Provider

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Provider
Four Letter Code	PROV
Federation Status	Neutral
Planet of Origin	Triskelion
Encountered	TOS: The Gamesters of Triskelion
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	AAA
List of Named Providers
Full ILI Gallery • Permitted Species Gallery

Do not approach CONTACT PROHIBITED NOTICE: This species has been restricted to its homeworld

"You have no choice. Comply or be forced."

a Provider saying.

The Providers are a group of three brains, devoid of physical bodies that exist in a life preserving chamber. They live for the thrill of their sadistic games, betting on the outcomes of each battle.

Home System

• Quadrant: Alpha
• Location: Triskel Sector, also called the Quarantined Sector (coordinates A25-0001-1300)
• Proper Name: M24 Alpha trinary star system
• Star: It orbits a trinary star system with a class B (Blue-White) star, a class F (Yellow-White) star and a class M (Red) star
• Distance from Star: it's orbit is approximately 85 million km
• Companions: It is the only planet in the system
• Moons: none

Home World

• Proper Name: Triskelion
• Diameter: 18,924 km (11,759 miles)
• Gravity: 0.92 standard gravity with a density of 3.4
• Axial Tilt: 3.8%, with no seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 638 days
• Rotational Period: 33.5 hours
• Classification: M
• Surface Water: 36%
• Atmosphere: 0.94% is a standard pressure with 74% nitrogen, 25% oxygen, 1% trace chemicals
• Climate: Mainly a temperate planet
• Terrain: It has mostly rocky, barren zones sandwiched between rocky hills, mountains and desolate mild radioactive zones.
• Population: Only 3 of them.

History

The Providers is the name assigned to a trio of three non-humanoid beings that controlled the planet Triskelion in the M24 Alpha trinary star system. They appeared as three disembodied brains contained in a special device that served the role of life support as well as communication.

The Providers did not devote themselves to conquest or scientific exploration or expansion but rather had the habit of abducting individuals from varying species and forcing them into gladiatorial combat. The object of which was their need to 'gamble' and place bets on who the victor would be and, thus, earn the reward in quatloos.

The Providers encountered the Vulcan travellers that were on the Exile from their homeworld in order to continue their civilisation anew. They captured scouting parties from the Exile fleet of the Great Ships and forced them into gladiatorial combat. Several died until an elder Vulcan known as Rovalat infiltrated the Provider base. The aged Vulcan was allowed to enter by the Providers who bet on his success, however, Rovalat gained the advantage by threatening to destroy the Providers life support equipment. In exchange for stopping his course of action, Rovalat demanded that the Vulcan prisoners be released to which the Providers responded by unleashing their Master Thrall on the Vulcan. The Thrall was defeated but more Drill Thralls took its place. Sensing his chances of success diminishing, Rovalat threatened to destroy the Providers by using a fusion grenade.

In exchange for letting the prisoners go, the Providers asked that Rovalat stay to amuse them, to which he agreed. After the Vulcan prisoners were released, Rovalat activated the grenade which exploded within the Providers chamber. Rovalat was killed, however, his image caster, which sent a visual link to the Exile ship Shavokh showed that the Providers survived.

Centuries later, the Klingons first encountered the Providers. Klingon privateers exchanged beings taken on prize ships as new Drill Thralls for valuable mineral resources from the Providers.

In 2268 the Providers captured three Enterprise crew members: James T. Kirk, Uhura, and Pavel Chekov for their stable of gladiators. They used some form of long distance transporter. Shortly after their arrival on Triskelion and a demonstration of their combat skills, Provider 1 outbid its companions, purchasing the Enterprise crewmembers for 2000 quatloos.

When Captain Kirk speculated in their presence in 2268 that they were the result of "primary mental evolution" they corrected him, stating they'd once had humanoid form, but after eons of devoting themselves exclusively to intellectual pursuits they had evolved into their present form. The aliens called themselves "Providers" because they believed the term was easier for the limited intellects of their slaves, whom they called thralls, to comprehend. If their race had another name, they never revealed it.

The Romulan Star Empire attempted an invasion of the planet in order to gain the advanced technology of the Providers but this failed due to intervention by the Federation and Klingon Empire.

Since then the Federation increased the security around the quarantined planet and added 6 permanent unmanned facilities to monitor and warn off unwary vessels. Unfortunately there are a couple species native to this sector that due to their pre-industrial level of development cannot be interfered with due to the Prime Directive.

Government

Provider 1

Provider 1 was the first known Provider. It looked a lot like a red glowing brain with some kind of weird redish internal radiance. Other than that it appeared quite similar to its companions.

Provider 1 outbid its companions, purchasing the Enterprise crewmembers for 2000 quatloos. At that time, Galt marked them, changing the crystals on their collars of obedience from white to red. Galt also warned them that further disobedience was punishable by death. Provider 1 also owned the thrall Shahna.

Provider 2

Provider 2 was the second known Provider. It looked a lot like a green glowing brain with some kind of weird greenish internal radiance. Other than that it appeared quite similar to its companions.

It owned the thralls Tamoon, Lars, and an unnamed thrall designated as a "practice target" because he was slow in obeying a command.

Provider 3

Provider 3 was the third known Provider. It looked a lot like a yellow glowing brain with some kind of weird yellowish internal radiance. Other than that it appeared quite similar to its companions.

It owned Kloog and an unnamed Andorian thrall.

Description

Members of a species who apparently were humanoid in appearance eons ago, but eventually evolved into disembodied brains due to their devotion to intellectual abilities. The only way to tell them apart is by the different color light that radiates off each of them.

Physiology

Almost nothing is known about this unique species physiology. No scans, records or data has been acquired to fill in the blanks and as such most experts have nothing but ideas, guesses and theories at this time.

Psychology

Almost nothing is known about this unique species psychology. No scans, records or data has been acquired to fill in the blanks and as such most experts have nothing but ideas, guesses and theories at this time.

The only thing that the experts do agree on is that the Providers have an extremely strong interest in games of chance, mostly death matches between gladiators. Some believe that this may be due to their own age’s long existence.

Religion

There has been no indication that the 3 providers have any religious beliefs. Most experts believe that their civilization probably did have some at some time in the past but that they have been lost to history as they evolved into their current life form.

Mythology

There has been no indication that the 3 providers have any myths or legends. Most experts believe that their civilization probably did have some at some time in the past but that they have been lost to history as they evolved into their current life form.

Society

Three such disembodied brains dwelled below the surface of the planet Triskelion. They control the events which transpire on the surface of the planet for the purposes of their own entertainment - which is namely to capture humanoid species (termed "thralls") for combative games so that the Provider's can wager on the winners.

Culture

To amuse themselves, the Providers captured humanoids and forced them to fight while they placed wagers on the outcome. In as much as such fights were often to the death, they required a steady supply of humanoids. To obtain it, they practiced humanoid husbandry with their existing stock (selecting breeding partners) and kidnapped suitable humanoids from elsewhere in the galaxy via their powerful transporter. They claimed to use only "inferior specimens" but considering their own vast intellect and extremely high opinion of themselves, it is likely they regarded all other forms of life as inferior to their own.

Customs

There has been no indication that the 3 providers have any customs. Most experts believe that their civilization probably did have some at some time in the past but that they have been lost to history as they evolved into their current life form.

Technology

The Providers controlled an immense power station, which they concealed a kilometer or more beneath the surface of their world. They could create and project their voices anywhere on Triskelion, and they controlled a transporter based on light that had a range of light years and operated nearly instantly. They could manipulate energy at least to the extent of neutralizing a starship's power systems. They provided sustenance and other basic needs to the thralls, and could punish the thralls directly or through their proxy, Galt.

They evidently possessed significant planetary defenses, for they did not regard the arrival of the USS Enterprise at their world as a significant threat, stating that they could destroy it and make the incident appear to be a magnetic storm.

Economy

This planet is quarantined. It has no outside contact and no traffic is allowed within 5 light years of its location. As such they have no trade with anyone.

Military

This planet is quarantined. It has no outside contact and no traffic is allowed within 5 light years of its location. There are 6 unmanned facilities situated at equal distances around the planet Triskelion about 1 light year from its location.

These facilities monitor the planet and warn off any ships that approach too close to the quarantine zone. They also continually scan for any evidence that the providers may have activated their long distance transportation device. In the case that they do detect its activation a warning is sent to the closest Federation ship or facility.

Federation Intelligence Files

This planet is quarantined. It has no outside contact and no traffic is allowed within 5 light years of its location.

Any contact or suspected kidnapping of Federation citizens within 10 light years is to be reported immediately to the closest Federation facility.

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as well as the following TV episode TOS: The Gamesters of Triskelion.

Also used were the following books, TOS - Vulcan's Soul novel: Exiles, TOS novel: The Final Reflection, and TOS short story: The Lights in the Sky.

SDC

This file was updated and approved by the SDC on 31 January 2014

Content from this article may have
come partially, or entirely from
 Memory Alpha

		SPECIES PROFILE UPDATED This profile was revised by the Species Development Committee.		REV 239402.02
		Please add any new information discovered during the course of a mission or shore leave.
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