S13 - M1: When the Bough Breaks, Part II

[Tekin Nevir]

Captain's Log, Supplemental

After following the energy surges coming from the planet to the station, we were surprised to find that the away team had vanished the same way as the Vulcans did on their ship.  A scan showed both the Runabout and the Vulcan ship were completely drained of power.  Before we could investigate further, however, an old face decided to make herself known....

"Hello Commander.... or should I say Captain?  Its been a while, hasn't it?"

A blanket of silence fell on the Bridge as Nevir mentally readjusted himself.  Lieutenant Commander Jessica Stamen.  Former science officer and current fujitive after the eradication of a pre-warp race, and destruction of Federation property.  The one who somehow ruined the Discovery, forcing her retirement and the commission of the vessel they were now on.

"Stamen..."

"You remember me... oh Captain, I'm glad to see you've been thinking of me.  Makes a girl feel loved to know people out there looking for her."

Nevir swung his head around.  "Scan for the source of the signal..."

"Oh, don't bother.  Its coming from the station, but rebounded from the forth planet.  Pretty high tech stuff.  I know you were already around the planet earlier.  Do you like that sensor net?  Would you believe this is a couple thousand years old?  And in such great shape."

"You have my attention Stamen.  What do you want?"

"Straight to the point then, I can accept that.  You've gotten yourself noticed, Captain.  You should have left well enough alone, but you didn't.  You and your crew.  Or at least some of them.  Well... some of us don't like that.  But, instead of outright killing you, we are willing to... negotiate.  You have something we need.  All I require is you."

"Or...."

"Or I kill your crew one by one..." she said, as the screen changed to show a cave where the away team was currently stationed. 

"I'd make your choice soon, Captain... it looks like Reyes is already ahead of the party, I can't wait to see the look on her face.  I'll give you ten minutes to decide."  And with that, the channel closed.

There was a noticeable shaking of his arms.  Out of anger or fear, it was hard to tell.

[Kali Reyes]

[One Year Ago - Starbase 34]

A lone light shined hard on Kali's eyes, making her instinctively squint away. Her back hurt after an hour spent on a bare metal chair and she was getting thirsty. The room was completely grey and bare aside from the chair, the metal table in front of her, the two-way mirror to her right, and a couple of Federation officers ready to play bad cop, good cop. It didn't take a genius to figure out that this was a mild bit of interrogation.

Her mouth was completely dry at this point. She never went more than an hour without swigging a bit of Jack to wet it. "Your accommodations suck."

"I'll let my boss know." This guy sounded casual and sympathetic. Most likely the good cop. "Thirsty?"

"Kind of lost my appetite." Kali sat forward and appraised the two human men. "Look, I'm not stupid. I've been interviewed by Starfleet Internal Affairs, the Admiralty Board, and two inquirer blogs - everything I put about Trallis is in my duty log."

The other guy had his arms folded, stern and quiet in the corner. It reminded her vaguely of Grey. "You never mentioned who ignited the biochemical virus."

"Kinley opened it, but she didn't do it," Kali snapped. "You weren't there. An entire race melted for fu-"

"We have reason to believe someone during Acting Captain Tekin's crew compliment is incriminated in this investigation," Good Cop retorted and clicked something in his hand. A holographic dossier appeared before her. "One of your science officers vanished without a trace."

Kali took one look at the dossier and sat back, a bit dumbfounded. "I don't-"

Bad Cop smiled, revealing his teeth in a sneer. "You don't think it's strange that an Operations Chief had no clue that one of Discovery's officers failed to report during mandatory drydock?"

She didn't have time to. After the final beam up, she and the rest of the away team were isolated until they had to submit formal logs of the incident. An entire pre-warp race wiped out wasn't something to be handled lightly. Kali had been carted from medical to the admiralty board to Starfleet Legal just in case it was needed. These guys knew this.

They were trying to incriminate her. Scare her into complying for something she didn't do.

"I want a lawyer," she demanded.

While there were no other lifesigns in the cave, there was organic residue.  And that residue registered as Vulcan.  The vulcans were here... just not anymore.  And no one could say why.

Amid the colors that the VISR picked up was a hidden room a few meters away, one that was being protected by a highly advanced forcefield.  As Kali unknowingly near it, the cover vanished, showing a medical room.  And blood.... streaks of blood.  Green blood.

A single voice came over the comm from within that room, with a voice strangely familiar to Kali, but difficult to place:

"Ah... welcome.  You're right on time...."

[Planetside - Caves]

Kali blurted at the ceiling, "WHAT THE FU-"

"CHIEF!" Huqma could only stare, his mouth agape at a secret room deep in the cave systems. The green blood didn't bother him as much seeing as he was in medical, but the implications made him rear back in disgust. "That's..."

Vulcan blood. If Huqma stepped back once, Kali stepped back a dozen more until she felt the other cave wall hit her back. Kali wasn't very fond of surgical rooms - especially ones dripping in blood. She held her torch aloft like some kind of weapon. There was no way in hell she was going in there. Instead, Huqma moved closer and, out of pure fear of remaining alone, Kali reluctantly followed.

Huqma first glanced at the blood and then over at the biobeds. "There's something under the tarp, Chief."

"Not funny," she said hoarsely.

"I'm serious."

They both circled the abandoned bed where there was a definite outline of a humanoid laying down with an issued tarp draped entirely over it. Kali trained the torch over it for a better look while Huqma snapped on his gloves. The disembodied voice, the smell coming out of everything, this was getting too much for her.

Huqma hooked his fingers under the fabric. The smell was already sickly and overwhelming. They were both ready to puke. "Ready?"

HELL NO.

"Do it."

She wish she never uttered those two words. As he pulled the tarp off, they both recoiled hard in horror.

[Ardyn Jaeger]

Captain's Log, Supplemental

After following the energy surges coming from the planet to the station, we were surprised to find that the away team had vanished the same way as the Vulcans did on their ship.  A scan showed both the Runabout and the Vulcan ship were completely drained of power.  Before we could investigate further, however, an old face decided to make herself known....

"Hello Commander.... or should I say Captain?  Its been a while, hasn't it?"

A blanket of silence fell on the Bridge as Nevir mentally readjusted himself.  Lieutenant Commander Jessica Stamen.  Former science officer and current fujitive after the eradication of a pre-warp race, and destruction of Federation property.  The one who somehow ruined the Discovery, forcing her retirement and the commission of the vessel they were now on.

"Stamen..."

"You remember me... oh Captain, I'm glad to see you've been thinking of me.  Makes a girl feel loved to know people out there looking for her."

Nevir swung his head around.  "Scan for the source of the signal..."

"Oh, don't bother.  Its coming from the station, but rebounded from the forth planet.  Pretty high tech stuff.  I know you were already around the planet earlier.  Do you like that sensor net?  Would you believe this is a couple thousand years old?  And in such great shape."

"You have my attention Stamen.  What do you want?"

"Straight to the point then, I can accept that.  You've gotten yourself noticed, Captain.  You should have left well enough alone, but you didn't.  You and your crew.  Or at least some of them.  Well... some of us don't like that.  But, instead of outright killing you, we are willing to... negotiate.  You have something we need.  All I require is you."

"Or...."

"Or I kill your crew one by one..." she said, as the screen changed to show a cave where the away team was currently stationed. 

"I'd make your choice soon, Captain... it looks like Reyes is already ahead of the party, I can't wait to see the look on her face.  I'll give you ten minutes to decide."  And with that, the channel closed.

There was a noticeable shaking of his arms.  Out of anger or fear, it was hard to tell.

[Inzjana]

[Planetside - Caves]

Kali blurted at the ceiling, "WHAT THE FU-"

"CHIEF!" Huqma could only stare, his mouth agape at a secret room deep in the cave systems. The green blood didn't bother him as much seeing as he was in medical, but the implications made him rear back in disgust. "That's..."

Vulcan blood. If Huqma stepped back once, Kali stepped back a dozen more until she felt the other cave wall hit her back. Kali wasn't very fond of surgical rooms - especially ones dripping in blood. She held her torch aloft like some kind of weapon. There was no way in hell she was going in there. Instead, Huqma moved closer and, out of pure fear of remaining alone, Kali reluctantly followed.

Huqma first glanced at the blood and then over at the biobeds. "There's something under the tarp, Chief."

"Not funny," she said hoarsely.

"I'm serious."

They both circled the abandoned bed where there was a definite outline of a humanoid laying down with an issued tarp draped entirely over it. Kali trained the torch over it for a better look while Huqma snapped on his gloves. The disembodied voice, the smell coming out of everything, this was getting too much for her.

Huqma hooked his fingers under the fabric. The smell was already sickly and overwhelming. They were both ready to puke. "Ready?"

HELL NO.

"Do it."

She wish she never uttered those two words. As he pulled the tarp off, they both recoiled hard in horror.

CAVE SYSTEM DUNGEON | LOCATION: UNKNOWN

Inzjana's VISR was the first to pick up the hidden room as she pointed it out to chief Reyes and the COB approached the entrance, the holographic camouflage disappeared to reveal what can only be described as a room of horrors - even worse than the horror holovids Professor Andre Offenbach loved to watch.

As the Chief and the medical technician walked in the lab, Inzjana hesitated a look and immediately recoiled to what she saw and when Kali and Huqma removed the tarp, that was when Inzjana couldn't look any more, a tear escaping from her eyes despite her Vulcan training.

"What is going on!" Inzjana demanded to no one in particular, "the Vulcan crew?", Inzjana almost sobbed her legs unable to hold her up, she collapsed against the wall of the cave and slid down to the floor unable to cope with what she just saw.

[Tekin Nevir]

[Planetside - Caves]

Kali blurted at the ceiling, "WHAT THE FU-"

"CHIEF!" Huqma could only stare, his mouth agape at a secret room deep in the cave systems. The green blood didn't bother him as much seeing as he was in medical, but the implications made him rear back in disgust. "That's..."

Vulcan blood. If Huqma stepped back once, Kali stepped back a dozen more until she felt the other cave wall hit her back. Kali wasn't very fond of surgical rooms - especially ones dripping in blood. She held her torch aloft like some kind of weapon. There was no way in hell she was going in there. Instead, Huqma moved closer and, out of pure fear of remaining alone, Kali reluctantly followed.

Huqma first glanced at the blood and then over at the biobeds. "There's something under the tarp, Chief."

"Not funny," she said hoarsely.

"I'm serious."

They both circled the abandoned bed where there was a definite outline of a humanoid laying down with an issued tarp draped entirely over it. Kali trained the torch over it for a better look while Huqma snapped on his gloves. The disembodied voice, the smell coming out of everything, this was getting too much for her.

Huqma hooked his fingers under the fabric. The smell was already sickly and overwhelming. They were both ready to puke. "Ready?"

HELL NO.

"Do it."

She wish she never uttered those two words. As he pulled the tarp off, they both recoiled hard in horror.

CAVE SYSTEM DUNGEON | LOCATION: UNKNOWN

Inzjana's VISR was the first to pick up the hidden room as she pointed it out to chief Reyes and the COB approached the entrance, the holographic camouflage disappeared to reveal what can only be described as a room of horrors - even worse than the horror holovids Professor Andre Offenbach loved to watch.

As the Chief and the medical technician walked in the lab, Inzjana hesitated a look and immediately recoiled to what she saw and when Kali and Huqma removed the tarp, that was when Inzjana couldn't look any more, a tear escaping from her eyes despite her Vulcan training.

"What is going on!" Inzjana demanded to no one in particular, "the Vulcan crew?", Inzjana almost sobbed her legs unable to hold her up, she collapsed against the wall of the cave and slid down to the floor unable to cope with what she just saw.

[Cave - Lab Room]

What was displayed was something out of a horror vid.  The body was recognizable as a Vulcan, but just barely.  The skin was a mess of boils and legions, and the face was permanently in a look of abject pain.  The Vulcan has no cuts on him, or signs of operation, but the cause of death was apparent... something ravaged the body.

"Oooh, this is a new record.  I only got 4 of them to break emotionally, but none as fast as this one."

The disembodied voice seemed to come from the middle of the room, where an admittedly attractive woman stood, a brunette with a short cut, wearing a blue starfleet uniform and white lab coat around her.  She seemed to have just appeared there.

"And human... genetic putty.  I better start making plans in case your Captain decides to abandon you."

[Bridge - USS Discovery]

Nevir turned to Ardyn, his mind shaken away from his thoughts.  "I'm... I'm fine.  Just.. bad memories.... you have the bridge, I'll be in my ready room." he said, turning on his heels and going into his private office to mull over the choice he was being given.

[Ian Galloway]

[Planetside - Caves]

Kali blurted at the ceiling, "WHAT THE FU-"

"CHIEF!" Huqma could only stare, his mouth agape at a secret room deep in the cave systems. The green blood didn't bother him as much seeing as he was in medical, but the implications made him rear back in disgust. "That's..."

Vulcan blood. If Huqma stepped back once, Kali stepped back a dozen more until she felt the other cave wall hit her back. Kali wasn't very fond of surgical rooms - especially ones dripping in blood. She held her torch aloft like some kind of weapon. There was no way in hell she was going in there. Instead, Huqma moved closer and, out of pure fear of remaining alone, Kali reluctantly followed.

Huqma first glanced at the blood and then over at the biobeds. "There's something under the tarp, Chief."

"Not funny," she said hoarsely.

"I'm serious."

They both circled the abandoned bed where there was a definite outline of a humanoid laying down with an issued tarp draped entirely over it. Kali trained the torch over it for a better look while Huqma snapped on his gloves. The disembodied voice, the smell coming out of everything, this was getting too much for her.

Huqma hooked his fingers under the fabric. The smell was already sickly and overwhelming. They were both ready to puke. "Ready?"

HELL NO.

"Do it."

She wish she never uttered those two words. As he pulled the tarp off, they both recoiled hard in horror.

CAVE SYSTEM DUNGEON | LOCATION: UNKNOWN

Inzjana's VISR was the first to pick up the hidden room as she pointed it out to chief Reyes and the COB approached the entrance, the holographic camouflage disappeared to reveal what can only be described as a room of horrors - even worse than the horror holovids Professor Andre Offenbach loved to watch.

As the Chief and the medical technician walked in the lab, Inzjana hesitated a look and immediately recoiled to what she saw and when Kali and Huqma removed the tarp, that was when Inzjana couldn't look any more, a tear escaping from her eyes despite her Vulcan training.

"What is going on!" Inzjana demanded to no one in particular, "the Vulcan crew?", Inzjana almost sobbed her legs unable to hold her up, she collapsed against the wall of the cave and slid down to the floor unable to cope with what she just saw.

[Cave - Lab Room]

What was displayed was something out of a horror vid.  The body was recognizable as a Vulcan, but just barely.  The skin was a mess of boils and legions, and the face was permanently in a look of abject pain.  The Vulcan has no cuts on him, or signs of operation, but the cause of death was apparent... something ravaged the body.

"Oooh, this is a new record.  I only got 4 of them to break emotionally, but none as fast as this one."

The disembodied voice seemed to come from the middle of the room, where an admittedly attractive woman stood, a brunette with a short cut, wearing a blue starfleet uniform and white lab coat around her.  She seemed to have just appeared there.

"And human... genetic putty.  I better start making plans in case your Captain decides to abandon you."

[Alien Cave]

Ian saw the ruin that had once been a Vulcan and had to clamp his jaw very tightly in order not to vomit when he tasted bile. He clenched his fists in rage and took several deep breaths until his emotions were in check, he still seethed inside, but there was history here and that curiosity won out over his disgust. As with most situations where lives were on the line, Ian spoke in tight, flawless Standard to ensure there would be no miscommunication on his part.

"I don't know who you are or what you've done, but you will not succeed with whatever foulness that inhabits your mangled soul. Given you seem to have what passes for an education, I'm going to pretend you have heard of Masada and what happened there 2,400 years ago.

"We are only seven and completely expendable compared to our ship. We are Starfleet and if we must die at our own hand to keep you from carrying out what you have planned, then, to borrow from the Klingons, Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam."

[Nathan Ryder]

[Alien Cave]

"Gibbons, see ta the lieutenant. Myself and Mister Schrock will try and locate a water supply. Chief and Mister Huqma, see if'n you can locate the Vulcans. If they have a medic, bring them here immediately. Mister Ryder will stand watch here. Since we no longer have communications, stay on your toes. Let's move."

Nathan cast a worried glance towards Kali as she and Huqma began their search, but stayed where he was assigned. If Inzjana was temporarily out of commission then she would need the protection more than the fully capable members of their party. Thankfully it only took a moment to get the Science Officer back on her feet.

[Planetside - Caves]

Kali blurted at the ceiling, "WHAT THE FU-"

"CHIEF!" Huqma could only stare, his mouth agape at a secret room deep in the cave systems. The green blood didn't bother him as much seeing as he was in medical, but the implications made him rear back in disgust. "That's..."

The tone in the Chief's voice set Nathan's feet moving without a second thought. However, before he could interject that they should let him be the one to investigate the room, they had already stepped inside and revealed the grotesque remains. While his fellow crew members around him had various reactions to the horror, Ryder filed the sight away to be dealt with later. His number one priority was to keep the rest of the party safe, and he knew he could not succumb to the emotions a sight like that triggered in that moment.

As his gaze snapped to the source of the mystery voice, Nathan moved to put himself between the strange woman and Kali and Huqma. His phaser was still in his hand from earlier; he made no move to hide it, but nor did he directly aim it just yet.

[Alien Cave]

"I don't know who you are or what you've done, but you will not succeed with whatever foulness that inhabits your mangled soul. Given you seem to have what passes for an education, I'm going to pretend you have heard of Masada and what happened there 2,400 years ago.

"We are only seven and completely expendable compared to our ship. We are Starfleet and if we must die at our own hand to keep you from carrying out what you have planned, then, to borrow from the Klingons, Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam."

Honestly, what he would not give for a phase rifle right now. That would make him look much more intimidating than the little hand phaser that was standard carry. Something to keep in mind for next time, perhaps.

[Kali Reyes]

[Cave]

Inzjana just collapsed into a traumatic mess, Huqma was covered in splotches of alien blood after tripping over another biobed, and Galloway was practically singing about how they were all expendable so there was really no point in holding them alive for barter.

At this point, negotiations have completely broken down by the time they reached the gate. Kali's fight or flight instincts were overriding whatever ridiculous noble intentions Galloway was trying to garner from the away party.

Huqma already noped the hell out of the room the second Galloway said 'expendable' and Inzjana was cowering on a wall somewhere. Kali was one thin thread away from snapping entirely and go full on violent ham on the room itself, which always did her good as a child.

It was Ryder's quiet and composed stance that kept her from the scissors.

"And human... genetic putty.  I better start making plans in case your Captain decides to abandon you."

Now that she had a face to the voice, Kali recognized her immediately. "Lieutenant Commander Stamen. Former Lieutenant Commander, sorry. You can't really keep any fancy titles with an arrest warrant."

[Ian Galloway]

[Cave]

Inzjana just collapsed into a traumatic mess, Huqma was covered in splotches of alien blood after tripping over another biobed, and Galloway was practically singing about how they were all expendable so there was really no point in holding them alive for barter.

At this point, negotiations have completely broken down by the time they reached the gate. Kali's fight or flight instincts were overriding whatever ridiculous noble intentions Galloway was trying to garner from the away party.

Huqma already noped the hell out of the room the second Galloway said 'expendable' and Inzjana was cowering on a wall somewhere. Kali was one thin thread away from snapping entirely and go full on violent ham on the room itself, which always did her good as a child.

It was Ryder's quiet and composed stance that kept her from the scissors.

Now that she had a face to the voice, Kali recognized her immediately. "Lieutenant Commander Stamen. Former Lieutenant Commander, sorry. You can't really keep any fancy titles with an arrest warrant."

[Alien Cave]

Ian's hard expression grew incredulous at Kali's comment regarding their captor.

"This... thing was Starfleet? What the hell is going on here Chief?"

[Kali Reyes]

[Alien Cave]

Ian's hard expression grew incredulous at Kali's comment regarding their captor.

"This... thing was Starfleet? What the hell is going on here Chief?"

[Caves]

"Stamen used to be a doctor on board the Discovery. A real creepy one at that," Kali replied, her eyes focused intently on the woman. "Never did like geneticists."

"You disappeared after Trallis," she continued, this time to Stamen. "I got arraigned five ways past Sunday before they finally pinned you responsible. What the hell is wrong with you? The Vulcan crew? An entire planet?!" There may have been a hysterical twinge to her voice, having had witnessed another colonial wipe again. To be reminded of it only put her further on the edge.

[Inzjana]

Nathan cast a worried glance towards Kali as she and Huqma began their search, but stayed where he was assigned. If Inzjana was temporarily out of commission then she would need the protection more than the fully capable members of their party. Thankfully it only took a moment to get the Science Officer back on her feet.

ALIEN CAVE

Thanks to being Vulcan, Inzjana recovered quickly and with Nathan's kind help rose to her feet, "Thank you ensign, Inzjana stated, regaining her control after a minute's worth of being an emotional wreck.

"Fascinating," Inzjana said to herself, "That was completely unexpected, both my reaction and the lab."

Inzjana straightened her clothes and brushed off the dust of the cave and wiped her eyes. Seeing as her Starfleet issue Type II Phaser didn't make it during transport, she went for her back-up, a leg-holstered Romulan Disruptor Pistol. Not exactly Starfleet Issue, but she had started wearing the gift from her father, before her and her mother departed the Selaya for Vulcan, after they had been kidnapped on an alien world. Before that, it simply hang unused in her quarters aboard ship.

"My apologies Commander," Inzjana struggled to say as she moved next to Galloway, "orders sir?"

[Ian Galloway]

[Caves]

"Stamen used to be a doctor on board the Discovery. A real creepy one at that," Kali replied, her eyes focused intently on the woman. "Never did like geneticists."

"You disappeared after Trallis," she continued, this time to Stamen. "I got arraigned five ways past Sunday before they finally pinned you responsible. What the hell is wrong with you? The Vulcan crew? An entire planet?!" There may have been a hysterical twinge to her voice, having had witnessed another colonial wipe again. To be reminded of it only put her further on the edge.

ALIEN CAVE

Thanks to being Vulcan, Inzjana recovered quickly and with Nathan's kind help rose to her feet, "Thank you ensign, Inzjana stated, regaining her control after a minute's worth of being an emotional wreck.

"Fascinating," Inzjana said to herself, "That was completely unexpected, both my reaction and the lab."

Inzjana straightened her clothes and brushed off the dust of the cave and wiped her eyes. Seeing as her Starfleet issue Type II Phaser didn't make it during transport, she went for her back-up, a leg-holstered Romulan Disruptor Pistol. Not exactly Starfleet Issue, but she had started wearing the gift from her father, before her and her mother departed the Selaya for Vulcan, after they had been kidnapped on an alien world. Before that, it simply hang unused in her quarters aboard ship.

"My apologies Commander," Inzjana struggled to say as she moved next to Galloway, "orders sir?"

[Alien Cave]

Ian kept his basilisk like gaze of contempt focused on Stamen as he replied to Inzjana.

"My first response to that question is not legal in the Federation, but having to settle for what is legal. My orders would be to take this woman into custody for crimes against sentient life. However, I don't that is an option either."

Ian then addressed Stamen with a tone that dripped with disdain.

"You obviously have a reason for us being here. What do you want? I ask not because you are going to get any part of it, I ask because of curiosity. What does a genocidal psychopath want from others? What did those behind the Tuskegee Experiments want? What did Josef Mengele want? What did those behind the Eugenics Wars want? Do you even have a reason you twisted Leam-leat?" 

[Tekin Nevir]

[Caves]

"Stamen used to be a doctor on board the Discovery. A real creepy one at that," Kali replied, her eyes focused intently on the woman. "Never did like geneticists."

"You disappeared after Trallis," she continued, this time to Stamen. "I got arraigned five ways past Sunday before they finally pinned you responsible. What the hell is wrong with you? The Vulcan crew? An entire planet?!" There may have been a hysterical twinge to her voice, having had witnessed another colonial wipe again. To be reminded of it only put her further on the edge.

[Alien Lab]

"Sticks and stones, Commander." Stamen responded, crossing her arms.  "You can try to dehumanize me all you want, what I'm doing is for the good of the Federation.  My rank is not yours to take."

The doctor calmly walked over to one of the biobeds, picking up a tricorder and scanning yet another body.  "You'll have to forgive the Chief, Commander.  She isn't trying to deceive you... but she is wrong.... shame, this one was the best tests yet." she said, dividing her attention between her hostages and her test results.

"Sorry for your troubles, Chief.  But you know the old adage; the needs of many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.  In truth, I was only on the Discovery for less than a day.  I was assigned to an observation outpost in the Gamma Quadrant, and to my great luck, it was your ship that came to investigate my... test.  When they pulled me to the Discovery for questioning, well, I just had to be patient.  You see, Chief, I'm working for a higher power.  And I'm still in Starfleet.  Just... working in a different department."

Stamen closed the tricorder, and walked back over.  "I think it's up to your Captain whether your lives are expendable.  I'm not really interested in you guys.  You are just a means to an end.  And we'll see if Tekin has the guts to reach that end."

[Ian Galloway]

[Alien Lab]

"Sticks and stones, Commander." Stamen responded, crossing her arms.  "You can try to dehumanize me all you want, what I'm doing is for the good of the Federation.  My rank is not yours to take."

The doctor calmly walked over to one of the biobeds, picking up a tricorder and scanning yet another body.  "You'll have to forgive the Chief, Commander.  She isn't trying to deceive you... but she is wrong.... shame, this one was the best tests yet." she said, dividing her attention between her hostages and her test results.

"Sorry for your troubles, Chief.  But you know the old adage; the needs of many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.  In truth, I was only on the Discovery for less than a day.  I was assigned to an observation outpost in the Gamma Quadrant, and to my great luck, it was your ship that came to investigate my... test.  When they pulled me to the Discovery for questioning, well, I just had to be patient.  You see, Chief, I'm working for a higher power.  And I'm still in Starfleet.  Just... working in a different department."

Stamen closed the tricorder, and walked back over.  "I think it's up to your Captain whether your lives are expendable.  I'm not really interested in you guys.  You are just a means to an end.  And we'll see if Tekin has the guts to reach that end."

[Alien Cave]

Ian snorted at Stamen's comments and his scowl deepened.

"No Stamen, you dehumanized yourself by your own actions. You are, in fact, an embarrassment to humanity. Have you become so delusional that that nonsense you dribble is believable to you? A 'higher power', 'good of the Federation', you are not working for anyone but yourself and your twisted needs, regardless of whatever sickness is behind them may be. The experimentation on sentient beings is against the law of the Federation you claim to support, therefore, your entire argument is a lie."

Ian paused to allow his words and contempt sink in.

"You are nothing but the broken shell of a human unfit to breathe the same air as your victims. You are wrong on every level imaginable with your butchery you call science, but where you are most wrong is saying we have no say. The Captain is not here and cannot stop us from stopping you by taking away your leverage. I'm no martyr, but I knew the day I put this uniform on, that one day, I might have to sacrifice everything. If today happens to be that day, then so be it. I will not allow anyone to use us as a bargaining chip, so despite what you may think you pathetic excuse of a life, you do not control what happens here, we do."

[P'Larr Santiago]

USS Discovery ? Auxilliary Engineering

While it was no secret that androids were in service to the Federation, based on the state of the android assembled on the table, P'Larr had assumed she had walked into the midst of preliminary stages of some sort of extracurricular experiment. As Ensign Adams stepped forward, the counselor's crystal blue eyes settled on the android's own eyes while they took in the approaching flight officer. Her neck craned to the side while the ensign somewhat infantilized the creature, almost as if it were a child or a pet. Like Schrock before him, she assessed that he possessed an admirable but all the while perplexing naivety.

Before she could apologize for intruding on something that was a little further along than just the assembling of a robot, Don whipped around to apologize for his display of affection for the android. Although human's personification of objects was understandable, P'Larr's lip straightened into a flat line while she attempted a way to soften her lesson. "An android isn't an inanimate object, ensign. It's a being," she said while taking a step forward to peer further down at the exposed being, a shell of blinking lights. Running her index through her bang, she snorted at the mention of joining a holodeck simulation with the executive officer.

After scoffing at the suggestion, she said, "I'd rather not, Don. I think I'm the last person Galloway wants to see in the Delta Quadrant right now and the feeling is most certainly mutual," she said with a soft sigh of disappointment. Folding her arms against her chest, her eyes narrowed a bit skeptically in the ensign's direction when he attested that perhaps the pair of them would manage to have a stronger accord after they had a brawl of words on their first day, "Who's counseling the counselor, now? Besides, as I told the Lieutenant Commander, my door is always open to him. He has to want to walk through it," she said with a bit of a shrug before letting her arms drop.

Smacking her hand on her forehead, she shook her head once before stepping forward to the table's edge. Her eyes settled on the engineering officer, a young woman with dark features and a tomboyish flair,  "I apologize for the inconvenience. I'm Ensign P'Larr Santiago, by the way, ship's counselor. Uh, we probably shouldn't be here, I have to go to Sickbay and grab my tablet anyway," she said as her gaze returned to the peering android, "I think I'm going to head out, Don. It was nice meeting the... three of you," she replied with a final bow of the head towards the Android and a faint, departing smile to the trio before turning at her heel and making her way out of the secondary engineering hub.