THE VULCANS.
40 Erandi is a triple star system composed of a brilliant
giant primary and two dwarf stars, one red and one white.
The giant primary (40 Erandi A) is the only star to support
a class M world. Vulcans call this star Las'hark which in
their language means 'precious stone'.
Vulcan is a Class M world, with 86% of the planet Vulcan's
suface is covered by land. From orbit Vulcan appears reddish
in hue, but the planet's surface varies in colour from a
deep orange red to a flat mustard colour. Vulcan is a planet
of hot and arid deserts seperated by spectacular mountain
ranges weathered into bizarre forms by the wind and the
steep temperature gradient.
Vulcan's gravity is higher than Earth's and the air is
thinner. The planet has sustained cultured humanoid life for
many millenia and is the home of one of the Federation's
most ancient and advanced races. The Vulcanoid species is
the second most common in the alpha quadrant and is
considered the seed species of a number of other races,
amongst them the Romulans, the Rigellans, the Mintakans and
the Debrun (now extinct).
Vulcans were the first extra-terrestrial species to contact
humans after Zephram Cochrane discovered the warp drive in
2063. This eventually led to the establishment of the United
Fereration of Planets and Starfleet in 2161, with Earth and
Vulcan as it's founder members.
Vulcanoid population, excluding Romulan offshoots, was
estimated at 21 billion by the Galactic Census taken 25
years ago. Vulcan's planetary system supports a total
population of 14.9 billion, almost a fifth of those reside
in the system's heavily industrialized asteroid belt.
Vulcan itself has a number of cities, including several
large ports. The Vulcan Science Academy, located in the city
of ShiKahr, is one of the Federation's foremost academic
institutions.
The Vulcans are an ancient and peaceful people, dedicated to
logic and have a strong sense of personal honour. They are
socially incapable of outright lies or betrayal, but will
sometimes remain silent rather than express a truth that
might prove injurious to others.
Their devotion to logical thinking came as a result of near
self-extermination in ancient times when the Vulcans were a
hostile, warrior race whose lives were ruled by strong
passions. Surak, the father of Vulcan logical thought lived
during the planet's last great war. After both sides were
devastated, Surak met with emissaries from both sides to
establish a workable peace. The philosophy of logic
eventually prevailed. In the ensuing years since Surak,
there has been little to disrupt the peaceful and logical
existance of the Vulcans.
One group did not accept the new philosophy of logic and
emotional control taught by Surak. They left Vulcan and are
believed to have founded the Romulan Star Empire, remaining
violent warriors.
Surak also promoted the Vulcan concept of IDIC, infinite
diversity in infinite combinations. Vulcans value the
diversity of life in the universe.
Vulcan Physiology
EYES:
The Vulcan eye is protected by a clear inner eyelid
(nictating membrane) that filters out harmful radiation,
heat and dust, all elements present on Vulcan.
EARS:
Laboratory tests found that the unusual, special shape of
the ear helps to funnel air and intensify sound in the dry,
thin air of Vulcan. As a result of this, Vulcans hear
exceedingly well in thicker atmospheres.
HEAD, SKULL:
The Vulcans tend to have a more linear, elongated facial
structure than humans. The Vulcan brain is of the same
overall structure and size (1600 cc) as that of the Terran.
Only in the midbrain area where telepathic and telekinetic
powers originate is the Vulcan brain significantly
different. The Vulcan midbrain is somewhat larger and more
convoluted than the Terran midbrain and this, in part,
explains the telepathic powers of the Vulcan people.
OVERALL BODY - SIZE AND SHAPE
Vulcans are a slim people, an adaptation to their desert
world. Their body structure aids in the dispersion of heat
through radiation. Arms and legs are long and slim with
extremely lengthy and powerful muscles attached to a medium
frame. They are stronger than humans due to the
high-gravity environment of Vulcan in which they evolved.
INTERNAL ORGANS
HEART AND LUNGS:
The average Vulcan heart rate is 242 beats per minute.
The average blood pressure is 80/40 (systolic over
diastolic).
This is explained in part by the extremely dilated blood
vessels of Vulcans. Larger diameter blood vessels are an
additional aid in cooling the body, allowing for greater
cooling surface.
The Vulcan heart is located where one would expect to find
the Terran liver, leaving room for the somewhat larger
Vulcan lung assembly. In consequence, the cartilage (ribs)
that normally protects the Terran heart extends an extra 3.5
cm downward in a Vulcan in order to protect the heart.
Vulcan blood is a copper-based compound and is green in
colour. Copper-based life aids in the utilization of oxygen
under the low atmospheric pressure, low oxygen conditions on
Vulcan. Blood cells are biconvex in contrast to the concave
cells of Terrans. This convex shape also aids in cooling
individual blood cells, the entire blood stream and finally
the entire Vulcan body.
The Vulcan lung is somewhat larger in size than Terran
lungs. The alveoli in the Vulcan lung are 75% more elastic
and are more efficient oxygen procurers than those in human
lungs.
The Vulcan heart is also somewhat larger by Terran
standards, but well within the normal range for humans.
It's increased size relates to the increased workload of the
heart. The only unusual or abnormal facet to the Vulcan
heart is its extreme muscularity. The heart walls are
thinner, but stronger and more flexible than those of the
Terran heart, allowing for a greater pulse range and a
greater volume of blood.
REPRODUCTION
The one gland system that the Vulcan cannot completely
control is that of reproduction.
The female Vulcan is always capable of being impregnated by
the male. A Vulcan male can mate any time, but MUST mate
every 7 years during the ritual of pon farr. The physical
demands on a male Vulcan's body are so intense during this
period that their lives are at risk if they do not undergo
this ritual in time.
Vulcans do not talk about pon farr with outworlders.
========================
I'm interested in playing a Vulcan, where can I get more
information?
*World Wide Web*
VULCAN INFORMATION PAGES:
Marketa's Vulcan web pages:
http://www.ludwig.ucl.ac.uk/st/StarTrek/Vulcan/Vulcan.html
Rachel's Vulcan Resource Center:
http://www.infinet.com/~surak/Vulcan/vulcan.html
VULCAN LANGUAGE RESOURCES:
North Star Klingon Outpost
(includes the Vulcan language tool and Galactic Phrasebook)
http://members.aol.com/JPKlingon
Joel's Galactic Languages page:
http://www.oocities.com/CapeCanaveral/4854/index.html
The Intergalactic Dictionary
(Vulcan, Romulan, Klingon, and Ferengi)
http://www.netland.nl/~dancat/welcome.html
Chris Pinette's Vulcan Language Page
(duplicates Marketa's page)
http://www.dallas.net/~cpinette/startrek/vulcan.html
A VULCAN E-MAIL LIST:
The Vulcan-1 mail list- email to:
vulcan-l-request@shikahr.com.inter.net
Type in mesage body: subscribe Vulcan-1
========================
*Film and Television*
_The Original Series_
"Amok Time" Our first visit to planet Vulcan
"Is There in Truth No Beauty?" Spock wears the IDIC emblem
"The Immunity Syndrome" Mentioned the USS Intrepid, an all-Vulcan ship
"Journey to Babel" We meet Spock's father, Sarek
"The Savage Curtain" Surak is recreated in a fight between
good and evil
_Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock_
_Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier_
_The Next Generation_
"Sarek" Ambassador Sarek's last mission
"Unification" Ambassador Spock works to reunite Vulcan and Romulus
"Gambit" Renegades search for an ancient Vulcan weapon
_Deep Space Nine_
"The Maquis" parts 1 and 2 Features Sekona, a Vulcan in the Maquis
_Voyager_
Features a Vulcan, Tuvok, as chief of security
*Books*
_The Star Trek Encyclopedia_ by Okuda, Okuda, and Mirek,
ISBN 0-671-86905-1
_The Star Trek Chronology_ by Okuda and Okuda, ISBN 0-671-79611-9
_The Star Trek Omnipedia_by Okuda and Okuda, ISBN 0-671-57600-3
(The following aren't canon, but they are a good source of
information.)
_Spock's World_ by Diane Duane, ISBN 0-671-66773-4
_The Vulcan Academy Murders_ by Jean Lorrah, ISBN 0-671-50054-6
_The IDIC Epidemic_ by Jean Lorrah, ISBN 0-671-70768-X
_Vulcan's Glory_ by D. C. Fontana, ISBN 0-671-65667-8
_The Romulan Way_ by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood, ISBN 0-671-63498-4
_Strangers From the Sky_ by Margaret Wander Bonnano, ISBN 0-671-64049-6
_Sarek_ by A. C. Crispin, ISBN 0-671-79562-7
_Unification_ by Jeri Taylor, ISBN 0-671-77056-X
_Mind Meld_ by John Vornholt, ISBN 0-671-00258-9
By Simon Marsh and Aly
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