Selelvian

Intelligent Lifeform Index


Selelvian
Selelvians.png
Four Letter Code SELE
Federation Status Neutral - Hostile
Planet of Origin Sel'Vian
Encountered Captain Archer
T/E Rating T0/E0
Current Tech Level N+
List of Named Selelvians
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"Come on you can tell me. No one will ever know."
a Selelvians saying.
The Selelvians are a species that once joined the Federation as an act of deception. Now that their true colors have been shown they have not only been kicked out but fought a war with the Federation.

Home System

  • Quadrant: Beta
  • Location: Sele-Uterin Sector (coordinates B25-0001-1306)
  • Proper Name: Sel'Via Tal'nios
  • Star: It orbits a binary system with a class K (Orange) and a class G (Yellow) star
  • Distance from Star: its orbit is approximately 82 million km
  • Companions: It is the 3rd of 14 planets in the system
  • Moons: it has 5 moons.

Home World

  • Proper Name: Sel'Vian (Sel'Vian Tal'nios Pra'dovie Rin'nava Und'Dravis)
  • Diameter: 23,936 km (14,873 miles)
  • Gravity: 1.06 standard gravity with a density of 3.1
  • Axial Tilt: 13.7%, with normal seasonal changes
  • Orbital Period: 523 days
  • Rotational Period: 28 hours
  • Classification: M
  • Surface Water: 49%
  • Atmosphere: 1.03% is a standard pressure with 72% nitrogen, 26% oxygen, 2% trace chemicals
  • Climate: Mainly a temperate to semi-tropical world with small polar and tropical zones.
  • Terrain: It has jungles, swamps, deserts, rain forests, forests, rocky hills and mountains.
  • Population: Just over 20 billion

History

The Selelvians were one of the last species encountered by Captain Archer prior to his retirement from Starfleet. He and his crew were welcomed with open arms and they discovered that their home world was a veritable paradise. The entire crew enjoyed their 5 week stay. Strangely enough Captain Archer had not originally planned to stay that long; however after meeting with the ruling council he altered his plans and gave the entire crew 5 weeks shore leave.

As time passed and Federation vessels were welcomed with open arms, the possibility of their being allowed to join the Federation was considered and approved. The only negative vote was by the Vulcans and Andorians. The basis for their vote came from the fact that according to the data retrieved from the Enterprise (NX-01) data storage archives seemed to indicate that the Selelvians made numerous and remarkable technological advances all most overnight following their initial first contact.

The Selelvians were quick to explain that they concealed much of their technology in case the crew of the Enterprise (NX-01) proved to be dangerous. It was only when they realised that the Federation was not an enemy and could be trusted that they allowed their true technological abilities to be seen by visitors from the Federation.

Once they became a member of the Federation they supplied very large numbers of engineers, doctors and scientists. They were very interested in assisting and being a part of any and all Federation research projects. While they supported any and all research, very few of them ever joined Starfleet. In fact less than 50 have ever attended the Academy and none have ever joined the Marines.

Jaan Devin was a Selelvian civilian who lived aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) in 2365, and suffered from the Selelvian disease known as The Rot. During his time aboard the Enterprise he became friends with Wesley Crusher, nicknaming him "Orange".

Jaan's friendship with Wesley was less altruistic than it initially appeared. When Jaan learned that he was dying, he apparently, unintentionally used his Selevian power of suggestion to prompt Wesley to focus all his efforts into finding a cure for the Rot. This compulsion was so all consuming that Wesley could not even sleep as he continued his efforts to find a cure. Eventually Wesley figured out what was going on but he still kept looking for a cure as he realised that, that was what really 'counted'.

When a Kreel named Aneel promised Jaan a cure for "the Rot", he claiming that they had found a medical database along with various advanced weapons that the Kreel had recently salvaged. Jaan betrayed his friends and colleagues in order to get the cure, helping the Kreel access the Enterprise armoury. However when he came to collect the cure, Aneel killed him with a phaser set to kill, reasoning that he wasn't even lying about possessing a cure as death cured everything.

In 2377, the Federation starship USS Trident (NCC-31347) had several encounters with Selelvian renegades after the Selelvian Gleau was killed on that same starship. The Selelvians possessed a mental manipulation/control ability that the Selelvians referred to as the "Knack". The Selelvian government demanded that Janos, the Excalibur crewman who had been accused for the murder, be turned over to them. Now Starfleet Intelligence believe this was because they wanted to uncover why the "Knack" had failed to work on Ensign Janos.

Elizabeth Shelby, as commander of the USS Trident, was instrumental, together with the crews of the USS Excalibur and the USS Enterprise, in uncovering the Selelvian telepathic manipulation of the Federation Council. These revelations lead to the Federation revoking the Selelvia's membership in the Federation.

In retaliation, the Selelvians allied themselves with the Tholian Assembly and a short war between the Federation and the Selelvians was the result. By late 2376 the alliance of the Tholians and Selevian were being aided by the Orions.

Selelvain renegades continued to plague the area around the New Thallonian Protectorate in 2379.

Government

They have a council with one member selected from each of the 237 noble families. Many of these families are very large and it is not uncommon for them to have more than 30 or 40 thousand family members. Everything on the planet is owned by one family member or another from one of these families. Anyone not a member of one of these families belongs to or is allied to one of these families.

Since the split happened and the Selelvians are no longer members of the Federation it has become evident that most of the population have few to no rights other than as a servant or employee of one family or another. As such they are provided for and protected by their employer who can request or order them to do anything.

The Selelvian justice system maintains the death penalty. Death is the demanded justice for those who would disturb this carefully created order and most find Selevians quite severe in their handling of matters of justice and the punishment for most crimes is death, quick and simple.

Description

The Selelvians are a species widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the galaxy. Due to their resemblance to creatures of Earth mythology, humans gave the species the nickname of "elves".

Both the men and the women usually wear long pale colored robes and have long pale colored hair. Very light browns, blondes and a surprising number with white hair. Those with aquamarine colored eyes are usually members of one of the royal families. The rest of the population usually have violet, blue or green colored eyes.

Physiology

As with most intelligent humanoid species they have a very complex system with specialized organs, and unique hormones, chemicals and enzymes. They are typical humanoids with most of the physical, mental and biological medical problems that seem to plague most humanoids.

They tend to live to be approximately 125 to 150 years old and have a fairly disease resistant physiology. On the whole they are all over 6' with slim, athletic bodies. They excel at most sports; have excellent co-ordination and a real drive to compete.

Psychology

The Selelvians tend to have a well-defined sense of superiority and look down upon many of the other species they have had dealings with. Many fail to hide this smug attitude, not caring if the lesser species know what they think about them.

ESP

The Selelvians possessed a mental manipulation/control ability that they referred to as the "Knack". It allows them to make mental suggestions that will normally affect the targets responses and actions. Under normal conditions the target will never suspect they were pushed and will believe his response was completely his own idea, regardless of how out of character it might be.

Religion

The Selevians are devoted pantheists who believe in a serene natural order. They also believe that the creator of this order entrusted it's care to them and they are both its chosen people and it's protectors. As such they go to great lengths to ensure that the beauty of nature is not spoiled in any way. This has resulted in all industrial complexes being built underground. In fact 3/4 of their population, those from the lower class also live underground.

Mythology

There does not seem to be any data to support the existence of anything that could be considered mythology. Not unless you consider their beliefs that the planet and nature are visible signs of their pantheon of gods at work. There are lots of stories regarding these gods and the various aspects of nature and the planet that they are responsible for.

Society

Outwardly Selevian Society is rather peaceful but this peace is kept in place by a near tyrannical quasi-theocracy since the split from the Federation. They have a two tier society with the upper classes forming the ruling and educated elite. These people have the best of everything and own everything on the planet. Only members of this class have ever set foot off the planet and traveled to various Federation worlds. They also serve as officers in their military.

The lower classes are generally not as well educated and belong to one family or another. They serve and are rewarded for their service with food, housing, clothes and medicine. Over 90% of their military is taken from this class and none of them are in a position of command. Also all agricultural and industrial work is performed by this class.

Culture

Selevian culture is highly dedicated to intellectual pursuits and they consider themselves above most other species culturally and scientifically. While Selevian culture is rich it is now constantly being undermined by the post-Federation government and the once proud and graceful Selevian people are on a slow ship to oblivion.

Music seems to be one of the most important aspects of their artistic expression. Huge musical numbers with lots of different types of musical instruments all working together to create dramatic, yet inspiring songs are the norm. Dances are very intricate with numerous precise movements and have been designed to match the music they are performed with.

Customs

The noble classes have a number of important social customs. One of the oldest is for all families to arrange the marriages of all members before they turn 10. The only considerations for these matches are political, genetic and financial. Anything that will benefit the family may be used as a motive for the bonding of boy to girl. Next is the marriage which is a long intricate ceremony ending with the two newlyweds entering a large chamber that is then sealed shut behind them. After 7 days and nights it is unsealed and the couple begin their lives as a couple.

Technology

Thanks to the large number of engineers, doctors and scientists that had been loaned to the Federation they have the best technology available. Many of the Federation member worlds are not as advanced as they are. Since being kicked out of the Federation they have slowed down greatly in their advances. As a result they are now about equal with the majority of Federation member worlds.

Economy

Their economy has suffered since they were kicked out of the Federation. They are still fairly self-sufficient but the loss of so much exotic alien goods has sparked a large amount of smuggling and increased trade with the Orions and Ferengi.

Military

Even after they joined the Federation they maintained their own fleet of war ships. Few of their people ever joined Starfleet. The majority always joined their own fleet. Not surprisingly they managed to conceal the fact that their own fleet was much bigger than one would expect.

In fact it was big enough that with their alliance with the Tholians it allowed them to fight the Federation to a standstill that was finally ended by a cease fire and a tentative peace treaty.

Federation Intelligence Files

The Selelvians were a member of the United Federation of Planets until evidence that Selelvian delegates were using the "Knack", a mental manipulation/control ability to manipulate Federation council proceedings was uncovered in 2376 and lead to them being kicked out of the Federation.

The Selelvian War was a brief war fought between the Federation and the Selelvians in the mid-2370s.

During the war, a shuttle transporting Soleta and Captain Elizabeth Shelby was attacked by Orions and forced down on a barren planetoid. In order to protect Shelby's life, Soleta administered a Vulcan nerve pinch to Shelby, and attacked the Orions single-handedly. Soleta was severely injured, and during her subsequent medical treatment, her half-Romulan heritage was finally discovered.

Sources

Information was obtained from Memory Alpha and Memory Beta.

As well as the following books: NF novels: Stone and Anvil, NF novels: After the Fall; NF short story: "Pain Management, and the TNG novel: Strike Zone.

SDC

This file was updated and approved by the SDC on 22 July 2014

Content from this article may have
come partially, or entirely from
 
Memory Alpha


SPECIES PROFILE UPDATED
This profile was revised by the Species Development Committee.
REV 239401.31
Please add any new information discovered during the course of a mission or shore leave.
SB118-SDC