It was a somber group who appeared on the transporter pad aboard the T'Kahl. The five men stood on the pads a moment. Before stepping off the platform to the console. The transport tech had stepped back from the control console,turning to face the newcomers and held up his hand to indicate they should wait a moment. They all gathered in front of the tech and waited. A mix of three Vulkhansu and two humans a stood ramrod straight, though the two humans did not quite match the severe stiffness that only Vulcans could affect. They all stood quietly facing the transporter tech and his console. The technician himself, also stood at a position of attention, hands behind his back, facing his guests. No one spoke. Shortly they were joined by the captain of the T'Kahl. He came up the corridor behind the transporter technician where he stopped along side and regarded his subordinate. Who turned his head and acknowledged his captain with a nod.
Turning his attention to the five. He simply said to follow him. Turning, he headed back the way he had come. By ones in twos the others followed. Their solemn journey came to a solitary state room. Silently they gathered around the bed whose lone occupant lay asleep. Even asleep, her face though reposed in sleep still had a slight shadow of pain across her face. Everyone gathered around the bed, considered her as they stood there. Captain T'Val then turned to a line of people who had traveled in behind them, but had lined up along the wall facing the five.
"We are gathered here to investigate a breach of propriety. One that had nearly resulted in the death of the cherished one it was to protect. OSU Soval. We stand to your request."
Soval stood near the open door with Sevrin and Katherine on either side of him, to Katherine's left stood Admiral Forrest. The remaining members of the second group comprised of Vulcans and human alderman.
" I am extremely grateful of the expeditiousness of the response pertaining to this matter that was presented. However. For the sake of effective communication, hence forth. All will be spoken in Terran Standard for the sake of our human allies and friends."
Pausing he went on to explain.

"We are gathered here to ascertain the motivations of a young man who has already revealed his actions as nothing more than a desperate means to affect the rescue of a close colleague. At face value these actions had the result of removing her from harm, and none to soon as it has been revealed. However the means while gaining the desert effect of removing her from harm had been achieved. Her life once she had been brought to safety would've been seriously curtailed. For the human element of this gathering it is this. I am unaware of how many of the humans in this conclave are aware of the telepathic element of Vulkhansu relationships. It is referred to as a bond. It is established between males and females of our race so it could be naturally occurring on its own between a male and a female in an agreeable circumstance. This explanation though will focus on the primary explanation of a bond being established. For Vulkhansu, it is established in a couple at an early age. Around seven years of age. It is more than a right of passage. It is a matter of survival to the couple. It is used as a means for the couple to communicate, to bolster and affirm each other, in a manner it is a protection to them. For everyone here that is all that should be revealed. And now we come to the matter that is most concerning. Invokana true history prior to the advent of Sareks reforms in embracing logic. There had been a form of bonding that demanded an exclusivity. A form that was considered brutal and demeaning. Where the recipient. Usually a female. Would be forcibly bonded. It has been in use by warlords in subjugating a minor clan by impressment. A daughter would be taken and bonded in this manner and from that moment she would become property. Any Vulcan would literally tear an enemy apart in defense of family. It would be even more so for the family who lost a daughter in this manner. She would be owned by her master, and prevented from communication, and any outside her masters family would be distant, this bond demand this piece of property will be defended in any matter possible. Medical intervention would be perceived as a threat and dealt with. It was fortunate the sub commander had been able to recognize the telepathic markers of such a bond. Or else this young lady would no longer be with us. He recognized it and was able to deal with it appropriately. The main objective of pursuit we are to ascertain is what were the intentions of the one who initiated this bond before she had arrived on Kitittan. While the one in question had revealed it was a desperate act by a friend to remove a trusted colleague from a very harmful situation. And that this was seen as the only means to achieve it. It has unfortunately cast her primary rescuer into a compromising stance. It is the time after that one such as T'Sai Hyder would be most vulnerable. And for the Vulcan members of this contingent to ascertain the motive behind his choice to implement a bonding of this nature. I will agree that the objectives in affecting her rescue had been achieved. It was a high priority to secure a valuable being by any means necessary. And safeguard that said being and until she was delivered. It's origin and use, had primarily been the kidnapping and establishing a concubine for the harem of a warlord. And its execution would've been particularly brutal, and many times resulted in the death of the victims family while they tried to prevent the kidnapping. Humans have a legal term for this type of breach impropriety."
Soval had stopped speaking, his attention focused on a human male standing near the door to Genevieve's right. With a small hand gesture. He gave the man leave to speak. With a nod. The man stepped forward one step. Still facing Soval, he began.
"While I am somewhat unsure of what this bonding or method of kidnapping is. It has been described to me adequately to determine that this would be a case of trafficking. All the elements exist for this to be a sound determination."
Directing a question to Soval. He asked.
"Would a description be in order to continue OSU?"
Soval nodded. So the man continued.
" In short terms, it would be sexual slavery with no consent and exercising an abnormal amount of control over another's life. The victim would have no autonomy or choice. This I believe is the crux of which that Vulcan sub commander, the head of counsel and 3 clan matriarchs are alluding to and what they consider a breach in propriety. And what we request of you. To ascertain guilt of the initiator and if none agree it was an act of desperation that has generated unwelcome repercussions for several individuals trying to rescue a valued colleuge. If it is the first. Then justice will be administered. If it's the second, then other than monitor interactions for a time. We would admonish it not be repeated."
The man finished and bowing to Soval, stepped back to the back wall. Soval stood a moment, looking out the state room windows at their new home world. Watching the day side of the planet before them, then turning his attention to the bed and froze. As one of the group clustered around the bed turned to see what had caught his attention. And we're like wise shocked.
Katherine had moved along the wall from where she'd stood until she'd reached the head of the bed and melded with Kamila. Becoming a conduit so the young woman would be able to witness the whole meeting through Katherines senses. Genevieve had turned white on seeing Katherine involve herself in the proceedings as she had. Genevieve turn to look at Soval.
—-She had requested of the matriarch to attend to Kamala's need to be present. Since she is physically indisposed.
Stunned. Genevieve nodded at Soval's explanation through their bond. She rejoined Soval and was drawn against him, while Sevrin stood close opposite his father. The five had then gathered at the foot of the bed facing the head.
Captain V'Tal then spoke up.
"T'Sai Katherine, on behalf of the adjicators, I thank thee for thy service in this manner. I must ask if the one who is in thy care is aware of our presence and of the proceedings we are enacting?"
Genevieve looked intently at Katherine as the young lady opened her eyes and focused on the captain.
" She is aware Honored Elder and is looking through my eyes, hearing with my ears and awaits to witness the proceedings."
Soval and Captain T'Val traded looks then looked back at Katherine. Everyone noticed Kamila had raised her right hand from where it had rested beside her. Katherine then spoke.
"She has indicated that she is aware, though her body is indisposed. She is ready."

Soval and Captain T'Val both bowed to acknowledge Katherines statement. In unison, they turn to face the door. Genie noticed Katherine turned her head to see the three individuals enter the state room. Moving single file, they stopped and formed a rank before Soval. He closely scrutinized all three. Two human males who appear to be no strangers to heavy work. Very rough looking but respectful. But Soval focused attention the most upon the third member of the three standing between the other two. He was a slight build than his companions. Slightly shorter, his features were definitely Vulcan. He stood straight, looking straight forward. Despite His stoicism, Soval could sense a deep sadness in the younger Vulcan.
" I have spoken with the eldest. And of his meld with thee. He has informed me that there is no deception evident. Only a sense of desperation and a high regard towards the one in whom we have called this conclave. He believes that thy motive was true in removing a trusted friend and colleague from harm. However. Like myself, he was curious on how you came about the knowledge of this type of bonding and why it in particular was used. A simple mating bond would've sufficed."

"OSU. In regards to my knowledge of this bonding, it can only be revealed by an elder higher than OSU K'Tentan. As for why it was desperation. Foolish desperation on my part. When my chief came to me not long after "Scrappy" was terminated and returned home. It was too late to physically initiate a bond."

Soval was surprised at that. His features remained severe. In trading looks with Captain T'Val. He noticed the beginnings of a frown. Casting his eyes to the floor and looking back up at Sarda. He reached out his right hand to the side. Admiral Forrest immediately approached and placed a journal in his hand. Soval opened it to the text page in standard and glanced at it before looking back up to Sarda.
" Tell me. What were your intentions once Ms. Hyder safe out of harms way? Would you have set her free to be the, I quote; your supervisor in this; an irascible but capable lift tech with a wicked sense of humor?"

The tall bruiser to Sarda's left turned to regard him. Concerned stoicism had gradually morphed into a frown.
"Do you have anything you wish to contribute. Sir?"

The big man actually flinched at the sharpness and Soval's tone.

without taking his eyes off Sarda. He took his time and answering. When he did he turned and looked the ambassador in the eye.

"In the weeks after I lost half my crew to the Geneva Directives Enforcement. We had all pretty much walked off the job. A few of us had been contacted by the crews about relocation off world and many of us had signed up. We wanted to have the whole crew together with us but had been prevented because Terra Prime and ECA had many of us who'd protested tagged for rehabilitation. It made it difficult to maintain ourselves as a cohesive unit. We consider ourselves fortunate to have most of the entire crew taken in the diaspora. Unfortunately there were about nine net worth tagged as scrappy was. And scrappy was the hardest one to get to. I had to order her home because it was safest with her parents And that was true to some degree. We had managed to get the other eight women out of there, but we couldn't do anything without tipping off the nuts watching us for that bunch in our hometown. Before we ourselves were Paul from earth. I had asked Sarda to find a way."
He indicated the journal Soval still held and went on.

"He had taken this old journal off the shelf in my office at home and told me to write to her. After I penned that note Sarda then took it with him and I have no idea what he did next. I had asked him about a week later after we ourselves had left and he simply said it would be done. He had taken one extra beacon with him when he left so I imagine that's what she used to escape."

"So after you wrote that note, you have no idea what transpired afterward?" Soval handed the open journal to the man. Who took it and held it open to read the text. They expression on his face concentrated on reading, which turned to a frown. Side eyeing Sarda as he returned to reading. It didn't take long as he handed the journal back to Soval still open to the page he'd written.

"It's my penmanship OSU, however there are minute changes at very specific locations of which I never made while composing this."
Soval accepted the journal back, never taking his eyes off Sarda. For a moment. Another moment. And still another moment. He said nothing. Just burned Sarda where he stood with his stare.

"Do you consider her your Telsu?, Or was she intended for your clan?"

Both Admiral Forest and Sarda's supervisor had gradually grown at Soval's demeanor and tone. The subject in question simply stood meeting Soval's gaze before answering.

"May I see the page in question OSU?"
"You had your supervisor write what he needed. It would be logical that you had perused it before marking it with the relics then leaving exactly 6 pages of instruction on the care of a telsu including a warning if same came to harm."

by now Sarda was beginning to show signs of nervousness though he hid it well. The big man to his left looked hard at Sarda for a moment before reaching out, indicated he wanted to read the page again. Soval reluctantly relinquished the book to him. Put it around so he could read the page. He looked at Sarda indicating he should read as well. Sarda responded by cautiously looking at his associate, then with a glance back at Soval. Turned his attention to the page. Together they perused the page. Neither said a word.

"I know what you'll find even though it is cleverly hidden. I myself have not seen such relics for many years."

One of the Vulcans along the wall spoke up. Soval turned to gaze at the speaker, then indicated he would approach.