Vendorian

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Vendorian
Four Letter Code	VEDO
Federation Status	Non-Member, quarantined
Planet of Origin	Vendor
Encountered	ANI 22005 - "The Survivor"
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	D to E
List of Named Vendorians
Full ILI Gallery • Permitted Species Gallery

Do not approach CONTACT PROHIBITED NOTICE: This species has been restricted to its homeworld

"Boredom could be more dangerous to you than to me."

a Vendorian proverb.

The Vendorian are a species of metamorphs who can become anyone and assume any shape. Mostly isolationists they also have a healthy reputation for being more trouble than they are worth.

Home System

• Quadrant: Beta
• Location: Near the Romulan Neutral Zone in the Bolarus Sector (coordinates B26-0001-1297)
• Proper Name: Kandaq system
• Star: It orbits a class M (Red) star
• Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 83 million km
• Companions: it is the 4th of 8 planets

Home World

• Proper Name:Vendor
• Diameter: 10,446 km (6,529 miles)
• Gravity: 0.91 standard gravity with a density of 6.1
• Axial Tilt: 22%, with earth like seasons
• Orbital Period: 263 days
• Rotational Period: 30 hours
• Classification: M
  • Surface Water: 81%
  • Atmosphere: 0.96 is a standard pressure with 71% nitrogen, 22% oxygen, 7% trace gases
  • Climate: Tropical
  • Population: Just over 2 million

History

On stardate 5143.3 (2269), a Vendorian disguised as the interstellar trader and philanthropist Carter Winston was discovered by the crew of the USS Enterprise. He had been missing for 5 years. He was able to con them into entering the neutral zone where several Romulan ships appeared and surrounded the USS Enterprise.

At this time it became obvious that had been his plan all along. However due to the feelings for Winston's fiancée that he "inherited? from the original Winston, the Vendorian switched sides at the last moment, undoing the Romulan plot to capture the Federations starship.

Another recorded encounter with a Vendorian revealed that the Orion Syndicate had periodically visited the planet and recruited some of them to be assassins and spies. This ended when one of the Vendorians killed his Orion master and assumed his identity. He was eventually captured by Federation police and under examination his true identity was revealed. Instead of being imprisoned on a penal planet he was returned to his home world.

As a result of the encounter with the Romulans the Federation established a quarantine zone that surrounds their home world on the edge of the neutral zone. Any Vendorians discovered outside this zone are immediately returned.

Government

As far as it can be determined they have no central government. Scans from space have shown that their population is very widely scattered with no groupings larger than a dozen. Certain scientists have theorized that based on the population dispersal that there is no formal government at all.

It is unknown at this time if these small groups of population are organized in any fashion and if they are do they resemble clans, tribes or families in structure and development.

Description

A race of sentient shape-shifters native to the planet Vendor. In their natural form, Vendorians look rather like floating orange lamps adorned with six trailing tentacles. Because of their ability to rearrange their molecular structures at will, thus taking on the shapes of various humanoid species, Federation authorities look upon them with suspicion.

Physiology

They can easily alter their molecular structures at will, thus taking on the shapes of any species or animal life form. This and the ability to float are considered to be evolutionary survival traits needed to survive on their world. The aspect of their ability to transform into almost anything that is still a mystery to scientists is their ability to become in-animate objects, including very complex technical devices such as a deflector dish and still be able to function exactly like the device they have transformed into.

Psychology

Psychologists theorize that the harsh reality of daily life on their home world would translate to a mentality that encourages personal survival over more altruistic motives. Limited social interaction, as evidenced by scans taken to this point, would suggest a mentality that does not trust easily outside of their own group. There is anecdotal evidence with respect to limited contact with individual Vendorians on two separate occasions; in both cases, the individuals in question proved to be deceitful, capable of subterfuge and betrayal. Both individuals were concerned with their own survival and appeared to lack understanding of the concept of working for a 'greater good'.

However it has been found that they not only takes the shape of things but in some cases they can also absorb the emotions and feelings of the object they have taken the form of. As of yet their is no scientific explaination of how they are able to do this.

Religion

No data has been discovered to reveal any info regarding the possibility that they might have some form of religion. Again certain scientists have theorized that there is no formal religion due to the scattered nature of the population. Scans from orbit would seem to support this theory.

Mythology

No data has been discovered to reveal any info regarding the possibility that they might have some form of mythology. No statues, monoliths or other primitive examples of divine or mythological beliefs have been discovered.

Society

Based on the little data available at this time it is believed that they do not have a real structure like a society. Their world is incredibly hostile and dangerous and the largest groupings tend to be smaller than a dozen members in size.

Extensive scans from orbit has revealed that these groups tend to live in one area for a while and then move on to another area. As a result there are no large structures of any kind anywhere on the planet. Small villages tend to be designed with defence in mind and are usually in hard to reach locations. Even these vary in design based mostly on the location and availability of materials for construction.

Some examples of permanent transient villages are the homes built into caves in cliffs, tree top structures and walled barricades of various materials surrounding a half dozen buildings.

Culture

Scans from space have revealed no statures, monoliths or other artistic endeavours. Requests for surface facilities that would allow this species to be observed and data collected that might prove the existence of cultural interests and activities has so far been denied. Considering their environment and obvious intelligence most scientists believe that only close contact or observation will result in useful data.

Customs

Unknown as of this time as their world is considered off limits due to the Federation quarantine zone that surrounds their home world. Scans from space have not revealed any data that could be used to confirm any customs. So far numerous requests to place a observation facility on the surface have been 100% denied.

Technology

It is believed that they are far behind both the Federation and the Romulans when it comes to technology. They have no form of interstellar travel or space craft. No industrial technology is evident. They do have wind and water powered mills that have been designed to perform a number of different tasks depending on the needs of the people at the time. Some of these include the production of power for use in various devices.

It is believed that those members of this species that have been off world have learned new ideas and technology during their travels. If that is true then their technological advancement is only limited by their ability to work together and by the scarcity of various minerals and other key elements needed to produce certain forms of technology.

Economy

Completely self-sufficient as they are prevented from having any off world contact by the Federation quarantine zone that surrounds their home world. Scans would seem to indicate that various groups do get together to trade. In fact there are numerous locations that due to the natural security they provide from the native wildlife serve as market places for numerous groups to meet and trade.

Military

They do not seem to have any form of military force nor do they seem to need one. They are much to busy fighting the environment and numerous dangerous creatures. Added to this is the fact that their population is scattered over the entire planet in small groupings of less than a dozen.

The Federation enforces a quarantine zone around their home world even though it is technically right on the border of the neutral zone with the Romulans.

Federation Intelligence Files

Patrolling near the Neutral Zone in 2269, the U.S.S. Enterprise found a ship manned by Carter Winston, a Federation citizen who has been missing for 5 years. Winston turns out to really be a Vendorian, an alien species that can transform its shape at will. For more data see Federation Intelligence File # ANI-2269-3482

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as referances as well as the TV episode, TAS, The Survivor and the novelization of the same name.

SDC

This file was updated and approved by the SDC on 5 April, 2012

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 239106.21
		Please add any new information discovered during the course of a mission or shore leave.
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