Hirogen
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The Hirogen are a fictional race in the Star Trek universe. They are spacefaring and nomadic and featured in Star Trek: Voyager. Resident to the Delta Quadrant, the Hirogen are roughly technologically equal to Starfleet, though have a primitive social structure, where each pack is led by an "Alpha", with a "Beta" serving directly under him.
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Culture
The Hirogen view all other races as prey, and make sport of pursuing what they deem worthy adversaries. With this in mind, some far-seeing Hirogen believe their society, which has broken up into a number of factions each engaged on their own hunts, has become too divided to survive in the hostile Delta Quadrant.
Appearance
Hirogen are typically much taller than a human, perhaps seven to eight feet in size. They are powerfully muscular. It can be surmised that their close combat capabilities outstrip those of a typical Starfleet officer by quite a margin. Hirogen hunters of all ranks wear tough blue armour, generally with face masks. Before a hunt, all Hirogen hunters colour their faces with some type of war paint.
Tactics
In battle the Hirogen rely on strong armour and, in face-to-face encounters, their physical resilience to survive. They carry tetryon rifles into combat; these powerful assault rifles utilise a form of energy that Starfleet has so far been unable to harness.
Voyager
The U.S.S. Voyager encountered the Hirogen sometime around 2373, and the Hirogen, sensing worthy prey, attacked in force. Voyager's weapon systems were initially unable to penetrate the hull armour of the Hirogen fighter craft. Many conflicts ensued between Hirogen and Humans as the aliens continued their ritualistic hunt, but under Captain Janeway's expert guidance the Starfleet crew were able to survive each encounter.
The final confrontation between Voyager and a Hirogen war party in 2374 was so devastating that Janeway effectively "bought off" the aliens by giving them holographic technology to create their own hunts. The Alpha in charge of the Hirogen party accepted for the sake of preserving the lives of those under his command. Unfortunately the Hirogen lust for violence overcame all reason and their holographic prey soon became the aggressors.
External link
- StarTrek.com article on Hirogen (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/aliens/article/101982.html)