The multi-leveled command bridge of the [i]Demeter[/i] was in a flurry of activity. Captain William Bellamy stared at the forward viewing screen from his command chair, a look of disbelief on his face. His first officer stood at his side one hand covering her mouth. 

[i]Inhabited.[/i]

It was the only word his mind seemed to remember at the moment. The images spat back from the [i]Daughter of Gaias[/i] probe played over and over on the screen. A small village amidst lush green forests. A community of bipeds... 

"Unbelievable.." stammered Rebecca. "I'll inform the colonists sir." 

Captain Bellamy nodded wordlessly. A blip on the command console read URGENT. 

"Captain, a message from the [i]Daughter of Gaia[/i] on all channels. The authorization is Admiral Perin's but-"

[i]"..is Captain Baran speaking.."[/i]

"-that's not Perin," finished Bellamy. "Who is that man Rebecca?" The bridge had grown silent. 

[i]..assumed command of the Daughter of Gaia and the fleet.It is my regret to inform you that the Admiral and several of my fellow officers were involved in a treasonous attempt to subvert our colonization of Delta Pavonis...[/i]

"This doesn't make any sense," blurted Rebecca. The bridge flew into confusion, several officers speaking at once over Baran's transmission. Suddenly a swell in volume of feedback, some static and a new voice:

[i]..is a coup. This is the beginnings of Genocide..."[/i]

"Turn that off!" shouted Captain Bellamy. "Rebecca put security on full alert, and send the following message to [i]Daughter of Gaia[/i]:

"This is Captain William Bellamy of the independent ship [i]Demeter[/i]. My loyalty is to my ship and crew Baran. If you men are landing on that planet I urge you as a scientist to do so peaceably, without alerting the inhabitants to our presence if at all possible. There is no more need for bloodshed. We have come too far for too long for it all to end in violence."

The captain looked around his bridge. Junior officers stood wide-eyed at stations. The viewing screen flashed. 

"The Savior is moving off sir. Not sure what they are intending..." said Rebecca. 

"The Saratoga?" asked Bellamy. He knew the fleets strongest ship would be a deciding factor in the coming minutes.

"No change in position sir. I'm reading inter-ship transmissions though." 

"Helm take us to the perimeter of the fleet. I don't want us to get hit if there is a fight."