“I cannot be seen to be openly operating and cooperating with you.”  Chief Premier Gooren sat at the head of the table while Crawford and Albright sat across from each other.  A mysterious Vorethi sat at the other end of the table, quietly observing.  “There are eyes and ears all over the palace, the halls, and the corners.  I have spent the last few years slowly building this place,” he gestured to the rest of the room, “to operate under the eyes of the watchers.  You now have a better understanding of the complicated and contentious nature of our politics and economics.”

Peter’s face lost all attempts to hide his feelings.  “That’s an understatement, Chief Premier.  The Blood Guild is dangerous.  Not just to us, but to the Vorethi at large.”  He saw the unknown Vorethi shift in her seat.

She said, “You are not wrong, Captain Crawford.  I am Plana.  I have been working with Gooren for the last year, bringing him information from the Blood Guild when I can.”  Her eyes seemed to soften.  “I am one of the few senior scientists left within the guild.  Those that came before me – they began the Vorethi-bot project.”  She fell silent, as if in mourning.  “They never returned from the laboratory at the far end of the asteroid field.”

Crawford’s jaw had dropped, and his eyes were wide open.  He looked to Gooren and then to Plana in surprise, followed by exasperation.  Be patient, he told himself.  Find your calm, he repeated in his head.  He led with, “You’re taking an enormous risk doing this.  Why is it worth it?”

A resolute look forced its way onto the Vorethi face as she sat up straight.  “They are still secretly supporting the experiments.  They were due to send a group of us to discover what had happened and make the corrections in programming.  Your scout ship interrupted those plans.  They are furious and nervous in equal parts.”

Albright turned in her chair. “There’s more to their support, isn’t there?”  Her eyes were narrow, a knife’s edge focus in her voice.

Planas shuddered. “Yes.  Limited experimentation has occurred in isolated laboratories within the Blood Guild’s territory.  I have only been given access to some of the material as they do not fully trust me.  I ‌have control and operational authority on the mechanical side of the operation.  They have been careful to keep us separated.”

Grace scoffed, “I would imagine the scientists on the biological side have to have strong stomachs.”

Plana grimaced, then said, “I have only seen them from a distance.”  They are soulless and without the joy of work within them.  They walk as if the weight of the universe rests upon them.”  She shuddered.  “I can provide only so much to you.  Your ship, Perseverance, will need to reach the constructor and laboratory.  Only there can this nightmare end.”  She glanced at her watch.  “I must be going.  They are expecting me at the lab within the hour. A good day’s work to you.”  She stood and went through a random door in the wall.  Crawford took notice of at least three doors he could see.

Albright stared at Gooren for a full minute before she asked, “The evidence is going to cause a lot of shock to the Vorethi system – government and guild alike.”

The Vorethi nodded slowly, as if in thought.  “A shock was inevitable.  The Shroud falling was a harbinger of this.  It wouldn’t have stayed hidden for long – the Romulans or the Klingons would have discovered the truth as you have.”

Grace mused, “I can imagine that wouldn’t have ended well for your people.  The Blood Guild might have found themselves new allies in their experiments.”

Crawford stood. “That possibility is still very real – there’s a Klingon ship headed our way. The sooner we get the Perseverance to investigate, the better.”  He turned to the wall where they had entered.  “They won’t see us coming out of there?”

Gooren smiled, and the unusual warmth from a Vorethi struck both Starfleet officers. He said, “It was built into the rock formation and the alcove to do just that. There have been plenty of meetings here with Vorethi on the fringe fighting for a better future.  This time…we might just get it.” He turned and went through another of the doors.  Crawford and Albright walked towards the rock, and it opened soundlessly.

On the other side, they glanced carefully around.  Gooren was right.  The alcove was ‌perfect cover.  Crawford leaned against the wall of rough rock.  “We’re going to have to send Wren into the unknown.  No Vorethi masters to stave off the possible angry biomechanical bots.”

Grace leaned against the opposite wall.  “The reports mention Baron Nine and his connection that he had with them.  What if we could keep the balance of their presence and his?  Firewall it or something.  Baron  has experienced assimilation and a return to a normal life. He could convince them to stand down long enough for us to retrieve and assemble a case to present to the guilds.”

Peter bit back his initial concerns but still asked, “You think that’s a good idea?  Ex-Borg and the Borg-lite together in the far reaches of the asteroid belt?”

A quiet glimmer crossed her eyes as she replied, “As my commanding officer has been known to say, ‘You have a better idea?’ Respectfully, of course.  Sir.”

Crawford rolled his eyes, chortling lightly.  “You sure fight dirty, Lieutenant Albright.  However, you’re not wrong.  Let’s give Wren the good news.”