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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1309248" data-attributes="member: 515">Chapter XDate: 113-993Place: Aboard the Bray Keaven, in jump space between Sentry and Alief. After a relaxing and easy–going morning, the crew settles down in the lounge to listen to Saro’s biohazard preparation class. There is a good–natured bit of joking, particularly in reference to what the characters in that "Andromeda Strain" remake did or didn’t do, but the crew is quite attentive, given the stakes, and the time passes pretty quickly. " . . . So, that about wraps it up," concludes Saro. "We basically will be spending time in sealed suits, taking decontam showers frequently — in and out of the suits — and washing everything." Vasilii thinks to himself, "Oh great, spending hours in hazard suits, and I thought this mission was going to be easy money." The doctor continues, "We don’t know if the pathogen is airborne or not, so we'll assume that it is. I expect that we’ll get orders regarding the specific role we'll be playing once we arrive. I do know that the Wellorn Light has some of the best infectious disease researchers on Sentry onboard, so I expect that they’ll be taking the lead role in making an identification and coming up with a cure. "I think that we’re in the clear here, even with the Star Flower, but I expect that all of you will notify me immediately if you have the slightest symptom of any disease." Nodding to the doctor, Argent says, "OK crew. So, we’ll have to be extremely careful. I’d rather not lose any of you to this stuff. "Now, to our afternoon activities. Darishun, Ian, and Saro, please head downstairs to finish inventorying the cargo. "Vargas, Vasilii, Martha, and Swann, would you please come with me to look at getting that safe open. Vargas and Vasilii, I realize that you’re not experts at this sort of thing, but it occurs to me that you might have some previous experience that may be helpful. "Let’s get to it, crew." With that, the meeting breaks up and the crewmembers head towards their afternoon activities. Darishun, Ian, and Saro headed downstairs to finish the inventory. The rest of the crew troops off en masse to the captain’s quarters. Entering the captain’s cabin, Argent has the good grace to look a little embarrassed at the gaudy decadence of the furnishings that are completely counter to the austere, credit–pinching evidenced elsewhere, and comments, "Er, remember that I didn’t decorate this cabin. My own tastes run a little more subdued." Swann and the others cluster around the safe. Oh joy, thinks Swann, it’s got an electronic and mechanical lock. This will be fun. . . . Martha follows somewhat behind the group, but brightens up a bit when she catches a glimpse of the safe. "Hmmm, electronic and mechanical locks," she observes softly under her breath. A little louder, "Umm, do you mind if I take a closer look?" Once she moves closer to the safe, she turns her attention to the details afforded her by the closer view, looking for possible access panels, code interfaces, power jacks. Almost absently, she flips open her handcomp and begins skimming the ship’s schematics, trying to determine alternate approaches to the safe besides her current head–on view, as well as potential sources of power that could be cut off to the safe proper, in the event that such might prove necessary. She hazards a soft smile as the fugue of solving a puzzle begins to overtake her, and she starts working on the problem in earnest. . . . "I’m not sure I will be of any help here, Captain Argent," Vasilii begins as he stares at the safe with a perplexed look. "I would recommend a locksmith once we arrive in system. But let’s remember our lesson that Dr. Talbek gave us on airborne pathogens. Do we really want to expose ourselves to the air contained inside the safe? It could be fatal. If fatal, then we would not complete our mission. If we don’t complete our mission then we wouldn’t get paid and THAT would be a loss." Vasilii looks at Argent. "Captain Argent, permission to return to my cargo duties. We have 66 percent of the inventory done, there still remains 34 percent." Vasilii waits for an answer. Swann considers what Vasilii just said. "He makes a good point. Maybe we should put on our vacc suits before proceeding." As the others consider this, Swann inspects the safe and its lock the best he can, with an eye toward what tools and equipment he will need to open it. He has a lockpick set for the mechanical lock; he is trying to determine if the proper tools and equipment are on board, or can be made, to open the electronic lock. Argent looks momentarily taken aback by Vasilii’s comment. "Er, yes. Well, Vasilii, you make a very good point. Yes, please return to the cargo bay to continue inventory, but will you please ask Dr. Talbeck to come here to examine the safe? "Swann? Could the safe be pressurized or at least have a seal such that it maintains its pressure during the vacuum exposure?" After a brief period of inspection, Swann concludes that he has the tools to defeat the mechanical lock (with a bit of work), and that there are probably tools onboard to defeat the electronic lock. It’s still going to take a bit of work. The safe looks like the type that maintains pressure during vacuum, but he isn’t sure.</blockquote>

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