"I can't eat another morsel," Greta said as she patted her stomach. "How am I supposed to move?"

"Whatever these are," Freddie paused to point out a massive gourd in the centerpiece display, "It has a natural form of the supplement I have to take to tolerate space travel. It took a century of experimentation before Scilari could leave our solar system without it."

"That's the molecule which hardens your exoskeleton?" Greta wanted to know. The find was incredibly important. A natural source this far from Scilar would delight the Engari.

Rasta tapped her shoulder and said, "There are natural elements the Neoaustralia dinosaurs would benefit from as well. The plants there mutated after the last solar storm. Animals are dying. It is similar to the extinction of Old Earth."

"I'll mention this all to Qwaiter and Prtelto," Greta said as she watched Zbera and his mate share a form of spaghetti which reminded her of one of her favorite cartoon classics. "It will make a good basis for trade with the other worlds in the Federation."

"Do you think you can approach the subject of their space invasion?" Freddie asked.

"Sssh. Not too loud. I think, since I have access to their databases, I'll dig around there as well. Hopefully I won't have to hack my way into it. If there is a predatory species out here, then we need to know as well. The armada is there but has never been needed yet. But as we all know a good defense is the best offense."

Prtelto wiggled an ear as I spoke, and I hoped I was still welcome after treading on their collective sore spot. A base rumble in my skull, warned me she had indeed heard our conversation. I turned to study her more closely, and realized her skull wasn't quite the same as the others we have come to know. A nodule behind her right ear, turned my stomach. Was it a hearing enhancer? And how had she learned Space Standard language so quickly. Or was that a translator similar to ours?

Almost like a single unit every Engari in the room stood. Greta poked her shipmates and they rose as well.

"Let us make our way into the concert hall," Ptrelto's voice boomed out over the continuing conversations with authority. "New music awaits." She beckoned to me to join her with her expressive trunk, and I nodded. At least we had the same gestures in common for yes and no.

"You two stick with your contacts. Zbera and Zodera are excellent sources of intel. I'll see what I can find out from their illustrious leader."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Let us take a moment for private conversation," Ptrelto pushed a small square in the wall, and it slid open revealing a room with comfortable furniture. She sat and laughed. The honking trombone blasts of it, rolled over Greta and she knew she was safe from a lecture.

"You heard my conversation with my crew?"

"Indeed. It's an enhancement deemed necessary for a leader. I will miss it when I leave, if the citizens want a change." She tapped the nodule with her trunk. "It is a brain link of sorts. Helps with translating and making myself understood. Even on Engari we have several different dialects of standard."

Greta pulled the bud out of her right ear canal. "Looks like we have similar developments that way. I'll just put it back in, as it does translate for me. Taking it out makes it hard for me to understand you. Although I can say I'm starting to understand the basics now without it."

"Tell me about this Neoaustralia you discovered. Are there any sentient beings there?"

"We're not sure. If we have a few minutes, I'll tell you the story of the day we discovered their reproductive cycle."

"Speak! I'm not a xenophobe. And if we can help these animals, I will donate the plant seeds to give them a chance to recover."

Greta began with the star date and general sector of the galaxy then continued.

"This world is Australia with a twist. The continent is a place with some of the oddest creatures of Old Earth. The universe was teasing me with hints of wonderous inventions. Dinosaurs, marsupials, and all else rolled into creatures imaginations invented in the cartoons of old Earth.

"I will give you access to our history tapes so you can compare the animals of this planet and those which existed and still exist on Earth today."

Prtelto nodded. "Thank you, continue."

"The research drones showed flying animals more massive than a brontosaurus, with the arms of a tyrannosaurus rex. Yet no sighting of a nesting area. The planet was the typical third or fourth in a system. Oxygen rich atmosphere allowed us to take a sled down with plenty of room for sample animals to bring back for the zenozoo. Yes, enough for massive flying pterodactyls which were here as well.

"Our ship folds space to make the storage far more than the mass or volume we occupy. However, I digress as I answer the anticipated questions of those reading this log."

"Do you have such a hold on your vessel here? If so, show it to Zbera."

Greta shook her head. "No. Your planet scanned as uninhabited when our deep space probes discovered it, and the initial scan of my mother ship agreed. So, just a normal small scout."

"I shouldn't interrupt. They will hold the start of the concert for us. We are the honored guests. Just give me a moment. Let them start with the classic pieces first. Hold the new concerto until we arrive." Prtelto tapped the nodule with a single prong of her trunk. "There, now continue. I won't interrupt again."

Greta smiled and said, "Please, don't hesitate to ask questions. We left a massive crew of zoologists there. They would welcome a fresh perspective. But to continue," she sipped a little juice from the glass she brought with her before starting the story again.

We finally managed to sedate the brontodactylsaurus. Again, we are using the dinosaur naming schemes for our basis to identify this new bunch. Flat bills with furred wings, like a platypus. With a beaver like tail, making them equally adept on land or in the sea. But that is our next target.

That day's was laying out there in front of the ship, dwarfing us. Fortunately they see us nothing but a pest and use their tails to attempt to swat us out of the air. Our pilot is skilled having survived the Isthomeric wars. He laughed at their feeble attempts, but my shoulders are not so pleased.

"Greta!!!! Get out here now.

"The shout in my earpiece nearly threw me out of my captain's chair.

"You have to see this. There is no explaining this mutation.

I stretched. I was recording on the scouts external cameras. Placing my old fashioned fountain pen carefully into the drawer beneath the plasheets of the log I ambled down the loading ramp. I carried the storage activator with me. These fascinating creatures had to come home with us. There was no other way to make the powers that be believe what we have discovered.

"We found the eggs. And the udders too, Captain."

"What?"

"Here." Freddie and his long weirdly jointed legs and four arms, held a flap open, and then propped it so it would stay that way. "I think we have enough time on the sedation. These animals are cold blooded and the anesthetic lasts considerably longer."

I ducked through the opening and struggled to assimilate what I was observing. The teats were longer than I was tall. The egg easily dwarfed us both, and fissures traced jagged lines in every direction.

"It figures. I'm naming this planet Neoaustralia. I wonder if this is where some ancient wanderer brought the seeds of both Australia and the dinosaurs."

"Captain, we can leave a camera in here. Recording the birth would be valuable." Freddie clipped the miniature device to multiple strands of fur, before clipping several more to put in his pouch. "Let's get out of here."

I concurred; the pouch was contracting. We ducked out, running for the ship as our brontodactylsaurus twitched erratically.

Rasa raised the ramp as we raced up it, scrambling for our seats as he hit the thrusters to dodge the wildly oscillating tail. Thus, another day on this mutated piece of System 83642 ended with us in the air once more. Landing never seemed to stay safe for long enough to accomplish the entire day's schedule.

"Fascinating. I cannot wait to see the recordings you made. Rasa and Freddie? They have been with you for a long time?" Prtelto rose as she spoke and tapped her nodule again. "We'll join the others now. And Freddie and the Scilari are welcome to the seed of the gourd he mentioned as well. We are by nature generous. Now, let us enjoy the music."

Greta followed her out another door and into a large enclosure. In the manor of most leaders, she didn't expect answers to a rhetorical question.

She had an ah-hah moment when she saw the raised chairs positioned to look over a seven to eight foot wall. They were on a balcony in what would have been a private box at a concert venue on Earth. She climbed up and settled herself. The questions in Rasa's eyes would have to wait. She mouthed the word later and studied the incredible display of crystals on the stage.

"It's amazing Captain," Freddie said. "Harmonic intricacies beyond the imagination.

Greta held her finger up to her lips. "Then let me listen."