Black Research - The Set-Up, Part 1: Revealing the Project

Posted on Thu Jul 31st, 2025 @ 1:14pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone

1,277 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Side Plots
Location: Secured Research Lab, Deck 12
Timeline: MD 03, (Peril at the Unification Accords)

Alex stepped into the workspace that she had been granted and addressed the computer.

“Computer; seal this workspace under Level 10 clearance; Special Authorization Blackstone, Beta - Omicron - Three - Seven - Zero mark Four -Zero. Authorized entry only to Captain Johansen, Commander Spello, and myself.”

There was several moments of tense silence before the computer returned a monotone “Affirmative; Lab Sealed.”

Alex nodded with satisfaction and headed to the console in the room; activating a site to site transport on the cases that she had brought aboard with her research materials and bringing them to the lab from her quarters. As the telltale whirr of the transporter faded she grinned and stepped to the cases; opening the top one and pulling a replica cybernetic brain from within which she inspected carefully before setting it atop the workstation adjacent to the console.

After ensuring it was secure she pulled a small stasis field emitter from the same case and locked it magnetically to the workstation; activating it and shifting the cybernetic brain into the field; holding onto it until she was sure it was suspended properly in the field.

“Excellent. That will allow me to monitor it more closely.”

Over the next few minutes she unpacked the remainder of her tools and the PaDD that she kept with her research and laid them out before tucking the storage crates into a corner. She looked around the room and dusted off her hands before taking a seat.

“Computer; notify Captain Johansen and Commander Spello that my lab space is ready for them to inspect. Also ensure that any and all data coming into or out of this room is secured under the same Level 10 clearance.”

Up on the bridge, Maxun heard the notification over his commbadge. After tapping it, he replied, "Be down shortly, Spello out." He double tapped his commbadge, closing the channel.

After handing the bridge off to the next senior officer present, he moved to the ready room, pressing the chime when he reached it. He then waited for Remy to allow him entrance.

Remy was about to exit the Ready Room to respond to Blackstone's comm when the chime for her door alerted. She gave the command for the doors to open and took a few steps back granting Spello entry.

"Did we need to talk before we head down?" She asked.

The El Aurian shook his head as he replied. "Not that I'm aware of, Captain." He indicated the port side turbolift located next to her ready room. The door slid open and he waited for her to enter first.

She smiled at him before entering, and gave the command leading them to the science lab adjacent to the medical bay. A few minutes later they had arrived at the locked lab. The Captain shot her first officer a look. "I guess we're about to find out."

With a wave of her hand Remy's biometrics opened the lab door and she and Spello entered the lab to find Dr. Blackstone.

Alex had her back to the door and was setting up the console to the specifications of the research but she turned when she heard the door step open. She gave them a warm smile and motioned around her with a level hand. A gesture meant to be inviting. “Not everything is arrayed and set up yet; but the most critical components of my research are; especially that piece there.” She indicated the cybernetic brain.

Remy's eyes widened in shock at the sight. she was frozen for a brief moment - not so much that this was the nature of Blackstone's research, but at the completeness of the specimen. Remy had worked with matrices in her own research before Starfleet had banned all synthetic research. She had known that Starfleet scientists had worked to preserve some - a fact that had recently been confirmed by her own eyes. But she had no idea that anyone maintained a full cybernetic brain.

Once the initial shock wore off, Remy took a few steps toward the cybernetic brain, her eyes and mind now filled with wonder. "How have you managed to keep this?" She asked.

“Reconstructed if I am honest. I received a parcel by courier a few years ago with some of the components and along with it orders to reconstruct it.” Alex sighed slightly. “It’s not the work that I mind; really it’s a fascinating project. So far it has been on the premise of advancing neurological care; which it has extraordinary potential for… of course; it could be used in non-medical ways too. As far as I have been able to tell from checking the authorization codes on the orders is that it comes from some sort of shadow group within Starfleet itself.”

Remy nodded as she turned to look at the doctor. "Possibly. I've been in contact. At least I think they might be a shadow group, and possibly a few other adjacent organizations. They helped us save Brunel with a matrix, but nothing like this. And we traveled outside of Federation Space to perform the procedure."

Remy let out a slow breath.

"Maxun," Remy said, using his name rather than rank. "Chrys helped us quite a bit before. She made sure we stayed off of the network. She might make a good partner for Dr. Blackstone. What she can do with computers, could really open up some possibilities for the lab here, and ensure that nothing is accidentally picked up on a scan."

"If you think she'd be up for it," Remy looked at Spello inquisitively. She had gone to Chrys herself before reaching out to the shadow group when they needed the matrix the first time; however, though they hadn't spoken about it, she was aware that her first officer had become close with the Chief Science Officer recently.

Maxun had been silent after they had entered the lab. Seeing the cybernetic brain in stasis, caused him to shiver slightly. Though it was a closely held secret, outside of the El Aurian race, the Borg had had similar beginnings, eons ago. He hoped that nightmare would not resurface again. Though the younger species had had run-ins with the Borg, they had never had to experience seeing their skies blacked out by the sheer number of Borg vessels.

Realizing the Captain had asked him a question, he blinked and returned to the present. Turning his gaze towards her, he replied quietly, "I will ask her, Ma'am."

"So, what is it that you are working on with this exactly?" Remy asked, turning back to Dr. Blackstone.

“My personal project with it involves the preservation of the mind after the body ceases the functions of life. I’ve designed a visor not too dissimilar from that worn at one point by Geordi LaForge; though instead of granting vision the way that his did mine theoretically connects to the synapses and records the engrams. I haven’t built a prototype just yet but the thought is that we could preserve the knowledge of the past more carefully.” She stepped over to the brain and lifted it into her hands, rotating it slowly. “There is a key difference between this brain and a brain similar to a synths… that being that I have not implemented a way for this one to be attached to a nervous system.”

Alex had noticed the distant gaze that Maxun had had briefly and she thought carefully. “You are El-Aurian, correct Commander?” She paused for a moment. “You’ll understand why I have chosen to stymy the brains ability to interface with the nervous system, I imagine.”

~tbc~

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