[Boomer]

I had way too much free time the other day and started to think about the evolutionary progression of the Shivans.  As you might have guessed, I am utterly mystified as to what would result in the whole physical structure of the Shivans, however I did run into an interesting question:

Do the Shivans constantly progress forward in technological sophistication?  Or, have they already reached a technological peak and can only advance through the assimilation of other races technology?

I could make a case for both, but I want to hear other peoples' thoughts.

(Besides, I haven't seen a good debate thread in a while)

[Unknown Target]

Wrong forum

[Boomer]

Oh, sorry.  

Note to self: check which forum I click on next time.

[Taristin]

Moved for great justice!

[Carl]

Originally posted by Boomer
I am utterly mystified as to what would result in the whole physical structure of the Shivans

...why? the shivan physique is less alien looking than many creatures on earth.

[Unknown Target]

Err...I think three legs and three arms is pretty alien.

[aldo_14]

Any more than 100 legs?

[Kie99]

Its 3 legs and 2 arms IIRC.

[Ghost]

Isn't this like the hojillionth topic about this?

[Unknown Target]

Originally posted by aldo_14
Any more than 100 legs?

Have you ever noticed how all Earth creatures have an even number of legs? Shivans have an odd number. That's pretty alien.

[NGTM-1R]

Any evidence of their evolution has been effectively erased; the Shivans are all living in cybernetic carapaces now, so what they originally looked like is totally unknown.

[Ghost]

Originally posted by ngtm1r
Any evidence of their evolution has been effectively erased; the Shivans are all living in cybernetic carapaces now, so what they originally looked like is totally unknown.

I'm pretty sure that said that the Shivans weren't wearing spacesuits or anything.

[Taristin]

Read the tech room description.

"32 years after the Great War, we still know almost nothing about the Shivans.

Physically, the Shivans have multiple, compound eyes and five legs with claw-like manipulators. Their insect-like carapace does not appear original to the creature's physiognomy, suggesting the Shivans are a cybernetic fusion of biology and technology. The integrated plasma weapon also exhibits properties of an organic-artificial fusion.[/i][/color] The weapon may be a kind of focusing device powered by the energy of the being itself, though this point is the subject of heated controversy.

These details are cited as evidence that the Shivans could not have evolved as the Terran or Vasudan species had, but that they were likely constructed by another entity. Only a handful of Shivans have ever been captured, and all research on live specimens ended with the GTI's Hades rebellion in 2335. The results of these studies remain highly classified.

Though the Shivans are obviously xenocidal, their motives and origins have yet to be determined. According to Ancient artifacts, the Shivans seem to possess some kind of sensitivity to subspace disturbances. We do not know if the Shivans returned to this corner of the galaxy by chance, by cycle or pattern, or by their detection of Terran-Vasudan subspace travel.  

Xenobiologists know very little about Shivan society. A leading hypothesis is the hive mind theory, arguing that Shivan society is broken down in specialized functions driven by a collective intelligence. The most convincing evidence supporting this theory is the behavior of Shivan forces following the destruction of the Lucifer, the turning point of the Great War. Other experts caution against attributing insectoid properties to the Shivans, regardless of their appearance and behavior. Shivan communication seems to occur in the electromagnetic spectrum, though efforts to decode their transmissions have yielded no meaningful results to date."

[Ghost]

Oh.

[Taristin]

Although, given what the GTVA knows about shivans, it could be entirely wrong

[Mongoose]

Originally posted by kietotheworld
Its 3 legs and 2 arms IIRC.

Considering the Shivans live in zero-gravity, I'd say it's more like 5 legs.

[TopAce]

Originally posted by Raa
Although, given what the GTVA knows about shivans, it could be entirely wrong

We agree on this.

[Charismatic]

yeah 3 legs 2 arms, and yeah

Originally posted by Raa
Although, given what the GTVA knows about shivans, it could be entirely wrong

Gtva prolly dont know S88t.

[Kie99]

Originally posted by Raa
Although, given what the GTVA knows about shivans, it could be entirely wrong

And given what knows about the Shivans it probably is entirely wrong.

[Mefustae]

Originally posted by Mongoose

Considering the Shivans live in zero-gravity, I'd say it's more like 5 legs.

Actually, if the Shivans live in zero-gravity, which they most likely do, they wouldn't have Five legs, but Five arms. I mean, think of a Human in long term Zero-Gravity, up there, your legs have absolutely no use (apart from pushing youself off panels, etc.) and would likely have them replaced with two more arms, like a Primate, as legs in Zero-G are just a waste of space...