Camp Pt 2
Posted on Wed Nov 30th, 2022 @ 11:17pm by Commodore S'thenosis Gorgox & Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Sandra "Phantom" Risa & Lieutenant Chester "Duo" Maxwell & Lieutenant JG Blake Leone & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Lieutenant Alison Haldeman & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Patin
Mission:
Planet of the Dinosaurs
Location: Crew Camp
Timeline: Morning Day 2
Dr Sarah Wilson moved calmly over to Aurora who was coming around, her attention focused on the data her tricorder was displaying rather than the emotion around her. A hypo was deployed and had rapid results.
"She's got a fever, her body is reacting to something, probably the insect bites. I've given her something to combat it's effects" The doctor advised, helping Aurora sit up and let her rest for a bit before aiding her to her feet.
The Captain nodded, her gut warning her the bugs were bad but they needed to find a large-scale way of deterring them.
"From now, everyone is to wear long sleeves and long trousers, collars turned up, and headwear on if it's available. Cover as much skin as possible no matter how hot it gets" The Captain instructed, pulling the sleeves on her turtleneck down and extending the neckline up as high as it would go. "Commander House is going to see what supplies we have back on board to use as an insect repellant."
Aurora held onto Savar’s arm, she’d been feeling off but only since she’d woken up. “Thank you Sarah” she offered a brief smile now the meds were kicking in helping her feel better.
Savar's arms continued to hold Aurora. "Aurora, are you sure you are alright?" The concern in his voice was evident.
Aurora offered Savar a smile. “I’m a little shaky, but I’m okay. Guess the bugs here don’t agree with me.”
"I believe that is a fair assessment, Aurora," Savar answered. "Hopefully a deterrent to them can be found."
Aurora nodded. “I’ll go back to our tent for a little while, I left Sidak with Blake could you check on them for me?”
"Certainly," Savar replied. "Do you wish me to retrieve Sidak from Blake?" He asked Aurora.
Aurora nodded. “If you don’t mind, I can have him back at the tent with me. That way you can get back to work.”
"I do not mind. You are his mother; he needs to be with you. It is how things are supposed to be." Savar replied.
Aurora nodded, then looked towards Rhenora. “With your permission Captain?”
Rhenora nodded, knowing her scavenging team would now be a person short. "If you could send Blake to join the scavenging team, they will head out shortly, food and fresh water are our priority"
All of a sudden, several things happened all at once. The sound of phaser fire erupted from the thicket of trees, close to the running stream where the water was being drawn for consumption. There was a manly scream. And finally, as if she were already on top of the situation, Patin had jumped down and was running full tilt for that area, rifle slung onto her back.
Another crew member emerged, he seemed to be in a state of shock and dismay. He motioned to the security team just as Patin ran past. "Ensign Liveless... he said he would just be a minute. I turned my back and they swarmed him. They are those little ones, the Comp... comp... Compsognathus. Little bastards were all over him."
Patin darted into the woods and as she neared the stream she slowed and pulled out her pistol, choosing to leave the long rifle upon her back. "Alright ya we bastards, show your face to momma." She slowed to a walk and got low, her eyes watching for movement.
Rhenora heard the scream and ran as fast as she could towards it, nowhere near as fast as Patin who not only wasn't pregnant, had no leg injuries but was far faster and more agile. She skidded to a halt as Crewman Red Shirtgonnadie nearly barreled into her, clearly still terrified. She grabbed him firmly by the shoulders. "Crewman, it's ok, you're safe. They're gonna help Liveless."
The security detail swarmed towards the downed man, another group set up a perimeter to protect everyone. Dr Wilson left the tent that had been set up as a field hospital when she had heard the scream and hurried over, medkit in hand. "Let me through" She demanded to the security team, and they yielded.
Liveless was covered with small creatures feasting, already well and truly dead, his eyes open and unseeing, his face contorted in horror.
Patin sighed and stood, all while shaking her head. She wasn't used to the ways of these Starfleet types just rushing in, headstrong and unawares about their surroundings. They didn't give two shits that there was something bigger, something smarter, hunting them. Nope, the Starfleeters were careless, full of themselves and their own superiority.
Patin walked from the woods and headed straight for the shuttle where Dean looked like he were prepping it for a trip. She stepped inside, dropped her rifle on the floor unceremoniously and herself into a chair. She threw her muddy boots up onto the navigation console and relaxed, all the while grumbling on about 'idiots going to get themselves eaten' and such.
Dean was indeed, and been in the shuttle the whole time so he didn't really hear everything that was going on. Also given the shuttle was a bit away from the temporary camp. "What are you..Hey!" shoving the boots off the console. "I don't come into your sleeping/work area and throw muddy things around."
He was brash, she had to give him that. She on the otherhand was not use to following orders or obeying so much as the first rule of etiquette. But she also wasn't about to apologize.
"Look, I don't care much where you're headin', I'm going. I thought your people had more sense than they do, I guess I thought wrong." She pulled a cigar out of her thigh pocket, struck a match and made to light up when she caught Dean staring. "You mind?" she asked, attempting to care.
Starting back to work on the open side panel Dean was tinkering with. Pausing to look back to her again, "No, I don't guess I really care. What are you going on about that's got you so upset? Or who? I know it wasn't me this time."
She lit the cigar with the match, shook it util it was vapor and took a relaxing, heavy puff to calm her nerves. "One of your men just got attacked by the river. I was in position to make sure his death didn't attract one of the bigger beasties when a group of thick skulled meatheads came barreling into the area. I'm not sure if they were looking to die, or careless, but not a one of them were mindful of their surroundings."
She took a puff and continued, "What's more, despite what I've heard about Starfleet and extensive training, I've seen people out here treating this hist show as though it's a walk in a nature park. It's like ya'll learn in some pet friendly simulation or something instead of a real life scenario where the Snake heads shoot back. Now, can we go or should I get out and walk?" She was never one to mince words.
" You can wait five minutes" A stern voice commanded from the still open hatchway. The tone was firm but not cold, one that commanded respect and adherence "What the hell was that all about?" The Captain entered the shuttle and plonked herself down on one of the bench seats to rest her aching legs. Her expression was stormy.
Patin took another puff of her cigar. "You tell me Nozzie. I thought your people had a shred of common sense not to rush into a situation blind. Hell I thought they understood it was life or death out here. Right now all I'm seeing are some wet behind the ears, baby coddling, camping is fun, break out he marshmellons B.S. going on." Cigar in hand, she pointed it at Rhen, "You remember what happens when someone gets careless. You remember Son'yll don't you?" She asked indicating a person they apparently once knew.
"These people are trained to live and work in space on a Starship - this is not their natural environment" Rhenora replied evenly, understanding Patin's point of view but needing to defend her people. "We help those in need, sometimes at the risk to our own lives - just like the old days on Bajor. Things haven't changed there. What HAS changed is the experience you have living off grid and on your own. Instead of storming off in a huff, have you tried sharing your experiences?"
She wanted a stiff drink. "Helping those in need huh? Last time I tried to help with survival skills we blew up your precious ship, somehow." She took a puff and let it out slowly to show she was attempting to destress. "Look, I'm willing to teach this bunch how to survive starting with lesson one. This isn't a visit to the zoo. We are not the dominant predator on this world and if we don't take it at face value we are going to have a lot more dead crew members before we get off this rock." Her eyes rolled in the back of her head, "And for the love of the Prophets, do you have anything for this headache?"
" Well that explains why you're grumpy" Rhenora tried to lighten the mood a little " Check in with Dr Wilson when you get back and she'll give you something for it. As for training - you can start by coming to the staff meetings at morning and evening meals. Talk to the security detail and get them up to speed on how you think things should be done."
Patin sat back, "Yeah, I can do that. And they'll listen right? I mean they'll have to if the boss says jump, they jump right? And you'll show me which one is Wilson? We never did get that tour you know. I pretty much know you, your man-meat and this goofy looking badass over here." She pointed at Dean. She knew a few others and still held little trust for any of them.
"They'll listen, because we need to survive here and you're probably the best qualified person to help us do that. As for Dr Wilson, Dean can introduce you when you get back with the medical supplies" Rhenora breathed a small sigh of relief as the tensions released.
"Fair. I won't claim I know everything about dinos, but I do know how not to get eatten." She looked hard at Rhenora, "Do you always give this sorta one on one to all your people? It's a wonder you get anything done all day." She smiled to show it was light hearted banter now. Though deep down she was happy to have her Nozzie back.
" Not always, but you gotta admit we're in a unique situation, and you've only been on board a short while, so we gotta make it work for everyone" Rhen smiled as she levered herself up off the bench. "Now I need you two to go and get some medical supplies"
Dean had mostly just listened for now, letting the two of them talk. There wasn't much for him to add then. Though now there was, "Besides, at least my department if I tell them they're to take orders from you as if they were coming from me, they damn well better obey." Looking to Rhenora, "You feeling okay, Nora? There's a lot more I..we, are suppose to be doing and getting while we're back at the ship."
As someone who missed the morning meeting, Patin asked, "Like what?"
"Aside from medical supplies, stuff to keep the bugs away. There's DYI shelter pods that can be transported over. Much better security and shelter than tents. There's also the handful of crew that's still on the ship," Dean answered.
"The crew that volunteered to remain behind? They were trying to get some solar sails going to keep the beacon active and start effecting some repairs. But yes, shelter pods if they survived the crash would be wonderful. We could sleep up to 20 people per pod, it'd be cozy but better than getting eaten" Rhenora mused.
"Those would help as well, the solar sails." Dean gave a nod, "And help in the camp as well. We can leave this shuttle there and come back in one of the fully functional runabouts."
"Ah. Yeah, we can do that." Patin responded. Then she looked to Dean, "Wait, you're telling me there is a fully warp capable shuttle and instead of using it to reach civilization, you walked here? And they call me the crazy one."
Dean gave a shrug, "No idea why they walked instead, or who's bright idea it was to walk. I don't know how may of the support craft are left that function, but at least the one runabout, and this shuttle will at least fly."
"Alrighty." Patin turned around to face front and slung her straps around her person. "Ready to move on when you are."
"Whenever, Nora, is ready to decide if she's coming with or going back to the camp," Dean looked from Patin to her.
" I need to stay here and make sure things get going in the camp" Rhenora advised as she pushed off the hatchway and dropped back to the ground "The sooner you guys can get back with the supplies, the better"
As the hatch began to close, Patin looked back and gave a simple forehead salute, then returned eyes front, puffing on her cigar. She cracked her neck to both sides then closed her eyes. "Wake me when we get there."
TBC
