Bringing in Reinforcements

Freelancer picked up the toolbox and left their quarters, heading for the turbolifts. Stepping into the vacant cab, they announced. “Environmental controls, Section Thirteen.”

The cab swiftly took the single occupant to their destination and as the doors opened, Freelancer looked down the corridor to check it was clear. They hadn’t expected anyone to be in the corridor anyway, this area of the station was mainly automated equipment which kept the station running. There were a few people around, mostly low-level technicians, who monitored the systems from various locations. Freelancer knew that the sight of another Engineer wouldn’t cause too many eyes to look at them closely, not that they would have seen anything out of the ordinary even if they had.

But Freelancer had a job to do and having spent the past two weeks setting themselves up on the Station, now they needed to bring in the rest of their equipment. Freelancer steadily headed for the environmental control systems and after entering the access code override, entered the large open room.

The room was filled with various devices, which provided heat, light and air to the station. It was one of over a hundred such rooms, but Freelancer needed to access this one. Scanning the devices, they finally found the one they required and opening the toolbox, pulling out a small pressurised canister. Attaching the canister to the air circulation system, Freelancer opened the valve and using a tricorder monitored the flow of gas into the system. Once the canister was empty, Freelancer quickly removed the canister, placing it back in the toolbox and headed back out into the corridor and towards the turbolift.

“Deck Eleven.” Freelancer announced.

<That area is restricted.> The computer announced. <Please enter code.>

“Primary code…. Alpha-Zulu-Seven-Two-Zero-Nine.” Freelancer replied.

<Authorisation invalid.> The computer replied. <Security alert in ten seconds.>

“Priority one override.” Freelancer announced. “Section 31, Officer Zero-Zero-Zero, codename Freelancer.”

<Priority one override acknowledged.> The computer announced as the cab finally started to move once more.

Reaching into the toolbox once more, Freelancer pulled out a breathing mask and placed it over their face. They would have preferred to have kept the ‘knockout gas’ exposure to the docking station control centre, but that was not possible with the environmental controls. Luckily as the section was a restricted area anyway, there wouldn’t be too many people about.

As the doors to the turbolift opened, Freelancer saw the unconscious bodies, slumped against the walls where they had fallen. They’d be OK in an hour or so, which gave Freelancer more than enough time to bring the ship in.

Heading down the corridor, they reached the docking station control centre and stepped inside. Lifting one of the docking officers from his seat, Freelancer sat down and started to access the console in front of them. Looking up, they saw out of the window in front of the console the starship hanger. There were over a dozen large vessels docked at the station, with many smaller vessels docked in the multitude of smaller hangers.

First problem was to gain control of the hanger security controls where they intended to dock their waiting vessel. Freelancer reached into the toolbox and pulled out a device resembling a large data Padd. Placing the device on the computer console, it sprung to life as soon as it was connected.

“Computer, initiate security lockdown on Hanger Fifty-One.” Freelancer ordered. “Voice and DNA protocols.”

<DNA sample required.> The computer replied.

Freelancer removed the glove from their right hand and placed it on the device. For a second or so, the device stung their hand as the top layer of skin was removed and analysed.

<DNA sample taken.> The computer announced. <Level one security lockdown on Hanger Fifty-One is now in effect. Access controls are online.>

Removing their hand from the device, Freelancer sprayed it with an aerosol from the toolkit before replacing the glove.

Next problem was to override the main docking control systems in the Command centre and transfer them to the docking console in front of them. One of the reasons for picking this particular docking centre, apart from the restricted access was the fact that it was one of only three areas on the station where such an override could be achieved. Quickly by-passing the system overrides and security lockouts, Freelancer managed to transfer control of the docking systems to the console without being detected.

Picking up their tricorder once more, Freelancer scanned the room and after ensuring the air was now clean, removed the breathing mask. Removing another device from the toolbox, they attached it to the console next to the scanner Padd. The device looked like a manual control system with a joystick and several other controls. Freelancer picked up a headset from the toolbox, attached it to the joystick device and placed it over their head, pulling the visor down. Gripping the control stick, the connection was made.

Freelancer could now see in the headset’s viewers all of the ships systems, left eye was visual, right eye was sensor data. Quickly and expertly, Freelancer guided the small vessel that had been waiting in a polar orbit above Serenity, first towards the space door and then through the starship hanger and finally docking in Hanger Fifty-One, situated directly below the docking control centre.

*Perfect.* Freelancer congratulated themselves.

Suddenly the tricorder on the console started to flash. Moments later all hell broke loose as the station went onto Yellow alert.

*That was faster than I expected.* Freelancer thought. *Time to go.*

Freelancer knew that there was no way this could have been avoided, but it would take time for the station crew to discover exactly what had happened and react, by that time Freelancer would be gone.

With the ship secure, Freelancer packed the headset and control stick back into toolbox. Returning docking control back to the Command centre, they took a last look around.

“Computer encode and secure Hanger Fifty-One.” Freelancer ordered.

<Security systems are in place.> The computer confirmed. “Access controls are offline.>

Removing the DNA scanner and putting it back in the toolkit, Freelancer headed out of the door once more. There was only one way off the section, via the turbolift, but Freelancer assumed (correctly) that by now it would have been secured and a Security team would be on their way. So Freelancer had to get off the deck some other way. Luckily, they had anticipated this problem and tapped their comm badge.

“Freelancer to Freedom.” They announced. “Emergency transport.”

As the doors to the turbolift opened, Freelancer dematerialised off the deck, unseen by the Security team that emerged from the cab. By the time the section was secure, Freelancer was back in their quarters, having made a site to site transport, via their vessel.