Kelmar
The Kelmar are a humanoid bipedal species native to the planet Kelma.
They are a hardworking people, specializing in ship building and repair. To those ends, they have sixteen large ship yards and several smaller repair and construction facilities in their home system, a large number of them in orbit around their homeworld.
The Kelmar are a religious people, and their govenrment is composed of members of their priesthood, who'se sole purpose is to administer for the welfare of the many.
The Kelmar religion is an amalgamation of lesser religious results that were absorbed during a time called the great Enlightenment, which nearly destroyed their civilization.
The Kelmar maintain trade agreements and diplomatic ties with the Romulans, Breen, Skorr and Tholians, despite the fact that they are members of the United Federation of Planets.
prior to their joining the UFP in 2390, the Kelmar maintained a firm independance and neutrality. However that began to shift around 2385 when the neighboring Orion Syndicate decided to forcefully annex the Kelmar and add their facilites and resources to their territories.
At first the Kelmar were capable of holding off the syndicates, until a series of brutal assassinations threatened to leave them powerless.
A request was sent to the UFP and the USS Rothgar was dispatched to assist the Kelmar in maintaining their sovereignty.
In an unofficial capacity, the Rogthgar, caused the Orion Syndicate to reconsider their active attempts at annexation. This was primarily due to incocnsistent support from the highest echelons of the syndicate and the further complication of the presence of Starfleet personnel.
The Syndicate called a perilous cease fire, but never made peace with the Kelmar.
Fearing a resurgence of the conflict once the Federation eventually withdrew their support, the Kelmar applied to join the United Federation of Planets.
Their official status is as a sovereign trustee of the UFP. They do not vote in the council, and are free to conduct treaties and other political actions on their own. The agreement is fundamentally a mutual defense treaty by another name.
In recognition of the assistance lended by the crew of the USS Rothgar, a statue was erected in their honor at the central council halls.
