"We here?" Commander Riker asked as they neared a planet on the view screen. Wesley merely nodded and stared at the planet.
"We are detecting a major sandstorm in the southern hemisphere," Data stated.
"It is for sure an M Class Planet?" Riker asked.
"Yes, there are a few mammals detected on the surface, and plenty of vegetation on the northern hemisphere," Data replied examining his terminal for information.
"Are there any problems on this planet? Why hasn't it been inhabited before?" Riker asked.
"The Romulans have before, years ago, but the civilization disappeared, no one knows what happened to them, therefore, most intelligent species capable of reaching this world avoid it," Data stated.
"The Romulans won't pose a threat?" Riker asked.
"No, I believe not," Data answered.
"You believe not? There is still a chance?" Riker said making absolutely sure.
"There is a .0005789 percent chance they will come by again. According to the data on the Romulans they believe this planet is a taboo," Data replied turning around in his seat and looking at the first officer.
"Taboo?" Riker asked surprised a little.
"Taboo, or to be forbidden to be used, mentioned, or –"Data defined.
"Yes, I know what taboo is, but why?" Riker asked.
"Unknown. All that is known is that the Romulans avoid this planet. If I were to guess, I would say it is because they lost almost 100,000 people," Data replied. Riker shook his head understanding at least a little bit.
"And no trace of the Borg nearby?" Riker inquired, "They didn't follow us?"
"No sir, but there is a .0025763 percent chance they did follow us," Data replied.
"I like those odds. Riker to Troi," the commander said tapping his badge on his uniform, "We are ready to land."
"Aye sir," Troi's voice came. Currently Deanna Troi was in the transporter room, with a few of the people that were going to set up the community on the planet. She wasn't planning to stay on Arcturus II but she would go down to help the residents to settle in. Afterward she would return to the ship and the mission to reclaim Earth would commence.
The transporters activated and the first group stepped on the pad.
"Energizing," Chief O'Brian said. Troi disappeared with the other people, all carrying boxes of supplies.
"Ok team, spread out, look for anything we can use," Troi replied. The people began moving out, setting up temporary tents, and then spreading out to scavenge as many supplies as possible, not wanting to deplete supplies from the ship, having much need in the upcoming mission.
Deanna walked through the nearby fields, a flat rolling plain, ended a few miles away by a forest of new plants. Suddenly instead of walking, she was falling, until she reached the ground. She pushed herself up and looked to see what made her trip. There was nothing there. She felt around on the ground knowing she had felt something hit her foot before she fell. Her hand hit something, something cold and smooth. A small metal and circular object rested beneath her fingers. She wrapped her fingers around the edge of the object and pulled it up. A tent appeared nearby on the plain. Troi was taken aback by this, but instead of contacting Enterprise, she crept up to the tent, which was dangerous since she hadn't taken a weapon.
She peered inside of the tent, wondering what it was. There was no person in the tent, but there were piles of raw materials and boxes of supplies. Deanna quickly tapped her badge.
"Troi to Enterprise," Deanna said.
"Counselor," Riker's voice came.
"I have found a cloaked tent in the plains. I don't know if someone lives here now, but there are tons of supplies. The tent looks to be Romulan," Troi stated examining the structure of the tent.
"Romulan? Stand by," Riker replied, but soon stated, "There are no humanoid life forms detected besides the people we have sent out. I would suggest leaving the supplies where they are for now, just in case. Counselor, we are going to beam the device aboard Enterprise for further examination."
"Aye sir," Troi said smiling. Soon the device disappeared from her hand, and Troi walked back to where they made camp.
Meanwhile up on Enterprise the device was transported directly to a secured room. Soon a door open and William Riker walked in to examine it. Behind him were a couple of blue uniformed officers, one male and one female. The talked forward, in front of the commander and neared the device. He pulled out a tri-corder as the woman walked forward, doing the same.
"There seems to be no danger, however the configuration is unknown. Not even the Romulans have had this technology that we know about," The male stated turning towards the commander. Just then, a bolt of electricity hit the two officers, narrowly missing the commander.
"Riker to sick bay, prepare for two to be beamed directly to sick bay," Riker yelled, acting quickly, "O'Brian! Beam Ensign Clark and Ensign Juarez directly to sickbay now!" Riker backed up out of the room as the two disappeared from the room.
"Commander LaForge, I get over here now," Riker said through his combadge, "And grab Mr. Data as well." Riker paced in front of the door unsure of what had happened with the disk like object. Soon the two began strolling down the corridor, not realizing someone had just gotten hurt.
"Finally, now inside there is a disk and it just electrocuted two Ensigns. I need you two to get in there, with some electric absorbing suits and tell me what the hell just happened," Riker replied clearly stress.
"Aye sir," Data replied, at the same time that Geordi said the same thing. They quickly went down the hall, returning a minute later in suits.
"Ok Commander we are going in," Geordi said, "Stand back just in case." Riker backed up and to the side, out of the direct path of the door. They opened the door and a few bolts of electricity flew out, but the suit absorbed the blows. When the electricity hit the wall, a small fire began, but was soon extinguished by William Riker.
"Should've just kept it on the planet," Riker mumbled to himself. At the moment, he didn't want to transport it back until he knew that the transporter would not be damaged by the transport.
Meanwhile on the other side of the door, Geordi and Data were walking towards the small disk, which was emitting hundreds of long streams of electricity. The two of them looked at each other and nodded, as if they were telepathically linked, and they both pulled out tri-corders.
"This is merely constructed by a piece of silver, at least it seems like it," Geordi said nearing even closer to disk.
"It seems that the electric power is emanating from the center, where there seems to be a small power disk. More readings. This is highly complex; it seems to be a cloaking device. However, it seems that it has been configured to the atmosphere of the planet, which is slightly different from the atmosphere on the Enterprise. I think that if we adjust the gravity to match that on the planet, it should be safe to transport it back," Data explained.
"Ah I see it's not the gas, but the pressure!" Geordi realized. Data nodded.
"Yes quite correct, it would have been completely safe if this room was pressurized like it was down on the planet. I do believe it is of Romulan Configuration," Data replied, "Let us tell Commander Riker." Geordi nodded and they headed to the door.
When they explained this to commander Riker soon, he ordered the room to be pressurized
"Good that thing is shut off, I believe we should wait for the captain's orders about what to do with it, as long as you are perfectly sure it won't activate like that ever again, Mr. Data," Commander Riker finally said once the thing was off.
"I am positive. Though I do believe if it had continued it could have disabled our ship even more than it was," Data replied.
"Interesting, when the captain awakes brief him over this. Geordi return to engineering we will need our engines in tip top shape," Commander Riker replied.