System [Unknown] • A : G4-V 5834 K . 1-Ice : 37327 km 104K [III] . 2-Gas : 131172 km 48 K [XVII]
Current Location : [200 Km] Asteroid Belt 4 - 2 - [IX]

Their Arrival to Ophiuchi XII after The Enterprise rendezvoused with Shuttlecraft 8 had been uneventful, which in and of itself was unusual. The only highlight of the trip being Commander Riker reaction towards the unknown vessel.

Picard sat at the ready room of the battle bridge, nursing a cup of his favorite tea as the door chimed.

"Enter." The captain simply replied, analyzing again everything the sensors had been able to detect of the strange vessel. Meanwhile, Commander Riker glided up to the table and simply stood there until Picard looked up.

"You wanted to see me, Captain?" Riker said.

"Yes, I did. These sort of missions are always delicate, Number One. Considering that we are supposed to promote interstellar harmony, it's amazing how often these things can degenerate into acrimony and violence." The Captain took that moment to take a sip of his tea.

"But Cap-"

"We do not know who they are Number One. People overreact sometimes. If you were an ensign on custodial detail, that would be one thing. But when the second in command looks like he lost his best friend, well... crewmen get a little unnverved by that."

"I beg your pardon sir, but whomever they are, they are treating humans as Livestock, you must have read the report, what they do to others is simply barbaric!"

Picard hesitated a moment and then said. "I must admit, that their actions are quite unorthodox, they may be unethical to our beliefs. Yet do not forget that we can not judge this people by our standards, they are their own culture, they may just as well have their own beliefs."

Commander Riker crossed his arms as he replied "But sir, aren't cases like these, where we encounter those whom had been enslaved or were in a state of total stagnation good enough circumstances to break the Prime Directive?" Riker started pacing in the small office; "I just can't fathom the situation needed to justify a human life... thousands of human lifes as... disposable!"

"Commander!" Picard rapped for the commander attention; "I agree that we must watch ourselves on this one, Will. I really do." The captain said as he left his teacup on the table and started to massage his temples. "Everything appears to be going smoothly, but on the other hand we haven't been able to contact the vessel yet." at this, the Captain looked at the Commander eyes "Once we do though, things could change very drastically and we have to keep alert for anything vaguely out of the ordinary, that is why we are here on the battle bridge."

"If there is one thing I've learned, Captain. It's always to watch out for the unusual."

"So have we both, Number one. And we have learned through our experiences... sometimes painful ones. I'd like to avoid more."

"Sometimes, sir. No matter how cautious we are... things happen. And I got a feeling this is just the case."

Slowly Picard nodded as he took another sip of his tea. "Number One, never in a million years would I believe that you would lie to me. And sadly, this is something we must both reluctantly agree upon." Leaving the cup in his desk, Picard stood up; "Number One, we will be parking in a five hundred thousand kilometer orbit around the ship in eighteen minutes. Call a Conference, and just in-case, prepare an away team. "