[snip]

Pashi nodded and took a seat. Thank you, you are most gracious in your hospitality.” She then looked at the others and stated “Best to take a seat and be at ease, looks like we will be here for a while as we sort out the truths and lies, which lie in the Wisdom of Va.” Pashi knew better than to mock a cultures religion and beliefs. They would be testing the limits of the Law of Parsimony; Occam’s Razor as the Terrans knew it.

The smaller man replied in kind, =/\= What you see around you is what we have to provide. Visitors not of Va’s Agents were unheard of, so we are simply seeing what works. A communal meeting of the leaders seemed a good start. =/\= He said. The UT mostly being accurate so far, though the accenting of the Klingon tones were harsh when used by the locals.

Verity took a seat as the captain gave Hunter orders. She was eager to analyze those samples but it was true they needed to gain he trust of the villagers before they started poking and prodding them with their medical devices.

“Do these UTs now work adequately?” Glen asked Pashi, “Or, do you think you should continue to ask the questions for us? I’d like to ask them more about Va. What I really want to ask is whether Va is something like the Gaia paradigm. Does Va propose that living organisms interact with their inorganic surroundings to form a synergistic and self-regulating, complex system? A system of feedback loops that helps to maintain and perpetuate the conditions for life on this planet? If so, then it must be clear even to them, that what has happened here under the Klingons is clearly an about face to those principles, and Va has been damaged, possibly irreparably. I wish Cara meow was here too, because I’ve no idea if pointing out such a thing would be okay.”

Pashi looked at the Captain, “The U.T.’s should suffice Sir. I will listen and step in when necessary. Tread lightly when it comes to their religion. Most cultures do not take lightly their beliefs being challenged.”

Verity nodded, it was interesting and a good explanation that could explain the organism they were dealing with. However it was imperative they identify all the potential ill effect the species could cause to its host.

Hunter eyed the barrel it seemed sturdy enough and sat down along with the rest of the team present ,though he left the diplomacy and discussions to the others .His eyes wandered around those both present and in the vicinity assessing their general health for now .

The doctor already knew that the bacteria made them stronger thus the reason the Klingon’s used them for mining but what where the long term effects he wondered ?. Hopefully they would agree to let him take blood samples and analyze it .

Glen spoke to Hunter again, “Doctor! I can see you checking out the muscles here, but do you really think these people are much stronger, or have more acute senses? Joe and Cara were only affected by the bacteria in some very specific ways. I know I’m being flippant in calling them superpowers but I don’t have another word for it. These people are either hiding their superpowers or have become immune to the effects of the bacteria? Would you not agree?”

With his head down the doctor whispered, he did this so the inhabitants especially that darn woman would not think they were conspiring something between them.

‘’Captain I believe you were told about this mission, that the Klingon’s took advantage of this people cause they were strong due to the symbiosis bacteria and used them for the mines, typical of the Klingon’s, I’ll answer your question though I do not believe they have any superpower strength but I’m sure they are substantially strong .With one bacteria on Cara’s tail we both had to hold her tail to assist Cross ,one swish from that tail would have had one of us flying in the air…now these people have lived with this bacteria all there lives , so its stands to reason that they have had ample opportunity too came into contact with this symbiosis bacteria ‘’. Hunter took a deep breath and looked at the dirt ,soot , mud and pollution around them ‘’Lets hope we can convince them that we have come in peace ‘’ at this point he had nothing more to add .

Hunter remembered that contact with the Klingon’s had told them they took what was needed and left and the bacteria had no effect on them.

Glen had read the medical reports but there was still something he still didn’t understand as a layman in medical matters. “I may have got it wrong, but the medical reports showed that Cara was only affected in her tail muscles where she was bitten, and Joe was only affected in his eyes where he must have rubbed them with his hands. So, those effects appeared like an infection in those specific areas, but haven’t spread elsewhere. Now, I understand what you are saying; that these people have been in contact with the symbiotic bacteria for their whole lives, and that must make a difference, but I would have thought they would therefore have strong muscles throughout their bodies, and improved senses in every organ. These people just seem… well, normal?”

‘’Actually in his ear ‘’ Hunter corrected Glen ‘’Not eyes and yes I agree with you its what I have been looking for , that is the way they are build ..maybe just maybe they have more stamina and can work longer without getting tired? ‘’ .
It was only hypothesis at this point .

Glen wondered where the man from before had gone since gesturing them all to sit down. Glen felt that they were safe in the open town public meeting area but the natives were curious and watching them. They likely to come closer once they gained more confidence. Also, these barrels were not designed as seats and they weren’t at all comfortable to sit on.

Pashi listened to the debate about the symbiotic relationship of the bacteria and these beings. She did not know much about medical science, but knew enough to know that a symbiosis relationship would appear different with these aliens than they would to newly exposed individuals or aliens. “Sirs, have you considered the fact that the symbiotic relationship the locals have with the bacteria has been around for a very long, even from the beginning of this species, time and that the bacteria is a common flora for them; and that the bacteria is only reacting to the new influence of a new species and therefore acting differently in them?.”

“Right! No, I hadn’t thought of that,” Glen replied, “Does that sufficiently explains what we see, Doctor Hunter?”

‘’I would agree Captain that its a possibility but then you had been briefed ahead for this mission and we were led to believe that the symbiotic bacteria made these humanoid alien species stronger thus the Klingon’s used them ‘’ Hunter pondered on the said issue ‘’Maybe like I said before, they have more stamina or condition of continuing or enduring over a length of space or time irrelevant of the bacteria and not quiet what we were originally led to presume the truth ‘’.

Glen read about ten reports a day. He was expected to remember every detail. That Klingon Security Assessment was over 100 pages long!

“Only Fingal knows where that man has gotten too!” Glen exclaimed. “And is it just me, but are these barrels the most uncomfortable seats ever invented?”

‘’At least you are not wearing a shirt that’s a couple of sizes smaller, I can hardly breath!’’ the man exclaimed. He felt like tearing it up but decided not to, just in case those around them would see it as an act of aggression and he’ll have more problems then a constricted shirt.

The smaller man spoke next after the back and forth discourse of the away team. =/\= Though our ears do not understand your tongues in your language you seem to debate like children on a raft without an oar or rudder. So let me be direct to ask what you say in speech about a topic? =/\= He said.

=/\= Yes, please ask us questions on any topic you like! =/\= Glen replied. He would ask more about Va later. Answering some of their general questions first seemed to be a good way to break the ice here. He would ignore the comment about them being children on a raft without a paddle. It was rather impolite and bad-mannered, but Glen didn’t think that it was intentionally meant to be insulting. Anyway, diplomacy required one to grow a very thick skin.

Verity leaned into Captain Glen and whispered, “Captain, ask them how long this symbiotic species has been inhabiting the planet with them, how many variants are there because Cara was bitten then exhibited her abilities, the Commander merely came in contact with it, and obtained his abilities while it didn’t seem to have an effect on some others. Also, ask them if they know of its origins.

“I hope they’ll let us do that,” Glen told his CSO. “Let them ask their own questions of us first. I think we can reassure them enough that they’ll be open to reciprocate. However, if Hunter is correct, then they may not even be aware of the symbiote or what it does. Be prepared for that answer too!”

‘’I did see them getting water from the river and boiling it, these people are not as backwards as I may have originally thought ‘’ Hunter replied. The doctor was hoping he’ll eventually see those who did work the mines …where they different in stature ,more masculine ,ultra-efficient and if so, was it due to work- related or did the bacteria play a part in all of this?.

Lance was with the group keeping eyes out keeping the captain safe, “Doctor Hunter instead of bolling water do you think PolyGlu is better?”

Glen replied in a voice that couldn’t be heard by the natives. “Their infrastructure is clearly very primitive, and has been damaged from years of Klingon occupation, They aren’t Warp-capable, and they are prejudiced and intolerant, but to say they are ‘backwards’ implies a lack of intelligence, and a simplistic way of life. We don’t know that they only boil the water. That may be a step in the purification process and they may also employ PolyGlu or some other process as Lance suggests. From what I’ve heard they are skilled miners, and that requires a certain amount of engineering skills in the use of equipment and tunnelling, and leadership of men.”

• Glen, CO