VULCAN
UFP Founding Member
Description Humanoid, Bipedal
Size Medium
Skin Pigment Tan/Dark
Hair Black (Grey)
Distinguishing Features Pointed ears, enhanced strength and health, green blood, Nictating Membranes on eyes, emotionless (unless in Pon-Far)
Series All
Planet of Origin Vulcan (40 Eri) - Native Name: T'Kashi
Quadrant Alpha
Background The Vulcan race is much older than the Terrans, developing Space Flight when Terrans were ending the Greek era.  They developed their dedication to logic after long wars which eventually led to a large segment of the population breaking off to form the Romulan race.  A later break off of either group may have become the Rigelian race.  The Vulcans dedicated their exploration of space to science, and tracked many developing worlds, such as Earth.  In the mid 21st Century the Vulcans made Contact with the Terrans after learning that they had developed FTL (warp) travel.  Trade alliances were formed between Vulcan, Earth and several other friendly worlds - which would eventually develop into the United Federation of Planets in 2161.
Editors Notes Vulcan is a world with minimal precipitation, a very hot climate, and a thinner atmosphere than Earth. Conditions on Vulcan have led to many physical advantages evolving over time.  Enhanced Strength, and health help to combat the effects of the heavy gravity and ensure survival on a planet with an environment as demanding as Vulcan.  Their Nictating Membranes allow for near instantaneous adjustments to varying degrees of light, and Vulcans do not feel uncomfortable in climates that would be too hot for Terrans.  In order to compensate for the decreased distances in hearing ranges, Vulcans have evolved pointed ears, designed to channel more sound waves into the ear canal.  The average lifespan of Vulcans is roughly double that of Terrans.

Vulcans are taught most psionic disciplines from childhood, manifesting themselves primarily in the Vulcan Mind Meld.  The Mind Meld is a telepathic power package consisting primarily of the skills Telesend and Telereceive.  Vulcans do not naturally lack emotions; this is a discipline taught starting at the very youngest ages.  Vulcans are devoted to increasing their mental capacity by controlling their inner actions.  To this end, they dedicate their lives to the suppression of emotions and devotion to total logic.  Despite Vulcan's founding role in the UFP, there exists a substantial segment of Vulcan society which is extremely isolationistic and wants to have Vulcan free of interaction with "illogical" beings.  A few Vulcans have given up the devotion to logic in pursuit of other goals that can only come from being an emotional entity.  Vulcan's wish to give up all emotions and clear their mental faculties so that they may pursue every matter from the perspective of pure logic.  Half-Vulcans generally have a harder time keeping control under moments of duress.  Vulcans with the devotion to logic are immune to fear, insults, and all other such attacks.  Vulcans can remember highly detailed information about events, people, and places they encountered during their life.  Vulcans can do complex calculations in their minds, and analyze almost any mathematical equation with ease.  They can also control their metabolism through concentration, putting themselves into a trance-like state, which acts as sort of a mental vacation.  This trance can also be used to accelerate their own healing processes.

See Vulcan for more information.

Pon Farr: This represents the Vulcans' link to their mates.  Once every seven years, Vulcans must return home to take a mate (or rejoin one already taken).  This drive is very strong, and cannot be resisted long.
Vulcan Mind-Meld: This skill effectively links two minds together and allows one to search the other's motives, memories, etc.  After the initial contact, two willing people may freely exchange memories, information, and feelings.  Under these circumstances, the mind-meld causes no stress or loss of fatigue.  If the link is made by force, or if one is unwilling it causes extreme stress on both and a period of rest is required.
Vulcan Nerve Pinch: The purpose of the attack is to render a humanoid unconscious by doing as little true damage as possible.  To attack with this skill, an attack must be made at the defender's neck.  If the attack is successful, the defender will fall unconscious for 5-15 minutes.
Brief Vulcan Timeline
15 Billion YA The Milky Way galaxy is formed.
8 Billion YA 40 Eridanus system forms.
5 Billion YA Planets form into distinct seperate bodies.
2.6 Billion YA First rain falls on the 4th planet hereafter called VULCAN
2.1 Billion YA Rocks cool, and water filles the lower regions of the surface.  First life is born on Vulcan.
1.5 Billion YA First single celled organisms evolve.
2.4 Million YA First bipeds evolve
1.7Million YA First cultural developments.  Language/reasoning/curiosity.
1.5 Million YA Radiation storms occur on Vulcan's sun, Nevasa - or ( 40-Eridani).  The environment begins to change dramatically. Most of the open water on the planet evaporates.  The forests vanish, the atmosphere becomes dry, hot, and thin, as the oxygen is ionized by the high radiation level. Many die from thirst, hunger, radiation disease.
1.4 Million -
100,000 YA
Violent cultural changes (hatred, envy, jealousy, greed, brutality), confidence replaced by fear, reliance by deception.  Inhabitants fight against nature.  The radiation causes mutations to Vulcan DNA leading to the birth of dead or mutilated children.  In some clans babies are born with a curious glow in their eyes.  First suspected to be blind, they prove to be able to see despite the glaring sun and in the dark, due to a special visual pigment.  On others the ears are larger than normal with a pointed top, the structure of the ear is more delicate.  Their ears prove to be an advantage in the thin air where sound is not carried as well.
10,000 YA Environmental adaptations finalized.  Clan wars common.
5100 BC (Terran) Vulcans discover Flight.
3100 BC Nuclear power.
1000 BC Early space flights.
600-200 BC Space flight common.  Age of Exploration.
168 BC Surak born on Vulcan
123 BC Vulcan receives first radio signals from Orion pirates arriving in their system.
122 BC,
January 18-19
First meeting with the Orion pirates.  Orion ship lands, stuns and kidnaps most of the official Vulcan delegation, murders the rest.  Surak is not present due to travel difficulties.  S'Task is captured.  The `Ahkh' begins.
122 BC, March End of the `Ahkh'.  Vulcans drive off the Orions using a combination of traditional warfare and psi weapons.
122 BC, November Cloaked Orion spy ship destroyed.  Hulk left in desert outside Te'Rikh as a monument.
120 BC The House of Surak establishes its ancestral home in the city of ShiKahr on Vulcan.
115 BC Surak of Vulcan begins to preach his philosophy of logic, stoicism and non-violence.
113 BC Riots on Vulcan as militaristic Vulcans in favour of arming to meet the interstellar threat clash with the more numerous pacifists supporting Surak.
107 BC The number of the `Declared', Vulcans pledged to follow S'Task on the Journey, reaches 12000.  S'Task first suggests that those who wish to go on the Journey should donate all their possesions to the cause.
100 BC End of Orion wars.
89 BC The number of the `Declared' reaches almost five percent of Vulcan's population.  Ultimately, the limited number of ships, and the waning of early excitement about the project will substantially reduce the number of Vulcans who leave on the Journey.
88 BC Surak's reforms continue unhindered.  Logic replaces Emotion.  Restructuring of society.
900-1900 AD Vulcan exploration of neighboring star systems.
Approx. 2060 AD Scout ship detects warp signature eminating from Sol system.  Initiates First Contact with Terrans.
2161 United Federation of Planets founded.  Starfleet established.

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