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Star Trek: The Next Generation "The Unethicals Within" Continued Captain's Log, stardate supplemental. We have entered Melkotian space, on our mission to reestablish diplomatic relations. We were at first hailed by a Melkotian space beacon, which warned us not to proceed further. As our mission was one of peace and goodwill, I felt I had no choice but to continue. Unfortunately the beacon trailed us to their home planet, blasting phaser rounds at us all the way. "We're in a standard orbit," said Data. The ship shuddered. "Another hit, sir, aft shield four," said Worf. "How much more of this can we take?" said Picard. Data spoke up. "I estimate 10 hours, 17 minutes, eight seconds-" "That's a remarkably accurate calculation," said Picard admiringly. "-Give or take an hour or two," Data added. "Numba one, you have until that time to reestablish peaceful relations," said Picard. "Prepare an Away Team." The ship shuddered as it was hit again. "Aye aye, sir," said Riker quickly, turning to the bridge crew amid shouts of "Pick me, pick me!" Riker considered, looking hard at those eager faces. Geordi hadn't been out of the ship in the while but, lonely for company, he was often morose whenever he was far from the holodeck. Worf hadn't been on an away mission in a while either, but the last time the Klingon had beamed down he had gotten himself bayonetted by one of Q's vicious animal things. That left... "Data, Troi, and Wesley," said Riker, to disappointed "Aaaws...." from the unchosen ones. "Oh, do stop whining," said Picard. "I'm the Captain, and I almost never get to beam down." In the transporter room, Kaiko, Chief O'Brien's wife, stood behind the controls. "Where's Chief O'Brien?" said Riker. "Oh, he's tending my plants," said Kaiko. "We're switching jobs for a day. He's always complaining how hard it is, to beam people around the galaxy, but what Miles doesn't understand is how difficult it is to feed some of the plants. I mean, just to deal with the carnivorous tree strikers from Alpha Two-" "All right, all right," said Riker. "But are you familiar with the controls?" "Sure," said Kaiko. "I read all the manuals. You pull these three levers down, right?" Riker nodded. He turned to his Away team. He distributed phasers to them. "As a precaution only," he reminded. Wesley, accidently pressing the firing stud, sent a beam of energy flying over the transporter console. There was a distinct thud as Kaiko, stunned, fell to the ground. Riker took away Wesley's phaser. "We're on a mission of peace. If necessary, we're going down to make humble pie." He paused, reflecting. "But an appropriate defensive posture might also be required. Reset your phasers to 'mild rebuke'," he told the others. They beamed down to the planet, as soon as they had revived the dazed Kaiko. They materialized in a gloomy fog. "Data, are you picking up any of this?" said Riker. Data raised an eyebrow. "My tricorder does not pick up this mist," said Data, looking at his instruments. "But then, it does not pick up lint from shaggy carpets either." Then, they saw it. A Melkotian. "Momma!" Wesley cried instinctively, cringing against Counselor Troi. "What a cheap prop," said Riker. "That must be the one they used in the old Star Trek episode. I wonder whose basement it's been in all these years." "Lifeforms!" boomed the prop. "You were warned not to return!" "We want to reestablish releations with you," said Riker. "If we have some problem, we can talk it out." "Yes, yes, we have a problem," cackled the Melkotian. "Sir, I don't like the sound of that," said Data. Riker thrust out his chest. "Then let us help you. We can talk... over coffee and doughnuts...." "The problem is you!" said the Melkot. And suddenly, it was gone. And so was the mist. The Away Team found itself in an empty field. "Captain, we can't take much more of this," said Lt. Worf, as the ship shuddered from another phaser hit. Picard, looking up from his Shakespeare volume, raised a finger. "Oh, that's where you're wrong, Mr. Worf. This isn't like the old Enterprise, where the shields buckled after a few disrupter bursts. The shields are much stronger, so we can be safe and secure in our delusions-" The ship rocked again. "Hm, you've got a point," said Picard. "That means... you'll let me... fire back?" A chord of emotion crept in Worf's voice. He frantically flipped through the operations manual, looking for the part about operating the weapons. "Hm, no need to be so rash," said Picard, turning back to his Shakespeare. "Let us procrastinate a bit longer. But see if you can't stabilize the ship better after every hit. My book is jostling around all over the place." To be continued | ||||||||
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