Tiyanki
Tiyanki, also known as space cows, are a non-sapient species of void-dwelling life. A highly docile species, they inhabit large parts of the galaxy, and evolved approximately 200 million years ago. Tiyanki are capable of accessing hyperspace or a similar dimension of subspace through a natural hyper drive, and freely migrate throughout the galaxy. Tiyanki have typically been sighted in the range of 250-400m, with some specimens as long as 500m. Tiyanki feed on electrical currents in the upper atmospheres of gas giants. They do this by using an organ (called an energy siphon) that projects a beam capable of exciting the gas in a small area, generating an electrical current that the tiyanki can then absorb. Although docile, Tiyanki can be angered by getting in their way, or fight back in self-defense. In these cases, they can turn their energy siphons on their attacker, which is capable of even damaging starships. In addition, they possess highly resilient hides, which can repel light weapon fire and even exhibit regenerative properties. Tiyanki also travel in herds for protection from space amoebae, which are their natural predators.
Although almost all tiyanki are less than half a kilometre long, there is one major exception. An individual, referred to as the Tiyanki Matriarch, has been measured to be over twenty kilometres long. Unlike other tiyanki, however, it is both solitary and extremely aggressive. On multiple occasions, it has attacked and destroyed starships using its extremely powerful energy siphon, and even crushing them with its various tendrils. According to research, the Matriarch may be part of a deep-space evolutionary offshoot of the local tiyanki species, that has evolved to live in the void between galaxies, or at least travel through it. Another theory is that the Matriarch is simply suffering from a form of gigantism, but that does not explain her age, which is estimated to be well over ten thousand, perhaps even one hundred thousand years old.
Recent research has revealed that the tiyanki all emerge from a single system, called Tiyana Vek. A charged plasma field covers the entire system, including four gas giants that orbit close to the system primary. This particular system is remarkably biodiverse in terms of void-dwelling life, and it appears to be the only place in the galaxy where the tiyanki can be born. Another system, called Tiyun Ort, is understood to be the 'graveyard' of tiyanki. As they approach the end of their lives, they retreat to this system to die. The system asteroid belt is littered with the corpses of millions of tiyanki. The first planet in the system, a planetoid called Orek Vuul, is itself what appears to be a tiyanki 'grave mound'. The planetoid is more heavily composed of tiyanki biomass than its own, and long-distance scans show extremely low-level life signs on the planetoid. Although various expeditions have been attempted to the world, they have invariably been turned back by scores of tiyanki oxes apparently defending the world.
Although almost all tiyanki are less than half a kilometre long, there is one major exception. An individual, referred to as the Tiyanki Matriarch, has been measured to be over twenty kilometres long. Unlike other tiyanki, however, it is both solitary and extremely aggressive. On multiple occasions, it has attacked and destroyed starships using its extremely powerful energy siphon, and even crushing them with its various tendrils. According to research, the Matriarch may be part of a deep-space evolutionary offshoot of the local tiyanki species, that has evolved to live in the void between galaxies, or at least travel through it. Another theory is that the Matriarch is simply suffering from a form of gigantism, but that does not explain her age, which is estimated to be well over ten thousand, perhaps even one hundred thousand years old.
Recent research has revealed that the tiyanki all emerge from a single system, called Tiyana Vek. A charged plasma field covers the entire system, including four gas giants that orbit close to the system primary. This particular system is remarkably biodiverse in terms of void-dwelling life, and it appears to be the only place in the galaxy where the tiyanki can be born. Another system, called Tiyun Ort, is understood to be the 'graveyard' of tiyanki. As they approach the end of their lives, they retreat to this system to die. The system asteroid belt is littered with the corpses of millions of tiyanki. The first planet in the system, a planetoid called Orek Vuul, is itself what appears to be a tiyanki 'grave mound'. The planetoid is more heavily composed of tiyanki biomass than its own, and long-distance scans show extremely low-level life signs on the planetoid. Although various expeditions have been attempted to the world, they have invariably been turned back by scores of tiyanki oxes apparently defending the world.
Lifespan
250+ years
10,000-100,000+ years (matriarch)
10,000-100,000+ years (matriarch)
Average Length
250-500m
20,000m (matriarch)
20,000m (matriarch)
You had me at "space cow" and then you didn't let go. What a great article. I do have a bit of a hard time picturing exactly what they look like, but I was so intrigued by the article that I didn't find myself thinking about that until the end.