Menk

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Menk
Four Letter Code	MENK
Federation Status	Members
Planet of Origin	Valakis
Encountered	ENT: Dear Doctor
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Menks
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"Evolution is complicated."

a Menk proverb.

The Menk are a species that was originally considered to be inferior to the Valakians who were the more technically advanced of the two indigenous intelligent species to evolve on their homeworld. Now they are the dominate species.

Home System

• Quadrant: Beta
• Location: Sector 006 (coordinates #B26-0001-1299) inside what use to be the Delphic Expanse.
• Proper Name: Valakis system
• Star: It orbits a class K (Orange) star
• Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 43 million km
• Companions: It is the 3rd of 8 planets in the system

Home World

• Proper Name: Valakis
• Diameter: 14,209 km (8,829 miles)
• Gravity: 1.02 standard gravity with a density of 4.9
• Axial Tilt: 9.4% with minimal seasonal effects
• Orbital Period: 335 days
• Rotational Period: 23.3 hours
• Classification: M
  • Surface Water: 55%
  • Atmosphere: 0.98 is a standard pressure with 73% nitrogen, 24% oxygen, 3% trace gases/chemicals
  • Climate: Mostly a temperate climate with polar caps.
  • Population: Just over 3 billion

History

The Menk are one of two humanoid species that evolved on the planet Valakis. The Northern Valakians evolved in harsher climates than the Menk allowing necessity to force the Valakians to develop technology faster. Since the early days of their people, the Menk have been subservient and second class citizens to the more powerful Valakians. Though not considered as evolutionary advanced, the Menk were taken care of and provided food and clothing.

Not until a plague began to start wiping out the Valakians did the Menk begin to assert their rights. It especially became stronger when it was discovered that their DNA protected them from the plague.

In 2151 Phlox of the Federation starship Enterprise discovered that it was not a plague but that the illness was genetic; the proteins that bind to Valakian chromosomes were deteriorating. This had been going on for thousands of years but the rate of mutation had accelerated over the last few generations. Based on his projections, Phlox predicted that the Valakians would be extinct by the 24th century.

Because of this advantage, the Menk began to outnumber the Valakians leading to a complete reversal of the dominant species on the planet. By 2230s, the Menk numbered in the millions while only a few hundred thousand Valakians remained.

In 2236, the Menk were able to make their first warp jump which lead to their application and acceptance to the United Federation of Planets.

Shortly after this it was discovered by accident that by cross breeding with the Menk, the genetic deterioration of the Valakian chromosomes could be neutralized. Further research found that by combining certain aspects of the Menk genetic material a serum could be fashioned that temporally halted the deterioration process.

While research continued the Valakian population slowly started to climb back up but now where near as fast as the Menk population which was now into the billions. Eventually a more potent and longer lasting serum was discovered that completely neutralized the genetic deterioration in over 68% of the Valakian population.

Government

At one time the Valakians governed their planet but that is in the past. The new form of government is a more democratic system of election instigated by the rising population of Menk which has long since become the dominant species on the planet due to numbers. They did make it clear in their new constitution that all were equals both Menk and Valakian.

Now they have a council that works for the President-Impor who is elected every six years. The President-Impor then selects from his council of 30 those who will head up each of the 10 government departments. These individuals then select 2 of the remaining councilors to assist them. Three of these councilors are elected from among the Valakian minority.

Description

Menk are humanoid in appearance with ridges extruding from each side of their face and along their brow ridge. The thickness, extension, and modeling is different with each Menk. The female of the species has the same ridges except they are more subdued in nature. These are normally more pronounced that those found on the Valakians. Other than that they appear to be typical humanoids with five fingers and toes, two arms and legs. They have a wide range of heights, weights, hair color (mostly dark shades) and eye color although they tend to be slightly shorter and stockier than the Valakians.

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.

The Menk are a very peaceful species to the point that the Valakians and those few species that came into contact with them assumed their peacefulness was because of their stupidity. This led to the mistreatment and second class citizen status of the Menk by the Valakians.

This has long since been proven to be incorrect and the Menk are now the dominant species on their homeworld showing and proving they have the mental capability to perform just as well as any other intelligent species.

Psychology

Menk do not believe in violence and will go out of their way to avoid it unless forced in to a confrontation. They prefer to solve their disputes through talking and trying to understand the root cause. Their slow and methodical approach has been noted as annoying to some species as Menk prefer to take their time with all their discussions.

Religion

They observe the teachings of a holy man, a healer who lived more than 2,000 years before. He taught that true inner peace and harmony can only be achieved by patience, understanding and forgiveness. While not quite a religion these teaching have survived and form the basis of their current beliefs.

Mythology

Not much is known about the mythology of the Menk as the Valakians supressed them and used them for manual and menial labour for centuries. Many experts believe that because of this they were never allowed to develop any for themselves.

Society

Menk society is built on mutual respect and taking care of one another. Its biggest feat was the acceptance of the remaining Valakians that had not died from the world wide plagued that ravaged them and their status as equal citizens on the planet. Though not completely accepted by all Menk, the Valakians live a relatively peaceful life in the northern continent of the planet.

They have large well laid out cities, with access for all too all the medical, educational, recreational and transportation facilities. Their police force is large enough to keep the crime rate under check and emergency services respond promptly. Both of these groups have excellent equipment and training.

Culture

Not much is known about Menk culture since the suppression of it by the Valakians. There are archaeologists and sociologists dedicated to finding the remaining information on their species and bringing it to the next generation.

Customs

Under the old regime of the Valakians they were never allowed to really develop any true customs of their own. It is only now that they have become the dominant species and have proven that they are not mentally inferior to the Valakians that they have started to discover who they are and why they are different than the Valakians.

Technology

While they are an advanced species technologically they are near the bottom of the list when it comes to those species who are members of the Federation. However medicine is and probably will be the one area where they concentrate the majority of their skills and efforts. As a result they produce some of the best medical researchers in the Federation.

Economy

Once they developed warp capable ships they slowly started to develop off world commercial interests. With their joining the Federation this increased to include a number of long term trade deals with other member species as well as countless short term deals that have greatly strengthened their own economy.

The Menk are well known for their export of exotic cloth and minerals. Their tourism has also been on the rise recently after the discovery and excavation of the Temple of Alu', the first intact structure of Menk design.

Military

The Valakians never developed a military of their own and since the Menk have taken control of the government the police force has remained much like it was under the Valakians. The police force never was equipped to handle any truly aggressive militaristic action. Many experts believe this to be a true rarity for an advanced civilization, especially one that evolved side by side with another completely different intelligent species, the Menk.

Since the Menk assumed control of the government they have constructed a dozen or so police cutters that defend the star system from pirates and run the customs and port inspections for the orbiting space station. These ships are manned by members of the planetary police force who have been trained in ship operations.

Federation Intelligence Files

The universal translator was unable to translate the Menk language as of 2151, however it was easy enough to learn.

In 2236, the Menk were able to make their first warp jump which lead to their application and acceptance to the United Federation of Planets.

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as references as well as the following TV episodes, ENT: Dear Doctor and ENT: Acquisition. They are also mentioned in Star Trek Into Darkness.

The written Star Trek reference book: Star Trek, Star Charts, was also used.

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

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