Logic

[Guest Cmdr Josh Dilvorn]

Beep... Silence.

Beep... Silence.

Beep... Silence.

A logic circuit was doing it's best to test for the condition that it had been programed to monitor. However something was wrong. There was no response. So the logic circuit did what it was instructed to do in situations like this. It woke it's master subsystem to process the event. Circuit after circuit powered up. When the subsytem was online it began processing. After a short delay, the subsystem determined that what ever the logic circuit had been monitoring had stopped responding. The subsystem then used its datafiles to determine what course of action to take. Nothing happened. The subsystem tried again. Nothing. After several attempts the subsystem determined that it did not know what to do. This tripped a hard coded instruction in the subsystems programming which transmitted a packet of data to an unknown destination. The subsytem then shut itself down knowing that it could serve no useful function in its current state. All this occured in time that could be measured in nano seconds.

Beep beep, beep beep. Chief Henrick's engineering console was alerting him to a problem. Somewhere on the ship a subsystem had failed. He tapped a few buttons and the display changed to a blueprint of the ship. The location where the fault had occurred was flashing red. Deck three, mid corridor. He tapped a few more buttons and the display began zooming in on the area. Suddenly the display went blank except for the flashing yellow text in the centre of the display:

SENSORS UNAVAILABLE

[area:deck-3/port-mid-cor]

That was weird. Engineering team four had only just performed a scheduled replacement of the sensor relays in that area 13 hours ago. He had checked their work himself soon after they had finished. An idea occured to him. His local subnet could be the problem. He tapped into his console, opening a channel to the bridge; "Cheif Henrick to Commander Dilvorn."

"Go ahead Mr Henrick" came the reply.

"I appear to have lost contact with sensors on deck three, mid corridor. Can you verify this for me."

A few moments passed. No response. Then finally the Commander spoke, "Mr Henrick, the sensors you mentioned are not responding from here either. You should send someone to check them out."

"Will do sir. Henrick out."

Tapping a few keys on his console, Henrick brought up the duty roster. It was a reasonably quite day today. Most engineers that weren't off duty or performing routine monitoring tasks were available. With the press of a few buttons, Henrick entered a new entry into the roster, scheduling it to begin at 1015, less than two minutes from now. The computer then selected two engineers, based on who was free, and issued them with the work order.

== WORK ORDER [853] ======

LOC: deck-3/port-mid-cor

SYS: sens/subsytem[217]

DET: investigate possible malfunction and make repairs as necessary

=======================

Aproximately eight minutes later, Chief Henrick's commlink beeped indicating there was an incoming message. "Chief Henrick here."

"Chief, it's Crewman Donald here. It appears that sensor subsystem 217 on deck three has had some data circuits wiped, in particular those used to monitor personnel and systems' status."

"Have you been able to determine what caused the damage?" asked the Chief.

"From what I can tell so far, it appears that a negative power coupling has been directly wired to one of the logic processors. It looks like an act of sabot... " A strange sound cut Crewman Donald off mid-sentence. Then the commlink went dead. "That's weird" Henrick said to himself. He wasn't alarmed, any number of things could have happened. He tried to raise Crewman Donald on commlink again. No luck. Maybe the commnet had gone offline in that area too. Just to be sure he called up the commnet diagnostics program on his console and ran status checks on the deck three commnet nodes. All of them were online and operating at 100%. Then in the blink of an eye, commnet nodes on deck three began failing one by own. Within a matter of seconds, the entire commnet on deck three had failed. The sensors were next. But instead of failing one by one, all of the ship's internal sensors in the fore of deck three failed all at once. This was too weird for the Chief. He tapped rapidly into his console, sending a high priority encrypted message to the Commander explaining the situation.

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GCV Conquest - ISS-08

Escort Wing Commander - ISS Fleet

"You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone"

ICQ: 12159264

[This message has been edited by Cmdr Josh Dilvorn (edited 02-09-2000).]

[Guest Cmdr Josh Dilvorn]

As they approached the awaiting marines, squad seven spread out took up defensive positions at either end of the short corridor that led into, and sat perpendicular to, the much larger fore corridor. Squad two fanned out in front of the heavy security door, training there guns on the entryway while Alice used the computer embeded in the wall to type in the security over-ride. With a quick beep to acknowledge the correct code. The doors hissed open. The corridor was clear. "Ok, move in."

Alice looked around at her men. They all knew their job. Squad two were the first to enter, spread out in a wedge formation with their rifles held up to there shoulders. The eyepiece covering each marine's left eye would be switched to enhanced visual mode and would be relaying an infra red image to each of them. Squad seven and Alice followed them in a few seconds later, ensuring that no one could jump out behind squad two and catch them unprepared. The designers of the ship must have anticipated the possibility of a fire fight aboard. Apart from the standard titanium alloy plating in the walls and ceilings, which was covered by a 30mm thick moulded polymer surface. The corridor also was intermittenly recessed, providing adequate cover. When they had reached the end of the corridor, the marines of squad seven and squad two took advantage of the protection. A third of the way back, Alice spoke into her commlink, "Stand by to open door. 3.. 2.. 1.. go." The marine at the front of the pack and closest to the door controls entered the security code and the door slid open to reveal the two engineers that had been sent to repair the sensor subsytem were slumped against the wall. Dead. The engineer on the right had his heading sitting at an abnormal angle, twisted around further than it should have been. She was too transfixed to recognise the cylindrical object that came bouncing into the corridor and stoped in open doorway. Then reality struck her. "Grenade. Grenade. Take cover." Most of the marined near the front had moved and take cover further back. But the one who had only moments ago opened the door was staring at the dead bodies and was only alerted when he heard the sergeant's warning. He turned and began to run away from the grenade. He had only taken two steps when the shaped charged grenade exploded. Sending him flying into the air and flipping him over so that his feet were now where his head was. As smoke from the explosion began filling the corridor, the airbourne marine landed. His head striking the deck hard and his left leg twisting up underneath him, bending up and back and making a sickening sound as the bone in his leg cracked. The marine standing on the opposite side of Alice rushed out to help his fallen comrade. As he stepped out from the cover of the recess, the right side of his face exploded sending bits of blood and cheekbone and flesh spraying out as the man plunged to the floor. Alice turned to the open doorway. Bringing her rifle up to her shoulder and looking down the scope. It registered two distinct humanoid heat signatures standing in the doorway. Her rifle hummed slightly as she brought it up to maximum power. Then targeting the the target on the left she spoke into her mike. "Squad, target doorway. Fire on my mark. 3.." Alice began squeezing the trigger mechanism, "2.. 1.. FIRE!" Two phased energy charges went racing towards Alice's target, mixing with the torrent of fire errupting from either side of the corridor, arcing toward the doorway. Then finally they hit the intended target. One striking the upper torso and the other in the side of the neck. Both intruders were down and out. A marine from the front of the pack cautiously stepped out from his recess and walked over to the hooded, dead intruders who were laying across the doorway. As he half bent down to remove one of the intruder's disguises a thrid sprung from around the corner, knocking the marines rifle to the ground. Alice brought her weapon up, but couldn't get a line of fire because the marine was blocking her. The marine raised his foot, striking the third intruder in the face with a perfect millitary kick, sending him stumbling back. As the third intruder lunged forward again a second marine arrived on the scence and struck him in the lower side with butt of his riffle. Dropping him to his knees. The first marine then brought his knee up into the chest of the intruder. Winding him and sending him flying onto his back. While the second marine covered, the first marine reached forward, ripping the hood from the intruders head. Human. Alice lowered her gun and to see a small group surrounding the unconscious marine. The sergeant was relieved that his chest was still rising and falling. She spoke into her commlink mike, "Medic to deck three fore corridor, marine down, code blue." The she noticed the other marine hadn't been so lucky. Even though he had been half covered, the pool of blood forming around his head was still noticeable.

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GCV Conquest - ISS-08

Escort Wing Commander - ISS Fleet

"You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone"

ICQ: 12159264

[Guest Cmdr Josh Dilvorn]

As the turbolift doors opened on bridge, Alice Murray stepped out. She no longer wore the combat armour. After writing her report she had decided to change into a fresh uniform. Stepping out of the turbolift she addressed the commander who was now facing her, "Commander Dilvorn."

"Sergeant?"

"We have finished our search of deck three."

"What did you find."

"Three human intruders. Two were killed in an exchange of fire. We have taken one to the detention center and interrogations are taking place as we speak."

"Very good sergeant. File your official report by morning."

"Sir. There were casulties" added Alice mournfuly as she handed the datapad containing her report to Dilvorn.

"One dead, and one in a serious condition in medbay." informed Alice as the Commander went through the report, stopping at the section that contained the casulty list. After reading it several times, Dilvorn looked straight forward, staring deep into space through the bridge viewer. After a long moment of silence he finally spoke, "Dismissed sergeant." Alice started to speak, but then thought better of it. Instead, turned on her heels and headed for the awaiting turbolift. As the doors hissed shut, Dilvorn stood from his command chair and headed into his ready room.

"So, do you have any idea how they got in here?" Chief Henrick questioned the young marine who was investigating the incident. The marine looked at the Chief and said, "If you'd like to come with me, I'll show you what we've been able to determine so far." The Chief nodded and then followed the marine who took him past tractor control to the deck three airlock. The marine then reached over to the access panel and punched in a security code. The door slid open to reveal the presurisation chamber. The marine stepped inside and motioned for Henrick to do the same. The marine then opened a locker and pulled out an EVA suit. Oh great Henrick thought, rembering his EVA training at the academy that didn't exactly go too well. A few minutes later both the marine and the Chief stepped out onto the hull. The marine motioned to the entry access panel. Henrick noticed that it had been removed to reveal assorted wiring and circuitry. Mounted to the side was a foreign device that had been magnetically attached to the hull. An assortment of wires were running into where the access panel should have been, connecting the device into the ships systems. Henrick noticed that the device was active so he reached over to it, pulling out his tricorder. He probed the device, analysing how it was connected into the ship's systems. Trying to determine if he could remove it safely. He pulled on the device's front panel, it came off easily revealing the internals. After a few moments, Henrick determined that it was safe to remove the device so he reached into a pocket retrieving a wire cutting tool. With a few snips the device was disconnected from the ships systems. With that, Henrick tapped a few buttons on the device to shut it off. Without any power to its electomagnet the device floated off the hull into Henrick's waiting palm. He the turned and nodded to the marine, indicating that he was ready to go inside. As he looked past the marine into the depths of space, a wave a nausea rippled through the Chief's stomach. Enough of this he thought as he made his way to the open hatch and back into the ship.

Dilvorn sat at his large desk, in front of a computer terminal. He had just finished writing a message to the dead marine's parents when a commlink message came in. "Private Drake to Commander Dilvorn."

"Dilvorn here, what is is Drake."

"Sir, we have finished our investigation and have determined that the intruders gained entry throught the airlock on deck three."

"If that is so, private, then how did they manage to get here. Where is there ship? It's not as thought they can just stroll up to the ship and climb in. We are in space god dammit."

"Sir, that's why we would like to take a shuttle out and perform level seven scans on the hull. I have a hunch sir."

"Very well. Take shuttle three, I'll clear it with Lieutenant Hale."

"Thankyou sir, Drake out."

As private drake closed the commlink, he stepped into the turbolift and pressed the button for deck three.

A claxon sounded, indicating that a launch operation was about to take place. The computer's voice echoed throughout the launch bay, "Launch bay doors open in 20 seconds." Flight engineers hastily made there out of the launch bay, the reinforced blast doors slowly closing behind them. As the launch bay doors opened, shuttle three began edging forward. The launch bay tractor beams were pushing it out into space. When the shuttle was clear the marine at the controls engaged the aft thrusters, providing a little more forward velocity. He the turned the small ship in a wide arc using the port side fore thruster. As soon as the shuttle had turned to face the much larger battlecruiser, private Drake canceled the turning momentum with a short burst from the starboard side fore thruster. As the distance closed to about 50 meters, the system engineer that was accompanying Drake diverted power from all non-essential systems to the fore sensor array and began scouring the hull for any abnormalities. It did not take them long to find something. A small craft had attached itself to the hull on the aft section of the top of the ship. It was disguised well and hard to see with the naked eye. Drake manouvered the shuttle above the craft as the engineer brought the tractor beam online and locked it on the ship. Then engaging the fore thrusters, they tried to pull it free. However the magnetic hull clamps proved to be too strong. The engineer then had an idea. He sent a reverse polarity burst of power along the tractor beam. It had the desired effect, frying the small crafts power systems. Drake once again engaged the fore thrusters, backing the shuttle up and pulling the small craft with it. He then opened a channel to the bridge, to inform them of the discovery.

When the craft was secured in a hangar on the flight deck, and shuttle three had returned. Dilvorn turned to his navigations officer, "Ensign Young, set course for Renegade station, best speed."

"Aye sir," the ensign replied as he entered the coordinates into his console, "ETA is aproximately two hours and 30 minutes."

"Acknowledged. I'll be in the lounge if I'm needed." The commader then stood from his chair and headed for the bridge exit.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "ISS Files Vol. 1: The Mole" http://www.bc3000ad.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000106.html

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GCV Conquest - ISS-08

Escort Wing Commander - ISS Fleet

"You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone"

ICQ: 12159264