Eeiauoan

The Eeiauoan and Sivaoan races both originated on the planet Sivao, an Class M planet that is feral in nature, covered by forests and full of wildlife both dangerous and docile. While the Eeiauoans have long been friends with the Federation, the Sivaoans were only encountered when the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James T Kirk went in search for the cure of a plague known as ‘The Long Death,’ a disease fatal to most humanoids and to the Eeiauoans themselves.

Over two thousand years ago the two felinoid races shared their homeworld of Sivao as one race. Although technologically they are almost the same standard as the Federation, the Sivaoans have always followed a nomadic lifestyle, not shunning technology but preferring their old ways of life. However, as technology improved, two distinct factions were formed. The Sivaoans who stuck to the nomadic culture, and the Sivaoans who lived in cities.

Along with the cities came great destruction, and alongside those came the plagues that would kill in great swathes. Finally a decision was reached; to atone for the disruption of their world the city-dwelling Sivaoans had to leave camp, the camp being Sivao itself. And so the outcast Sivaoans left their homeworld, even taking their name from their word for ‘outcast;’ Eeiauoan.

The Eeiauoans settled on their new world and flourished, while the Sivaoans continued with their nomadic lifestyle. The two races were so embarrassed by what had transpired that the subject became a great taboo, rarely spoken amongst themselves and never to outsiders or children. It wasn't until two thousand years later, when James Kirk and his crew tried to find a cure for the Long Death, that the secrets were finally revealed and the two races were reunited.

Both races are the same biologically; to use Dr McCoy’s description of ‘overgrown housecats’ is extremely accurate. Both races have prehensile tails and retractable claws, but the Eeiauoans see the use of the tail as the height of bad manners. They have the potential to become great hunters, but years of city life have meant the Eeiauoans have lost many of their skills. Both races have memories with perfect recall, able to remember every little detail they have ever seen, heard, tasted or smelt as accurately as any recording device.

In Sivaoan culture great store is put in names. A Sivaoan is considered a child until they have succeeded in the Walk, after which they are recognised as adults and may chose their own names. Their names usually reflect their attitude or physical appearance, such as Brightspot or TooLongTail, but there are exceptions to the rule. Sivaoans end their name with to-, such as to-Ennien, which represents their travelling to a place. The Eeiauoans are of-, as after their exile they could no longer travel to a place, but were instead from a place.

In recent years both races have joined the Federation, and have become closer as worlds. More and more Eeiauoans are travelling back to Sivao and learning the old ways, often preferring the natural, nomadic lifestyle that their ancestors shunned long ago to the city life. It is now become harder to tell who came from which planet!

Reference(s)

• Alpha Quadrant Race Compiled by Lieutenant JG Kartis to-Tarin, Chief Science Officer of the USS Bellerophon.