Meeting the Miners

Posted on Sat Jul 11th, 2020 @ 12:21am by Lieutenant JG Kara Quinn-Chaim & Lieutenant Tomer Chaim

1,083 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: Diplomacy, what’s that?
Location: Luna

{ON}

The flight to the Luna mining area was uneventful. When they arrived at the deserted Starfleet base, they could see that everything remained intact. Nobody had scavenged it. However, the private base for the other Luna miners was several miles away. Tomer insisted on getting out of the shuttle first and checking the area. He gave Commander Foster and his wife the all clear sign and then waited for them to get off.

Kara stepped down out of the shuttle taking her husband’s hand to stabilise herself. She smiled as she looked around. “Let’s get this meeting over with shall we?”

Tomer nodded. "The sooner that I have you home, the happier that I will be."

Kara nodded. “Don’t worry it’s just a meeting, I wouldn’t be risking any harm coming to our baby.”

"You SAY that, but my job is to keep everyone safe and that goes doubly for you." He gave her a little pinch on her bottom.

Kara grinned as she looked at her husband. “You keep that up and my mind will be on anything but my work!”

Commander Foster cleared his throat and said, "A little professional decorum, you two?"

Tomer took the lead and made sure that he was in front of his wife, but able to adjust to before the commander if necessary. They walked to the formerly inactive miner station's transporter padd and activated it. "We will have to get some Federation miners back here again. Perhaps you could arrange for some security up here to make sure that the station is not stripped, Lieutenant Chaim."

"Yes, sir!" Tomer responded overly formerly. Kara could sense that her husband was nervous and annoyed with the Commander. Then again, one might not need to be a Betazoid to tell that.

After receiving an OK signal from the free miners, the Commander led the Chaim's to the transporter and said, "Energizing."

A moment later, they found themselves on another transporter PADD, about a quarter of the distance away from the Federation site. Three human men stood before them. The first introduced himself. "My name is Larry Pines. This is my right hand man, Darrell Hays and this is my left hand man, Darrell Jones. It has been a year since anyone in the Federation has visited us." In a suspicious voice, he asked, "So what brings you here now?"

The Commander replied, "This is a routine check. As you know, we are somewhat responsible for your safety and well being."

"Ah," said Larry. "Well, as you can see, we are quite fine. Thank you for checking in."

Foster responded, "Well, then you would not mind a routine check, then?"

One of the Darrells whispered in Larry's ear before Larry said, "That would be fine."

Kara looked at Tomer curiously. There was definitely more going on than met the eye here and she would be keeping her eyes and senses alert for any sign of trouble.

Larry led the three of the officers through the station while Foster commented and questioned casually. What was apparent was that while Larry seemed calm, cool, and collected that his emotions seemed to say that he wanted the Starfleet crew away quickly.

Foster asked, "So, have you found anything interesting up here?"

Larry answered, "We find what we find. A lot of rock and too little of the valuable pergium. Yet, we continue to speculate." Despite the answer coming out smoothly, Kara could sense that he was hiding something.

Kara gave both her husband and the Commander a questioning look. “Tell me, have you found anything even the slightest out of the ordinary?”

"We have found a rather large and unusually shaped quartz geode. Would you like to see it? It has a rainbow of colors in it." While there was truth behind his statement, Kara could sense something was still being hidden.

“I’d love to see it” Kara smiled. “I do love geodes!”

Tomer looked at his wife curiously.

"Very well," Larry told Kara. "This way." He led them to a room that was dark. As they walked in, lights turned on and everyone could see several cases containing various minerals. In the center, on a raised platform was a geode that stretched three feet across and at least two feet high. On the inside were white quartz but the outside and some of the interior as rainbow colored."

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436567757622897898/

"Wow!" Kara stood looking at the Geode, it was absolutely stunning. "Now that's what you call stunning!" She looked at Tomer then back at Larry. "So you say there's nothing else out of the ordinary?"

Even Tomer was taken with the colors but as far as he was concerned, nothing could outshine his wife. Perhaps he could purchase a smaller geode from these miners if they found another like it but surprising a partial Betazoid was difficult.

Larry, on the other hand did not like the continued questioning. "Are you accusing me of something?" He placed his hands on his hips sternly, a harsh look on his face.

Foster replied, "There is no accusation. We are merely interested in all the unique things that Luna has to offer. But now, I think we shall take our leave."

Relaxing slightly, Larry replied, "I will have the Darrells show you out. Thank you for coming."

Kara nodded. “Thank you for allowing me to see this. It’s been a pleasure gentlemen.”

************************************************************

( Back on the shuttle back to Faltan Station )

Tomer started flying the shuttle home but not before thoroughly checking the shuttle for potential booby traps. "That was uneventful," he told everyone gratefully.

“Uneventful yes, but it still told us a lot” Kara looked at her husband. “They were hiding something, they couldn’t wait to get rid of us!”

"What a coincidence, I couldn't wait to get rid of them and get you home," he told Kara with a smart smirk.

Kara grinned at Tomer. “Don’t worry my dear, we’ll soon be home.”

"My job is to worry until you're safely in our bed and in my arms. I made a promise, did I not?"

Kara nodded. “You did indeed” she smiled warmly. “I am concerned about the miners though, they’re hiding something Tomer, I’m one hundred percent sure of that.”

"But we can do nothing without proof. What do you suggest?"

“I’m not sure yet” Kara looked at her husband. “We’ll think of something.”

{OFF}

 

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