Second Terran Imperium
(Eta Carinae Claimant)
==========================================================================================================
Summary:
The Second Terran Imperium was formed sixty years ago, renaming itself from simply the galaxy-spanning Terran Imperium after nearly 140 years of waiting for Earth to reinstate control and order within the galaxy. With Earth still in anarchy and the Terran Imperium all but entirely destroyed, the Imperial loyalists of Carina and the Sagittarius-Arm have finally given up and have decided to take matters into their own hands.
The Second Terran Imperium is notable for having a very high number of aliens relative to other imperial loyalist factions (and even currently led by an alien and various alien military leaders). This is because the Sagittarius Arm (region of the arm closest to Orion) and Carina in particular were regions of space populated by species that benefited from the early humans non-militarised colonisation phase and/or sided with the empire during the war against the original Solar Confederation, it also in recent history (post-fall) has been the target of numerous alien invasions and migrations from other parts of the galaxy.
Ever since the early wars with the Martians, xenophobia against aliens has been more than common, so the aliens of the Carina-Sagittarius region of space have mostly got by by exploiting their position as a ‘model minority’, gained through their assistance to humanity in its earlier wars. The Second Imperium has a great deal of speceism, ethnic clashes and warfare, cultural warfare and other divides however it is possibly the most xenophile of all the Terran remnants, considering it is not actively exterminating or enslaving them but actively assimilating them instead. How much is pragmatism (they have no choice), idealism or the fact that aliens make up a large number of leadership positions is up to debate.
The aliens lost most of their nations and sovereignty over the centuries and millennia, more due to simple overwhelming influence of Earth and the Terran Imperium than invasion, eventually submitting to vassalage, annexation and eventually assimilation. Today, the many native aliens of the “Second Imperium” (due to the time since assimilation and close proximity to Earth) don’t even recognise their own native cultures, much of their culture now either being heavily merged with human culture or almost entirely supplemented by it.
The Second Terran Imperium is particularly championed by the terranised Hexanagallion, aliens from their homeworld of Hexana in the Sagittarius Arm (closer to Scutum-Crux and not currently controlled by the Second Imperium) who like other pro-human aliens cut their teeth as a civilisation fighting for the imperial humans in the Solar Wars, their entire species was technologically uplifted from the Industrial Age by humanity to fight for them in their wars (making them a direct contrast with humanity's own first contact experience with the Martians). The Hexanagallions of the Second Imperium today descend from many of the 'pilgrims' who left Hexana to fight in the Solar Wars and later were allowed to colonise in the Carina Sector of the Sagittarius Arm.
THE OTHER WAR
These days, the Second Terran Imperium is now in crisis, engulfed in a multi-front war as hordes of aliens invade and occupy an increasing number of worlds in the Sagittarius Arm. The Second Terran Imperium expanded, intent on rebuilding the Imperium by ending the Succession Wars... they found themselves responsible instead for defending worlds from rampaging and pillaging vandals. The Second Terran Imperiums rapid expansion and rapid confrontation with these alien invaders was further sped up by the worlds which gave up immediately to the Imperium (or even asked to be annexed) simply so the Imperiums larger fleet and army would protect them.
The Second Terran Imperium also deals with massive migrations of aliens fleeing the Dominion of Mans genocidal purges in the Orion Spur. Billions of aliens of Orion now overwhelm the streets and outskirts of Second Imperium worlds, covering them in refugee camps and shanty towns as the Imperium struggles to maintain itself.
==========================================================================================================
GOVERNMENT AND PERSONALITIES
Type of Government: Absolute Monarchy(De jure), Regency Military Junta(De facto)
Capital System (De Jure): Earth, Sol (Claimed, does not actually control)
Capital System (De Facto): Carina Prime, Eta Carinae
Head of State: N/A (Disputed among numerous human imperial claimants)
Head of Government: Generalissimo & Regent, Lawrence Tos Aktsar’Remavir
The Government Details: The Second Terran Imperium is officially ruled by an emperor or empress, however has not had one since its formation, since like other imperial remnants/successors it is still trying to decide who is the legitimate successor of the Terran Imperium. Because they lack the monarchy they claim to represent, the Second Terran Imperium is actually ruled by a regency council that is mostly dominated by military officials. The military junta in turn is mostly dominated by Hexanagallions and Humans. Despite being a minority, the Hexanagallions had the most organised member forces during the initial fall and because of this were able to seize power in quite a number of sectors. Currently there are 13 members in the ruling Military Junta, divided into 6 Hexanagallions, 5 Humans and 1 Vala plus the Generalissimo, currently a Hexanagallion (though thoroughly pro-human). The Military Junta is then further divided with 3 of the Hexanagallions and 3 humans being part of the 'moderates', 2 humans part of the purists, 3 Hexanagallions part of the Hexanagallion supremacists and the Vala being an independent.
There are several imperial claimants in the Second Imperium each with various degrees of power and legitimacy. All of them mostly refuse to acknowledge each others claims and block each others ascension. All of them also refuse to acknowledge external claimants such as the Dominion's Faust.
==========================================================================================================
Leaders:
Generalissimo and Regent, Lawrence Tos Aktsar-Remavir
Lawrence (taking a human first name like most Second Imperium Hexanagallions) is the current de facto ruler of the Second Terran Imperium. Lawrence is a renown war hero and a genius military commander, made famous for wars of liberation against the invading xeno-barbarian hordes. He mostly appeared from anonymity in the Terran Imperial Navy as a Hexanagallion "pilgrim" (A young xeno who leaves his low-caste family to join the human navy to get prestige for his hometown and bloodline), rising through the officer ranks to Fleet Admiral through winning improbable victories, launching successful risky assaults and other unorthodox activities. Charismatic, somewhat eccentric and respected authority figure for the men and women that serve under him, he seems to be the perfect ruler... if not for his disappointing lack of interest in politics, and Xeno species, that obviously makes him incapable of actually taking full control of the country.
Lawrence, a latter-day Cincinnatus would find his lack of political ambition endearing in a republican nation, but here he is looked at as placeholder and expendable asset by both his political rivals and allies. Lawrence entered the Military Junta ruling the Second Imperium as a surprise candidate backed by two of the three major factions as a 'compromise' candidate. Later he was given the appointment of Generalissimo simply because he was the most competent military commander not already tied down in battle, and many of the Junta members were either incapable of dealing with such a dire military situation (with all the xeno-barbarian invasions) or unwilling to put their neck on the line, as likely whoever is in charge will be blamed as a scapegoat for any critical defeats.
As Generalissimo, Lawrence mostly sees his political appointment as nothing more than a means to achieve more funding and supplies for the front, and is perfectly aware of what his political enemies and allies think of him. In his eyes, politics is currently meaningless since their imperium leadership as a whole (not just himself) is simply a placeholder until the wars of unification are completed.
Belonging to the pro-human loyalist faction that emphasises reunification of the Terran Imperium and reestablishment of the imperial dynasty, Lawrence is considered one of the most human-friendly faces of the xeno members in the upper command, particularly compared to his fellow Hexanagallion generals and admirals whom are more interested in creating a distinctly Hexanagallion-led "Terran" imperium. Among Hexanagallions, while he is greatly respected for his ingenuity and success, he is considered a blatant terranophile that would sabotage their species ascension to supremacy in the galaxy. His terranophilia originates from his days in the Eta Carinae Star Academy (during the latter period of his pilgrim) and from there being taken under the wing of the legendary Fleet Admiral Konrad.C.Augustine and the other star pupils of his generation. As a student of the admiral, besides the tutoring that made him the military juggernaut he is today, he also adopted a familiarity and genuine interest in human culture that many of the other Hexanagallions have simply for custom or politics.
==========================================================================================================
SOCIETY
Species and Demographics:
-48% Humanity
-34% Assimilated non-humans
--12% Hexanagallion (assimilated)
--6% Vala (assimilated)
--3% Aesarnaythi (assimilated
--13% Other assimilated aliens (Xarz, Saphytir, Mon’luks, etc)
-18% Plethora of non-assimilated aliens
Traits/Appearance: Look in a mirror.
The Hexanagallions are a reptilian species that were discovered by humanity in the early days on the plant Hexana. They were technologically uplifted by humanity during the Solar Wars to fight for the imperial faction as shock troopers, mostly because at the time the imperials were short on manpower in the Sagittarius Arm.
The Hexanagallions are taller, bulkier, stronger and overall physically superior (in terms of strength) to humans, but are also considerably less adaptive to environments (requiring high levels of sunlight and heat, being cold-blooded) and are also less agile, with slower reflexes. Their intelligence is roughly equivalent to humans. In their evolution they evolved as ambush and speed hunters in contrast to human persistence hunters, as well as being carnivores, they never adapted agriculture and instead farming begun solely as a form of animal husbandry and livestock. Their society was highly warlike and territorial and military city-states along the lines of Earth's Sparta reigned supreme for much longer than humanities, with military city-states ruled by a hereditary military-aristocracy continuing even into the industrial age, where world wars were fought between even more complex alliances of several hundred city-states across their home-world. The continued existence of these city-state politics gave Hexanagallions a highly advanced understanding of diplomacy and alliance-building, though also made them easier to eventually annex as the humans annexed different states individually.
Numerous distinct elements of their original culture and society have been replaced by human/terran culture and social norms due to long-term assimilation, though some aspects of their native culture remains through syncretism. Their original culture, [See Honored Resurgence Forces sheet] was one of tradition, honour and societal notions that revolved around war and upholding warrior ideals. Aspects of this warrior culture have remained, particularly since Terran culture is heavily war-orientated, though some of the more individualist and traditional notions of war were replaced by larger ideological, national and collectivist concepts of martyrdom.
Terran Hexanagallion's distinction from the HRF Hexangallions are as follows:
#1: Human first names followed by Hexanagallion surname(Terran) vs traditional first and surnames(HRF)
#2: Universal conscription regardless of gender(Terran) vs gender-divided military castes (HRF)
#3: Human/terran and syncretic faith(Terran) vs traditional Hexanagallion faith(HRF)
#4: Terran language with some adopted traditional words(Terran) vs traditional language(HRF)
#5: Terran "estates" caste-system(Terran) vs Hexanagallion warrior caste system(HRF)
#6: Naval pilgrim(Terran) vs No Naval pilgrim(HRF)
#7: Private duels happen but are uncommon(Terran) vs Private duels are relatively common(HRF)
#8: Military code based around values of duty and self-sacrifice(Terran) vs military code values of honour and respect(HRF)
The Aesarnaythi are a species of matriarchal aquatic/amphibious (and very human-appearing) humanoids that almost immediately became a topic of interest as they were one of the first ‘almost exactly like us’ species humanity discovered, and unlike the Alorians were not vampiric slave-drivers, and instead ran almost utopian-like paradise worlds filled with pacifists. These multicultural pacifists were easily conquered by the humans and had their worlds quickly designated as agri-worlds (fishing) or popular tourist/retreat locations for the aristocracy of the imperium. To adapt, the Aesarnaythi have become far more savvy and manipulative, their naive pacifism replaced by cutthroat, passive-aggressive economic and cultural militancy (though still militarily pacifist). Aesarnaythi culture like Hexanagallion culture has mostly been assimilated and changed to fit the larger imperial human culture, though some native practices still remain. Aesarnaythi are still mostly matriarchal despite the human empires patriarchal influence, though instead of female-only aristocracy, most powerful Aesarnaythi are plutocrats and traders ever since the old aristocracy was replaced by the human one.
Biologically speaking, the Aesarnaythi are roughly the same size and appearance as humans, though are slightly lighter, can breathe underwater, can see the dark but have much lower tolerance to very dry worlds. They are well known for their technicolour skin tones and skimpy clothing.
Vala is a blanket term for any human-xeno hybrid rather than a true species. While most alien species cannot produce viable offspring with humans (due to vast differences in biology), some surprisingly can (which baffled terran scientists when this fact was first discovered). Technically speaking, Vala were not illegal under the Terran Imperium however were extremely frowned upon, seen as a form of degenerate miscegenation. Most Vala look very similar to humans due to the alien species capable of breeding with humans already being very similar to humans (or having bizarre biologies that allow them to breed with other species).
Under the Second Terran Imperium, Vala are more accepted since the empire is currently ruled by aliens who are trying to make use of pro-human multicultural propaganda as means of maintaining their highly unstable, multi-ethnic nation. While Vala numbers are increasing and new bio-engineering technology (no longer banned) has made the process even easier, they are still considered unnatural by the majority of the populace.
Religion and Demographics:
-38%: Old Terran Faiths
-20% Syncretic Faiths
-18% Alien faiths
-18% Irreligion
-6% Post-fall new age religions (The Faith, etc)
Culture:
History:
==========================================================================================================
Military:
Terran Rifleman
The Rifleman is the standard infantry fighter of the Terrans, regardless of era. The rifleman is equipped with standard issue combat fatigues, light armour plates resistant to both energy and ballistics to some degree, a bodysuit (one-piece skin-tight suit) that goes under the fatigues and made out of materials that are both resistant to water, heat, chemicals, gases and worn to in combination with the full-face helmet which gives protection, optics, communications and alongside the bodysuit protection from alien environments, atmospheres and biological weapons. The rifleman is armed with a number of weapons, but the standard are particle pulse-rifle and the cheaper railgun alternatives.
Terran Stormtrooper
These infantry soldiers are lighter variants of the well-known Imperium power-suit heavy infantry, possessing closely human or alien-body sized compact armour fit for flexible movement and agility. They offer very strong protection from small arms fire and the speed to make them specialists at rapid engagements and aggressive assaults. They are not proper power-suits though, so they must avoid vehicles and even lighter anti-armour weapons like the plague. Terran stormtroopers have mostly replaced older Terran Marine exoskeleton armour, making Stormtroopers the Second Imperium's marine soldiers as well.
Terran Power-Suit (Carina Justicar model)
The famous Terran heavy infantry, enclosed in a small biped vehicle/mini-mecha with cockpit built into the upper chest. Like all Terran Power-suits, these are capable of destroying both infantry and vehicles with their standard weapons (no need to bring 'anti-vehicle' additions). Carina Justicar Power-suits diverge from the standard Terran model by being in squads where the majority possess slightly weaker, lighter weapons but possess greater agility, including very-rapid jet-boasters. The Carina Justicar also possesses a full bubble shield that protects it. While the shield life is short, it recharges and can take quite a bit of small-arms fire or a few shots from larger anti-vehicle weapons. These squads of battle suits include 1-2 with heavier, more traditional Terran Power Suit weapons, as seen below.
Terran Power Suit (Heavy Weapons Addons)
Each power suit squad has 1-2 heavier weapons added on. These weapons are mostly anti-fortification, anti-shield and anti-heavy armour weapons. Weapons include such things as Plasma cannons, Continuous-Beam particle cannons and radiological gamma-burst cannons. Elite, custom variants (Usually commando's) have been known to carry antimatter bombs with them as well, usually as strategic weapons (to destroy cities or fortresses once inside).
HA-72T IFV (Hover-armour infantry fighting vehicle)
The HA-72T, (It is called a HA-72T or just 72T by Terrans, though Confederates like to nickname it the "Prowler") is a part of the Second Imperium's dramatic return to non-biped, non-walker armoured vehicles, in this case through the adoption of hover-craft based armour. The original design and concept of the hovering, anti-grav IFV was merely the huge number of retrofitted 'technicals' (militarised civilian hovercars) used by numerous sides during the collapse of the Terran Imperium and following Xeno-Barbarian invasions. Becoming popular, the concept has now seen the creation of proper designated IFV vehicles for the real military forces of the Second Imperium. The HA-72A IFV mostly uses particle and rail/gauss weapons and is the designated carrier transport for Terran infantry.
HMT-12T (Hover-armorur main battle tank)
The HMT-12T (Or "Arbalest" for its Confederate nickname) is a beefed up expansion of the HA-T concept of hover armour, recreating the concept of a main battle tank. It includes numerous turrets and a primary cannon and is also equipped with an energy shield and a point-defence laser capable of shooting down incoming missiles, large explosives, infantry and also act as a AA gun against close-range targets (Drones or close by hovering gunships/hovercraft).
FLS-1T Floatcruiser Dreadnought
The FLS-1T Floatcruiser Dreadnought is the Second Imperium's answer to many hostile xenos use of various super-heavy walkers and genetically engineered monsters. Floatcruisers are essentially landships, a concept that was devised by 20th century science-fiction authors (And certain megalomaniac military/political/industrial leaders) but was mostly ignored in favour of conventional tanks and later walkers of increasing complexity. The Floatcruisers invention is based on the fact that the anti-grav generators that enable its hovering also allows it to be significantly scaled up while ignoring the usual flaws known for tracked landships, giving it both the speed and mobility to actually be useful in a battle. The FLS-1T is armoured and shielded in space warship-grade equipment and similarly armed. Its particle lancer cannons are heavy enough where they can also be used as anti-space weapons much like static anti-space guns. it is also equipped with various suites and addons, including cyber-warfare, comm-jammers, anti-landmine defences, point-defences and a light-bending invisibility field, the last is particularly useful when hiding itself from orbital bombardment
They are sometimes affectionately nicknamed "Bolo's", due to the concepts ancient 20th century origins.
The Rifleman is the standard infantry fighter of the Terrans, regardless of era. The rifleman is equipped with standard issue combat fatigues, light armour plates resistant to both energy and ballistics to some degree, a bodysuit (one-piece skin-tight suit) that goes under the fatigues and made out of materials that are both resistant to water, heat, chemicals, gases and worn to in combination with the full-face helmet which gives protection, optics, communications and alongside the bodysuit protection from alien environments, atmospheres and biological weapons. The rifleman is armed with a number of weapons, but the standard are particle pulse-rifle and the cheaper railgun alternatives.
Terran Stormtrooper
These infantry soldiers are lighter variants of the well-known Imperium power-suit heavy infantry, possessing closely human or alien-body sized compact armour fit for flexible movement and agility. They offer very strong protection from small arms fire and the speed to make them specialists at rapid engagements and aggressive assaults. They are not proper power-suits though, so they must avoid vehicles and even lighter anti-armour weapons like the plague. Terran stormtroopers have mostly replaced older Terran Marine exoskeleton armour, making Stormtroopers the Second Imperium's marine soldiers as well.
Terran Power-Suit (Carina Justicar model)
The famous Terran heavy infantry, enclosed in a small biped vehicle/mini-mecha with cockpit built into the upper chest. Like all Terran Power-suits, these are capable of destroying both infantry and vehicles with their standard weapons (no need to bring 'anti-vehicle' additions). Carina Justicar Power-suits diverge from the standard Terran model by being in squads where the majority possess slightly weaker, lighter weapons but possess greater agility, including very-rapid jet-boasters. The Carina Justicar also possesses a full bubble shield that protects it. While the shield life is short, it recharges and can take quite a bit of small-arms fire or a few shots from larger anti-vehicle weapons. These squads of battle suits include 1-2 with heavier, more traditional Terran Power Suit weapons, as seen below.
Terran Power Suit (Heavy Weapons Addons)
Each power suit squad has 1-2 heavier weapons added on. These weapons are mostly anti-fortification, anti-shield and anti-heavy armour weapons. Weapons include such things as Plasma cannons, Continuous-Beam particle cannons and radiological gamma-burst cannons. Elite, custom variants (Usually commando's) have been known to carry antimatter bombs with them as well, usually as strategic weapons (to destroy cities or fortresses once inside).
HA-72T IFV (Hover-armour infantry fighting vehicle)
The HA-72T, (It is called a HA-72T or just 72T by Terrans, though Confederates like to nickname it the "Prowler") is a part of the Second Imperium's dramatic return to non-biped, non-walker armoured vehicles, in this case through the adoption of hover-craft based armour. The original design and concept of the hovering, anti-grav IFV was merely the huge number of retrofitted 'technicals' (militarised civilian hovercars) used by numerous sides during the collapse of the Terran Imperium and following Xeno-Barbarian invasions. Becoming popular, the concept has now seen the creation of proper designated IFV vehicles for the real military forces of the Second Imperium. The HA-72A IFV mostly uses particle and rail/gauss weapons and is the designated carrier transport for Terran infantry.
HMT-12T (Hover-armorur main battle tank)
The HMT-12T (Or "Arbalest" for its Confederate nickname) is a beefed up expansion of the HA-T concept of hover armour, recreating the concept of a main battle tank. It includes numerous turrets and a primary cannon and is also equipped with an energy shield and a point-defence laser capable of shooting down incoming missiles, large explosives, infantry and also act as a AA gun against close-range targets (Drones or close by hovering gunships/hovercraft).
FLS-1T Floatcruiser Dreadnought
The FLS-1T Floatcruiser Dreadnought is the Second Imperium's answer to many hostile xenos use of various super-heavy walkers and genetically engineered monsters. Floatcruisers are essentially landships, a concept that was devised by 20th century science-fiction authors (And certain megalomaniac military/political/industrial leaders) but was mostly ignored in favour of conventional tanks and later walkers of increasing complexity. The Floatcruisers invention is based on the fact that the anti-grav generators that enable its hovering also allows it to be significantly scaled up while ignoring the usual flaws known for tracked landships, giving it both the speed and mobility to actually be useful in a battle. The FLS-1T is armoured and shielded in space warship-grade equipment and similarly armed. Its particle lancer cannons are heavy enough where they can also be used as anti-space weapons much like static anti-space guns. it is also equipped with various suites and addons, including cyber-warfare, comm-jammers, anti-landmine defences, point-defences and a light-bending invisibility field, the last is particularly useful when hiding itself from orbital bombardment
They are sometimes affectionately nicknamed "Bolo's", due to the concepts ancient 20th century origins.
Carina-class Battleship
The Carina-class battleship is a Second Imperium derivative of the Sol-class battleship, an older Imperium battleship. The Carina-class battleship has been extended and given even larger guns at the sacrifice of less hull, storage space and its fighter/strikecraft carrying capacity. While the Carina-class is newer than the Sol, not by much. Currently a truly 'new' battleship is being created to replace it.
Sol-class Battleship
Older, Imperium-Era model with heavier armour and both more hull and storage space, but smaller guns. The Second Imperium's Sol-Class battleships are old and weathered by constant war and time, however they are sturdy ships that can take a lot of damage and also serve as a carrier. The Sol-class is no longer in production, most of them being leftovers of the Imperium.
Bonaparte-Class Battlecruiser
A new class of warship, designed by the Second Imperium itself in recent times to replace the old Imperium and Imperium-derivative warships. Sleeker, newer materials and based around a new naval doctrine of overwhelming firepower instead of space attrition (Sacrificing heavy hull/armour for bigger guns). The newer design philosophy also puts emphasis on the spinal (through the length of the whole ship) particle lancer, which the Bonaparte has.
Alexander-Class Cruiser
A new class of warship, also designed by the Second Imperium to replace older classes of ships. The Cruiser is the new bread and butter of the Second Imperium, replacing smaller destroyer and frigate carrier-hybrids with more damage dealing, larger gunned warhorses. The Alexander-class cruiser like the Bonaparte Battlecruiser includes a spinal-mounted particle lancer. The two ships together make up the heavy/capital and escort standards of the Second Imperium's standard fleet.
Gandymede-Class Destroyer
Icon of the old Imperium, once the most common warship in the galaxy for a time. While the Second Imperium's Gandymede's are lower in number and weathered by time and war, they are still highly useful warships with their very heavy armour and all of them also acting as escort-carrier hybrids, carrying strikecraft. The Second Imperium is moving its naval emphasis to larger Cruiser-escorts and designated carriers instead, so the Gandymede will so seen its production cease.
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Carina-class battleship is a Second Imperium derivative of the Sol-class battleship, an older Imperium battleship. The Carina-class battleship has been extended and given even larger guns at the sacrifice of less hull, storage space and its fighter/strikecraft carrying capacity. While the Carina-class is newer than the Sol, not by much. Currently a truly 'new' battleship is being created to replace it.
Sol-class Battleship
Older, Imperium-Era model with heavier armour and both more hull and storage space, but smaller guns. The Second Imperium's Sol-Class battleships are old and weathered by constant war and time, however they are sturdy ships that can take a lot of damage and also serve as a carrier. The Sol-class is no longer in production, most of them being leftovers of the Imperium.
Bonaparte-Class Battlecruiser
A new class of warship, designed by the Second Imperium itself in recent times to replace the old Imperium and Imperium-derivative warships. Sleeker, newer materials and based around a new naval doctrine of overwhelming firepower instead of space attrition (Sacrificing heavy hull/armour for bigger guns). The newer design philosophy also puts emphasis on the spinal (through the length of the whole ship) particle lancer, which the Bonaparte has.
Alexander-Class Cruiser
A new class of warship, also designed by the Second Imperium to replace older classes of ships. The Cruiser is the new bread and butter of the Second Imperium, replacing smaller destroyer and frigate carrier-hybrids with more damage dealing, larger gunned warhorses. The Alexander-class cruiser like the Bonaparte Battlecruiser includes a spinal-mounted particle lancer. The two ships together make up the heavy/capital and escort standards of the Second Imperium's standard fleet.
Gandymede-Class Destroyer
Icon of the old Imperium, once the most common warship in the galaxy for a time. While the Second Imperium's Gandymede's are lower in number and weathered by time and war, they are still highly useful warships with their very heavy armour and all of them also acting as escort-carrier hybrids, carrying strikecraft. The Second Imperium is moving its naval emphasis to larger Cruiser-escorts and designated carriers instead, so the Gandymede will so seen its production cease.
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Xeno-Barbarian Hordes
Rogues Gallery (Demographics):
The Oghkeen are gelatinous biped Molluscoid alien species the size of small armoured vehicles. They are hyper aggressive and territorial, however interestingly only eat algae and vegetables, not consuming meat. Their evolution begun as deep-sea creatures suited for extreme pressures and low sunlight, making their eyes very sensitive to light (but also able to see in the dark with perfect clarity). Oghkeenians have long lifespans, with an Oghkeenian having an average lifespan of around 350 years and a current record of 523 years. Oghkeenians are genderless and reproduce asexually.
Their species eventually moved to the surface and evolved into amphibians and from there achieving sentience. Their hunter-gatherer stage saw extreme competition with other herbivore creatures and avoiding extremely proficient apex predators. They eventually were able to achieve dominion of their homeworld through domesticating the apex predators and using them against the other herbivores, culling their numbers or exterminating them (The early civilisation phase of Oghkeenian evolution had a very high number of Oghkeenian-caused extinctions). Free to monopolise the vegetation, algae gardens and farmlands of their homeworld, the Oghkeenians promptly built numerous slaver-states and slave empires renown for being beast-masters and tamers.
The Oghkeenians were united as a world-state in their comparable era of the Industrial Age, with Ussluk The Worldtaker conquering the entire planet in three global total wars that left 1.3 billion dead. Ussluk begun as a medieval warlord and over its 4 centuries of life aspired to and achieved total world domination. Due to the Ussluks long-lifespan and conservative cultural values, slavery was never abolished and many medieval practices continued (and continue) into the modern day.
Ussluk the Worldtaker was succeeded by Reslec, where under its reign saw FTL invented, a slow and unreliable Warp Drive (Alcubierre Drive). Upon leaving their home star system and establishing their first colony, they were promptly invaded and conquered by the Terran Imperium. The Oghkeenians were mass-enslaved (along with their slaves) by the Terrans, who mostly rolled over them with total disregard. Oghkeenian resistance was fierce but humanity just sent wave after wave to crush them. Oghkeenians would remain enslaved for next few millennia, until finally breaking free 200 years ago after the Terran Imperium's collapse.
Now, the Oghkeenians have rapidly spread out, led by various newly freed warlords eager to take advantage of their newfound freedom (Many of the current leaders are the same enslaved Oghkeenians 200 years ago). They have cut a swath through former imperial space, pillaging, sacking and enslaving their way towards Sol. It is time to return the favour and begin the great ambitions of Ussluk The Worldtaker again, this time forming a Oghkeenian Imperium.
The Archan are mammalian aliens roughly double the size of humans. They were the apex predators of their homeworld of Arsh and quickly held control of the planet through their excellence as highly cooperative pack hunters. The Archani societies begun mostly as semi-nomadic clans which continued on all the way until the late medieval age/renaissance where they begun building their first cities, though the Archan have remained highly mobile ever since and rapidly colonised their entire homeworld.
Their homeworld was never united and remained under a loose, League of Nations-style international body prone to occasional but long-lasting low-intensity wars (Afghanistan but everywhere). Attrition warfare and trench warfare between major states was the primary form of conflict in industrial wars when they did actually occur. Space colonisation was heavily prioritised by a species desperate to spread out and migrate but bogged down by constant attrition wars and lack of space (the entire species is naturally claustrophobic).
Much like the Oghkeenians, the Archan were invaded by the Terran Imperium just as they achieved FTL, invading them with overwhelming force at their moment of glory and salvation. Their space forces were defeated in less than a minute, however the Terrans realised something dreadful: These creatures attrition warfare would work on humanity too. And so begun the "Long War" of Arsh. Despite humanities overwhelming numbers and technological advantage, the Imperium took 300 years to fully conquer the planet officially, and unofficially NEVER conquered the world completely, resistance being constant world-wide. The Archan were defiant, resilient, unwilling to bend to the Terran menace. Even when enslaved, they found a way. (The Archans brains are particularly resilient to numerous drugs and mind-altering processes the Terran Imperium used to control slaves).
Slave uprisings and planetary revolts were constant. They continued until 700 years ago, where an incompetent and decadent human aristocrat ruler of the world lost the whole thing to a planetary slave revolt and decided to retaliate by nuking most of the planet. Arsh was turned into a nuclear wasteland under a nuclear winter, but even then the Archan continued to resist.
Their planet dying in a nuclear post-apocalypse and their species going with it, the Archan struggled to merely survive until the newly independent and conquering Oghkeenians came and saved them, taking them off their homeworld and... promptly enslaving them again. The Archan resisted again, some achieving freedom by hijacking the spaceships they were on, others exterminated but the majority remain now willing slaves, willing only through the promise of extreme and absolute revenge against humanity. They now partake in the Long Wars second phase, the "Great Vendetta", which calls for the extermination of the human species and the nuclear obliteration of Earth. The Oghkeenians have agreed, though it is wondered what they will do when their conflicting calls come to an impasse (destroy earth/humanity vs conquer earth/enslave humanity).
The Toxogondii-Vala are not a real species but another form of Vala, or hybrid. They originate from the obscure Gondine Parasite of the outer arm, a small microscopic parasite that sleeps dormant in the ice of many ice asteroids in that region of space. The Gondine Parasite enters the human body through ingestion of water that is improperly treated, so while dangerous on mass-scale for the most of the Terran Imperium's history after the parasites discovery, it has been pretty easy for the Imperium to stop its expansion, at least until the fall of the Imperium.
As many worlds starved from being cut off from suppliers of food and water and professional water miners vanished to be replaced by rag-tag scavengers and snake-oil merchants, the Gondine parasite spread rapidly due to the total lack of safety procedures, spreading through the scavenger and merchant trade and into mass populace centres water supplies.
The Gondine parasite does not directly afflict anything on its host, only mildly altering its mind/chemicals to make it more useful (e.g: The Gondine virus will make its host both more concerned with self-preservation and more concerned with procreating). Its real activity begins when a child is conceived in the womb of a female infected. The Gondine parasite will multiply itself and modify the process of fertilisation and growth of a fetus (Species that do not grow fetus' in their womb are luckily immune to this process), mutating and infecting the fetus during this stage.
The modified Fetus, now a "Toxogondii Vala" will either birth 'normally' or eat the parent host from the inside out. Typically the host mother is killed, though some do survive if lucky or aided by the proper medical technology. The Toxogondii Vala still possess human genetics and are mostly an alien-human hybrid despite both parents having been human. The Toxogondii Vala possesses intelligence depending on the host parent, with most of them being human-hybrid... They can think, possessing most of the intelligence and remnants of their brains functioning.
Interestingly, the Toxogondii Vala are actually not inherently violent creatures and would be just a very dysfunctional Vala (that looked very, very alien) if it were not for the fact that the Gondine Parasite still is within them. While once again the Gondine Parasite does not directly control them, it modifies their brain and chemical functions to suit its purposes, in this case to spread, survive and multiply further, aggressively.
The Oghkeenian's as usual picked them up when they learned of their existence and potential usefulness. Since the Oghkeenian's are immune to the parasite it is no real danger to them, allowing them to use the 'sub-species' as essentially a slow trans-formative bio-weapon against human worlds they have already conquered. While the Gondine parasite cannot be used to instantly change people like a zombie plague, it can gradually convert an entire populace of humans into aggressive human-targeting monsters with just a few generations and enough 'concentration camps'.
Independent of the Oghkeenians, the Toxogondii'Vala launch their own independent attacks on humanity, but these are mostly raiding attacks on ships and border colonies to steal more people so they can reproduce.
The Tisk'Tiski are a species of semi-insectoid/molluscoid shapeshifters in the sense that they can mimic the appearance of other species by modifying their highly adaptable body. Their skin can change colour and even texture, enabling them to example mimic human skin. They can also go somewhat invisible by mimicking their surroundings, being a more efficient version of a chameleon in this regard.
The Tisk'Tiski were a species that were extremely efficient ambush and stealth hunters, almost perfecting it to extreme degrees, mimicking their prey (child eating parents, parents eating eggs, egg eating parents or other eggs, etc), going invisible or infiltrating herds/packs and gradually replacing members but allowing them to breed so to create a 'farm'.
The Tisk'Tiski achieved sapience after hundreds of thousands of years of masquerading as other species, and after achieving sapience continued to do so. Their civilisation phase was extremely slow due to their masquerading as other species and not building proper cities or technology.This changed radically when human settlers arrived, assuming the world was clear of intelligent alien life.
The Tisk'Tiski were quick to infiltrate these new creatures societies and attempted to learn about how they functioned. They succeeded for a while before being caught... however luckily, the humans went so paranoid they actually started killing each other and eventually caused the near total destruction of their own colony. Surviving Tisk'Tiski then replaced the colony masquerading as the dead colonists, taking control of the colonies communications and few remaining space craft, essentially achieving FTL and spaceflight on the spot, skipping thousands of years of advancement as well as the 'inevitable Terran FTL surprise attack'.
The Tisk'Tiski were able to keep the masquerade going for another seventy years until the Terran Imperium finally caught on and investigated, eventually resulting in the planet being nuked clean. Despite this, the Tisk'Tiski had already sent out members of its species on space flights, or by going aboard human vessels that visited the colony. The Terran Imperium attempted to hunt down the species and increase security (including special DNA scanners and other procedures, which the Tisk'Tiski cannot avoid without the help of specialised espionage technology), though the results were effective, after the fall the Tisk'Tiski were able to further spread and regain its numbers.
The Tisk'Tiski consider themselves their own faction, really only working for the horde in return for the right to 'replace' human colonies and capital worlds. Tisk'Tiski do not and cannot breed with humans (There are no Vala from them) and consider humans and all other species they mimic food. Tasty, tasty food.
Not all Sankar are under the thumb of the Gashathi, or that is to say while the Sankar are monitored and controlled from birth to death in their totally observed worlds, the original species that the Gashathi genetically altered still exists. The Ap'Sankar are the reptilian predecessors to the strange supersoldier Sankar derivatives. The Ap'Sankar do not have the excessive armoured plating/hardened scales of the Sankar and instead have natural reptilian scales. They are actually taller than their Sankar cousins and have a wider girth, their supersoldier cousins having been made slightly smaller and weigh less so they were more capable fighters (The Ap'sankar are relatively slow).
The Ap'Sankar homeworld has been tampered with repeatedly throughout its history, what with godlike ancient precusor aliens messing with its evolution. The Ap'sankar did not achieve space flight or FTL naturally, but achieved it through other civilisations interacting with them as they explored and scavenged the left-over tech from the Gashathi.
Since getting into space, the Ap'Sankar have remained... pretty much the same as they did in their primitive days. They hunt in space, just using guns and stolen spacecraft instead of spear and mount. They steal as pirates instead of raiding fellow tribes and they pillage as they always have. They aren't the most adaptive or intelligent species (they aren't retarded, more slow to change or learning new things).
large numbers of Ap'Sankar have joined the barbarian horde because they can. Because its fun. They enjoy stealing things, hunting people, hearing the lamentations of their victims women. Its funny to them.