Shaltari Tribes

The Shaltari Tribes are one of the alien factions present in Dropzone and Dropfleet Commander.

Culture and Physiology

Shaltari are physically rather small, roughly four feet tall for an adult, and covered in a multitude of spines with chameleonic properties. They otherwise fit a standard humanoid body structure, albeit with far greater dexterity than humans. While they age and die like all other living things, they long ago developed technology to transfer consciousness when near death to a freshly grown body. This is not true immortality, as they are still subject to death from other causes such as accidents or warfare. This long lived nature and unique relation to death has shaped their culture to revere two things: accumulation of knowledge, and skill at warfare. A Shaltari who has not seen battle is nameless and afforded no respect. This extends to their dealings with other races, as they refuse to conduct affairs with any human without military experience.

There is no overarching government among the Shaltari. They are divided into groups referred to as Tribes that will often fight amongst each other. These disputes have deepened and there are hints of a civil war between two large power blocks of numerous tribes brewing.

Relations with Man

First contact was initiated by the Shaltari, who soon guided mankind towards the Cradle Worlds and helped them to expand and grow on them. However, this soon was revealed as far from benevolent, as this was all conducted by one Tribe who intended to use humanity as a subservient race in battle against another tribe. Humanity did not take kindly to this, and the history of interspecies relations since has been full of deceit and shifting alliances.

In the first and only direct contact between Scourge and the UCM, a Scourge communicator told the UCM that the Shaltari deliberately sent the Scourge towards humanity, believing that a war between the two would destroy both, removing them as threats to Shaltari dominance. The intended war never occurred due to the interference of the White Sphere weakening humanity enough that the Scourge swept them aside in the initial invasion. The Scourge speaker then claimed that the Shaltari were still operating under a similar plan, subtly assisting mankind to keep them on a level capable of threatening the Scourge.

Dealings between Shaltari and the Post-Human Republic also occur, but given the duplicitous nature of each faction, any alliance or coordinated efforts are temporary at best.

Technology

The Shaltari are the most advanced race present in the setting. Teleportation features prominently in their equipment and tactics, as do energy shields and esoteric energy weapons.

Vehicles

Shaltari vehicles feature both walkers, in tripod or quadruped style, and numerous anti-gravity tanks. Their starships contain a hardened core where the small Shaltari crew reside, while the rest of the ship is manned by auxiliary races who do the grunt work. Infantry enter battle wearing suits of power armor referred to as War Suits.

Weapons

Particle beams, microwave cannons, and other such funky science fiction weapons are the realm of the Shaltari. Some of the only warriors equipped primarily with melee weapons are present among them.