This week with Arlene and Jeff:
...Sixty-two days out, the First Officer asked and received permission to enter the Captain's office. "Sir, do you have a minute?"
"Certainly. What do you have, First?"
"The Navigator tells me there is a star system some two hours ahead, and according to our charts, it has a half-dozen uninhabitable planets and also an extensive asteroid belt. The nearest planet to the belt is far out from the primary and reportedly does not have life to be bothered by our making a few larger asteroids into smaller ones."
"You say there isn't any reported intelligent life on any of the planets of the system?"
"Well, the original survey data did not show any planets in the Goldilocks zone, so I doubt that we'll be noticed."
{blue} Goldilocks zone: Range of orbits around a star that could support liquid water given sufficient atmospheric pressure. In other words, worlds where the temperature could support life as we know it. {/blue}
"All right. Drop out of warp well out from this asteroid belt. Let's sit quietly for a couple of hours before we move on in." Then with a grin, he jokingly said, "I would hate to stumble onto the pirates' stronghold while they're taking a siesta." Both men laughed at the idea before the Captain went on. "If we don't detect any signs of life in two hours of passive scanning, go to active for fifteen minutes. If we're still alone, move to the asteroid belt and set up your test range."
"Affirmative, Captain. I'll let you know prior to our dropping out of warp."...
Have a goodun;
Roust