A Minshara class planet, which is slowly being destroyed by an unknown
disease. They sent 4 teams 
of astronauts out into space in pre-warp
shuttles, hoping to tell someone
about the plight of
their planet. The planet is inhabited by two indigenous and completely
different
species, called the Valakii and the Menk -
these two separate and genetically incompatible groups,
have both survived as sentient humanoid species. This is unusual because
as Phlox points out, in a
typical case of the
evolutionary process with two distinct species, one group would've likely wiped
the other out long before. But on this planet, both
species have evolved alongside each other. The
Menk,
however, are not as advanced in their intellectual capacities. They are much
more primitive,
whereas the Valakians have technology and
space travel and have previously made contact with
people
from other worlds, even other warp-capable races, including the M'klexans and
the Ferengi.
Despite the Menk's insistence that they're
treated well, the human crew of Enterprise seem to see
things differently. They think the Menk are being exploited by the
Valakians, so their first instinct
is to rise to their
defense despite the fact that the Menk don't appear to need or want a defender.
The Menk are happy and well treated. When
investigating why the Menk are not affected by the
disease, Phlox discovers a cure for the Valakiians, along with the fact that the
disease is genetic and
not caused by any sort of viral or
bacterial infection. In short, the epidemic is a natural genetic
process of their evolution as a people, and the Valakians
are likely to be extinct within two centuries.
Furthermore, he has evidence that the Menk, living independently, could realize
an evolutionary
awakening and eventually dominate the
planet. The question no longer is whether Phlox can cure
them (he can), but whether he *should*, and as a
scientist, Phlox realizes that he shouldn't interfere
with the natural development of an isolated society. Archer (anticipating
the adoption of the prime
directive someday) agrees not
to interfere in the natural evolution of this world.
"Dear Doctor" [ENT]
Valakian Language
Trenakadula ta?
Morana dunnat?
Kandala va gonsh.
Yorata vala?
Menk Language (Translations mostly
guesswork)
Ah.......................good
Ahna....................
A'kata...................to receive good things; are protected by
Akem....................clothing
Aren.....................
Bah.......................hurt, pain
Da (Dah)...............
Dak.......................
Dach.....................growing
Du.........................will
Dukat (Ducat).......will get
E'...........................that one
Erana.....................to heal
E'satta....................he is looking
Etta'j.......................
Fora.......................to give
Gol.........................place
H'...........................they
H'rat.......................
Kal.........................
Kata.......................to receive
Kani.......................tell us
Kat........................get
Kee........................need
Koh........................what
Ku..........................inside, where, here (indicator of place)
Kuhl.......................test, (blood sampling)
L'tee.......................
Lyn........................help
Mam.......................
Mano......................below
Matta......................
Mul.........................
N'............................
Nan.........................
N'da........................for planting
Neek.......................eat
Ohno.......................
Pah..........................land
Parum......................
Pinj.........................
Pra
(Prah)...............you
Puu.........................live
Ra'..........................vegetables, fruit
Ra'sata....................food
Sata (Satta).............to look
See..........................
Si.............................
So............................
Ta (tah)...................to do
Tik-Tik....................thank you
T'let.........................whatever
Toh..........................no
Tom.........................not
Tyba........................
U'.............................he
U'tah........................he is
doing
Y'.............................we, us
Y'lyn........................we ?
Ships:
Shuttle - Pre-warp
design. Found adrift ~1 ly from Valakis by Enterprise
"Dear Doctor" [ENT]
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