. Down in Engineering, Bevin received a call from Patterson on the comm system. "Commander MacArdry, can you report to the Observation Lounge?"
. She growled under her breath before tapping her commbadge and muttered, "On me way."
. Patterson looked back to the Captain, "I mean, I've no idea the condition of our repairs, so ...," he trailed off with a slight shrug.
. Zak smiled at him and sipped his coffee before answering, "Carter said we're flight-worthy, so I'm planning a quick fly-around when this meeting is done."
. Tabby asked, "So, other than the fly-around, what's the plan?"
. The Captain didn't immediately answer, just sipped coffee. A few moments later the stragglers made it to the Observation Lounge and took their seats. Den glanced at his sister, and responded to the unspoken question in her eyes, "Leg and side are feeling better, thanks, sis." He flexed his cybernetic hand, then looked at the Captain.
. ==/\==
. The Captain returned his cup to the replicator and took his seat. He glanced around at his Senior Staff and then said, "Ah, so ... we got the Core, good job, Team, now ... what the hell do we do with it?"
. Relok answered, "Well, sir, at first glance, that thing is ... well, it's alien, sir. I haven't a clue how to interface with it. Yet."
. Zak then asked, "But, we need to tell the friendly Kyrathians we retrieved this 'Heart of the Ancients', don't we? What if it's important to them or something?"
. Relok responded, "Sir, that Core is decidedly NOT Kyrathian. It isn't their technology. I'm not sure just what it is, frankly."
. Patterson raised an eyebrow, "Speculations?" He glanced around the table.
. Kat just sat silently, sipping her coffee. She was unsure how to offer any information since she hadn't been part of the away team. However, she'd learned that one could learn a lot by listening.