Aakho

Starport	X	No Starport
Size	3	Small (4,800 km, 0.24g - 0.34g)
Atmosphere	2	Vacuum (very thin - tainted)
Hydrographics	7	Wet World 70%
Population	0	Barren (0)
Government	0	No Government structure
Law	0	No Law
Tech Level	0	Pre-Industrial (primitive)

Primary Star

G6 V M3 V

Atmosphere

Very Thin (tainted)

Off-world presence

No

Zoetic individuals

Yes

Source

Reference

High Tortuga

Canon

No

Also see

The Aakho of Aakhia (Touchstone 1507) are a technologically advanced Minor Non-Human Race with a non-humanoid appearance.

Description (Specifications)[edit]

The Aakho are a minor race originating from the Touchstone Sector in what is now Aslan space. Survivors from a planet whose atmosphere collapsed centuries ago, they now lead a nomadic life among the stars as traders, explorers, and engineers.

Physiology & Environment (Ecology)[edit]

The Aakho are sophont radiates measuring roughly a metre in diameter. While originally evolved as ocean-going animals, the Aakho once made a transition to land, and then, as a technological species, used genetic engineering to transform themselves into limited vacuumorphs (vacuum dwellers). Aakho are capable of surviving the rigors of vacuum for up to two days by sealing their bodies' orifices, which prevents decompression and air loss. Air can be saved further by the Aakho going dormant until rescued. They live to be 185 standard years old and only take aging penalties when they reach 130. Their bodies are armored spheres of swirling bluish/white/reddish colors.

Morphology[edit]

The Aakho are radiates, shaped like a sphere. They are constructed like giant balls with tentacles and other bodily extensions spread around the sphere.

The Aakho "head" is a lump formed near the subjective top of the sphere, housing their cerebral and sensory functions. The reproductive "bulge" is located near the subjective bottom of the sphere. Everything in between forms the thorax or body of the Aakho.

The tough outer skin of the Aakho contains a mass of microscopic sensor arrays providing the Aakho with input that is a combination of radar, IR vision, electric photocell sensitivity, and motion detection. These provide the creatures the ability to 'see' equally well in light or darkness. The major drawback is that any device capable of jamming man-made sensors will 'blind' the Aakho. The bio-electric sensors also provide them with hearing and speech as the Aakho mouth is used only for food ingestion and excretion.

The Aakho once used their tentacles, which have rough pads along their length, as walking or swimming limbs. The Aakho rarely go planetside, and now use their tentacles to affect movement in a Zero-G vacuum environment. It is rumored that an Aakho can match the agility and grace of a Githiaskio in space. Radiating from the center line of the bodies are eight very tough, extremely dexterous tentacles used as manipulators.

The mouth is a sharp beak located on the front of the Aakho used only for the ingestion of food. The Aaakho have a highly acidic stomach capable of digesting a wide variety of proteins and carbohydrates.

Respiration and Circulation[edit]

Aakho breathe a standard oxygen-nitrogen mix in liquid or air form, having evolved from their aquatic ancestors to a terrestrial form. The Aakho have a highly efficient set of lungs, capable of allowing the Aakho several hours of respiration without the need to inhale new air. The Aakho inhale and exhale air through sealable openings spread around their body. They have also evolved an ability to go into a dormant state, during which the Aakho will use a minimum of energy, allowing it to survive in an inactive state for almost forty-eight standard (Terran) hours (two standard Terran days).

The Aakho have a circulation system similar to many terrestrial sophonts, although it is now adapted to a Zero-G environment. Since the Aakho can breathe either air or liquid mixtures, the Aakho can avoid the "bends" when transitioning to areas with different pressure levels.

Reproduction[edit]

The Aakho have two genders, male and female, which are distinguished by the color of their reproductive organs, which resemble the tentacles of Terran Jellyfish. The males' reproductive organs are colored yellowish-red while in the female of the species they are greenish-black. Their reproductive organs are located internally inside a small lump on the underside of the body.

Aakho are monogamous, mating within their career slot (see, "Aakho Social Organization (Castes)"). Matings last until one mate dies or both choose to dissolve the relationship. Each female produces 3-8 offspring which are raised by the Medical career caste until age 10.

Waste[edit]

The Aakho excrete waste through their "mouth" since it is a dual-use organ. Aakho waste is excreted in the form of small dry pellets, since the Aakho body has evolved for maximal retention of liquids, a legacy of their former terrestrial existence as land-dwellers.

Psychology & Philosophy (Mindset)[edit]

The Aakho treat their minor race status with amused contempt and avoid the minor/major squabbles of other sophonts they encounter, citing them as unimportant and nonproductive. Though most sophonts dismiss this as a quirk, some scholars wonder otherwise, citing the spread of Aakho colonies as impossible even with generation ships. Additionally, the few non-Aakho engineers who have examined Aakho jump drive note certain non-Human (or even non-Aslan) aspects. The few Aakho who reply to questions about where they acquired their drives just say that it is "unimportant", ask "does it matter?", or give some similar non-answer.

One possible answer is that their technology is of Kursae origin, upgraded with later Aslan technology.

History & Background (Dossier)[edit]

After the first Human traders contacted an Aakho colony in -623, the Aakho have turned their culture to commerce, becoming arguably the second largest group of traders in parts of the Beyond besides Humans. Along with free traders, there are 7 subsector and 1 sector shipping line operated by the species. The Sector Line is Yh Lines, serving the entire Beyond except Sred*Ni and Aslan space, and having a terminus at Varen's Planet in the Vanguard Reaches. The Subsector lines are Uhjip, Njin (Storm Subsector), MT lines (Mapepire Subsector), Driftward Lines (Spinward Drift Subsector), GHU, Gasd Lines (Corella Subsector) and Nialinwe/San Souci Lines.

Gasd Lines and Yh Lines have an uneasy relationship with Parallel Lines as some of the latter's employees have been involved with accidents with Aakho ships and their cargos. Several of these have involved clandestine sensor jammers of Human make planted aboard Aakho ships.

Culture & Society (Ethnology)[edit]

Because of the loss of their homeworld, the Aakho have a racial fear and distrust of planetary surfaces, preferring starships and artificial satellites in which to live.

Though they conceive life as a ongoing (if merry) competition to survive and improve one's skills, they are not aggressive by nature. However, if violently attacked, the Aakho will react with skill and ferocity with either their tentacles or any weapon at hand. Even Aslan fear an aroused Aakho.

The race has no entertainment industry or social life as most sophonts know it, as the thought of relaxing from your job means sleep and eating to Aakho. Socializing is getting together with fellow caste members to discuss work after hours or getting together with members of other career castes to discuss how each caste is or is not working efficiently with the other. One might say that networking is how people work and relax in Aakho society.

Social Organization: 1105[edit]

All Aakho above the age of 10 are tested for job/caste aptitudes, trained in the school systems and then assigned to their life careers. Ranks in careers are acquired by job competency, and a junior Aakho can formally challenge his/her superior to gain their position before a court of qualified judges. If he wins, the junior Aakho may take his former superior's place, with his superior one place in rank below the winner. Of course, if an Aakho dies, every Aakho below his rank will each go up one rank to fill the gap left by his/her death.

Government & Politics (Leadership)[edit]

The highly competitive Aakho have no formal government as such. The race has criminal codes, though the only serious crimes are murder, fraud, lying, and performing tasks outside your caste. These crimes are dealt with by exile, placing the outcast (Foitnen) on the first ship leaving the satellite (or if on an Aakho ship, the first planet or non-Aakho satellite reached). The criminals are affixed with a non-removable chip broadcasting their outcast status to any nearby Aakho. Oddly enough, theft is considered valid competition instead of a crime by Aakho, making relations with non-Aakho strained at times.

Aakho Pantocracy

Language & Letters (Communication)[edit]

The Aakho mostly communicate with a form of radio, however they are capable of using their other senses to communicate as well. These other senses are often used for abbreviated 'cant' languages, using tentacle motion, body language, and electrical or heat bursts for communication.

Calendar & Timekeeping (Chronology)[edit]

It is unknown how the Aakho form a calendar or track time.

Technology & Trade (Economy)[edit]

A TL–13 minor race, the Aakho now lead a mostly nomadic life among the stars as traders, explorers, and engineers.

Other Aptitudes: 1105[edit]

Aakho Ice Ships: The fabled iceships of the Aakho, built from ice asteroids with drives, powerplant and equipment built into them. These Caccil are popular with smugglers who can obtain them due to their mutable cargo holds that be enlarged, shrunk, or sealed off from the main ship. The drawback for Caccil is that they cannot approach too far into a system without losing some of their hull and have to relay upon more traditionally built metal shuttles for cargo pickup & delivery.

See Caccil for more information.

Military & Intelligence (Force Projection)[edit]

The Aakho have no organized military. However, Aakho starship flotillas and even individual Aakho are able to combat aggressors cooperatively.

After numerous pirate attacks and study of other sophontic cultures, the Aakho have begun to develop martial philosophies and are considering forming a formal, organized government and military.

Astrography[edit]

This race is primarily located in the following areas:
Charted Space:

Homeworld[edit]

The homeworld of this race is:

Aakhia (Touchstone 1507): Allegedly the former homeworld, this system is referred to as Q-464-X by the IISS.

World Listing: 1105[edit]

Significant communities of this race are known to dwell within the following systems and worlds:

1 of 1 World articles in Aakho

Aakhia •

startbacknext(1 listed)

References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]

This article is missing content for one or more detailed sections. Additional details are required to complete the article. You can help the Traveller Wiki by expanding it.

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

Michael J. Maley. High Tortuga
Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science