Authors Note: Sorry for the delay. Have been ill and so it has taken me
longer to get this chapter posted. (
Chapter 6
Dr Munroe and Commander Johnson were escorted by four guards to the area of the city which had been devastated by the attack. They travelled on foot which gave them a chance to get a proper look at the city. Louise remembered reading from the reports Starfleet had sent that the Kenzatons only used hover cars when travelling long distances. The rest of the time they travelled on foot. It had something to do with not wanting to disturb the natural life of the planet. It was something Earth had learned the hard way. The Federation could certainly learn a lot from these people.
As they walked along the streets passing by homes Louise was struck by the open nature of the buildings. All the doors were open. Such a trusting race. On one or two doorsteps Kenzatons sat playing music. One instrument she saw looked very much like a flute and another like a small harp. The melodies were sad and mourning. It brought a lump to Louise's throat. Children played freely in the streets, finished with their lessons for the day. She understood that Kenzaton children spent much of their time outdoors. Most of their lessons wee spent learning from the natural environment. Louise couldn't imagine being taught away from class rooms.
They reached a square with a fountain in the centre. Louise guessed this to be the place where the Kenzatons congregated. A few Kenzatons sat reading to a small, rapt audience. It sounded like fiction but they didn't hear enough for Louise to know for sure. Another Kenzaton sat with a sketch book. While other sat chatting or debating. It almost reminded her of the romantic books her mother used to read which were set in places like Italy.
They passed the square and moved down another street almost identical to the first one. Plants, flowers and trees were everywhere. It was all so beautiful and vibrant. The sun warmed her face and it seemed like such a perfect day. The glares they received from the Kenzatons they passed prevented her from slipping into fantasy. She could see from the stiffness of Johnson's shoulders that he too had noticed the looks they were getting. Looks of accusation, sorrow and worst of all questioning looks. Looks which said 'why did you do this to us'? Louise tried to look away as she followed the guards.
As they neared the end of the street signs of damage became evident. There were cracks on the walls of buildings and dust on the path. One or two trees had been knocked to the ground. The last building had taken damage to its roof but looked as though it was being repaired. Each street they passed showed more and more signs of damage. They reached the end of another street and the smell of burning grew stronger. She could also smell death and decay. The effect caught her throat almost making her gag. As the turned the corner she gasped in shock. The buildings here were just grey husks. Dull and lifeless! At least the ones that were still standing were. The air seemed to be filled with death. Johnson continued walking and had his tricorder in hand taking readings. Louise followed suit but didn't need a tricorder to tell her that nothing was alive. They stepped closer to one area which had been completely flattened. Johnson crouched down as he continued to scan the area.
Johnson turned to her with narrow eyes and face flushed, "This was no Federation attack," he whispered.
"Who did it then?" She asked, not really surprised that the attack had been done by Starfleet.
"Cardassians," he growled.
Louise looked at the tricorder readings in disbelief. How is that possible? There had been no sign of Cardassians in the area. In fact there had been no signs of Cardassians anywhere in months.
Johnson got up and began to move away briskly, "We need to speak with President Makell." He said sharply to the guards.
They all began to move away briskly and Louise had to jog a little to keep up.
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"I want to know how Cardassians are involved in this. I also want to know what the hell they want," demanded Captain Lorenzo.
Once the medical team had cleared the scientists Captain Larenzo called a meeting. They were seated in the conference room along with his science officer Lt Ber'an and Chief Engineer Lt Mela. So far they hadn't been very forthcoming with information and Larenzo was beginning to lose patience. His voice was slowly rising and his last yell had caused a few of the scientists to jump. It also caused Lt Ber'an to yet again raise an eyebrow. He swore to himself that if she did that one more time he was going to shave that eyebrow off.
"All I know is that before we were sedated I saw a Cardassian with one of the Kenzatons," explained Dr Pernell.
"Really!" Snapped Larenzo. "And you have no idea why?"
Pernell shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat.
"You must have some idea as to why Cardassian would come all the way out here when their own world is in bad need of repair." Larenzo prompted.
Still he received no answer.
This time Ber'an spoke up, "It is illogical of you to withhold this information from us. Starfleet is being held responsible for this attack. The information you hold could help us to refute this accusation."
Larenzo continued where Ber'an left off, "Starfleet wants us to make sure that the Kenzatons eventually join the Federation. At the moment that is not going to happen."
"You will probably guess most of it eventually," Pernell finally said. " The Kenzatons have discovered organic technology. The ship they plan to use for their first warp flight is also organic. Until than all forms of organic technology has been fairly simple. There has never been anything like this ship before."
Lt Mela's interest was piqued. The Federation had never been able to develop organic technology and here Pernell was offhandedly describing the Kenzaton technology as 'simple'. "In what way is this ship different?" she asked frowning.
Pernell sighed and then continued, "This ship has the ability to regenerate quickly. Should the ship be struck by anything as it travels then it will heal in a matter of seconds."
"How is that possible?" Mela asked ignoring the sigh.
"We don't know. Even the simplest form of organic technology is too complicated for us to understand."
"What about weapons?" Larenzo asked. His mind shuddered at the type of weapons that could be created using organic technology.
Pernell shook his head, "The Kenzatons have no weapons. Everything we reported on that is true. They are peaceful people and hold all life sacred."
Ber'an had already worked out the rest, "The Cardassians may feel that once they get a hold of this technology they can develop weapons themselves."
"In the meantime they have the ships they need to rebuild their Empire," finished Larenzo.
"I think it is about time we spoke with the President." Larenzo then got up and left for the bridge with Ber'an and mela close behind him.
Chapter 6
Dr Munroe and Commander Johnson were escorted by four guards to the area of the city which had been devastated by the attack. They travelled on foot which gave them a chance to get a proper look at the city. Louise remembered reading from the reports Starfleet had sent that the Kenzatons only used hover cars when travelling long distances. The rest of the time they travelled on foot. It had something to do with not wanting to disturb the natural life of the planet. It was something Earth had learned the hard way. The Federation could certainly learn a lot from these people.
As they walked along the streets passing by homes Louise was struck by the open nature of the buildings. All the doors were open. Such a trusting race. On one or two doorsteps Kenzatons sat playing music. One instrument she saw looked very much like a flute and another like a small harp. The melodies were sad and mourning. It brought a lump to Louise's throat. Children played freely in the streets, finished with their lessons for the day. She understood that Kenzaton children spent much of their time outdoors. Most of their lessons wee spent learning from the natural environment. Louise couldn't imagine being taught away from class rooms.
They reached a square with a fountain in the centre. Louise guessed this to be the place where the Kenzatons congregated. A few Kenzatons sat reading to a small, rapt audience. It sounded like fiction but they didn't hear enough for Louise to know for sure. Another Kenzaton sat with a sketch book. While other sat chatting or debating. It almost reminded her of the romantic books her mother used to read which were set in places like Italy.
They passed the square and moved down another street almost identical to the first one. Plants, flowers and trees were everywhere. It was all so beautiful and vibrant. The sun warmed her face and it seemed like such a perfect day. The glares they received from the Kenzatons they passed prevented her from slipping into fantasy. She could see from the stiffness of Johnson's shoulders that he too had noticed the looks they were getting. Looks of accusation, sorrow and worst of all questioning looks. Looks which said 'why did you do this to us'? Louise tried to look away as she followed the guards.
As they neared the end of the street signs of damage became evident. There were cracks on the walls of buildings and dust on the path. One or two trees had been knocked to the ground. The last building had taken damage to its roof but looked as though it was being repaired. Each street they passed showed more and more signs of damage. They reached the end of another street and the smell of burning grew stronger. She could also smell death and decay. The effect caught her throat almost making her gag. As the turned the corner she gasped in shock. The buildings here were just grey husks. Dull and lifeless! At least the ones that were still standing were. The air seemed to be filled with death. Johnson continued walking and had his tricorder in hand taking readings. Louise followed suit but didn't need a tricorder to tell her that nothing was alive. They stepped closer to one area which had been completely flattened. Johnson crouched down as he continued to scan the area.
Johnson turned to her with narrow eyes and face flushed, "This was no Federation attack," he whispered.
"Who did it then?" She asked, not really surprised that the attack had been done by Starfleet.
"Cardassians," he growled.
Louise looked at the tricorder readings in disbelief. How is that possible? There had been no sign of Cardassians in the area. In fact there had been no signs of Cardassians anywhere in months.
Johnson got up and began to move away briskly, "We need to speak with President Makell." He said sharply to the guards.
They all began to move away briskly and Louise had to jog a little to keep up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
"I want to know how Cardassians are involved in this. I also want to know what the hell they want," demanded Captain Lorenzo.
Once the medical team had cleared the scientists Captain Larenzo called a meeting. They were seated in the conference room along with his science officer Lt Ber'an and Chief Engineer Lt Mela. So far they hadn't been very forthcoming with information and Larenzo was beginning to lose patience. His voice was slowly rising and his last yell had caused a few of the scientists to jump. It also caused Lt Ber'an to yet again raise an eyebrow. He swore to himself that if she did that one more time he was going to shave that eyebrow off.
"All I know is that before we were sedated I saw a Cardassian with one of the Kenzatons," explained Dr Pernell.
"Really!" Snapped Larenzo. "And you have no idea why?"
Pernell shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat.
"You must have some idea as to why Cardassian would come all the way out here when their own world is in bad need of repair." Larenzo prompted.
Still he received no answer.
This time Ber'an spoke up, "It is illogical of you to withhold this information from us. Starfleet is being held responsible for this attack. The information you hold could help us to refute this accusation."
Larenzo continued where Ber'an left off, "Starfleet wants us to make sure that the Kenzatons eventually join the Federation. At the moment that is not going to happen."
"You will probably guess most of it eventually," Pernell finally said. " The Kenzatons have discovered organic technology. The ship they plan to use for their first warp flight is also organic. Until than all forms of organic technology has been fairly simple. There has never been anything like this ship before."
Lt Mela's interest was piqued. The Federation had never been able to develop organic technology and here Pernell was offhandedly describing the Kenzaton technology as 'simple'. "In what way is this ship different?" she asked frowning.
Pernell sighed and then continued, "This ship has the ability to regenerate quickly. Should the ship be struck by anything as it travels then it will heal in a matter of seconds."
"How is that possible?" Mela asked ignoring the sigh.
"We don't know. Even the simplest form of organic technology is too complicated for us to understand."
"What about weapons?" Larenzo asked. His mind shuddered at the type of weapons that could be created using organic technology.
Pernell shook his head, "The Kenzatons have no weapons. Everything we reported on that is true. They are peaceful people and hold all life sacred."
Ber'an had already worked out the rest, "The Cardassians may feel that once they get a hold of this technology they can develop weapons themselves."
"In the meantime they have the ships they need to rebuild their Empire," finished Larenzo.
"I think it is about time we spoke with the President." Larenzo then got up and left for the bridge with Ber'an and mela close behind him.