The Orz question

[Sage]

Well it's interesting to note that while they are very obviously extensions of something larger, they see fit to keep an atmosphere of liquid inside of their combat vac suits. And it's not like they make a big secret out of the idea that they are all part of the same entity. Orz is one with many *fingers*, as they say. So why would they even need to have a medium at all?

[Eth]

  My fingers need certain environmental conditions, such as heat, pressure, protection from radiation.  These could be analogous to the Orz's environmental controls.  Also, the Orz do not seem to be native to Truespace; it is possibly a hostile environment to them, at least somewhat. 

[Smoke353]

  Considering the Orz are just extensions of a single pandimensional being, I don't think that we need concern ourselves with what appear to be mouths.  They are not organisms as we know them. 

I always got the impression that while in our universe, they have to play by our rules, including eating/breathing/pooping/whatever. *Fingers* or not.

They clearly don't play entirely by our rules.  An Orz space marine will chase an enemy ship indefinitely while a Kzer-Za fighter will only fly around for a little while before retreating. 

[Nuclear]

Thats because maby the Orz can breath and get life support in another dimension! Ah ha!

[Draxas]

More likely it's because the vac-suits are properly configured for space combat, rather than being short-range suicide vehicles for inconsequential battle thralls.

[Bleeding Star]

Well it's interesting to note that while they are very obviously extensions of something larger, they see fit to keep an atmosphere of liquid inside of their combat vac suits. And it's not like they make a big secret out of the idea that they are all part of the same entity. Orz is one with many *fingers*, as they say. So why would they even need to have a medium at all?

This is more or less my opinion, too. The Orz don't live on Pluto (Fwiffo does!) they live on a water world, look like fish, and go to the trouble of taking a liquid environment with them in their ships. If they're not following the rules of our reality, they're sure going to a lot of trouble to make it look like they do. It almost seems like the *Orz* entity didn't have full control of what its *fingers* look like in truespace, as I'm sure there are more practical forms than water-breathing psychadelic parrot fish.

Also, the Orz do not seem to be native to Truespace; it is possibly a hostile environment to them, at least somewhat

So perhaps the liquid they're swimming about in isn't water, it's some fluid that insulates them from the effects of truespace? I'm still in the "it's water" camp though.

[Death 999]

Even wikipedia knows that Orz swim in ethanol.

I'm not sure where that information comes from, though.

[Bleeding Star]

That'll teach me not to read the manual.

It makes perfect sense though - what better fluid to immerse yourself in to protect yourself from the harsh realities of another universe?

The translator isn't having any trouble, the Orz are just permanently pissed as newts!

[Dragon]

The translator isn't having any trouble, the Orz are just permanently pissed as newts!

I like that.  Best explanation yet.

[Smoke353]

I wonder if the supposedly amazing VUX translators can make more sense of the Orz?  But we'll probably never know since the Orz think the VUX are silly cows and the VUX hate us...

[Nuclear]

Or maby if the VUX "accidentally" find the Orz on a....ummm...5 year tour of space, yeah.