Alpha Centauri

The origins of the Saroming remain shrouded in mystery and speculation to the present day. Some Saroming
scientists believe that the civilization of the Al Rijil system may not be native to their planet. In truth, the
physiological characteristics of Saromings and Humans are practically identical. Also, the ruins of early Saroming
civilization mirror those along the Mediterranean basin on Terra during its fifth century BC. Most important of all,
no written records or oral traditions from Saroming history reach back more than 2,500 years. These facts have led
scholars to suggest that the Saromings may be transplanted Humans taken from Terra and 'seeded' on Alpha
Centauri by the race of beings known as the Preservers. Whatever the truth, Saroming civilization is one of the most
advanced in the Federation, second only to Terra itself. It is a democratic civilization based on fundamental political
principles similar to those of early Greece on Terra. Alpha Centauri's ordered climate provides an abundance of
goods, which decreases the need for intercultural competition. Thus, the Saroming civilization developed a practical
system of interplanetary travel that pre-dates Human efforts. Taking advantage of the solar winds from their three
primary suns, the Saromings invented an interplanetary solar-sail about the time that Terran civilization was
experiencing its Industrial Revolution. (Saroming sun-jamming races remain a popular sport to this day.) By the
time they made contact with the first emissaries from Earth, the Saromings had already colonized a second Class M
planet as well as several smaller satellites within their system. The practical experience they gained in these
colonization efforts led to the formation of the first representative form of interstellar government, the Alpha
Centauri Concordium of Planets. This political confederation served as the model for what would later become the
United Federation of Planets. Although Alpha Centauri is typically remembered as the birthplace of Zephram
Cochrane, the celebrated inventor of the warp drive system, it is equally true that Saromings provided the political
impetus that led to the creation of the Federation.

World Log: ALPHA CENTAURI

PLANETARY DESCRIPTION
Al Rijil is a triple system containing two yellow stars and a red dwarf star. The fourth, fifth, and seventh planet of
the system support life. The first two are colonies of Alpha Centauri proper.
Alpha Centauri is a lush tropical world that supports a population of 20 billion inhabitants, and ranks as one of the
major cultural and scientific centers in the Federation, second only to Terra.
Visitors to the planet will be inspired by the Cochrane Memorial, the Star Fleet Academy, and the Federation
Historical Institute. In addition, this world is known for its huge expanses of unspoiled wilderness, rivalling even the
famed Benecian outback.
RACIAL DESCRIPTION
It is theorized that Saromings are Humans transplanted from Terra’s Mediterranean basin in the fifth century BC
(Earth standard date) by the Preservers. They have coarse dark hair, swarthy complexions, and are generally slightly
larger than the average human. There are some minor physiological differences, such as an extra joint in the
Saromings' little finger, and a patterning of capillaries in the skin that results in a hexagonal effect when their faces
become flushed. Also, the average ratio of females to males born in each generation is three to two.
Saroming ideals are a cross between Emersonian transcendentalism and animistic concepts. From birth, every
member of the race learns the Shk-Te Arar, a martial philosophy based on the beliefs that all beings are equal, that
moderation should prevail even in circumstances of abundance, and that all things possess a living spirit that is part
of a greater whole.
The Saroming concept of equality came about during the slave uprisings that occurred early in the planet’s history.
The belief in moderation developed during an early period of warfare between the Saroming city-states. The last
concept stems from the days after the massacre at the nature commune.
Saromings are conservative and disciplined. They are also aggressive, but not violently so; their philosophy
encourages moral superiority over physical force. Nevertheless, Saromings love physical sports, especially
endurance tests or contests of skill. Some of the best long-distance runners in the Federation are Saroming. Their
sunjamming races, which are steeped in martial philosophy, are almost a religious event among the people.
Saromings are the most democratic race in all the Federation. They are so democratic, in fact, that they feel superior
to other races who only “feign to have the proper moral and social obligations to others”. Because of this attitude,
most other races label Saromings as snobs.
Saromings believe that an order underlies the universe, no matter how chaotic or confused it might seem, and that
each thing has its place – an idea now held mainly by only primitive cultures. In this regard, Saromings resemble
Vulcans, another people who have held to basic religious and philosophic beliefs despite the passage of time.
Saroming society is classless: everyone is equal. There are, however, some leaders who deal with the Federation
when needed, and others who administer internal affairs. Saromings understand that not all people can make the
proper judgments and decisions needed to run a planet, and thus it is logical to appoint those individuals who are
qualified.
Saroming government is run by three elected officials. Everyone on the planet participates in the voting, which is
accomplished through an interactive television network. Voting is one of the most important duties of the planet’s
citizens, because it shows that they still follow the correct social and moral philosophy. Like sunjamming, voting is
considered a religious event.
Another interesting facet of Saroming life is a rite called the Makel Re Talvor, or Time of Learning. When a
Saroming child turns 13, he or she may wander about the planet, seeking truth and understanding. During this time,
Saromings feed and shelter these children, no matter who they are or from where they come. In effect, whatever the
seekers want or need is free. Though most other races would take liberties with such a privilege, Saroming
philosophy prohibits the children from abusing it.
The children leave the Time of Learning after five years, at which time they must choose their vocation and enter
apprenticeship.
Saromings only resort to physical violence if insulted. The insult they consider most unforgivable is to shake hands.
Hand-grasping was the ancient Saroming way to begin arm wrestling. By shaking a modern Saroming’s hand, the
other person is saying that he thinks so little of the Saroming that he can defeat him in unarmed combat.
Most races find the Saroming philosophy contradictory. Saromings rationalize the discrepancies by saying that one
has to be born among them to understand.
RACIAL HISTORY
As there are no written records of Saroming history from before 2,500 years ago, many scholars believe that the
Saromings are an offshoot of the Human race, perhaps seeded on Alpha Centauri by the Preservers. Most Saromings
flatly deny this theory, and some speculate that Humans are, in fact, descended from Saromings and were
transplanted from Alpha Centauri.
Prehistoric legend on Alpha Centauri states that their gods led the Saromings on a great migration from their rocky,
inhospitable homeland to a lush green valley. The entire race was awed by this new land and named it Quiberon
Prime. This settlement became the dominant city of the culturally homogenous city-states that sprung up on the
world. Though each city was self-governing, a senate of representatives from each city-state convened at Quiberon
Prime to decide issues of world-wide importance. As there was plenty of food and land available, there was little
strife among the cities.
Eventually, the Saromings became puzzled by the absence of the gods, and some openly questioned their existence.
A small group of philosophers began circulating manuscripts espousing their views on transcendentalism, and soon
Saroming society became divided between the pantheists and the transcendentalists. When the Senate outlawed the
teachings of transcendentalism and imprisoned the leaders of the movement, riots broke out. For the first time in
Saroming history, each city-state established an army to coerce the others to adopt their beliefs. As the battle lines
were drawn, roughly equal numbers of the city-states supported each cause. The Senate disbanded, and the
pantheistic cities began to invade territories of the enemy cities. However, the outcome of these wars was indecisive,
and the city-states settled into an uneasy cease-fire.
About a century later, the pantheistic city-states were deteriorating from internal strife and civil disorder. Finally, a
massive slave revolt toppled them. (The other city-states, true to their beliefs, held no slaves.) The transcendentalists
restored order to the devastated pantheistic city-states and reestablished the Senate.
As transcendental belief coalesced, the adolescents began to make journeys of Makel-Re Talvor. A few of them
refused to enter into any apprenticeship upon their 18th birthdays and instead established a wilderness community for
meditation and communion with nature. Eventually, the commune grew to a few hundred individuals.
Centuries passed, and the Saromings developed artificial organs and synthetic fibers. However, their technology
could not protect them from a comet that crashed on the planet, levelling one city-state and crippling three others.
According to Senate proclamation, all were required to help the survivors of the cataclysm, but the Saromings
residing in the nature commune refused to participate. This created strife, and some other Saromings raided the
community, slaying the inhabitants and torching the compound. The vigilantes were subsequently imprisoned, and
the transcendentalist philosophy expanded to include toleration of other lifestyles.
In the 17th century, the warlord Zalar Mag'nees established an educational system to bring her world's greatest
minds to the question of how to best wage war and created the Zee-Magnees Prize to reward the greatest
achievements in military science and engineering and to encourage scientific research among her citizens. The entire
planet was eventually united under her rule, but even in peace, the Saromings maintained a mindset of
defensiveness, leading them to conceal much of the advancements of their society. The awards were discontinued by
the 19th century as, after two centuries of global peace, it was seen as a relic of an irrelevant warrior past. The
awards were revived in the 22nd century, now celebrating scientific achievements in general, and expanded to
include new branches of research unimagined when the first awards were created. By the 23rd century, Zee-
Magnees Prizes were awarded by the Scientific Advisory Board of the University of Alpha Centauri. By 2297,
authority over the prize had passed to The Zee Magnees Institute for Theoretical Research.
Alpha Centauri space exploration efforts were second only to those of the Vulcans and the Andorians. Utilizing the
solar winds generated by their three suns, they launched space vessels and colonized two other worlds in their
system. In 2042, a Terran exploration ship entered the Al Rijil system and, much to their surprise, found the
advanced civilization of the Saromings. The Terrans received a warm welcome, however, and the two governments
signed a peace accord 17 years later.
Saromings boast that their civilization was the driving force behind the creation of the Federation. It was a Saroming
who first proposed a political union between Alpha Centauri, Andor, Tellar, Terra, and Vulcan, and it was at Alpha
Centauri that representatives from these planets first met to create such a government. In addition, the political
treatise establishing the Alpha Centauri Concordium of Planets, consisting of Alpha Centauri, Icarus, and Proxima
Centauri, served as the model for the Articles of the Federation.
PLACE IN THE FEDERATION
Saromings are recognized as the force behind the Star Fleet Advocates Assembly. This powerful group lobbies to
ensure that Star Fleet receives enough finances to cover operating expenses, new ship construction costs, and
advanced weapons research. They have considerable influence with the Federation Council, but less with the
Federation Assembly.
Saroming firms are usually at the forefront of Federation technology. Charlottes Shields, a Saroming firm located in
Quiberon Prime, is a major designer and manufacturer of deflector shield systems. Cavanaugh lndustrix of
Telperion, Alpha Centauri, is the largest manufacturer of industrial robots in the Federation. ln addition, Centauri
Spaceworks produces the most cutters and is the only producer of monitors for Star Fleet Command. Delthara
University Complex is located on the northernmost continent.
Saromings serve in many positions throughout Star Fleet and the Federation. Because of their views on racial
equality, they are excellent diplomats who are able to deftly arbitrate negotiations between other groups because of
their ability to see both sides of a situation. This fairmindedness makes them excellent members of the judiciary as
well.