Gorn

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			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Gorn
Four Letter Code	GORN
Federation Status	Allied
Planet of Origin	Tau Lacertae III, in the Mutara Sector (Ghdar I)
Encountered	TOS: Arena, TAS: Time-Trap, ENT: In a Mirror Darkly, Part II
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N+
List of Named Gorns
Full ILI Gallery • Permitted Species Gallery

The Gorn are an intelligent, bipedal, reptilian species who fought with Captain Kirk on stardate 3045.6 under the assumption that the Federation was threatening the Gorn claim to the planet Cestus III. The Gorn have their own political alliance, called the Gorn Hegemony, and claim eight star systems throughout three sectors. The Gorn are usually over two meters tall with rough leathery skin and a hard multifaceted shell over their eyes. The Gorn have large claws on their hands and feet, and are unable to speak most humanoid languages, requiring translators to communicate with most other lifeforms.

For Canon Information, See Also

• Gorn on Wikpedia
• Gorn on Memory-Alpha

UFoP:SB 118 Specific Information

Home System

   Quadrant: Alpha
   Location:  Buffered by Klingon and Federation Space. Star base 82 is the closest Federation starbase. Cestus III has been formally given to the Federation.  The Mutara Nebula is not far removed from Gorn Space.
   Proper Name:  Festura
   Pronunciation:  Fest-ur
   Stars:  Festeur IV
   Distance from Star: 0.71AU (101,726,640 km)
   Companions:

Home World

   Proper Name:  S'sgarnon
   Pronunciation:Sgarnon
   Diameter: 12,546 km  
   Gravity: 1.4 standard gravity with a density of 5.9
   Axial Tilt: 10%, minor seasonal effects (less than Earth)
   Orbital Period: 378.25   days  
   Rotational Period: 34 earth hours
   Classification: M
       Surface Water: 53%
       Atmosphere: 1.93 is a standard pressure with 79% nitrogen, 20.5% oxygen, 0.5% industrial pollutants
       Climate: Tropical, and sub tropical lands.
       Population: 800 million

History

The government of the worlds controlled by the reptilian race known as the Gorn is called the Alliance. There is a small government clan that actually keeps the three other clans in line.

The Gorn evolved on the planet S'sgarnon, a temperate, warm Class M planet with a local gravity of 1.1 Standard G. The Gorn have their own political alliance, called the Gorn Hegemony, they claim sovereignty over eight star systems throughout three sectors.

There are three main clans, Military, Science and the Service Clans. They have battled on and off for hundreds of years. With the discovery of Warp technology by science a major clan war ensued for 20 years for control of the new technology. The society had a almost complete breakdown coming close to totally anarchy. There was a massive population decrease to a point were finally cooler egos prevailed. There was a summit between the clans; finally a decision was reached to create a new clan to prove peace and permanent leadership class. The government clan was created to rule and in turn the clans pledged total allegiance to the Hegemony. That happened some 200 years ago.

Government

The Gorn Alliance is controlled by a small ruling clan, one who represents the Gorn home world and the colonies. The advisory Council is made up Three Gorns, one from each caste. Each Gorn member serving a single term of 7 years. The Autarch (leader ) comes from the very small but powerful ruling clan is the dictatorial leader of the Hegemony . Before the ruling clan, there was little coordination of resources and technology. The Gorn society and military power increased exponentially for almost 150 years after the peace was established between the clans. While the Autarch is the absolute leader they still are very small and must keep the peace with the different clans. The Government clan is regulated by maximum number, by the peace treaty.

Description

The Gorn are usually over two meters tall with tough leathery skin and a hard multifaceted shell over their eyes. The Gorn have large claws on their hands and feet, and are unable to speak most humanoid languages, requiring translators to communicate with most other lifeforms. Gorn are a cold-blooded, reptilian species with green, rubbery skin, red blood and an average height of approximately two meters. They tend to be many times stronger than most humanoids, albeit slower and less agile but with greater stamina and, like most cold-blooded species, prefer warmer temperatures.

Physiology

The Gorn have developed into a bipedal reptile that stands on two feet. Both the male and female of the species average about 6’ 4” and around 250 - 300 pounds in weight. As with most reptiles it is difficult to distinguish between the two species if they are clothed. They have a thick almost rubber like skin. The head is large with large almost insect like eyes and a large mouth with large teeth for tearing flesh. Powerful bodies, they are a bit on the slow side and not an agile as a human being. But for sheer physical strength they would be on par with a vulcan. Their eyesight is a bit weaker. A gorn and survive for long periods of time. Their vision underwater is excellent. Gorn have an excellent sense of smell. Their hearing is average only 20 – 17,000 hertz. They are carnivores and almost all vegetation grown is only for breeding of the other animals on the planet.

Psychology

The Gorn, a strong, hardy race of fierce warriors, developed a culture that stresses strength, courage, and the natural dominance of the fittest in all matters of life.

Religion

The Gorns have no religion or deity. They do adhere to the motto “The Strong will survive, the weak must die.”

Mythology

Gorn legend states that the reptiles left the water and came upon the land. There they became strong.

Society

The Gorn have developed a three clan system, military, scientific and services. When a Gorn child comes of age (after primary School) they may leave its clan to give their allegiance to the clan of its choice. It is rare for a Gorn to leave its original clan. It is even rarer for one to be accepted in a new clan. The entire social structure is based on the clan.

Gorns have children to keep the race going. To most terrans, their methods are cruel and inhuman. But to the Gorns they only want the strong to reach age of maturity and reproduce. Gorns take various mates to continue to have good blood lines. To have a strong DNA line, is required before mating that family trees are examined and only those with no close common DNA are allowed to breed. There is no marriage in the terran sense of the word. Gorns breed with various mates during an established breeding cycle. Each Clan has nurseries and schools that raise the children. From an early age they via for position and power among themselves. Attrition rate is normally some 50 percent to that age of maturity when such combat is curtained for the most part. There is still some animosity between the clans. Small feuds continue to erupt from time to time. There is absolute equality in the society between male and female Gorn. A Gorn would never consider breeding outside of its clan.

There a vast number of minor clans in the Society. Most provide specialized functions in the society. They are limited to number of members. The ruling council limits the number of members in each clan. There is an agreement between the three clans to make sure that will remain the major clans of the society.

Culture

The culture is based on the motto “the strong shall survive”. If a Gorn reaches the age of Maturity he increases his odds greatly to survive to old age.

The Gorns are divided into clans. The three major castes are the Military, Science and the Service clans. There are several minor clans. The military is the largest. But the level of fatal competition keeps the census on par with the rest of the other major clans Infighting within the clan is common, the military clan has the greatest number of fatalities.

 Serious weakness are not tolerated in the culture.  It is most prevalent up to the age of 18 years of age. Then there is a much lower rate of infighting after the age of maturity, then clan members are assigned positions or employment in the society.  There is no crime called murder within a clan.  Such a challenge is always done within certain norms.  To do so outside of the clans rules would be considered as traitorous, and the offending member would be considered “weak” for doing so.  A death penalty would  then apply.  The crime of murder only occurs from clan member  to other  clan member. But it is very rare. Since one can only move up in stature in one’s own clan.

Each clan maintains its own support, education and somewhat weak health care system. While it is a very cruel society, survival of the fittest is the law of the culture. The planet’s food resources would not be able to support any large population increase.

Customs

The Gorn continue to fight within each clan for domination in the clan. A Gorn must always be ready to defend themselves from younger Gorn wishing their position. Only at the senior age of maturity - 67 years of age, can a Gorn actually retire and is treated as a senior (elder). Few ever achieve this rank or age. At this point they are can serve on the Council. Also at this age, a Gorn is considered immune from challenges from underlings.

Technology

Gorn Technology is on par with most Federation technology. Only in some of the medical arts is it behind Federation standards.

Economy

The Gorn Alliance is based on a command economy. The Hegemony sets the value for most major transactions. The barter system is still in place for minor transactions, a small trade clan negotiates between the major clans. The Hegemony deals with trades with other races. All dealings with other races must be sanctioned by the Alliance.

Military

The Alliance maintains a Space Fleet to maintain sovereignty over the Alliance territory. The Military clan preforms all functions dealing with the defense of the Hegemony.

The Gorns maintain a large standing army. They are always military exercises of all types. But all in the various clans are considered as ‘reserves’ to the day that they die. A small cadre of officers prepare for any invasion. If called upon, the Gorn can form a vast huge army in the matter of days. The Gorn space fleet while certainly smaller in number that the Federation is on par with Star Fleet vessels.

Gorn military vessels very rarely venture outside of established Gorn controlled space. They respect others territory, and expect that others will respect their territory. Any intrusion is dealt with. Gorns are slow to act, but when they do it is with speed and cunning.