Chelon

The Chelon, also known as Chelarians or Rigellians, were a sapient species native to the planet Chelar in the Beta Rigel system. Resembling large, anthropoid, sabre-toothed turtles, they were one of several native species in that system, who were collectively known as Rigellians. The Chelon were members of the United Rigel Worlds and Colonies and the United Federation of Planets. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Decipher: Worlds; ENT novel: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel)

History[]

Chelarian mythology told that the race was placed on Rigel III eons ago by the gods to serve as their emissaries. By the 22nd century, modern Chelon no longer believed those legends, but Federation exobiologists once thought they recorded the seeding of Rigel III by some ancient race. However, the fact that the Chelon exhibited close genetic ancestry with other lifeforms on their homeworld cast doubt on the theory.

Nevertheless, early Chelon civilizations took their role as divine emissaries seriously. The Chelarians quickly established a system of communications between their communities. This system encouraged trade and prevented war. In time, the Chelon boasted a sophisticated network of interdependent communities, creating large states without developing the imperialistic mindset common to most other cultures.

Consequently, Rigel III was ripe for the picking by the various Orion empires that arose in the region millennia ago. Despite their broadmindedness, the Chelarians proved unruly subjects, launching several rebellions against Orion rule. Eventually, the Orions abandoned Rigel III (for reasons uncertain to historians) and left the planet to its native inhabitants. (LUG: Sky Pirates of Orion; Untaken Treks)

Official first contact between the United Earth and the various Rigelian peoples came in the early 2150s, though some human freighters had visited the system previously. Contact and trade between Earth and worlds of Beta Rigel grew quickly. By 2155, the Rigelians were considering membership in the Coalition of Planets, though they ultimately remained neutral during the Earth-Romulan War. After the war, however, the nascent United Federation of Planets again made overtures to the Chelon, Jelna and other Rigelian species, and the United Rigel Worlds and Colonies became Federation members in 2164. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Terra Prime", "Demons"; ENT novel: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel)

Culture[]

Excerpt from Sky Pirates of Orion and Maliszewski's Guide to Rigel, 2270 edition:

The experience of the Awakening (described below) profoundly influences Chelarian culture. Most outsiders cannot understand why Chelarians regard their non-sentient Chelarians young as little more than animals. This attitude contrasts with the loving concern shown to those young who survive to awaken. Chelarians regard sentience as a great reward and, like all rewards, one that requires effort to achieve. To take it for granted is to devalue it.
Awakening is more than traumatic for some Chelarians. For a small number of them, it unlocks a mild form of empathic ability – and insanity. The brain structures that impart psionic abilities also stimulate phobias and obsessions. Empathic Chelarians are nevertheless the objects of great admiration. This admiration stems from an ancient belief that equated madness with the “touch of the gods.” Although few Chelarians hold to the old beliefs, superstitions such as this on continue to exert an influence on them.
Empathic Chelarians are trained to harness their abilities for the good of the community. Chelarians encourage those with psionics to choose the vocations of diplomat or mediator, believing them the best uses of their unique talents. Chelarians who achieve a high degree of psionic mastery are granted the right to wear ceremonial armor made from polished black levneh metal. The armor has no martial value any longer, but signifies the Chelarian as a “warrior for peace.”
Non-Chelarians sometimes mistake the respect accorded to the empaths as evidence of a caste system on Rigel III. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Chelarians’ subjugation by the Orions has made them extraordinarily egalitarian. Everything from their planetary government to their family structures is fluid and open. Indeed, Chelarians recoil from arbitrary discipline and hierarchies, making them seem insubordinate, even surly, to officious Starfleet personnel.
At the same time, Chelarians are devoted to logical behavior and the common good. These twin culrural principles prevent the loose structure of Rigel III’s government from becoming a true anarchy – even if it already seems so to offworlders!

Physiology and Psychology[]

Chelons were tall, green anthropoids that resembled tortoises, with binocular vision and large beak-like mouths. They descended from a race of saber-toothed turtles who evolved to walk upright. They averaged in height from about 1.75 meters to 2 meters. They only had one sex and reproduced by laying eggs. Chelons performed male or female gender roles at different points in their lives. Many Chelons often took a permanent gender role, however traditionalists in their society did not. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture; ENT novel: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel)

The Chelon were amphibians that spent the first three years of their lives as entirely aquatic lifeforms. Because the oxygen dissolved in water was insufficient to support higher brain functions, Chelarian young were not accorded sentient status until their lungs were strong enough to breathe air. From the time a Chelarians took their first breath of air, their brains developed at a rapid rate, a process resulting in the “Awakening.” The Awakening was a traumatic event, as young Chelons for the first time looked on their surroundings in a coherent, logical manner and recognized themselves as distinct from them. (LUG: Sky Pirates of Orion; Untaken Treks)

Though they lacked agility, Chelons were a strong, hardy race. They were highly resistant to ultraviolet radiation, with a lesser resistance to other types of radiation. As an aquatic species that dwelt in swamps, Chelarians were skilled swimmers. They preferred a warm, humid climate and often found other worlds uncomfortable. Some members of the species retained the large, hardened shells of their genetic ancestors, while others did not; these Chelons often wore ceremonial armor that simulated a shell. (Decipher: Worlds; STA: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook; ENT novel: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel)

A Chelarian's fangs gave them a powerful biting weapon. Chelons, during times of stress or combat, emitted a deadly contact toxin through their skin, which could be transmitted via a claw strike. (Decipher: Worlds; Star Trek: Destiny novel: Mere Mortals)

The psionic abilities some Chelons possessed often came with a cost, as empathically-gifted Chelarians were prone to a variety of mental and emotional issues, including fanaticism, hypochondria, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mania, phobias, or other conditions. (LUG: Sky Pirates of Orion; Untaken Treks)

Egg-laying Chelarians sometimes grew so large as to require attendants who would bring them food and otherwise cared for them; these attendants were often the ones with true power in Chelon society. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture; STA: Continuing Mission)

Although logical and dedicated to the common good, Chelons did not appear as cold and calculating as species like the Vulcans. In fact, Chelons could be quite charming, if one could overlook their fierce appearance. Their almost innate open-mindedness and ability to see differing perspectives put others at ease. It also helped to smooth ruffled feathers when their equally innate egalitarianism caused them to question the orders of a superior.

Not surprisingly, the Chelarians were renowned as a thoughtful, deliberative people, though also curious and bold. Their skills in diplomacy and mediation were exceptional, making them important members of the Diplomatic Service from their earliest days as Federation members. Chelons excelled at other forms of negotiation as well, and more than a few corporations and businesses employed them as trade delegates when opening relations with a new world or colony. (LUG: Sky Pirates of Orion; Untaken Treks)

Names[]

Ash'lak • Dakla' • Genn • Haaden • Jetanian • Jutron • Kishkik • Latanun • Oox • Rinsit • Sajithen • Salka • Simmerith • Stek'ghen • Telsk • T'k-agtha • Veethos • Yoom

Noted Individuals[]

Since joining the Federation, many Chelon became revered as great diplomats, including:

Kishkik Sajithen, a former Director of the Rigelian Trade Commission, who served as the Beta Rigel system's first representative on the Federation Council. (ENT novel: Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel)
Jetanian, a Federation ambassador highly involved in the affairs of the Taurus Reach during the 2260s, and one of the founders of Nimbus III, the unsuccessful "Planet of Galactic Peace". (Star Trek: Vanguard)
Yoom Veethos, Federation Councillor during the 2260s and 2270s. As an ambassador, Veethos successfully negotiated a peace treaty between warring religious factions on Elis V; for his efforts, Veethos was awarded the Federation Medal of Honor. (LUG: Sky Pirates of Orion; Untaken Treks)

Other Chelarians served in Starfleet, including:

Captain Oox Haaden of the USS Bondar, the first Chelon to command a Starfleet vessel. His record of success in a number of first contact missions overcame a reputation for rebelliousness. In 2270, Haaden led the Bondar on survey mission in the unexplored Vedria sector. (LUG: Sky Pirates of Orion; Untaken Treks)
Commander Latanun, first officer of the USS Tonawanda during the 2380s. (Star Trek: The Fall novel: Peaceable Kingdoms)
Lieutenant Simmerith, a male Chelon who served as a security officer aboard the USS Aventine during the 2380s. (Star Trek: Destiny novel: Mere Mortals'')
Ensign Jutron, a female Chelon combat engineer aboard the USS Enterprise-E in 2384. (TNG novel: The Body Electric)

Appendices[]

Much of this article is taken from unpublished material written for the Last Unicorn Games RPG by James Maliszewski and S. John Ross. See below for an archived link to the original article.
Some details from the unpublished LUG material have been altered to fit with facts about the Chelon established in the Star Trek: Vanguard and Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise of the Federation novels.

External links[]

Rigellian article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
Chelon article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
Chelarians at Untaken Treks