Talosian

SPECIES
Talosian
Homeworld:	Talos IV
Quadrant:	Alpha
Affiliation:	Unknown
Biology
Average Male Height:	165 cm (5 ft. 5 in.)-193 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Average Male Weight:	59 kg (130 lb.)-104.3 kg (230 lb.)
Average Female Height:	165 cm (5 ft. 5 in.)-193 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Average Female Weight:	59 kg (130 lb.)-104.3 kg (230 lb.)
Minimum Academy Age:
Life Expectancy:	300
Distinctive Features:
Playability
PRC Rated:	No
NPC Rated:	No

This planet is under quarintine

Three Talosian observers

This is NOT a PC and NPC rated species.

The Talosians are an aged, cerebral, sentient, humanoid species native to Talos IV in the Talos star group.

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, almost like a human developing a physical and psychological dependence on narcotics. They became bored with the content of the illusions which they had. 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, carrying members of the American Continent Institute from Earth, crashed on Talos IV. All aboard were killed, save for one human, a badly-injured female named Vina. The Talosians repaired her injuries, but the work left her disfigured, as the Talosians were unfamiliar with human 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 wish to 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 refused Pike's offer of trade and mutual understanding, claiming that humans would use their powers of illusion to their own destruction. After Vina's true appearance was revealed, she was given back not only her illusion of beauty, but an illusory Pike to keep her company.

This same compassion would be shown thirteen years later, as Pike's former science officer, Commander Spock, would collaborate with the Talosians (defying Star Fleet general orders and illegally taking command of the Enterprise) and bring Pike, himself a prisoner of his own body after an accident involving delta rays, back to Talos IV so that he could live out the rest of his life virtually free from his useless body.

Talos IV is a quarantined planet. Violated quarantine carries the price of the only mandatory death penalty in the Federation.