Stardate: 70830:1240 
Title: Rennas Part 3
Author: Scott Deadilus 
Time: Shortly after "Emma Hears a Who"
Scene: Planet Renna 


After Lieutenant Smith's declaration of being 'woozy from the heat', Darka'Tal had led them into another, cooler, room; as insectoid species the Rennas were more resilient to degrees of temperature than most humanoids. 

Captain Deadilus, personally experienced with going from one climate to another during his days as a Science Officer, kept a close eye on his Security Officer as Lieutenant Kehn proceeded to pass a tricorder over her. Although it was a typical sci-tricorder as opposed to a medical one, Vaebn concluded that there was nothing wrong with Emma that a few sips of water wouldn't take care of.

~

The away team had continued to discuss the principles of the United Federation of Planets and its history. In return, Darka'Tal had had one of their historians (Metla'Clan) explain much of the recent history of their planet.

With their initial meetings concluded, they all stood, the Captain once again kneeling before the Darka in a customary sign of respect, who proceeded to reciprocate the gesture.

With the Darka now gone, Scott turned to the away team to discuss their observations just as Nakra'Mel (at least, he thought it was Nakra'Mel) reported that the Darka wished to host an evening celebration. Unable to refuse for fear of showing a lack of respect, the Captain accepted, nonetheless wondering if refusing alone could prevent the future war?

Putting such 'second guesses' to the back of his mind, the Captain tapped him combadge.


=/\= Observation Lounge =/\=

The away team and the COO had assembled in the Observation Lounge to discuss their observations during the time on the planet.

Emma, quick to point out that the Rennas had not revealed the details of the Renna-Ah language, could not argue with the Captain's logic that they too had sent them only Federation Standard, and had not sent them Germanic, Asian or Arabic languages from Earth. Her observation that none of the Rennas appeared to be armed stirred Scott to remember what he had seen. Whilst their chitinous exo-skeleton would provide some armour against projectiles, could it provide limited armour against energy weapons too? Or, like the Starfleet officers, maybe they carried no weapons as a sign of trust.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Kehn had been quick to reiterate that the 'forewarned' Federation civil war would no doubt be brought about by many factors. It was Lieutenant Smith that beat the Captain to the punch by pointing out that an avalanche would start with the tumbling of only one rock...

~

After some time, with discussions finished and the rest of the away team departed, Autumn looked at the Captain. "Lily tells me that your initial reports are full of details of the beauty of the structures. Given what you now know of the future, is that beauty now tainted?" 

Perhaps it was one of those days when everything had an answer buried in a comparison or some ancient chinese proverb, but the Captain couldn't help but find himself detailing to the Chief of Operations a flower they had discovered on a planet during a previous on his last ship; the petals were laced with a lethal toxin, designed to kill small insects but deadly even to humans, and yet the flower still possessed a magnificent beauty about itself. 

Nodding, Autumn understood only all too well the mind of an explorer, finding mystery and beauty wherever they turned...


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Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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