The Pakleds were a rotund humanoid species native to a planet known to them as Pakled Planet.
Physiology[]
The Pakleds were a humanoid species with a distinctive appearance. They had a round, mostly bald head with large brows covering much of their sloping forehead, and eyes slanted downwards. Their skin was a pale grayish-white, and their bodies were thick and muscular. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
One of the most notable aspects of Pakled was their low intelligence. They were often regarded as one of the least intelligent species in the galaxy. However, despite their intellectual deficiencies, the Pakleds were physically strong and tough.
Rumdar's scan
Pakleds possessed a high tolerance for pain and were known to survive injuries that would be fatal to other species. They were durable enough to survive the vacuum of space, as evidenced when Rumdar accidentally ejected himself from an airlock aboard the USS Cerritos after mistaking it for a bathroom. He was recovered some time later and revived on his own while in sickbay. According to the Cerritos' chief medical officer, Doctor T'Ana, she had no idea how Rumdar was able to survive, but said that he "[was] totally fine." According to Rumdar himself, "Pakleds [were] strong." (LD: "The Spy Humongous")
Society and culture[]
The Pakleds were a species known for their limited intelligence and simplistic way of life. Their culture and society reflected this, with a focus on survival and acquiring technology by any means necessary.
Pakled society was highly stratified, with a clear hierarchy based on strength and ability to acquire technology. The strongest and most capable Pakleds were the leaders, while weaker and less capable individuals were relegated to lower positions in society. This was exemplified in that large headwear was a representation of status and power in their society. (LD: "The Spy Humongous")
Despite their lack of intelligence, the Pakleds were highly skilled in acquiring technology, often through theft or bartering with other species. They were known to ambush passing ships, using their own ships as bait to lure unsuspecting travelers into their trap. Once captured, they would demand technology or goods in exchange for the release of the ship and its crew. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
Despite their aggressive tendencies, the Pakleds were not completely without compassion. They valued loyalty and trustworthiness, and were known to form strong bonds with those they considered allies or friends. However, these bonds were often based on mutual gain, with each party benefiting from the other's skills or resources. Pakled society was highly insular, with little interaction with other species. They were often viewed as a nuisance or a threat by neighboring civilizations, who were wary of their aggressive tactics and tendency to steal technology. (LD: "wej Duj")
History[]
By the 2360s, they had had contact with the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, and Jarada.
Because their own technology was significantly less advanced than that of many other spacefaring races – a fact that Data found to be "a genuine curiosity [regarding] how they ever mastered the rudiments of space travel" – the Pakleds sought things that made them "go" – and they especially liked things that made them powerful. They were driven by their unwillingness to develop technological knowledge on their own, and desired to instantly gain the power that other cultures enjoyed. They therefore tried to acquire technology from other species, generally by theft through coercion. To the casual observer, the Pakleds appeared to be intellectually challenged, especially in their verbal skills. However, despite the apparent lack of intellect, they proved to be far more cunning than they appeared and used their innocuous appearance to deceive other races. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
In 2365, a Pakled ship named the Mondor sent out a Mayday in Rhomboid Dronegar Sector 006 in order to lure in other ships whose technology could then be stolen. They were offered assistance by the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, who lent the Pakleds their chief engineer, Geordi La Forge, to help fix the Pakled ship. The Pakleds kidnapped La Forge, but eventually returned him, after the Enterprise demonstrated its "force" with a harmless pyrotechnic display involving its Bussard collectors. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
In 2366, a Pakled trade ship found and retrieved Lore after he had drifted in space for nearly two years. Following his rescue, he was given Pakled clothing to wear. (TNG: "Brothers")
By 2370, Pakleds frequently visited Deep Space 9 and were likely to be found either at Quark's or on the Promenade. (DS9: "Melora", et al.)
In the middle of the same year, while in a search for the Duras sisters, Lursa and B'Etor, the USS Enterprise-D entered the Kalla system, which was held by the Pakleds. (TNG: "Firstborn")
Later the same year, a Pakled transport crossed the Demilitarized Zone to supply the Cardassians with a shipment of retro-viral vaccines. (TNG: "Preemptive Strike")
Pakleds were also known to work as refuse merchants, and messy ones at that, a fact that Quark echoed while describing the condition of his brother Rom's quarters. (DS9: "Prophet Motive")
By 2380, the Pakleds' level of accumulation had created powerful ships, known as Pakled Clumpships, which contained components salvaged from over thirty different species – including the Klingons, Romulans, Bajorans, Arkonians, and Ferengi – to the point where they could easily be a threat to some Federation starships. As a result of the Federation's persistent failure to monitor species they had encountered, much of this development happened under the galaxy's nose. (LD: "No Small Parts")
In an apparent attempt to seek revenge against the Enterprise, a group of Pakled rebels began attacking Federation shipping routes. A group of Klingon extremists, who believed the Klingon Empire had lost its way during the time of peace, sought to use the Pakled's own hunger for power to their advantage. Seeing the Federation beginning to destabilize, some Klingons, such as Dorg, began to share weapons and information with the Pakleds to further fuel their conflict with the Federation, in hopes it would lead to an eventual war. (LD: "wej Duj")
Their threat escalated when one of the rebels' Clumpships destroyed the USS Solvang, and seriously damaged the USS Cerritos before Lieutenant Shaxs and Ensign Sam Rutherford were able to destroy the attacking vessel with a computer virus created by the demented hologram Badgey. Three more Clumpships then arrived, threatening to destroy the Cerritos, but were driven off after the USS Titan arrived and overpowered them. (LD: "No Small Parts")
As 2381 began, the Titan continued to engage the Pakleds. (LD: "Strange Energies", "An Embarrassment Of Dooplers") Suspecting that the Pakleds are being led by a third party, the Titan crew were sent to investigate the Pakled takeover of a Varuvian mining colony on Karzill IV, but were unable to determine whether any other power was involved in the operation. (LD: "Kayshon, His Eyes Open")
On Stardate 58105.1, Starfleet sent the Cerritos to the Pakled homeworld in order to negotiate a cease-fire, much to the confusion of Pakled Ambassador Grubdin. The visit prompted a rebel attempt to plant a spy aboard the Cerritos. Their arrival coincided with the escape of the rebel prisoner Rumdar, who arrived aboard the Cerritos, sent to acquire information about the ship's shields, crimson force field, warp core, and the crew's access codes, under a poorly executed ruse of posing as a refugee seeking political asylum.
In response, Captain Carol Freeman and Lieutenant Shaxs were held, for seemingly assisting the rebels, until their former prisoner was returned. Freeman met with several levels of Pakled leadership, before witnessing a Pakled "rebelution".
With the new leader installed, the spy returned to report the "success" of his mission aboard the Cerritos. Freeman was able to trick Rumdar into revealing the Pakled's plot to smuggle a Varuvian bomb onto Earth. With information in hand, Freeman returned to the Cerritos, and left the Pakleds believing that they had actually defeated her. (LD: "The Spy Humongous")
Later, Dorg's actions with the Pakleds were exposed after a failed mutiny by his commander, Togg. After anointing Ma'ah his new first officer, they rendezvoused with the Clumpship Pakled to discuss a weapons transaction. While the Pakled's captain, Rebner, and Dorg negotiated, they were interrupted with the arrival of the Cerritos and joined forces to take out the Cerritos before it could report of their alliance. Ma'ah did not believe Dorg's actions in manipulating the Pakleds to fight a battle for them were honorable, and successfully killed Dorg, intending to reveal his actions to the Klingon High Council. A short time later, on Stardate 58130.6, Pakled Planet was destroyed by a Varuvian bomb that was apparently planted in the capital city, Big Strong City by the Klingon extremists. Upon investigation, Starfleet Command came upon evidence that Carol Freeman was in league with the extremists, and promptly arrested her. (LD: "wej Duj", "First First Contact")
In 2381, an elite group of Starfleet officers, led by Captain Morgan Bateson and aided by Commander Tuvok, discovered that the evidence concerning Freeman was actually fabricated and that the destruction of their planet was done by the Pakleds themselves in order to trick the Federation into a new, resource-rich planet. Freeman was exonerated as a result and the true culprits arrested. (LD: "Grounded")
Government[]
The Pakleds had an unusual and rather incoherent system of government that served more to baffle and frustrate diplomats than it did effectively govern the species. They were at one time ruled by an emperor, followed by a subordinate king, then queen. They had a rudimentary class system where an individual's status was indicated by the size of their helmet.
In 2381, the ruling elite were overthrown in a brief "rebelution" and replaced by the rebels, with the emperor's killer declaring himself the new leader. (LD: "The Spy Humongous")
It was shown that the Queen Pakled and King Pakled was still in a position of power before the former was arrested for framing Freeman for the destruction of Pakled Planet. (LD: "Grounded")
Technology[]
The Pakleds, although somehow Warp capable, had technological capabilities that were relatively limited and primitive compared to those of most spacefaring civilizations. However, they were known to be resourceful and cunning in their use of technology, often relying on brute force and trickery to achieve their goals. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
One notable example of Pakled technology was their starship the Pakled Clumpship, which was a conglomeration of salvaged parts from various other ships. Despite its hodgepodge appearance, the ship was equipped with basic warp drive and weapons systems, allowing the Pakleds to travel through space and defend themselves if necessary. (LD: "wej Duj", "First First Contact")
Despite their limited technological capabilities, the Pakleds have demonstrated a talent for acquiring technology from other cultures through theft or deception. They managed to steal advanced technology from even hostiles species like the Klingons and Romulan by posing as a hapless and innocent species in need of assistance. Overall, the Pakleds' technology was rudimentary and often reliant on scavenging and theft from other civilizations. However, their resourcefulness and willingness to use underhanded tactics often allows them to punch above their weight and achieve their goals despite their technological limitations. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
List of Pakleds[]
- Named
- Unnamed
- Unnamed Pakleds
- Jackabog's ship personnel
- Mondor personnel
Appendices[]
Appearances[]
- TNG: "Samaritan Snare"
- DS9:
- LD:
- "No Small Parts"
- "Strange Energies" (ships only; no visual contact)
- "Kayshon, His Eyes Open"
- "The Spy Humongous"
- "wej Duj"
- "First First Contact" (photo only)
- "Grounded" (photo only)
Background information[]
"PACK-led" was the pronunciation of this species' name from the script pronunciation guides for "Samaritan Snare" and "Firstborn". [1] [2]
The Pakleds were created by "Samaritan Snare" writer Robert L. McCullough. He thought them up in the knowledge that, no matter how bizarre the aliens were, the TNG production staff would most likely be able to find some way to portray them. "I wanted to do something fun. In all these space shows, the aliens are so damn smart and sophisticated, I thought, 'How about having them come across as dummies?' As all the aliens were malevolent and intuitive like Q, I felt it would be neat to find some aliens left out of the loop of development," McCullough laughed. "Third world aliens! They appear to be stupid, but they're not: they're just needy. They're so needy, they become desperate." He was extremely pleased to create the "dull, laughable and grossly overweight aliens." (Starlog, issue 187, p. 54)
Robert McCullough took a logical approach to naming the aliens. "They were called Pakleds, which is pretty obvious – they were sheep," he noted. The two members of the species named in "Samaritan Snare" – Grebnedlog and Reginod – "were names I learned in junior high school," McCullough explained. "My last name used to be Goldenberg and my best friend's was Donager, and we had a code of calling each other by our last names backwards." (Starlog, issue 187, p. 54)
The script of "Samaritan Snare" described the Pakleds as "slothful, droopy-eyed humanoids" with "typically wistful Pakled hypoplastic speech, almost a sense of hopeful longing in their every word." [3]
An early concept sketch of a Pakled, by Make-Up Supervisor Michael Westmore
When designing the Pakled appearance, the make-up department had to bear in mind that the Pakleds were to be introduced as a race of aliens intended to appear slow-witted and harmless, incapable of creating their own technology, but in reality, were a sharp and nefarious race who would steal anything they wished. To aid the make-up department in representing the aliens' dual nature, the casting department hired portly actors whose expressions were naturally benign, in order to convey a sense of innocence. (Star Trek: Aliens & Artifacts, pp. 111 & 113) Robert McCullough commented, "They got the biggest actors they could find, and with those costumes, they looked huge." (Starlog, issue 187, p. 54) The make-up itself consisted of appliances for the foreheads, cheeks, and a pointed lower lip. The make-up department also came up with a set of eyebrows that went up to the center of their foreheads, intended to project a sense of helplessness about their situation. For the mouth, a set of double-size teeth was used. (Star Trek: Aliens & Artifacts, p. 113)
"Samaritan Snare" Director Les Landau was careful to show the Pakleds in a balanced way. Of their appearance in the episode, he recalled, "What I had to deal with was a race of people who appeared to be dimwitted and unattractive, but yet had a need for things to make themselves sufficient. I didn't want them to appear silly, foolish or unrealistic, or rather unbelievable, so it was a constant self-conscious awareness to keep them threatening yet simple." (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 21, p. 42)
According to an internal reference document, listing all the aliens seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was circulated around the time of the production of TNG Season 5, the Pakleds were given the description of "A rotund, lethargic scavenger race."
Following their introduction in the TNG Season 2 episode "Samaritan Snare", the Pakleds were also mentioned in the TNG Season 4 installment "Brothers" as having rescued Data's brother, Lore. The Pakleds were originally to have been led by him in the sixth season two-parter "Descent" and "Descent, Part II", though they were ultimately replaced with the Borg in that pair of episodes. (TV Zone, issue 61, p. 38) A person wearing a Pakled costume can be seen in a bar on Ronara Prime in TNG Season 7 outing "Preemptive Strike"; however, he lacks the unique Pakled facial features.
Subsequently, the Pakleds went on to appear in the background of several Star Trek: Deep Space Nine installments. They frequently appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from the second thru the fifth seasons. David Livingston commented on why the Pakleds were brought back in "Rules of Acquisition" which he directed: "I asked for them. We were doing a comedy and they're the funniest, goofiest-looking guys. I love the Pakleds". (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 98)
The Pakleds were briefly considered to feature as main antagonists in DS9: "One Little Ship", when that episode was in pre-production, by which time it was too late to make such a drastic change to the episode. "During prep I started saying, 'We should have used someone like the Pakleds from TNG,'" offered René Echevarria. This idea was dismissed by Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr in favor of Harry Mudd instead being used as the villain, despite neither of them ultimately being used. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 531)
In the script for Star Trek Nemesis, the android B-4 revealed, in a lengthy speech, that he had told a group of Talosians that he originally had been rescued from his homeworld by the Pakleds, whom he referred to as "fat," prior to him having ended up in space for a long duration and then being found by the Talosians. In the first draft script of Nemesis, B-4 out-rightly informed Data that he had been rescued by the Pakleds and had later relayed news of the rescue to the Talosians, though, in the shooting script, B-4 phrased it by saying only that the Pakleds' involvement had been what he had told the Talosians. Also, in the first draft script, he mentioned that the Pakleds had traded him to a Bolian ship, which he didn't say in the shooting script. [4]
Apocrypha[]
In the Strange New Worlds 10 short story "A Dish Served Cold", set in 2373, a Borg cube en route to Sector 001 encounters a Pakled freighter, but the Collective considers them unintelligent and an inefficient use of resources to assimilate. However, they are later assimilated when the Borg need extra reinforcements in their battle with Starfleet forces in Earth orbit. They are designated as Species 95012.
The Star Trek: A Time to... novel A Time to Die reveals Pakleds have purplish blood.
The Star Trek Role Playing Game supplement Aliens established that the Pakled homeworld was called "Pakled." This was before Lower Decks established that the planet is called "Pakled Planet."
A ship of Pakleds is also featured in the video game Star Trek: Klingon, in which Gowron coaxes the Pakled captain to come over to his ship to explain why he could not come over to his ship.
In Star Trek Online, Pakleds are a playable race for Starfleet, which may indicate they have become a member of the Federation. Visually, the Pakleds are a lot less bulky than in Star Trek canon (though their appearance can be modified in the character customization editor).
Pakleds are also one of the races that can be discovered in the video game Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birth of the Federation.
External links[]
- Pakled at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works