|
0 |
0 |
Designation: RA-172 (Kamat)
Psychological Human Likeness: Uncertain (Likely <0.3)
Affiliation: Independent
The Kamat are a nomadic race of crystalline lifeforms, consisting of vast structures which drift through space on solar winds. They are believed to possess innate psychic abilities, and are also known to produce radio waves naturally.
Biology
A single Kamat typically measures approximately 200 km in width, though there are known individuals that are larger1. Whether the Kamat can be described as "alive" in the traditional sense is uncertain. They are intelligent, and capable of directly communicating with psychically-sensitive individuals, but entirely consist of an otherwise unidentified tetragonal polymorph of silicon dioxide similar to chaoite. This polymorph allows the Kamat to derive sustenance from solar radiation. Kamat individuals grow at an extremely slow rate; the exact rate varies with their access to sustenance, with it increasing when orbiting stars and decreasing when traveling through interstellar space.
The Kamat are not known to intentionally reproduce, but frequently shed pieces of themselves due to either impacts from debris or less frequently, hostile actions. Larger fragments, when exposed to solar radiation for extended periods, can grow into new individuals. Kamat individuals do not appear to go through a maturation period; essentially, once a fragment has grown large enough to develop consciousness it is "born" as an adult.
Kamat individuals are also notable for their psychic abilities, possessing an innate connection with the Infoplane.
By unknown means, the Kamat are also able to subtly influence their inertia, giving them limited control over their movement. Kamat have been observed to utilize this ability to enact complicated gravity assist maneuvers that allow them to reach escape velocity. When traveling through interstellar space, Kamat individuals rely on their inertia and solar winds to move them, and appear to enter a dormant state that allows them to conserve energy until they reach new star systems and are reawakened by exposure to solar radiation.
History
Xenohistorians have definitively identified references to sightings and visitations by individual Kamat in the records of various alien civilizations. In addition, there are several particularly old records suggesting that other civilizations have recorded encounters via mythology and legend, with some even incorporating the Kamat into their religious belief systems.
Culture, Psychology, and Behavior
As predominantly solitary beings, Kamat individuals are not known to have "culture" in the traditional sense of the word2. Encounters between more than one Kamat are extremely rare; the GRPC has records of less than twenty, only one of which was witnessed by GRPC agents. All of these encounters are believed to have occurred by chance. All of them have followed a distinct pattern: the individuals will orbit each other for an extended period3 and apparently communicate psychically for the entire encounter. This communication occurs on a psychic wavelength beyond the comprehension of standard species, including ones with innate psychic abilities. However, psychically inclined witnesses typically report hearing sounds resembling ringing tones, ocean waves, and drawn-out musical notes during these encounters.
Despite lacking recognizable culture of their own, the Kamat are known to take deep interest in the culture and history of the species they encounter. The most successful communication attempt with an individual Kamat suggests that the species as a whole feels they have been tasked with recording and remembering the civilizations they encounter during their travels. What entity may or may not have instructed them to do so, assuming their duty is not self-imposed, is unknown.
Beyond these recognizable patterns, Kamat behavior typically varies between individuals. Some are extremely active, visiting multiple star systems over the course of decades, and others will spend centuries orbiting single stars. Most have a preference for visiting inhabited systems, but some do not; one recorded individual has been noted to exclusively visit planets that have suffered mass extinction events before any identified sapient life achieved space travel.
Vast, near godlike crystal entities that drift through space, sometimes mend melding with alien cultures and recording their experiences.
https://www.irocks.com/minerals/specimen/8262
ce-lore cosmic-embers document
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/could-silicon-be-the-basi/