Chapter 303 First Contact

SHUTTLE SLAYTON

APPROACHING PLANTERS COLONY

Captain Jacobs was sitting in the left seat, watching Ensign Washburn fly the approach from the right. Overall, Washburn was doing an impressive job being careful to do a smooth job flying for everyone onboard. People rely too much on autopilots and inertial dampers for a nice ride. Jacobs asked, "You enjoying yourself Mr. Washburn?"

Washburn was good, but suffered a lack-of-confidence problem. "Yes sir, I mean, am I doing something wrong?"

Jacobs smiled, "No, you are doing just fine. I notice you're off autopilot. How does it handle manually?"

Washburn noted, "Very nice sir. I like the manual inputs that were retrofitted. Am I making you nervous?"

Jacobs shook his head, "Not at all. I'll let you know when I get nervous. I see that you have slowed below supersonic speed by 60,000 feet standard barometric altitude, per regs."

Washburn said, "I'm trying to fly polite."

Jacobs nodded, "I like it. It is important that we show these people we're good neighbors. Do not worry, there will be a time when you can lay sonic booms."

Washburn asked, "How do you know sir?"

Jacobs said, "Next time we come across an uninhabited planet, we all will do it. It's not only a lot of fun to see the sense of speed, but these shuttles raise up impressive rooster tails over water."

Washburn asked, "Rooster tails?"

Jacobs smiled knowingly, "You'll see. Do you see the colony yet?"

"Yes sir. Anyplace particular you want me to set down?"

Jacobs said, "I mentioned their landing strip. How about behind the last lander they have on the strip? It may be a little more of a walk, but you won't be landing on anyone's petunias."

Washburn maneuvered for a standard landing pattern.

LANDING STRIP

PLANTERS PLANET

Paoto and the entire colony complement were waiting for something to happen. Soon everyone heard the quiet whine above them and saw the shuttle flying some sort of pattern for landing. Paoto hoped that the landing strip was adequate, and saw that indeed it was. The shuttle descended and slowed down to a very slow speed, almost walking speed. Obviously, it had some form of hovering device. They could tell the shuttle was going to set down behind the last lander, so the crowd moved in that direction.

They walked around the last lander and saw the shuttle just touched down. There was no blowing wind coming from the shuttle. Whatever it used, it did not push air to hover. The shuttle was about a fifth the size of the landers, and very quiet. They could hear what sounded like engines finish shutting down and everyone waited for the aliens to come out. They said they looked like them, but who knew?

The nose of the shuttle was facing them, and what must have been the rear hatch opened, out of view, because a man came walking from behind the shuttle. He had a smile on his face. Paoto started walking toward the shuttle. The man introduced himself, "Captain Joshua Jacobs, USS Wisconsin."

Paoto could not help smiling, "Commander Nefe Paoto, Planter's colony. Impressive ship sir."

Jacobs walked up and offered his hand. Paoto had no idea what he was doing, must be some form of greeting. Paoto looked at Jacobs and back at the hand, they shook hands. Jacobs said, "Not as impressive as what you all did. Let me introduce the rest. Lt. Jennifer Jareau, head of communications. Lt. Maya, Science. Lt. Commander Hotchner, head of science. Lt. Commander Bauer, head of Security. And our pilot for the day, Ensign Washburn."

Paoto introduced his wife, "My wife, Lrnta, Head Doctor. The rest of the colony, but we will be out here in the sun all day long. Please, come this way. We have refreshments waiting."

The Starfleet personnel followed and Jacobs said, "Commander, I have to say, we are most impressed by your feat. To have travelled here in a sublight ship, it is unheard of."

Paoto asked, "You travel faster-than-light?"

Jacobs said, "Yes, many times the speed of light."

Paoto continued, "And suffer no time dilation because of it? That physics is beyond us."

Jacobs nodded, "No problems with time. We estimate you were probably twenty or thirty years in technology behind making the light speed breakthrough."

Paoto asked, "How do you estimate that?"

Jacobs said, "We examined your ship yesterday to see what level of technology you were at."

Paoto asked, "I would expect that. We might have thought to put up a time capsule for people to find, but mass was so precious, we couldn't waste it at all. Tell me Captain, does your ship make a flash of light when moving?"

Jacobs nodded, "As it is crossing the speed of light relative to a viewer, yes. Did you catch us?"

Paoto pointed to Elsfson, "Elsfson caught you. Why the sudden retreat?"

Jacobs explained, "Our first law, our Prime Directive, is that we do not let civilizations that have not developed interstellar travel know that there are aliens out there. It is more complex than that of course, but simply put, we had to assess if we could contact you."

They were walking up to some tables prepared with bread and water. "Obviously you saw us as qualified. Please, enjoy our bread and water. Our food is simple now, but we hope to get more sophisticated food later."

The Starfleet crew shared in the refreshments. Jacobs observed, "It's good. The water tastes good too."

"We chose this site because of the stream that passes close to it. It turns out the stream is fed from a spring. It has given us cool water this past year. We have also drilled a couple of wells."

Jacobs asked, "Your mission, what was it?"

Paoto said, "To come here and colonize this planet. Surely you know we are from Tangia."

Jacobs nodded, "Yes, that is one of the things I wish to discuss with you."

Paoto asked, "Tell me Captain, you've obviously studied our language somehow. Even with that, you have perfect inflection, perfect tone. I'd guess you had been a native. How do you do this?"

Jacobs pointed to Jareau, "Miss Jareau, perhaps you could explain. It will be a good introduction as to why we are here."

Jareau started, "We all carry this device." She showed her communicator. "We call it a communicator, it is what we use to talk to the ship or each other. There is a circuit inside called the universal translator. In the communicators, it is relatively simple. It will take a language matrix programmed into it and do the translating. If we come across a new language, we need a more powerful translator, and that Universal translator is about the size of this water glass."

Paoto asked, "But how does it make you speak such perfect Tangian?"

Jareau explained. "First, we have monitored Tangian broadcasts and learned the language, which we programmed into the communicator. The communicator interfaces with our brainwaves and helps us understand. To us you are speaking Federation Standard language. It will even do known conversions."

Paoto asked, "Such as what?"

Jareau picked up her glass of water, "To me this water is just above freezing. I'd guess five degrees Centigrade, thirty-seven degrees Farenheight."

Paoto nodded, "I'd agree, but why did you repeat yourself?"

Jareau said, "I did not. I used two different temperature scales we know of. The UT translated them into the scale you are familiar with."

Paoto nodded understanding, "I see. We have much to learn. Tell me Captain, how long can you stay?"

Jacobs said, "How about until after dinner? You can show us around, we would like to see what you have accomplished, and maybe even help. I'll even buy dinner, for everyone!"

Paoto laughed, "The translator even does humor? We agree, since we have no building large enough, we will picnic outside. Everyone! Meet back here in six hours, bring your tables and chairs!"

Jacobs smiled, "As my Preacher would say, it's a good Baptist meeting."

Paoto looked quizzically, "Baptist?"

Jacobs said, "That is an example of the UT not being 100% efficient, that will take a bit of explaining. One thing Baptists are noted for is their feasts."

Paoto asked, "I see, what would you like to see first?"

Jacobs was about to answer when Hotchner's communicator beeped. Hotchner looked at Jacobs, who nodded and Hotchner stepped off to have a private conversation. Jacobs said, "How about we take things chronologically? You can show me as you tell what happened to you."

Paoto motioned toward the edge of what passed as the 'town' and everyone started walking. He started his narrative, "The ship's computer woke the command crew on time as we were approaching the system. By this time, we were in flight more than a hundred years, and had built up a tremendous amount of speed. Shortly after waking, we realized a huge problem."

Jacobs asked, "What was it?"

Paoto said, "We lost contact with Tangia about ten years after the launch. More correctly, contact was severed by them."

Maya asked, "Why was that a problem?"

Paoto explained, "Beyond the social aspect of keeping up with home, Tangia control was going to monitor the ship and use the ship's telescopes to observe the known planets in this system and update the orbital elements. From that, they could adjust our course so when we woke, we would be on course toward this planet. Tangia would also be able to work with minor problems on the ship. None of that occurred for over ninety years. When we woke, there was no data from the home world. All we had was automatic observations that were made over time. Fortunately, we were able to update the orbits of the known planets, found two new planets we did not know about, and plot our approach to this planet."

Jacobs said, "It's a miracle you made it."

Paoto nodded, "Yes, it is. Once we assumed orbit, we launched six satellites for constant communications. From here we can contact the colony ship and use its cameras for observations. The colony ship also has the transmitter to contact the home world, but they aren't talking to us."

Jacobs nodded as they were walking up to a large, cone shaped object the size of a house. "It's one of the reasons why we are here. What is that?"

The object was mostly silver and had severe scarring on the sides. Jacobs thought it looked familiar somehow. Paoto explained, "Once we entered orbit, we immediately started recording every aspect of the planet we could, looking for a spot for the colony. Once one was chosen, this was the first lander sent down."

Jacobs immediately realized why it looked familiar. It was shaped identical to an Apollo capsule from the twentieth century. Another good example of physics driving similar designs. Hotchner walked up and reported, "Excuse me sir, the preliminary report is in from Starfleet. I would like to go back and start reading it for your briefing later."

Jacobs nodded, "That sounds good Mr. Hotchner."

Paoto asked, "Excuse me Mr. Hotchner, but you aren't like the others, as well as Maya."

Hotchner explained, "I am Vulcan, Lt. Maya is Psycon. The rest here are human."

Paoto looked to Jacobs and asked, "How big is this Federation?"

Jacobs smiled, "Pretty big, we are over a hundred worlds now. Starfleet is the Federation's exploratory arm."

Paoto asked, "Do all aliens look more or less the same?"

Jacobs shook his head and laughed, "No. The variety will boggle your mind. You are seeing only a small segment because of the practicality of crewing a starship. We cannot have something like an intelligent fish serve because they would need a ship that was an aquarium."

Paoto asked, "Is there such a thing?"

Jacobs nodded, "Yes. Mr. Hotchner, let me know when you are ready."

Hotchner nodded and walked off. Paoto asked, "He's not heading to the landing strip."

Jacobs nodded, "I know, watch. This will be easier to explain later."

Hotchner stopped when clear and turned around. He raised his communicator and spoke briefly. Soon, a sound started and sparkly blue light appeared around him. He faded from view and the sound and light faded too. Overall, it was just over five seconds. Paoto was incredulous. "How in the world did you do that?"

Jacobs said, "It is called the transporter, and is a quite useful device. It converts matter to energy, beams that to someplace, then recombines the matter."

Paoto said, "That would take huge amounts of energy plus information storage. How do you do that?"

Jacobs explained, "It is a drain on the ship's power, fortunately we have plenty of that. But back to your world. I recognize the shape. On my world we had a much smaller one used for the first flights into space. This is huge, why?"

Paoto motioned and they started walking around, "You see our landers operate on a gliding principle. We needed to make sure that the ground was prepared for them." As they walked around, they could see a door in the side.

Jacobs instantly recognized the vehicle sitting inside the capsule. "So, you hauled a bulldozer all the way from home. Impressive. Couldn't you use something else though? Something lighter?"

Paoto said, "It was debated for a long time, but ultimately it was felt the expense was necessary to make it safer for the landers. After that, we can use it for construction."

They got up in the capsule and started looking at the bulldozer. Maya asked, "What does it run on? Portable fusion?"

Paoto laughed, "The only portable fusion we know how to use is those found in warheads. This runs on diesel."

Maya was incredulous. "Why that?"

Paoto said, "It's simple. We can use vegetable oil from plants at the worst case. Diesel engines will run on almost anything."

Bauer asked, "What about spare parts?"

Paoto pointed to the floor, and you could see hatches. "Below those are enough parts to completely change the bulldozer. We have some basic tooling that we hope will be able to make more spare parts before long. The priority is food. Let me show you that."

They all stepped outside, and he motioned to the town. "Everyone has their own plot of land they are responsible for. They grow their own food, store their own food. This is just to get the colony started and until we can develop some more mechanical work saving devices. We've found some animals around here we hope to domesticate into cattle and work animals, that probably will happen in a few years."

Maya asked, "Why the wait?"

Paoto said, "Well, while we have the know-how to build fences, we need the raw materials. It is a bit of work to take ore and turn it into wire or nails or whatever. Some essential tools like hammers, saws, axes and the like we carried from Tangia. Unfortunately, that is public property."

Bauer asked, "Unfortunately?"

Paoto explained, "We are on a plan to go from this being a mission to being a full-fledged colony, self governing. The only way to truly do that is to have everyone responsible for their own lives. We have a historical precedent hundreds of years ago of colonies in new lands dying off because everything was 'communal'."

Jacobs nodded, "We have something similar, fortunately, the colony I'm thinking of was in my land of America. They had a disastrous first year because of harsh weather and everything was shared. Nobody wanted to work because the proceeds would go somewhere else."

Paoto aksed, "Did they live?"
"Yes, they did. They switched to private property, private initiative."

Paoto said, "That is what we are striving toward. Four more years and we will have a constitution in place and my authority will be transferred to the new authority."

"What is your plan then?"

Paoto smiled, "Lrnta and I are going to have a house built a little way out of town. We plan on starting our family out there."

Jacobs asked, "What do you do about power?"

Paoto said, "Solar cells on top of the shelters. The Bulldozer runs the operations computers and the radio up to the ship as well as all our tooling equipment. Everyone is responsible to make sure their phones and computers are charged prior to nightfall. Let me show you."

Paoto led the Starfleet crew over to a nearby shelter. On top you could see the cells. The shelters were very small, slightly larger than tents. Jacobs observed, "Knowing the conditions would be harsh on this world, probably for the rest of your life, it's amazing you were able to staff the ship."

Paoto shook his head, "Quite the opposite, we had plans for more ships to be behind us. As data would be coming in from our ship on the star system and this planet, they could refine the future ships. The next load was going to be heavy on equipment and light on people."

Maya looked around at the colonists, Jacobs could tell something was bothering her. He decided to ask her later when away from Paoto. Jacobs looked around, "What do you do for water?"

Paoto chuckled, "We'd love to have running water for everybody, but these shelters are just temporary, so we just have a common well that pumps up to this small shed here. Inside that shed, colonists can come and draw water. Our landing ships were built to be scavenged, and we have. We've pulled ducting, wiring, piping, metal braces, everything we could think of to reuse."

Jareau said, "It's amazing. I don't think I've ever heard of this being done before, not like this."

Paoto asked, "Your people have to have colonies as well."

Jacobs explained, "Yes, but the colonies are never totally cut of the way you are from the home planet. Our colonies at a minimum have a visit by a support ship of some sort every year. The ship will bring supplies, food if needed, and medicine. You've mentioned tooling and that certainly is a big part of it."

Paoto was thinking and a question came to mind, "Captain, you mentioned earlier that you monitored Tangian broadcasts. Is that why you're here?"

Jacobs nodded, "Yes, it is. Let's sit down and talk. I need to let my chef know anyways to prepare a large feast for everyone. Your population is 100?"

Paoto said, "Exactly. Come, there's a table we have under a nearby tree overlooking the colony that will do nicely."

Jacobs asked, "That should be good, may I let my people explore?"

Paoto smiled broadly, "Be our guests."

Jacobs turned to the others, "Check things out. Be back here by dinnertime." The others left to look around and meet the colonists. Jacobs pulled out his communicator and said, "Jacobs to Wisconsin."

Lt. Robin Reeves's voice came through, "Wisconsin here Captain. What can we do?"

"Miss Reeves, tell chef to prepare….." Jacobs suddenly realized he did not think of a menu. Oh, well, that is what delegating is for. "Tell him to prepare something for the colonists. We're hosting a picnic for them. Have it ready to be served in five hours."

"Aye sir. Anything else?"

Jacobs thought, "Yes, tell Mr. Leonaidas, Ducky, and the Preacher to come down for the picnic as well."

"Aye Aye sir."

Jacobs said, "Jacobs out." Instead of closing the communicator, he merely pushed the END button. He then quickly typed a short text message to Maya. "MAYA, YOU'RE ON TO SOMETHING. ARE WE OK HERE?"

Jacobs looked up to Paoto who was sitting at the table under the tree. Paoto motioned as Lnrta brought up a pitcher of water and glasses. "Please sit. Tell me why you are here."

Jacobs sat down and took the water. "Thank you, the Federation was monitoring Tangia when…"

Paoto asked, "Spying?"

Jacobs shook his head, "Nothing like that. We have some stations placed around where we can monitor nearby pre-warp civilizations. We listen to their radio signals to learn not only their language, but their society as well. It helps for planning missions of first contact." His communicator beeped, and Jacobs flipped it open. It was a message from Maya, 'NO DANGER CAPTAIN, SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, BUT I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT." Jacobs typed a quick reply, "OK, KEEP LOOKING." Jacobs looked back to Paoto.

Paoto swallowed some water, contemplating his next question. "Captain, you came to welcome us into the interstellar community?"

Jacobs shook his head, "No, there is more to it than that. We found you by mistake. We were on the way to Tangia because our listening post just lost contact."

Paoto excitedly said, "You just lost contact? Then there may be someone alive on Tangia."

Jacobs shook his head, "I'm not assuming that. Our communications are faster-than-light. 8000 times the speed of light. Our listening post is forty light years from Tangia, so.."

Paoto saw immediately what was happening. "Radio transmission stopped forty years ago. Captain, what does the Federation think what happened?"

Jacobs explained. "We don't know. As I said, we monitor the transmissions. That post is recording transmissions from more than fifteen nearby star systems. They don't have time to analyze everything coming from a planet, so they record it and try to get snippets here and there. If a civilization stops transmitting, we find that out very fast, and usually a starship is dispatched to investigate. While the ship is enroute, Starfleet will analyze and give us a preliminary analysis later. Hopefully about our ETA time."

Paoto said, "Except you are here, not there. Is that going to be a problem?"

Jacobs shook his head, "No, that is why we have people on starships and not robots. We are almost a week away in communications range, so they depend on us thinking for ourselves. This contact is an example of that."

Paoto asked, "You mention that you do not contact non-starfaring civilizations. Why us?"

"By definition, you traveled from one star system to another. Plus, what you have done is unprecedented."

Paoto said, "How?"

Jacobs explained, "You made it to another star system with technology relative to my history of 21st century level of technology. To put it another way, you made it to another star a hundred years ahead of my people. We developed warp drive, but you did the mission against all odds. No other civilization that we know of has done that."

Paoto mused, "It is interesting. We made it but what happened back home? We all knew this was a one-way trip, and were prepared to start families here and make this our home. Now, the problem seems to be the opposite, we survived but what of them?"

Jacobs shook his head, "That's what we're here to find out. Coming across you was a bonus, one that seemed consistent to investigate. If I may ask, how did they ever staff your ship?"

Paoto answered, "The build was for thirty years. I grew up watching the missions to build different aspects of the ship. It was incredible, it was a dream of mine to be on the ship. Actually, when Tangia committed to the build, they knew that the crew was going to be coming from the children at the time. They had more volunteers than what they knew what to do with."

Jacobs asked, "So how did they choose?"

Paoto said, "We were invited into the pool. Training began, and couples eventually married. The choice was not only a person, but the couple. There were interviews, training scenarios, testings, everything you could imagine. What we ended up with was fifty couples that are committed to the survival of this colony. Our expertise is broad, most people have multiple skills."

Jacobs looked around at the shelters, "You mentioned moving out into the country. Why not now?"

Paoto explained, "We thought it would be better if everyone was near each other until we got the lay of the land. A big reason was transportation."

Jacobs asked, "How so?"

"We don't have it."

Jacobs saw immediately, "Couldn't carry that along."

Paoto nodded, "Right. We thought it was better to bring along the ability to fabricate whatever we needed. We chose this site because of resources nearby. As we get better established, we can reach out and get those resources, and start rebuilding our technology. Our first goal is cattle and service animals."

Jacobs asked, "Are there any around?"

Paoto nodded, "Plenty. That will be a huge jump for us. If we did not have animals, we would be very slow in expanding."

Jacobs realized something, "Did you know there were animals here before you left?"

Paoto shook his head, "No."

Jacobs asked, "What did you know?"

Paoto said, "Only that this planet was in the habitable zone of this star system, and that it had water, and that it also had land. We didn't even know if it had vegetation, but knew the atmospheric makeup was very similar to our own."

Jacobs said, "That was a huge risk. It's amazing that your world even did this. Was there a probe sent ahead?"

Paoto shook his head, "No, the time to leave was now, not a hundred years in the future after a probe would arrive at this system."

Jacobs proclaimed, "That has to be one of the riskiest missions I've ever heard. What if you landed and there was no vegetation?"

Paoto said, "We carried food for a year, seeds to plant our own vegetables. We were prepared to exist on that level."

Jacobs said, "You guys have heart. As it is, you have a wonderful planet. A true treasure. I look forward to meeting more of your people."

Paoto said, "As do I meeting yours."

PICNIC

EVENING ON PLANTERS WORLD

The Wisconsin beamed down food and beverages for everyone. The full mess hall staff, including chef, were standing behind the serving tables and making sure everything was just so. Jacobs and Paoto arranged for a Starfleet member to be eating with a group of the Planters people, as they were becoming to be known.

Octavian asked for thanks and then everyone started lining up for the food. As everyone was mixing it up, he got a chance to introduce some of the other Wisconsin staff to Paoto and his wife. "Paoto, here is my First Officer, Commander Leonaidas. My chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mallard, and Chief Engineer Commander Santini."

Greetings were exchanged and Paoto said, "Dr. Mallard, you have to sit with my wife and I. Lnrta is our colony head physician."

"Ooooo, I'd love to. With your permission, Captain."

Jacobs nodded, "Absolutely, I'm going to go check on Chef, make sure he is happy with everything."

Jacobs walked around and noticed that the mixing of the personnel was very good. He saw Lt. Maya in the distance talking to a group and walked over to her. "Maya, how are you doing?"

"Very fine sir."

Jacobs smiled at the others, "I wonder if I may steal you away for a minute. Do you all mind, it is just for a short time."

The group nodded their approval, Jacobs and Maya walked a short distance away. Jacobs asked Maya when out of earshot, "What have you found Maya?"

Maya reported, "Everything is as I would expect given their starting conditions here. I'm impressed at how well thought out their mission was for contingencies."

Jacobs nodded, "Paoto mentioned to me that they were prepared for landing on a planet with no vegetation. They would survive on rations the first year then their crops would come in."

Maya said, "It seems too risky for me, but they do have a lot of food stores still in rations. They have been on the ground a year?"

Jacobs said, "Yes, Paoto also mentioned to me that everybody had good gardens last year, the winter was not harsh, and they are planting for the next year. It would be expected that they still have some original rations."

Maya shook her head, "That's not what I'm looking at. All the food stores, planting, rationing, energy consumption, infrastructure seems appropriate for them being on this world for a year. All except one thing."

Jacobs shook his head, "What, I don't see anything missing?"

Maya asked, "Where are the children?"

Jacobs said, "They only sent couples, no children. The colonists were going to start having babies after they arrived."

Maya pointed out, "But there are not babies anywhere. I have checked. None."

Jacobs chuckled, Maya could be a little naïve sometimes, "Maya, they have only been here a year. They may be waiting to get better established."

Maya kept explaining, "Better established? They have approximately nine months of ship's rations stored up. They also have their current storage facilities full. Add to this that they plan on starting to tame some animals to help, they are established enough."

Jacobs' smile went away. "Maybe they just want to be a bit better grounded? Having a baby is a serious time commitment."

Maya said defensively, "You wanted me to keep my eyes open, to look out. I have done that Captain. That is what I have noticed."

Jacobs raised his hands to calm her down, "I am sorry Maya, that is not what I mean. I just meant that there may be a good reason why there are no babies. If there was a newborn today, they would have been pregnant shortly after they landed, and that seems quick to me. Did you happen to scan for pregnancies?"

Maya nodded, "Yes, I did. Nobody is pregnant."

Jacobs calmingly said, "Ok, I see your point. Talk with Ducky, give him your scans. Good job keeping your eyes open, but let's get back before we are missed."

Jacobs and Maya returned to the group, and Jacobs started wandering around talking with different small groups. He first wandered to Carter, who was talking with a relatively large group. He could see Carter making motions with his hands. Evidently, the Tangians knew about hangar flying as well. As he approached, he heard Carter talking, "So, we don't have to dock with a ship, but land on a hangar deck. The last carrier I was on, the hangar deck extended from the bow to the stern. During flight operations, we'd open both ends and could fly straight through."

"But you don't need to land on a deck like a plane, you just stop."

Carter motioned with his hands, "True, except when you are trying to land a dozen ships quickly. We call it combat landings. Shuttles are spaced closely and the first enters the doors and goes deep into the ship, braking at the last second. He must do this or the last guy in the line gets jammed outside the ship. The whole carrier could be at stake and the captain would have a decision to either warp away and leave a plane or two behind, or stay put and weather the storm without shields. The Captain and I both flew together doing this. Captain, these are the pilots of the landers."

Jacobs nodded and smiled, "Mr. Carter has the gift of making things sound a bit more dramatic than what they are. Tell me, what was your plan on landing five gliders onto one strip?"

The first pilot said, "I was the first one down, I would touch roughly a third of the way down, the groundcrew painted a large orange circle on our touchdown point. After touchdown, we would start to decelerate at a prescribed rate. The groundcrew had distances marked off the side and we would have a scheduled speed at each point. That way I knew I would not stop in the middle of the strip, making the follow-on landings a problem. I also knew I would be able to stop by the end of the strip."

Jacobs said, "Our principle was the same. No problem at all. Guys, don't let Mr. Carter tell too many stories!" Everyone laughed. Jacobs drifted on to other tables.

BRIEFING ROOM

USS WISCONSIN

FOUR HOURS LATER

The Wisconsin crew met after the picnic when the sun went down. Jacobs said, "Thank you all for this meeting, I know it's late. I want to see how today went."

Everybody mentioned meeting their counterparts, talking about the fantastic voyage that the colonists endured. Leonaidas said, "What fascinates me is the risk. I can't imagine the level of risk that they accepted."

Hotchner offered, "I estimate their odds of success to be one in one million, four hundred twenty thousand, six hundred and one."

Jacobs smirked, "And one?"

Hotchner continued, "The extra capsule besides the landers."

Jacobs nodded knowingly chuckling, "Ok. Still, one thing to remember is each species has what they call acceptable risk."

Hotchner added, "And they may not be aware of the true risks for the journey as well. They probably never counted on the home world terminating contact."

Jacobs asked, "How is the analysis from Starfleet coming along?"

Hotchner said, "I'll be ready tomorrow."

Leonaidas asked, "Any glimpses?"

Hotchner thought a bit, "We have a significant amount of time between loss of signal to the colonists and loss of signal to our observation station, time being thirty-five years. From what we have learned from the colonists, the changes that had to have happened in that thirty-five year span is remarkable, however not unprecedented."

Leonaidas asked, "What are we talking about? War?"

Hotchner said, "There is talk of war, but I'm not certain on that yet. I would like to talk with Commander Paoto more, get more of what happened in the ten years after they launched."

Jacobs nodded, "I'll arrange it. That brings me nicely to my question before you all. What do you think about inviting Paoto and his wife along to our investigation on Tangia?"

Grimm said, "I already think we are on the edge as far as the Prime Directive. After meeting the colonists, I see now why they have the starfaring civilization as a prerequisite."

Jacobs thought aloud, "A starfaring civilization will not go crazy with the appearance of little green men. They will be expecting it, at least a portion of them will. Remember, typically Starfleet likes making first contact with the scientists who are the ones that do the starfaring program. We have fulfilled those protocols. Ben, what is your concern?"

Grimm explained, "The Prime Directive is trained in Starfleet Academy, applications, history, etc. We don't know how any 'guests' will behave if they come in contact. I recommend they have no contact with Tangians at all."

Jacobs nodded thinking carefully, "Prudent precaution. If they come along, they will be on the ship only, not on landing parties. What about the rest of you?"

Dr. Mallard spoke up, "Dr, Lrnta Paoto has some concerns about the colonies' health. I'm sure she will want to come and take a look at our medical facilities."

Jacobs turned to Lt. Maya, "Maya, you had concerns earlier. Do you still have them?"

Maya shook her head. "No sir, I choose my words poorly. I never believed we are in danger, just something is odd with the colony."

Jacobs asked, "Is it about the children?"

"Yes, I talked with Dr. Mallard about it."

Dr. Malard interrupted, "I believe it's along the line what Dr. Paoto wants to talk with me."

Jacobs thought, "Any possible danger to the ship?"

Dr. Mallard shook his head, "No. I do not register anything out of the ordinary. Just to be cautious, I'll do a full physical before beaming them on board. Doing the physicals at the colony will also give me time to talk with Dr. Paoto and find more on what she thinks is wrong."

Jacobs nodded, "Ok, so nobody has a problem with the Paotos or anyone else coming along?"

All were shaking their heads. Jacobs asked, "Next question, what do you all think on giving the colony a standard colony subspace transceiver?"

Nobody commented. Jacobs said, "Very well. JJ, arrange for a standard colony transceiver to be set up. Anything else? Ok, get some sleep."