Engi

It's unclear if the 'Engi' are partly organic or entirely mechanical, but it's well known that they make exceptional engineers.

Though their current home planetary systems are well documented, the true origins of the emotionless Engi are a mystery; it is known that the majority of their bodies are made from trillions of nanomachines which give the illusion of a silvery 'skin' with a metallic sheen, and that they can adopt different shapes to better cope with their environment, although they generally maintain a humanoid form, which most other races are habitually more comfortable with. The Engi also wield powerful knowledge of machinery, and are generally natural mechanics -especially when they're only expected to service and repair comparatively primitive human technology. While the Engi are extremely intelligent, their primarily robotic body composition is very fragile; the delicate and very technical inner workings of an Engi are not nearly as rugged as regular organic material, like that found in humans. As a result, Engi usually make poor fighters, however their immaculate knowledge of mechanics coupled with their immunity to most diseases as a result of their cybernetic bodies can make them excellent allies. The Engi still require oxygen to survive despite their mostly robotic makeup, however. The many scientific anomalies of the Engi have been points of contention between human scientists for years; they argue incessantly over whether the Engi are organic lifeforms by definition, or rather sentient machines. Most accept the notion, though, that they're simply a bridge between the two. 

Engi cost 50 to hire from Stores.

Special Abilities

+ Repair speed is doubled
- Combat damage inflicted is halved

Engi are most useful when used as repair crew or manning ship systems, and should avoid one-on-one combat unless absolutely necessary, especially without medical support.

Note: System repairs, hull breaches, and fires are all fixed at double speed

Note: Despite being mostly made up of nanobots, Engi can still suffocate and die from lack of oxygen.

Blue Options

• (Engi Crew) Remotely repair its targeting system. (Occurs on Malfunctioning Defense System)
• (Engi Crew) Have your Engi crew-member contact them. (Occurs on Engi Fleet Discussion)
• (Engi Crew) Send your Engi to calm down the infected. (Occurs on Unknown Disease on Mining Colony)
• (Engi Crew) Threat unresolved. Current mission imperative: Protocol 52.34. (Occurs on Engi distress call)
• (Engi Crew) Have your Engi crewmember negotiate with the Engi ship. (Occurs on The Engi Virus)
• (Engi Crew) Have your Engi crewmember hail the vessel and assess the damage. (Occurs on Two Smashed Ships)