Onajans

Onajans are a fictional species featured in the science fiction novel "The Expanse" series by James S.A. Corey. They are an advanced alien race that has been extinct for millions of years by the time of the story's events. The protomolecule, a central element of the narrative, is a form of their technology, designed to terraform planets and eventually create new life.

The physical appearance of the Onajans is unknown, as no living members of their species have ever been encountered. Their existence is primarily inferred through their artifacts and the protomolecule itself. They were capable of interstellar travel and possessed technology far beyond that of humanity. Their ultimate fate is also a mystery, though it is suggested that they may have transcended their physical forms or faced an unknown cataclysm.

The Onajans' primary motivation, as interpreted by the characters in "The Expanse," appears to have been the propagation of life and the transformation of barren worlds into habitable ecosystems. The protomolecule acts as a biological tool to achieve this, converting existing organic matter into structures and lifeforms that suit their grand design. Their legacy, embodied by the protomolecule, becomes a source of immense power and danger for the human factions vying for control in the solar system. The study of Onajan technology drives much of the scientific and political intrigue within the series.