The Need For Seeds

Posted on Thu Apr 27th, 2023 @ 10:31am by Lieutenant K’lar & Lieutenant JG Vashir

1,299 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 115 - Planting for the Future
Location: USS Tikhov
Timeline: MD2 - 0830 hours

K'lar, the Klingon science officer, stood in front of the computer console aboard the USS Tikhov, ready to update the collection of seeds on board. The collection was crucial for maintaining the ecological balance of the planets the Tikhov would visit during its mission, and K'lar took his responsibility seriously.

He began by checking the computer manifest, searching for any signs of spoiled or damaged seeds. As he scanned through the list of alien plant species, he noticed a few entries marked in red. They were seeds that had been compromised during transport, and K'lar knew he would need to replace them.

The first set of seeds were from the planet Andoria, known for its icy terrain and harsh climate. These seeds were from a type of plant called the frostfern, which was prized for its medicinal properties. Unfortunately, the cold temperatures during transport had caused the seeds to freeze and crack, rendering them useless. K'lar quickly made a note to replace them with fresh frostfern seeds.

The second set of seeds were from the planet Betazed, known for its lush forests and diverse wildlife. These seeds were from a rare plant called the Betazoid vine, which produced a sweet and aromatic fruit. However, the Betazoid vine was highly susceptible to fungal infections, and some of the seeds had been contaminated during transport. K'lar marked these seeds for disposal and made a note to acquire new ones.

The third set of seeds were from the planet Vulcan, known for its arid deserts and logical inhabitants. These seeds were from a hardy plant called the Vulcan desert rose, which could survive in extreme temperatures and low-water conditions. However, some of the seeds had been exposed to radiation during transport, causing them to mutate and become unstable.

With a sigh of relief, K'lar closed the computer manifest, satisfied that he had identified the spoiled seeds and made plans to replace them. He knew that the success of the Tikhov's mission depended on the health of the planets they visited, and he was proud to play a small but important role in preserving the delicate balance of the universe.

K'lar tapped the computer console's touchscreen to transfer this information to his PADD. Turning to Vashir and offering her his PADD, he said, "It appears these are the seeds we need." Both officers had been examining different manifest logs and had been scouring through records. Most of the seeds had held up well.

"Did you find anything in your searches?" K'lar asked her with genuine curiosity. The prospect of updating this space-borne seed assemblage was growing on him...

Vashir laughed. "You know my family business is seeds. And I wanted nothing to do with it. Went out of my way to learn nothing about any of it. I did the bare minimum in the one required botany course I had to take at the academy and focused all my attention on astrophysics and quantum mechanics. This nonsense makes my brain hurt."

She looked at him. "Are my eyes bleeding? I feel like my eyes are bleeding," she said jokingly. Sighing, she took the list. "Well none of these are particularly exotic. This should be simple enough, right?"

K'lar chuckled heartily on Vashir's words. "You know as a Klingon, tending to seeds would not be considered a desirable task. Yet I have found joy in raising plants.. The arboretum and biosphere provide a great place for reflection... Maybe so too will this seed counting."

He had to joke before telling Vashir the bad news. "The problem is that we don't have any Betazoid vine seeds aboard the starbase. It could take months for a shipment to arrive. Vulcan Desert Rose is grown in Botany Bay 26 with the other arid plants. We have a limited supply of frostfern we can gather seeds from. But the Betazoid vine may be problematic."

Once handed back his PADD, K’lar decided to run another search. He would check for seeds in low supply. Some specimens were hard to come by. The Klingon knew increasing the sample size could help with redundancy and diversity.

Sure enough, two species were in extremely low variety. The Ferengi T'sora seed was a small, dark green fruit that grew on a bush. The fruit was highly prized by the Ferengi for its rich, earthy flavor and its ability to be turned into a potent liqueur. The bush itself was highly adaptable and could grow in a variety of environments, making it a valuable commodity for Ferengi traders.

The Klingon N'Gat seed was a large, round fruit that grew on a sturdy tree. The fruit was known for its tart, tangy flavor and was often used in Klingon cooking to add a sour note to savory dishes. The tree itself was hardy and could withstand harsh weather conditions, making it a popular choice for Klingon farmers.

“Ugh”, K’lar grunted. “We need two more… Low stock.” Once again he handed Lt. JG Vashir his PADD so she could read about the seeds herself. Now there were five varieties they needed to source.

Lt. JG Vashir stared at the report on her PADD. The damaged seeds were a major problem, and she knew they needed help if they were going to replenish the Tikhov’s collection. She knew her family had could come up with these seeds in a flash. The thought of asking them for help still made her anxious. She had always tried to distance herself from their clandestine operations, but in times like these, it was hard to ignore the benefits of their connections.

K'lar noticed her troubled expression. "What's on your mind?" he asked.

Vashir looked up at him, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "We need help with the damaged seeds. I just really don’t want to ask my family for assistance. I’ve spoken about their connections. I'm not really sure I want to involve them in this."

K'lar raised an eyebrow. "Your family’s connections could be useful right now."

Vashir shook her head. "It's not that simple. They partake in all sorts of things to stay ahead in the agricultural industry. I don't want to risk getting myself, Commander Coleman or the Tikhov involved in anything illegal."

K'lar nodded, understanding her concerns. "I see your point. But sometimes, you have to take risks to get what you need. And as long as we're careful, there's no harm in simply contacting your family."

Vashir sighed, still unsure. "I don't know. It just feels wrong to involve them."

K'lar put a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's difficult, but we have to do what we can to replenish this supply. And I promise you, I'll make sure nothing bad happens. We'll take all the necessary precautions to keep us safe."

Vashir thought for a moment, considering his words. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. Let's do it. But we have to be careful."

K'lar smiled. "I'll make sure of it." He then began making plans to arrange clandestine communication with Vashir's family members. “The IKS qoV is docked not far away. I can patch comms to your family through their network. There will be no record of who you contact.“

Vashir seemed relieved.

“I think I know a good source for the N’Gat seeds”, K’lar added. “And likely the Vulcan Desert Rose as well.” He would check with Klingon chefs aboard SB400, starting with the one whose restaurant he’d become accustomed to since his arrival. He was also pretty sure where seeds for the Desert Rose could be found. There might even be some frostfern. There was still a risk that seeds for the latter two hadn’t been stored aboard the Starbase.

“Okay… Let’s just get this over with”, Lt. JG Vashir said thankfully.

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