Finding the Balance

 Episode Name:  Finding the Balance

   Written By:  Phipps

         Cast:  Adansae, Anar Izur, Grey, Milosevic, Nabrun, Phipps, Reian and Shamash.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Wed Nov 23 02:42:43 2005

     Stardate:  55430.3

Time: Tue Nov 15 13:07:10 2005

Stardate: 55412.1

Visible through the viewport window of this shuttlecraft is a rather disturbingly BIG view of a planet. It would seem to be approaching the shuttle rather rapidly - or, more likely, the shuttle is headed for the planet. Not surprisingly, considering the plummet, consoles roundabout are bleeping loudly in alarm.

The planet looks friendly enough. If jagged... Mountainous terrain seems to be the order of the day. Whiteish blue interrupts the grey of mountains here or there - and always with a patch of green aroundabout.

The team, then, is at the deep end. There is no pause, no explanation of what's going on by computer or person - just the program beginning, with a headlong dash towards the planet.

Nabrun snaps into motion quite handily as things shift. "LT Shamash, see if you can bring us into a somewhat gentle landing. ENS Reian, please start scans of where we're coming into and what we can expect. ENS Adansae, you'll be monitoring tactical, please." Her voice is quiet, controlled.

Reian nods briefly, flicking a glance towards the view out of the window before she turns towards the Engineering console swiftly, not *quite* running, but certainly walked extremely briskly. Reaching the console, she reaches out, moving to scan the planet below as swiftly as possible. "Scanning atmosphere and surface, Sir." she murmurs softly to Nabrun, settling herself in.. and not quite bracing for impact. Yet.

Shamash, with a soft curse, is already moving to the pilots seat, thinking from past experience that he might have some skills as a pilot, muttering "I should really think about taking a certification for this sh...uttle." Fingers dance over the console, trying to get it to decelerate and lift the trajectory at the same time, or shortly after another. Eyes go over the engine output and speeed, trying to figure out if he stands a chance to abort a crash landing.

Adansae quickly scoots over to the tactical station, where she peers at the console as if she knows what she's doing. It looks convincing, at least.

GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.

GAME: Shamash contests his Shipboard Systems vs Difficult and Fails.

Milosevic sits back at one of the rear chair of the shuttle, his eyes watching the planet approach with less focus as he watches the other participants of the scenario. He starts to get up, but when Reain moves to the engineering console, he remains seated and looks to a PADD in his lap, then to the viewscreen.

. o O Reian projects, "Okay, *next* week I do my Flight Control Cert, I swear!!"

GAME: Reian contests her Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

The rocky terrain down there is getting closer. But not quite as rapidly as before, and increasingly less so. The shuttle shudders, going so far as to groan in protest at it's current treatment. "Warning," the computer impassively warns, "impact imminent."

Nabrun dips her head slightly. "Everyone strap in and brace for impact," she calls. "ENS Reian, ENS Adansae, report please." She's studying the upcoming view, body braced in the chair.

Reian winces as the console squawks at her, "Stop it. Behave." she grumbles at it. "It looks rocky down there." she warns everyone, very specifically. That will be the Scientific Analysis then. "We're going to land on ground, rather than water... trying to narrow the possibilities. Breathable atmosphere." She frowns, narrowing her concentration in, trying to ignore the worrying speed of decent, again attempting to get something less general out of the sensors. She pays attention to Nabrun though, obeying orders even as she argues with her console.

GAME: Adansae contests her Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Succeeds.

Milosevic braces himself in his seat, but even so, takes a few taps at his PADD while watching Nabrun on the other side of the shuttle. He sets the PADD beside him and looks out at the planet approaching.

"Impact. Right. tell me someting new", Shamash grumbles to the computer. "Engineering! I need more energy to the drives, strengthen forward shields... I can't avoid a crash landing anymore." beat a look to Nabrun, though he does not ~say~ anything.

. o O Shamash usually does his best as not to be picked up by the betazoid, now he does the opposite. "Barana Nabrun. Don't forget to have someone send a distress call."

Adansae glances to Reian at her report, her expression a bit worried, especially considering that they're about to smack straight into said breathable-atmosphere. She braces herself for the seemingly inevitable impact as she report to Nabrun, "It's not as bad as it seems -- we're on a trajectory that will bring our impact on a mountain plateau. And there's life down there."

GAME: Shamash contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Dramatically Fails.

GAME: Nabrun contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Intellect/Perception+D vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Shamash contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Adansae contests her Intellect/Perception+D vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Milosevic contests his Intellect/Perception+D vs Moderate and Fails.

The computer issues another warning about impact being imminent, but it's rather lost to the roar of the descent, now. Somehow the shuttle ends up thrown into a roll as it comes down. Outside, the tumbling view becomes dizzying for an instant - and then settles, as the shuttle comes violently under control. Shuddering, shaking, and groaning as it does, too.

Unfortunately, to do so, it's coming in far hotter than it was before. The old problem of overcompensation rears it's ugly head, and our view shifts to the outside: the Danube-class shuttle roars through the atmosphere on a very shallow angled trajectory, slamming into soft, grassoid-covered ground. It skids impressively, but doesn't roll. The nacelles are ominously dark.

Back inside, things are less messy than one might expect. The odd PADD, unsecured, flew about, but on the whole, it was a less deadly landing than it appeared.

Alarms blare loudly, as one might expect. The consoles remain active, but flicker, suggesting something of a power issue. As if by cue, the computer announces, "Warp core offline."

Nabrun takes a deep breath as the shuttle comes down. "ENS Adansae, see if you can send a distress signal, please. ENS Reian, report. Do we have any injuries?" Her voice remains calm and even, despite the fact they just crash-landed.

Adansae had braced for impact, and manages to get through the landing without injury. She immediately sets about sending the distress call, apparently certain that anyone injured will alert her before dying. "There's not enough power for a distress call, sir," she reports.

GAME: Shamash contests his Shipboard Systems/Engineering vs Routine and Succeeds.

Milosevic gets up from his chair, checking himself first and then moving to check status for the other crew members. "Lieutenant? Everyone alright? Do we have any concerns about warp core contanment in the nacelles?"

GAME: Reian contests her Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Fails.

Reian glances to Nabrun briefly, her expression blank. And stares at the randomly flickering console in front of her. "I'm not getting anything much useful." she notes to the commander. "I'm sorry, Sir, I'm getting nothing. Trying again." She stabs at the console, some measure of irritation creeping into her features before she blanks them once more.

. o O Reian thinks, "Come *on*, you rotten heap of *junk*, tell me *something*. Anything. I'm really not *that* fussy."

. o O Reian feels irritation and a growing sense of frustration.

Shamash looks over the console output, mentioning "Hull integrity is at 83 percent, minimal fractures. However.." He raises from the pilots seat to open a panel at the end of the shuttle, peering inside, "However.. the dilithium crystal is shot. "Might be beyond repair, even." He looks over the crew, "Anyone has experience with warp drives from the praxis side?"

Nabrun stands and glances around briefly. "ENS Milosevic, please address Engineering concerns. Do you have the experience suggested by LT Shamash? LT Reian, please see if you can determine our location, either via panel, PADD or tricorder. ENS Adansae, please work on visual and proximity scans. We came down not too far from a village, which means there may be Prime Directive issues. LT Shamash, see if enough power can be rerouted from non-essential systems for a distress call.

Reian steps away from the ill fated engineering console to allow Milosevic access to it, extracting her tricorder and settling down to find something about the immediate environment. "Can anyone persuade this crate to give us which planet we just landed on?" she asks. "I can find out about our immediate area, but an actual location would help me extract some information from the PADD regarding the planet."

Shamash nods to Nabrun, "Trying, Lieutenant" He takes out one of the engineering hand kits to check for wiring problems before shutting down non essential systems, rerouting energy to the com relay. Setting environmental controls to filter and purify only if as the planet has an atmosphere.

With a quick nod to Nabrun, Adansae begins with the requested scans, but quickly discovers a problem. "Sensors are down," she reports. "I've got nothing -- but I'm not picking up any sort of transmissions in the immediate area."

GAME: Reian contests her Computer/Research vs Routine and Succeeds.

Nabrun folds her hands in front of her, considering something. "LT Shamash, if I remember correctly, we're outfitted with an emergency distress beacon. Please see that it's activated. LT Reian, you mentioned earlier that there was a breathable atmosphere. Once you're finished with your research, see if you can run short-range scans to verify. ENS Adansae, start suiting up in an EVA after setting scans to continue. We need an alert in case whomever's out there approaches. Each of you, once you're finished your task, suit up. We're not taking any chances.

Adansae takes a moment to set up the scans, then double-checks her work before stepping away from her console. Once satisfied that she's done all she can, she heads over to the closet where the EVAs are stored and begins suiting up.

Reian's PADD chirps in response to her slightly tentative enquiries, causing her to lift her eyebrows. "Okay. This isn't too bad for us.." she notes. "We're on Cygni Neti IV. There is a pre Warp culture in situ here, so yes, Prime Directive applies. If our dilithium crystal is beyond repair, however, there were dilithium deposits detected by the original science ship. Communications are likely to be a little uncertain here, although I don't know if that will affect our communicators while on the planet, or whether it's only an issue in orbit. I would suggest caution and frequent check-ins between and team and shuttle if a team has to go scouting." Nodding briskly, she returns to her tricorder to check out the atmosphere.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Shamash contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"Backup power is not enough to bring even so much as a single system back into operation", Shamash mentions, "I can not bring subspace communications back up to send a call." he nods to Nabrun then "However the automatic beacon is still operable and is... working."

Nabrun dips her head. "Excellent work," she says, addressing each of the crew present. "Thank you, LT Reian. How far is the nearest dilithium deposit?" She gestures for the rest of the crew to get suited up then starts for one herself. If we need to split up, we have a fairly accurate communications relay," she says with a small smile. "First order of business is to get crystal and see if we can make the repairs, while maintaining prime directive. ENS Adansae, I'll need you to keep an eye out and act as our observer. Once we're suited up, we'll see about hiding the runabout, as best we can. LT Shamash, I'll put you to the plans for that."

Reian clearly doesn't like the results her tricorder are giving her, shaking her head a little, "Same results as before." she confirms. It seems to be breathable, my readings confirm. There may be microbacterial organisms in the air which I haven't detected. I would prefer a couple more scans before we go out there without suits." She glances over her shoulder to where Adansae is already kitting up, "If we're taking precautions though, we're probably good to go - with the proviso that we will look even *more* outlandish if we bump into the natives while suited up." She pauses before going for her suit, trying to get one last scan from her tricorder before she does so.

"Aye, sir," responds the already suited-up and ready-to-go Adansae. When the others don the protective gear, she checks the EVAs to make certain everyone is properly dressed and fully protected.

Shamash nods to Reian "Then suiting up it is, I rather have some initial discomfort at the beginning than a more ..permanent problem later." he moves into the back of the shuttle to inspect the suits as well.

And so, ugly and somewhat bulky in their environmental suits, the Starfleet team soon finds itself amidst short green-blue grass. At least, it's a grassoid. A wide gouge in the ground shows just how far the runabout skidded across this brief but flat interlude in the incline that heads away and up, ahead of the rather dirty nose-end of the runabout. The warp nacelles, partly embedded in the ground, are quite dark, but don't actually have any obvious signs of damage.

This is a bright day, with the sun high in sky - visible over lower-lying but rugged, mountainous terrain away down the incline behind the downed vessel. The view is, by any stretch of the imagination, stunning. The grassoid does not swish, for there appears to be little breeze, and not far away down the incline - twenty metres at most - it halts, replaced by the taller stillness of what is immediately recognizable as neat, evenly-growing green crops. Probably knee-high, somewhat reminiscent of barley or wheat.

. o O Anar Izur feels calm - exceptionally disciplined. Few peaks and troughs and gentle inclines between - but a general buzz of pleasure, of pride, of gladness.

After all of the suits have been checked and rechecked, the MC steps outside and looks around slowly. "Agrarian society, perhaps," she says quietly to the others in the group. "LT Shamash, assess damage on the craft, please. LT Reian, I need the location of the crystals. ENS Adansae, please keep your eyes peeled. Keep as low as possible and let me know if anyone senses anything. ENS Adansae, do you detect any..." Barana pauses for a second. "Life forms. If so, where."

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae contests her Personal Equipment vs Routine and Succeeds.

Shamash does not need an invitation to check out the craft. After a first glance around the "greenery", he moves along the outside of the vehicle, checking how deep it is buried into the ground and supporting his visual observation with tricorder readings. "Looking good so far", he mentions to Nabrun and the general troupe "Though hiding the craft might be a bit difficult. An oldfashioned camouflage net is the best we can manage with what power we have."

GAME: Reian has the merit of Multitasking at 2.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.

Reian steps out of the craft, pausing for a brief moment, an 'Ooooh' of fascination at the strange greenery. Or turquioisey? But she manages to control herself long enough to start scanning.. and her scanning soon causes her to pause, "It's not.. anywhere." she notes with a clear degree of shock. "Or rather, it's everywhere." She gestures, waving around the general area, "It's all around us. Perhaps part of the earth makeup? Give me a minute, I'll try and make some more sense of this."

Adansae takes a moment to peer around, frowning even though her eyes shine with the excitement of a new place. Apparently seeing no living creatures visually, she turns her attention to her tricorder, pausing her scan only to shoot a curious glance at Reian. Everywhere? "All the lifesigns are clustered together," she reports to Nabrun. "Over the hill, in the village -- none are wandering about alone."

GAME: Shamash contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Reian spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Difficult and Fails.

Nabrun dips her head to Shamash. "Make it so, Lieutenant," she says quietly. "LT Reian, I need for you to be sure. We're going to have to get into the ground, get a crystal and make repairs so we can leave without being detected. ENS Adansae, keep an eye on them and let us know if they start heading this way. ENS Adansae, check atmosphere levels and get me any information you can find on this planet and its residents.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment+A vs Difficult and Fails.

"I need a hand with the net", Shamash announces, he looks at Adansae and Reian as they ar busy, he looks at Nabrun, again stepping over some internal wall here. "would you mind assisting, Lieutenant Nabrun"

Reian shakes her head, "It's not normal. This is nothing I've seen before." She glances towards the shuttle, "Maybe the main shuttle sensors will be able to tell us more.. if they were working, Lieutenant Shamash? At all? There's deposits.. but not in any form that I've come across previously." She is looking decidedly baffled, "I could wish Lt Katoka was here - geology is more the realm of planetary scientists.."

GAME: Adansae contests her Personal Equipment vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Adansae contests her Computer+D vs Routine and Succeeds.

Adansae silently carries out Nabrun's commands, first checking the atmosphere with her tricorder. She frowns at her readings, then shakes her head in annoyance before turning her attention to the second request. "I'm not getting anything more on the atmosphere," she admits. "I think it's breathable, but the scans aren't giving me a confirmation. The culture here, as LT Reian reported, is prewarp, which likely explains the lack of ground surveys -- as well as the pulsar, which is effecting our communications."

The nearby crops and the grassoid plants sway for a few instants, the only indication of the wind briefly stirring to those safely contained within their environmental suits.

Nabrun steps over to assist Shamash. "Once we've done this," she tells him. "I'd like for you to assist LT Reian in finding the nearest minable crystal deposit. Thank you, LT Adansae. Continue scans and keep an eye on those life forms. ENS Reian, if you can't get anything in one more scan, and with LT Shamash' help, we'll need to start digging for the nearest. For now, we're going to stay in our EVAs."

Reian takes a deep breath, and gives her tricorder that clearly says 'You *will* work this time'. And scans, a look a grim determination on her face...

"Just a moment, Lt. Reian, one thing after another", Shamash replies, spreading out the old fashioned net with Nabruns help, even managing a thankful smile in her direction. Together with her does he proceed to hide the shuttle at least with this makeshift methods they have available.

. o O Reian feels somewhat irritated.

Adansae looks a bit disappointed by the news that the EVAs will stay on, but doesn't protest. She goes back to scanning, apparently monitoring the position of the natives and making certain that none stray towards their little group.

Even when covered, the runabout is a bit obvious, really. A net over a large object on an exposed flat segment of an open hillside is, after all, quite visible.

Nabrun dips her head and pulls out her tricorder. "LT Reian, transfer information to my PADD, please. LT Shamash, please begin your scans. ENS Adansae, you're our lookout, keep an eye on the runabout and let us know if anything or anyone approaches.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.

Shamash steps over to Lt. Reian "So.. what have you got so far?" He takes out his own tricorder to peer over her device, trying to figure out what she is doing.

Adansae continues doing exactly what she has been -- looking about and scanning and remaining vigilant enough to pass for a Security officer.

GAME: Nabrun spends a courage point.

GAME: Nabrun contests her Personal Equipment+A vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.

"Well, *something*, at least." Reian notes, tilting her tricorder to let Shamash see the results. "No harmful microbial lifeforms present that I can detect, there *is*, however, a rather lovely microbial ecosystem, so we really should have a pleasant breathable atmosphere there..." She frowns then, as she processes that information she gets something else. "There's an energy field. That's what's interfering with my tricorder. That might be why I'm getting such odd readings."

Nabrun studies her tricorder and nods. "I'm getting the same readings, LT Reian," she says quietly. "Out of the EVAs and let's get them stored back in the runabout. LT Shamash and Reian, see if you can discover the source of the energy field and what, exactly, is going on.

GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.

GAME: Shamash contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Reian starts to get herself out of her EVA, a glove being the first thing to go, as she crouches down the moment her hand is free, brushing a considering finger over the grass-like substance. The rest of her attention is fixed on her tricorder, "Scanning..." she murmurs, before she nods slightly, although not with any great enthusiasm for her findings. "It's a scattering field, Sir. Artificially created." she notes to Nabrun. "That's why the dilitium appears to be all around us. As to where it's being generated... that's going to take some more work."

Shamash, next to Reian, consults his tricorder to scan for the Dilitium deposits, "Hm.. no useful deposits so far."

And as the team begins to move to carry out Nabrun's orders to get out of their EVA suits and stow them, soon to feel for the first time feeling the crisp cool air of this simulated world upon their faces and in their lungs, the wind picks up. Almost as if in greeting, the planet reaches out to explore the Starfleet officers who come, in turn, although it be in accident and out of necessity, to explore it. -Almost-. The crops and grass wave, slowly, in the wind. The runabout hidden in plain sight remains silent. And over the hill, the primitive village lies, with it's curiously -un-curious villagers...

Time: Tue Nov 22 12:38:46 2005

Stardate: 55428.9

The camera fades out and back in again, after it's brief overview of the scene; and so it is we find the team out of their EVA suits, amongst cool air.

Nabrun brushes her hair back from her face once she's out of the EVA and nods, considering that. "LT Reian, see if you can find the source of that artificially created field. LT Shamash, ENS Reian, any theories you might have on why it's been artificially created and what purpose that would serve would be helpful. LT Shamash, could you please work on finding a crystal deposit we can use?"

Adansae is out of her EVA suit almost the minute Nabrun gives the order; instantly, she's smiling and enjoying the fresh air. "So much better," she mutters, looking around to take in the surroundings as if they might appear differently without the hindrance of her suit. "Perhaps our local villagers are more advanced technology than it appears," she speculates.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Shamash has the merit of Mathematical Ability at 3.

GAME: Shamash contests his Space Sciences/Subspace Field Dynamics+A vs Moderate and Fails.

Reian's tricorder beeps merrily, but Reian doesn't seem overenthralled by its findings, gesturing vaguely towards the village, "This way.. generally." she elaborates on the hand waving. "I don't have a precise location yet, but it would certainly seem to be in that general direction. "Which would coincide with Ensign Adansae's surmise.." She finishes getting free of her suit with clear relief, "Perhaps if we move a little closer, we can see if we can triangulate in on the exact location?"

Shamash does not speak at this time other than mentioning "Still trying to check some parameters here." which is just an euphemismn for him not having too much luck at working out a viable theory. He grabs his tricorder instead, trying to raise its gain. "I still might be able to pierce the field, but it will be difficult."

Nabrun dips her head to Reian after studying the horizon, near where the village should be. "I can't imagine that someone didn't see us coming in," she says in a quiet voice. "Alright, LT Reian, that's a good idea. Let's move a bit closer and see what we can get. Remember to remain low and let the rest of us know if you see or hear something."

Adansae moves closer along with the others, her tricorder still out to monitor the positions of various villagers. Her eyes are bright and alert as she remains on the lookout for anything suspicious.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

Reian sighs quietly, coming to a halt after going not too terribly far at all. "It's slap in the middle of the village." Her tones are rueful, yet resigned, "The dilithium crystals are also at the same point from which the field is emanating." She lifts her eyes, looking longingly at the sky for a moment, "It looks like if we want our dilithium, we're going to have to go and say hello."

GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.

GAME: Shamash contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Shamash looks over at Reian, not all too ... enthusiastic about it. "No way to avoid the natives, hm?" Gaze back onto his tricorder, fiddling more with his kit. "I see... The distortion field is not aimed at the immediate surroundings but more to hamper a scan from orbit. Rather.. its more than one field, cleverly layered i might add, so that an orbital scan is fooled with a 'nothing noteworthy here' as a result."

. o O Shamash thinks, "Evil simulation. There had to be natives, hm?"

"Yet... from the way the field is stacked, the deposit itself is much smaller than we originally thought and it is, indeed, comming from the ..village." Shamash sighs, he really does not have a thing for handling natives. "There is something more that i have a hard time puzzling out for that field would need refined, ready to use, dilitium to work with. So either my readings are off, or someone - with a technology more advanced than the native one - hid the dilitium there under the field."

The hill is not steep, thankfully. It's quite gentle to climb, and even what might be called forgiving - which probably is very welcome indeed for the villagers, come harvest and planting seasons. The inquistive caress of the wind softens once more, barely stirring the blue-green foliage; the contrastingly green crops stir not one jot.

Nabrun nods to the reports coming in, considering things for a moment. "LT Shamash, please see if you can identify just WHOSE technology is being used here. ENS Adansae, please double check and see if we're on a world that's claimed by someone, or if there are records of this planet being in use by Starfleet or another power. LT Reian, I'd like for you to conduct another scan just to make sure that's our only source of dilithium. We'll need to figure out how to get into the village, undetected, get the dilithium, and get back out again. We may need to split up into two groups, with one providing a distraction."

GAME: Adansae contests her Computer vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Nabrun contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Phipps is now set IC.

Adansae takes a moment to tap the inquiry into her PADD again, frowning all the while -- a frown that deepens at her results. Looking to Nabrun, she shakes her head. "The planet is unclaimed; not only unclaimed, but there's no record of anyone showing any interest in it. The only Starfleet ship ever to visit was the one LT Reian mentioned before. It wasn't here for long."

The tricorder trills, the scientist scans. But to no avail, Reian shaking her head after a period of attempting to get another answer. Any different answer. "Nothing that I can find." she responds to Nabrun. "I think that the supply in the village is our only chance."

. o O Anar Izur thinks, "It is forbidden. They are not sophisticated enough."

Nabrun straightens a bit and nods. "Thank you," she tells Ada and Reian. "ENS Adansae, did that ship file any information about the planet? LT Reian, please chart the best course to the village, the one that provides the most cover. I'll also need another scan to verify the number of life forms."

After tucking her PADD again, Adansae returns her attention to her tricorder -- and this time, reacts with a start. "Sir," she calls to Nabrun, her voice low. "Some of the villagers are moving in this direction. They're moving back and forth, actually, along a line of buildings -- it almost looks like they're guarding it."

Shamash nods to Reian "Yes, and it looks as if this is indeed the case. Rather ..unusual but." he shakes his head, addressing Nabrun. "It is inconclusive at this distance to figure out just who errected the shield."

Reian looks between the village and the current location, studying the foliage and vegetation, before moving off to the side slightly. "Probably around here," she indicates, "But, if I might suggest... Will we not simply look suspicious sneaking in? We're not going to be able to get in and out without being seen at all. And we're not planning on stealing their dilithium, are we? If we're going to have to trade for it in some way, surely an open approach is the better option?"

Nabrun shakes her head at Reian. "There are Prime Directive issues at stake, and right now, we don't have the intelligence we need to pass ourselves off as natives." She pauses for a moment, tilting her head to the side as if considering or hearing something. "They're on the move, but not headed this way. Even though they clearly have technology, this is still a Prime Directive issue."

GAME: Adansae spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae contests her Computer vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

With Adansae's statement, Shamash instinctivly starts to duck lower, "Deliberate movement in this direction?" He quickly consults his own tricorder "Any cover in the area... no, wait, scratch this, they will surely find the Shuttle...."

Reian nods in response to Nabrun's comments, although she doesn't seem entirely comfortable. "There's several hundred lifeforms." she says, having studied her tricorder for a while. "None seem to be in direct proximity to the dilithium, but.." Her voice trails away, and she looks to the commander for a decision. "I'm not sure I'm the best person to be trying to work out a good route in and out of the village, though." she does note, "It's not exactly my area of expertise."

Adansae listens to Nabrun while returning her attention to her PADD. After a few moments of typing and study, she makes her report: "The previous Federation ship detected dilithium from orbit, but the local conditions make the collection of it prohibitive. The file doesn't mention a group survey."

The breeze shifts direction, and increases in strength, just marginally. On it are carried voices - voices that sound as if they're arguing, albeit not in particuarly raised voices. There is no translation, since the sounds are too muffled.

. o O Anar Izur thinks, "Since when should compassion overrule emotion? Law is law."

Nabrun studies the group with her for a moment, brows furrowed. "It is forbidden. They are not sophisticated enough..." She trails off briefly, looking toward Reian. "Are we going about this backwards?" she asks quietly. "Are they truly a Prime Directive world, or do they think -we- are?" She falls quiet for a moment. "They haven't moved in this direction to investigate...LT Reian, are we close enough for you to get an accurate scan on the biosigns? LT Shamash, find us some cover nearby, somewhere we can observe while we figure out the best course of action."

Reian nods, "I heard it." she agrees. "There is nothing in any scan to suggest this is *not* a prime directive world. So you're probably right that we have to proceed as though it is. But I rather think that their technology level is significantly beyond what it appears to be. Or, perhaps, there are two civilisations here, with one protecting the other? As to the biosigns, I can picky out where they are with reasonable accuracy..."

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

Reian makes a soft sound of consideration, "There's nothing immediately remarkable about them at all." she murmurs quietly. "Humanoid, *but*... if they're a primitive culture, it doesn't explain why they're in such good health. Normally I'd expect some level of illness, disease, etcetera, given that there should be no real medical care here. Perhaps the more medically inclined amonst us might like to verify that?"

Shamash just takes a quick survey of the land, visual at that and shakes his head. "We are rather exposed here, Lt. Nabrun, the only immediate cover we have is the grass.. We could inchworm to the hill over there, to look down at the village." He looks over to Reian, nodding. "I suspect a contaminated culture as it is."

. o O Anar Izur thinks, "If we were to, then we would surely regret it. Contamination aside - what of trust?"

. o O Anar Izur feels as if he is being slowly swayed. This individual feels most passionately of all towards some goal or ideal that isn't determinable from feelings alone, yet that passion is slowly subdued, seemingly from outside rather than in.

. o O Reian projects, "Are they dithering just as much as us? There's something odd going on here, I think... But I can't put my finger on any one fact that would help us out..."

Nabrun drops to a crouch. "ENS Adansae, if you would verify LT Reian's readings, please. I have the distinct impression that they know we're here. LT Shamash, please determine whether or not their technology is Federation level or beyond."

. o O Nabrun projects, "I'm not sure. It sounds like they are, but we can't take undue chances."

Reian's brow is furrowed as she looks across to the village, "I wish we could hear what they're arguing about. I don't suppose there's any way of modifying any equipment that we have with us to try and.. well.." She blushes slightly, "Eavesdrop, without getting any closer?"

GAME: Adansae spends a courage point.

GAME: Adansae contests her Personal Equipment+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Adansae takes a moment to preform the scan. "I'm confirming LT Reian's readings," she reports, then looks up to Nabrun with brighter eyes. "But I'm also finding that they have a somewhat odd proliferation of symbiotic bacteria living in their digestion tracts. A great deal more that would be needed for a species that evolved on this planet."

Shamash mentions to Reian "Technically, the Tricorder can be set up to enhance sonic waves, it is just a different setting to scan more or less." he smiles, to Nabrun he mentions "The field generator itself is most certainly advanced enough to waive the prime directive... as for personal equipment? Scanning now."

. o O Anar Izur thinks, "Perhaps, perhaps. It is true. And yet-"

. o O Anar Izur feels a slow dawning of understanding - coupled with a remnant of determined stubbornness.

GAME: Shamash contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

. o O Nabrun feels utterly frustrated but works at hiding it behind the veneer of competence.

Nabrun looks between Reian and Shamash for a moment. "Make it so, LT Shamash," she says quietly. "If you would show LT Reian how to do that, there's only so much eavesdropping that the LT and I can physically do." She turns her attention to Adansae, voice quiet. "Suggesting they arrived here from somewhere else, perhaps? I'm wondering if they're remnants of a civilized society that ended up here through means fair or foul."

. o O Nabrun thinks, "I wonder...a colony?"

"That's what I'm starting to think," Adansae replies to Nabrun, moving a step closer. "That they're not native to this world is the only explanation that accounts for all the anomalies we're finding."

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Shamash contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Reian accepts Shamash's help gratefully, the pair of them working together, quietly on Reian's part at least, to set the tricorder up to pick up the voices from the village.

"To add to the anomalous statements, i can only say that the scan for advanced technology remains .. inconclusive.. as long as the scattering field is in place. There are indications, but they remain.. inconclusive." Shamash responds to Nabrun to Reian "Let me show you..." he continues to mumble as to which setting to turn where on the tricorder.

Without warning the fields, the hill, the breeze, the runabout, the entire simulation fades from view leaving the team standing in the holodeck. After a moment a holographic officer appears before them. "The simulation has ended due to time constraints. The villagers, a highly evolved race living on the planet, have come to a determination before your crew was able to, thus removing any control of the situation from the hands of the Starfleet officers. Please feel free to discuss this matter between yourselves as part of the learning experience." That said, the holographic officers fades from view leaving the team alone.

Nabrun rolls to her feet and smiles wryly at the holographic officer before turning to the others. "Wonderful job," she says quietly, looking each of them in the eyes. "One of the peculiarities of the training sims is that sometimes things just happen the way they're going to. Everyone did excellent work, and I think we all learned at least a little something from this. Personally, I'm going to be rethinking assumptions. I made the assumption, based on the given data, that this was a pre-tech race."

Reian looks from one person to another, her expression bleak, "So that's that?" she murmurs. "I hope they wouldn't have preferred to have us rushing in where angels fear to tread." She moves to pace across the floor of the holodeck, standing alone for a moment, "The given data was supposed to lead us to that conclusion.. or assumption." she murmurs to Nabrun. "And it's not an easy thing to disprove, from a distance and without contact."

Shamash stands as well, blinking at the sudden ending. "Now that... came suprising." he exhales.

Nabrun dips her head to both of the other officers, smiling a bit. "Exactly right. Sometimes there's no way to navigate with one hundred percent success. Of course, I DO wonder what meeting them would have been like. Thank you both, it was...an informative simulation." She glances toward the door. "Unfortunately, I need to make an appointment."

Shamash says, "part of me was quite happy not to have encountered the natives at all. Whenever a mission i participated in had contacts with the natives, things became ..complicated at best."

Shamash nods to Nabrun, "Some have better people skills than others. I often wonder why someone reacts the way they do. That is what i expected to see in this sim myself.

Shamash further adds "The technical side alone is, to me, easy...

Reian nods to the comments of the other two, "Indeed, I'm a little overdue myself." she murmurs quietly. "I should go and review some notes before my shift."

Shamash nods to Reian "Let me walk you to the lab, Lieutenant. I had something for you as well..." He falls in with her.

Nabrun watches Shamash and Reian leave, and only after they're gone does her smile fade. She looks around for a moment, then turns and slips out herself.