Senmeten

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Senmeten
Four Letter Code	SENM
Federation Status	Non-Aligned
Planet of Origin	Warm Sands
Encountered	In orbit of Betazed
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	NS
List of Named Senmetens
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" Peace, tranquility, solitude. "

a Senmeten proverb.

The Senmeten are a most unusual serpent like species with no limbs and only their minds to separate them from the lowliest creature hiding in the grass. But oh what minds. Capable of more than one would expect. All they want is to be left alone to wander the universe in search of the impossible.

Home System

• Quadrant: Delta or Gamma
• Location: Ophian Nuvias Sector
• Proper Name: Warm Sands system
• Star: It orbits a class B (Blue-White) star
• Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 56 million km
• Companions: It is the only planet in the system
• Moons: it has 1 moon.

Home World

• Proper Name: Unpronounceable but translates to Warm Sands
• Diameter: 14,697 km (9,132 miles)
• Gravity: 1.05 standard gravity with a density of 5.0
• Axial Tilt: 3.3%, with no seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 469 days
• Rotational Period: 5.9 hours
• Classification: M
• Surface Water: 24%
• Atmosphere: 0.77% is a sub-standard pressure with 71% nitrogen, 27% oxygen, 2% trace chemicals
• Climate: A hot desert type planet
• Terrain: It has mostly deserts with rough barren scrub land and rocky hills.
• Population: Unknown as it is now scattered over 4 quadrants

History

Somewhere near the Gamma/Delta Quadrant border, on a large desertlike planet far from most other stars and stellar bodies, developed the unusual serpentlike species called the Senmeten. Maybe it had to do with the high levels of stellar radiation that leaked through the thin atmosphere or some other form of mutagenic combination of natural factors but they grew, developed and evolved into a highly intelligent species devoid of any limbs or appendages.

In the beginning their minds slowly developed the ability to communicate telepathically but it did not end there. As time drifted by they learned to harness their minds and focus them to create a type of psychic force with which they could move things. More time passed and this ability grew, developing into a more refined and delicate tool. Now they could fashion things, simple devices, machines and with time more complex things.

Then almost 4,000 years ago the Senmeten homeworld was subjugated by an unknown species, and the Senmeten were conscripted into a hierarchy of thrall races. However, since the Senmeten have very little in the way of material resources, and were relatively useless as workers or slaves they were quickly abandoned as a viable slave race.

They did learn, at that time, that there were both other races in the universe, and that they were not immune to their machinations. Their exposure to their conquerors had allowed them to learn about space craft. They debated and discussed their options and experimented with their psychic force. They learned to meld their abilities, to blend them together so that they could create a ship capable of takeoff and survival in the depths of space.

It took a couple hundred years but they learned from their mistakes. Slowly but surely they discovered all they needed to know in order to successful survive long periods of time in space. As part of this process they also built and perfected a vast fleet of non-armed, semi-sentient self-replicating probes that search the galaxy for races similar to themselves, as well as an early warning system against races like that which subjugated them the first time.

By this time they had agreed that they needed to abandon their homeworld and search for another planet far from all other species. So when they were ready they created their psychic space ships and scattered into the depths of space following in the wake of their probes which had been activated and sent on ahead. Each small nomadic band was prepared to survive for years without needing to land and replace any food, water or other resources they might need.

From this time onward they have wandered across 4 quadrants, always seeking and searching, always avoiding all other species when and as possible. Their ability to merge and combine their psychic ability has grown from constant use and so has their telepathic abilities.

Eventually one of their probes approached the Federation world of Betazed in mid-late 2385 and happened upon a gathering of counselors there. It alerted the nearest Senmeten vessel, which responded and changed course.

When it arrived they allowed their ship to be detected and awaited contact. The Betazed government made them welcome and the ship landed and was dissolved. For two weeks the Senmeten were made welcome, questioned and allowed to explore. Then they gathered, creating their ship and boarded. Soon after they took off and left. Since then there has been no further recorded contact with them.

Government

They do not have or seem to need any formal type of government. This may be a result of their spending centuries as migrating nomads as most experts believe or simply a natural aspect of their culture. Whichever it is, it is doubtful if we will ever know for sure as only one group of them has ever been encountered by Federation personnel.

For that one group encountered it appeared as if all the members of the group had an equal voice. Unfortunately since they are completely dependent on telepathy for all their communication this cannot be 100% confirmed.

Description

This non-humanoid species is descended from serpents. A fully grown adult can be between 15 and 20 feet long with a body as thick as about 1 foot at the point where 3 necks branch off from the body and are topped by heads. These heads are about the size and shape of a football. They wear no clothing, belts or other forms of adornment. They also lack any limbs, hands, feet or other appendages. This makes them appear to be simple animals at first sight. In color they vary with multiple shades of medium to light browns mottled all over their scaly hide. They have a thin strip of pale cream colored scales all along their bellies from the tip of their tail to the bottom side of their necks and bottom jaw.

Physiology

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

They lack any form of vocal apparatus to create sounds with and while they can hear sounds they are incapable of translating those sounds into speech and understanding verbal communication. They also lack any limbs, hands, feet or other appendages. This makes them appear to be simple animals at first sight.

Fortunately they have developed and operate on a species-wide psychic gestalt that includes a sort of hive mind that allows instant and complete communication between all of them.

Psychology

Each of their 3 heads is capable of producing a significant amount of psychic energy. When they use this force to create vessels capable of travel between the stars they are able to sustain it for incredible amounts of time. They are able to do this because 1 brain is usually dormant for about a third of each day. Each brain taking turns, resting and recovering so that the 2 active brains may function at peak efficiency.

They communicate by telepathy as they are incapable of any other form of communication. Most experts believe that as a result they have a sort of hive mind ability that allows them to instantly communicate between themselves. Regardless even with telepathy as the means of communication their way of thinking is so foreign that it was incredibly difficult in communicating ideas back and forth with them.

Religion

As of this time it is unknown if they have or even understand the concept of religion. There were no indicators, activities or other means by which to gauge this possibility and when asked about it they seemed to be confused, failing to comprehend the concept.

Mythology

Based on the data collected during the limited contact with this species it is the opinion of various experts that they do not have or ever had any belief in illogical stories or concepts.

Society

Since they travel in small groups and may go entire generations without having any contact with others of their species it is hard to say that a true understanding of their society could even be formed. However the one group encountered by the Federation was close knit, peaceful, relaxed and composed. They wanted for nothing, seemed to be happy and very obviously had no inter-personal issues of any kind between the various members of the group.

Culture

Due to their lack of any hands or limbs to manipulate the world around them they do everything by the manipulation of psychic force. This added to the total lack of any personal property belonging to any of them and the almost complete lack of anything not created by their minds would support the expert’s belief that they have no use or understanding of the reason why some species enjoy the creative and recreational benefits of various art forms.

Customs

Most experts agree that it is unlikely that they have formed any type of customs even though they are a very intelligent and advanced species. They base this on the data collected during the Federations one and only encounter with them. As a result they theorize that because they travel in small groups, there were 19 in the group encountered and have been traveling literally for centuries, it is likely that they could easily be scattered all over the 4 quadrants by now. Most experts agree that they would not be a need for any social customs if for generations the communities have been of such small size and most likely have not had contact with others of their own species.

Technology

Senmeten spacefaring technology is not technology in the traditional sense. Instead, the dozen or so Senmeten aboard each "ship" will create a vessel out of pure psychic energy, somewhat akin to a vessel made out of force fields. The "ship" is sustained by the Senmeten aboard with little effort, but due to their non-technological nature, the Senmeten and their "ships" do not have access to warp technology.

In fact everything they need or use is created by this manipulation of pure psychic energy. From tools, to simple machines and even some complex devices. Their biological and material sciences are nearly nonexistent, but they have a highly developed science of the mind.

Economy

This does not seem to concern them in any way as they spend most of their time avoiding all other species. When one of the Federation team in contact with them brought up the possibility of trade they acted confused, almost as if the concept was something they did not understand.

Military

The Senmeten are a race of pacifists, one that is searching for a new world safe from invasion and conquest. Someplace they can live in peace and harmony with nature like they use to in the past. As a result they do not have or use any weapons.

However they do possess a fleet of non-armed, semi-sentient self-replicating probes that search the galaxy for races similar to themselves, as well as an early warning system against races like that which subjugated them the first time.

Federation Intelligence Files

Based on the data provided by the Senmeten experts believe their original homeworld may have been in either the Gamma or Delta quadrant and that they have been scattered across all 4 quadrants now. Their understanding of time and ours makes it hard to determine but it may have been as long as 3 or even 4 thousand years ago that they started their nomadic search for a new safe haven.

Sources

This is an original Starbase 118 species created by Captain Aron Kells.

SDC

This file was updated and approved by the SDC on 23 January 2015.

		SPECIES PROFILE UPDATED This profile was revised by the Species Development Committee.		REV 240109.16
		Please add any new information discovered during the course of a mission or shore leave.
SB118-SDC