Deltan

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Deltan
File:Deltan.jpg
Four Letter Code	DELT
Federation Status	Member
Planet of Origin	Delta IV
Encountered	Star Trek: The Motion Picture
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N+
List of Named Deltans
Full ILI Gallery • Permitted Species Gallery

The Deltans are a humanoid species originating from the planet Delta IV. They are long-standing members of the Federation, but due to their highly-evolved sexuality, most Federation members (and to a larger extent, non-Federation species) are extremely wary of them.

Biology

Physiology

Deltans rarely have surface hair except for eyebrows, lashes, and (occasionally) a very thin layer of soft down along arms and legs. Other than this, they closely resemble Humans or Betazoids. Deltans are, on the average, slightly slimmer than Humans, and their cheekbones, eye shapes, and jawlines are slightly more symmetrical and many humanoid species often find Deltans very attractive.

Subliminal scents called pheromones are released by both Deltan males and females, triggering hormonal responses in most humanoid life forms of the opposite sex. Heightened emotional states, including but not limited to arousal, increase the production of these hormones. Around large groups of Deltans, production can escalate to the point where everyone nearby is aware - and affected - by it. Their pheromones also intensify the act of lovemaking; heightening sensitivity for both partners to the point where a simple touch can induce incredible pleasure.

Empathic Abilities

Deltans are an empathic species, highly attuned to the feelings of others. Wars are incredibly rare in their documented history as the accompanying violence is psionically harmful for all parties involved. Their empathic abilities also manifest in the ability to relieve physical pain by touch; by sharing the pain, it can be reduced.

Compatibility with other Species

The intense combination of Deltan pheromones and mental link created between partners during sex means that while Deltans are genetically compatible with other species, very few couplings occur. More often than not, the mind of the non-Deltan cannot cope with the onslaught of physical, mental and emotional sensations and is driven to insanity (which may develop instantly or over the course of several years).

Societal Practices and Psychology

Personality

Among themselves, Deltans are relaxed, comfortable, sensual and receptive to each other's interests, needs, and emotional states. They take great pleasure in caring for one another and often will descibe themselves as loving a great many people. Non-Deltans do not always react well or predictably to a bath of physical and emotional support and so among outworlders, Deltans can be stiffly formal until they form close friendships.

Sexuality

Sexuality is at the core of Deltan society, though considering the overwhelming affect of their pheromones, many anthropologists believe that the species had little choice in doing so. Sex is a part of their everyday life and they have few taboos regarding sexual behaviour, considering the idea "uncivilised" and "archaic".

The period of time after sex has reached an almost mythic status in Deltan culture; featured in more stories, poems and songs than any other part of the act. It is considered the ideal time to understand one's partner; revealing hopes, fears and secrets to one another. An old proverb describes foreplay as the emotional tie, sex the physical tie, afterplay the intellectual tie and the whole experience the spiritual tie.

Oath of Celibacy

Deltans serving in Starfleet take an oath of celibacy to protect the people they serve with from the harmful effects of a physically intimate relationship. The purpose of the oath is not just to protect their colleagues, however; highly sensitive to the feelings of others, the oath also protects the Deltan from the grief and pain they would feel as a result of hurting another person.

The oath is often a heavy burden for a Deltan; cut off from their normal means of connecting and sharing support with other people, they find it difficult to establish emotional bonds. Many choose to avoid any and all casual contact in order to avoid temptation, others bury their feelings and become cold and detached, afraid that the emotional slightest slip will result in a violation of their vow.

Martyrdom Complex

There is a strong undercurrent of martydom running through Deltan society. With an emphasis on pleasing one's partner, some choose to forgoe their own desires in order to fulfill those of others; a practice which can extend beyond sex and into other aspects of Deltan life. This is exemplified in those who join Starfleet or otherwise leave the homeworld and take the Oath of Celibacy, severing themselves from their most basic needs.

Child-Rearing Practices

Unlike many other cultures, child-rearing is not a central aspect of day-to-day life on Delta IV. For the most part, children recieve only cursory attention by adults outside of their families - who find it difficult to interact with them until they are physically, emotionally and sexually mature. Teachers and members of similar professions are an prime example of the Deltan martyrdom complex; individuals who choose to spend most of their time with people who cannot fulfill their emotional needs.

History and Culture

Cooperation

A tropical, ocean planet, Delta IV's unpredictable tides and otherwise hospitable ecology combined to create a culture at once polyglot and unified; although many microcultures evolved on the planet's myriad islands, they could never remain isolated long enough to develop either xenophobia or devastating cultural advantages. To avoid inbreeding, the island-bound Deltans also developed a very open sexual culture; stranded mariners were often adopted into large group amours to blend genes more effectively. Brought together by ties of sex and geography, Deltans learned to get along with each other by necessity; with a nurturing planet and a low species birthrate, wars over resources were almost unknown.

Politics

As with everything else; sex is an important part of Deltan politics. Political opponents will frequently bed one another after a passionate discussion, working out their differences afterwards as they relax in each other's arms. This behaviour is not only accepted, but expected, due to the Deltan reverence of "pillow talk" and the bond it can create between two people.

Arts

As a social people, Deltans prefer the performance arts; music, dance and the theatre, where they can loose themselves and embrace the emotions of the artists. Visual arts are much less popular and holoprogramming in particular, while popular in much of the Federation, is relatively rare on Delta IV.

Science

Deltans are known to have an inherent talent for mathematics and geometry, thinking along rational and practical lines but, unlike the more logic centred Vulcans, they allow their familiarity with emotions to mix in, giving them the best of both worlds. This predicilation makes them excellent navigators, both on their oceanic homeworld and among the stars.

Sports

While many observers claim that sex is Delta IV's favourite team sport, the truth is that sports do have a prominent role in Deltan life. Most activities take very little time and individual competitions (such as track and field) are as popular as team sports. The most popular game on the planet resembles the human game of soccer; though with much more use of the hands.

Notable Deltans

Lieutenant Ilia

The navigator on the first voyage of the refit USS Enterprise, had also worked closely with the Starfleet teams assigned to Delta IV after the Deltans became full members of the Federation in 2259. She formed a strong attachment to Captain Willard Decker, with whom she was reported "missing in action" after the Enterprise encountered the V'Ger probe in 2271. Her example further cemented Deltan-Human friendship.

Niro

The Deltan sage who guided the planet through its tumultuous decades from first contact with the Andorians in 2182 to Federation membership, developed the Oath of Celibacy and wrote much of Deltans' modernized legal code. He was also a gifted poet and sexual artist.