Log:Tea Party
Who knew harvesting tea could be so dangerous?
OOC Date: October 27, 2021
Location: Naboo
Participants: Asalla, Ax as Self/GM, Jax Greystorm, Mandl, Rook, Saturi, Sesti Greystorm
[ Ax (A) ]
Somewhere, within a twenty kilometer range, were a trio of young explorers were in trouble. They managed to get a single message out before their communicator went dead, alerting authorities to their situation. One of their companions had fallen and was badly injured. They were afraid to move her and refused to leave her side. All this over some ingredients to make tea.
With a massive storm cell building to the north and heading south towards their approximate location, volunteers were asked to assemble and send out a search party. A freak cold-front had made the wind both excessively cold and unpredictable, making air traffic in speeders difficult. Search parties were setting out from multiple different locations, this winery being one of them.
Assembling volunteers, Ax was bundled in cold weather gear and standing on the landing pad waiting on everyone to assemble. Snow was blowing in flurries, and while the sky above was clear, to the north it was dark and ominous.
"Alright, we're team Bravo," Ax says once everyone is gathered around. "We're working in conjunction with Team Alpha which is launching from a ranger station a few klicks to the west." He looks to the north, then back to those gathered. "We've got snow gear and some limited climbing gear here if you need it, but time is short. If these university kids aren't found before this storm gets here, then we're not likely to find them until the spring thaw."
Ax's droid, a BB-series, displays a holographic topographical map of the mountains to the north of the winery. One sector on the map is highlighted in orange. "This is our assigned sector. We're going to try and cover as much of it as possible before this storm gets here. I'll be remaining here with a ship warmed up and ready for extraction. With the weather, visuals and even sensors are going to be almost useless, so each of you will be handed an emergency beacon and a bubble tent to take shelter in should the need arise." Fortunately, the Echani had a few tricks up his sleeve when it came to flying 'blind'.
[ Asalla (Lala) ]
Coming off the boarding ramp of a YT-1760, the 'Gargantuan Gorg', a name that makes its owner scowl every time she sees it, two short Tarisians are arguing as they step off the boarding ramp. "I know you hate flying, but we had a -bet-," Asalla counters to the other one while she palms the access panel to the ship, causing it to slide back in to the closed position. "These people need help, and you could use the experience. You should make friends, maybe meet some of mine." She finds the group and leads the other to them just in time for the small meeting, dressed in a red and white flight suit if only because it's warm.
[ Mandl (Man) ]
Mandl looks gruff. It's a shame their species evolved past the need for the muscles expressions require. Gruff, but not yet grim, that's-- that's even subtler. They ask among the gathered 'droids: "... who's got a holoprojector? I want to split our zone into hexagons and put pins in caves and sources of geothermal heat..."
[ Saturi (Uri) ]
"Do we know what they were wearing?"
Who in their right mind would volunteer to help rescue three strangers from the top of a snow soaked mountain? A Pantoran woman with a closeted addiction for danger and the skills to make it happen. "It's going to be easier to spot them if they're brightly marked." Her own gear has been coaked in a flashy neon green. Losing her in the snow banks would be that much harder. Unlike what you might expect, she isn't wearing any impeding clothing. Only sporting her own climbing essentials. Coats, jackets, and all the other undesirable insulators just get in the way.
Saturi looks to the group, golden eyes scanning the ensemble carefully before glancing away. "Can we have their names?" She asks as she reaches back to toy with a set of hooks attached to her backpack. "It would help to know who we're looking for."
[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) ]
Jax was standing there as Ax gives his speech about a hard target search envolving fuel stations, warehouses, farm houses, out houses, Fowl houses, and Kath houund houses. He's dressed in Katarn clone trooper armor. He looks at the little BB-unit between him and Sesti in her purple armor, "Seventy, capture that map." The little droid lets out a series of beeps as it captures the map. Then the helpful little droid rolls away from Jax to project the image requested of Mandl. The Corellian nods to Asalla as she comes down the ramp before returning to look at Ax. "We got any intel on these kids names, faces, that type of thing?"
[ Rook (ery) ]
Rook has the scowling bit down, with or without the help of 'Gargantuan Gorg'. The white-haired woman disembarks the ship closely behind Asalla, directing an narrow-eyed look at the other woman as she mentions bets. "That was rigged," she mutters the less-than-convincing lie, then, "Besides, they went out on a mountain in a snow storm. Who does that?" You know, aside from the rescue party that's currently gathering around her. There's no immediate comment on the bit about friends, but judging by the girl's expression as she steps into place by Asalla, that's probably for the best.
[ Sesti Greystorm (Sesti) ]
Sesti checks over her medical kit one last time, having swapped out some of the more combat oriented components for ones that will be needed to combat frostbite and other cold induced ailments. She makes sure the thin, yet effective, emergency blankets are in their slots, some extra hydration hypos and smaller warming units for fingers and toes. Her deep purple armor will stand out against any white conditions, but her helmet is currently clipped at her waist as she listens to Ax and gets ready to go. She absently fingers the hilt of her sword, a slight smile at having it back in it's place, as wearing it would probably have been frowned upon in the Senate, it's been awhile since she's had it at her back.
[ Ax (A) ]
"Only basic info," Ax says. "A local ranger was supposed to be here but got held up in his flight due to the weather."
Ax pulls out a datapad. "I have surnames only, and genders. Two males, Markin and Schwartz, and one female, Stewz, two humans and one near-human, though not sure which is which," Ax adds. "They did purchase cold weather gear, mostly reds and oranges in color, but who's wearing what we don't know."
Ax looks to each of those gathered. "I know it's not a lot to go on," Ax says. "And Mandl, that's a great idea. Buster can send you the same map he has." Silently, Ax curses the lack of a ranger here to lead the team of volunteers.
"Sesti, I'm glad you're here. These teens might need medical attention and you're the best doc I know," Ax says to the woman with Jax. "Alright, we've got a nasty stormfront moving in. It's going to get cold, it's going to be hard to see, and the passes are going to be dangerous. I need you to look out for each other as much as you are looking for these numbskulls who went out in a snowstorm."
[ Asalla (Lala) ]
Asalla does her best to pay attention to the briefing, while firing back a small quip here and there to Rook as the two of them continue to bicker about a bet and who burned something or the other and the practicalities of starship safety in the modern day. All of which is somehow related. She nods to Ax then, and straightens her posture. "Rook and I are here to do what we can to help search. We're not .. experienced climbers, we're not great in the cold and we don't know how to heal a serious wound," she admits rather plainly, "but we're at least four extra eyes." She glances at Rook. "Pretty sure anyway." She takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, looking about for an obvious leader to follow. Must not be much of one herself. She offers nods of recognition to both Jax and Saturi while she surveys who's about.
[ Mandl (Man) ]
Mandl beckons the BB unit over, conferring with their colleague after a brief (but fond) recognizance is observed. Their shared experience in mountains and caves results, as mentioned, in high-priority zones of "maximum safety" where it is most probable to survive.
[ Saturi (Uri) ]
A surprised facial expression is all that Saturi can render when she finally recognizes Asalla. The nod of recognition is what did it. That woman from the starport back at Hanna City. 'Why would a logistics agent be here' runs through her mind on repeat. She tilts her head with confusion as she listens to the nearby dialogue. Silently, her hand gestures at Rook and Asalla mouthing at both of them as they admit their inexperience. 'Stick with me.'
Her attention is quickly redirected to Mandl. The two sort out a quick survey of the area, carefully crafting potentially lifesaving suggestions.
"There are a number of cave-like structures that would provide shelter." She turns away from the other miner to explain to the group. "Thermal vents may be present, but they won't be as effective as you might think. At times, they may only raise the local temperature by a few degrees." A glance is given to Mandl, ensuring that he agrees with a nod. "Unless they're professional climbers, we can rule out a number of locations as these are often difficult to scale into."
"At most, there are only a handful of locations that they would be able to seek shelter in...provided that they've done so."
[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) ]
As Saturi and Mandl begin to confer with the rolling droid of doom, Seventy. Jax closes his eyes and reaches out with the force. Then moments later his eyes open and there's a suttle shake of his head. He looks over to Mandl and Saturi, "Any luck on targets? Sounds like you're getting things narrowed down."
[ Sesti Greystorm (Sesti) ]
"Provided that they've done so," Sesti repeats in quiet, hopeful, agreement. She gives Ax a nod, and, making sure her braid is coiled out of the way, secures her helmet in place. As she listens to the rest of the discussion, she fiddles lightly with the binocular feature, making sure it's working. She glances over to Jax with a little nod, and gives him a quick brush on his forearm with the back of her hand before she turns to Mandl and Saturi, "we can follow you, then?"
[ Ax (A) ]
With zones narrowed down, the group sets off. At first, the path leading away from the winery is smooth walking. It was cold, the wind was picking up, and snow was falling, but to the north it looks ominous. Getting to said areas was easier said than done.
It takes an hour before the group is drawing near the first spot determined by Mandl and Uri's figures. Unfortunately, it requires traversing along a cliff-edge with a very narrow ledge. Normally, it wouldn't be a huge problem, but with the winter precipitation it's definitely dangerous.
The group is encouraged to tie off to each other, a rope linked into a safety harness. Everyone does so, and helps each other secure their harnesses, aside from Uri, who's harness, maybe because of the wingsuit, wasn't set perfectly.
The first person to slip was Rook, but the harness and safety line kept her from taking more than a meter or two plunge before she's pulled back up. Next, both Uri, Rook, and Asalla slip, maybe one going pulled the others, but surprisingly, Mandl and Jax are able to work in conjunction with each other to bring the trio back to the ledge. Uri's harness loses a carabiner, but with surprising strength, she manages to grab ahold of an outcropping to pull herself the rest of the way up.
Everyone tired, cold, and hearts racing from the near falls, they reach an easy descension point towards a cave. A few green plants poke up through the snow, likely one of the ingredients that the trio of students came to seek out that led them into the mountains.
[ Asalla (Lala) ]
Breathless and wide-eyed, Asalla hugs herself close, absolutely -FREEZING-. Even in her thermal flightsuit, Taris was never cold like this and the girl had never seen snow outside of holo movies and video games. "That's.." she says between sharp-jerking shivers, "some .. kind of herb .. or something .." She's suffering in the cold but doing her best to keep an eye out. She steps beyond the herbs, wiping snow from the visor of her flighthelm to try and see toward the distance, looking for anybody, really. Being tethered to the others is as much a hinderance as it is a safety line in a very literal sense. She'd be the next one lost if not for the tether. She sticks close to Saturi in particular and makes sure to keep Rook within her line of sight as well, likely feeling responsible for bringing the other along with her.
[ Mandl (Man) ]
Mandl, no stranger to 'competent first aid' and/or 'a trauma-cart,' advises Asalla in keeping her core-temperature stable. A stolen moment may be enough for a quick medpac-scan, confirming she hasn't begun to suffer frostbite. They pass over a thermos of broth? "Have some soup."
[ Saturi (Uri) ]
At the top of their climb, Saturi is troubled by the loss of her carabiner. The woman thumbs at the spring-loaded device. Clearly upset, she fumbles with her other attachment points, removing the safety line connecting her to others. Seemingly not as concerned with others' warmth as Mandl, she starts to descend the slippery slope towards the mouth of the cave. "If they've been up here for a few hours, they might not have much time." Her suggestion is tossed back over her shoulder, indicating that they should keep moving before someone freezes.
[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) ]
Jax's harnass is hooked up wrong for part of the trip but it seems the man doesn't need it as he climbs for the last hour with folks. The temperature controls of the suit keeps him warm. Though he reaches out with quick hands to snatch up the line and pulls people back. The man been quiet for most of the trip. Then finally he speaks up, "I believe she's right." With a nod of his head toward Saturi.
[ Rook (ery) ]
No one is more surprised than Rook herself as she manages to rig up the safety harness, but once she has the thing secure, she doesn't hesitate in helping Asalla with hers. The girl may be chock full of scowls and complaints, but it seems that her charming attitude can be shelved when the situation demands. She's openly uneasy as she glances between Rook and Saturi, but after a huff of breathe that fogs the air, she's moving to start the climb. Attitude or not, there's a litany of curses as she slips, the profanity at least partly muffled by the snow. And then she's bracing herself again, jaw tight as she glances from the slope to Asalla, then back again.
[ Sesti Greystorm (Sesti) ]
Sesti manages to climb for herself, gritting her teeth and hanging on as her husband and a couple of others haul those who are having problems back up. Thanks to them, she's not getting pulled after the ones who slip, and she lets out her breath in a self-reassuring exhale each time that she's still on the ledge. As they pause, she scans the others, and gives a nod as Mandl hands over some broth to Asalla. She opens her mouth to agree with Saturi, but she doesn't really need to echo Jax who manages to speak first. Instead, she reaches to her belt for a grapple hook that she had brought along, and makes sure it's securely fastened to her harness before moving to follow down towards the cave, hoping this is the right one and that they're not too late. As she passes Jax, she checks him over one last time to make sure he's as safe as can be. She reaches over and tugs a buckle around, facing it properly so that when he attaches his grapple, it won't twist on itself and put stress on the connections. Then she gives him a brief, grim, smile before continuing on.
[ Ax (A) ]
While the brave rescuers moved through some of the most treacherous of terrains to get to the mouth of the cave, the storm to the north had drawn closer. Winds were picking up and the snow was getting heavier. At the mouth of the cave, there are signs of recent activity at the cave mouth. Some of the leaves of the greenery had been recently plucked.
The cave is deep, with a very steep path leading down into deep darkness, and it's pumping a steady stream of cold air, meaning its venting from somewhere deep inside. Maybe the group decided that they'd travel the cavern to the base of the mountain. With a member of their party injured and the storm coming in, it was potentially safer than trying to traverse the mountain range.... providing their lightsources held.
[ Mandl (Man) ]
Mandl's experience descending tunnels and shafts makes their journey a smooth one, and they'll happily assist anyone who needs a spotter or a guide to make it safely to the ground...
[ Saturi (Uri) ]
"Judging by the look of this cavern...they'll have been lucky to make it very far on their own." Saturi gazes into the darkened space, descending shorting after Mandl begins his departure. "Especially, if they're just students." She adds with a shake of the head, not trusting the faint glow of her own glo-lights. "It's dark and missing a couple of steps..." A glance is given down to the bottom, which is difficult if not impossible to see. "...would likely be fatal."
[ Asalla (Lala) ]
Asalla sips on some soup as she follows the others in to the cave, gracious to accept it, and on the way inside offers it to anyone else that may need it - or, failing that, back to Mandl. The Lorrdian follows the others' lead in to the cave and produces a silver and black blaster pistol in her left hand, grabbing and activating a glowrod in her right. She sets the glowrod between her teeth as she triggers a setting on the blaster pistol, flipping the knob to the etching that reads 'kill' to 'cable'. Empowered by this tool, she feels wholly confident when she fires it directly in to the ledge at her feet and then swings around to rapel herself down the cave.
That is, of course, if she knew how to actually use the thing. Unfortunately, it was ALSO set to 'ascend' and not 'descend', and being inexperienced as she is with a blaster, when she presses the toggle to begin descending to her surprise it ascends instead. She of course didn't expect this, causing the thing to slip from her grip and fights and claws all the way down to try and get a footing!
She screams, too, of course, half of which is out of surprise, the other half being the impending doom. But she does eventually slow her descent, at the expense of one of the legs of her flightsuit. "Better not let Jax see this," she groans to herself.
[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) ]
Jax and Sesti work to climb down the rocks to the bottom. At the bottom Jax reaches up to turn off his night vision visor and lift it up to rest on the top of his head. He turns on the glow rod. "Hopefully they brought a light and took it slow."
[ Ax (A) | 23:09:24 ]
"Is someone there?" comes a voice from deeper into the cave. "Can someone help? We've got injured and our light died."
The trio of climbers were a bit deep into the cavern, having tried finding a way down the mountain away from the weather. Unfortunately, their luck continued to be bad and the slow traverse due to injured led to the battery packs of their single glowrod went out. They were definitely not geared well for this.
It takes some effort, but the better equipped rescuers are able to close the distance, Sesti moving in to give medical aid and offer water and a protein bar to the students. One of the males had a leg fracture and broken ribs, the other two were not in much better condition.
Outside the cavern though, the blizzard was in full force, it was white-out conditions for sure, and only an insane pilot would dare to bring a ship in. Or a pilot who had the ability to see without seeing and didn't have to rely on sensors that would be sufferring the same problems as visuals would. That pilot was on his way. That just meant that our team of rescuers needed to get the group to the cavern mouth above, Sesti insisting on making a litter to carry out the one who was injured the worst.
[ Asalla (Lala) ]
Asalla retracts the cable back in to the pistol, which takes a moment for her to figure out, and rushes toward the voices in the cave. "There you are!" Cut and scraped, she's bleeding a bit from her leg in the open flight suit and it doesn't look serious at all so she ignores her own injury to see to the others. She helps the human female limp back toward the wall and takes a calm, steadying breath before aiming the blaster back up the ledge. She has to squint to make it out from down here. With a hope and a prayer, she presses fire. The hook strikes true, landing just where she aimed it at the edge of the ledge where it can give enough leverance for her own 115 pounds, and the weight of the other woman as well. "All right, hold on to me tight," she says to the other, wrapping her right arm around her and toggling the ascension cable. As they get to the top, she helps the woman climb over the ledge before doing so herself, looking back down to see if the others need help climbing back up.
[ Mandl (Man) ]
Mandl scans each rescuee as they present themselves before ascending, treating them for exhaustion and dehydration in the main. Only when all the students have gone does Dr. B'rot collect their supplies and prepare to follow...
[ Jax Greystorm (Jax) ]
The near human student that was injured and couldn't really walk. Jax assist Sesti with building the liter to help move the student. With the others secured, treated for dehydration. Jax climbs his way up the rock face a bit on the tired side and nearly falling a few times. He makes it and then begins to set up the ropes so that he can belay the injured up the side of the clift. At the sound of the incoming of the ship. "Next time, I'm doing the flying and making Ax do the finding."
[ Mandl (Man) ]
Mandl *snorts.* "It's just one cave on one mountain, you big baby..." they might be heard to mutter, fondly.
[ Ax (A) ]
As the rescuers get to the mouth of a cave, a highly modified VCX-100 is hovering there, it's cargo door lowered and aimed at the cavern mouth. A trio of deckhands are there waiting to help people aboard. While there's no medical suite there, there is at least a professional first aid kid ready and cots are set up in the cargo bay, along with a full caf and tea service set out, as well as steaming soup and a bottle of Whyren's reserve. <<"Welcome to the Black Sands. I've notified the hospital in Theed that we're coming in with wounded. Everyone get aboard and we'll be on our way.">> A voice comes out over the internal comms as people are loading up. Once inside, the ship rockets skyward, getting altitude above the storm to smooth out the flight. The trio of students are exhausted, beaten and battered, sufferring a bit from exposure, but each is thankful to the team that came to their rescue.
As the ship is in transit, the female amongst them starts to cry, one of her friends consoling her to tell her everything would be alright. Through sobs, she looks to him. "I left the bag with the tea leaves in the cave!" she cries out.
