You scan the corridor desperately, spotting an access panel labeled 'Emergency Override - Deck Officers Only' further down the smoke-filled hallway. 'There!' you shout to Riggs, pointing. The engineer's eyes widen as he sees it, then narrow with determination. Together you sprint toward the panel, dodging falling ceiling tiles as another impact shakes the ship.

Riggs wrenches open the panel to reveal a biometric scanner. 'Only senior staff can activate this,' he gasps, wiping soot from his face. You notice his hand trembling as it hovers over the controls. Then his eyes meet yours - a silent question passing between you. With a deep breath, you reach into your emergency kit and pull out the plasma cutter meant for emergency hull breaches.

The scanner sparks violently when Riggs jams the superheated tool into its circuitry. The doors hiss open to reveal a narrow service ladder descending into the ship's infrastructure. 'Down there - two levels then aft,' Riggs says, coughing from the thickening smoke. 'Watch for live conduits!' You grasp the ladder's rungs just as an explosion rocks the corridor above, sending a rain of debris chasing you downward.

The maintenance shaft is a maze of pulsing energy conduits and hissing pipes. Following Riggs' directions, you emerge into a dimly lit corridor where the walls hum with barely contained power. At the far end, the auxiliary control room door stands sealed. The control panel flickers erratically - damaged but not completely dead. You press your palm against it, willing it to respond.