Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side-sim: The Study of Kelmao

(snip)

Rand nodded, “I did. It’s really not surprising. The ground I was running on wasn’t really ground, was it? It wasn’t slippery squishy mud, there was nothing underneath it at all. And it was collapsing as I was moving. It is most probably twisted and sprained. We don’t have a medical tricorder, but nothing feels broken. The cold compress seems to be helping.”

Roman nodded, looking relieved. “That’s good. It will heal quickly, I’m sure.” Applying the cold to his leg, either the ice packs or the compress, was painful in that he had to jostle it slightly to get them placed correctly. But after a few minutes, he had found a way to make it more comfortable. He hoped the ice would help.

Rand nodded, but looked worried. It was the foot she’d broken, and she knew that reinjury could talk longer to heal. Luckily, she hoped, it wasn’t broken so not the same type of injury. “As long as there is no bone fuser involved.” He was keeping something from her, she wished he would tell her, but at the same time she recognized that maybe she was worrying over nothing because of how she felt about him. After he finished, Rand replaced her own cold compress. Taking the bandage off, it was obvious she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. It was swollen almost like a grapefruit and it was several different colors. Once her boots had been removed the swelling had started and it got worse as heat and feeling and blood had started to flow again. There was no way she was getting a shoe back over that ankle.

She ate quietly, they’d both fallen asleep before Harvey had finished cooking. From what Morgan said, Rand and Roman were the lucky ones. Putting the bowl aside when she was done she pointed to the control box for the cameras. There was another small case. “Harvey left a drone outside, and that’s the control She said it’s made to go in the air and water. The ground is too unstable to walk to the river, but you could use it to get samples and vids of any aquatic life in the river.”

Yeoman Rand

He picked up the control box for the camera, looking at the present feeds. Nothing was there, not yet. He wanted to be out on the planet, looking for things himself. The camera was a useful tool but unfulfilling to him as the only means of exploring the planet surface. The drone was a little more interesting to him, but still he preferred to observe things with his own two eyes. Still, he was grateful they’d set them up at all. They could’ve left him with the samples to label. Picking up the oatmeal, he started nibbling it.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand watched him while she tried to straighten up, just a little. Finally she sighed, “Roman you look like I just told you your whole life will be nothing but paperwork and I’m not going to help you.” She managed to scoot her way over next to him. “I know you would rather be out there yourself. But we both know, wild animals are skittish, the won’t come out till you are long away from the area. You’d be setting up cameras and watching through the camera anyway. And you would never allow anyone to go diving in the river or lake, so the drone is your best option for the equipment we have.” She squeezed his hand and held onto it a moment. She wasn’t worried about anyone coming back. They hadn’t commed and no one wanted to startle Rand and then her accidently shoot them with the phaser Morgan gave her.

Truth be told, Rand wasn’t sure she was really excited about being on the alien planet anymore. If it hadn’t been for the pain meds, she probably wouldn’t have slept. The previous days events had her rattled. She thought about what Randy had given her before they’d left. She hoped neither she nor Roman would need it. “Come on, if we’re careful, and use the cave wall for support, maybe we can sit right outside and you can make some ‘eyes on’ observations.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman still wanted to be there. Desperately so. Dangerous or not, he loved it too much. Things like the day before had happened before and would again. It wouldn’t have been so bad if his leg hadn’t given out. But nothing could be done about that either.

Rand moved next to him and Roman listened to her. He felt like someone told him he’d have a mountain of paperwork every day for the rest of his life. She was right, again. The cameras were a normal part of his routine when it came to these types of studies. And letting anyone dive into water filled with who-knew-what was way too dangerous.

She squeezed his hand, and that always made him feel better, but he was still put out he couldn’t go anywhere. Then she offered him a compromise and he looked back to her hopefully. At least then he’d be out in nature. Not in a dank, dark cave. “Alright. We’ll move slow and I’ll stay right against the entrance,” he promised.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand slowly pulled herself up, and using the cave wall to balance herself made her way to the entrance. It took a bit to get the equipment moved, along with themselves. Since they were already moving, Rand took a set of rations and plenty of water with them. No need to have to move again. Her ankle throbbed but it wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been when she woke up the first time.

Sample cases had been set by the door, as the rest of the team worked, so as to not enter and wake them. Franks figured the best thing for them was sleep. So while Roman played with the cameras and the drone, Rand had plenty of samples and data tapes to go through. After awhile, their stillness payed off. Small mammals and avians started to appear. Rand picked up her communicator to let the rest know. They were okay and Cmdr Alden asked them to stay gone for a bit so he could finish his observations. Being near the stream seemed to pay off, as different animals come for water, but then had to find safer ways to get to it after the sink hole. As long as they were quiet the animals didn’t seem to take much concern with them.

Yeoman Rand