User:114PA/Sharquoi

Sharquoi are a species of deadly bipedal creatures. They were the first species that was not part of the Covenant to become part of the Jiralhanae Empire.

Biology
The Sharquoi stand at an average height of 6' 8", standing slightly taller than the average Human. They are 240 pounds of muscle and are incredibly strong and agile. They are carnivorous and will eat any flesh, be it dead or alive, fresh or rotting. Their intelligence is low and they act mostly on instinct. Because of this, they are difficult to control in battle for those who are not threatening and intimidating. Some Sharquoi are smarter than others and often command lesser groups in battle. One of the greatest features that the Sharquoi have is the clusters of non-differentiated cells, similar to those of the Planarian worm of Earth. These cells allow the Sharquoi limited regenerative abilities, as well as the ability to adapt quickly to it's environment, such as developing thicker skin after being burned or increased musculature to survive in high gravity.

When a Sharquoi is injured or in distress, these cells move to the affected area and rapidly mature to specialized forms that will alleviate the issue. A Sharquoi that is cut or burned will adapt to have thicker skin. The lungs of a Sharquoi placed in a barely-breathable atmosphere will adapt to better use the gases there. If subjected to high gravity, it will quickly develop stronger heart and leg muscles. Non-differentiated Sharquoi cell clusters do replenish themselves, but the process is slow. What cells are replaced allow them to heal rapidly, and even regrow lost limbs over a period of months. However, as a consequence of this, the Sharquio as a species no longer evolve as other races do.

The Sharquoi naturally have extremely good vision. With their four different eyes, the Sharquoi can focus in on four different directions at once. They also have the ability to see heat, giving them a sort of thermal vision. Their depth perception and vision is so well, it is almost impossible to sneak up on one. Their eyes are probably this advanced to make up for their ears and poor hearing. They usually communicate through sign language and growls and hisses when communicating with other races but they use pheromones when communicating with one another. The Sharquoi breed rapidly and can have up to 50 offspring in their 70 year lives. The large number of Sharquoi has caused mass depletion of resources on their homeworld of Kalaku and the Jiralhanae's use of them as labor and soldiers.

History
Before the Human-Covenant War had even began, the Sharquio were embroiled in a massive civil war on Kalaku. From 2520 to 2557, the Sharquio were split into many clans and battled for territory and the dwindling resources of their homeworld which were depleted from rapid consumption of the apathetic creatures. The war seemed that it woulld never end as the high reproduction of the Sharquoi made it impossible to reduce armies to a point of incapacitation. The war caused even more resources to be stripped from the planet and mining ships were shot down before they could even leave the planet's surface. In 2554, the war had slowed to a near halt. Resources were scarce, even food and water, and a planet-wide famine had began.

Their were millions of deaths due to starvation. This was not all bad news to the others as they began cannibalising the corpses of their fallen enemies and comrades. Even this could not sustain them for long and they ran out of resources for weapons and had used up nearly all of the drinkable water on their world. In 2563, the Jiralhanae Empire had discovered Kalaku and the Sharquoi. As they came to Kalaku, it was like stepping on a fire ant hill. Sharquoi were ravenous creatures but fell at their effort to kill and devour the Brutes. Impressed with their numbers and viciousness, the Jiralhanae Empire began enslaving the Sharquio as their main labor force and infantry. The Brutes also discovered the Sharquoi's war technology and were able to build massive killing machines.

Units

 * Grunt Sharquoi Troopers
 * Armored Sharquoi Troopers
 * Sharquoi Stalkers
 * Sharquoi Hunters