Notes: As suggested I have narrowed down the number of characters each part
of the story concentrates on. I hope this makes it more readable.
Chapter 3
Larenzo found himself in his ready room again going over more reports. He sipped his hot coffee as he poured over them. This time these were the reports from his senior officers on the Kenzatons. They had only confirmed what he suspected so far. So far nothing helpful had turned up. His Science officer and engineer had been able to confirm that the Kenzatons did not in fact have the technological ability to block Federation channels nor detect them unless they were specifically directed to them. They had confirmed that they were indeed close to discovering warp technology and had in fact planned a test run within 6 months.
His security officer and Johnson had also turned up nothing new. The Kenzatons were indeed an extremely peaceful race. Their entire history showed them to be surprisingly peaceful, even compared to the most peaceful of races already members of the Federation. There were some skirmishes but no major battles recorded. Any comparison to Earths history would be an embarrassment. There was no political instability or terrorist, as was initially observed. All Kenzatons efforts seemed to go into their music, art and literature. Science was also a popular study although it was only in the last hundred years that it had looked into the possibility of space travel. Larenzo marvelled at such a quick development.
Doctor Munroe had also sent him a report on the biological aspects of Kenzato and the Kenzatons although he had not asked for one. Such initiative pleased him although his doubts about Munroe had not diminished. According to her report, the Kenzatons were humanoid. Their biochemistry was very similar to humans with only a few notable differences. The planet itself had lots of animal plant life but these areas were protected and kept separate from the cities. Their medical knowledge was extremely advanced and his crew could go down to the planet safely without picking up a strange disease.
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Commander Johnson had finished helping the security chief study the Kenzatons. With the report finished he decided that it was time to take a tour of the ship. He already knew the layout of the ship fairly well. He was really trying to get to know the faces. Eventually he found himself outside sickbay. Captain Larenzo had asked him to keep an eye on their young doctor and so he decided that now was as good a time as any to get to know her. He straightened his uniform and walked through the sickbay doors.
Everything seemed relatively quiet. There were a few Ensigns wondering about checking equipment and filling trays next to bio beds. They were obviously preparing for any emergency as the Captain had ordered. He finally spotted Dr Munroe with a patient. The patient was a young boy and Dr Munroe was running an instrument over his wrist as she spoke to him in a gentle voice. Johnson was still surprised when he saw young on board. After the Dominion War had ended Starfleet had allowed families back on board star ships. Johnson was still getting used to the idea although he was not opposed to it.
With his arm mended the boy thanked the Doctor and then jumped up and was off out the door. Johnson watched the small woman tidy the medical instrument she had been using away. Her long dark hair was tied twisted up in a knot on her head. He wondered what it would look like to hang loose down her back. She turned to face him and caught him staring.
"Commander Johnson, can I help you?" Her voice sounded so small and fragile. Or was he imagining it after what he knew about her?
He smiled to reassure her that he was in no need for medical attention. "I was just working my way around the ship, trying to get to know the crew."
"Oh," Her body seemed to relax slightly. "In that case Commander I'm pleased to meet you."
She put her hand out with a smile. Johnson took it and shook her hand in the old fashioned gesture. "Pleased to meet you too Dr Munroe."
Munroe then began to tidy the tray next to the bio bed and checking the equipment "I don't want to appear rude but I hope you don't mind me continuing to work while you are here. I have a lot of work to do."
He guessed by her smile that she really wasn't trying to kick him out and so decided to stay a little longer. He folded his arms and leaned on the bed she was working next to. "I understand that you just transferred from the Lexington."
Her body stiffened and she put down the hypo spray she had been filling and turned to face him. Her dark eyes seemed to flash as she spoke. "Are you sure you came down here just to get to know the crew? Counsellor Trent was down here a few hours ago asking the same sort of questions."
Johnson raised an eyebrow, "Doctor it is my job to get to know the crew and their abilities. I came down here for that purpose."
"Of course," Munroe replied with an amused smile and continued with what she had been doing. "Yes Commander, in answer to your question. I transferred over from the Lexington."
He decided that continuing along this line was pointless. He could see that she was already on the defensive. Instead he asked her what she thought of the ship. He didn't stay much longer although the Doctor seemed friendly enough. He finished the rest of his tour before heading back to the bridge.
Arriving at their destination Larenzo had made sure both Johnson and Counsellor Trent were present for this. "Don't go too close. I want to observe the system before any of their sensors can pick us up."
"Aye Sir" Replied the officer at the helm and placed the ship in a high orbit.
From their position the planet looked beautiful. The oceans were almost purple in colour and the land was a radiant green with only a few tell tale signs of the cities. Larenzo shifted in his seat frowning. "Scan the system. See if you can detect anything abnormal." Going by the reports he could only help but think that an outside influence must be the cause of this planets problem.
"The scanners can detect nothing unusual." Replied his security chief Nezati Hant from behind him. "The radiation from the sun is a little higher than expected for this system but nothing else."
"Give me a close up of their Capital." There was an edge to his voice betraying the frustration he felt.
All of a sudden the planet was replaced by a close up of a city. The buildings were remarkable in structure and blended with the natural background. The beauty was marred only by the smoky haze. He could see that some of the buildings at the edge had been obliterated.
"What sort of weapons caused that?" He hoped that this would answer some of the questions that had been nagging at him.
Hant shook his head as his fingers glided over the tactical station. "Sorry sir, our sensors are being jammed."
"Jammed? How? From where?"
"I don't understand it myself." Came the reply. "The Kenzatons do not have the technology and yet the jamming signal is coming from the surface." Hant paused as his station beeped. "We're being hailed from the surface."
Larenzo raised an eyebrow. How did they know they were there? "Put it through."
A youngish man appeared on the screen sitting behind a desk. His skin was white with a tinge of blue and his hair was blue. He looked terrified "We know why you are here." The mans voice shook with uncertainty as he spoke. "I should warn you that you will fail. I advise you to turn back."
"Fail?" Larenzo was confused. "We're here to seek friendship. We want nothing else but peace with your people"
"Yes I thought you might say that." the Kenzaton replied. "However, I don't believe you. I know what your real intentions are." The screen then changed back to the view of the planet.
"They cut off the transmission." Informed Hant.
Chapter 3
Larenzo found himself in his ready room again going over more reports. He sipped his hot coffee as he poured over them. This time these were the reports from his senior officers on the Kenzatons. They had only confirmed what he suspected so far. So far nothing helpful had turned up. His Science officer and engineer had been able to confirm that the Kenzatons did not in fact have the technological ability to block Federation channels nor detect them unless they were specifically directed to them. They had confirmed that they were indeed close to discovering warp technology and had in fact planned a test run within 6 months.
His security officer and Johnson had also turned up nothing new. The Kenzatons were indeed an extremely peaceful race. Their entire history showed them to be surprisingly peaceful, even compared to the most peaceful of races already members of the Federation. There were some skirmishes but no major battles recorded. Any comparison to Earths history would be an embarrassment. There was no political instability or terrorist, as was initially observed. All Kenzatons efforts seemed to go into their music, art and literature. Science was also a popular study although it was only in the last hundred years that it had looked into the possibility of space travel. Larenzo marvelled at such a quick development.
Doctor Munroe had also sent him a report on the biological aspects of Kenzato and the Kenzatons although he had not asked for one. Such initiative pleased him although his doubts about Munroe had not diminished. According to her report, the Kenzatons were humanoid. Their biochemistry was very similar to humans with only a few notable differences. The planet itself had lots of animal plant life but these areas were protected and kept separate from the cities. Their medical knowledge was extremely advanced and his crew could go down to the planet safely without picking up a strange disease.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Commander Johnson had finished helping the security chief study the Kenzatons. With the report finished he decided that it was time to take a tour of the ship. He already knew the layout of the ship fairly well. He was really trying to get to know the faces. Eventually he found himself outside sickbay. Captain Larenzo had asked him to keep an eye on their young doctor and so he decided that now was as good a time as any to get to know her. He straightened his uniform and walked through the sickbay doors.
Everything seemed relatively quiet. There were a few Ensigns wondering about checking equipment and filling trays next to bio beds. They were obviously preparing for any emergency as the Captain had ordered. He finally spotted Dr Munroe with a patient. The patient was a young boy and Dr Munroe was running an instrument over his wrist as she spoke to him in a gentle voice. Johnson was still surprised when he saw young on board. After the Dominion War had ended Starfleet had allowed families back on board star ships. Johnson was still getting used to the idea although he was not opposed to it.
With his arm mended the boy thanked the Doctor and then jumped up and was off out the door. Johnson watched the small woman tidy the medical instrument she had been using away. Her long dark hair was tied twisted up in a knot on her head. He wondered what it would look like to hang loose down her back. She turned to face him and caught him staring.
"Commander Johnson, can I help you?" Her voice sounded so small and fragile. Or was he imagining it after what he knew about her?
He smiled to reassure her that he was in no need for medical attention. "I was just working my way around the ship, trying to get to know the crew."
"Oh," Her body seemed to relax slightly. "In that case Commander I'm pleased to meet you."
She put her hand out with a smile. Johnson took it and shook her hand in the old fashioned gesture. "Pleased to meet you too Dr Munroe."
Munroe then began to tidy the tray next to the bio bed and checking the equipment "I don't want to appear rude but I hope you don't mind me continuing to work while you are here. I have a lot of work to do."
He guessed by her smile that she really wasn't trying to kick him out and so decided to stay a little longer. He folded his arms and leaned on the bed she was working next to. "I understand that you just transferred from the Lexington."
Her body stiffened and she put down the hypo spray she had been filling and turned to face him. Her dark eyes seemed to flash as she spoke. "Are you sure you came down here just to get to know the crew? Counsellor Trent was down here a few hours ago asking the same sort of questions."
Johnson raised an eyebrow, "Doctor it is my job to get to know the crew and their abilities. I came down here for that purpose."
"Of course," Munroe replied with an amused smile and continued with what she had been doing. "Yes Commander, in answer to your question. I transferred over from the Lexington."
He decided that continuing along this line was pointless. He could see that she was already on the defensive. Instead he asked her what she thought of the ship. He didn't stay much longer although the Doctor seemed friendly enough. He finished the rest of his tour before heading back to the bridge.
Arriving at their destination Larenzo had made sure both Johnson and Counsellor Trent were present for this. "Don't go too close. I want to observe the system before any of their sensors can pick us up."
"Aye Sir" Replied the officer at the helm and placed the ship in a high orbit.
From their position the planet looked beautiful. The oceans were almost purple in colour and the land was a radiant green with only a few tell tale signs of the cities. Larenzo shifted in his seat frowning. "Scan the system. See if you can detect anything abnormal." Going by the reports he could only help but think that an outside influence must be the cause of this planets problem.
"The scanners can detect nothing unusual." Replied his security chief Nezati Hant from behind him. "The radiation from the sun is a little higher than expected for this system but nothing else."
"Give me a close up of their Capital." There was an edge to his voice betraying the frustration he felt.
All of a sudden the planet was replaced by a close up of a city. The buildings were remarkable in structure and blended with the natural background. The beauty was marred only by the smoky haze. He could see that some of the buildings at the edge had been obliterated.
"What sort of weapons caused that?" He hoped that this would answer some of the questions that had been nagging at him.
Hant shook his head as his fingers glided over the tactical station. "Sorry sir, our sensors are being jammed."
"Jammed? How? From where?"
"I don't understand it myself." Came the reply. "The Kenzatons do not have the technology and yet the jamming signal is coming from the surface." Hant paused as his station beeped. "We're being hailed from the surface."
Larenzo raised an eyebrow. How did they know they were there? "Put it through."
A youngish man appeared on the screen sitting behind a desk. His skin was white with a tinge of blue and his hair was blue. He looked terrified "We know why you are here." The mans voice shook with uncertainty as he spoke. "I should warn you that you will fail. I advise you to turn back."
"Fail?" Larenzo was confused. "We're here to seek friendship. We want nothing else but peace with your people"
"Yes I thought you might say that." the Kenzaton replied. "However, I don't believe you. I know what your real intentions are." The screen then changed back to the view of the planet.
"They cut off the transmission." Informed Hant.