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The Tellarite Constitution Class Ship?

I'll give a brief idea of some of the factors in play on a Tellarite ship. Tellarites found human rooms cold, and that demonstrates that they have a higher body temperature than other humanoids. This would indicate that temperatures on Tellarite ships would be warmer.

Tellarites are shorter than other humanoids. Gral was played by Lee Arenberg, who is 5'4''. I cannot find data on Gav from "Journey to Babel", but he appears to be somewhere between 5'6'' and 5'8''. He is dwarfed by Mark Lenard as Sarek, at 6'0''. His Tellarite compatriot appears to be tall for a Tellarite, perhaps closer to Shatner's height of 5'10''. This presents a canon problem, because we can either go with the idea of Tellarites being quite shorter as shown on ENT, or somewhat shorter as shown by the few on TOS. I would go with the idea of Tellarites being rather shorter than humans on average (5'4''), with the tallest being only as tall as an average human (5'10'') and most falling beneath that (5'8'').

What we can infer from this is that Tellarite ships would be internally shorter compared to those of other humanoids. Doors could be shorter, as well as ceilings and work stations. This is for the very simple reason that they do not need them to be taller, and having them be taller would present an inconvenience. This would also have the benefit of more space that could be freed for other purposes. Collectively, the amount of space that is freed could be significant, and dedicated to storage, living space, computer space, scientific equipment, and so forth. Tellarites are shorter, but just as wide as any other humanoid, giving them a portly appearance. Therefore, I think we can assume their ships could be shorter in terms of deck levels, but as wide as any other ship.

In terms of recreation facilities, we know limited things about the Tellarites, but can infer based on what we know. They take mud baths, so that may be an option. If that is something they do as a normal grooming ritual rather than simply for luxury, then we could find a mud bath in any Tellarite bathroom. We also know they enjoy debating, so their other recreational facilities could be dedicated forums for argument and debate. This could take the form of a normal Rec Room, with debate while they eat or modifications to that room to allow for such a thing. Or it could be a room dedicated purely to that.

In terms of how this would affect a Constitution class starship, I think it is based on how much we could assume a Constitution class would/could be modified. There are things that are easy enough to modify. These are temperature and recreational facilities. The Tellarites need a debate stage or a mud room more than a bowling alley. In terms of height issues, that would be a more significant modification. It would free up so much space, and it is an interesting idea, but it would take great changes to the design during the building process which Starfleet may not go in for. However, work stations may need to be tailored to Tellarite height and physiology. Otherwise, they may find it awkward.

I have left out one issue, which is the Tellarite hand. The canon is awkward on this. In TOS, they have two thick fingers and a thumb. This makes them more resemble pigs. In other Star Trek media, they have five normal fingers. If we assume two fat fingers and a thumb, the work stations should ideally be modified. They could handle fewer buttons at one time, would have limited dexterity, and would react slower per the number of buttons they would have to press. And reaction time, when there is a space amoeba about to eat you, is important. So buttons may need to be streamlined to be more simplistic, or for what thing they need to do being easily completed via just a few buttons but with more detailed work still accessible.
 
In terms of making these ideas TOS screen ready: if the ship were just mentioned, any idea is possible. However, if there were ever an episode to be had, the ideas get cut back. You can mention certain things: that it is warmer, that the control inputs are simplified, and that there is a mud room in every bathroom. The recreation room set could be easily modified into a debate hall, or just be a place where they debate. However, you could not make the sets or any set elements shorter.
 
So instead of say the 8 to 10 foot ceilings, a Tellarite ship could get away with a 7 foot ceiling? This could I suppose increase the number of decks the ship has by several if they are ten foot decks normally, but only about three decks if they are 8 foot normally.
 
So instead of say the 8 to 10 foot ceilings, a Tellarite ship could get away with a 7 foot ceiling? This could I suppose increase the number of decks the ship has by several if they are ten foot decks normally, but only about three decks if they are 8 foot normally.

More pipe room for the mud baths.
 
Ceiling would remain a fleet-wide standard. You can't make every guest or admiral duck. The average alien is Human-sized.
The workstations are no problems. I work in a repair centre with giants and midgets. They can all access the standard sized shelfs and tables.
Buttons wouldn't be an issue - the Tellarites have been spacefaring since 1950 or earlier. This, they'll have figured out ergonomic access equipment. Plus, no Tellarite has dexterity issues in then non-canon games, novels and comics.
 
Ceiling would remain a fleet-wide standard. You can't make every guest or admiral duck. The average alien is Human-sized.
The workstations are no problems. I work in a repair centre with giants and midgets. They can all access the standard sized shelfs and tables.
Buttons wouldn't be an issue - the Tellarites have been spacefaring since 1950 or earlier. This, they'll have figured out ergonomic access equipment. Plus, no Tellarite has dexterity issues in then non-canon games, novels and comics.

I will say fair point on everything, but I stand by the dexterity issue. At least assuming TOS fingered Tellarites. For every four things a human hand can do, a Tellarite can do two things. Put your hand in a Vulcan salute and try to type as quickly as you are used to. It isn't easy, and it is not enough to say they would just be adept at it. The number of fingers is an issue where there are going to be issues regardless. A five fingered person is going to be a better button pusher than a three fingered person no matter how you cut it.
 
The assumption being that most of Federation technology is humancentric only because the real life reason is its a fictional show created by humans. But in-universe the Federation seems to be made up of many species that are not humanoid, Arex being one, M'Ress a Caitian being another, The Horta , Reptilian and Insectaziod Xindi. Star Trek would have to adapt to suit non humanoids or perhaps as the Klingons said it is a racist 'Humanoids only' club.
 
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Eh. The TOS controls are pretty simplified already, suggesting to me that they may have been designed with tellarite fingers in mind. Nowhere do we see keyboards in use. In fact in ST4, Scotty seems to barely understand what a keyboard even is at first (though he seems a talented typist after a few moments of use).

I very much doubt a Constitution-class ship would be so heavily modified as to shorten the deck height to account for a few inches difference in average height. In fact, the fact that the ships already has 10 foot ceilings for a crew of average sized humans suggests to me that the deck height has more to do with technical reasons than it does with proportioning itself to the people on board.

--Alex
 
Eh. The TOS controls are pretty simplified already, suggesting to me that they may have been designed with tellarite fingers in mind. Nowhere do we see keyboards in use. In fact in ST4, Scotty seems to barely understand what a keyboard even is at first (though he seems a talented typist after a few moments of use).

I very much doubt a Constitution-class ship would be so heavily modified as to shorten the deck height to account for a few inches difference in average height. In fact, the fact that the ships already has 10 foot ceilings for a crew of average sized humans suggests to me that the deck height has more to do with technical reasons than it does with proportioning itself to the people on board.

--Alex

Well, that and studio lights.
 
A five fingered person is going to be a better button pusher than a three fingered person no matter how you cut it
Do the Federation species with more fingers still (and twice as many thumbs) view the Humans with pity and condescension?
M'Ress a Caitian being another
Who are shorter that the Tellarite, and could have even more decks.

And how many decks do these guys get?

qQgQzTR.jpg
 
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Do the Federation species with more fingers still (and twice as many thumbs) view the Humans with pity and condescension?

We have yet to see the octofingerian empire on screen, but I would imagine so.

Who are shorter that the Tellarite, and could have even more decks.

And how many decks do these guys get?

qQgQzTR.jpg

They pack 'em in like sardines.
 
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