Anthraxian

The Anthraxians are an extraterrestrial species that are known for their advanced technology and their ability to travel across the stars.

They are bipedal beings with a humanoid appearance, standing roughly 2.2 to 2.5m tall. They have yellow skin which appeared to be something like insectoid chitin. Their faces looked humanoid except for the two pairs of iridiscent yellow-black eyes.

They have two long legs with thin feet where every foot had a claw on its back. Four arms, one pair a large amount smaller than the other pair, sitting roughly there where the human ribcage ended. On their back they had wings, protected by thick chitin skin.

The Anthraxians are a very intelligent species, originated from a planet they only call "Home" and it is designated with the word "Home" in every language in the Galactic Federation. No one knows if that is intentional, a habit, a token of respect or something much more darker.

Concerning Anthraxians

Society

Anthraxians are incredibly intelligent and possess a vast array of knowledge about the universe and its workings. They are a highly evolved species, both physically and mentally, and possess incredible strength and agility. They are also able to manipulate energy in a variety of ways, using it to power their technology and weaponry. They can't do it with their body or mind, but they understand the flow of the universe or at least its energies.

They live in larger communities around their planets, in a work-related way. They have one Queen per planet and an Empress - at least that is the human word for it - who controls the entire species. Some might say they live like insects or bees in a large hive, controlled by thoughts, emotions and telephatic waves, but that is not true. Their way of communication is just unthinkable fast. In a way every planet is a hive, but that is because every Anthraxian is working to have a good life and that goal they reach when they work for the entire species.

The Anthraxians are what we would call "communists". They work for the hive, for the queen and their fellow people. They put in a good day of hard labour and in the result the hive, the queen and the Anthraxian itself is benefitting from it. Strangely it is working quite nicely. Probably of their way of thinking. At first comes the planet respectively the hive, then the Queen and then themselves. They are not selfish as we humans, the community comes first.

— Codex Galactica - Anthraxians

Biology and Life

The Anthraxians are some kind of a hybrid between something humanoid and insects. Human biologists couldn't make out why, how and when, but they were happy that the Anthraxians were a formidable foe who was weak when outside their ships. Their chitin armour is thick and protects their leathery four wings, but breaks easily when got hit with concentrated damage like bullets or arrows. Yes, arrows.

Anthraxians dress themselves in all kind of colourful fabrics despite their yellow-ish skin. Only the armour for their wings is like chitin, the rest is a scaley-ish skin which covers most of their body.

Strangely enough the Anthraxians reproduce like humans with the exception that they lay eggs, up to three of them. I have to admit, that is really nasty business. For the female and for other Anthraxians included.

After birth and the egg-breaking - which is the day where the youngling hatches - they nourish their children with their own milk. As I said, just as humans. Strange humans, but humans. Human-ish. They are not monogamous per se, but it is a common sight amongst them.

They have no real gender identity, they have their names and their biological sex and it is really confusing for them when humans refer to themselves as "them" or something different aside from "he/she". Not that it caused harm or trouble, just slight irritation.

An Anthraxian can live up to a hundred years and for every five or six years they shed their skin like a snake. Don't ask why, it is what it is. Some biologist are under the impression it had something to do with their ancestors, but they can't be sure. It probably had something to do with their sun, but even that is a thin stretch. It is making sense during the first twenty years when they still grow, but after that it doesn't making any sense. Maybe the body has no signal to stop the process, who knows?

After the Anthraxian reaches their fifteen birthday they start to work for the hive and the Queen. There are many ways to give something to the community - and so to the planet - and they have proper training in most of their business. Science, biology, harvesting, field work, military. There are several large datacores deep inside every planet which is the complete database of knowledge from every planet. And where ever the Empress resides, she has the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of her entire species right at her feet.

Every Anthraxian has a free choice what to learn and if they want to work. There are some slackers, but nearly everyone wants to be a part of the Queens hive. Wants to feel her warm embrace, her love, her skin... wait, I was getting distracted. Maybe there is some kind of hivemind going on, who knows?

Technology

Despite being a hive-organised species which is represented in their buildings, the Anthraxians have an interesting energy source the humans and other species couldn't reproduce right now. It is some sort of biological reactor, but everyone who tries to learn more just vanishes without a trace.

There are two different aspects in terms of their technology. The most common one is the modular tech, which is round or square or both so it is easily swappable.

The other aspect is the built-in-tech. Not being able to be repaired, designed for a specific purpose and mostly cased in a closed environment. Sounds familiar? I bet.

On planet they travel with large shuttles when the distance is too large for their own wings. In space their spaceships are a large cocoon-like object with dozens of small engines at the rear and a large amount of anti-ship weaponry. Buildings, ships, shuttles, everything looked organic and in some parts it is. For repairs, small damaged areas or other necessary things. It is more of a coating, so to say.

The weaponry on a spaceship or in the hands of the Anthraxians is basically the same: energy weapons and ballistic weapons which shoots hardened needles to penetrate all sorts of armour. Even in space they are a deadly threat. Especially in space where no one can hear you scream the needles just fly straight to their target.