Kromagg
Encyclopedia
The Kromaggs are a fictional species of humanoid
primate
s from the science fiction
television show
, Sliders
. They are a technologically advanced and highly militaristic race bent on conquering all human-dominated alternate
Earth
s in preparation for an assault on the world they call Kromagg Prime
, the world the humans on that Earth originally drove them from after a world war
.
Professor Maximillian Arturo
, Rembrandt Brown
, Quinn Mallory
and Wade Welles
first encountered the Kromaggs in the season two episode "Invasion" on one of the more than 150 Earths they had subjugated. It was revealed in the episode that when the Kromaggs began dimensional travelling, they were shocked to see world after world dominated by Homo sapiens
. They both hate and fear humans, considering them "vermin" and the enemy and have treated them accordingly. Kromaggs conquer most alternate Earths
they encounter and keep those humans they didn't kill for slave labour
, breeding purposes
, or as test subjects. They find the discovered humans ugly, though they prize human eye
s as a delicacy to eat.
Exiled from Kromagg Prime, the Kromaggs put a stop to their tribal wars with each other, uniting under a government known as the Kromagg Dynasty. Through dimensional travelling technology, they set about building their empire, travelling from Earth to Earth and claiming most as their own under a brutal occupation. They do not conquer all worlds however, as one episode revealed that the Kromaggs performed a hit-and-run assault on an unsuspecting Earth by stealing its fuel reserves and leaving, forcing humans on that parallel to make do without automobiles and such.
Their officers dress in grey uniforms similar to Soviet or Wehrmacht
uniforms, while their troops dress in black "SWAT"-type uniforms. Their pilots dress in flight suits.
Kromaggs faces appear (to humans) bestial and inhuman. The name 'Kromagg' is similar to the term Cro-magnon
, leading many viewers to believe that they descended from some prehistoric ancestor of modern man called 'Cro-magnon man'. However, this is an erroneous belief because 'Cro-Magnon man' actually is Homo sapiens, or modern man. Professor Arturo theorizes that the Kromaggs descended from another prehistoric hominid that drove human ancestors to extinction.
Note: The first appearance of the Kromaggs in Season 2 differs slightly from their Season 4 and 5 appearances.
Kromaggs appear to despise human sentimentality (such as pity) and are insulted when such feelings are directed toward them. They require no sentimentality when "breeding" amongst each other.
One episode made a passing reference to Kromagg "Houses"; presumably Kromaggs are also organized by Clans of similar kin.
Their current homeworld has been described as a large forest with tall trees.
s and plant post-hypnotic suggestions
into human minds. One episode had one Kromagg attempt to force data out of someone's minds by touch, similar to Star Trek
s Vulcan
"mind meld". Otherwise, the Kromaggs resort to interrogation, "mind probes" and torture to acquire information.
Almost all Kromaggs however, appear to have an illusion-casting ability which allows them to look Human.
Kromaggs have healing powers, whereby they can heal people with their minds. One person was healed from radiation poisoning through Kromagg healing techniques. In the episode "Asylum", a human trained by the Kromaggs was able to heal Quinn with Kromagg healing powers. This suggests that the healing powers of the Kromaggs can also be taught to humans.
Kromaggs also have the ability to communicate telepathically to select subservient Humans, thus allowing some Kromaggs to avoid "lowering" themselves by speaking to humans directly.
It is however shown in the end of "Invasion" that the Kromagg can speak English, the excuse of not lowering themselves was merely a ploy put into place to cause the Sliders to trust "Mary".
Humanoid
A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s from the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television show
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Sliders
Sliders
Sliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
. They are a technologically advanced and highly militaristic race bent on conquering all human-dominated alternate
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
s in preparation for an assault on the world they call Kromagg Prime
Kromagg Prime
Kromagg Prime is the fictional alternate universe of the Kromaggs on the sci-fi TV show Sliders. An alternate version also exists, named Kromagg Double Prime, inhabited by a meek and docile breed of the Kromagg species .This alternate Earth was originally inhabited by both humans and Kromaggs...
, the world the humans on that Earth originally drove them from after a world war
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
.
Professor Maximillian Arturo
Maximillian Arturo
Professor Maximillian P. Arturo is a fictional character on the science fiction television show Sliders. He was played by John Rhys-Davies....
, Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Lee Brown is a fictional character played by Cleavant Derricks on the science fiction television show Sliders. In 1994, Rembrandt was living in San Francisco. Rembrandt is a musician, whose stage name is The Crying Man because of his ability to "cry real tears" on stage...
, Quinn Mallory
Quinn Mallory
Quinn R. Mallory is a fictional character on the science fiction television show Sliders, played by Jerry O'Connell.-Childhood:Quinn was born in 1973 and raised in San Francisco, California, the son of Michael and Amanda Mallory...
and Wade Welles
Wade Welles
Wade Kathleen Wells, a fictional character on the show Sliders played by Sabrina Lloyd, is from San Francisco, and worked at Doppler Computer Store while attending North Shore Junior College. She was studying literature and poetry....
first encountered the Kromaggs in the season two episode "Invasion" on one of the more than 150 Earths they had subjugated. It was revealed in the episode that when the Kromaggs began dimensional travelling, they were shocked to see world after world dominated by Homo sapiens
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
. They both hate and fear humans, considering them "vermin" and the enemy and have treated them accordingly. Kromaggs conquer most alternate Earths
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
they encounter and keep those humans they didn't kill for slave labour
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, breeding purposes
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, or as test subjects. They find the discovered humans ugly, though they prize human eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
s as a delicacy to eat.
Exiled from Kromagg Prime, the Kromaggs put a stop to their tribal wars with each other, uniting under a government known as the Kromagg Dynasty. Through dimensional travelling technology, they set about building their empire, travelling from Earth to Earth and claiming most as their own under a brutal occupation. They do not conquer all worlds however, as one episode revealed that the Kromaggs performed a hit-and-run assault on an unsuspecting Earth by stealing its fuel reserves and leaving, forcing humans on that parallel to make do without automobiles and such.
Appearance
Kromaggs appear very similar to humans, though differently evolved. Their teeth are sharp and pointed and their skin is distorted and ridged with a dark pigment. They all appear to be bald or balding with no facial hair.Their officers dress in grey uniforms similar to Soviet or Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
uniforms, while their troops dress in black "SWAT"-type uniforms. Their pilots dress in flight suits.
Kromaggs faces appear (to humans) bestial and inhuman. The name 'Kromagg' is similar to the term Cro-magnon
Cro-Magnon
The Cro-Magnon were the first early modern humans of the European Upper Paleolithic. The earliest known remains of Cro-Magnon-like humans are radiometrically dated to 35,000 years before present....
, leading many viewers to believe that they descended from some prehistoric ancestor of modern man called 'Cro-magnon man'. However, this is an erroneous belief because 'Cro-Magnon man' actually is Homo sapiens, or modern man. Professor Arturo theorizes that the Kromaggs descended from another prehistoric hominid that drove human ancestors to extinction.
Note: The first appearance of the Kromaggs in Season 2 differs slightly from their Season 4 and 5 appearances.
Technology
They are technologically advanced, with machines that can control gravity, create forcefields, hand-held energy weapons, genetic engineering and aircraft ("manta" ships) equipped with energy weapons and dimensional travel capabilities. The majority of their technology is believed to have been stolen from other worlds.Society
Little is known of their society. It appears to be highly militaristic, with no forgiveness for failure among its members. One episode had two Kromagg soldiers sentenced to death for letting the human protagonists escape through no fault of their own. Another episode had a former commander of the famed "12th Legion" being forced to command a prison world for losing a battle on "Kromagg Prime" he couldn't win.Kromaggs appear to despise human sentimentality (such as pity) and are insulted when such feelings are directed toward them. They require no sentimentality when "breeding" amongst each other.
One episode made a passing reference to Kromagg "Houses"; presumably Kromaggs are also organized by Clans of similar kin.
Their current homeworld has been described as a large forest with tall trees.
Psychic abilities
Some Kromaggs possess psychic abilities. Though they cannot read minds, some have the ability to project illusionIllusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
s and plant post-hypnotic suggestions
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
into human minds. One episode had one Kromagg attempt to force data out of someone's minds by touch, similar to Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
s Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
"mind meld". Otherwise, the Kromaggs resort to interrogation, "mind probes" and torture to acquire information.
Almost all Kromaggs however, appear to have an illusion-casting ability which allows them to look Human.
Kromaggs have healing powers, whereby they can heal people with their minds. One person was healed from radiation poisoning through Kromagg healing techniques. In the episode "Asylum", a human trained by the Kromaggs was able to heal Quinn with Kromagg healing powers. This suggests that the healing powers of the Kromaggs can also be taught to humans.
Kromaggs also have the ability to communicate telepathically to select subservient Humans, thus allowing some Kromaggs to avoid "lowering" themselves by speaking to humans directly.
It is however shown in the end of "Invasion" that the Kromagg can speak English, the excuse of not lowering themselves was merely a ploy put into place to cause the Sliders to trust "Mary".
Key episodes
- "Invasion": The Sliders' first encounter with the Kromaggs results in hostilities. Although this episode doesn't directly refute future established facts, it suggests that Kromaggs have never seen humans before learning the sliding technology and that their invasions have successfully continued for at least a generation. Both of those facts are somehow challenged in episodes to follow.
- "The Other Slide of Darkness": It is revealed that QuinnQuinn MalloryQuinn R. Mallory is a fictional character on the science fiction television show Sliders, played by Jerry O'Connell.-Childhood:Quinn was born in 1973 and raised in San Francisco, California, the son of Michael and Amanda Mallory...
's double (from the premiere episode) gave the Kromaggs access to sliding technology. After this, they destroyed his home and forbade humans from possessing the knowledge.
- "Genesis": We learn that the Kromaggs slid to Earth PrimeEarth Prime (Sliders)Earth Prime, a term used in the television show Sliders, is the name of the alternate Earth where the four original sliders started their journey. Although it is very similar to our Earth, the creator of the show, Tracy Tormé, has stated that it is not our Earth...
about two months earlier and took over the planet. It is also revealed that Kromaggs originated on an Earth where they co-existed with humans (called Kromagg Prime in the series), and that Quinn Mallory is actually from that Earth.
- "Common Ground": Shortly upon arriving on this Earth, Maggie BeckettMaggie BeckettMaggie A. Beckett is a fictional character on the television show Sliders, played by Kari Wührer. She was introduced in the episode "The Exodus, Part One" and was present in the last nine episodes of the third season, and the entire fourth and fifth seasons...
saves the life of a Kromagg, and then the sliders are taken as prisoners. However, they are punished less severely since Maggie saved the life of a Kromagg. On this Earth, the Kromaggs have taken humanity hostage and are testing a weapon on the native population. The Kromaggs also learn that Quinn has the tracking device implanted in him from his stay on Earth 113, which the Kromaggs want to use to go back to Kromagg PrimeKromagg PrimeKromagg Prime is the fictional alternate universe of the Kromaggs on the sci-fi TV show Sliders. An alternate version also exists, named Kromagg Double Prime, inhabited by a meek and docile breed of the Kromagg species .This alternate Earth was originally inhabited by both humans and Kromaggs...
.
- "Slidecage": The sliders intend to go to Quinn and Colin MalloryColin MalloryColin Mallory is a fictional character on the science fiction show Sliders played by Charlie O'Connell.He was introduced in the sixth episode of the fourth season, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?". Quinn Mallory had only learned Colin was his brother five episodes earlier in "Genesis"...
's homeworld (Kromagg PrimeKromagg PrimeKromagg Prime is the fictional alternate universe of the Kromaggs on the sci-fi TV show Sliders. An alternate version also exists, named Kromagg Double Prime, inhabited by a meek and docile breed of the Kromagg species .This alternate Earth was originally inhabited by both humans and Kromaggs...
), but get caught in the slidecage instead. The slidecage was invented by Michael Mallory and is a place where people who attempt to slide to Kromagg Prime are bounced back to without the ability to leave. The intent of the slidecage is to block Kromaggs from returning to their homeworld, but as a safety precaution, they have to block humans as well. The slidecage was dominated by both Kromaggs and humans who are constantly having battles with each other.
- "Asylum": This is the first episode where the sliders encounter a world that had been visited by Kromaggs but where the Kromaggs did not destroy the world and take humanity hostage. On this Earth, their version of Margaret ThatcherMargaret ThatcherMargaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
negotiated with the Kromaggs, and agreed to give the Kromaggs natural resources, and in exchange the Kromaggs would leave this Earth alone. Since then, people collaborating with the Kromaggs were termed "Thatchers".
- "The Dying Fields": Kromagg/human hybrids are being trained to kill humans. "Pure" Kromaggs are disappointed by the apparent failure in the humanity their subjects possess.
- "Mother and Child": The first time we hear the term "Humagg", for half-human/half-Kromaggs, it refers to a baby born from a Kromagg father and human mother. When they return to the mother's world, the baby starts to die due to a virus that permeates the atmosphere, that kills only Kromaggs. It is also revealed that a lingering after-effect of the weapon used to drive the Kromaggs from Kromagg Prime - not this world - caused every Kromagg pregnancy to be fatal to the mother, explaining the true importance of their breeding camps.
- "Revelations": An alternate version of the Kromaggs is revealed to be of limited intelligence and were generally docile. On their version of Kromagg Prime (called "Kromagg Double Prime") these Kromaggs were victims of a purge by the humans of their world.
- "Requiem": While the Sliders relax in a garden waiting for the next slide, Rembrandt receives a message in his mind from former slider Wade. Leading to encountering the Kromaggs for the last time. In this world they meet the first female Kromagg. The Kromaggs are developing slide technology powered by the human body. This sort of technology would allow the Kromaggs to return to Kromagg Prime, bypassing the slidecage, as it is based on a different principle of interdimensional travel.
- "The Seer": In the last episode of the series, the sliders land on a world that has defeated the Kromaggs with a virus. The entire population on this Earth carries the virus in their blood. A native person of this Earth drew some blood from himself and gave it to Rembrandt, who injected himself with it and slid to Earth PrimeEarth Prime (Sliders)Earth Prime, a term used in the television show Sliders, is the name of the alternate Earth where the four original sliders started their journey. Although it is very similar to our Earth, the creator of the show, Tracy Tormé, has stated that it is not our Earth...
in an attempt to free Earth Prime from the Kromaggs. It was not revealed in the episode if Rembrandt was successful.