Dathis II

Dathis II is the M-class homeworld of the Dachlyd. Dathis II is an arboreal world with several oceans. The Dachlyd word for Dathis II translates to "nest" with similar connotations as Terran "earth".

Location

The Dathis system is part of the Sagittarius Arm in the Alpha Quadrant. The closest Federation starbase to the Dathis system is Starbase 12. The nearest inhabited star system is Gemaris, home of the seclusive Gemarians. http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Captain%27s_Holiday_(episode)

Star System

Dathis is a F-type subgiant star, luminosity class IV. Dathis appears white when seen from space. Dathis appears yellow from the inhabited portion of Dathis II, due to atmosphere.

Dathis II is the second planet (counting outward from the star) in an eight-planet solar system orbiting the star Dathis.

Features

Like most of the Dathis system, Dathis II is host to a large, rotating number of Dachlyd freighters. Asked on one occasion for a specific number regarding this fleet, Cadet Rogg only remarked, "More than once the orbiting freighters have partially eclipsed the planet's surface."

Seckrops University orbits Dathis II. The campus is on one of the only remaining planetoids near the planet.

Meteoroids are a significant threat to unshielded space craft and satellites. These smaller bodies are all that remain after the Dachlyds harvested the once-numerous asteroids.

Geology

Since early in its history Dathis II has been subject to frequent meteoroid bombardment. More rare (though more common than comparative Terran history) were regular asteroid impacts. Fossil records indicate that life on Dathis II has been subject to several extinction-level events (ELE). Early Dachlyd History is punctuated by cataclysms resulting from the impacts of one or more asteroids. Due to developments in Planetary Defense, asteroid-related disasters remain in the past of Dathis II.

Impact craters in various states of erosion are a unique feature of the planet's surface. (Some researchers propose that the craters remaining from previous asteroids may have sheltered Dathis II life from subsequent asteroids.) Many craters have become overgrown with the abundant flora. A couple of the craters from ELEs have since become seas.

Floating rafts or "islands" of fused tree litter may be found in the oceans near the equator. The largest surveyed had an astonishing area of 5,022 km². Typical litter islands average around 100 km². Wave action usually breaks a litter island apart within a week, but several have been recorded to last years. According to Dachlyd legend, there is a litter island which has persisted since before recorded history.

The north and south poles of the planet are capped in glacial ice.

Weather

Rain and seasonal meteor showers are to be expected. The equatorial region of the planet is daily exposed to dangerous sigma radiation from the star. Lingering sigma radiation levels decrease during the night. (Even radiation-resistant Dachlyds avoid the equator.)

Flora

Dathis II abounds with plant life, ranging from prosaic ferns to eerie, triffid-like lifeforms. Visiting Terrans have compared the ecosystem to that of early 20th century (Terran) notions of Venus, albeit poetically. More erudite botanists note that the planet has ten times more plants than planets of comparative volume and atmosphere. Many theories have been put forth to compete for explanation of the seemingly superfluous species of vegetation. The wide variety of flora has an almost as broad range of uses in Dachlyd culture; the plants are used for food, utensil, decoration, religious ceremony, etc. As a result, many Dachlyds appreciate flora even on worlds with comparatively sparse vegetation.

Each region of Dathis II has a native plant associated with it:

• Squamos - the shield bush or "sssquarti" (a taro plant with lozenge-shaped leaves of yellow and green)
• Taelend - the swizzle vine or "kasstick" (a somewhat-brittle, ubiquitous epiphyte which grows in shades of mauve)
• Kassilend - the king's crown or "gly-taass" (a variegated bromeliad of six iridescent colors considered sacred by most Dachlyd and gaudy or outlandish by most other races)
• . . . (et al.)

Towering "lung" trees can be found on Dathis II. These plant structures are colossal when mature, and may grow to titanic dimensions. The largest lungs are located near the equator; in this region, sigma radiation limits the threats the trees endure. Equatorial lungs only have to survive frequent precipitation, giant insects, old age, and gravity. Another unique aspect of the forested equator is the massive accumulation of duff. Sigma radiation adversely affects decomposers, which combined with the rampant plant growth creates a thick layer of barely decaying tree litter. An entire subset of Dachlyd botany is devoted to the epiphytes endemic to lung trees.

Twiyll is a plant similar to Terran hemp, with the notable difference that once dried it has elastic properties. For this reason, the Dachlyd people have long used it in clothing, jewelry, or in other applications where skin comfort is as much a concern as durability.

(Despite research expeditions by xenobotanists, no sentient manner of plant life has yet been discovered on the surface of Dathis II.)

Fauna

The animal life of this planet is notably reptilian with almost no mammals (excluding various bat-like forms). In addition to the lack of mammalian life, there are no avians (birds) - this ecological niche is filled by large, flying insects and the aforementioned bats.

Comparative xenobiology suggests that life evolved on Dathis II as it might have on Earth, had mammals not ascended to dominate the food web.

Insect

The insect life on Dathis II is not of particular interest to the native Dachlyd, apart from certain delicious larvae. The armor-like skin of the Dachlyd allow them to safely ignore most insects. A notable exception are the giant insects. These larger arthropods can injure or even kill an adult Dachlyd. Fortunately, most giant insects are rare outside of the equator region.

• Karvid: Termites about the size of Welsh corgi. They have bright red heads with fluorescent markings and black bodies and limbs. They live in small colonies of 5-40. They defend themselves, but are seldom seen outside of the protection of their humid tunnels. A karvid larva is widely considered a perfect meal. They are notorious in that their tunnels are large enough for Dachlyd young to enter, but too narrow for parents to pursue.

Arachnid

• Gorgorn'a: A super-predator which lives exclusively in the equatorial forests. These spiders have bodies over a meter long, and leg spans of four meters or greater. Female coloration matches the surrounding tree bark, while the smaller males are mottled blue with bright yellow markings. They have no natural pigments which react to ultraviolet light, which makes them even less visible to Dachlyds. Most Dachlyds will never see a live gorgorn'a, but suspiciously fear them anyway. Similarly, a bad neighbor is colloquially termed "a gorgorn'a next door".

• Skal: Similar to Terran scorpions, except the last pair of legs are long and strong, adapted for leaping. Most Dachlyd regard them as a nuisance—except when a skal stings an unlucky person in the eye or mouth.

Culture

Dathis II, while being the homeworld of the Dachlyd race, is not the seat of Dachlyd culture. Starship, sub-light freighter, and space station -dwelling Dachlyds outnumber their homeworld fellows. It is more accurate to say that Dachlyd culture is rooted on Dathis II and has branched off from the homeworld. The colony worlds of the Dachlyds began along the same vein as Dachlyd settlements upon Dathis II. Dachlyd society is not hegemonic. Rather it is doctrinally opposed to hegemonies, a sort of tradition of egalitarianism.

Because of the history of respect for others, Dachlyds have at times petitioned outside aide from the UFOP in order to expeditiously resolve disputes and reach compromise. Extremism and despotism are not widely understood except by those Dachlyds studying political science or xenocultures.

Part of Dachlyd respect for unique views is a tendency towards stubbornness: a Dachlyd will tolerate other perspectives while maintaining its own. Among Dachlyds there may be a chance of exchanging ideas. Conversely, when dealing with alien cultures whose views oppose their own Dachlyds have earned a reputation for adamantly refusing to accept the foreign views. Sometimes it has proven impossible to even convince a Dachlyd that its views are the same as a non-Dachlyd's.

Hatching

The hatching open of a brood clutch is called "the cracking crying" by Dachlyds. When a nest of eggs hatches, the parent (or parents) are primarily occupied with freeing the young, ensuring they are safe, and assessing their health. However, ancient tradition indicates that the remaining egg shells should be ingested. This may have originated as a practice in order to keep the nest clean and safe from scavengers. More modern traditions hold that the shells should be smashed or otherwise destroyed, to further emphasize the liberation of the young. A parent usually keeps the egg tooth once it falls off the young Dachlyd. Collected egg teeth are a point of pride in how many young a Dachlyd has assisted in hatching, especially among professional midwives. If the eggs have become too dry before hatching, the egg may be too tough for Dachlyd young to escape without aid. This aid is usually accompanied by traditional chants and prayers. After the last Dachlyd has hatched and exhausted itself stretching out its new limbs and tail, the brood is collected as one. The parent Dachlyd eats a small feast to replenish the spent energy. Following this feast the Dachlyd curls protectively around the young and rests.

Neet

The neet or "of size" celebration occurs when a young Dachlyd is no longer able to be held in the outstretched hand of its nest parent. As the Dachlyd is clearly no longer capable of being easily manipulated, this ceremony is held to mark the beginnings of its independence. Typically the neet is solemn, with speeches on responsibility and the recounting of stories detailing both the bounties and perils faced by historical Dachlyds. As a memento of the nest and family, an adornment (typically of twiyll fiber) such as a bracelet, necklace, gorget, or poncho is received by the Dachlyd being recognized. The celebration concludes with a spinning dance and the young Dachlyd usually spends the night away from home. (Young, space-faring Dachlyd may simply depart the celebration chambers symbolically.)

Huassgk

This sacred day acknowledges a Dachlyd's sexual maturity and confers adult status upon them. The average Dachlyd matures at 15 years. Traditionally, an adult Dachlyd finds its own place to live. Aboard space craft, Huassgk may be accompanied by formal assignment to a crew division. Dachlyd maturity is driven by hormones and the somewhat aggressive expression of these, causing the younger Dachlyd to reject its parent or caretaker. Often this rejection begins as unintentional hissing following normal conversation. From stressed hissing the aggression proceeds to bellowing and roaring, with the two Dachlyds confronting each other. The final stage has both parties vocally confronting each other, bellowing and roaring face-to-face, sometimes for hours. Eventually the exhausted Dachlyd (typically the younger, weaker one) departs to find its own place to make a nest. Postponing Huassgk is difficult, often impossible.

Science

There is a growing trend in Dachlyd industry supporting biotechnology. The developments which receive the most interest and acclaim specifically deal with lifespan-terminated engineered organisms, sometimes referred to as "lifespanned engineered organisms" or by the acronym "LEOs". Many advances have been made in designing organisms with specific functions to replace architectural or mechanical constructs.

The theory behind replacing traditional, crafted buildings and goods is simple: Most living organisms require simple chemical compounds to grow and regenerate. Traditional technology relies on many refined elements and compounds, and sometimes dangerous (toxic, volatile, etc.) substances as well. Therefore a LEO is cheaper and safer than its inorganic counterpart. Also, inorganic technology is static, where a LEO will grow to fill its designated niche and adapt as it is used to be more efficient. The developments in lifespan-terminated engineered organisms, while suffering some setbacks, have become a large portion of Dachlyd industry and continue to progress through diligent research.

Currently, the Dachlyd have not engineered any biological vessels capable of spaceflight. Some advancement has been made in supplementing or replacing space station systems with bio-engineered creatures.

Precautions: In order to prevent uncontrolled populations of engineered life, Dachlyd scientists have created organisms which require synthesized food. As a further precaution, LEOs have no reproductive systems. This lack of dangerous organs also saves on the cost of creating and supporting an engineered organism. An additional precaution is that LEOs are "lifespan-terminated" meaning that they live a set length of time, whether hours, days, months, or years depends upon their function and their artificial genes. Having a set lifespan reduces instances of mutation and also ensures demand for new replacement organisms. Finally, there is "The Gap". "The Gap" is a political and ethical boundary which governs the creation of biological entities: Rules limit development to lower animal life, autotrophs and plants being outright banned; further any creature displaying sentient behavior to the extent of self-awareness must be euthanized and further development of such organisms halted. By requiring a diet which does not naturally occur, lacking natural reproduction, dying after a determined lifespan, and not being capable of producing its own energy nor being conscious, a LEO presents only a marginal risk to naturally occurring lifeforms.

Rumors: Among elite scientists and certain philosophers, there are whisperings that any biologically engineered organism capable of surviving the vacuum and raw radiations present in spaceflight would need to be at least somewhat sentient to be capable of governing its complex functions.