u.s.s. Lancelot NCC-74410

diplomatic/JAG dEPARTMENT

TRILLS

Trill, also known as the Trill Homeworld, is a class M planet in the Alpha Quadrant and home to the Trill population consisting of humanoids and Joined Trills. It is a permanent member of the United Federation of Planets. The planet's atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. The symbiotic relationship between Trill species developed after a planet-wide ecological disaster.

Trills are a symbiotic species consisting of a humanoid host and a veriform symbiont which lives in the abdomen of the host. The worm-like symbiont is extremely long-lived,

As a joined species, Trills enjoy a special relationship with the past and the future. They live many lifetimes with the benefit of remembrance, knowing that in all likelihood they will survive beyond the lifetime of an individual host. This give them a certain air of wisdom and calm, shared only by species of great longevity, such as El-Aurians and the Vulcan race. Trills try to rise above the temptations of romance and greed; however, the goal of all symbionts is to live a rich and varied existence through the bodies of their hosts.

The relationship between a Trill symbiont and its humanoid host is complex. A joined Trill integrates the personalities of all the symbiont's previous hosts. Coping with so many different elements can be difficult. For this reason, host candidates are screened very carefully. The host must have a strong desire to lead a full life, and the will to pursue that life, otherwise he or she risks being overwhelmed by the symbiont's previous personalities.

Not all Trills are chosen to join with a symbiont. Every year at least 5000 candidates are accepted into the Trill Initiate Program but, in most years, only 300 symbionts are available for joining.

Trill Initiates go through a vigorous training program very similar to a university or an academy. However, while an initiate may do well in this part of the training, the visit with a joined Trill field docent is the deciding factor in whether or not the initiate is able to graduate to host status. The field docent must determine whether or not the initiate has the strength of personal direction and independence to become a host. The field docent can challenge an initiate to find their path in many ways, If the initiate doesn't answer the challenge, he or she will get a black mark on their record. Worse yet, they can fall behind seemingly less qualified initiates by simply following the rules too closely, or trying to formulate their goals to please others.

Hosts are considered a link in the chain of a symbiont's life. Each link must be strong and unique.

There are many taboos in Trill society. One of the strongest is that no joined Trill is to resume a relationship with another Trill from a past host's lifetime. This means that a joined Trill must avoid former hosts' family members and lovers. When these paths are crossed, great measures are taken to assure that the joined Trills do not get too close.

Resuming a relationship from a past-host lifetime is called 're-association'. It is considered quite unnatural, and the punishment for it is extreme. Joined Trills who re-associate are exiled, condemning the symbiont to die with that host body. As the primary instinct of the Trill host is to protect the life of the symbiont at all costs, re-association happens only rarely.

Although re-association is taboo, Trill symbionts are not punished for carrying on relationships with other species from one joining to the next. Many joined Trills choose to carry on the work of past host lifetimes. 

The life of a Trill symbiont can be enriched by extreme variations in its hosts' personal goals.

The symbiont can survive for 96 hours following the death of the host. If it is transferred to a new host within that time, it will continue to survive. It cannot survive absolute destruction of the host body. All skills are transferred to the new host, but are based off of the new host's physical and mental abilities.

Should you have any questions or comments please e-mail the Chief Diplomatic/JAG Officer at the Diplomatic/JAG Department aboard the U.S.S. Lancelot.