Ferrobel

The Ferrobel are a Xenos Species originally hailing from the third planet in the Sigma-Delta-Zeta system. Relatively small due to low birth rate, they nevertheless are a significant force in the North-to-Northeast fringe where the Imperium has no presence and is north of the Tau Empire. Despite being peaceful by nature, the harsh reality's of the the Galaxy force them to fight and has made them a formidable fighting force in the Galaxy.

History
The Ferrobel species is an ancient species, but only achieved interstellar space travel around M33. Before that they were confined to their solar system (designated Sigma-Delta-Zeta by Imperial Astronomers) and used what primitve rockets they had for Asteroid Mining. Some time in mid M33 they discovered how to make an effective FTL drive called the Deep Drive. Using that they began to settle suitable planets all across the Northern Fringe of the Galaxy and began spreading down the Northeastern Fringe.

Imperial Contact
In M39 a Rouge Trader Fleet entered a system that was inhabited by by the Ferrobel. While at first wary of a new sentient race, the Rouge Traders were much relived to find them unaggressive though neither spoke the others language. After spending several years using a rough form of sign language to conduct trade, the more intelligent Ferrobel figured out how to speak a rough form of low Gothic and more open communication was enabled. This lead the Rouge Traders to discover how wide spread the Ferrobel were and they decided to finnally report the new Xenos Species to the Administratum. Due to the fact that there is virtually no Imperial Presence near them, their own unaggressive nature, and the fact that most planets the Ferrobel settle have poor conditions for human settlers have lead the High Lords to decide to ignore them.

Tau Contact
In M41 the Tau made contact with the Ferrobel shortly before the Damocles Gulf Crusade occurred. While the Ferrobel were interested in new trade partners they were not enticed by the idea of the Greater Good. Given how the Ferrobel's native language is nearly impossible to other species to learn and completely impossible to speak the Water Caste ambassadors made little head way. Unfortunately for the Tau, they then decided to try and induct them into the Tau Empire by force. The Ferrobel did not take kindly to this and gathered a large armada that was powerful enough to drive the Tau back, though they did let them take the few Tau remaining on Ferrobel worlds back.

Biology
The Ferrobel are a Bipedal species similar to mammals that range from 2.4-3.1 m tall. They broad in the Torso (about 1.2-1.5 m) and Limbs and have 2 arms with 4 Clawed fingers and Thumb. They have short legs and fingers which make them seem clumsy at first, but most are capable of extreme grace when necessary. Their mouth has mostly Canine type teeth and is extremely powerful with a nearly 5,000 psi bite force, which is good at crushing but poor at chewing, which they make up for with powerful stomach acids. On either side of their mouth they grow large tusk-like horns that are used by the Ferrobel to break hard material by twisting their heads.

Their most distinguishing feature is the fact they grow metal plates that cover most of their body by eating rocks with high metal ore densities. By an unknown biological process they somehow refine the ore inside their body, where upon it forms protective carapace-like plates all over their body, (excluding joints), with a helmet like plate over the head and tusks. Microscopic examination of the exposed skin at joints shows a thin fabric like metallic weave. The sum total of this is that, while very heavy and slow, they are enormously durable.