The Mon'Kara

The Mon'kara are an expansive, opportunistic race. Although their capabilities are not extreme, their pattern of reproduction and expansion make them a persistent threat.

Physical Description The Mon'kara are an amphibious arthropod race, resembling a large crayfish or lobster. They have a hardened carapace, six legs, and a segmented tail as long as the rest of the body. Most Mon'kara are approximately 1.5 meters in overall length.

Mon'kara are normally hermaphrodites, but have also been known to reproduce by parthenogenesis. Eggs are laid after a short internal gestation, hatching into an aquatic larval form. Larvae can walk on land in three months, and are fully grown within a year.

There are two distinct physical sub-variants, both fulfilling different societal roles. When the colony finds itself under attack, some randomly undergo a massive growth spurt, emerging as warriors. Likewise, when the colony reaches a certain size, others will grow into primes.

Warrior Mon'kara are larger (3m), stronger and more aggressive. They protect the colony when it is threatened.

Primes are larger still, more intelligent, and have psionic capabilities. They are more distinct from the hive mind, and can even influence it to some extent. Primes serve as leaders, supplying more immediate and situational decision-making than the hive mind.

It remains unclear exactly how warriors and primes emerge from the group. The best theory is that the hive mind itself plays a role, inducing the transformation in those individuals it deems most suitable.

Society/Organization The Mon'kara have a limited hive mind. While individuals have a distinct sense of identity and self-preservation, the needs and wants of the group take precedence over those of the individual. Warriors are more likely to sacrifice themselves for the group, while primes are less likely to do so. The Mon'kara also have extensive genetic memories. There are accounts of Mon'kara eggs building a technological civilization from nothing without any outside assistance.

Homeworld/Environment The original homeworld of the Mon'kara is unknown, but certain things can be inferred from their preferred environment. They prefer shallow, warm seas, with numerous small islands. Buildings tend to be wide and low to the ground, with large ramps when necessary.

Tactics and Technology Given their preferred environment, ideal environments for the Mon'kara are rare. Instead, they have developed a somewhat unique method of expansion that takes into account their genetic memories and biology.

When a suitable world is found, its oceans and coastal areas are seeded with drop pods. These drop pods contain eggs in biostasis and starter technology. The eggs hatch, and on maturity, start building a Mon'kara presence on the world. Eventually they begin terraforming to make the world more habitable for Mon'kara.

Overall, the Mon'kara are not extremely advanced for a starfaring race. The exception is in the area of terraforming technology. They are extremely skilled at weather and tectonic manipulation, adapting local ecologies, and other techniques.

 Mon'Kara forms 


 * Common Mon'kara
 * Warrior Mon'kara
 * Mon'Kara Prime