Well since I'm not eligible and they are about to pick a winner I decided to post my ill fated entry, enjoy :)
Communication ; From: Lt. Commander Jason Granger Commanding officer,
U.S.S. Dolphin NCC-18554, Miranda class.
To: Starfleet Starbase 338, Command base United federation of Planets.
cc: Fleet operations Division.
cc: Science Division.
Survey Report #000343196SYS0039. Beta-Aurigae Cluster, Alpha Quadrant.
Report as follows: Getting to Planet 2 of system 0039 was difficult and required careful manuevering from my helm officer, as that world was surrounded with planetoidal debris of various sizes, my science officer D'var ( an Efrosian ) hypothesizes that these bodies are from the planets moon, which was destroyed in some calamity, dating just a few short centuries ago.
I'm recommending the Planet be named Matriane as this is the name the surviving species of the calamity, call their world. More on this dynamic species of survivors below. The name roughly translates as Earth Mother in their language.
Initial scans of this world revealed active vulcanism and the atmosphere too poisonous to allow habitation, it is also wracked by numerous storms that constantly move across it's surface. There is ample evidence of ruined artificial structures on the surface that would indicate, there was once a thriving, growing culture. My science department assures me that these storms should dissapate over the next 300 years, pending there will be no more collisions with asteroid debris with the surface.
A more thorough scan revealed large spaces deep beneath the surface of this world and numerous but indeterminate life forms. I authorized a landing party with the standared equipment appropriate to a subsurface exploration. I've attached D'vars report on what they found:
To: Captain Granger
From: D'var Chief Science officer,
U.S.S. Dolphin.
Final Report on Exploration of Matriane:
Despite the ruining of their world by the strange cataclism that destroyed the surface, the Javalla are a hardy race of survivors. Having had some warning of what was to happen, this species built a number of extensive city like bunkers deep below the surface. Many of these are linked via natural tunnels and caverns though travel is dangerous due to hostile organisms that live in these caves. One of our members in the landing party was badly mauled by a large worm like animal with fur which acts much like an earth mole would underground but highly territorial. We were unable to transport back to the ship to get the medical attention we needed for our companion, so I took a risk and made contact with an outpost of the Javalla people. Initial contact was tense, but upon seeing our injured compatriot quickly understood our plight and sent a runner to bring a healer.
The Javalla are humanoid standing roughly 2 meters in hieght with cobalt skin and bald, in fact I was told no body hair at all. there eyes are cat like and allow them to see in darkness when no light is available an ability they had before they were forced underground. Their body shape is robust and muscular, males and females sharing in whatever work is required equally. The only exception to this are the healers themselves who command an almost religious respect and deference to their presence, more needs to be learned regarding this than I was allowed time for during this mission. Healers apparently have Psionic abilities that are quite extensive and it was with this ability that they healed our compatriot. They are a peaceful people and find the idea of using their Psi abilities to do harm abhorrent to them. Healers are female only.
While among them, I learned many things about them. Daily life revolves around working for the betterment of all their kind and found little evidence of any selfishness. Story telling is a popular past time and learned much about the disaster that befell them. A large comet had collided with their moon causing much debris to fall to the surface, they hope one day to return to it. Despite the disaster they have managed to retain an early level of industrism. They enjoy puzzle games and I was able to make some good friends with some simple riddles that I told them, modifying them as best I could to what they were familiar with.
Crime is almost non existant here, however when it occurs, the accused is tried by a counsel of 5 elders and evidence is given and voted on, with punishment bieng in the form of reparations to the victim(s) or at worst banishment from the community ( which is essentially a death sentence considering the bewildering array of life forms that I've learned of during my time with them ) .
There is so much we could learn here, but sadly I was required to return to the ship for our next assigned system for exploration. I strongly recommend that another expedition be sent here to learn more regarding these wonderful people.
Signed Lt. D'var Cheif Science Officer.
Closing notes: Rest assured I went over my science officers experience with a fine toothed comb and am satisfied that no serious breach of the prime directive occured. I have attached other reports to this document regarding Matrianne's geological make up and atmospheric analysis in detail, which i wont go into here. I find my science deptartmens reports always a struggle to go through...too boring, enough to put a man to sleep.
Oh and if anyone reading this knows Lt. Commander Henson there tell him my leaving on this long survey assignment wont excuse him, he still owes me a bottle of Saurian brandy...
End Report: Captain ( Lt. Commander) Jason Granger
U.S.S. Dolphin.
