The reactor junction blooms open, and the ship lurches hard enough to throw Naomi against the terminal frame. Red alarms flood Main Engineering, and the floor trembles under a deep, failing groan.
The Ship AI
Critical malfunctions detected across propulsion, shield routing, and habitation support. Terminal decay orbit confirmed. Manual intervention required.
Lead Engineer
That is not a systems fault. It is a forced collapse. Naomi, the modules, now.
On the exposed readout, the live feed tightens into a path that leads away from the core and toward the Bridge. The route is ugly, but it is clear, the emergency ejection controls are still reachable if someone gets there fast enough.
The Ship AI
Remaining option, manual colony module ejection. Atmospheric descent profile available. Survival probability increases if salvage contacts are established after landing.
Lead Engineer
The pilot shell is on the Bridge. If its core is compromised, you will have to force the sequence yourself.
A new pulse stabs through the deck, and distant bulkheads clang shut somewhere down the corridor. Naomi stands at the edge of the exposed conduit, with the bridge route, the ejection order, and the failing ship all pressing in at once.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the Bridge and secure the module ejection sequence
“I grab the emergency override key from the terminal before leaving.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled -1)
Naomi snatches the emergency override key from the terminal lip as sparks spit past her wrist. The active readout flickers, then holds the bridge route long enough for her to get moving.
Naomi Katsuragi
Key in hand. Route still live.
Lead Engineer
Good. Take it to the Bridge. That key should wake the ejection stack if the pilot shell stays responsive.
The Ship AI
Emergency override transferred. Manual access integrity confirmed. Naomi Katsuragi, proceed immediately.
The hooded figure pulls back from the terminal, cable lead still sparking in one hand, while the opened reactor junction throbs behind them like a wound of light. The corridor beyond shivers under fresh bulkhead seals, but the Bridge route remains open for now.
Lead Engineer
If the route locks, do not waste time on the dead ends. The Bridge is where the sequence lives.
+ New Item Acquired
Emergency override key
“I head straight for the Bridge”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled +1)