The Storm (3) - Making Plans
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Ainsley, AL, Devin, Cali, Eimi, Jane, Kastaka, Paula
Date Posted: 5th May 2009
Characters: T'kob, K'hetah, Sh'dori, N'vanik, S'ren, B'ram, D'mal, E'ziah
Description: N'vanik holds a meeting to make plans for assisting the dolphineers.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 18 of Turn 5
T'kob quickly walked to the Weyrleader's office. When one got a summons in the middle of a hurricane, it was never good news.
K'hetah jogged along the corridor until he caught up with the younger bronzerider. "I guess we're headed the same way."
For once, Sh'dori was not late or even among the last ones, he was among the first one to answer the call. This was too serious matter to be lazy about.
E'ziah arrived just after Sh'dori. The brownrider's normally cocky, easy going demeanour completely absent for once, replaced with a grim tension. He had seen more than his share of hurricane's on Far Island. A heated argument with a wingsecond, followed by an insubordinate act involving an unauthorized rescue after one such storm was largely responsible for his transfer from that Weyr.
D'mal was on the heels of them all, his expression calm as he lengthened his stride to catch up with the others. He had come as quickly as he could. The trek had given the initial concern to dull into a sense of calm. A job had to be done and quickly. He paused as he swept into the office just behind E'ziah and stood there, listening, waiting, and willing.
The office was crowded with riders. "Thanks for coming so fast," the Weyrleader said. "The Dolphin Hall got a distress signal. There's a ship caught in the storm and they asked the Weyr for help with the rescue. It's too risky to go now, but as soon as the worst of the storm passes, I'm sending you out to help." He hated waiting, but he supposed there would be plenty of organizing to do in the meantime.
S'ren carefully surveyed the faces of the assembled - he knew there were going to be one or two who didn't agree with 'too risky' and would make trouble if left to their own devices. He particularly kept an eye out for anyone heading immediately out of the room in case he needed to go and intercept them before they did something inadvisable.
"How many riders are they going to need?" K'hetah asked.
Sh'dori nodded at the weyrleader's words. He had plenty of experience of rescues like this and he also knew the importance of the caution.
"I'd like at least a dozen. Probably more," N'vanik said. "But I'd like you to stay here, K'hetah. Keep an eye on things while we're out."
K'hetah nodded. "You'll go, then?" It made sense for one of them to stay; one of the handful of senior bronzeriders ... just in case.
"I'll go." D'mal offered. He'd helped in storms before. His brown was steady and calm even in a crisis and could be put to good use.
"Girifith and I are ready," B'ram said without hesitation. They were not as experienced as some of the bronze pairs, but a brown was a perfect blend of strength and speed, two factors that would be of use in a situation like this.
"Rahmuth is already warming up his wings," Sh'dori said. It was very important to warm up muscles before flying into strong winds. That way you avoided sprains.
"I'd like to go, as well. Geovonyth and I have experience with post storm recovery," E'ziah offered, half expecting to be turned down. The Weyrleader had read his file after all, but then again things had been going amazingly well here at Dolphin Cove.
"We're not going just yet. We'll wait til the worst of the storm passes. I'd like to get those people out of there as soon as possible, but it's just way too dangerous." N'vanik tried not to think about how many on that ship might be lost to the storm. "And except for K'hetah, I'll take any bronze or brown willing. S'ren, you'll go down to the Hall for communication."
"Will the survivors be brought back here - or to the Hall?" K'hetah asked, thinking through the logistics of it all.
T'kob might not know this Hall in particular, but he did know the make-up of a Dolphin Hall in general, "Sir, the Hall would have one maybe two experienced healers. The Weyr would be much better equipped to handle a ship full of survivors." If there were survivors.
N'vanik nodded. "And our healers are used to dealing with lots of emergencies at once. The survivors should come here." How many would be left by the time they got there?
"I'll organise that, if you like," K'hetah volunteered. The healers were, as the Weyrleader stated, used to such things and his role would be minor. Still, since he was to stay at the Weyr he had to do something.
"Sure. Thanks." That would be one less thing for N'vanik to worry about.
D'mal glanced over at K'hetah then looked back to his Weyrleader. "Where is the ship located? Is it near anything we can use as a point of reference?" Trying to go /between/ into the open sea seemed like a good way to lose riders.
"The ship's close to a small island. We can use that for a visual," N'vanik said.
S'ren figured he'd heard enough and no-one looked like they were making a run for it, so he began to head towards the door, pausing for just a moment to check he hadn't read the Weyrleader wrong.
}:Loseth, mine wants to know if we should head off now or wait for the meeting to conclude? :{ relayed Tareth, so as not to interrupt the questions of the other riders.
}:Mine says it's fine. Tell the dolphin people we will have enough riders,:{ Loseth replied after a moment. }:Oh, and you must walk there, because the wind is bad.:{
"Any idea how large crew the ship has?" Sh'dori asked.
"Nope. I should've asked." N'vanik thought it was an obvious question, and he'd missed it. "But the Hall wants to send twenty dolphineers, maybe a few more. I figured you could each carry two, plus some gear."
Sh'dori nodded. **We are going to have two passengers,** he told Rahmuth.
"If they're sending that many dolphineers, then it must be a cargo or passenger ship." T'kob reasoned. When he looked around the room he saw several younger bronze and brown riders and added, "We should prepare ourselves for casualties as well... it might not be pretty."
D'mal's lips thinned and he nodded. Indeed, a ship caught in a hurricane, there would most likely be deaths among the passengers and crew. The dead would not be carried back, but D'mal hoped that the toll would be low. Death was not something unfamiliar to any of them, thanks to the return of Thread.
B'ram also was thinking that seeing death would not phase him. How could a drowned body be harder to take than one that was half chewed by Thread? At least they were still whole. Although, he had to admit to himself, if there had been a child among the victims... Well, that might be harder to take.
**Please let it be cargo not passengers.** Eziah thought to himself. Last time he'd helped on such a rescue it was a passenger vessel, and the death toll had been very high.
"Prettier than Threadscore," N'vanik said. "We'll do what we can to get any ... bodies onto the island, at least." Shards, what if they got there too late and there was no one to save?
Sh'dori had seen drowned bodies before as well ones dug out after being buried in earthquake. After all he originally came to this weyr to help when the earthquake had ruined Thayan Peak. "Dead is dead and beyond caring. The living ones are the priority."
"Anything else you need me for?" K'hetah asked into the pause. "Otherwise I'll go and make sure the healers know what to expect."
"Nope, that's it. I'll put a call out when the storm's died down enough," N'vanik said.
Last updated on the May 5th 2009