6.8 Page 159

152 FERENGI TRADE BYLAWS THE STAR TREX ENCYCLOPEDIA: A REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE FUTURE

military uniform military uniform civilian civilian civilian grand nagus civilian Ferengi Trade By-Laws. Law pertaining to Ferengi business Rules of Acquisition. Ferengi consider the sanctity of a contract practices. Subsection 1027, paragraph 3 of the By-Laws per- to be a cornerstone of their civilization. Breaking a contract is tained to the improper supervision of a family member. Quark unthinkable, and will generally result in the offender having his was charged with violation of that article when his mother was ~~ Ferengi business license revoked and all of his assets seized, accused by the Ferengi Commerce Authority of earning profit and him becoming a pariah in Ferengi society. (“Body Parts" (“Family Business" [DS9]). [DS9]). The Ferengi are sexist in the extreme, and do not allow their females the honor of clothing. (“The Last Outpost” [TNG]). Ferengi Trade Mission. A Ferengi diplomatic team intended In addition, Ferengi females are kept house-bound, uneducated, to further Ferengi business interests. Par Lenor and Qol and wholly dependent on their male counterparts. It is illegal for were members of this mission in 2368. (“The Perfect Mate” Ferengi females to earn profit, or to quote from the Rules of [TNG])). Acquisition. (“Rules of Acquisition” [DS9]). They are also forbidden to travel or to talk to strangers. Ferengi tradition requires the Ferengi trading vessel. Starship operating under the auspices females of the family to prepare and serve meals, and to soften of the Ferengi Alliance. In late 2369, one of these vessels was the food for the males by chewing it for them. (“Family Business” mistaken for an attacking Borg ship when it entered the New [DS9]). SEE: oo-mox. Interestingly, Ferengi males often find Berlin system. (“Descent Part I" [TNG]). human females very attractive. (“The Last Outpost” [TNG]). Ferengi consider pregnancy to be a rental, with the father being Ferengi welcoming ceremony. Traditional exchange spoken termed the lessee. (“Nor the Battle to the Strong” [DSS]). When a when a guest enters a Ferengi home. The exchange goes as fol- young Ferengi reaches adulthood and prepares to leave home, lows. Host: “Welcome to our home. Place your imprint on the he traditionally raises capital by auctioning his boyhood trealegal waivers and deposit your admission fee in the box by the sures. (“Little Green Men" [DS9]). Betazoids are incapable of door. Remember, my house is my house.” Guest: “As are its con- ~~ empathically reading Ferengi minds. This may be due to the tents.” (“Family Business” [DS9]). unusual four-lobed design of Ferengi brains. (“Ménage a Troi" [TNG]. “The Loss” [TNG]). Dopterians, whose brains are strucFerengi whip. Handheld Ferengi weapon used to fire high-ener- turally similar to those of the Ferengi, are similarly unreadable by gy plasma discharges at a target. (“The Last Outpost” [TNG]). The Betazoids. (“The Forsaken" [DS9]). Ferengi have ascending ribs Ferengi whip fell into disuse after “The Last Outpost,” and later and an upper and lower lung. (“Bar Association” [DS9)). Shortly episodes showed the Ferengi armed with a variety of phaser-like after first contact with the Federation, Ferengi entrepreneurs handheld pistol weapons. saw new opportunities and quickly assimilated themselves into Federation commerce, such as Quark, a Ferengi who estabFerengi. Technologically sophisti- lished a bar at Deep Space 9. (“Emissary” [DS9)]). The Ferengi cated humanoid civilization that are not members of the Federation. (“False Profits" [VGR)). was long a complete mystery to Ferengi entrepreneurs served as intermediaries for the the Federation prior to first Karemma in commerce with the Federation. The Karemma & contact at planet Delphi Ardu sought this arrangement because the Dominion would not have in 2364 (“The Last Outpost” tolerated direct trade with the Federation. (“Starship Down” [TNG)). Originally from the planet [DS9]). One Ferengi quotation says, “Never ask when you can Ferenginar, by the 24th century, take.” (“Babel” [DS9]). Another Ferengi saying is, “Good things the Ferengi were an interstellar cul- come in small packages.” (“Move Along Home" [DS9)). SEE: ture. (“Family Business" [DS9]). It Ferengi death rituals. Although the first known contact took the Ferengi 10,000 years from the between the Federation and the Ferengi took place in 2364 (“The time they first started using currency to establish the Ferengi Last Outpost” [TNG]), Picard and the Stargazer were attacked Alliance. The Ferengi extended their culture on an interstellar some years earlier at Zeta Maxia by a ship that they did not realscale by buying warp drive technology. (“Little Green Men" ize was Ferengi. (“The Battle” [TNG]). The Ferengi were first seen [DS9)). We don't know from whom they bought warp drive. in “The Last Outpost” (TNG). Their makeup was first designed Possessing a strict code of honor, Ferengi philosophy ruthlessly and sketched by Andrew Probert, then refined and produced by embraces the principles of capitalism. Ferengi culture finds the Michael Westmore. concept of organized labor to be abhorrent, since such things can interfere with the exploitation of workers. Similarly, Ferengi Ferenginar. Class-M planet. Ferengi homeworld and cenlabor contracts never provide for sick leave, vacations, or paid ter of the Ferengi Alliance. Ferenginar was the location of overtime for employees. (“Bar Association” [DS9]). SEE: Ferengi the Sacred Marketplace and the Tower of Commerce.