Communicating with the Zetarians on the Phoenix

Understanding the plan Riker nodded to gesture that all entities understood the plan. Taking his first few steps Riker looked around impressed as the forcefield shifted slowly with his movements. Pointing to himself Riker spoke.

"This one knows the way"

The doors to the transporter room opened with a woosh as Riker walked through them and turned towards his destination.

"Your remaining two members are currently en route to join you here... courtesy of our First Officer Commander Riker and through the ingenuity of our chief engineer."   

Red and blue lights alternated within the eyes and through the head implants of the holographic X'ell.

"How do we know this is not just a plan to bring us all together to better annihilate us?" it asked as the glow settled to a reddish hue.

With a stoic look cast across his face, the Vulcan commanding officer addressed the accusation directly.

"If that were simply our intention, you would not exist at this moment to even ask that question."  

Again, the colors shifted for a moment accross the hologram.

"On this we agree also; our existence is now in your hands. Let History and the cosmos judge you by your actions... as it was for us."

"Captain," Argyle then announced, "Commander Riker and... guests."

With the acknowledging nod of his commanding officer, he opened the door and the First Officer of the Phoenix entered, a forcefield shimmering behind him. Smiling at Argyle, Riker entered the room and walked slowly towards the shuttle. Reaching for the controls Riker pressed a few keys and manually opened the shuttle door. Looking back at those around the shuttle Riker turned.

"This one says he hopes this works. No, he says this better work."

The door to the shuttle opened and Riker stepped aboard as the door closed behind him. The door opened a few moments later as Riker emerged, joined by Captain Syntron, with his eyes back to their normal unglowing color.

"Well that was fun" Riker said glancing over to the Captain.

The blue glow now took place in the eyes and on the lights peppering the image of Jonathan Livingstone.

"We will listen to your proposal."

Syntron gazed for a moment at the avian holomatrix before addressing all of the entities sharing occupation within it.

"While safely ensconced within a shuttle, you will be escorted back in orbit of the secure planet. The vehicle will be programmed to leave orbit and descend through the atmosphere. Even though the shuttle will eventually lose power when it crosses through the null region, you will be able to exit before the vessel impacts upon the surface of the planet. From there you will be free upon the surface to continue on in your present form."

"This is acceptable. Proceed."

The blueish glow left the hologram and, a moment later, as programmed into the closed system established between them, the Faraday cage reactivated itself around the shuttle as soon as the portable hologram was evacuated by the alien electromagnetic signal.

"Lieutenant Livingstone confirms all alien lifeforms are now confined within the shuttlecraft, Captain" Argyle reported from his direct personal link with the science chief on the bridge.

Hearing the familiar voice of the security officer Riker tapped his combadge.

"Acknowledged Lieutenant, good work."

"Aye sir. Thank you sir. And may I say sir, it is good to have you back"

"It is good to feel alone in my thoughts again" Riker replied.

Turning towards Captain Syntron, Riker continued.

"Everything seems to be going according to plan Captain. I will gather personnel reports from all stations en route."

Adjusting his uniform, Riker continued.

"I for one can't wait to get back to work and be done with this whole mess. This will make for quite a mission report"

Assistant chief Arguyle then addressed the Vulcan.

"The bridge confirms shuttle launch ready to be implemented, Captain. Mister Livingstone said that we just need to make sure everything in here is mecanically secured to the deck, then depressurize the shuttlebay completely and let decompression fly the shuttle out. They will have no chance to attempt an escape like if we would use tractor beams. He says that, if we do this close enough to the planet's gravity well, the shuttle will simply enter the atmosphere and consume itself... but not before the Zetarians will have cleared it's depowered hull. They will be back into their cell once again."

As he spoke, numerous technicians had entered the bay in EVA suits as a safety precaution against any surprise escape from the energy beings and worked quickly to secure all other crafts with molecular-bonding clamps instead of the usual magnetic ones. The science chief was really taking no chances whatsoever. By the time Arguyle had finished, they all signaled that everything was ready.

Syntron nodded an acknowledgment as he stepped back from the shuttle area. This time they had contained the remaining Zetarians in a more expendable shuttle than the captain's yacht.

When they arrived back within orbit of the prison planet and all indicators were cleared for departure, the captain of the Phoenix gave the signal to begin the depressurization process of the hanger bay. They could all hear the hissing of gases and afterward witness the releasing of huge mechanical clamps as the massive bay doors began parting vertically down the middle. Lights blinked and flashed on both sides of the doors as the impressive view of millions of distant stars emerged into view as the gap between the doors widened among the vast coldness of darken space. Almost immediately the shuttle was pulled out of the bay and entered the gravitational pull of the nearby planet. Before the bay doors finished closing again, they could see the glowing heat of the shuttle increase as the friction of the atmosphere began to take its toll on the exterior of the shuttle.

Your future begins now thought Syntron, as they watched the shuttle begin to disintegrate on the viewscreen in the viewing area of the shuttle bay until they could see no more.