#160 Research Outpost of a Different Kind

Posted on Thu Jan 26th, 2023 @ 7:15pm by Captain Rogue Green {Meji}

Mission: BUGS OH NO!!
Location: Midora III
Timeline: current

ON:

Arriving at a small archipelago out in the middle of the largest ocean this planet had, Green could see that below them there was a small town built on the largest island, which also spouted a lone mountain. An obvious dormant volcano that had formed this group of land masses. There was a small landing field of granite and basalt, hewn flat for craft to settle without tilting and leaning. Dwight pointed to it and directed her to fly over the water and land, and not to stir up sand by going over the beach. As she did so Ro noticed that every person on the islands was either topless or straight up nude, enjoying the warm sunshine and gaining complete body tans, many of them bronze in color due to that fact. Settling the Euphrates in landing mode and shutting down, Dwight had stood and got behind her as she shut down in the pilot's seat. She heard shuffling as she did the shutdown then stood and turned around. Dwight stood before her as naked as he had been in the shower, and during their intimacy.

"What are you doing?" She asked, not able to control her smile upon seeing that beautiful body. Now she knew why he did not seem to have tan lines of any kind.

"Going outside," Dwight remarked. "I like sun on my tush like anyone else. Plus, this is what the locals do, every day so, when in Rome..."

Green cackled and then began to remove her own clothing. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she said, still giggling like a teenager.

"No worries, Dear," explained Dwight. "Children aren't allowed out here. It's a marine research center and the scientists here are very open about being one with their surroundings, including each other." He wagged his eyebrows and chuckled.

"I'm surprised they get anything else done," she quipped, hitting the hatch release. Her own skin was extremely pale due to a life aboard ship. Not much sun. She did use the holodecks with beach programs, but she always wore a bikini of some kind just in case anyone walked into the program while it was running. Now, steeling herself, she and Dwight stepped down onto the rocks in the sandals they had replicated, both as naked as the day they were born.

The two of them walked side by side and into the small town, which was more like a village in size. There were those sunbathing on the sand, some were inside covered kiosks looking at samples, and still others were standing around in the shade of the various palm-like trees having conversations. There were tropical flowers and fern-like plants all over, thick and plush where the village ended and nature was allowed to do as it would. In her mind Green began to envision the Meji setting up their Order here, on this world, since it would now be her home to back to whenever she could. Without a word said she felt all the life on the planet, and walking slowly, like an automaton, she went to the edge of the waterline, the ocean waves lapping at her feet with the tides. Ro stood and closed her eyes, the warmth of the sun replenishing her being, the energy of life all around her and penetrating her.

There was no longer any embarrassment over being naked, the natural way for all beings at the beginning of life. Opening her eyes she stared out across the horizon, tears welling up and then running down her face as she let them, dripping from her jawline and her chin. For several long minutes that was what she did, reaching out with the Force to commune with the energies of this world and the purity she felt from it.

One of the scientists leaned in to Dwight, speaking softly. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine," said Dwight, watching the woman who had captured his heart having a moment with the world around her. He did not disturb Ro, instead choosing to go with the small group of scientists to see what their latest discoveries were. As Governor it was his responsibility.

Ro walked forward, her pace slow and purposeful as she went deeper and deeper until she was neck deep with no ground beneath her feet. She began to swim, and when she got 20 yards further out she then rolled over onto her back and floated in the cool ocean waters, eyes closed and arms out with legs closed, looking like a crucifix from a bird's eye view. With her head partially submerged her ears were covered and that provided a silence she desperately needed, to cleanse her mind of all the chaos and mayhem within it. Using the natural bounty of a young world as a balm for her battered and bruised spirit, Green centered herself once again. All her worries, her sorrows, her anxiety; all diminished and then vanished. She was Rogue Green, Meji Master and Executive Officer aboard a Federation starship. It was who, and what, she was. And, soon enough, she would be a mother, too. She smiled to herself at that without opening her eyes.

Then, off in the distance under water, she heard it. A form of whale song. Keeping her eyes closed Ro pulled the Force to herself and then let it reach out beneath the waves, seeking any life that may have produced that sound. It could have been anything, with under water noises always sounding odd and different than those on the surface and in open air. And, with water, sound could carry across far more distance than in the air. There it was again, sounding like several creatures communicating with each other. But, she could not pinpoint exactly where they were, which meant they were far off and probably in the deep. Her own Force mastery was still growing, not as strong as it could be, which reminded her to meditate more and gain strength with its use. Aside from that she should let the colonists know that they were not the only intelligent animals on the planet, with a form of whale song communication denoting intelligence. Righting herself and treading water, sweeping her hair back on her head and opening her eyes, Ro swam back to shore. Leaving the water she approached Dwight and the three scientists he was talking to.

"There are creatures out there," she said, matter-of-fact.

One of the scientists, a man who looked just as good as Dwight, looked at her with a scrunched up face. "Out where?"

Green half turned and motioned towards the ocean waters. "Out there. Where else?"

Dwight also gave her a questioning look. "How do you know this, Ro?"

"I heard them while floating on my back, my ears covered by the sea. It was a form of whale song, Dwight. I am not imagining things. But, I can't tell how far away they were, or which direction." Green glanced around at the faces.

The good looking fellow gave a few nods. "Thank you, Ro. We've had reports of strange sounds out there in the deep. But, whenever we tried to record it the sounds just stopped."

Green felt foolish standing around talking about science while naked. She said she'd be back quickly and went to the runabout, replicating a neon green bikini made from a stretch material, not a string bikini. Her sandals put back on she walked back over, carrying a pair of khaki safari shorts with her, to put over her bottoms when she felt the need. The others were still debating the report of the sounds when she got back. "Well? Any decisions?"

The hottie looked at Ro with a quirked eyebrow, then at Dwight, then back again. "I'm sorry, but who are you again?"

Green realized she had used a tone similar to her command voice. She gave a smile and an embarrassed giggle. "Apologies, Sir. I am the first officer on a starship, my tone was not intended."

Hottie gave a grin in return. "Ah. Understandable, then. You get pretty intense, Miss. It's obvious this means a great deal to you."

"All life means a great deal to me, Mister...?" Ro extended a hand to shake.

"Ah, yes," he said with a smile, shaking hands as he introduced himself. "Doctor Nigel Cameron. Biologist and geologist."

"Well met, Doctor."

Dwight stood and grinned, watching their interplay. Green seemed to have a gift for speaking to people, to put them at ease. Her earlier faux pas had been summarily forgotten after her heartfelt apology to Doctor Cameron and his staff for her abrupt tone. "Now that that is out of the way, I will follow up her query with the same, Nigel. What do we do now?"

"We'll need one of the boats to be sent over from the mainland," said Cameron. "Then, we go out and try, once again, for echo location on these whale songs."

"Doctor Cameron," Ro interjected. "We don't need a boat." When his brows went up askance she chinned to somewhere behind him, meaning the runabout. He looked back over his shoulder, then back at Green.

"How is that useful?"

Green was glad he asked, giving a smile. "With the touch of a few keys we can set the runabout for underwater operations. A submarine, for lack of a better term. There will be no damage to the environment since Starfleet builds their ships that way, and we can freely move about wherever we wish. All small craft have this capacity. You can look out the windows and we can take sensor readings and sonar data all at the same time. No harm to nature."

"Really?" Nigel looked at Dwight. "We need to requisition a few of those."

Again, Ro piped up as she slipped on her shorts over her bikini bottoms. "Runabouts are available to the civilian population, Governor." She gave Dwight a cheeky grin, using his title instead of his name, to tease. "Not all the weaponry, but all the amenities are included."

"Brilliant!" Cameron said. "We could do so much more research if we had a couple of those available."

Dwight shook his head as he chuckled, looking at them all. "Very well, I'll send the request to the right people when I get back. No promises."

"All of us here will add our signatures to the request, Dwight." Cameron was now determined to get himself some useable, useful vehicles. If there was an intelligent, whale-like animal out there he would dearly love to find it and try to communicate with it. Its knowledge of the depths alone was worth its weight in biological data.

"If you don't mind, Doctors, our Science department may want to get in on this. It will look good for you and the colony, and look good for them and the Amandora's Science division." Ro was at it again, selling her own interests along with the needs of others, all for the betterment of both.

Cameron looked to his fellow scientists, none of whom seemed opposed. They all gave him the nods of agreement. "Very well, Ro. Let them know they are welcome to come down and do some oceanic research of their own. But, remember to remind them of our...dress code. I see you have a reticence for talking shop while naked, but we've been here for years so it comes natural now." He gave a happy chuckle. "They don't have to be nude, but they will work with those in the nude more often than not."

Green gave a mischievous smile. "After they see how fit and athletic you all look, I'm sure they won't mind. Like this guy," she gave Dwight a playful cuff to the upper arm. "I'll go and send a message to our Chief Science Officer. Give me a few minutes." She walked away.

Cameron looked to Dwight after watching the fine woman walking away, his eyes going up and down the backside as he did so. "Fine catch, Dwight. Does she have a sister?" He gave a cheeky grin, showing he was kidding. At least, on the sister part.

Dwight's tone was playful in return, but there was an edge to it. "She is not a 'catch', Nigel. Please, refrain from any further accoladed in regards to Ro, in that fashion."

Nigel immediately got the point. "Apologies, Dwight. All in fun, not meaning to disrespect."

"Thank you," said Dwight, back to his jovial self as he put a hand on the man's shoulder and squeezed it in a friendly fashion. "But, you are right. She is THE catch I have been looking for for a long time."

"I'm glad for you, Dwight. You put so much of yourself out there for all of us. High time you found your own paradise to bask in. She is focused, for sure. I'm glad to know her."

"You have no idea," said Dwight, grinning. "She has her moments that confuse me and make me wonder. But, isn't that part of the fun of a relationship, getting to know the quirks?"

"So I've been told," answered Cameron, himself a man who chose his work and research over hair pulling and jumping about. A tryst now and then was fine, but his focus was his life of science, not some partner that would always demand attention when he could not give it.

***

On the runabout Ro sat down in the pilot's seat and set the computer for text as she spoke, creating a message to go directly to Lieutenant Zolon.

[message]

Cassandra, Ro Green, here,

There is an archipelago along the equator of Midora III, which is both beautiful and stunning. Plant life galore, and not the same as around the main colony. There is a research village here, home to a group of scientists working diligently to understand the marine biology of this world. During a swim I heard what I thought was a form of whale song, and turns out, I was right. They too have heard it but when they go to search out what makes the sounds it simply stops. On Earth, porpoises and other animals similar in nature tend to show intelligence, and the doctors here agree, that if it is whale song then it shows that there is intelligent communication going on. But from what they have yet to discover. They are more than willing to allow you and your department to come down and partake of your own research, and to assist them with theirs. They are open and jovial to the idea of shared data.

However, be warned. This took me by surprise, as well. They tend to go nude here. As in, a nudist colony of scientists working in the sun for comfort and relaxation. It is not a requirement of theirs, but they wanted to make sure you understood that. There are only adults here, children are forbidden. I will send the coordinates as I send this message, should you choose to come down and see for yourself as a science officer.

Hope to see you,
CMDR Ro Green

[end message] -coordinates included-

***

Once the message was sent off Ro did a complete sensor sweep of the area, including everything they could pick up, for her personal logs, and the logs for the Amandora. This would make for a great holoprogram for tanning her pale butt and getting used to chatting while standing around naked. Having done her part to include the Sciences, Green got up and went back outside, after removing her own duds once again and carrying them with her. When it got dark she had no doubt that a chill would come to the air and sitting on sand with nary a thing on could get...complicated.

OFF: