Deltan
| SPECIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Deltan
| |||
| Homeworld: | Delta IV | ||
| Quadrant: | Alpha | ||
| Affiliation: | United Federation of Planets | ||
| Biology | |||
| Average Male Height: | 163 cm (5 ft. 4 in.) to 191 cm (6 ft. 3 in.) | ||
| Average Male Weight: | 63.5 kg (140 lb.) to 90.7 kg (200 lb.) | ||
| Average Female Height: | 163 cm (5 ft. 4 in.) to 191 cm (6 ft. 3 in.) | ||
| Average Female Weight: | 63.5 kg (140 lb.) to 90.7 kg (200 lb.) | ||
| Minimum Academy Age: | 18 | ||
| Life Expectancy: | 130 | ||
| Distinctive Features: | |||
| Playability | |||
| PRC Rated: | Yes | ||
| NPC Rated: | Yes | ||
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- Note: This is a PC and NPC rated species but all players must be in agreement with the Federation Space Rules before you request a Deltan character.
The Deltans are a humanoid species originating from the planet Delta IV. They are members of the United Federation of Planets.
Contents
Physiology
Deltans are very similar to humans in almost every outward way and even in regards to most of the major organs, but there are still distinct differences. They are genetically compatible with human s. Half-Deltans have significantly reduced physiological features, and often take an appearance more like a human.
Deltans tend to be lean, but not so thin as to look unhealthy. Their height tends to be average to humans, perhaps slightly shorter in most. Full-blooded Deltans almost always lack any body hair or hair on their heads. Very rarely they will grow hair, but most often shave it or have it permanently removed.
Deltans tend to be comparable to humans in physical strength, perhaps slightly less strong in benchmarks.
Deltans have some glandular differences from humans, and in fact this is where they differ the greatest. Deltan hormone glands are much higher charged than humans and most other species. They have a mating drive which if left unchecked can become uncontrollable for long periods of time. Powerful mating hormones are released, and these can cause the Deltan to lose control of themselves when near a member of the opposite sex, or in some cases the same sex if both have a strong enough hormone level. This can trigger excessive hormonal releases, and telepathic contact during touch.
Deltans possess pheromone emission glands which are located where the neck and shoulder meet. They are sub-dermal, and the pheromones are released through the skin, sometimes causing slight moisture to form when the release is particularly strong. Deltan pheromones are very powerful and can draw in almost any species that senses them, often without the target knowing its happening—and sometimes without the Deltan being fully aware of this as well. Deltan pheromones are sold on the black market as 'love potions', although they lose their effectiveness after a very short period of being extracted, and really do not work if stored for more than several minutes.
Deltans have pain-relieving ablities that manifest during tactile contact. This ability does not, however, heal injuries.
Telepathy
Deltans possess a telepathic nodule in their brain. This nodule is notably only active during mating periods, or when the mating drive is strong; but can sometimes allow for a more permanent connection with another who has been intimate with the Deltan. Deltan telepathy is by touch only, however there are unconfirmed reports of lovers sensing one another from very short distances—usually within a few meters. Most notably, the telepathy is used to form a strong empathic bond between lovers.
This telepathic bond is very dangerous to non-Deltans. It has been known to drive the non-Deltan insane with desire, commitment, and obsession.
Culture and History
The Deltan culture is ancient and rich in tradition. In most aspects, Deltan culture is similar to that of Terran culture, having grown through similar phases of development.
The Deltans achieved interstellar travel approximately 250 years before the people of Earth did, and so were introduced into the galactic community somewhat earlier; however they limited their travel and contact with other species.
Deltans are typically very friendly and passive. They are not a particularly 'excitable' race emotionally, except under certain circumstances (to be explained below). They are highly intelligent, and make excellent analysts, scientists, theoretical engineers.
On their homeworld, Deltan sexuality is what other species would consider to be rather promiscuous. Often paired in "triads" with three adults, usually consisting of two females and one male, Deltans almost always also have 'open' relationships. This dates back to an early time in their history when their home world was nearly devastated by a natural disaster, breaking up several continents into island groups. The island groups and species survived via an extremely aggressive mating drive, and a culture which built around it. As the culture, technology, and social structure advanced and the need to reproduce reduced, rather than suppressing a natural mating drive, the Deltans instead produced advanced contraceptive methods.
As the Deltans met other species, it became rapidly apparent that their natural pheromones along with their limited telepathy, which peaked during mating activities, could prove dangerous to the others. As such, the Deltans developed a strict set of social and legal customs in dealing with outsiders, including a strict policy of controlling their pheromones and telepathy via medical and in some cases technological means. To this day, Deltans who are not on the home world often avoid extended close contact with non-Deltans. It is a matter of personal honor to Deltans that they not 'corrupt' non-Deltans if possible. And Deltans who fail to do so are often shunned by other Deltans.
While it is not a Deltan crime, it is considered socially unacceptable for a full blooded Deltan to engage in intimacy with a non-Deltan, especially away from the home world.
Star Fleet Regulations
Star Fleet has very strict regulations regarding Deltans that serve or interact with Star Fleet personnel or in or on Star Fleet facilities and vessels:
Deltans must commit to an oath of celibacy for the duration of their service, including during shore leave periods, excepting if they spend time on their homeworld. During that time the oath is lifted, but must be reaffirmed upon departure from Delta IV.
Deltans must use a contraceptive method approved by Star Fleet and administered and validated by the highest ranking medical official for the area in which they serve. This must be a semi-permanent method which can only be disabled by direct intervention.
Deltans must regularly use a medical means of suppressing their sexual drive, pheromones, and other mating needs and effects. Most commonly this is done via a custom programming of their replicator to introduce a small amount of medication into their food supply, but in some cases an injection is also used. This also suppresses the telepathic side-effects of the Deltan sexuality.
Failure to comply with the above results in immediate expulsion from Star Fleet via a medical discharge, and return to the Deltan homeworld. Star Fleet and the Deltan government have agreed to a zero tolerance policy on this for the safety and security of the Federation.
Homeworld
The Deltan homeworld, also known as Delta IV, is a world which is almost entirely water-covered. At one time it had a single large continent along with several large islands and small scattered islands across the surface, but a meteor impact several thousand years ago destroyed the continent, and caused disruption across the planet surface. There now exists one sub-continent which has mountains and various climates, and thousands of inhabited islands, most the size of a large city or smaller.
The planet has a standard gravity, a size almost exactly the same as that of Earth, and a standard atmosphere. It has an extensive hydrosphere, and there are several underwater communities in addition to those on the islands and the subcontinent. The subcontinent has been left almost completely natural, with only limited settlement, and it has most of the few land-dwelling species which survived the great disaster.
Federation Space Rules
Players of full blooded Deltans (and half-breeds as applicable) are required to abide by the above, or their character will be subjected to the last paragraph above. Because of the sensitivity of telepathy and the potency of the Deltan effect on others, all parties concerned must be in agreement on any interaction with Deltans; and any inter-species intimacies need to be pre-approved by the Commanding Officer AND Fleet Commander of the characters involved.
Because of past issues on Federation Space, we are highly sensitive to the unpleasant situations that such things can bring, and must unfortunately take a very restrictive role in the administration of Deltan and similar species' effects.
