Arborean Polaran

**Polarans** are aliens originating from the OB-749 System, specifically the first planet of the system, known as Polara. However, due to a gamma ray pulse in the distant past, somewhere around 500 years ago, there was a diaspora of the Polaran people, with several groups each going in different ways. Currently, there are three confirmed groups to have done so. The first and largest group miscalculated the path of the gamma ray pulse and took most of the animals from the planet and several plant samples with them on a journey away from OB-749. However, the miscalculations lead them to travel straight into the pulse and wipe out most of the Polaran species as well as all animal life on the planet. However, a second group, resisting the beliefs of the first, fought to remain on the planet, but were eventually forced into subspace, through the use of several structures on the planet that can create subspace rifts around OB-749 I, to hide from the first group's attacks, which were made in attempts to weed out the dissenters among the Polaran people. Finally, a third group made their way from OB-749 towards OB-222, Arborea, and crash landed on the fifth planet in the system, leaving a group of Polaran descendants on the surface of Arborea V. These Arborea Polarans have since been relocated to Polara once more.

# Appearance

Polarans, both male and female, are taller than the average human, standing at approximately two and a half meters, though with females slightly shorter, and bulkier as well, appearing rather muscular to an outside viewer. The Polaran people also have a darker skin tone than humans, either dark purple, navy blue, charcoal grey, or black, and dark, reflective eyes, either purple, deep crimson, or navy blue. The hair of the Polarans is either silver or jet black, with the grey and black skinned Polarans showing the black hair, and the blue and purple skinned Polarans showing the silver hair. Additionally, it is not uncommon for the Arborea Polarans to have white hair. This is mostly due to slight genetic drift and the larger number of silver haired Polarans among the group that initially crashed on Arborea.

Aside from these differences, the shape of the Polarans remains largely humanoid, with two arms, two legs, a torso, a neck, and a head. Hair is present in similar patterns to humans, with the exception of facial hair, which remains short and fine like body hair, resulting in a lack of beards or mustaches. Additionally, the hair generally grows slower and remains shorter.

The Polarans possess two genders, which are easy to tell apart, both by the aforementioned height disparity and by physical features. As mammals, mature females posses prevalent mammary glands, providing the second largest difference between genders, after height. Additionally, females tend to be more lithe, and males more muscular and bulky, though both are more muscular than other humanoids. The Polaran sexual organs are very similar, almost identical to those of humans. Finally, females tend to have a rounder face than males, who in turn have more angular or rectangular faces.

# History

A slightly younger species than humans, 'modern' Polarans arose approximately 200,000 to 225,000 years ago on OB-749 I. Evolving through the years, the Polarans advanced similarly, though slightly faster, to humans up until their equivalent of the industrial age. At this point, approximately 800 to 1000 years ago, a spacecraft crashed on the planet and was examined by Polaran scientists of one of the many nations on the planet. The ship was mostly destroyed, yet the technology which allowed for subspace manipulation remained intact. As such, while the Polarans as a whole continued to advance normally, this one nation jumped ahead in regards to subspace manipulation, gaining control of one domain of the separate space in just over 100 years. During this time, the structures that dot OB-749 I were built, serving as the control centers for the Polaran nation with a grasp of subspace to access the region. However, protection of this technology built tensions between the Polaran nation which controlled it and the other nations, eventually boiling over into a war approximately 500 years ago when the Polarans in control of the subspace technology refused to share it with the others, even in the face of extinction by an incoming gamma ray pulse. This was the point of the Polaran Diaspora, with the subspace controlling Polarans fleeing into subspace with many of the planet's animals and samples of its plant life to avoid destruction at the hands of the overwhelming force of the other Polarans, and the other Polarans then separating into groups and taking to the stars. At this point in time, the technology of the Polarans was at a level similar to early-21st century humans, though the subspace controlling Polarans had managed to create warp drives using the energy of subspace, resulting in an odd mix of technological levels. One such warp faring ship was left behind by the nation as it fled into subspace and was taken over by the group that later crashed on Arborea V. Contact with the Polarans was lost until recently, as a large majority of the Polaran people were wiped out by mistakenly flying directly into the gamma ray pulse, one group crashing on Arborea V, and the rest living in subspace. Contact with the Federation was first made by then Lieutenant Commander Jacob Downy and then Commander Jason Scott following the unintentional activation of the subspace rift generating structures on the surface of OB-749 I which dragged Downy's command, the USS *Kapteyn* into the cell of subspace in which the Polarans resided. Additionally, contact was later made with the group on Arborea V by members of Task Force Avalon.

Even more recently, an effort, led by the 26th Fleet with participation of the Polarans from Polara, has led to the reintroduction of the Arborean Polarans to their homeworld, where a small settlement has been established. Since this effort has been completed, the Arborean Polarans have managed to move from temporary shelters into more permanent structures that were constructed with the aid of the Polaran Consulate, with a recent agreement between the Polaran Consulate and the Asheran Union leading to assistance being lent from the latter to the former in this effort. Along with relocation of the Arborean Polarans, the crashed ship known as the "Star Temple", important to the culture of the Arborean Polarans, was returned to the Polaran homeworld. The Polaran Consulate has decided to leave the ship as it was found to allow the Asheran Polarans to continue utilizing it how they wish, mostly as a cultural icon.

Additionally, this agreement has allowed the Asheran Union and Polaran Consulate to work together in other projects, as outlined in the formal document, which is available from the public databases of both governments. The most major of these projects include the resettlement of Polara by members of the Polaran Consulate, along with researchers from the Asheran Union, the construction of an Asheran FTL Beacon in orbit of Polara under the joint control of the two powers, and a subspace gate to allow for vessels to enter into the Polaran controlled region of subspace without needed the subspace drives found on Polaran Consulate vessels. These projects were developed due to the proximity of the two powers and the strive for future relations to advance even further into friendliness.

# Technology

The Polarans have remained stagnant in terms of technology since their diaspora approximately 500 years ago. For the group inhabiting the subspace cell around OB-749, this is due to their lack of available natural resources, with only plant life remaining renewable, grown in dedicated areas throughout the large modular station on which the nation resides. While they continue to research, all of it must be theoretical due to the lack of materials for experimental research to be done. For the group on Arborea, it was due to their focus on the need to survive, limiting their attention to further research.

The technology level they do have access to is at a level similar to early 21st century humans. However, due to the crashed ship from 800 to 1000 years ago, the Polarans in subspace, obviously, have control of the dimension as well as the capability to use it for energy to fuel their warp drives, resulting in spacecraft with similar computer and sublight propulsion as the early 21st century on Earth, but equipped with warp drives and subspace transition capabilities. However, they seem to be better at linking modular space stations than humans were, as they have managed to create a station of immense size within subspace, large enough to hold millions of Polarans as well as artificial nature reserves and other facilities, practically a self contained nation within the confines of a space station.

The Arborea V Polarans originated from a group of Polarans that did not have subspace manipulation capabilities. However, they had managed to capture an abandoned ship from the subspace Polarans, which had been left behind due to damage to its subspace transition circuits. However, it was still capable of drawing power from subspace to allow it to remain warp capable. As such, the Arborea V Polarans are technically warp capable, learning the science behind the drive rather quickly, but have regressed to a lower level of technology due to irreparable damage to their vessel persisting over many generations that simply focused on surviving on the harsh world.

Since both groups have begun efforts of recolonizing Polara, they have also begun anew scientific pursuits and research into advancing their technologies. For the Arborean Polarans, this has been faster, as they have quickly begun advancing once again to their former level of technology with the help of the Polaran Consulate. For the Consulate itself, progress has been slower, but a new generation of Polarans, intrigued by the idea of research, has sprung up and begun forming into scientific groups and developing areas to research, mainly utilizing the resources now available from the surface of Polara. This has also led to the beginning of production industries, such as mining, to acquire such resources.

# Politics

While the Polarans on Arborea V live in small villages of 10 to 20 people, led by a village leader, the subspace Polarans live in a much larger community of several hundred thousand, though their station is capable of supporting millions. This makes sense as the Arborea V Polarans were crash survivors, but the subspace Polarans all originated from one of the larger nations, and the most technologically advanced nations, of Polarans, prior to the diaspora.

The subspace Polarans, as such, require a much more complex political organization. Overall, the subspace Polarans are a Constitutional Monarchy. While the government is headed by one individual, the First Consul, both the head of state and head of government, who controls a group of representatives from each section of the station. Each representative, or Consul, works together with the First Consul to determine the laws and management of the station, guided by a constitution. Half of the consuls are reelected every two cycles, resulting in staggered, four cycle terms. However, the position of First Consul is hereditary and changes only when the previous First Consul dies or steps down. Additionally, the citizens of the subspace Polarans who do not hold any government office can sign a petition for referendum, which, should it get the signatures of at least a third of the population, would result in a referendum on the issues raised by the petition, resulting in the capability of the people to directly vote on an issue, rather than rely on the Consuls. However, a referendum vote requires a full supermajority of two thirds of the population to be enacted outright, though a standard majority would require the issue to move into vote among the consuls. Due to lack of contact with other nations over the past 500 years, ambassadors are a foreign concept, and the First Consul was chosen to represent the Polarans to the Federation when first contact was made.

Due to increasing interactions between the Polarans and other powers in the Outback, the position of First Consul has officially been given ambassadorial powers. This has led to the holder of the position serving as the key representative between the Polaran Consulate and any other power, not just the Federation, as is apparent by the recent meetings between the First Consul and the Asheran Union. Additionally, this has led to the other Consuls taking a more direct role in government, as the First Consul has started being busier with other work. This has led to a new rule that allows for the Consuls to directly make decisions without the First Consul's consent, assuming they can all agree to the action that is to be taken. Any dissenting Consul would prevent the decision from being passed. One remaining side effect of this increase in interaction between the Consulate and other powers is the development of a training program for potential ambassadors. The First Consul himself holds these training sessions periodically, using what he has learned from his interactions with other governments to instruct trusted Polarans in ambassadorial duties and skills. This is in hopes of being able to produce a full diplomatic corps for the Polaran Consulate in the future.

# Relations with the Federation

Both groups of Polarans currently in existence have had some form of interaction with the Federation. However, both of these interactions were limited. For the subspace Polarans, contact was made on Stardate 92996.41 when then Lieutenant Commander Jacob Downy accidently activated the subspace rift generators on OB-749 I and his ship, the USS *Kapteyn*, fell into the cell of subspace holding the Polarans. Eventually, then Commander Jason Scott of the USS *Axalon* made contact with the Polarans and negotiated his return. However, following this interaction and the departure of the USS *Kapteyn* and USS *Axalon*, the Polarans closed the subspace rifts and returned to their isolation.

Recently the Subspace Polaran have been meeting with a Starfleet Captain that they have come to trust in earnest attempts to establish diplomatic channels with the federation. Captain Jason Charles Scott of the USS *Axalon* has been heading the talks. and while slow due to their political system the Polaran and the Federation are establishing a baseline of trust and respect for eachother.

The interaction with the Arborea V Polarans was even less in depth, with only one individual, Ki'Tanna, actually interacting with the Federation representatives due to concerns of contamination. However, large amounts of data on the Polarans was obtained from the crashed vessel that had deposited the Arborea Polarans' ancestors there approximately 500 years ago. However, more recently, interactions have boomed, with the Federation even carrying out a relocation effort of the Arborean Polarans back to Polara with the assistance of the Polaran Consulate.

## Social Structure:

The Polaran social structure is divided by the different groups each Polaran belongs to, decided by the general career path that the Polaran chose. (e.g. engineering, food preparation, religious organizations, politics, etc.). Before the point at which the Polaran chooses their career path, which is usually done through various schooling programs during Polaran adolescence, the Polaran lives within the educational group, made up of a variety of general knowledge boarding schools. Prior still to this, the young polaran simply lives with their family members or in various lower level boarding schools or daycares. Due to the divisions between the social groups, most partnerships occur between Polarans of the same groups. However, as children are free to choose which group they wish to move into during their educational phase, and due to the fact that they are encouraged to enter into groups which they did not grow up within (an effort to diversify genes across the social groups), most children end up in social groups different from their parents. Exceptions to this norm are found in religious families and the family of the First Consul, which are both hereditary groups, passed down from parents to children. Even members of the First Consul's family that aren't expected to take the position in the near future through succession are expected to maintain political roles as advisers or even other Consul positions, though it is not unheard of for such Polarans to also take temporary positions in other social groups to more closely provide information to the First Consul regarding each section of the Polaran people.

The Arborean Polarans, however, have a much different social structure (though some have since begun integration into standard Polaran culture). This structure is one of family groups living together alongside other Arborean Polarans in small villages, a tradition that most Arborean Polarans still follow, even after the relocation. Each village is headed by a leader, which is passed on down the family line, much like the position of First Consul within the subspace Polaran government. Each member of the village shares a portion of the work, contributing where they can the most and where their skills are most useful. This form of work sharing was developed due to the need to survive on the harsh Arborean planet on which they crashed. As they have spent relatively little time on Polara, this tradition has also stuck, allowing for the new settlements to be quickly developed.

## Religion:

### -Consulate:

While subspace Polarans are not strictly religious, there is a great respect for those of them that do follow the main religion of the Polaran people. Additionally, most every Polaran holds to some degree of spirituality. This main Polaran religion, known as C'ala tul'ka'Amar, or the Followers of the family Amar, Ulamar being the main deity of the religion, is relatively unique among religions in that the deities are not seen as entities themselves, but rather the representations of the aspects with which they are associated. As such, the religion is more about worshiping the aspects of nature themselves, rather than particular entities, with deities existing only to give perspective to the religion, something to focus the worship on.

The religion is also largely individually based. While the religious families are the heads of the Polaran religion, they rarely cal for group services, believing instead that their duties cover every individual of Polaran society collectively. As such, the religious participation of typical citizens only exists in the form of additional prayers that each may feel the need to do in certain situations. For example, if a loved one has died or is dying, a Polaran may pray for the safe passage of that individual's soul beyond death. Prayers are typically sent to the corresponding deity to the aspect of nature under which the prayer falls. Some major deities are as follows:

Ul'amar - Aspect of Death, the Afterlife, and Forgiveness; Main Deity
Kal'amar - Aspect of the Waters, Life, Healing, and Birth
Mel'amar - Aspect of the Earth, Metals, Jewels, and Technology
Hal'amar - Aspect of Love, Protection, Warfare, and Hunting

Many other deities are also worshipped, but these four cover the major aspects of the Polaran faith.

### -Arborean:

While the Arborean Polarans are not exactly religious, during their time stranded, they developed a pseudo-faith based around the crashed ship that had landed them on the planet. Referring to the vessel as the "Star Temple", it served as a reminder to the Arborean Polarans of their desire to return to the stars and, eventually, their home planet. As such, many stories were built around the Star Temple, and these became the basis for the Arborean Polaran "religion". Told from generation to generation, these stories kept the Polarans looking up to the night sky and into the stars.

Following the relocation back to their home planet, a large number of the formerly stranded Polarans have converted to C'ala tul'ka'Amar, finding the religion of their ancestors appealing and the logical next step, considering how much they yearned for a return to their old home and old ways. However, not every Arborean Polaran converted, and many still continue to tell the stories, more symbolically than anything, now, as they have finally arrived back on the planet of their ancestors.

## Language:

### -Naming:

Polaran naming is rather simple, composed of two parts. Every name is three syllables long, with a short, one syllable personal name, followed by a two syllable family name. The two names are joined together by an apostrophe. Members of the same family all possess the same family name. For males, the personal name typically starts with the letters "A" through "J". For Females, the personal name typically starts with the letters "K" through "T". The letters "U", "V", and "W" are reserved for females in the religious families, and the letters "X", "Y", and "Z" are reserved for males in the religious families. This quirk of naming is due to limits in translation, as, within the formal Polaran language, such names could be spelled a variety of different ways. For example, two Polarans whose names start with "L" when translated could have two different starting letters in the Polaran language. Additionally, this can lead to some personal names appearing to only be one letter long when translated, such as the name of the First Consul, H'Ralan. In the Polaran language, this personal name is longer and makes more sense than simply being "H".

When referring to a specific family, the prefix "tul'ka" is affixed to the front of a capitalized version of the family name, standing for "the family".

This naming structure was continued by the Arborean Polarans, despite the separation from the original culture.

The family name "amar" is restricted for the deities of the religion, and is not used within typical Polaran society.

# Life Cycle

Polarans live relatively short lives compared to most other species, with none but the very healthiest living past 100. In fact, the species average lifespan is only around 70 Earth years, with the more luxurious jobs having averages in the 90's and the more dangerous dipping as low as 45. Much of this is biological, and, as such, Polarans are considered mature by as young as 10 for early bloomers all the way up to 15, with the average being around 12. The education systems are based on this quicker childhood, starting as young as one year old and continuing past maturity for the higher level education. Following this, Polarans don't seem to experience the effects of aging up until around 10 years before their biological death, at which point their bodies begin to deteriorate rapidly. This results in retirement ages about nine years prior to death for most Polarans, with retirement being a period of time mostly fraught with disease, frailness, and lack of physical activity. However, Polaran minds don't deteriorate as quickly, staying keen up until very close to death. As such, dementia like diseases are not common among Polarans, and the elders of the species quite often have advisory roles when they can no longer work any physically demanding jobs.

Due to life being relatively short for Polarans, it is common, especially in the more dangerous social positions, for members of the species to find a partner early in their lives and have children rather quickly after finding partners. Additionally, it is not uncommon for Polarans to have multiple partners in their lives, as bonds are formed quickly and, therefore, are not always the strongest. Combined with the general mindset of Polarans to experience as many things as possible in the short period of time they have available and the boarding style education school system, families outside of the hereditary social positions are not as binding as they are in other cultures. As such, marriage is not a common occurrence within the Polaran life cycle, and partnerships between two Polarans tend to be unofficial and easy to leave.

# References

* Resettlement mission report
* Ki'Tanna's Story.
* AAR Arborean Relocation