At our meeting in the Command Room aboard the USS Einstein, Capt Bravin confirmed that we had now discovered that the reason communications were lost with the Scientists and Engineers on the Research and Monitoring Station, was that they had been taken hostage by the Ferengi over a dispute about the need for mining permits on the Ice planet..
( See USS Einstein "Hostages" Mission 240219 https://starfleetinfinity.com/cms/2024/02/22/uss-einstein-hostages-mission-240219/ )
Since the Ferengi had agreed that we could send a negotiator down to try and resolve the dispute, Commander T'Preea was subsequently beamed down to the Ferengi Outpost to act as negotiator.
She returned to inform us that despite her best efforts, she was unable to secure the release of the hostages. However she was of the opinion that the Ferengi would not harm the hostages and that they were simply using them as leverage to secure a profitable deal for a mining permit.
The Scientists and Engineers however had continued to repeat their stance that they were just drilling down to the planet's molten core to use as a heat source.
Commander T'Preea commented that she felt that the Scientists and Engineers were not telling the whole truth and suggested that we should check out their story by carrying out a deep scan of the planet beneath the Research and Monitoring Station.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We therefore left the Command Room and went onto the Bridge.
There Capt Bravin instructed Science to carry out a deep scan beneath the Research and Monitoring Station, where the drilling was being undertaken.
Science was able to report that the scans had revealed the presence of precious metals including that of gold.
We concluded that in essence they were knowingly drilling into a gold mine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We contacted the Ferengi Outpost and arranged to speak again with the Engineer, Jon Smith.
We informed him that he had not been truthful with Commander T'Preea and that we had discovered the real reason for their drilling operation.
We added that we were leaving them with the Ferengi and returning to Galileo Station and would inform the Mining Corporation of the situation for them to resolve with the Ferengi and secure their release.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having completed both aspects of our mission that had been set by Starfleet Command, we left orbit and set course back to Galileo Station.
On our arrival, having obtained permission, we docked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group Photo of the crew :-
Capt David7 Bravin - Commanding Officer
Cmdr T'Preea Stro - Executive Officer
Lt Cmdr Slash Godard - Operations Officer
Ensign May Spring - Science Officer
Ensign Salsa - Security Officer
(Photos taken by Ensign Salsa)