Inside The Base Part 3

Posted on Sun Jan 7th, 2024 @ 6:29am by Ensign Duncan McManus & Lieutenant JG Anton Zakharov & Sergeant Eli McEntyre & Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D. & Lieutenant JG Calanthe 'Cal' Diaz
Edited on on Sun Jan 7th, 2024 @ 6:31am

Mission: Contagion
Location: Luminari base
Timeline: 266 Late
2581 words - 5.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Duncan observed the unfolding events, his expression serious as he took note of the sudden appearance of the wall. "This just got a lot more interesting," he remarked quietly. Duncan surveyed the sudden change in the environment, his gaze flickering between the newly formed wall and the remaining crew as they started to back out of the corridor but found the way blocked by a wall that had not been there moments before. "Seems like our hosts have a flair for dramatic.” He murmured.

Avira looked around, trying to get a sense of direction, which was never a problem for her before but with shifting corridors it seemed like she was losing a bit of her sense of direction. "I'm guessing we won't have a direct path back to the shuttle then. Be on your heels." She still had the sidearm she had taken from Nate, set to a high stun setting.

Duncan pulled the scanner from Anne Marie to scrutinise the data alongside her. "There is a subtle energy shift in this direction," he pointed towards a door branching off the main path. "It may indicate a concealed passage or a different structural composition." Without hesitation, he slammed his hand against one of the door switches and it opened revealing another corridor.

Uncertain of what to make of unfolding events, especially as there was no obvious way for her to execute the primary function she'd been assigned to handle, Diaz frowned at the sudden architectural rearrangement. In many ways, it was a beautiful design, fluid and intricately precise. It also just happened to be utterly disconcerting, and though she wasn't sure if it would make things any better, she suddenly felt naked without any form of protection save the people around her. "If it responds to physical force, how did we activate it the first time?"

"Defenses?" Duncan commented with a shrug. He was not at all sure but it was something. "We going this way Ma'am?" The engineering Ensign asked the chief medical officer.

"Why would there be defences when they have set up an emergency beacon for help?" It didn't really add up in the mind of the Andorian doctor. She'd expected a welcoming committee, an invite with open arms. Nothing too ceremonial seeing the circumstances, but some thankfulness for coming to help. "So either it was a trap or these shifting walls serve some other purpose." She still wanted to move in the direction of the shuttle, even if it was the long way around, the newly opened corridor at least wasn't leading directly away from it so it would have to do. "Stay close." She assumed she was most well trained in combat situations, so even though she was the highest ranking officer and the medic in this team she felt obligated to take point.

Duncan was not sure at all but he was not feeling at all welcome. “I am sticking to you like glue, ma’am.” Duncan assured thinking that now the there was less security with them Duncan needed to project the doctor. “Straight down and left?” He suggested stepping around the doctor to go first.

"Maybe there were things they did not want to be rescued by?" said Anton to the Andorian doctor but also, mostly to himself, as he fiddled with the tools on his tool belt nervously.

There was a moment of indecision as Diaz, attempting to move next, nearly collided with one of the MACO also moving into formation. She frowned but gave way, only to realise that the second had surreptitiously slipped into place behind her. There was no way to make direct accusations without sounding a tad over-reactive but their proximity, the way she now couldn't see around the bulk in front of her and could practically feel the breath of the one bringing up the rear, reeked too much of Cusack's interference. Jamesson will kill me if anything happens to you.

At this rate, he might prefer to deal with Ben.

"I'll see what I can do about patching through to Karalo," was what she said. "She'll be our best bet for getting word back to the Atlantis."

As multiple people clearly felt they needed to go in front of her Avira wasn't one to insist on taking point, she fell back into the bulk of the group. "Let me know when you get her." The doctor responded to the suggestion to contact their shuttle pilot.

Duncan was not sure him leading the group would get them far but he looked quickly down the corridor and turned left to find only another long corridor. The group continued until they got to what could only be described as an antechamber. “Big and silent.” The Engineer commented.

"I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Big and Silent doesn’t end well”

Sergeant Eli McEntyre spoke up from the middle of the group. He'd been fine with keeping a low profile but felt this was the right time to speak up. He held his EM-47 particle rifle close to his chest armor, shifting to get more of his cold weather parka to cover him from the shifting temperatures in the base.

"Defo" replied the Russian looking at the tiny phase pistol in his hand and then at the EM-47 particle rifle being held very professionally by the MACO Sergeant.

Duncan looked around and shrugged - big and silent could be anything in the grand scheme of things but it did not feel menacing so he could not agree with the MACO's vibe. He glanced back at the Chief Medical Officer. "Which way would you like to go, Lieutenant?" He asked indicating the 3 different directions.

With the shifting environment and getting turned around a couple of times it was difficult for Avira to keep her bearings. She still wanted to get back to the shuttlepod, it was their ride back to safety and the situation inside the base was way too unfamiliar to be at ease exploring it. "The order is still to return to the shuttlepod." A moment for her to gather her thoughts, "that way." The words were confident, the tone not so much. As they started to move again the medic looked over at the comms chief, "Any luck?"

It would be nice, Diaz mused, if for once she could activate the technology at her disposal and it just did what it was supposed to do. When direct contact back to the shuttle was met only by the garble of surprisingly pleasant harmonics bouncing back as melodic interference, the Communications Chief switched tactics and recorded a brief message for the pilot that she left on auto-repeat. There was no way known if Karalo would get the message, or be able to decode it amongst the incessant rebound, but it was better than not trying at all. "I wish I knew what material this place was made out of it," she declared, reaching out to run her fingertips along the wall. "Though I'd settle for getting my hands on whatever communication technology they've created to work around it."

Duncan glanced back and nodded. "Will be the first thing I ask if we ever find anyone on this thing Ma'am." Duncan quickly assured as he took the direction that the doctor had said. This time the corridor led only a few doorways before the door in front of them opened into what Duncan could only describe as a sickbay. It was a sickbay that put even the Caelestis' to shame in the stark whiteness of it all. The sickbay's architecture incorporated biophilic design, incorporating natural elements to enhance well-being. "Should get you a few plants, Doctor." The Engineer teased as they all entered the room.

"Fascinating" mumbled Anton to himself as he admired the plant life around the sickbay. "I wonder if this incorporated nature also makes up part of the medical technology. Like biological beds....or bio beds if you will"

"Not really my department there. It's certainly pretty though"

Eli commented, scanning the room as the group continued on.

Avira took out her medical scanner, which had yielded absolutely nothing earlier. It still came up with nothing. "Is anybody in here? I am medically trained. We come in response to your call for aid." The Andorian called into the medical bay.

As if waiting for a cue a figure emerged from the other end of the room it was humanoid in shape, standing taller than an average human, with it’s height reaching what Duncan thought was 7 to feet but it was much more graceful as it stopped just as surprised by them as the large group was of it.

And just like that, she had a function again. Diaz froze, caught like a deer in the headlights at the unexpected appearance of what could be assumed to be one of the locals. She wasn't sure what she'd expected but bioluminescent monoliths hadn't been even in her top ten. "Uh..." She glanced at Avira, unwilling to jump the gun.

Eli turned, seeing the figure appear. He quickly raised his rifle, pulling back on the charging handle with a loud whine as it powered up.

"CONTACT RIGHT!"

He called out to his fellow MACOs, shouldering his rifle as he took aim.

At the appearance of the unknown tall alien, Anton took a step behind the Sergeant and the big gun they were carrying. All the training Starfleet could offer never really prepared you for any first contact. Especially in such an odd scenario as this.

“No one move.” Duncan said quietly watching as the being took them all in but continued to glow. It was not something Duncan had seen before but it intrigued him as the creature despite its size was graceful and almost cat like.

With an abrupt jerk the Andorian faced the threat as it was called out, pointing the medical scanner in the creature's direction. Avira tried to determine exactly what they were facing. The soft beeps and sweeps were starting to pick up some data now. It wasn't making much sense without further context. Since there was a medical emergency a question was always if this person represented a healthy, average, individual of their race.

“I will not hurt you.” The creature finally spoke up as it glowed blue in time with the sing song sound of its voice. Duncan raised an eyebrow as he looked at the MACOs aiming at the creature still. “Members of your team are looking for you.” It added.

"We got separated due to the shifting architecture of your facility." Avira remarked stoically, "You requested aid, are you injured or sick?"

“Sick. Many of us have suffered and we are no further forward trying to understand it all.” The being said. The voice sounded female but Duncan was not sure as male or female might not apply to this species as it did not always. “We are the Luminari. Our distress call has been going out for a long time but no one has responded.”

“Well, we have and we want to help,” Duncan said quickly looking to the doctor.

Still trying to recover somewhat from having an overly militant response shouted directly into her ear, Calanthe took a moment to gather her senses and spoke up. "Which would be aided greatly if our ability to speak with our ship was restored." As the gentle, luminous eyes fell on her, the Communications Chief took a moment to interpret the expression as confused and tried to elaborate. "We are having difficulty making use of our equipment. We came to investigate the situation but there are more of us, on a larger ship with a better capacity to render aid. We need to be able to speak to them, to let them know that we've found you."

“Your team are already establishing how to make your equipment work with our own.” The creature said glowing blue as a familiar voice came from around them.

“Lieutenant Darru to rest of the away party?” Darru sounded calm but his voice was not coming from any of their own devices.

The communicator chirped and Avira looked over to Diaz to establish the connection with the other team.

Without hesitating, Diaz spoke up, leaving her astonishment for later. "Diaz here." With a faint smile, the Communications Chief finally allowed the tension across her shoulders to ease somewhat. "It's good to hear from you, Lieutenant. Are you with the others? We're all accounted for here." If Darru was with the rest of the team, it was easier to provide the information upfront than wait for Gerhard to interrupt.

"I am with Command Gerhard and Cusack." The Vulcan confirmed. The relief was not evident in his voice but he was relieved that everyone other than Karalo was accounted for and together. "Have you encountered anyone?" He wondered thinking that it would be imperative to let them know the species onboard due to their appearance.

"We've encountered a local," Calanthe confirmed, her gaze meeting Avira's.

“The species of this base are called the Luminari. Their vocal responses are slower as they do not use it among themselves.” Darru explained as the Luminari in front of them illuminated several shades of yellow showing amusement but they did not speak aloud.

"Any word from Chief Karalo?" Avira wanted to make sure all the people in the away team were accounted for before proceeding with the other topics that were on the docket. For one, why did the space station split them up, secondly, why is nobody responding if they put out a distress call, last but not least: what was the big emergency? All things that needed to be answered, hopefully then they would be able to render the aid these Luminari required.

"She is going to be contacted as soon as I finish speaking to you, Doctor," The Vulcan assured having been instructed to contact them first. The group as a whole were more likely to shoot first than the Chief. "Doctor, I need you to listen to me carefully," Darru said slowly wishing he had a way to explain in writing rather than verbally where all the team could hear. "We were called here due to sickness that had wiped out thousands of Luminari on this base. We need you to join us in the Administration block to discuss this more." The Luminari close by flickered through colour.

"I am to take you to them," It explained.

Avira still wasn't too comfortable in the entire situation, but Darru seemed relatively at ease in the situation, however much that was something you could tell with Vulcans over audio. "We're on our way, Lieutenant." The Andorian looked around the group and saw the MACOs still on edge, weapons leveled and scanning around the room. "Stand down, Sergeant."

Eli nodded and lowered his rifle, motioning for the other MACOs to do the same. For now, he'd go with what he was seeing, even if it scared the hell out of him.

"Right...Well" said Anton smiling and holstering his phase pistol. "I guess we better getting going" said Anton clapping his hand together enthusiastically

Duncan nodded more than ready to get somewhere with the rest of the team and work out what was going on properly. The Luminari ducked their head and lead them away. They had as many questions as the group more than likely had but it could wait.