screenshots are from [#169 Homestead]

TALAXIANS : Page 10

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TALAXIAN COLONIES: Asteroid Colony - continued	TALAXIAN COLONIES: Asteroid Colony - Dexa's Home

TALAXIAN COLONIES: Asteroid Colony - continued

Nocona Neelix and Oxilon

The asteroid's mass contains over 30% of the mineral wealth in the asteroid belt, a fact which makes it important for Nocona, alien commander of a mining operation, to demolish the asteroid, as without that he asserts that his mining operation would not be worth its expense. Nocona and his team obtain the minerals by detonating thermolytic mining charges into the giant rocks to crack them open and break them into smaller pieces. They have a strict schedule. On 5th April 2377, the anniversary of First Contact between humans and the Vulcans and thereby eventually the galactic community, becomes First Contact Day of another kind for Neelix when Voyager detects Talaxian lifesigns and he meets for the first time the Talaxians he will eventually settle with and, in addition, Dexa, with whom he is destined to fall in love. The Delta Flyer, with Neelix, Tuvok and Paris on board, sets off in search of the Talaxians but is hit by one of Nocona's thermolytic charge and crashes on the asteroid. The three are treated by the Talaxians and Captain Janeway helps by brokering negotiations between the colonists (represented by Oxilon and Neelix) and Nocona. But all that the negotiations achieve is an extended deadline for the Talaxians to leave their colony, and additionally Janeway offers USS Voyager as a transport to convey the Talaxians and their possessions.

However, when Neelix consults Tuvok on ways the Talaxians can protect their home, Tuvok leads him to some serious self-examination via this significant conversation:

Neelix: "I couldn't lead those people, Mr Tuvok. I'm not a fighter. I'm just a cook, who sometimes imagines himself to be a diplomat."
Tuvok: "On the contrary, Mr Neelix, you are much more than that. You are perhaps the most resourceful individual I have ever known."
Neelix: "I always thought you always just tolerated me."
Tuvok: "You do have some annoying habits. However, during your time on Voyager, you have developed many valuable skills, skills that would serve you well if you ever decided to assume a leadership role."
Neelix: "You really think so?"
Tuvok: "Let me be clear: I'm not urging you to do anything. I'm simply telling you that I believe that you are more than capable."

As a result, Neelix persuades the colonists not to abandon their homes. Neelix's plan is adopted and successfully implemented: a series of self-contained high-energy shield emitters, are deployed on the asteroid surface along bisecting diameters to form a defence perimeter grid. The intention is to route power to the emitters directly from the asteroid core so that they will have a permanent energy supply. Normally it would take weeks to dig that many tunnels to the surface to set up that many emitters, but Tuvok's suggestion is followed, namely that the torpedo tubes of Oxilon's ship are modified so that the emitters can be fired from the torpedo tubes and planted in the surface. Because they know that as soon as the miners realised what we were doing they would attack to try and prevent the defence perimeter being erected, Neelix provides cover from his ship, called Baxial. When Neelix's ship is rendered defenceless by an attack from Nocona's ship, suddenly the Delta Flyer comes to the rescue. Once the defence grid is established, Nocona gives up trying to demolish the asteroid and the colonists are left in peace.

Computer control interfaces and monitor displays in the colony's control centre located in the central core.

The display shows that the defence perimeter grid is active.

TALAXIAN COLONIES: Asteroid Colony - DEXA'S HOME

Pictures of Dexa's home.

Note the head of the bed and the bedside table (but please look quietly, to avoid disturbing Neelix).
Note the wall-mounted control panel and the area behind Neelix.	Brax, Dexa and Oxilon look out through the entrance.
Entrance - here Neelix 'comes home', to live with Dexa and Brax.	Note the texture of the wall behind Dexa.