Over the course of its many shows and films, theStar Trekfranchise has spanned multiple decades andintroduced many differentcharacters from every corner of the galaxy. The galaxy’s vastness highlights civilization’s diversity in ways of several other alien species. When the USS Voyager was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, they discovered many species previously unknown to the Federation.
While some of these alien species were intimidating and hostile, others are friendly and empathetic; for instance, the Ocampa. What are Ocampa, how powerful are they, and what role have they played in their appearance inStar Trek: Voyager? Here’s what fans should know about these residents of the Delta Quadrant.
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Who Are The Ocampa?
Ocampan Physiology
The Ocampa people, natives of the planet Ocampa in the far and vast Delta Quadrant, are a friendly and peaceful alien species notable for their telepathic abilities. The Ocampa are notable for their human-like appearance, but their ears are pointed much like those of Vulcans, and they have slightly more prominent foreheads and eyes. The Ocampa have a short lifespan, averaging about 9 years. Although they reproduce sexually, the Ocampa could only mate once during the period of life called the elogium, and the mating was limited to only a single child.
Many fans wonder how Ocampa managed to survive as a species despite a couple only being able to mate once. If this were the case, the population would drop by half in each generation. Although there is no proper explanation,a theory suggests thatthe Ocampa’s reproduction method mirrors that of guinea pigs. If they bear a child in their first year, they can have more pregnancies until their lifespans run out. This theory makes sense; otherwise, there would be no way for the Ocampa to survive this long.
The Ocampa are known for their solid mental capabilities. They are natural telepaths, and can communicate between themselves and other species. Moreover, they have an excellent memory, and with strong enough abilities, can even foresee the future. Ocampans could also perform telekinesis, although the strength varied from individual to individual.
Ocampan History and Society
The Ocampa world used to be an M-Class planet. They once had a more prominent civilization, before the planet’s atmosphere was destroyed in an accident caused by a visiting alien known as a Nacene. The following period, which the Ocampans referred to as “The Warming” era, was full of global catastrophes after the accident resulted in the planet’s inability to produce nucleogenic particles.
To rectify their error and attempt to atone for their deeds, the Nacene left two of their kind behind, Suspiria and an individual known as Caretaker. The Ocampa retreated to an underground city located miles below the surface, protected by security barriers. The only way they could enter was through tunnels, and over generations, this became the only life they knew.
The Caretaker provided the Ocampa with food, water, and sufficient survival energy. He did so with his array, a large space station that could manipulate energy, interstellar communication, and much more. While his intentions were for the good, the Ocampa came to rely solely on the Caretaker. Suspiria, realizing this, left along with a few hundred Ocampa to their very own array that she created for them. Meanwhile, the Ocampa left in their city came to regard the Caretaker as a god, and lost the capability to survive on their own. Their telepathic abilities weakened, and they lost their sense of independence.
While Caretaker’s action madethe Ocampa weak and reliant on him for survival, Suspiria did the quite opposite and helped the Ocampa develop their abilities like psychokinetics and precognition. The Caretaker dies early inStar Trek: Voyager, leaving the Ocampa vulnerable and on their own for survival. One Ocampa, Kes, left the underground city, eager to see the galaxy now that she was no longer dependent on the Caretaker.
When Do The Ocampa Appear In Star Trek?
The Ocampa appear in 1995’sStar Trek: Voyager. In the show’s first episode, the starship USS Voyagerwas searching for theVal Jean, a Maquis ship. However, Voyager suddenly got pulled into the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker, who had also taken the Val Jean. Being the only Nacene around,the Caretaker was lookingfor a mating partner to produce offspring who would carry on with the protection of the Ocampa. Time was short, as another species known as the Kazon was after the Caretaker’s array.
After the USS Voyager’s landing in the USS Quadrant, they met and allied with the Ocampa. Kes, an Ocampan, played a massive part in the partnership, as she has an empathetic connection with the crew. The USS Quadrant was looking for a way back home, as they were 70,000 light years away from Earth. The crew found themselves stuck far away from home in the middle of an unknown area in space surrounded by hostile alien species and determined to help the Ocampa after the Caretaker died.
Kes' Role On Star Trek: Voyager
After the death of Caretaker, Kesjoined the Voyager crew. Her medical knowledge was essential to the crew’s journey, and Kes became one of the series' main characters. Due to her shorter lifespan, she aged physically and mentally fast. Throughout her journey with the crew, Kes rapidly became aware of her own abilities, mainly psychic abilities. With her visions, she proves a valuable asset to the crew. For example, in this one instance, she treated Neelix after his lungs got stolen by the Vidiians. Her precognition and telepathic abilities helped the crew multiple times as they encountered the challenges in the Delta Quadrant, particularly as she was the only one who could communicate with the hostile Species 8472.
As she aged quickly, Kes' power grew, and soon, she could not control her powers and began to give off power surges. These surges caused destabilization on a subatomic level, and ended up damaging the ship. Knowing she was a potential danger to theship,Kes took offto find her true destiny and practice her powers. Her departure from the show was rather rushed, considering how the writers didn’t know what to do with her character and had little room for more development, evidenced by her shorter lifespan. But despite her short tenure, Kes remains a memorable character and a representative of an interestingStar Trekspecies.
