterlock. But if I miscalculate the amount of water the results would be... Perhaps no less healthy for them than Dominion forces or our torpedo..." He leaves the call in her more than capable hands of course...
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
The two eva crewman are approximately half way to the submarine, as can be seen from the bridge, when a larger ambience source can been seeing approaching the mouth of cavern. It can only be the microsub they two officers mentioned, not exited yet, but surely on it's way out.
Poole grins savagely as she finds a firing solution, then speaks over the com, "I need you guys back... /Now/... that sub is closing." A look to Idisha, "I'm not willing to risk their lives in a transporter, not down here...." She waits to see if the officers make it back before the Dommie sub gets free... her fingers ready to key the torpedoes to fire.
<CONTEST> Claness (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Swimming) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Merus contests his Athletics (Swimming) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
"Almost there....c'mon, Ensign....almost there...." Chakev Claness maneuveres his aqua-jets as best he can, kicking and swimming as he does so. Finally, the water-lock is in sight and Claness slaps the recycle pad. "Get...in." When Merus is in (after his pose), Claness clambers in, opens a com-channel and shouts "We're in!"
With a sudden burst of power, Merus adjusts himself in the water and begins to propel himself at easily twice, possibly three times his previous speed, closing the distance between himself and the sub at an increasingly rapid pace. Shooting a glance at the Andorian to ensure he is nearby as well, and noting he is, the Trill once again propels himself in the direction of the wetlock. Diving through the open wetlock, the Trill topples inside, thudding lightly against the far side of the small room as his momentum is stopped.
Idisha is almost breathing a sigh of relief, then a thought occurs to him. "Umm. Sir. Do us a favor. Before you launch that torpedo lets get underway? We want to be a few hundred meters away at worst before detonation or we won't survive it either..." In fact, he gets up and mans ops just in case he needs to take over helm controls. He's all out of prayers for Poole's piloting...
The lambent glow of the Dominion Micro-subs running lights become clearer now, it's stunted prow can be seen emerging from the caver below...
"Move us out of range, Idisha..." Poole orders, tapping her com badge, "Merus... Claness... we could use help on the bridge. If I don't fire now, ... we won't be able to fight off a well-trained submarine crew...." A pause, then she keys the firing mechanism.
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Claness says, "Aye sir." Claness heads towards the bridge, then grabs the seat next to Idisha."
Merus quickly changes from his pressure suit and rushes to the bridge, resuming his station at the sensor console, "I'm standing by."
Idisha wastes no time whatsoever. As soon as he hears the all to familiar bleep of a command being entered, he is engaging the sub's thrusters. The shudder of the ship registers the launch of the torpedo and it is visible only for a second as the bridge window shifts its angle upwards and gravity asserts itself with authority as he gives it all its got.
The torpedoes launch from the submarine at an envious speed, their carefully preplotted guidence plotting sending them down towards the dominion submarine, but just as the Dominion Microsub manuevers evasively, the twin torpedoes jig left than upwards into the cavern mouth lip. There is a tremendous explosion that kicks a wake of hard water concusive force towards the fleeing Nautilus and around the entire trench there is a shaking. The torpedos have sealed off the cavern entrance... but they have also set off an Avalanche. Column of shorn rock break off and tumble towards the beleaguered submarine...
Ooo boy, now she's done it. "Bigger boom than I thought," Poole comments, forced back into her chair by gravity. "Helm, evasive manuevers!" --Direct--
GAME: Idisha spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Idisha isn't really paying much attention to Poole as she gives the rather redundant order. He's rather got his antennaed head glued to the viewscreen in front of him. Its all blackness before him so the fact that its water is rather moot. Rather its like running slalom through a great asteroid field that is determined to crush you into a million tiny pieces. Two or three of the great rocks even go so far as to jostle the tiny submersible but despite their clawing attempts to sink the intrpid crew, it comes to no avail and the group finds themselves rapidly rising towards the surface and free of the great maw that was the trench.
--direct--
Poole death-grips her chairs armrests, waiting out the rough ride. She smiles when it becomes evident that they've made it. "Nicely done, Ensign...."
Claness slinks back in his chair, never so happy to be rocketing through the depths of an ocean in his entire life. He grins broadly and reaches over, punching Idisha in the arm in a manly-Andorian way. "Good flying...for an Idisha." He exhales, then looks around at the crew, that same grin firmly in place.
Merus keeps his gaze glued on the sensor readouts flashing on the screen in front of him as he white-knuckles the sides of his console, bracing for the expected collision. When it never comes he lets out a long breath, "Wow... that was some good flying, Ensign..." is all he manages to get out, rather stunned.
Idisha exhales and eventually rights the vessel into a semblance of a horizontal rise and beams at Claness' compliment. "Yes well, I couldn't have done that better if I were an Athrun..." Giving a quick glance about, he chuckles. "And seeing as we don't have any present, I just did." He chuckles.
(Mission Conclusion) "From the murky depths of Fimdari you have emerged as heroes. It is likely the Dominion murdered the unfortunate Bolian fisherman for discovering their presence, but you have made sure his sacrifice was not in vain by removing the Dominion Underwater beachhead on Fimdari. Now you must reassure the Andorians that the threat has been met and get back to Station 419 to brief the Command on your discovery. In light of your work the local ADF forces will modify portions of their limited stock of probes to explore the inaccessible depths of their colony to seek out more of these stations, but for now you have their gratitude and respect.
