Kirk considered the information for a time, mulling over what both the Doctor and Uhura had confirmed. A woman with telepathic abilities, with no tongue. He mulled it over. He then straightened up, looking towards McCoy who'd been waiting nearby for some manner of decisive response.

"Bones…"

"Captain…?"

"Do a complete physical. I want everything measured, catalogued and classified that you can about her. I want to find out what she is, where she came from and what she can do. Are you certain she's not a threat?" It was Spock who interjected then for a time, although directing his question to the Doctor.

"She has shown no signs of aggression?" 'Bones' considered the question for a moment, going through what he had gathered from his interactions with her, and then after reviewing the security footage for what she did when he was not around.

"No, none. Some disorientation and frustration over her lack of ability to communicate and her injury but, that's normal. God knows that I'd be frustrated if I couldn't talk and was surrounded by people I didn't know. She seems to have figured out that she is relatively safe here, even if she doesn't know where here IS, or what we are." His voice was gruff, betraying some of the lack of sleep that he had gotten over this patient. Not from her causing trouble, but out of his peaked curiousity over her. Lieutenant Uhura too, had also taken an interest in the woman, if only because of the language barrier – it presented a tempting challenge, if her disability could be worked around. There was bound to be some gadget or another in the hold that could be put to such a use.

Spock meanwhile, considered the problem. The logical thing to do would be to perform at least a partial mind meld with her, in order to gain more sufficient answers. But on the other hand, the touching of minds was a gesture done of closeness. And given how she was telepathic, there would remain some degree of contact between them if he did so, even after breaking off the meld. He did not, however, take long to consider the problem.

"Captain, might I make a suggestion?" Kirk's nod of permission was given.

"If I perform a mind meld, I might be able to get better answers out of her than guesswork."

There were a few looks of surprise, but his features gave nothing away, as per the norm'. It was logical to offer his services when none of the other crew members had passed any of the psychic evaluations high enough to do so. One or two did gain an increased ability when stressed, but the stress would only alienate the answers and make the bond uncomfortable.

"Alright, let's see what you can do."

Less than an hour later, and Spock was sat in front of her on a chair within Sickbay, with McCoy lingering nearby ready to intervene, Chapel assisting and Kirk on the fringes of the room, more out of curiousity than much else. Either way, there were still a few days to go before they were due to make a report on the status of the planet. She looked between them, her shoulder's tense, before Uhura took to trying to explain.

"He…" gesturing to Spock. "..will try to talk to you." At the word 'talk', she gestured not to her mouth or throat, but to her head. A brow rose before she seemed to figure out what was going on, and she gave a nod of confirmation, before matching the gesture. A wordless 'go ahead'? Either way. McCoy still had her hooked up to the machines however. While her vitals were stable, he wanted to see how and if they changed during a psychic contact. Kirk, leaning against a bed nearby, watched with both a casual outward look, but was in fact far more attentive. As much as he didn't quite 'get' how it would work through experience, he did understand that as a telepath, Spock was naturally the most qualified to give it a go. Finally, the Vulcan opened his eyes after performing momentary meditation, and extended his hand. The woman remained still for a moment before, before he could stop her, returning the gesture. Their minds touched at the same time.

A great weight, more so of age than memories, pressed briefly against his own. He kept up his shields firmly, pushing forwards, trying to find a place in the middle of their minds where they could communicate better. Surprisingly, he found no resistance, save for perhaps the odd slight 'shove' if he got too near to a part of her memories for comfort. Finally, he could 'see'; there she was, stood in what she was wearing in the medical bay, much like he was. He did not pause for long.

"What are you?" A subtle hint of amusement was transmitted across in reply.

"Impatient, aren't you? My race have no name, not amongst ourselves. We simply… are." Well that was unhelpful. She made no attempt to reply to that brief sensation before he forced it back.

"Do you have a name?"

"You may call me Ashlultum." She did not yet imply what the name meant.

"What happened, down on your planet?"

Her lips tightened, briefly drawing into a snarl.

"Long has there been a war there. Nobody in living memory knows why it started, and those who are alive now simply continue it on out of not knowing any other life. We are raised to it from when young. Sometimes we have an advantage. Now, was one of those times when they did." Her head raised slightly.

"Such massacres are commonplace." But there was a flicker of something behind that hardened expression. Worry? Concern? Impatience? Spock might not have been one to show his emotions, but he could certainly read them in others even if he did not always comprehend them.

"Is there something still down there?" That prompted a snarl.

"My… commander, my superior, is down there still. I know not of his health, although the link between us is faintly there. Your ship's distance weakens it, and the strange things you surround me with give me a headache." That answered it.

"We will help you. And we will find a way for you to talk so then we do not have to use telepathy."

Her lips curled up then, in a sneer that was quite fittingly arrogant as she suddenly stalked closer to him.

"To not use it, is to let it grow weak, to rot, to fade." He felt her mental presence grow rapidly then, pressing against him… goading him, or trying to force him out of the link. Confusion, contempt but on the fringes that he was sure that he wasn't meant to sense… disappointment and loneliness. Another so alike, but so different at the same time.

Their hands dropped, and he refrained from looking too surprised or startled at what he had discovered. Her expression, he noted, was coldly neutral, which was only made all the more intense by the strange configuration of her eyes. He stood, braced himself inwardly for a moment, before moving towards the Captain. Uhura's look of concern would be answered later. Duty first.

"Well?" Quietly enough asked so then the woman didn't hear.

"She refused to say what she was, but she did say that the war on the planet has been going on for generations, to the point where no living individual knows precisely why it started. Neither side wins, as they gain and lose advantages much like we witnessed at a balanced rate." He felt a headache starting just at the front and base of his skull. She had been… powerful. Maybe not with refined control or much sense of logic, but he did wonder just what her potential might be if she was.

"She also implied that her Commander is down there."

Kirk considered the answer for a moment.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, looks like we have someone to retrieve."

Not so much for her but, to stop the war. An alliance could be made, between them and Starfleet, perhaps, although there had been no evidence as of yet that they were a warp-capable race.

That he knew of, that is.