Ensign Meris - The Clamps of Doom
Meris/Brian
(( Holodeck 3, Deck 222, DS 224 ))
Storm set the phaser to a modulation matching the frequency displayed on Tho'Bi's tricorder. The Betazoid aimed the energy weapon at the hatch and fired.
The damage was not obvious, but according to the Andorian's engineering tricorder, Storm had found their mark.
Bancroft: Response
Meris: =/\= Automatic eje- ::comms static:: ...stem is not... ::comms static:: ... core. =/\=
They knew the core had not ejected — they would have heard and felt it.
BE-BEeeeeeep! Tho'Bi's tricorder recalculated the response frequency, and Storm input it into their phaser again.
Storm aimed and fired, repeating the process one additional time.
The hatch shuddered, splintered, and shattered, crashing to the floor.
Storm: =/\= Thir… me… harm. Let… o…. wat… suits goin… ough. =/\=
As the cloud began to settle, the Andorian engineer picked his way through the mess of shards.
Above them, in Engineering, the J'naii hung over the railing of the warp core pit, trying to get a good look at the Core Retention Clamps. They were the only thing preventing release of the core. Meris had considered overloading several phasers to blast the clamps apart, but so close to the warp core, that seemed like a very bad idea.
Meris: =/\= I'm... ying to... man... eleas the... amps. =/\=
Bancroft: Response.
Storm: =/\= Time? =/\=
Tho'Bi held up his hands, indicating six minutes remained.
Bancroft: Response.
The young engineer placed a chunky glove on a rung of the ladder. It held. Another rung — it held. He started up the ladder.
The Andorian snapped open the lock on the top hatch and hauled himself up and into Main Engineering.
Tho'Bi: ::to Meris, nodding with a thumbs up::
Meris saw movement through the cloud of vapor that hung in the air of Main Engineering. When Tho'Bi emerged, relief washed over them — so much so that they physically slumped, which wasn’t the best idea while hanging over an open pit that ran several decks below. They quickly righted themself, hoping the Andorian would have a better idea on how to deal with the stuck Core Retention Clamps.
The engineering ensign made for one of the last semi-functional terminals.
Meris hopped down from the railing to join him.
Storm: =/\= Anyo… ineering… know how… at’s… our… tuation? =/\=
Meris: =/\= Tho'Bi... ough. We're work... clamps. =/\=
Bancroft: Response.
As Meris joined Tho’Bi beside the still-functional terminal, more movement appeared through the haze of vaporized coolant. Almost simultaneously, the remaining members of their party — Storm and Bancroft — arrived in Main Engineering.
Lieutenant Storm turned toward the warp core and came helmet-to-helmet with Lieutenant Bergman.
Storm: =/\= Lieute… we…. ally made… Do… ::points at Bergman:: yo ::points at her head:: ow ::puts her hands up in the air:: happen… =/\=
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
The Andorian stamped on the deck to get everyone's attention.
Beside the nearly two-meter Andorian, Meris jumped slightly.
Tho'Bi: ::points at the screen::
//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//
>AUTO EJECTION SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL
>MERIS CONFIRM?
//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//
Tho'Bi: ::points from screen to Meris::
Meris: ::typing reply::
//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - MERIS TYPING//
>AUTO EJECTION SYSTEM PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL.
>PLASMA AND EPS TAPS SEALED
>SIF ACTIVATED
>VENTRAL PORT OPEN
>RETENTION CLAMPS NON-RESPONSIVE
//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//
The Andorian turned back to the terminal.
//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//
>COOLANT SUPPLY DEPLETED
>NO WAY TO COOL CORE
>PROTOCOL: ATTEMPT MANUAL EJECTION
//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//
Tho'Bi then punched out a sequence of inputs into the neighboring console. The screen above lit up in the familiar graphics and format of the LCARS system.
A collection of three-dimensional outline schematics rotated on the screen: largest among them was the stretched column of the warp core, then three stubby pod-like Antimatter Pod Assemblies, and finally the flat curved panels of the M/ARA, Antimatter Loading Port, and Hull Plates.
Animatedly, Meris pointed at the three connection points representing the Core Retention Clamps. They were designed for simultaneous release to allow the core to fall naturally toward the ventral side of the Artemis and pass through the now-open ventral ejection port. They hoped releasing the core alone would be sufficient, since it would separate the metaphorical fuel from the fire. It all came together there.
Bancroft/Storm/Bergman/Cole/Imril: Response.
Dressed in the awkward radiation suit, the Andorian turned back to the terminal.
//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//
>EACH COMPONENT HAS UNIQUE LOCKING MECHANISM
>WARP CORE MOST COMPLEX
>ANTIMATTER POD ASSEMBLIES NEXT COMPLEX
>ANTIMATTER LOADING PORT AND M/ARA HULL PANELS LEAST COMPLEX
>BUT GREATEST DISTANCE FROM HERE
>TIME REMAINING: 5 MINS
//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//
Meris took over at the panel once again.
//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - MERIS TYPING//
>CORE RELEASE SUFFICIENT?
>PREVENT MATTER AND ANTIMATTER REACTION
>CUTTING PHASER ON CLAMPS?
//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//
Bancroft/Storm/Bergman/Cole/Imril: Response.
Meris looked at the others expectantly. Cutting the core loose from three points simultaneously would still be a difficult feat, but it seemed the most likely scenario, to the pilot, that would ensure success.
Bancroft/Storm/Bergman/Cole/Imril: Response.
(( TAGS/TBC ))
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Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14