BohandiAnsoid's Ocampa backstory

[BohandiAnsoid]

And another story (this one is an old Ocampan "fairy tale" translated by Kes):
The Proscar (an Ocampa “fairy tale”)

The Proscar is a region on the Ocampa homeworld. Long ago, it was known for it’s lush forest, inhabited by a number of species.
One of the species was called “Pemur”. It was a mammal - like species (note: similar to Earth’s lemurs) living both in the ground and in the trees.
It is rumored that, once, these Pemurs were organized in societies, similar to the Ocampan kingdoms. Said kingdoms were spread all over the Proscar.
One such kingdom was once ruled by a Pemur named Kelian, the 12th of his name. He wasn't a good leader. Under the excuse of a threat from the predators, he oppressed his people, keeping them confined to a small area, not allowing exploration missions and loud behavior of any kind. He would not hesitate to sacrifice any of his subject for his own gain.
His nephew and hair, also named Kelian (the 13th), realized this. He was a good - hearted Pemur and disliked his uncle's actions. He decided to do something with it. He enlisted help with a male Pemur called Palisem and a female Pemur named Coles (who he had a small crush on). Together, they managed to trick his uncle into abdicating the throne on him. After that, reforms were instutated, with more things allowed, oppression lefted and a defense force created led by Coles.
But his uncle eventually realized he was tricked and wanted to return to power. Many other enemies also arose. From all over the Proscar.
Over years, Kelian (the 13th), Palisem and Coles fought many of them off, had many other adventures, made many exploration missions and otherwise had a good time. During this time, Kelian’s crush on Coles even grew, and he wanted to bond with her, in a limited way the Pemurs could. She was initially not interested, but, eventually, started to return his feelings. However, she said that she won't bond with him until all enemies are defeated. And so he went on to make sure they were. Even if it meant risking his own life. Despite the fact that Coles was annoyed by this.
But he survived all of this and, eventually, his uncle was convinced to lose his thirst for power, and all other enemies were defeated as well. Close then agreed to marry him (or what is marriage among Pemurs).
And so they did. They married and ruled together for many years. Some frowned upon this relationship, because Coles was not royalty, but others considered it irrelevant. Because it is irrelevant.

 

[BohandiAnsoid]

Here's the next story:

Life or not

What exactly is life? This is a question that one Ocampan expedition had to answer when they discovered something they hadn't thought possible: a civilization whose members couldn't bond with them, or even felt using their telepathic abilities. A civilization that turned out to be made of artificial lifeforms. Of robots. That appeared to be fully sientent.
They were discovered on a planet not far from the Ocampa Star Empire’s borders. The fleet that made the discovery was commanded by commander Ter. First, they discovered radio signals coming from the planet. They headed toward it and scanned it from orbit. They discovered a civilization thriving down there, but all attempts at making a telepathic contact (or even feel anyone's presence) failed. Ter then ordered the civilization to be hailed using technology.
A humanoid robot appeared before them on the main screen.
-What are you doing here, organic beings? - the robot said.
-What are you? - Ter said.
-A superior form of life - the robot said. - Now, why are you here?
-We detected signals from you and came to investigate - Ter said. - We discovered a civilization, but we cannot sense you using our telepathic abilities.
-Because synthetic life is immune to such things - the robot said. - We ask you to leave us alone.
And he cut the connection.
-He seems pretty confrontational - said another Ocampa.
-But not outright aggressive - Ter said. - And his request is reasonable. I will contact the homeworld and ask them for guidance.
Ter relayed all his findings to the homeworld. People there were quite surprised by this. The Ocampa never met synthetic life before… or was it even life? It didn't breathe or otherwise exchange gases. It apparently (so scans showed) didn't reproduce on their own, but were built in factories. Some Ocampa thought they shouldn't be considered life at all, and should be forcibly taken control of. Others though their superiority remarks indicated they were aggressive and should be isolated. Others wanted to accept then as full sentient life and fully honor their request.
Debate on the homeworld was lengthy and fierce, using both verbal communication and telepathy. Eventually, it was decided it was not for them to decide whatever they were life or not. But, as they clearly were sentient beings, and did not shown any aptitude toward conquest or extermination, they decided for them to be left mostly alone, with only a single probe being left to monitor this civilization.
Ter received these orders and executed them. A probe was deployed, then his fleet left the system.

 

[BohandiAnsoid]

Here's the last entrance. It was good working with you.

I will keep it here exclusively for a day more.
Our bonds (written directly by Kes)

Did you ever wonder why I always wrote the state of many permanent bonds as good and natural, and always considered it as basic of our culture, despite the fact I grew in a society that allowed permanent bonds only between spouses? That I consider all these bondings to be important and none inherently superior to others, despite mentioned above “permanent bonds only between spouses” thing? Well, it is because the many permanent bonds are the natural, healthy and good state of the Ocampa. It is how we evolved to be, and how we feel best. Limiting creations of permanent bonds was a mistake. It was a mistake to spread too much, too quickly, but we should never stop the formation of permanent bonds. Fortunately, it didn't cause as much damage as it could. It could make us consider spousal bonds much more important than others, but we didn't. Because for us, Ocampa, friendships are the highest, most important form of bonds. All the difference between a friend and a spouse is who you are reproducing with during your reproduction period. All the other time, it is irrelevant. Otherwise, your spouse is your best friend. I know it is different for other species, but it is true for us, the Ocampa. This is in a large part responsible for our lack of jealousy.
Fortunately, the importance of friendships remained within our society through the entire bad time. Our temporary bonds certainly helped us with that.
This is why the natural state of permanent bonds was restored shortly after the Caretaker died and I left the homeworld. I learned of it quickly after regaining contact with the homeworld.
I was happy about that, because I always treasured my friendships. I am not married, and I will probably never be. The only man I would consider as a spouse is himself married. But I am a good friend with both him and his wife. And I fully satisfied with this arrangement. For me, it is all irrelevant.
Is there really that much of a difference between romantic relationship and friendships? Maybe for others. Not for me.
Kes of Voyager, of Ocampa

 

[BohandiAnsoid]

Note: There's been some misunderstanding that, because friendship bonds and spousal bonds are not much different and of the same importance, they are interchangable. Even I might have been confused with it a few times (after all, permanent non - spousal bonds are just returning). But they're not. Friendships bonds and spousal bonds are not interchangable. Not for the Ocampa, not for the others. There are some pairs of people (Ocampa and non - Ocampa both) between which spousal bonds are not allowed, but deep friendship bonds are always allowed (and advisable, if they both want and can). Of course, spousal bonds should have everything a friendship bond have... And more things. For the Ocampa, these other things are only in the mating periods. For others, it's not nessesarily.
This is why what I wrote here is not contradictory to some of my actions when I supported some couples getting together romantically and counteracted some romantic pursuits.
Just because something is not fully understood by me doesn't mean I can't understand it's importance to others. But I was confused over it a few times. Any discrepancy between my words and my actions (and between my different actions and different times I spoke) should be attributed to this confusion.
And yes, it is true I treated (and applied penalties to) non - Ocampa as if they were Ocampa and had our physiology a few times, but you must forgive me. It's all that confusion. And, I do sometimes feel our culture is superior (because, in a few places, it is), and it came from it. I admit, I should be more understanding a few times.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

The more you can do to emphasize the alien nature of ocompans - how, although they seem to look a lot like us, they are very different, adds to the trek-verse. Thanks!! rbs