Vaadwaur

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Vaadwaur
Four Letter Code	VAAD
Federation Status	Neutral (formally Hostile)
Planet of Origin	Nisel in the Delta Quadrant
Encountered	VOY: "Dragon's Teeth"
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	L being upgraded to N
List of Named Vaadwaurs
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"Defeat is merely a temporary setback, one that we will overcome."

a Vaadwaur proverb.

The Vaadwaur are a species from the Delta quadrant that has managed to establish a successful colony and military presence in the Alpha quadrant thanks to their mastery of underspace.

Home System

• Quadrant: Delta
• Location: Practis Videlus Sector
• Proper Name: Nisel system
• Star: It orbits a class A (White) star
• Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 44 million km
• Companions: It is the 3rd of 12 planets in the system

Home World

• Proper Name: "Nisel".
• Diameter: 14,857km (9,232 miles)
• Gravity: 1.06 standard gravity with a density of 5.0
• Axial Tilt: 7.9%, with minimal seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 429 days
• Rotational Period: 26.1 hours
• Classification: L
  • Surface Water: 19% but irradiated and toxic
  • Atmosphere: 62% nitrogen, 11% oxygen, 9% particular matter, 8% radon, 6%toxic chemicals, 4% carbon dioxide
  • Climate: Nuclear winter. No animal or plant life survives on the surface. The planet has been rendered incapable of supporting humanoid life, and it is impossible to walk on the planet's surface outside of an environmental suit.
  • Population: Estimated to be no more than six hundred, but in all likelihood due to the Turei siege they are all dead.

Current System

• Quadrant: Alpha
• Location: Neb Tilinus Sector (coordinates A22-0003-1302)
• Proper Name: Devinon system
• Star: It orbits a class B (Blue-White) star
• Distance from Star:it's orbit is approximately 63 million km
• Companions: It is the 5th of 16 planets in the system

Current World

• Proper Name: Devinon V, also called Nisel IV.
• Diameter: 14,441 km (8,973 miles)
• Gravity: 0.97 standard gravity with a density of 4.7
• Axial Tilt: 12.4%, with normal seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 378 days
• Rotational Period: 23.6 hours
• Classification: M
  • Surface Water: 54%
  • Atmosphere: 1.05 % is a standard pressure with 73% nitrogen, 25% oxygen, 2% trace chemicals
  • Climate: Mainly a temperate planet with desert, mountain and arctic zones.
  • Population: Estimated to be between 50,000 and 75,000

History

Prior to the 15th century, the Vaadwaur discovered and mapped the Underspace, a vast network of subspace corridors that allowed them access to star systems throughout the Delta Quadrant. It took the Vaadwaur centuries to map the corridors but they were quick to claim the network, and began using them to further expand their empire. With the help of the subspace corridors, the primitive Vaadwaur fleets could cross the quadrant in months instead of decades, and strike undefended worlds at their leisure. However, they never kept written records of the corridors, instead they committed them to their memory.

For nearly 900 years the Vaadwaur Empire would rule a large section of the Delta Quadrant through the use of the subspace corridors, their battle fleets appearing seemingly out of nowhere and destroying unprepared alien fleets and colonies with ease, soon followed by ground invasion and occupation of the planet. The Vaadwaur were cruel taskmasters, treating all peoples they subjugated as third class citizens within their own lands - using them as slaves and sources of free labor. They extracted resources from all conquered worlds.

At their height, the Empire included more than a thousand worlds, and stretched as far as Talax and Borg space, controlling all in between. At this time the Borg had assimilated only a handful of star systems. Another of the races they encountered were the Talax-ilzay, the ancestors of modern Talaxians, whose folklore included stories of a "phantom army" that appeared out of thin air and destroyed entire colonies before disappearing. The Vaadwuar were also seen as the envy of hundreds species across the Delta Quadrant. Their population of this time was about 6 billion

Eventually, a coalition comprising the Turei and other species was formed to end the Vaadwaur threat once and for all. Their campaign culminated in the orbital bombardment of the Vaadwaur homeworld in 1484, which was believed to have resulted in the extinction of the Vaadwaur. The Turei subsequently claimed the Underspace for themselves.

In 2376, Underspace was discovered by the Federation starship USS Voyager when its warp field interacted with one of the corridors and it was pulled into Underspace. The Turei expelled them from the corridor with a resonance pulse, but then demanded to board Voyager to eliminate all evidence of Underspace. Voyager took shelter on the radioactive Vaadwaur homeworld.

Believing that the Turei coalition would quickly disintegrate after their defeat, the Vaadwaur arranged for a battalion of troops and a small group of support personnel to be placed into stasis units deep underneath the surface of their homeworld. They intended to reawaken in five years and reclaim one of their former colonies. However, a technical malfunction left them in stasis until they were discovered by the crew of the USS Voyager, 892 years later in 2376.

During explorations of the devastated planet, Voyager's astrometrics officer, Seven of Nine, awakened one of the Vaadwaur battalion in stasis, a young officer named Gedrin. Persuaded by Gedrin that they would be helping a peaceful civilization to rebuild, Voyager's crew revived nearly 600 Vaadwaur troops plus an assortment of other personnel which had managed to survive the attack underground in stasis units before Neelix, a Talaxian and Voyager's ambassador uncovered the Vaadwaar's true history.

Frustrated by their antiquated technology and the encroachment of successors such as the Borg and the Devore Imperium on their former holdings, the Vaadwaur resolved to take control of Voyager instead. As a result they broke their alliance and their commander Gaul launched an attack on the crew of the Voyager.

The Vaadwaur were driven back with help from the Turei and Gedrin, one of their own who disagreed with their imperialistic ambitions. Voyager barely, escaped while the Vaadwaur and the Turei resumed their nearly millennia old conflict. Realizing that today was not the day to reclaim their lost homeworld the reawakened Vaadwaur took 53 of their vessels and used the subspace corridors to flee the battle and attempt to find a new world where they could rebuild in the hope of one day reclaiming their former glory.

In 2387 a small force of Vaadwaur made a shocking appearance in the Ithassa Region where they appeared out of nowhere and attacked and occupied Deep Space 17 for several months. Starfleet was unable to retake the station by force fearing for the lives of the hostages, a number of which were executed.

Eventually a peaceful solution was negotiated between Marari the leader of the Vaadwaur and Fleet Captain Mar of the Federation. As a result of these discussions the Vaadwaur would be allowed to colonize the M class planet of Devinon V.

Not long after this the Vaadwaur left DS17 and moved all of their ships and people to their new colony. Over the next year long range scans detected the arrival of a number of other Vaadwaur ships, appearing out of nowhere. Experts believe that these ships exited from underspace and may have come from the Delta Quadrant.

Currently the Vaadwaur seem to be concerned with the development of their new colony.

Government

In the period of time since 2376 the Vaadwaur have had little time to construct a government. Some Vaadwaur remain on their home planet, although their status is unknown. After the USS Voyager left the planet in 2376, the Turei had been alerted to the reawakening of the Vaadwaur (compared to the legend of Dragon's Teeth by Commander Chakotay), and it is likely that they either garrisoned the world for a time, or destroyed its remaining inhabitants.

However, the Vaadwaur who left in 2376 have continued to extend their influence throughout the Delta Quadrant, and are operating under a military structure in which the battalion leader has overall control of the Vaadwaur species. What has become of these colonies and forces are unknown but something drove, forced some of the Vaadwaur to flee via underspace to the Alpha Quadrant.

Colonial Government

The colonial, alpha quadrant government seems to also be controlled by the military. However while they are controlled by the military only a small fraction of the population are military or ex-military, approximately 15%. The vast majority of the population are farmers and other physically demanding occupations, primarily those needed in the founding of a new colony with a smattering of other technical trained individuals as well.

Description

Vaadwaur have small ridges on their chin and two horizontal ridges just above their nose. A large fin like crest runs across the center of their foreheads and gets wider as it reaches the top of their skulls. Their hair grows from around the mid-region of their skull, just were their fin ridge ends. Neck ridges extend from their ears, along down along their neck and onto their shoulders where the ridges curl towards the center of their chest. This gives the neck ridges an cobra-like appearance overall. These ridges are much less pronounced on female Vaadwaur, running in a straighter line, with a kink close to the collar bone.

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.

Little information was available on the Vaadwaur physiology, as contact with the Federation was initially brief. However now that the Vaadwaur are calling the Ithassa Region home, more information is coming to light. It now appears that as previously speculated the species did evolved from reptiles, in a similar way to the Cardassians and Gorn.

Psychology

The Vaadwaur are a warlike humanoid race originally from the Delta Quadrant. They are known for their cunning, their courage and their warlike natures.

From an early age, Vaadwaur children are conditioned to be brave and fearless, not just as warriors, but in everyday life. Vaadwaur children are encouraged to fall asleep each night thinking of a different way in which they could die in order to abate the fear of death. Grace and a cool head under fire are also valued.

In 2376, Gedrin asked Janeway how she would react in heavy rain: would she run from doorway to doorway in a vain attempt to stay dry, all the while getting wet, or would she walk through the rain with her head held high.

One thing is for certain - the Vaadwaur are a ruthless species. They have displayed an unwavering urge for conquest and expansion, beginning with their old colonies, but then extending further into the galaxy. A typical Vaadwaur will always be considering ways to defeat his enemies, either through force, or through subterfuge. Many a species has been fooled into allowing the Vaadwaur into their home, only to find that they are betrayed moments later.

Despite these general traits, some Vaadwaur have been known to exhibit more honourable behaviour, Gedrin being a notable example, although this was recorded in the face of deception to conceal the true nature of his people from Captain Kathryn Janeway.

Depending on who you ask, Marari displayed similar behaviour to Gedrin- the man was vicious and had absolutely no problem with killing Starfleet personnel, and on his orders all telepaths or empaths on Deep Space 17 were executed without trial.

However, he went to great effort to avoid harming any children during the occupation of Deep Space 17 and forbid the Vaadwaur from assaulting female prisoners taken during the occupation. He attempted, twice, to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict between the Federation and the Vaadwaur and was instrumental in negotiating the Vaadwaur settlement of Devinon V with Fleet Captain Mar.

Religion

They do not seem to have any religious beliefs. No records have been found to support the possibility and the limited contact with the Vaadwaur, now increased with the founding of their colony on Devinon V would seem to support this. In fact certain comments made by various members of the Vaadwaur would seem to indicate that any species that believes in gods and beings that exist in the mind alone are fit only for conquest as they are obviously to inferior for any other purpose.

Mythology

While they do have their own set of tales and myths they have also collected and saved a large number of those created by other species. All of these alien tales pain the Vaadwaur in a way that they find to be flattering.

Their name in the old Talaxian tongue became the word for "foolish", "weak-minded", "reckless", and "blind", particularly when someone allows themselves to be deceived by an enemy. The word was first used in Eldaxon's Collected Folklore, particularly in stories such as "The Demon with the Golden Voice", "The Tale of the Deadly Stranger", "The Tale of the Boy who Lost his Head", and "The Tale of the Bloody Hand". These stories described them as a phantom army that appears out of thin air, destroying entire colonies, and then vanishing in the blink of an eye

Society

Vaadwaur society is based around the warrior's code, although their ethics seem to be less honourable in nature than, for example, the Klingons. In many ways Vaadwaur culture can be said to be somewhere between 23rd Century Klingon and present day Borg, in that they are deceptive warriors who are bent on conquest by any means necessary.

Their colony on Devinon V is still in its infancy with much work still required before it can be considered to be a fully, self-sufficient facility able to support all of its population and supply their needs. Only time will tell what kind of affect building a new colony again may have on their society and how it evolves.

Culture

So far they have shown no interest in any artistic art forms and have displayed no creations of their own. While this may be due to the restricted nature of the supplies they would have felt necessary to bring with them in order to establish a new colony, it does not explain why they could not have brought some saved in data form or why they have not created any since their arrival.

Customs

So far due to the limited contact between the Vaadwaur and all other species it is unknown what kind of customs if any have survived their forced exile to the Alpha Quadrant.

Technology

During the final exodus from their homeworld in 2376, the Vaadwaur were centuries behind the more advanced races in the galaxy in terms of technology. However, KathrynJaneway theorized that due to their lust for conquest and their resourceful nature, the Vaadwaur would adapt to become a threat. This proved to be true when the U.S.S. Voyager became trapped in an anomaly known as the Void only a few months later - a heavily modified Vaadwaur ship was picked up by the ship's sensors, implying that the crew had been able to capture a more advanced ship through superior tactics and cannibalize its technology.

The primary weapons of Vaadwaur ships are phase cannons, which fire a distinctly purple-coloured energy pulse. Recent intelligence shows that the Vaadwaur have expanded their arsenal to include photon torpedoes, and more worryingly a weapon dubbed as phase torpedoes. These weapons phase in and out of normal space, rendering deflector shield technology virtually useless as a countermeasure against them. In addition, they create an electromagnetic pulse to drain power from a ship.

In 2387, such weapons were used against Deep Space 17, the USS Independence-A and the USS Challenger-A to devastating effect.

Underspace

Underspace, also known as the Vaadwaur subspace corridors, was a network of subspace corridors in the Delta Quadrant that allowed starships to travel great distances in a matter of minutes.

Prior to the 15th century, the Vaadwaur discovered and charted Underspace, using them to travel throughout the Delta Quadrant, as far as Talax and beyond. Though they engaged in trade and exploration, they also used the corridors to mount lightning raids on other species and to expand their territory. The Vaadwaur kept no written records of the Underspace, rather keeping the information committed to memory.

Eventually, the Turei and a dozen other species formed a coalition and eliminated the Vaadwaur threat, rendering the Vaadwaur homeworld uninhabitable. They then claimed the Underspace for themselves, though they lacked the Vaadwaur's knowledge as to how to maintain it.

Underspace and the Alpha Quadrant

We now know that underspace must exist throughout our known universe as the Vaadwaur used it to transport a small invasion force to the Alpha Quadrant where they seized control of DS 17.

After the Vaadwaur surrendered DS 17 and were allowed to found a colony on Devinon V, Starfleet maintained a close watch in order to monitor their activities. They detected the Vaadwaur using underspace to bring in more ships and colonists.

At this time most experts agree that this would seem to indicate that some portion of the Vaadwaur Empire survived the destruction of their homeworld. Obviously the Turei and their allies failed to find and destroy all of their colonies or all of their species.

The only question that remains is, are these all that remain of the Vaadwaur species or are their others hidden out there, scattered across the universe in hidden colonies?

Economy

Federation observers have been able to discover thanks to long range scans that the Vaadwaur have had friendly contact with a number of species indigenous to this region of space. So far traffic between them and these other species has been limited but most experts believe that as they continue to develop their colony the possibility for prolonged and multiple trade deals with other species will increase.

Military

As of 2376, the Vaadwaur military was comprised of only around 200 members. However, modern intelligence shows no record of whether the Vaadwaur have enslaved less advanced or conquered species to act as subordinate members of their military in a similar way to the Son'a and the Founders.

During the Vaadwaur occupation of Deep Space 17, it was revealed that they employed sophisticated physical/electrical, chemical and psychological brainwashing to control a certain subset of the population and use them as soldiers.

Assault Fighter - Delta Quadrant

At least 56 assault fighters were preserved underground with a Vaadwaur battalion through the orbital bombardment of the Vaadwaur homeworld in 1484. They were reactivated in 2376 with assistance from the USS Voyager crew, with the intent of helping to break through the Turei fleet gathered over the planet. However, the Vaadwaur attacked Voyager instead in an attempt to take its technology. Many of the fighters were subsequently destroyed by the Turei, after Gedrin transmitted targeting data from a Vaadwaur sentry satellite to them.

During the late 15th century, these assault fighters were said to be very advanced using underspace to raid, destroy or even conquering neutral parties or enemies. After the bombardment of the Vaadwaur homeworld, the technology of the fighters become little more than antique against more modern vessels. It was capable of functioning both in an atmosphere and in space, and is armed with particle cannons.

Later in the Void, a heavily modified Vaadwaur assault fighter was present revealing that at least one of them survived the renewed attack on their homeworld and were dragged into the region of space. But it is unknown whether it was commanded by actual Vaadwaur or was captured and used as a trophy by those who defeated them once more.

Assault Fighter – Alpha Quadrant

These assault fighters were armed with particle cannons, firing rapid pulse beams into enemy vessels giving them an ability to inflict a large amount of damage on enemy ships within a short amount of time but lacking photon torpedoes or heavier ordnance.

Despite their weaponry, they were less than useful against more modern starships and the aggressive species in the Delta Quadrant. Despite their firepower, their shields are not able to withstand a single phaser blast from an Intrepid-class starship causing the fighters to explode instantly.

Since establishing a colony in the Alpha quadrant these assault fighters have undergone a number of upgrades. Federation Intelligence has determined that they were able to use technological data retrieved from DS 17 in order to improve on their old design. These seem to include the addition of photon torpedoes, phase torpedoes and upgrading their particle cannons to phase cannons. Currently it is believed that they may have 3 different types of fighters available to them.

Defensive Fighter

Based on long range scans a light fighter with upgraded shields and heavier, rapid pulse firing, particle cannons has been spotted. Experts believe these are short range defensive craft designed to act as a last line of defense.

Long Range Fighter

Based on long range scans a heavier version has been spotted with engines almost 4 times larger. It is believed to be a long range patrol, scout fighter designed to scan for enemy activity but only requiring a single individual to operate it.

Heavy Fighter

Based on long range scans a massive version has been spotted. It appears to be equipped with some form of torpedoes and has double the firepower of the smaller fighters. Based on the data most experts believe this is either a 3 or 5 man craft with long range capability and upgraded shields.

Sentry Satellite – Delta Quadrant

A sentry satellite was a type of artificial satellite used by the Vaadwaur, equipped with sensors for surveillance. One such satellite was placed above the main city on the Vaadwaur homeworld, and survived the near-extinction of the Vaadwaur in 1484.

In 2376, the satellite was still operational and was accessed by Gedrin to provide targeting data to the USS Voyager on the surface, allowing them to launch a photon torpedo strike on a Turei vessel in orbit. After the remaining Vaadwaur attacked Voyager, Gedrin sent data from the satellite to the Turei, so that they could target the Vaadwaur assault fighters in the radioactive atmosphere and the underground chambers where the Vaadwaur had survived in stasis.

Sentry Satellite – Alpha Quadrant

Federation observers have spotted the deployment of a number of satellites of similar design above their new colony. However the data obtained from long range scans would seem to indicate that these have a 14.864% increased mass over those used in the Delta Quadrant. This matches with the expert’s opinions that these would also have benefited from the technological data obtained from DS 17.

Federation Intelligence Files

In 1484, their homeworld was the site of the Vaadwaur's last stand against the Turei and their allies. The planet was the subject of a massive orbital bombardment by plasma bombs, which wiped out all life on the surface and caused a nuclear winter that rendered the planet uninhabitable for centuries. Foreseeing the attack, a battalion of 600 Vaadwaur soldiers with ships and weapons entered cryogenic suspension along with the scientist Gedrin and his wife, Jisa. They were joined by the scientist Marari, Battalion Leader Sedrin and others.

Gedrin's pod was activated by Seven of Nine after the U.S.S. Voyager was forced to land on the Vaadwaur homeworld after a Turei attack in 2376. The rest of the surviving Vaadwaur were soon reawakened as well. At that time, the planet's atmosphere was still heavily contaminated with gamma radiation and radiogenic particles.

During a fateful meeting between the Vaadwaur scientist Gedrin, and Captain Kathryn Janeway in 2376, the extent of the distance spanned by these tunnels became apparent due to evidence presented by Neelix, who realised that the two species had met, despite the thousands of light years of distance between their home worlds.

Through contact with the Turei and the Vaadwaur a network of subspace tunnels known as underspace was discovered. Due to the hostile nature of the Vaadwaur it was not possible to explore this phenomenon, and as a result it is not known how far the network reaches. However, the only two pieces of intelligence/data that were recorded by the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager show that a starship at warp passing close to a weakened area of one of these tunnels may well be drawn into underspace. Once inside, it is possible to use a resonance pulse from a starship's deflector to force another vessel back into normal space.

In 2376, Doctor Julian Bashir classed the Vaadwaur as a potential future threat to Federation security after reviewing data from the Pathfinder Project. In 2387, his fears became true when the Vaadwaur attacked and (briefly) occupied Deep Space 17.

A heavily-modified Vaadwaur assault fighter was encountered by Voyager in the Void.

The Vaadwaur were mentioned during a briefing prior to Voyager's mission to retrieve Friendship 1.

They originated in the Delta quadrant, but in 2387 made a shock appearance in the Ithassa Region where they attacked and occupied Deep Space 17 for several months. In a peace negotiated between Marari and Fleet Captain Mar, the Vaadwaur now call Devinon V home.

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as resources as well as the following TV episodes, ENT: Dead Stop,VOY:Dragon's Teeth, VOY: Friendship One andVOY: The Void.

Also used as references were the following written works,VOY reference: Voyager Companion; ST reference: Star Chartsand theDS9 novel: Abyss. The following web site was also used, http://www.star-trek-voyager.net/lforms4/species_vaadwaur.htm

After the results of Operation Bright Star this profile underwent significant revision.

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

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