Federation Races of the Star Trek Universe

VULCANS

The first alien race to make contact with humanity, the Federation is very nearly a partnership between Vulcans and Humans. When humans first made contact with Vulcans meeting in space in the original (Pre-First Contact and Pre-Enterprise) timeline, a strange but fruitful relationship was born.

Vulcans had evolved on a planet riven by bloody wars and faced the choice to either control their emotions or let their emotions control them. Under the guidance of Surak, they embraced the mental discipline of absolute logic, suppressing and controlling emotion and the passions for higher purposes. Those Vulcans who refused departed Vulcan in generation ships to become the Romulans.

The Vulcan encounter with the all too emotional humans was a difficult one, yet in the end the marriage of both sides produced the Federation-- the greatest force for peace in the galaxy. Vulcan logic and restraint disciplined human aggression and rashness, while human impulsiveness and unpredictability led to advances and a powerful defensive force that enabled the Federation to expand and protect itself. In the Yin and Yang of the Federation, the Vulcans provided the Order while humans provided the Chaos. Many Vulcans however continue to disturst humanity and the Federation and the planet Vulcan once nearly even seceded from the Federation.

HUMANS

After a disastrous Eugenics War caused by the creation of genetically engineered supermen who rose to power and then plunged the world into war, humanity began making a slow and gradual recovery and rebuilt the earth under a single united government.

While humanity has in some ways transcended its past history of violence, greed and bigotry; humans as a whole have not truly changed, only attained the conditions that permit humanity to dwell in a more peaceful state. Humanity's legacy of war remains causing humans to dominate Starfleet. Human expansionism has also led to human colonization of many planets-- in some cases bringing humanity into conflict with other races, as occurred with the Cardassians at the Demilitarized Zone.

Human ambition, innovation and inspiration continues to serve as the engine that drives the Federation forward.

ANDORIANS

One of the founding members of the Federation, the Andorian race is an extremely unusual one-- despite its outward physiological similarities to humanity. Andorians have multiple subspecies and group marriages. They are a warlike and territorial race with a history of hostilities with a number of other species including the Tellarites. Andorians form the third highest percentage of Starfleet personnel after Humans and Vulcans. However they rarely attain command rank due to their innate aggressiveness. Andorian xenophobia is sometimes noted as being almost as severe as that of the Romulans-- while the relatively low levels of xenophobia among Humans and Vulcans far better adapts these species to service in Starfleet. Nevertheless the Andorians have an ancient and proud warrior tradition that permits them to fight and die in the service of the Federation.

TELLARITES

An often misunderstood species, the natural bellicosity of Tellarites is their primary means of social interaction. The best way to befriend a Tellarite is to insult him. The only way to discuss anything with him is through a series of threats and insults. This Tellarite tendency has caused this race numerous hardships and conflicts but that's how the Tellarites like it.

First contact with humans introduced Tellarites to a race that was both belligerent as them and yet capable of reasonably understanding and adapting themselves in order to get along with them. Tellarite presence in the Federation led to continuing friction with their Andorian enemies but nevertheless they were one of the founding races of the Federation, uniting together with Humans, Vulcans and Andorians for mutual benefit and protection.

Due to their personalities Tellarite service in Starfleet is fairly rare as this argumentative race does not take well to military discipline. Neverthless Tellarites remain a potent home defense force behind the lines and make excellent merchants-- with a natural talent for belligerent haggling and bounty hunters.

BETAZOIDS

Empathic and telepathic, the Betazdoid people of Betazed are a telepathic race with a deep understanding of each other and of outsiders. Natural ambassadors and naturally peaceful, the Betazoids were quickly welcomed into the Federation on their discovery where they have enriched diplomacy and psychology. However abuses of Betazoid abilities has occured when these abilities were used to tap into the thoughts and emotions of other races.

DELTANS

A pleasure loving race, Deltans have mastered the disciplines of pleasure-- and for an extraordinary few-- pain. Their presence can often be unsettling to other races and for that reason their Starfleet service is often limited. Naturally peacelike, the Deltan pursuit of pleasure has led some to label them as hedonists but in fact Deltans are every bit as disciplined in their pursuit of pleasure as Vulcans are in their pursuit of logic. Indeed there is a good deal of similarity between the two races, despite the outward differences between the stolid serious minded Vulcans and the seemingly light minded Deltans. In a crisis, Deltans can display a great deal of mental reserve and endurance of pain and suffering.

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