Michael did spend a few hours with Tilly though she was forced to depart from her friend to check on Georgiou. Mostly because she knew Cornwell needed the update given they were still stationed outside Starbase One. More ships had arrived and the evacuations had started as well as repairs and she could hear the amount of conversations the admiral had to know it was hectic. Losing track of a New-Born would only add to the stress.

Michael slipped through the door though her nose and eyes found the Terran by the window, the starlight bouncing off her skin as she observes the rescue and repair service the base was receiving.

"I was starting to think I was forgotten." Georgiou remarked dryly, not moving a fraction as she spoke. "Have fun?"

Those words alone made her want to roll her eyes but Michael resisted the urge as she crept further in until she stood by the woman's other side, her eyes following her gaze. "I assume you've updated yourself on your current status."

Georgiou said nothing though her head inclined down to the PADD resting beside her. "Who named the vampire-based planet Bloodstone? A little on the nose. Not to mention bordering ironic."

"It's an…apt description for those in the loop." Michael pointed out, "Once the Klingon threat is dealt with, we'll both be spending time there for your adjustment as Cornwell stated before."

A low irritated hiss echoed from Georgiou lips which Michael pointedly ignored. There was no threat to that.

"I'm not happy about it either but I have my duty to you as I do to follow necessary protocols with new-born vampires."

The displeased sounds continued before Georgiou was twirled on her seat to face her, her ruby eyes darkening. "I hate that phrase."

"New Born?" Michael held her stare, "It's not inaccurate. You're adjusting to this new life."

"Not by choice." Georgiou eyes darkened a fraction further, her teeth sharpening a fraction. Michael immediately growled, shutting it down before it got further. The anger lingered but the hostility vanished from the Emperor's face. "I know what she said. I know what this stupid cover is but that's not going to change the fact that I can't suddenly be the woman you want me to be, Burnham."

A low exhale left Michael's lips, "I know."

"Then why do I feel that all this—" guesting to herself "— is you trying to make up for losing your captain. Trying to make yourself feel better?"

"It's not just that. There's more depth and context than just…taking you out of pity or to fulfil my self-worth." Michael corrected, unable to help her tone hardening. "I lost everything, Philippa. I lost my captain, my ship, my crew and right of being a high ranking officer. You lost your daughter, empire and world you knew. Yes, I was impulsive but I hoped that…" She paused, thinking her next words over "I thought that, despite our difference we have, we had enough similarities of those to seek some… familial bond with each other that could surpass the simple sire bond."

It was a hope, to desire to be wanted. It wasn't her Philippa. This Philippa couldn't hold a flame to her. But there was an inkling of a possibility that they could have soothed each other's wounds from both shared loss and appearances, as superficial as it was.

"You're not my daughter."

"I know." It hurt, to hear it but it didn't make it less true. "I won't try to be, if that's what you want but we're going to be stuck with each other for a few months. Don't burn all your bridges before that." Michael didn't linger as she headed towards the door. There was nothing much more to say. Georgiou had made herself clear and it gave her enough indication of the woman's mind set.

"Wait."

Michael step paused though she didn't turn around; waiting for what she had to say; preparing for the worst to come from the woman's lips. Distaste…anger. She could feel that still hung in the air.

"Give me one reason to why you brought me to this Universe that doesn't involve your…attachment to your Philippa." Her tone was carefully crafted, masking away her emotions. Not moving nor a breath so the silence hung and she could feel the burning sensation at the back of her head.

"This world has hope. Morality. Diversity." The reasoning was logical. Simple and all true. Perhaps something Philippa had to learn herself. "I know it seems weak in your eyes but those things aren't bad things. Keep an open mind."

Georgiou didn't make a further comment so she took her leave.

Her feelings didn't dissipate as she wrote up her report in her room. Michael though knew it wasn't, or shouldn't be so personal. Philippa was probably…not emotionally ready for her interactions. Despite her front about it. Emotions were probably kept distant for a Terran. A fallen Emperor, a universe away, no doubt mourning that loss internally, then re-mourning the loss of her Michael. Her daughter. Lorca had ripped open that wound, then on top of that, transformed into the undead. Michael had to keep that in mind. Georgiou's loss was at once and much bigger. Her face, probably did make it all the harder now Georgiou was free from physical pain of the transformation to spend days thinking and mulling on her situation and future.

It wasn't easy... and it was her fault this time. Careless thinking. Selfish impulses.

Michael placed her PADD down at her desk, staring down at it blankly though she knew she was almost done. She just needed to figure her next course of action with her without making it worse.

Ding

Michael didn't move, nor look up. "Come."

The scent though pulled her attention up immediately, her fangs sharpening as her eyes set to Landry. A sudden territorial urge ran through her body. She jumped to her feet in a heartbeat.

"Commander." She greeted, smoothing out a calm voice though she was surprised to see Landry in a somewhat familiar state; the tips of white fangs just showing from under her lips and her posture stiff, hands clenched.

"Specialist Burnham." Landry didn't break her state. "May I enter?"

A pause. "Yes."

Landry stepped in only two steps and stayed, the doors closing behind but Michael was glad the vampire didn't push her luck by another step. It ticked her instincts, to protect her area from this…intrusion. She could feel the tensions through both of them, reacting from each other but nether of them moved and she was glad.

"What do you want?"

Landry stood motionless though didn't look less aggravated. "I…came to apologise."

Michael inclined her head. "What for?"

Landry's lip twitched a fraction, as if amused but was far too tense for it. "When I was last aboard this ship under Lorca, I was human." She started. "I was not…nice to you."

Michael hummed, softly. "I recall. Humans are—"

"Do not excuse me out of human nature, Burnham. It'll dampen my apology and it's irritating." Landry chided, her hands coming to fold over her chest. "I blamed you for this war and acted according."

"You always did have a strong personality. Went well with your position however poor impulses." She could recall those incidences quite well.

Landry pursed her lips though she snorted. "I know. As I am now…one of you, I feel like I didn't give you all due credit on your...control. I never realised how…difficult it was."

Michael smiled, feeling touched that Landry was admitting it, even if it was weird. "Thirst, instincts…strength… It's a lot to process."

"Instincts…" Landry's head tilted, "Yep, those are the worst. I'm surprised you never did anything worse than flip me over the table" Though Michael noted how her eyes dropped; taking in her mass and size. It didn't take a lot to know that the woman was sizing her up again.

"Out the both of us, I have the experience." Michael pointed out, flashing her fangs warningly but kept her voice light. She knew this whole thing wasn't just the apology; sooner or later this was going to happen. Carefully, Michael shrugged off her jacket, allowing the Chief of security to see her scars at the least. A warning even. She couldn't smell anything on Landry aside from the natural linger of Cornwell's venom in her scent. It felt natural to display it; that she had 'won' previous fights—excluding the reality that Paul had bitten her and Landry knew that; the two new scars from Georgiou however was new.

Landry's posture shifted. "Computer, secure door."

Michael placed her PADD into the desk, washing her eyes to her room; glad she wasn't bunking with Tilly—nothing that wasn't hers she could accidently break. Her Philippa's telescope was still tucked away in its case under her bed; she just had to hope not to fall onto it.

Then Landry made her move, springing into the air with a growl. Michael bent her knees, hissing and bared her fangs before she jumped and intercepted the vampire in a tackle. It all suddenly felt like they were on a new level of physics. Everything around them was slower but them. Unlike before with Georgiou and Stamets this wasn't a half-rational fight of a new vampire. This was territorial for their hierarchy placements… she wasn't going to bend to Landry.

She didn't hesitate to roll and toss her weight into sending the woman down though landry regained her momentum and land with ease onto one of the sofas.

Michael growled out, letting the sound resonate in the air before she made her own move; feigning left before going for the right side of the sofa, kicking it out from under her before she felt Landry jump onto her side; fingers biting straight into her hard flesh but Michael just about managed to grab her by the jaw before she bit her, forcing her head back.

Landry hissed, her hands coming to scratch and claw at her hand, but she focused through the pain to force her weight back over the commander. Michael knew the upper hand was to get a hold of the head… With an easy manoeuvre, she kicking her legs out from under her, sending Landry flat onto her back with a heavy thud. Michael bounded and straddled her waist, pushing the commander's head back… and back, forcing her head into the floor, ignoring the hissed and growls that echoed from both Landry and the metallic floor as it caved to the shape Landry's head

The more she pushed, she could see the forming strain down the woman's neck as the bare flesh was exposed, small soft cracks appearing under her palm…

Landry whimpered as a low thung echoed out loud and though her body before her hands dropped back; exposing the clear signs of a yield. Michael paused but didn't relent.

Ding

Michael didn't move. "Come." Her voice growling out softly but she didn't break her posture; even f she knew how this looked.

The doors slid open though she noted with some relief it was Cornwell. She felt no threat from the admiral to react though the vampire in question simply blinked, not at all shocked at what she was seeing. Just looking mildly exasperated

"Well I am not surprised but I had hoped you'd wait." Cornwell remarked dryly, "Get off her, Burnham."

Michael complied, rising off Landry who immediately sat up, hands coming to her throat; brushing over the subtle cracks. The tensions between her and Landry, she could feel were gone.

"Admiral, I've nearly completed my report of Georgiou. I can send it to you once it's completed." Michael darted to her deck, pulling out the PADD. Landry scurried away though neither of them paid her much heed until the door closed. "She was eager."

Cornwell chuckled softly. "Commander Landry doesn't always have the patients. I knew she'd seek you out than vice versa but now seemed hardly fitting." Her ruby eyes flickered down to the dent in the floor. "We're leaving Starbase One in a few hours but Lieutenant Tyler called me for a suggestion on how to help. His access to the Klingon Memories has…proven useful."

Michael frowned. "Ash asked to see you?"

The admiral nodded once. "He feels he has a lot to make up for. Getting insights from a Klingon perspective and culture has allowed me to formulate a plan we can use."

"I take it you're going to tell me."

"Klingons are honourable. T'Kuvma was not. He started a dishonourable war and called it unity. Kol carried on that for power. The houses have divided since his death and fighting for scraps. Our kind has… evened the board in our favour and the Klingons have noticed."

Michael nodded airily. "So do you think the Klingons are going to back down from the war?"

"Not without motivation. Vampires are now considered a very dangerous species. More so to the Klingons. So we need to worry them."

Worry the Klingons. Michael could see that as a tactic for self-preservation. Vampires were, for now, the bearers of immortality and strength. A Klingon would be unwise to fight one and they knew it too. It'd take a lot more than taking out their ships to call for a retreat out of federation space.

"You want to go to Qo'nos?" Michael guessed, though she frowned. "That'll get them to retreat but they'd need a figure head to maintain a stable government."

"We have one. In our brig."

"L'Rell?" Michael frowned though shook her head. "I really don't think she'd be a good candidate."

The admiral tiled her head. "I know and understand your apprehension Burnham but we don't have any other candidates that fit our requirement." Her tone was light though her expression was stern. "I know L'Rell. She's smart and creative. While that may led to have stabbing me through the spine, she has useable traits we can use for force the peace."

Her fingers tightened on her PADD. Her mind touching briefly on Ash; what that Klingon had done to him… having her escape that justice would do little to help his trauma. She couldn't help but feel irritated at that. He deserved more than her getting let off the hook, simply because she was the only Klingon they had. They had plenty of other Klingon prisoners now.

"How do you know she'll honour it?"

"Vampires scare her. I scare her." The admiral moved, wandering towards the window though she had had own PADD in hand. "But the federation has…authorised us to use extreme measures to force a armistice. L'Rell can use this to force compliance herself as well. Bend them to the knee. The rest will follow. The vampires are the federation strength that they'll come to recognise. Once we kick them were it hurts."

Michael nodded. She could see the logic. Once the Klingons could see they could get to their home world, no amount of ships or bodies could stop them then that's show them they were able to out matched. The attack at the Starbase would be known as a failure; a win in the federation side. They had a lot to work with. Especially with the POWs. That didn't mean she had to like it.

"What do you want me to do?"

"You, Stamets, Tyler and Georgiou will go down to the planet to—"

"Georgiou? No." She knew the woman. That was certainly not be a good idea. "I cannot allow her that…chance."

"She's not feral and she won't be surrounded by humans so it's safer. She'll wear a collar as you did and is perfectly capable of her role."

Michael growled softly. "No."

Cornwell ruffled irritably, her eyes darkening a fraction. "She'll do her job, then come back to the ship. She can't remove the collar and you and Stamets are going to be there. She can't escape and she hates the Klingons."

"What if she decides to massacre the whole lot?"

"You're her sire, you've proven your dominance over her in your clan. Don't underestimate those bonds."

"She doesn't even like me, Admiral…. She's still grieving all her loses and she's a new-born. The risks outweigh the outcome."

Admiral Cornwell shook her head. "Look, I know why you're against it."

Michael scoffed, folding her arms. She could feel her fangs were still sharp in her mood and her eyes reflected as much. Cornwell didn't know this Georgiou. She couldn't allow Georgiou to leave after such little time after her transformation. Bloodlust would rage, and given the new vampire from a trigger-happy universe, it made her much more unpredictable.

"Can't you substitute Landry instead?"

"Landry's staying here. Overseeing the Starbase with Lieutenant Russo. Two vampires here is enough warning for any potential attacks."

Michael let out another irritable hiss, tossing the PADD she had off to the side carelessly. "I guess if she does run a rampage; it'll still get enough attention from the Klingons to withdraw." Her tone soured, shaking her head. "We can't keep using what we are and call it Starfleet when it goes hand-in-hand with a massacre. It only works out for us because we win."

She was met with silence though Admiral Cornwell's face was crafted; masking her emotions. She could feel if the admiral was human; she'd be able to tell what she was feeling. It was now kind of irritating to be cut from that loop.

"We are Starfleet. We should at least maintain ourselves to those ideals. Build a better reputation for our alliance of species than being the ones that jump to murder, Admiral. If the Klingons fear us, what do the federation's collection of species feel towards us?" Michael pointed out. "We cannot absolve ourselves of murder because it's in our biological nature. War is making us insensitive to death."

Cornwell remained quiet for a long moment, her lip curling up a fraction though she didn't seem amused. Calm, more than anything. "Those are issues we'll tackle once the war is done. I'll recall the vampire community to Bloodstone for us to find a common ground within the federation."

She glowered to the admiral for a long moment though she forced herself to nod. A reasonable request…. Might not be so good, so many vampires on foreign ground; a lot were going to lose a limb for the sake of territory and clan position. "A conversation for another day."

"Yes. We'll be on our way to the Veta system soon. Lieutenant Stamets is working on a way to get more spores and crops for the ship. Once that's done, we'll jump to Quo'noS."

It didn't pass Michael to know that Ash had probably given the admiral the much-needed Intel on where they'd end up; they'd certainly not be in orbit given the chance of being blown to hell so it was likely going to be a planetary landing.

"Can I read the debrief?"

Cornwell darted forwards, holding out the PADD. "Once you've read through it, go to the bridge and monitor how the development is going then prepare Georgiou."

"Yes…Admiral."