[sb118-butler] Lieutenant. J.G. Alex Forsyth - Tubes, Why Did Have To Be Tubes
Robert Forsyth
(( Operations Centre, Deck 6, USS Octavia E. Butler. ))
Forsyth: Well, I guess that's a start, huh.
Lahl: Yeah, it’s certainly something.
It also goes with Alex's earlier warning about undermining the bridge team's attempt at negotiation with the Kevara Continuance, which means they had to be more careful with their plan. She would have to be more tactful, which was easier said than done.
Arlill: If we proceed, we need to understand the risks.
O’Reilly: Certainly. We might damage any progress they’ve made :: pointing upward ::
Alex nodded, while her duties were to protect the crew and the ships from any threat. She would always prefer the more diplomatic approach over shooting, as it was something her father believed in, too.
Lahl: Well, our little fishy is going a little bit faster. However, we might still want to come up with some additional canals.
oO Well, that’s something. Oo
Arlill: How long now? :: looking at his console time :: and what is taking the ensign, the sb is on the same deck. :: frustration entering his tone ::
Forsyth: Maybe Continuance is smarter than we thought, and anticipated that we might try to use the shuttles to slip past its controls?
Lahl: Here’s what I’m thinking. We package our infectious disease treatment package as a routine diagnostician package. No one would expect that, right?
That sounded like a good idea, although Alex was a bit concerned about openly stating their plan in case the Probe was listening.
O’Reilly: Probably not ::beat:: But now I have to add a new task to my list for when this is over! Thanks a lot.
Arlill: ::laughing slightly:: Eh, there will be plenty to work on in ops when all this is done. I’m sure.
Forsyth: I’m sure you can manage it, Lieutenant.
The Tactical officer gave a reassuring smile to O’Reilly, hoping her words of encouragement would cheer him a little.
Lahl: We would just need to change a couple things from the previous attempt.
Arlill: Which things? ::beat::
Arlill: :: redirecting :: Ok, we have our new resources. They may not be as fast, but they’re available.
It was at least something, not much, but something.
O’Reilly: Good, I’ll isolate this console, pointing to one nearby, and red phone link it to the shu… ::beat:: resources.
Forsyth: Does the red phone have a direct line to a superhero?
She looked around to see if anyone got her joke, but alas, she was the only one to read old Earth comics, it seemed. Alex thought Lahl would have gotten it at least, as she showed her the old superhero comics.
Arlill: Ok ::beat, thinking for a moment:: we know the risk ::long beat, placing his hand on his chin:: do it.
Lahl: Aye sir.
Forsyth: Right, sir.
The tactical officer moved to help her Girlfriend get their plan ready, but as she worked on it, the next thing the Commander said froze her.
Arlill: Do we still need to get into the tubes?
O’Reilly: The link to the resources will be limited, I’m not sure we can do everything from this console.
Lahl: Guess we’ll be climbing.
Forsyth: Great….
Alex was not looking forward to entering the Jefferies tubes again, despite having gone through them a few times. It still made her uncomfortable, but she had little choice.
Arlill: Agreed, we go in. With the door sensors overridden, we should be invisible. I don't want us to split up ::looking at Alex and Kimonzi:: Thomas, you stay here and man ops.
O’Reilly: Yes sir.
Arlill: I hope neither of you are afraid of the dark.
Lahl: Not for a while sir.
Alex suppressed a chuckle as she had no problem with the dark, unless there was a monster or something. She spent most of her childhood outside at night, watching the stars or reading when she should have been asleep in bed.
Forsyth: :: Muttering. :: Not of the dark, just small tight spaces……
Alex realised she had not told Commander Arlill about her phobia, but it was too late for that, as they were already committed. She also did not want to disappoint him by admitting she had a fear, which means she was going to have to crawl through Jefferies tubes.
Arlill: I’ll take point ::bending down and crawling in::
The Chief Engineer followed after him, letting a groan as she entered. Her little feet disappeared from view with only her voice echoing from inside.
Lahl: How big are decks again?
Alex hesitated for a moment at the small hatch of the Jefferise tubes, as the memories of those bullies locking her inside one as a kid played in her mind. She needed to face her fears if she was going to be in starfleet, but the thought of getting trapped again weighed heavily on her.
Forsyth: :: To herself. :: Come on, Alex, you can do this….
She took a deep breath, shaking her body before crawling inside.
oO Just keep moving, just keep moving.. Oo
Arlill: Response
((Shuttle bay, Deck 6, U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler))
They had finally reached the Shuttlebay after what felt like an eternity inside, and Alex wasted no time getting out as quickly as she could once the Commander and Lahl were out.
She leaned back against the wall and took some deep breaths to relax, as well as mentally patting herself on the back for getting through it.
oO Never again…. Oo
Lahl: Damn, that took forever.
Arlill: Response
Forsyth: I’m fine, just need a minute…..
They began walking towards one of the Shuttles, with any luck, they can use them to enact their plan without the Probe noticing.
Lahl: Let’s get coding. So, routine diagnostic trojan horse, yeah?
Forsyth: I believe so, sir?
Arlill: Response
Alex got to work and input the command to modify the routine diagnostician package as a virus, helping with creating a recursive algorithm that should allow them to sneak through undetected.
Forsyth: Right, it should be ready soon.
Arlill / Lahl: Response
Forsyth: We’ll only have one shot at this, you know.
Arlill / Lahl: Response
TAG/TBC
_________________________________________________
Lieutenant. J.G. Alex Forsyth
Tactical
USS Octavia E. Butler
D239910AF1