Man is not the sole sentient race to dwell among the stars. If one were to probe the cold depths of space and search for signs of life, they might find merciless, reptilian eyes peering back at them. The Ssargolothh mastered space travels long before the human race learned to stand — erect and conquer the minuscule mud ball known as Earth. Each new world the scaly, biotechnical wizards encounter feel the mark of their presence, and many new life forms emerge from their crucible of science. These cold-blooded, interstellar travelers discovered earth during the dark ages and began to modify life forms. Dragons were their most impressive creations, and the world recoiled in fear when these terrors took to the skies. Once their initial work was finished, the aliens buried a transmitting station 1,000 feet beneath the surface of modern-day Afghanistan to monitor Earth’s progress.

These ruthless reptiles run from 1.6 to 2.3 meters in height and weigh from 74 w 142 kilograms when mature. Their species originally laid eggs, but reproduction is now handled by automated hatcheries on their homeworld. Newborn Ssargolothh children are immediately immersed into a nutrient acceleration bath after emerging from the incubation chamber in order to promote their growth. They are kept in a trancelike state until they mature physically and are fined with their initial implants. By the time a year has passed, the hatchlings have grown to their physical peak. The young techno-offspring then receive a specialized knowledge template and undergo mobility therapy to heighten their reflexes. By the end of the second year, the empire has fanatically loyal subjects who are at their physical peak. Final implants are installed after the life path has been chosen for the new citizen and before he or she is are sent out to greet the universe.

Ssargolothh have fully embraced the potential of their bioscience, and some have undergone drastic microsurgeries to adapt their own bodies to better suit a new mission. Thus, one might see these aliens with heat-generating implants to help them adapt to colder environments, atmospheric filters that attach directly to their bodies, and bioelectric devices that tap their life energy to fulfill the power needs of low-output equipment. The reptiles prefer to defend themselves with laser pistols and deadly energy weapons. On occasion, they may employ robotic devices.

The star-flung aliens can pose interesting challenges for heroes to face. One might find one of their labs in a remote and presumed uninhabited part of the world. Others might need to stop the plot of corrupt individuals who are supplying innocent people to the aliens to use as guinea pigs in horrible experiments. Occult settings might feature depraved souls who have begun to make sacrifices to the “space gods” after finding evidence of their presence on Earth. The aliens might also be the survivors of a crash landing and could try to enlist the characters’ aid to survive a world that wishes to exploit them.

Typical Ssargolothh

Reflexes 4D: brawling 4D+1, dodge 4D+2, jumping 4D+1, sneak 4D+1
Coordination 3D: marksmanship 4D+1, piloting 5D
Physique 3D: running 3D+2, swimming 3D+2
Knowledge 4D: medicine 5D, scholar 5D, tech 5D+2
Perception 2D: hide 3D, investigation 4D, search 2D+2
Presence 2D: command 3D, willpower 3D
Strength Damage: 2D
Move: 12
Fate Points: 1
Character Points: 3
Body Points: 19
Wound levels: 3

Disadvantages: Achilles’ Heel (R3), suffer a -4 modifier to damage resistance totals and a +1 per round cumulative difficulty modifier while in freezing environments

Advantages: Contacts (R2), sporadic access to homeworld resources to help them accomplish their mission; Equipment (R2), superior technological tools necessary for mission

Special Abilities: Attack Resistance: Energy (R2), +20 to damage resistance rolls against related anacks; Hypermovement (R1), bonus to Move; Natural Armor: Scales (R1), +1D to damage resistance

Equipment: laser pistol (damage +4D); power glaive (damage +3D), advanced equipment