Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:10 PM
OPS> We’re being hailed sir, it’s coming from the largest planet in the system.
Well, it’s the welcome wagon.
Open channel.
OPS> Open.
This is Captain Henry Crow of the USS Mercutio.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:11 PM
::in her usual chair, one leg tucked up under her, sipping on a raktajino: :
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— 08/01/2023 9:12 PM
::steps over to the tactical console, looking over the ensign’s shoulder::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:13 PM
Voice> Captain, my name is Silus Van, I’m a member of the governing council here on Ange. We saw your ship approaching when you entered the system. To be completely honest Captain this is more than a courtesy hello. My people need help or we’re going to starve.
What’s the problem?
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:14 PM
::sits forward::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:15 PM
Van> A century ago we gave up exploring the stars when our scientists introduced a new crop which made all others obsolete. It is the only thing we eat and this year the crop, across the planet, all withered and died due to some kind of growth.
Van> You do not know us, and have no reason to help but it would be appreciated.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:16 PM
::puts her mug down and grabs a PADD::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:16 PM
I can’t make any promises without seeing the problem first hand but we can try our best.
Van> Thank you. We await your arrival. I’ll send coordinates for a meeting.
Helm> Coordinates locked in Captain.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:18 PM
::folds her hand in her lap::
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:18 PM
::pokes on her PADD:: Science will be helpful on this.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:19 PM
Set course and get us underway. These folks seem like they need anything we can do. ::nods to Edra:: And Engineering. It’s possible their planting machinges or the equivilant could cause a blight.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:20 PM
I haven’t worked on agrotech for a while but I reckon I can take a look.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:20 PM
I can’t imagine giving up space travel just because of a crop.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:20 PM
::nods to K’Naut::
I’m not quite sure why that’s connected…
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:22 PM
:::THE MERC ARRIVES AND THE AWAY TEAM (CO, XO, COUNSELOR, SCIENCE TEAM, AND KNAUT) BEAM DOWN:::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:23 PM
::shifts the bag on her shoulder::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:23 PM
Van> A man in what you’d expect a farmer to dress in meets them at the redeszvous::: Welcome.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:23 PM
::looks around curiously::
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:24 PM
::has her tricorder on her, carrying it in one hand::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:24 PM
:::looks around, all he sees are dead fields for miles:::
Van> Yes, you see our problem.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:25 PM
::looks at the surroundings:: All of it?
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:25 PM
::steps forward to Van, hand extended:: thank you. I’m Cmdr Edra Crow. I hope we can help you.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:26 PM
Van> ::shakes her hand::: We have lost almost 10,000 in the last month.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:26 PM
Acres?
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:26 PM
Van> Lives.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:26 PM
Sir, if I may, I’d like to look over your farming equipment.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:27 PM
I don’t see how you can only make your diet off one crop. What about the animals?
Van> ::motions K’Naut towards one of the very large machines:::
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:27 PM
Do you have any live specimens left?
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:28 PM
::pulls out a tricorder and begins scanning the machine::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:28 PM
Van> I thougth you might wonder about that. I have brought a sample of un-affected Shall. :::offers each person a piece, tan and the size of a stick of gum.:::
:::takes it, looking it over and then taking a bite::: Wow this is good. It’s sweet, like honey.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:30 PM
::gives Henry a look::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:30 PM
10,000 lives? What was the cause of death?
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:30 PM
Van> Starvation.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:30 PM
::hushed :: i don’t think these are for eating…
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:30 PM
Van> Shall is genetically engineered to give us all nutriants in a small amount. We stopped eating animals decades ago.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:31 PM
::absently sniffs his piece then tucks it into a pocket as he walks around the machine::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:32 PM
I can see why. That’s really tasty.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:32 PM
::scans her piece::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:32 PM
You mentioned in your communication that you ceased your space travel?
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:33 PM
Van> We have very little left which is unaffected.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:33 PM
::muttering to self:: Let’s see…cultivator, harvester…
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:33 PM
Has this blight ever taken hold before?
Van> There is nothing in our history to suggest it. Occassionally a field will fail but nothing global.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:34 PM
Is there a person or people still around who engineered this crop?
::scans for dna makeup::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:35 PM
Van> No, that was several generations ago. We gave up the stars to focus on our world. Wars ended, health improved, people work hard and they have time to enjoy art and music.
We have technology that could potentially replicate this food indefinitely.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:36 PM
::raises a brow as she looks up:: but what does that have to do with giving up space travel?
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:37 PM
::still muttering:: krellide power cells…automated controls…
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:37 PM
Van> We felt it was a distraction. We were running away from our home. Why leave? We have….had….nothing but beauty.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:37 PM
Are there groups that feel differently? That have expressed a desire to explore?
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:38 PM
It seems odd that there would be no opposition.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:38 PM
Van> A small amount but thats just the youth. I had the same thoughts but we grow up and we provide.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:38 PM
::climbs up onto the machine, pops open a panel on tops, and peers inside::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:39 PM
I would love to have the opportunity to speak with some of these youth.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:40 PM
::nods and goes back to her tricorder, looking for anything susceptible::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:40 PM
Van> With the crops as they are, the local children have begun gathering near the wind turbines. ::points:::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:40 PM
Science guys, come over and get a sample of this fertilizer
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:41 PM
Captain, if I may?
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:41 PM
Science> :::do as asked, others taking samples from the field:::
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:41 PM
So, why have replicated rations not helped?
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:41 PM
::nods to Millie:: Sure.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:42 PM
::shifts her bag to the other shoulder and starts off across the field::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:42 PM
Van> Replicated? We don’t use artificial food.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:44 PM
::initially keeps a distance, trying to overhear what the youth were discussing::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:44 PM
Kids from 8-16> :::hanging out, playing games, ect. About 40 of them.:::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:46 PM
::sticks her hands in her pockets as she wanders up to see what games they are playing::
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:46 PM
If you have the technology for replication, does it not include the nutrients this gives you? ::holds up her sample::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:47 PM
Kids> ::some throwing a ball the size of a softball, some of the other kids more interested in each other:::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:47 PM
::climbs down from the machine and approaches the captain::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:48 PM
::stops a bouncing ball with her toes as it rolls across the dirt::
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:48 PM
Van> We did not replicate that, it’s grown, dried, and cut. We worked out its generics in a laboratory through multiple generations of plants until we got it right.
Girl> ::walks over to Millie:: You’re not from here.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:50 PM
::smiles and picks up the ball:: No, I’m not. ::gives it a gentle toss:: Just visiting.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:50 PM
Kids> :::take notice and walk over, casually surrounding her::
Older boy> Who are you?
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:51 PM
But something went wrong. Do you have information on past crops? Dna specs?
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:51 PM
My name is Millie. My friends are trying to figure out what’s wrong with the crops. I’m not much for science or machines, though.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:52 PM
Van> Yes, yes. ::he offered her a note pad with the data:::
Boy> Where do you come from?
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:53 PM
::takes it comparing with her sample and looking for variances, shifts over time::
Thank you.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:53 PM
As far as I can tell, the machine is working as it should, sir.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:54 PM
We traveled a long way. ::gestures to the ball:: We don’t have this game where I’m from. How do you play?
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:54 PM
Girl> We throw it and catch it.
::looks at K’Naut:: Well thats good to know, one less cause.
Science> ::approaches:: Sir, the crop seems to be breaking down at the cellular level.
Why would that happen?
Science> Its like a copy of a copy of a copy. Eventually….it doesnt look so good.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:55 PM
::nods:: it’s why you don’t clone clones
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:56 PM
Van> How do we fix that?
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — 08/01/2023 9:56 PM
Replicative fading. You don’t grow these from seeds?
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:56 PM
::holds out her hands, offering to catch the ball:: I can’t promise that I’m very good at that, either.
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:57 PM
Boy> She’s an outsider….the adults sent her to spy.
Maybe we can find a way to reverse the process?
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — 08/01/2023 9:58 PM
Spy? No. ::shrugs:: I’m better at talking to people than I am at plants. I tried to grow a plant in a pot once and it didn’t last very long.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 9:59 PM
::looks at her PADD: : maybe…
Cpt H Crow — 08/01/2023 9:59 PM
Science> ::huddle, quick talking:: It’s possible if we’re able to decipher the original notes and rebuild the plant for another century.
Cdr Edra Crow — 08/01/2023 10:00 PM
::hands the notes over to Science::