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"While the thoughts of the Medusans are the most sublime in the galaxy, their physical appearance is exactly the opposite. They have evolved into a race of beings who are formless, so utterly hideous that the sight of a Medusan brings total madness to any human who sees one."

The Medusans were highly intelligent telepathic and empathic non-corporeal lifeforms.

History[]

The Medusans had become a spacefaring civilization by the mid-23rd century, sending out ships to the far reaches of the galaxy. They were in contact with the Federation, to whom Kollos was appointed as an ambassador. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"; PRO: "Preludes")

The Borg Collective was aware of the Medusans and designated them Species 802. (PRO: "Let Sleeping Borg Lie")

A group of Medusan explorers had reached the Delta Quadrant by 2383. One of them, Zero, was separated from their hive mind by Kazon slavers and sold to the Diviner, who used them to induce compliance in his other slaves. They later helped a group of youths escape in an abandoned Federation starship, the USS Protostar. (PRO: "Lost and Found", "Preludes")

Prior to 2399, Cristóbal Rios had deleted Medusan navigational techniques from SS La Sirena's Emergency Navigational Hologram, Enoch. (PIC: "Broken Pieces")

Biology[]

Medusans

A Medusan hive mind

As energy-based lifeforms, Medusans had no physical body. They were known to identify as genderless. Individuals lived together in hive minds. (PRO: "Lost and Found", "Kobayashi")

Medusan thoughts were regarded as the most sublime in the galaxy, but their physical appearance was exactly the opposite. The sight of a Medusan rendered any corporeal viewer mad, and soon afterwards could cause death by massive organ failure, although some species with telepathic aptitude may be affected differently. Even viewing the reflection of a Medusan could cause catatonia and memory loss, though not permanent harm. Vulcans, as well as Kazon, were capable of viewing Medusans, but only with the use of a specially filtered visor; upon direct exposure, it could induce a form of involuntary mind meld between the Medusan and Vulcan. Vau N'Akat were also somewhat resistant to direct contact, yet suffered mental instability and total amnesia before complete recovery. For these reasons, Medusans usually used an opaque carrier pod when interacting with other species. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"; PRO: "Lost and Found", "A Moral Star, Part 2", "Preludes")

The Medusans were renowned for their navigational abilities. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")

Medusans could be affected by certain telepathic spores. Those produced by the cilium-like vegetation of Murder Planet had the same effect on them as any corporeal lifeform. (PRO: "Dream Catcher", "Terror Firma") They could also be assimilated by the Borg, but since the process was non-physical, the Medusan could resist the influence of the Collective if properly motivated. (PRO: "Let Sleeping Borg Lie")

Technology[]

Medusans made use of starships similar in configuration to Federation vessels. One Medusan, Kollos, was brought aboard the USS Enterprise as an ambassador to help with that very purpose. (TOS-R: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")

A Medusan known as Zero cobbled together a containment suit unassisted, despite their non-corporeal nature, so that they could interact with corporeals. (PRO: "Lost and Found")

List of Medusans[]

Named
Unnamed
  • Unnamed Medusans

Appendices[]

Appearances[]

A list of all appearances of Medusans (excluding the regular appearances of Zero):

Background information[]

The Medusans were named for the Greek mythological character of "Medusa", one of the three Gorgon sisters. The Gorgons were said to have such a frightful appearance that gazing upon them would turn living beings to stone.

According to the story outline and script of the episode, their name was spelled "Medeusan".

A planet was seen on screen in the original "Is There in Truth No Beauty?", but the remastered version of the episode, a Medusan vessel was seen instead.

Apocrypha[]

According to the reference book The Worlds of the Federation (p. 60), Medusans are native to the Venus-like planet Medusa, also known as Visalayan by the native Medusans. It is the fourth planet orbiting Xi Hydrae. Contact between the Medusans and the Federation was also extremely limited.

The non-canon Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual spells it "Medusan". The Officer's Manual also states that Medusans were permitted to serve in Starfleet as emergency navigators on board Galaxy-class starships. Such Medusans were honorary lieutenant commanders and had special quarters off an emergency navigation center, which kept them isolated from the rest of the crew.

A Medusan character named Korgan appears in the A Time to... novel series who was one of only twelve active Medusans in Starfleet as of the late 2370s.

External links[]

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