Rescue Ready!

Posted on Tue Apr 23rd, 2024 @ 6:19pm by Commander N'Garzi Zora & Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII & Lieutenant Commander Savin & Ensign Liam O'Connor & Ensign Quinn Alka-Sutton & Lieutenant Kevan Dash & Ensign Vivienne Conrad

Mission: The Trojan Horse
Location: En Route
Timeline: Following "Fallen Eagle"
2173 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Zora slid her thumbs in between the straps of her harness and her body, trying her best to relieve the pressure she felt along her collarbone. However, she quickly decided this was a mistake, her thumbs not providing the support she had hoped they would and quickly pulled them out again. She glanced at the display that was recording their descent and noted that they were still in the thermosphere, the craft in complete freefall, reaching terminal velocity. She had agreed to use an escape pod for this rescue mission due to its speed, durability, and protective shielding. She had known that the journey would be bumpy but the minimal inertial dampeners were starting to make her feel sick. She decided to focus on the mission to distract herself from her nausea.

Zora looked at the other officers who had accompanied her for the ride and was relieved to see that they seemed to be struggling as much as she was - misery loved company, right? The escape pod was designed to carry eight people, but none of the six others with her looked comfortable, all strapped into the seats in the bulkhead; four seats opposite her and three next to her. She cleared her throat loudly and they all turned to look at her, all except P'rel of course.

"Our mission is to rescue the marines and get the hell off this planet," Zora said even though they had been briefed on the Athena. "Conrad, O'Connor we have two shuttles on the surface, your job is to make them both flyable so we don't have to travel home in this," she rolled her eyes to the ceiling and bulkheads, indicating the escape pod. "P'rel, Savin tend the wounded, get them out of harm's way as soon as possible." She directed to the Vulcan and Romulan, happy that the latter was sitting opposite her so he could read her lips. "That means that the rest of us are on security detail, keep everyone safe and we all make it home. Any questions?"

This was certainly a different means of travel. Savin was glad he hadn't enjoyed an elaborate meal before the mission. He had held his breath a few times even though that didn't keep him from experiencing a sense of nausea. He happened to look at Zora just as she cleared her throat, because he sensed her discomfort as much as he sensed that of the others. He shook his head to indicate he had no real direct questions even though his mind was awhirl with them. What defined out of harm's way when he didn't even know if anywhere was safe? What of those that needed immediate surgery which obviously couldn't be provided? While a qualified doctor, a surgeon he most definitely wasn't and he didn't know if this was among P'rel's qualifications.

Liam's excitement was palpable as he and Vivienne had already spent a considerable amount of time ensuring the pod's safety and flight capability. He looked to his crewmate and smiled, "Glad we burnt the midnight oil," he said. "Time to test our theory now. If it goes wrong, I'm blaming you for giving me a concussion." He said referencing her prank of pulling the ships red alert and turning off the lights causing him to bump his head.

A far-cry from Zora's stoicism, Conrad wore her discomfort openly as a perpetual scowl. Work on the escape pod had been at the behest of senior orders and, at the time, she'd figured they were just being overly cautious. If she'd known they were actually going to bypass the effort she and O'Connor had put into sneaking a shuttle planet-side, she would have been at least tempted to duck and weave when team assignment was carried out. "The only theory I recall having for this suicide contingency is the probability of losing lunch prior to impact rather than as a result of it." Squirming, the pilot grit her teeth and succumbed to acceptance of the inevitable. "Least they got us a shuttle each this time. Last one back buys first round."

"You have yourself a deal," Liam teased, "the drink will taste so much better having been brought by you." He settled into his harness holding him in place, glancing around the escape pod, then added, "I’m feeling like a winner." Liam knew deep down that their situation was not ideal, and first they needed to be alive to carry out the work once they made planet fall. Vivienne was undoubtedly a competent engineer and perhaps a better pilot, but he kept that thought to himself as he waited for their descent to the planet's surface. Grateful for the chance to put their plan into action later, Liam braced himself for the bumpy ride ahead.

Ensign Ornaht glanced between the two overly cheerful engineers. The young security officer shook his head slightly at the pair, the circular metal studs in his blue-green face reflecting the light as he returned his gaze to the commander, "No question here, ma'am." The pod vibrated violently for a moment and he reached out, steadying himself, "Well, other than how long until we're on solid ground..." While he was good at what he did, he unfortunately had gathered something of a reputation for airsickness.

"Not too long now, we're about to enter the Troposphere," Zora replied, reading the large screen display on the bulkhead behind Savin's head. Her fingers dug into the side of her seat, grateful that this ordeal was nearly over. "Engines should be kicking in..." She wasn't able to finish her sentence as the landing thrusters engaged with such force that she was sure that she had left her stomach behind in orbit. They all lurched in their seat and various yelps and ouches echoed around the tiny pod. Zora managed to keep her stomach's contents on the inside which was a minor miracle in itself. "Commander," she said turning to Savin. Talking was a distraction and that was exactly what she needed right now. "Are we close enough for you to sense anyone alive down there?"

Unable to speak as he was fighting a sudden wave of nausea, Savin shook his head a fraction. Actively trying to do so, required concentration and that was something he lacked right now. Still, he would try, so he closed his eyes in an attempt to gain focus. It did mean that he wouldn't know when he was being spoken to. Slowly breathing in and out insofar possible, the Romulan allowed his mind to wander

As Letchers faded from life in the tunnels below the surface Ray threw all of his concentration to his present, though rusty, telepathic skills. Since the vast majority of people didn't know he was a telepath and seeing as how he had no desire to let it be known for fear that his best friend would disown him, it took everything he had to concentrate enough on sending a message out, even in desperation. I know this is a desperate hail mary, but if anyone else from the team is alive down here let me know. Letchers needs serious medical attention and I'm out of supplies. I'm not even sure if anyone would have something of use, but I have to try.

In the pod, Savin's expression changed as he seemed to sense something. It was vague, as if still too far away to get a clear sense of who or what. But he had sensed something he was certain of that. His hands tightened around the harness which held him in his seat as he focused all his energy on what he sensed. Where are you. This is Savin, we are on our way to pull you out. How many are with you, where do we go?

"Savin?" Ray scratched his brain for a second, the name sounded familiar but he couldn't quite place it. Then again, he wasn't sure it mattered. The voice had to be friendly and if it weren't, they were all dead anyway. "Tunnels. Gorn. Infiltration point. Meet me there." That was all Ray could get out before he broke the connection. Letchers was too close to death to not be tied into the present and besides, his telepathy was so rusty he just couldn't maintain longer distance contacts as much as he once could. Now he just had to hope whoever was on the receiving end of the message would get there soon enough to help.

"Thirty seconds to planetfall..." Kevan offered up, breaking the silence of waiting for the telepathic attempts at communication to bear fruit. "We'll be underneath the atmospheric disruption in about ten seconds, we should get some local comms then."

"There are survivors," Savin finally spoke up, looking directly at Zora, "he said to meet him at the infiltration point at the tunnels. He mentioned a Letchers who needs medical attention." His gaze shifted to P'rel. "He has no more supplies." He closed his eyes a moment before looking at both women again. "I lost contact and I do not know who I found, he is a telepath."

"Survivors?" Ornaht grinned slightly, "Now there's some good news. Means we aren't wasting our time with this bumpy ride." He glanced between the others on board, "Sounds like a good chance to show the marines what Starfleet can do, hmm?"

Though Savin had not seen Ornaht's statement, he seemed to somewhat answer it anyway when he spoke up again. His features resembled horror as it dawned on him. "He also mentioned Gorn," he said, "I nearly missed it as the connection was weak, but he did mention Gorn..."

The slow descension of Conrad's expression from puzzlement to protest culminated in a frozen tableaux of mouth-gaping, scowling disbelief. "Well he can just un-mention them, thanks." Her eyes scanned the faces opposite from beneath a furrowed brow. "We brought explosives, right?"

"Gorn?" That was all Zora was able to breathe out before the pod touched down on the surface of the planet with a resounding thud. Catching her breath, she unbuckled her harness and jumped to her feet. Her legs felt like jelly after the rather unorthodox means of transport but she willed them to keep her upright and for the time being, it seemed to be working.

"Suit up and prepare for heavy resistance," Zora said to the crew. Echoing Conrad's earlier statement, she too hoped they had enough explosives on board. She made her way over to the communications relay and sent a message to the Athena. It was the first time she had been happy they had travelled using an escape pod rather than a standard shuttle. An escape pod had two basic functions; stay in one piece and communicate with friendlies. "Keating, the marines may have been attacked by the Gorn, we'll be engaging them soon. Stay vigilant and keep the crew alive." She sent the message and prayed that the extensive communications array would be enough to penetrate the atmospheric interference.

Zora turned to face everyone who was now standing and ready to disembark. With a single nod, Dash activated the rear door and everyone held their breaths as the ramp slowly descended. The area around the landing zone was deserted and she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticlimax. If that's the worst feeling I experience in the next few hours I'll count myself lucky she thought to herself. "Let's move."

Originally spurred on by his and Conrads engineering work Liam was feeling a little less up for battling the gorn, especially ones who were capable of taking on their marine detachment none the less looking around he could see he was part of a good team and maybe that was good enough to not die... maybe.

Saving took a moment to get his bearings after the heavy landing, then followed the rest out of the pod. Readjusting his medical kit, he looked towards P'Rel as the CIO/CMO was more likely to know where the tunnels were than he was.

The blue-green skinned Ornaht gave his head a slight shake - Gorn. He looked his weapon over one last time and gave a tug at his suddenly uncomfortable uniform collar before rising to his feet. Not letting the sudden nervousness overtake his outward bravado, he stepped down the ramp, phaser rifle ready to snap up at a moment's notice. "What a day to draw the away team straw," he muttered.

"Conrad, O'Connor you know what to do," Zora said. She spoke directly to them but her eyes were sweeping the landscape, looking for signs of possible dangers, looking for the Gorn. "Dash, stay with them, watch their backs. If things get hot, use one of the crafts and get the hell back to the Athena, that's an order," she added before anyone could protest.

Zora turned to the others, her back straight and her jaw set. "Let's find our people."