Name: Brek'ka (“Breaker”)

  Brek'ka are a strange species — quite intelligent and social, yet relegated to menial tasks by most other Ber'Duun for reasons which remain unclear. Whatever their original role, they have been re-engineered as shock troops used in anti-vehicle and large scale orbital insertion assaults.

  Brek'ka are technically scaled, though their scales are more like toughened flesh, and may be difficult to discern individually except when they are actively venting thermal energy — at which point the glowing skin outlines them clearly. They have a variety of bony protrusions which crown their long, draconic faces. They may have scaled horns present on head, neck, and around joints, or they may lack them entirely. One relatively stable trait, regardless of other differences, is that they tend towards mild webbing between ridges, horns, or digits — potentially from an early need for agility within gaseous or aquatic environments.

  Coloration is wildly variable — from singular colors to a motley of colored patches, stripes, or spotting. Their eyes tend towards singular colors, with no visible iris, though there are conflicting reports regarding this. It may simply be that the nictating membrane that almost always covers their eyes simply obscures details.

  High durability, retractable claws are present in both hands and feet capable of withstanding intense shocks. While moderately sharp, cutting power sufficient to bisect advanced hull materials is achieved through application of pressure, and extreme temperature via mechanisms both chemical and aetheric. Of specific interest, these claws appear to be a nonconsensual modification, with multiple individuals expressing displeasure at what is a ubiquitous and long-held feature of the race.

  Their hull breaking capabilities do not simply reside in tooth and claw, however, but also in the construction of their legs — the species nickname comes from the ability to be launched at, subsequently penetrate the hulls of, and then act as boarders against ships — all without the use of a boarding craft. They do not possess a meaningful mechanism of propulsion, though, so woe be to the Brek'ka that does not make direct contact with their target during such an assault.

  Their legs resemble those of digitigrade animals, but their upper and lower leg construction operate in a two part manner — absorbing velocity and force via divergent mechanisms. The two part construction resembles a combination spring and shock absorber pairing — permitting literal orbital insertion even on high gravity rocky worlds, without support equipment or craft.

  To say that Brek'ka are extremophiles is to do the word an injustice — not simply capable of tolerating temperature extremes, they are natural high-temperature thermal generators. Upon demand or in moments of duress, they will generate heat levels which would denature the very proteins of Ankarran species. The flesh beneath their scales, especially in hands, feet, and neck will emit a bright glow as the scales rise and more flesh is exposed to enhance cooling. This glow is an indication that contact would be unwise for those without an affinity for extreme heat.

  Brek'ka stand, on average, around three meters in height with their resting forward leaning posture. Their mass may fluctuate with aetheric manipulation and individual fitness and musculature, but weights in the 400-500 kilogram range are not uncommon, and larger individuals may weight significantly more as Brek'ka display the same levels of variance as other sophonts.

  During aetheric activation, masses have been observed to fluctuate by 50% or more in either direction — a technique known to be used for aiding impact absorption.

  Brek'ka are extremely comfortable in high pressure, volcanic gas and aquatic environments, fully vacuum capable for extended periods. While not definitively known even by members of the species, it is speculated that they evolved in a system which contained multiple gas giants and high mass rocky worlds, potentially with a high variance in distance from what most Brek'ka insist was a binary star.

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  The natural adaptations for pressure, and tolerance of, and capability to generate heat would seem to support these claims. Interestingly, inquiries regarding their origin system almost unanimously elicited commentary about it containing a binary star — the significance of which was lost on the interviewers.

  Brek'ka, like most primary Ber'Duun species, can be found all over Enkoet. Their tolerance for the extremes of heat and cold, as well as aquatic and land environments renders them well suited to most environs. They are a very social people, however, and tend to cluster around other sophonts of any species, culture, or intelligence level.

  Brek'ka are generally well liked, as they are willing to perform almost any job or function, from intellectual to menial. They are natural leaders, due to their outgoing natures, but there is some friction between them and other Ber'Duun species which is not well understood — but is consistently documented. This may stem from their origination as, or insistence thereof, that they are a founding species.

  Omnivorous, almost to a fault. They prize novelty and are known to go out of their way to locate and consume a wide variety of different foods — from animal, to vegetable, to mineral. Brek'ka population clusters are almost guaranteed to have a dizzying array of foodstuffs, most of which are shared openly and freely to all comers.

  Brek'ka, unlike many Ber'Duun species, are sociable and willing to discuss their origins at length. They describe themselves as having been one of the original founding species of the early pan-galactic federation — an organizational entity which cannot be substantiated by other Ber'Duun scholars — who fell out of favor at some point in their long history.

  This would make them one of the oldest known species, if true, as they would thus predate the collection and re-engineering of most Ber species.

  When asked about their foundational role, scholars of almost all other species were incredulous, indicating that they had never heard of such an organization. Some suggested that the Brek'ka history was a fabrication; however multiple unrelated Brek'ka all provide the same general account of their origins.

  Brek'ka mature extremely rapidly, perhaps due to their regenerative capabilities. They reach full size and maturity long before they would be considered adults by chronological age by Ankarran standards. Once hatched, they have no significant developmental phases of note, as they are essentially just smaller versions of their adult selves.

  Reproduction is the one area where Brek'ka themselves tend to remain quiet. It is known that they are laid in large clutches of spherical eggs, by singular adults. The role of other Brek'ka in fertilization, either before or after the clutch is deposited — always in areas of extreme heat and pressure — is unknown.

  Brek'ka maximum lifespan is difficult to estimate, as they are — as a rule — a boisterous and risk-taking people. Two centuries is the generally agreed upon maximum age, but individuals generally live less than half that, due to a predilection for high risk activities, potentially due to their extreme durability and regenerative capabilities.

  As noted elsewhere, Brek'ka are a boisterous, outgoing people, who by nature or culture tend to speak their minds. Culturally they value brutal honesty, willingness to take personal risk, and active engagement in improvement — be it personal, community, or otherwise.

  Brek'ka are easily among the highest measurable intelligence of Ber'Duun, though this is commonly overlooked due to their willingness to be front-line in physical endeavors. Their bias towards hands-on practical activities, in contrast to academic or scholarly pursuits, has historically led to other species underestimating the potential of the Brek'ka — often to the detriment of said estimators.

  Brek'ka are some of the most dangerous enemies on the battlefield, even when their Skills are not taken into account they may present a company level threat. With active Skill use, a single Brek'ka may be considered a battalion strength opponent.

  Brek'ka are natural aetheric wielders, and may individually exhibit the full spectrum of aetheric capabilities. As it has been said, if you have experience fighting one Brek'ka, you have experience fighting only that one Brek'ka.

  They are capable of regenerating from almost any wound over short durations — which make even Silverpaw regeneration seem slow by comparison. Loss of limb may still take days and will prodigious amounts of food to sustain, but full-body perforation by large caliber weapons might only slow them — as they seem to have critical organ redundancies. It is speculated that they simply do without most functions until the organs regrow, often within a matter of hours.