[snip]

“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.”

This time Hunter just shrugged his shoulders and remained silent, after all they were waiting to answer any questions thrown at them. For the doctor ‘backwards’ did not mean lack of intelligence but rather a lack of understanding when it came to know about undertaking certain actions and tasks .

As for the mines it could have been the Klingon’s who directed them , after all they did not dig for something that they needed but for what they believed were Gods. Either through pleasing the Gods or afraid of what could happen if they disobeyed.

Hunter had not forgotten, even though months had passed when the Captain was speaking to him and Hunter was replying back ,to him it was a simple normal conversation taking place between the two of them ,that is until much to his astonishment and shock caused by the unexpected . Glen had told him to shut up and as the saying goes.... fool me once shame on you ,fool me twice shame on me.

Glen thought that Hunter appeared to be sulking over what he said to him. Sometimes he couldn’t make the doctor out. Apparently, he was well-liked among the crew. Glen thought he was a capable officer and doctor too, despite his insubordination.

Glen’s communicator would chirp at this point and Joe’s happy sounding voice would be heard. ” Captain Glen this is Milligan. We have just a wee small issue which just came up that you may want to know about. Said issue is a bit time sensitive so if you could call the ship when you get a moment? Milligan out.” =/\=

“The ship is calling,” Glen said. “It sounds important! I think I need to take it!” Since the natives surrounded them, Glen didn’t think he could leave the table and would have to take the call here.

=/\= Milligan? It’s Glen here! Make it quick please. =/\=

Milligan spoke to Glen but the communicator was so quiet no one else would hear.

=/\= I might be able to use it to our advantage, as long as they don’t see as an omen. =/\= Glen replied. =/\= Just to confirm: it Warped into the system first? Any Warp signature that matches? Klingon? I have to go. Run some more scans! Glen out! =/\=

Glen would find the right time to tell his away team, and he’d need to ask the natives waht they considered were bad omens. At the moment, they were still sitting waiting for the man to ask his questions. There seemed to be an inordinate amount of time wasting on this planet. It was like anything that could be done tomorrow, can be left unti; next week. Talk about kicking the can along.

• Glen, CO