Star Trek: Vulcan Read online

  The Rusty Lirpa

  Opened a decade ago by a retired half-Vulcan/half-human Starfleet officer, this dive is the perfect place to get some decent Earth comfort food while enjoying a game of billiards, darts, chess, or poker. The menu is human-centric, and all entrees are handmade to order, but a replicator offers a host of otherworldly dining options. Leagues take over the pool tables and dartboards at various times during the week, and the bar is a frequent setting for professional poker tournaments. There’s also a beach volleyball court out back, though these days it serves as the pit for the bar’s trademark barbecue. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not just meat that’s prepared in the pit, but also a host of vegetable concoctions that satisfy locals and outworlders alike. Don’t leave without trying the smoked ihntya, which is similar in composition and texture to corn, or the c’torr, which, when steamed, becomes even spicier.

  LODGING

  * * *

  Raal’s accommodations range from plush to paltry, but each has its individual charm. Most of the desirable locations are in the center of town, offering easy access to shopping, dining, and things to do.

  Aquapolis

  “Jaw-dropping” doesn’t even begin to describe this incredible synthesis of nature and the work of those who seek to bend nature to their will. Constructed along the cliffs at the city’s southern edge, Aquapolis features four hundred rooms, all of them providing astonishing views of the Voroth Sea. About half of those rooms, along with a significant portion of the hotel’s public areas, are underwater, with aquatic wildlife visible just beyond the transparent duranium that forms the structure’s outer walls. To the south are the ruins of an ancient city, which archaeologists believe was lost millennia ago to the sea as a result of a massive earthquake. Guided scuba tours of the site are available.

  Pral Ek’wak Villas

  Set in its own cove at the city’s northern end, this hotel is insulated from the hustle and bustle of Raal’s active nightlife scene by natural lava-rock formations. Bungalows sit along the fine white sand of the property’s private beach. Beneath the waves is the cove’s natural coral reef at the edge of the Voroth Sea, which is home to a stunning panorama of aquatic flora that makes for truly breathtaking undersea photography.

  40 Eridani

  Located at the center of Raal’s nightlife district, this ultra-modern hotel offers an absorbing lesson in Vulcan’s history through archival drawings, photographs, murals, and interactive holographic displays. The hotel is also home to a permanent annex of the Museum of Space Exploration, with exhibits highlighting the planet’s role as a neighbor and ally to numerous worlds. Presented here is the story of Vulcan’s official first contact with dozens of civilizations. Artifacts in the facility’s collection have been gathered over a period of more than a thousand years, brought back by explorers and diplomats who worked to expand Vulcan’s sphere of interstellar influence. Included is the azure crystal given to Ambassador T’Lir when Vulcan and Andor Prime established formal relations between the two planets. Perhaps the museum’s oddest artifact comes from Earth: a primitive mechanism used to play recorded music. Once called a “jukebox,” it was presented by Zefram Cochrane to Solkar, commander of the vessel T’Plana-Hath, during its visit to Earth and the first formal meeting between Vulcans and humans. And yes, the jukebox still works!

  PARTICIPATING IN A VULCAN MARRIAGE RITUAL

  IT’S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT, in the course of touring one of Vulcan’s beautiful cities or other landmarks, you will find yourself pulled into a local tradition. Such occurrences are rare but always memorable.

  One of the more familiar ceremonies you’re likely to encounter is the koon-ut-kal-if-fee, which translates to “marriage or challenge.” This ritual has survived for thousands of years, since the times when Vulcans allowed themselves to be ruled by their emotions. Up until a century ago, outworlders seldom, if ever, were allowed to witness such proceedings, which almost always were restricted to family and close friends.

  As is now well known, Vulcan marriages are usually arranged by parents when their children are just seven years of age. The couple-to-be engages in a mind meld—a telepathic linking that can even result in the merging of thoughts. Once joined in this way, the pair remains connected on a deeply personal level until such time as they see fit to finalize their marriage. It’s during this ceremony that a challenge to the betrothal can be issued, either by another male seeking to join with the female, or by the female if she decides she wants to marry another. If this happens, a kal-if-fee, or “passion fight,” ensues between the two males, with the winner of the challenge taking the female’s hand in marriage.

  There have been rare instances in which the female Vulcan has chosen an outworlder as a challenger to her would-be mate. High priests and priestesses overseeing these ceremonies have become more accommodating in recent years regarding these sorts of deviations from established tradition, though it’s still something of an event when non-Vulcans find themselves drawn into this ancient ritual. If you are chosen to be a challenger for the kal-if-fee, the following advice should see you through the ceremony.

  ■ Vulcan customs are not binding for outworlders, so you have the option to decline any offer to participate. Feel free to do so without fear of ridicule.

  ■ Once you’re committed, there’s no backing out. Also, it’s probably worth mentioning that as often as not, your opponent might be suffering from the plak tow or “blood fever.” This is a symptom of the Pon farr biological condition that Vulcans endure every seven years of their adult life. Rational behavior and reason are out the window for a Vulcan affected by the plak tow. Prepare to defend yourself!

  ■ If you’re not acclimated to Vulcan’s severe, arid climate; stronger gravity; and the lower oxygen content of the planet’s atmosphere, it’s advised that you have a tri-ox compound administered before the fighting starts. You should always consult a physician before taking any medication or before beginning any new strenuous activities.

  ■ Pay attention to the rules of the challenge. The contest is undertaken in stages, each involving a different weapon. The ceremony’s overseer will determine the duration of each stage, until one of the contestants is killed during the fight.

  ■ Did we mention that these fights are to the death? Good luck!

  ■ In the unlikely event that you survive the kal-if-fee and defeat your opponent, congratulations! You win a new spouse.

  ■ Prizes are not transferable.

  L-LANGON MOUNTAINS

  * * *

  MAP OF L-LANGON MOUNTAINS

  GETTING AROUND

  SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES

  Bacchus Plateau

  Camp Camelot

  Flying Tours

  IDIC Shrine

  Institute for the Transmission of Vulcan Culture

  Kren’than

  Serenity Square

  Oska Archives Annex

  Temple of Amonak

  Zin’zahn Marathon

  T’gretvhal Monastery

  SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT

  Crystalline Entities

  Festival at the Summit

  Meditations of T’Pau

  DINING AND NIGHTLIFE

  Fire Plains Mural Cafe

  Ba’tak

  L’jusa Tea House

  LODGING

  Golgatya Camping Ground

  Haulan

  T’grat Inn

  FORMING THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER of the desert area known as Vulcan’s Forge, the L-langon Mountains are known to be one of the areas traversed by Vulcan children attempting to complete the kahs-wan. This traditional rite of passage requires adolescent Vulcans to undergo a grueling endurance test while traversing some of the planet’s most pitiless terrain. Those who complete the ordeal are recognized as having taken their first true steps on the path to adulthood. Thousands of advanced hiking enthusiasts challenge the range’s brutal topography each year, and the area plays host to an annual weeks-long hiking and wilderness surviva
l challenge modeled in many ways after the kahs-wan. Would-be competitors who aren’t in top physical condition are encouraged to stick to the villages and other less hazardous points of interest. Outworlders should note that the mountains are also home to a number of settlements that tend to discourage visitors. Check with your travel agent or tour guide for details before setting off on your own expedition.

  Far away from the bustling city life that so characterizes the larger population centers, the L-langon Mountains’ tranquil setting is also a considerable lure for scientists, historians, and other academics. The Vulcan Science Academy, as well as Starfleet and the Federation Science Bureau, maintains several annexes and other facilities in the region.

  I WAS DESTINED TO LIVE HERE

  * * *

  (First published in the 2268 Edition)

  From the time I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to live on Vulcan. The culture here is rich and steeped in an enthralling, often contradictory history. I’m continually fascinated by the methodical nature of the Vulcan people, who approach every task with the same deliberate focus regardless of its scope or complexity. If living among them has taught me anything, it’s that patience is not simply a virtue but a survival skill.

  My first exposure to this world and its wondrous people was through a chance encounter with Ambassador Sarek. I fell in love with him almost immediately. He’ll tell you that marrying me was the logical thing to do at the time, but don’t let that firm Vulcan demeanor fool you: I had to woo him.

  It’s been almost sixty years since I came here to live as Sarek’s wife, and my love for this world continues to grow every day. We used to come to the mountains when Sarek’s schedule permitted a vacation, and it didn’t take long for this place to win me over. Perhaps it’s because this is where my husband and my son each took their first steps on the path to the wonderful men they became. The tranquility and simple beauty to be found here has stolen my heart even as it continues to warm my soul. Welcome to the L-langon Mountains and to Vulcan, my true home.

  —Amanda Grayson

  GETTING AROUND

  * * *

  With the exception of a docking facility for aerial craft, the areas open for visitors to the L-langon Mountains do not have mass transportation. Taxis are nonexistent, and Vulcan custom precludes the use of pack animals for such tasks. If you’re not using a privately owned or rented conveyance, your mobility will largely be limited to however many feet you happen to have.

  SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES

  * * *

  Most of the year, the villages and settlements sprinkled at the base of the L-langon Mountains provide only modest offerings to tourists. All of that changes during the weeks leading up to the Zin’zahn Marathon, when thousands of people descend on the region and take over the limited hotel accommodations and campgrounds. Retail traffic also experiences a sharp spike, as shopping and dining establishments from other cities set up temporary venues here to support the marathon, its contestants, and the masses of spectators and media personnel watching and reporting on the event.

  Bacchus Plateau

  This expanse of flat rock near the summit of Mount To’peq is a favored gathering place for Vulcan elders along with clerics and students of the nearby T’gretvhal Monastery. It is here that Surak is believed to have faced the most formidable resistance to his teachings, resulting in a brief yet fierce battle with Sobok, a High Master who commanded legions of followers. Though forces loyal to Surak won the fight, he ultimately abandoned this region as he continued his quest. From this elevation, visitors are treated to a wondrous view of the L-langon Valley, with the village of Kren’than visible on cloud-free days. It’s a bit of a hike to get here, but the effort is worth it.

  Camp Camelot

  The location of a former excavation effort of the Federation Archaeology Council, Site V-271 was established near the outer range of the L-langon Mountains in the late twenty-third century. Archaeologists and historians had hoped to ascertain the location of the ShiGral, a city allegedly founded by Surak as he spread his message through the region. It was believed to be the one place where the great leader’s philosophies of peace and logic were never fully embraced, and that the city fell victim to civil war as its people turned on one another. Though the excavation failed to discover the lost city here, remnants of the camp still stand as part of a larger historical trail crossing the planet as the search for ShiGral continues.

  Flying Tours

  While much of the area’s mountainous expanse is accessible from the ground only by experienced hikers and climbers, there’s nothing preventing you from taking in the area’s full splendor from the air. Tour craft shuttle visitors to the high peaks, where long-abandoned castles and fortresses are scattered throughout these remote regions, offering glimpses into the area’s distant past. There’s still plenty of wildlife roaming the mountains though, including packs of norsehlats, which are the area’s dominant predators. It’s at these elevations that you’ll also be able to see flights of wind-riders, delicate creatures that can only survive at the planet’s highest elevations. They spend their entire lives consigned to the air, their bodies so frail that they’re incapable of even touching the ground. For the most dramatic view, wait until after sundown when the wind-riders’ translucent bodies light up the nighttime Vulcan sky.

  IDIC Shrine

  This circular stone courtyard stands alone beyond the mountains at the southern plains leading to Vulcan’s Forge. At its center sits a massive sculpture depicting the symbol of the Vulcan philosophy “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.” Created centuries ago, the sculpture’s origins remain shrouded in mystery. Adding to the puzzle is the fact that the black obsidian rock from which it was carved is not indigenous to this region. How the stone came to be here and who fashioned it into its stunning shape has been fueling debates for generations.

  Institute for the Transmission of Vulcan Culture

  The unassuming structure that is home to this centuries-old organization belies the history and importance of the work performed within its walls. Think of it as Vulcan’s equivalent of the Federation’s Memory Alpha facility but focused on the preservation of Vulcan culture. State-of-the-art computer imaging and data storage enhance the institute’s vast subterranean library, which maintains the largest single storehouse of Vulcan knowledge. Visitors can expect a lengthy, comprehensive tour of the facility and an informative presentation about the institute’s work and the library it oversees.

  Kren’than

  Isolated high atop an unnamed summit, this village is in may ways a “living time capsule,” depicting a microcosm of Vulcan as it was in ages long past. In a manner similar to the Bak’u or Earth’s Amish communities, Kren’than villagers shun the use of modern technology except in cases of dire emergency. They believe that society’s reliance on technology thousands of years ago, particularly that used to create increasingly powerful weaponry, was a driving force in the wars that all but consumed the Vulcan people. Upon founding this village, the initial settlers resolved never again to invite such danger. Everything from the buildings and supporting infrastructure to the gardens, food, clothing, and other incidental needs, is created by hand. Visitors are welcome but only on condition of absolute observance of the commune’s rules, which means no holocameras or other modern personal conveniences.

  Serenity Square

  This peace park on the front grounds of the Haulan hotel is a favored retreat for locals seeking a quiet respite from the demands of the day. Gardens and reflecting pools are maintained with exquisite care. According to legend, Surak chose this spot to meditate following his battle with Sobok on the Bacchus Plateau before traversing the L-langon Mountains and setting off across the Forge in search of new followers.

  Oska Archives Annex

  This satellite facility of the main archives complex in ShiKahr acts as a secondary repository for volumes of official records and other data concerning government matters as well as the personal corre
spondence and other documents of notable Vulcans throughout the planet’s recorded history. Though modern optical media is used to store the voluminous data collected over the centuries, the annex also features several underground levels where original manuscripts and texts are stored. There is a visitors gallery and a brief tour available, but access to the annex’s record storage areas is strictly off-limits to outworlders.

  Temple of Amonak

  This sacred shrine is popular with locals and visitors, owing to its prime role in ancient Vulcan history. It often acted as a refuge for religious and political leaders seeking escape from tyrannical warlords resisting the growing peace movement. The temple underwent extensive fortification, becoming a castle that eventually served to repel a number of attacks as the fighting reached its height. Abandoned centuries ago, the temple fell into ruin, until Vulcan High Masters from the nearby village of Kren’than spearheaded an effort to repair the crumbling structures to their former glory. The massive undertaking was concluded in the early twenty-fourth century, allowing the public access once again to this most revered of religious sites. Touring the temple is like jumping back and forth through time as visitors move between modernized interior spaces and the shrine’s lower levels, which remain as they’ve been for centuries.