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Star-jellies were a space-dwelling lifeform first encountered by the Federation in 2364[1]. They ere an intelligent race of sentient telepathic beings that are capable of manipulating energy to create the effects of replicators and transporters. They possess two forms; one of large discs and the other being their 'true' form; that of a purple jellyfish-like (hence the term "Star-Jelly") cosmozoan. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)
Names
This species was known as Skymounts to the Pa'haquel. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)
In 2364, Commander William T. Riker identified them as space vessel lifeform. (TNG episode: "Encounter at Farpoint")
In the 2410s decade, the Khitomer Alliance referred to them as Cnidarians. (STO - New Frontiers mission: "Echoes of Light")
Biology
Reproduction
The Jellies reproduce by extracting the residual energy from their dead and converting matter extracted from a planet during the subterranean transporter burial of the deceased Jelly to create a new Jelly. The baby is then transferred using their biological transporters amongst the school of Jellies, who each add their own touches to it, like artists perfecting a sculpture. The finished baby is then beamed onto the surface of a nursery world where it grows to maturity under the supervision of, and in continual contact with, adult Jellies in orbit. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)
Telepathic Capabilities
The Jellies possess a strong affinity for psionic abilities, such as telepathy and empathy, so strong in fact, that Commander Deanna Troi was able to feel them from several light years out in 2380.
History
Ancient History
It is not known how the Jellies came to be. The fact that their biology closely imitates the technology of the Federation and other races, such as Transporters and Warp drive, suggests to some Titan crewmembers that they did not evolve naturally, but rather were genetically engineered by some ancient race.
The Jellies made contact with the Pa'haquel by landing periodically on their planet, and as they do with all nursery worlds allowing all the life forms of the planet to move over them. Being benevolent creatures, they even provided them whatever they needed, using the equivalent of replicators. This gave the Pa'haquel the chance to kill one of the creatures and convert it into a starship, which they then used to begin hunting other Jellies. This caused them to become a space-faring race, and to leave their planet in favor of living aboard a fleet of dead Jellies. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)
Encounters with the Federation
The race was encountered twice by the United Federation of Planets, first at Farpoint Station on Deneb IV by the USS Enterprise-D in 2364. Farpoint Station itself was actually one of the creatures, forced into the shape by the native Bandi. The crew of the Enterprise were able to liberate the creature, reuniting it with its mate, which had been bombarding the planet from orbit. (TNG episode: "Encounter at Farpoint")
In 2380, the USS Rubidoux was destroyed during the birthing process of such an entity. (LD episode: "Much Ado About Boimler")
During a joint Khitomer Alliance-Lukari mission of space exploration in 2410, the LSS Concordium and its Alliance escort encountered Cnidarians in the 20 Draconis star system. (STO - New Frontiers mission: "Echoes of Light")
Alternate timeline
In the First Splinter[2] timeline, the second encounter occurred with the USS Titan in 2380, in the Jellies' native Gum Nebula, where they were being hunted by the Pa'haquel, who both revered as well as hunted them for their carcasses, which they used as starships. The Jellies thought of this as an evil, until Titan arrived and negotiated a peace between the two, whereby the Jellies would allow themselves to be used as starships while alive, rather than being killed for it. Through this symbiosis, the Jellies became instrumental in controlling the population of cosmozoans, such as Branchers, which threatened all the lifeforms of the sector. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)
Appendices
Appearances
2364 2380 2410 |
Gallery
External links
- Space vessel lifeform article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Farpoint Cnidarian article at The Star Trek Online Wiki.
- Cnidarian Defender article at The Star Trek Online Wiki.