Elasian Elasians were a humanoid species , native to the planet Elas of the Tellun system . ( ) History . By the mid - 23rd century , the Elasians had been waging a long war with the neighboring Troyian s , from with both sides shared extreme prejudice towards the other . By 2268 , both civilizations had achieved the capability of mutual destruction , by means of nuclear weapon s . Some hope for peaceful coexistence began when elements of both governments supported an arranged marriage between Elaan , the Dohlman of Elas , and the ruler of Troyius . In addition to the neighboring Troyians , the Elasians had made outside contact with both the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire , both of which claimed jurisdiction over their star system . The Federation served as an intermediary and acting as a courier for the Elasian bride to Troyius via Captain Kirk and the . ( ; ) With the assistance of Kryton , who opposed the wedding and sold out to the Klingon s , the Klingons had arranged to have Kryton rig the matter - antimatter pod s to explode if the " Enterprise " engaged its warp drive . The Klingons made this attempt as a means of ending their cold war with the Federation and finally taking possession of the star system and its abundant supply of dilithium . ( ) Philosophy and society . In the 23rd century , the Elasian government included a Council of Nobles , and great homage and deference was paid to their royal Dohlman . Federation scientist s described Elasian male s as " vicious and arrogant " in initial reports . The female s , while equally savage , were stated in the same report s as " supposed to be something very special " having " a kind of subtle , mystical power that drives men wild . " During Kirk ' s encounter with Elaan , he went as far as to describe her as being " " an uncivilized savage , a vicious child in a woman ' s body , an arrogant monster ! " " The Elasians considered themselves a warrior people , and held little regard for the relatively gentle culture of their neighbors , the Troyian s of Troyius . They prided themselves on their interrogation techniques , describing them as " more excruciating than what [ the Federation was ] capable of , " due to the fact that they were " trained to resist any form of physical torture . " In fact , the Elasians were considerably more aggressive than most species and almost vicious , the Dohlman suggested that Kirk use the " Enterprise " s advanced weapons to wipe out all life on Troyius , the same Dohlman could not understand why the captain wanted to run from battle , or to let a weakened ship escape the battle . ( ) Physiology . On average , males were about a head taller than most other races , such as humans and Vulcans . Females had the ability to produce Elasian tears , a biochemical compound transmittable to males ( including Human men ) upon contact that acted much like a love potion . The affected man became romantically infatuated and somewhat enthralled to the woman who infected them . Over centuries , men of Elas tried to overcome the tears ' power , without success . ( ) Technology . Elasian guard s wore a light and translucent body armor . Females , at the least , carried several knife s on their person , for either throwing or stabbing . Elasians possessed relatively primitive sublight spacecraft technology that were powered by nuclear propulsion unit s . While visiting the that year , they were more interested in " " how the ship is used in combat , not in what drives it . " " ( ) Background information . It is unclear how the Prime Directive applied to the Federation presence in the Tellun system . Elasians play a crucial role in the novel " Firestorm " .