[snip]

OOC: Ok so it was answered as noted right below here ive put it in bold, basically they gave permission for you to take samples....

OOC: But you didn’t answer anywhere about their knowledge of the comet. That was what I had queried. Sure, I’ll okay Hunter to continue with the testing. (My point about the testing was only that we are surrounded by a large crowd and some of them seem to have conflicting views about us from those of their leaders The protection of the Elders didn’t inspire us with the greatest confidence, with our previous knowledge of how the Cockroach mind works. ;) Sorry!)

Hunter pondered on Glen’s question ‘’I have no desire to take any blood samples lest I have my head chopped off , beside we have samples of the bacteria in our labs should we need to study it further ‘’ and for the next question the doctor replied ‘’Captain I can only do that with a medical tricorder but is there really any need ? They seem healthy and strong, most more then us ! As for the woman saying the short Elder is because he did not care about Va, guess they have no idea about inherited genes ‘’.

There was more ‘’Captain you or the Cmdr ‘’ he could not quiet remember who ‘’ Made contact with the Klingon’s , have now left after getting what they came for, they also knew about the bacteria but it did not effect them in anyway . So what’s left is to prove to them that we came in peace, if we were the devils the Klingon’s made us up to be would we not have them slaves to work for us ?’’ .

At this point he realized the only way to help was to tell the inhabitants not to let anyone make them believe they are Gods so to serve them and whatever they have in the mines can be used for trade , business ,swapping or replacing one thing for another .

“It’s a difficult problem,” Glen mused. They’ve gone for the Klingon mantra of devilish “Fedoomers” hook, line and sinker, and any attempt we make to persuade them otherwise is likely to be an attack on Va, or at least some kind of blasphemy. They are inexorable, they’re very stubborn. However, the more time passes, and the more time that we don’t bring doom upon them, that can only serve to help our case. Now, I don’t know how much of my comm call to the XO you overheard, but this comet is concerning to me. Someone deliberately sent it towards this planet, and I don’t think the Klingons were lying when they said they’d had enough and were leaving. So, who sent it if not the Klingons? The natives didn’t answer my question, so I don’t think it is someone they see regularly. So, does that mean that they haven’t had contact with whoever sent it? So many questions! I’m think that maybe we get a few more answers here, wait for the CE to come back from the mines, and then leave in the Merri and go find the origin of the comet. We might find more answers there?”

’’ I have no problem with that !’’ exclaimed Hunter when Glen suggested they go back to the safety of their own ship ‘’As long as the comet is not of any danger to these stubborn inhabitants I cannot see how else we can help ‘’.

Sure there was the Cmdr who was making his life miserable ,the psychiatrist was also high on the list, then there was Cross where one would not have the slightest idea what she’ll do or come up with and last but not least Kate who had a crush on him, though the doctor was not the least bit interested.

He emitted a typical long and deep audible breath.

On hearing Hunter’s enormous sigh, “Another idea!” Glen said to Hunter. “Some of these people seem very stubborn, jumpy and they might see us taking blood samples as a very invasive procedure, and they might even see it as a physical attack upon a person, but others seem much more friendly towards us. If we can develop and coach that friendship just a little more, then maybe one or two might then agree to blood samples. You’ll only need a few.”.

The doctor looked at Glen as if he had started to sprout two antennas .

Glen looked to see where the smaller man had gotten to. He was the most friendly of them, and maybe he had more to say yet in reply to Glen’s questions if he rephrased them.

‘’Its a pity I did not bring with me my guitar ,I could have played a gig while you engaged in a dance and we wont be thought of as Fed-doomers but two men with a couple of loose screws ‘’ Hunter replied with all seriousness.

Glen couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Who aboard the Merrimack knew that Doctor Hunter was such a comedian? “Jokes aside,” Glen said, “I’m sure that the Klingons never brought these people a barbeque to eat, unless it was one of live worms. I’m sure they never danced or sung to them either, unless it was during some rowdy, bawdy drinking session, and they were crude songs with filthy lyrics. I doubt they ever treated them as equals, but always with their signature prideful ruthlessness and brutality, with their authoritarian administrations and feudalism. So no, Doctor, I won’t be asking you to pick up your guitar and jam to them today, but I do believe that the more that we can distance ourselves from the Klingon’s regime, then the more we can gain the trust of these people.”

The doctor nodded as he looked around him, there where plenty of stuff ,bits and pieces lying around to make a barbecue ,he had spent many weekends with his father camping ‘’Captain we could have a barbecue but and its a big but where is the meat?’‘.

“I meant the food that our XO brought down in the shuttle,” Glen said, “as well you know. I did laugh out loud at your joke about playing the guitar, but I’d stick to your day job!” Glen laughed again.

Both the small man and larger gruff woman waited for Glen to indicate answers to the earlier offer by the Elders for the team to take samples and help etc.

Glen spoke again to the small man and large gruff woman, =/\=We would still like to help you by testing your bodies, your water and Va’s Body. My Engineer will look for ways to make your mining of Va’s body safer. We thank you that the Elders have agreed as one mind to allow us to do so. We agree to heed the course of minimal speech, and to keep things simple for those we wish to approach, or wish to approach us. We thank you that we will be under the protection of the Elder’s blessings. We will need to take samples of your blood but our doctor can do this painlessly without breaking the surface of your skin. We can start now if that is acceptable.=/\=

Glen said to Hunter, and also to the Science team, “Let’s do this! Your heads have been given the blessing of the Elders to stay on your bodies. Work in pairs. Only choose the people who come forward to give blood willingly, rather than random sampling, and minimal questioning of them… and none of your wisecracks! When sampling the water, please choose places easily accessed, and in public open spaces. I’ll remain here, and you can all report back here when you are finished.”

• Glen, CO