| Tech Levels 8 - 11 |
| Tech Levels 12 - 14 |
| Tech Levels 15 - 17 |
| Tech Level 18 |
| Description: Looking like crustaceans writ large, the Crajen could be mistaken for giant land crabs where it not for their sentience. Standing on four squat legs, the typical Crajen is .8 meters tall. The body proper is roughly circular, 1 to 1.2 meters in diameter. Four eye stalks, located at the front of the body, provide for a great deal of visual perception, leaving only a narrow blind spot directly to the rear. The pair of manipulative limbs, each with a three-digit hand, are located at the front. A second pair of limbs are located behind the first. But instead of hands they're large claws suitable for holding and lifting heavy objects. They're also quite dangerous personal weapons, as found out by Axis crews when faced by Crajen boarding actions. Thanks to a similarity of environments, Crajens and Terpla'ns can serve on the same ships without penalty. Noted for their artistic acumen, the Crajen orientated themselves into a guild-based society. First centered on the arts, guilds increased in number and diversity as Crajen civilization advanced in sophistication and technology. The race moved into space and placed a hostile environment settlement on their homeworld's moon when, decades later, a Terpla'n survey squadron arrived. With rapidity, thanks in part to Terpla'n xenologists experience with other races, a trade treaty was established three months after first contact. With an economy that was 50% the combined GPV of Terpla'n possessions (excluding allies) the trade benefits were considerable. A year later a mutual military treaty was signed, and the first Crajen colony outside the home system was established. Thanks in part to the revenue generated by trade, the Terpla'n Republic was able to create a viable reserve of warships and engage in purposeful industrial expansion. Fond of opening new markets for their guild-sponsored goods, the Crajen built a huge merchant marine and established an asteroid colony in each of the home systems of the Republic's member races. In fact, the most common type 5 freighter, the Enterprise class, was entirely a Crajen creation. There was also a market for artwork, mainly statuary and decorative landscaping, that the other races called upon the Crajen to provide. The Crajen home defense force was increased in size and incorporated copies of Terpla'n ships and bases. By the time of the Axis War the Crajen had become full partners with the newly-established CPS. The 3rd Field Fleet, crewed entirely by Crajens, was created and sent into action in the latter half of the war, opening a new front that the Axis couldn't afford to have. After that war the Crajens fully amalgamated with the CPS. In ground combat the Crajen are at a disadvantage due to their size. They incur a 10% additional loss of PCF, after all other factors (minimum loss of 1 PCF). In a ship boarding action, however, they have +1 added to their basic combat value (BCV). Because their crushing claws are resistant to the vacuum of space, this bonus is unaffected when fighting in a compartment without pressure and/or open to space. |