[Captain's Log:] Wrapping up Matters at Alemar III

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Captain's Log, stardate 43525.6: After an arduous three day ordeal at geothermal field two-nine-one — the drilling facility on Alemar III run by Dr. Sk'Amor and her colleagues — the away team is being shuttled back to the Enterprise to recuperate. While there were many injuries to report, thankfully there were no fatalities among the Enterprise's complement. Some of the scientists stationed on the planet, however, were not so fortunate.

It's thanks to the efforts of Counselor Deanna Troi and Lieutenant Commander Terzen T'Karr, as well as a number of the Enterprise's other visitors, that things were not worse than they were. The energy-conducting crystals indigenous to the planet were found out to be a sentient lifeform, one that feeds on the planet's unique energy signature and, due to the drilling work being done, was being starved. The earthquakes and conflicts were their way of lashing out and protecting their own against what was assumed to be an uncaring humanoid leech. Once the Betazoid officers were able to communicate with the lifeform and explain the situation, a peace could be met.

I am meeting with Dr. Johanna Sk'Amor one last time following these events, to give whatever help Starfleet may be able to offer in what will no doubt be a difficult journey ahead for the residents of Alemar III...

"It is lucky you were not more seriously injured, doctor," Picard comments, walking alongside Johanna through what remains of the observation room of her facilities.

She is nursing a fractured arm, which has already been seen to and is currently in a sling, not to mention several cuts and bruises. "I am well aware of that, captain. For a while there I wasn't sure this place would remain standing."

"Mm, no. It has taken quite some extensive damage, hasn't it? Are you sure you will be all right to continue here until Starfleet can send you reinforcements?"

"Yes, captain, and I thank you for your concern," she says, nodding politely (if not stiffly). "Your crew has already done so much for us in fixing the systems that were damaged, even going so far as to make it possible for us to communicate with the Crystaloid lifeforms moving forward. The upgrades your team has made should be sufficient to carry us through the worst of the rebuilding efforts."

"How is that possible?" Picard asks, curious as to the details. "I understand that the Crystaloids communicate telepathically."

"That seems to be the case," she nods. "However, they also communicate musically. What we had assumed was simple resonance due to the electromagnetic current causing vibrations in the crystals turned out to be a language wholly unique to this lifeform. It's not unlike languages many societies have evolved from in terms of using pitch and tenor to express feelings and intentions. We're confident we can learn this 'singing language' with some time and study, but in the meantime Lieutenant Commander La Forge tells me our internal comms systems should be able to breach the gap between our languages."

Geordi looks up from the computer terminal he's set himself at when he hears his name. He volunteered to stay back, even after Dr. Crusher informed him he should let her take him to sickbay. Scans of his head injury can wait, especially after her tricorder read nothing too serious. "That's right. It's just a simple translation unit, though the systems needed some all-around upgrading to accept it. Since we know so little about the language these Crystaloid's use, it's not going to be perfect. But it should help."

"It's better than what we had before: nothing," Dr. Sk'Amor assures him. "I can't thank Counselor Troi and the others enough for what they did. We had no idea the crystals we found were a lifeform. Had we known it then, we might have been able to save the other drilling facility that collapsed before your arrival, not to mention countless Crystaloid lives."

"The important thing is that you know now, doctor," Picard assures her. "And that you and your people strive to maintain the peace between your very different societies."

"I assure you captain, we will," she insists. "The Crystaloids know everything about our sister ship's time here, from the moment they crash landed to when the supervolcanoes erupted. They have a sort of shared consciousness, or intellect, that they pass from one to another. They can lead us right to the cities we've been searching so hard for. And, of course, now that we know they feed on the planet's energy sources, we won't mine so much of it. There's plenty to go around."

"I'm glad to hear it, doctor," the captain smiles. "Starfleet is rather eager to learn more about this new lifeform."

"As are we, captain. Ah!" Dr. Sk'Amor exclaims, once she sees Deanna approaching. "Counselor Troi, I just want to thank you again for everything you have done."

"It was my pleasure," Deanna answers, falling into place next to them with an easy grace. "I am only sorry I hadn't come down earlier, or one of our team hadn't realized much earlier what was happening, so that we could have saved even more lives."

"Counselor," Picard greets. "Is everything in order?"

"Yes, Captain." Deanna nods, raising her hands to gesture with, gently and right in front of herself. "The proceedings between both groups have reached an amiable compromise for starting from. The communication with the Crystaloids is currently more nebulous where it comes to understanding them, but they do seem to want this peace and to return to a harmony between the two peoples living here just as much.

"They attacked only because their families were starving, and then out of protection for their own homes and selves once they were dying from the resource siphoning. Same as Alemar had been doing since resettling the new colony. With this treaty in place, and both sides working for a mutually beneficial communication and peaceful cohabitation of the planet, I think they will find it very easy to rekindle the mutually beneficial relationship their predecessors prospered under."

"Splendid," Picard nods.

"Yes, thank you all so much for everything you have done," the doctor agrees. "Finding new life and a whole new civilization to research and discover is ... well, it's more than we ever hoped for! I promise you, we won't waste this opportunity."

"I'm glad," Deanna smiles. "I think many cultures going forward could learn from the chance you have before you."

"Counselor, I believe it's time we gathered the others and returned to the ship," Picard says.

"Yes, captain. I'll inform Lieutenant Worf," Deanna says, smiling at Dr. Sk'Amor as she retreats.

"Doctor, it has been a pleasure to get to know you. You are absolutely certain there is nothing else the Enterprise can do for you?"

Johanna gives him a familiar look. It is not unlike the looks his maman would give him when he had done something very naughty. "No, captain. We can make do until the next supply ship. To be quite frank with you, I'm eager to get back to work."

Picard can't help but chuckle. "Understood. I will leave you to it, then."

"Captain," Dr. Sk'Amor says with a polite bow.

Picard happily returns it, before moving on to gather the rest of his people.