The Rakelli are a serpentoid species who live, and originate, within space that is currently claimed by the Klingon Empire. The Rakelli are hostile towards the Klingons as they claim that Klingon space was part of a once mighty Rakelli Empire which the Klingons conquered in the past. Ever since the fall that, which took place in the late 23rd century, the Rakelli have sought vengeance against the Klingon Empire by raiding convoys and starships.
Several bases of the Rakelli are present on Beta Thoridor II, an asteroid base within Klingon space and Alpha Ty'Gorkor.
They possessed several starships of their own design with the largest being a light cruiser but they did possess freighters as well as a frigate craft. (ST video game: Starfleet Command III)