The away team's evening meal was rather delicious to Patrick, who had not eaten anything homemade in almost fifty years' time. Patrick was enjoying his time as a member of the away team.
Chief Matthews spent about two hours with the pride of the Nipron Engineers. He learned a lot in those two hours -- enough to deliver a full report to Commodore Wallace. The information was very direct and informative.
Patrick walked into the Commodore's guest room with the utmost respect and confidence. Upon walking in he saw Wallace sitting at a desk going over a PADD. "Excuse me, Commodore," Matthews said, making his presence known.
"Yes chief?" Commodore Wallace replied.
"Sir, I know it's late but I have my report ready for you. Do you wish me to explain my findings or read them?"
It was quiet for a few seconds in the room. Richard stood up and stretched, giving the appearance he had been sitting for some time. "Go ahead."
"Sir, these people are very technically advanced. They however, were forced to use their advancements for the Mullurans. It appears they tested weapons and other things such as biological agents against Mulluran prisoners. Their ideas for warp propulsion date back to twentieth century. They seem to have had warp for nearly 400 years. I suggest these Niprons are very capable of developing many of these ideas they have shared with me. I've included them in my written report." Matthews pulled out his PADD and handed it to the Commodore, who seemed a little taken aback by the Chief's report.
"You said these people tested weapons and chemical agents on other people?" Wallace asked, seeing if he had heard wrong.
"Yes sir. They seemed to have done it almost under force. However I don't think--" Matthews was interrupted. He hated that but grinned and bore the CO's interruption.
"I don't care if these people were forced or not. It's morally wrong to subject prisoners to such testing."
"Sir, we need not rush to judgment. We don't have the full story yet. Besides, they may explain it if we bring this up to them. " Patrick understood the Commodore's reaction but also knew, being in Starfleet, one couldn't be judgmental.
"Sir, I think it would be best to read Lieutenant Chee's report and Ensign Okul's first. I suggest then that you review the information for yourself, then think and go over the entire spectrum. After that, call a meeting of the Senior Staff and take their advice. Then and only then will you be able to draw a conclusion." Matthews enjoyed giving advice. He was so used to over the past thirty years it almost came as second nature. He then realized what he said sounded more like an order.
"That's my advice, sir. I am just used to giving it out. Sorry, it won't happen again."
"No Chief. It's all right when it's just you and I. You're dismissed," Wallace said, turning and walking back to his desk.
Patrick walked out of the room feeling a sense of being not completely done with his job of informing Wallace about everything. It seemed Wallace was stuck on the Niprons' involvement with the Mulluran Empire. Of course he was right too.