the crew of the operations room all exchanged nervous glances , and liao felt a sinking feeling in her stomach that , she hoped , was not a return of the nausea ; a shudder in the operations room would have been a profound shake only a few decks above them , a strong earthquake near the hull , and beyond that if the impacts had cracked the hull plating , it couldnt hold a charge , so their defences would be significantly weakened .