Kreet Stalker

Kreet Stalker
General Information
Location	Kreet
Temperament	Defensive
Resource	Fiber
Biomes	Mountains, Volcanic
Health	100, 200, 400
Abilities	Can burrow underground
Non Lethal Harvest	No

The Kreet stalker is a crab-like creature native to Kreet.

Overview

Kreet stalkers are large, crab-like creatures inhabiting the moon of Kreet. They are not commonly observed but can occasionally be seen waiting for prey to pass by, attacking Kreet grazers, or burrowing into the ground.

Xenoweapon

On july 6th, 2306, the Kreet stalker was first introduced to the UC Xenowarfare Division, where research was performed on the creature to determine if it could be a viable weapon of war. Their initial docile nature, combined with the threat they pose when agitated, caused the Xenobiologists to determine them worth testing on. Less than a month later, success with the creature had led to such positive results, that the United Colonies established a research facility on the local planet, despite it being in Freestar Collective space.

Over the course of months, attitude toward the creatures only increased, with the Neural Control Interface of the Xenowarfare division typically working as intended in 95% to 97% of cases. The natural resistances the creatures had toward hostile environmental conditions also made them favored with the division, including the Red Devils. By april 18th, 2308, the Xenowarfare division stopped work on the Stalkers, as sufficient numbers of them had been recruited to the Red Devils.

Anatomy & Physiology

The Kreet stalker appears similar to a crustacean, bearing resemblance to other life forms native to Kreet. Based on their appearance, it is possible they are closely related to trilobites. The entire body of the stalker is covered by a dense shell and a number of spikes and horns. The stalker walks on a set of eight legs ending in spikes and has two arms with pincer-claws at their ends. The stalker's main body is notably tall, and covered in a set of horns/spikes running along the backside up to the top of the body. Their shells are a range of browns, grays, and black colors. Based on the local atmosphere, they breathe carbon dioxide.

Behavior

Kreet stalkers are both defensive and predatory by nature. They will attack Kreet grazers on sight and will defend themselves against humans if they cross paths with them. In the wild, the stalkers can be seen waiting in place in an attempt to ambush prey, using their rocky appearance as natural camouflage. They do not seem to hunt the local trilobite populations. When in combat the Kreet stalker is capable of burrowing into the ground and appearing at another location to confuse its prey and catch it off guard. Finding a stalker seems to be more likely when it is darker, so it's possible they are nocturnal.

Combat

The Kreet stalker rushes its target and attacks with its pincers. Although not particularly bulletproof, it is capable of withstanding a high amount of damage, possibly due to its shell. As mentioned, Kreet stalkers can burrow into the ground and appear somewhere else. In the event that a player encounters such behavior, they should be on the lookout for the stalker's inevitable reemergence. Due to their tendency to spawn in packs, the player is susceptible to being overwhelmed when fighting stalkers in a close-quarters combat situation. As such, it is best to engage stalkers from a slight distance.