Tyrellian

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Tyrellian
Four Letter Code	TYRL
Federation Status	Member
Planet of Origin	Tyrellian system
Encountered	22nd Century
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Tyrellians
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The Tyrellians are a species originally native to the planet Tyrellia. They are long-standing members of the Federation, and known for a form of art using lasers.

Territory

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Full Article: Tyrellian system

The Tyrellian system consists of 14 planets in orbit around a binary pair. The original homeworld of the Tyrellians, Tyrellia, has been rendered almost uninhabitable by a natural disaster that left the planet bereft of an atmosphere. They have since relocated to a habitable moon, Palanon, in orbit around a large blue gas giant.

The system is located on the Klingon-Federation border, and next to the Romulan Neutral Zone.

Anatomy and Physiology

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Gross Physical Characteristics

The Tyrellians bear considerable similarities to many other Beta Quadrant species as mammalian, bilaterally symmetrical bipeds capable of eating an omnivorous diet. There are three sexes, and as a species, they exhibit significant sexual trimorphism.

Females

• Colouring: Female Tyrellians possess similar skin shades to humans, with hair colours ranging from alabaster white to coal black, with shades of grey in between. Eye colours are shades of red, purple and blue.
• Body Mass: Height typically ranges between 1.52m (5'0") and 1.63m (5'4").

Males

• Colouring: Males of the species exhibit the same skin colours as the women, but with brightly-coloured markings across their bodies. These markings, as well as their hair and eyes, may present in the full spectrum of colours. Hair is often in a contrasting colour to skin markings, though this is not always the case.
• Body Mass: Height typically ranges between 1.78m (5'10") and 1.88m (6'2")

Neuter

• Colouring: Children below the age of puberty exhibit skin colour in the same shades as adults, with their hair and eye colour presenting in muted shades of brown. As they mature into adulthood, eye and hair colour undergo dramatic changes.

Life Cycle

The average Tyrellian life span is approximately 150 years. Pregnancy has an average length of 50 weeks, and puberty occurs in the mid to late teens, lasting approximately 6 years. Men and women remain fertile for the full course of their lives, though fertility markedly decreases after the age of 75.

The Tyrellian population consists of three sexes: male, female, and neuter. All Tyrellian children are born neuter, and upon entering puberty, begin to develop either male or female sexual characteristics. There are a number of factors that affect which sex the child matures into, including (but not limited to): the number and sex of the child's siblings; the size of their community and the ratio of males to females within it; certain environmental factors such as diet and climate; and so forth.

Advancements in medical science have made it possible to allow a child to choose which sex they wish to mature into -- or whether they wish to assume one at all. In the present era, it is not uncommon for children to experiment with their gender identity, so that they can make the best choice for themselves as they enter puberty.

Telepathy

Approximately 25% of the Tyrellian has developed touch-telepathic abilities, and that number has been increasing by 5% every century. Telepathic abilities begin to present themselves at puberty and school children are typically tested once or twice a year to see if any telepathic abilities have begun to present.

The nature of their abilities is not the direct transmission of thoughts; for instance, two Tyrellians could not telepathically converse if in physical contact. Rather, they are able to share memories, experiences and sensory input.

Society and Culture

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Ancestry and Naming

Tyrellians are matrilineal, with lineage traced through the female line. Traditionally, naming would have been in the form "ChildName, child of MotherName, grandchild of GrandmotherName", as far back was reasonable. In modern times this has been abbreviated, and a child simply takes their mother's given name as their surname.

Telepaths

Tyrellian telepaths are subject to a number of laws: most notably they must be registered with the government's central database of telepaths, and it is illegal for them to make telepathic contact without receiving consent to do so. While they are under no legal obligation to enter any particular career, they often find themselves subject to a great deal of cultural pressure to enter a profession in which their "gifts" will be used. Those who wish to pursue alternative careers often take work outside of the home system, and accordingly there is a high percentage of Tyrellian telepaths in Starfleet, when compared to their normal population.

Those who do choose to pursue a telepathically-oriented career often find themselves in the caring professions. Tyrellian telepaths can often be found in nursing and counselling professions, where they are able to use their abilities to relieve pain, assist those with sensory impairments, advocating for those with mental illnesses, and so forth.

They are also used by law enforcement in the course of investigations, though of course they may not "read" anyone without their consent; this means that they are more often found working with victims and witnesses than with suspects. Much more controversially, while telepathic evidence is not admissible in court, telepaths are used as part of the Tyrellian justice system's sentencing programs, and those convicted of a crime can be made to experience the suffering they inflicted on their victims.

Governance

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Government

The Tyrellian government is a crowned, bicameral parliamentary republic.

Lower House

The lower house is the Aelinura Tyrellia (lit. Assembly of Tyrellia), and is the more powerful of the two houses. Members of this house are called Aeda Aelinura (lit. Deputy of the Assembly) and are elected every five years in a general election. This house has complete control over budget and monetary laws, can initiate legislation and can make a motion of no confidence in the government. The leader of the lower house is called the Valisaera (lit. Chieftain).

Upper House

The upper house is the Eosri Tyrellia (lit. Senate of Tyrellia) and its primary purpose is to advise the Aelinura Tyrellia. Members of this house are called Eosrida (lit. Senators) and are selected by a variety of methods: some are directly nominated by the Valisaera, others are elected by certain universities, and the remaining are elected by the Aeda Aelinura, outgoing Eosrida and regional government members. This house may not initiate legislation, votes on only limited legislative matters (such as constitutional matters) and cannot vote a motion of no confidence against the government.

The Monarchy

Tyrellia and its colonies are a crowned republic, which is to say that the royal family has no executive power in their constitution. Their role in society is purely ceremonial, and they often represent Tyrellians and their interests abroad.

Federation Membership

Tyrellians have been Federation members for just over 200 years, and have wholeheartedly embraced their place within a wider galactic society, some serving in the highest echelons of Federation government. They are are a common sight within the ranks of Starfleet and in 2369 there were five Tyrellians serving under the command of Jean-Luc Picard aboard the USS Enterprise-D.

Current Affairs

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Senya

The third of Palan's habitable moons, Senya, is home to another sentient species, currently in the E- technological age. Their development is rapid, and estimations are that they will be launching their first space missions within the next few years. Various groups within the Tyrellian people and the Federation at large are in heated debate over when to make contact -- though the species is far from reaching the Federation's usual requirements for first contact, their close proximity means will encounter the Tyrellians long before they have developed warp drive.

Romulans

The location of the Tyrellian system -- close to the Romulan Neutral Zone -- meant that Palanon was in receipt of a large number of displaced Romulans seeking refuge after the Hobus disaster. Many have since returned to either the Empire or the newly-formed Republic, but there remains a substantial population living on the moon, some of whom are in the process of applying for Federation citizenship.

Klingons

As a border world, the Tyrellians were frequently subject to Klingon raids and skirmishes during the years of conflict between the Federation and the Empire.

The Tyrellians sent a substantial delegation to the Camp Khitomer conference in 2293, and were a strong voice for peace with the Empire.

Bajorans

Though separated by a considerable physical distance, the Tyrellians have a long history of offering sanctuary to Bajorans fleeing the Occupation (and later, the Dominion War). There is a large and thriving community of expatriates on Palanon, and the Tyrellians have embraced many of their festivals and celebrations.