The Smiling Critters Space Riders AU

The Space Riders, also known as the Smiling Critters, are a group of anthropomorphic animals that live on the Solar Sabre and usually rival the Void Striders, also known as Nightmare Critters, another group of anthropomorphic animals that live on the opposing Eclipse Fang ship.

The Space Riders are a group of scientists and adventurers who were hired by Starlight Co, a morally questionable corporation with large ambiguity, to directly take down the Prototype's Cult. They inhabit the Solar Sabre, a large space vessel designed to carry hundreds of people but was repurposed into the Solar Sabre due to unknown reasons. It's fitted with turrets, missiles, intense artillery and high-end state-of-the-art systems for all purposes.

The Space Riders consist of DogDay, the leader, CatNap, the stealth, CraftyCorn, the communications officer, PickyPiggy, the chef and artillery specialist, KickinChicken, the scout, Hoppy Hopscotch, the pilot, and Bobby Bearhug, the medic and security officer.

A kind, caring soul, Bobby BearHug shows compassion for everyone, and for everything. People and places and things, large or small, are all receivers of her love. Each is enriched by this attention and affection, and in turn, so is she. Bobby Bearhug is caring and loving, and whenever any conflict is brewing among the gang, she's the first one to remind them all what great friends they are. Though, sometimes, Bobby does feel too much love for something and becomes obsessive, though this only lasts for a little bit. As the medic, she often tends to know her stuff, but can hold her own in a fight using her Energy Whip, a tool that can be used to harm and restrain, but also reach items far away. (Female, a red, humanoid bear, 29 years old.)

Bubba Bubbaphant is the brains of the critters. Bright and attentive, he keeps his friends steady and always steers them to make smart choices, that way they all might grow up to be bright and brilliant, each in their own right. Bubba Bubbaphant is bright and knowledgeable, and he often makes interesting observations and loves to share his knowledge with his friends--whether they want to hear it or not! This usually ends up with his friends, usually Hoppy Hopscotch or KickinChicken, getting irritated and conflict arising. As the brains of the operation, Bubba is usually the one who invents the gadgets and tools and strategises most plans, due to being the brains. His preferred weapon is the Plasma Gauntlet, a tool that has a built-in shockwave creator, so that one punch from it can launch even the biggest of foes a long distance! This can also be used to assist in transportation across long distances, though is usually considered a last ditch effort due to the potential injuries it could cause. (Male, a blue, humanoid elephant, 34 years old.)

A conscious observer of both colour and creativity in the world. CraftyCorn understands the importance of art, and sharing it with others. Crayons, pencils, paint, or words on the page, CraftyCorn can see beauty in anything imagined given shape. The artist of the group, CraftyCorn can be a little shy and awkward when talking to others--it's in her art that she truly expresses herself! She's all about creativity and the beauty in ordinary things. However, she’s not addicted to drawing, and more often than not is talking to her friends, though she has other passions such as writing. As the communications officer, Crafty is often found interpreting alien art and stories, communication gear and communications with aliens in general. Her preferred weapon is the Light-Projector Staff, a tool that, with whatever is drawn, makes it real for a short period of time depending on its size. (Female, a white, humanoid unicorn, 25 years old.)

DogDay is the sunny, strong, and determined leader of the critters! Each trusts him to find the bright side in any situation, and to have a friendly word of encouragement should they feel down. He'll always keep his friends going, no matter what. DogDay is very much the leader of the group, and where CatNap is silent and reserved, DogDay is energetic, upbeat, and welcoming. He represents the values of friendship and support. He USUALLY unable to show any negative emotions--with exceptions such as pain or fear--, however when aggravated too much can get frustrated. As the captain and leader of the crew, DogDay is the one who guides the crew through even the darkest of times and is often the one who helps push things along. His preferred weapon is the Solar Shield, a throwable, strong, loyal and durable shield that grows brighter and more powerful the more hope DogDay feels. (Male, an orange, humanoid dog, 28 years old.)

Unafraid to hop where others might sit, Hoppy is the friend everyone needs to maintain their energy and enthusiasm. While sometimes loud or impatient, she'll always hop beside her friends, even if it means slowing up once in a while to keep their pace. A real tomboy, Hoppy Hopscotch can be a handful to deal with—she's impatient and she’s loud. But she's also energetic and positive and is a big motivator behind the gang's activities. She's designed to show the value of getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new. However, her impatience cannot be understated. If things take too long, she’ll be the first to complain. She is the most flirty of the group, however. As the pilot of the ship, Hoppy is usually the one who navigates the Solar Sabre, though due to her daredevil style, she's often the one who damages it the most. Her preferred weapon is the Turbo Boots, a pair of thruster-powered leg units that amplify her jumps and kicks with bursts of plasma energy—making her as fast in combat as she is reckless in the cockpit. (Female, a green, humanoid rabbit, 24 years old.)

KickinChicken is the coolest of the crew, and he maintains that sense of cool through anything, even in the most tense of situations. Knock him down, and he'll pick himself up, brush himself off, and ask "What's next?". KickinChicken is all about having fun and being active. He's a skilled skateboarder and a very cool customer, but underneath that hip exterior, he scares easily! He faces down his fears with the help of his friends. However, he doesn’t have the strongest mindset and is incredibly determined. He’s got an average mind, but where he lacks brains, he tanks in confidence. Though, this often leads to him misplacing his skateboard. Kickin, as the scout, is often sent out to scope out areas and vantage points and gets in fights the most. His preferred weapon is the Photon Skateboard, a skateboard that can be used to bash, throw and travel. (Male, a yellow, humanoid chicken, 29 years old.)

What's more important than play and learning? PickyPiggy knows the answer. A playful body and keen mind are fuelled by what's put into them, which is why she encourages her friends to eat a well-balanced diet. Secretly, PB&J's are her favourite food. PickyPiggy loves food--preparing it and eating it! While her friends go about their busy daily lives, Pig makes sure they eat properly--making food that's balanced and nutritious and urging them not to skip meals. However, she’s a bit greedy when it comes to food and likes to eat. Contrary to her name, she’ll eat anything, with consent of the owner or not. As the ship's chef and tactical potions lady, she can create anything on the go when in the know, and often creates mixtures and concoctions that aid and harm. Her preferred weapon is the flamethrower, often using it to cook food – and enemies. (Female, a pink, humanoid pig, 30 years old.)

CatNap is a calming presence for the critters and ensures he and his friends always have the right amount of sleep to jumpstart the morning's play! End of the day, there's nothing CatNap enjoys more than watching his friends sleep soundly. CatNap never speaks but is a reassuring presence for the Critters and puts them to sleep at the end of the day. He can exhale a gas called, “Poppy Gas” which makes the victim sleepy, fatigued or hallucinate. It’s mostly used to help everyone to sleep, however CatNap is known to use it fairly often to defend himself or his friends, or to get out of trouble. As the infiltration and stealth specialist, CatNap uses his Poppy Gas to easily take down guards through the vents, though the other Critters are not immune to this themselves. His preferred weapon is the dart gun, which he often uses concoctions from PickyPiggy to fill them and attack. (Male, a purple, humanoid cat, 33 years old.)

The Void Striders are a group of anthropomorphic animals who are rarely seen doing beneficial or kind things, and more rarely seen doing it out of the genuine good of their hearts, though do still oppose the Prototype's Cult and usually the Space Riders, though they do tend to prioritise the Prototype's Cult than them and sometimes work together. They live on the Eclipse Fang ship, what once was a vessel previously owned by the Space Riders now taken over and stolen to use against them.

The Void Striders consists of: Baba Chops, Icky Licky, Rabie Baby, Allistor Gator, Simon Smoke, Poe, Touille and Maggie Mako.

Baba is the black sheep of the Nightmare Critters, preferring her own space above almost anything else. She is distant, quiet, and low-energy, often requiring a lot of coaxing to get her to participate in the group’s activities. Despite her aloofness, she possesses a quiet strength and sharp observational skills that often make her contributions invaluable, especially when a mission requires patience or stealth. Baba tends to retreat back into her solitude once the immediate crisis passes, making her presence inconsistent but no less critical. While she rarely initiates action, when motivated, she acts with deliberate precision and focus. Her preferred weapon is the Shadow Cloak, which allows her to move unseen and strike quietly when necessary. (Female, black-and-gray humanoid sheep, 28 years old)

Icky is the competitive, short-tempered member of the Nightmare Critters, always ready to challenge anyone on anything, even when the odds are against him. Naturally talented, he expects to succeed easily but frequently finds himself frustrated, often blaming external factors for his failures. His restless energy and impulsive nature make him unpredictable in both social and combat situations, but also uniquely capable of turning chaos to his advantage. Icky thrives on proving himself, though his need for validation can create tension within the group. His preferred weapon is the Vibro Staff, a lightweight, electrified pole perfect for fast strikes and quick maneuvers. (Male, green humanoid frog, 24 years old)

Rabie Baby is the gossip and social spark of the Nightmare Critters. She loves gathering and spreading information, whether true or made up, and rarely respects privacy or boundaries. Her curiosity and knack for eavesdropping often make her the first to uncover hidden threats or secrets, but her inability to keep information contained can sometimes sabotage the team. Despite this, Rabie Baby is energetic, mischievous, and always engaged, thriving in social and chaotic environments where her skills can influence outcomes. Her preferred weapon is the Sonic Whisperer, capable of producing disorienting high-frequency waves to disrupt enemies or mask her team’s movements. (Female, white-and-pink humanoid bat, 28 years old)

Allister is the laid-back, lazy member of the Nightmare Critters, often content to let events unfold around him rather than actively intervening. He believes that good things come to those who wait, and prefers lounging in water or relaxing rather than exerting unnecessary effort. Despite his apparent indolence, Allister can be surprisingly effective when he chooses to act, especially in defensive or passive roles where patience is an advantage. He embodies the philosophy of minimal effort for maximal impact and often provides a calm, stabilizing presence amidst the group’s chaos. His preferred weapon is the Aqua Shield, which allows him to deploy water-based barriers for defense or crowd control. (Male, teal humanoid alligator, 35 years old)

Simon Smoke is confident, arrogant, and constantly aware of his own popularity. He thrives on attention and recognition, often turning even minor achievements into a performance for others. Though he can be a jerk and his ego sometimes blinds him to risk, his charm and cleverness allow him to manipulate situations to his benefit. Simon enjoys being in control and orchestrating situations where he can shine, whether in social interactions or in battle. His preferred weapon is the Flame Gauntlets, which project controlled bursts of fire, combining offense and intimidation in a stylish, attention-grabbing way. (Male, red humanoid dragon, 24 years old)

Poe is the brooding, introspective member of the Nightmare Critters, who despises light and finds comfort only in the darkness. They prefer solitary environments, often wandering graveyards or listening to music while thinking deeply about life and the world’s injustices. Poe’s calm observation skills and reflective nature make them highly perceptive, noticing things others might overlook. While often detached or moody, Poe can be fiercely protective and remarkably effective when stealth or strategy is required. Their preferred weapon is the Shadow Talons, retractable energy claws perfect for silent takedowns and stealth combat. (Non-binary, dark purple humanoid raven, 27 years old)

Touille, the self-proclaimed “Trash Rodent,” is obsessed with collecting and talking about junk, often offering commentary that ranges from insightful to completely absurd. He is lively, talkative, and resourceful, often turning discarded items into tools or weapons, though his tendency to ramble can frustrate the group. Touille thrives on chaos and improvisation, making him a wildcard whose actions can both help and hinder the team. His preferred weapon is the Junk Launcher, which fires improvised projectiles or deploys traps from collected materials. (Male, gray humanoid rat, 30 years old)

Maggie is obsessed with food, particularly sweets, and indulges her cravings with reckless joy. She is carefree, energetic, and rarely takes things too seriously, often lightening tense situations with humor or playful antics. Despite her indulgent nature, Maggie is clever and inventive, using culinary skills to create traps, distractions, or energy boosts for her teammates. Her preferred weapon is the Confection Cannon, which fires sticky, sugar-based projectiles capable of trapping enemies or revitalizing allies. (Female, turquoise humanoid shark, 26 years old)

The Prototype’s Cult is a shadowy, enigmatic organization whose ultimate goal is the domination and “perfecting” of the galaxy through the will of their mysterious leader, the Prototype. Each member of the Cult operates with a singular devotion to their cause, whether through technological manipulation, psychological coercion, or outright combat. They are cunning, methodical, and unpredictable, often exploiting the weaknesses of those who oppose them while masking their own vulnerabilities. Though feared by many, the Cult is not without its internal conflicts; ambition, rivalry, and differing interpretations of the Prototype’s vision sometimes create fractures within their ranks. Their presence serves as a constant threat to the Nightmare Critters, forcing the latter to adapt, strategize, and grow stronger in the face of overwhelming odds. Members of the Cult wield a wide array of weapons and tools, from energy-based technology to mind-altering devices, all designed to ensure their leader’s directives are carried out efficiently and mercilessly.