Holding our fire

[LoAmi 0]

<< Thoughts recorded after Marx's log and sensor report >>

 

Here we are, on a desolate planet, many galaxies and years away from home.

 

Lo'Ami understood the instincts of Marx and the Marines. Shoot first, ask questions later, and that way, you might stay out of danger. It was their job to suggest it, just as it was the XO's job to override the suggestion. They would exercise caution and prepare for facing hostiles. But, they could not initiate hostilities themselves. If there was anything the landing party and Arcadia could use now, it was friends and allies. With Arcadia crippled without warp power, their only hope right now might be in gaining the trust of whoever sent that probe, whoever sent those ships, and whoever launched those fighters.

 

Lo'Ami tried to see the situation from the unknown aliens' perspective. They had a sensor probe on the planet, indicating that they probably have a territorial claim on it. So far, all it did was scan the landing party. And, the landing party scanned it. It vaporized itself after transmitting and moving away from the landing party. A precaution a Federation crew might have taken, had they not wanted their technology to fall into hostile hands. The away team was not put in any danger.

 

The aliens launched some type of small craft that Marx identified as possible fighters. As Marx himself said, a Federation ship equipped with fighters might do the same thing if presented with the unknown.

 

To the aliens, the landing party could be invaders or thieves destructively mining their territory. So, they sent out a force to investigate, and possibly to neutralize the threat. Now, the landing party had to convince the aliens that they presented no threat. They could run, but could they outrun 12 capital ships using an unidentified FTL drive and an unknown number of fighters? And, what would happen when they led those ships to a crippled Arcadia? They could hide the yacht, but to what end? It would only serve to confirm the aliens' suspicions of their intent. No, the aliens had sent small ships to intercept them. Now, the away team had to confront the interceptors in as peaceful a manner as possible, and yet still prepare for the worst.

 

Sure, it would put himself and the away team at risk. But, there was no avoiding that now, no matter what decision he made. Arcadia's survival depended on it.