MSNPC Joakim Aduko - Hello, CR. Have you tried turning it off and on again? [Part 2/2]

[Tess Evinrude]

((Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))

((OOC: Tags for Kel and Esot in this part.))

Esot: So don't let them get past you. ::smiling grimly:: Give 'em hell, Chief. ::to Aduko:: I would ask you to remain, if you please - you are my good luck charm. So far.

Aduko: ::Twice in as many minutes, someone's words caused Joakim to whirl around in surprise.:: That's the nicest thing a Cardassian has ever said to me. ::He took a few steps closer to the ensign, curious to see her new subroutine but also curious to get a better look at its creator.::

Kel: Response

Soldu started for the exit, sealing his helmet along the way. Joakim's attention was drawn away from Esot, and he noticed a curious finality in his friend's demeanor.

tr'Kharis: ::to Solana, squaring his incredibly triangular shoulders:: Then I will accompany you. Show you the route they will likely take. They are like crystalline insects, creatures of habit. If we intercept them, perhaps there is a way I can help deter them from their course of action.

Kel: Response

Their Orion opened the door, clearing corners while aiming her weapon. Soldu, however, paused for a moment on the threshold, twisting his head around to find Joakim and offer a solemn nod.

tr'Kharis: I leave you in command of the base…of our peop…personnel. Don’t worry about what you think I would do. Do what you think is right as you always have, Joakim. ::stepping close to Aduko for a moment:: And if I do not return… my friend… Jolan’tru.

The Orion tucked his own helmet under his left arm and closed the distance between them with a few confident strides.

Since Joakim's arrival this station during the brief, chaotic Romulan Free State era, the administrator had never been cruel, never condescending. Cold, yes, and certainly calculating in the way that all Romulans of the old guard had to be. Together, they had navigated this no-win scenario as best they could and, though they were both guilty in its creation, the reactor had claimed fewer lives due to their actions over the years. He was sure of that.

Aduko: Jolan'tru, Shodar. ::Joakim reached out his suited right forearm to meet Soldu's, and looked into his eyes.:: I'll get our people out...and save a spot for you.

Soldu clasped his forearm firmly, then turned without hesitation and followed the Starfleet woman into the corridor.

Solana: I suggest you seal this door behind me. I’ll signal when it’s clear. 

The Orion gave a signal, and Joakim keyed the door's controls to close it and program in a command override. He removed a grease pen from a pocket of the environmental suit and wrote the code directly on the wall above the keypad: 0-1-1-8-9-9-9. In Romulan numerals, of course.

Behind him, the Cardassian broke his moment of silence.

Esot: Can you think of a reason I wouldn't be able to make a connection between the powerplants and the reactor's coolant processing? The computer accepts the command, in fact doesn't even spit out an error, but it does not actually make the connection.

Aduko: ::Softly.:: What? ::Louder, coming back to the present.:: It's...not connecting? ::He strode back across the room, helmet still tucked under his left arm.::

Kel: Response

Esot: It's a serious problem. I am nearly through completing the entire process, this is the second to last thing I need to accomplish before we can kick off the new cooling. Damned Romulan technology.

Aduko: ::With a frown, Joakim took up a spot looking over the woman's shoulder. He wasn't completely fluent in Romulan code, but he knew enough to understand that her work wasn't the problem.:: Your code looks solid...the two systems are showing online...

Kel: Response

Joakim powered up of the terminals that hadn't been blasted by weapons fire. He opened up a readout of the coolant system. There wasn't much he could do from the computers here in the Hab, but he was at least able to run some basic in-built diagnostics. He started with an integrity comparison.

Esot: ::sighing:: If I have to stop here, I have to clear out all of the work I've already done and start over from square one. I don't particularly want to do that.

Kel: Response

Esot: Have you ever heard of Praxis?

The Orion didn't see the woman mime an explosion with her hands. He was in the middle of an epiphany.

Aduko: Checksum error. ::He turned away from the console, pointing at the alert message.:: The reactor's cooling system, has probably been through one helmata of a temporal event. It's still operational, but...there's a discrepancy, maybe as simple as a corrupt system clock.

Kel/Esot: Response

Aduko: There are backups stored, uh...Computing Resources. They kept all that organized...and the CR office is actually in the admin section, here in the Hab.

Kel/Esot: Response

[Tags/TBC]

--

Joakim Aduko
2IC & Research Lead
The Lid

--as simmed by--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

R240111TE1