The Federation colony ship Montoya had been en route for almost two years. It could have made a direct line for its final destination of Golseniax X, but the needs of the colony dictated that special equipment and personnel had to be picked up along the way. So, after many detours and delays, it was with a great sense of joy and excitement that the vessel carrying thirty-six hundred individuals, an entire small city worth of start-up equipment, and the hopes and dreams of countless others attached to the project set itself in orbit over the planet that would become their new home… and a new generation’s home world.

Thus it came as no small surprise when the ship received a hail from the planet on a non-Federation frequency. The colony ship Captain, a Star Fleet Captain with decades of experience at the helm, nodded and the comms came through. =/\= Unidentified vessel, please identify yourself and make your intentions known. =/\= came a voice, but no visual. =/\= This is the Federation colony vessel Montoya, Captain Frank Turner speaking. This planet was deemed uninhabited and we are on a colonization mission. We have personnel on the planet who have been conducting surveys and establishing our landing site. That is who we are and what we are doing. To whom am I speaking? =/\= he asked in a voice that said it expected an answer.

=/\= Oh my stars and garters! I’m so sorry. Captain, this is Cavendar McTavish, Chief Geologist. =/\= the voice said and Turner turned to the Denoblian XO and nodded her to check out the name. A few seconds later, she nodded in the affirmative. =/\= Our sensor relay has gotten quite wonky recently. We knew a ship was there, but not who it was. Sorry, Captain. If you are ready to start planning the landing, we are ready to come aboard and brief you. =/\= The Captain’s mouth twitched. Something was itching at the back of his mind. Something was off, but he couldn’t put a finger on it. Taking a breath, he said =/\= Affirmative, Mr. McTavish. We’ll beam you and your team on board in an hour. See you soon. =/\= and he cut the comms. He looked at Velin, his XO. “I dunno. Something is weird, but I don’t know what.” Velin knew her Skipper’s instincts were rarely wrong, so she tapped a few commands and soon the ship was scanning the planet in depth. After forty minutes… nothing. It was as it should be. She relayed the findings and Turner nodded. “Well, okay. Must be the nerves kicking in. Too long to make a trip like this, so I guess its just arrival jitters. Ok, Commander. Let’s start looki-“

The colony ship… and everyone aboard… exploded into millions of pieces.

GM