Down to the Planet (Take 2) (part 3)

Posted on Tue Mar 6th, 2012 @ 3:31pm by Lieutenant JG Ronnie Wolfe & Lieutenant JG Elizabeth Jackson & Major Leroy Mangalia & Ensign Leee-ee/Maddison Tyler & Ensign Robert Tyler & Private 1st Class Trent Kushner & Lieutenant Sophia & Lieutenant JG Patrick O'Dell & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe
Edited on on Mon Mar 12th, 2012 @ 11:26am

1,151 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Race for the Lost Treasure
Location: planetside

[CONTINUED]

Leo sank beneath the waves after retrieving his helmet from them. Trent having already gone below. As his HUD flickered to life he looked around. "That sounds like a plan," he said through the comm, talking about the two teams. "We all need to be careful sinking to that depth and returning." Looking around he wanted to slap himself. "I'm an idiot for not asking before, who here isn't experienced?"

"I grew up further below the ocean than that. Mind you, that was a few hundred years ago, and I haven't visited since." Maddison said, as she swam downwards.

"I don't normally go this far down." Robert admitted. "Just far enough to keep her happy."

"Define experienced," Lizzie said in response to Leo's query. "Have I been diving before? yes. Have I gone deep? No. Am I going to stay behind? Not a chance."

"I have a little tank time in the academy, but never to these depths." Sophia answered.

"Lizzie, Sophia welcome to team Leo," he said with a laugh. "Maddison's going to be busy, her husband doesn't often go down this deep, and Trent's going to be taking point. We'll go as slow as we need to to get down there. Is that alright Ladies?"

"I can swim well enough, I'm SCBA and EVA suit certified, I know the basic theory, but this will be my first real dive." admitted Patrick

"I promise I won't tell, if he doesn't come back with you." Maddison said, looking at Leo. "If he was any more condescending about it, he'd be that dreadful Janine Donovan woman from SCIS."

"Be nice, Maddison. You know we don't go Marine baiting. Besides, that's pretty insulting to Marine Captain Mangalia. Few people reach that dredge of humanity." Robert Tyler's voice came over the intercom. "I can't see a bloody thing."

"You've got your helmet on backwards, you twit." Maddison said, with a scowl.

There was a brief silence, and then a particularly cross sounding shout of the words "BLOODY HELL."

Leo swan up to the man, knocking on the back of the helmet, and turning on the head lamp he had. "Did you get dressed in the dark? Or do you fancy yourself a changeling now? Everything but the boots and flippers are on backwards." Shaking his head he looked around. "Alright everyone, time to go deeper."

"might have been more comfortable that way, it wouldn't be threatening to turn me into a soprano that way." grumbled Patrick.

Ronnie just shook her head. "Good luck," she said to the others. She nodded to Damion and the two lead their team, including the Tylers, down.

Damion nodded back to Ronnie.

"Quit that. Whoever is hitting me in the face." Robert said, with a scowl.

"Surface, get your self on straight, and catch up. I know you are fast enough to pull that off." Maddison said. "And don't dawdle."

Trent, who had been uncomfortable with the notion that inexperienced divers were on this team, finally snapped at that last comment. He stopped kicking and turned to face the two groups. "Alright, everyone stop. None of you are going any deeper. Maddison, take your husband up and get him sorted. You go up together and you come down together. We will be waiting here at thirty feet". Trent folded his arms over his chest and waited for them to leave. "Leroy, would you mind assisting me in giving this sorry group a crash course in diving safety?"

"Sure, just don't make them crash into anything this time Trent. That last time was a fiasco." Shaking his head, he swam down to where the other Marine was and patted his back. "I'll be the dummy."

"Guys we are about to dive to a depth of almost six hundred meters. At that depth any number of things can kill you. The most dangerous? You. How you react to life threatening issues will often determine your fate. Panicking is the WORST possible thing at almost any depth. That's why we are going to go over a few worst case scenarios so that you are prepared in case they happen. The Captain and I are going to demonstrate what to do in these circumstances and we are going to watch as each of you mimic them."

Ronnie nodded. She hadn't considered the need for a crash course and mentally smacked herself for not thinking of it.

The last dive was not as deep and Maddison was there to pull anyone out who got into trouble. Here, though, the depth alone could be lethal.

Lizzie, who'd been floating near the Marine CO, watched the two carefully. She wasn't an experienced diver and this refresher course would do her good.


The next few minutes passed quickly as the Marines went over a number of essential skills. What to do in case your air cuts out, if your BCD won't fill with air, how to get into and out of their gear while underwater and more.

As the last skill was finished by all, Trent went over the two golden rules. "One." He held his index finger up. "Never, ever, hold your breath while diving. People have been known to get DCS in only a few feet of water. Two" He held up another finger. "Never, ever, go ANYWHERE without your dive partner. We all need to be paired up into two's. Each of you is responsible for the well being of yourself and your buddy. NEVER let them out of your sight for more than a few moments. If something goes wrong your partner is going to be the person to bail you out, especially if you are short air. If one of you has to go to the surface, you both go. Understood?"

Ronnie looked at Damion. "Partners?" she asked.

Damion looked over to Ronnie and smiled. "Always." He said softly as he got closer to her and adjusted his suit slightly. It was a bit uncomfortable for him, but he was going to have to get used to it.

A few moments later, and Robert and Maddison resumed the same depth as the rest of the group. "He's all properly situated now." Maddison said, with a smile.

Ronnie continued to scan as they slowly swam down. "It looks like there are two readings that match the alien signature. One is at 200 meters, the other around 500. I suggest the more experienced divers go deep and the rest can check out the first reading." She looked at Trent and Leo for confirmation.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Ronnie Lancaster
Assistant Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant JG Elizabeth Jackson
Botanist

Captain Leroy Mangalia
Marine CO

Ensign Leee-ee/Maddison Tyler
Security Officer

Ensign Robert Tyler
Security Investigations Officer

Private 1st Class Trent Kushner [Damon]
Marine

Lieutenant Sophia
Chief Counselor

Lieutenant JG Patrick O'Dell
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant JG Damion Wolfe
Chief Intelligence Officer

 

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