LT Tamio K'Wara - Positive News and Unwelcome Complications

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( Main Engineering - Deck 4, USS Karnack Crashsite ))

Now that the Warp Core and Computer Cores of the Karnack were operational - not exactly ‘full power’, but as close as they were going to get it - it was time to focus on the other systems that were necessary for flight. The Shield Emitters were the most necessary ones, as the defensive abilities of the other teams were inextricably linked to them being able to get a fully-functioning shield around multiple Decks instead of just Engineering.

Phasers wouldn’t work in the hallways if this didn’t work, and with the Things running about, a non-functioning phaser was just insult to injury.

Imril: We can’t afford the time or exposure to chase down every little leak. We need to seal them off from within the areas we absolutely need to access. Commander Jovenan’s team may end up plugging some up for us as they patch the hull anyway.

Tamio nodded in agreement. This wasn’t about doing a perfect job, it was about doing a job just good enough that they made it in time.

K’Wara: Prioritize Decks 1 through 3. Those are the decks with the most critical systems we need shielded right now.

Cole: ::entering last keystrokes:: Shield … ::shakes her head:: Modifications are ready when shield emitters are back online.

Imril focused on their PADD, looking through the Karnack’s schematics.

Imril: The closest shield emitter to this position is one deck below us. Almost directly below us, actually. It’s part of the warp core ejection mechanism safeties. We should be able to extend this room’s quarantine field to it, now that we have the Warp Core up and charging. But we may have to make some physical adjustments to the emitter itself, if something goes wrong. The shortest way there is that maintenance shaft.

They pointed out the maintenance access in the floor on the other side of the room.

Jaran: Is that area connected to the rest of the deck? Jeffries Tube access?

K’Wara: It is, so if we have to go down there to fix the emitter, then we can keep going through there to get to the Shuttlecraft Control Room. ::looks towards Cole:: Nat, how’re you holding up?

Cole: I appreciate it, Lieutenant. I’m operational.

That was a good sign. As the only one of the current group to not have used the Callisian transport network, she was the only assurance their team had in the face of whatever the Things were doing to them. Tamio wasn’t as heavily impacted as the other two - as they’d only gone through the transporter once - and Imril’s eyes were harsher, less molten gold and more cold metal as they stared around the group.

The effects were getting stronger.

Imril ::Coldly serious:: If I turn, kill me. 

It was hard to argue in the face of such conviction.

Jaran: I... well... We'll have a cure before that happens. To any of us.

Unaware of it themself, Tamio breathed out in quiet relief as Doctor Jaran said this. While they didn’t sound sure of themself, it was what Tamio needed to hear, and they latched onto that shred of hope with a fervor.

K’Wara: No one’s getting killed. Once we have a fully functional - and safe - Sickbay, I’ve no doubt Roy and Doctor Jaran can get you all fixed right up. ::tight smile:: Though, I vow to you, I will stun you before you do anything to jeopardize the mission.

Cole: Response

That would have to be good enough, and Imril returned to the task at hand. Tamio hadn’t had much chance to work with the Bactrican Engineer before, but they made a mental note to give a glowing recommendation to the Chief Engineer on their behalf when they got back to the Artemis-A. It was nothing short of miraculous that they worked this well with the amount of pressure they were under.

Imril: A three-deck shield projected from the emitter below us, as Lt. K’Wara asked for, will be more than large enough to reach the primary shield emitter. Once we have that powered, we can piggyback all the rest. 

Cole: Response

Tamio nodded.

K’Wara: Positive domino effect. Keep the good news coming, everyone.

Imril: Cole, stay on that quarantine field, ready to make corrections as needed. Jaran, you keep on that damage control panel. Let us know the instant something starts getting too hot downstairs. Last thing we want to do is draw the enemy there. Lieutenant K’Wara, unless you have a better idea, I suggest you man that stabilizer in case things get shaky.

K’Wara: I’ll get the start-up sequence of the impulse engines all keyed up. If we do have to beat a hasty retreat, it’d be nice to know they can be remotely triggered. It shouldn’t take too long, and I’ll keep an eye on the stabilizers in the meanwhile. ::looks around at the team:: All right, let’s get this done. The Captain’ll have our hides if she tries to fire a phaser and nothing happens.

Whether it was the notion of the kind of lashing Captain MacKenzie would be throwing their way if the above-mentioned scenario came to pass, or if they were just really eager to get the Karnack into the air and off of Callis I, the team hastily moved to their designated positions and prepared to do the work.

Jaran: Aye, sir.

Tamio pulled up the power stabilizers on one screen, while doing initial prep for the impulse engines, as they waited for the others’ ready signals. They came within mere moments.

Imril: Ready on your mark, Lieutenant.

Cole: Response

Tamio nodded slowly. Now or never.

K’Wara: Let’s power it up.

It was a delicate balance. With the errant way power was flowing through the Ship, they needed to pace themselves, lest they burn out any more of the power systems than were already damaged by the crash. The shields were most important, and so Tamio waited until they saw that power was starting to run that route, before they started messing with the impulse engines. For now, the stabilizers seemed to be holding.

But then, they heard beeping. Cole’s console somewhere was registering something wrong.

Cole/Imril: Response

Tamio nodded.

K'Wara: Compensating. Adjusting to allow for slight feedback error margin.

They felt that oppressive sensation again - like something was watching them from behind their own eyelids - and they knew that something had passed over Doctor Jaran and Imril again, even before the Bajoran Doctor called out for their fellow afflicted.

Jaran: Imril. You good? I have those metabolic stabilisers still.

Cole/Imril: Response

K'Wara: Power is flowing unobstructed. Redirecting bleed into the forcefields. Impulse Engines starting power-up sequence now.

The power-up sequence progressed smoothly - 10%, 14%, 21% - when a warning signal started. The novelty of it - the pure joy of being reunited with the familiar arena of Starfleet protocols - still hadn’t worn off, but they’d been conditioned well enough that a warning signal still made their fingers freeze.

Jaran: We got trouble. Things are heating up downstairs, and They know.

K’Wara: ::quiet Cygnian curse:: Powering down impulse engines, resetting to prepped cold start. ::slight pause:: I’m venting excess heat through exhaust vents through Deck 3. Hopefully that’ll distract them enough to scatter their attention a little.

The last thing they needed was for the Things to hone in on any of the currently live tech. They were certainly intelligent enough to do so, and Tamio could only surmise that the reason they hadn’t yet was because A) they didn’t retain enough knowledge of starships to know where to aim their anger, or B) they didn’t believe the Artemisians could actually pull off their daring escape.

Option B honestly pissed Tamio off a bit. They’d show them.

Cole/Jaran/Imril: Response

K'Wara: That’s our cue. Jaran, grab the engineering kit and get into that shaft. Imril, can you come up with anything to make sure the Things can’t take a whack at the core while we’re away?

Cole/Jaran/Imril: Response

K’Wara: Do it. ::to Cole:: Nat, you bring up the rear once Imril’s down. Make sure to shoot those things between the eyes if they poke their heads in before you close the hatch.

Cole/Jaran/Imril: Response

TAG/TBC

LT Tamio K’Wara

Chief of Operations

USS Artemis-A

A240006GS1