Unfortunately, no one's explained to them just how important sparks are. As far as they're concerned, it's just a fancy alien hard drive. Though he'd honestly meant that they didn't want the things put in danger.

At his demands there's a bit of hushed whispering amongst the lower ranks. The officer speaking to him turns to them. "Who's in charge of that kind of thing?" There's a moment before someone answers him and he snorts. "Baker? The man's an incompetent! No, let me guess, the next step is Hollis? Like we need Admiral Bailey's bootlicker in charge of this. Call up Sergeant Johnson, tell him to call in that favor with his aunt."

He turns to Proteus. "Your diplomatic liason will be Captain Latoya Allerdyce. She's not here now, but there isn't any combat at the moment. By the end of the briefing, we can have a shuttle ready to take you to the Rasputin to meet with her. She can't come here at the moment, due to her duties aboard her ship, but we'll call so she can have a proper reception area set up." It would still be in the hangars, but maybe if they threw up some banners and flags Proteus wouldn't notice.