Lt. Commander Dekas - At least we can say we tried turning it off and then back on again.
Ace Christensen
(( Dyson Sphere, Computer Core Chamber[?] ))
JoNz: I’ve got something!
Dekas: Oh, you are marvelous.
He already appreciated JoNz despite only knowing her for the short time he currently had. And he was impressed as he half watched her removing a small bypass attachment node from her utility belt and place it on the main interlink wire.
The little device hummed a shrill tune as it meshed with the older tech. The node flashed red and then amber and then green, indicating that it had been able to prevent the cascade of the alarm and had access to secondary systems.
And then JoNz was caught by an electrical discharge blast and knocked backward off her knees to land flat on her back. His immediate desire was to make sure that she was okay. Core be damned, JoNz was a living person. The rest could wait. But there were two people present with actual experience in the realm of physical medicine who could help her more than he could.
Rouiancet: JoNz, are you alright? Ragh?
JoNz/Ragh: Responses
On the main console screen, new instructions formed.
/// Emergency protocol disengaged ///
/// Computer core available ///
/// Input security clearance: Bypassed ///
A section of the flooring flashed for a moment with inset runner lights and then slid back to reveal a tertiary section just under the main console; the core was visible.
Dekas: I’ll do what I can to remove this carefully.
And he was so grateful for the experience as an Engineer on another such structure. Even if the other one was in a different quadrant entirely, and likely made by different beings. But there was something to be said for getting the practice on potentially delicate engineering work on things you didn’t know much about.
Rouiancet: Please! But be careful, and let us know if you need assistance.
JoNz/Ragh: Response
After a few minutes, he knew he had it, and he let out a breath that he knew he’d been holding, and was relieved to know nothing seemed to be broken. He was certain STATION would do something bad if he’d broken something.
Dekas: Core retrieved. (a beat) thank you, STATION.
He knew he didn’t have to say it, but he felt inclined, given that the other present AI in the area was as much of a struggle as it was. It was pretty nice to have one that didn’t talk them in circles. Though he hoped whoever was talking to the KC on the Butler had made any headway with making it talk fewer circles, perhaps.
Rouiancet: Is that it? (indicating the core) Is it heavy?
Ragh/JoNz: Response
Dekas: Is JoNz alright?
He didn’t need to know her well to be concerned.
Ragh/JoNz: Response
Dekas: (nodding) Did the KC ever say what it wanted us to do with this? And more importantly, what are we doing with it instead?
Because he was fairly certain they weren’t just following orders of the Continuance just because it told them to.
Rouiancet: Ah! No, it didn't, but (holding up her tricorder) Stella, on Colonel Greaves' team, has sent along a few updates and warnings. I think that we just mooted the warnings, thankfully, but the updates include that the Continuance wants the core for some kind of update to its software.
Well, with what they currently knew, they couldn’t do that could they? They couldn’t lose the negotiation possibilities to something that, at least up to this point in his knowledge, was fairly uncooperative in that way. They needed something. And right now, this seemed to be going a little better for them, it seemed.
Ragh/JoNz: Responses
Rouiancet: But your second question, Dekas -- what are we doing instead? We have some bargaining power now.
Dekas: I think it may be as simple as having the bargaining chip as a starting point. I suppose it depends on how the people talking to the KC are doing. But I’m not sure that we can ask them directly depending on how they’re doing in this situation.
Ragh/JoNz: Responses
Rouiancet: I'd like to get back to Fledgling, but (beat) the Continuance may know when we return. Perhaps it's better to remain on the Sphere for now, or even to meet up with the other teams. (looking around) Thoughts? Speak freely.
They didn’t get much time to respond before a different voice was heard.
Stella: =/\=Captain, the Station is set to self-destruct in three minutes and twenty eight seconds. Unless the core is replaced, there is no way to deactivate the sequence. =/\=
Some part of him wanted to laugh. Just a little. It wasn’t that he thought it was funny. Of course, it wasn’t funny that there was a big risk of exploding. But between the fact of being very new to the ship, the AI hostage situation, and this… he was a little tired. Talk about jet lag.
oO Well, at least we can say we tried turning it off and then back on again. Oo
Dekas: ::clicking his beak in something close to amusement:: Oh, well, pluck me, then. It looks like I should have waited a few extra minutes to do this.
He did, however, suppose the goal was to replace it.
Ragh/JoNz/Rouiancet: Responses
Dekas: Honestly, I can always use the Engineering practice to keep my skills up to date. It’ll be close, I think, but it shouldn’t take me long to replace the core where it was.
Ragh/JoNz/Rouiancet: Responses
Dekas went just as carefully back into replacing it. Maybe more carefully. If he messed it up when they were about to explode, he’d be at least partially at fault for them exploding. And it was fairly delicate being as old as it was, and as somewhat unfamiliar as it was on this particular megastructure.
But he’d taken it apart, which meant it could be put back together.
Dekas: Core replaced!
The problem was they didn’t have all that much time for whatever it was that needed to happen to stop the self-destruct.
Ragh/JoNz/Rouiancet/Other?: Responses
Tags / TBC…
—
(OOC: the “other” tag there is like Stella, the other members of that team possibly, or the Continuance if applicable or necessary. Just covering my bases a bit.)
Lt. Commander Dekas
Counselor
USS Octavia E. Butler
J239802D12
Pronouns: They/she/he (player), He/him (character)