ILLUMINARRPG: (4 - 1430) Pilot Ensign (sg) Vic ‘Raid’ Montero/Ensign(jg) Bebe “Gunsmoke” Sheridan/Transporter Chief Frank Martin - 1430

[Dieter Gregory]

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(USS Illuminar - Deck 10 - Main Shuttle Bay - Pilot Ensign (sg) Vic 
‘Raid’ Montero/Ensign(jg) Bebe “Gunsmoke” Sheridan/Transporter Chief 
Frank Martin - 1430)


Vic sat in the pilot's seat, staring at the controls. “So we have a 
transporter rigged to the sensors and who knows what else. We have some 
strange isolinear chips in the computer here, and some connections in 
the controls that don’t make sense.”


“We’re going to need to pull these chips at some point, and try to 
figure out what makes them so special,” he said. “Should I get one of 
the messy children outside to do that?”


Frank chuckled, in spite of the seriousness of the situation.  He wasn’t 
particularly enjoying what he was looking at.  “Well you know it’s 
easier to replace one of them than one of us.  What about Cadet Tuttle, 
he’s a gung ho hero type?”


“Sure, what could go wrong?” Vic asked.


“Weeellll,” Frank considered the question, “considering that that chip,” 
he pointed to one of the isolinear chips with his tricorder, “looks like 
some kind of fail safe switch, he could blow us out into the vacuum of 
space where we die a horrible and agonizing death.  On the bright side, 
it wouldn’t last long.”


“I’m pretty sure the Captain might object,” Vic replied dryly. “Do you 
think you can deactivate said switch? It does us no good to have a 
shuttle we can’t fly, with who knows what issues lurking around the corner.”


Frank got under the panel and looked at it upside down, while scanning 
with his tricorder.  He shook his head.


“I don’t know,” he said finally.  “It can be done but I’d have to remove 
the chips in a specific order not to set off the failsafe.  If I make 
the wrong choice… well see this chip,” he pointed to a green isolinear 
chip, “that connects to the power supply.  You know… the warp core.  
That could get nasty.  Pretty sure the CO wouldn’t appreciate a warp 
core breach in his docking bay.  But it would speed up the clean-up 
process.”


“I see your point. So what do we do? Could those chips be isolated from 
the rest?”


Frank took a deep breath and let it out slowly, rubbing his face with 
his hand.  “I just don’t know.  Power supply.  Warp core.  Can it be 
done?  Yes.  Should it be done?  I don’t know.  Somebody really didn’t 
like this Sanchez guy.”


“That’s all well and good. I need to get this shuttle back in service. 
Or at least make sure it is safe to use. And my choices are - have 
someone remove these new chips, keep the chips in place. One may cause 
us to blow up, the other to explode. Not very good choices.”


Frank shook his head, “Makes me glad I’m only a lowly engineer.  If I 
were a pilot I might think about getting the shuttle off the ship.”


“You don’t think I haven’t thought of that?” Vic chuckled.


“Oh I’m certain you had,” Frank nodded.  “Will this bucket make it out 
of the bay?”


Vic thought for a moment. “Option 1 is that I grab another shuttle and 
tow this one out away from the ship. We could remote activate the 
controls from there and see if she powers up correctly.  Option 2 is 
that we just try to fly her out. That will require us to power her up 
and roll some dice.”


“Now, I’m a gambling man, but I like my bets in latinum, not my life. So 
what do you say Chief, to coming for a little magic carpet ride and see 
what that failsafe really does?”


Frank was quiet for a moment, looking at the set up in the chips, and 
calculating.  “What the hell.  You don’t want to live forever do you.  
I’m in.”


Vic tapped his comm badge, “Ensign Rager, we want to power the shuttle 
up with the intention of taking it out of the shuttle bay.   Can you 
clear the bay?”


=^= You sure about that Raid? =^=


“Copy that, pretty sure.  Fifty fifty shot the damned thing blows up, so 
make sure there is a transporter lock on us.  And be ready to decompress 
the bay if things go sideways.”


=^= Understood.  Give it 5 minutes ok.=^=


In the shuttle bay, the warning klaxon came to life, telling everyone to 
get to safety or be in protective gear.  Frank held his breath and 
closed his eyes as he prepared himself for the explosion that was most 
likely about to occur when Vic fired up the impulse engines.  He 
relaxed, a little, when he heard the hum of energy, and felt the 
vibrations in the deck plating, and it was not followed by a loud boom.


He looked over at Vic, “So far, so good.”


Vic nodded.  “Everything looks nominal at the moment,” he said as he 
launched a quick diagnostic.


“Lief Erickson requesting permission to depart.” Vic called out over the 
comm.


=^= Lief Erickson, permission granted. =^=


“Here goes nothing,” Vic said as he engaged the reaction control system 
(RCS) to give the shuttle some maneuvering power.


Frank began to run a continuous scan on the systems affected by the 
isolinear chips they’d uncovered, and gave Vic a thumbs up.  “Well, 
we’re not dead yet.  Things look okay down here so far.”


The shuttle started to move forward, slowly passing through the shuttle 
bay's shield.  In short order, “We have cleared the field.” Vic said.


“Well, it seems our concerns were…,” Frank began and was interrupted by 
beeping from his tricorder.   “Hold that thought.”


He began to go through the readings then scanned the chips again.  
There!  He saw power fluctuations that went through the conduits to the 
warp core.


“Ummm… this looks bad,” Martin said his general humor gone. He was all 
business. He stuck his hand in the space and then felt a zap.”


“Holy crap,” he shouted, withdrawing his hand quickly. “Well that’s 
didn’t work out the way I expected. “


He looked over at Vic. “There’s a continuous power feedback loop to the 
warp core.  This could be a real problem for us.”


Vic looked down at his controls.  “Attempting to eject the warp core.” 
he said, as he entered his command and clearance code into the system.


The buzzing of an illegal command was the response.


“Well that went well,” he replied.


“Illuminar, this Lief Erickson.  We may have a problem.”


=^=  State your problem =^= came the response.


“We are trying to figure that out.”


=^= We are monitoring power fluxuations in the warp core. =^=


“Don’t we know it.” Vic said sarcastically.


“So Frank, think  you can bypass or stop the loop?”


Frank’s fingers were already flying over the controls. By the time he 
had shunted the loop through one avenue a new one cropped up, followed 
by another. It was all happening faster than he could make the necessary 
changes.


He shook his head, “Nope. This overload is going to happen. Whoever 
figured this out had way more time to set it up than we have to undo it. 
We’re looking at a breach in about 30 seconds.  If we jettison the core 
now…. we’re too close to the Illuminar.”


‘What’s the safe distance?” Vic asked.


“For a warp core overload?  As far away as possible.” Frank said, 
dripping with sarcasm.  “I’d say punch in the warp drive into space away 
from the ship and we transport off as you engage the engines.  The good 
news is that it won’t make the situation worse.”


“Illuminar this is the Lief Erickson.  I am declaring an emergency.  We 
have an imminent warp core breach.  Request an emergency beam out on my 
command.”

Vic turned to Frank, “Any chance we can pull those chips before we 
leave?” he asked.


Frank had already been on the task.  He reached in and quickly pulled 
out the chips that he knew had caused the problem.  He wanted that 
transporter chip, and the one that connected to the warp core.  Then he 
pick out a the adjacent chips that held the sensor logs, and repair 
logs.  He’d at least get a chance to see who was going to be credited 
for making the changes.


“Already got them,” he said standing up.  “I’m ready when you are.  Time 
to get out of Dodge.”


VIc nodded.  He set the coordinates into the nav computer, and put a 30 
second delay on them.  “Illuminar, two to beam over.”


Standing next to Frank, he waited. “Illuminar, anytime would be nice.”


=^= There is some interference Sir.  We are working on it =^=


Vic looked at Frank, “What was that you said?  You only live once?”


Glancing at the controls, Vic watched the countdown… 15 … 14 … 13 …


“Now would be good,” he said as the countdown hit 10 …


=^= Energizing =^= came the voice over the comm


The magic embrace of the transporter beam dematerialized them as the 
countdown hit 1 and the shuttle jumped to warp speed.



(Reply None)

(Posted by Al and Tim)

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