Genre: StarTrek: The Next Generation

Title: New Civilizations

Summary: The visitors leave a gift

Chapter 5

Within the hour, as a courtesy, all available officers were on the transport deck, ready to greet the arriving Kronatina. As it happened, Beverly was standing across the room from Troi, and D'Jang as their guests arrived. Within seconds of the materialization, she noticed the puzzled expressions on both of their faces. Neither one said anything, though, and since there seemed to be no danger and no further concern, Beverly let the matter slip from her mind.

Perhaps it was the Kronatina's reaction, that had puzzled the two; as the sparkles cleared from their bodies, they all jumped and actually showed signs of bolting. Whether it was the abruptness of the transportation or the strange surroundings, they seemed to come close to panicking but within seconds, calmed down and stood quietly while waiting for their hosts to make the first move.

The Kronatina were all two meters tall or better, clumsy looking, two armed bipeds, covered in shaggy grey fur, squarely and heavily built. Even their pug nosed faces were so covered in fur they looked flat. For clothing, they wore only broad colored belts with matching shoulder halters, and, incongruous with the minimal body decoration, large feathered headdresses. Each 'hat' was fashioned to look like some sort of creature, which hugged the slightly larger than human sized head of the Kronatina. Each had a broad, carapace-covered head with two small, colored stones for eyes. The bodies of the hats, projecting out from the backs of the skulls, were covered in long, multicolored feather-like tendrils, which swept down, over the fur covered backs and shoulders.

At just the right moment Captain Picard stepped forward, opening his arms and showing the palms of his hands in the universal gesture of peaceful intentions. "Welcome to the Enterprise, the largest and most technologically advanced starship in the Federation. I am Captain JeanLuc Picard and this is my first officer, Commander William Riker." He gestured to the others. "These are a few of the ship's officers. They'll introduce themselves as time and opportunity permits."

Stepping from the transporter platform, one of the Kronatina bent down slightly to the shorter captain. As he spoke, his body jerked and lurched so that the feathers of his headdress bobbed about, and his voice sounding something like a large goat's bleat. "I am A's'kahn'a. We are with those who will introduce as we meet. We are sure we will feel honored. We are here to see and to learn. Please show us."

"Welcome, oh, representatives of Kron. We have prepared another room with displays and refreshments. Won't you join us? Please, follow me." The Captain swept his arm towards the door in invitation.

The twelve officers divided themselves evenly among the five Kronatina; Captain Picard, Commander Riker and Doctor Crusher teaming with the A's'kahn'a'. The rest grouped around the remaining aliens, escorting them out of the transport room and down the corridor, introducing themselves as they walked.

Picard immediately decided he'd have to compliment Guinan on her efforts as soon as they arrived in the reception room. The walls had been decorated with holographic views of the interior of the ship, as well charts showing the layouts of several of the decks. Tables set up with scale models of the Enterprise and several other Starfleet ships, as well as models of the Kron ships, meant to display the relative size of each, were scattered among tables of food. One section of one wall was devoted to working models of some of the devices on the ship including a replicator. A holographic reproduction, showing the planet below, complete with existing weather patterns, revolved in mid-air above the central food table.

After a short speech from Commander Riker explaining the purpose of a Federation Starship, the Kronatina were invited to examine the displays and to try a few of the refreshments. The officers had already been briefed to remind their guests that the food had not been brought up from Kron, but had been reproduced in a replicator, the idea being, not to sell replicator technology, but to introduce Federation good will. Oddly, the food, all of it vegetarian per the First Contact reports, was carefully ignored by the visitors.

The officers shifted around from Kronatt to Kronatt, introduced themselves, explained their duties, and politely inquired about each guest. At one point, both Dr. Crusher and Deanna, together, were introducing themselves to an elegantly feathered alien.

"Oh, no, "Beverly was saying, "I only treat sentient beings. We have another medical doctor on board who specializes in animals." Dr. Crusher looked around the room. "I don't see her, right now though."

"She was called away almost as soon as our guests had arrived," explained Deanna. She turned to the furred guest. "You seem to have a special curiosity about the separation between the medical treatment of animals and sentients."

"We do not separate. Our lives are so intertwined with our animals who are also our companions, our friends, when they get sick it is as if we, ourselves, are ill."

Dr. Crusher sighed slightly. "I think you'd enjoy talking with Dr. T'Shing. It's a shame she isn't here. She believes that animals should be much more highly regarded than they are among sentient beings of the Federation. I hope, M'n'kahn'a, that she will return before your visit here is over."

"Yes, I believe we would find her very interesting." The alien moved vigorously while speaking. "We shall wait for her arrival."

Try as they might to engage M'n'kahn'a in conversation for the following half hour, Deanna and Beverly couldn't get a reply. The alien stood passively listening to the two women as they did their best to enjoin him. Apparently, waiting included doing nothing else meanwhile.

Finally, Captain Picard called for the attention of the group. "I am informed that it is now time for us to reconvene on Kron." With a few remarks about looking forward to seeing the planet below, as well as engaging in exploration of paths to a future alliance, the captain then encouraged everyone to go back to the transport room. The ceremonies were over, almost.

Avoiding being ushered out, the chief spokesman, A's'kahn'a raised an arm and shuffled forward a few steps, inclining slightly forward, which the humans had come to recognize as the indication that he was about to address them. The feathered headdress waving, he said, "We are honored to visit such a fine home vehicle. With the first visit from the people of your federation, you impressed us. We learned much then and we would like to learn more. You have talked of our perhaps joining you. We would like you to join with us. We would like to leave a Kronatt here with you, so that you might become better acquainted with us."

Captain Picard was about to reply that no plans had been made host a Kronatt on board the Enterprise for any length of time. Although they very probably could, with no discomfort either to the Kronatt or to the crew, it would be a risk he didn't wish to take now.

Before Picard could give a credible and unoffending excuse, A's'kahn'a turned and motioned to his fellows standing behind him. Two of them turned to a third in the group, and that one, who had previously identified himself as S's'haht'a, stood still while they grasped his halter on each side, one hand on the belt and the other on the shoulder strap and seemed to force S's'haht'a to fall to his knees.

Approaching the trio, A's'kahn'a lifted his four digit hands to S's'haht'a's hat and engaged in a tug of war. Holding S's'haht'a, the two braced themselves while A's'kahn'a gripped the sides of the headdress and pulled away. The contest was quiet and brief, and, in moments, the headdress was removed. Bareheaded, he stood up and looked at his two companions as if for reassurance. Seeing that they were still holding on to him, he began gazing about, as if no longer concerned.

A's'kahn'a carried the headdress to an empty table and carefully put it down. "Our honor would be for a person of this home vehicle to acquaint himself with S's'haht'a'. Perhaps, we could return for him later."

Captain Picard was taken aback for a moment. The gesture and the language seemed plain enough. They meant for the Enterprise to act as host for a fancy chapeau. Well, there were surely no great diplomatic risks here. "I am sure the Enterprise will feel honored by the presence of, uh, one of your, er, part—y. I officially give the honor of acquaintanceship to Captain Riker who will be staying aboard ship. While we continue below, he'll see to your—this fine—the Kronatt you leave here." Picard, while blundering through the suitable thanks was, at the same time, moving towards the exit doors. "Now, I believe you have scheduled a ceremony of welcome on your planet and as I don't wish to seem rude by being late, perhaps we should return now to the transport room?"

Before they would leave the room, however, the five Kronatina insisted on gathering around the table with the headdress. They leaned over, peering at the hat as if considering something. One of them stood and looked toward Captain Picard. There was another pause and then he bowed and said, "He will be taken care of? He will be in the company of your Riker?"

Sensing their concern, Captain Picard became solicitous. "Of course, this is an honored guest. As soon as Commander Riker has seen us all off from the transporter room and I have given over command of the ship, he will return and properly escort your, uh, this, er, Kronatt. Isn't that so, Number One?"

Not as good at diplomacy as Picard but making the effort to play along Riker said, "Of course. In fact, may I suggest that Lieutenant McAmbery here, stay as, uh, an honor guard while I see you all off in the transport room? I'll return as soon as possible, but until then the Lieutenant can be company. Lieutenant?"

"I'd be honored, sir." It was hard to read the stony face but Riker hoped that the Kronatina were not able to understand nuances of the derisive tone in his voice. It was clear that the young man considered that meeting new civilizations was exciting, but that keeping company with an honored hat was not.

Picard didn't let the moment lag. "Excellent suggestion! Come now, the quicker we're off, the quicker Commander Riker can turn his attention to the, ah, guest." Again, Picard was making efforts to herd the group into the passageway and trying not to be pushy about it. Perhaps keeping to a schedule wasn't all that important to them, but time was time, why waste it?

The group began to drift out. The hatless Kronatt, his companions still firmly grasping his belt and halter, allowed himself to be guided.

Once everyone was headed towards transport room Picard stepped up beside Geordi and said quietly, "Get someone to examine the translator. This talk about the hat being a Kronatt doesn't make sense. We can't afford to have glitches in translation now."

"Yes sir. I've got someone who can get right on it as soon as I return to station."

"Good, and keep him on it as long as we're here. Have him constantly monitor the proceedings below and check for any translation flaws. It makes me wonder if they truly have understood anything we've been saying."

"Since they don't seem to have any ruffled feathers, no pun intended, I'd say that any flaws are only coming out to us."

"Perhaps, but I would just as soon not go through diplomacies on a 'perhaps'."

Turning back to A's'kahn'a, Picard delicately inquired if he were having any trouble understanding him. A gesture and a violent nod accompanied the answer, "We do not believe so. Your machine that understands our words, speaks very well."

Captain Picard nodded to no one in particular and muttered to same, "I hope so."

TBC to Chapter 6

Questions? Comments? Feedback, please.