The Evacuation - Planetside

Posted on Wed Feb 15th, 2023 @ 10:44am by Lieutenant Talsi Carey & Ensign Jordan Peterson & Ensign Cobal (Johnson) & Lieutenant Commander Aalis Rinne

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Planet Surface

Aalis was the go-for today and was going between the evacuation zone area that was being led and managed by their marine counterparts and the pre-staging/screening area that was being led by Starfleet. The majority of the Security contingent was back on the ship handling the influx of people, while the marines were all planet side handling the actual evacuation. There had been plenty of briefings prior to them landing and staging on the planet surface. Lower cargo holds were emptied and staged for the refugees, both shuttle bays were being utilized as staging points. Transporter rooms were all being utilized. At full evacuation capacity, this was going to be a multiple hour evacuation of the surface. At just transporters, they were tapped out at seven hundred people. They had the twelve larger shuttles being utilized, with only two on the planet surface at one time. The other ships in the area were handling evacuation points on other staging areas on the planet surface. Everything willing, they were looking at least a sixteen hour adventure.

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Scene: Security Pre-Screen
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The pre-screen area was already bustling. Aalis noted that Wagnor had been successful in talking to the local authorities and they had some idea of who they needed to have a more judicial eye for.

Rick Jones was helping colonists get ready for their pre-screen by letting them know what was permitted to be brought on board the ship. He was polite and smiled attempting to put the colonists at ease in this tense situation.

Tal watched the petty officer, and walked up to him. "So... first time doing this?" She asked.

"No sir," Rick replied turning to Lieutenant Carey, "I've been involved with other evac situations before, nothing on this scale though."

"This is quite the undertaking." Tal agreed as she watched the assistant chief walking up. "You okay Ma'am?"

Aalis was walking along, holding a little old lady's hand with the lady's bag over her shoulder as she walked from the Pre-Screen area to the evacuation point. The Security area was the choke point for the evacuation, but it allowed them to make sure that no weapons would make it to the evacuation zone under the watchful control of the marines.

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Scene: Evacuation Zone
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Alisa Nisu had a trained sniper scope from the ridge a couple of hundred yards off. Her eye was following their high-asset targets from the screening area to the evacuation zone. The HUD on the scope had all their people tagged for rapid evacuation if anything happened.

Sam was in the Command Point looking at the Holographic map of the region, on it lay markers, observation teams, forward recon teams, patrols, and stationary elements. Off to one side was another display of the site layout, locations of key equipment, zones for transporters, and shuttle landing areas. With 400 marines teamed about in various locations it provided a measure of security but Sam knew only that would go so far in terms of an immobile target in the eyes of others.

She hoped that the Colonel would approve of the arrangements made but deep down she knew that even the best preparations often buckled to the unexpected.

Jack walked into the CP and saw Sam looking over the map that she was standing over. Flags and markers indicated the deployment of marines. Even as civilians were walking to the site post screening the transporting to the ship was progressing a pace.

Commander Wagnor stood a respectful distance to the two Marines he nodded in approval at the way they'd set their people up. They weren't the 'jarheads' some his people figured they'd be, he'd had a stern conversation with some of his personnel about their attitudes. He sighed they had their work cut out for them.

"Colonel, Major I just received good news and well…" Soran said. "USS Fletcher coming to our aid, it seems there are small number of Quath’Mar among colonists. There are a group of space nomads that have several complicated treaties with the federation. We need to be careful in our interactions with them, apparently their is someone on the Fletcher with experience dealing with them. In the meantime I've been ordered not to start an intergalactic incident."

The Angosian spoke in a matter of fact way, as he handed the Colonel a PADD. "They have a grudge against the Maquis, so will assist if trouble begins. Frankly I think this is an incident waiting to happen. Before you ask no I had no idea this was going on until about thirty minutes ago."

Jack listened to what he'd just been told as he took the offered PADD. "Then you best get this person from the Fletcher down here and explain to these Quath'Mar that grudge or not they will arrive at screening and depart this site peacefully just like the rest of the civilians. if they refuse to leave, they will be priority beamed to the ship, I won't have them lurking about the site waiting for something to start." A grudge was a dangerous thing, all it would take was a split second for everything to go to chaos when the target of the grudge was seen.

It was good that Jack had arrayed about them observation teams because sometimes proof we just as viable as words or action. Jack knew that civilians were easy to panic, especially those desperate to leave, in instances like that the civilians were often the ones most hurt by the initiating conflagration. He wasn't going to take chances, and couldn't afford to, from his standpoint things were already tense. It wouldn't take much to spark off the powder keg they were sitting on.

Sam listened to the Chief of Security talk and her Commanding Officer respond. Things were dangerous enough as they were and now they had another player to contend with, one with a grudge. Seldom did anyone with a grudge listen to reason when the focus of that grudge came into view. It was easy for the most collected and calm individuals to snap when the chance to settle a grudge or act on one arose.

Aalis nodded to the ranking officers as she helped the lady up the ramp into the evac zone.

"I don't want to take the transporter," the old lady requested. "I've never trusted them."

"That's fine, we have a shuttle right here. You're not the first or the last that has those qualms," Aalis smiled as she helped the lady up. Afterwards, she glanced around gathering any pertinent information of the surrounding area and then walked over where the officers were in discussion.

She nodded as she entered the circle, and then said, "We have been doing extra screening on those requesting the shuttle for rides as a precaution. Otherwise, nothing to report yet."

They nodded in response, and she returned back to the prescreen area.

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Scene: Security Pre-Screen
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Everything had been going smoothly over the last couple of hours. They were about twenty five hundred refugees getting sorted now aboard the ship, and plenty more to go. Aalis had been assisting as she could between the pre-screening area and the evacuation point, while making sure that anyone needing a little extra care got it. She was calm through the tumultuous storm. Knowing that there was that uncertainty factor kept the adrenaline coursing. So far, most of the people were appreciative that Starfleet had come to the rescue with the advent of war on the horizon. There was a small group of people that were indignant of their arrival and Aalis could tell that even though they were verbally bucking at the thought of screening and evacuating, that they were willing to go. She figured that as the local authorities continued to evacuate the colony that the holdouts were going to be their most difficult ones to handle.

A small group wearing hooded cloaks approached the check point. The local law enforcement seemed to recognize them and tended immediately. The tallest of them removed his to reveal his face, he was a Nausicaan. He had a tattoo that started at his bottom lip and seemed to go as far down his neck line as could be seen at the top of this tunic. It looked as though he had some sort of paint under his eyes and his hair was arranged in braids. He stepped up to the personnel at the checkpoint.

"I seek an audience with the one in charge." He spoke with authority as he eyed the Federation personnel His voice was soft almost elegant. "This meeting is my right under the treaty of MacQuth."

He made what looked like some sort of ceremonial gesture, As he did his cloak moved slightly to reveal a large hatchet and knife on his belt.

"The treaty of MacQuth is recognized. However, your ceremonial weapons will need to remain here." The Nausicaan tried to rebuke, and Aalis stood her ground. "Per the treaty, I'm allowed to state the stipulations for this request to be honored." She was well aware of it having to learn all about the different invokations that could happen during diplomatic sessions on Earth. "As I am in charge for this area, you will abide by my stipulations to see the one that you request to see. If you choose to not follow the Treaty of MacQuth declaration, then I can invoke the Treaty of Sinapse." She hoped that she wouldn't have to do it, but she was well trained in all forms of martial arts, and the treaty she declared would force them to hand to hand combat. She had had luck against the Nausicaans in an arena. If they were to lose though, their request would be denied, and shame would fall upon their group. She was also allowed to have two people as her wingmen if she needed to, and she knew a whole bunch of security folks and marines were behind her back. This she was not worried about.

As the Nausicaan seemed to be thinking about her statement, she was kind to remind him, "we are on a deadline to have your colony evacuated. I do recommend that we can continue the discussion of the Treaty of MacQuth on the ship, where your accommodations await you. What shall you say?" she asked.

Tal walked up and stood beside her, "Assistance if needed Lt. I do like a good spar."

"As entertaining as a physical contest would be Big Sister," the Nausicaan said with a smile. "We are all working to the same deadline so the sooner I see the chief of your department the better."

She nodded, and reiterated her original intention. "We do have shuttles that will be bringing the livestock up to the ship. We will be able to bring everything up to the ship so that you can restart your lives away from the impending war zone."

The Nausicaan didn't budge so she tapped her badge.

"We can initiate a site to site transport?"

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Scene: Evac Point
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"Well tell the second secretary of agriculture that him and his family can wait their turn like everyone else." Wagnor said turning back to evac plans, he badge chirped.

"Go ahead," Soran sighed.

=/\="Sir, you are being requested at the pre-screen area. Treaty of MacQuth has been invoked by one of the locals, and they will not accept moving the inquiry to ship side."=/\=

"I'll be right there," Soran said. "Hamilton, keep these people moving."

The Angosian walked out of the command center, "I don't have time for this shit." He said under his breath as he made his way to the checkpoint.

"I am Lieutenant Commander Soran Wagnor," Soran said to the Nausicaan. "Starfleet is dispatching a special liaison to help with your evacuation. What can I do for you in the meantime."

"Are you too good to help us yourself?" The Nausicaan growled.

"Not at all, I'm just busy." Wagnor said. "We have thousands of people to evacuate."

"I am Hath, Vanguard of Vinth. We wish to offer our help."

Tal walked up. "Got news from the ship... the Captain heard about the invocation of the treaty... he's on his way down in a few minutes. I think he's looking for an excuse to get off the ship."

While Aalis had been thankful that the Chief was here to deal with the invocation, she was not pleased to hear that the Captain was on his way down. She stepped aside and made a quick call quietly to the marines to let them know that there was an asset on the move and to keep a tighter lock on the pre-screen area.

They heard the hum of the transporter as three individuals materialized in the pre-screen area. It was Captain Carey along with another captain and a third man with broad shoulders and pronounced cranial ridges. This man stepped toward the Nausicaan and pulled the collar of his uniform to reveal a tattoo on his clavicle. He spoke in a language the universal translator couldn't translate. The Nausicaan the stepped in and the two men exchanged a headbutt and embraced.

"I take it you know each other." Xavier replied as he watched the exchange.

Aalis stood at attention to make sure that nothing happened and thankfully, she knew that she had a cadence of long scoped marines having their attention on this current spot. While it should have caught her off-guard with their greeting, she had been used to it dealing with the diplomatic folks back on Earth, and most things didn't surprise her these days.

"This is the first time we've met face-to-face. We have Kin in common." Hath proclaimed. 

Wagner watch the men carefully, he knew enough about their culture to see there was more tension between them than the greeting let on. The Nausicaan pointed at Soran as he looked to the captains.

"Your man is very rude," He barked. "We are your allies and should be treated with respect!"

"Well then, from the looks of the crowd we are coming to the end... how about you come onboard the ship for the voyage to their new home. We can show you how respectable we can be. But right now we are on a time crunch, whatever complaints you have can be discussed when onboard and not in the middle of an evac."