Martians - Tumblr Posts
DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS (Dir: David McDonald, 1954).
With Martian men on the verge of extinction, Nyah (Patricia Laffan), a PVC clad dominatrix who bears a passing resemblance to a young Agnes Moorehead, is dispatched to London to collect male specimens for the purpose of repopulating the planet. Accompanied by a robot seemingly made from odds and ends found in a garden shed, the would-be seductress with the voice of a British Rail announcer goes off course and crash lands in the Scottish Highlands. Here she invades the remote Bonnie Charlie Inn; the residents of which are a motley bunch including an escaped murder and his girl, an aspiring model, a scientist, an investigative journalist and a sturdy Scots landlady. The men of the Inn aren't up to spec so Nyah must repair her craft and continue on her mission. But those pesky Earthlings have other ideas and are intent on stopping her. You can bet they are sorry when she unleashes a powerful raygun and her giant flowerpot 'bot on them!
Read the full review on my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME. Link below.
The War of the Worlds (1953)
A big ol’ promotion
After the gruelling battle and eventual defeat of Rootmars at the hands of the Regular Army's special forces, General Morden and a few surviving soldiers escaped the Martians' clutches with the Dai-Manji in their possession. About half an hour later, the Dai-Manji landed at a secret Rebel Army base. There, Morden was finally reunited with the rest of his soldiers who had fought bravely against the Martians. With a proud posture, he exited the Dai-Manji, puffing out his chest and clearing his throat.
Morden: Attention everyone! Those gosh darn Martians were a real pain in the ass! But we did it! We put up one heck of a fight and came out on top, even if it meant forming an alliance with our greatest enemy. Anyways, you’ve all shown me that you’re all top-notch soldiers. You know what? I'm proud to announce that you're all getting promoted!
Multiple gasps erupt amongst the Rebel soldiers, followed by an outburst of cheers, applause, and whistles. Some soldiers high-five and hug each other, overwhelmed with joy and relief as they finally receive their long-overdue promotions.
Morden: Except you! *he says, pointing accusingly at a bazooka-wielding soldier near the front* You’re not even wearing your uniform!
The soldier, clad only in his army-green helmet and a pair of white boxer shorts, looked down at the ground with a disheartened sigh.
Soldier #1: Aw man… I’m sorry about that. Better luck next time!
Soldier #2: For crying out loud! I told ya to put your uniform on!
Soldier #3: *snickers at the soldier not wearing his proper uniform* Good job, dumbass!
A few other Rebel soldiers snicker and chuckle loudly at the misfortune of their comrade who was dismissed for his promotion.
Morden: Hey! Whoever just laughed at this soldier will also not receive their promotions! It’s disrespectful to mock fellow comrades! You hear me?! *he sounds frustratingly displeased*
The soldiers who rudely poked fun at their comrade now feel ashamed, offering a sincere apology to him.
It's incredible, I liked how the Martians would be doing the cloning process of one of the characters we handle :0
Martian capture
After being ensnared by rings of blue light by a Martian impersonating General Morden at the rocket site, Fio was lifted up into the Dai-Manji. Everything became a blurred yet frightening mess. She tried to protest against her captor, but it was no use because they didn't listen.
As the grey Martian who kidnapped Fio teleported to the Rugname, Fio could hazily hear the fearful pleas and panicked screams of the real General Morden. The sounds and words emitted by General Morden grew fainter and fainter as though some force was dragging him away. Fio felt butterflies in her stomach, writhing around in utter terror, not wanting to know what would happen to her next. After a few agonising minutes, a small group of Martians entered the Dai-Manji and carefully carried Fio inside their mothership, not interested in disarming her.
The interior of the Rugname felt cavernous and eerily inhuman. Towering pillars, adorned with circular joints and intestinal tubes, connecting to each other like a living, breathing machine. The ground was covered in nearly straight rows of these heavy, industrial tubes. Between each pillar, a depiction of a UFO was engraved into the biomechanical walls. The entire space was almost dark yet it was bathed in a hazy, unsettling hue of bronze, metal, green, and deep reddish-purple, which cast an otherworldly glow.
All of this was quite daunting for Fio. She felt her mind blown by the fascinating architecture of the Rugname's interior. However, she was experiencing a profound sense of déjà vu, but it felt oddly wrong. She had never seen anything so foreign. Goosebumps formed on her skin, telling her that something wasn't right. She didn't know what, but it certainly had to mean something.
She was eerily silent, taking everything in without muttering a single word. Fio even saw a few brown-tanned Martians, who are the assault troops of this fierce species, prepared to shoot at any intruder with their spore pistols. Their presence scared her, and she instinctively gulped with uncertainty.
Soon enough, the Martians opened up a barrier, leading Fio into a foreboding chamber. It was much darker and adorned with the same pillars and industrial tubes as the hallway of the Rugname. However, the atmosphere of this area felt frightening and oppressive, making Fio tense up.
As they got closer, they encountered white Martians, the elite soldiers and commanding officers of this peculiar, malevolent species. As they inched closer and closer, Fio could hear the agonising screams of the real Morden, stripped of his dignity. She felt fear clogging her throat as her face turned pale and her stomach churned. Despite her hatred for General Morden, she couldn't help but recognise that he was human too. Torture was always a disgusting and horrible thing.
The darkness of this chamber was gradually enveloped in a pulsating bluish light, revealing Morden's electrical prison. The white Martians stood by with ferocity and caution, guarding Morden and the computer terminal connected to his shocking, claustrophobic prison. The room gets darker and Morden’s screams get fainter as the small group of grey Martians and Fio escape the horrid chamber.
They entered a new part of the Rugname, a power reactor hallway fiercely guarded by relentless Hopper Mechas. The Hopper Mechas gave Fio an intense stare of malice, but didn't bother to explode her into a million pieces. They clearly knew that the Martians wanted her for something far more important.
Instead of walking down this long hallway, the small group of grey Martians knew of a shortcut. One of the Martians walked over to a part of the wall that was faintly stained green, its tentacles slightly flapping against the floor. As two thin tentacles gracefully caressed the wall, it opened up to reveal a tubular teleporter with a glassy membrane and industrial tubes. They rudely pushed Fio inside and swiftly followed, sending themselves to somewhere else. Fio almost wanted to tell them off for pushing her inside the teleporter like that, but she knew it was no use.
The Martians were taking her to a grotesque place, one she would never forget. Once they arrived at their location, a large bronze-hued door stood before them. It automatically opened, revealing a chamber that filled Fio with disgust. It was an area of metal enveloped in a dripping mass of organic matter with a shiny reddish hue. The space was punctuated by intestinal pipes and tubular holes, sending shivers down Fio’s spine. The biomechanical mess served as a backdrop as a stasis chamber stands before the group with an eerie atmosphere.
As Fio gazed at the stasis chamber, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The organic matter in this place made her skin crawl, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her. She began to silently wonder, her mind racing with questions. What did the Martians want from her? Was it to simply imprison her? Do they have plans to subject her to rigorous experiments? A part of her dreaded the truth, but her curiosity was relentless, wanting to understand the Martians' true motives.
Unbeknownst to her, the Martians had bigger plans, greater than what she could have imagined. They delicately placed her inside the stasis chamber, suspending her in a spherical tank of an unknown clear liquid. The membrane of the stasis chamber was nearly opaque, allowing her to see everything on the other side. She gave them a look of raw fear, her panic escalating rapidly.
She frantically scanned the room before desperately clawing and pounding at the membrane. In her desperation, she even tried to slash it with her knife and shoot at it with her handgun. Unfortunately, the membrane proved to be highly resistant against Fio’s attacks, which only infuriated her further and intensified her anxiety to a breaking point.
Fio struggled against this prison, but the clear liquid began to fill her organs, making her feel physically tired. She tried to pound on the membrane, but couldn't even lift a finger. She tried to scream, but nothing escaped her throat. Her eyelids grew heavy, and the liquid disrupted the electrical signals her brain produced, inducing a sense of deep relaxation. Her brain signalled to her body to rest and let everything play out.
The last thing she could recall was the Martians leaving with one of them briefly glancing over at her before hurrying away. Tears streamed down Fio's face as she closed her eyes, her body slumped in defeat. At that time, she wanted Marco, Eri, Tarma, or all three of them to save her. She longed to be free from that terrifying hellhole and reunite with Earth's atmosphere and her comrades. She desperately longed to hug her beloved teddy bear, Peppino, once again, hoping to ease her pain.
You have made my life impossible!! >:(
Updated: September 8, 2024
Reworked Species #1: Martians
Their scientific name is Cephalorepens galacticus (meaning “creeping head of the galaxy”). They're commonly referred to as the Martians, but some people also refer to them as the Mars People. An omni-linguistic alien species led by their queen, Rootmars, possesses intellectual and sensory capabilities surpassing those of humanity. They possess exceptional expertise in three key areas: necromancy, biological engineering, and technological proficiency, encompassing the use, processes, and mechanical intricacies of advanced technology. Their military force is called the Keribhalum Army.
Language
Their language consists mainly of words formed with the syllables Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, and Pu. However, translation is challenging due to their use of telepathic speech and the seemingly random application of the Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, and Pu syllables, making it difficult to discern a predictable pattern or meaning. Although they are capable of producing audible sounds, these noises resemble feline growls, mouse-like squeaks, and unearthly squeals.
Hierarchy
The Mars Elite (Cephalorepens galacticus albus) are comprised of four distinct castes: leading scientists who drive innovation, esteemed judges who uphold the law, elite soldiers who embody excellence, and commanding officers who lead with strategic precision.
The Mars Garrison (Cephalorepens galacticus fuscus) are comprised of three main castes: scientists who conduct technological and biological experiments, assassins who conduct covert operations, and assault troops who wield stronger and heavier weaponry.
The Mars Quotidian (Cephalorepens galacticus pallidus) are comprised of four distinct castes: hive workers who repair technology and nurture the young, spies who gather intelligence, researchers who advance their knowledge, and common troops who form the backbone of the Keribhalum Army.
Appearance
Martians are taller than the average human, standing approximately at 7’ 3” (220.98 cm) for males and 7’ 6” (228.6 cm) for females. They have a large head with two sets of tentacles: thirty stinger tentacles act as their hands, capable of controlling an electrical pulse to temporarily paralyse people; and twelve leg tentacles with protruding greenish veins and suckers. Their stinger tentacles are half their body length, but they won't stop growing until they have reached double their height, an indication of older and wiser age. They’re sufficiently strong to grasp items firmly, being able to wield a weapon with one of their appendages. They can contract their leg tentacles, enabling them to jump considerable distances and descend slowly in a controlled manner. The skin on their heads and tentacles is surprisingly smooth and contains small pores that can release a thin layer of purplish-white slime. They have greenish-pink blood with a strange taste reminiscent of melon soda.
Female Martians possess a distinctive sac located beneath their head and at the centre of their leg tentacles. This sac is characterised by a bulbous orifice and a translucent yellow-orange coloration with visible skin wrinkles and greenish veins. The interior of the sac is coated with a protective purplish secretion that serves to repel harmful parasites. It also maintains the sac's cleanliness by preventing the accumulation of dirt and menstrual fluid.
Male Martians possess a writhing penis that is translucent and orangish-white in colour. The morphology of this organ bears a resemblance to that of a leopard slug's reproductive structure. It features greenish veins and is characterised by soft, spike-like protrusions encircling its tip. They feature three testicular organs located within cavities situated posterior to their head. These organs are partially visible, protruding slightly from the skin at the back of their head. Two of the testicles contain fertilised seminal fluid with a celadon-green colour, while the central testicle houses eggs with a distinctive amethyst hue and crimson spots. These reproductive organs are incapable of urinating as Martians have a unique physiology that eliminates the need to release bodily waste.
They have a skull of golden-yellow hue, covered in whitish neural veins, and possess an involuntary nervous system. They possess a navel cavity, and when they exhale, the barely visible slits on their face open, revealing small, thin, oval-shaped openings, before promptly closing again. They have two bead-like eyes with white pupils that can constrict or dilate, allowing them better visual control. They also have a serpentine tongue covered in microscopic hooks. They possess a mouth capable of opening into a circular, gaping maw, surrounded by six rows of fleshy teeth that can inject a deadly poison as lethal as cyanide.
The Mars Elite (Cephalorepens galacticus albus): They have pearlescent white skin, lilac eyes, China rose-coloured leg tentacles, and Syracuse red-orange suckers. They possess two iridescent purple bat-like wings with bony, silver-clawed hands and an impressive wingspan of 9' 5" (287.02 cm). From the back of their head, they have a tail that's eerily similar to a human spine, but it's held together by greenish veins and stretched, glistening dark purple flesh. They have a spiked ball at the tip of their spine-like tail, which holds a black acid. The spikes have small holes, allowing them to spray the acid at their enemies.
The Mars Garrison (Cephalorepens galacticus fuscus): They have brown-tanned skin, raspberry rose eyes, lavender grey leg tentacles, and palatinate purple suckers. They have a large amber-coloured eye in the middle of the back of their head, featuring a slit pupil. At the back of their head, they possess two elongated, mantis-like arms, equipped with two rows of razor-sharp spines, enabling them to grab people from behind.
The Mars Quotidian (Cephalorepens galacticus pallidus): They have greyish-green skin, ultramarine eyes, pale azure leg tentacles, and lapis lazuli suckers.
Abilities
To facilitate telepathic communication with other sentient beings, they employ their mouth and tongue to replicate the physiological processes of human speech. Two exceedingly thin, iridescent tentacles, reminiscent of dew on a spider's silk, emerge from two minuscule openings above their eyes. These tentacles can bifurcate into millions of tiny, hair-like tendrils, which are inserted into the ears of their chosen communicants. The tendrils then navigate to the brain, where they manipulate the electrical signals traversing the neural pathways to access areas responsible for thought and auditory perception.
They shapeshift by mentally imagining what they want to change and coating themselves in a thin layer of purplish-white slime. This strange slime drastically alters their bodily molecules and DNA structure, allowing them to perfectly transform into whatever they envisioned. The Martians possess the ability of dichotomous intangibility, but it’s limited to a duration of 10 minutes. Overextending this power can lead to severe consequences, including ocular degeneration, causing their eyes to become mushy, and cerebral overflow, resulting in permanent blindness and neural damage.
They possess telekinetic abilities, but require the movement of their stinger tentacles and intense concentration on the object they intend to lift or manipulate. Notably, they can focus on up to 20 different objects simultaneously. They can teleport up to 20 metres to different locations, but only in areas they are intimately familiar with. This ability is achieved by vibrating at imperceptible speeds, effectively propelling themselves to their desired destination.
They can sustain themselves by absorbing the vital fluids of other living organisms and the heat of electrical devices, fire, and solar radiation. The Martians possess a unique optic nerve that captures and stores a small portion of their body heat and absorbed energy. This specialised nerve forms a ring around their eyes, featuring a subtle opening that enables the focused release of intense, fiery energy beams.
They can hear low-frequency hums from any planet's core, echoes of ancient riverbeds, whispers of the wind, and the creaking and groaning of dust devils. They can smell the metallic scent of iron oxide dust, the acrid smell of sulphur from volcanic regions, and the ozone-like smell of electrical storms. The Martians can taste soil, the metallic taste of recycled water, the sweet taste of hydroponic crops, the sour taste of fermented food supplies, and the umami taste of protein-rich algae. They can see plankton, the tops of mountains, every pore on a human's face, and the texture of clouds.
Technology
Their technology is based entirely on expertise in bioengineering and energy manipulation. Their technology features a unique blend of elements, including circular shapes, industrial tubes resembling intestines, engravings of ancient pictograms that depict their ancestry, glistening flesh-like surfaces, malleable metal plates, and eerie metallic sheens. Their technology also incorporates pillars, computer modules, pulsating electric fields that double as protection and prison cells, fleshy orifices, and opaque stasis chambers filled with a clear liquid capable of inducing sleep for cloning purposes.
Their primary weapon is a ray gun that fires spores and features a settings mode, offering three distinct options:
Transformation: Transforms individuals into Man Eaters
Electrification: Emits an electric charge to incapacitate targets
Energy Beam: Generates circular light blue energy beams that can effortlessly ensnare targets
Lightweight ray guns emit slow-moving orange spores, whereas heavyweight ray guns fire fast-moving blue spores. These spores can be easily neutralised with gunfire or effectively eliminated with well-timed melee attacks.
Their mothership, the Rugname, is controlled by a simulated, lifeless replica of infant Rootmars, whose brain is encased in a protective glassy film. This replica can generate electric signals that accumulate and discharge as massive blasts of circular, flashing blue and green energy spheres, capable of incinerating individuals. They deploy surveillance drones known as Lozustika, which resemble massive, sunset-hued locusts with a singular metallic blue-orange eye. These drones are capable of projecting orbs of green fire and expelling streams of acidic, corrosive fluid that mimics blood.
The Dai-Manji boasts exceptional armour, comprising malleable metal plates reinforced with bullet-resistant flesh and a thin shielding of greenish-blue electricity. Serving as the core of the Rugname, it releases Mini-UFOs, unleashes lethal electrical discharges, and propels fiery energy bolts with precision to target enemies. It’s believed that there are forty Dai-Manji stored within the Rugname with only four to six permitted to be deployed at any given time. Each one features a logo with the insignia of the Martian race: a circular pickled bluewood crest with an eight-pointed red-orange star at its centre, outlined with a gold border and adorned with four emerald dots at the cardinal directional points (north, south, east, and west).
The Uystroblemika, also known as the Mars Satellites, are remotely controlled spacecraft shaped like feldgrau Nazi UFOs with a gilded sheen, capable of achieving remarkably high velocities. They are equipped with dual luminous laser systems, emitting either emerald green beams that incinerate targets or magenta beams that petrify them.
The Perifhalonus, also known as the Mini-UFOs, are highly agile aircraft equipped with a beehive-shaped ray gun that emits slow-moving greenish-blue lasers capable of penetrating cloth and flesh. The Mini-UFOs are distinguished by their colour schemes and pilots: grey metal variants with eight saffron-yellow stripes are operated by the Mars Quotidian, black metal variants with six red-orange stripes are operated by the Mars Garrison, and gilded variants with four crimson stripes are operated by the Mars Elite.
The Ezuivaphox, also known as the Hopper Mechas, are suicidal drones that detonate explosive payloads fueled by nuclear radiation and flammable bile, delivering a lethal blow to their targets. They are ten-legged, rust-coloured arachnids featuring gilded pedipalps and a distinctive, shaky silver stripe extending from the cephalothorax to the mid-abdomen. Their forehead bears a triangular arrangement of six blackish-brown eyes, while their entire body is covered in flexible, crystalline hairs.
The Gektosynchrima, also known as the Mars Walkers, are gigantic quadrupeds with metallic blue-red flesh and articulated legs terminating in five clawed, slender fingers. Their bulbous knee joints are covered in hook-like spikes. The creatures' belly features sixteen intestinal tubes encircling a large, glossy jade half-orb. They are capable of producing a black, poisonous gas that causes rapid skin decay and lung rupture. The jade half-orb can produce bouncing bubbles that cause highly corrosive burns once in contact with living organisms. They possess three slit-shaped eyes that exhibit a purely iridescent purple hue, and an antenna that strikingly resembles a sunflower. However, this antenna conceals a deadly capability–it can emit intense, fiery purple lightning bolts.
The Zodematikus, also known as the Ring Laser Mechas or Utoms, are sentient, glistening purplish-grey cerebral entities that propel a navy blue tubular body replete with biomechanical organs akin to those found in mammals. They possess four highly flexible robotic arms, surpassing human limb dexterity, which manipulate tusk-like, porcelain-hued levers and metallic green, red, and orange buttons. Their muscular brain features prominent, jutting veins and is shielded by a protective film of whitish, heat-resistant, bulletproof slime. They’re capable of unleashing rings of electrokinetic force, inducing bodily combustion, and generating nearly invisible, bony appendages to grasp individuals.
Goals and beliefs
Their primary objective is to debilitate Earth's military forces and leverage the planet's technological advancements to subjugate humanity. However, their motivations aren’t entirely malevolent; they seek to eradicate the destructive exploitation and harmful activities plaguing Earth. By doing so, the Martians believe they can redirect its resources towards fostering universal unification. They have a disgust for species who harm and abuse the resources and well-being of their home planets. They automatically deem them as inferior and in need of re-education through assimilation into their culture and ways of thinking.
Rootmars and many Martians advocate for the subjugation of humanity to save Earth, but a splinter faction disagrees with this ideology. This dissenting group led by Pupipi, known as the Keribhuma Army, believes that cohabitation and global cooperation are the only paths to achieving universal peace and protecting the planet. However, due to this belief, the Keribhalum Army views them as traitors, finding it foolish and shameful that they can have sympathy for an "inferior species". They will stop at nothing to publicly humiliate and/or brutally execute anyone who joins or is found to be part of the Keribhuma Army, if that person is one of their own kind.
The Martians are open-minded and embrace a diverse range of spiritual concepts, including reincarnation, the psyche, and deities that embody specific principles. In their view, deities serve as avatar conduits for the principles they represent with some requiring more worship and acknowledgement than others to sustain their power. They believe in the supremacy of a unified cosmos, where every individual has a purpose determined by their willingness to align with moral righteousness and strive towards their hopes and dreams.
They hold that no being is above the true purpose of existence and the eleven fundamental powers of the universe: seamlessness, centration, allurement, emergence, homeostasis, cataclysm, synergy, transmutation, transformation, interrelatedness, and radiance. They firmly believe that the true purpose of existence lies beyond human comprehension and will only be revealed to those who have attained divine enlightenment, thereby gaining the capacity to grasp the vast expanse of extraterrestrial mysteries and horrors.
All Martians share the conviction that natural resources provided by planets are invaluable and should be treated with utmost care and reverence. The mishandling of such resources is viewed as a heinous and sacrilegious act against the divine forces of the universe. They hold in high esteem the preservation of ancient knowledge and architecture, and endeavour to protect and pass on the cultural heritage of all species through various means, including meticulous drawings, written works, and other forms of documentation. They regard biological evolution and technological advancement as two pivotal, dynamic forces that shape and transform society and ecosystems in a perpetual state of flux.
The "Hungarian family viewing of Oppenheimer" experience in three acts
A big ol’ promotion
After the gruelling battle and eventual defeat of Rootmars at the hands of the Regular Army's special forces, General Morden and a few surviving soldiers escaped the Martians' clutches with the Dai-Manji in their possession. About half an hour later, the Dai-Manji landed at a secret Rebel Army base. There, Morden was finally reunited with the rest of his soldiers who had fought bravely against the Martians. With a proud posture, he exited the Dai-Manji, puffing out his chest and clearing his throat.
Morden: Attention everyone! Those gosh darn Martians were a real pain in the ass! But we did it! We put up one heck of a fight and came out on top, even if it meant forming an alliance with our greatest enemy. Anyways, you’ve all shown me that you’re all top-notch soldiers. You know what? I'm proud to announce that you're all getting promoted!
Multiple gasps erupt amongst the Rebel soldiers, followed by an outburst of cheers, applause, and whistles. Some soldiers high-five and hug each other, overwhelmed with joy and relief as they finally receive their long-overdue promotions.
Morden: Except you! *he says, pointing accusingly at a bazooka-wielding soldier near the front* You’re not even wearing your uniform!
The soldier, clad only in his army-green helmet and a pair of white boxer shorts, looked down at the ground with a disheartened sigh.
Soldier #1: Aw man… I’m sorry about that. Better luck next time!
Soldier #2: For crying out loud! I told ya to put your uniform on!
Soldier #3: *snickers at the soldier not wearing his proper uniform* Good job, dumbass!
A few other Rebel soldiers snicker and chuckle loudly at the misfortune of their comrade who was dismissed for his promotion.
Morden: Hey! Whoever just laughed at this soldier will also not receive their promotions! It’s disrespectful to mock fellow comrades! You hear me?! *he sounds frustratingly displeased*
The soldiers who rudely poked fun at their comrade now feel ashamed, offering a sincere apology to him.
Martian capture
After being ensnared by rings of blue light by a Martian impersonating General Morden at the rocket site, Fio was lifted up into the Dai-Manji. Everything became a blurred yet frightening mess. She tried to protest against her captor, but it was no use because they didn't listen.
As the grey Martian who kidnapped Fio teleported to the Rugname, Fio could hazily hear the fearful pleas and panicked screams of the real General Morden. The sounds and words emitted by General Morden grew fainter and fainter as though some force was dragging him away. Fio felt butterflies in her stomach, writhing around in utter terror, not wanting to know what would happen to her next. After a few agonising minutes, a small group of Martians entered the Dai-Manji and carefully carried Fio inside their mothership, not interested in disarming her.
The interior of the Rugname felt cavernous and eerily inhuman. Towering pillars, adorned with circular joints and intestinal tubes, connecting to each other like a living, breathing machine. The ground was covered in nearly straight rows of these heavy, industrial tubes. Between each pillar, a depiction of a UFO was engraved into the biomechanical walls. The entire space was almost dark yet it was bathed in a hazy, unsettling hue of bronze, metal, green, and deep reddish-purple, which cast an otherworldly glow.
All of this was quite daunting for Fio. She felt her mind blown by the fascinating architecture of the Rugname's interior. However, she was experiencing a profound sense of déjà vu, but it felt oddly wrong. She had never seen anything so foreign. Goosebumps formed on her skin, telling her that something wasn't right. She didn't know what, but it certainly had to mean something.
She was eerily silent, taking everything in without muttering a single word. Fio even saw a few brown-tanned Martians, who are the assault troops of this fierce species, prepared to shoot at any intruder with their spore pistols. Their presence scared her, and she instinctively gulped with uncertainty.
Soon enough, the Martians opened up a barrier, leading Fio into a foreboding chamber. It was much darker and adorned with the same pillars and industrial tubes as the hallway of the Rugname. However, the atmosphere of this area felt frightening and oppressive, making Fio tense up.
As they got closer, they encountered white Martians, the elite soldiers and commanding officers of this peculiar, malevolent species. As they inched closer and closer, Fio could hear the agonising screams of the real Morden, stripped of his dignity. She felt fear clogging her throat as her face turned pale and her stomach churned. Despite her hatred for General Morden, she couldn't help but recognise that he was human too. Torture was always a disgusting and horrible thing.
The darkness of this chamber was gradually enveloped in a pulsating bluish light, revealing Morden's electrical prison. The white Martians stood by with ferocity and caution, guarding Morden and the computer terminal connected to his shocking, claustrophobic prison. The room gets darker and Morden’s screams get fainter as the small group of grey Martians and Fio escape the horrid chamber.
They entered a new part of the Rugname, a power reactor hallway fiercely guarded by relentless Hopper Mechas. The Hopper Mechas gave Fio an intense stare of malice, but didn't bother to explode her into a million pieces. They clearly knew that the Martians wanted her for something far more important.
Instead of walking down this long hallway, the small group of grey Martians knew of a shortcut. One of the Martians walked over to a part of the wall that was faintly stained green, its tentacles slightly flapping against the floor. As two thin tentacles gracefully caressed the wall, it opened up to reveal a tubular teleporter with a glassy membrane and industrial tubes. They rudely pushed Fio inside and swiftly followed, sending themselves to somewhere else. Fio almost wanted to tell them off for pushing her inside the teleporter like that, but she knew it was no use.
The Martians were taking her to a grotesque place, one she would never forget. Once they arrived at their location, a large bronze-hued door stood before them. It automatically opened, revealing a chamber that filled Fio with disgust. It was an area of metal enveloped in a dripping mass of organic matter with a shiny reddish hue. The space was punctuated by intestinal pipes and tubular holes, sending shivers down Fio’s spine. The biomechanical mess served as a backdrop as a stasis chamber stands before the group with an eerie atmosphere.
As Fio gazed at the stasis chamber, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The organic matter in this place made her skin crawl, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her. She began to silently wonder, her mind racing with questions. What did the Martians want from her? Was it to simply imprison her? Do they have plans to subject her to rigorous experiments? A part of her dreaded the truth, but her curiosity was relentless, wanting to understand the Martians' true motives.
Unbeknownst to her, the Martians had bigger plans, greater than what she could have imagined. They delicately placed her inside the stasis chamber, suspending her in a spherical tank of an unknown clear liquid. The membrane of the stasis chamber was nearly opaque, allowing her to see everything on the other side. She gave them a look of raw fear, her panic escalating rapidly.
She frantically scanned the room before desperately clawing and pounding at the membrane. In her desperation, she even tried to slash it with her knife and shoot at it with her handgun. Unfortunately, the membrane proved to be highly resistant against Fio’s attacks, which only infuriated her further and intensified her anxiety to a breaking point.
Fio struggled against this prison, but the clear liquid began to fill her organs, making her feel physically tired. She tried to pound on the membrane, but couldn't even lift a finger. She tried to scream, but nothing escaped her throat. Her eyelids grew heavy, and the liquid disrupted the electrical signals her brain produced, inducing a sense of deep relaxation. Her brain signalled to her body to rest and let everything play out.
The last thing she could recall was the Martians leaving with one of them briefly glancing over at her before hurrying away. Tears streamed down Fio's face as she closed her eyes, her body slumped in defeat. At that time, she wanted Marco, Eri, Tarma, or all three of them to save her. She longed to be free from that terrifying hellhole and reunite with Earth's atmosphere and her comrades. She desperately longed to hug her beloved teddy bear, Peppino, once again, hoping to ease her pain.
Updated: October 14, 2024
Reworked Species #1: Martians
Overview
Their scientific name is Cephalorepens galacticus (meaning “creeping head of the galaxy”). They're commonly referred to as the Martians, but some people also refer to them as the Mars People. An omni-linguistic alien species led by their queen, Rootmars, possesses intellectual and sensory capabilities surpassing those of humanity. They possess exceptional expertise in three key areas: necromancy, biological engineering, and technological proficiency, encompassing the use, processes, and mechanical intricacies of advanced technology. Their military force is called the Pipovulaj Army.
Language
Their language consists mainly of words formed with the syllables Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, and Pu. However, translation is challenging due to the seemingly random application of the Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, and Pu syllables, making it difficult to discern a predictable pattern or meaning. They’re capable of producing audible sounds, these noises resemble feline growls, mouse-like squeaks, and unearthly squeals. When speaking their native language, they’re capable of vocalising their words and syllables. When interacting with beings who don't share their language, they shift to telepathic communication, transcending linguistic barriers and conveying their thoughts in the recipient's native tongue.
Hierarchy
The Mars Elite (Cephalorepens galacticus albus) are comprised of four distinct castes: leading scientists who drive innovation, esteemed judges who uphold the law, elite soldiers who embody excellence, and commanding officers who lead with strategic precision.
The Mars Garrison (Cephalorepens galacticus fuscus) are comprised of three main castes: scientists who conduct technological and biological experiments, assassins who conduct covert operations, and assault troops who wield stronger and heavier weaponry.
The Mars Quotidian (Cephalorepens galacticus pallidus) are comprised of four distinct castes: hive workers who repair technology and nurture the young, spies who gather intelligence, researchers who advance their knowledge, and common troops.
Appearance
Martians are taller than the average human, standing approximately at 7’ 3” (220.98 cm) for males and 7’ 6” (228.6 cm) for females. They have a large head with two sets of tentacles: thirty stinger tentacles act as their hands, capable of controlling an electrical pulse to temporarily paralyse people; and twelve leg tentacles with protruding greenish veins and suckers. Their stinger tentacles are half their body length, but they won't stop growing until they have reached double their height, an indication of older and wiser age. They’re sufficiently strong to grasp items firmly, being able to wield a weapon with one of their appendages. They can contract their leg tentacles, enabling them to jump considerable distances and descend slowly in a controlled manner. The skin on their heads and tentacles is surprisingly smooth and contains small pores that can release a thin layer of purplish-white slime. They have greenish-pink blood with a strange taste reminiscent of melon soda.
Female Martians possess a distinctive sac located beneath their head and at the centre of their leg tentacles. This sac is characterised by a bulbous orifice and a translucent yellow-orange coloration with visible skin wrinkles and greenish veins. The interior of the sac is coated with a protective purplish secretion that serves to repel harmful parasites. It also maintains the sac's cleanliness by preventing the accumulation of dirt and menstrual fluid.
Male Martians possess a writhing penis that is translucent and orangish-white in colour. The morphology of this organ bears a resemblance to that of a leopard slug's reproductive structure. It features greenish veins and is characterised by soft, spike-like protrusions encircling its tip. They feature three testicular organs located within cavities situated posterior to their head. These organs are partially visible, protruding slightly from the skin at the back of their head. Two of the testicles contain fertilised seminal fluid with a celadon-green colour, while the central testicle houses eggs with a distinctive amethyst hue and crimson spots. These reproductive organs are incapable of urinating as Martians have a unique physiology that eliminates the need to release bodily waste.
They have a skull of golden-yellow hue, covered in whitish neural veins, and possess an involuntary nervous system. They possess a navel cavity, and when they exhale, the barely visible slits on their face open, revealing small, thin, oval-shaped openings, before promptly closing again. They have two bead-like eyes with white pupils that can constrict or dilate, allowing them better visual control. They possess a mouth capable of opening into a circular, gaping maw with a full set of fleshy, omnivorous teeth that can inject a deadly poison as lethal as cyanide. They also have a serpentine tongue covered in microscopic hooks.
The Mars Elite (Cephalorepens galacticus albus): They have pearlescent white skin, lilac eyes, China rose-coloured leg tentacles, and Syracuse red-orange suckers. They possess two iridescent purple bat-like wings with bony, silver-clawed hands and an impressive wingspan of 9' 5" (287.02 cm). From the back of their head, they have a tail that's eerily similar to a human spine, but it's held together by greenish veins and stretched, glistening dark purple flesh. They have a spiked ball at the tip of their spine-like tail, which holds a black acid. The spikes have small holes, allowing them to spray the acid at their enemies.
The Mars Garrison (Cephalorepens galacticus fuscus): They have brown-tanned skin, raspberry rose eyes, lavender grey leg tentacles, and palatinate purple suckers. They have a large amber-coloured eye in the middle of the back of their head, featuring a slit pupil. At the back of their head, they possess two elongated, mantis-like arms, equipped with two rows of razor-sharp spines, enabling them to grab people from behind.
The Mars Quotidian (Cephalorepens galacticus pallidus): They have greyish-green skin, ultramarine eyes, pale azure leg tentacles, and lapis lazuli suckers.
Abilities
To facilitate telepathic communication with other sentient beings, they employ their mouth and tongue to replicate the physiological processes of human speech. Two exceedingly thin, iridescent tentacles, reminiscent of dew on a spider's silk, emerge from two minuscule openings above their eyes. These tentacles can bifurcate into millions of tiny, hair-like tendrils, which are inserted into the ears of their chosen communicants. The tendrils then navigate to the brain, where they manipulate the electrical signals traversing the neural pathways to access areas responsible for thought and auditory perception.
They shapeshift by mentally imagining what they want to change and coating themselves in a thin layer of purplish-white slime. This strange slime drastically alters their bodily molecules and DNA structure, allowing them to perfectly transform into whatever they envisioned. The Martians possess the ability of dichotomous intangibility, but it’s limited to a duration of 10 minutes. Overextending this power can lead to severe consequences, including ocular degeneration, causing their eyes to become mushy, and cerebral overflow, resulting in permanent blindness and neural damage.
They possess telekinetic abilities, but require the movement of their stinger tentacles and intense concentration on the object they intend to lift or manipulate. Notably, they can focus on up to 20 different objects simultaneously. They can teleport up to 20 metres to different locations, but only in areas they are intimately familiar with. This ability is achieved by vibrating at imperceptible speeds, effectively propelling themselves to their desired destination.
They can sustain themselves by absorbing the vital fluids of other living organisms and the heat of electrical devices, fire, and solar radiation. The Martians possess a unique optic nerve that captures and stores a small portion of their body heat and absorbed energy. This specialised nerve forms a ring around their eyes, featuring a subtle opening that enables the focused release of intense, fiery energy beams.
They can hear low-frequency hums from any planet's core, echoes of ancient riverbeds, whispers of the wind, and the creaking and groaning of dust devils. They can smell the metallic scent of iron oxide dust, the acrid smell of sulphur from volcanic regions, and the ozone-like smell of electrical storms. The Martians can taste soil, the metallic taste of recycled water, the sweet taste of hydroponic crops, the sour taste of fermented food supplies, and the umami taste of protein-rich algae. They can see plankton, the tops of mountains, every pore on a human's face, and the texture of clouds.
Technology
Their technology is based entirely on expertise in bioengineering and energy manipulation. Their technology features a unique blend of elements, including circular shapes, industrial tubes resembling intestines, engravings of ancient pictograms that depict their ancestry, glistening flesh-like surfaces, malleable metal plates, and eerie metallic sheens. Their technology also incorporates pillars, computer modules, pulsating electric fields that double as protection and prison cells, fleshy orifices, and opaque stasis chambers filled with a clear liquid capable of inducing sleep for cloning purposes.
Their primary weapon is a ray gun that fires spores and features a settings mode, offering three distinct options:
Transformation: Transforms individuals into Man Eaters
Electrification: Emits an electric charge to incapacitate targets
Energy Beam: Generates circular light blue energy beams that can effortlessly ensnare targets
There are two types of ray guns: lightweight models, resembling those used by Martians in the mainline Metal Slug games, which emit slow-moving orange spores; and heavyweight models, similar to those used by the Mars People Attacker in Metal Slug Attack, which fire fast-moving blue spores. These spores can be easily neutralised with gunfire or effectively eliminated with well-timed melee attacks.
They employ the same gauntlet-point shields and staffs used by the Mars People Tanks and Healers in Metal Slug Attack. However, when a Martian utilises the staff for healing or summoning lightning storms, the glowing light blue orb transforms into a bright neon pink, and they’re temporarily enveloped in a fiery aura.
They utilise advanced, portable communication devices to connect with fellow members of their species and allies over vast distances. These devices feature a screen displaying a contact list and enable real-time video transmission, allowing users to see the recipient's surroundings. The design bears a striking resemblance to the handheld device depicted in the Mars People artwork from Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum.
Their mothership, the Rugname, measures 459’ 3” (13997 cm) in length and 75’ 5” (2298.7 cm) in height. The exterior is protected by a thin layer of adamant, providing an extremely durable coat that makes it resistant to destruction by conventional weaponry. Its interior features a unique spiral layout, with a continuous corridor stretching from the outer rim to the central hub. On board, the ship houses a variety of facilities, including living quarters, a nursery, a laboratory, a cloning chamber, and torture chamber.
It’s controlled by a simulated, lifeless replica of infant Rootmars, whose brain is encased in a protective glassy film. This replica can generate electric signals that accumulate and discharge as massive blasts of circular, flashing blue and green energy spheres, capable of incinerating individuals. They deploy surveillance drones known as Pupastiko, which resemble massive, sunset-hued locusts with a singular metallic blue-orange eye. These drones are capable of projecting orbs of green fire and expelling streams of acidic, corrosive fluid that mimics blood.
The Dai-Manji boasts exceptional armour, comprising malleable metal plates reinforced with bullet-resistant flesh and a thin shielding of greenish-blue electricity. Serving as the core of the Rugname, it releases Mini-UFOs, unleashes lethal electrical discharges, shoots purple fireballs electrified with sparkling blue sparks, and propels fiery energy bolts with precision to target enemies. It’s believed that there are forty Dai-Manji stored within the Rugname with only four to six permitted to be deployed at any given time. Each one features a logo with the insignia of the Martian race: a circular pickled bluewood crest with an eight-pointed red-orange star at its centre, outlined with a gold border and adorned with four emerald dots at the cardinal directional points (north, south, east, and west).
The Pupivah, also known as the Mars Satellites, are remotely controlled spacecraft shaped like feldgrau Nazi UFOs with a gilded sheen, capable of achieving remarkably high velocities. They are equipped with dual luminous laser systems, emitting either emerald green beams that incinerate targets or magenta beams that petrify them.
The Pepapiro, also known as the Mini-UFOs, are highly agile aircraft equipped with a beehive-shaped ray gun that emits slow-moving greenish-blue lasers capable of penetrating cloth and flesh. The Mini-UFOs are distinguished by their colour schemes and pilots: grey metal variants with eight saffron-yellow stripes are operated by the Mars Quotidian, black metal variants with six red-orange stripes are operated by the Mars Garrison, and gilded variants with four crimson stripes are operated by the Mars Elite.
The Popaphubi, also known as the Hopper Mechas, are suicidal drones that detonate explosive payloads fueled by nuclear radiation and flammable bile, delivering a lethal blow to their targets. They are ten-legged, rust-coloured arachnids featuring gilded pedipalps and a distinctive, shaky silver stripe extending from the cephalothorax to the mid-abdomen. Their forehead bears a triangular arrangement of six blackish-brown eyes, while their entire body is covered in flexible, crystalline hairs.
The Papophiv, also known as the Mars Walkers, are gigantic quadrupeds with metallic blue-red flesh and articulated legs terminating in five clawed, slender fingers. Their bulbous knee joints are covered in hook-like spikes. The creatures' belly features sixteen intestinal tubes encircling a large, glossy jade half-orb. They are capable of producing a black, poisonous gas that causes rapid skin decay and lung rupture. The jade half-orb can produce bouncing bubbles that cause highly corrosive burns once in contact with living organisms. They possess three slit-shaped eyes that exhibit a purely iridescent purple hue, and an antenna that strikingly resembles a sunflower. However, this antenna conceals a deadly capability–it can emit intense, fiery purple lightning bolts.
The Pipopuvhax, also known as the Ring Laser Mechas or Utoms, are sentient, glistening purplish-grey cerebral entities that propel a navy blue tubular body replete with biomechanical organs akin to those found in mammals. They possess four highly flexible robotic arms, surpassing human limb dexterity, which manipulate tusk-like, porcelain-hued levers and metallic green, red, and orange buttons. Their muscular brain features prominent, jutting veins and is shielded by a protective film of whitish, heat-resistant, bulletproof slime. They’re capable of unleashing rings of electrokinetic force, inducing bodily combustion, and generating nearly invisible, bony appendages to grasp individuals.
Goals and beliefs
Their primary objective is to debilitate Earth's military forces and leverage the planet's technological advancements to subjugate humanity. However, their motivations aren’t entirely malevolent; they seek to eradicate the destructive exploitation and harmful activities plaguing Earth. By doing so, the Martians believe they can redirect its resources towards fostering universal unification. They have a disgust for species who harm and abuse the resources and well-being of their home planets. They automatically deem them as inferior and in need of re-education through assimilation into their culture and ways of thinking.
Rootmars and many Martians advocate for the subjugation of humanity to save Earth, but a splinter faction disagrees with this ideology. This dissenting group led by Pupipi, known as the Pipajozhe Army, believes that cohabitation and global cooperation are the only paths to achieving universal peace and protecting the planet. However, due to this belief, the Pipovulaj Army views them as traitors, finding it foolish and shameful that they can have sympathy for an "inferior species". They will stop at nothing to publicly humiliate and/or brutally execute anyone who joins or is found to be part of the Pipajozhe Army, if that person is one of their own kind.
It's well-known that humans and Martians share a similar DNA structure, making interbreeding possible. However, due to the Martians' dominant genetic makeup, offspring always exhibit predominantly Martian traits with subtle human influences. The dynamics of Martian-human reproduction are complex as only male Martians can produce viable offspring with humans. Female Martians can engage in intimate relations with both male and female humans but are incapable of conception.
The two prominent Martian armies, the Pipovulaj Army and Pipajozhe Army, hold differing views on human-Martian reproduction. Those who serve the Pipovulaj Army are vehemently opposed interbreeding, prioritising the preservation of their pure Martian lineage. They fear genetic contamination from outsiders, especially if they find out that they’re wrongfully exploiting their own home planet. In contrast, those who serve the Pipajozhe Army view human-Martian reproduction as a means to enhance their survival prospects. They also believe it can foster meaningful relationships, alleviate human fears, and promote coexistence.
The Martians are open-minded and embrace a diverse range of spiritual concepts, including reincarnation, the psyche, and deities that embody specific principles. In their view, deities serve as avatar conduits for the principles they represent with some requiring more worship and acknowledgement than others to sustain their power. They believe in the supremacy of a unified cosmos, where every individual has a purpose determined by their willingness to align with moral righteousness and strive towards their hopes and dreams.
They hold that no being is above the true purpose of existence and the eleven fundamental powers of the universe: seamlessness, centration, allurement, emergence, homeostasis, cataclysm, synergy, transmutation, transformation, interrelatedness, and radiance. They firmly believe that the true purpose of existence lies beyond human comprehension and will only be revealed to those who have attained divine enlightenment, thereby gaining the capacity to grasp the vast expanse of extraterrestrial mysteries and horrors.
All Martians share the conviction that natural resources provided by planets are invaluable and should be treated with utmost care and reverence. The mishandling of such resources is viewed as a heinous and sacrilegious act against the divine forces of the universe. They hold in high esteem the preservation of ancient knowledge and architecture, and endeavour to protect and pass on the cultural heritage of all species through various means, including meticulous drawings, written works, and other forms of documentation. They regard biological evolution and technological advancement as two pivotal, dynamic forces that shape and transform society and ecosystems in a perpetual state of flux.
War of the Worlds (2005) by Steven Spielberg.
I love Spielberg's adaptation of War of the Worlds.
It's a remarkable film, and one of Spielberg's great dream films, in the way that sometimes you'll have a dream, and it will start out meaning one thing, but by the end it will mean something else.