Centauri

From The Great Machine

The Centauri are a bipedal species that appear superficially similar to Humans. The Centauri Republic was once the largest power in known space, having conquered the Narn and many of the future members of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.

1 About the Species
- 1.1 Xenobiology
- 1.2 Characteristics
2 History
3 See Also

[edit] About the Species

[edit] Xenobiology

The Centauri are a humanoid mammalian race divided into two sexes (male and female). There is no race distinction within the Centauri species' society, though there are cultural differences depending upon where a Centauri was raised.

There were, however, a parallel-developed sentient species on Centauri Prime, the Xon (S1E08, The Parliament of Dreams), which the Centauri apprently took great delight in exterminating. This theme of inter-species extermination is not, apparently, limited to the Centauri. For example the Hyac, having exterminated their co-species, the Hyac-Doh (S5E07, Secrets of the Soul), sealed their own species' demise through the loss of genetic material needed by both species to survive. It is unclear whether the Centauri do or will suffer the same fate.

The Centauri procreate through sexual reproduction. They have six sex organs each as seen on the Goddess of Love who sports both male and female anatomy. Centauri males have six long tentacles that serve a function similar the penis of the human male. These tentacles are located on the left and right flanks of their abdomen. Each tentacle can stretch to as much as a meter in length and Centauri can actually control them at will. Female Centauri have six vaginal cavities on the left and right flanks of their abdomen.

All Centauri have a highly developed sense of precognition, although this ability is most powerful in females. It is said that most Centauri know the time and circumstances of their death. Further, there are several varieties of Centauri telepaths. See also Telepaths, Section 3, Centauri Telepaths.

While Centauri look similar to Humans, they are physically and genetically incompatible, and have several significant physiological differences from humans. Centauri have two hearts: one that primarily pumps blood throughout the body, the second made of a complex series of arteries wrapped in a tight ball that has the task of filtering toxins from the blood. Also unlike humans, Centauri have no major arteries in their wrists. (S1E01, Midnight on the Firing Line)

Centauri males wear their hair up, fanned like a peacock, which is representative of their status in Centauri society. Centauri females are bald though this is not a genetic trait but rather a style achieved through shaving. Some Centauri females keep a single lock of hair grown long in the back of the neck or head.