EzCode Parsing Error: color=orange]The Retakkenari Hive Imperius. The dictator and emperor of the Retakkenari Swarm, the King. It is in it's very young stages of life, 164 years exactly. Most Hive Emperors live to be about 800 standard years. This means the newer one is more naive and small, but not weak.

The Hive Imperius called upon his Assistant in telepathically.

"High Elder, I require your assisstance. I have decided to make an expedition. I would like to find maybe another world like ours. We need more room, our population is vastly large for out little planet."

The Imperius thought for another moment.

"Also. Bring your most trusted friends. They will go also. When you get here, make sure they are ready to leave immediately. For years I have said nothing, but I recieve messages from odd places... too far to understand where they are. They also speak Retakesh. This makes me believe that there are other worlds, get ready. You will be going with them."

The Hive Imperius the supreme dictator of the Retakkenari. The Imperius has learned to grow ships, and even build them from metal. He has taught the others how to take advantage of encountered pink-skins... and try to learn their language. The Imperius still has to accomplish pin-pointing planets with their hyperdrive before they fly very far.

The Imperius's brain is much stronger than the rest of the Retakkenari, it has force powers equal to a Jedi Master... which enables it to see through the force and speak telepathically. They get strength this way from either eating pink-skins... or lots of practice. His commanders and officials are of Jedi Knight strength.

K'taruuk, the leading high elder of the swarm, the second in command to the Hive Imperius, looked up from one knee to the mighty visage of his leader.

Each Hive Imperius, coming from a long line of highly evolved Retakkenari, thier telepathic skills superior to any other. Each one stronger than the last.

In all four hundred years of K'taruuk's existance he had seen one Imperius go, and another one arrive, and throughout it he had been at the zenith of the order of things, a valued associate and confidént to the ruler of the Hive.


K'taruuk's huge talon's cracked and clicked as he strode across the throne room floor and knelt in front of his master.

The warm feeling of the Imperius' mind touching his filled him with a sense of euphoria. The average drone would kill to get a chance at what K'taruuk takes as routine. Although, that didnt subtract from the honour it gave him.

"Master, I too have suspected that there were others out there like ourselves, ever since our encounters with the pink skins, there has been proof of others in the galaxy.

I shall ready a force for the expidition, I have ships waiting now, we shall depart immediately.

If you are correct, and we have bretheren among the stars, then we shall grow stronger, and crush all who oppose us, as it has always been."


K'taruuk arose from the floor, his near seven foot frame now fully erect. He turned and began to let out large howls from deep inside . . .it was a roar . . . a call to arms.

(OOC) Wrong name... sorry.

<span style="color:orange;">The Hive Imperius was very proud of his most recent Swarm Elder. He is very wise, and strong-hearted. The Imperius knew that one day the Retakkenari Swarm would be one of the strongest in the Galaxy.

Since the encounter with the pink-skins, they have uncovered more secrets of technology. They now use them on their ships, and still trying to master the hyperdrive.

The Imperius heard the sound of the Call to Arms throughout the corridors of the Swarm Headquarters. It was time. He noticed all of his commanders and leading officials walk into his room, and very proud to see them.</span>

"Fellow Retakkenari, the Swarm Elder will lead you on an expedition to find other worlds like ours. He will be your leader after you leave this planet. You will take orders from him as you always have. Listen and do exactly what he orders. Before you leave, will will sing the Retakkenari Chant." The Hive Imperius yelled to them telepathically.

"Fellow Retakkenari, brothers, and sisters. We will not fall, we will not falter."

Orbitting Retak was yet another marvel that few Retakkenari would ever hope to behold, thought K'taruuk as he stared through the viewport aboard one of the captured alien ships.

He strode across the bridge, glancing down into the work bays below where the bridge crew attended to thier tasks. He could see thier hearts were filled with a great lust to go fourth into the galaxy, as much for thier own sense of intrigue than the Hive Imperius'. K'taruuk would not dissapoint either of them, something was out there, something familiar, and he had sensed it long ago. You see, being in the presence of two Hive rulers for so long, he had gained a sense of who they were, a recognition of thier mind and how it worked . . .long ago, in deep thought, he sensed there were more, more Hive leaders, and more Retakkenari exactly like him.

He just had to find them.

However, what then? What if they didn't wish to rejoin the fold? What if they took this as an insult, and fought back. Was his crew prepared to fire back and defend themselves from thier own people, more to the point, was he?

What if this trip had doomed thier race to certain doom at the hands of a far more aggressive and far more powerful enemy.

So many risks to take into account. So many dangerous obstacles that the entire swarm, let alone him, knew if they could overcome.

Though, no matter the risks, he thought, if they were indeed friendly, the spoils would be more bountiful than he could possibly have imagined.

This was going to be an exciting trip.

<span style="color:orange;">The Imperius continued to sit on his throne, contemplating whether he wants to go on the expedition or not. First he had planned not to... but now he thinks that they might need him for diplomatic reasons. They were planning on a non-hostile expedition to find those like them. The Hiver Imperius had a feeling there were lots more, but wasn't sure how.

He stood up, as he made his decision.</span>

"My Swarm Elder. I have decided to accompany you on the expedition." <span style="color:orange;">The Imperius said telepathically.</span> "I would like to see them first-hand, if we are to find them."

<span style="color:orange;">The Imperius stood up and left the room which he had not done in days. He walked into his personal office. It doesn't look like a typical office, but an office of organic structures. Organic brains that held files... and ones that held any information he wished not forget. They were the computers of their world.</span>

K'taruuk sat shifting in his new command chair. As irritating as it was, his current seat proved far more comfortable than the alien furniture that littered the ship before it's refit. Hopefully the upholstery wouldn't detract from his ability to perform his duty on the mission.

"Bring all systems online." He growled. Rising from his uncomfortable chair he began to walk the length of the bridge, studying the worker drones that went about thier tasks of power the ship to life, as they scurried around the small pits that fell parallel to the command walkway, and onto the main viewport.

Placing a claw onto the glass ahead of him, he took another long, hard look out to the vast expanse of space that lay ahead. His task force-should he need it- hung to left and to the right, grouped in formation, ready to jump at his command. He tapped his long thick talons across the viewport's surface, closing his eyes, and closing his mind from the hive.

This mission will prove fruitful to the swarm, but far more beneficial to my aims than the Imperius'. While we both seek growth for our people, we both employ very different means towards that end.

The Imperius, he is still young, and has much to learn about the way of things, he seeks power for our species through knowledge and exploration, while I find these things through force. If we something, we take it.

When the time comes for action, his pasafism will fail him, and he will realise the only one true way of gaining knowledge . . .through strength and aggression.



K'taruuk removed his hand, placing it behind his back with his other, he opened his eyes and drew a deep, long breath.



"Tactical, bring the forward disruptors to bear and release a training drone. It's time for a little target practice. There's no time like the present to test the weapons on this behemoth."




Shortly after K'taruuk spoke, a small, glowing green blob drifted into view, and began manouvering across the space in front of the ship. It was a Retakkenari combat drone. Not a fighter per say, more of a droid with an engine. It excelled in its job as providing a training target, as it was fast and manouverable, however it's armour was not substantial enough to put it into combat. K'taruuk often enjoyed endulging his itchy trigger finger on many of these drones at once, he found it quite . . .relaxing.

Target forward disruptors onto the drone and standby to fire on my command.

The drone continued to buzz around in space, dodging and diving, conducting a series of evasive manouvers . . .awaiting its own destruction.


"Ready batteries three through seven . . .fire."

The searing glow of turbolasers lit up the immediate vicinity in a light show of great destructive power. The tiny drone, unable to avoid the hail of incoming fire, exploded in sparkle of flame and debris before fizzling out in front of them.


"Release six more drones, and have them activate thier weapons."

"Shields up sir?" said the tactical officer.

"No."

"But sir, won't that mean we'll be open to attack. They're weapons may harm the ship."

"Do I sense a lack of faith in my abilities to command this ship?"

"No sir . . . I was merely suggesting that we."

"Suggest nothing or I will have you're head. Now do as I say and bring all weapons online."

"Y . . .yes sir."



The cluster of tiny green drones sailed out in front of K'taruuk's command ship and flew into formation. Charging thier disruptors, the drones began to cruise toward the mothership at breakneck speed, opening fire as soon as they sailed within firing range.

"All ahead full!", screamed K'taruuk, as what appeared to be a grin formed across his already angered countenance.

The old alien star destroyer's engines roared into action, bringing the ancient vessel springing to life.Slowly it began to edge forward . . .toward the small cluster of attacking drones.

As the Victory Destroyer's pace quickened, each of the six drones impacted onto the hull, dissapearing in a ball of fire, scorching the armour plating of the ship but causing little damage.

"Now, never question my orders again, or I will kill you. Is that understood."

The quivering officer could only shake out a nod, before an enraged K'taruuk stormed off the bridge.


As he stood in the turbolift his regrets about this mission resurfaced. His crew seemed far from ready to undertake a mission of this magnitude. Even in orbit most had never ventured this far from the Hive. It was surely going to take a tremendous amount of leadership on his part to make it work since he was the only being on the entire ship with combat experience among the boat of fesh new faces.

The Adventure was tremendous. They were making their first voyage outward from their planet. It could end up with death or discovery. It was a chance the Hive Imperius was ready to take. He was very happy to see all of the Retakkenari working together this well in fighters, destroyers, and more. He only looked upon them on his throne inside the bridge, trying to interrupt or bother them at work.

He watched K'Taruuk storm off the bridge. He spoke to them telepathically.

"Storming off won't do any good. Our voyage is of our utmost importance."

He looked to the stars. It was a never-ending vast field of stars. The only thing he hoped was to find a place like their own. Another world with Retakkenari on it.

Eight days had passed, and some were beginning to
lose the hope of ever finding another world with people like them on it. However, eight days had passed, and the Hive Imperius was still more determined and hopeful than anyone to find this new world . . .and find it he did.

On the dawn of the ninth day into the historic voyage, after much searching they had found the world in question, what remained, was to find out just who inhabited such a place.


"Scan the surface, I want to know absolutely everything there is to know about what's down there." Siad the Imperius, who's eyes had become mezmorised by the spinning planet that sat just beyond the viewport glass.


"Right away sir," said one of the officers, who began to activate the scanners, "Initial data coming through now . . .oxygen/argon atmosphere."


"So it's breathable." Muttered the Imperius into himself.

The officer continued."Sixty percent water, fourty percent landmass. I'm reading lots of vegetation, and massive lifeform readings, however, I can't pinpoint whether they're Retakkenari or not."He turned looking back his ruler.

"Well, I suppose we will have to go down there and find out for ourselves.


K'taruuk, prepare a landing party . . .and I will be accompanying you."

"But, Imperius, there may be unforseen dangers on the surface . . .you'd be putting yourself at great risk. Siad K'taruuk, in obvious concern.

"My friend, that is a risk I'm willing to take. I didn't plan on coming here, for possibly the greatest discovery in our species history, to simply watch from orbit, now did I."

" . . .No, Imperius." Sighed K'taruuk. "You're right, as always."

K'taruuk gave a gentle bow before departing from the bridge, with the Imperius in tow.


.........


Their shuttle departed from the main hanger of the mothership half an hour later, everything was prepared and ready to go. They were armed, if the need to defend themselves arose. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.

"Sir, we're reading a small object in front of the ship."

"Activate scanners. What is it?" the Imperius enquired.

"It seems to be some form of primitive surveilance device, a satellite of some kind. It's been highly degraded over time, my readings of the carbon scoring and rust show it to be over two hundred years old. It's still sending out a signal."

"Hmm, can you track the signal?"

"Yes sir. It seems to be directed back down to an area on the mid western continent, I can't pinpoint exactly, but I can land us in the general direction."

"Good, keep gathering sensor data for as long as possible. I want to know everything about it.


The shuttle continued on it's course towards the planet, changing to the new heading discovered from the satellite telemitry. K'taruuk and the Imperius gazed on as the cloudy atmosphere broke away to reveal the lush surface of Tekkit. As far as the eyes could see thier where trees and greenary of every kind. Never in his lifetime had he seen anything like this. The only plant life they'd ever seen had been the moss that grew in the underground cities on Retak, a huge difference to the towering trees and far stretching plains of this planet.

On the plains ahead, a multitude of animals frolicked and fed on the land. Beasts of every shape and size. This was certainly a breathtaking sight.


The shuttle zoomed over the treelines off the plains and settled in a small clearing, powering down it's engines and coming to rest finally. The Imperius turned to K'taruuk and his men.

"This is it, this is what our trip has been all about my friends."

The doors hissed open, and instantly the cool air seeped into the carrage causing everyone in the cabin to take in a deep breathe of the new, fresh air.

The standard patrol of three Irkashee soldiers and five retakkenari combat drones exited the shuttle, making sure that every inch of the path was clear for the Imperius and his high Elder.

The Irkashee, the ferocious powerhouses of the retakkenari infintary, probed ahead. Once fully erect, the average Irkashee stands around nine feet tall, and rippling with powerful muscle. Due to thier immense height they are also able to see further than the average drone, making them a valuable asset in any combat zone.

The other five drones tentatively searched forward, leading with thier organic disrupter rifles at the ready, in case they were suddenly presented with any form of threat.


The shuttle carrying the Imperius and his aids had touched down in a jungle clearing, which, from orbital imagery, they had been able to extrapolate had been a site of some form of ruin, hopefully giving them a pointer as to where any others like themselves could be.

Before the trip, K'taruuk had aided the Imperius in much mental preparation for the mission. Being the most potent in telepathy amongst his people, the Imperius task at this stage was to seek out the other Retakkenari with his mind, and this took complete concentration.


.........


K'taruuk walked forward, with two of the Irakshee warriors as they led him from the clearing into a patch of trees nearby. Each step he took he was being led by the telepathic nudges from his master, who followed closely behind.

The sun permiated the clouds over head and shone in through the trees, like laser fire, lighting up the ground below them. K'taruuk winced as the light glinted in his black pupils, still, he continued on.


Suddenly the Imperius stopped in his tracks, the link to K'taruuk broken. He looked back towards the shuttle, and noticed the Imperius standing with his head focused on the ground. K'taruuk sent a gentle splash of mental cold water on the Imperius' mind, although he didn't respond.

"You're Majesty?! Are you alright." He cried out.



Still no answer, and his leader's eyes remainded transfixed on the grass underfoot.

K'taruuk then opened his mind to the area around him as much as his mind would let him, and there, out past the trees, something seemed to linger.

It filled him with an overwhelming feeling of foreboding and fear to even probe further, so he broke the link.

Bringing his disrupter to bear on the trees ahead, K'taruuk fired several warning shots off into the misty mass, not in any effort to hit anything in particular.

Just as he was about to turn back to attempt to break the Imperius out of his hypnotic trance, a gruff howl came over the wind, from somewhere close, but out beyond the small clearing where they stood.

He could feel a slight trembling in the ground, and through the trees, a dark black shape moved, advancing on thier position.


"Ready your weapons!! Protect the Imperius!!."