Project Genesis
President Zimmerman and the IDF Council were facing yet another problem. The 7 planets inhabited by the people of IDF were dealing with rapid growth. At current rates, the planets would be unable to meet the needs of the people inhabiting them.
The problem had been discussed for the past 3 years with no true solutions other than the long arduous process of terraforming new worlds.
It was just another day when the Science Minister read over a report sent to him by a scientist named Dr. Carol Marcus. Dr. Marcus had claimed she had come up with a theory on how a device could transform a class D, K, or L planet into a much for habitable class M planet.
The Science Minister was intrigued and made further inqueries into the feasability of such a project. After a team of scientists decided the theory was plausible, debates began within the Federation Council on whether or not this project should be undertaken.
While there was the underlying thought that it was wrong to create worlds like this, there were few objections raised adn the plan was passed overwhelmingly by the Council.
Dr. Marcus and her son David formed a team of scientists to begin more research into the project. It was kept top secret and only members of the council and those working on the project knew of its existance. This was for good reason too. If such a device were to fall into the "wrong" hands, it could be used to destroy life where it already existed in favor of its new matrix.
The project's approval meant that Dr. Marcus and her team could begin immediately. They were given control of the Space Station Regula I in orbit of the dead planetoid Regula within the Mutara Sector. The team on the project numbered 30 of the best scientists ever assembled.
The team decided that this project would have to have 3 major stages. The first would be the development of the Genesis Device. The other 2 stages would be testing and evaluation stages. For the 2nd stage, they would test the device in a lifeless underground being dug by Starfleet's Corp of Engineers within Regula. The 3rd stage would be the testing of the device on an actual dead planet.
Finding a planet that would meet the requirements of the project would be difficult. The Miranda class starship ISS Reliant NCC-2 had been designated with this assignment. Under the command of Captain Terrell, she was surveying hundreds of planets to find the ideal test environment.
Project Genesis was moving along ahead of schedule. There were some issues with the genesis matrix, but David Marcus came up with the contraversial idea of using proto-matter.
Simulations on the effect to the Genesis Matrix were run and it was determined proto-matter would likely be viable for the final project.
It had taken almost a year, but a large underground cavern had been created within the planetoid Regula. The prototype of the gensis device was also ready.
David was nervous though. Genesis could imrpove the lives of billions of people, but it had its drawbacks. David had pointed out to his mother he was worried about what could happen if it got into the wrong hands. After all, this gift of life could easily be perverted into a weapon should it be used on a world where life already existed.
The small dark green Kurakka class cruiser was outside its normal space but just like their Kirisuban cousins they liked to explore and if battle came their way so be it.
Samurai-Captain Midori Kasigi was sitting in her command chair as the 'Tengu' cruised onwards. Unlike Kirisuban ships they came equipped for battle and carried a lot of firepower for their size.
They entered the star system and cloaked as per procedure. They picked up another ship and a planetoid where something was happening.
Midori wondered just what was going on here but she could be patient as they would investigate..
The ISS Reliant NCC-2 was flying in the sector. The vessel was the 2nd of her class and the 2nd vessel purchased for IDF's Starfleet when it was reorganized decades ago. She was old and past her prime, but she still was an effective vessel that saw action in the Cardassian Wars.
"Captain to the bridge," called the Science Officer through the intercom.
Captain Terrell stepped onto the bridge from the turbolift. He turned to his science officer.
"I'm picking up some unusual tachyon emissions," reported the Science Officer.
"Can you boost power to sensors?" asked Terrell.
"I've already done so. I haven't picked anything up."
"Is there any reason to believe these are from a cloaked vessel?" asked Terrell.
"None that I can come up with," responded the Science Officer.
"Keep on monitoring it and report if anything changes," ordered the Captain.
With the kiribushi ship on yellow alert, minimal power and passive sensors they started to gather information.
After all they had no previous contact with the IDF fleet so caution was called for. They did know however that they were fighting the Cardassians at present so their tactical skills would most likely be a sharp as their own.
Midori was pondering this as she worked in her small ready room. The Kurakka class crusiers were generally refered to as 'battle barges' in the fleet with the Kirisuban Kagemon class cruisers the only true exploration ships.
With each cruiser carrying 5 forward phaser banks, 2 aft and 5 plasma torpedo tubes forward they could pack a punch and their agility made them very hard targets.
Her 60 all female crew would do what they must but for now they observed until she knew what they were dealing with apart from a science ship over a lonely planetoid.
From subtle and discrete attempts to access the comms and internal cameras she could see that the IDF crew was also human. That would be helpful knowledge later on.