Zankon

The Zankon were an alien species that existed in the Milky Way Galaxy.

Biology
The Zankon were green furred oval creatures, standing on two limbs that were also used a appendages. Their faces were dominated by yellow muzzle and a pair of black eyes. At the top of their heads were two antennae that they could also manipulate to carry objects.

History
The Zankon ruled a large section of the galaxy around 3.5 million years ago. Their empire encompassed about 37 enslaved species who revolted, which caused the end of the Zankon Empire. The Xelayans were the first culture to discover traces of their empire. Though the Zankon were still seen as a myth by the 24th century, the Moclans accepted their existence as fact. According to legend, the Zankon hid a part of the fleet somewhere in the galaxy in hopes of using it to return to power, though it was never found.

However, a disgraced Union archaelogist named Professor Lamarche managed to find the location of the fleet. He solicted the aid of his former student, Captain Mercer, to acquire the help of his vessel, the USS Orville, to launch an investigation of the Cruxis System. Due to the gravimetric and magnetic fields of system entry into the area proved difficult. Mercer, not willing to risk the lives of his crew, ordered the ship to retreat from the area. However, Professor Lamarche ,not willing to have a find of historical value slip through his grasp, hijacked the controls of the ship and plunged it into the heart of the system. The ship made it through, though resulted in three deaths.

The ship damaged and stranded in the system, the crew found that the legend of the fleet was true. Though in order to escape the system, they reluctant needed the help of Lamarche to guide them into one of the Zankon ships to salvage parts to repair the Orville. Lamarche also brought his assistant Chalmi, an alien he bought from a distant world for a food synthesizer. Later it was revealed that Chalmi's kind were actually descendants of the Zankon and only they could activate the ships.

With the command of the Zankon fleet under his control through his thrall, Lamarche intended to use the fleet as a bartering chip to the Union to have his charges against him cleared. To do that he intended to use Chalmi's kind either through force to pilot the ship. When learned of his plans to enslave her kind, she turned on Lamarche, disgusted by his action and her ancestors. Using the ship she controlled, she used the vessel to destroy the fleet to prevent others from abusing its powers. The Orville crew seeing what she did promised to keep her races' existence discreet as she used her newfound freedom to return home.

Culture
Previously a highly militant culture, the Zankon enslaved other species. They did not trust any species other than their own, their technology adapted only to their brain waves for usage. Their descendants though have lost their history, becoming a non-spacefaring culture and much more benign.