The XeroKhari
Paradox Backlash

The XeroKhari (XeroKhar in single) are, simply put, living flames. They evolved under a super giant star on a planet generally considered too hot by far to host any life form. Probes sent there detected no noticeable life signs, and due to the distance between this star and all other spheres of influence, no one thought of harvesting the vast mineral deposits. It would seem that a rather large cache of precursor relics was left below the surface of their world for obscure reasons. They were attempting to understand this advanced artifacts, without much success (due to their drastically different technology, when the Melnorme appeared. They have offered the XeroKhari a trade: the Melnorme will learn about their unique species, and in return they will also teach them to understand precursor technology, to an extent. The XeroKhari gladly agreed, having, to the surprise of the Melnorme, a rather amiable nature. With this newfound understanding, the XeroKhari began building spaceships, using a hybrid of their own and precursor technology. It should be noted that their technological level is not very advanced. They have a huge amount of precursor artifacts, but they don't know what to do with most of them.

The XeroKhari are rather new to space travel, and they do not have a sphere of influence in the normal fashion. They are very distrustful of Hyperspace travel at the moment, although they have the technology, and can only be found at their home system (at least in the beginning).

You can discover their Homeworld from the Melnorme (who will of course charge you for it, rates dependent on many factors, fortunately they have already calculated the cost...), or by simply wandering into their home system (it will be one of the largest stars on the map, if not the largest). The XeroKhari do not communicate by sound waves, instead they use light waves of various range and intensity. In order to communicate you will need a translation program, which you can buy from the Melnorme for a unique piece of data (quest requiring), or a "dictionary" which you will have to assemble yourself by observing them. In order to compose such a dictionary you will need a greater understanding of light then you have. wonder what race can help you (and for a price, of course)? Their ship shows distinct signs that it's made at least partly with precursor technology, an information that you will receive immediately upon observing one of their ships.

When communication if finally established, the XeroKhari will approach you in a friendly manner, and will offer some friendly relationship. They will however insist that they built their ships with their own technology (not knowing that precursor technology is easily recognized). If you press them on this point they will attack you and refuse to have any further dealings with you until you apologize appropriately (appropriately meaning in a most inconvenient way). After you have made first contact with them, they will ask you to make a Hyperspace experiment for them. They want you to take one of their Burner vessels with you to a certain star... In the middle of very hostile space (they don't know it's hostile, but they insist for some reason that it must be that star). After you have done this to prove your friendship the will be glad to join whatever alliance/league/support group you're running. At this point they will give you a certain precursor artifact that they can't figure out, which you will of course need at some point (possibly to fix the Ultron... again).

After you have made the first Hyperspace flight with them, they will begin to expand slowly, forming a sphere of influence. Since they are far a away from any other major race, this will not bring them in conflict with anyone.

The XeroKhari have another trait that might be useful: they can "merge" with each other to create a larger and larger flame, enabling them to reach unparalleled heat levels, which can melt just about anything. This is how they work metal, they melt it and make it flow into the desired shape. They will be very happy to melt something for you (an asteroid with an artifact stuck in the middle of it, for example), if you ask them nicely.

The XeroKhari "Religion", such as it may be, worships the sun (their specific sun, which they call "Hot") and believe that they are descendants of shards of the sun that splitted from the sun several million years ago (sun worship takes an interesting aspect when it's done by flames :)). This, although not designed as an important plot part, could provide some amusement during conversations with them.

Their ship, the XeroKhari Burner, is a recently built spaceship which utilizes some elements of precursor technology, but is generally far less sophisticated and has a melted look (although it will not actually melt). It is shaped generally like the flagship from SC2 (and SC3), but it is smaller and has different capabilities. It fires a narrow stream of endurable flame straight forward, which melts most ships upon impact (not immediately, of course). The ships are also equipped with a short range point defense plasma defense grid (low powered), which will shoot at any object entering critical space. Due to their unusual reproductive procedures (the split in two), the crew "regenerates" if it hasn't been hit in a certain period.