Holo Hiccups

Posted on Wed Jun 9th, 2010 @ 9:53am by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant JG Kalyka Meral

718 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Transitions
Location: Engineering
Timeline: Current

ON

The stack of problems on the new ship was growing by the hour. There was noting major, fortunately, but the minor hiccups and blips in the holo matrix and replicator system was getting frustrating.

As she could use a break from the influx of data, she decided to walk down to Engineering to talk to the Chief.

When she walked through the doors of main engineering she was not surprised to see a bustle of activity. She looked around, but didn't see Kalyka. Flagging an Ensign she asked. "Where is Chief Kalyka?"

Kalyka walked into engineering to get some more relays when she saw the commander standing there. She knew what this meant: something wasn't working that the commander needed. She stood in front of the commander, raised her two forefingers, and said, "Let me guess. Your replicator isn't working."

She sounded tired and looked it; her hair was coming out of its holder and there was a tension in her shoulders.

"I don't know," Sam said in reply. "I haven't used it lately. But there's a problem with holodeck 3. It might be system-wide. I've heard about the replicator problems -- or some of them, anyway. Do we need to take them offline for a complete diagnostic?"

Kalyka shook her head. "I think the replicators are fixed....they were actually programmed to do that. As to the Holodecks, it is system wide because someone decided to put a virus there. I'm surprised it hasn't spread to other systems. I'm going to shut down the holodecks and restart them when I'm sure they're safe. Yes, I know it has to do with the safeties."

"I wish I'd known about it before I went rock climbing," Sam said wryly. "A warning on the holodecks would have been nice, Lieutenant. Please send out a notice immediately. I don't want anyone else getting injured. As for the replicators -- what do you mean, they were supposed to malfunction?" She was surprised that Kalyka knew so much of what was going on and hadn't bothered to tell anyone else about the problems.

"I just found out when I went to the computer core looking for answers to the replicator problem," she said, leading the way to her office. "Sometimes pranksters will start jokes with things like the replicators or the holodecks. She sent out a notice from her desk warning everyone away from the holodecks. She stood up and looked at the commander, taking a deep breath. "Javil and I were thinking of where the bug for the entire deck's replicators could be so I looked in the computer core and that was where I found out about the holodecks, but I don't want to try to take that virus out while they're running. I'd rather they be shut down so everyone's safe."

"A wise idea. What sort of replicator prank was it?" Sam asked, curious.

Kalyka pushed a strand of hair aside. "It was just a program. They made a little subprogram to make the replicators act like that. I'm more concerned with the virus."

"Agreed. Is there anything I can do to help? I'm a computer programmer. I specialized in cracking codes. I can definitely help find and remove a computer virus."

The Bajoran considered a moment and then nodded. "Yes, actually. I need someone with me and I can't spare the engineers. If you like, you can help me find that pesky virus again. I don't remember where I saw it in there and our computer core is rather large." The corners of her mouth turned up as she almost smiled at her own jest.

"Let me get my tools and I'll be right back," Sam told her. "I have a couple of programs that can track down the virus." She used to carry around a data rod with her programs, but since becoming CO she'd started leaving them in her quarters. There wasn't as much call for computer database management these days. "Give me ten minutes."

Kalyka watched her and then got the diagnostic tools used for the computer and booting out viruses. She smiled as the commander returned and Kalyka welcomed the other woman back. Together they walked to the computer core.

OFF:

Cmdr Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

LtJG Kalyka Meral
Chief Engineer
USS Calypso

 

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