<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Leviathans are an engineered species of living biomechanoid spacecraft designed and built by a race known as Builders. Originally intended to be self-replicating transportation, the Builders soon realized their ships had developed sentience and intelligence. The Leviathans now roam space freely though some have been captured and forced into use by the Peacekeepers. Moya is a fifth generation Leviathan. like many Leviathans she is happiest when in service of a crew.

Leviathans are able to fly of their own volition but many have Pilots to guide them. They may also be steered by a crew member in an emergency. Leviathan pilots are physically and permanently joined to their Leviathan in a symbiotic relationship that allows them to share sensations and information. A Pilot is a leviathans means of communication with its crew.

Physiology

Leviathan's have thick outer skins/hulls that can maintain a pressurized breathable atmosphere. They are also capable of extending a bioelectric field over an opening to prevent depressurization. Inside the ship are a maze of chambers that grow to accommodate the needs of the crew; as a result every Leviathan is very different.

On Moya, the area for Pilot, referred to as his den, is located at the top of Moya's inner core near her neural nexus. The den allows Pilot to control every facet of the ship and receive reports on Moya's status.

Like all living beings, fluid, amnexus fluid rather than blood, flows through a Leviathan's conduits. Also, like many other species, Leviathans depend on the living creatures that live inside them and maintain a symbiotic relationship. On Moya, the excrement of Hodian trill bats helps to seal tiny cracks in the hull.

Defenses

Leviathans have no natural defenses besides starburst. Starburst is a means of faster than light travel unique to Leviathans. Starburst sends the ship through interdimensional space, instantaneously transporting it vast distances. It is difficult to determine where a starburst will end. As a result, it is easy to become lost. Should a starburst be attempted without enough power, a leviathan can become stuck between dimensions and eventually will be torn apart by the forces.

A Leviathan may also travel through wormholes, as Moya did under the direction of John Crichton. It is not something they enjoy however as wormhole travel can cause burns to their biological parts.

Due to their lack of defenses, Leviathans have become targets of slavers. Many have been captured and forced into service. As Leviathans place a high value on freedom, many die in slavery. Peacekeepers have commandeered Leviathans to be used as prison transports. They use a control collar to prevent them from engaging starburst.

Leviathans have life spans of approximately 300 cycles. When they approach death, they make their way to the Sacred Leviathan Burial Space. It's an important tradition for them. When Moya's son Talyn sacrificed himself, Moya determinedly transported his body to the burial space.

External Links

SciFi.com/Farscape - Leviathans