[hider=The Yrrkeltharl Coalition] [h1][center]The Yrrkeltharl Coalition[/center][/h1] [img]http://imgh.us/Flag2_2.png[/img] [b]Type of government:[/b] Confederation of sovereign states [b]Leaders:[/b] Though each member of the Coalition rules itself in accordance with its internal procedural regulations, its collective actions and undertakings are coordinated by a Central Administrative Council, formed by representatives of the three governments. The Council has the authority to overrule any directive by an individual state should it deem it necessary, and matters of capital importance are submitted to its attention directly. Projects involving action without the Coalition’s borders require the CAC’s approval to be initiated. The current members of the Central Administrative Council are: [i]From the Inter-Planetary Rule of Ekhrilthurl (a collectivistic technocracy): [/i] High Administrator Iurrthall Decorated Proto-Engineer Aavruelt High Defence Coordinator Aulthellr [i]From the Transglobal Union of Skereth (an odd meritocratic nation-wide hierarchy): [/i] Cycle-Master Rezthil Cycle-Master Xithal Cycle-Bearer Threzzir [i]From the Blessed Thearchy of Zsresris (a species-based theocracy):[/i] Supreme Deep-Speaker Esrselsr Great Strategist Rsirtsal Deep-Vassal Srisilsr [b]Persons of Importance:[/b] [b]Decorated High Administrator Eullvallt:[/b] The de facto leader of the Inter-Planetary Rule, Eullvallt is one of the chief promoters of the expansionistic tendencies which have recently arisen within it. Known for entertaining fond hopes that outward exploration shall allow the Coalition to discover new technology, or perhaps seize it from those it encounters. [b]Cycle-Master Kzerir:[/b] A member of the highest echelons of Skirol hierarchy. While not especially concerned with the possibility of an effective conflict, Kzerir believes that militaristic urges have driven the Skirol industry to achieve staggering successes, and thus vigorously supports the Coalition’s policies. [b]Elder Deep-Speaker Irselsr:[/b] One of the Blessed Thearchy’s most revered spiritual guides. Irselsr has been entrusted by the Zsrolor to convey messages of great importance, and has lately begun to incense the populace with “divinely inspired” speeches exalting war and conquest. [b]Species:[/b] [center][b]Demographics:[/b] Ekhrilthur - 17% Skirol - 24% Zsresriir - 22% Zsrolor - 3% Ulvath - 34%[/center] [b]Ekhrilthur:[/b] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://i1.2photo.ru/4/z/347296.jpg[/img] [/hider] These fungal creatures, hailing from a largely barren and inhospitable, but mineral-rich planet, have a long history of struggling with hostile environments, which, combined with their lengthy gestation period, frequently threatened to thin their numbers almost to the point of extinction. Consequently, there remains in them an atavistic aversion to being exposed to physical danger, and a proportional willingness to decrease the chance of such an occurrence as far as possible. As their soft, malleable pseudopods, which can, in various circumstances, exert a firm grip or perform fine manipulations, render them naturally suited for occupations wherein such flexibility can be vital, Ekhrilthur industry is the Coalition’s finest in terms of mechanical implements and technological advancement, its wares widely available on any inhabited world. Despite this, the Ekhrilthur themselves are seldom seen outside the boundaries of their Rule, preferring to remain in the safety of their territories - despite the latter often amounting to little more than planet-spanning factories and mining operations. [b]Skirol:[/b] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://orig14.deviantart.net/cb80/f/2013/224/f/8/big_alien_tick_by_michaeljaecks-d6hv830.jpg[/img] [/hider] The inquisitive Skirol developed in a rich and complex ecosystem, the entirety of which they still suspect they have not yet quite understood. Such a wealth of life never ceased to fascinate a great many of them, and, ever since the dawn of their civilisation, lead them to wonder how marvellous the world of organic forms might be if it were guided by a wise, calculating intellect - such as their own. Since the Skirol seldom hesitate before passing from words to action, there scarce can be found a life-form in Coalition space which they have not experimented upon, and the products of their biological engineering are slowly yet steadily making their way toward wholesale employment in the civilian sector as well as the military. Skirol are a rather common sight throughout the Coalition, especially about the fringe, where exploration expeditions are occasionally undertaken. [b]Zsresriir:[/b] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZManQQSsbXY/U8QuaOQI8bI/AAAAAAAABAk/Mo29gMdWK1A/s1600/scarab_demon_by_343guiltyspark-d4sywsq.jpg[/img] [/hider] The zealous, belligerent Zsresriir are best known for their ferocity and their curious devotion to the Zsrolor, with whom they share their homeworld. Their large size, abundance of natural weaponry and curt demeanour often cause them to be mistaken, when first encountered, for little more than savage beasts; however, they have time and again shown themselves to be remarkably disciplined and organised, not to mention law-abiding to an extreme. These traits render them well-suited for military service, and, indeed, the majority of the Coalition’s internal peace-keeping forces and non-synthetic troops are Zsresriir. A number of Zsresriir (about 15% of their overall population) is innately endowed with unusually fine senses, enabling them to sense even faint ground tremors beneath them. These comparatively rare individuals are recruited into the Deep-Speakers, the clergy of the Blessed Thearchy, as their abilities enable them to communicate with the Zsrolor and convey their wishes to the surface. [b]Zsrolor:[/b] [hider=Traces of a Zsrolor's passing] [img]http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic13/Fig2.jpeg[/img] [/hider] The enigmatic beings known as Zsrolor - such is the name given to them by their compatriots, the Zsresriir - are, as far as it is known, a species of large, subterranean, possibly highly intelligent creatures. They are worshipped as deities by the Zsresriir, whose Deep-Speakers they are able to contact and instruct by the means of a code conveyed through ground shocks caused by their movements. The Zsresriir claim they defer in all matters to the authority of their “gods”, who have, since time immemorial, always ruled them wisely and led them out of many a crisis. Attempts to study the Zsrolor are forbidden by the laws of the Blessed Thearchy, which are sanctioned by the central Coalition administration. No Zsrolor has ever been known to appear on a planet not inhabited by Zsresriir. [b]Ulvath:[/b] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://i1.wp.com/www.tor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/silicates2.jpg?fit=0%2C%209999&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100[/img] [/hider] The Ulvath are a race of docile mollusc-like creatures which were discovered by the Zsresriir in the early stages of their expansion and “uplifted” to be part of the Blessed Thearchy, where they were treated as second-class citizens. Though they were granted rights equal to all other sentient species upon being integrated into the Coalition, due to their simple, trusting mindset they seldom rise above subordinate ranks. Despite, or perhaps because of, this, the Ulvath mingle well with the other species, and may nowadays be found virtually anywhere in Coalition space, from Ekhrilthur factories through Skirol bio-plants to patrol craft and army barracks. Their strength and obedience make them prized labourers and, on occasion, useful combat assets. [b]Religions:[/b] [center][b]Demographics:[/b] Creed of the Ultimate Truth - 27% Sanctity of the Cycle - 25% Zsrolor Worship - 36% Minor Religions or Unaffiliated - 12%[/center] [b]Creed of the Ultimate Truth:[/b] It might be odd to hear that the notoriously materialistic Ekhrilthur are not only open to religion, but have even produced a faith of their own. In fact, the Creed of the Ultimate Truth is not so much a religious confession as a philosophical stance. In simple terms, those who subscribe to it believe that there is, concealed somewhere in the cosmos, a notion which, if discovered, would explain all uncertainties there exist on the nature and origin of the universe. There are innumerable interpretations of this basic axiom, which have birthed almost as many schools of thought within the Creed. Most of the latter’s adherents are Ekhrilthur and Skirol, though there may also be found among them some of the more curious Ulvath. [b]Sanctity of the Cycle:[/b] The closest the Transglobal Union of Skereth has to an official religion, the postulates of the Sanctity maintain that organic life should strive to attain balance among the many forms it might take. How exactly this is to be done is where most of the schisms occur. Some believe that organic life should be modified through bioengineering until it reaches the desired “perfect” state; others, that all “undesirable” life forms should be removed from existence so that they might not disrupt the order of things. What almost all agree upon, though, is that the Skirol are those upon whom it falls to establish the sacred balance. Needless to say, most believers in the Sanctity of the Cycle are Skirol; the others are prevalently Ulvath fascinated with Skirol culture. [b]Zsrolor Worship:[/b] The religion upon which the Blessed Thearchy of Zsresris is founded, the cult of the Zsrolor states that these beings should be revered as gods, and their will enforced wherever possible. While it might at first seem that such rigid imperatives might be problematic within the increasingly collectivised context of the Coalition, the Zsrolor have shown themselves to be quite reasonable concerning this matter, encouraging the faithful to follow the dictates of common legislation and never contradicting the authority of the CAC. Virtually all Zsresriir worship the Zsrolor, as do many Ulvath who have remained within their sphere of influence. A number of minor cults and religions exists within the Coalition, as well as some individuals who do not subscribe to any faith, even nominally. However, none of those forms a sufficiently significant fraction of the overall population to be listed here separately, and most of them are of strictly local nature. [b]Culture and Background:[/b] Though the three nations which form the Coalition are culturally vastly different, being populated by creatures whose intellects and societies evolved in environments which resembled each other marginally at best, the very fact that there should have been established a lasting alliance between them testifies that there is, after all, something all of them share in equal measure. Unsurprisingly, what most united them in this regard was the segment of their history they have in common - namely, their subjugation by the Imperium and the following struggle to regain their much-coveted autonomy. Diverse as the beings one may encounter within its territory are, the vast majority of them partake of an intense dislike for humans (or Terrans, as they are known there), and merely mentioning the Imperium is guaranteed to kindle the collective-patriotic sentiments of anyone who might be present, despite the fact that about two centuries have elapsed since its fall. The success once achieved through unity has persuaded the species of the Coalition, and especially the successive generations of their leaders, that the “common good” is not merely a matter of idle rhetoric, but a source of very tangible advantages. Thus, over the years following the “Purification”, increasingly intensive propaganda campaigns, devised by the CAC and supported by the three governments (as well as, interestingly, the Zsrolor), aimed at promoting ideals of belonging to a single, vast political super-organism which, while not as centralised and tyrannical as the loathed Terran occupants (the CAC has always been careful not to overtly exert its authority with too great a frequency), would provide protection and well-being for its inhabitants, no matter their species, asking nothing in return but that they be good, dutiful citizens. This continuous action, often carried out subtly and indirectly, has contributed to strengthen a feeling of limited cosmopolitism in the populace, to the point that, if nowadays a randomly selected member of the latter were abruptly asked where their fealty lies, they would be driven by a pseudo-instinctive impulse to name the Coalition more promptly than their original state. As it often is the case, such an increase of patriotism required, for greater stability, some sort of counter-balance, ideally in the form of general distrust and hostility toward everything that was not part of the Coalition itself. Such an effect was even simpler to obtain due to the aforementioned long-lasting hatred toward the Terran invaders and the sentient species associated with them - that is, anything which was not Ekhrilthur, Skirol, Zsresriir, Zsrolor or Ulvath, as not even the governments were truly aware of what exactly existed in the wider galaxy beyond the Terrans and the occasional non-human subject of the Imperium who visited their distant reaches, though this was certainly no obstacle to their tactics. If anything, it simplified them even further, as all “outsiders” were heaped together in a large pile of indistinct but precedent-fueled menace, against which popular discontent stemming from any small issue could be channeled. In fact, so effective were the methods of persuasion used that their very instigators began to wonder whether the situation might actually just reveal itself at some point to be just as grim as they had painted it. Reasoning that, after all, one can never be too careful, some decades ago Coalition leadership launched a motion for wide-scale militarisation of society, prompting the greatest part of industrial sectors, from Ekhrilthur roboticists to Skirol gene-weavers, to turn their attention toward bellic production. As every branch progressed along its own research paths, someone among the military commanders was struck with a brilliant thought: the diversity in the troops fielded by each nation could be exploited to emphasize just how much every member of the Coalition depended on the others in order to function at the peak of their capability. The idea caught on, and soon “interdependence” became a byword throughout the confederation’s economic and social sectors as well as the army. Presently, the Coalition stands as a solid front against anything it perceives as threatening its well-being. Firmly united between themselves, its people are eager to defend their collective hegemony from the despised outsiders, and some are beginning to suggest that its current holdings are not quite what such a paragon of cooperation and unity deserves… [b]History:[/b] When the conquering fleets of the Terran Imperium reached the zone which is currently Coalition territory, the three local civilisations which had risen upon various worlds and, until then, thrived unchecked - Ekhrilthur, Skirol, Zsresriir and assimilated Ulvath - were barely past the planetary development stage, their first crude vessels tentatively reaching out and scarce daring to stray from their home systems. As could be expected, the Imperium met little difficulty in shattering what feeble resistance they could offer and subjugating them, annexing their resource-rich home-worlds. Due to the four species’ radically alien physiology, considered extremely repulsive by human standards, and bizarre cultural traits, Imperial enforcers found it simple to consider them as little better than beasts, and treat them accordingly. Their homelands were ruthlessly exploited for all they were worth (Skereth’s famed ecosystem survived only owing to the Skirol’s clandestine actions), and the beings themselves were herded as slaves and summarily tried and executed upon the least suspicion. The Zsresriir and Ulvath suffered most, bearing the brunt of Imperial retaliations for the casualties and devastation frequently wrought by angered and elusive Zsrolor. Discontent soon reached soaring levels in the colony, and riots and rebellions were not late to occur. They were usually limited in reach and poorly coordinated, yet their sheer quantity forced the Imperium to increasingly strengthen garrisons on occupied worlds. This, in turn, sparked further uprisings, but it soon became clear that, however brutal, ferocious and even physically superior the rebels might have been, they were no match for the well-trained, well-armed and well-disciplined occupants. Under such conditions, the Imperium’s complete victory and pacification of the zone would probably soon have been complete, had it not been for a fatal mistake. Noticing how fitted for specialised roles the various species seemed, a newly appointed governor devised a scheme to create groups comprised of some individuals of each of them, which would have been able to autonomously carry out a variety of tasks. This project was soon enacted, and a number of especially bright or otherwise prominent creatures was gathered, as per instructions, in “multipurpose xeno-labourer units”. The components of these units, who soon learned to communicate between themselves in a simplified form of the Ekhrilthur speech (which would later become the common language of the Coalition), were not slow in establishing contact on another level as well. They all yearned to be free from the Imperium yoke; now, they were afforded an opportunity to reach this goal by preparing to strike from where their enemy least expected it, and each found vital new allies in the others. Thus, while outwardly appearing as though they actively collaborated with the Imperials, the multipurpose units covertly worked to develop their own traditional technologies, all while remaining in contact with each other and rebel groups, who spread messages of renewed hope among the general population. When the newly invigorated forces of the three occupied nations believed themselves ready to launch the long-expected uprising, the Imperium was already showing signs of weakness. Some of the garrisoned troops had been withdrawn, and there was little hope new reinforcements, had been necessary, would have been timely. Thus, the position of the local Imperial forces was somewhat weakened; yet they did not deem it worthwhile to increase vigilance, believing the locals to have finally lost all strength to rebel, and were caught unawares when the masses of the xenos turned upon them at once, supported by swarms of bio-engineered monstrosities and fearsome war machines which had seemingly appeared from nowhere. Soon, the entirety of the Terran troops present in the occupied zone had been torn to shreds; yet the exultant rebels did not find this sufficient, and turned upon human civilians with undiminished ferocity. Those who were not immediately slaughtered were transported to Skirol bio-plants, and were never heard from since; those attempting to flee from the systems were pursued with captured Terran spacecraft and secretly constructed prototypes, the forerunners of the Coalition armada, and annihilated. When news of this massacre reached the Imperium, it dispatched a fleet to subdue the insurgents; however, it already had few ships to spare at that time, and the assault was successfully repelled. What occurred during the Liberation was nothing short of genocide; yet the inhabitants of the Coalition still remember it with pride, and never tire of glorifying the “heroic deeds” of their ancestors. With the hated oppressors destroyed and peace restored in their territories, the newly freed nations set to rebuilding their planets as they deemed it best and planning their future courses of action. Mindful of the Liberation’s success, their leaders convened that it would have been most advantageous to consolidate their alliance, and founded the Yrrkeltharl Coalition, named after the appellation of their sector in the common language. Over the next centuries, the CAC and state leaders tirelessly worked upon strengthening the ties between their peoples, largely through the methods described above, and further developing their stunted industries and economies, contributing, where possible, to causing them to be greatly reliant upon each other. Such a focus upon internal affairs did not leave sufficient amount of time or resources to spare upon external expansion, and isolationism was virtually enforced during that period. Lately, however, an increasing number of influential figures has been advocating the acquisition of new “living space”, claiming that the Coalition is ready to face any foe. Many believe it is but a question of time before the CAC gives its consent to the endeavour… [b]Technology:[/b] While the age of Imperial domination remains ever reviled, it is undeniable that it contributed to furthering the three nations’ technological development, both owing to their own subversive projects and the establishment of infrastructure and production facilities by the occupants, and rather simplified their initial stages of industrialisation, leaving them with plenty of expropriated material to work upon. Notably, the basic apparatus structures of the Coalition’s communication systems and warp drives, though long since rendered unrecognisable by numerous improvements and modifications, were once almost integral replicas of the original Terran devices. However, after centuries of more or less overt exhortations to leave the vestiges of an abhorred past as far behind as possible, and develop previously unthought-of technology as a testament to the alliance’s scientific brilliance and industrial might, the joint efforts of Ekhrilthur and Skirol researchers have succeeded in developing a number of inventions which are, to all effects, unique in the galaxy, due to the peculiarity of their design and the alien nature of the minds which conceived them. One of the first issues to be raised to the attention of the newborn Coalition was that of energy production. Previously, the latter had been achieved through the consumption of material resources extracted by the Imperium, a method which the new governments were unanimously opposed to perpetuating. Thus, after a mere few month of feverish activity, the nascent Ekhrilthur industries constructed the first vacuum-core reactor. The fundamental principle of this design consists in creating an enclosed, stable pocket of void, to which was added a small number of catalyst particles, and converting its physical traction into kinetic energy, which could then be transformed and employed as necessary. Such reactors provide a high output, but have the disadvantage of being, even in their most reduced forms, large and unwieldy. Nevertheless, to this day they remain widely used in factories and aboard ships, where they fuel engines, shields and the occasional heavy weapon. A more versatile generator was developed recently as a result of the combination of Ekhrilthur experiments with nanotechnology and Skirol microbiological engineering. Cultures of genetically modified bacteria, designed in such a manner than they multiply and feed upon each other and multiply at an unnaturally fast rate, preserving a balance in their numbers, were placed in vats along with nano-machines which harvested the energy released as a result of their frenzied activity. Such devices, which could be produced in varying sizes depending on their application, soon became the most widespread energy source in Coalition space, as they could provide autonomy as far as on a personal level. Bacterial tubes, as they are commonly known due to their usually cylindrical form, have caught the attention of military engineers, and were swift to be made into batteries for energy beam weapons, which were consequently dubbed “bio-lasers”. In particular, army-issue blasters, used by Planetary Invasion Forces, but not law-enforcement personnel, are fitted with a special breed of bacteria, whose activity produces toxic waste. The latter is then expelled in pulverised form from vents in the weapon’s sides, perpetually cloaking Coalition forces in combat in tell-tale venomous clouds. Another relevant technological field is that of robotics. The Ekhrilthur have always been loath to conduct hazardous work in person, ever devising more and more efficient tools which could be exposed to danger without personal risk, and what tool is safer than a remotely controlled, or, better yet, autonomous machine? Thus, mechanical drones were, even in the chronicles of ante-planetary times, associated with their production. However, as the quality of these drones grew, so did, at a far swifter rate, their numbers, and the difficulty of managing them. Even the most advanced of autonomous machines often found themselves in positions where two or more units were accidentally given contradictory instructions, and the entire situation was deemed greatly unsatisfactory. Several solutions were tested, until finally the first Autonomous Operative System was implemented. Though not exactly sentient, this processing program nonetheless reached such a degree of complexity as to be able to control numerous drones at once, all while taking full stock of its surroundings and calculating the consequences of its actions and nearby events by combining almost indefinite factors. The experiment was a success, and AOS mass production began soon afterwards. Often these systems will combine into networks to manage large facilities, sometimes spanning continents. As was almost inevitable, the design was adapted and optimised for military operations, and specialised Tactical Autonomous Local Operative Systems (TALOS) currently control the Coalition’s hordes of war-drones and automated fighter craft. [b]Military:[/b] [hider=Available Information] The Coalition's collective military, ambitiously named Planetary Invasion Forces, perfectly reflects the concept it contributed to inspire - that of cooperation and mutually dependent fractions operating in unison to secure victory through the combination of their respective strengths and by compensating for each other's weaknesses. This general strategy, as well as the diversity of its ranks, makes it an altogether highly versatile army, capable both of engaging an enemy force in the field and stealthily sapping its strength through guerrilla warfare, as well as rearranging itself almost instantly in order to adapt to varying conditions. The Coalition's ground forces are its pride, and numerous simulations have estimated them to be capable of tremendous destruction - which the famed destruction of the Imperium's forces can only confirm. The Planetary Invasion Forces are broadly divided into three categories: [u]War-Drones[/u] These machines, variants of Ekhrilthur drones especially built for military action, controlled by TALOS networks, typically mount direct attacks upon the enemy. Their immunity to pain or fear renders them ideal frontline combatants, and their coordination, unmatched by organic units, ensures that its manoeuvring should be invariably as rapid and efficient as it could possibly be. [i]Standard Invasion Drone[/i] [img]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/templarsoftwilight/images/d/da/Heavy_Attack_Droid.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090311004218[/img] Standard Invasion Drones form the bulk of the Coalition's frontal attackers. While not especially resilient, they are nonetheless strong, dexterous and, most importantly, disposable. Armed with bio-laser blasters, their advance pushes forth along the front the Coalition's trademark poisonous vapours. [i]Heavy Invasion Drone[/i] [img]http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/terminator/images/c/c0/T7t.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090601023538[/img] Slightly larger and significantly more heavily armoured than the Standard model, these drones are understandably more expensive to produce, and thus fielded in lesser numbers; those which do appear upon the battlefield, however, abundantly compensate for their scarcity. Their weapons fire conglomerations of destructive nano-machines, which gruesomely tear their way through flesh and metal indiscriminately. [u]Bio-Engineered Creatures[/u] Spawned from the pits of Skirol bio-plants, these horrors, intelligent enough to be trained, usually serve as mobile infantry, flanking enemy formations or eliminating small, elusive targets. They are immune to the toxins and pathogens employed by the Collective military, and, in case of defeat, scatter about the desolation wrought by the main forces, possibly enduring for years as isolated threats or joining successive invasions. [i]Shredder Beast[/i] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://img11.deviantart.net/e333/i/2012/095/6/9/rwar__monster_by_callthistragedy1-d4v585g.jpg[/img] [/hider] Agile and ferocious, shredder beasts are usually unleashed in droves upon foes. Though they are able of recognising and exploiting vantage point, they prefer to charge at their targets directly, striking them where they are most vulnerable, for instance, in the rear lines. [i]Ravager[/i] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://pre09.deviantart.net/893e/th/pre/i/2014/207/3/8/alien_arachnid_monster_quick_concept_by_bobpierre-d7scanv.jpg[/img] [/hider] More cunning and patient than shredder beasts, ravagers often organise ambushes and surprise attacks against their targets, assailing them when they least expect it - such as when they are certain of victory, and consequently careless. Their camouflage abilities enable them to blend in with their surroundings, and thus all the better catch their prey unawares. [i]Befouler[/i] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://i45.tinypic.com/2ecq6o3.jpg[/img] [/hider] These winged beasts swoop down upon assembled enemy ranks, spitting out corrosive ichor, or harass flying machines, compensating for the Coalition's lack of atmospheric vessels. It is not infrequent for them to suicidally dive onto their targets - which is, oddly, a valid strategy, as their bodies rapidly decompose into purulent, infectious puddles upon death. [u]Zsresriir Soldiers[/u] The elite of the Planetary Invasion Forces, those Zsresriir who take up arms to defend (and expand) the collective good of the confederation are the Coalition's most prized and formidable military assets. Not only are these "heroes" subjected to rigorous training and intensified propaganda; there are likewise likewise bestowed upon them numerous Ekhrilthur mechanical implants and Skirol grafted enhancements aimed at improving their senses, strength and agility, to the point that many of them barely resemble Zsresriir at all. They are usually protected by semi-organic combat armour, which, along with shielding them from damage, filters the air they breathe, enabling them to operate in usually impracticable environments and wield bio-laser rifles. [hider=Zsresriir shock troopers] [img]http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo81/Shirocco2/Aliens/alien_soldiers_by_chrislazzer.jpg[/img] [/hider] Those who display the greatest amounts of zeal and fanaticism are further "upgraded", being outfitted with a Skirol symbiotic carapace. The latter is, rather than a suit of armour, a separate, semi-intelligent entity, which, in addition to greatly enhancing the wearer's potency and performing the usual functions of heavy defensive equipment, is able to regenerate damage to both itself and the Zsresriir within at preternaturally rapid rates. [hider=A Zsresriir heavy trooper] [img]http://img11.deviantart.net/ab9e/i/2013/005/c/0/alien_insectoid_warrior_type_by_rebirthofdougler111-d5ql12p.jpg[/img] [/hider] [u]Armoured Vehicles[/u] Combat vehicles generally fill the role of mobile artillery and battlefield support in Coalition armies. Though it is possible for them to engage similar units, they are especially adept at demolishing buildings and other structures - it matters little whether military or civilian. [i]Reaper Tank[/i] [img]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/shadowraiders/images/6/61/King_Cryos_in_crawler_tank_on_planet_Ice.png/revision/latest?cb=20110625165240[/img] The most common of the Coalition vehicles, Reapers are quite fast, which enables them to out-manoeuver larger engines or pursue fleeing enemies. Their armour, however, is fairly light, and their weapons, though rapid, are largely ineffective against stronger plating and fortified structures. [i]Devastator Tank[/i] [hider=Appearance] [img]https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/encyclopedia/vehicles/scarab-square-542x542-9a7e124646ba48a7968988156faa3e35.jpg[/img] [/hider] Heavily armoured and carrying the largest bio-laser cannons among the Coalition's ground forces, Devastators might well qualify as artillery platforms in their own right. Their versatility, though, is impaired by their slow movement and large size, which renders swift manoeuvring impossible and marks them as conspicuous targets. [u]Specialised Boarding Units[/u] These highly hazardous creatures are only employed in boarding operations, where they are released in separate pods. However, there have been suggestions to use them on planetary surfaces as part of scorched-earth strategies. [i]Infecter[/i] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14617677/images/1303015770120.jpg[/img] [/hider] Despite their small size and lack of natural defences, save for a chameleon-like capability to render themselves nearly invisible, infecters are invariably handled with extreme caution. Their peculiarity consists in filling breathable atmospheres with airborne viral infections; a sufficient number of them could render an entire ship uninhabitable within less than an hour. [i]Ingester[/i] [hider=Appearance] [img]http://www.wizards.com/mtg/images/daily/stf/stf42_bloodhallOoze.jpg[/img] [/hider] As simple as a pluricellular creature could possibly be, an ingester is no more than a larger equivalent of an amoeba. The closest there is in it to neural activity is an urge to advance and consume all organic matter it encounters, which it promptly does whenever possible by externally digesting and assimilating its victims. As they lack anything resembling organs, and thus any vulnerable point, these entities are tremendously difficult to stop. It is assumed that they can only be destroyed by thorough burning, though even that has never been verified. [/hider] [b]Fleet:[/b] [hider=Available Information] While the Coalition leadership entertained, since the beginning, high hopes for its ground forces, its members were less optimistic as concerns the fleet. If the Imperial forces they had once faced were any indication, larger, more powerful nations would easily be able to launch armadas far greater than anything they could hope to muster, leaving them hopelessly outmatched with minimal effort. Nonetheless, they were quite aware of the fact that, in the event of a conflict, an interstellar confrontation would be quite unavoidable. Thus, after much reflection and a few invocations for the Deep Ones to grant them inspiration, its high command devised an unconventional strategy. Even is space, the Coalition would rely upon the superiority of its Planetary Invasion Forces to achieve victory. The fundamental concept is, altogether, quite simple. The majority of the Coalition fleet is composed not by combat vessels, but small, nimble boarding pods, each filled with drones, bio-engineered monsters or Zsresriir shock troops: [url=http://i.imgur.com/FKAFgjY.jpg]Standard Boarding Pod[/url] [url=http://www.frogswarm.fr/scleak/36%20-%20Cleaver%20-%20Vanduul%20Boarding%20Pod.png]Biohazard Boarding Pod, used to deploy uncontrollable creatures.[/url] These pods are designed to attach themselves to larger craft and locate a hollow surface upon it, then wear away at its defences and unleash its contents within, eliminating the crew and thus neutralising the ship. Meanwhile, Coalition vessels proper, built to be swift and elusive rather than robust or heavily armed, are tasked with harrying the enemy formation, leaving it in disarray and unable to properly respond, and eventually hunting down and destroying smaller fighters and drones. Known Coalition combat ships include: [url=http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/7/74739/2693859-alien_fighter_design.jpg]Fighter Drone[/url] - Controlled by TALOS networks optimised for space combat, these drones are a negligible threat on their own, but can be quite a nuisance when swarming about in large numbers. [url=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-syEokyFOXYE/T4TSKWF3JmI/AAAAAAAAEpc/4t6TepUIzDI/s1600/heavy+star+fighter+cruiser+carrier+alien+spaceship+vessel+star+carft+ii+ALIEN+SCI+FI+FUTURISTIC+DROPSHIP++halo+wars+3+4+covenant+evil.jpg]Deployer[/url] - Unlike other fleets' carrier ships, deployers do not carry smaller fighters, but boarding pods, often launching them directly at enemy ships as they sweep by. [url=http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/scans/drex/crossing-angled.jpg]Hunter[/url] - Hunter craft do not engage larger vessels, but, being exceedingly fast for their size, pursue enemy fighters and corvettes, destroying them with swift, accurate bursts of fire. [url=http://i.imgur.com/1Wi1MI2.jpg]Battleship[/url] - Though nowhere as imposing or destructive as the dreadnoughts fielded by larger nations, Coalition battleships are far more agile than those colossi. Their comparatively large size renders it simple for them to draw the attention of enemies upon themselves, distracting them from the far more dangerous boarding pods. [url=http://www.igorstshirts.com/blog/conceptships/2009/omur_ozgur.jpg]Armoured Transport[/url] - Despite not being quite combat vessels, transport ships fill a vital role in the Coalition fleet, carrying as they do large numbers of Planetary Invasion Forces toward besieged planets. Large numbers of them typically follow in the wake of a battle fleet. [/hider] [/hider]