Diplomatic Voyage

The Hellcat was on a three day trip to carry on diplomatic negotiations. The Leviathan was an Akira class ship, a ship of war and as such wasn't much use for diplomatic missions, mainly because a scan would reveal it's weapons, which could be feared and bring doubts about the Federation. The mission would take four days total, three days to get there, and a day to open relations. The Leviathan would then meet up with the Hellcat on day four, about 12 light years from the future allies.

Lieutenant Shale was at the helm and Commander Barker, was in command. A few other personnel followed, mostly engineering.

"Lieutenant, any word on a reply from the Captain's earlier message ?" Barker asked

"No sir the race has yet to respond to his message sent a day ago." Shale replied, switching his eye over to the OPS part of his control.

It was quite for a few minutes, and the silence was a little uneasy for Lieutenant Commander Barker. However Shale liked the stillness, he was a true loner still.

Lieutenant Shale, only kept a few circle of friends, and Barker wasn't one of them. Lieutenant Grafton, and Gordan were his only true friends. Janet Gordan would soon be his wife, yet she knew very little about his past.

"So, Lieutenant how long have you been in Starfleet ?" Barker asked, trying not to be too nosey.

"Well, lets see....."Shale said giving a pause and trying to remember. ".... about 13 years, Commander. Why ?"

Rick then back to work, and tried to get a few things downloaded to his PADD. Barker then smiled, and went over to the bridge's replicator. "Coffee, Lieutenant ?"

"No thanks, sir." Shale turned and gave a friendly smile.

"So, you been a pilot all those years ?" Chew asked another question.

"No, I was in security for about a year, before I resigned, to join the Maquis. Piloting was something I learned at the Academy, and enjoyed it.

In fact, I turned a position down, as Helmsman on the USS Yamato. For a position in Security on DS9." Shale hated his post on Deep Space 9, and refused to speak well of Ferengi ever.

Then the beeping of the scanners went off and Barker took his seat on the bridge in the small command chair.

Shale looked over the scanners, and then ran another scan to make sure they were right.

"Sir picking up a M-Class planet in orbit of a G-class planet. No intelligent life forms.

However there is a lot of durinuam and dilithuim, on the northern continent ." Shale said with some excitement and was wanting to explore a little bit.

"Lieutenant, didn't the captain say look for possible fuel, and food, in our briefing?" Commander Barker said, with some joy in his voice.

"Yes, sir. If we explore and mine about 19 kilos of each, we will only be off schedule for about 8 hours." Shale said turning his seat around.

"Very well, plot a course warp 3.2"

*Finally, something fun to do. And perhaps it won't be any trouble like last time.* Rick thought to himself, remembering his last mission ended in a battle.