039. SPOTLIGHT ON: Greater Duskbringer

A gargantuan gliding reptile found on planets of the Reush Cluster before the region was devastated by a local supernova. Following the loss of the ARK Mandate team sent to the Cluster, it is believed that the Greater Duskbringer is now extinct in the galaxy.

The Greater Duskbringer was characterised by its charcoal-coloured skin and membranes connecting its four elongated limbs, forming wings for controlled gliding. Despite being incapable of propelled flight, the Duskbringer could remain airborne for hours at a time, riding the thermals of its native atmosphere. When fully extended, the wings of the Greater Duskbringer covered an area of more than ten square metres; thus, the creature derived its name from its tendency to fly in front of the local sun, casting a wide shadow evocative of nightfall.

The creature’s broad wingspan served a secondary purpose, beyond allowing it to glide for long distances. The cells of the Greater Duskbringer’s wing membranes were suffused with chlorophyll, allowing the animal to photosynthesise during flight, drawing nutrients from the sun itself. This remarkable development helped the Duskbringer survive when its typical diet of tree fruit was scarce.

In the months before the detonation of the Reush supernova, zoologists monitoring the Cluster noted that the migratory patterns of Greater Duskbringers had grown increasingly erratic. It is believed that the creatures’ affinity for the sunlight may have given them an early warning about the fate of their world. Alas, we will never have the opportunity to study this phenomenon further.

SEE ALSO:

• Dr Elin Reush [Personality]

• Gort Fruit [Foodstuff]

• Lesser Duskbringer [Organism]