Deltan Oath of Celibacy

			Memory 118

Deltans serving in Starfleet take an oath of celibacy to protect the people they serve with from the harmful effects of a physically intimate relationship. The purpose of the oath is not just to protect their colleagues, however; highly sensitive to the feelings of others, the oath also protects the Deltan from the grief and pain they would feel as a result of hurting another person.

The oath is often a heavy burden for a Deltan; cut off from their normal means of connecting and sharing support with other people, they find it difficult to establish emotional bonds. Many choose to avoid any and all casual contact in order to avoid temptation, others bury their feelings and become cold and detached, afraid that the emotional slightest slip will result in a violation of their vow.