[Vimyridge] 950214.20 Pt 21 ( T. Blake, C. Blake, Lox, Saladin, Nix, Wilkinson)

[Tana Ragsdale]

[Shuttle]

Justin started preflight checks, and stowing as much gear as he could.

Marcus looked in at Justin, "Alright, show me what still needs doing
Commander."

"Get the gear stowed, and do secondary system checklist... primary system
checklist is almost complete." Justin replied.

"Alright." He sat down at a console and quickly started the secondary system
check, watching with satisfaction as they okayed the shuttle for go. As the
system check was run he started making his own list of what still needed
stowing. "Saladin to Commander Blake, can you send me a quick list of the
medical equipment we still need on board."

"A whole boatload still." Cait replied back, then sent Saladin a list of
what stuff still remained. "Our time line is more flexible now. Scans show
the radiation levels decreasing rapidly. Let the Ridge know that whatever
they did is working."

Saladin tapped his badge, "Alright Commander, I'll relay that information."
But before he could the console started blinking and he did a double take,
"Commander Lox,' Saladin spoke I need to check out a couple of the secondary
thrust nodes. Seems they're not powering up correctly. You say the primary
cleared?"

"Primary checks out, but the secondaries were never powered down. They are
maintaining the metaphasic shielding.  Which ones aren't showing restart?"
Lox asked.

"System Alpha and Theta in the third nodule and System Gamma in the Second."
He looked across at Justin, "Additional thoughts?"

"Alpha is running the metaphaic shielding, so it will show anomolies.
Theta..... was partially disabeled to add the extra emitter systems, but
Gamma, that is the long range sensors."  Justin moved over to one of the
access panels and opened it up to find out what is going on.

As Justin opened up the access panel Marcus sent out a communication to the
VimyRidge, "Commander Saladin to the VimyRidge."

[Bridge]

Toby noded, "Let's get this done, get the asteroids moving, we can't afford
to wait any longer."

Kylee initiated the tractor beam, watching as the large asteroid began to
slowly move from the asteroid field towards the area between the planet and
the sun. She furrowed her brow, making sure that her calculations were
correct, not wanting this plan to complicate the issue on the surface. "Just
a few minutes, and it will be in place.." she stated.

Toby tapped hs badge, "Go ahead Commander."

Marcus voice could be heard over the comms "Commander Blake just informed me
that whatever you are doing up there is working. Radiation levels are
beginning to drop."

Toby glanced at Kylee and then frowned, "Commander, we only just started
moving the first of the asteroids into place. I'm not sure what she was
picking up, but I am pretty sure it wasn't us. Maybe it's something about
the planet, maybe a rotation or something that has lessened the radiation in
your area..."

Kylee blinked, looking over at the commander at the mention of the radiation
reduction. "How..? There's nothing that..." she began, before shaking her
head, performing a quick scan of the planet. She isolated a storm not too
far from the caves where the crew and inhabitants. "This would explain it..
the rain's pulling the radiation out of the atmosphere."

Marcus heard Kylee's voice over the comm and gave a nod while answering, "We
are picking up the storms. I was hopeful there for a moment, fingers still
crossed that whatever you have planned still will work! The medical team are
preparing to leave now so it shouldn't be too long until you see us back on
the VimyRidge Commander."

He turned his attention back to Lox at the access panel "How's the secondary
system check coming along? Anything I can do?"

[caves]

Kat continued to monitor the radiation readings beginning to feel relieved
that the levels were dropping. Glancing over towards Cait seeing the
noticeable fatigue in the tiny doctor. She tapped her com " Cait, what is
the plan from here?" she asked after having gathered much of the equipment
and getting it ready for transfer to the shuttle. 'please say we're leaving
this rock soon' she thought to herself as she waited for Cait's answer.

Cait looked over and nodded to Kat, then finished up her explanation and
demonstration of the purifier before heading over to Kat. "We're as done as
we're going to get. There's not anything else we can really do for them at
this point. Everyone's been inoculated, the sick have been treated and the
use of the equipment explained. If all the other equipment is packed up, we
can head back to the shuttle now."

Kat breathed a sigh of relief. "I think everything is accounted for." she
told her. "but I'll make one last sweep of the area just to be sure." she
told her.

"Then let's head out of here." Cait took the last of her gear over where
supplies were being loaded. She looked back over at the people here,
admiration in her tired eyes. It took a strong faith to do what these people
were doing. Slowly she turned and started back up the tunnels. "Let's go
home, folks."

A warm smile appeared on Kat's face as Cait headed out of the tunnels.
Breathing a sigh of relief she grabbed gear and headed back looking forward
to some much needed down time to work on a few other pressing issues.

As Cait headed towards the cave entrance, she tapped her combade. "Blake to
Saladin, we've packed up and are heading for the shuttle." A quick glance
around showed that everyone had their helmets on.

"Acknowledged Commander." Saladin replied, then added, "The radiation drop
was due to atmospheric conditions, they haven't finished the plan yet, but
they are confident it will lead to more decrease in radiation."

[Bridge]

Toby glanced at Kylee, "How is it going Lieutenant, is the first asteroid in
place yet?" He knew he was being impatient, and pushing a bit, but time
wasn't something they had in abundance if the people were to be saved.

Kylee nodded, glancing over her shoulder back at Toby. "Yes, it's moving in
to place now. This one should shield most of the affected area. With the
combination of the unexpected storm and the asteroid, the radiation should
continue to drop. Between the two ships, we should be able to hold it in
place long enough to find a more permanent solution, or should I say when we
catch the ones responsible."


"Is there a way we can keep the asteroid in place without having to babysit
it?" Toby asked, he was sure the captain would ask the same when he went and
told her.


Kylee furrowed her brow, staring at the screen as she ran a hand through her
hair, fighting back a yawn. "It's possible.. the asteroids could be set in a
slightly different location, right here.." she began, pointing to a location
on the screen. "It will still accomplish the task needed, and allow the
gravitational pull of both the sun and the planet to keep them in place. If
needed, can also add several rockets to the edges of the asteroids.."


"What about the probes and thrusters used to put it in place, couldn't they
be used to hold it in place?" Toby watched Kylee.

"It could work. It's really only supposed to be a temporary fix anyway..
Either way.. it will need to be monitored somewhat.." she said, letting out
a soft sigh as she sits back. looking over at Toby, her mannerisms showing
her weariness.