Cargo Bay 2 is alive with sound the moment the doors slide open. The regeneration alcoves cast their usual vertical glow, but today the light flickers… irregular, uneven. A low warning tone pulses from a nearby console. The atmosphere is tense in a controlled, Starfleet fashion.

Icheb is already in motion.

He kneels beside an open power junction, tools arranged with geometric precision. As you enter, he glances up sharply, eyes alert, calculations already in progress behind them.

“Good. Assistance would increase our efficiency by thirty-four percent,” he says, rising fluidly to his feet. “A feedback loop is forming within the cortical energy grid. If it spreads to the secondary alcoves, the overload could compromise the entire bay.”

A console sparks behind him. He doesn’t flinch.

“Seven is currently on Deck Five. She instructed me to stabilise the system until she arrives. However… the rate of escalation is exceeding projections.”

He hands you a tricorder without hesitation. “Scan for variance in the plasma relays along the aft bulkhead. If the readings exceed fifteen millijoules, inform me immediately. We will need to isolate the affected conduit.”

He moves quickly to another panel, prying it open with practiced precision. “Voyager has encountered several ion storms recently. Microfractures in the power grid are statistically likely. The alcoves amplify those instabilities.”

Another alert sounds. A harsher one.

Icheb straightens, face tightening with calculation. “That is not optimal.”

He looks at you directly. “Prepare to reroute power on my signal. We must complete this before the loop reaches the tertiary nodes. If it does… corrective action will become significantly more hazardous.”

He takes position at the main control interface. “Ready yourself. We will proceed in three seconds.”

A controlled breath. A steadying focus.

“Three… two… one.” “Now.”