Half an hour after establishing a high orbit above the unnamed planet suspected of being the pirate stronghold, the *Ronin's* officers assembled in the main briefing room adjacent to the bridge. Pike was at the head of the table, while Benton was standing by at the wall screen, punching a few last commands into the computer.
When everyone was seated, Admiral Pike started the meeting without preamble. "Lieutenant McMillan, what is the status of our cloak?"
"Fully operational, sir. If there's anyone on the planet below keeping a lookout, they won't be able to spot us."
Pike nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to their resident Kelvan. "Lieutenant Benton, please give us your sensor report."
Benton activated the wall screen and began. "The planet is class-M in all respects, although the mean temperature is slightly higher than that of Earth. Forty percent of the surface is land, in three large continents; two of which straddle the equator and the third being at the planet's north pole. Almost all of the land surface of the two equatorial continents is covered by extremely dense jungle, while the northern continent is a frozen tundra." The wall display showed schematics of the planet and topographic maps which shifted in time with Benton's presentation.
"Sensors have detected a large variety of fauna as well, although there is a peculiar interference field which makes precise reading impossible."
"What sort of field?" asked Captain Evans.
"Unknown, although it appears to *not* be a natural phenomenon," said Benton. "Because of the field, we can't tell if there are any sentient lifeforms present. However..." Benton paused here for effect. "...we *are* detecting a large structure on one of the equatorial continents."
This statement got the attention of everyone present.
"What sort of structure?" asked Evans again.
"Also unknown," replied Benton. "Although gravimetric readings strongly suggest the structure is composed of carbon neutronium."
"Iconians...," Pike said quietly, and everyone else at the table looked at him. "The Iconian complex discovered on Vandros IV in the Gamma Quadrant by the Dominion ten years ago was a massive ziggurat constructed out of carbon neutronium," he explained.
"So what are we waiting for?" said Tyran impulsively. "Let's beam down and secure the Gateway!"
"Not so fast, Nige," said Evans. "Since the sensors can't penetrate this interference field, we have no idea what's waiting for us down there. We'd almost certainly be walking into a pirate trap."
"We could beam down a few kilometers from the structure," suggested Tyran. "Into the jungle, and make our way on foot."
Benton interrupted. "The interference field will also prevent our transporters from operating."
"A shuttle then," said Kira Markos.
Doctor Hancock spoke up for the first time now. "Since we don't know what sort of dangerous life forms live down there, you're going to need a doctor along to patch you up when you get bit."
Evans smiled at Hancock. "Volunteering, Doctor?"
"Yes sir," replied Hancock with a crooked smile of his own.
Captain Evans though for a minute while his officers waited for his decision. Finally, he said, "All right, we do it. I'll lead the mission. We can't land the *Ronin* herself because the cloak won't work in the atmosphere, so we'll take one of the runabouts. Tyran, find us a secluded site to land. We'll have to come in low since the runabout won't have a cloak. All departments, assign the appropriate officers to join the away team. Admiral--"
"I'm coming too," said Pike before Evans could suggest otherwise.
"With all due respect, I don't think--"
"This is my mission; my responsibility," said Pike with a finality that forestalled any further argument.
Evans relented. Instead, he said, "We leave in one hour."