Captain's Log
Stardate 2261.9.19
Earlier this year the Federation made contact with a species called the Zaneem, who only recently developed
Warp Drive. They live in a remote area of space and their ships are only capable of Warp 1. The USS Tereshkova,
which was on a deep space survey, was their First Contact. While other Starfleet vessels have been handling
the diplomatic matters, we are assisting them in another vitally important one.
The Zaneem homeworld is severely overpopulated. Large numbers of them live on large orbiting space stations,
but that's only a stop gap measure; they desperately need to establish a planetary colony to relieve their excess
population. Their planet is the only one in their system and their large moon is class Y: saturated with toxic
chemicals and deadly radiation.
Their scientists discovered an another M class world is in a system five light years from theirs, but at Warp 1
getting there is a five year trip. They sent a large survey team to it seven years ago and they've been studying
it for nearly two years, as well as establishing an outpost. The long range plan is to have the team perform
surveys for another three years and then to send a 'Seed ship', containing about 10,000 people with more
to follow every ten years.
We've already brought a larger team and additional equipment from the Zaneem homeworld to the colony
planet, which the Zaneem have named 'Areeva' which means 'New Hope'. Our higher warp capabilities
brought them here in a much shorter time. Our mission now is to assist the survey team in their studies.
We've been here for about four days so far and are scheduled to stay for another three weeks.
Once again we're doing work that might be unnoticed and unsung, but is critically important.
The USS Tereshkova will be lauded for making the First Contact and other ships for forming diplomatic
ties. The Saratoga's work may not be mentioned, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I know
the worth of my ship and crew and our work is important even if nobody cheers.
James T Kirk
Surface of Areeva
Zaneem Survey Outpost
3:40 PM
"There were fifty scientists and engineers in our initial survey group." Dr Kolasha explained. "Our task
was to study and monitor all forms of life on this planet and prepare for the first wave of colonists."
Areeva orbited the outer edge of the system's habitability zone, but due to its dense atmosphere,
it had a potent greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures only slighter cooler than Earth's.
Large ice caps covered the polar oceans, but in the temperate bands, the climate was mild and warm
at the equator.
Unlike Earth, which had several large continents separated by deep oceans, Areeva had one supercontinent
which was broken up with many landlocked seas and fjords. The survey team had established their
main encampment at the equator near one of the inland seas.
Kolasha's long four digited finger pointed to various areas of the three dimensional map he and Kirk
were studying. "We've established one main outpost here, at what will be the initial site of the colony
and this area is where we're concentrating our main studies. However as the colony expands we want
to know what they will face further afield from the initial area, so we've established smaller outposts
in different areas of the planet, including near the ice caps.
The thirty additional personal you've bought will be extremely helpful."
"Always glad to be of assistance," Kirk smiled. "We'll bring an additional complement from the homeworld
before our mission here is over."
"Excellent. With them we should be able to establish some outposts here and here..."
Later after he and the Zaneem doctor had finished their discussion, Kirk made his way toward the outer
edges of the encampment. As he did so, he spied Lieutenant Gloria Michaels. The seas of Areeva teamed
with all sorts of creatures, but there was a comparative lack of animal bio-diversity on land. In the two years
they'd been here, the survey team had catalogued about twenty different avian species, and several different
insects. There seemed to be only about a dozen different species of terrestrial animals: all of them herbivorous
or omnivorous and small, ranging from a one to three feet in height.
One of them was standing in front of the Saratoga's zoologist now, making small squawking sounds.
It was a small biped, about one foot high with powerful hind legs. It had brown, hairless, scaly skin,
but was warm blooded. It reminded Kirk of a miniature tyrannosaurus although it was omnivorous
and its forelegs were larger. The Zaneem had dubbed them the Hoeti, or the "Squawkers" and they
were very curious. In the two years since the base had been established they would constantly wander
nearby or into the camp.
"Made a new friend, Lieutenant?"
She looked up from the readings she was taking and smiled. "I think so, Captain. These little guys have
absolutely no fear of us. The other animals around her keep their distance but these guys are quite friendly.
They're smart too; from what I can tell they have the intelligence level of a dog or a cat. Several of the original
survey team has already giving some of the more familiar ones individual names. I'd say that they might wind
up getting domesticated very fast."
"Well, just remember we're not taking any of them with us when we leave."
"I'll keep that in mind, sir."
Kirk continued on his way until he had reached the outskirts of the camp. Beyond it the area was wooded
and covered in vegetation. In contrast to animal life, plant biodiversity was tremendous. All plant-life fell
into two categories: what the Saratoga botanists called the 'Greens' and the 'Purples'. Greens relied on
photosynthesis to make their food. Purples used a combination of photosynthesis and a symbiotic
relationship with various types of fungus.
The fungi were incredible too. Notable was what Kirk's crew had dubbed "Mushroom trees." They resembled
large purple mushrooms but could grow up several stories and were thick enough that several people could
fit inside one. Many of them had holes in their trunks that could be hollowed out and ranging survey team
members had often used such burrows for shelters.
But the most incredible sight was his destination now. Just outside the camp was a marvel that the Zaneem
called Casseo trees. It was a cross between a tree and a fungus. It was about seven stories high, as thick
as several oaks put together and had the appearance of a giant fern. It was a mix of green and purple that
glistened in the sunlight. During the night it gave off a soft bioluminescent glow
Surrounding it where several scientists. Among them was L'Naym. At four months along she was definitely
starting to show. She had earnestly requested to be allowed to assist with studies of the planet and he had
consented, with the strict condition that she remain at the main base at all times.
As he approached, Kirk noticed her having a conversation with Crewman T'rill from Operations. The young
T'lodi had transferred to the Saratoga earlier that year. A member of an avian-like species she had very sharp
senses and was good at detecting sound waves, which made her an asset in Communications. But she also
had an intense interest in mycology and sometimes helped in the Botanic Department during planetary surveys.
L'Naym saw him coming and smiled. "Captain look at these readings." She handed him the PADD she held.
"The fungi sections and the plant sections both communicate with each other through sound waves. Our ears
can't detect them but our scanners can. They've been working on developing ways to hear them audibly.
The plant sections have their own unique frequency, the fungi have theirs and when they communicate with
each other they form something entirely unique."
Kirk smiled as he handed back the PADD. "You always did love to hear the 'Song of the Green.' Here it's
the 'Song of the Green and the Purple."
He glanced around. "Where's Rodriguez and the rest of the Department?"
The botanist motioned toward the forested hills far in the distance. "They took a ground transport toward
the forests east of here. There's a large grove of casseo trees that they wanted to look at."
Kirk nodded. He could tell by the tone of her voice that the Nlian would have loved to go too.
But he had made his orders clear; other surveys could visit the different areas of a planet, but until her child
was born, she would either remain onboard the ship, or if she did go to the surface, had to remain at base camp.
L'Naym had accepted his orders without question but…
L'Naym looked at him and smiled. She knew him enough to guess what he was thinking.
"Don't worry, Captain. I know that I have to think about the baby and truthfully I feel safer here at camp
and near the shuttles. The area the others are heading to is pretty rugged and I'd rather not go tramping
up and down hills. I would have liked to have seen those groves up close but they can take samples
and holo images."
Kirk smiled. "And just looking at one tree is beneficial too. If you study one instead of a group you might
notice small details others miss."
"That's very true." She motioned to T'rill. "T'rill and I have already…
Abruptly she paused. Kirk gave his Soul Sister a concerned look and T'rill put a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright" she asked in her high pitched but musical voice.
L'Naym nodded and smiled. "It's the baby. He's moving around again. He's been doing a lot of moving
since we came down here. I think he likes this world."
Kirk smiled. "There's a lot to like."
Captain's Log Supplemental
Delphis class ships spend a great deal of time in-system during their missions and often on planet.
Some in Starfleet might prefer to spend their time in space, but I've found that spending time on solid
ground can help one feel grounded.
The universe might be endless but that simply means that there are infinite small details to discover.
And discovering them with people you care about makes the joy even greater.
James T Kirk.