- Joined
- 31 Jul 2012
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- 1,373
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- 32
I don't just mean that they're the weird looking aliens that appeared in Ensigns of Command. I mean, who are they as a people? I'm currently working on a full-race for them and I'm trying to come up with an idea of who they are for special weapons, but I think it'd be interesting to explore who they are in general in case anyone wants to use them in a fan fic or something.
It's established on-screen that the Sheliak have no regard for Human life and view Humans (and the Federation in general, I'd imagine) as lower lifeforms. They have a highly complex language the Federation hasn't cracked in over 111 years. It's also implied they might have more powerful technology than the Federation, though I'm not sure if Data was comparing a hand phaser to a ship-mounted weapon or not.
Even with all that said, the Sheliak were willing to hammer out a treaty with the Federation, which shows a great deal of patience on their part. I imagine it would be like the Federation trying to get a treaty with the Pakleds. I wonder what their motivation would be in hammering out a treaty? Were they ending a war, or preventing one? Trying to keep the Federation out of areas they consider theirs? Would a war with the Federation be too costly?
I also think it'd be interesting to explore the idea of the Sheliak Corporate. While we think of corporations as for-profit entities, this word is also used for non-profit companies, and the term "member" is usually used for non-profit groups where "shareholder" would be used with for-profit companies. How this translates into a government or representative entity for the Sheliak would be interesting to explore.
If anyone has any ideas, feel free.
Also, if you want a giggle, find a transcript of the Treaty of Armens.
It's established on-screen that the Sheliak have no regard for Human life and view Humans (and the Federation in general, I'd imagine) as lower lifeforms. They have a highly complex language the Federation hasn't cracked in over 111 years. It's also implied they might have more powerful technology than the Federation, though I'm not sure if Data was comparing a hand phaser to a ship-mounted weapon or not.
Even with all that said, the Sheliak were willing to hammer out a treaty with the Federation, which shows a great deal of patience on their part. I imagine it would be like the Federation trying to get a treaty with the Pakleds. I wonder what their motivation would be in hammering out a treaty? Were they ending a war, or preventing one? Trying to keep the Federation out of areas they consider theirs? Would a war with the Federation be too costly?
I also think it'd be interesting to explore the idea of the Sheliak Corporate. While we think of corporations as for-profit entities, this word is also used for non-profit companies, and the term "member" is usually used for non-profit groups where "shareholder" would be used with for-profit companies. How this translates into a government or representative entity for the Sheliak would be interesting to explore.
If anyone has any ideas, feel free.
Also, if you want a giggle, find a transcript of the Treaty of Armens.