In the void of space, a large freighter dragged itself soundlessly closer to the bustling hub of SB901. On board was Ensign Neryn Ikera, being assigned to duty at the station after leave on his homeworld.
Why are these Federation ships so damned hot? thought Ikera. Ikera had been born and lived on an iceworld near the fringes of Federation Space which had joined the Federation only ten years prior. The planet had been a colony world stemming from Earth, but the origins of the colonists and their reasons for defection from the homeworld remained shrouded in speculation. But back on board the Vulcan freighter that was transporting him to his new post, Ikera merely thought to himself about his discomfort.
A chirp sounded in the ensign's quarters. "Ensign Ikera, we are being hailed by the station with a request to speak to you. Do you wish to receive the communication in your quarters or on deck?"
"Please, in my quarters, thank you," replied Ikera. He was able to keep the room within a tolerable limit, but the bridge of the Vulcan ship would be too much to politely bear. A screen in Ikera's quarters flashed briefly with the symbol of the United Federation of Planets and was followed by the image of Kitara Mallory.
After surveying the temporary quarters for a moment, Mallory spoke. "You seem to have endured your trip, Ensign Ikera."
"I was able to make my stay was comfortable as possible. The Vulcans were very compliant."
"That's one reason why you WERE assigned to arrive at SB901 on a Vulcan ship, Ensign. Few other races would have gone to the lengths the Vulcans have to accommodate you. But the reason for my call is this: I would like for you to meet with me immediately after debarking the freighter. I would like to discuss your... conditions." As Mallory finished this sentence, a slight vibration could be felt through the ship.
"I believe we are being guided by the docking tractors now. I will meet with you shortly," replied Ikera.
As soon as he left the freighter, the burst of naturally cool air from the station lifted Ikera's spirits as he head to the nearest turbolift in order to avoid the crowds inherent to starbases. When he arrived at Mallory's office, Ikera hesitated before entering, not knowing whether or not he should have joined Starfleet in the first place. He was going to have his first conversation with his first commander. The door hissed open.
"Ensign Ikera, how nice to..." The captain stopped short as she surveyed Ikera's titanic height. "Wow. I knew you were tall... but to see a seven foot human in person. That's always a shock."
"Captain Mallory, my height is actually low for the average human at my home. Our gravity is very much lower than that of other earth-like planets."
"I have read of your culture. It seems to be an interesting one. Which is one reason why I needed to talk to you before you begin unpacking your personal effects. This PADD here says that you require injections for survival? I trust that this in no way impairs your ability to work, or you would you not be here, correct?"
"Yes Captain. The injections are required by everyone on my planet because of our history in genetic engineering. There are very few phenotypes at home, and many people have been dying from genetic breakdown during the past few hundred years. The medication merely repairs my chromosomes before anything major happens to me."
"That'd understood. I just wanted to make sure I understood everything before I submit this report to Doctor Cherrin."
"Yes Captain Mallory. If you don't mind..." Ikera faltered here. "Umm... it's getting hot here."
Mallory looked harder at Ikera and found him to be sweating profusely. "Yes, Ensign. I understand. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable in your quarters. Here is a PADD with everything you need to know about SB901. Welcome to the station, Ensign Ikera. You are dismissed," she said with a smile.
Ikera smiled gratefully at the captain as he turned to leave. The instant he left the pressuring presence of his new commander, he instantly felt his body temperature drop several degrees as he keyed into the PADD to lower the temperature of his quarters to 4 degrees Celsius. The nascent officer already was beginning to feel at ease in his new home.