Sapient Races In The Chakat Universe
by Bernard Doove © 2007
This page is basically a list of the sapient species of my Chakat Universe. Although there are a few more than those listed so far, I have either not written about them yet, or found the need to describe them. As this happens, I will add them to the list.
Each species has a brief description of what they most resemble, NOT what they actually are, plus their most significant achievements.
(Note: This description applies to Caitians in the Chakat Universe. The author makes no claims of relevance to the Star Trek Universe.)
- Caitians: Felinoids – savannah cats. Native to the planet Cait (Terranglo translation), a generally hot and dry world. Males and females have the same full-grown average weight and height (digitigrade stance), which is about 157cm (~5' 2") ± 6cm. Females have very thick long hair, while the males' hair grows into a lion-like mane as he matures. Their tufted tails are thick and strong, and are used for balance and as a prop while they are standing stationary. Although mammalian, females tend not to be busty – a C-cup being very generously endowed. A very social species in general. Caitians specialise in diplomacy, command, communications and advanced technology. Medical knowledge lags behind a little though. Female births greatly outnumber male births, and the common family unit consists of one male and his 'harem' or 'pride'. The number of female co-mates can number up to six by Caitian tradition, although few actually achieve that high status. However, it is the 'Firstwife' who is the head of the household, not the male.
Voxxans: Vulpinoids – almost indistinguishable from Terran plantigrade foxmorphs, but with more fur colours and patterns. Native to the planet Voxxa. Extremely similar to Terran Western culture, they have often been referred to as 'humans in fox suits'. Slightly ahead in several technological areas when first encountered, especially warp drives, but have since been matched.
Rakshani: Felinoids – jungle cats with tiger-like patterning, but coming in many different colours than tigers. Native to the planet Raksha. Full grown height (digitigrade stance) ranges between 213cm (7 feet) and 234cm (7'8"). Their massive tails are not only used for balance, but as powerful club-like weapons. Adult females tend to be exceptionally busty, even by Terran standards. Most species of Rakshani have head hair, but not all. They are an agressive but honourable species, extremely protective of children due to the high mortality rate. They often take military and command roles, but are also skilled educators. They have a strongly militaristic society, somewhat like Klingons in many ways, but unlike them they strongly value other things besides warriors. They especially value their experienced and wise elders, and their 'Houses' are usually named after particularly honored members. Many Rakshani can be found in Star Fleet (not as many in the Star Corps), and they frequently end up on front-line battleships of various kinds. Extremely sneaky strategists. Nearly went to war with the Stellar Federation before negotiations through Caitian and chakat diplomats forged an alliance. A very passionate people.
Merraki: Reptiloids – The Merraki look like metre tall bipedal lizards or dinosaurs, with attractive smooth iridescent scales. Although they have some dangerous teeth, they are omnivores. They are egg-layers, and all their young hatch as females. They remain female until they mate and produce a clutch of eggs. Laying the eggs triggers the change from female to male, and by the time the eggs hatch, they've already changed from fairly female-looking to androgynous-male, and then continuing on further to a fairly burly male specimen. They remain male for the rest of their lives. Native to the planet Kantorg (commonest of the names given to the planet by the various Merraki nations). Skilled engineers and gadget-makers supreme. (Note: The Merraki gender change is the idea of J.L.Atwood.)
Kalen-toth: Lemuroids. Agriculture and trading. Rather insular and not often seen off their homeworld, Lartanu-rith. Much of their extraterrestrial affairs are done through the Renzar.
Renzar: Ursinoids. Native to the planet Grom. Powerfully built species who are frequently utilised in heavy labour or security fields. However, they made their name at being canny but fair merchants, both at home and in interplanetary dealings.
Arborians: Badger-taur species discovered on Arboria. Nocturnal underground dwellers. Presumed extinct.
Stariionae: Essentially living starships. They live their lives in space, but can 'land' on the surface of planets. Attitudes towards 'muck-dwellers' ranges from indifferent to hostile. See the Introduction To Stariionae.
Faleshkarti: Bipedal Fennec Foxes. Native to Namath. Hermaphrodite species noted for its disinterest in any other species and their enormous proclivity for breeding. See the brief overview of this species.
Humans: Native to Earth (Terra). Almost hairless bipedal mammalian species. Noted for their wide adaptability, and their unique achievement in uplifting many non-sapient species to human-like (anthropomorphic) form, providing dozens of intelligent species from just one planet.
Morphs: Native to Earth (Terra), new homeworld is Chakona. Anthropomorphic versions of a large number of mammalian species that were uplifted to human intelligence and now share Earth equally by law, if not always in fact. Many now choose to call Chakona home instead. No avian or reptillian species were raised to morph status.
Most of the living species, except the Kalen-toth and Faleshkarti, are regular visitors to the other worlds in the Federation, and the Rakshani are fairly aggressive colonisers. They met the humans when both sought to claim a new world. Fortunately, negotiation with Caitian and chakat diplomats made them allies rather than enemies. Humans are the great exploring species, partnered with all the morph species that they created, including Chakats, who are in their element exploring new worlds.
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