Ztilassans

Ztilassans are a sapient, gelatinous species native to the ocean world Ztilassa, a large moon of the gas giant Zeta in the outer Var system. Individuals range from a few to several tens of centimeters in diameter, with a translucent mantle that can alter its opacity and color. A diffuse hydrogel serves as their nervous system, enabling distributed cognition across groups. They lack a centralized brain, instead coordinating through bioelectrical signals and pheromonal cues that travel through the hydrogel matrix.

Communication combines bioluminescence, surface texture, and subtle electrical pulses. Their spoken language is logographic and auditory, but most cross-species exchanges use translators that map their signals to a shared symbolic system.

Society operates around streams—fluid, overlapping communities that collaborate on major projects. Leadership is temporary and elected by the ability to coordinate large-scale tasks, not by hereditary status. They prize ecological balance and resource stewardship, maintaining strict quotas on mineral harvesting and preserving reproduction corridors to avoid overpopulation.

Historically, Ztilassans have been wary of external interference but have engaged in exploration partnerships. Humans first contacted the Ztilassans in 2262 after a long-range passive listening program detected their bioelectric signatures. Since then, trade in biotech, cultural artifacts, and environmental data has grown under a series of non-aggression and cooperation pacts. They have developed energy technologies based on tidal, geothermal, and algae-based bioengineering, enabling resilient habitats on ocean-floor settlements.

The term Ztilassan refers to both individuals and the species as a whole. They are considered among the more cooperative species encountered in the extraterritorial frontier, with a philosophy emphasizing shared memory and mutual aid.