Kroach
The kroach evolved in the honeycombed, hellishly hot world Tau Scorpii-1, hugged close against bright Tau Scorpii, 430 light years from Sol in the constellation Scorpius.
They are chitin-shelled beetle-like beings, a bit larger than average humans, up to 7 feet tall.
The kroach developed spaceflight before human contact, though they never discovered hyperdrives.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Over the millennia, the kroach have evolved their thick outer shell not for protection from predators, but to guard against the harsh radiation bombarding their world’s stark surface.
Genetics and Reproduction
The kroach lay their eggs in small clutches of 3-5. If they are on a planet that they inhabit, they will bury the eggs in the ground to protect them and keep them warm. The parents will leave some meat to rot above the eggs. The young will hatch 10-14 days later and fend for themselves, first eating the food they were buried under, then beginning to explore the area, eventually discovering their settlement nearby.
Since moving to space, their starships have hatcheries on them that keep the eggs at an ideal temperature to hatch in 10-11 days. Children will be educated and become ships crew within a few months.
Growth Rate & Stages
Kroach mature quickly, being developed mentally within 6 months on average. Though it takes them 2 years to grow physically.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
Kroach now have access to hyperdrive technology. Though creating a ship takes time. Like many other insectoid species, much of their technology has organic components to it. They have learned to grow the primary components of their contrivances. In the simplest terms, they adapt an existing living organism to their needs, grow it for a specific purpose, and then harvest it for their use. More often than not, the shell of a weapon or even a starship is the super-tough carapace of a specially designed creature, harvested and hollowed out to accommodate other components. They do not generally employ living tech items— though they are not entirely unheard of—but rather their inanimate tools are pieced together from once-living organisms.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Average Height
6'6"-7'6"
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