Jem'Hadar

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Jem'Hadar
Four Letter Code	JMHD
Federation Status	At War
Planet of Origin	Cloning facilities
Encountered	DS9: The Jem'Hadar
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Jem'Hadar
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The Jem'Hadar are a genetically engineered race, created for use as soldiers of the Dominion. The first iteration of Jem'Hadar were created in the Gamma quadrant, but due to the Dominion war, the Alpha quadrant is also home to these vicious soldiers.

History

See also: The Dominion War

Genetically engineered by the Founders specifically for warfare since the 4th century, the Jem'Hadar are the Dominions first line of defense. They were created with a god-like reverence of all Changelings as well as an innate addiction to the narcotic ketracel-white, assuring their absolute dependence and obedience.

At some point in the mid-22nd century, the Dominion encountered a space-faring race in the Teplan system, whom believed nothing was beyond their ability - including resisting the Dominion. In response to this, the Jem'Hadar left their homeworld crushed as an example to others.

By 2370, the Jem'Hadar invaded and conquered a race known as the T-Rogorans. This conveniently allowed the escape of the Skrreea, a race of farmers whom had been enslaved by the T-Rogorans.

The first official contact with the Jem'Hadar would occur when their forces destroyed a number of ships and colonies beyond the Bajoran wormhole, taking two Deep Space 9 citizens hostage. The Jem'Hadar claimed that the offensive, which included the destruction of a New bajor colony and the USS Odyssey, was in response to incursions into their territory, but actually served as a cover to plant a Vorta spy into the Federation. This attempt would be unsuccessful, but would also instigate the Dominion cold war.

The Romulan Tal Shiar and the Cardassian Obsidian Order were identified as key targets for the Dominion to eliminate during the war. A plan concocted by the former head of the Obsidian Order to form an alliance with the Tal Shiar, with the ultimate goal to cripple the Dominion by wiping out the Founders was found out, and a Changeling assumed the identity of a Romulan Colonel as a guarantee that the plan would be carried forward. in 2371, a fleet of Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order warships assembled in secret bombarded the Founders' homeworld, only to discover it was a trap. A large fleet of 150 Jem'Hadar fighters ambushed and destroyed the fleet, effectively crippling the Tal Shiar and eliminating the Obsidian Order.

When the Cardassian-Dominion alliance was publicly announced, Jem'Hadar forces pushed the Klingons into a full retreat, and massacred the Maquis in the Demilitarized Zone.

In early 2374, the war would prove disastrous for the allied Federation and Klingon forces, which were forced into retreat on most fronts. Their luck would only turn when a massive fleet of 2,800 Jem'Hadar warships disappeared inside the Bajoran wormhole, losing the Dominion's ensured victory.

Government

Although the Jem'Hadar worshiped the Founders as gods, the vast majority of the Jem'Hadar had never actually seen a Founder, and some doubted that they even existed. Yet they built their service to the shapeshifters into a religion, literally regarding the Founders as living gods, to the extent that the Jem'Hadar ritualistically committed suicide if they failed to protect a shapeshifter from harm.

The Vorta, as the representatives of the Founders, were also given immense loyalty by most Jem'Hadar – even when such loyalty seemed unwarranted. Absolute obedience from the Jem'Hadar was further guaranteed by the Vortas' control of the ketracel-white.

Description

Jem'Hadar were a humanoid race that stood somewhat taller than an average Human, with a wider build. Their skin was a leathery grey arrangement of scales with many horn-like protrusions across and around their face and back.

During the Dominion War, a newer line, dubbed "Alphans" have appeared, supplanting older Jem'Hadar types such as Gammas in being specifically bred for the Alpha Quadrant opponents, while retaining the same physical appearance.

Physiology

See also: Ketracel-White

Jem'Hadar were designed to have excellent vision and strength several times greater than Humans. Jem'Hadar were generated in "birthing chambers." Their growth cycle was accelerated such that they reached full maturity only three days after emergence. They did not procreate naturally, and their species consisted solely of males. As infants, Jem'Hadar strongly resembled mammalian species, with a complexion resembling that of Humans. Within a day of maturation, Jem'Hadar children already had advanced language skills and cognitive reasoning. As they aged, their skin paled to a bluish-white, and became scaly and reptilian in appearance.

Adolescent Jem'Hadar required food for nourishment, but adults sole source of nouishment was the drug ketracel-white, of which provides a Jem'Hadar with all the necessary nutrients, as well as an isogenic enzyme that had been dliberately omitted from their metabolism. As a result, all Jem'Hadar were addicted to to the drug, which was regularly distributed to them by Vorta overseers. This was the Founders' means of ensuring the Jem'Hadar's loyalty to them.

Without a steady supply of white, Jem'Hadar suffer withdrawal symptoms, including their circulatory system beginning to shut down. The first sign of this is muscle spasms.

Jem'Hadar have amber colored blood.

Psychology

Not motivated by any of the causes of the Alpha quadrant, such as glory, nobility, politics, intrigue or even money - they do possess a chillingly detached mercenary quality that cannot be bribed. They are not hive-mind automatons like the Borg, but are genetically bred to supreme strength and endurance, kept in line via an addiction to ketracel-white. Withdrawal to the drug causes a Jem'Hadar to become uncontrollably violent, attacking their enemies, then their Vorta overseers, and finally each other.

Religion

Although the Jem'Hadar worshiped the Founders as gods, the vast majority of the Jem'Hadar have never actually seen a Founder, and some have doubted that they even existed. Regardless, they build their service to the shapeshifters into a religion, literally regarding the Founders as living gods, to the extent that the Jem'Hadar ritualistically commit suicide if they fail to protect a shapeshifter from harm.

Culture

Although the glory of the Founders meant everything to the Jem'Hadar, they also showed a strong sense of honor for themselves. There have been indications that at least some Jem'Hadar prefer insubordination over the actions of doing something considered dishonorable.

The Jem'Hadar believed that their name meant "soldier".

Customs

Rituals before battle or the dispersal of ketracel-white were always undergone. It should be noted, however, that Jem'Hadar native to the Alpha quadrant no longer recited the ritual dispersal statement, as they believed they demonstrated their loyalty by their actions, not their words.

Technology

Jem'Hadar use the Dominion quick-shimmer transporter system, including an armband remote control and a personal cloaking device, or "shroud." Their uniform also includes energy absorbing pads that can defeat a Starfleet Level 3 containment field, and a recessed collarbone area to hold the ketracel-white vial.

Military

The Jem'Hadar are the soldiers of the Dominion, and report directly to the Vorta or the Founders. Military ranks are simply denoted as the First being unit leader, followed by the Second, Third, and so on; the First is answerable to the Vorta, who may reward and punish Jem'Hadar in the unit with on-the-spot promotions and demotions.

Starfleet Intelligence Files

Unlike much of the Alpha quadrant, the Shoals and the Colonial Coalition were spared much of the destruction of the Jem'Hadar. It's believed that the prospect of having to travel for months to get across a few sectors, due to the tetryon fields, simply wasn't appealing to them or their gods.

According to reports, the Jem'Hadar found an Iconian gateway on Vandros IV in the Gamma quadrant. Starfleet Intelligence would also report a rumor that breakaway mercenary units made up of Jem'Hadar were hiring themselves out during a Romulan and Klingon conflict.

In late-2392, the USS Invicta fell through a rare space-time anomaly and encountered an alternate timeline where the Dominion won the war against allied forces, but managed to return to their prime universe without casualties. The following year, the USS Gorkon would also be pulled into this universe through a quantum fissure - however, it would take them an additional nine months before they returned home.

References

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