Biraka

The Biraka are an insectoid race originally hailing from the harsh, arid world of Bastis. The Biraka have forged a formidable empire in their corner of the galaxy known to its rivals as the Biraka Clanhold. The Biraka are a race with a strong sense of honor and civil service. However they are also a species that is proud, stubborn and dedicated to aggressive expansion of their territories and resources. This has resulted in the Biraka becoming a warlike race that is almost perpetually combating any other intelligent lifeforms within reach. This has led them into conflict with such factions as the Imperium of Mankind, the Tau Empire and the irbian Nirvana time and time again. With the M41 coming to a close the Biraka have explosively expanded their territory with the weakening of the Imperium. If left unhindered the Biraka may soon begin competing with the Tau as the reigning super power in the galactic East.

Biology
The Biraka are insectoid in biology, with many traits reminiscent of beetles. Biraka stand a head taller than than humans on average, and their chitinous bodies are more bulky than that of a human. Biraka possess a strong exoskeleton composed of flexible plates and segments of of strong carapace. Biraka exoskeletons are colored in various shades of brown, with lighter shades being most common but shades as dark as black being possible. A Biraka's exoskeleton is strong enough to give them adequete protection in battle, allowing them to forego the need to wear external armor. Beneath the exoskleton is the Biraka possess highly complex mulscular and circulatory systems for an insectoid species. Biraka are significantly stronger than normal humans, and possess stamina far in excess of of even species as robust as Orks. The strength and tirelessness of the Biraka have served them well on the battlefields of the MIlky Way.

As with many insectoid species the Biraka are Hexapods. Biraka stand upright with the use of their hind limbs, which the Biraka use for locomotion. The second pair of limbs are a pair of large arms that attach at the shoulders. These are each end in hands that possess two fingers and a thumb each. The Biraka use these for general, unsophisticated manipulation of their environment. Below these arms, tucked against a Biraka's thorax are a smaller pair of arms. These arms each possess hands that contain five fingers and two thumbs each. These hands are more dexterous than the primary limbs, and are used for fine manipulating of the environment. The Biraka usually keep the smaller arms folded against their torsos when they are not using them.

The head of a Biraka is crowned by a chitinous frill that runs from the back of the head. A Biraka's carapace of a Biraka's head is particularly strong. Biraka have a pair of black eyes located within slight indents with the Biraka's head. Biraka all sport a pair of insectoid mandibles. These mandibles are very strong and can exert enough force to crush steel. The size of one's mandibles are a source of pride among Biraka, and are often viewed as a symbol of one's strength. in addition to the mandibles the Biraka possess a mouth with a more humanoid structure that sports a set of sharp, exposed teeth. Near the back of the Birakas' mouth are a set of plates that are used to grind food in preparation for digestion. Biraka have a very complex vocal apparatus that can roughly mimic the sounds of the Human voice, and make sounds that humans are incapable of as well.

Biraka are very durable creatures with the ability to function after recieving injuries that would kill or cripple many lesser species.The circulatory system of the Biraka is unique in its ability to effectively compartmentalize itself. If a Biraka suffers a severe injury that significantly breaches its exoskelton or compromises a part of their circulatory system they are capable of isolating parts of their circulatory system in order to stop the flow of bleeding. Biraka can effectively isolate whole sgments of their body and certain major organs from the rest of their circulatory system, often preventing themselves from bleeding out. However doing this for long periods will result in the necrosis of the isolated anatomy, and certain vital part of their anotomy such as the heart can not be isolated. In addition the Biraka experience the sensation of pain to a far lesser degree than humans or other creatures. Wounds that would cripple other organisms with pain may not slow down the Biraka. all of this combines to many an organism with increased resistance to injury and suffering.

Roughly one out of every five hundred Biraka are born with a pair of insectoid wings. The Biraka refer to those born with wings as Keshra, a Biraka word which roughly translates into Low Gothic as Hornet. Biraka Hornet's are usually born slightly smaller than their more orthodox Biraka kin, and their bodies are significantly lighter in order to accomodate flight. The reason why Hornets are born amongst the Biraka is not understod by Imperial Xenobiologists. Hornets are born seemingly at random, and the children of a Hornet will not necessarily be Hornets themselves. Hornets are prized among the Biraka as their ability to fly is useful to the Clanhold, especially amongst the Kinsworn.

Additionally there is a special breed of Birak called the Warborn. Warborn Biraka are the result of special breeding programs that go back into antiquity. Warborn Biraka are truly bred only for combat. On average they are larger than a fully grown Space Marine. These massive Biraka are far stronger and more aggressive than their normal brethren, and the carapace of their hulking frames can withstand a great deal more punishment than a normal Biraka could. All Warborn are born into the Kinsworn, and they are well valued as elite shock troops and line breakers.

Homeworld
The Biraka are believed to have originally evolved on the seemingly arid world of Bastis in the Tothor system. Bastis is a world that one would believe to be incapable of sustaining life if viewed from orbit. The planet is fairly close to the system's star, and as such the surface of Bastis is constantly pounded with intense heat and stellar radiation. Thus the surface of Bastis ismade up of vast scorching deserts and rocky, sunblasted moutain ranges. Only a few specially evolved organisms can survive on the surface.

Below the plan'et surface is another matter entirely. Bastis contains large amounts of water, nutrients and minerals in various pockets beneath the surface. The vast majority of the worlds biosphere developed and survive under the world's hellish surface. This includes the Biraka themselves. Bastis' underground is honeycombed with vast caverns and tunnels that have resulted either from the natural erosion of the planet's ground water, or from eons of tunneling caused by Bastis' living organisms.

Among the more important organisms are the Valja plants. These unique flora are unique to Bastis, and serve an important role in many of the world's ecosystems. The top of the plant stays on the surface, being one of the few organisms that can survive there, and gathers the intense stellar radiation for use in photosynthesis. The Valja is very efficient at converting this radiation into biological energy, but the plant can not process the sheer amount of enrgy it absrobs all at once. The plant thus vents the excess energy from it's roots as light and heat. These emissions are similar in quality to sunlight from Holy Terra's Sun. The roots of many Valja delve deep into the planets crust, and as a result they provide sunlight harmless, life supporting sunlight to many of the underground caverns. It is for this reason that the Biraka can handle sunlight on many worlds despite being subterranean creatures by evolution.

Bastis remains the Biraka's homeworld and capital. The Biraka maintain vast subterranean cities beneath Bastis' surface, from which they have built space ships and launched themselves into the capricious cosmos. Bastis is the meeting plan of the Clanhold's Moot, the home of the reigning Clan Father regardless of his planet of origin and serves as the beating heart of the Biraka's interstellar empire. Throughout the Clanhold's long history they have lossed and gained many planets through their struggles wit hthe other species of the galaxy. However throughout their history no military force that has assaulted Bastis has survived to tell of it, a point of pride for the Biraka. Thus Bastis serves as the administrative and spiritual heart of the Clanhold, much as Holy Terra does for Humanity.

According to certain old tales told among the Biraka Bastis used to play host to other "Clans". Given the Biraka's use of the term this would seem to imply that at some undetermined time in the past there were other intelligent species that made Bastis their home. If so it's possible that other intelligent species managed to evolve on the planet, that the Biraka used to have subspecies related to them or that at one point or another the planet was host to a non-native species. Regardless of the possibilities the Biraka's stories all state that these other clans were wiped out by the Biraka in various wars, and none of them exist today. these stories seem to originate to a time before the Biraka began keeping accurate historical records, and thus Imperial scholars have been incapable of determining whether they are indicitive of actual historical accounts, or if they are simplyfables and allegory.