Regalian

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Speculative Xenobiology

The existence of Regalians, a Regalian homeworld, Regalian culture, and Regalian lifeforms in the Star Trek Universe can be presumed from references to things "Regalian" in at least three episodes. The most canonical of these references appear in the Deep Space Nine episode "The Ship," in which Quark imports "Regalian fleaspiders" and "Regalian liquid crystals" to the station: both of these are listed in the 1999 edition of the Star Trek Encyclopedia. Presumably Quark imported them from the Regalian homeworld or one of their colonies.

The least canonical of these references appears in the Next Generation episode "Schizoid Man," in which Dr. Ira Graves refers to himself (both in his own body and in that of Data) as being "as fit as a Regalian ox." This reference is not listed in the Star Trek Encyclopedia, and is based on how the actors W. Morgan Sheppard (Graves) and Brent Spiner (Data) pronounce what is printed in the script as "Rigellian." One may infer that the scriptwriter was originally intending to suggest that oxen from the Rigel system or one of its colonies are well-known for being exceptionally fit: Rigel is an actual star (Beta Orionis), and there are many references to planets and colonies in the Rigel system in Star Trek. However, the adjective most often used to mean "from Rigel" (e.g., in the Star Trek Encyclopedia), is "Rigelian," with one "L" and pronounced with a long "I" and a soft "G" (like the star). By contrast, the actors pronounce "Rigellian" with a short "I" and a hard "G", and pronounce the "E" like a long "A". This is closer to how "Regalian" is pronounced in "The Ship" (with the "E" pronounced like a short "I" or a schwa) than it is to the more common pronunciation of "Rigelian."

The third Star Trek episode in which something "Regalian" is mentioned is the Next Generation's "Final Mission." In it, Captain Picard has decided to take Wesley Crusher on one final mission before going to Starfleet Academy. Picard explains that Wesley should find it educational as it deals with Federation colonial law, which apparantly is an Academy subject. At one point on their shuttle trip to Pentarus V (the Federation colony in question), Picard gets up to leave the cockpit in order to "brush up on Regalian law" in the rear compartment. One may infer from this that Pentarus V is thus a Regalian colony, and that the Regalians are thus members of the Federation.

If this is so, then presumably the shuttle pilot Dirgo is also Regalian, in which case we can deduce a few things about Regalian culture: Dirgo seems to be unfamiliar at first with the custom of the (Terran) handshake, greeting Picard with the presumably Regalian custom of clutching the other persons shoulders before hesitantly accepting Picard's proffered hand; the Regalians have their own shuttle technology (e.g., the Nenebek), which is comparable (if not necessarily the equal) to that of Starfleet; and dresci is a type of transparent alcoholic beverage that Regalians drink.

So, if one accepts all of the above, then it follows that the Regalian homeworld is a member of the Federation, with humanoid inhabitants who look mostly human-(Terran)-like except for brow ridges which are subtly more pronounced. Non-humanoid lifeforms from the Regalian homeworld include a notoriously fit species of ox, and fleaspiders whose venom can be used for a humanoid circulatory medicine. The Regalians are a spacefaring race who have established colonies in the Pentarus system, including the salenite mining colony of Pentarus V. The Regalian homeworld is also a source of intoxicants, ranging from the mostly harmless dresci beverage to the sometimes dangerous aphrodisiac liquid crystals.

- Joe (Bring Back Bearclaw!)