Zakdorn

Zakdorn
Type:	Humanoid

The Zakdorn were a sentient, humanoid species, whose homeworld was a member of the United Federation of Planets.

Physiology

The Zakdorn had a distinct appearance, with three pouches of thick, fibrous tissue on both of their cheeks. Their general appearance was humanoid, with two arms, two legs, and a head with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

Society and Culture

For nine millennia, they were regarded by potential foes as having the greatest innately strategic minds in the galaxy. Because of this perception, no one has tested the Zakdorn in combat, prompting Worf to dismissively note that "the reputation means nothing." As a people, the Zakdorn were generally replete with self-assuredness and overconfidence. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

History

In 2365, the master strategist Sirna Kolrami visited the USS Enterprise-D to serve as observer and mediator during a battle simulation between the USS Enterprise-D and the USS Hathaway in the Braslota system.

The Zakdorn was quite skilled at the game of Strategema, reaching the rank of third level grand master. While aboard the Enterprise-D, he easily defeated Commander Riker at the game, causing him to have a low opinion of Riker's ability as a strategist. During the simulation, however, Kolrami was impressed by Riker's highly unorthodox style which saw the heavily outmatched Hathaway score several simulated hits on the Enterprise-D.

Once the battle simulation was underway, the Ferengi marauder Kreechta interrupted in the false belief that the Hathaway held some secret value. Offering his strategic advice, Kolrami insisted that the Enterprise-D abandon Riker and his crew as acceptable losses; Captain Picard refused, and Riker was able to fool the Ferengi into believing his ship had been destroyed. Further impressed by Riker's strategic machinations, Kolrami filed a favorable report on Riker's performance to Starfleet.

After witnessing Riker's earlier defeat at Strategema, Doctor Pulaski encouraged Lieutenant Commander Data to challenge Kolrami to a game of Strategema, in the belief that Data was infallible and could not be defeated by an organic person. Kolrami easily triumphed, causing Data to question his own abilities and to even request to be relieved of duty, believing that his advice could be flawed and that Captain Picard should not rely on it. Data later realized that his own strategy was flawed and challenged Kolrami to a second game; this time passing up obvious avenues of opportunity to gain an advantage. This stalling defensive tactic so frustrated Kolrami that he quit the game, handing victory to Data by default. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

They were one of the many species that attended the biennial Trade Agreements Conference held on Betazed in 2366. (TNG: "Ménage à Troi")

As of 2368, the Zakdorn had operated the Federation Surplus Depot Z15 in orbit of Qualor II for some time. (TNG: "Unification I")

Technology

The Zakdorns were known for their strategic minds and were likely adept at technology. However, there is no known information on specific technological advancements made by this species. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

People

Named

• Klim Dokachin
• Sirna Kolrami

Unnamed

• See: Unnamed Zakdorn

Appendices

Appearances

• TNG:
  • "Peak Performance"
  • "Ménage à Troi"
  • "Unification I"
  • "Unification II"
• ENT: "These Are the Voyages..."
• LD: "Grounded"

Background information

According to the script for "Peak Performance", Zakdorn was pronounced as "ZACK-dorn".

Kolrami himself was described in the script notes as "a slender weasel-like creature." According to Michael Westmore, in the case of designing the Zakdorn:

Sometimes it's hard to design a humanoid makeup until we actually know who the actor is and what he looks like. [...] There was nothing in the script telling me what the character would look like, and it wasn't until I started sculpting over the cast of Roy's head that I was able to come up with an idea.
Roy has a full, round face, and I designed a set of appliances that would work with his features. We made a piece that went over his nose and upper lip, two pieces for the cheeks and an appliance for this forehead. I didn't want to do anything with his hair, so the hair stylist slicked it back, exposing more of his face. I also left his hands alone, because I knew there would be several scenes of him playing a game, and he would need his hands free.
Once we had established what the Zakdorns looked like in "Peak Performance," I used the same makeup in "Unification." It was just a matter of adjusting and making a new set of appliances to fit the actor. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Makeup FX Journal, p. 72)

The script notes for Dokachin's appearance described that "He is of a race called Zakdorn, noted for their self-assuredness and confidence. This translates into someone who is officious, fastidious, and pushy."

According to a line cut from DS9: "The Maquis, Part II", Benjamin Sisko and Calvin Hudson were persuaded by Curzon Dax to play a game of dom-jot against two Zakdorn on Pelios Station. The Zakdorn were triumphant and Curzon revealed he had placed a bet on their victory.

According to Star Trek: Star Charts ("United Federation of Planets II") and Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library ("Federation Historical Highlights, 2161-2385"), there was a star system named Zakdorn, which might possibly be the system of origin for this species, in the Beta Quadrant. This was a binary system with a M-class star and K-class star.

External link

• Zakdorn at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works