"Elizabeth, I have some really good news. It turns out someone majorly messed up with the censors."
"John, what are you telling me?" She looked over at the again at the computer screen there were only four glowing dots in the room. "We are still only showing four life signs in the room."
"Exactly my point 'in the room' we are currently pulling Dr. Grodin out of the air vent system in the hallway and he reports that they had to leave four people in the room because of injuries. The rest of the scientists took their rescue into their own hands."
"That is good that we have at least one scientist out. Do you have any plan to get the rest to safety?" Elizabeth turned to the tech working on the censor computer. "Is there away to expand the censors to include more of the area?"
"I don't know ma'am. I took us over an hour and a half try to get the life side detectors working in the room, but the surrounding area is more severely damaged. You said that Dr. Grodin is out. It would really help to have someone who actually knows what they are doing. The trial and error thing is really slow."
"I will see what I can do, but Dr. Beckett has the final say on whether Dr. Grodin is fit for duty."
"Elizabeth, we have got a plan. The HOG Team has suggested using cave rescuing techniques to bring everyone out of the via the duct systems."
"We are running out of options. If they think they could possibly get these people out faster then moving the debris let them try it. Dr. Beckett I need you to check over the Dr. Grodin. If he is fit for duty we could really use his expertise up here repairing the censors."
"I will be right up." Grodin's voice cracked over the radio.
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"No you won't son." Dr. Beckett replied staunchly. "I want you to report to the infirmly immediately. Dr. Biro is going to be waiting for you there."
"But…" Dr. Grodin stammered a bit.
"I know that you want to help, son. But currently we need to know what condition the people we are going to be pulling out. While you get examined you are going to tell my staff what they can expect to find."
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Um, I am going in, lad." A wirily geologist came up and handed him a harness. "You described fairly significant injuries. Someone will have to stabilize them for transport."
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Forty-five minutes later the HOG team had set up a remote command center in a room with a view of the vent. Sheppard was looking at a group of scientists he had never seen before type quickly on their computers. A dark haired woman handed him a head set.
"My name is Celia Krauss, this is Yoko Tsukishiro." A slight, tall Asian woman glanced up from her computer. "We will be running the rescue control center. We will be using the Ping systems to keep track of our personal until the life signs censor up."
"The what system?" Sheppard looked at the diagrams on the computer with the rough overlay of the duct system.
"The Ping system. Without GPS some of our diving equipment has been having problems with navigation. We created a system that allows us to make out a person's location using a beacon transmitting a signal at a set frequency it is then picked up by three probes, which are currently set up."
"So it gives you the location of the person?"
"Not only that, if the Oreo is properly attached," Celia tossed him a small round piece of metal, then leans back over her computer, "it will allow you to monitor things like heart rate, blood pressure, and approximant blood oxygen and nitrogen level. But we can only really use Oreos when we are diving so we are currently using avalanche beacons."
"We have avalanche beacons?"
"Yes." Celia switched on her radio. "Larry we are calibrated we are waiting for you to activate the last probe." A light flashed onto the computer screen. "Good, I have got you. Starting final calibration…" Celia typed in a series of commands, "now." She switched off the radio. "Tim, missions go in ten minutes."
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Beckett was starting to wonder what he had gotten himself.
"Feeling okay, Doc." Eric Cooper, one of the resident Navy SEALS pulled him out of his day dreams.
"Fine, lad."
"Good. Now that you're all geared up it's time to get you introduced to the team." Eric quickly guided Beckett into the control center. "This is going to be the control center. We are going to be working between three radio frequencies. On channel number six will be Dr. Celia Krauss. She will be taking care of the technical aspect of the mission including keeping track of everyone's location. On number seven will be Major Sheppard. He will be our communication to people outside our team. Last but not least, on channel eight is Dr. Yoko Tsukishiro." Yoko's head bounced up and she waved before going back to work. "She will be working with on the medical evacuation. She can connect you with anyone on the medical staff and is fairly fluent in that strange medical techno garble. I will hand you off to the commander of this mission. He is all your's Tim."
"Dr. Beckett we have just got the go a head so as we get the ropes put up I am going to introduce you to the team. First person you should meet is Jason Wage, he will be your medical assistant. He has had back country first aid training and fairly well house trained." The wiry geologist rolled his eyes at his commander.
"Don't listen to everything he says, Doc."
"Uh, well back to the team. The other geologist is Albert Johnston. He will be performing search and rescue for the two other groups of scientists. If someone in those groups needs medical attention then he will bring the back to you for treatment. Lastly you have me and Eric. Being the buff Ex-SEALS that we are we will be the pack horses to transport the injured out. Have any questions?" Before Beckett could really speak up again Tim started talking again. "Good, everyone get on your rope we will be ascending in the following order. Eric take point followed by Albert, Beckett, and Wage. We will then pass up the two backboards and I will take the six. Let's get started people. Oh, and doctor before I forget, clip this onto your shirt zipper."
Beckett looked a little confused at the strange looking fish charm in his hand. "What is it?"
"Simply put, it is the HOG team's version of a dog tag. Welcome to the crew."
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Author's Note-Now searching for a beta reader.