Nisel IV
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Planet Summary
Nisel IV (pronounced "Nai-cell", a planet in the Nisel system, was the planet gifted to the Vaadwaur by the Federation after the events of Operation Bright Star in 2387. Technically an M class planet, its primary features are vast, unending deserts and a significant maze of underground rivers.
At time of settlement, it was home to 798 Vaadwaur refugees of various ages and 75 Marines. With the second batch of clones currently being grown this number is sure to swell.
Four settlements have, so far, been errected on the planet's surface. These are creatively numbered one through four.
Population breakdown
As of 2387, the population of Nisel IV can be determined as follows:
Vaadwaur
Male: 446, Female: 352.
Leader: None (formerly Sedrin during Operation Bright Star, previously Marari).
Age breakdown:
- 0-5 years: 103 (97 clones of various parentage)
- 6-10 years: 3
- 11-15 years: 5
- 16-20 years: 111
- 21-25 years: 139
- 26-30 years: 320
- 31-35 years: 107
- 36-40 years: 8
- 41-45 years: 3
- 46-50 years: 1
The vast body of Vaadwaur above the age of 15 have some form of military service in their records. This is due to the nature of the Vaadwaur survivors awoken by the USS Voyager (VOY: Dragon's Teeth).
Marines
Male: 32, Female: 43
Leader: Marine Captain Suval of Vulcan, who has granted himself the title of "Administrator".
The majority of the Marines stationed on Nisel IV are enlisted personnel and were drawn from a number of ships in the Ihassa region, although Suval was originally from the USS Kumari.
Geography
Nisel IV is almost completely barren desert, although life exists beneath the ever shifting sands. Many lizard-like creatures and worms burrow into the sand at nighttime, coming out during the day. The general inhospitableness of the planet has been the primary reason why a planet in such an otherwise unattractive location has yet to be settled by any other race.
The primary form of vegetation on Nisel IV are fungi which grow in the few salt water lakes that dot the planet's surface. These fungi take the form of large mushroomed stalks which rise out of the water, somehow able to survive in high-salinity liquid.
Aside from insects and creatures smaller than a human hand, Nisel IV does not posses a great deal of animal life. Rumours persist of much, much larger creatures (fish and amphibians) inside the subterranean limestone caverns which harbour most of the planet's water supply, but there is no scientific evidence of their existence.
Issues
Marines
The Vaadwaur population of Nisel IV, beaten after the events of Operation Bright Star, have accepted their fate as refuges with dignity. Many of these issues stem from the horrific loss of life in Operation Bright Star, where the bulk of the dead were Marines, resulting in a significant amount of bitterness from the Starfleet personnel.
Accordingly, Administrator Suval and his men treat the Vaadwaur as prisoners instead of refugees.
No substantial cases of abuse or "barter" have been reported by any visitor to the Vaadwaur planet, although several Vaadwaur have commented that it's "bound to happen eventually".
Gender
Although significant steps forward were made in the years before the Vaadwaur entombment, Vaadwaur women who marry are considered the property of the male who marries them. A Vaadwaur tradition states that if a male kills another male, then all of the victim's property (including wives) belong to the victor. This attitude is beginning to change due to many factors including the large number of female Marines assigned to watch the Vaadwaur, Marari's influence who was a former equal rights campaigner and visits from Starfleet officers such as Alleran Tan.
Surprisingly, homosexuality is not seen as any different from hetrosexual relationships and several such relationships exist between the Vaadwaur. During the occupation of Deep Space 17, Ayelet Kadosh, a Starfleet nurse, was nearly assaulted by a female Vaadwaur guard with amorous intent.
The role of females in the military has continued to be an issue in the now-civilian Vaadwaur society. Because their numbers are so few, there is significant pressure on Vaadwaur women to "settle down" and begin the task of repopulating their depleted ranks. Understandably, this has caused a great deal of pressure between the male and female population.
Supplies
Although each settlement has their own issues, as of 238711.06, fresh drinking water is at a premium in Settlement IV. A new well, dug by hand by the inhabitants of the settlement, promises to relieve some of this pressure. This water will serve many purposes, including irrigation, and is feared by some Marines as a means for the Vaadwaur to ease their reliance upon Starfleet, eventually gaining their independence. Administrator Suval particularly opposes this course of action, instead seeking to retain more control over the "wards" in his "camp".