Stardate:71009.0000
Title: Welcome to Yensul, Part One
Authors: TC Blane and Zanh Liis
Scene: Surface of Yensul IV
Time: Following "Yensul Awaits" by Jariel Camen
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The official delegation from the USS Independence beamed down to the surface of Yensul IV and were met by two men sporting very stylish clothing.
These men wore what appeared to be custom tailored suits in very elaborate, embroidered fabrics. Their hair was styled just so, and they had healthy complexions, wide toothy smiles, and ample waistlines.
The Yensuli were a handsome people. Tall, with lovely bone structure, intense purple eyes and hair that was nearly white. Their colorful markings were distinctive and only added to the beauty of their appearance.
"Welcome to. . ." One of the men began in a booming voice, arms wide in greeting as he saw Jariel and Blane step forward after materializing. "Yen-" he stopped cold upon seeing the very female form of Zanh Liis appear behind them as they parted to let her pass. He drew a breath and licked his suddenly very dry lips, and continued at last. "-sul."
The man's voice had become small and very shaky at the end, and Zanh had to bite her tongue not to laugh at the expression on his face when he saw her. She held her hand out to him and stood tall, shoulders back.
"Thank you. I am Zanh Liis, Acting Captain of the USS Independence and I bring greetings from the Federation Council."
"You are Captain of the Independence?" The man shifted his eyes to his companion, and they exchanged a look. "We were expecting a. . ." he checked a stack of papers in his hand, "Captain Gilmore."
"Captain Gilmore was unavailable for this mission." Zanh summed up succinctly. "I stand in his place."
"I see." The second man stepped forward and shook Zanh's hand limply. "I am Attender Maffe, this is my colleague Attender Sarl."
"My chief of Operations, Lt. Thomas Cassius Blane," Zanh introduced, and Blane nodded. "Our ship's Chaplain, and former Ambassador to the Federation from Bajor, Vedek Jariel Camen."
"A spiritual man!" Sarl squealed, suddenly very interested in the conversation. "I will be very pleased to speak with you, Vedek Jariel."
[[It will be my pleasure also, Attender.]] Jariel signed.
Sarl tilted his head to the side curiously as Zanh translated the signs for him. "This man does not speak?"
"This man speaks with his hands." Zanh replied. "He is quite talented at it. You will have no trouble understanding him, I will provide his voice."
"Very well." Sarl seemed disappointed now, somehow.
Zanh felt her stomach starting to burn and they'd only been on the surface for ninety seconds.
"If you'll just come this way, we would like to give you a tour of our city. Show you what it is like to live on our world." Zanh noticed, quite to her distress, that the man seemed to continually avoid eye contact with her and appeared to be speaking to Blane and Jariel as if she were not present.
Blane and Jariel also noted this, and Blane intended to show the Yensuli that he had no problems taking his lead from Zanh.
"Captain?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in her direction and awaiting her reply
"Please." Zanh said, indicating that Maffe and Sarl should lead the way. "We'd be honored to see your city."
TC hung a few steps behind Zanh, leaving no doubt of his respect for her authority. Even though he was also serving as her personal security detail for this trip, he saw no obvious danger in letting her go on ahead, and he relished the obvious discomfort it caused their hosts. He, like Zanh, had gotten a distinct, uneasy feeling from the reaction of Maffe and Sarl. His guard was up now because of it.
He followed closely behind the Captain and Jariel as they led the way. He took the opportunity to check out their surroundings as they walked. The structures that surrounded them were simple, constructed from wood and plaster similar to buildings of ancient Earth’s European continent, with high peaks and hand crafted wooden beams.
The inhabitants seemed to be a good looking lot, with features similar to their hosts yet varied enough to easily distinguish and remember individuals. He noticed several of the civilians staring in their direction in obvious curiosity. He put on his most sincere smile for the populace.
He took notice of the lack of conversation while they walked. He thought this to be unusual since they were supposed to be on a tour. He notice Zanh looking back at him questioningly. He figured she was thinking the same thing. He stepped up to her and leaned in close.
"Welcome to Stepford," Zanh whispered.
"Everything here is so. . .perfect," Blane replied.
"Too perfect." He agreed with her, but he was curious to hear exactly what she was thinking. "Captain?"
"Every planet has its waste reclamation plants, Thomas. Literally and figuratively," she whispered back. "I wonder where Yensul is hiding theirs."
Finally, Blane spoke up in an attempt to facilitate a conversation with their reluctant tour guides.
“Excuse me, Attender Maffe?” TC pointed at one of the buildings they were passing. “How old are these structures?”
"The way that you mark the passage of time, I would say nearly four of your centuries." Maffe replied eagerly. "All made from trees we felled ourselves, and built with strong Yensuli hands when we first settled here."
At this point a small group of women passed by. One of the girls seemed to take notice of the visiting party, and blurted out an exclamation in their native language. Her small hand rose up in the air, pointing at Zanh as she spoke.
A woman wea ring a white dress which covered every inch of her skin from just beneath her chin all the way to the ground, obscuring even her feet, brushed back a long blonde braid of hair and hurried to silence the child. *She must be the girl's mother,* Zanh thought, recoiling as the woman grabbed the girl by the wrist and pulled her along. *She looks like a humiliated animal,* Zanh observed as the woman averted her eyes, withering beneath the heat of Maffe's sudden glare.
"My apologies, Lt. Blane, Vedek Jariel. It takes awhile for our young females to learn their proper role is one of silence in the presence of men."
Zanh's blood reached the boiling point, and as she opened her mouth to speak, Jariel gently reached out and squeezed her arm. She could read the expression in his eyes. It said; "Don't do it."
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Lt. TC Blane
Chief of Operations
USS Independence NCC-90791
and
=/\= Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791