Species 8472

Species 8472 are a tripedal interdimensional species from another realm known as Fluidic Space. They were firsted encountered within the Delta Quadrant by the Borg in 2373.

History
The origins of Species 8472 is unknown, the earliest known encounter with this race is when the Borg Collective began their failed assimilation of the race. Once defeated, Species 8472 became aware of the Milky Way galaxy and initiated a purge of all other life forms starting from Borg space. All their attacks against the Borg were victories and it is possible that in a matter of time, the Borg would have been potentially destroyed had it not been for the interference of the Federation starship USS Voyager who formed an alliance with the Collective and developed an effective weapon against Species 8472. After facing their first loses from the weapon, Species 8472 retreated back into their realm; unaware that this weapon was not shared with the collective mind of the Borg.

Despite the call to return, a few members of this race were left behind some of which were hunted by races such as the Hirogen while others would be trapped on Borg Cubes. One such member was trapped on such a vessel that was powerless within the graveyard that circled the Forge and was killed as part of a deal made between the Borg and the USS Voyager's Hazard team. (VOY game: Elite Force)

They would next build space station habitats that would simulate conditions within the Alpha quadrant and Beta quadrant in an attempt to gain intelligence on the race that had defeated them. They would stop this for a time when they attempted to make peace with the Federation over the misunderstanding that all races within the galaxy had declared war on Species 8472.

However, the race would be encountered again and not within the Delta quadrant but within the Alpha quadrant when the Borg Collective's invasion of that region of space had been cut off from reinforcements. This new invasion from Fluidic Space would attack any force as they were dragged into the Milky Way galaxy once again; either unintentionally by the Cardassians or as part of their latest purge by using rifts into their native realm. This new invasion was defeated by the combined alliance of the Borg left behind and the Federation who ventured into Fluidic Space to destroy the Rift Maker organisms which maintained the gateway. Whether Species 8472 wishes to continue its genocidal schemes or make peace is now unknown. (Star Trek: Armada II)

Biology
Species 8472 are a tripedal species which are perhaps one of the tallest species encountered by the Federation. They do not possess vocal cords however do possess eyes which serve as their sensory organs. They are telepathic which they use to great effect in scanning the minds of other races and using it as a form of tracking mechanism when hunting enemy starships.

The race uses their large arms in combat with a single strike being deadly and possibly fatal to any species known, this is in part due to their amazing immune system. The race are perhaps the ultimate expression of biological perfection as they possess a near flawless immune system that attacks and destroys any form of 'infection'; both biological and technological. This was also the reason why the Borg failed in assimilating them. Victims of such strikes can be best described as being 'eaten alive' as the immune cells from Species 8472 are transferred to its victim which begin to destroy its new 'host'.

Despite their large size, it seems that they are in essence shape shifters as they are capable of taking humanoid forms which they use to infiltrate other species when it became necessary after their war with the Borg. However, this seems to be a difficult process for them one which can fail as the members that do so have been known to experience a process known as 'Reversion'. This essentially means that the race cannot maintain their form and reverts back to their natural appearance. Upon death, the body is also known to return to its massive form.

Their evolution in Fluidic Space seems to have given them quite a few characteristics that differ from other races one of which is them capable of surviving in the vacuum of space without any form of protection; which suggests that they do not respire as humanoids do. They do not even need to sleep for rest and find the concept very 'alien'. Another facet of their evolution is them being capable of enterting periods of hibernation when faced with injury in an attempt to heal themselves. Finally, their mastery of biology allows them to effectively poison themselves should they face capture.

The race appears to have five sexes though little else is known in this regard.

Culture
Nearly nothing is known about the races culture due to the species xenophobic nature. In all their purges, they have been known to be aggressive and single minded in their aims to destroy all other forms of life and had marked both the Borg and Federation as enemies. Whether this remains as the case after Voyager's attempted negotiations with the race is unknown however considering their invasion of the Alpha Quadrant, it is possible that they believe all races are hostile and need to be destroyed.

During their first invasion into the galaxy, a common telepathic command that would be send from their minds would be 'the weak will perish'. This perhaps suggests that the race believes in a survival of the fittest policy and do not tolerate 'weaker' species. However, they also believed that the intrusion into their realm by the Borg was a threat to their 'genetic integrity' but as to what this means is unknown. It is perhaps possible that having not encountered another species before, that Species 8472 was simply responding to the threat of invasion as the Borg were the race that had first attacked them.

Technology
Species 8472 utilises biological technology which seems to possess aspects of their own genetic structure. Their ships and technology are genetically engineered creatures made for specific purposes whether they be stations or starships. They are capable of moving between normal space and their own fluidic realm through the use of Quantum singularities. It seems that they also do not require the 'standard' resources other races use but instead utilise Transmutators that are capable of transforming any material into useful Bio-matter which they use to gestate new organisms.

There starships are living creatures that respond to the telepathic commands of its 'pilot'. This has several advantages one of which is that the ships are capable of healing themselves after battle. Their organic form also is immune to tractor beam and transporter technology which prevents their capture. Their battleships emit a form of bio-pulses that are highly energetic and capable of dealing considerable damage to Borg Cube class vessels. They could combine these pulses into a frigate vessel which could generate such power that it was capable of cracking and destroying planets. This seemed to require eight battleship vessels in addition to the frigate to accomplish this task which shows their power in regards to energy manipulation.

Despite this, it is known that they are vulnerable to specific Nanoprobe weapons which are designed to 'act' as part of the immune system before destroying the creature. This works equally well on both an individual member of the race and their starships due to the similarity in genetics between the two.

The race is known to employ several different types of starships and organisms in battle most of which are biological in origin however there are space stations known as Terraspheres that were near mechanical in appearance. There have been known sight of active shipyards employed by the race however there have been mobile 'starbases' that produce the simpler bio-ships while gateways into fluidic space allow the entry of larger more powerful warships.

The following are what assets they use in space:
 * Species 8472 Battleship class
 * Species 8472 Frigate class
 * Species 8472 Behemoth class
 * Species 8472 Destroyer class
 * Species 8472 Scout class
 * Species 8472 Defender class
 * Species 8472 Mother organism
 * Species 8472 Active embryo
 * Species 8472 Passive embryo

.