Posted by Lieutenant Sage Brennan (CMO) in Away Team One

Chan had been walking behind the away team her hand was now permanently resting on her phaser. She was watching the crowd like a hawk. Noting every look, every movement. Her training as a child had kicked i and her instinct was telling her to just get everyone off the planet and to safety.

She joined the rest of the group looking back every now and then. “If it is as bad as you think. then even the shuttle might be compromised. However seeing as it’s our shuttle we should be able to scan it and find out if that is the case. Personally i think we should scrape this mission” she said simply but it was clear she was on edge.

Lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

“I’ve sensed something I’d describe almost as desperation from them at times, but nothing threatening. I agree, we should return to our shuttle. We can contact the Genesis for further instructions. Our fact finding mission here has left one person dead. That’s reason enough to cut it short.”

Dekker, CNS

David frowned. “I can’t believe I’m the only one saying this,” He said quietly. “But I think we need to stay and find out exactly what is going on here. I know for a fact there is more than what they are telling us.” He looked over at Riley. “I’d really like to get to the bottom of this and uncover the truth. But I will follow your lead.” His hand still interlinked with Riley’s, he gave it another gentle squeeze.

-David Michaels, CSO

Sage took a deep breath and looked around. “And how do you propose we do that? The Powers that Be here on the planet have been very accommodating, but they’re hiding something. If they think its serious enough to be a deal breaker for their application to join the Federation, then it probably is. Our chance to walk among the people and observe ‘normal’ life here, was thwarted by an attack aimed at me,” here Sage looked at Chan, remembering how the Andorian spouted off about the doctor’s general lack of caution and concern. It still left a bad taste in the CMO’s mouth. “How are we going to find out what they’re hiding, when they’re lying and it isn’t safe to go out and talk to the people?”

—Sage

It was a good question, and Riley wanted to know David’s answer, but he also tried to read between the lines of the scientist’s words. If he wanted to uncover the truth, it meant he didn’t already know it. David was uneasy about the Pallasians due to knowledge he had that they didn’t and yet he wasn’t urging them to retreat.

“I’d like to see their reaction to our request to retreat to the shuttle. The threat of our departure without their gaining what they want from us may move them to proffer more information than they planned.”

Dekker, CNS

Chan listened to the group”It will be interesting. I might suggest keeping our phasers a little closer. We’ll also have to come up with an excuse to go to our shuttle, alone. Something that will hold up if they ask a lot of questions about it.” she said offering her thoughts. However she had a feeling getting to the shuttle would not be so easy.

Lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

The security team leader called out from a distance, not wishing to barge in on the private conversation taking place, “Sirs, Mr. Neve is awaiting your decision.”

GM

Sage stepped forward toward the guard. “We’ve seen enough. We’d like to return to our shuttle now.” That was short and sweet. Let the Pallasians make what they wanted from her words. She didn’t want to say anything that would lead their thoughts in any particular direction. However, Mr Neve’s response would tell them a lot.

—Sage

Riley’s dark eyes were unaccusing, but trained on the Neve as he waited his response. He sensed little from him and overall the leader seemed agreeable.

Mr. Neve nodded his head and the away team was transported to their shuttle using the vehicles and the trains that they had been using.

Once at the shuttle, the head of government stood by the shuttle thanking the away team. “I trust that you will put an application for us to be part of the Federation?”

GM

At this, David visibly sighed and rolled his eyes. He bit his tongue, and turned his attention to Riley, who would be far more diplomatic and professional with a reply than the many thoughts that were going through his own head at the moment.

-David Michaels, CSO

Riley smiled at the Pallasian leader, “We thank you for your hospitality and will write a full report of our experiences here for Starfleet command. Any application for membership in the Federation would need to be submitted by your government and that will initiate a far more detailed process than what the Genesis is able to undertake. Our report and that of the other away team will form the foundation of the work to come.”

Dekker, CNS

Neve looked relieved with the answer. “I will get right on to it,” he said.

GM

Chan was happy to finally be leaving. All she wanted to do now was leave file her report and then never comeback. Although she had to admit that she was surprised they didn’t encounter more resistance to them leaving. however she would count her blessing, after all things could still go south.

Lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

Neve’s relief was palpable to Riley. Either he was a master at controlling the emotions he emitted to the Counselor’s empathic receptors, or the leader of the Pallasians believed the first contact was a success. If the Pallasians believed so, Riley was content. The greatest danger in first contact was a misunderstanding that would lead to hostile relations.

“Thank you again for your hospitality and I hope the Genesis has cause to visit your world again.”

With that he reached to the control panel to close the shuttle’s bay door.

Dekker, CNS

As the door closed, Sage felt her body begin to relax. She’d been much more tense than she’d realized. “What just happened out there? Does Neve honestly think all is well? That we don’t have reservations because of the political atmosphere here and the assault in the market place?”

“It doesn’t make sense to me either,” Riley said, taking a seat in the back of the shuttle. “Sometimes hope mixed with desperation can cause a certain amount of delusion and they don’t know just how strict the Federation’s protocol for admittance is, but this wasn’t an ideal beginning.”

He looked over at Chan, “Could you see if we can raise the Genesis on the comms? I’d like to get an idea of their status.”

Chan nodded “Yes Sir. do you want me to take off as well?” she asked as he went over to the com station.

She walked to the small replicator on the wall. =/\=Water, cold.=/\= It appeared in a shimmer of blue sparkles and she drank the entire thing straight down before claiming a chair. “What do you all honestly think is going on?” Her gaze stopped on David. “And you? What do you know that they didn’t share with us?”

—Sage

Riley looked from Sage to David. He wanted an answer to the same question.

Dekker, CNS

=^= Away team one to Genesis do you read us=^= Chan said she she opened a channel. while she waited she half listened to the others. she wanted answers too.

lieut Chan (Sub-DH Robotics)

As David pondered what he could or would share with the away team, Riley responded to Chan, “Yes, I think it’s best we depart this planet. It’s time to regroup on the Genesis. I’m very curious to hear what the other away team learned on their mission.”

Dekker, CNS

“They had to have learned more than we did.” Sage looked pointedly at David.

—Sage

David had been sitting, arms folded across his chest. His face clearly showing his frustration and Riley would be reading the deep conflict within the man.

Finally, once the stares of the other members on his team were upon him, David let out an exasperated sigh.

“I believe these people to be liars and thieves,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “There is more that they want from us than meets the eye. I believe returning to the Genesis is a wise idea.”

-David Michaels, CSO