Caitian

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Caitian
Caitian Admiral
Four Letter Code	CAIT
Federation Status	Member
Planet of Origin	Cait
Encountered	First Appearance: (TAS Beyond the Farthest Star)
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Caitians
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Name

• Proper Name: Caitian
• Pronunciation: Cay-shun

Home System

• Quadrant: Beta
• Location: Regulan System
• Proper Name: Regulus
• Pronunciation: Regg-yoo-luss
• Star: Regulus (Alpha Leonis), a trinary star consisting of the following elements:-
  • Regulus A, itself a binary star, comprised of a type-B blue giant and a type-D white dwarf
  • Regulus B, a type-K orange star
  • Regulus C, a type-M red giant
• Companions: 4 planets: Regulus I & II, Regulus III (colonized), Regulus IV; Asteroid belt

Home World

• Proper Name: Cait (Regulus V)
• Pronunciation: Kate (Regg-yoo-luss 5)
• Native Name: Ferasa
• Pronunciation: Fair-ass-uh
• Gravity: 1G
• Satellites: 2, Rea and Sura
• Classification: M
  • Atmosphere: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon
  • Climate: Tropical. No large oceans, but there are several large seas. Most of the planet is covered in fertile rainforest that is irrigated by a large number of natural rivers and streams.

Regulus V is an unusual planet in that it has such a warm climate for a planet that is relatively far out in its orbit. This can be explained due to Regulus's trinary nature. While it is regarded as the Caitian homeworld, there are many other long-settled Caitian worlds, stretching across more than seven sectors of Federation space. Most Caitian colonies are Federation member worlds. Regulus V is home to many terrestrial cities and orbital stations.

History

The origins of the Caitians are somewhat shrouded in mystery thanks to claims from a number of disparate sources. Many theories exist among the Caitians themselves about their origins, but other races of a similar genotype have claimed that the Caitians are an offshoot of their own species, including the Kzinti and the Lyrans. Moreover, the membership of the Caitians amongst the technologically developed races of the current time period came about more by happenstance than natural development, thanks to an invasion of their world by a species known as the Kodom in their late industrial era (c. 1600). The Caitians were able to repel the invaders, by revoking their pacifist nature and defending their homeworld with natural weapons including claws, bows and arrows. The Kodom invasion force, who did not know the labyrinthine jungles of Ferasa as well as their intended victims, were caught and systematically annihilated by a series of well-planned and well-executed guerilla attacks. Once the dust had settled, the Caitians took advantage of the abandoned craft in which the Kodom had landed, which contained simple warp drives.

It took some time for Caitian scientists and engineers to examine their finds, but they were eventually able to determine how to operate their newly acquired technology. Over time, the science behind these ships grew to be understood, and advancements were slowly made. Warp 1 vessels were launched from Ferasa to colonise suitable uninhabited planets in much the same way as Earth colonised its surroundings. In the meantime, the Vulcans expanded their territory past Caitian borders. Possessing vessels capable of no more than Warp 1 and with limited armament, the Caitians posed no threat to the High Command, and passively allowed themselves to be swallowed up into Vulcan space. The Caitian sky navy was put on high alert in the year 2154 on the detection of a large Vulcan fleet headed into the Regulan sector, but they left as quickly as they had come. It was later discovered that they were to deliver a pre-emptive strike against the Andorians, whose space lay nearby. Little was heard from the Vulcans for many years afterward until the Caitians broke through the warp 2 barrier, and began to explore further afield. Contact was made with the Orions and the Ferengi, but it was the Federation who made the greatest impression on the Caitian people, who appealed for membership. They were admitted in 2234. Caitians are now know to serve throughout Starfleet, and have a representative on the Federation Council.

Government

The Caitian government is based upon a system of clans, each led by its oldest member. The clans are dispersed across the homeworld. Meetings are held in chambers located in the major cities worldwide, and each clan leader attends debates that are held to decide the way forward in global or local matters.

Description

Caitians are felinoid (feline humanoid) species, and as such have cat-like features, including long manes and tails. Their bodies are covered in thick fur, which can vary in colour from dark brown to tan. Rarely, a Caitian is born with entirely black fur, and a black mane. This is considered to be highly attractive and exotic by other members of the species. On average they can reach heights of 1.6 meters, and weigh 226kg. Their life-span is approximately 115 years.

Physiology

Caitians are bipedal, closely resembling many other humanoid races, but with tails, long manes, and features that closely resemble those of a Terran cat. They have flat noses, prominent canine teeth and large, forward-facing golden eyes. Their hips and chests are slightly narrower than those of a Human. Caitian voices closely resemble the purring of cats when they are conversing in their natural tongue, and as such it is difficult for them to adapt to phonetic language. On the other side of the coin, it is also difficult for a Caitian who has been raised outside of a native colony to learn their own tongue. It is theorised that Caitians evolved from arboreal predators on their homeworld, which has led to their current physiology.

As natural predators, Caitians are extremely agile, have excellent hand-eye co-ordination, and are natural sprinters. Their preferred diet is raw or rare meat, and their digestive tract has notorious difficulty in digesting vegetables. They are able to eat grains, such as rice, although many Caitians are not keen on the taste of such foods, viewing their consumption as a dietary necessity rather than a pleasure. Due to the nature of their diet, a common cause of natural death for Caitians is Heart disease, although Caitian doctors have been able to use Federation medical research and technology to adapt efficient artificial hearts for their people. The onset of such a disease is most common around the age of 70, and there are many hospitals on Cait that specialise in this particular affliction.

Once every six months a Caitian sheds its fur. This process lasts for one to two weeks. The skin beneath the fur is highly sensitive to touch and temperature, although Caitians have adapted to living in a wide range of climates.

Caitian young are born in litters of two or three, and suckled by their mother for the first few months of their life. They quickly develop the ability to digest meat, at which point the weaning process can begin.

Senses

Vision

Caitian eyes are golden in pigmentation, and function extremely well in low light. Their vision is panoramic, and their retinas contain a high ratio of rods to cones, allowing for an extremely developed ability to see movement, but a slightly reduced ability to see colour.

Hearing

With their highly developed hearing, Caitians often serve in Starfleet as Communications Officers. Their range of hearing is much wider than that of many other species, which also lends them well to Sonic Science.

Psychology

The average Caitian is a calm and cool individual, with an extremely mild temperament. Getting angry is looked upon with shame by Caitians and so every effort is made to resolve conflict as peacefully as possible. Violence is considered in the same light. Neither is an option unless a grave personal offense is committed, or it is required by duty.

Caitians rarely show outward signs of close relationships in public. Family members and best friends are treated in the same manner as strangers, as outward displays of affection are not considered to be a necessary part of relationship maintenance. Some Caitians can appear to be flirtatious, which is often used as a mechanism to cover their real emotions, particularly in the case of a truly private individual.

Caitians prefer to be clean, and to have their own space. Overcrowding aboard a ship, or inhabiting cramped quarters can be detrimental to their psychological well-being.

Mythology

Ancient Caitian legends also tell of a White Caitian, but no such Caitian has been born in recorded history.

Society

Initially, Caitians were a hunting people, wild predators on the savannah. However, what farming did to the humans, ranching did to the Caitians. The domestication of local wildlife turned the nomadic people into more sedentary people. As a result, culture soon flourished and in a few thousand years, civilization, based around the ranch principle. Caitian culture has been peaceful for nearly two eons after their early history was marked by savage wars that nearly decimated the species. The remaining link to their violent past is through the familial hunts.

Culture

Claws

Language

The Caitian language consists of multiple soft tones, spoken with a deep, purring resonance; this style of communication makes it difficult for the Caitians to adapt to phonetic languages.

Economy

The Regulan bloodworm (Regulani vermis) is a parasitic life form native to Cait Cait would have remained a small, insignifigant planet had not it?s system been rich in a rare element: Dilithium. This brought it to the attention of the local powers, including the Federation. Cait was admitted to the Federation in 2234 and has been a great asset since.

Federation Intelligence Files

• Korax, a Klingon lieutenant, once insultingly compared Humans to Regulan bloodworms on Deep Space Station K-7 in a conversation which immediately preceded a barroom brawl. (TOS episode: "The Trouble with Tribbles")

Notes

THIS PROFILE IS BEING RE-WRITTEN BY THE SDC; Species Development Committee