UHS: The Myrtraal
Steven Bergom
First Contact
In 2352 humankind came into contact with an extra-terrestrial, sentient, space-going species for the first time. Both sides met with peaceful intentions but it still took more than a dozen years to decipher the other's language. With lines of communication open, the two new friends agreed to continue evaluation the planet they were surveying when interrupted by first contact.
Eventually, both humans and Myrtraal found the planet suitable for colonization and agreed to work together to build a viable colony. During their partnership, it was found that even thought the Myrtraal were generally more advanced than the humans, the Earth settlers were superior engineers. They quickly improved and surpassed the Myrtraal's settlement plans. The Myrtraal, on the other hand, maintained their dominance in the biological arts to transform their environment into one that was habitable and supportive of its new tenants.
Physical Description
The Myrtraal are a short, pear-shaped being rarely growing past a meter and a half in height. Their skin is a blue-grey and becoming lighter on the ventral surface. Their "heads" are bulbous and it is suspected that they serve in sonar imaging, much like porpoises and whales. They have long flexible, webbed fingers, three on each hand with a doubly-opposable thumb. Their eyes are rudimentary at best and it is believed that the Myrtraal are amphibious, if not outright aquatic. They have an orifice at where one would expect an umbilicous on a human through which they communicate and, it is assumed, eat.
The actuality of the biology of a Myrtraal is probably far different from what they present to the human public. Rumors have abounded that the public aliens have been heavily modified so that humans can have a better frame of reference for interacting. Credence has been leant to the rumors by their modifications of the UHS students.
Culture
The Myrtraal are a very private race making it very difficult to know about their daily lives.
Science
Humans and Myrtraal are at approximately the same level technologically, but in the biological arts the Myrtraal are vastly superior.
Planetary System
The Myrtraal have a very orderly system. In the course of their astronomy they determined the ordering of planets from their central star and named them in order. Their planet, Myr'traal, is literally called "planet two". (It should be noted than in more formal company, the full name of the planet is "Mnalim'neal-Myr'traal", or "second planet of the home star.") In comparison, Earth is referred to as "Mnalim'Sol-Myr'tril".
Here, then, are the planets of the Myrtraal's system in order from their sun outwards.
Mnalim'neal
Central star, older than Sol and more red.
Myr'tor
Size of Venus, no atmosphere, extremely hot.
Myr'traal
Little is known about the home planet of the Myrtraal and is kept shrouded in mystery as much as are the Myrtraal themselves. UHS students have reported it to look much like the Earth from the moon but with a far higher ratio of blue to green. Little polution has been observed since the Myrtraal moved most of their industry off-planet to Mnalik'tor and constructed satelites fairly soon after reaching space in order to keep their environment pristine.
There have been no reported visits of humans to the surface.
- Mnalik'tor
- Primary moon, approximately the size of Earth's.
- Mnalik'traal
- Mnalik'traal is not a true moon in reference to traditional planet-building mechanics. It is instead a captured asteroid, much like Phobos and Deimos of Mars in the Sol system, and has a highly erratic orbit. The orbit combined with its rotation makes it unsuitable for uses such as a radio relay, as an astronomical observation point or as jumping-off point for extra-planetary exploration.
Myr'tril
Currently being reformed to a Mnalik'tor-like environment.
Myr'tnor
Gas giant.
Myr'tnu
Gas giant.
Myr'it
Gas giant.
Myr'torit
Gas giant.
Myr'traalit
Small, rocky planetoid with highly elliptical orbit.