Interactive Suggestions

Posted on Sun Jun 4, 2017 @ 11:09am by Lieutenant JG Jacob Hartley & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho

Mission: Avatar
Location: Intel, Deck 44
Timeline: MD 9 || 1510

Jacob sighed as he looked at the information in front of him, with the gathered Intelligence Officers all looking at the same data. "So, we're looking at a complete infection? What about all the backups and security protocols?" One of the officers asked.

"Damned if I know. Everything seemed to go wrong at once, and it's spreading. We've cut off our link with headquarters, but right now we need to find a way to fix it." Jacob said.

"How? We can't exactly go into the computer, can we?" Malcolm, one of the officers, asked.

"No, but we need to be able to read the program coding, but given it's a starship, there's a lot of it. Is there a way we can go around that?" Was the next question.

"Not entirely sure...but we might be able to go into the computer." Jacob said. "Anyone ever read the logs of the Enterprise D? One officer, Broccoli...no, Barclay, he became part of the computer. Can we come up with a way to interact with the ship's computer?" Jacob asked, as the door opened.

Alex walked in and looked around the Computer Complex. "Lieutenant, status report."

"At the moment, we've managed to disconnect the uplink to HQ, and right now we've been trying to figure out how to get rid of whatever this is. We've been spitballing ideas. How did the meeting go, sir?" Jacob asked.

"Alex. We're in Intel, you an call me Alex. We don't stand on ceremony down here," replied the Ullian. "As far as the meeting, we came away with more questions than we did answers. Steps are being taken at the computer cores and so on. I'm glad to hear that the uplink with Starfleet Intelligence has been disconnected. Were we able to get a message out to them notifying them of the break beforehand? We don't need the Admiral concerned about a sudden disconnection in this region of space."

"Afraid not. I was too concerned about getting the uplink terminated. I did try to send a message, but I have no idea if it was received or not." Jacob replied. "At the moment, we just came up with an idea. Might be possible to create an interactive uplink to the computer, go in and see if we can make sense of the code ourselves, find the virus. Of course, the risk is the fact that it tried to kill us."

Alex nodded. He'd hoped that whatever was sent had gotten through. "And that, Jacob, is a very big risk. How do you plan to create an interactive uplink to the ship's computer with the hologrids and matrices being shut down?" He hadn't yet gone into the fact that Chief Barnes was attempting to shut the computer down and that would leave them with nothing to interact with at the moment.

"That's the other problem. We'll need to access a holodeck. We can set up a number of precautions, maybe an EMP of some kind, but it'll let us access the computer, and maybe find a way to track what's happening?" Jacob said. "I know, it's a risk, but it could be worth it."

"I don't think we can access a holo anything based on some of the things that were said in the meeting," said Alex. "And this point, Chief Barnes is working on shutting down the computer core. Essentially, rebooting the Triumphant to see if he can purge whatever has taken over the computer. If he's successful, we might be able to do something like that afterwards. A kind of investigation. But I'd want to involve him in it. He is the Operations Chief after all and knows more about the computer than we do." A thought crept into Alex's mind and he wondered if he should follow through now or later.

Jacob nodded. "Well, we could always try before he does. Might be easier. What was said at the staff meeting anyway?" Jacob asked, wondering what kind of issues the rest of the ship was dealing with.

"There was the loss of gravity in the Conference Room and the transport of Commander Weisz out and back on the Bridge...frozen," said Alex. "Something has taken over the computer and, as such, every aspect of the ship." Alex turned towards one of the consoles when it suddenly went blank. He looked quickly at the others. Blank. "Well, it seems as though Chief Barnes has been successful. Options?"

"Carrier pigeons?" Jacob asked, with a sigh. "Sorry, I know we can do without the sarcasm. Might be worth trying a complete purge. I know it's gonna be difficult, but if there's a problem that can't be fixed, maybe an EMP? Wipe everything, rebuild the basics from scratch, and then limp to a Starbase." Jacob said.

Alex chuckled. "That's quite alright, Jacob. Desperate times and all. I'll put the EMP suggestion up to the Chief. Though, I would imagine an EMP would take out more than the computers down here. In the meantime, I need you to make sure that the Intel Department has it's ducks in a row and all the electronic equipment that was connected to the primary computer core is wiped."

"I'll get on it. We disconnected everything we could, but we do have a problem. Some of the equipment, we need to keep because it's evidence and contains important information." Jacob replied.

"Is it still connected to the ship's computer?" Alex asked.

"Not at the moment. I had everything disconnected, but we don't know how long this thing was lurking before everything went to hell." Jacob said.

"Then make it happen, Jacob," said Alex.

"I'm on it." Jacob said, with a nod, as he headed off to begin his work. He hoped they hadn't lost anything, but he was also glad that they were still alive. Whatever was going on...it wasn't going to be solved easily. It was then he had to bury a chuckle with his own thought.

'And people say working in Intel is boring.'