Archer was piloting the pod down to the planet. Trip silently wondered why he didn't delegate this task to someone else, he was the captain after all, but then again Jon was when he needed to be a damn good pilot. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly at this, until he was greeted by T'Pol's inquisitive stare which immediately managed to vanquish his smile, he looked away and stared intensely at the back of Hoshi's chair instead.
"The head of the Serenan government wishes to give us a guided tour of the main city" Archer said, breaking the silence.
"Friendly then?" Trip asked.
"Seems that way"
"The Vulcan database describes this planet as in an unstable social transition, the last Vulcan ship to visit Serena said they were still somewhat primitive, with high levels of crime and poverty" T'Pol rattled off these words as if she'd memorised them before hand, Trip thought, then realised she probably had.
"But, they, its not like that now is it?" said Hoshi concern filling her voice.
"Exactly how long ago did this ship visit?" Trip asked.
"93 years"
"Aha" he said and rolled his eyes. He caught Hoshi's eye and they both turned away smiling.
"Looks like they've turned their society around for the better now though, doesn't it?" Archer said, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
"Nevertheless" T'Pol responded "it would be wise to exert caution"
The pod landed with a jolt. The away team climbed out of the pod, being at the back Trip was out last. He raised his hand over his eyes as he squinted to see an important looking well dressed man standing in front of them with a smile on his face. He was a short man, with a closely shaven head and a pointed goatee on his chin, which looked very out of place compared to the rest of his hairless face. Along the side of his head emerging from his hairline and continuing down his face and neck then disappearing beneath his collar were dark drown 'patches'. His eyes which were staring intently at the away team were a striking electric violet colour. Staning slightly behind him on each side were two, taller men, presumably security guards, as they were armed. The man walked forward to greet the away team. Archer stretched out his hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you" he said. The man took Archer's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine Captain Archer, I am Ambassador Orbis."
"This is my science officer Sub-Commander T'Pol" she nods in greeting "my Chief Enginneer Commander Charles Tucker - "
"Pleased to meetcha'."
"- and my communications officer Ensign Hoshi Sato" she smiled at the Ambassador in greeting.
"It is a great honour to meet you all. We are currently standing on the roof of the central head office of our capital city Lorenza, would you like to see inside?" he asked.
"Of course, thank you" Archer replied.
Orbis turned round and headed towards the doors obviously leading down into the building. Archer and T'Pol began walking after him, Hoshi glanced around quickly and followed, Trip fell in step at her side.
The large elaborate dining room in which the away team was now sitting, had taken Trip's breath away when they entered, shortly after he took a nothing sharp breath when he saw the extensive amounts of food layed out on the table; for them.
Archer raised his glass to drink, but decides on speaking first. "Well this has certainly been an enlightening visit" he said and took a sip from his glass.
"For us also" the Ambassador replied from his eat at the head of the table.
"It's always nice to be welcomed into other cultures so warmly." Archer said. Trip smiled, and paused from his meal.
"Couldn't agree more, its always nice to have a change o' pace." Hoshi smiled, both Archer and T'Pol raised their eyebrows, the corners of Archers mouth, however, twitched.
"He has a point sir" Hoshi said, still grinning. Archer laughed.
"I can't imagine why anyone would not wish to invite you to share in their culture, you are indeed fascinating people." The Ambassador said.
Archer smiled and replied "You're to kind, your hospitality has been overwhelming, so as a thank you, I'd like to invite you to come and visit Enterprise." T'Pol raised her eyebrows and began to protest, but Archer stops her "Just to have a look around, its not going to do any harm is it?" he says. She gives him a slightly defeated look, and tilts her head forward slightly in silent agreement. Trip catches Hoshi's eye, they both smirk and quickly look away.
Regaining his composure Trip addresses the Ambassador "I'm sure you'd love to get a look at our engines, they're the fastest in the fleet."
The Ambassador smiles warmly "We'd be honoured, thank you." The away team smiled back, excluding T'Pol who gave him a curt nod.
"The head of the Serenan government wishes to give us a guided tour of the main city" Archer said, breaking the silence.
"Friendly then?" Trip asked.
"Seems that way"
"The Vulcan database describes this planet as in an unstable social transition, the last Vulcan ship to visit Serena said they were still somewhat primitive, with high levels of crime and poverty" T'Pol rattled off these words as if she'd memorised them before hand, Trip thought, then realised she probably had.
"But, they, its not like that now is it?" said Hoshi concern filling her voice.
"Exactly how long ago did this ship visit?" Trip asked.
"93 years"
"Aha" he said and rolled his eyes. He caught Hoshi's eye and they both turned away smiling.
"Looks like they've turned their society around for the better now though, doesn't it?" Archer said, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
"Nevertheless" T'Pol responded "it would be wise to exert caution"
The pod landed with a jolt. The away team climbed out of the pod, being at the back Trip was out last. He raised his hand over his eyes as he squinted to see an important looking well dressed man standing in front of them with a smile on his face. He was a short man, with a closely shaven head and a pointed goatee on his chin, which looked very out of place compared to the rest of his hairless face. Along the side of his head emerging from his hairline and continuing down his face and neck then disappearing beneath his collar were dark drown 'patches'. His eyes which were staring intently at the away team were a striking electric violet colour. Staning slightly behind him on each side were two, taller men, presumably security guards, as they were armed. The man walked forward to greet the away team. Archer stretched out his hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you" he said. The man took Archer's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine Captain Archer, I am Ambassador Orbis."
"This is my science officer Sub-Commander T'Pol" she nods in greeting "my Chief Enginneer Commander Charles Tucker - "
"Pleased to meetcha'."
"- and my communications officer Ensign Hoshi Sato" she smiled at the Ambassador in greeting.
"It is a great honour to meet you all. We are currently standing on the roof of the central head office of our capital city Lorenza, would you like to see inside?" he asked.
"Of course, thank you" Archer replied.
Orbis turned round and headed towards the doors obviously leading down into the building. Archer and T'Pol began walking after him, Hoshi glanced around quickly and followed, Trip fell in step at her side.
The large elaborate dining room in which the away team was now sitting, had taken Trip's breath away when they entered, shortly after he took a nothing sharp breath when he saw the extensive amounts of food layed out on the table; for them.
Archer raised his glass to drink, but decides on speaking first. "Well this has certainly been an enlightening visit" he said and took a sip from his glass.
"For us also" the Ambassador replied from his eat at the head of the table.
"It's always nice to be welcomed into other cultures so warmly." Archer said. Trip smiled, and paused from his meal.
"Couldn't agree more, its always nice to have a change o' pace." Hoshi smiled, both Archer and T'Pol raised their eyebrows, the corners of Archers mouth, however, twitched.
"He has a point sir" Hoshi said, still grinning. Archer laughed.
"I can't imagine why anyone would not wish to invite you to share in their culture, you are indeed fascinating people." The Ambassador said.
Archer smiled and replied "You're to kind, your hospitality has been overwhelming, so as a thank you, I'd like to invite you to come and visit Enterprise." T'Pol raised her eyebrows and began to protest, but Archer stops her "Just to have a look around, its not going to do any harm is it?" he says. She gives him a slightly defeated look, and tilts her head forward slightly in silent agreement. Trip catches Hoshi's eye, they both smirk and quickly look away.
Regaining his composure Trip addresses the Ambassador "I'm sure you'd love to get a look at our engines, they're the fastest in the fleet."
The Ambassador smiles warmly "We'd be honoured, thank you." The away team smiled back, excluding T'Pol who gave him a curt nod.