Nevar was not happy. One minute he is having his morning coffee on the Bounty, the next he was planet side with Garek down.
Panic was not likely. In Nevar's experience Colonists were made of sterner stuff, and now that Garek was on his way he should turn his mind to the problem at hand. Tapping his comm page, he called to his deputy "Harper, status and location?"
[ Enroute to your position, Sir. ETA 5 minutes.]
"Belay that Yeoman. Grab a half dozen rifles, Officers, Atabessi and MacManus, See if any of the Bounty's colonial crew are ex-security, Marine or tactical, if so bring 'em with you."
[Aye sir, Harper out.]
Nevar turned to the small crowd of colonist which had gathered upon hearing the commotion.
"Ok, listen up. Some of the local fauna are less timid than your projections. As much as it loathes me we are going to have to mount a sweep and relocate effort to clear out a ten click radius of these things." Nevar said pointing at the large feline animal at his feet.
"Now I know that most of you come from varied backgrounds. Also this is your planet now, so anyone who wants to join my men and I but, it is going to be a full days march and not an easy task at hand once the sun gets all the way over the mountains. Further, not all these critters will want to relocate, so its going to be tricky. Notwithstanding, relocate they will. Now anyone who wants to join us, do so, the rest of you I'm sure have lots of work at hand." As the crowd mulled over the Starfleet officers words, Harper and the rest of Nevar's security force beamed down. For the most part, the colonists went back to their per breakfast chores. The lone exception, a boy around the age of fourteen. Stepping forward he spoke, soft at first but as the words came out they gained conviction.
"I'd like to join you sir" he said approaching Nevar.
"Don't you think you are a little young?" said Harper, who himself was only five years the boys senior.
"Not at all, how tough can it be?" said the boy with false bravado.
Nevar, had stayed out of the conversation so far. Taking up a phaser rifle; he was inspecting his men. Besides Atabessi and McManus, who had accompanied Nevar from SB901, Harper had recruited three others, two woman and man. All looked terran, based on their attitudes all had seen many fights. Nevar likewise had the same look he had always before an away mission, sour and sullen. Continuing to check the rifle that MacManus had handed him, Nevar turned to the boy.
"What's you name?"
"Adrian"
"Well Adrain, I reckon you don't know how to use a phaser rifle so you stay close to me. The rest of you listen up. This is standard outward sweep with Harper at 12 o'clock, McManus at 3, Atabessi at 6, and myself at 9. Each of you, will pair up, the boy is with me. You sweep outwards as far as you go before sundown. Use tricorders to find the cats, and low level phaser volleys to get 'em running. At no time are you to engage, shoot or otherwise harm these creatures. Garek not withstanding, they were here first and probably mean no harm. This is relocate and remove, not decimate and decapitate. Got it." All the teams shook affirmative. "Ok, people, let's move out."
The group slowly dispersed leaving the boy with twenty nine year old veteran. "How come you are letting me come."
Adrian said as the two headed off in the direction of the mountain range.
"By the time I was your age I could hit a squirrel a hundred yards away with a hand phaser. I reckon we'll be gone in a few days and it'll up to guys like you to defend this colony. Now listen up, this is how a hand phaser works...."
Nevar was glad Call had taken Nugent with him in the flyer. If she had stayed not only would he hear non stop lectures for the next few weeks about the danger of arming teenagers, but she would probably want think this was some sort of Freudian projection of Nevar's youth. He could hear it now: Men and guns, why little boys should play with toys.