Tholian

• Appearance: Silicon-based, crystalline
  • Faceted form, six arachnid-like legs
  • Body filled with swirling gasses
  • Different individuals have differing hues of outer body shell (SCE Short Story: "Interphase Book 1")
    • Used as distinction between Tholian castes (SCE Short Story: "Interphase Book 1")
      • Nobility indicated by reddish hues (SCE Short Story: "Interphase Book 1")
• Homeworld: Tholia
• Biological notes
  • Tholian minds interconnected in an interstellar subspace telepathic network known as the Lattice (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
    • Provides for dissemination of memories and knowledge as well as constant communication without subsuming individuality or personal sapience
    • Within the Lattice, individuals identify their individual mindlines via specific hues distinct from physical coloration (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
      • Hues can be adjusted in order to demonstrate agreement, disagreement, solidarity, etc. (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
      • When under stress or danger, projection of hue falters, giving an impression of transparency (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
    • Further subdivided into SubLinks organized by caste according to individual duties, social subgroupings (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
      • SubLinks function somewhat akin to individual chat channels, requiring admission to enter a cross-caste SubLink (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
      • Access between SubLinks facilitated via the Lattice InterLink (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
      • Known SubLinks
        • Political Castemoot SubLink (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
        • Warrior Castemoot SubLink (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
    • Also capable of touch telepathy distinct from Lattice communication for private discussion (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
  • Individual Tholians have an estimated lifespan of 6 to 8 months, but full totality of memories are passed to the Lattice upon death, providing for continuation of projects and tasks as well as preservation of thoughts and, rarely, remanifestation of specific individuals (TLE Novel: The Sundered; TNG Novel: Vendetta)
• Cultural notes
  • Tholian language
    • Described as "the screech of a tritanium blade on glass" (SCE Short Story: "Interphase Book 1")
      • Frustrated or aggressive tones?
    • Diplomatic discussion described as "chiming tones" (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
    • Scream of pain described as "metallic shriek" (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
  • Tholian calendar
    • Time measured in "cycles" (SCE Short Story: "Interphase Book 1")
• Foods and drinks