Wallace walked into the transporter room greeted by his five other away team members. Upon entering the room, Commodore Wallace remembered the fact that Commander Wolf and Captain Lataro protested Wallace beaming down to a world that was once part the Mulluran Empire. However, Richard being who he was, ignored and noted the protest in the ship's log.
"Sir, here is your sidearm," Okul said, handing over a type-II phaser to his CO. Wallace looked down at the weapon knowing that once these Aliens see that, they would jump to conclusions. "Lieutenant Chee, take your phaser and leave it. Use a type-I. Chief, hide yours in your tunic. Ensigns, you keep yours on level 4. I'll keep mine under my tunic," Wallace said stepping onto the transporter buffer.
Chief Henderson, and old mechanic like Matthews, was standing at the transporter controls looking alert and ready. "Chief, energize," Wallace said, seeing the fingers run over the panel and his vision getting all fuzzy. Before the away team knew it, the transporter room disappeared and a huge enclosed courtyard with an open roof came into view. The temperature was around the same as that on Bajor.
Ensign Okul and Chief Matthews quickly drew their tricorders out to begin scanning. Matthews picked up several building structures surrounding the courtyard. Okul found three humanoid lifesigns heading their direction. "Commodore, I'm picking up three lifesigns heading our way," Okul reported with a sure tone in his voice.
To their front was a walkway to what appeared to be an entrance to another building. Three unknown people walked out of this walkway. They were human looking except for a high forehead and a large single bone ridge from the nose to the top of the forehead. The three appeared to be male and were about the average height of a Cardassian.
"Welcome to Nipron II, our homeworld. I'm Grandar, Senior Minister of the fledgling Republic of Nipron. I'd like to introduce my junior officials. The man next to me is Horvath, our Defense Secretary." Grandar pointed to the man to the left. Horvath didn't appear to be wearing a uniform. "And this is Science Minister Borluna," Grandar said, trying his hardest not to show fear.
~We must be strong, Grandar. I feel we have nothing to fear. I sense something good about these Starfleet people.~ Horvath looked over at Lieutenant Chee who was reading his thoughts to his senior.
"Sir, I think it's our turn," Chee said, nodding at the leader of the Nipron government.
"Yes, my apologies. I'm Commodore Richard Wallace, Commanding Officer of the USS Hornet. This is Lieutenant Jenara Chee, Chief Science Officer; Ensign Okul, Operations Officer; and Chief Warrant Officer Matthews, my Chief Engineer. These other two are a security detachment to help protect us in case hostile actions should ensue." Wallace was quiet for a minute and then was spoken to again.
"Well Commodore, shall we enter the Hall of Senior Ministers?" Grandar said, pointing the way to the walkway to the building in front of them. The office was huge. Both walls were flanked by statues of people that held the title that Grandar holds -- there were twelve in all. At the end was a huge round table with seven chairs.
The Hornet officers took their seats, followed by the three Ministers. The Federation security detail stood and guarded their shipmates as the talks began.
"The Federation is made up of hundreds of worlds, and was formed 233 years ago. It's in many respects a republic. Each member planet has their own government and defenses if they are capable. If not, that's what makes Starfleet possible -- all races in the Federation sworn to serve and protect all Federation worlds. This will answer all your questions." Wallace pulled out a PADD and slid it to Grandar.
"We are not part of this Federation?" Horvath asked.
"No. You're a government we didn't know existed until several hours ago. You can enter a petition to join. However, you're a sovereign power and will be recognized as such by the Federation," Okul gladly said, seeing a smile from Wallace's face upon seeing his young OPS officer showing enthusiasm.
Lieutenant Chee tried to read their minds, but these people, upon seeing that she was a telepath, seemed to shut it off.
"Listen, we are a race of scientists, not of warriors. The last time we fought a war was in my grandfather's time, and that cost almost 34 million lives. That was against the Sentoga. Since then we have devoted our resources and our lives to Science. Then, 45 years ago, when I was in my youth, the Mullurans came and said 'yield or die.' So my father's generation, still remembering the 100 year long war against the Sentoga, submitted to the Mulluran Empire.
"We've been trying to reestablish our world and home. It is indeed hard since the Mullurans all but stripped us of our resources," Horvath said with a firm and proud tone.
Wallace was quiet, as was Lieutenant Chee. He then spoke out loud. "Senior Minister, I would like to have my officers gain more knowledge of your world. Perhaps if my officers would share information to their respective counterparts down here maybe we could form some sort of alliance?"
"You're allowed to do that?" Grandar asked amazed.
"Yes. Starfleet ship and station commanders have considerable power and are allowed to negotiate a treaty of any sorts," Wallace said with a smile.
"Very well then. You and I will speak of what my people need now, and you can tell me what's in your power," Grandar said standing up and bowing his head silently."
"Borluna, take Lieutenant Chee to the Hall of Science. Horvath, Take Ensign Okul to our new Fleet and Army Operations Command Post. Chief Matthews, if you'd wait outside in the courtyard, our most respected Engineer will greet you and take you our School of Engineering and library." Grandar amazed Wallace, who stood up and followed with a bow of respect and waited until the three senior officers left.
Inside, Richard Wallace was rather pleased with himself and tried extremely hard to contain his excitement. He knew though that he had to keep a serious face and put in the back of his mind that these people were helpless victims of the Mulluran Government. Commodore Wallace followed to where a marble desk was that Grandar walked behind and took a seat. Behind the Senior Minister was a window with the view of what was believed to be a capitol city. The city appeared to be a bunch of high-rises with the view of mountains in the distance. On top of the mountains snow could be seen. Tram cars or craft were seen also -- the city was extremely busy. The sky was a crystal-clear blue.
"So, what is it I can do for your people, Minister?" Wallace asked, taking a seat and trying to look serious -- not too enthused.
"Our fleet is nothing but sublight survey ships and two warp-capable science ships. We were thinking of using the abandoned Mulluran shipyard as a docking station, but our supplies are limited. Is there any way you could help our Engineers get the thing working again?" The Senior Minister was clear what was on his agenda.
"What purpose would the Station serve? Please don't take my question the wrong way. I must make sure you wouldn't use it to repair a few of those heavily damaged ships floating in your star system and go looking for trouble," Wallace said, taking out a PADD from his left cargo pocket.
"Our resources will run out in three months' time. Mainly our dilithium supply. We need that for power to transport our crops from planet to planet to nearby colonies abandoned by the Mullurans. Also to get ourselves on our feet again." The Minister pulled a device almost the size of a Federation PADD but smaller out of his desk. "Sir, we are a peaceful people. We want to explore and help out our neighbors," he added.
Wallace was quiet for a few minutes; his mind was full of ideas. He however, needed to converse with his senior officers, before he could confirm that the Niprons were peaceful people. "Sir, I was wondering if I could confer with my officers once they are done with their tours and such. I will then allow you to know my design."
"Very well, Commodore. I was wondering if you could stay the night in Vespon City? Your officers are more then welcomed to stay and sample our lifestyle for a night," Grandar said with a smile.
"Yes, I would like that, as I'm sure will my officers." Wallace stood up and tapped his comm badge. "Wallace to Hornet."
[Hornet here, Commodore.]
"The away team is going to enjoy the hospitality of the Nipron. I want you Commander Wolf and Commander Carter to take a shuttle and survey the damaged shipyard and damaged Mulluran ships. Tell me of anything important. Report back tomorrow at 1330 hours. Wallace out." Wallace turned and gave a smile to Senior Minister Grandar. "My team will tell me if and what can be worked on."
"Good. I was wondering.... Are you the only Starfleet vessel?"
"In this sector, yes. Our mission is to explore and chart this sector."
"I would be more than willing to share a few hundred thousand star charts we've gathered over the past 309 years. Though they only cover mostly nineteen lightyears is all."
"That's most generous thank you!" Wallace was pleased his second first contact mission was more productive thus far than any he had been on except the Virgo.