The six torpedoes arced across the screen in the paths Tuvok had carefully programmed to provide the best yield as they detonated in the upper atmosphere.
"The torpedoes have detonated," the security chief informed the bridge as a great many eyes watched the swirling clouds for signs of activity. Kathryn stood in front of the viewscreen, the planet magnified so that it almost covered the wall.
Voyager moved in a low orbit around the planet, in position to collect what oxygen they could before the gas leaked into space. Slowly the cloud cover began to dissipate, revealing the continents and oceans below.
A muted cheer echoed over the open channel to the station and Kathryn took a deep breath. There was still work to be done on the planet, but this was a big start. Voyager moved at half impulse around the globe, a stream of vapour being drawn into the collectors. She looked up at the science console behind her to where both Seven of Nine and the Doctor stood, equally captivated by the image.
"We have all we're going to get Captain," Harry informed her as the trail of oxygen faded.
"Slow to one quarter impulse, Mr Paris, and bring us in a little closer. Begin releasing the oxygen back into the planets atmosphere, Mr Kim."
"Yes, Ma'am," the young ops officer replied, the cheerfulness in his tone preventing Janeway from becoming annoyed at his choice of honorific.
A thin haze obscured the planet, as if they were looking through smoke. Seven accessed the science station behind her and began a series of comparative scans.
"I believe it is having the desired effect, Captain."
"Is everything prepared for stage two?"
"It is."
"Then, Harry, Seven, you're with me. Good work Doctor," Janeway added as she approached the man. While a science team was planning to beam to the surface, the Doctor was unable to join them, the interference on the surface likely to effect his mobile emitter.
"Thank you, Captain," he replied, a note of pride in his voice.
"You have the bridge, Commander," she added as the group stepped into the turbo-lift.
Having coordinated with Merik on the station, arrangements where made to beam a team of Jarkart scientists with them to the surface. It had taken considerable debate, with many of the Custodians not wanting to start their new life on the planet by taking advantage of a technology superior to their own. It seemed to them somehow hypocritical of all their Transition stood for.
In the end, the need to ensure the planet's viability outweighed any philosophical concerns and permission was granted to conduct an analysis before the station began the one way journey to the surface. The landing site had been chosen decades ago and the away team materialized in the centre of a large plateau.
Ensign Kim, Seven of Nine and Crewman Dell were the first to beam down, the three officers quickly assembling the pattern enhances.
"The air is tickling my skin!" Kim commented on the increased electrical activity. The charged particles a result of the chemical reaction that had just occurred.
"I am also experiencing the phenomenon," Seven allowed, refusing to jump about as Harry was doing despite the strange sensation.
"Seven of Nine to Voyager," Seven raised her voice slightly as she initiated a comm channel, so as to be heard above the wind.
"Go ahead, Seven," the voice of Commander Chakotay responded.
"We are ready for transport," she informed the ship. The three officers took their positions outside the transport area to await the rest of their team.
The Captain beamed down next with Custodian Jareel and a man and woman Seven remembered seeing at the council meeting earlier that day. The four moved quickly out of the way preparing for the next team.
The ground was covered in a thick carpet of reed-like grass that brushed the knees of the away team members as they walked. The Captain came to stand beside Seven as Jareel walked quickly with two younger Custodians to the edge of the plateau. They stood and looked out over the canyon for a moment before the young sandy haired man let out a whoop and laughed as his voice echoed back to him as if calling from the past.
A third group materialized and Ensigns Vorik and Lang proceeded to set up the scanning equipment inside the triangle as Aranni and her friend Salai joined their companions. The younger woman wrapping her arms around Aranni in a hug as they leant against each other and stared out at their new world.
The six starfleet officers gave them a little space as they quietly went about setting up their equipment. The scanners whirred slightly as they came to life and Harry stood beside Seven as the former Borg calibrated the equipment to begin taking their readings.
The Jarkart scientists eventually left their vantage point and joined the Captain as she waited for her crew's analysis. Aranni continued on to help the officers, in her element once again. She returned after a minute to inform them that, so far, all their readings had been positive and that Seven could foresee no problems with re-colonising the planet.
"I can't believe that this is it. We have worked so hard and so many of our friends have given their lives so that we can stand here today."
"I look forward to going back to my section and watching my people wake up. To be the one to tell then that we made it," the young man beside Aranni admitted. Janeway recognised him as Crest, a Botanist from her group at the council meeting.
"Part of me will miss this, the calibrations, the scans, the ability to see more than is possible with my own eyes," Aranni sighed as she turned from the away team as they worked and looked back out over the plateau at the mountains and the open fields that she had never before seen. "But an even bigger part of myself is immeasurably humbled by this. The chance to live surrounded by this beauty.... I hope we get it right this time," she finished. Jareel thumped her shoulder a few times in agreement as they all stood in silence, lost in their memories of the past and dreams for the future.
The last of their readings were within acceptable limits. While the planet would continue to be geologically active for quite some time, it was more than suitable for habitation. After several rounds of handshakes, nods and pats on the back, the Jarkart personell prepared to beam back to their station. They still had a lot of work ahead of them to prepare their people. Aranni estimated that it would take another day to wake everyone for reentry. The Captain had agreed to stay until the station had safely landed on the planet but if all went well, they would more than likely not meet again in person, and so they said they good-byes.
Kathryn noticed Seven and Vorik disentangle themselves from the emotional display as soon as they could without offending their new friends. Vorik returned to the transport coordinates while Seven walked towards the edge of the cliff.
As the Jarkart prepared to beam back to the station, Kathryn turned to look at Seven. After a moments hesitation she turned and walked slowly towards her, enjoying the feel of the air against her skin. The static electricity caused her skin to tingle as the wind blew against her. The atmosphere felt strangely heavy and somehow alive. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before. She wondered how Seven's Borg enhanced senses coped with the electrical onslaught.
As she drew level with the young woman she stood next to her in silence for a moment. Both woman gazing out over the plateau. The sky was a dusty pink on the horizon, turning a hazy grey higher above them. The craggy mountains stood silhouetted against the sky, a field of green and grey between them and the distant hills. The colours seemed muted, shades of grey with just a hint of something more. But it was beautiful.
She turned to look at Seven, her silver uniform almost sparking in the charged air. Her hair stood out from her head a little as if she were floating in water. Her eyes, normally so vibrant and blue were bleached of colour.
"What do you think?" she asked indicating their surroundings.
"Unusual. I find the planets visual appearance to be quite soothing. The atmosphere, however, is quite the opposite."
"Makes your skin tingle."
"It makes my implants tingle. It is most disconcerting."
"Did you want to return to the ship?" Kathryn asked concerned about the effects it may be having. In truth it was time for everyone to return, the Doctor had recommended they keep their time on the planet to a minimum.
"There is nothing more to be done," Seven replied and she turned to watch the crew finish assembling their equipment inside the pattern enhancers.
"I'll walk you back," Kathryn offered and the two moved back towards camp.
"I am puzzled by something, Captain," Seven started. Kathryn looked up at her as they continued to walk, waiting for the taller woman to elaborate.
"I do not understand how they could have come so close to destroying themselves. It is illogical to continue along a path that will lead to destruction."
"Sometimes, people don't see something that is right in front of them until it's too late," Janeway explained.
"The Jarkart were forced to abandon everything in order to survive."
"Not necessarily. You're thinking about this as the Brennan did." Seven raised her brow not understanding the statement and preparing to contradict her Captain.
"The Brennan believed that the pursuit of technology, that science was everything. They took that belief to extremes and they refused to abandon that belief even when faced with extinction. The Jarkart on the other hand, decided to place life above all else. They refused to sacrifice themselves and their planet for simple technology."
"So who is right?" Seven questioned.
"Neither. Both. There is no right or wrong in situations like this. It's a matter of choice."
"Which would you have chosen, Captain?"
Kathryn stopped walking and thought for a moment, wanting to explain to Seven, yet knowing there was no explanation. That sometimes, an individual had to decide what was right for them and them alone.
"I like to think that there is always a choice somewhere in between all and nothing," she finally answered.
Seven considered her statement recognising the wisdom in it yet wondering if the Captain was correct. Realising she would find no answer to her questions today, she turned back to face the away team and side by side, the two women continued towards them in silence.
the end for now...
to be continued in Scientific Method.