Star Trek’s Tribble Language Shows Why They REALLY Hate One Species

The Tribbles are an iconic Star Trek species, and their language reveals why they dislike the Klingons so much.

The Tribbles are one of the most unique species in the Star Trek universe, and their language gives clues as to why they really hate the Klingons. In Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Tribbles, readers get a tantalizing glimpse at how the Tribbles work–including how they communicate. The Tribbles’ “language” is a simple one, but effective, and clues the reader in onto the Tribbles relationship with the war-like Klingons.

Audiences first met the Tribbles in the now-classic Original Series episode “The Trouble With Tribbles,” and while it was love at first sight between humans and Tribbles, it was anything but with the Klingons. Tribbles resemble small bundles of fur, and in the episode only do two things: eat and reproduce; in time they almost overrun the Enterprise. Tribbles normally purr in the presence of other species, but around Klingons, they shrill and become agitated. The Tribbles were instrumental in uncovering a Klingon plan to sabotage a Federation colony. This led to a lasting hatred of Tribbles among Klingons, and in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fifth season episode “Trials and Tribble-ations” it was revealed the Klingons nearly hunted the species to extinction. Now, one Star Trek comic offers new insight into why the Tribbles hate the Klingons.

Related: Star Trek Explains Why Worf Returned to Starfleet in Nemesis

In the special one-shot, first published by IDW in 2009, a human freighter, hijacked by Klingons, has crash-landed on a planet overrun by Tribbles. Set before “The Trouble with Tribbles,” neither human nor Klingon knew of the Tribbles’ existence. The Tribbles instantly sense something is amiss and can tell who the good guys are. They refer to humans as “warm hands” and Klingons as “ruffle furs.” The Tribbles are instrumental in helping the humans overcome the Klingons; they use their sheer numbers to disrupt vital systems aboard the commandeered ship and overwhelm the Klingons, allowing the humans to turn the tables. The issue was written by Stuart Moore and illustrated by Mike Hawthorne.

The Tribbles Are Surprisingly Intelligent

The one-shot is full of surprises, namely the revelation that Tribbles can communicate with each other, and their language offers insight into why they hate the Klingons. The Tribbles instantly sense the arrival of the human ship, and their first thought is “have the warm hands returned?” This would indicate the Tribbles may have had contact with humans, or at least a similar species, before. Yet they do not know the Klingons, but instantly pick up the violent vibe they give off, referring to them as “ruffle furs.” This could potentially explain why the Tribbles reacted so adversely to the Klingons in “The Trouble with Tribbles.” It also means the Tribbles have a sort of collective memory that stretches across time and space. The terms they use for others indicates how that species treated them in the past. It is a fascinating insight into the Tribbles, showing they are more than fans thought.

As stated earlier, this might explain why the Tribbles have such a harsh reaction to the Klingons. During their first meeting, the Klingons nearly destroyed their home, leaving a lasting impression; later, the Klingons would embark on a systematic extermination of Tribbles, so great was their hatred. The Tribbles are an iconic Star Trek species, and their language reveals the origin of their dislike of Klingons.

More: Star Trek Confirms Even Vulcans Respect One God-Like Society