Forum Digest: Umiak

Biology

Describing Umiak biology succinctly is a difficult task, because the configuration of individual specimens varies so widely. In order to overcome the physical limitations that are a result of evolution on a low-gravity planet, the Umiak as a race have undergone extensive genetic engineering programs and cybernetic alterations. Indeed, it is suspected that they may have entirely abandoned their natural life cycle; judging by the ease with which they replace losses and their apparent lack of concern for the safety of individuals, it seems likely that the Umiak now rely substantially or wholly on artificial forms of reproduction.

The majority of Umiak, who still live on low-gravity worlds or aboard the gravity-controlled environments of starships, are still very similar in form to the state in which they evolved. Those employed in specialties (such as infantry) that require operation in higher-gravity environments have been specifically bred for this task, are much heavier and stronger, and are more likely to have been genetically and/or cybernetically modified, sometimes quite extensively, almost to the point of being unrecognizable as the same species.

Although often described as “insectoid,” the Umiak are not arthropods. They do have an exoskeleton, but are energetic, warm-blooded creatures with complex vascular systems. In their unmodified state, Umiak have six limbs, four of which are used as legs, the other two as conventional humanoid arms (giving them a centaur-like appearance). The forward pair of legs also double as strikers. Larger specimens stand two meters tall, three meters long and can weigh 500 lbs. or more. While they are quite agile in their native environment (believed to be about one-third Earth's gravity), they are heavy and plodding in normal gravity.

Umiak blood is black. Umiak carapaces range in color from pale tan, through yellow, to dark red, darkening as the individual ages. The tufts of hair at the joints range from brown to black (sometimes graying with age). Umiak become aged between 60 and 80 years old and usually die soon thereafter; medical technology can extend lives but this is only done for the more important individuals.

The Umiak have only a single gender, and while unmodified individuals are still reproductively viable, little is known about the details of their reproductive practices.

As they are uncomfortable in normal gravity, Umiak crews spend most of their time aboard ships or stations with artificial gravity. These “fleet” Umiak tend to be smaller and more slender (200-300 lbs.) than those (mainly used for ground forces) that have been raised in 1G+ environments. Umiak that are specialized for ground combat can be very large, with entire sections of their bodies replaced by mechanical devices, and are fearsome in appearance and reputation.

Without fleshy lips or vocal cords, Umiak can’t make the sounds required to speak the Trade Language. Umiak use mechanical translators when they must communicate with non-Umiak. The Umiak language is based on clicks, ticks and hisses. To a human ear it is all but incomprehensible, sounding like a very fast mishmash of ‘ktkttkktktkhsss’. Umiak language relies on a few different sounds in a variety of complex patterns, rather than a variety of sounds as in human language. Umiak words are long and complex, and are spoken very rapidly.

Umiak language involves the use of a “stack”; that is, words are delivered out of order to add complex meaning and dramatic emotional overtone. For example, a word or phrase can be spoken, placed on the “stack,” and then not referred to again until later in the conversation. This further increases the incomprehensible nature of the language to non-Umiak.

Society

Specifics of Umiak history are unknown, but they control an empire believed to be larger than that of the Loroi, and it seems that they got it the same way the Loroi did, via conquest. The Umiak do not permit allies to maintain self-determination; they must become subjects of the empire. Client races are not treated well (by our standards), and are subject to oppressive and occasionally ruinous demands on their labor and natural resources. Although, I suppose it could be said that the Umiak are no harder on their subjects than they are on themselves. It is not known how the Umiak will behave in peacetime.

The Umiak have a “use and discard” mentality; they seem unconcerned about pollution or destruction of environment (perhaps because they do not have to live on the majority of the planets they control). It is rumored that their home planet has become a nightmarish wasteland, although some suggest that they may take more care with those low-G planets that they have designated for Umiak habitation, and leave the ruination to their subjects.

Intelligent and highly technologically advanced, the Umiak are nevertheless not terribly creative. Like the Loroi, the Umiak steal as much technology as they create themselves, but once created they are masters at putting it to work for them. Umiak are efficiency experts, and tireless, detail-oriented workers.

Umiak would rather manufacture something new than upgrade or repair something old. Although their technology is in some ways superior to that of the Loroi, they generally do not upgrade older units, leaving them in service until they are destroyed. Often more than half the ships in any given Umiak fleet are outdated and in poor condition; this is balanced by the fact that Umiak fleets tend to be two to three times the size of an equivalent, carefully maintained Loroi fleet.

This philosophy applies not just to Umiak hardware, but to the Umiak individuals themselves. Apparently, when Umiak crews are assigned to a ship, they are assigned permanently, as if they were equipment.

It's been too long since SF had an insectoid race that wasn't
a) humanoid with too many legs
b) biomechanical or biotech reliant
c) hive based
d) stupid

Tough list there... at least one element applies to nearly every adversary race in the annals of sci-fi. Let's see how evasive I can be in answering this...

The Umiak have been described as "insectoid" because they are exoskeletal, and the term also gives an insight into their martial philosophy: swarm the enemy. That's about it. "Centauroid" might be more descriptive of their physical layout, but that's not nearly as evocative a term. Are four legs too many? Are zero legs too few? Ask a different Umiak, and you'll get a different answer. They're warm-blooded exoskeletal aliens, and not true insects, so expect that they will be quite different from terrestrial insects such as ants.

Regarding biotech: nearly all high-tech races are biotech reliant, including us. As the demands of space travel require features of biology that were not in the original specifications, biotech must make up the difference. Since the Umiak evolved on a low-gravity world, they must rely more on biotech to fill in the gaps than other species.

While I suppose that one could argue that the Umiak are "hive-based", they are no more so than your average Earthbound totalitarian regime. They have no hive mind, nor egg-laying queens, nor short-lived male drones, nor sterile female workers, etc, etc. But do they value the life of an individual? Not really.

The Umiak are not a Zerg-like or Tyranid-like hive race that use bio-devices or bio-ships; on the contrary, they depend more heavily on machines and technology than the Loroi do, even for reproduction. And rest assured that they do not have Queens.

And, whatever may be said of the Umiak, I sincerely hope it will never be said that they are stupid. Relentless and single-minded, perhaps, but not stupid.

There's another potential problem with high-grav environments begetting insect creatures... I've heard that one of the reasons that insects on earth aren't on average bigger has something to do with the ratio of exoskeleton weight to muscle power. Meaning that the bigger the exoskeleton, the more muscle power required to move it, and that on earth, the bugs have pretty much reached the functional limits of that dynamic. Having said that, there's no reason the Umiak have to have exoskeletons made out of whatever earth insects' are made out of, though. Maybe they're silica or something?

Ahem, the size of insects is not only limited by the muscle power needed for the exoskeleton, but mainly because of air supply. Insects have trachea, openings that passively inhale oxygen (yes, okay, not only oxygen, but the whole mixture of air) and this system has its limitation when supplying a whole body with oxygen.

How about crabs? King Crabs get pretty darn big. And doesn't New Zealand have monster grass hoppers or something? Are crabs related to arachnids or are they something completely different? I seem to recall that most crustaceans rely on movement to circulate their blood.

Crustaceans (crabs, etc.), insects and arachnids are all arthropods, which means they are exoskeletal, and have very primitive circulatory and respiratory systems, and cannot maintain their own body temperatures. I think, as was mentioned, that depending on diffusion of air through their spicules ultimately limits the size of insects (I think the prehistoric dragonflies were three feet long or so, but very thin... the largest crabs are maybe larger, but also thin, and have the advantage of using water instead of air as the oxygen delivery method), but were that not the case, I think the heavy chitin exoskeletons would become a limiting factor soon after, both from a weight and strength standpoint.

The Umiak aren't insects (nor arthropods either); as one would expect of "higher animals" capable of developing intelligence, they have sophisticated circulatory and respiratory systems similar to mammals. Their external skeletons are stronger than an insect's chitin, but they still run into serious weight problems (as a giant insect might). This is where the issue of having evolved on a low-gravity world comes into play. On their native world (which is about one-third Earth gravity), the weight of the Umiak exoskeleton isn't a problem, and they are agile, swift creatures. On a world with Earth-normal gravity, an unmodified Umiak can barely walk. This is one of the reasons why they have become more reliant on technology than other races.

Do the Umiak celebrate Christmas? Or have any other religion of any sort?

I would imagine that the Umiak (who aren't that much older as a race than Humans) do have a religion of sorts, that drives them on, and gives them comfort in the face of danger. I suspect that it would be a somewhat bleak, nihilistic philosophy, perhaps a bit like Zen Buddhism, that seeks perfection above and beyond the miserable mortal existence. The complexity of Umiak language does lend itself to poetry; I can imagine Umiak crews during off duty hours composing verse reflecting on the brief spark that is life. However, lest people begin to ascribe samurai attributes to the Umiak, let me point out that the soldier ethic of the Umiak is not at all honor-based -- they're pragmatists in the extreme, and not at all proud. The Umiak were the nomad barbarians of their world, that destroyed a related but gentler, more civilized species in their rise to planetary dominance. They'll do anything -- lie, cheat or steal, blacken their worlds with industry and twist even their own bodies into monstrosities -- to achieve the victory that they feel will somehow bring them salvation.

I don't know that the Umiak would have festivals like Christmas -- they don't seem like a celebratory sort. At least not during wartime.

Drums! The Umiak like drums.