Post 302: Xhian, We Have A Problem

Stardate:70711.2350
Title: Xhian...We Have A Problem!
Author: Ensign Xhian
Scene: Jeffries' Tubes/Main Engineering
Time: Between "Working With Others" and ending after "Crashing Down"

Stratton and Xhian had been working on the holodeck system problems ever since they had started earlier in the day.

All attempts to establish a line communication with those on the holodeck had failed due to the fact that the virus had gotten to the entire communications system. In fact by this point the crew couldn't even use their badges to communicate aboard ship. It was only by means of a limited number of hand-held devices which operated without need of the ship's communications net that they could interact between decks at all.

As Xhian and Stratton worked on the holodeck issues, they also tried to study the actions of the Bajoran computer virus that was affecting the ship. They did this in the hope of coming up with counter measures or even better, a way to remove it from the computer altogether.

Stratton tried looking up every known computer virus noted in Starfleet records for a potential fix, but with this virus being specifically designed to attack the Flagship, they found nothing of note to remedy the situation.

During this time (using Captain Gilmore's notes) the duo continued making any repairs to the ship they could as they went, patching things up in the meantime until the cause of the problems could be rooted out.

As the hours went by, because of working in such close quarters Xhian and Stratton got to know each other a little bit better. Stratton even noticed a few times that Xhian seemed to be singing to himself as he worked. A lot of the songs Xhian sang were unfamiliar to him, but Stratton tried to hum along with Xhian anyway.

It was the start of third shift, but Xhian hadn't stopped working since yesterday, Stratton noticed. After finishing up what they could for now in the tubes, they headed back to main engineering where Xhian began checking on something that had been bothering him for awhile- the safety systems of the holodecks.

"If we can't talk to them, at least we can try to keep them safe in there." Xhian explained as Stratton's expression questioned his actions. "This is perplexing," Xhian frowned, seeing on the screen the same error message that had been coming up in several other systems. Stratton's eyes grew bigger as the message blinked: 41042.

"Xhian!" Stratton seemed to lose his breath for a moment. "That is a major problem!" he thought of the safety of those inside holodeck 4.

Xhian lifted his hand-held transceiver and hailed Captain Zanh. "Captain we have a serious problem! The virus has now completely infiltrated and disabled the safety systems of the holodecks."

Zanh, hearing confirmation of her greatest fears, stood still and silent a bit before answering.

[Okay Xhian. Get the plasma torches, we're cutting them out a back door.]

"Hold on, Captain," Xhian requested "I may be able to bypass the regular safety relays and override them with another system to act as a temporary safety net for the holodecks. Please stand by."

Xhian began to work, and watching him a moment, the idea of what he was trying to accomplish clicked in Stratton's head and he began to assist. He went to another panel and began trying to reroute the holodeck program through an auxiliary relay system. They both realized that there was no way of telling for sure with all the malfunctions happening around them if the idea would work or not. They were in fact flying blind, and could only hope for the best.

"We better get those the plasma torches, just in case." Stratton said, and Xhian nodded, knowing this was plan B.

[Mr. Xhian! Status!] Zanh demanded, and Xhian sighed.

"It is my hope, Captain, that we can at least buy those in the decks some time, until we can remove them."

[Meet me on Deck 12, Jeffries tube junction beta five epsilon.] Zanh instructed, [And bring those plasma torches with you.] she paused, adding, [Great work, Ensign. Zanh out.]

Ensign Xhian
Engineering Officer
USS Independence