Aekker

Overview
Aekkers are a rare breed of Necrophage native to North California. While considered sapient by many factions (Particularly non-human factions) many other factions consider Aekkers a radioactive aberration to be exterminated, and that is if they believe they exist at all. Aekkers are commonly believed to have died out around the 2270s due to the active extermination engaged by the NCFP and Broken Hills slavers who were suffering increased losses at the hands of the creatures.

Biology
Aekkers most noticeable part is the solid 'skull' which is mistakenly believed to exist on the outside of their head. In fact this is a hard exoskeleton formed on the outside of the head like a helmet, to protect the Aekker from radiation. While the primary purpose is radiation, the sheer density of the bone means it is nearly impossible to penetrate with most melee and small caliber weapons. Two perched ears extend from either side of the creatures head, having a hearing range of nearly 15 hz to upwards of 86,000 hz. The extremely powerful ears allow the Aekker to pick up on nearly all sounds from vast distances and therefore track prey or escape danger with relative ease, far more efficient than a human.

Aekkers are not exceptionally long lived, having an average life span of around 60. This potentially varies however as an Aekker originally from another sapient species may take the lifespan of the host species.

Reproduction
One of the most unique aspects of Aekker physiology is the process in which they reproduce. While most necrophages reproduce in some manner through the death of other sapients. While they consist both male and female mammalian organs, Aekkers are unique in that they actually 'turn' members of other species into Aekkers. When an Aekker gets to live around 30 years old the Aekker hits puberty. Upon doing so the Aekker will then have two front teeth grow in. These teeth are hollow to allow a specific type of venom through them, because they are hollow they are easy to break and don't grow back. To reproduce, the Aekker will kidnap a victim and secure them in its lair, injecting the victim with venom. After a week unconscious - the victim will awaken after their body has undergone significant physiological changes, essentially turning them into an Aekker. Many turned Aekkers will retain many of the basic bone and physiological structure of their original body.

Creation
Nearly 20 years after the nuclear war that ended the Old World and gave rise to the New World, the Vodani (Remnants of the Elven Canadian Empire) were desperate for ways of creating and manufacturing a perfect surface combatant. While they were experimenting with self-construction of Power Armor and Robots, the Vodani were spread thin and Vodani generals demanded keeping their territory. With no way to resupply losses both personnel wise and equipment wise - it was suggested a genetically engineered supersoldier would make a prime target.

Vodani scientists at the Hanford Site in the Old Washington State around 2131 finally managed to create a 'pre-Aekker'. Or rather, a rather vicious dog-elven hybrid, however issues with getting the elven and canine brain tissue to fuse cause a total void of sentience. Project VE-1 ended in disaster when a Washington Militia remnants unit raided the Hanford Site. A meltdown in the main nuclear reactor caused a massive wave a radiation to sweep through the facility, instantly killing all Elven and Human personel alike with the exception of a weakened Elven Power Armor Squad, who were ripped to shreds by the VE-1s. The VE-1s made their way into the New World and eventually called Washington state home, they were tagged as 'Ghostkin' by the native inhabitants.

In 2132 a Vodani salvage and research team made their way inside the old Hanford Site and recovered the corpse of one of the old VE-1s, taking it down to North California to a Vodani R&D bunker where they engaged in top secret experimentation through 2140 before eventually managing to create the VE-102. The perfect killing machine. Keeping most of the same design features of the VE-1, the Vodani scientists believing that humans were closer to dogs and therefore would be more compatible(It is unlikely this had any impact on the test results, however they got it to work anyways), ended the Elven-Canine hybrid experimentation and focused on Human-Canine experimentation. The VE-102 achieved total sapience with a higher intelligence than expected and similar strength. However what was of an even more interesting note was the radioactive exposure caused by the Hanford Site meltdown, actually had significantly changed the VE-1 biology. This resulted in the odd reproductive measures of actively turning its victims and also many anti-radioactive elements like the skull-helmet. However later generations of the Ghostkin would also form a similar protective measure.

Eventually in mid 2140, the Vodani scientists had a slip in security and the VE-102s escaped, turning all of the scientists and unarmored soldiers, killing the armored soldiers and escaping into the New World.