Sovereign Marouk, circa 2366
The Acamarians were a sapient civilization from the planet Acamar III. They were governed by the Acamarian Ruling Council, which was led by the Sovereign of Acamar III. (TNG: "The Vengeance Factor")
Physically, Acamarians were humanoid, and most easily distinguished from humans by a pronounced vertical cleft in their foreheads. and their iron-copper composite blood, which was rare among species in that region of the galaxy. Acamarians favored elaborate facial tattoos which indicated clan and status. The Gatherers, an offshoot subculture, also used ritual scarring to supplement their tattoos.
Culturally, the Acamarians were a peaceful people, whose enlightened attitudes arose only after centuries of vicious conflict. An individual's affiliation with a clan was the cornerstone of Acamarian society. Clan membership entitled an Acamarian to support from kin, and obligated them to aid, protect, and avenge their clanmates. After the period of the Reconciliation in the 23rd century, interclan conflicts were typically confined to the political arena, and arguments among the Council replaced massacres and vendettas.
Clan affiliation also governed marriage and inheritance. Acamarian society was also characterized by a rigid caste structure. Servants, often members of entire servant clans, deferred absolutely to their masters. Every Acamarian knew their position in society, and respected their betters.
Although 24th century Acamarians were quick to boast of their achievements and newfound pacifism, subtle reminders of the past remained: high-ranking Acamarians still employed poison-tasters in their retinues, and never traveled without bodyguards, for example. Clan animosities were still very much present in the minds of many Acamarians. The murder by microvirus of most of the remaining members of clan Lornaks by the last surviving Tralesta, Yuta, amply demonstrated this.
The return of the Gatherers in the mid-2360s offered a jarring contrast to conventional Acamarian culture. The Gatherers valued personal freedom above all else, and treated each other as equals, deferring to a commander or leader only when necessary. Crude, brash, and often painfully blunt, the Gatherers placed little value on social pleasantries. Their long struggle for survival blurred the clan distinctions among them, and the harsh conditions in Govax after their return only perpetuated that attitude. The Gatherers' disdain for the Acamarian caste system and rigid clan laws made them a clan unto themselves since their return to Acamar III.
Technologically, the Acamarians were capable of warp travel, and showed a particularly high level of development in biosciences. At the height of the Clan Wars, technologies existed that could create deadly viruses tailored to a specific clan, and genetic manipulation was commonplace. The Clan Wars resulted in the loss or destruction of many of these advanced techniques, but rumors and legends persisted of hidden labs and abandoned facilities packed with dormant bioweapons and advanced technologies. (LUG: Planets of the UFP)
Though Acamar remained independent, by the early 25th century, some Acamarians were serving in Starfleet, the Klingon Defense Force, or with the Romulan Republic. (Star Trek Online: Legacy of Romulus)
External links[]
- Acamarian article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Acamarian article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Acamarian article at Star Trek Expanded Universe, the fanon and fanworks Star Trek wiki.