Marcus made his way through the tight caverns, they didn't seem quite as<br>
narrow as when they had entered, but that, he reflected, might be because<br>
he didn't have the head section of his EVA on fully. Speaking of which, he<br>
should decidedly correct that now. The closer he was to the entrance, the<br>
more chance of contamination. He wondered what Lox might need to speak to<br>
him about privately. Caitlin had just returned to the shuttle with one of<br>
their injured, might there be something medically wrong that they had<br>
overlooked?<br>
<br>
Eventually he reached the entrance and quickly ran the short space towards<br>
the shuttle. There was something about being in the open on a planet full<br>
of radiation that unnerved him. The shields and suits did nothing to<br>
alleviate that worry. "Commander." He smiled grimly as the shuttle doors<br>
opened and he walked inside.<br>
<br>
"Commander. You didn't have to come all the way back, but since you are<br>
here... Let me show you as well as tell you." Lox said "Inside the shuttle<br>
you can remove your helmet.. " He pulled up the radiation levels, the<br>
sismic scans, and the like "We have less than 48 hours before this get to<br>
the point of no return. We need to get these people off the planet.<br>
That's Captain's order as well. We have to convince them that it is<br>
necessary. "<br>
<br>
Marcus blinked and fell quiet a moment, his eyes scanning and rescanning<br>
the data that Lox had just shown him. He bit back a remark and thought<br>
back to what the inhabitants had said to him upon first contact. "That is<br>
not going to be easy."<br>
<br>
"If they don't wish to go, we can't force them. We have to convince them,<br>
that's the only tool we have. Next, sismic readings are picking up. If<br>
this continues, the caves could become unstable, however, unless something<br>
changes, everyone will already be dead from radiation exposure before that<br>
happens. I just wanted you to be aware of it. You are inside a volcano,<br>
and things could change at a moment's notice." Lox continued.<br>
<br>
This time Saladin scratched the side of his face in quiet contemplation.<br>
<br>
"And last, but most important... everyone will need to wear their EVA<br>
suits, sans helmet for now, and with helmet starting in about 8 hours or<br>
they will risk radiation levels that will four them out of starfleet." Lox<br>
did not look happy.<br>
<br>
Marcus stood stunned a moment longer, then training and protocol kicked<br>
in. "There's been no news from the asteroids? Nothing that might prevent<br>
this radiation overload? And the seismic activity you have indicated, is<br>
it local or world wide?"<br>
<br>
Justin shook his head. "So far as I can tell.. world wide. I'm not the<br>
one tracking it all, just keeping the readings I can get and relaying them<br>
to the ship, as well as watchign them for the team's safety. I've not<br>
heard anything from the ship about the away team inthe asteroid field. I<br>
am hoping they can find a reason for the flares so we can stop them. I<br>
have several theories, but unless we can get proof that one of they is the<br>
right one, I cannot risk even suggesting we try any of them. If I am<br>
wrong, the cure for most of them will destroy both planets, and possibly<br>
the ship if we cant get to warp 9 in time."<br>
<br>
"You offer a pretty bleak view of things commander." He let out a sigh,<br>
"Well, I<br>
suppose I should head back and try and work with the doctors to knock some<br>
sense<br>
into these people. I understand honor and dying with your planet, but there<br>
has<br>
to be a better way." He placed a hand on the console in front of him."I know<br>
the<br>
true seismic shocks are not set to hit us until after death by radiation."<br>
He<br>
gave a bitter sardonic smile, " But what dangers does it offer us until that<br>
point?"<br>
<br>
Cait had been listening to the conversation. "One thing we could try is to<br>
show<br>
them the 3D scans of the woman I brought back. Its not a pleasent death and<br>
even<br>
the children would be facing it. Need to point out as well that their food<br>
and<br>
water is now contaminated.I also reccommend we go to full EVA with the<br>
helmets<br>
from the start. We have no idea if the radiation will increase faster than<br>
current scans indicate."<br>
<br>
"At the moment the shocks are too deep to be an issue, other the shake<br>
things a<br>
bit, but if they start to surface, you are in the historical path of a known<br>
magma eruption. If they start getting worse.. I'll try to warn you before<br>
they<br>
can start damaging the magma tube you are all hiding in, which makes it VERY<br>
stable vs. an earthquake. " lox replied "I agree with Dr. Blake. Full time<br>
suits<br>
should scare them without panicking them."<br>
<br>
[Vimy]<br>
<br>
Looking into the mirror she adjusted her twin pigtails and smoothed down her<br>
uniform as she looked around, noting she still needs to unpack as three<br>
small boxes sat in the corner of her bare quarters. Walking over to her bed<br>
she put her hand on her Aldean music instrument and closed her eyes letting<br>
her body play a soft pained melody before turning and sticking her phaser in<br>
her belt to slip out to the main corridor. Walking with her back straight<br>
and a intimidating look on her tiny form she mustered the courage and<br>
entered the turbolift to go to the security chiefs office. Moving to the<br>
door she hit the call button and said, "Sir, Ensign Marie Lyndosee reporting<br>
in."<br>
<br>
When he left, the security chief left a setting on the door. "Security Chief<br>
DuMont is on the bridge" the computer rang out<br>
<br>
"Damn it", Marie though and turned quickly and walked down the corridor and<br>
to the turbolift. "Computer Main Bridge please". The turbolift lifted up and<br>
stopped at the bridge and she stepped out. The small four foot girl looking<br>
almost like a child in a halloween costume with her hair in two pigtails as<br>
she walked up and stood in attention and saluted the security chief. "Ensign<br>
Marie Lyndosee, at your service Sir!"<br>
<br>
<br>
As the turbo lift doors opened, Toby turned to see who was arriving, not<br>
seeing anyone at first he stood up and looked. One blond brow climbed<br>
towards his hairline as he saw a woman in starfleet uniform shorter than his<br>
wife. He watched her ignore the fact that the captain and executive officer<br>
were both present to go to the tactical station, salute and address the<br>
security chief. He lowered his gaze to the captain and shrugged, before he<br>
looked back at the short ensign. "Ensign is there a problem?"