Dai-ai
The Dai-ai were a race native to Naia VII.
Biology
They were an aquatic and amphibious humanoid race, characterised by large fins on their heads and backs and with large, webbed flipper-like hands and feet. (COMIC: Assimilation²)
Culture
The Dai-ai were a private people and not particularly talkative. They desired only limited interaction with humans. However, when they did make contact with outsiders, they were pleasant and courteous. (COMIC: Assimilation²)
In a parallel universe, after months of negotiation, the Dai-ai made an agreement with the United Federation of Planets to allow the Starfleet Corps of Engineers to conduct mining operations on Naia VII, which were underway by 2368. Starfleet gained raw materials vital to its defence while, in exchange, the Dai-ai were amply compensated with food and supplies. However, they had firm environmental regulations that disallowed particle beam and transporter-based mining technologies, necessitating traditional and dangerous excavation methods. The Dai-ai had no interest in participating or endangering their own lives for the "unusual rocks". However, when circumstances forced the USS Enterprise-D to request the aid of the Dai-ai in providing them with a large quantity of gold for use against the Cybermen, the Eleventh Doctor was able to convince the Dai-ai to provide them with greater aid for the political benefits and the advantage of playing a role in saving countless beings from the threat of assimilation and cyber-conversion. (COMIC: Assimilation²)
Behind the scenes
Assimilation² marks the first appearance of the Dai-ai and Naia VII, making them as new to the Star Trek universe as they are to the DWU. While Assimilation² established a temporary merging of the Federation universe and the Doctor's universe, the Dai-ai were firmly established as part of the former when their homeworld returned in Star Trek: The Next Generation - Through the Mirror.
