Host Brett says:
<<<<Resume Mission "Missions of Mercy - Part 3">>>>

Host Brett says:
Action: Just ahead, a pocket in the collapse is seen on the  scanners.  A large object is at the center of the pocket with  rubble and boulders all around.  A concentration of bio-signs  are also detected here.

Host CO_K`Beth says:
@::enters the bridge and turns to watch the viewscreen.  Sees the duty OPS Lt. Hanson and remembers that D'von took a much needed break::

Host Brett says:
<miners> ::Working feverishly to shore up the tunnel, several meters behind the away team.::

CSO_Syrna says:
::almost frowns, waving her tricorder around:: All: I am detecting a large quantity of biomatter in the pocket ahead.

CSO_Syrna says:
All: It seems at present there are no survivors in the pocket.

CEO_K`Vas says:
::stands in the rescue tunnel scanning:: CSO: Confirmed

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak> ::Looks at the readings::  CSO/CEO: That looks like our plasma drill.

CSO_Syrna says:
::nods:: Kitisak: I see. ::looks over at Sondar a moment::

CEO_K`Vas says:
::scans the plasma drill looking for any trace of an explosive::

CSO_Syrna says:
<SO_Sondar> ::sees no unusual readings thus far::

CSO_Syrna says:
Kitisak: I am not detecting any methane in the pocket... I believe we can use the phasers to continue working our way through.

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak> ::Nods::

CSO_Syrna says:
::continues scanning as the miners work::

CSO_Syrna says:
::fires her phaser into the rock based upon the scans she just read::

CEO_K`Vas says:
::fires phaser at the rock, pauses to check readings, then resumes firing::

Host Brett says:
Action: Slow progress is made, finally, after almost half an hour, the pocket is breached.

CSO_Syrna says:
<SO_Sondar> ::scans the pocket, wondering if he will find any geological anomalies::

Host Brett says:
Info: The pocket was caused by the mass of the miner's plasma  drill.  It is a massive machine, three meters high and six  meters long.  The space around it is filled with rubble and  several bodies can be seen immediately.

CSO_Syrna says:
::feels sad, looks somber and grim::

CSO_Syrna says:
Kitisak: How many of your people are missing?

Host CO_K`Beth says:
@:;watches the blips on the screen:: *CSO*: Report, Lt.  How is the rescue operation going?

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak> ::Looks grim, possibly a bit ill::  Uh, twenty total...I'm not sure how many we've found so far... the piece...pieces and all.

Host Brett says:
Info: The drill machinery itself is melted and charred, the  bodies around it are burned beyond recognition, simply black  skeletons with strips of charred clothing hanging from their  bony limbs.  The one exception seems to be the drill operator  who lies half inside the enclosed cab of the machine.

CSO_Syrna says:
*CO*: Progress is slow Captain. ::hears Kitisak and feels sorry for him:: Thus far we have found no survivors.

Host CO_K`Beth says:
@*CSO*: ::just as somberly:: Understood, Lt.

CEO_K`Vas says:
::goes over to the drill and looks inside the cab:: CSO: I do not believe methane was the cause of this explosion.  Damage like this required far higher heat

CSO_Syrna says:
SO: Sondar, would the drill operator be protected from the explosion and the fire as we are seeing here?

Host Brett says:
Info: The operator lies with his torso and head inside the  cab, his lower half outside.  The exposed part of his body is  burned away to the bone, leaving his torso, arms, shoulders  and head intact.  It appears that he had lept from the cab,  then tried to get back in when disaster struck.

Host Brett says:
Info: The drill operator's face is frozen in a mask of pain  and terror.  His hair is shot through with white streaks and  his eyes are wide and staring.  Several of the miners turn  away from the sight, one staggers and sits down, overcome by  emotion.

CSO_Syrna says:
CEO: I would be inclined to agree. ::looks at Sondar::

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak> All: Oh no.  Wendall.  What happened to him?

CEO_K`Vas says:
CSO: Lt. would you please look at this ::points to the operators face::

CSO_Syrna says:
<SO_Sondar> CSO: Evidently Lieutenant.

CSO_Syrna says:
::walks over to the body:: CEO: Yes. ::looks closely::

CEO_K`Vas says:
CSO: It looks as if he was frightened to death.

CSO_Syrna says:
Kitisak: What do you mean? I take it he did not have such grey hair before this?

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak> CSO: N..no.  He was...he was twenty four.

CSO_Syrna says:
::raises her eyebrow in typical Vulcan fashion:: Self: Curious.

Host Brett says:
Info: All tolled, there are fifteen bodies here, the bulk of  the missing crew.  Added to the remnants found in the collapse  behind you, there are two miners remaining to be found.

CEO_K`Vas says:
::scans the inside of the cab hoping it may have acted like a sample dish::

Host Brett says:
Action: Around the drill, the miners begin removing their dead.  Many are crying openly and a few have to be relieved, physically ill at the sight and smell of the area.

CSO_Syrna says:
::gets more tricorder readings of the operator:: *CO*: We have more bodies for the doctor to examine. One in particular seems to be of interest... a Mister Wendall... reportedly age 24... seems to have been frightened to death... I would like Hunter to do a comparison.... ::pauses::

CSO_Syrna says:
Kitisak: What kind of medical records do you have of your employees at this facility?

Host CO_K`Beth says:
@*CSO*: Understood....I believe the doctor is in triage down on the planet for the moment.  Have the remains taken to the beam out point and we'll have the examiner up here take care of it.

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak> CSO: Complete files.  It's required of everyone before they can work here.

CEO_K`Vas says:
CSO: I am detecting energy residue on the outside of the drill

CSO_Syrna says:
Kitisak: Please transfer Wendall's file to the Delphyne for comparison.

CSO_Syrna says:
CEO: Interesting... what type of residue is it?

Host Brett says:
<Kitisak>  ::Nods and makes his way out of the tunnel.::

CEO_K`Vas says:
CSO: A type that I am not familiar with.

CSO_Syrna says:
*CO*: I was hoping to expedite Wendall's autopsy and mark it specifically... for it is a key part of this investigation. It is the only whole body we have found that is not fully burnt. It may lend us essential clues.

CSO_Syrna says:
CEO: May I look at your readings?

Host CO_K`Beth says:
@::listens to something that Lt. Hanson says:: *CSO*: It seems that the doctor has arrived back on the Del and is tending to the injured miners that were just beamed up.  Have the body taken to the coordinates and I'll have the doctor get on it.  Contact us when the body is ready for transport.

CEO_K`Vas says:
CSO: Of course ma'am ::hands the tricorder to the Lt::

CSO_Syrna says:
::takes a look at the tricorder readings::

Host Brett says:
Action: The FCO accompanies the miners taking the body of the drill operator back to the beam in point.

CSO_Syrna says:
CEO: Similar to a weapon's signature... but also a chemical element comprised within as well... intriguing. We will have to analyze these readings with the Delphyne's computers. It is unlike anything we have seen thus far.

CEO_K`Vas says:
CSO: Agreed shall I uplink the data to OPS

CSO_Syrna says:
::nods::

CEO_K`Vas says:
::takes the tricorder and readies for uplink:: *OPS*: This is K’Vas, I have data that the CSO requests be uploaded are you ready to receive

CSO_Syrna says:
::scans the opposite side of the pocket from the tunnel::

Host CO_K`Beth says:
@<Hanson> *CEO*: Understood, Ensign.  I'm ready to receive.  Starting upload.....now.

CSO_Syrna says:
::eagerly:: CEO: I have a life sign... ::disappointment:: I had a life sign...

CEO_K`Vas says:
::hits the transmit key and sends the data stream:: *OPS*: Please confirm upload upon completion

CSO_Syrna says:
::calls miners over:: Miners: I detected a life sign beyond this wall... briefly. Can we shore this part of the tunnel quickly so we can continue to drill?

Host Brett says:
<Miners> ::Several look up with hope, then sigh.  A few seem buoyed by the news however.::

Host Brett says:
<miners> CSO: Yes ma'am!  ::They bend to work, moving with renewed vigor.

CEO_K`Vas says:
::turns to see where the CSO is:: CSO: perhaps they are still alive and the rock is interfering with your readings

CSO_Syrna says:
CEO: That is my thought indeed.

CSO_Syrna says:
::scans and places phaser fire at key places such as they had done through the digging of this tunnel::

Host Brett says:
Action: The phaser mining and shoring continues.  With three  meters left to go till the cavern is reached, another body is  found. This one is crushed by rock and debris, but tricorder  scans reveal that he was killed by blunt force trauma,  apparently by impacting the mine wall before the collapse.

CSO_Syrna says:
<SO_Sondar> CSO/CEO: Once we passed the drill there was no additional shoring, or hydraulic struts. I find it strange that this miner is not burnt, considering the theory of the plasma drill hitting something flammable. If that were so, he would be burnt as well.

CSO_Syrna says:
::keeps on scanning and drilling::

Host Brett says:
Action: Bio-scans reveal another target ahead, and something  else: A faint life-sign.  The life sign is apparently beyond  the bio-matter by two meters or more. It lies inside the  boundary of the cavern.

CSO_Syrna says:
::keeps on scanning and drilling::

CEO_K`Vas says:
::continues the drilling/scanning process::

Host Brett says:
Action: The phasers cut through the final barrier of rock and  rubble, several large chunks fall inward to the cavern,  enlarging the hole to about two meters in diameter.  Just  inside the darkened cavern lies the body of a miner.  He lies  in two pieces, bisected at the waist with both halves lying a  meter or more apart.  

Host Brett says:
Action: It is a gruesome sight.

Host Brett says:
Info: Lights shown into the cavern reveal a huge, reddish  boulder, roughly three meters in diameter, within.  The coppery color of the boulder is obscured by dust and it appears that the roof here partially collapsed.  Strewn about the floor, within sight of the entrance, are many small objects which sparkle and gleam in the light.

CSO_Syrna says:
::raises her tricorder to scan::

Host Brett says:
Info: The life sign appears to be underneath or behind the  boulder.

Host Brett says:
Info: Closer inspection reveals three things: 1.The  sparkling objects are gemstones, coins and jewelry of unknown  origin. 2. There is an even larger copper colored boulder  behind the first, this one at least twenty meters across,  covered in dirt and stalactites from the cavern roof. 

Host Brett says:
Info: 3.  The boulders are alive!  The first opens one eye,  the size of a manhole cover, then a second. The reptilian  face swivels on a long, thick neck and regards the party with  malice.  Steam issues from it's nostrils, and it opens it's  huge, toothy maw, inhaling deeply.  But then...

Host Brett says:
Action: The monstrous dragon is seized by a deep, wracking  cough.  Blood spurts from its mouth and nostrils and spatters,  black and hot against the floor and walls.  The head falls  back t the floor with a resounding thud and the eyes grow  misty as they regard you again, defeated.

Host Brett says:
<Miners>  ::Scream and run::

CSO_Syrna says:
CEO: The life sign is the large reptile. add ::raises eyebrows and sounds somewhat surprised::

CEO_K`Vas says:
CEO: A very large one apparently

Host Brett says:
Action: All the humanoids present feel an immensely powerful  presence in their minds, it effortlessly pushes past mental  shields.  All experience what the dragon is experiencing:   Pain, terrible pain.  Loss, hopelessness and despair.   Fear...and anger.

CSO_Syrna says:
Self: Structure ... logic ... function ... control. A structure cannot stand without a foundation. Logic is the foundation of function. Function is the essence of control. I am in control ... I am in control...

CEO_K`Vas says:
::feels the intrusion into his mind, tries to use his warriors discipline to fight it.  But it seems to be no use::

Host Brett says:
Action: The dragon's mind probes each of you, searching,  learning and moving on.  It is a violating experience but it  appears to be born of haste and desperation, not malice.   Then, a word echoes through your minds:  Delphyne...and a  feeling of hope.

Host Brett says:
<<<<Pause Mission>>>>