Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Sept 25, 2016 14:52:30 GMT
"Excalibur Crew this is Commodore Ryat. Shore leave is over, Report back onboard for 1700 hours"
That gave the crew 90 minutes to get back on board. Aly walked briskly to her quarters on the station and gathered up her things. She would be back onboard in 10 minutes, 15 if she stopped to change back in to uniform. She went with the shorter option she wanted to get the information together first.
"Commodore Ryat to Senior staff, Staff meeting 1630 in the conference room. I am sending you a short briefing pack ahead of time." She finished collating the data and sent it. Yes, she definitely thought it was slightly suspicious that they were being sent off while there was strangeness going on - she hadn't heard whether Commander Psonior was back or not. But she was fairly sure that the Admiral had had nothing to do with what they were being sent off to assist with.
Briefing Pack Planet Dela 3 was struck by a large ground quake approximately an hour ago. The planet is not prone to large seismic disturbances. Approximately a quarter of the main city (Dela Ville, population 5 million) has been reduced to rubble. Among the thousands of missing are the President of Dela 3 (Tomas Haren), and 14 other Federation Dignitaries (visiting to commemorate 25 years since the end of the war with Dela 4 and 10 years since both planets joined the Federation). The Dela 4 Heir Apparent Princess Gyele is among the missing as is Starfleet Vice Admiral Jane Munroe.
Full list of the casualties and the missing is still being compiled. The Dela 3 comm net is not functional which is hindering relief efforts. Dela 4 are more than willing to assist but are hesitant to take the lead due to post-war sensitivities. We are to assist in the relief efforts and keep both planets politically stable.
*************
Aly, now back in uniform settled in the conference room at the head of the table she placed a PADD on the table in front of her. Information was still coming in. A death toll in the thousands had all ready been confirmed with so many more still missing.
Aly stared at her coffee and waited for her crew to arrive.
Tag: All
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 25, 2016 18:25:12 GMT
OOC :: The Kidnap thread will be completed in due course.IC ::With the events of the last two days only hours behind them, Daniel had filed his report ...It didn't make for good reading, and he knew it ...... The kidnapping of the Excalibur's Chief Science Officer, and Daniel's decision to go after him despite warnings to wait, had not gone down well, thankfully, his position within Intelligence had deflected some of the flack, that, and the fact that he Koni T'Seng, and the Chief Engineer Mark Unwin, had managed to retrieve Commander Psonoir against considerable odds. His only regret was that those responsible had managed to evade capture and had left the System after managing to secure passage on a Freighter, by fair means or foul would possibly never be known. He had passed all the relevant information over to his Superiors, who were now investigating ...... He had only been in his quarters a few hours when the ships Comm chirped to life: =^= Commodore Ryat to Senior staff .. Staff meeting at sixteen thirty hours in the Conference Room .. .. I am sending you a short briefing pack ahead of time =^= He heard his screen beep, signifying the file had arrived. Rising from his bed he entered the living area and sat at his desk to open the briefing pack ... He read the information it contained with sadness and no small amount of concern. Something like this could so easily destabilise whatever fragile relationship the planets had between them, or it could draw them forever closer, it was all dependent on who was in charge and their agenda. He hoped they would find the latter on arrival. Rising, he re-entered the bedroom to change from his Civilian garb and into a fresh uniform. Once ready he used the replicator to get something to eat ... Clearing away the plate he left his quarters and headed for the Conference Room. Entering five minutes early, he could see that his Commanding Officer was the only one present: "Commodore." he said, taking his seat and picking up one of the PADD's that had been placed earlier, "This could be a difficult one, despite our upgrades et cetera." he commented, referring to their assignment ..........
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Sept 28, 2016 16:45:22 GMT
Aly looked up when she heard the conference room door whoosh open. She was unsurprised to see her 2IC enter. She smiled at him.
"Commodore." he said, taking his seat and picking up one of the PADD's that had been placed earlier, "This could be a difficult one, despite our upgrades et cetera." he commented
Aly's smile quirked. "It could indeed." She placed her PADD in front of her. "The political situation in the Della system is delicate and at the moment it isn't clear who is leading what. We are definitely going to have to show our faces planetside." She sighed. She considered discussing thing further but decided to wait until the others were present.
There was so much else she wanted to say but most of it she couldn't say. She didn't officially know. Maybe she would one day but not yet.
"I am very glad you made it back."
Tag: Dan
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 28, 2016 22:23:25 GMT
The shrouded foetal shape moved gingerly, some legs becoming discernible as it stretched and felt its way towards the edge of the precipice. Electing to roll over, it plummeted to the rubble strewn floor a couple feet below and let out a muffled yelp. Protrusions identified with fingers prodded upwards in the silvery cover, searching for an exit to the cave as the door chime went.
"Come in," his head found its way out of the labyrinth just as the officer who'd invited herself stepped across the threshold, Karka finding himself facing away from the door and regarding the chronometer over the bed.
"Message from Commodore Ryat, sir... You're required in the ward room." Evidently she saw his look of confusion, "1630 hours, sir. Your CO requested the senior staff be on board -"
"I beg your - ... Was the time appointed for boarding the ship not 1700, Ensign?"
"I don't know. Keeping you on your toes perhaps, sir."
Karka looked around him at the floor of the Starbase 16 quarters, devastated as it was with his personal belongings that he'd chosen not to pack away, or perhaps more to the point forgot to clear up after the kidnap security drill the base security personnel had subjected him to at his own request. His reflexes when taken by Maltis hadn't been what he'd expected of himself, it'd seemed prudent to submit himself to a certain amount of fine tuning. Their own staff hadn't cleaned the room for him of course. The chest of drawers were still upside down, and the blood stain was still in the carpet - good old Ensign Bolk, stabbing himself in the foot with an old-fashioned pair of scissors.
"Yes, well..." He pulled the cover back over him and searched for his uniform shirt that was tangled up and lost somewhere inside, "Only 1635. Thank you Ensign, I'll be there in a moment."
Completing his knowledge of the disaster, the destination planet and system - he was already in possession of a general overview, memorised eidetically, of the political situation in the system, stored in his mind when he had first travelled the tunnel of being back to the 23rd century - using the briefing pack he entered the briefing room 10 minutes behind time to take the nearest seat to the entrance, finding himself next to Unwin who was answering a point on a question put to him by the XO. It seemed the meeting was in full swing... No matter.
He looked satisfiedly at the briefing pack, waiting 'til Unwin finished his answer. "What sort of resources are Dela IV willing to commit to relief of the disaster?" he asked.
<Tag>
"Perhaps the nature of the agreement at the end of the war will have a bearing on their willingness to assist... I assume it ended with a treaty. Was the agreement more favourable towards either party?"
<Tag>
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Oct 8, 2016 11:56:27 GMT
Aly looked up as the door hissed open and admitted Commander Psonoir. She was pleased to have him back and back on the ship. She called the meeting to order as he settled. She was not at all surprised when Karka immediately asked a pertinent question.
"What sort of resources are Dela IV willing to commit to relief of the disaster?" he asked.
"So far I understand that nearly two thirds of the Dela IV emergency network has been granted permission to join the relief effort, any more would leave Dela IV dangerously vulnerable. There are also plenty of civilian volunteers involved from both planets." She looked over the latest numbers. "Looks like nearly 5000 people so far. But due to the lack of co ordination it's probably much higher."
"Perhaps the nature of the agreement at the end of the war will have a bearing on their willingness to assist... I assume it ended with a treaty. Was the agreement more favourable towards either party?"
"Possibly," Aly said. "The war was largely fought in the vicinity of Dela IV as it seems to have been triggered by asteroid field mining. The casualties were roughly equal but Dela IV took more damage. The peace treaty granted Dela IV undisputed mining rights for 25 years to rebuild their damaged infrastructure. That expires in two days on the anniversary of the treaty signing."
"We are going to need to need to co ordinate the effort and manage the different factions. We have four hours before we hit orbit." Aly knew that would be pushing the engines so she glanced at the CEO for confirmation. "so we need to be ready by then."
"Commander Psonior, I need you to be involved in making use equipment is deployed and used in the most efficient manner. Any improvements you can make to the Excal's sensors to deal with the local situation all the better."
Tag: Karaka
"Commander Schirra, you will be planetside coordinating the efforts. Can you also coordinate the volunteers from the Excal, I think we'll have a few."
Tag: Dan
"Ensign Snil, There are going to be a lot of very traumatised people on Della III so we need to avoid starting a panic. Any further advice you can offer will be very useful."
Tag: Snil
"Any further questions?"
Tag: All
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 10, 2016 19:05:44 GMT
"... The peace treaty granted Dela IV undisputed mining rights for 25 years to rebuild their damaged infrastructure. That expires in two days on the anniversary of the treaty signing."
Karka took a moment to think of the ramifications, eventually nodding to himself in possible understanding, "Then it's possible the people of Dela III will want to renegotiate a mining agreement with Dela IV, claiming their new need. If Dela IV has sufficiently recovered from the war, the share of mining rights will begin to favour Dela III."
Unwin turned to him with a wry smile, "You're assuming both sides are going to act rationally and in each other's best interests as well as their own. Consider what's happened though, people in this situation don't always behave as one expects them to, and especially as the Federation expects them to."
"Technically, they are a part of the Federation," Karka observed, "Humanoid species of the Federation have long been accustomed to act in such a way that their mutual well-being is maximised, having learnt almost two centuries ago to conduct themselves in the spirit of altruism and self-sacrifice. But I take your point, to some extent. There's nothing like stability and security for generating compassion and good-will to others; when you're free yourself and you're not despotic, you'll turn your benevolent attentions outside your own sphere.
"But if you've suffered a disaster like this, your thoughts, generally without exception, turn towards what's instinctive for the advanced hominid, survival. People become desperate, seized in the most extreme moments by a madness out of their control to save their own lives, made worse when it afflicts a crowd."
<Tag Snil>
"... Commander Psonoir, I need you to be involved in making use equipment is deployed and used in the most efficient manner. Any improvements you can make to the Excal's sensors to deal with the local situation all the better."
Karka nodded and waited for the Commodore's orders to the others to progress around the table, being the first to stand and walk to the exit when the meeting was brought to a close. He walked into the corridor and turned to Unwin as they were about to part company, "Any problems let me know." Unwin paused on his way to the turbolift (for engineering); Karka spread his hands, "I'm just saying."
Only once they reached orbit would he be able to acquire detailed readings of seismic activity, ensure he was receiving a steady stream of data pertaining to real-time movement of tectonic plates, from the surface stations which the Federation had caused to be built.
According to reports, the Hekletki shelf had shifted further along the equatorial line, opening a gargantuan trench in the planet's largest ocean, Bistrao, approximately 7km wider, 18km deeper, though the trench wasn't close enough to the capital to account for the 9.8 Richter scale quake.
Admittedly such a rupture in the crust was enough to shake and severely disrupt an entire continent and had done so, but the Bistrao ocean wasn't even the closest massive body of water to Dela Ville (the capital). Nor was it built over any fault lines where this could happen. The inhabitants, Karka reflected, would've had to have been very foolish not to relocate their main city by now if that was the case; an advanced warp-capable civilisation wouldn't put themselves in a situation where their capital could fall foul of something like this.
<Tag All>
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 11, 2016 18:13:46 GMT
"Commander Schirra, you will be planet-side coordinating the efforts. Can you also coordinate the volunteers from the Excalibur, I think we'll have a few." Alyana said, ;looking around the room, "Any further questions anyone ?" Given no-one had anything they wished to bring up, they filed out of the room, each heading to their respective departments. Daniel went to the Bridge and opened up the crew manifest, he would need several teams each taking a section of Dela III's main city, Dela Ville. From there they could coordinate between Schirra, the local Authorities, and the Excalibur herself. He began to pick out names, Specialists, Medics, Engineers, all would need to be prepared to transport down or be on one of the Excalibur's shuttle-craft. These would be used to take the more seriously injured to the ship if medical facilities are thin on the ground, which given the amount of devastation being reported, was highly likely ... With only one hour before they established orbit preparations were well under way. Ensign Snil was able to seconder two Crewmen who were trained in psychological difficulties, to aid the traumatised. Satin the Center Seat in the absence of the Captain, Daniel made one last check of the lists of personnel that were going to be utilised once they were ready. Amanda entered the Bridge and Dan rose to allow her her seat: "We're as ready as we can be Commodore." he said, handing her the two PADD's. She nodded looking at the minute spec that was Dela III, fast approaching now they had dropped from warp and were at full impulse. They would establish orbit soon, then the fun would begin. Schirra couldn't get out of his head the fragile peace the two worlds had enjoyed, wondering if either would see an advantage. With both the President of Dela III, Thomas Haren, and his counterpart on Dela IV, Heir Apparent Princess Gyele both missing, surely neither world would risk the possibility of rekindling the hostilities that had ended over a decade earlier, and with both now long-standing members of the Federation, surely they would accept the help and work together. In the cold light of day of course, things could be so very different ! "Any word on the missing Dan ?" Aly asked. "Nothing, communication are sketchy at best, not only with us but between the two worlds. We did pick up a segment of a communication but it's hard to make out what the tone is." he turned to the Communications Officer and asked for the segment to be played over the Comm: =^= .. .. .. luence any prolonged incurs .. .. .. ollerated .. .. =^=
=^= .. ny four vessels hav .. .. .. Our Princess is los .. .. .. Federa .. =^= "It cuts out there, as you can hear, it's difficult to deduce what's happening, but I think Dela IV might be on the verge of accusing their sister Planet of being responsible for the loss, or otherwise, of their Princess. They mention the Federation, so maybe they are holding off making any sort of aggressive move while we're in the System." "What about Admiral Munroe ?" Koni T'Seng asked from the Tactical Station. "Nothing from her either." Dan replied, "It's possible they three were all in the same building, or at least in close proximity to each other when the quake hit." "Long-range sensors are picking up vessels in orbit of Dela IV, they could be for search and rescue, if so why are they not heading for Dela III ?" Koni mused. "Keep an eye on them." Dan said as the Excalibur began her approach and insert into high geostationary orbit over Dela Ville ..........
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Oct 16, 2016 13:07:18 GMT
Aly listed to the communications grimly. She wondered if she would need to go to Dela 4 to try to smooth things over there. Still that could wait a while.
The Excal slid into orbit. Aly looked at Jenni on the comm station. "Is their communications network as damaged as we were told Commander?"
Jenni tapped some further buttons on her console. "Looks like the main transmitter and distribution station are out as well as several power supply centres. The infrastructure in Dela Ville is pretty much gone. There are plenty of places I can send a message to though."
"Send our standard hail to planet. Let's see if we can get a proper response."
"Yes, Sir."
A few minutes later Jenni looked across. "I have trade minister Taspar Wolk for you Commodore, he's the highest ranking member of the government anyone has been able to locate and Lieutenant James Ridley from Admiral Munroe's staff.".
Aly looked at her FO. "Commander, if you talk to the Lieutenant in my office, I'll take the minister."
Tag Dan.
The minister is in early middle age and unsurprisingly somewhat battered and bruised. He seemed very relieved to see that the Excalibur had arrived and told them that there were three relief stations set up on the edges of the devastated region of Dela Ville. In Aly's opinion he seemed to have an almost indecent amount of haste in handing the coordination efforts off to her, but she couldn't really blame him for not wanting the job. It wasn't as if she wanted it either.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 16, 2016 17:10:08 GMT
Dan looked away from the 'window' as Jenni informed Alyana that she had managed to establish communications with two people on the surface, one of the Ruling council, and one of Admiral Munroe's aides:
"Commander, if you talk to the Lieutenant in my office, I'll take the minister."
Dan walked off the Bridge and sat behind the Captain's desk. Turning the view screen he contacted the Bridge and asked the Comms Officer to transfer the Lieutenant to this console, Jenni did so and he was looking at a seriously dishevelled young man. Blood had been flowing from a wound on his head and he was holding a cloth to stem the flow while a Medic, likely from Munroe's Staff, tried to treat the man:
=^= Lieutenant .. Are you well enough to talk .. Or do you need time for treatment ? =^=
=^= I'm OK Commander .. I was on my way back to our compound when all hell broke lose .. I couldn't gat back in time as falling masonry knocked me out cold .. I was out for approximately fifteen minutes before I was found and brought here .. I'm roughly two hundred meters from our offices but there's no way to get any closer at present .. I have Security climbing through the rubble but they have found no-one as yet =^=
=^= We were informed that Princess Gyele was with Admiral Munroe and Thomas Haren .. .. Is that correct ? =^=
=^= Yes sir .. They were discussing some formalities prior to the inauguration of Princess Gyele when the first tremors hit .. They were in the main Ballroom of the compound or should have been .. That's where the meeting was scheduled to take place .. But with no way of getting inside it's unknown as to whether they even got out of the Admiral's office Sir =^= Ridley said, stopping while the Medic wrapped a bandage around his head, the blood flow now stemmed.
=^= Do you have any updated figures on casualties within the compound Lieutenant ? =^=
=^= We're hearing all sorts of numbers Commander .. We had sixteen Staff and the Security contingent of twelve .. It's obvious that casualties are massive and climbing as we speak .. The Princess had roughly twenty in her entourage with the President having roughly the same .. So that's approximately seventy not including the locals .. As for the rest of the planet it could be in the millions by the time we can begin a head count =^=
=^= Very well lieutenant .. .. Please allow the Medic's to do their jobs you and the Minister are our only only contacts at this stage and I would much rather you be on your feet when we arrive .. We have your co-ordinates Lieutenant .. I will update the Commodore on the report you have given me .. I expect to be transporting to the surface shortly .. If you can find any other Staff members all well and good .. I would like to speak with yourself and whoever is currently Commanding the Security contingent on arrival .. We are sending shuttles down immediately with supplies and personnel I will inform them to contact you on landing .. Schirra out =^=
He closed the Comm and sat back. he couldn't imagine the devastation that the quakes had wrought, but one thing was certain, they needed to get down there and begin helping these people. He hoped that they would find the Admiral, President Haren, and Princess Gyele alive soon, though they also needed someone connected with Star Fleet or from the Admiral's Staff, but for the present, they had Lieutenant Ridley and Minister Wolk ! ..... He wondered how Alyana was getting on with the Minister. Rising, he re-entered the Bridge to see the man still on the screen superimposed on the panoramic 'window' ... Remaining at the door to the Commodore's office he waited for the conversation to conclude ..........
< Tag : Alyana / Karka >
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 16, 2016 23:15:18 GMT
Continuing scans of the disrupted continent, Karka found that eighteen of the major cities had more than half their land area destroyed or damaged beyond all use; sixty-two more were damaged in the same way in under half their land areas, and numbers running indistinctly into the three hundreds had been affected to lesser degrees - all of them, going by initial reports where they were able to return anything cogent across the lines of ruined infrastructure, were reporting fatalities.
While admittedly tragic however, this still didn't seem right; no major fault lines capable of generating such a devastating quake under that continent, and no way - despite the massively destructive nature of a 9.8 quake - that some cities relatively close by could fall into the third category while Dela Ville, comparatively distant, fell into the first category.
He swung his sensor grid's scan over to the dark ships lurking in orbit of Dela IV - a highly elliptical orbit, the apogee directed towards Dela III which orbited some 0.2 AU closer to the parent star and at present was just behind the semi-major axis between Dela IV and that parent star - thus it was a short hop between planets, a happy coincidence one would usually think.
He nodded at the Communications Officer as he made him aware - via T'Seng, who was coordinating the sensor scan with Karka - of a communication being directed uncertainly from the gaggle of dark ships towards Dela Ville on their sister world - it was impossible to intercept the message, however they were able to detect the following communication from the ships to their own world Dela IV.
Karka listened to the electronic scream from his earpiece, the channel of the Dela IV ships' communication to their home planet being tuned in as the Excalibur intercepted it, "We can now say affirmative. Haren's government hasn't taken adequate precautions to protect the continent from this quake, nor did they even attempt to prevent the disaster in the first place. We would in our view be fully justified in holding them responsible for what has happened to the Princess."
The return signal from Dela IV to their ships now came, "I assume you mean prevention using preemptive plate shifting technologies which, as we all know, we provided the Dela III administration with the fundamental knowledge for seven years ago."
"Yes." As Karka noticed the glance from other bridge crew - they all knew they were in the process of intercepting a private communique - he made a note; that statement seemed familiar to him... yes, Dela IV had given their neighbours some technologies, including information regarding quake prevention systems, in return for their undisputed mining rights. Preemptive tectonic plate shifting - an interesting idea, attempted on several planets in the Federation so far (including Earth) with mixed success. Perhaps Dela III's experiments with it, if they'd even tried, had failed?
"Stay put and stop the blame game for now. Recriminations at this stage are only going to make us look bad in the eyes of our own people..."
The comm came to a cordial close and Karka took out the earpiece, turning to T'Seng and the Comms Officer with a significant look. "I'd like to go down to the planet also, Commodore. Perhaps I can learn more about this quake prevention technology Dela III was given."
<Tag Alyana, All>
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 22, 2016 17:15:20 GMT
As they materialised in the middle of the city, Daniel was astounded ... Practically every building over three stories high had suffered damage, but the worse effected had been the high rise, their skyscrapers, most had collapsed into themselves, hundreds of thousands could have perished had it been in the middle of the city's working day but thankfully the massive quakes had struck in the late evening, seemingly circumnavigating the planet over the next twelve hours ...
Daniel instructed the Science Teams to begin work on finding out just how this catastrophe could have happened as Lieutenant Ridley and two others approached:
"Commander, it's good to see the first help arrive." he said.
"We're not the first here." Koni T'Seng said, looking at the two others who had yet to be introduced.
"What I meant was you're the first who here to find out how this could have happened. There are, contingents from our neighbouring planet, Dela IV here." he said, suddenly defensive, or maybe suspicious, Koni wasn't sure which, "May I introduce Doctors Hul'ti and Hev'li of Dela III's Seismological Society ..."
"We cannot understand how this happened Commander." Hul'ti began, rubbing his temples in frustration, "Apart from minor events, nothing reaching the capacity to cause surface damage has been recorded for almost four hundred years. Tectonic plate movement has been almost completely inactive for that period. We are finding it difficult, almost impossible in fact, to establish the reasoning behind the sudden tremendous and catastrophic activity.
"If you could show us to wherever you are based, our Chief Science Officer and his Personnel will start to go over everything you have ... In the mean time I need to see where the missing Officials were at the time of the quakes."
~~~~~~~~~~
Taking a small transport vehicle, they drove to the Federation Compound, an area covering almost eight square kilometers, where the officials were meeting prior to the following mornings' meeting ... Again, as like before, every building had suffered to varying extent, but the quake seemed to have caused a fracture that had passed through the center of the compound itself at it traversed the continent. The main buildings were now rubble, men and women scrambled over the carnage trying to locate survivors but to no avail.
Daniel flipped open his communicator:
=^= Schirra to Excalibur =^=
=^= Go ahead commander =^= Ryat answered.
=^= Commodore .. We could use the Excalibur's sensors to scan this area .. We should have more luck than using hand-held equipment .. Can you establish a geo-stationary position directly overhead and begin scanning ? =^=
=^= We are not far off position .. We'll begin scanning once on station .. Any further news of the missing Dignitaries Commander ? =^=
=^= Nothing as yet .. I'm coordinating with the Lieutenant as we speak .. One of the Science division here is speaking with Commander Psonoir .. I'll report in one hour .. Schirra out =^=
He closed the communicator and returned it to his pocket, looking around and wondering how such a thing could have struck after hundreds of years of stability. He could see minister Wolk approaching, looking none too happy.
"Commander. I 'DEMAND' you find the cause behind this atrocity. Someone must be held, accountable !"
"With all due respect Minister, We will do whatever we can, but it could be an unfortunate natural occurrence, no-one may be responsible, directly or otherwise. You may need to be prepared to accept that."
"There is 'NOTHING' natural about what has become our planet, Commander !" Wolk spat, anger rising to the point where Dan wondered if he was going to collapse, "Someone caused this, and someone will be held accountable. Mark my words !"
"Minister, I am su ...." but he was speaking to the mans back as he strode away defiantly, his Aides rushing to keep up.
"He could be trouble we can do without." Koni said quietly. Daniel could only watch the man retreat, agreeing silently with the Tactical Officer ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 23, 2016 4:44:48 GMT
Beamed down to the surface with Schirra, T'Seng and the rest of the team, he was led away by a group professing to be the scientists investigating the quake in its localised area about the city - researching how a massive rent in the earth had been opened up, virtually splitting the city in half.
He watched over his shoulder with interest Schirra and co being introduced to a curious duo, then being shouted at by the remaining senior minister who came charging up, his robes now more like rags as torn sections of them were drawn through the muck. This part of Dela Ville had literally been uprooted by the mass of people who'd passed through it in the last day or so - a mortal flux, rendered homeless, a great swarm of bipedal energy coursing through these ruined sections.
He and the rest of the science team, which he was barely acquainted with were taken to a research centre where the quake data was being analysed. Unfortunately the vast majority of the building had been wrecked (along with the data processing unit in the centre of the city - which had managed most automated processes governing Dela Ville's day to day operation), so a huge quantity of information had been lost in the moments after the plate disturbance.
"There's just about enough for us to work with and draw some useful conclusions," the head researcher, Adi Mikaw told him and Ensign Sparkes, "Data's scant approximately fifteen minutes and fifty five minutes after the quake, but what we've been able to piece together tells us that a subsidiary plate to the Bistrao Main - the primary oceanic plate - fractured in a place where..."
She cleared her throat, calling up a display on the wall panel - like old-fashioned nuclear reactor controls - and pointing to the topographical schematic, "... Where it shouldn't have been possible. It sent tremors through the continental plate, resulting in many - as you might call them - secondary hairline fractures, including one through Dela Ville itself. The devastation caused by the fracturing is not uniform... not..." She seemed to struggle, Sparkes comforted her by laying a hand on the shoulder. "I lost both my sisters in this quake, Commander, Ensign. Not knowing how it happened, how it was possible, is more frustrating than you can know."
Karka tried to smile. "Let's not think about it... Sparkes," he directed the man over to assist another Dela III inhabitant in scans of the fracture running through Dela Ville, and accompanied Mikaw over to a cafe area for the scientists; she led him to a table she'd evidently been occupying, on it several piles of real paper, much too large for his liking.
* * *
Towards the end of lunchtime, Stammax left the media centre and made for the market, just managing to jump on a passing repulsor train whose route ordinarily led into the city centre, now was rerouted through the LOI to approach somewhere near the centre on the other side of the business district.
Not intending to return to the makeshift office today - too much relaxing by the new pool in the back garden to do - she cast her mind back to the instant the earthquake had struck, the news-slide's office ripped apart and several of her colleagues buried in the rubble or crushed by the collapsing ceiling, and she'd been in the middle of a call regarding her star pupil - as she liked to call him. How inconvenient.
The piece for this evening about said pupil ought to get my theme back on track, she thought, smiling as she was rocked gently to and fro by the train as it made its way downtown - into the devastation... Indeed, it was a cause for minor annoyance that all the front slides would be dominated with hasty reports on the untimely quake, and thus her piece on President Haren - in the Dela Daily - would be crowded out onto, well slide 5 at least. So, uninformed articles with no answers to give on the first three, a tentative obituary of the fallen giant (the product of some rookie staff writer) on the fourth (along with that of the Princess from Dela IV, whose intimacy with the President was the worst kept secret on Dela III), followed belatedly by Stammax's somewhat pithy report on Haren's disloyal advisors' involvement with private contractors working in the Bistrao deep sea trenches, ranking fifth.
She had to face the fact that no matter how insightful the article would undoubtedly be, it would be made to look ridiculous by the sprawling reports on their planet's little mishap.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 23, 2016 16:55:51 GMT
With the Excalibur now directly above the compound, or rather what remained, Schirra ordered all personnel out of the site, that way their heat signatures or bio-signs couldn't be mistaken for anyone trapped in the rubble or in the numerous subterranean levels the Diplomatic Compound had ... Excalibur began scanning, identifying almost two hundred heat sources, not registering life-signs, almost immediately. it was disheartening to know that so many had perished in such a relatively small area and he tried not to ponder on the actual death-toll planet-wide. He flipped open his communicator, unconsciously looking up into the sunlight as if able to see the ship far above. =^= Schirra to Excalibur =^= =^= Scanning underway Commander .. But it isn't looking good =^= =^= According to Lieutenant Ridley there are six levels below the surface .. Is there any chance we can get a look in there using the ship before we begin to dig ? =^= Daniel asked. =^= Adjusting now Daniel .. .. .. Bio-signs detected but too faint to establish if any are still living .. The composition of the buildings is causing us a lot of issues .. I suggest finding ingress from there Away Team =^= =^= Understood Excalibur .. Schirra out =^= He closed the communicator turning to Ridley and waving him over ..... "The ship can't be sure as to who is or isn't alive in the sub-levels. Is it possible the Officials managed to get down there before the main buildings collapsed ?" "It's erm, possible, though given the location of the Conference Center and the lower levels, it would have been touch and go." the man said, obviously concerned, but something in his tone made Dan look at him for longer than he would normally. Ridley noticed his stare and asked if there was anything wrong. Daniel assured him there was no issue, he was simply frustrated with the situation and the distinct lack of good news, despite having Star Fleet's Flag Ship overhead. He told the Lieutenant to allow the rescue workers back into the area, handing him a PADD with the information on the heat sources from Excal' ... In total, the Federation had sixteen people on Dela III at the time of the quakes, and at this point none of those were accounted for, despite their efforts ! 'Were they in there ?' he suddenly thought, not knowing why the silent question had presented itself. He recalled the albeit scant information they had received en-route: 1: It was twenty five years since the end of the war between Dela III and her sister planet Dela IV 2: Almost ten years to the day both became members of the Federation 3: The Earthquakes occurred immediately before commemorations ceremonies were due to take place 4: Missing - President Tomas Haren 5: Missing - Princess Gyele 6: Missing - Vice Admiral Munroe 7: Missing - Fourteen Federation Representatives and countless other dignitaries He turned to Ridley and asked for a full list of all those attending the ceremonies, emphasis on those Dignitaries attending from Dela IV ... It would be interesting to see who from that planet was missing, and their positions within the hierarchy of Dela IV ... He made a mental bet that the list would be small ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 25, 2016 20:43:34 GMT
"The energy-displacement curve is unusual," he observed, flicking through the sheets and accepting a beverage from a passing cafe worker, "Apply such a force to the plate's centre, you might expect it to hold together at first - zero displacement - and then when a threshold energy is reached for it to burst asunder. Only then will there be any displacement of the plate halves."
Mikaw nodded and produced a sheet of paper she'd been carrying all along; evidently she'd already noticed the phenomenon, "Instead what we have is a constant rate of plate separation with the first application of force. I've already explored this, it doesn't tell us anything. It makes it even more unfathomable."
He drained the rest of his cup, "I need to see the oceanic trench firsthand. Not the currently existing trench on the southeastern edge of Bistrao," he clarified, "The new one in the middle of the plate." Nothing natural could've been involved in this; whatever was responsible, intelligent or no, it was most likely to be found at the new hole in Dela III's crust.
The repulsor craft descended out of the stratified cloud layers over the remarkably calm ocean. Bistrao gleamed as a grey pearl today under the impersonal glare of the white sun, the gentle eddies in the ocean broken slightly as the craft lowered itself, its low frequency sonar - dipped into the water - revealing the improbable oceanic trench 3.9 km below. Protruding from the ocean at a point just ahead - the craft now slowly making its way towards it - was a floating platform, approximately 302 metres of standing space occupied by four controllers weaving through monolithic chunks of machinery
Adi Mikaw had already made the jump; Karka was still uncertain. "Is this as far as she'll go?" he called into the front compartment to the helmeted pilot.
The man waved a hand in dismissal and brought it down to rest on the console, adjusting the altitude still lower. Karka held onto a strut in the compartment as the craft banked slightly, the dual engine screaming, compressed air slamming against the ocean generating a weak whirlpool. It was as if the pilot was trying to shake him out, "Sir... Any lower we get wet."
A controller greeted them as the craft screamed off. "Ah, the Federation scientist... Adi, you wanted to see our topological profiling... Here," he showed Mikaw and Karka a radar map plotted by the team's experimental submarine.
What could've generated so much traction across an oceanic plate that the plate could actually be broken in half? Something artificial, surely, and there would have to be two of them to pull the plate both ways... The trench's graphic on the map showed Karka there was uniform breakage down it lengthways, as well as evenly spaced spinal ridges in the ocean floor running away perpendicular to that length; too neat and tidy to be the doing of Magna Mater... she preferred the path of least resistance, not forcing symmetry.
The pattern of ridges became increasingly random with increasing distance from the trench's coordinates, yet they left two unbroken, roughly circular areas 2,500 km away from the trench in either direction. The calligraphic spinal topology - after meeting these curious null zones - fizzled away to nothing just short of the continental shelfs west and east. "What's this land mass," he pointed out something projecting from the ocean near the eastern null zone, near the western seaboard.
"Inactive volcano," Mikaw said, "There's a battery of hydroelectric generators on the western side, a central power station at the top of the mountain, built over the old lava dome."
"Are you sure it's a power station?" Karka asked, causing her to frown, or it could've been the sea spray that at that moment crashed over them. "Why are these two areas," he pointed to the spaces about the volcano island and a non-descript area of ocean the equivalent and opposite longitude from the other side of the trench, "... Unaffected by the plate shifting? No ridges in the ocean floor... No devastation on that island."
She looked at him almost accusingly, "You're saying someone did this intentionally? Split the oceanic plate using technology..."
He smiled, aware he'd tricked her slightly, "Despite the absence of destruction in those places, I believe their usage to pull the plate apart was only a precaution, in case something went wrong... and something did. Perhaps there was an accident. Consider, Adi, what natural phenomenon could have caused this. What geological process could not only move but split a tectonic plate that was previously structurally sound? When you received the plate shifting technology from Dela IV, which department of government did it go to?" he asked suddenly.
"Disaster protection, of course."
"Was defence involved at all? Did your government consider this prevention technology's military applications? To use it as a weapon against another world..." He looked over the edge at the ocean, "For surely they wouldn't intentionally use it against their own." He made arrangements to contact the Excalibur and the other away team to inform them of what he'd discovered.
<Tag All>
He glanced at Adi who was now talking to one of the technicians... He had to get to that volcanic island.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 25, 2016 22:10:02 GMT
The Excalibur was unsurprisingly, having trouble scanning the wreckage of buildings, but inside and in the surrounding area of the Compound. Their search would need to be done the 'old fashioned' way, removing rubble with bare hands as using any form of excavation equipment could cause any voids where people may be sheltering, to collapse on them. He assigned six of the Excalibur Officers that had joined them to set up teams of as many as possible then pick an area, ensuring they don't encroach on each other while digging ... He was about to go after Ridley, who still hadn't returned with the information he'd requested when his communicator chirped to life. Retrieving it from his jacket he flipped it open:
=^= Schirra =^=
He and Koni listened to Karka noting his concerns that the technology may have been used against them by one party or other.
=^= Instruct someone to get you to that island .. If you have any difficulty contact the Excalibur and have them transport you directly to the beech .. We'll join you shortly I'd like to see what they are doing on that island myself =^=
He snapped the communicator shut as Lieutenant Ridley returned with the list. Daniel shouted over one of the Scientist's he'd been introduced to and asked him about the island.
"There's an island at these co-ordinates ..." Daniel said, pointing at the map reference, "What is it used for ?"
Hul'ti studied the map intently, obviously stalling until T'Seng repeated the question, taking a step forward as she did so.
"It supplies power for the coastal area's ... Nothing more." The man was obviously concerned, but was it because he didn't want to give out any information regarding the island, or was he worried Koni might drag it out of him, Daniel didn't know nor did he care. This island held some relevance that much was blatantly obvious. He had the distinct feeling that there wasn't only battery of hydroelectric generators and a central power station over there. Given the tectonic movement that island should by rights have sunk to the ocean floor during the quakes, but there is was. Watching his reaction, Koni wasn't convinced he was telling the truth. She caught Daniel's eye not needing to verbalise her opinion. He took out his communicator, eyes locked on those of the Dela Scientist Hul'ti:
=^= Schirra to Excalibur =^=
=^= Go ahead Commander =^= Ryat answered.
=^= I need Commander Unwin on the surface Commodore .. Locate Commander Psonoir's Comm signal and send him there .. Lock onto my signal .. Four to transport direct to Karka's location =^=
=^= Stand-by .. .. .. =^= Hul'ti suddenly realised what the Starfleet Officer was saying and began to step back but Koni's arm reached out snatching the man. She felt the tell-tale caress of the transporter beam and grinned at the startled Hul'ti .....
Land Mass ~ Western Seaboard ::
=^= Transport complete .. Schirra out =^= Daniel confirmed as Commander Unwin appeared a few meters away. Karka was talking to several people, all of which seemed to be objecting ardently to their situation. Dan looked around. it looked for all intents and purposes like any volcanic island, beech, rocks, then a gradual slope from the base rising to the crater. He could just make out the facility at the summit. Karka waved the Scientist's away and approached the others:
"Making friends I see." Daniel said, a wry grin forming.
"They were less than keen on bringing me here."
"Let's get up there. I'm assuming there's transport, please don't tell me we have to walk." ..........
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Oct 30, 2016 11:42:44 GMT
OOC: Short post, sorry. I have caught a lingering cold that is draining energy and imagination
Aly had initally planned to be part of the first landing part to go planet side but after some debate had elected to stay on the ship at least for the moment. The major problem was that everyone seemed to think they deserved her attention personally so if she stayed here she maintained a balance of irritation.
The information coming from the surface and from the Excal's sensors wasn't helping matters.
Jenni looked up from the comm station "Sir, I have a shuttle on approach from Dela IV, it's transmitting Queen Estel's personal signal. She wants to talk with you personally."
Aly paused for a second. "I'll take the call in my office. Lieutenant Wilkins, you have the bridge."
Aly settled at her desk wondering if she was about to talk to a head of state or a worried mother; either would require very careful handling.
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Nov 1, 2016 7:19:30 GMT
"Let's get up there. I'm assuming there's transport, please don't tell me we have to walk."
"Nothing local," Karka replied, rotating his tricorder about his neck aiming for the mysterious structure atop the mountain that was clothed in mists. It was meant to be a power station, however its particle output suggested there was at least one other type of installation existing within it, the most notable of them being what constituted the interference pattern,
"There's a flux of particles from the building that may have the incidental side-effect of blocking our transporters. An uncomplicated modification of the Heisenberg compensators should suffice to remove the interference, however we'll have to climb a kilometre to ensure our patterns won't lose cohesion."
"That could simply be by-products of the chemical reaction used to power the turbines during outages," Mikaw protested. Karka smiled and shook his head, allowing Adi to go first between the first rock faces on their way up the slope (he didn't believe they were intentionally being jammed either however). So they made the trek, Karka stumbling on the broken scree once at a section of the path where the incline was particularly sharp. Reaching the coordinates they took their positions.
"Transport, Excalibur," Schirra directed, Karka watching the top of the inactive volcano, where the structure reared itself brokenly to overcast skies, part of it obscured by the rim of the crater as it descended to the lava dome.
Seven humanoids materialised by the lip of the crater, now edging their way down to the innocuous front door in the side of the structure. From the outside the place seemed deserted - whatever workers were here were sequestered very much inside - and there was a faint buzzing from power lines directed between here and the seafront where the water-harvesting stations were ostensibly located, accompanied sensorially by a tang of turbines having been disturbed after an obviously long interval.
"This hasn't been in use 'til very recently," Karka observed. He turned to Dan, "By the way, sir, it's my suspicion this earthquake was articially caused and was an accident perpetrated by Dela III themselves. Dela IV I don't believe to be involved, unless there's a party - perhaps one on each side - that wants to destabilise the peace, striking at the time of the anniversary of the end of war."
<Tag All>
Stammax finished her call to the interim editor (previously one of the junior deputy editors now promoted - somewhat fortuitously, she thought - to the chief position in the organisation). Sadly for the head honchos they'd been in an executive meeting in the part of the building whose vertical support pylon had a plasma lorry driven into it at the time the earthquake had struck. The structural bar being ripped out the side of the building had removed one whole wall, including that which was incident with the board room - the vibrations from the quake had done the rest, they were rattled out of the room and plummeted to their deaths.
The editor had informed her that her suspicions were correct: Haren had been setting up offshore accounts - through now dead advisors - to mask the favours given to friends of advisors, or was that advisors of friends, who had been in touch with those experimenting with that devillish technology from Dela IV - something about moving continents - in oceans Bistrao and Perfidy.
She looked out the window - one side of her apartment was entirely of transparent aluminium - to the street below, seeing a civilian accompanied by security personnel in rescue gear passing; poor man. It was her understanding a cadre of rescue teams from Dela IV had landed to assist in the hunt for Gyele, and no one else... She relished their arrival; how long would it take for violence to erupt, for the offworlders to be ejected, for war to start anew in the streets of Dela Ville?
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Nov 6, 2016 15:41:55 GMT
"That could simply be by-products of the chemical reaction used to power the turbines during outages." Mikaw said. Karka couldn't argue, so he shrugged. "OK, Let's get up there." Daniel said, flicking open his communicator: =^= Transport .. Excalibur .. .. =^= ~~~~~"This hasn't been in use until very recently." Karka observed. He turned to Dan, "By the way, Sir ... It's my suspicion this earthquake was artificially caused and was an accident perpetrated by Dela III themselves. I don't believe Dela IV to be involved, unless there's a party - Perhaps one on each side - That wants to destabilise the peace, striking at the time of the anniversary of the end of war." The comment gave Schirra cause for concern. If someone, or a group of people, were working together to de-stabilise the peace between these two worlds, it could be devastating. They had already seen what could happen here, and it was now plausible that the dissidents would not stop here in their efforts. "We need to gain entry" Dan said, instructing Mikaw to try the door, which surprisingly opened at his touch .... They could smell the fain odour of oil and heated equipment but the building was in darkness, the only illumination coming from the indicators spread throughout the room. Cautiously they entered, moving away from the door quickly as to not present a silhouette to anyone lurking with intent inside. Karka quickly scanned the room, informing Schirra that it was empty, but he was getting lifesign readings from beyond this room, a total of twelve people were scattered throughout the facility. Dan looked around and finally found lighting controls. He figured, rightly or wrongly, that if they had been detected it would have been when the door opened, so he put the lights on. What there was of them seemed to splutter to life begrudgingly, so there were large area's that remained in semi-darkness. They spread out, each checking what systems were operating and what remained dormant. Daniel approached one control panel which had noticeably less dust covering it's surface than those around it. The panel seemed to be showing which of the twelve turbines were in operation, along with their power output and consumption. he frowned, wondering where the generated power was destined for, as there was no indication on the panel itself. Hul'ti came towards him, his finger up to his lips as he pointed toward a door nearby, Dan followed the very nervous man and inched toward the door ... he could hear voices beyond but could hardly make out the conversation: "..... pressure up to four hund ...... Frac ..... Will be discov ..... wasn't in my orders so I am leav ......!" They quickly moved away from the door fearing the speaker would barge through and discover they were not alone, but the door remained stolidly closed. Dan headed back into the middle of the roon, motioning for everyone to approach. Once the group was together he informed them of the broken conversation, but no-one had any opinions given the lack of detail, so they were still in the proverbial dark. "Would it be possible to artificially induce the fractures from here ?" Dan whispered. < Tag : Karka >"So there would need to be a second or even third facility, all working in unison ?" Daniel asked Hul'ti, who seemed to be less than convinced. "Yes." the Delian answered. "Which would indicate there were more than one facility like this. Is that what you are saying ?" Koni asked the man. "There are, yes." Hil'ti confirmed, then continued as he noticed Koni's frustration growing, "There are, eleven more like this approximately equidistant around the planet at eight degrees above our equator." "Can we disable this one ?" she pressed. "It would be, unwise, to do so without having access to the other sites, in my, opinion, they would need to be disabled simultaneously or any of the others could affect a massive quake in their area." "If we're going on the premise that these facilities have indeed been used to cause the devastation throughout the planet, they must have been very closely calibrated." Daniel mused, "I know that while the Federation has the ability to initiate an earthquake, we lack the technology to accurately predict it's outcome within satisfactory margins, so whoever set this up must have exceptional knowledge, not to mention the equipment to carry their task out satisfactorily." he looked at Hul'ti, who shook his head: "Alas, I must inform you that our most eminent Scientists do not have that ability." "So who does ?" Koni asked ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Nov 17, 2016 10:22:42 GMT
"Would it be possible to artificially induce the fractures from here ?" Dan whispered.
"I don't rightly know, sir," Karka frowned, "The evidence from the sea floor topography would seem to suggest this facility was certainly involved, it being untouched by the folding of the tectonic plate. However the amount of torque needed to be generated against the natural drift of the oceanic plate would far exceed what such an installation should be capable of... Perhaps with more..." he turned to one of the scientists Adi had informed him were experts on the plate-shifting technology.
"So there would need to be a second or even third facility, all working in unison ?" Daniel asked Hul'ti, who seemed to be less than convinced...
Karka was intrigued by what Hul'ti said about the destruction of any one station possibly precipitating a quake with any of the other stations as the primary cause. It seemed to suggest the stations were holding the plates in tension, they were what was preventing a catastrophe, and their removal would be the same as releasing pressure on a spring.
... "Alas, I must inform you that our most eminent Scientists do not have that ability."
"So who does ?" Koni asked.
"Dela IV possibly." Karka's suggestion was admittedly not in the realms of the exotic, though it stood to reason that Dela IV's scientists would've had a grasp of the plate-shifting technology's functioning, as they'd been the ones to give Dela III the tech in the first place. Perhaps with the intention of bringing about erstwhile enemies Dela III's destruction by having them use something they didn't understand, like transporting a weapon to a pre-warp civilisation unaware of its place in the universe, and watching that civilisation destroy itself.
"Adi, gentlemen, if you'll permit me... Your world Dela III didn't know what it was getting itself into when it took IV's plate prevention technology in exchange for the mining rights.
"You attempted to install the tech in these globe-encompassing facilities, and the well-meaning amongst you - who may well have been in original control of the project - must've intended to use it to predict and avert disasters by counteracting plate movement during tectonic disturbances. The force of this tectonic dislocation was two orders of magnitude - at least - more powerful than what the Federation's most powerful equipment can accomplish." He let that sink in, Adi swallowing and growing rigid around the shoulders, an arm quivering as if she was expending every effort not to smack Karka.
"Why is this so clandestine?" Psonoir asked, not sure if a satisfactory answer was possible, "Someone seized control of this benevolent project. Though if it's your neighbours Dela IV, it's surprising they could involve themselves unnoticed so soon - as it was at the time - after the end of war..." There was a glint in his eye, "Then perhaps there was an outside agency that got here before us."
The door through which Hul'ti and Daniel had heard the voice rattled suddenly, Karka and Schirra looking about at the Delians and scampering to find cover behind whatever obstructions they could find. Karka found himself by a panel caked in dust which was however active; he pushed a finger through the discarded skin layer and revealed the screen, stifling a small gasp as he saw the display graphics - those weren't Dela III, or IV, letters or controls.
Someone had entered the room, padding about in a radiation type suit fully enclosing him or her. The discharging and refilling breathing apparatus, along with the hum of machinery, were the only sounds in the room. Karka peered through a gap between this console and the next, witnessing the door shutting silently, before nodding over to Schirra to let him know this had occurred - Dan rose and pulled a hose out of the back-mounted breather apparatus, the woman in the costume choking and spluttering and falling to her knees.
<Tag Dan>
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Nov 17, 2016 23:39:40 GMT
The situation was becoming annoying to Daniel as no-one seemed to have the answers to what he and his team considered 'very' relevant questions .... He watched the Chief Scientist, Adi Mikaw, as she became more and more irritated as Karka spoke. It was blatantly obvious that something was amiss !
"Why is this so clandestine ?" Psonoir was asking, not sure if a satisfactory answer was possible, "Someone seized control of this benevolent project. Though if it's your neighbours Dela IV, it is surprising they could involve themselves unnoticed so soon - as it was at the time - after the end of war ..." Daniel noticed a familiar glint in the Science Officers' eye as he forced home his argument, "Then, perhaps there 'was' an outside agency that got here before us."
Alas, they didn't have time for the reply as the door was being unlocked from the outside, the Delian's diving for cover, forcing the Federation Personnel to follow suit ... They remained concealed as someone worked at a nearby bench. Dan was watching Karka, who had a better view than himself. Koni unfortunately, was almost in the open in comparison, and if the unknown visitor moved only a few meters along the bench she would be discovered. Karka was indicating that the unknown was moving along the bench as he or she worked, it was only a matter of seconds ... He reacted ...
Grasping the umbilical hose connected to the back of the full-face helmet, he pulled it free. The sound of air escaping filled the room as he dropped the umbilicus and took hold of the occupant of the suit. there was a struggle and Karka came from his place of concealment to help restrain the occupant. Koni ran to the door opening it a fraction to make sure the commotion hadn't been heard, she looked at where the Delian's were cowering then turned back to the three on the floor. Dan was taking the helmet off as Karka held the person's arms down. she stepped forward as the occupant of the suit was revealed, Shirra's hand over what turned out to be a woman's mouth. He was whispering urgently that she remain still and not make a sound and as the woman capitulated, he very slowly removed his hand, holding it millimetres from her as a precaution against her insincerity. Koni came forward, looking at the woman and trying to remember where she had seen her before, then it struck her ... The Federation delegation ! ... She got Dan's attention, motioning to the corner of the room. Schirra asked Unwin to restrain the suited woman while he moved aside:
"Daniel, this woman is with the Delegation." T'Seng whispered.
"What ?" he replied, looking back at the prone figure, the Chief Engineer laying across her his hand a fraction above her mouth.
"I reviewed the lists of guests and while it hadn't even occurred to me previously, I remembered the face simply because she was the only Scientifically trained of the group. I put it down to her being some sort of 'Advisor' to the Admiral and nothing more. But if she's in here, doing hell-knows what, then we have to consi ......"
"Let's not jump to conclusions OK. Admiral Munroe is among the missing. Koni took out her tricorder and searched for the list of Guests and dignitaries due at the ceremony, seconds later she turned the device so Schirra could see the small screen's readout. There was a list of peripheral staff who had been allowed to accompany the minor and primary dignitaries, and there, was one Teresa Klein, the information stated that she was a member of Admiral Munroe's Staff responsible for advising the Admiral on Delian etiquette, so why did Munroe need a trained Volcanologist. He read her file, increasingly concerned:
"She's a Volcanologist who specialised in Geothermal Studies and, Seismicity." Koni whispered over his shoulder. "Her study was on the intensity and 'distribution' of earthquakes in a given continent, and the effects throughout a given planets' surface, depending on conditions being ideal." Daniel looked over at the young woman, who was now in a seated position and apparently not willing to jeopardise her continued well-being at the hands of her captors. Dan told the hidden Delian's they could get up from their concealment as he approached the woman. He asked Unwin to lift her up and allow her to sit in a chair then he knelt in front of her:
"What were you doing in here ?" he asked ....
"You are one of Admiral Munroe's Staff ....
"Are you responsible for what's happened on this planet ?" ....
Seeing Schirra' questioning was getting them nowhere fast, Koni stepped forward and back-handed the young woman across the face, hard. The blow startled everyone, their 'prisoner' the most as she turned back to face her apparent captors, blood running from a deep split in her lower lip.
"You're 'BOSS' is possibly under countless tonnes of rubble, and it is highly likely that she didn't survive, so it's in your best interest to start answering the questions this gentleman is asking." she said to the woman, taking the tricorder from Schirra then turning back to the woman, "You are Teresa Klein, Daughter of Martha and Frederic, one younger sister, who we will be speaking with in due course by the way. You gradua ....."
"STOP IT !" the woman said suddenly, tears welling in her eyes, "You know who I am. Great ... I'm happy for you ... But you have this wrong, you're treating me like some kind of insurrectionist. I am far from it."
"So, what are you doing here, and why would the Federations Representative to these ceremonies require a, person of your, talents ?" Dan asked quietly.
"Does your database also tell you I am proficient in sixteen languages, an accomplished violinist, not to mention numerous other accomplishments ? ... Oh, and for future reference, had I wished to get up from the floor, of not sit when instructed, I am more than capable of accomplishing those actions with ease." Klein said, her apparent confidence growing exponentially by the second, "So, ask whatever questions you have. I will answer those I am permitted to, while the remaining questions will alas remain unanswered until you speak with my, superior."
"You expect us to believe tha ......" Koni began, only to be interrupted again:
"You can 'believe' whatever you wish."
"We have means of extra ....." Mark Unwin began menacingly.
"Oh, spare me the theatricals, you are quite obviously not part of the Federation Delegation, or I would know each and every one of you by both appearance and name ... I have an eidetic memory, something else you unfortunately skipped while snooping into my information. So, option-wise, let me see; you are either a group of radicals intent on destroying the admittedly fragile accord between these two planets .... Or ...."
"Or, what ?" Koni prompted nervously.
"Or ........" she shrugged, leaving the sentence unfinished. Daniel looked at the others, wondering if they could get away with transporting this woman to the Excalibur and using pharmaceutical 'persuasion' to get what they need.
~~~~~
In the confusion, no-one had seen the second figure depart the room as the doors closed, leaving Teresa Klein at the mercy of those in the room ..........
< Tag : Karka / Aly>
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Nov 18, 2016 8:57:39 GMT
Karka had virtually sighed in relief on finding out Klein worked for Munroe - that might explain why there was a Starfleet console in the room. "What have you got in there?" he asked her, signalling the doorway with a movement of his head. "Equipment for holding the plates in tension, ready to release your grip according to some pre-set sequence amongst the 12 stations?"
"You don't know what you're talking about..." Klein shook her head listlessly, attention now elsewhere. Why'd she been abandoned? she wondered. "You're not going to be able to go in there... it's an imperfect vacuum, 0.04 atmospheres. What do you think this is for?" she gestured at her suit.
They contacted the Excal asking about the room. The deputy science officer answered, informing him the central parts of the facility couldn't be scanned, that they were struggling with the same interference that'd blocked their being beamed straight into the power station. Karka looked to the door, Klein rolling her eyes and starting to remove her suit as directed, handing the various segments to Karka.
"If it's a vacuum, how the hell could we hear you talking about fractures?" Hul'ti demanded, his manner substantially different from Adi's, Karka noticed.
Klein's eyes widened, "You must must have heard me speaking when my hands were on the door controls."
Psonoir had finished donning Teresa Klein's vacuum-protective suit, noticing that - despite the dire circumstances - Schirra was smiling. "It's a bit small," Karka said, forearms thrust clear through the sleeves. Klein wasn't much over five feet.
Uncomfortable with a certain chafing, he stepped through the door and found himself confronted with a heavy outer airlock hatch, a portal visible to the airlock beyond. He stepped in, cycling the inner hatch, and entered to find the room empty.
The pressure dial on his suit was indeed showing a low vacuum. He walked towards a bank of yet more Starfleet-style controls, standing amidst bizarre looking machinery; a bright red laser was reflected off carefully-positioned surfaces onto a small petri dish presumably holding a - microscopically small - specimen. He wondered if he could bring the pressure up to Earth standard, allow the others through, but perhaps this vacuum was necessary to maintain the whole operation - he didn't want to change something that could shut down whatever was applying the force to the plate (it was currently pushing it towards some unknown centre, without which the plate would spring away against the direction it'd been pushing).
"Commander Schirra," he communicated, "No one here... Seems they got out. And left Klein behind," he grunted, lumbering back to the airlock and soon realising something was amiss, "Schirra? Daniel...?"
The XO responded eventually, sounding furious and hurried. Karka could barely believe what he was told... Apparently Klein along with Adi Mikaw had escaped from under their noses. Mikaw had surprised T'Seng and seized her phaser, rendering Hul'ti and Unwin nearly unconscious, Adi escaping out the door of the facility, Klein deeper into its bowels. Mikaw had apparently known more than she'd let on, Karka reflected.
He began cycling the lock and noticed how warm the door was - someone had discharged a phaser, jamming the controls. He found another airlock the other side of the room, realising this is where the other antagonist/s must've gone, and exited to find a much larger room than on the other side. It was also deserted, and there was no obvious way to circle back round to the team.
His communicator buzzed. He acknowledged; apparently they'd all received the call, "Away team, this is the Excalibur. They've found Admiral Munroe... She's dead."
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Nov 18, 2016 9:02:20 GMT
Celebratory drinks. Stammax had invited two of her closest associates around immediately after hearing the news: a breaking news programme showing President Haren being dragged half-dead from the wreckage, coated in choking dust that stuck to his skin where he'd been lacquered in his own coagulated blood... The corpse of a woman was pulled out after him, of similar appearance, Starfleet uniform almost indistinguishable from the dried crimson fluid that'd spilled from the gash across her back. A caption went up under the picture, STARFLEET OFFICER JANE MUNROE, it said.
Stammax clinked glasses with her news-slide editor and started the mental process of rewriting her schedule for the next week. Haren had been transported to the visiting USS Excalibur for emergency surgery to save his legs; Munroe was being readied for autopsy under their assistant CMO's knife. Sometimes the deputy's task was the more desirable one, she thought with relish.
She didn't suppose her editor could arrange for her an exclusive with the President when, or if, he recovered, on the USS Excalibur?
<Tag Excalibur>
A blur across the precipitous incline, Hul'ti - along with T'Seng - was in hot pursuit of his fellow Delian scientist on the slopes of the volcano. He was glad he'd been allowed outside. Yes, he wasn't getting much fresh air what with the heavy odour of sulphur, but it was preferable to chasing Klein up that tight winding staircase in almost total darkness as the other Starfleet officers were doing.
"Understand we're trying to stabilise this world, not destroy it!" Unseen far above on the staircase, Klein was shouting down at Unwin and Schirra. They could hear her ragged breathing, followed by more metallic clanging on the stairs; they continued their pursuit, "Perhaps Admiral Munroe and Baxter would have you believe something different!"
"What?"
They heard the scientist sigh, "Munroe's faked her death in the quake so she can disappear and profit unhindered from the war she's started, or will start."
Unwin looked in surprise at the XO, his face illuminated by a weak light emanating from somewhere. "Think again!" he barked up the stairs, "They've found her body. It's in the Excalibur's morgue now."
There was a definite pause, "I wouldn't be so sure about that," Klein said eventually.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Nov 19, 2016 11:51:14 GMT
Given the fact that only Karka had the knowledge to even attempt deciphering whatever was beyond the air-lock, it was a given that he take the suit, albeit at least two sizes too small. As he squeezed himself in, he cursed not having more Assistant Science Officer whom he could 'delegate' to. He entered the room and all the others could do was wait ..... ~~~~~Daniel was looking at the door, not because he could actually 'see' through it, but it gave him some small solace that his friend was safe and well on the other side. no-one had noticed the Admiral's Aide inching towards Koni. She had reached for a small metallic flack and concealed it behind her back. As she got within striking distance she brought the makeshift weapon down on the Tactical Officers' neck, reaching forward to grasp her phaser as she did so. She spun, firing almost blindly but managing to hit the Chief Engineer and the Scientist, Hul'ti, both dropped to the floor semi-conscious. Daniel spun but came face to face with the business end of the weapon: =^= Commander Schirra .. .. No one here .. .. Seems they got out and left Klein behind .. .. .. Schirra ? .. Daniel .. ..? =^= Dan could hear Karka trying to speak to them and he deliberately remained silent, knowing Psonoir would realise something was amiss and attempt to come to their aid. "You won't get away with this Teresa, give me the phaser." he said quietly as she and Adi Mikaw backed towards the door ... "You made a mistake Commander." Klein said, as if her comment explained everything, "We're leaving. Try to follow and you will not be as, fortunate, your colleague." then they were gone ! ... Dan could see on the panel next to the air-lock controls, realising that Karka was using a second 'lock and not the one he had entered through. As he knelt beside Mark Unwin to check his condition the communicator he'd placed on the console chirped to life. with Unwin getting to his feet, and Hul'ti coming around, both with minor burns, he flipped open the device ... It was news that no-one wanted to hear: =^= Away team .. This is the Excalibur .. They have found Admiral Munroe .. .. She's dead =^= ooooo00000ooooo As they pursued Klein and Mikaw across the slopes of the volcano the Admiral's Aide was shouting down to them. Most seemed to be some feeble attempt at rhetoric, trying to convince their chasers of facts that no-one wanted to listen to, or begin to believe. It was obvious to Schirra that she was merely attempting to cast a shadow of doubt on the circumstances that initiated the quakes, but it wasn't working, though something she then said made him pause his chase: "Munroe faked her death in the quake so she can disappear and profit unhindered from the war she's started, or will start." Unwin looked at Daniel, whispering that they had caught her in a lie, then looked up the mist-shrouded slope. "Think again !" he barked up the stairs, "They've found her body. It's in the Excalibur's morgue now." there was a definite pause above, then Teresa Klein spoke: "I wouldn't be so sure about that." "We're more than sure Ms Klein, as Commander Unwin has already pointed out, the Admiral is aboard the Excalibur. So, whatever scheme you came up with insinuating her guilt is moot." Schirra said, taking out his communicator, instructing Mark quietly to keep her talking, hoping that if she would remain motionless. =^= Schirra to Excalibur .. .. Lock on to the person approximately thirty meters above my location and transport to the ship =^= A long moment passed then Ryat replied. =^= We can't establish adequate lock Commander .. If we try now we could loose her =^= "Damn !" Daniel said looking at Unwin then beginning to climb upwards as slowly and stealthily as possible, hoping that if he could get close enough she may surrender. As he rose he could hear the two in conversation, but it was clear Klein was tiring of the 'to-and-fro' and he could hear her begin to move. He estimated he was withing ten meters now, but still couldn't see her as the cloying mist was seemingly increasing in volume rather than dissipating as he'd hoped. He decided he had no option so increased his climb, and with it the noise he was making ! His foot landed on an unstable rock and he dropped to one knee trying to regain his balance, the slip saved his life as a beam from his phaser lanced through the air millimetres from his temple. He could smell the scorched air as he dropped to the rubble counting on the mist he was seconds ago cursing to conceal his actual location. he pondered the idea of having the Excalibur fire from orbit, it would certainly put a swift and decisive end to his current situation. If Klein decided to come back down he'd be killed the second he was seen, he knew that now. Three more bolts of almost pure energy lanced over his positin, one a little too close for comfort, but the other two seemed wild, as if the firer had lost his location, then it went quiet once again. He was pondering the idea of raising his head when he felt a hand on his shin and all but jumped into the air ! "Sorry Commander." Unwin whispered, "I didn't want her to know I was moving upward. She's less than ten meters above us, but I've lost her position with having to scramble up her on all-fours." "Go to the right, I'll go left." Dan said, glancing above them nervously before returning his attention to the Engineer, "Try to get above her. Don't wait, if you get the chance to disable her then do so." The two split, moving out to either side of her assumed location and began to climb. It was excruciatingly slow going, but they had the advantage as Klein had nowhere to go but up, and they were effectively driving her towards the summit. In time she would be in the open and they could try once again to reason with the Aide ... He estimated he had climbed above her now and began to move horizontally across the slope. Moments later he heard someone ahead and paused, there it was again, someone was moving directly ahead of him. Not daring to speak for fear she would hit him by chance, he inched forward, and came face to face with Unwin. "Where the hell is she !" he whispered, urgently putting a hand on the Engineers' shoulder to lower his target profile. It was clear that while they were covertly making their way towards her, she in turn had done likewise and had either relocated, waiting on their arrival at a point she knew, or she had escaped right past, or more likely right between them. He realised that she had been much closer than either Officer had first thought and must have overheard their strategy to capture her. All she had needed to do was sit quietly while they passed her, then begin her climb downwards and out of their grasp, and directly down to the unsuspecting Hul'ti ! ..........
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Nov 20, 2016 14:54:00 GMT
OOC: Apologies for the delay but I am back in the land of those who aren't living on paracetamol and lemon and honey. Not sure how much the imagination is back but we will see...
OOC: Is is just me or has the board been up and down over the last few days?
Given the tectonic history of the planet below them, or rather the lack of it, Alyana couldn't say she was completely surprised at Commander Psonior's suggestion that the quake had bee deliberately triggered. She had asked her officer to keep his suspicions as low-key as possible until there was evidence. It wasn't that she didn't believe Karka it was simply that with the situation as it was news that this had been some sort of attack could start a riot, or worse.
People continued to dig through the rubble. The fractured infrastructure meant that the Excal was serving as a relay post of communications and transport. Theyt were collating lists of the missing and the found. Some people had managed to travel miles before finding somewhere they could check-in with loved ones. Others had had to be pulled from the ruins and identified. There could never be enough good news (Aly was in fact taking copies of the news reports of the rescued for the days when good news was even thinner). So far the Admiral, the Princess and the President were all still among the missing.
Several hours later word was send up that Admiral Jane Munroe and most of her staff had been discovered. Dead. They were all transported to the Excal and the doctor examined them. They had all died instantly when five levels of a building had collapsed on them. At least none of them had suffered. It was scant comfort. Aly made sure that the information was relayed to the landing parties. She was sure she had never met Jane Munroe, but the woman had looked vaguely familiar so Aly concluded she must have seen her in passing at Starfleet HQ or somewhere.
She was one the bridge when notification of Dan and Karka's discovery was made. She may not have been surprised that the earth quake had been artifical but the suggestion of Starfleet involvement was a complete shock. She swallowed hard and then felt personally hurt and angry. It seemed that most of her existence at the moment was clearing up the messes made by people who had forgotten that Starfleet was meant to explore and help people.
=/\= Schirra to Excalibur .. .. Lock on to the person approximately thirty meters above my location and transport to the ship =/\=
Aly looked over at the science and ops stations as the two CPO's struggled to find anything to lock on to in the specified area. CPO Witherby shook his head "Can't get a stable lock, sir." Aly took a second to glance at his screen before replying to Dan.
=/\= We can't establish adequate lock Commander .. If we try now we could loose her. We will keep sweeping the area and if she reaches a place where we can get a good lock we will.=/\=
Tag: Dan / Karka
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Nov 20, 2016 19:25:20 GMT
He knew that they couldn't wait on the slope of the volcano indefinitely, it was increasingly likely that should Teresa Klein continue to fire in their direction, that one or more could be hit. Reluctantly, he turned down the slope, Hul'ti close behind him. They made their way towards the last position Karka and Mark Unwin were waiting .....
"She's up there, somewhere." Dan said as he approached the two of them, "Whatever the composition of that cloying mist up there it's significantly reducing the effectiveness of the Excalibur's sensors."
"We need to go back to the Mainland." Unwin said, "If she comes down from there she will need to get off this island, and the likely place for her to head would be there ?"
"Agreed." Daniel said, turning to look up the mist-shrouded incline. If it were his call, he'd cut the whole top off the mountain and be done with it, but alas it wasn't their way of doing things, so another solution was required. They moved further down towards the shoreline where thankfully the Excalibur 'could' get an adequate lock, and they returned to Della Vile .....
~~~~~~~~~~
Unsurprisingly, the once immaculately designed and constructed city was still in ruin, it was almost heart-wrenching to see such beauty wantonly destroyed, and for what !
Lieutenant Ridley, Admiral Munroe's Principle Aide approached them:
"I have been told that I will be allowed up to the Excalibur to, view the Admiral's body only when all the autopsies on personnel found in the rubble of the Embassy have been completed."
"That's understandable Lieutenant." Dan said, sympathising with the young man, who had been alongside the Admiral practically since he graduated from the Academy, "I need to speak with whatever group the Dellian Governing Body has designated as in charge, predominantly the Senior Scientists and Research personnel."
"The Ruling Council are now using a building on the outskirts of the city. It is only one storey high so the risks should there be another, quake, are considerably lessened. Security has established a cordon, of sorts, to prevent Citizens from approaching. They are desperate, hungry, and in need of shelter, but at this point in time everything that can be done is being done, they must be patient, but explaining that to someone who has lost the majority of his or her Family is all but impossible. I do not know who could have done this terrible thing, but they 'MUST' be brought to justice .... They MUST !" Ridley said, trying and failing to choke back his anger, he looked at Schirra for a long moment, then continued, "Were you aware, Commander, that Admiral Munroe was my godmother ?"
"I wasn't, no." was all Daniel could say in reply.
"I believe Princess Gyele and the President were both found under the rubble, and while seriously injured, are still alive and expected to survive their ordeal ?"
"As far as I am aware at this point in time, yes."
"That is good ..... I fear there would have been war once again had either perished." he said, turning away before beginning to walk along the rubble-strewn street. Dan watched him for a second, a niggling thought gnawing at the back of his mind that he couldn't put a finger on. Turning to the others he waved them forward and, with no ground transport able to enter the inner city. Had the young man not walked away, obviously in need of some time to come to terms with both his poersonal loss, and the situation as a whole, Dan would have simply ordered the Excalibur beam them to the location, but he understood the need for personal solace, so they followed the Aide to the new residence of the Ruling Council, on foot ...
~~~~~~~~~~
The building was more affluent residence than a structure built for purpose ... Two hundred meters from the main gates they were stopped by Dellian Security, all-but interrogated on their reasons for being here despite the quarantine regulations apparently being enforced. With Lieutenant Ridley's help they were cleared to approach the building. They were questioned, and searched, three more times before getting through the gates, the Starfleet Officers only being allowed to retain their weapon's after a long drwan-out argument and consultation between the Council and the Excalibur.
Entering what he suspected was originally a study, they came face to face with the five remaining Dallian council members ...
"We are hearing some extremely disturbing news Commander." Minister Narja, who in the absence of Minister Wolk, was the interim leader of the remaining Council said.
"I believe it unwise to listen to rumour or gossip at a time like this Director. We need facts. With information and hard evidence to back up those facts before we can proceed." Dan said.
"I think it unwise on your part to question my actions, or motives, Commander." Narja said, looking at the other Council members, passing whispers back and forth along the table before she returned her attention to Schirra, "Maybe it would be, better for us to converse directly with your, Commanding Officer in these matters."
"I am the Federation representative in charge of all ground-based procedures Madam Director." Schirra said, annoyed at her tone and not trying to hide the fact, "I am positive that my Commanding Officer will be only too pleased to converse with you, either on the surface, or as a guest of the Excalibur .... Once she has concluded her talks with Queen Estel, of course."
Narja's sudden change of expression didn't go un-noticed and Dan wondered why the apparent coldness now the Minister knew that Della IV's Queen was in orbit above them ..........
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