We're The New Kids On The Block

We've talked a lot so far about how Humanity left earth and joined galactic society. It's been a fair amount of naval-gazing about our own species, so what about the other species and cultures that make up that society?

Well, it's a big galaxy out there, so let's focus on some of Humanity's closest allies. We've mentioned a few alien figures before such as Xenick Vraifith, the tour guide that made first contact with the refugee humans, and Skargugh Y'Bolor, the anthropologist who made sure that those refugee humans didn't end up getting left to die. So let's start with them.

Xenick was an Iodeneon. Gasesous lifeforms that walk amongst us using high-tech pressure suits. Due to these suits, the look of Iodeneons can vary wildly as customising suits is their most popular form of self-expression. Outside of their suits, Iodeneons appear as clouds of multi-coloured gas with small flashes of light arcing inside them. Since they don't possess any way to verbally communicate, these flashes of light are their language. The suits translate these into verbal speech but Iodeneons still like to use these lights to communicate amongst each other. Iodeneons were one of the first species to acheive space travel, although they were heavily hampered by their inability to exist within standard atmospheric pressure (approximately 14.2 PSI). They were one of the most prominent cultures amongst the Galactic Federation of yore and were one of the few that managed to maintain their presence in the new Galactic Alliance after the war, despite siding against the Alliance.

Skargugh was a Tyndarean, a huge, hulking, reptilian species that evolved on the high gravity world of Lycor. Tyndareans usually stand around two to two and a half metres tall and sport a secondary set of limbs undernearth their articulated arms. These limbs are short, muscular tentacles that help stabilise them in higher gravity environments and can act as nearly prehensile fingers when in lower gravity environments. Their evolution has granted them enormous strength by the standards of most species. Although ostensibly warlike, they have a history of diffusing large scale situations through diplomacy, indulging in the occasional tea-time negotiations with the ceremonial fine-bone china. Failing that, their massive military might is a force to be reckoned with. Tyndarean culture is often very straightforward, with many cultures considering them to be very surface level. However, this is not true, it just means that when a Tyndarean is saying something to you, they usually mean it. During the war, despite a Tyndarean sitting on the council of the Galactic Federation, a large contingent of Tyndareans broke with their government and supported the new Galactic Alliance. Tyndareans are now one of the three species that sit on the council of the Galactic Alliance, alongside Humans and Phanalines.

However, the galaxy is teeming with life! Some have made it to the stars, some haven't. It's one of the core communal beliefs amongst all space-faring species that those who haven't yet acheived space flight will get there on their own & any interference could cause irreperable harm. This was the reason that, despite being fully aware of their impending doom, the old Galactic Federation didn't rescue the humans left on Old Earth. 

If you want to hear more about our alien friends and foes, please listen to this episode of the Auld Alliance Podcast !