Jone Pt 1: Since It's Always Night, There's Always Bumps
In reply to Silver (msg # 57):
Rig goes through the list of damage.
Ledo's patch job is adequate. But it won't hold long. That goo will harden in Zero G. But it stays goopy in atmo. Worse, it may start to seep into the line and clog it. Then it's the same problem, different minute.
But for now it should do.
Rig calls up a cryo-chamber schematic from the Computer's library. The coolant chamber is located on the left side of each chamber. It functions as a reservoir and valves seep the coolant into the cooling units. So once the chambers refill in about...ten minutes, he can just seal them, remove the faulty lines, and replace them. Then start the flow back up. Easy peasy. The chambers will run for two hours without coolant. It will take twenty minutes to replace the lines.
Rig glances through the rest of the listed damage.
The Coolant filter...okay. He can do that when he's replacing the lines. His twenty minute work window went up to thirty minutes. Easy. Maybe not peasy.
Nutrient system...according to the library that can be done while the passengers sleep. He can fix the coolant lines and set the computer to do that.
Gauge 4. He checks the library. Gauge 4? That has nothing to do with coolant or nutrient systems. It's the gauge that monitors chamber door pressure. It also logs each time a door is open and shut. How the hell did that get damaged.
The virus is weird. How the hell did that get in there? Was there a bug in the ship's mainframe? Or, if the bug is on the cryochambers system, has it jumped on to the mainframe? And what is it doing? Passenger information being transmitted?
Rig needs to go get some new line and the appropriate tools. There's a parts closet in Engineering that will have what he needs.
The Slotts-Wexton DZ Oh 8-23 with a Rausch Blow Algorithm scope.
This isn't a combat rifle. It's a way of life. Oh yeah baby. Oh yeah.
At least that's what the commercials say. Silver makes sure it's ready to go and checks her comm for the schematic.
That vent runs towards the hallway and then hits a T intersection. One leg goes up. It runs across the ceiling and down to the other side. It then splits, one bend heading to the kitchen and one to the bridge. The other leg heads into the Hold. If it went that way, it'll be a helluva time finding it.
Silver listens to see if she can hear anything. Just then the atmo kicks on. Damn time for temperature control.
She'll have to guess.
Tepha hits the bridge just as Ledo finishes the cross reference between the vent schematics, motion logs, and camera feeds.
Unfortunately, there's not much in the way of camera coverage in the vents. Mostly just the main intersections. The motion logs are even skimpier. Then again, between air movement and vermin, the ship would almost always be logging motion in the vent system.
But combing all three gets them something. First, the place in the Hold where that vent empties out is covered by one of the Hold security cams. And it's clear.
If it didn't come out into the Hold or head back to Rig's room, it would have had to cross the hall ( which means it can climb) and head towards the Bridge or the Kitchen.
Vents heading on to the Bridge are covered by the motion logs. It seems...hmmm. Something was picked up twice at the vent cover that connects to the Bridge. The first time, Ledo and Tepha were here. It was when they left port. The second incident was about a half hour ago.
But whatever it was didn't come onto the Bridge.
A look at that vent cover shows why: the thing is welded on from this side. Unless that thing was pretty strong, it couldn't have pushed through the vent grill.
It must have found it's way into Rig's room and was going to come down the hallway to the Bridge while everyone was out.
Well. Assuming it's intelligent and wants to get on to the Bridge. If this were a horror movie, it would.
But it's not like this is a horror movie. Right?
Twenty mintues until Auto Pilot commences Jump protocols