Antar III Sector 5: Front Line Tar Yrra Expeditionary Zone
Two fleet hierarchs inspect their ships and begin to transition into active operations. Fleet Hierarchs Kadak and Kajuto, they were born in the same clutch and have competed with each other for a long time. In the end their competitive drive against each other is what drove them both to excel in their pursuits. Both aimed to be part of the historic warrior caste and rise to be part of the command sub caste. However, that was in their youth, now they’ve seen combat against the Augustans in the last war along the scorched line. They’re tempered and hardened veterans of war.
Both of them bear scars from the intense fleet combat during what they’d call the Firestorm wars. They themselves had the pleasure of meeting Augustan marines up close in boarding actions against their vessels. The Augustans could say whatever they’d like about the Lokoid, however, meeting one in person in close combat was another matter entirely. Four arms that were perfectly synchronized with each other, hyper awareness of their environment, their fleet footed agility around the tight corridors of their ship, and the lifetime's worth of fighting for their own survival against the standards of their society. There was no weakling Lokoid in the military, there were only those who survived or did not make the proverbial cut.
The two met each other on the boarding platforms. It had been a year since their respective deployments.
“Fleet Hierarch Kajuto, your deployment?” Kadak asked, looking towards his lifelong rival who now only had a prosthetic eye to salvage his sight.
“The scorched line. Hunting is slim. Must clean the sector. Directive from the Hierarch council themselves.” Kajuto looks towards his large ship, an Annihilator Dreadnought outfitted with salvage facilities and foundries to pump out new materials that they could use for anything.
The two chittered their chelicerae before Kadak reciprocated by revealing his tasking, “I take to the Ghost Nebula. Danger is guaranteed. Augustans present.”
Now it was Kajuto’s turn to take in the state of his clutch brother as he turned to look at him, yes he too had prosthetics, two of his arms have either been replaced or partially modified because of the damages sustained to his body, “Augustan blood debt must be paid. Hunt well, clutch brother, and let the ichor flow.”
As they were about to part ways, a cadre of well armed, heavily armored Lokoid approached them – Hunters. The two in-front, standing side-by-side, appeared to be Hunter officers. The one to the right spoke, “The 289th Tactical Hunter Taskforce “K’tanak” and 105th Tactical Hunter Taskforce “Nadak” have been assigned to assist you fleet Hierarchs. The 289th is assigned to Fleet Hierarch Kajuto and the 105th to Kadak.”
Kajuto stared for a moment, before asking, “My deployment is routine salvage. Why assign hunter units to the scorched line?”
The one to the left replied now, “Hierarch of war Daggoth and Hierarch of Commerce Kaloth find the presence of pirates in the scorched line unacceptable. Must minimize, must contain, must cleanse. The Hierarchs have placed piracy on zero tolerance. No negotiations. Only extermination.”
As the two hierarchs looked out from a large station window, they could already see the six cruiser sized stealth ships that held a compact complement of two fighter squadrons and a ground deployment package of their S-80 squadrons and heavy gunships each. The Hunter’s stealth ships were capable of optical camouflage and it didn’t particularly have a high heat signature because of a new experimental drive mechanism that did away with heavy thrusters as its main method of propulsion – sublight alcubierre drives in addition to sensor masking and electronic warfare, it would be near impossible to detect with only the bending of light around the ship revealing its position to the naked eye. However, it still made use of thrusters as backups and the complete stealth wasn’t fool proof, there are still a number of ways that it could be detected, particularly when firing its single high powered beam cannon, opening its many high yield graviton torpedoes, or launching cluster missiles as it needs to momentarily drop some of its stealth mechanisms, particularly the sensor masking and electronic warfare systems to yield far more accurate firing solutions. That being said, the Lokoid have mitigated this risk by using datalinks to communicate enemy locations and calculate firing solutions without other ships having to drop their stealth – they were relatively new to the Lokoid arsenal.
It seems the Hierarchs found these deployments as good opportunities to test the capabilities of their Hunter arsenal and hone the Hunters even further through actual combat. Most Hunters were veterans of the Firestorm wars, however, the new blood have yet to taste a true hunt. The Fleet Hierarchs know just as well as the Hunters themselves, the new blood must taste a true hunt before they can call themselves part of the Hunter’s cadre.
Kajuto and Kadak acknowledge their Hunter brethren, “Let us hunt well.”
To which the Hunters simply clicked their mandibles as a prompt reply.
They each boarded their respective ships and shuttles and made preparations to get underway. The Lokoid were once again slowly going back on the march.
Stealth Cruiser Hunter Power Armor Super Cruise mode Attack mode Hunter Fighter Craft Hunter Assault Dropship recreated from Downed Augustan Transports and redesigned for Lokoid standards.
It had been one long galactic year since the last war of reclamation or whatever the other nations wanted to call it. The Lokoid had a different word in mind to describe those wars - the firestorm wars. Wars so intense they burned brighter than that of the flames when the Lokoid and their allies scoured their galactic sectors of any Yrrani presence. What was it all for? Pieces of lost technology on Tar Yrra? The Lokoid had already broken down and learned what they could on Yrrani settled worlds during the Yrrani civil war and the subsequent rebellion of the auxiliaries. What kind of technology did the Yrrani withhold and kept so close to their hearts as to stay only in their home world? If it was a weapon, was it so destructive that even in their final moments they did not dare think to use it? Was it a miraculous power source that would never run out? What other possibilities were there?
Araq pondered this in his mind while his chelicerae chittered and chattered, a gesture akin to humans rubbing their hands together to think and ponder.
That was when the other Ruling Heirarchs entered the council chamber. There were others of course, the lesser Heirarchs were present via holoprojections. There were hundreds of reports, things that the Lokoid could easily sift through, their unique physiology and biology facilitated better information processing and handling even if there were multiple unrelated tasks at once - true multitasking.
In mere hours, several lesser Heirarchs governing different sectors had their concerns addressed by the ruling Heirarchs, directives, objectives, and other such things were then distributed. Sectors that had failed their tasks or had not lived up to the expectations of the Ruling Heirarchs had their governing Heirarchs reviewed. Actions of replacement or addressing their weaknesses that had been overlooked. Afterwards, as each of the lesser Heirarchs moved out of the council chamber, the Ruling Heirarchs began looking at the overall push of the Heirarchy at large.
The five convened by the center console of the chamber with Araq speaking first, “Tar Yrra cannot be conquered. Too many eyes. Too many restrictions. Multinational peace keeping corps and research team outside of system under Supremite threat. We overlook when we can, however, Augustan presence make relations… Difficult on both sides.”
Gorn, the Heirarch of research and development speaks, “Cannot lose privilege for research on multinational station. Suggest repositioning defense contingent with multinational fleet away from potential confrontation with Superiority forces to defense of station proper.”
“Not viable. Defense contingent near station may draw incorrect conclusion from Augustan force and other members. Putting forward for discussion suggestion: Communicate with Supremacy. Inform discreet passage past multinational force. Information provided in return for profit for Superiority and Hierarchy interests. If not, negotiate other means.” Araq presents the idea to the council.
All around the center console of the council chamber there was not one objection. Araq then begins to create an encrypted message to be delivered via physical transportation towards supremite controlled space aboard a delivery fleet containing Lokoid undesirables and raw materials for supremite conversion.
Araq then waves one hand and the console projects holo documents for the Heirarchs to view, as two other interesting matters pop into view, “... Aside from Tar Yrra, Sector Heirarchs under Commerce and Industrial caste propose limited clearing of Scorched Line. Too many valuable resources left behind. Reclamation deemed possible.”
The Heriarch of commerce, Kaloth seems intrigued, “Possible. Intriguing. Recuperating losses and recovering lost equipment is paramount in proposed venture. Methodology?”
Heirarch of industry, Zasz, and Heirarch of War, Dagoth start to present their holo documents sliding the ones on the forefront into the background temporarily.
“We send an Annihilator class super dreadnought outfitted for scrap collection. Reclaim, reforge, repurpose. Melt down what cannot be used into new material.” Zasz clicked.
Dagoth twitched his antennae in approval, “We send smaller destroyers and cruisers for escort. Super dreadnought to act as mobile space station for collection operation.”
Kaloth’s hands perused the documents available to him. There was a long pause before he finally buzzed with approval, “Methodology sound. Collection group adequately armed and equipped. Expected losses during collection, minimal. The commerce caste approves.”
Araq hearing his Heirarchs and seeing all presented facts was also pleased, “Limited collection mission approved.”
Araq brought back the third document regarding the ghost region. Whisper drones sent to the region have detected something interesting. “Augustan force spotted entering ghost nebula and disappearing off sensors. Ghost nebula navigation, challenging. Augustan, enemy, must observe, must obstruct. Options?”
Around the council table they chittered and chattered and clicked and clattered. Finally, Dagoth addressed the Supreme Heirarch, “Modified battlegroup move into ghost nebula. Follow Augustan force. Support group stationed outside nebula with beacon for reinforcement point. Engage Augustan force. Armistice does not stipulate hostilities outside Tar Yrra.”
Araq screeched in disapproval, “League of Nations will question hostility. Conflict unnecessary, conflict avoidable. Require deniability. Options?”
Dagoth revised his plans immediately, “Exploratory battlegroup, Hive class super carrier as flagship. Four antennae class destroyers for detection and navigation, four brawler class cruisers, four mauler class cruisers, three hailfire class cruisers. Fire power adequate, deployment options plenty. Revisions necessary?”
“Heirarch class battle carrier, Eight antennae class destroyers, three stinger class destroyers, six instigator class destroyers, four brawler class cruisers, three mauler class cruisers, three hailfire class cruisers. Detection needed, firepower needed, threat unknown. Do not repeat mistake with bio-mech union, must be prepared, must be organized. Support group stationed outside of nebula is agreable. All details now agreed?” Araq replies to Dagoth’s request for revisions.
Once again, around the console, they all remain silent. Araq then says, “Council deliberations decided. The Heirarchy moves forward.”
The Heirarchy recognizes its friend of steel and flesh, the Superiority.
The Heirarchy would like to present an opportunity for the Superiority. Coordination is necessary for both parties to benefit. Discreet means of communication required for further cooperation. The topic is considered sensitive for the position of the Lokoid and so cannot be discussed in the form of missives. A formal meeting between delegates may be required.
May profits find you honored friends. The Hierarchy expresses regrets for any inconvenience caused.
The Hierarchy, The Lokoid, The Roaches (Derogatory)
Government
The government is the Ruling Caste. The Hierarch Council disseminates their orders to system regional governors which keeps all systems in line with the will of the hierarchy. The council of hierarchs is made up of five members.
Araq, Supreme Hierarch - Chosen by the Hierarch Council
Kaloth, Hierarch of Commerce - Governs the Commerce Caste
Gorn, Hierarch of Research and Development - Governs the Academic Caste
Dagoth, Hierarch of War - Governs the Soldiery Caste
Zasz, Hierarch of Industry - Governs over mass production
These members of the council all have equal power except for the Supreme Hierarch who supersedes the rest of the council. The council deliberates everything related to running the Hierarchy as a whole and is responsible for the direction of the Hierarchy moving forward.
Demographics
The Lokoid Heirarchy is made up mostly of Lokoid. It is rare to find any other race on Lokoid worlds, especially those not built for the pleasure or leisure targeted towards those of a different race.
Society
From birth, the order of the hierarchy is implemented. Lokoid young hatch from eggs within an egg sack as larvae. The liquids in the sack are consumed, filled with vital nutrients and antibiotics. The weak are eaten and the strong continue to develop. Once the survivors break out of the egg sack, they are taken as nymphs to be educated. Primary education begins, but nothing could prepare the young Lokoids for their second trial. The nymphs, nearing their adolescence, are thrown into the wilderness to survive. Cannibalism is encouraged if it means survival. They are given the lesson, eat or be eaten, the survival of the fittest as they once did when they were larvae. But it was also natural selection as those who fail to adapt die off. The survivors at the end of the month are taken and given secondary education. Their secondary education focuses on the general education of different subjects. Four years later, they are evaluated and if their scores drop below a quota they are euthanized, prepared as food, and is rationed to the rest of the now grown brood.
Usually, the survival rate for Lokoids in their childhood is less than half. Their massive amounts of eggs per-person, however, necessitate this way of population control. The survivors are then given a caste position and specialization training. It is possible to move up in society through individual meritocracy. The weak and the stupid are recycled and eaten. This is vestigial behavior from a more primitive time. The average lifespan of a Lokoid, if allowed to live in ideal conditions, is seventy standard years. However, the oldest known Lokoid was a hierarch who was reported to be 210 standard years old, indicating that in the best conditions the Lokoid can have a surprisingly long lifespan when compared to humans.
The castes themselves are divided into five categories:
The Ruling Caste
The Commerce Caste
The Academic Caste
The Warrior Caste
The Industrial Caste
The ruling caste is composed of the fittest Lokoid, the ones who have displayed amazing intelligence and leadership ability within their respective caste. The ruling caste’s most powerful members are made up of five individuals known as the Hierarch Council. Each individual all have equal power to one another and have different jurisdictions. However, there is always one individual among the five that presides among the five. This individual would come to be known as the supreme hierarch. The representatives themselves are known as, from descending order of caste, the hierarch of commerce, the hierarch of research and development, the hierarch of war, and the hierarch of industry. The supreme hierarch is chosen based on leadership ability and is chosen among the five hierarchs of the ruling caste. Only a majority vote within the council of hierarchs can have the supreme hierarch replaced.
The commerce caste is composed of traders and businessmen. The commerce caste is specifically for those among the Lokoid who display great social skills and have an eye for business. The commerce caste is the primary economic group that provides the Lokoid new business opportunities in the galaxy. They acquire trade licenses, manufacturing patents, design contracts, and more. On top of this, the commerce caste is also responsible for lending and collecting loans, managing budgets and expenses, and conducting audits on the other castes.
The academic caste is composed of Lokoids who display amazing aptitudes for the sciences. The academic caste is responsible for technological gains within the hierarchy. They are in charge of designing new ships and weapons for use in manufacturing. On top of this, they are in charge of scientific advancement in many fields such as botany and particle physics just to name a few. If the commerce caste is equated to a marketing and advertising department then the academic caste is research and development. This is where new products are made and approved. If approved they are handed over to the commerce caste and industrial caste for marketing and mass production.
The warrior caste is responsible for choosing the strongest among the castes and placing them into sub-castes. These sub-castes are divided by merit and intelligence. There are four major sub-castes:
Command Caste - Responsible for NCO’s and command staff
Specialized Caste - Responsible for special operations
Regular Caste - Responsible for regular soldiers and fleet personnel
Support Caste - Responsible for operating equipment and vehicles
These sub-castes are responsible for training and selecting from placed or recruited members of the Soldiery caste. They are the backbone of the militant might of the hierarchy and make use of automated combatants if needed and are a common sight when collecting due debts and in security details.
The industrial caste is the largest among the castes and is where most Lokoid are placed. Some may find their way up the ladder from the industrial caste and into the other bodies of the hierarchy. The industrial caste is the primary workforce of the hierarchy. They are responsible for manufacturing goods, mining, and farming. They are given many avenues to rise up from this rung of society through merit. Pursuing education, displaying high levels of skill or strength, making logical and intelligent decisions, and more. The survival of the fittest and natural selection are at play. Those who do not adapt, stay in the industrial caste and are shackled to a life of service and are loaned as cheap manpower for the rest of the galaxy. Because of the individualistic nature of most Lokoid, this is seen as normal. Those who are left behind are left with basic skills and enough intelligence to do their job.
History
THE UNIFICATION ERA
Many centuries ago when the Yrrani were just stretching themselves across the galaxy as silent, but ever present observers of the stars around them, they came upon the lush yet harsh jungle planet of the Lokoid homeworld, Lokus-III. The Yrrani of before still felt the responsibility to let things develop naturally, they weren't yet the gods that would bring about their own destruction with their own hubris.
They observed the Lokoid who, at this point, had only reached a semi-tribal state with many groups and different ideals. Their society was brutish and barbaric when compared to the Yrrani or any of the other races that the Yrrani had encountered before. The Lokoid were stronger than most other races and preserved a warrior culture through most of the societies that they had formed. The Yrrani were prepared to write off the Lokoid as another primitive, barbaric race that would never amount to anything, that was until they found that the Lokoid were progressing rather quickly for a primitive race. In a span of three decades, they went from stone age technology to figuring out advanced metallurgy. The Yrrani quickly realized that there was potential in the intelligence of the Lokoid race. Some Yrrani xenoanthropologists speculated that the Lokoid were younger than the Yrrani when they first figured out steelcrafts.
However, the Yrrani were once again quickly disappointed to learn that the Lokoid advancement wasn't for the overall benefit or comfort of the Lokoid's people, in fact they seemed to put no effort towards comfort at all and only really cared about hygiene and advancements in medicine. The Lokoid were extremely utilitarian and the reason was because all their effort was geared towards making war. Once again, the more peaceful Yrrani of this period largely wrote off the Lokoid and kept an eye on them to make sure they wouldn't grow out of control. However, in the next century, the Yrrani found themselves in a lot of conflict and the peaceful regimes of the past have all but vanished. The new Yrrani found themselves remembering the Lokoid and their potential as stalwart warriors and within them hatched the idea of turning them into willing auxiliaries.
The Yrrani returned to Lokus-III and found that the Lokoid had changed drastically since they were last observed. The planet itself seems to have seen conflict of immense magnitude, what was once a lush planet was now only dotted with small patches of crimson, the color of their most abundant flora. What was more surprising was the fact that the Lokoid themselves had conglomerated into only one identity, the Heirarchy they called themselves. A civilization that just one century ago was only figuring out steelcrafts had now blossomed into its hyperindustrial age as a supernation on their own planet. What was more surprising was their nearby moons, of which there were three, had all shown signs of exploration. The Lokoid had taken their first steps in exploring space. Seeing this worried the Yrrani, but they didn't need to fret as the Lokoid still retained their fierce warrior culture despite their new disposition. That aggression, that drive, had just simply been channeled into something else.
The leading theory on what had happened to the Lokoid was that in the century the Yrrani had left them, they had undergone significant societal, technological, and military advancements. From the marks of major conflict on their planet, it seems that there were several nations that vied for control of Lokus-III. A battle for the planet ensued and for one reason or another, one faction completely dominated and either subjugated or exterminated the rest. From then on their growth was exponential, reaching heights of technological advancements that other races in the galaxy struggled to even get to in their first few centuries of existence. This suited the Yrrani's goals well, it meant that the Lokoid were fast learners and they would use that to channel their aggression towards the Yrrani's enemies.
THE YRRANI'S "UPLIFTING" MISSION
First contact with the Yrrani was met with aggression, like a foot stepping into an ant nest. The Yrrani, knowing that the Lokoid had no real means of fighting back in any significant way and only understood strength, demonstrated it by glassing their biggest city. Seeing the power of the Yrrani first hand and knowing that they couldn't do anything about the Lokoid had to submit to the superior power. They vowed that the Yrrani would one day pay for humiliating their proud race.
The Yrrani wasted no time in enforcing laws that dictated that the most able-bodied Lokoid warriors were to be trained post haste. The Yrrani gave them weapons technology that they believed only they could create. But they had underestimated the Lokoid mind, they were geniuses at figuring out complex and intricate problems. They viewed Yrrani technology as a challenge to be cracked. The Yrrani themselves also had instances of autonomous AI that the Lokoid had started to admire. The combination of Yrrani technology and raw Lokoid warrior instinct, made the Lokoid Auxiliaries one of the best soldiers in the galaxy and at times better warriors than mainline Yrrani fighters. They were used to subjugate and hold colonial planets in the Yrrani empire and were more professional than their Yrrani counterparts.
Lokoid tactics and strategies were complex and multifaceted, often comprising of several staging operations. The Yrrani recognized their cunning and kept a close eye on their Auxiliaries. However, after years of loyal service and the Lokoid's best attempts at pleasantries, they were gifted hundreds of worlds. The Lokoid had negotiated for it as they said, "More worlds, more Lokoid, more Lokoid, more soldiers, more soldiers, less Yrrani death." The Yrrani, confident that they could crush the Lokoid at any moment and confident in the security of their technology that prevented the Lokoid from turning their weapons against their masters, they allowed them more and more leeway. This is what the Lokoid wanted, to lull the false gods into a false sense of security. Every world they conquered, they studied the technology of the other races; Every peice of Yrrani technology, they studied its form, its function, its effects; Every piece of information, they meticulously tore apart and brought back together.
The Lokoid constructed themselves in secret, hundreds of foundries, fabricators, and ships deep underground their planetary strongholds. They figured out the technology to finally fight back, but the Empire was still too strong. They needed to bide their time and so they did the Yrrani's dirty work up until the Yrrani's civil war.
THE PRICE OF HUBRIS
When the Empire fell into a civil war, both sides turned to the Lokoid to bolster their forces among many others. However, they made a fatal mistake. The Lokoid had prepared for this moment, their forces spread across many Yrrani worlds, their foundries creating hundreds of autonomous weapons of war, hundreds of their warships rising form the hundreds of gifted worlds. The Lokoid had found their opportunity, and they used it.
All across the Empire where the Lokoid were present, the Auxiliaries turned on their Yrrani masters by using weapons that they had created, weapons that had no technology to prevent them from working against the Yrrani. They distributed these weapons to the locals who had been persecuted for too long. Lokoid numbers and the weapons that they fielded cut down the Yrrani in short order. The fleets of Lokoid ships seemed endless as the Yrrani cut down one, only to find another mass of ships appearing out of nowhere. Fleet after fleet, battalion after battalion. The Yrrani on both sides struggled to keep a hold of their systems as they had to fight intense battles everywhere else. Some worlds never received reinforcements, others had to abandon their posts at the sight of five battlegroups.
One century of war. One century of hunting and exterminating Yrrani forces. One century of growing the Lokoid Hierarchy's forces. The Yrrani called who had once called them, "The Terror" for they fell upon their enemies like a tidal wave, now experienced them first hand. It didn't matter whether they could stave off one attack, there was always another. Eventually, the last Yrrani remnants and their allies were wiped away by the endless tide of the Lokoid. The Lokoid then turned to those they had helped free, they understood that a service rendered was a service paid fairly. They left the former Yrrani colonies to themselves, they had wanted freedom most of all and fought for it alongside the Lokoid. It was a business transaction for the Lokoid, one that they could easily make up for later. However, on other worlds where the primary residences were the Yrrani, they claimed those worlds and turned them into Agri-worlds, Factory worlds, Mining worlds, Hab-worlds, and the like. They understood that they needed to reorganize and reorient themselves to sustain a now interstellar nation.
THE RECLAMATION WARS
The Lokoid reorganized and it was a rough few hundred years, but the Lokoid stabilized. They began rubbing elbows with many other races. They were coming to be known as a reliable manufacturer of cheap quality goods and provider of cheap quality labor. However, they were not always welcomed, whether it be their past as auxiliaries for the Yrrani or their alien culture, they met with many mixed reactions.
One of the most violent encounters that they had before the Reclamation wars were with the Augustans. An Empire that the Lokoid now viewed as unreliable business partners. There were many small incidents that led to this and no one really knows what started it. But the leading theory is that it all started with an Augustan noble failing to pay the Lokoid for their services. In response, the Lokoid Banking Union and Trade Commission sent a fleet to repossess their goods or take it back by force. They had hoped the Augustans would see reason after being threatened with escalation. However, the Lokoid were infuriated to learn that other Augustan nobles and members of their military showed up to meet them. The Augustans had the gall to tell the Lokoid that they had lied about not being fairly paid and were now here to extort Augustan nobility.
This confrontation escalated into small border skirmishes that would eventually come to a head in the Reclamation wars. The Reclamation Wars saw many nations and races battle for Tar Yrra. The Lokoid encountered new enemies such as the living trees that called themselves the Mu and old friends such as the Supremites who they assisted during the Yrrani civil war and many more.
The worst of the conflict happened on the Scorched Line. The Scorched Line are a line of star systems that were fiercely contested between the Augustans and the Lokoid. Both sides saw heavy losses and contrary to usual Lokoid doctrine, they had committed considerable resources in contesting these systems against the Augustans because of personal grievances, total loss and profit were not accounted for in the Scorched Line battles and saw the Lokoid deploying their most dangerous weapons of war against the Augustans. In the end, when the 4th Reclamation War ended in an armistice called by the Idkarian Dominion establishing what would come to be known as the interstellar league of nations, the Scorched Line became a demilitarized zone between the Augustans and the Lokoid through this armistice.
Now the Lokoid along with other nations have created a defense force and sent their own independent civilian researchers to study Tar Yrra in accordance to the provisions provided by the Armistice.
MILITARY
The Lokoid military uses a number of automated units for their ground and naval use. Because of their massive industrial resources, this often means that they can output a large fleet in a matter of days and with the Lokoid birth rate, it is entirely possible to staff new positions quickly with competent Lokoid commanders.
The Lokoid also field manned units and Lokoid infantry for special deployment or even as command elements. These are usually the best of the best in terms of what the military could offer.
The Lokoid military doctrine is a balance between large numbers and adequate quality. They strike heavily at a target to either degrade it or engage in a battle of attrition with self-sufficient mobile factories.
The navy’s job is to combat other opposing navies and provide orbital and aerial support for all combat units. Some special ships like the Annihilator Class Super Dreadnought or the Heirarch Class Battle-Carrier are also considered factory units and can be (but aren’t always) outfitted with modules that allow for taking in scrap, melting it down, and turning it into new fighting units.
Annihilator Class Super Dreadnought Lancer Class Battleship Hive Class Super Carrier Heirarch Class Battle-Carrier Executor Class Battleship
Mauler Class Cruiser Brawler Class Cruiser Hailfire Class Cruiser Antennae Class Destroyer Instigator Class Destroyer Stinger Class Destroyer Dagger Class Destroyer
The army’s job is to conduct ground operations. They are the regulars that fight on the ground. Super heavy units like the Assault and Foundry walkers are meant for high profile ground engagements and are usually only deployed when orbital and aerial superiority is established. The Foundry walker in particular is meant to be a mobile factory that can deploy whole divisions of fully functioning automated units in a few hours. The army, however, is made up of variants of the Multipurpose Modular Automata series of droids, abbreviated as MMA with a mark number denoting series and other series of robotics coupled with only a few manned vehicles.
M.M.A. Mk.1 Standard M.M.A. Mk.3 Standard M.M.A. Mk.3 Fire Support M.M.A. Mk.3 Anti-tank and Anti-Air M.M.A. Mk.3 High-Mobility M.M.A. Mk.3 Melee Pelter Mobile Defense Sentry (P.M.D.S.) Pummeler Heavy Mobile Sentry (P.H.M.S.) Saboteur Drone Series 40 (SDS-40) Ripper (Deployable in swarms via air bomb, orbital, or artillery) Saboteur Drone Series 10 (SDS-10) Ticker (Deployable in swarms via air bomb, orbital, or artillery) Saboteur Drone Series 15 (SDS-15) Swatter (Deployable in swarms via air bomb, orbital, or artillery) Whisper Drone Series 10 (WDS-10) Watcher
Artillery Support Crawler (A.S.C.) Anti-Personnel Assault Crawler (A.P.-A.C.) Anti-Tank Assault Crawler (A.T.-A.C.) Light Armored Stinger Tank Assault Crawler Multiple Launch Missile System (Hits both Aerial and Ground Targets) Heavy Assault Walker Planetary Assault Walker Planetary Foundry Walker
Commando units, the only section of the army that heavily relies on well trained organics. They’re given the special task of being deployed behind enemy lines and causing havoc. They’re deployment is usually preluded with drops of Saboteur Drone Series units or Whisper Drone Series scouts depending on the mission type. Lokoid Commando Unit M.M.A. Mk.2 Terminator Commandos M.M.A. Mk.4 Infitrators
The hunters are a unique and highly specialized mechanized component of the hierarchy and are primarily trained for high risk, high value, deployments often alongside commando units. The hunters use a four legged arachnoid mech that bares the designation “Strider”. The current model of strider is the S-80 and its variations separated into “types”.
The S-80 features multi-directional rolling balls on each leg to facilitate smooth, fast movement on even ground and can transition to fast actuating legs for agile navigation of rough terrain. Alongside this, they have two high velocity wire anchors to overcome verticality and increase mobility in different situations. The fastest recorded time within an S-80 is a little over 150 kilometers per hour and it can attain this speed in any direction. However, it is noted that in simulations the machines were capable of much higher speeds however, practical combat, and terrain navigation trials saw the record speed as the highest practically possible.
They are also able to drive themselves into the ground using piledrivers located on each leg to act as mobile, fast paced, artillery. These pile drivers can also act as secondary or tertiary melee weapons against armored targets such as tanks or opposing mechs.
S-10 Experimental (1st Generation Strider) S-50S Supply Strider Armament: 16x smoke and chaff Houses equipment that facilitates the reloading of S-80 Striders. Chassis based on 5th generation strider. S-80 General Type Armament: Standard length 120mm autoloaded smoothbore, 2x high-frequency blade sub arms, quad smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers S-80 Sniper Type Armament: Long 120mm autoloaded high velocity smoothbore, 2x 50 caliber machine-gun sub arms, 4x smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers S-80 Missile Type Armament: 2x missile pods with ten missiles each, 2x 50 caliber machine-gun sub arms, 4x smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers S-80 Support Type Armament: 40mm auto-cannon with programmable ammo, 2x 50 caliber machine-gun sub arms, 4x smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers
It should be noted that these are the factory standard and hunter units are encouraged to customize their striders to better fit their operational needs. Most hunter units are deployed in squadrons to maximize their tactical flexibility. The auto-loaded smoothbores can also switch between APFSDS, HEAT, and HESH as the auto-loader can switch magazines. However, a strider can only typically carry three magazines at a time and most squadrons opt to have two magazines of APFSDS and one magazine of HEAT as HEAT can deal with most lightly armored targets and have enough explosive potential to knock out light fortifications.
Other shell types are available depending on deployment with some specially selected divisions testing out the highly experimental HEPT-EX or High Explosive Plasma Type Experimental. A shell that encases the components needed for a plasmatic reaction generating excessive amounts of heat upon impact rendering most buildings, vehicles, and equipment unusable. However, the highly volatile nature of the warhead has produced less than stellar results so far.
Changelog:
20/11/2024 5:12 AM -> Changed terminologies for castes. Hailfire reclassified to Cruiser
The Hierarchy, The Lokoid, The Roaches (Derogatory)
Government
The government is the Ruling Caste. The Hierarch Council disseminates their orders to system regional governors which keeps all systems in line with the will of the hierarchy. The council of hierarchs is made up of five members.
Araq, Supreme Hierarch - Chosen by the Hierarch Council
Kaloth, Hierarch of Commerce - Governs the Commerce Caste
Gorn, Hierarch of Research and Development - Governs the Academic Caste
Dagoth, Hierarch of War - Governs the Soldiery Caste
Zasz, Hierarch of Industry - Governs over mass production
These members of the council all have equal power except for the Supreme Hierarch who supersedes the rest of the council. The council deliberates everything related to running the Hierarchy as a whole and is responsible for the direction of the Hierarchy moving forward.
Demographics
The Lokoid Heirarchy is made up mostly of Lokoid. It is rare to find any other race on Lokoid worlds, especially those not built for the pleasure or leisure targeted towards those of a different race.
Society
From birth, the order of the hierarchy is implemented. Lokoid young hatch from eggs within an egg sack as larvae. The liquids in the sack are consumed, filled with vital nutrients and antibiotics. The weak are eaten and the strong continue to develop. Once the survivors break out of the egg sack, they are taken as nymphs to be educated. Primary education begins, but nothing could prepare the young Lokoids for their second trial. The nymphs, nearing their adolescence, are thrown into the wilderness to survive. Cannibalism is encouraged if it means survival. They are given the lesson, eat or be eaten, the survival of the fittest as they once did when they were larvae. But it was also natural selection as those who fail to adapt die off. The survivors at the end of the month are taken and given secondary education. Their secondary education focuses on the general education of different subjects. Four years later, they are evaluated and if their scores drop below a quota they are euthanized, prepared as food, and is rationed to the rest of the now grown brood.
Usually, the survival rate for Lokoids in their childhood is less than half. Their massive amounts of eggs per-person, however, necessitate this way of population control. The survivors are then given a caste position and specialization training. It is possible to move up in society through individual meritocracy. The weak and the stupid are recycled and eaten. This is vestigial behavior from a more primitive time. The average lifespan of a Lokoid, if allowed to live in ideal conditions, is seventy standard years. However, the oldest known Lokoid was a hierarch who was reported to be 210 standard years old, indicating that in the best conditions the Lokoid can have a surprisingly long lifespan when compared to humans.
The castes themselves are divided into five categories:
The Ruling Caste
The Commerce Caste
The Academic Caste
The soldiery Caste
The Industrial Caste
The ruling caste is composed of the fittest Lokoid, the ones who have displayed amazing intelligence and leadership ability within their respective caste. The ruling caste’s most powerful members are made up of five individuals known as the Hierarch Council. Each individual all have equal power to one another and have different jurisdictions. However, there is always one individual among the five that presides among the five. This individual would come to be known as the supreme hierarch. The representatives themselves are known as, from descending order of caste, the hierarch of commerce, the hierarch of research and development, the hierarch of war, and the hierarch of industry. The supreme hierarch is chosen based on leadership ability and is chosen among the five hierarchs of the ruling caste. Only a majority vote within the council of hierarchs can have the supreme hierarch replaced.
The commerce caste is composed of traders and businessmen. The commerce caste is specifically for those among the Lokoid who display great social skills and have an eye for business. The commerce caste is the primary economic group that provides the Lokoid new business opportunities in the galaxy. They acquire trade licenses, manufacturing patents, design contracts, and more. On top of this, the commerce caste is also responsible for lending and collecting loans, managing budgets and expenses, and conducting audits on the other castes.
The academic caste is composed of Lokoids who display amazing aptitudes for the sciences. The academic caste is responsible for technological gains within the hierarchy. They are in charge of designing new ships and weapons for use in manufacturing. On top of this, they are in charge of scientific advancement in many fields such as botany and particle physics just to name a few. If the commerce caste is equated to a marketing and advertising department then the academic caste is research and development. This is where new products are made and approved. If approved they are handed over to the commerce caste and industrial caste for marketing and mass production.
The soldiery caste is responsible for choosing the strongest among the castes and placing them into sub-castes. These sub-castes are divided by merit and intelligence. There are four major sub-castes:
Command Caste - Responsible for NCO’s and command staff
Specialized Caste - Responsible for special operations
Regular Caste - Responsible for regular soldiers and fleet personnel
Support Caste - Responsible for operating equipment and vehicles
These sub-castes are responsible for training and selecting from placed or recruited members of the Soldiery caste. They are the backbone of the militant might of the hierarchy and make use of automated combatants if needed and are a common sight when collecting due debts and in security details.
The industrial caste is the largest among the castes and is where most Lokoid are placed. Some may find their way up the ladder from the industrial caste and into the other bodies of the hierarchy. The industrial caste is the primary workforce of the hierarchy. They are responsible for manufacturing goods, mining, and farming. They are given many avenues to rise up from this rung of society through merit. Pursuing education, displaying high levels of skill or strength, making logical and intelligent decisions, and more. The survival of the fittest and natural selection are at play. Those who do not adapt, stay in the industrial caste and are shackled to a life of service and are loaned as cheap manpower for the rest of the galaxy. Because of the individualistic nature of most Lokoid, this is seen as normal. Those who are left behind are left with basic skills and enough intelligence to do their job.
History
THE UNIFICATION ERA
Many centuries ago when the Yrrani were just stretching themselves across the galaxy as silent, but ever present observers of the stars around them, they came upon the lush yet harsh jungle planet of the Lokoid homeworld, Lokus-III. The Yrrani of before still felt the responsibility to let things develop naturally, they weren't yet the gods that would bring about their own destruction with their own hubris.
They observed the Lokoid who, at this point, had only reached a semi-tribal state with many groups and different ideals. Their society was brutish and barbaric when compared to the Yrrani or any of the other races that the Yrrani had encountered before. The Lokoid were stronger than most other races and preserved a warrior culture through most of the societies that they had formed. The Yrrani were prepared to write off the Lokoid as another primitive, barbaric race that would never amount to anything, that was until they found that the Lokoid were progressing rather quickly for a primitive race. In a span of three decades, they went from stone age technology to figuring out advanced metallurgy. The Yrrani quickly realized that there was potential in the intelligence of the Lokoid race. Some Yrrani xenoanthropologists speculated that the Lokoid were younger than the Yrrani when they first figured out steelcrafts.
However, the Yrrani were once again quickly disappointed to learn that the Lokoid advancement wasn't for the overall benefit or comfort of the Lokoid's people, in fact they seemed to put no effort towards comfort at all and only really cared about hygiene and advancements in medicine. The Lokoid were extremely utilitarian and the reason was because all their effort was geared towards making war. Once again, the more peaceful Yrrani of this period largely wrote off the Lokoid and kept an eye on them to make sure they wouldn't grow out of control. However, in the next century, the Yrrani found themselves in a lot of conflict and the peaceful regimes of the past have all but vanished. The new Yrrani found themselves remembering the Lokoid and their potential as stalwart warriors and within them hatched the idea of turning them into willing auxiliaries.
The Yrrani returned to Lokus-III and found that the Lokoid had changed drastically since they were last observed. The planet itself seems to have seen conflict of immense magnitude, what was once a lush planet was now only dotted with small patches of crimson, the color of their most abundant flora. What was more surprising was the fact that the Lokoid themselves had conglomerated into only one identity, the Heirarchy they called themselves. A civilization that just one century ago was only figuring out steelcrafts had now blossomed into its hyperindustrial age as a supernation on their own planet. What was more surprising was their nearby moons, of which there were three, had all shown signs of exploration. The Lokoid had taken their first steps in exploring space. Seeing this worried the Yrrani, but they didn't need to fret as the Lokoid still retained their fierce warrior culture despite their new disposition. That aggression, that drive, had just simply been channeled into something else.
The leading theory on what had happened to the Lokoid was that in the century the Yrrani had left them, they had undergone significant societal, technological, and military advancements. From the marks of major conflict on their planet, it seems that there were several nations that vied for control of Lokus-III. A battle for the planet ensued and for one reason or another, one faction completely dominated and either subjugated or exterminated the rest. From then on their growth was exponential, reaching heights of technological advancements that other races in the galaxy struggled to even get to in their first few centuries of existence. This suited the Yrrani's goals well, it meant that the Lokoid were fast learners and they would use that to channel their aggression towards the Yrrani's enemies.
THE YRRANI'S "UPLIFTING" MISSION
First contact with the Yrrani was met with aggression, like a foot stepping into an ant nest. The Yrrani, knowing that the Lokoid had no real means of fighting back in any significant way and only understood strength, demonstrated it by glassing their biggest city. Seeing the power of the Yrrani first hand and knowing that they couldn't do anything about the Lokoid had to submit to the superior power. They vowed that the Yrrani would one day pay for humiliating their proud race.
The Yrrani wasted no time in enforcing laws that dictated that the most able-bodied Lokoid warriors were to be trained post haste. The Yrrani gave them weapons technology that they believed only they could create. But they had underestimated the Lokoid mind, they were geniuses at figuring out complex and intricate problems. They viewed Yrrani technology as a challenge to be cracked. The Yrrani themselves also had instances of autonomous AI that the Lokoid had started to admire. The combination of Yrrani technology and raw Lokoid warrior instinct, made the Lokoid Auxiliaries one of the best soldiers in the galaxy and at times better warriors than mainline Yrrani fighters. They were used to subjugate and hold colonial planets in the Yrrani empire and were more professional than their Yrrani counterparts.
Lokoid tactics and strategies were complex and multifaceted, often comprising of several staging operations. The Yrrani recognized their cunning and kept a close eye on their Auxiliaries. However, after years of loyal service and the Lokoid's best attempts at pleasantries, they were gifted hundreds of worlds. The Lokoid had negotiated for it as they said, "More worlds, more Lokoid, more Lokoid, more soldiers, more soldiers, less Yrrani death." The Yrrani, confident that they could crush the Lokoid at any moment and confident in the security of their technology that prevented the Lokoid from turning their weapons against their masters, they allowed them more and more leeway. This is what the Lokoid wanted, to lull the false gods into a false sense of security. Every world they conquered, they studied the technology of the other races; Every peice of Yrrani technology, they studied its form, its function, its effects; Every piece of information, they meticulously tore apart and brought back together.
The Lokoid constructed themselves in secret, hundreds of foundries, fabricators, and ships deep underground their planetary strongholds. They figured out the technology to finally fight back, but the Empire was still too strong. They needed to bide their time and so they did the Yrrani's dirty work up until the Yrrani's civil war.
THE PRICE OF HUBRIS
When the Empire fell into a civil war, both sides turned to the Lokoid to bolster their forces among many others. However, they made a fatal mistake. The Lokoid had prepared for this moment, their forces spread across many Yrrani worlds, their foundries creating hundreds of autonomous weapons of war, hundreds of their warships rising form the hundreds of gifted worlds. The Lokoid had found their opportunity, and they used it.
All across the Empire where the Lokoid were present, the Auxiliaries turned on their Yrrani masters by using weapons that they had created, weapons that had no technology to prevent them from working against the Yrrani. They distributed these weapons to the locals who had been persecuted for too long. Lokoid numbers and the weapons that they fielded cut down the Yrrani in short order. The fleets of Lokoid ships seemed endless as the Yrrani cut down one, only to find another mass of ships appearing out of nowhere. Fleet after fleet, battalion after battalion. The Yrrani on both sides struggled to keep a hold of their systems as they had to fight intense battles everywhere else. Some worlds never received reinforcements, others had to abandon their posts at the sight of five battlegroups.
One century of war. One century of hunting and exterminating Yrrani forces. One century of growing the Lokoid Hierarchy's forces. The Yrrani called who had once called them, "The Terror" for they fell upon their enemies like a tidal wave, now experienced them first hand. It didn't matter whether they could stave off one attack, there was always another. Eventually, the last Yrrani remnants and their allies were wiped away by the endless tide of the Lokoid. The Lokoid then turned to those they had helped free, they understood that a service rendered was a service paid fairly. They left the former Yrrani colonies to themselves, they had wanted freedom most of all and fought for it alongside the Lokoid. It was a business transaction for the Lokoid, one that they could easily make up for later. However, on other worlds where the primary residences were the Yrrani, they claimed those worlds and turned them into Agri-worlds, Factory worlds, Mining worlds, Hab-worlds, and the like. They understood that they needed to reorganize and reorient themselves to sustain a now interstellar nation.
THE RECLAMATION WARS
The Lokoid reorganized and it was a rough few hundred years, but the Lokoid stabilized. They began rubbing elbows with many other races. They were coming to be known as a reliable manufacturer of cheap quality goods and provider of cheap quality labor. However, they were not always welcomed, whether it be their past as auxiliaries for the Yrrani or their alien culture, they met with many mixed reactions.
One of the most violent encounters that they had before the Reclamation wars were with the Augustans. An Empire that the Lokoid now viewed as unreliable business partners. There were many small incidents that led to this and no one really knows what started it. But the leading theory is that it all started with an Augustan noble failing to pay the Lokoid for their services. In response, the Lokoid Banking Union and Trade Commission sent a fleet to repossess their goods or take it back by force. They had hoped the Augustans would see reason after being threatened with escalation. However, the Lokoid were infuriated to learn that other Augustan nobles and members of their military showed up to meet them. The Augustans had the gall to tell the Lokoid that they had lied about not being fairly paid and were now here to extort Augustan nobility.
This confrontation escalated into small border skirmishes that would eventually come to a head in the Reclamation wars. The Reclamation Wars saw many nations and races battle for Tar Yrra. The Lokoid encountered new enemies such as the living trees that called themselves the Mu and old friends such as the Supremites who they assisted during the Yrrani civil war and many more.
The worst of the conflict happened on the Scorched Line. The Scorched Line are a line of star systems that were fiercely contested between the Augustans and the Lokoid. Both sides saw heavy losses and contrary to usual Lokoid doctrine, they had committed considerable resources in contesting these systems against the Augustans because of personal grievances, total loss and profit were not accounted for in the Scorched Line battles and saw the Lokoid deploying their most dangerous weapons of war against the Augustans. In the end, when the 4th Reclamation War ended in an armistice called by the Idkarian Dominion establishing what would come to be known as the interstellar league of nations, the Scorched Line became a demilitarized zone between the Augustans and the Lokoid through this armistice.
Now the Lokoid along with other nations have created a defense force and sent their own independent civilian researchers to study Tar Yrra in accordance to the provisions provided by the Armistice.
MILITARY
The Lokoid military uses a number of automated units for their ground and naval use. Because of their massive industrial resources, this often means that they can output a large fleet in a matter of days and with the Lokoid birth rate, it is entirely possible to staff new positions quickly with competent Lokoid commanders.
The Lokoid also field manned units and Lokoid infantry for special deployment or even as command elements. These are usually the best of the best in terms of what the military could offer.
The Lokoid military doctrine is a balance between large numbers and adequate quality. They strike heavily at a target to either degrade it or engage in a battle of attrition with self-sufficient mobile factories.
The navy’s job is to combat other opposing navies and provide orbital and aerial support for all combat units. Some special ships like the Annihilator Class Super Dreadnought or the Heirarch Class Battle-Carrier are also considered factory units and can be (but aren’t always) outfitted with modules that allow for taking in scrap, melting it down, and turning it into new fighting units.
Annihilator Class Super Dreadnought Lancer Class Battleship Hive Class Super Carrier Heirarch Class Battle-Carrier Executor Class Battleship
Mauler Class Cruiser Brawler Class Cruiser Antennae Class Destroyer Instigator Class Destroyer Hailfire Class Destroyer Stinger Class Destroyer Dagger Class Destroyer
The army’s job is to conduct ground operations. They are the regulars that fight on the ground. Super heavy units like the Assault and Foundry walkers are meant for high profile ground engagements and are usually only deployed when orbital and aerial superiority is established. The Foundry walker in particular is meant to be a mobile factory that can deploy whole divisions of fully functioning automated units in a few hours. The army, however, is made up of variants of the Multipurpose Modular Automata series of droids, abbreviated as MMA with a mark number denoting series and other series of robotics coupled with only a few manned vehicles.
M.M.A. Mk.1 Standard M.M.A. Mk.3 Standard M.M.A. Mk.3 Fire Support M.M.A. Mk.3 Anti-tank and Anti-Air M.M.A. Mk.3 High-Mobility M.M.A. Mk.3 Melee Pelter Mobile Defense Sentry (P.M.D.S.) Pummeler Heavy Mobile Sentry (P.H.M.S.) Saboteur Drone Series 40 (SDS-40) Ripper (Deployable in swarms via air bomb, orbital, or artillery) Saboteur Drone Series 10 (SDS-10) Ticker (Deployable in swarms via air bomb, orbital, or artillery) Saboteur Drone Series 15 (SDS-15) Swatter (Deployable in swarms via air bomb, orbital, or artillery) Whisper Drone Series 10 (WDS-10) Watcher
Artillery Support Crawler (A.S.C.) Anti-Personnel Assault Crawler (A.P.-A.C.) Anti-Tank Assault Crawler (A.T.-A.C.) Light Armored Stinger Tank Assault Crawler Multiple Launch Missile System (Hits both Aerial and Ground Targets) Heavy Assault Walker Planetary Assault Walker Planetary Foundry Walker
Commando units, the only section of the army that heavily relies on well trained organics. They’re given the special task of being deployed behind enemy lines and causing havoc. They’re deployment is usually preluded with drops of Saboteur Drone Series units or Whisper Drone Series scouts depending on the mission type. Lokoid Commando Unit M.M.A. Mk.2 Terminator Commandos M.M.A. Mk.4 Infitrators
The hunters are a unique and highly specialized mechanized component of the hierarchy and are primarily trained for high risk, high value, deployments often alongside commando units. The hunters use a four legged arachnoid mech that bares the designation “Strider”. The current model of strider is the S-80 and its variations separated into “types”.
The S-80 features multi-directional rolling balls on each leg to facilitate smooth, fast movement on even ground and can transition to fast actuating legs for agile navigation of rough terrain. Alongside this, they have two high velocity wire anchors to overcome verticality and increase mobility in different situations. The fastest recorded time within an S-80 is a little over 150 kilometers per hour and it can attain this speed in any direction. However, it is noted that in simulations the machines were capable of much higher speeds however, practical combat, and terrain navigation trials saw the record speed as the highest practically possible.
They are also able to drive themselves into the ground using piledrivers located on each leg to act as mobile, fast paced, artillery. These pile drivers can also act as secondary or tertiary melee weapons against armored targets such as tanks or opposing mechs.
S-10 Experimental (1st Generation Strider) S-50S Supply Strider Armament: 16x smoke and chaff Houses equipment that facilitates the reloading of S-80 Striders. Chassis based on 5th generation strider. S-80 General Type Armament: Standard length 120mm autoloaded smoothbore, 2x high-frequency blade sub arms, quad smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers S-80 Sniper Type Armament: Long 120mm autoloaded high velocity smoothbore, 2x 50 caliber machine-gun sub arms, 4x smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers S-80 Missile Type Armament: 2x missile pods with ten missiles each, 2x 50 caliber machine-gun sub arms, 4x smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers S-80 Support Type Armament: 40mm auto-cannon with programmable ammo, 2x 50 caliber machine-gun sub arms, 4x smoke and chaff dispensers, 2x wire anchors, and 4x piledrivers
It should be noted that these are the factory standard and hunter units are encouraged to customize their striders to better fit their operational needs. Most hunter units are deployed in squadrons to maximize their tactical flexibility. The auto-loaded smoothbores can also switch between APFSDS, HEAT, and HESH as the auto-loader can switch magazines. However, a strider can only typically carry three magazines at a time and most squadrons opt to have two magazines of APFSDS and one magazine of HEAT as HEAT can deal with most lightly armored targets and have enough explosive potential to knock out light fortifications.
Other shell types are available depending on deployment with some specially selected divisions testing out the highly experimental HEPT-EX or High Explosive Plasma Type Experimental. A shell that encases the components needed for a plasmatic reaction generating excessive amounts of heat upon impact rendering most buildings, vehicles, and equipment unusable. However, the highly volatile nature of the warhead has produced less than stellar results so far.
The Hierarchy, The Lokoid, The Roaches (Derogatory)
Government
The government is the Ruling Caste. The Hierarch Council disseminates their orders to system regional governors which keeps all systems in line with the will of the hierarchy. The council of hierarchs is made up of five members.
Araq, Supreme Hierarch - Chosen by the Hierarch Council
Kaloth, Hierarch of Commerce - Governs the Commerce Caste
Gorn, Hierarch of Research and Development - Governs the Academic Caste
Dagoth, Hierarch of War - Governs the Soldiery Caste
Zasz, Hierarch of Industry - Governs over mass production
These members of the council all have equal power except for the Supreme Hierarch who supersedes the rest of the council. The council deliberates everything related to running the Hierarchy as a whole and is responsible for the direction of the Hierarchy moving forward.
Demographics
The Lokoid Heirarchy is made up mostly of Lokoid. It is rare to find any other race on Lokoid worlds, especially those not built for the pleasure or leisure targeted towards those of a different race.
Society
From birth, the order of the hierarchy is implemented. Lokoid young hatch from eggs within an egg sack as larvae. The liquids in the sack are consumed, filled with vital nutrients and antibiotics. The weak are eaten and the strong continue to develop. Once the survivors break out of the egg sack, they are taken as nymphs to be educated. Primary education begins, but nothing could prepare the young Lokoids for their second trial. The nymphs, nearing their adolescence, are thrown into the wilderness to survive. Cannibalism is encouraged if it means survival. They are given the lesson, eat or be eaten, the survival of the fittest as they once did when they were larvae. But it was also natural selection as those who fail to adapt die off. The survivors at the end of the month are taken and given secondary education. Their secondary education focuses on the general education of different subjects. Four years later, they are evaluated and if their scores drop below a quota they are euthanized, prepared as food, and is rationed to the rest of the now grown brood.
Usually, the survival rate for Lokoids in their childhood is less than half. Their massive amounts of eggs per-person, however, necessitate this way of population control. The survivors are then given a caste position and specialization training. It is possible to move up in society through individual meritocracy. The weak and the stupid are recycled and eaten. This is vestigial behavior from a more primitive time. The average lifespan of a Lokoid, if allowed to live in ideal conditions, is seventy standard years. However, the oldest known Lokoid was a hierarch who was reported to be 210 standard years old, indicating that in the best conditions the Lokoid can have a surprisingly long lifespan when compared to humans.
The castes themselves are divided into five categories:
The Ruling Caste
The Commerce Caste
The Academic Caste
The soldiery Caste
The Industrial Caste
The ruling caste is composed of the fittest Lokoid, the ones who have displayed amazing intelligence and leadership ability within their respective caste. The ruling caste’s most powerful members are made up of five individuals known as the Hierarch Council. Each individual all have equal power to one another and have different jurisdictions. However, there is always one individual among the five that presides among the five. This individual would come to be known as the supreme hierarch. The representatives themselves are known as, from descending order of caste, the hierarch of commerce, the hierarch of research and development, the hierarch of war, and the hierarch of industry. The supreme hierarch is chosen based on leadership ability and is chosen among the five hierarchs of the ruling caste. Only a majority vote within the council of hierarchs can have the supreme hierarch replaced.
The commerce caste is composed of traders and businessmen. The commerce caste is specifically for those among the Lokoid who display great social skills and have an eye for business. The commerce caste is the primary economic group that provides the Lokoid new business opportunities in the galaxy. They acquire trade licenses, manufacturing patents, design contracts, and more. On top of this, the commerce caste is also responsible for lending and collecting loans, managing budgets and expenses, and conducting audits on the other castes.
The academic caste is composed of Lokoids who display amazing aptitudes for the sciences. The academic caste is responsible for technological gains within the hierarchy. They are in charge of designing new ships and weapons for use in manufacturing. On top of this, they are in charge of scientific advancement in many fields such as botany and particle physics just to name a few. If the commerce caste is equated to a marketing and advertising department then the academic caste is research and development. This is where new products are made and approved. If approved they are handed over to the commerce caste and industrial caste for marketing and mass production.
The soldiery caste is responsible for choosing the strongest among the castes and placing them into sub-castes. These sub-castes are divided by merit and intelligence. There are four major sub-castes:
Command Caste - Responsible for NCO’s and command staff
Specialized Caste - Responsible for special operations
Regular Caste - Responsible for regular soldiers and fleet personnel
Support Caste - Responsible for operating equipment and vehicles
These sub-castes are responsible for training and selecting from placed or recruited members of the Soldiery caste. They are the backbone of the militant might of the hierarchy and make use of automated combatants if needed and are a common sight when collecting due debts and in security details.
The industrial caste is the largest among the castes and is where most Lokoid are placed. Some may find their way up the ladder from the industrial caste and into the other bodies of the hierarchy. The industrial caste is the primary workforce of the hierarchy. They are responsible for manufacturing goods, mining, and farming. They are given many avenues to rise up from this rung of society through merit. Pursuing education, displaying high levels of skill or strength, making logical and intelligent decisions, and more. The survival of the fittest and natural selection are at play. Those who do not adapt, stay in the industrial caste and are shackled to a life of service and are loaned as cheap manpower for the rest of the galaxy. Because of the individualistic nature of most Lokoid, this is seen as normal. Those who are left behind are left with basic skills and enough intelligence to do their job.
History
THE UNIFICATION ERA
Many centuries ago when the Yrrani were just stretching themselves across the galaxy as silent, but ever present observers of the stars around them, they came upon the lush yet harsh jungle planet of the Lokoid homeworld, Lokus-III. The Yrrani of before still felt the responsibility to let things develop naturally, they weren't yet the gods that would bring about their own destruction with their own hubris.
They observed the Lokoid who, at this point, had only reached a semi-tribal state with many groups and different ideals. Their society was brutish and barbaric when compared to the Yrrani or any of the other races that the Yrrani had encountered before. The Lokoid were stronger than most other races and preserved a warrior culture through most of the societies that they had formed. The Yrrani were prepared to write off the Lokoid as another primitive, barbaric race that would never amount to anything, that was until they found that the Lokoid were progressing rather quickly for a primitive race. In a span of three decades, they went from stone age technology to figuring out advanced metallurgy. The Yrrani quickly realized that there was potential in the intelligence of the Lokoid race. Some Yrrani xenoanthropologists speculated that the Lokoid were younger than the Yrrani when they first figured out steelcrafts.
However, the Yrrani were once again quickly disappointed to learn that the Lokoid advancement wasn't for the overall benefit or comfort of the Lokoid's people, in fact they seemed to put no effort towards comfort at all and only really cared about hygiene and advancements in medicine. The Lokoid were extremely utilitarian and the reason was because all their effort was geared towards making war. Once again, the more peaceful Yrrani of this period largely wrote off the Lokoid and kept an eye on them to make sure they wouldn't grow out of control. However, in the next century, the Yrrani found themselves in a lot of conflict and the peaceful regimes of the past have all but vanished. The new Yrrani found themselves remembering the Lokoid and their potential as stalwart warriors and within them hatched the idea of turning them into willing auxiliaries.
The Yrrani returned to Lokus-III and found that the Lokoid had changed drastically since they were last observed. The planet itself seems to have seen conflict of immense magnitude, what was once a lush planet was now only dotted with small patches of crimson, the color of their most abundant flora. What was more surprising was the fact that the Lokoid themselves had conglomerated into only one identity, the Heirarchy they called themselves. A civilization that just one century ago was only figuring out steelcrafts had now blossomed into its hyperindustrial age as a supernation on their own planet. What was more surprising was their nearby moons, of which there were three, had all shown signs of exploration. The Lokoid had taken their first steps in exploring space. Seeing this worried the Yrrani, but they didn't need to fret as the Lokoid still retained their fierce warrior culture despite their new disposition. That aggression, that drive, had just simply been channeled into something else.
The leading theory on what had happened to the Lokoid was that in the century the Yrrani had left them, they had undergone significant societal, technological, and military advancements. From the marks of major conflict on their planet, it seems that there were several nations that vied for control of Lokus-III. A battle for the planet ensued and for one reason or another, one faction completely dominated and either subjugated or exterminated the rest. From then on their growth was exponential, reaching heights of technological advancements that other races in the galaxy struggled to even get to in their first few centuries of existence. This suited the Yrrani's goals well, it meant that the Lokoid were fast learners and they would use that to channel their aggression towards the Yrrani's enemies.
THE YRRANI'S "UPLIFTING" MISSION
First contact with the Yrrani was met with aggression, like a foot stepping into an ant nest. The Yrrani, knowing that the Lokoid had no real means of fighting back in any significant way and only understood strength, demonstrated it by glassing their biggest city. Seeing the power of the Yrrani first hand and knowing that they couldn't do anything about the Lokoid had to submit to the superior power. They vowed that the Yrrani would one day pay for humiliating their proud race.
The Yrrani wasted no time in enforcing laws that dictated that the most able-bodied Lokoid warriors were to be trained post haste. The Yrrani gave them weapons technology that they believed only they could create. But they had underestimated the Lokoid mind, they were geniuses at figuring out complex and intricate problems. They viewed Yrrani technology as a challenge to be cracked. The Yrrani themselves also had instances of autonomous AI that the Lokoid had started to admire. The combination of Yrrani technology and raw Lokoid warrior instinct, made the Lokoid Auxiliaries one of the best soldiers in the galaxy and at times better warriors than mainline Yrrani fighters. They were used to subjugate and hold colonial planets in the Yrrani empire and were more professional than their Yrrani counterparts.
Lokoid tactics and strategies were complex and multifaceted, often comprising of several staging operations. The Yrrani recognized their cunning and kept a close eye on their Auxiliaries. However, after years of loyal service and the Lokoid's best attempts at pleasantries, they were gifted hundreds of worlds. The Lokoid had negotiated for it as they said, "More worlds, more Lokoid, more Lokoid, more soldiers, more soldiers, less Yrrani death." The Yrrani, confident that they could crush the Lokoid at any moment and confident in the security of their technology that prevented the Lokoid from turning their weapons against their masters, they allowed them more and more leeway. This is what the Lokoid wanted, to lull the false gods into a false sense of security. Every world they conquered, they studied the technology of the other races; Every peice of Yrrani technology, they studied its form, its function, its effects; Every piece of information, they meticulously tore apart and brought back together.
The Lokoid constructed themselves in secret, hundreds of foundries, fabricators, and ships deep underground their planetary strongholds. They figured out the technology to finally fight back, but the Empire was still too strong. They needed to bide their time and so they did the Yrrani's dirty work up until the Yrrani's civil war.
THE PRICE OF HUBRIS
When the Empire fell into a civil war, both sides turned to the Lokoid to bolster their forces among many others. However, they made a fatal mistake. The Lokoid had prepared for this moment, their forces spread across many Yrrani worlds, their foundries creating hundreds of autonomous weapons of war, hundreds of their warships rising form the hundreds of gifted worlds. The Lokoid had found their opportunity, and they used it.
All across the Empire where the Lokoid were present, the Auxiliaries turned on their Yrrani masters by using weapons that they had created, weapons that had no technology to prevent them from working against the Yrrani. They distributed these weapons to the locals who had been persecuted for too long. Lokoid numbers and the weapons that they fielded cut down the Yrrani in short order. The fleets of Lokoid ships seemed endless as the Yrrani cut down one, only to find another mass of ships appearing out of nowhere. Fleet after fleet, battalion after battalion. The Yrrani on both sides struggled to keep a hold of their systems as they had to fight intense battles everywhere else. Some worlds never received reinforcements, others had to abandon their posts at the sight of five battlegroups.
One century of war. One century of hunting and exterminating Yrrani forces. One century of growing the Lokoid Hierarchy's forces. The Yrrani called who had once called them, "The Terror" for they fell upon their enemies like a tidal wave, now experienced them first hand. It didn't matter whether they could stave off one attack, there was always another. Eventually, the last Yrrani remnants and their allies were wiped away by the endless tide of the Lokoid. The Lokoid then turned to those they had helped free, they understood that a service rendered was a service paid fairly. They left the former Yrrani colonies to themselves, they had wanted freedom most of all and fought for it alongside the Lokoid. It was a business transaction for the Lokoid, one that they could easily make up for later. However, on other worlds where the primary residences were the Yrrani, they claimed those worlds and turned them into Agri-worlds, Factory worlds, Mining worlds, Hab-worlds, and the like. They understood that they needed to reorganize and reorient themselves to sustain a now interstellar nation.
THE RECLAMATION WARS
The Lokoid reorganized and it was a rough few hundred years, but the Lokoid stabilized. They began rubbing elbows with many other races. They were coming to be known as a reliable manufacturer of cheap quality goods and provider of cheap quality labor. However, they were not always welcomed, whether it be their past as auxiliaries for the Yrrani or their alien culture, they met with many mixed reactions.
One of the most violent encounters that they had before the Reclamation wars were with the Augustans. An Empire that the Lokoid now viewed as unreliable business partners. There were many small incidents that led to this and no one really knows what started it. But the leading theory is that it all started with an Augustan noble failing to pay the Lokoid for their services. In response, the Lokoid Banking Union and Trade Commission sent a fleet to repossess their goods or take it back by force. They had hoped the Augustans would see reason after being threatened with escalation. However, the Lokoid were infuriated to learn that other Augustan nobles and members of their military showed up to meet them. The Augustans had the gall to tell the Lokoid that they had lied about not being fairly paid and were now here to extort Augustan nobility.
This confrontation escalated into small border skirmishes that would eventually come to a head in the Reclamation wars. The Reclamation Wars saw many nations and races battle for Tar Yrra. The Lokoid encountered new enemies such as the living trees that called themselves the Mu and old friends such as the Supremites who they assisted during the Yrrani civil war and many more.
The worst of the conflict happened on the Scorched Line. The Scorched Line are a line of star systems that were fiercely contested between the Augustans and the Lokoid. Both sides saw heavy losses and contrary to usual Lokoid doctrine, they had committed considerable resources in contesting these systems against the Augustans because of personal grievances, total loss and profit were not accounted for in the Scorched Line battles and saw the Lokoid deploying their most dangerous weapons of war against the Augustans. In the end, when the 4th Reclamation War ended in an armistice called by the Idkarian Dominion establishing what would come to be known as the interstellar league of nations, the Scorched Line became a demilitarized zone between the Augustans and the Lokoid.
Now the Lokoid along with other nations have created a defense force and sent their own independent civilian researchers to study Tar Yrra in accordance to the provisions provided by the Armistice.
Ulrik scoffed as he witnessed the ship overhead pass them by. He was annoyed that he had even bothered to stop his army from marching through. These tallfolk wouldn't even give him the light of day.
"Feckless cowards didn't even come down to meet us."
Halmdir came back through, "M'lord, the army's is holding."
The dwarves on the other side of the gate looked to Halmdir and finally, Ulrik said, "Fuck waiting. Get the army to march through the damn gate and send a messenger to the capital. I want another damned army ready, we're holding down this side of the gate."
Halmdir nodded and went back through the gate. A minute would pass and the first column of dwarves would arrive. Hundreds of dwarves at a time. Pikes, swords, hammers, and shields filling the immediate area. Ulrik looked towards the Horizon, this place was not their homeland of Dunmar.
"Well, it would've been fucking convenient if this was Dunmar aye lads?" he shook his head, "Now we have to rely on maps and centuries old knowhow to try and find this damned place. We will not be denied our glory."
"What do you want us to do if any other folk come through the gate m'lord?" Halmdir asked.
Ulrik looked to the gate, his eyes fierce and cold, "They haven't changed a wee bit. Talk to them, gently at first. But if they look down on you, make it fucking clear that we dwarves are not to be trifled with. Find out what they want with this place, why they're here, where they're from. If they don't want to fucking talk, KICK THEIR SORRY ARSES BACK TO THE SHIT HOLE THEY CAME FROM!"
Halmdir nodded, "Aye m'lord. I'll set a camp here then."
Ulrik raised a brow and looked back at Halmdir, "Only a camp?"
"M'lord?" Halmdir looked at Ulrik with a confused expression.
Ulrik looked around, "Halmdir, let's show these tallfolk we mean business. Get the earthworks and make fort they can't possibly ignore. A camp first, then a fortress."
"Wouldn't that give the wrong impression m'lord, I thought we were avoiding war." Halmdir asked.
"Halmdir, these fucking arseholes would do the same damned thing. What makes you think they'd just let us march our people through? Mark my words, if we don't, they will." Ulrik then looked back to the Horizon, his eyes searching for the snowy peaks of Dunmar.
Halmdir looked to a messenger, "You heard the king, pass the word!"
"Aye sir."
And so the dwarves worked hard to set up temporary fortifications in place of permanent ones. Hours would pass as more of the Dwarves poured through the gate. Ulrik would send a force of five hundred dwarves led by Halmdir out west as their compasses dictate to reconnoiter the surrounding area and find out where the hell they are. He would do this sending small forces in all four cardinal directions to secure his position near the gate and ensure that if there was anything here, he'd know about it.
There was much to do and many trials that awaited the dwarves, much more than they would anticipate. There were many realms that would march through the gate, some friendly, some malicious, some they could not even fathom. At the same time, there was also much to explore in this world, things that Dwarves who've only stayed in their mountain have never seen before. They too had much to learn about their ancestral world of Gaia. The ruins around the gate would be a good place to start.
Government Form: Police State masquerading as a Science Directorate
Demographics: Humans, Cyborgs, and Automata
Population: 1.5 Billion General Population Split: 40% Human 30% Cyborg 30% Automata
--- ---
Planet Name and Description:
New Haven is an Earth-like moon that’s slightly smaller than Earth and orbits a gas giant. The surface is 57% Water and 43% Dry land. The days in New Haven last twenty eight hours. The climate is predominantly temperate in the south pole and gets warmer towards the north pole due to its exposure to the sun. Every few years this climate will shift as it makes its tilted rotations around the gas giant known as Elysium 03 also known as Atlas.
History: The colonists that landed on New Haven were pleasantly surprised by the habitabilty of the world they had found and named this world New Haven. However, their introduction into the new environment had unforeseen consequences. The early colonists were struck with alien diseases and as if that wasn't bad enough, the colonists themselves spread diseases from Earth to their surroundings.
For years the colonists battled against disease and in an effort to keep themselves sterile invested heavily into robotics and biological research. Their early efforts into scientific advancement to conquer their inherent weaknesses would turn into a staple of their culture and society.
After a number of decades, the colonists would establish themselves and would soon adapt to their new home. Slowly, the science that was used to keep them alive was put to greater use in understanding their new home and making life easier for the colonists.
Slowly and slowly the colonists would be divided into two groups: the capable hardworking professionals and the decadent consumerist. Inevitably, there were government reforms that would eventually evolve into the directorate state the New Havenists are today. Hard work was rewarded well and the fat and lazy were punished. Specialists that have worked towards the benefit of New Haven would be allowed to retire and were allowed to be decadent being seen as having well earned it.
In later years there would be political instability within the New Havenist government. Splinter groups of different leaders in government disagreed in which way New Haven was to grow. This led to the infamous “Robotics Proxy War” that spanned for 40 long years with no end in sight. After a long and pointless struggle, the New Havenists drew up a treaty and yet another government reform was enacted. This time with a more centralized board of directors with one lead director to govern over all of New Haven. For the time being there was peace.
That peace did not last. Years of rebellions and instability would rock the new government. The faction known as “Heaven’s Door” garnered large amounts of support against the directorate. The Directorate was forced to enter a long and bloody war in which the Directorate was able to gain the upper hand. Heavy amounts of propaganda and a transition towards more intelligence gathering systems have made sure that the Directorate has the capacity to nip problematic elements at the bud.
It has been thirty years since the revolts. All information of the years past has been heavily scrutinized and edited for the benefit of the Directorate. Only the Directors are privy to this information.
Culture and Society: New Havenist culture and society on their past hardships and their struggle. They derive great pride in their cunning and intellect. They are not adverse to different ways of achieving longevity be it artificial prosthetics and transhumanist ethics. However, they are not fanatics in this aspect and it is an generally an open choice whether to remain completely human or augmenting themselves.
Freedom of choice in most aspects of life is believed to allow people to find their niche in New Haven society. However, this only extends so much as the current Board of Directors allows. Spirituality for example is not strictly mandated. Religious freedom is encouraged so long as it does not disrupt New Haven's stability as a whole.
Disruption, even socially, is considered rude and so great care was taken by every citizen to be as orderly and as considerate as possible to the people around them. It is also because of their inherent struggle with alien diseases that they are meticulous with their own cleanliness - though not universal it is very common.
Technology Overview:
Advanced Automation - Their experience with drone technology is above average and has proven self-sufficient even after losing communications. Executing objectives quickly and making decisions based on mission parameters.
Advanced Medical Technology - Their early battles with disease has led to experienced medical physicians. Alongside them developed medical technology in order to allow them to do their jobs.
Advanced Manufacturing Technology - After the Robot Proxy Wars in that divided New Haven into several parties, an arms race was launched both metaphorically and literally. Every side was researching how to increase manufacturing capabilities such as nano-constructors. These technologies were folded into civilian use and expanded upon after the end of the Robot Proxy Wars.
---
Governance and Politics: The governing body of the New Haven Directorate is a board of specialist directors of various departments of government. The most important is the Lead Director who oversees the Board of Directors. The Lead Director's role is a very powerful position, thus, the next Lead Director is carefully selected from a pool of candidates in secret - even the candidates themselves do not know. These candidates are selected by the current Lead Director. This process is mirrored in all roles within the board and all candidates are to be appraised of technical skill and knowledge on various subjects by the board before relieving the current board director.
Currently the Lead Director is a man named Hubert Seymour. An often times silly man with a penchant for the theatric. However, despite his eccentric personality he's proven himself as a leader for the last fifteen years. He spearheaded the campaign to explore the local system of New Haven (now known as Elysium) and reactivating the gates in order to expand outwards to rediscover Earth and explore new worlds in the name of science and discovery.
Military Overview: The New Haven Military structure is heavily invested in drones and automation. However, it still relies on manpower. New Haven infantry corps, New Haven mechanized corps, New Haven fleet, and New Haven air corps all have a role to play in battle operations. Though years have passed without conflict, the New Haven Military is still ready to defend Directorate interests and act as an peace enforcers.
Order of battle always begins with shock and awe. The fleet will move to establish air dominance whilst simultaneously pummeling the ground with bomber and orbital artillery. The landing force will then follow and establish a base of operations with a Nano-construction vehicle utilizing any nearby resources for base construction or being supplied with materials from orbit. Planetside artillery will help support the advance of infantry and mechanized corps. Air Support will be provided if possible. Airbases will be constructed to allow for planetside repairs and rearming.
To land a ground force the use of deployed decoys will be used to minimize beyond visual range lock on casualties. This should maximize the ground force's chances of survival if orbital artillery isn't enough to soften a target or if bombing and orbital artillery is strictly forbidden and there is simply no safer place to deploy.
New Haven Infantry New Haven Automated Infantry New Haven Infantry Support Mech New Haven AFV New Haven MBT New Haven APC New Haven Super Heavy New Haven AAA New Haven Artillery Walker
New Haven Ships New Haven Fighters New Haven Bombers New Haven Dropships
"Commander, NCV-5 "Astralis" is ready to depart for Earth." The station ensign reported.
The commander nodded, "NCV-5, repeat mission parameters before departure."
The NCV-5 (Nano Construction Vehicle) and its crew replied, "NCV-5 to Zeus, we are to move to the meeting place and relieve NCV-20 "Veritas" and finish up construction. NCV-20 will report back to Orion Platform for routine maintenance."
The captain of the Astralis awaited the response of the station commander. He sat down in the chair of command. The whole ship was geared towards the expedient and efficient construction of buildings and bases. The NCV was supposed to minimize the use of prefabricated structures. However, it still hauled building materials and prefabricated structures to aid in its job.
After what seemed like forever, "Zeus to NCV-5, mission parameters match, all documents check out as legitimate, begin your mission. And one more thing, the people there are testy, don't do anything that'll cause an international incident."
"NCV-5 to Zeus, we copy, no horseplay. We're moving now."
Astralis moved towards the gate. It was now patrolled by several military ships. In the six months, it seemed the military was moving away from self-defense duties, but military movements were top-secret.
EARTH MEETING PLACE NEW HAVEN SECTION 12:30 HRS
"THIS LOOKS FABULOUS!" Hubert threw up his arms and danced around for a bit.
Dick pushed up his glasses and looked at Hubert while he held his data pad in one hand, "Lead Director Hubert, please be careful. Our section is nearly finished and fully furbished, but a lot of the systems haven't been turned on in many areas because of the additional changes you requested mid build"
Hubert then spun one last time before stopping to put his fists on his hips, "Oh don't be a stick in the mud! The jacuzzi, the Augmented reality room, the pool, and many other amenities are completely necessary!"
"Necessary how? You just spent some of our defense budget on this, not to mention there's talk of a war-"
Hubert rushed over to Dick and covered his mouth, "SHHHH! We're not the only ones in the station, no talks of war or diplomacy yet! Like you said, we haven't routed power to a lot of the places here."
Dick stared at Hubert for a second, nodded, then slowly took off Hubert's hand from his mouth. "... But that still doesn't answer my question."
"Well, the people we're going to station here are supposed to be diplomats. They need to be in good moods, high spirits, etcetera! Which as you know is pretty hard when you're stuck above a dead world that looks nothing like your own for months on end without any form of entertainment other than mingling with other diplomats and the occasional sexual fling which can turn scandalous..." Hubert paused before taking in air after the explanation in which he did in one breath. He then stared at Dick, before continuing, "... Do you understand now why that's needed?"
Dick nodded, "... Okay, so they're not for guests?"
"Well they can be if they really want to. But you know how other nations are and their diplomacy! They're squares!"
"You know you just stopped me from talking about foreign policy but you're alright with foreign diplomats hearing that you think they're squares." Dick pinched the bridge of his nose.
Hubert then said, "Listen, listen, listen... They think I'm half-crazy and they probably think the same of our diplomats... And you."
Dick then glared at Hubert, "Really Hubert? Really?"
Another man entered the large open lobby, "Directors, NCV-5 Astralis has entered the system to finish up the system maintenance and add the... Um... The swimming pool..."
"Great!" Hubert exclaimed.
"There's another thing sir, we've been contacted by a new nation calling themselves the Hyginian Federation. Their survey ship exited our side of the gate."
Dick then looked at Hubert.
Hubert looked at Dick.
"Do they need either of us?" Hubert asks.
"No, but it might be good for you two to return as soon as possible. There are still things to oversee back planetside..." said the man said, "... Afterall, the experimental program you've put me on still needs some work."
"Ah right... I almost forgot. Sorry Admiral Donnel. I guess it is about time we return." Hubert replied.
Admiral Donnel then said, "I'll get the ship ready then. Oh and be prepared, since you might end up meeting these Hyginians anyway."
"Drats..." Hubert snapped his fingers.
"Be mature lead director. First impressions, remember?" Dick then fixed his coat and tie. "Shall we?"
"Whatever." Hubert replied. They then walked back to the ship and made their departure.
Several clans came here to lay claim to new lands and eventually make these colonies their own as a province of the Empire. However, the natives of these isles to the south, the Furin, a bird like people similar to harpies, proved to be troublesome. They knew the terrain better and fought to their strengths. In the end only three clans stayed, better tempered and led by much better negotiators. They were able to gain the support of the furin but only just. It has been five years since the bloodshed of the first foray. The memories of the first few months are hard to forget, the brutality that took place on both sides are particularly fresh in the mind.
Nagao Ryuji, the daimyo of the Nagao clan and the current governor general of the colony of Yayama appointed by the Matsukaze Karasu the emperor of Ikagai, called a meeting in the great mountain stronghold of Nagomi. The aggressive nature of Ikagai have had them pour more and more men into the region to reinforce their holdings in Yayama. The island itself has many names, but the Ikagai calls it Yayama after the colony. Many foreign forces have flooded into these small islands and it concerns the Emperor that some of them are known to be aggressive themselves. Ryuji wants to use this momentum and push eastwards across Yayama island and establish new mines, railroads, and settlements. The two other clan heads here arrived, Yamamoto Fujino and Akagane Nobuhide. Additionally, local furin leaders like Daodao Gono also took interest in these meetings as the relationship between the furin and the Ikagai people have been rather uneventful the past two years. While relationship between the two people is shaky, they nonetheless understand that if they do not resolve their issues with a little bit of trust and respect that they will once again fall into that violent cycle of annihilation.
The congregation of retainers, advisors, diplomats, and of course the daimyos themselves filled the courtyard. The castle grounds had a gravelly courtyard with many trees growing, surrounding, and covering parts of the castle. They walked as they talked about the Emperor's concerns.
Ryuji started the conversation, "We have been presented with a very valid concern from the homeland..." Ryuji turned his head to look back at the two other daimyos. He had an impressive seven foot frame, a rarity in Oni, Nobuhide and Fujino stood in his shadow. "... Over the five years we have stayed here foreigners have staked their claims and have grown ever closer to our borders. We have been left alone for the most part but for how long?"
"The Emperor calls for us to make war?" Nobuhide kept one hand on his sword, he spoke with confidence and a straightforwardness that could be misconstrued as rudeness. "If so, I can gather my army and march on them. They've been an eyesore across the water ever since they've gotten here."
Fujino echoed Nobuhide's sentiments, "There is no guarantee that they will leave us alone forever, after all, we too possess a more than modest amount of manarite."
Elegantly, Ryuji faced both of them as they arrived in one of the many gardens in the inner keep. "So we are all of the same mind. But we must secure our hold here on this island first. Let us use our new forces to renew our campaign eastward."
It was at this time Daodao made his voice heard, "You would pull the furin into another war?"
Ryuji directed his gaze towards Daodao, he was a rather old furin, large wings on his back acted like a cape to shield him from the elements but as a result his feathers looked rugged and raggedy. Ryuji, a governor before soldier, recognized him and dignified his presence with a reply, "War is inevitable whether it be with or without the Ikagai. In these times, it is hard to stand together, but I promise you, not all foreigners are so quick to understand the error of their ways."
Ryuji turned to a flower growing on one of the low hanging branches. He held his hand out and plucked it from the branch, "We here may not share all of our ideals, but we are willing to put aside differences for the sake of our continued cooperation..." he held the flower towards Daodao, "... Like this flower, we are only just beginning to see the most beautiful parts of our partnership. But..." he then crushed it in his hand, "... This is also when it is most vulnerable. Whether it be because of our distrust of each other or the threat of foreign powers, it can fall apart, it can be crushed. We must stand together now more than ever." his hand released its deathly grasp and let the petals and the flowers fall to the ground.
Daodao stared at the flower. For a moment he was silent and just as Ryuji and the others thought he had nothing else to say, "... The furin will protect our ancestral land, but we will only go as far as that."
Ryuji understood where Daodao and the furin stood. They had seen the horrors of war, it was only natural that they'd avoid it. Humanity was much the same before they mingled with oni and created the empire.
Nobuhide nodded and let out a satisfied huff, "Your people impressed me the first time we fought. Your people continue to impress me now. Your spirit is insurmountable."
Daodao turned to Nobuhide and said, "... If only that meant we were as free as you."
"Soon you will be, that was the promise that we made." Fujino replied. He then looked to Ryuji, "However, this campaign eastward may put us in direct contact with Fenice."
Ryuji then said, "We will first be open to them, but if they get in the way of our ambitions then we crush them for the sake of the Emperor and the empire."
"I volunteer my men to be the vanguard." Nobuhide placed a fist on his chest.
"Very well, the Akagane clan will be the tip of the spear for our expansion east." Ryuji said.
Fujino revealed his gunbai out of his sleeves, "Then my men will follow and secure the territory with the aid of the furin." he looked to Daodao.
Daodao simply bowed and said, "The furin will help you secure their homeland, but many of the tribes may still be against you."
"Daodao, that is why you and your men will be needed. Some of you need to go ahead of the main force and assure them that we mean no harm." Ryuji then approached Daodao and bowed his head as a sign of respect, "We may have stood on opposite sides, but you have stood against us with honor. We will honor you and your people, it is true that they may not trust us, but that is why I defer to your guidance and place myself in your hands."
Nobuhide and Fujin were surprised and so was Daodao. Daodao was a recognized leader among the furin, but to bow ones head to them signifies a higher form of respect. Daodao understood what this meant, Ryuji placed him among his equals. Nobuhide and Fujin could not believe their eyes, for them this meant that Daodao, a furin savage was considered their equals.
"Nagao. What is this? An insult!?" Nobuhide put his hand on the hilt of his blade and readied himself.
Fujin closed his eyes and bowed along with Ryuji. "Akagane-san, if we are to work together, we must acknowledge that they too have the same potential as we."
Nobuhide glared at the three of them as Ryuji's bodyguard closed in on Nobuhide. He gripped the hilt hard before letting go, "You better not dishonor us down Daodao."
"Unlike you, this is my homeland. My people will fight and die to defend it." Daodao met Nobuhide's eyes, matching his glare with a cold stare.
"Then we have an agreement." Ryuji's bodyguard stood down and the four of them strolled into the castle, "Now let us have some tea."
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I'm a space cat.
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><div class="bb-center"><img src="https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180608/d4bbef67240f61a7ae8c3bbfaf8eb569.png" /></div><br><div class="bb-center"><img src="https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/faca2651-b94f-4700-a18c-c9c60cad6818.jpg" /></div><br><br>I'm a space cat.</div>
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