The debate over the origin of the Ssorans – whether or not they evolved from Terran dinosaurs – is fuelled by some confusion in the Ssora accounts of their own history. While they have no memory of a period of exploration by ships lacking T-Space drives, when they travelled to a number of nearby worlds they located traces of what could have been Ssoran civilisations. Many have suggested that perhaps the Ssorans accomplished at least one interplanetary migration in their history. (Revisionist humans claim generation ships from Earth seeded that whole side of the galaxy, but only one civilisation survived. )
The idea that the Ssorans had a headstart on all the other sentient races has followers because of the amount of time it took for the Ssora to claim their arm of the galaxy. Though records are unclear, it appears that the Ssorans developed T-Space drives about 100 000 BC. Their resultant spread proceeded at a pace not driven by the desire to explore, but by the need to find new worlds for an expanding population.
The Ssorans expansion eventually brought them into conflict with the KessRith. They ran across a KessRith generation ship orbiting a system. It had long since downloaded its cargo and had been maintained by the dominant clan as little more than a gunnery platform. True to KessRith philosophy, the KessRith shot first, then put the pieces of the Ssora vessel back together. Their scientists managed to reverse engineer the T-Space drive, and within a century had a spacegoing fleet of T-Space travel.
The KessRith would have pursued the Ssora and wiped them out in another millennium, but ran into a more worthy foe first – Humanity. The Ssora made the best of this respite – they negotiated an alliance of convenience with the KessRith and made a run at the Human Raj, the Human holdings in the quadrant.
The Ssora interest in fighting seemed secondary to showing the KessRith that they were holding up to their end of the alliance. This was important because the Ssora had begun to infiltrate and liberate some of the worlds the KessRith had taken. Apparently the KessRith Clan Leaders decided returning those worlds were worth Ssora help in the alliance because they did not repudiate the treaty. However, when the Ssora pressed too hard at some key systems, the KessRith did react and sent the Ssora home in tatters.
Ssora interest in Human holdings apparently intensified when the Ssora learned about New Terra. This coincidence has been put forward as yet more evidence of the Terran origin for the Ssora. And while that might be explained away as coincidence, the Ssora demand for New Terra when it fell after the Snow Plague was very deliberate. While the declaration loses something in the translation, the Divinity (as the Ssora leader is called) informed the KessRith Grand Dominator that to refuse his request would “lead to a war in which we will eat your hearts and leave the rest of you for the scavengers.” [Editor's note: The actual translation uses a Ssora term for "tender parts" where the author used the word "hearts." The Author apparently used an older, expurgated copy of "War Declarations of the Ssora.]
The gall of their demand struck the KessRith as brilliant within the realm of malavoqa, so the demand was respectfully honoured. The Ssora rejoiced at gaining this fine planet and renamed it Swuivuli – Birthplace. [Editor's note: Again, this translation is not wholly accurate. Swuivuli is more correctly rendered, "a place suitable for egg-laying." The author overlooks the fact that no fewer than seven other worlds within Ssora holdings bear the same name.] The obvious question begged by this rechristening is this: Why would the Ssora call New Terra their birthplace if it had not been the world on which they had arisen, or the first world they started the colonisation?
Many experts feel the Ssora deny this theory so vehemently because of their current embarrassment over loosing the world. This embarrassment would explain why the Ssora did nothing to warn the KessRith about the Human uprising until too late. Of course, an alternate explanation – they didn’t want to lose face in front of the KessRith because of the uprising – also has some validity. [Editor's note: In fact, the Ssora Admiral on New Terra at the time literally died from an asthmatic attack over his embarrassment. Without their leader, and accustomed to following orders, the rest of the Ssora did exactly what the rebels told them to do.]
PHILOSPHY
The Ssora, because they have rejected the concept of free will, have not developed much in the way of philosophy. They believe in honouring the Ciesiesr as best they can and, other than that, they seek to do whatever they can to get what they want. After all, falling for a plan laid out by a Ssora is part of the will of the gods. (The Ssora do know they are blessed by the gods because they had T-space drive first in the quadrant. They also know they’re beautiful, unlike the other species, which is yet more proof.)
EVALUATION
Unless you’re soul bonded to a Ssora, trust him as far as you can throw two KessRith.
The Ssoran Hegemony allied with the Falcarian Confederacy shortly after the Federation established a strong presence in the F’asa Sector. They had previously been only of the main powers in the sector and felt threatened by the arrival of the Federation. In 2373 the Ssorans, with the assistance of the Romulan Empire, occupied the Federation Colony on New Terra. Again, during the Falcarian War, the New Terra colony fell to the Ssoran Hegemony.
INFORMATION
Species: Ssoran
Classification: Bi-pedal Reptilian
Affiliation: Falcarian Allegiance
Homeworld: Ssora Prime
Location: Delta Quadrant
Special Abilities:
As a reptilian species, Ssorans have above average strength, height and weight. They are generally untrustworthy. They tend to be less intelligent and resourceful than humans.
Traits:
Strong, but not particularly intelligent.
Description:
Ssorans are lizard like but stand upright on their ‘hind’ legs.
