Title: "The Crash"
Author: Commander Jonathan Lataro
Stardate: 2460005
EarthDate: January 2, 2360
Location: USS Virgo

Commander Lataro rushed on to the bridge followed closely behind by Lt. Commander K'Lara. All the bridge officers were at their posts, and K'Lara went to helm. She relieved Ensign Conner who left the bridge and reported to her battle station. Lt. Tara was at tactical. Immediately Lataro sat down and pulled his con panel instinctively.

"Unknown vessel. This is the Federation Starship *Virgo*. We have no hostile intent," Maruu said towards the view screen. On the view screen, a large vessel unlike any the crew as ever seen had opened fire on the *Virgo* without any provocation. The Class N planet that had interested Maruu and M'Terrn was the origin point of the vessel.

"Lt. Valdago report," Lataro yelled.

"The enemy ship has powered their forward torpedo tubes."

"Mr. Tara. What is the fighting ability of that ship?" Maruu said over his shoulder.

"Sir, that ship is comparable to a galaxy class starship. However I am detecting smaller ships numbering three being launched from a forward docking bay. All the ships armored with ablative armor, and armed with some torpedoes of unknown origin. I can't make out any kind of designation or markings."

A phaser blast rocked the ship. "Captain, damage to the secondary hull. Shields down to 63%." Lataro yelled over the klaxon.

"I don't necessarily need a confrontation now." Maruu yelled. "Lt.Tara, fire phasers and take out their shields." Tara targeted the shield generator and fired. The enhanced phasers that Lataro had developed against the Kirusans again did their job. The shielding of the other ship had weakened almost to 34%.

The smaller ships that had left the mother ship had engaged the *Virgo*. Their firepower was considerable considering the size of them. They were no larger than a runabout, but just as deadly as their mother. "Tara. Take out those ships," Maruu ordered.

"Sir. They are too fast. I can't get a lock."

"Captain," Lataro said. "I have experience in ship-to-ship combat. I can take a shuttle or runabout and disable those ships." After a moment, and another blast from the smaller ships and the mother ship, he agreed.

"Go ahead commander. But try not to destroy them."

"Understood. Lt. Garza. You're with me."
__________________________________

The class two shuttle was a perfect choice except obviously for the *Lambda Flier*. Lataro could have taken it, but due to it being in its infancy stages of development and more test flights were required, he went ahead and chose an old reliable. Outside the *Virgo*, the enemy vessels were concentrating fire on the warp nacelles while the mother ship was busy pounding the saucer section. Lataro decided to engage the ship closest to him.

"Garza. Raise shields and arm torpedoes and the phaser array," Lataro ordered.

"Aye, Sir."

Immediately one of the triangular shaped ships appeared before him. Lataro positioned the shuttle behind him and shadowed his every move. Then a phaser blast from the rear caused Lataro to roll barely missing the shuttle. "So he wants to play rough. Target their engines and fire." Garza punched a few keys and a phaser blast meant to disable the ship seemed to ignite something, maybe their fuel supply and the enemy ship exploded in a blinding red light.

"Garza! I told you to disable him," Lataro yelled.

"I am sorry, but I did target their engines."

"This is not good."

The second ship noticing the explosion broke off its attack on the *Virgo* and went for Lataro. It flew quickly and caused Lataro to perform evasive actions. Lataro throttled to full impulse and headed for the mother ship clearing the ships from the *Virgo*. "Commander. That ship behind us is now 1000 km to our rear." Garza yelled.

"Good just where I want him." Lataro commanded all stop and maneuvered the ship by thrusters to execute a full 180 on a vertical axis. Now the ship was in Lataro's front. "Fire one torpedo!"

Torpedo detonated as the alien ship hit it, exploding into a million pieces. Just as the alien ship exploded, a large flash of light appeared behind them. "What was that?" Lataro yelled.

"That was the mother ship. It was destroyed by the *Virgo*," Garza said.

"All right, Captain," Lataro yelled. Then an explosion from the rear of the shuttle caused the shuttle's con panel to spark and smoke. The final ship had some how snuck in behind them and fired a series of phaser blasts and torpedoes. The torpedoes took out their shield controls and the phasers took out their inertial dampeners, engines and navigation. "Fire all remaining weapons at that ship!" There was no target lock but hitting the ship was easy as Garza fired the entire weapons array. It destroyed the ship with no problem. However, the problem now rest in the shuttle.

"*Virgo* this is shuttle one. We are badly crippled and are caught in the planet's gravity. We are being pulled down."
__________________________________

On the view screen, Maruu could see the badly hit shuttle as it was being sucked towards the enormous planet under foot.

[...All systems down. We are going down,] an interfered com signal came on the view screen.

"Jon! Prepare for emergency beam out," Maruu yelled.

"Captain. Their shields are up. We can't beam them out," Valdago said.

"Commander. Lower your shields we will initiate an emergency beam out!"

[...Shield controls are not functioning. We are...] The shuttle entered the planet's atmosphere.

"We've lost communications with the shuttle, Captain." Valdago said.

"No!" K'Lara screamed as the shuttle entered the atmosphere. From that distance, the crew could see the red, hot glow of the shields slowly deteriorating as the shuttle fell lower in to the planet's atmosphere. "Lt. Valdago. You track that shuttle where it lands. I want to know exactly where it does."

"Sir, the atmosphere is blocking our signal. I can't track her."

"You just find a way, Lieutenant," K'Lara yelled snapping and her eyes flashing red at Valdago. That even startled the captain as he walked behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. Immediately he noticed
the ring on her finger.

"We will get him back, Commander. You have my word," Maruu said in an attempted soothing manner.
 

Title: "The Crash: Night on the Planet"
Author: Commander Jonathan Lataro
Stardate: 2560005
EarthDate: January 2, 2360
Location: USS Virgo

"Captain. All systems down. We are going down,"  Lataro yelled as the con panel sparked and flickered.

[Jon! Prepare for emergency beam out,]  Maruu yelled from the *Virgo*.

In the background, Lataro heard someone say, [Captain. Their shields are up. We can't beam them out.]

Maruu spoke again. [Commander. Lower your shields we will initiate an emergency beam out!]

"Sir, all controls are not responding. Shield controls are not functioning. We are going down." Lataro frantically yelled as he tried to regain some type of propulsion.

"Commander, The ship is entering the planet's atmosphere!" Garza yelled as the temperature in the cabin began to rise. "Hull temperature at 15,000 degrees Fahrenheit and rising!"
________________________________________

...the escape pod from the *Vixen* contained a young Jonny Lataro. At 14, he was alone in an escape pod that traveled through space. With a rough surge and drops, for the pods had no inertial dampners, Jonny was scared. He didn't know what was happening. Then the temperature began to rise. "Daddy!!! Mommy!!!" he said bundled in a corner. The rebellious teen, no longer the macho man he thought that he was, but the scared little child he actually was.

"Mommy!" he yelled...
________________________________________

"...Mommy!" Lataro whispered.

"Commander!" Garza yelled violently being thrown around the cabin. "We are burning up! 22,000 degrees and rising."

Finally realizing where and when he was, he shook off the vision and took control of his predicament. "Get the nose at 12 degrees. Let the remaining shields take the brunt of the damage."

"Aye."

The shuttle began to skip as the nose reached 12 degrees. Finally it started to cool down slightly as the glowing that was beginning to show around the nose diminished. "Commander. The shields are gone and we are accelerating to 290 km per second." Garza said, frantically trying to fire the breaking thrusters.

"Time to impact?" Lataro yelled.

"Fifteen seconds."

"Forget the thrusters, Lieutenant. Brace for impact!"

The ground came in sight. Immediately, Lataro tried to get a look of the land. *Green, trees, water. Seems inviting enough.* However as the clock ticked down and the closer the surface became, Lataro noticed that the green was a pea, even pukeish green, dark and ugly. The trees he saw were in fact similar to cypress trees he saw in the bayous in Louisiana to include the moss and dead limbs draping it.

"Three seconds till impact," Garza yelled as Lataro got a look at the water. At first it was a pleasant blue, but now with the crash imminent, it was black, murky which had a slime over most of the surface. The black of the water contacted the ship, and Lataro was thrown forward seeing now nothing but black.
________________________________________

Little Jonny Lataro came around and got up. He saw that the pod had somehow come to rest on something. He walked over to the door and opened it. The door opened to an arid landscape, hot air rushed into the pod causing Lataro to gasp. Immediately he saw rocks, sand, and hot. So hot that the triple suns immediately welded the door open. Jonny could see the actual hinges melted. He jumped back out of the sun's light to a shaded area that seemed to be cooler. "Too hot." Little Jonny said holding a pillow. He crunched back in the corner and began to sob.
________________________________________

The shuttle had crashed on what looked to be a sand bar surrounded by blackish, murky water. The shuttle hit nose first and was covered in mud and muck from the moist wetlands that surrounded it, however, it was slowly sinking into the soft sand and water. Inside, Lataro finally came around to a series of flickering lights and smoke. A pain in his left shoulder and forehead kept him from moving too much. He looked over at Garza who was not moving. "Garza. Garza. You all right?" Lataro said shaking him slightly. Garza's head flopped around a little bit as Lataro shook him but he didn't respond. Finally Lataro noticed what was wrong. In the back of his neck nearer to the nape of the head was a large indentation resembling that of a medkit. It looked like as the ship crashed, the storage compartment at the rear had come open, and the medkit flew and crashed into the back of Garza's head. The spine was severed from the head and it looked like the back of his head was crushed. His autonomic nervous system was crushed by the miniscule weight of the kit.

"I am sorry, Garza." The irony. That which is made to save lives also can take lives. "I wonder just how long it will take them to find me?"

Lataro noticed that his feet were beginning to cool and become wet. The shuttle was sinking. So he got up and began going through the storage hold. He knew what he needed, the survival kit, weapons, food and water. But no, he couldn't get the food. Lataro found out early that there was something in the food rations that prevented him from eating. He was allergic to something in them that caused his throat to swell and labored breathing. He remembered as a child on that planet...
________________________________________

...it was day two and little Jonny was somehow making it. The water packs that he had in the pod were keeping him hydrated, but he was hungry. He looked in the pod for food and saw something in a small carton. Jonny tore into something labeled "patty" and ate it. It tasted like garbage, but it satisfied his brain's desire to eat.
Finally he finished the patty and laid back, he immediately started not feeling well. His entire mouth was on fire and it felt like his entire esophageal canal was beginning constrict from his throat to his stomach, which in itself began having spasms. His insides were cramping, and he didn't understand why. Finally as if a button had
been pushed, his body from the inside out rippled up from his stomach to his mouth and all the food that he had just eaten was projected about five feet to include blood and water. This continued for a few minutes and when he was finished laid down and fell asleep. That was at exactly 2448422.66.667 or 1600 hours on June 2, 2348.

Jonny finally awoke weak and starving almost three days later. There was a very pronounced blood taste in his mouth. He finally got up, weak in the knees, and went outside to the sweltering heat. The suns were going down and from the corner of his eye he could see movement. Small movement that beckoned him to pounce. Whether it was the movement or the hunger pangs rising from his stomach or if it was just a wanting, he wasn't sure but as fast as he could he moved and landed on his stomach latching on to whatever it was. Jonny looked up to see a small rodent similar to a desert hare, but the large eyes that almost said "don't eat me" seemed to penetrate his soul. However, the horrid feeling of hunger rumbled his stomach, and all feelings of
compassion left him as the did the suns left the sky. Jonny reached out with his other hand and ripped the little animal apart. The creature screamed loudly as its legs were split in two, and, like a ravenous beast, Jonny began eating the meaty flesh. After five minutes, the creature was nothing but bones in a pile and the smeared
blood on Jonny's face. He devoured the small creature unconcerned with the consequences of it. A familiar sensation formed around his waist. He needed to use the bathroom but he was already wet. Had he wet
himself?
________________________________________

...No he hadn't wet himself. As if being struck by a piece of of ice or even doused in water, Lataro shook the memories and realized where he was. A downed shuttle sinking to a watery grave. He quickly rummaged around again and picked up the extreme temperature gear, water packs, and the medkit which was floating on the black murky water. He went to the weapons storage bin, and took out the survival belt, which contained a hunting knife, phaser, and a tricorder then grabbed the phaser rifle and backpack which he quickly packed. Lataro didn't have time to put the pack or the belt on so he absent-mindedly shouldered both on his injured shoulder. Like a baby, he yelped dropping all of it into the now elbow-high water.

"Got to get out of here!" he said as he started to wade to the door. The door would not open. He tried to enter the command codes but nothing happened, nor did the manual release. "I don't have time for this." He grabbed the rifle and set it to maximum and fired at the door. The titanium alloy melted as the intense phaser fire acted as a welding torch and cut to form an escape hatch. Finally Lataro pulled himself out into the smell of rankness and methane. "A swamp! Great." He looked down to see creatures resembling alligators or even crocodiles. Lataro thought, *No way am I getting in that.* He dropped back into the shuttle to find the portable emergency transporter and noticed that it had 10 gigawatts of power, enough for one transport. So he made sure that he all that he needed and initiated a site-to-site transport trying to stay out of the serpent-infested waters.

Lataro rematerialized on the shore of the swamp about 20 meters from the shuttle which was now barely above water. The only thing visible was the two warp nacelles which seem to be now sinking faster. *Lieutenant Garza. You were a good man. You will be missed,* he thought offering a reverent salute.

His shoulder was really aching now and he couldn't tolerate it, so Lataro took out the dermal regenerator and initiated first aid. In about a minute, his shoulder was no longer in pain. "Well I better had set up shelter. It will be dark soon."

Lataro put on the back pack and trucked inland a ways till he found a suitable place. He saw a small formation of perennial rock protruding out from the ground inside a little clearing. So he made his way for that. "That would be better than sleeping on the ground." He walked to the rock and set up camp on or near it. Setting up the backpack as a pillow, he laid back, propped his head against it and looked into the stars.

*K'Lara. Don't worry about me. I will survive.*
________________________________________

On the *Virgo*, K'Lara was looking out of the window at the lounge twirling her ring around her finger when she thought she heard something. ~Don't worry about me. I will survive.~

"I know, Jon," she said softly as she framed her forming pooch. "I know."
 

Title: "The Day's End"
Author: Lt. Commander Dana Nori
Stardate: 2460005
Earthdate: January 2, 2360
Place: USS Virgo

The day was over so quickly. Too bad she couldn't sleep longer due to Solacetta's return. Strange, Nori didn't even notice Solacetta come back. And after she was silently kicked off the ship, no one made a fuss. Nori removed the thoughts from her mind and continued working. Finally she finished up her report for the captain and headed out of sickbay towards the turbolift and out onto the bridge. Someone yelled out Commander on the bridge.

"As you were." Nori looked around the bridge. All of a sudden everything shook very violently. Nori kept on her feet but barely. "What the hell?!"

Nori saw Stephen and walked over to where he was sitting in his chair. Nori stood at his left. looked down at him as he looked up at her and Nori gave him a smile and a wink. He returned the wink and the both turned their heads and looked up at the screen.
 
It wasn't long before all of the bridge officers were at their posts.

Maruu yelled, "Open hailing frequencies."

K'Lara answered, "Hailing frequencies open, Sir."

"Unknown vessel. This is the Federation Starship *Virgo*. We have no hostile intent..."
_________________________________________

After everything was calmed down and the shift change occurred, Nori went to Commander K'Lara's quarters. She rang the chimes. There was no answer. She rang them again. Nori waited a few more minutes and started to walk away. Just then K'Lara's door slid open. Nori turned around and looked at K'Lara.

K'Lara looked at her and said, "Yes, Doctor, can I help you with something?"

"K'Lara!!! I came to see you my friend. I wanted to say that I am sorry for what happened today."

"Thank you, Doctor, it is okay. You need not say you are sorry; it wasn't your fault."

"Can I offer you a sedative or something to calm your nerves?"

"No, thank you, Doctor. I am fine, but thank you anyway."

"Okay. I will leave you alone, but if you need anything please come see me. I will help you out in anyway I can."

K'Lara smiled, and Nori turned and walked away towards sickbay. She didn't feel like being in her quarters just then. Besides, Stephen would be busy at the moment. Nori entered into sickbay and sat down at her desk and drifted off into deep thought.
 

Title: "The Crash: First Contact"
Author: Commander Jonathan Lataro
Stardate: 2560008
EarthDate: January 3, 2360
Location: Planet in the Antilles Star System

Commander Lataro woke up after a fitful sleep on the hard, cool rock. He had taken a chance of sleeping, but he knew he had to rest and he actually was thankful that the rock was cool, for the early morning sun had already warmed up the air and the nearby swamp caused the air to be humid and stagnant. *Hot and humid. Gross!* He thought unzipping his jumpsuit and folding it down so that the top hung over at his side. With little to no exertion, Lataro had all ready began to sweat. The planet offered nothing but ugliness, bugs, and humidity. Lataro hated all of it. His stomach growled. Another thing he hated, being hungry.

"Well Jon, I guess you had better find you something to eat," he said nonchalantly to himself. Suddenly he heard movement coming from the dense thicket off the beaten trail he had followed inland. He grabbed his phaser rifle and ducked behind the rock. Poised and ready, he said or did nothing but looked in the direction of the movement. Sweat began dripping in to eye causing a slight stinging irritation. Then from the thicket came two bipedal, creatures standing about six feet tall. They were green covered in a gelatinous substance that seem to
pulsate. They were grotesque. Each of them were armed with a something that looked like a rifle, both at the ready.

"The ship landed about 200 krentons that way," one of them said pointing in the direction where the shuttled had crashed. Lataro figured they were some type of search party looking for survivors of the crash, but his instinct said they were not benevolent.

"Then that is where we will go. If there are survivors, S'tei wants them back at the compound. Set your weapons on stun," the other said. They both looked down at their rifles and pressed a few buttons and the tips glowed green instead of red as it once was. They moved however as they did something came from just ahead of them. On the ground ahead of them, a small slithering creature came from the thicket and noticed the two searchers immediately. It hissed loudly and arched itself like a cobra. The small puny legs it used to move now were in the air. "Kanook. Stand completely still," the searcher in the rear said. "Its bite is deadly and it shoots..."

"Please. They are harmless," Kanook interrupted, but just as he said that the reptile shot a glowing yellow venom from its mouth and landed in his eyes. He began screaming in agony. "Help me, Marsung. Help me! It burns!" The eyes of Kanook began to smoke, blackish gel began pouring through Kanook's fingers as his hands covered them. It was almost as if he was trying to keep his eyes in their sockets, but the solid orbs were now nothing more than oozing gel. Kanook screamed more but suddenly stopped and fell to the ground. Marsung did nothing but aimed his rifle at the small creature and squeezed the trigger. A pulsating green light shot out from the rifle and the creature was no more than a pile of dust. Marsung walked beside Kanook, and kicked him over. "I told you. Foolish young one."

Marsung began walking towards the crash site. As he was out of site, Lataro came out of hiding and approached cautiously the carcass. Kanook was dead, and, immediately, Lataro noticed that his body began
to desolidify. It melted into the ground leaving nothing but a slight indention in the soil where he had lay.

"I now really hate this!" Lataro said softly. He wasn't sure what Marsung was doing nor his intent, so he quickly followed the trail Marsung made to get more information. Quietly he bounded from tree to tree, being weary of other small venomous creatures. Finally Lataro came to the point where he had crashed, but Marsung had vanished. Footprints, if you could call them footprints, seemed to continue into the water. *Amphibious?* Lataro thought. He turned around and began heading back to the rocks when he heard the lapping of water: reemergence. Lataro ducked into the thicket.

>From the water, Marsung walked out. But now he wasn't alone. He had over his shoulder the body of Lt. Garza. Garza was just as dead as Lataro had left him, water now drained from his mouth, ears, and from his soaked uniform. *No respect for the dead,* Lataro thought. Lataro was angered. He couldn't believe it, nor could he understand the importance of taking Garza. Marsung walked passed Lataro's location seemingly unaware of his presence. As he went a few more feet Lataro jumped out.

"Hold it right there, Marsung," Lataro said sarcastically saying his name.

"I was wondering when you were going to show yourself," he said in a gushy, wet voice.

"What are you doing with my dead comrade?" Marsung slowly turned around. "No. I don't think so. Face front. What the hell are you doing with Garza?"

Smugly Marsung said, "You don't gather information from your enemies?"

"Not from a corpse. What kind of information can you gain from a dead man?"

"Weaknesses. Strengths. Lobial probes can determine anything."

"Lobial probes?" Lataro said puzzled.

"Look, it is easier for me to talk to someone when I am looking at them." Suddenly Lataro saw the back of Marsung head be sucked in and instantly the grotesque face appeared to the rear. As a matter of fact the entire body was reversed even though it didn't actually turn around. "That is better. Ugh. You are an ugly race."

"Insults will not get you anywhere. Drop the weapon!"

Marsung complied.

"You are not going anywhere with my friend."

"On the contrary, now that I have you, I don't need this one any more." With tremendous strength, Marsung shrugged his "shoulder", and Garza went flying into the thicket. Instantly the vegetation seem to come alive, and Lataro heard ripping and tearing. "You see the Crosecsious Latis is a meat-eater as is just about anything in the
Kereisu Domain. You are surrounded by different species of predators that would love to have you for their morning meal."

Lataro looked around and saw different things around. Creatures of many sizes through the vegetation. *Why didn't I see this before?" he thought. Fear began to well up inside Lataro. "You see, you are better off coming with me. We may treat you kindly," Marsung said smirking.

Lataro covertly adjusted the phaser rifle to fire wide blasts and quickly looked around. He saw something moving in his peripheral vision. He spun quickly and fired. The creature he thought he saw was not there, nor were any of the others. Lataro returned his weapon to aim at Marsung. He was gone. Lataro shook his head and looked around. Nothing was there that seemed to pose a threat. He did see the remains of Garza now nothing more than shred of uniform covered in blood. Lataro moved quickly.

*Telepaths! Great! I have got to get to safer ground,* he thought as he ran inland.
_______________________________

Little Jonny Lataro ran through the cool night. Something had banged the escape pod's outer hull. He wasn't sure what but he needed to see what it was. He had been examining the hull and noticed large dents in it. He had created a makeshift door that protected him during the day from the heat and suns' rays, but attack on the hull was getting unbearable. When he reached a large boulder, he stopped and looked back to see what was doing the banging at the hull of the pod. He sat there and watched.

Jonny's stomach had felt better since he discovered a food source. He had been living off of the "hares", as he called them, and getting liquids from small pools of what seem to be water. After his first devouring of the hare, he had been experiencing small pains in his stomach, nothing that he couldn't handle. He contributed it to the
fact that he ate it raw and ever since then he has cooked the hares. They proved to be good eating.

Suddenly, Jonny noticed a large creature that resembled a coyote coming towards the pod. It wasn't as small though. It was the size of a Great Dane, and that scared him. But Jonny knew that he couldn't go to far from the pod for a search team will look for him and start there. That was one thing that he had learned from his father. But as of now he couldn't go back, not until he took care of that thing.

Bang! The creature head butted the pod. Bang! Again. It seemed to be trying to get into the pod, but for what? For Jonny? He didn't know, but it relentlessly tried to get into the pod. Finally, it stopped and began sniffing the air. A scent! Jonny saw that this creature was sniffing away in the direction of where he was and started to walk in his direction. Frantically, Jonny looked for something that he could use to fend off an attack, but all he felt was rocks. But as he looked around he saw, just on the other side of the rock, a large stick, straight enough to use as a spear or lance. He climbed off the boulder and picked it up. *It seems strong enough,* he thought as the creature was now about 10 feet from him and getting closer.

Jonny felt around and found his little pocket knife, only about four inches long, but seemed to be better than nothing. He quickly tied the knife to the end of the stick with a shoelace and secured in place. The creature was close and slowly, stealthily approached Jonny. Just as he came within a five feet, Jonny noticed that the eyes of the creature resembled that of a puma. It was ready to attack. Jonny remembered something from his science class, one of the few classes that he actually attended. Animal vulnerable spots are usually their face and in particular the nose. Going ahead and executing a pre-emptive strike, Jonny struck the "pyuote", a name he coined for it, in the nose. The knife edge penetrated the pyuote's nose, and blood gushed from the wound. It yelped back, but didn't run.

Jonny began feeling confident and began poking his makeshift weapon at the pyuote. The pyuote just swung it small claws at it trying to knock it away. Jonny tried to poke it one more time but as he retracted it swung it around his head and struck the pyuote in the head. This knocked the pyuote to the side and down. The knife edge cut the side of the pyuote's face more blood began to ooze from the wound. This angered the pyuote, and it growled a loud reverberating sound that startled little Lataro.

"Okay. Get! Get!" Jonny yelled poking at the pyuote. It didn't budge but move back some. Then suddenly it pounced. Jonny was caught off guard, and he slipped placing the spear lodge upright on the ground. An earth shattering scream was belted out as the pyuote inadvertently impaled itself on the spear. It slid down dying with every inch as Jonny let go of the spear, now lodged in between the first and second ribs. Jonny got up and was proud of his accomplishment. He fended off an attack, but wondered just how many more were there going to be.

The suns were coming up and the heat began to rise instantly, so he ran back into the pod and shut his door.
 

Title: "The Crash: Deciding To Trust Again"
Author: Commander Jonathan Lataro
Stardate: 2560008
EarthDate: January 3, 2360
Location: USS Virgo/Planet in the Antilles Star System

In the conference room, Captain Maruu was conducting a meeting with the senior staff. Commander K'Lara was sitting there fidgeting, worried about Commander Lataro who had just spent the night on the planet's surface. The rest of the staff were mulling over how to get him back.

"Okay. I need options," Maruu finally said. "I have lost one First Officer, I'll be damned if I am going to lose another. This time to something that we can fix."

"Sir," Lt. Valdago said. "The planet is a class N planet capable of supporting life. We have seen through sensor readings multiple life signs, all carbon-based."

"Yes, Sir," M'Terrn said interrupting the Senior Ops Officer. "The orbit that this planet has around its sun is one relative to Earth's. However it is slightly closer giving it regular temperatures of 115 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, though, it gets down to about 55. Also the sensor readings are showing massive amounts of water suggesting
that the life signs we are reading are aquatic or even amphibious."

"Any intelligent life down there?" Maruu asked stippling his fingers.

"Indeterminate, Sir, by that information," Lt. Tara said. "However, Sir, I have been picking up communication of sorts through the atmospheric disturbances."

"That is my next question, what is causing these disturbances?"

"Sir, let me explain," M'Terrn said getting up and activating the monitor. "The sun of this system puts out massive amounts of radiation that is somehow interacting with methane gases put out on the surface. It is creating a sort of 'hot belt' that deflects both communication waves and transporter waves. This belt also keeps in the moisture that is let off by the normal evaporation processes similar to that of Earth creating a lush temperate zone. The only way to get to the surface is by shuttle."

"Okay. So we take a shuttle in there and get him out," K'Lara said.

"It is not that easy. It is almost like flying into a gas giant. That hot pocket pressure is one million isotons per square meters. The ship would have to withstand tremendous pressures. If not, it would crush like an aluminum can," M'Terrn said.

"Well, we built the *Lambda Flier* to withstand those types of pressures," Lt. Loran said.

"Hold that though, Lieutenant," Maruu said.

"Conceivable. But we wouldn't even know where to start looking," Valdago said.

"Commander K'Lara. Plot a projected trajectory that the shuttle could have taken barring atmospheric disturbances. Then plot one with it. The mean should give you an approximate impact site," Maruu said with
a smile. He knew what Jon meant to K'Lara and made sure that she was actively involved in finding him.

"Yes, Sir."

"There is one more thing," Tara interjected. "That alien ship originated somewhere in this system. We can't be staying put for long, especially while we are searching for Commander Lataro."

"Understood. So what do you plan for us to do?" Valdago said.

"Tactical sensors have been picking up something actually flying within the hot belt. I don't know what, but it could be another ship, obviously not as big as the last one, but comparable to our size. I recommend enhancing the sensors to filter out the methane particles. By doing so we may be able to get a clearer reading."

"Outstanding. Lt. Tara. Go ahead and begin enhancements. Lt. Loran begin the *Lambda Flier's* preparation for extraction. I want a status report by 1800. Dismissed," Maruu said as he got up and looked out the view port. Commander K'Lara approached him as the other officers dispersed.

"Captain, I want to be on  board the *Flier* when it goes in," she said sincerely.

"K'Lara," he began. Maruu turned to look at her and she could see the concern in his eyes. "I understand how you must feel, but you in your condition cannot be risking yourself on this type of mission. The *Lambda Flier* will run into a lot of turbulence and even problems in the hot belt that will be endangering you or your unborn child and I can't risk that."

"But, Captain. I am the best damn pilot you have. I can fly the *Virgo* through a hail storm without one hitting her, so you know I can fly the *Flier* too," she said angrily.

"Commander!" Maruu said sternly. "I understand your passion, but I will not endanger you or your unborn child. First of all, Jon is my friend and I know that he wouldn't allow you to be jeopardizing yourself like this either. Second, I am entrusted in protecting the crew of this ship from harm as much as possible and the last time I
checked you are a member of this crew. So as it stands, the answer is no. Dismissed."

K'Lara was now mad. She wanted to go on this mission, but in a way she knew he was right. But, unknowingly, her eye flashed red that in turn received a look from the captain which startled her. She turned around and stormed off. *I will be on that ship.*
______________________________________________

On the planet surface, Commander Lataro had come to a small clearing. He heard talking in a voice unlike Marsung's from within the clearing. He crept up behind a tree and crouched down out of sight. The vegetation fortunately thinned out a bit, but still the massive humidity was there and he was sweating profusely now, especially after the journey he just made. The sun's rays that made it though the hot belt were burning Lataro's skin, so he had put back on the top of the jumpsuit to protect him. His face though was burning for he had
nothing to protect that. So he stayed in the shade as much as possible.

In the clearing he saw what looked to be a woman about five feet tall. Her skin was dark more of a tanned color but covered in what seem to be scales. Her hair was fine, but full that draped her shoulders. Occasionally she would turn, and Lataro noticed that her eyes were a dark color. She had a small nose and slit for mouth. As she spoke to another woman who looked identical to her, her mouth didn't move, but sound came from it. Her voice was soft not harsh which amazed him at seeing it come from her. He thought about revealing himself but
remembered. Remembered a time long ago as when he was younger...
______________________________________________

..."Hello!" a man's voice said. The sun had just gone down, and little Jonny who now had been living on this planet for almost a year was surprised. Jonny got up and ran out side armed with a phaser he found in the storage compartment.

"Who are you?" he said pointing the phaser. The phaser was not set and even if he wanted to, Jonny wouldn't have been able to fire it.

"Whoa, Fella. I am Xylia. I come in peace," the young man said. He was the equivalent to 18 years old, though bigger than Jonny. Dressed in rags and scraggly, Jonny identified him as a lost soul as himself.

"Where did you come from?" Jonny said hesitantly. He had been alone for so long and had survived barely, his social skills were irrelevant now. Jonny was just concerned with surviving.

"From over there," Xylia said pointing across the desert. "I brought some food. If you would like some. I really do come in peace. I have been stranded on this planet for about six ules and I just have been wandering seeing what is out here."

"Ules?"

"Yes, 'ules'. You know when that thing that rises and sets is full six times," Xylia said pointing to one of the suns that was just setting.

Jonny smiled. "Months."

"If that is what you call it. Can I come in?"

Jonny lowered his phaser. "Well, I guess."

"So you this is your place?" Xylia said as he entered the pod. He sat down across from Jonny.

"Yeah."

"Interesting. Well look I am hungry. I brought some food. Would you like some?"

Jonny was starving. His hare meals had depleted and he now survived on things he found out in the wild, puyote, plants, even the slithering serpents he found, he had been eating them. It wasn't good, but it kept him alive. So when Xylia offered him the food that he had, Jonny accepted graciously. He devoured it not pausing to say thank you. Xylia just smiled.

"You're not going to eat?" Jonny asked.

"No, I am not hungry right now," he responded with a gentle smile. "So how long have you been here?"

"A little more than 12 ules."

"By yourself?" Xylia asked.

"Yeah."

Xylia smiled, almost a devilish smile. After Jonny devoured the final remains of the few fruits and vegetables which he didn't recognize, Xylia began to describe how he got to the planet. He told of his tale as a lone voyager who found his way to a uncharted star and when he instruments went dead ended up crash landing on this planet. Jonny started to feel lightheaded and almost incoherent as Xylia continued. Now Xylia's words sounded like blah, blah, blah, as things around Jonny began to spin in his mind. However, Jonny did hear something clearly.

"... and so I have been searching the planet for food. Now that you have stuffed yourself, now I can eat."

A mental fog crept upon Jonny, and the vision of the man who sat across from disappeared. Now a bipedal creature with a long snout and sharp teeth sat there smiling peering at little Lataro with haunting yellow eyes. Then all went black.
______________________________________________

Searing heat woke Jonny who was stretched over red hot coals. The creature who was Xylia, seemed to piling rocks up in what seemed to an alter of some sort. Miniature bone carvings of symbols that Jonny couldn't recognize were placed on top. Jonny looked around and saw that his stick that which he used as a weapon to protect himself was now an instrument in his own destruction. He moved and struggled but to no avail. His bindings held tight.

"It is of no use to resist. You have eaten and now it is time for me to eat," Xylia said noticing Jonny's struggle. "Now that you are indisposed. I am going to be back. I would like to see what you have in your little shack." A indignant smile formed on the long snout.

Jonny started to moan as the heat started to well up on his skin. It hurt, but Jonny refused to scream or cry out. Instead he looked around quickly to see his predicament. His stick was attached to two rocks that held it in place. Jonny noticed that the stick was weak for he heard it creaking as he moved around. *Maybe if I just...* Jonny began to arch his back and pull downward with all his weight and again he heard cracking. "Yes!" he whispered. He began doing it harder and faster then finally it broke and his knee fell into the coal. A singeing smell and searing pain welled up in his knee, but anger overpowered him as he rolled off the coals. Screaming out was not an option.

Xylia didn't see this as he rummaged through the ship waiting for his meal to cook. Jonny scurried away behind a rock and went to work on the ropes with his teeth gnawing and biting trying to free himself. Finally he was free, and Xylia came out of the pod. He noticed that he was gone as he did. Startled by the disappearance he ran to the coals and looked around. "NO!" he yelled in anger. "Okay, loip (a word he used to describe his prey), come out. There is no where to run." Secretly, Xylia pulled a knife, jagged and about eight inches long.

Jonny looked around to see what he could use as a weapon, but he flinched as he moved for the heat of the coals had burned his epidermal layer like a first degree sunburn. But he was more concern with the being wanting to have him for dinner. Feeling around he found a rock the size of a softball. Then he realized that the tattered sleeve that he sported as protection for his arm would make an interesting weapon. He pulled off the sleeve.

"I can make this easy for you, or hard. It really doesn't matter to me," Xylia said trying to lure him out. Suddenly Jonny popped out from behind the rock about five feet from him. "Ah good. Come here and I will make your death painless."

Jonny slowly approached him with his hands behind his back. As he approached Xylia within three feet, he swung the rock laden sleeve around his head. Catching Xylia of guard the rock end hit him square in the side of his head and he was forced down, his knife dropping. "Argh!" Xylia screamed. Again Jonny swung the makeshift weapon around his head and lowered the rock into Xylia's torso. "Oomph!" Realizing the rock had done not enough damage, Jonny grabbed the knife and raised it over his head.

The yellow, haunting eyes of Xylia were now wide in astonishment as his hand came up to hopefully fend off Jonny, but the swift downward motion plunged the knife deep within his chest. With a sudden spasm then nothing, Xylia was dead with his own knife protruding from his chest. Jonny said nothing but spat on him. "Choke on that!"
______________________________________________

...The two women sat talking, food was placed on a what looked like a blanket. Commander Lataro saw this. All these years of not trusting came to a head. Finally, he learned to trust a few people and only a few, K'Lara and Captain Maruu. They were the only ones he trusted. That incident with Xylia had haunted him for years, but now the pangs of hunger that rumbled his stomach were forcing him to hopefully think that these women might be friends. He revealed himself weapon at the ready. "Hello, ladies."