Caitian
| Intelligent Lifeform Index |
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| Caitian | |
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| 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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Full ILI Gallery • Permitted Species Gallery | |
Caitian
Home System
- Quadrant: Beta
- Location: Regulan System
- Proper Name: Regulus
- Star: Regulus (Alpha Leonis), a trinary star consisting of the following elements:-
- Companions: 4 planets: Regulus I & II, Regulus III (colonized), Regulus IV; Asteroid belt
Home World
- Proper Name: Cait (Regulus V)
- 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 known 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 black to tan. 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 76kg. 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 year a Caitian sheds its fur. 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.
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.
Religion
Very few Caitians still practise their religious beliefs, the abandonment of which started soon after the Kodom invasion. Faced with considerably advanced technology, much of the populace embraced a more scientific outlook on their existence.
Mythology
There are few notable Caitian legends, other than that of the White Caitian. No Caitians have been born with white fur in recorded history, and while it is possible the genetic likelihood is infinitesimally small. Stories and books about the White Caitian are now available within the Federation database, and are read to children on Cait as bedtime stories.
Society
In the pre-civilized stages of their development, Caitians were a hunting people who lived within the forests of their homeworld in small tribes. Their tribal nature remained even after their civilization was born, and grew into a system of ranches, which made use of domesticated wildlife. Eventually, tribes were amalgamated into clans that spanned a number of ranches, and so were born early Caitian towns. The need for hunting was now gone, although families still engage in ritual hunts to remind them of their feral origins.
Caitian cities are small by Federation standards, although many are regarded for their beauty. The Caitian people also insist on preserving their ecology. These factors, combined with their need for open spaces, have led to the colonisation of a large number of other words. Notable Caitian colonies include 15 Lyncis III, Regulus III (which is home to a prominent Federation Science Academy), Havelind, Hochlor IV, Kirisha, Macadarna and Narval. Around 85% of Caitian-colonised worlds are Federation members.
Caitian society allows for equal rights for both sexes, and has done for as long as the people can remember. Even names have no gender-specific application, the only differentiating factor being an honorific prefix: S' for males and M' for females. Other honorifics exist that are non-gender specific however, and in some colonies none are used at all, resulting in much variation in Caitian names.
Culture
- See also: Caitian Viola
The Caitian people have a reputation Federation-wide for the co-operative approach to their relationships with other member worlds, and their service within Starfleet. To a Caitian, loyalty is something to be highly prized, either in regard to an organisation or a particular individual. This has evolved from their clan-based society, in which loyalty plays a big part due to physical dispersion across the Caitian landscape.
Art
The most prominent form of art in Caitian culture is sculpture. Caitians are a sensual people who particularly enjoy the stimulation of their eyesight and sense of smell, and as such physical art is considered to be the pinnacle of aesthetic pleasure. Other forms of art are considered little more than a pastime. Dance, for instance, is considered to be more of a sport by Caitians, and music is a valuable distraction, but little more.
Caitian sculpture differs from that of other cultures in one key aspect: it is designed not only to be visually appealing, but also to stimulate the sense of smell. Strovothra, as this form of art is named, most usually includes the sculpting of a form of organic matter, and an examples of this have been displayed in exhibitions on other worlds. The exhibit that was created for the Parisian exhibition on Earth was a 60-meter column of twisted fruit-bearing vines, bonded by damp clay.
Attire
Beauty is revered by Caitian artists along with the general populace. Every colour holds a different meaning for a Caitian, and their fashion is often individually tailored to reflect their personality. Alien fashions may appear strange, absurd or unfashionable by Caitians, or in extreme cases offensive to the eye. However, the nature of the species is to avoid confrontation rather than create it, and any comment a Caitian may make on this matter is always worded exceptionally carefully.
Language
The Caitian language is made up mainly of silky vowel sounds, which are pronounced with a resonance of the tongue that strongly resembles purring. When speaking Federation Standard as a second language, Caitians will notably extend and roll 'r' sounds, and elongate 's' sounds. This may sound like purring and hissing respectively.
Technology
The relatively unique means by which the Caitians possessed their technology accelerated their development at quite a rate. By the time they joined Starfleet in 2234, the main technological development of note had been the improvement of their warp technology, but their progression is now in line with the rest of the Federation.
Economy
Exports from Cait include the Regulan Bloodworm, which has some medical applications. In addition, the asteroid belt between Regulus III and Regulus IV contains many rich deposits of Dilithium, which is a valuable resource for the Federation.
Military
The Caitian Sky Navy was absorbed into Starfleet when Cait was accepted into the Federation. All Caitian military operations are now administered by Starfleet.
Federation Intelligence Files
- A brawl on Deep Space Station K-7 was precipitated by a Klingon referring to a Starfleet Officer as a Regulan Bloodworm.
- In 2363 the Caitian colony of Kirisha declared war on the Carnellians due to a misunderstanding over their stance within the Carnellian hierarchy, believing that they had been declared slaves of the Carnellian Regnancy. The situation was quickly resolved.
- In 2370 a party of Caitains visited Deep Space Nine to witness the illumination of The Prodigal, the outermost Bajoran moon.
Contributions to Starfleet
Caitian Officers are found throughout Starfleet, in each of the different branches. However, the Caitians have made many notable contributions to Starfleet, including:
- Service as Communications Officers, and Science Officers specialising in sonic science.
- The Sethessa Project, which was responsible for much of the advanced programming currently included in the Universal Translator.
- Service as Diplomatic Officers and First Contact Specialists, due to their species-wide ability of deploying tact, understanding and personal warmth in such situations.
Sources
- Star Trek: The Animated Series (Various episodes)
- Memory Alpha
- Memory Beta
- Star Trek RPG: Starfleet Operations Manual (Decipher Inc., 2003)
- Bennett, C. L.: Star Trek the Next Generation: The Buried Age (Pocket Books, 2007)
- Cox, G. & Betancourt, J. G. Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Devil in the Sky (Pocket Books, 1995)
- http://www.star-fleet.com/library/bookshelf/rm/species-caitian.html
- http://database.obsidianfleet.net/wiki/index.php/Caitian
- http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/trek/races/caitian.html
- http://www.io.com/~sjohn/regulans.htm
- Foster, A. D.: Passage to Moauv (Peter Pan Records, 1975)
Caitians: A Rationale
Author's note: Due to the lack of canon information on the Caitians and the conflicting nature of the non-canon articles and resources, this article is an attempt to reconcile this array of disparate information. The link between Cait and Regulus V has been drawn for three reasons: the inclusion of Regulus V as the Caitian homeworld in Decipher's Star Trek RPG (See references); the reference to Regulus V in the non-canon audio novel Passage to Moauv; and the copyright dispute that caused the Last Unicorn RPG books to name the Caitians as Regulans.