Star Trek: Starbase 777 - scdr’s-office

"You know, the office is pretty nice. I get why people would want to be in Starfleet, if this is how you're treated." Ether sat in Mo's chair, surveying the room. One of her security detail looked vaguely at her, avoiding her eyes, as she muttered a small "really?", but Ether's hearing had been jacked up enough to catch it. "No, Veril, who do you think I am? This is all going out the airlock once we get the rest of our people in. I want a clean slate, and I'll make it myself if I have to."

Ether was pacing, muttering over the rearranged furniture as she walked around the office. She'd been left alone, her trustees manning the rest of the operational deck to get as much of the station under their control as quickly as possible. Her engineers were geniuses, coming up with the program that scanned for Starfleet officers to teleport them to their quarters as quickly as possible, while locking the quarter doors on their levels. She should reward them, in some way, but she didn't know what they'd like, what they'd appreciate... perhaps she should ask some of her companions. But she needed to be a leader, and she hated relying on others. These were the things going around her head as she paced, growing more and more frustrated as she went along until eventually she grabbed a raccoon shaped ornament off the desk and threw it against the furthest wall with great strength, shattering it to pieces.

The group moved out of the turbolift into the corridor. Rojin, feeling that trained-in calm in the face of this new unknown, took it upon himself to politely knock at the office door, eyebrow raised at the sound of something shattering inside.

"Come in!" Ether called, pushing her hair back and standing upright, tall and dignified in order to present herself properly to whoever was about to come in.

"Wait, who's going in?" They couldn't all barge in there.

"Aren't we all going? I feel like waiting in the corridor is weirder." They were already getting looks from some of the people around.

Melody followed closely behind the group. Upon hearing Noid ask who was going in, Melody volunteered. "I'll go in," Melody said. "Polaris? You want in too?"

Polaris looked at the open door - she couldn't quite tell if everyone was going to fit, but it was better to surround whoever was in there, at least in her mind. "I want in, yeah."

"I guess we're having a party in there." He wondered if they outnumbered the people in there.

"If someone's intimidated or would rather watch the corridor, they can stay," he offered. All going in was fine, in his opinion, but he wasn't about to force people. As for Rojin himself-- well. He was an adrenaline junkie. Of course he was going in. "Ether, I assume?" he asked, as soon as the doors were open and he could walk into the office, moving slowly, carefully. "We were told we can come to you to, uh... talk?"

Shifting her mask slightly as to come off as more intimidating - or at least she hoped - Melody followed Jin in, also slowly. She looked Ether up and down... well, whoever this person was who was occupying Captain Mo's office, she certainly didn't win any style points. Like, come on! She could do a LITTLE better if she wanted to actually look intimidating!

Sensing hesitation from some of the group, K’tehka opted to stay toward the back. Rojin seemed perceptive and skilled enough, and had K’tehka wondering what his history was. He smiled at the group and waved them in, at least whoever wanted in, and stood to the side of the door so he could hear in but remain almost on guard outside.

Polaris also followed Melody and Jin, skating moreso to the size, also quite slowly, before skidding to a stop. Polaris didn't have the same inclination to focus on Ether's fashion choices, but she still didn't like her.

He did finger guns at Ether. "Hey, nice takeover you did here! Very, uh, polite."

Oh, everyone would be going. Cool, okay. Terahl would just hang out behind and not say anything, then.

Ether may not have been dressed to the nines, but she looked taken care of, her clothing clean and deliberately chosen. Not uniform-like, but practical and dark in colour. And aside from that, she was a 6'5 woman with broad shoulders and thick arms and legs, and piercing eyes with pale irises and blue scleras, her forehead ridged and bearing spikes, her face covered in blue markings. She certainly had a hard-to-place, alien look about her, which was something to say for a galaxy full of aliens. "Yes!" she responded to Rojin, before clearing her throat and trying again, to be more formal this time, though she looked visibly happy that someone remembered what she'd said. "Yes, I am Ether, I'm glad you remembered. I, uh. Thank you for the compliment? We tried our best," she told Noid, her eyes scanning the group, though she looked relaxed despite the previously empty office suddenly being full to bursting. "What did you want to talk about? I understand having questions, so ask away," she said, smiling briefly, revealing sharper, slightly pointed canines.

Following the others along, once they were actually outside of the office M'Noa couldn't help but feel more anxious than before, but as some people entered the office they followed. Appreciating Rojin starting things off, the Caitian listened as the conversation began, hoping and frankly praying for the best possible outcome... Or at the very least for on one to get hurt.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked, getting straight to the point. He struggled to identify what species she was, but had no idea whether that would be relevant, so decided not to comment on it. She may be a terrorist, but he wasn't going to be rude.

Melody also was going to ask why, but Men beat her to the punch. But that wasn't going to let her keep from giving Ether a piece of her mind - even if it were a tiny one. "What did Starfleet ever do to you?" Melody asked.

Rojin looked at her, carefully cataloguing the stranger's appearance and disposition; it truly was peculiar, both of these things. What quadrant was she from? Why was she holding herself up in such a... friendly, manner, when she quite literally hijacked the station? Rojin has been in both roles, and he knew all too well that such attitude was... well, not the usual one. Why leaving the civilians, but locking up Starfleet? Something curious was going on here. His gaze briefly shifted towards Men, appreciating the Vulcan straightforwardness that lead to the rest of the groups involvement. But just as quickly, it returned to Ether - watching her just in case. Just in case...

Polaris decided for a bit of a nicer approach, keeping a calm tone of voice - all of her cop training on Astrolis II was going to come in handy now. "Buckaroo," Polaris began. "I hate to break it to ya, yer breakin' multiple laws by doin' this. I hope ya don't just expect us to sit idly by and let it happen."

"Why are we doing this... what did Starfleet ever do to us... these are good questions, you know. Normally they just shoot first, ask questions later." She turned to Polaris, her face contorting as if she was raising an eyebrow, though she didn't actually have any hair on her brow to show for it. "Love, were you under the impression that I cared about the law? They mean nothing to me. Never have, never will. Not the way I was brought up." She turned around halfway, facing away from the group and staring at the wall. "I can't speak for everyone, of course. Some of my companions joined for altruistic reasons, some less so. I never care as long as they stick to the rules I've set. No harming civilians. If you don't have the power to defend the system, there's no responsibility you bear for upholding it." She paused, turning back towards the group, looking Polaris directly in the eyes before once more scanning the group, her eyes landing on Rojin, Maggie. "I represent the people who fell through the cracks. I have one mission: make Starfleet pay for the ways in which they failed to protect us."

Upon hearing that Ether set a rule for not harming civilians, that sparked an idea in Melody's mind. She didn't know if it was fully fleshed out yet, but she had something. "Are you quite finished?" Melody asked Ether. "Because you can stand there dishing out nonsense. Or we can strike a deal in which all parties can be happy. It's your choice. I'd recommend you pick the mature option, and we can figure out what exactly is the root of your issue with Starfleet." (edited)

"I do not understand this reasoning. Starfleet has failed, yes. They failed my son. And yet I do not blame them in particular. Any large organisation can make mistakes. It is inevitable. What have they done to you in particular?" His tone was neutral. It was a genuine question.

Well, that answered at least one question. Or, rather, confirmed a suspicion - these people had issues with Starfleet itself. Ah, the station was a choice target, not an accident. The "no harming civilians" part made him slowly blink, his mind bringing up his boys, and friends made amongst the officers, to mind. "What happened, if you don't mind sharing?" he asked, wary. "The "failure" part - what have-- or rather, what haven't they done?"

Polaris was resisting the URGE to blurt out 'we have the high ground' but decided not to have to reference the sci-fi movie she loved as a kid. Instead she just thought it. 'We have the high ground.' There! Didn't have to say it aloud.

Maggie fidgeted idly with their fingers. "Will you- stop antagonizing her?" they whispered to Melody. "Now isn't the time to be a hero. We need answers."

Trying to keep up with what everyone was saying, M'Noa was about to ask exactly what Rojin did when he instead asked it. Good, someone else was on the same page as them.

Melody's tone didn't sit well with Ether, whose face immediately contorted into a snarl, the markings on her skin pulling into a grotesque mask of displeasure. "Just because I won't harm you doesn't mean I won't send you to the brig until I can forcibly remove you from the station. Hold your unknowing tongue, smartass." Then, she paused, took a deep breath, once, twice, before simply moving on. She turned away from Melody, simply not looking at her anymore, her face pulled back into a calm expression as she explained. "Well, I'm not sure you want my life's story. It's short, but sad, and frankly, I'm not here to make anyone cry. Not that I can, myself." She sighed. "So what would you like to know about me? I could tell you horrible things about the lack of oversight on scientists in high places. The things you get away with when you have the right medals, the right credentials. The things you're allowed to do to people, as long as you hide it just well enough for nobody to be bothered by your so-called mistakes. None of it is fun to listen to."

Polaris thought for a second - maybe she could bring Ether into a headspace where she'd be more comfortable to give insights. It was a common skill, professional communication, and communication where thoughts could be shared effectively and calmly. She skated in front of Melody, blocking Ether from her. "Hoooold on there, pardner," Polaris kept her calm tone of voice "Buckaroo, let's bring it back. This is just a conversation, is all! Nothing is ever solved by rash decisions. So maybe let's slow it down now." And after a second, she continued. "Our friends over here are right. Nobody's perfect. Starfleet ain't either. To add onto what everyone else asked ya - did Starfleet ever apologize for what they did? Now that there is a question which I think would greatly contribute to how you feel about 'em today. If they didn't take accountability, I reckon it wouldn't feel nice."

Ether squinted at Polaris. "Apologise? Would I be here if I got any sort of retribution, of accountability? Get real. Just like every major power, whatever can be swept under the rug, will be. They don't care if they can ignore you."

Polaris wasn't expecting the way that Ether would respond, but she was expecting the response. "So they didn't apologize for what they did to you, and they swept what they did to you under the rug, just so I understand ya correctly?" Polaris said. "Well, I can certainly imagine why yer feeling this way now. That wasnt' right of them to sweep whatever they did under the rug. If there's anything I know about Starfleet, it's that they take accountability. For them not to, makes me think that something wasn't supposed to happen on their end and you got caught up in it."

His eyes narrowed slightly, watching and listening to her - those last few sentences feeling... awfully familiar. Some people who he and his crew would rescue, spoke similarly. Lack of oversight on scientists, right credentials, things you're allowed to do to people... "I am sorry for how blunt that will sound, Ether - but, from what you've said, I just got a feeling... were you, perhaps... experimented on?" he asked, slow, careful, hoping her irked mood would refocus on him, instead.

Clearing their throat slightly, M'Noa decided that perhaps now was a time for them to speak. "I don't know the ins and outs of how Starfleet works, and I certainly can't comment on if anyone high up is or is not entirely corrupt, but I also know every organisation has bad eggs, and history has shown countless different times that bad eggs usually get tossed out eventually." They said calmly, tone not agitated nor attempting to agitate. "If Starfleet failed you and some of the people who work for or with you, all I can really say is that I'm sorry it happened. But that doesn't mean everyone in Starfleet failed you, and all you're doing by kidnapping people is making yourself into an enemy." Looking over at Rojin as he spoke, the Caitian couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the sheer thought of such a thing happening to someone.

Upon hearing the word 'experimented,' Polaris looked to Jin. "That checks out if Starfleet swept it under the rug like she said," Polaris added. "Did whatever happened to you happen with any one specific person in Starfleet? As opposed to Starfleet as a whole?" (edited)

"Hey, someone's listening!" Ether did look pleased when Rojin mentioned being experimented on. She was being heard, she was being listened to! It was visible that she felt great about that fact. "But you're only halfway correct, you know... Bad eggs only get thrown out if they're found out, exposed, their crimes held up for the world to see. With evidence, preferably. And I don't know if you know the idiom about bad apples..." She looked away, a flash of anger in her eyes, before refocussing on M'Noa. "But even one of them spoils the bunch." "I wasn't experimented on, you see. I am the experiment. You don't get a pretty face like this from just any regular people procreating, you know. There's Aurelian in there, and Jem'Hadar." She pulled her hair back, showing her ears, which, upon closer inspection, were clearly Vorta.

Polaris took in what Ether was saying, and in her mind, some of the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. "Like the others say, I'm sorry about what happened to ya, ya didn't deserve it," Polaris commented. "And it sounds like you weren't wanting to be experimented on. Can I ask when this happened to ya? Maybe we can pinpoint by a specific year, and figure out who was working during that time to see if they're still working as part of Starfleet - unless ya know their name or names. The people who did this to you."

Melody heard Polaris' suggestion about finding whoever turned Ether into an experiment, and alarm bells rung in her head. "You don't mean we're going to look for that specific person or those specific people, do you?"

"Is Starfleet allowed to do that? Just, like, make a person?" He paused for a second as his single android braincell bounced around his brain. "Wait, what am I talking about? They did that to me. Never mind."

"No, no," Polaris responded. "But maybe we can see if they're still workin' there or not. That can tell us if Starfleet has changed since then, and put our friend Ether here at a little bit of ease, hopefully." Polaris turned to Ether. "I'm a retired police officer. I know what to look for and how to look for it when it comes to investigating these sorts of things. Your case is one of 'em." (edited)

"...Fuck," he hated being right. He had to blink away a couple of nauseating memories from his infiltrations into Tal Shiar labs, where those fucks, the supposed protectors of his people and Empire, were indulging in their own sick, twisted experiments. One of the many reasons he became a cop killer. With Ether's motives now being clear, he had at least an approximate direction to venture into. "No, I understand. I understand that usually, there are also people who protect those "bad apples", willingly or not," he continued. "Weeding out a pest only sounds easy, but... it's not."

Ether ignored Noid's comment, though she looked at him, with something more resembling recognition than the impatience she was starting to treat everyone else with. Until Rojin spoke, who also got a relieved look. "See! See. It's the first thing I did when I got off that goddamn industrial planet I was dropped off on like an unwanted animal. My creator lives on Earth, working a cushy job for Starfleet Command. And the people working for him all have high positions at universities all across the Federation, some teaching at the Academy now. What is one person supposed to do against that? Especially with no proof, other than her existence? That's no proof at all, tell me you realise this. There's no paper trail, no evidence. It'd be his word against mine. A Starfleet official against a street rat. Think for yourself." She wasn't impressed by Polaris having been a cop. About as impressed as if someone were to tell her they'd been with Starfleet Security in the past, actually. What the fuck had any of that ever helped her? "I know all of their names. Their faces are burned into the few memories I have of that time. And none of it helps me. None of it will be what will bring me peace. So I've bided my time. Talked to people. Found ones who related to me. And once we had numbers that could no longer be ignored, we staged a takeover of a strategic point near Klingon and Romulan space, forcing at least some attention on ourselves, and providing a way out, should we need to flee." She wasn't to be underestimated. She'd not been as smart as Indaris had hoped, sure, but even without any formal education, she knew how the world worked. "I'm not stupid, you know. Overambitious, maybe, paranoid. Angry and bitter, I've heard the word "manic" before! But I'm not stupid. I've been working on this without a break for nine years. It's about time we got something to show for it."

Polaris stayed quiet, and listened carefully - there was a lot of pent up emotion inside this woman, and rightfully so. "Folks that are with high positions, teaching at the academy, some of 'em, okay." By repeating back what Ether said, Polaris hoped that she'd feel heard and understood, and thereby less likely to make any rash decisions. Especially when she heard Ether call herself those adjectives. "You consider yourself overambitious," Polaris relayed her words to her. "Paranoid. Angry, bitter. And ya know what? You're not wrong or invalid for feeling this way. I'm not sure anyone would like to be experimented on, although I don't think any one of us can understand what it's like to be experimented on except you. You said none of that is gonna bring you peace - so what is gonna bring you peace, if you don't mind me askin'? Yer talking about takin' control of this station, and evacuatin' everyone off of it, but how does that connect to makin' Starfleet pay for their mistakes?" (edited)

"These people are innocent," M'arra finally piped up, ears swiveled towards Ether. "Holding these officers and their families hostage will get you nowhere. I will be the one to ask you to release them— the justice system is merciful, I am certain you will be treated with the utmost care. Not everyone is your creator."

Wanting to feel useful, Melody simply pointed at M'arra. "What she said."

"Thank you for your valuable contribution," came the reply, the confectioner's tail flicking behind her. She missed her afternoon nap for this shit?

Melody actually was able to understand the undertones of that. "Actually, yeah, you're right," Melody responded. "Ether. Consider what you're trying to do. How it's going to affect these people. Before today most of them didn't even know your name! Before today they didn't know you existed. So why take this out on people that don't even know you? Like M'arra said, the justice system will be merciful to you." (edited)

Despite the circumstances, despite something in the back of their mind making them question if this story was true or false, M'Noa couldn't help but feel sympathetic for Ether's situation. To be an experiment, to be treated like a lab animal of some sort, it just wasn't right. And what made it worse was Starfleet's apparent involvement in it, but the one thing they kept reminding themself was that Starfleet as a whole probably didn't have a clue about any of this, including the majority of the higher ups. It was just a few bad eggs still, it seemed, who were abusing the system and finding ways to do what they want. Nodding in agreement with M'arra, the Caitian thoroughly agreed that the officers and their families were entirely innocent. If Ether and her gang knew who was responsible, they'd know if any of them were aboard. "I don't think you're helping yourself by doing what you're doing. You know who wronged you, so you'll know if anyone is aboard or not. Holding thousands of people hostage will do more damage to your cause than good, and will make it harder for people to want to listen to you." They said calmly, almost entirely sounding like a therapist in how they spoke. But this certainly wasn't a session right now. "You could run to Romulan or Klingon space, but they're allied, and warrants will go out for your arrest."

"Eh. Justice system misses things sometimes. 'Specially without a paper trail." Noid, you are not helping.

But what Noid said wasn't going to throw Polaris off. "Yes, they miss things sometimes. Which means that, if Starfleet is as accountable today as we know it to be, they're gonna try and find that paper trail, to make things right for ya." (edited)

Ether had been listening to Polaris, but that went out the window as soon as the little old kitty started talking. She'd opened her mouth to explain herself, but now, she didn't want to anymore. "I'm starting to get the feeling you guys came up here with an ulterior motive," she started slowly, browless eyebrows pinched, her expression becoming one of calm fury. "I don't think you were genuinely asking about me. I don't think you really care. I think you just want things to go back to the comfortable way things used to be. When Starfleet ran this place. But this is the new normal. Get used to it." She shouldered her way past the group, out of the office. She shot M'arra a nasty look as she went past. Melody she ignored completely. "Veril, shut off turbolift access for civilians to the upper levels. And transport these simple-minded assholes to the gardens, or something, I don't care where you put them!"

"Got it, boss, turbolift access restricted, teleporting people in the office to the environmental ring." And with those words, the entire group materialised away from the office, back to where they started.

"Aw, for fuck--" was heard in the office right before the tall Romulan blinked away with the rest of the group.