"Commander, I have found something." Data reported from his station.
"What is it, Data?" Geordi asked.
"Good news, I hope." Riker added, coming to peer over the android's
shoulder.
Data pointed to the map on the screen. "Here is where we found their
jackets and commbadges."
"Yeah, they were folded neatly, like they were going to be put away. Kind
of creepy." Geordi added.
"I have found a settlement about three kilometers east of that location. It
appears to be a primitive settlement, operating completely without the use
of modern technology."
"It looks like a pioneer village." Riker commented, "Why didn't it show up
on our preliminary scans?"
"There is some sort of barrier fifteen meters above the settlement. It
appears to reflect and project the surrounding area to conventional
scanners." Data answered. "The programming is actually quite complex...."
"Thank you, Data." Riker interrupted. "You and Geordi see if you can find
the Captain and the Doctor in this settlement."
"Aye, sir." they answered, simultaneously.
"Who owns this planet again?" Geordi asked.
"The Talaydhrian government controls this solar system, if that is what you
mean, Geordi." Data replied.
Riker turned to the crewman manning the comm. "Crewman, see if you can put
me in contact with the Talaydhrian government."
"Aye, sir." he was answered.
Riker sat down in the Captain's chair. Captain Picard had specifically told
the away team to meet back in three hours. When he and Beverly had been
late, Riker had just assumed they had lost track of time. He'd waited an
entire half-hour before trying to contact them. It had taken him another
two hours to send down a search party. It wasn't until Geordi and Data
found their jackets that he realized they were missing. He'd wasted almost
three hours doing nothing. He should have sent a search party out as soon
as they didn't answer his hails.
Who knows what could have happened to them in seven hours? He berated
himself.
"Will." Deanna said, gently putting her hand over his, "Don't blame
yourself."
"I'm not." he protested.
"Imzadi, I'm an empath, you can't hide it from me." she smiled.
"I should have taken this seriously sooner than I did." he muttered.
"It isn't your fault, you didn't know."
"I'm in command of the ship while the Captain is gone, It's my
responsibility."
"Don't worry, Will, they'll turn up." she replied, reassuringly.
"Commander?" said the crewman at the comm, "We're receiving a hail from the
Talaydhrian prime minister."
"Put it through."
The image on the viewscreen instantly changed to that of the gregarious
Prime Minister. He was dressed in a brightly colored blue silk-like robe,
with embroidered designs in pink, green, purple and yellow. He had long
black hair that was loose in the back, with feathers braided into the front
and sides, and his skin was well tanned. He had warm black eyes,
horizontal ridges running down his nose, and a smile on his face.
"I am Prime Minister Lhrendior of the Talaydhrian people. What can I do for
you?" he asked.
"Nice to meet you, Prime Minister. I am Commander William T. Riker of the
Federation Starship, Enterprise. Our Captain and CMO have gone missing on
your colony, and I was wondering if you could do anything to help us."
Riker replied.
"Yes, we noticed you have been in orbit for quite some time."
"We didn't realize there were people living on the planet when we entered
orbit, I'm sorry if we've intruded."
"No matter." the prime minister smiled. "I assume your people have been
taken prisoner by the Ignatiusi."
"The who?" Riker asked.
"The Ignatiusi. They are the ones who live on that planet. Perhaps it would
be easier for me to explain in person. May I come aboard your ship?"
"Certainly. We'll have our transporter chief stand by."
**(*)**
**(*)**
