J'naii

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

J'naii
Four Letter Code	JNAI
Federation Status	Neutral
Planet of Origin	J'naii
Encountered	by the USS Enterprise-D (TNG: The Outcast)
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	M
List of Named J'naiis
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"The universe is a confusing place, plagued with confused and mentally unstable individuals who suffer from the plague of separate genders."

a J'naii proverb.

The J'naii are an androgynous humanoid race with a single gender neither male or female. Any member of their society exhibiting male or female traits was considered to be a deviant and a criminal subject to prosecution and subject to mental psychotectic treatment to remove all gender thoughts and emotions.

Home System

• Quadrant: Alpha
• Location: Tik-Kar Sector (coordinates A23-0001-1302)
• Proper Name: Andris J’naii
• Star: It orbits a class F (Yellow/White) star
• Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 321 million km
• Companions: It is the 4th of 11 planets in the system
• Moons: It has one moon

Home World

The USS Enterprise-D over the J'naii Homeworld

• Proper Name: J'naii
• Traditional Name: H'naiiar (A home for all J'naii)
• Diameter: 14,110.7 km (8,768 miles)
• Gravity: 0.96 standard gravity with a density of 4.8
• Axial Tilt: 9.3%, with minimal seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 384 days
• Rotational Period: 25.8 hours
• Classification: M
  • Surface Water: 58%
  • Atmosphere: 1.07% is a standard pressure with 72% nitrogen, 26% oxygen, 2% trace chemicals
  • Climate: Mainly a temperate planet with small tropical and arctic zones.
  • Terrain: A wide mix of many terrain types evenly dispersed over the planet’s surface.
  • Population: Just over 7 billion

History

In an early stage of their evolution, the J'naii species had two sexes - male and female. The J'naii race eventually evolved physically into a genderless, androgynous race. In more recent times, this androgynous state has been culturally determined as the more advanced (and therefore, preferable) way for J'naii to exist.

In mid-2368, the J'naii contacted the nearby USS Enterprise-D to investigate the disappearance of the J'naii shuttle Taris Murn in their star system. The crew of the shuttle was rescued from a pocket of null space. The pocket was thoroughly mapped by shuttlecraft from the Enterprise. The crew discussed plans to regulate space travel around the pocket and decided on deploying warning buoys around the null space pocket.

During this mission a difficulty emerged between the J’naii and the crew as a result of Cmdr. William T. Riker beginning a brief relationship with one of the J'naii who exhibited female physical and psychological traits. The planet's government subsequently used psychotectic treatment to remove all female thoughts and emotions from the criminal. Such a squelching of individuality ran counter to the diverse values of the Federation.

In 2392, Kivik, a J'naii scientist, published controversial research indicating that gender expression is not harmful to J'naii and is, in fact, natural - though somewhat rare. For conducting and publishing this research, which violated Government policy and widespread beliefs on gender, the scientist was shamed and left the planet to join the Federation.

Government

The planet J'naii is ruled from the civic chamber in the civic center. The J'naii planetary capital is Wendaii City, located on the planet's most populous landmass - J'naris.

Wendaii has been described as somewhat similar to San Francisco on Earth - as both are busy metropolises overlooking a bay. The civic center in Wendaii also boasts a substantial pella plant walking garden.

Noor was the head of government and the head of a panel of judges dealing with legal matters of the J'naii people in 2368. A monument to Noor was erected in the civic center, and the surrounding Plaza dubbed Nooren Plaza, in honour of Noor's resistance to Federation interference.

Description

An androgynous humanoid race, despite the uniformly single gender, the J'naii are a strikingly attractive people, all of them lithe-bodied and graceful in movement, in addition to their finely chiseled, delicate facial features.

As with many humanoid species, the J'naii posess cranial ridges. Though less pronounced than in some other species (such as Klingons), the J'naii ridges are also highlighted by a subtle purplish-blue hue. The structure of these ridges varies by individuals.

Some J'naii do exhibit feminine or masculine traits and may also experience other gender identities. Those who do are often shunned and labelled as 'deviants'. Many are also subjected to 'sychotectic treatment' to rid them of these gendered urges.

Physiology

As with most intelligent humanoid species they have a very complex system with specialized organs, and unique hormones, chemicals and enzymes. They are typical humanoids with most of the physical, mental and biological medical problems that seem to plague most humanoids.

As the stage of two physical sexes had been passed by evolution, the whole notion of gender was offensive to the J'naii. J'naii were taught that gender was a primitive aspect of less evolved lifeforms. Consequently, it was hard for the J'naii to grasp the subtleties of differences and complex customs between sexes in other species. Although J'naii were possibly sexually compatible with other gendered races, they were never allowed to mate by assuming a gender role in the act. This was considered criminally perverse in J'naii society and a strictly taboo subject.

J'naii mating and reproduction was a long ritual, full of variety and invention, and was considered extremely pleasurable. In the last stage a fibrous husk was inseminated by the two parents. The fetus then incubated inside the husk. This was considered a less risky and less painful method of reproduction compared to other species of which the J'naii had knowledge.

J'naii used no form of make-up, and did not keep their hair long or arrange it elaborately.

Psychology

The J'naii were said to be strong-minded and to have plenty of social conflicts between individuals. As a species the occasional throwback with gender identity issues seems to be the greatest mental health threat they face. Other than this the phobias and other minor mental health issues that they suffer from seem to be considered of small importance and little seems to be done to treat or cure these conditions.

Religion

Only a very small minority of their population still retains any interest in the ancient beliefs of their people. These are only tolerated by the government as they have long since evolved from a belief in a couple, a male and female being into a single all powerful being that created the universe and them in its image.

Mythology

While they do have some their does not seem to be much interest in them. For the most part they seem to be considered obsolete and unimportant. No longer having any relevance or use in this modern age.

Society

J'naii considered themselves a remarkably free and open society and by all measurements, an enlightened race. The rights and liberties the citizens enjoyed gave them a great deal of self-determination. In dealing with sickness, the government took its obligation to cure the sickness seriously.

Subculture

Occasionally individuals were born who had urges for maleness or femaleness instead of androgyny. Being a remnant from the earlier evolutionary stages, this was considered a form of sickness. This resulted in a subculture forming inside J'naii society where the gender-oriented individuals lived in a lie. They pretended to have androgynous gender identity, and sought each other out in secret, to express themselves and love for each other through the gender roles. This minority lived always in fear of being discovered.

Some J'naii were aware from a young age of an alignment towards a particular gender. These J'naii could face cruel taunts from their schoolmates when suspected of being a deviant. In general, being suspected and discovered led to being ridiculed and cast out of society. Deviants were called throwbacks, misfits, and criminals.

The government had a total lack of acceptance for such gender identities. Any individual suspected of having them could be taken into custody. A trial was held for the individual to confirm or dispute the charges. When a person was found to be a deviant, psychotectic therapy was used to change the gender identity to androgyny. A person would only be re-accepted into society if they accepted this procedure.

Culture

As a species they are capable of enjoying and appreciating most forms of artistic expression. They have a small minority of their population that produce these with it being divided almost equally between music and other more concrete forms of artist expression.

Customs

Even though the J'naii formed family units, sleeping together with a friend had nothing to do with mating. Rather, it was a preferred way to keep warm. When dancing, whomever was the taller led. In the J'naii language there was a personal pronoun that was gender neutral, for which there was no translation in the English language.

Technology

In the 24th century, the J'naii operated at least several shuttlecraft, incapable of venturing beyond the J'naii star system, such as the Taris Murn. A flight school trained J'naii shuttle pilots. J'naii had knowledge of warp drive technology and several other races.

J'naii shuttle

This type of shuttlecraft was not capable of interstellar travel and was in use by the J'naii in 2368. These shuttles could carry 2 individuals and used plestorene-based backup systems.

In 2368, a J'naii shuttle pilot was already familiar with all the technology of a Starfleet type 6 shuttlecraft - such as microfusion thrusters, the shuttles matter-antimatter reaction assembly, and the warp nacelles, navigational deflector, redundant graviton polarity source generators- before having seen one.

Economy

They have established a few long and short term trade deals with others species, including a few that are members of the Federation, however on the whole they tend to be wary of entering into such deals, especially if there is any possibility of cultural contamination as a result of the contact.

Military

They have a small military force but for the most part their ships and weapons systems are no match for any Federation vessels. This has slowly been changing as new technology has become available to them.

Federation Intelligence Files

Not members of the Federation and have no interest in becoming members, as the Federation principles of tolerance and understanding run contrary to the J'naii laws requiring rigid enforcement of a code that requires all J'naii from exhibiting any sign of gender specific behavior.

J'naii (planet)

The planet J'naii is located in a star system with a null space pocket. J'naii was located 53 hours away from the Phelan system at warp 6 and it had a single moon. This planet had a variety of plant life such as menellen trees and falla bushes.

Falla bush

The falla bush was a woody plant native to the planet J'naii.

The falla bush produced a fragrant flower on only one day of the J'naii year.

Noor

Noor was the head of government of the androgynous species the J'naii in the 24th century.

The planet J'naii was ruled from the civic chamber. Noor was also the head of a panel of judges dealing with the legal matters of the J'naii people. When the cause of the disappearance of the shuttlecraft Taris Murn was investigated in 2368, Noor promised any resource the planet could provide for the crew of the USS Enterprise-D to salvage the shuttlecraft from the null space pocket it was lost into.

When Soren, a J'naii shuttle pilot, was suspected of having become romantically involved with Commander William T. Riker, Noor held the hearing to determine if Soren was a deviant. After Soren admitted having gender urges, Noor ruled Soren to required psychotectic treatment to become a normal J'naii. Riker suggested giving Soren asylum on board the Enterprise-D, taking Soren away from J'naii so as not to be a disruptive influence. Noor said this was out of the question, as the government of J'naii took its commitment to cure the sickness of its citizens seriously.

Soren

Soren was a member of the androgynous J'naii species.

The parents of Soren were shuttlecraft pilots. Soren was flying on shuttles with them since before learning to walk. When old enough Soren joined formal flight school, where Krite was the instructor.

In 2368, Soren and USS Enterprise-D first officer William T. Riker worked together on a mission to rescue a lost J'naii shuttle, the Taris Murn from the pocket of null space located in the J'naii star system. During this time, Soren revealed to Riker of having a female identity, despite a powerful social taboo against considering oneself to have a gender. They began to fall in love, and although attempting to keep their relationship secret, Krite reported the affair to the J'naii authorities.

Soren was arrested and brought before a panel of judges. Riker told the tribunal that he forced himself on Soren. Soren denied his story, and stated the involvement with him was out of free will. Soren further issued an impassioned speech for acceptance of other deviants. The tribunal regarded this as an admission of perversion, and Soren was ordered to receive psychotectic therapy. Riker offered to give Soren asylum on the Enterprise-D but the treatments were given ahead of schedule. Riker was not aware of this. Worf came to Riker, saying that he knew Riker was going to rescue Soren offering to come with him, affirming their friendship. Soren was rescued, but the treatment had completely removed the previous gender identity and all feelings for Riker with it. Soren was no longer interested in the offer of asylum.

Krite

When Soren entered the flight school, Krite was the instructor. Krite was also working with Soren, as a colleague, when the attempt was made to recover a lost J'naii shuttle in 2368. After the shuttle crew was rescued, Krite invited the USS Enterprise-D personnel involved in the rescue for a social gathering to express the gratitude of the J'naii people. Krite turned Soren in to the authorities after finding out about Soren's budding romance with Commander William T. Riker.

Dovan

Dovan was a J'naii scientist in the 24th century. An expert in techno-organics, Dovan created the Starfly One Bioprobe, a deep-space scientific exploratory probe. Unfortunately, Starfly malfunctioned and caused significant damage to planet Damiano, in part due to shortcuts taken by Dovan, whose own DNA was used in the probe's creation. This was particularly upsetting to Dovan, who had a strong pacifist philosophy. Dovan eventually risked hir own life in order to stop the probe.

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as references as well as the following TV episode, TNG: The Outcast.

Also used was info taken from the NF short story: Oil and Water and the Star Trek: The Next Generation Makeup FX Journal, (p. 89).

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

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