Zhaveel Depot
1st day of the 8th month

"There's never much to do here," Zhanel Kzot murmured.

After leaving Vortel the Havora had headed 'north east', traveling about twenty five light years in little
over a month. They were now midpoint in the Cygnet Sector, between the worlds of Cygnet and Bre'el.

Since encountering the United Federation of Planets, twenty one years ago, Nlia had formed trade
contacts with two of its members, the Andorians and Tellerites. The Andorian merchant fleet was
the largest in the Federation and the most wide, ranging traveling to worlds well outside Federation
space. They had established several tiny freighter depots in such areas, where their ships could refuel
and be repaired and where other ships could come to conduct business with them.

The Zhaveel Depot was the first stop on the Havora's annual long haul. They had docked yesterday
and exchanged goods with the Andorian ship KalIndra, commanded by Uvra zh'Arn, whom Tav had
conducted business with for several years, and where now having their first shore leave in a month.

It wasn't much of a shore leave in K'zot's opinion. Mareesa had tagged along with him for the past
few hours as they wandered the depot. At barely twenty four, he was the youngest member of the crew.
Fun-loving and sly with a mischievous streak, he was always fun to be around.

'Fun' however was not something in large supply on an Andorian outpost. Andorians were a very
serious, hardworking people with a strong cultural taboo against frivolity, or any activity that was
seemingly a waste of time. And they didn't take part in small talk either: all conversations were
business-like and to the point. This and other depots had been built as a repair and resupply facility,
not for fun and entertainment. It had small lodgings, eateries and a few shops, but they were very
Spartan. A fact which Kzot, who enjoyed his comforts, always noted when they were here.

Vartell, Maressa knew, had great respect for Andorians and always took the opportunity to interact
with them. When the Nlian Defense Fleet had been formed thirteen years before, the Nlians, completely
inexperienced in warfare, had asked for Tkarite and Andorian instructors to train the first members.
The Tkarites had trained them in stealth and hand to hand combat, while the Andorians had instructed
them in weapons and tactics.

The training had been intense, even brutal, and many of the recruits, most of whom had never raised their
hand to another in their entire lives, had been shaken at first. But like all Nlians; "When you're knocked
down, get back up."

They had persevered, as Nlians always did in adversity. Under their Instructors guidance, they had put
together a tiny but effective fleet and ground force and the original members had successfully passed
on what they had learned to future trainees. They would never be a warrior race and had absolutely
no desire to be, but they were equipped to defend themselves.

It was now a requirement that all Nlians who intended to serve in some tactical position on any type
of ship, be it helm, shields, or weapons, had to spend at least six months training with the Defense Fleet.
Martell had been among the trainees and she had often heard him speak of Andorian methods.
He often said that the Andorians were a warrior race with few sympathies, but they had a tremendous
sense of duty and honor.

Mareesa for her part simply enjoyed the chance to be members of other species, something that
fascinated her no end and gave her endless things to put in her journals. Nearly all of the people
at the depot were Andorian, although there was currently a Bre'el ship docked too. She would
watch them, try to imagine what sort of lives they'd led and the places they'd been.

And being here provided another opportunity as well.

Up ahead she spotted one of the few shops the depot had, a tiny clothing store, and quickly moved
toward it.

"Decided to shop for some clothes?" Kzot asked.

"I'm just looking," she said. She entered the shop and headed toward the scarf section. Andorian silk
was prized for its softness and Andorians, for all their solemnity, were skilled artists and craftsmen.

Mareesa smiled as she looked around. This was one of the special projects Pal'al had given her.
He had never been good with women's fashions, but Mareesa had always had an eye for things that
women liked and he had enlisted her aid in looking for something that might make a suitable gift
for See'a.

She grinned as she spotted a brightly decorated scarf. Yes, it was just the sort of thing See'a would like!
Quickly she bade goodbye to Kzot and hurried off to find Pal'al, who she had seen not long before
in one of the eateries.

Her grin widened. Pal'al was planning several gifts for his lifemate. Well, she was planning a surprise too.
For both the lifemates and their baby.