Capellan
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The Capellans are a humanoid species native to the planet Capella IV. As of the 23rd century, their civilization was divided into ten tribes, all led by the Teer. The position of Teer was normally hereditary, but could be taken by the winner of a successful challenge to the death. Sometimes such challenges involved large numbers of people fighting on both sides of the question.
Personality
The Capellans hold a strict set of warrior mores. They consider combat more interesting than practically anything else, and show a marked aptitude with weaponry of all kinds. Nothing interests a Capellan more than a new way to kill, and they have a disturbing aptitude for finding deadly uses even for benign technologies. Capellans kill for specific reasons. In cases of immediate danger, they react swiftly. In other situations, they reserve their retribution for later. When they attack, they do so abruptly; a Capellan never idle threats. Convinced of the credo that the strong survive, Capellans also refuse medical aid and hold the practice of medicine in disdain.
Unlike the Klingons, however, Capellans do not advance a highly stylized code of behavior; they have no warrior's honor to protect. Capellans kill when it seems the thing to do. Yet the two cultures share similarities; they prefer to fight and die on their feet over stealthy murder, and they both eschew poisons. If there is a difference between the two, it is this: while a Klingon will brawl, use the threat of violence to intimidate, and back off when a point is made, Capellans always fight to kill.
To outsiders, the Capellans appear stoic, almost phlegmatic. Capellans say what they mean, and mean what they say, even if it is very little. They make difficult conversationalists. They love, hate, cherish, and laugh, but only among family and friends and in the privacy of their own homes. This veneer stems partly from the Capellan's natural suspicion of outsiders, and partly from the Capellan tendency to brush off other species or groups as unworthy of notice and, therefore, undeserving of any sort of response.
Physiology
Capellans are outwardly identical to humans. They share the same height and weight ranges, and the same variety of complexions and hair and eye color. In fact, most outsiders cannot tell the difference between Capellans and humans. Their internal physiology evidences some differences, but is mostly compatible - with the right immunosuppressants, a Capellan could give or receive organ transplants with a human. Their neurological chemistry, however, is markedly different, showing less development of areas like amygdala and frontal cortex; evolutionarily, the Capellans still have a way to go to bring their impulsive, aggressive natures under rational check. Furthermore, Capellans require more time and contact to form psychological bonds with other people; for this reason, Capellans are often unemotional and distant to outsiders, while they are highly emotive with their families. To the typical Capellan brain, an outsider isn't really even a person, and thus triggers no real depth of response.
Culture & History
Capella IV was propelled onto the galactic stage in 2267, when both the Klingons and Federation attempted to negotiate a topaline-mining treaty with the inhabitants. Then High Teer Akaar was predisposed to sign with the Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, which led to a significant power struggle with Akaar's rival, Maab. Maab believed the Capellans shared more in common with the warrior-culture of the Klingons, and with the support of their operatives, he killed the aging High Teer. When Maab was himself later killed, the leadership of the Ten Tribes fell to Leonard James Akaar, the infant son of the late Teer. Akaar's widow ruled as regent as the child grew, and she signed the topaline treaty with the Federation.
Although primitive by Federation standards at the time of the negotiations, the mining treaty brought wealth and change to Capella IV. They retained their strong tribal government and continued to live in their yurts, yet the Capellans adapted technology to suit their lifestyle. It soon became common to see their large tents furnished with electricity and computers. When he became old enough to rule on his own, Teer Akaar II sued for Federation membership. As the Capellans possessed a stable world government and no outside conflicts, the Federation Council had little reason to object.
The Capellans have a strong tribal government. The populace is divided among ten tribes, each led by a Teer. These tribes traditionally stake out their territory, migrating seasonally to follow herds of game animals (though hunting became less vital to the Capellan way of life after the introduction of replicators). Fiercely protective of their hereditary lands, Capellans used to fight wars over water and hunting rights. After the first High Teer unified the Ten Tribes under his leadership, this became prevalent. The High Teer governs the Ten Tribes, with each tribe's Teer sitting on a council to voice their opinions. Given the Capellan propensity to violence, these tribal can be terminal. Still, the Federation has little say over how individual planetary governments conduct their affairs. While the Federation frowns on Capellan violence, it still recognizes Capellan sovereignty and cultural distinctiveness; the Federation hopes to lead by example, not by trying to enforce regulations over the Capellans. Changes in diet and education help after the Capella-Federation mining treaty. New generations, given better opportunities, exhibit a markedly greater tendency for concentration and self-discipline.
Those Capellans who wish to join Starfleet must take an Oath of Nonviolence. This oath assures Starfleet Command, and individual captains and crewmembers, that the individual will restrain his impulses to kill. The oath is sworn before a Starfleet captain prior to the Capellan officer's first posting, and is kept on file with his personnel records. Only a few notable incidents have occurred over the years; thus far, the few Capellans who have made it through Starfleet training have served with distinction.
Reference(s)
- Bridges, Bill, et al. Star Trek Roleplaying Game Book 5: Aliens, Decipher, 2003. ISBN: 1582369070.