Reaching the star system

Captain's log

Stardate; 88302.8

We have reached the nearest habitable star system in this new universe on the other side of the Azimuth Horizon. At this point, the Horizon will proceed within the system towards the most eligible planet for the establishment of the colony, while the Phoenix will break formation to start her general survey of the entire sector. We have kept the Polaris out to allow her commander and crew to shake her down prior to surveying and patrolling the system... and be ready for any surprise. This pocket universe is still vast enough to spring up a few of them.

"Dropping down from warp, captain. We are at the immediate periphery of the traget system, proceeding at full impulse towards the thirs planet.."

"Thank you, mister Snow. Scanning please."

From the secondary science station, astrophysicist Valencia Irksos reported as the data scrolled down on her sensor readout.

"Twelve planets within a sixty astronomical units radius centering on one G2 main sequence yellow-dwarf star at about half-life making up for ninety-nine point eighty-six percent of the total mass of the system. Ninety-nine percent of the remaining mass is taken by the six gas giants, the inner most one, the sixth, being seventy-two percent of that remaining mass; a proto star that didn't manage to ignite and turn this whole system into an uninhabitable binary star system."

"Puts you back into proper humble perspective, doesn't it?" Doctor Nasaro-Myth said to no one in particular.

Standing beside him behind the command well, Governor Sufra lifted her head and spoke with unmistakable pride.

"Each one of us is but a spec of stardust burning for but a moment... but each one of us may burn brighter than this whole universe."

"Quote from your faith, Governor?" wondered the Deltan, flashing his trademark dazzling smile.

"Could have been, Doctor... but truly, it was inspired by this moment; the dawn of a new life, a new hope... a prophecy fulfilled."

In his command chair, Captain Kheren was obviously completely oblivious to the mystical poetry of the moment. He kept looking unblinking at the main viewer while Irksos continued her report.

"Star is estimated at four point six billion years old and of population 1 newer stars; ninety-eight percent hydrogen and helium are being converted to heavier elements through standard atomic fusion. Plasma particles from regular coronal mass ejections spreading out a hundred AUs around it. Beyond the frost line five AUs distance, where the effects of heat and light pressure are negligible, the gas giants are ninety-nine percent made up of those same elements along with neon and other rare gases. The six inner planets are composed of higher melting point elements like silicates, iron and nickel. Throughout the system can be found methane, amonia, hydrogen sulfides, carbon dioxyde and water either in gaseous, liquid or ices but mostly in the three outermost planets and with most satellites orbiting the planets. "

"All the raw materials needed to sustain a colony readily available," concluded Ops chief Cheonghi.

"As our faith promised us," openly stated the Bajoran woman with her eyes closed and a smile on her lips.

Again, Kheren did not react to her claims of faith, even if such a cosmic creation as they were looking at made for less than fifteen percent of the stars in their own native galaxy. He concentrated on the facts his assistant chief science officer listed from her instruments.

"The six inner planets are of rocky formation with outer crusts of silicates and other refractory minerals and molten cores of nickel and iron. They have fewer or no natural satellites and no ring formations like the farther giant gaseous and icy ones. Planet I is a dwarf planet with an unusually large cold core and a thin molten crust. Planets II, III and IV have magnetic fields. Planets III and IV also have a hydrosphere and oxygen-nitrogen-carbon dioxyde atmospheres but only planet IV shows tectonic plate movements."

"Class M," understood Lyrya at the left of Kheren. Her husband and commanding officer only nodded.

"III and IV are, yes," confirmed the black skinned woman at the science station. "Planet IV is the most terrestrial-like in all respects, except for her three small moons."

"Life signs?"

"Confirmed, Captain; there is a rich and diversified ecosphere, judging alone by the quantity and proportions of oxygen and carbon dyoxide in the atmosphere."

"Eden..." whispered Sufra, her eyes now wide open and her smile one of full contentment. She closed them again and a silent prayer played on her lips.

"Well... let us knock on the doors of paradise, shall we," ordered the Andorian, despite himself starting to be caught in the mood of the moment.

The Federation task group entered the system and flew by it's outermost giant planets until it came right at the heart of the interplanetary configuration where the rocky innermost planet revolved around the familiar looking yet new star. On their viewing screen, the fourth planet appeared as a small pale blue and white dot that, apart from the very different number, size and configuration of it's land masses, appeared eerily similar to the Terran homeworld, despite the three small moons orbiting it on the exact same trajectory and surprisingly close to one another.

"Close range confirming long range reports, Captain," stated valencia Irksos, her eyes on her instruments. "These three moons are in fact fragments of what was once a single natural satellite that broke under some passing by cosmic mass, possibly a rogue planet or a small distant singularity."

"That should have left it's mark also on the planet, especially it's ecosystem," Kheren mused, himself knowledgeable in cosmology; "something even worse than the meteor crash that almost extinguished all life on planet Earth over sixty-five million years ago." 

"Chronitonic measurement places the event here even farther in time than that; around three hundred million years ago," acknowledged the astrophysicist. "Evidence shows that life recovered from it afterwards even if it was all that more catastrophic. It is even possible that the event contributed to the very appearance of life here; there is a lot of organic elements in the vicinity. Further study would be very important."

"Something to occupy you and your people later on, Governor," the Andorian concluded before turning to his chief counselor. "Patch me through the fleet."

"Ship tp ship channels open, Sir."

"Phoenix, this is Horizon. Thanks for walking us home. You may proceed with your mission at your convenience. Polaris; start surveying and patrolling the system as planned... and stay in direct contact with both us and the Phoenix. We ourselves will now begin the first phase of survey and colonization preparation of this planet. Aknowledge."

While  all three fleet vessels entered the star system, the bridge officers aboard the Phoenix were receiving then discussing similar facts, analysis and speculations from their investigations; just as their counterpoints aboard the Horizon were doing aboard their ship.

The discussions on the Phoenix were temporarily interrupted when a message came in from the Andorian captain.

After hearing the words that they were free to depart from escorting the flagship, Syntron responded.

"Acknowledged Captain Kheren. May your colonization procedure transpire without incident. Syntron out."

While the image of the Andorian captain faded from the main viewscreen, the Vulcan commanding officer engaged the internal ship-wide communication channel.

"This is the captain speaking. The accompaniment of the flagship has now concluded. We will continue on with our own mission of surveying and mapping regions and phenomena beyond this star system... following this announcement. Remain cognizant of your post, duties and all that surrounds you. As noted previously, we are venturing into uncharted regions of space. Captain out."

As he disengaged communications, Syntron peered over to the helmsman.

"Ahead Lieutenant Aulder... with the coordinates provided."

"Aye, captain" the Bolian lieutenant responded, as he manipulated helm controls.

"Engaging warp 5... bearing 350... mark 20."

Leaning over the helmsman Commander Riker nodded as he spoke.

"Too bad we don't get to look at their Eden planet too.  I would have loved to try an apple."

The USS Phoenix effortlessly surged away from the other two fleet vessels and beyond the region of space which their colonization efforts were now in the first phase of scouting for a prospective new home for their guests. 

Standing Riker walked over to Lieutenant Livingstone.

"You know Lieutenant,now that we have some time during this travel I am open to filing your request to train for shifts with security."

This time, it took only one blink of the huge golden eyes to take the offer in stride.

"I'm sorry, Commander, but while you enjoy your... travel time, I am engaged in the scanning, mapping, charting, recording, compiling, analyzing and understanding of every part of space we are flying into, through, by and from. I'm afraid my primary duties will leave me no time to... play... what was the term on your old Earth... ah yes; cowboys and indians... Sir ."

***

Jureth watched the planets pass by on the viewer as the Federation convoy descended into the designated star system. It was not unlike any of the other star systems he had seen as his time as a Starfleet officer and yet it was indeed different as it existed in a completely different universe from his own. As they approached the "Eden" planet Oseno heard Lieutenant Ji'lan mutter "fascinating" from her science console and he smiled. This assignment had to be a scientist's paradise, unseen stars, planets, and new lifeforms. It was the very essence of Starfleet's "seek out new life and new civilizations" mandate. Even a security officer such as himself could appreciate the uniqueness of the things they were doing and what they might encounter out here. Still it was that same inner security officer that was concerned that the Federation had so readily sent a colonial expedition into such an unknown.  Despite his inner concerns, when captain Kheren's message came through from the Horizon Oseno readily responded.

"Mister Palos, send the Horizon our acknowledgement and maintain an open line to Phoenix and Horizon. Mister Kalaar stand down from yellow alert, but let's keep a sharp eye out and Mister Hunter...set your course bearing zero-one-zero mark one-zero warp five."

"Aye Sir, bearing zero-one-zero mark one-zero warp 5" Hunter repeated

The Polaris broke off from her mother ship and went to warp reaching out with the full power of her sensor array. Oseno rose from the command chair figuring that he wouldn't be needed on the bridge for awhile and could use the opportunity to catch up on administrative duties.

"T'Lana, you have the conn, I will be in my ready room if needed."

"Aye Sir." the Vulcan replied as she moved to the command chair.