Stardate: 70820:2215
Title: Rennas (Part 2)
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: Straight after "Rennas (Part 1)"
Scene: Renna (Rennasian Homeworld)


As they materialised at the desired co-ordinates, Captain Deadilus and the members of the away team found themselves standing amidst a large crystalline structure. The Captain had no doubt that Lieutenant Kehn was itching to pull out his tricorder and scan the structure and the beings before them, just as he had no doubt that Lieutenant Smith was sizing up their greeting party, looking for potential weaknesses.

On the other hand, maybe they were both as amazed as he was at the sight of the angular crystal formations around them.

"Greetings Captain Deadilus of the Federation starship USS Horizon, I am Nakra'Mel," one of the Rennas spoke out, although the Captain was unsure which one as all their mandibles seemed to be clicking.

"Greetings Nakra'Mel. Allow me to introduce my away team. This is Lieutenant Kehn, my Chief Science Officer." Deadilus gestured towards the Romulan officer, before continuing to introduce the others.

"Darka'Tal is waiting for you all. Please follow us." Nakra'Mel gestured with a chitinous arm towards a hollow in the structure.

As the team passed through the small entranceway, they emerged onto the surface of the planet; the large red giant star Renna orbited hung low in the sky, causing an array of colours to shimmer through similar crystalline structures to that they had just left. The purple sky overhead appeared almost cloudless, adding only to the onslaught of colours to their eyes.

~

Scott watched their greeting party with fascination as they walked towards another, larger structure. As their jaws clicked and whistled it was evident that they were conversing with each other in a language different to that supplied by the Rennas. As advanced as their universal translator was, it appeared not to recognise or be able to piece together any sentences or words.

"Excuse me, Nakra'Mel," Scott began. "I was wondering, what language are you conversing in? We were only provided the Renna-Tey linguistics database."

As Nakra'Mel looked at the Captain, the others with him stopped.

"Renna-Tey is the language of the guest," the Rennasian explained. "It is a simplified and childlike language, consisting of only 120 phonetic units, and is designed to aid in commerce and communications. Tecra'Mech, Tecra'Ohn and I speak in Renna-Ah, the language of the worker. Renna-Ah possesses over 1 million phonetic characters." 

"Tecra'Mech and Tecra'Ohn? Are they related?" Lieutenant Smith asked.

"We are all related," replied Tecra'Mech as if confused by the question before the three Rennasians conversed quickly once again in Renna-Ah. After a few short moments, Nakra'Mel turned back to the assembled Federation officers

"'Tecra' is a title, much like your 'Lieutenant'. 'Nakra' could be considered similar to your 'Commander'," the Rennasian 'Commander' explained as they continued to walk to the larger structure.

~

Lieutenant Falls turned to Lily, who had been allowed to remain onboard the present-day Horizon by Captain Deadilus.

"Do you know what is happening right now? Do you know what the away team will discover and report?" Autun asked.

"Yes. Both Captain Deadilus's and Lieutenant Kehn's reports were most extensive on this first encounter, although the Captain often recounted the beauty of the city they are now in." Lily looked at the Chief Operations Officer with a small, recalling conversations between her and her father.

~

"Darka'Tal, I humbly present to you the visitors from the United Federation of Planets."

Nakra'Mel had briefed the Starfleet officers on the correct etiquette when addressing a 'Darka' in person. As such, the crew of the Horizon, along with their Rennasian guides, all kneeled on their left knee, with their arms crossed over the right thigh (which Nakra'Mel had emphasised 'must run as parallel to the ground as possible'). As protocols went, it wasn't the strangest Scott had taken part in.

"Nakra'Mel, rise and introduce these most honoured guests," Darka'Tal prompted the junior officer.

As each of the officers was introduced, they stood, bowing courteously, until all had been named.

"Captain Deadilus, those travelling with you are not all of the same species. This is a most odd thing." Darka'Tal walked down from the podium, looking closer at the group.

"The United Federation of Planets consists of many species. What you see before you is only a small sample of the diversity the Federation contains. Every new race brings with it different customs, technology, beliefs, thoughts and ideas," Captain Deadilus explained to the insectile Rennasian now towering over him.

As Darka'Tal knelt before the Captain (a sign of respect, Nakra'Mel informed him), he looked at the Captain.

"Tell me more about this 'Federation' of yours..." 


=================
Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================