Watraii

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Watraii
Four Letter Code	WATR
Federation Status	Neutral
Planet of Origin	Vulcan, Remus and finally Karatek
Encountered	USS Undaunted
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Watraiis
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"We were betrayed, tossed aside to suffer and die but we survived. Vengeance will be ours."

a Watraii proverb.

The Watraii are a species that has suffered much at the hands of the Romulans. So much so that it became the universal theme for their survival.

Just like the Chalchaj'qmey, Dabh'aelisu, Debrune, Garidian, Rekarian and the Reman they are considered to be a sub-species of the Romulans who are themselves considered to be a sub-species of the Vulcans.

Home System

• Quadrant: Beta
• Location: Hefnd Sector (coordinates B24-0005-1294)
• Proper Name: Sargo system
• Star: It orbits a class B (Blue-White) star
• Distance from Star: it's orbit is approximately 39 million km
• Companions: It is the 4th of 9 planets in the system
• Moons: it has 7 moons.

Home World

• Proper Name: Karatek
• Diameter: 22,481 km (13,969 miles)
• Gravity: 0.96 standard gravity with a density of 3.0
• Axial Tilt: 4.3%, with very minor seasonal changes
• Orbital Period: 422 days
• Rotational Period: 24.8 hours
• Classification: M
• Surface Water: 2%
• Atmosphere: 1.18% is a standard pressure with 73% nitrogen, 22% oxygen, 5% trace chemicals
• Climate: On the cool side of temperate with hostile winter storms.
• Terrain: Mainly a barren world with only primitive vegetation.
• Population: Just over 8 billion

History

Escape

The Sundering is the time in Vulcan history when a large number of them left to find a new homeworld. These individuals now call themselves Romulans. It was shortly after these individuals had settled on Romulus that a division began to appear between the majority and a smaller group of them who had slightly different beliefs in how things should be done.

This rift continued to grow and eventually this smaller group were encouraged to create their own colony on the harsher sister planet of Remus. Over a period of about 3 years’ time their status changed and they were confined and forced to work like slaves. They were forced to mine raw resources from the various mines in exchange for the basic necessities of life, food, water and medicine. Thus, they remained trapped in this facility in between the fiery and cold regions of the planet.

Their lives were a living hell due to the harsh conditions, poor quality of their supplies and the brutality of the Romulans. Many died and as a result it forced them to extreme measures. They were able to overpower their guards and steal a supply ship. They were led by Sarissa, daughter of Karatek.

During their escape and while being pursued they discovered an unstable wormhole and intentionally flew into it. The Romulan ships pursuing them either did not follow them into the unstable wormhole or did not survive the trip. Regardless they emerged just a short distance away from a system that long range scans showed might contain a habitable planet. This was good as the supply ship they had stolen had sustained extensive damage and was not expected to continue functioning much longer.

They managed to make it to the system, found that the 4th world was marginally habitable and then crash landed the supply ship onto the surface near a massive mountain range. The damage to the supply ship both from the crash landing and from their trip through the unstable wormhole meant that it would never fly again. However the hull had survived fairly intact and would provide them with a safe place to live while they determined what to do next.

New Start

It was obvious they could not leave the planet on their own and they were unsure how far they had been transported from the Romulan Star-Empire. As a result they ruled out sending a SOS signal. What they did do was conduct extensive examinations of the planet surface.

The planet was barren in its entirety and covered by constant harsh storms with high speed winds along with dangerous electrical activity that produced lightning strikes across the planet's surface on a regular basis. Only very primitive forms of vegetation were discovered which led to the belief that either the planet is very young or so hostile that no other form of life could develop on its surface. Furthermore, the planet possesses no forms of heavy or exotic metals on its surface.

With this information they realized their only chance for survival was underground. Seismic scans seemed to indicate a number of water sources deep under them as well as the possibility of some open cavities. They immediately started to dig down, jury rigging some effective digging machines from some of the ships systems.

Development

It was not long before they had managed to dig down to one of the larger cavities, one that had water running through it. This chamber was then converted into a food production facility. More tunnels were dug, more chambers discovered and eventually at a much deeper level a source of high grade heavy metals.

With time a city was built on the surface, one constructed to provide the maximum amount of protection from both the hostile elements and possible alien attack. While deep underground a massive network of chambers, production facilities, mines, industrial factories, living spaces and other structures were built to house and provide for the majority of their population.

First Contact

Aside from a brief encounter with Captain Pavel Chekov of the USS Undaunted several years prior, the first contact with the Watraii Hegemony began in the year 2377, after the Dominion War, when representatives from the Klingon Empire and Romulan Star Empire attended a unified peace conference on Earth.

While this occurred, alien ships passed the Romulan Neutral Zone and approached the Romulan colony world of Nemor. The orbiting Romulan fleet hailed the intruders and received weapon fire in return which destroyed the defenders, after which the aliens attacked the colony itself. A message from the planet's Proconsul, Terik, was sent and received on Earth before the colony was destroyed by powerful green colored weapon fire.

Declaration of War

Once the destruction of the colony was achieved, a visual transmission was received from a member of the alien race who identified himself and his race as the Watraii. They claimed that the Romulans were murderers who had usurped the Watraii homeworlds of Romulus and ma:RemusRemus. They then declared open hostilities between themselves and the Romulans.

Along the Romulan Neutral Zone, a mixed armada consisting of Federation, Romulan, and Klingon ships joined in a combined attack against a fleet of Watraii warships. After a brief battle the two fleets reached a stalemate until Spock and Ruanek beamed aboard the lead Watraii starship and captured a power converter.

However, the Watraii attempted to recapture the device with a boarding party consisting of a single warrior. This warrior faced opposition in the form of Admiral Pavel Chekov and the two were engulfed by a transporter beam which destabilized. It was presumed that both the Admiral and the Watraii died in the transporter beam due to incompatible energies.

This border skirmish put an end to the Watraii aggression on a temporary basis as they did not strike for two months. What many did not know, however, was that the Watraii had managed to capture Admiral Chekov and detain him on the Watraii homeworld.

Rescue Mission

The next military engagement occurred when the USS Alliance, along with two ships belonging to Klingon privateers, infiltrated Watraii space and arrived at their homeworld where they engaged in a covert action to retrieve the Coronet and rescue Admiral Chekov. During this time, Spock of Vulcan would meet with the Watraii leader and the two developed a form of mutual respect before Spock managed to escape. The Watraii would attempt to capture the Alliance, however it managed to escape their grasp. The Watraii then would make a protest to the Federation government for the attack after becoming aware of the Federation's goals as well as their nature.

Second War

During this time, the Watraii engaged in an covert operation that made use of a captured Romulan Warbird which they enhanced and used to infiltrate Federation space. It was used to attack the ships escorting Praetor Neral of the Romulan Star Empire. A Watraii fleet would also arrive on the border to Vulcan space where they engaged in battle against a Romulan fleet under the command of Commander Tomalak.

Peace

Diplomatic negotiations were commenced again with the Watraii leader and a compromise was reached with the Federation. They were allowed to access the information of the Coronet and to serve as a neutral third party. Once this was accomplished, the Watraii ceased their hostile behavior and accepted the friendship of the Federation to aid them.

Government

After the initial founding of their colony and the construction of the basic requirements of survival they finally had time to consider many important factors that would impact on their future. After long debates they decided to call themselves the Watraii which means "betrayed" in the old High Vulcan language.

They also swore vengeance against their oppressors the Romulans and established the ground rules by which their society would function. This resulted in the creation of the Watraii Hegemony, their militaristic government which was dedicated to the creation of a military force that would be able to destroy the murders of their ancestors. This resulted in the very real possibility of the species being rendered extinct as they fanatically attempted to destroy their enemies.

The race had devoted themselves to seek vengeance on these betrayers for what they did to their ancestors that any price seemed acceptable to accomplish that goal. Despite this, their leader Suwarin was known to be compassionate and concerned about the survival of his people.

Description

For a long time, the true face of the Watraii was not known as they all wear masks in which only the eyes can be seen. They also wear loose fitting robes with gloves that would completely disguise not only their appearance but their gender.

All Watraii appear to possess blue eyes and there appears to be only slight differences in their height and weight. Spock suggested that this might be the work of inbreeding and that the Watraii suffer from a small gene pool.

We now know that under those masks and robes are the distant descendants of Vulcans who left during the Sundering and eventually fled from Remus as well.

While a vast majority of the population wears dark green masks that almost appeared black with zig zag lines present at the bottom and top parts of it, these are not the only masks worn. Certain high-ranking Watraii wear white masks. These 'officers' attend the executions where they ceremoniously remove the mask of a Watraii prisoner.

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.

Based on the few bits of medical data that have been examined it would seem that the Watraii may indeed be suffering from some form of damaged genome due to inbreeding.

Most experts believe that based on the harsh living conditions imposed on them by the planet and their living so deep underground, as well as the often dangerous nature of the military training and the lack of numerous safety precautions that their average loss of life must be fairly high. This may have been part of the influence behind the massive inbreeding that would have been necessary to result in the kind of genetic damage detected in physical samples of their species.

Psychology

The Watraii as a species have forged themselves into a military force whose only goal is the destruction of the Romulans who persecuted them and forced them to flee their adopted homeworld.

Because of this they have done away with such useless luxuries like art, music, pleasure items and other luxury goods. They live a very spartan existence, seemingly satisfied with the basic necessities of life.

They also appear to be very cold, lacking in any of the softer emotions such as mercy, compassion, affection and empathy. In fact they come across as hard, uncaring and unforgiving.

Many have remarked on the fact that they seem to be an incredibly disciplined species, showing a degree of coordination which could rival that of the Borg even though they are not a hive-mind species. Military formations, which can consist of children, move in complete silence and with such control that it is no wonder they have been considered to be dangerous antagonists.

Religion

At this time it is uncertain if the Watraii have any form of religion. Many experts believe that it would be another aspect of their society that would be tossed aside in their all consuming drive for vengeance against the Romulans.

However Ambassador Spock has speculated that those Watraii who wear the white masks were either a form of religious police or a type of priest. These observations were formed after observing the interaction between the Watraii people wearing the two different styles of mask.

Mythology

At this time it is believed that few records of any kind survived their escape from Remus. This would seem to be supported by the drastic nature of how their society developed. What has been verified is that they have maintained excellent records of as many of the grievances they have against the Romulans. Added to this are their records of the founding of their colony and culture. All of it seems geared to foster the greatest degree of hatred possible against the Romulan species.

Society

While the vast majority of their civilization is buried deep underground they have built a large, well protected city on the surface. At the heart of this city is the remains of the stolen supply ship that brought them safely to this barren world. The rest of this surface city is more of a military facility with barracks, training facilities and numerous offensive weapons batteries and defensive shield projectors.

The underground system of chambers, tunnels, mines, production facilities, agricultural farms, shipyards and living accommodations stretches over halfway around the planet. From what has been reported by the few visitors to their world that have been below the surface these complexes are minimalistic in nature. No effort has been expended in trying to make them visually appealing.

Capital punishment is another factor present within their society. This consists of a prisoner, which can be a member of their own species, being chained onto a metallic pole that is present on the surface of their hostile homeworld. The form of execution becomes evident as the high number of electrical storms means that a bolt of lightning will strike the pole and thus kill the prisoner who dies a horribly painful death.

Culture

The do not appear to have any interest in or use for any form of artistic expression. No music, art or other forms of expression have been found, seen or detected. In fact most experts believe that due to their all-consuming drive to destroy the Romulans at all costs that they have eliminated this aspect of society from their culture.

Customs

The Watraii as a people are known to only speak to those they find worthy.

Masks

All Watraii wear masks as this is due to the belief that the murderer Romulan species appear as they do and that, in order to hide their shame, they would wear masks to conceal their features to outsiders.

Death

They have a very fatalistic approach to death, accepting that it will come to all and disposing of the body with little to no ceremony. This usually means removing the mask and any equipment on the body before disintegration by an energy weapon. This will normally be done within minutes of the individual dying.

Elderly

Furthermore, they show a sign of respect to elderly individuals even among their enemies so old age is something that most experts believe rarely happens among the Watraii.

Technology

Not much is known about Watraii technology beyond the fact that it’s very powerful in nature as a Watraii warfleet managed to effortlessly destroy a Romulan colony with little apparent damage. This is believed to have been done through a power converter device that was present on the lead Watraii starship. This ship channels additional energies to weapons and shields which makes the Watraii more effective in battle.

The Watraii are known to possess a form of phase shield technology and they are known to be skilled in the manipulation of energy. They were also known to have improved upon a Romulan cloaking device to make it far more efficient.

Internally, Watraii starships appear to be somewhat primitive, at least in appearance with the smell of oil present in the air.

Economy

For centuries they remained hidden, deep beneath the surface of their world. During this time they were completely self-sufficient, consumed with the drive to expand their tunnels, building up the industrial base needed to be able to create a military force capable of destroying the Romulans.

Even after they finally revealed their existence by attacking the Romulans they seemed to prefer to maintain an isolated existence, keeping their worlds location a secret as long as they could.

Now that they have with the assistance of the Federation established a tentative peace with the Romulans they have started to make contact with other species, mostly those opposed to the Romulans in order to establish peaceful relations and trade.

Military

It is not surprising when you consider the fact that a vast majority of their production has been funneled into the creation of warships that they have a fleet much bigger than one would expect from a single world located in the middle of nowhere.

In fact since the splintering of the Romulan Star Empire following the destruction of Romulus and Remus when the Hobus star destroyed those planets, the Watraii are considered by most experts to have a fleet of warships equal to if not bigger than any of the surviving factions. This now makes them an even more dangerous threat to the Romulans than they were before.

The Watraii have the following ship classes, frigate, destroyer, light cruiser, heavy cruiser, command cruiser, battleship and dreadnaught. As well they have also altered a large number their smaller craft to act as specialty ships such as scouts, troop transports, science, medical, etc.

Infantry Training

Ground based military training operations seem to be another aspect practiced in their culture with teams given different 'colors' to distinguish themselves in battle. However, unlike more civilized societies such as the Federation, the Watraii make use of live ammunition which means that there is the very real possibility of death among the training teams. Should a Watraii be killed in these battles, their mask is removed along with their weapons while their body is disposed of through disintegration by an energy weapon.

Federation Intelligence Files

The Watraii (Meaning "betrayed" in the old High Vulcan language) are, like the Romulans and the Remans, an off-shoot of the Vulcan race. The Watraii Hegemony lived a private and isolated existence on a harsh world near the Romulan Neutral Zone in the Beta Quadrant.

When Spock first observed an adult Watraii at close range in 2377, he noticed the points on their ears, and deduced their true origins as being a Vulcanoid species; one of the survivors of the Sundering.

In 2382, Anlikar Ventel expressed his concern to Gell Kamemor that if the Watraii ever obtained slipstream technology it would destabilize the region near Romulan space that they lived in.

All Watraii appear to possess blue eyes with the only distinction being the slight differences in height and weight between each individual. Spock suggested that this might be the work of inbreeding and that the Watraii suffer from a small gene pool.

Spock speculated that either the Watraii are somewhat primitive in their construction techniques or prefer to use a minimalist approach in starship construction in order to preserve resources.

It’s also been noted that Watraii are excellent engineers.

Sources

Both Memory Alpha and Memory Beta were used as referances as well as the following written works, the TOS novels: Vulcan's Soul: Exodus, Vulcan's Soul: Exiles and Vulcan's Soul: Epiphany as well as the ST - Typhon Pact novel: Plagues of Night.

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