Chapter Text
VOYAGER VIRTUAL SEASON 7.5 - episode 42
Planetfall
by Julie
Prologue:
Stardate 57889.6 Datastream queue, personal letter n43.
From: Lieutenant Commander Michael Ayala, USS Pioneer
To: Lieutenant Ro Laren, Deep Space Nine
Routing: DQ Sec837--AQ Sec411 Rn554681.6Bj
Text: Dear Laren,
It's great to hear from you! Your letter didn't reach us on New Earth, as you hoped, but right now I am looking at the planet from the viewport in my quarters. I have a few minutes before I go on duty, so I'm sipping my raktajino and enjoying the view. We're in geosynchronous orbit over the northern hemisphere. I can see parts of the two largest continents, and several sizable islands. The seas are a brilliant turquoise blue, the land masses are shaded from amber to deep green, except at the north pole where there are ice-capped mountains, and there are lots of white clouds in billowed formations across the equatorial area. The primary star is disappearing to the east, and the night shadow is starting to crawl in from the west, fronted by a rosy band of twilight. In a word, it's beautiful.
Okay, it does sound pretty much like your average M2 planet--lots of water and green vegetation. But it's still beautiful. We've been here for several days now, looking down at our new home, so near, yet at the moment, it's off limits to all but the survey teams. We're still waiting on word from Captain Janeway that the treaty has been signed and we have official sanction to colonize.
I can see you rolling your eyes right now! Yep, that's Starfleet and its unending regulations, crossing their t's and dotting their i's, as the old saying goes on Earth. I know you remember it all too well. At least I did have a chance to go down with a team to secure the colony site. We'll be settling on the smaller of the two northern continents. The Ocampa will have most of it for their resettlement, and we'll be on a wide peninsula at the southwestern tip, near the shore of the planet's largest ocean. The area is rather like the Keslet province on Bajor, or the lands around the Mediterranean Sea on Earth--hilly and dry, with very mild weather variations. It should be very pleasant. And it won't be a moment too soon.
Most of the colonists aren't accustomed to living in the confined space of a starship, but they've been relatively sanguine about it during the journey. That's probably because many of them are refugees who experienced far worse during the Dominion War than the relatively minor discomforts of cramped quarters. But now that we're here, the cabin fever has intensified. Tempers are starting to fray a bit. So far there haven't been any major conflicts (I won't bore you with the minor ones), but I'll be glad when the tension of waiting is over.
Luis, Raul and Lajen actually adjusted very well to shipboard life (with the amazing adaptability of youth!), but I know they are eager to get down to the planet too. All that room to roam, and no imminent threats to occupy their minds. After the Dominion War, this planet seems like a peaceful paradise to them. You and I both know there are always threats, but I'll be more than happy to keep up the pretense for them as long as I can.
Raul and Lajen have both made several friends, and they're doing well in their classes. Raul has been spending more and more time in the animal bays, making himself useful rather than a nuisance, I hope. At least Mahara Tibuku, the head of the colony's animal husbandry director, says he's been useful. He helps exercise the dogs in the holographic meadow, and he can't wait to run them on real grass. Mostly he can't wait to get down to the surface so he can have Dobby with him all the time. That's the name he's given the black Lab puppy Kajee and I agreed he could have.
Luis is doing well also, though he still tends to keep to himself. He does enjoy his classes, and he is getting more sociable, when Raul needles him enough. Kajee thinks their opposite personalities are less a result of their environments than their natural dispositions. I'm not sure that's true, though I want to believe it. It gives me hope that Luis's experiences won't shadow his whole life. At least the dreams that used to disturb his sleep aren't as frequent, which is a good sign. He has me now, and he takes being a big brother to both Raul and Lajen very seriously. Raul especially has done wonders for him. And, of course, Kajee's done wonders for all of us.
But you know that, don't you? I never thanked you properly for giving me the push I needed. I was worried Kajee would regret her decision to come, but I think she's as happy as I am, even though I know she's going a little stir-crazy too. The boys and Lajen seem very satisfied with our family unit, which is what we are now. I think we're all going to enjoy settling here for a while, and starting a new life together. It may end up being more than the eighteen months I told you. But it won't be forever, I promise you that. We'll be back someday, and you'll barely recognize us, we'll be so boringly normal!
Meanwhile, how are things on Deep Space Nine, really? I suspect you paint the situation cheerier than it actually is. There must be a little more tension over Bajor's admission to the Federation than you're letting on. And why did I sense I was missing something between the lines in that final paragraph of your last letter? Yes, Quark is truly a character, but is it only my imagination that you sound like you're getting genuinely fond of the shyster? I'd say don't trust him as far as you can kick him, but I know you can take care of yourself. As for the other--just a second, Laren--
Sorry, I cut that last sentence off abruptly, but I've just been called to the briefing room by Captain Merves. It seems Captain Janeway has finally given the word. The treaty is a done deal, and we can start beaming down the colonists. I've got to cut this short, but I'll write you again once we're on the surface. I'll let you know how it's going for us. Kajee sends her greetings, and you can tell her sister to expect a letter soon. Take care, and give our love to all.
Yours,
Michael.