Pkunk

The Pkunk (meaning "peace" in their own language) are wacky, toucan-like beings, an offshoot of the Yehat race. They are pacifistic mystics who claim to be in constant contact with the "spirit-world". They once lived on the Yehat homeworld of Gamma Serpentis I, but now reside in the Krueger constellation.

Biology
Anatomically, they are also birds, like their Yehat brethren, though their anatomy is extremely different, including an abnormally long middle finger.

According to the Pkunk, it was when Weeny Wikki Beeki Birdi sat on the Mystical Egg of Icelike Temperature and gave the Original Squawk -- "Rup-Rup-Rup-BGAK!" -- that their transformation from Yehat to Pkunk began.

This is debateable, though their psionic powers are not. The Pkunk, being naturally in tune with the flow of the universe, have a vast array of psionic powers, from precognitive visions, collective meditational telepathy, remote viewing and most impressively, the ability to resurrect themselves to the physical plane upon the destruction of their physical bodies. This resurrective ability even allows their ships to return with them.

Culture
Pkunk frequently talk about spirits, fortune-telling and other new-age kind of stuff (such as the Pootworm discourse) which usually amuses Humans. However, somehow their fortunes are always correct, which makes it probable that the Pkunk have a highly-advanced "sixth sense".

The Pkunk do not value the material world, and consider it unimportant to even talk about such things as alliances and battleships. Because of this, and despite of this, they will give the captain a precursor artifact in their very first meeting, and also some ships for free once in a while.

The Pkunk are seekers of spiritual wisdom, and are attuned to the powers that be, whatever powers those are. The Pkunk really aren't sure. Just that they have senses far beyond the ken of other species, and that they have been entrusted with the wisdom and enlightenment of the cosmos. Or so they believe.

Pkunk claim to have lived many lives, and those who have met Furies in combat may well know this first hand. The wisest of their rank may have lived countless lives if it wasn't so obvious that the Pkunk clearly keep track of such things. This transcendence gives them incredible karma, and as such they attest anything and everything that involves them to their karma, even such things as chance arrivals of visitors or someone's next works. And while they are certain that everything is the result of their innate attunement to the powers of the universe, they're not always clear on why things happen or what they are supposed to do about them.

For all of their hocus-pocus and bravado, the Pkunk do seem to have insights that on the surface may seem wild and glaringly unlikely, but generally end up as true. They are, of course, hedging their bets. As an incredibly superstitious race, the Pkunk use alignment of stars, seasons, spiritual energies, and flimflam as precognicient indicators of their veracity. Thus, if they guess wrong, it's always the spirits' fault. Lastly, the Pkunk's struggle to be at peace with the universe and at One with All is not total. Their "insights" into the Ilwrath psyche led them to the conclusion that the Ilwrath struggled for perfection until it warped their pure and innocent souls right around to evil.

Weeny Wikki Beeki Birdi is a very important figure in Pkunk history/legend. It was Weeny Wikki Beeki Birdi who sat on The Mystical Egg of Icelike Temperature and gave the Original Squawk--"Rup-Rup-Rup-BGAK!"--somehow causing some Yehat to become Pkunk.

The Pootworm is a worm that the Pkunk use in a philosophical discourse meant to prove to The Captain that he is alive, when they first greet him in space. Specifically, they say:

"Welcome to our home stars. We are the Pkunk. Pkunk we are. Seekers of the deepest truths, askers of interesting and significant questions. Even now a question of great transcendental significance comes unbidden to our minds. Who are you and what do you want? Do not be frightened. We are powerful creatures, yes, but we could not hurt you anymore than we could squish the helpless Pootworm. We love the Pootworm. We are one with the Pootworm. We are one with you. Of course you realize that this means you are one with the Pootworm. Rejoice!! To be one with the Pootworm is to be alive, and why not be alive? Is that not what living is for?"

Government
Upon reuniting with the Yehat, the first Pkunk ascends to the throne of Queen of both species. It seems as if the Queen has similar authortarian powers as the Yehat Queen, but with the typical Pkunk flair, leaning more toward pacifism than her similar counterpart.

Braky Girdy the First is the first Pkunk to become Queen of the Yehat Clans. This is an optional event that only occurs if The Captain incites the Yehat Rebellion. Braky Girdy the First is one of the Pkunk, perhaps their leader, who made the decision to make peace with the Yehat. When they move to Yehat space, the Pkunk are absorbed by the Yehat, who would speak no more of the matter. After the Yehat Rebels defeat the Yehat Royalists, Braky Girdy the First unites the Clans in peace and harmony as the Pkunk provide them with insights and counsel. Her first order as Queen is to form a combined fleet of Furies and Terminators, and provide reinforcements of four of each ship to The Captain in his climactic battle with the Sa-Matra.

History
Pkunk history began when Weeny Wikki Beeki Birdi sat on the mystical egg of Icelike Temperature and uttered the Original Squak, "Rup-rup-rup-BGAK." It was this squawk that set the harmonic oscillations in motion that snapped the then predaceous Pkunk from their bestial reverie and sent them on the path to enlightenment. The Yehat, who evidently did not align quite as nicely, decided that the Pkunk should start their commune a respectable distance away from Yehat space. Specifically, and until recently, the Yehat would fire upon Pkunk vessels on sight.

This, of course, was of some concern to the Pkunk, but not quite as much concern as the Ilwrath, whose relentless attacks came 8 years before the destruction of the Sa-Matra. While the Ilwrath were eventually lured away by clever impersonation of their dark gods, the Pkunk decided that a homecoming was in order, and despite opposition by their allies, the Pkunk reentered Yehat space.

The Pkunk immediately disappeared, and the Yehat were closed beaked about the entire sordid affair until the battle with the Sa-Matra's honor guard was fought and won. There, a task force of Yehat and Pkunk ships arrived, as the Pkunk had predicted, and announced that the Yehat's bitter revolution had come to an end. The Pkunk had unified the clans and brought peace to the warring factions, and in their gratitude, the Yehat made a Pkunk their queen. They then joined the allied resistance and took down the Sa-Matra.

Beyond this, the Pkunk played a relatively small part in the rebellion, contributing but a few ships and some cryptic advice. They carried forth this role in the Kessari timeline, most notably when they detected the suffering sentient Precursor computer on Exquivo. That the Yehat did not accompany the Pkunk was unusual, given their recent reunion.

Interstellar Relations
Alliance of Free Stars

It appears that the Alliance was vaguely aware of the Pkunk presence during the Ur-Quan Slave War; the Pkunk Sphere of Influence appears as the Sphere of an "Unknown" alien race on a 2133 Alliance Starmap. When the Pkunk encountered the New Alliance in the mid 2150s, they offered friendship, philosophy and Furies. The same assistance is rendered during subsequent interactions.

Ilwrath

Commanded by their twin gods Dogar and Kazon, the Ilwrath are currently fighting a fanatical war against the Pkunk, having already exterminated two-thirds of the Pkunk race. The Pkunk seem to take this war very casually though, telling the Captain, "We bear the spidery creatures no ill will. Without darkness there is no light. Without death there is no birth, and thanks to the Ilwrath there's lots of birth."

Yehat

While they love their distant brethren with all their hearts, the Yehat hate them with gusto. In spite of this, the Pkunk predict a day in which the Yehat will greet them with wings outstretched, beaks stuffed with grubs—which can happen indeed if the Veep-Neep Queen is removed from the High Perch of Caer Zeep-Reep. A Pkunk, Braky Girdy the First, will then replace her as Queen of the Yehat. During the mid 2150s, they migrate en masse back to Yehat space and to re-integrate into the Yehat culture. If the Captain has ignited the Yehat Revolution, the Pkunk will enter the civil war on the Rebel side that emerges victorious with a Pkunk taking the High Perch. Queen Braky Girdy the First immediately dispatches a fleet of Terminators and Fury ships to back up the Flagship in the Final Mission.