Editing The Sky

{{Separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Richard Hatch Novelizations}}

'''The Sky''' are an alien race of telepathic beings capable of natural flight through air and space. Despite being a gentle and peaceful race, they have become formidable warriors out of necessity, knowing that not all galactic neighbors share their benevolence.<ref name="WH1">{{cite book/RH|2|1}}</ref>

==Biology and Physiology==

The Sky possess a distinctive physical form, with bodies shaped like a wide, flat, muscular crescent moon with tips forward.<ref name="WH1" /> Their bodies feature wing-like structures that enable flight, and they can extend pseudopods from the front tip of their bodies to manipulate objects and controls.<ref name="WH1" />

The Sky can propel themselves through air and space without mechanical assistance, though even the strongest Sky cannot fly indefinitely without rest.<ref name="WH1" /> Their blood is green ichor.<ref name="ARM106">{{cite book/RH|1|106}}</ref> While their bodies are not subject to damage by temperature changes, prolonged exposure to the vacuum of deep space without protection can cause exhaustion and a disturbing numbness.<ref name="WH91">{{cite book/RH|2|91}}</ref>

The Sky appear to have no physical eyes, relying entirely on their mental senses for perception.<ref name="ARM106" /> This sensory ability extends to telepathic sight, allowing them to "see" without conventional vision.<ref name="ARM106" />

==Technology==

===Armor-Ships===

The Sky utilize unique armor-ships that conform closely to the contours of their bodies, serving as both protective covering and propulsion systems.<ref name="WH1" /> These armor-ships are essentially extensions of their pilots, with the Sky described as being "one with their armor."<ref name="WH1" />

The armor features internal engines that make long-distance space travel faster and less dangerous than unassisted flight.<ref name="WH1" /> At the convex curve of the crescent-shaped armor sits a green-fire engine, while a hard-light plasma cannon is mounted at the midpoint of the inner curve between the tips, serving as the primary weapon.<ref name="WH1" />

These vessels are piloted entirely through telepathy, with no windows or viewports for conventional sight.<ref name="ARM106" /> The ships respond to telepathic commands, allowing for maneuverability at "the warhawk speed of thought"—enabling instantaneous maneuvering that surpasses even the fastest conventional spacecraft in agility, though not necessarily in straight-line speed.<ref name="WH228">{{cite book/RH|2|228}}</ref>

The armor-ships can sustain significant damage while still protecting their occupants, though breaches that injure the pilot within can cause green ichor to seep into space.<ref name="ARM107">{{cite book/RH|1|107}}</ref>

==Abilities==

===Telepathy===

The Sky are a profoundly telepathic race, with mental communication serving as their primary mode of interaction.<ref name="ARM108">{{cite book/RH|1|108}}</ref> Their telepathic abilities are extensive and include:

* '''Mind-to-Mind Communication''': The Sky can communicate telepathically across the void of space, establishing mental links with other beings.<ref name="ARM108" />
* '''Linguistic Acquisition''': They can plumb the minds of other beings to extract language, memories, and knowledge, essentially "stealing" languages from others' minds to facilitate communication.<ref name="ARM105">{{cite book/RH|1|105}}</ref>
* '''Psychic Sensing''': The Sky can sense the emotions, minds, and presence of other beings across vast distances, detecting hatred, fear, and other strong emotions radiating through space.<ref name="WH1" />
* '''Death Echoes''': They can perceive the "deathcries" of warriors during battle and sense the psychic remnants left behind by deceased Sky.<ref name="WH227">{{cite book/RH|2|227}}</ref><ref name="WH91" />
* '''Mental Deception''': The Sky can manipulate the perceptions of others, making enemies believe they are seeing something that is not there or convincing them that the Sky warrior has vanished.<ref name="ARM105" /><ref name="WH4">{{cite book/RH|2|4}}</ref>
* '''Pain Shielding''': They can shield other beings from experiencing the full intensity of telepathic pain.<ref name="ARM108" />
* '''Psychic Navigation''': The Sky can spread their consciousness across space to create a "delicate telepathic web" that gives them awareness of their position in the galactic quadrant.<ref name="WH91" />

The telepathic abilities of the Sky are so powerful that their distress signals can cause severe pain in other beings who sense them.<ref name="ARM93">{{cite book/RH|1|93}}</ref>

===Flight===

The Sky can fly naturally through atmospheric and space environments without mechanical assistance, using a combination of physical wing-like structures and telekinetic propulsion.<ref name="WH3">{{cite book/RH|2|3}}</ref> They can add the force of their minds to their armor's engine power for enhanced propulsion.<ref name="WH3" />

Unarmored Sky can fly through space, though they risk exhaustion and must eventually rest.<ref name="WH4" /> During the [[Chitain (TOS-RH)|Chitain]] attack on their embassy, several unarmored Sky flew to draw fire away from the embassy, willingly sacrificing themselves for their people.<ref name="WH4" />

==Culture and Society==

The Sky are fundamentally a gentle and peaceful race.<ref name="WH1" /> They believe that few troubles cannot be solved by soaring through the air of their homeworld or sailing on the "astral winds" of space.<ref name="WH1" /> This philosophy emphasizes tranquility and harmony with their environment.

However, the Sky are not foolish—they recognize that their benevolence is not shared by all galactic neighbors, and this knowledge has transformed them into a race of warriors when necessary.<ref name="WH1" /> They maintain military readiness and warrior traditions to defend themselves against hostile forces.

The Sky establish embassies on moons and planets throughout their quadrant, maintaining diplomatic relationships with other species.<ref name="WH2">{{cite book/RH|2|2}}</ref> These embassies serve as bases for cultural exchange and peaceful coexistence with neighboring races.

When Sky warriors die in battle, their passing leaves psychic "death echoes" that other Sky can sense across vast distances, serving as both a form of communication and a connection to fallen comrades.<ref name="WH91" />

==History==

===Diplomatic Relations===

The Sky established an embassy on the [[Xerik-12's third moon|third moon]] of [[Xerik-12]] to maintain relations with the [[Chitain (TOS-RH)|Chitain]], the only sentient race native to the [[Xerik system]] and inhabitants of [[Xerik-7]].<ref name="WH2" /> For a time, this relationship proved peaceful and mutually beneficial, with the Chitain sharing aspects of their technology and culture with the Sky, though they never allowed close inspection of their vessels.<ref name="WH3" />

===Chitain Betrayal===

The peaceful relationship between the Sky and Chitain ended abruptly when the Chitain launched an unprovoked attack on the Sky embassy on Xerik-12's third moon.<ref name="WH2" /> More than a dozen Chitain craft descended on the embassy without warning, catching the Sky off guard.<ref name="WH2" /> The attack was particularly disturbing because it came without any prior slight, insult, or indication of hostility—only duplicity.<ref name="WH2" />

During the attack, Sky warriors attempted to defend their embassy, with some flying unarmored to draw Chitain fire away from the installation, sacrificing themselves for their people.<ref name="WH4" /> The Chitain assault ultimately resulted in the complete destruction of the embassy, with the Chitain "wiping it from the galaxy."<ref name="WH227" />

[[Valor (TOS-RH)|Valor]], a Sky warrior who arrived during the attack, fought desperately to defend the embassy but was severely wounded in the battle.<ref name="WH5">{{cite book/RH|2|5}}</ref> The betrayal and massacre left deep scars on Sky society, generating profound hatred and a desire for vengeance against the Chitain.<ref name="WH227" />

===Alliance with Humanity===

The Sky first encountered humanity when [[Apollo (TOS alternate)|Apollo]] rescued the wounded Valor after the Chitain attack.<ref name="ARM108" /> Apollo used his [[Viper (TOS alternate)|Viper]]'s turbo lasers to cauterize Valor's massive wound, saving his life in a desperate and painful procedure.<ref name="ARM107" /> This act of compassion established a bond between the two warriors and opened diplomatic relations between the Sky and the [[The Fleet (TOS-RH)|Colonial Fleet]].<ref name="ARM108" />

During his recovery, Valor provided Apollo with intelligence about hostile presences in the quadrant, including [[Cylons (TOS alternate)|Cylon]] scouts apparently preparing to establish outposts in Sky territory.<ref name="ARM109">{{cite book/RH|1|109}}</ref> The Sky, having only encountered the results of Cylon passage rather than the Cylons themselves, became wary of this new threat.<ref name="ARM109" />

===Battle Against the Chitain Fleet===

When the Chitain attacked the Colonial Fleet, Valor—having recovered from his injuries under the care of Sky healers on the homeworld—led more than one hundred and fifty Sky warriors to intervene.<ref name="WH227" /> The Sky had departed their homeworld determined to bring vengeance upon the Chitain for destroying their embassy.<ref name="WH227" /> Despite Sky healers attempting to keep Valor behind due to his weakness, he insisted on leading the attack force.<ref name="WH227" />

The Sky warriors arrived at a critical moment when the Colonial Fleet faced overwhelming odds against the Chitain's superior firepower.<ref name="WH228" /> The element of surprise worked heavily in the Sky's favor, with their initial strike destroying six Chitain craft completely.<ref name="WH227" /> However, the Chitain vessels proved deadly fast, and the Sky suffered casualties during the battle, with several warriors exploding into space debris under Chitain fire.<ref name="WH228" />

The Sky's superior maneuverability compensated for the Chitain's speed advantage. While Chitain warships could outrun Sky armor-ships in straight-line velocity, the Sky could maneuver instantaneously through telepathic control, allowing them to outmaneuver their enemies in combat.<ref name="WH228" />

[[Athena (TOS alternate)|Athena]] sensed the Sky's telepathic presence during the battle, confirming to [[Cain (TOS alternate)|Cain]] that the new arrivals were friends based on her brother Apollo's earlier account of meeting Valor.<ref name="WH228" /> The Sky's intervention dramatically shifted the battle's fortune, transforming what seemed a hopeless situation for the Colonial Fleet into a winnable engagement.<ref name="WH228" />

The battle exacted a heavy toll on the Sky. Valor himself was killed during the engagement.<ref name="WH270">{{cite book/RH|2|270}}</ref> After the battle concluded, the remaining Sky warriors quickly disappeared, presumably returning to their homeworld satisfied with their vengeance against the Chitain.<ref name="WH270" /> Apollo mourned Valor alone, as he was the only human who had truly known the Sky as anything more than silent allies.<ref name="WH270" />

==Homeworld==

The Sky maintain a homeworld where their people reside and where healers treat injured warriors.<ref name="WH227" /> The Sky can reach out telepathically to touch the minds of others on their homeworld, though this requires proximity—warriors too far from the planet cannot establish such contact.<ref name="WH91" />

When Valor became lost and disoriented during his journey after the embassy attack, he was unable to reach the minds of Sky on the homeworld, indicating he was still quite distant from it.<ref name="WH91" /> The homeworld appears to be the center of Sky civilization and the launching point for military expeditions.<ref name="WH227" />

==Notable Sky==

* '''[[Valor (TOS-RH)|Valor]]''': A prominent Sky warrior who formed an alliance with Apollo and led Sky forces against the Chitain. He was killed during the battle to defend the Colonial Fleet.<ref name="WH270" />

==Relationships with Other Species==

===Humans===

The Sky's relationship with humanity began with Apollo's rescue of Valor and developed into a military alliance.<ref name="ARM108" /> Based on Apollo's example of intelligence, courage, and compassion, the Sky viewed humans favorably.<ref name="WH227" /> When they discovered the human fleet under attack by the Chitain, the Sky had no doubt about intervening on humanity's behalf.<ref name="WH227" />

During the battle, the Sky warriors followed Valor's command to "destroy the Chitain with all the savagery with which they wiped our embassy from the galaxy," demonstrating their willingness to fight alongside humans against a common enemy.<ref name="WH227" /> However, the Sky maintained some distance from humanity—after the battle, they departed quickly without extensive contact, and Apollo remained the only human who truly knew them.<ref name="WH270" />

===Chitain===

The Sky maintained peaceful and mutually beneficial diplomatic relations with the Chitain through an embassy on Xerik-12's third moon.<ref name="WH2" /> However, the Chitain betrayed this relationship with an unprovoked attack that destroyed the embassy.<ref name="WH2" /> This betrayal transformed the Sky's view of the Chitain from diplomatic partners to hated enemies deserving of vengeance.<ref name="WH227" />

The Sky viewed the Chitain as barbaric, and their desire for vengeance was so strong that it drove wounded warriors like Valor to fight despite their injuries.<ref name="WH227" /> The Sky's hatred for the Chitain was profound enough that they projected terrifying mental images of Chitain ships aflame and Chitain cities destroyed.<ref name="WH4" />

===Cylons===

The Sky had limited direct contact with [[Cylons (TOS alternate)|Cylons]], encountering primarily the results of Cylon passage through their quadrant rather than the Cylons themselves.<ref name="ARM109" /> Valor informed Apollo that Cylon scouts had been in the Sky's quadrant, apparently preparing to establish outposts, and stated that "the Sky will not allow this."<ref name="ARM109" />

The Sky viewed the Cylons as a new threat and enemies of their people, though the full extent of their conflict with the Cylons remains unclear.<ref name="ARM105" />

==Military Capabilities==

The Sky demonstrate formidable military capabilities despite their peaceful nature:

* '''Tactical Surprise''': Sky forces can arrive suddenly, appearing "as if from nowhere" to catch enemies off guard.<ref name="WH228" />
* '''Superior Maneuverability''': Their telepathically controlled armor-ships can maneuver instantaneously, allowing them to dodge attacks and reposition at the speed of thought.<ref name="WH228" />
* '''Coordinated Attacks''': Sky warriors can coordinate through telepathy, operating as a unified force under a single commander's mental direction.<ref name="WH227" />
* '''Psychological Warfare''': They can project terrifying mental images to demoralize enemies and broadcast their presence telepathically.<ref name="WH4" />
* '''Self-Sacrifice''': Unarmored Sky warriors are willing to fly into battle without protection to draw fire from strategic targets.<ref name="WH4" />

The Sky's greatest weakness in battle appears to be their vulnerability to fast-moving weapons fire, particularly from highly maneuverable craft like those of the Chitain.<ref name="WH228" /> While they can dodge attacks through telepathic deception and superior maneuverability, concentrated fire from multiple fast-moving vessels can overwhelm their defenses.<ref name="WH228" />

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sky, The}}
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Richard Hatch Novelizations]]
[[Category:Telepathic Species]]
[[Category:Alien Species]]