Episode 1: Fading Sun

Captain Tajenko, is it not true that you have issues with your own systems from time to time? Does your anger solve problems with your technology? We acknowledge that systems may fail. It is the reasoned response that ensures we repair and move forward well. We will collect our thoughts and proceed from here. Situation report, Venture officers.

Codral asses the situation. He uses his tricorder that is tied into the station computer to check power levels, check the lift location, and scan the immediate location for additional danger -- falling again, debris on the lift, radiation leakage in the shaft and report.

If they're near enough to a turbo lift stop, he'll attempt to rig the doors to open; if not, he'll point out the location of the emergency hatch to the XO warn of any immediate danger of opening it.

Sabin winces in pain as he picks himself off the ground. Carefully, he examines himself for injuries, quickly finding some superficial cuts and bruises. Hoping he did not suffer anything more serious than that, he deliberately flexes his arms and legs, rotates his neck back and forth, and pats down his torso before attempting to stand up.

Tajenko is even more frustrated by Sumek's logic, and turns her back on you in a very dramatic "hrmpf!".

Cordal's tricorder shows the stations main systems are down. This means lights are dimmed, and none of the station’s major systems or operations function, including shields, transporters, communications, sensors, and main computer. You're not sure what the issue is, but you guess you'd probably need to get to Main Engineering to rectify it.

The turbolift is indeed trapped between stations. The crew quarters and the command center are above you, while engineering, science labs, storage and the transporter room is below you. You know there's a escape hatch in the top of the lift.

Dr. Mosa also get's on her feet, and looks to Captain Sumek, as the commanding officer. "I need to get to my lab. There seemed to be increased activity from the sun, that has to be connected. Only.." She looks thoughtful for a moment. "I suppose my lab isn't much use without main power. What do we do, Sir?"

Sabin addresses Captain Sumek.

"Captain, the emergency stops on the turbolift should not have allowed the lift to drop a second time. That explosion may have damaged the safety mechanisms keeping us stable. With your permission, I would like to check the damage to the turboshaft through the escape hatch. I recommend everyone else remain very still for the time being."

Make it so, Lieutenant Commander. Dr. Mosa, once we have the results of Lieutenant Commander Jiral's inspection, we will proceed to main engineering. Once there, we will establish power grid control and then make a new plan from there. Captain Tajenko, you will have part of your wish. You will accompany us under emergency protocols. You are to speak of none of this. Sumek says, his mind already piecing together future steps.

Sabin turns to Commander Reiter and signals that he needs a boost. With Reiter's assistance, Sabin reaches the latch for the emergency hatch and opens it. Carefully, he reaches through the open hatch and hoists himself up by pressing his arms down on the outside of the opening. Slowly, he pulls himself out of the opening and lays prone on the top surface of the lift. Careful to spread himself out and disperse his weight as evenly as possible, he moves around to inspect as much as he can of the turboshaft and safety mechanisms on the turbolift.

Looking up, Jiral sees flames shooting out into the turbolift shaft from where you surmise the command center is/was located. The rest of the shaft looks mechanically sound, thought the turbolift itself is stuck hard, semi-fused to the shaft due to the heat of the emergency brakes.

Sabin raises himself to a kneeling position and looks down into the turbolift.

"It looks like the turbolift is stuck hard and nearly fused to the shaft, so we don't need to worry about free-fall here. It looks like the explosion came from the command center. I still see flames coming from the top of the shaft, so the damage must be severe.

"Captain, I recommend we proceed to the station's security office. With the command center out, they are most likely to have the most information about what is happening. They would also be able to..."
Sabin pauses to rephrase what he is about to say a bit more diplomatically.
"...keep our guests safe."

Looking outraged at the prospect of being locked up in such a situation, Captain Tajenko turns back to you, glaring at Jiral. "I will not be locked up while this station is in dire straits. Who knows what's happening here? It's practically a death sentence to lock us up if anything more happens to the station."

She turns to Captain Sumek. "Whatever is happening, you need our help, Captain. And you have no reason to lock us up!" The two nausicaans move up behind her, they look ready for fight at her slightest word.

"Is your ship still docked to the station, Captain? Perhaps we could see you safely there -- enabling you to be away from the station and secure." Reiter offers.

"All due respect, sirs, but we need to get out of this malfunctioning turbolift immediately. I can go up and see if I can get the door to the next floor open."

Sabin holds up a hand in Lt. Nosim's path to stop him.

"Slow down, Lieutenant. This lift is wedged in tight and not going anywhere anytime soon. We can afford to take a moment and decide where we need to go instead of blindly charging through the nearest door. At the very least, we should scan to see what's on the other side of the door first."

Sabin stands up and pulls out his tricorder to scan past the nearest door.

Yes, my ship should still be in orbit around this mess of a station. She turns to one of her bodyguards, who give her a comlink. She keys it and hails her ship.

"Thelv. Tajenko here. What's happening?" You hear static from the comlink, and Tajenko seems a bit worried at this. "Thelv. Quit mucking about. How is my ship doing? Thelv?" After a few more tries she throws the comlink to the wall, breaking it.

She turns back to Reiter. "Damned static! We need to get to a comms panel, or failing that a bloody window! I need to know what's happened to my ship!"

As to emphasize Jiral's caution, the ladder Nosim was about to climb fails. It detatches with a great metallic groan and falls down inches from you.

Jiral's scans show dangerous levels of triolic radiation flooding the station, which is also probably what's interfering with coms. The nearest levels are the crew quarters half a level up, and the science labs half a level down. The radiation makes it very hard to make something out, except that there are more structural damages to both stairs and EPS conduits that could cause more complications for anyone climbing up or down.

"This does not look good, Captain. The station is being flooded with dangerous levels of triolic radiation. There's also a good deal of structural damage to stairs and EPS conduits, so we're going to have a difficult time moving around the station. We're stuck in-between crew quarters..."

Sabin points up.

"... and science labs."

He points down.

"I can't get much else with this tricorder, but I may be able to sense what's going on nearby."

Sabin puts away his tricorder and closes his eyes to concentrate. Taking a deep breath, he reaches out with his mind to search for the thoughts and feelings of others nearby. He's not so concerned with the contents of each individual's thoughts, but is instead trying to determine the overall tone and intensity of thoughts and feelings immediately outside of the turbolift. He also tries to determine if those thoughts and feelings are coming more strongly from the crew quarters, the science labs, or possibly somewhere else.

Keep trying Lieutenant Commander. Captain Tajenko, as soon as we can safely get you somewhere to ascertain your ship's status, we will do so. While he does that, I will attempt my own scans to see if I can pick anything up with my tricorder.

Feeling that another scanner is unlikely to help, Reiter begins considering some tactical options. "Is there anything other than shielding that will protect us from triolic radiation? Are we getting a sense of the source? I assume it's the main star of the system, but if not, that'd be good to know."