Post by LucianG on Apr 25, 2005 5:31:48 GMT -6
<Lucian>
In the Science Office, Solon and the other science officers started reviewing all of the information known about Shonada Delta. "A little first hand information would sure help," he thought.
* * *
Lt. Lucian had just slipped back into Sick Bay, without Nurse Holodoc seeing him. He climbed into bed, without removing his tunic, and slipped a sheet over him. His head still hurt, but despite all the questions he was pondering, he fell asleep almost instantly. In the office, Nurse Holodoc smiled to herself. Didn't those silly warriors know about that infrared operated chime? She'd check on Lucian shortly.
* * *
On the planet's surface, the miners had succeeded, with the help of Lt. Krissy and Ensign Najinn, in unloading their equipment from the shuttle, and were transporting it a few meters to a site that appeared relatively level. Ensign Najinn had scanned it, and said that it was as good as anywhere else in the area, as far as he could determine with his portable equipment. All the work party noticed the crazing that had started on their helmet faceplates. The corrosive gases were eating into the surface of the screens, making it more difficult to see out as time passed. Still, within a couple of centars, the mining operation would be underway.
<Brie>
Captain Brie couldn't find Lt. Amy anywhere. It was getting pretty frustrating. But then she heard the page, "Captain Brie, report to the landing bay, immediately." Everyone was talking. It looked like two of the Viper pilots were returning to the Callisto. "Amy, you're going to have to wait," Brie mumbled, then went to see what she could do to help.
<Cain>
Ensign Najinn reported in that the equipment was in place, and would be operating within a few centons. He also reported his environment suit was quickly deteriorating as were the others. Lt. Cain calculated the rate of corrosion, and ordered the mining crew to shut down no longer that one centar from now. Breathing was becoming a bit difficult for all, the filtering gear was apparently affected by the gaseous ions. Cain looked to Mossy: "We may die here, at least the fleet will have the precious elements...that is...only if they find us."
Mossy replied, "We're not dead yet Lieutenant. We'll make it. Just get ready to fire those lasers at regular intervals after the team returns."
Cain asked, "Did I mention we might set the entire planet on fire?"
"What?" Mossy exclaimed.
"There is a chance of a chain reaction and combustion of the atmosphere IF there is any buried deposits we didn't see. Let's not worry about that right now. Yes, we'll make it."
Both turned to look out the shuttle's forward windows...looking at the orange swirling clouds around them, waiting for the mission to finish.
<Charybdis>
News of the two returning pilots spread like sunbursts throughout the Callisto. This was the first time that the Callisto was involved in a major mission since joining the fleet and now...this.
I made my way to the landing bay under Commander Sheba's orders to check on the pilots who were to return. It was just outside the entrance of the bay that Lt. Amy came speeding around the corner. She was so distraught that she almost ran over me. She was startled when we brushed against each other.
"Amy!" I called out as she began to move toward the door without even looking to see that it was me.
She turned and stopped in her tracks. I could see the worry in her face. My heart broke when I saw her eyes. So young, she didn't need to be experiencing this. Close friends, perhaps dying at this very instant. But, we were Warriors. It's nothing we haven't been through before.
Still, I didn't want to see anyone, Amy, in such pain. I hated it when we had to send good men and women into combat or on dangerous missions. I wish we didn't have to, but...
I put my hand on her shoulder and as best I could, I said, "It'll be alright." I know that it probably didn't help her, but what could I do right here, right now?
I figured the best way to deal with things is to face them head on. I punched the button and we walked into the landing bay together.
<Amy>
Lt. Amy stopped as the doors closed behind her and Charybdis. They stood in the landing bay, but Amy didn't seem to be noticing the flurry of activity there. Her mind was elsewhere. Conflicting emotions and feelings distorted her face as Charybdis pulled on her arm, urging her forward. Amy stood firm.
She had left the storeroom after a long while of trying to get herself together. News of the mission's misfortune had really hit her hard. She couldn't even recall leaving the storeroom, just suddenly being at the launch bay, and the Lt. Colonel being there.
"I'm not up to this right now,” she offered in a broken voice to Charybdis. He seemed puzzled, and ready to say something.
"I'm off-duty, Charybdis," she said. "I'm... not feeling well," she added lamely. Charybdis let go of Amy's arm. He seemed confused, and a little hurt. Amy was a bundle of contradictions, he had come to know, but this made little sense. Didn't she care about the crew? What was holding her back? In the present emergency, he had bigger things to think about. He moved into the landing bay without saying a word.
Amy hesitated, almost calling out to him. But she checked herself. She really didn't feel well. Her head was pounding, and her barely held back emotions ready to erupt again. She left the landing bay, getting out of sight of Charybdis, who had taken one look back in her direction.
Back in the corridor, Amy stood, head in her hands. She felt like she was going to pass out. She crouched down, trying to steady her spinning head. She needed to lie down.
She got to her feet, and began heading for the Gold barracks, completely forgetting that they were a mess at the moment. Absentmindedly, she fingered Najinn's note, still tucked safely in her belt.
"They've got to be alright", Amy told herself. "He's got to be." But what of Charybdis? What would he make of her actions just now? "Way to go, Amy. You're one fine frackin' warrior," she said softly.
In the Science Office, Solon and the other science officers started reviewing all of the information known about Shonada Delta. "A little first hand information would sure help," he thought.
* * *
Lt. Lucian had just slipped back into Sick Bay, without Nurse Holodoc seeing him. He climbed into bed, without removing his tunic, and slipped a sheet over him. His head still hurt, but despite all the questions he was pondering, he fell asleep almost instantly. In the office, Nurse Holodoc smiled to herself. Didn't those silly warriors know about that infrared operated chime? She'd check on Lucian shortly.
* * *
On the planet's surface, the miners had succeeded, with the help of Lt. Krissy and Ensign Najinn, in unloading their equipment from the shuttle, and were transporting it a few meters to a site that appeared relatively level. Ensign Najinn had scanned it, and said that it was as good as anywhere else in the area, as far as he could determine with his portable equipment. All the work party noticed the crazing that had started on their helmet faceplates. The corrosive gases were eating into the surface of the screens, making it more difficult to see out as time passed. Still, within a couple of centars, the mining operation would be underway.
<Brie>
Captain Brie couldn't find Lt. Amy anywhere. It was getting pretty frustrating. But then she heard the page, "Captain Brie, report to the landing bay, immediately." Everyone was talking. It looked like two of the Viper pilots were returning to the Callisto. "Amy, you're going to have to wait," Brie mumbled, then went to see what she could do to help.
<Cain>
Ensign Najinn reported in that the equipment was in place, and would be operating within a few centons. He also reported his environment suit was quickly deteriorating as were the others. Lt. Cain calculated the rate of corrosion, and ordered the mining crew to shut down no longer that one centar from now. Breathing was becoming a bit difficult for all, the filtering gear was apparently affected by the gaseous ions. Cain looked to Mossy: "We may die here, at least the fleet will have the precious elements...that is...only if they find us."
Mossy replied, "We're not dead yet Lieutenant. We'll make it. Just get ready to fire those lasers at regular intervals after the team returns."
Cain asked, "Did I mention we might set the entire planet on fire?"
"What?" Mossy exclaimed.
"There is a chance of a chain reaction and combustion of the atmosphere IF there is any buried deposits we didn't see. Let's not worry about that right now. Yes, we'll make it."
Both turned to look out the shuttle's forward windows...looking at the orange swirling clouds around them, waiting for the mission to finish.
<Charybdis>
News of the two returning pilots spread like sunbursts throughout the Callisto. This was the first time that the Callisto was involved in a major mission since joining the fleet and now...this.
I made my way to the landing bay under Commander Sheba's orders to check on the pilots who were to return. It was just outside the entrance of the bay that Lt. Amy came speeding around the corner. She was so distraught that she almost ran over me. She was startled when we brushed against each other.
"Amy!" I called out as she began to move toward the door without even looking to see that it was me.
She turned and stopped in her tracks. I could see the worry in her face. My heart broke when I saw her eyes. So young, she didn't need to be experiencing this. Close friends, perhaps dying at this very instant. But, we were Warriors. It's nothing we haven't been through before.
Still, I didn't want to see anyone, Amy, in such pain. I hated it when we had to send good men and women into combat or on dangerous missions. I wish we didn't have to, but...
I put my hand on her shoulder and as best I could, I said, "It'll be alright." I know that it probably didn't help her, but what could I do right here, right now?
I figured the best way to deal with things is to face them head on. I punched the button and we walked into the landing bay together.
<Amy>
Lt. Amy stopped as the doors closed behind her and Charybdis. They stood in the landing bay, but Amy didn't seem to be noticing the flurry of activity there. Her mind was elsewhere. Conflicting emotions and feelings distorted her face as Charybdis pulled on her arm, urging her forward. Amy stood firm.
She had left the storeroom after a long while of trying to get herself together. News of the mission's misfortune had really hit her hard. She couldn't even recall leaving the storeroom, just suddenly being at the launch bay, and the Lt. Colonel being there.
"I'm not up to this right now,” she offered in a broken voice to Charybdis. He seemed puzzled, and ready to say something.
"I'm off-duty, Charybdis," she said. "I'm... not feeling well," she added lamely. Charybdis let go of Amy's arm. He seemed confused, and a little hurt. Amy was a bundle of contradictions, he had come to know, but this made little sense. Didn't she care about the crew? What was holding her back? In the present emergency, he had bigger things to think about. He moved into the landing bay without saying a word.
Amy hesitated, almost calling out to him. But she checked herself. She really didn't feel well. Her head was pounding, and her barely held back emotions ready to erupt again. She left the landing bay, getting out of sight of Charybdis, who had taken one look back in her direction.
Back in the corridor, Amy stood, head in her hands. She felt like she was going to pass out. She crouched down, trying to steady her spinning head. She needed to lie down.
She got to her feet, and began heading for the Gold barracks, completely forgetting that they were a mess at the moment. Absentmindedly, she fingered Najinn's note, still tucked safely in her belt.
"They've got to be alright", Amy told herself. "He's got to be." But what of Charybdis? What would he make of her actions just now? "Way to go, Amy. You're one fine frackin' warrior," she said softly.