T20: High Law and Low Justice, Part 3

[doghead]

Saanath Merchant 6

Saanath breathes a sigh of relief at Valkis news of the chhild. "Better unhappy than dead," he mutters to himself before realising the comm is still open. Oh well. It is true enough.

"Her mother, at least thats who I think it is, is down here. Dead. She would be the obvious candidate for having moved the child to the stateroom."

But then what is she doing down here again? Another member of the family? Saanath rechecks the passenger list again, as well as setting up a cross reference program to see if there is any think between those on the list and the other players in this little drama.*

A thought hits him. What if she was trying to get the child into the lowberth? And the other 'unoccupied' Low Berth? Saanath checks back over the paaenger list. There. 'Bilem'. One of three in SR07. B19. 38 kg. Another child.

"I think that the mother was putting children into the Low Berths for protection." He explains his reasoning.

"I suspect that the water is protecting the child somehow. The mother seems to have realised what was happening. I'm going to check her databook, then her cabin. SR09. I'll keep you informed."

ooc: * using the computer's internal data and news library if he can't access the ship's.

 

[Watus]

Assuming they aren't password protected, Quinn's going to start going through the ship's logs - most recent first - trying to figure out what the hell happened to the Dvonn. He's also going to look up the JohnHenry station in whatever resources are available, attempting to learn as much about it as he can.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Most of the logs are not public, though recent entries in the Captain’s log have been expressly opened for public read-only access. In addition, the ships medic has been keeping an open log. Relevent excerpts from each are below. The chief engineer's log is still password protected.


From the log of Captain Kvereash Gergh:
13:21:36-171-991

F***ing Tamandere! This time I really am going to have to let Shael go. She’s costs us a week at the least, and put us at the mercy of the damned Nellsians. And that’s a week, assuming the JohnHenry bastards here will sell us fuel, which can’t be taken as a given. If they won’t, their gas giant will have to do, but it doesn’t look all that inviting.

Shael’s been with me a long time, but I need a real astrogator now, not just a mate.

I see the GA ship has arrived here right on time – bastards are probably laughing their asses off at seeing us here. They know we weren’t supposed to end up at this piece of barren rock.

On to things I can do something about

It looks like we’ve had some structural damage to the power plant, so we’ll be on half power for a while, but otherwise it looks like we’ll be all set until the gearheads can get us patched together. A couple of the passengers were knocked around a bit when the jump field deteriorated unexpectedly, but everyone seemed to take it with good nature. I’ll need to make sure we get waivers from them – last thing we need is another lawsuits to shut us down again. The Aslan woman said she would take care of it for me

13:50:11-171-991

Bastards. This is getting old – How long does it take to authenticate a ship’s registry? They know we’re not a corsair. The damned GA a**holes know that, and could tell them in ten minutes if they cared to, and even if they didn’t our registration was filed months ago – every star system within 10 parsecs should know who we are.

03:09:54-172-991

My career is over. My ship is stranded in the wrong system, and JohnHenry still won’t sell us fuel. I could practically hear them laughing through the transmission. Worst of all, I’ve just lost two important passengers.

Life support must have been damaged in the jump – it still checks out fine, as far as diagnostics go, but something is wrong. It provided no oxygen to two of our staterooms over the past four hours. Worse, looks like it sucked the air out. Mr. Blair managed only to stumble over do his call button before expiring, and Woleireiyeo, the Aslan lawyer was dead in the next room. We got to her mate just in time, thank goodness.

The engineers so far don’t know what happened. One of them said the jump might have knocked free some caked on residue from the ducts, that had then clogged the filters or something – but that would mean the rooms would have been filled with CO2 exhaled by the passengers, and Dr. Menehiru said their blood gasses were all wrong for that.

We’ve run a cleaning on each of the filters, purged the ducts, and things seem normal now.

03:59:09-172-991

I may just sack who whole damned crew. Engineers got the power plant back up to full capacity, and in doing so, sent a surge that blew out the power regulator. Geniuses.

Hodar went down to check it out, and said that dust – the same stuff from the other two rooms, on the floor of engine room And he says the O2 content of our air supply is down to 87%.

I don’t like this. I’ve had environmental alarms put in each of the rooms, and I’ve ordered everyone to sleep with their doors open for the rest of the night so no one else gets sealed in an oxygen-poor room.

05:16:21-172-991

I have issued a general distress call. Oxygen levels are at 74%, and falling. Backup life support is having no effect, and our maneuver drives are still offline. Even with both units functioning, we are losing breathable air, fast. Panic is setting in, and Dr Menehiru has recommended sedation for the majority of the passengers, both to conserve air and control emotions. I think it’s a good call, and ordered her to start the process.

05:29:01-172-991

What the F***?!! The bastards are refusing to provide aid to us! Not selling us fuel is one thing, but now they’ve turned down a distress call. I am filing a grievance as soon as we get somewhere civilized.

I’ve ordered oxygen and masks distributed to everyone, just in case we can’t get this fixed.

05:58:13-172-991

65% and falling. I’ve put the crew in vac suits to facilitate their repairs, but unless they can do something fast, we’re going to be in serious trouble. The dust is showing up everywhere. I don’t know whether to shut down life support or not – we’ll breath what’s left slower than life support seems to be destroying it.

JohnHenry reiterates that they are a bunch of arrogant pricks.

09:32:46-172-991

Turning off life support does not help. At this rate there will not be enough air to keep us conscious by the end of the day. By tomorrow morning, we’ll all be dead.

12:00:34-172-991
No changes in our status, save for a continued fall in oxygen, and a continued accumulation of the dust. The doctor doesn’t know what it is, and she’s too busy dealing with the sick to spend time analyzing it. She’s working hard, but I think this is beyond her – I know it’s beyond me. Repairs continue, but the second round of air tanks of air are running out. I’ve ordered that all remaining self-contained oxygen supplies be collected and put to use by our engineers. If we can’t get life support operational, I want those drives online so I can set an autopilot course to ram the damned JohnHenry base.

14:18:11-172-991
Hodor was able to scavange the mainboard from the auto galley in the crew quarters. He says he thinks he can rig it into the power regulator and get us underway again. He’s finishing up a pair on a conduit from life support, then he’ll put it in.

14:28:44-172-991
There’s been an explosion in Engineering. With no word from Hodor, I’ve come down to check it out – he’s dead. His visor’s broken, and he’s badly burned. There’s a big hole in the conduit and the dust is pouring out onto the floor. Damnit what is going on? The mainboard looks all right – it must have been off to the side during the explosion. I’m no gearhead, but I’m going to try to put it in. I’m as good a choice as any at this point.
[End log]

 

[Maerdwyn]

04:25:02-172-991
(a somewhat shakey female voice begins, then turns clinical after the opening paragraph)
Here begins the log of Dr. Malena Menehiru. PhD, incidentally. I have a modicum of medical training, but do not have a medical degree. I will take notes as best I in hopes that they will be reviewed by a more qualified physician or pathologist when we reach Daramm. Apologies in advance.

Subject one is a human male of mixed heritage, named Armand Blair. Subject was 1.84 meters tall, and weighed 96.2 kilograms. Subject appears to have been in excellent physical health, despite a large number of old scars on his extremities. No obvious current physical injuries are present, save for a small, but pronounced bruise on his left shin, dorsally. Subject is bald, and clean shaven, and has one false tooth in the position of the 36th molar. [her voice grows thoughful for a moment] That's odd - why replace a wisdom tooth? later, Mal, later. task at hand. [her voice goes back to clinical.] Subject was found prone, left arm stretch forward and left leg drawn up, as if he had been reaching for the wall when he fell. Subject's complexion is a pale, with a tinge of blueish gray consistent with asphyxiation. Blood drawn from the coratid artery is also consistent with this diagnosis. A fine white powder coats the subject's exposed skin and clothes. There is no powder present on subject's mucosal membranes, internally within the stomach, and lungs, within the mouth, or on any areas previously covered by clothing.

Subject two is a female aslan, named Woleireiyeo os Vareheraio. Subject was 1.7 meters tall and weighed 94.4 kilograms. Subject appears to have been in good general health, save for what appears to have been a minor cold, based on my limited understanding of Aslan physiology. Subject is covered in tan fur, with dark brown mottles, ventrally and medially. Some dust has been caught in the fur dorsally, as subject was sleeping in a supine position, uncovered at the time of death. A bluish tinge to the skin was revealed upon shaving a small section of fur from the left torso, ventrally, and I must assume this is consistent with asphyxiation. No dust or other foreign matter is present internally, or on mucosal membranes.

Preliminary hypothesis is that both subjets dies when their rooms were depleted of oxygen, with a proximal cause of death of environmental asphyxiation. There is likely a connection between the cause of asphyxiation, and the casue of the apearance of the odd white dust, but given the lack of dust internally or mucosally, it seems clear that the dust settled on the bodies after asphyxiation, rather than prior to it or as the direct cause of it. It is possible that the dust formed a blockage in the air ducts, or in the life support system itself which allowed the removal of carbon dioxide from the rooms, but prevented the free flow of oxygen, but this will have to be tested further. I have preserved samples of blood, muscle, lung, and liver tissues from both subjects, to test for toxicity or other effects of the dust, when time permits. As the dust has had no effect on the rest of us who have come into contact with it, however, and given the unliklihood of one compound being an anaphylactic allergen for both humans and aslan, I consider this a lower priority than continuing treatment on the still unconscious male aslan.

05:01:13-172-991
I've finally been able to stabilize Trel, and I brough him into a state of semiconsciousness so we could tell him about his mate. I anticipated his reaction correctly, and had the sedative administered even before we finished telling him. He got to say good by at least. I hope he's able to wake up later and get mad at me for putting him under. The others a re starting to panic. We can all fel the air thining. Everyone is breathing a little more rapidly.

Kiria is still sleeping though, in the hydrochamber. Whatever's taking the oxygen out of the air, it's not yet affecting the water. I don't know how long that will last though, and if I put the adults in there with her, it certainly won't last as long. Is that selfish thinking? I don't care.

No, that's wrong, I do care. If it comes down to it, I'll drain the chamber and put the others in. As a last resort. The best thing would be to sedate everyone we can - under water or above, everyone will use less O2 if they're out cold.

06:48:23.172.991
Another man is dead. One of the engineers, and man named Farad. He he passed out and dies in his vac suit when his oxygen guage malfunctioned, and told him he had thirty minute more than he had. He dies in a room that still had enough oxygen in it to keep him alive, barely If he just fallen and cracked his visor, he'd still be alive.

Free Vacation. Build your resume. F***! Kiria, if we get out of this, I'm never taking you offworld again.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Medic's log, continued.

09:15:51.172.991
The captain had the life support turned off a couple hours ago, then back on last hour. Oxygen loss got worse with life support off, but only slightly, and the loss slowed again by the same margin when he put it back on then slowed again. I'm starting to belive that nothing we're doing is going to stop this process. [there is an edge, possibly of panic in her voice]

Kiria keeps sleeping, and her water is fine. Ive got to put the others in with her - it's the only decent thing to do. I'll give the two low berths another couple hours. No sense in freezing people if the engineer can come up with a miracle - and a couple hours won't make a difference, I don't think.

11:04:59.172.991

I fell asleep. [wailing can be heard in the back ground] God! Thank you Kiri, for waking me up! [Her voice is warbling, a little weepy. She sings a lullaby, apparently into an intercom, and the crying eventually ceases. She bites off a sob, and the recording clicks out.]

14:48:14.172.991

It's over now. They're rotating the remaining crew members through the bridge to hail any ships that might pass by this forsaken system, but the chances aren't good. "not good"?!!? Scratch that. Lacking a bona fide miracle, all of us will soon die. If some ship come along in a few weeks, maybe they'll save the low berth passengers. There are two beths left, and I know what I'm going to do. The Vilani boy has been so brave, even when I sedated his parents. He would have let me try sedating him too, but I could have killed him, not knowing the right does for a child. I'll walk him down first, and tell him a story or two. Something calming to send him off to sleep with.

15:06:45.172.901

Bilem is safe in the berth, and his vital signs are strong. I have decided to augment as many of the berths as I can with packs from the hunter's animals' berths - [Rueful voice] You don't mind, do you Armand?

I've got 45 minutes of oxygen in this tank. I'll work on the packs first, then pick up a new tank from the lounge when I go up to get Kiria. And then, we will say goodbye to each other.

Ship's medic out.

 

[doghead]

Saanath shakes away the dampness at the corner of his eye. Damn it! I'm not going to go out like that. Just waiting for the end ... He glances at the doc with new respect. He's not sure he would have held it together so well. If we survive this, I'll do what I can to get your daughter back to her family.

ooc: the doc is dead right. No pulse or anything.

Did she finish transfering the packs in the low berths? Are the other low berth passengers still 'alive'?

"Ktarle. I've got the doc's log here. Well, not really the doc, but she was doing what she could. It has some stuff in it about the dust. It doesn't seem lethal, but ... well anyway. I'll drop it off to you. Are you still in medbay?"

 

[Guest 11456]

Trelene Scrautigue : Luriani Navy 2/Prof 7/Trav 1: Retired Makhidkarum Vice President

Trelene regards the burst outflow conduit for a few seconds, and then the square piece of sheet metal imbedded in the life support unit, and then the unfortunate man sprawled on the floor at her feet. The metal hadn't come directly from the conduit, but it had certainly bee propeled into the machine by the explosion that had ruined the conduit. A patch, maybe? she wonders, regarding as well the thin stream of white powder slowly adding to the large mound of white powder under the ladder below the hole. Dust in the conduit must have exploded when he began welding on the metal, she thinks. Best to avoid open flames around this stuff.

She looks more closely at the unit itself, and is confused somewhat by what she notes. The computer within is still functioning, and according to it, the entire unit is functioning - the important parts of it, anyway. The water intakes from the waste system and power plant are working, and based on the hydrogen output to the fuel tanks, the elctrolysis reactor is still functioning (at over 90% of peak) as well - the unit should be producing oxygen. Even if it's just leaking out into engineering (and a quick look at her vac suit's environmental meters tells her it's not), if one separates hydrogen from water, the result is free oxygen. The hydrogen is here - where, then, is the oxygen?

She takes up a pair of pliers from the floor, brushes away the dust, and begins working at the sheet of offending metal in the unit. It takes some work, but she eventually extracts it. the metal is a little scorched along one edge, but the most striking things is that the corner than had been embedded most deeply into the machine is covered in a viscous bluish-green slime, that most assuredly does not belong on the inside of a life support unit. Not this model anyway. Of that, she is sure.

Trelene looks at the odd slime on the piece of metal. After puzzling over it for a bit, she hands it to Vyrkris.

"Get this to the doc for testing. Life support is a priority now and whatever this is might hold the key. I'll keep working on the unit."

Trelene continues trying to determine any other cause of the malfunction. She looks into the unit where metal had been to see if there are any other signs of malfunction.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Trelene shines a light into hole left behind by the metal. It appears only to have damaged the unit's casing. She can only see in to the unit about a centimeter -at that point, her view is blocked by more of the slimy organic matter. She removes the upper side panel of the unit to get a better look, and finds herself looks at a machine completely overgrown with the stuff. From here it looks like every bit of free space is dripping with it. Gravity begins doing its work, and the stuff begins to ooze out down the side of the machine towards the floor.

Vyrkris moves off quickly, carrying the metal.

 

[Watus]

Quinn sits in the captain's chair for a long moment, staring off into deep space, contemplating the Dvonn's desperate last moments. Contemplating the depravity of those who refused to prevent her gruesome death.

He keys the ship's communications channel, and says: "You all need to hear this." And plays the open logs in their entirety.

***

Quinn now realizes he's in for a fight. There is nothing these people won't do to cover up what happened to the Dvonn. With 3 hours until the SDB arrives, and presumably begins to fire up on them, Quinn quickly begins to enumerate his options. Does he know how much breathable air remains aboard? If not, he asks for an inventory. Does he have any idea how this SDB is likely to be armed? Any idea of the relative chances of surviving an engagement with it? Where is the gas giant located? Is the SDB in position to cut off the Dvonn if she runs for it, hoping to fill her jump tanks and leave the system? Do we even have enough air to breath for the week in hyperspace?

When he does not know the answers, he asks the appopriate people.

And he is even more interested in learning everything he can about the JohnHenry station. It's size, population, etc. If there's any info aboard, he will seek to dig it up.

Also, he will quickly add up the number of crew and passengers aboard. He's going to want to have that number firmly in mind over the next few hours and weeks.

 

[Guest 11456]

Trelene Scrautigue : Luriani Navy 2/Prof 7/Trav 1: Retired Makhidkarum Vice President

Trelene shines a light into hole left behind by the metal. It appears only to have damaged the unit's casing. She can only see in to the unit about a centimeter -at that point, her view is blocked by more of the slimy organic matter. She removes the upper side panel of the unit to get a better look, and finds herself looks at a machine completely overgrown with the stuff. From here it looks like every bit of free space is dripping with it. Gravity begins doing its work, and the stuff begins to ooze out down the side of the machine towards the floor.

Vyrkris moves off quickly, carrying the metal.

Trelene wonders if this ooze could be absorbing all of the oxygen. She shuts off the unit and begins trying to remove the ooze from the it. She is not sure how to best do this but she tries her best.