Balitoth is one of the non-human crewmen of the Kestrel. I found this picture on the web which is something like him.
He is from Zoa, a reptilian race, with a longer jaw than humans and sharp teeth. His blood is cooler than humans too, so he wears an insulated jacket over his uniform, except in his quarters, which he keeps at a higher temperature. He shares quarters with the other non-human crew member, the Altairian Shom Reuel, who luckily is happy with the warmer temperature.
Zoans are not very emotional, as Balitoth puts it, “My people are … unsentimental.” Their faces don’t show emotions well either. This can make them seem to be unfeeling and callous. Balitoth has learnt to compensate with gestures, especially in dealing with the more emotional humans, and has also learnt to show some emotions that he doesn’t actually feel, but are expected of him. Still, he has never been known to raise his voice or lose his calm disposition.
Zoans don’t have marriage. Couples mate whenever and with whoever they want to, and then the children are raised by the whole community, particularly by the older females. Balitoth has several children, but doesn’t keep in touch with them as they belong to the tribe of their mothers. He pays more attention to the children of the females in his tribe, as their children are his family.
The tribe is dominated by the males, but great respect is given to the females. They aren’t second-class citizens but recognised to have different roles, more nurturing and organising. Businesses are run by tribal families, with the males making major decisions but the females running the practical side.
Just before the first Kestrel story, Intruders, Balitoth is suddenly taken ill and has to be dropped off at the nearest planet for emergency surgery. This is a problem, as Zoans can only be operated on by Zoans, and this is a human colony. But they find a Zoan doctor and Dr Robinson manages to get permission for the operation to be done in the colony medical facility. Balitoth’s room-mate Reuel is very worried, as they have become very good friends. You will be surprised when you find out what brought Balitoth and Reuel together!
It is Balitoth’s absence which leaves the Kestrel short-handed and leads to Captain Darrow deciding to offer work experience to the top student in the local PACT Training Academy – who is Tabitha Enns. Luckily Balitoth recovers and joins the crew for the main expedition.
Alien Secrets is a lot about Reuel, but Balitoth is his best friend and room mate, so he helps a lot.
In Crisis of Conscience, Balitoth goes in the landing party to visit Dr Anders and ends up rescuing his daughter, who is also a Zoan, but of a different tribe.
Ann Marie Thomas is the author of five medieval history books, a surprisingly cheerful poetry collection about her 2010 stroke, and the science fiction series Flight of the Kestrel, Intruders, Alien Secrets & Crisis of Conscience are out now Follow her at http://eepurl.com/bbOsyz