Chapter 4
Larenzo looked at the main viewer in disbelief. "What the hell was that all about?" He asked angrily
The counsellor looked just as confused as he did. That made a change and actually pleased him a little. "Whatever it was," came Trent's reply. "They are afraid of us. I would guess that they now know about our scientists. They might actually still be alive."
"Hmmm, well I want answers," he glared. Looking up to Hant he continued." Hail them."
"This is Captain Larenzo of the USS Pegasus. Whether you wish to believe it or not we are on a peace keeping mission. We have no wish to fight with you. However, we know that you know about our scientists and we are not leaving until they are returned to us."
Larenzo could see the look of surprise on Counsellor Trent's face and he understood why. Starfleet probably weren't going to like it when they heard that he was threatening the Kenzatons and breaking every rule in the book.
"Is that really such a good idea?" Trent whispered making sure only Larenzo heard.
Larenzo just gave him a look as if to say 'I know what I am doing'. Had it been anyone else questioning him he would have reprimanded them on the spot.
The screen came to life again and the same Kenzaton appeared. "We have your scientists but we did not think that you would admit to them being here." He paused for a second and almost looked as though he was listening to someone else. "Very well, you may bring down one of your shuttles. You will find that you will be unable to use your transporter devices." The image of the planet came back again.
This was the second time today Larenzo had been cut off. He really wasn't used to that and at the moment he wanted to hit something. He was able to keep it under control as it wouldn't do for the crew to see the Captain lose it on their first mission.
"Johnson get down there," he growled. "Find out what the hell is going on. I want to know how they know so much about us. Trent you go with him. Pleas try and repair some of the damage."
Johnson sprang to life and nodded to the security officer, "Hant". Johnson then tapped his com badge "Johnson to Dr Munroe. Report to shuttle bay one."
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Doctor Munroe looked around her as she followed the others. When the shuttle landed they were met by what she guessed to be the Kenzaton version of police. There were six of them in all and they hadn't said a word since telling the away team that they were to follow them. They had landed in what appeared to be gardens. The grass was so green, greener than she would have thought possible. The path they were led along was just a dirt path and was lined with trees. The trees were very similar to the pine trees back on Earth. The scent was certainly just as sweet. Louise thought that this would be an ideal place to rest. The sun was streaming down and she could hear what sounded like birds. She could almost feel some of the tension she had been feeling ebb away.
Almost! The situation they were in was hardly ideal. They moved away from the dirt path and onto a gravel one. As they crunched along the path and moved away from the trees she could detect a hint of smoke in the air. Just a reminder that all was not well here. They reached a building which seemed to have grown from the ground. It lacked any sharp edges which was probably what gave her this impression. Even the windows had a curve to them. They were led through a door and along a corridor until they reached some sort of conference room. Before them, behind an oblong table, sat several Kenzatons.
Louise stood between Johnson and Hant. She felt secure standing between them and was angry at herself for feeling that way. Since her last mission she had never truly felt at ease. Johnson she could tell was a little tense but his face showed nothing but calm. Hant on the other hand seemed perfectly relaxed. His expression was one of almost amusement. She couldn't see Counsellor Trent from where she was standing as he was on the opposite side of Johnson. Johnson's attention seemed to be on the Kenzaton in the middle. She guessed him to be the Kenzaton who contacted the ship. He seemed nervous and maybe a little afraid although he tried not to show it.
The same Kenzaton stood to introduce himself. "I am President Makell and I speak for my people."
Johnson nodded and then introduced him and the rest of the team. "I am Commander Daniel Johnson, second in Command of the USS Pegasus. This is Counsellor Trent, Dr Louise Munroe and Lt. Nezati Hant."
Louise nodded to the president as she was introduced. When Johnson began introducing each of his staff the President seemed surprised. She wondered why.
Johnson continued. "We are here to request that our scientists are returned to us. We are also here to make amends for whatever it is you believe we have done."
Makell laughed bitterly. "Whatever it is we believe you to have done? Spying, is that not enough for you? Commander Johnson let me tell you something about my people. We are a very honest people. Lying and deceit was unknown to us. We learned of these things over the past few days thanks to you. However, that is the least of your crimes."
Louise almost showed the shock she was feeling. What other crimes? Had their scientists done something they shouldn't have? Maybe they hadn't stayed as secluded as they had claimed. She hoped they were still alive. So far the Kenzatons hadn't said anything relating to the health of the scientists.
Almost as if reading her mind Johnson's next request was related to the scientists. "Perhaps our Doctor can go and see our scientists. While we are waiting we can continue this discussion. I would like to know what other crimes we are being accused of committing." Johnson's jaw was set as if preparing for an argument.
President Makell sighed. "Yes, we will allow that. I doubt that you will have anything to say that I wish to hear. We have no way of trusting you and you fully admit a lack of understanding concerning the crimes your kind has committed."
Makell signalled to one of the police who had escorted them. "Please show their Doctor to their scientists."
Louise moved to follow the Kenzaton guard out when she noticed Johnson nodding to Hant to go with her. She was about to protest but thought better of it. She really was far too defensive these days. No matter whom it was they would not have been allowed to go alone. There was no reason for her to feel singled out. She waited for Hant and then they both followed the guard out. They ended up back outside and to another building nearby. This one was smaller but heavily guarded. They were eventually led to a room which seemed to be a temporary hospital ward. On the beds lay several humans and a few Kenzatons move about them.
Louise left Hant to do what ever he wished as she got to work. She reached the first scientist and began taking scans. The young man had a bad concussion but it had already been treated and was in fact just resting now. She detected a form of sedative in his system. She then moved onto the next scientist and found the same thing. Each of the scientists had been treated and were now recovering or resting. She was astounded that these people had the medical knowledge to treat aliens so successfully. She knew from the reports that their medical knowledge was extremely advanced but she hadn't realised to what extent.
Hant then approached her as she almost reached the last patient. He also had his tricorder out. He was pretending to scan the patients the same as she was but was actually scanning the surrounding building. He handed his tricorder to her. "What do you make of this?" He asked sounding a little astounded.
Louise took the tricorder from him and had a look. Hant had been scanning the building and some of the readings he had gotten were a little odd. She frowned and scanned the building a second time for herself just to be safe. She looked up at him confused.
"These walls appear to be organic." She whispered back.
Larenzo looked at the main viewer in disbelief. "What the hell was that all about?" He asked angrily
The counsellor looked just as confused as he did. That made a change and actually pleased him a little. "Whatever it was," came Trent's reply. "They are afraid of us. I would guess that they now know about our scientists. They might actually still be alive."
"Hmmm, well I want answers," he glared. Looking up to Hant he continued." Hail them."
"This is Captain Larenzo of the USS Pegasus. Whether you wish to believe it or not we are on a peace keeping mission. We have no wish to fight with you. However, we know that you know about our scientists and we are not leaving until they are returned to us."
Larenzo could see the look of surprise on Counsellor Trent's face and he understood why. Starfleet probably weren't going to like it when they heard that he was threatening the Kenzatons and breaking every rule in the book.
"Is that really such a good idea?" Trent whispered making sure only Larenzo heard.
Larenzo just gave him a look as if to say 'I know what I am doing'. Had it been anyone else questioning him he would have reprimanded them on the spot.
The screen came to life again and the same Kenzaton appeared. "We have your scientists but we did not think that you would admit to them being here." He paused for a second and almost looked as though he was listening to someone else. "Very well, you may bring down one of your shuttles. You will find that you will be unable to use your transporter devices." The image of the planet came back again.
This was the second time today Larenzo had been cut off. He really wasn't used to that and at the moment he wanted to hit something. He was able to keep it under control as it wouldn't do for the crew to see the Captain lose it on their first mission.
"Johnson get down there," he growled. "Find out what the hell is going on. I want to know how they know so much about us. Trent you go with him. Pleas try and repair some of the damage."
Johnson sprang to life and nodded to the security officer, "Hant". Johnson then tapped his com badge "Johnson to Dr Munroe. Report to shuttle bay one."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Doctor Munroe looked around her as she followed the others. When the shuttle landed they were met by what she guessed to be the Kenzaton version of police. There were six of them in all and they hadn't said a word since telling the away team that they were to follow them. They had landed in what appeared to be gardens. The grass was so green, greener than she would have thought possible. The path they were led along was just a dirt path and was lined with trees. The trees were very similar to the pine trees back on Earth. The scent was certainly just as sweet. Louise thought that this would be an ideal place to rest. The sun was streaming down and she could hear what sounded like birds. She could almost feel some of the tension she had been feeling ebb away.
Almost! The situation they were in was hardly ideal. They moved away from the dirt path and onto a gravel one. As they crunched along the path and moved away from the trees she could detect a hint of smoke in the air. Just a reminder that all was not well here. They reached a building which seemed to have grown from the ground. It lacked any sharp edges which was probably what gave her this impression. Even the windows had a curve to them. They were led through a door and along a corridor until they reached some sort of conference room. Before them, behind an oblong table, sat several Kenzatons.
Louise stood between Johnson and Hant. She felt secure standing between them and was angry at herself for feeling that way. Since her last mission she had never truly felt at ease. Johnson she could tell was a little tense but his face showed nothing but calm. Hant on the other hand seemed perfectly relaxed. His expression was one of almost amusement. She couldn't see Counsellor Trent from where she was standing as he was on the opposite side of Johnson. Johnson's attention seemed to be on the Kenzaton in the middle. She guessed him to be the Kenzaton who contacted the ship. He seemed nervous and maybe a little afraid although he tried not to show it.
The same Kenzaton stood to introduce himself. "I am President Makell and I speak for my people."
Johnson nodded and then introduced him and the rest of the team. "I am Commander Daniel Johnson, second in Command of the USS Pegasus. This is Counsellor Trent, Dr Louise Munroe and Lt. Nezati Hant."
Louise nodded to the president as she was introduced. When Johnson began introducing each of his staff the President seemed surprised. She wondered why.
Johnson continued. "We are here to request that our scientists are returned to us. We are also here to make amends for whatever it is you believe we have done."
Makell laughed bitterly. "Whatever it is we believe you to have done? Spying, is that not enough for you? Commander Johnson let me tell you something about my people. We are a very honest people. Lying and deceit was unknown to us. We learned of these things over the past few days thanks to you. However, that is the least of your crimes."
Louise almost showed the shock she was feeling. What other crimes? Had their scientists done something they shouldn't have? Maybe they hadn't stayed as secluded as they had claimed. She hoped they were still alive. So far the Kenzatons hadn't said anything relating to the health of the scientists.
Almost as if reading her mind Johnson's next request was related to the scientists. "Perhaps our Doctor can go and see our scientists. While we are waiting we can continue this discussion. I would like to know what other crimes we are being accused of committing." Johnson's jaw was set as if preparing for an argument.
President Makell sighed. "Yes, we will allow that. I doubt that you will have anything to say that I wish to hear. We have no way of trusting you and you fully admit a lack of understanding concerning the crimes your kind has committed."
Makell signalled to one of the police who had escorted them. "Please show their Doctor to their scientists."
Louise moved to follow the Kenzaton guard out when she noticed Johnson nodding to Hant to go with her. She was about to protest but thought better of it. She really was far too defensive these days. No matter whom it was they would not have been allowed to go alone. There was no reason for her to feel singled out. She waited for Hant and then they both followed the guard out. They ended up back outside and to another building nearby. This one was smaller but heavily guarded. They were eventually led to a room which seemed to be a temporary hospital ward. On the beds lay several humans and a few Kenzatons move about them.
Louise left Hant to do what ever he wished as she got to work. She reached the first scientist and began taking scans. The young man had a bad concussion but it had already been treated and was in fact just resting now. She detected a form of sedative in his system. She then moved onto the next scientist and found the same thing. Each of the scientists had been treated and were now recovering or resting. She was astounded that these people had the medical knowledge to treat aliens so successfully. She knew from the reports that their medical knowledge was extremely advanced but she hadn't realised to what extent.
Hant then approached her as she almost reached the last patient. He also had his tricorder out. He was pretending to scan the patients the same as she was but was actually scanning the surrounding building. He handed his tricorder to her. "What do you make of this?" He asked sounding a little astounded.
Louise took the tricorder from him and had a look. Hant had been scanning the building and some of the readings he had gotten were a little odd. She frowned and scanned the building a second time for herself just to be safe. She looked up at him confused.
"These walls appear to be organic." She whispered back.