Though most species in the galaxy are able to get along fairly well, the chitai are a major exception to the rule. A race of insect-like creatures, the chitai rove the galaxy, preying on anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path. The chitai are unique in that all of their technology is biological, from small arms to starships. Aside from that, very little is known about them. Nobody has ever successfully tracked them to their home region and lived to tell the tale. Communication has been attempted on numerous occasions, with all attempts being ignored and the initiating party being attacked.
The chitai have several different variations, but all so far have proven to have the same base DNA. Specimens captured in battle always die, whether during an escape attempt, or from unexplained brain death. Dissections have revealed that chitai possess a brain completely alien to any other living species. It appears to be extraordinarily overdeveloped in some areas, such as those responsible for instinct and subconscious thought, while areas that dictate emotion and creativity are practically nonexistent. There are other parts that the galaxy’s top minds cannot even identify.
It is theorized that all chitai are a part of some sort of hive mind or group consciousness, and are simply tools of a higher form, like a queen of some sort. Many expeditions from beleaguered colonies have been sent out to try and locate such a creature, but all have either found nothing, or disappeared.