This page details Gorn in the primary universe; for the Gorn in the mirror universe see Gorn (mirror); for the Gorn in the Kelvin timeline created by Nero's temporal incursion, see Gorn (Kelvin timeline); for the Gorn in the mirror universe created by Nero's temporal incursion see Gorn (mirror) (Kelvin timeline); for the Gorn in all other alternate universes see Gorn (alternates).

The Gorn, or Gornaran Archosaur (Homo lacertae), were a sapient reptilian humanoid species native to the planet Gornar (aka S'sgaron) in the galaxy's Beta Quadrant. The Gorn state was the Gorn Hegemony. (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation)

History and specifics[]

Subsidiary species[]

Unknown to most outsiders, the Gorn were not one but several distinct cold-blooded, reptilian species, all of whom evolved on the same homeworld. All Gorn species enjoyed an extremely long lifespan of approx. 300 years. Each species had their own language, and thus their own name for their joint homeworld Gornar.

By 2371, Federation xenobiologists had identified two species - the Ssessekh and the Russth, and had anecdotal evidence of four others. Starfleet Intelligence analysts concluded in 2382 that Gorn society might comprise members of as many as a dozen species, all of which were thought to be humanoid, and which appeared to be of typical humanoid height and build. (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)

Another species within the Hegemony were the Lath. (TOS - The Return of the Worthy comic: "Great Expectations!")

Among themselves, the Gorn distinguished between castes. Procreation or intercouse betweeen different castes was sacrilegious. (TTN - Typhon Pact novel: Seize the Fire)

Biology[]

Gorn are a cold-blooded reptilian species with green, leathery skin and an average height of approximately 2 meters. They tend to be stronger than most humanoids. Their ears are simple holes on the sides of their skulls. Their mouths boast an impressive array of sharp, carnivorous teeth, and their hands and feet have vicious claws. Phlox stated that they had a size and bite radius similar to the now-extinct velociraptors of Earth. Like most cold-blooded lifeforms, the Gorn are known to prefer warm temperatures. (ENT episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")

Gorn are born from specialized eggs that belong to the different castes of Gorn society. Among the hardest to produce eggs were those of the military branches as their biology required specific environmental factors that were very hard to find naturally. (TTN novel: Seize the Fire)

An average Gorn male weighs about 215 kilograms. Their leathery hides is naturally strong which serves as natural armor. Their physical strength is even greater than their appearance suggests as they possess a great deal of muscle mass. Though this is impressive among the males, the female Gorns are even more fearsome as they can average around 2.5 meters high and typically are 250 kilograms. As such, the females tend to be the stronger gender among the Gorn race. Due to this, it is not uncommon to see a large number of female marines and officers within the Gorn military.

Due to their high degree of muscle, the Gorn tend not to be as dexterous as Humans, however, this did not mean they were slow witted. (ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War)

In addition, they were also a cold-blooded species which meant that they were not picked up on infrared scopes. (TOS novel: Catalyst of Sorrows)

Gorn cells regenerate at an amazing rate. The Gorn laser scalpel has a biograft spray option that would assist the regeneration and the closing of wounds. (ST - Alien Spotlight comic: "Alien Spotlight: The Gorn")

Those of the technical castes have multiple stomachs. (TTN novel: Seize the Fire)

History[]

See main article: Gorn history.

The Gorn race was actually three species who were genetically identical and lived on three separate worlds. After they achieved space travel, the three Gorn races discovered one another and learnt of their similarity whereupon it was discovered, through fossil records, that none of their planets was their races true homeworld. Seeing the similarity, the three races joined one another in a single political unit. (ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War)

The Gorn achieved interstellar travel at least millions of years ago. 500 million years ago, they visited the planet Cenotaph in the Lotora star group. (TOS - Unlimited comic: "Dying of the Light")

According to findings of the Federation Science Council, the Kassae II and Kassae IV worlds received interstellar visitors 15,000 years ago, and that the civilization there may be ancestors of the Gorn and Saurian species. Following an attack on the ruins by Gorn rebels in 2409, Admiral Jorel Quinn considered whether the Kassae system had been home to a proto-Gorn culture. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Researcher Rescue")

Early in their history, the Gorn had hostile encounters with the Paravian and Romulan Star Empire. (ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War)

The Gorn made first contact with the Federation in 2267 when a Gorn vessel attacked a Human colony on Cestus III interpreting the colonization as in invasion into Gorn Space. The vessel was pursued by the USS Enterprise until the Metrons, a non-corporeal species intervened and eventually awarded the planet to the Federation. (TOS episode & Star Trek 2 novelization: Arena)

A period of strained but generally peaceful relations followed. (TOS - Fortunes of War novel: Dreadnought!; TOS comic: "Dying of the Light"; ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War)

In 2319 the Gorn attended a trade summit that took place on Helaspont Station. (ST - The Lost Era novel: One Constant Star)

In 2374, after decades of peaceful relations with the Federation, the Gorn government was toppled by a coup d'etat, and a new offensive was launched against Cestus III. A halt to these hostilities was negotiated by the crew of the USS Enterprise-E, who also managed to persuade the Gorn to join the Federation Alliance in the war against the Dominion. (TNG comic: "The Gorn Crisis")

At some point during the 2380s the Gorn government and military became heavily infiltrated by Species 8472. Acting against orders, in 2384 a Gorn starship attacked the IKS Quv in the neutral space between the Hegemony and the Klingon Empire, killing 207 Klingons and capturing others. When the Gorn refused to hand over their prisoners, Chancellor Martok broke off diplomatic relations, expelled their diplomats and ordered Klingon Defense Force ships to the border. (ST website: The Path to 2409)

War broke out in 2386 when the Klingons attacked and captured Gila IV, a Gorn colony. Over the next three years hostilities quieted as the Federation attempted to mediate between the two powers, but the negotiations failed and in 2389 captured the Gamma Orionis system from them. King Slathis hired the Nausicaans to help them fight. Despite this, the Gorn were slowly driven back, and Gornar eventually fell in 2403. Slathis agreed to swear fealty to the Empire and was given a non-voting seat on the High Council. (ST website: The Path to 2409)

In their capacity as a client state, the Gorn took part in the Federation-Klingon War of 2405-2410 on the side of the Klingon Empire. By 2409, however, some Gorn rebelled against their overlords, staging attacks on Klingon starbases. Another group of Gorn settled in with the Orion Syndicate on Nimbus III. (ST video game: Star Trek Online)

Simulations[]

In 2381, the evil artificial intelligence Badgey created a holographic Gorn to menace personnel aboard the USS Cerritos. He attacked anyone wearing Holmesian attire during a Sherlock Holmes mystery drill. The Gorn tracked Brad Boimler, Sam Rutherford, D'Vana Tendi, and T'Lyn to the shuttle bay, but the ensigns had figured this out and given their outfits to Asif and Karavitus. (LD video game: The Badgey Directive event: "Elementary")

Food and drink[]

• Meridor

Culture[]

Beliefs, religion and mythology[]

Gorn mythology states that the founders of their species consists of the Mistress of Fertility S'Yahazah and a figure known as the "Great Father". Emphasis would be placed on the Great Egg Bringer S'Yahazah for she saved the young Gorn eggs from being devoured by their father. The Great Father would be banished into space and never be worshiped again.

Among Gorn, there exists a scale coloration which is blue-yellowish. These Gorn are believed to be protected by the Mistress of Fertility for they are nobles and spiritually pure. Those hereditary families that have a large number of blue-yellow scaled Gorn are considered blessed with a symbol of Gorn strength. (ST video game: Starfleet Command)

Ussegssirr was a concept of manifest destiny, one of the basic tenets of the Gorn philosophy. It combined with Gessegrissgir to form the base line of Gorn honor. (FASA RPG module: Demand of Honor)

Psychology, society and interactions with others[]

The Gorn race are known to be somewhat xenophobic due to the initial encounters they made with other races. Gorn starships are created to reflect the attitude of the Gorn race which is straight forward and to the point. (ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War)

What little contact the Federation had with this reptilian race lead most to think of it as an aggressive species, dominated by warriors. Further observation both reinforced and contradicted this. Individual Gorn exhibit aggressive, assertive and determined behavior. They seem set in their ways, and it's difficult to get them to deviate from their planned courses of action. While interaction between Humans and Gorn remains limited, they now work together on Cestus III,and Federation xenologists hotly debate what they observe.

Some individual Gorn get the creeps when around some mammals like Humans. (ST - Alien Spotlight comic: "Alien Spotlight: The Gorn")

No one denies that getting between a Gorn and his objective can prove hazardous to one's health. When on a mission, be it battling an arch-foe or slaughtering cattle for food, the Gorn pursue their goals with a single-mindedness second to none. Anything that tries to interfere with their duty is ignored, brushed aside, moved out of the way or destroyed. Humans on Cestus III contend that such actions rarely interfere with life there and that the Gorn have proven themselves considerate neighbors. Thanks to the Metrons; Humans and Gorn have never had problems communicating. As a result, they managed to coexist on Cestus III after the Gorn made restitution for the settlers they killed during an early misunderstanding. Since then, the Gorn remained on their part of the world, and physical conflict between the races rarely occurs.

No Human believes the Gorn suddenly became pacifistic, however, instead they seem to have taken a long time to make up their minds, almost ignoring a situation until they decide what they consider the best course of action. A Gorn does little until he believes he knows the right course - and then he lets nothing stand in his way. First contact with the Gorn came after they discovered a Human encroachment into what they saw as their space. Following a long debate, the Gorn leadership decided to exterminate the new threat. The Gorn sent to carry out this decision devoted themselves wholeheartedly to this endeavor, only stopping when an outside force made it impossible to continue. This sums up much of Gorn behavior: Don't act until you're sure that you're right, and then let nothing stop you. (Decipher RPG module: Aliens)

Some humanoids underestimate Gorn because of an opinion that reptiles are somehow less evolved than mammals. This would be unwise; the Gorn are at least as intelligent as humans. (TOS episode: "Arena")

According to Orion privateer Harrad-Sar in 2154, the Gorn "brew the finest Meridor in the five systems." (ENT episode: "Bound")

There exist certain groups within the Hegemony which include King's Fleet Guard, Guardians Errant and the Defenders of the Egg. (ST video game: Starfleet Command)

Executions on Gorn starships are carried out by spacing. (TTN novel: Seize the Fire)

See also: Gorn language

Insignia of the Gorn Confederation. (ST video game: Starfleet Command)	Insignia of the Gorn Hegemony Starfleet Academy: (TOS video game: Starfleet Academy: Strategic Command)	Insignia of the Gorn faction in 2409. (STO website: The Path to 2409; ST video game: Star Trek Online)

Gallery of Gorn subspecies[]

Known individuals[]

This article or subsection has an associated category.	Gorn

Amrasaur • B'nie • Bombadier • Brazarlisss • Caim Dardis • Charon • Def the Mij • Excelisss • Fang • Fissk • G'eoss • Glind • Grogan • Groge • Hadra • Harland • H'ippo • Hissar Zul • Hrdox Zurdl • Hromuth • Hrumlith • Juddult • Juridoth • Kaleo-parr • Keeyah • Lahr • Lastnaym Furst • Madrasaur • Nexslis • Ovirapt • Plesio • Quarasss • Rellk • Rexus • Rexus Sslith • Rook • S'alath • Samsusss • S'Arnth • Saurussa • S'Gundern • Skardal • Skaxzss • Skizzerd • Skorn • S'kuss • S'kuzz • Slathis • S'Leuthold • Slistaxss • Slitche • S'loth • Sozzerozs • S'puth • S'alath • Ssender • Sshennok • Ssist • Sskulli • Sslack • S'slee • Sslith • Ssslithisss • Sss'rex • S'staph • Ssulluss • S'Teken • S'Toval • S'Trenk • Szaastul • Szasz • S'zatan • Thak • Thragg • Thrasslith • Thrichduk • Ty • Tyran • Tyrano • Usss • Vex • W'rkssm'n • Xrathis • Zaur • Zhod • Zogozin • Zor • Zorilluth • Zralluth

Appendices[]

Background[]

The novellization of the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode The Time Trap names the Gorn "Gorin" instead.Other Alien species names, such as the Kzinti ("Berikazin"), Tellarite ("Tellarine") and Andorians ("Edoan") names were altered as well for reasons unknown.

Appearances and references[]

Appearances[]

• TOS episode: "Arena"
• SNW episode: "All Those Who Wander"
• ENT episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"
• ST video game: Starfleet Command
• ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War
• ST video game: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
• TNG novel: Requiem
• TNG - Cold Equations novel: Silent Weapons
• TNG comic: "The Gorn Crisis"
• DS9 novel: Highest Score
• DS9 short story: "Where I Fell Before My Enemy"
• DS9 comic: "Star Trek: Ferengi"
• ST - Typhon Pact novel: Seize the Fire
• ST - Typhon Pact novel: Rough Beasts of Empire
• ST - Typhon Pact novel: Plagues of Night
• ST - Typhon Pact novel: Raise the Dawn
• ST - The Fall novel: Revelation and Dust

References[]

• FASA RPG module: Demand of Honor

External link[]

• Gorn article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.