[b]Species Name[/b] Maltheciens [b]Species Description[/b] [img]http://th00.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/333/2/c/isaac_by_benmauro-d4hn6ot.jpg[/img] Once an omnivorous bipedal species who thrived in dry, hot climates (similar to the african savanna). However, after a cataclysmic volcanic eruption, they were forced underground and became a subterranean species for two thousand years. Eventually they reemerged into a beautiful, fertile world and swiftly set about turning it into an industrial hub. Maltheciens have excellent night vision but overall inferior eyesight compared to other races. They possess leathery, thick skin and surprisingly dense bone. They are long-legged, and have wide torsos but comparatively skinny waists. On each hand are three fingers and one thumb; their feet are somewhat hoof-like, split in three directions. They have six razor-sharp teeth used for tearing, and twelve molars. Physically, Maltheciens overall are a naturally tough, durable race, capable of surprising speed but possessing little stamina in comparison. - [b]Nation Name[/b] Theocracy of Aorolach [b]Nation Size[/b] Four solar systems (a total of six high populations worlds, three frontier worlds, and ten outpost-worlds) and three-hundred fifty billion souls. [b]Nation Description[/b] The Maltheciens first became a spacefaring species roughly one hundred and fifty years after their emergence from subterranean cities and subsequent habitation and industrialization of their home world's surface. Rapid colonization of their solar system soon followed, and enormous terraforming projects soon turned some of the most inhospitable worlds into fertile paradises. Ruthlessly zealous and incredibly industrious, the Theocracy soon spread towards other solar systems, annihilating any sentient populaces found and annexing worlds in the name of their god, Malthecior. //I'll cover the religion of the Maltheciens more in-depth here later. The Theocracy soon fixed it's eyes on the Anurian system, and initially expansion went similarly as it's other conquests. However, the Maltheciens were not prepared for the scale of conflict that would soon encompass the system, and were thusly caught off-guard. The Theocracy scrambled to organize an effective offensive in what would become their first major interstellar war. As the years have passed since and countless resources have been devoted to the Anurian conflict, the Theocracy has adopted an "all or nothing" attitude towards the war; much as a gambler who had gone in over his head, the Maltheciens have decided that they have given too much to turn back now. [b]Nation Involvement[/b] Anuria is in a highly strategic location towards the rest of Malthecien space. It can be said that Anuria is a gateway world, being only two jumps away from Malthecien home star system. Ergo, an exceedingly valuable system in order to both secure Malthecien borders and their prospects for future expansion. They are therefore willing to throw as many resources as necessary in order to fully control the planet. - [b]Technology[/b] Malthecien technology places an emphasis on functionality and practicality over aesthetics, and thus their designs are rarely nice to look upon. They are very advanced in terraforming, resource mining, and engineering. Their weapon designs are plasma based, and they have extensive experience with kinetic weaponry. However, Maltheciens have yet to unlock the application of particle and energy based technologies. [b]Navy Description[/b] [hider=Prophet Class] [img]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/216/7/e/20120803_by_zhangx-d59s2ix.jpg[/img] Only one ship of the Prophet class has ever been built; the Theocracy's flagship, the [i]Malthecior[/i]. It is a truly massive ship, capable of staffing a small city's worth of crew. It is twelve miles long, three miles wide, and seven miles high. The [i]Malthecior[/i] uses several experimental weapons systems and is considered the pinnacle of Malthecien engineering and technology. It is said the ship is capable of destroying a large moon with its level of firepower. [/hider] [hider=Inquisitor Class] [img]http://th03.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/305/b/2/paladin_battleship_by_vattalus-d6smnk2.jpg[/img] Often used as flagships, the Inquisitor class of ships make up the majority of raw firepower in Malthecien fleets. They are five miles long, one mile wide, and three miles high. Inquisitor class ships are very durable, with a number of failsafes and redundant engineering. They are often used for planetary bombardments. [/hider] [hider=Patriarch Class] [img]http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/106/c/2/aurora___light_cruiser_by_vattalus-d61wvfl.jpg[/img] The Patriarch class of ships have little in the ways of firepower; instead, they operate primarily as carriers, capable of holding an impressive amount of ships. They are also used as auxiliary ships, and it would not be an incorrect statement to say these class of ships are the lifeblood of any Malthecien fleet. Patriarch class ships are four miles long, two miles high, and one mile wide. [/hider] [hider=Missionary Class] [img]http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/307/8/0/qr_space_cruiser_by_talros-d6sxpdb.jpg[/img] The backbone of any Malthecien fleet, the Missionary class of ships pack a significant amount of firepower for their size. They are relatively easy and cheap to produce, thus they are quite numerous in comparison to other Malthecien ship classes. The Missionary class is one mile long, half a mile high, and a third of a mile wide. [/hider] [b]Air Force Description[/b] [hider=Bishop Atmospheric Carrier] [img]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/318/4/9/carrier_by_garretaj-d5l0a7s.jpg[/img] The Theocracy's primary tool to establish air dominance, the Bishop can function as a mobile HQ and aircraft hub. It is capable of conducting full maintenance to it's fighters and can hold upwards to eight-hundred personnel, along with ample storage. It can carry one hundred Crusader-class fighters and twenty Priest gunships. [/hider] [hider=Crusader Starfighter] [img]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/089/3/5/burning_suns___fighter_squadron_by_redan23-d5i5l22.jpg[/img] The Theocracy's standard starfighter is a force to be reckoned with. Packed with four heavy repeating plasma cannons and built with a slim, fast design to maximize agility, it can outmaneuver and destroy most opponents with ease. [/hider] [hider=Crusader Aerial Fighter] [img]http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2012/299/f/5/aerial_fighter_by_meckanicalmind-d5iz97b.jpg[/img] A version of the Crusader starfighter meant for battle in low atmosphere, it is smaller than it's counterpart and bears several key differences. The most important of which are its two plasma cannons; longer-barrelled, more heavily cooled versions than what is found on the starfighter. This design is more accurate and has a longer range in low-atmosphere. It has a maximum speed of mach 6 in atmosphere. [/hider] [hider=Priest Gunship] [img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Idvgp8saNpA/UeXyX0PR-GI/AAAAAAAABUc/9bjsrA5Vbr4/s1600/sonobeno_bomber.jpg[/img] Centerpiece to any Malthecien invasion force is the Priest Gunship. Functioning both as a air-to-ground attack aircraft and as a heavily armed dropship, the Priest is pivotal in Malthecien bids for ground dominance. [/hider] [b]Ground Force Description[/b] [hider=Standard Power Armor] [img]http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/149/2/6/p_k_f__drone_by_benmauro-d665rn5.jpg[/img] The standard armor of all Malthecien ground troops, this armor protects effectively against most propellants, and to some degree, even energy weapons. It comes with built-in communications software, data uplink, and hydraulics to boost the user's physical abilities in the field. The helmet contains minor protections against Ashtarian psionic attacks. [/hider] [hider=Heavy Power Armor] [img]http://th09.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/021/6/4/white_ops_by_zhegesha-d4n3584.jpg[/img] A heavier, more advanced counterpart to the standard armor, the heavy power armor is used primarily by specialist and commando troops. It is virtually impenetrable to normal propellant-based firearms, and provides increased protection to energy-based weapons. This armor also provides more numerous and advanced hydraulics to the user, as well as advanced anti-psionic systems to protect users from Ashtarian psionic attacks. [/hider] [hider=Hellfire Battlewalker] [img]http://pre11.deviantart.net/8a7a/th/pre/f/2012/223/1/4/yep__it__s_one_another_walking_tank__by_vombavr-d5apwde.jpg[/img] A versatile heavy weapons system, the Hellfire Battlewalker is a universally feared amongst the enemies of the Theocracy. Fifteen feet high, its weapons systems are effective at ranges in excess of two miles. [/hider] [b]Common Armaments[/b] [hider=Standard Plasmarifle] [img]http://th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2015/013/f/0/riujin_by_peterku-d8dritz.jpg[/img] Effective at ranges up to a mile, the plasma rifle is capable of firing fully automatically for up to ninety seconds before its power charge has to be replaced. [/hider] [hider=Longbow Plasmarifle] [img]http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2014/047/e/a/panther_rifle___secondary_by_peterku-d76qeqh.jpg[/img] The marksman variant of the standard plasmarifle, the longbow packs a heavier punch and is effective at ranges up to two and a half miles. Consequently, it has a much heavier recoil and expends its power core after thirty seconds of fully automatic fire. [/hider] [b]Emplacements and Deployables[/b] [hider=Mobile Plasma Turret] [img]http://th01.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2014/160/6/2/turret_concept__2_by_dmitryep18-d7lomim.jpg[/img] A mobile manned plasma turret setup in the field. It is primarily an anti-infantry weapon with little anti-armor or anti-air capabilities. It is effective up to three-fourths of a mile. [/hider] [hider=Stationary Plasma Cannon] [img]http://th04.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2014/294/6/5/cannon_by_curux-d83mley.jpg[/img] A heavy manned anti-armor plasma emplacement. It is effective up to two and a half miles. [/hider] [hider=Mobile Plasma Anti-Aircraft] [img]http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2014/057/a/5/military_turret_concept_wip_by_dkounios-d782o4y.jpg[/img] A mobile manned plasma turret setup in the field. A mobile manned plasma turret setup in the field. It is primarily an anti-air weapon with little anti-armor or anti-infantry capabilities. It is effective at altitudes up to four miles high. [/hider] [hider=Stationary Plasma Anti-Aircraft] [img]http://pre08.deviantart.net/92a9/th/pre/f/2013/267/4/a/aphetor_missile_launcher_battery_by_m_vitzh-d6nq0nx.jpg[/img] A heavy autonomous anti-air plasma emplacement. It has an extremely sophisticated tracking and detection system capable of responding at ranges in excess of 50 miles. [/hider] [hider=Stationary Plasma Artillery] [img]http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2014/282/b/b/artillery_by_leonovichdmitriy-d826y97.jpg[/img] A heavy manned autonomous artillery emplacement. It has an effective range of seventy-five miles. [/hider] [b]Headquarters[/b] [img]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/054/1/5/big_hunting_game_on_an_ice_planet_by_klauspillon-d8j84eb.jpg[/img] The Malthecien headquarters are buried deep underground near the northern arctics. A heavily fortified bunker, a massive hangar door is the main entrance; it is camouflaged by ice and snow. The hangar opens to a mile-deep tunnel with thousands of floors. The lower the floor, the more important. The tunnel is roughly ten miles wide and contains many landing platforms for aircraft. It is able to fit most aircraft. [b]Persons of Importance[/b] Apostle Anthar (Faction leader) Patriarch Throm (Faction second-leader) First Primate Doren (Military leader) [b]Military Ranks[/b] Enlisted: E-1...Aspirant [Private] E-2...Acolyte [Private FC] E-3...Adept [Corporal] E-4...Disciple [Sergeant] E-5...Invoker [Staff Sergeant] Officers: O-1...Theurgist [Lieutenant] O-2...Archon [Captain] O-3...Decurion [Major] O-4...Seraph [Colonel] O-5...Primate [Admiral/General] S-1...First Primate [Commander of the Military]