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The lack of any direct visual contact with the planet surface was more than offset by the volume of television input from the planet itself, which can only be described with one word; a flood! The ship's image analysis system was capable of processing a hundred TV channels simultaneously. Except, this proved to be not enough. The input was so rich that the voice/video accumulation of a single orbit would have been sufficient to keep the language decoder busy for a week. With this influx of information, everyone on board who could be spared from the ship's logistical duties was put to the task of watching TV. We could have used a crew three times the size we had.
One of the purposes in watching TV was to determine if there was any response on the planet to our presence.
Naturally, there was a response. Before the third orbit was completed a newscast showed our position in space; an artist's rendering of the shape of our ship; and an exact map of the orbits we had made. This in itself wasn't anything to worry about, but by watching their faces as they talked about us, we recognized signs of a great fear. It turned out that they were more afraid of us than we had been of them. This fear was not apparent in any of their earlier broadcasts.
Before this particular newscast had fully finished, all screens went blank. We looked at each other. Within moments Captain Natalia's voice came over the intercom.
"I have asked our friend to take to ship out of orbit to a distant, but stationary point in space, still near the planet 'O,' but far enough that we can't be easily detected. We will remain there until we are properly prepared for making contact with the people on the planet," she added calmly.
After the captain was finished speaking, Jill came onto the intercom and video screen in her capacity as member of the Mission Control Committee. She explained that we had frightened the people with our presence, and that it was generally agreed by everyone on the bridge that the 'O' people might be engaged in some form of interplanetary conflict, and might have recognized us as part of an attacking fleet. She explained that it could have been unwise for us to remain in close orbit.
After Jill, Olaf came on and announced a daily shuttle service from the ship to his planet, where the crew would be able to relax and enjoy some sunshine until the landing would proceed. "The captain informed me that enough information has been gathered during the ship's three orbits to completely decode their languages, possibly to a greater extent than what had been achieved at Alpha Centauri. Also, there is enough information available from the mapping input to construct a precise model of the planet."
"All of this will take several weeks to complete," interjected Jill.
"Until this work is done," said Olaf, "I have been authorized by the captain to extend to the crew a warm welcome to visit my planet. It's yours to enjoy," he added. "Take advantage of this holiday. The rivers are save to swim in. Some lakes are warm, and there are no harmful aspects that I am aware of. You will encounter no dangers to your persons. And please do enjoy the fruits of this land. A friend of mine, named Odessa, will advice you upon arrival which of the fruits are the best, and where they may be found. So get ready, the first shuttle leaves in an hour. Over and out!"
Being part of the bridge crew, I stayed on board with Olaf and Jill, and Natalia of course. Our meals now, came by shuttle from Bohr's planet, and to some degree was supplied by the agro plant that had to remain functional. Mahesh also stayed with us, and Cira, and a good portion of the Mission Control Committee. As far as I was concerned, there was no other place in the universe that I would have rather have been at this time, than on this ship. These were exciting times.
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