The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 31
With the Captain's permission, Luke had opened a one-way comm channel to Engineering, so he could hear the status of the main computer access attempts, while remaining in Operations . . . He waited until the conversation about the main computer seemed to be in
full swing, then activated a recorder, and muted the channel.
"Computer, enstate Davis special communications configuration 42 delta."
"Working . . ." The computer entoned, and Luke watched the event timer on his display count down to zero, before the computer stated, "The requested operation has been completed; you may now activate secure communications link on channels 14 through 19."
"Select channel forteen," Luke ordered, then -- after the computer acknowledged the connection --, "Open a channel to communications relay 00b22 on Ultris I, full triplex linkup."
Thirty seconds later, the DS2 chief of communications, was sending a long string of instructions to a computer, many light years away. A few moments later -- after a brief comversation with someone on the other end -- he knew what he had wanted, and terminated the connection - eracing any evidance that it had ever existed.
"DS2 to runabouts Alpha and Beta: have you located the receiver, and if so: have you attempted to board it?", Commander Luke said into a newly opened comm link.
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Jan here: we were just about to contact you: we have located what appears to be a small space station of some kind. We are just entering transporter range now."
"Negative: do not attempt to board! Enter a orbit of the station at .5 AU, acknowledge."
".5 AU, understood: but why?"
"I can not explain at the moment; but I assure you it is necessary for your continued safety. DS2 out."
As the captain arrived in engineering, he complimented the engineers. "Great work gentlemen", the captain said holding up his thumb. "Can one of you engineers explain how you got in."
Engineering already looked like a construction yard. All kinds of tools lieing spread out over the floor, materials everywhere, and two engineers dirty as they hadden't changed their uniforms in a month. As the two engineers worked in two shifts for the last two days, they had made some real progress without hurting themselves. But the captain didn't have a lot of time. Commander Luke was the only officer in ops and he also could need some rest.
"First we tried touse a security bypass module.", said Louis, making it clear that this methode failed and he explained how they got access. "Remember the DS2 commanding officer who was last officially here ? That was lieutenant-commander Jola Kosovri. We found and tried her security access code and it still worked. Kosovri had security clearance 9, so we have the same clearance now."
"Which files can you access ?"
Chief engineer Louis nodded and Jan Roel showed the captain the first results on the only terminal with which the engineers had accessed the blocked DS2 main computer. There were directories and files, which seemed like station logs, crew's personal logs, but there were no records for the time between lieutenant-commander Kosovri and her crew and the time the new crew arrived on the station. No sensor logs and sadly enough no files refering to communications. The captain ordered the engineers to concentrate on lieutenant-comander Kosovri's personal logs. When the two runabouts would return there was more personnel to help figuring out these files.
"Commander Luke to captain Arthur. Please report to ops."
"Acknowledged."