[snip]

On the screen the white-grey toned background with the smaller image of the dark green-grey toned angled gem like face flighted from looking over what it could see of the Merrimack’s bridge from its viewing angle to observe Cross. =/\= Greetings, Chief Medical Officer Doctor Cross. I am VA station matrix 009-Communication node for non-VA contacts. I was just formerly speaking to one Junior Officer Hercules Kahuna of your vessel the USS Merrimack from the Federation Of Planets. Are you also part of the Federation Of Planets? I would assume so given you seem to serve on the same ship, however, this matrix is still gathering information during this exchange. Please if you would enlighten me on your mission and reason for being currently in orbit of VA Experimental Planet 19 version 1.2? =/\= It requested.

Not to mention, a ‘photographic memory’, Kahuna thought could be added to the doctor’s list.

’’ Yes I am, the Federation has more ships, ours is named the USS Merrimack, we’re on a five year mission to explore strange new worlds and new civilization…to boldly go were no man has ever gone before ‘’ Cross replied then thought Gee, I actually remembered that.

‘’Our Captain was given the orders to come to this planet because other species already known to us were using the inhabitants to their advantage but by the time we arrived they had left ‘’the doctor shifted in her seat ‘’What kind of information is the matrix gathering as of now from us ?And why would you describe the planet as VA Experimental Planet 19 version 1.2 ,is there a specific reason as to why and what caught the attention of the Matrix of this particular planet?’‘.

=/\= I see, so your purpose to VA Experimental Planet 19 Version 1.2 was for one of investigation of those formerly present. =/\= It said.

=/\= This matrix is currently gathering information to catalogue based on our verbal exchanges. It allows my matrix to upload this information to those who have Ascended at a later date. =/\= It went on.

=/\= As for why we refer to the planet you orbit as VA Experimental Planet 19, version 1.2, well that is because it is the 19th planet in the experimental program designated by the Ascended 320 thousand solar rotations ago. Current version 1.2 was established 116 thousand solar rotations ago when version 1.1 of the experiment failed due to an undetected space vessel crashing into the planet and introducing a deadly disease of foreign vectors. This disease would normally have been handled by the recently introduced biological mandate update 1.1a however, the disease mutated too quickly beyond expected projections. As a result over 98% of the current population of planet 19 fell to sickness, those left were weakened but survived due to a natural inborn immunity that was developed naturally. Version 1.2 of the experiment then was launched from this station shortly after, seeding the remaining natives with further population boons from their current area in the north to also include areas to the west and south on the main land masses. These three tribes later joined together and brought the population up to sustainable and thriving levels within 10 solar rotations. =/\= It said.

Cross was not yet finished ‘’Enlighten me ,by using the communication with non- VA contacts are you alluding that the Matrix have other VA contacts?’‘.

=/\= This matrix has had contact with 17 other non-VA Ascended species since this stations construction. This matrix was programmed to analyze, interact, and respond quickly to many unknown factors to translate and assess potential threats to the experimental planets each VA station is tasked to oversee. Every point of contact is different, some exchanges are calm and peaceful like ours so far. Others can turn hostile, either for the experimental planets that this station oversees, or for those species who believe this station is an easy target for looting or pillaging. In all 17 cases including this one, only three species have attempted hostile relations. The first were known as the Bo’jon they were encountered and attacked this station over 913 solar rotations ago their convoy of ships were destroyed to the last. The second were known as the Rostar Alliance, they felt this station was an afront to their religion which stated anything which was not of their design and make should be destroyed. Their armada of 23 ships was equally destroyed here at the station and those who tried to bombarded Planet 19 from orbit. The last was a race known as the Klingon Empire, contact occurred 2 solar rotations ago, they had made peaceful contact with the natives originally and though they subverted the doctrine that the natives had formed from many rotations and generations to include their own views they did not violate the conditions for our continued observation of version 1.2 of the experiment. When one of their scout vessels located this system and established contact they attempted to claim that the system this station resided in was now theirs. This matrix explained that such claims could not be allowed under Ascension directive 99.2A. The scout vessel left without further words but then returned with 11 further combat vessels. Their weapons unlike the prior two attacks were less effective to damage this station’s defenses, with minimal effort we repelled their attack and fleet and they left with only the scout vessel destroyed when it attempted to ram the station proper. Not long after several vessels arrived in orbit of experiment planet 19 and soon after departed with many loads of what the natives refer to as Sun Crystals, which these Klingons and from our scans of your ship also use for your power generation. Not long after you arrived. We believe these Klingons felt that any use of the native population they had mined and used for the past 52 solar cycles had come to an end, based on exchanges now given we believe they have left your Federation to pick up the pieces of their leaving. Further, based on your words Doctor Cross, this matrix believes you were not expecting our presence, this implies these Klingons are not friendly allies to your Federation. Is this perhaps true or not? =/\= It asked.

As she waited for a response Cross started to wonder what their true intentions were. ‘’Kahuna ‘’ she called gesturing with her fingers for him to come nearer ‘’ They are probably scanning every nooks and cranny on the ship ,every data we have on the computers ‘’ she whispered in his ear ‘’Go now to the transporter room and tell the officer to get the team back up without delay ..no buts or ifs .Once they are onboard put the ship on yellow alert ,the shield will go up automatically ,I’ll be the one who takes the wrath of the Captain’‘.

“Yes,” he replied, “Right away!” Kahuna walked back to the Turbolift door where McDuff was stood. “I have new orders he told him,” then entered the lift and took it directly to the Primary Transporter Rooms.

Cross wondered how her homo-sapien brain was going to cognitive process this information, not to mention where the Captain was when she needed him.Clearing her throat the CMO answered =/\= We only knew that the Klingons were using the inhabitants , telling them that they were Gods .As I said earlier they left though we made a brief contact with them , the bacteria had no adverse effect on them ,spoke nothing of the structure and its true we are not exactly best buddies =/\=

=/\= So you already experimented on 17 previous planets …do you choose them randomly ? Each VA- station conduct different experiments , for what purpose and what kind of experimentation’s do you conduct ? Does it matter to you that these so called experiments may have adverse effects on any life residing / existing on any given planet ? =/\= .

As Cross waited she turned to the navigator ‘’Dariusz , if and when the Captain returns replay everything to him, starting from when we first made contact with this AI ‘’.

“I will prepare a data disk of the recording now,” Dariusz replied, “and send it to the Transporter Room to await his arrival there.”

She stood silent for a moment ‘’After all the Captain may very well throw me off the ship or let me rot in the bridge cell ‘’ the doctor finished with a deep sigh.
This is all my grandfather’s fault he pressured me to go to medical school but my heart was set on becoming a professional dancer.

“I think that’s very unlikely,” Dariusz replied. “I’ve heard him say a few times that ‘risk is part of the game if you want to sit in that chair.’”

-Dariusz, Nav