The Q are undoubtedly one
of the most interesting and peculiar species ever encountered by the Federation.
Little is known of them for certain but they are known to reside in a place
they refer to as 'the Q continuum', which is apparently a higher dimension of
some form. The Q are thought to have once been a relatively 'normal' species,
but at some point they acquired incredible powers to control matter and energy,
space and even time itself. Many Q insist that they are omnipotent, but at least
one individual has claimed that there are in fact limits to their power - although
what these limits might be has never been ascertained.
The Federations first
contact with the Q came when one of them intercepted the Enterprise-D on that
ships maiden voyage. Appearing in a variety of costumes, Q placed the ships
senior officers on trial for the 'crimes of Humanity' - although the crew convinced
Q to release them, years later he claimed that this trial was a never-ending
process.
In subsequent visits
Q has demonstrated a mixture of astounding power and knowledge combined with
an almost childish sense of self-importance and selfishness. On his third visit
to the Enterprise, Q reacted negatively to an offhand comment by Captain Jean
Luc Picard; he threw the ship across thousands of light years to the system
J-25, leading to first contact with the Borg and eventually to two devastating
attacks by that species. He constantly berates and belittles other lifeforms
and takes every oppurtunity to assert his own perfection.
During her travels
in the Delta Quadrant, the USS Voyager encountered a second Q - known as Quinn
- who had been imprisoned in the nucleus of a comet for political dissention
against the Q. Quinn was dissatified with a life in which there was nothing
left to explore to accomplish, and had sought to end his existence. Q appeared
on Voyager and a hearing was held which resulted in Quinn having his abilities
removed so as to allow him to lead life as a Human. Despite this offer, Quinn
took his own life shortly afterwards with the help of Q.
This act apparently
triggered a civil war within the Q continuum; Q proposed to end this conflict
by mating with Captain Janeway of the USS Voyager in order to produce a new
breed of Q - an offer the Captain forcefully declined. Later the crew of Voyager
where taken to the Q continuum where, given the abilities and weapons of the
Q, they where instrumental in ending the war.
For more information see here.