Hodurians
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- BASIC INFORMATION: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Official Name in Standard: The Hodurians National Name: The United Emirates of Hoduras Head of State: Head of Government: Emirate of Abinidu(Figurehead) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- GEOGRAPHY/POPULATION ----------------------------------------------------------------- Quadrant/Sector/System: The Hoduras system is located in sector T3291-Epsilon, in the Alpha Quadrant along the Federation - Ferengi border. Suns/Planets/Planetoids/Moons: The planet Hoduras is the fourth planet in the Hoduras system, and the only territory the Hodurians lay claim to. In recent years, wealthy houses have put up supply stations and fuel depots on asteroids and moons throughout the system: these installations are private facilities, however, and generally unmanned. Population: 1 500 000 000 Capital City: The Cavern of Abinidu Race(s) of Native Sentients: 100% Hodurian Largest Cities: Cavern of Abinidu: 12 000 000 Cavern of Lossus: 10 000 000 Cavern of Zelex: 9 000 000 Cavern of Sortrini: 9 000 000 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ECONOMIC SUMMARY ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dilythium is far and away the Hodurian's greatest export; it exists in abundance on the planet and is almost useless to the Hoduran people(their power sources are all derived from exploiting geothermal energy from the planet's core). Other exports include copper, iron, nickel, and cyanide. Some of the major houses on Hoduras have also made a lucrative enterprise out of the harvesting of Diquato berries, which grow wild on the planet's brushland. Although not palatable as a foodstuff, the berries can be mixed into a paste which, spread over an open wound, serves as an excellent disenfectant. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- GOVERNMENT/HISTORY ----------------------------------------------------------------- Member of Federation? Yes. The Hodurian planetary government consists of a bicameral Parliament. The lower house consists of men and women elected in the traditional multi-party system. Traditionally the Lower House had only limited powers, restricted to brokering inter- cavern trade agreements; their authority was later expanded as a condition of Federation membership. The Upper House was the traditional seat of Hodurian political authority. The Council of Emirates is composed of the head of each of the planet's Houses; a lofty post passed down through heredity. This body made all the major legislative decisions on the planet, until it was forced to give up some of it's power as a condition of Hoduras' membership in the Federation. The body functions today much as a Parliamentary senate; bills approved by the Lower House are sent to the Council of Emirates for a measure of "sober, second thought". The Council has no authority to kill a bill outright, but it can send the bill back to the Lower House for another round of debate, up to five times before the bill is passed. ***** Hodurian myth claims that "The Depths" created the first two Hodurians, Dorri and Cotus, from a geyser of molten lava; although modern science suggests that the sentient Hodurians are descended from a family of eel-like creatures which live in the planet's subterranean springs. Most of Hoduras' early history consists of sporadic war between the Emiracies, most of which are too indecisive to be given more than passing mention in the history books. Roughly seven hundred years ago, an alliance of the Toki, Alivi and Sortrini Emiracies launched a campaign to consolidate the planet under one rule. Their efforts were met with defeat, but the counteralliance of the Abinidu, Zelex and Lossus proved so powerful in the aftermath of the war that they were able to succeed where their adversaries failed. The Abinidu Emiracy laid out the foundations for planetary government in the Terran year 1789 AD, electing to keep most of the old Emiracies intact for reasons of political expedience. The Upper and Lower Houses were originally show pieces, both dominated by Abinidu-friendly representatives. However, as the years passed and the original Triple Alliance splintered, the other Emiracies were able to chip away at the Abinidu stranglehold on power. There were three civil wars, in the Terran years AD 1835, 1877, and 1890 respectively, before the Hodurian government settled into the less centralized power structure it enjoys to the present day. Curiousity and a population explosion resulting from protracted peace prompted the Hodurians to make expeditions to their planet's surface in Earth's late 20th century. Their initial attempts at settling the surface all resulted in failure: colonies were wiped out by lethal sunburns and outbreaks of madness from seeing the first rays of Hodurian sunlight. But by the mid twenty-first century, the Sortrini Emiracy had established the first Hodurian surface settlement to last an entire year. While the Sortrini(along with the Abinidu and Toki) Emiracy established several more surface outposts, the avenues of surface exploration and settlement never really captured the imagination of the Hodurians. While the twenty-first and second centuries saw impressive technological leaps on Hoduras, the "surface sciences" of meteorology and astronomy were paid only nodding attention. By the late twenty-third century, the Hodurians had only begun to make regular observations of the stars and planets surrounding them, in spite of nearly modern technological equivalents in other areas. First contact was established with the Ferengi, in the year 2279. A survey ship, come to confirm the spectrographic data indicating the planet's rich dilythium deposits, first encountered one of the Abinidu surface settlements. They had expected primitive inhabitants, judging by the size and number of visible urban settlements; much to the Ferengi's surprise, they encountered a technically sophisticated and suspicious Hodurian population who quickly took the landing party hostage. After a brief showdown with the Ferengi Damon(the Hodurians, of course, lacking surface-to-orbit artillery capabilities), an agreement was hammered out whereby the Hodurians would sell the Ferengi their dilythium in exchange for starship technologies. The Hodurians acheived their first manned spaceflight in 2283, making a successful cruise around Hoduras III and back. In the early years of the twenty-fourth century, the Abinidu and Lossus Houses began construction of a standing space Navy, patrolling the Hoduras system with primitive warp-capable vessels. Continually expanding their horizons, one of these vessels encountered an outlying Federation colony in 2312. Initial relations with the Federation were cautious but friendly; the Hodurians proved to be both curious and guarded neighbours. A formal treaty of non-aggression was signed in 2318, delineating spheres of both Hodurian and Federation influence. In spite of peaceful relations with two galactic powers, and an open door to colonial settlement in several prime star systems, Hodurian efforts at territorial expansion soon faltered. The Hodurian religion, still a potent force in daily affairs, was based on proximity to the planet's thermal core, and ritual baths in subterranean springs. "Charms" made of igneous rock protected naval officers on deep space patrol and eased the pangs of seperation from their homeworld; but few Hodurians were willing to relocate to a wholly different world, taking up permanent residence away from "The Depths". In spite of several colonial conscription programs brought about by the Emirates, religious retaliation threatened to dissolve the planetary government. The colonial programmes were eventually dropped, and the Federation encroached on untouched sectors nominally set aside for the Hodurians until their home system was virtually surrounded. In the meantime, the Ferengi continued to up their demands for dilythium; similarly, their territorial ambitions began to encroach upon the Hodurian's "safety zone". In 2328, the Hodurian and Ferengi navies faced off in the Dracinea system; after a brief exchange, both sides retreated. Six weeks later, the Hodurians cancelled their trade agreement with the Ferengi and formally applied for Federation membership. After several failed attempts, the Hodurians were accepted as full members in 2348. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RACE/SOCIETY/CULTURE ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Hodurians are, for the most part at least, humanoid; they share the same basic anatomy and physiology of humanoids across the galaxy. They are tall and lanky beings, however, with large, elongated heads and long, spindly fingers. Their bodies are completely hairless. The most noticeable departures from the humanoid norm, however, are their eyes: the Hodurians possess two abnormally large eyes, set further apart than typically expected. Their eyes are universally black. Hodurians also possess a biolumiscent "node", not unlike the abdomen of a Terran firefly, which casts a miniscule amount of light as an aid to sight in their pitch-dark homes. They have no voluntary control over this mechanism; the light shines constantly(although over time, the light dims and has been known to go out with old age). Since most Hodurians spend their entire lives underground, their skin is albino, almost translucent. They are remarkably susceptible to sunburn; it isn't uncommon for an unprotected Hodurian to die of prolonged exposure to light. To venture out into the light, they must take great pains to cover their bodies completely; Starfleet has made special provisions in it's uniforms to allow Hodurians to wear protective hoods and gloves for duty. Most Hodurians find it prudent, too, to wear protective ointments on their heads and hands. ******* Hodurians are a suspicious species by nature; they are somewhat xenophobic, and prefer to conduct diplomacy at arm's length. While not necessarily warlike, the Hodurians pride themselves on their political pragmatism and staunch defense of their way of life. Tradition and ritual are very important in Hodurian culture. Their religion is deeply rooted in mysticism surrounding "The Depths". "The Depths" are not a god in a conventional sense of the word; the phrase refers to a nuturing life force which resides in the deepest reaches of the planet's interior. According to legend, "The Depths" created the first two Hodurians from a geyser of molten rock. Periodically this same force sends "avatars" to live among their people and guide them through crisis. Hodurian history records between twelve and thirty such beings, depending on the individual Emiracies' view of history and the people who populate it. Religious piety means staying at home; those who are closest to "The Depths" influence are best nourished in the spiritual sense. Many people partake in an annual ritual bath in certain subterranean springs which legend claims are bottomless. These ritual submersions allegedly rejuvenate the soul and bless the participants. Conversely, those who are away from Hoduras for too long are believed to be "the living dead"; their souls are said to be atrophied. Just to welcome such a person in one's home is believed to invite their curse. Officers on deep space patrol wear charms of igneous rock on chains around their necks, to ward off such an undesirable fate. Religion and cautious politics have generally hampered Hoduras' relations with the Federation Council. There is a staunch ecclesiastical resistance to cooperation with the UFP; as such Hoduras is often labelled "The Federations Fair-Weather Member". While pronouncing their right to protection from Ferengi encroachment, Hodurians are scarce among the ranks of Starfleet officers. Enlistment was virtually nil until 2387, when the Emiracies invoked a conscription programme which forces a hundred or so young men and women to apply for Starfleet every year. Needless to say, few try very hard, and fewer still get in. Those that are accepted serve out their conscription periods(10 standard years) and retire permanently to their homeworld. Of all the Hodurian applicants over the years, only a few dozen have ever been commissioned officers. Of them, only 3 have risen above the rank of Lieutenant, junior grade. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Creator/Adaptor e-mail address James Braun paytenl@cadvision.com Created for/First Use: ENS Aaeliv, DivO/Gravitic Systems--USS QUASAR NCC-1911-E ----------------------------------------------------------------- Please check one: __ Canonical - All rights reserved by Paramount. __ Semi-Canonical - All rights reserved by Paramount. __ Non-Canonical - All rights reserved by companies specified: ______________________________________________________________ _X_ Original - All rights reserved by creator named above. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-