Mzai

The **Mzai** are a warp-capable race the 26th Fleet first encountered in The Outback. Prior to mid 2414, most contact with the Mzai was fairly hostile and they were in a near state of war with the Yeth. No contact or reports of the Mzai has occurred since The Looking Glass incident.

# Biology

## Physical Characteristics

Mzai appear as humanoids, with dark blue to black skin and large yellow eyes. Further physiologial data is unknown at this time.

# Culture and Society

Mzai culture is in a state of post-traumatic shock, after their disastrous first contact with another species - the Yeth. The resulting war was fought bitterly but ultimately resulted in their defeat and status as a tributary state.

## Disposition

Encountered Mzai have exhibited a stubborn nature and resilience in the face of adversity. They also appear guarded and mistrustful of outsiders, possibly due to conflict with the Yeth. Mzai have been known to utilize deception in an attempt to achieve their ends.

## Combat Ability

Mzai vessels and technology appears to be similar to and slightly less advanced than that of the Yeth. Some elements including the string-jump drive seem to be copied outright. Their weaponry is designed to counter that of the Yeth, focusing on outranging the Yeth's powerful neutron laser batteries and kinetic missiles with their own plasma lances and fission torpedoes. Mzai vessels have an elongated hull mounted within a large ring which serves as their jump-drive.

Mzai vessels are known to attempt to utilize local anomalies and naturally occurring sensor shadows to conceal their vessels. Their combat tactics are designed around defeating Yeth deployments, and involved long-range fire and maneuver to encircle and destroy Yeth formations.

## Controlled Resources

No information is available on Mzai resources at this time. However, it is known that they are facing a significant overpopulation crisis on their homeworld of Rallus, and lack the infrastructure to effectively move people off-world to their colonies at an effective rate.

# Known Encounters

* **Stardate 91319.93** (18 September 2413): The USS *Sisko* and *Interceptor* encounter a Mzai civilian vessel in need of assistance. However, due to a temporal anomaly, all sensor and biological data recorded is lost, leaving only crew memories to work with.
* **Stardate 91333.61** (23 September 2413): While on a mission to return a Yeth to her people, the USS *Harpe, Avalon* and *Surak* discover a Mzai spy vessel watching the local system. When its presence is discovered by the local Yeth garrison, it is fired upon and flees. On seeing the Federation starships, it alters course towards them and begins broadcasting a general distress signal, and is sheltered under General Order 6. Contact is made with Major Lucca dom Galan, who deflects or refuses to answer any substantive questions and is visibly fearful of the size of the Starfleet vessels. [AAR]
* **Stardate 91374.84** (8 October 2413): The USS *Colorado* and *Harpe* stumble upon what appears to be a secret staging and testing ground for a Mzai fleet, and are confronted by Colonel Marcii dom Druss of the *Vultan*. The Mzai seem confused by the Federation's multi-racial composition, but the situation is defused peacefully. An offer is extended to mediate their dispute with the Yeth. [AAR]
* **Stardate 91385.93** (12 October 2413): The USS *Monsoon, Harpe* and *Caspian* witness a Mzai flotilla engaged in a skirmish with a Yeth patrol. Contact is made with a Mzai observation vessel and information exchanged, revealing that the Mzai are gearing up for a renewed war with the Yeth to free themselves from their status as tributaries. The Mzai flotilla disengages and withdraws when Yeth reinforcements arrive, and successfully escape. [AAR]
* **Stardate 91442.9** (2 November 2413): The Mzai cruiser *Vultan* is encountered hunting a Lekaari vessel accused of piracy in the area. Despite tensions with a Yeth warship also chasing the pirates, Commander Hawke successfully defuses the situation, removes the possibility of either power gaining Lekaari weapons technology, and sees both vessels leave in a makeshift hunting party pursuing the Lekaari. [AAR]
* **Stardate 91448.97** (4 November 2413): After helping a small convoy fend off a Yeth Fifth Guard ambush, the USS *Harpe* accompanies them to their destination, Talmus Station, a large orbital mining facility on the fringes of Mzai space. The facility's guard frigates confront the *Harpe* and, despite being significantly outgunned, take up threatening postures while ordering the starship to withdraw. [AAR]
* **Stardate 91465.45** (10 November 2413): A Mzai reconnaissance vessel is detected in a hidden position, observing the station, wormhole and ships. It is intercepted, hailed, and invited to meet for face-to-face discussions. The vessel and its commander hold several conversations with 26th personnel before departing once more. [AAR]
* **Stardate 91481.81** (16 November 2413): The Mzai reconnaissance vessel, following a successful diplomatic exchange with the 26th, is ambushed and destroyed under suspicious circumstances by Fifth Guard ships. The survivors are rescued by the USS *Lakarian* and delivered safely to Colonel dom Druss, a prominent Mzai military officer.
* **Stardate 91536.18** (6 December 2413): The USS *Gettysburg* discovers an ancient, possibly Iconian-servitor installation in a large nebula, along with evidence of a three-way joint research effort between the Mzai, Yeth, and Drongazi governments.
* **Stardate 91623.96** (7 January 2414): The USS *Gettysburg* stumbles across a Mzai impulse-skiff race near a dangerous natural phenomena, and saves several participants from serious injury when one pilot plays foul with the competition.
* **Stardate 91643.23** (14 January 2414): The USS *Gettysburg* returns to the site of its recent heroics for an interview with the Mzai media.
* **Stardate 91653.6** (18 January 2414): Operation Looking Glass successfully contains the automated defenses released from the ancient nebula-installation, saving the lives of many Mzai, Yeth, and Dronagzi researchers in the process.