Parada
| Intelligent Lifeform Index |
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| Parada | |
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 | |
| Four Letter Code | PARA |
| Federation Status | Member |
| Planet of Origin | Parada IV |
| Encountered | DS9: Whispers |
| T/E Rating | T0/E0 |
| Current Tech Level | N |
| List of Named Paradas | |
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The Parada are a species located in the Gamma Quadrant.
Home System
- Quadrant: Gamma
- Location: Drogiv Sector
- Proper Name: Parada system
- Star: this is a binary star system. Primary was a class B (Blue-White) star. Stellar companion was a [[Star Classifications|class F (Yellow-White)] star.
- Distance from Star: it's orbit is approximately 492 million km
- Companions: It is the 4th of 11 planets in the system with 7 moons
Home World
- Proper Name: Parada IV
- Diameter: 11,528 km (7,163 miles)
- Gravity: 0.95 standard gravity with a density of 5.8
- Axial Tilt: 9.2%, with minimal seasonal changes
- Orbital Period: 523 days
- Rotational Period: 26.3 hours
- Classification: M
- Surface Water: 59%
- Atmosphere: 1.03% is a standard pressure with 72% nitrogen, 25% oxygen, 3% trace chemicals
- Climate: Mainly a temperate planet with numerous deserts and mountain ranges.
- Population: Just over 2.5 billion with 500,000 in the Parada II colony
This system is located in the Gamma Quadrant, one hour and fourteen minutes from the Bajoran wormhole, at maximum warp, aboard a Starfleet runabout.
History
The Paradans or Parada were a species native to the Gamma Quadrant that were first encountered by the Federation in 2370. They are experts in creating replicants, which they used in a civil war that started in 2358 and was still going strong when they encountered the Federation.
In 2370, Deep Space 9 was to host peace talks and Miles O'Brien met with them in the Gamma Quadrant to discuss their security concerns. While there, O'Brien was kidnapped by the government and replaced with a replicant who was sent back to Deep Space 9 in his place.
One of the Parada rebels' informants in the government leaked this information and the crew kept a close eye on the fake O'Brien, although they were unable to discover if he was real or not. It was believed that during the peace talks, the replicant would attempt to kill the rebel delegation.
The replicant version of Chief Miles O'Brien hid his runabout behind Parada IV in an attempt to escape Commander Sisko, Doctor Bashir and Major Kira, who were pursuing him in the USS Mekong. This was the largest planet in the system, and it had seven moons.
Later Commander Sisko, Doctor Bashir and Major Kira beamed down to Parada II to meet with Paradan rebels who had rescued the real O'Brien from the Paradan government.
Eventually a lasting form of peace was established and most of the rebels moved to Parada II and founded a colony there. The Federation assisted and some minor terraforming ensured the survivability of the colony.
Following the end of the Dominion War the Parada requested membership with in the Federation. At first there seemed to be little likelihood of them being accepted, especially considering their history and conduct in the past. However due to the losses sustained by Starfleet and the possible threat that the Dominion still posed, a faction within the government was able to sway enough support that they were granted admission to the Federation.
Their argument was that the Parada were ideally located to act as a first line of defense in case the Dominion attempted to stage another invasion into the Alpha Quadrant. Since their acceptance the Federation has been able to build a number of facilities and outposts to monitor all traffic within 30 light years of the wormhole. In addition to this an upgraded military Starbase has been constructed in the Parada system and designated as Starbase Gamma.
Government
The members of their council are a secret. This is a long established method by which to protect them from attack, kidnapping or assassination. 5,000 individuals from among the population have been selected and are assigned jobs within their government. When one of them wishes to step down he selects his replacement. From within this 5,000, are 5 who are also the members of the Council. No one knows who they are. It is believed that this position is also filled by the same method used to select new government workers.
Description
Humanoids with upswept, line-textured faces and skin almost resembling some Terran mollusks or seashells.
Physiology
As with most intelligent humanoid species they have a very complex system with specialized organs, and unique hormones, chemicals and enzymes. As a species, they give off an odor from skin secretions which changes with their mood; anger unleashes a particularly strong one.
Psychology
They have a very devious and cynical way of looking at life. They think that everyone has an ulterior motive and that all outsiders cannot be trusted. For that matter they ended up in a civil war due to this high level of distrust.
For now they consider the Federation to be the lesser of two evils and regardless of what ulterior motive they have yet to reveal it cannot be in anyway as bad as what the Dominion would do to them if they attacked.
Religion
They have a pantheon of 5 gods/goddesses. These divine beings can be either male or female depending on their mood or needs. Each of them has a number of names that are used depending on which sex they currently are or which of their 3 main aspects they are currently invoking.
Mythology
They have an enormous library of tales, legends and myths that have to deal with their 5 gods and the trouble, mischief, help and deceit that they have caused over the ages.
Society
They have a very regimented, ridged and controlled way of life. There are check points everywhere so that everyone’s movement can be recorded and tracked. Every purchase, action and interaction between all of them is recorded and tracked. Every single citizen has literally thousands of files and sub-files.
Culture
While they do enjoy various forms of art expression they do not seem to find those of other species that interesting.
Customs
Strangely enough they have an ancient custom that resembles the human practice of playing practical jokes on people. However in their case there are rituals, rules and procedures that one must observe before, during and after they prank someone.
Technology
While they tend to be slightly behind most Federation member worlds when it comes to general tech level they excel at the building and creation of replicants. Their skill at this highly specialized form of science is unmatched and their replicants are so good that they can pass most cursory exams.
Economy
Since joining the Federation their export and import trade has shifted from the other worlds in the Gamma Quadrant to those in the Alpha Quadrant. This may be partially due to their bad reputation with the other species in the Gamma Quadrant. However a significant factor is their belief that the Dominion will target them if given the chance. As such they want to establish strong ties to their new allies to ensure that in the event that the Dominion does attack they do not get left to defend themselves.
Military
Since they became a member of the Federation an upgraded military Starbase designated as Gamma was constructed in their system. This added to the Starfleet ships assigned to the base has ensured their safety.
In return they have used their skills at creating replicants to build and scatter a large number of them across a number of worlds and facilities. Their job is to act as observers and scouts reporting back to Starbase Gamma about any suspicious activity.
Federation Intelligence Files
From 2371 onwards, the Parada were a common sight on Deep Space 9, mostly on the Promenade but also in Quark’s bar.
In 2372, a Parada was one of several delegates taking part in the Antwerp Conference. This individual was killed in the Dominion bombing.
A wounded Paradan was being cared for in the battlefield hospital on Ajilon Prime in 2373.
One of the guests at Jadzia Dax's bachelorette party was Paradan.
Sometime between the replicant incident and 2376, the crew of the Even Odds had dealings with the Parada, gaining information about the Alpha Quadrant from them.
References
Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as well as the following TV episodes, DS9: Whispers, DS9: Facets, DS9: Homefront, DS9: Nor the Battle to the Strong and DS9: You Are Cordially Invited.
The following novel was also used, DS9 novel: Rising Son.
