The Olahm are an extremely advanced and ancient species with an opposed view to that of the United Federation of Planets regarding matters of interference in alien cultures.
History[]
When Humans where still a primitive species, the Olahm learned that by posing as gods they could be accepted by primitive alien cultures and that such authority could be used to help lesser developed species to rise above their base instincts and their need for religion.
The Olahm had been directing the development of other species for millennia when they encountered the Lerikans, as for their usual they approached them using their abilities and technologies to appear as gods in order to influence them.
When the Lerikans started to progress past their need for religion and abandoned their theocratic system, the Olahm started to test them by causing several natural disasters that resulted in widespread destruction and death. Because of this, civil war erupted between democratic progressives and theocratic conservatives who feared "divine punishment". The Lerikan second minister, posing as an ambassador, approached the United Federation of Planets and asked for membership, hoping that the Federation could mediate the conflict.
The Federation sent the USS Enterprise, and its crew quickly discovered that they had been deceived and started to suspect that the natural disasters that they witnessed on Lerik IV weren't natural. Still, they attempted to mediate for peace, but the Lerikan prime minister was adamant in her belief that her people had to move beyond their theocratic system.
Meanwhile, the Enterprise found herself without power and Spock left the ship on a shuttlecraft to investigate some anomalous readings before disappearing after the shuttles' inexplicable explosion.
On the planet, the prime minister refused to compromise for peace and was murdered by her second minister. This proved to the Olahm that the Lerikans had progressed far enough to learn the truth and revealed themself to their worshippers, also revealing an unhurt Spock that they had saved from the explosion of the shuttle when he approached the Olahm starship hiding in orbit.
After resurrecting the prime minister, the Olahms refused to undo any other damage so that the future generations of Lerikans could remember the price they paid for progress. Following a heated exchange about ethics with James T. Kirk, the Enterprise left the planet with the Lerikans applying for Federation membership. (TOS comic: "The Last Stand")
Culture[]
The Olahm are a clear example of belief that the end justifies the means, as they have no problem about lying to other species for thousands of years, causing wars, natural disasters and killing people if they believe that in doing so they will help in the long run.
They completely deny the morality of the Prime Directive and appear to be anti-theistic to the extreme. Still, they appear to try to limit the harm they cause to people that they find to be developed enough, as they saved Spock and the Lerikan prime minister from certain death.
They believe that their considerable power gives them the authority to influence other cultures, but apparently do not consider themselves to be cruel as they believe that they are helping others. (TOS comic: "The Last Stand")
Biology[]
The Olahm appear as floating yellow faces composed of four rhomboids that form the shape of a butterfly, with two eyes, a mouth and no visible nose or teeth. They generate fire from their eyes and are psychokinetic, as they can apparently lift and move objects and people with their mind.
What is probably their greatest power is the ability to bring back people from the dead and heal injuries considered to be lethal even by a gifted doctor like Leonard McCoy. (TOS comic: "The Last Stand")
Technology[]
The Olahm have been traveling through space since before the formation of the United Federation of Planets. Their ships appear to have advanced cloaking technology, and have the ability to influence the climate and tectonic activities of planets.
They also displayed the ability to disable a Constitution-class cruiser without effort and cause the explosion of a shuttle without firing a shot. Still, their technology emits a signal that can be followed to the source. (TOS comic: "The Last Stand")