Wirrn: Difference between revisions

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==Biology==
==Biology==
===Physical characteristics===
===Physical characteristics===
The Wirrn are roughly [[Human]]-sized, though with an anatomy more like an [[Earth]]-based insect. The head is made of two large golden eyes, long, floppy antennae and a three small mandibles. Underneath the head are larger mandibles which they use to talk. They communicate by squeaking, though [[Noah]] was able to speak Human languages. The head in attached to a long thorax which has six long arms attached to it. Though thin, these arms are as storng as a human and can be used for similar tasks. Underneath the thorax is a long abdomen.
The Wirrn were roughly [[Human]]-sized, though with an anatomy more like an [[Earth]]-based insect. Their head was made of two large golden eyes, long, floppy antennae and a three small mandibles. Underneath the head were larger mandibles which they use to talk. They communicate by squeaking, though [[Noah]] was able to speak Human languages. The head in attached to a long thorax which has six long arms attached to it. Though thin, these arms are as strong as a human and can be used for similar tasks. Underneath the thorax is a long abdomen.


:''While in an area with gravity, the Wirrn somehow move on their abdomen. This may be accomplished by a modified Ovipositor. In [[space]], on the other hand, the Wirrn just drag themselves along with their arms.''
:''While in an area with gravity, the Wirrn somehow move on their abdomen. This may be accomplished by a modified Ovipositor. In [[space]], on the other hand, the Wirrn just drag themselves along with their arms.''


Wirrn naturally live in [[space]] and have a well adapted body for it. They can reuse their waste products with special enzymes, allowing them to survive without fresh air for years. They will only land on [[planet]]s to gather air or food or to breed.  
Wirrn lived in [[space]] for most of their life and thus they could reuse their waste products with special enzymes, allowing them to survive without fresh air for years. They would only occasionally land on [[planet]]s to gather air or food or to breed.  


:''Given their apparently non-technological nature it is unclear how the Wirrn are able to make planetfall without burning up on entering an atmosphere, let alone launch themselves back into space or travel intergalactic distances.   
:''Given their apparently non-technological nature it is unclear how the Wirrn are able to make planetfall without burning up on entering an atmosphere, let alone launch themselves back into space or travel intergalactic distances.   


They are very tough, being able to survive repeated energy blasts. The Wirrn's most important weakness is their vulnerability to electricity. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ark in Space]]'')
They were very tough, being able to survive repeated energy blasts. The Wirrn's most important weakness was their vulnerability to electricity. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ark in Space]]'')


===Life Cycle===
===Life Cycle===
Wirrn have an unusual life-cycle which was shown on [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark]]. The Wirrn start breeding with a queen, who searches for a suitable [[planet]]. The Wirrn used [[cattle]]-like creatures in the [[Andromeda]] Galaxy, but they can also substitute [[human]]s. When the queen finds a suitable host, it lays an egg in the host. The larva gains all the racial memories of the Wirrn, as well as the host's knowledge. Eventually, the larva eats the host and escapes.  
Wirrn had an unusual life-cycle which was shown on [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark]]. The Wirrn start breeding with a queen, who searches for a suitable [[planet]]. The Wirrn used [[cattle]]-like creatures in the [[Andromeda]] Galaxy, but they can also substitute [[human]]s. When the queen finds a suitable host, it lays an egg in the host. The larva gains all the racial memories of the Wirrn, as well as the host's knowledge. Eventually, the larva eats the host and escapes.  


This larva is a large, green, slug-like creature with several small limbs. These larva, while not as tough as an adult, are still resistant to a large amount of damage. The larva can also infect other creatures and turn them into adult Wirrn. These infected individuals gain all the knowledge of the Wirrn ''and'' the previous host.  
This larva is a large, green, slug-like creature with several small limbs. These larva, while not as tough as an adult, are still resistant to a large amount of damage. The larva can also infect other creatures and turn them into adult Wirrn. These infected individuals gain all the knowledge of the Wirrn ''and'' the previous host. Their natural hostst were mindless herbivores, but infecting advanced beings like humans could give a great boost to a Wyrrn colony, due to the technological knowledge inherited.


Eventually, the larva start to metamorphasize, turning into large pupa. After a few hours, full grown Wirrn come out of the pupas and set out to do the bidding of the swarm. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ark in Space]]'')
Eventually, the larva start to metamorphasize, turning into large pupa. After a few hours, full grown Wirrn come out of the pupas and set out to do the bidding of the swarm. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ark in Space]]'')
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The Wirrn have had a presence in the [[universe]] for a long time. A dead Wirrn was found in a prison ship that launched in [[Early human history|2000 BCE]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stones of Blood]]'')
The Wirrn have had a presence in the [[universe]] for a long time. A dead Wirrn was found in a prison ship that launched in [[Early human history|2000 BCE]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stones of Blood]]'')


Far in the future, [[human]]s were able to reach the [[Andromeda]] Galaxy and encountered the Wirrn. After a long war, the Wirrn were driven out of their [[galaxy]] and were forced to move into the [[Mutter's Spiral]]. One queen discovered [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark]], which contained thousands of [[cryogenic]]ally frozen [[Human]]s. Though the queen was killed by a security device, it was able to implant an egg in one of the Humans ([[Dune]]).  
When humans first reached the [[Andromeda]] [[Galaxy]] and started to expand there, they started taking the [[Wirrn Breeding Colonies]], and thousand years of fighting between the two species began, until the Wirrn were driven out of their own [[galaxy]] and forced to drift into the universe.
 
One queen ended up in [[Mutter's Spiral]] and discovered the [[cryogenic|frozen]] survivors of an irradiated Earth in [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark]]. Though the queen was killed by a security device, it was able to implant an egg in one of the Humans ([[Dune]]).  


Eventually, the larva escaped and was able to infect [[Noah]]. The Wirrn intended to use the sleeping [[human]]s as a food source and to gain their advanced knowledge to help take over the "empty" [[Earth]]. However, [[Noah]]'s [[human]] side reasserted itself and led the Wirrn into [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark's]] transport ship, even though he knew it was rigged to explode. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ark in Space]]'')
Eventually, the larva escaped and was able to infect [[Noah]]. The Wirrn intended to use the sleeping [[human]]s as a food source and to gain their advanced knowledge to help take over the "empty" [[Earth]]. However, [[Noah]]'s [[human]] side reasserted itself and led the Wirrn into [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark's]] transport ship, even though he knew it was rigged to explode. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ark in Space]]'')

Revision as of 02:34, 30 April 2008


The Wirrn (or Wirrrn) were a race of Human-sized insects native to the Andromeda Galaxy.

Biology

Physical characteristics

The Wirrn were roughly Human-sized, though with an anatomy more like an Earth-based insect. Their head was made of two large golden eyes, long, floppy antennae and a three small mandibles. Underneath the head were larger mandibles which they use to talk. They communicate by squeaking, though Noah was able to speak Human languages. The head in attached to a long thorax which has six long arms attached to it. Though thin, these arms are as strong as a human and can be used for similar tasks. Underneath the thorax is a long abdomen.

While in an area with gravity, the Wirrn somehow move on their abdomen. This may be accomplished by a modified Ovipositor. In space, on the other hand, the Wirrn just drag themselves along with their arms.

Wirrn lived in space for most of their life and thus they could reuse their waste products with special enzymes, allowing them to survive without fresh air for years. They would only occasionally land on planets to gather air or food or to breed.

Given their apparently non-technological nature it is unclear how the Wirrn are able to make planetfall without burning up on entering an atmosphere, let alone launch themselves back into space or travel intergalactic distances.

They were very tough, being able to survive repeated energy blasts. The Wirrn's most important weakness was their vulnerability to electricity. (DW: The Ark in Space)

Life Cycle

Wirrn had an unusual life-cycle which was shown on the Ark. The Wirrn start breeding with a queen, who searches for a suitable planet. The Wirrn used cattle-like creatures in the Andromeda Galaxy, but they can also substitute humans. When the queen finds a suitable host, it lays an egg in the host. The larva gains all the racial memories of the Wirrn, as well as the host's knowledge. Eventually, the larva eats the host and escapes.

This larva is a large, green, slug-like creature with several small limbs. These larva, while not as tough as an adult, are still resistant to a large amount of damage. The larva can also infect other creatures and turn them into adult Wirrn. These infected individuals gain all the knowledge of the Wirrn and the previous host. Their natural hostst were mindless herbivores, but infecting advanced beings like humans could give a great boost to a Wyrrn colony, due to the technological knowledge inherited.

Eventually, the larva start to metamorphasize, turning into large pupa. After a few hours, full grown Wirrn come out of the pupas and set out to do the bidding of the swarm. (DW: The Ark in Space)

History

The Wirrn have had a presence in the universe for a long time. A dead Wirrn was found in a prison ship that launched in 2000 BCE. (DW: The Stones of Blood)

When humans first reached the Andromeda Galaxy and started to expand there, they started taking the Wirrn Breeding Colonies, and thousand years of fighting between the two species began, until the Wirrn were driven out of their own galaxy and forced to drift into the universe.

One queen ended up in Mutter's Spiral and discovered the frozen survivors of an irradiated Earth in the Ark. Though the queen was killed by a security device, it was able to implant an egg in one of the Humans (Dune).

Eventually, the larva escaped and was able to infect Noah. The Wirrn intended to use the sleeping humans as a food source and to gain their advanced knowledge to help take over the "empty" Earth. However, Noah's human side reasserted itself and led the Wirrn into the Ark's transport ship, even though he knew it was rigged to explode. (DW: The Ark in Space)