Lt. Cmdr. V'Len Kel - Wrong way on a one way track
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Don K
Feb 13, 2026, 11:40:19 AMFeb 13
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((Control Center, Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
With Solana and tr'Kharis on their way to interecept the Tholians, V'Len, Esot and Aduko once more set out to solve the problem of the runaway reactor. The room was mostly silent, though there were the dull sounds of instruments whirring and beeping as they worked to keep the situation under control. V'Len once more considered the room itself. It was old, clearly from an era when the Romulan Empire was far more effective than it was today. Smoke and dust hung in the air. The metallic taste was still in his mouth, evidence of the continued presence of radiation. The room looked as if it had been patched up more than once with non-standard parts. Ensign Esot broke the 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.::
V'Len walked over to look behind the pair. He'd dealt with injuries where a given limb lost feeling or movement. These were most always the result of a disconnection somewhere.
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: Perhaps a physical part of the system had been damaged?
He didn't hope so, but he wasn't sure what else it could be.
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: That's not ideal. Is one of our teams in a position to check the system?
Esot: Have you ever heard of Praxis?
V'Len had and did not want the reminder.
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: Can we reset the clock ::pause:: or tell the system the time doesn't matter?
Esot: ::thoughtfully:: Resetting it seems the better bet, I think. There's enough automation here that declaring the time obsolete could wreck even more. If we can determine when the corruption first started, we should be able to roll the clock back to synchronize again. That may also require a system restore.
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: Based on our Tholian visitors, I don't think a field trip is the best option. Can we access what we need from here?
Esot: With Aduko's help, I believe so. We'll need to locate the correct system file and repackage it for the system restore. That part shouldn't take too long - it's the system coming back up after that might cause a problem. ::to Kel:: How does the reactor look?
V'Len stepped around the terminal and once again to look at the reactor status.
Kel: Looks like containment is still good.
Esot: I will need to step back a few steps in the process here while Aduko works on the system restore. Most of this will be wiped out, but I should be able to stash some of this work in a small section of memory and pull it back in after.
Aduko: ::Tapping away at the console.:: I do have authority to find and check out the files for the cooling system. I'm hoping that the reactor will accept a remote file integration...
V'Len waited as the pair continued to wrestle with the control of the generator backup. He was unclear how much success they were having.
Kel: Is there a manual override? Commander Tucker's team is nearby I could send them to get the generator going.
Esot: You'll know better than me, but looking at the schematics, I believe so. They would be able to determine if and where a physical disconnect is located, fix it, and establish the connection with the cooling unit without most of the work I have to do to complete it remotely.
Aduko: We will, unfortunately, need to do that. I was able to pull the correct backup, and it's checksum is showing green...no corruption. But...the reactor still won't accept a remote connection.
The Orion turned around to look at Kel.
Aduko: Your team by the reactor will need to manually reset the cooling system. Once it comes back online, it will accept the queued file update and then... ::He turned to the Cardassian.:: What was your name again?
V'Len took a step back and let the two work. He himself queried the computer about the aperture that was used to draw power from the alternate Ross-580. the system seemed be a ring with what was likely some kind of accelerator within it. There was no actual physical "door", which meant that whatever kind of energy the ring was creating was the door. The ring glowed yellow at the moment and V'Len was not sure how it looked normally.
Kel: So this ring that acts as the aperture, is it safe to assume it's some kind of particle accelerator?
Esot: ::brows raising:: That's what it looks like from here - it seems to resemble a collider, though at a scale much smaller than I've ever seen. It almost looks like a… gateway.
Aduko: One thing at a time, Captain, please. ::He said neutrally, noticing what nosy Antennae had found.:: Call your other team, tell them we need to reset the reactor's cooling system. It's down on the lower level, by the pit. ::He frowned.:: Tell them to be careful. It's not going to be pleasant down there.
V'Len did not relish the idea of sending his teams deeper into the reactor. It meant less ability to transport them out. Still if the message from Karrod was to be believed, he had little or no choice.
Kel: I'll send if I have to, but I want to make sure there are no other options.
V'Len let out a long sigh.
Kel: And I want an egress route for them. I'll look for a place to get a shuttle down there.
Esot: I have completed my work - if you have finished packaging the system restore, we should push it to the system now.
Aduko: It's ready to send. Your program to sync up the reactor's cooling system with the powerplants should buy us a lot of time. ::He smiled.:: You know, we're hiring. Would you consider a cycle's contract as a subroutine author?
Kel: I think you'll find the Federation's benefits package better Ensign ::looking at the display:: Could we get a small shuttle down here?
Esot: Are chronitons used in that ring, Aduko? If so, perhaps that is the source of the particles that are manipulating the Sencha waves.
Aduko: Ah. Yes. ::He took a beat, considering what to share, and turned back towards the Starfleet officers.:: That, not the reactor itself, is the most advanced research piece this station has ever produced on-site. We, not the Lattice Alliance, developed it to...forge the link between this station and the alternate-universe Ross 580.
He turned back to his terminal and pushed out the system update, hoping some good news might distract them from digging too deeply into the valuable tech.
Aduko: The system update is out, confirmed sent. Now we wait. When will your security detail return?
Kel: When they've dealt with the Tholian situation.
Esot: Response
Aduko: ::He sighed.:: The gateway won't function without the Sencha reactor. Without its unique power signature, we couldn't generate the chronitons required to sustain such a...portal.
Kel: How do we shut it down?
Esot: Response
Aduko: It would all be...for nothing! The lives lost, the time spent here working under their crystalline thumbs... ::He practically snarled, at that, and took a moment to cool down.:: Of course we knew...they would weaponize it. But what choice did we have, hm? Sound the alarm, tell the galactic community that they need to step in? If the Federation, the Klingons, ANYONE came here to save the day...they would just take the research for themselves!
V'Len's eyes narrowed.
Kel: Believe me when I say we have no interesting in taking this research. My only interest is to stop it, permanently.
Esot: Response
V'Len's comm badge chirped and he stepped back slightly.
Morgan: =/\= Morgan to Kel, we’ve encountered more than one problem. I’m shutting down the power transfer now; otherwise, the feedback will overload several Ronin systems. =/\=
Kel: =/\= Lieutenant, that could cause us to lose containment down here. =/\=
Morgan: =/\= I know, sir. I don’t have any other choice. If I had other options, I would have brought those up first. =/\=
Kel: =/\= Do what you have to do to keep the ship intact. We'll see what we can do down here. =/\= ::turning to Akudo and Esot:: They can't maintain the power transfer.
Morgan: =/\= Aye, sir. Shutting it down.=/\=
Aduko/Esot: Response
The channel remained open and V'Len's antennae twisted as the sounds coming from the Ronin took a violent turn. He hardly dared to breath.
Kel: ::worried:: =/\= Lt. Morgan? Report. =/\=
Morgan: I didn’t get it shut down in time. We didn’t take the full brunt of that, but we still got knocked around a bit. I’ll have to get back to you, Skipper. Several systems are cooked; I’ll know more in a few minutes. Morgan out…
Kel: ::relieved:: =/\= Keep me apprised. =/\=
Dohna: =/\= Captain, there's another problem. One of our probes is detecting… =/\=
The channel closed. Whatever the extra problem was, he hoped it was minor and easy to deal with.
Kel: What now? Without containment, the power will surge again. We need that coolant or we need an off switch.
Aduko/Esot: Response
V'Len began pacing once more. His combadge chirped again and V'Len raised his hand to his face to massage his temples.
Kel: =/\= Go. =/\=
Vomek: =/\= Sir, Major Singh is ::beat:: upset. She wants you and Commander Tucker back on the ship or she'll come bring you back herself. =/\=
It was hardly news that Major Singh was in a bad mood. No one was enjoying the situation, but such was life in Starfleet.
Vomek: =/\= Oh, and sir, there's also an unknown vessel entering the system. =/\=
V'Len nearly fell over.
Kel: =/\= I think you buried the lead lieutenant. Stand by I'll be back shortly. =/\=
Aduko/Esot: Response
Tags/TBC
--
With Solana and tr'Kharis on their way to interecept the Tholians, V'Len, Esot and Aduko once more set out to solve the problem of the runaway reactor. The room was mostly silent, though there were the dull sounds of instruments whirring and beeping as they worked to keep the situation under control. V'Len once more considered the room itself. It was old, clearly from an era when the Romulan Empire was far more effective than it was today. Smoke and dust hung in the air. The metallic taste was still in his mouth, evidence of the continued presence of radiation. The room looked as if it had been patched up more than once with non-standard parts. Ensign Esot broke the 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.::
V'Len walked over to look behind the pair. He'd dealt with injuries where a given limb lost feeling or movement. These were most always the result of a disconnection somewhere.
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: Perhaps a physical part of the system had been damaged?
He didn't hope so, but he wasn't sure what else it could be.
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: That's not ideal. Is one of our teams in a position to check the system?
Esot: Have you ever heard of Praxis?
V'Len had and did not want the reminder.
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: Can we reset the clock ::pause:: or tell the system the time doesn't matter?
Esot: ::thoughtfully:: Resetting it seems the better bet, I think. There's enough automation here that declaring the time obsolete could wreck even more. If we can determine when the corruption first started, we should be able to roll the clock back to synchronize again. That may also require a system restore.
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: Based on our Tholian visitors, I don't think a field trip is the best option. Can we access what we need from here?
Esot: With Aduko's help, I believe so. We'll need to locate the correct system file and repackage it for the system restore. That part shouldn't take too long - it's the system coming back up after that might cause a problem. ::to Kel:: How does the reactor look?
V'Len stepped around the terminal and once again to look at the reactor status.
Kel: Looks like containment is still good.
Esot: I will need to step back a few steps in the process here while Aduko works on the system restore. Most of this will be wiped out, but I should be able to stash some of this work in a small section of memory and pull it back in after.
Aduko: ::Tapping away at the console.:: I do have authority to find and check out the files for the cooling system. I'm hoping that the reactor will accept a remote file integration...
V'Len waited as the pair continued to wrestle with the control of the generator backup. He was unclear how much success they were having.
Kel: Is there a manual override? Commander Tucker's team is nearby I could send them to get the generator going.
Esot: You'll know better than me, but looking at the schematics, I believe so. They would be able to determine if and where a physical disconnect is located, fix it, and establish the connection with the cooling unit without most of the work I have to do to complete it remotely.
Aduko: We will, unfortunately, need to do that. I was able to pull the correct backup, and it's checksum is showing green...no corruption. But...the reactor still won't accept a remote connection.
The Orion turned around to look at Kel.
Aduko: Your team by the reactor will need to manually reset the cooling system. Once it comes back online, it will accept the queued file update and then... ::He turned to the Cardassian.:: What was your name again?
V'Len took a step back and let the two work. He himself queried the computer about the aperture that was used to draw power from the alternate Ross-580. the system seemed be a ring with what was likely some kind of accelerator within it. There was no actual physical "door", which meant that whatever kind of energy the ring was creating was the door. The ring glowed yellow at the moment and V'Len was not sure how it looked normally.
Kel: So this ring that acts as the aperture, is it safe to assume it's some kind of particle accelerator?
Esot: ::brows raising:: That's what it looks like from here - it seems to resemble a collider, though at a scale much smaller than I've ever seen. It almost looks like a… gateway.
Aduko: One thing at a time, Captain, please. ::He said neutrally, noticing what nosy Antennae had found.:: Call your other team, tell them we need to reset the reactor's cooling system. It's down on the lower level, by the pit. ::He frowned.:: Tell them to be careful. It's not going to be pleasant down there.
V'Len did not relish the idea of sending his teams deeper into the reactor. It meant less ability to transport them out. Still if the message from Karrod was to be believed, he had little or no choice.
Kel: I'll send if I have to, but I want to make sure there are no other options.
V'Len let out a long sigh.
Kel: And I want an egress route for them. I'll look for a place to get a shuttle down there.
Esot: I have completed my work - if you have finished packaging the system restore, we should push it to the system now.
Aduko: It's ready to send. Your program to sync up the reactor's cooling system with the powerplants should buy us a lot of time. ::He smiled.:: You know, we're hiring. Would you consider a cycle's contract as a subroutine author?
Kel: I think you'll find the Federation's benefits package better Ensign ::looking at the display:: Could we get a small shuttle down here?
Esot: Are chronitons used in that ring, Aduko? If so, perhaps that is the source of the particles that are manipulating the Sencha waves.
Aduko: Ah. Yes. ::He took a beat, considering what to share, and turned back towards the Starfleet officers.:: That, not the reactor itself, is the most advanced research piece this station has ever produced on-site. We, not the Lattice Alliance, developed it to...forge the link between this station and the alternate-universe Ross 580.
He turned back to his terminal and pushed out the system update, hoping some good news might distract them from digging too deeply into the valuable tech.
Aduko: The system update is out, confirmed sent. Now we wait. When will your security detail return?
Kel: When they've dealt with the Tholian situation.
Esot: Response
Aduko: ::He sighed.:: The gateway won't function without the Sencha reactor. Without its unique power signature, we couldn't generate the chronitons required to sustain such a...portal.
Kel: How do we shut it down?
Esot: Response
Aduko: It would all be...for nothing! The lives lost, the time spent here working under their crystalline thumbs... ::He practically snarled, at that, and took a moment to cool down.:: Of course we knew...they would weaponize it. But what choice did we have, hm? Sound the alarm, tell the galactic community that they need to step in? If the Federation, the Klingons, ANYONE came here to save the day...they would just take the research for themselves!
V'Len's eyes narrowed.
Kel: Believe me when I say we have no interesting in taking this research. My only interest is to stop it, permanently.
Esot: Response
V'Len's comm badge chirped and he stepped back slightly.
Morgan: =/\= Morgan to Kel, we’ve encountered more than one problem. I’m shutting down the power transfer now; otherwise, the feedback will overload several Ronin systems. =/\=
Kel: =/\= Lieutenant, that could cause us to lose containment down here. =/\=
Morgan: =/\= I know, sir. I don’t have any other choice. If I had other options, I would have brought those up first. =/\=
Kel: =/\= Do what you have to do to keep the ship intact. We'll see what we can do down here. =/\= ::turning to Akudo and Esot:: They can't maintain the power transfer.
Morgan: =/\= Aye, sir. Shutting it down.=/\=
Aduko/Esot: Response
The channel remained open and V'Len's antennae twisted as the sounds coming from the Ronin took a violent turn. He hardly dared to breath.
Kel: ::worried:: =/\= Lt. Morgan? Report. =/\=
Morgan: I didn’t get it shut down in time. We didn’t take the full brunt of that, but we still got knocked around a bit. I’ll have to get back to you, Skipper. Several systems are cooked; I’ll know more in a few minutes. Morgan out…
Kel: ::relieved:: =/\= Keep me apprised. =/\=
Dohna: =/\= Captain, there's another problem. One of our probes is detecting… =/\=
The channel closed. Whatever the extra problem was, he hoped it was minor and easy to deal with.
Kel: What now? Without containment, the power will surge again. We need that coolant or we need an off switch.
Aduko/Esot: Response
V'Len began pacing once more. His combadge chirped again and V'Len raised his hand to his face to massage his temples.
Kel: =/\= Go. =/\=
Vomek: =/\= Sir, Major Singh is ::beat:: upset. She wants you and Commander Tucker back on the ship or she'll come bring you back herself. =/\=
It was hardly news that Major Singh was in a bad mood. No one was enjoying the situation, but such was life in Starfleet.
Vomek: =/\= Oh, and sir, there's also an unknown vessel entering the system. =/\=
V'Len nearly fell over.
Kel: =/\= I think you buried the lead lieutenant. Stand by I'll be back shortly. =/\=
Aduko/Esot: Response
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant Commander V'Len Kel
Acting-Captain
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
He/Him (player/character)
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