Captain's log, stardate 41463.9. While mapping the Pleiades Cluster, we've been asked by the Federation to visit a group terraforming Velara Three. A seemingly impossible accident with a drilling laser has resulted in the serious injury of one terraforming engineer, and we may finally have identified a motive for the attack.

The observation lounge was full, containing not only the senior staff but the three remaining members of the Velara Three team. On the display, a crystalline structure glowed and shifted.

"You're saying this… rock had something to do with the accident?" Director Mandl scoffed.

"You recognize the structure?" Soriana pressed, more a statement than a question.

"Yes, we've seen something like it a few times on the surface. But how would it have caused the laser to malfunction?"

"The layers of the crystal have piezoelectric properties," Data explained. "In conjunction with energy storage and conduction functions, the configuration uses a control scheme analogous to that of our digital computers."

"So it's possible," the designer, Luisa, followed, "that it interfered with the drill's control circuits?"

"The mechanism is there, but not the behavior," Doctor Crusher explained. "Data described the laser as tracking and anticipating his movements, which would require something resembling intelligence. This crystal has nowhere near the sophistication necessary to carry out such a set of instructions."

"So we might call it something like 'life,' but not intelligence. We need to learn more," Picard decided. "Mister Data, beam it into a quarantined lab so you and Doctor Crusher can continue to work on establishing what it is."

"I'm not sure we should do that, sir," Soriana spoke up. When the captain nodded for her to continue, she explained, "If the crystal does constitute life, or an analog to life, then it's part of a natural environment down there on the planet. Do we know what effect removing it will have? Worse, if we hypothesize some intelligence may be involved as well, we get into Prime Directive issues with removing an organism from the planet without their permission."

Crusher said, "But testing and analyzing it on Velara Three should also have unknown effects on the environment."

"True," Data offered, "but we can minimize those effects by limiting our analysis to passive scans, and staying in the terraforming station as much as possible."

"This is ridiculous," Mandl complained. "We were assured numerous times that this planet was entirely devoid of life. We've collectively invested years of work, here, and you expect us to abandon it over a rock?"

"If that rock turns out to be native life, then yes," Picard replied simply. "Doctor Crusher, Mister Data. Carry out your experiments on the planet with minimum intrusion into the natural environment. Let's see what we can determine."

*****

Captain's log, supplemental. Doctor Crusher is in critical condition following an all-out attack of the station's systems on her and Lieutenant Commander Data. Fortunately, my chief science officer was able to establish a communication relay with the inorganic life forms before being forced to vacate.

"They are saying something, sir," Data reported from his station at ops.

"Play it, Mister Data."

"Question: we speak to the hydrogen-oxygen-carbon chaotic fractal network self-contained in water?"

"What?" Yar exclaimed.

Data explained, "Sir, I believe that's a description of an organic brain."

"Send a response," the captain ordered. "Yes, we are carbon-based intelligences. We have left the surface of the planet and now orbit above it."

"Chaotic creatures. You killed many of us. You ignored our attempts to speak. Now we are at war."

Picard composed a response. "We did not understand. No killing is wanted. We wish to be at peace."

"No peace," the translated voice insisted. "Question: Chaotic creatures can survive without the world?"

"Yes, we live on many other worlds, and between worlds."

"Then leave this world to us. If chaotic beings return, we will kill you."

"Sir, may I?" Soriana asked. At Picard's nod, she said, "We gather information. Can we speak with you from above the world, if we do not come there?"

There was a greater pause before another translated message. "We have this dome. We will keep it. When chaotic creatures speak through this dome, we will hear. An answer is not promised."

Picard wanted to try one more question. "Is there anything we could give you, as apology for the harm we caused?"

"No. Stay away."

Captain's log, stardate 41464.8. A warning beacon has been placed in orbit above Velara Three. Starfleet science vessels are already vying to be the first to speak with this new species of intelligent, silicon-based life. Given some time, we can hopefully repair the damage done by this accidentally violent first contact.