Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [5]
“You haven’t changed it on your board,” Wesley pointed out. “I can follow it, as can the ship’s computer. There are some things machines can do better than humans, Wesley. Let them.”
Wesley gave him a curious glance, but adjusted his display without further comment.
Data’s own board continued to show the Enterprise on course for Starbase 32, all systems normal. All was quiet on the bridge as well; without turning, Data sensed Lieutenant Worf manning the security station at the top of the bridge horseshoe, while directly behind the android, Commander Riker and Captain Picard silently watched the warp-dilated starfield fly past them on the main viewscreen.
The captain had put in only a brief appearance on the bridge yesterday, and today, though he had resumed his normal schedule, he seemed a little more relaxed than usual. Shipboard gossip in the TenForward lounge had it that Phillipa Louvois was responsible for the change in his demeanor. Data knew only the bare facts of the captain’s relationship with Captain Louvois: She had been the prosecuting attorney at Picard’s court-martial after he lost the Stargazer, and he had not trusted her judgment thereafter … until her decision as judge in Dafa’ ease. It werned their friendship, and perhaps something more, had now been revived. Data was glad of it; he did not know how to deal with antagonisms among humans, particularly those he considered his friends.
He listened now as Captain Picard took advantage of the lull in activity to bring his log up to date.
“Captain’s Log, Stardate 42528.6.
Federation survey ships charted the star clusters through which we are now traveling more than a century ago, reporting no inhabited planets and few with life form readings. The single exception is a planet called Elysia, charted 107 Federation Standard Years ago by the U.ss Clarion. Their survey team reported intelligent and friendly humanoid life. Yet after they had been there only three days, they were abruptly asked to leave.
“The sociologist’s report suggests that the crew unknowingly trespassed on sacred ground.
He theorizes that only an act which to the Elysians was sacrilege could account for the sudden demand that they depart, which the Elysians claimed was issued by their gods. In accordance with the Prime Directive, the Clarion crew left the planet at once. As Elysia was at that time far from major space lanes, the Federation never attempted to follow up on that first contact.
“There has been no official exploration in this sector since. Today, however, with modern warp drive systems and expanding trade, the geodesic which skirts the Elysian solar system may become a corridor between the Federation and the farthest extent of the Romulan Neutral Zone, particularly Starbase 32, which lies precariously far from federation neighbors-Whether the nonFederation worlds near the starbase would Provide aid iri an emervnCy is an unknown factor.
Recent territorial disputes must be carefully monitored test [he ferleration be drawn into GOMM, “With the recent re-emergence of the Romulans into galactic politics, the Federation have decided to survey ,dome of the uninhabited worlds in this quadrant to determine whether any are suitable for colonization. The Federation Council believe such colonies are a peaceful means of establishing a Federation presence in a sector of space which is currently unoccupied, at the dame time alleviating population