USS DON JOHNSON, NCC-61701
SD 104109.14
Survivor - Benning, Part III

SUMMARY: Hopper #13 hangs on a precipice of its own design. Below it, lays the surface of the planet Benning, some 345 kilometers below. And in-between here and there, a raging storm. With intense lightning, high shearing cross winds, up drafts, rain and hail; the ride down is sure to be a rough one. "Hopper one-three, Benning Flight Operations"  The voice of the flight control officer on the station crackled over the com channel.  "You are cleared for ND insertion to LZ Alpha."

Host Loren says:
       {{{{{Resume Survivor - Benning, part III}}}}}

CTO Sea says:
::steadies herself for the plunge to Benning::

FCO Arca says:
*Flight*: Roger that flight beginning ND insertion in t -10

FCO Arca says:
ALL: Okay we are going make sure your locked in

CTO Sea says:
::tightens the straps on her harness with a final tug::

CSO Sea says:
All: The roller coaster begins may I have a drum roll please

FCO Arca says:
*Flight*: 5...4...3...2...1 beginning decent

CTO Sea says:
::rolls her eyes at John::

Host Loren says:
¨ ACTION:  The hopper pitches down and begins its dive into the atmosphere

CSO Sea says:
::puts his hand over his wife's::

MO Lea says:
::Already triple-checked her restraints....simply places her hands flat on the console before her, and takes a deep breath::

FCO Arca says:
::point the hoppers nose down toward the planet and engaging full thrusters::

CTO Sea says:
::squeezes his hand until her knuckles are white::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The hopper begins to vibrate and shake as it begins the re-entry phase.

CSO Sea says:
::interlaces his fingers with hers::

CTO Sea says:
::breathes, one breath at a time::

FCO Arca says:
::monitoring hull, engine and altitude status::

CTO Sea says:
::forces herself to keep her eyes open, breathing in and out slowly::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  Atmospheric friction begins to heat up the hull of the hopper, super-heated plasma washes over the hull, the hopper appears as a fireball in the sky

MO Lea says:
::Reminds herself to breath, and focuses on the FCO's actions at the conn::

CO Adrel says:
::is glad she's properly buckled up::

CTO Sea says:
::prays a little prayer for their safety::

FCO Arca says:
::switch to instruments as the hopper window as cover in fire::

CO Adrel says:
FCO: You flew a hopper how many times before? :: as she watches the FCO::

CSO Sea says:
::sporting his Cool water cologne and gentle wave in his thick silver hair, punctuated by sharp old style sideburns::

CTO Sea says:
::looks to her left, at the 5 special force troops, taking it on the chin, a little scared, but handling it:::

Host Loren says:
<Benning Flight Control>@ Com. Hopper 13:  Hop---r --3 you’re entering the established storm in 15 sec---.

FCO Arca says:
CO: I have done ten actual ND insertions before::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The hopper exits the re-entry phase, the vibrations let off a little.  But seconds later the hopper enters the lightning storm, and the vibrations come back worse than before

FCO Arca says:
COM: Benning Flight Control : Copy that flight-entering storm in 15 seconds picking up visual now

CSO Sea says:
::has had some combat insertion experience himself...::

MO Lea says:
FCO: How many crashed?

CTO Sea says:
::feels the vibrations all the way down to her toes and up again::

FCO Arca says:
MO: Commander if I crashed I probably would be talking to you right now in one piece.

CTO Sea says:
::clenches her teeth, so they won't vibrate so much::

CO Adrel says:
::doesn't like the feeling of the vibrations but tries not to make it show::

FCO Arca says:
MO: Yet the first flight down was a bit bumpy

FCO Arca says:
::looks up flight path and follows it through the storm::

FCO Arca says:
::rechecks altitude and ships status::

CTO Sea says:
::feels the ship shimmy::

Host Loren says:
ACTON:  Lightning flashes all around the ship, the wind turbulence is making it difficult to hold course.  

MO Lea says:
FCO: I'll take your expert word for it.

CSO Sea says:
FCO: I suggest deflectors in a lightning storm

FCO Arca says:
::turns on deflectors and tries to control the hopper through the storm::

CTO Sea says:
::thinks the twins would get a kick out of this ride, with no fear in their eyes, they would delight in it without the knowledge that death is a possibility::

Host Loren says:
 ACTON:  Suddenly, three lightning bolts hit the hopper in quick succession.  The lighted panels flicker and go dark as the hopper looses all power and begins to plummet towards the ground

MO Lea says:
::Shakes her head::

CSO Sea says:
::frowns::

CO Adrel says:
ALL: That didn't felt good...

CTO Sea says:
;:wants to say AHHHHH!, but doesn't::

FCO Arca says:
::Looks up damage report::

MO Lea says:
::Suddenly feels her stomach drop:: ::Very quietly:: Self: Oh no...

FCO Arca says:
::transfers all power to engines and life support::

CTO Sea says:
::doesn't like the feeling of this::

CO Adrel says:
FCO: Damage?

MO Lea says:
::Really, really, really  hates the feeling of crashing::

FCO Arca says:
COM: Benning Flight Control: Flight this is hopper one three we have been hit by light lost power and engine try to glide the hopper down.

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  through the cockpit window we can see a large landmass to the right, but the hopper has veered slightly left, towards open water

FCO Arca says:
CO: Captain we have lost main power and engine I'm trying glide down please let me do my job.

CTO Sea says:
::leans  left, hoping to help the hopper move over the water::

CSO Sea says:
::hits communicator:: *Benning Land Control*: Request emergency beam out have lost all power

FCO Arca says:
::angles the hopper up to glide the ship and try to switch to backup power::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  Communications are down, disrupted by the storm

CO Adrel says:
FCO: Can you land us safely in that water?

CTO Sea says:
::feels its is almost necessary to bend over and kiss our behinds goodbye::

FCO Arca says:
CO: Not at this speed sir

MO Lea says:
Self: Water....that's new...    ::Suddenly seems to snap out of her reverie and sharply focuses on her controls. Also tries to bring up any auxiliary power to the engines::

CO Adrel says:
FCO: Do your best to keep us in one piece....

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Any responds?

CSO Sea says:
CO: We'll never survive a hit, we need to get below the storm and seek assistance

CTO Sea says:
John: Is there anyone you can think of that is on the crew that can pick up a telepathic communication from either of us?

FCO Arca says:
COM: Hopper12: Hopper one - two this is hopper one - three come in

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The hopper screams towards the surface, FCO notices a faint flickering light on the attitude control thruster control, might still have power

CSO Sea says:
::activates the portable subspace transceiver on the hopper::

FCO Arca says:
::fires thrusts on full reverse to slow down the hopper::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  Emergency transceiver is active

MO Lea says:
::Continues to calmly scavenge for a spark of power in the engines::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  FCO's thruster action had an effect; the nose of the hopper starts to come up.

CSO Sea says:
<Transmit> <subspace> To....Benning Land Control....emergency beam out.....<End>

FCO Arca says:
ALL: Brace for impact

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  Transceiver is broadcasting, but no indications of reception.  

CTO Sea says:
::can't been over, so holds onto the straps that keep her upright and close her eyes::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The hopper impacts, missing land entirely and hitting open water, the angle of the impact is enough to get the hopper to skip on the water like a stone.  It finally comes to a stop, still a float, but listing to port.  

MO Lea says:
::Relaxes her every muscles, sinking down in her chair::

CSO Sea says:
<Transmit> <subspace> fdlfkmdlfkm

CTO Sea says:
::shakes head to clear the cobwebs, then jumps into action::

FCO Arca says:
ALL: Everyone okay?

CO Adrel says:
::braces as the hopper rocks around::

CO Adrel says:
::looks around to see how people are doing::

CTO Sea says:
::releases the straps::

CSO Sea says:
::pockets portable transceiver:: All: Everyone out before she founders takes only what you can swim with

MO Lea says:
::Feels herself heaved violently against the safety restraints, but after a frightening moment, she feels normal gravity again, her restraints holding firm::

CO Adrel says:
FCO: How far from our mission point have we landed?

FCO Arca says:
::looks in the back::

CTO Sea says:
;:jumps up and checks those in the back of the hopper::

CO Adrel says:
::nods to the CSO:: ALL: Yep, let's get out and regroup on the shore.

FCO Arca says:
::pulls up the map and try to pull up our location

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The ship creaks; the sound of water slapping the outside of the hull can be heard

MO Lea says:
::Unlocks her restraints and carefully checks to make sure her body's still working::  ::Yup, still operational::

CSO Sea says:
::cuts himself loose with knife, empties back of all but phaser tricorder, rations and transceiver medkit and compass and his rifle::

CTO Sea says:
ALL: grab all the gear you can carry, someone get the lifeboats out of storage

FCO Arca says:
CO: We are a few miles west of the land point

CO Adrel says:
::gets herself out of the restraints and grabs her kit, then helps one of the TAC people get out of his restraints::

MO Lea says:
::Smiles strangely and reaches for her medkit:: ::Slightly dazed:: FCO: Great job, Mark...

CO Adrel says:
FCO: Okay, thanks. Good job.

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  A trickily of water can be seen running along the deck plates of the hopper

CTO Sea says:
FCO: does this bucket of bolts carry any type of flotation devices?

CSO Sea says:
CO: Permission to blow the explosive bolts on the hatch

MO Lea says:
::Stands from her co-pilots chair and grabs her gear::

FCO Arca says:
COM: Benning Flight Control: Flight this is Hopper one-three come in.

CTO Sea says:
::grabs only what she might need, and leaves the rest::

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Let's get out because water seems to be coming in.

MO Lea says:
CSO/CO: If we open the hatch, we'll just let the floods in.

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  Static fills the com system channel

CSO Sea says:
MO: Yes we are going to have to swim for it

FCO Arca says:
::takes off the helmet and grabs my gear:: Self: Well there goes my record

CSO Sea says:
CO: Or we can cut a hole in the roof with a hand phaser

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Do what you need to open up this baby without harming us.

CTO Sea says:
:;stands ready to abandon ship::

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Everyone be ready to swim out of here as soon as the hole is made. Then we regroup.

CSO Sea says:
::pops hand phaser and attempts to cut a hole in the roof for exit::

CO Adrel says:
CTO: Did you find something we can use on the water?

MO Lea says:
::Examines her gear, wondering just what she'd be able to keep with her while trying to swim three miles of open, storm-tossed ocean::

CSO Sea says:
All: Take cushions as floatation devices if necessary

CTO Sea says:
<Sgt Moore>::opens a hatch, finding a life raft::  CTO: Here, found this.  We can probably all fit in this.

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The CSO's cutting job, crude as it is, slices through the hull of the hopper.  Outside we can see that it is dark, and stormy.  

CTO Sea says:
Sgt Moore: Good work, I want you to get up on the roof as soon as the hole is large enough and tie that baby up and deploy it into the water.

CSO Sea says:
All: please take lights it is dark and stormy once we go down gear is lost, flashlight would be good ::climb out::

CTO Sea says:
<Sgt Moore> ::nods and climbs out after the CSO::

MO Lea says:
::Secures and attaches a wrist-light to her wrist and turns it on::

FCO Arca says:
::Gets ready to abandon the hopper::

CSO Sea says:
::on top of the hopper helping people out::

MO Lea says:
::Lugs her equipment bag of the most vital equipment over her shoulder and looks up at the exit. waiting her turn::

CO Adrel says:
::waits for everyone to be out before exiting::

CSO Sea says:
::seals gear in backpack::

FCO Arca says:
::puts on his vest and climbs onto the roof::

CTO Sea says:
<Sgt Moore>::secures the lifeboat line and tosses it into the water where it automatically opens::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The raft inflates upon hitting the water.

FCO Arca says:
::kneels on the roof and touches the hopper one last time:: Self: I guess you were not that lucky

CSO Sea says:
::reaches for his wife's arm::

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Everyone in the lifeboat.    Moore: Thanks.

CTO Sea says:
<Sgt Moore>::steadies the line, bringing the raft closer to the ship::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  Lighting and thunder, driving rain, rough seas

CTO Sea says:
<Sgt Moore> ::nods::

CTO Sea says:
::takes her husbands hand::

FCO Arca says:
::Looks over to the life raft and gets in line to board

CSO Sea says:
::lifts wife bodily out of hold:: Megan: Hiya beautiful

CTO Sea says:
::smiles briefly:: John: we have to stop meeting like this.

CSO Sea says:
Megan: Only on stormy nights and rain

CTO Sea says:
::gets into the lifeboat, making room for others that follow::

FCO Arca says:
::steps into the lift boat and takes a seat and looks back at the hopper::

MO Lea says:
::Follows the FCO into the lifeboat, holding her bag carefully and trying to keep her balance::

CSO Sea says:
::gets in raft, flips open tricorder scans for land::

CTO Sea says:
::sits down on her pack, hoping it all stays relatively dry inside::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The hopper is listing very badly to port, she is taking on water

CO Adrel says:
::gets out now that everyone has exited the hopper::

CTO Sea says:
::looks for the CO::

CSO Sea says:
::detecting prevailing currents and storm front direction::

FCO Arca says:
::Runs his hands through his hair as he see the hopper take on water::

CTO Sea says:
::motions for Sgt Moore to help the CO into the raft::

CO Adrel says:
::puts her hand on the edge of the lifeboat and swings herself in with the help of Moore::

CTO Sea says:
<Sgt Moore> CO: welcome aboard, Captain.

CO Adrel says:
sgt: Thanks

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Okay everyone is here. First task, get to the shore.

FCO Arca says:
::take a deep breath trying to control his anger::

CTO Sea says:
::wonders if they are up the creek without a paddle::

FCO Arca says:
::looks up to the captain::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  As lightning flashes, brief outlines of a shoreline can be seen, pretty far off , a few kilometers at least.

MO Lea says:
::Takes a seat and looks to the captain::

CSO Sea says:
CO: Detecting shore some kms away

CTO Sea says:
All: look behind you, see if they remembered to pack paddles.

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Can you use your tricorder to check on the location of the crash so we at least paddle the right way?

FCO Arca says:
::looks around and found two paddles

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Hang in there, we'll make it. We are a good team and I'm not about to let the weather get the best of us.

MO Lea says:
::Turns around in her seat, searching for a paddle::

CSO Sea says:
CO: I have a fix on land, the current is with us, with luck and current we will make landfall

FCO Arca says:
ALL: I found two

CTO Sea says:
FCO: Good, there should be two more........if I'm correct.

CO Adrel says:
::grabs a paddle from the FCO::

CTO Sea says:
::searches behind her and comes up with the other two paddles::

CTO Sea says:
self: bingo!

FCO Arca says:
::hangs on to the paddle and looks for two more

CTO Sea says:
FCO: found them!

CO Adrel says:
CTO: Good, give one to the Doctor.

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Keep our bearing so we go in the right direction.

CTO Sea says:
::hands them to the two large SF behind her::

FCO Arca says:
::looks at the CTO then takes a seat on the edge of the raft and start to paddle::

CO Adrel says:
CTO: Have you men protect us because we don't know what can happen here.

CSO Sea says:
CO: We are equatorially located, near the middle of the storm front

MO Lea says:
::Not getting a paddle, takes out her tricorder and begins to scan their immediate vicinity::

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Aye. So what is our direction to paddle to?

CTO Sea says:
::feels the splash of water on her back as the two SF officers behind her paddle like mad::

FCO Arca says:
::paddles harder try to make for that land mass::

CO Adrel says:
::paddles with the others::

CSO Sea says:
CO: We must travel this way ::points::

FCO Arca says:
::feels a pain in my leg but tries not to pay attention to it::

CSO Sea says:
CO: Besides that, we are lost but are in a tropical environment

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The raft makes slow and steady progress towards the shoreline.

CTO Sea says:
::bails some of the water that is driven into the raft by the wave action and the rain::

CSO Sea says:
::splashdown on insertion, crash and burn::

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Lost? But can we locate the crash site?

FCO Arca says:
::hopes we hit land soon::

CO Adrel says:
MO; Any lifesigns except us? Like the rest of our people?

CO Adrel says:
::paddles::

CTO Sea says:
CO: the other three hoppers must know that we were due to land.  They will send a rescue party, I hope.

CSO Sea says:
CO: The hopper has foundered there is no longer a point of reference

FCO Arca says:
::feel his body soak as he pushes as hard as he can::

CO Adrel says:
CTO: I hope so. Unless this was a trick up SF's sleeve and they will let the rest of the crew know not to look for us as our training could be to get out of this by ourselves.

CSO Sea says:
::scanning for shore::

CTO Sea says:
CO: that wouldn't surprise me at all ::bails more water out of the raft::

MO Lea says:
::With another tap of her tricorder, shakes her head:: CO: No sir.

CO Adrel says:
CSO: Aye ::paddles some more but it's getting harder as her clothes are getting more and more wet by the second::

CSO Sea says:
All: I suspect a random lightning strike and no communication are not part of the exercise

CO Adrel says:
CTO: Me neither. I've done some similar training before and they have ways to make you think the mission is something but in fact it's something else.

CO Adrel says:
MO: Aye. Keep an eye, would you? I don't want to be surprised.

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  CSO's tricorder can read the shoreline, and a good sized surf, in-between them and the shore

CTO Sea says:
::feels that bailing water out of the raft is an exercise in stupidity as more water from the waves enters the raft than she can empty::

CTO Sea says:
::nods::

CSO Sea says:
::scanning for rocks and a navigable channel::

CSO Sea says:
All: Approaching shore line prepare for surf

MO Lea says:
CO: Will do.    ::Continues to recalibrate and re-recalibrate her scans::

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Make sure you hold on to the boat then.

FCO Arca says:
::Slowly paddle to he does hit the surf hard::

CTO Sea says:
::almost wishes for a sunny day instead of this rain and darkness........but realizes that the sun is an efficient killer::

CSO Sea says:
::scanning for navigable channel::

CTO Sea says:
::grabs onto the side rope::

CTO Sea says:
::forgets bailing for the time being::

CO Adrel says:
::twists the side rope to her arm and continues to paddle::

CSO Sea says:
CO: We do not have a large draft so I expect a soft landing after the surf::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  As the raft nears the shoreline it gets caught up in the high surf, the waves push the raft around, speeding it towards the shore, then suddenly flipping the raft over, putting everyone into the water.

CSO Sea says:
::thrown into the surf::

FCO Arca says:
::flies out of the raft and loses the paddle::

CTO Sea says:
::reaches for her pack, but misses it when she is dumped into the water::

CO Adrel says:
::swallows water as she loses grip of the paddle and plunges in the water::

CTO Sea says:
::comes up for air and finds herself under the raft::

MO Lea says:
::Tumbles into the water, and struggles to reach the surface as her duffle bag weighs her down::

CSO Sea says:
::heads for the surface with only knife strapped to his leg::

FCO Arca says:
::get his head above water and her some splashing behind him::

CSO Sea says:
~~~Megan: Hear me Megan~~~

FCO Arca says:
::turn and see the MO having problems::

CO Adrel says:
::loses her backpack as she is trying to come to the surface... her waist belt is still attached::

CTO Sea says:
::arms fly over her head, trying to push the raft off of her::  ~~~John: I hear you, I'm under the raft, I can't get out from under it~~~

CSO Sea says:
::swims for the raft ::

FCO Arca says:
::swims toward her::

CTO Sea says:
::feels very stupid and dives under, swimming underwater about 6 feet and comes up again::

CSO Sea says:
::brandishes knife and attempts to pop raft::

MO Lea says:
::Instinctively keeps a locked grip on the strap around her shoulder, and, as her feet hit the bottom, pushes up and toward the surface.  Breaks long enough to catch as quick breath::

CTO Sea says:
::she’s at the edge of the raft and moves under with her husband’s help::

CO Adrel says:
::is happy that Intel gave them sea swimming lessons as she finally is able to get her head out of the water::

FCO Arca says:
::reaches Lea and wrap my arm around her to help her stay up::

CSO Sea says:
::reholsters knife and begins to sidestroke towards shore with wife::

FCO Arca says:
~~~MO: I got you~~~

CTO Sea says:
::looks around:: John: I lost my pack, all I have on me is a phaser, knife and a tricorder.

CO Adrel says:
::looks around and sees that she is about 20 ft from the raft... spits the water in her mouth into the sea::

CSO Sea says:
Megan: In the morning we can skin dive for the equipment it’s too dangerous now

CO Adrel says:
ALL: Ever...body...k? ::trying to catch her breath and keep swimming::

CTO Sea says:
John: Aye, good idea.  Let's get up on shore and do a head count.

FCO Arca says:
::swims for the shore with Lea in one arm::

Host Loren says:
ACTION:  The crew eventually wash up on shore, as does most of their belongings although it’s spread out along the beach.  We leave then to spend what looks to be a wet night on a waterlogged beach.   

Host Loren says:
      {{{{{PAUSE}}}}}