Talosian
| SPECIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Talosian | |||
 | |||
| Homeworld: | Talos IV | ||
| Quadrant: | Alpha | ||
| Affiliation: | Unknown | ||
| Biology | |||
| Average Male Height: | 170 cm (5 ft. 7 in.) to 198 cm (6 ft. 6 in.) | ||
| Average Male Weight: | 63.5 kg (140 lb.) to 108.9 kg (240 lb.) | ||
| Average Female Height: | 163 cm (5 ft. 4 in.) to 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.) | ||
| Average Female Weight: | 45.4 kg (100 lb.) to 86.2 kg (190 lb.) | ||
| Minimum Academy Age: | |||
| Life Expectancy: | 300 | ||
| Distinctive Features: | |||
| Playability | |||
| PRC Rated: | No | ||
| NPC Rated: | No | ||
 | |||
The Talosians are an ancient, cerebral, sentient, humanoid species, native to Talos IV in the Talos star group.
The species is characterized by elongated heads, and bodies of short and weakened stature.
Their skin is pale to gray in color, and their clothing consists of shimmering, metallic garb.
Known History
Talosians were once a technologically advanced culture, but a nuclear holocaust left their planet virtually uninhabitable and killed most of the species. The survivors of the nuclear war congregated in underground dwellings, where they became dependent on their mental ability to create stunningly real illusions, an ability that had been developed by their ancestors. As their mental powers grew, they lost the ability to use the technology left behind by their ancestors. The Talosians found that life using illusion was addictive, much like narcotics for other humanoids. Their dependence upon these illusions for mental stimuli caused the Talosians to begin capturing space travelers to use as the living basis for their illusions.
In 2236, the SS Columbia crashed on Talos IV, killing all aboard except one badly-injured young human female. The Talosians repaired her injuries, but the work left her disfigured, as the Talosians were unfamiliar with her anatomy. Using their powers of illusion, Vina could live as if she was uninjured and was made to appear beautiful. In 2254, the Talosians captured Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike, and attempted to use him to re-build their civilization. The Talosians hoped that Pike would be attracted to Vina, and stay on Talos. However, after assimilating the records of the Enterprise, the Talosians learned that humans have a "unique hatred of captivity"; even when made as pleasant as possible, humans prefer death. This made humans unsuitable to the Talosians for breeding stock, and Pike and his crew were released.
The Talosians then refused Pike's offer of trade and mutual understanding, claiming that humans would use the Talosian powers of illusion to their own destruction. Pike's compassion for the species was repaid to him over a dozen years later, when Pike was severely crippled due to an accident involving delta radiation. The Talosians allowed the Captain to live out the rest of his life in illusion, freeing himself from his damaged body.
Talos IV is a quarantined planet. Violated quarantine carries the price of the only mandatory death penalty in the Federation.
