This is file #3 of 5.
This file covers day 5 of the jump
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***** Day 5 *****
- - --------- R-alpha ----------------------
Following a full evening of resting, sampling water and air, and
finding no significant, sentient-seeming life forms, the Trakh lifts
to about 500m and starts a systematic scan for intelligence.
"Admiral, I have wood smoke, 200 km .. spinward".
There are no human words to describe the inner glee of a true predator,
carnivore, _feline_, when that cat knows he's on the scent of a long-
stalked prey. This is the kind of glee that literally smells in the
passageways of the Trakh as the crew and landing parties are awakened
for certain conquest.
"Aiwi. Briefing in 30 minutes. Take us to the top of that ridge,.."
he indicates with a long, extended claw, in the holo-tank, "there.
Put us behind some trees where we won't be seen for a few days. While
these creatures are certainly no contest, we should watch them to see
if they carry any parasites or diseases, and to see if it will be more
advantageous to kill or to conquer."
- - ---- Alcyon --------------------------------------
The intercom comes to life at the (for some) unhealthy hour of 0600,
transmitting unmistakably French-sounding words. "All Transport
team members report to the main bridge of the Alcyon in 30 minutes."
<chuckle> "I do hope I didn't wake anyone."
"Shrike here. Wilco, Out."
Charyn arrives, hair wet, with a cup of auto-chef coffee in hand.
Etienne is already on the bridge when people start arriving. After everyone
is settled...
"Bon matin. Sorry to wake you up so early but we have several things to
discuss and there are only a few more hours until we reach the R-alpha
system."
"First: Niishu, have you calculated exactly what time we will be dropping
out of Jump-space?"
Aye. It will happen early tomorrow evening, just after evening meal.
18:27:43.1 ship's time. Jump capacitor discharge says we should be
at most a few hours away from R-alpha when we enter, and should have
almost no velocity beyond orbital. Solar orbital, that is.
"Second: You may or may not have heard but several of the physical scientists
have been manipulating the probe data of the ringworld and they have recently
found what appear to be high-tension power lines on the inside surface. This
may or may not be an indication of intelligent life still on the ring, but if
you have any thoughts or ideas, let me know and I will pass them on."
"Third: We have a new member in the transport team, recently awakened
from cold sleep. His name is Goughzar and he is a 16 year veteran IISS pilot
and sensor operator from the domain of Antares. Goughzar will be assigned to
fly the scout ship _Paladin_ with Dr. Limner along as R-alpha expert. I'm not
sure if this means they have already been picked as the first landing team or
not but I imagine Commander Ger will be having an all hands muster before the
end of jump."
"Fourth: As some of you may have noticed I've set a lot of alarms on bridge
and engineering monitors. If anything goes wrong between now and a couple
of hours before we exit jump, I'll know about it right away. This means we
really don't need anyone on the bridge for the next couple of hours and I
think it would be a good idea if everyone got lots of rest. I'll still be
in and out of the bridge all the time, but if anyone wants to run a few
training simulations, that shouldn't be a problem. I will expect all of you
to be ready for duty and at your stations at least 2 hours before end of jump.
I realize that's quite a lot of time, but I am going to want a COMPLETE check
of all systems. We can't afford any more of these 'accidents'."
"As to what positions you will be filling, I'll let you know soon."
"Unless anyone has anything they'd like to bring up that's all for now.
[Etienne grins] I have to get to sick bay before I get dragged there."
- - ---------- Engineering ----------
Redd continues working on teaching Leadfoot how to catch treerats.
He casually tosses a small, fur-wrapped package, tied to a string,
across engineering, then slowly drags it around.
Leadfoot catches it handily the first three or four times. On the
fifth, and fifth only, Leadfoot smashes the lure in its iron grip.
Had it been Bit, Bit would be a stream...
Later tests work fine.
- - ---- in the hangar ---
"...vell, you see, chentlemen, zis device has only a short range, burst
transmitter...totally unsuited for tracking anyzing outside ze ship<sorry
about any heart attacks, I engaged the mouth before the brain finished
chugging along>. I zink zat zis bug vas planted by a more paranoid member
of ze crew to keep tabs on herr Bishop I vould tink...
I do, however, have zome further zuspicions to investigate...Herr Graf, I
vould like your permission to perform zome 'security maintenance' on zome
of ze onboard eqvuipment, in particular, ze robots Lucan, Dulinor, and
Leadfoot...Und I zink our 'mascot' Bit should be thoroughly checked out for
any biological contamination vich might account for ze unfortunate
hangovers eggzperienced after ze party."
- - --------- Medical ------------------
"Azani reporting for duty, sir," states Jordan and immediately snaps to
attention, revealing his sergeant stripes.
He is unarmed but looks very professional and strict.
Christian is taken aback, but recovers quickly and smiles at Jordan. "At
ease, Sergeant." He turns back to the file he was viewing when Jordan came
in and looks at it for a minute. Turning to Jordan, he looks a little more
grim and serious than just the minute before. "Sergeant, there is an
important job to be done before we go after the reluctant patients. Go
get Thule Jonson and have the both of you meet me at the Alcyon cargo
bay, in full vacc-suit and bring decontamination gear. We've got some
rotten cargo boxes in the hold, so to speak. Clear?"
- - -------- Engineering ------------
Finally feeling better Dan reports to Engineering for duty.
By the time Dan gets back, engineering is a hive of activity - Panels
have their covers removed, and anxious engineers are running and
re-running system checks on anything that the hydrogen spill might have
damaged, as well as routine maintenance on systems not needed in the jump,
and painstaking anaysis of the failed fuel line.
Kimball Redd climbs back out of the ceiling, trailing wires from the
systems damaged in the accident, and carrying a clear bag filled with
pieces of torn and shattered metal. Throwing the bundle of wires in the
general direction of the nearest rubbish-box; already full to overflowing
with damamaged components, he mutters something about lighting circuits
being an electricians job, anyway, and starts to seal the bag, when he
notices Dan.
"Hi Dan, great to see you on your feet again. Are you feeling well
enough to be back at work yet? Have the Doc's Ok'd your coming back
already ? Still, seeing as you're here, how are you on electronics ? -
The ceiling panels got blasted in the leak, most of the wiring got
damaged, and I'm an engineer, not an electrician. Everyone else is busy
with the drive controls, so I'd appreciate any help up here."
"Doc says I can work for two hours today, but then I have to go back in for
more tests to make sure I don't get whatever put all of you to sleep.
I can handle your electronic problems. Do you want me to start on the
rest of the ceiling panels?" Dan says to Redd.
Once the bag is sealed, he replaces the ceiling panel and seals it up,
marking it 'Under investigation - DO NOT REMOVE'.
"I've sealed it all to stop bit getting up there, he's altogether too
curious when it comes to new places to explore, and I'd rather not have
him loose in the fuel ducts."
Raising his voice to be heard on the other side of engineering, he waves
the bag of evidence and shouts "Could someone arrange to get this lot
tested, please - I'm going for a break."
Dan looks down from the ceiling panel he was working from, and calls to
Kimball. "Hey Redd, I would hurry and head down there to sick bay if I
were you, who knows you might get blasted with some LH and wind up there
anyway."
- - ------ General --------
Early in the afternoon, a collection of still photos with accompanying
typed captions appear on the Alcyon's (physical) bulletin board.
Depending on whether the subjects have seen them, and on their sense
of humor, some might be missing later.
(Bhyarrvouf, standing watch on the bridge in his showy black uniform
and metal gauntlets. He is looking out of frame.)
"Executive Officer, great... now all I need is my own fire hydrant."
(Drs. Limner, Werner, Morser, and Tabor bent over a screen showing a
simulation of R-alpha. Dr. Limner is looking up at the camera)
"Ah, Igor, you're here. Did you bring the brain?"
(Mac Witfeld, talking in the mess hall)
"And then there was the time I fixed an air-raft with two paperclips
and some gum, upside down, in a blizzard..."
(Abdul Schmidt, in his usual shabby clothes and unshaved appearance)
Would you buy a used bomb from this man?
(Major "Lazer" Farouk, dressed in silk shirt and eyepatch, cutlass at his
belt. He is standing in a large space, probably the cargo hold, and
shouting at someone out of frame.)
"Arrr! Which one of ye scurvey dogs stole me parrot?"
(Adrian Bishop, the black many-lensed sphere of AGNIS floating at his
shoulder. In the background is a doorway in Engineering, with a caution
stripe and "MAX. HEADROOM 2.3m" painted on the bulkhead above it.)
Born To Snoop
(Alliara Niigurd, waving the camera away as she works at a console)
Riddle: How many angry feminists does it take to change a lighting
panel?
Answer: That's not funny.
(Nishu Neriika, self-portrait in a mirror. He's borrowed most of the
photographic equipment on board and slung it around his neck, and looks
like the classic tourist complete with bright floral print shirt)
"SMILE!"
- - -------- Paladin
Ian and Limner can be seen infrequently carrying equipment around the
passageways, noting things on their hand comps, and retiring to the
labs aboard the Paladin. Ocassionally one of them will mutter something,
stick his finger on the wall, and walk a few meters further.
Bishop wanders over looking positivily irate that they forgot to tell him
something was going on. "What's with the passive bugs and transmitters?"
he asks. "AGNIS, record."
<Ian>
Oh, hi. We're creating a backup personnel communications system in case
whatever or whoever messed with the ship's computer, send a signal, and
killed people decides to shut down our comm-dots. Besides, after that
brush with the fleet, I'll feel better knowing that we have an inde-
pendent monitoring of hallway traffic.
We're also testing our surface scan equipment. We turn down the power
levels running through specific, non-essential, circuits, and then
slowly turn them up and see just how sensitive our detection gear is.
Finally, by placing a distributed network of different kinds of sensors
around the Alcyon, we can calibrate our phase-synchronization programs,
and, as icing can do a little jump-space warp experiment by comparing
our readings with Nishu's and Charyn's sensors.
Ian then walks with Adrian and demonstrates how various kinds of
gear operate, and what various kinds of readings mean.
<Ian>
"This is a carbon dioxide sensor. It's a sure givaway for animal life.
... Adrian.." Ian pauses with a slightly puzzled look on his face.
"Adrian, you ever wonder what it would be like?"
<Bishop>
"What what would be like?"
<Ian>
"On R-alpha. Imagine living on a world where you never see stars.
Living on a world where the sun is *ALWAYS* directly overhead. Shadows
never change. Nighttime is just like daytime, only dimmer. No moonlight.
No tides. The horizon rises up to a point and disappears this way," he
gestures down the hall, "and is horizontal this way." He turns 90
to face a wall and spreads his arms.
"Whatever is sapient on that ring - and I'm personally sure there is -
must have a *really* different idea of the universe than we do.
"Oh well. Now this is a portable radio direction finder..." He goes on
like this for about 20 minutes, when his commdot comes alive.
<Limner>
Ian, get down here. I just noticed something odd.
<Ian>
Well, gotta go.
A little while later, the silent AGNIS hovers nearby and catches a
few snippets of their conversation:
<Limner> ... creating a backup system to ... signals ... computer is down.
<Ian> ...Great idea. Ian'll stay out of your way.
<Limner> .. setting up meson scanners to interfere
with power signals to the computer ...
... shut out all power by blowing the batteries and fusion
generators ...
<Ian> ... easy - didn't .. a test run ...
<Limner> I don't know ... Leadfoot ... internal batteries,
... rather difficult ...
... determine who or what reprog... another renegade
computer ...
- - ------------------------
Command Meeting in the Lounge
Bhyarrvouf's gauntlets have been gone for several days. Now, at the time of
the meeting, they're back. But he seems uncomfortable in them, and continually
flexes his fingers and clenches his fists as he listens, trying to do so
without distracting anyone (and being only partially successful). The effect
is no longer that of a pair of effortlessly-comfortable gloves, but of a pair
of hand-exercisers whose springs are too stiff.
<Van Der Merwe>
"To put it bluntly, Hammer was murdered, and his killer may
still be onboard. Approximately six hours after the remainder of the crew
succumbed to the immune response, SGM Hammer was skillfully shot with a
microscopic needle containing curare. Death was nearly immediate."
<Vouf>
"Samshkarkh ROUKH!" 'Vouf's snarl is punctuated by an odd little noise, like
a spring being twanged twice in rapid succession: *spung spung*. "If I get my
hands on that backstabbing clipped-eared toothless barrelgut scum rat bilge
tumor...." His voice trails off on a few more choice epithets.
<VDM>
"This means that it is quite possible that his murderer is still aboard
the Alcyon and has been awake for five more days than the rest of us.
Obviously my team and I are doing our utmost to develop this information and
identify the murderer and likely saboteur. That is all I have at this time,
people, any questions?"
<Vouf>
"Five more days...?" 'Vouf shakes his head wearily. "Too many questions, too
few answers. Why not just kill us ALL in our sleep, if he could kill Hammer?
Unless...." He frowns, thinking furiously, then suddenly sits bolt upright in
his chair as if stuck in the rump with a pin. His eyes widen, then narrow into
cruel slits, as his face takes on a look of cold, calculating murder.
As Morser's commentary drones on in the quiet room, 'Vouf sits back in his
chair and forces himself to relax. He doesn't make eye contact with anyone.
Slowly and nonchalantly, he jots a few words down on a piece of notepaper from
Count Ger's desk. He folds the piece of paper over to conceal what's written
on it, and casually drops it onto Lazer's lap as he gets up from his chair.
"If you gentlemen want to discuss matters further, please feel free to do so,"
he says mildly. "I gotta use the little doggie's room-- I'll be back in a
moment." And he lets himself quickly out of the room and heads down the hall.
With a puzzled expression, Farouk opens the paper and skims it. The puzzlement
is quickly buried by a perfect poker face as he rolls out of his chair and
smoothly strides out of the room.
Almost as an afterthough, he calls back, "Sorry, gentlemen. Don't let my
absence stop the fun."
- - ------------Security ----------------------
J. J. is sitting cleaning his pistols, smoking a cheroot and muttering
to himself. "No prints, just some very precise scratches. Too precise for
a sentient to make..." Then loudly "Of course..." He gets up and heads for
the door saying over his shoulder as he goes "If I'm right our saboteur was
right in front of our eyes all the time, best place to hide a tree..." As
he heads for the hatch, loading his pistol as he goes the hatch opens
abruptly.
'Vouf storms into the Security headquarters on board the Talisman
like Judgement Day. He's steaming mad, and not only does he have his
gauntlets back on, but he's carrying a massive Gauss pistol in each
hand. Without preamble, he makes a hand motion for all present to
remove their commdots, and holds up a piece of paper that reads,
"RADIO SILENCE".
When people comply, he barks, "HORNE! AZANI! Grab your hardware and
come with me to Engineering. JONSON! MAHLEL! SCHMUD! Follow behind
us ASAP. I want at least one man with a heavy laser and one man with
a fusion gun." He cocks the Gauss pistols. "We're going after the
scumrot that murdered Hammer and put Devious in the meat locker!"
Without waiting for an answer, he charges back out again.
On the way down the corridor, Horne speaks, "SubCommander, I hope you are
looking for a robot, you see I just was on my way to find you. From what
I found on the bulkhead behind the panel on the airlock, very precise
scratches too precise to be made by a sentient, but a robot..."
'Vouf pauses for only the briefest instant and glared directly into
J.J.'s eyes. A fleeting instant of communion and recognition and
a very slight nod. With that 'Vouf falls into muttering, he never
muttered to himself before this trip. "Robots, never did trust them...
they're too perfect, too good, give me sentient mistakes anytime..."
Farouk arrives at the armory hot on 'Vouf's heels, checking over his
laser pistol.
"Dammit, you hear him! Combat gear, NOW!" He tears his loose shirt over his
head, vaults a table and grabs a light armour vest. "Stay OUT of your
battle dress! It could be jimmied just like that iris valve."
"Azani, Mahlel, break out the heavy guns, but for GOD'S sake, remember we're
in jumpspace. Thul--ok, that's right--Abdul, get your rifle. Speed COUNTS,
people! Andon oh good you're here. Arm up and follow us. To Engineering."
Lazer sprints out hard after Thul, Horne, and 'Vouf.
Hearing the urgency in 'Vouf's voice, Azani quickly dons his combat armor
and activates the electronics in it. The glimmer from the HUD illuminates
Azani's face and gives him an eerie presence. After suiting up he goes
to his chest and places his hand on a print sensor.
"Confirmed." And the chest opens up. Inside is several small tray of
firearm parts and miscellaneous cleaning tools for his auto-shotgun.
He grabs the auto-shotgun and slaps a clip into it and pulls back the
charger, ready to rock and roll. He then grabs his hand laser and holsters
it at his side.
Andon opens his locker and quickly dons his flak jacket and pistol belt, grabs
his rifle and starts to chase after the rest, but he stops short, when he
realizes he's the last out. He stops to seal up security, "Computer, seal
security, open for no one, command override only." As soon as the locks click
shut Andon races off.
Christian Van Der Merwe bursts from Count Ger's office in an
unprecedented speed sprint towards the Aurora, with the bellowed words
"AENRRA! YOU FOOLHARDY TAILSNIFFER!" echoing in his wake. In his fearful
and reckless hellbent flight, he squeezes past people in the hall with
not a word, and probably cannons into one or two, but just picks himself
off the deck in an instant and continues. As best he can, he seems also
to be yelling instructions into his commdot.
Arriving at the Aurora soaked in sweat, Christian snatches a combat environ
suit from the waiting Lucan and frantically struggles into it, cursing as
seemingly stubborn fasteners impede his progress, even as Lucan assists in
the operation. Dashing into his surgery, he pounces upon a prefab trauma
kit, pauses for a microsecond to survey its contents, then tosses in a
universal antitoxin kit and a medical scanner.
Leaping back into the hallway, he grabs the laser carbine from Dulinor,
tightens the securing straps, checks the status readout, then takes the
medkit from the deck and sprints off back into the Alcyon toward the
location of Bhyarrvouf's intrepid group, yelling into his commdot "DAMMIT
'VOUF, HOLD IT UP FOR A SECOND!" as he goes along. As he nears their
location and rounds the corner, he fervently hopes that he hasn't gotten
there too late.
Adrian Bishop virtually flys out of a side-passage, with the
floating AGNIS unit humming to keep up.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up a sec." Bishop exclaims. He's obviously
in 'better shape' then demonstrated in recent days. "What's with all the
firepower? Finally cornered our pesky saboteur, eh? Shoot-out at the
Lagoona Starbar, that sort of thing?" He smiles as he talks. One could
describe his mood as positively 'perky'.
As the group hurries on, Bishop backpedals to maintain pace with
them. "Well, Turnskaad will want to see all of this, I'm sure." When
eyebrows raise at his sudden aquisition of backbone, Bishop declares,
"Hey, large battleships, that's one thing. But firefights mano-a-mano,
that's no big deal. I've been in several of those. AGNIS switch to
high speed storage on my mark."
Just then, Bishop realizes where the security team is headed. "Wait
a second, isn't this the way to the computer core? Hmmm. Maybe I should
have said mano-a-machino ..."
Azani follows 'Vouf and Thul and the rest of the security team.
The auto-shotgun is off his back and is cradled in his arms. His grib
tightens as he approaches engineering.
The HUD in his suit marks down targets and numbers them. He then takes a
thermo sight and peers down the hall for anyone around corners.
Satisfied that no one is going to ambush them. He slowly waits for the
next command, while at the same time, typing in information on his
forearm calculator. His suit flickers and then anyone seeing into the
infrared has noticed that Azani has disappeared.
Johann watches first Vouf and Lazer leave, then Van Der Merwe rushing out,
then Mac going.
Then some sounds comes through over the communications system. Sounds of
harsh language from engineering. Johanns face darkens and he springs up,
overturning the chair and begins to run after Mac towards engineering.
"Hey! Vouf! Watch out for the laserwelder, it's in the middle tentacle on the
bottom!" he shouts over the engineering channel between curses of "Bl**dy
f***ers f***ing around with the brain of MY robot.", "One more killer mekbot
incident in the bl**dy media and the bl**dy market will never recover.",
"If I get the sucker who did it I'll wring every last credit he's cost me out
of him!"
He arrives, sees the AGNIS and mutters something about "Never should have
repaired that floating intel-breach in the first place."
"I'm an idiot, Thul," 'Vouf grits, checking the auto-aim cybereyes
on his guns against his data monocular as he strides down the hall.
"I couldn't see the forest for the trees, like you pinkstinks would
say. We scanned everything in the ship, right? We scanned OUTSIDE
the ship, right? We used everything at our disposal to make a good
search, and while we were doing that, we entrusted the very systems
that were used to kill Nayduz and mangle Devious to someone we
never thought to suspect!" He stops for a moment, and Jonson nearly
runs him over.
"AND MT!" 'Vouf takes off again. "It never occurred to me, but MT and
Silvmane were probably his victims as well! It all fits together. We
were out for five DAYS, man! A starship can't FUNCTION for five days
on its own, even in Jump! There are a zillion things to do, requiring
a huge spread of skills, and if you're all alone, you'd have to do every
job on the ship-- and that doesn't leave any time to even SLEEP!"
By this point, they're approaching Engineering. 'Vouf slows, and checks
his weapons one more time before zipping his uniform up to his chin;
Thul realizes it's actually an environment suit of some kind, and is
probably armored. "Our saboteur was a trusted source of continuity
checks. He could move silently. He could run an entire ship by himself.
He never slept. What does that tell you, Thul?"
A brief look of dismay flashes across Lazer's face as 'Vouf's reasoning
sinks in. "Oh hell...'Vouf, what kind of armour does that thing have?"
"Be ready with that cannon; anything other than an immediate surrender,
cut loose on full power. I'm going in first; you're what'll keep him
from killing me, my friend." He holsters his pistols but leaves the
snaps undone, waves the Security Team back from the door out of sight,
and opens the hatch to Engineering, sauntering inside.
As 'Vouf enters the hatch, Abdul is ready to take a pot shot at any targets
visible on the other side. "Hope he knows what he's doing...", he mutters,
"This isn't quite how I wanted to see a fusion blast."
Lazer quickly details Andon and J.J. to perimeter to keep the crew
"the hell out of the way. And if they don't like it, stun them."
When Azani and Mahlel lope in, he gestures them into position.
J.J upon hearing his orders, grabs Bishop by the shoulder, "Keep your head
down if you don't want to get it shot clean off" Bishop hears the distinctive
click of a hammer of a COLT 45 Revolver being pulled back. Horne's grins and
clamps down on the cheroot in the corner of his mouth.
Andon takes up position down at the next intersection, puts on a gas mask and
makes sure he has a Tranq Gas grenade handy.
- - ----------- Paladin
Goughzar pauses while looking over computer printouts and inspecting the
Paladin. Looking up at Dr. Limner, he growls a bit and then clears his
throat.
"Sorry Doctor, bad habit". Switching the comdot and telling Limner to
do likewise, he looks up...
"I've only been awake a day and already they kill. I think we might be
needed!
"Doctor Van Der Merwe, this is Goughzar. Where are you! Do you need
assistance?" As he moves about the Paladin, he finally throws off the
printouts and heads towards the stateroom where he stashed his equipment
earlier. "Just in case!" he shouts back at Dr. Limner as he looks up.
The commdot crackles to life, and as Christian speaks, Goughzar can hear
a variety of sounds indicating that the speaker is running through the
hallways at a significant rate of speed. <...> Almost .. reached 'Vouf ..
Don't know what .. up .. Hope I'm in time .. Wish luck.. <...>
Azani starts to tap on his wrist comp and speaks into his headset.
"Doctor Van Der Merwe, maybe you should assign someone to get sickbay
ready incase we have some serious fatalities...Azani out."
Jordan then goes back into his crouching position and readies himself
for the firefight.
Christian mutters to himself. "Dammit, I should have realized that." As he
arrives at the combat team's location, he quickly stabs at his commdot.
<...> Doctor Yorblin, report to main surgery (aboard the Aurora) stat!
Prepare to receive possible trauma facilities. Everybody else, prepare to
move if we do get casualties. I will provide on-site care. Will call for
medbots if needed. VDM out. <...>
As Goughzar is bouncing about his stateroom aboard the Paladin, he finally
manages to strap the power pack for his laser carbine over his back and
then hears over the comdot "...Yorblin... ...report to main surgery...
...stat!". Finishing grabing the carbine itself, he finishes the connections.
"Doctor. I am sure I will be too late to help in the firefight, but I must
try to help in some manner. I'm going to head to sickbay and see if I might
be needed there. I'm going to leave now, and you are quite welcome to join
me!"
As he finishes the sentence, he grabs the helmet to his suit (tailored vacc
suit - scout exploratory issue) in his other hand and begins to jog through
the corridors to the access to the aurora.
"Yorblin responding to the trauma bay aboard the _Aurora. Goughzar meet
me there. Dr. Limner stage just outside the firefight zone, hold on and
I'll see what other info we can get. Christian, where would you like
Dr. Limner to stage? How about the rest of the medical team? If
you could give us a SITSTAT {situation status report} that would be
appreciated. What hostiles are we up against? Any danger zones we need
to avoid?"
Jan snarfs down the rest of his chocolate croissant as he runs down
the p-way.
"_Aurora_ medcomp, voice activation Yorblin, set up trauma bay one to
my preset, standby for possible ballistic, blast, and burns. Set up
decon prepack in airlock. Dulinor, Lucan acknowledge and assist as
needed."
As he is jogging, Jan is slipping on his gloves and attaching the hood
of his vacc suit. He leaves the helmet off, ready to slip over his
head, if the alarm should sound.
"Christian, if you get a chance to pass it up the chain of command,
see what security we may need around the treatment area. If we can't
get someone down there, at least send a runner with a couple of gauss
pistols for me, ta."
"Goughzar here, Acknowledged. I have a laser carbine with full charge
and can act as security if needed. I'd probably be more useful in that
function anyway - I'm only rated as a class 1 medic."
"Well, Doctor", Zar says to Dr. Limner, "It seems we play with
the Paladin's sensors and computer later."
Goughzar rechecks the connection and charge on the laser carbine and
activates it in case of emergency. Under the other arm he carries the helmet
in case of decompression. Zar continues to the Aurora.
Joachim's voice comes on the comdot: "Dr. Tabor here, where do you
want me. I have extensive emergency surgical experience but no heavy
weapons."
You hear Doctor Limner come on the air. He seems to be
breathing heavily as he talks, as if he is involved in
some physical activity.
"I'm currently aboard the grav bus on the Paladin, which
has trauma facilities. If you wish, I'll go to the
Alcyon medical bay, although right now I'm preparing
for backup communications in case we need them. I can
also be of direct help from here. Ask 'Vouf what I
mean. By the way, we'd better make sure everyone is
wearing a vacc suit and carrying a flashlight."
"Doc, Ian. I'm here with Limner. We're ready for decomp and
burns, not hypothermia. I think we'll be more usefull, overall, here."
Ian turns back to the ad-hoc computer interface, voice and keyboard
commands flying thick and fast.
"Tabor, this is Yorblin, head towards _Aurora_, we will be using it as
primary receiving. Establish triage 'midships to decon. Goughzar is
acting as decon and security. Dr Limner is at _Alcyon_ 'bay as secondary
receiving. Christian is with the entry team."
"Christian, suggest you take Spears as your back-up medic. Anyone else
we need to assign?"
"'Vouf, sir, suggest you order the decompression klaxon sounded, and let
people suit up in the event of pressure loss."
Jan, having said his bit, his trauma room ready, does what every experienced
medic awaiting wounded does. Going to the kitchen unit he dials up coffee
and an pseudosteak sandwich, not knowing when the next time to eat may be.
Goughzar comes to rest outside the Iris valve leading to the Aurora. Jan
goes on inside and Zar squats down next to the valve and over to the side.
The laser carbine is on and ready and the helmet for his vacc suit is in his
lap, in case of decompression.
As he sits, he pulls out his hand comm unit and tunes it directly into
the Paladin's computer, and checking it over, routes communication to Dr.
Limner from his hand communicator to the Paladin to Dr. Limner.
Opening it up, he activates the voice-only and starts speaking to Dr. Limner,
"Hello doctor, nice to hear from you. I'm outside the _Aurora_ doing..."
As he speaks, he keeps a close eye on the corridor for either wounded or
hostiles.
This is Tabor, I'm on my way.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Christian stops at the rear of the
armed team and nods grimly at Bhyarrvouf, as if to say 'Ready when you are'
He taps his commdot, again.
<..> Morton, stage at Alcyon sickbay as alternate trauma center. Gustav,
we have a probable cyber renegade. Situation unclear. Stay clear of Alcyon
engineering. Keep team ready. Will advise. <..>
"_Aurora_ medcomp, voice activation Yorblin, set up trauma bay one to
my preset, standby for possible ballistic, blast, and burns. Set up
decon prepack in airlock. Dulinor, Lucan acknowledge and assist as
needed."
<..> Advise possible toxic agents, be prepared. <..>
"Christian, if you get a chance to pass it up the chain of command,
see what security we may need around the treatment area. If we can't
get someone down there, at least send a runner with a couple of gauss
pistols for me, ta."