Gorn

From Memory-Zeta

Categories: Cultures | Other Cultures

A Gorn Male

[edit] Gorn

The Gorn are a race of large, reptilian humanoids native to the Alpha Quadrant. The Gorn Hegemony occupies a stretch of territory that shares borders with the Romulans, Klingons, and Federation. Though one time enemies of all three, the Gorn has recently entered into peaceful trade and cooperation with their neighbors.

[edit] Physical Characteristics

The physical appearance of a Gorn

Gorn are a cold-blooded, reptilian species. Their epidermis is comprised of small, green scales that act as a natural armor against punctures or lacerations. Because of this feature however, the Gorn immune system doesn’t function on the same level as those species with softer skin. Also in contrast with other species, damaged scales on a Gorn can take months to grow back, sometimes leaving large amounts of scarring in the process. Shedding is typical, with younger Gorn shedding a couple times a year and older ones once every couple of years.

The Gorn usually reach a height of around two meters and can live two or three times the span of the average Human. They also tend to be stronger than most humanoids and, like most cold-blooded species, prefer warmer temperatures. Some Humans underestimate the Gorn because of an opinion that all reptiles are less intelligent than mammals. This is unwise, as the Gorn are at least as intelligent as Humans.

Their ears are simple holes on the sides of their skulls, while their mouths boast an impressive array of sharp teeth and their hands and feet possess vicious claws. They have a bite radius similar to that of the extinct Velociraptor. The Gorn also have a silvery membrane that protects their eyes against bright light and harmful environments.

[edit] Homeworld

Standard of the Gorn Hegemony

The government seat of the Gorn Hegemony is located on Ghdar I. A dry, arid planet; Ghdar I has an oxygen and carbon dioxide rich atmosphere. Its surface is comprised of four continental shelves and thirty percent surface water. Ghdar II, a more tropical planet within the same system, serves as an auxiliary seat.

[edit] Technology

Given their close proximity and frequent hostilities with their neighbors, Gorn technology is on par with if not better then most Alpha Quadrant species. Their technology is usually based on reversed engineered tech captured from their enemies, such as their disrupters.

Their vessels are known for operating at impressive speeds. This has been a longstanding prerequisite, as testified by the logs of the original Enterprise, a Constitution Class vessel that had to strain its engines to close with a Gorn ship. Gorn shields were also capable of taking a full barrage of phaser and photon torpedo fire with little or no appreciable damage.

Unlike the Klingon and Romulans, the Gorn do not utilize cloaking devices; instead they rely on speed and maneuverability to defend themselves against aggressors. They do possess transporter technology as well as advanced translation technology with the ability to duplicate voices.

Gorn ground units operate in small groups and utilize powerful disruptor artillery, capable of completely disintegrating targets at ranges of between 1,200 and 1,500 yards. They can use lifesign readings as well as almost any form of signals (even a tricorder) as a firing reference.

[edit] Key Characters

-S'Slanne

-Skorn

[edit] Federation Involvement

First contact with the Gorn took place in 2267, when they attacked a Federation observation outpost on Cestus III. The Gorn saw the strike as a preemptive move, since they regarded the Cestus System as part of their territory. Years later, a Federation colony was reestablished on the planet suggesting that the dispute had been settled.

The next major contact with the Federation took place during the Dominion War. At this time the Gorn Hegemony was in the throes of a Civil War. Intervention by the crew of the Enterprise-E restored the Supreme Crestleader to power who showed his appreciation by joining the Federation against the Dominion.

After the war, the Gorn Hegemony retained diplomatic ties with the Federation, and even began to reform the way their military was organized to make interaction with the UFP easier. Recently, the Gorn has joined the Romulans and Klingons in the Federation Exchange Program as a gesture of continued friendship.