Planet: Thilarri Central, Thilarri System, Imperial Domain of the Boundless Drogar
The crowd across the amphitheater stands cheered wildly and with incredible gusto. Most were standing up, yelling, clapping, stomping, making the most noise possible. Tens of thousands of them all faced towards the massive stage in the center, while numerous drones floated above some of their heads.
Each of those drones projected numerous holographic signs in the air, many of which read:
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Retholis for Emperor
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Long-term Profits, Not Short-term War
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Strength From Order, Order From Strength
Gredalii Moon, Planet: Zha’ress III, Zha’ress System, Imperial Domain of the Boundless DrogarThe Zha’ress System. One of the many critical industrial star systems inhabited by the Drogar.Like most other systems in the entire galaxy, the Drogar relied on dyson spheres around their stars for energy.The one surrounding the Zha’ress’ primary star was made of countless hexagonal photonic plates, which made the entire thing look like a perfectly cut spherical gemstone. And each of those plates not only absorbed the star’s radiation, but they also converted it to raw power directly.And as a whole, transmitted photoelectric energy to every planet in the system. Gredalii moon included.On that moon, the numerou
The commando team filed into a dark, low, and narrow maintenance corridor as quickly as they could. Behind them, Raijin closed the hatch they came through, then followed right behind.The maintenance corridor was lined with pipes and wires and tubes along each of its hexagonal sides. And it was small enough that they were all forced to crouch as they moved through. This was no doubt a crawlspace for the Drogar, and wouldn’t likely be in these corridors and tunnels at all.Xylo shot at a few maintenance drones that were hovering around with her disruption pistol, which fell to the ground completely neutralized.Some in her team picked up the deactivated drones for later deconstruction and examination.Raijin picked one up, and absorbed it immediately. Though she dec
Raijin exited her machine trance with a long gasp. She stepped back just as she withdrew the last of her nanites from the databank, then turned towards Xylo with a grin on her face.“So, you found something good, then?” Xylo said.“I can confirm our suspicions,” Raijin replied. “The ships are almost completely biomechanical, and its systems are derived from those eggs. The larva are combined with each other in various ways, then attached to the massive exoframes. It is there that they evolve into pupa, and begin to form into the various systems, modules, circuits, everything.”“Everything? That’s wild.”“Well, almost everything. Perhaps 80% of every Drogar warship is biomechanical in nature. Just like peop
Freya and Lucifer walked among the grass and wove between the trees in their cruiser’s central park. The slightly domed roof above them projected a low sun amidst clear skies. Though it was close to a simulated sunset, there was still plenty of light for them to enjoy.Not that they were the only ones. Numerous members of the Republic were out as well, all enjoying their little slice of paradise.They were grouped up or paired up. Most were chatting with each other, or playing strategy games at park benches, or simply taking winding strolls.The few that came across the two of them often waved their hands or audibly greeted them. Freya greeted them back the way they did, though Lucifer typically only nodded and smiled in exchange.“I’m still not u
Sy’larthii V, Sy’larthii System, Imperial Domain of the Boundless DrogarThe sprawling Drogar military facility was abuzz with activity and energy. Not just inside the large buildings lined around the campus, but the test sites and outdoor ranges and obstacle courses scattered everywhere in between.And although these buildings were crystal-shaped, they weren’t arranged in organic-looking clusters. These were instead laid down along their lengths in orderly clusters here and there.Numerous personnel were working frenziedly inside and outside the buildings. Those outside were focused solely on testing the various experimental weapons and armor the entire facility produced. At one of the ranges, they were firing a variety of munitions through multiple rifles. And at another, they tested chitinous armor plating with vario
The clean, minimal, and large hexagonal room had dozens of technicians in cleansuits, all working and talking and building. They were in various stations and terminals and workbenches encircling the room itself.And in the very center was a large elevated platform with numerous parts littered on it. A handful of technicians were around the platform, and worked together to build the machine on it. They were assisted by numerous hovering drones and machine arms that descended down from the ceiling.Altogether, the technicians and drones assembled what appeared to be a modular handheld weapon system. They had a handful of weapon bases, each expanded into various configurations from pistol to SMG to rifle.There were also melee/ranged hybrids that were in the process of being put together, though no-one was
Freya and Lucifer swung above and below the enemy mecha, and flanked them vertically. Because of their comparatively higher speed and agility, they were able to strike from both ends and slice into their targets with relative ease.Their plasma lances scored deep gouges in their chitin with expert precision, and quite literally cut off limb after limb from a handful of mecha. They circle-strafed around the Drogar mecha, even while they evaded or weathered all manner of weapons fire.“Keep the cuts as clean as possible,” advised Raijin. “That should help the cores connect to them more easily.”Which the two certainly took to heart. They did their absolute best to shear enemy mecha arms or legs right where they connected to the main chassis - at their shoulders, or at their hips. And because th
Kali spun her infrasonic staff around her body with practiced expertise, then swiped at the uniformed Drogar in front of her. There was a loud CRACK as she struck him on his ribs, and pushed him a couple of meters to the side.She watched as he stumbled around and regained his balance. And just as he tried to step away, perhaps to run, Kali swung her staff at him again and struck him painfully. She swiped him across his forearms with such force that she fractured his bones.The Drogar yelped in pain as he stumbled backward and fell on his rump. He cradled his ribs with his broken arm, then reached out with his other hand with his palm outstretched.“Stop, please!” he cried out. “Stop tormenting me and kill me already!”“Now now, machin