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| | A collection of Imperial history and esoteric knowledge | | A collection of Imperial history and esoteric knowledge |
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| − | | + | *[[ Compendium: Aliens | Aliens ]] |
| − | == Aliens ==
| + | *[[ Compendium: History | History ]] |
| − | | + | *[[ Compendium: Planet Characteristics | Planet Characteristics ]] |
| − | === Dahak ===
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| − | [[File:Dahak_01.png|x350px|thumb|left|Dahak drone]] | |
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| − | Little is known about the origins of the Dahak. Scourge of humanity and destroyer of the Second Terran Empire, the first Dahak incursion occurred on the fringes of imperial space in a region ruled by insignificant great houses barely worthy of the name. Predictably, the core worlds ignored the situation until the invaders had established a foothold and containment was no longer possible.
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| − | The majority of Dahak are mindless drones focused solely on consumption. Once inserted into an ecosystem, they quickly devour the local life forms and each other. Eventually, the drones devastate a planet, causing ecosystem collapse. Their insatiable appetite fuels a continuous spawning of offspring. Starting off as small nodules on the skin, these children mature at a frightening pace. Progeny not devoured by their siblings, parent, or another drone eventually detach in a violent, and frequently fatal, fashion.
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| − | In direct contradiction to their dominant nature, one in a trillion Dahak is born sentient. Their genetic code is widely believed to have been extensively modified to favor rapid reproduction and excessive mutation in order to increase the frequency of awareness. These higher forms are hyper-intelligent but have yet to exhibit any desire for empire, domination, or subjugation. Instead, all other life forms are viewed at the same level as their drones—biological fodder of no consequence.
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| − | Dahak invasions typically take one of two forms. For worlds with a sentient species already entrenched, dropships full of mature drones are released to butcher the denizens. Sparsely populated worlds are infected with a virus, often delivered by asteroid. The virus hijacks existing phenotypes, resulting in Dahak with a variety of body forms. Fortunately, a vigilant population can often exterminate this second type of infestation with minimal casualties.
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| − | == History ==
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| − | === Fall of the Second Terran Empire ===
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| − | The fall of the Second Terran Empire was expected by many, but the method of its demise was predicted by none. The Spilgean Expanse was a well known sector, albeit on the edge of Imperial space. Long known to humanity, this territory had been extensively surveyed, mined, and depleted. The region was governed by minor houses of no significant wealth or military strength. Even brigands and thieves avoided this zone, finding no economic purchase for their illicit activities.
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| − | Humanity had long ago given up its search for an equal, much less a superior, form of intelligence among the stars. Numerous intelligent species had been found, but their primitive technologies and limited cultures made their conquest trivial. It is not known when the first Dahak spore ship entered Terran space. The Ministry of Science concluded the ship was an automated stealth vessel traveling at sublight speed for millennia before it encountered humanity. Once this ship detected worlds with a suitable density of biomass, it signaled the Dahak homeworld. While waiting for its masters, the invader was not idle. Dropships were built, and an army of Dahak drones were grown.
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| − | When the Dahak command fleet arrived, it unleashed a coordinate attack against dozens of human planets. Calls for assistance were predictably ignored by the core worlds while the Dahak expanded their foothold. Over the centuries, the Imperium had become slothful and decadent, and the military response was lackluster at best. The Dahak devoured the Empire and humanity was on the verge of extinction. In an act of desperation, the Emperor rallied his remaining ships and prepared for a final engagement.
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| − | After an initial feint, the Imperial Navy retreated with the Dahak command fleet in quick pursuit. Lured to a prepared spot, the Emperor sprung his trap and detonated the network of navigation beacons and gates that held the Imperium together. The ether of hyperspace was ruptured and both the Imperial Navy and Dahak fleet were destroyed. Superluminal travel was no longer possible within Terran space. All that was left of a once glorious civilization were isolated islands of humanity entombed by a sea of mindless drones.
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| − | The location of the Dahak homeworld was never discovered, and many details of their invasion remain unknown since the Spilgean Expanse remains impenetrable. Undoubtedly, the Dahak have remained vigilant, probing the maelstrom of hyperspace. Eager to harvest their sentient children scattered across the ruins of the Imperium.
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| − | | style="width:517px;" | [[File:JoinTheImperium.png|center|link={{IR_url}}/gateway ]] | + | | style="width:517px;" | [[File:JoinTheImperium.png|center|link={{IR_url}}/play ]] |
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| | </center> | | </center> |
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| − | [[Category: Compendium]]
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