Name: Cosmithans, Bracatus bellua Description: A wide species which covers the many examples of "Cosmithans" in the galaxy, each are generally exceptionally large, serpentine-esque, and very aggressive towards other species, and starfarers. Their skin is typically extremely thick, able to resist even ramming by ships, and they're oftentimes covered in large spines or horns which can be used to gore prey before they are devoured by massive, powerful jaws. Sometimes, their body can be covered in bio-luminescent lights which allow them to blend into the gas clouds and nebulae they typically hide in between feedings. Propelled via the movement of massive, solar-sail like fins on their bodies and massive organic "thrusters" on their bodies that exhaust powerful blasts of combusted gas stored in internal chambers, they gain acceleration at exponential rates. Behavior: Aggressive, predatory beings, they primarily feed upon other beings such as Stellar Whales, Mantesyds, and even Starwhals, occasionally. Although not typically fed upon, they will also attack starships that pass by if they are larger than the ship. Tamability: Untamable. Where is it found?: Throughout the galaxy, particularly in places like the Fringe without much overarching infrastructure that scares off these beasts. Rarity: Rare in CivSpace, moderately common in the Fringe and other frontier areas. Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: Primarily "carnivores" of other stellar beasts, however, similar to Stellar Whales, they are capable of digesting most things in their sterling generator-esque guts. This generation of energy causes them to generate light through thinner portions of their skin, offering them their bio-luminescent camouflage. Cosmithans that haven't eaten in a long while will thus glow less, dimming as they slowly starve. Products?: -The energy stored in their bodies can be harvested in abundance -Silicon carbide from the skeletal system -One hell of a story to tell Reproduction: Similarly to Stellar whales, Cosmithans are capable of asexual reproduction, however, unlike Stellar whales, a Cosmithan can reproduce many times in their life, up to dozens of times throughout their lifespan. Size: Massive beasts, the smallest of which are longer than a corvette, and the largest of which are larger than battleships. The largest to have ever been recorded measured a leviathan-esque 1300m long. Weight: Immeasurable Lifespan: A Cosmithan can survive for multiple centuries, however, most die before they can succumb to age from hunters. Abilities: -Bio-luminescence -Extremely strong, can even defeat ships in combat -Fast moving -Certain specimens can eject streams of ionized gasses and plasma, scalding their prey and damaging ship hulls Flaws: -If you can maneuver into an area that is too small for a Cosmithan to pursue, you can easily escape -Cannot survive in pressurized, atmospheric conditions -A few well aimed explosives can deter the beasts from pursuing ships -Since they can only access Hyperlanes through the random luck of a naturally formed Tunnel, you can escape them by using a Hyperdrive.
