Season 11, Mission 10: The Ghosts of War

[Kirok]

[Bridge]

Kali imperceptibly rubbed the soreness forming around her cheekbones and 'snapped' back to work. "Sickbay doesn't need to deal with a case of allergies, Len," she said, albeit hoarse. "I'm sure there's someone from Engineering missing an arm or something that requires the good doctor's attention." Because Kali Reyes never got traditionally sick. It just wasn't bound to her wild DNA.

If she sneezed again, it was very quietly into her sleeve. And hell, was it getting hot in here? "Bradley, you mind lowering the thermostat on the bridge?"

That was when Zuriel brought the ship to a stop. Kali squinted at the viewscreen.

"That's new," she snuffled, her fingers tapping hesitantly on the chair arm where the comm sat. "Just keep on coasting for now until the brass gets back, Soreka. The last time we did something under the Captain's nose it was hell in a handbaska-ACHOO!"

Oh god. Just her luck. Kali tried to school some sort of poker face when Zex approached. "At ease, doc." She hoped Zex would take the Medical station far away from her.

[Bridge]

"Yes, Maam" Zex replied.  She could not help but notice the sneeze, but had arrived without any medical equipment.  So off to the Medical station she went, prepared to do a quick review of the crew's records.

[D'Vid]

[Quarters, Nickels, Dimes....]

"A Hunch." he said, not convinced. To him, at least, it seemed that Kali Reyes had been a little less than capable of keeping her mouth shut. He might mention that when her physical came up. Which had just found it's way a bit sooner in his schedule. Though the energy in the room was indeed high, it was offset to a kind by his Stoic, Guarded expression.

As the Septa landed on the man's shoulder, Klabax moved to remove it before the man seemed to react positively to it. He immediately checked his motion, instead redicrecting him to his other animals, such as his pyrithian bat. He put a few snow beetles in the cage, which were quickly devoured, and the bat screeched happily.

As D'Vid talked to the cat, it seemed in a way to acknowledge his talk and respond, mewling a little answer, as if saying "Who's Patches?", before jumping with surprisingly powerful legs to the man's other shoulder via his head.

"She is a female." Klabax said, a little less ice in his voice. The animal didn't trust many people- as some of the operations crew had found out. The cat jumped into the man's arms and curled up, as Klabax turned. He spoke the cat's name, some unpronounceable Denobulan tongue that translated loosely to "Luna". From there, The cat purred as he scratched it. It seemed it had found a new friend.

[Quarters - Q1, Q2, Q3]

D'Vid was finding this doctor interesting. He had not only one pet, but he had a small batch of them. It was amazing how they were aboard the ship. It was amazing how the environment settings on the ship can accommodate animals.

"Who's Patches?"

"Patches... was my pet cat" D'Vid paused for a moment. Sadness washed over him. The loss of his home world had the weight of sorrow from long time ago. He had continued to stroke the feline. "It was my first and last pet when I was a child until adult. It was a little and scrawny. It had missing patches fur and different patches colors of fur. She was a mismatch of her kind," he explained. He chuckled as he recalled. "Patches had a stubborn personality at first, but in time we got to know each other," he added.

D'Vid was small child of eight years old. He was away from home. Having adventures in the woods near by home. His parents hated when he wandered off. But D'Vid was a kid with a knack of adventure in his blood.  Every time he saw a trail running into the woods. He always had needed to know where it led. His little soul believed never leave a trail unattended. Heck each trail led to an adventure.

D'Vid moved his hand above Luna as he wiggled his fingers above it to let it claw it. "You even got bats too?" he asked. The doctor had pets for friends. There was nothing better then that kind of companionship. They don't talk back. They don't complain. Heck, all animals asked was to be take care and be loved.

[Kyle Briggs]

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Discovery]

Kyle handed Nevir his tea as he began explaining things to Garrison.

"Kin- Ms Garrison, thank you for coming.  The Captain and I have been talking about the positions on this ship.  You were one of the ones affected by the intrusion, but you weren't the only one in the science department. Lt. Commander Michaels is being relieved of duty.  By his own request.  Apparently whatever tried to replace him damaged his nervous system.  He's... going to be sent to Starfleet Medical for evaluation."

He caught Nevir's glance and smiled as Kinley asked her question.

"I didn't know it was that bad.  So what is going to be the plan for the Science Department when he leaves?"

"That's where you come in." he started. "We're going to need a new CSO and we fully believe that the best person for the job is you. A DH position complete with the rank of Acting Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations." Kyle said. "Tha is, if you want it."

[Tekin Nevir]

[Captain's room.]

Kinley silently nodded to her commanding officers. Ever since the body-snatching incident a couple weeks ago, the CSO had been reporting feeling a bit under the weather, but this was news to the young scientist. "I didn't know it was that bad.  So what is going to be the plan for the Science Department when he leaves?"

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Discovery]

Kyle handed Nevir his tea as he began explaining things to Garrison.

He caught Nevir's glance and smiled as Kinley asked her question.

"That's where you come in." he started. "We're going to need a new CSO and we fully believe that the best person for the job is you. A DH position complete with the rank of Acting Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations." Kyle said. "Tha is, if you want it."

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Discovery]

Nevir nodded as the Captain made his announcement.  He smiled at the younger woman leaning back in his chair.  "I told you when you first reported for duty, that even if I wear red, I'm science at heart.  And I said I had high expectations.  This is sooner than I anticipated, but I'm confident that you're ready to take on the role.  It will require more work, and you'll have to take some extra training.  But I'm here to mentor you and make sure you are completely ready.  All you have to do is agree." he said, waiting for her to give her answer.

[Kinley Garrison]

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Discovery]

Kyle handed Nevir his tea as he began explaining things to Garrison.

He caught Nevir's glance and smiled as Kinley asked her question.

"That's where you come in." he started. "We're going to need a new CSO and we fully believe that the best person for the job is you. A DH position complete with the rank of Acting Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations." Kyle said. "Tha is, if you want it."

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Discovery]

Nevir nodded as the Captain made his announcement.  He smiled at the younger woman leaning back in his chair.  "I told you when you first reported for duty, that even if I wear red, I'm science at heart.  And I said I had high expectations.  This is sooner than I anticipated, but I'm confident that you're ready to take on the role.  It will require more work, and you'll have to take some extra training.  But I'm here to mentor you and make sure you are completely ready.  All you have to do is agree." he said, waiting for her to give her answer.

[Captain's room]

Blinking a couple times out of shock, Kinley tried to process what was going on. Holy crap.
She thought. She hadn't expected to get thrust up so high in the rankings as early as she did, but here she was.  And if they thought she could get the job done, she wouldn't let them down.    "Alright. If you guys think that I'm ready, I'll take the job."

[Jettis Jyur]

Things it seem to get a little more lively on the bridge, every man and women on this ship had a heart for exploration, and their were moments like these that really let that fact come out. This was a long shift, and honestly a boring one, but still there was some wonder to be had by the crew. It did the El-Aurian's heart well to be apart of something greater again, he was gone for far too long.

"An interesting assortment of elements Jettis, nothing that I know would hurt the ship, but crazier things have happened, so ill keep us a safe distance away from anything to big." Zuriel altered the course of the ship so that, while they could get closer to the body in the void, they could veer off in time if the body in question's orbit was more erratic than it seemed. "Here we are now we can get a proper look at her." The Discovery was clearly dwarfed by what looked to Zuriel as a broken planet, if someone took the time to look they could almost put the pieces together like a jig saw puzzle. While the broken planet was clearly naturally occurring, the damage did not seem it could have been caused by the same means. "Looks like a planet to me, ripped right apart, perhaps to get to the more valuable elements that you mentioned?" Zuriel posed this questioned glancing back a Jettis.
"This is as close as I will get but. perhaps a probe could shed a bit more light on what happened here." Zuriel spoke as he brought the ship to a stop. "But from what I see on my station this is clearly the origin of the heavy metals."

[Bridge]

"Possibly," Jettis replied, still focusing on his scans. "If someone were determined to get those elements, and had the tools to do that," he motioned vaguely towards the torn planet, "Then chances are they're looking for enough to equip an entire fleet of ships. Likely, battleships." He finished, pausing for a moment. "Or, alternatively, they could have been the ones producing the weapons, or whatever it was used for. And if you had something that valuable and that powerful, you'd be willing to sell it, possibly to some dissatisfied customers."

Turning slightly, he glanced over his shoulder at Kali momentarily, before looking back at the viewscreen. "A probe could be a good idea though, if approved by the Captain. I'm getting a lot of questions with the scans, but not a lot of logical answers. Why would a planet have so much heavy metal in it, if it was really a planet? Maybe even a Class M one at one point."

[Zuriel Soreka]

"I agree it is odd for a planet to have that much heavy metal." Zuriel said slightly distracted by his course corrections." A planet composed of that much of it would not easily maintain a good orbit around a star, if it could survive at all, it's life would be short. For something so grey and lifeless as the exoplanet was, it certainly had caught the attention of the entire bridge crew, but then again in one way other another, the unknown was a passion they all shared.

"Perhaps the metals were transported here, maybe a refinery of some sort, it would not be the first time starfleet stumbled on ancient remnant of industry, would definitely have been a military target in more dangerous times." Zuriel commented as he maintained a safe orbit. " But if it was a ship that did this, it would be a true terror, nothing like it in the galaxy would exist."

[Klabax Cottle]

[Quarters - Q1, Q2, Q3]

D'Vid was finding this doctor interesting. He had not only one pet, but he had a small batch of them. It was amazing how they were aboard the ship. It was amazing how the environment settings on the ship can accommodate animals.

"Patches... was my pet cat" D'Vid paused for a moment. Sadness washed over him. The loss of his home world had the weight of sorrow from long time ago. He had continued to stroke the feline. "It was my first and last pet when I was a child until adult. It was a little and scrawny. It had missing patches fur and different patches colors of fur. She was a mismatch of her kind," he explained. He chuckled as he recalled. "Patches had a stubborn personality at first, but in time we got to know each other," he added.

D'Vid was small child of eight years old. He was away from home. Having adventures in the woods near by home. His parents hated when he wandered off. But D'Vid was a kid with a knack of adventure in his blood.  Every time he saw a trail running into the woods. He always had needed to know where it led. His little soul believed never leave a trail unattended. Heck each trail led to an adventure.

D'Vid moved his hand above Luna as he wiggled his fingers above it to let it claw it. "You even got bats too?" he asked. The doctor had pets for friends. There was nothing better then that kind of companionship. They don't talk back. They don't complain. Heck, all animals asked was to be take care and be loved.

[Fourth Quarter]

The amount of animals around was quite numerous. Cages and containers were the main parts of the room, taking over the bed, shelves, walls, floor, ceiling, and everything. The room was quite literally used for nothing but animals. Each cage was temperature-regulated and every animal seemed pretty happy.

"Was?" Klabax asked, as he saw the face of the man fall. The Septa also noted it, apparently, and began trying to nuzzle up to the man, purring and pawing the man softly. It was quite the intelligent creature, probably Klabax's favourite. "When did you have 'Patches' as your companion?" Klabax asked, opting not to use the term "Pet". Pet implied a possession, while companion, it was more of a bond between the two. Closer than family, at times.

"Yes... I think I have at last count a few dozen different species. All happy and unique, most with some medical significance." he said, turning and thinking. No two were the same, but that didn't mean they'd mix in an open environment happily.

[Scott Bradley]

"I agree it is odd for a planet to have that much heavy metal." Zuriel said slightly distracted by his course corrections." A planet composed of that much of it would not easily maintain a good orbit around a star, if it could survive at all, it's life would be short. For something so grey and lifeless as the exoplanet was, it certainly had caught the attention of the entire bridge crew, but then again in one way other another, the unknown was a passion they all shared.

"Perhaps the metals were transported here, maybe a refinery of some sort, it would not be the first time starfleet stumbled on ancient remnant of industry, would definitely have been a military target in more dangerous times." Zuriel commented as he maintained a safe orbit. " But if it was a ship that did this, it would be a true terror, nothing like it in the galaxy would exist."

Scott had been busy running scans from the ops station, like most of the bridge crew the planet had certainly caught his attention. He had never seen a planet like this before. He listened to Zuriels thoughts on the matter, before folding his arms and turning slightly in his seat.

" I'd hate to see the ship that could do this much transportation. It'd be a beast. Maybe a fleet of ships? "

[D'Vid]

[Quarter of milk]

"Yeah I found Patches meowing for help. I found her under in rushing cold water. I had saved her. She must have been toss in the water by her mother," he answered. "I brought her back to health. She had a missing ear. I guess mama cat felt she would not survive. So she decided to put Patches in the water to drown," he added. A small, sad smile grew on his face at Cobble's cat was purring. "But she lived pass her full age. By the moons of El-Aurian I sure miss her."

D'Vid did hold back his huge excitement when he first walked in the room with all the cages. I mean, the room was wall to wall of animals.

"So you saying some of these guys here," he said, casting his eyes to the cages in the room. "Help you with medicine?" he asked. That would be wicked cool for someone who can do that. He was feeling much like home when he saw animals. He was a man of nature. He found it easy to connect someone who was not of his race.

[Kirok]

[Bridge]

Zex logged into her station.  Everything looked to be within normal limits.  She waited for orders.

[Zuriel Soreka]

Scott had been busy running scans from the ops station, like most of the bridge crew the planet had certainly caught his attention. He had never seen a planet like this before. He listened to Zuriels thoughts on the matter, before folding his arms and turning slightly in his seat.

" I'd hate to see the ship that could do this much transportation. It'd be a beast. Maybe a fleet of ships? "

"I don't think so the marks on the surface have a single pattern, it it was a fleet there would be  much more intricate lines we could see, it would not be so rough." Zuriel said looking over his shoulder for a moment for his teammate. Zuriel himself was getting a little unnerved at the sight the Discovery had found, I was simply not something you would see everyday.
"Yeah this place gives me the willies, I feel like were are late to a party or something." Zuriel replied scanning his station for anything out of the ordinary.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Quarter of milk]

"Yeah I found Patches meowing for help. I found her under in rushing cold water. I had saved her. She must have been toss in the water by her mother," he answered. "I brought her back to health. She had a missing ear. I guess mama cat felt she would not survive. So she decided to put Patches in the water to drown," he added. A small, sad smile grew on his face at Cobble's cat was purring. "But she lived pass her full age. By the moons of El-Aurian I sure miss her."

D'Vid did hold back his huge excitement when he first walked in the room with all the cages. I mean, the room was wall to wall of animals.

"So you saying some of these guys here," he said, casting his eyes to the cages in the room. "Help you with medicine?" he asked. That would be wicked cool for someone who can do that. He was feeling much like home when he saw animals. He was a man of nature. He found it easy to connect someone who was not of his race.

[Quarter Pound Catburger]

"Where was this at?" Klabax asked, looking with a curious gaze at the man's reactions. He wasn't a psychologist but it was still interesting to see how emotional stimuli fuddled with different beings... especially when confronted with cute fluffy needy things. "Well it seems that you did a good job." he said, neither congratulatory or condesending, but a slight softness in his voice. "Many of these pets are rescues as well, or the offspring thereof." When the man mentioned El-Aurian Klabax didn't know exactly what the significance was, but could easily deduce it was along the lines of several other expressions he'd heard.

"Yes, quite a few of them have been handled through history... For instance there are, among my collections, Altarian marsupials, Calrissian Chamelions, Regulan bloodworks, osmotic eels, and even one or two Lyssarian Desert Larvae." he said. They had various healing abilities, but some of them around were just for comfort- such as the tribble now cooing away.  "I sometimes find Nature provides the answers without chemicals, if one only looks."

[Kyle Briggs]

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Discovery]

Nevir nodded as the Captain made his announcement.  He smiled at the younger woman leaning back in his chair.  "I told you when you first reported for duty, that even if I wear red, I'm science at heart.  And I said I had high expectations.  This is sooner than I anticipated, but I'm confident that you're ready to take on the role.  It will require more work, and you'll have to take some extra training.  But I'm here to mentor you and make sure you are completely ready.  All you have to do is agree." he said, waiting for her to give her answer.

Blinking a couple times out of shock, Kinley tried to process what was going on. Holy crap.
She thought. She hadn't expected to get thrust up so high in the rankings as early as she did, but here she was.  And if they thought she could get the job done, she wouldn't let them down.    "Alright. If you guys think that I'm ready, I'll take the job."

Kyle smiled once more. "We wouldn't have made the move without knowing you could handle it. You've worked hard for it and have had an amazing instructor." he said. "As the Commander said, he's still Science at heart and he wouldn't just hand the department over to just anyone. It's his baby. Now, speaking of Science and such. I believe we have a nebula to study and I'd hate to keep my two best science officers away from it. We'll have a little celebration later. For now, let's get Starfleet their reports on this thing. Dismissed."

Kyle stood and turned to the window as the duo left the Ready Room. He released a sigh of contentment. He was happy to be back on the Discovery. It was his home. But he had found himself lately, wondering if it was still his life.

[Jettis Jyur]

"I don't think so the marks on the surface have a single pattern, it it was a fleet there would be  much more intricate lines we could see, it would not be so rough." Zuriel said looking over his shoulder for a moment for his teammate. Zuriel himself was getting a little unnerved at the sight the Discovery had found, I was simply not something you would see everyday.

"Yeah this place gives me the willies, I feel like were are late to a party or something." Zuriel replied scanning his station for anything out of the ordinary.

[Bridge]

"Honestly, I'm kind of glad we missed it," Jettis smirked, looking down at his own screen. "If this is the damage the party did, I think we dodged a bullet by staying home."

Running another close-range scan, it produced no more interesting results than the last two. Just the planet, in all it's oddness, standing out in the void of space. Shrugging it off for the time being, he logged the readings for the chart of the nebula, as well as the planet. "What do you think we should call this bad boy, just for the records?" He posed to the rest of the Bridge crew. It was mostly a joke, knowing that half of them would probably throw out names like 'planety the destroyed planet', and while that would be amusing, he didn't think the rest of Starfleet would approve, nor any of the other scientists who would inevitably study this nebula.

He paused as Kyan arrived on the Bridge, and was very blunt about his asking what had happened on the planet. He had something to say about it, words itchingto get out, but he knew better than that, and maintained the facade that he hadn't even overheard the two's conversation.
Instead, he began a wider scan, and sat back while awaiting either orders, or any scan results worth his full attention.