Cryptozoology

So, the WOTD is Cryptozoology.


After the initial phase of the alien invasion in 1893, there was a 2 year period where the only aliens coming to and from Earth were soldiers, trained in the elimination of (to them) alien foes.

A bit later, other groups of aliens began showing up. Groups of paramilitary terraforming specialists, followed by engineers, followed by workers and heavy equipment. Eventually, non-military groups, to do advance work on alien infrastructure leading up to future colonization. And alien xenobiologists, curious about the native forms of life on Earth and eager to gather information and perform experiments.

Since humans in the 1890s had no common language for the study of xenobiology, the popular term for alien scientists interested in humans and Earth native species became 'Cryptozoologists', or more often 'Cryptos'.

While the alien weaponry is rightly feared and treated with immense caution, it has become the Cryptos that strike terror in the hearts of surviving humanity. The Cryptos won't just kill you if you are found -- people are collected, brought to experimental facilities, implanted with alien bionics, forced into breeding programs, and generally tested in every way imaginable.