Ska'Ani

We do no longer concern ourselves with the foolish notions of faith. Such fantasy is not a sign of civilization. Sadly it seems that our neighbours across the void are not as advanced as we first thought them to be.

— Deset, First Admiral of the Ska'Ani League

Science is what lead us to the stars. Science is what prolongs our bodies far beyond the nature assigned timeframe. Science differentiates the barbarians from the civilized. Or so the Ska'Ani see it. At first glance many may question why they are seen as among the most detestable races out there, only surpassed by the monstrous Krigan or the utterly abominable Arabate in infamy. But just one look behind those cold eyes and one will realize that a worldview based solely on the uncaring scientific method can birth just as many horrors as one based on hate or fanatical devotion.

Like Mermaids only Different

About three meters in length, they combine both humanoid and aquatic features. They are the closest thing to the mermaids of Human myth. One difference is that they possess three fins, two larger ones in a position similar to human legs and a shorter one that protrudes from their lower back. Two triangular fins, made from cartilage, protrude from their body at about half-length. What at some point may have been pectoral fins, have evolved into two arms with four-digit hands. Completing the whole picture is a head framed by two large flaps of flesh.
Ska'Ani can survive both on land and underwater, although they need special travel machines and a breathing apparatus on the former. They reproduce similar to most fish, the female laying eggs which are then fertilized by the male. Natural reproduction has ceased, however, new Ska'Ani being created exclusively in laboratories. This is partly the result of their most prominent feature. The average Ska'Ani's intellect would be considered genius level in every other society. It would be quite fair to say that collectively, the Ska'Ani are the most intelligent race in the Andromeda Galaxy.

From the Darkness into the Void

by Andrew Gaus

In the outer reaches of the Gravian Arm there lies the Dhoma System, home to a Red Dwarf and four planets. The third from the star, now known as Fyrom, had been thrown out of its system's Habitable Zone and turned into a frozen hell. The only organisms that survived this cataclysmic event where aquatic species that gathered around volcanic wells at the bottom of the once planet covering ocean. Over millions of years, they evolved into what is now known as a Ska'Ani. Although records show that they had united into the Ska'Ani League by about 1900 AD, it would take another 700 years before they made efforts to reach the stars. Their combined intelligence enabled them to progress faster than most other races.
They established their first colony a mere decade after piercing the icy crust of their homeworld. By 2700, the League encompassed several dozen systems, expansion only slowed by the Ska'Ani disinterest in galactic expansion. In 2649, they encountered a primitive species called the Iglon, whom they uplifted and turned into a subject race, the aggressive reptiles serving as their soldiers.
First Contact with another spacefaring civilization happened in 2772, when a League Fleet encountered and fought a force of the human Teutan Hierarchy. Their defeat there, combined with the crushing of their forces at the claws of the Krigan, two decades later, has made the Ska'Ani take on an isolationist stance. Their fleets have not been observed outside their space for over two hundred years.

Cold, Cruel and Meticulous

One may indeed wonder why the Ska'Ani are one of the most disliked races, seeing as they remain rather isolated in their part of the galaxy. The reason is rather simple for the Ska'Ani know only one truth. Faith, emotion, ethics, none of it matters, only the pursuit of the absolute truth via scientific research. And the Ska'Ani will show their disdain for anyone still subject to those openly, at best treating other races like "dumb children", at worst like animals or insects.

Scholars and Generals

Ska'Ani society is divided into two groups: scholars and soldiers. Thanks to great advances in the fields of Robotics and Matter Generation, the Ska'Ani do not need to collect resources or food themselves. As such they are able to fully dedicate themselves to their research. The only exception are the soldiers, specially trained individuals who command the fleet and Iglon Legions.

Scientific League

Their government is fitting in that it is a collection of several scientific institutes, each responsible for different fields of research. A council consisting of the heads of the various institutes. These individuals are responsible for resource allocation and diplomatic action. Decisions are based on the most "logical" course of action available. Logical to the Ska'Ani at least.

Enigmatic Society

Some sociologists have been proposing a theory, after which the Ska'Ani are no longer capable of social interactions, beyond work-related assistance at least. It doesn't help that their aquatic cities are barred to outsiders and located at the bottom of various ocean planets. As a result, Ska'Ani worlds are a rather desolate sight, continents covered only in Iglon military structures.

Another factor in the galaxy's collective disdain for the Ska'Ani is the fact that they have been known to abduct and experiment on members of other species. These activities have at times resulted in the disappearance of entire towns and been engraved into the cultural conscious of many a race. Only military action has managed to stop the aquatic scientists from continuing and even then, rumours persist that they have merely taken a more secretive approach.

Now the ancient tales of little green men that take you away at night? Fantasy. The Ska'Ani hadn't even left their planet when those stories began to emerge. But in this age...I'd say that you have a fifty-fifty chance of finding a fish in a wheelchair as the cause.

— Halden Emerik, General of the New Carnavon Defense Force

by Jakub Javora

Scientific Name

Chordana Alphi Skani

Lifespan

75 years

Average Weight

Unknown

Average Length

3.1 meters

by Juan Novelletto

Basic Data - 01.3000

• League Systems: 90

• Colonized Systems: 20

• Ska'Ani Population: 3.250.000.000

• Iglon Population: 9.100.000.000

• Fleet Size: 2.322 Warships

• Core Region: Gravian Arm

Diplomatic Relations
The Ska'Ani League has gone into isolation following a devastating war against the Krigan Empire in 2901. Since then, they have refrained from direct contact with other races, neither willing or needing to trade.
Perfect Soldiers
A reptilian species from the planet Skadthai, the Iglon are two-meter tall behemoths of muscle. Outside of their pale-skinned, bald heads equipped with several rows of razor-sharp teeth, there is not much known about their biology. Iglon are always clad in armour which will self-destruct in case of capture or death of the wearer, which has prevented further research.
Once a group of animals, the Iglon were turned into a weapon, their natural strength and aggression making them a powerful force. Any orders and tactics are coming from the Ska'Ani Controller. If not in combat or guarding Ska'Ani installations, they are housed in vast barrack-like structures on the surface of League planets.

by Miguel Iglesias