Y5M2Te2 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) have been prepared by high-temperature solid-state techniques and shown to be isostructural and orthorhombic Cmcm (No. 63), Z = 4. The structure was established by single crystal X-ray methods at 23 degreesC for M = Fe, with a = 3.9594(3) Angstrom, b = 15.057(1) Angstrom, and c = 15.216(1) Angstrom. The new structure contains zigzag chains of the late transition metal sheathed by a column of yttrium atoms that are in turn condensed through trans vertices on the latter to yield 2D bimetallic layers separated by single layers of tellurium atoms. Reaction of hydrogen with Y5Ni2Te2 causes a rumpling of the Y-Ni layers as determined by both single X-ray crystal means at 23 degreesC and neutron powder diffraction at -259 degreesC for Y5Ni2Te2D0.41(1), Pnma (No. 62), Z = 4. Lattice constants from the former study are a = 14.3678(7) Angstrom, b = 4.0173(2) Angstrom, and c = 15.8787(7) Angstrom. The hydrogen is accommodated in tetrahedral yttrium cavities generated by bending the formerly flat sheets at the trans Y vertices. A higher hydride version also exists. Band structure calculations confirm the 2D metal-bonded character of the compounds and also help illustrate the bonding/matrix changes that accompany the bonding of hydrogen. The ternary structures for both Y5M2Te2 and Sc5Ni2Te2 can be derived from that of Gd3MnI3, the group illustrating three different kinds of metal chain condensation.