Pakled

Pakleds (Borg designation: Species 95012) were a humanoid spacegoing race native to the Alpha Quadrant, noted for their apparently underdeveloped verbal communication skills. They controlled an area of space that included the Kalla system (TNG episode: "Firstborn"); however, they appeared to be a largely nomadic culture, travelling between worlds in search of supplies and materials needed for their continued survival.

Pakled merchants are known to live in untidy and unclean conditions. (DS9 episode: "Prophet Motive")

First contact between the Federation and Pakleds took place in 2365, when the USS Enterprise-D answered a distress signal from a Pakled transport, the Mondor. After affecting repairs to their ship, the Pakleds attempted to hold Enterprise chief engineer Geordi La Forge captive, but eventually released him after witnessing a demonstration by the Enterprise. (TNG episode: "Samaritan Snare")

In 2366, a Pakled trade ship rescued the android Lore, who had been drifting free in space for nearly two years following his attempted betrayal of the Enterprise crew. (TNG episode: "Brothers")

In late 2370, Pakleds shipped retro-viral vaccines across the Demilitarized Zone to the Cardassians. (TNG episode: "Preemptive Strike")

In late 2373, a Borg cube on a direct course for Sector 001 encountered the Mondor en route. However, the Collective deemed the Pakleds unintelligent and considered that it would be an inefficient use of resources to assimilate the freighter. However, they were later assimilated when the Borg needed extra reinforcements in their battle with Starfleet forces in Earth orbit. (TNG - Strange New Worlds 10 short story: "A Dish Served Cold")