Ohmallera

A before and after shot of Ohmallera.

Ohmallera was a city on Betazed. It was once home to 1.2 million people and was renowned on the planet for its state-of-the-art medical facilities and doctors, especially in the fields of psychiatry, endocrinology, and neurology.

A spot of urbanization in an otherwise rural area, aside from its medical facilities Ohmallera was also known for its traditional ways, strong connection to the land despite the sprawling cityscape and had a reputation for remarkable misandry (even for Betazoids).

Unfortunately, the city's distinction as a premier healthcare center made it a target for Armeni, a former psychiatric patient at one of the city's hospitals. After hijacking the USS Constitution-B in 2388, Armeni used the ship to launch an attack on SD 238802.22 with all weapons, destroying the Betazoid metropolis in seconds. There were almost no survivors.

History

Original city

Ohmallera had the population of approximately 1.2 million at the time of its destruction in 2388. Most of the city's population was considered commoners, and noble families represented a small portion of the population compared to some other cities on Betazed. However, Ohmallera had been the home of the Vataix family of the Eleventh House of Betazed for 12 generations by 2398.

Before the city's destruction, Ohmallera was renowned for its medical facilities. It had at the time of its destruction one of the planet's most extensive and developed medical systems. The city served as one of the major medical hubs for much of Betazed. In the fields of psychiatry, endocrinology and possibly neurology, it was considered the primary centre. Ohmallera University of Arts & Sciences, also known by the shorter name of Ohmallera University, operated in the city before 2388.

2388 attack

USS Constitution-B.

Ohmallera was completely destroyed in an attack on 238802.22 and nearly all of the 1.2 million residents and visitors of the city were killed. The attack was done by a group led by Armeni, using a hijacked Starfleet vessel, a Galaxy class explorer USS Constitution-B. Armeni was a Betazoid who was reported to have used her notable telepathic abilities to her benefit while showing little concern in the ethicality of her actions. She had been a former patient at a secure mental health facility in Ohmallera. Her self-cited motivation for the attack was revenge over her treatment by the Federation and Betazed authorities.

According to the early reports, Armeni had illegally acquired an Orion cloaking device and installed it to her ship, the Bloody Queen, shortly before the attack. She had also gained knowledge of the Constitution’s security codes. Armeni and her team had used the Bloody Queen to infiltrate the Constitution during the Starfleet vessel's refit at a spacedock, after which they had beamed to the ship's bridge and taken over the ship using violence against the present bridge crew. Armeni had then selected Ohmallera as their first target, ordering her crew to destroy the city completely. All ship weapons at the Constitution’s disposal were used. Armeni's next chosen target had been the City of Maaska, where she had been jailed earlier, but the crew of the Constitution managed to stop the attack and apprehend Armeni and her crew. Armeni was transferred to the Betazed law enforcement immediately afterwards.

The attack occurred during the night in Ohmallera's timezone. The Betazed authorities were underequipped to counter the Galaxy class vessel. Their reaction was also slow due to the confusion caused by mistaking the Constitution for a friendly ship. Most buildings collapsed or were caught in fire, and on occasion, the massively heated structures had turned to glass. Reports indicate that medical transporters were used to try and evacuate residents of the first areas affected by the attack. The hospital facilities were all destroyed in the attack, and the emergency response had to be delivered from the other cities.

The rescue operations were conducted in the cooperation of Betazed Defence Forces and Starfleet Search and Rescue. Several rescue personnel, including members of the Starfleet Marines, died while searching for survivors in the ruins.

Nikael Kalre, the leader of the Maquis Reborn, named as the “the straw that broke the camels (sic) back” for his relations with Starfleet and the Federation. Kalre blamed the attack on Starfleet and the Federation in his open letter To My Beloved: Heart Of Ohmallera, published by the Federation News Service on the fourth anniversary of the attack. The publication of the letter lead to protests and resignation of the FNS editor-in-chief.

The attack had significant political ramifications. In response to the attack, conservative views gained traction among the Betazed citizens. Calls for Betazed autonomy or secession from the Federation became more common. Betazed's planetary guard and defences, separate from Starfleet, were reorganized and expanded. Nan Bacco, the President of the United Federation of Planets at the time of the attack, received heavy criticism and was called to resign by the public and some members of her cabinet. Bacco's support diminished after the attack, and her approval ratings never rose back to the previous levels.

Reconstruction

The reconstruction of the city began soon after the attack, and by 2392 at least, there were permanent residents in the city and the university was in operation. As of 2396, some of the damages from the attack were still visible. The reconstruction efforts were spearheaded by the Vataix family of the 11th House, who had lost several members during the attack. The Vataix Estate was rebuilt in the city.

People from Ohmallera

• The Vataix family of the Eleventh House of Betazed:
  • Rivi Vataix - Survived: heavily involved in the rebuilding of the city afterward
  • Naminae Vataix - Survived: Rivi's mother and the head of the Eleventh House, Naminae was in Rixx during the attack.
  • Basnun Vataix - Killed in the attack
• Armeni - visited for psychiatric care
• Radi Rais - Survived: was aboard the USS Victory during the attack
• Jhaan Rais - Killed in the attack
• Lita Rais - Killed in the attack
• Nikael Kalre, leader of the Maquis Reborn. Kalre was away during the attack, but his wife and children were killed.
• H'Rhaedrol Barr - Trained there as a nurse, left just before the attack.
• Benim Yalu (né Kolad, 2256–2364), Trill journalist, author, political activist, previous host of Yogan Yalu, lived in Ohmallera from 2340 to 2364.
• Sevantha Saa - Medical Officer on the USS Astraeus. Survived. Was on vacation with her parents however her elder brother and genetic bonded were killed in the event.

Ohmallera Memorial

The memorial is located aboard the Constitution in the Betazed section of the arboretum. The memorial is a dark, eight-foot statue of minimalist Betazed design depicting three towers standing above a dark pool of water, all of ancient Betazoid architecture, with an enormous disc rising behind them evoking a black sun, a dark moon or the saucer section of a Federation starship. A plaque reads:

RESPONSIBILITY OF POWER

2388 will be remembered as a tremendous loss for the United Federation of Planets when the USS Constitution was hijacked and used to destroy the city of Ohmallera, Betazed, costing more than a million innocent lives.

The Constitution continues to fly in vigilance against the forces of chaos in the universe while acknowledging that we are not immune to them.

This is followed by inscriptions of Betazoid prayers for spirits to love and protect the deceased. There are matching memorials located on the Starfleet Academy campus in San Francisco and on the site of the attack on Betazed.

Sims

• "You can't save the dead" - The attack from above
• "The Iron Dragon" - The horror below
• "The Aftermath" - Picking up the pieces
• "Theory" - The memorial appreciated