Veltrochni The Veltochni were a species of arboreal humanoids . Biology . The Veltrochni were large , up to three metres tall . They could lift objects the size of a human . Their bodies were adapted to climbing , with powerful limbs , sharp claw s and long finger s . Their hand s had four digits , while their feet had three . They were covered in brown , scaly skin . Veltrochni had rows of quills down their head s and backs , which would dull and break with age . Their senses of smell and hearing were better than those of humans . Veltrochni had dog - like jaws which retracted to show emotion . Veltrochni had deep , hissing voices . They made a rumbling purr to show amusement and twitched their ear s instead of nodding . ( PROSE : " The Dark Path " ) Culture . The Veltrochni were divided into Great Houses . Each was led by a council and which controlled large regions . These Houses were , in turn , split into Packs led by Pack - Leaders . Packs were formed from members of other Packs and were granted Pack status by the Houses . Examples of Packs include Pack Huthakh ( which was wiped out in 3375 ) and Pack Zanchyth . Mates for Veltrochni were chosen by the elders . Young Veltrochni ( known as cubs ) were free spirited , known for being playful and mischievous . Once they reached adulthood , Veltrochni were expected to act more maturely and fulfil a purpose in society . The Veltrochni referred to all human s ( and humanoid s ) as " Iirdmon " . ( PROSE : " The Dark Path " ) Veltrochni made tree sculptures . ( PROSE : " Sanctuary " ) Technology . Veltrochni Dragon cruiser s were sleek ships used for attack . They were dragonfly - like in appearance , with devices to catch that looked like wings . They were capable of cloaking themselves and used quantum lance s in attack . Dragon cruisers carried small probes for spying . Veltrochni also used bulkier ships for transport . Packs owned fleets of ships , which were crewed entirely by members of a family . Veltrochni used transmat s to travel from ship to ship . They also used Viewing cube s to show information . Veltrochni used special suits with holographic emitters . These emitters would allow them to be nearly invisible , or take the form of another species . They would also absorb energy from energy weapons . These suits also had communicators attached to a wrist . ( PROSE : " The Dark Path " ) History . The Veltrochni were an older species , existing before many other known species . ( PROSE : " The Dark Path " ) They may have made stone tablets about the Great Old One s . ( PROSE : " White Darkness " ) In 2172 , the Veltrochni were located around Veltroch and were invaded by the Tzun Confederacy . ( PROSE : " First Frontier " ) A whole generation was wiped out by the Tzun . Eventually , the Packs joined forces and fought back against the Tzun , crushing the confederacy and forcing the survivors to escape . The Veltrochni destroyed many of the planet s of the Confederacy , even though some were also victims of the Tzun . ( PROSE : " The Dark Path " ) By 2174 , they had rendered S ' Arl , the Tzun homeworld , uninhabitable . ( PROSE : " First Frontier " ) In the 23rd century , the Veltrochni encountered human s . Gustav Zemler ' s Special Forces fought against the Veltrochni . ( PROSE : " The Janus Conjunction " ) In the 25th century , the Earth Empire started to form . The Veltrochni were afraid of annexation again ( or brutal destruction by the Empire ) and many Packs left Veltroch . By the 34th century , nearly half of the Veltrochni were in a diaspora . In 3375 , the ships of Pack Huthakh were wandering through the galaxy when they encountered the Darkheart colony . They were destroyed by the Imperial colony . Pack Zanchyth sent Pack - Leader Brokhyth to investigate the disappearance of the Pack . ( PROSE : " The Dark Path " ) Circa 2 , 000 , 000 , the criminal Jack Chance stole a national treasure from Veltroch . ( PROSE : " " )