Tellarite
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
- "Tellarites do not argue for a reason, they simply argue."
- --Sarek of Vulcan
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| Gral, a Tellarite male (2154) | |
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| Gav, a Tellarite male (2268) | |
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| A Tellarite male (2269) | |
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| A Tellarite male (2286) | |
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| Tellarites stand next to Humans | |
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| Tellarite Script |
Tellarites were a warp capable race from the class M planet Tellar Prime, located not far from the Sol system. In 2161, they became one of the founding races of the United Federation of Planets.
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[edit] Physiology
Tellarites were a sturdy humanoid species with distinguished snouts. They wore beards and their hands were sometimes hoof like in appearance.
- For information on their hands and faces see the background section.
On average, Tellarites are shorter than Humans.
Tellarites considered canine to be something of a delicacy. They found human room temperature to be cold, indicative of a higher body temperature. (ENT: "Babel One")
Whereas the medical condition known as dyspnea is considered a symptom (e.g. the patient notices it him/herself) and not a sign (e.g. only a doctor notices the sign during a medical examination) when affecting most species, it is regarded as a sign when Tellarites come down with it. (DS9: "Inquisition")
[edit] Society
Tellarites sometimes took mud baths. (ENT: "Babel One")
- If this is a reference to wallowing, it may be intended as an extension of their likeness to pigs.
Tellarites were known to be an impatient people. (ENT: "United") They were also known for their "stubborn pride". (ENT: "The Forge") They had a propensity toward strong emotion. However, they enjoyed a good argument, which was even considered a sport on Tellar. (ENT: "Bounty") Tellarites often began an interaction with a series of complaints; this was how they started arguments with someone they had recently met. If they had nothing to complain about they would simply insult the person. Because of their ability to argue, Tellarites made excellent politicians. (ENT: "Babel One")
One of Elim Garak's suggested wedding dresses for Rom and Leeta was in the style of Tellarite modern. (DS9: "Call to Arms")
[edit] History
Tellarites were warp-capable and involved in inter-species communication by the 20th century. In 1957, a Tellarite freighter picked up the distress call of a Vulcan ship that had crash landed on Earth, near Carbon Creek, Pennsylvania. They passed this information onto the Vulcan High Command. (ENT: "Carbon Creek")
In April 2152, a passing Tellarite vessel directed the Earth starship Enterprise, suffering severe damage after an encounter in a Romulan minefield, to an automated repair facility. Subcommander T'Pol then stated that Tellarites are generally considered trustworthy. (ENT: "Dead Stop")
In March 2153, the Tellarite bounty hunter Skalaar, working for the Klingons, captured the Human, Jonathan Archer, captain of the Enterprise. However, he later helped him to escape from the Klingon ship. Skalaar's brother, Gaavrin, who worked on a space station at that time, used to run a freighter, the Tezra, together with him. (ENT: "Bounty")
In November 2154, a Tellarite delegation led by Ambassador Gral was being transported to the planetoid Babel by the Enterprise to resolve a long standing trade dispute with the Andorians. The original conference agenda covered only trade regulations for the sector. However, a Romulan plot to destabilize the region had the opposite effect and created a temporary alliance among the Andorians, Vulcans, Humans, and Tellarites. The proceeding conference later helped bring peace to the strained Tellarite-Andorian relations. (ENT: "Babel One", "United")
In 2155, a delegation of Tellarite ambassadors was sent to Earth to join in talks of forming a Coalition of Planets. Minister Nathan Samuels joked that the new universal translators were working a little too well when it came to talking to the Tellarites. (ENT: "Demons")
Some time prior to 2161, Shallash gained notoriety as the second Tellarite liberator. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
In 2161, Tellar would become a founding member of the United Federation of Planets along with Earth, Andoria and Vulcan. (ENT: "Zero Hour") As a result, the Tellarites held a seat on the Federation Council and served as Starfleet officers. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; DS9: "Apocalypse Rising")
In 2268, the planet Coridan sought admission to the United Federation of Planets. However, due to the wealth of dilithium available on Coridan and the presence of illegal mining operations, Coridan's admission was a controversial subject between Tellarites and Vulcans. The Babel Conference was convened to settle the matter and ultimately approved Coridan's admission. Tellarite Ambassador Gav was among the delegates to the Babel Conference but was killed by an Orion infiltrator in Andorian disguise onboard the Federation starship USS Enterprise. On the conference, Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan was ultimately credited with achieving the consensus towards admitting the planet to the Federation. (TOS: "Journey to Babel"; TNG: "Sarek")
A Tellarite served on the ruling council of the pocket dimension Elysia, during the late 23rd century. It was unknown how long his species had been trapped in that universe. (TAS: "The Time Trap")
In 2286, at least one Tellarite was serving on the Federation Council. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
During the 2370s, Tellarite freighters would occasionally conduct trade through starbase Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Shadowplay")
[edit] Mirror Universe
In the mirror universe, Tellarites had been subjugated by the Terran Empire sometime before 2155, and some had joined the rebellion against the Empire. Malcolm Reed and Phlox tortured a Tellarite crewman named Terev in the agony booth as a demonstration of the device for ISS Enterprise captain Maximilian Forrest and Commander Jonathan Archer. Reed's philosophy on Tellarites was that they were "all guilty of something". (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly")
[edit] Technology
Tellarite technology is considered less advanced than Andorians. (ENT: "Babel One")
- Though this could be referring only to their combat capabilities. The Tellerites mention that a Tellarite ship is no match in combat with its Andorian counterparts. It is possible that Tellarites have more advanced technology in other areas. Indeed, a Tellarite complains about the inefficiency of Andorian communication codes, though this may simply be traditional baseless Tellarite complaining.
[edit] People
- See: List of Tellarites
[edit] Tellarite starships
- Tellarite freighters:
- Tellarite shuttle
- Tellarite warship
[edit] Appendices
[edit] Appearances
- ENT:
- TOS:
- TAS:
- Star Trek films:
- TNG: "Conspiracy"
- VOY: "Non Sequitur"
[edit] Background Information
No female Tellarites have ever been explicitly shown on any of the movies or TV series (that we know of). Still, Worene's species is a possible candidate for a female Tellarite.
Like the Andorians, the outer appearance of Tellarites changed over time. Beginning with primordial masks in "Journey to Babel" from 1967 (which prevented the actor under it from seeing through its lunettes), they received a completely new makeup in "Bounty" in 2003 due to improved makeup techniques as well as a greater budget. However, one thing missing in the Star Trek: Enterprise makeup were the three fingers which some, but not all, Tellarites had in Star Trek: The Original Series. The Tellarites that had 3 fingers used the M-113 creature's hands from TOS: "The Man Trap"). A slight reference to that can be seen in their cloven-fingernails, though. Two images taken from apparent make-up tests appeared in the ending credits of the Original Series episodes "A Private Little War" and TOS: "The Deadly Years". These tests appear to be for either Gav or his aide. A Tellarite costume was put up for auction in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction. This auction has revealed that a fat suit is used under the Tellarite uniform to give the appearance of added weight. The Tellarite councilor in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was wearing robes originally created for the white-furred Kazarite from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. An alien species that might have been intended to be a Tellarite was present at the Khitomer Conference in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, but the make-up (a man with a beard and large, upturned nose) only vaguely resembled the Tellarites we've seen in other incarnations.
[edit] Apocrypha
According to the non-canon novel Last Full Measure, Gral is shown to be the Tellarite that signs the Federation Charter.
In the novel Articles of the Federation, Bera chim Gleer was a Tellarite representative in the Federation council in the late 2370s, and early 2380s known for his long speeches, and opposing Federation President Nanietta Bacco's inauguration. He is also referenced by political figures in Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 2 and A Time to Heal. Articles of the Federation also featured Kav glasch Vokrak, a Tellarite reporter.
A Tellarite named Colv served as an Engineer on a cargo freighter in Star Trek: SCE: Breakdowns. The Tellarite people are later referenced in the novel for their involvement in "the infamous Tellarite bar-fight story," which is popular among the da Vinci crew.
In the eBooks of Star Trek: SCE that are eventually printed as paperback novels, a Tellarite character called Mor glasch Tev takes over the position of Second Officer after Kieran Duffy's death. He previously appeared as an engineer in the TNG novel The Soldiers of Fear.
In the novel The IDIC Epidemic, Tellarites are listed as composing less than 28% of the Vulcan Science colony Nisus.
In the Star Trek: 25th Anniversary game, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy encounter a Tellarite on Pollux V who describes the Krognik demon - a creature from Tellarite mythology. This creature is the traditional shape of the Tellarite devil and his minions. Its physical appearance is described as being decidedly wolfish, with sharp teeth in a long snout.
Tellarites have made two appearances in comics from IDW Publishing. Christopher Pike encountered some on Babel in 2265 when he was being feted as Fleet Captain. One, Administrator Muso, was a wanted criminal and bounty hunter, and was taken into custody with the help of an Orion slave girl. (Alien Spotlight: "Orions") While investigating a conspiracy in Starfleet, Jean-Luc Picard was fired on by a Tellarite in the shadows on the grounds of Starfleet Academy. (The Space Between: "An Inconvenient Truth")
[edit] External links
- Tellarite at Wikipedia
- Tellarite at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
