Hermat

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Hermat
Four Letter Code	HERM
Federation Status	Members
Planet of Origin	Hermat
Encountered	Star Trek: New Frontier novel: Into the Void
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Hermats
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"Hir are unique, unfettered by the confusion of separate sexes that plagues the majority of other species."

a Hermat saying.

The Hermat are a species of humanoids that are dual sex. This means that each and every one of them is both male and female. As a result they tend to have difficulty relating effectively to members of other species. This has caused most of them to be slightly xenophobic towards other species.

Home System

• Quadrant: Alpha
• Location: Tira Noval Sector (coordinates A25-0002-1301)
• Proper Name: Hermav system
• Star: It orbits a class A (White) star
• Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 39 million km
• Companions: It is the 3rd of 12 planets in the system
• Moons: it has 3 moons

Home World

• Proper Name: Hermat
• Diameter: 19,861 km (12,341 miles)
• Gravity: 0.93 standard gravity with a density of 3.3
• Axial Tilt: 13.3%, with normal seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 394 days
• Rotational Period: 25.2 hours
• Classification: M
  • Surface Water: 54%
  • Atmosphere: 1.08% is a standard pressure with 72% nitrogen, 26% oxygen, 2% trace chemicals
  • Climate: Mainly a semi-tropical to temperate planet.
  • Population: Just over 9 billion

History

Archaeological and surviving documentation has shown that they are descended from a predatory species. They still retain the razor-sharp canine teeth and the heightened olfactory sense, enabling them to track an individual by their scent. Also when the situation calls for it, they can run on their hands and feet, faster than most typical humanoids. These abilities have been of great interest to most geneticists and other anthropological scientists as it is an unique opportunity to study alternative evolutionary possibilities.

Surprisingly enough for a species that still retains such distinct genetic evidence of their predatory origins they have had a fairly peaceful history with very few recorded periods of civil unrest or aggression. This allowed them to develop and grow as a people until they finally managed to master the skills needed to build and fly vessels capable of space travel. Further study of this aspect of their history has resulted in a number of different theories with the most prevalent being that the combination of both sexes and the uniquely different hormones, enzymes and other chemicals that normally separate the sexes into one individual may have had a stabilizing effect on their society resulting in more co-operation and less conflict.

Once they had learned to build space ships they constructed a small number of ships intended to be used to explore the universe around them. These ships were crewed mostly by skilled volunteers, individuals with adventurous spirits. With high hopes they left their world seeking the unknown. What came next were a number of first contacts with other species that were horrible failures mostly due to the unexpected fact that those species all had two distinctly different sexes, something they had never expected. Most experts agree that it was this unexpected discovery and their unique status as a duel-sex species which caused so many unexpected and often disastrous encounters. Very few records remain from these initial encounters but for the most part they all seem to be slight variations on the same theme. Interaction with alien species could not be conducted in the same way as they would interact with strangers from their own world.

They withdrew to their homeworld and built a small fleet of warships to protect themselves from the violence and unexpected negative reactions they had encountered. Things remained this way for almost 50 years and then a diplomatic vessel arrived from the Federation seeking to make contact. At first they had no interest and refused but Ambassador Coradin persisted and he was eventually able to convince them that they had nothing to fear from him or his staff. This revelation resulted in a number of very long and often strained series of diplomatic meetings that ended with the Hermats finally agreeing to allow the Federation to build a defensive and strategic starbase outside of their star system.

Another result of these meetings was the gradual understanding and enlightenment of the Hermat species in regards to interacting with other species. It resulted in a series of protocols and informed policies that would ensure less misunderstanding between them and other species. In some ways it is a little like the celibacy oath that the Deltans take before leaving their homeworld. As a result of this and the ensuing good will generated by the various visiting dignitaries, work crews and other staff assigned to the station the Hermats eventually requested and were granted membership in the Federation.

Since then they have slowly become more and more involved with various aspects of the Federation as a whole.

Government

The Hermats are governed by the Hermat Directorate which is their ruling body, the name given to their government. It is ruled by the Hermat Elders which is made up of a fluctuating number of highly intelligent individuals who have proven themselves capable of complex problem solving and adaptability in the face of challenges and problems.

Description

Hermats normally display physical traits of both genders- small feminine breasts, lithe yet muscular physiques, and facial features that have elements of both males and females. Their features tend more towards the feminine and for this reason some single-gender males, including humans often mistake Hermats for trim, slight-figured women. They also have slightly higher foreheads than humans and tend to have dark eyes.

Unique Form of Address

They have developed a unique set of pronouns to accommodate their dual-sex status: 'hir' rather than 'him' or 'her'; 'hish' for the possessive forms of 'his' and 'hers'; and 's/he' (with a separately accented H) rather than 'she' or 'he' to simplify communications with divided-sex species and preserve their uniqueness.

Naming System

They also have a unique naming system, most likely stemming from their dual-sex status, and the fact that some Hermats have only one parent. Hermat names usually take the form of a single name followed by a number. And the number presumably indicates that the actual name in question has either been used to name that number of persons in that particular family line, or in Hermat society in general. A Hermat named "Eskat 212" would either be the 212th Eskat in their family line, or in Hermat naming history. Further research into the Hermat naming system is required to clarify this, but given their semi-xenophobic attitude in regards to certain aspects of their dual-sex nature this is not likely to happen in the near future.

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.

In addition to having both male and female sexual organs, they also possess razor-sharp canine teeth, reflecting the predatory origins of their species. They also have a heightened olfactory sense, enabling them to track an individual by their scent. When the situation calls for it, they can run on their hands and feet, faster than most typical humanoids. However, they also have a relatively short life-span, averaging just 40 years.

Psychology

Hermats, as a race, tend to keep to themselves. Their tendency toward segregation from the rest of the Federation is well known. While Hermats are not necessarily xenophobic, they have some difficulty relating effectively to members of other species. The adoption of a new set of policies and procedures for interacting with other species seems to have greatly decreased this difficulty with the more liberal minded among them.

Religion

Strangely enough they actually have 3 gods/goddesses as the main foundation of their beliefs. The first represents the family and their ability to reproduce and survive as a species. The second represents their ability to work together as a society, to help and co-operate when and as needed. Finally the last one represents their ability to adapt, to learn and to adjust to the changing social and political environment around them. In this day and age this means their ability to learn to survive and thrive as members of the Federation.

Mythology

They have a confusing and convoluted series of tales and legends that detail the origins of their species and the tasks overcome in order to survive and thrive as a people and a society.

Society

As a people they have a very ordered and peaceful society with very few acts of violence or crime. Their communities are clean and designed with an eye towards being both visual pleasing and efficient. As a result they tend to have ample recreational facilities, amenities and infrastructure that is constantly being maintained and improved as needed.

Culture

As a species they seem to enjoy all forms of artistic expression. This has now grown to include many of the various different art forms and means of expression used by and normally associated with various other species with in the Federation. In this respect they tend to be very curious and open to experimenting with new ideas.

Customs

This is one of the few areas of their society that they still tend to avoid talking about with other species. This seems to be as a result of numerous disastrous and often insulting encounters with narrow minded and judgmental species during their early days of space exploration. However this seems to be slowly changing as they take an ever increasing and active part in the development and operation of the Federation. The adoption of a new set of policies and procedures for interacting with other species has also been credited with the overall improvement in interactions with other species.

Technology

While they are slightly behind the majority of Federation member worlds when it comes to their level of technology they are capable of maintaining this and are slowly catching up with the majority as they slowly increase their active participation in various Federation research and development projects.

Economy

Prior to becoming members of the Federation they had very few long term trade deals and discouraged most alien overtures to develop more. This has since changed now that they are Federation members but they are still not what you would call welcoming. Still the quality of live has improved for the majority of their people and freighters visit them with annoying regularity.

Military

Since becoming members of the Federation they have slowly dismantled and sold off almost all of the war ships they had. All they have kept are a few small destroyer class patrol ships that they use to police the sector around them.

So far less than a hundred of them have enlisted in Starfleet but this trend seems to be changing as they become more involved with various different aspects of being members of the Federation.

Federation Intelligence Files

As of the 2370's, there were still few Hermat members of Starfleet. They are renowned for their versatility and ingenuity.

Saltroni 815

Saltroni 815 was a Hermat who served as representative to the Federation Council from the planet Hermat from at least 2370 through 2380.

Rulan 12

Rulan 12 was a Hermat who lived during the latter half of the 24th century. During their educational years, Burgoyne 172 and s/he often got into trouble together. Despite Burgoyne's attraction to hir, they didn't pursue a relationship because Rulan valued hir chastity.

S/he was confronted by D'myurj who had disguised themselves as Hermat scientists who told hir that they were conducting experiments to lengthen the Hermat lifespan. S/he agreed and underwent injections and radiation until hir metabolism was hyper-stimulated.

Burgoyne 182

This is the mirror universe counterpart to Burgoyne 172 and hir was the Hermat head of security aboard the Stinger until hir was killed by M'k'n'zy because hir killed the slave Elizabeth Shelby.

Burgoyne 172

Burgoyne 172 is a Hermat Starfleet Officer that served as the Chief engineer of the USS Excalibur under Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, and as First officer of the USS Excalibur-A under Calhoun in the mid to late 24th century.

Burgoyne 172 was born on planet Amphibalus III to just one parent, Burgoyne 171 and unlike most of hir dual-gendered people, Burgoyne was sociable and outgoing.

Hir Starfleet Career

In the year 2368, Lt. Burgoyne was assigned to the engineering section of the USS Livingston when s/he was assigned to assist a J'naii doctor named Dorvan in stopping a malfunction Federation probe that was wreaking havoc on the planet Damiano.

By the year 2371, Burgoyne was the assistant chief engineer of the USS Excalibur under Chief engineer Argyle and Captain Morgan Korsmo.

During a shore leave on Argelius II, Burgoyne had a chance encounter with Starfleet legend Montgomery Scott and was given a hallucination inducing gem by an ex-lover named Sharanna who felt used by Burgoyne and hir amorous nature.

Burgoyne became Chief Engineer of the USS Excalibur in 2373, after the deaths of Argyle and Korsmo at the hands of the Borg.

Starfleet gave command of the Excalibur to Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, and assigned the USS Excalibur to relief and humanitarian duties in Sector 221-G, the old Thallonian Empire.

Burgoyne was immediately attracted to the ship's new chief medical officer, a Vulcan woman named Selar. When Selar seemed uninterested in hir attentions, Burgoyne had a brief relationship with Lt. Mark McHenry.

Selar resisted Burgoyne's advances for some time until, while suffering from the fires of pon farr, she gave into the mating instinct, and chose Burgoyne to sate her needs.

When Selar became pregnant with Burgoyne's child and attempted to raise him on Vulcan as a Vulcan citizen, Burgoyne took hir case to both the Hermat Directorate and the Vulcan Judgement Council to no avail. Burgoyne eventually convinced Selar to raise the child, Xyon (named for Captain Calhoun's son), together on the USS Excalibur.

When the USS Excalibur-A was commissioned in 2376, Calhoun asked Burgoyne to be his first officer and Burgoyne accepted. Burgoyne served in the position throughout the Gateways Crisis, the battles with the Beings in 2376, the war with the Selelvians and the Tholian Assembly in (approximately) 2377 and 2378, and the Excalibur's journey to the gelatinous realm of the Bolgar and the Teuthis in 2379.

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used a resources.

They were first introduced in the Star Trek: New Frontier novel: Into the Void. This was followed by the Star Trek: New Frontier novels: Treason, Cold Wars, Gods Above, After the Fall, Missing in Action, House of Cards, The Two Front War, End Game, Martyr, Renaissance and the Star Trek: New Frontier Mirror Universe novel: Cutting Ties.

Also used were the Star Trek: New Frontier short stories: Oil and Water, Through the Looking Glass, Making a Difference and the Star Trek novel: Articles of the Federation.

This species has also been used by a number of different members of the Starbase 118 universe over the years.

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

		SPECIES PROFILE UPDATED This profile was revised by the Species Development Committee.		REV 239403.10
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