I Thought You Said There Were No Human Life Forms On This Planet!

"Coffee, black."

A cup of steaming hot coffee instantly materialized, and Kathryn picked it up, savoring the aroma. Outside the ready room window, stars flew by at warp speed, and Kathryn gazed at them a moment before making her way to her desk. Just as she was about to sit down, the doors opened and Chakotay came in. Kathryn smiled warmly. "Good morning."

Chakotay smiled in return. "Good morning. I bring good news."

"You've found a way to get us home?" Kathryn said half-teasing, half-serious.

"No, not as good. B'Elanna just got the warp core and impulse engines online."

Kathryn stood up and smiled, "Great, go tell Tom to set course towards the planet. We might to be doing some mining."

"Energize," Kathryn said. In a matter of seconds, she and the first group of away team were on the planet. They had gotten lucky. The planet was M Class and looked much like Earth. Tropical rainforests, hot deserts, beaches, everything but it was not the real Earth. No human life forms though, just a couple of wild birds.

"We could take a vacation here!" Tom exclaimed.

Kathryn laughed, "If you keep that up, you might just convince me." Kathryn scanned the area and pointed in a direction south "The readings are coming from that directions, towards the mountain." She said and headed of, Chakotay right beside her and Tom, Tuvok, and B'Elanna following.

"It would be nice to take a vacation here, don't you think?" Kathryn asked.

"Yes. It would give the crew a chance to relax for a while, giving the circumstances on this past month. They deserve it."

"Right. Tom, when we get back, tell the crew to thank you." She said over her shoulder.

"Why Captain?"

"Vacation Tom! Ever heard of it?" Kathryn joked.

Tom laughed. "Yes ma'am!"

The rest of the journey was quiet except for an occasional small talk. When they reached the mountains, Tuvok scanned the perimeter. "Captain, there is an entrance approximately one mile right. The is the only entrance and the dilithium is inside."

"Alright, lets go." Kathryn said, but a noise to her left stopped her. She drew her laser, as did everyone else.

"Hello?" Chakotay said into the thick dense forest surrounding the mountains.

Silence.

Then there was more rustling and they heard a branch break.

Then nothing.

"Anyone?"

"My tricorder's not picking up any life signs except birds," Chakotay replied, scanning the area thoroughly.

Kathryn sighed and turned back to the away team. She was about to speak when Chakotay spoke up. Wait a minute," he said. "I'm picking up something."

Kathryn moved over to his position and, as she did so, found her tricorder picked up a life sign aswell.

"500 yards away," she said. "Immature female….human."

Chakotay looked up at her. "How is that possible? I thought you said there were no human life forms on the planet?"

"I don't know," Kathryn replied. "Perhaps our sensors were unable to detect them for some reason."

"I agree Captain," Tom said and B'Elanna nodded.

"Right. Looks like we're not going to have that vacation after all, but we need the dilithium. Any suggestions?"

"I believe we should go back to the ship Captain. We are already in vile of the Prime Directive."

"What if she's the only one here. We cant just leave her here!" B'Elanna argued.

Kathryn sighed, "Tuvok, you, Tom, and B'Elanna go back to the ship. Chakotay and I will look for the girl."

"Captain.."

"No buts Tuvok. B'Elanna might be right. She could be the only one here. Go." As soon as they were gone from sight, she turned to her fist officer. "Lead the way."