The mines

Posted on Wed Sep 8th, 2021 @ 4:23pm by Commander Marisa Sandoval & Lieutenant Geiger Zaal & Lieutenant Commander Aalis Rinne & Lieutenant JG Diana Morrison-Johnson & Ensign Cobal (Johnson)
Edited on on Thu Sep 23rd, 2021 @ 4:41am

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: Mines
Timeline: current

OOC: Added Cobal in on this one just so that I can be in on it, will remove it when its time to post, just I can help out with the jp by rotush deputy

Tremain walked up to the group. "Rotush has placed me in charge of your tour. Names Tremain, I am the Deputy Minister."

Diana Morrison simply nodded to Tremain as looked over the mines for a brief moment. Oddly enough she found herself excited and nervous at the same time. "So what does this tour consist of exactly?"

"We are going to take you through the mine, show you what we do how we process it, and every step you will see what we do."

"Any protective gear to protect us from the fumes?" she inquired.

"All will be supplied when we get there." Tremain replied as he started walking.

Rick took up the rear and kept a close eye on things. He tried not to be tense but failed miserably.

Geiger was hanging out in the middle. She hadn't expected that they would both be there on the same away mission in the same area. It would be everything for her to make sure that one of them would make it back to the ship to take care of Lonén. While Aalis didn't worry about their team's ability, it was definitely the unknown that would make anyone fill with trepidation. Aalis took up the rear position next to Rick. That way one of them could pivot behind while the other had the group in front of them.

Sandoval was happy to let Diane take a forward position. That allowed her to take the role of scientist and do the scans. She wanted to get as much information about the process as she could so they could analyze the data later and find a way to make the process safer for the mine workers. "As many details as you can give us will be helpful," she said to Tremain.

James took the front position next to Diane his eyes moving between his tricorder and taking in the area around them. He was really not liking what he was feeling about the place frankly it was giving him the creeps. He only hoped that there would not be a fire fight but the situation was a powder keg and he had a feeling the slightest spark would set it off.

Tremain walked alongside the two, "The explosives are stored in the unused tunnels of the mines. Some of which are no longer accessible due to collapsed tunnels. In the past three months we lost 45 men working underground, due to cave ins."

"Cave ins. What are you using to brace your shafts and are there any geological surveys done to determine the type of ground your actually working in," Said James calmly cave ins after just did not happen any more unless they were intentional

"Seismic activity happens," Marisa said. She, too, was curious to find out how the tunnels were built and reinforced. If they were in too much of a hurry it would lead to cave-ins. "How do you determine where to build a shaft?"

"What we have available does not seem to be adequate for the mines that we have. The way we mine. We have no time to try and change because of pressure that the people feel to get you your ore. The Orions have stated about how merciless the Federation and the Klingons are if things are not met on time."

The half-Vulcan stopped. "Do you give the ore directly to the Federation, or do you give it to the Orions who in turn sell it to the Federation? Have you asked for updated equipment?"

That's a good question, Rick thought. The Federation was certainly not merciless and would even aid if asked. Klingons, maybe, but not the UFP.

"We are 'instructed... we sell the ore, but we don't gain profits from it. We get whatever the orions feel we should get, sometimes its nothing. Other times its really what we don't need." Tremain replied as they approached the building, that housed the safety gear.

Looking through the building as they entered, Aalis kept her head on a swivel. Even though her husband was here with her on the away mission and outranked her technically, she knew that he would listen to her if something was to go awry. They had been through enough with the Borg. The last thing they needed was something going on with the Orions. As they posed as traders, sometimes the commerce wasn't the right way to go. She tilted her head slightly to signify there were no immediate threats with the room that safety gear was housed.

"Tremain have you ever considered trying to sell the ore directly to starfleet or the Klingons and cut the Orion's out it sounds like they are literally stealing your ore from you. There is a reason we call the Orion's pirates they will take pretty much what they want and give next to nothing back. Plus and I hate to say it but I am reminded of ancient earth history where many countries would enslave whole races of people get them to do their dirty and dangerous work for them and then leave when what they want is gone. In most cases leaving the people they enslaved with no means of support or a way forward.". Said James softly he knew what he said might offend but he hoped they understood where he was coming from.

"I haven't had any direct dealings with the Orions, but if this is what they consider fair for the ore you give them, they're taking advantage of you." The quantities of ore the miners produced didn't correspond with the amounts the Federation and Klingon Empire purchased. Marisa didn't have any evidence to prove it, but she was pretty sure a good part of the ore was being sold on the black market. "One of the reasons we're here is to help clean your air and to make sure you get better living conditions from the money you should be making."

"I have to agree," Morrison added. "The Orions acting as the middle man is ripping your world off. Why allow them to be involved at all. Either your people are being bullied or your government is somehow benefitting while the people suffer."

"Can you also show us your air filtration system?" Marisa asked, bringing the conversation back to the mines. It was clear to all of them that the Orions were using these people for their own profit. She'd definitely let the Captain know when she got back to the Resolution. She checked the air quality with her tricorder and frowned. It was definitely unhealthy.

Geiger looked at the readings and was glad that the Commander had said something about the air quality. "I can definitely take a look at it and see what I can do for it," he stated. "Might be able to fix it for you," he offered.

As much as he was more a weapon's specialist, he was still an engineer at heart Aalis knew. She kept an eye on the movement in and around them, as well as the structural walls. It wasn't like it was strictly enemy territory, but she didn't like walking into the dark without knowing what could be on the other side.

Tremain acknowledge the engineers offer, "With your scrubbers, it will take time, as you said. But it is the best hope for our people." Tremain replied as he turned to the Commander. "That is going to be the first stop, its on the way to the mines."

"Thankfully the scrubbers, while it make take time to get everything scrubbed, will have a noticeable effect immediately in the areas surrounding the scrubber outlet points," Geiger commented.

"That's true," Marisa said. "But that air will take a little longer to filter down to the surface. Even so, there will be a noticeable difference within a couple of hours."

"I hope so, It will go a long way to ease the tensions. However it may draw attention to the Orions."

"Of course it will." Marisa had no doubt anything they did to help the people here or to intervene in any way would draw the attention of the Orions. "Would improving conditions here be a bad thing, even if it did?"

"Well, if they see improvement, they may... require more from us."

Marisa stopped. "Why do you give everything to the Orions and get nothing in return?"

"We get compensation. Some seek a membership within the Orions. The power we would get if we were members. We get a promise to be included, food, water, entertainment. Something to make the big things less big."

"Food, water, clean air, holosuites, and a better quality of living, are all things you should be able to obtain for far less than you're giving them now," Marisa countered. "They're treating you like slaves and making a fat profit off the ore you mine and you see none of it. You're dying and they don't care as long as they get the ore--and they keep demanded more. That's untenable. No one should be forced to live and work in these conditions."

"There was an issue on losing loved ones. I don't think there is one family on the planet that hasn't had anyone taken away. We say no. They take mostly wives and children. Rotush lost his wife, and his daughters."

James walked along listening to the conversation he was now more then certain that these people where nothing more then slaves to the Orion's they might have their own government but no defense against the pirates. The fact that they are taking women and children also seemed to point to their being slaves. "You know I get the sinking feeling that we stumbled into something the Orions did not really want us to find I just wish there was more wiggle room in what we can do," Said James calmly. "Why don't you fight the Orions I know you have weapons on this planet what about your military or even just armed militia something to tell the Orions that they are not welcome here," He added.

Diana looked over as she waited for the obvious question to be answered. In all honesty she was shocked that the Orions were in orbit right now trying to disrupt their presence. Though it would be suicide for them to try and take on a Galaxy class starship. But still she highly doubted they would just sit back and allow this continue.

"So that's why you live like this," Marisa said. "They take your family." She would definitely pass that on to the Captain. Whether the government agreed to accept their help or not, the Orions had to be stopped.

Anger boiled under Aalis' skin and she could feel the heat emanating from her chest under her uniform as it welled up into her cheeks. She couldn't imagine being taken away from her husband and her child. Her emotions were well within check even though when her husband turned and looked at her he could see it. His eyes gave it away. "I'm sorry that they break your families apart. Hopefully, we can make things a bit better for you and maybe we can pass along the intelligence of what the Orions are doing to headquarters to try to get some additional more permanent aid here for you."

"We are, not advanced. We do not have space flight. According to our historical data, Captain Kirk, broke a protocol when he set up an agreement with the Klingons for our ore. Our weapons are no match. We fight we die."

"If an agreement was set up with the Klingon Empire, why are you now under the control of the Orions?" Marisa asked.

"Neither the Klingons, nor the federation pays much attention to us as long as they got their ore. When one takes enough notice, it was gradual... took about five years for them to fully get control."

More information for Marisa to pass on. More and more it looked like this planet and its people fell through the cracks.

"I doubt the Klingons would like the Orions stealing your ore," Diana mentioned. "One would assume they would handle the problem faster than the Federation. They're more of a shoot first and ask questions later type."

Marisa nodded in agreement. "Once they know about it. I get the feeling that the Orions are telling different stories to each of us to keep us from comparing notes. Now that we are aware of the situation, we can facilitate change."

"Orions play dirty pool," Rick asserted, "That's not new news."

"No, this is nothing new," Marisa agreed. "It's a surprise that no one questioned what was going on before now."

"We gave the transports no reason to suspect. However, the last shipment both the federation and the Klingon had asked for more than double their requested amount. The orions had us accept. Rotush by calling these negotiations, are actually in defiance, which is why the attack took place presumably."

Rising political tensions like this was not uncommon. With two different parties having an increase in demand, and the output not changing, especially with a middle faction mixed into the nonsense, they were lucky the attack wasn't worse than what it could have been. Aalis remained quiet, observing everything that was going on and being discussed around her, taking special point to note the inflections in the tones of their voices. Now knowing there was defiance for this meeting to actually take place raised her alarm bells, knowing that this would most likely turn out to have their work cut out for them.

Had they demanded twice the output? Marisa wasn't sure. She added it to the list of things to mention to the Captain. Just the fact that the Orions forbade the colony from contacting either the Federation or Klingons directly meant there were definitely shenanigans going on. "We'll need thorough scans of the mines to see if we can find out how we can help with the process."

The First Officer looked around at the others. "I think we could make better use of our time if we split into groups. Wayne, Zaal, and Cabal, you go check out the equipment. The rest of you, come with me. We'll check out the air filtration system in the mines."

Aalis and Geiger left a longing look that spoke volumns to themselves. The two Trill knew what duty did and knew that this had been a possibility. After stealing the look between themselves they both looked to the Commander and nodded in acknowledgement the orders relayed.