Hitzeatur was a very small planet, smaller than most others under the Federation's protection. It lay securely between Andor and the empty space where Vulcan had once been, a tiny sphere spinning around in the Beta Quadrant. It had three suns, ruby red and nearly sparkling, which rose and set in such a way that night was impossible and unheard of to the Hitzeaturoids.

The Hitzeaturoids themselves had long since evolved to adapt to the conditions of their desert planet. They had hardy skin the dark, rich color of their lands, with the same texture as the tiny granules of sand which made up their planet's surface. They were tall, and thin, though they possessed incredibly short arms. The heat on Hitzeatur was hotter than most, if not all, humans could handle; even Vulcans wore lighter clothing when they had been involved with dealing with the native Hitzeaturoids on the home planet. The lack of water on the hot surface led to a lack of vegetation in general. The only plant life in sight was large fronds which could best be imagined if one looked at Terran prehistoric plant life. The Hitzeaturoids made their huts out of the tremendous leaves of the few plants they found.

The Hitzeaturoids evolved in such a way that the lack of water was handled by the mountainous humps on their backs which stored water. When they walked, they did so hunched over, the hump on their backs forcing them over in order to bear the weight. They had long, thin, white-blue hair which fell in tangles over their painted skin. There were symbols painted here and there on their skin, tribal symbols of various colors which meant fertility, goodwill, and other such wishes and prayers. They were well-equipped to handle their planet's extreme heat.

Early tribal races were not to be interfered with. No matter how they acted, the Hitzeaturoids were not to be influenced. They were a cannibalistic race; they were less than advanced, and the majority of their men were warriors. They possessed a hierarchy which featured a hierarchy that reached from their kooginn, their king, all the way down to their bueran, their peasant group. What was perhaps most fascinating was that no one in the tribal race took a mate. They were of the belief that all of them belonged to all of the others, and were free in their relations. They were not empaths, nor were they telepaths, but they were tactile creatures.

The Hitzeauroids had faces quite similar to those of humans, though their eyes were longer, slimmer, and they had three sets of eyelids, designed to keep sunlight and sand out of them. Their noses were pressed flat to their faces, close underneath their eyes, and their mouths were wide and dark, set further down, away from their nose, close to their sharp chins. They had angular features, and curved ears, though most of that was hidden by their light tangles of hair.

One of the kooginn's bearaterrez, or, rather, one of his advisors, saluted his kooginn before stepping up to him. Their language sounded rather guttural and harsh, and they spoke quickly, their thin tongues darting out between their sharp dark teeth as they spoke. The bearaterr, Alezwezzer, blinked twice in the direction of their second sun before redirecting his attention to the kooginn.

"My chief," Alezwezzer began in their native tongue, his small hands clasping together in front of his painted chest. "I foresee a... shadow, over our sun. There is much change coming. I can see it."

"Are you sure of this news?" the kooginn, Hhersonn, asked sharply. "Others have foretold great change in the past, and yet our people carry on in sameness. I will not uproot our tribe for false information, prophet Alezwezzer. Surely you understand."

"I do understand," Alezwezzer assured him, inclining his head slightly. "However, my chief, you must understand that my information is never wrong. I have not been wrong to this day, and I have lived longer than many of our people."

Kooginn Hhersonn contemplated this for a moment, his fingers tangling in his hair thoughtfully before he stood tall over bearaterr Alezwezzer. "I will consider this. Bring me several names of our strongest, bravest warriors, and we shall inform them of your prophecy, just in case of the circumstance where your prophecy is correct."

Alezwezzer bowed low, then climbed back to his feet, his back bent under his hump. "Yes, my chief. I will return shortly." With that, the bearaterr left the leafy tent, leaving shuffled trails in the sand behind him. Hhersonn stroked his rough fingertips over the sandy darkness of his skin before he turned to the kooginnia, the female tribe leader, who sat silently beside him still.

"I pray that he is wrong," Hhersonn said to her in a low voice. Kooginnia Sonnecheit inclined her head and clasped her hands together.