Planetside

Posted on Fri Jul 15th, 2022 @ 4:36pm by Remal Kajun & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson

Mission: New Harrington
Location: New Harrington - Anesh
Timeline: Current

Remal had already removed his outermost tunic revealing a sweaty undershirt. He was helping an elder woman to find shade when he spotted Sarah and her crew moving patients from one structure to another. Bidding a short farewell to his ward he huffed it over to where Sarah was. "Hey, have we run out of space over there already? And, is there anything I can do to help?"

Sarah looked up, her own uniform stained from sweat and the blood of those she was treating. She looked around at the throngs of people in the scorching sun, many of them in shock still from being beamed from one part of the planet to the other without warning.

" We need more shade, and water." She started, her mind working at a million miles an hour to determine what was the utmost priority. " Secondary to that, reassure them that we're trying to help. I can't imagine would it would be like being beamed from a flooding region to a place hotter than hell with no warning"

"I agree. When they teraformed this place I don't think they gave much thought to a potential weather control system failure." He lifted two cases of water, one in each arm with an umph, "I'll deliver these and see about more shelter, and then I'll be back to check up on you. Stay hydrated." He ordered despite not being in charge.

The atmosphere around Anesh was dry. The plant life had long since shriveled under the extreme heat. He stepped outside and looked to the west. The winds had kicked up. Worried, he peered out beyond the horizon, beyond the buildings and the people. There, maybe 15 km out, was a wall of dust in a rather large cloud formation, and it was getting closer. He tapped his badge, "Captain..." There was no response from the Sunfire.

He dropped the water and flagged down a controller who was helping the people, "Sargent, we better find a way to shelter these people, and fast. We are about to get hit by a category four dust storm." He urged.

Sarah looked up at Remal's words, seeing the ominous mass rising from the ground and moving towards them. A dust storm would make things go from hot and miserable to downright unpleasant and dangerous - contaminating drinking water and coating everything in a fine dust. Visibility would be reduced to nothing and the wind could flatten their temporary structures.

" And here I was hoping you were kidding" She grimaced, wanting nothing more than to peel the sticky sweaty uniform off and dive into a large cool water source. " We need to get these people to solid shelter!"

People were starting to notice. People were starting to panic. A scream pierced the crowd. Remal cupped his hands and yelled, "Everyone find shelter! Cover your mouth and nose! Come on people, East side of the building, inside NOW!" He started ushering people along, all the while scanning the crowd for the more vulnerable, the old and the young. It wasn't long before he spotted a child who had been left behind, standing in the confusion and crying. "Sarah, get these people indoors." He said as he began running towards the child even against the flood of people.

She couldn't hear him over the wind but got the gist of what he was saying from the arm gestures and the direction he was moving. People were panicking, swarming in a large moving throng towards whatever safety they could find. She pulled her turtleneck up over her mouth and nose, the stench of her own sweat better than the chocking dust that was moving rapidly towards them.

"Go, Move!" She shouted towards the people trying to cram into the buildings and any form of shelter they could find. She lost sight of Remal as he vanished into the swirling dust. Her gut dropped, if he died, the Captain would literally have her guts for garters.

" Stay put.. don't move until its passed!" She shouted over the wind, jamming her medkit closed and forcing her way out into the howling wind in the direction she had seen Remal go.

He could hear the child crying, giving direction. The wind was pushing through the gaps in the buildings creating straight line wind speeds, whipping up rocks and dirt and flinging them like darts. Once the wall of dust hit there was a yellow out condition where one couldn't see two foot in front of their face. This gave him reason to hurry. One foot in front of the other until finally he swept the child up into his arms, pressing the small boy up to his chest and turning his back upon the dust. Not that it mattered as it was now everywhere.

With no tricorder, he had no way back, but he knew there was a small bridge nearby. It was something, which was better than nothing. As the wind pelted him, he tread off in the direction of the small bridge, hopeful there was room left.

Wilson however did have a tricorder, although it was only effective at short range. She found Remal's Bajoran lifesigns through the chaos and tracked him to a nearby bridge, working on the theory he had found shelter of some kind. The wind picked up another notch, nearly blowing her off her feet. Medkit tucked tightly to her chest she leant into the wind and forced her way forward.

He tucked her head low, sheltering the child as best he could. One foot in front of the other until he found the stone structure. Following with his dust covered hands he moved down the embankment, almost slipping on the smooth slope. Until the opening was large enough for him to duck in and under where the wind wasn't blowing. There were at least a dozen other people already there, sheltering.

He tapped his badge again, no response. Winded and hurting from being pelted, he sat down upon the embankment and waited for it to end.

Sarah followed his lifesigns, tracking him to the embankment then skidded down the slippery slope, only just being able to catch herself before ending up in the dry riverbed. Head low, turtleneck pulled up over her mouth and nose she clambered back up the slope and under the bridge, jamming in beside Remal in the skeric of space that was left.

" Well this sucks!" She announced as those present huddled together to protect theselves.

TBC