Grigari

The **Grigari** were a spacefaring civilization from a region of space in the Beta and Delta Quadrants. As of the late 24th century, their exact nature was unknown to the Federation, but it was understood that a type of mechanoid lifeform. Whether they were originally a single biological species, or a group of species, or if they evolved wholly as artificial beings was uncertain. Individual Grigari were typically referred to as "constructs" rather than "people." (*ST* novel: *Federation*; *DS9* novel: *The War of the Prophets*; DS9 game: *The Fallen*)

## Society and technology

The Grigari presented themselves as simple traders and merchants, living a nomadic existence throughout the galaxy. In truth, they were highly-advanced in many areas, especially that of nanotechnology, which they applied in a number of fields, including computer sciences, engineering, and medicine.

A typical Grigari tactic was to visit an unsuspecting planet with the offer of "eternal life." Grigari nanotech could weave "flesh and steel" at the molecular level, linking a living nervous system directly with computerized control circuits, effectively turning the patient into a cybernetic organism or "amalgam."

While this treatment was effective in prolonging life, it came at a terrible cost. The biologies of most lifeforms would eventually reject the nanotech, and the connective filaments would degrade, causing the body to fall apart. To prevent this, Grigari tech was programmed not to stop. As cells became damaged, they would be replaced with more and more technological components, typically with grotesque results. These filaments of metal and circuitry would eventually replace the host's entire body. By then the original being was usually long-dead, their mind and personality having been lost or "overwritten" throughout the process, leaving only an inexact replica which believed it was still the once-living person it consumed.

If the technology was investigated and the Grigari's deception was exposed, they would simply take the bounty they had accumulated and leave, heading for uncharted space and their next opportunity. They gave no thought to the devastation left in their wake, or the tales of horror spread by those races who encountered them.

Beyond the "biomedical" applications, Grigari nanotechnology could also interface with nearly any computer system ever encountered. When infiltrating a system, Grigari nanites could reconstruct themselves in the form of the native circuitry. This allowed the Grigari to insert worm programs for espionage, sabotage, or any other purpose they required. If a breach was detected, it would seem as though the act was carried about by someone with insider access, rather than an intrusion from any external source. All the while, the compromised computers themselves were in control, gathering data or carrying out objectives for their Grigari masters. (*ST* novel: *Federation*)

The Grigari were also adept at weaponizing their technology. Among the weapons they developed was a nanospore virus that would infect any biological material. Consuming the host from the inside out, the virus would replicate itself, and was capable of spreading throughout entire planetary biospheres, destroying all life.

Their arsenal also included singularity bombs and other weapons of mass destruction. (*DS9* novel: *The War of the Prophets*)

Grigari "traders" typically traveled in common transports and other starships they acquired. However, Grigari-built vessels were sometimes encountered, typically operated by pirates. With modular (or evolving) designs, they were armed with EM pulse cannons and apparently capable of self-augmentation and repair. (DS9 game: *The Fallen*)

## History

Little is known of Grigari history outside their encounters with Starfleet. They were known to the Federation by the mid-23rd century, at least.

In 2267, shortly after their mission to Babel, the USS *Enterprise* encountered a band of Grigari led by Adrik Thorsen, or rather the amalgam he had become, who were pursuing Zefram Cochrane. (*ST* novel: *Federation*)

In 2374, the crew of Deep Space 9 encountered the Grigari during a crisis involving the Red Orbs of the Pah-wraiths. (DS9 game: *The Fallen*)

*In an averted alternate timeline, the Grigari allied with the Cult of the Pah-Wraiths and went on to conquer much of known space by the 2390s, proving themselves to be more than a match for the combined fleets of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, and even the Borg Collective.* (*DS9* novel: *The War of the Prophets*)

In the 2380s, both Starfleet and the Klingon Defense Force considered the Grigari a potential threat, and were possibly encroaching on the Beta Quadrant borders of the Romulan Star Empire. Similar concerns were raised in the mirror universe around the same time. (*TNG* novel: *The Persistence of Memory*; *MU* novel: *Rise Like Lions*)

## Background

* The Grigari were created by novelists Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and first appeared in their book *Federation*, where they were already known to Starfleet in the mid-23rd century.
* The Grigari later appeared as featured antagonists in the Reeves-Stevens' *Millennium* trilogy, and the **Deep Space Nine** video game *The Fallen*, both of which were written from the same story concept.
* They have since been referenced in the 24th century books *The Persistence of Memory* and *Rise Like Lions*, were they were noted as a power capable of carrying off complex assaults on Federation targets, or threatening expansion into Romulan territory in the Beta Quadrant, respectively. Both novels were written by David Mack.

## External links

* Grigari article at ***Memory Beta***, the non-canon *Star Trek* wiki.