Still don't own Star Trek…It's an excellent bet I will never own Star Trek… (I wonder if I could get odds on that…)
Meredith: Keep throwing things at me; maybe one will connect. No. Wait. Ideas! I meant throw ideas! They're all very interesting…complicated but interesting. I'll think about it.
Elf/Vampire/Vulcan/Jedi/Saiyan: New aliens are always fun. I'll think about that too.
Ensign Expendable: Same message as above. And Ensign Jones does survive landing parties…he just gets a little beat up is all…
Everyone in general: As no one (and I include myself in that statement) knows anything about anyone's family, I'm posting with what I've got anyway. So we finally have the long-awaited letters home. (I really hope you haven't over-anticipated this…)
Part Four:
Letters Home
Various crewmembers are writing home to their parents regarding recent events on the Enterprise:
To: Sarek, Vulcan Ambassador, and Amanda Grayson; ShiKahr, Vulcan, Federation
From: Spock; U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701, currently orbiting Mycelia V
Re: Recent events in my life; especially: our investigations on Mycelia V
Mother and Father:
I trust all is well with you since my last letter, one standard week ago. Events have kept the crew of the Enterprise busy, though not with anything out of the usual course of Starfleet business. We are presently involved in studying Mycelia V, a class-M planet with an unusually large rainforest on its southern continent. I was part of a landing party that went down by shuttlecraft two standard days ago. We had to be careful to avoid revealing ourselves, as Mycelia V's rainforest is home to a primitive native culture.
We were successful in our avoidance of detection, but had some difficulties nonetheless. Primarily, we decided to go in separate directions upon landing, and, the rainforest looking nearly alike in every place, we all had some difficulties finding our way back to the shuttle. I myself slipped into this error, as I was studying the plant life too carefully and neglected to mark my way. It was a simple matter to find my way back by using certain natural signs to determine my directions, but even so I shall certainly be more careful on future missions.
The Captain in particular took an inordinate amount of time returning to the shuttlecraft. It seems he was in one of the native villages, studying the culture. He assures me he did not break the Prime Directive (by revealing that he was from another planet, which knowledge would effect the development of their society), and simply told the natives he was from a village in another part of the forest. I am doubtful regarding the wisdom of such close contact with the native people, but as there is no apparent damage done, it seems to have been harmless.
Mycelia V has several fascinating plant specimens, which I have collected and brought back to the ship to study. In particular, I found one plant that I do not believe has ever been seen on another planet the Federation has explored. From my preliminary studies, it shows signs of having powerful curative properties for several diseases. I shall study it further to determine if my theories regarding its possible uses are correct.
I shall inform you of further activities in my next letter.
Live Long and Prosper,
Spock
* * *
Dear Mom,
I know I promised to write a month ago. I also know you're going to berate me for it in your next letter, so I apologize right now. I'm sorry. I meant to. Honest. It's just that we've been busy lately.
First we had a Klingon on the ship. That was a mess. I took care of it though. We had to take some risks, but risks are our business. When man first looked at the stars…well, you know. We eventually captured the Klingon and locked him up in the brig. We'll hand him over to Federation authorities next time we arrive at a Starbase, in a couple weeks.
More recently, we came into orbit around Mycelia V. Starfleet wants us to study the planet and make a preliminary report on it. I led a landing party two days ago. We went down by shuttlecraft and landed in the rainforest. Then we all split up, to examine different parts of the jungle. I encountered some very beautiful women flowers. I did get lost at one point, but that turned out all right in the end. I happened across a native village. They're very attractive interesting. Fascinating people culture. It was risky contacting them, but risks are our business. When man first looked at the stars…anyway, I reduced the risk by telling them I was from another village on their planet. They seemed to believe me. It helped that the natives look just like particularly beautiful humans. And I learned a lot about their culture.
We're going to stay around Mycelia V for a week or two more. I'm planning to go down again to further study the women plants. So you don't have to worry about me, since there's nothing dangerous here. No Klingons, or Romulans, or anything else like that. A few wild animals and vicious plants, but that I can handle. I can handle Klingons and Romulans too of course. Even if it required a few risks. And risks are our business. When man first looked at the stars—Spock just called from the bridge. I've gotta go. Duty calls.
I'll try to write again soon.
Love,
Jim
* * *
A/N: I regret that I can't give you Chekov's letter to read. It's written in Russian (writing was a Russian inwention, you know). If you speak Russian, that's great. I, unfortunately, do not. So we don't actually have a letter from Chekov. Just a Chekov-joke.
* * *
Dear Mom and Dad,
I've been keeping busy since I got out of Sickbay last week. Dr. McCoy says I've made a full recovery, although he's still not clear on how I got trampled in the first place.
We've been orbiting Mycelia V for the last three days. It's a nice enough place. I was in the landing party two days ago. We took a shuttlecraft down. I had a little trouble getting into the shuttlecraft, but Dr. McCoy says it's only a minor bruise. The surface was rather interesting. Lot of plants. I ran into some difficulties though. First I got lost. Then I was eaten by a plant. Don't worry; they rescued me after a few hours. Dr. McCoy thinks I might end up with a phobia of Venus Fly Traps, but I rarely encounter one anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem. (As a general rule, I find it wise to avoid carnivorous plants of any sort.)
I had a rather strange experience yesterday. I was trying to order ice cream from the replicator. (I wanted something cold and soft after I banged my jaw earlier that day.) The replicator was having some technical difficulties, and hurled dead fish at me. No lasting damage fortunately, although it was rather unpleasant at the time.
On the plus side, life certainly has not been boring. Hope all is well with you.
Love,
Ensign Jones
* * *
To all my readers,
So there they were. Are. Whatever. Letters have been posted. For anyone disappointed in Chekov's Russian letter, he will be back in person next chapter, which should be "Encountering Cats." Hope all is well with you.
I'll try to post again soon.
Live Long and Prosper,
Tavia