USS Merrimack
Colony: Tunnels
Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Colony: Tunnels
[snip]“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.
“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.”
‘’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 ‘’.
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.
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.
Glen prepared to follow the COS up the other side of the chasm. It would be a little harder that abseiling down, since it would involve some climbing. Unless you were a Caitian or unless you were Hunter, thought Glen. That man appears to be half-goat!
Eros stepped up to the base of the wall and gazed up at the height. “I can make this a bit quicker. I’ve been known to do some free climbing in my day. . . this is only 10-12’ or so. It’s not a problem”.
Hunter smiled inwardly * Guess I’m not the only one not to use a rope *.
As the captain began to climb using the rope, Eros reached out for a few hand and footholds on the wall and began to pull himself up. Within a few moments he was at the top next to M’Mera. He knelt back down at the edge ready to grab Glen under the arm to quickly get the CO over the edge.
Hunter now made a sign for Sharp to climb and join the others, he really did not need to tell him for the security climbed just as Eros was helping the Captain. Seeing him nearly up Hunter started to climb up just the way Eros did.
When he reached the top the doctor asked ‘’ Now what?’‘.Sharp could be heard saying ‘’Now we die for I bet that rumble was intentional so no one would cross over ‘’.
“Indeed!” replied the Captain. “I also feel that we are getting near to ‘something’ that wanted to remain hidden, but we’ve started this so let’s go further and finish it.”
As the Away Team turned, prepared to enter the tunnel they were suddenly stopped as ten swift shadows exited the tunnel entrance and fanned out in front of them. Disruptor rifles were pointed at the Away Team.
Behind them came another seven or so forms. All were dressed in colonial/miner type clothes and all appeared to be a very pale form of Andorian. The last seven had disruptor pistols, also pointed at the Away Team. One in the middle did not look happy as a heavy scowl spread across his features.
“Stop, Starfleet! You trespass where you should not be!”
M’Mera scowled back and snarled. “How did you come out of therre without me hearring or smelling you?” She demanded in an accusing tone.
The head Andorian gave a sneering grin, “We’re telepathic, cat woman, we clouded your senses.”
M’Mera’s growl of disgust increased but she was smart enough to keep her hands well away from her weapon as she watched the Captain and this leader talk. She studied the group closely though. Definitely some type of Andorians, very pale blue skin, with antennae. But they had white eyes and was that brow ridge in their foreheads? They also were heavier set than any Andorians she had ever seen. They usually tall and lithe. These guys were shorter and bulkier.
Hunter wondered why the COS acted the way she did, they were outnumbered after all ‘’This doesn’t look good ‘’he whispered to the Captain ‘’ It would be suicide to retaliate our best bet is dialogue to discuss in order to reach an agreement or compromise.....hopefully ‘’.
Glen whispered back to Hunter, “if they are telepathic then they knew what she was thinking whether she spoke it out loud or not,” before wondering why he was now whispering himself.
“This mining facility is on a Federation planet, protected by Starfleet. We are on a peaceful mission. We mean no harm to you,” Glen replied. “Why do you say we trespass and have no business here?”
“Wrong Starfleet, this is disputed space along the Romulan border. It is not Federation or Romulan and we would like to keep it that way. It is outside of your so called Pioneer Fleet. Leave.” The Andorian leader’s voice was firm and uncompromising. “Tell those miners to leave or something worse will happen to them than bad dreams, missing or broken equipment and missing people.”
Hunter crossed his arms over his chest ‘’Didn’t we have a female Andorian crew member on the ship once ?’’ he asked not sure if he had dreamed it or not ‘’Don’t recall she had telepathic abilities ‘’ the doctor finished off.
Hunter Dr.
“She wasn’t!” Glen replied. “I didn’t think they were,” although in the dark, they did seem to be some kind of pale Andorian relatives.
- Glen, CO
GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare