Steltek

Name: Steltek
Attribute Dice: 12D
Dexterity: 1D+1/3D+1
Knowledge: 1D+1/3D+1
Mechanical: 2D+1/4D+1
Perception: 2D+1/4D+1
Strength: 1D+1/3D+1
Technical: 1D+1/3D+1

Move: 9/11
Size: 1.1 - 1.9 m
Weight: 30 - 50 kg
Life Span: 272 years

Special Abilities:

• Mental Blast: Angered Steltek are capable of releasing a powerful burst of energy, the nature of which is unknown. This counts as a natural weapon-like attack that inflicts 4D+2/3D+2/2D+2/1D+2 damage with a blast radius of 0-15/30/60/125m.
• Mysterious, Powerful Nature: The Steltek have mastered pretty much every field of expertise in existence and pass that information down to their progeny via racial memory; a beginning Steltek character automatically starts with an extra 1-6 (1D) in skill dice to add to Technical or Knowledge Skills. This is done after the initial 7D allocated for starting skill dice and uses the same rules, no more than 2D into one skill and no more than 4D under one attribute, etc. Although these extra "dice" are calculated separately from the standard starting skill dice.
• Tells It Like It Is: Steltek are unambiguous and will not obfuscate the truth to achieve their goals; they have a -4D their skill rolls to tell a lie.

Description: The Steltek ruled a galaxy-spanning empire long before mankind emerged on Earth. Relics of a Steltek base on Mars were dated to 2.4 billion years of age. Even then, the Steltek were more technologically advanced than humanity had become in the 27th century.

The Steltek eventually retreated from the galaxy, after bringing ruin upon themselves with their technology, possibly in a civil war. Before leaving, the Steltek attempted to destroy all of their technology so that developing races would not bring the same ruin upon themselves. However, some pockets of technology still remain. The Steltek eliminate these pockets when possible.

Grayson Burrows in the Gemini Sector discovered two of these pockets in or about 2669. A Steltek drone, activated by a stray missile fired from Burrows' Tarsus, wreaked havoc on military and civilian forces in the area, destroying the Sixth Confederation Fleet, along with other vessels. After receiving assistance from the Steltek, Burrows managed to destroy the drone using a gun salvaged from a fighter found in the derelict of a Steltek capital ship.

Source:

• Wing Commander Encyclopedia: Steltek
• The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (pages 43-45)
• thedemonapostle