Part 2: The Sealing off of Bartsport
Out in Bartsport bay there was a frenzy of activity. Above the calm waters hung a huge monolithic structure. Its hull was speckled by veins of crystal that grew through the stone, making its shine in the morning sun.
Smaller vehicles flew down from the UtR Carrier craft. Wreaks were lifted up on stone pillars, upsetting the sea floor, but thrusting them high into the air. The vehicles extended down vines that wrapped around the wreakage and lifted off.
Large Skimmers were loaded with salvage as the Auf Lal’al and EEF crews began the hard work of cleaning up the port. Work was going steadily, and the quarantine lines were set up. On day three the quarantine was finally opened for cleanup workers to move into Bartsport proper. What they found there, was a ghost town of empty houses and infested with Nightmares. Only a single zone was inhabited with clear No trespassing Signs on all sides. A manorhouse which was obviously well maintained.
Both the EEF and UtR cleanup workers avoided this manor and kept at their work.
At the outer quarantine zone, Ka’ab of the Auf Lal’al was giving a briefing to the UtR and Unenese workers.
Once everyone arrived, Ka’ab said "We have some experience with Radiation. Its hard to avoid if you are cleaning it up. But the EEF team will aid us in healing our gogs from the radiation. Also they have sensors that can detect radiation. No one will be allowed to leave if they are still contaminated, otherwise you will die and healing leyas cannot fix it.
But we can also give a few tips:
Don’t eat, drink, or swallow anything while in the area.
Limit any time there. Healing can heal the damage, but won’t remove any bits that contain radiation from the body. This is one of the things the tech the EEF will use while any heal anyone who gets sick.
Anything possibly… that contains this Radiation, needs to be removed from the non contaminated soil and water.
So with that, I was thinking we need to seal off Bartsport. No water can run from that land to the sea. No food or animals should be taken or eaten from there.
Next, we need those sunken ships out of the water and purify the water around there to remove the liquid earther stuff.
We have some skimmers for part of this cleanup, so you are not actually in the water causing the water to move around more. We have a few items that can purify water. And each of the gogs here can purify water as well.
Also my Ur Rhug tribesmen will help secure the area so all can concentrate on their dangerous work.”
Dr. Knoll of the EEF stepped forward, “Work today will be on cleaning out the Bartsport Sluiceways and drainage ditches. These are causing rainwater carrying irradiated material to flow into the ocean.
The Auf Lal’al have already plugged the ends of the sluiceways but now they are filling with toxic materials, and will overflow into the rest of Bartsport. Be careful the dark water will hide slippery stones, and you don’t want an open wound in this liquid. Now get out there.”
From the beginning the Ur Rhugs found themselves beset by Nightmare attacks. The attacks were methodical, and many (incorrectly) suspected the inhabitants of the strange foggy mansion. Rescue workers quickly found their suits pierced by the biting mouths of Fleshworms. The EEF found most of the local staff exposed to radiation within hours of starting work.
The Gangers of Uf Mag’og moved into support positions. They found the sluiceways full of Fleshworms. The semi-living pools resembled crude oil on the surface of the water. Then it became an ameobic creature with many small tendrills and tentacles to consume the living surprised by their attacks.
The fight was brutal and many of the gangers and Auf Lal’al defenders were bitten. Most wounds were superficial, but increased the exposure dangerously.
Meanwhile, the Tor’lallur worked hard to aid in removing toxic salvage. Many were surprised to see the dirty slimegogs working alongside the others. They were peaceful and helpful, often employing giants to help pull salvage to safe zones.
Like all the gogs in the quarantine zone the Tor’Lallur were tested by the EEFers and their allies. Small samples of blood, fur and bone matter were taken by the scientists. Alongside the EEF were friendly Earthers including a group of scientists who originally hailed from Dunesphere, though they kept that to themselves.
Cleric Oswaldo overlooked as the samples were taken and delivered to Dr. Leonard Bones, who had arrived with his bodyguard Red Bishop Robyrne at the quarantine zone. They made sure to work peacefully beside the EEF to help the Olgogs. Though the extra blood samples they took were never noticed by the overworked rescue workers. Since it was the only way out of the quarantine zone, all the Olgogs relented to the tests.
Oswaldo heard a crashing noise as one of the Olgog aircraft’s vine rigging came away cut, spilling its cargo across a wide section of rescue worker’s tents. Oswaldo sighed. The natives once again showing their primitiveness in his eyes. Accidents like this were more and more common. He had heard rumors someone was cutting the rigging from a few of the rescue workers who had experience a similar accident the day before.
He doubted it. His men were under carefully explained orders not to harm anyone. And they did a damn good job of it.
Especially when some of the Unenese rescue workers on the second day came back losing their fur. The green skinned creatures that emerged from Bartsport looked like monsters with skin pulled tight across their pinched forms. Robyrne had nearly shot the creature dead, but then in Earther the creature muttered, “Og, Rescue group 2, need medical assistance,” before it collapsed and nearly died.
Oswaldo had been clear on the rules of engagement, so Robyrne holstered the weapon, and called for medics.
Now fully half of the hundreds of Unenese who had first come to Bartsport to work alongside the UtR were suffering from profound radiation sickness. The EEF did what they could to decontaminate, but many of these selfless Olgogs would face a lifelong struggle against cancer.
Finally on day seven the walls and ditch system were complete in Bartsport. The town was now half abandoned two story buildings, and half marshy ruins quite toxic to anyone who enters. Its wall was high and covered in purification artifacts. Ditches made the once skillfully layed out streets a maze of canals and runoff encatchments. Only the Manor was untouched, the workers rightous fear kept them away from it.
