Carson replies, "Roger, Lieutenant, I'll maintain my position and scan from here." There is a chirp as she taps her commbadge, then she continues, "Zed, this is Carson. I'm setting my tricorder to link to the Thames to share my scans for correlation."

As Jon and Churchill's teams head out through the waist-high grass. As expected, the ground is uneven (being the grazing grounds for the antelopes), so they are restricted to a brisk walk of about 4km/h. It take about a minute to cover the distance. Jon can almost feel the Borg watching him and a trickle of sweat runs down his spine, even though he knows that the Borg usually ignore small groups on foot. Tony keeps pace with Talja, while Dahlakino flanks Jon. Goodman and Rabinowitz cover them from behind. About a hundred metres to the right, Jon can see Churchill and his recce team, while Carson and Buran continue scanning and Dr. Pierce stands by to provide medical aid and Xelox covers them.

Jon reaches the first of the ground entrances. Tony has Shemp scan the locking mechanism. Shemp reports, "The hatchway is a standard Romulan airlock door."

"Good, I can pop it using the tric," replies Tony. He presses a few icons on the tricorder and it beeps. There is a soft click and a hiss of air pressure releasing as the door opens. A puff of hot, humid air escapes. "Everyone take a drink of water to stay hydrated," say Tony as he reaches for a ration pouch of water. "It's almost forty degrees in there!"

[OOC: I'm assuming that Zed is maintaining station-keeping above the Romulan outpost a few kliks up to provide cover. Since the Atlantic class runabouts have enough transporter capacity to beam up half a dozen or so persons, Bras d'Or has agreed to beam up Churchill's team while the Thames handles Jon's team and Carson's base team.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Tue 24 May 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 18):

"Tony, let's hope not to be in there long enough to get thirsty!" Jon says, and he slips inside. He looks around at what he assumes is a run-of-the-mill airlock chamber, with another door at the far end. If it all looks clear, he motions for the rest of the team to follow him inside.

It is indeed a standard Romulan airlock. The environmental controls have obviously been set to Borg standard conditions. Luckily the breathing capsule in the masks the team have been equipped with dehumidifies and cools the air they are breathing. Shemp's on-board replicator is able to provide all the water they need. Since the outpost is a standard humanoid living space there are containers aplenty, including sealable containers. There are also standard Romulan EVA suits in lockers in the next chamber. Jon leads his team inside. It remains oppressively hot and humid and their uniforms are immediately soaked through.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 20):

Jon tries the controls to open the inner airlock door. If they don't work, he motions for Tony to work his magic.

He gives a status update to Kat and Zed "We are in the airlock and opening the inner door."

Carson replies, "Roger that. Jack Churchill reports he's just reached the roof and his team will be up in a few moments. Take care, Jon."

Jon steps up to the door in front of him. Crewman Shelly Rabinowitz taps him on the shoulder, "Sir, that door will take you back outside." She points to the right where, at the end of the chamber is another door. "That the door to the suiting-up room."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Fri 27 May 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 22):

"Thanks, Rabinowitz!" say Jon. He had forgotten that the base was star shaped, and that they were in one of the points. Jon closes his eyes for moment, and takes a deep breath to try to recenter himself. What else has he forgotten?

"Tony, get that door open!" he says. "Let's see what we can find."

"Right, Boss!" says Gazzo and hustles the three metres to the inner airlock door. As they follow, they can see an equipment bay in the right wall which has been stripped of parts. Tony reaches the door and scans it. "Hey, Jon! It's not even sealed." He nudges the door and it swings open. The room beyond is dimly lit with a few green telltale lights.

Rabinowitz says in a growl, "That shouldn't happen. The Rommies keep a firm eye on atmospheric integrity." She aims her wrist light at the locking mechanism. "Look. They've cannibalised the lock!"

Jon's commbadge chirps. Churchill reports, "The roof hatches for launching the Rommie shuttles are welded shut! I'm not going to try cutting into the roof, as even the Borg will take notice of that. Relocating to the airlock opposite you, Lt Clare."

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 24):

"Understood, Churchill," Jon acknowledges. "We are heading in through the inner door."

Jon slips through the open door into the corridor. He looks around and listens intently for a few seconds, and then gestures for the others to follow.

Tony steps into the room after Jon, Rabinowitz standing in the open doorway. "Looks like a suit locker. Doesn't look like they've disturbed anything. The Rommie EVA suits should be intact and operational," he says.

Rabinowitz is dripping with sweat, her curly hair plastered to her scalp. "Good. I'm qualified on Romulan space suits. Each locker should contain two suits and support packs. The helmets are integral to the support packs."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Thu 23 June 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 26):

"You're qualified," says Jon to Rabinowitz. "What about the rest of us? Can we use these to get out of the heat?"

"Oh, sure, as long as you've got basic qualification in Starfleet EVA suits. You'd need an orientation lecture if we were going space-side, but but using them as support suits is no problem. If anyone gets into trouble I can make adjustments. In the worst case you'd just need to take the suit off... Like us, they make them pretty foolproof," says Rabinowitz. "In fact, we can leave the faceplates open and just use 'em as cooling suits. I mean, it's not as if we need to worry about long-term maintenance!"

In reply to Crewman 1c Shelly Rabinowitz (msg # 28):

"OK, let's suit up!" says Jon. Despite Rabinowitz assurances, Jon does an extra scan of his suit to ensure there are no traces of Borg tech. While they are donning the suits, Jon checks in with Churchill to get their status.

"Rabinowitz," says Jon when they are ready to go. "We need a direction. Any ideas where the main power source would be? If we can get there and cause an overload, we could blow this place off the face of the sphere!"

"In a standard Romulan installation, the main power core is in the central structure. I assume the Borg would do the same." replies Rabinowitz.

Goodman interjects, "Pretty much true, save that they tend to use distributed systems, except for a single central control node called a vinculum which traditionally is located near the geometric centre of the cube, or in this context, star! That's their big weak point. Gröen, keep your isomagnetic disintegrator in reserve - we don't want them to adjust to counter it until the last possible second!"

Talja asks the Borg expert, "So you think this Wunderwaffe [wonder weapon] will do the trick?"

"Should, but we've got enough demolition charges to back it up, short of an antimatter bomb." admits Goodman. "If it comes to that, the Bras d'Or has enough photon torpedoes to complete the job, pending authorisation from Starfleet Command... 'Course, we may not survive such a scenario!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Mon 11 July 2022.

In reply to Crewman 1c Shelly Rabinowitz (msg # 30):

"I'm pretty sure firing photon torpedoes at the interior of the sphere is frowned upon," says Jon. "Let's concentrate on finding the central control node, and decide from there."

Jon also checks in with Zed. "Are you still receiving us? And do you still have a transporter lock?"

Zed has reads you 5x5 and does indeed have a transporter lock.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 32):

"OK, let's move out!" orders Jon. "Rabinowitz, you're our guide. Nobody touch or interact with anything, and do not engage any Borg. Tony, eyes behind to see if we end up with Borg following us."

"Goodman," Jon asks the PO, "how close do you think we can get to the central control node without the Borg taking any action against us?"

Goodman indicates, "Ah figger we'uns can get about twenny metres from the vinculum 'fore the drones see us'uns as a threat. The vinculum is sort'a the CPU for the hive mind. It's normally 'bout the middle of the Borg hive so Ah figger it'll be in the central complex. From the plans Shelley showed me, the mos' likely place'll be around the transporter. Main power grid'll be hooked up thar 'n' it'll have access to the main 'puter core as well."

Jon has a little difficulty understanding Goodman's mush-mouth "Suth'n" accent. In his mind all Eddie Goodman needs is a stalk of grass projecting from his lips but there is in fact no grass there. Goodman is a two-metre-tall beanpole with jug-handle ears and a shock of straw-blond hair but he shows every evidence of knowing his stuff. The only EVA suit the group could find to fit him is in fact a Reman model, built to the same standards as the standard Romulan suits. Goodman is equipped with an Intelligence model tricorder.

In reply to PO 1c Eddie Goodman (msg # 34):

"Maybe we can take a shortcut..." muses Jon and he calls up Zed. "Any possibility of dropping us on this base's transporter pad? We think the Borg's control centre will be close to that location."

[OOC: Jon, I've eMailed Zed about your question.]

[OOC: I've not received a reply from Zed. His NPC light is now on.]

Commander Carson breaks in, "Attention all personnel. Switch to frequency-hopping protocols now!" There is a momentary break while the comms system resets. "Wait one, Zed. Churchill reports the Borg are approaching his location in active mode. Bras d'Or, stand by to beam all personnel to the ship. Zed, bring the Thames to station-keeping off the starboard bow. Energise!"

Seconds later, the team, less Zed, shimmer into existence in the Bras d'Or's transporter room. The wall screen lights up and Cdr. Tom Taliaferro snaps, "What's up, Kat?", then sudden looks on in horror as Jack Churchill begins sprouting small Borg implants and raises his Assault Phaser.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 37):

Jon barks "Beam Churchill out now, and hold him in the pattern buffer!"

At the same time he raises his phaser and takes a shot. Since they are all on the transporter pad it should be point blank range, so he aims not directly at Churchill but at his assault phaser. He is hoping to just disable Churchill's ability to fire.

Churchill's hand spasms and his Assault Phaser drops to the floor.

Kat yells at the Transporter Chief, "Chief Kylie, do it NOW!" Churchill vanishes in a column of sparkling light.

Talja says, "Is there anything Nathan can do to help? He just treated Dovan, who was semi-assimilated!"

Zed reports, "Thames II in position, ready for transport."

Kat replies, "Thames, this is the Bras d'Or Exec. Our transporter is unavailable. Use your transporter to beam to my coordinates. I say again you will initiate transport to my coordinates."

Zed appears in a column of sparkling light. "OK, I'll bite. What's wrong with your transporters, XO?"

Kat answers, "Churchill got tagged by Borg nanoprobes. Jon caught on in time and dumped him in the holding buffer." She turns to Kylie and snaps, "I want a stasis tube in here, stat! Nathan, stand by!"

Kylie orders a stasis tube to be deployed to the duty transporter room. Kat continues, "That was officer thinking, Clare. I'm putting you in for a commendation. You might have saved us all."

Kat.  I standing by ready.  Lt Nathan answer Kat.

In reply to Lt. Nathan Pierce MD (msg # 41):

"Thanks LCdr!" says Jon to Carson with a lopsided grin. "Though my first thought was to potentially save Churchill. Saving us also was a happy coincidence."

Addressing the transporter room in general, Jon says "To be on the safe side, we should all get a medical scan before leaving this room. Can we get a medical team here stat?!"

To the remainder of Churchill's team, Jon asks "So, what happened? In our sector of the base, there was not much activity."