Arretan
Arret is a formerly-inhabited Class M planet, located in an unnamed star system of the Alpha Quadrant.
Once the homeworld of the Arretans, these humanoid people went on to colonize the Milky Way Galaxy.
Originally Earth-like, the atmosphere of Arret was ripped away by a cataclysmic war.
Eleven survivors of the war created a shelter more than 112 miles below the surface, placing the essence of their minds into spheroid receptacles.
The Arretan people explored the galaxy, and colonized several planets, possibly including Vulcan, about six hundred thousand years before the 23rd century.
Around a hundred thousand years later, they achieved such great mental powers that they began to regard themselves as gods.
War broke out, and tore the atmosphere from their planet, ultimately extinguishing all life, save for a select few.
Those "chosen" to survive transferred their consciousness into receptacles, choosing globes approximately fifty centimeters in diameter.
From their containers, they probed the space around their planet for starships that had a race advanced enough to save their people from oblivion.
- The remaining dozen or so of Arretan receptacles occupied niches in a smaller side chambers.
By 2268, only three Arretans were still alive. In that year, the USS Enterprise discovered the spheres containing the aliens' consciousnesses.
Using the Enterprise at their leisure, the Arretans tried to make android bodies for them to live in for another 1,000 years.
- Unfortunately, in-fighting caused their downfall, and they allowed themselves to pass on.
Various abilities:
- Could affect starship instrumentation sufficiently to lure a ship to the planet from a great distance.
- At closer ranges, one could speak telepathically, reading the thoughts of those in orbit and replying in kind.
- All could transfer their minds to suitable host bodies, and back again.
- All could direct energy at other beings and objects. They used this power to torture corporeal beings, and destroy objects.
