//------------------------------//
// The Bridge: 8 
// Story: Star Tracker of the Ship Harmony: 
// by Ponyess 
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	Since Picard had left the ship on the away mission, I'm bound to stay on the ship as the first officer.  Good thing I have Data by my side, if there is a voice of reason, that would be him.

I sure would have enjoyed to be on the team, but both Captain and First Officer can't leave the ship on a mission like this, it is clearly stated by the protocol.

Something told me this would not be brief, so I will have to stay on the ship for quite a while.  This is one of the times I am very happy to have Data by my side.  I know him to guard the deck from the moment our Captain left, until he is ordered to, and at this point, that would be me, unless Picard is back.

Several key members of the crew is on this mission, including chief engineer and Guinan, as it were.  I can only guess he had a good re4ason for sending her out on this mission.

I was getting sporadic messages and information, details describing the progress of the respective members on their missions.  I had been told they had been transformed into some Equine form, referred to as Ponies, something not too different from the Horse Picard loves riding.  If they are not just sentient, but also have reached the level of culture, including Warp Drive, I guess this would be a mission to remember, even if I'm not going down to the planet in order to see them.

Picard is a Guard, trying his best to mingle with them, infiltrating their ranks, working his way to the Princess.  'She apparently is a Pony, or an Alicorn to be more exact, according to the reports.  Aside from being incredibly old, more than a Millennia, she had been ruling these Ponies, maybe this could explain why he picked this part for himself, recalling his exploits.  He seems to have a knack for both infiltration, and is doing well with the older ladies.

Why Geordi la'Forge went is no question, he is after all our best Engineer, hands down, and speaking of hands, Ponies has none of these.

Guinan had the most curious of all, the Zebra known as Zecora.  She apparently is just as mysterious as our Bar-tender.  That would make for a good match, I could see as much.

Only with Guinsn out, I chose to have my meals in my quarters.  I can replicate what I feel like eating on my room, just as well as have the next in line for tending the bar.

I had seen Geordi fly to the ship known as 'the Harmony', and read all of the reports.  He had made it there safely, which was expected.  Even if the ship could have shot him, by the readings.  They had then proceeded in the cause, and he is still on the ship.  They must have accepted him for what he told them, or they were merely playing along in order to ask demands later.

The reports on Guinan is as cryptic as her person, though I had managed to read that she had not only made it to the ground, but was now talking to the Zebra, just as had been planned.  Exactly how it is going, I have no idea, but I expect further reports to come in.  If it failed, or succeeded, I would be informed as well.  So she is simply doing her best in order to carry out the mission.

I could do little more than wait, then read the reports as they came in.  There is very little to do at this point.  I perform my duty from the bridge, just in case.  Something unexpected could come up.  I could be required.

Aside from a restful sleep, I try to make the day go, so I enjoy a few hours on Holo-deck, talk to Data and Crusher.  The bar is as good as closed without Guinan there, it isn't just serving drinks, it is all the rest of her skills and talents we're missing.

I could see Data standing before the screen as I entered the bridge, just looking at the planet below, and the small ship right before us.

“Hi, Data.  Anything new since I left?” I asked.

“Hi, Will.  Nothing has happened.  I'm just contemplating the ship we have before us.  It is clearly the reason why we had bothered stopping by in the first place.  I'm just trying to imagine a culture, entirely made up by these Equines inhabiting this world!” Data responded in his usual flat voice, though I may have imagined the curious tone at the end of his statement, as he mentioned these Ponies.

“I guess that's just as good, at least nothing went wrong.  Yes, this is the ship that brought us here, just like when Cochran made his first flight, causing the Vulcan’s going to Earth in order to see who we were, back when we followed the Borg to Earth, at the 'First Contact', we only red about in history class.  We do have Equines back home, maybe that image is getting in the way.  I can't see them building as much as a sailing ship, yet here these Equines clearly built a ship worthy of space flight!” I responded.

“If anything went wrong, you would know, or you would probably have been quite dead.  You are not, so here we are.  Ah yes, that was quite the adventure, but we did make it through, and history is in our favour.  I have seen a few, but these clearly are quadruped, just like the once I've seen.  Something is setting these once apart.  There is something more to them.  I guess I can see what, just as little as I could see the difference in feeling the ship Cochran had built out of the old missile, back then.  This is quite the fine ship, and it looks just as well put together as ours is.  They just made a very different design!” Data responded.

“The exterior does remind me of something from home.  Just not what I had expected to see out in space, and nothing the likes of this size!” I pointed out.

“A Manta Ray, I've seen them on an Aquarium!” Data responded, as he called forth an image on the large screen, demonstrating the point.

“Do they even have this verity of 'Shark', on their world, or is it just a convenient construct for their design?” he suggested.

“Going by what I recall, integrating systems according to the original, this just may be a superior design!” I grumbled.

“There is a natural shuttle bay, you have your weapons as well as defences.  Did they manage to integrate Warp Drive in this design, I am impressed.  I guess this could be humiliating!” Data mused.

“I guess the maw could be the Shuttle bay, and the eyes the missile tubes, and Phaser array, then.  If the wings would contain the Warp Drive.  If this truly is a Manta Ray, does the common electric shield translate into the shield holding a hostile attack at bay too.  If this is the case, we do have an ingenious design before us!” I pointed out, barely picking up on his voice.

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