Chapter 6 - Suscpicions

The Ambassador grudgingly made his way into Engineering, and got to work on the Warp Core. It was true that he could improve engine efficiency, but then that would interfere with his true mission. He just had to make it look like he was working improving them, but instead he had to subtly shut them down at the right time.

"If we shut down holodecks 2 and 3, as well as transporter room 2. We can divert that power to the warp core." Philips turned his head 180 ̊ to the right looking away from the console, where he saw Geordi and Wesley standing next to each other, hunched over the large rectangular floor console. With Data standing on the opposite side.

"Maybe." Geordi replied and crossed his arms pondering it; "But it wouldn't be a complete transfer, they aren't fully compatible.''

Data added; "It will take time to fully integrate the power sources for transfer."

"Right." Wesley said nodding his head

Philips saw this as his opportunity, whilst they were all distracted. So when they all leant down over the console in deep discussion, Philips slid the chair backwards slowly and as quietly as he could and swivelled around to face the wall console. Glancing around to make sure no one was looking, he stood up and activated the computer panel, and entered his authorisation code. He was glad he did when he was designing the ships warp core, he found it extremely useful for gaining access to all ships systems. So when the computer allowed his access, he went immediately to the warp core systems and created a phantom malfunction that would initiate a fake warp core breach. It would be untraceable unless someone specifically looked for it, and wouldn't cause any permanent damage, it would just shut down the engines and key systems long enough for him to switch out the isolinear chips. He took a deep breath and hesitated with his hand just Centre meters above the panel. Once he did this there was no turning back. He lifted his head and glanced at Wesley who was oblivious to Philip's actions, and the professor thought to himself; I wish there was another way. Then he slammed his hand down on the button, stepped back and watched. Within a few moments the lights suddenly dimmed and the red alert klaxon blared just before the ship dropped out of warp, it was sudden causing the whole ship to shake violently. Philips gripped onto the chair he previously had been sitting on, and watched as everyone else in Engineering did the same, all confused and panicked.

"Bridge to Engineering! Le Forge what's going on down there." The Captain's voice echoed through the communication system in Engineering, as he yelled over the Red Alert. Suddenly a large cluster of gas exploded out from one of the containment areas of the warp core. Yes very real indeed, Philips thoughts to himself.

Geordi and Data immediately moved widely around the middle console, whilst glancing at the warp core.

"We're not sure Captain!" Geordi yelled back, as he moved around to join Data the other side, having to grip the console when the ship shook again. Wesley appeared to be trying to help; "Captain! The computer is reporting a malfunction with the warp core containment." He yelled and looked up at Geordi and Data

"What does that mean?" Riker yelled as he and Picard exchanged worried glances on the bridge.

"A warp core breach is imminent" Data said monotonously but Wesley and Geordi could see his concern

"Can you stop it?" Picard asked

Meanwhile, Philips moved from his position towards the bulkhead with the isolinear chips when the ship had stopped shaking. He glanced around and all the Engineer officers were too busy to notice what he was doing. So he stepped forward and wrenched the door panel off the bulkhead. Dropping it next to him, he knelt down in front of the bulkhead and stared at all the isolinear chips. For anyone else it would be overwhelming but he designed it, and knew what every chip did. So he knew exactly which ones to remove; he pulled out two chips at the same time and slipped them into his cloak. Then at the same time he quickly inserted a different colour chip he had pulled out from the inside of his cloak. It took a moment for the ship's system to activate the chip, and he was mumbling; "Come on" and glancing behind him at Wesley, Geordi and Data, he only had a minute to do this before the ship computer realised the malfunction was fake and corrected itself

"First we need to determine the source of the malfunction!" Geordi yelled going through each system of the warp core

"It's going to take some time" Wesley added

"Time we don't have" Riker said to Picard who nodded

When the isolinear chip Philips inserted lit up he smiled, immediately put the door panel back on and stepped back. Then he went back to the console and ended the phantom malfunction. He had to make it look real, so as he created the fake malfunction he could easily create a fake repair that looked believable.

"Warp core breach in two minutes" Wesley yelled

Philips hit the panel again and this time the red alert ceased and everything returned to normal. The ship now stood in the middle of space, at a full stop, whilst everyone on board let out their relief.

"Engineering, report." Picard said leaning forward in his seat

Geordi was just looking around Engineering in shock, there was no way the computer could have repaired the malfunction itself.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance." Philips said stepping beside Wesley and spoke loudly; "Wesley was right, the malfunction was located in the warp core containment. As I noticed earlier when I was in Engineering, the warp core efficiency could be improved to help catch these type of malfunctions. Luckily, I was able to stop it before it damaged the ship permanently"

On the bridge, Troi looked at Picard and Riker's curious glances and felt their hesitance. "Ambassador perhaps you could just explain to us how exactly did you stop it?" Picard sad

Philips stiffened slightly, hearing accusation and edge in the Captain's voice. He had already devised the Captain didn't trust him, and he couldn't give him any more reason to.

"Captain;" Philips said smiling slightly to appear amused; "I did help design the Enterprise's warp core. I know the ship's systems like the back of my hand." He paused letting his vague comment sink in; "But I would be happy to give you a full extensive report of what I did, but I think my time would be better spent in making sure this type of situation doesn't happen again."

Picard hesitated slightly, then apparently satisfied with the answer said; "Very well." Then he said a little louder; "Mr Le Forge? Data."

"Captain?" They both said

"Assist the Ambassador. I want the engines back online as soon as possible."

"Aye Captain." Geordi replied, and Data nodded

Wesley smiled up at his Uncle; "Way to go Uncle Charlie." And in response he smiled back and ruffled Wesley's hair, before going to work on the warp core with Geordi and Data. Wesley remained behind and watched them, he felt like there was something off about this whole thing. It was strange how the warp core containment suddenly malfunctioned, then Charlie was able to fix it that quick. Something wasn't right, he was even vague about how he repaired it. For the first time Wesley felt like Charlie was hiding something, and it scared him.

After 'assisting' Geordi and Data in Engineer, Philips excused himself to go find Wesley. When he did eventually find the boy, he was in Ten Forward with a few of his classmates. Philips watched Wesley as he sat at a table the other side of the room, he appeared happy and was laughing. It was a relief to see that Wesley wasn't concerned with the earlier event in Engineering.

Once Philips had a drink, he got out his computer padd with the uncomplete equation and make himself appear deep in thought over it. Knowing full well Wesley would approach him soon enough. In letting Wesley come to him and ask to look about the equation, it would make it easier to convince Wesley to finish it.

It was only no less than five minutes later that Wesley's friends left, leaving Wesley sitting alone. Philips watched out the corner of his eye as Wesley glanced around and spotted him, and he furrowed his brow to appear frustrated about something. Sure enough Wesley then came over.

"Uncle Charlie?" Wesley asked as he sat down; "What are you looking at?" Philips saw he had Wesley's complete attention, but he had to make sure he did this right or Wesley might ask too many questions.

Philips looked up at Wesley appearing as if surprised to see him; "Wesley;" then he set the padd down and shook his head; "Oh nothing. Just something that popped into my head, yet I can't quite figure out where I know it from." He lied

"Well what is it? Maybe I can help" Wesley said enthusiastically, leaning forward. After the event in Engineering, Wesley was a little suspicious of Philips, but having spent time with his classmates in the holodeck and Ten Forward, he had almost forgotten about it. Now he acting as if it didn't happen. Perhaps he was in denial, refusing to believe there was something odd about Philip's behaviour because then he would have to accept his uncle was hiding something. That could mean that Wesley may not know the one person who had been there for him since his father's death, the one person who he looked up to the most.

Philips hesitated slightly before handing it to Wesley, somewhat nervous. He had been planning this for so long, and now with it so close.

"It's an equation I can't quite finish;" Philips said as Wesley thumbed through the padd reading it; "I know there is something missing but not sure what."

Wesley didn't reply straight away, and Philips sat there quietly studying Wesley. Waiting for him to speak. There was something about the equation that jumped out to Wesley; it was familiar and he knew he had seen it before, that he was sure of. Yet it so familiar that it was almost like he had written it himself, but that wasn't possible…..

"Wesley?" Philips prompted when he saw the expression of Wesley's face, like he remembered it. That thought both brought Philips hope and fear about what he was really remembering.

"I've seen this before." Wesley said without looking up, he frowned as he strained his brain trying to force himself to remember.

"Do you know where?" Philips asked gently

"I'm not sure." Wesley looked up to meet his eye and curiously asked; "Could it be a project you were mentoring me on, years ago?" Wesley remembered Philips had tutored him when he was a young boy, although not as much after the event on Science base 7.

"It's possible. That would explain how we both recognise it. Tell me do you think you know what's missing? Can you finish it?" Philips was even more hopeful that Wesley would finish it, he remembered it which was a good sign. Seeing as he wrote it himself, it shouldn't be a problem to finish it.

Wesley looked down at the padd again and pondered it; "Maybe. I think that…" Wesley was cut off as his communicator chirped; "Ensign Crusher report to the bridge." Suddenly, Wesley remembered he was supposed to be on duty, he had only intended to sit with his uncle for a moment

"Sorry Commander. On my way" Wesley replied as he hit his communicator. Then he handed the padd back to Philips; "Sorry Uncle Charlie, I forgot I to be on bridge duty." He said before standing up

Philips panicked as he was so close, he felt like if he let Wesley go, he would lose his all chance of completing his mission.

"Wait!" Philips almost shouted jumping up, slightly scaring Wesley. Then he quickly composed himself; "Er Wesley." He said giving him time to think of an excuse to get him to stay; "Didn't just had a shift on the bridge? Even young ensigns deserve a break." Philip said trying to make it seem like humorous, really he was grasping at straws, hoping not to make Wesley even more suspicious.

Wesley smiled back at Philips; "Yeah well I'm not an official Bridge Ensign really, but if I want the Captain and bridge crew to treat me like one, I have to put in the work." He said with a shrug; "See you later Uncle Charlie." Wesley said and walked out before Philips had time to think of another response.

Once Wesley had left Philips slumped back into his seat clenching his fists. Dammit! He muttered to himself. Now what was he going to do?