Overview
The Lem Bataan Confederation is a huge group of allied worlds based on the Carina arm of the galaxy, assembled mostly through the peaceful efforts of the Lem Bataan species.
The Confederation is dedicated to the mutual betterment of its members, and devotes a great deal of its time and resources to exploration and research. Much of this work is coordinated by the Confederation Academy of Sciences, of which Doctor Irim Su is a noted member.
Linguistic comprehension is a priority for the Confederation, and communication between humans and Lem Bataan is translated with ease by Imperial holos and — more flawlessly — by the Confederation's various equivalent devices.
While it is generally a peaceful organisation, the Confederation should not be underestimated or considered feeble; it is a highly sophisticated society which values knowledge and scientific enquiry. The Lem Bataan were one of the races which helped the Imperial Combine to move to gate technology, and also provided the Empire with a huge database of information on galactic mapping, cultures, and likely threats. The database included information on the Haidukaan species, which proved useful during the Shaeld invasion of the Herses system (→TRD).
The Lem Bataan homeworld is Phnemaph, which lies in the morass of stars connecting the tail end of the galaxy's Sagittarius arm to the front end of the Carina arm. This planet is shared between the Lem Bataan, and a co-evolved sentient race they know as the Lommu-Bata. Little is known to Imperial science of the Lommu-Bata, except that while the Lem Bataan tend to do the planning and designing, the Lommu-Bata tend to do all the actual building.
The term 'Lemba' is a derogatory shorthand for individuals of the species, used by some humans.
Lem Bataan often give themselves a two word name when interacting with humans, for example Mol Gai, however they reserve a five, six, or even seven word name for more formal occasions. In this same example the formal name would be Mol Gai uwul Tah Oss Droum (→IDOD).
The Confederation is dedicated to the mutual betterment of its members, and devotes a great deal of its time and resources to exploration and research. Much of this work is coordinated by the Confederation Academy of Sciences, of which Doctor Irim Su is a noted member.
Linguistic comprehension is a priority for the Confederation, and communication between humans and Lem Bataan is translated with ease by Imperial holos and — more flawlessly — by the Confederation's various equivalent devices.
While it is generally a peaceful organisation, the Confederation should not be underestimated or considered feeble; it is a highly sophisticated society which values knowledge and scientific enquiry. The Lem Bataan were one of the races which helped the Imperial Combine to move to gate technology, and also provided the Empire with a huge database of information on galactic mapping, cultures, and likely threats. The database included information on the Haidukaan species, which proved useful during the Shaeld invasion of the Herses system (→TRD).
The Lem Bataan homeworld is Phnemaph, which lies in the morass of stars connecting the tail end of the galaxy's Sagittarius arm to the front end of the Carina arm. This planet is shared between the Lem Bataan, and a co-evolved sentient race they know as the Lommu-Bata. Little is known to Imperial science of the Lommu-Bata, except that while the Lem Bataan tend to do the planning and designing, the Lommu-Bata tend to do all the actual building.
The term 'Lemba' is a derogatory shorthand for individuals of the species, used by some humans.
Lem Bataan often give themselves a two word name when interacting with humans, for example Mol Gai, however they reserve a five, six, or even seven word name for more formal occasions. In this same example the formal name would be Mol Gai uwul Tah Oss Droum (→IDOD).
Biology
The Lem Bataan are an intelligent, non-humanoid species, which evolved from a segmented worm phylum similar to the Annelida of Earth. While they do not follow the same limbed, multi-jointed body plan which has arisen in many vertebrate species, they are capable of interacting with humans and moving just as quickly.
Lem Bataan are gender-fluid hermaphrodites, and are capable of presenting male or female traits to varying degrees. They call this process of control 'expressing'. When interacting with species which are mostly gender binary, such as humans, Lem Bataan will often attempt to express a single gender and will repeat this expression whenever they meet the same group. They consider this to be both diplomatic and polite.
Lem Bataan have relatively poor vision, and a rudimentary form of hearing which is provided by bristled membranes. They are obliged to use electronic devices to augment these senses when dealing with some species. Their olfactory senses are highly sensitive (→FSS).
When Ambassador Ohl Ain visited Fengrir in March 3745 ELC, he gave an address in the capital's public square. Although his voice was translated and amplified Ider Firenz could still hear his underlying speech. She interpreted the sounds as 'piping and fluting' (→SFTD).
The Lem Bataan are known to have co-evolved with a sentient, companion species known as the Lommu-Bata. Not much is known about this species by the Imperial Combine, since they are far more reclusive than the Lem Bataan, but it is widely understood that the two species have a form of non-biological symbiosis. The relationship between the two races is thought to be cultural and practical, with the Lem Bataan doing the thinking and the Lommu-Bata doing the making. Without the Lommu-Bata the Lem Bataan would never have become a space-faring species (→IDOD).
Lem Bataan are gender-fluid hermaphrodites, and are capable of presenting male or female traits to varying degrees. They call this process of control 'expressing'. When interacting with species which are mostly gender binary, such as humans, Lem Bataan will often attempt to express a single gender and will repeat this expression whenever they meet the same group. They consider this to be both diplomatic and polite.
Lem Bataan have relatively poor vision, and a rudimentary form of hearing which is provided by bristled membranes. They are obliged to use electronic devices to augment these senses when dealing with some species. Their olfactory senses are highly sensitive (→FSS).
When Ambassador Ohl Ain visited Fengrir in March 3745 ELC, he gave an address in the capital's public square. Although his voice was translated and amplified Ider Firenz could still hear his underlying speech. She interpreted the sounds as 'piping and fluting' (→SFTD).
The Lem Bataan are known to have co-evolved with a sentient, companion species known as the Lommu-Bata. Not much is known about this species by the Imperial Combine, since they are far more reclusive than the Lem Bataan, but it is widely understood that the two species have a form of non-biological symbiosis. The relationship between the two races is thought to be cultural and practical, with the Lem Bataan doing the thinking and the Lommu-Bata doing the making. Without the Lommu-Bata the Lem Bataan would never have become a space-faring species (→IDOD).
Warfare
During the Perseus conflict the Lem Bataan Confederation provided support to the Imperial Combine in the form of resource management and strategic administration. They provided no military support, despite repeated overtures from the Empire which were intended to secure a joint operations agreement.
Although Imperial and Confederation science vessels cooperate regularly, the Lem Bataan have yet to reveal their full naval capabilities to the Imperial Combine. Given the size of the Confederation, and the vast area of its borders, it seems likely that the Confederation's naval forces are both numerous and capable.
Although Imperial and Confederation science vessels cooperate regularly, the Lem Bataan have yet to reveal their full naval capabilities to the Imperial Combine. Given the size of the Confederation, and the vast area of its borders, it seems likely that the Confederation's naval forces are both numerous and capable.