Aye, resuming present course. 1/4 impulse.

At this speed we will cross the "moon's surface" in six minutes and twenty seven seconds.

I am opening all comm channels so they can talk to us if they want, even though you said they use a diferent way of comunication.

=A= Vartin to Skon =A=

I am here Mr. Skon. Can you adapt the sensors while we are flying? I don't think we will have much time... Oh, I've taken enough emergency equipment for us to stay for two days or maybe a bit more on the planet's surface if we have to.

=A= Vartin out =A=

Full stop. *enters the command on the console*

*two minutes later*

Lt. Skon, I wave no reading on the nav sensors of any warp signature or ion trail comming from the "moon". If it is a ship, it's not active. But it may be a small orbital station...

*the turbolift doors open*

Lt. Vartin reporting sir. Admiral Montrell assigned me to helm, sir.

Aye sir. *stands from his chair and walks towards the turbolift*

Mr. Skon, I'll meet you on shuttle bay 2. Remember to bring your sensors... The shuttle has very limited ones. *smiles*

Oh, I guess I'll go to sickbay and get some extra emergency suplpies. We don't know if there are any hostiles...

*turbolift door closes*

OFF: As Oliveira left, I guess I'm 1st helm now...

Aye sir, we are now one million kilometers from them.

=A=Fermi to Skytoucher=A=

Thank you, Commander. I am proud to receive docking permission from one of the best pilots Starfleet Academy ever had...

Setting thrusters to aproach speed. Locking on docking bay transponder... Here we go, the manual way!

*the shuttlecraft lands softly on the docking bay's floor*

I hope you have enjoyed our flight, Lt. Skon.

*looks to the Captain*

Thank you, sir.

*walks down and stops besides Lt. Oliveira*

Hello Lieutenant! I am sure we'll make a great team... But I didn't get your name...

*steps out of the shuttle and heads to the turbolift, smiling*

Such a compliment from a vulcan is indeed a good thing to hear, Lt. Skon! Thank you very much... I hope we can fly again soon, under more friendly circumstances.

(Edited by Jean Michel Vartin at 12:58 am on April 21, 2003)

*eight minutes later*

Our telemetry is functioning again Lt. Skon. I believe we are out of the alien's ship jamming field.

*two minutes later*

Beginnig docking procedures.

=A= Skytoucher, this the shuttle pod Fermi requiring permission to dock. We are now on waiting pattern bravo niner, ten thousand meters from docking bay one's entrance.=A=

Thank you, Lt. Skon. It was indeed an enjoyable flight, despite the hostile reception.

Entering final aproach pattern. Confirming docking transponder lock. *enters commands on the console*

=A=Skytoucher docking ops, this is Shuttlecraft Fermi, please confirm docking clearence... It's getting cold out here in space... Oh, would you mind if I take her in on manual control?=A=

Altering course... heading 1017 mark 3... *enters commands on the shuttle's console*

Don't worry Lieutenent Skon, I actually like to fly "blind", as you say... It brings me closer to the time when we didn't have computers to fly for us... In fact, mankind didn't have planes then... It must have been beautiful to be on a wooden ship, sailing under the stars...

*computer beeps*

Altering course, heading 1024 mark 4.

*enters commands again*

Tell me Mr. Skon... Did vulcans ever sail? I've heard that Vulcan is a rather dry planet...

*looks back to Skon*

Oh, be careful not to bring that remodulator too close to the main plasma coupling... This model is very sensible to magnetic interference.

Most interesting! Perhaps you could give me the specs on a v'tpar so I could create a holodeck program...

*computer beeps*

Adjusting heading again. There is heavy subspace interference around the moon... It's hard to navigate even on manual piloting!

*turns to Skon*

Did you say the moon is cloaked? Because I'm seeing it right there, though it's gravity well surely isn't that of a moon... It reads somewhat smaller on my nav sensors.

If I were to guess, I'd say that that moon is a hologram hiding something else, but to create a holographic moon you'd have to use a huge power generator... Could the generator be causing the interference on our sensors, Skon?

May I call you just Skon? You can call me Jean if you  prefer...

Lt. Skon, I was wondering... If I turn the inertial dampeners offline and let our inertia derive us, then there will be no ion trail or engine signature for the aliens to pick up. I can use the maneuvering thrusters to adjust our course...

Also, if we power down some other non essential systems, we will become even more undetectable...

Very well Lt. Skon... Let's go then.

*the shuttlebay door opens and the shuttle leaves, heading for the planet*

Mr. Skon, I'll put us on standard orbit before landing, so you can do your scan. How long will it take?