Captain's log, stardate 41798.2. We have been ordered by Starfleet to proceed to the Lorenze Cluster and investigate the disappearance of a light cruiser, USS Drake, which was in that system trying to unravel a mystery of its own which began when recent long range probes indicated that all intelligent life on the planet Minos has disappeared.
Soriana could feel the tension in the observation lounge as they all sat down. There were barely two hours before arrival at Minos, and there was quite a bit of tension as to what they would find upon arrival.
Data began his presentation with a view of the planet and its Earth-like inhabitants on the screen. "The citizens of Minos gained fame during the Ersalrope Wars as arms merchants. They manufactured sophisticated and highly advanced weaponry."
"For which side?" Geordi asked.
"Both. No comm traffic or ships from Minos have been reported since before the end of the Wars, fifty-five years, eight months ago. The last system in production was the EP-607 automated system, which included several anti-personnel and anti-spacecraft components. Because the Drake's status is unknown and Minos is the only planet in the region with advanced technology, this briefing provides the known capabilities of these systems.
The slide changed to a schematic. "This is a reconnaissance probe. It monitors nearby communications and creates realistic holograms of enemy agents in order to gather intelligence. It also includes a tractor field strong enough to hold a subject in stasis pending further interrogation."
Another schematic. "This is their primary adaptive battle drone-"
*****
"Nothing yet," La Forge reported. "This matches the coordinates where the Drake's crew beamed down, but I don't see any sign of them. Or leftover Minosian technology."
"Let's stay together and scout the area," Yar ordered. Like Geordi, she kept her phaser rifle slung low and ready to fire quickly; Data's was stowed on his back in deference to the two large equipment cases he was carrying.
"An approaching energy signature from the west," the Viser-equipped engineer shared just a couple of minutes later. "Data?"
The android opened the first of the two large cases and removed a fist-sized ball. He depressed two buttons to arm the probe.
"Who does it look like?" Geordi asked when the holographic image stepped out of the foliage.
"Commander Rice," Data supplied. At the same time, he pressed a third button on the side of the probe and deftly tossed it past the illusory officer. Geordi tracked their own probe, flying under anti-gravity, until it was obscured by the mist and heat of the planet.
"Hello, Lieutenant Commander," the voice of Paul Rice addressed Tasha Yar as it approached the away team.
"Hello, Commander Rice," Yar replied without the slightest trace of warmth. "Can I answer any questions for you?"
"Thanks, that would be most helpful. The Enterprise is your ship, is it not?"
"Yes, I'm aboard the Enterprise. What was your ship's name again?" Tasha knew the goal was simply to keep the probe talking.
"The Drake. It has a maximum speed of warp three. What was the top speed of the Enterprise, again?"
"Oh, the Enterprise is much faster; it can achieve speeds as high as warp four."
"Incredible. And your phaser banks…" The image of Paul Rice vanished to reveal the probe, which prompted the three officers to scramble for cover… but no stasis field emerged.
"Enterprise to away team," the voice of Ensign T'Su sounded over the comm. "The countermeasure probe was successful in shutting down the central control unit. Sensors show the remains of four Starfleet crew members half a kilometer north of your position."
"Data to T'Su. Are you able to lock on the Minosian probe at our position?"
"Negative, sir. There's a definite energy signature showing that something is present, but I can't get a sensor lock on it."
"Fascinating," Data added.
Yar sent, "Captain, permission to manually capture these Minosian probes?"
"Granted. But keep a comm line open, and we'll keep a lock on you. With the central control unit shut down, they should be less of a threat, but I want my officers back in one piece."
Captain's log, stardate 41798.4. The mystery of the USS Drake is solved, along with the underlying mystery of the planet Minos. Having deployed EP-607 units across the planet's surface both for system-wide defense and as a sales ploy, the Minosians were unprepared when the weapons systems adapted to find their makers to be acceptable targets. We have recovered several of the units to deliver to Starfleet Research, where many of the stealth and tactical features will be welcome upgrades to our own systems - but without, perhaps, the same degree of autonomy.