Andorians today can be found in every station and office across the United Federation of Planets.
They are honored starfleet captains and officers, diplomats,
merchants, industrialists and scientists.
So ubiquitous among the Federation are the Andorians, that it is difficult to imagine a time
when they were not citizens of an interstellar union of nation-states, but of an Empire. An
Andorian Empire that once sought to conquer those its descendants now call allies and friends.
The Andorians originated on an eponymous icy moon, orbiting the ringed gas giant of Andor.
They evolved in the subterranean caverns that riddled the world,
growing adept at sensing odors and vibrations through their characteristic twin antenna.
The species diverged at some point, with the blind but telepathic Aenar
inhabiting the Northern Wastes of the moon, and falling into Andorian myth and legend.
Expansionist and possessing a martial culture,
the Andorians worked to explore and conquer their moon, utilizing primitive ice cutters to broaden
the frontiers of their various nation states. By the advent of warp drives and interstellar travel,
a unified Andorian Empire had formed, and begun to claim several nearby star systems.
They established first contact with the Vulcan High Command during this initial period of
expansion, and while a mutually beneficial relationship seemed possible, it quickly devolved
into a prolonged rivalry and military-buildup that would dominate the affairs of both civilizations.
A similar relationship later developed with the Tellarites, who like the Vulcans,
were distrustful of Andorian militarism.
By the mid 22nd century, a series of brushfire conflicts sparked by border disputes and covert
maneuvering had brought the Andorian Empire and Vulcan High Command to the brink of war. Despite
their nominal status as a Vulcan puppet-state, United Earth and by extension humanity, earned
a great deal of respect from the Empire after a Starfleet vessel helped expose an illegal Vulcan
monitoring station on the border world of P’Jem. The incident marked Andorian-Human relations,
and cemented United Earth as an impartial and honorable power in the minds of the Empire’s
leadership. The Andorian Empire would later assist Starfleet in its war against the Xindi,
helping to prevent the wide scale destruction of life on Earth.
Acting on the not entirely unfounded belief that the Andorians were seeking to use Xindi
technology in their struggle against Vulcan, the High Command launched a preemptive strike against
Andoria in 2154. Despite an initial success luring the majority of the Andorian fleet away
from their homeworld, Starfleet again intervened. The justification for the invasion was disproven,
culminating in an Andorian victory and the dissolution of the Vulcan High Command.
The Vulcan reformation eased centuries of tensions and created a period of detente with the Andorian
Empire. This new relationship was marked by the Babel Crisis, in which starships from United
Earth, Vulcan, Tellar, and the Andorian Empire entered into an unprecedented joint task force.
Their efforts exposed the attempted manipulation of outside powers, and laid the groundwork for a
Coalition of Planets, an international union uniting the governments of its member states.
Support for the Coalition of Planets was galvanized in 2156 at the outbreak of the
Earth-Romulan war. Though Earth vessels would go on to do the majority of the fighting,
the Andorian Empire provided vital support, before openly joining the conflict and contributing to
the humiliating Romulan defeat at the Battle of Cheron in 2160. The victory would lead to the
triumphant allies founding the United Federation of Planets one year later. The Andorian Empire was
disbanded, and its naval forces incorporated into the newly established Starfleet Command.
Prior to its dissolution, the Andorian Empire exerted sovereign authority
over several star systems surrounding their homeworld.
Highly territorial, few ships were allowed to transit through Andorian space without an
escort. Most colonies however were comparatively rudimentary settlements, with the majority of the
Empire’s industrial and economic strength located on the Andorian moon. The Empire’s
government was headed by a Chancellor whose power was balanced by the Andorian Imperial Council.
The Imperial Guard was the primary armed force of the Empire, consisting of an interstellar fleet
and planetary forces. These forces developed a fierce reputation, known across the quadrant for
their lack of non-lethal weaponry. Andorian battlecruisers were the principal element
of the Empire’s military power and deployed regularly across its territory. In addition
to its role in the protection of Andorian interests, the Imperial Guard also formed
the center of many cultural traditions, and was a core aspect of their society.
Andorian culture, which persists largely unchanged in the modern Federation,
had a fierce martial tradition built upon a code of honor. Ritual combat was common,
regulated by a vast body of rules and practices. Military service was held in the highest regard,
with those killed in action, transported back to Andoria, in whole or in part,
for a ceremonial burial amongst the ice flows. The greatest Andorian heroes were additionally
honored by having samples of their blood added to the Wall of Heroes on Andoria.
Suspicious, volatile and deeply emotional to the point of violence, it is remarkable
that such a civilization has so successfully integrated into the United Federation of Planets.
Yet as a founding member, it cannot be denied that the Federation and in particular Starfleet
is built as much on Andorian values as any other member. Andorian determination,
passion, ambition and honor can be found across the whole of the Federation,
the last and highest gift of an Empire to the alliance that replaced it.