Hello all, Ric here with another index video looking at the Star Trek species, the Benzites.
This species is relatively new to the scene appearing in the 24th century, but they were
a known power before that.
During the 23rd century, they had limited contact with the Federation, but trade ties
with the Klingon Empire.
As time moved on and Klingon-Federation hostilities eased, contact with the Benzites gradually
increased until it hit a tipping point around the 2360s where their involvement with the
UFP seemingly increased out of nowhere.
They began signing numerous treaties with the Federation, remaining a non-aligned world
until eventually joining.
In 2364, the first Benzite joined Starfleet and did incredibly well, bearing many hallmarks
for his culture and serving as a credit to both Benzar and Strafleet.
Throught the next few years, officer exchange programs took place and several more Benzites
joined Starfleet until 2373.
However, their Federation membership came at a rapid cost to them, the Dominion War
led to the capture of Benzar early on in 2374, however the Romulan Star Empire then managed
to liberate it from the enemy forces.
There were some concerns about the Star Empire’s potential reluctance to let Benzar go again,
but it was a Federation world, so maintaining a hold on it would have been endangering the
political alliances made during the War.
The home planet is, as mentioned, called Benzar but also Pheradon and located in the Delta
Pavonis System.
The planet had 3 moons, Herti, Dwora and b93 and was considered and M class world, however,
like the Barzan people, the planet’s atmosphere contained trace elements of other gases that
the Benzites had evolved the be reliant on, while other species may struggle.
The planet was mostly a series of small continents spread over connected seas, featuring polar
icecaps and the gravity was 1.3Gs.
Biologically, Benzites were easily identifiable among other humanoid species.
They tended to stand slightly shorter than average, being from a higher gravity world
and their skin often had a bluish-green with a sheen to it with mottling and orange-brown
highlights.
Although pigmentation could vary along this spectrum and can be darker or paler, even
extending into a silvery colour but most had a mixture of these shades.
They have two opposable thumbs on each hand and a harder carapace-like structure over
the top of their skull, giving them their distinctive look.
From the mouth hang barbells that they refer to as whiskers which suggests an evolutionary
origin from a sea creature as on Earth, Barbels are used as taste sensors to help detect nearby
food and guide a fish to it in murky waters.
This may not be the case anymore with the Benzites, but they are likely an evolutionary
remnant.
When off world, a Benzite can breathe and survive in a standard M-class atmosphere but
they need a breathing device to add the mixture of vapours they are used to, to avoid difficulties.
They have gone for a different approach than the Barzan who attached the breathers to their
face directly; and opt to simply wear one positioned below the face instead.
Whatever chemicals it process are clearly not a concern for most other humanoids though,
or a less pervasive method of air filtration would be used, one that did not risk others
breathing it in.
Their blood is orange in colour however and mercury-platinum based, so clearly they have
a very different physiology.
There was also another trait of their bodies, in that organ replacements had a very low
chance of being successful for some reason which is unfortunate.
Another quirk of their biology is that Benzites that are from the same geostructure, sort
of the very extended family often looked remarkably similar.
The differences were there, but most of the time, only a Benzite could sport the difference,
something they have been very understanding about.
A geostructure defined as a dome or similar geological structure and to use this term
in relation to familial connection seems odd.
Could be a quirk of translation, or it could also be that Benzite families do not stray
far from a geographical point of origin and that location plays a vital role in their
birth.
Perhaps akin to a familial nursery.
They are described as cities carved into geodes and crystalline deposits in non-canon sources.
Benzites were known to be thorough and diligent by reputation.
In fact it was a part of their training in most vocations to not only unearth problems,
but devise a solution for it before presenting the findings.
This tends to have them work alone as they seek to claim the credit and recognition for
their efforts, which also makes them seem eager to please.
This can come off as prideful and arrogant it times, as they seek praise for going the
extra mile, as it were, potentially at the expense of teamwork.
The origin of this mentality was a philosopher and statesman named Andragov, who, in pre-warp
time had insisted that efficiency and success were the most important aspects to measure
a person’s value.
This was known as the Doctrine of Andragov and became the overriding factor in Benzite
culture.
It did see their society flourish as advancement was rewarded, however there was a much harsher
side to it as every citizen was effectively measured and valued based on their contribution.
During the darkest period of this Doctrine, the lowest scoring among them were expected
to die if they were considered irredeemable failures.
There is much talk in the licenced material about the Benzites being the product of extensive
genetic engineering, but this is not mentioned in canon at all, nor hinted at.
The only references to this in detail I could find were from RPG modules.
But it states that the reason for the Benzites close resemblance is that they were a species
evolved by another races of forebears that attempted to settle Benzar.
They did not, however they managed to create a species that could survive there, but died
out or left before the Benzite genome was completed.
This led to flaws in the Benzite genetics, flaws that the Benzites themselves would correct
at childbirth when they developed their own genetic resequencing technology using the
gear left to them.
These flaws are corrected, allowing for them to develop into healthy adults.
This high level of genetic engineering however would place them at odds with the UFP’s
laws but it is said that because the actually need the technology to actually survive as
a species and repair the unfinished damage it is permitted.
However there is also a time in their history where they did struggle with generic augmentation,
when they were afflicted with a disease that broke down their organs.
They eventually turned to raiding each other’s geostructures for replacement organs (as in
victims) which then led to further genetic modification to produce better warriors.
This was the reason given for the harsh Doctrine of Andragov, as a regulation and replacement
for violent conflict and the genetic addition of low organ transfer success rates; all in
an effort to stave off open warfare.
The Benzites are a very achievement driven species that focus hard on personal development
and success in a metric that they judge with cold calculus.
Their drive may make them seem arrogant at times, or even selfish, but it is how their
society developed and if they are indeed a product of artificial growth, then they truly
are beings of scientific pursuit so perhaps that drive to achieve begins with their progeny.
Thank you for watching this video on the Benzites of Star Trek, a species that does not get
much attention on screen, but rather a lot in other media giving them this very detailed
background in genetics.
The next choices for the index I thought could be a good choice between the expanse’s Martian
Congressional Republic or switching to the Star Wars universe for a look at the Geonosians
and their lore!
Thanks for watching again and I’ll see you next time for another video.
I’ve been Ric, goodbye!