Chapter One
The Amalgamation Survey Ship 'Interloper' moved in a synchronous orbit above the only landmass on the third planet of star P314159264. Three young women entered the Captain's office, and one said, "Junior Lieutenant Erig and Ensigns Mahoon and Regan reporting as ordered, Captain."
Captain Goda returned their salute. She said, "At ease, ladies. I've summoned you because we have an important field survey pending, and since that unfortunate incident on the holodeck last night we're now short-handed. I need three field surveyors and you are the only ones that have the necessary characteristics. I really dislike sending you out on such short notice but I have no choice. The ship has other commitments and we cannot remain here beyond our original departure date. Fortunately, this survey isn't difficult or dangerous. I'll give you a summary of what you'll be doing, and if you need more details you can get them later from the net."
"This planet, which we have designated as Gamma, is apparently unique in the galaxy. Like all of the other inhabited planets it was seeded with life by the Elder Ones, and like all of the other planets it lost its technology in the Great Crash, when every computer in the galaxy locked up at the same time because of a date/time bug in the operating system. Unlike all of the other known planets, which lost all civilization and descended into savagery, Gamma was able to maintain its social order. Exactly why they were able to do this is a question that will keep the xenoanthropologists busy for years, but the tentative theory is that the physical characteristics of the planet are responsible. All of the habitable land is in the form of one compact continent without notable physical barriers, and the theory is that this inhibited the formation of warring factions. We've gotten some good images of the surface, and so far we haven't found a trace of any ancient or modern fortifications."
"This political and cultural uniformity is a barrier to field surveying, however. On other planets the surveyor can pose as a foreigner, so that a bad accent or ignorance of an important custom can be easily explained. Obviously, that cannot be done here. The initial field survey was done by Lieutenant Breg, the ship's Xenologist, who posed as a mentally retarded mute and pretended to have a job as a sweeper in a university library. He was able to copy books and set up listening posts so that the language transplant could be prepared and so we could determine the basics of this culture. Now we need to know more about the larger society."
"This is where you come in. You three will be disguised as peasant girls, our substitute for the ignorant foreigner. Gamma's technology is at a preindustrial level, and as is usual in such societies most of the population is employed in agriculture. Subsistence farming is so demanding that it is normal to have a rural population that is unsophisticated. Also, Gamma's orbit is so circular and its axial tilt is so small that there isn't much seasonal variation and crops are grown all year. This means there is no winter break that might otherwise allow the rural inhabitants time for intellectual pursuits."
"Each of you will enter a major city and will gather information just as a real peasant might, by walking around seeing the sights and asking questions. Most city people think that peasant girls are ignorant and naive, so any gaps in your knowledge will seem plausible, and you can ask questions that a city child of five would know the answers to without arousing any suspicion. Compared to your other field surveys this will be easy. You said something, Ensign Regan?"
"I, er, I haven't been on a field survey, Captain".
"You haven't?" The Captain motioned to Erig and Mahoon and said, "Wait outside".
When the door had closed behind them the Captain sat down behind her desk and ordered, "Sit down, Ensign, while I look at your service record."
The Captain typed on her keypad and looked at the screen that popped up out of her desk. "Let's see... Sonji Regan, Ensign, Star Fleet Survey Service. It says here that you have been on board this ship for four months and that this is your first Fleet posting. It also says that you didn't attend the Academy but instead got your commission through the Officer Training Program at your home planet university. Is this correct?"
"Yes, Captain".
"You have been to Field Survey School, haven't you?"
"Yes, Captain."
"How much experience have you had outside of the Amalgamation?
"Er, none, Captain. Until I went to Field Survey School I had never been out of my home city."
The Captain sighed. "Under other circumstances I wouldn't do this, but I have no choice, I've got to send you. Look, all you have to do is enter a city, ask some questions, and leave the city. You can do that, can't you?"
Sonji sprang to her feet. "Yes, Captain! Thank you, Captain!"
The Captain said, "Get the others. There is one thing more."
Sonji opened the office door. When the other officers were inside and the door was shut again, the Captain said, "You all know the First Directive..."
Sonji chirped, "Never interfere in any way, however minor, with the culture of a non-Amalgamation society."
"Thank you, Ensign. Now, as I was saying, you all know the First Directive is often bent if it gets in the way of an operation..." The Captain noticed Sonji's shocked expression. "well, most of you know it. Don't count on any slack now, though. Until the stink from that fiasco in Sector 4 dies down we're going to have to play it by the book."
"What happened, Captain?" Erig asked.
"Well, we don't know exactly, but the result was that an early iron age culture somehow got tactical nuclear weapons. What a mess."
"Now, you three report to the Bio-computer Lab for your language transplant and then go to Survey Supply for your costumes and equipment. The Xenologist will meet you there to answer any questions. Dismissed."
The three women saluted and left the office. Once they were well along the passageway Mahoon started to giggle and said, "Unfortunate incident on the holodeck. What an understatement!"
"What happened? All I heard is that the three that were supposed to make these surveys are in sick bay in some kind of a coma."
"Well, they gave themselves a party by going to the holodeck and activating that rough-sex scenario."
"You mean the one where you're gang-raped by the space pirates?"
"Yeah, that's it. Well, somehow the computer went into a loop and the scenario ran eight times before the techs could get it stopped. Luckily the safety backup worked so there wasn't any tissue damage, but it really messed up their minds. They're all under sedation now, and they all have this big smile on their faces."
Erig said, "Wow, I did that scenario just once and it really shook me up. Did you ever try it, Sonji?"
"No. I've been conditioned to avoid bad sex."
"Well, it's true that some of those holodeck scenarios are really bad. What do you consider to be good sex, Sonji?"
"Good sex is when a husband impregnates his wife. Bad sex is everything else."
Erig and Mahoon exchanged did-we-really-hear-that looks. "Why would you believe something like that?" Erig asked.
"In my religion we believe that the way to Enlightenment is through the voluntary renunciation of physical pleasure. This is something I have known since I was a little girl. When I reached puberty I received the conditioning that now keeps me from being tempted."
Mahoon said, "We've shared a compartment since you arrived on board and you know that I often have overnight visitors. Doesn't it bother you that I don't share your beliefs?"
"No, you must find your own way to Enlightenment; it does not have to be my way. The only thing that bothers me are your moans and screams when I'm trying to sleep."
Erig shook her head, "I'm glad I'm not of your religion. I wouldn't have a social life. Ah, here's the Lab."
The language transplant took only a few minutes, and when it was over the three women were fluent in the language spoken on Gamma.
A short walk brought them to the Survey Supply compartment. Waiting for them were the store keeper, a communications technician, and a lieutenant. Erig wrapped her arms around the lieutenant and gave him a passionate kiss. When they came up for air she said, "Hi, lover. You know Mahoon. This is Sonji Regan. Sonji, this is Thar Breg, the Xenologist. He'll tell us all we need to know about the planet."
Sonji said, "Pleased to meet you, sir."
"Yeah, me too. Listen girls, the shuttle departure time has been moved up so we've got to get going. We can save time if you change here while I talk. Roget, give me those costumes."
The store keeper handed Breg three large bags, and he gave a bag to each of the women. "Here are your costumes. After you've changed put your uniform in the bag and I'll have it delivered to your quarters."
Sonji opened her bag and examined the contents. She found a dress made from a coarse gray fabric, a knitted shawl, a pair of leather sandals, and a small leather purse containing a handful of copper and silver coins. She asked Breg, "Where is the underwear, sir?"
"Peasant girls don't wear any. Hurry up and change."
Sonji was stunned. "Here, sir? In front of everybody?"
"You won't shock us. Do it, Ensign! That's an order."
Sonji looked at the other women. Erig was naked and Mahoon had just pulled her dress over her head. Blushing all over her body, Sonji turned her back to the men, stripped off her uniform and underwear, and quickly put on the dress and the sandals.
Mahoon examined her dress. The bodice was just a sack with holes for her arms and neck. A full skirt was attached at the waist and ended just above her ankles. She said, "Well, I wouldn't want to wear it to the prom, but it doesn't feel too bad. Do we get a change of clothing?"
"No. In this culture clothing is expensive, because spinning, weaving, and sewing all have to be done by hand. Most peasants never have more than one dress at a time. Your dress is better than most, because it doesn't have any patches."
Erig said, "At least we don't have to put on a lot of makeup. For one of my surveys I had to dye my skin green and paste phony antennas on my forehead."
"Yes, all of you will fit in as is. Most people have brown hair like yours and Mahoon's, a few have hair as black as Regan's, and there are also blondes." He waved over the communications technician. "CT2 Aoki will give you your comm devices and test them out."
Aoki gave each woman what looked like a wooden disk, about 5 centimeters in diameter and a half-centimeter thick. There was a hole near one edge with a leather thong threaded through it, and an eight-pointed star was burned into one side. Aoki said "This equipment contains an audio recorder, but it's sound activated so you don't have to worry about it. To activate the communicator pull on the thong. It will buzz to indicate you have contact, and then you can speak into the star or put it to your ear to listen. It will stay activated as long as you hold it in your hand. The signal also acts as a tracking beacon and we can locate you to within a couple of meters. Let's run a communications check. You first, ma'am." After all three women had made the check Aoki looked up from a test set and said, "All of the equipment is operable, sir."
Breg said, "The star is the local deity symbol. These devices are made to look like the religious medallions that most peasant girls wear. Remember, the communicator is only to be used in emergencies, not for routine matters. It would be a violation of the First Directive if anybody saw you using it."
"Now listen carefully. We have selected three district capitols, one for each of you. The shuttle will drop you off just before dawn. You'll be as close as we can get without being detected, but you will still have about a half-day's walk to the city. Here is a list of the questions you should ask." He gave each woman a piece of paper. "Memorize the questions and leave the paper on the shuttle. It would be hard to explain where you got something written in an unknown language. When you get to the city just walk around, ask the questions, and record the answers. You have enough money to pay for food and lodging in a hostel for five days. After that walk back to the drop-off point and call in. You'll be picked up after dark."
Mahoon complained, "What's with all of this walking? Don't they have horses on Gamma?"
"Actually, they don't. The only draft animal they have is a small ox, which is powerful, but slow. Anyway, no peasant girl would pay for transportation when she could walk. Now, get your stuff together and let's get moving."
Sonji wrapped a leather thong around her waist and tied on her purse, and then she picked up her uniform and put it in the bag. She didn't see Erig whispering into Breg's ear.
Sonji put her shawl over one shoulder and started down the passageway towards the shuttle bay. Erig winked at Mahoon and said, "Thar, don't forget to tell Sonji about the bandits."
"Oh, yeah. A gang of bandits has been reported near where you'll be. They've been robbing travelers and kidnapping women for ransom. They wouldn't do more than gang-rape a peasant girl, though."
Sonji stopped, her eyes wide. She stayed that way until Mahoon grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
Breg said to Erig, "Why did you want to do that?"
"Just a little initiation. Besides, she'll be more alert if she's nervous."
"You're a cruel slut."
Erig kissed him. "Just the way you like me, lover." Then she ran towards the shuttle bay.