Hopper

Starport	X	No Starport
Size	0	Asteroid/Planetoid Belt
Atmosphere	0	Vacuum
Hydrographics	0	Desert World 0%
Population	0	Barren (0)
Government	0	No Government structure
Law	0	No Law
Tech Level	0	Pre-Industrial (primitive)

Primary Star

Atmosphere

Off-world presence

Yes

Zoetic individuals

Source

Reference

Ade Stewart

Canon

No

Also see

Hoppers are a sophont species native to Fedan in Far Home Sector. Hoppers match the human concept of intelligent insects.

Physiology

Physical form: Bilateral HBS-T-AA-LN-N, Exoskeleton, Ichor fluids, Leathery exterior, No natural weapons, Hands.

Hoppers have a bug-like appearance. They can leap great distances using large posterior legs

They live in huge communal hive-cities. Hoppers are biologically “hard-wired” to fill certain roles within society.

Senses

Energy: V-14-BPS. Hopper vision is slightly inferior to that of humans and is centered on the ultra-violet (blue-purple-sparkle) region of the visible spectrum.
Vibration: H-16-9373. Hopper hearing is similar to that of humans, though they can hear a broader spectrum of sound.
Volatiles: S-18-2. The Hopper sense of smell is far more acute than that of humans.
Contact: T-6-2. Hoppers have a similar sense of touch to humans.
Awareness 0 (oblivious).
Auras: P-10-22. Hoppers are innately aware of the condition, needs and wants of other living organisms around them.

Characteristics

A baseline Hopper has the following characteristic ranges:

STR 2D6

DEX 2D6

STA 3D6

INT 2D6

INS 1D6

CAS -

Reproduction

All hive-cities are organised into castes, each with a specific function to perform, but all ultimately supporting the city queens and the larval young.

Life Stages

0 Larva: (2 years)
1 Hatchling: (4 years)
2 Adolescent: (4 years)
- Career starts at age 10.
3 Young adult: 1 term (4 years)
4 Adult: 1 term (4 years)
5 Peak: 7 terms (28 years). Physical aging begins (46+ years).
6 Midlife: 2 terms (8 years).
7 Senior: 1 term (4 years).
8 Elder: 1 term (4 years).
9 Retirement: 3 terms (12 years). Mental aging begins (62+ years).

Typical lifespan is around 74 years.

Diet and Trophics

Nectar

Psychology & Philosophy (Mindset)

Hoppers are cooperative, gregarious, and crave social contact.

Society & Culture

HASS values:

Homogeneity: 7 (Discordant)
Acceptance: 7 (Aloof)
Strangeness: 4 (Everyday, minor cultural differences)
Symbols: 1 (Monolithic conformity)

No information yet available.

Demographics

600 million.

Language

The primary means of communication is through vocalisation.

A great many languages and dialects exist.

Calendar

Local year. Local day.

Social Organization

Balkanisation.

Government

No information yet available.

Law and Justice

Severe laws.

Equally severe justice.

Technology

Pre-industrial.

Military

Limited military, caste-based.

History

Despite initial suspicion – popular science-fiction tropes of the time tended to depict insect-like aliens as "bad" – Hoppers were humanity’s earliest allies in the Distant Fringe. They provided enough food and supplies to support the human refugees during the first few difficult years of settlement. Their Homeworld provided a pleasant and civilised sanctuary for humans, and Hopper “mothers” – innately sensitive to the needs of their tiny charges – assisted raising countless millions of human children born through the use of GenPods.

References & Contributors / Sources

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.

Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS
Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science