Off The Record

Anomaly TrekMUX Episode (#01-012) 8/15/00

Civilian Quarters 614 - Station 419 - [IC]

The space of the quarters' central living area has been fully exploited. The otherwise gunmetal expanse of the walls bear a variety of watercolours, portraits, and unknown styles of picture, of various styles. There are two small, blue-grey and quite pristine chairs in the centre of the area, and one timeworn, in some places threadbare, couch.

A rug, clean and reasonably new, lies under a low-set, glass-based coffee table in the centre of the circle formed by the furniture. Something lies in the centre of it. Against the wall nearest to the intersection with the bedroom stands a full-wall bookcase, literally crammed with various titles, most of which seem to be in English. Opposite, shelves of ingredients suggest at least some culinary interest, as does a portable cooking array set up beside the intersection, not Federation issue.

The bathroom lies essentially as it was found, though with spartan ablutionary additions. The bed nestles under a voluminous duvet and pillows, a rich Imperial blue,with archaic styled stars, moons and suns emblazoned in yellow upon it. A bedside table bears some alien calendar and a small stack of datapads, as does a single shelf above it. The default lighting is low, masked, and slightly tinted blue.

A dreamcatcher hangs by the connecting wall between bedroom and the main living area.

Obvious exits:

Out <O>

Jade, finishing up his backup contingency plan in his quarters, yawns and stretches. Finally, sleep. Perhaps his dreams will make sense of the past two days' events. The jolt of energy. The mysterious admiral who is bent on controlling Wendy's life. Wendy. It's all been so strange. Jade tosses and turns for several hours, but finally, sleep is forthcoming.

His dreams are surreal. He and Wendy walk across the deck of a boat together, but she is old, much older than he. Her hands are rough and wrinkled, but as she turns toward him, the wind blowing through her hair, her eyes and smile are filled with so much love for him.

The image snaps as something roughly yanks him out of bed. The blackness is interrupted by blurs of indistinct figures, moving quickly. As he gets his bearings, he can see four figures, dressed entirely in black. The throw him down to the ground roughly, securing his hands behind his back.

Jade has no time to draw breath before his wind is knocked out of him, nor to tense his muscles to give slack in whatever is binding him, failures for which he instantly chastises himself even in his awakening mind. He remains utterly silent until more compis mentis, then murmurs, "Gentlemen, can I offer you anything to drink, or can I assume this is not a social call?"

Quite even and neutral. But his expression is almost resigned, in the darkness.

One of them is actually a woman. She wears a Starfleet uniform, but the shoulderpadding is black, the undershirt black, and even the Starfleet insignia pin on her chest is a matt black chevron on a solid piece of oval obsidian. She kneels down beside him without speaking, and opens a small black medkit. She begins to remove a hypospray.

"Oh come on..." Jade murmurs, turning his head back away from the woman, pressing his forehead to the floor but not even bothering to resist. "That isn't even remotely necessary, I will 'come quietly'." His eyes, in the shadow, pinch together tightly. Despite the unconcerned nature of his speech, his mind is racing. "I suppose it's too much to ask what I'm being apprehended for?"

One of the men say, "Alexander Jade, you are hereby charged with espionage and treason. Your accomplice, Gwendolyn Tyler, is being apprehended as we speak."

"Whoah, Wendy didn't do anything, leave her out of this..." Jade retorts at once. "Her part in all of this was entirely resultant from my blackmail and manipulation." Stated clearly, reasonaly loudly, head turning so that the words are not muffled into the carpet.

The woman continues to prep the hypospray as the man shoves a PADD in his face. "Recognize this?" A camera, with a reconstructed video image, records Tyler's approach to the door, dismissal of the guards, and escort of Jade into Science Lab Two. During this, the hypospray is pressed to his neck. "Recognize thewuazisssssss Murisssssster Juraaaaaaaaaaade?" The room starts to spin, and he blacks out.

Jade does not even reach the first syllable of his chosen expletive before unconciousness takes him.

Holding Cell Two - Station 419 - [IC]

This rectangular chamber is rather spartan, yet comfortable enough for its intended purpose. Although the lighting is sufficient, the muted blue-grey walls serve to soften it, creating a calming effect. The deck is covered in a dark grey rubberized material rather than the usual carpeting. A wide conformal shelf is built into the lower rear wall. Designed to serve as both a bench and bed, it is equipped with a thin pad.

Obvious exits:

Out <O>

Sinclaire has arrived.

Sinclaire steps in front of the forcefielded archway. Her hands are clasped behind her back and she stops at parade rest before him. "Welcome, Mr. Jade."

"Ahhh...ahdmir..." Jade gives up for a moment, takes that time to take a peek from nearly closed eyes, just to make sure it's her. He swallows, gulps a breath, tries once more: "Admiral...what...an expected pleas...ure..." A cough, and he winces again.

Sinclaire looks to him through the bright white light running along the arch. "You and Tyler are in quite a bit of trouble. She will be court martialed. And you, Mr. Jade, will end your days at a Federation Penal Colony, after, I can assure you, a very swift trial."

"Ah..." Jade murmurs, shifting, attempting to rise, then aborting the attempt. "I presume it'll make no difference to inform you that if I don't check into my account within a day, all the information I've collected will be forwarded to just about everyone you wouldn't want it to be?" His tone isn't actually sarcastic; probably just curious as to what Starfleet have done.

Sinclaire shrugs. "Believe what you wish. That particular account was monitored and eliminated by Starfleet Intelligence. We've been watching you."

Jade doesn't even really react to that, except with an inwards moment of concern, misplaced, at wider implications. "Admiral... look, I manipulated that girl. I don't really love her, I just used her to get at the information I needed. Blackmailed her." He straightens now, but falls back against the wall behind him, coughs back the nausea. "Sh...she's done nuh...nothing wrong, -and- you need her for this thing..."

Sinclaire looks at him blandly. "The artifact, and the anomaly will be destroyed. The project has come to an end."

"You can't!" Jade exclaims, leaning forward and almost falling flat on the floor. He seizes the edge of the frame beside him, lurches back into the wall. "Uh...uh...it'sss...it's alive...wuh...what about the...Prime Directive...? You can't juh..just -kill- it...and Wendy's innocent...it's nothing...to -do- with her."

Sinclaire merely turns and walks out. "Enjoy your stay, Mr. Jade." She pauses at the threshold of the doorway and smiles to him. "I knew we would meet again. In a way, I'm glad you proved me right."

"Admiral!" Jade calls out, raising and extending an arm. "Did...did you ever have a stutter?" His eyes peel open, painfully, and he watches the officer at the door.

Sinclaire smirks slightly, then shakes her head. "No, I don't believe so."

"Alright..." Jade falls back, eyes closing again, to the wall. "All this temporal crap... you never know..." Even as his hands rise to steady his head, Alex's mind processes silently the new possibilities presented and prevented by that snippet of information, regarding the only person whose fate he really cares about in this, now, and the departing woman. He speaks no more.

Sinclaire has left.

**** LATER ****

Stavek nods and says, "Commander."

Balin says "All right, here is what we have so far."

Stavek nods, and listens to the Commander with complete attention.

Balin takes a seat behind his desk. "Mr. Jade is being used as a pawn in a game that Admiral Sinclaire is playing." He folds his hands on his lap. "She told Jade he was being arrested for Espionage and Treason, but the charges 'officially' are that of breaking and entering. I believe that he will be assassinated by Admiral Sinclaire while being extradited for trial."

Stavek raises an eyebrow. "I cannot believe that a Starfleet Admiral would commit such an illogical and brutal act Commander. Are we sure that the Admiral is actually the Admiral, and that he is in his right mind?"

Balin looks to his XO. "Admiral Sinclaire has conspired to keep the artifact a secret since it was found - not just from the likes of Romulans, but also from me and my senior officers. This is not SOP by a long shot. Procedure dictates that the senior officers be informed of anything which could potentially be dangerous, esepcially where civilian lives are at stake. And today I have been informed that the artifact is /alive/, Commander. I believe she will stop at nothing to keep her secrets. And if a couple of civilians need to die in the process, I believe she would consider it acceptable loss. I, on the other hand, do not."

Stavek nods and says, "I happen to agree with you Commander. That seems to be illogical behaviour on the part of the Admiral. I also had an interesting encounter last night with representatives of the race that another "artifact" comes from. A Cryocapsule that was discovered. They did not leave here happy when I extended asylum for "Mai". Things have been...interesting...to say the least."

Stavek heads out.

Stavek has left.

You head out of the station commander's office.

Operations - Station 419 - [IC]

This is clearly the nerve center of the station. It is a roughly horseshoe-shaped room with the ends of the curved gun-metal gray walls giving way to a single flat wall on which three view-screens display scenes of the surrounding space. The highest level of the room has free standing control stations for security, science, and engineering personnel. Behind these stations, lining the curving walls, are recessed multi-purpose stations. At the lower end of the room is a set of three command chairs, with the Command Station in the center. A narrow walkway leads up and down from this center area. The third and lowest level contains a variety of stations for station operations, communications, tactical analysis and other support crew. To the far left hand side of the room is the Commander's Office. Along the ceiling, and following the curvature of the walls, is a set of transparent aluminum viewports, giving a breathtaking view of the stars above.

Contents:

Stavek

Holliday

LaFae

Nevaren

Obvious exits:

Commander's Office <CO> Out <O>

Stavek walks out to Ops from the Commander's Office and nods to Holliday and LaFae.

Balin steps through the doors, nodding to Stavek. "It has been, indeed, Commander." He looks to his crew, nodding to them as he passes, heading down for his chair.

Holliday's leaning against the wall near the doorway to commanders office, arms folded, looking casual and patient. He's got a PADD tucked under his arm.

Balin looks up to his first officer. "So where do you think we should go from here, Mr. Stavek?"

Stavek folds his arms across his chest, and says, "I do not know sir. It is certainly an interesting quandry we are in."

Balin says "Let's ask our foremost expert on life, then, shall we?"

Balin says "Mr. Holliday."

Holliday pushes himself upright and away from the wall, assuming a marginally more formal stance now that CO and XO have arrived. "Sir?"

Balin folds his hands in his lap as he sits down. "Define 'life' for us."

Stavek turns to look at the Doctor and listens intently.

Holliday laughs. "Had to give me an easy one, didn't you? In what arena?"

Balin chuckles despite himself at Holliday's laugh. "Simplest terms."

Stavek nods.

Holliday considers. "A textbook is probably going to give you something like: a sum condition distinguished by phenomena of metabolism, growth, reproduction and adaptation." A pause. "Either I'm being asked to settle a bet, or you this aplies to something specific though."

Balin states, "I'm not a betting man, Doctor. It applies to the artifact."

Stavek says, "It is certainly not a bet Doctor. I do not gamble. However, it is a relevant topic that the Commander and I were discussing. It is specific." He looks at the Commander, and listens to his response. He nods and returns his attention back to the Doctor.

LaFae glances up from the science station and looks at the brass discussing life...

Holliday nods again, raising a hand to stroke his moustache slowly. "The artifact.." An expression of 'eureka' crosses his face as he makes some connection. "Well, that definition of metabolism, growth, reproduction and adaptation is probably as good as any other yardstick in that case. It may or may not apply to 'every living thing' in the galaxy, but it'd be a place to start with the observations."

Balin looks to Stavek. "And we have an obligation to protect life, is that not so, Mr. Stavek?"

Stavek nods. "Highly logical Commander. Life in all it's myriad forms should be safeguarded and protected to the best of our ability."

LaFae mutters "Tell that to the plants you had for breakfast..." as he turns back to his station.

Balin looks back to LaFae. "Batten that down, Ensign." Looking back to Holliday, he says, "I want a conference in ten minutes." Turning toward Stavek, now. "Commander, hail Admiral Sinclaire's ship."

LaFae shakes his head.

Holliday nods. His personal beliefs and moral obligations may not agree with Starfleet directives all the time, but they do in this case. He raises an eyebrow in LaFae's direction and shakes his head. He's about to say something, but Balin's comment cuts him off. "Sure." He replies to the commander.

Stavek nods and says, "Yes sir, Commander. He raises an eyebrow at the Ensign who just made a comment. "Ensign, we live in an ecosystem where plants and, in most humanoids' case, animals, are food. That is there place in the universe." He then continues, "Hailing the Admiral, sir."

LaFae turns and glares momentarily at Stavek, keeping his comments 'battened down' for the moment as the hail is initiated.

A few moments later, Admiral Sinclaire's wrinkled face appears on the main viewer. "Commander Balin," she says. "What can I do for you?" The commander turns toward the viewscreen, then stands. "Admiral. I'm afraid there has been a terrible accident in Science Lab Two." The Admiral straightens up, an alarmed expression on her face. "An accident?"

LaFae looks over at the screen..lab two being something he never hears about, his interest is obviously piqued.

Stavek looks at the Commander with a slight quizzical expresssion, but is careful to hide it under his Vulcan veneer. He continues to monitor his station, and waits for further information...

The commander nods gravely. "If you will beam over and meet us in the ward room in ten minutes, I will explain it all. I thought it.. best.. That you heard this news in person."

Holliday chuckles. "Saving the plant -life-, at the expense of the vulcans wouldn't be meeting our responsibilitly either." he mutters. Then his attention follows the exchange between the brass and the bigger brass..

Sinclaire looks indeed quite worried. "I will do so immediately." The screen is replaced with the image of the Seal of the Federation. Balin instantly turns. "Send Ensign Tyler to the ward room, Mr. Stavek. Mr. LaFae, you are welcome to join us. Our science department needs full disclosure as well."

LaFae blinks and nods.

Stavek raises his eyebrow at the Doctor's comment, and flashes him a quick glance, letting him know that he heard him. He then turns his attention back to the Admiral's response, half expecting the Admiral to refuse the request of the Commander...however, the Admiral agrees to come over. He nods to the Commander, and says, "As the humans put it, I wouldn't miss this for all the tea in Japan."

Stavek taps his comm badge. "Stavek to Tyler."

A voice over Stavek's comm badge says, "G-go ahead?"

Stavek says into his comm badge, "Would you please meet us in the Ward Room Ensign?""

Holliday raises a brow. "Anything I bring, or just myself, to this little potluck dinner?" He asks Balin, raising the PADD he's holding to indicate his meaning.

Over Stavek's comm badge, Tyler says, "Yuh-yes, sir."

Stavek terminates the comm by tapping his comm badge.

Stavek nods to the Commander. "Ensign Tyler is on the way sir."

Balin says "Get some medical gear. I have a feeling this is going to turn into a field trip."

Balin nods to Stavek.

Balin says "Let's go to the ward room."

Ward Room - Level 1 - Station 419 - [IC]

One long wall of the rectangular-shaped ward room is nothing but viewports, large rectangular slabs of transparent aluminum sloping up and inward. The wall curves a bit, and it gives one a resplendent view of the blackness of space. The room is dominated by a large table which is constructed out of a dark green marble with intricate yellow veins. A replicator station is recessed into the wall near the doors, which are in the center of wall opposite the windows. On the port wall is a large viewscreen and computer terminal. The room is illuminated relatively dimly, to provide the the best view for both the stars and the anomaly.

The anomaly can be seen flashing its blue-white streaks of light via one of the transparent aluminum viewports.

Contents:

Stavek

Obvious exits:

Out <O>

LaFae comes into the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind him with a hiss.

LaFae has arrived.

Holliday comes into the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind him with a hiss.

Holliday has arrived.

Balin moves to the head of the table, but does not sit down.

Nevaren comes into the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind him with a hiss.

Nevaren has arrived.

Nevaren enters the ward room, quickly brushing a white bang from his pale green and pinkish eyes and behind a pale pointed ear. he steps in a few feet and stands at attention.

Balin has moved to the head of the table, but does not sit down. He looks to everyone around the table, and then, with deliberation, removes his comm badge and tosses it to the middle of the table.

Holliday arrives a few minutes later. Slung by a strap from one shoulder is a continer that resembles a starfleet duffle-bag: A hardsided cyllinder emblazoned with the SF Medical Caudicus.

Nevaren raises an eyebrow, slightly confused. He looks back and forth at the officers, waiting to find out whats going on.

LaFae hangs to the wall, glancing around.

Stavek looks at the Commander, and nods. He removes his commbadeg, and tosses it with deliberate movements onto the table.

Accolon comes into the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind him with a hiss.

Accolon has arrived.

Now Nevaren is very confused. He looks to his friend, the doctor, with an inquisitive look in his eyes.

Balin stands at the head of the table. His comm badge, and Stavek's comm badge, are lying upon it's center.

Balin looks to Nevaren. "You'll want to do the same, Lt. Trust me, you will."

Accolon enters in and soon, a strange look passes his features as his glance flicks toward the comm badges. He steps inside, nodding silently to the Commander and others.

Stavek moves over, and stands beside the Commander on his right hand. He remains silent, allowing the Commander to assume complete command of the situation. Stavek pushes his hands behind his back at the "at ease" position, and nods to the other officers, silently supposting the Commander's comments and position.

Holliday shrugs slightly. This obviously isn't going to be about Balin's rehabilitation routine. He removes his compin and add it to the rest. "Guess you should ante up, everybody."

Nevaren nods slightly, pulling his combadge from his breast and tossing it onto the table with both the commander's and the new 1st officer's

LaFae shrugs and steps over to the table, plucking his comm badge and laying it on the table...

Balin sits down at the head, now, everyone whom he expected to speak freely having removed their badges. "Now, we wait."

Tyler comes into the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind her with a hiss.

Tyler has arrived.

Nevaren clears his troat... He sounds slightly nervouse. "Commander? What's going on, if I may ask?

Tyler steps through quietly, her hands fidgeting around a padd. "Suh-sirs?" she asks as she sees all the people. She swallows hard, her eyes darting about nervously.

Balin gestures to the girl. "Maybe she can tell you."

Accolon glances toward Tyler, smiling softly with a look toward her that he's as in the dark as she might be.

Seeing Ensign Tyler enter the room, Nevaren's face takes on a very dark caste. He looks away from her and back to the commander. "Maybe I'll just wait."

Tyler blinks, and moves toward Accolon quietly.

The Commander drums his fingers across the table.

Tyler looks to Accolon, then to Stavek. "Wuh-what's going on?" she asks.

Accolon asks, "Is there something wrong, Commander? Why have you all taken off your comm badges?"

Stavek remains silent, standing beside the Commander in the "at ease" position. He regards Tyler carefully, measuring her...

Balin says "We're all going to have a little discussion about Science Lab Two. I've already invited Admiral Sinclaire here, and as soon as she arrives, we're going to talk."

Holliday unslings the medkit from his shoulder, dropping it lightly on the floor at his feet. He waits. "We're going to play tiddlywinks, Jinn." he grins. "Or speak off the record... Your pick."

Accolon glances toward Holliday, narrowing one eye in annoyance. He turns his head toward the Commander. "Very well. We'll wait for Admiral Sinclaire."

Nevaren's face takes on an even darker caste at the admirals name being mentioned.. "If it's not neccasary for me to be here, Commander, perhaps I should return to engineering..." he trails of

Holliday nods to Tyler reassuringly, smiling slightly. He gives the same gesture to Nevaren as well.

The doors slide open. "No need to wait any longer," says the Admiral, as she walks in behind Nevaren.

Tyler blushes under Holliday's gaze. She looks to the Admiral as she walks in, blinking.

Nevaren winces and steps to the side, letting the admiral by. He (barely) keeps his dislike under control and puts on a very stoney face.

Accolon takes a step back from the door so he can face the Admiral. He nods to her and then turns so he can face Balin and the Admiral at the same time.

The admiral looks to the table, notices all the badges, then looks to Balin. "An accident, Commander? A lie?" He shakes his head. "No, no accident. I.. manipulated you. As you have manipulated us."

Tyler frowns, then looks toward Sinclaire.

Stavek stares at the Admiral and tries to decide if everything the Commander has said about her is true. He waits to listen to her voice and comments, ensuring that what had to happen, did...

Accolon furrows his brow, looking between the two. He seems to have alot of questions, but decides his silence is the best thing for now.

Sinclaire actually smiles. "I take it you want to speak off the record, is that it?" Balin nods to her. "I do. There is an innocent man being held in Holding Cell Two. Alexander Jade."

The albino Half-Vulcan's cold demeanor slowly softens. NO longer able to help it, Nevaren's face slowly splits into a huge, almost malicious grin at the commander's current actions.

Holliday doesn't say anything, for once. The tension in the room is fairly thick, and getting thicker.. He tugs at a moustache tip. He raises an eybrow at this news..

Tyler's frown deepens and she works her jaw, but remains silent.

Stavek raises his right eyebrow, wondering why the Commander would reveal that "card". He thinks to himself, "Fascinating" and listens.

LaFae frowns as he looks between the brass.

Sinclaire arches an eyebrow. "Innocent Commander? He's an information broker, and using Ensign Tyler to gain information to sell. He was caught breaking and entering."

Tyler puts her hand over her eyes. She knew this was coming, sooner or later.

Accolon lowers his eyes, breathing a sigh and shaking his head in dissapointment about something.

Balin laughs at that. "Breaking and entering? I heard it was espionage and treason. Where was he breaking and entering?"

Sinclaire regards him. "Science Lab Two."

"Ensign Tyler?" ask Balin, "Did you not escort Mr. Jade there after dismissing security?"

Tyler looks up. She's actually started to cry - as silver streaks have appeared on her cheeks. She nods, then looks back down. "I'm suh-sorry," she says.

Nevaren suddenly steps foreward, not able to stand still any longer "If Mr. Jade is guilty of that charge, then I must be guilty too 'Admiral'. Wasn't it exactly 3 weeks ago that I tried to get into Science Lab Two during the Jhem'Haddar Attack.

Accolon listens carefully to the conversation. His expression remains nuetral throughout. Only his eyes wander from person to person as they speak.

Balin nods. "Lt. Nevaren is right, Admiral. Mr. Jade was /escorted/ into that room by the one person who has unlimited access to it. Mr. Tyler."

Holliday's been watching Tyler's reaction, and he reaches into a pocket. He doesn't withdraw the hand yet though. "Your intent was less motivated by a desire for information maybe, Nev." He comments.

Accolon asks, "Commander, what is this meeting about exactly? It seems the Admiral had matters in hand, best suited to the security of the station."

Nevaren smiles "Really, Doc. I guess thats why Ensign Tyler held a phaser set to kill.. MY phaser, at my head... and then went to to try and charge me with Treason, nonetheless." Nevaren looks next to Accolon. "The Admiral doesn't give a damn about the station. SHe just cares onbly about the damn artifact in Sci LAb 2. She was almost willing to trade the lives of every man woman on this station for it's protection."

Accolon says to Nevaren, "I'd mind the way you spoke before a Starfleet Admiral."

LaFae looks over at Accolon and lets out a snort before shaking his head.

Nevaren shakes his head. "I'll resign if I have to, just to say this. You weren't there, Accolon. I could have saved a dozen or more lives if I had been allowed to try and contact the commander to find out what he needed.. instead of Ensign Tyler taking over the com and calling the Admiral who was all the way at starfleet command and who wanted the Artifact protected before her own people on board."

Accolon shakes his head, commenting, "We're not talking about the Jem'Hadar attack." quietly, not wanting to interupt the questions and such that have been directed at the Admiral and Commander.

The Admiral crosses her arms and watches all of this.

Balin says "No, we're not, Mr. Accolon, however.. Nevaren is right. Admiral Sinclaire does /not/ care about the lives of the officers, nor of the civilians on this station."

Holliday doesn't seem all that plussed by this yet. He takes his hand from his pocket, handing Tyler a hanky to dry her eyes, etc. Well, a bandage pad actually, still in its sterile pouch, but it should do. He takes a step back towards the wall. "I don't think your actions are under question right now, Nev. This is about Alex and.." He looks to Sinclair, then quickly away.

LaFae says "Starfleet has never maintained the position that the people who serve were as important as new discoveries or leaving the prime directive in tact. Granted, the decision to maintain the lives of personell at the expense of ideals is often made from a safe distance...""

Tyler remains.. small. As small as she can be, with all these accusations flying about.

Nevaren shakes his head. "No, this isn't about the Jhem'Haddar. It's about the people this woman, and I use the term loosely, is willing to step on for her own gains. The commander may have different reasons but I needed to say this now so some people would understand what a tyrant this woman is." He looks to Tyler, his demeanor towards her softer than it has been. "And this time one of the Admirals own prized lackeys has been stepped on And I think she finally understands how we feel."

Tyler starts crying harder, now, not just tears, but actual sobs.

Accolon takes his tricorder out, ruffling at the top of his head. He turns it toward the Admiral, apparently scanning her.

"SILENCE!" shouts the Admiral.

Holliday leans towards the table. He's about to say something, doesn't.

The Admiral moves forward, having said her first order of business.

Nevaren stands still, stiffening at the shout.

Accolon briefly scans the room with his tricorder, as if it were a matter of business. Afterward, he quickly tucks the tricorder away and remains attentive.

The only sound is Accolon's tricorder as she speaks. She gives him a cross look, then looks to each and every one. "Nobody knows me. Few know Ensign Tyler." She starts to walk around the table, now. "You have no idea the bredth and scope of what she does. What I do. What we are /all/ doing /together/. The artifact might not just 'might' win us the war, it /will/ win us the war. And every war in the future. By having posession of it, we will eliminate the /threat/ of war."

Nevaren snorts "Peace through superior firepower, Admiral?. That has never worked. SOmeone will just come up with a more powerful weapon than yours. You are deluding yourself. You CAN'T end war all together,

Accolon says, "It's not a weapon."

Sinclaire looks to Nevaren. "You're getting on my nerves, Romulan."

Nevaren stiffens. "What did you call me?" he whispers....

Holliday blurts, "Well, we're sure having a 'bawl' here now.. That sounds good, Admiral, but some of us might have reservations..."

LaFae shakes his head, "He has a point though, no technology is going to eliminate the instincts that lead people to war. The only way to eliminate the threat of war is to kill every sentient being."

Balin walks forward to Sinclaire, getting up in her face. "Enough! This man is a fine officer, one I am proud to serve with!"

Tyler continues to sink into her chair.

Balin says "We have to get back to the matter at hand. And that is Mister Jade."

Nevaren steps back, his face whiter than it has every been.. no small feat on an albino. He turns on his heel and storms out pulling out his padd as he leaves the room.

Nevaren walks out of the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind him.

Nevaren has left.

Nevaren comes into the ward room, the doors sliding shut behind him with a hiss.

Nevaren has arrived.

Balin says "Admiral, I am freeing Mr. Jade. If you are going to prosecute him, then you have to prosecute Ensign Tyler. /I/ will prosecute her."

Accolon asks, "Why do you have such a great interest in him, Commander?"

Tyler's started to sniffle, now, as she wipes her eyes on her sleeve.

Nevaren reenters the room, compsed once more. He stands in a dark corner, watching them all talk, every once in a while tapping something into his padd.

Sinclaire nods. "A good question."

Stavek had remained silent throughout this whole exchange. He shook his head, and regarded the Starfleet Officers present with cold stares. He watches as the Commander and Admiral seem to play a chess game with the individuals under their commands. He remains a cold, serene sea of calm in a turbulent ocean.

Balin turns and moves toward Stavek. "Here is the way I see it, Sinclaire.. You will have him, indeed, charged with breaking and entering. But you see, Mr. Jade knows too much to set free. Mr. Jade must die, isn't that right, Admiral?"

Tyler stands up suddenly. "No!"

Holliday pats Tyler's shoulder in a 'there there' kind of way, and unwraps the bandage, again offering it to her as a hanky. He laughs ruefully, "I'm betting it's related to whateveritis in Science Lab Two, Jinn. Everything's seeming to come back to that... It's raising more questions than it's answering, 'bout now.." His expression darkens at the situation Balin outlines, and he makes a gesture like: see? Knows too much about what?

Stavek raises an eyebrow, and nearly said something. However, he held himself in check, and moves slightly towards Commander Balin...

Sinclaire frowns and crosses one arm over the other. "That's the way Starfleet Intelligence sees it."

Tyler gasps. "What?!"

Sinclaire says gently, "Sit down, Wendy."

LaFae steps over beside Nevaren and shakes his head, muttering softly "now there's an oxymoron."

Tyler instantly sits down, her jaw moving as if trying to ask more questions.

Accolon glances toward the Admiral in stark disbelief. "What?" He says, almost mirroring Tyler.

Stavek says, "Commander?" And looks at him carefully, trying to see some clue, some sign as to what his game is, and what Balin has planned.

LaFae frowns and starts to tap something into his PADD quietly.

Balin nods. "That's the way I'd see it if I were you, Admiral. You see, Captain Tinarus taught me the most important thing at the Academy, and that's always try to think like those do around you. You have a lot to protect. Especially since the artifact is /alive/."

LaFae rolls his eyes.

Nevaren finishes his composing on his pad and steps foreward. He steps foreward once more, interrupting. "Excuse me, Commander. IF you know it's alive then may I ask one thing. Is it somnehow... connected to the Anomaly?"

Balin says "Of course it is. That's why it has stayed on our station and not been rushed back to Starfleet Headquarters."

Stavek frowns slightly, and moves to stand beside the Commander. He looks to Nevaren, and then back to the Commander. "If I may sir? That is entirely possible. It may be a symbiotic relationship. However, we have no real proof that it is connected to the Anomaly, except for the assumption that it came from the Anomaly."

Nevaren 's face becomes a great big grin once more... VERY malicious. He hands his padd to the commander. "Then Here's your trump card."

Something seems to bother Accolon in all this and he asks, "Commander, was Mr. Jade... working for you?" He doesn't sound like he'd beleive it, but somehow it might make sense...

Sinclaire says, "Good question."

Balin shakes his head. "The only time I'd ever seen the man before today was at the reception for K'lor. And he left before I had a chance to speak with him."

Accolon smiles and says, "I remember that day. He looked at you like he had something to talk about."

Holliday's assumed an expression of resigned distaste: This kind of thing is why I resigned my commision the first time. "You're serious, Admiral? We'd kill a man over a great machine of.. 'peace'?" He asks with a little dismay. Balin's declaration doesn't seem to get as much of a rise out of him.. He shakes his head. "Jade's just an opportunist in my assesment. An unlucky one very much over his head, it seems."

Balin presses some buttons on the PADD that Nevaren has handed him, then lays it face down. "No, Mr. Nevaren. We will not destroy the anomaly, nor will we destroy the artifact."

LaFae taps Nevaren's shoulder, "You don't shoot the Oracle man..."

Stavek nods, for the time being in complete agreement with Balin. "That would be...illogical."

Nevaren shakes his head. "Thats not why I gave it to you. We could always... give the info freely to all the other races. A sort of... precaution.. because if this thing is as powerful as we think it is then whoever welds it would be.. well.. god. This way we eliminate the threat, because everyone will be able to stop it."

Tyler has started to fidget almost to the point of twisting fingers off. She glances between the officers, trying to figure out what to do.

LaFae steps up beside Nevaren and leans in, "Quiet man...you don't have the ammo to jump into this fight just yet."

Nevaren looks at Lafae. "Maybe not.. I am just giving the commander more options. It's his choice whether the use them."

Stavek looks at Nevaren, and then back to the Commander. He then says to LaFae. "Ensign, please, Lieutenant Nevaren has made a valid point. Why should we not share the information to the other Superpowers?"

Sinclaire looks to Balin. "I'm afraid I don't understand where you're going with all of this. As it stands, you are all now prosecuteable for treason."

Accolon shakes his head, barely able to believe the things he's hearing from his fellow officers.

Tyler says "You d-don't know what it can do!"

Stavek raises an eyebrow. "Treason? I thought that we lkived in a free, democratic society, not a tyrannical dictatorship, Admiral. Since when did it become a crime for expressing our ideas? That is indeed, an illogical comment, and leaves you open to further suspicion."

Nevaren smiles more. "ARe we admiral? Then you are guilty of violating the prime directive in the grossest extreme. Holding a living being, whome is not a member of the federation, against it's will and enslaving it. Because if it IS alive, and you intend to use it.. thats what it is.. slavery.. making it work for you against it's will."

LaFae looks to Tyler, "Mmm...Let me guess, it can reveal teh future and perhaps even the potential to affect the past?"

LaFae listens to Nevaren and sighs.

Holliday nods. "If it really is a means to peace.." He shrugs. "You're right, Admiral. I frankly have very little idea what is going on here." He seems to have another comment, but he swallows it.

Tyler goes quiet, shrinking under the scrutiny she has brought upon herself.

LaFae leans in and whispers something to Nevaren.

Stavek did he. With those last comments, he threw himself fully into Commander Balin's camp, and made the final decision to support his Commander. He stood beside him, and regards the Admiral with a cool, suspicious air, the stereotypical cold, logical Vulcan.

Holliday looks to Stavek, and around to the rest as well. Again, he looks like he has something to say, but he's holding back.

Stavek looks at Holliday carefully, noticing that he seems to want to say something. "You have something to add Doctor?"

Balin states, "I'll tell you where this is all leading. Mr. Jade goes free. Now. Or Ensign Tyler goes to the stockade. And if that happens, your artifact project is ruined. You will order full disclosure to the command crew about what it can do."

Balin says "Because if I /do/ get arrested for this, I will make /damned/ sure that you burn right beside me, Admiral. Lt. Nevaren is right about one thing, it's slavery."

Holliday sighs, rubs a spot on the table with his thumb absently. "Just that I thought so too, Stavek. Maybe I thought wrong. This isn't the kind of 'brave new world' I was thinking of."

Stavek nods. "I am in complete agreement Doctor." He looks back at the Commander, blinks at his comments, and says, "He does have a case, Admiral. Commander Balin could in fact reveal everything that has been going on here, and the facts are quite...illuminating, sir. It would be illogical for you to continue in this endeavour." He pauses, and adds, "You must know when to fold them Admiral."

Sinclaire regards Commander Balin. "You have no idea what you've just done, Commander. Your career is ruined."

"To hell with my career if it means I have to compromise everything I stand for." states the Commander.

Holliday nods to Stavek, chuckles and nods to the pile of compins. "I knew we were gonna be playing cards tonight."

Nevaren looks to the officers, then at Tyler, then at the admiral. "I don't think you can persuade any of us that this isn't slavery, Admiral. Especially me. I was a slave my entire life and I know what it means to be one. I joined starfleet to help stop such things, but you.. you're just like the cardassians... actually, You're worse." He steps up beside the COmmander. "I said the same thing to you admiral.. three weeks ago, as the commander is said now. I still stand by it.. and him."

LaFae taps Nevaren's shoulder again, the whispered conversation closing somewhat as he nudges the man back towards the wall.

Stavek looks to LaFae, and says, "Ensign, would you please share your observations to us? This whispering is unbecoming of a Starfleet Officer."

Accolon says, "We've had a near impossible time, maintaining the details artifact's secrecy, despite security measures and despite orders not to speak about it. If it's a free for all, and knowledge of this 'prize' becomes widely known, it's at an even greater risk. This is what Admiral Sinclaire is concerned about. Until we can understand it and utilize it for the good of the Federation."

LaFae mutters to Nevaren, "You... have it's... bluffing, we're just the... check the...".

Balin leans forward and picks up his comm badge. "This conversation never happened," he says, placing the badge on his chest. "Now, if you will pardon me, I will escort Mr. Jade out of his cell."

Accolon says, "Perhaps he requires a debriefing as well." quietly.

LaFae looks to Stavek and shakes his head, "Neither the whispers nor shouts uddered in this room tonight are very becoming of what I was told of Starfleet personell when I joined the academy."

"I would have a word with you, Commander," says the Admiral angrily. He nods. "Yes, I expected you would, Admiral."

Holliday sighs. This jockying for position isn't really for him. His curiosity is perked though, regarding the artifact/anomaly- it's been out of his field enough for him to not let it get to him until now. "Nothing like a riddle to get people knocking on your door, Mr. Accolon." he observes. "I'd agree, LaFae. But you don't have to contribute to that."

Balin walks out with Sinclaire at his heels.

Corridor - Level 1 - Station 419 - [IC]

This short, wide corridor runs between the Ward Room and Operations. The corridor is shaped like a tall, narrow hexagon, with soft white light dimly illuminating it from thin strips where the ceiling meets the walls. The ceiling has large dark blue-grey panels. Footsteps echo metalically through the passage as the boots strike the dark grey metal floor.

Obvious exits:

Ward Room <WR> Operations <O> Turbolift <T>

Nevaren steps through the doors of the ward room, and they slide shut behind him.

Nevaren has arrived.

Nevaren runs after balin, trying to wave him down.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Chorak exits the turbolift, the double doors sliding shut behind him.

Chorak has arrived.

Stavek steps through the doors of the ward room, and they slide shut behind him.

Stavek has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Balin turns to Nevaren. "Later, Lieutenant. Now is not a good time." The Admiral pushes past the others and heads straight toward Operations. "Later," the commander repeats, and follows her.