A tale of two worlds
Floatwood Trees and Space Squid
Floatwood Trees
Floatwood trees are a species native to Mars which have been used for a multitude of purposes for aeons by the native Drune tribes. Their most famous use however is in the creation of the skyships of the Martian tribes, where their lighter than air properties combined with floatgas balloons (which give either lift or weight depending on heat) have enabled vast fleets of ships to be assembled by the natives.
The plantation owners mainly use them however for their harvested sap, which is highly prized back on earth. One of the main considerations is making sure the trees stay anchored to the ground and it is not unusual to see entire floating islands of the things drifting in the air currents of mars..sometimes single trees..sometimes entire forests. They also form the main food supply of the Astral Archiuteuthis (space squid) who feed on their nectar and who have a strange symbiotic relation with the plants, though this has not been fully studied yet.
Astral Archiuteuthis or more commonly known as space squid.
Despite being a relatively non threatening creature the Astral Archiuteuthis are one of the most terrifying creatures to inhabit Mars and have proven the demise of many Aeronef.
None more so then the destruction of the Tzars 3rd Imperial Russian Fleet which unfortunately found itself stuck between two herds of squid during mating season.
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