– Outside the ship –
With nothing to do on the ship but re-analyze the sensor data ad nauseum and wait for their digging equipment to be repaired, Solit’s choice to accept an assignment to go visit Zank was a matter of practicality more than anything. He asked Lieutenant Cewa to join him specifically because neither of them were going to be leaving the island any time soon unless it was to make use of hand-held subspace devices in the middle of the sea (or gulf, or ocean, or whatever sized body of water surrounded the island), given that their distinctive physical traits would be difficult to conceal from the villagers. Instead, here he was, off to barter with the Ferengi who had been just as regrettably detoured as the Asimov.

“Well, Lieutenant, my father was raised in the Ferengi Alliance, so I’ve had plenty of experience with them,” Commander Idari said, trying to break the monotony of the walk. “How much have you been around them and their particularly aggressive version of capitalism?”

(Commander Idari, CSO)