Cenobian
| Intelligent Lifeform Index |
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| Cenobian | |
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| Four Letter Code | CENO |
| Federation Status | Neutral |
| Planet of Origin | Cenobia II |
| Encountered | unknown |
| T/E Rating | T0/E0 |
| Current Tech Level | N+ |
| List of Named Cenobians | |
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Full ILI Gallery • Permitted Species Gallery | |
The Cenobians are a humanoid civilization native to Cenobia II.
Name
- Proper Name: Cenobian
- Pronunciation: Se-NOH-bee-an
Home System
- Quadrant: Gamma Quadrant
- Location: Cenobian System (3 months at warp 9.9 from the other side of the DS9 Wormhole)
- Proper Name: Cenobia
- Pronunciation: Se-noh-bee-ah
- Star: It orbits a class M (Red) Star
Home World
- Proper Name: Cenobian II
- Pronunciation: Se-noh-bee-an II
- Gravity: 1.4G
- Classification: M
- Distance from Star: Fourth planet of 12.
- Satellites: None.
History
The history of the Cenobians is one of an indomitable spirit, epic battles, the struggle for space, and finally independent and battle-hardened Cenobia. Cenobia is one of 5 planets in the Cenobian system that were home to intelligent life. The others were Micaylia, Hulzo, Matochia, and Renix. The five planets had no moons, but depending on the time of day they could see each other in the skies. They are as close to each other as the moon is to earth.
Prehistory
The life forms on the 5 planets advanced at nearly identical paces. However, each society developed in different ways, under different conditions, and so on. Eventually, the five civilizations reached a modern age within decades of each other. It didn't take long for a space race to ensue. For some it was about visiting their neighbours, for others there were visions of conquest. After the Great Battle, the Cenobians were the only species left alive in the systems. However, the Cenobians were left in a postapocolypic world without governments, technology, or institutions. Within generations, the history of the five worlds had transformed into a form of mythology with Cenobian heroes, the weak Micaylian allies, the prophets of Hulzo, the Matochian plague and the Renixian demons.
The Dark Times
For centuries after the Great Battle the the people of Cenobia reverted into nation states and fought among themselves over the details of their prehistory and for the limited resources left on their planet. This time could easily be compared to Europe's Dark Ages, but on a global scale.
The Illumination
Nearly five centuries after the Great Battle the children of Cenobia started to demonstrate empathic and telepathic abilities and by the time these children were adults the world was once again united as one people. These abilities were not 'new' to the Cenobians, but had been surprised by a disease, that emerged and was rampant during the times Great Battle. Over time, the Cenobians developed a resistance to the disease allowing their abilities to reemerge.
The Modern Age
Once the Cenobians were united, it took only a few generations to establish a stable government, research facilities and programs, education and health care, and all the institutions of modern civilizations. A few generations after that, the Cenobians were once again a pre-warp society traveling to the other four planets. Anthropologists and archaeologists began to piece together the events leading up to and the wars of the Great Battles. This ignited a movement that turned old gods into ancient heroes, stories of mythology became a triumphant history, and the glory of the past was brought to the present.
The Warp Age
The Cenobians developed warp drive many decades later and began to explore the galaxy. While their primary goals in space are discovery and exploration, the lessons of their past and the Great Battle left them weary about possible neighbours and event the most humble science vessel would pose a challenge in a battle with a warship. Despite their battle readiness, the Cenobians are a relatively peaceful species. The Cenobians made first contact with Bajor and the Federation after a Deep Space exploration vessel travelled through the wormhole at DS9.
Government
Cenobia is governed by the Cenobian League of Guardians, which is also their military. The League is led by a council made up of elected leaders from the clans.
Description
Cenobians have many variations in appearance like humans. However, skin tones range from ivory white to pale colours including greens, blues, reds and mixtures of these colours. Their eyes also appear human, except that all Cenobians have stark white irises that can sometimes almost appear to be gently glowing.
Physiology
Physical Differences to Humans
Genetically, Cenobians and Humans are similar enough that they can produce offspring without difficulty. Externally, Cenobians are generally similar to Humans, with the chief exceptions being the slightly glowing, bright white iris of their eyes and their skin tones and hair colouring that range from white to a variety of pales colours,
Cenobians are on the average three to four times physically stronger than Humans and have considerably faster reflexes. Cenobians are generally taller and larger than humans, however similar differences exist between males and females as is found in humans. Cenobians typically have a lifespan of 250 years or more.
Internal Organ Differences to Humans
In contrast to their external similarities, Cenobian internal anatomy differs radically from that of Humans. They have three lugs that are surrounded within a ribcage of only 8, not 12 ribs. Their heart rate is considerable lower than humans. This is due to a highly efficient cardiovascular system that includes muscles at key locations throughout the body that serve to move blood throughout the veins and arteries taking the workload off the heart.
Cenobian Blood and Immune System
Cenobian blood is zinc-based and is bluish when deoxygenated in the veins and white when oxygenated in the arteries. Bruises and dermal abrasions take on a white colour.
Having evolved on a planet of wastelands, pockets of radiations, and hostile bacteria and disease, Cenobians have developed a sophisticated transformative immune system that does not use antibodies to destroy and defend against biological threats, but rather the body identifies, isolates, and then adapts itself to transform the threat into a protein related to the production and storing of the hormone Cenoxterone. During this time a Cenobian may develop a slight fever and become slightly flush. In the rare instances the transformative immune system is unable to deal with a threat, a back up adaptive immune system (like humans) will activate. However, unlike humans, Cenobians are not accustomed to being 'sick' and are usually incapacitated for days.
Cenoxterone
Cenoxterone is steroid hormone similar to testosterone. Both Cenobian males and females produce this naturally and have stores of the hormone produced by the immune system. Cenoxterone is stored in the Cenoxtral gland, located at the base of the spine. Cenoxterone levels begin to rise during the onset of puberty and levels do not begin to normalize until after adolescence.
Cenoxterone is released during sleep cycles to stimulate the repair, maintenance and growth of muscles and strengthening of bones. Cenoxterone is also released when Cenobian's metabolic system is excited, usually by physical danger, intense stimulus, or sexual arousal. When Cenoxterone is released into the blood and spreads throughout the brain and body it heightens senses, sharpens reflexes, shuts of pain receptors, increases strength and increases the brains ability to process sensory input.
Cenoxterone has negative effects for the Cenobian's telepathic and empathic abilities. The presence of the hormone prevents use of the paracortex rending these abilities null. It can take anywhere between 1 to 3 hours for levels to reduce enough to allow use of the paracortex again.
Psychology
The Cenobian mind is a delicate balance between the hunter and the priest. They are generally peaceful and eager to cooperate with others whenever possible. However, they can be ferocious and relentless against those who take the first strike.
Telepathic/Empathic Abilities
Cenobians are natural telepaths, an ability that is centred in their paracortex, with psilosynine being the main neurotransmitter. Cenobians develop their telepathic abilities after adolescence when Cenoxterone levels begin to normalize. However, Cenobians telepathy and Empathy only works among other Cenobians.
The para-cortex in Cenobians is strongly interconnected with the brains primary visual cortex. While empathic abilities are unaffected by this connection, Cenobians require visual contact to engage their telepathic abilities with another Cenobian.
Society
Cenobian society is organized by a universal code of honour and system of clanship. Each clan traces their origin to the heroes of the Great Battle. These heroes represent more than a bloodline to Cenobians, but are regarded, in many respects, in the ways many societies reserve for deities. The system of clans has been around since the Cenobian 'Dark Times' however the belief was clans were decedents of the gods. As the Cenobians entered the Modern Age and understood the truth of the great battle, the clans remained strong as their gods became celebrated heroes.
Religion
Cenobians do not follow or worship deities or abstractions. However, they have an elaborate system of spirituality that is based on ancestry and the heroes of the Great Battle. Each clan has its own temples, clerics, and traditions and is headed by what is believed to be the reincarnated spirit of the great hero founder. Temple contain artifacts, documentation, and a variety of items related to their founder from the time of the Great Battle that were recovered by archaeologists from Cenobia, space, and the other four planets. There is no animosity or hostility between the clans. It is believed that the clans survived because of the cooperation between their founders and that cooperative spirit remains an integral part of Cenobian philosophy.
Culture
The Illumination not only brought their telepathic abilities back to the Cenobians, but ignited the unification of the planet. The more tribal and nomadic lifestyle was transformed quickly into an existence of growing civilizations, reemergence and strengthening of ancient honour systems, and rapid advancements in medicine, technology, research, education, and so on. There are many aspects to Cenobian culture however there are five main pieces that form the foundation of Cenobian culture: the clan, cooperation, an innate desire to explore, a warrior's spirit, and code of honour practiced unconditionally by every Cenobian.
Cenobian Code of Honour
The Cenobians behaviours, beliefs, and sense of morality are intertwined in a relatively simple code of honour. On the surface there appear to only be a few tenets, however, each one has a variety of implications.
The first of these tenets is: Clan before self, cooperation before clan. At its basic level the first part means to put the others of your clan before your own needs. The second part dictates that opportunities to cooperate with others outside the clan are more important than the clans themselves. Its deeper meanings suggest that putting others before one's own interests is at the core of Cenobian morality. Cooperation for Cenobians is not only an actvity or moral endeavour but is a energy of its own. It was through cooperation between the clans that lead to the successes in the Great Battle and the survival of their species.
The second tenet is: The true pacifist is the defender of peace. Cenobians are peaceful, not by nature, but by reason. This tenet seems contradictory at first glance, however Cenobians place a great deal of value on peace while valuing the ability to defend and protect peace from those who would try to destroy it. Peace for Cenobians isn't an absence of war, it is like cooperation - an energy, a feeling, and a way of living. To a Cenobian, a pacifist that cannot defend peace is nothing more than a coward hiding behind the facade of ideals.
The final tenet is: The true champion is an explorer, conqueror are false heroes. For Cenobians, exploration is the path to glory. Bringing new knowledge and experience into the Clan, seeking new opportunities for cooperation, all the time being a "true pacifist". Those that explore to increase their borders and conquer others are viewed as the great villains intent on destroying peace. Exploration is a means to itself for Cenobians. They may ally and trade with others as a celebration of cooperation, but their true desire is to explore.
Customs
Every Cenobian knows the text of the Great Battle and texts specific to their clan's hero and founder. The very first stories children are told come from these texts. Children reenact scenes from these texts as forms of play, while adults take inspiration from these stories to create art, music, plays, operas, and poetry.
Standard Greetings
The traditional Cenobian greeting involves extending left arms, palms facing inward, and clasping your hands around each other's forearms. There is no shaking or further movement, just a firm grip and the vocalization "Haw" on contact. Another traditional greeting is to cross your left arm and strike the right side of your chest with a closed fist and say "Min'ya L'jhoa", pronounced Mean-yah Lah-joh-ah (the J is like the spanish J). The greeting means 'Warriors in Peace'.
Family and Childrearing
When a child is born they are born into a clan. The child's upbringing is not the sole responsibility of their parents, they are raised by the 'clan'. Each clan has a large network of nannies, educators, tutors, instructors, mentors, clerics and related staff to raise children. Parents are involved, but no where near to the extent of most other humanoid species. However, that being said, the parents are judged, in part, on the success and failures of their children.
Compulsory Military Service
When a Cenobian passes the time of adolescence they are committed to a mandatory 5 years of military service. All Cenobians go through 2 years of basic training, followed by 2 years of specializing, and finally 1 year in starship training. At this point military officers are given three options: full-time service, part-time service, or reserves. Only after another 10 years of full-time, 20 years of part-time service, or 35 years of being in the reserves is a Cenobian given the choice to leave the military. However, most will choose to continue. The military's formal name is the Cenobian League of Guardians. The League is not in direct conflict with the Dominion, but has a tenuous relationship similar to what the relationship was like between the Federation and the Romulans before the Hobus tragedy.
Technology
Cenobian technology is on par with the majority of alpha quadrant species.
Economy
The Cenobian economy is based on a system of bartering and trading. Major resources and assets are seen as belonging to the clans and are for the good of all, rather than to be 'owned' by a few. This system seems similar to Federation
Military
The Cenobian League of Gaurdians is a secondary power in the Gamma Quadrant, but remains powerful enough to keep the Dominion at bay. All Cenobian starships are heavily armed with phasers, quantum and photon torpedoes, and disruptor cannons being standard. Cenobian ships make use of regenerative shielding, ablative hull plating, and cloaking technology. Cenobian vessels are equipped with impulse engines and warp drives.
Federation Intelligence Files
With the exception of a few single vessel exploration missions, the Cenobians have seemed intent on remaining in the Gamma Quadrant. This is likely due to the presence of the Dominion. It is likely that the Cenobians fear spreading their fleet to thin and making themselves vulnerable. In the meantime, a few dozen Cenobians have studied at Starfleet Academy and joined Starfleet in the spirit of cooperation and exploration.