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Ikin is sitting next to the computer station with one arm still up in a sling and the other one set into a medical brace, tapping idly on his PDA. He seems to be playing some form of silly game. Gee, he's not working very hard, there.
Ruin is willing to make up for it. He walks quickly from station to station, monitoring and making notes for readouts he's less than satisfied with.
Suddenly the door to Engineering is opened and a frantic looking Shok is coming through it. While he may not be their superior he does use his ordering voice for this one "You two. Get to a computer. NOW!" After a moment of catching his breath he adds "We're being hacked! We suspect by the Zarists."
If the engineers were to check to see if this were in fact the case before acting they would find that it appears to be quite true. A fast acting virus is trying to infiltrate systems. For now it's a mystery as to it's intent.
Ruin takes a seat at a console, tapping his ever-present earpiece so that the lights enter a different configuration, and checks the systems. "Interesting," he says, while typing. "I would have expected guns."
Ikin taps on the computer with his Semi-good arm, doing as best he can one-handed "Alright, so what have we got... hm..." big bird says with little stammering. "Guns aren't everything in a war..."
This virus is in fact acting quickly. In the time spent checking systems it seems it's already managed to somehow shut down the engines of the ship. Until it's fended off the ship isn't going anywhere.
Having been told this through his PDA Shok is slightly more frantic than he was. The Magaigh informs the two of this in a barking voice "We've lost engines! We need to shut this thing down quick!" Ruin gets up. "I'll do what I can with the engines if you can handle that virus," he says, grabbing a toolbelt.
"I'll do what I can." Ikin says, tapping at the computer with one hand. "Let's see... Isolate the virus... That's not going well... Dammit." Ikin is sitting at a computer combating some zarist hackers that got into the mainframe. He's doing this with one hand, since the other one is in a sling and is wrapped in gauze. Ruin is heading off to go fix the engines, and Shok is standing around being kind of useless and shouty.
The virus isn't stopped or even impeded in it's journey by Ikin's original attempts. It merely goes on it's happy way, this time completely shutting down the ship's weapon systems.
Shok again gets the message through his PDA and relays it to Ikin and Ruin. The later through that earpiece of his "Weapons are down too. We need this thing stopped fast or else we're sitting ducks when the ships inevitably follow." The Magaigh is using a bit more calm a tone now but seems just as antsy.
Ruin gets to work on the engines first, cutting contact to the electronic systems so that he can manually repair without the virus shutting his efforts down. "Need power to fire them first," he says shortly.
Tahlani unfurls her wings as she rolls around a perch behind Ikin. She's upside down, arms crossed over her chest, and hanging from a sturdy pipe. "Hmm. Virus. Very bad." She notes. "Regret not paying as much attention in computer science courses. Will have to learn." The professor glances at Ikin's hand. "Hard to type with one set of talons. Would volunteer mine, but, doubt you could speak fast enough to make up for lack of familiarity."
"Huh? Oh, it's you, professor. Yeah. Lost most of my shoulder joint yesterday." Ikin says, tapping frustratedly with one hand. "Dammit... Keeps escaping my isolation routines. "Hope Ruin is having better luck..."
It seems Ruin /is/ in fact having better luck as the engines are suddenly back to life. Weapons are still down but at least now the ship could run away. As for the virus. It's still quite at large. It seems that the virus' next target is...life support. It hasn't gone down yet, but judging by it's former speed it won't take long.
Shok is once more informed of this and relays it once more again appearing /very/ nervous about it. Probably because he can't just shoot it. "Ikin. We need it stopped /now/. It's going for lifesupport." Tahlani is glanced at but not much more.
Ikin doesn't manage to do much. Gee, it's kind of hard to stop this sucker one handed. So yeah, we're probably all screwed here...
Ruin sends back, "We have power," over the comms, and then, "Going to get the weapons back online if I can." He then does pretty much what he just said he'd do, grabbing his tools and heading for the weapons systems. Though he does work quickly, there's no sense of panic or fear - just urgency.
"Hmm. Unfortunate thing to misplace." Tahlani comments on Ikin's 'lost' shoulder. She activates her PDA and begins to manipulate a holographic display. "Threat to life support understood. Beginning to work through contingency plans to maximize existing atmosphere. Could give crew 15, 30 more seconds to reach escape pods..."
And Then according to Ikin's screen anyway. Life support is shut down. Strangely enough though nothing bad happens. In fact something surprisingly good happens. All systems come back online and the virus dissapears.
Shok then suddenly stops his fratic looks and barking orders standing up straight and looking serious "Well Ikin it appears you've gotten us either killed or forced to escape pods while the Zarists destroy the ship. Luckily for you this was merely a drill to prepare you for the very real possibility of a similar situation." To Tahlani the Magaigh asks "Professor, how do you think they performed?" A message is sent to Ruin to report back to engineering.
Ruin sends, "Acknowledged," and returns to the main consoles. "...Another drill? I applaud the simulation then."
Ikin puts his head down on the computer as best his injured arm will allow. Just not his week, apparently!
"Think that the scenario highlights a few things." Tahlani hops off of her perch and flips, so that her talons strike the deck with a loud click. "First, need better interface. Ikin not working at optimal capacity with only one hand. Would suggest developing procedures in advance to increase the reaction time. Second, entire drill shows the need for more effective contingencies in the event that the computer systems become compromised. Some of that design. Some of that we can work around."
Shok nods to Tahlani and looks to Ikin laying a comforting hand on his back. Ordinarily he'd go for the shoulder but for obvious reasons that isn't the case. "It's alright, Ikin. This was meant to teach you for future scenarios. To Ruin he adds "It wasn't /exactly/ a simulation. The reason it was so convincing was because Kowk was on the bridge orchestrating all of it. So the virus really was doing all those things but he could have stopped it anytime."
Ruin nods. "Very good," he says simply. "So what ended the test?"
"Sorry. I'm actually waiting for medical leave anyway." Ikin says, rubbing the back of his head nervously, "I uh... Killed a couple zarists... And got shot twice with a pulse rifle in the process... Not seen the doctor yet, though... She's not been in. So I can't type as fast as I should be able to..."
Tahlani glances at Ruin. "I think that the fact that we all died ended the test." She chirps for him cheerfully. "Sorry to hear it, Ikin. Again, don't feel that this test was necessarily indicative of your ability. Still, could be injured in the field. Need to have preparations, way to run your routines faster, anticipate what the enemy will do. Crapshoot, admittedly, but, good practice nonetheless."
Shok nods to Tahlani's explanation and adds to Ruin "The virus was just about to take down life support." To Ikin he adds trying to be comforting "Tahlani's right. If you were at full health I think you'd have handled it just fine." He looks to the group and adds "Well. Good job aside from the whole everybody died. Shall we go get some food? I hear the chef has a very good fish I've been dying to try." The Magaigh's mood is far more casual now that the drill is over with.
Ruin nods. "I see. Thank you. "
Ikin nods and says "Yeah, I hope so... But yeah, I don't know what happened there... Usually I have no problem whatsoever... I have a masters in data security, after all... they don't just hand those out... Well, I suppose they do, but..." Ikin tilts his head from side to side and pulls a pill bottle from his pocket, takes one, and puts it back.
"No one cares." Tahlani replies to Ikin. "And, know it sounds strange me to say that...faculty and all, awarded degrees in my time. But, not academia. Piece of parchment can't stop a virus, can't give you confidence. Can provide a foundation. Just need more time in the field. Confident of that." She then nods to Shok. "Sounds delicious."
Shok nods to Tahlani and adds to Ikin "Nobody here blames you. Just have to try again when you aren't injured." He then claps his hands together and says "Well then let's go eat." And with that the Magaigh is out the door heading towards the mess hall whether people are in tow or not.