Chapter 4 We've got problems
T'Pol and Captain Archer entered engineering only to find chaos erupting around them. Crewmen were dashing about, running up ladders, sprinting down deck, and tossing tools back and forth as if they were in a rugby tournament. In the midst of the intricate dance, Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker issued orders in true Napoleonic fashion.
"Ensign, bypass that circuit before we're all fried!" Tucker swore. "Not that circuit, THIS one!" He punched a read-out with his finger.
A crewman barreled by Archer who jumped back, plowing into T'Pol, scarcely avoiding being knocked on his ass. T'Pol gave Archer a firm push forward, righting him on his feet.
Archer gaped at the activity before him, "Commander, what the hell is going on?"
Tucker turned surprised, "Cap'n! You probably should step to the side Sir, before you get caught in the crossfire."
T'Pol moved to the side, tugging Archer along with her, questioning the scene with her eyes.
"Explain Commander." Archer gritted with clenched teeth, his jawbones working beneath the skin, a visible sign to Trip that the night hadn't gone any better for the Captain.
"Sorry Sir, we've had a bit of a malfunction..." he broke off in response to Archer's groan. "What?"
"This isn't the first malfunction I've dealt with tonight Trip. Just...tell me, is it serious?"
Trip sighed, "No Sir, more of a nuisance really. Gravity fluctuations, doors opening and closing for no reason, reports are flooding engineering. Here alone we've had systems going on and off. Nothing major, but something's up Cap'n. I was going to call you..."
"I have informed the Captain about the sensors Commander, I wasn't aware other systems were...malfunctioning." T'Pol said, sparing a glance at the sparks flying from a panel behind Commander Tucker.
"It started about an hour ago. I got called because my delta shift engineer landed in sickbay with that venissian flu thing." Trip scowled, "It's not looking good Sir, half my crew is sick and the ship seems to be falling apart."
"Do you require assistance, Commander?" T'Pol asked.
"Not yet, but if our staff continues to be depleted at the rate it is...well, that's another matter. Captain, we've been back for almost 12 hours, time's running out before we get sick."
Archer didn't need the reminder. Twelve hours. It felt like days. He could feel the time ticking away like a bomb ready to explode.
"Trip, we've got more problems than this."
Archer proceeded to brief Tucker on the supposed stowaway. His look of disbelief matched how Archer had felt earlier.
"Do you think it's...you know?" He asked.
"It would make sense. Ironic isn't it, after all we went through on that damn planet, and it was with us all the time. The Prime Minister was right."
T'Pol leaned forward, "Captain, your report specified the conspirators aided your escape...perhaps they had ulterior motives?"
Archer studied T'Pol, contemplating her train of thought. "You think they knew it was aboard?"
Tucker gestured, "Makes sense Cap'n. What better way to ensure it was safe?"
"T'Pol, do you know of any being that is capable of disrupting systems in this manner?" Archer enquired, considering what could be causing the phenomena Enterprise was experiencing. "Some kind of bio-energy?"
T'Pol did a mental check, "I've never heard of a species causing this. I could check the database and see if there have been references in the past."
"Do it, quickly. I don't think I need to remind you time is running out." Archer ordered.
Trip spared a glance back; the atmosphere more subdued, crewmen worked at a frenetic pace, but with a calmer demeanor. "We've got it under control, for now. Until next time." He muttered.
"Good, keep me updated. I'm going to see how Phlox is doing and then try and get some sleep. Trip, I wish I could tell you to do the same but..."
"I know Captain." Trip interrupted.
"All the same, once you think things are calm enough I want you to try and get some rest. You heard the Doctor, we'll only catch this faster if we're worn out." Archer said. A tight smile flitted briefly across his face at the thought of another lecture from the portly Phlox.
"Will do. We'll keep an eye out for our mystery visitor."
T'Pol and Captain Archer entered engineering only to find chaos erupting around them. Crewmen were dashing about, running up ladders, sprinting down deck, and tossing tools back and forth as if they were in a rugby tournament. In the midst of the intricate dance, Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker issued orders in true Napoleonic fashion.
"Ensign, bypass that circuit before we're all fried!" Tucker swore. "Not that circuit, THIS one!" He punched a read-out with his finger.
A crewman barreled by Archer who jumped back, plowing into T'Pol, scarcely avoiding being knocked on his ass. T'Pol gave Archer a firm push forward, righting him on his feet.
Archer gaped at the activity before him, "Commander, what the hell is going on?"
Tucker turned surprised, "Cap'n! You probably should step to the side Sir, before you get caught in the crossfire."
T'Pol moved to the side, tugging Archer along with her, questioning the scene with her eyes.
"Explain Commander." Archer gritted with clenched teeth, his jawbones working beneath the skin, a visible sign to Trip that the night hadn't gone any better for the Captain.
"Sorry Sir, we've had a bit of a malfunction..." he broke off in response to Archer's groan. "What?"
"This isn't the first malfunction I've dealt with tonight Trip. Just...tell me, is it serious?"
Trip sighed, "No Sir, more of a nuisance really. Gravity fluctuations, doors opening and closing for no reason, reports are flooding engineering. Here alone we've had systems going on and off. Nothing major, but something's up Cap'n. I was going to call you..."
"I have informed the Captain about the sensors Commander, I wasn't aware other systems were...malfunctioning." T'Pol said, sparing a glance at the sparks flying from a panel behind Commander Tucker.
"It started about an hour ago. I got called because my delta shift engineer landed in sickbay with that venissian flu thing." Trip scowled, "It's not looking good Sir, half my crew is sick and the ship seems to be falling apart."
"Do you require assistance, Commander?" T'Pol asked.
"Not yet, but if our staff continues to be depleted at the rate it is...well, that's another matter. Captain, we've been back for almost 12 hours, time's running out before we get sick."
Archer didn't need the reminder. Twelve hours. It felt like days. He could feel the time ticking away like a bomb ready to explode.
"Trip, we've got more problems than this."
Archer proceeded to brief Tucker on the supposed stowaway. His look of disbelief matched how Archer had felt earlier.
"Do you think it's...you know?" He asked.
"It would make sense. Ironic isn't it, after all we went through on that damn planet, and it was with us all the time. The Prime Minister was right."
T'Pol leaned forward, "Captain, your report specified the conspirators aided your escape...perhaps they had ulterior motives?"
Archer studied T'Pol, contemplating her train of thought. "You think they knew it was aboard?"
Tucker gestured, "Makes sense Cap'n. What better way to ensure it was safe?"
"T'Pol, do you know of any being that is capable of disrupting systems in this manner?" Archer enquired, considering what could be causing the phenomena Enterprise was experiencing. "Some kind of bio-energy?"
T'Pol did a mental check, "I've never heard of a species causing this. I could check the database and see if there have been references in the past."
"Do it, quickly. I don't think I need to remind you time is running out." Archer ordered.
Trip spared a glance back; the atmosphere more subdued, crewmen worked at a frenetic pace, but with a calmer demeanor. "We've got it under control, for now. Until next time." He muttered.
"Good, keep me updated. I'm going to see how Phlox is doing and then try and get some sleep. Trip, I wish I could tell you to do the same but..."
"I know Captain." Trip interrupted.
"All the same, once you think things are calm enough I want you to try and get some rest. You heard the Doctor, we'll only catch this faster if we're worn out." Archer said. A tight smile flitted briefly across his face at the thought of another lecture from the portly Phlox.
"Will do. We'll keep an eye out for our mystery visitor."