Balduk

The **Balduk** were a humanoid species native to the Alpha Quadrant. They were known as a "fiercely proud and intensely territorial" race. They were also known to employ "creative" cartography when it came to defining their territory, which bordered the Maxia sector block. They were known to occasionally come into conflict with the United Federation of Planets, the Cardassian Union and the Ubarrak Primacy, and their reputation as fearsome warriors was renowned in the Klingon Empire. (*Star Trek: Stargazer* novel: *Three*; TNG: "New Ground")

Balduk were physically large and imposing to most humanoids. They had pitted, pitch-black skin, and undertook ritual scarification to denote rank and status. Their ears were small holes on the sides of their head, and their eyes were small and usually pale green. They had pronounced brow ridges, prominent cheekbones, and thick white manes of hair, and sharp teeth. Balduk would often flick their tongues across their teeth in displays of anticipation or anxiousness, or hold the tongue flat against their teeth when in thought.

On their homeworld, their society was clan-based and semi-feudal in nature. Clan Qiyuntor ruled their ancestral lands west of the Sjadjok River until circa 2332, when Clan Osyelodth gained control of it. There were rumors that the arbiter of Osyelodth's claim had been bribed.

Their leader of the Balduk was known as the Prime One, and Balduk government was administered by clan councils and war circles.

The Balduk space fleet was divided in High, Middle, and Low Orders, with the High Order comprising the warships, and the Middle Order were generally support and repair vessels. The High Order warships were often organized into groups called "ship-packs," typically comprised of eight vessels with one in command and seven subordinates. When any Balduk vessel encountered an enemy and drove them off, that ship's commander had the right to claim the defense of that territory, even if a higher-ranking ship pack came to take over. This frequently led to captains and pack leaders trying vying for position through intimidation, despite knowing the protocols.

Senior officers in the fleet called Overseers held equivalent rank and position to Starfleet admirals.

"Balduk territory must remain inviolate" was a ritual phrase, uttered when discussing the encroachment of outsiders. "Guard and defend" was a typical farewell and acknowledgement among officers. (*STA* novel: *Three*)

Outside of the military, Balduk were known would hire themselves out as mercenaries or bodyguards, sometimes in the employ of the Orion Syndicate. (*DS9* novel: *Warpath*)

First contact between the Balduk and the United Federation of Planets came in 2165, when the USS *Pioneer* rescued a Balduk warrior from captivity and returned him to his people. (*ENT* novel: *Uncertain Logic*)

In 2333, the Jopter Kej system, known to the Federation as Mara Zenaya system was on the edge of Balduk territory, until they claimed it when the Federation dispatched the USS *Stargazer* to investigate an anomaly there. The Erechek Riheyn was nearby, also in Balduk space, where there was a orbital stronghold over the fourth planet. (*STA* novel: *Three*)

## Names

Balduk names tended to be multi-sylabbic, and took the format of the individual's personal name followed by their clan name, such as Wutor Qiyuntor.

clan
Osyelodth • Qiyuntor
female
Delakan • Tsioveth
male
Jeglen • Potrepo • Ujawekwit • Wutor
starships
*Asajanarin* • *Ekonharid* • *Ssakojhin*
## Background

* The only canon reference to the Balduk comes in "New Ground" when Worf says he would "rather face ten armed Balduk warriors" than his son. Based on this alone, *Star Sharts* placed a star called "Balduk" within the territory of the Klingon Empire. Their use in the *Stargazer* novels, taking place on the other side of Federation territory in the Alpha Quadrant, would seem to indicate this is an unrelated system. However, discounting those novels, it would very likely be the home star of the Balduk warriors.

## External links

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