"What the hell just happened?" Dyson asked as he crawled out from under his desk.
"Just a moment." Zelenka said as he furiously typed.
"I doubt our attackers will wait a moment." Dyson threw back, his anger evident.
"I do not believe we are being attacked." Zelenka said as he continued to type.
"Then why did the lights explode?"
"Power surge. The electrical storm is unlike anything we have seen before and has caused a massive build up which was just discharged knocking out main systems." Zelenka explained.
"Then why are the computers still working?"
"This is on a different circuit." Zelenka said pointing to his computer.
"Well what do we have?"
"Not much. Just diagnostics at the moment. I may be able to get communications back, but I will let you know." Zelenka said.
"Well how lo-"
"This will go much quicker without the interruptions." Zelenka cut him off. Not improving the IOA representative's mood at all. After several minutes of Dyson pacing the gate room Zelenka finally said. "Ok, I have performed a passive scan of the city and currently, apart from the emergency systems in here there is no power to the city. I believe that I will be able to get internal comms back up, but other than that there is nothing I can do from in here." Zelenka explained.
"Why the hell not?"
"The surge effectively caused a fuse to blow. Until that is replaced no power. No power, no doors. No doors means I am trapped in here unable to fix the fuse."
"Dr Zelenka I have been in charge of this city for only a few hours I am not going to return it to Richard Woolsey broken. I have no desire to be the laughing stock of the IOA so find a way to fix it." Dyson shouted.
"Where is this fuse?" Lorne asked.
"Firstly, fuse is an oversimplification." Zelenka said. On seeing Lorne's expression he decided this was not the time for detail and moved on. "It is at the top of the East tower."
"Is there anyone nearby who you could talk through fixing it?"
"You don't understand Major." Zelenka said. "In order to repair the damage someone would have to crawl outside and scale the wall in order to replace a damaged crystal. For someone like me or Rodney, with the right equipment in good weather it is doable, but with these storms it would be extremely dangerous."
"Dr Zelenka you all choose to live in another galaxy fighting life sucking aliens. None of you have a problem with dangerous. So answer Major Lorne's question is there anyone nearby?"
"There is a lifesign." Zelenka confirmed.
"Who?"
"I won't know until I get the comms fixed."
"Then do it doctor, now." Dyson said as he stalked off towards the office.
"Zelenka, if it is as dangerous as you say you need to come up with an alternate plan." Lorne whispered to him.
"I know, but at the moment that is the only feasible option." Zelenka said apologetically as he desperately tried to fix the comms.
Several minutes later Dyson marched over to Zelenka and demanded. "Have you done it yet?"
"Nearly. I am just doing the final re-routing now and … ok this should work." Zelenka said as he pressed a button. The screens in front of them flicked off and on briefly.
"So did it work?"
"I will try to get an ID up on the lifesign, based on the radio. We will then be able to talk directly to them." Zelenka said as he punched the keyboard. "Ok…it is Dr Keller."
"Keller? Well that news is as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party." Dyson said.
"Sir?" Lorne asked.
"Men out number women in this city 15 to 1, yet we are stuck with a damn female to do a man's job." Dyson said. "Get her on the damn radio."
Zelenka looked at Lorne who was getting angrier by the second. Lorne did however nod his agreement and Zelenka hit a few more buttons before nodding back to Lorne.
"Dr Keller this is Lorne come in."
"Lorne, what the hell is going on?" Jennifer answered.
"It seems that there was a power surge that took out the city's power."
"An casualties?" She asked.
"Not that we are aware of, but we have only just-" Lorne started before an impatient Dyson cut in.
"Keller this is Dyson. It appears a little bit of repair needs to be done and you are the only person in the right place to do it."
"Ok, what do you need me to do?" Jennifer asked. There was a slight pause as Dyson nodded to Zelenka.
"Dr Keller this is Radek. Do you have access to a balcony?"
"Yes." Jennifer replied after a few moments.
"Good. Outside there will be a terminal attached to the wall, which is basically a giant fuse box. I believe a crystal has been fried, so you will need to open the box, remove the damaged crystal and replace it with a good one."
"Where do I get a good one from?" Jennifer asked.
"Oh right, yes, sorry. Go to the door and open up the control panel." Zelenka said.
"How?" Jennifer asked causing Dyson to mutter.
"The engine's runnin' but ain't nobody driving."
Ignoring him Zelenka said. "At the top of the panel there is a blue switch, hit it then hit the red one at the bottom, followed by the black one in the middle."
"Ok it has opened." Jennifer confirmed.
"Excellent. There should be a blue crystal."
"I see it."
"Ok you will probably need a knife to extract it."
"Got one." Jennifer replied almost immediately.
"You do? Ok then remove it and keep it safe." Zelenka instructed.
There was a long silence until Jennifer said. "Got it."
"I need you to go out onto the balcony." Zelenka said. "When you are out there I need you to turn back and face the tower. Look up and tell me what you see."
There was another pause as Jennifer walked out onto the balcony. Eventually she spoke, although over the howling wind it was more of a yell.
"What exactly am I looking for? There does not seem to be any damage."
"If you look to the side of the balcony do you see any damage?" Zelenka asked, again there was a pause before Jennifer answered.
"No. Wait. Yes. There is some damage to the wall above and to the right. Looks like something has blown." She shouted. Zelenka cursed in Czech.
"Can you reach the damaged area?" Zelenka said.
"What?"
"Can you get to the area which is damaged?"
"If I were a monkey." Jennifer said.
"God damn it Keller. Our only chance of reactivating the power is you. I like it even less than you do, but you have a responsibility to this city so it is time to paint your butt white and run with the antelope."
