For the next hour following the break up of the task group, the flagship moved between the orbital zones of the third and fourth planet, collecting data about the two class M worlds targeted for colonization while the crew and their passenger readied themselves for the grand project itself.
It wasn't long before Valencia Irksos offered her report.
"Captain; the scans of Eden III is complete and shows it suitable for colonisation, albeit with a thinner atmosphere and a significantly hotter and drier overall climate than the norm... but still suitable for standard humanoid life."
"Life signs?"
"Slightly lower than standard but well within the parameters of a hot, dry world like Vulcan for example. Highest lifeforms could be of avian or possibly early mammalian variety. No sign yet of sentient activity, past or present."
"How could you tell from here?" wondered Governor Sufra, much interested by what was learned about her chosen paradise.
"No focused electromagnetic emissions that would indicate localized electrical acitvity or transmission network, no artificial formations that would indicate settlements or even ruins of any kind nor any excess of carbon dioxyde, hydrogen or radioactive particles that could tell of some form of massive energy consumption. Even primitive humanoids would affect their environement with concentrations of wood fires that could be detected as the first sign of organized society and early sentience."
"If I recall, dolphins on Earth are sentient and do not show any of those signs," Docotr nasaro-Myth pointed out with a crooked smile.
"Hence why I said, no sign yet, Doctor," retorted the black-skinned woman with a wry smile of her own. "Next step from scans is sending planetary probes around and within the planetosphere for more detailed data and prior to dispatching actual away teams for a complete survey."
"And what about the fourth planet?" now asked the Bajoran woman with eagerness in her eyes and voice.
This time, the science officer froze her amused smile under a slight frown as she faced her commanding officer.
"Captain, we can not get any reading from Eden IV. All our scans, even detailed passive visual ones, are being... lost."
"Explain."
"For the moment I can't, Sir. It looks like all our emissions are being... absorbed or diffused somehow... including most of the light and heat coming from the star and reaching it's position."
"That's why it is so blurry even this close," mused Kheren, now intrigued by the soft, hazy sphere he was looking at on the main viewer.
"Yes, Captain. We can determine many of it's parameters from the gravitational effect of it's presence among the surrounding interplanetary matter and bodies, it's influence upon energy fluxes within the system, it's position and angle, even from it's natural satellites... but all types of detection instruments aimed at it, even an optical telescope, simply fail to provide any further detail."
"A dampening or cloaking field of some sort?"
"A distinct possibility, Captain. However, since we can not get any data from our instruments, I can not confirm or deny it, even less offer a valid hypothesis as to it's cause or nature."
"Or purpose," grumbled the Deltan Doctor.
"That is not a scientific assessment, Doctor," argued Irksos. "None of the facts we have so far points at any intent or design associated with this phenomenon."
"You know of many natural cloaking or dampening fields, Lieutenant?"
"As a matter of fact, I do, Doctor... but that is not the point; science is about going where the evidence leads, not leading the evidence to a presupposed conclusion."
"But starship command is about leading a crew to safety."
This last comment, Elliago sent from Irksos to Kheren.
"It is also about learning, Doc," the Andorian answered. "If we wanted to only play it safe, we would stay home and just sent out probes, not crewed starships. But that being said, that does not mean we have to act like the curious cat of the proverb. So... we have a mystery here... one that we will for sure investigate. But our first task here is one of colonisation, and ensure that this task is done, properly and safely, if setting and circumstances permit."
He did not, like the Deltan doctor, sweep his stare from him to the governor while talking as Elliago had done. But it was plain that his comment was addressed from one to the other.
"Recommendations?"
"It is unlikely that any probe we sent would give us anything meaningful, since we cannot get sensor readings." Aron'Son stated from his tactical station "We may not even be able to track the probe, I recommend we go to yellow alert and approach to visual range Sir. We should also consider the possibility of the...energy beings that were mentioned in the briefing and take appropriate precautions."
The engineer shook his head. "I don't suggest getting closer than we have to. I'd hate for there to be abnormal gravimetric disturbances over there. We could be pulled down to the planet before we even knew what was going on. And without our primary systems fully operational. I'd suggest the probe. But instead, program it to make a loop around the planet, use blatent, active scanning, and then return. We could even install a normal camera to the probe. Even if the sensors fail at that close range, we will get visual satellite imagery. If it never returns, then we know something...or someone...doesn't want strangers around."
"We might know," corrected Irksos with her trademark scientific exactness. " There are several natural phenomenons known to cause probe failure to return... and this might be something new and yet unknown. Assuming such failure to be ipso facto caused by design is a mistake that could lead to other mistakes. Let's not just jump to conclusions before we have the facts, Captain. That being said, I agree with both Mister Aron'Son and Mister Solius recommendations. A class IV probe could deploy it's net of subprobes to monitor one another as well as the planet from several angles at once. If something happens, even to all of them, one is bound to give us something if we close in ourselves into optical range."
"And what about those... spirits of Commander Sisko?" wondered Kheren, echoing his tactical officer's caution.
"Again, Sir, no data available to either validate or invalidate any correlation whatsoever between the little we know of them and the little we know here."
The Andorian looked around.
"Anyone else has thoughts on this?"
"Well..." Redding said, "It wouldn't hurt to try knocking on the door first I think, Lets try hailing the planet."
He gave a little smile.
"Hate to be rude to the new neighbors after all."
Kheren's antennae curved inward in the distinctive Andorian smile his face could not make.
"Right out of the rules of engagement textbook, Number One."
Elliago however was shaking his bald head.
"Captain Sir; if I understand correctly, we do not detect any transmission from the planet, not even primitive radio waves. That leaves us with three possibilities; no one is there; someone is there but is unable to make contact; someone is there and is unwilling to make contact. The Prime Directive, General order 1, as well as General Orders 4 and 13, explicitely forbid us from attempting contact with sentience unaware of life and worlds beyond their own, like pre-industrial ones, or unwilling to make contact, like isolationist cultures. Don't Kirk yourself into a new Yonada or Eminaar VII incidents."
Again, it was Valencia Irksos who objected.
"Subspace technology directly comes from faster than light science, Doctor. If someone would not be able to receive our transmission because of any reason like lower technological level, then no harm would be done, just as if there would be no one there. That alone covers two-thirds of your possibilities already. As for the last third, unwillingness to make contact, either they would already have warned us away if they could, or they just hide and keep silent until we do go away; since we received no such warning, that leaves about seventeen percent chance of forcing ourselves on unwilling sentience we have no way of knowing that it is there... unless we investigate or try to make contact... Which is our primary mandate."
"And I thought I just left the ship with the Vulcan..." grumbled Elliago with a forced sigh and sour smile. Then he frowned. "That... signal nullifying effect around the planet might just be that warning you speak of."
That's when Governor Sufra chimed in with a severe tone of voice.
"Captain Kheren; this world has been divinely ordained and legally given to us. You will not turn back, even if some... people there would dare deny us! As duly named representative of the Federation Council, I have the authority to order you and I am exercising this authority right now; you will proceed with the approach and preparations for colonizing this world. That is a direct order, Captain."
The Andorian stood up to face the Federation Council representative. His antennae were not curving anymore.
"Governor Sufra; Starfleet General Orders nullify any order given by anyone in the field or elsewhere. And the very first one is the Prime Directive that binds everyone, including me and you, to the highest founding principle of our civilization; not just to protect whoever is out there, but us as well, from any decision or action that could endanger the normal course of existence from outside interference, be it cultural, technological, philosophical or even spiritual. Scientific curiosity, economical needs, religious beliefs, even the safety of this ship and the lives of my crew and of your people, are explicitely not a valid reason to violate this most important principle. If this world is already inhabited, or is already claimed by another people, be it even just as burial or waste-dumping ground, we will not settle you there. And If we can settle you on the other M class world of this system, it will only be if there is a reasonable estimation that your presence there will not violate the inherent rights of this world and it's people... And you and your people, as Federation representatives, as a Federation colony, as those we of Starfleet are responsible for bringing out here, you will be bound to follow this directive, now and afterwards, or face extradition. We will be bound to do so because the Prime Directive also orders us to act to correct any violation you could make, now or later. This is not Earth's sixteenth century conquest of the new World. We will uphold the Prime Directive, not the dictates of your faith or anyone else's. Do I make myself clear, Governor Sufra?"
The woman just stood there the whole time, gaping and reddening with each word. After a moment of silence, she looked angrily at him and saw that his resolve was mirrored in the eyes of all the other officers.
"You do, Captain Kheren. I will pray that our prophecy be fulfilled... and for the Light to open your eyes to it's sacred Truth and shine on your cold heart and that of the whole Federation."
The Jem'Hadar officer also stood up. Aron'Son didn't want to threaten the governor directly again, but he still failed to understand why the captain was permitting her to remain on the bridge.
"Sir, if you wish the bridge cleared of... unnecessary personnel, I can oblige, Sir."
The captain didn't have the time to answer his security chief, one way or another. Sufra stomped off the bridge, ordering with a clipped tone the turbolift to bring her to the observation deck.
Kheren watched her leave before he turned back to the main viewer and the computer-generated image of the planet all her hopes were invested in.
"Damn I hate speeches," he grumbled, looking or addressing no one in particular.
"You're entitled, Sir; you're the captain," Yeoman Blackbird offered.
"I am not entitled to state the obvious."
"If it was obvious, it wouldn't need to be the most compelling order of our entire civilization," commented Elliago solemnly.
Kheren grunted.
"As you were, Lieutenant," he said softly to Aron'Son. Then he spoke to everyone "And speaking of orders, hers still do apply until and unless something comes up..."
His silvery eyes on his frozen features went to each of his officers in turn.
"The probe option still appears to be our first step then," he decided. "Our move into lunar orbit for a direct visual scan should not bring us in range of lower technologies unable to see beyond their own atmosphere... and our deflector field already renders us invisible to primitive devices like radiotelescopes, at worse, appear like an indistinct inert mass like a rogue asteroid. If probe investigation does give us a possibility of advanced technology, then the hailing option is the next best possible step."
He sat back in his chair.
"Proceed."
"The Governor knows we are actively trying to do our best, right?" S'Tan said to no one in general. He shook his head as he prepared his part of the probe.
"Yes, Mister Solius; and that is precisely what she fears," answered the captain.
"I have found, in my observations of the Alpha Quadrant that religion can cloud judgement." Aron'Son stated in asnwer to the Romulan's question.
"You don't say," Kheren sighed with a strange mixture of amusement and resignation in his deep, soft voice.
The Prime Directive had been a difficult concept for Aron'Son to grasp when he first began studying it at Starfleet Academy. The Dominion had no such limitations for the Founders believed themselves above petty rules and regulations. They had subjugated countless species over the course of time, and would likely continue to do so if they ever recovered completely from the blows dealt to them by the Alliance during the war. Aron'Son however, had continued his studies of that particular edict long after his initial classes often discussing it with instructors and fellow students alike. His conclusions on the subject were continuously evolving as his understanding of the Federation and its species was, but for now he concluded that for Starfleet's purposes it was a good thing as it prevented starship captains from dictating the course of evolution and entire planets, or at least it was supposed to. Aron'Son had read countless stories of highly regarded officers who skirted the Directive on numerous occasions, but it seemed that this Andorian, his Captain, was determined to adhere to it in the strictest sense. It was...interesting.
"But it's almost as if she's being confrontational for no reason. No offense, Captain, but we know she doesn't like you. But it's not like we told her that we don't know whats going on down on the surface of 'her' planet and decided to call it quits and go home. Her blow up makes no sense."
"Oh that's alright, Lieutenant; Andorian women can be a lot more fiesty than that."
"You don't say... Sir," echoed both Lyrya and Tyvya at the same time without turning looking up from their respective stations.
Kheren's antennae curved towards one another as he made a pause before addressing his tactical officer.
"However, even Andorians, as violently passionate as they can be, never abandon themselves to emotions without reason. Hence why there is no religion on Andoria ... except a few very pragmatic ones which even then are considered rather... peculiar. We have no concept of the supernatural; not because we adopted logic like Vulcans did, but simply because we do not feel it. Since religious mindset is irrational by definition, only fear spoke when she did. We have to impose rationality on such fears to avoid all the tragedies and atrocities that History of a hundred worlds tell us happen when such an irrational mindset has sway. That's also why we have such a thing as the Prime Directive. That there may be a god or gods is irrelevant; we are not gods."
"And me looking forward to appear and blare: Behold! thy god cometh!"
The joke brought a few dry smiles around the bridge.
The Romulan couldn't believe the way the Governor, a duely appointed member of Starfleet, was acting. Childish was the easiest description. Any Romulan whom acted as such would have vanished before the Horizon left the dock. He had hoped that reaching this side of undiscovered space would quell her insanity, but he supposed that being so close to their end objective was driving her mad. However, he had to laugh at the jokes being tossed around the bridge for the next few minutes.
Aron'Son didn't get it...he wasn't exactly sure what the others were laughing at, perhaps he would as Solius to explain it to him later. The Romulan engineer seemed to understand the nuances of interaction far better than he himself did.
By Kheren on 02/07/2015 @ 1:03pm
Hope you don't mind I relocated and altered slightly the last part of Aron'Son's reaction since the governor had already left the bridge by that time.
By Oseno Jureth on 02/08/2015 @ 12:05pm
Not at all...I must have missed that.