The Kirtascans are a reptilian species native to the planet Kirtas in the Large Magellanic Cloud. In their bronze period, they were discovered by a non-corporeal life form that took an interest in the fledgling civilization. Knowing that the Dark would discover them eventually, they placed themselves into a stasis that would use their very life force to shield Kirtas and the systems around it from physical incursion by the Apostate Fleet, earning them the moniker of Protector and status of divinity for the Kirtascans.
Thousands of years later, officers aboard the USS Pilgrim discovered that the Dark had telepathically infiltrated the Holy Empire that had formed around the mythology of the Protector and the crew managed to awaken them from stasis, spurring the people to overthrow their corrupt High Pontiff via the highest window in the capital.
During the Dawnbreaker War their home world of Kirtas was bombarded with Red Blight by the Tanausan fleet lead by Grand Admiral Daharius Nil. It was subsequently sanitized after the Tanausans were ejected from the system and has been undergoing rehabitation efforts for nearly three decades as of this writing.
Archived Information (Outdated)[]
- Race Designation - The Kirtascans
- Species - Reptillian
- Initial Contact Made By - U.S.S. Pilgrim, NCC-92481
- Technological Level Observed - Approximate to late twenty-fourth century Federation technology. Utilises RN-74 crystals. Artificial intelligence observed on one of their prototype craft.
- Cultural Notations:
- Society appears to be a "Holy Empire" dominated by the worship of a figure known as the "Great Protector." According to the Kirtascans, this "Protector" has been shielding them from the forces of Darkness. Its symbol is a twelve-pointed star often worn as a pendant by the faithful.
- Lead by an individual named Valacar Du'herr, referred to as the High Pontiff.
- Known to utilise telepathy to deceive their perceived enemies into assisting them in their cause. Notably, a Kirtascan group lead by an "Inquisitor" took control of the U.S.S. Pilgrim and manipulated the non-telepathic crewmembers into assisting in an interrogation of the command staff.
- They do not appear to possess any moral qualms about the utilisation of torture.
- A secular group appears to be growing in Kirtascan society, however it is heavily suppressed by the state and its members are condemned as heretics and apostates. Lady Oyenne Belir, one of the leaders of this secular movement, is currently in exile but maintains communication with Citadel forces.
- Belir's ship, the Karthan, has shown advanced AI capabilities despite being an alleged prototype. It was able to seek out the U.S.S. Pilgrim and U.S.S. Argentina and request their assistance after its crew was abducted by the Scyrthi.
- Adult Kirtascans appear to be at least two meters tall. They are entirely scaled with colouration that varies from white and grey through varying shades of brown or gold. Possess horns along face, jaw and on the back of the head. Visual comparisons have been drawn to the Horned Lizard of Earth.
- Compiled by Lieutenant Commander T'Rel, Stardate 95403.51