Rachni

From Complete Mass Effect

[edit] Biology

The rachni are a race of space-faring insects, they have a social structure similar to ants, with a queen, workers, and soldiers. The workers are very small and use a kamikaze technique, exploding when they reach you, the soldiers use their claws and spray acid on enemies; both the kamikaze from the workers and the acid from the soldiers releases poison into their enemies. The rachni hatch from eggs, those eggs can stay dormant for very, very long periods.

[edit] History

Though now extinct, the rachni once threatened every species in Citadel space. Over 2000 years ago, explorers foolishly opened a mass relay to a previously-unknown system and encountered something never seen before or since: a species of space-faring insects guided by a hive-mind intelligence.

Unfortunately, the rachni were not peaceful, and the galaxy was plunged into a series of conflicts known as the Rachni Wars. Attempts to negotiate were futile, as it was impossible to make contact with the hive queens that guided the race from beneath the surface of their toxic homeworld.

The emergence of the krogan ended the Rachni Wars. Bred to survive in the harshest environments, the krogan were able to strike at the queens in their lairs and reclaim conquered Council worlds. But when the krogan fleets pressed them back to their homeworld, the rachni refused to surrender, and the krogan eradicated them from the galaxy.

During the events of Mass Effect, the rachni may or may not have reemerged on the galactic scene, depending on your choices as Commander Shepard. It is unknown what part the rachni might play in future Mass Effect installments, but it can be assumed they will have a role.