| Description | Crystalline/silicon?, Bipedal? |
| Size | Medium |
| Skin Pigment | ? |
| Hair | ? |
| Distinguishing Features | ? |
| Series | TOS: "The Tholian Web", DS9: "Life Support", "Call to Arms" |
| Planet of Origin | Tholia |
| Quadrant | Alpha |
| Background | First contact occurred when the USS Defiant was trapped in interspace in 2268, the Tholians accused the original Enterprise of violating a territorial annex of the Tholian Assembly while trying to rescue it. The ongoing conflict with the Tholians flared up again in 2353 when the Tholians attacked and nearly destroyed a Federation starbase, with the loss of nearly all personnel. Civilian advisor Kyle Riker was the only survivor in the incident. Conflict with the Tholians continued well into the 24th century, and simulated Tholian battles were part of the StarFleet Academy curriculum as recently as 2355, when Will Riker was able to calculate a sensory blind spot in a simulated Tholian vessel, and use that to his advantage. Tensions remained sufficiently high that Ambassador K'Ehleyr, in 2367, feared a Klingon civil war would eventually involve the Tholians, although diplomatic relations between the Tholians and the Federation were established. In 2371, a Tholian ambassador visited Deep Space 9. A Tholian observer was present at the ill-fated Antwerp Conference on Earth on stardate 49170.65 |
| Editors Notes | Civilization known for its punctuality and highly territorial nature. Tholians have only been seen in one episode, TOS: "The Tholian Web, and even that was just a few shots on the Enterprise main viewer. Those shots which used visual effects and a puppet designed by Mike Minor, seemed to show the faceted head of Commander Loskene. It was not, however, made clear if that was indeed Loskene's head, or if it was simply a helmet. It was also not clear if Loskene's body below the viewer's frame was humanoid or something more exotic. They utilize an odd form of weapon known as the Tholian Web. It is an Energy field used by the Tholians to entrap a disabled enemy spacecraft. A tractor field is spun by two Tholian ships that remain outside of weapons range, encircling the target vessel. Upon completion of the web, the field is contracted destroying the ship within. While attempting to rescue the USS Defiant in 2268, the Enterprise nearly fell victim to a Tholian web. The Tholians create a fine silk fabric that is very difficult to obtain outside of the Tholian Assembly. The Tholians signed the non-agression pact with the Dominion in 2372. |