Your hands fumble for the bright orange emergency kit mounted on the corridor wall, its reflective stripes catching the flashing red lights. The case clicks open to reveal basic medical supplies, a compact fire suppressant, and an emergency beacon. You sling the strap over your shoulder just as the ship lurches violently to starboard, sending you crashing into a crewman sprinting past.

'First day?' the panting engineer asks as he helps you up, his grease-stained coveralls bearing the name 'Riggs'. Before you can answer, an explosion rocks the ship, knocking out half the corridor lights. Through the flickering illumination, you see Chief Oren's burly form appear at the junction ahead, his dark skin gleaming with sweat as he barks orders to a cluster of terrified apprentices.

'You!' he bellows, spotting you. 'Get to auxiliary control and reroute power to the forward shields! Riggs, show them the way!' The engineer grabs your arm and pulls you down a side passage as another shockwave rumbles through the deck plates. The air grows thick with the acrid smell of burning circuits.

Riggs skids to a halt before a sealed hatch, his hands flying over the access panel. 'We've got maybe ninety seconds before whatever's out there takes another shot at us,' he says, the panel flashing red under his fingers. 'Security protocols are locked out - you'll have to crawl through the maintenance duct to reach the manual override.' He kicks open a small service hatch near the floor, revealing a cramped tunnel barely wide enough for your shoulders.