Space Monsters!

[Icy_Penguigo]

Hey guys. I haven't had much experience modeling anything organic really, so this project from ADB was an interesting challenge. Ths cover is supposed to depict a Federation starship encountering a 'space manta', which I had to make. It's not hollywood quality(not even close), but I think it still turned out pretty well considering my lack of time and skill. What do you think?

A shot with just its own bioluminesence:

To scale with a Federation X-Cruiser:

 

[Urge]

Very alien, kind of cool. The diamond-spikes on the winges was a intresting detail, but why does the creature have diamonds attached to it? The red stuff behind, is that exhaust from a kind of organic rocket, or is it a part of the animal?

But thats also what makes the creature so alien, it has some strange details on it, that makes me intrested in getting to know it better.

 

[Alientraveller]

Wow, it's beautiful.

 

[O'Dib]

Now I can get how something like THIS could kill Steve Irwin.

 

[lennier1]

Some really great work!

But why do I suddenly get the image of that Connie getting bitchslapped with that glowing tail?

 

[DestinyCaptain]

I think it works very well. I like it.

 

[Icy_Penguigo]

My model of the space manta is based on the story's somewhat vague description of the creature, so some parts of it I know the function of, others I do not. The spikes are a weapon system. I do not know what they're made of or why they glow, but the story describes them as 'diamond-hard and explosive', and it fired them at the Powell(the hero ship) at various times. The red stuff trailing behind the creature is some kind of sensory organ, attached by very small and nearly invisible(but extremely tough) fibers. The story describes the creature as being able to feel waves of starlight, hear radiation, and smell energy, so I figure it's gotta have some pretty crazy sense organs.

Other details about the creature: It's basically an unintelligent beast. It lives to eat and reproduce, and it considers starships and excellent meal. Its method of eating is by directly absorbing energy, so it can gain a great deal of nutrition from starship engines(the story describes how feasting on a starship can keep the creature sated for several decades). It can travel faster than light although it is not understood how the creature does this at all. It is also far tougher than a starship, and covered with small, symbiotic parasite creatures that it can coax off itself and into attacking its prey. Conventional weapons are nearly useless against it, so alternative methods are required to drive it away or put it down when encountered.

Here's the actual cover image it's being used in:

 

[Urge]

The red sensory organs are 2-dimensional. They need a extra dimensjon, so that they dont look like some sort of color-paper attached to the creature.

Perhaps a bubble-like, non-smooth surface? On its colors, it looks bubble-like

 

[Icy_Penguigo]

The red sensory organs are 2-dimensional. They need a extra dimensjon, so that they dont look like some sort of color-paper attached to the creature.

Perhaps a bubble-like, non-smooth surface? On its colors, it looks bubble-like

Yeah, they are 2-dimensional. I was going for a strange, other-worldly feel to those, but this model was made under pretty severe time restrictions. If I had more time to work on it(or if I ever get a chance to come back to it) I would definitely make them look less 2-dimensional. Perhaps some slight bubbled texture as you suggest, and maybe some other flowing, wispy membranes extending from them.

Ah well, restrictions breed creativity, and if I hadn't had to make this in such a time crunch I probably would have gone mad trying to imagine and implement all the details I would have wanted to add.

 

[Icy_Penguigo]

Just because, here are a few more close-ups of various parts of the creature. Enjoy.

 

[Warped9]

I find this interesting and rather cool. Well done. I like the creature shown by its own bioluminesence. If I had to quibble I'd say the colouring is a little too rich or intense. But otherwise, bravo.

 

[sojourner]

^ That's to attract potential mates.

 

[therealfoxbat]

^ That's to attract potential mates.

EEE-YIKES!!!

You know who would REALLY hate Space Mantas...?

The Interstellar Concordium (ISC)...

With their vaguely manta-shaped hull designs, starships of the ISC would be in danger of a particularly gruesome fate during mating season...

======================================

ON THE BRIDGE OF AN ISC STAR CRUISER...

Captain: "Sensors, I want an immediate report of ANY contact, no matter how insignificant it might seem... Helm, be prepared to jump to maximum warp at a moments notice... This is mating season for Space Mantas, people... You all don't want to spend your entire shore leave cleaning the hull like last year, do you...?"

 

[Sycho Nosk]

thats really cool, i love things with bioluminesence.. especially real animals... you sed you got the idea from a book? which one?

 

[Icy_Penguigo]

^ That's to attract potential mates.

That was actually my thinking. A space manta can travel for many hundreds of years without encountering another of its kind, so when it does, it must be as eye-catching and impressive as possible so as to ensure the propagation of the species.

thats really cool, i love things with bioluminesence.. especially real animals... you sed you got the idea from a book? which one?

The space manta is from the fiction story in the upcoming Captain's Log #40, the magazine of the Star Fleet Universe, for which this is the cover.

The Star Fleet Universe is a series of interconnected games with common ships, races, and background. It originated from Star Fleet Battles, designed by Steve Cole in the 70's, and has spawned many more games, a huge, rich background, and a steady following of players since its inception.

The Star Fleet Universe is based on TOS and TOS alone, and it is divergent from the canon Star Trek universe from TMP onward. It features many familiar races, such as Kilngons, Romulans, Tholians, and Gorn, but also features many new creations such as the Lyrans, Hydrans, and Andromedans. It has a vast and internally consistent timeline that starts in our time and goes all the way until fifty years after the end of TOS. Wars, alliances, politics, intrigue, heroes, and villains abound.

I would highly recommend you check it out. Take a look at the link in my signature for more information.

 

[MarianLH]

Nice work! And a nice change of pace from the usual.

What's with the sensor dishes on the cruiser? Is it an X version of a GSC?


Marian

 

[Icy_Penguigo]

Nice work! And a nice change of pace from the usual.

What's with the sensor dishes on the cruiser? Is it an X version of a GSC?


Marian

It's actually a Fed GVX medium carrier, of which only one was built, the USS Field Marshal Colin Powell. It carries six F-111's and has four special sensors, in addition to all the other abilites of an X-ship. It was initially intended for deep raids but was later found to be an amazing tool for hunting Andromedan RTN nodes. After the Andromedan invasion it became primarily a scientific exploration vessel(a very well-defended one). That is the period in which the story takes place.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

 

[largo]

globally binky.

 

[Nerroth]

Awesome.


(ISC-wise, it only looks like one of the ships from SFC - the SFB/FC versions of Concordium ships look somewhat different.)

 

[Kaiser]

Cool Monster