Maakina

The Maakina are a species that exist outside of Federation space. They are a cybernetically augmented humanoid species who wish to "enlighten" other races by turning them into Maakina.

They first appeared in Voyage to the Stars.

History and politics
While the Maakina refer to themselves as a whole as the Maakina Empire, the Maakina do not have a true leader. They are all part of a hive mind that collects and shares information with one another,

The Maakina at some point in time were originally fully organic. However, a cataclysmic event on their home world forced them to slowly integrate technology into their bodies in order to survive.

Becoming cyborgs eventually became a religion of sorts for the Maakina, with those who are modified being considered weaker and inferior and requiring guidance to "enlightenment", which was how they referred to the process of getting cybernetic implants. The Maakina currently seek to enlighten the entire universe, believing the universe will be imperfect until this is done.

Physiology
While it is unknown what do Maakina look like underneath their artificial attachments, it is known that their equivalent to a brain is located in their chests and that they bleed blue blood that later oxidizes into a purple hue.

Based on the fact the Maeva-7 Research Station had running oxygen systems it can be inferred that the Maakina require oxygen intake to survive.

Voyage to the Stars
The Maakina were first encountered on the Maeva-7 Research Station by the Federation after the crew of the TSI Heavenheart began exploration of the Maeva system. Plants had infested the entire station and a few had become dangerous and sentient as a result of experiments using the Genesis missile.

The Maakina and the crew then created a temporary alliance to combat the creatures in the station to reach the main research facility in return for allowing the crew to gain access to Maakina research. However, because Morith expressed interest in receiving enlightenment, the Maakina began attacking the crew in attempts to convert them. The last surviving Maakina of the group then transmitted information on the crew back to the Maakina Empire, shortly after which it exploded.

Trivia

 * They are loosely based off of the Cybermen from Doctor Who and the Borg from Star Trek