The package was a small green crate about the size of a large tricorder and it was sitting on Kane’s desk when he came in. The CSO scowled at the object, and he immediately began looking for any signs of booby-traps.

A few moments later and Kane sat down and looked at the box. It was a courier package, and it was addressed to him specifically. Not seeing anything amiss, he flipped the latches and opened the lid.

Inside was a micro-PaDD and a small piece of gray-silver stone. A message on the PaDD read:

To: Dr. Solomon Kane, Chief Science Officer, USS Ogawa, Special Agent- Star Fleet Intelligence
From: Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi - Governor, Oed V Colony

Dr. Kane,

I apologize for the subterfuge. My intent in naming your specific titles is to allow you to garner that I have taken a great deal of time in looking into you and ascertaining if you are the right person for this endeavor. I trust that you are.

The sample provided is from a unique geological feature found here on Oed V (site information and scan data is attached). I would like to request that you analyze the sample and send me any data that you may discover, no matter how trivial. I understand that you are designer and fabricator of no small skill. I’m sure you will find the unique properties of the sample before you to be of some use to you, so please feel free to keep whatever is left of the sample for your own use. I have also provided payment which will be arriving in the next few days, as well as all the data compiled on the substance up to this point.

I look forward to reading your report. Good luck, Dr. Kane. If I may be of assistance at any time, please do no hesitate to call upon me. I appreciate your time.

Sincerely,

Gov. Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi, Oed V”

Kane read the message a few times before he set the PaDD aside and began looking at the substance..

Kane, CSO