Valkyrie

Valkyrie
Base Information
Classification	Reducer
Status	Minor Race
Locomotion	Walker
Terrain
Body Form
Confluence	Non-humanoid
Bio-Identenoid	Alien
Size
Weight
Culture
Languages	Unknown Native Language
Social Structure
Technological Epoch	TL:10-12
Psionic potential	Standard
Origin World
Homeworld location	Unknown world
UWP	Starport Error in Starport Decode Size Error in Size Decode Atmosphere Error in Atmosphere Decode Hydrographics Error in Hydrographics Decode Population Error in Population Decode Government Error in Government Decode Law Error in Law Decode Tech Level Error in Tech Decode
Primary Star
Atmosphere
Off-world presence	No
Zoetic individuals	Yes
Source
Reference	Alien Races 4 124-131.
Canon	Yes
Also see

The Valkyrie are a technologically sophisticated Minor Non-Human Race with a Non-humanoid appearance.

Description (Specifications)

The Valkyrie are an intelligent parasitic race, evolved on a world far rimward of the Aslan Hierate and the Solomani Sphere. They dominate and control the mind and body of a host being, their alien influence killing the host within a few years.

Worm-like, they are not fully compatible biochemically with the Major Races; an attempt at infestation will only sometimes be successful. 75% of Humans or Vargr targeted by Valkyrie larvae die rather than prove stable vessels, while for Aslan or Hivers the casualty rate is 90%.

Because Valkyrie live short lives, they have little time to gain experience or rise through a hierarchy. However, they inherit racial memories, memories from their host, and thus -- to a lesser degree -- the skills and experiences of their parent's host as well. For this reason, status is primarily based on the experience of the Valkyrie's current host; social standing is itself parasitic.

Most people within a Valkyrie-dominated society (perhaps 95%) are not hosts. Captive populations are expected to breed to produce more bodies, and to keep the factories running, but are otherwise not important.

History & Background (Dossier)

The starfaring Valkyrie populations are dedicated to a cultural self-image as liberators, gifting other species with transition to a more favorable state. The translated name "Valkyrie" alludes to this perspective. This is not a rational culture, and is maintained simply through fanatical conviction, passed down through memory.

Military

Valkyrie military doctrine, organization, and equipment is loosely based on the Solomani model, but is far less effective. Valkyrie are fanatical but almost never innovative. They rely on the technology and military organization of societies they have conquered, and while their High Command tries to staff its fleets and armies with Valkyrie whose hosts had military experience, their habit of breaking into multiple personalities under stress limits their competence. Valkyrie often rely on rigid battle plans to the detriment of original tactics. Typically, Valkyrie forces attempt a single ambush or trap, and if it fails they revert to bloody, confused wave attacks.

Potential Enemies

The Solomani Confederation subtly investigates the potential threat posed by the rumoured Valkyrie Dominion; one of the functions of its enclave in Kruse Sector is to conduct quiet espionage in RimReach Sector.

Astrography

This race is primarily located in the following areas:

• Aldebaran Sector (rumoured, rimward systems)
• Canopus Sector (rumoured, rimward systems)
• Malorn Sector (apparently the current heart of their operations)
• Rim Reach Sector (widely considered a likely origin point)

The present locus of the Valkyrie Dominion is several subsectors to rimward of Solomani Confederation and Aslan Hierate space. A number of outlying Solomani and Aslan colonies are thought to have been infected. The exact extent of Valkyrie operations is unknown. It is believed that they have absorbed at least four and possibly over a dozen Solomani and Aslan colony worlds in neutral space. They are also known to have exterminated one entire alien species -- the chlorine-breathing Kai-Nal, who were immune to possession.

Homeworld

The original homeworld of this race is unknown. Indeed, it may have been destroyed by the Valkyrie themselves, since their current culture is fanatically devoted to a bizarre self-concept as liberators that likely rendered their traditional society on the homeworld anathema to them.

World Listing: 1105

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

6 of 6 World articles in Valkyrie

Elias Six  •  Kleid  •  Lucullus  •  Middling  •  Simoom  •  Tsukino  •  

startbacknext(6 listed)

References & Contributors (Sources)

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.

• Steve Jackson, Loren Wiseman. Alien Races 4 (Steve Jackson Games, 2001), pages 124-131.
• Mongoose 2nd: Rim Expeditions