Mellanoid Slime Species Sheet (Draft)
Mellanoids were very uncommon in Starfleet following first contact in 2360 and joining the Federation during the Dominion War in 2373. Most mellanoids in space careers joined the United Mellanus Space Program. (see also: Mellanoid Space Exploration) Felime Trox was an NCO during the Dominion War. Eaurp Guz was the first to be an officer in 2379, and there's only a small handful of other mellanoids in Starfleet. As of the 2380s a few more are trickling in each year.
In the late 2390s and the 2400s, Mellanus Space Program gets essentially integrated into starfleet, and Mellanoids start absolutely pouring into starfleet.
Logo of the United Mellanoid Space Program.
fig 1: Just a small window into the possible variation of Mellanoid body plans. Humanoid and humanoid variations are the most common, but practically anything is possible. fig 2: Ditto for faces. fig 3: Cutaway of a mellanoid's face showing the spongy inside of the gelatin skull, the mouth, and an eyeball. fig 4: skeletal gelatin inside a mellanoid hand resembles a mushier, less consistent version of humanoid hand anatomy. fig 5 (left, oops): The visceral and skeletal goo support each other, without the visceral goo acting as muscle the skeletal goo flops. fig 5 (right): a three-lunged individual, with a close up showing the foamy structure of their lungs. fig 6: Demonstration that all forms of slime are interchangeable. fig 7: Mellanoids generally lack genitalia (unless they want them!) fig 8A: three infants (slime worms). fig 8B: the same individuals as children. fig 8C: the same individuals as young adults.
Mellanoids have differing consistency depending upon emotional state. They may get softer when sad or tired, or bouncy when startled. They may become drippy when anxious. Even intense positive emotion can lead to melting sometimes. The default texture is like a somewhat tough jello, jiggly but not sticky and with no residue left behind. When very sad they are capable of crying, with the sclera of their eyes melting alongside other parts of their face and body. In addition to losing cohesion with strong emotional state or sleepiness, Mellanoids can voluntarily liquify and move as a liquid, and even accomplish a limited degree of shapeshifting in this amorphous state. When sleeping or otherwise unconscious, mellanoids will melt into their amorphous form, and either spread thin so they can absorb air through their body, or if they're sleeping in a padded tub, they will manifest lung-foam on the top surface to continue to take in air into their body.
N.B.: Mellanoid consistency and physics is also just kinda whatever works! They're cartoon characters from an animated cartoon and fanart for another animated cartoon. If it feels right, it probably is right, even if it contradicts something I've said in the previous paragraph. The whole point of slimegirl emotional consistency to me is that it is a visual symbolism for how strong emotions can feel--if you feel like you're falling apart then that's what you will look like, if your heart melts you're literally melting, if you feel tense and rigid then you'll be tough and rubbery. And doubtless different mellanoids can be more capable or less capable of not just emotional regulation, but hiding the visible extent of these emotions.
Here is a reference sheet showing variation in existing Mellanoid Slime characters, and also a warp ship and a steam engine for reasons which are unlikely to become clear again soon. NB: following image contains drawings by myself, Ray Daly, and James, as well as a few screenshots of Star Trek Prodigy. Names which are not native mellanoid names are put in quotes.
The bioluminescence here is exaggerated so you can see it--it would really be much much more subtle, to the point that it might be difficult to even see it as colored light.
some examples of how flowy mellanoid clothes tend to be, as portrayed by a self loathing college student with no fashion sense
