Balaenoptera musculus Extraterestrus (Space Whale)
The famous 'Zyra' space whale herd passing over Bronson Alpha and Beta
The first encounter with this creature came at a high cost. When people living on Bronson Beta saw an unusualy bright meteor descending the night sky, they had no idea their planet was doomed. Four weeks later the planet was turned into a lifeless radioactive deathtrap. The cause of this catastrophe was the carcass of a space whale, burning up in their atmosphere.
Space whales are most commonly found in asteroid clouds near quasars. The whales eat small asteroid particles. As these are irradiated by the quasars powerfull gamma rays, they provide a very energy-rich source of food. The whales themselves absorb a large amount of gamma rays and radioactive material, but somehow they are able to survive in this hostile environment. Nonetheless, mutations are commonplace among those remarkable creatures.
Space whales live in herds. These consist of several males, one of which acts as a leader, and equal numbers of females. They work together to protect newborn creatures. Whales communicate with each other using psychic signalling. Being so large and powerful, these signals are extremely powerful. Smaller whales' communication can be heard as clicks or seen as flashes, while larger whales may cause hallucinations and disorientation at a distance of several miles.
All space whales are able to defend themselves using a highly radioactive emulsion secreted by a gland in their mouths. They spit this emulsion at ships, where it will achieve critical mass and explode. Due to mutations, several other means of defence are often seen as well.
Nowadays space whales are almost extinct. They have been hunted for their meat, which is very useful as starship fuel, for centuries. Some specimens live in reservates now.
Space whale child
When space whales are born there is little difference between male and female creatures. The young are fierce and nimble creatures, able to attack smaller ships and intercept dangerous objects.
Space whale female
Females serve two functions in a space whale herd. When not pregnant, they use their vast psychic powers to manipulate the surroundings. They can stop bullets dead in their tracks.
Space whale female (pregnant)
Pregnant females loose most of their psychic powers. They aren't defenceless, however. They can still spit radioactive materials, and in time of need even command their newborn young to assault enemies.
Space whale male
Herds include several males. Most of them won't get very old as they sacrifice themselves to protect the herd. They block any danger and assault it by spitting radioactive material and firing beams of gamma rays from their horns.
Space whale leader
The strongest and largest of males becomes the herd leader. They can grow very old, mutating beyond recognition. This particular specimen was hit by a large asteroid, but somehow survived. The radioactive rock stuck in his body, causing even more malforming mutations.
Right click/download spacewhale.zip
Richg click/download spacewhale.enc
-----------
Inspired by the '
O shit it's a crocodile' thread in the HOS. Probably the most whimsical fleet ever, but it's a serious entry. Making everything articulate in the right way took me a long time. The leader and pregnant female even have
breathing animations. In space, yes.