Federation Member Worlds Mini-FAQ

Last modified: 6:55PM 1-24-98
Maintained by: S C Q Askew < gte646g@prism.gatech.edu, esseecueay@aol.com>
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Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 S C Q Askew. Not in the public domain. Permission to distribute this document, unedited and including this copyright notice is granted, provided no fees are charged for access beyond charges for downloading or connection time from a commercial information service. Publication of this document in a magazine or journal (in any media format) must be approved by the author.

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The United Federation of Planets

The Federation at a Glance:

OFFICIAL NAME: United Federation of Planets, incorporated 2161 ("The Outcast" [TNG])
HEAD OF STATE/GOVERNMENT: President Jaresh-Inyo, of the planet Grazer ("Homefront" [DS9])
CAPITAL WORLD/CITIES: Terra (Earth); San Francisco, North America (legislative capital); Paris, European Alliance (administrative capital) (Star Trek IV; Star Trek VI; "The Price" [TNG]; "Future's End, Part 2" [VOY])
AREA/STAR SYSTEMS: at least 150 star systems, stretched out over 8,000 light years (Star Trek: First Contact)
POPULATION: less than 1 trillion (nc; "The Last Outpost" [TNG])
LANGUAGE(S): Linguacode (also Standard); (NOTE: use of universal translation devices and software render language barriers non-effective) (nc, Star Trek 1)
MONETARY UNIT(S): Federation credit (nc; "The Trouble With Tribbles" [TOS])
GOVERNMENT: Supreme law vested in a Constitution of the United Federation of Planets, ratified in 2161 ("The Drumhead" [TNG]). Strong democratic tradition, consisting of a popularly-elected legislative Federation Council, composed of representatives from the various member planets, which meets in San Francisco, North America, and a chief executive Federation Council President, officed in Paris, European Alliance. Personal civil liberties protected and governed judicially by the Supreme Court of the United Federation of Planets ("Dr. Bashir, I Presume" [DS9]) and by a Uniform Code of Justice ("The Drumhead" [TNG]), as well as by precedent-setting legal documents, such as the Acts of Cumberland ("The Measure of a Man" [TNG]) and the Statutes of Alpha III ("Court Martial" [TOS]) in addition to the Constitution.
MILITARY STRENGTH: Starfleet armed forces (naval forces and marines), totalling over 2500 starships and some several million personnel (Star Trek VI, "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" [DS9], "Call to Arms" [DS9]). Federation Department of Defense based in San Francisco, North America at Starfleet Command (Star Trek 1).
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Federation Day, celebrated annually ("The Outcast" [TNG])
ALPHA III
Class: M
Primary: Alpha (at least 5 planets) ("Charlie X" [TOS])
Comments: Statutes of Alpha III, landmark document in the protection of individual civil liberties, concluded there ("Court Martial" [TOS]).
Editor's Note: Alpha III is included on the assumption that if the Federation is using a law code made here as a basis for their judicial system, there's a better than average chance that the world is a Federation member.
ANDORIA (also known as ANDOR ("In the Cards" [DS9]))
Class: M
Native race(s): Andorian race (humanoid, of partial insectoid derivation)
Brief history/Comments: The Andorian race is known for its light blue skin and two long antennae on their heads. Andorians characterize themselves as a violent race ("Journey to Babel" [TOS]). Unlike the custom of other Federation worlds, Andorian marriages require groups of four people ("Data's Day" [TNG]).
ANTICA
Year of Admission: 2364 (nc, "Lonely Among Us" [TNG])
Class: M
Primary: Beta Renna
Native race(s): Antican race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: The Antican race is noted for its large size and proliferance of fur on their bodies. The carnivorous Anticans are also unique among Federation cultures in their preference for consuming their meat alive. Antica maintained a long-standing feud with the planet Selay, also in the Beta Renna star system, before diplomatic agreements reached between the two worlds at the 2364 Parliament Conference led to the admission of both races into the Federation ("Lonely Among Us" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: This entry, of course, assumes the applications of Antica and Selay for Federation membership were approved & ratified. This has not been established in an episode or movie.
ANTOS IV
Class: M
Primary: Antos (at least 4 planets)
Native race(s): Antosian race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: The citizens of Antos IV are noted for their unusual abilities of cellular metamorphosis, the only Federation world that exhibits such characteristics (somewhat similar to the Chameloid Homeworld and the Founder's Homeworld in the Gamma Quadrant). The characteristic is different on Antos IV in that it is not a genetic trait, i.e.- it is an acquired ability that can be taught to non-Antosians. However, by Antosian law, such techniques are no longer taught to non-Antosians, as doing so usually induces dangerous insanity in the subject, as demostrated by the example of Captain Garth of Izar in the 2260s ("Whom Gods Destroy" [TOS]). Antos IV is also noted for its species of giant energy-generating worms ("Who Mourns For Adonis" [TOS]).
ARBAZAN
Class: M
Native race(s): Arbazan race (humanoid) ("The Forsaken" [DS9])
ARDANA
Class: M
Capital: Stratos ("The Cloud Miners" [TOS])
Native race(s): Ardanan race and Troglyte subrace (both humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Capital city is Stratos, unique among other Federation world capitals in that it is located in the Ardanan atmosphere. Ardana has large deposits of zenite, which has given the world a role in fighting several notable botanical plagues (e.g., the Merak II plague of 2269). Ardana underwent major social reforms in 2269 after segregation of wealthy Ardanans who lived in Stratos and workers who lived on the surface below (called Troglytes) was ended ("The Cloud Miners" [TOS]). After a series of punitive sanctions placed on Ardana by the Federation Council because of their caste system, Ardana suffered economically and technologically but is currently well on its way back to developed world status.
Editor's Note: In "The Cloud Miners" [TOS], Ardana is mentioned to be a Federation member, despite its caste system.
ARGELIUS II
Class: M
Primary: Argelius (at least 2 planets)
Native race(s): Argelian race (humanoid)
Comments: The Argelian race is known for its hedonistic, peace-loving nature, which was acquired after undergoing a period in Argelian history known as the Great Awakening in 2067, which reformed their society from violent to placid. This pleasure-loving cultural trait makes it necessary to import administrative officials from other worlds to maintain order. This pacifist philosophy resulted in a planetary judicial crisis when in 2266 and 2267, several murders forced the Argelians to revert to ancient Draconian statutes for punishment of the accused offender ("Wolf in the Fold" [TOS]). Once a popular resort location, Argelius II has consistently lost tourism credits over the past few decades to newer resort worlds, such as Risa.
Editor's Note: In "Wolf in the Fold" [TOS], Argelius II is mentioned to be a Federation member. Their loss of tourism credits is of course an assumption based on the fact that we have not seen Argelius II since "Wolf...", but have seen Risa as the chief tourism world.
BENZAR
Year of Admission: shortly before 2364 ("Coming of Age" [TNG])
Class: M
Native race(s): Benzite (also known as Benzenites) race (humanoid) ("Apocalypse Rising" [DS9])
Comments: Benzar has an atmosphere similar to class M norms, but Benzites in class M environments at one time needed a respiration device to provide supplemental gases for proper respiration. This is no longer required due to advances in Benzite medical technology ("The Ship" [DS9]). All Benzites from the same geostructure are identical in appearance. A recently admitted Federation member, Benzar citizen Mordock became first the Benzite in Starfleet, winning appointment to Starfleet Academy in 2364 ("Coming of Age" [TNG]).
BERENGARIA
Class: M
Native race(s): Berengarian race ("In the Cards" [DS9])
Editor's Note: Berengaria was mentioned by Kai Winn in the same breath as Vulcan, Andor, and Earth, implying it is a major member world. We have not seen anything about this world, however, in any canon media. Berengaria VII is mentioned as a neutral world with no sentient species in Shane Johnson's very non-canon work "Worlds of the Federation".
BETAZED
Class: M
Native race(s): Betazoid race (humanoid)
Comments: Betazoids are known for their telepathic and empathic abilities (with the exception of the Ferengi, Breen, and Doptherians)("Menage a Troi" [TNG];"The Forsaken" [TNG]). All Betazoids have dark black eyes and the normal Betazed gestation period is ten months ("The Child" [TNG]). Betazed hosted the biennial Trade Agreements Conference in 2366 ("Menage a Troi" [TNG]). Current Betazed Federation ambassador is Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed ("Haven" [TNG]). The University of Betazed ("Tin Man" [TNG]), an educational institution of higher learning, is quite obviously galactically renown for studies in psychology.
Editor's Note: The University of Betazed being galactically renown for psychology studies is an assumption, but one that the editor thinks is very safe :).
BOLARUS IX
Class: M
Primary: Bolarus (at least 9 planets)
Native race(s): Bolian race (humanoid)
Comments: The Bolian race is known for their light blue skin color and bifurcated ridge running down the center of their bodies.
BRE'EL IV
Class: M
Primary: Bre'el (at least 4 planets)
Satellites: at least one, asteroidal in form, in a near circular 55,000 km orbit ("Deja Q" [TNG])
Comments: Bre'el IV's moon was knocked out of its normal orbit in 2366 and threatened the member world, a heavily populated humanoid civilization. Despite the efforts of Starfleet through the use of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, the satellite remained a threat to Bre'el IV until restored to its proper orbit by a member of the Q Continuum, a non-corporeal alien race ("Deja Q" [TNG]).
CALDOS
Year of Admission: 2271 ("Sub Rosa" [TNG])
Class: M
Capital/Major cities: New Edinburgh (nc)
Native race(s): human race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Caldos was the Federation's first attempt at the tremendous engineering required to totally change a planet's climate and ecological systems, becoming the prototype for other major terraforming projects such as Federation member Risa. Due to the desires and longings to the planet's original colonists, early Caldos was built with architecture closely resembling the Earth cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and parts of the Scottish Highlands ("Sub Rosa" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: New Edinburgh is listed as the capital of Caldos, even though this was never mentioned in "Sub Rosa". Being that the world is molded after Scotland and being that Edinburgh is that country's capital, a city named New Edinburgh seems a logical assumption.
CORIDAN
Year of Admission: 2268 ("Journey to Babel" [TOS])
Class: M
Native race(s): Coridanian race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Large deposits of natural dilithium crystals made Coridan subject to several illegal mining deals with other, more powerful worlds. Coridan was admitted to Federation in 2268 through efforts of Vulcan ambassador Sarek at the Babel Conference, despite opposition from other Federation worlds profitting from those illegal mining deals ("Journey to Babel" [TOS]). Coridan's political influence has lessened as techniques to synthetically produce dilithium in areas such as nuclear epitaxy and antieutectics were developed.
Editor's Note: Coridan's loss of political power is conjectural, but plausible in that that's how things often occur.
CYGNET XII
Class: M
Primary: Cygnet (at least 12 planets)
Comments: Unlike the custom of other Federation worlds, Cygnet society is dominated by women. Cygnet XII has been the site of a Starfleet ship repair and maintenance facility since at least 2267 ("Tomorrow is Yesterday" [TOS]).
Editor's Note: Cygnet XII is included as a member under the assumption that Starfleet (especially in its militaristic heyday in the 2260s) wouldn't let a non-Federation world do an overhaul on a Starfleet vessel, much less the flagship Enterprise.
DELTA IV
Class: M
Primary: Delta (at least 4 planets)
Native race(s): Deltan race (humanoid)
Comments: The Deltan race is hairless except for eyebrows and eyelashes. Deltans exhibit the most advanced sexuality of any Federation race, requiring them to take oaths of celibacy before serving on Starfleet vessels (Star Trek 1). Deltan pheromones are the most powerful of any Federation race, though they seem not to affect other Deltans. Deltans also display telelpathic abilities, which have proved especially valuable in Starfleet vessel sickbays as a "mind-meld anesthesia", in which they absorb and share pain felt by injured patients (Star Trek 1).
Editor's Note: This is another of those "safe assumptions" on the subject of membership.
EARTH (also known as TERRA to non-natives)
Year of Admission: 2161 (charter world)
Class: M
Primary: Sol (yellow, middle-aged, medium-sized star with 9 planets)
Satellites: one, Luna, with population of 50 million (major cities Copernicus City, New Berlin, Tycho City)("Conundrum" [TNG]; Star Trek: First Contact)
Native race(s): human/Terran race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Located in Sector 001 ("The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1" [TNG]), Earth is a founding world of the United Federation of Planets. Earth is the capital world of the Federation, as it is the location of the Federation President's office (in Paris, European Alliance) (Star Trek VI; "The Price" [TNG]; "Homefront" [DS9]) as well as the chambers of the Federation Council (in San Francisco, North America) (Star Trek IV; "Future's End, Part 2" [VOY]). Starfleet Command is also located in San Francisco, as well as Starfleet Academy, founded in 2161 for the training of the majority of Starfleet officers ("The First Duty" [TNG]). Despite its numerous past troubles and an attempted coup in 2372 ("Paradise Lost" [DS9]), Earth is a peaceful paradise and has been the Orion Arm's superpower since defeating the Romulan Star Empire in the Romulan Wars (2156-2160) ("Balance of Terror" [TOS]).
Editor's Note: The part about Earth being the superpower of the Orion Arm is another "safe assumption", based on the fact that it is the Federation capital world and that everyone in the 24th century seems to stand in awe of (and always likes to attack :) Earth.
GALORNDON CORE
Year of Admission: 2161 (as an Earth deep space possesion; nc)
Class: M
Brief history/Comments: A fringe class-M world, Galorndon Core is noted for its severe atmospheric storms which make sensors inoperable and render matter-enegry transport devices useless. Galorndon Core was captured by Earth forces during the Romulan Wars (2156-2160) and became a Federation territory upon incorporation in 2161 (nc). Galorndon Core is also of note because of its greater tactical significance to the United Federation than other member worlds due to its location one-half light-year inside Federation territory at the Romulan Neutral Zone. In 2366, a Romulan scoutship crashed there, nearly setting off an interstellar incident ("The Enemy" [TNG]). Two years later in 2368, Galorndon Core was the rendezvous point for a Barolian freighter transferring parts of the derelict Vulcan ship T'Pau to an unidentified Romulan vessel, which the Romulans later used in the abortive attempt to invade Vulcan ("Unification, Part 2" [TNG]). In light of these two incidents, Starfleet has reemphasized its prescence on the planet to prevent any future Romulan incursions (nc).
Editor's Note: The parts about Galorndon Core being captured by Earth forces during the Romulan Wars and about Starfleet beefing up forces at the planet are non-canon and made up by the editor to make the story sound a little more realistic and reasonable (I would think Starfleet would beef up forces there :).
GRAZER
Class: M
Native race(s): Grazerite race (humanoid, of herbivorian derivation)
Comments: Grazerites are presently a humanoid race developed from herbivorous herd animals and as such, abhor violence and confrontations (unlike their omnivorous and carnivorous counterparts on other worlds). Current Federation President Jaresh-Inyo is from Grazer (Encyc, "Homefront" [DS9]).
INFERNA PRIME
Class: M
Comments: Inferna Prime was the site of a meeting of a Federation Grand Jury in 2373 to obtain testimony from Quark, a Ferengi national living aboard Bajoran/Starfleet space station Deep Space 9 on activities regarding the Orion Syndicate, a powerful Rigel-based crimial organization ("The Ascent" [DS9]).
KLAESTRON IV
Class: M
Primary: Klaestron (at least 4 planets)
Native race(s): Klaestron race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Klaestron IV is one of the more independent worlds of the Federation. Similar historically to the province of Quebec in the ancient Earth nation-state of Canada, its separatist-minded policies have led to several conflicts with the rest of the United Federation. Prior the ratification of the 2367 Cardassian peace treaty, Klaestron IV had formed an alliance with the Cardassian Union, even though that political entity was involved in a drawn-out, bitter conflict with the Federation. Internal conflicts resulted in a civil war on Klaestron IV around 2339. General Ardelon Tandro, statesman and soldier murdered during the civil war, became the national martyr of the Klaestron people ("Dax" [DS9]). Klaestron natives are noted for the heightened ridge encircling the rear of their heads from ear to ear. Doctors from Klaestron IV recently developed new technology for the treatment of severe burns ("Second Skin" [DS9]).
Editor's Note: The fact that Klaestron IV had a separate alliance with the Cardassian Union is odd in addition to the aggressive tone they took towards Dax in "Dax" [DS9]. Yet they were mentioned as members.
MINOS KORVA
Class: M
Brief history/Comments: Minos Korva, due to its close proximity to the Federation-Cardassian Dominion border (just 4 light-years away), has been an Alpha Quadrant hotspot for the last twenty years. In the early 2360s, the then Cardassian Union (now the Cardassian Dominion ("By Inferno's Light" [DS9])) attempted to annex the planet during the Federation/Cardassian war but were unsuccessful. During the Cardassian metagenics incident in 2369, Minos Korva was the target of a planned Cardassian incursion into Federation territory, also rendered unsuccessful ("Chain of Command, Part 2" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: It is not known for certain if Minos Korva remained a Federation world after the seventh season episode "Journey's End" [TNG], in which the Federation and the Cardassians swapped several planets along the demilitarized zone.
PELIAR ZEL
Class: M
Satellites: two, Alpha Moon and Beta Moon ("The Host" [TNG])
Native race(s): Peliar race (humanoid)
Comments: The Peliar are noted physiologically by a midline nasal outgrowth on their humanoid norm. In the late AD 1860's, the Peliar colonized the two moons of their world, designated Alpha Moon and Beta Moon. Historically, the governments of each moon have been rivals, even requiring mediation from the Federation in 2337. Alpha Moon scientists developed magnetospheric energy taps which allowed their moon to use the magnetic field of Peliar Zel as an energy source. The power taps, however, crossed the orbit of Beta Moon, resulting in severe environmental damage to Beta Moon and reigniting problems between the satellites. Federation intervention in 2367 resulted in a cessation of hostilities ("The Host" [TNG]).
PENTHARA IV
Class: M
Primary: Penthara (at least 4 planets)
Native race(s): human race (humanoid)
Population: 20 million ("A Matter of Time" [TNG])
Comments: Penthara IV was a former Earth colony now independent, as evidenced by its population of 20 million humans. Penthara IV was struck by a type-C asteroid in 2368, resulting in an enormous dust cloud that blocked out most sunlight from its primary, dropping planetary temperatures below class M norms. The USS Enterprise attempted to induce a warming greenhouse effect to reverse the problem, releasing underground carbon dioxide deposits with its phasers, but compounded the problem by activating volcanoes which poured more dust into the air. Penthara IV was saved when the dust was vaporized and drawn into space by the Enterprise's navigational deflector dish ("A Matter of Time" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: Penthara IV is assumed a "former Earth colony now independent" because it's inhabitants were referred to as human in the episode.
RAMATIS III
Class: M
Primary: Ramatis (at least 3 planets)
Native race(s): Ramatian race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: It has been noted in the genii of many planets that a single species may lack the genetic structure necessary to perform the simplest of faculties, e.g.-the basenji, a subspecies of the Terran canis domesticus, lacks the ability to bark, a characteristic well attributed to canis domesticus. In a very similar fashion, the ruling family of Ramatis III lacks the gene required for hearing. The family communicated through the use of a Chrous, a team of interpretive aides telepathically linked to their assigned family member, each representing a different part of the family members' personality. Descendants of the Chrous carried on the tradition of their ancestors, providing interpretive services for their assigned ruling family member. Perhaps the best known Ramatian is the famed Federation ambassador Riva, member of the ruling Ramatian family, who along with Curzon Dax, negotiated a number of treaties between the Federation and its former enemies, the Klingon Empire in the early-to-mid 24th century. So signifigant were his actions that the Klingon language developed a word for "peacemaker" due to his efforts ("Loud as a Whisper" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: Another "safe assumption". The fact that Riva was mentioned as a "famed Federation mediator" and that he negotiated UFP-Klingon treaties makes Ramatis III a good guess IMHO.
RIGEL V (also known as ORION to non-natives)
Class: M
Primary: Beta Orionis (also known as Rigel, red supergiant star with at least 12 planets)
Native race(s): Rigellian race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: The Rigel system has historically been a galactic hotbed for criminal activity and shadier pursuits. Rigel II was a resort world noted for its casinos and gambling facilities ("Shore Leave" [TOS]), Rigel IV was the site of serial killings of women in 2266 ("Wolf in the Fold" [TOS]), and Rigel VII was the site of a violent altercation between crewmembers of the USS Enterprise and natives in 2254 ("The Cage" [TOS]). In addition to being the origin of some the galaxy's deadliest diseases such as Rigelian fever ("Requiem for Methuselah" [TOS]) and Kassaba fever ("By Any Other Name" [TOS]), Rigel was source and center of one of the galaxy's greatest crimes against sentient life-forms in history, the Orion animal woman slave trade. Orion smugglers also attempted a violent prevention of the 2267 Babel Conference, hoping to protect their secret illegal dilithium crystal mining deals in the Coridan system ("Journey to Babel" [TOS]). After such a tumultuous history, the Rigellians, a race physiologically similar to the Vulcan race, began to follow the lead of technologically advanced Rigel V ("Journey to Babel" [TOS]) and have since become productive members of the United Federation. Rigel VI is viewed as the small spacecraft center of the Alpha Quadrant, this fact highlighted by the presence of Starfleet's Shuttle Integration Facility at Starbase 134 (TM) and the annual Rigel Cup flight formation competition, which draws the premier flight teams from the Alpha and Beta Quadrants ("The First Duty" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: Since a lot of things have happended in the Trek universe at or from Rigel (not to mention it's relative proximity to Earth), it's safe to think of the Rigel system as a member with Rigel V leading the pack.
RISA
Class: M
Primary: (two yellow, middle-aged, medium-sized stars)
Native race(s): Risian race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Risa is a tropical rain forest world most noted as being the chief vacation and resort world of the Federation. Risa exhibits the most controlled ecology in the Federation, as weather modification nets and seismic regulators tightly control both the weather patterns and the seismic activity, both of which are normally unpredictable and uncontained ("Let he who is Without Sin..." [DS9]). Risa is most noted for the frank and open sexuality of its native population. Identified by a decorative emblem on their foreheads between the eyes, Risians often initiate or respond to the desire for sexual relations through the use of a small statuette called a Horga'hn, the Risian symbol of sexuality. Display of a Horga'hn announces that the owner wishes to participate in jamaharon, a Risan sexual rite ("Captain's Holiday" [TNG]). Risa's comparatively lax morality was challenged in 2373 by a fringe Federation political activist group called the Essentialists, who engaged in ecological terrorist activities against the planet until apprehended by Starfleet authorities ("Let he who is Without Sin..." [DS9]).
SELAY
Year of Admission: 2364 (nc, "Lonely Among Us" [TNG])
Class: M
Primary: Beta Renna
Native race(s): Selay race (reptillian)
Brief history/Comments: The reptillian Selay maintained a long-standing feud with the planet Antica, also in the Beta Renna star system, before diplomatic agreements reached between the two worlds at the 2364 Parliament Conference led to the admission of both races into the Federation ("Lonely Among Us" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: This entry, of course, assumes the applications of Antica and Selay for Federation membership were approved & ratified. This has not been established in an episode or movie.
TELLAR
Class: M
Native race(s): Tellarite race (humanoid, of porcine derivation)
Comments: The Tellarite race is known for its distinguished snouts, being that the race is of porcine derivation, the only humanoids in the known galaxy that is so. Tellarites are well known for propensity towards conflict and debate, one such notable example being their opposition in 2267 to the admission of Coridan into Federation because of secret dilithium crystal mining deals they had made ("Journey to Babel" [TOS]). Tellarite speech is rough and guttural and most softer languages (such as Terran English) are difficult for Tellarites (WoF).
Editor's Note: The part of Tellarites having trouble with English is conjectural from their physiological makeup and from Shane Johson's otherwise very non-canon work "Worlds of the Federation".
TESSEN III
Class: M
Primary: Tessen (at least 3 planets)
Native race(s): Tessen race (humanoid)
Comments: The Tessen system is noted for the Pelloris Field, a belt of nitrium-rich asteroids which are home to a number of nitrium metal parasites. In 2368, a stray asteroid from the Field threatened Federation member world Tessen III. Starfleet, using the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, was able to destroy the asteroid in Tessen III's upper atmosphere by disrupting the rock with a particle beam ("Cost of Living" [TNG]).
TRILL
Class: M
Native race(s): Trill host humanoids; Trill vermiform symbionts
Brief history/Comments: The Trill are a joint species consisting of a humanoid host and a vermiform symbiont that lives in the abdominal region of the host. The life-forms share experiences and memories and each contribute to the personality of the individual. They become interdependent and do not survive without the other ninety-three hours after joining. When hosts die, the symbionts can be transferred to another host. The symbiosis is totally voluntary and in fact it is a great honor to be chosen by the Trill Symbiosis Comission to be a host after intensive training and apprenticeship. Nearly 50% of Trill are biologically compatible with the symbionts [note: there aren't enough hosts, however, a closely guarded Commission secret]. Unjoined symbionts live in warm milky underground pools, tended by dedicated Trill known as Custodians. They swim and communicate via electrochemical discharge through the water ("The Host" [TNG]; DS9 series). A Trill's hands are naturally cold ("A Man Alone" [DS9]). Unmarried Trill often reject romantic or sexual feelings of their host component, but Trill often marry and sometimes succumb to sexual advances [note: it is a violation of Trill law to continue romantic relations with a symbiont in a host different than the one married] ("A Man Alone" [DS9]; "Rejoined" [DS9]; "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" [DS9]).
TYRELLIA
Class: K (from description in "Starship Mine" [TNG] and "I, Mudd" [TOS])
Native race(s): Tyrellian race (humanoid)
Comments: Tyrellia is odd in that it is class K and supports class M life forms and yet is one of seven known inhabited worlds without any measureable atmosphere at all. The planet is also one of three inhabited worlds without the benefit of a magnetic field or poles ("Starship Mine" [TNG]). Habitation is achieved though the use of pressure domes and navigation is simplified by the use of an array of tracking satellites in orbit around the planet (nc).
VULCAN (also known as VULCANIS)
Year of Admission: 2161 (charter world)
Class: M
Primary: 40 Eridani A (at least 2 planets) (nc; Star Trek I)
Satellites: none ("The Man Trap" [TOS])
Capital/Major cities: ShirKahr (nc; "Yesteryear" [TAS]); Vulcana Regar ("Coming of Age" [TNG])
Native race(s): Vulcan race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Vulcan is a founding world of the United Federation of Planets ("Gambit, Part II" [TNG]) and due to its close promximity to Earth (15.9 light years) and similar history, is that planet's greatest political ally [note: Vulcan was the first extraterrestrial civilization to come in contact with Terran humans, on Earth, doing so on 5 April 2063 (Star Trek: First Conatct)]. Possibly descendants of humanoids who lived on Sargon's planet over 500,000 years ago ("Return to Tomorrow" [TOS]), Vulcan was a world of violent and incredibly passionate people until the philosophers Surak (c. AD 360s) and T'plana-Hath ("The Savage Curtain" [TOS]; Star Trek IV) led Vulcan to reject their overpowering emotions in favor of a philosophy of logical thinking in a period called the Time of Awakening ("Gambit, Part II" [TNG]). Vulcan is now noted for its total reliance upon logic and its famous rejection and supression of all emotional states, summed in their philosophy of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations ("Is There in Truth no Beauty?" [TOS]) [note: one rebel Vulcan group rejected the logic philosophy and emigrated to several planets in the Romulan star system, forming the warrior Romulan Star Empire ("Unification, Part I" [TNG])]. Vulcan supreme law is vested in the Vulcan Bill of Rights ("The Maquis, Part I" [DS9]).

Though Vulcans attempt to repress all emotions and feelings through such rigorous exercises such as the Kohlinar discipline (Star Trek 1), the incredibly strong passions legendary to their ancestors still escape under certain circumstances. Vulcans are telepathically betrothed at age seven and marry when compelled to reunite in later life. Vulcan males undergo a mating cycle, accompanied by ancient rituals, every seven years called pon farr ("Amok Time" [TOS]; Star Trek III), which is most commonly characterized by loss of all emotional control. Some Vulcans over the age of 200 also experience a rare illness called Bendii Syndrome, which results in the loss of all emotional control and in some instances the projection of these emotional outbursts onto others ("Sarek" [TNG]). Vulcans also retain (yet contain) their ancestors capacity for savagery in fighting, as evidenced in such techniques as the Vulcan neck pinch ("The Enemy Within" [TOS]) and use of such deadly weapons as the lirpa ("Amok Time" [TOS]). Vulcan physiological makeup also contributes to these abilities. Vulcan, being an arid world with higher surface gravity and thinner atmosphere than most class M worlds, endows greater physical strength and endurance to native-born and reared Vulcans in comparison to other humanoids.

In keeping with their devotion to logic, Vulcans are some of the greatest academicians in the galaxy, especially in the areas of the natural and physical sciences. The Vulcan Science Academy, an educational institution of higher learning, is galactically renown for studies in all branches of scientific study and was the only school Vulcan science students attended until the admission in 2249 of Spock to Starfleet Academy ("Journey to Babel" [TOS]). Vulcan science has made several notable discoveries, among the most recent contact with the Wadi, the first Gamma Quadrant species introduced to the Alpha Quadrant ("Move Along Home" [DS9]), in 2369.
Editor's Note: Isn't it odd that we know so much more about Vulcan's history and culture than 24th century Earth?
ZAKDORN
Class: M
Native race(s): Zakdorn race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Through a developmental process still not understood, the brains of Zakdorn humanoids developed strategic abilities far greater than the average Federation member world humanoid. Reputed to be formidable warriors, they hold the untested 9,000 year-old reputation of being the greatest warriors and strategic minds in the Milky Way galaxy. Many Zakdorn work with Starfleet Tactical, using their abilities in planning areas from devising spacecraft combat manuvers (SCMs) to full Federational defense ("Peak Performance" [TNG]). A certain attitude of superiority and condescention usually accompany the Zakdorn strategic mind, which has been found to be an irritation to other Federation citizens working with them.
Editor's Note: Yet another "safe assumption". This is justified in that Starfleet wouldn't have a citizen of a non-member world running strategic simulations on fleet vessels, much less the flagship. The irritation Sirna Kolrami caused in the Enterprise was evident enough to warrant placement here.
ZALDA
Class: M and N (nc)
Native race(s): Zalda race (humanoid)
Brief history/Comments: Some regions of Zalda classify as Class N, making Zalda unique among Federation worlds in that it officially classifies under two planetary classification categories (nc). It is the class N nature of Zalda that is thought to have contributed to the development of the characteristic webbed hands and feet of the humanoid population. Curiously, Zaldan cultural values reject Terran humanoid courtesy as a form of dishonesty and hiding of true feelings and emotions. Therefore other Federation citizens have learned to address and deal with Zaldans in what would ordinarily be considered rude manners (actually considered proper manners to the Zaldans). Zaldans are on average greater in height and overall body weight at full adult size than most Federation humanoids ("Coming of Age" [TNG]).
Editor's Note: Another reasonable assumption. We saw a Zaldan in uniform at Relva VII. Explanation for webbed hands is purely conjecture.

REFERENCES

See the Reading List Mini-FAQ for full details on the volumes mentioned above and below. More recently presented information is considered to supercede old information, unless the weight of the evidence supports the original data. Greatest faith is placed on aired live-action material (canon) and documents produced by or quoting the production crews for Star Trek (quasi-canon). Other materials are not considered reliable sources of information, and anything gleaned from these is of questionable relevance. Items in this Mini-FAQ marked nc (non-canon) means that the preceeding has not been firmly established in any episode or movie, but is a reasonable assumption under information available at that point. All links to outside sources on individual member worlds are meant for supplementary purposes only. Those sites may or may not live by the strict rules of canon that this mini-FAQ does.

Canonical material:

Quasi-canonical material: Questionable (but useful) materials: Material that is ignored (other than where it reproduces material from the above, e.g. photographs, descriptions, etc.):
S C Q Askew < gte646g@prism.gatech.edu; esseecueay@aol.com>