[Naked Crook]

Barrabus grunted. He turned away, paced around, and then looked back at Dangerus. Barrabus: It seems you believe that we should intervene...to inform The Elites of what The Trust may be planning to do. I must admit...There would be nothing stopping The Trust from unleashing The Elites against us if they did manage to replace their leadership. Many of our kind still harbor much hatred for The Elites...and I would be betraying their trust if I was to help The Elites by informing them of what The Trust could do to them. When I look at my options...they all seem grim. Barrabus paused. Barrabus: If I fail to act...and I allow The Trust to go unchecked, I could be setting us on a dark path. I would not only endanger ONI...but our worlds as well. If I do act, and I help the Elites...I could be seen as a traitor to my own kind. There is too much bad blood. Barrabus paused. He then grinned. Barrabus: Tye...you suggest that I just help ONI with The Trust. You suggest that we mobilize ourselves, and help ONI in their fight against The Trust. I plan on taking that a step further. Barrabus paused. Barrabus: I will have ONI inform The Elites of any potential threat The Trust may pose to them. ONI can be my messenger. This way...The Elites know what they need to know...and I avoid the stigma of helping The Elites. Tyber: Well...that is using your noggin. Barrabus grunted. Barrabus: Tye...gather up everything from this facility...every piece of information you can find. Barrabus turned to Dangerus. Barrabus: Dangerus...have your ship prepare for departure from Doisac in one hour! Both of our ships will go outwards...and we will find The Cloak and Dagger...and we will update Director Vernette with what we have found. Tyber: Just a question? How are we going to tip off The Elites? Are we just going to walk up to their front door and knock? Barrabus: No. I have a better idea... Meanwhile: Vernette and Cameron entered the medical bay. Vernette saw Beckett, at one of the work stations, looking into a large microscope. He was busy analyzing Jacob's blood sample. Vernette waited for Beckett to look up from the microscope. A few moments passed, when Beckett finally looked up. Beckett: Oh...Director. I didn't hear you come in. What can I do for you? Vernette: I have come for an update on your analysis. Beckett: Oh...hmmm... Beckett lowered his eyes. Vernette: What is it? Beckett shrugged. Beckett: To be honest...I looked at the blood sample. I recognize what I am looking at. I can verify that Jacob has, indeed, been augmented with the Spartan I formula. However...after a toxicology...there are so many blank spaces...I feel like my years of medical experience mean squat. I am so baffled by what I am seeing...I cannot provide anything substantive. I am sorry Director...but..this blood sample...it contains...THINGS...that I have never seen before. I can show you what I do not recognize, and I can show you what should not be there...but I have no idea what some of this stuff is. There are proteins and amino-acids in this blood sample that, quite frankly, I have never seen before. There are branch chain amino-acids that, under normal circumstances, are impossible to form without some...highly sophisticated form of mutation or applied mutagenic properties. To understand how to undo what I am seeing, I need to know how it was done...and... Beckett shrugged. Beckett: I do not know. I don't know how to create a counter-agent to whatever The Trust put into Jacob. Vernette: No...that answer is unacceptable! Beckett: But...Director... Vernette: But nothing Doctor! There is a way to help Jacob...you just need to find it. Beckett: Even if there was a way, and I am not saying there isn't...I lack...so much equipment, to even BEGIN an in depth analysis. to be frank...as good as The medical facilities are on this ship...they are not good enough to do what you are asking. Vernette: Then we will get new medical facilities...more medical facilities... Beckett: Even if that were all...I lack the necessary research staff and specialists... Vernette: Then we will get more specialists...more staff... Beckett: The funding required for R&D would be astronomical! Vernette: Then you will get your funding. Just leave the bill on my desk at the end of the day and I will deal with it. Beckett was about to interject, but Vernette raised his hand. Vernette: Carson...I can do this all day. I have, close to, unlimited control over anything you need. I don't care what I need to do, where I need to go, who I need to move, what I need to invest in, what people I need to find, what mission I have to undertake, what lake of fire I need to cross, what mountain I need to lift, or what heaven I need to budge...all I want...is an answer to "can we do it"...and that answer BETTER be..."yes, we can". Am I clear on this? Beckett: Very... Vernette: Good. Now...in one hour, I want a list of everything you need, on my desk. I don't care how long that list is...just have it there in an hour! Beckett: Yes sir. Meanwhile: Burke had just transmitted the orders to FLEETCOM and HIGHCOM, in order to have a new CO for the Draco assigned. Burke then opened a channel to Captain Cochraine. Burke: Captain Cochraine...I hope you are still there? I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long?