Posted by Lieutenant Commander Adam Magnusson (Chief Intelligence Officer) in [Ring of the First Nagus] Landing Party

Posted by Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell (Chief Medical Officer) in [Ring of the First Nagus] Landing Party

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Vivian Skogheim (XO) in [Ring of the First Nagus] Landing Party
Posted by… suppressed (45) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[SNIP]
After giving a nod to the Transporter Chief, the crew members were beamed down in two waves. The party would find themselves on top of a small rocky hill overlooking the settlement, under light cover from some rock formations and low lying plant life.

Even from their position, you could hear it. Yelling. Screaming. Glass breaking. Metal clanging. Some colonists were feeling off into the nearby brush, limping or holding pressure against their wounds. One caught sight of the party, and with the last remaining strength they had stumbled up the incline. A young human male, clutching his neck with a cloth dripping in crimson. He struggled to reach the landing party. Through panting he pushed the words out,

“Please, h-help us… Ma’tok has-has…”

But he had nothing left, nothing left he could do but collapse onto the rocky soil.

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

“Kovacenkov, check him out.” Gadi told the MCPO on her small team.

Brad was moving before he finished speaking, tricorder in hand. “Leton, 130 ccs of Inaprovaline! Anderson, Commander, I need triage! Stop bleeding, beam them up!”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

“I know he needs help doctor, but please be cautious that he isn’t also infected by this anomaly,” she cautioned kindly. She understood his need to help, but they had no idea how the influence of this transfered, what if it was through touch? Gadi hadn’t been briefed nearly enough. She blamed that on red tape and not the crew.

Nyman stood back and observed for a moment. He agreed with Gadi’s reasoning and admired her caution. But he was concerned about what the man had said. Ma’tok, he wondered if that could be their target.

“I agree, doctor, we should be cautious. Do what you can to stabilize him here.”
“Aye, Commander,” Brad agreed, though not exactly happily. He understood the risks - he wouldn’t be this ship’s CMO if he didn’t - but a life was a life.

Dorian watched the panic passively. His role was engineer and containment architect until the the XO ordered otherwise.

• Dorian, CE/CA

Gadi stepped to the edge of the area and stared down at the chaos, trying to acertain the eye of the storm. “Trainor, Kjab, Kat’ar spread out. Niven scout ahead.”

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

“Dorian, have the containment device ready. Stay nearby Niven.” Nyman ordered, “Keep an eye on each other.”

As Niven scouted ahead he would find the path into the settlement was for the most part clear. Everyone who was going to had fled.

Of all the buildings, homes and workshops, one thing stood out as particularly unusual. It was in the middle of the otherwise deserted central square. A double-layered fountain gleamed in the sunlight. Bright and shining with the unmistakable appearance of pure gold. Running through it, a clear liquid, though not quite water. If the intel was accurate it was, potentially, pure latinum.

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

Dorian nodded and moved with Niven. It would take him but a moment to deploy the portable, for him, containment unit.

• Dorian, CE/CA

“Ah can keep guard for you Dorian,” Ash noted, “Don’t know what we might encounter tryin’ to contain this varmit.”

-Lieutenant Ashara Mavix: Chief of Security-

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Bump!

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Dorian’s humanity contemplated asserting itself when the officer mentioned guarding him and releasing into his full frame form but thought best to keep that a surprise if needed.

“I appreciate your concern Chief Mavix.” he said still carrying the mobile containment unit.

• Dorian, CE/CA

From their vantage point, it wasn’t hard to see the general location from which the colonists were fleeing. She started moving in the direction that Niven had gone, the rest of her team spreading out around the others as they made their way against the fleeing energy and towards the source of fear.

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

Adam followed the team as they went forward, he made sure to stay behind the leading RTF members. Although he technically had the qualifications he’d felt it neccecary to remain seperate from the unit.

CIO

(OOC: Editing to Merge Threads)

The Commander’s attention was split between the rest of the party moving on and the medics. He still wasn’t used to working with a team. Having to keep track of so many people. Having to keep them all reasonably safe.

“Commander Magnusson,” he called after, rushing to his side,

“When the doctor’s done what they can, we’ll catch up. Until then, no one should engage the anomaly unless it is absolutely safe to do so.”

The Commander watched on as they approached the settlement.

It was eerily silent, empty of the colonists. Pathways littered with miscellaneous tools and equipment, dropped as they fled.

As one approached the central square, the glistening gold fountain of latinum was a sight to behold. It was almost a beacon in and of itself. Calling the party closer.

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

OOC: Quick question before I reply, did I misread, was the team split up? I read it as they were spread out across the same area?
-Hjortur

We are not split up so much as spread out over a larger area. I assumed Brad was still at the initial landing site helping the colonist while everyone else moved on toward the settlement.

Thanks for that, thought I was misreading something.
-Hjortur

IC:
With his psychological conditions, neural implants, and drugs, the latinum fountain held little interest to Dorian, he stayed on task and waited for orders. Whether they be combat or containment orders was yet to be seen.

• Dorian, CE/CA

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

Adam eyed the first officer, his expression as wooden as always “Of course, I don’t interact directly with anomalies in general” He said simplyþ

CIO

As they reached the fountain, Gadi help up a hand to halt the forward movement. “Irida?” Bethany asked. Master Chief Petty Officer Irida Kovacenkov was the mission specialist of the team. She had expertise in Star Fleet Tactical operations and security measures. She was an expert strategist and had proficiencies in all Star Fleet standard and non-standard issue weapons as well as ‘foreign’ weapons specialties. She scanned the area, “If vhat ve know is accurate, the Ring vill come here. I suggest ve spread out to avoid all getting caught. Trainor on overlook. And do not touch the fountain.”

Bethany nodded. Squadran Marksman
Senior Chief Petty Officer Derrick Trainor was the squadron marksman. If a fourth of the stories were true… He gave a cheeky salute and disappeared back up the hill taking his specialized type III phaser sniper rifle with him.

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

Dorian’s uniform was actually a part of his frame. The combat prep happening around him caused the true bluish gray color of his frame to appear in subtle small ripples across the surface of his uniform like mercurial raindrops. He approached to exactly 5 meters from the latinum fountain and set the portable containment unit down. Tactical subroutines were running, a faint light flickering in his eyes as local tactical data and formulations for the area ran. He was a combat machine but that was not his function in this mission unless ordered, for now he would observe, collect data, and be ready to attempt containment of the anomaly.

• Dorian, CE/CA

Something, someone, finally broke the stillness. A figure emerged from one of the workshops. A 6 foot tall Bajorian male, wide shouldered and exuding strength. In his hand, a solid gold hammer, splattered with bright red. He looked over the courtyard, barely even noticing the others, eyes locked on the fountain.

When he saw the man approaching, the Commander wanted to call them back. He had to remind himself, this is exactly what they were trained for. After giving word to the doctor, he hurried down the sloped terrain to meet the others. Hopefully before it was too late.

The Bajorian, meanwhile laughed a thunderous and wicked laugh, as he approached the fountain,

“They thought, they thought they could hide it from me!” he roared.

He plunged his hand it the liquid and pulled it up. The brass-colored ring glistened in the sun. He admired it, captivated.

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

Despite circumstances to the contrary, Ash found herself not instinctually drawing her phaser. The Bajoran was clearly going through some kind of psychological episode, but the Starfleet Officer in Ash decided that a diplomatic solution was the best way to go.

-Lieutenant Ashara Mavix: Chief of Security-

Adam cocked his head curiously and stepped back “Anyone got a reading on him?” He asked as he slowly reached for his tricorder, not wanting to make any sudden movements.

CIO

The man was obviously obsessed. The red on the hammer looked like blood from this distance, but that could be her worst-case reasoning. “Well that’s not right. Who stole it? Why? I’d be happy to track them down for you,” Gadi said, taking a step forward, but to the side so the man would see her. She had no intention of getting closer if it wasn’t necessary. But she had no problem being bait so the others could do their job. “What did they steal?”

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

The man pulled the ring close to his chest, guarding it fiercely with a wild look in his eyes. Then, a twisted smile wormed its way onto his face. He didn’t read Gadi as a threat.

“The other colonists. They were jealous. All jealous. The wealth, the power,”

His breathing got quicker, heavier, as he slide the ring onto his finger. His face warped into a grimace as if the action caused him pain.

“It’s mine! Rightfully mine. The ring chose me!” he roared.

{Narrator Notagm}

Dorian was still as a statue in the place 5 meters from the fountain, still standing next to the PCU.

• Dorian, CE/CA

Gadi held up her hands in a non-threatening way. “I don’t want it. I want to help you keep it. I’m a Star Fleet officer. I am sworn to uphold the law. Theft is against the law. Can you tell me specifically how you found it? When they stole it? I want to help you.” She wanted to keep his attention so the others could move in.

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

Brad, with one of the junior doctors, circled in a wide arc to be towards the Bajoran’s side, whipping out his tricorder and configuring it specifically to record brain wave patterns.

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

The man was displaying the same brainwave pattern that the scans had shown to be a result of exposure to the ring. He seemed already at the stage of increased aggression and delusion mentioned in the reports. Which means he could be well on his way to supposedly sharing the other’s deadly fate. It was too early to tell.

“Alright, right. It is mine, and I found it…” he said, seeming to relax a little. His expression dulled, no as longer furious at the others or as lustful for the ring.

“I- I never saw anything like it before. The meteorite, it was incredible. Like one solid cast of gold. Hollow, with of all things, latinum inside. As head geologists I…”

He cut himself off, glancing down at the ring on his finger before clenching his fist and pulling it closer to him,

“It was a sign for me. It wanted me to find it, to understand. And look what it did…”

He pulled up the golden hammer, the red liquid on its surface oxidizing into brown crust, and pointed the head of it toward Gadi. A visual aid, and possibly a threat.

“Pure gold, filled with latinum, just like the meteorite.”

{Narrator}

“Ah’ll be damned,” Ash let out under her breath.

-Lieutenant Ashara Mavix: Chief of Security-

Bump?

|Lt. Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|

Adam moved to the Medical Chief “Is he in any danger, or is he a danger to others?” He said in a low whisper

CIO

“Both, but not enough to be an issue for our team,” Brad muttered. “Gadi, step back.” He turned to face the man. “Would you mind if I put this monitor on you and ran a couple checks, just to make sure it’s not doing anything untoward to your health? We’ll all stay away from it - you found it, after all.”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Bethany didn’t think that was a good idea. She glanced up and spotted Trainer and Lihew standing by. She nodded once and stepped back. If the man made any move one of them would take the shot to incapacitate him.

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

“N-no, I’m fine. Really,” he said, glancing at the doctor,

“I’m in perfect health. I don’t think you need to come any closer.”

His gaze darted between the officers, like a cornered fox. Heartbeat growing. Skin flushing. Breathing getting heavy. The ring glowed hot like fire, and raspy voice echoed in his mind,

They are lying. They want to take me away from you.

Bethany’s eyes snapped up, her gaze focusing in. Who or what was that? The ring? It was conscious? She wished Aasrel was done there with them. She had no idea what to do with that piece of information. Or was she hallucinating?

The expression on the Bajoran’s face twisted. Pain, anger. Gritted teeth and narrow eyes. With a barbaric yell he launched the hammer forward. It flew inches away from Dr. Maxwell’s face before crashing into the wall behind him.

She saw it. The slight twitch of his hand before he pulled it back. Bethany moved. She was suddenly right in front of Maxwell, blocking him from getting hurt. She moved so fast, no one saw her move. Her phaser was in her hand, but held loosely.
Brad stepped back almost in the same moment - not fast enough he’d have been protected, but still a fast reaction time on the whole.

“You, you,” he said with panting breath, “You shouldn’t come any closer.”

{Narrator Notagm}

“Hey take it easy sugar,” Ash called out, “We ain’t here to hurt you.”

-Lieutenant Ashara Mavix: Chief of Security-

Adam stepped forward, hand on the doctor’s arm, ready to push if anything happened again. He raised his hand giving the security teams a signal to get ready “Unless you have a bright Idea Doctor we’re gonna have to take the man down.” his voice was calm, unemotional and almost bored.

CIO

“Hey,” she put a slight pout to her voice, drawing his attention. “My friend just wants to help. You said people were stealing from you, hurting you. He just wants to make sure they didn’t hurt you too badly. No one is going to hurt you or take your things.”

She glanced around, “It sounds like it’s not too nice a place here. The people are pretty cliquish and mean. They hurt you.” She sounded so sympathetic. “We could take you away from here.” Her voice was gentle, coaxing, so eager to help him. “Off this planet. You can have your own space, and keep the door locked on our ship. Get you away from all these people trying to steal your things. We won’t let them steal from you anymore.”

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF

“Your ship?” he asked, looking around at the sky as if somehow he could see it.

No, stay. You don’t want them to separate us… the voice hissed.

“We could use a ship,” he muttered, unclear whether he was talking to Gadi or the voice, “We could go together it’s alright…”

He looked back toward the officers, eyes watering and red, and called to them,

“Alright, if you have a ship, if I go with you I want my own room, door locked like you said. Nobody touches me or my ring. And if I feel sick or hurt I’ll —“ he winched,

You don’t need their help!

“The ring can help me, I won’t need a doctor.”

|Lt. Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|

“I can work with that,” Brad noted almost to himself, though really to the other officers. “Any problems?”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Adam nodded slowly “Sounds like a plan. Please give the gentleman some space and form a perimeter, make certain no one can get close to him” He ordered, trying to make sure that the man didn’t rabbit or do something worse, making sure he felt safe was important.

CIO

Gadi tapped her badge, =/\=Gadi to Trainor.” Trainor was the RTF sharpshooter. He was way up on the hill. He could relay the orders to the ship without her giving anything away. “We have one guest beaming up to a secure private room. Once transport is complete, he would like to be left alone to rest.=/\=

=/\=Aye Lt. Transport commencing in 30 seconds.=/\= Trainor’s voice came over the comm. Gadi just hoped that the crew was smart enough to realize the secure private room was a containment cell pumped full of Anesthezine gas to knock him out for a good long while.

Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF