fields themselves."
132 The computer quickly carried out its instructions. What Morn
suspected was true. All the controls to the sterile field were on their
side, away from the contaminated areas, and as each ship's section had
a separate ventilating system to protect it against contamination, the
ventilation shafts on their side of the fields were still safe.
133 "Bless the people that designed this ship!" he thought to himself.
"Engineer, is there any way we can rig controls to those sterile fields
that have been disabled so they can't be tampered with from the
outside? Can someone crawl through the ventilators and hook up
controls on the
inside?"
134 "I'm not sure, sir," the Engineer answered, "but I have somebody
that can tell us!" The Engineer took out his communicator and punched
out some codes on it. An answering signal came back on his display
screen. "He'll be here in a minute," the Engineer continued. "He's not
far away."
135 A short time later one of the ventilation hatches near them popped
open, and a jointed metal body stuck out. Short legs emerged with
motorized wheels on the bottom. Then the body continued to descend to
the floor, until finally it pulled its head out and stood erect. It
oriented itself, located the Engineering Officer, and came over.
136 "This," announced the Engineer, "is our ventilation maintenance
robot who we call 'Joint.' If anything can be done in the ventilation
shafts, he can do it. Joint, this is the new Commander!"
137 The robot turned its sensors on Morn. "I am greatly pleased you
have come aboard, Commander," it complimented. "What service do you
wish me to perform?"
138 Morn explained the problem. The droid's sensor lights dimmed for a
few moments then brightened back up. "Yes," it said, "I see. May I ask
why, Commander?"