It had been harder than either of them had thought, but after nearly two hours of searching, Axeline and Jenara were confident that they had isolated the labs where Jenara had seen the green plague test subjects.
"So what's the plan?" Jenara asked. "We can't transport one of the subjects here."
"No, but we can take a few biopsies and get samples of the cure." Axeline replied.
"Are the transporters that accurate?" Jenara inquired.
"Most aren't, but the one's on the Hornet are the most accurate yet. We should be able to transport one of the subjects, transport a tissue sample and return the subject without anyone knowing," Axeline replied. "From what you've said, it's all automated and there's not normally anyone around."
"Okay. Let's do it," Jenara stated.
An hour passed by very quickly, and in that hour they transported five Nipron test subjects and got various tissue samples. They even managed to transport some of the 'cure'.
The next hour was spent examining the samples; Jenara worked on the 'cure' and Axeline on the tissue samples.
Finally, they correlated their results and came to the same conclusion.
"That's amazing," Jenara stated. "They are genetically modifying their own people."
"And to make it worse, they are using the colonists' DNA. The question is why?" Axeline continued. "What can they possible gain from the DNA of the colonists?"
"Time to tell the Commodore?" Jenara asked.
"Definitely. Let's go down to the planet and tell him in person. You never know who is listening to sub-space messages," Axeline said cautiously.
The two of them left sickbay and headed for the transporter room.
"Hornet to Commodore Wallace," Axeline announced, tapping his comm badge.
[Wallace here. What can I do for you Doctor?]
"Lieutenant Chee and myself have been doing some research into one of the Nipron research projects and we've found something that we think you should know. We'll be with you in a few minutes," Axeline replied.
[Understood. Wallace out.]
Ten minutes later, the three of them sat looking over the information Axeline and Jenara had brought down.
"So the Nipron are using the DNA from the Morristown colonists. Any ideas what they could be attempting to achieve?" Wallace asked.
"Well, we've isolated several distinct species, including Betazoid and Vulcan. As you know, both are telepathic and it could explain something else. Many of the crew with telepathic abilities have been suffering raised psytocyline levels, including myself. It seems to have affected the Betazoid crew most, possibly because their culture promotes them using their abilities. Vulcans on the other hand have been around humans so long that many of them never use their abilities at all," Jenara explained. "As for myself, well, they've never encountered a Tanzaran before, so at first they were not able to block me."
"We believe that they are attempting to increase their telepathic abilities and it appears that it is working. Counselor Liaji reported feeling 'ill' ever since we arrived, but she also reported that she has gradually got worse," Axeline continued. "There are other traits the Nipron appear to be working on: enhancing their hearing and eyesight using Vulcan DNA, and increasing their muscular development. This last one though is being done using G'Kar DNA."
"It figures, if the Nipron have been working with the Mullurans all these years, then they probably would have access to G'Kar prisoners," Wallace stated.
Suddenly Lieutenant Chee had a thought. "That's it!" she announced. "It's been bugging me ever since we arrived; a feeling of another group of minds crying out in pain. I've been so wrapped up in the Nipron and the fact that they were blocking me that I've missed it until now. Commodore, I think there maybe a group of G'Kar on the planet."
"Any idea where they might be?" Wallace asked.
"No, but I think they must be close to the Science Halls. The feelings were strongest when I was there," Jenara replied.
"Would make sense," Axeline stated. "If you were conducting experiments in secret, you wouldn't want to parade a group of G'Kar through the streets."
"Doctor, head back to the Hornet and start running scans for the G'Kar. The Lieutenant and I will start the search from the ground," Wallace stated.
"Understood," Axeline replied, rising from his seat and heading for the door.
Outside, he walked a few yards into an open courtyard. Night was just beginning to fall and the cool early evening air had brought out some of the Nipron. He looked around, watching the Nipron for a moment, then his blood froze as he saw one particular Nipron. The guard was just walking across the courtyard, but the sight of this one person somehow frightened Axeline.
"Lieutenant Redinium to Hornet. One to beam up."
The familiar sensation of the transporter felt good to Axeline and being back aboard the Hornet made the feeling he's had on the planet fade.