Akeed

From Traveller Wiki - Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far future

Akeed
Status	Minor Race
Classification	herbivore/filter
Size	1.25 meters
Weight
Homeworld	Akeen (Gateway 2708)
Multi-world	yes
Canon	yes
Reference	Megatraveller Journal #4

The Akeed are native to the world of Akeen (Gateway 2708). They rule a multi-world state called the Akeena Union, in which many humans live happily as partners of the Akeed. Humans often describe Akeed as “lovably yucky” and get along well with them.

[edit] Physiology

Akeed are very alien creatures, who derive nourishment directly from the minerals found in soil and water around them. Akeed physiology is thus rather strange. The lower body is a boneless blob, rather like the "foot" of a snail or a slug, but more round than that of a snail. The upper body, containing the brain and other important organs, bulges upward from the center of this foot. The upper body is also the base for two pairs of tentacles on each side, which end in four boneless "fingers".

The head of an Akeed is protected by a cartilaginous case. The eyes are on the side, semi-extended on short and broad stalk/protectors. Akeed have no sense of smell or taste, nor a mouth as such, though their breathing hole can make intelligible sounds and – to the amazement of many observers – Akeed are excellent singers.

Akeed feed by drawing up nutrients from the soil through openings in the base of the "foot". They can propel themselves slowly through water by pulsing the foot, and much faster for short periods by drawing in water and squirting it out under pressure. It is not known if Akeed can breathe water, or if they store oxygen in their tissues in the same manner as Luriani, but they can remain submerged for long periods. How long is unknown to humans.

Akeed "stand" about 75cm high, and can "surge" on their foot to a stable height of about 1.25 meters, and a little higher for short periods. They cannot move while surging up, however. Movement is slow; 4m per round. Akeed cannot traverse vertical faces, but can "stick" to a steep slope of up to 70° (so long as the surface is smooth, such as a starship hull) and move at 1m per round with no check necessary.

The upper body does have some sort of cartilaginous skeletal structure, plus bands of erectile tissue that allow the Akeed to bend and twist in any direction. While amazingly flexible, this structure is rather light, making the Akeed somewhat weak.

Akeed are, however, highly intelligent and sociable. Humans find their damp, slimy appearance unpleasant at first, though their natural smell is rather pleasing to most humans, and their sharp wit and irreverent sense of humor wins over many of those who encounter them.

Akeed are pleasant, social people who normally settle disputes by means of long, long, arguments that go on until someone admits defeat. They rarely allow a situation to deteriorate to the point of conflict, and most actual fighting done by the Union is undertaken by the human segment of the population.

This article was copied or excerpted from the following copyrighted sources and used under license from Far Future Enterprises and by permission of the author.

– Megatraveller Journal #4

– Gateway to Destiny