Benzite

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Benzite
Four Letter Code	BENZ
Federation Status	Member
Planet of Origin	Benzar
Encountered	TNG: Coming of Age)
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	L
List of Named Benzites
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Blue skinned humanoids from Benzar. Benzar is similar to most class M worlds except it has significant quantities of methane, thus Benzites off their homeworld require a small special breathing device worn over their face to supply additional gases whilst they are in oxygen/nitrogen atmospheres. This apparatus is worn on their chest with an extension reaching up to just in front of the mouth and nose slit. The slit is wider than the mouth with four facillae-like extensions, much like the Terran catfish. Medical advancements in 2370 rendered the breathing device obsolete. Other distinguishing features include no facial hair, blue-gray skin and large, short-pointed ears; most Benzites look similar and Benzites from the same geostructure appear identical to all but other Benzites. As a race, Benzites show a sincere but sometimes annoying eagerness to please that can be perceived as superiority. In contrast to Starfleet procedures, the Benzite space service calls for an officer to withhold the report of any unusual finding until a full analysis can be run and a resolution offered.

Name

• Proper Name: Benzite
• Pronunciation: Ben-ZITE

Home System

• Quadrant: Beta Quadrant
• Location:
• Proper Name: Securis System
• Pronunciation: Se-CURE-iss System
• Star: Securis
• Type: K
• Distance from Star: 4th planet
• Companions: 11 other planets

Home World

• Proper Name: Securis IV
• Pronunciation: Se-CURE-iss IV
• Gravity: 1.3g
• Orbital Period: 300 standard days
• Rotational Period: 19 hours
• Satellites: None
• Classification:
  • Surface Water: 90%
  • Atmosphere: 40% Methane, 30% Ammonia Vapor, 20% Carbon Trichloride, 8% Oxygen, 1% Carbon Dioxide, 1% Inert Gases. Atmospheric pressure is 101.13% that of Earth
  • Climate: Warm, Humid
  • Population: around 480 million

Geography

Benzar's crust is divided into 18 continental plates, each home to one or more small land masses. A continent's islands form one single 'country' in Terran terms, however, the seas also fall within political boundaries. As it would be easy to dispute naval borders in the planet's single, vast ocean, the Benzites have nominally divided their plante's waters into 18 seas. The borders of each sea follow the lines of the continental plate, and the sea is named for the continent over which it lies.

The Benzite ocean is remarkable in that it is largely freshwater. Inescapably, in some parts of the world, elements that are present in the atmosphere do appear in trace quantities in the sea, but nevertheless the sea remains largely pure.

Geostructures

There are 16 main geostructures on the planet's surface; each lies on a different continent. In off-world terms, a geostructure could be described as a vast city, both subterranean and above ground, that is hewn from the crystalline deposits that occur throughout the planet. However, in Benzite terms, a geostructure is considered to be much more than just a construction, and conceptually includes the entire continent on which the city is located, including the sea.

Of these crystalline geostructures, the city of Bepsot, located on the continent of Belross, is one of the most elaborate and beautiful. Built for 18 miles along the Belross river, the city is home to 6 million inhabitants. Only the city of Methot is larger. Built beneath the surface of the Mantoss sea, it is inhabited by close to 6.5 million Benzites, and it too is regarded as a work of beauty that rivals even the most beautiful of the underwater settlements on Bolarus.

Galmut Chi Panzor

The continent of Chadock has no geostructure of its own. It is a mountainous land mass, of a high enough altitude to make day to day life unpleasant for a Benzite. However, it is not unpopulated. There are a selection of shanty towns and mining operations in the area, populated by Benzite outcasts who have shamed their geostructures, and criminals who have broken the laws of Benzite society. While Benzites are not amphibious, they are most comfortable living near water, and the salt-rich volcanic lake at Galmut Chi Panzor, which translates as "The Lake of Great Regret", serves as no subsitute for the fresh water of the Benzite ocean.

History

The origin of the Benzites is comparably unique, as their history, mythology and much of their official documentation points towards the race having been genetically engineered by a parent species, known as the "Forebears".

The Origin of the Benzites

For many years after First Contact with the Benzites, Federation scientists and specialists in evolution debated the possibility of life developing independently on a world with such an inhospitable environment as Benzar. Its Methane and Ammonia-rich atmosphere alone seemed not to be conducive to the evolution of any species, let alone one that was both intelligent and humanoid. After Benzar's application to join the Federation was submitted, the question was formally addressed, at which time it became apparent that the Benzites believe they are a created species. Prior to their birth on their home-planet, Benzite records refer to a mysterious race known only as the "Forebears". Very little information about this species has been retained, however, it is clear that they were technologically advanced. For all their technology however, the race that they created outlived them, as they eventually succumbed to Benzar's inhospitable atmosphere themselves, and were forced to withdraw. No records exist to show where they went, or even if they survived.

When the Forebears left Benzar, their work in creating their offspring race was incomplete, as even the Benzites were not completely immune to the toxins in their own atmosphere. Enough adult Benzites existed by that time to operate the technology that had been left to them by the Forebears, and while their understanding of the equipment was not thorough, they were able to alter the Benzite genome to allow unassisted survival in the Benzite atmosphere, as well as develop the technology needed to construct their megalithic geostructures.

It is not known whether the "original" Benzites held any memory of the Forebears, as Benzites are reluctant to discuss their parent race among even themselves, let alone among outsiders. All that is known on the matter in terms of solid fact is that there is enough archeological evidence to support the Benzites' claims.

The Organ Wars

While nearly all of Benzite history was peaceful, there was a time when medical deprivation led to interplanetary war. During the reverse engineering of the Forebears' genetic enhancement technology, the planet was ravaged by an epidemic: a virus that attacked and damaged organs within the body. With no genetic answer available, the Benzites turned to medical science to solve their problem. What they stumbled upon was to cause the only planetary war in their history.

An unnamed Benzite scientist (it is thought that his name has been removed from official documentation to avoid casting great shame on his geostructure) made the discovery that all Benzites were compatible with each other as organ donors, and that no Benzite immune system would reject an organ transplant from a member of the same species. In response to that discovery, which was broadcast planetwide, survival instinct took over, and, within months, raids were being led by one geostructure on another to capture victims to be used as donors. It was intended that such means be used to ensure the survival of a geostructure, and the inhumane nature of the raids was overlooked, and soon forgotten.

The Organ Wars elevated to new levels when progress in genetic engineering technology allowed for the creation of Benzites with so called "martial upgrades", such as armour plates, spiked knuckles or poison sacs. From this point, the Organ Wars raged for another two centuries, until losses began to mount so high that the Benzites foresaw their own destruction. Geostructures quickly banned the creation of the genetic warrior class, and soon a decision had been made to pool their resources in finding a solution to their medical problems. By Earth Calendar 1980, a leading philosopher named Andragov developed a doctrine that pitted Benzites against one another in competition rather than violence, and it was this tenet that led to the eventual unification of the geostructures a few years later.

Benzar and the Federation

The Benzites developed Warp Drive in the 22nd Century, and applied for Federation Protectorate Status shortly afterwards. At this point in time, many questions were raised due to the Benzites' use of genetic engineering, and the reproval of their request took an extraordinarily long time. For the next two hundred years, the Benzites adopted a somewhat isolationist stance, trading with the Federation, but preferring to remain on the fringes of galactic events. It was not until 2364 that the Benzite world government agreed that full membership in the Federation could prove beneficial.

An officer exchange program was immediately put into place, and the first Benzite cadet, named Mordock, was inducted into the Academy after passing the entrance exam. Notably, a member of the Benzite navy, Mendon, was posted to the USS Enterprise during an officer exchange of their own, and was involved in assisting a Klingon ship that had been infected by a microbiotic colony.

By 2372, the cautious and rigorous tests of whether or not Federation membership would be beneficial was concluded by the Benzites, and their application for full membership was accepted.

DOMINION WAR During the Dominion War, in 2374, Benzar was briefly occupied by the Dominion. The Benzites were liberated by the forces of the Romulan Star Empire. (DS9 episode: The Reckoning)

Timeline

Date	Event
1680	A scientific discovery relating to organ transplants during a time of medical crisis is the trigger for brutal and violent civil war.
1980	The Organ Wars are brought to an end, followed swiftly by the acceptance of Andragov's doctrine. Benzar begins an age of peace and enlightenment.
2172	Warp Drive technology is discovered by the Benzites of the Belaxalar geostructure.
2173	The Benzites apply to the United Federation of Planets for protectorate status.
2177	After years of debate relating to the Benzites' use of genetic engineering technology, they are granted protectorate status by the Federation.
2364	Mendon, the first Benzite to join Starfleet, is accepted into the Academy. In the same year, the Benzite navy enters into an officer exchange program with Starfleet.
2372	Benzar is accepted into the Federation as a fully fledged member world.
2374	Benzar is captured and occupied by Dominion forces. Later in the same year it is liberated by a force of Romulans operating under the Federation/Klingon Alliance.
2380	Benzite Councillor Melnis retires from the Federation Council and Federation Judiciary Council.

Government

The Benzite government is a devolved gerontocracy. The eldest member of a geostructure is ultimately responsible for its administration and day-to-day running. When matters of global or galactic import are to be discussed, all 16 geostructure leaders meet to discuss the issue and decide on a course of action.

Description

Benzites are characterized by smooth, hairless, blue skin. A thick protrusion of the Benzite skull extends down over the face, displaying a prominent nasal lobe and brow. Two facial tendrils droop down from above the upper lip. Initially, Benzites were unable to breathe in an Oxygen/Nitrogen atmosphere, needing rebreathers that attached to the front of their uniforms to provide them with the required gases to survive. However, due to a mandate by the Federation Council permitting the correction of what was termed 'a genetic flaw that was bestowed upon their race by the Forebears', many Benzites have now undergone genetic alteration to allow them to breathe without the use of their rebreather technology. Benzites have two opposable thumbs on each hand.

The average Benzite is 5'9" tall and weighs 150lbs.

Physiology

Benzite bodies are protected by a smooth, chitinous covering that ranges in colour from purplish-blue with tan streaks, to green-blue, to dusky, pale blue with glistening silver undertones. Their head is bald and smooth and possesses a prominent, fleshy nasal lobe and brow. Two catfish-like barbells protrude from the region above the upper lip, another extends from each side of the nasal lobe; the Benzites refer to these barbells as “whiskers”. A Benzite’s ears are positioned high on the skull, and rise into points. Their hands feature two opposable thumbs, one on each side of the palm, with three fingers situated in between. Webbing may connect the fingers to a limited extent, in some individuals. This is one of several physiological details suggesting that the genetic experiments that supposedly gave rise to the Benzites used amphibians as a starting point. Benzites breathe in a gas heavy in chlorine, which is exhaled in the form of carbon trichloride. The gaseous mixture also contains essential mineral salts and a lot of moisture. Benzites traditionally wore an artificial breathing apparatus, a form of vapourizer, when off of Benzar. They could survive without it for a limited time, but prolonged exposure to standard class-M atmospheres resulted in lung damage that would eventually prove fatal. In 2372, genetic re-sequencing techniques allowed most Benzites to overcome this disadvantage, and the rebreathers are no longer necessary, although it should be noted some Benzites refused the resequencing and still use them.

The Benzite’s forced adaptation to high levels of atmospheric toxicity gives them a hardiness beyond their build and a potent resistance to most poisons. A Benzite is capable of digesting a wide range of substances inedible to most species, but out of politeness, most limit themselves to the default 'menu choices' of the non-Benzites with whom they live and work. Some compromise by programming industrial replicators in their colonies or work sites for a wide variety of mineral salts which, being toxic to most non-Benzites, could not be produced in their food replicators.

Benzite blood is based on mercury and platinum; it takes the form of a thick orange liquid when oxidized. A Benzite’s average body temperature is several degrees lower than that of a Human or a Vulcan.

Benzite cellular growth patterns are unique; apparently a consequence of their engineered biology, although ironically this quirk of their physiology appears to be the result of tampering by the Benzites themselves, not their Forebears. Following the horrors of the Organ Wars, Benzite scientists altered their race’s genome to prevent organs from other people being implanted into an individual. This means it is now impossible to successfully transplant organs into an injured Benzite. There was little Doctor Julian Bashir could do to save the life of the Benzite Monyodin when his alveoli were liquefied by a polymer gas in April 2376.

Mistaken Identity

All Benzites from the same geostructure are physically similar, so much so that they are indistinguishable to a non-Benzite. This is because each geostructure tunes all of its birth chambers to the same settings. Benzites themselves are used to distinguishing each other by extremely slight variations in facial features and skin pigmentation.

Reproduction

Reproduction amongst Benzites is a very similar process to many other humanoid species. The difference, however, is that once the child has reached the embryo stage it is transferred to a birthing chamber, where genetic modification is commonplace. Should a child not be exposed to the birthing chamber it will be born without its skin will be clear, lacking the normal Benzite pigmentation, but more importantly it will be in serious danger of developing chronic genetic defects that may give rise to life-threatening medical conditions in early or adult life. A second period of incubation in the chamber is undertaken at a later age, which strengthens the immune system to a point where Benzites are resistant to most forms of disease. The age at which this takes place is not set.