Lieutenant John Kendrick - Hit it!

[Jon Van Pelt]

((Ancient Lab, Surface Ring 42))

John felt a cold chill going down his spine as he thought of the horrible things the Lab might have in store for them this time.

 

Careno: Yeah, but what's it doing? Expanding the phase variance field? Getting ready to completely erase us? What?

 

With less than 4 minutes left, he knew they had little or no chance to find out what was happening, let alone stop it. Then his eyes fell on a small, oval shaped hatch on the right side of the console, barely visible to the eye.

 

Kendrick: What's that?

 

John noticed Careno frantically tampering with her tricorder, pointing it at the console. He heard a faint beep followed by a hard light field that encapsulated the console.

 

Careno: There, you should be able to interact with it now. Fingers crossed.

 

He walked over to the side of the console, kneeled down next to it and tried to open it.

 

Kendrick: ::grimacing:: Dammit. ::grunting:: Looks like it's-

 

And then he heard a clicking sound. He smiled as he managed to unlock the hatch, revealing part of the console's circuitry. He reached for his belt just as he realised he gave his tricorder to Careno earlier.

 

Kendrick: ::looking up, at Careno:: Quick, Ensign, can you take a scan of these circuits? If we can figure out what their function is, perhaps we can shut it down.

 

Careno: Okay, okay, this is it. The good news is this console's independently powered, the bad news is I can't for the life of me figure out what kind of power system it uses. Any hints, Thand?

 

Thand: response 

 

John got back up on his feet as he took a step aside, making room for Careno who immediately reached into the hatch and pulled out a glowing cable, waving it in Thand's direction.

 

Careno: Cable. Port. Download please.

 

Thand: Response

 

Careno: ::biting her bottom lip in concentration:: I love you, too.

 

Beads of sweat were slowly forming on his forehead. He wiped them off with the back of his left hand as he shook his head, wondering how these two still had the energy left to argue, especially in a situation like this. With probably less than 3 minutes left, he knew it was pointless to comment on their behaviour.

 

Thand: Response

 

Luckily Thand was able to connect his padd with the console through the cable port.

 

Careno: Okay, start looking for something that could be the power source. If we can disconnect it, this phase variance field should just go away.

 

John kneeled down again, peering down the small opening and into the console's bowel, trying to get a glimpse of something that might resemble some kind of power source. 

 

Kendrick: ::frustrated:: Why didn't I bring a frakking torch?! ::looking up at Careno:: How much time have we got left.

 

He closed his eyes and cursed inwardly as he saw her shaking her head. Time was running out. As he opened his eyes again, he looked at Thand, hoping the Tellarite had been able to find something like an emergency shutdown button.

 

Kendrick: Any luck trying hacking into the system? ::at Careno:: Any chance this thing might blow up?

 

Careno: I've got no idea. But I'd rather not stick around to find out.

 

Thand: response 

 

John got back up on his feet, wiping off his sweaty hands on his pants.

 

Kendrick: ::at Thand:: Do it!

 

Careno: response 

 

He looked over at the console screen, there was only one glyph left and it changed every second.

 

Kendrick: We're out of sync from the rest of the universe, which means we might as well be dead already. ::at Thand, firmly:: Do it, Thand. That's an order, dammit!

 

Thand: response 

 

Any: response 

TAG/TBC

Lieutenant John Kendrick

Acting Chief Security and Tactical

USS Juneau, NX-99801

J239801JK3