Species 10-C or 10-C, originally classified by Starfleet as Unknown Species 10-C in 3190, were a highly advanced non-humanoid species which created the Dark Matter Anomaly (DMA).
History[]
The Species 10-C homeworld was a gas giant planet in a star system just outside of the Milky Way Galaxy's galactic barrier.
At some point prior to the late 22nd century, the 10-C reached such a level of technological advancement that they were able to construct Dyson rings around their star. However, around the late 22nd century, their homeworld was rendered uninhabitable to them as a result of cataclysmic meteor impacts. Some members of Species 10-C were able to evacuate, but many were stranded on their planet and killed. By 3190, the 10-C had created a hyperfield that served to protect their new home from danger. This hyperfield required boronite to be powered, which was harvested through the use of the DMA.
The 10-C became known to the Federation in 3190 when the DMA began destroying numerous star systems, which the Federation eventually realized was a method of mining boronite. At first, it was believed that the DMA was a natural phenomenon, but after further study it was determined to have been artificially created. Federation Security provisionally named the race behind the DMA's creation Unknown Species 10-C and speculated that this race may have been the Metrons, Nacene, the Q, or survivors from the Iconian Empire. (DIS: "The Examples") It was later determined that Species 10-C was extra-galactic in origin, ruling out some of the aforementioned species as possibilities, and after first contact was made, it was discovered that the 10-C were a previously unknown species and not any of the possible races listed by Federation Security. (DIS: "Stormy Weather")
Later, Zora was able to determine the point that the DMA entered the galaxy, which was possibly the location of Species 10-C. (DIS: "...But to Connect") Upon investigating that region, the USS Discovery found a void absent of black body radiation large enough to hold a small star system. Based on this, sensor logs were analyzed and showed that Species 10-C were using the DMA to mine boronite. (DIS: "All In")
Physiology[]
Fossilized bones of Species 10-C
On an away mission to the Species 10-C homeworld, Doctor Hugh Culber deduced from fossilized skeletal remains that the Species 10-C were extremely large compared to humanoids, and appeared to have been "perfectly adapted for floating in gas layers" in the atmosphere of a gas giant. The bones had notably low density, and were flexible like cartilage. (DIS: "Rosetta")
A physiological analysis of Species 10-C
After initiating first contact, Doctor Hirai scanned a member of Species 10-C and determined that they have visual receptors, pheromone glands, and that they may possess auditory or electrical sensors. The 10-C used these pheromone glands and light emissions/visual receptors to communicate with each other. (DIS: "Species Ten-C")
Culture[]
The 10-C may have taken special care to protect their offspring, as evidenced by the ruins of a large structure that may have been used as a nursery and as a protected area for infants on their original homeworld. (DIS: "Rosetta")
Unlike many of the sentient species native to the Milky Way Galaxy, the 10-C did not have a spoken language. Instead, their language was formed by emitting emotion-conveying hydrocarbons, as well as flashing lights on their bodies to communicate how the hydrocarbons should be understood. (DIS: "Species Ten-C") T'Rina, after attempting telepathic communication with the 10-C, found herself in contact with all of them. She stated afterwards that their minds were linked together, and expressed doubt about whether they understood the concept of individual existence. She described them as being in a relationship of "harmony" with each other. (DIS: "Coming Home")
In an interview with Screen Rant, Director Olatunde Osunsanmi expressed how creating the 10-C was a challenge: "That was quite the process. Once we knew we were going outside of the galaxy for an extended period of time, the goal was to present a species that was different from anything we'd ever seen. That's hard because we've seen a lot of different species in Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, you name it. We worked with our design teams, Neville Page, Glen Hetrick, Emma Sampson, and where we landed was we wanted something that would be hard to communicate with. If it came from a whole different galaxy, why would a translator work? So we really broke that down and we worked with our astrophysicist Erin and the people at METI to figure out what [Species 10-C] would be. On the design side, I was really interested in something that didn't walk. What would that mean? It would need to float. So Glen went to work on the science behind that. If it floated, what would it need to look like? How big would it need to be? I wanted it to be skyscraper tall [although] of course, it became different to frame them so we had to make them a tiny bit smaller. What we came up with is hopefully very unique." [1]