[Vimyridge] SD941127.11 - Away Team JL Pt 4 - C Blake, Lox, Saladin, Reed, Wilkinson, Juard. (NPC K`y)

[Kylana ~]

Right on schedule there was a loud hum as the fusion reactor started up and
the shields extended their range. "Lox to away team." He used his comm.
since he didn't know where everyone was. "Shield system is operational.  The
shield will allow us indefinite usage of the surface without having to worry
about radiation."

"Thank you Lox." Marcus looked around him, noting the haze and dreariness.
"Alright, while Takis scans for radiation security keep scanning for life
signs and an entrance to the rocks. "Cho'lu is inside, but anything other
than short range communication still seems hampered. Lox can you work on
opening a full working communication channel with the Vimyridge?"

"Not a problem." Replied Justin as he climbed back inside the shuttle to set
up a relay system for communications.

Marcus spoke to Cait and security "I think we should head that way, those
were the last readings we were given about the caves directions.
"Lieutenant Reed, security do you have other suggestions?"

Nick scanned the area slowly with his eyes, "My suggestion is security up
front, some in the middle, and other's in the back, that way we'll have a
security element throughout... Science and medical could continuously scan
with their tricorders in order to give us a head's up by detecting any
possible life forms that could pose a hazard," he offered.  "Proceed with
caution, we should have any extraction equipment if it is needed, hopefully
it won't be needed..." he added.

"Planetary communications will work well.. Still working on reaching the
ship. They are using a planet as a shield, which is making the task harder."
Justin said from inside the shuttle.


Marcus nodded to the suggestions then commed Lox again, "Are we able to beam
any extraction equipment to the caves entrance or too much inteference?"

"Still too much interference.  If we can get the cave entrance under a
metaphasic shield, we could do a site to site between there and here.
Planet to ship... won't be happening.  The shields around the ship have to
be too strong to protect those aboard, and we don't dare drop them.  Not
even for a few seconds at a time." Justin replied from inside the shuttle as
he continued to work on a way to contact the ship consistently.

"Lox, do you think setting up a metaphasic shield is possible given the time
we have?" Meaning would it be an easy thing to set up, "Reed, lead us
forward, the sooner we find those caves the better."

"Yes, and... well that's interesting.  The caves are just outside our
shields now.  Let me make an adjustment.... that should do it.  The cave
entrance is just a bit over a half a kilometer at the base of that mountain,
and under shield now." Lox replied.

Kat was already one or two steps ahead with tricorder in hand beginning to
scan the area around them. She chewed her lip while keeping rogue thoughts
at bay. She kept her eyes moving from looking around her to watching the
tiny screen on the tricorder.

People weren't even fully on the move yet, and already the sheilds that Lox
had extended were starting to fail, the shield generator on the shuttle just
wasn't designed to extend it's sheilds like that, that far, especially when
already taxed by the extra work required to protect against the radiation.


Lox said something obviously derogatory, in a strange alien language
"Shields won't hold like that.  We will have to risk it outside the shields
to get to the caves.  I need crate 34x6 unloaded and put on an anti-grav
sled."  He was already unpacking a grav sled from another crate.
"I could use some help with it."

Marcus grunted, "I knew it couldn't be that easy. Alright, I'm sending
Ensign Garrett back to help with the sled. Garrett, we need that here safely
but quickly."

They reached the caves at last, they were quiet, and there was little sign
of life on the outside, except that the dust and dirt, where it could be
seen, was smothered by footprints. It was very apparent Cho'lu and the rest
had entered this way. Marcus followed security inside as the group finally
arrived. "They've probably gone further in to escape the radiation, but they
must have people on watch." He looked around to see whom they might
discover.

The caves were humid, old warn markings chiseled into the rock face in a
cryptic language that most likely would not be understood belonging to the
ancient tribes of the land. The group was met with three path options, each
with a well warn path of footprints and barely visible to the eye were
traces of light.

Justin waited at the shuttle for Garrett while he opened up the crate
containing a portable shield generator.  He also took the time to unpack
several sets of transport enhancers.  He had an idea that may or may not
work, but it would require them if it did.

Cait pulled out her tricorder and scanned, scowling as she looked at the
readings. "Looks like we do this the old fashion way. The make up of the
caves is interfering with scans. Kat, you go right. Juard, you go left and
I'll go down the middle. Takis, with me. Reed would you please go with
Juard, Marcus with Kat?" Cait then divided up the rest of their security
officers so that each group had at least one with them.


Going with Reed, Juard asked, "What should we do now?" he said to Reed with
a feeling of nervousness as he had never met the man.

The caves were all large enough to walk through with space to spare, it was
clear by the continued markings on the walls that these were once used as
actual habitual locations. Sporadically through the stone corridors were
enclaves that were chiseled into the stone with space enough for two to four
people to sleep. And in fact if any of the crew observed they would see
personal belongings stored in these ancient carved dwellings. It was clear,
no matter the the route taken the voices and sounds of civilization was
getting louder. These entrances were one of dozens leading to the central
location.

Nick frowned a bit.. "Just stick with me, Lieutenant," he said to the guy,
"Keep your eyes open, keep scanning for signs of life... there'll most
likely be interference," he said, "Just stay on your toes, and if I tell
you to get down, then get down..." he replied simply, he activated his EVA
suit's lamp light, so they could see more easily, scanning slowly with his
eyes as they headed down their respective tunnel.

"Alright." he replied to the advice.


 Kat smirked as Cait ordered her to go with Marcus. "Yes ma'am" she said
curtly as she joined the operations manger moving down the right tunnel.
Maybe it was a good thing she'd not been paired off with Nick this time the
silent treatment and the distance was growing old fast.As it was she'd
probably do or say something she'd regret if she had been paired with him.
She discovered something she'd hoped wouldn't happen a dreaded itch began on
the end of her nose. She twitched and scrunched up her face for a moment
unable to reach the itch on the end of her nose due to the mask over her
face 'dammit' she muttered to herself she'd have to let the itch go til at
leas she was back safely in the shuttle.


Marcus gave a nod of affirmation and joined Kat in exploring the right hand
tunnel.


Cait started down the center tunnel, noting the personal items and smiling
as she heard the sounds of humanity ahead. "Not much farther I should
think." Scans were taken as they proceeded into the cave system. The doc
smiled over at Takis.  "Radiation levels are near normal in here."


[Main Cavernous Hub]

Balkion crouched down low as he monitored a small viewscreen that was filled
with static interference and yet still showed heat signatures of the Vimy
Ridge crew, "There are people approaching." He stated, "Perhaps those that
the Cho'lu advised us would appear?" a female stated just behind Balkion,
"Perhaps my dear one.. perhaps."

[Corridors]

Nick frowned as he heard the voices not all that far off.  He held up a hand
to silence anything the young doctor might say, then moved, maintaining
point listening for now.

Juard, now silence, moved forward staying close to the leader as he didn't
like small corridors
as he was claustrophobic. Up ahead, he could see an opening forming. What is
it he thought.

Hearing more voices, Cait quickened her steps to head around a turn in the
tunnel. The scans were looking good, the radiation minimal in here. In her
hurry, with her attention on the tricorder instead of where she was going,
Cait tripped hard and slid mostly on her face plate down the rest of the
tunnel.

Kat moved ahead with Saladin keeping her focus on the tricorder in her hand.
She
shined her hand held illuminating device in front of her not really noticing
anything worth reporting. Truth was she had no idea what she was even
looking
for. She glanced to her side assuring herself that Marcus was indeed keeping
up
with her. She tapped her  com breaking her silence. "Wilkinson to doctor
Blake,
what exactly am I looking for?" she asked.


Marcus instinctively smiled to Kat, though he was sure the smile couldn't be
seen. "People, Wilkinson. Life signs. Equipment that would indicate the
survivors have headed this way. Medical supplies, animals, anything."
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