As her crew gave their reports, suggestions and insights, the captain merely listened. With her arms calmly folded, brow furrowed and lips curled into a curious frown, she used the time to quietly observe her officers. An action that took almost every ounce of her being to ignore the Bajoran's cute, dimpled, face, the Andorian's exotic, blue, features and the Deltan's slender curves. Instead Kathryn tried to focus on their mannerisms and attitudes in an attempt to gauge their reaction to Liara's disturbing news.<br/><br/>At first she raised a brow in concern as she watched Ensign Kroken grow increasingly anxious, believing that the Bajoran might be in shock after her admittedly startling findings. Kat soon surmised however, with just a slight smile, that Kroken's worries were concentrated more around the growing bulge in her pants than the fact that they were literally drifting alone and lost in space. The poor Star Fleet officer certainly had her priorities skewed but the captain couldn't find it in her heart to blame the Bajoran, especially since she knew how distracting that bulge could be.<br/><br/>Thankfully however Liara's uneasy shuddering and stuttering was offset by the startling professionalism of the remaining two officers. Blacklake could only nod thoughtfully as P'Trell gave her own straightforward analysis and suggestions for the mission, with but a brief smirk lighting up her features at the mention of the Klingon. The captain could still recall the surprisingly quick spread of rumours upon allowing a member of the Korroth clan on board, with the reports of the strain the Chief was going through following soon after. She wasn't quiet sure how even a Klingon could cause so much trouble so soon after her assignment but left such thoughts for another day as she turned her gaze to the Deltan.<br/><br/>Alessca showed an exceptional amount of control and candour, with Blacklake almost blushing at her confession of arousal for the crew around her. The detail didn't escape her however that the shapeshifter referred to "our bodies" which only left the captain pondering how that could even be possible. Couldn't the Deltan simply take on a new form if she were suffering from the same issue? While she thought it, Kat refrained from voicing such questions for now, preferring to make but a small mental note to suggest that the Head of Intelligence undergo an examination by the doctor.<br/><br/>"Thank you Ensign Kroken, that'll be all," the captain graciously replied, dismissing the Astrometrics officer as she turned to the others. With a confident hand on her hip, Blacklake's face remained stern as she spoke. "I have to say, Officers Allessca and P'Trell, you complement each other nicely. Before you launch the probe however, allow me a moment to consider what's been said." A small smile escaped her lips as she noted Allesca's initiative in preparing the device but it was soon replaced by that same look of sincerity as she responded to the officers' suggestions.<br/><br/>"First of all, put aside any concerns over the prime directive. If the civilization is underdeveloped then we'll simply acquire what information they have covertly. I know it's a long shot but creatures of intelligence usually find it difficult to keep their gaze from the stars, even if they lack the means to adequately study them. The ancient Greeks of humanity had little more than candles, wax and stone but still managed to record their own findings. Perhaps they've noticed something that could be of use. And if they are an advanced race, then we'll simply ask," the captain added with a calm shrug of her shoulders. "So whether or not they're warp-capable is irrelevant for now but still... I'm grateful for the catch Chief P'Trell." She shot the security officer a thankful smile before returning her attention to the Deltan, "Alright, launch the probe Officer Allesca. And Chief, form your team, I'll come with but this is effectively your mission, good luck."<br/><br/>With that said, Blacklake turned to leave, her mind now on the med bay and the possible explanations from the ship's counsellor and doctor. Only pausing to glance back at Liara. With a smile she noted, "Oh and Ensign, when you find a moment and have completed your scans, I'd like you to meet me in my office. There's a matter of import I need to discuss with you. In the mean time, assist Chief P'Trell and Allessca to the best of your abilities." And then she was gone.<br/><br/>A few minutes later had the captain storming into the bay and seeking answers, clearly perturbed by the change despite her relative calm from before. "Alright, Doctor, Counsellor, let me begin by saying, I don't care if they're alive, sentient, or great conversationalists, all I care is how long it'll take for us to hack them off," she sharply insisted as she came to an abrupt stop before the two, hands both placed expectantly on her hips, with a brief glance in Rina's direction to quickly add, "Not literally doctor."<br/><br/>"Honestly, I've already noticed many of the crew behaving awkwardly and while I'm wondering whether to announce this across the ship I'm not sure if I'm ready to deal with the emotional turmoil that'll cause. Remember, even if children were disallowed for the venture, there are couples both married and otherwise on board." With a heavy sigh Kathryn pushed herself up onto a bed opposite Andrea Light, placing her hands on both knees for support. "Also it just gets worse from there as I think mine... grows," she coughed, unsure how to phrase the next sentence without coming off as completely balmy. "Especially when excited." Kat winced as the absurdity of it all struck her. She frankly felt that it wouldn't be long before she was carted off in a straight jacket. "It seems to only be temporary but completely bizarre nonetheless." Before she continued she shot the two officers a terrifying glare while adding, "And I'd recommend not asking how I know unless you're both eager for a trip to the closest airlock."<br/><br/>With another heavy sigh however her tone softened before pointing out, "So, I'm starting to get the vibe that not only do I have a member but a vampire member... That said, Doctor, I'm hoping you'll find a solution before I'm forced to write the report that'll have me laughed out of the Federation." A grim smile crossed her lips as she semi-joked.<br/><br/>"So to summarize, I'll need your advice regarding whether or not I inform the crew, if flooding the ship with sedatives is truly the answer and well, another issue which I'll address in a moment," she added before gazing up towards Rina and Light, a small frown forming as she spoke, "For all my worries, both your primary concerns should be the health and mental stability of the crew. I don't want either of you spreading this around but... we're not quite sure where we are currently and so we need everyone performing at their peak until we find our bearings."<br/><br/>It was a heavy revelation, one that she felt her insides knotting over by simply mentioning, but Blacklake couldn't afford the time it might take for them to fully grasp the gravity of the situation. And so she continued, with her attention shifting between the two as she spoke. "But that's a concern for a later date. For now you two should know we'll be sending down an away team soon. I understand you're both busy but the dusty air in your lungs and likely hostile environment might do you some good," she teased, "In all seriousness though, it's completely voluntary."<br/><br/>"If you decide to stay on the ship, it'll be relatively safer but I can't promise that you'll find time to kick your feet up and relax," she noted before offering Rina a look of concern, "Sorry Doctor, I know you've been working twenty-four-seven on the injuries from yesterday to today."<br/><br/>"Anyway, that's the gist of it, what would be your professional opinions," she posited with a feigned smile and curious glance to both Rina and Light.<br/>