Thanks. I'll see if there's a copy at my library since I'm dead broke. Student loans are brutal.
Star Trek: Journey On
- Thread starter Dashiell Mirai
- Start date
What time is it?
"Dash, it's 3:38."
Nope! It's episode time! Partial episode time, at least. G*sh d*rn h*cking character limit!
FADE IN:
EXT. THE TRIAD
The triad is maintaining a warp pace through the starfield.
CAPTAIN SHREVE (V.O.)
Captain's log, stardate 56951.4. We are en route to the planet Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime. I'm personally looking forward to this. As our first survey mission, or just mission in general, this is an exciting place. I hope to find out how a planet made out of diamond came to be formed, though not nearly as much as the geologists in our crew.
CUT to the bridge of the THOTH. Crew members are bustling back and forth. One crewman, CREWMAN DUFOUR, hands CAPTAIN SHREVE a padd.
DUFOUR (Human female, Indian descent)
Here you are, captain!
SHREVE
You seem happy, crewman.
She thumbs through the padd.
DUFOUR
The long-range scan results for Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime.
She looks back up at DUFOUR.
SHREVE
Well, now I know why. These are really intriguing results.
DUFOUR smiles, then goes back to her station.
SHREVE turns around in her seat.
SHREVE
See crewman Dufour over there? We could all benefit from her optimism. You've all been brooding like a bunch of Vulcan teenagers since the Kuratora incident.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KEYLAR (Inyoni male, tall and thin, pale silver-blue eyes) leans over from his station.
KEYLAR
Sir, with all due respect, there is a reason we have been apprehensive. An unknown being threatened to destroy us if we make what it considers to be a misstep.
SHREVE
And you're completely right about that, Commander. But I've found that you can be prepared without bringing morale down.
KEYLAR sighs and looks away, deciding not to pursue the argument.
D'LAN (Vulcan male, 47 years old but looks younger, tan skin, brown eyes) stands from his station.
D'LAN
I agree with the captain. It is obvious that nothing we can do at this moment will affect our next encounter with the Kuratora, so worrying would be entirely illogical.
KEYLAR
That being said, Commander, my people used to be prey. It is in my very nature to worry, whether it is logical or not.
D'LAN walks over to the long-range scanner control console and presses a few buttons.
D'LAN
From the data we have gathered, it appears that Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime is uninhabited. The Kuratora was concerned with us harming other species. Therefore, this next mission will be a respite from any concerns of violating its rules.
ELIZABETH AYODELE (Human female, 27 years old, dark skin, black hair) speaks up.
AYODELE
Hear, hear, D'Lan! You know, I'm going to be throwing a party in the mess hall at 21:00 hours.
She looks pointedly at Keylar.
AYODELE
Whether or not Security Chief Stick-in-the-Mud is too busy worrying to attend.
KEYLAR looks back down at his console.
GHANAAR (Tellarite male, 50 years old, fluffy blonde beard, snub nose, stocky build)
No need to tease Mr. Keylar, Elizabeth. We'd be lost without someone to keep us on our toes.
KIRENY (Kembar male, short stature, blue skin, markings around his forehead and nose)
Well. Hear, hear to that.
SHREVE
If you lot are done here, I'd like to prepare the main subspace antenna for the upcoming data dump. Mr. Kireny, if you would?
He presses two fingers to his temple.
KIRENY
Jaiyune says the Athena's sub-antenna is primed. As soon as they return from their mission with reports, we'll be ready to transmit to Starfleet Command.
SHREVE
Prime the main antenna, Mr. Kireny.
KIRENY
Aye aye, captain.
PAN over the comms console as KIRENY presses buttons on it.
CUT to the mess hall of the THOTH.
There are several people standing around, talking and drinking. ELIZABETH AYODELE takes a fork, and clinks it on the edge of her glass. The conversation gradually quiets down, and everyone turns to her.
AYODELE
So! Our first mission, huh?
She starts to move around the room.
AYODELE
Admit it. Even you guys who aren't part of the science division are excited. I mean, a planet made of diamond! How amazing is that? Everyone back home's been telling you about going where no one has gone before, well, here we are. And it couldn't be more beautiful. Cheers.
She raises her glass, and so does everyone else. She takes a sip, and grimaces.
AYODELE
Ugh. Remind me to get some real champagne off of Argan next time.
DRAXEN (Denobulan male, 35 years old, short stature, auburn hair) comes over to her.
DRAXEN
What's wrong with my synth-champagne?
AYODELE
Nothing much, it's just… bitter.
CAPTAIN SHREVE comes over the comm system.
SHREVE (V.O.)
We've arrived at Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime. All hands report to their stations.
AYODELE hands her glass to DRAXEN.
AYODELE
Nevermind, Draxen. Looks like your horrible champagne will have to wait.
She walks out of the room. Everybody starts to leave. DRAXEN takes a sip of the champagne, and pulls a face.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
The bridge of the Thoth. People are scrambling to their stations. LIEUTENANT AYODELE, ENSIGN GHANAAR, and ENSIGN KIRENY disembark from the turbolift and go to their stations. CAPTAIN SHREVE gets up from her chair.
SHREVE
There you are! I was worried you were going to miss it.
KIRENY
Miss what, sir?
SHREVE
Shh! Just look, ensign.
The viewscreen is showing footage of a planet that looks like an enormous, polished diamond. The facets seem almost infinite in number, and they glint with all the colors of the spectrum. For a moment, the sun's light is concentrated by the facets and becomes a flash, like the "diamond ring" phase of an eclipse. CAPTAIN SHREVE turns around, smiling.
SHREVE
Does that answer your question?
KIRENY is smiling blissfully, as is the rest of the crew.
KIRENY
Very much, Captain.
AYODELE
Are you sensing anything from us, Lieutenant?
KIRENY
Oh, lots of things. Excitement, awe… profound happiness.
After a pause, CAPTAIN SHREVE claps her hands.
SHREVE
Well! Now that we've got all our feelings sorted, let's assemble an away mission. We'll be beaming down in shifts.
TRACK as she paces around the bridge.
SHREVE
Ayodele! As the science officer on duty, you're going to lead the first team. Take the science-department transfers from the other two ships with you.
AYODELE
Aye, sir.
She goes into the turbolift.
ENSIGN GHANAAR leans over to KIRENY, shaking with mirth.
GHANAAR
"Aye, sir", indeed! Did you see her face when the captain mentioned the transfers? She and Torel are going to get along like fire and water.
KIRENY
Torel?
GHANAAR
The Ganesha's science officer. All that psychic link mumbo-jumbo, and that twin of yours hasn't been telling you anything?
KIRENY
It is not, as you say, mumbo-jumbo. Jaiyune and I share thoughts when we can, and she has been busy.
GHANAAR sits back up in his chair.
GHANAAR
Suit yourself.
SHREVE
If we're done here, Mr. Ghanaar, take us into a geosynchronous orbit above the beam-out point.
GHANAAR
Aye, sir.
CUT to EXT. the diamond planet.
The shot shows a beautiful diamond hillside, then pans above to reveal the away team trudging across the landscape, some distance away.
CUT to a closer shot of the away team.
CREWMAN KALANDRAA (Youngish Bolian male, average appearance) stumbles, and picks at his boot.
KALANDRAA
Ow!
AYODELE
Something the matter, Kalandraa?
KALANDRAA
This diamond mountain might be beautiful, but a shard just pierced my boot!
He takes his hand away from his boot holding up a shard of diamond. LIEUTENANT TOREL sidles over, dermal regenerator in hand.
TOREL
Do you require medical attention, crewman?
KALANDRAA
Well, no, but I-
TOREL
Then we shall proceed to our designated survey radius.
He goes back to the front of the group.
AYODELE
You know, Torel, we could get to the search radius just as easily without double-timing it.
TOREL
It is more efficient if we make haste.
She puts a hand on his shoulder, stopping both him and the team.
AYODELE
And it's a lot easier on everyone if we don't make haste.
She turns to face the rest of the away team.
AYODELE
As leader of this expedition, I say we slow down.
TOREL adopts an expression like he's about to punch someone, but then schools his expression and goes to the front of the column.
TOREL
Very well.
LIEUTENANT AYODELE falls in behind a few people as they start moving again.
AYODELE
Ugh, I don't know what's colder and stiffer, Torel or a corpse.
Several people next to her snicker or stifle giggles. Suddenly, as they come to the top of a ridge, their progress halts. LIEUTENANT AYODELE shouts from the middle of the group at LIEUTENANT TOREL, who is heading the formation.
AYODELE
I thought you all for going faster, Lieutenant.
He turns around at shouts back.
TOREL
It appears there is a settlement ahead.
AYODELE
A settlement? But this planet is uninhabited!
TOREL
See for yourself.
PAN over the ridgetop. There is a plateau with a smallish village, with lean-to huts constructed out of diamond, dotted with large lichens. Several people, roughly humanoid, are waking around outside the village.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
The away team is cautiously roaming the plateau, tricorders out and scanning.
KALANDRAA
Lieutenant, I don't understand. Our orbital scans showed that the only life on this planet was a couple of lichens.
CREWMAN 1
Maybe these were shielded somehow?
TOREL
We did not detect any fields that could interfere with our scanners.
AYODELE
Whatever happened, we're reading life signs now. I can't quite make sense of them, though.
She turns to CREWMAN KALANDRAA
AYODELE
Kalandraa, contact the Thoth, tell them we're observing the lifeforms.
KALANDRAA
Aye, Lieutenant.
TOREL
That is extremely irresponsible. In all likelihood, these lifeforms are primitive, and we would be violating the Prime Directive by interfering with them.
AYODELE
How do people get anything done with you around? I never said we'd interfere with them, I said we'd observe them. They don't even have to know we're here.
TOREL
And how, exactly, do you intend to accomplish that?
AYODELE pulls a medical tricorder out of her bag, and unfolds it with a flourish.
AYODELE
Simple. We scan them.
CUT to CREWMAN 1 and LIEUTENANT AYODELE crouching behind one of the shelters. Two of the lifeforms are talking in clicking tones out front. They are humanoid, but have lichen-like formations on their noses and foreheads. The wear rough garments of diamond shards and lichen.
AYODELE
Any progress with the translation matrix?
CREWMAN 1
Think so. Their syntax patterns are actually somewhat similar to several Earth languages, once you get past the fact that it's all just clicking.
He presses a few more buttons on his tricorder.
CREWMAN 1
Here. I think I've got it.
The tricorder starts emitting translated speech.
GOLREN
I don't care what Kiernen thinks. This is an act of witchcraft. The other villages and lichens didn't just disappear by themselves.
KALDEN
Don't delude yourself. What kind of sorcerer could make everything else disappear? It's got to be us that's been transported.
GOLREN
Whatever happened, we've got to find the witch responsible. This is a calamity.
AYODELE turns to CREWMAN 1.
AYODELE
Something tells me we shouldn't stick around too long. We might get burned at the stake.
She taps her combadge.
AYODELE
Ayodele to Torel. Get Kalandraa and Jusofe and beam out.
TOREL
Is this for any particular reason?
AYODELE
Don't argue. We're not in danger yet, but we might be sometime soon.
TOREL
Acknowledged.
AYODELE
Ayodele to Thoth. Five to beam up.
They beam out. The natives rush around to the back of the hut, attracted by the sound.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
A shot of the THOTH in orbit around the diamond planet.
INT: MEETING ROOM OF THE THOTH
There is a long, rectangular glass table, with chairs all around it. To the right of it is a window, with a vista of the diamond planet. The chairs are occupied by the senior officers.
D'LAN
It is extremely strange. The sensors showed a surge of chronoton energy, preceding the appearance of the village.
SHREVE
And when, exactly, did the village appear?
KIRENY
It was while the away team was climbing the mountain. I was manning the sensor controls at the time, but I thought it was a malfunction caused by the new modifications. I went to recalibrate the array, but then we got the away team's communique.
SHREVE
Any of you have a theory on what happened here?
D'LAN
I do.
SHREVE
I can't remember a time when you didn't, sailor. Tell on.
D'LAN gives her a cursory glance, then directs his attention back to the whole group.
D'LAN
These lifeforms appear to be biologically related to the lichens we first scanned on the surface. This is likely the result of temporal intervention, on the part of the Kuratora. It said it would continue to test and monitor us.
KEYLAR
If I may, Captain.
SHREVE
Nothing stopping you from speaking, Mr. Keylar.
He dips his head in a kind of nod.
KEYLAR
I don't see how this is a test. There doesn't seem to be any way to prove ourselves in this situation. We could simply leave the villagers alone, and continue to our rendezvous point.
Suddenly, the red alert alarm goes off, and the panels and screens start blinking red.
CREWMAN (V.O.)
Senior officers to the bridge. We've got a situation up here.
SHREVE
Acknowledged. We're on our way.
She turns to KEYLAR.
SHREVE
Well, it looks like we've got our test. Try not to look so disappointed, commander.
They exit the meeting room.
CUT to the bridge. The senior staff exits from the turbolifts.
SHREVE
Report!
CREWMAN
Three ships of unknown origin are coming towards the planet, bearing 143 mark 219, inclination 45.
SHREVE
Onscreen.
Three ships, squat, grubby cargo vessels with large circular ports at the back, are approaching the planet.
SHREVE
Hail them.
KIRENY presses a few buttons on his console.
A man with grubby brown clothing, forehead ridges, and matted hair appears on the viewscreen.
KHALA
I am Gai Khala of the Kellan mining corporation. What do you want?
SHREVE
I'm Captain Anya Shreve of the Federation starship Thoth. You say you're from a mining corporation, would I be right in saying you intend to mine from this planet?
KHALA
Yes. Your point?
SHREVE
I wouldn't recommend mining here. We've just discovered the place is inhabited.
KHALA
Inhabited? Ridiculous. We've sent mining parties here twice before, we've found no signs of life whatsoever.
SHREVE
Check again.
KHALA turns away, and taps a few buttons on a wall-mounted panel.
KHALA
Our sensors show no life on the planet's surface.
CAPTAIN SHREVE frowns.
SHREVE
Hold on for a second, Khala.
She holds up a hand. KIRENY cuts off the transmission.
D'LAN
Scans show the mining ships are equipped with primitive low-band scanners. There is no way they could detect anything short of a global empire from here.
SHREVE
Mr. Kireny, resume transmission.
KHALA pops up onscreen again.
SHREVE
Gai Khala, our scans show that your equipment couldn't detect that village full of people if you tried. Now, if you're willing to listen, we could send you our scan data-
KHALA
So you claim that a village has simply appeared on this planet between our last survey and now?
SHREVE
Well, so to speak, yes.
KHALA
This is absurd!
He starts pacing around his own bridge.
KHALA
You know what I think, Captain Shreve, if that even is your real name? I think that you are from a rival mining consortium. You're trying to make a feeble grab at our resources, well, it won't work. Who sent you? The Rell? The Kazon?
He settles back down in front of the camera, staring directly at the viewscreen.
KHALA
We're going to get our resources, no matter what kind of nonsense you talk!
The transmission cuts off. CAPTAIN SHREVE turns around to face the bridge crew.
SHREVE
D'Lan, what kind of mining equipment do they have?
D'LAN
They are equipped with crust-piercing mineral extraction devices, similar to those used by the early Cardassian empire. They will cause major seismic destabilizations when in use.
SHREVE
Mr. Keylar, target their mineral extraction ports. Prepare to fire.
KEYLAR
Captain, their ships are extremely fragile. Even at their lowest intensity, our phasers would cause a major hull beach.
SHREVE
Suggestions?
KEYLAR
Sir, based on the guidelines the Kuratora gave us, I can conclude that he would want us to leave the situation alone.
SHREVE
Care to explain, commander?
KEYLAR
The Kuratora wanted us not to harm the races it watches over. If we assume it watches over this sector of space, it protects the miners as well. If we even attempt to interfere with the miners, we'll end up causing a hull breach in the Kellan ship. them. In order to prevent the destruction of the Thoth, we should avoid firing on them.
D'LAN
I must disagree. By not intervening, we are letting the miners harm the villagers. We can only assume the Kuratora brought the villagers here to coincide with the miners' arrival as an initial test of our morals.
SHREVE
This is one hell of an initial test.
She turns to the conn.
SHREVE
Status report on the Kellan ships?
KIRENY
They're initializing the mineral extraction ports. It's going to take a while. Sir, their technology seems comparable to ours in the 22nd century. They seem defenceless.
CAPTAIN SHREVE sighs.
SHREVE
I'm going to need to think this over. Conn, keep me posted. If they start mineral extraction, let me know immediately.
KIRENY
Aye, sir.
CAPTAIN SHREVE exits the bridge, into her ready room.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
The Thoth is in orbit around the diamond planet.
SHREVE (V.O.)
Captain's log, stardate 56951.5. The mining ships are still in orbit of Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime, and they show no signs of having down. Meanwhile, this dilemma our good friend the Kuratora has posed is giving me a headache.
CUT to CAPTAIN SHREVE sitting at her desk in the READY ROOM. COMMANDER D'LAN comes in and sets a padd on her desk.
D'LAN
Here are the secondary scans of the Kellan ships.
CAPTAIN SHREVE picks up the padd, thumbs through it, then puts it back down. She looks up at D'LAN.
SHREVE
I take it that's not the only reason you're here, sailor?
D'LAN
No.
He walks over to the replicator.
D'LAN
Andorian-style synthahol and two glasses.
A decanter of luminous blue liquid appears, flanked by two shot-glasses. D'LAN takes the tray out of the replicator and sets it on CAPTAIN SHREVE's desk.
D'LAN
Drink.
SHREVE
It's a little early for synthahol, don't you think?
D'LAN
Your heart rate is at 115 BPM and your carotid artery is engorged. While this is non-alcoholic, it is similar enough to Andorian Ice Liqueur to serve as a placebo muscle relaxant.
COMMANDER D'LAN pours synthahol into both glasses.
D'LAN
Drink.
CAPTAIN SHREVE sighs, and downs a shot of Andorian Ice liqueur.
SHREVE
You and your logic.
She pours herself another shot, drinks it, then shudders.
SHREVE
Similar enough, alright. I never could get over the kick this has.
D'LAN kicks back a shot of the liqueur. He remains completely unfazed. They sit in silence for a while.
D'LAN
Have you reached a decision?
She sighs and slumps back.
SHREVE
At first it was like playing Russian roulette. There's no way of knowing if the option you'll choose will be lethal. It's damned if we do, damned if we don't.
She sits up.
SHREVE
But I have an idea.
She picks up the padd containing the secondary scan results.
SHREVE
And depending what's on this padd, it might just work.
CUT to CAPTAIN SHREVE walking out onto the bridge, newly reinvigorated, followed by COMMANDER D'LAN.
SHREVE
Mr. Keylar!
KEYLAR
Yes, sir?
SHREVE
You're with me. D'Lan, you have the bridge. Don't go angering the Kuratora while I'm away.
The ghost of a smile flickers across D'LAN's face.
D'LAN
Aye aye, Captain.
TRACK as CAPT. SHREVE AND LT. CMDR. KEYLAR go into a turbolift.
CUT to them walking into main engineering. There aren't many people there only a few maintenance crewmen, and for LT. CMDR. ERIC CAMDEN.
CAMDEN
Captain! I heard about the situation outside. Anything I can do?
SHREVE
As a matter of fact, there is. Have you ever heard of an interferometric tachyon beam?
He flashes a smile.
CAMDEN
I'm the chief engineer and you're the captain for a reason. What do you want me to do?
CAPT. SHREVE goes over to a panel on the wall, and pulls up a diagram of the Kellan ships.
SHREVE
In ten minutes, those ships are going to start extracting minerals from the planet's crust. In eight more, the seismic activity is going to reach the village on the northern peninsula.
CAMDEN
So you want me to rig up an interferometric tachyon generator to stop this mineral extraction beam of theirs.
SHREVE
Exactly. And, Mr. Keylar, this is where you come in. We're going to put the whole apparatus into a photonic mine casing, minus the warhead, obviously.
KEYLAR
And I am going to deploy it on the enemy ship?
SHREVE
Relax, commander. You won't actually be beaming over to deploy it. You're our expert marksman, so you're going to be shooting it out of the torpedo ports at a low speed, so that it can latch onto their hull and not cause a breach.
CAMDEN
A tachyon mine in 18 minutes?
He shakes his head.
CAMDEN
I don't know. That's a bit of a tall order, don't you think?
SHREVE
Of course I think so. That's because it is.
PAN to a side view of CAPT. SHREVE and LT. CMDR. CAMDEN standing facing each other.
SHREVE
But if anyone on this little ship can do it, it's you. You're the chief engineer for a reason, remember?
He cracks a smile.
CAMDEN
I'll get it done.
FADE OUT
"Dash, it's 3:38."
Nope! It's episode time! Partial episode time, at least. G*sh d*rn h*cking character limit!
FADE IN:
EXT. THE TRIAD
The triad is maintaining a warp pace through the starfield.
CAPTAIN SHREVE (V.O.)
Captain's log, stardate 56951.4. We are en route to the planet Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime. I'm personally looking forward to this. As our first survey mission, or just mission in general, this is an exciting place. I hope to find out how a planet made out of diamond came to be formed, though not nearly as much as the geologists in our crew.
CUT to the bridge of the THOTH. Crew members are bustling back and forth. One crewman, CREWMAN DUFOUR, hands CAPTAIN SHREVE a padd.
DUFOUR (Human female, Indian descent)
Here you are, captain!
SHREVE
You seem happy, crewman.
She thumbs through the padd.
DUFOUR
The long-range scan results for Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime.
She looks back up at DUFOUR.
SHREVE
Well, now I know why. These are really intriguing results.
DUFOUR smiles, then goes back to her station.
SHREVE turns around in her seat.
SHREVE
See crewman Dufour over there? We could all benefit from her optimism. You've all been brooding like a bunch of Vulcan teenagers since the Kuratora incident.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KEYLAR (Inyoni male, tall and thin, pale silver-blue eyes) leans over from his station.
KEYLAR
Sir, with all due respect, there is a reason we have been apprehensive. An unknown being threatened to destroy us if we make what it considers to be a misstep.
SHREVE
And you're completely right about that, Commander. But I've found that you can be prepared without bringing morale down.
KEYLAR sighs and looks away, deciding not to pursue the argument.
D'LAN (Vulcan male, 47 years old but looks younger, tan skin, brown eyes) stands from his station.
D'LAN
I agree with the captain. It is obvious that nothing we can do at this moment will affect our next encounter with the Kuratora, so worrying would be entirely illogical.
KEYLAR
That being said, Commander, my people used to be prey. It is in my very nature to worry, whether it is logical or not.
D'LAN walks over to the long-range scanner control console and presses a few buttons.
D'LAN
From the data we have gathered, it appears that Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime is uninhabited. The Kuratora was concerned with us harming other species. Therefore, this next mission will be a respite from any concerns of violating its rules.
ELIZABETH AYODELE (Human female, 27 years old, dark skin, black hair) speaks up.
AYODELE
Hear, hear, D'Lan! You know, I'm going to be throwing a party in the mess hall at 21:00 hours.
She looks pointedly at Keylar.
AYODELE
Whether or not Security Chief Stick-in-the-Mud is too busy worrying to attend.
KEYLAR looks back down at his console.
GHANAAR (Tellarite male, 50 years old, fluffy blonde beard, snub nose, stocky build)
No need to tease Mr. Keylar, Elizabeth. We'd be lost without someone to keep us on our toes.
KIRENY (Kembar male, short stature, blue skin, markings around his forehead and nose)
Well. Hear, hear to that.
SHREVE
If you lot are done here, I'd like to prepare the main subspace antenna for the upcoming data dump. Mr. Kireny, if you would?
He presses two fingers to his temple.
KIRENY
Jaiyune says the Athena's sub-antenna is primed. As soon as they return from their mission with reports, we'll be ready to transmit to Starfleet Command.
SHREVE
Prime the main antenna, Mr. Kireny.
KIRENY
Aye aye, captain.
PAN over the comms console as KIRENY presses buttons on it.
CUT to the mess hall of the THOTH.
There are several people standing around, talking and drinking. ELIZABETH AYODELE takes a fork, and clinks it on the edge of her glass. The conversation gradually quiets down, and everyone turns to her.
AYODELE
So! Our first mission, huh?
She starts to move around the room.
AYODELE
Admit it. Even you guys who aren't part of the science division are excited. I mean, a planet made of diamond! How amazing is that? Everyone back home's been telling you about going where no one has gone before, well, here we are. And it couldn't be more beautiful. Cheers.
She raises her glass, and so does everyone else. She takes a sip, and grimaces.
AYODELE
Ugh. Remind me to get some real champagne off of Argan next time.
DRAXEN (Denobulan male, 35 years old, short stature, auburn hair) comes over to her.
DRAXEN
What's wrong with my synth-champagne?
AYODELE
Nothing much, it's just… bitter.
CAPTAIN SHREVE comes over the comm system.
SHREVE (V.O.)
We've arrived at Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime. All hands report to their stations.
AYODELE hands her glass to DRAXEN.
AYODELE
Nevermind, Draxen. Looks like your horrible champagne will have to wait.
She walks out of the room. Everybody starts to leave. DRAXEN takes a sip of the champagne, and pulls a face.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
The bridge of the Thoth. People are scrambling to their stations. LIEUTENANT AYODELE, ENSIGN GHANAAR, and ENSIGN KIRENY disembark from the turbolift and go to their stations. CAPTAIN SHREVE gets up from her chair.
SHREVE
There you are! I was worried you were going to miss it.
KIRENY
Miss what, sir?
SHREVE
Shh! Just look, ensign.
The viewscreen is showing footage of a planet that looks like an enormous, polished diamond. The facets seem almost infinite in number, and they glint with all the colors of the spectrum. For a moment, the sun's light is concentrated by the facets and becomes a flash, like the "diamond ring" phase of an eclipse. CAPTAIN SHREVE turns around, smiling.
SHREVE
Does that answer your question?
KIRENY is smiling blissfully, as is the rest of the crew.
KIRENY
Very much, Captain.
AYODELE
Are you sensing anything from us, Lieutenant?
KIRENY
Oh, lots of things. Excitement, awe… profound happiness.
After a pause, CAPTAIN SHREVE claps her hands.
SHREVE
Well! Now that we've got all our feelings sorted, let's assemble an away mission. We'll be beaming down in shifts.
TRACK as she paces around the bridge.
SHREVE
Ayodele! As the science officer on duty, you're going to lead the first team. Take the science-department transfers from the other two ships with you.
AYODELE
Aye, sir.
She goes into the turbolift.
ENSIGN GHANAAR leans over to KIRENY, shaking with mirth.
GHANAAR
"Aye, sir", indeed! Did you see her face when the captain mentioned the transfers? She and Torel are going to get along like fire and water.
KIRENY
Torel?
GHANAAR
The Ganesha's science officer. All that psychic link mumbo-jumbo, and that twin of yours hasn't been telling you anything?
KIRENY
It is not, as you say, mumbo-jumbo. Jaiyune and I share thoughts when we can, and she has been busy.
GHANAAR sits back up in his chair.
GHANAAR
Suit yourself.
SHREVE
If we're done here, Mr. Ghanaar, take us into a geosynchronous orbit above the beam-out point.
GHANAAR
Aye, sir.
CUT to EXT. the diamond planet.
The shot shows a beautiful diamond hillside, then pans above to reveal the away team trudging across the landscape, some distance away.
CUT to a closer shot of the away team.
CREWMAN KALANDRAA (Youngish Bolian male, average appearance) stumbles, and picks at his boot.
KALANDRAA
Ow!
AYODELE
Something the matter, Kalandraa?
KALANDRAA
This diamond mountain might be beautiful, but a shard just pierced my boot!
He takes his hand away from his boot holding up a shard of diamond. LIEUTENANT TOREL sidles over, dermal regenerator in hand.
TOREL
Do you require medical attention, crewman?
KALANDRAA
Well, no, but I-
TOREL
Then we shall proceed to our designated survey radius.
He goes back to the front of the group.
AYODELE
You know, Torel, we could get to the search radius just as easily without double-timing it.
TOREL
It is more efficient if we make haste.
She puts a hand on his shoulder, stopping both him and the team.
AYODELE
And it's a lot easier on everyone if we don't make haste.
She turns to face the rest of the away team.
AYODELE
As leader of this expedition, I say we slow down.
TOREL adopts an expression like he's about to punch someone, but then schools his expression and goes to the front of the column.
TOREL
Very well.
LIEUTENANT AYODELE falls in behind a few people as they start moving again.
AYODELE
Ugh, I don't know what's colder and stiffer, Torel or a corpse.
Several people next to her snicker or stifle giggles. Suddenly, as they come to the top of a ridge, their progress halts. LIEUTENANT AYODELE shouts from the middle of the group at LIEUTENANT TOREL, who is heading the formation.
AYODELE
I thought you all for going faster, Lieutenant.
He turns around at shouts back.
TOREL
It appears there is a settlement ahead.
AYODELE
A settlement? But this planet is uninhabited!
TOREL
See for yourself.
PAN over the ridgetop. There is a plateau with a smallish village, with lean-to huts constructed out of diamond, dotted with large lichens. Several people, roughly humanoid, are waking around outside the village.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
The away team is cautiously roaming the plateau, tricorders out and scanning.
KALANDRAA
Lieutenant, I don't understand. Our orbital scans showed that the only life on this planet was a couple of lichens.
CREWMAN 1
Maybe these were shielded somehow?
TOREL
We did not detect any fields that could interfere with our scanners.
AYODELE
Whatever happened, we're reading life signs now. I can't quite make sense of them, though.
She turns to CREWMAN KALANDRAA
AYODELE
Kalandraa, contact the Thoth, tell them we're observing the lifeforms.
KALANDRAA
Aye, Lieutenant.
TOREL
That is extremely irresponsible. In all likelihood, these lifeforms are primitive, and we would be violating the Prime Directive by interfering with them.
AYODELE
How do people get anything done with you around? I never said we'd interfere with them, I said we'd observe them. They don't even have to know we're here.
TOREL
And how, exactly, do you intend to accomplish that?
AYODELE pulls a medical tricorder out of her bag, and unfolds it with a flourish.
AYODELE
Simple. We scan them.
CUT to CREWMAN 1 and LIEUTENANT AYODELE crouching behind one of the shelters. Two of the lifeforms are talking in clicking tones out front. They are humanoid, but have lichen-like formations on their noses and foreheads. The wear rough garments of diamond shards and lichen.
AYODELE
Any progress with the translation matrix?
CREWMAN 1
Think so. Their syntax patterns are actually somewhat similar to several Earth languages, once you get past the fact that it's all just clicking.
He presses a few more buttons on his tricorder.
CREWMAN 1
Here. I think I've got it.
The tricorder starts emitting translated speech.
GOLREN
I don't care what Kiernen thinks. This is an act of witchcraft. The other villages and lichens didn't just disappear by themselves.
KALDEN
Don't delude yourself. What kind of sorcerer could make everything else disappear? It's got to be us that's been transported.
GOLREN
Whatever happened, we've got to find the witch responsible. This is a calamity.
AYODELE turns to CREWMAN 1.
AYODELE
Something tells me we shouldn't stick around too long. We might get burned at the stake.
She taps her combadge.
AYODELE
Ayodele to Torel. Get Kalandraa and Jusofe and beam out.
TOREL
Is this for any particular reason?
AYODELE
Don't argue. We're not in danger yet, but we might be sometime soon.
TOREL
Acknowledged.
AYODELE
Ayodele to Thoth. Five to beam up.
They beam out. The natives rush around to the back of the hut, attracted by the sound.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
A shot of the THOTH in orbit around the diamond planet.
INT: MEETING ROOM OF THE THOTH
There is a long, rectangular glass table, with chairs all around it. To the right of it is a window, with a vista of the diamond planet. The chairs are occupied by the senior officers.
D'LAN
It is extremely strange. The sensors showed a surge of chronoton energy, preceding the appearance of the village.
SHREVE
And when, exactly, did the village appear?
KIRENY
It was while the away team was climbing the mountain. I was manning the sensor controls at the time, but I thought it was a malfunction caused by the new modifications. I went to recalibrate the array, but then we got the away team's communique.
SHREVE
Any of you have a theory on what happened here?
D'LAN
I do.
SHREVE
I can't remember a time when you didn't, sailor. Tell on.
D'LAN gives her a cursory glance, then directs his attention back to the whole group.
D'LAN
These lifeforms appear to be biologically related to the lichens we first scanned on the surface. This is likely the result of temporal intervention, on the part of the Kuratora. It said it would continue to test and monitor us.
KEYLAR
If I may, Captain.
SHREVE
Nothing stopping you from speaking, Mr. Keylar.
He dips his head in a kind of nod.
KEYLAR
I don't see how this is a test. There doesn't seem to be any way to prove ourselves in this situation. We could simply leave the villagers alone, and continue to our rendezvous point.
Suddenly, the red alert alarm goes off, and the panels and screens start blinking red.
CREWMAN (V.O.)
Senior officers to the bridge. We've got a situation up here.
SHREVE
Acknowledged. We're on our way.
She turns to KEYLAR.
SHREVE
Well, it looks like we've got our test. Try not to look so disappointed, commander.
They exit the meeting room.
CUT to the bridge. The senior staff exits from the turbolifts.
SHREVE
Report!
CREWMAN
Three ships of unknown origin are coming towards the planet, bearing 143 mark 219, inclination 45.
SHREVE
Onscreen.
Three ships, squat, grubby cargo vessels with large circular ports at the back, are approaching the planet.
SHREVE
Hail them.
KIRENY presses a few buttons on his console.
A man with grubby brown clothing, forehead ridges, and matted hair appears on the viewscreen.
KHALA
I am Gai Khala of the Kellan mining corporation. What do you want?
SHREVE
I'm Captain Anya Shreve of the Federation starship Thoth. You say you're from a mining corporation, would I be right in saying you intend to mine from this planet?
KHALA
Yes. Your point?
SHREVE
I wouldn't recommend mining here. We've just discovered the place is inhabited.
KHALA
Inhabited? Ridiculous. We've sent mining parties here twice before, we've found no signs of life whatsoever.
SHREVE
Check again.
KHALA turns away, and taps a few buttons on a wall-mounted panel.
KHALA
Our sensors show no life on the planet's surface.
CAPTAIN SHREVE frowns.
SHREVE
Hold on for a second, Khala.
She holds up a hand. KIRENY cuts off the transmission.
D'LAN
Scans show the mining ships are equipped with primitive low-band scanners. There is no way they could detect anything short of a global empire from here.
SHREVE
Mr. Kireny, resume transmission.
KHALA pops up onscreen again.
SHREVE
Gai Khala, our scans show that your equipment couldn't detect that village full of people if you tried. Now, if you're willing to listen, we could send you our scan data-
KHALA
So you claim that a village has simply appeared on this planet between our last survey and now?
SHREVE
Well, so to speak, yes.
KHALA
This is absurd!
He starts pacing around his own bridge.
KHALA
You know what I think, Captain Shreve, if that even is your real name? I think that you are from a rival mining consortium. You're trying to make a feeble grab at our resources, well, it won't work. Who sent you? The Rell? The Kazon?
He settles back down in front of the camera, staring directly at the viewscreen.
KHALA
We're going to get our resources, no matter what kind of nonsense you talk!
The transmission cuts off. CAPTAIN SHREVE turns around to face the bridge crew.
SHREVE
D'Lan, what kind of mining equipment do they have?
D'LAN
They are equipped with crust-piercing mineral extraction devices, similar to those used by the early Cardassian empire. They will cause major seismic destabilizations when in use.
SHREVE
Mr. Keylar, target their mineral extraction ports. Prepare to fire.
KEYLAR
Captain, their ships are extremely fragile. Even at their lowest intensity, our phasers would cause a major hull beach.
SHREVE
Suggestions?
KEYLAR
Sir, based on the guidelines the Kuratora gave us, I can conclude that he would want us to leave the situation alone.
SHREVE
Care to explain, commander?
KEYLAR
The Kuratora wanted us not to harm the races it watches over. If we assume it watches over this sector of space, it protects the miners as well. If we even attempt to interfere with the miners, we'll end up causing a hull breach in the Kellan ship. them. In order to prevent the destruction of the Thoth, we should avoid firing on them.
D'LAN
I must disagree. By not intervening, we are letting the miners harm the villagers. We can only assume the Kuratora brought the villagers here to coincide with the miners' arrival as an initial test of our morals.
SHREVE
This is one hell of an initial test.
She turns to the conn.
SHREVE
Status report on the Kellan ships?
KIRENY
They're initializing the mineral extraction ports. It's going to take a while. Sir, their technology seems comparable to ours in the 22nd century. They seem defenceless.
CAPTAIN SHREVE sighs.
SHREVE
I'm going to need to think this over. Conn, keep me posted. If they start mineral extraction, let me know immediately.
KIRENY
Aye, sir.
CAPTAIN SHREVE exits the bridge, into her ready room.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
The Thoth is in orbit around the diamond planet.
SHREVE (V.O.)
Captain's log, stardate 56951.5. The mining ships are still in orbit of Tau Epsilon Gamma Prime, and they show no signs of having down. Meanwhile, this dilemma our good friend the Kuratora has posed is giving me a headache.
CUT to CAPTAIN SHREVE sitting at her desk in the READY ROOM. COMMANDER D'LAN comes in and sets a padd on her desk.
D'LAN
Here are the secondary scans of the Kellan ships.
CAPTAIN SHREVE picks up the padd, thumbs through it, then puts it back down. She looks up at D'LAN.
SHREVE
I take it that's not the only reason you're here, sailor?
D'LAN
No.
He walks over to the replicator.
D'LAN
Andorian-style synthahol and two glasses.
A decanter of luminous blue liquid appears, flanked by two shot-glasses. D'LAN takes the tray out of the replicator and sets it on CAPTAIN SHREVE's desk.
D'LAN
Drink.
SHREVE
It's a little early for synthahol, don't you think?
D'LAN
Your heart rate is at 115 BPM and your carotid artery is engorged. While this is non-alcoholic, it is similar enough to Andorian Ice Liqueur to serve as a placebo muscle relaxant.
COMMANDER D'LAN pours synthahol into both glasses.
D'LAN
Drink.
CAPTAIN SHREVE sighs, and downs a shot of Andorian Ice liqueur.
SHREVE
You and your logic.
She pours herself another shot, drinks it, then shudders.
SHREVE
Similar enough, alright. I never could get over the kick this has.
D'LAN kicks back a shot of the liqueur. He remains completely unfazed. They sit in silence for a while.
D'LAN
Have you reached a decision?
She sighs and slumps back.
SHREVE
At first it was like playing Russian roulette. There's no way of knowing if the option you'll choose will be lethal. It's damned if we do, damned if we don't.
She sits up.
SHREVE
But I have an idea.
She picks up the padd containing the secondary scan results.
SHREVE
And depending what's on this padd, it might just work.
CUT to CAPTAIN SHREVE walking out onto the bridge, newly reinvigorated, followed by COMMANDER D'LAN.
SHREVE
Mr. Keylar!
KEYLAR
Yes, sir?
SHREVE
You're with me. D'Lan, you have the bridge. Don't go angering the Kuratora while I'm away.
The ghost of a smile flickers across D'LAN's face.
D'LAN
Aye aye, Captain.
TRACK as CAPT. SHREVE AND LT. CMDR. KEYLAR go into a turbolift.
CUT to them walking into main engineering. There aren't many people there only a few maintenance crewmen, and for LT. CMDR. ERIC CAMDEN.
CAMDEN
Captain! I heard about the situation outside. Anything I can do?
SHREVE
As a matter of fact, there is. Have you ever heard of an interferometric tachyon beam?
He flashes a smile.
CAMDEN
I'm the chief engineer and you're the captain for a reason. What do you want me to do?
CAPT. SHREVE goes over to a panel on the wall, and pulls up a diagram of the Kellan ships.
SHREVE
In ten minutes, those ships are going to start extracting minerals from the planet's crust. In eight more, the seismic activity is going to reach the village on the northern peninsula.
CAMDEN
So you want me to rig up an interferometric tachyon generator to stop this mineral extraction beam of theirs.
SHREVE
Exactly. And, Mr. Keylar, this is where you come in. We're going to put the whole apparatus into a photonic mine casing, minus the warhead, obviously.
KEYLAR
And I am going to deploy it on the enemy ship?
SHREVE
Relax, commander. You won't actually be beaming over to deploy it. You're our expert marksman, so you're going to be shooting it out of the torpedo ports at a low speed, so that it can latch onto their hull and not cause a breach.
CAMDEN
A tachyon mine in 18 minutes?
He shakes his head.
CAMDEN
I don't know. That's a bit of a tall order, don't you think?
SHREVE
Of course I think so. That's because it is.
PAN to a side view of CAPT. SHREVE and LT. CMDR. CAMDEN standing facing each other.
SHREVE
But if anyone on this little ship can do it, it's you. You're the chief engineer for a reason, remember?
He cracks a smile.
CAMDEN
I'll get it done.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
The bridge of the Thoth. People are rushing about, and the ship is on red alert. A rumbling is rocking the ship. CAPT. SHREVE turns around in her chair.
SHREVE
Report!
KIRENY
Sir, the Kellan have started mineral extraction.
SHREVE
Any progress on the mine?
KIRENY shakes his head, pressing a few buttons on his console.
KIRENY
Camden's still working. We can't afford to wait much longer. Eight minutes!
D'LAN
Captain. Perhaps we should consider an alternative.
SHREVE
Like what?
D'LAN
Like directing a low-energy phaser burst at their mineral extractor.
SHREVE
No good. We'd be endangering them, and in turn, ourselves.
KIRENY
Six minutes!
CAPT. SHREVE taps her combadge.
SHREVE
Shreve to Camden. How's that mine looking?
CAMDEN
Looking like a mess, sir. We're loading it into the torpedo tube now.
SHREVE
Good!
KEYLAR
It's coming online now.
SHREVE
Fire at will, commander!
CUT to an exterior shot of the Thoth. A dull grey slug of metal is fired out of the torpedo tube.
KEYLAR
It's fired. Aligning thrusters.
He taps on his console
KIRENY
Commander, the process is speeding up.
He turns to face the rest of the bridge.
KIRENY
We have under a minute.
KEYLAR is visibly on edge.
KEYLAR
It's almost on.
CUT to the people of the village gathering on the edge of the plateau. A growing chasm of broken-up diamond is bearing down on them.
GOLREN
So this is how we shall die.
CUT back to the bridge, close-up of KEYLAR at his panel.
KIRENY
Ten seconds.
KEYLAR
It's extending the docking clamps…
CUT to the people of the village, some holding and comforting crying children.
CUT back to the bridge.
KIRENY
Five. Four. Three.
KEYLAR
I've got it! Engaging tachyon beam!
CUT to a shot of the three Kellan ships. The orange beam coming from the round ports in their back sections and converging shuts off.
CUT to the villagers on the plateau. The chasm has stopped short of them. They are hugging one another and celebrating. Then, suddenly, they disappear, leaving the plateau completely bare and lifeless.
CUT to the bridge of the Thoth. People are smiling, laughing, patting each other on the back. CAPTAIN SHREVE smiles at KEYLAR.
SHREVE
Well done, commander.
KEYLAR smiles shyly and dips his head.
KEYLAR
Thank you.
KIRENY
Sir, Gai Khala is hailing us.
SHREVE
Don't answer. Mr. Ghanaar, get us out of here, warp 9.
CUT to the mess hall. CAPT. SHREVE and CMDR. D'LAN are sitting at a table, side-on to a window. DRAXEN comes over.
DRAXEN
Can I get you two anything?
SHREVE
Yes, please. Two slices of baguette, toasted, with butter and jam. Oh, and a decanter of Saurian brandy.
DRAXEN
Um, I'm afraid any real alcoholic beverages will have to wait until we rendezvous with the Ganesha. Argan keeps a much more, uh, extensive supply than I do.
SHREVE
Just some vanilla Ceylon tea, then.
D'LAN
And a cup of Vulcan chamomile tonic for me.
DRAXEN
Coming right up.
DRAXEN files away behind the bar. CAPT. SHREVE looks oddly at D'LAN.
SHREVE
Since when do you drink chamomile tonic, sailor?
D'LAN
Since I began making a greater effort to control my emotions.
SHREVE
And when was that?
D'LAN
Since this voyage began. A new mission, a new ship… it can all be rather… draining.
SHREVE
Well. I wouldn't want you to get too drained. But do me a favor.
D'LAN
What would that be?
SHREVE
Don't get too distant, either. One of the best things about you is that you can repress emotion like any other Vulcan, but at the same time, you understand it.
D'LAN
I am the tamer of the storm, sailor of the waves of the soul/ Yet there is no reason I cannot delve into the waters./
SHREVE
V'Lara's Poems of the Katra. I'm not surprised you're still quoting that.
DRAXEN sets their food and drink on the table. CAPT. SHREVE holds her cup of tea aloft.
SHREVE
To new journeys.
D'LAN joins her in a toast.
D'LAN
To new journeys.
They both take long draughts of tea. ZOOM OUT on them.
FADE OUT.
The bridge of the Thoth. People are rushing about, and the ship is on red alert. A rumbling is rocking the ship. CAPT. SHREVE turns around in her chair.
SHREVE
Report!
KIRENY
Sir, the Kellan have started mineral extraction.
SHREVE
Any progress on the mine?
KIRENY shakes his head, pressing a few buttons on his console.
KIRENY
Camden's still working. We can't afford to wait much longer. Eight minutes!
D'LAN
Captain. Perhaps we should consider an alternative.
SHREVE
Like what?
D'LAN
Like directing a low-energy phaser burst at their mineral extractor.
SHREVE
No good. We'd be endangering them, and in turn, ourselves.
KIRENY
Six minutes!
CAPT. SHREVE taps her combadge.
SHREVE
Shreve to Camden. How's that mine looking?
CAMDEN
Looking like a mess, sir. We're loading it into the torpedo tube now.
SHREVE
Good!
KEYLAR
It's coming online now.
SHREVE
Fire at will, commander!
CUT to an exterior shot of the Thoth. A dull grey slug of metal is fired out of the torpedo tube.
KEYLAR
It's fired. Aligning thrusters.
He taps on his console
KIRENY
Commander, the process is speeding up.
He turns to face the rest of the bridge.
KIRENY
We have under a minute.
KEYLAR is visibly on edge.
KEYLAR
It's almost on.
CUT to the people of the village gathering on the edge of the plateau. A growing chasm of broken-up diamond is bearing down on them.
GOLREN
So this is how we shall die.
CUT back to the bridge, close-up of KEYLAR at his panel.
KIRENY
Ten seconds.
KEYLAR
It's extending the docking clamps…
CUT to the people of the village, some holding and comforting crying children.
CUT back to the bridge.
KIRENY
Five. Four. Three.
KEYLAR
I've got it! Engaging tachyon beam!
CUT to a shot of the three Kellan ships. The orange beam coming from the round ports in their back sections and converging shuts off.
CUT to the villagers on the plateau. The chasm has stopped short of them. They are hugging one another and celebrating. Then, suddenly, they disappear, leaving the plateau completely bare and lifeless.
CUT to the bridge of the Thoth. People are smiling, laughing, patting each other on the back. CAPTAIN SHREVE smiles at KEYLAR.
SHREVE
Well done, commander.
KEYLAR smiles shyly and dips his head.
KEYLAR
Thank you.
KIRENY
Sir, Gai Khala is hailing us.
SHREVE
Don't answer. Mr. Ghanaar, get us out of here, warp 9.
CUT to the mess hall. CAPT. SHREVE and CMDR. D'LAN are sitting at a table, side-on to a window. DRAXEN comes over.
DRAXEN
Can I get you two anything?
SHREVE
Yes, please. Two slices of baguette, toasted, with butter and jam. Oh, and a decanter of Saurian brandy.
DRAXEN
Um, I'm afraid any real alcoholic beverages will have to wait until we rendezvous with the Ganesha. Argan keeps a much more, uh, extensive supply than I do.
SHREVE
Just some vanilla Ceylon tea, then.
D'LAN
And a cup of Vulcan chamomile tonic for me.
DRAXEN
Coming right up.
DRAXEN files away behind the bar. CAPT. SHREVE looks oddly at D'LAN.
SHREVE
Since when do you drink chamomile tonic, sailor?
D'LAN
Since I began making a greater effort to control my emotions.
SHREVE
And when was that?
D'LAN
Since this voyage began. A new mission, a new ship… it can all be rather… draining.
SHREVE
Well. I wouldn't want you to get too drained. But do me a favor.
D'LAN
What would that be?
SHREVE
Don't get too distant, either. One of the best things about you is that you can repress emotion like any other Vulcan, but at the same time, you understand it.
D'LAN
I am the tamer of the storm, sailor of the waves of the soul/ Yet there is no reason I cannot delve into the waters./
SHREVE
V'Lara's Poems of the Katra. I'm not surprised you're still quoting that.
DRAXEN sets their food and drink on the table. CAPT. SHREVE holds her cup of tea aloft.
SHREVE
To new journeys.
D'LAN joins her in a toast.
D'LAN
To new journeys.
They both take long draughts of tea. ZOOM OUT on them.
FADE OUT.
Hello? Thread?
THREAD MACHINE BROKE
UNDERSTANDABLE HAVE A NICE DAY
Seriously though, what happened? Did I scare you guys off or something?
THREAD MACHINE BROKE
UNDERSTANDABLE HAVE A NICE DAY
Seriously though, what happened? Did I scare you guys off or something?
The beings that cut the facets into the diamond planet would be more interesting than the diamond planet itself, an iffy thing at best even following Clarke's gas giant core hypothesis.
And read this website: http://scriptshadow.net/
And read this website: http://scriptshadow.net/
Eyy, thanks. Been busy too. But soon I'll have off for the holidays, which is nice.
I wasn't even thinking about the whole facets thing, mostly just thought it might have been caused by erosion or meteorites or whatever. But the concept did initially come from the Space Odyssey series.
I come bearing assorted arts!
(I know. The drawings look off, but dammit Jim, I'm an author, not an illustrator.)
Potential uniform re-designs:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnSUg0RkVYaE5nMFpjMFBURWdqU0Z2QTIwZDZn/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnOHdJZVNBSDZ0b3A1ZGMxVmtDc1FjMWVMMGNV/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnc2c1YW96M0pnZlRCUUQzRE1NU0RLTHhPVng4/view?usp=sharing
And here we have some non-fabulous people modeling the new uniforms in an ever-so-fabulous manner.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnT0I5b1g0LXJBazlZVHRYZDhOX1hGTTA0TThz/view?usp=sharing
(Next down the runway is Captain Byron Cortes, giving us some attitude.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnRVVYakVoLWdOd2hqaHlMeExUd3hYTjBWa0k0/view?usp=sharing
(And now we have Dr. Kienshan Nirin giving us some harried-man-who-just-wants-some-coffee realness.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnLXJFSWdFSjVEdXVsQWtvNmxGQVNsZk1WY3Vr/view?usp=sharing
(Here we have Lieutenant Commander Keylar, serving up a nice little I-can't-draw-people-from-the-side moment.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnTnVLRDltSFNBaF9ZQWY3TGo5SldHb1BPMVRB/view?usp=sharing
And now, regular Keylar. Because I wanted to draw this.
(I know. The drawings look off, but dammit Jim, I'm an author, not an illustrator.)
Potential uniform re-designs:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnSUg0RkVYaE5nMFpjMFBURWdqU0Z2QTIwZDZn/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnOHdJZVNBSDZ0b3A1ZGMxVmtDc1FjMWVMMGNV/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnc2c1YW96M0pnZlRCUUQzRE1NU0RLTHhPVng4/view?usp=sharing
And here we have some non-fabulous people modeling the new uniforms in an ever-so-fabulous manner.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnT0I5b1g0LXJBazlZVHRYZDhOX1hGTTA0TThz/view?usp=sharing
(Next down the runway is Captain Byron Cortes, giving us some attitude.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnRVVYakVoLWdOd2hqaHlMeExUd3hYTjBWa0k0/view?usp=sharing
(And now we have Dr. Kienshan Nirin giving us some harried-man-who-just-wants-some-coffee realness.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnLXJFSWdFSjVEdXVsQWtvNmxGQVNsZk1WY3Vr/view?usp=sharing
(Here we have Lieutenant Commander Keylar, serving up a nice little I-can't-draw-people-from-the-side moment.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3db6CaNRvZnTnVLRDltSFNBaF9ZQWY3TGo5SldHb1BPMVRB/view?usp=sharing
And now, regular Keylar. Because I wanted to draw this.
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For some reason, I can’t see your images. 
^ Same here.
Ah, dammit. I thought it was just my crappy Wi-Fi. The thing is, I don't know how to fix this. The only method of image insertion on this site is by link, so I uploaded the images to Google Drive, got the sharing link, and put it in. I don't what else to do.
You posted them with the image tag (to the right of the smiles icon on the menu bar), but because the links don't end in either JPG or GIF, that won't work. Try posting them as a link (chain icon to the right of the bold/italic/underline). Better yet, open yourself an account on IMGUR and post the JPG/GIF links with the image tags.
I cheated. I right-clicked and did a View Source to see the links.
I cheated. I right-clicked and did a View Source to see the links.
You posted them with the image tag (to the right of the smiles icon on the menu bar), but because the links don't end in either JPG or GIF, that won't work. Try posting them as a link (chain icon to the right of the bold/italic/underline). Better yet, open yourself an account on IMGUR and post the JPG/GIF links with the image tags.
I cheated. I right-clicked and did a View Source to see the links.
Thanks for the advice. I'll go back and edit the post when I get home. My phone doesn't have the files on it. On an unrelated note, I've had "Faith of the Heart" stuck in my head since yesterday afternoon, and I CAN'T! GET IT! OUT!
Hey, quick update. I'm taking a tiny bit of time out of my Journey On schedule to write another fanfiction, albeit a much different, shorter one. I might publish it on fanfiction.net, but not here, since it has a chance of ending up a little spicy for the forums. 
Why am I telling you this? Because I don't have a Journey On thing to post for this week. Sorry.
Why am I telling you this? Because I don't have a Journey On thing to post for this week. Sorry.Ok. I realize this doesn't really need to be said, but I feel like I should officialize it. This project is dormant. As in, volcano-dormant. On hiatus until further notice. Joined the choir invisible. I'm terribly sorry, I really am. But I have the nasty habit of getting a story just to the point that people, including myself, will get disappointed if I lose interest and stop working on it, then I proceed to lose interest and stop working on it. Again, so sorry.
~ Cheers, Dashiell Mirai
~ Cheers, Dashiell Mirai
I gotta say I LOVE that one, and maybe two, of the featured ships do NOT have Earth names! (Unless I'm ignorant about what "Thoth" and "Ganesha" mean, which I may well be.) If you write this story, I will put it on my to-read list.
I love how diverse this crew is, and I especially love the armadillo-like security chief! EVERY other scifi would make him from a predator species, you really thought outside the box and found something that was different yet made perfect sense. Prey would of course be perfect for security, they know all about having to protect themselves and their own!
Will this be a written fanfic, or are you trying to make it a fan film or comic or something?
I was writing it, but as you can see, my project commitment issues took hold. But thank you very much for the praise.
Thoth is the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom and science, and Ganesha, or Ganesh, is a hindu deity representing wisdom. You might've seen him depicted, he has an elephant's head.
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