The Capellans (Cereans) were a species of humanoids living on the planet Capella IV. They were a warrior tribe race led by the Teer. They look much like humans (albeit taller, with most Capellans being between six and seven feet (1.8 and 2.1 m) in height) but are not actually human biologically, having some internal differences from the human form. (TOS novelization: Friday's Child)
Most Capellan names have a two-vowel form, with a slight pause in between each. For example, the name 'Akaar' is pronounced 'aka-ar'; 'Eleen' is properly rendered as 'Ele-en'; 'Maab' is spoken as 'Ma-ab'; and so on.
First contact was established in 2188, by the USS Argonaut. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
It was theorised they to be the descendents of the USS Ceres expedition which crashed on Capella 100 years prior (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation). Since they were already aware of the existence of the Federation, without being warp capable, Capella IV is considered a grey area of the Prime Directive. Starfleet Medical was under Federation Charter allowed to provide limited medical aid to them. (TOS novel: The Autobiography of James T. Kirk; TOS movie: The Captain's Oath)
The Federation also made contact with the Capellans in the late 2250s[citation needed], and because of the planet's position near the Klingon Empire, Starfleet decided to keep an eye on the Capellans and protect them.
In 2264, Dr. Leonard McCoy led a medical relief mission on behalf of Starfleet Medical to teach the Capellans to embrace medical technology and look after themselves, but after six months, little success was made because of Capellan pride and mistrust in technology. However, McCoy continued to remember Capellan traditions and would make use of them when he later returned to the planet.
In 2267, the Klingons had gained the trust of a tribe leader named Maab, and persuaded him to kill Akaar, the teer, and take his position as leader. However, thanks to Captain James T. Kirk, Commander Spock, and Leonard McCoy of the USS Enterprise, Akaar's widow, Eleen, and unborn son (later named Leonard James Akaar after his rescuers) are taken to safety.
The Enterprise crew managed to thwart the Klingons' efforts, which led to a pitched ground battle between the Capellans and the Klingons, with the Federation's help defending Capellan land. (TOS novels: My Brother's Keeper, Book 3: Enterprise and Invasion!, Book 1: First Strike; also TOS novelization: "Friday's Child", Star Trek 3)
- In James Blish's novelization of "Friday's Child", the Cereans are actually described as human, descendants of an Earth colony founded centuries ago. However, no mention of this is made in the final episode; indeed, the episode specifically says that Capellans are not human, but do resemble them physically.
Capellans[]
| This article or subsection has an associated category. | Capellans |
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Appearances[]
- TOS episode: "Friday's Child"
- TOS comic: "... Let's Kill All the Lawyers!"
- TNG novel: The Genesis Wave, Book One
- DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Twilight
- DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: This Gray Spirit
- DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Cathedral
- DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Lesser Evil
- DS9 novel: Unity
- DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: Trill: Unjoined
- DS9 novel: Sacraments of Fire
- VOY novel: Protectors
- TTN novel: Taking Wing
- TTN novel: The Red King
- TTN novel: Fallen Gods
- ST novel: Cast No Shadow
- ST novel: Articles of the Federation
- ST - The Lost Era novel: The Sundered
- ST - Destiny novels: Gods of Night, Lost Souls
- ST novel: A Singular Destiny
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Rough Beasts of Empire
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Zero Sum Game
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Seize the Fire
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Paths of Disharmony
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Raise the Dawn
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Brinkmanship
- ST - The Fall novel: Revelation and Dust
- ST - The Fall novel: The Crimson Shadow
- ST - The Fall novel: A Ceremony of Losses
- ST - The Fall novel: The Poisoned Chalice
- ST - The Fall novel: Peaceable Kingdoms
- ST - Coda novel: Moments Asunder
- ST - Coda novel: The Ashes of Tomorrow
- ST - Coda novel: Oblivion's Gate
- ST novel: Excelsior: Forged in Fire
References[]
External link[]
- Capellan article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.