<strong>Security Chief P'Trell - Astrometrics Lab</strong><br/><br/>"<em>What I want you two to do is give me your professional opinions on what steps to take next, how many guns would be appropriate, the types of specialists that might work best as well as what precautions to take. Remember, in the event that there is life down there, I don't want our crew arriving like an invading army, all we need is to facilitate communications and hopefully convince the locals to help us find our bearings. And if you're looking for volunteers, I've already sent details to half the crew</em>."<br/><br/>Tarah considered her response. She knew her duty was to remind Captain Blakelake of the prime directive, even though the situation could definately be defined under the heading of exceptional circumstances that permitted a waiver of the ruling.<br/><br/>"I feel I must remind the Captain of the prime directive." Tarah duly replied. "There has been nothing to suggest that the natives of this planet have developed interstellar travel. If the decision to make contact in an attempt to locate our position is made, every care should be taken to prevent harm being caused if the natives are not already aware of sentient life other than their own."<br/><br/>Her reminder out of the way P'Trell continued to give her impression of the Captain's question.<br/><br/>"I would suggest a small party of perhaps six or seven, armed only with phaser pistols and only drawn in self defence. If I may volunteer and bring two security crewmembers in case of a hostile reaction. A senior officer, yourself or the XO, titles are important to most sentient species. Sending only junior officers may be regarded as a slur on the natives importance in our eyes. If the counselor is able, a betazoid would be most useful in ascertaining the reactions of anyone we meet. To round off the team, Alassca, Ensign Kroken or both may be able to give an assessment of the technological level of the civilisation"<br/><br/>Tarah coughed and looked slightly embaressed before adding.<br/><br/>"If it were politically possible, perhaps not informing our Klingon guest might be advisable." P'Trell suggested. "Klingon first contact protocols tend to be to blow something suitably large to pieces to intimidate the local population, before sending heavily armed parties in to ascertain what might be worth exploiting."