Bactrican
| Intelligent Lifeform Index |
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| Bactrican | |
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| Four Letter Code | BACT |
| Federation Status | Member |
| Planet of Origin | Bactrica[1] |
| Encountered | DS9 - short story: The Music Between the Notes |
| T/E Rating | T0/E0 |
| Current Tech Level | N |
| List of Named Bactricans | |
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Home System
- Quadrant: Alpha
- Location: Noril Gero Sector (coordinates A27-0002-1300)
- Proper Name: Pelios system
- Star: It orbits a class M (Red) star
- Distance from Star: it's orbit is approximately 327 million km
- Companions: It is the 2nd of 6 planets in the system
Home World
- Proper Name: Bactrica[1]
- Diameter: 12,616 km (7,839 miles)
- Gravity: 1.00 standard gravity with a density of 5.6
- Axial Tilt: 14.2 %, with normal seasonal changes
- Orbital Period: 394 days
- Rotational Period: 23.7 hours
- Classification: M
- Surface Water: 54 %
- Atmosphere: 0.99 % is a standard pressure with 73% nitrogen, 24% oxygen, 3% trace chemicals
- Climate: Mainly a tropical and semi-tropical world.
- Population: Just over 40 million
History
Described as "a world of beauty, grace and wealth," Bactrica had just under two hundred million square kilometers of arable land, and a population (as of the mid-24th century) of approximately 40 million. Bactrica is located near Tzenkethi space, and had been the object of invasion forces multiple times. They share the system with the Pelians and have co-operated for a long time for their mutual defense.
Approximately one thousand years prior to 2354, a series of vicious wars came to an end on Bactrica. The victor was a theocratic monarchy that assumed control of the entire planet. Under the monarchy's control, Bactrican thirds (see Description, below) were commodified and enslaved. During this millennia of enslavement, thirds were housed and trained in special "nunneries," kept separate from the general population. Trained solely towards the goal of being bonded to an approved couple. A third living in this period was expected to take their life when the other members of their triad died. A third living for themself was seen as an abomination.
The Tzenkathi Coalition invaded Bactrica four times by 2534. The first three times, Bactria was able to defend itself. During the fourth such campaign, Bactrica had to seek Federation aid in order to repel the aggressors. This directly lead to them requesting admission into the Federation. The negotiations for such would necessarily, from a Federation standpoint, include the freedom of the enslaved thirds. Curzon Dax was the Federation ambassador assigned to the talks. At some point in the process, a free third named Sabbath came to live on the station under Curzon's protection. Simultaneously, first contact with the Azziz was made. The Azziz ship was a living conglomeration of beings, its Poet responsible for coordinating/harmonizing the various entities.
Following an attempt on Sabbath's life which instead killed the Poet, Sabbath managed to escape the station on the Azziz vessel where they replaced the Poet. The suspected (but unproven) aid of Dax and his Starfleet attaches, Ensigns Ben Sisko and Cal Hudson, in this act of defiance ultimately caused the membership talks to collapse. The Bactrican monarchy drew a red line around its oppression of androgynes, making harshly clear that Federation access to Bactrica's weapon tech came welded to acceptance of their social order. The first cracks in this stance formed during the regional chaos spurred by the Maquis conflict and widened into a gulf following The Dominion War. The Federation, nursing its wounds and prioritizing the rebuilding of its fleets, began to draw back its borders in the Alpha Quadrant. By then, Bactrica had allied with the Azziz to increase their ability to defend themselves. But the lack of Federation presence patrolling the region had an impact. The Ferengi and other minor Alpha Isles powers reduced their own traffic in the area, diminishing Bactrica's access to interstellar commerce.
Bactrica was soon all but alone in the galaxy, with only the Azziz and Pelians at their side to discourage another Tzenkathi attack. Something had to change, or a fifth conflict seemed inevitable. Youthful progressives among the male and female sexes took to the streets in protest of the repressive systems that were holding all Bactrican peoples at an arms' length from the wider galaxy. A movement which swelled to include people from all classes and age brackets. There was pressure from military-industrial conglomerates as well, a 50/50 mix of those acting in their own economic interests and those who did not believe that superior firepower could forever hold back a prolonged Tzenkathi siege. When a document circulated among military leadership that agreed with the later viewpoint was leaked to the press, change became inevitable.
Bactrican society at last underwent targeted reforms aimed at making their world an acceptable candidate for Federation protectorate status. Among other changes, the monarchy was displaced in favor of the current system of rule (see Government, below) and full civil rights were restored to the formerly-oppressed thirds. These reforms would ultimately see Bactrica fast-tracked for provisional membership as a stop-gap against the Tzenkethi.
Government
The government is controlled by three sets of bonded Triads. This ensures that it gives the best representation to the entire population and that each member of the bonded Triad can still spend enough time together to ensure both procreation and stability.
Description
Bactricans are very close to human in appearance. Females are typically shorter than males. A small percentage of Bactricans, known as "thirds", are neither male nor female but are necessary to enable the procreative process. The one big noticeable difference between all three of them and humans is their eyes. They are mostly yellow with a darker yellow center. The majority of Bactricans sent to the 2354 negotiations were of a racial appearance similar to the Asiatic peoples of Earth, but other races exist.
Physiology
As with most intelligent humanoid species they have a very complex system with specialized organs, and unique hormones, chemicals and enzymes. What makes them different is a bonded group of three Bactricans -- a male, a female, and a genderless "Third" who produces the pheromones necessary to make the other sexes physically receptive to each other. Unlike Vissian cogenitors, thirds do not need to be involved in the act of procreation, only its initiation.
Psychology
For some reason the formation of a Triad, a bonded group of three Bactricans -- a male, a female, and a third-- seems to have an effect on both mental and physical health. This benefit is much greater when it comes to mental health than it is for physical.
Religion
The Bactricans religion is based on the Triad. A holy union of three spirits that creates a whole. It is this union that was the basis for the creation of their world and their people.
Mythology
They do not really have any legends or myths but they do have a series of tales that revolve around the original triad and the creation of their world and people. This original triad now forms the basis for their religion and these tales are considered to be associated with the religious aspect of the holy Triad.
Society
A Bactrican third is a genderless member of the Bactrican species. Thirds are necessary in order for male and female Bactricans to react to one another and complete the act of procreation. When a Third joins in a Triad with two others, a lifetime bond is created. The "dance" of a Third is called shatharma. (Some very orthodox sects retain a modified version of the 'tradition' of raising their thirds in 'nunneries'.)
Economy
Both the Pelians and the Bactricans have signed agreements allowing the Federation to engage in mining operations with in this system. Most of these operations take place in the massive asteroid field that is in the outer orbit.
Prior to this they only traded with the Azziz and the Pelians but since they formally allied and then eventually joined the Federation they have been able to extend their trade agreements and triple their exports and imports.
Culture
They have shown an appreciation for most forms of artistic expression and have many native examples of artist expression as well. In fact they have started to export some of their native examples as well as importing some that has started to have an impact on their own culture.
In 2354, the Bactrican delegates to Pelios Station were noted by Ensign Sisko to wear drab, gray robes which fostered an impression of a lack of sexual dimorphism between the men and women. His logs also suggested that they wore gray-colored face makeup which had the same effect.
Customs
The shatharma was a type of ritual dance done by the Bactrican third when becoming mated to two other members of a Bactrican mating triad.
Technology
Bactrica was once noted its their weapons technology, but in modern times even that lags behind most of the other member worlds in the Federation when it comes to technology. This does not bother them as they seem to be satisfied with the many other benefits of being a member of the Federation.
Military
They maintain a military that has is able to defend them against alien invasions but not indefinitely. It is large enough to protect them against pirates and other small alien predators.
Pelios Station
Pelios Station was a Federation space station located in the Pelian system in the Alpha Quadrant. It orbited the star Pelios at a distance of twelve light-minutes, between its second and third planet. The station was home to approximately two hundred and fifty crew.
Pelios Station was constructed following a petition for help from the Bactricans during that race's conflict with the Tzenkethi. The station was not only a diplomatic base, but also served in a support capacity for the mining operations in the Pelian system.
Starfleet Intelligence Files
Negotiations for the Bactricans entry into the Federation took place on Pelios Station in 2354, as did the Federation's first contact with the Azziz. Pelios Station was also where Benjamin Sisko first met Ambassador Curzon Dax. While on Pelios Station, Sisko became romantically involved with a third there.
Sources
Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as well as the following TV episodes, DS9: Invasive Procedures, DS9: Facets and DS9: Children of Time.
Also used was the following DS9 - The Lives of Dax short story: The Music Between the Notes. Memory Beta articles regarding the story misidentifies the person Sisko had a relationship with as female, this is corrected here.
Historical notes following the conclusion of "The Music Between The Notes" (which ends with Sabbath's defection) and eye color description are unique to Starbase 118.
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SPECIES PROFILE UPDATED This profile was revised by the Species Development Committee. |
REV 240204.24 | ||
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