Rhaandarite

File:Rhaandarite ensign, TMP.jpg

A Rhaandarite male

The Rhaandarites were a humanoid species who had several members serving in Starfleet during the late-23rd century.

Several Rhaandarites were present at the air tram station in San Francisco on stardate 7410.2.

They were seen speaking to an Arcturian on the lower platform in the background when James T. Kirk and Sonak parted ways at the top of the escalator.

A Rhaandarite ensign served aboard the USS Enterprise during its refit.

Also, during the period, a Rhaandarite served aboard the orbital office complex. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

Background

The Rhaandarites were designed by Fred Phillips and Robert Fletcher for The Motion Picture.

In an article appearing in the January 2002 edition of Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, entitled "Who is that Alien?", the following information about the Rhaandarites, as taken from Fletcher's original background notes, added:

"The Rhaandarites were a simple, gregarious people who were much better at taking orders than giving them. They were very long-lived and didn't really reach maturity until they were 150 or so. Unfortunately, the Rhaandarite on the Enterprise bridge was only supposed to be 85 years old."

Detail of attire

The script for The Motion Picture mentions "high-domed Vegans" as an example of what aliens are present at the Starfleet Headquarters scenes. [1] Steven Lance's character was described as a Vegan in publicity material. [2]

In an interview appearing in the March 1980 edition of Fantastic Films, entitled, "The Star Trek Costumes", Fletcher revealed information about the Rhaandarites and the design of their costumes:

"These are the Rhaandarites. The lady is on the right; remember that the jewelry denotes the sex. This material is a black and silver lame, a very sensuous, clinging, sex material and these two guys are very big men. I thought it might be fun to dress them in this particular material. The necklace serves two purposes, first it is a lovely piece of jewelry, and second, it can be used for communication – an all-purpose jewelry with machinery built in. The necklace is made of a poured resin and a dark grey plastic. If you got very close to this piece you could look inside and see the tiny toy parts that were placed inside to simulate a working apparatus."

In non-canon, the Rhaandarite species and the unnammed crewman from ST:TMP are given a much fuller treatment in the book by Christopher L. Bennett Ex Machina. Further, the planet Rhaandar is mentioned offhand by Federation politicians is Destiny: Book 3: Lost Souls. In Trek lore, the planter Rhandaar is often considered an early Federation member, and perhaps even one of the founding sovreignities.

External link

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