The Evacuation (part 2)

Posted on Tue Jul 26th, 2016 @ 12:53pm by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Commander Rylie Cattmor & Lieutenant Commander Orin ch’Valri & Ensign Kanali Paxton & Chief Petty Officer Jack 'Crow' Addy

1,127 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: A Civil Act
Location: The Under City

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"Now that we know this part of the city had problems, we can look elsewhere for how they solved it -- and if they made it back to the surface."

"And what do the voices in your head say about that?" Cattmor asked.

T'mpest turned, surprised and a little saddened by the comment. It was no wonder her XO could hear nothing. "Their computers are not installed in this building, so they are not able to respond here."

[NEW[

"I see." Rylie said as soon as the answer came. "Maybe they just climbed out." she said sarcastically. And then a thought came to her; maybe that wasn't such a wild thought after all, and she looked at T'mpest directly. "Captain, do you recall the early mission reports of the starship Voyager? The Ocampan people were subterranean but some were curious enough to venture to the surface through cracks in the forcefields blocking the tunnels down there from erosion over time. We already know there's a shield of some sort stopping sensors and communication, but maybe similar cracks have appeared here as well."

Kali paused in her data collection, reaching out to touch the cavern wall. "Force fields," she said aloud, turning back to Commander Cattmor and the Captain. She raised her voice and repeated her words. "Force Fields. Putting pressure on the rock around the edges of the field. That pressure isn't natural- the rock isn't designed to take it. We haven't seen any evidence that the field is failing anywhere- the Ranger's sensors should be able to penetrate at least in places if that were so. But the rock could be failing...."

She temporarily abandoned her collection kit. "Captain- We could exploit that. A properly placed concussive strike at a strategic location could break out a large enough section of the stone that the field in place over the opening won't be able to expand to cover it. We don't have the firepower down here for a demolition of the solid stone- not without killing us all I mean- but if we use the natural fractal qualities of the local stone, it wouldn't take that much power, and since it will be small and directed it shouldn't collapse the cavern around us and bury in tons of stone..."

T'mpest considered that for several seconds. "How long would it take to set up?" She still wanted to find more information on the city and its former inhabitants. Perhaps they could do both. She could go to another building where there might be information to copy while Kali and whoever wanted to help her set up the blast.

Kali absently adjusted her bangs, making sure her forehead was thickly covered. "Rather depends on what I find... Not long once we locate a tunnel with the proper stress damage, it's just finding one that could be a problem." She looked around the cavern at the perimeter. "I.... could probably use some help searching for any tunnels that we could use."

She looked to the others. "What do you think?"

"I wish John were here." Jack replied quickly, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked off to the side to no one in particular.

"Really?" Orin said as he looked over to Jack curiously. "I would imagine you would rather have Morgana here?"

"Oh no, yeah." Jack laughed, looking over to Orin with a smile. "Of course. I mean she is Morgana.. you know... and of course I would like to have her here, but she wouldn't be able to do anything for us now. Plus, given the current situation, John would be much more useful. He could MacGyver us a force field, replicator, and a damned milk shake machine with nothing but rocks, dirt, and a paperclip."

Orin raised a brow. "That seems quite impossible."

"True." Jack replied with a smirk. "But you know how he works, Boss. He always finds a way with it comes to the mechanical stuff. Granted, his expertise is much more focused on making things blow up, but his ingenuity would com in handy." He cleared his throat again before looking around and continuing. "And nothing to Morgana about how I don't think she would have been useful down here. I value my life.. and other parts of me that may be in danger of that comment."

Orin shook his head before looking over to T'mpest and the others. "Maybe we can start opening up some of the technology they have around here. The circuits and power sources may not be that different from our own. Once we get an understanding of their basics we could be able to rig something."

Kali stared at the Security officers for a moment. "What are you talking about? You have a phaser- We shouldn't need any more force than can be generated with one jerry-rigged to overload. I just need to find a tunnel large enough for us to climb out through and with signs of weakening in the stone around the forcefields used to seal this cavern. I can then direct the small and directed strike in a way that will cause a controlled widening of the tunnel to large for the forcefield to continue to cover, giving us a means of escape."

"At this point, simple is better," T'mpest said. "Ensign Paxton, get it set up. I will use the time to go to the next building over and see if I can get more information before we attempt a return to the surface."

"Wait. Hold on." Orin spoke up firmly. "A phaser, let alone an overloaded one, does not have enough power to break through stone. These are handheld phasers. The strength alone wont be enough to damage the stone, only leave burn marks. There is a reason why digging usually involves using the shipboard phaser array or specifically designed phaser drills. Those are the only equipment we that will get the kind of result you want, Ensign. And the John we spoke of IS a demolition's expert, and his experience would have been valuable in our current situation. THAT is what Mister Addy and myself were talking about. Try to keep up."

Kali almost flinched under the scorn and derision in the commander's voice. She shrank back and again pulled at her bangs, covering her face a little more.

The flood of thoughts coming from Kali were impossible to block out, and Rylie had known just how she felt.

(To be continued...)

Captain T'mpest MIchaels
Commanding Officer

Commander Rylie Cattmor
Executive Officer

Ensign Kanali Paxton
Geologist

Chief Petty Officer Jack "Crow" Addy
Medic

Lieutenant Commander Orin chi'Valri
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

 

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