USS Merrimack
Colony: Tunnels
Posted by Lieutenant M’Mera (Chief Of Security) in Colony: Tunnels
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Troy Hunter (General Medical Doctor) in Colony: Tunnels
Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Colony: Tunnels
[snip]
Captain Glen shuffled along the chasm edge to find a space between those already lined up there. He was agreeable to letting Hunter and M’Mera go first. With all their head torches shining down into the chasm it didn’t appear to be quite as dangerous as it had just moments ago, when they had all almost been pulled into it. The reason for blocking the tunnel with rubble still bothered Glen.Hunter went down in no time at all ,he would have enjoyed this expedition if it was not for the fact that they did not know what awaited them .
Once his feet touched the ground the doctor gave a quick glance around,he then opened his carabiner so M’Mera could pull up the rope .M’Mera pulled it up deftly and clipping herself in, shimmied down the rope deftly. Once down she nodded at Hunter, “Help the otherrss down and I’ll keep watch.” She said as she moved farther away from the side of the crevice to where she could see toward both ends and see up the other side.
Hunter moved near M’Mera ‘’ Lt why get everyone down ? Don’t you think it would be wise that someone stay up there and keep an eye on what may come from the other side ? If we are all trapped down here hate to say it we’ll be food for fodder ‘’ the doctor whispered in a hush tone.
If M’Mera had had eyebrows she would have raised them. “We know no one elsse iss in the tunnelss behind uss and I’m not going to leave anyone behind. We sstay togetherr.”
The Captain began climbing down next. He could see M’Mera and Hunters in an animated discussion below him, but couldn’t hear what they were saying. But if he could have, he would have wondered how M’Mera could be so sure no one was in the tunnels behind them when they had no working equipment to monitor life-signs. As for what lay ahead of them in the tunnels over the chasm, well clearly something did, otherwise there was little point in this expedition at all.
Hunter looked up and signaled with his hand for Glen to descend ‘’Lt I was referring to the other side and not the one we came through ‘’ at that point the doctor had the urge to hit his head against the wall .
Apparently it was useless telling everyone to speak in a hushed voice or refrain from talking altogether and use hand gesture instead.
When Glen reached the bottom, he asked, “Is there a problem?”.
Hunter shook his head ‘’At least not for now ‘’ he replied his voice barely audible .
“Well, I have a problem,” Glen replied. “I don’t like it down here. It feels like a death pit. It unnerves me. It’s been put here to make someone fall in, just as we almost fell in, or else there’s something alive down here. And we are sitting ducks if anyone attacks us from either side. The quicker we get back up the other side the better.”
’’ I totally agree Captain that is the very reason I suggested not all of us get down here ‘’ as an after thought he whispered ‘’I think M’Mera has a death wish , the interference blocking the system I believe was done on purpose ‘’ the doctor looked up ‘’Shall we tell the security to stay where they are ?’‘.
“Let’s at least get someone to climb up the otherside before everyone climbs down this side,” Glen said. “Climbing down wasn’t that difficult and we could leave the rope in place to get back out, while we use another on the other side. With someone on top, they’d have the advantage of height if we were ambushed. I also wish we’d brought more poweful lighting. I didn’t expect to find caves the size of chasms where you can’t see to the far end.”
“My apologizess Doctorr, I missunderstood what you werre ssuggessting. Captain, I believe I am the besst one to go up the otherr sside and prrotect the team frrom above ass well ass watch forr company.”
“Very good, Lieutenant,” replied the Captain to M’Mera. “You climb up and watch out for company. Hunter, you can assist the others to climb down and then follow the COS up. I will keep us covered from here, and Sharp is last down and our rearguard, to protect us until we all up on the other side.”
Hunter stared at the Captain as if he had sprouted a pair of antennas ‘’ Captain its only about 12 feet high , its relativity easy to climb by finding cracks to hold on to ‘’ but then not everyone was as tall as the doctor or had the same experience .
He got hold of the rope which they used to descend and pulled himself up ,once at the top he told Sharp to hand him his back pack and about the Captain’s orders .Sliding back down he took what he needed and got to work to secure another rope on the opposite side ,now he used the fastest way to build a two anchor points set up with a series of clove hitches, sometimes adding a figure eight on a bight as a power point since there was enough rope. This is often referred to as the Yosemite Anchor. This quick system requires little gear, and clove hitches can be easily undone after being weighted. Using three pieces minimum, a combination of cams, nuts, or fixed pitons, then used locking carabiners on each piece to increase the safety.Hunter had secured them on the side for safety for he did not know if anyone would came and remove the anchor points . The doctor did not use it to get down he simply jumped back in landing on his feet .It was Eros time to descend as Hunter waited he turned to Glen and M’Mera ‘’Did you know that Captain Kirk had climbed a cliff just by finding cracks to hold on too, while doctor McCoy nearly had a break down ‘’ he omitted to say if it was not for Spock and his hoover boots that had saved Kirk when he fell.
“I’m not that familiar with the minutiae of the careers of the Admiral and Ambassador,” replied Glen.
Hunter shrugged and leaned against the wall ,waiting for Eros to came down,meanwhile Sharp had to stay above and watch the other side ,he couldn’t wait for his turn to join the others .
Eros looked at Sharp and shook his head. Again, he was nervous with the thought of leaving Sharp at the rear, being all jumpy and nervous. But, as those were the captain’s orders, Eros wrapped the rope around his torso and leg and quickly rappelled down the chasm wall.
OOC: Awesome pic, thx for the visual! Apologies for my few days LOA, folks. I was quite ill then had to catch up with work.
As his feet hit the ground, he said, “It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it does trick.”
He looked back up to the top to confirm that Sharp was still up there.
Lt. (jg) Dionysovich
Helm“I’m a Starship Captain not a Rock Climber!” Glen said.
“Let’s get this over with,” Glen added, “There maybe no one else in the tunnels behind us, though I don’t know how we know that for certain, but there could be anything in the tunnels ahead of us, and right now, down here, even if it is only 3 metres deep, we are exposed and vulnerable to any attack.”
- Glen, CO
‘’Neither do I’’ Hunter responded back as he pointed to the other rope ‘’ Captain, Lt M’Mera, Eros… quick climb up lets get out of here fast ‘’.
He then turned to Sharp ‘’Keep an eye on things security until its your turn to join them I’ll wait for you down here ‘’.
Hunter Dr.
M’Mera nodded and quickly scaled up the opposite rope, up the other wall. She was helped by her bare back paws, and her claws which easily gripped the rock.
Reaching the top she pulled her phaser and stood guard, standing sideways to keep an eye on her climbing comrades and the dark tunnel leading out of this cavern.
Lt. M’Mera COS
Seeing the COS taking her position Hunter made a sign for Sharp to descend which he rapidly did. The doctor slapped him on the back ‘’Good job you came down like a bat out of hell, after the Captain and Eros climb up the other side you’ll follow ‘’. Hunter decided to be the last one to join the others.
Hunter Dr.