"Operation: Rescue"
Previous Post: "The Road To Hell"
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Stardate: 60298.1710
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 29
Boarding the BARACUDA had been exactly the same as boarding the SPHINX, a similarity that the Romulan/Terran hybrid as well as the other members of her Search and Rescue team seemed more than happy about. The CEO had been so pleased with the layout of the controls having been the same that he commented on this fact as he slid into the co-pilot's seat. "Finally, they did something right. At least this way we won't have to learn where everything is all over."
Sitting into the pilot's seat, which also doubled as the location where the BARRACUDA's CO was meant to be, the COO gave her instruments a quick once over. "You are right, everything does look like it is the same, but I doubt that this ship would handle the kind of rough terrain the SPHINX had to endure during our training."
Looking not all so thrilled about the *terrain* that they were heading for, the CEO huffed while running through the pre-flight check, "Don't remind me, this type of ship already makes me feel like a sardine, and going underwater is not helping me feel any more at ease about it."
Reporting from one of the aft monitoring stations located behind the pilot and co-pilot, the Marine CO had taken on the role of coordinator, a role that he seemed comfortable in. "All systems show green, we are ready to go."
Having received confirmation that the BARRACUDA was mechanically ready to leave, the Romulan/Terran hybrid turned to look at the CMO who had been bragged along for the trip in case they would find survivors who required immediate medical attention. "How about you Doctor, ready to go for a dive?"
Appearing ready to jump out the nearest window, the MCO took in a deep breath before answering the COO's question. "Let's get it over with before *I'm* the one who needs medical attention."
Grinning to one another, the COO and CEO exchanged a quick glance before engaging the engines to bring the craft in position and contact the bridge to have them open the ventral doors of the ANUBIS sending the BARRACUDA and its crew on their way.
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Stardate: 10298.1722
Setting: BARRACUDA, Flight Deck
Descending through the atmosphere had been nothing of a joyride for those onboard the BARRACUDA, the turbulences in the higher layers of the planet's stormy environment having shoved the ship like a dead leaf caught in a tornado. The approached had been so violent that had any of the four team members not been wearing their safety harness those who had would have had to use a spoon to pick up the other's remains.
Struggling to keep his hands on the controls where they needed to be, the CEO commented on the unpleasantness of their descent. "You know, I remember training exercises back at the Academy that were not half as rough as this, and those were *meant* to scramble your brains."
Having been able to look at the information on his instrument a little better than those at the front of the craft, the MCO wasted no time in reporting what he had found. "I might have found a way to make the rest of the trip a little easier. There is a clearing in the storm a few miles to our portside, it will take us a little off course from our designated landing area, but at least that way we might just get there in one piece."
Not waiting to get the confirmation of this clearing from her co-pilot, the Romulan/Terran hybrid entered the course change into the flight computer and hoped that the BARRACUDA would be able to stay together long enough to reach the patch of calmness Pravat had reported. A few minutes later the craft arrived into the clearing allowing everyone to let out a sigh of relief and giving the COO and team leader the chance to check on the status of her crew. "Is everyone all right?"
Looking almost as if he had enjoyed being shaken as he had, the MCO smiled and nodded, "Fine as can be although I don't think the Doctor will be able to say the same thing."
Shifting her gaze to the fourth member of her team, the Romulan/Terran hybrid understood what the Marine CO had meant. Because of the roughness and demands of their descent through the atmosphere, neither the COO nor CEO had realized that the CMO had become sick, unpleasantly decorating his work station.
Lifting a single finger in warning, the CEO spoke before the COO could comment. "Don't look at me! I'll fix whatever *technical* problem this bucket of bolts might throw our way, but I will *NOT* clean that mess up."
Finding the outburst a little amusing, the Romulan/Terran hybrid actually smiled back at her former Academy classmate. "I wasn't going to ask you to do that, I just wanted to know how you were doing and if the BARRACUDA had suffered any structural damage."
Looking pleased that the team leader had not considered what he had feared, the CEO gave his instruments a rapid scan. "Personally, I feel like my internal organs have all switched places with each other. As for the BARRACUDA, it seems to have held better than I would have expected it to. I'm not detecting any fissures or bends in the external hull."
Returning her attention to her own instruments, the Romulan/Terran hybrid set a direct course for the water beneath them to avoid having to run into another storm. Recalling what she had observed on the ANUBIS, the COO knew that these electromagnetic cells could move across the planet's surface as unimaginable speed. "Brace yourselves for impact; we are going in hard and fast."
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Stardate: 10298.1725
Setting: OTOL B, below the water surface
Breaking the calm ocean surface like a gigantic arrow, the BARRACUDA entered the type of environment that it had been designed for, finding itself in the middle of a group of eel-like creatures. Counting in excess of a hundred, each one of these marine life forms roughly measured the same as the craft those inside feel rather small.
Trying to avoid any sort of problems, the BARRACUDA was made to follow the pack which had at first glanced accepted the intruder into their midst.
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Stardate: 10298.1732
Setting: BARACUDDA, Flight Deck
Having found themselves to be lucky that the pack of giant eels had been going in the general direction where the metallic signature had been detected, the members of the team had not voiced any objections as to their new companions.
Looking over to her co-pilot, the Romulan/Terran hybrid began to wonder what the CEO had been so busy doing over the last several minutes. "Can I ask what you are doing? It looks like you are tacking *scientific* readings of those creatures?"
Grinning, the CEO nodded and silently pled guilty to what he had been accused of. "I figured that Maya would never forgive us if we told her about us running into these beasts and not bringing anything back for her to research."
Agreeing with what her co-pilot had said, the COO did not ask anymore questions and let David continue with the scans that he had been doing. This continued for another minute or so before Pravat chimed in. "I've picked up the metallic signature that was detected from orbit, looks like a small shuttle."
Wasting no time, the Romulan/Terran hybrid changed course, taking the BARRACUDA out of the pack and sending it towards the smaller ship. What happened next took everyone by surprise, the pack of giant eels having also changed course, but not to follow the craft.
Being pushed around as the giant serpents collided with the BARRACUDA, the COO demanded, "What are they doing?"
Using what little information he had gathered during his scans of the creatures, the CEO gave the only answer he could. "Looks like those creatures don't like anyone from the pack to go out on their own. Can't tell you why, but I can tell you that at this rate we are going to get turned into fish food in about a minute. There is just too many of them for us to break free and run."
Facing an opponent that clearly outnumbered and out powered them, the Romulan/Terran hybrid saw no other choice but to contact a *higher* power. "BARRACUDA to ANUBIS, we have encountered hostile marine life and request immediate assistance."
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Serenna
Chief of Operations / Second Officer
USS ANUBIS
2005 post #021
