You hesitate at the duct entrance, emergency kit digging into your shoulder. 'Shouldn't we wait for backup?' you shout over the wailing alarms. Riggs shakes his head violently, his curly hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. 'No time - that's a Dominion raider out there! Their next volley will crack us open like an egg!' As if to emphasize his point, the ship shudders again, sparks raining from a ruptured conduit overhead.

You peer into the claustrophobic tunnel, its walls lined with glowing fiber-optic cables that cast eerie blue shadows. Distant shouts and the hiss of fire suppressants echo through the ship's bones. Riggs shoves a slim multitool into your hand. 'Override panel's fifty meters in - hexagonal access port with yellow markings. Twist the center counterclockwise when you reach it!' His comm badge suddenly crackles with Chief Oren's voice screaming about failing shield emitters.

Taking a deep breath of the metallic-tasting air, you squeeze into the duct. The metal walls press against your back and chest as you army-crawl forward, the emergency kit scraping loudly. Halfway through, the ship lurches violently, slamming your head against an exposed pipe. Stars explode across your vision as warm blood trickles down your temple. The fiber-optic lights flicker ominously.