The Sheliak are a non-humanoid intelligent life-form that are native to the Alpha Quadrant and are a powerful and mysterious species, the Sheliak have a tendency to regard other species - especially Humanoid species - as inferior. They are extreme isolationists and believe that they are the only true intelligence in the universe, as a result they are highly arogant and ill-considered when dealing with other life-forms, especially humans, whom they consider vermin. Their physical form under a concealing garment when contacting Humanoids. There are indications that they may be at least classified as type R-3, they are only vaguely Humanoid themselves. Their precise form is not clear, as the Sheliak hide slight degree of shape shifting ability - the constant movement of their body under the garment indicates that their external shapes somewhat variable. This, however, is purely speculative at present.The Sheliak Corporate is headed by a single individual, known as the Director. However, each vessel is commanded by a leader also known as the Director, as he speaks for the Corporate Director in his place, who rarely if ever, leaves their homeworld. The Sheliak refer to themselves as "The Membership" and have a governing body called "The Corporate". The Federation signed the Treaty of Armens with the Sheliak in 2255. An extensive document, the treaty ceded several worlds to the Sheliak. Most of the worlds ceded are class L, uninhabitable to humans. The Sheliak contacted the Federation for the first time since the signing of ther treaty in 2366. When the treaty with the Sheliak was originally signed the Federation sent 372 legal experts to negotiate, this was necessary before the Sheliak would even agree to the meeting. In our dealings with other non-humanoid races, there has always been some point of reference. Not so with the Sheliak. They have learned several Federation languages but theirs continues to elude us. Attempts to use telepaths have failed as well, the Sheliak brain and thought processes are just to different for humanoids to sense. Note, in any communications with the Sheliak, you must be extremely accurate, the treaty alone is 500,000 words. The length was to accomodate the Sheliak, they consider our language ill-rational and demanded this level of complexity to avoid any "future" misunderstanding. The Sheliak are a reclusive people, avoiding contact with the Federation whenever possible. This may due to the Sheliak attitude that humans are an inferior form of life. There was virtually no contact with the Sheliak for over a century thereafter, until they demanded that a Federation colony on Tau Cygna V be removed.
Sheliak technology is at least as advanced as that of the Federation. There have been rumors that they possess superior weaponry, but this has never been displayed in battle or otherwise, and is only speculation at this point. The Sheliak Corporate have a large fleet of ships that they use to patrol their territory, which is a free area outside the territorial boundaries of the Federation itself. Deep scans indicate that the Sheliak have at least twenty-three fully developed worlds within their space and are agressively terraforming many more.
