Troubleshooting, page 7
“Right,” Corsi agreed. “Things increase in complexity. As a result, from the two hundred, we can cut out the doctors, technicians, most of security, and so on. Brings us down to some sixty-five engineers and related personnel.”
“Still a lot of people to talk to,” Lense said. Sarjenka noted the plate was empty but the doctor seemed still hungry or fidgety as she was absently picking at the vegetables on Sarjenka’s own unfinished plate.
“No kidding,” Corsi grumbled. “It’s someone living here; I’m certain of it.”
“Why?”
“Because we’ve pretty much ruled out the people who come and go on a regular basis.”
“And why not someone who is good at staying off the sensor grid?” Sarjenka asked.
Corsi paused and looked quizzically at the Dreman. Sarjenka swallowed under the gaze and forged ahead.
“We know there have been shapeshifters, spies, and others who are quite talented at not being detected. A station this big is filled with hiding spots. It could be the work of someone who has been living here, but is not Starfleet, and is breaking the station down on purpose.”
Frowning, Corsi asked, “Who benefits?”
“What?” Lense replied.
“I’ve been wrestling with this,” Corsi said to Lense, who started looking at the padd Corsi had laid down. Sarjenka glanced at her own plate to note that not only the vegetables but most of her fish had vanished. “Gomez, Tev, Kesh-Mara, and others have all been through this. Who gets an advantage from DS10 being crippled? Who would get an advantage big enough to invest eight months or more in keeping the station in less than perfect condition?”
There was silence as her words settled in everyone’s minds. Sarjenka realized just how much there was to serving in Starfleet, how many disciplines and points of view had to be considered. While it was one thing to learn that in class or in a simulation, this was something else entirely. And Corsi was listening to her, so she had to pick her words carefully. After all, she had just seen what happens when you annoy her, thinking of the way even a veteran like Fesoan cringed a bit under her wrath.
“Someone’s benefiting,” Lense said. “Or paying off a debt.”
“Really,” Lauoc said before Corsi could react.
“Sure. Some people will sell out their own families rather than lose their lives to the Orions or even pissed-off Nausicaans.
“You’ve got this list of engineers,” Lense continued. “The notations next to each name seem pretty uniform. Clean background checks before the posting. No serious infractions, no major rewards. Except one, this guy, Ajit Ross. Look at how many commendations he’s received over the last six months.”
“A logical outcome from the engineers fixing all the problems,” Corsi said, taking the padd from the doctor.
“But why does he have so many more?”
“He’s really good?” Lauoc suggested.
Corsi didn’t reply and looked intently at the padd and its reports. The silence built among the four and Sarjenka thought through what had been discussed and what Lense had observed. Something started to take shape in her mind but she didn’t want to mislead Corsi or be proven wrong in front of Lense. She had to be certain.
“Doctor, may I see the padd?” Sarjenka asked as mildly as possible.
Lense looked up, then back at the padd, thumbed a control, and then casually passed it over. Sarjenka, feeling more comfortable for the moment, quickly checked Ross’s record and then compared it with several others. She remained uncertain if she was right and therefore maybe she should keep the notion to herself until there was more information.
Then again, the exchange of ideas had been fairly free without criticism so far, so what could be the worst that happened?
Her mind ran through the worst-case scenarios she could imagine and decided to speak up anyway. “I have a thought,” she began and then continued when all eyes were on her. As she finished, Corsi nodded thoughtfully, Lauoc seemed confused, and Lense didn’t seem convinced.
“I disagree,” she finally said.
Sarjenka fell silent. She took a deep breath and decided now was a good time to see how long she could hold it.
“But why?” Corsi asked.
“Won’t know until we ask, right?” Lauoc said.
“Right,” Corsi agreed. Looking directly at Sarjenka with a serious expression, she continued. “This is worth taking to the captain for consideration. And you’re going to do the explaining.”
As Pattie, tired and a little achy, entered the command center, she saw Gold and Kesh-Mara deep in conversation with Commanders Gomez and Tev, Doctors Lense and Sarjenka, Lieutenant Conlon, Commander Corsi, and the station’s security chief, Fesoan. They looked expectantly over at the structural specialist, clearly seeking a solution to the station’s woes. She shook her head in the negative and then stood silently among the group.
“Did you find anything, Blue?” Gold asked.
“The firm that built the station has a sound reputation, as does Kesla Randu. She possesses no criminal record.”
Kesh-Mara and Gold both looked pleased with the news, although not ecstatically so.
“However, in many instances, they varied from what Starfleet’s specs called for. In several of these cases, they exceeded the specs, such as thicker hull materials. All told, though, the station is now heavier than anticipated, which actually affects some of the system settings such as air circulation and the artificial gravity. Without having these upgrades pointed out, the systems team didn’t know to make the adjustments. That was one of the reasons behind the atmospheric problem being so severe.”
“I had no idea,” Kesh-Mara said, sounding shaken.
“I will have a few words for that woman,” Tegor thundered. “More than a few, I think!”
“Just remember,” Kesh-Mara cautioned, “it sounds like these were well-intentioned.”
“Still! How can I maintain a station when I don’t even know its exact specifications? Oh, we’re going to have words. Fesoan, I want her found and in my office. Now would be good.”
Fesoan looked at Tegor, then glanced over at Kesh-Mara, who nodded once. The Andorian returned the nod and then broke apart from the group to issue the order. As he did, Pattie turned to Captain Gold and asked for an update.
“Sarjenka has an interesting theory that is worth further investigating.”
“Oh?” Now Pattie turned her attention to the Dreman, only to catch a disapproving look from Lense. She focused her attention on the doctor who was all too ready to state her objections.
“It’s a total stretch given what we know of the situation,” Lense said, sounding as if she was repeating a point. Given the lack of reaction from the others, she took that as a yes.
“Which is why I want Tegor to do some further researching before he speaks with anyone,” Kesh-Mara said in his most authoritative voice.
“Of course, sir,” Tegor replied and stepped away from the group.
Tev stepped forward and spoke. “I wish to accompany Tegor, see if I can lend a hand.”
Ah, the Nasat concluded. He’d had little to do and while he may have been a genius with equipment, he clearly didn’t understand people all that well. Now he had a chance to prove valuable and he seized it despite Conlon having been Tegor’s constant companion to date.
Conlon then became the focal point of the conversation. “With Tegor busy, may I have permission to follow our hunch?”
“I don’t see why not,” Gold said, looking at Kesh-Mara for confirmation. The commander nodded his assent and the engineer was on her way with Gomez. Pattie looked quizzically at Gold, who returned the look with a small smile.
“Conlon and Tegor have an idea and they think they know where the next problem will occur.”
Her antennae stirred at the news and Pattie looked at the remaining faces for information. She nodded in understanding as Gold and then Corsi began filling in the details. Finally, it appeared to her that the problem would be solved before any lives were lost.
Tegor had called up his duty rosters and began cross-referencing them in a hurry. Tev stood behind him, watching with his arms crossed over his barrel chest. He remained silent, trying to practice everything Gold and Gomez had told him about dealing with others. No doubt he could have more quickly done the cross-referencing using a subroutine he had developed years before, but chose not to offer it. After all, he was in a fellow officer’s domain and he had to respect the boundaries. Or so Gomez kept telling him.
But he was tempted to speak.
Tegor didn’t talk to him as his stubby fingers flew across the controls, trying to hurry the search for information. After a few silent minutes that appeared to test his wary patience, Tev saw Tegor slow down and finally turn toward him.
“They’re right. Only one engineer was there for each and every repair. And he seemed to know exactly how to fix things, faster than the others. Some of these people have twice his experience, too.”
“But why?”
“He’s human, who knows? They seem to exhibit the oddest behavior on occasion. I’ll confess I’ve never fully understood what drives them.”
“In my experience, the ones in Starfleet serve because they truly believe in the ideals the Federation was founded on. Some do it with more zeal than others but yes, the pressure to excel sometimes exacts tolls.”
“Let’s confirm this with Kesh-Mara and move forward. I want this ended.” Tegor nodded at his own words and returned to the roster profile displayed on the screen before them. The smiling face would never tip off anyone that he was a saboteur.
CHAPTER
9
“Damn,” Nancy muttered as she left the transporter pad. With an engineering tricorder in hand, she had finished scanning the platform and then the chamber itself.
“Expected it to be here, right?” Sonya asked.
“If I were a nut job, I’d have picked this next.”
“I wouldn’t,” Sonya replied.
“Why not?”
“Transporters are too sensitive. Too many things to calibrate and honestly, everything to date shows that the repairs haven’t been too complex. Time consuming, yes, but any experienced engineer could have fixed these glitches.”
“Good point. Well, this is the last transporter room; maybe we should have had this conversation six rooms ago.”
Sonya shook her head, her black hair moving freely about her face. “We’re not taking any chances. I want to eliminate every possibility before things get worse or something else goes wrong. We did it by the book and we got it right.”
“Okay, if we ratchet down a level of complexity, then the replicators would be next.”
“And not the gravity generators?”
“Too logical a step after the atmospheric units. Nothing has been that predictably linear.”
“Agreed, but which aspect of the system?”
“He left the atmospheric tanks alone, but if this increases in complexity, then it would be the nutrient tanks.”
“There are fourteen such tanks on the station,” Sonya said, consulting her tricorder.
Nancy sighed.
“And yes, we’re going to check each one before we start on the fluid tanks.” Sonya closed her tricorder and headed to the exit. The two women walked a bit toward the nearest turbolift.
“This is going to take a while, isn’t it?”
“Since we’re in agreement this needs visual inspection, the answer is yes.”
“Swell.”
“Did you have plans?”
“Who me? I never have plans.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Sonya said. “Was wondering about that.”
“About what? My lack of a social life?”
“It’s a small ship; we notice these things.”
“I would imagine you do. Just been busy adjusting to being the lead engineer and being in command of the crew.”
“You’ve been in charge for something like nine months, and you’re still getting adjusted? Now that’s cause for concern—both as your first officer and as your friend.”
Nancy shook her head in disagreement, feeling a mix of discomfort and frustration. Sonya was bringing things up that she’d rather not discuss, but clearly the first officer was looking after the crew and she couldn’t blame her. They were friends, as she said, but enough for her to open up with? After the changes to the ship since Galvan VI and the experiences they’d shared, Sonya was indeed among her closer friends. Not that she had a lot, now that she thought about it. “It’s not that, Sonya. I really just need to figure out how to have a social life with people I’m going to command in the morning.”
“Not every single person aboard works for engineering.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Nancy said. “I guess I don’t like being the subject of gossip. Look at the buzz about Corsi and Fabian before they went public.”
Sonya smiled at that, having been one of the gossipers.
“Not everyone on the ship is willing to pair up, nor is everyone to my taste. I’m not as open-minded as Dantas.”
“Or as desperate,” Sonya said with a laugh. “There must be someone on the ship…” And then she gave Nancy a wicked grin.
“If you try and fix me up with Tev, I’ll leave you in a nutrient tank.”
Sonya chuckled at that and fell silent. They arrived at the main storage room for the primary nutrient tanks. Being a visitor to the station, she needed to contact Fesoan to remotely grant her and Nancy access to the facility. She had to submit to a biometric scan, followed by a series of locks clicking open, and then the doors slid apart, finally granting them access. The cavernous room held eight of the fourteen tanks, each measuring eight by thirteen meters and connected by conduits to the replicator network. Each tank and each conduit connection had maintenance screens, all displaying a comforting green. A low hum gave the room a semblance of life as the electrohydraulic conduits fed raw fiber and nutrients to the replicator ports scattered around the station. The room was, as expected, spotless and pristine; even the conduits shined in the low light.
Waving her tricorder at the first tank, Gomez saw all the telltales match the green of the monitors. Still, a visual inspection was in order and she slowly walked around the tank while Conlon climbed a ladder to a catwalk that ringed the upper portion of the chamber. With her own tricorder, she scanned the top of the same tank and then lowered it and did a visual review. This was going to take time, time she hoped they had. She had rarely spent time with the consumables storage and distribution systems beyond some Academy work and used a guide from the tricorder to remind herself which systems would be most vulnerable. Unlike the atmospheric tanks, there was more space between the tanks that would make the inspection easier; however, there were more conduits, which meant more places for things to go wrong.
While part of her mind focused on the task at hand, another part started drifting off after the second tank passed muster. She rethought what they had seen and learned about the station and while impressed, Nancy knew she preferred having an engine room and single ship to deal with. And despite what she said to Sonya, she was fairly comfortable with her crew and her new role as chief engineer. In fact, she had that part down pat. It was the other side, living and dealing with friends who were now subordinates, that froze her. People would stop chattering when she entered the mess or break apart when she encountered a few congregating during a lull during duty shifts. She felt awkward about it and really didn’t feel entirely comfortable discussing it with Sonya, who would be the very person to understand. After all, she had supervised a former lover. On the other hand, Sonya had had nine months to grieve for Duffy and had moved on with her life. What was freezing Nancy in place?
And then Nancy herself froze.
Tucked beneath the monitor to the conduit reaching halfway down tank number five was something that didn’t look right. It was dull gray so not easily seen, but it did interfere with the clean silhouette presented by the other tanks. She aimed her tricorder at it and began taking readings while breathing cautiously through her nose. Her screen wavered and then began showing the energy signature, a low-level sonic disruptor of sorts. She read a magnetic sign as well, probably used to affix the device to the conduit.
“Sonya,” she said in a loud whisper, amazed at how quickly she shifted into a cautious mode as if her regular voice would suddenly trigger the device.
“What?” The first officer stepped around the tank and looked up to meet Nancy’s eyes, and then saw the tricorder aimed at the conduit. She followed the path and saw for herself the device.
Quickly, she tapped her combadge and summoned Fesoan and Corsi. Then she took her own readings.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know, Nancy, but it doesn’t belong here, does it?”
“Wouldn’t think so. It’s reading sonic; probably meant to disrupt the conduit, which would…well, disrupt the one tank. It’d automatically shut down and call for maintenance.”
“And one tank is not an escalation over the atmospheric system.”
“So it’s not the only device.”
“Right.”
“Now that we know what to look for, let’s do a full scan for the same signature.” The women fell silent, each adjusting their equipment and then, matching their speed, they began walking farther into the chamber, scanning in an arc from left to right in unison.
Nancy stifled a shiver of fear and concentrated on the readouts. There! She found a second, then a third. All told, the back four tanks had the same device in place. More than enough to shut down the primary facility shifting resources to tap the six auxiliary tanks that were housed throughout the station for safekeeping.
“We need someone to check those six and make certain the backups weren’t targeted,” Sonya said when they completed their sweep.
“Doesn’t fit the pattern. Each system had backups and the backups were never in danger.”
“True, but you’re the one who keeps reminding me the problem has been escalating. Tell you what; we’ll have Tev check them for us.”
