Moltar

Most complex life in the galaxy is based on carbon, but the Moltar species evolved on a planet dominated by silicon-based biochemistry. Now that they have expanded into space, the Moltar will soon learn that their type of life is actually a minority in the cosmos, and face the bitter choice of either coexisting with aliens who will never fully understand them or warring against a form of life which vastly outnumbers them.

The bizarre biochemistry of the Moltar yields slow population growth, but the intense heat and pressure of their homeworld has made their species astonishingly resilient, adaptable, and able to thrive in even the most hostile environments. These children of silicon would make valuable allies - and fierce rivals.