S13 - M1: When the Bough Breaks, Part II

[Inzjana]

[Section 31Lab]

Ian left Gibbons to work on Kali as he joined Inzjana, he put on the odd glasses and growled as he read the messages.

"Specimen my arse! That leam-leat will not be turnin ' me into a lab rat, I don't bloody care who is backin' her."

Ian handed the glasses back to the science officer and continued.

"Once you have a chance ta get the gist of what she's doin' report directly ta me. No need ta have anyone  else go Huqma on us. If that worthless git survives Ryder, he won't be survivin' me as I have a powerful need ta hurt someone right now."

Ian then moved off to a place where he could provide security for Gibbons as he continued to work on Kali.

UNKNOWN WORLD | CAVERN - MEDICAL LAB

"Indeed!" Inzjana said, taking back her VISR glasses.

After all, Inzjana could relate, for just a moment, Inzjana nearly vaporised the pathetic Edosian with her Romulan Disruptor Pistol. It took all her concentration at that moment not to.

Vulcans, as all other species are aware, control their emotions and live by a philosophy of logic and respect for all life, in all its forms. What many forget, is Vulcans have emotions just like everyone else, in fact, they were a very passionate people and was the reason that nearly lead to their downfall until Sarek literally saved their civilisation from annihilation at a time that has come to be known as 'The Awakening'.

Inzjana chose the Vulcan path as her and her mother arrived on Vulcan when she was seven. But what about her other half? Her Romulan half? Well Inzjana fought with that side of herself every day.

Vulcans are a private people and as they respect other Vulcans' privacy, so too do they respect the privacy of other beings. Which is the main reason you would never see a Vulcan in a psychiatrists office; after all, one would have to talk about oneself, wouldn't one? This goes against the Vulcan respect and requirement of said privacy and is also believed to be too self indulgent.

Inzjana new she was having mental difficulties with being shot by a fellow officer and nearly dying, so she could relate to Kali's situation at the moment and was why Inzjana almost reduced Huqma to a stain on the cave's floor. That alone could cause anyone problems, but that was not the extent of it; she also had to kill her Romulan Aunt. But bit by bit, Inzjana was working through it.

Walking back in to the lab, Inzjana continued her analysis as ordered and little by little, the true purpose of this installation was beginning to reveal itself.

[Nathan Ryder]

[Alien Cave]

Ian snarled the medic's name when he saw Ryder carrying Kali.

"Gibbons!

Moving to help Ryder he growled.

"What happened? Did that wench Stamen send in security?"

Not waiting for and answer, Ian focused the science officer.

"Mister Inzjana, new orders, find out what this jackal of a scientist was working on!"

Ian looked at growing fiasco and wondered what he'd done karmically to account for his badly this mission was going, as each minute continued to be worse than the last.

[Caves]

Gibbons, the more seasoned medical officer, wasted no time reaching for his critically injured patient and urged Ryder and Galloway to slowly ease her onto an empty biobed instead of the floor. He instinctively applied pressure to avoid losing any more blood to her abdomen and was already feeling around her wrist for a pulse.

"Heart rate is low. She's losing blood," Gibbons announced, placing both hands now on her stomach. "Shot in the abdominal cavity by phaser." He pulled her up a bit to look at her back. "No exit wounds, possible spinal injury. Both hands on the wound and hold tight, Ryder. You look stronger than both of us."

His hands were covered with blood when he pulled back to get his tricorder, but he was naturally unfazed as he quickly scanned her. While it worked, he asked, "Where's Huqma? He was carrying the Chief's specialized meds. I need to sedate her and start injecting plasma replenishers."

Nathan was already moving towards the biobeds once he got into the room, but he was grateful for the assistance in an abstract sort of way. His brain had slipped into crisis mode as it tended to do under the light of phaser fire. Nothing would matter until all of them were safe once more.

Although Ian had not waited for an answer, the Security Ensign answered both him and Gibbons in the same breath. "It was Huqma," he growled. "He's stunned in the hallway." Whether or not the Edosian had Kali's meds on him when he went down was a mystery, but Nathan vowed to add her meds to his pack once they were back on the ship. This situation would not happen again.

Even as he spoke, Nathan pressed both hands to the wound, doing his best to stop the bloodflow even if the only fabric at hand was the torn edges of her uniform.

[Kali Reyes]

Nathan was already moving towards the biobeds once he got into the room, but he was grateful for the assistance in an abstract sort of way. His brain had slipped into crisis mode as it tended to do under the light of phaser fire. Nothing would matter until all of them were safe once more.

Although Ian had not waited for an answer, the Security Ensign answered both him and Gibbons in the same breath. "It was Huqma," he growled. "He's stunned in the hallway." Whether or not the Edosian had Kali's meds on him when he went down was a mystery, but Nathan vowed to add her meds to his pack once they were back on the ship. This situation would not happen again.

Even as he spoke, Nathan pressed both hands to the wound, doing his best to stop the bloodflow even if the only fabric at hand was the torn edges of her uniform.

[Caves]

Gibbons pressed on despite news that his fellow doctor had violated the core tenets of medicine. Right now, they were in a cave system in a suspect lab and a single security officer standing in the way of letting the Chief bleed out to death. He had no choice but to administer a sedative and stabilizers just as Kali paled and unnaturally stilled into shock.

The tricorder beeped with readings. She had a nice hole going through her large intestine. He was going to dig in and close as much as he could without risking infection - but that was becoming unlikely every moment. He casually stabbed her thigh with an epipen hypo as she reacted negatively to the wrong sedative.

"One of you search Huqma's body for her meds," Gibbons commanded. "I can't keep sedating her and then negating it with epinephrine." At this rate, he was going to have to operate on nothing at all.

Thanks to the sedative wearing off quick, Kali stirred only to vaguely murmur, "Just end it. Hurts..."

[Ariste Stark]

[Engineering]

Declan gave Stark a mischevious smile. " I was born for it, Ma'am."
He could have added that calamity had become the new normal aboard the Discovery. Of course after doing punishment duty of fixing toilets, repairing lights , replicators and other assorted doodahs, peril was a great change of pace. Stark never stated that they could die, which might have been the proverbial buzz kill. Considering they were Starfleet, it was pretty much implied.

He looked at the monitors she had showed him. "You say there was no reason for the problem with shields and weapons..Prometheus class is a twenty year old design and often new technologies don't mesh with what we have without hiccups so firmware is always possible. Operations can do a diagnostic but before we give our cousins any glory..  He studied the data which revealed very little. " It could be a minor glitch which has cascaded. A gel pack, relay or even a junction could be compromised. Both shields and weapons use a lot of power, mostly from the warp core so plasma manifolds need to be checked. Jefferies tubes T19 and T45 both have subsystems that could cause a problem but zero energy output seems an unlikely result...Primary Quantum Emission Capacitors could be influx" Declan sighed, the capacitors were a pain in the ass to get to. Hoping it was just an ejected chip would be asking to much. He had gone over the potential theories out loud with Stark, though his own mind was pondering all these possibilities.

[Engineering]

Ariste shook her head at his suggestions, though her interest was piqued. She liked this guy - he was on the ball. No time at all to start suggesting solutions, even when being thrown to the lions. "When the ship was hit with that beam, weapons and shields were knocked. But here's the catch, there was no power drain. Now, how you can dismantle shields and weapons without affecting any other systems or the warp core is beyond me, but whoever can do that is a force to be reckoned with." Pausing, she sucked her teeth in a 'tsk' sound. The jefferies were absolutely the last solution she wanted to deal with, but it might be their last resort

"Y'know, I hate it but you might be on something. You know of any subsystems that deal exclusively with one system or the other? Maybe if we can isolate it, we can at least find out what we're up against." This poor creaky ship, the old thing just wouldn't quit. But it didn't mean it hadn't seen hell and come out of it alive. Ariste was close to petitioning for shore leave for ships - especially ones that took a beating every other day.

[Declan Vincent]

[Engineering]

Ariste shook her head at his suggestions, though her interest was piqued. She liked this guy - he was on the ball. No time at all to start suggesting solutions, even when being thrown to the lions. "When the ship was hit with that beam, weapons and shields were knocked. But here's the catch, there was no power drain. Now, how you can dismantle shields and weapons without affecting any other systems or the warp core is beyond me, but whoever can do that is a force to be reckoned with." Pausing, she sucked her teeth in a 'tsk' sound. The jefferies were absolutely the last solution she wanted to deal with, but it might be their last resort

"Y'know, I hate it but you might be on something. You know of any subsystems that deal exclusively with one system or the other? Maybe if we can isolate it, we can at least find out what we're up against." This poor creaky ship, the old thing just wouldn't quit. But it didn't mean it hadn't seen hell and come out of it alive. Ariste was close to petitioning for shore leave for ships - especially ones that took a beating every other day.

[Engineering]

Declan nodded as Stark explained the situation. " I was stuck on maintenance duty so never got the memo we were zapped by a beam." He shrugged, giving his direct superior a smirk. It explained why sensors were not able to detect the problem because it was as puzzled as they were. "What would cause power not to get to weapons and shields and it's not a drain? Not a magic trick, simple physics. Power redirect. .No, isolated, cut off from power supply completely...Sensors wouldn't detect it; it be a rerouting leaving these systems cold. Why can't people use technology for good?"

He leaned over the console, bringing up the schematics to answer her other question. "Prometheus Class have redundancy up the ying yang due to the fact we have a triple hull separation protocol. No power means a distribution node, a crossroads if you will, before power is distributed to multiple vectors  allowing each one of those hulls to act independently of each other and draw power separately."

He turned his head, his blue eyes focused on the raven haired lieutenant as his finger tapped the screen. "It's just a working theory of course but Jefferies tube T19 has a subsystem routine, like the sonic showers that I had the pleasure to fix lately. These subsystems would also allocate to major systems through relays and conduits. If power is bypassed from weapons and shields, then it's a good bet that its T19"

The schematics showed the conduits running from T19 distribution node do end up in those critical systems where redundancy was evident. It had to start somewhere.

He turned his attention back to the screen. "As I said, just a theory, Ma'am."

[Ian Galloway]

[Caves]

Gibbons pressed on despite news that his fellow doctor had violated the core tenets of medicine. Right now, they were in a cave system in a suspect lab and a single security officer standing in the way of letting the Chief bleed out to death. He had no choice but to administer a sedative and stabilizers just as Kali paled and unnaturally stilled into shock.

The tricorder beeped with readings. She had a nice hole going through her large intestine. He was going to dig in and close as much as he could without risking infection - but that was becoming unlikely every moment. He casually stabbed her thigh with an epipen hypo as she reacted negatively to the wrong sedative.

"One of you search Huqma's body for her meds," Gibbons commanded. "I can't keep sedating her and then negating it with epinephrine." At this rate, he was going to have to operate on nothing at all.

[Section 31 Lab]

"On it!"

Ian replied without hesitation. He raced down the cave and quickly found the traitorous medic.Ian resisted the petty urge to kick Huqma in favor of finding the critically needed medical kit. Once he had the kit, he ran back to the lab and handed it to Gibbons. After doing so, Ian then spoke to Ryder.

"I'll take care of Huqma."

Ian walked briskly back to where Huqma lay sprawled and grabbed the Efrosian by a leg and dragged him roughly back to the lab. On reaching his objective, Ian found some of the restraints that were plentiful in the lab, why, Ian didn't want to know, and cinched the medic's hands behind him very tightly. With the rogue crewman under control, Ian, for a lack of anything better to do, sought out Inzjana to see if she found anything about what the twisted scientist was working on.

"Report."

[Kali Reyes]

[Section 31 Lab]

"On it!"

Ian replied without hesitation. He raced down the cave and quickly found the traitorous medic.Ian resisted the petty urge to kick Huqma in favor of finding the critically needed medical kit. Once he had the kit, he ran back to the lab and handed it to Gibbons. After doing so, Ian then spoke to Ryder.

"I'll take care of Huqma."

Ian walked briskly back to where Huqma lay sprawled and grabbed the Efrosian by a leg and dragged him roughly back to the lab. On reaching his objective, Ian found some of the restraints that were plentiful in the lab, why, Ian didn't want to know, and cinched the medic's hands behind him very tightly. With the rogue crewman under control, Ian, for a lack of anything better to do, sought out Inzjana to see if she found anything about what the twisted scientist was working on.

"Report."

[Caves]

Grateful for the bag his commander retrieved, Gibbons started the cocktail of meds to prep the Chief for emergency surgery. He kept the tricorder on her vitals - he wanted it to at least be high enough that closing her up wasn't going to increase the chances of cardiac rest.

"You're going to have to ease off when I tell you," he told Ryder. He was already pulling up her shirt high enough to see the rest of the damage. "Anybody squeamish, I suggest you look away."

Once her cheeks colored a bit and her breathing was labored, he picked up a tissue regenerator that doubled for sterilization. It was going to be all patchwork from here. He spent a good ten minutes stitching up the damage to her abdominal cavity, but there was only so much they could do with an away team kit.

What was left was dried blood and a heavy scar over fresh skin. He started wiping it down with the shirt. "I've done all I could," he announced. "But I don't have the appropriate hypos for infections - and that blast tore right into her digestive tract. Going to have to monitor her until we can properly get her to sickbay."

[Lennox Ainsley]

[Bridge]

Lennox continued to sit, monitoring the situation. He watched the conversation bounce between Don and Tekin, neither being able to side with either. This whole situation was wrong in the first place, the fact that Stamen had forced their hand and gave them very little option.

But what could they do but be watchers?

He didn't like the fact that Tekin was walking into what could be a death trap, but he respected the man for putting the crew's safety and security first. The Scotsman wished there was another way around it.

"Guessin' I'm still needed on the Bridge?" Though he was meaning the question to be rhetorical, Lennox wanted to be down in the armoury, going back over and over through weapons checks, slinging lasers down range.

[Ardyn Jaeger]

[Bridge - USS Discovery]

He tell just from looking at her that she was a mix of conflicting emotions.  He was absolutely sure that she didn't understand why he selected her.. and it was clear from the bridge crew that no one else did.  Prophets, he barely had an understanding himself.

Nevir sighed before turning to his loudmouth, but frankly compassionate officer.  "Your objection is noted, Ensign.  But this is not up to debate." he said, thinking that it was the end of the conversation.  But true to his image, Addams persisted.

"Ensign... Addam... Don... listen to me.  You are not the only one who owes Wu.  Do not delude yourself into thinking you are the surrogate for Alex.  I understand your feelings, and I share them.  But I would not be bringing her if she didn't have the qualities I needed for this.  Just like I need her with me, I need you at the helm.  If anything, ANYTHING, goes wrong, I need the flying you demonstrated when I first let you behind the helm.  And Galloway will need you.  I have no intention to let anything happened to Miss Jaeger.  She's my responsibility."

"Ardyn... let's go." he said, turning on his heels and walking out.

[Shuttlecraft]

Without allowing any more objections or delays, Nevir boarded the shuttle with Ardyn, and they took off towards the planet.  Nevir was silent for a while, but then turned to Ardyn.

"I'm sorry for using you like this."

[-> Shuttle #2]
As they went out of earshot of the bridge crew, Ardy looked at Tekin with a nod. She didn't like the idea of sending the captain in the hands of a madwoman, but there wasn't really much of a choice. She also didn't take lightly that she had the baby to worry about as well. Even though her due date was just a few months away, there could still be a myriad of things that could happen. "I'll be fine, boss. I promise. You don't have to worry so much about me. I can handle stuff."

[Tekin Nevir]

[-> Shuttle #2]
As they went out of earshot of the bridge crew, Ardy looked at Tekin with a nod. She didn't like the idea of sending the captain in the hands of a madwoman, but there wasn't really much of a choice. She also didn't take lightly that she had the baby to worry about as well. Even though her due date was just a few months away, there could still be a myriad of things that could happen. "I'll be fine, boss. I promise. You don't have to worry so much about me. I can handle stuff."

[Shuttlecraft -> Planet]

Nevir frowned, sighing.  "Addams is right, Ardyn.  It's no longer about just you.  That's why I put you off this kind of duty.  I'm taking a big risk with you... hoping that your presence will make sure things go smoothly.  As insane as she is, her goals are for the Federation... I would hope that she would respect your condition and not try to delay us.  I may like to think I can trust her enough to not harm you, but I can't trust that the away team would not be harmed."

The planet started to grow on their screen as they neared the planet itself... not really knowing where they were going, just headed straight to it.  After another hour, as they were about to reach the outer atmosphere, the area in front of them shimmered and seemed to open up, and the controls on the shuttle were suddenly overridden.

"Wait.. don't fight it." he said, as they were pulled into an area of one of the northern continents, and the shuttle began landing sequences as the ground below revealed a large, dusty facility.  The age of this place was demonstrated as it looked long since abandoned, and in fact some of the towers were degraded.  They drifted down what seemed like kilometers beyond the surface into what had to be a canyon, and then finally the shuttle touched down and went into standby.  The Captain without a word opened the back and then pulled out a phaser.

"Stay here, I'm hoping this won't be long." he said, turning and stepping out, facing the subject of so much grief.  There were a couple of people wearing black coverall Starfleet uniforms.  It screamed S31, especially with the rifles pointed at him.  So much for a first strike?

"Captain Tekin Nevir.  You really didn't think I was here alone, did you?  Welcome to Illiad III." 

[Inzjana]

[Section 31 Lab]

"On it!"

Ian replied without hesitation. He raced down the cave and quickly found the traitorous medic.Ian resisted the petty urge to kick Huqma in favor of finding the critically needed medical kit. Once he had the kit, he ran back to the lab and handed it to Gibbons. After doing so, Ian then spoke to Ryder.

"I'll take care of Huqma."

Ian walked briskly back to where Huqma lay sprawled and grabbed the Efrosian by a leg and dragged him roughly back to the lab. On reaching his objective, Ian found some of the restraints that were plentiful in the lab, why, Ian didn't want to know, and cinched the medic's hands behind him very tightly. With the rogue crewman under control, Ian, for a lack of anything better to do, sought out Inzjana to see if she found anything about what the twisted scientist was working on.

"Report."

ILLIAD III | UNKNOWN CAVERN - MEDICAL LAB

Inzjana was looking at a particular nasty looking instrument and scanning it with her VISR when the commander approached her for an update.

The chamber they found themselves in looked more like a slaughter house from a particularly bazaar Holovid rather than what you would actually see in real life. The aliens who built this facility obviously had no regard for other beings except their own.

It was obvious to everyone by now that Doctor Stamen was working for Section 31 as the biobeds looked way too similar to Starfleet issue and were an addition to this facility. As it happens, Inzjana did have more to report to the commander and as more and more of the alien writing was being translated by her VISR, the more puzzle pieces fitted in to place.

Inzjana was still perplexed as to who this doctor was, because she had one of the highest clearances in Starfleet Intelligence known as a SPECTRE and she had never heard of Stamen. But then, in the intelligentsia of the galaxy, no matter which government you worked for, one section usually didn't know what the other was doing.

Inzjana put down the piece of equipment that held her fascination for a moment and turned to the commander, "Aye Commander," she said pausing for a second to formulate her findings in to a communicable flow.

"It would appear commander that this facility from which I find several references to being constructed by an as yet unknown species that used the political structure of an Empire, is specifically designed to map the genetic structure of other beings of whom they appear to consider as inferior to their own. As you can see!" Inzjana stated, motioning to the instruments around them. "This Empire had little regard for their captors who they considered to be more akin to livestock as humans did before your world war III. The only logical reason for this study and in this manner, would be to take the desirable traits of the other beings they tortured and slaughtered, to improve their own species through genetic modification and augmentation. An example of this would commander, that humans consider frogs to be lesser than yourselves, but there is a species of frog that possesses a natural anti-freeze in their body, so that the frogs can be frozen for a period of time and then thawed out, still very much alive and perfectly intact. This would be a desirable trait, would it not?" Inzjana asked rhetorically.

"I cannot find any reference to other facilities, but it is logical to assume, that given the menagerie of abandoned starships floating powerless in this system, that this Empire had been playing Frankenstein for quite some time, to reference an old Earth novel by Mary Shelley. Even though this planet; Illiad III by the way, has been derelict for thousands of years. From this information Commander, it is the stuff of nightmares, so what Section 31 wants with this place and what they had been doing to the Vulcan crew of the Sarek, I dare not even contemplate." Inzjana concluded.

[Ian Galloway]

[Caves]

Grateful for the bag his commander retrieved, Gibbons started the cocktail of meds to prep the Chief for emergency surgery. He kept the tricorder on her vitals - he wanted it to at least be high enough that closing her up wasn't going to increase the chances of cardiac rest.

"You're going to have to ease off when I tell you," he told Ryder. He was already pulling up her shirt high enough to see the rest of the damage. "Anybody squeamish, I suggest you look away."

Once her cheeks colored a bit and her breathing was labored, he picked up a tissue regenerator that doubled for sterilization. It was going to be all patchwork from here. He spent a good ten minutes stitching up the damage to her abdominal cavity, but there was only so much they could do with an away team kit.

What was left was dried blood and a heavy scar over fresh skin. He started wiping it down with the shirt. "I've done all I could," he announced. "But I don't have the appropriate hypos for infections - and that blast tore right into her digestive tract. Going to have to monitor her until we can properly get her to sickbay."

[Section  31 Lab]

"Given what you had ta work with, the fact that she's alive at all is remarkable. Once we are back on the ship, I will be certain ta include a commendation for your actions crewman. Stay with her, sing out if'n you need anything."

ILLIAD III | UNKNOWN CAVERN - MEDICAL LAB

Inzjana was looking at a particular nasty looking instrument and scanning it with her VISR when the commander approached her for an update.

The chamber they found themselves in looked more like a slaughter house from a particularly bazaar Holovid rather than what you would actually see in real life. The aliens who built this facility obviously had no regard for other beings except their own.

It was obvious to everyone by now that Doctor Stamen was working for Section 31 as the biobeds looked way too similar to Starfleet issue and were an addition to this facility. As it happens, Inzjana did have more to report to the commander and as more and more of the alien writing was being translated by her VISR, the more puzzle pieces fitted in to place.

Inzjana was still perplexed as to who this doctor was, because she had one of the highest clearances in Starfleet Intelligence known as a SPECTRE and she had never heard of Stamen. But then, in the intelligentsia of the galaxy, no matter which government you worked for, one section usually didn't know what the other was doing.

Inzjana put down the piece of equipment that held her fascination for a moment and turned to the commander, "Aye Commander," she said pausing for a second to formulate her findings in to a communicable flow.

"It would appear commander that this facility from which I find several references to being constructed by an as yet unknown species that used the political structure of an Empire, is specifically designed to map the genetic structure of other beings of whom they appear to consider as inferior to their own. As you can see!" Inzjana stated, motioning to the instruments around them. "This Empire had little regard for their captors who they considered to be more akin to livestock as humans did before your world war III. The only logical reason for this study and in this manner, would be to take the desirable traits of the other beings they tortured and slaughtered, to improve their own species through genetic modification and augmentation. An example of this would commander, that humans consider frogs to be lesser than yourselves, but there is a species of frog that possesses a natural anti-freeze in their body, so that the frogs can be frozen for a period of time and then thawed out, still very much alive and perfectly intact. This would be a desirable trait, would it not?" Inzjana asked rhetorically.

"I cannot find any reference to other facilities, but it is logical to assume, that given the menagerie of abandoned starships floating powerless in this system, that this Empire had been playing Frankenstein for quite some time, to reference an old Earth novel by Mary Shelley. Even though this planet; Illiad III by the way, has been derelict for thousands of years. From this information Commander, it is the stuff of nightmares, so what Section 31 wants with this place and what they had been doing to the Vulcan crew of the Sarek, I dare not even contemplate." Inzjana concluded.

[Section 31 Lab]

Ian hated looking indecisive, but the away team's situation kept changing so quickly, he kept having to reevaluate and restructure priorities as each new report came in. Something he'd just put on the back burner now had to get moved back to the front of the queue. He paused to reply to Inzjana.

"I understand  the desire ta protect the Federation, but these Section 31 jackals violate everything the Federation stands for and therefore invalidate everything they do by their methods. It's this sort of thinkin' that led them ta attempt genocide against the Founders. Goin' by how bad the Dominion was beatin' us in the D-War, I can understand, but never justify their actions, but we're not losin' a war now. Ta do this...this... this ta allies is beyond the bloody pale even for them. I hate ta soil my thoughts with why they do such a thing, but the only thing that comes ta mind is they are preparin' for biological warfare against the Romulans."

There really weren't words to describe how disgusted he was by what they'd discovered, but Ian had to push that aside to continue the current mission.

"Looks like communications are a priority again, I will require your assistance."

Before Inzjana and he left, Ian stopped to speak to their only security officer.

"Mister Ryder, you did well with the Chief, you have given her a chance, one she wouldn't have without your quick thinkin'. You can expect a commendation as well. However, on ta business. As Mister Gibbons is preoccupied, I'm goin' ta need you ta be on guard as the lieutenant and I are about ta be preoccupied with my own task."

Ian then moved purposefully through the lab to look for the components necessary to communicate with the Discovery.

"Looks like it's up ta my background in electronic engineerin', thanks Gaffer, even though I doubt he'd appreciate the irony of me callin' on skills you insisted I learn ta save my and the team's arse.

He thought absently as they began their search of the lab.

[Inzjana]

[Section  31 Lab]

"Given what you had ta work with, the fact that she's alive at all is remarkable. Once we are back on the ship, I will be certain ta include a commendation for your actions crewman. Stay with her, sing out if'n you need anything."

[Section 31 Lab]

Ian hated looking indecisive, but the away team's situation kept changing so quickly, he kept having to reevaluate and restructure priorities as each new report came in. Something he'd just put on the back burner now had to get moved back to the front of the queue. He paused to reply to Inzjana.

"I understand  the desire ta protect the Federation, but these Section 31 jackals violate everything the Federation stands for and therefore invalidate everything they do by their methods. It's this sort of thinkin' that led them ta attempt genocide against the Founders. Goin' by how bad the Dominion was beatin' us in the D-War, I can understand, but never justify their actions, but we're not losin' a war now. Ta do this...this... this ta allies is beyond the bloody pale even for them. I hate ta soil my thoughts with why they do such a thing, but the only thing that comes ta mind is they are preparin' for biological warfare against the Romulans."

There really weren't words to describe how disgusted he was by what they'd discovered, but Ian had to push that aside to continue the current mission.

"Looks like communications are a priority again, I will require your assistance."

Before Inzjana and he left, Ian stopped to speak to their only security officer.

"Mister Ryder, you did well with the Chief, you have given her a chance, one she wouldn't have without your quick thinkin'. You can expect a commendation as well. However, on ta business. As Mister Gibbons is preoccupied, I'm goin' ta need you ta be on guard as the lieutenant and I are about ta be preoccupied with my own task."

Ian then moved purposefully through the lab to look for the components necessary to communicate with the Discovery.

"Looks like it's up ta my background in electronic engineerin', thanks Gaffer, even though I doubt he'd appreciate the irony of me callin' on skills you insisted I learn ta save my and the team's arse.

He thought absently as they began their search of the lab.

ILLIAD III | UNKNOWN CAVERN - MEDICAL LAB

Inzjana listened to Commander Galloway's rant and agreed wholeheartedly with him. Inzjana was in Starfleet Intelligence and even though Section 31 is an offshoot of SI they certainly had far different ideals and given their current location, that was quite evident.

"Indeed Commander," Inzjana said after he concluded and "Aye Commander," when he asked her to join him in the search for technology to use as a makeshift communications device.

Following and looking around to see if the lab itself had any form of dedicated communications, subspace or otherwise, with out much luck. So that meant cobbling together a comlink, which meant trying to find parts suitable which Inzjana just by happen-stance, had looked upon the biobeds, which were of origin from the United Federation of Planets.

Biobeds were by definition beds that contained sensitive biological monitoring devices and therefore relied upon a subspace relay network between themselves and an external computer with monitor to inform the doctors and nurses on call of the status of a patient.

"Commander, I am no engineer, but would it be logical to assume that one of those twelve biobeds might contain some, or most of the necessary components we require?"

[Ian Galloway]

ILLIAD III | UNKNOWN CAVERN - MEDICAL LAB

Inzjana listened to Commander Galloway's rant and agreed wholeheartedly with him. Inzjana was in Starfleet Intelligence and even though Section 31 is an offshoot of SI they certainly had far different ideals and given their current location, that was quite evident.

"Indeed Commander," Inzjana said after he concluded and "Aye Commander," when he asked her to join him in the search for technology to use as a makeshift communications device.

Following and looking around to see if the lab itself had any form of dedicated communications, subspace or otherwise, with out much luck. So that meant cobbling together a comlink, which meant trying to find parts suitable which Inzjana just by happen-stance, had looked upon the biobeds, which were of origin from the United Federation of Planets.

Biobeds were by definition beds that contained sensitive biological monitoring devices and therefore relied upon a subspace relay network between themselves and an external computer with monitor to inform the doctors and nurses on call of the status of a patient.

"Commander, I am no engineer, but would it be logical to assume that one of those twelve biobeds might contain some, or most of the necessary components we require?"

[Section  31 Lab]

Ian had already found a semiconductor in one of the power junctions that would make a passable waveguide when Inzjana mentioned the biobeds, causing Ian to smile as he replied.

"Aye Lass, that they will. We'll have ta link them in series ta get enough modulation, but yes, that will make a right fine transmitter array. However, I'm only goin' ta use ten of the beds. Mister Gibbons needs the one the Chief is in and I want ta leave one available should anyone else get hurt. Now all we need is some number 12 cable, a flux coupler, and a hyperspanner, and we are in business."

[Ardyn Jaeger]

[Shuttlecraft -> Planet]

Nevir frowned, sighing.  "Addams is right, Ardyn.  It's no longer about just you.  That's why I put you off this kind of duty.  I'm taking a big risk with you... hoping that your presence will make sure things go smoothly.  As insane as she is, her goals are for the Federation... I would hope that she would respect your condition and not try to delay us.  I may like to think I can trust her enough to not harm you, but I can't trust that the away team would not be harmed."

The planet started to grow on their screen as they neared the planet itself... not really knowing where they were going, just headed straight to it.  After another hour, as they were about to reach the outer atmosphere, the area in front of them shimmered and seemed to open up, and the controls on the shuttle were suddenly overridden.

"Wait.. don't fight it." he said, as they were pulled into an area of one of the northern continents, and the shuttle began landing sequences as the ground below revealed a large, dusty facility.  The age of this place was demonstrated as it looked long since abandoned, and in fact some of the towers were degraded.  They drifted down what seemed like kilometers beyond the surface into what had to be a canyon, and then finally the shuttle touched down and went into standby.  The Captain without a word opened the back and then pulled out a phaser.

"Stay here, I'm hoping this won't be long." he said, turning and stepping out, facing the subject of so much grief.  There were a couple of people wearing black coverall Starfleet uniforms.  It screamed S31, especially with the rifles pointed at him.  So much for a first strike?

"Captain Tekin Nevir.  You really didn't think I was here alone, did you?  Welcome to Illiad III."

[Shuttle]
Ardy nodded, understanding the desperate move Tekin had made to ensure the safety of the others. She hated not being in the fray, on the front lines to protect her captain and her friends, but he was right. It wasn't about her anymore. She wasn't as expendable now as she had previously considered herself before the baby. There was still a few months before baby Maddy would make her entrance, but already, she was dependent on Ardy for the basics of existence, plus everything else.
When the shuttle lurched, Ardy looked at Tekin for input as they were towed in. unfortunately, all she could do was wait and see. Maddy kicked again, turning somersaults inside her. Rubbing her extended abdomen, she looked over at Tekin. "Stay safe, boss. I'll be keeping the ship running for you."