Posted by Lieutenant Surra Almikaz (CSO) in Surra and Dean

Posted by Gamemaster GM Kate (GMT) in Surra and Dean

Posted by Lieutenant Surra Almikaz (CSO) in Surra and Dean
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Wherever Dean and Vanessa had slipped off to, it was well hidden. The people in the room swallowed them which was odd given that the crew of the Genesis was all about a foot shorter and not blue. They should have been easy to spot and yet they were not. The only place that was not within Surra’s gaze was a large balcony off to the left of the room. Delicate white curtains that were almost transparent fell from the ceiling to the floor and billowed slightly in the wind. It would be the perfect place to slip away if one wanted some privacy.

GM Kate

Surra moved through the crowd as the room buzzed with activity, her eyes scanning every corner for any sign of Dean and Vanessa. Frustrated by the Beltrans blcking any good view she had, she frowned slightly, as her attention was drawn to the large balcony on the left. The delicate white curtains danced in the breeze, creating an enticing veil of privacy. Could Dean and Vanessa have slipped away there? She made her way towards the balcony. Her steps were deliberate, her senses heightened as she approached the billowing curtains.
Pushing them aside, Surra stepped onto the balcony.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

Exiting the small room he had taken Vanessa, Dean scanned the room for his people. Touching his comm badge Dean called out to the rest of his team for a head count. Nodding his attention was drawn to Almikak. Slipping through the room, he came up behind Surra. Leaning forward he whispered in her ear, “Anyone special we should be looking for?” With all the noise in the room and the fact he was a security officer, Dean wasn’t sure if he surprised her or not with his comment.

Lt. Dean

Surra’s heart skipped a beat as she felt an unexpected presence behind her, their warm breath tickling her ear. She quickly spun around to face them, realizing it was Dean there was surprise in her eyes. Surra craned her neck to look over his shoulder, as she asked, “Where is Vanessa?”

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

“Why are you concerned? She is a big girl and you seem to have other things to be concerned about,” Dean replied nodding towards the center of the room. Looking up they would see King Casper Artemis had stepped up on a circular dias that slowly rose several feet in the room. The platform turned transparent as it separated from the marble flooring. It was an ostentatious way to gain the room’s attention as the king seemed to float above them.

“My people,” the king’s voice bellowed through the room. It echoed as if the King was using a microphone so that no one was unable to hear his message no matter where they were in the room. “Our guests are enamored with our culture and people. The Captain,” he gestured to Calvin which caused the room to make a path as they say in the military, “has begged me for a chance to see more of our glorious world. I have decided to permit him this honor. General Trell will escort those that want to see our defenses and Della Dharma will escort those that want to see our science and technology. These two groups will go tonight to see our world and all the wonders it will bring to the Federation.” The room broke into murmurs as the partying Beltran’s whispered among themselves sending scurried looks to the Federation officers.

“It seems you are about to go on a field trip unless you want to play Sherlock Holmes.” Dean glanced about the room hiding his reservations behind a stoic expression.

A female Beltra walked directly at them and paused staring at Surra’s uniform before moving out onto the balcony. Turning to face Dean, Della Dharma addressed him directly. “I have told your scientists and engineers to meet me here. If your people need a second invitation to visit our science station they must not have the scientific curiosity we do.”

GM Kate

Although she was torn between getting on the shuttle that was headed for the Beltran Science Center and locating Vanessa, Surra wasn’t about to let this go. She squared her shoulders and narrowed her eyes. “I’ll play whatever role necessary, but my first concern is ensuring Vanessa is okay.” Surra was sure that Vanessa left with Dean against her will. If she could just talk with her and make sure she is okay. “The well-being of my colleague takes precedence over some alien technology. ” Surra pushed past Dean and headed for the balcony, her senses on high alert.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

bump
OOC: I am curious to see where this goes :)

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

Dean watched Almikaz trudge off onto the balcony and let out an annoyed groan. Tapping his comm badge he stated, =/\=we got another sheep straying from the herd. Keep your eyes on the old man until I deal with this.=/\= The message only was received by his team but Dean was not quiet about delivering it.

Coming up behind Surra on the balcony Dean whistled loudly to get her to stop. “If you want to talk to the good counselor you are never going to find her out here. I mean did you see her tonight? She would not get ten feet in a foot race wearing those twelve-inch stilettos but she was never the outdoorsy type unless it was in Jamaica Plains Park.” Ending his conversation with Surra, Dean tapped on his badge. =/\=Oh pumpkin you want to tell your CSO that I have not driven you out into the countryside, tied you up…left you for dead?=/\= Dean looked over at Surra with an expression showing he was clearly irritated.

=/\=Seriously,=/\= Vanessa’s equally irritated voice came back. =/\=See that was your problem Zach. You always assumed you were so funny when you aren’t and don’t call me pumpkin. I freaking hate that.=/\=

Dean looked over at Surra and waited for her to react.

Lt. Zach Dean

Bump

Surra’s eyes flared with annoyance as she turned to face Dean, her jaw set in a hard line. His casual tone and dismissive attitude only fueled her frustration. She had always taken her duties seriously, and seeing Vanessa safe didn’t erase the panic she had felt or the responsibility she bore.

“I don’t care for your jokes, Dean,” Surra snapped, her voice cutting through the night air.

“Then maybe you should not just to conclusions before you know the situation,” he responded back as dismissively.

“Whether or not I misinterpreted the situation, my concern was…still is Vanessa’s safety. That’s my duty as her colleague and as part of this team.”

“Are you dating her now,” he looked at Surra with an irritating smile.

She crossed her arms, staring him down. “You might find this amusing, but it’s not a game to me. If anything, they made her more determined to verify Vanessa’s condition herself. Dean’s expression of irritation didn’t faze her; it only solidified her resolve.
As Vanessa’s voice crackled through the comm badge, Surra felt a mix of relief and residual anger. Vanessa was clearly alive and able to express her displeasure.

Surra rolled her eyes, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and without a response, she walked past Dean to try to find a shuttle to meet the others so she could observe the Beltran technology. *I can’t believe I wasted my time. From now on, I need to mind my own business.” she said to herself

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

Dean followed behind her as he was heading with the scientific team on the tour. “Why were you watching us anyway,” he asked. “I mean there are 500 people in the room. Were you watching me, the Captain, or her? Me dragging her off was not that visible so you had to be watching one of us to notice the event?” He kept pace with her as they walked ot the nearby shuttle.

Dean, security team.

GM Kate

OOC: We have the science team at the facility. If you want to keep writing this we can but you can also join the scientists there or remain at that Palace. It is up to you which direction you go. ~ Kate

Surra ignored Dean’s questions, her focus solely on reaching the shuttle to join the others at the facility. Her boots clacked sharply against the floor, each step echoing her annoyance. She had no intention of entertaining Dean’s insinuations. The situation had already taken up too much of her mental bandwidth, and she was eager to shift her attention to something more productive.

As she reached the shuttle bay, the sleek, silver vessels stood ready, their engines humming (OOC: Let me know if this is okay? I assume there would be shuttles she can take to meet up with the rest of the team). Surra stepped inside one, she took a deep breath, trying to center herself. The hum of technology around her was a familiar comfort, a reminder of why she chose this path in the first place.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

OOC: Sure.... the rest of the team is at the facility in this post. You can join up there if you want. https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf6/genesis/posts/246892/ or I can leave you and Dean as a stand alone post. Your choice. Let me know so I can continue a new part of the thread here or just blend you into the science facility one. Just like pick your own adventure thread :rofl:

GM Kate

OOC: Sorry Kate for the late reply. I do plan on meeting up with the rest of the team, but I am enjoying this post with Dean. I think we can continue here (I am sure Dean will come up with something else to antagonize Surra with) and eventually end up in the other post if its not too late.

OOC: No problem May was insanity for me. Thank god school is over for the summer. ~ Kate

IC: Surra sat in the shuttle pod, hoping it would take off before Dean had a chance to get in. From now on, she made it a point to mind her own business.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

The quietness of the shuttle suddenly broke into a flurry of activity. Monitors began flashing and the consoles around the ship began to beep out warning sounds like mini-klaxons. “We will need you to buckle in immediately,” one of the pilots announced followed by what one would assume would be a flurry of Beltan curses. The cheerful demeanor in the cockpit with the pilots changed to one of tight lipped statements between the two men.

“In the overhead compartments at the exit sign are shielding uniforms. I need you to take them out and put them on,” the pilot ordered over his shoulder before putting the shuttle in a steep decline. The occupants would not feel the decline but more see it as the landscape now was filling the viewscreen instead of being a combination of landscape and skyline.

GM Kate.

Surra was jolted from her thoughts by the blaring alerts, “My God, what is happening?” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief. As she scrambled to follow the pilot’s urgent instructions, she quickly grabbed a shielding uniform and fumbled with the straps to secure herself into her seat. The alarms, the urgency in the pilots voices were triggering. Every moment felt like it was in slow motion and her heart was pounding louder than the alarms. Memories of her father’s tragic shuttle crash flooded her mind, a dark shadow looming over her current reality.

“No, no, no!” Surra screamed, her voice rising in desperation as tears streamed down her face. Her eyes remained tightly closed “Let me out! Let me out now!” Her hands gripped the armrests with knuckles turning white.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

“You’re fine. Breathe,” Dean snapped out in a very commanding tone. It was meant to be instructional and not necessarily gentle. Grabbing her safety restraints he yanked hard ensuring she was secure before taking a seat next to her. “Don’t pass out on me. Breathe in and out. You are a Starfleet officer. This is just like they trained you for.”

=/\=Gen..sis and …way teams, please return …palace .... let …drill proceed unencumber… our presence.=/\= Came through their comm badges. It was the Captain’s voice but highly static-filled. Luckily there was enough information to indicate what the Captain wanted.

There was no way to respond for the moment. They were going down but it had to be a shuttle malfunction instead of a direct hit. Dean had been in his share of shuttles that were being actively attacked and this was not one of them.

“When we hit the ground,” the pilot yelled over his shoulder. “Avoid any prison or hospital. Find shelter and hide there. Green zones are protected. Red are for harvesting. You will know the difference.” His words stopped just as the shuttle impacted the ground. It was not so much a crash but a very controlled, jarring landing. Everyone would have the wind knocked out of them but the crash was not hard enough to explode the ship or kill anyone on board due to the landing.

GM Kate

Surra nodded at Dean’s instruction as her breath came in ragged gasps and she struggled to fill her lungs with air. His commanding voice cut through the fog of panic taking over her, grounding her just enough to focus momentarily. “Breathe, Surra,” she whispered to herself, echoing Dean’s command. Her mind, still full of fear and memories, she tried to cling to the present moment.
Surra forced her eyes open, taking in the scene around her. The cockpit was in chaos the pilots were working frantically to stabilize the vessel. The atmosphere was thick with tension, punctuated only by the occasional, crackling messages from the comm badges.
“Green zones… protected,” Surra repeated out loud and through her gasped breaths, trying to latch onto any detail that could guide her actions. “Red… harvesting.” She had no idea what harvesting meant and she didn’t want to find out. The pilot’s instructions reverberated in her mind. She had to remember her Starfleet training, had to be the officer she was trained to be.
The shuttle lurched again, harder this time, and Surra’s resolve disappeared again, her hands flew out toward Dean a gesture pleading for him to save her. The memories of her father’s crash came to surface again.

Dean suppressed the irritation he had being strapped with a scientist versus one of the people from the security teams. Surra was going to be a buck twenty-five wet duffle bag he was going to have to lug out of here. Still that was what one signed up for when joining the security forces. “You are going to be fine. The restraints will protect you,” he yelled out hoping his lack luster encouragement would prevent the woman from delving into some fit of hysterics. Part of his irritation was with the woman’s earlier behavior. She treated him like he was some kind of creeper and now wanted his protection. Maybe she would learn to take a few more scientific notes before forming hypotheses from now on.

As the shuttle descended rapidly, she gripped the armrest again and squeezed her eyes shut.
The impact, though controlled, was still brutal. The force of the landing threw Surra against her restraints, knocking the breath out of her. For a few moments, all she could do was gasp, trying to pull air back into her lungs.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

Dean was on his feet the second the shuttle hit the ground. His hands were around Surra’s neck and pulling her from the restraints like she weighed nothing. Standing her up, Dean snapped his fingers several times making sure she was was with him and not about to pass out. The landing was very jarring. She looked from his perspective and based on her descent in the crashing shuttle that she might faint. Dean needed to square her away before they left the shuttle. “Surra…Surra we need to leave the shuttle. Are you with me Lieutenant?” His voice was firm but had a more caring lithe to it.

“Okay, we are going to let this shuttle. I need you on my six like we are a shadow. Understand?”

GM Kate

bump

Surra nodded, still dazed from the landing but determined to hold herself together. Dean’s firm grip and steady voice were her anchors in the chaos. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on his instructions.
“Yes, Lieutenant,” she managed to say, her voice shaky. “I’m with you.”

As they moved to exit the shuttle, she tried to recall the protocols for emergency evacuations, visualizing each step in her mind. Dean led the way, his movements precise and confident, and she followed closely, staying in his shadow as he had instructed.
Outside the shuttle was a blur of motion and sound. Surra’s heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her eyes on Dean, mimicking his movements as best as she could. At least she had survived the crash if not anything else.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

Dean had no idea what to expect but based on the panic in the shuttle did not bode well about what was on the other side of the hatch. Stepping out the chaos of the situation hit them like a war zone. People ran about screaming and falling as large dark shadows engulfed them like a mudslide. Dean targeted the wave but there were far too many. Checking his corners, he located what looked to be a fairly intact building ten yards to his left. Reaching back he grabbed Surra by the shoulder and yelled “run there.” He did not want to take the chance Surra could not keep up or would panic and freeze. As soon as the words left his mouth he took off at a dead sprint pulling Surra along behind him.

GM Kate

Surra felt disoriented as she followed Dean’s lead, her senses overwhelmed by all the chaos around them. The ground beneath her feet felt unstable, and the air was thick with cries of distress and the ominous roar of something colossal and unseen. She focused intently on Dean’s back, the only stable point in her swirling vision.

When Dean’s firm grip tightened on her shoulder and he shouted, “run there,” Surra snapped into action. She matched Dean’s pace as they sprinted towards the building, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Each stride felt like an eternity.
Reaching the building, Surra darted inside, adrenaline still in her veins. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “We need to find a way to contact the others. Also see if anyone else made it out.” She took out her communicator, fingers trembling slightly as she attempted to establish a connection. Static greeted her first attempts, but she persisted, adjusting frequencies. “Beltran base, this is Lieutenant Almikaz” she spoke into the device. “Does anyone copy?”

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

bump

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

The response was static and crackling. If someone was trying to speak it was completely unintelligible. One could assume on Surra and Dean’s end that any message they were sending was being received as unintelligible. Since there were no issues with communications before the attack, the officers might easily assume that it was intentional.

Dean took up a position at the door and moved a scrap of curtain back with his weapon looking at the carnage outside. How they made it from the shuttle to the building was a question they could ask God in the future. The street was mayhem. People were either dying or dead everywhere. Shifting sand moved around the bodies before swallowing them up under the ground. Glancing down, he prayed that the hard metal floor would hold off whatever seemed to be lurking just under the dirt.

In the corner there was a small cough and shuffling noise. Upon inspection, they would find a small group of Beltrans huddled in the back, in the dark, obviously trying to remain out of sight. Further inspection would show it was a family with a male Beltran holding a slightly concealed weapon pointing directly at them.

GM Kate

Surra’s hand trembled as she struggled to clear the static on her communicator. Each attempt at contact was met with nothing but distortion, deepening the pit in her stomach. Her hands trembled with frustration and fear, but she forced herself to stay focused, knowing they couldn’t afford to panic. She shifted frequencies, fingers working the controls, but all she could hear was the haunting crackle of interference.

Glancing towards Dean, who was stationed by the door, his eyes scanning the chaos outside. His presence was a source of comfort, an anchor in the midst of the storm, but the gravity of their situation was beginning to weigh heavily on her. They were isolated, cut off from their team, surrounded by an unknown threat. The question of why their communications were suddenly failing gnawed at her a deliberate act, perhaps? The implications were chilling.
A faint sound reached her ears, pulling her attention away from the communicator. She quickly turned her head, eyes narrowing as she scanned the dimly lit interior of the building. The noise repeated soft, followed by a shuffling movement. Surra tensed, her grip tightening on the communicator as she strained to locate the source of the sound.
She cautiously moved closer to the origin of the noise, her senses on high alert. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness as she approached the back corner of the room, where the faint outlines of figures became clearer. She stopped short as she realized what she was seeing a small group of Beltrans, huddled together, trying to stay hidden. She halted when she saw the weapon, barely visible but unmistakably pointed in her direction.

Surra raised her hands slowly, making sure to keep her movements deliberate and non-threatening. Her voice, though steady, was soft, meant to calm rather than startle. “It’s okay,” she said, keeping her tone gentle. “We’re not here to hurt you. We’re just trying to find a way to get out of this mess, same as you.”

Dean swung around hearing Surra speak and trained his weapon on the group. He did not address them since Surra seemed to be making the first contact. His eyes did take in the group. It appeared to be a family of sorts. That tracked with the design of the room which resembled a residence of sorts. The group contained what appeared to be three adults, two juveniles, and a couple of kids. “Drop your weapons.” Dean did not give any further instructions. What he said was enough.

She slowly lowered her hands, making a point of keeping them visible. “We are Starfleet officers. We need to find a way to communicate with our base,” she explained, nodding towards the communicator in her hand. “If you have any way to help us, we can all get out of here together.”

Surra’s eyes met the Beltran’s, silently pleading for cooperation. She knew they were all scared, and fear could drive people to make dangerous decisions. But she also knew that in situations like this, their best chance of survival was to work together.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

“We can not get out of here. It is the Ang pang…the harvest. We were not selected. We are on our own.” The man’s tone was firm and direct as Dean’s as he held the weapon on them. “Put down your weapon and we will not throw you out of our home.” The screams in the streets were fading but still there. Leaving the safety of the residence was a death sentence.

GM Kate

Bump
Bump

“Put your weapon down,” Dean countered and clicked on his laser sight. “You have an old Mark V rifle. It is good for one shot before the next pulse. Mine is a repeating automatic. You might hit me but I can hit all of you before that rifle hits the ground so drop it.” There was no playing in his tone.

“You would kill us in our own home?”

“If it means protecting those I am in charge of then yes. Drop it,” Dean commanded.

Surra’s heart pounded in her chest. “Your… Oh this is your home.” Surra said her hands still up in caution. “We did not mean to intrude, we,” she pointed toward the exit, “we were on a shuttle and it crashed here at this location. Then we ran here for shelter as we heard the screams.” She looked at Dean for a moment, “Ang pang… harvest? Can you tell us about it? Are we in danger?” Based on the context clues given by the Beltran the reality of the situation settled in her mind. They were trapped, and the Beltrans believed there was no escape. The fear in the man’s eyes was unmistakable, and it only heightened her own anxiety.

“Ang Pang is when the Volians come to harvest the population. They devour some and take others away. Only those that win the lottery and go to the palace are assured to live throughout the night,” one of the male Beltran stated.

She needed to keep them calm, herself included. Her eyes were on the weapon still trained on her. Slowly, she knelt down, carefully setting her communicator on the floor. She kept her hands visible, palms facing the Beltrans as she rose to her feet again. “I understand you’re afraid. We are too,” she said, her voice steady despite the tightness in her throat. “But we’re stronger together. If we stay here, maybe we can find a way to help each other.”
Surra could feel Dean’s tension beside her, but she couldn’t afford to lose the fragile thread of trust she was trying to establish. “We don’t want to bring danger to your home,” she continued, her eyes scanning the faces of the group, looking for any sign of a connection. “We just need time to figure out what’s happening, to get in touch with our team. If you know anything about this…harvest, anything that could help us understand what’s going on, it could make a difference.”

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

GM Kate

Surra tried to process the words. The mention of a “harvest” and people being taken away or devoured made her sick. The Beltran man’s words echoed in her mind, “Only those that win the lottery and go to the palace are assured to live throughout the night.” Fear began to take hold, but she knew panic wouldn’t help. She needed to stay sharp, think clearly.

Dean tensed some and lowered his weapon microscopically. For a year he and his team had been trying to figure out the simmering anxiety associated with Ang Pang. The Beltran people held it like a sacred secret letting only the equivalent of myths and whispers slip out creating an urban legend type situation. Now the details were leaking out and he could understand why they were so tight lipped.

The tension in the room was real high. The Beltran held his weapon, though now it seemed more a symbol of desperation than aggression. Surra’s eyes moved over to Dean briefly. His stance was solid, unyielding, but she could sense his readiness to act if things went sideways. She had to keep the situation under control before it escalated further.

Thinking the situation through, Dean raised his weapon pointing it at the huddled Beltrans. “Where so you hide,” he asked point blank.

“We don’t,” the man blurted out.

“Wrong answer,” Dean shot a hole in the floor. The sound echoed in the room and sent the Beltrans into yelps of protest and crying. “Put your weapon down and start answering our questions.” Dean’s tone was lethal.

“We don’t want to hurt anyone, can you do as my colleague,” her hand motioned toward Dean, “asked and put your weapon down.” she reiterated, her voice as calm as she could manage. “We’re all in danger out there, and leaving this place doesn’t seem like an option. You know what’s happening here better than we do, so please, help us understand. Is there a way to avoid the Volians? A place to hide, or something we can do to increase our chances of survival?”

She glanced toward the door, where the faint sounds of screams were still carried on the wind. The streets were chaotic, and stepping outside would be a death sentence, just as the Beltran had said. But staying here indefinitely wasn’t an option either. They had to find another solution, and fast.

“We have skills,” Surra said, offering a new angle. “We can help defend your home, fortify it if needed. Maybe we can find a way to contact our ship. But we need time, and we need to work together if we’re going to survive this…harvest.”

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

“We sacrifice our criminals and sick,” the man stated.

Now so much of their background intell made sense. The prisons were centrally located in the middle of the cities. The construction of the facilities was more of a country club design than one to keep people in. The crime rates were almost nonexistent and the charges were severe for misdemeanors. On paper, the culture of Beltran was idyllic and almost utopian. Now it made sense. Committing crimes was a death sentence carried out by the Volians once a year. The extraordinary health of the population also made sense. Why worry about treating terminal conditions? Those that were going to die were served up as tribute instead of healthy people. It was cold, calculating, and brutal but as the saying went, you can’t save everyone. As vile as the idea was to Starfleet, it was a problem all people had in a crisis. Who do you save? The baby with a whole life in front of it or the hundred year old man. The system was repulsive and nauseating to those not born into it.

“Normally we hold up in our homes and pray like we have for generations before,” the woman stated.

GM Kate

She forced herself to maintain a neutral expression, though the disgust and fear were rising inside her. It wasn’t her place to judge their ways but it was clear they needed more than prayers to make it through this night.
She tried to think quickly to piece together a plan. Fortifying the building might buy them some time, but they’d be sitting ducks if the Volians breached it. There had to be something more they could do, something beyond cowering in this house, hoping they wouldn’t be picked off one by one.
Surra took a slow breath, clearing her head. Think, Surra. What do you know?
“We can’t just sit here,” she said, her voice low but firm. “If the Volians come, this place won’t hold them off for long. Is there a safer area? Somewhere more defensible?” She scanned the faces of the Beltrans, searching for any sign of hope, or even a suggestion. “There’s got to be something we’re missing. Some way to increase our odds.”

Her eyes moved toward Dean. “I know it seems hopeless, but if we work together, we might be able to find a way out of this. We need information, though. Anything you know about the Volians, weaknesses, patterns, places they avoid, anything that can help us defend ourselves.” She paused, giving them a moment to think. “We don’t have to become their victims.”

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

“You asking me,” Dean asked in a questioning tone. “Lady if I had known of this issue we would not be here nor would I have let your CO come dirt side.”

Moving from his spot, he pulled back the curtain slightly to look outside into the street. “We need to try and contact your ship. The comms are down but can’t you rig us some sciency thing to at least get us in touch with our people?” Looking back into the room, Dean nodded over to the corner of the room where there was a civilian comms console. It was similar in design to most consoles but being a civilian model it didn’t have the range of military ones. Dean however was sure Surra could probably do something to vamp it up.

GM Kate

Of course, he would think she was asking him and not the Beltrans, whose home they had just invaded and who had actually lived through this before. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Still, he was right; contact with their ship was essential. Surra moved toward the civilian comms console he had indicated.

It looked basic and had limited capabilities, but she could work with it. Her father had been an engineer, not for Starfleet, even though he was good enough to do so. Had he not been a single father, he very well might have worked for them. In any case, he had taught her some of the tricks of his trade, and with her science training, she knew that if she could bypass some systems, maybe, just maybe, she could establish a weak link to Starfleet.

“Let me see what I can do,” she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. Her eyes studied the console, scanning the interface for any signs of accessibility. She felt the faint thrum of adrenaline urging her on. “This will take some finesse.” She knelt down to examine the wiring underneath, careful to keep her movements calm and controlled.
As she worked, she reflected on the Beltran culture. Their reliance on prayers was a desperate grasp for hope, but Surra knew hope was not a plan. They needed to act, to defend themselves. The Volians wouldn’t show mercy, and she couldn’t afford to think they might.
Her hands moved quickly as she began rerouting connections, adapting the civilian model for a signal boost. It was risky, if she short-circuited the system, they could lose their only chance. But Surra pushed aside the trepidation. She couldn’t let fear dictate her actions.
“Come on,” she whispered to the console as she maneuvered a wire into place. “You can do this.”

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

The console took a while to reprogram but Surra would find that the tinkering and adjusting would allow her to open up comms with the badges of the crew on the surface. Depending on who she attempted to reach out to may have different results but she would be able to contact the team’s comm badges at the science facility, the military instillation, or the palace. The device would not have enough strength to reach the Genesis.

GM Kate

GM bump

Surra’s fingers finally felt the console respond to her modifications. A flicker on the screen indicated a successful signal. She exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly. It wasn’t perfect, but it would work, she had managed to boost the range just enough to communicate with the team’s comm badges on the surface.

Who to contact first? The science facility, the military installation, or the palace. Each location posed different risks and potential help. The science facility might have people who could understand what she was doing, and maybe even provide additional resources. The military installation could offer protection, but it was also likely crawling with Volians by now. The palace… well, the political implications were complicated, to say the least. She would have asked Dean who he thought she should reach out to but there was no time. She couldn’t say how long the communication link would last.
She decided to try the science facility first. It made the most sense, the Genesis crew would be there and the science team would there, and would likely have the best grasp of the situation from an analytical perspective, and it was important to understand exactly what they were dealing with. Surra keyed in the command and activated the console.

=^=Team at the science facility, this is Lieutenant Almikaz a Starfleet officer from the USS Genesis. Do you read me?=^= she said, her voice level, but her heart pounding. She waited, her fingers drumming lightly against the side of the console. It felt like an eternity, the uncertainty gnawing at her.

She adjusted the signal slightly, hoping for clarity. “Come on, someone pick up.” Surra’s voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes focused intently on the console’s blinking lights. This fragile connection was their lifeline, their one chance to coordinate a plan and get back on track.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

The comms panel returned a message.

=^= Genesis this is Thor, Reia and Tom are with me. We were sucked into an underground passage underneath the science facility. Something else is down here. Can you give us direction with sensors to where we should go? Team extraction would be .. good. =^=
- Dagen, CE

“They think we are on the ship and their situation seems worse than ours,” Dean stated feeling tension mounting

GM Kate

Surra frowned as the message crackled through. Thor, Reia, and Tom, trapped underground beneath the science facility. And something else down there. They needed a plan, and fast.
Her fingers moved over the console as Dean’s voice echoed in her mind. Surra pressed her lips together. Worse than theirs? And now, they had to guide them while stuck here themselves.
Her hand reached for the sensor interface, but it flickered, and the power surged unpredictably. Surra clenched her teeth in frustration. The system wasn’t fully stable yet. Whatever was jamming the signal on the planet’s surface must have been affecting their equipment here too, not to mention the interference from the underground layers Thor and the others were stuck in.

“Come on, hold together,” she muttered as she tweaked the sensor array, adjusting frequencies to try and pinpoint the team’s location underground.

There....just a faint reading, but it was enough. =^= Thor, no exit confirmed. So find cover if you can. Stay out of sight until I can find a way out for you guys. I just need....a little time. I will use my tricorder to ping your comms and triangulate your position and then scan the area for any alternative routes, but I need you to hold position.=^=
Her moved over danced over the controls, they got in so surely there was a way out.

Lieutenant Almikaz
(CSO)

“See if you can reach the old man in the palace,” Dean said. His thoughts immediately jumped to Vanessa. “And see if you can scan the area for any form of transport. Sitting in this house is not going to help anyone.”

The scanning would reveal Thor and his group were below ground several meters. They were in a long tunnel of sorts with two groups of life forms at either end. One was moving extremely rapidly while the other was moving at a pace that one could infer as running. There was a transport vehicle about three blocks from their current position. It could be assumed it was of Beltran military use but had life forms all around it.

GM Kate