In February of the Year 175 of the New Era, after a grueling three-year voyage, the Deep Space dropped out of warp ten million kilometers away from Digg-114. Cruising at approximately 60 kilometers per second, the ship was expected to officially arrive in orbit around the planet within two days.
The four main ion engines were operating at a 8% capacity. The massive spacecraft was executing a gradual deceleration to minimize its light signature and reduce the risk of being detected by any native inhabitants.
After months of intense debate and political wrangling, the Federation government had finally settled on a strategy: they would act as quiet "observers."
They planned to discreetly study the planet first, checking for signs of life, identifying any surviving natives, and gathering detailed ecological data before making their next move. It was the exact same cautious approach they would use for any highly advanced, mysterious alien species.
