Chapter 4
Monday, March 14, 2264 – Mission Day 181
"Captain's Log: Star Date 6403.14; Captain Raymondo Garibaldi recording. Less than an hour ago, the Marco Polo penetrated the inner blast wave from the explosion of star M-51120. The ship suffered some minor damage to her power distribution system from overloads created by the ion storm effects of the blast wave, which was quickly repaired. The high levels of ionizing radiation and high energy particles have also completely disrupted subspace communications. Communications with Star Base Nine are out while we are inside the inner blast wave.
"We are proceeding to make observations of what is left of the star system to determine the exact effects the explosion had on any planetary bodies we might find. So far we have identified four planets; one terrestrial and three gas giants. We will spend several days near each starting from the outermost planet and working inward. Once we are finished here we will begin the return leg of this portion of our survey mission.
"On a side note: reaching the turnaround point of this leg of our mission is somewhat of a relief to certain members of my crew, particularly Commander Bolt, who has shown some small signs of emotional distress from being separated from his wife back on Earth. I'll ask him if he would like a transfer to a ship stationed closer to the core systems once we return to Star Base Nine."
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As the Marco Polo glided into a wide, one hundred AU, orbit around the black hole that once was star M-51120, another starship orbited closely around the remains of the fifth planet of the stricken system. On that ship's bridge, a green-skinned crewman looked up from his scanner and called for his superior.
"Lord, I just detected a moving neutrino source. A ship with a fusion power source is entering the system."
"Go to silent running," the ship's captain, Lord Garvalok, a black haired, green skinned Orion, ordered. "Order the mining teams to cease all activities and to reduce their power generation systems to minimum. Helm, move the ship so that we are always on the opposite side of the planet from them. Communications, link us to the ground station's scanners. They will be our eyes and ears until the Federation dogs come under our guns."
"Yes, lord," were the replies from around the bridge of the Orion pirate raider, The Star Wind.
I can't believe they are here so soon, whoever they are. It doesn't matter; they're either Humans or Vulcans. I will not allow anyone to take my family's prize. It should have taken another sixty Terran years before the Federation could detect the explosion of this star.
The planet below the orbiting Orion cruiser was a burnt out cinder. The explosion of the star had stripped away the former Earth sized planet's atmosphere and burned one side the planet down almost to its mantle. This had exposed vast deposits of valuable minerals. In addition, the shock of the explosion had caused the formation of large deposits of dilithium crystals. The local Orion pirate clan had known about the doomed star for over a hundred years. It was one of their most closely guarded secrets. They even kept it secret from the pirate cartel they were members of. They had waited patiently until after the star had exploded to survey and mine the exposed inner sections of the systems planets. The system they found originally had five inner terrestrial planets and three larger gas giants. The explosion had obliterated all the terrestrial planets except the fifth and the smaller moons of the outer giant planets. It had even stripped a good portion of the atmosphere from the giant planets. The Orions had returned several months ago and set up several small survey and mining camps on the former fifth planet to prospect the now exposed riches. The camps were still small as they were mainly conducting surveys of the exposed riches of the planet and quickly mining exposed ores. The new black hole in the system didn't concern them much, mostly because the system's planets had spiraled outwards from it due to the pressure from the explosion and from the initial loss of mass of the former star. Though eventually they might spiral back in as the black hole regained its lost mass and then continued to grow, this did not concern them because the time frame for this would be millennia.
"Maintain passive scans on the Federation ship. Let me know of any updates."
"Yes, lord," the scanner operator replied.
It took several hours but the Orion scanner operator was slowly able to deduce the makeup of the new ship, first identifying its rough size and location. This allowed Captain Garvalok to determine that a Federation heavy cruiser was in system and it was heading for the outermost surviving planet. A Federation cruiser out classed his ship. This spurred him into action. He ordered his ship to maintain silent running. All communications except for the telemetry link with the mining teams were to cease. The mining teams were to conceal their bases and equipment as best they can and to shut down all unnecessary power generation systems.
Soon the Federation ship will come to investigate this planet, he thought to himself. Blast the Federation for sending a survey ship so soon. We have only had our mines open for a month. The supply ship will not get here for another two months. The Feds are sure to find our mining facilities and report back that we were mining very rich deposits of Dilithium and other ores. If we can destroy their ship then it will be some time before the Federation sends another to investigate. We can clean up and conceal the mines and the Federation will be no wiser. Then after the other ship leaves we can return and continue our mining operations without fear of detection. At least with the communications blackout from the blast wave they can't report their findings.
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Meanwhile, on board the Marco Polo, Commander Giacconi and his science-survey team began their work. First, they made an initial assessment of the remains of the star system, cataloging any remaining planets, moons, and other bodies. The Marco Polo slowly worked its way from the outer planets towards the sole remaining inner planet. At each planet or moon, soil samples were obtained either by crews in environmental suits sent down by transporter or by shuttle while readings were taken from the ship's four powerful survey arrays completely mapping the planets' surface and inner compositions. Within a week, the crew of the Polo had completed their work at the outer planets and was heading towards the one remaining inner planet.
The crew of the Star Wind was also busy during that week. They had ceased all survey and mining operations, concealed all their exposed equipment and sent the ground crews down to their emergency shelters. Garvalok hoped that with the ground crews deep underground and his ship silent and hidden they would go unnoticed by the Federation cruiser. They were mistaken.
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Monday, March 21, 2264 – Mission Day 188
Morning
"Science Department Log: Commander Giacconi recording. I have just informed the Captain that we have completed our survey of the remains of the second surviving planet and its moons. This has been an exciting time for me. I never would have dreamed of the wonders we have found in this ruined system. The effects of the star's explosion have gotten greater as we have proceeded inward in this system. The last surviving planetary body is ahead of us. I am looking forward to investigating how the explosion has ravaged it and seeing what remains what was once a class M planet."
1:42pm
USS Marco Polo
"Signore, so far the pre-orbit scan shows what we already know," Commander Giacconi said to his captain while bending over his scanner on the bridge. "The planet is a burnt out lump of rock. I recommend that shields remain up since we are this close to the singularity. Gravity waves emanating from the black hole can cause noticeable damage at this range."
As if to emphasize the point, a low rumble reverberated quickly throughout the ship startling the bridge crew from their tasks.
"Report," Garibaldi requested loudly.
"It's just as I thought, Captain," Commander Giacconi responded after checking his instruments. "We are close enough to the singularity to register gravity waves."
"Damage Report, all decks," the captain ordered. A moment later replies came back from all decks that no noticeable damage was done to the ship.
"Helm, maintain shields until further notice," Garibaldi ordered.
1:43pm
"Captain, we will achieve standard orbit in one minute ten seconds," Lieutenant Hansen reported.
"Reduce speed to warp one," Captain Garibaldi ordered.
"Time to orbit is now nine minutes thirty seconds," Hansen updated while the rumbling of the warp drives subsided.
"Commander Giacconi, what does the pre-orbit scan say?"
"Capitano," Commander Giacconi said a little startled at his readings. "I'm picking up several small outposts."
Heads turned among all the bridge crew members as they heard this news.
"Confirm that reading," Captain Garibaldi ordered.
Giacconi check his scanner settings and looked back into his scanner. "Readings confirmed, Signore. The outposts are widely spaced around the planet. Mostly they are on the part of the planet most damaged from the supernova explosion. I'm now reading several small strip mines near each of the outposts. The outposts have their shields up."
Captain Garibaldi was slightly bewildered, yet determined to find out what was going on here.
"Lieutenant Palmer, hail the planet," Garibaldi ordered.
"Aye, sir," she replied while activating her subspace radio controls. "USS Marco Polo calling ground installations come in please." After recording the first call, she set up the transmission to repeat automatically.
"No response to our hails, Captain," Palmer reported a moment later.
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Orion Raider Star Wind
Aboard the Star Wind on the opposite side of the planet the communication technician monitored the attempted communication from the Federation cruiser.
"Lord, the Federation ship has detected our ground facilities and they are trying to hail them. They are maintaining radio silence per your orders."
"Lord, passive ground based scans show the Federation ship at 180 gigameters and approaching at one warp one," the scanner operator added. "Wait...Sir; I'm picking up Federation Scout sensors on that ship."
So, they are one of the Federation's cherished survey cruisers, Garvalok thought. That must be why they picked up the ground bases so soon. They still have a heavier ship with more power; their firepower is less than a heavy cruiser but still equals mine. Their shields are of course stronger. Let's see what they do.
"Helm, maintain our position opposite the planet from the Federation cruiser. If they detect us before I want them to I'll have your head!"
"Yes, Lord," the helmsman replied with a gulp of fear.
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1:44pm
USS Marco Polo
"Captain, still no response to hails," Palmer reported again.
"ETA to orbit nine minutes," Lieutenant DePaul announced.
"Very well," Garibaldi replied. "Maintain hails and current speed." Something is not right here, he thought to himself. No one establishes new ground facilities, works mines, and then disappears. It's obvious that they don't want to talk to us if they are still down there. Then again there could have been some disaster; gravity wave damage?
"Commander Giacconi, report the moment you detect life forms or any other pertinent information. Oh, and prepare two probes for launch."
"Aye, sir," he replied.
1:45pm
"Sir, I'm picking up power generation in the ground bases," Giacconi reported.
"Are there any life form readings yet," the Captain asked.
"Not yet, sir," he replied. "I'll have that information in a few minutes."
The minutes passed as the Polo crept closer to the planet.
1:46pm
"Is there anything unusual about the ground bases you detected," the captain asked.
"We're not close enough to tell. I'm still scanning," Giacconi replied.
"When we are in range I want both of our probes launched to see if any ground bases are positioned on the far sides of the planet."
1:47pm
"Captain, we are at 108 gigameters from the planet," Lieutenant DePaul announced.
"Launch probes," Garibaldi ordered.
Lieutenant Hansen activated the probe launch controls on his helm panel. Immediately, two slight shudders were felt throughout the ship as the probes were expelled from their launch bay.
"Probes launched," Lieutenant Hansen reported.
After their launch, the probes activated their microburst warp drives. They both settled into orbit on the far sides of the planet. They targeted their scanners at the planet below them and began reporting their findings back. After a minute, the probes fell silent as their power supplies were used up.
"Capitano, there are several more ground station on the far side of the planet," Giacconi excitedly reported.
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Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, two probes just entered orbit on our side of the planet." Garvalok's scanner operator reported nervously. "Their scanners are aimed at the planet."
"Very well," Garvalok replied. They are getting suspicious. "We will attack after the Federation cruiser goes into orbit around the planet," he announced.
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1:48pm
USS Marco Polo
"Four minutes to orbit insertion, Captain," DePaul announced.
"Very well," Garibaldi replied. "Is there any response to our hails, Lieutenant Palmer?"
"No, sir," she replied.
This is really strange, Garibaldi thought to himself. There are several possible situations going on here. The ground crews are dead or incapacitated; they are evacuated; or they are hostile. In any of these cases there is room for concern.
"Yellow Alert," Garibaldi ordered. "Commander Bolt is to report to the bridge. Rescue and medical teams are to standby in the transporter rooms and on the flight deck."
Palmer quickly announced the alert over the ship's intercom. Those personnel that were off duty but not asleep made their way back to their duty station to supplement the on duty crew.
More minutes passed as the Polo approached to within of the planet. Commander Bolt arrived at the bridge and was updated on the current situation.
1:50pm
"Capitano, I have a life form reading from the planet," Giacconi reported. "I'm picking up over a hundred individuals from each of the ground bases. Mostly they are Orions, but there are representatives from most races in the Federation down there. The life form readings are concentrated at each site about twenty meters below the surface. They must be in underground bunkers."
"I recommend Red Alert, Captain," Commander Bolt suggested. "It's now obvious that this planet is a pirate base and that they are hiding something from us."
"I agree, Commander. RED ALERT! Warm up the phasers and begin loading the torpedo tubes, standard loads. Activate the missile defense. Put the tractor beams on standby and set one survey channel to full ECCM mode. Have the other three channels on standby. I want full ECM on the standard scanners. Stand down the rescue teams but keep all flight crews standing by in the shuttle bay. I want the security detail to assume full defensive deployment. Helm, go to maximum available acceleration and take us on a wide orbit of the planet. Commander Giacconi, I want full sensor sweeps of the planet and the surrounding space as we pass around the planet. I want to know what else they are hiding down there or if they are hiding a ship in orbit on the far side from us."
The Polo's crew immediately leapt into action; racing to their battle stations and preparing the ship for battle. The change in the Polo's scanner emissions were immediately picked up by the Orion ground bases and relayed to the Star Wind.
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Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord," began the Orion scanner operator. "The Federation ship has changed course, gone to warp speed and full electronic warfare posture."
"Damnation! Go to full acceleration! Take us around the planet on an attack course. Overload the disruptor and standby on the missile launchers and phasers."
The crew of the Star Wind was already at battle stations. Now they felt the ship accelerate.
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1:51pm
USS Marco Polo
"Capitano," Giacconi began while looking into his scanner. "An Orion Raider has just appeared over the western limb of the planet. They are coming around to an intercept course at warp two point two. Their shields are up and they have their phasers and a disruptor on the centerline mount charged. They have missile racks on their wing mounts."
"Helm, keep us out of their point blank weapons range. Lieutenant Palmer, try to open a channel to them."
"Aye, sir," she replied. "Hailing frequencies open."
"This is the USS Marco Polo calling Orion ship," she called. Again, she set up the call to repeat until it is was answered or cancelled.
Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, the Federation ship is calling us," the Orion radio operator reported.
"Ignore them," Garvalok ordered.
USS Marco Polo
"Captain," DePaul reported. "The Orion is now on our port quarter. Range is 90 gigameters. We are staying ahead of them so far. Sir, their disruptor is overloaded."
"Keep veering away from them, Hansen," Garibaldi ordered. "When the Photons are loaded we'll perform a high energy turn and give them an alpha strike."
"Aye, aye sir," Hansen replied with a grin while manipulating his helm controls.
Hansen steered the Polo around the planet, trying to keep the range to the pirate open while the Orion vessel continued to pursue them. With seconds, the Pirate had closed the range a little while pulling around towards the Polo's rear.
"Sir," Hansen reported. "Enemy ship now at bearing 210 mark zero."
Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, we are at optimum firing range," the Orion weapons officer reported.
"Fire disruptor and starboard phasers; launch missiles," Garvalok ordered.
The Orion's phasers struck the port quarter and aft shields of the Polo with minimal effect. Their disrupter missed completely due to the strong jamming put out by the Polo. However, the two missiles accelerated to warp two and began to track their target.
"Lord, minimal weapons effect on the enemy ship," the Orion scanner operator reported.
"Helm, continue to pursue," Garvalok ordered.
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1:52pm
USS Marco Polo
"Sir, the aft and port quarter shields are reduced by eight percent each," Giacconi reported. "The jamming reduced their scanner effectiveness."
"Very well," Captain Garibaldi replied while pressing his intercom button for the engine room. "Bridge to Engineering; channel energy for a high energy turn."
"Aye, sir," Commander Schwartz replied from deep within the bowels of the ship.
"Helm, complete your weapons loading; after we HET standby for tactical low speed maneuvering. Maintain full ECM on the standard array channel and go to full ECCM on the survey array. Stand by on the missile defense and defensive phasers."
"Aye sir," replied both Hansen and DePaul.
Orion Raider Star Wind
The Feds are sure to have their torpedoes armed now, Garvalok thought. So... "Stand by on tractor beams! Prepare to launch two more missiles. Hype the warp engines and channel the extra power to reinforce the forward shield and to jamming and counter jamming."
USS Marco Polo
"Enemy missiles continue to close," Giacconi reported.
"Scramble their tracking with the survey array," Garibaldi ordered. "Standby on defensive weapons in case the scramblers don't work."
"Aye, sir," Giacconi replied as he activated a few switches on his sensor control panel. "I'm attempting to scramble their seekers now."
Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, the Federation vessel has ceased movement," the Orion scanner operator reported.
Just what I thought, Garvalok thought. They will do a quick pivot and fire their torpedoes.
"Lord, we just lost tracking with our first two missiles," the Orion weapons officer reported.
USS Marco Polo
"Capitano, the Orion continues to close;" Giacconi reported, "range 54 gigameters."
"Helm, prepare to HET," Garibaldi ordered.
"The Orion is now at 36 gigameters bearing 195 mark 3," Giacconi reported.
"Helm, HET and fire all weapons as they bear."
The all but stationary Federation Cruiser groaned, her structural members stressed to their limits, as she pivoted on her vertical axis and pointed her bow at the oncoming pirate vessel. Immediately, two photon torpedoes left their tubes followed by four high-powered phaser blasts.
Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, the forward shield is drained by forty four percent," Garvalok's engineer reported after the shaking subsided from impact of the Polo's weapon strike.
"Very well," Garvalok replied. "Prepare to launch two more missiles. Stand by on the tractor beam."
Within seconds, the Orion Raider closed within 18 gigameters from the now motionless Federation cruiser's bow.
"Activate tractor beams, launch missiles and fire all bearing weapons," Garvalok order with a shout.
USS Marco Polo
"Reserve power to the forward shield," Garibaldi ordered as he watched the Pirate again launched missiles. "Stand by on the defensive phasers."
The Polo then rocked under the weapons fire of the Orion ship.
"Sir, forward shield down by seventy five percent," Hansen reported. "They have a tractor beam on us."
"Fire defensive phasers," Garibaldi ordered. "Take down those missiles."
"Firing phasers," Hansen replied.
The Polo's lower powered defensive phasers struck out and destroyed the two incoming missiles.
Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, our missiles have been destroyed," the Orion weapons officer reported.
"Maintain tractor beam," Garvalok ordered.
USS Marco Polo
"Tactical maneuvering, Mr. Hansen," Garibaldi ordered. "Get our bow away from them."
"Aye, sir," Hansen replied.
The Polo groaned while warp power was applied to turning the ship. But, despite the Orion's tractor beam, the Polo was able to turn her weakened bow shield away from the Orion Raider.
"Fire the remaining defensive phasers," Garibaldi ordered. Although lower in power, the defensive phasers still packed a modest punch at close range. Again, the Orion Raider rocked under the impact of the Polo's weapons.
Orion Raider Star Wind
"Lord, the forward shield is now drained by eighty nine percent," Garvalok's engineer reported.
"Release tractor beam," Garvalok ordered. "Get us out of here!"
The Orion Helmsman immediately turned the Raider away from the Polo who kept her bow pointed away from the Orion ship. Within seconds, the Raider was 54 gigameters from the stationary cruiser.
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1:53pm
USS Marco Polo
"Pursuit course Lieutenant Hansen; warp one point six," Captain Garibaldi ordered while watching the Orion ship pull away on the main view screen. "Recharge all phasers and keep up the electronic warfare."
"Capitano, I'm reading a modest power reduction on the pirate vessel," Giacconi reported while reading his scanner. "Their warp power is down ten percent."
"Tactical analysis Mr. Bolt," Garibaldi requested.
"They must have overloaded their warp drive on that last run to gain more power," Bolt surmised. "That's why we are reading a power drain. We have a third more power than they do; they can't cope with our electronic warfare. They have missiles which cost no energy but are useless with our survey systems and defensive weapons. Their phaser battery about matches ours, but they have half the heavy weapons; one disruptor against our two photon torpedoes. Also, our shields are stronger than theirs. The only thing they have going for them is their maneuverability. We out class them, Sir," Bolt concluded. "Captain, if we can hit them again they should turn tail."
"Thank you, Commander. Giacconi, I want full electronic warfare posture maintained and keep the survey systems prepared for missile scrambling. Helm, recharge the phasers and start reloading the torpedoes." Captain Garibaldi then called up engineering on his intercom. "Commander Schwartz, get repair crews working on the forward shield emitters and begin recharging the batteries," Garibaldi ordered. "Hold on down there this wont take too much longer."
"Jawohl," Schwartz replied from the engineering deck.
Orion Raider Star Wind
Damn, damn, and double damn, Garvalok thought. There is no way I'm going to be able to defeat those cursed Federation bastards. If I had at least a light raider here to assist me then we would win this fight. Garvalok had come to the same conclusions as Bolt and Garibaldi. My clan is not served by the loss of my ship. We have a good amount of dilithium crystals in the hold. They should compensate for the loss of our mining facilities here and ensure my clan's position within the cartel.
"Navigator; set course for home," Garvalok ordered. "Helm; go to full acceleration."
There were a few slight shudders from the Orion bridge crew members, but they knew not to question their lord's orders.
"Open a channel to one of the mining facilities."
"Yes, lord," the Orion radio operator replied while doing so. "A channel is open to Mine number one."
"Lord Garvalok," the mine supervisor inquired with a worried look on his face.
"Karvak, we are being forced to flee from the Federation survey ship," Garvalok began. "Try to resist them if they send a landing party. If they are too strong then I leave it up to you what you wish to do at that point. I'm going back to our family's stronghold to organize a relief force and to gather more slaves for your labor force."
"Yes, lord," Karvak replied while considering his choices. He only had forty Orion clansmen in his enforcer team and over a hundred slaves to control in his mining facility. The other mining sites were similar. He also had supplies for six months of operations. Then they would begin to run out of air, water, and food. He had to choose to resist any landing parties the Federation ship or surrender. If he resisted then the slaves might rebel. For now, he would do nothing until the Federation ship made their intentions known. I have to sweet talk the Federation captain somehow, he thought. We're in a bad situation here.
1:54pm – USS Marco Polo
"Capitano," Giacconi began. "The pirate vessel is increasing speed. They are now at warp 2.5 and increasing."
"Very well," Garibaldi replied. "If they want to leave that's fine. Stand down from red alert. Safe all weapons but keep the phasers warmed up for now. Helm, take us back to the planet. Palmer, hail the planet again. This time, if they don't answer tell them we will open fire on their bases until their shields are down and then we'll send down heavily armed landing parties."
Palmer made the call and an Orion promptly acknowledged the hail.
"Captain, I have a Supervisor Karvak on line," Palmer announced.
"On screen," Garibaldi ordered. The image of the Orion site leader appeared on the main viewer.
"This is Captain Raymondo Garibaldi of the USS Marco Polo," the Captain announced. "Would you care to explain yourselves?"
"I am Site Supervisor Karvak. I'm sorry for the brief altercation you had with our guard ship. They were just doing their job protecting my mines from intruders. We are a private mining consortium based out of Orion. We are registered with the Orion Ministry of Off World Industries and this planet is claimed by the Orion state. If was unfortunate that our guard ship acted irrationally to your unannounced presence."
"Not so fast Karvak," Garibaldi replied while motioning to Giacconi to check the ship's records for their registry. "I think you are a pirate and as soon as I can get a message off to Star Base Nine I will find out if you are really who you say you are."
Giacconi shook his head no after reviewing the ship's database for Karvak's claim.
They aren't buying it, Karvak thought. Well, how about...
"Then we are at your mercy, Captain. Undoubtedly, the guard ship you defeated will warn my superiors not to send any more supply ships. You are now responsible for ensuring that adequate supplies are made available for all of us here on this planet. Yet, you can't do that without leaving the inner blast sphere. So, how about this then; you leave us alone and either we will quietly disappear if I can contact my superiors or when your occupying force arrives we surrender to them. There is no reason for you to send any landing parties down here in either case." Then in a menacing voice Karvak continued, "Maybe I'll solve your problem for you and when you send landing parties down you will find nobody here to greet you."
Bolt wanted to say something so Garibaldi motioned for Palmer to cut off the sound.
"You had a comment Jeremy?"
"Well, Sir, I don't think we really have a choice here. There are six primary mining sites. Each has about a hundred and sixty beings; either Orions or their workers. We don't have the manpower to occupy more than one or two facilities down there. Nor do we have the space in the brig to arrest more than a hand full of them. There is also the legal issue. If this is really a legitimate mining site despite what the library computer shows then we are acting out of our authority. Still, Orion is a member of the Federation. We should be within our rights to conduct safety inspections of the facilities down there. I recommend we consult with the ship's legal counselor."
"Those are our dilemmas alright," Garibaldi replied. "Our best move is to quickly finish our survey, leave this system, and tell Star Fleet what is going on here. The Orions can only continue to mine whatever they were mining. Our main concern is that whatever they produce is put on the open market and not allowed to go into enemy hands, either the pirates, Klingons or Romulans."
"To prevent the pirates from getting any benefit from these mines we'll have to sit on this system until a relief ship arrives."
"That will still allow us to continue our survey and report our findings back to Star Fleet," Garibaldi concluded. Then he waved for the audio to put back on.
"Karvak, we will leave you to your own devices. You can't cause much mischief with only a handful of shuttles. But, rest assured that your presence here will be reported to Star Fleet. I'll leave it up to you whether you choose to evacuate or stick around. But, know this, the Federation has now claimed this region of space and you will have to accept that fact. Indeed, as soon as we finish here I will be transmitting a message to Star Base Nine. It is obvious that there is something of value here. I intend to find out what. We will be sending down landing parties to inspect your facilities and check on the treatment of your laborers. We will also inspect what ores you are mining. You can kill yourselves if you want. That'll make my job easier; Marco Polo out."