Tholians

A highly advanced sentient -- apparently crystalline species, non-humanoid in appearance and extremely territorial in disposition. They hail from a hot planet by Human standards, probably not class M. Together, two Tholian ships can literally spin a web of energy in space in order to trap an enemy vessel, after which the web is then drawn together, constricting and finally destroying the vessel inside. On stardate 5693.2, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 made first contact with this species.

Tholians are a hive-mind and known for their punctuality. One of the independent border races that could have been dragged into a Klingon civil war, due to their proximity.

During a period of renewed conflict with the United Federation of Planets (UFP) 12 years ago (2253 ), they attacked a starbase and killed the entire complement -- except civilian advisor Karl Riker, who refused to give up survival. In a battle simulation during his Academy days, Riker figured out the sensory blind spot of a Tholian ship and hid there.

Tensions have eased enough for the Tholians to send an ambassador to space station Deep Space Nine.