Fear and Loathing

[Yak]

An almost oppressive silence filled the room as Violet stood staring at the Professor for what seemed like an eternity, her mind the site of a frantic battlefield between doubt and curiosity. This isn't what she had signed on with Wisp for, of course she didn't expect to be able to avoid this type of work forever, but this was much sooner than she had expected.

The deliberate purpose behind construction of Atka beyond the borders of the Houses was, of course, not lost on the young scientist. Unrestricted and unregulated research... a dream unrealisable within the smothering legislative bounds of Liberty and the other great nations of Sirius.

Turning down this assignment would be a sure way to get herself safely placed on a list of "uncooperative" staff, those unlikely to have any real chance of advancement within the corporation.

The preceding moment, perceived through the mind of Dr Burbank as the passage of ages, would be seen by Professor Nagrebetskiy as only the slightest of hesitations, and probably not an unexpected one at that. "That, Professor, should be a relatively straight forward task. Assuming we have all the necessary reagents on the station, the sample can be in your labs within 48 hours" she said, the touch of a smile her lips, a distinct lack of it in her eyes. "And of course I won't inform my team what I'm working on."

"The new xenomicrobiology lab is not yet cleared for general operations, but the equipment I need for the synthesis is very basic. I should be able to work in perfect privacy there, although I would ask that you give me clearance for a much larger consignment of supplies than needed. It wouldn't take much more than a quick database search for someone to find out what I'm doing if I order just the raw ingredients for the NPLK production."

She took a brief pause for thought.

"I'll have a section of the new xenomicrobiology lab cleared of personnel, the equipment I need for this task has been signed off for use already." Violet took one step backwards and began to turn, at the same time pulling her portable communicator from its sheath at her waist. She stopped and looked back over her shoulder at the professor, "If you can log my clearance for chemical procurement now, I will order the materials I need immediately. I assume that was all for now Professor?"