Payav

The Payav are a humanoid species that are native to the planet Mestiko, located in the Beta Quadrant.

Appearence
The Payav are distinguished by the six digits on their hands, as well as the tattoo's that are painted all over their bodies. The tattoo's are a form of family marking and similar tattoo's can be found on the bodies of all members of the family. The more tattoo's there are on the body represents their status in society. (TOS eBooks: Mere Anarchy: Things Fall Apart and The Centre Cannot Hold).

History
Like most other humanoid societies, the Payav separated out into different nation states that over the centuries have had different quarrels and conflicts between them. However, that all changed with the founding of the Zamestaad, a unifying body similar to the United Nations on Earth, where all of the nation states sent representatives to preserve peace and unity.

By 2264, the Gelta nation-state had successfully built and tested their first warp-capable vessel. This attracted the attention of the United Federation of Planets, who sent an investigative team undercover to study the prospect of Mestiko's admission into the Federation. Around the same time, the Atmospheric and Astronomic Council began receiving data that a rogue pulsar was going to enter the Mestikan system and deadly x-ray's would cause untold damage to the planet.

Nathan Apohatsu, of the Federation contact team, made contact with Mino orDresha, the chief scientific advisor to First Consul Flen Hamwora, and they discussed the threat from pulsar several times over the next 18 months. In 2265, Hamwora discovered the secret meetings between Apohatsu and orDresha and requested that the Federation please help his world, and although helping them would contravene the Prime Directive, he advocated Federation assistance.

Six months later, Professor Lindsey Cameron had designed and built six probes that would hopefully deflect the deadly rays from the pulsar, and the probes were carried there by the USS Enterprise. Meanwhile, the Payav had learned of the danger to their planet and began to panic and riot all other the planet. However, as the time drew near, the Payav went into emergency shelters to hopefully survive with their loved ones.

Unfortunately, one of the probes malfunctioned which destabilized the network, and even the Enterprise 's attempt to act as a conduit could not save Mestiko from the brunt of the radiation. Millions of people were killed, but with assistance from the Enterprise, the injured were treated, and with the arrival of many Federation aid ships, the Payav began to rebuild their world. (TOS eBook: Things Fall Apart).