One of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets, the Tellarites were
a humanoid species from the planet Tellar in the Alpha Quadrant.
Shorter than the average human from the planet Earth in a neighbouring system, Tellarites
also preferred warmer climates, with a diet consisting largely of vegetable and fruits,
with canine considered a delicacy.
Known to be stubborn, impatient, prideful and passionate, they considered argument as
a form of recreational activity.
A diverse people with a wide range of values, some were involved in more violent activities
like bounty hunting, or the slave trade, but most were considered good-natured and their
government reasonable, developing cordial relations with the Vulcans, who believe them
to be relatively trustworthy.
In one instance, during the 20th century, a passing Tellarite ship detected Vulcans
stranded on Earth and contacted their government, leading to their rescue.
Unfortunately, relations were not so amicable with the Andorians, engaged in conflict throughout
the early part of the 22nd century.
Yet by 2154 relations improved to where they were prepared to negotiate over a trade dispute,
rather than resort to violence.
Unfortunately this notion did not sit well with the Romulan Star Empire, who feared their
discussions might one day lead to an alliance, as they wanted to expand their space and dominate
the region.
Hoping to turn these species against each other, the Romulan government approved a series
of covert attacks, including the assassination of an Andorian Ambassador by what appeared
to be a tellarite ship.
Though they nearly went to war over the deception, the truth was soon discovered, thanks in part
to the human Captain Archer and the crew of the Enterprise.
Having set out to create conflict between their enemies, the Romulan plot ended up strengthening
relations between Andorians, Tellarites, Humans and Vulcans, as they started conducting joint
military operations to defend against Romulan aggression.
This in turn led to a conference on Earth to discuss the formation of a coalition of
planets, though the talks were halted by an attack from a radical human terrorist group.
Nevertheless, during the Earth-Romulan war of 2156-2160, humanity was joined by their
Andorian, Tellarite and Vulcan neighbors, forming a defensive alliance which ultimately
defeated the Star Empire, establishing the neutral zone border.
The next year in 2161, the species formalized their alliance by creating the United Federation
of Planets and the Federation Charter, a constitution based on the enlightened principals of equality,
liberty and peaceful coexistence.
The protection and freedom offered by the Federation appealed to many and the 24th century
there were over 150 member worlds.
During talks to determine whether Coridan should be allowed into Federation, representatives
of Tellar objected, as they had a troubled history with the planet and their trade partners
the Orion Syndicate, a criminal organization known to raid and plunder Tellarite ships.
However the Vulcans spoke on behalf of Coridan and helped assuage most of their fears to
grant them admission.
As one of the Federation’s 4 founding species, Tellarites became deeply involved in Starfleet
and the government with their planet of Tellar enjoying many years of peace under the protection
of this growing alliance.
By the 24th century, their homeworld was so deep into Federation Space, an attack against
them or the other founding planets seemed impossible, until the outbreak of the Dominion
War, when a Gamma Quadrant Superpower invaded the Alpha Quadrant, threatening to conquer
the entire region.
Though the invasion was ultimately defeated, the Dominion came close to victory, launching
a direct attack against Earth and conquering Betazed, which put them in striking distance
of Andoria, Vulcan, and Tellar.