"Well, Bo, it looks like we finally made it." LT Mike Stevens, Chief
Helmsman, had just reported establishing a polar orbit around Planet
XB-2751 in preparation for a detailed sensor scan.
CDR Bo Donati, sitting in the First Officer's chair to
the right of Captain Clayton, turned with a devilish look. "We're in orbit
alright, Captain, but don't forget, we haven't finished yet."
"There is nothing worse than a Romulan nay-sayer,"
Clayton announced to no one in particular.
Wolfgang Brookstone, Chief Navigator, looked over at
Mike Stevens and rolled his eyes. Mike grinned in return and turned back to his
Helmsman console. "That does it for me," Brookstone said as he finished
transferring all Navigation functions to the Helmsman station.
"I'm going to whip up a batch of Mexican chili later,
Mike. Want to join me?" Brookstone offered.
"Arrgh!" Stevens replied, clutching at his stomach. "I
still haven't gotten over the last batch you 'whipped up.' The Doc has me coming
in for periodic exams to see if I have any stomach lining left."
"Wimpy gringo!" Brookstone shot back. "The usual
place, eight bells?"
Stevens slapped his friend on the arm as Brookstone,
his job over now that they were in orbit, headed for the turbolift. "Wouldn't
miss it for the world, Stoney. See ya then."
Clayton broke into a grin at this exchange. He too,
had been privileged to sample Brookstone's famous chili. In spite of the memory
of the searing, thickly spiced concoction, his mouth began to water. "I think,"
Clayton remarked, "that someone with command authority had better make sure you
don't poison the crew, Lieutenant. And since I'll be available then, I'd better
drop by and do a taste test, if you don't mind."
Wolfgang Amadeus Brookstone, Jr., resident gourmet of
the GALILEO, looked over his shoulder at his cousin. "Of course, Captain," he
turned back to leave, paused and, as an afterthought, "If you're up to it."
"We'll see, we'll see," Clayton rejoindered.
He, too, left the Bridge, heading for the Bridge
Briefing Room. Behind him LCDR Donalbain, the Chief Life Sciences Officer, and
LCDR Sri'velm, the Chief Physical Sciences Officer, began to power up Science
Stations 1 and 2, preparing to begin the detailed sensor scan of the planet
slowly turning beneath the ship. The survey of Planet XB-2751 had finally begun.
LCDR Terry Edwards, Chief Science Officer of the
GALILEO, made some final notes on his recorder padd before the briefing. He
chuckled to himself. Somehow his department had managed to keep the secret. Of
course, Captain Clayton and CDR Donati, the First Officer, knew, but they, too,
had kept his secret. It wasn't often Terry got the opportunity to pull off a
surprise like this one. He was looking forward to seeing the looks on everyone's
faces when he "let the cat out of the bag." He wondered where that odd
expression came from.
The briefing was being held in the Main Science
Conference Room since so many people were involved. He looked around the room.
Neither the Captain nor the First Officer had arrived yet. Few of those
attending the briefing had taken their seats. Small groups of people were
bunched together, talking among themselves while wafting for the final two
attendees to arrive.
MCPO Burke, the Captain's Yeoman, was sitting at the
table, making last-minute checks of the recording computer. Edwards stared at
her. Does she really know how beautiful she is? Terry wondered. How can she not?
But she never seems to let on. He shook his head and wondered about her
relationship with Captain Clayton. Ever since the GALILEO had discovered the
missing USS CONSTELLATION (NCC-1017) on their first mission and Burke's husband,
LT David D. Burke, was officially and finally declared dead, there had been a
subtle change in the personal relationship between Kirtland Burke and the ship's
Captain. Terry couldn't put his finger on what it was, exactly, but it was
there. It seems like every time he needs her, she appears; it's like radar,
Terry mused. And the looks he gives her, definitely not the usual Captain/Yeoman
relationship. She has a glow now she didn't have before. It makes her just that
much more beautiful. His reverie was broken by laughter.
LCDR MacDonald, Assistant Chief Engineer, had
obviously delivered the punchline to one of his famous off-color jokes. Somehow
Angus always looked as if he just got out of bed after sleeping with his uniform
on. If the stories were true, though, MacDonald was a wizard in Engineering.
MacDonald had been personally requested by the Captain, so there must be
something there--but the man just looked messy.
In another group, several of his Science people were
talking with some of the Medical people. ENS Shea O'Neil, ENS Osterhouse, LT
Deveraux, LT Angueira, LTJG Martina Cambridge, LT Rammer, LTJG Rick and LT
T'Leah were engaged in a heated discussion about something. Everyone seemed to
be talking at once, making it impossible for Edwards to tell what the topic
involved.
The door opened and Captain Clayton, along with CDR Bo
Donati, entered. Conversation died as everyone dove for their seats. Captain
Clayton sat down and motioned for LCDR Edwards to begin.
"Captain, Commander Donati," Edward's posture was
ramrod stiff, his Marine background taking over. "The purpose of this briefing
is to bring you up to date on the latest information on Planet XB-2751." He
touched a button on the conference table and a holographic image of the planet
sprang to life, rotating slowly in mid air.
"Planet XB-2751 is an M-Class planet orbiting a GClass
star. Atmospheric scans indicate the following composition…" As usual, LCDR
Edwards began to delve into scientific specifics. Clayton allowed him to
continue for a moment then held up his hand.
"Sir?" Edwards' confusion showed.
"Not all of us here, Terry, are as detail-oriented as
you," Clayton smiled to take the sting out of his rebuke. "If you don't mind,
I'd appreciate a briefing in more general terms."
Edwards nodded, shifted gears, and continued. "XB-2751
is almost identical to Earth, as far as climate and atmosphere is concerned.
There are four things which make it stand out: several wide-spread deposits of
concentrated dilithium crystals of unusual purity; large areas of topaline, used
by both the Federation and the Klingons for life-support systems; wreckage of a
spacecraft of unknown origin; and evidence of sentient life located in three
areas equidistant from the wreckage."
He was drowned out by the eruption of excited voices
around the table. Questions and comments tumbled over one another, making it
impossible to understand any of them. The hubbub continued for a couple of
minutes. Finally Captain Clayton rose. Slowly the voices died out as one by one
the officers noticed the Commanding Officer.
"But that means...." LT Remmer's voice died out, the
last to realize what was happening.
"People, please," Clayton admonished quietly. "I
realize these are exciting developments, but we must get on with the business at
hand." Captain Clayton sat down, satisfied he had their attention. He leaned
forward.
"Commander, please continue."
The Chief Science Officer was not surprised at the
effect of his announcement. He cast a grateful look at Clayton and touched
another button on the table.
"These are the locations of the dilithium crystals."
Several large areas on the still rotating globe suspended above the table turned
bright red. "Deposits of topaline are indicated by pulsating green." Close by
the dilithium crystal deposits, sections of the globe began to flash green.
"The spacecraft wreckage is located here," a bright
white spot appeared on one of the continents, close to the edge of a vast ocean.
"And the apparent civilization centers here." Three
dots forming a triangle centered around the bright white spot denoting the
wreckage appeared. Absolute silence reigned, everyone's attention riveted on the
display.
"Other than the scientific parameters obtained by our
sensor package, which evidently have no place in this general briefing," Edwards
glanced at Captain Clayton, who smiled, "that is all we know about Serendipity."
"Serendipity?" a raised eyebrow revealed the First
Officer's curiosity.
"Yes, sir. Unofficially, that's what my staff calls
this planet, for obvious reasons."
"Sounds appropriate to me," Clayton interjected. "As
you can see, we have several concerns which face us." The Captain sat back in
his chair, "We need to investigate all of them at one time. Therefore, the
following assignments are made. Commander?"
CDR Bo Donati activated his recording padd. Reading
from it, he announced "Commander Edwards, you will assign two teams to
investigate the deposits of dilithium and topaline. Find out how difficult it
will be to extract them. Ask for any Engineering personnel you think you need."
Edwards nodded, staring to put together his teams in
his head.
"Commander Bradford, your department, with the
appropriate help from the Science Department, will check out the three
civilization centers, making sure you abide by all tenets of The Prime
Directive." Donati looked pointedly at the Operations Officer to emphasize his
point.
"Yes, sir!" CDR Bradford acknowledged.
"And Lieutenant Commander MacDonald, your people will
analyze the wreckage down to molecular level. We want to know everything about
it."
CDR Angus MacDonald, Acting Chief Engineer, nodded,
already listing the members of his team.
"There you have it. I'll expect a personal briefing
from each of you in two hours," Clayton started toward the door, stopped and
turned back. "Be careful out there, people." He left the room, followed closely
by his First Officer.