The Parads were a species of telepathic aliens from the Dermaptera sector of Alpha Centauri. Parads looked like large earwigs, though it was politically incorrect to refer to them as such. They were members of the Galactic Federation and served as surveillance technicians. They were well adapted to jobs that dealt with sound, being a telepathic and sensitive species. They could also detect psychic storms, which meant they had to try to stay away from situations that might cause psychic storms.