Kraken
The third major sophont species encountered by Humans in the Perseus Arm were quite unlike the others they had come across. This species was aquatic, and yet had overcome the challenges of developing an advanced culture and technology in an environment in conditions Humans had considered preventative of such achievements. To make them seem even more "alien", this species had developed communication and language based not on sound, but on vision, with colors and patterns replacing phonemes of what Humans considered "conventional language".
Because of this last fact, even after Humans learned to decipher and translate the language of this species, there was no way for the Humans to vocalize the "name" this species had given itself. As a result, the Humans now refer to them with a name taken from ancient Terran mythology - a name associated with creatures that this new intelligent race somewhat resembled. To the Humans, these strange spacefarers would be referred to as the Kraken.
The central "body" of the Kraken contains all internal organs, with the brain and heart both in the center of their cores, protected by a ring of bony plates. Their mouths are at the base of their bodies in the center of the radially-extended limbs. Four large eyes on the body are spaced 90o apart, allowing for 360o vision. Their visual acuity range overlaps that of humans, though it extends further into the ultraviolet range.
Kraken highports are, for the most part similarly water-filled, but Class A's and most Class B's will have small sections dedicated to docking facilities and habitation of "gas breathers".
When leaving their aquatic environments, Kraken employ Vacc Suits whose internal space is filled with the circulated saltwater they need to survive. To permit communication, these suits are fitted with micro-camera and LED circuitry that detects the color of their skins and immediately transmits this to the outside of the suit itself, thus allowing the suit to flash colors and patterns with the same complexity and speed as their own skins.
Kraken do not function well in non-aquatic environments with gravities above approximately 0.25 standard without technological assistance. Their vacc suits are typically fitted with low-power grav-belts to compensate for effects of gravity, allowing them to "walk" (bi-, tri-, or quadripedally as they prefer). Additional mini-grav units on suit arms permit Kraken to move, manipulate things, and wield weapons in gravity conditions that would otherwise be debilitating for them.
Because of this last fact, even after Humans learned to decipher and translate the language of this species, there was no way for the Humans to vocalize the "name" this species had given itself. As a result, the Humans now refer to them with a name taken from ancient Terran mythology - a name associated with creatures that this new intelligent race somewhat resembled. To the Humans, these strange spacefarers would be referred to as the Kraken.
Physical Description
Kraken are aquatic creatures with a symmetrical, octopodal body plan. Unlike the Terran species such as Cuttlefish, Octopus, and Squid, however, Krakens have a fully formed internal skeletal structure. Their eight limbs are all equivalently muscled and skeletally supplied: twelve bones, each approximately 25cm long are joined by ligaments that allow joints to bend in any direction, controlled by four sets of muscles operating 90o apart from each other. The bones themselves can temporarily interlock to allow the Kraken to stand on two legs (though three or four are preferred).The central "body" of the Kraken contains all internal organs, with the brain and heart both in the center of their cores, protected by a ring of bony plates. Their mouths are at the base of their bodies in the center of the radially-extended limbs. Four large eyes on the body are spaced 90o apart, allowing for 360o vision. Their visual acuity range overlaps that of humans, though it extends further into the ultraviolet range.
Language
Kraken are capable of hearing, with an audible detection range that encompasses that of humans, but extends further to both higher and lower frequencies - such as those detectable by many Terran dolphin and whale species. Despite this, they do not possess physical "equipment" to generate language. Instead, they rely on their ability to rapidly manipulate chromatophoric cells in their skins (much as Terran cuttlefish), to generate a wide range of color in a variety of patterns. These rapidly shifting color displays are the "phonemes", "words", and "sentences" of Kraken language.Krakens in Space
Kraken starships are "pressurized" not with air, but with the saline water typical of their homeworld. This allows them to function without their equivalent of Vacc Suits during normal ship operation.Kraken highports are, for the most part similarly water-filled, but Class A's and most Class B's will have small sections dedicated to docking facilities and habitation of "gas breathers".
When leaving their aquatic environments, Kraken employ Vacc Suits whose internal space is filled with the circulated saltwater they need to survive. To permit communication, these suits are fitted with micro-camera and LED circuitry that detects the color of their skins and immediately transmits this to the outside of the suit itself, thus allowing the suit to flash colors and patterns with the same complexity and speed as their own skins.
Kraken do not function well in non-aquatic environments with gravities above approximately 0.25 standard without technological assistance. Their vacc suits are typically fitted with low-power grav-belts to compensate for effects of gravity, allowing them to "walk" (bi-, tri-, or quadripedally as they prefer). Additional mini-grav units on suit arms permit Kraken to move, manipulate things, and wield weapons in gravity conditions that would otherwise be debilitating for them.
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