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Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: EPI S: Two sides, same coin [Day 03 | 0930]
Last post by Dumedion -
[Colonel Hauq | Diplomatic Suite | Deck 2 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Ellen Fitz

Her ‘arrangement’ earned a noncommittal grunt as Hauq continued to collect stones; he had moved behind a workstation, shoved the rolling chair out of his way, and knelt to sweep several dozen out from the cubby within. Funneling them all into the flask took a few moments of focused effort.

Enyd broke the silence again with another question; the Colonel looked to her, bearded features pulled in a frown where he knelt – eyes narrowed in something close to wariness.

“Nothing verifiable – yet,” he answered carefully, then stood tall. “There was a brief transmission just before the Chancellor’s meeting with the President, from General Krarrax; the contents of which I was not privy to; I know the warrior that sent it, however. I know where he and his battlegroup operate. One can deduce he’d seen something in the area,” he shrugged. “Once I have something, it will be forwarded as agreed.”

Not an affirmation nor a refutation, simply an honest answer.
 
While Hauq was intelligent enough to connect the dots utilizing reasonably deductive logic, he knew they both knew that Klingon Intelligence would never operate on the same wavelength as the Federation, and certainly not the Romulans. At best, the KDF operated as an immense, broad network that possessed a minority fraction of captains and commanders that took the effort to forward detailed information. At worst, they were lucky to see an attack coming before it happened.

He strode to her desk, to deposit more stones within the sack – then looked at her squarely.

“I can only assume you know more than you let on. If you intend to get involved in the area,” he warned, chin lifted fractionally, “I’d advise caution – mostly due to the reasons we already discussed – but also because the Breen can, and will, fight like bloody bastards when they wish to. Martok is already stretched thin,” he grunted, “too thin to help, most like,” his arms folded. “I can try to reach out to General Krarrax, perhaps,” he added aloud, almost to himself.

“Is there anything else you wish the Chancellor to hear?”
2
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Epi: S [Day 03 | 0145] By these wounds...
Last post by Dumedion -
[LT Arven Leux | en route to Cryobay | Deck 11 | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Krajin @Eden  @Ellen Fitz
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Oh, you'd be surprised, Arven answered silently, too focused on the task at hand for idle banter. The plasma burns were severe enough, but if he didn’t seal the leak in the Feresan's chest artery – the one that ended in the cauterized remains of the armpit, just below where it joined to the cybernetic limb – things would hardly improve enough to treat the burns.

Minutes ticked away as Arven struggled to get the proper angle into the wound, growing more frustrated by the second. Once the patient’s head and neck were sealed up enough to minimize the risk of tearing more wounds open, he changed tactics.

“Rotate to you,” Leux grimaced and nodded to the Vulpinian, and together they rolled the patient. “Hold,” the Doctor grunted, batting away the limp prosthetic to jab the business end of a regenerator into the wound.

Minus a little squirming, some growls, and a tail lashing, the Feresan took it like a champ.

“Got it,” Arven nodded again after another minute, and they rolled him back; after a quick follow up scan to check for more internal bleeds – he allowed himself to take a deep breath. “Vitals leveling out,” he nodded, then looked around and spotted Nurse Brown headed towards them. “Stretcher,” he called, then looked to the Vulpinian. “Nicely handled. Stay with him while I –“

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Vi-Nine push her own patient out of surgery, seated in a lift chair. “…some time for the musculature and nerves to recover naturally; ultimately, that depends on you,” the android was saying.

“Vi,” Leux called, then gestured to the Feresan when her domed head swiveled towards him. “Got another customer – scans are already uploaded.”

“Oh, I see,” the droid nodded after a second, ocular light flickering with processed power. “Trade,” she gestured a hand to Valin, and Arven nodded to the Vulpinian.

“If you’d be so kind,” he thumbed towards Valin, “find him a bed, or something close enough. I’ll get this one a stretcher and into surgery.”

Arven stood and took off to the closest closet without looking back. Behind him, he heard Vi-Nine’s servos whine as she approached the prone Feresan.

“Now, you wouldn’t object to a tickle test, would you,” the droid asked teasingly.

Leux rolled his eyes as he grabbed a stretcher, then headed back. Around them, the ward and greater sickbay carried on – still treating injured around the damaged sections – still working through the chaos. His eyes found Valin’s, then wolf-lady’s; the latter stood next to the former’s bed. He offered a single nod, before turning to deal with one silly android and her freshly thawed Feresan.

Today was worse than yesterday, he sighed silently and carried on.

~FIN~
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Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0900] Changing lanes
Last post by Krajin -
[ Lt.Thane Va’rek ] | Personal Quarters | Deck 7 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Pierce

Thane had continued to read for some time and slowly went over the profile of Alana Pierce. When the intercom engaged in his room with a female voice coming through, he paused for a moment to process an answer for her. Reaching over, Thane tapped his combadge to respond. "Six or so months in the freezer does require a little light reading to catch up on things." He responded easily. She asked him to head to the Intel Suite and to discuss his potential career on the Theurgy.

Either I am getting fired or a secret promotion.

Thane languidly got up off his couch and collected his badge. "Sure, I'll be there in ten." He collected his uniform shirt and put it on, brushing down any wrinkles he could see, he fitted the rank pips meticulously to the collar and gathered his belt and holstered the old Phaser pistol of his. He checked the power cell and made sure the weapon was set to stun before holstering it and squeezing his ass through the busted doors to head for the Intelligence suite.


Intelligence Suite | Deck 5 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy

Within ten minutes of taking a Turbolift and heading to the Intelligence Suite, he paused at the door and brushed down his uniform again before entering the Suite. It felt.. empty in here. Thane's senses reached out to feel out the minds of those present, the emotional resonance that every being had and there honestly was very little. He felt Alana's though, the Director of SI onboard this ship. Passing through the room, Thane headed for her office and chimed the door. Standing at ease with his hands behind his back.
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Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0900] Changing lanes
Last post by Pierce -
[ Lt. Commander Alana Pierce | Central Intelligence Suite | Deck 5 | Vector 1 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Krajin
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It was quiet post battle albeit with the sound of her own head ringing from the losses, the destruction and the lack of sleep. She rubbed her forehead with a yawn as she'd gotten up early, and the caffeine was failing miserably to hit her subconscious. Alana leaned forward in her chair assessing various crewmembers profiles as she looked to fill some empty seats in her department. The PADDs scattered across her desk as she found one in particular that caught her eye. Almost as if she could see a kindred spirit in the individual. Someone a bit...older.

She leaned in to read when her console chirped in front of her regarding a failsafe she placed on her own file to know when anyone on board might peruse the details. Although much was heavily redacted and covered up regarding her past prior to the events of her arrival to this century, there was enough to cause someone with the right mind to...dig deeper even if they were unlikely to find anything they were digging for.

Low and behold it was the same individual she was looking at the profile of. Lt.Thane Va’rek. Pierce let him scroll through while she did the same observing how he dug through her file. She saw why the person rang a bell, as she found in his profile his affinity for older Federation tech. Something she could likely pull the strings of with her own gear. Decidedly she thought it might be beneficial to have him meet her and inquire to his goals on board since his recent awakening. She toyed around with her original communicator that she had stored on the shelf. Along with her old tricorder and phaser that all came with her to this century. All mounted behind her on shelving. The model of the USS Eagle was in her quarters along with old uniforms and other tech.

Tapping the console, she activated COMMs. "Computer, contact Lt.Thane Va’rek" Accessing now...

"Greetings Lieutenant. I am Commander Pierce. I see you've been doing some light reading." She paused to evaluate the response keeping the tone lighthearted. "Would you care to drop by the Intelligence Suite? I would like to get to know the person better who is taking an interest in my profile." She smiled on her end letting the warmth of her tone take hold. "Seriously though, I think it's time we meet and discuss your career path while you're on board."
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Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: EPI S: The curious case of Humpty Dumpty [Day 03 | 2330 hrs]
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Ehfva Feynri | Main Sickbay | Biolab 2 | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy ] @Dumedion

She followed what Hirek was saying. The mechandrite array. Receptor sequences. Prosthetic trigger. Her mind was slower than usual — the pain had a way of narrowing things down to immediate sensation and not much else — but she tracked the shape of it well enough. A reprogrammed version of the device that had been used to hurt Hirek, now used to help her. She noted the irony without dwelling on it.

What she dwelt on was the implant itself. For the rest of her existence, her ability to shift would depend on the accuracy of a device. On its programming remaining intact. On no one tampering with it, damaging it, removing it. Every shift, for the rest of her life, mediated by something external, something that could fail. The thought sat in her chest like a stone.

Then her body reminded her, as it had been reminding her for days now, what the alternative felt like. Every muscle group in a constant argument with every other muscle group. Her hands neither paw nor hand but something unworkable in between. The sounds she made when she tried to speak. The supply closet floor.

She would take the implant.

When Arven turned and began talking about neurological mapping, Ehfva straightened as much as she was able and focused. The words were moving fast and precise and she needed to contribute one thing before the moment passed. She pulled air into her lungs, worked her throat, and pushed.

"Cay — " she stopped. Tried again. "Cay-u-ga." The word came out warped at the edges but recognizable. She held up a hand, one finger, asking him to wait, and forced the second word through. "Sscans."

She exhaled and let her hand drop, hoping it was enough. Standard procedure for any Vulpinian serving in the Federation or bonded to a Federation member — all four forms in her case, documented in full, for exactly this kind of situation. The Cayuga would have them on file. All of them.

[ Specialist Hirek tr'Aimne | Main Sickbay | Biolab 2 | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy ]

When Leux agreed, Hirek was already ahead of him.

He had known the doctor would agree before the words were out. The simulations had exhausted every other direction. Ehfva was dying — not quickly, not cleanly, but dying in a way that left no room for continued deliberation. The stimulator was the only remaining variable worth testing, which meant the time being spent discussing it was time better spent retrieving it.

He stood, walked out of the lab, and said nothing to either of them. The nearest nurse looked up when he approached. He described the device — the housing dimensions, the contact configuration, the canister it had been stored in — and watched her face move from confusion to recognition. She led him to a row of secured lockers along the far wall, keyed in a code, and a drawer slid out. The canister was where Leux had left it.

Hirek picked it up. Turned to go. He was three steps away when he remembered what Leux had told him, earlier, about the nurses. He stopped.

"Thank you," he said over his shoulder and kept walking.

He returned to the lab, set the canister on the nearest clear workstation, and looked at Leux.

"I don't have unrestricted access to the ship's systems yet. You'll need to unlock a workstation with your credentials before I can begin the reprogramming." He pulled up the stool and sat. "Also — Federation starships. Do they operate on a shared medical database, or is each vessel's records isolated? I don't know how your network architecture functions at the individual ship level." He looked up at Ehfva, then back at Leux, and shrugged at whatever the doctor's expression was doing. "She mentioned her mate served on the Cayuga. If those records are accessible, they would give us a reliable pre-injury baseline for the neurological mapping." He looked back at the canister. "It seemed worth asking before we proceed without them."
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Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: EPI S: Two sides, same coin [Day 03 | 0930]
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lt. Enyd Isolde Madsen | Chief Diplomatic Officer's Office | Deck 08 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy ] @Dumedion

"That's worth considering, actually." She crouched to sweep a cluster of stones toward her palm, not looking at him while she worked through it. "If some of the crew happened to find themselves at those establishments anyway — for the purposes of acquisition and mayhaps a wee bit of procurement tourism— they could operate as eyes for Martok. Or for your investigations, if there are any running." She stood and deposited the stones into the pouch, noting how many he'd already collected with an inward smile. "Whatever he wants done with what they observe. It's not the cleanest arrangement, but it's functional." She glanced at him sidelong. "I agree with your assessment on creating problems by solving problems." The laugh she gave was short and genuine. "That tends to be how it goes even when you do everything correctly, because the book was written for circumstances that were already behind the times the moment someone put them to paper. Reality doesn't move in straight lines." She picked up another stone. "I stopped expecting it to somewhere around Cardassia."

Hauq's suggestion about the Syndicate and Hegemony borders earned him a half-smile and a wink. Watching him deposit a massive amount of gems in comparison to her efforts, Enyd rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "It isn't a competition."

They worked in silence for a moment, the clink of stones a steady rhythm between them. Then she straightened, and something in her posture shifted — the change she made when she was moving from one matter to a different one entirely, shoulders settling, chin lifting a fraction.

"Different subject." She turned to face him more fully, a handful of stones still loose in her palm. "Has Martok heard anything — rumors, secondhand intelligence, anything at all — about a gathering of factions near Breen space? Recently." Her eyes were steady on his, reading the response before he gave it.
7
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: EPI S: The curious case of Humpty Dumpty [Day 03 | 2330 hrs]
Last post by Dumedion -
[LT Arven Leux | Main Sickbay | Biolab 2 | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Ellen Fitz
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Arven laid a gentle, reassuring hand on Ehfva's misshapen shoulder – carefully, so as not to cause her further discomfort – then turned his attention to the Romulan; Hirek's assessment was met with a brief nod of understanding, initially. The Doctor’s posture shifted at the Romulan’s proposed solution, however: nothing dramatic – a slight crease formed above his nose as Leux folded his arms in silence. Violet eyes bounced rapidly from screen to screen, then settled on the Romulan, searching his expressionless face, his eyes.

What he found there was only what the Romulan had been told was expected of him: authenticity.

The Doctor’s mind raced; risk analysis, potential consequences, known procedures, potential implantation sites, nominal cycle limitations, subsequent follow-up treatments for various outcomes…

Stop, Arven’s jaw clenched.

Ehfva’s labored breaths, punctuated by every tick and spasm of her agony-wracked body, filled his ears. Arven was well aware how most people assumed he didn’t concern himself with much regarding his patients, based off his general attitude towards people; that assumption couldn’t be farther from the truth – he cared a great deal – yet didn’t give a shit what people thought about him personally. He was a Doctor; not a friend, or anything else. Emotional connection invited bias, clouded empirical judgement, and limited his ability to remain objective.

And yet...

Arven had learned a great deal about Ehfva’s species in his research; more than was clinically needed, perhaps. The ability to form shift held far more importance than merely a biological processes of impossible evolution; it impacted every facet of their culture – physically, psychologically, spiritually. It regulated emotion, reproduction, physical growth cycles…

It was who they were…and the Savi ripped that away from her.

And I can’t give it back. Not as it was…not even close, Arven admitted, teeth clenched in frustrated anger. He’s right, the Doctor’s eyes deliberately avoided the Romulan’s, everything ends in mutilation or death without some form of control.

Behind him, a high pitched, barely audible whine joined the chorus of Ehfva’s painful, ragged breaths.

Make the call, now, the Doctor told himself with a subdued sigh.

His arms unfolded as he turned. Tired, violet eyes met Ehfva’s, as he knelt to her level. There were so many ways to say what needed to be said; to tell her everything he had tried had failed, or would ensure she faced a limited lifetime of continual suffering. Normally he wouldn’t have bothered hesitating – not because he enjoyed giving people bad news – but because it was his job to inform his patients.

Leux couldn’t help but notice the way her misshapen hands had cramped into knotted clubs, or that one of Ehfva’s eyes had altered; the iris had swollen in size, the sclera barely visible – the color had shifted to almost pitch black, flecked with gold. His voice dropped to a whisper of cracked urgency mixed with raw sympathy; there was no hope of holding it back in the face of what he knew and the pain in her eyes.

“Hold on, okay,” asked her, face twitching with barely concealed emotion. “Nothing I tried worked. This just might. We’ll work as fast as we can.”

His chin dipped, then he stood.
 
Composed himself.

“Neurological mapping wont be completely reliable given the morphological flux in progress, but we can compensate for that with a fresh scan upload upon implantation,” Leux spoke as he moved with purpose to the haptic interface in front of the holoprojector, adjacent to the screen display. His fingers activated the console with deft movements, altering the projection of Ehfva’s neurological system into an overlay of three-dimensional imagery. “I’ll get started threading her system structure with archival shift data; that should give us at a baseline for connective tissue variance.  What else do you need from me?”

While he spoke, a baseball-sized scanner detached itself from a docking port near the projector to hover up and down along Ehfva’s body where she sat; it droned softly, feeding continuously updated scans into the imagery Arven manipulated with swipes of his fingers; isolating nerve clusters, navigating neurological pathways – zooming deep within the wrinkled mass of her brain.

All of it, down to the individual synaptic pathways between neurons, was slowly changing, only to revert back, then repeat again; he dove deeper - into the deepest, oldest sections. “Here,” he circled an area at the apex of Ehfva’s brainstem, “this hippocampus-like structure appears stable for now; with direct connections to hind-functions and the greater neocortex,” Arven announced, but when he looked over his shoulder, the Romulan was gone.

“What the fuck,” the Doctor sighed.
8
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Epilogue: Sit Rep After Hell [ Day 03 | 2130 ]
Last post by Dumedion -
[LT Arven Leux | Conference Lounge | Deck 01 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy] Attn: All
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Frost’ commentary earned the slightest curl to Arven's lips, accompanied with an unnoticed bob of his brows; there was no recognition in the esteemed scientists tone – none that the Doctor’s admittedly poor social skills could detect, anyway. He'd spoken his report verbatim, naturally; utilizing the same factual, carefully rehearsed tone he'd always lectured in.

He always was consistent, Leux snorted mentally, while the other officers spoke. Turn by turn, the depth of their current circumstances revealed itself until the whole clarified into what they all had already known, or, at the very least, had guessed: ship and crew had taken a beating, but managed to survive.

So far, Arven added silently.

Cross took it all in, without much visible reaction at all. Arven couldn’t help but respect that; the Doctor had delivered enough bad news to enough people to know that simple acceptance was never easy – yet the Vulcan made it appear effortless.

A brow twitched as the kid – CONN officer whats-his-name – opted to stumble through an additional report-slash-confession; 'kid' seemed completely appropriate to Leux, as the man looked like he was twelve, trying to explain how he’d fucked up something at the dinner table.

Once the Savi were mentioned along with genetic research, Arven’s ears stood up instantly; given the evidence he’d seen with his own eyes – not to mention the history this crew had with them – Leux couldn’t care less if they’d pissed the bastards off. They never should have aligned themselves with the damned Savi to begin with, as far as he was concerned.

The Doctor’s mouth opened to formally request that data be turned over to Science and Medical for preliminary decoding and review, before Intel took their sweet time with it, but his steam was stolen with Cmdr. Stark’s arrival. Utilizing a measure of respect for decorum, he held his tongue in the silent moments while she read, elbows up on the table with his fingers steepled. That silence was eventually broken as, one by one, Stark addressed each department head in turn; her voice clear, composed, yet unmistakably burdened with an emotional undercurrent – he could feel it by the effort she used to conceal it.

Like an orchestra with one performer out of time, Leux mused sympathetically. Whatever fate had in store for his career, he knew command level wasn’t one of them; the very idea of it was beyond ludicrous.

Stark’s carefully constructed composure threatened to crack once she reached his department, however. Arven didn’t show any outward reaction; he simply waited for her to adjust and compensate, then offered a brief nod that went unnoticed as her attention moved on to Counselling.

Arven’s brows knitted in sudden confusion as he realized a miscommunication had occurred: Ryn. His eyes re-read the verbiage he’d used in his report regarding that particular individual:

Medical staff requests LT Ryn remain detached from engineering repairs to medical facilities.

That’s what he’d said, right? Keep her out of medical repairs – there was plenty other areas to fix, apparently! Arven didn’t want that menace anywhere near medical…she couldn’t even be trusted to maintain her own health, not to mention —

Wait, Arven interrupted himself, (which was mildly neurotic behavior, but he was too tired to give a shit). Let it be. It’s easier to keep her under supervision. Treatment can proceed apace, given the circumstances…two to three days, tops.

Stark’s conclusion brought him back to the moment, and he didn’t waste any time or energy; violet eyes snapped from Stark’s to the CONN kid’s.

“I recommend that data be handed over to Science and Medical for immediate decoding and review,” Leux stated, then pivoted back to Stark with a glance at Cross. “Captain,” he addressed her position rather than rank, having glossed over it in his haste to speak; a minor fumble easily recovered without a break in stride. “Given the technological advancements the Savi utilized, especially in our relative fields of study, regardless how it was obtained,” he nodded to the kid, “that data just might set us on the path of solving some very difficult problems, some of which the Savi created.”

Unlike Commander Stark’s beautifully controlled and composed tone, Arven didn’t even bother trying to hide the venomous edge from his. He paused long enough for everyone to feel it, then pushed on to address another issue – one they all likely recognized the moment she’d walked in, but few had the authority to address. He held Stark's eyes evenly, letting her see that he recognized her symptoms.

“I'd also remind you that rest is also vital for your performance as well,” the Doctor stated, his tone softened to something closer to default factory setting before he turned to address all present. “For all of us. The temptation to shoulder the lion's share of responsibility exists, yes; to push ourselves beyond sustainability for the sake of others. I urge you to avoid this trap – I’ve seen it – lived through it. Believe me, you aren’t helping them if you burn out before the crisis is managed; you only compound the problem.”

That said, Leux opened his hands in silent conclusion.
9
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: EPI S: Two sides, same coin [Day 03 | 0930]
Last post by Dumedion -
[Colonel Hauq | Diplomatic Suite | Deck 2 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Ellen Fitz

His eyes tracked her movements in relative silence while they gathered up the stones – simply attentive, nothing more – ready to react should the diplomat's limited endurance give out; or should some other unfortunate turn of event transpire – the woman was a walking storm of chaos, after all. It behooved one to expect the unexpected anywhere she trod, at all times.

The Klingon guard-commander had barely finished reminding himself of that assessment when Eynd performed another act that verified the fact – unintentionally, of course – yet the effect on him remained, nevertheless:

Upon her approach, Hauq stood to his full height; the stones scattered at his boots forgotten, the handful held in his palm creaked as his hand tightened into a fist – a gesture of restraint, of control, not anger. Something in her eyes, in the language of her movement, demanded his attention from somewhere deep within; it called to something beyond the towers and battlements he’d built there, the fortress of himself he’d crafted with meticulous care and preparation in order to function in spite of everything duty required.

Unexpected, to say the least.

He barely registered the brief press of her lips – the mind, heart, and spirit each raced to process the situation at unequal velocity – which forced a slow blink from under the depths of his brows, drawn together in an effort to comprehend what she had done. Then the words. Her appreciation registered, valued for its simple honesty coupled with the fact that it had not been required; before he had beamed aboard, Hauq had prepared himself for the worst of outcomes from this conversation – certainly not this.

The moment passed as quickly as it had come: the diplomat withdrew as Hauq managed only a nod – followed by a subtle growl from the chest – more of an effort to regain himself than any expression of irritation or discomfort. Whatever sorcery she’d vexed upon him faded, its loss somehow more profound – which added another layer of confusion he briefly wrestled into mental submission before it was hurled from the ramparts of his mind.

Hauq returned himself to the task at hand.

Moments passed.

Stones were collected.

The Colonel had half filled his empty flask with them when her voice filled the room again, steady once more. The question almost instantly pulled his features into a stone-chiseled mask of disapproval, which she noticed, of course; yet he listened while she continued – then allowed himself a moment to consider a response.

The stones clinked in their temporary container as he stood.

“There…are a few possibilities that come to mind,” Hauq hesitated, as something close to uncertainty crossed his face briefly. “Such…establishments…have proven problematic for the Empire on more than one occasion, mind; havens for dishonorable scoundrels, rapscallions, and all manner of ill-mannered, deplorable miscreants,” his lips pulled into a fanged grin. “I wish I could be there when you lot show up.”

The levity passed.

“Still,” he growled, “you risk solving one problem by inviting countless more with such a solution.” He paused to reach a decision, rattling the stone-filled flask like a dice-dealer in a gambling hall. Ultimately, Hauq realized, it was not his place to decide; he had been sent to establish a contact between Martok and this ship outide sanctioned lines of communication – what the Chancellor chose to use it for was beyond his purview.

The Colonel nodded, once. “I will make official inquiries; verifiable intelligence, once approved, will be transmitted. I can offer no more,” he admitted grudgingly, yet knew that she would understand. “Unofficially, if this ship happened to turn towards the borders of the Syndicate and Hegemony…well, you’d likely find what you seek without any assistance at all.”

With that said, the Colonel approached the burlap sack upon her desk and dumped the blood-wine damped stones within; at least triple what she had managed to collect.
 
Hauq frowned at her then, before he turned to collect more.
10
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: EPI S: The curious case of Humpty Dumpty [Day 03 | 2330 hrs]
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Ehfva Feynri | Main Sickbay | Biolab 2 | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy ] @Dumedion

She had managed rounds for two hours. The recovery ward first, then surgical overflow. Vitals, pain management, and logged observations. She had kept moving, and the shift had stayed manageable — a low, involuntary tension across her misshapen shoulders and claw-hands that she could work around if she didn't push it. Then she couldn't work around it anymore.

The supply closet was the nearest door with a lock. She'd sat on the floor with her back against the shelving and ran the breathing patterns from her kit years, the ones the elders used for initiates who couldn't yet trust their own bodies to stay in one form. She'd just started a healing chant, sung only in her mind for the pain trying to use her vocal cords brought her, when Leux's message came through. She read it twice. Then she got up, with great effort.

She was panting by the time she arrived. The chair wasn't comfortable. Nothing was comfortable. Her body was neither fully furred nor fully flesh at the moment, and whatever it was in between did not sit easily in standard-issue furniture or anything else. She let Leux take her weight at the door without argument — speech cost too much right now, the vocal cords being, like the rest of her, partially one thing and partially another — and let him guide her to the seat.

She nodded at the herbs. Nodded once at Hirek — I know him, yes, that is enough, continue — and that was all she had. The hypo pressed to her arm. She breathed. Kept her hands flat on her thighs and breathed.

Leux moved to the screens and began talking. She closed her eyes. His voice was dry and clinical, and he did not soften any of it, which was easier to track than kindness would have been. When he offered her the ward, she opened her eyes and shook her head. The beds were for critical cases. She knew what was happening in this room, and she intended to remain present for it, in the chair, for as long as her body permitted. She settled back and let them work.

[ Specialist Hirek tr'Aimne | Main Sickbay | Biolab 2 | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy ]

He listened to Leux's ground rules without expression.

When the doctor finished, Hirek said: "I would observe that the history of medicine and the history of science, while frequently cited together, are not the same history. Scientific breakthroughs have a tendency to occur in isolation — one person, an unauthorized problem, materials redirected from requisition orders that no one examines too closely. The vel'drath stimulator is a serviceable example. Medicine has never had that luxury. Medicine requires a living subject, and a living subject requires someone willing to act on incomplete information inside another person's body. That has always required a particular kind of arrogance. The useful kind, when the alternative is waiting for the literature to reach a conclusion while the patient does not." He held Leux's gaze. "You need not concern yourself with my conduct here. I know where I am. I have, on more than one occasion, been the subject rather than the one holding the instrument. It provides clarity regarding what is owed in that direction."

He turned back to the screens. Leux talked. Hirek read. He cross-referenced the briefing against the scan data as it came — the removal of the lupercalis potestas majoris, the contaminated tissue, the consistent failure point across every simulation — and said nothing. When Leux offered Ehfva the ward, Hirek waited. She shook her head, once. He returned his attention to the screen. He took the hypo from Leux without looking at it, pressed it to his neck by feel, and set it on the edge of the console. His eyes did not leave the screen.

"The simulations fail at the same point. The trigger mechanism." He pulled up the strongest of the RNA/DNA transmission sequences. "You need a signal precise enough to activate the correct receiver/transmitter combination for each distinct form, from something permanent, connected to neurological input that isn't fully predictable. You now have a device in your recovery ward built to do something structurally similar. For a considerably less agreeable purpose, but the architecture is the same." He turned. "A vel'drath stimulator, reprogrammed. The mechandrite array can be calibrated to target specific receptor sequences rather than disrupting them. Mapped to the neural pathways that govern each form shift and connected to the relevant control network, it functions as a permanent implant. A prosthetic trigger." He glanced at Ehfva, then back at the screen. "Surgical placement would need to be precise. Calibration would be specific to her neurological profile, and the reprogramming is not trivial. But unlike your simulations, it does not require rebuilding what was taken. It works around the absence."
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