Species Name: Cerva

Homeworld: None

Population: (Suggested) Seventy Million

Classification: Vulcanis Cervanicas

Language: Cervan, seeming to be a cross between several native dialects.

History:

The Cerva can be traced back to the Rihannsu, the Declared Travelers who left Vulcan long ago in search of a new planet. However, three ships were lost amongst a black hole, and were assumed consumed by the void. However, they were in reality swept across space, ending up much too far away from home. The lost Rihannsu searched with their ships for a home, but none were found. A plague struck aboard the vessels, killing nearly every male onboard the ships. With nearly half their population and most of their breeding stock lost, the Travelers thought that they were at an end. However, it was fate that would be on their side. They came upon another ship, a living starship crewed by a kind species. They accepted the Rihannsu into their ranks, their worst mistake. The Rihannsu women took advantage of the aliens’ hospitality, killing most of the crew and keeping the rest to help replenish their peoples’ numbers. The result of the half-breed race became the Cerva.

The Cerva found the breeding ground of the living starships, and forged a pact with them, forming a symbiotic relationship. They both became quick masters of war, the Cerva ships learning how to form weapons on their hull-skins and how to rain plasma on their enemies. The Cerva learned how to bond with their ships, the pilots of each ship communicating telepathically while in flight, performing graceful maneuvers.

For thousands of years, the Cerva, while a small faction in the players of quadrant politics, were generally unheard of. Now, they live on an armada of their own, spread out through space and set up their own small section of space to command as their own.

Technology: The Cerva are both scavengers and inventors, adapting what they can find for their living starships, and improving upon existing designs. One of their most unique features is a biological cloaking device, leaving none of the usual background raditation. A typical Cerva ship is the size of an Intrepid-class starship, fast and maneuverable but incredibly deadly. Some Cerva warships live long enough to become what are termed as “worldships”. These ships are the size of the island of Manhattan, and while they do not have as much firepower for their size, they do hold millions of people onboard.

Society: Cerva society is radically matriarchal. Women hold all political positions, and only women can become officers. Class and marriage holds a distinct place in Cerva society. Married women are held with high esteem, and men of high-class families are used to forge political alliances through marriage.

Biology: In Cerva society, the males and females tend to be of almost the same height and weight(that of an average male vulcanoid), with men usually leaning towards the smaller end of the scale. Females also carry a heightened telepathic sense, holding the ability to sense strong emotions.

Also, Cerva females can “claim” their mates by initiating a telepathic bond with them. When this is done, it is considered a Cerva marriage. A bond on the males is restraining, acting almost like a narcotic. If a Cerva female distances herself too far away from the male, the male goes into a state similar to withdrawl. Cerva mate for life as well.

Government: The Cerva government is a military-governed empire. The only other organization that holds any sort of power other than the military are the priests and priestesses.

Religion: Cerva religion is largely paganistic, with many people holding their own beliefs, but a set of fae seem to act as the primary deities, known for trading for Cerva’s wishes. They are more commonly referred to as “the gods”

Cerva naming conventions: The Cerva place their surnames first, with personal names being given second.