DISPUTANT

The Variant is a species of tall, thin, ameba-like, cycloptic humanoids, though few have ever seen them in their indigenous form, whose culture is based upon espionage. Contracted by species throughout the cosmos to provide covert scouting information and infiltration services. There are fewer than 10,000 Variants left in existence due to a civil war that raged for over a millennia. The war which ended over 100,000 years ago was between two factions. The Terrestrial Faction and the Cosmic Faction. The Terrestrials felt that the Variant should focus on its own internal struggles and forgo outside influence and participation. They wanted to slow the proliferation of technology for the good of the people. The Cosmic faction had an expansionist doctrine. They wished to go out among the stars and conquer other species to serve their needs. It spends the vast majority of its life in the form of other species. Once every natural cycle (4 years) it must maintain its natural shape for one solar cycle. Its mimicry is so complete that when it takes another's shape, it also retains its abilities and knowledge.