Stardate 42425.3 We have contacted an alien vessel. One of their crew is now aboard. We're giving him transport to their colony or another planet. The lieutenant doesn't say much. I wish I served under someone other than a Vulcan. Even if it's not a secret mission, he never feeds us any unessential details. Stardate 42428.1 I was lucky. I met the alien in the mess hall last night. It was a female! She had unusually orange skin and some ridges on her forehead. Otherwise, she looked perfectly human. Strange, how this pattern is spread throughout the galaxy. Didn't have a chance to talk to her, though. She was accompanied by half of the senior staff, our Vulcan lieutenant included. We, commoners, "lower decks" as they call us sometimes, are hardly ever allowed into the noble company. Stardate 42433.6 I finally had the chance to meet the alien yesterday! She bumped into me on the corridor. I offered her a tour of the ship but she'd already seen all of it. Fortunately, she agreed to meet me on the holodeck! Tomorrow is my Big Day! 'Greetings, Ensign,' the alien woman smiled. Despite her unusual complexion and rather pronounced ridges along the eyebrows, she was beautiful by human standards. 'Welcome, Anaara,' the ensign replied, somewhat nervously. It wasn't every day that she had a chance to meet an alien ambassador privately. 'I hope you'll enjoy the programme.' 'I've heard so much about your holodeck technology,' the alien replied, bowing politely. The ensign tapped in the code and the holodeck door opened. 'After you,' she gestured for the other woman to enter. They found themselves on a narrow path in the mountains. One of these quiet, secluded places that Starfleet officers liked to recreate to remind them of home. The path was descending into a tiny meadow with a creek running across it. The shimmering of the water was competing with the birds' chirping to create a unique kind of silence: no computer beeps, no humming warp engines. Silence of the nature. 'It's amazing!' The alien woman exclaimed. 'Is this your homeworld?' The ensign nodded: 'Tatra mountains in central Europe. That's where I was born.' 'It's beautiful.' Anaara suddenly looked sad. 'Is there anything wrong?' The ensign asked, concerned. The alien shook her head: 'No, it's just that. it's so lovely here. So. clean.' 'Clean?' The ensign didn't understand. 'Our worlds are industrial. In our quest for technological development, we forgot all about nature. There are no places like that where I come from. Not anymore.' The ensign nodded with understanding. 'My people used to be like that, too. Fortunately, we've stopped short of destroying our planet. Just in time to rebuild and preserve our land in its natural state.' 'I wish we could do that, too,' Anaara sighed. 'Can you show me some more? Stardate 42439.0 We have become friends. Anaara is staying aboard for another two weeks. I feel sorry for her. She is so busy with all this diplomatic stuff, official dinners, conferences with the captain. she seems to be enjoying our private time together. I'm glad I can offer her some rest. And she's a nice companion, too. She tells me stories of her people. I never thought there was anyone more preoccupied with duty and responsibility than the Vulcans in the whole universe. I guess I was wrong. 'She had to abandon her children and move on,' the alien finished her story. The two women were on the holodeck again, sitting at a table in a small café on Earth. 'Unbelievable!' The ensign couldn't help herself. 'The company actually required that of her? That's. that's inhuman! How can any woman be forced to leave her children behind only because they interfere with her work?!' 'She would be unable to work at all,' Anaara replied sadly. 'The children were so ill, they'd occupy all of her time.' 'That's cruel!' 'That's the way of my people.' The young ensign looked at her alien friend, puzzled. 'I. I'm sorry,' she said softly. 'I didn't mean to be rude...' The alien smiled, 'You aren't. You're just being blunt. I appreciate it. And you're right, it is cruel. But it's also inevitable. You see, my people are striving for survival, not power. There are many races in the neighbourhood who would like to see us defenceless and would gladly benefit from our achievements. We have to be prepared.' Stardate 42441.8 I have found a lot about Anaara's people. And she was equally curious about the Federation and Earth in particular. Unfortunately, she's leaving tomorrow. She said she was glad to meet me. The feeling is mutual. I wish she could stay a little longer. Stardate 42443.8 Anaara is staying! She has requested asylum aboard our ship! And she wants the captain to go back for her children. Stardate 42443.9 Supplemental I was just summoned to the captain's ready room. I was lectured and put on record for unauthorized contact with an alien species. Seems I made a mistake fraternizing with Anaara. She's staying because of what I told her about human customs. And the captain told me to refrain from future private contacts with alien species.
