Centauran: Difference between revisions

Centaurans, as a rule, tend to be artistic, contemplative and analytical; many are pacifist and think deeply about any significant action before taking it. Of course, as each city-state is distinctive, this stereotype can change radically.

Centaurans are outwardly indistinguishable from humans, and are sexually compatible with them, able to interbreed with little difficulty. Indeed, there is only a minor difference in organ placement and DNA between Humans and Centaurans, but on the grand scale of things, these are fairly minor. Human-Centauran breeding requires only minimal medical supervision. One thing to note, however, is that as a whole the Centauran people are a very attractive people. This comes, probably from having had a few more centuries of evolution wherein good hygiene was figured out. They also are capable of manifesting empathic/telepathic abilities anywhere from E1 to E4 and T1 to T3, though most Centaurans do not. This ability may stem from their concern of others' emotional state and well being.               

Centaurans are, as a rule, the most invisible people in the Federation. While carrying a great deal of pride in their homes, they also know that they are members of the Federation, as is everyone. Thus asserting their own race above being a Federation citizen reminds them of the city-state patriotism that led to the Plague Wars. Because of this belief, and a lack of assertion of their own racial identity, they are often mistaken as either human or Betazoid. They don't mind. They know the truth in their hearts, and they know that just because they aren't rubbing peoples' faces in their culture doesn't devalue it. This is evidenced by the fact that they let themselves be called Centaurans. Such is a Terran term; they call their planet Velestus. They know it is Velestus though, so they don't need others to call it such.

Unlike Earth, there are no truly large continents on Alpha Centauri IV. Nothing at all like the Eurasian-African mass, or like the Americas. The sum of the landmasses on Alpha Centauri are numerous islands: large and small. No land-bridges nor any small straits connect any of the islands to each other. There is but one polar continent, in the northern hemisphere and two major oceans. Because of this physical isolation from other landmasses, each island would develop one large city, which would form the center of power for that island. And the Centauran people would develop a great deal of pride in their own city-state. So of course tensions would arise as exploration occurred. Searching around for resources only to find another people occupying that land, people fiercely loyal to their city-state. Rampant factionalization highlights the ancient history of Alpha Centauri IV.

The other major advance of the early days of the proto-Federation was a simple esoteric one, but one which has much impact. The Centaurans were able to make the early scouting ships much more livable, so that the long treks between stars became actually bearable. These livability touches continue to this day; it was a Centauran who invented the Federation Holodeck, which aid modern starships in training and recreation.

Alpha Centauri IV (Velestus) is one of thirteen planets orbiting the binary stars Alpha Centauri A, a yellow dwarf (it is Sol's "twin", though it is a little more massive thus a little more luminous) and Alpha Centauri B, an orange dwarf. The first two planets are F class with only orbital scientific stations. Alpha Centauri III and IV are the two planets that have large colonies. Planets V through X are class V gas giants varying in size. Several of their moons are home to starbases and small colonies. A lot of free traders have scouted Alpha Centauri XII for valuable ores among the distant meteorites and comets.

Two native species have become well known to Federation visitors. The kerra'vein are canine-like animals similar to huskies. They are a popular local pet. In the wild these animals live on fish and carrion. The lala'vel is a small winged creature that closely resembles the terran bat except for color which ranges from pure white to blue to green. Lala'vels sleep in caves or dark areas during the day and feed on insects at night.

Without usurping the rights of the individual, the Centaurans have managed to find a fine balance in a loosely structured communal society. The population is spread out into self-contained communities across the planet's many island -- each settlement known as a da'den can exist alone but they regularly trade goods and knowledge and breeding stock.