LtJG Jovenan – What is that and where can I get one?
Jovenan
((Jefferies Tube, between decks 4 and 5, USS Artemis))
The air pressure and airflow controllers were easy to access once Jovenan had interfaced her tricorder with the Deck 5 environmental auxiliary subprocessor. The boarders might have prevented them from venting the gas, but there was very little that was stopping them from blowing it off. The biggest obstacle they had were the claustrophobia-inducing Jefferies Tubes, which now also had no artificial gravity. They hadn’t yet come across with the enemies themselves, and Jovenan hoped they never would. Meanwhile, Doctor Sadar had been analysing the gas composition, and it seemed like they had one more unexpected obstacle on their way.
Sadar: I can use the main Sickbay’s computer on Deck 7. We need to prepare Sickbay so they don’t attempt to interfere with the gas redirection regardless, so I can head there, warn them, use the computers to make my calculations and rejoin you then.
Jovenan stopped for a second. The young Ensign wanted to leave the team and go alone to the area potentially filled with the boarders. That was both very brave and very stupid idea. She listened to what the Captain had to say while inputting the required modifications to the subprocessor.
MacKenzie: Splitting up is out of the question right now. Not until we know exactly what we’re up against. How are we looking, Lieutenant?
Yalu: Response
Just a few numbers in, and… activation! The subprocessor accepted the new orders without resistance and directed them to the vents and airducts. The pressure in select areas of the deck rose and dropped in the others, creating an airflow that ran across the deck, blowing the anaesthetic gas to the direction they wanted.
Jovenan: Done, sir! This deck is beginning to clear up and the gas is flowing downwards where we can handle it better. The multi-deck computer core ruins the flow a bit, but we can deal it later.
MacKenzie: Good. Let’s keep going. What’s next?
Yalu: Response
Jovenan knew that the Captain had told Sadar splitting up is out of the question, so she slightly hesitated in reporting what was waiting for them on the next deck.
Jovenan: The next deck, number 6, has two subprocessors we need to be activated roughly simultaneously. One is by the computer core roughly in the middle of the saucer, the other is on sector 17, to facilitate the enlisted and family quarters. We might need to split up, and Doctor Sadar needs to get her calculations done. ::pause:: How do you want to do this, sir?
MacKenzie: Very well. Jovenan and I will head to sector 17. Yalu and Sadar head to the computer core. We’ll signal when we’re ready to activate. Lead the way, Lieutenant.
Jovenan nodded. They’d still move in pairs, giving them some protection against the boarders. Or were they pirates? She had learnt about pirates in the Human Literature course in the University. Apparently, they had a large visibility in the Earth fiction well past their golden age, which to Jovenan seemed ridiculous. Why would anyone admire robbers and murderers because they had ships (or at all)? The original pirates worked on the seas, but nowadays there were also space pirates – the human insistency on drawing parallels to seafaring and spacefaring was amusing on itself.
Jovenan: Aye, Captain. ::to Yalu and Sadar:: You need to increase the pressure on the top part of the computer core, so the gas flows down. Make sure not to drop the pressure in the bottom part, so the gas from Deck 7 doesn’t flow right back in.
She didn’t know Sadar’s Academy history yet, but if she recalled correctly, Commander Yalu had history as an ops officer. Those two would surely manage with the task.
Yalu: Response
Sadar: Understood Captain.
Jovenan hoped her instructions had been sufficient as the teams split up. She showed way as the Captain followed. She had to admit being somewhat more nervous now that there was only the Captain with her; she had been working close to the Captain for a while now, but now it was more personal when she was the only person the Captain was supervising. She had the Captain’s full attention, so it was better not do anything stupid.
They reached the subprocessor eventually. Jovenan was relieved to find it in just as pristine condition as the first one. This one particularly crucial, as it controlled the environment within the family and crew quarters. Those were probably the most vulnerable in the current situation. Jovenan didn’t recognize the most chemicals Sadar had listed, but she had heard of one: Felicium. An addictive drug. Jovenan couldn’t bear the chance they had imposed civilians and children to that.
She worked quickly and silently with the subprocessor. High pressure there, low pressure there. She also made sure to have higher pressure in the sections around the computer core so that when Commander Yalu and Sadar activated their processor, the gas there would flow right onto the deck. All things done, she gave a nod to the Captain.
MacKenzie: =/\= MacKenzie to Doctor Sadar, we’re ready. Activate your subprocessor, then let’s regroup. =/\=
Jovenan activated the commands. Her heart raced for a few seconds expecting something to have gone wrong, but no, it worked perfectly. She had a deep breath. Hopefully that was enough for this deck. The Captain was already ready to go, so Jovenan holstered her tricorder and came along.
They met up with Commander Yalu and Sadar soon after.
MacKenzie: Deck 7 is next. Let’s get the subprocessor first, then we can head to Sickbay so Doctor Sadar can get to work.
Jovenan: Aye, sir.
Yalu: Response
They started crawling downwards again. Without gravity, it was difficult to tell which way was down, so it felt both like climbing down and up at the same time. Absolutely awful.
Sadar: Will the gas move into Sickbay after this subprocessor has been activated, Lieutenant?
Jovenan: Uh, yes. Well, to the correct sector anyway. The Sickbay has independent environmental controls, so the gas won’t go right in on its own, but we need to go there and suck it in with the controls there.
Sadar: I see. That makes sense.
They continued to the next subprocessor, reaching it soon.
MacKenzie: I think you know what to do by now…
Jovenan nodded and approached the subprocessor. Taking Base-mode Operations course in the Academy had proven to be a wise decision. She had read some basic programming outside of the courses she had taken, but nothing beat having somebody teach it to you. Calculating the air pressure and flow rates gave her both anxious and warm memories of the University of Hurkos Atmospheric Dynamics courses. She had taken the first one remotely – she hadn’t yet received the permission to leave the homeworld – and the second one after the gap year back home for mental heath reasons. She was lucky that she did, because those courses in between had been a total mess for her.
Jovenan: Activating… now. ::pause:: The system is working perfectly!
She exhaled relaxed. They had done this part. Now she only had to hope the Doctor, the Doctor and the Doctor she had with her could find the right mixture to deal with the gas.
MacKenzie: Alright. Doctor, let’s get you to Sickbay so you can get to work and we can warn Commander Dakora.
Sadar: Yes sir.
Yalu: Response
The climb continued, this time lead by the Captain. Jovenan couldn’t help being relieved that this was soon over, although she didn’t know if it truly was yet. They hadn’t encountered the pirates yet, but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t, or that there wouldn’t be any. She was worried for the rest of the crew. Was Lt Silveira’s team okay? How about the Berlin? And Team Dakora? Had Hiro and Kawarda joined Commander Dakora or stayed on the Berlin, and which option was the safest for them? So many things to worry about.
The Captain opened a hatch, and bright light shone to the dimly lit tubes. Jovenan crawled out with the others as the Captain helped them out of the tubes. She was happy to get out, the Sickbay felt so large after crawling several decks worth of Jefferies Tubes down.
There were several blue-shirts in the Sickbay, as expected, and a few yellow-shirts as well, maybe security. At least the crew and patients were safe with them. Jovenan didn’t pay much attention to them but focused on the Captain and the team.
MacKenzie: Alright, Doctor. What do you need?
Sadar: A, uhh, a moment to work and a functioning computer. ::To Sickbay personnel:: I have an analysis of the gas. Do we have a functioning interface?
Hawkins: Something like that. No medical replicators though, and the CMO terminal was… Well, that’s dead.
Curious. What had happened to the CMO’s console?
Then she saw it. It was fluffy. It was plushy. It was adorable.
EMH: Response
Sadar: Uhh… Are you… I need a computer?
EMH: Response
Sadar seemed surprised and confused about the nature of the adowabwe doctow howogwam. Jovenan hadn’t seen him yet either, and she joined Sadar in looking for the Captain, Commander Yalu and the nurses for a confirmation.
Yalu/MacKenzie: Response
Sadar floated to the closest interface and straight into the work.
Sadar: 45% Anesthezine, 23% Relorazine, 12% Neurozine, 11% Theragen and 9% Felicium. ::Addressing no one in particular:: For the Naloxone, using the Neurozine-dosage scaled up to account for volume should be simple. Under normal circumstances, I’d suggest letting the patients sleep off the Theragen and Felicium, but given the situation... ::Addressing the EMH:: What’s our safest option that we have on stock?
EMH: Response
MacKenzie/Yalu: Response
Jovenan observed the Doctors working until she could help but interrupt. She was worried to death.
Jovenan: ::to EMH:: Excuse me, Doctow… Doctor. Have you, uh, has Commander Dakora been here? Or any other officer assigned to the Berlin?
EMH: Response
Jovenan turned face the crewmembers the EMH had pointed out. Two yellow-shirts, a Trill and an Andorian. Hopefully they knew what was going on.
Jovenan: Thank you, Doctor!
MacKenzie/Yalu/Sadar: Response
EMH/Renirs/Kliss’lai: Response?
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Jovenan
Science officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11