Benzite The Benzites were a species of humanoid s native to the Federation planet Benzar . History and society . Benzite contact with the Federation was limited prior to the 24th century , but by 2364 , contact had widened and Mordock , creator of the Mordock Strategy , became the first Benzite to join Starfleet Academy , edging out several candidates from Federation worlds , including Wesley Crusher . ( ) Relations and cooperation between the Benzites and the Federation continued to expand during this time , possibly as a prelude toward Benzar joining the Federation . Officer exchange programs were initiated , allowing Starfleet officers to serve on Benzite ship s and vice versa , in order to promote better understanding of the different cultures , regulations , and behaviors . Following in Mordock ' s footsteps , other Benzites , such as Hoya , eventually enrolled in the Academy . ( ; ) Benzites were highly meticulous , a characteristic that was reflected in their regulations , one of which stated that no officer on a Benzite ship is to report any unexplained occurrence without providing a full analysis and solution . ( ) In 2374 , during the Dominion War , Benzar was captured by Dominion and Cardassian forces . It was later liberated by Romulan s , acting as part of the Federation Alliance . However , Constable Odo expressed concerns that the Romulans would not give up control of Benzar even after the war ended , as it was very rare for them to give up captured territory . ( ) Physiology . Benzites typically had smooth , hairless , blue or green skin . A thick protrusion of the Benzite skull extended down over the face , displaying a prominent nasal lobe and brow . Two facial tendrils drooped down from above the upper lip . They were unable to breathe a standard oxygen / nitrogen atmosphere , and as of the 2360s , were required to wear a respiration device in those environments , the use of which was evidently overcome by the early 2370s . ( ; ) Benzites also had two opposable thumbs on each hand , another unique characteristic of the species . ( ) Benzites were known to develop from a series of large geostructure s ; those from the same geostructure naturally looked similar . Benzites within these geostructures had the inherent ability to distinguish each other , all of whom would otherwise appear identical to outsiders . In 2365 , when Benzite exchange officer Mendon transported aboard the , Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher noted that he looked identical to Mordock , whom he had met the previous year . ( ) Appendices . Background information . The first Benzite to appear on - screen was Mordock . All the makeup department had to go on when designing him was a brief description in an early draft of the script for " Coming of Age , " which described him as " " a powerfully built alien with a special suit using circulating gas tubes . " " They created one major appliance that covered most of actor John Putch ' s head and additional pieces that covered his upper lip , chin and eyelids , both of which were an unusual configuration of " puffy eyes " with lids that " folded back on themselves like Venetian blinds . " The mouth area and earlobes possessed a set of catfish " feelers " while the overall headpiece was painted blue with oranges and yellows worked in to make the skin color look more lifelike . ( " " , p . 110 ) The script for " Matter of Honor " describes Mendon as " " a large , blue - skinned officer from the planet Benzar . He breathes through a special device at his chest which converts the oxygen level to his use . He is young , alert , quick moving and as the nature of Benzites , he is always ready to please and demonstrate his abilities . " " According to an internal reference document , listing all the aliens seen in , which was circulated around the time of the production of TNG Season 5 , the Benzites were given the description of " As a race , they show a sincere but sometimes annoying eagerness to please that can be perceived as superiority , they strongly resemble each other . " According to the , the Benzenite s mentioned in are the same species . Much of the Benzite make - up has been reused . It is not always clear if the created alien is intended to be a Benzite or not , but the breathing device is always absent . In 1993 , Playmates Toys released a " Mordock the Benzite " action figure complete with type 2 phaser , tricorder with holster , scanner and monitor . The description on the packaging reads ; " " Sincere . Eager . Polite . Efficient . These social traits seem to be the bases for all geo - structures on Benzar . Mordock is well - known throughout the galaxy for his strategic planning - in particular , the Mordock Strategy , which he developed prior to joining Starfleet . He is the first Benzite to attend Starfleet Academy , and he scored in the top 1 % on the entrance exams . Mordock maintains a lasting friendship with Wesley Crusher of the U . S . S . " Enterprise . " " " Apocrypha . In the " The Sky ' s the Limit " short story " Acts of Compassion " , The Benzite physiology is explained in more detail . It states that Benzites breathe in a gas heavy in chlorine , which is exhaled in the form of carbon trichloride and the gaseous mixture also contains essential mineral salts and lots of moisture . Furthermore , the story mentions that Benzites could go a short period of time without their breathing apparatus but prolonged exposure to standard class - M atmospheres resulted in lung damage that would eventually prove fatal . The Pocket DS9 novel " Devil in the Sky " states Benzite blood is based on mercury and platinum , and takes the form of a thick orange liquid when oxidized . Additionally , the Pocket TNG novel " A Time to Sow " reveals that a Benzite ' s average body temperature is several degrees lower than that of a Human or a Vulcan . In the Pocket DS9 novel " Avatar , Book One " , Doctor Julian Bashir attempts to save the life of a Benzite named Monyodin when his alveoli are liquefied by a polymer gas in April of 2376 . Unfortunately , there is little he can do due to Benzite cellular growth patterns being unique , a consequence of their engineered biology . Following the horrors of the " Organ Wars " , Benzite scientists altered their race ' s genome to prevent organs from other people being implanted into an individual , thereby making a lung transplant impossible . According to the novel " A Singular Destiny " , Benzites practice marriage though do not breed with their spouses . The person a Benzite reproduces with is not the one they spend their lives with , nor are the children in a family unit the biological offspring of the carers . To signify their marriage status , Benzites use pledge - stones , which are worn about the person . The pledge - stone is divided into halves , into which smaller stone shards are slotted . One half filled signifies the bearer has been approached , and should he or she accept they will then fill in the other half . Their partner will subsequently be given a stone for the first half in return , and will acquire the second themselves . Because marriage has nothing to do with breeding , there have never been any gender - based restrictions on courtship ; same - sex relationships were always as acceptable , and common , as heterosexual pairings . The novel " Articles of the Federation " develops the idea of the Benzite genetic engineering . In 2372 , the Benzites argue with the Federation Council to permit them to continue with genetic engineering even though it is against Federation law to do so . They argue their current " condition " was brought about through tampering by a species known as the " Forebears " and request permission to correct the damage genetically , so they may breath in an ' M ' class atmosphere . The Federation Council compromises and permits any Benzite to undergo the treatment in a one - time offer , though many choose not to . The same novel also introduces the Benzite " Melnis " , a Federation Councilor who served on the Federation Judiciary Council . At the end of January 2380 , Melnis retires , opening up a seat on the Judiciary Council that is eventually filled by Councilor Eleana of Delta IV . The Benzites are also a playable race in the non - canon video game " Star Trek Online " , which states some Benzites choose to undergo genetic modification to remove the need for them to wear a breathing device , explaining Ensign Hoya ' s lack of such a device in .