Difference between revisions of "Dyrajt"

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The [[Dyrajt]] are a [[sapient]] lifeform hailing from a distant portion of the [[galaxy]], their homeworld apparently located some several thousand parsecs 'trailward' of [[Sol]].  They arrived, intentionally, as the [[Consortium]]'s attack on [[Ouranos Prime]] was nearing its final moments.  Because of this, the conflict was named the [[Contact War]].
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The [[dyrajt]] are a [[sapient]] lifeform native to the the [[Milky Way]], their homeworld located a few thousand [[parsec]]s [[trailward]] of [[Sol]]'s original location.  The eldest member of the [[Triad]], they served the [[First]] in their absence from the [[Milky Way]], exterminating and enslaving races that might one day become [[chosen]].  They encountered [[human]]ity a few years before the [[Purge]], using a [[singulus]] - a [[regalic]] artifact granted them by the [[First]] - to open a gate to [[Sirius]]. They attacked immediately, an event now called the [[Contact War]].
  
 
== Physique ==
 
== Physique ==
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Like [[human]]s, they possess an immense variety in shape and form. They are four-limbed bipedial creatures with a slim, vaguely reptilian construction, with scaled skin of varying colors covering muscle tissue and a calcium-based exoskeleton.  Their feet and hands have four digits each, with paired opposable fingers (two to each side) ending in strong nails, though not quite claws.  The majority of specimens possess a vestigal tail, and most do not walk fully upright.  They have no necks, their heads fixed to their torsoes much like a fish or whale, though the eyes and mouth point 'forward' and not 'up'.
+
Like [[human]]s, they possess an immense variety in shape and form. They are four-limbed bipedal creatures with a slim, vaguely reptilian construction, with scaled skin of varying colors covering muscle tissue and a calcium-based exoskeleton.  Their feet and hands have four digits each, with paired opposable fingers (two to each side) ending in strong nails, though not quite claws.  The majority of specimens possess a vestigial tail, and most do not walk fully upright.  They have no necks, their heads fixed to their torsos much like a fish or whale, though the eyes and mouth point 'forward' and not 'up'.
  
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[[Dyrajt]] breath and hear through various membranes in their skin, though they have something akin to a diaphram which lets them force air through their mouths, enabling what passes for speech for them.  [[Human]]s can mimic these sounds, though uncomfortably so.  They have two eyes, which appear clouded and are nearly vestigal, preferring to see with their skin.
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[[Dyrajt]] breath and hear through various membranes in their skin, and they possess a form of echolocation which serves as their primary sense.  They have two eyes, which appear clouded and are nearly vestigial, preferring to 'see' with their skin.  They communicate with a series of clicks, snaps, and hisses with their mouths, and the complexity with which they can do so is quite impressive, allowing for them to utter something resembling human or [[renlai]] speech.
  
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They are a sexually reproducing species, with 'males' and 'females' though the exact mechanism for reproduction is somewhat different.  The females lay eggs, which allows them, in theory, to reproduce quite rapidly, and despite a fast maturation cycle, they have an extended lifespan, capable of living nearly two centuries.  Their genetic variation is far greater than that of [[root strain]] [[human]]s, and may in fact be several distinct species, given their strict breeding regimens, though it is not certain that there has been enough time for this to occur.
+
They are a sexually reproducing species, with 'males' and 'females' though the exact mechanism for reproduction is somewhat different.  The females lay eggs, which allows them, in theory, to reproduce quite rapidly, and despite a fast maturation cycle, they have an extended lifespan, capable of living nearly two [[cycle]]s.  Their genetic variation is far greater than that of [[root strain]] [[human]]s, and are in fact be several distinct species, created through millennia of strict breeding regimens.
  
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They are divided into many 'castes' through intense breeding, with a variety of duties and capabilities.
+
Like others of the [[Triad]], they are divided into many 'castes' through intense breeding, with a variety of duties and capabilities.  Only the priests are a single species - the other two are closer to overcastes, comprising many smaller sects.
  
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* The [[Priest Caste]] is the de-facto leader cast, primarily bred for intelligence.  They function as organizers and engineers for the [[Dyrajt]], though their numbers are too few to provide real advancement for the civilization.  Unlike the other Castes, specific professions are based on merit, rather than birth.
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* The [[priest caste]] is the de-facto leader cast, primarily bred for intelligence.  They function as organizers and engineers for the [[Dyrajt]], though their numbers are too few to provide real advancement for the civilization, even ignoring their lack of ingenuity and dogmatic principles.  Unlike the other Castes, specific professions are based on merit, rather than birth.
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* The [[Soldier Caste]] is the one most familiar to [[human]]ity, making up the basic combative class, and come in a variety of subcastes. Dozens have been captured for study, and they currently reside in various holding facilities on [[Ouranos Prime]] and [[Mars]]. 
+
* The [[soldier caste]] is the one most familiar to [[human]]ity, making up the basic combative class, and come in a variety of subcastes.
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* The [[Worker Caste]] are a bred slave race.  They come in a variety of subcastes, and are not terribly intelligent, even by the low standards set by the Soldier caste.
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* The [[worker caste]] are a bred slave race.  They come in a variety of subcastes, and are not terribly intelligent, even by the low standards set by the Soldier caste.
  
 
== Culture ==
 
== Culture ==
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From the sparse evidence gathered so far, the [[Dyrajt]] are an intensely religious species, and have a philosophy bordering on xenophobia though they are not, it seems, directly opposed to the existence of other races.  Instead, 'unnatural' intelligence - artificial or genetically engineered, is taboo, and they believe strongly in a stratified society.
+
Like each of the [[Triad]], the [[dyrajt]] are an intensely religious species, and have a philosophy bordering on xenophobia though they are not, it seems, directly opposed to the existence of other races.  Instead, 'unnatural' intelligence - artificial or genetically engineered, is taboo, and they believe strongly in a stratified society.  As such, many of them expressed sympathy with the [[exile]]s.  To them, the [[First]] are simply gods, and such rules therefor cannot apply to them.
  
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The 'priest-engineers' make up perhaps one per seven-hundred fifty in their population, according to the disected mind of the sole member of that caste captured intact.  Millenia of breeding programs have eradicated disloyalty and heresy from the lower castes, causing the soldiers and workers to possess a fanatical loyalty to the Race.  They do not question, and only serve the benefit of the greater whole.
+
The 'priest-engineers' make up perhaps one per seven-hundred fifty in their population.  Millennia of breeding programs have eradicated disloyalty and heresy from the lower castes, causing the soldiers and workers to possess a fanatical loyalty to the Race.  They do not question, and only serve the benefit of the greater whole.
  
−
The priesthood, therefor, makes up the majority of the [[Dyrajt]] culture.  It appears to be a semi-feudal system, normally suffering massive fragmentation over the roughly two hundred terraformed worlds that they control.  They all appear to subscribe to the same 'faith', though they do not consider it such, their religion being fully integrated into their society, with, in most cases, heresy and crime being considered much the same thing.
+
The priesthood, therefor, makes up the majority of the [[dyrajt]] culture.  It appears to be a semi-feudal system, normally suffering massive fragmentation over the roughly two hundred terraformed worlds that they control.  They all appear to subscribe to the same 'faith', though they do not consider it such, their religion being fully integrated into their society, with, in most cases, heresy and crime being considered much the same thing.
  
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If there are any such distinctions, or a true rebellious movement, the lone priest so captured was not aware of any such thing.  They treat their technology as artifacts, ancient gifts meant to their glory, with no real knowledge as to their true origin.
+
Once the [[Diaspora]] ended, things calmed down somewhat, and they are grudgingly tolerant of the [[Concord]].  This isn't so much because they have gained any understanding, but, simply, they cannot pose a credible threat.  Calls are frequently made to carry out various jihads, and are sometimes answered, and though they may inflict some damage, they are always 'dealt with'.
  
 
== Technology ==
 
== Technology ==
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[[Dyrajt]] technology is clearly borrowed, this much is certain.  A fraction of the energy they expended to reach [[Sol]] could have been used to sterilize the entire [[Solar System]].  The total amount of energy they expended to participate in the [[Contact War]] is estimated to be roughly 1x10^42 joules, comparable with a [[supernova]].  If simply directed at our Solar System, every square meter would be subject to some ten petajoules of energy, overwhelming even the most powerful defensive systems by several orders of magnitude.
+
[[Dyrajt]] technology is clearly borrowed - a certain, extremely limited subset of [[First]] technology, some of which still did not surpass [[21st century]] [[human]] capabilities until the [[Diaspora]].  In particular, they are extremely wary of artificial [[sapience]], requiring them to use assisted navigation and targeting in space. With no genetic engineering or other enhancements, and nearly no [[pattern]]s, this puts them at an incredible disadvantage.
  
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Due to their limited understanding of technology, their terraforming operations have been limited to near-Earthlike worlds, and apparently, have only colonized less than two hundred planets, though nearly a million star systems have been visited, many of which are used as energy farms.
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Due to their limited understanding of technology, their terraforming operations have been limited to near-Earthlike worlds, and colonized comparatively few planets entirely on their own.  The First, and later the [[Concord]], gave them most of their support.
  
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=== Propulsion ===
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Time has permitted them more technology, but they still have many difficulties and few believe any [[Triad]] race will ever reach a parity with the Concord.
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Easily the most visible aspect of [[Dyrajt]] technology, a highly efficient form of [[gravitic]] propulsion.  They are aware of its limitations and do possess technology for other drive systems, but none of these rival [[Terran]] systems.
 
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[[Gravitic drive]]s are considered to be sacred relics of the species, for once one wears out, there is no means of replacing it.  The entire premise for the [[Dyrajt]]'s assault in the [[Contact War]] was an attempt to capture this capability from a nascent race.
 
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=== Energy ===
 
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The [[Dyrajt]] possess a kind of battery called a [[warp cell]].  It can store nearly unlimited amounts of energy by warping space into a trapped loop, either to store or emit light.  As with all [[gravitic]] technology, these devices are beyond the ability of the [[Dyrajt]] to construct, though the [[Constortium]] had built a comparitively primitive such device a few years before the [[Contact War]].
 
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Some vessels are apparently capable of running on [[fusion]] or [[antimatter]] power generation, however, most simply run off of [[warp cell]]s, being more durable than the former two options.  Massive solar collectors focus starlight into the cells, and over a period of years, enough energy is gathered to power a ship for significant operation.
 
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=== Communication ===
 
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If the [[Dyrajt]] once had radio, they have long since lost it, their communications systems based entirely on [[tachyon]]s.  Only twenty such ships in the invasion fleet possessed such transmission capabilities, however, they were neutralized on arrival by the [[Martian]] [[tachyon cannon]].  Their own cannons, directed at [[Ouranos Prime]], served only to feed the stressed [[mobius pattern]]s aiding in the defense of said station.
 
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Their translation mechanisms must be unusually skilled, or, perhaps, they made some use of [[artificial sapience]] without quite being aware of it.  How, exactly, they were capable of being aware of the impending conflict was lost with the destruction of the command ships, and will have to wait until [[human]]ity makes contact with the species nearer their home.
 
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=== Weapons ===
 
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The command ships of the [[Dyrajt]] possessed [[tachyon cannon]]s, though of significantly less potency than the ones possessed by [[human]]s.  These were neutralized early in the [[Contact War]], however, and did not make any real impact.
 
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The other warships in the [[Dyrajt]] fleet made use of [[coilgun]] and [[laser]] weaponry.  They were apparently outclassed by modern defenses and weaponry, [[pair cannon]]s being significantly beyond anything they had faced.  A few ships seemed to have weaponized [[gravitic]] technology, however if so it was not powerful enough to overwhelm the structural stability of [[human]] vessels.
 
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=== Materials ===
 
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[[Dyrajt]] ships were an extremely valuable source of [[hawkinium]] and [[exotic]] matter.  Some components of their technology had obviously long since faded due to the slow decay of other materials, leaving some of their ships partially irradiated.
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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Much of what is known about the [[Dyrajt]] comes from those captured after the [[Contact War]].  Another source is more telling, and less rank with bias - their ship logs.  It is obvious that they do not fully understand the technology that they possess, a fact which allowed the broken [[Consortium]] and [[Triate]] fleets to fource a route of their significantly more advanced aggressors, and apparently, were not even aware of the artificial intelligences monitoring their ships.
 
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Roughly a hundred and fifty thousand [[Earth]] years ago, another ancient race began exploring the [[Milky Way]], specifically the region in which the [[Dyrajt]] inhabited.  A guess is that they named themselves the [[Tlorai]], though this is uncertain.  The [[Dyrajt]] word ''ptora'' means 'blasphemer' or 'heretic', and given it is the only such word in a language for a highly religious culture, the similarity is well-noted.  The [[Tlorai]] must have been a highly advanced civilization when they encountered the [[Dyrajt]], and may even have been responsible for the [[Centaurus Relic]].
 
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According to captured ship records, the [[Tlorai]] home system became the victim of an exceedingly close encounter with another star.  The ship's records make no mention of the causes that led to the [[Dyrajt]] replacing the elder race, though it is presumed that it was taken by the younger race as a divine signal, and the result was likely not a peaceful one.
 
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Not a race keen on exploration, the [[Dyrajt]] remained largely within the systems previously explored by their benefactors, though a few terraforming projects were undertaken.  Intraspecies conflict was extremely common, and quickly whittled away at the numbers of spaceworthy vessels in their armada, until an agreement was made to conserve their ships and do the vast majority of their fighting planetside.
 
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This agreement held for a hundred thousand years, or perhaps longer.  What is known is that the eruption of [[Kennedy Station]] was detected quite easily, and sent the [[Dyrajt]] into a state of extatic panic.  The invasion fleet consisted of nearly half of their spacegoing resources, and every combat capable vessel was sent to the mysterious system which generated the most powerful [[tachyon]] signal in [[Dyrajt]] history (and quite possibly of the entire [[Milky Way]]).
 
  
 
{{SSG}}
 
{{SSG}}

Latest revision as of 04:04, 18 April 2007

The dyrajt are a sapient lifeform native to the the Milky Way, their homeworld located a few thousand parsecs trailward of Sol's original location. The eldest member of the Triad, they served the First in their absence from the Milky Way, exterminating and enslaving races that might one day become chosen. They encountered humanity a few years before the Purge, using a singulus - a regalic artifact granted them by the First - to open a gate to Sirius. They attacked immediately, an event now called the Contact War.

Physique

Like humans, they possess an immense variety in shape and form. They are four-limbed bipedal creatures with a slim, vaguely reptilian construction, with scaled skin of varying colors covering muscle tissue and a calcium-based exoskeleton. Their feet and hands have four digits each, with paired opposable fingers (two to each side) ending in strong nails, though not quite claws. The majority of specimens possess a vestigial tail, and most do not walk fully upright. They have no necks, their heads fixed to their torsos much like a fish or whale, though the eyes and mouth point 'forward' and not 'up'.

Dyrajt breath and hear through various membranes in their skin, and they possess a form of echolocation which serves as their primary sense. They have two eyes, which appear clouded and are nearly vestigial, preferring to 'see' with their skin. They communicate with a series of clicks, snaps, and hisses with their mouths, and the complexity with which they can do so is quite impressive, allowing for them to utter something resembling human or renlai speech.

They are a sexually reproducing species, with 'males' and 'females' though the exact mechanism for reproduction is somewhat different. The females lay eggs, which allows them, in theory, to reproduce quite rapidly, and despite a fast maturation cycle, they have an extended lifespan, capable of living nearly two cycles. Their genetic variation is far greater than that of root strain humans, and are in fact be several distinct species, created through millennia of strict breeding regimens.

Like others of the Triad, they are divided into many 'castes' through intense breeding, with a variety of duties and capabilities. Only the priests are a single species - the other two are closer to overcastes, comprising many smaller sects.

  • The priest caste is the de-facto leader cast, primarily bred for intelligence. They function as organizers and engineers for the Dyrajt, though their numbers are too few to provide real advancement for the civilization, even ignoring their lack of ingenuity and dogmatic principles. Unlike the other Castes, specific professions are based on merit, rather than birth.
  • The soldier caste is the one most familiar to humanity, making up the basic combative class, and come in a variety of subcastes.
  • The worker caste are a bred slave race. They come in a variety of subcastes, and are not terribly intelligent, even by the low standards set by the Soldier caste.

Culture

Like each of the Triad, the dyrajt are an intensely religious species, and have a philosophy bordering on xenophobia though they are not, it seems, directly opposed to the existence of other races. Instead, 'unnatural' intelligence - artificial or genetically engineered, is taboo, and they believe strongly in a stratified society. As such, many of them expressed sympathy with the exiles. To them, the First are simply gods, and such rules therefor cannot apply to them.

The 'priest-engineers' make up perhaps one per seven-hundred fifty in their population. Millennia of breeding programs have eradicated disloyalty and heresy from the lower castes, causing the soldiers and workers to possess a fanatical loyalty to the Race. They do not question, and only serve the benefit of the greater whole.

The priesthood, therefor, makes up the majority of the dyrajt culture. It appears to be a semi-feudal system, normally suffering massive fragmentation over the roughly two hundred terraformed worlds that they control. They all appear to subscribe to the same 'faith', though they do not consider it such, their religion being fully integrated into their society, with, in most cases, heresy and crime being considered much the same thing.

Once the Diaspora ended, things calmed down somewhat, and they are grudgingly tolerant of the Concord. This isn't so much because they have gained any understanding, but, simply, they cannot pose a credible threat. Calls are frequently made to carry out various jihads, and are sometimes answered, and though they may inflict some damage, they are always 'dealt with'.

Technology

Dyrajt technology is clearly borrowed - a certain, extremely limited subset of First technology, some of which still did not surpass 21st century human capabilities until the Diaspora. In particular, they are extremely wary of artificial sapience, requiring them to use assisted navigation and targeting in space. With no genetic engineering or other enhancements, and nearly no patterns, this puts them at an incredible disadvantage.

Due to their limited understanding of technology, their terraforming operations have been limited to near-Earthlike worlds, and colonized comparatively few planets entirely on their own. The First, and later the Concord, gave them most of their support.

Time has permitted them more technology, but they still have many difficulties and few believe any Triad race will ever reach a parity with the Concord.

History

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