Rigelian (vulcanoid): Difference between revisions

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The Rigelians were once known as the V'gelnians, and were a splinter civilization, separate from the Vulcans and Romulans. Their history stretches back generations. Around 500 AD, a V'gelnian fleet approached Rigel V, it's commanding officer, Vice-Admiral Torek, expressing high hopes that he and his people could conquer the planet, of which was home to the Kalar, and rule over it.

However, the invasion did not go according to plan, as the Kalar were armed due to previous efforts by Orions, and fought back against the expansionist empire. The two factions fought for a century, but the V'gelnians succeeded in claiming the southern continent, of which they named Han-shir. Negotiating new trade deals with the Orions, the V'gelnians spent the following decades forcefully removing the Kalar from their planet and relocating them to what would eventually be known as Rigel VII.

Throughout the next few generations, the vulcanoids would struggle with their own identity as a people, alternating between being known as V’gelnian, or the Zami. Ultimately however, they would abandon both names, and call their star system "Rigel" - thus becoming the Rigelian people.

In the early 10th century, the Rigelians had conquered the native Rigel III race known as the Chelon, forcing them to conform to Rigelian way of life, and effectively branding them under the Rigelian moniker.

The Rigelians would begin the first steps towards the Rigelian Assembly when the Jelna, newly space-faring, initiated first contact with the Rigelians. The two would negotiate trade deals, subsequently boosting the economy of the two Rigelian cultures as they formed the Rigelian Trade Commision, and the Jelna would adopt the Rigelian name.

In the mid-23rd century, doctors on Rigel V developed an experimental drug, a stimulant that increased production and replacement of blood in Rigelian test subjects, though it strained the spleen and liver. Doctor Leonard McCoy successfully utilized this drug on a Vulcan, Spock, in 2268.

In 2293, a Rigelian trade delegation representing the Heart Clan were involved in negotiations with the Federation on Earth, due to them being suspected of being involved in illegal activity such as prostitution and animal skin trading. This round of discussions took three weeks before the members of the clan were collected by the USS Enterprise and escorted back to Rigel V. However, during this time, Rigelian Ambassador Denker was assassinated by criminal elements and the truth of the event was revealed, through a mind meld with Teska, who served as a witness.

This led to the revelation that there was a wide spread criminal element actively engaged in many criminal acts, the worst being child slavery on Rigel V. As a result the Federation council held a discussion and a vote that resulted in the Rigelians being expelled from the Federation. This resulted in a series of reforms in order for the Rigelian government to comply with the Federations laws. Once they had managed to make the changes needed and were able to prove that they were complying with all Federations laws they were allowed to apply to be readmitted to the United Federation of Planets.

Primitive equipment may be unable to determine a Rigelian from a Vulcan, as the two share almost identical physiologies. However, certain medications and treatments cannot automatically be assumed to work on both races, likely attributed to their evolution on Vulcan and Rigel V respectively. They have the same physical features, copper-based blood, and similar levels of strength. Rigelians, like Vulcans, are also susceptible to Tuvan syndrome.