[snip]

At this point it was Cross who held onto Joe’s arm, she suddenly felt dizzy and it looked like the place was going around in circles but it was short in duration and she said nothing to know one.

Cara was relatively new to the ship and hadn’t known Cross long enough to have seen this kind of behaviour from her. “Sir, is the Doctor well? Anything I can do to assist?” she asked the XO. “Also, Sir, respectfully, we can only ever be observers here, and we need to get our act together if we don’t want to create a diplomatic scene.” She thought there would be ample time later to discuss what they had seen here with those who were actually in charge. She didn’t think that this was the right time to fall on her sword about it. It was the Dol and his Executive who made the decisions about how this society was structured. The ordinary people were just following the rules and their orders. However, if Captain Glen was thinking of providing them with scientific and technological research, or equipment, before they left, then those could come with provisos that the people got a better deal too. She would also put everything she saw and heard into her log, and report it back to Starfleet.

It was the doctor who responded ‘’I’m fine Cara there is no reason to be alarmed and yes I do think its best that I stay quite and just go with the flow’’ Cross realized that
as an anthropologist this was Cara’s particular field of ability and expertise.

Under the circumstances, she thought it best to ask Sal if she could examine one of the metallic hats once they had returned from the tour.

Joe with Cross holding onto his arm had begun to move forward again. He listened closely to Cara and then after a pause replied to her. “You are of course right Cara. I should let others tend to diplomacy. I am terrible at it you can check my record or ask anyone who knows me. Lieutenant Cross for instance. She’ll tell you. I’m terrible at pretending. Which of course is all diplomacy is at the end of the day. “

Joe smiled and nodded to some people who were passing by before continuing with Cara. “I myself am tired of diplomacy. I would sooner give someone a good kick in the shins than be diplomatic anymore today. I am for all intents and purposes from this point on just a tourist. I will leave it to the experts to ask the questions. Oh yes and that would be you Ms. Meow . So let’s see some of that scientific curiosity at work shall we ? I expect answers from you as to the whys, hows, and a prediction of the future of a nearly self enclosed society and how the federation should treat said society.” Joe paused cleared his throat and said playfully . “Someone might want to ask questions and take notes. You know what a stickler the CO is!”

“Sorry Commander, I take my direction from you, and I wasn’t meaning to criticise at all, but I think that what we are doing here is a little more than being tourists. This isn’t just sightseeing, and like you, I expect some future Federation policy will come from it. Yes, don’t worry, I am recording everything down that I see and hear, and anything that can be inferred. As for the whys and the hows, I’ll have to consult with someone more expert than me before writing my reports. And sorry again, but I get so excited by seeing such a native culture, untouched by Federation values, that I forget myself. I don’t like sentient beings suffering or being abused either, and despite all my training and all the politics, I agree that there are some things that can be plainly wrong on any level.”

Joe laughed and said, ” Ms. Meow don’t get me wrong. i intend to be more than a tourist. I simply plan on doing it more quietly. I was never meant to be a diplomat or anything close to it. I am all too often a bit rough around the edges. It’s the way I am. You are however I suspect have the same sorts of questions but a lot more empathy along with the professional training to draw conclusions from your observations. So don’t sell yourself short on drawing conclusions in your reports. At the moment you are the person star fleet has trained for this job. So, take my advice calm down and make your first mission a stellar performance.”

“Yes, thank you Sir,” Cara replied.

Cross was still holding onto Joe’s arm for dear life ‘’Say Cmdr,do you need to have an opinion on everything?’’ she asked ,this time her voice sounded hoarse.Her face was white as a sheet and the skin was clammy to the touch ,the miserable doctor was clearly fatigued, and there was scarcely enough strength left in her hoarse voice to gasp out ‘’ I,I hate to have to say this but I really need to sit down..even if its on the floor ‘’she broke out in a cold sweat, feeling the trickles of perspiration run down her clammy face.” .

“Shouldn’t we call the Merri for another doctor?” Cara asked?

-Cara Meow, Ship’s Anthropologist and Sociologist.