THE KZINTI STAR LEAGUE is a medium sized entity that borders the Klingons and the Lyrans. They are a race of predatory, felinoids who are related to the Caitians, although of heavier stock, seemingly a Lion/Cougar blend. To be Kzinti is to be a survivor in harsh conditions against predators and rivals, both on their home worlds and in the cold, dark reaches of space.

The official Government is led by the Patriarch, who lives in a star base in orbit around their original home world. His duties lie in the the coordination of the Clan fleets and to prevent armed conflict between the fleets (which has happened three times in the the last 200 years) The Patriarch has a personal fleet, which is hardly strong enough to enforce his will, so he settles things through negotiations. Except in the rare cases of a strong Patriarch, the Kzinti have a 'floating' government centered in roving centers of regional power, based off the Fleet Commanders. While the Patriarch is charged with 'diplomacy' with foreign powers, in reality the Fleet Commander nearest that border sets the tone and style of relations. Very strong fleets do not hesitate to send ships and flotillas across borders to raid worlds, even those belonging to traditional allies.

It is impossible to mention the Kzinti without mentioning their vendetta against the Lyrans in the same breath. Ever since a Hydran scientist publicly mused the possibility of a common felinoids species progenitor, the Kzinti have waged a war upon the Lyrans. They also waged a three year long war against the Hydrans for having brought the topic up.

The first Kzinti-Lyran war began 350 years ago and hasn't yet officially ended. Any attempt to get the two sides together ends in hand to hand combat between the diplomats. The Kzinti also have fought six wars against the Federation, but losses in them weakened the fleets to such an extent that the Patriarch at the time, 'He who Talks to the Peltless', embraced a Federation treaty with open paws. Since then, an uneasy peace between the Feds and the Kzinti has prevailed. The Kzinti also aided the Hydrans during the Klingon and Lyran occupation of the Commonwealth.

Uncharacteristically they sat out the 'General War' madness after the Organian Peace treaty's collapse led to open warfare in the Outlands. They have been on a 'rebuilding' campaign and the Fleets are at full status. They also were Neutral in the Dominion War. A wave of technological developments, some copied from the Federation has kept them neck and neck with the other Alpha Quadrant races. Only the unusual strength of the current Patriarch has kept them from their neighbors and each others throats. It is worried that another Kzinti-Lyran 'spat' could flare up at any moment and escalate into a full-scale war.

CURRENT FEDERATION STATUS: NEUTRAL