Keila

## Biosphere (planet)

Class M, small oceans, mostly forest and plains, a few mountain ranges, two uninhabitable moons

## Physiology

The Keila physiology is resembling the human ones in many ways, they have a similar skeletal structure, and most organs are the same, with the difference of them having 3 kidneys. What sets them apart is their natural muscle density and durability, which leads in their case to increased speed and agility, putting their normal running speed to a trained athlete (Usian Bolts world record sprints are the norm here). Their agility puts them on a level of a top level athlete as well. Another difference to a normal human is their information processing speed. This results in them being able to think and react faster than a human and allow them to multitask more effectively. But it also leads to them perceive speech slower from other races, which leads to them being either on the edge at times or appear bored while they aint.

Their advancements in the fields of augmentations and nanotech allowed them to artificially increase their adaptability to other biospheres and living conditions.

## Mentality

The Keila are open minded towards outsiders and their beliefs and way of life. They learned that acceptance of differences is an easier way to get along then to wage conflict over them. They have a strong belief in justice, be it crimes committed by themselves or by others. Due to their way of living they would leave people of their own in the hands of other species' justice systems, allowing them to be judged according to the rules of the species whose kind committed crimes again. Apart from that they are a kind species who do not seek conflict or confrontation by themselves, but are ready for it at any times, cause it's better to be prepared than not to be.

## Augmentation politics

Physical augmentations permitted (organs, bones, muscles) but mental augments prohibited/forbidden (strong believe that those would alter the person's soul, which is considered sacred and shall not be touched)

The Keilas augmentation based research is fairly advanced in comparison with other major forces, but is strictly limited to physical augmentations, as mental augments are seen as an attack to the soul. A subject is augmented via Nanomachines which are able to alter most physical aspects of the body without being overly invasive or visible from the outside. They integrate themselves into the subjects body and begin modifying it over the course of a week. They focus the skeleton first and then construct a fine mesh which works as a transformator and conductor for the body's bioelectrical energy, which the augments utilize for their functionality.

From there over the next week new nanomachines construct a fiber which protects the conductors and begin their integration in the overall muscle fibers. Depending on the used nanomachines the strength and endurance of the subject can be increased slightly or significantly. Based on the Keilas data a normal human would be elevated to the strength level of a Klingon in his prime with the average procedure. With extensive procedures that level can be increased, but it's not advised because it doesn't work in every case. When that procedure is completed it moves over to more internal focused augmentations, namely the organs besides brain and nervous system. Most resistances are being raised towards biospheres the body can normally only hardly adjust to, the variety of food that can be digested increases and the adaptability towards hostile environments increases. The augmented organs can adjust and adapt on their own after the procedure, but it takes longer. This adaptation can also be reversed.

At last the skin tissues are modified to be more resilient. The skin is two times denser and takes a slight grey tone. This change brings also a higher resistance against toxic substances which work via skin contact. All these augments apart from the skeletal ones can be deactivated at will, which is shown by the skin being either natural or greyish. This works via specialized nanoprobes which are programmed to regulate the augmentations.

## Social

Living amongst stars, nomadic tribes, not aggressive by nature

The Keila are a nomadic species, living together in ship convoys which represent a tribe. There exist multiple tribes all over the delta quadrant and a few of them have found planets where they can settle down. They have adapted to life in space quite well that it's almost natural to them. There exists one large flotilla which carries the head of the tribes and is always on the move while being able to coordinate with the other tribes across the quadrant and beyond. They are not aggressive towards other species, but will defend  themselves when provoked with everything they have. They are curious and open to other species' way of life and seek new knowledge which they can share with other tribes.

A central part of their life is the belief in choice. The choice in itself is almost considered something sacred which has its roots in the Keilas beliefs. They value it highly that an individual makes the choice which will open the path they want to take, with all the advantages and disadvantages. But what is often misunderstood is that if a person chooses the life of a criminal the tribes would put a blind eye to it and absolve them of their deeds. They do not do this. They are at the core righteous people and punish crimes severely. They do not advocate or promote the choice that leads to a criminal life, they have a strong moral compass and are being teached the difference between good and bad their entire life until they go on their journey.

The journey is another essential part of their life. It is similar to a pilgrimage and is a mandatory step in the life of a young Keila. Once they reach maturity and have gotten their basic augmentations they get a ship or are to leave via a nearby starport and explore the universe on their own. Their goal is to find their way of life and have full liberty to choose what they want to do. It is free for them to return at any point, but they cannot stay for long if they haven't decided what they want to use their life for. It is upon them if they want to join a different major power or help on a station or a farm or just explore the universe by themselves.

## History

The Keila evolved from a humanoid subspecies of their planet and were nurtured by a local star empire. The empire teached them the basics of agriculture, architecture and education and slowly grew themselves a race of slaves which they could exploit for their own objectives. This went well for a few hundred years till the empire fell to their own ambitions, leaving only their technological advancements behind which led to the Keilas rather quick advancement over the course of the next 200 years. They learned how to maintain the technology that was left behind and how to replicate it. With their growing level of education they were able to make new discoveries and grew as a species acknowledged by the surrounding forces. Their advancements in augmentations and nanotechnology opened up trade possibilities with neighboring factions and expanded their influence despite the fact that they never left their home planet for colonisation.

Over the next hundred years nothing much changed between their own and their technological growth. The Journey leads to the youth exploring the stars and finding new purpose among them, bringing with them new relations to more distant races. Their medical advancements made them capable doctors who could cure some of the rather rare diseases. Ironically this also led to their downfall, because they attracted the attention of larger forces from beyond their sector.

A ship entered the orbit of their homeworld with patients on board who suffered from a deadly disease. Naturally the Keila wanted to help them and made the necessary preparations for quarantine and treatment. Much to their surprise the surprise the patients were infected with nanoprobes of unknown origins. Unbeknownst to them they were dealing with modified borg nanoprobes which were secretly infiltrating the technology around them and infected the planetary infrastructure. Before they realized what happened it was too late. Their own defensive systems turned against them and the infrastructure began to collapse. By the time they neutralized this virus their planet was devastated.

This led to the great voyage and the Keila becoming nomads. They used their remaining resources and built a massive fleet of ships, capable of sustaining life over the vast distance of space. Each tribe had a generation ship and a fleet of support and defensive ships with them. The goal was to find a new place to live, but they had to learn that the neighboring species who once were considered allies all had their hands in the downfall of the Keila and their homeplanet. They feared their potential to overthrow themselves even if there wasn't any indication for this in their behaviour. The tribes decided to leave this sector behind them  and expand across the stars.

A tribe of Keila made it to the edge of federation space a few years after they left their planet and seeked contact with them, since they were new to the alpha quadrant and learned through other species that  the federation was one of the more peaceful powers in the quadrant and the best chance for negotiations for a possible habitat planet.The federation opened up diplomatic channels to them and over the course of the meetings a suitable moon of a gas giant was found that was habitable and located near the center regions of the federation, so that no bordering forces be tempted to make their moves on the Keila due to their technology. To maintain contact a ship is stationed in the orbit together with a small observation station which acts as a bridge between the Federation and the Keila. The local tribe, which consists of around 10.000 Keila, used the ships it came with to build themselves a habitat without fully dismantling the ships to be able to move on if they wouldn't be welcome anymore. They offered a technological exchange with the federation, since it would be beneficial to learn from each other.

## **Religion**

They believe in guidance from different entities (hunt, science, cultural, etc)

Their religion and beliefs founded themselves in their own history. The old gods are representative of the empire that raised them, but suppressed their individuality and dictated their lives for generations. During the dark ages there was no free choice and the gods demanded tribute and sacrifices, growing crueler and crueler the longer they reigned. Then came the great change and the triumph of the Keila over the old gods. With their fall new gods raised. They were kind and understanding and offered the Keila their greatest gift, the ability to choose. The new gods took a role as guides who offered their knowledge in the different aspects of life, be it science, spiritual guidance or basic life needs. Till this day these guiding entities play a role in the Keilas life, sometimes praying upon them for guidance even. They accept that other species see little sense in religion or spirituality, it doesn't bother them much.