The Hirogen are a warrior species from the Delta Quadrant. They were first encountered by the Federation starship USS Voyager. The Hirogen were upset over the unauthorized use of a communications relay that they didn't build but claim as their property. The Hirogen are nomadic, and there is no evidence of a home planet. Their entire culture is based on the hunt, from social rituals, to art, to religious beliefs. They don't see other humanoids as being equals. The Hirogen live like predatory animals, looking for a good hunt, and are disappointed when the species they chose to hunt prove to be unchallenging. After the Hirogen catch their prey, they remove the skeletal system, muscles, internal organs, ligaments and tendons are removed by some sort of surgical procedure. These items are kept as relics of the hunt. Unusual relics would bring envy from other Hirogen males, and Hirogen females would desire the man who had such unusual relics. Bones and muscle tissue of their prey are broken down by an enzyme of some sort, suggesting that the Hirogen use some of their victims as food. The Hirogen existence is driven by the pursuit of prey, which has taken them great distances. It has been commented that the Hirogen seem to lack a moral center. They believe that "The way a creature behaves when it is wounded is the key to its destruction."The Hirogen stand several feet taller than humans. They wear body armor that contains internal life support and advanced weaponry. They wear helmets that they paint before they make the kill. The Hirogen immune system neutralizes sedation techniques. When the Hirogen encounter a ship that they have chosen to hunt, they will scan it with a subnucleonic beam that will disrupt the ship's navigational sensors, communications, warp engines, and weapons. Their ships use monitanium armor plating that scatters targeting beams. Hirogen ships usually travel alone or in small groups. On occasion, several ships will join forces to create a multi-prong attack.
The Hirogen social structure is organized around packs of hunters, each led by Hirogen designated as alpha. Status within each pack is determined by possession of prizes from hunts, usually body parts obtained from prey. Hirogen spacecraft roamed the Delta Quadrant, either alone or in small groups, seeking prey. By the 24th century, the nomadic Hirogen no longer identified any single planet as their homeworld.Hirogen culture requires a hunter to study his prey to understand it's abilities, believing that such a study is essential to prevent a hunter from becoming the hunted. The Hirogen civilization was not only ancient, but possessed extremely advanced technology. Some 100,000 years ago, they built a far flung communications network throughout the Delta Quadrant that continued to operate in the 24th century. Yet, by that time, Hirogen society put nearly all of its energy into increasingly unproductive hunts in increasingly exhausted territories, bringing cultural and scientific advancement to a near standstill. Hirogen hunting parties continue to roam the Delta Quadrant in search of new game.
