Captain's log, stardate 41636.9. As feared, our examination of the seven year overdue Federation freighter, Odin, disabled by an asteroid collision, revealed no survivors. However, three escape pods were missing, suggesting the possibility of survivors.
"Ready to begin orbit of Angel One, Captain," Laforge reported from the helm.
"Make it so, Mister La Forge. What kind of place is this, Data?"
'"Angel One is a class M planet, sir, supporting carbon based flora and fauna, sparsely populated with intelligent life forms. It is similar in technological development to mid-twentieth century Earth. It is the closest planet to the Odin, but to travel distance we did in two days at warp one would have taken the Odin escape pod five months, fourteen days, eleven hours, two minutes -"
"Thank you, Mister Data," Picard interrupted.
"... and fifty seven seconds," the android finished, almost petulantly.
"Captain," Worf said, "we're receiving an audio signal from Angel One."
Picard turned to his officers to remind them, "Starfleet are adamant that we maintain excellent diplomatic relations with this planet. Mister Data, is there any other pertinent information before we reply?"
"Angel One has evolved into a constitutional oligarchy. It is governed by a parliamentary body consisting of six elected Mistresses, and headed by a female they refer to as The Elected One."
"Female leadership?" Yar smiled.
"Klingons appreciate strong women," Worf added.
Picard added his own appreciative smile. "How current is this information, Mister Data?"
"A Federation vessel last visited this planet sixty two years ago, Captain."
"Only slightly out of date." Picard turned to Yar, "Commander, as this is a female dominated society, you might wish to make the initial contact."
"Hailing frequencies open, sir," Worf acknowledged.
"This is Lieutenant Commander Natasha Yar of the USS Enterprise."
The voice came over the comm, "I am Beata, The Elected One. How may we assist you, Lieutenant Commander?"
"A long-lost Federation freighter has been discovered adrift near your system. We come in search of possible survivors."
A long moment of silence stretched before a response. "A brief visit will be tolerated," she finally said. "We will send coordinates."
"They have ended the transmission," Worf announced.
*****
Tasha, Soriana, Beverly, and Data stood on the transporter pad awaiting transport as the captain entered to see them off.
"Remember," the captain said, "Starfleet is hoping that this world may one day join the Federation. While the safety of Federation citizens is obviously our priority, let's make as positive an impression as we can."
"I'll let Soriana do most of the talking," Yar quipped.
"Good luck, Number One," Picard said, and Soriana felt the surprise from Tasha as he called her that for the first time. "Energise."
*****
The chamber was large but poorly apportioned; Soriana was struck by its use of natural light. The gender hierarchy was immediately obvious, with the women not only physically larger than the men but also clearly their superiors in status and bearing. The men's clothing was clearly designed for physical attractiveness over function.
One woman commanded the attention of all others - clearly the leader, before she even opened her mouth. "I am Beata, The Elected One of Angel One," she intoned with absolute command. "Representatives of the Starfleet Enterprise, do you wish to petition?"
"We do," Soriana stepped forward. "We come to see if survivors from a Federation freighter, Odin, may have become marooned on your planet."
"So you said," Beata agreed. "Even a planet as remote as Angel One has heard of Starfleet. Searching the galaxy for survivors seems a petty task for one of their mighty vessels."
"We place great value in our citizens," Yar replied. "Rescue tasks are core to Starfleet's mission."
"I see," Beata acknowledged. "And if you find any survivors, what then?"
"We would offer them aid, and passage home," Soriana explained. "Do you have reason to believe that there are, indeed, survivors from the Odin here on Angel One?"
A younger woman spoke up. "Are we to take these strangers at their word?"
"Good question," Beata agreed.
"What reason would we have to deceive you?" Yar responded, taken aback by the younger woman's hostility.
"Another good question," Beata nodded.
"Elected One," Soriana repeated, "do you have reason to believe that survivors from the Odin made it here to your world?"
Beata thought for a moment. "I am not yet prepared to answer," she finally pronounced. "See to their comforts."
The away team was led to guest quarters more comfortably furnished than the larger chamber. Yar immediately took charge. "What did you sense, Counsellor?"
"Quite a bit of fear and hostility," Soriana reported, "but very little of it directed at us."
"If not us, then what?" Doctor Crusher asked. "Could the Odin crew have brought some sort of infection to the planet, perhaps? Or be threatening the society here in some other way?"
"Possible," Soriana agreed. "But it's rather obvious that they've encountered survivors in some capacity. It's the only explanation for their being so circumspect."
"I agree," Yar said. "We just need to wait until Beata decides to share whatever information they have."
"What if they deny the existence of the survivors?" Data asked.
"We'll cross that road if we come to it," she shrugged.
*****
When next they found themselves before the Elected One, Soriana saw that the chamber was not as full as before. There were no male servants around, and only a few of what she recognized as the more high-ranking women.
Beata began with no introduction. "You claim you intend to remove these survivors from our planet. Are you prepared to give us your solemn word on that?"
Soriana sensed this matter to be closely tied to the fear and hostility she detected in these leaders. "We had intended only to offer them passage off the planet, not to force them to take it. Nonetheless, this is your world; we would certainly remove Federation citizens if they have settled here unlawfully."
Beata nodded. "You should know that the vote was not unanimous. Some of those among us are suspicious. Yet the majority feel that we have no choice but to trust you." She continued, "There are four survivors from the ship you call Odin, all male. Their leader is a man who calls himself Ramsey."
"Have these men committed some sort of crime?" Yar inquired.
"They are anarchists," Beata explained. "They have fomented unrest in our society, undermined our leadership." She continued, "Angel One has had a unified planetary government for more than a century, and Ramsey is the most credible threat to that unity we have faced in decades."
"They are in hiding, then?" Yar asked.
"Indeed. We have no idea where they are, but we understand you have ways of tracking them?"
"If they have kept any of the technology from the Odin," Data volunteered, "then we will most likely be able to use it to establish their location."
Beata nodded. "Then we leave you to it. But be warned - these men are dangerous."
****
Lieutenant Commander Data looked good in revealing earthtones, even Soriana would have to admit. But the amount of emotion she felt from Natasha Yar upon Data's entry modeling the manservant garb was… well, distracting.
"I do not see how these clothes are efficient, even for for carrying out menial tasks," Data said.
Of the three women, Beverly was the least affected, so she answered, "The purpose isn't efficiency, Data… it's titillation."
The science officer cocked his head to the side. "Ah, like the perfume. These are worn to attract a mate." He turned to his immediate superior. "Does the Elected One's provision of these clothes for me prior to our meeting imply that she has… affection… for me?"
Yar frowned, and Soriana felt a stab of jealousy from the woman. "I think she just wanted to, put a man in his place, Data. Make sure your interaction with Beata stays professional; we wouldn't want to risk offending her."
Soriana wasn't sure that staying professional would necessarily be the best way to do that, but it was the first officer's call, not hers.
*****
The three women materialized at the entrance to a cavern. Soriana felt at once the fear, and corresponding courage, of the man waiting for them there.
"Welcome," the man opened in greeting. "How did you find me?"
"You have elements the Enterprise could detect," Crusher volunteered.
"Ah, our keepsakes. My wings, no doubt and a few others," Ramsey mused. "No matter. You've found us, as we predicted."
"Where are the other survivors, Mister Ramsey?" Yar probed.
"Oh, they're nearby. They're packing, as a matter of fact, since we can no longer remain here."
"Do you have no interest in being rescued?" Crusher intuited.
Ramsey shrugged. "None at all. My shipmates and I have all taken wives; a few even have children. You can't rescue a man from a place he calls his home."
Soriana frowned. "You've settled here, then?"
"We have," Ramsey nodded. "And despite what Mistress Beata would have you believe, we've broken no laws here."
"She says you're anarchists," Soriana offered. "That you've undermined the leadership here."
"We've spoken our beliefs," Ramsey agreed. "That men should be respected just as women are, given the same rights to vote and to work."
"None of that is your concern," Tasha Yar urged. "This world should be allowed to develop at its own pace, not forced by outsiders. The Federation isn't in the business of interfering in the internal development of other worlds."
"Then leave," Ramsey smiled. "This is our home, now; and I agree - the Federation need not interfere."
"You're giving up your Federation citizenship, then?" Soriana confirmed. "You wish to be treated as part of Angel One, under their laws instead of ours?"
Ramsey nodded. "That's what we all want."
"Let me speak to your crewmates, then," Soriana insisted. Ramsey waved them into the cavern.
"This is insane," Yar growled. "The Prime Directive -"
"Doesn't apply to their conduct," the counsellor interjected. "The Odin wasn't a Starfleet vessel. Civilian citizens are free to expatriate to other planetary societies if they so choose, as long as they renounce their Federation citizenship. And so long as the society accepts alien immigrants."
"Clearly Angel One does not accept them," Crusher pointed out. "They have asked us to remove them from the planet."
"It's not that simple, unfortunately," Soriana sighed as they continued their journey into the hideout.
*****
The Elected One was, Soriana could sense, not at all happy with their return. From the way her strong emotions seemed to gravitate toward Data, she could guess why.
"What has happened?" Mistress Beata asked. "Did you technology fail you after all?"
"That is not the issue," Soriana replied, "There are other matters in play instead. Could you please indulge me in detailing a couple of points?"
The leader's gaze flicked to Data with eagerness, before returning to Soriana with annoyance. "Ask your questions. Briefly. "
Nodding her thanks, the counsellor began, "When the Odin crewmen first landed on your world, how did you treat them at first?"
"We welcomed them, of course," Beata boasted. "We took them in, tended their wounds, took care of them as you would any man. For a time, it seemed as though they would fit in fine as husbands and fathers here."
"You made no effort to contact the Federation? To find them passage off your world?"
"No; why would we?" Beata's brows furrowed. "They were content to call Angel One their new home, and the women who choose them as mates were happy with them. It wasn't until they began their attacks on the government that we were forced to take action."
"Can you explain how, exactly, they attacked your government?" Yar asked.
"Their attacks were quite extensive," the leader explained. "It started small; a rumor among the men that some of them might be suitable for women's work. That wives should consult with their husbands in managing money or property." She scowled. "Soon it got more overt. Ramsey said that a government elected by only half the population wasn't legitimate; that men should be able to vote alongside women. That they should have equal rights in marriage, be considered the guardians of their children along with their wives."
"When did the attacks start?" Yar pushed.
"I just described the attacks," Beata snapped. "Men started to listen to these seditious lies, and even some women became sympathetic. There were calls to consider allowing men in positions of authority, even to hold land on their own. Calls for me to put a man on my ruling council." She shook her head. "When we determined that the danger was coming from the aliens, we went to arrest them, but they hid underground. The corrosion of our very society persists. That's why we must ask you to remove them."
"I'm sorry," Soriana replied. "But we're not empowered to do that."
Beata's eyes bulged. "How can you not be empowered to remove Federation citizens from a sovereign world?"
"If they were Federation citizens, then we would be required to remove them at your behest," Soriana explained. "But they're not. By your own description, you accepted them as immigrants to your world, and made no effort to remove them."
"At first," Beata admitted, "but now we want them gone!"
"And you have every right to do with them as you see fit," Soriana agreed. "They've renounced their Federation citizenship. As far as Starfleet is concerned, they're every bit as much your people as anyone born here. And we are forbidden to interfere."
*****
Captain's log, stardate 41637.2. Having found the surviving crew of the Odin, we were nonetheless unable to retrieve any Federation citizens. Those four men who survived have claimed Angel One as their home, and we have no choice but to leave them to it. Our next stop is the neutral zone, where an eminent confrontation requires the Enterprise's presence most urgently.