Nausicaan

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In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Nausicaans are a strong and typically violent race renowned throughout the Alpha Quadrant for being skilled mercenaries. Nausicaan raiders are a favored hire of the Ferengi because of their effectiveness and ruthlessness.

In the 22nd century, before the founding of the Federation, Nausicaan pirates were a significant threat to human freighters, and the early Starfleet spent much of its time on watch for Nausicaan pirates. This included a raid on the ECS Fortunate, a civilian cargo freighter, in 2151. This was detailed in the Enterprise episode "Fortunate Son".

In 2327, a young ensign Jean-Luc Picard was stabbed in the back by a gang of three Nausicaans in a bar fight at the Bonestell Recreation Facility at Starbase Earhart, requiring the replacement of his heart with an artificial one.

The name "Nausicaan" was inserted as a subtle reference to the Anime movie and Manga series Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Several Star Trek staffers were Anime fans and inserted numerous subtle references to names taken from Anime, although this is the most obvious reference, and one of only two verbal references in all of Star Trek. Patrick Stewart, who plays Captain Picard, would later go on to voice a character in the English-language dub of the anime.