Where No One Has Gone Before Pt. 08

"Of course, Captain," she said. Jim and Kyra echoed Mishita's acknowledgment, and the others left the ready room. The room now empty, I turned to Mishita.

"Commander, I have a couple questions that have been nagging me ever since last night," I said. "I'm hoping you can provide some answers."

"I'll do my best, Captain. You understand that like you, we have our... secrets."

"I understand and respect that, Commander. As long as your secrets do not jeopardize my ship or crew or mission, I have no interest in prying. I am sure there is much we can leave for later. From what I saw in the report you gave me yesterday, it appeared your ship was headed directly for that planet. I was just wondering what that ship of yours was doing so close to T-107." Mishita and K'ew looked at each other for a moment before she turned back to me.

"The Klagg was not a standard cruiser, Captain," she said. "It was a... resource collection and transportation vessel. It was sent to T-107 to collect a load of quadrillium."

"Quadrillium?" I asked.

"Quadrillium is a highly efficient and clean source of power, Captain," K'ew explained. "Its crystalline structure absorbs and stores radiant energy, such as emitted by most stars. Several systems in this region are known to have large deposits of the material." Interesting, I thought. A germ of an idea began to form in my mind, but I kept it to myself, at least for now.

"Who else uses it?" I asked.

"There are several civilizations that rely on it for power. It can be replicated, but only imperfectly, so far. The natural substance is far more efficient, and quite superior," K'ew said.

"So this ship, the Klagg, was basically a mining ship. And it was sent here, knowing the dangers it faced from the Darnok? That doesn't make sense."

"The vessel's shields were adjusted," K'ew said. "We... hoped that would have been sufficient, but apparently, we were wrong."

"Why not just reason with the Darnok? Maybe if they understood your need for it or if they saw a reason to let your people in, they might not have attacked. Is there anything they might accept in trade?"

"One does not reason with a Darnok, Captain," K'ew told me. Even through the speaker, the tone was somber. "One would be better off trying to reason with the hot liquid in your container. They operate strictly on instinct. They are driven by their relentless, ravenous hunger, and their libido, which is matched only by ours."

"So they're not an intelligent or organized species," I theorized.

"Correct, Captain," K'ew said.

"That still doesn't make sense to me. If your command knew of the Darnok before the Klagg arrived, why didn't they take additional precautions?" I asked.

"The Darnok exist only in the area immediately surrounding the border between light and dark," K'ew said. I knew he was referring to the terminator. "The planet's orbit is such that one side always faces the star, while the other side faces away. The quadrillium is located in select areas on the side facing the star, where it absorbs the star's emissions. Away from the Darnok."

"And who collects this material?" I asked. I was shocked to think they would send people to that part of the planet, knowing what they would be exposed to. The solar radiation would cook them in very short order, even with heavily-reinforced suits.

"The ship was equipped with remote collection vehicles, operated safely from above the planet's surface, Captain. We are Gingravik. We are not barbarians. We would never knowingly expose anyone to that environment," K'ew said testily.

"The Klagg would normally have approached the planet from the light

side, Captain," Mishita said. "There is a small corridor that allows ships to approach without drawing the attention of the Darnok. The glare of the star is too... intense... for the Darnok, and the vessel would have remained hidden."

"And any deviation from that corridor could have drawn their attention," I mused out loud.

"Yes, Captain," K'ew said. I had a sudden thought, and I didn't like it. But I knew I needed to ask anyway.

"And this is something you've done many times before, correct?" I asked.

"Yes," Mishita said. "Why do you ask?"

"Is it possible that ship was sabotaged?" I asked.

"I do not understand - what is sabotaged?" K'ew asked.

"Deliberately damaged, to make it crash," I said. Mishita's face turned white, and if the Gingravik next to her could turn a paler shade of green, he might have.

"Why would anyone do such a thing?" Mishita asked.

"Why, indeed?" I asked in return. "Do you have... I don't know what you might call it... telemetry - signals or data from the Klagg before it crashed?"

"I believe I understand what you are asking," Mishita said, reflecting on my question. "Yes, every ship has a device that records flight events. The information from that might still be available. I will look into that, and pass on what I can. Do you believe this was done on purpose?"

"I don't know. It is only one possible explanation. But I intend to find out. My commanding officer has been pressured to open this sector of space back up for some reason. Maybe it's connected to your crash. Maybe not."

"Do you believe that a Gingravik may have... conspired with someone on your planet to make this happen?" K'ew asked.

"Anything is possible," I said. K'ew shook his leaves, and I didn't need to understand Gingravik to tell he was visibly upset.

"This is NOT the Gingravik way," he snarled through his speakers.

Great, I thought sarcastically. Two days into first contact, and I'm already alienating the aliens. And we needed each other. "No offense was intended," I responded, as mildly as possible. "It's just my training to consider all possible alternatives as carefully as possible before acting."

Well, I admitted to myself I was usually brash and headstrong and noted for unequal measures of action and thought, but putting our best foot forward seemed like a good idea. Firmly refusing to think about what my guests would make of the phrase 'best foot forward,' I added, "Any subterfuge could easily be on the human side."

"I assure you, Captain, I will do everything in my power to help get to the bottom of this," Mishita said. "I'll contact my superiors and get that data."

"Thank you, Commander," I said. "There's one other thing I'd like your assistance with."

"What's that?" Mishita asked.

"I was wondering if you could listen to the transmissions we intercepted?" I asked.

"Yes, we can do that," my Gingravik counterpart said. I pulled up the audio from the transmissions and played it, and Mishita and K'ew listened intently before speaking.

"Is that from your people?" I asked.

"It sounds Gingravik," Mishita said. "But it's been... I think you would call it... encycled, perhaps?"

"You mean, encrypted?" I asked.

"Yes, that," Mishita said. "Without the proper code, it would be impossible to understand what is being said."

"Can you find out anything about these transmissions?"

"Yes, all long-distance communications are recorded and logged. I'll make some inquiries and see what I can learn," Mishita said.

"Thank you, Commander. I appreciate that," I said.

"We'd better get back to the Tere, Captain. We have much to do. I hope to see you again, very soon, Jim," Mishita said.

"And I, you, Mish," Jim said. I looked at my executive officer and wondered how close he was to this Gingravik commander... the woman of his dreams. I had no reason to doubt his loyalty and no reason to treat the Gingravik as hostile. It was just a nagging concern.

They said their goodbyes and left the ready room with Yeoman Carmichael, who would escort them to the shuttle bay. After they left, I turned to my two most-trusted confidants.

"Well?" I asked.

"I know you're probably tired of hearing this, Captain, but are you sure we're doing the right thing with this... exchange?" Jim asked. He was right about one thing - I was tired of hearing that question. Still, I understood his intent, and he never asked in the presence of subordinates, which I respected.

"If we're going to work with these people, Bill, we need to develop a level of trust. Plus, we need to learn how to communicate," I said.

"But we both speak the same language," Jim countered.

"We use a lot of the same words, Number One. But I don't think I would quite call it communication. You saw the exchanges between K'ew and our engineers. We can learn from each other, but not until we can actually understand one another."

"Of course, Captain," Jim said.

"And Jim. You keep right on asking me if I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. Privately, of course. I find it keeps me on my toes," I added, hoping to reassure him.

"Yes, sir," Jim said with a slight smile. "I will. I do have one question."

"What's that?"

"Do you suspect sabotage or foul play?"

"I'm not ruling it out, Number One. Keep this under your hat, both of you," I said, looking from Jim to Kyra. "Admiral Simmons told me that Senator Jacoby has been riding his ass about opening this sector of space back up. Claims it's important for shipping traffic."

"What?" Kyra asked, startled at the revelation. Even Jim looked taken aback.

"There's no shipping going on here," Jim added. "Hell, we're just now starting to explore this part of space."

"Exactly," I said. "I did a little check into Jacoby. He's got a lot of irons in a lot of fires, but he's especially interested in renewable energy. Granted, it's improved considerably in the last 90 years or so, but still has a long way to go. You heard what Mishita and K'ew said about this quadrillium."

"You think Jacoby knows about this stuff?" Jim asked.

"I'm not ruling it out," I said. "If he does, it could be a potential gold mine for him. Imagine, having crystals that practically suck up all the energy from the local sun. Now imagine having exclusive rights to something like that."

"Holy crap," Jim exclaimed with a whistle.

"Exactly. Now, we know there's been a lot of communication between these Gingravik and Earth, but we don't know who's at either end of these communications. And we don't know what's being said in these transmissions. I'm hoping Mishita can help me get to the bottom of it," I said.

"I'm sure she'll come through, Captain," Jim said.

"You seem awful certain of yourself, Number One," I responded, shooting Jim a meaningful look. "What makes you say that?"

"It's just... I feel like I've known her all my life, Bill. I can't explain it," Jim said.

"I think I can," Kyra said wryly. "It's called love. You love her, and you trust her."

"Is that right, Jim?" I asked.

"Alright, I admit I'm a bit biased," Jim said reluctantly, with a streak of embarrassment.

"Just don't let that bias color your judgment, Number One," I cautioned. "Let's get to it. Jim, let me know when the first shift is ready to depart. I want to speak with them before they leave."

"Yes, sir," Jim said before leaving the ready room.

"What do you need me to do, sweetheart?" Kyra asked.

"Keep a close eye on the crew. Keep an even CLOSER eye on our guests. Learn what you can. Through all of human history, I don't think that there has ever been a first contact between two different cultures which didn't have some friction. Let me know if you see any potential problems develop," I said.

"Of course," she responded.

"Let's do this, then," I said. We kissed before leaving the ready room, and I took the central chair, checking on the ship's status. Once I finished that, I fired off a report to Alan, letting him know what I was doing without mentioning my suspicions regarding the good Senator. A couple hours later, Jim reported back to me on the bridge.

"The first shift is gathering in the shuttle bay now, sir," he said. "It's going to take all three of our shuttles to transport them. Commander Mishita is preparing to launch three of her shuttles. She's waiting for my signal."

"Alright, Number One. Walk with me. Commander Travers, you have the conn," I said.

"Yes, sir," Elizabeth said. I got out of my chair and walked off the bridge, Jim at my side. I waited until we were out of earshot before saying anything.

"You seem to be getting on well with this Gingravik commander, Number One," I said. "I haven't seen you this happy in quite a while."

"Yes, sir, I am," Jim said. "It's as if I've finally met my soul-mate."

"You see this going anywhere?" I asked.

"Personally, Captain, I hope so. I think she feels the same way."

"Just be careful, Jim," I said. "We don't know much about these people. And you just met her. Just because some of the Gingravik look perfectly human - or like perfect examples of humanity - doesn't mean that they have the same expectations of an... intimate or long-term relationship."

"Understood. Maybe I just met her, sir. But I feel as if I've known her all my life. It's as if she's been a part of me that I didn't even know existed. But I promise I'll be careful."

"That's all I ask, Jim. There are too many lives on the line - both here and on the Tere," I said.

"Yes, sir, I know. And she does, too," Jim said quietly. "The victims of the Darnok didn't die easy deaths." We ended our discussion when we reached the shuttle bay.

Walking in, we saw a group of crew members with overnight cases. Their shift leaders stood to one side as they welcomed the new arrivals. Jim formed the group into a loose formation and called them to attention.

"At ease," I ordered. "I just wanted to say a few words before you left. First, you will be exposed to a whole new civilization. That means you will be dropped into a society with a completely different set of values and customs. Even their dress - or lack of it - will be completely different.

"There are three things I want you all to remember. One: you are guests on their ship and will conduct yourselves accordingly. You will follow their rules and listen to what they tell you. Second: you not only represent this ship but you will be seen as representatives of the entire human race to these people. Do not bring dishonor upon this ship. Third: you are there to learn as much as you can. Listen to them. This is their culture and ship; you're there to learn from them as they will be learning from you. Remember - patience is a virtue, and do not jump to conclusions.

"Any questions?" I didn't see any hands raised, so I turned to Jim. "Do you have anything to add, Number One?"

"Just this, sir. The Gingravik have a completely different outlook on life, love and relationships than we do. They are very open about their sexuality and do not have the same inhibitions we do. They think nothing of open nudity, and refer to that as their 'natural state.' You will also see some crewmembers with green tattoos, here," he said, pointing to an area on his chest.

"Those are their mating marks. The Gingravik are fiercely monogamous and protective of their mates. Keep that in mind. Also, be very careful when approaching a native Gingravik - those are the ones who look like plants. Their leaves emit a dew that is destructive to your uniforms. As a rule, they will not reach out to you. They are not rude - rather the opposite. They simply do not wish to damage your clothing.

"That's all I have, sir," Jim concluded.

"Thank you, Number One. Alright, if there's no questions, let's board," I said. One female crew member raised her hand. "Yes?"

"Sir, I just wanted to clarify something. Are we allowed to engage in... intimate relations with these people if they approach us?" I recognized the crew member as Petty Officer Rhonda Jenkins. I knew she had just finalized her divorce from a cheating husband before being assigned to Enterprise.

"Good question, and I'm glad you asked, Petty Officer Jenkins," I said. "I expect you to use your best judgment in that area. Personally I would advise caution, since we do not understand all the subtleties of their culture. However, as far as I'm concerned, you are all adults, capable of accepting responsibility for your own actions. And whatever happens on the Tere can stay on the Tere, unless it is officially brought to my attention. Think of it as the modern version of 'don't ask, don't tell.' Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, sir," she said. "Thank you."

"Let's roll," I said. The crew members went to their shuttles and climbed aboard. I joined Jim and the section heads in the observation platform and watched as the bay depressurized and the large bay doors opened. Once clearance was granted, the three shuttles left the ship. Jim spoke into his wrist communicator.

"Tere, this is Enterprise. Our shuttles are on their way."

"Understand, Enterprise. Our shuttles have just cleared the ship. Thank you, my love," I heard Mishita say. I saw Jim give me a sheepish smile and a faint blush before he responded.

"You're welcome, my queen," Jim said as he took in my raised eyebrow.

"Queen?" I asked my first officer.

"It's a... term of endearment... common among the Gingravik," Jim said.

"Uh huh," I responded, wondering what all the implications of that 'term of endearment' were in the Gingravik culture. The Tere's shuttles entered the bay and landed. After the bay was pressurized, we went out to meet our visitors.

Mishita had sent the same number of crew members we sent to the Tere, and it seemed the number was evenly split between native Gingravik and humans. To my relief, the humanoids were clothed, but I could tell they were uncomfortable with being covered. I chuckled inside as I considered the old French saying, "c'est la vie" - such is life.

They gathered together as we approached, and I could tell they were a bit nervous, which was completely understandable. I noticed mating marks on one of the two human females and wondered if her mate was there.

My question was answered when one native Gingravik joined her, wrapping a tendril around her head. I don't know what was exchanged between them, but I saw a smile on her face. Then I caught myself wondering how they consummated their relationship and quickly put it out of my mind.

"Welcome to the USS Enterprise," I said. "I'm Captain Jones, commander of the Enterprise. These are the section heads you will be working with during your visit. I hope you will find everything here to your satisfaction, and I look forward to working with you. If there is anything you need, please feel free to ask. Again, welcome aboard." The group broke up as the section chiefs escorted their visitors out of the bay.

The three Gingravik vessels left the shuttle bay after we left. I headed back to the bridge, and Jim went to Engineering to start his rounds. After reviewing the status reports from the ship's various sections, I retired to my ready room to consider what tactics we might employ once the engineers did their job. I knew I would have to consult with my Gingravik counterpart, but I wasn't sure how strong a tactician she was. One thing at a time, I thought.

The following day was a repeat of the first. Jim and I saw our crew members off, welcomed the new Gingravik arrivals, and bade farewell to the first batch. We welcomed our first batch back to the ship, and I was glad to see they all looked rested and well-cared for.

"Why don't you debrief the crew members and report back to me, Number One? I need to go over the day's status reports."

"Yes, sir," Jim said, ushering the crew members out of the shuttle bay. I returned to the bridge and browsed through the reports, paying particular attention to Chet's daily summary. It seemed he and the Gingravik scientist had developed a rapport over the last day and a half and were making good progress. Jim returned a couple of hours later and asked to adjourn to my ready room.

"What is it, Number One?" I asked.

"I debriefed the first batch, and they all seemed to enjoy their time on the Tere. They also learned quite a bit."