Andorians

This article is about Andorians. To see a list of Andorian characters, go to the Andorian Category.

=Physiology=
 * Andorians have blue skin and white or silver hair.
 * The antennae of Andorians are capable of moving independent of one another as well as gathering sensory information (electric fields, changes in air density and temperature, sub-sonic sounds, sonar-like sensory). This makes it rather difficult to sneak up on or elude an Andorian. The antennae are incredibly sensitive to pain. If severed, they can grow back with time.
 * Andorians have a higher metabolic rate than humans.
 * Andorians are resistant to a wide range of environmental conditions, including temperatures ranging from well below freezing to temperatures near the boiling point of water.
 * Andorians have blue blood, which is non-viscuous. The blue hue is a result of a high concentration of cobalt in their hemoglobin.
 * Andorians are susceptible to phase-pulse infections which may prove fatal. Their physiology makes intravenous injections impossible, and thus receive such medications via intramuscular injections.
 * Andorians have four sexes:
 * thaans (M) - bigger than chans, usually more muscular; donates 1/3 of chromosomes
 * chans (M) - smaller than thaans, usually wiry body types; donates 1/3 of chromosomes
 * zhens (F) - Andorians who carry the zygote to term
 * shens (F) - where all Andorian life begins (as gametes); egg-bearing females
 * Traditional reproduction requires all four sexes, however clinical methods have progressed to make alternative means of birth available.
 * Aenar share nearly all of the physiological traits as their Andorian cousins.

=Politics= The Andorian Empire is a constitutional monarchy that was established in the 19th century. Thalisar the Last unified the warring clans and deliberately died childless which led to the creation of the parliamentary democracy that has governed Andor ever since her death. The position of head of state is deliberately left empty, and is represented by the Empty Throne of the Andorian Empire, found in the Parliament Andoria Complex. The head of government is the Presider, whose seat is determined by the political party that has a majority in the legislature, the Parliament Andoria. Parliament Andoria also determines the Federation Councillor of Andoria.

The Andorian Imperial Guard continues to provide security at the Parliament Andoria Complex.

=History= The Andorians are a founding member of the United Federation of Planets. It was the efforts of the humans, Captain Jonathan Archer, in particular, that helped to put an end to a long-lasting cold war with Vulcan. Among manly things, it was a dispute over territories claimed by both governments and clandestine surveillance upon Andorian worlds from a monastery on P'Jem. Over the years, the Andorians have been proud and contributing members of the Federation, introducing their culture in a variety ways such as music (Andorian blues), spirits (Andorian ale), fashion (Andorian silk) and its finest arts. Many Andorians have gone on to serve in Starfleet, some reaching prominent positions in the upper echelons of the Fleet.

=Culture=
 * Andorians detest dishonesty, yet they're not above deceptions of their own. They tend to be suspicious by nature, and occasionally volatile.
 * Andorians worship a deity called Uzaveh. It is said in the Tale of the Breaking, that Uzaveh didn't feel that an ancient figure was whole and split him into four, marking the origin of the four genders among Andorians.
 * Typically reserved for members of the Imperial Guard, but should Andorians die far from home, it is tradition to transport a part of them back to the Andorian ices.
 * A traditional marriage includes four bondmates, a member of each of the individual genders, and is often arranged very early by families. Females can initiate an intimate relationships by assaulting a male.

The Shelthreth
The traditional mating ceremony of the Andorian culture. A narcotic, saf, is an important part of the ceremony. The Eveste Elders oversee shelthreth ceremonies.

The Ushaan
The Ushaan is a ritual where the code of honor demands a duel to the death. A pair of combatants meet one another armed only with an ushaan-tor, an ice miner's tool. Many children are taught to wield this weapon at a young age.

Foods

 * Andorian Redbat - meat delicacy
 * Shaysha - beetle-like delicacy
 * Andorian spice bread - brown, flavored with spice, known to be quite popular
 * Tuber root - edible plant, can be served on salad, good source of energy
 * Xixu - marine plant, delicacy
 * Hari - a flatbread

Beverages

 * Andorian ale - blue, often served in small amounts
 * Gredlahr - similar to Terran rum, sweeter
 * Andorian Sunset - purple cocktail resembling the planet's sunset
 * Yutaan juice - similar to citrus juice, non-alcoholic, unpleasant odor to non-Andorians (lemon oil and Terran goats)
 * Faridd - carbonated soda-like beverage
 * Srjula - infant's formula
 * Zhaissa - Zhavey's milk
 * Katheka - Andorian stimulant analogous to coffee
 * Fridd - tea, served cold and to be drank as it thaws

Language

 * grelth - (Andorian) arachnid
 * raal - love
 * tezha - sexual union outside of shelthreth
 * shapla - betrothal symbol, woven locks of hair from bondmates
 * saf - a psychoactive chemical, used in the shelthreth. Possesion of saf is illegal off Andoria.
 * shreya - mother (egg-bearing)
 * zhavey - mother (child-bearing)
 * shei - daughter (egg-bearing)

Naughty Words

 * roozh - excrement
 * bekh - penis (derogatory term)
 * z'tōk - equivalent to the f-bomb
 * phuuzh - anus
 * phuuzhca - anal orifice
 * sh' / zh'vaang - stupid girl
 * th' / ch'vaang - stupid boy

Gender Forms of Address

 * Polite forms of address (madam/sir): Zha, Sha, Cha, Tha
 * Parent: Zhavey, Shreya, Charan, Thavan
 * Offspring: zhei, shei, chei, thei
 * Siblings: zhi, shi, chi, thi

=Andoria= Andoria, or Andor is a class M moon. It is an ice planet upon which the Andorians hale. They share the planet with their cousins, the Aenar, who are blind and have telepathic abilities. They are also genetically compatible for reproduction with their counterparts, the Andorians. Andorii is the main spoken language on the planet. Laikan is the capital.

=References=
 * Memory Alpha - Andorian, Andoria (Physiology, Culture, History)
 * Memory Beta - Andorian, Uzaveh (Physiology, Culture, History, Vocabulary)
 * Star Trek Enterprise - 1x07: The Andorian Incident, 4x12: Babel One (Culture, History)
 * Star Trek: TNG - 3x16: The Offspring (Culture)
 * DS9 Novels - Mission Gamma Series (Physiology, Culture, Vocabulary)
 * Personal Log - Kova Decrypted (Physiology, Culture, Vocabulary)
 * Kova's Biography (Physiology, Culture)
 * S1E6: A Candle in the Dark, S1E7: MURDER!, S1M6: Trust But Verify, S1M7: Medici (Culture, Vocabulary)