Gomtuu

Gomtuu is a most extraordinary creature, an enormous spaceborne organism that resembles a 1-kilometer long cocoon. It is, in fact, a living spaceship. Gomtuu is a highly social creature by nature, so much so that it relies on relationships with others for its sense of purpose. Left alone for extended periods of time, it becomes morose, even suicidal.

Gomtuu's race never had a homeworld. Its ancestors formed in deep space out of organic material compressed and buffeted about by shock waves from exploding stars.

Physiology

A thick layer of horn-like substance forms its outer hull, which is sufficient to protect both its crew and its inner layer of soft tissue from normal space radiation and high-speed impact from interstellar dust and debris. The creature's circulatory and nervous systems run through this soft tissue, and its vital organs lie in a well-protected aft compartment. The rest of its body is largely hollow, allowing its crew (with which it communicates telepathically) ample living and workspace.

Gomtuu's race reproduced by having two of them (it had no distinct sexes, so it was hermaphroditic in that sense) link their systems through cables extending from their undersides. A new member of the race would accrete around the cables, floating free from its "parents" when it reached full size.

Gomtuu's race did not die of natural causes and was, in theory, self-regenerating to the point of being immortal. As long as it refrains from movement or combat, it will repair its own structural damage. They also had no self-destruct mechanisms. That is why Gomtuu needed the Beta Stromgren supernove in order to attempt suicide.

Gomtuu may summon its energy reserves and execute a beam attack against another starship. It may do so only on the orders of its crew; only it if has no crew may it attack on its own initiative. These beams have no specific location on its body; they emanate from organs located throughout its outer hull. Similarly, Gomtuu may execute a concussion attack against surrounding starships by generating a burst of energy that radiates from its outer hull in all directions. Any starship within 10,000 kilometers of Gomtuu is immediately "stunned": the helm is disabled and the ship may not move or perform maneuvers for a moment. In addition, every starship within 1,000 kilometers will suffer moderate damage.

Gomtuu does not carry shuttlecraft on board, but instead generates them as needed by squeezing living tissue out from an organ located aft. This tissue protrudes from its rear, hardening against the cold vacuum of space, with a connecting tunnel to the main body allowing passenger ingress. When the crew of the shuttlecraft is ready, Gomtuu squeezes off the shuttlecraft, detaching it.

History and Culture

Gomtuu's race originated somewhere in the Gamma Quadrant, deep in the mists of the galaxy's history, so that not even Gomtuu itself could say exactly when it came into being. Over the eons, various members of the race wandered apart, each serving different crews with different purposes and destinations. Over time, they died off, each killed by one of the many calamities that befell starfarers. Eventually, their population density became so thin that they could no longer find each other to reproduce and in time Gomtuu was presumably the only one left alive.

The Federation first encountered Gomtuu in 2366 when the Vega IX probe discovered it orbiting the star Beta Stromgren. Lonely and depressed after losing its crew to a burst of radiation in deep space, it came to Beta Stromgren intending to die when the star went supernova. Starfleet send UFP diplomat Tam Elbrun aboard the Enterprise-D to make first contact, but Elbrun and Gomtuu would up traveling into the unknown together.

Gomtuu is the last surviving member of its race and therefore unique, so as such it is not part of a society with its own kind. It can be said, however, that Gomtuu derives its sense of purpose from serving and taking care of other creatures. It shares a symbiotic relationship with its crew, providing them with protection and life support and a drawing a feeling of well-being from them in return. Without a crew, it feels bereft and purposeless.

Gomtuu communicates telepathically with its crew and has no spoken or written language as such.

Reference(s)

• Bridges, Bill, et al. Star Trek Roleplaying Game Book 5: Aliens, Decipher, 2003. ISBN: 1582369070.