VOYAGERS! - The Voyager Chronicles
OLD FRIENDS, NEW BEGINNINGS - BOOK 6
(Sequel to A Ray of Hope)
By DA Daugherty (VoyagersFan)
December 2008 (Revised 03/2010)
Previous disclaimers apply
Chapter 6 – FLIES IN THE OINTMENT
Bogg, Jeff and Mallory left Tombstone and were now on their way to Dodge City to find out exactly what happened to the third Earp brother. Their trip through the time vortex was progressing as usual until suddenly the transport bubble they were travelling in began to shake violently. Outside, the ripples in time that normally passed them in rapid succession began to slow down and their light diminished in intensity. After a few moments, the transport bubble stopped and the three found themselves in the middle of the time vortex with the vastness of space surrounding them.
"Booooogggg!" Jeff exclaimed. "Why have we stopped?"
"Kid. I don't know. Something must have happened to the omni. Shawn, what does your omni say?"
Mallory pulled out his omni and opened it. Much to his surprise, both lights were flashing in a rather unusual pattern. "Beep, beep, beep, ding, beep, beep, beep, ding."
"Wait a minute!" He exclaimed. "I remember this code from one of my classes. This sequence of lights means the omni has lost its location tracking ability."
"How do we fix it?" Jeff asked.
"We don't." Bogg replied abruptly.
Jeff's eyes grew wide. "What? What do you mean, 'We don't'?"
Bogg waived his arms and floated over beside his partner. He put his arm around him and tried his best to explain.
"Kid, this is something we can't fix. It means the omni has lost communication with the control computer back at VHQ."
"Are you saying we're lost?" Jeff asked, now trembling with fear.
"No, kid, were not lost." His partner reassured in a nonchalant manner. "More like stuck."
Bogg, I…I…I'm scared…" Jeff said with his squeaky voice."
"Hey, there's nothing to be scared about." Bogg reassured with a smile. "We're all in this together. Shawn and I are not going to let anything happen to you. Isn't that right Shawn?"
Mallory did not respond. As he floated in the zero gravity environment of the transport bubble, his mind was busy analyzing the predicament they were currently in and attempting to come up with a way to get out of it. Like his preceptor, he knew they only had a limited amount of air inside the bubble, so something had to be done quickly.
"Shawn, are you ok?" Bogg asked.
"Oh, uh…um…yea. Yea, I'm ok…I'm just thinking." Mallory replied.
---------------
It had been a stress filled morning for the staff of Mission Control. The Visiphones were buzzing incessantly as field personnel reported in with their questions and problems. Another year had passed. The day which the staff of Mission Control dreaded more than any other was once again upon them. Today marked the first day on the job for this year's Voyager graduating class. Like those of years past, it was to be a day that could only be described as the ultimate culmination of organized chaos.
Mission Specialist Connors, who was at the moment feeling the heavy weight of her responsibilities squarely on her shoulders, had taken a moment to run to the break-room for another cup of coffee. This, being her third cup in a little more than two hours was the only means of calming her frazzled nerves and keeping her mind focused on the task at hand. With a fresh cup in one hand and a gooey, sweet cinnamon roll in the other, she began her short trip back to her department.
Technician David Edwards was just finishing up his shift and about to go off-duty. At least that was his intentions at the moment. Before he could leave his desk, he was suddenly caught off guard by a host of unusual error messages that popped up on his computer screen. Concerned by what had just presented itself, he jumped to his feet and ran over to consult one of his colleagues, Jo Brennan.
"Jo, have you seen Lindsey?" Edwards asked.
"No, David, not lately." She replied. "She probably went to the break room to get another cup of coffee… Why?"
"I need her to take a look at my console. It's showing some really unusual errors that just occurred on the Omni Control Computer." He said with a hint of concern in his voice.
"What type of errors?" Brennan asked curiously.
"You won't believe it…core memory errors." He replied.
"Core memory errors? That's not possible!" She exclaimed. "All core memory is fault tolerant and self-repairing. Any problem would be instantly isolated and immediately repaired by the system."
"I know… That's what makes this so strange."
Brennan and Edwards were the two senior members of Connor's department. Both had been Voyager field personnel for many years prior to joining the Mission Control group. Brennan, with a Level IV certification in time mechanics was responsible for analyzing and correcting problems with the Omni Control Computer's space/time transport subsystems. Edwards, with certifications in universe history, time mechanics and systems engineering was solely responsible for analyzing and correcting problems with the time tracking and coordinate subsystems of the Omni Control Computer. With these two experts in her department leading the charge, there was no problem that could not be resolved or at least that's what everyone believed.
Brennan got up from her workstation and stood near her colleague. "I've got to see this…Show me!" The two technicians walked briskly over to Edward's console and Brennan began to read the messages that were prominently displayed.
"Hmmm. I see it now." She acknowledged. "I see it, but I still can't believe it."
Boldly displayed on Edwards' console were the following messages:
UNRECOVERABLE MEMORY ERROR – Address: 0FFH, Module L14, Slot 8
UNRECOVERABLE MEMORY ERROR – Address: 0FEH, Module L14, Slot 8
Without warning, several additional error messages began to scroll up the screen.
UNRECOVERABLE MEMORY ERROR – Address: 0A3H, Module L14, Slot 1
UNRECOVERABLE MEMORY ERROR – Address: 07BH, Module L14, Slot 3
"Look! " Brennan exclaimed as he pointed to the screen. "There it goes again. All these unrecoverable memory errors are not normal. Have you tried to run a diagnostic?"
"No, not yet." Edwards replied as he sat down at his workstation. "Let's see what the diagnostic program says."
Edwards began furiously typing commands onto his keyboard. The screen cleared and the following messages were displayed.
OCC Memory Diagnostic Starting…
UNRECOVERABLE MEMORY ERROR - Address: 08AH, Module L14, Slot 3
WARNING! OCC Memory Diagnostic failed due to invalid CRC bit in memory location:
Address: 08AH, Module L14, Slot 3
OCC Memory Diagnostic terminated.
"Well, so much for that idea." Edwards said with some sarcasm. "We better find Lindsey, quick!"
At this point, the two technicians raced across the room making their way for the door. As Edwards was about to reach for the handle, the door suddenly swung open and Mission Specialist Connors stepped inside.
"Lindsey!" Edwards shouted. "Come quick, we've got a problem."
"Oh no, don't tell me…" Connors said as she rolled her eyes and nodded. "One of the new graduates has landed on the roof again."
"No, this is something much more serious." Brennan said with some intensity in her voice. "There's a problem with the Omni Control Computer."
"What kind of problem?" Connors asked.
"Unrecoverable memory errors." Brennan replied.
"Unrecoverable memory errors?" Connors asked in a state of disbelief. "That's just not possible."
"Lindsey, I agree, but I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. " Brennan confessed. "Come, have a look for yourself."
"Did you run a memory diagnostic?" Connors asked.
"Yes ma'am, but it failed." Edwards responded.
As the three started toward Edward's console, the emergency claxon sounded.
Connors threw her hands into the air. "Now what? That's all we need is a fire right now." She moaned as she quickly stopped and ran toward her own console.
"Don't worry, Lindsey." Edwards reassured. "They're just testing the fire suppression system."
"Hmmmph… Like the boys at VT have got nothing better to do today." Connors quipped as she turned back and followed her colleagues.
By the time the three reached Edwards' console, it was flashing all kinds of messages with regard to the memory errors on Omni Control Computer. Connors sat down in front of it and attempted to read the information rapidly scrolling down the screen. Suddenly, one particular item caught her completely by surprise. She pressed a key on the keyboard to pause the display.
ALERT! – Omnichron transport failure – Exit from time vortex failed due to error in location
tracking memory. Omni ID: X731802
"What is this?" Connors asked.
"I'd say, it's the worst thing we could have ever imagined…and it's happened." Edwards replied. "We have a Omni transport failure…and it must be linked to all those OCC memory errors."
"An omni transport failure…" Brennan exclaimed. "That means…"
Edwards interrupted. "We have field personnel trapped in a time vortex."
Connors made note of the omni ID number on the screen and quickly ran over and sat down at her console. Edwards and Brennan followed suit and stood silently behind her, observing her efforts. She began to type feverishly as she attempted to identify the omni and the field personnel assigned to it. Within moments, she gasped when the names of the field personnel in question displayed on the screen.
"Oh no. This is not possible!" Connors exclaimed.
Connors pushed another button on her console just as Supervisor Roberts appeared behind her.
"Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Brennan, Miss Connors…What's going on in here?" Roberts asked.
"Sir, we've had a major malfunction in the Omni Control Computer." Connors replied
"Have you assessed the problem?"
Connors swiveled around in her chair to face her supervisor. "Yes sir, we have several memory modules with unrecoverable errors and three of our field personnel are trapped in their transport bubble inside a time vortex."
"Have you identified them?"
"Yes sir, it's one of the new graduates, Shawn Mallory along with Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones."
"Oh, this is not good...not good at all." Roberts said as he shook his head in disbelief. "We don't have much time. Those transport bubbles only have enough air to sustain a Voyager for a short period of time. We've got to get this problem fixed and now."
"You said it sir."
Director Roberts handed his control key to Connors. "Miss Connors, please initiate a CODE RED Alert. Lockdown all omnis with the exception of the one they are using in the time vortex. All field personnel are to remain in their current time zones until we resolve this computer malfunction."
Connors, who was now concerned over the state of her three friends, nervously typed a few commands on her console. Suddenly, the computer displayed a large red warning box on the screen and in its rather mechanical sounding voice responded.
"To access command functions, insert appropriate control keycard into the slot."
Connors, her hands trembling with fear, struggled as she attempted to insert the keycard into the slot. Roberts, noticing her apparent difficulty, reached over and steadied her hand as he helped her push the card into the machine.
"Lindsey, I know you are concerned about your three colleagues. I am as well. But we must detach ourselves from our emotions at the moment for their sakes." Roberts reassured with a warm, father-like tone."
"I'm sorry, sir…" Connors replied as she turned and looked at her boss. "I know…I need to be strong, for them."
Roberts smiled at his employee and then put his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of support.
"Control keycard #1 has been inserted." The computer replied with a cold, unnerving voice. "Awaiting voice authorization from Mission Specialist."
Connors turned back to her console and started to speak.
"Computer, this is Mission Specialist Lindsey Connors, Id number 832516. Authorization…Alpha-6-3-Charlie-Victor."
Acknowledging her input, the computer replied. "Connors, Lindsey, I-d number…8-3-2-5-1-6, rank…Mission Specialist… Authorization confirmed."
The computer continuing its authorization sequence, once again prompted for more information.
"Awaiting supervisor voice authorization."
Roberts leaned down and began to speak.
"Computer, this is Supervisor Marcus Roberts, Id number 672925, Authorization…Gulf-7-8-Victor-Alpha"
Again, the computer confirmed the information given.
"Roberts, Marcus, ID number…6-7-2-9-2-5, rank…Mission Control Supervisor… Authorization confirmed… Awaiting command. "
At that point, Connors commanded the computer to begin the requested task. "Computer, initiate CODE RED Alert, lockdown all omnis with the exception of Omni ID X731802. Time delay zero."
After a few moments, the computer responded in its cold, mechanical voice as it displayed the results of its efforts on the screen in flashing red letters.
"Unable to comply with Code Red Alert and Lockdown due to memory error at 07AH, Module L14, Slot 3. Supervisor command terminated."
"Well, sir, what do we do now?" Connors asked. "Somehow we've got to keep those in the field from using their omnis, otherwise, they will become trapped also.
"Are you able to broadcast a message to all omnis?" Roberts asked.
"I should be able to sir." Connors acknowledged. "The communications system is a totally separate system and shouldn't be affected."
"Well get on the horn now and advise all field personnel to stay in their respective time zones until further notice." He ordered.
Connors removed the control keycard from the console and handed it back to Roberts.
"Miss Connors, you and your staff try to determine what caused this problem with the OCC. If you have to, contact IS & T and get them up here, pronto." Roberts urged. "In the meantime, I'll inform the Director of the situation."
Roberts turned and with all haste went back to his office. In the meantime, Connors put her staff to work.
"Jo, David… You two see if you can figure out what happened to those memory modules. Get on the visiphone with IS & T if you have to. See if there's any way we can repair those modules and get that part of the system back up and running. I want ideas on how to resolve this within the next 5 minutes. "
"That might be a problem, Lindsey…" Edwards pointed out. "You know, it's their break time and the I S & T department will only be minimally staffed."
"David, I don't care if they are having having a meeting with the Prime Minister and sipping wine from gold goblets! You two get down to the cafeteria and find some additional manpower from IS & T to help with this. Do whatever it takes to get them here, even if you have to drag them by their feet to get them here!"
"Yes ma'am." Edwards acknowledged as he and his colleague ran to the door, opened it and darted off down the hallway.
Connors pressed a couple of keys on her keyboard. At that point a small door opened on her desk and a microphone emerged. She pressed some additional keys and then began to speak.
"Attention all field personnel! Attention all field personnel. This is Mission Control, Mission Specialist Connors speaking. We have a Code Red Alert in effect. I repeat, Code Red Alert is now in effect All field personnel are to remain in their respective time zones until further notice. I repeat. All field personnel are to remain in their respective time zones until further notice. Mission Control out."
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Inside their transport bubble, the three Voyagers were startled by a broken, static filled message being transmitted across the vastness of space and time. Bogg and Jeff moved closer to Mallory in an attempt to decipher what was now coming across his omni.
"Attention… pers…nel…Code….Alert… I… Red… in progress… All… remain…time…zones…notice………………Miss…ol…out.
"Shawn, that sounds like Mission Control." Bogg exclaimed. "Can you do anything to clear up that signal?"
"Sure, Phineas." Mallory replied. "Hold on."
"Voy…ger Mallo…This…Miss…Con…ol".
Mallory fiddled with one of the buttons on his omni and after a few moments, they could hear Mission Specialist Connors, quite clearly.
"Voyager Mallory, this is Mission Control. Do you read?"
Bogg turned to his worried partner and exclaimed. "See kid, they know we're here. That's Lindsey! She'll straighten this mess out."
"Mission Control, this is Mallory, Go ahead." Mallory replied.
"Voyager Mallory, are you and your colleagues ok?" She asked.
"Yes, we are all ok." Mallory responded. "We just feel like a flies trapped in a jar of ointment."
"Well, don't worry." Connors reassured. "We are working on the problem as we speak. We should have you out of that ointment shortly. Just be calm and hang in there."
"Can you tell us what happened?" Mallory asked.
"It's a long story. And I don't have all the answers yet. Some faults developed in the Omni Control Computer. So far, we've determined the problem is located in several memory banks used primarily for omni location tracking. I've got IS & T and two of my best technicians working on it. It's too bad you aren't here right now, I could sure use your technical expertise."
"Lindsey, I may not be there, but maybe I can do more than just hang around here floating inside this bubble." Mallory said with a hint of humor in his voice. "Why don't you give me the details of what you know thus far?"
While Mallory and Connors discussed the details of the malfunction, Bogg knew he had to do something to dispel the fear that was now quite apparent in his partner's eyes. Slowly, he began to maneuver himself closer to him."
"Hey, kid. Why the long face?"
"Bogg… I'm worried." Jeff said sullenly. "What if we're stuck here forever?"
"We're not gonna be stuck here forever." Bogg replied with some cynicism. "They'll get us out of here."
"But what if…they don't."
"What are you trying to say kiddo…You don't like the idea of being stuck with me forever?" Bogg said with a grin.
Being somewhat hesitant with his reply, Jeff stumbled on his words. "No… it's not that…"
"Well, it sounds like that to me, you little pain." Bogg teased as he poked Jeff in the ribs.
"Quit it Bogg, that tickles!" Jeff shouted as he squirmed and started laughing.
Just as quickly as Bogg had provoked his partner to laughter, Jeff dropped his head and became silent.
At this point, Bogg knew he had to do something to get his partner's mind off their current predicament. He began to reminisce about their previous voyages and some of the tight spots they had been in the past.
"You know, we've been in worse situations than this one." Bogg continued. "You remember the time after the trial when Drake recovered his omni from us and left us stranded with Sam Houston?"
"Yea, I remember." Jeff acknowledged. "We were prepared to spend the rest of our lives in that little village."
"But what happened?"
"Susan came to our rescue." Jeff replied.
"Yep, Susan came and brought us back to VHQ."
Jeff, who was now somewhat skeptical with his partner's musings, looked at Bogg and argued the point. "That situation was different. We were on Earth and in no apparent danger. We were just stranded in a different time zone with no omni."
"How so, kid?" Bogg asked. "Don't you remember, we were also in the middle of a war zone? And that situation is just as dangerous as the one we are in right now."
Bogg remained silent for a moment and then began to speak again.
"Ok, what about the time we were on the Santa Maria in the middle of the storm? While I was climbing around on the rigging trying to catch Drake, that ship could have sunk with us on it. But we made it through just fine."
"Well, I guess you do have a point." Jeff said with some skepticism. "But, we had an omni and could have left at any moment."
"Oh…" Bogg said as he lowered his head with an expression of defeat. "Looks like this is going nowhere." He mumbled to himself.
Overhearing this, Jeff looked at Bogg as he put on a fake smile and tried his best to show his appreciation for his partner's efforts to comfort him.
"Bogg?"
"Yes, kiddo."
"Thanks."
"For what?" Bogg asked innocently.
"For being there for me." Jeff replied. "and for trying to take my mind off this situation."
Bogg put his arm around Jeff and continued to reassure him.
"Kid, that's my job. It's that dad thing. You remember? Please don't worry, we will get out of this, I assure you."