Preservers

Preserver technology

Preserver language

For the Pocket TOS novel, please see Preserver.

The Preservers were a super-race. Spock stated that "They passed through the galaxy rescuing primitive cultures which were in danger of extinction and seeding them, so to speak, where they could live and grow."

Among the cultures they transplanted were several of the more advanced and peaceful tribes of Native American tribes from Earth, who were transplanted to Amerind, a planet nearly half-a-galaxy away. Navajo, Mohican, and Delaware were represented. To these Humans, primitive compared to the Federation, the Preservers were known as "the Wise Ones". The planet also contained plant species identical to those of Earth, which were extremely unlikely to have evolved there.

They also provided this planet with a powerful obelisk-like asteroid deflector, and instructed the appointed medicine chief in its operation, to be transmitted from father to son.

Based on the complexity of the obelisk they appeared to have possessed extremely sophisticated building apparatus, consistent with a culture equal or surpassing that of the Federation during the 23rd century. They also possessed a highly advanced form of cipher writing, apparently based on musical scales.

Starfleet first became aware of the preservers in 2268, when the USS Enterprise visited Amerind, and discovered the transplanted Native Americans as well as the obelisk. While the structure initially defied analysis, Commander Spock eventually deciphered the writing, from which he learned about the preservers. (TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome")

A preserver obelisk was also present on one of the moons of Andoria. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings")

Ronald D. Moore has stated that he'd considered, but intentionally did not specify, that the ancient humanoids seen in "The Chase" were in fact the Preservers. He noted, "but this could be them and be internally consistent." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 244)) It should be noted that the Ancient humanoids seeded worlds 4.5 billion years ago, while Native American cultures only emerged in the last 10,000 years.

Despite the enormous gap, however, they are stated to be the same species in the DS9 comic book "Descendants" and in Star Trek Online. The idea was also part of the plot in the Star Trek: Federation proposal.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 2, p. 179) wonders "if the Preservers might have been the unknown alien agency responsible for protecting the aboriginal Ventu people on the Ledos planet in "Natural Law"".

External link

• Preserver (race) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works