The Lelari are technologically-advanced, non-aligned humanoid civilization native to Lelar Prime.
The Lelari actively monitor the races around their space, including the Myhr'an, but felt many species were not worth communicating with. They enshrouded their homeworld with a large cloaking device for centuries.
The Lelari, with their technological superiority, were "the stuff of myths and legends".
In 2367, the USS Galaxy crew made first contact with the Lelari. Had it not been for the linguistic skills of then-Ensign Benjamin Caldwell, the first contact could have been disastrous.
The Lelari requested Caldwell as a cultural exchange officer, a post he maintained until 2372. During this time, the Lelari started to allow various other races access to their homeworld, limiting entry to a select few of the best and brightest. One such person was Dr. Helena Bourget of the Arkrand Society. (Star Trek: The Cantabrian Expeditions: "Catalyst, Part One", "Breaking Benjamin")
By 2372, Taris Syndrome had taken its hold on the Lelari, and tens of thousands were infected. The Lelari solution, as had been in the past, was to segregate the sick Lelari, let them die and try to find the cause or root of the disease. In this case, they attempted to charge Benjamin Caldwell with genocide. (Star Trek: The Cantabrian Expeditions: "Breaking Benjamin")
- The correct pronunciation of Lelari is "ley-LAHR-ee". Like sheep, one or several Lelari are still referred to as Lelari.