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Transcript
Panel 1:
Science Officer Burns: Scanning nearby space... we're just outside the heliopause of a small solar system.
I'm detecting six planets, two of them rocky. One appears ot be M-class.
At maximum impulse, we could reach it in approximately 12 hours.
Mr. Dwayne Shrunt: Is that possible?
Helmsman Talia: Unsure. Impulse engines are offline, but the main computer isn't responding to navigational commands.
Shrunt: Has Potemkin responded?
Comms Officer Collins: No. I can't detect any signals from her at all.
I am getting some sort of signal from that M-class planet, though. But it's full of interference. I'm trying to clear it.
I know you relieved Ensign Hylia... but she's got experience with this.
Panel 2:
Commander Dale Zurkett: Well... you all rang?
Shrunt: Zurkett. That... subspace signal seems to be disrupting our warp engines.
I want you to get us back underway. Now.
Dale: Still sounding a little accusatory there, Shrunt. Do you want our help? Or just someone to blame? And where's Hulyard?
Shrunt: ...
Help.
Do whatever you need to do. I'll explain it to Hulyard.
Panel 3:
Lieutenant Commander Staratt: You're at my station, Mr. Burns.
Burns: This doesn't change anything, Staratt! I'm still taking you to court.
Natashia: That dispute doesn't seem strictly relevant to this problem. And I still need my chair.
Panel 4:
Burns: This is an outrage, sir! She should be locked up!
Shrunt: Stand down, Burns! This isn't the time!
Natashia: Commander, I'm getting a reading from Potemkin. Her impulse engines are firing up!
Dale: We need to find out what's going on over there.
Prep two away teams. We'll cover the bases and send one by shuttle, the other by transporter.
Natashia: We may be too late. She's starting to accelerate. Toward that M-class planet.
Panel 5:
Dale: What do we know about that planet?
Collins: Not much. I still can't get a clear report on this signal... it's like gibberish.
Shrunt: Haven't you tried the universal translator??
Collins: Yes, but--
Ensign Hylia: It's not working because it's not an audio signal... that's the problem.
We need to convert it into a digital signature, see? And... I know this pattern.
Sir, this is the same subspace signal that infected our systems in the first place.
Dale: Are you saying you found the origin point for it?
Hylia: I think so, yes... It's that M-class planet.
Panel 6:
Dale: Well, then.. I think we finally have a plan of attack.
Stations, please, everyone. And pardon me, Mr. Shrunt. I need my seat.
Burns: Attack!? You don't know anything about that planet! Don't you see, Mr. Shrunt? They're warmongers, Like I've been saying!
Dale: You HAVE heard of a figure of speech, haven't you, Burns?
Shrunt: Yes. Stand DOWN, Burns!
Panel 7:
Dale: Zack, what's the situation with our computers?
Zack Del Rio: Not great, but could be worse. That counter virus "patch" I did has kept some systems online. But we're locked out of a lot of
others.
Potemkin didn't get patched. I think their systems have been fully hijakced by that signal.
I need to purge everything and load from offline backups. But that's going to take a few hours. All automated systems will be down.
Dale: Well... I hope none of you skipped your academy lessons on manual override controls.
Mr. Del Rio, take the computers offline. Helmsman Talia... are you prepared to execute a manual engine burn?
Target that planet for standard orbit. Maximum safe impulse.
Talia: Yessir. Sounds like fun, sir.
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