Helmsman' Log
Stardate 2261.10.25

It has been three days since we left the Saratoga and two days since we arrived at our current refuge,
which we have named Haven. It's the fourth planet of an eleven planet system. An L class planetoid:
uninhabited, rocky and no life except for vegetation. Fortunately the atmosphere is breathable.

I landed the Waverider near an area that had large caves and we've set up shelters inside them.
L class worlds have little water, but we have located a small stream in the vicinity of our camp
and fortunately it rains regularly, as the downpour we experienced not long after arriving proved.

There is little vegetation except for scattered shrubs, mosses and bits of grass here and there, but our
botanists have determined that some of them are edible. We have plenty of supplies, but we have no
idea how long we might be here and if the rest of the crew is unable to repair the Saratoga, they will
come here as well, so it's best to start making long term plans.

Harutu Akari

Surface of Haven
2 kilometers away from camp

"I really hope we don't have to stay here long," Ceron muttered. "This world is so barren."

L'Naym looked up from the readings she was taking. She could understand her fellow crewmember's
viewpoint; his homeworld, Muev III, was a world of rolling hills and plains.

"It's not all that barren," she said gently. "I grew up on a desert world. The Great Dune Sea is larger than
Earth's Sahara; millions of kilometers of windswept sand dunes as far as the eye can see. But there is life
there and cities and kingdoms have graced its sands.

"You want to see barren?" Lieutenant Davis asked. "I grew up on the moon. That's barren. No oxygen
and nothing but rock and dust outside the domes. Compared to that, this planet's a garden."

"But it's your home," L'Naym smiled.

Davis smiled. "That it is. People may think moons are barren but I've always found them beautiful in their
own way." She looked around. "Commander Hatcher's home planet was an L class world. She told me once
that it had nothing but rocks and a couple of shrubs ever kilometer or so."

L'Naym nodded thoughtfully. She knew that Davis had become an unofficial protégé of Hatcher since
coming to the Saratoga and greatly admired her.

"Well this world has lots of shrubs. And more besides." She grabbed a clump of earth and lifted it up.
It was covered with a red lichen-like growth, and underneath its roots was a fistful of soil of a vivid
shade of purple. She showed the handful to Ceron. "I'm sure it's not often that you've seen purple soil,
eh, Crewman?" she chuckled.

She continued her scans "The soil is rich in nutrients. We should have no problem planting gardens."

Since coming to the planet L'Naym had insisted on making herself useful, wanting to analyze the soil
and plants as a possible food source. Knowing that such work was critical now, Akari had assented,
with the strict condition that whenever she left camp she be accompanied by two other crewmembers.
It was the same condition he set for anyone leaving camp- no one could go anywhere alone.

But she had seen the concern in his eyes. She knew that her Soul Brother had asked him to keep
a close eye on her. And she also knew that he wouldn't have needed to ask; both Kirk and Akari
had a deep camaraderie, both as Captain and Helmsman and Student and Teacher.

Although their camp was situated near a cave system, much of the surrounding area was flat.
That morning another scout team had headed in the opposite direction toward terrain that was quite
rugged. L'Naym hadn't been allowed to go with them but she had been allowed to go on a survey
of the flat areas at the camp's outer parameters.

"Two ground teams can cover more ground," the Helmsman had said. "One of the areas immediate
to the camp and another further out."

After about another hour of going over readings, Davis glanced at the sky. "It will be getting dark in
another couple of hours. We should probably head back."

L'Naym glanced up as well. The change in sunlight brought out the most striking feature of the sky.
Arching high overhead, filling almost half the sky, were a series of milky bands. Long ago gravitational
forces had tore one of the planet's moons to pieces, resulting in a ring around the planet.

"You're right." L'Naym stood up. "I'd like to be back at camp before the other team does. I don't want
Tuskaro to worry." Her lifemate had been sent with the larger team in case they ran into any accidents
on the rougher terrain.

"I'd like to get back to camp before Lieutenant Akari does." Ceron put in. The Helmsman had taken
the Waverider that morning along with a few other officers. Their plan was to do a survey run of the
planet. "If we're the last team back, he might think that something's happened to you."

L'Naym smiled. "I'll be sure to tell him that I was perfectly safe with the two of you."

The three set out. L'Naym's survey had started close to camp and then about two kilometers out.
When they were about halfway back Ceron glanced at L'Naym. "You're not tired are you?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. My ancestors were nomads. They thought nothing of walking for miles across
the desert each day. My grandmother was a scout and caravan guard. She took me on countless treks;
both though the deserts outside my home city and even across the Dune Sea. She would think this
a mere 'stroll through the park.'

"Maybe. But if we let anything happen to you, the only place Davis and I will be strolling to is the brig."

L'Naym chuckled. "But you wouldn't let anything happen to me if it were within your power."

She looked at Davis. "It's not often that a botanist gets to have a tactical officer escort her for a simple
botanical survey."

Davis smiled back. "As you like to say, 'Every member of the caravan is vital, Crewman."