Trader-Monks

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BASIC INFORMATION:
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Official Name in Standard: Trader-Monks (abbreviated TM)
National Name: Unknown
Information Sources (in order of reliability):
 1) Autopsy report of TM involved in FEYNMAN incident
 2) UFPESCO observation
 3) SFIA observation (before TMs granted Associate Membership)
 4) TM testimony and interviews

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GEOGRAPHY/POPULATION
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TMs currently inhabit 5 "generation ships" which have been
upgraded for warp capability.  The ships are headed roughly
towards the galactic center at Warp 3.

From 2384 to 2409, TMs inhabited 5 Enclaves; 3 on Terra, 1 on
Vulcan, and 1 on Betazed.

Estimated population: 500
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ECONOMIC SUMMARY
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When the Enclaves were first established, TMs sold large amounts
of scientific information to Federation representatives.  Most of
this info involved varying degrees of improvement on already-
known theories and processes, but some, most notably in
biological technology, represented highly novel approaches.  TMs
as a whole quickly gained enough wealth to maintain their
Enclaves and invest heavily.  TMs sold their investments and
purchased a variety of computer components, replicator equipment,
raw materials, and warp drive components before leaving their
host worlds.
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GOVERNMENT/HISTORY
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Timeline
2372 First contact by USS ARGOS
     Counselor USS ARGOS temporarily relieved of duty (1)
2380 TM ships request permission to establish Enclaves on UFP
        worlds
2384 First TM Enclave, Terra 1, established
     Enclave Vulcan established
2385 Enclaves Terra 2, Betazed, and Terra 3 established
     All TM Enclaves granted UFP Protectorate status
2393 Terran Enclaves apply for UFP Associate Membership
2395 Terran Enclaves granted UFP Associate Membership
     Terran Enclaves begin policy of "integration" (2)
2405 TM Terra 2-27 admitted to Starfleet Academy
2408 Terra 2-27 graduated Starfleet Academy; assigned USS REGENT
     Betazed Enclave renounces Protectorate status and leaves
        Betazed (4)
2409 Rogue TM kills and is killed by CMO aboard USS FEYNMAN (3)
     All TM Enclaves renounce UFP status and leave host worlds (4)
     Lt Terra 2-27 reported Missing-in-Action

Notes to Timeline:

1) Lt Maderas, CNS USS ARGOS, underwent psychiatric observation
and rehabilitation.  He returned to active duty the following year.

2) TMs sought to achieve "integration" by sending some of their
own species to work in a variety of positions in different levels
of Federation (especially Terran) society.  The intent was
twofold; to determine if TMs could work side-by-side with other
Federation species (i.e. to determine "species compatibility"),
and to determine for which capacities TMs would be best suited.

3) Lt Glin'kharr, MD, intervened when the rogue TM attempted to
kill a known felon who had stowed away on the FEYNMAN.  Later
investigation suggested that the "rogue" was acting with the
knowledge and support of at least one Terran Enclave.

4) No explanation offered.

5) Lt Terra 2-27 was last seen aboard the REGENT before the
Enclaves departed, but after the incident in which Lt Glin'kharr
was killed.

Government is closely tied to social structure.  A TM will
reflexively obey any order from a recognized superior, unless
said order directly threatens the TM's survival.
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RACE/SOCIETY/CULTURE
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TMs vaguely resemble tall, gaunt, featherless storks.  Reptilian
in origin, TMs sport white, faceted eyes, heavy toothed beaks,
taloned four-fingered hands, and spurred feet.  Skin color is
generally some shade of grey, from near-white to black, usually
with mottled or marbled patterns.  Skin tone seems to reflect a
TM's place in TM society, as it tends to darken as the TM
advances.  All TMs wear translators of TM design; it is believed
that they are not capable of understanding or producing "normal"
humanoid verbal communication without technological assistance.

Physiologically, TMs have a stronger skeletal structure than the
human norm, but paradoxically do not exhibit greater muscular
development.  The TM endocrine and immune systems are under much
more voluntary control than those of humans.  The TM central
nervous system is very similar to that of humanoids on a cellular
level; however, the TM brain is not as differentiated as the
humanoid brain, and more closely resembles reptilian brains in
structure.  TM sensory pathways are parsed by a single region of
the brain, as opposed to humanoid senses which are parsed through
several different regions.  It is believed that TMs are more
adapted to detecting change in the immediate environment than in
recognizing patterns, whereas most humanoids depend mostly on
pattern recognition.

Psychologically, TMs are extremely dutiful and literal-minded;
they will unquestioningly obey any order from a recognized
superior to the letter, even if that means violating the spirit
of the order itself.  Although capable of "strategic" deception,
TMs generally have difficulty with the concept of "lying," or
deceiving through communication.  TMs exhibit an almost religious
attitude towards simple survival; to the typical TM, "good" means
that which enhances the individual's survival chances.  TMs also
seem to have a good understanding of their own biological state
and physical capabilities; paradoxically, they often take risks
that humanoids would consider extreme, simply because they know
that they are likely to survive the risk.

It is suspected that TM communication consists of pheromones to a
large degree, to which many humanoids are at least somewhat
sensitive.  However, unlike the pheromonally-active Deltans, TM
pheromones tend to cause humanoids to feel some trepidation; one
particularly sensitive human described the sensation as feeling
like a rat under a cobra's stare.  Fortunately, TMs in regular
communication with humanoids learn to suppress their pheromonal
activity; this seems to become automatic as a TM spends more time
with non-TMs, or as the TM rises in position in its own society.

TM society is structured around four basic "ranks," which seem to
be comprised of further, unidentified sub-ranks.  The lowest rank
are the Unskilled.  The designation seems misleading, as
"Unskilled" individuals have displayed a great deal of technical
competence in a variety of areas.  The next rank are the Masters
of Body; it is with this rank that the Federation has had most
direct contact.  Their function in TM society is not clear, but
they universally exhibit high combat prowess.  The third rank are
the Masters of Mind, who seem to act as governors or high-level
supervisors.  Only two Masters of Mind have ever been encountered
by Federation representatives.  Finally, there are the Masters of
Life, about which the Federation only has TM testimony.  TMs have
declared that there are no Masters of Life in Federation space.

TM technology is enigmatic.  TMs claim that they have been
trading information for centuries; this might explain why their
technology is a hodge-podge of developments (some of which the
TMs themselves don't understand).  TMs excel in biological
technology, especially genetic engineering, but find it difficult
to grasp the more abstract principles of quantum physics and warp
dynamics.  When faced with non-biological technology, TMs seem
to prefer to go "by the book" than to try to improvise.  Even
nanotech, a field of technology closely related to biology,
seems difficult for TMs to understand.  Nevertheless, the
Federation has profited greatly from technology sold by the TMs.
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Creator(s)/Adaptor(s)                 Email Address
Ted Hudgens                           edh@oitunix.oit.umass.edu

Created for/First Use (if known):
"The Fourth Profession," _A Hole in Space_, Larry Niven
(adapted from Niven's "Monks")

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Please check one:

__ Canonical - All rights reserved by Paramount.

__ Semi-Canonical - All rights reserved by Paramount.

 X Non-Canonical - All rights reserved by companies specified:
   Ballantine Books, June 1974

__ Original - All rights reserved by creator named above.

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