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|Name=Tholian Holdfast

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150 years ago a planet suddenly appeared near the [[Federation]]-[[Klingon]] border. Whether by design, or accident, the planet appeared in the middle of an asteroid belt within an area of space claimed by the [[Klingon Empire]]. Along with the planet came an armada of alien ships that immediately went to work building defenses within the asteroid belt. The [[Klingon]]s seethed with indignant anger, “Who would dare invade the [[Klingon Empire]]?” A fleet of the Empire’s finest warships entered the asteroid belt, hell bent on showing the upstart aliens their proper place. Once the [[Klingon]] Black Banner Fleet entered the asteroid belt, communications were lost. The [[Klingon]] High Council waited for the words of victory. They never came. The entire Black Banner Fleet, the Empires’ strongest and most elite fleet, had been eliminated. “Who would dare to invade the [[Klingon Empire]]?” The [[Klingon]]s had their answer…The Tholians…and it looked like they weren’t going anywhere.

Tholian males stand an average of 6’5” while females average about 6’. Their bulky, bipedal, forms have the color and consistency of ruby. Lava courses through their silicon based body as blood. Their eyes, like their bodies, are multi-faceted and glow a crimson red that changes shades with their moods. It is speculated the Tholian multi-faceted eyes can see into light spectrums that other species cannot. Temperatures below 200° Fahrenheit are considered freezing and any Tholian suffering from prolonged exposure to such temperatures, without an environmental suit, will die.

150 years ago, the aliens we now know as the Tholians fled their home galaxy. What they were fleeing is known only to the Tholians themselves. However, it is known they were fleeing some sort of persecution and that even today, they fear being found by their former masters. What is truly remarkable in this story is how the Tholians fled. They did not pack up their ships and head for parts unknown. Instead, they moved their entire planet, somehow transporting it across a large expanse of the universe to an entirely new galaxy. When their journey was done, their home world came to rest in orbit around a type G2 star. It appeared the Tholians had researched their final destination well. There were no other planets in the system and a thick asteroid belt surrounded the star. Tholian ships, also transported with the planet, immediately began work on setting up defensive rings within the asteroid belt.

Then, 7 years ago, the Tholian 312th Battle Squadron arrived from their home galaxy. Initially, fear gripped the Tholians as they were sure their Masters had finally returned to bring them to justice. However, that was not the case. The 312th Battle Squadron had also fled their former masters and had spent 6 years searching for the brethren. The Tholians from the 312th, due in part to their new ships, became known as the Neo-Tholians. Though the two groups have assimilated, the newly designed ships of the Tholian Assembly are still called Neo-Tholian ships. Though the arrival of the 312th was cause for celebration, there were those that argued, “If they could find us, then so could our Masters.”

With the help of the Tholians the Federation was able to push back the Borg threat in 2403 and assisted with repositioning Star Base Alpha into its current position above Earth.

Aside from the above mentioned incidents, relations with the Tholians have been cool to non-existent.

'''Type''': The Tholian government, known as the Assembly, is composed of 21 popularly elected representatives. The representatives hold office for a 10 year term after which they are ineligible to run for re-election. The 21 member assembly votes amongst itself to appoint a President of the Assembly. The President get 2 votes on every issue while representatives cast one vote. If an assembly vote ends in a tie, a referendum is held and the Tholian people decide the fate of the issue. Though the President acts as Commander in Chief, it takes a 2/3 majority vote within the Assembly to declare war.<br />

'''Foreign Relations''': The Tholians are thoroughly isolationistic and have avoided even the friendliest diplomatic overtures. All meetings with the Tholians occur in neutral space and no non-Tholian has ever seen Tholia Prime, the Tholians home world. The [[Federation]] has been the most persistent in their attempts to garner Tholian support, but to date, have been unsuccessful. The [[Romulan]]s, after a failed invasion attempt, have learned to leave the Tholians alone. Though they maintain a strong fleet on the Tholian border, it is defensively postured. Unlike the [[Romulan]]s, the [[Klingon]]s have not learned their lesson, even after several invasion attempts. [[Klingon]] ships have been ordered to attack Tholian ships on sight. The [[Klingon]]s declared war on the Tholians 150 years ago and fight that war still today. It is unlikely there will be a resolution to the conflict and even [[Federation]] pressure on the [[Klingon]]s has done nothing but alienate the [[Klingon]]s from the [[Federation]].<br />

'''Command''': The Supreme Commander commands the Tholian military arm, called the Tholian Vanguard. The bureaucracy, rampant in the militaries of other States, is almost non-existent within the Tholian Vanguard. The Supreme Commander’s orders filter directly to the Fleet Commanders and from there down to individual ships. Due to the lack of any real bureaucracy, the Tholian fleets are able to move with surprising quickness.<br />