screenshots are from [#159 Repentance]
screenshots are from [#159 Repentance]
BENKARANS
 The Benkarans are a humanoid species (see picture on left showing humanoid appearance) native to the Delta Quadrant. Apart from a slightly different shaped skull structure, they are identical to humans, and adult Benkarans are of similar height to adult humans. The species occupies 10 per cent of an area of space which is governed by the Nygeans.
In 2377, stardate unknown, in [#159 Repentance], USS Voyager rescued eleven people from a space vessel immediately before it exploded as a result of damage caused by a plasma leak. The eleven consisted of three Nygean warders and their eight prisoners whom they were transporting to the Nygean homeworld for execution for capital crimes. Warden Yediq requested that Voyager transport himself, his men and his prisoners to the Nygean homeworld which was thirteen light-years away. When Janeway told him Voyager was headed in the opposite direction he arranged for a Nygean transport vessel to rendezvous with Voyager but it would take a few days to reach them. Although Janeway was uncomfortable about the prospect of conveying men to their deaths, she nevertheless agreed with Yediq that she would work within Nygean law. Tuvok, as chief of security aboard Voyager, had a cargo bay adapted to house the prisoners, five of whom were Benkarans. Believing that one of the Benkaran prisoners had been falsely convicted of murder and sentenced to death, a man called Joleg, Neelix contacted the Nygean government, told them he was interested in a cultural exchange and was allowed to access data on the Nygean criminal justice system. Neelix reported: "The Nygeans govern a sector of space occupied by several different humanoid species. One of those species is the Benkarans. They occupy just 10 per cent of Nygean space but take up nearly 80 per cent of the space in Nygean prisons. .... Benkarans are ten more times more likely to be executed for their crimes than Nygeans." The reason why was not discovered or investigated, although B'Elanna Torres asked Neelix if he wondered whether Joleg was discriminated against because of his species. At Joleg's request, Neelix sent a letter to his brother, as Joleg put it: "I'd like to let him know what's happened to me." But his brother traced the letter, learned Voyager's location and attacked in the hope of freeing the five Benkarans and, when the initial attempt failed, tried to beam Joleg out, but Voyager disabled the attacking ship. Although we know little about Benkaran society from [#159 Repentance] we can assume that Benkarans have a similar family structure to that of humans, which includes the feeling of loyalty between kin such as that exhibited by Joleg's brother. |
 Joleg, wearing Nygean prison uniform
|
Joleg - side views of face
Egrid, another Benkaran
Benkarans who become prisoners of the Nygean criminal justice system are compelled to wear identifiying uniforms which consist of a mesh undervest and a one-piece jumpsuit worn over it. For each uniform, across the chest, on a mounting, is a series of lights of different colours. The pattern varies per prisoner and therefore it is possibly a means of identifying prisoners from a distance and/or electronic tagging whilst within Nygean facilities. The bright orange-coloured stripe down one arm easily identifies the wearer as a prisoner from a distance, and is more visible in poor light.
the mounted lights from another Benkaran's prisoner uniform - the mountings differ slightly, as does the pattern and colour of lights
Joleg's brother's ship....
.....with which he attacked USS Voyager, and knocked out the power to the cargobay where Joleg and another seven prisoners were being held. He locked on to all five Benkaran lifesigns and tried to beam them out.
The escape attempt was unsuccessful after Voyager made a direct hit on their transporter array.
SHIP U.S.S. VOYAGER: Cargo bay temporarily adapted to house Nygean warden Yediq's prisoners
