Alpha Centaurans

[Falconer]

Anyone know the origin of the idea of Alpha Centaurans being matriarchal?

[Steve Cole]

I think TFG invented that idea in PD1, but I don't now for sure.

[Mike]

Falconer, are you asking who the real person was who came up with the idea, or are you asking for the in-game reason Alpha Centauri became matriarchal?

[Falconer]

More of a behind-the-scenes question.

SFTM established Alpha Centauri as one of the five founders of the Federation, and gave them a very "Greek" emblem. So either it was an early Earth colony that had gained independence (probably FJ's intent), or the planet had been "seeded" with Ancient Greeks by some older, advanced empire.

Prime Directive obviously went with the latter idea.

I just wonder where they came up with the matriarchal idea. The art is suggestive of Majel Barrett's "Number One", and I wondered if that connection only existed in my mind or was intentional.

[Mike]

If the information in the old "Prime Directive: The Federation" is still correct, Alpha-Centauran society was at one time dominated by males bent on constant warfare and savage conflict. On the brink of dropping below a viable population level and with the number of males too few to continue warring, women became warriors. Becoming increasingly more powerful, the women decided to end the conflicts and rebuild society with men relegated to non-leadership roles.

There's a lot more to the story, but that's a very brief answer to the question.

[Magnum357]

I see, I did not know this. This information was quite helpful.