The Garden - Melissa Scott [20]
Most of it seems to have been cultivated, at least originally. The whole planetary land mass, except for the area around the citadel, is like one big garden, or at least a series of linked gardens. It looks almost as though the continents have been modified to provide specific habitats and microclimates to grow the various plants. I think I've picked up traces of irrigation systems and artificially created land forms-mostly barrier hills and things like that, but some of the lakes look artificial, too." He touched his datapadd and a holographic globe appeared to float above the tabletop. "Of course, the area right around the citadel-" As he spoke, colors brightened on the image. "-there, for about a hundred kilometers all around, is heavily cultivated, and there are definite irrigation channels just under the surface. Some kind of sophisticated drip system, I think."
"But no sign of the builders," Janeway said.
Kim shook his head. "None, Captain."
Janeway studied the image, trying to imagine what could make a people abandon a world like this. "What about life-forms? Any more detail?"
To her surprise, it was Chakotay who answered. "Nothing conclusive. Mr. Kim and I have been over the readings a couple of times, and Lieutenant Torres rerouted systems power to try to improve the resolution, but we're still pretty much where we started. There are things that might be animals down there, but they could be complicated machines."
"Organic based machines," Torres corrected. She looked at Janeway. "I think Neelix was probably right about the Kirse needing to trade for metals. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot on the planet."
"But no intelligent life?" Janeway asked.
Kim shook his head. "Not that we can find."
"You're sure these are animals?" Paris asked. "I
mean, if you can't tell for sure what they're made of, how can you tell if they're smart?"
"They're engaged in what look like highly repetitive, probably food-gathering activities pretty much all the time," Kim answered.
Paris gave a fleeting grin. "So if they are intelligent, they're probably bored?"
Kim smothered a smile of his own. "Probably."
Janeway allowed herself a smile as well-after all, if they could still make jokes, however bad, they had to be doing better than she'd thought-and looked at Tuvok. "Have you been able to find out anything more about the defense platforms, Mr. Tuvok?"
"I've run a complete analysis," the security officer answered, "and I've been able to make a partial assessment of their capabilities. Our present orbit is just outside their optimum focus, which means that, should the Kirse or their machines decide that we are a threat, our shields would be able to withstand their strongest attack for the time needed to take us out of orbit."
Paris cleared his throat, the smile vanishing from his face. "Mr. Tuvok and I have programmed an escape pattern into the navigational computers. If we're fired on, that'll take us out of range by the quickest route."
"Excellent," Janeway said, and meant it.
"Also," Tuvok went on, "the spacing of the orbits and the weaponry aboard the platforms suggests that they are designed to intercept an attacking force by phaser fire only. In other words, they have no shields."
"How do they defend the platforms themselves, then?" Chakotay asked.
"Each platform is heavily armored," Tuvok answered. "It appears to be a collapsed metal sheathing.
Also, there are molecular differences among the various pieces of armor that suggest they were installed at different times."
"So what you're saying," Janeway said, "is that they don't have the transporter, either."
Tuvok nodded. "That is correct, Captain. Neither the defense platforms nor what I assume to be the citadel's defense mechanisms are configured to block a transporter beam."
That was good news, and Janeway leaned back in her