Meridian Native (MN)

Physical Description: A sentient reptilian species, once dominant on Meridian, Holliman System. Average individual is 2.2 meters in height and masses 110 Kg. The species is bipedal, standing erect with balance provided by a short muscular tail. Vision is binocular with the eyes mounted well forward on the large crested head. Omnivorous, yet the jaws and pointed teeth are well adapted for ripping flesh. The muzzle extends well out from the face and the jaw musculature is quite heavy. The epidermis is composed of thick overlapping scales. Individual scales are shed and regrown as the individual grows and matures. Scales along the back and sides are larger than those on the ventral surface, giving extra protection to the spinal column and vital organs. The hand is composed of 4 fingers and opposable thumb. Each digit is tipped with a short blunt claw.

History: The Meridians never had the chance to develop their own technology or civilization. Ripped from their homeworld by human organizations, the Meridian Natives that still survive in Dark Well Space are commonly employed as warriors in the employ of large corporations.

Society: Meridian Native combat units are tribal in nature with the females dominant. They do not typically mix well with other species, preferring to keep apart and associate among themselves. The Meridians are very artistic. Wood sculpture is the most common form of expression and seems an integral part of how the reptilians relate to and interpret their world.

Comparison to Humans:
Physical: 120%
Life Expectancy: 100%
Sleep Requirements: 110%
Time to Adulthood: 100%
Sensory Range: 90%
Combat Factor: 70%
Male/Female Diff: 100%
Intelligence: 60%

Other Meridian Life Forms

Meridian Animal Life

Aloha Snake: A brightly colored snake which averages 3 meters in length. If this bugger bites you... Aloha. It is extremely poisonous. The venom may be of possible commercial use in the assasination market, but extraction of the poison will no doubt "expend" many techs. Hey, they won't mind... this is Delta Group, the "Trust us" company.

Erp Bag: An aerial gas bag organism which drifts on the wind and feeds on small animals in the treetops through the use of many sticky hanging tendrils. Has an unpleasant habit of regurgitating the inedible parts of its meals on unsuspecting individuals below. No known possible commercial value.

Gorfer: A large 6-legged rodent-like animal. Will eat literally anything which is vaguely organic: synth-leather, garbage, tires, etc. Anything which can't be digested by the animal's stomach within 2 hours is vomited back into the environment as the animal makes its characteristic call; "Gorf, Gorf!". Of possible commercial value as a pet as long as we can come up with a litter box filler for it. We could call the product "Jonny Gorf".

Hacker: Nobody has ever seen these animals, but this elusive creature can be heard in the forests at night. It gets its name from the sound that it makes; sort of like a smoker's cough. Listening to the hackers long enough has been known to reduce just about any appetite. It they can be found, could be of possible commercial value as a diet aid.

Hair Cat: A 6-legged cat-like mammal which masses approximately 20 kg and hunts in the deep forest. So named because of its prodigious ability to shed its long yellow/green fur. Hair balls have been discovered in the forest which are 20 centimeters in diameter. Now that's a big hair ball. Commercially, it may be a possible source of natural animal fibers if the Hair Cat could be domesticated in sufficient numbers. Hair Cat coats, vests, and hats could be all the rage in a couple of years. Of course Hair Cat fur does cause allergic reaction in 99.56% of the humans tested, but with sufficiently aggressive marketing hype it should be possible to maintain sales.

Meridian Bloatpuke: 2 to 6 tons. 4 to 8 legs depending on maturity. Really ugly. No known redeeming commercial or social values. Well, as comedic material maybe.

Meridian Candygram: A small 6-legged rodent-like animal who, much like a packrat, steals small items and leaves others in their place. Unfortunately the things that it leaves in boots, bunks, and personal higiene kits are a variety of items taken from the really ugly Meridian plant life. Puss balls from the Meridian Puss Elm are common .

Meridian Noseclipper: A really ugly 3 cm long insectoid which has the annoying habit of crawling into nasal passages and feeding on the hairs and mucus found there. A number of techs have been awakened to find several of them in each notril, which given the size of the insectoid, can be most uncomfortable. Possible commercial value as an automatic personal hiegene device, although the prediliction of the creature to lay eggs in sinus cavities may be a drawback.

Meridian Pussgobbler: 0.25 to 0.5 Kg. A small 4-legged reptilian creature which feeds exclusively on the Meridian Puss Elm. Studies indicate that the pussgobbler may pollinate the Puss Elm. Can be deep fried to yield McGobblers, a fast food delicacy enjoyed by a certain lunatic fringe element.

Meter Slug: A large slug-like animal, most adult individuals are about a meter in length. Meter slugs come in a variety of phosphorescent colors and their glowing shapes can be seen crawling about the landscape at night. Of possible commercial use as a (very large) nightlight.

Southern Blatbag: 0.5 to 1.5 Kg. An airborne creature which supports itself in the atmosphere with a skin-like bag of methane gas. The animal gets its name from the sound it makes as it releases excess gas into the atmosphere. The gas is highly flammable and smells BAD. Blatbag ranching could provide a source of cheap methane, but who'd want to do it?

Stickmonger: A smallish furry spider-like creature which moves through the forest collecting sticks, droppings, and other loose items for the purpose of building large complex nests at the base of trees. Can become easily confused if you tie a sting to a stick and then pull it whenever the animal tries to retrieve the stick. Of possible commercial use to clean up after parties.

Target Bird: So named because they make excellent practice for small arms fire, this yellow and orange bird is large, slow, and has a call which sounds very much like "Shoot me! Shoot me!". Our patrols have killed thousands of them. Luckily they spend most of their time reproducing. Of possible value in the pet market.

Meridian Plant Life

Bullwhip: A really ugly tree with long whiplike branches. The trees are bisexual and cross pollinate each other by whipping their closest neighbor. Of possible commercial value as a sexual aid for masochists. Our advertising could go something like: "Available at all finer adult book boutiques and garden shops."

Bye-Bye Root: A mobile subsurface plant which uses its tendrils to crawl through the soil in search of nutrients. Has an interesting habit of moving to the surface in response to loud noises (like shuttle takeoffs) and waving about as if to say farewell. This is possibly an adaptation to locate dead or dying animals on which it can feed. Of possible commercial value at bon-voyage parties if you're short on friends to wish you "Aloha".

Feelie Bush: A really ugly bush which gets its name from its partially sentient qualities. The plant has a disturbing habit of inserting tendrils into the clothing of passers by and fondling whatever it can get ahold of. Of possible use in recreation rings if the problem of sticky residue can be overcome.

Flatfrog Tree: A really ugly tree which is so named because its leaves resemble frogs which have been crushed by ground vehicles. The smell is similar as well. The leaves may be of possible commercial value to simulate crushed frogs on roadways of planets which don't have endemic frogs. It could be that little touch of home for those homesick colonists.

Gash Rose: A really ugly purple-green flower. It catches insects by shooting a barbed harpoon from its center. Unfortunately, the flower shoots its barb whenever it detects motion, like somebody's leg for example. One tech (we'll call him Joe - not his real name) bled to death when he stumbled into a field of Gash Roses. Would be of possible use in a defense perimeter except it has been found that the Gash Rose wilts when it comes in contact with the aftershave worn by most mercenaries.

Meridian Drool Palm: A really ugly tree with stringy palm-like leaves... except they're vaguely purple. Drips disgusting smelling protoplasm during all seasons. Samples indicate no commercial value to the tree or the drool.

Meridian Geek Lily: A really ugly floating plant found in swamps and ponds. Get's its name from the fact that it is so large that it often resembles solid ground... until some geek steps on it that is, at which time the individual finds himself neck deep in smelly mudwater. Possible commercial value as a swimming pool cover.

Meridian Puss Elm: A really ugly tree with cancerous blotchy leaves that drip a white puss-like substance. The puss is thought to have some medicinal value in that it induces vomiting. Also useful in repelling unwanted neighbors when planted as an ornamental.

Rope Tree: This tree is great for impromptu executions or as a lively diversion on Saturday afternoons. Gets its name from the numerous ropelike tentacles which hang from its carnivorous branches. The ends of the tentacles form nooses which trap and strangle animals (and techs of course), then pull them up to be engulfed in leafy orofices for ingestion.

Peristalsis Flower: A really ugly gray green flower whose smell causes reverse gastric peristalsis in most individuals. Oh you don't know what that means? They toss their cookies, upchuck, puke, throw up, you know... vomit. As you can see the flower is quite... UUUURRRRRPPPP! Oh... sorry about your shoes.

Screamgrass: A really ugly long grass found in meadows and plains. Gets its name from the high-pitched whining it makes when stepped on. The ultrasonic frequency of the the sound has been known to drive some exploration parties to the brink of madness. Possible commercial value as a joke gift at birthday and office parties, perhaps in conjunction with a singing comlinkgram.

Shambler: A really ugly shrub which stores energy during the day, then uses it at night to change to more favorable soil locations. On a good night, hundreds of shamblers can be seen shuffling their root systems through the jungle. It's really spooky. Possible commercial value if you put them on a treadmill and used them to generate power (but only at night and only about 3 watts).