Mabaraah report brief
Preliminary Xenobiological Study of the Mabaraah
by Dr. Johsebas Mastro, Xenobiology Institute of Betazed, Planet Baah (Sigma 2 Serpens Cauda II), stardate 80412
Introduction
The Mabaraah (singular: Mabaraahri, meaning "the one who is in the world") are a pre-warp civilization inhabiting the borders of known space in the Beta Quadrant. Despite limited contact, primarily through unauthorized merchant ships, this culture offers valuable insights into complex societal structures.
First discovered by the Enterprise B under Captain John Harriman, the Mabaraah were largely overlooked following the Klingon Peace Treaty, which opened new exploration and trade routes. Their home planet, Baah (Sigma 2 Serpens Cauda II), orbits a small, cold K-type orange star with 0.9 standard gravity and lacks significant nearby celestial bodies.
Environmental Conditions
Baah's climate is predominantly dry and cold, characterized by strong winds and sand storms. Scattered small seas serve as breeding areas, providing occasional wet and warmer conditions. The planet supports a population of approximately one billion inhabitants.
Ecology
The planetary ecosystem remains partially understood, with ongoing efforts to complete the ecological chain. Notable features include:
- A single large predator species, the pahari, considered taboo to kill due to its perceived magical nature
- Mabaraah as the sole confirmed intelligent species, though paha are suspected to possess intelligence
- Incompatibility between Mabaraah telepathy and standard UPF telepathic abilities
- A persistent, unexplained telepathic background noise planet-wide
Biology
Gender Structure
The Mabaraah possess a unique five-gender reproductive system:
- Female: Completes the reproductive process (pronoun: she)
- Male: Initiates reproduction (pronoun: he)
- Keeper I: First brood receptor (pronoun: he)
- Keeper II: Second brood receptor (pronoun: she)
- Observer: Essential for reproduction, specific role unclear (pronoun: they)
Developmental Stages
Each brood is transported into the next keeper until it's finally installed into the female, which will carry it to term. There's an unknown biological selection process that discards many individual timers until only 1 up to usually 3 are finally born.
- First-timers: Worm-like organisms in yellow-brown eggs (15-50 per brood)
- Second-timers: Larger worms with primitive anatomical structures (10-25 per brood)
- Third-timers or babies: Fully developed babies resembling hairless primates (3-5 per brood), until their 2-3 years of age, in which age they become grown children and start their teen education until their adulthood, at about 10 years old, usually well into their 15s.
Physical Characteristics
- Adulthood reached by 10 standard years
- Average lifespan: 110 standard years
- Appearance: Similar to humans, with 4 fingers on hands and 2 on feet
- Hair colors: Black, white, and red (often mixed)
- Skin: Pale with randomly distributed darker spots
Sensory and Communication Systems
- Complex neurological system with excellent hearing and smell, but poor vision
- Telepathic abilities (short-range and incompatible with UPF species)
- Communication through a combination of spoken language, chemical signals, and telepathy
This is a table of the most common smells and their significance:
- burnt wood: surprise
- lemons and burnt wood: joy and happiness
- lemon and chilli: extreme good humor
- chilli and mint and lemon: the equivalent of a good laugh
- sour garlic: frustration
- kerosene: fear
- burnt wood and perchloric acid: shock
- rotten eggs: extreme distress
- curcuma: extreme concentration
- honey and lemon: amusement, relax
- apple and vinegar: sadness, deception
Odors can vary in composition and intensity as the conversation or the reaction evolves.
Society and Culture
Social Structure
- Primary unit: Family (8-16 members)
- Secondary unit: Neighborhood (3-7 families)
- Governance: Democratic council system at neighborhood and city levels
Legal System
Based on a minimal set of fundamental "Rules," including:
- Respect for paha rights
- Prohibition of harming others' right to a good life
- Restrictions on Observer sexual practices and magic use
Cultural Highlights
- Emphasis on collective child-rearing
- Open relationships between genders, except for Observers
- Singing as a primary artistic expression, involving telepathy and chemical signals
- Complex "arts&magics" language combining sounds, smells, and telepathy
- Mysterious "magics" practices, not fully understood by researchers
