Ensign D'tin Breys - Is it Getting Hot in Here or... No, it's Getting Hot in Here
Bea S
((Security Suite - near the Armoury - Deck 3 - USS Karnack))
Bergman tried to help Breys to her feet. Munro gave her heartfelt reassurance. Despite her instinct to push them away, D'tin needed the extensions of support that they provided. She needed to feel anchored to something real, and right now those around her were the only real things she could think of. The wish that there was another option floated in her mind, that she could just lie down and sleep, instead she stood back up and shook off the sick feeling. The path in front of them seemed to morph in the shadows.
Breys: I know I’m not the medical expert in the room, but it seems like we have more pressing matters than me getting a little dizzy.
MacKenzie: We have to go. Now. This way!
Bergmen: Aye, ma’am.
Thankfully everyone was in agreement on this matter.
They found their way into the armoury and Mackenzie was able to seal the door behind them. This stood out to Breys, power in the area was being restored exceedingly quickly. This was a problem for an engineer but the math didn’t add up for continuous power even with her limited training.
The Things slammed directly into her train of thought with a shuddering boom and screech as the door barely held in place. The first officer reached out for the door, Breys remembered the support she was just given.
She went to place her hand on Munro.
Before she could, a feeling jumped between them like electricity. Closeness, to what? To someone, somewhere, and to these things. A closeness that was impossibly far away and strong.
Behind Breys, the Captain opened the weapons locker.
MacKenzie: We don't have much time.
Both she and Bergmen removed a phaser rifle and a handheld phaser. Breys didn’t want to hurt anything again.
She watched Munro start to pick up a phaser, and then slowly set it back down. The breath that Breys hadn’t realized she was holding slipped out.
Munro: Captain I don't think it would be a good idea for myself or Breys to be armed. Right now, I'm in control but I don't know how long that will last. I … don't know if I'll be able to stop myself from using a weapon on you or Bergmen. We'll just need to make ourselves useful in other ways.
Breys: I agree, I don’t feel like I’m in a state of mind to be pointing a phaser at things.
That wasn’t the full story in relation to how much she didn’t want to hold a phaser right now, but it was enough of it.
MacKenzie: I don't suppose there's any way to distract them? Lure them away?
Bergmen: We… (beat) These Things do not like cold. If we overload the corridor cooling lines…
oO We? Oo
Munro: That would likely make the deck uninhabitable for most humanoids as well. We still need to get to Sickbay and try and extend our forcefield modulation around the bridge.
Breys: Once we make it to Sickbay, there should be some cryogenic equipment. Maybe we can use that as a deterrent.
It was a bit of a long shot, these things weren’t exact warts.
MacKenzie: What about to get a message to one of the other teams? See if they can help?
Bergmen: We could hack into the ship’s PAGA system. Where there’s power, there’s an announcement system. The only thing is... others will be able to hear us, but they can’t answer, so... unless someone has a better idea?
Munro: I've already sent a communication using the computer system to engineering and it was acknowledged by Lt. K'Wara. If we can hijack the same PAGA network, we can use it to interface directly with the commbadges. Essentially turning the commbadges into speakers. But we can only do that from Sickbay as we don't have a functioning access to the core from the Armoury.
Breys: So… It sounds like we need to keep moving?
Her question was answered by the motions of Bergmen. While everyone else in the room seemed to think the answer was yes, he managed to turn it around with little effort.
There was an art that could be seen while watching a Starfleet officer do what they know best.
Bergmen: C'mon, be good, work with me a little…
Munro: It's not connected to the rest of the computer core. I think the security suites proximity to engineering is what's even allowing it to be functional. Considering we didn't adjust the modulation on this deck it would assume that the engineering team has adjusted as per my instructions.
Munro stepped in alongside Bergmen, giving another example of that signature Starfleet grace under fire.
Munro: You'll need to establish connection to the core or you'll get nowhere. If you intercept the shipwide PAGA protocols which will be offline, insert the standard away team protocol, add each of the unique identifiers for all active commbadges that should allow you to do it.
The slams against the door echoed off of each of their minds. It seemed to be rattling the sentience of Munro the most. All of them except Mackenzie looked more hollow now. Each scream took a part of them with it, and they didn’t have many parts to spare.
Breys: I think we’re running out of time!
MacKenzie: Response
With a flourish all of the final details were entered, all of their combadges chirped in unison.
Bergmen: Whoever's combadge just chirped is connected to the system!
Munro: Don't get too excited, Mister Bergmen. Captain, the power we're using is causing a system wide shutdown. You've got one or two messages before I need to shut it down. Or we have to start all over again.
A second of communication was enough for Breys. Just some acknowledgement that they still had friends out there.
MacKenzie: Response
Breys: Do you think the uplink worked in engineering?
Bergmen: Response
K’wara: =/\= LT K’Wara here? =/\=
Any: =/\= Response =/\=
Munro worked at the console, buying them as much time as possible.
D’tin stayed quiet, time was limited and there wasn’t enough power for one of her rambles.
Bergmen/MacKenzie: Response
K’wara: =/\= We’re working on shielding Decks 1 to 3 in a modified shield, and then we’ll move to the Shuttlecraft Control Room to work on the Deflector and forward thrusters. Main Engineering’s warded against the Things, for now. Imril’s turned the temperature down far enough the Things should be thinking thrice about going in there, but it won’t work forever.
=/\=
Any: =/\= Response =/\=
Munro: That's it Captain :: regretful :: I've shut it down.
Breys: Still. ::she looks around with a sliver of a smile:: It feels like we’ve made a lot of progress, and knowing what they are working on will make our jobs a lot easier. We just have to stay ahead of those Things.
She really meant it. It seemed as if they were going to actually solve this.
Bergmen/MacKenzie: Response
Munro: But at least now we know Imril has temperature control but that will only work in the areas of the ship we have connected to the core. We know they are attracted to heat, right? I always think that you get better results with positivity than negativity. Let's give them what they want. Captain, I suggest we set off controlled explosions in the armoury, which should raise the temperature in this section of the deck, it should be enough of a distraction for us to get to Sickbay? From Sickbay we do the remodulation and then get to the Bridge? And then off this planet.
Breys: Sir, explosions could cause more damage to the hull, why don’t we create a radiant heat source instead.
Bergmen/MacKenzie: Response
Breys: We could cause a hairline rupture in one of the exhaust sections of an EPS conduit. That should allow us to create a plasma jet hotter than any explosion could get, but still small enough that it won’t cause significant damage to the ship, even if it gets a little out of control. The fire suppression network can put it out once we restore power to secondary systems. If we do this I wouldn’t come back in here til after we restore those systems though.
Bergmen/MacKenzie/Munro: Response
Breys: I’ll get right on it, sir!
Respecting her superior’s decision, she got to work. She prepped for their departure and set timers such that the second they stepped out the door the room would start its conversion into an oven.
Bergmen/MacKenzie/Munro: Response
As the others finished grabbing any necessary armaments, Breys finished the final bit of prep.
Breys: Ready when you all are! This place is a button push and ten seconds from making whoever comes in here ready to be plated and served.
Bergmen/MacKenzie/Munro: Response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign D’tin Breys
Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240301DB4