Martians

The Martians are described by humans as firecrackers; one little spark can set them off into a detrimental explosion. Their appearance and dispositions are the stuff of nightmares, and the other races of the universe know to steer clear of them. Of course, that hasn't stopped them from poking the bear at times, especially when it comes to gaining access to their home planet of Mars. Even discussing such matters in a civil manner with the Martian ambassador has led to people being vaporized. The particularly aggressive attempts of the Terrans to colonize Mars resulted in a war that nearly wiped the race out (bottom line: don't fuck with the Martians). Since then, they have been treated with both kid gloves and extreme scrutiny. Only the ambassadors ever come to Rome when their prescence is crucial. However, Martians have the ability to take on the appearance of any known species in the universe and fit in seemlessly with their society - however, they must do this by inhabiting another's body.

Strengths and Weaknesses

 * Extremely short-tempered and trigger-happy
 * Very territorial
 * Most technologically proficient species
 * Grotesque in appearance
 * Genderless
 * Ability to "snatch" the bodies of other species and blend in with others
 * Are capable of forming emotional attachments, just slower than other species
 * Do not live as long as humanoids, but mature faster; a 20-year-old martian is the equivalent of a 40-year-old human.