Ariman high priest

The Ariman high priest was a humanoid male. He was the religious leader and head of the government on the planet Arima in the R-517 star system in the 23rd century.

He commanded a fleet of Ariman ships and oversaw worship of the deity Vengwal.

History
In the 23rd century, the high priest desired membership for his world in the Federation, but he was not willing to sign a peace treaty with the Mazdans, with whom the Ariman people had been fighting throughout their history. He and the Mazdan high priest aired their grievances to the Federation Council. The Council drafted a resolution permitting membership for both planets so long as a cease-fire was maintained. He obeyed the resolution, yet kept his armada in battle-ready condition.

In 2267, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) visited Ariman on the day of a prophecy that Vengwal would appear and lead their people to victory. James T. Kirk, Spock and Leonard McCoy beamed down and met with the priest at Vengwal’s temple. Vengwal seemed to materialize at the appointed time, and the priest then signaled his attack fleet to launch against an armada of Mazdan ships. Visiting Professor Osric Whipple redirected the Enterprise’s deflector shield energy into a magnetic wall that adhered the enemy ships to each other. Inadvertently, the process converted Whipple into a non-corporeal state, where he was interpreted as Vengwal asking for peace. Both sides agreed to meet and establish a peace treaty.