"Sorry... that seems more like an autopsy!"
Sulu grumbled to himself.
He had heard the legends about the Beak-Masked Men, too. But in the stories, they were simply a group of ordinary doctors who wore masks shaped like bird beaks, with herbs stuffed inside to filter the air. It was a precaution against certain infectious diseases.
But ignorant people had spread rumors until they became strange men with bird beaks.
And because they often ventured into infected areas to conduct research and treat patients, they were mistaken for messengers of plague and nicknamed the "Death-Announcing Birds." It was rather unfair.
He didn't interrupt the old gentleman, though. Instead, he agreed with him a few times, which made the other man very happy.
After chatting for a while, he learned that the gentleman's surname was Farin. He and Mrs. Farin had been married for over forty years, and their children lived elsewhere. He had only just retired, which was why he had decided to return to his hometown to spend his twilight years.
Time flew by during their pleasant conversation.
Gradually, amid the roar of steam, the outline of a port city appeared before them.
It was the jewel of the Federation's trade—Posi Port!
It was named after Posi, a hero who rose to prominence during the First Holy War. The city boasted the Federation's most famous landmark: the Goddess of Light Memorial Tower, a steel behemoth built at the port, standing 103 meters tall and weighing 327 tons!
They said that the crew of every ship making its first visit to the port would gaze at the magnificent, resplendent structure, and that they would remain too stirred to calm down for a long while.
But Sulu still preferred the memorial tower on Silver Dollars.
Mm, those thick, crisp little darlings,