This is me taking up the DM's challenge of playing a singular Mgalekgolo. [hr]cs wip, don't look [hider=cswip]💣 [b]Name:[/b] Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" [b]Rank:[/b] Hunter [b]Species:[/b] Lekgolo - Mgalekgolo Colony [b]Appearance:[/b] Tasuma is an imposing form, standing near the upper limit of recorded Mgalekgolo height, he is 12 feet tall and 4 inches, and capable of hunching down into a comfortable combat stance of 7 feet, 4 inches. Tasuma itself looks just like any other Lekgolo colony, a mass of orange worm like aliens clustered together into a form. Where it begins to differ in appearance is in its armor. Having worked alongside UNSC scientists and engineers, it's Covenant issued armor has been given a new coat of paint, from blue to the ODST's black and grey BDU camouflage. Tasuma is also rarely seen in the field without camo netting draped over its back and head, further providing concealment. Seemingly to further the idea that Tasuma has adopted the human method of warfare, its armor and assault cannon has been modified with additional plates to cover the glowing eyes and exposed incendiary fuel ammunition tubes. These plates can be retracted to allow the glow of the weapon and eyes to be seen again. Even on its back, between its spikes, the humans had managed to affix an array of four smoke grenade launchers. Tasuma itself is a fairly submissive Mgalekgolo, often crouched over disguising its true height, to make itself as small as possible. In the day to day, Tasuma is often just under its combat stance height. The spikes on its back are often relaxed and limp, and it can be seen walking using its shield as a third leg occasionally, almost like crawling. [b]Skills:[/b] Fighting things, smashing things, observing things. Surprisingly good at being stealthy. [b]Preferred Weapons/Equipment:[/b] Tasuma prefers his Pavise Shield and Assault Cannon, and has found use for the smoke grenade launchers on his back. But the UNSC Engineers and Scientists that work with Tasuma have come up with all sorts of things. Explosive-Reactive-Armor plating for his shield to make it more resistant against HEAT rockets and missiles, fitting fragmentation grenades in his smoke grenade launchers, an experimental active protection system that disrupts the electromagnetic field of incoming plasma fire, (at the cost of disrupting all outgoing weapons that use electromagnetic fields in someway, and unshielded electronics, and it may possibly cause health issues) and more. Tasuma tries to let them down gently. [b]Background:[/b] Tasuma is a fairly young Hunter, having been born from its Bondbrother, Iteyimeyokosa, only ten years ago. Iteyi was a warrior on the Lekgolo homeworld of Te and the other Lekgolo colonies for over a hundred years, settling disputes, keeping the peace and fighting aggressive wildlife. When Tasuma was born, the bonded pair gained the attention of a Sangheili Commander. The Commander personally requested that Tasuma and Iteyi join his unit as Hunters in the Covenant military, and the two accepted. During the Human-Covenant War, Iteyi was a ferocious soldier, while Tasuma was the more meek. However together the Hunters were a force to be reckoned with. During the Great Betrayal, Tasuma and Iteyi were on Earth fighting alongside Sangheili when the Jiralhanae suddenly began to attack the Sangheili. The Hunter pair quickly reacted by rushing to their commanders aid. With the Hunters aid, the Jiralhanae were fought off, and the group of Hunters, Elites, as well as several confused Unggoy fled. It wasn't long that they stumbled into a firefight between a battered UNSC forward operating base, and a large contingent of Covenant forces. The Sangheili Commander acted quickly, forming a plan to strike at the rear of the Jiralhanae. The Hunters and Sangheili broke the back of the Brute assault, stuck between the Elites and the UNSC, the Covenant attackers were destroyed. There was a tense pause between the UNSC and their rescuers, a pause that was broken by the appearance of a second wave of Covenant. The Elites immediately opened fire, a response good enough for the humans, and together they manned the walls of the UNSC base. Tasuma and Iteyi held the entrance when Iteyi was struck by an enemy heavy weapon, felling the Mgalekgolo. For Tasuma it was as if time had stopped, his elder brother had been felled. Then a squad of ODSTs ran from the walls and formed a perimeter around the fallen Hunter, their team medic working frantically. Tasuma was struck by their decision to move to save an alien who just hours before was invading their world. Tasuma roared, slammed his shield against the floor, and backed up to become a living shield for the ODSTs. It wasn't long after until another UNSC element appeared, the rest of the ODST's platoon. Bolstered by reinforcements, the Covenant attack was fought off, and they were left with the awkward question as human and alien looked to one another. What now? Tasuma dared not leave his wounded brother, as the Elites spoke to the Human officers. More than a few ODSTs surrounded it, watching it, as it watched the medics. When the medics finally finished, Tasuma could feel a sliver of life from its brother. The Humans had saved its bondbrother, and with that, Tasuma had formed new opinions. Later, the group was united with the Fleet of Retribution. As the Elites and Grunts joined with their brethren, Tasuma again refused to leave his brother. Iteyi was moved to a secure UNSC facility, Spatha Base, and Tasuma followed. As security, the platoon of ODSTs followed closely behind them. As Iteyi began its slow heal, hours rolled into days, and days rolled into weeks. The ODSTs became bolder and bolder, approaching Tasuma, who stood no more than ten feet away from its brother at any time. Tasuma and the ODSTs eventually began to converse, it learned the names of the ones who saved its brother. It took a whole year for Tasuma to trust the humans with its brother, even with Iteyi's assurance that the humans meant only well. With the relationship between the ODST platoon, now dubbed "The Worm Wranglers", and the two Hunters being well, the UNSC expanded the scope of the project. From ensuring Iteyi's survival and continued healing, thus ensuring a good relationship between Elites and Humans, to now include societal research, weapons development, and more. Over the next few years, Tasuma would fight alongside the ODSTs against pockets of Covenant resistance on Earth and her colonies. Tasuma and Iteyi would pledge their allegiance to the Swords of Sanghelios, though it would take Iteyi decades more to fully recover from the attack. Over the years, the four person fireteam that had rushed down from the walls to defend Iteyi would be offered the position of Spartan-IV, and they would accept, becoming Fireteam Knifefish. Tasuma, Fireteam Knifefish, and the Worm Wranglers Platoon of ODSTs would regularly be deployed alongside Swords of Sangheilios units for joint operations. Meanwhile at Spatha Base on Earth, the team surrounding Iteyi's recovery had easily tripled in size, now encompassing both Human scientists and engineers, and Sangheili medics-in-training and weaponsmiths. The Iteyimeyokosa Recovery Project now included cross training, education, as well as research, becoming one of the larger joint UNSC-Swords of Sanghelios projects in existence. Tasuma would be approached by his old commanding officer once more, now a political leader supporting The Arbiter, and he would ask the battle hardened Hunter to join the newly formed HSSO Aegis Team. Under the advisement of its friends in the ODSTs, Fireteam Knifefish, and its bond brother, Tasuma would accept. [/hider]