I don't own the Star Trek franchise or any of the characters.

Three months had passed since the crew of the Defiant had crashed on a strange planet and been thrown two hundred years in the past.

A lone woman walked into a building. At first glance one might have mistaken the woman for a human but upon closer inspection they would have seen her nose ridges and the earring in her right ear and realised she was a Bajoran. This Bajoran woman was none other than Major Kira Nerys, former rebel and member of the Bajoran Militia.

Kira sighed as she walked into the building made from the hull of the Defiant. She still found it hard to believe she and the rest of the Defiant crew were trapped on some strange planet in the Gamma Quadrant. Kira knew things could have been worse though. The Defiant had at least crashed on a planet with a breathable atmosphere and temperate climate. And luckily no one in the forty-nine person crew had been seriously injured. Kira realised that was something to be grateful for, but she'd still rather be back on Deep Space 9.

Kira walked through the building that acted as the shared sleeping quarters, kitchen, sickbay and living space for the entire crew. The place was a bit cramped with forty-nine people but it would have to do until more buildings could be erected. The Bajoran was about to turn the corner when she ran into two people.

The two people Kira ran into were dressed in tattered Starfleet uniforms, though her own red Bajoran Militia uniform had seen better days. One was a human male with shaggy hair and a beard. The other person was a woman. She could have been mistaken for a human but when one saw the line of spots framing her face, it was easy to tell she was a Trill. It took Kira a moment to recognise the human male as Dr. Julian Bashir and the Trill as Lt. Cdr. Jadzia Dax.

"Jadzia? Julian? What are you doing here? I though the captain had you both on planting duty." asked Kira.

"We are. Julian and I were just on a break. We're going to get something to eat. Do you want to join us?" answered Jadzia.

As if on cue, Kira's stomach growled. She smiled and agreed to join the two for a quick meal. The three walked to the area of the building currently being used as the kitchen. Jadzia walked up to the replicator mounted onto the wall and got three small plates of food. She took the tray and brought it back to the others.

Bashir frowned at seeing the size of their meals.

"Is the replicator still giving everyone rations? I thought O'Brien fix that thing." spoke Bashir.

Jadzia put down the food.

"From what I hear he fixed the replicator twice. Sadly, there's nothing the Chief can do about it. The replicator's power has run low. Sisko's ordered everyone on rations until we can either find a new power source for the replicator or until those plants we've been growing turn a good crop. And I hope it's soon. We're already half way through summer and winter will be here soon. If we don't have enough food, then we'll starve." stated Jadzia.

No one liked the thought of starvation. Already everyone of the crew had lost a quarter of their bodyweight due to the lack of food. That's why everyone was working on finding eatable plants and animals. If they could learn which were safe to eat and gather a big enough store before winter, it wouldn't matter if the replicator lost all power. But until then everyone would have to deal with rations.

An awkward silence formed between the three friends. Kira tried to distract them all by asking how the planting was going.

"So how's the planting going?" awkwardly asked Kira.

"It's been a bit rough at first but I think everything going fine now. We've made a few estimates and we should have our first crop ready just before the end of fall. Worf's also told me that they discovered three large herbivore species that are eatable. He's leading a hunting party to try and bring in a few of them so we can have a big feast tonight." told Jadzia.

"That's good to hear. It will be great to have a real meal for once. I also have some good news to report. The aqueduct system we've been working on the past two months should be done by the end of the summer." informed Kira.

Julian and Jadzia were stunned to hear Kira's announcement.

"That's great news Kira." said Jadzia.

"That's wonderful. I can't wait to get off that showering schedule. Maybe I'll even be able to get myself a proper shave." exclaimed Bashir.

Everyone would be glad once they had running water again. Just as the food, water and showers had to be rations. The current system of collecting water involved going to the nearest river, which was over half a mile from where the Defiant crew had build the shelter, and bring it back by hand in whatever container could be used to carry it. Once they had running water and a stable crop everything would be a lot easier.

"How are things going in the medical department, Julian? I heard you discovered a plant that could be used to make a new vaccine." said Jadzia.

"I've actually found several local plants that we can use to make proper medicine. It's a good thing too. If everyone already hadn't been healthy before the crash and if there hadn't only been a few minor injuries, I'm pretty sure none of us would have survived. I'll feel a lot better once we have a good store of medicine and a few more people trained in proper medical procedures. It will be nice when I'm not the only one capable of treating injuries around here." explained Bashir.

Kira, Jadzia and Bashir continued to eat their rationed meal, talking about all the things being accomplished by the stranded crew. They might have been stranded on an alien planet two hundred years in the past, but the Defiant crew was doing everything they could to bring a sense of normalcy. Until then, they would all keep working together and try to make the best out of their current situation.

I figured it would take the Defiant crew at least a few years to properly establish a stable colony on Gaia. The first thing I think they'd do would be to get access to running water and have a stable crop. Until then I think they'd have to ration and pool resources.

Sorry if this chapter wasn't all that exciting. I just wanted to establish what I thought the early days on Gaia would have been like. Please tell me if anyone seems too out of character. Comment if you like the story.