Lactra VII

Lactra VII is a Class M world orbiting a red giant star located near Federation space and is the seventh of nine planets in the Lactra System. It is the only planet capable of supporting life in its system and a highly intelligent race of non-humanoid beings has an extensive culture there.

The Federation had no previous information on the planet prior to the six-week survey mission conducted by the U.S.S. Ariel in 2269. Sensor scans later conducted by the U.S.S. Enterprise, supported by several surface contacts, revealed a variety of lifeforms on the planet from such planets as Canopus III and Maravel. Portions of Lactra VII were heavily terraformed, however, not done so in the traditional pattern, as several of the biomes seemed to be patterned at random. Landing party observations made by the crew of the Enterprise noted that the planet featured several different ecologies co-existing significantly close to each other. One such example included a desert and a rainforest separated by a river. The water discovered on Lactra VII was clear and palatable. Sensors later revealed a large concentration of lifeforms 98.5 kilometers northeast of the desert. (TAS: "The Eye of the Beholder")

The native Lactrans are a fascinating species. Twenty feet long at adulthood, these sluglike creatures possess incredible telepathic powers and communicate mentally using an intricate, mathematics-based language. The Lactrans have large eyes and a long, thin trunklike appendage with which they perform intricate tasks, although the majority of Lactran labor is carried out through the use of telekinesis.

A worldwide zoo covers much of Lactra VII. Some of the wildlife is caged, while other creatures are allowed to run free in specially created habitats. Ecologies as different as desert and rain forest are often found sharing a common border, demonstrating the Lactrans' ability to control planetary climate. Early sensor readings of the planet showed no signs of life, although the many different climatic regions suggested terraforming by an intelligence. Since that time, researchers have learned that the Lactrans can even manipulate and control sensor readings of passing ships.

The Lactran race has an average IQ of well over nine thousand. They know much about the Federation, having read the data in a starship library computer, but have decided against membership or further communications.

Reference(s)

• Johnson, Shane. Star Trek: The Worlds of the Federation, New York: Pocket Books, 1989. ISBN: 0-671-66989-3.