Escalation Wars: Empire Rising Page 1

Escalation Wars: Empire Rising Page 1

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1TTTTTABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTSABLE OF CONTENTS1. Introduction1. Introduction1. Introduction1. Introduction1. Introduction

Introduction ........................................ page 22. 2. 2. 2. 2. History of the Chouka WarHistory of the Chouka WarHistory of the Chouka WarHistory of the Chouka WarHistory of the Chouka War

State of the Galaxy, Pre-War ...................... 4 The Great War ........................................ 4

Map of Known Space........................... 6-71971 ........................................................... 91972 ......................................................... 10 The Lights of Taera ............................... 161973 ......................................................... 16Post-War .................................................. 20

3. The Circasian Empire3. The Circasian Empire3. The Circasian Empire3. The Circasian Empire3. The Circasian EmpireBackground .............................................. 22 Taking to Space .................................... 23 Mystery of the Kiralina .......................... 25 First Contact ......................................... 26Circasian Technology ............................... 30Circasian Military ...................................... 33 Starships .............................................. 34 Bases and Defenses ............................ 41 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 42

4. The Chouka Theocracy4. The Chouka Theocracy4. The Chouka Theocracy4. The Chouka Theocracy4. The Chouka TheocracyBackground .............................................. 45 Intermediary Period .............................. 45 Middle Period ........................................ 46 Modern Period ...................................... 47 The Aliens Appear ................................. 47Chouka Technology .................................. 49Chouka Military ......................................... 52 Starships .............................................. 53 Bases and Defenses ............................ 59 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 61

5. The Sshel’ath Alliance5. The Sshel’ath Alliance5. The Sshel’ath Alliance5. The Sshel’ath Alliance5. The Sshel’ath AllianceBackground .............................................. 64 The Cold War ....................................... 64 The Birth of the Alliance ........................ 65 The First Novon War ............................ 67 The Aftermath of the War ..................... 67 The Second Novon War ....................... 68 New Opportunity ................................... 69Sshel’ath Technology................................ 70Sshel’ath Military ....................................... 73 Sshel’ath Marines ................................. 73 Starships .............................................. 73 Bases and Defenses ............................ 79 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 81

6. Pirates and Raiders6. Pirates and Raiders6. Pirates and Raiders6. Pirates and Raiders6. Pirates and RaidersBackground .............................................. 82Chouka Pirates ......................................... 82 Starships .............................................. 83 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 85The Unsheathed Claw .............................. 86 Starships .............................................. 87 Base & Defenses ................................. 90 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 90The Blood Swords .................................... 91 Blood Sword Crews ............................. 94 Starships .............................................. 94 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 95Other Raiders ........................................... 96 Starships .............................................. 96 Fighters and Shuttles ........................... 96

7. Civilians7. Civilians7. Civilians7. Civilians7. CiviliansBackground .............................................. 98Starships .................................................. 98Bases and Defenses.............................. 102Fighters and Shuttles ............................. 102

8. Other Races8. Other Races8. Other Races8. Other Races8. Other RacesIntroduction ............................................. 104

9. Scenarios9. Scenarios9. Scenarios9. Scenarios9. ScenariosScenarios ........................................ 106-121

10. Afterword10. Afterword10. Afterword10. Afterword10. AfterwordWhere Did All of This Come From? ....... 122Creating the Past, Present, and Future

of the Escalations Wars Universe .......... 122 A Place to Start ................................... 122 What’s Next? ...................................... 123Credits .................................................... 123 Playtesting and other Contributions .... 123 Contact the Author .............................. 123

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1IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Captain Ralon Tazeel gripped the arms of hiscommand chair, his knuckles turning white ashis grip continued to tighten. His body bucked,his grav harness the only thing keeping him inhis command chair.

The tactical video screen on the for-ward wall of the bridge was filled with a franticswarm of lights and symbols. Tazeel watchedas swarms of blue and red blips movedacross the display, individual lights growingbrighter for an instant before fading and disap-pearing. One symbol, then another, and thenanother disappeared before his eyes. Somebelonged to the enemy, but many of them—toomany of them—were Circasian.

A solid blow rocked Tazeel’s ship, theSolukar. Ralon Tazeel gritted his teeth. HisKolanis Cruiser had come under fire from oneof the Chouka’s heavy cruisers and all of theSolukar’s escort and fighter support hadalready been scattered and dispersed by theenemy fleet’s counterstrike. The attempt tobeat back the enemy flanking fleet had failed,and now the Solukar and her crew were to paythe price for this failure.

“Damage to all decks,” reported Lt.Nalun Lasucir, Tazeel’s tactical officer.“Damage repair crews report that the portstructure has taken substantial damage fromthe last shot. Chouka plasma weapons havemelted through the cargo bays and that entiresection of the ship has been depressurized.”

“Give me a firing solution on theChouka heavy cruiser,” commanded Tazeel.

“Firing solution acquired, Captain.”“Fire, Lieutenant.”The Solukar’s four forward plasma

cannons came alive, firing volley after volley ofsuper-heated plasma at the Chouka cruiser asit continued to close on the Solukar’s position.Several shots went wide of their target, butmost managed to hit the oncoming behemoth,causing visible explosions upon impact.Despite the damage the ship showed no signsof breaking off its attack run and continued tolumber slowly towards the Solukar.

“Minor damage to target’s forward hull,”Lt. Lasucir reported.

The Solukar was rocked again byweapons fire, this time coming from a wing ofenemy fighters that had joined in the attack onthe wracked Solukar. The sound of metalupon metal and the echo of explosions filledthe bridge. Tazeel thought that he could hearthe screams of his crew as each new girdergave way, scraping metal upon metal beforefinally crumpling like foil under the intensebombardment.

The tactical officer turned his head andlooked Tazeel in the eyes. Tazeel could seethe look of anguish upon her face and de-manded, “Report!”

“Captain, one of our particle cannonshas gone offline. Remaining weapons stillhave a lock on the enemy cruiser. I don’t knowhow much longer we can hold out, sir.”

Tazeel nodded gravely and replied,“Continue with the attack.” Swiveling his chair,Tazeel turned to the communications stationand asked, “Communications, try to signalother nearby ships and fighters and requestimmediate assistance.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” replied the communica-tions officer.

Tazeel returned his attention to theprimary tactical display, manipulating thedisplay through his chair’s control pad so as tozoom in and take a closer look at the immedi-ate threat. Although the Solukar continued tofire a hail of weapons fire at the Choukacruiser it seemed as though nothing couldslow down the enemy ship. Tazeel growledand his hands dug deeper into the arms of hischair. Tazeel didn’t notice the pain that nowshot through his fingers. His total attentionwas devoted fully to the battle that unfolded allaround him. The life of his crew, as well hashis, own hinged on how the next few momentswould play out.

The Solukar fired another wave ofchemical-reaction rockets towards the targetwhile the ship’s remaining particle cannonsand plasma cannons continued to pummel theenemy’s hull. The weapons fire lashed outacross the dark void seeking their prey in thedark shadow of the enemy homeworld.


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1Plasma and rocket volleysfound their target, explodingviolently upon impact with thehull while particle cannonsraked slowly and surelyacross the enemy’s hull.Explosions and fire dotted thecruiser’s hull, followed by aneven larger explosion thatshattered the cruiser’s side,huge sheets of metal beingpushed outward from thebreach by escaping gases.

Tazeel turned his headand demanded, “What hap-pened to the cruiser?”

Lt. Lasucir answered,“One of our rockets puncturedthe primary plasma intakevalve on their reactor. Sen-sors indicate that theirreactor’s power levels arefluctuating wildly – sir, theirreactor is going to go criticalany moment!”

As the words escaped the officer’smouth the view of the enemy Apostle HolyCruiser disappeared in a blinding flash of light.As Tazeel’s eyes readjusted he tried to look tosee what remained of the enemy cruiser. Allthat was left of the cruiser was a burned outblack hulk flailing out of control into the dark-ness and a field of debris that lay scatteredacross the view screen. They had done it.They had destroyed an Apostle…

Tazeel nodded. “Good work, people!Now fall back to support the fleet…”

Tazeel was interrupted as Lasucirannounced, “Captain! Three Revelation WarBarges are moving in on attack vector. Theyare entering missile range….” Her voicetrailed off as the data appeared on her screen.After a pause she continued, “Sir, we haveeighteen missiles incoming.”

Tazeel sighed and resigned himself tohis fate. “Begin evacuation procedures, geteveryone off the ship!”

Welcome to Empire Rising: A Historyof the Chouka War, the first of thesupplements set in the Escalation Warsuniverse. What are the Escalation Wars andthe universe that surrounds them? Quitesimply put, they are the fateful wars ofsupremacy fought between the CircasianEmpire and the Courata Imperium between theyears 2004 and 2025. This series of warswould engulf the whole of Known Space andbring it to the brink of destruction. TheEscalation Wars universe is an epic settingcovering thousands of years of history anddozens of alien races, each a thread in theamazing tapestry that is the Escalation Warssaga.

The Chouka War details theCircasian’s first major interstellar conflict. Intheir war with the fanatical Chouka, theCircasians took the first step towardsdominance in their region of space. Thispivotal moment in history would lead to the riseto power of the Circasian Empire, a rise thatwould ultimately cost hundreds of millions ofsentients their lives.


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2Chapter 2: TheChapter 2: TheChapter 2: TheChapter 2: TheChapter 2: TheHistory of theHistory of theHistory of theHistory of theHistory of theChouka WarChouka WarChouka WarChouka WarChouka War

State of the GalaxyState of the GalaxyState of the GalaxyState of the GalaxyState of the Galaxy,,,,,Pre-WarPre-WarPre-WarPre-WarPre-War

The history of the familiar region of thegalaxy, called ‘known space’ by those thatdwell there, is a rich one. Much isremembered about the region’s past throughthe texts, stories, memories, and ruinsscattered across a hundred worlds. Songs,poems, articles, treatises, and artifacts betraythe sometimes-mysterious history of knownspace.

The earliest recorded information ofthe inhabitation of known space dates back tothe Hastan Empire in 8100 B.C.E., a greatpower that stretched forth its hand into whatis now known space long before many oftoday’s powers had discovered fire oragriculture. It is still unknown what causedthe downfall of such a megalithic empire asthat carved out by the Hastan, we only knowthat the Hastan disappeared from this regionof space long ago leaving behind marvelousruins and glimpses of a time before recordedhistory.

The rebirth of interstellar civilizationwithin known space began roughly 500 yearsbefore the outbreak of the Chouka War. Itwas during this time that many of the racestook to the stars in search of their destinies.The Ukal, Kholran, and Vendrizzi are perhapsthe most well known races to have arisenduring this period, founding great empires thatwould endure for centuries to come.

During this early period of nativeexploration and expansion, the elder racesexperienced a renaissance of technology andculture not seen before or since. With nooutward threats, their people were free to livetheir lives in peace and work towardswhatever ends they found appealing or worthyof their time.

As Prometheus brought fire to man,so to these elder races brought technology

and space travel to the developing civilizationsthey encountered along their borders. TheUkal are largely responsible for the formationof the modern jump gate network. In additionto their own exploratory programs, the Ukalspread jump technology to the other youngerraces that they encountered, providing theseraces new technologies in exchange for rawmaterials and/or basing rights in their system.

While the elder races were exploringand expanding, the northern frontier of knownspace was changing. Long controlled by theLossoleguul and their star empire, thehomeworlds of the Lossoleguul had comeunder attack by wave after wave of barbarian

The Great WarThe Great War, fought between the

Earth years 1817 and 1833, enveloped theoutward sectors and left the region inruins. The invasion of the genocidalE’chekri would lead to the formation of amighty alliance of worlds, including theKholran, ak-Tai, Lleskath, Ghotekhen, andSolassi. This alliance and the remnants ofthe battered worlds left in the wake of theE’chekri advance fought valiantly againstthe invading E’chekri hordes, eventuallymanaging to turn the tide and defeat theirenemy.

The E’chekri earned a vilereputation that lives on today for their totaldisregard for sentient life. The E’chekri didnot take prisoners, nor did they occupyalien worlds. Instead, the E’chekri wentout of their way to destroy enemy worldsfrom orbit using mass drivers, fusionbombs, and biological weapons. Veryrarely did E’chekri ground troops set footon alliance worlds.

Following the war and theextermination of the E’chekri, the alliesformed a strong defense pact that wouldlead to the formation of the ak-TaiHegemony. The Kholran were not a partof this new compact, instead retreatingback to their homeworld and largelywithdrawing from the galactic milieu.


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races from outside their borders.Weakened by years of war in the previousdecade against the neighboring Gammaks,the Lossoleguul homeworlds eventually fellto the new invaders. With the destruction oftheir capital the Lossoleguul Star Empirebegan to collapse. The imperial provincesbordering known space were thrown intochaos, a chaos that they would not escapefor hundreds of years.

The fall of the Lossoleguul in 1600C.E. occurred while the races of knownspace were at their height. The UkalCombine controlled much of known space,with its borders reaching from Yulonn toKhalir and Vinatra to Toss. The hordes thatattacked the Lossoleguul would never enterthe borders of known space, but thepressure they put on other races in theregion led to a series of brutal wars on thenorthern frontier. It was the Ukal’s war withone such provincial power, the Takaarans,which ultimately led to the Ukal abandoningmany of their territories.

The recession of the Ukal and thebeginning of their eventual decline as amajor interstellar power marks thebeginning of the Second Age of interstellarhistory. Younger races emerged all acrossknown space and began establishing theirown presence across the stars. The Ukal’sformer protectorates, including most of theraces that would later form the ak-TaiHegemony, began exploiting the outwardsectors of space while races such as theCourata and Ragaltha appeared coreward.

The 19th Century would prove to be acrucible for those races fortunate to survivethem. Great wars raged across the entiretyof known space. In the outward sectors, agenocidal race known as the E’chekri hadbegun their campaign of destruction,destroying entire worlds and killing billionsupon billions of sentients in the process.Along the Vendrizzi border, raids by themysterious Ingalli led to the outbreak of theIngalli War. It was as if a fire had swept overknown space and the future looked bleakindeed. Somehow these threats were put

down and order restored, but not withoutfundamentally changing the survivors.

The Circasian Empire at the beginning ofthe Chouka War was a relatively minor powercontrolling a handful of systems in a relativelyuninteresting and untouched region of knownspace. The area of space that the Circasianscontrolled lays nested between the “dead zone”,an area cleansed of life by the malevolentE’chekri during the Great War of the early 19th

Century, and the heavily population corewardsectors. Few (if any) alien explorers hadpreviously journeyed into the Circasians region ofhyperspace. This point left the Circasians in agood position for future expansion, somethingthat they took full advantage of.

Outward of the Circasians another race,the Th’sook, had also started to cut out anempire for themselves in the abandonedsystems of the E’chekri dead zone.

The Kholran and Ukal, two major powersupspin of the Circasians, had begun contractingtheir borders and pulling away from the galacticscene. The Ukal found themselves occupieddefending their northern borders from themarauding races of the northern wastes, whilethe Kholran had simply become disenfranchisedwith galactic affairs. Both remained majormilitary forces in the time period, but neither wasoverly active in the affairs of the “lesser races”that surrounded them.

Coreward of the Circasians lies a heavilypopulated region of known space. The KástanImperial Monarchy controlled a region of spaceseparated from much of known space by virtueof the volatile and unpredictable nature of localhyperspace in the region. The Thaline Unionstood on the border of the Circasian’s worldview,a gateway leading to the unknown territories andpowers further coreward.

Outward of the Circasian Empire sprawlthe former Ukal protectorates, worlds formerlydefended by the Ukal before their departure fromthe region. The war torn region is home to theak-Tai Hegemony and its member states.

The Circasian Empire is in many ways acontradiction in terms. The government isgenerally republican in nature, with an electedbody overseeing the domestic affairs and policyof the Circasian people. At the same time, the



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2military-staffed oversight and control body,known as the Circasian War Council, controlsall aspects of the Circasian military machine.In times of national crisis, the War Council hasfull authority to take control of the governmentin order to persevere through a given crisis.Law delineates the situations in which theseactions are warranted and the decision toactivate the War Council’s war powers is inthe hands of the democratically elected rulingbody. This has not stopped the War Councilfrom pressing the issue in situations wherethey feel decisive action is needed, and theCouncil often acts as a guiding hand evenduring times of peace.

In contrast, the Chouka Theocracy isruled by the religious elite of their world. TheChouka Circle of Elders, the organizationdescended from the members of their order’sfirst convocation, rule Chouka and hercolonies with an iron fist. Edicts of law, as wellas faith, are handed out equally by the Circleand neither one is challenged by the commonman. The totality of the Theocracy’s hold overits people is amazing in that it has endured forhundreds of years.

The Circasians never held any greatlove for the Chouka. Social as well asphysical differences helped to drive a wedgebetween the two races early on. Still, theCircasians were open to developing apeaceful, mutually beneficial relationship withthe Chouka. The Circasians were stillrelatively new to space and wished to befriendas many alien cultures as they could in hopesof procuring advanced alien technologies. TheChouka on the other hand were interested lessin trade than they were in converting theCircasians to their one true faith. The Choukaknew that the Circasians were a moreprimitive people technologically than their ownand had no use for Circasian trinkets. Withoutan economic justification for relations, theChouka were uninterested in establishingrelations with such a barbaric, heathen state.

The Circasian government continuedto make overtures to the Chouka, but themembers of the War Council could see thatthe Chouka would not budge. They had noreason to open up relations or favorable trade

routes with the Circasians, as they hadnothing to gain in return. What fewconcessions the civilian government couldacquire with the Chouka were one-sided andnearly pointless. A border treaty and non-aggression pact were negotiated and ratified in1961, but the Chouka were not interested indiscussing provisions that would cover futureterritorial claim issues.

As additional intelligence informationbecame available, the War Council beganactively entertaining the idea of war with theChouka. It was true that the Chouka militarywas more advanced than that of theCircasians, but what the Circasians lacked inquality they made up for in quantity. TheCircasian Empire had been harassed bypirates and foreign raiding vessels for yearsand the result of these “raider wars” was alarger than average fleet, although not yetpowerful enough to counter the Chouka fleet.However, the rewards of pursuing a war withthe Chouka were evident. Not only did severalChouka systems have access to major andlucrative trade routes, they also had access tonew territories into which the Circasian Empirecould expand. After carefully weighing theiroptions, the War Council members decided togo ahead with their mandate to prepare for awar with the Chouka.

Beginning in the Earth year 1963, theCircasian War Council began slowly plantingoperatives in Chouka space. Whether posingas diplomats, traders, converts, or true-



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seekers, these Circasian operatives startedinfiltrating Chouka space. Because of thenature of the Chouka Theocracy, none ofthese operatives could hope to infiltrate theChouka government itself, but the informationthat they returned with was valuablenonetheless. Reports from these spiesincluded such information as Chouka fleetmovements and composition, planetarypopulation sizes, and hyperspace travelnetworks. All of which would prove invaluablein the long-term. The War Council wasastonished when one of their operativesposing as a civilian passenger was able tocollect scans and imaging details on a dozendifferent classes of Chouka warshipsoperating in and around the Choukahomeworld. Although the information wasrudimentary at best it provided the Circasianswith their first real information on the makeupand potential capabilities of the Chouka fleet.

By 1967, more information had comein from Circasian operatives stationed inChouka space. The most startling revelationconcerned the loyalty of the Chouka people tothe Theocracy. Circasian agents hadmanaged to uncover information about severalreligious inquisitions and purges that hadoccurred throughout the Theocracy over thepast fifty years. In many cases these purgeswere carried out by way of the mass executionof dissidents and their families by a special,secret police force controlled from the highestechelons of the Circle. New informationconcerning the Chouka space fleet alsoseemed to indicate that the Chouka TheocraticGuard Forces were significantly weaker thanpreviously thought.

The Circasians, however, were not theonly ones with secret operatives operatingcovertly in the opposition’s territories. TheChouka were distrustful of the upstartCircasians and feared (rightly so) that theCircasian Empire could one day threatenthem. The Circasian military build up duringthe 1950’s had concerned them and forcedthem to redouble their own ship constructionefforts. Because of this distrust, the Choukamade sure to place loyal citizens of theTheocracy in positions where they could spy

on Circasian interests and keep the Circleappraised of Circasian activities. Many ofthese spies took the guise of Choukamissionaries on missions to convert Circasianheathens. Few Circasians were open to alienreligious beliefs and generally ignored theproselytizing of these Chouka missionaries.Being ignored by the general populationallowed the Chouka to position themselveswhere they wanted to collect valuableintelligence information.

These Chouka spies were able toascertain that the Chouka distrust of theCircasians was mutual. Much of the Circasianpopulation disliked the Chouka and felt that theChouka Theocracy was a threat to theCircasian Empire, a threat that needed to becountered in one way or another. The Choukaagents also reported that Circasian warproduction efforts had gradually begun to rise.The intent behind this production increasewent without saying as far as the Theocracywas concerned. As the Circasians preparedthemselves for war the Chouka reacted inkind, laying down new hulls in their shipyardsand constructing hidden military bases in theSha’al and Mishtuki systems to act as secretre-supply points and listening stations tomonitor activity in the system.

This new military construction by theChouka didn’t go unnoticed either, and by thesummer of 1971 the Circasian War Councilknew that the Chouka Theocracy was alsoheaded to war. They did not know whethertheir hand had been tipped or not, but theycouldn’t wait for the Chouka to further preparethemselves for the inevitable. It was time tostrike, and it was time to strike hard.

19711971197119711971The first battle of the Chouka War

came on November 8, 1971 when a Circasianstrike force was dispatched to Mishtuki toattempt to gain a foothold in the system.Mishtuki was a strategically important systemthat connected the Chouka Theocracy toseveral other alien governments, includingtheir major trading partners, the Thaline. TheCircasian strike force was a small one,



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2comprised of several Kolanis and Tormincruisers and Moshesta frigates. The forcewas ill prepared for what awaited them on theother side of the Mishtuki jump gate.

Unbeknownst to the Circasian strikeforce the Chouka had full knowledge of theimpending military strike against them, downto the exact time and place they were to arrive.The Chouka took advantage of this knowledgeand had established an ad hoc defenseperimeter around the local jump gate. Waitingfor the Circasian fleet was several heavyorbital satellites, freshly towed into position, aswell as a strong support fleet to back them up.

The battle was little more than amassacre as the Circasians fought whiletrying to recover from the shock of theambush. The only thing that saved theCircasians from being destroyed early in thebattle was the fact that some of the ChoukaOSAT’s had not yet been activated and did notjoin the battle until after it had already begun.

In the end, the Circasians managed toescape with only a single ship and severalshuttles. The rest of the task force lay on thebattlefield in ruin.

This staggering defeat forced theCircasians to reevaluate their strategy for theupcoming war and take stock of the facts thatsurrounded them. There was no denying thatthe Chouka had somehow acquired full dataon the mission into their territories, and thisworried the War Council. They had longbelieved that Chouka agents were operatingwithin Circasian space, and had previouslyattributed the Chouka military build up as an in-kind response to their own fleet build up. Thisone incident, however, indicated that there hadbeen at least one breach of securityconcerning the military campaign.

Quickly the War Council establishedcommittees to review personnel and attemptto determine where such a security breachcould have originated. Meanwhile, the Councilcould no longer rely on the their previousstrategies to be secure, and began working ona new timetable and plan of attack. Thelegitimacy of intelligence data acquired overthe past several years was also called intoquestion. Many members of the War Council

voiced the opinion that if the Chouka couldinfiltrate the chain of command and steal top-secret military information on the upcomingoffensive, they may well have planted data withknown Circasian agents as part of amisinformation campaign.

This turn of events stalled theCircasian Empire’s planned offensive, givingthe Chouka Theocracy a reprieve from furtherattacks. The Chouka however did not takeadvantage of this time. Following the battle inMishtuki, the Chouka military leadership foundbasis to reaffirm their belief that the Circasianswere simply too primitive to be a threat, andpassed this belief on to the clerics and highpriests of the Circle. Despite intelligencereports to the contrary, the Chouka militaryarrogantly believed they were beyond reproachfrom such futile enemy forces. They would beproven wrong.

19721972197219721972Despite the setbacks and

repercussions of the strike into Mishtuki, theCircasians remained dedicated to the paththey had chosen. After a period of internalreview the War Council devised a new planthat they believed could be successful. Theyalso implemented new security policies andprocedures to help keep massive informationleaks like the one that had affected thembefore from happening again.

The new Circasian plan called for asecond strike into Mishtuki, but this time theCircasians would not rely on the fixed jumpgates in the system for entry. Their previousencounter had taught them the importance offlexible, strategic jump capabilities, somethingthat their young fleet had still not integrated.Although research and developmentresources were immediately allocated to solvethis problem, the War Council knew that thefruits of these labors would not be at theirdisposal during this war. Instead, the plancalled for the use of one of the Circasian’sKiralina Jump Ship, a large class of explorership, to accompany the task force into Choukaspace and use its jump engine to deposit thefleet into Mishtuki. Once there, the KiralinaJump Ship would serve as a supply base.



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Such explorer ships were designed to operatein the field for over a year without resupply andhad the cargo capacity to carry all the suppliesthe task force would need to operate in theshort-term.

Upon arrival in Mishtuki, the Circasiantask force took up position in orbit of the barrenworld of Mishtuki IV. Mishtuki IV held littleinherent value, but its position put theCircasian fleet between the heavily fortifiedChouka colony world at Mishtuki VII and one ofthe system’s fixed jump gates. The Circasianfleet began running patrols, harrying Choukaforces and scouting the system in an attemptto gain as much data as possible beforemaking their move against the Mishtuki VIIcolony. One such patrol group had the luck ofdiscovering a group of minelayers attemptingto lay minefields in the system. When spottedthe minelayers panicked, resulting in many ofthem running into their newly deployed minesand destroying themselves in their rush to fleethe scene.

Additional Circasian ships arrived daily,the jump ship retrieving them from hyperspaceto join the growing garrison force at Mishtuki IVas they prepared for an assault on Mishtuki VII.Soon a fleet of nearly fifty ships stood readyand waiting for the word to be handed downfrom the War Council for the attack to begin.

The Chouka response to the secondviolation of their territories by Circasian forcescame two weeks later when a major Choukafleet attacked the Circasian forces at MishtukiIV. Early warning systems managed to detectthe Chouka fleet as it passed the orbit ofMishtuki V, but this still gave the Circasianslittle time to prepare themselves for battle.Both sides were nearly evenly matched, butthe Circasians underestimated the ferocity ofthe Chouka counterattack. Many within theChouka military were outraged that theCircasians would once again invade theirterritory.

The Battle of Mishtuki IV was hardfought on both sides, and neither side escapedunscathed. The fleets were so evenlymatched that by battle’s end neither side couldclaim victory. The Chouka had lost all of theircapital ships, the few remnants of their fleet

ultimately retreating back to the defenses ofMishtuki VII. The Circasians fared little better,with most of their fleet in ruins and only one-third of their forces intact, and most of thosewere no longer able to fight. The KiralinaJump Ship Thantir suffered heavy damage inthe battle and was nearly destroyed when theChouka flagship, an Apostle Holy Cruiser,rammed the explorer mid-ships.

The surviving Circasian ships wereonce again forced to withdraw from thesystem back to the safety of Senshuka. Theloss of so many warships cut deep into theCircasian Empire’s military strength andrepresentatives of the elected governmentbegan questioning the War Council’s actionsof instigating conflict with a race as strong asthe Chouka. The War Council even began tofracture over this second loss in Mishtuki.Some of their number believed it was a pooromen for things to come while others pointedto the destruction of the Chouka war force asa sign that the war was not yet lost. In eithercase, it would take five months of continuousconstruction in the fleet yards to replace thelosses suffered in Mishtuki.

The Chouka, however, were no longercontent to sit by while the Circasianscontinued to attack their positions in Mishtuki.In the past, a show of force in enemy territorywas all it took topersuade theenemy that warwith the Choukawas not in theirbest interests. Ithad workedyears earlier withthe Sshel’ath andKástan whenthey hadattempted similar attacks against the Chouka.

The Ninth Fleet, under the direction ofFirst Hand Marzuula Tien, was ordered tobegin preparations for an attack into theSenshuka system itself. The Circle andleaders of the Theocratic Guard believed thatan appropriate display of force against themajor Circasian colony in Senshuka would be



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2enough to put an end to the Circasian threatfor the time being.

Upon arriving in Senshuka, the fleetproceeded towards Senshuka II, the site of theCircasian’s largest extra-solar colony. Theymet little resistance on approach to the colonyworld and, as they approached the colony,Marzuula felt confident that the Circasians hadfled in the wake of his fleet.

So it was that the Chouka Ninth Fleetwas caught entirely off guard when, all of asudden, a jump point formed near their fleet’sposition and began to disgorge wave afterwave of warships. The Circasian long-rangehyperspace probes had detected the Choukafleet in transit to the Senshuka system, andthe military command had decided that thebest way to counter the Chouka fleet wasthrough a risky surprise ambush. With aKiralina Jump Ship in hyperspace maintainingthe jump point, the Circasian defense forcesemerged from hyperspace to combat theChouka fleet.

Marzuula’s fleet was left in state ofshock by this turn of events. Such an ambushwas entirely unconventional and, although hisfleet’s weapons were charged and online, ittook them precious time to reorient and adaptto the reality of the combat situation. By thetime the fleet had fully recovered from theirsurprise groups of small Circasian frigateswere already darting amongst the largeChouka cruisers, firing wildly in an attempt todisable the Chouka fleet. The close quarterscombat was not something that Marzuula andhis ship commanders were accustomed to,and many volleys meant for the Circasianfrigates slammed instead into friendly ships.Early return fire from the Chouka managed todo significant damage to the Circasian attackforce, but the effect of the Chouka’s slow initialresponse was their undoing. First one, thenanother and then another Chouka shipexploded into balls of gas, metal, and flame.Marzuula ordered the fleet to fall back and thesurviving Chouka ships fought their way backto the local jump gate and retreated toMishtuki.

Marzuula’s homecoming was not as hehad planned. What was going to be a simple

demonstration of force had turned into a routfor his forces. This defeat had to beaccounted for and Marzuula Tien was forcedto answer for his actions, actions that theTheocratic Guard labeled as grossincompetence. Marzuula Tien was deridedand humiliated before being reassigned to thehomeworld defense forces, but the Choukahad more pressing matters to attend to. In thespan of two months the Theocracy had losttwo fleets to the Circasians, a race that theyhad regarded as nothing more than primitivebarbarians. Although they had increased theirconstruction output of new warships during theyears before the beginning of open hostilities,such construction had slowed following thefirst battle in which the Chouka had handilymassacred the Circasian fleet. Neither theCircle nor the Theocratic Guard had believedthat the Circasians could ever be the kind ofthreat that they had now proven themselves tobe.

Construction efforts were redoubled atthe shipyards at Chouka to replace recentcombat losses. The Chouka would need thisnew construction if they hoped to launch anymore expeditionary forces into Senshuka. Thefleet losses to this point had drained theChouka fleet to the point that few ships couldbe spared without stripping garrison fleets oftheir numbers. The Chouka Theocracy wasforced to assume a defensive footing until newfleet assets could become available.

The Battle of Senshuka had a similareffect on the Circasian Empire. TheSenshuka defense fleet had takenunacceptable losses in the battle and requiredbracing before any new offensive action couldbe taken. Political pressure at home alsothreatened the continuation of the campaign.As popular opinion shifted, the War Councilfound itself unifying behind a pro-war stance.Early dissenters had realized after the Battle ofSenshuka that the Chouka were in fact notunassailable enemies and that, although theChouka had superior technology, theCircasians had more ships, better crews, andarguably better tactics.

It was during this extended stalematethat the Circasian War Council began drawing



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up their “Mishtuki Plan”, a detailed outline ofhow to successfully execute the war againstthe Chouka based off of information to date.The grand strategic document would act as aroadmap for the rest of the Circasiancampaign and is heralded by historians as oneof the most important military documents everwritten.

The central component to the MishtukiPlan was an all-out attack on Mishtuki requiringa large percentage of the Circasian fleetelements. Fleet intelligence reported that theMishtuki VII colony was heavily fortified with astrong defense satellite network in place, inaddition to a small starbase and garrison fleet.If Mishtuki could be brought to its knees, theWar Council speculated, then it would berelatively easy to sweep through Sha’al andproceed to heavily fortify the Mishtuki Systemto defend against Chouka reprisals andcounterattacks. It is interesting to note that theMishtuki Plan did not go into specifics oncontingencies should the Mishtuki offensivesucceed, but the plan contained numerous,detailed contingency plans that could beenacted should it fail.

Circasian military planners againrealized how limited they were by the lack ofjump-capable cruisers in their fleet. Althoughthe military project charged with developingjust such a ship was ahead of schedule, theWar Council could not hope to have even aprototype of this next generation warship forseveral years. This left the Circasians relyingon their large, expensive explorer classvessels that were ill suited for the job ofglorified mobile jump engines due to the costof building such units. Because of thislimitation the War Council knew that any strikethey made had to count, because they wouldlikely only get one chance to succeed or fail.

Although the war had paused for atime, both sides continued harassing the other,sending raiding parties through to disruptsupply lines and to keep their opponent offguard. Circasian raids into the Sha’al systemmet with little resistance early on, but after astring of successful raids the Choukareinforced the system patrol fleets and began

laying heavy minefields around the principalbases.

During the pause in the war, an up andcoming commander, First Hand ShcuzikhoYular, proposed a daring mission to the Circleof Elders: find an alternate route into Circasianspace and strike at their flanks. The ideaintrigued the members of the Circle. Althoughit was known that there was at least one routeinto Circasian space through Kástan space, itwas unknown whether any other routesexisted. Given recent events, the promise of aquick resolution to the war was welcomed andShcuizkho’s mission was approved.

Unfortunately for the Chouka,Shcuizkho’s mission was cut short when hisfleet encountered an especially turbulent areaof hyperspace while en route to Kásta.Shcuizkho’s fleet had been traversinghyperspace rapids when a suddengravitational incline shift pushed them intoproximity of a massive hyperspace whirlpool.Shcuizkho’s ship survived the encounter, butthree support ships were not so fortunate.The fleet was forced to turn back in shameand no further attempts to find alternate routesto Circasian territory were undertaken.

In the fall of the Earth year 1972, theCircasian Mishtuki Plan went into action. With

the primary strikefleet in position todepart forMishtuki, theCircasians beganlaunching severalattacks intoSha’al as a feintto make the

Chouka believe that a larger invasion forcewould be moving into the system soon. It wasbelieved that this would prompt the Chouka tostrip ships from the Mishtuki defensive fleets toshore up Sha’al. These raids were a success,and several warships that would otherwisehave been present at Mishtuki VII were insteadredeployed to Sha’al to prepare for anexpected Circasian attack there.

As the Chouka waited for battle inSha’al, the Circasian fleet moved to theMishtuki system and, once again using a jump



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2ship located in hyperspace, jumped their fleetin just outside the range of the Mishtuki VIIdefense perimeter. The Chouka defensesatellite network was slow to activate, thedefender’s combat reaction times havingatrophied over the six months since thesystem was last threatened. It took nearly fiveminutes for the full defense grid to activate andturn their weapons towards the invaders. Asingle Temple Starbase, located in geo-synchronous orbit above the primary Mishtukicolony complex, came alive, delivering ordersto the defense fleet, the satellite network, andto military craft on long-range patrolsthroughout the system.

The first wave of Circasian ships,made up primarily of Moshesta Frigates,rushed the still-activating defense satellites,punching holes in the planetary defensenetwork. The Chouka retaliated, leaving thefrigates on fire and bleeding atmosphere.

As the Circasian ships came aroundfor another pass, the Chouka defensive fleettook position around the Temple Starbase.The fleet, including no less than five ApostleHoly Cruisers, stood at the ready to engagetheir enemy.

Not long after the second and thirdwave of Circasian ships had transited to realspace the entire battlefield fell into chaos.Weapons fire and explosions surroundedevery ship. Ships shook and buckledunderneath the destructive force of laser,plasma, and particle weaponry. Othersspouted flames as slender missiles impactedupon their hulls. Amongst this chaos wavesupon waves of fighters engaged the enemy.

As the battle spread in a thin linearound Mishtuki VII’s planetary defensenetwork, a final wave of Circasian shipsemerged from the jump point, the vortexclosing behind them. Two large warships,similar in shape to the ubiquitous Kolaniscruisers, moved slowly into the maelstromahead, six frigate escorts following them intothe fray.

Within seconds the raw power of thesenew combatants was painfully demonstratedto the Chouka. Both ships opened fire on theChouka starbase from long-range, the two

enormous particle beams that each of themmounted shooting forth. The wide, bluishflares quickly traversed the distance, three ofthem connecting with the station. One ofthese struck the bottom tier of an Apostlecruiser on its way to the target, simply tearingthrough the ship undeterred as it continued tobeat into the side of the Chouka base. Thethree wide beams cut in long strokes along thestarbase’s hull. Metal creaked, curled, andmelted under the onslaught, the pressure oferupting atmosphere causing them to beexplosively ejected into space. The beamscontinued to cut deeper into the structure.Two of the beams raked across the habitatsection, one ripping a deep gash into the hullwhile the second cut the hole even deeper, insome places punching entirely through thebase. The other beam ran vertically, rippingfrom the upper sensor cluster down to thereactor housing. Suddenly a great flash oflight bathed the battlefield. Seconds later, asthe flare diminished, a ball of fiery detritushung lifeless in space, the sole remnants ofthe Chouka starbase.

The destruction of Mishtuki Stationworked the Chouka into a religious fervor.These unidentified warships haddemonstrated capabilities that the Chouka hadnot fathomed the Circasians to possess, andsoon a mixture of fear and hatred washed overthe Chouka fleet. Suddenly the battletransformed from a planetary defense actionto a battle of desperation. Many Choukasupport ships fled the battle to savethemselves, but most remained on thebattlefield determined to exact holy retributionagainst their enemies. The Choukacommanders would give no quarter andvowed to make the ultimate sacrifice to makesure the Circasians paid the price for theiractions.

From this point on, the Battle ofMishtuki took on a new tone, a tone of fanaticaldesperation. Chouka warships fought untildestroyed, resorting to ramming once theirweapons no longer served them. The Choukafleet flagship was destroyed when it rammedone of the bombardment vessels that hadpreviously destroyed the station in an act of



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sheer spite. Slowly the Chouka fleet’snumbers dwindled until the last ship, anAcolyte Patrol Frigate, falling out of control intothe planet’s atmosphere, exploded.

A final wave of ships was depositedinto Mishtuki upon relay of the battle’ssuccess. Assault ships loaded with Circasianinfantry and armor divisions landed on theMishtuki colony. Combat between Circasianand Chouka ground units was short lived, asorbital bombardment support proved effectiveat countering the larger Chouka army, and theuse of general bombardment of the civilianpopulation helped force a surrender of thecolony within a day of losing the battle in thesky. Within a week the colony was firmlyunder Circasian military control.

The Circasians had managed tosuccessfully capture the Mishtuki colony, andat a loss ratio that was less than what militaryanalysts had projected. The mission to takecontrol of the rest of the Mishtuki system andbegin the construction of fortifications was theimmediate goal of the occupation forces. TheCircasians had reason to believe that theChouka were operating at least one secretoutpost— possibly more—in Mishtuki, theirconfiguration and strength unknown. Beforebeing destroyed, Mishtuki Station had sentcoded transmissions to several unknownlocations in the system, tipping off theCircasians to the bases’ presence. Several ofthese unknowns had been identified as shipsthat had been on long-range patrols in thesystem but had later retreated via a local fixedjump gate back to Chouka space. Othertransmission destinations could not beidentified as such and were classified aspotential locations of this hidden Choukamilitary base. It was ultimately determined thatthis outpost was likely located on the far sideof the solar system, but the exact locationcould not be established.

The base was eventually located anddestroyed after an ambush by Chouka guerillaforces operating from the base unwittinglygave up its position. With one known baseneutralized the Circasians continued to sweepthe system in search of other hidden bases orsupply caches that the Chouka could have

placed in the system. No others were everfound, but it did distract the Circasians longenough to allow the Chouka the reprieve theyneeded to organize and regroup.

While the Circasian forces in Mishtukiwere beginning the cleanup process followingthe attack, another force based out ofSenshuka was preparing for an attack onSha’al. The Sha’al system was the location ofa series of Chouka space stations that actedas religious retreats for pilgrims and revelers.Of the bases in the Sha’al system, only one—the Taera Shrine—was of suitable size to be athreat to an invasion force, and as such wasthe primary target of the planned attack intothe system. The Circasians knew that theposition was well fortified, with a series ofdefense satellites and an extensive minefieldproviding protection to the base in addition toany other ships that might be defending thebase.

The strike into Sha’al called for thecapture of the three other secondary religiousretreats before confronting the Taera Shrine.The Circasian fleet easily captured the threesmaller bases in the system, destroying theChouka patrol vessels in the area anddepositing marines to secure the bases. TheChouka pilgrims protested the Circasiancapture of the bases, but amazingly noviolence was reported on these bases.

The Battle of Taera Shrine was abloody confrontation, despite the fact that theCircasians outnumbered the Choukadefenders nearly two to one. The Circasians



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2had underestimated the potency of the Choukaminefield and took heavy losses from hits.Once the defending fleet and OSAT’s wereneutralized, the Circasians proceeded tosweep the minefield and began depositingtroops on the station to take control of it.Unlike the other stations, the inhabitants ofTaera Shrine fought back alongside the stationsecurity personnel. With their marines beingcontinually beaten back by the Choukadefenders, Circasian Captain Larha Karrnordered the troops to fall back and evacuatethe station. After the last surviving marineparty had returned to base, Karrn ordered thedestruction of the station. The Taera Shrinewas destroyed along with its entire 5,000inhabitants.

Captain Karrn proceeded to completeher proscribed orders, clearing the Sha’alsystem of any Chouka presence. The fleetthen abandoned the system and jumped toMishtuki to hook up with the forces there toassist in system defense.

The taking of Mishtuki and Sha’al didnot come without political repercussions. TheThaline Union filed an official protest after wordof the destruction of the Taera Shrine reachedThaline space. The Thaline lodged allegations

that the Circasians were carrying out crimesagainst sentients and demanded that Thalineobservers be allowed access to the systemsto ensure the fair treatment of the conqueredpopulations. The War Council was skepticalof the Thaline claims of neutrality due to theirtrade relationship with the Chouka, but despitetheir objections the Circasian Empireaccepted the Thaline terms. By the end of theyear Thaline observers were present in bothsystems monitoring the situation. Their earlyreports showed that, though the destruction ofthe Taera Shrine was unwarranted, thetreatment of Chouka detainees was adequateand that no wide scale alien rights abusescould be found.

19731973197319731973With Mishtuki and Sha’al conquered by

the Circasians, the Circle of Elders began toawaken to the realization that Chouka couldvery well be the next Circasian conquest. TheCircle had long held the belief that the Faithwould defend them forever and theirtechnological advantage would deter any realattack. Now the Circle was being forced todecide on a course of action that would keep

them safe from invasion.In a situation where cool, calculated

decisiveness would have aided them mostthe Circle instead fell into a fanatical fervor.They refused to entertain the idea ofnegotiating with the Circasians but they knewthat the Theocratic Guard could not providethe necessary fleet strength to protect thehomeworld and all of her colonies in theChouka system, too. The Chouka orderedtheir colonies abandoned, their populationsrelocated to homeworld.

By order of the Circle, the TheocraticGuard seized all craft capable of operating inspace. These vessels were pressed intomilitary service, being converted into auxiliarywarships. Even small pleasure yachts wereconfiscated, with small fighter guns beingjury rigged onto the hull. The Theocracy wasdesperate for every single ship, fighter, orshuttle they could muster. The Circlebelieved their only hope was to make

The Lights of TaeraA sacred astronomic event located

in the Sha’al system, the Lights of Taeraattract a great many pilgrims every years.The Lights of Taera are believed to be thefulfillment of an ancient prophecy thatproclaimed that ‘the lights of the world arethe doorway to god’.

There is little else of use in theSha’al system and the only Choukacolonies in the system are the manyshrines that monitor the Lights of Taeraand allow believers to seek spiritualfulfillment in their presence. Aphrodisiacsand other herbs are often used to allowthe pilgrim to reach a state ofenlightenment while viewing the Lights ofTaera. Aphrodisiacs of substantial qualityare one of the very few export industriesthat exists in Sha’al.



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Chouka’s defenses impregnable, lest it beoverrun like Mishtuki.

Meanwhile, the Circasian War Councilwas left to debate on how to proceed with theirwar. The Mishtuki Plan had guided them tothis juncture, but it did not provide anythingmore than a cursory outline of how to proceedin the war should the Mishtuki offensivesucceed.

The Circasian people had becometired after a year of war and the civilianauthorities were starting to buckle under thepressure put on them by their constituents.From their perspective, the defense network atMishtuki had been partially rebuilt and theEmpire more or less protected from the threatof Chouka retaliation. The War Council lookedat the bigger picture, however, and they knewthat if the Chouka were not eliminated as afuture threat they would be forced to fight astronger, even more determined enemy at alater date.

As the War Council tried to point out togovernment leaders on several occasions,Chouka was the last system keeping theCircasians from gaining access to severallucrative markets and trade hubs, not tomention new territories for expansion. Theseleaders wanted the commercial wealth andterritory that such actions would allow, butwere unwilling to pay the cost in ships andmanpower to do so. But ultimately, it was no

longer their decision, and the War Council wasdetermined to finish the war once and for all.

The decision to mount a full-scaleassault on Chouka using the majority of theCircasian fleet was very controversial. TheWar Council explained that anything lesswould give the Chouka the chance theyneeded to repel the Circasians from theirspace and possibly launch a counteroffensiveto take advantage of the downturn in Circasianluck. The civilian authorities protested, citingplanetary defense concerns. However, asthey well knew, it was ultimately the WarCouncil’s decision and they were going to takethe fleet into Chouka.

The final assault against the Choukahomeworld was one of the bloodiest battlesthat known space had seen for over a hundredyears. More than half of the Circasian fleet andmost of the surviving Chouka fleet were onhand for the final, cataclysmic battle betweenthe two rival powers. The Chouka Theocracyhad expected the assault, but they had stillheld out hope that they would have more timeto prepare and bolster their defenses beforethe final confrontation.

Multiple rings of defense satellites,some two hundred in total, surrounded theplanet. Dozens of starbases, including thepowerful Citadel Star Fortress, were nestledwithin the satellites. Linchpins of the defensenetwork, each of these bases was heavilyguarded by their own defense fleets. Easily athousand ships and fighters stood against theCircasians in the final defense of their world.

In the battle that ensued, the Choukaput up a glorious defense, their selfless (andsome would say suicidal) ship commanderstrading their lives for a down payment on theirrace’s salvation. The Chouka fought with truereligious zeal and it has been said that few ofthe Chouka that held the line that day felt anyremorse for their actions. They took solace inthe defense of their god and their world. Aftertaking any real, substantial damage, mostChouka ships would target the nearest enemyvessel and attempt to ram them. More oftenthan not they would find their target, destroyingboth ships in a fiery explosion.



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2

First Hand Marzuula Tein, the onceproud warrior of the Theocratic Guard Forces,was killed in the final battle when a smallCircasian Moshesta Frigate inadvertentlyrammed the Apostle Holy Cruiser under hiscommand. The Circasian frigate had taken ablast to its engines and was out of controlwhen it slammed into the forward section ofthe Apostle, gutting the ship’s bridge.

Also killed during the battle was FirstHand Shcuizkho Yular. Unlike Marzuula,Shcuizkho was killed while trying to reach hisship at one of the shipyard complexes orbitingChouka.

The battle had as devastating an effecton the Circasians as it did on the Chouka.Many of their ships survived, but that was onlyby virtue of the sheer number of ships that theWar Council had mobilized for the final assaulton Chouka. As it had been during the rest ofthe war, the Circasians had used numbers tooverwhelm the Chouka. However, like many ofthe battles of the war, the Circasian numberscould do nothing to keep them from takingheavy losses.

With the battle in orbit won, theCircasians delivered an ultimatum to theChouka Theocracy: immediate andunconditional surrender. The Circle scoffed atthe Circasian demands and swore to resistthe Circasians until the last man, woman, andchild on Chouka lay dead. The Theocracybegan transmitting religious dogma and

propaganda promising vengeance against theCircasians and calling for the people ofChouka to unite to resist the alien threat.

The Circasians answered by beginningthe systematic bombardment of the Choukahomeworld, striking military and governmentcomplexes across the planet’s surface. Twohours later, a group of surviving clerics of theCircle communicated the unconditionalsurrender of the Chouka Theocracy. TheChouka War was finally over.

Circasian occupation forces took onlya short period of time to weed out what guerillaloyalists remained active on the planet. Manywent underground and resorted to domesticterror attacks, but most Chouka were simplytired of the war. They resented the Circasiansfor their actions and for the destruction thatthey had wrought upon their race, but just asmany found themselves filled with spiritualdoubts. Periodic riots and revolts forced theCircasians to contract Kástan mercenaries tobolster the Imperial military presence on theplanet long enough to locate and suppressrabble-rousers and militant dissidents.

The highest-ranking members of theCircle of Elders were located and detainedduring the early occupation of Chouka. Manywere tried for war crimes and eitherimprisoned or executed. The Circasiansinstalled a puppet government in place of theCircle comprised of collaborators anddisillusioned clerics that had been slighted orpassed over by the former Circle members.This new Circle oversaw the religiousmollification of the Chouka people, becominglittle more than a glorified mouthpiece forCircasian-sponsored propaganda. TheChouka people, however, had always reliedupon the Circle as its moral authority and soonthe Chouka accepted that their conquest waspart of a divine plan for their people.

Although Chouka had fallen, theChouka maintained control of their colonies inthe Breth system. Many military ships that hadbeen on outer system patrols during the fall ofChouka had managed to flee to Breth wherethey met up with other survivors and waited forthe inevitable.



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The Circasians, however, never woulddispatch a force to invade Breth and finalizethe defeat of the Chouka military. The battle totake Chouka had destroyed too many of theirships and the Circasian naval forces werealready overextended. As such the Circasiansdid not pursue the Chouka forces any deeperinto their old territory.

If history would have gone in theChouka’s favor they may have been able tofight an extended guerilla war to liberateChouka from Circasian domination, butunfortunately it was not to be. The Sshel’athAlliance had been watching the events of theChouka War with great interest. The Sshel’athhad attempted to capture Breth on severalother occasions, each time being repulsed bythe Chouka forces in the system. Now, withthe Chouka in disarray and their fleetsfractured, the Sshel’ath had the opportunity tofinally capture the system. The Sshel’ath hadlong planned to eventually make a power playfor Breth, and in fact had been preparing to dojust that before the Circasian/Chouka conflicthad begun!

With the means and opportunityavailable, the Sshel’ath dispatched a war forceto Breth with orders to capture the system atany cost. The Sshel’ath squadron arrived inthe system and encountered no immediateopposition. The Sshel’ath fleet commanderwas rightly unnerved by this turn of events andproceeded with caution as they moved intoposition to begin the invasion of the Choukacolony worlds in system. The Sshel’ath knewthat the Circasians had not pressed theiradvantage into Breth, but did not know theparticulars of why they had not done so. This

fact made the commander even morecautious.

When arriving at the gas giant moon ofP’entae, the Sshel’ath were greeted with openarms by the Chouka colony there. TheChouka were quite receptive to the Sshel’athmilitary presence in the system andcommunicated their wish to become aSshel’ath protectorate. This behavior was farfrom the Chouka norm as the Sshel’ath knewit, and the Sshel’ath commander became evenmore wary of the situation.

The distrust proved to be well founded.Not long after the Sshel’ath completed“negotiations” with the colony at P’entae, theSshel’ath expedition found itself surrounded byChouka warships closing on attack vectors.The Chouka had evidently hoped that theSshel’ath would be lulled into a state of falsesecurity by their political mirage, or perhapsthey did not believe that Sshel’ath sensorswould be unable to detect their fleet before itwas too late. In either case, it was a poorassumption for the Chouka to have made.

Despite being surrounded, theSshel’ath managed to easily defeat the fifteenships of the Chouka fleet to the loss of onlytwo of their own. The Sshel’ath commanderwas outraged by the Chouka deception andpromptly ordered the destruction of theP’entae colony as a lesson to the otherChouka colonies remaining in the system.

The Sshel’ath increased their fleetpresence in Breth after the incident and beganmoving colonists into the system as fast ascolony ships and personnel transports couldcarry them. By the end of 1973 the Sshel’athpopulation in Breth had swelled to nearly10,000, not including the 5,000 peacekeepingtroops deployed at the Chouka colonies. Earlyattempts at revolt by the Chouka were metwith zero tolerance by their new Sshel’athmasters, and two Chouka colonies weredestroyed by the Sshel’ath after especiallyviolent uprisings. The domed colonies weredepressurized, the Sshel’ath leaving the rebelsto die at the hands of the hostile planetaryelements.

The Sshel’ath half expected theCircasian Empire to eventually make a strike



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2into the Breth system, but an attack nevercame. Sshel’ath paranoia about an impendingattack paid off in spades, however, as therapid fortification and colonization of Brethturned it into a major Sshel’ath system quitecapable of defending itself from invasion.

Post-WarPost-WarPost-WarPost-WarPost-WarWith the Chouka War over, the

process of rebuilding was underway. The WarCouncil reluctantly turned over control of thegovernment back to the democratically electedgovernment and began the process ofrebuilding the Circasian armed forces. TheCircasian’s first real war amongst the starshad taught them a great deal about spacewarfare and they took these lessons to heart.A new generation of highly trained officerswould come out of the Circasian militaryacademies over the next decade helping tocreate one of the most elite fighting forces inknown space.

The Chouka slowly settled into theirnew role as a conquered population. For mosttheir day-to-day life remained unchanged and,as time went on, they began questioningwhether anything had really changed for goodor bad at the end of the war. The Circle ofElders still handed down their edicts andjudgments on Chouka morality and the transitshuttles ran on time in the great cities ofChouka. To the common person life under theCircasian yoke was little different than lifeunder the Circle.

The Sshel’ath, meanwhile, had starteddown the path to their future place as animportant minor power in the region. Tradeflourished with the opening of Breth as a freeport. Trade from the outward and downspinsectors flowed into Breth, profiting theSshel’ath Alliance both financially andpolitically.

The relative peace that followed theChouka War would not last, however. Peacerarely lasts for long, its duration determinedonly by the loss and pain with which it wasborn from the wars that proceeded it. The riseof the Circasian Empire would lead it intogreater conflicts in the future. But, for a time,

the Circasians reveled in the peace andprosperity that fleetingly offered itself to them.



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The Circasian EmpireEm

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3Chapter 3: TheChapter 3: TheChapter 3: TheChapter 3: TheChapter 3: TheCircasianCircasianCircasianCircasianCircasianEmpireEmpireEmpireEmpireEmpire

BackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundThe planet of Circasia is a relatively

diminutive world lacking in anything of interestto other races. The bluish-green oceans ofCircasia dominate the planet’s surface, onlybroken up by two super continents intercon-nected by series of narrow land bridges.There are some limited archipelago formationsin close proximity to these two super conti-nents, but none very large or important. Be-cause of the geography of Circasia, a singlespecies could easily spread to every corner ofthe two continents and this was a commonoccurrence over the course of Circasianevolutionary history. As a result, differentiationwithin individual species is not as pronouncedas that of other worlds where greater geo-graphic separation exists.

The lifeform that rose to dominance onCircasia was the descendant of a cat-likecreature that roamed the savannas and hilllands in the central corridor between the twosuper-continents in an area dominated by avast freshwater lake. The Circasians retainedthe keen eyesight, hearing, and reflexes oftheir wild ancestors and, as their peopledeveloped civilization, they applied theseinherited skills not to agriculture or science,but to war. Warfare between early Circasiantribes was common and actually acted as acatalyst for the future development ofCircasian civilization. As clans and tribesfought for territory and dominance in thegrasslands of Circasia it becameprogressively more common for them to settledown along the fertile banks of the inland sea,fortifying themselves within tall-walled valleysand cavernous cliff formations. Where thesenatural defensive barriers did not exist, theearly Circasians built massive mud and claywalls similar in design to step pyramids.These early Circasian cultures would

eventually expand their control across theirrespective regions, defeating and ultimatelyabsorbing the remaining bands of nomads andhunter/gatherers into their own societies.

As empires waxed and waned, thecultures on Circasia began to slowly unify. Inthe beginning, the unification of Circasia wasthe result of military aggression as warlordsand dictators seized and incorporated theterritories of their defeated enemies into theirown empire. This in turn led to the formationof nations unified by common political or socialties. Later, alliances of nation states led to theamalgamation of multiple powers into a singleforce with which to combat enemies whothreatened their sovereignty.

Finally, in the Earth year 1748, the fivemajor powers of Circasia clashed in a bloodyand costly war. Barely industrialized, and withtheir infrastructure still feeling the growingpains of their changing world, each power wasinterested only in improving their position ofpower through the influx of funds and slavesthat could be made possible throughconquest. The six-year conflict ended withnone of the major powers any longer inexistence. Instead, a coalition of weakerpowers rose to seize total power over all ofCircasia. These nations, devastated by the


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war, were charged with the unenviable job ofrebuilding their world. It took nearly twentyyears to repair the damage caused by thewar and finally establish a stable planetarygovernment. Several bush wars werefought, especially on the periphery of thetwo continents, but ultimately the newempire managed to assert its control overthe entire planet.

TTTTTaking to Spaceaking to Spaceaking to Spaceaking to Spaceaking to SpaceThe first permanent orbital facilities

were erected in orbit of Circasia in 1805,marking the beginning of the Circasianinterplanetary period. Early steps intospace were cautious, Circasian scientistscarefully collecting data and developing andtesting new space technologies beforelaunching more substantial space-basedinitiatives. The construction of the firstshipyard in 1821 led to an explosion ofexpansion and exploration in the Circasianhome system. In the years to come theCircasian would grow from a fledgling one-planet power to boasting more than twentyindividual settlements spread throughouttheir solar system.

The Circasians thrived during theearly years of space expansion, but it wouldnot last. The interplanetary expansion andoutward growth of the previous two decadeshad filled investors and corporations with aeuphoria that was not justified by the bottomline. An economic downturn on Circasia in1842 caused the bottom to fall out of thespace-based business sector. Thesubsequent depression wracked the stillyoung space economy and stalleddevelopment of new space technologies.Cut backs in ship construction andtechnology sectors, coupled with thecollapse of key high profile corporations,caused many investors to get out of themarket. This in turn led to more economicproblems, including the abandonment ofseveral solar colonies. The CircasianEmpire had taken several steps back anderased much of the progress they hadmade in the previous years.

It would take another quarter of a centurybefore the Circasians would again moveappreciably back into space. The slow butsteady increase in activity was nothing comparedto the space race that had proceeded it. Unlikethat economic disaster in the making, this re-emergence was calculated, profitable and,perhaps most importantly, learned from themistakes of the past.

Then came an unexpected windfall. Onthe sixth planet of their home system anexpedition dispatched to drill for core samplesdiscovered a mysterious wreck buried beneaththe regolith and fine particles of the planetarysurface. The scarred hull dated back thousandsof years in age and, though much of the wreckwas destroyed, the engineering section of thehulk was still intact. A massive archaeologicalprogram was quickly assembled for theextraction and research of the artifact, the effortfinanced entirely by the Circasian government.Excavation of the derelict took nearly a month, atwhich point it was towed to Jenholen Station, amilitary controlled research station orbiting theinner gas giant of Jenholen, for further study.

The results of the find were nothing lessthan spectacular. Not only were the Circasiansable to make giant leaps in starship construction,drive and power systems, and othertechnologies, they had actually managed tosalvaged a functional jump engine. Physicistsworked for years attempting to comprehend theinner workings and functionality of the arcanepiece of technology, relying on linguisticspecialists to decipher the alien runes thatcovered the artifact. With rudimentarytranslations of the alien language in hand, theselinguists then worked hand in hand withcomputer specialists to access vital data fromthe alien computer system in order to puttogether the pieces of the mysterious puzzle.The alien writing continually noted that the devicewas some sort of a “portal to the stars”, or a“doorway to the gods”. Scientists interpreted thisto mean it was some sort of interstellar traveldevice. Though the attempts to understand whythe jump engine worked failed, the teams wereultimately able to come up with schematics for acrude jump device of their own.



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3Construction of the first Circasian jump

ship prototype was a grueling and expensiveundertaking. The Circasian home system waspoor in Quantium 40, the element essential forthe construction and maintenance of jumpengines. Small quantities of the material wereextractable from the local asteroid belt, thoughat immense cost, but finding suitable depositsrequired intense scouring of the denserregions of the asteroid field to find viablemining candidates. After expending greatamounts of resources deciphering andreverse engineering the jump drive, theCircasians were now ready to make their firstattempt at using the technology.

The initial results were nothing short ofdisastrous. Having no knowledge of jumpengine mechanics and operations, let alonehyperspace, the first several jump craftprototypes were destroyed when their jumpengines overloaded upon activation. Thisdesign problem was eventually corrected afterreferring to alien diagrams, but little morecould be gleaned from the alien database.

After seven years of research anddozens of failed experimental models, the firstfunctional Circasian jump engine wassuccessfully tested in the Earth year 1881.The formation of the brilliant red jump pointwas an awesome sight to see. The doorwayhad been opened.

After the first successful test of theCircasian jump engine prototype, a request forproposals was submitted to the leading shipconstruction agencies for a large, independentexplorer ship that could mount a jump engineand be able to make long duration exploratorymissions into hyperspace.

As designs were submitted andconstruction on these designs began,hyperspace probes launched from theJenholen test zone, which had became the defacto site for advanced technology research,began investigating the mysteries and odditiesof hyperspace, gathering enough data to allowCircasian vessels to safely navigate theparallel dimension. These probes discovereda vast array of beacons in a grid like formation,some intersecting at stellar locations, otherseemingly endless or severed unexpectedly.

The Circasian instruments of the day could nottruly grasp the hyperspace jump gate network,but they had an idea of what to expect. Usingdata from the alien libraries, a fixed jump gatewas built in orbit of Jenholen. Unlike otherjump gate designs, the Circasian built theirsusing a five-girder array in order to moreevenly distribute the power strain on their lessadvanced reactor systems.

It took roughly three years each toconstruct the first four Kiralina class jumpships. These explorer vessels, named afterthe mythological goddess of light, were thendispatched upon routes that hyperspaceprobes had indicated were possible links toother star systems. None of the explorerships were expected back for two years aftertheir departure.

Three of the ships made it back withintheir two-year window, one returning with areport of finding nothing at the end of theirbeacon trail—a simple starless nexus. TheMishila and Thantir both returned withknowledge of other star systems. The Mishilahad visited and catalogued the Senshukasystem, discovering a wealth of exploitablenatural resources including large Quantium 40deposits. The Thantir returned with knowledgeof the Res‘den system, which contained littleof interest but did have leftover beacon trailsleading to other possible system locations.They had followed one of these trails,managing to reach the Talynn System, whentheir stores had started running low, requiringthem to double back for resupply. Talynn, atrinary star system, looked promising for futureinhabitation and as a site for stellar researchfrom the preliminary data the Thantir collected.

The Kiralina, however, had vanished.The Mishila was sent on a futile quest to followthe Kiralina’s intended route of travel throughhyperspace but turned back when they hitturbulent hyperspace rapids. The large shipbarely managed to escape the fiery maelstromwithout it, too, being lost. No one has seen theKiralina since, the ship becoming theequivalent of the Flying Dutchman to theCircasians. Many believe that the Kiralina willreturn one day after it has finally completed itsmission, and sightings of the ship are still



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reported by crews passing through especiallyrough and treacherous areas of hyperspace.

As the Circasians continued with theirpolicy of outward expansion, it becamenecessary to rotate explorer ships fromexploratory duty to courier missions inintervals so that workers and supplies couldbe moved to newly discovered systems. TheCircasians simply did not have enough jumpcapable craft available for use as dedicatedjump couriers.

Upon arrival at new colonies, workerswould typically develop an initial permanentsettlement at the intended colony site andbegin assembly of a prefabricated fixed jumpgate. The deployment of fixed jump gates innew systems allowed for faster, permanenthyperspace routes to be established betweenthe new system and other existing systems.This increased the accessibility of newlyexplored territories, facilitating the migration ofcolonists and corporate interests into thesesystems.

Corporate and governmentinvestments in extra solar colonial propertiessurged noticeably in the late 1920’s and early1930’s with thirty separate expeditionschartered by private and/or federal institutions.

The largest concentration of extra solarcolonization was in the Senshuka System asmining companies, claim miners, and otherentrepreneurs purchased passage on linersand cargo ships headed into the system insearch of their fortune. Senshuka, specificallythe massive colony on the mineral rich worldof Senshuka II, would become the largest ofCircasia’s colony worlds and the most heavilypopulated system other than Circasia.

The Talynn system also received alarge influx of colonists, but enjoyed nowherenear the volume of Senshuka. While minersflocked to Senshuka, scientists found Talynn tobe a paradise for pure research. A swampy,overcast world, Talynn Prime was quicklycolonized by those wishing to explore thewonders of a new world. The atmospherewas toxic to Circasian physiology, yet manyfound the balmy world comfortable and astring of domes and facilities began emergingamong the cycad-like growth of Talynn Prime’syoung forests. Many pharmaceuticalcompanies established a presence on theworld in order to study the local flora in hopesof discovering new drugs.

In addition to these two major systems,the Circasians also established colonies or

The Mystery of the KiralinaWhat did happen to the lost Circasian explorer ship? Very little is known about

the Kiralina’s fateful mission of exploration. The data that the Mishila returned with uponfollowing the Kiralina’s intended course have led scholars to believe that the Kiralinamay have ended up in the Rapids of Rodirra, a particularly foreboding and deadly regionof hyperspace near Kástan space known for unpredictable hyperspace conditions.Kástan records from that period do note a long-range encounter with a vessel of un-known origin, but very few records of this encounter exist.

If the Kiralina did end up in the Rapids of Rodirra then it may have founderedalong the edge of a hyperspace whirlpool or else been drawn off the beacon by aparticularly violent shift in hyperspace currents.

This explanation, however, does not explain the strange encounters that craftthroughout the region have had with the ghost ship identified by many as none otherthan the Kiralina. It is very unlikely that these sighting are true, but there are still believ-ers that say that the Kiralina is still trying to find its way home through the reddish hell ofhyperspace.

As with many mysteries the loss of the Kiralina and its final whereabouts remainan enigma for the ages that will never be completely solved.



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3outposts in the Res‘den, Kosica, and Vatalsystems. Res‘den was found to be lacking inexploitable resources, but the system servedas a hub for early Circasian exploration andsoon became the site of a trading and militarypost that protected the system while providinga place of commerce for travelers from thefrontier worlds.

The settlements in the Kosica andVatal colonies had fewer ties to corporateinterests than other early Circasian colonies.These colonies were instead populated bythose Circasians with a true pioneer spirit thatwished to carve out a new life for themselvesaway from the influences of Circasia. Kosica,colonized in 1929, boasts a small earth-likeworld that is the site of a small agriculturalcolony. The residents of the Kosica colonytended to be more puritanical than traditionalCircasians, and used their agricultural colonyas a place to get back to their roots. The farfrontier world of Vatal, colonized in 1943,became home to enterprising individualslooking to build something new. Many of thosethat colonized Vatal did so for the thrill ofhomesteading and so that they could findsomething beyond the hustle and bustle of thecity life they had known on Circasia.

First ContactFirst ContactFirst ContactFirst ContactFirst ContactThe Circasians had learned long ago

that they were not alone in the universe, thealien derelict discovered in the Circasiasystem was proof of that. Through all of theirexploratory and colonization missions they hadyet to meet any other intelligent life. Somebegan to believe that the ‘giants among thestars’ had destroyed one another in a greatcataclysm, leaving the younger races in theregion to pick up the pieces. Speculation wasnot needed following the fateful events ofMarch 19, 1934. The Mishila, on long rangepatrol upspin of Circasia, jumped into asystem that they had located a day’s journeyoff of the established beacon path. A cursoryexamination of the system, designationQuadrant 1, had already begun with several ofthe ship’s shuttles being dispatched to beginmapping nearby system bodies.

Out of nowhere, a small fleet of threealien ships appeared on an intercept coursefor the Mishila. The Circasian vessel trieddesperately to initiate contact with theseunidentified vessels, flooding the broadcastchannels with greetings, translation matrices,and other data that it was hoped wouldcommunicate their peaceful intentions. Thealien craft did not reply to the message, eachcontinuing on course to intercept the Mishila.The ship’s shuttles seemed to go unnoticed bythe alien ships and they made no indicationthat they had been detected. Each shuttleimmediately altered its flight path in an attemptto double back and rendezvous with theMishila.

The patience of the alien vessels,however, seemed to have run out. The leadcraft opened fire on the Mishila, the firingvessel’s first blow shattering a section of theMishila’s gravity-positive habitat section. Thecrew, reacting with admirable speed, poweredtheir light array of weapons and prepared theship for an immediate retreat into hyperspace.More weapons fire connected with the explorership and, as the damage to ship systemsmounted, it became obvious that if the Mishilawaited for the shuttles to return it may notsurvive long enough to escape. With a heavyheart, the ship’s commander ordered hisship’s retreat, abandoning the shuttles andtheir crews to inevitable death in the aliensystem. The hostile alien craft did not appearto be in pursuit of the Mishila. Nonetheless,the Mishila’s commander made sure to watchfor sensor echoes in hyperspace as itretreated back towards Circasian space.

Upon returning to Circasia the crew ofthe jump ship was debriefed by the militarycommand. The government and military wereboth shocked by the news of the confrontationin the system. The War Council felt that thiswas a sign that they had to militarize quickly orrisk a full invasion from this new alien threat.Paranoid that their forces may have beenfollowed back to homeworld, a state ofplanetary emergency was declared at Circasiaand the colonies with all military installationsplaced under high alert. Production centerswere activated to begin immediate



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construction of warships and defense stationsto help defend Circasia. At that point in timethe Circasian space fleet was little more thana police force suitable for countering little morethan the occasional homegrown pirate vessel.The Circasians knew that none of theirdefensive systems could possibly counter anenemy the likes of that encountered in thealien star system.

They did not have to wait long for theirworst fears to be realized. Within a week ofthe Mishila’s return to Circasia a jump pointformed in the outer regions of the Circasianhome system, spewing forth a singlebehemoth. This massive battleship wasalmost half the size of one of the Circasian’sown jump ships and several orders ofmagnitude larger than the Circasian’s largestwarhsip. The Circasians thought that theirworst nightmares had come true, and everyCircasian held their breath.

Needless to say it was a complete andutter surprise when the ship signaled thenearest Circasian base in Circasian! Thevessel identified itself as a Kholran battleshipdispatched as courier and first contact vessel.The Kholran explained that the threedestroyers encountered in Quadrant 1 hadinterpreted the Circasian’s first contact signalsas primitive attempts to jam theircommunications. The Kholran emissaryapologized for the incident and surprised theCircasian Empire when he informed them thatthe shuttle crews were not only still alive butonboard the battleship and ready for transferback into Circasian hands.

The Kholran ship stayed in Circasianspace for several weeks as the Kholrandiplomats met with Circasian planetaryrepresents to establish normalized relationsbetween their races. First and foremost onthe Circasian agenda was procuringastronomical data and securing an amicableborder treating with the Kholran. The Kholranwere not an expansionistic race, their empireactually contracting over the previous century,and as such they welcomed a border treatywith the Circasians. The Kholran were alsomore than happy to transfer a map of nearbyjump routes to the Circasians. This map

included several jump links identified as routesleading into the territories or numerous aliengovernments.

Circasians quickly made contact withthe other alien powers in the region using themap given to them by the Kholran emissaries.The Circasians found that several powersbordered them, including the Kholran, Chouka,and Th’sook. The Chouka were the mostpowerful of their neighbors (besides theKholran, of course), and the Th’sook were anewly emerged interstellar power in a situationnot unlike the Circasian’s own. The Kholranmaps indicated that several large, powerfulempires existed upspin of the KholranRepublic, but the Circasians were content toslowly open relations with their immediateneighbors and gradually ease themselves ontothe galactic scene.

Of those races contacted by theCircasians early on, the Chouka wanted littledo with the upstart Circasians and made thisknown to them during their first meeting. TheTh’sook, meanwhile, were quite the opposite.After only a few short meetings it becameobvious to the Circasians and Th’sook thatboth were more alike than they were different.The Th’sook admired the warrior past of theCircasians while the Circasians found theTh’sook’s mythological dramas breathtakinglyelegant and provocative. The two nationsbecame stolid trading partners, the Circasianstrading Th’sook starship technologies in returnfor raw materials and other domestic goods.

As trade relations were opened withtheir neighbors the Circasians came intocontact with several other alien races that theyhad previously known only throughsecondhand information brought into Circasianspace by other visiting races. The races ofthe ak-Tai Hegemony had little interest in theaffairs of the downspin races (the CircasianEmpire included) and were remote enoughthat the Circasians did not attempt to form alasting relationship until years later. Severalother small nations were discovered corewardof Circasia, including the Thrikin, Kástan, andThaline. All of these races proved to befriendly to one degree or another and tradetreaties were secured with all of them.



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3The newfound wealth that came from

foreign trade and commercial enterprises didnot come without its price. In fact, the openingof Circasian space to the rest of known spacewould lead to the Circasian Empire’s firstmajor conflict in space. As merchant vesselsand traders entered Circasian space theywere soon followed by pirates, raiders, andbrigands. Raider organizations fromthroughout the region, including those basedout of Chouka, Sshel’ath, ak-Tai, and Kástanspace, had begun moving operations into thelucrative and virtually undefended regions ofthe Circasian Empire, specifically the traderoute hub at Res‘den and the trade lanes ofthe Senshuka system. Losses to raidersincreased with every passing year. As thecasualty rates of freighters heading throughthe sector increased, the pilots’ unions andvarious guilds connected to interstellarcommerce activities began to demand that theCircasian Empire do something to curb theraider activity.

The existing Circasian patrol shipsremained little changed since the time ofcontact with the Kholran, and the antiquatedtechnologies these vessels boasted were nomatch for even the rundown secondhandships operated by the raider bands. TheCircasians needed a modern navy to deal withthis very real problem and they needed it fast.

With pressure increasing, theCircasians began construction on a newgeneration of frigates to help in the battleagainst the raider threat. However, as theCircasians waited for new warships to becompleted in shipyards at Circasia, the raiderswere becoming bolder in their actions, andmore deadly. A raider strike by a Ghotekhenraider band called the Unsheathed Claw on theRes‘den transfer point left the station nearlydestroyed and hundreds of innocent civiliansmurdered. The Unsheathed Claw boarded thestation and began pillaging, stealing everythingthat they could carry. Eventually a small flotillaof Rotarra Police Cutters arrived and managedto drive the raiders off but not before thedamage to the transfer point had been done.Such attacks were still uncommon, but werebecoming less so with each passing day.

In 1944, the first in a series of newconstruction warships left the Circasianshipyards. Reformed into ten patrol fleets,these ships were charged with the defense ofthe space lanes. They were able to cut downon raider activity, forcing many of the smalleroperators out of the area. The vessels werestill no match for the command ships of themajor raider powers, several of which hadtaken up residence on the edge of Circasianspace. Of these the Unsheathed Claw nearTh’sook space proved a major threat to bothcivilian and military traffic in that region.Coreward of Circasia, the Kástan BloodSword raiders had begun harassing minersand ore haulers in the Senshuka System. Theattacks on Senshuka earned the BloodSwords a grave reputation among the asteroidminers, a reputation noted for their ferocity andmerciless slaughter of civilians.

The Blood Swords were exceptionallygood at what they did. Their raiding activitiesin the region had earned them hefty profits, thekind of money that could purchase the best inblack market ships and equipment. The BloodSword command vessel, a modifiedFlameblade cruiser named the Lady of DarkSouls, roamed hyperspace waiting to jump outand attack unsuspecting cargo ships. BloodSword pilots had become accustomed to thetreacherous hyperspace formations native toKástan space and could easily escapecapture by going where other ships wouldn’tdare.

Circasian intelligence agents managedto secure information on the whereabouts ofthe Lady of Dark Souls in 1950 and theCircasian War Council authorized a strikeagainst the raider command vessel and itsescorts. The Circasians dispatched the 6th

Fleet, under the command of Admiral HaelitisXan, to intercept the Lady of Dark Souls anddestroy her.

What followed was a military disaster.Admiral Xan was haughty and arrogant,something that was well known by everyonethat knew him. Xan looked upon the missionas nothing more than a standard raidersuppression mission and, despite reviewingintelligence files on the Blood Swords, did not



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believe them to be anywhere near as large athreat as others made them out to be.

The Admiral’s fleet intercepted theBlood Sword raider fleet as expected andproceeded to make a grave miscalculation.He ordered two of his small police frigates tomove into close range and order the raiderships to stand down. When the frigatesentered the Blood Swords’ weapon range theywere instantly blown out of the sky.

Admiral Xan was furious. He orderedhis fleet to move into range and attack. As hisfleet closed it became obvious that, thoughthis was indeed a Blood Sword fleet and it wasa Lady of Dark Souls type command ship, itwas not in fact the Lady. Xan’s fleet hadalready entered engagement range before heput two and two together, and by then it wastoo late. The true Lady of Dark Souls jumpedin behind the Circasian fleet, encircling them.Caught in the crossfire the entire Circasian 6th

Fleet was destroyed to the last ship by theraiders.

This inexcusable lack of commandability rattled the War Council and caused amajor review of its personnel. It quicklybecame evident that many of those incommand positions were not actually qualified

to lead their fleets into battle. More importantly,though, this attack proved that the Circasianfleet, even with its new construction units, wasstill not able to meaningfully combat the raiderthreat.

In answer to this problem a new frigatedesign using a new and powerful weapon wasconstructed and put into service. This ship,the Xandar Lancer Frigate, would revolutionizeCircasian ship construction and represent anew way of looking at military engineering.The Circasian Empire kept the Xandar frigatesa closely guarded secret and reserved themfor homeworld defense, lest the raiders learnabout their new secret weapon. The WarCouncil had a plan that would, if successful,eradicate the raider threat completely. Usingintelligence data gathered by covert operativesworking from within ranks of each of the threelargest raider bands, the War Council’s plancalled for a series of strikes that would hit allthree raider groups simultaneously, givingthem no time to respond. Using their insideoperatives, each band would receive falseinformation about a major Quantium 40shipment moving through their respectivesectors. Using this as bait, the Circasianswould be waiting for them with a fleet of



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3Xandar Lancer Frigates. Production ofXandars was redoubled in order to get enoughcraft produced by the deadline.

These surgical strikes by the XandarLancer Frigates in 1955 largely ended theraider threat. Even the venerable BloodSwords found themselves in shambles afterthe attack. The raider wars ended with thedestruction or dispersion of the three majorraider bands hit in the attacks. Somedisparate bands of raiders still remained activein the region, but none had the organization orresources to effect the same level of terror asthose groups dispersed by the 1955 attack.

The Circasian Empire was tested bothdiplomatically and militarily early on afterentering the galactic scene. The raider warstempered the Circasian military machine andthe Circasian military learned much abouttactics and space combat during this period.They would later put this information to gooduse during their conflicts with other nearbypowers, most notably the Chouka during theCircasian/Chouka War of 1971-1973. Morecommonly known as the Chouka War, this warestablished the Circasians as a true militarypower in the region.

CircasianCircasianCircasianCircasianCircasianTTTTTechnologyechnologyechnologyechnologyechnology

The Circasians have developed theirmilitary infrastructure and technology veryrapidly in the past forty years since enteringthe galactic scene. Initially relying on weakballistic weapons for military applications, theCircasians quickly branched into other fields,including laser, particle, and plasma weaponry.Many of these technologies were still in theirinfancy during the Chouka War, but informationwas gathered during and after that conflictallowed the Circasians to develop moreadvanced technologies, particularly in the fieldof plasma weaponry.

Light Laser CannonLight Laser CannonLight Laser CannonLight Laser CannonLight Laser CannonClass: Laser Mode: Raking

The precursor to almost every laserweapon known today, the Circasians used the

light laser cannon earlier in their history,operating the weapon as an anti-shippingweapon on their hulls. Light laser cannonswould later be replaced by the light particlecannon, a weapon that the Circasians viewedas being markedly superior to the light lasercannon because of its enhanced damage andfire control abilities.

Light Particle CannonLight Particle CannonLight Particle CannonLight Particle CannonLight Particle CannonClass: Particle Mode: Raking

Developed during the period betweentheir expansion into space and the raider wars,the light particle was adapted as the primaryoffensive weapon on Circasian ships. Thismid-sized particle weapon was the “heavyweapon” of the Circasian fleet during thisperiod and was a common sight on newconstruction hulls.

Particle LanceParticle LanceParticle LanceParticle LanceParticle LanceClass: Particle Mode: Raking

During the period of time covered bythe raider wars, Circasian scientists andengineers began work to develop a heavierversion of the light particle cannon. The lightparticle cannon had proved ineffective againstsome of the more heavily armed raidervessels that had moved into the CircasianEmpire and a new weapon was needed.

The particle lance is a large mountcomposed of two separate light particlecannon systems integrated into a singlehousing. By combining two light particlecannons in this fashion, the Circasians wereable to create a weapon that could fire atlonger ranges for great damage output.Unfortunately the size of the particle lance andits maintenance intensive nature curtailedwidespread use of the weapon. Instead, theparticle lance found a home in a series ofspecially designed warships as part of theLancer Project.

By the time of the Chouka War use ofthe particle lance had waned due to internalpolitical and economic issues. Several newlancer hulls were on the drawing board, butfew came to fruition. The development of the



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particle cannon some years later would signalthe end of the particle lance era.

Light Particle GunLight Particle GunLight Particle GunLight Particle GunLight Particle GunClass: Particle Mode: Standard

A neutral-particle beam weapon, thelight particle gun and particle gun weredeveloped simultaneously by the Circasians.Poorer than a light particle beam in every way,light particle guns were nevertheless pinnaclesof Circasian technological achievement formany decades.

Light particle guns are typically foundon older Circasian warships or civilianmerchant ships.

Particle GunParticle GunParticle GunParticle GunParticle GunClass: Particle Mode: Standard

The particle gun served as theCircasian’s first ship-mounted particle weaponof any real note. Poorer than modern particlebeam weapons in every way possible, theparticle gun was quickly replaced by the lightparticle beam once that weapon wasdeveloped. Few Circasian military vesselscontinued to use the weapon. Eventually theweapon ended up in the hands of Circasiancivilian organizations, which used the weaponfor arming their merchant craft to defendagainst raiders or other threats.

Light Particle BeamLight Particle BeamLight Particle BeamLight Particle BeamLight Particle BeamClass: Particle Mode: Standard

A basic particle weapon, the lightparticle beam was the first particle weaponsuccessfully tested and implemented by theCircasians. Used primarily for anti-fighter andinterception duties, the light particle beam is aubiquitous element of Circasian weapons loadout.

Siege CannonSiege CannonSiege CannonSiege CannonSiege CannonClass: Particle Mode: Raking

An enormous particle beam related tothe heavy particle cannon, but far lesssophisticated, the particle siege cannon (mostoften referred to as simply the “siege cannon”)was developed during the Chouka War.

Circasian scientists had spent yearsattempting to develop a larger, more powerfulversion of the light particle cannon, but withlittle success. The team behind the siegecannon chose not to work towards developingan advanced particle cannon similar to thestandard particle cannon but rather went astep further, attempting to create a weaponcapable of incredible destructive power. Theresult was the slow firing siege cannon.Capable of delivering massive amounts ofdamage to the target, the siege cannon suffersfrom uncorrectable focusing and overheatingproblems. It was not uncommon for systemproblems to cause the weapon’s particleacceleration and focusing systems toshutdown unexpectedly during firing.

The siege cannon ultimately was usedas a long-range assault weapon for use inbase assaults. The weapon also found utilityagainst ground based targets for planetarybombardment missions. Despite theseapplications the weapon was eventuallyphased out of service and the concept shelvedafter it was found that massed missile/bombfire and/or mass drivers could do the same jobmore efficiently.

Due to the size of the beam fired by thesiege cannon it is possible to spread damageto up to two separate targets (in which case aflight of fighters is considered one “target”).The limitations is that both targets must beeither (a) within one hex of one another or (b)one target must be directly between the firingship and the other target. If these conditionsare met the firing player may then decide onthe amount of damage to allocate to eachtarget. The ship cannot roll to see how muchdamage is done before allocation; they mustallocate the raw d10’s toward each intendedtarget. To-hit rolls are rolled normally;however, like the Kirishiac hypergravitonblaster, if the beam misses its target it gets toroll to hit again, though at a penalty of 1d10damage from the allocated amount. Thisproceeds until either no damage remains to bescored or a unit is hit. In the case of fighterflights, after the first fighter to be ‘hit’ isdestroyed remaining damage cascades to thenext fighter in the flight until all allocated



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3damage is resolved or no fighters remain inthe flight.

Light Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The light plasma cannon is thesecond-generation plasma weapon used bythe Circasian military. The successor to thepoint plasma gun, the light plasma cannonquickly gained popularity among militarycommanders and was eventually integratedinto the Circasian fleet doctrine. The ability tosear through even the most resilient of armorsmade it perfect for debilitating enemy ships, ifnot destroying them outright.

During the height of the light plasmacannons popularity in the early 1960’s, lightplasma cannons were fielded extensively onnew construction hulls. These light plasmacannons were almost also mounted forward inturrets capable of extended arcs of fire.

Medium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The medium plasma cannon wasdeveloped following the subjugation of theChouka. The Circasian medium plasmaweapon is based off of captured Choukaheavy plasma weapons and the help ofcaptured Chouka scientists. The mediumplasma cannon was a revolutionary leapforward for the Circasians in the field ofplasma weapon technologies.

The effect of the medium plasmacannon on the Circasian fleet wasextraordinary. Most Circasian designsreceived upgrades to the medium plasmacannon as soon as they became available.The Circasians favored the heavy hittingabilities of the medium plasma cannon overthe older light particle cannon.

Point Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The Circasian point plasma gun isfunctionally equivalent to the Chouka plasmaweapon of the same name. The point plasmagun saw limited use in the Circasian military,being mounted only on early Circasian ship

hulls before the development of the lightparticle beam.

RocketsRocketsRocketsRocketsRocketsThe Circasians have never used

mainstream ballistic weapons on their ships,instead relying on their own homegrownballistic weapon system. Circasian rocketsare most similar to the torpedoes of otherraces, relying on the firing ship’s electronicssuite for guidance data. The fire controlcomputers of rocket launchers tend to be lowand are outclassed by those of moreadvanced races. For purposes of game play,rockets are treated as torpedo weapons andbenefit from the effects of offensive EW.

Early Circasian ships used rockets astheir primary offensive weapons. Later, asnew alien technologies became available, theCircasians abandoned rockets in favor ofmore versatile particle and plasma weapons.

Light Rocket LauncherLight Rocket LauncherLight Rocket LauncherLight Rocket LauncherLight Rocket LauncherClass: Ballistic Mode: Standard

The light rocket launcher is the originalCircasian ballistic weapon. Firing weak,chemically propelled rockets, the light rocketlauncher is a short ranged weapon that haslittle use in modern warfare. Few shipsremain in the Circasian fleet that use the lightrocket launcher and those few hulls thatcontinue to use them are usually older, pre-contact warships that were never upgradeddue to their age.

Rocket LauncherRocket LauncherRocket LauncherRocket LauncherRocket LauncherClass: Ballistic Mode: Standard

A very basic ballistic delivery system,the rocket launcher fires chemically propelledrockets towards the target. Although traditionalmissile weapons are more effective, theCircasians favored the rocket launcherbecause of the smaller ammunition size thatallowed each rocket launcher’s magazine tohold hundreds of rockets, reducing thelogistical strain associated with ballisticweaponry. The fact that the ammunition wasless volatile and could easily be spaced toprevent the ship from suffering devastating



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magazine explosions also made rocketlaunchers a more popular alternative.

Following the Chouka War rocketlaunchers began to be supplanted by plasmaweaponry. New construction did away withrocket launchers entirely except in theinstance of a handful of revival hulls. Theseoccurrences were rare, however. Rocketswere found to be poor for planetarybombardments as well and were replaced bybomb racks and basic missile racks as theneed for bombardment ships arose.

Dual Rocket LauncherDual Rocket LauncherDual Rocket LauncherDual Rocket LauncherDual Rocket LauncherClass: Ballistic Mode: Standard

The dual rocket launcher was anattempt by the Circasians to build a moreeffective rocket launch platform after firstcontact was made with the Kholran. This fastfiring rocket launcher is capable of firing twiceas fast as a standard rocket launcher, allowingit to saturate the target with ballistic fire.

Heavy Rocket LauncherHeavy Rocket LauncherHeavy Rocket LauncherHeavy Rocket LauncherHeavy Rocket LauncherClass: Ballistic Mode: Standard

The heavy rocket launcher is thelargest rocket launcher ever developed by theCircasians. This large rocket delivery systemwas quite formidable for its time, butunfortunately the technology proved to beantiquated and not well suited for modernwarfare.

Circasian MilitaryCircasian MilitaryCircasian MilitaryCircasian MilitaryCircasian MilitaryThe Circasian Empire is a

representative democracy governed by anelected civilian government commonly referredto as the Circasian Planetary Assembly, orsimply the Assembly. The formation of theAssembly has its roots in the political alliancesformed in the aftermath of the Circasian’s finalworld war. The allied powers of the time usedthe Planetary Assembly as a means by whichto settle disputes and pass planetaryresolutions. The Circasian PlanetaryAssembly is granted rights to mostgovernmental powers, though most of theseare delegated to subordinate departments of

the government by law and are outside of thedirect exertion of the Assembly members.

The military, led by the Circasian WarCouncil, operates as a separate, semi-autonomous unit of the Circasian Empire. TheWar Council, which also has its roots in thepost-war Circasian past, was originally formedto facilitate the integration of the allied militaryforces following the establishment of thePlanetary Assembly as the Circasian rulingbody. The War Council is made up of twelverepresentatives, two from each militarycommand: Star Forces, Ground Forces,Military Intelligence, Diplomatic Corps,Research and Development, and LogisticsCommand. A sub-department of the WarCouncil acts as an interchange between thesix commands to coordinate information andoperations. The staffs assigned to eachcouncilor also play an important role incoordinating military affairs. Of the sixcommands, the Diplomatic Corps is the onlyone to be staffed and run primarily by civilianpersonnel. The organization is still operatedunder the auspices of the War Council and isan entirely separate entity from the diplomaticstaffs associated with the Planetary Assembly.

The Articles of the Circasian Empirewere amended after the War Council’sformation to give the body several emergencypowers that were viewed as being necessaryshould a time of crisis befall Circasia. Firstand foremost among these are the WarCouncil’s war powers. In times of planetaryemergency or military crisis, the PlanetaryAssembly may activate the War Council’s warpowers giving them direct control over thegovernment for the duration of the crisis. TheWar Council is to use these powers tosuccessfully resolve the crisis at hand.Although this leaves much room for abuse,there have been very few instances of suchabuse over the course of the War Council’sexistence. One of the powers that the WarCouncil shares with the Assembly during suchtimes of crisis is the power to negotiate withforeign powers. All treaties must be passed bya majority vote of the Assembly to be ratified,however.



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3In times of peace the War Council

works hand in hand with the PlanetaryAssembly and ensures the protection andsafety of Circasian territories.

The Circasian Imperial Star Forceshave changed much over the last hundredyears, maturing from little more than a glorifiedcoast guard to a full-fledged navy. The StarForces are well regarded for the high level oftraining their crews receive and for the battlehardened status of many of its officers whoare the veterans of multiple conflicts.

Starships

Aschar TAschar TAschar TAschar TAschar Troop Troop Troop Troop Troop TransportransportransportransportransportNalessin Variant (Common)

As the Luscan Assault Frigate began toshow its age, the Circasian War Council wasleft with an urgent need for a new trooptransport. Proposals for new assault cruiserdesigns were rejected as being too expensive;instead, the War Council opted to beginconverting surplus Nalessin Military Freightersfor the role.

Aschar Troop Transports were typicallyused to transport ground personnel betweenCircasian military installations and bases. TheAschar is larger than the Luscan and wascapable of carrying a larger number of troopsand their equipment. This meant that a singleAschar could replace multiple Luscan frigateson personnel transfer runs.

The Chouka War saw the AscharTroop Transport’s first active deployment intohostile territories. Aschar Troop Transportsrarely accompanied the forward battle fleets.Rather, Aschars waited until a colony wasmostly subdued before arriving at the scene todeploy peacekeeping and occupation troops.

Cairn CarrierCairn CarrierCairn CarrierCairn CarrierCairn CarrierBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

This older Circasian carrier was usedheavily during the early days of the Circasianspace fleet. Small for a carrier, the CairnCarrier can operate four flights of fighters,including a single flight of heavy fighters. Cairn

Carriers were commonly used as convoyescorts or as support elements in Circasianpatrol fleets. The Cairn’s fighters wereeffective deterrents against enemy fightersand the fighter support these fleet elementsprovided was invaluable.

Feilah GunboatFeilah GunboatFeilah GunboatFeilah GunboatFeilah GunboatBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

This small patrol boat is deployed atmost key installations and colonies in theCircasian Empire. Cheaper than otherfrigates, the Feilah Gunboat proved effectivefor short-range defense actions. Because ofthis Feilah Gunboats were usually used asplanetary garrison forces to help defendcolonies from attack.

Gallah Auxiliary CarrierGallah Auxiliary CarrierGallah Auxiliary CarrierGallah Auxiliary CarrierGallah Auxiliary CarrierGallah Variant (Common)

When the need for carriers becamepressing for the Circasians during the warseveral aging freighter hulls were conscriptedto serve as auxiliary carriers. The GallahTransport was just one such ship convertedfor this purpose. The Gallah Auxiliary Carriercan operate three flights of light fighters,allowing it to project adequate fighter coveragefor a fleet when operated in groups of two tothree ships.

Gallah TGallah TGallah TGallah TGallah TransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Circasians operatedGallah Trans-ports as their primary military transport type fornearly three decades. These ships wereregular sights along the major trade routes asthey carried supplies between Circasia and thecolonies as well as the numerous militarycommands within Circasian space.

The Gallah Transport was eventuallyreplaced by the Nalessin Military Freighter.The Gallah hulls were sold to civilian interestsrather than put into mothballs and soon found anew life hauling cargoes under the direction ofcivilian agencies.



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Ilustris Heavy DestroyerIlustris Heavy DestroyerIlustris Heavy DestroyerIlustris Heavy DestroyerIlustris Heavy DestroyerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Ilustris Heavy Destroyer was oneof the largest warships of its day. Classed aheavy destroyer by the War Council, theIlustris could have been better called the heavycruiser of its day. Ilustris Heavy Destroyersformed the core of Circasian patrol fleets, oneIlustris usually operating as the command shipfor the fleet.

Although technologically advanced, theIlustris was still inferior to the ships operatedby other powers in the region, including manyraider warships. Nonetheless, the Ilustris wasa capable warship and proved to be one of themost effective of the Circasian’s early starshiphulls.

Ilustris CommandIlustris CommandIlustris CommandIlustris CommandIlustris CommandDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerIlustris Variant (Rare)

As the raider wars continued, theCircasian War Council identified a need for animproved command and control presence inlarger patrol fleets. Most fleet commandersplaced their flags on destroyer craft or carriersin the fleet, but these ships did not have thededicated CIC equipment necessary toeffectively direct large fleet actions.

An uprated version of the Ilustris HeavyDestroyer was ordered to fill this need. Thisimproved command model included dedicatedfleet command facilities, a bleeding edgeelectronics package, and a reinforced spaceframe that allowed it to mount larger, morepowerful weapons. Unfortunately the cost ofone command destroyer was nearly twice thatof a standard model.

Despite the expense the War Councilauthorized the construction of several IlustrisCommand Destroyers. The improved CICfacilities proved invaluable in coordinating fleetactions in combat and were much loved bytheir commanders.

Kalichar Lance CruiserKalichar Lance CruiserKalichar Lance CruiserKalichar Lance CruiserKalichar Lance CruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Kalichar Lance Cruiser representsthe pinnacle of Circasian particle lance

development. The Lancer Design Project,which had given birth to such ships as theXandar and Shenna during the previous twodecades, had been working for years on acapital ship equipped with the particle lanceweapon. The design team was laterpresented with a series of requirements verysimilar to those given to the designers of theThrace Jump Cruiser and forced to adhere tothem in the designing of the new Kalichar.Although the Thrace would prove to be themore popular of the two designs, the LancerDesign Project had earned a great deal ofrespect and maintained strong support at thattime from prominent military leaders.

The Kalichar Lance Cruiser is builtaround a pair of particle lances and anassortment of tertiary heavy and lightweapons. A formidable warship, the Kalicharwas easily the most powerful Circasiancruiser of its day.

The Lancer Design Project fell out offavor after the Chouka War, a fact that wouldkeep the Kalichar from being widely producedor adopted by the Circasian Empire. TheKalichar Lance Cruiser, despite its success intactical simulations, became a victim ofshifting political alliances.

Kiralina Jump ShipKiralina Jump ShipKiralina Jump ShipKiralina Jump ShipKiralina Jump ShipBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

The first large explorer vessels built bythe Circasians, the Kiralina Jump Ships werea massive undertaking for the CircasianEmpire during their early years of interstellarexploration. It was the Kiralina Jump Shipsthat mapped out the early hyperspace routesconnecting Circasia to other nearby systemsand ultimately opened the Empire to thegalaxy.

The Kiralinas continued to explore onthe frontier throughout the Circasians earlyconflicts, expanding the influence of theCircasian Empire to new systems even afternearly eighty years after their construction.The Kiralinas were finally decommissioned in1978 after mounting safety concerns followinga catastrophic reactor system overloaddestroyed the Mishila.



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3Kolanis CruiserKolanis CruiserKolanis CruiserKolanis CruiserKolanis CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The first cruiser hull produced in anyquantity, the Kolanis Cruiser is a poor attemptto project firepower on a capital ship hull. TheKolanis Cruiser was built for long rangeprobing missions, a necessity during the earlydays of the Circasian Empire before extensivejump networks were formed. The Kolanis wasable to carry enough supplies and spare partsto supply three frigates on attack sorties intoother systems. Kolanis Cruisers were oftenconverted into other roles as needed.Commonly Kolanis Cruisers not destined forlong range patrol missions would convert theircargo space into two six-fighter hangar bays,allowing the ship to field a squadron of fighters.The Kolanis also made an acceptable ad hocassault ship, converting its cargo hold intotroop quarters for half a division of troops.

During the Chouka War, the KolanisCruisers served well as combat units andfront-line logistics vessels, but the ratio ofcombat ability to cost was staggeringly high,too high for the still small Circasian Empire.Following the war, military support for morecruisers cooled with attrition becoming thename of the game. As Moshesta productionincreased, production on Kolanis hulls almostceased. The remaining Kolanis hulls wereconsidered for a weapons upgrade two yearsafter medium plasma cannon technology wasfirst successfully demonstrated on theMoshesta frigate, however the War Councilultimately decided that it would be too costlywith too little return. The Kolanis was not aneasy hull to modify and in many ways hadalready been replaced by the more popularThrace Jump Cruiser.

The ak-Tai War was the final nail it theKolanis Cruiser’s coffin. The Kolanis simplycouldn’t take the damage that other cruisersits size could, and it was hopelesslyoutgunned compared to modern combat units.The Kolanis was no match for the ak-TaiThor’usal Heavy Cruisers, let alone the arrayof lighter ships the ak-Tai and their alliesfielded. Casualties were high and morevaluable skilled personnel paid the ultimateprice for the Empire with each cruiser thatexploded in flames.

Following the war, all Kolanis Cruisersremaining in service (about ten of them) weremothballed at the Circasian lunar facility ofHathdam. They would later be reborn as theKoric Mine Cruiser.

Kolanis Siege CruiserKolanis Siege CruiserKolanis Siege CruiserKolanis Siege CruiserKolanis Siege CruiserKolanis Variant (Rare)

The Kolanis Siege Cruiser is a late-warconversion of the Kolanis Cruiser designedexplicitly for long-range heavy bombardmentsupport, something that became a necessityduring the Chouka War. Circasian tacticiansknew that cracking the orbital defense basesof the Chouka would be a daunting task andsomething that the existing Circasian shipclasses may not have been able to handlewithout higher than acceptable losses.

In previous years, Circasian researchand development teams had been working offand on attempting to develop a successor tothe particle lance but had little success indeveloping an acceptable prototype model.Some showed distinct promise but there werealways problems associated with them thatkept them from entering mainstream service.The war with the Chouka, however,accelerated research in this direction andeventually led the project to fruition.

The Kolanis Siege Cruiser replaces itscargo bays and many other tertiary shipsystems with two enormous siege particlecannons. These weapon mounts are capableof dealing immense amounts of damage to thetarget. The cohesiveness of the beam firedfrom the cannon also proved to be highlyeffective in effecting long-range bombardment.



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The first two Kolanis Siege Cruisersmade their presence known at the Battle ofMishtuki. In that battle, it was the KolanisSiege Cruisers that were responsible fordestroying Mishtuki Station, a move that savedcountless Circasian lives in the assault.

Several Kolanis Siege Cruisers werebuilt after the war was over, but most of themwere either destroyed or scuttled due to long-term systems problems with the siegecannons.

Luscan Assault FrigateLuscan Assault FrigateLuscan Assault FrigateLuscan Assault FrigateLuscan Assault FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Luscan Assault Frigates formed thebackbone of the Circasian ground force’sdeployment forces for much of the earlyhistory of the Circasian Empire’s navy.Luscan Assault Frigates are smallatmospheric transports intended for landingCircasian marines directly on enemy soil.

Before the Chouka War the only actionLuscan Assault Frigates saw was transportingtroops back and forth between Circasianbases and colonies. It was during theactivation of the Mishtuki Plan that the firstLuscan Assault Frigates headed into the battlezone filled with their deadly cargo.

The Luscan Assault Frigates wereeventually pushed out of service, beginning in1975, to be replaced by another, larger trooptransport model. The War of the Seven Starsnecessitated the reactivation of manymothballed Luscans, but the war only acted tostave off the ships’ inevitable journey to thescrap yards. The last Luscan Assault Frigatewas officially decommissioned in the spring of1996.

Moshesta Frigate [AlphaMoshesta Frigate [AlphaMoshesta Frigate [AlphaMoshesta Frigate [AlphaMoshesta Frigate [AlphaModel]Model]Model]Model]Model]Base Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

One of the longest serving classes inthe Circasian Star Forces, the MoshestaFrigate was the pinnacle of Circasian militarydevelopment during the 1960’s. The Moshestawas envisioned as a cheap answer to themilitary’s need for increased numbers ofwarships during the period following the end of

the raider wars. This mid-sized frigate couldperform near-colony defense against piratesas well as general system patrols. After battlereports continually showed that the MoshestaFrigate was an able combatant. Dozens ofMoshesta Frigates were produced to meet theneeds of the Circasian fleet and soon it wasone of the most common vessels in Circasianservice.

The Moshesta Alpha model saw its firstnon-police combat action during the ChoukaWar. The speed and mobility of the Moshestaallowed for stunning victories over the moreponderous Chouka warships. Each Moshestacarried enough firepower to be a threat on thebattlefield, and the flotillas of these shipsfielded by the Circasians increased theirdeadliness. Of all of the designs employed bythe Circasia Empire at that time, the Moshestawas regarded as the most important andinfluential in most battles and was quicklyheralded as the pinnacle of naval engineering.

Moshesta Frigate [BetaMoshesta Frigate [BetaMoshesta Frigate [BetaMoshesta Frigate [BetaMoshesta Frigate [BetaModel]Model]Model]Model]Model]Moshesta Variant (Common)

Because of its fame, the Moshestawas one of the first hulls considered forwidespread upgrades in the fleet. Followingthe war with the Chouka, new technologieswere quickly recovered from scientific recordstaken from the Chouka homeworld and fromcombat scans. The new Moshesta Betamodel was the first Circasian warship to beoutfitted with the advanced medium plasmacannon. Several unique Moshesta hulls werealso used to testbed other new weapons andtechnologies developed after the war, thoughnone of those were as successful as thewidely produced and upgraded-to Beta model.

In the wake of the Chouka War, mostnew Moshesta Frigates took on the names offamous Moshesta commanders from that war.It became a point of honor for the ships, andthose few Alpha models that were retained inservice due to inability for an easy upgradewere rechristened with the names of theircurrent commanders who would commandthem until decommissioning.



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3Nalessin MilitaryNalessin MilitaryNalessin MilitaryNalessin MilitaryNalessin MilitaryFreighterFreighterFreighterFreighterFreighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Nalessin Military Freighterreplaced Gallah Transports as the Circasianmilitary’s primary logistical supply vessel uponits introduction to the fleet. Larger and betterequipped than the Gallah, the Nalessin MilitaryFreighter proved capable of moving largercargo loads while being able to fend off minorraider attacks.

Olcata FrigateOlcata FrigateOlcata FrigateOlcata FrigateOlcata FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

One of the Circasians second-generation warship hulls, the Olcata Frigatewas meant to replace older ships such as theYollana that had proved ineffective atcombating the raider threat. The OlcataFrigate was designed to be smaller and morecost-conscious than older frigates. Thesesavings were then used to allow the ship tomount more advanced weaponry in larger,more expensive turret mounts. These mountsprovided the Olcata with larger arcs of fire,making it more effective in combat.

While Olcata Frigates never performedto expectations they were a common sightwithin the Circasian territories and were mostoften used in an escort role. The Olcata waseventually replaced by newer frigate designs,including the Moshesta Frigate.

Reglata BombardmentReglata BombardmentReglata BombardmentReglata BombardmentReglata BombardmentCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

The Reglata Bombardment Cruiser isa larger version of the Toltara Destroyerdesigned and produced by the same shipmanufacturer as the Toltara. The Reglata wasmeant to serve as a heavy capital ship in theCircasian fleet and to this end was armed withfour dual rocket launchers, allowing the ship tofire a continuous stream of rockets at theenemy.

The expectations for the Reglata wereperhaps too high, and the incredible cost of

maintaining and resupplying the ship proved tobe detrimental to its success. The originalorder of fourteen Reglatas was slashed downto only five after construction began. A fewadditional Reglata hulls were laid down, but notmany.

The Reglatas were originally meant toserve as a heavy cruiser in the fleet butinstead found themselves operating as long-range bombardment support units for largerCircasian patrol fleets.

Rotarra Police CutterRotarra Police CutterRotarra Police CutterRotarra Police CutterRotarra Police CutterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Rotarra Police Cutter is an olderstarship used during the period following firstcontact. Designed to serve as a light frigatewithin the Star Forces, the Rotarra wasinstead relegated to the role of a small patrolboat charged with keeping the peace along thenewly formed Circasian borders.

Rotarra Police Cutters were illprepared for their mission. Most alien shipswere far more advanced, with better weapons,armor, and equipment.

Shenna Strike CarrierShenna Strike CarrierShenna Strike CarrierShenna Strike CarrierShenna Strike CarrierBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

Developed alongside the XandarLancer Frigate, the Shenna Strike Carrier isthe second vessel to mount the particle lance.The Circasian War Council had determinedthat a new carrier design was needed toreplace older Circasian carriers currently inservice. Additionally, it was decided that anynew carrier would need to be able to hold itsown in battle.

The Shenna is equipped with twoparticle lances. Unlike the particle lance usedby the Xandar, the entire particle lanceassembly is integrated into the Shenna’s hull.Fielding three flights of fighters, the Shennacan provide suitable fighter cover for smallCircasian fleets.

Unfortunately for the Circasians, thecorporation whose shipyards were contractedto produce the Shenna Strike Carrier facedfinancial decline following the completion of thelast batch of Xandar Lancer Frigates ordered



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by the Circasian Empire. They had underbidon the project and, although the Shennacontract proved lucrative (albeit short lives),they could not make up for the losses incurredin the production of the Xandars. They wouldlater recover but few more Shennas would beproduced, keeping the class rare in Circasianservice.

Thrace Jump CruiserThrace Jump CruiserThrace Jump CruiserThrace Jump CruiserThrace Jump CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Thrace Jump Cruiser stands asone of the most important starshipdevelopments in Circasian history. Before thedevelopment of the Thrace very few Circasianships were equipped with jump engines, owingmainly to the low concentrations of the rareelement Quantium 40 in the Circasian homesystem. The war with the Chouka, however,illustrated just how important the strategicmovement advantage jump engines providedcould be.

Although development on the ThraceJump Cruiser began during the Chouka War,the first operational prototype hull was notcompleted until 1975. These ships were fittedwith the newest weapons and technologiesavailable to the Circasian Empire. Althoughthe Thrace had originally been intended as astrategic fleet support element, the needs for anext generation cruiser hull prompted theCircasian War Council to increase the numberof ships ordered for production. Quantium 40deposits in Senshuka allowed the Circasiansthe resources to make the mass production ofa jump-capable cruiser a reality.

The Thrace Jump Cruiser soonbecame a ubiquitous element of the Circasianorder of battle and took its place as theprimary cruiser in Imperial fleets. Despite theThrace’s advancements in ship constructionand weapons technologies it proved unreadyfor combat against the likes of ak-Tai andLleskath forces.

Thrace Jump Cruisers were relegatedto secondary positions during the mid-1990’s,moved from the frontlines back to patrol andpolicing missions within the Empire.

TTTTToltara Destroyeroltara Destroyeroltara Destroyeroltara Destroyeroltara DestroyerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Toltara Destroyer is a smallercousin of the more powerful Ilustris HeavyDestroyer. Equipped with a pair of dual rocketlaunchers, the Toltara offers extra long-rangefirepower to Circasian patrol fleets.

Toltara Destroyers were never popularpostings in the fleet and the destroyersultimately proved to be a logistical burden tothe still developing Circasian Empire. Newerwarships eventually replaced the Toltara andthey moved into other support roles in the fleet.

TTTTTormin Light Cruiserormin Light Cruiserormin Light Cruiserormin Light Cruiserormin Light CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

An advanced hull coming into serviceonly a year before the Chouka campaign, theTormin Light Cruiser was a showcase for thenew engineering and technologicalbreakthroughs made by the Circasians in theprevious two decades.

A mid-sized, compact heavy combatvessel, this ‘light cruiser’ (it was latersometimes referred to as a ‘heavy destroyer’)filled a very important role in the Circasianorder of battle. The Tormin was designed toperform the mission objective of a lightwarship to fight in support of other fleetelements.

The Chouka War saw the Tormin’s firstactive service, though very few hulls had beencompleted at the beginning of the conflict.Production increased and was maintained at afevered pitch throughout the war, but anappreciable amount of new Tormin LightCruisers did not enter service until after thesubjugation of the Chouka people.

Following the war, the military smiledupon the efforts of the lesser Moshesta frigate,not the Tormin Light Cruiser. As far as theywere considered, the Tormin Light Cruiser wasstill an untried hull and they did not have thehard, definitive combat analysis to support itsabilities, while they had such information onthe Moshesta Frigate’s combat performance.The Tormin silently served, patrolling newterritories and exerting control over sectorsnewly discovered by Circasian explorers. The



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3Tormin cruisers received major structuralupgrades starting in 1976, with the last Torminbeing upgraded by 1980. This round ofupgrades hardened the armor on the outerstructure blocks while retrofitting advancedweapon systems to the hull.

The Tormin Light Cruiser saw its lastmajor conflict during the Circasian/ak-Tai war.The fleet elements of the ak-Tai Hegemonicmembers and their fleet tactics left the Torminas little more than cannon fodder in mostbattles, and the light cruiser could not doappreciable damage to enemy ships beforebeing eaten apart by fighters and mediumships. A limited amount of Tormins wererefitted with repeating plasma cannons in avain attempt to offset these disadvantages, buttheir early shakedown cruises ended indisaster and all were scrapped following thewar.

The few Tormin Light Cruisers thatsurvived the war were not scrapped ormothballed but instead sold to the Th’sook.

TTTTTratha Light Cruiserratha Light Cruiserratha Light Cruiserratha Light Cruiserratha Light CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Tratha Light Cruiser wasdeveloped by the Circasians to provide awarship that had more firepower and durabilitythan a frigate, but less than that of a mediumor heavy cruiser. The Tratha Light Cruiser ismore of an escort vessel than a stand-alonewarship, however, as it is equipped primarilyshort-range particle and plasma weapons.Most Tratha Light Cruisers were operated injust this manner, being used to screen friendlywarships against incoming enemy fighters.

The Tratha Light Cruisers provedunable to be upgraded to the new technologiesdeveloped following the Chouka War. Theseships remained in service as escorts untilbetter craft could be procured, but the Trathassoon found themselves escorting freighterconvoys instead of heavy cruisers.

TTTTTratha Scoutshipratha Scoutshipratha Scoutshipratha Scoutshipratha ScoutshipTratha Variant (Rare)

As the Circasian Empire continued togrow it became obvious that the small fleet of

dedicated explorers could not adequatelymaintain the needed pace of exploration. TheTratha hull proved acceptable as a startingpoint for developing a mid-sized jump ship.

The Tratha Scoutships were used tofollow up on previously explored systemlocated by the larger Kiralina Jump Ships.Because of this the Tratha Scoutships areoptimized for performing planetary surveymissions and scientific research, not combatsituations.

YYYYYollana Escort Frigateollana Escort Frigateollana Escort Frigateollana Escort Frigateollana Escort FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Yollana Escort Frigate is theoriginal modern Circasian police ship. Thisship was designed to escort the larger, slowerfreighters traveling through Circasian space.The Yollana was armed heavily for a ship of itstime in order to better counter raider forcesthat had begun to filter into Circasian spaceand prey on shipping.

The fixed arc particle beams werefound to be inadequate for a ship of its typeand the Yollana was eventually phased out ofservice. Those that remained in serviceduring the Chouka War protected thebackwater territories of the Empire, includingthose outposts that were on the edge of knownspace and distant from other inhabited worlds.By the ak-Tai War the Yollanas had beenscrapped.

Xandar Lancer FrigateXandar Lancer FrigateXandar Lancer FrigateXandar Lancer FrigateXandar Lancer FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

One of the first military vesselsconstructed in numbers by the Circasians, theXandar Lancer Frigate was an interesting shipconcept that came to fruition. Designed toinclude a large under slung gunneryimplement, the Xandar is an odd looking ship,but one who gains additional firepower at thecost of a non-integrated hull design. The shipis actually made up of three definite sections;the first, the actual gun or “lance” is a massiveconstruct that allowed for the pairing of twolight particle cannons (then bleeding edgetechnology) into a single housing. This setuphad some limitations but was seen to be far



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superior in the short run to attempting tointegrate the light particle cannons in any otherfashion. The second and largest section is theengineering and control section, the rear ofwhich houses the main engines, thrusters,and reactors for the frigate. Commandfacilities (four of them, each acting asdistributed nerve centers) are mountedtowards the front of this section. The lastsection, the hangar and auxiliary weaponssegment, is connected to the engineeringsection through a series of walkways andconnecting struts. Here the ship’s twoshuttles and rocket weaponry are stored, withretro thrusters mounted underneath.

During the ongoing raider war, theXandars were seen as affordable, successfulunits for hunting down raider fighters andarmed freighters. The state of the arttechnologies built into the Xandar LancerFrigates were more than a match for the raiderforces. Where the Xandar’s sibling, theYollana Escort Frigate, was unable to put upenough of a fight to be effective, the Xandarwas capable of fighting running battles andmaintain combat effectiveness.

Before the Chouka War started theXandar Lancer Frigates began to bedecommissioned slowly, replaced by newerships—primarily the Moshesta Frigate. TheLancer Design Project, however, lived on,though the proposed designs never werethought as progressive as in the days of theXandar. The Kalichar Lance Cruiser would bethe next and final iteration in the lancer designlineage.

Bases & Defenses

Jenholen Space StationJenholen Space StationJenholen Space StationJenholen Space StationJenholen Space StationBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Jenholen-type Space Stations werefairly common sights within Circasian space.Named after the first space station of theclass, placed in orbit of the gas giant Jenholenin the Circasia system, Jenholen SpaceStations are designed as multipurpose ports ofcall. Principally operated and maintained bythe Star Forces, Jenholen Space Stations areoften open to civilian traffic and are used astrading posts, meeting places, industrialcomplexes, scientific research centers, andmore.

The ship control sheet included for theJenholen Space Station represents theconfiguration of the station at the end of theCircasian raider wars. This configurationproved to be the most common one in servicefrom that point on.

Morket Defense SatelliteMorket Defense SatelliteMorket Defense SatelliteMorket Defense SatelliteMorket Defense SatelliteBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Morket Defense Satellite wasdeveloped after the Circasians made firstcontact with other alien races. It wasdetermined that a strong defensive positionhad to be taken to protect Circasia and hercolonies from possible alien aggression. Thisneed was made even more real when bandsof pirates, raiders, and brigands beganmigrating into Circasian space to prey onunprepared merchants and installations.

The Morket is an odd satellite design inthat it is asymmetrical. It is a three-armedstructure, each arm containing one of thesatellite’s three rocket launchers and theirinternal magazines. A single light laser ismounted in a rotary turret as a separatesection of the satellite.

The short range of the Morket’s rocketlaunchers eventually forced them to bewithdrawn from service and replaced withnewer, more advanced satellite designs.



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3Mukanta Small BaseMukanta Small BaseMukanta Small BaseMukanta Small BaseMukanta Small BaseBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Mukanta Small Bases were oftenused by the Circasians as listening posts andfuel depots throughout Circasian space.Mukanta Small Bases were by far the mostfrequently seen and widely used base in theCircasian Empire for over half a century.

In battle, Mukanta Small Bases areforced to rely on their escorts and garrisonfleets for defense. Despite being well armedwith expensive dual rocket launchers, theMukanta cannot take on an enemy warshipand hope to survive.

As military use of Mukanta SmallBases declined starting the 1960’s, mostbases of this class were slowlydecommissioned. New Mukanta Small Basescontinued to be built by civilian interests thatdesired an orbital presence at which to carryout research or commerce related activities.

TTTTTaryn Starbasearyn Starbasearyn Starbasearyn Starbasearyn StarbaseBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Taryn Starbase is the primarymilitary station operated by the Circasians.Taryn Starbases are not meant as defensebastions but instead serve as command andlogistics centers for the Circasian fleet. Thesestarbases are well armed for their owndefense, but rely heavily on their cadre ofsupporting OSAT’s for protection.

As of the Chouka War five TarynStarbases had been constructed with threelocated in Circasian, one in Senshuka, and thelast in Res‘den.

Circasian MinesCircasian MinesCircasian MinesCircasian MinesCircasian MinesCircasians have seldom used mines or

engaged in mine warfare during their time inspace. Circasians rarely mine high trafficcorridors or areas within the vicinity of fixedorbital facilities. Circasians do, however, layminefields around important defense andlistening posts to better protect them fromsurprise attack. Such bases are usuallyconstructed in isolated locations that see verylittle military traffic and no civilian orcommercial traffic.

Due to the Circasian deployment policyon mines, the Circasian Star Forces had onlydeveloped a handful of basic mines by thetime of the Chouka War. In any case, noCircasian mine would ever be encountered ina location that could possibly see non-militarytraffic.

Stoka Proximity Mine: Cost 10, Damage15, Signature 3.

Raka Proximity Mine: Cost 16, Damage20, Signature 4.

Nolaras Captor Mine: Cost 15, Range 3,Accuracy +6, Damage 15, Signature 2.

Lorun DEW Mine: Cost 16, Range 6,Accuracy +4, Signature 2 (1), Armor 1,Structure 8. Fires a light particle beam. Afairly common DEW mine, the Lorun wasused heavily around secluded or importantCircasian military bases to provide additionalanti-fighter fire support.

Fighters & Shuttles

Istale Light FighterIstale Light FighterIstale Light FighterIstale Light FighterIstale Light FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The successor to the Vakar Starfighter,the Istale Light Fighter was a response to thegrowing raider activity within Circasianborders. The Istale Light Fighter wasdesigned to better combat comparable raiderfighter designs and as such functioned as aninterceptor within the Circasian fleet. TheIstale’s speed and durability proved a majoradvantage in combat and the fighter soonbecame the standard Circasian fighter.

The Istale Light Fighter served as theprimary fighter craft of the Circasian Empireuntil the development of the hardier JagaMedium Fighter in 1978. The last Istale LightFighter was officially taken out of service afterthe end of the ak-Tai War.

Katin Breaching PodKatin Breaching PodKatin Breaching PodKatin Breaching PodKatin Breaching PodBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Katin Breaching Pod used by theCircasians is a typical, unarmed breachingpod. The early Circasian forces had little usefor breaching pods but the raider wars brought



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on a desperate need for boarding craft. It wasone thing to hunt down and disable suspectedpirate craft, but getting personnel to the shipswas a hassle using hull boring and direct ship-to-ship connections.

The Katin Breaching Pod is a fastdesign, though its engines are highly volatileand do not take well to damage. A KatinBreaching Pod will lose 1 point of thrust forevery three points of damage. Despite this,the Circasians fully embraced the KatinBreaching Pod and continue to use it as theirprimary boarding craft.

Kolam Long RangeKolam Long RangeKolam Long RangeKolam Long RangeKolam Long RangeFighterFighterFighterFighterFighterBase Hull (Special DeploymentLimitations)

The Kolam Long Range Fighter isoptimized for long-range flight operations.This two-seat fighter is equipped withadditional fuel capacity that allows the fighterto operate farther from its carrier. Kolam LongRange Fighters were used for system patrol toaid in local policing and defense duties as wellas forward observation and scouting wheretheir ability to travel ahead of the fleet allowedthem to gauge enemy forces and/orresistance and relay information back to theircarrier.

Kolam Long Range Fighters wereexpensive to produce and proved unpopulardue to the logistics of long duration fighteroperations. In addition to these problems,pilots also found that Kolam fighters weresimply not equipped for mainline combatduties. Only one flight of Kolam Long RangeFighters can be purchased per three flights offighters in the scenario. So a player that takesfour flights of fighters could take two flights ofKolams, but the other two flights would have tobe of a different type.

Rehka Heavy FighterRehka Heavy FighterRehka Heavy FighterRehka Heavy FighterRehka Heavy FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Rehka Heavy Fighter was the firstheavy fighter deployed by the Circasianmilitary. Used solely by the Star Forces, theRehka Heavy Fighter is an incredibly durable

fighter and the first to mount the light particlebeam. The Rehka was meant to serve as adual role fighter equally capable of providingheavy escort for freighters and task forces,screening against enemy fighters, as well asbeing able to disable or destroy enemywarships. To this end the Rehka wasoptimized for space combat at the expense ofatmospheric combat abilities.

The Rehka was a stronger fighter thanthe Vakar or the later Istale, but it provedawkward and slow and unable to combat thefaster light fighters operated by other powers,including the raiders. The issue of basingbecame an issue for the Circasians as well.The Rehka Heavy Fighters simply took up toomuch valuable hangar space and could not beeasily based on existing carriers. New buildcarriers designed to operate the new heavyfighters were expensive and production wasslow. All of these elements limited theCircasian deployment of the Rehka and laterheavy fighter designs.

Ruglin Aerospace FighterRuglin Aerospace FighterRuglin Aerospace FighterRuglin Aerospace FighterRuglin Aerospace FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Ruglin was the first Circasianspace fighter and it shows. Still trying to get agrasp on ship and fighter design, the Ruglin isa very poor fighter platform incapable of posinga threat to even the worst enemy fighter. Slowwith no armor and a single gun, the Ruglinswere quickly taken out of service and replacedby more competent craft.

Skesha Defense FighterSkesha Defense FighterSkesha Defense FighterSkesha Defense FighterSkesha Defense FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Based on the popular Skessa fighterchassis, the Skesha Defense Fighter is anadvanced model Skessa redesigned for dualenvironment use. Entirely redesigned andreengineered, the Skesha Defense Fighterquickly replaced the Skessa as the standardplanetary air defense fighter. With betterthrust, armor, and the ability to fight in space,the Skesha was an influential early Circasianstar fighter design.

Within a decade of their deploymentfew Skessas remained in service, most being



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3retired as replacement Skeshas becameavailable. The Ruglin, too, fell out of favor andwas replaced by the more powerful Skeshadesign. Planetary fighter garrisons continuedto rely on squadrons of Skesha DefenseFighters for defense into the mid-20th Century.Such fighters were also widely used by civiliandefense companies with most Circasiancivilian fighters operated after 1930 being ofthe Skesha type.

Skessa AtmosphericSkessa AtmosphericSkessa AtmosphericSkessa AtmosphericSkessa AtmosphericFighterFighterFighterFighterFighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

This atmosphere-only fighter designwas popular on Circasia in the 19th Century.Better in many ways than the dualenvironment Ruglin, the Skessa AtmosphericFighter had better armor and a small profile.Most national defense agencies operatedSkessa Atmospheric Fighters for local defenseoperations because of their better atmosphericcombat abilities and lower maintenance costs.

Note that the Skessa can only beoperated in a scenario that allows foratmospheric fighter entry and combat. Even ifa Skessa managed to survive the transitionfrom atmosphere to vacuum, the cockpitwould quickly depressurize, instantly killing thepilot.

TTTTTyra Heavy Fighteryra Heavy Fighteryra Heavy Fighteryra Heavy Fighteryra Heavy FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Circasian’s second heavy fighterdesign, the Tyra Heavy Fighter was introducedin 1967 as a dedicated anti-shipping fighter.Heavily armored, this large fighter is equippedwith three light particle beams, allowing it todeliver potentially devastating barrages toenemy ships.

The Tyra Heavy Fighter saw very littleactivity during the Chouka War by virtue of thefact that heavy anti-shipping fighters had notyet been widely adopted by the Circasianmilitary and few carriers were available fromwhich to base such large fighters. Tyras wereused sparingly during the war, with asubstantial number of these fighters notseeing service until the closing months of the

conflict. Tyra Heavy Fighters saw heavy usein the final Battle of Chouka where they provedthemselves to be a worthy counterpoint to theChouka Bloodlust Assault Fighters.

After the war, the Circasiansexperimented with fielding a greater number ofTyra Heavy Fighters, but the early momentumbehind the movement waned and by the timeof the War of the Seven Stars the emphasishad returned to designing and maintaining afleet of advanced interceptor fighters, not anti-ship fighters. It would not be until theEscalation Wars that the Circasians would findneed for a new heavy fighter design to finallyreplace the Tyra Heavy Fighter.

Vakar StarfighterVakar StarfighterVakar StarfighterVakar StarfighterVakar StarfighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Vakar Starfighter represents amajor leap in fighter construction for theCircasian Empire. The first fighter design tomount two ultralight particle beams, the Vakaralso boasts a pair of improved engines thatincrease overall thrust. New fire controlcomputers and tactical display system werealso installed in the Vakar. Theseimprovements made the Vakar Starfighter asignificant improvement over older fighterdesigns.

The Vakar Starfighter remained theprimary fighter in the Star Forces until thedevelopment of the Istale Light Fighter. TheVakar participated in combat actionsthroughout the Circasian raider wars and werewell regarded by Circasian pilots who valuedtheir sturdiness and dependability.


The Chouka Theocracy 4Em

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Chapter 4: TheChapter 4: TheChapter 4: TheChapter 4: TheChapter 4: TheChoukaChoukaChoukaChoukaChoukaTheocracyTheocracyTheocracyTheocracyTheocracy

BackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundThe Chouka are a race of methane

breathing creatures that can best be describedas a bizarre bipedal amphibian-like creature.The Chouka are quite tall, though their bodieslack mass and appear frail and weak, which isfor the most part true. Their wrinkled skinranges from dark red to light pink in coloration.The most notable physical feature of theChouka is the odd gill-like structures set atoptheir heads. Most races find the rhythmicconvulsions of this undulating structure bothoffensive and distracting, but the Chouka havenever cared what others, let alone aliens, thinkof their appearance. Chouka eyes are alsoquite large compared to that of other species.Chouka have excellent night vision, a sideeffect of coming from a very dark, overcastworld.

Intermediary PeriodIntermediary PeriodIntermediary PeriodIntermediary PeriodIntermediary PeriodThe Chouka were unified by their

religious institutions’ spiritual unification in theEarth year 1483. Before this time internecinewars directed by the heads of planetaryreligious institutions plagued Chouka. Theconstant chaos strangled the emergingindustrial revolution, an event that had beenthreatening to begin for over seventy years.Following the unification, the Chouka peoplejoined together in a never before heard ofsolidarity that allowed them to continuetowards future technological and socialdevelopment.

In the early days of this new, unifiedplanetary order, a coalition of religiousinstitutions formed the foundation from whichorder and tranquility sprang. A doctrine of non-interference between the orders was acceptedwhich allowed each sect to pursue its ownindividual goals.

Without wars of territory or ideology todistract them, the Chouka civilizationexperienced a cultural and social rebirth.Small city-states gave way to larger republics,leagues, and eventually empires. All of thesenew political entities operated under mutualgoals while asserting a great degree ofsovereignty. Disputes between nations werehandled by the religious coalition, which had bythis time come to be known as the Circle ofElders. The Circle of Elders acted as aneutral party in such cases, dispensing justiceand counsel to feuding parties. The Circle’sclaims of neutrality usually could not be furtherfrom the truth but the decisions of the coalitionwere more often than not respected by thoseinvolved. The Chouka people saw the Circleas the moral authority of their species, whilethe Chouka national rulers respected theirposition of dominance over church and state.

With industrial, technological, andsocial progress developing at such a fast rate,the Chouka experienced a renaissance ofculture, art, and philosophy that had not beenenjoyed since the heyday of the first city-states. This time in Chouka history was quiteprogressive and would be long rememberedas one of the few golden ages in recordedChouka history.


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4Middle PeriodMiddle PeriodMiddle PeriodMiddle PeriodMiddle Period

As the power of the Circle grew itsmembers became more corrupt and lustedfor even greater power. Many clerics in theupper echelons of the individual religiousorders desired greater dominion over theaffairs within their respective domains. Thisdesire for power eventually led to manyCircle members attempting to dominate orundermine first local city governments andthen, later, entire nations. Many of theCircle’s members abhorred the acts of theirfellows and denounced their actions, buttheir warnings and opinions fell on deafears. Most nations did not view the wiseelders of the Circle as subversive or power-hungry and thus ignored such warnings tothe contrary. Those that did take heed ofthe warning often saw themselves overrunand conquered by their neighbors, whothemselves were acting as proxies of thecorrupt Circle members.

By 1620, the last of the independentnations on Chouka had been absorbed,each being taken into the control of theCircle either peacefully through annexationor brutally through wars of religioussuccession. Commonly such conflictsbegan with edicts against those dissentingmembers of the Circle of Elders that heldpower in the independent territories. Thesereligious leaders were subsequentlybranded as heretics and enemies of thefaith, the Circle claiming that they hadturned against their god as well as their ownfollowers. Deadly inquisitions followed,almost always with the support of theproletariat population. This period of historyis known as the Middle Period and wouldplay a central role in the development ofmodern Chouka state.

Following these purges and theusurpation of national powers by the Circle,the First Circle of Elders was disbandedand a Second Circle established. The firstofficial meeting of this new Circle of Elderswould occur at the religious shrine ofEl’ham’za’mell in the Earth year 1649. Theancient shrine dated back some twothousand years to a religion and civilization

lost to the annals of time. It had becomecommon practice since that time to make apilgrimage to the site at least once in a lifetime aspart of one’s personal service of worship. Theclerics attending and organizing the councilhoped to use the aura of majesty surroundingEl’ham’za’mell to lend credibility to the new worldorder they were there to establish. It was amidstthe holy ruins of El’ham’za’mell that the Circle ofElders formed the Chouka Theocracy and setplans in motion that would change the future ofChouka forever while ensuring the clerics’ ownpersonal power.

The first to pay the price of the Circle’sascension to total power were those fewdissenters among their ranks who had takentheir message to the people over the previousdecades and had up to that point escapedpersecution. Most were discredited, somesimply killed, to rid the Theocracy of potentialpolitical enemies. A great purge swept Chouka,with the followers of the dissenters’ nowalienated religions paying the price for theirleaders’ political views.

Years, decades, and centuries passed.The height of civilization experienced during theIntermediary Period was now mostly forgotten.Much of the technological innovations of the erahad also been lost, some due to the widespreaddestruction of the wars of the time, but just asmany were destroyed by decree of the Circle ofElders. Most of the devices and inventionsdestroyed by such orders were those the Circleleaders viewed as a possible threat to theircontrol over the population.

New technologies continued to bediscovered (or, in the case of outlawedtechnologies, “rediscovered”), though always inthe name of ‘spiritual and moral’ enlightenmentrather than technological development for its ownsake. Such religious propaganda was evenassociated with the development of weapons ofmass destruction. For a time nuclear weaponswere even prayed to as the fruition of god’s fury.The Circle would later condemn this as an act ofheresy when it became obvious that the peoplewere beginning to put more trust in technologythan the Theocracy itself – something that theelders had tried to avoid at all costs.



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Each new generation of clerics usedtheir power to further their own lofty ambitions,wasting huge amounts of government moneyand resources on their own pet projects andvices. None of the general population knewwhat happened behind the closed doors of thecitadels of the Theocracy. The air of mysterythat pervaded the government did not botherthem, however, as they were assured that theinstitution had their best intentions at heart.This blind faith in their religious leaders forguidance, in many ways harking back to thepeople’s belief in the neutrality of the old Circle,allowed the Theocracy to maintain asubmissive population.

The Modern PeriodThe Modern PeriodThe Modern PeriodThe Modern PeriodThe Modern PeriodThe Chouka Theocracy established

their presence in space in the 19th Century.The first major orbital facilities came online in1833 and many other space projects werestarted at roughly the same time. TheTheocracy’s move into space was promptedas much by the desire to tap several richmineral deposits within their home system asit was to search for spiritual truths.

In 1837, the first true Chouka starshipsleft Chouka orbital shipyards to completeextensive surveys of their home system.Robotic probes had been used for over ahundred years to explore the Chouka System,but none of these could return the kind ofinteractive data that manned explorationmissions could provide.

Not long after these first explorersventured forth into their solar system the firstcolony was established on the neighboringworld of Ixmai. Thousands of potentialcolonists lined up at Chouka starports waitingfor their chance to depart to this or otherfledgling colonies. It soon became obvious tothe Circle of Elders that establishing scores offar-flung off world colonies would be ultimatelyself-defeating. The Theocracy ruled byapplication of force and intimidation and if toomany Chouka should migrate to other colonyworlds it would become impossible to monitorthe entire populace and weed outtroublemakers in order to prevent futuredissension. Because of this stance, initial

colonization was limited to only a handful ofsmall outposts in the home system,constructed at locations of significant materialvalue to the Theocracy.

The Aliens AppearThe Aliens AppearThe Aliens AppearThe Aliens AppearThe Aliens AppearIn 1878, the Chouka Circle was forced

to admit the presence of intelligent beingsother than their own when a Novon scout shiptransited into the Chouka home system. Theevent caused an instant ripple of discordthroughout the Theocracy. Many Chouka,including those at high levels of the religiousinstitutions, felt that this was a sign from thegods that they were returning to passjudgment on the Chouka for their crimes.

It did not take long for the Circle torealize that what they were faced with was firstcontact with an alien species. There had beenmany closed-door meetings among the eldersdiscussing just such an event, but none hadever expected it to happen in their lifetimes.Cautiously the Chouka replied to the Novoncommunications and attempted to establishcontact.

After several weeks of trial and error, adialogue was finally established between theChouka and the Novon scout. The Choukalearned that, not only were they not alone inthe galaxy, they were literally surrounded by ahalf-dozen other intelligent alien species. Thisdismayed the Circle, as the Chouka had longbelieved themselves to be far superior bothintellectually and genetically, and the thoughtthat other more advanced species existed inthe unknown darkness of space wasunsettling.

The leader of the Novon scout mission,Nokar val-Harhee, represented his master,Novon Trade Lord Harhee, in the negotiations.Nokar explained to the Chouka that Harheewas in a position of great power within thehierarchy of the Novon Trade Lords and thatan alliance would strengthen both of theirpositions. The Circle was skeptical of Nokar’sclaims and questioned his insistence in thematter. The concept of conversing with aliensabout galactic politics was disconcerting to theChouka and they had a natural distrust ofthese outsiders.



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4The leader of the Theocracy at that

time, High Cleric Tieste refused Nokar’s offerof alliance but instead presented a counteroffer to the Novon captain. The Circle ofElders was unwilling to commit to a course ofaction based on the unknown military orpolitical situation presented by the Novon.However, the Chouka were willing to provideNokar’s master with raw materials andmanpower in exchange for advancedtechnologies to further the Chouka cause.The Novon delegation agreed to consider thecompromise and excused themselves toreturn to confer with Lord Harhee.

The Circle, including Tieste, hadbelieved that the Novon would not be back,that their reason for departure was an excuseto extricate themselves from the negotiations.It was a surprise then when a small fleet ofNovon transports arrived in the Choukasystem ten days later. Nokar val-Harhee wasamong those captaining the Novon fleet andrelayed the acceptance of Tieste’scompromise to the Theocracy. The logisticsof the transfer were quickly settled and thenecessary goods transferred into Novonhands. In exchange for several million tons ofboth raw and processed ores and theconscription of ten thousand Chouka troops,the Chouka were presented with a computerdata terminal that included raw technicalinformation for such things as advancedpower generation systems, anti-gravity plating,and, most importantly, jump engines.

This influx of new technologiesrevolutionized Chouka science and within onlytwo years a permanent jump gate had beenestablished linking the Chouka and Brethsystems. The first jump capable explorationcraft came soon thereafter. Hyperspace andthe jump gate network had opened the Choukato a whole new universe, a universe that theChouka people were finding it hard to react to.Some more puritanical Chouka saw the aliensas a threat to their values and were openlyhostile towards them. Many of these Choukawent so far as to advocate violence tomaintain the purity and sanctity of the Choukahomeworld. Others saw the Novon and otheraliens as saviors sent by the gods to bestow

great gifts upon the Chouka Theocracy. As faras the Circle was concerned the Novon hadprovided them with knowledge that would havetaken hundreds of years to develop and theywere grudgingly thankful to them.

The next several decades saw theChouka spreading outward from their homesystem and establishing diplomatic contactwith their neighbors. Formal relations wereestablished with many of the races on theirborders, including the Novon, Ukal, Kholran,Kástan, and Thaline. Relations wereespecially amicable with the Novon, despitethe defeat of Lord Harhee’s forces in 1894.Strong trade relations with the remaining tradelords were established and maintained, theChouka exchanging raw materials andvaluable Quantium 40 to the Novon trade lordsin exchange for advanced technologies(primarily holographic imaging devices), drugs,and military protection from lesser trade lords.The trade was fairly lucrative for both sides.Trade with the Thaline was also very strong,being the most active and mutual traderelationship the Chouka would establish withan alien race. The Thaline and Chouka had anaffinity for one another and both profited fromthe flow of trade across their borders.

For their part the Chouka remaineddiplomatically aloof, maintaining an ambivalentattitude towards their neighbors. Although theChouka maintained embassies on most of thealien worlds in the sector, very rarely was anambassador or his/her staff ever present.

Isolationism became the Theocracy’sway of dealing with outsiders. That policy wasonly strengthened when certain segments ofthe population began attributing the problemsof Chouka to alien manipulation andinfluences. The Circle fanned this distrust ofaliens as they saw it as another excellent toolin maintaining control over the population. TheCircle was careful however to drawdistinctions between those aliens that werefriendly towards the Theocracy and those thatthey believed to be a possible threat.

Chouka exploration opened up manynew systems to them, but the expansionpolicies of the Theocracy limited the growth ofnew colony worlds. The expense of



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maintaining their exploratory program was highand was constantly threatened by budget cuts.The Circle did not believe that expansion wasnecessary for survival. The Chouka had builtup an adequate defensive fleet to protect theirterritories and none of their neighbors wereperceived to be a realistic threat. Several hadaggressive tendencies, such as the upstartSshel’ath or the erratic Kástan, but because ofgeography or simple numbers they were notconsidered to be valid concerns to Choukaplanetary security.

Then came contact with theCircasians, an event that would ultimately leadto the Circasian/Chouka War (or simply theChouka War, as the Circasians often refer toit) and the ultimate fall of the ChoukaTheocracy. The conflagration lasted morethan two years, and ended with the Choukafleet destroyed and their people broken. Theirempire had collapsed, all of their territoriesbeing captured by the Circasians or otheropportunists. Their homeworld sufferedmassive casualties under orbitalbombardment before the Circle finallysurrendered in 1973.

Following the war, the Chouka wereslowly integrated into the Circasian Empire.The Circasians made no pretenses at fairnessor equality for the conquered Chouka. TheCircasians considered the Chouka to besecond-class citizens that existed to providefor the Circasian Empire’s needs.

For its part Chouka was a modelconquered population. The few guerilla forceson the planet had been quickly located andterminated shortly after the Circasianoccupation force’s deployment and allorganized resistance was eliminated withintwo years. The Chouka rebuilt what they couldwith what funds they were allowed. TheChouka religious infrastructure had been dealta heavy blow by the bombardment andsubsequent occupation, but the systems werenot wholly dismantled. The Circasians insteadused them to manipulate public opinion tocalm and control the Chouka population. Apuppet Circle of Elders was installed to servethe will of the Circasians and further their long-term goals. Those leaders that had previously

held positions of power within the Circle werehunted down and imprisoned before beingbrought before military tribunals and tried forwar crimes.

For the Chouka people the memory ofthe years directly following the Circasianinvasion of their homeworld slowly faded astheir lives returned to normal. Life underneaththe Circasian Empire was really no differentthan that under the Theocracy. They wereforced to work just as hard and the Circleremained a visible facet of their lives,constantly espousing religious beliefs andhanding down moral judgments. The fact thatthe Circasians did not attempt to curtailChouka religious freedom is probably one ofthe most important reasons that the Choukapeople did not react with greater hostilitytowards the occupation.

The Chouka would be one of the racesmost devastated by the Escalation Wars, theirhomeworld changing hands several times overthe course of the war. Many important battlesof the Escalation Wars were fought overChouka and it was considered a strategicallyimportant system throughout the war. After thewar Chouka was not only economically butalso ecologically devastated, being subjectedto horrible bombardments by nuclear andbiological weaponry. The Chouka Theocracywould be reborn from these ashes, and theChouka that lived through the wars vowed tonever again allow their world to be taken byany invader, no matter the cost.

Chouka TChouka TChouka TChouka TChouka TechnologyechnologyechnologyechnologyechnologyThe Chouka have developed many

different types of weapons and technologiesduring their time in space. Quite advanced fora race that has only been in space for roughly150 years, the Chouka owe much of theiradvancement to having developed a hightechnology culture prior to reaching for thestars.

Military applications for newtechnologies were always the driving forcebehind the Theocracy’s research programs,and as such such the Chouka developed avariety of different types and classes of



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4weapons. The Chouka eventually became theundisputed experts on several fields oftechnology, most notably plasma technologies,besting even some of the older races in theregion.

By the time of their conquest theChouka had started research into gravitictechnologies, as indicated by the gravitictracting rod, but all of this research was lostduring the war.

Heavy Plasma GunHeavy Plasma GunHeavy Plasma GunHeavy Plasma GunHeavy Plasma GunClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The heavy plasma gun was theChouka’s plasma weapon designedspecifically for anti-shipping use. Developedonly a few years before contact with theNovon, the heavy plasma gun is inadequate atbest when compared to the more advancedplasma cannon weapons. The Chouka usedthe heavy plasma gun extensively until thedevelopment of the light plasma cannon, atwhich point the heavy plasma gun fell intodisuse.

Light Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonLight Plasma CannonClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The light plasma cannon was used asa light secondary gun on most Chouka ships.Often light plasma cannons were installed inturrets or other wide-arc mounts, allowingthem greater versatility in dealing with enemythreats. The fast rate of fire of the light plasmacannon compared to the larger medium orheavy plasma cannons also proved animportant factor in battle.

Medium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonMedium Plasma CannonClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The tried and true medium plasmacannon is used on several older Choukawarship designs. The medium plasmacannon was the first of the plasma cannons tobe widely used as the primary armament of aChouka warship. The medium plasmacannon’s ability to cut through thick armorsand do large amounts of damage to a target atclose engagement ranges was very appealingto the Theocratic Guard Forces.

The medium plasma cannon waseventually replaced with the more advancedheavy plasma cannon. No longer the heavyweapon of the Chouka fleet, use of themedium plasma cannon dropped offsubstantially, only being used as a secondaryweapon or on those hulls where a heavyplasma cannon could not be installed.

Heavy Plasma CannonHeavy Plasma CannonHeavy Plasma CannonHeavy Plasma CannonHeavy Plasma CannonClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The standard Chouka plasma weapon,the heavy plasma cannon was preferred overcomparable weapons technologies because itallowed a cruiser to have the potential ofcrippling opponent with a single, well-placedblow.

The Chouka military had begun tophase out the heavy plasma cannon by thetime of the Chouka War, replacing it insteadwith the newer twin laser cannon. Many newconstruction ships and defense satellitescontinue to make use of both systems inhopes of a synergistic result.

Point Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunPoint Plasma GunClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The point plasma gun is the firstplasma weapon developed by the Chouka foruse in their space navy. The point plasma gunscores damage to its target by way of adirected spray of superheated plasma. It isthis dispersed, wide-area firing effect thatallows point plasma guns to interceptincoming ballistic weaponry.

Heavy Point Plasma GunHeavy Point Plasma GunHeavy Point Plasma GunHeavy Point Plasma GunHeavy Point Plasma GunClass: Plasma Mode: Standard

The heavy point plasma gun is animproved version of the original point plasmagun. The heavy point plasma gun benefitsfrom both an enhanced rate of fire and higheroverall damage, making it more effective incombating fighters and other small craft.However, due to the nature of the point plasmaweapons, the range of the gun is still limitedcompared to that of other plasma weapons.



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At one time the most common weaponin the Chouka fleet, the light laser cannon isprized for its small hardpoint size andreasonable damage potential. The light lasercannon proved to have better range than thecontemporary point plasma gun and, althoughit did less potential damage than the lightplasma cannon, proved to be a more reliableweapon.

The light laser cannon served as oneof the main Chouka’s main anti-shippingweapons until the development of the mediumplasma cannon.

TTTTTwin Laser Cannonwin Laser Cannonwin Laser Cannonwin Laser Cannonwin Laser CannonClass: Laser Mode: Raking

The twin laser cannon is the pinnacleof Chouka laser technology. This weaponcombines two light laser cannons in a singleweapon housing. Chouka scientists were ableto extend the weapon’s range by utilizing amore efficient power system to create astronger, more focused beam. The extendedrange of the twin laser cannon proved to be amarked advantage over previous plasmaweapons, allowing for reliable targetacquisitions beyond even the range of thelauded heavy plasma cannon. What isastonishing about the twin laser cannon is thatthe Chouka originally were attempting tocreate a brutal short-range assault weaponwhen they developed it!

The Chouka military quickly adoptedthe twin laser cannon and ships were promptlyrefitted to make use of the new technology. By1960, nearly all of the ships in the fleet hadswapped their older heavy plasma cannons forthe new twin laser cannon. Some newconstruction designs continued to use heavyplasma cannons, but all of them also includedtwin lasers for additional tactical flexibility.

Both shots from a twin laser cannonare considered linked and as such a single to-hit roll is made when the weapon is fired. If thetwin laser cannon hits, both shots are scoredagainst the target.

Like the quad array, a special critical isscored whenever a twin laser cannon receivesa critical roll of ‘20’ or greater on the normalweapon chart. If such a critical result is rolled,one of the weapon’s laser barrels is disabled,reducing the number of times the weapon’sdamage is scored by one. If a twin lasercannon loses both of its laser barrels in thisway immediately mark the system destroyed.

Gravitic TGravitic TGravitic TGravitic TGravitic TechnologiesechnologiesechnologiesechnologiesechnologiesGravitic weapons and technologies

were in their infancy when war eruptedbetween the Chouka and Circasians. The onlymeaningful technologies to be developed fromresearch into of gravitic technology and itsapplications were limited artificial gravityequipment and the gravitic tracting rod. Theseearly developments showed great promise forthe future, but development of suchtechnologies was cut tragically short due tothe war.

All Chouka information related togravitic technology was destroyed during thewar. Much of this knowledge was lost whenmilitary installations and manufacturing plantson Chouka were destroyed by orbitalbombardment. The rest was lost with thescientists themselves. The last action of theCircle was to dispatch elite guardsmen toeliminate all of those involved in thedevelopment and production of such systems,including their families. They were successfulwith their final mission, depriving theCircasians of any information about theseadvanced technologies.

Gravitic TGravitic TGravitic TGravitic TGravitic Tracting Rodracting Rodracting Rodracting Rodracting RodClass: Gravitic Mode: Special

The gravitic tracting rod is aninteresting system developed by the Choukaas a realization of what some races would callan insane premise. The Circle of Elderswanted a device that could be used to eitherdraw enemy vessels towards or away fromthe firing ship, depending on the specificcircumstances.

Before the development of the tractingrod the only way to draw a ship closer to your



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4own vessel was by physically tethering lines tothe ship, and a ship with any degree ofmaneuverability could easily tear such tethersto ribbons. The entire reason the Circlewanted the capability of ‘reeling in’ enemyships was to make boarding operations easier.Small ships were adequate early on for suchboarding actions, but they desired the ability todo the same thing with much larger shipscapable of delivering greater numbers ofmarine contingents.

The gravitic tracting rod allowed themto do exactly this. The system was capable ofcreating a gravitic attraction or repulsion effectat will against enemy vessels, albeit at shortranges. This allowed large ships to draw inenemy ships and, once at close range,grapple onto their hull and send over waveafter wave of boarding parties. The gravitictracting rod could also function as a tractorbeam, giving it additional flexibility.

This system was first widely used onthe Apostle Holy Cruiser where it met withgreat success in its intended mission. Manyfreighter captains cowered in fear as theleviathans ordered them to stand down and beboarded as the large Chouka cruisers begantractoring them into grappling range.

Missile RacksMissile RacksMissile RacksMissile RacksMissile RacksClass: Ballistic Mode: Varies

The Chouka relied heavily on missilesin their fleet, most notably on their planetarydefense platforms where the stability of thelaunch platform allowed them greater launchranges. Despite their reliance on such ballisticlaunch devices, the Chouka were slow todevelop newer, more advanced missile racksand tended to field ships with antiquatedmissile racks.

Most Chouka ballistic craft use theoriginal missile rack, the Class-O Rack. TheO-Rack proved to be cheap to build andmaintain and the Chouka saw little reason tomount anything better on their hulls.

Some higher profile ships used Class-SO Missile Racks, but these ships arerelatively rare. The Class-SO Rack wasspace intensive and not fully miniaturized at

the time, requiring the space normallyoccupied by two Class-O Racks.

Chouka bases and satellites used themore advanced Class-S Missile Rack in orderto take advantage of its larger magazine andupgraded missile guidance capabilities. TheChouka never got the chance to miniaturizethe Class-S Rack sufficiently so that it couldbe mounted on a starship and the technologybehind the rack was destroyed during the war.

MissilesMissilesMissilesMissilesMissilesThe Chouka were fairly prominent

users of early missile technology and haddeveloped many different missile types by theonset of the Chouka War. The Chouka usedlight missiles exclusively until the introductionof the basic missile in 1930. By the time of thewar, the Chouka had access to light, basic,heavy, chaff, and anti-fighter missiles.

Chouka fighters made very heavy useof fighter missiles and, although the Choukaonly had access to the basic fighter missile,their missile-laden fighters proved to be anexceptional deterrent to enemy cruisers andtheir escorts. A single squadron of Choukamissile fighters could devastate enemy fleets,a proven fact that the Chouka took to heart intheir later fighter designs.

Chouka MilitaryThe Theocratic Guard Force is the

name of the military force in charge of Choukanaval operations. The Theocratic Guard Forcewas first organized in the beginning of the 20th

Century in order to develop a space navycapable of safeguarding the Chouka

Missile AvailabilityTypeTypeTypeTypeType ClassClassClassClassClass In Service In Service In Service In Service In ServiceLight D 1817Basic B 1930Chaff C 1939Anti-Fighter A 1941Heavy H 1948



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homeworld from outside threats. From theseearly beginnings the Theocratic DefenseGuard grew to become one of the mostdisciplined and fanatical military organizationsoperating in known space at the time.

Chouka ships tend to be multipurposevessels meant to perform multiple andsometimes disparate tasks. This was donemore out of necessity than for any otherreason. The Chouka economy simply couldnot support a large enough fleet to allow forlarge degrees of specialization. Instead, mostChouka ships are designed for multiplemission roles, one of which is almost alwayscourier duty. Even the Chouka’s largestcruisers are outfitted for transporting bulkcargoes, personnel, and VIPs around Choukaspace. It is common for a single cleric orother religious leader in the higher echelons ofthe Theocracy to have a ship personallyassigned to his/her command.

Starships

Acolyte Patrol FrigateAcolyte Patrol FrigateAcolyte Patrol FrigateAcolyte Patrol FrigateAcolyte Patrol FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Acolyte Patrol Frigate served asthe primary patrol ship in the Chouka fleet.Except in situations of necessity born of theChouka War, Acolytes very rarely operated infleet actions. The Acolytes were meant forlong range, solitary system patrol work. In thisrole the ships served beautifully. Armed withan impressive amount of weapons for a shipits size plus a full flight of fighters, vessels ofthis class were able to effectively combatraiders and other light combatants whileperforming their routine patrols.

During the war, the Acolyte frigatesredirected to fight on the front lines typicallyaccompanied larger Apostle Holy Cruisers intothe fray, escorting the larger vessels andsupplementing their firepower. Acolyte PatrolFrigates found it difficult to deal with thenumbers of Moshesta frigates sent againstthem by the Circasians and most were easilydispatched.

Apostle Holy CruiserApostle Holy CruiserApostle Holy CruiserApostle Holy CruiserApostle Holy CruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The ultimate warship in the Choukafleet, the Apostle Holy Cruiser was not only ashowcase for advanced technologies but alsothe principal executive transport of theTheocracy. Armed to the teeth with plasmaand laser weaponry, the Apostle could hold itsown against any foreign warship. However,the Apostle’s mission of flagship for travelingclerics was just as high a priority to theDefense Guard.

One quirk of the Apostle is the additionof a boarding prow slung beneath the ship’snose. Equipped with the bleeding edgegravitic tracting rod and two breaching ports,the Apostle was designed to be able to draw inderelict ships and board them, allowing theChouka to capture enemy ships, performchecks for contraband, or simply exactpersonal retribution upon the survivors. Moreceremonial than practical, this feature of theship was used on several occasions againstenemy ships that could no longer fight.

During the war, the Apostle was themost feared Chouka ship. A single salvo froman Apostle could shatter Circasian cruiserswith firepower to spare. In addition, the Apostlecruisers were built with durability in mind andwere able to soak up enormous amounts ofdamage before being destroyed.

Due to the expense of construction andmaintenance, Apostle Holy Cruisers made upa disproportionately small amount of theChouka military force.

Apostle War CruiserApostle War CruiserApostle War CruiserApostle War CruiserApostle War CruiserApostle Variant (Rare)

The desperation of the Chouka War ledthe Circle of Elders to order the construction ofseveral heavily modified Apostle Holy Cruisersspecifically refitted for combat. The ApostleWar Cruiser exchanges the base hull’samenities, including all extraneous cargo andpersonnel facilities, for an expanded arsenal ofweapons. Additional plasma cannons andpoint plasma guns were added to the hull inplace of outer cargo bays. In addition, a pair ofmissile racks and their associated munitions



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4storage were added to the ship, giving theApostle War Cruiser two 360° missilelaunchers.

The Apostle War Cruiser proved to befar better in combat than the Apostle in almostevery way. Unforutnately, the appearance ofthe Apostle War Cruiser came too late to makea major impact on the course of the war.Circasian and Chouka scholars alike havetheorized that, if the Chouka had been allowedanother six months of production time, enoughApostle War Cruisers could have beenproduced by the Theocracy to stalemate thewar.

Arbiter Customs CutterArbiter Customs CutterArbiter Customs CutterArbiter Customs CutterArbiter Customs CutterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Arbiter Customs Cutter was one ofthe Chouka’s primary anti-raider vessels. Fastand relatively maneuverable, the Arbiter wascapable of pursuing suspected pirate craft andgrappling onto them with its forward mountedgrappling claws. Once attached, the Arbitercould then deposit customs crews andmarines to the target to check for contraband.

The Arbiter is normally equipped withnine marine contingents at any given time.This is more than enough to capture andsecure civilian and raider vessels to take themto justice.

When confronted by raider fighters orships an Arbiter can only barely hold its groundand usually will be forced to flee the area. Inareas particularly hard hit by raider activity, theTheocratic Guard would often assign smallfleets of Arbiters to work in tandem on theirsystem patrols to provide suitable firepower tointimidate raiders and would-be bandits.

Believer Police FrigateBeliever Police FrigateBeliever Police FrigateBeliever Police FrigateBeliever Police FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

An early Chouka frigate design, theBeliever Police Frigates were constructedshortly after contact with the Novon wasestablished. The Circle recognized the needfor a modernized defensive craft to help anddefend Chouka from attack. These shipsrepresented the best that the Chouka couldbuild at the time.

The Chouka soon found that the shipswere ineffective at combating the craft fieldedby neighboring militaries and, in fact, they werebarely suitable for keeping raiders and piratesin check. As soon as new technologies wereavailable the Believer Police Frigates wereretired from service. Many of these shipswere sold to Chouka government sponsoredprivateers and pirates for use in raiding alienconvoys.

Bishop WarshipBishop WarshipBishop WarshipBishop WarshipBishop WarshipBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Designated a warship by theTheocratic Defense Guard, the BishopWarship is in fact a priority courier ship. TheBishop was built as much to ferry religiousleaders as it was to act as the testbed for thenew twin laser cannon. Individually, BishopWarships are not equipped to take on enemycruisers of similar size. However, whenoperating in wolf packs, Bishop Warships canbe very deadly opponents.

Almost all Bishop Warships producedby the Chouka were assigned to a single clericor high priest of the Theocracy. These clericsused their assigned Bishops as personalyachts. Many clerics even took up residenceon their private warships. Often times theships would be used to take the clerics andtheir guests to religious retreats in the Mishtukior Sha’al systems or simply to remote andexotic locations in the Chouka home systemso that the cleric could meditate. When thewar began with the Circasians the Bishopswere slowly recalled to strict military service.



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In some cases the clerics were even orderedby the elders to take their ships into battle todefend Chouka from the heathens! Theclerics had no choice but to comply with theorders, lest they face the wrath of the Circle.

Covenant MinelayerCovenant MinelayerCovenant MinelayerCovenant MinelayerCovenant MinelayerBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

These dedicated minelayers wereextremely rare vessels in the TheocraticDefense Forces. Covenant Minelayers arelarge craft, one of the largest operated by theChouka. Designed solely with minelayingoperations in mind, this craft and itscomplement of ten shuttles can deploy entireminefields in only two or three days of twenty-four hour minelaying activity. CovenantMinelayers are strictly business andcompletely lack the creature comforts thatmost Chouka captains are used to.

When not in active duty, CovenantMinelayers were stored in mothballs in orbit ofChouka. Their maintenance cost and that oftheir minelaying shuttles was high, too high towarrant their operations during peacetime.

Crusader DreadnoughtCrusader DreadnoughtCrusader DreadnoughtCrusader DreadnoughtCrusader DreadnoughtBase Hull (Unique Ship)

The Crusader Dreadnought was aresponse to the military threat of the CircasianEmpire. For years before the Chouka Warstarted the elders knew that the Circasianswere building up their fleet and collectingintelligence data on Chouka holdings. Thisunwanted interest drew the ire of the Circleand events were set in motion to provide acounterpoint to any possible Circasian threat.

Unfortunately for the Chouka the warwas upon them before the Crusader had evenleft the drawing board. With the reality of thecrisis at hand the project was put on the backburner, although many vocal supportersclaimed that it was the only possible way toteach the Circasians a lesson they wouldremember for decades to come.

By the time of the fall of Mishtuki thefirst Crusader had begun construction and theskeletal hull completed. The Chouka’sincreasingly dire position prompted them to

work more fervently than ever before tocomplete the Crusader Dreadnought prototypebefore it was too late. Unfortunately, timingwas again not on the Chouka’s side. Whenthe Circasians launched their assault on theChouka homeworld the Crusader was lessthan half-finished and barely able to maneuverunder its own power. Weapons systems werehastily installed onboard and the ship readiedfor the final fight.

The first (and only) CrusaderDreadnought was destroyed by the Circasiansin that final battle when its reactor experiencedan unexpected power feedback loop andexploded.

Holyland Assault CruiserHolyland Assault CruiserHolyland Assault CruiserHolyland Assault CruiserHolyland Assault CruiserScripture Variant (Uncommon)

The Chouka rarely had need for anassault ship given their reclusive andisolationist nature. In the rare instances thatdid require the deployment of Chouka groundforces, Holyland Assault Cruisers were calledin to deliver the troops to the target. Amodification of the Scripture IntelligenceCruiser, that ship’s silent running abilitiescame in handy and allowed Holyland AssaultCruisers to get very near their target beforesetting off early warning detectors.

Each Holyland Assault Cruiser cantransport one battalion of troops and depositthem simultaneously to the target by virtue ofthe ship’s extensive assault shuttle facilities.Crew comfort is low and quarters crampedonboard such assault ships when loaded tofull capacity, but it is a necessary evil endemicof most assault craft.

Inquisitor Light CruiserInquisitor Light CruiserInquisitor Light CruiserInquisitor Light CruiserInquisitor Light CruiserBase Hull (Special Availability)

Introduced shortly after the PriestPlasma Destroyer, the Inquisitor Light Cruiseracted as both a system patrol cruiser andheavy warship within the Theocratic GuardForces. The Inquisitor was sturdy and heavilyarmed for a ship of its size; however, theInquisitor Light Cruiser did prove to be lessmaneuverable than would have been liked.



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4The Inquisitor Light Cruisers were

overshadowed several years later with theintroduction of the Retribution Battlecruiser.The larger and faster Retribution proved morepopular among military commanders and theInquisitors were eventually phased out ofservice.

From 1921 to 1945 the Inquisitor LightCruiser is considered to be UnlimitedAvailability hull. In scenarios set after 1945,the Inquisitor should be considered a LimitedAvailability (33%) hull until its final phase outdate of 1960. No Inquisitors remained in activeservice after 1960.

Priest Plasma DestroyerPriest Plasma DestroyerPriest Plasma DestroyerPriest Plasma DestroyerPriest Plasma DestroyerBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Priest Plasma Destroyer was oneof the first Chouka military craft to enterwidespread construction. Built at the orbitalCanfara Anglasun shipyards orbiting Chouka,the Priest Plasma Destroyers were built inlarge numbers in the decades after theacceptance of the design by the Circle. Armedwith two medium plasma cannons and a trio oflight plasma cannons, the Priest was acapable opponent in battle. Although the Priestwas not superior to the alien analogs of its day,it remained an important step forward inChouka ship construction technologies.

By the time of the Chouka War, mostPriest Plasma Destroyers had been shiftedfrom their original cruiser mission duties tothat of escort and support craft. Many othershad been converted into any number ofvariants, including luxury liners and personaltransports for high-ranking clerics. In battlethe Priest Plasma Destroyers proved to beequal to many Circasian designs and provedits effectiveness on several occasions.

Priest Escort DestroyerPriest Escort DestroyerPriest Escort DestroyerPriest Escort DestroyerPriest Escort DestroyerPriest Variant (Uncommon)

Only a few years after the introductionof the Priest Plasma Destroyer into service, arequest was put in for a variant of the hull thatwould be better suited for convoy and fleetescort duties. Although the Priest PlasmaDestroyer was a capable warship there

remained a need for a heavy escort to provideanti-fighter protection for the fleet.

The Priest Escort Destroyer was theChouka answer to this problem. The upperhull of the Priest is heavily modified from thatof the original ship, expanding and reinforcingthe upper gun turrets. The light plasmacannons formerly installed in these turretswere replaced with point plasma guns,providing the Priest Escort Destroyer withexcellent 360° weapons coverage.

Radiance ExplorerRadiance ExplorerRadiance ExplorerRadiance ExplorerRadiance ExplorerBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

The Radiance Explorer is a massivelyrefitted Retribution Battlecruiser. Using thelatter’s engine pod and several other modularcomponents, the Radiance is considered anentirely different ship type due to the number ofchanges made to the basic design during itsdevelopment and construction.

The most notable addition to theRadiance is a counter-rotational section thatprovides limited micro-gravity, allowing theship and its crew to perform extended durationexploratory missions. The ship’s weaponsand high power sensor package make itadequately defended should it run into hostileforces while abroad.

During the Chouka War, RadianceExplorers were typically not drawn intocombat, as most were still deployed on theRim of known space at the time of the conflict.One was destroyed at the end of the war whenit attempted to seek refuge in Breth, beingdestroyed by the Sshel’ath force that seizedthat system. Of the other two that survived thewar, one was presumably lost in hyperspaceand the other continued to explore unchartedspace lanes. The ship and crew had leftChouka only months before the Circasian’sfinal assault on their homeworld and it was thecrew’s decision to strike out and find a newbeginning for their species and civilizationamongst the stars. They eventually reached afertile world in a system they called Regalo,establishing a colony from which to beginanew. The colony’s location and veryexistence would remain unknown, even afterthe last of the Escalation Wars.



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RetributionRetributionRetributionRetributionRetributionBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Retribution Battlecruiser is one ofthe few dedicated warships in the Choukafleet. The Retribution represented the besttechnology the Theocracy could muster duringthe 1930’s and was an impressive ship for itstime. Retributions served with distinction inthe Guard Forces, but after three decades itbecame obvious that time had not been kind tothe class. The Retributions had becomesomewhat long in the tooth compared to othernewer classes and simply could not competewith newer cruisers operated by the Chouka ortheir neighbors.

By the time of the war with theCircasians the Retribution Battlecruiser hadbeen relegated to reserve unit status.Retribution Battlecruisers were usually onlyactivated when they were needed for faststrike missions that would rely on theRetribution’s speed to complete the missionobjectives.

Revelation AuxiliaryRevelation AuxiliaryRevelation AuxiliaryRevelation AuxiliaryRevelation AuxiliaryCarrierCarrierCarrierCarrierCarrierRevelation Variant (Uncommon)

Several Revelation War Barges wereconverted into auxiliary carriers both beforeand during the Chouka War. These shipsexchanged the missile racks in the aft sectionand their magazines for a series of combatfighter bays in the aft section of the shipcapable of housing two flights of heavyfighters.

The Theocracy commissioned veryfew of these before the war, but during the warthey became a necessary piece of equipmentas they represented one of the few ways tobring appreciable fighter support into a fight.

Revelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The original incarnation of theRevelation, this interplanetary freighter is aboxy design originally intended solely fortransporting cargo and equipment. Only

marginally armed and not meant for combat,the Revelation Freighters would later beconverted into war barges as a cheap combatunit.

Revelation MinelayerRevelation MinelayerRevelation MinelayerRevelation MinelayerRevelation MinelayerRevelation Variant (Uncommon)

Castoff Revelation Freighters wereoften converted into minelayers by theTheocratic Guard Forces when the need forminelayers became great. The largerCovenant Minelayers were better equipped tolay extensive minefields, but they wereexpensive and rare. Revelation Minelayerswere used to supplement the Covenants,laying mines in locations either too remote ortoo dangerous for a Covenant to dare travel.

Revelation Minelayers saw aresurgence during the Chouka War. Many ofthese ships were constructed to bolsterdefensive lines along the Chouka border,particularly in the Sha’al system. It was duringtheir service on the frontlines that the biggestflaw of the Revelation Minelayers becameevident. The minelaying equipment retrofittedonto the Revelation hull left little room fordefensive weaponry and Revelation Minelayersfound themselves unable to deal with even thesmallest enemy threat. This resulted indroves of minelayers being destroyed byenemy frigates and fighters during the courseof the war.

Revelation War BargeRevelation War BargeRevelation War BargeRevelation War BargeRevelation War BargeRevelation Variant (Common)

A converted freighter, the RevelationWar Barge is an auxiliary support ship. TheRevelation War Barges were initially designedas logistics vessels for the movement ofmunitions from Chouka to fleets and outpostsin Mishtuki or Breth. Eventually the ChoukaTheocracy decided that they were a cheapalternative to fielding “real” warships and thepace of production was picked up. Slow,ponderous, and equipped with antiquatedmissile systems, the Revelation is the perfectexample of a government cutting corners tosave money.



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4The Revelation War Barges saw

extensive service during the Chouka War andwere one of the most common units seen incombat. Almost every Chouka fleet of anysize included several Revelation War Barges.Revelations were found to be most effective ina fleet action scale environment where theycould periodically fire salvoes of missiles atCircasian warships while they were distractedby heavier warships, such as the Apostle HolyCruisers.

Reverence SystemReverence SystemReverence SystemReverence SystemReverence SystemMonitorMonitorMonitorMonitorMonitorBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Reverence System Monitor is thefirst large capital ship design built by theChouka. A large heavily armed, heavilyarmored warship, the Reverence was littlemore than a mobile base designed forprojecting the power of the Theocracy withinits territories. Reverence System Monitors,although slow, were more than a match formost enemy warships.

The Reverence proved to be difficult toupgrade and the design was unable to acceptupgrades to more advanced plasma and laserweapons as they became available. Thisfailing caused the Reverence System Monitorsto be pulled from active service. They werenot replaced with a newer system monitordesign, however, as the Chouka saw littleneed for a new monitor when their cruisersand patrol frigates could handle the job ofsystem defense more than adequately.

For a time, the recalled Reverenceswere put into orbit above Chouka and servedas actual defense platforms to reinforceimportant defensive linchpin positions.However, as time went on, it became obviousthat the Reverence would not be effective insuch a role and the remaining ReverenceSystem Monitors were mothballed. They weredemothballed to help defend the Choukahomeworld during the Chouka War, with littleeffect.

Scripture IntelligenceScripture IntelligenceScripture IntelligenceScripture IntelligenceScripture IntelligenceCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Chouka operated very few ELINTvessels, the most common being theScripture Intelligence Cruiser. The ScriptureIntelligence Cruiser, unlike the scouts operatedby other powers, is not meant to function incombat situations. Rather, the ship isdesigned to keep watch over Choukaterritories and watch for any possible alienfleet movements. These ships were verycommon in newly explored territories wherethey kept watch for possible alien intrudersthat may have had existing knowledge or claimto the system in question.

The Chouka War forced someScripture Intelligence Cruisers to join the wareffort, and some served well in the major fleetactions of the war. Unfortunately, they werenot designed for the role and were easilygunned down by Circasian cruisers andfrigates.

Scripture Intelligence Cruisers arecapable of stealthy movements, the ship’sdesign optimized to reduce radiationemissions. This allowed Scriptures to operatesilently in potentially hostile territory,concealing their location from possibleobservers. This silent-running ability does notoffer any tangible benefits in pick up gamesbut can be of great utility in campaignsituations. In these cases, GM’s shouldconsider allowing Scripture IntelligenceCruisers and any other hulls based on theScripture to have a chance of not beingdetected if they move in or out of a system thatis one jump from a Chouka system.

Vengeance CarrierVengeance CarrierVengeance CarrierVengeance CarrierVengeance CarrierVengeance Variant (Uncommon)

The Vengeance Carrier was designedto meet the Chouka demand for a dedicatedcarrier unit. Other hulls had previously beentested for conversion into carriers but only theVengeance was large enough to allow for theexpansion of the existing internal hangar tocarry more fighters. In the end the VengeanceCarrier carries only one flight more than its



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predecessor at the expense of severalweapons and a section of the ship’s reactor.

Carriers of this class were meant toserve as part of larger fleets where their extrafighter support is needed. Vengeance Carrieralso proved to be an exceptional escort craftwhen using its plethora of point plasma gunsto shoot down enemy fighters.

Vengeance Heavy CruiserVengeance Heavy CruiserVengeance Heavy CruiserVengeance Heavy CruiserVengeance Heavy CruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Vengeance Heavy Cruiser was theChouka’s first heavy cruiser design. Heavilyinfluenced by the designs of the neighboringThaline, the Vengeance Heavy Cruiserincorporated the best technologies the Choukawere capable of producing. The Choukastressed the importance of making theVengeance a multi-roled cruiser designcapable of handling itself in all situations. Thisdoctrinal decision led to a design that boasts asubstantial number of anti-fighter batteries.

The Vengeance acted as the primaryChouka heavy warship until the developmentof more advanced warships in the early1940’s. The Retribution Battlecruiserultimately replaced the Vengeance in its role,relegating it instead into a support position inthe fleet.

The Theocratic Guard Forces hadhoped to upgrade the Vengeance HeavyCruiser as time went on, but the proliferation ofother, newer hulls that could do the job just aswell forced them to abandon such plans.Without major incremental refits the class waseventually retired with the last hull being struckonly three years before the start of the war.

War Prayer GunshipWar Prayer GunshipWar Prayer GunshipWar Prayer GunshipWar Prayer GunshipBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The War Prayer Gunship is adedicated warship designed specifically fortaking down enemy cruisers of greater size.Armed to the teeth for a ship of its size, theWar Prayer Gunship is a capable combatantwith better speed and maneuverability thanany other Chouka ship.

Though the War Prayer’s design wouldseem to lend itself to a wolf pack mentality, the

Chouka never used them in this fashion.Instead, the Theocracy sent War Prayers onsolitary sorties, patrolling nearby regions ofspace or testing enemy defenses and resolvethrough lightning strike raids into enemyterritory.

War Prayer MinesweeperWar Prayer MinesweeperWar Prayer MinesweeperWar Prayer MinesweeperWar Prayer MinesweeperWar Prayer Variant (Uncommon)

The invention of the twin laser cannonby the Chouka prompted the Theocratic GuardForces to reevaluate their existing fleet andidentify those ships currently use the heavyplasma cannon that would take part in thefleet-wide upgrade initiative. Initial reportsindicated that it would not be cost effective toupgrade the existing fleet of War PrayerGunships to the new technology.

This determination prompted many ofthe Chouka military leadership to begin puttingforth options for alternate refits or uses for theWar Prayer hull. The leading contender (andthe first to make it to the prototyping stage)was the War Prayer Minesweeper.

The War Prayer Minesweeperexchanges its plasma cannons for pointplasma guns, weapons that are better forsweeping enemy minefields because of theirhigh rate of fire. The War Prayer’s sensorswere also increased and special minedetection packages added to aid in thedetection of enemy mines.

The War Prayer Minesweepers wererarely called on, though there were someinstances during the heightened tensions withthe Circasians before the outbreak of the warthat such minesweepers were used to checkfor Circasian mines in their territories.

Bases & Defenses

Brimstone Heavy OSABrimstone Heavy OSABrimstone Heavy OSABrimstone Heavy OSABrimstone Heavy OSATTTTTBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The largest and deadliest of theChouka orbital defense satellites operatedduring the war, the satellites of the Brimstonetype were commonly deployed as linchpindefense units at key strategic points. Theirheavy firepower and durability made them the



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4equals of enemy frigates. When supported bylesser satellites as part of a comprehensivedefense structure, walls of these satellitescould easily defeat wave after wave of enemycruisers.

Citadel Star FortressCitadel Star FortressCitadel Star FortressCitadel Star FortressCitadel Star FortressBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The most powerful starbase everyconstructed by the Chouka, the Citadel StarFortress was a massive starbase that servedas the center of operations for the ChoukaTheocratic Guard Forces before and duringthe Chouka War. Megalithic in size andstature, the articulately designed space stationwas the epitome of the grandeur of theChouka military and seen as a testimony totheir faith. This large base was completed in1961, and later destroyed in 1973 during thefinal assault on Chouka by Circasian forces.

Hellfire DefenseHellfire DefenseHellfire DefenseHellfire DefenseHellfire DefenseSatelliteSatelliteSatelliteSatelliteSatelliteBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Hellfire OSAT was the mostcommon Chouka defensive satellite in service.Developed as one of the first weapons in theDefense Guard’s defensive arsenal, theHellfire Defense Satellite was a common sightover Chouka and Mishtuki for over half acentury.

Penance Military BasePenance Military BasePenance Military BasePenance Military BasePenance Military BaseBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Penance Military Bases wereconstructed throughout Chouka space to actas listening posts and supply stations forChouka forces. Deployment of Penancebases was accelerated prior to the ChoukaWar when the Chouka leadership becamemore and more concerned about possiblehostilities with the Circasian Empire.

The Penance Military Bases erected inthe Mishtuki and Chouka systems wereimportant bastions for ships cut off by theCircasian military advance. Such bases wereable to maintain supply for these isolatedships, allowing them to perform important

raids on Circasian fleets, most importantlysupply convoys.

Several Penance bases survived thefall of the Chouka homeworld, but all wereeventually hunted down by the Circasianoccupation forces in the years following thecollapse of the Theocracy.

Solitude ReligiousSolitude ReligiousSolitude ReligiousSolitude ReligiousSolitude ReligiousRetreatRetreatRetreatRetreatRetreatBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

There were many areas in their spacethat the Chouka found to be unusually sereneor beautiful. These locations were sought outby those true believers and pilgrims whobelieved that these places could take themcloser to their god. As the number ofworshipers increased the Theocracy wouldpay for the construction of small stations tomake their stays more comfortable. Suchstations were never heavily armed and mostwere off the beaten path far from the normalroutes of system patrols.

Solitude Religious Retreats becameknown as places of reverence, contemplation,and religious fervor. Psychotropic drugs wereused to heighten pilgrim’s experiences andconvocations could often get out of hand.

When the Circasians invaded Choukaspace they recognized the civilian nature ofthese bases and did not target them fordestruction. Instead they used marine assaultsquads to capture the base and then assigneda small detachment of personnel to overseeoperations. The Chouka pilgrims at the retreatwere held prisoner and not allowed to leave, afact that infuriated them to no end and spurredsome violent encounters, but in the end it wasa blessing in disguise. The pilgrims atSolitude bases were saved from the carnageexperienced by the major Chouka populationcenters as a result of orbital bombardmentand ground combat. If many of them had beenback at home rather than at the retreats theywould have most likely been killed.

After the war was over those Choukaheld on Solitude bases were repatriated totheir places of origin. The retreats were



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maintained by the Circasians from that pointon and remained centers for religious worship.

TTTTTaera Shrineaera Shrineaera Shrineaera Shrineaera ShrineBase Hull (Unique Base)

The outpost of Taera Shrine in theSha’al system began its life as a simpleSolitude Religious Retreat erected near theLights of Taera. However, as the number ofpilgrims traveling to see the Lights continuedto increase, the station was forced to expandin order to accommodate them. Theseadditions to the station were sometimeshaphazard, yet others were extensivelyplanned. The final result was a piecemealstation whose beauty was entirely in the eye ofthe beholder.

Taera Shrine became a staging postfor Chouka fleets in the Sha’al system duringthe Chouka War. An extensive field of minesas well as additional OSATs was deployed atthe base to provide for its protection. In theend these defenses proved unable to holdback Circasian attacks on the system and theshrine was left unguarded and defenseless.

Attempts by the Circasians to captureTaera Shrine proved disastrous due to thefanatic defense of the Chouka pilgrims andsecurity personnel onboard the station. In theend the Circasian commander in charge of themission evacuated their marines anddestroyed Taera Shrine along with its entirepopulation of some five thousand Chouka.

TTTTTemple Starbaseemple Starbaseemple Starbaseemple Starbaseemple StarbaseBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

These small bases were oftenconstructed at important locations throughoutthe Chouka Theocracy. Temple Starbases aremeant not so much for defense but instead aswaystations for travelers traveling to and fromreligious convocations and retreats. Severalcould be found in orbit of Chouka, and anotherat Mishtuki VII.

Chouka MinesChouka MinesChouka MinesChouka MinesChouka MinesThe Chouka were strong believers in

the power of mines and established manyextensive minefields in their territory. The

Chouka often used vast minefields to helpprotect bases or reinforce static defensepoints. It was just as common, however, forthe Chouka to lay tracts of mines alongimportant, non-commercial transit routes tohelp to dissuade unauthorized movement intheir systems. Because of their heavy use ofmines, the Chouka developed an inordinatelylarge number of mine types when compared toother powers.

Conviction-A Proximity Mine: Cost 6,Damage 10, Signature 2.

Conviction-B Proximity Mine: Cost 10,Damage 15, Signature 2.

Vedas-A Captor Mine: Cost 12, Range 4,Accuracy +3, Damage 12, Signature 4.

Vedas-B Captor Mine: Cost 18, Range 5,Accuracy +4, Damage 15, Signature 4.

Vedas-C Captor Mine: Cost 22, Range 6,Accuracy +6, Damage 18, Signature 5.

Watcher-A DEW Mine: Cost 22, Range 6,Accuracy +3, Signature 1 (0), Armor 3,Structure 10. Fires a light plasma cannon.Includes an Identify Friend or Foe (IFF)enhancement in the mine cost. This largemine is heavily armored and reinforced towithstand enemy fire. Watcher-A DEW mineswere traditionally encircled space stations inone or more concentric rings about the baseand functioned as a poor man’s OSAT.

Watcher-B DEW Mine: Cost 15, Range 6,Accuracy +3, Signature 2 (1), Armor 1,Structure 4. Fires a light laser cannon. Thisvariant of the Watcher-A mine frame wasdeveloped as a cheaper DEW mine that couldbe deployed more widely than the Watcher-A.The Watcher-B’s were commonly used tomine trade routes or opening of jump gatesduring wartime.

Fighters & Shuttles

Bloodlust AssaultBloodlust AssaultBloodlust AssaultBloodlust AssaultBloodlust AssaultFighterFighterFighterFighterFighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Chouka have always preferredheavily armed heavy fighters as part of theirmilitary doctrine. The Bloodlust Assault



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4Fighter is a perfect example of this militarydesign ideology. The Bloodlust is armed withtwo laser beam weapons and six missilehardpoints.

The Bloodlust’s high forward armormade it a formidable opponent againstCircasian units during the war, but themaneuverability and speed of the CircasianIstale more than made up for the heavierfirepower of the Bloodlust Assault Fighter.

Faithbringer HeavyFaithbringer HeavyFaithbringer HeavyFaithbringer HeavyFaithbringer HeavyFighterFighterFighterFighterFighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

An improvement over the WraithbladeHeavy Fighter, the Faithbringer Heavy Fighterwas designed to replace the Wraithblade asthe Chouka’s premier heavy fighter. TheFaithbringer was better armed and armored,and sported many new fighter technologies.

The Faithbringer heavy fighter had ashort production life, being quickly replaced bythe Bloodlust Assault Fighter. Faithbringerscontinued to serve faithfully after theBloodlust’s entry into service, though mostwere transferred to patrol craft or second tierdefense facilities.

Infidel Breaching PodInfidel Breaching PodInfidel Breaching PodInfidel Breaching PodInfidel Breaching PodBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The standard Chouka breaching pod,Infidel Breaching Pods were commonequipment onboard Chouka patrol ships. TheChouka preferred a direct ship-to-shipconnection for conducting boardingoperations, but this was not always possible.Some ships that were called on to stop and beboarded did not heed the warning. InfidelBreaching Pods were used to hunt down suchfugitives and board them, capturing their shipsand detaining their crews for questioning.

The Infidel’s design stresses speedover survivability. This unarmed breachingpod is lacking in armor and structure, but theengine system is well developed, offeringabove average thrust output. Because of theengine’s sturdy construction, an InfidelBreaching Pod only loses 1 point of thrust per4 boxes destroyed.

TTTTTeuton Assault Shuttleeuton Assault Shuttleeuton Assault Shuttleeuton Assault Shuttleeuton Assault ShuttleBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

This small assault shuttle was used bythe Chouka for launching planetary assaultson alien worlds. Teuton Assault Shuttles arearmed for their defense, often using theirsingle light laser beam to shoot downintercepting fighters on their way to the target.

The internal volume of each TeutonAssault Shuttle is low and each shuttle canonly carry three marine contingents at a time.This was not a problem for the Chouka asTeutons were mainly used for small covertoperations that relied on small combat teams.

Wraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyFighterFighterFighterFighterFighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Wraithblade is the Chouka’s firstmodern heavy fighter unit. Slow and onlylightly armored, the Wraithblade was designedas a testbed for early Chouka fightertechnologies. Early prototype versions oflaser, plasma, and ballistic weapons weretestbedded on the hull before being furtherdeveloped into shipboard mounts.As a combat unit, Wraithblade Heavy Fightersare mediocre at best. They don’t have thespeed to keep up with comparable enemyfighters and their paper-thin armor makesthem easily dispatched by the enemy.Because of their numerous failings the designsaw a very short deployment life. Many endedup being sold off to third parties, often to theblack market where they would fetch a decentprice from interested buyers. Because of this,Wraithblades could often be seen flying in theservice of raiders or civilians.



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The Sshel’ath AllianceEm

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5Chapter 5: TheChapter 5: TheChapter 5: TheChapter 5: TheChapter 5: TheSshel’athSshel’athSshel’athSshel’athSshel’athAllianceAllianceAllianceAllianceAlliance

BackgroundA race of insect-like aliens, the

Sshel’ath are amazing in that they are able toreshape their bodies at will. The secret behindthis ability is the fact that a Sshel’ath’s body ismade up of an intertwined mass of rope-likeelastic fibers which allow for limitedrearrangement of the body’s form. Some ofthese fiber segments contain the equivalent ofmajor body organs that serve normal lifefunctions. These sections are larger, thicker,and more durable than the secondary fibrilstructures that comprise most of the Sshel’athbody. Each fiber section has a thickexoskeleton that protects the soft, fleshycartilage within. The only section of theSshel’ath not rearrangeable is the face. Akinto a large fibroid cyst, the Sshel’ath facecontains visual sensory and highly sensitivemotion detection organs. All other senses aredistributed throughout the body. Sshel’athhave a fast metabolism and can easilyregenerate entire sections of their body giventime. They are also highly resistant toradiation.

The Cold WarThe Cold WarThe Cold WarThe Cold WarThe Cold WarThe Sshel’ath race for space began in

the late 19th Century in the midst of a cold warinvolving the two most powerful planetarycoalitions on Sshel’a. These two powers, theA’hel’is and the Mst’as, had both reachedsuperpower status during their wars ofexpansion fought during the previous century.The A’hel’is and Mst’as were the largest andmost powerful planetary powers on Sshel’a,yet neither power ever came into direct conflictwith the other. Instead, each controlled its owncadre of satellite states that acted as proxies.As the cold war escalated and tensionsincreased it was not uncommon for one power

to direct one of its client states to attack theother’s client who would then return in kind.Like a game, the power brokers on either sidewillfully sacrificed their ‘pawns’ for the greatergood. Hundreds of thousands of Sshel’athwere killed in the first ten years of the 20thCentury as a result of these proxy wars.

Shortly after satellite technology hadbecome available, both powers beganattempting to develop orbital defense platformsfor insertion into planetary orbit. Bothpossessed nuclear capabilities and hoped thattheir network of satellites would be able tosuccessfully intercept any incoming enemyICBM’s and provide orbital launch capabilitiesfor their own nuclear weapons.

Construction of new satellites came ata frenzied pace, the A’hel’is matching Mst’asproduction and vice versa. Whenever onenation would launch a new satellite the otherwould quickly follow in kind. By 1918, the orbitof Sshel’a was riddled with an intricatelywoven web of defense and communicationssatellites. A handful of “orbital fortresses” werealso established; these large military stationsallowed small crews of twenty to thirty officersto serve in space for extended periods. Thefortresses acted as command nodes, keepingtabs on the operational status of other nearbysatellites. Such installations were seen as anecessity for maintaining control of orbitalassets should a total nuclear war destroyground based command and control facilities.


The Sshel’ath Alliance 5Em

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In 1922, a Mst’as geologic probesent to investigate a large proto-planetaryobject in the dense outer asteroid beltrelayed news of an amazing find. Theprotoplanetoid, as well as the rest of theasteroid belt, had an unusually highconcentration of heavy elements and otherimportant or rare ore deposits that wereboth very pure and easily extractable.Unfortunately for the Mst’as, the A’hel’isintercepted the transmission.

Both nations accelerated their spaceprograms in a race to be the first to reachand exploit the asteroid belt. Both nationsbelieved that the influx of raw materialswould allow their respective economies(and militaries) to surpass that of their rival,allowing for any final confrontation betweenthe powers to end in their favor. Thusstarted the A’hel’is/Mst’as War, known tomost alien historians as the misnamedSshel’ath Civil War.

The A’hel’is/Mst’as War was one inname only. The fighting on Sshel’acontinued at the same pace it had for overtwo generations. Rather, the war was oneof national prides. Both wished to claimcontrol of the asteroid belt and its lucrativeresources while at the same time denyingthem to their rivals. Both nations spentmassive outlays of capital and resources inan attempt to be the first power to establishproductive colonies in the asteroid belt andsecure a monopoly on interplanetarycommerce. Espionage, sabotage, andintrigue were the primary weapons of thewar. The A’hel’is/Mst’as War did see severalspace battles, but most were whollyunspectacular. The Sshel’ath space navytechnology was extremely primitive and theirweapons crude. Most battles amounted totwo ships firing nuclear missiles at oneother until one struck its target, crippling ordestroying it, or both ran out of ammunition,forcing a retreat.

The space race between the rivalpowers largely fizzled and led to a decline inhostilities as both powers fortified andbolstered their newly established colonies.Lack of available real estate in the asteroid

belt was not an issue and both A’helis and Mst’asfound they were isolated enough through the beltto make offensive actions against the otherunwise.

The Birth of theThe Birth of theThe Birth of theThe Birth of theThe Birth of theAllianceAllianceAllianceAllianceAlliance

Finally, in 1928, the leaders of the A’hel’isand Mst’as governments signed an armistice.Both sides had achieved their goals of reachinginto space but in so doing they had discoveredthat both of their nations could profit equally fromthe endeavor. The A’hel’is and Mst’as leadersboth realized that more was at stake than thecontrol of a single planet or a collection ofasteroids, they had an entire solar system tobring under their control!

In addition to the armistice treaty, bothnations agreed to form the Sshel’ath Alliance, ajoint-council made up of representatives fromboth factions given the authority andresponsibility of monitoring and administeringinterplanetary efforts.

The A’hel’is and Mst’as quickly realizedthat this dualistic space agency was an excellenttool for power. Both sides used the Alliance tomaintain their separate space monopolies,denying space travel to other neutral nations andregulating space travel and commerce in such away as to only benefit the Alliance’s controllers.Tensions quickly dissipated between the twoformer archrivals. Petty bickering over the limitedresources of Sshel’a seemed almostinconsequential in comparison to the riches to bemade through interplanetary trade.

It was not long after the formation of theAlliance that the Sshel’ath made first contact withintelligent alien life. In 1938, a small Ukal scoutship entered the Sshel’ath home system andmade contact with the Sshel’ath, the scoutcommunicating a message of peace andfriendship to the Sshel’ath people. The Sshel’athresponded naively to the alien communications,but this was only posturing on the part of theAlliance leaders. Cordial relations weresomething that the Sshel’ath did desire (theyweren’t stupid enough to believe themselves thetechnological equals of the Ukal after all), but



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5they were far more interested in trying to figureout how this turn of events could profit them.

It did not take long during those earlynegotiations before the issue of securingadvanced alien technologies was brought up.The Sshel’ath were interested in any and alltechnologies the Ukal were willing to offer,most notably the faster-than-light travel drivethat the Ukal had demonstrated upon enteringtheir star system. The Sshel’ath desperatleywished to join the galactic community and gainaccess to foreign markets.

The Ukal were at first very wary of theSshel’ath’s insistence on discussingtechnology exchanges but eventually gave in.The price the Ukal quoted for thesetechnologies, however, was extremely high. Infact, the price the Ukal demanded for theexchange of what little technology they werewilling to divulge was easily equal to severaltimes the Alliance member’s combined annualappropriations budgets!

The Sshel’ath Alliance agreed to theterms despite the price tag attached. Terms ofpayment were arranged and, following asubstantial down payment in the form ofrefined ores from the Sshel’ath asteroid belts,the Ukal delivered to the Sshel’ath leadershipan immense storage bank containing atreasure trove of alien knowledge. Bydeciphering the Ukal texts and reverseengineering key technologies, the Sshel’athwere able to develop more advancedconstruction techniques, better drive systems,and, perhaps most importantly, jump gatetechnology. Doing so, however, had forced theAlliance to the brink of financial ruin. TheSshel’ath administration was forced to look toindependent contractors willing to work forproduct-for-technology compensation in orderto move forward with plans to implement thesenew technologies. Constructionconglomerates within both the A’hel’is andMst’as nations were awarded the keyconstruction contracts for a pair of in-systemjump gates while other nations andcorporations benefited from the disseminationof the new alien technologies into the Sshel’atheconomic and industrial infrastructure.Products of every shape, size, and imagined

purpose were constructed at newly retooledfactories all over the planet and quickly madetheir way into Sshel’ath homes and offices.

Within five years of having built theirfirst jump gate the Sshel’ath had expandedtheir commercial interests to several nearbystar systems. Instead of focusing onestablishing new colonies and building upterritorial holdings in surrounding systems asmany young races historically tended to do,the Sshel’ath were able to apply theirnewfound trade wealth into reinvigorating theirplanetary economy. This calculated maneuverpaid off, though the saturation of cheapSshel’ath merchandise and shipping angeredmany foreign merchants. Some Sshel’ath freetraders also turned to more lucrativeenterprises such as black market cargo runsand even piracy during this period, spreadingthroughout known space and preying on alienshipping.

The A’hel’is and Mst’as soon foundthemselves recovering from the debt owed tothe Ukal Combine and began investing moreheavily in their respective military forces. TheSshel’ath had never felt a great urgency tomilitarize before this time by virtue of the stillnearly impregnable defense satellite network inorbit of Sshel’a. This vestige of the cold warwas still an effective deterrent to alien attackdespite its lack of sophistication.

The Sshel’ath Alliance’s militaryconstruction program was originally intendedto address the modernization of thehomeworld defensive infrastructure. Asdevelopment and funding matured withinAlliance committees the focus of militaryfunding became more concerned withdeveloping a space navy for projecting poweroutward from Sshel’a. The need for escorts toprotect freighters and ore haulers in Sshel’athand other nearby territories required a moreaggressive defensive approach than hadpreviously been taken. The initial ship designsput into production consisted predominantly ofcheap, expendable cruisers and frigatesdesigned for mid-range patrols, especiallyconvoy patrols.



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The First Novon WarThe First Novon WarThe First Novon WarThe First Novon WarThe First Novon WarRelations between the Sshel’ath and

the Novon had been tense since the momentthat Sshel’ath traders began appearing in andaround the territories claimed by the NovonTrade Lords. The trade lords saw theSshel’ath as a threat to their mercantilesupremacy in the region and harbored aspecial hatred for their race. The Sshel’athcouldn’t understand the Novon’s reaction totheir efforts and resented their hostile attitude.

Relations were stressed to thebreaking point after a series of Novon raidsupon Sshel’ath merchant craft in which theships’ crews were detained, tortured, andsome even killed by the Novon. The tradelords behind the seizures, primarily lead byLord Kuparca, ignored the Sshel’ath protestsand claimed that the Novon were simplyperforming standard police actions andpunishing criminals in their space according toNovon law. When Sshel’ath ambassadorsrequested documents enumerating the crimesof which the crews had been charged theywere expelled from the trade lord’s domain.

These events eventually culminated inthe First Novon War of 1960. The First NovonWar was not a full-scale conflict by any meansas only a handful of weaker Novon trade lordsacted as co-belligerents in the war. Bestdescribed as a border war, the conflict sawbattles fought in both the Sshel’a and Huplatsystem including several heated battlesbetween Sshel’ath and Novon patrol groups.

Unfortunately for the Sshel’ath, eventhis small coalition of lesser trade lords stillrepresented a stronger foe than they couldsafely deal with. Many within the Sshel’athAlliance advocated an immediate end to thewar, fearing the eventual intervention of other,stronger trade lords into the fight. The dovesdid not hold enough sway over the Alliance tosecure the adoption of their appeasementpolicy. The Sshel’ath would follow the war toits conclusion.

The Sshel’ath issued many letters ofmarque to friendly raider groups during thewar, offering them hefty rewards for theirassistance in the conflict. The truth was thatthe Novon trade lords were wearing down the

Sshel’ath’s forces quicker than had beenanticipated and any and all assistance wasneeded to maintain the slow but steady gainsagainst Kuparca’s forces.

The war ended in the Sshel’ath’s favor,with the war’s final Battle of Fodrehnolmseeing the death of the trade lord Kuparca.His alliance quickly disintegrated with each ofthe remaining trade lords attempting to secureKuparca’s now leaderless territories. The costof the war compared against the negligiblegains infuriated many doves and moderatesalike in the Alliance. It also made an enemy ofmany of the former followers of Kuparca, thetrade lord’s former allies swearing a blood oathagainst the Sshel’ath.

The Aftermath of WarThe Aftermath of WarThe Aftermath of WarThe Aftermath of WarThe Aftermath of WarMany minor planetary powers on

Sshel’a came away from the First Novon Waroutraged at what had transpired. Prior to thewar, these nations had been the worst hit bythe economic downturn stemming from theAlliance’s debt to the Ukal. These costs werepassed on to them in the form of higher pricesfor goods imported into their respectivecountries from the A’hel’is and Mst’as. Duringthe war prices skyrocketed as, again, theSshel’ath Alliance passed on the cost of itsoperations to the other planetary markets inthe form of increased tariffs and duties.

An attempted popular uprising in 1964ended in failure, being easily put down by anextraordinarily adept and cleverly craftedpropaganda campaign. The leaders of theAlliance noted the underlying problem,however, and took steps to rectify it. In orderto appease the more powerful independentnations remaining on Sshel’a, the Sshel’athAlliance extended membership in the Allianceto these powers. In order to facilitate thismove the Alliance also changed its policyregarding member representation, basing thenumber of representatives proportionally to thenation’s presence in space. This helped toplacate those minor nations that had started todevelop and invest in space interests whileleaving the power firmly in the hands of thosethat had held it the entire time. These neutralnations had little choice but to accept the



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5proposal as it was offered. All feared that thiswould be their one chance to be allowed avoice in the Alliance and, should they decline itnow, it might not be offered to them again.

The Second Novon WarThe Second Novon WarThe Second Novon WarThe Second Novon WarThe Second Novon WarA short border skirmish with the

Chouka helped to mold future Sshel’athmilitary evolution, but the turning point for theSshel’ath military was the disastrous SecondNovon War.

The Sshel’ath in 1966 felt optimisticabout the state of their standing naval forces.The First Novon War had taught the Sshel’athseveral important lessons about the realities ofwar. The Sshel’ath had quickly applied theselessons, developing new tactics andtechnologies to combat the Novon. Much ofthe new construction coming out of theSshel’ath fleet yards were seen asrevolutionary advances in starship combattechnologies and were heralded as such bythe naval admiralty, most of whom had servedin the First Novon War and remembered thebrutal conditions under which they had served.

Under the orders of the Alliance, theSshel’ath dispatched a large task force toHuplat and began attacking the fleets andconvoys of several key minor trade lords in thesystem. These systematic attacks weremeant to test the resolve of the trade lords andascertain whether a larger invasion force couldbe launched against them in the near future.

The Sshel’ath made substantial initialgains into the Huplat system. A small force ofKaraut Stealth Destroyers was dispatchedahead of the main attack group with themission of shadowing Novon ships toQuadrant 4 to determine the size andcomposition of hostile forces in that system.The first month of the war showed a record ofconsistent Sshel’ath victories over the Novon.Many of those trade lords targeted by theSshel’ath were those that had been dispersedby the death of Lord Kuparca several yearsearlier and held little significant power. Buoyedby their gains, the Sshel’ath believed thatHuplat would fall within two months if the warcontinued at its present speed.

The defeat of several weaker tradelords in Huplat had not gone unnoticed. LordTlacal, one of Lord Kuparca’s closest alliesduring the First Novon War, had absorbedmuch of Kuparca’s territories, forces, andpower following the latter’s death and hadseen his star rising within the hierarchy of theNovon Trade Lords. Lord Tlacal had spent theopening campaigns of the Second Novon Warwatching while other, lesser trade lords fell inbattle to the Sshel’ath. As one trade lord afteranother was killed by the Sshel’ath, Tlacalcontinued to analyze and dissect thecapabilities of the Sshel’ath’s new warshipsand the performance of the crews flying them.

The Sshel’ath’s morale was shatteredon August 14, 1966, when a Novon fleet underthe command of Lord Tlacal ambushed theSshel’ath fleet blockading the Novon world ofTovas-an-elman. The Sshel’aths forces,composed of a majority of the expeditionaryfleet, were massacred in the attack. Only ahandful of Sshel’ath ships managed to retreatfrom the battle, their fellows left derelict on thebattlefield. Novon marines captured thesedisabled ships and their crews were neverseen or heard from again.

After a momentary pause to regroup,the Novon fleet was again put into motion, thistime entering hyperspace on course forSshel’a. The enemy fleet set off the long-range hyperspace alarms six hours out of thesystem. Sshel’ath defense fleets wereactivated and readied for battle, yet no oneknew where the Novon fleet would exithyperspace. This forced the Sshel’ath navy tospread itself thinly across the populatedregions of the Sshel’a system.

The Novon attack on Sshel’a came asexpected, and with deadly consequences.The fleet jumped out near the Sshel’athasteroid belt and began moving to attack anyand all nearby settlements in the region. Whatfew defense ships were present tried to slowthe Novon advance, but all failed.

After destroying five asteroid coloniesand murdering over fifty thousand civilians,Lord Tlalac communicated a warning to theSshel’ath people: do not attempt to do battlewith the Novon trade lords again, or it would be



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their undoing. With that Tlacal and his fleetexited the system and returned to Huplat. TheSshel’ath pulled their remaining naval unitsback to Sshel’a and proceeded to bide theirtime and rebuild their shattered forces andcolonies.

A New OpportunityA New OpportunityA New OpportunityA New OpportunityA New OpportunityWhen the Circasians attacked the

Chouka in 1971, the Sshel’ath were quitepleased. They had dreamed of expanding intonew systems, but the Chouka and Novon hadalways blocked available avenues ofexpansion in the past. Both neighborspossessed a technological advantage over thecomparatively primitive Sshel’ath, and theSshel’ath couldn’t afford to maintain anexpensive exploratory program, eliminatingthat alternative.

The Sshel’ath realized that theChouka’s defeat was imminent by the end of1972. The Sshel’ath military received adramatic increase in defense funding to helpthem take advantage of the Chouka’sincreasingly bleak situation. The constructionof several new warship hulls was ordered inanticipation of an invasion of Chouka space.

Resources were also invested into severallanguishing design projects in an attempt toget them readied for possible use against theChouka.

The conquest of the Chouka coloniesin Breth gave the Sshel’ath their first chance topractice empire building. The Sshel’ath nowhad another system under their control and anumber of potentially rebellious colonies toadminister. The Alliance leaders feared thatcertain Novon trade lords would attempt totake advantage of the situation, but luckily theNovon were suffering from the effects ofheightened internal strife. There was someincrease in the amount of raiding activity inBreth, but that was easily put down by theSshel’ath presence there.

With new trade routes secured andnew territories to exploit, the Sshel’ath Alliancewas on its way to asserting itself as animportant power in the region.



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5Sshel’athSshel’athSshel’athSshel’athSshel’athTTTTTechnologyechnologyechnologyechnologyechnology

The Sshel’ath use many different typesof weapons technologies. Before contact withthe Ukal, the Sshel’ath arsenal was made upof primitive ballistic, laser, and matterweapons. After contact, however, theSshel’ath adopted and developed advancedparticle, laser, matter, and electromagnetictechnologies. The Sshel’ath have developed aspecial affinity for electromagnetic and laserweapons, developing both fields of researchfurther than most other races in the region.

Point Defense LaserPoint Defense LaserPoint Defense LaserPoint Defense LaserPoint Defense LaserClass: Laser Mode: Standard

The point defense laser is an oldermodel weapons system that was usedextensively during the pre-Contact period asthe Sshel’ath’s primary anti-ballisticinterception device. The point defense lasersystem is made up of a series of externalsatellite and laser focusing arrays thatindependently triangulate the location ofincoming missiles and small craft and thentarget them for destruction. The laserbatteries that are central to the point defenselaser’s design are very weak and are not wellsuited for anti-fighter duties. The weapon wasoftentimes conscripted into this duty, however,until the light particle beam was more widelyavailable.

Because of the external nature of thepoint defense laser, it cannot be armored inany way. This leaves point defense laser unitsextremely vulnerable to damage and is anotherreason why the Sshel’ath abandoned theweapon in favor of other more advancedtypes.

Unlike other laser weapons, the pointdefense laser is capable of intercepting bothballistic and non-ballistic weapons fire. Theconcentrated nature of the point defenselaser’s interception fire helps to diffuse ordissipate incoming fire before it can strike thetarget. It is not very effective against non-ballistic weapons fire and the Sshel’ath rarelyused it in this fashion, preferring to hold their

defensive fire in case of a surprise missilestrike.


The light laser cannon is the basicweapon used by most ships in the Sshel’athfleet. Where other species have adoptedalternates to the light laser in their own navies,the Sshel’ath have stood behind their lightlaser cannons and swear by theirdependability in battle.

The light laser cannon remained themost common laser weapon used by theSshel’ath during the time of the Chouka War.New technologies and laser cannonreplacements were on the horizon, but nonehad yet made it past the early design stages.

Gatling LaserGatling LaserGatling LaserGatling LaserGatling LaserClass: Laser Mode: Pulse

A logical progression of lasertechnology, the gatling laser is a whollySshel’ath weapon system. The gatling laser isclosely related to the light laser cannon andborrows heavily from its basic design. Wherethe light laser cannon fires a single,continuous laser, the gatling laser fires severalshort, discreet volleys instead. The number ofindividual laser pulses fired by the gatling lasercan theoretically allow a single gatling laser toscore more damage than a light laser cannon.The volume of fire also allows the gatling laserto have a better chance to hit enemy fighters.

The gatling laser pays for thesebenefits through its increased size. Thegatling laser’s five laser barrels are housed ina large rotating fire housing which takes upmore space than a light laser cannon. Thegatling laser also requires more power thanthe light laser cannon, which can be a problemfor smaller ships whose reactors are alreadybeing pushed to the limit.

Most modern Sshel’ath vessels haveabandoned light particle beam technology infavor of the gatling laser for their anti-fighterand interception requirements. The gatlinglaser has also proven extremely effectiveagainst enemy starships where the volume



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and non-interceptability of fire are majorassets.

Light Laser CutterLight Laser CutterLight Laser CutterLight Laser CutterLight Laser CutterClass: Laser Mode: Raking (4)

The light laser cutter is one of theearliest Sshel’ath laser weapons. A highlyconstrained beam, the light laser cutter cantrack across large areas of enemy hulls inrapid fashion, doing small pinpricks of damageto multiple systems as it travels. TheSshel’ath mostly abandoned the light lasercutter after the development of the light lasercannon, being used primarily in industrialapplications such as asteroid mining.

Those Sshel’ath military vessels thatmount the light laser cutter use it primarily todisable enemy craft or strip them of theirweapons, or to combat enemy fighters. In thecase of fighters, a single blast from a lightlaser cutter will likely destroy the target.

Laser CutterLaser CutterLaser CutterLaser CutterLaser CutterClass: Laser Mode: Raking (6)

The laser cutter, with a longer rangethan the standard light laser cannon, wasconsidered the premiere long-range laserweapon of its day. With twice the range of alight laser, the laser cutter can strike at targetsfar outside normal engagement range. Theconstrained nature of the beam means thatthe target will suffer less overall damage, butthe ability to deal damage without closing withthe enemy proved popular within the Sshel’athmilitary.

Although fitted to many Sshel’athvessels during the Chouka War period itremained an uncommon weapon. The lack ofwidespread use can be owed to the size of thelaser cutter, which the Sshel’ath traditionallyclassed as a heavy weapon.

Light Particle BeamLight Particle BeamLight Particle BeamLight Particle BeamLight Particle BeamClass: Particle Mode: Standard

The Sshel’ath first demonstracted thelight particle beam in 1940 after acquiring itfrom the Ukal Combine. The light particlebeam, ubiquitous in the navies of younger

nations, would serve as the Sshel’ath’sprimary anti-fighter weapon until the inventionof the more powerful gatling laser.

Antiquated RailgunAntiquated RailgunAntiquated RailgunAntiquated RailgunAntiquated RailgunClass: Matter Mode: Standard

Sshel’ath advancements inelectromagnetic theory gave way to theintroduction of their first weapons-graderailgun in 1930. This early matter weapon,termed the antiquated railgun, is a directantecedent of the modern railgun. The twoweapons are nearly identical except for theantiquated railgun’s lower damage potential.

The Sshel’ath embraced railguntechnology as an advancement over existingmissile weapons and the antiquated railgunwas used on many ships during 1930 and1945. Most Sshel’ath designs equipped withantiquated railguns used them as ‘ship-crackers’ for taking down enemy warships.

The antiquated railgun was quicklyreplaced by the modern railgun upon itsdevelopment in 1944. Few ships remainedafter that time that used the older antiquatedrailgun. Some raiders continue to use thisweapon, though the ammunition requirementsmake this very rare.

Light RailgunLight RailgunLight RailgunLight RailgunLight RailgunClass: Matter Mode: Standard

The light railgun was developed at thesame time as the railgun to serve as a lightermodel for mounting on smaller ships. TheSshel’ath operated the light railgun as amultipurpose weapon mount on theirwarships. The light railgun could target shipsas well as fighters, giving the ship a greaterdegree of flexibility in battle.

RailgunRailgunRailgunRailgunRailgunClass: Matter Mode: Standard

The ubiquitous railgun found its wayinto the Sshel’ath navies in 1944. Those shipsoperated the older antiquated railgun wereupgraded to take advantage of the improveddamage and fire control of the full-fledgedrailgun. However, few new construction



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5vessels would ever field the railgun. Researchinto other fields was offering up better weaponoptions, and the railgun was eventually phasedentirely out of service. Some minor Sshel’athnavies continued to rely on railguns, but thesepowers were far and few between.

Light Gauss CannonLight Gauss CannonLight Gauss CannonLight Gauss CannonLight Gauss CannonClass: Matter Mode: Standard

The light gauss cannon was the resultof an experimental project meant to upgradeexisting Sshel’ath railgun weaponstechnologies using knowledge gained from theUkal. The light gauss cannon delivers on itspromise of being superior to existing lightrailgun weapons. The light gauss cannonpossesses a faster rate of fire than the lightrailgun and is optimized for combating shipsrather than enemy fighters.

ElectromagneticElectromagneticElectromagneticElectromagneticElectromagneticTTTTTorpedoorpedoorpedoorpedoorpedoClass: Ballistic & ElectromagneticMode: Flash

The electromagnetic torpedo, morecommonly referred to as the EM torpedo, wasthe Sshel’ath’s response to the First NovonWar and the gravitic shielding used on Novonstarships. During that war, Sshel’ath forcesfound it difficult to break through the Novonshield’s with their weapons, especially thoseshields found on the larger cruisers andbattleships of more affluent trade lords.

The electromagnetic torpedo launchesa small nuclear charge encased within a timedelayed magnetic ‘wrapper’. Seconds beforeimpact this wrapper disengages and thecharge explodes violently. The charges firedby the electromagnetic torpedo are optimizedto create maximum electromagneticinterference upon detonation, generating amassive electromagnetic pulse that can shortout enemy weapons or, perhaps moreimportantly, enemy shielding.

Electromagnetic Torpedoes beganentering service shortly before the outbreak ofthe Second Novon War. The Second NovonWar proved the utility of the EM torpedo,

allowing Sshel’ath ships so equipped todeactivate or destroy Novon shielding systemsregularly in battle. Electromagnetic Torpedoeshave no special rules or bonuses against EMor Gravitic Shields, but its flash mode damageincreases the chances of scoring a hit againstenemy shield systems.

Electron PolarizerElectron PolarizerElectron PolarizerElectron PolarizerElectron PolarizerClass: Electromagnetic Mode: Flash

An important development intoelectromagnetic weaponry, the electronpolarizer was a reaction to the decades ofconflict with the Novon. In battles with theNovon it was proved time and time again thatNovon gravitic shielding was an obstacle thatthe Sshel’ath found difficulty overcoming.

The electron polarizer fires a massiveburst of highly charged particles at enemyvessels. These particles cause an explosiveeffect upon impact with target’s hulls. Theenergy from this reaction can be impressive,often damaging other nearby units.Electronics systems are especially vulnerableto the effects of electron polarizers, causingsystem failures in those systems that are notdestroyed in the initial blast.

Missile RacksMissile RacksMissile RacksMissile RacksMissile RacksClass: Ballistic Mode: Varies

The Sshel’ath made widespread use ofmissile racks and missile technologies duringthe period pre-contact. After contact with theUkal use of missile racks began to decline untilthey were ultimately superceded by theelectromagnetic torpedo and other, similarlong range weapons.

MissilesMissilesMissilesMissilesMissilesThe Sshel’ath never developed a wide

range of missiles, relying for the most part on

Missile AvailabilityTypeTypeTypeTypeType ClassClassClassClassClass In Service In Service In Service In Service In ServiceLight D 1850Basic B 1940Heavy H 1960



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more standard missile types. The Sshel’athused Class-D Light Missile until shortly aftercontact with the Ukal when the Class-B BasicMissile was developed based on Ukal data.The only other missile type developed by theSshel’ath was the Class-H Heavy Missile,which made its debut during the First NovonWar in 1960.

Sshel’ath MilitaryThe Sshel’ath do not field a single,

unified space navy. Instead, each planetarypower on Sshel’a that has space-basedinterests operates its own navy. These navalforces are used primarily to defend importantinstallations or resource sites, such as anyshipyards, space stations, or coloniescontrolled by the nation. The navies of mostSshel’ath nations are very weak and canbarely be viewed as anything other than atoken investment compared to that of theA’hel’is or Mst’as.

Although the Sshel’ath Alliance doesnot operate a navy per se, the fleet elementsof the A’hel’is and Mst’as national forces moreoften than not coordinate their efforts and actas the Alliance’s main power projectionelement. In most wars and border conflicts ithas been this allied force that has taken part inthe fighting. Most notably during the First andSecond Novon Wars, the A’hel’is and Mst’asforces made up nearly 90% of theexpeditionary forces operating in Novon space.

Coordination of the national fleets toact in accordance with Alliance resolutions isachieved through the Allied DefenseCommand, a special cooperative militaryorganization attached to the Alliance council.Staffed by selected military leaders from eachAlliance member country, the Allied DefenseCommand’s duty is to ensure cooperationbetween allies during times of national crisis.During peacetime the Allied DefenseCommand sits mostly idle, relegated tomaking sure that system patrol duties areadequately met by Alliance members. Whenthe Alliance goes to war, however, the AlliedDefense Command is the hub of activityresponsible for coordinating Alliance fleets and

making sure that national fleets can integrateand work together.

There have been some instances inthe past where nations have withdrawn militarysupport and removed their militaryrepresentatives from the Allied DefenseCommand in protest of Alliance councilresolutions. The largest defection came in themiddle of the Second Novon War when theYhabn’l Consortium and five supportingnations withdrew their support following apolitical furor in which the Yhabn’l claimed thatA’hel’is and Mst’as field commanders wereusing their forces as sacrificial lambs,dispatching a disproportionate number ofminor power ships on what they viewed asobvious suicide missions. The Yhabn’l andtheir supporters would sit out the remainder ofthe war, only rejoining the Allied DefenseCommand in 1970.

Sshel’ath MarinesTerror is the primary weapon employed

by Sshel’ath marines, and it is this aspect thatgives Sshel’ath marines an important edge incombat. Sshel’ath physiology allows them agreat degree of flexibility in rearranging theirphysical structure, allowing them to fit throughnarrow openings or squeeze through placesother aliens could not hope to reach. Whetherit be silently scaling walls or moving downductwork, Sshel’ath marines are deadlyadversaries that are hard to combat if theymanage to achieve access to an enemyvessel.

Sshel’ath marines gain a marinecombat bonus of –1 if the attackers areSshel’ath and +1 if the defenders are Sshel’athon marine mission success rolls.

Starships

Alveka ScoutAlveka ScoutAlveka ScoutAlveka ScoutAlveka ScoutBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Alveka Scout is the Sshel’ath’s firstproduction model jump-capable starship.Alveka Scouts were the first ships to explorethe area of space surrounding Sshel’a and



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5many brought back important informationabout surrounding systems, both inhabitedand uninhabited.

The Alveka Scout is armed only for itsown protection and, if forced to enter a combatzone, the Alveka is better off fleeing rather thanfighting. The First Novon War demanded thatsome Alveka Scouts join the war effort toprovide electronic intelligence support toSshel’ath fleets. Unsuitable for suchmissions, Alveka Scout suffered high casualtyrates as the Novon began systematicallydestroying any Alvekas at the beginning ofengagements.

Production of new Alveka Scoutsceased after the end of the Second NovonWar. Those that remained in service wereassigned almost entirely to explorationmissions.

Araunax AttackAraunax AttackAraunax AttackAraunax AttackAraunax AttackFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Araunax Attack Frigate is a sturdymedium ship developed by the Sshel’ath in themid-1960’s to replace older frigate designs.The Araunax was one of the fastest Sshel’athships of its day and proved effective atcountering smaller Novon warships.Optimized for attacking enemy starships, theAraunax lacks anti-fighter defenses, requiringthat other ships or fighters accompany it intobattle for its own defense.

Danesti BattlecruiserDanesti BattlecruiserDanesti BattlecruiserDanesti BattlecruiserDanesti BattlecruiserBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

The Danesti Battlecruiser wasdeveloped during a time of increasingSshel’ath political and military power. Havingacquired the Breth system, the Sshel’athfound need for a warship with more firepowerthan a Vipindra Heavy Cruiser but thatmaintained that ship’s maneuverability. Thedesign of the Danesti Battlecruiser reflectsthese design requirements. Faster than manyother Sshel’ath cruiser designs, the Danestihas weapons to match. Sometimes referredto as a ‘fast battleship’, Danesti Battlecruisers

were never built in large numbers, restrictingtheir deployment in the Sshel’ath fleet.

Named in recognition of Charles“Danesti” Haught.

Karaut StealthKaraut StealthKaraut StealthKaraut StealthKaraut StealthDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerBase Hull (Limited Deployment 33%)

Shortly after the Sshel’ath enteredspace, new research projects were started toexperiment with the feasibility of stealthtechnologies. Although great strides weremade in these projects, the Sshel’ath werenever able to build a completely stealthwarship hull.

The Karaut is one of the first warshipsto be built from the ground up to incorporatestealth construction techniques, includingadvanced emissions masking systems andcomposite hull material. The KarautDestroyers were built in small numbers andused primarily for covert missions into Novonspace. Though not hidden in actual combat,Karaut Destroyers could move unseenthrough enemy systems if they avoided enemypatrol groups. Such missions were invaluableto the Sshel’ath intelligence efforts and thedesign was considered a resounding success.

Despite the advantages of the KarautStealth Destroyer, the cost of the Karaut’sstealth systems was high and requiredextensive maintenance to keep operational.The Sshel’ath were not able to maintain alarge number of them because of theseissues, although they would have lovednothing more than to field entire fleets of thestealth warship.

Kasolra BombardmentKasolra BombardmentKasolra BombardmentKasolra BombardmentKasolra BombardmentCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

One of the few missile cruisersemployed by the Sshel’ath Alliance, theKasolra Bombardment Cruiser is designedspecifically as a fleet support element. In afleet environment, the amount of ballisticfirepower a single Kasolra adds to the fray canbe significant. A Kasolra Bombardment



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Cruiser can fire enough missiles at an enemyto effectively neutralize enemy warships atrange, weakening enemy fleet formationsbefore the fleets enter optimal firing ranges.Deployment of Kasolra cruisers has beenlimited by the logistical strain of theirammunition dependent weaponry. Howeverthey have remained important fleet elementsand are often seen in major fleet actionsfighting alongside other Sshel’ath vessels.

Nasarra Attack CruiserNasarra Attack CruiserNasarra Attack CruiserNasarra Attack CruiserNasarra Attack CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

A reaction to the First Novon War, theNasarra Attack Ship is the first Sshel’athwarship to mount the Electromagnetic Torpedo— a weapon designed to counter Novongravitic shielding technologies. The Nasarra islight for a capital ship but, when used ingroups or as part of a larger fleet structure, itcan be a deadly opponent.

Naslik Escort CarrierNaslik Escort CarrierNaslik Escort CarrierNaslik Escort CarrierNaslik Escort CarrierNirte Variant (Common)

The need for a dedicated carrier didn’tbecome a reality for the Sshel’ath until theirforces began encountering the larger cruisersand battleships of the powerful Novon tradelords. Such ships could operate as many as72 heavy fighters each, a number thatoverwhelmed the Sshel’ath’s own carriercapacity.

Naslik Escort Carriers exchange theNirte’s missile racks for an expansion of theexisting hangar capacities. New hangarmodules were developed for mountingbetween the ship’s outer wing structuresallowing for an additional flight of fighters to bebased out of each. External fighter rails werealso added to the upper and lower portion ofthe ship’s wings to allow for quick deploymentof even more fighters. Internal hangarcapacity was also expanded to allow theNaslik to carry the absolute maximum numberof fighters the hull could allow.

Naslik Carriers saw extensive usebefore and after the Second Novon War andcontinue to be used into the modern period.Their ability to base 30 fighters was a major

advantage to Sshel’ath fleets and the supportthey offered was much appreciated bySshel’ath commanders.

Nirte Command CruiserNirte Command CruiserNirte Command CruiserNirte Command CruiserNirte Command CruiserNirte Variant (Rare)

A limited number of Nirte Cruisersreceived extensive upgrades to increase theirfirepower and survivability in order to makethem better suitable for the role of fleetcommand ships. These command cruiserstraded their fighter capabilities for a heavierarmament, including four bleeding edge lasercutters that are far more effective againstshielded targets than the ship’s existingweaponry.

Nirte Medium CruiserNirte Medium CruiserNirte Medium CruiserNirte Medium CruiserNirte Medium CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Nirte Medium Cruiser representsthe first cruiser to be constructed by theSshel’ath Alliance. The Nirte’s primary goalwas to project power into nearby areas ofspace and provide a solid medium cruiser hullthat could go toe-to-toe with the light cruisersof other races.

The Nirte Medium Cruiser served asthe Sshel’ath’s mainline warship during theFirst Novon War. It became evident after onlya few battles against the Novon that the NirteMedium Cruisers were no match for Novonwarships and the Sshel’ath began slowlytransitioning Nirte cruisers into a secondaryrole in the fleet. The ship remained animportant part of the Sshel’ath order of battle,however, as they had been built in such largequantities that they could be used to pad fleetsizes and increase the number of hulls in asquadron.

Skavna TSkavna TSkavna TSkavna TSkavna TorpedoorpedoorpedoorpedoorpedoFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

A small fast attack platform, theSkavna Torpedo Frigate is armed with twoelectromagnetic torpedoes for use in harryingenemy units at range. Designed for wolf packtactics, Skavna attack groups can effectively



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5cripple enemy warships at range beforeclosing for the kill with their gatling lasers.

Skavna Torpedo Frigates typicallyfound themselves being assigned to escortcruiser squadrons where they could bothsnipe at enemy targets at range whileproviding much needed close in anti-fightersupport to the rest of the fleet.

Skonna CorvetteSkonna CorvetteSkonna CorvetteSkonna CorvetteSkonna CorvetteBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Skonna Corvettes were used by theSshel’ath to escort convoys through theirterritories. Lightly armed and cheaply built,Skonna Corvettes can take little damagebefore they are destroyed. Skonnas were builtin large quantities during the late 1930’s andare very common warships.

Skraltna AssaultSkraltna AssaultSkraltna AssaultSkraltna AssaultSkraltna AssaultCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Skraltna Assault Cruisers served asthe Sshel’ath’s primary assault ship during thefirst several decades after contact with alienraces. Originally Skraltna Assault Cruiserswere built to ferry troops between thehomeworld and outer outposts in the homesystem. Skraltnas were later used asmercenary craft, transporting Sshel’ath troopsto distant combat zones.

Skraltna Assault Cruisers saw theirgreatest service during the wars with theNovon. Although few Sshel’ath ground actionsproved successful the Sshel’ath continued totry. Wave after wave of Skraltna cruiserswould be sent against enemy positions in anattempt to deliver enough assault shuttles toachieve a beachhead on the enemy worlds.

After the disastrous end of the SecondNovon War the Sshel’ath had little use forassault craft and most Skraltna AssaultCruisers were modified to serve otherpurposes. A number of Skraltnas were alwayskept available for Alliance use in the event ofemergencies.

Solna Light CruiserSolna Light CruiserSolna Light CruiserSolna Light CruiserSolna Light CruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

During the construction ramp upleading up to the outbreak of the First NovonWar, the major shipyards operated by leadingAlliance members (particularly the A’hel’is andMst’as) chose to focus their resources on theproduction of Nirte Medium Cruisers.

While these shipyards output NirteMedium Cruisers, other shipyards insteadchose to produce Solna Light Cruisers. TheSolna Light Cruiser started its life as acompetitor for the position of the Alliance’smainline cruiser. Looked over in favor of theNirte, a Mst’as design, the Solna wouldn’t haveseen the light of day if not for the stoliddetermination of the design’s contractors. TheSolna design firm managed to sell plans forthe vessel to several nations, including manyless affluent countries that dreamed of fieldinga sizeable navy. The Solna was a cheapership to construct than the Nirte, and this costsavings allowed nations with less constructioncapital to get more hulls for the same cost.

A majority of the Solna Light Cruisersproduced by 1960 fought in the First NovonWar, and most of those that participated inactive fighting were destroyed. The SolnaLight Cruiser was not a poor design by anymeasure, but they simply were not capable ofrivaling the Novon’s own cruisers.

After the war production on new SolnaLight Cruisers slowed, but a trickle of newhulls continued to be produced. Few wouldever serve in allied fleet actions again, mostbeing used by minor countries to defendimportant strategic locations. Because of this,and the fact that the A’hel’is and Mst’as neverfully embraced the Solna, the Solna LightCruiser should be considered a LimitedAvailability (33%) hull if being flown as part ofan A’heli’s or Mst’as fleet.

Stoaka DestroyerStoaka DestroyerStoaka DestroyerStoaka DestroyerStoaka DestroyerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)A’hel’is Only

The A’hel’is Stoaka Destroyer was themain space warship fielded by their navyduring the A’hel’is/Mst’as War. Stoaka



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Destroyers are armed with three missileracks, giving them the ability to launchmassive missile strikes on their smaller Mst’asadversaries.

Sulkor ScoutSulkor ScoutSulkor ScoutSulkor ScoutSulkor ScoutDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerKaraut Variant (Uncommon)

When the need for combat scoutsincreased, the Sshel’ath had to findalternatives to the existing Alveka Scout. Itwas decided to build a new scout ship basedon the basic Karaut space frame. The SulkorScout Destroyer shares the same basicdesign as the Karaut but lacks the specialcomposite hull materials, buffered drivesystem, and emissions masking systems ofthe Karaut. In its place the Sulkor mounts anexpanded weapons arsenal and a largerELINT-capable sensor array. A jump enginewas also added to the design to give itstrategic movement capabilities.

The Sulkor Scout Destroyer foundpopularity during the Second Novon Warwhere they proved their worth as long-rangefleet support units. Construction of newSulkors continued after the war but thenumber of new build hulls remained low,limiting their deployment within the fleet.

TTTTTakhira Laserakhira Laserakhira Laserakhira Laserakhira LaserDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerTasholn Variant (Rare)

The Takhira Laser Destroyer was anattempt to modernize the Tasholn hull andincorporate new laser technologies, namelythe gatling laser. The Tahkira is meant tooperate as an attack ship rather than an escortand in this role it serves adequately.

Placing the firepower of a light cruiseron a destroyer hull did not come without itsshare of disadvantages. The extra powerrequired by the ship’s light laser cannons putsa heavy stress on the reactor and it is unableto provide the amount of power the shiprequires to power all of its weaponssimultaneously. Because of this, a Sshel’athcommander must be careful to anticipate his/

her enemy in order to determine whichsystems can be shut down to cover theTasholn’s power deficit.

TTTTTasholn Destroyerasholn Destroyerasholn Destroyerasholn Destroyerasholn DestroyerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Tasholn Destroyer is an incrediblyeffective destroyer design. This class isequipped with four particle weapon batteries oftwo guns each with wide arcs of fire makingthe Tasholn an excellent anti-fighter escort.Ships of this class were prized for the amountof raw firepower they could add to a fleet.

TTTTToglaka Patrol Cutteroglaka Patrol Cutteroglaka Patrol Cutteroglaka Patrol Cutteroglaka Patrol CutterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

A smaller Sshel’ath ship, the ToglakaPatrol Cutters were used to patrol theSshel’ath home system during the early yearsafter their emergence to the galactic scene.Toglakas utilize a mix of old and newtechnologies, using new Ukal particle beamsin conjunction with tried and true Sshel’athrailgun technologies.

The Toglaka Patrol Cutter was meantas a showcase of Sshel’ath ingenuity andtechnological development, but the final designdidn’t live up to these expectations. Althoughthe ship successfully integrated domestic andforeign technologies it was barely effectiveagainst pirates and raiders, let alone the likesof a foreign navy.

During the First and Second NovonWars, Toglaka Patrol Cutters were often freedfrom their normal system patrol duties to joinSshel’ath fleets going into battle. The additionof Toglakas was ostensibly to provide extraanti-fighter support to Sshel’ath fleets tocombat wave upon wave of Novon Hest’aMedium Fighters, but in truth the Sshel’athsimply needed additional targets to ensure thesurvival of the fleet.

Toglaka Patrol Cutters were moved intothe Breth system in large numbers followingits subjugation at the end of the Chouka Warand used to keep the peace while searchingfor any hidden enclaves of Chouka resistance.



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5TTTTTrovalta Frigaterovalta Frigaterovalta Frigaterovalta Frigaterovalta FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)Mst’as Only

A contemporary of the StoakaDestroyer, the Mst’as’ Trovalta Frigate is itsequal in battle. The Trovalta Frigate is armedwith a wide-array of weapons, including bothballistic and laser weaponry. The Trovalta’smajor advantage in battle is its speed andmobility, which allow the ship to outmaneuverthe slower A’hel’is ships of the day.

Ushula Direct AssaultUshula Direct AssaultUshula Direct AssaultUshula Direct AssaultUshula Direct AssaultFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Ushula Direct Assault Frigate is anodd ship within the context of the Sshel’athfleet. The Ushula looks little like otherSshel’ath ships, resembling a turtle shell morethan anything else. Where other Sshel’athships are built to fight back against theiropponents, the Ushula is built with boardingactions in mind. Small and relatively mobile,the Ushula uses its two forward grapplingclaws to attach itself bodily to the enemy craftso that it can disgorge its crack troops. Silentand deadly, Sshel’ath marines are formidableopponents and very deadly. Due to the verynature of Sshel’ath physiology, Sshel’athmarines can easily crawl through cramped airducts and other confined spaces. Theelement of terror that these troops instill on aship’s defenders is great, and thispsychological edge is often times all theSshel’ath need to bring them victory.

In order to make sure the Ushula willreach its target, the ship is heavily armored(for a Sshel’ath vessel) and built to resistenemy fire, especially from enemy fighters.

Vahskal Patrol CarrierVahskal Patrol CarrierVahskal Patrol CarrierVahskal Patrol CarrierVahskal Patrol CarrierBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Vahskal Patrol Carrier is a pre-contact system patrol carrier design used bythe Sshel’ath Alliance to patrol space aroundSshel’a and the asteroid colonies. TheVahskal can transport and deploy twelve

fighters via the vessel’s bottom mountedfighter rails.

The Vahskal’s outmoded technologiesproved uneconomical to upgrade and theships were slowly sold off to civilian or foreigninterests. Vahskal carriers that have beenconverted into ore haulers or other bulktransport craft are common sights in Sshel’athterritories, and some less affluent Sshel’athnations continue to operate such ships in theirfleets.

Valransa SystemValransa SystemValransa SystemValransa SystemValransa SystemMonitorMonitorMonitorMonitorMonitorBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Valransa System Monitor is one ofthe largest warships every constructed by theSshel’ath. Valransa System Monitors serve asmobile bases, continuously patrolling theedges of Sshel’ath space. Due to their slowspeed and lack of strategic mobility, ValransaSystem Monitors cannot safely travel throughhyperspace without assistance from tugs orother such support craft.

In combat, Valransas function verymuch like a slightly mobile base. Their wideweapon arcs and thick structure blocks makeup for their lethargic maneuverability andspeed. Each Valransa also operates twosquadrons of fighters, allowing it to suitablycounter those fielded by enemy forces.

Vilindras Heavy CruiserVilindras Heavy CruiserVilindras Heavy CruiserVilindras Heavy CruiserVilindras Heavy CruiserVipindra Variant (UncommonDeployment)

A variant of the popular Vipindra HeavyCruiser, the Vilindras Heavy Cruiser isequipped with laser cutters to extend the hull’snormal engagement range. The extendedrange of the laser cutters provides theVilindras with the standoff range necessary toprovide firing support for other shorter rangedSshel’ath fleet elements. Vilindras HeavyCruisers have also been used to provideheavy escort support to other long-range fleetsupport elements, such as ELINT ships andbombardment cruisers.



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arVipindra Heavy CruiserVipindra Heavy CruiserVipindra Heavy CruiserVipindra Heavy CruiserVipindra Heavy Cruiser

Base Hull (Unlimited Deployment)The Vipindra Heavy Cruiser is the first

of a new generation of Sshel’ath warshipsconceived after the disastrous conclusion ofthe Second Novon War. The Vipindra HeavyCruiser is a sizeable ship built by the Sshel’athto serve as a new multi-role cruiser capable oftaking on the heavy cruisers of other regionalpowers. Although slower than some enemyheavy cruisers, the Vipindra carried a solidweapons array that made up for this failing.

The Vipindra proved itself during thebrief fleet actions at the end of the ChoukaWar when Sshel’ath forces invaded Breth.Later confrontations with Novon fleets provedthat the design was sound. Production of theVipindra remained high for several decadesmaking the Vipindra one of the most commonships in the Sshel’ath fleet.

Bases & Defenses

Kaumlar CommandKaumlar CommandKaumlar CommandKaumlar CommandKaumlar CommandFortressesFortressesFortressesFortressesFortressesBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

When considering a total nuclear warscenario, there is always a desire to makesure that a nation can remain in control of theirarsenal long enough to exact final revengeagainst their enemies. The Sshel’ath leadersrealized this and were quick to install small

bases in orbit to control orbital weaponslaunch platforms in the case that ground-based control targets were destroyed in a firststrike.

Considered large bases at the time oftheir construction, these command fortressesare little more than large OSAT’s. Crewed bytwenty to thirty Sshel’ath at any given time,Kaumlar Command Fortresses had thecommunications equipment to seamlesslyassume control of nearby OSATs in order tocontinue delivering nuclear payloads to theplanet’s surface should ground based controlcenters be neutralized by the opposition.

After first contact with the Ukal theposition of the Kaumlar Command Fortress inthe Sshel’ath military was diminished. Thepossibility of an external threat to Sshel’asuddenly became much more real than anyother terrestrial threat. Most Kaumlars wereeventually sacked and replaced with newerOSATs and bases.

Ritesh OrbitalRitesh OrbitalRitesh OrbitalRitesh OrbitalRitesh OrbitalSatellitesSatellitesSatellitesSatellitesSatellitesBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Ritesh OSAT is a heavier model ofpre-contact orbital satellites. Although notoperated as widely as the smaller VadikarMicro-Satellites, Ritesh OSAT’s were still avery common sight in the skies above Sshel’a.The Ritesh’s two missile racks allowed it tofire larger, longer-ranged missiles than thosethe Vadikar could fire.

Starting in 1918, Ritesh OSATsunderwent an upgrade to Class-SO MissileRack technology. Before this time the Riteshused the older original missile rack, the Class-O. The improvement in effectiveness wassubstantial and allowed the Ritesh to continueto serve for decades to come as the primarySshel’ath OSAT.

Ukav Orbital SatellitesUkav Orbital SatellitesUkav Orbital SatellitesUkav Orbital SatellitesUkav Orbital SatellitesBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Ukav Orbital Satellites were developedby the Sshel’ath as an eventual replacementfor the Ritesh satellites. Larger and more



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5heavily armed, Ukav OSATs are betterequipped to handle modern threats. UkavOSATs are built around a central laser cutterand are intended for taking out enemy cruisersthrough massed laser fire from OSATclusters.

Usarra War StationUsarra War StationUsarra War StationUsarra War StationUsarra War StationBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Usarra War Station was thelargest type of military defense base operatedby the Sshel’ath during the Chouka Warperiod. A large, formidable base, the Usarra isarmed primarily with long range laser andmissile weapons that allow it to engageenemies at extended distances, weakeningthem before they can enter firing range. As of1974, two Usarra War Stations had been builtin orbit of Sshel’a. Both of these bases servedas important military command and logisticspoints providing support to Sshel’ath fleets.

Vadikar Micro-SatelliteVadikar Micro-SatelliteVadikar Micro-SatelliteVadikar Micro-SatelliteVadikar Micro-SatelliteBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Even before the Sshel’ath madecontact with alien races, the skies aboveSshel’a were littered with thousands ofdefense satellites. Such satellites wereoriginally built not to defend from threats fromabove but threats from below. Such nuclearlaunch platforms were used as an equalizer tokeep opposing powers in check and act as adeterrent against possible attacks.

Following first contact and theformation of the Sshel’ath Alliance, satelliteslike the Vadikar Micro-Satellite became theSshel’ath’s first line of defense against alienthreats. The intense cold war atmosphere thatembroiled Sshel’a for so many decades hadthe serendipitous effect of leaving Sshel’aextremely well defended from foreign invaders.Though primitive, early satellites such as theVadikar were more than capable of dealingfatal blows to enemy warships.

The Vadikar was the most commonsatellite used during the early period ofSshel’ath interstellar activity. Other smallersatellites did exist, but were much weaker in

comparison and less suited for use againstspace-based threats.

Sshel’ath MinesSshel’ath MinesSshel’ath MinesSshel’ath MinesSshel’ath MinesThe Sshel’ath were known to use

mines, especially in their war against theNovon. Despite their use of mines, theSshel’ath never felt the need to develop a largeselection of mines. The Sshel’ath typicallydeployed mines ahead of allied fleets in anattempt to create valuable terrain they couldlater exploit should a campaign go badly.Desperate Sshel’ath commanders often wouldtry to lead their pursuers back into theseminefields in hopes that the waiting mineswould wrack them.

Ilvhassa-A Proximity Mine: Cost 8,Damage 12, Signature 4.

Ilvhassa-B Proximity Mine: Cost 9,Damage 10, Signature 5.

Tarkahn Captor Mine: Cost 13, Range 5,Accuracy +4, Damage 16, Signature 3.

Ruslika Captor Mine: Cost 22, Range 4,Accuracy +6, Damage 20, Signature 2.

Srata DEW Mine: Cost 20, Range 6,Accuracy +6, Signature 4 (0), Armor 1,Structure 9. Fires a laser cutter. TheSshel’ath regularly operated Srata DEWmines during the First and Second NovonWars. Srata mines typically were only able tofire once after activation before beingdestroyed by the Novon, but they did proveeffective at mauling or disabling small Novonwarships. However, the mines proved to bevery expensive to produce. In campaigns,apply an economic cost modifier of +33% tothe base cost of Srata mines.

Torrok DEW Mine: Cost 24, Range 5,Accuracy +4, Signature 3 (1), Armor 2,Structure 10. Fires a gatling laser. Developedas an advanced mine to deter enemy fightersand ships alike. Minefields of Torrok mines areoften laid around important defense structureson the Novon border to protect against attack.



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Fighters & Shuttles

Kavasa Breaching PodKavasa Breaching PodKavasa Breaching PodKavasa Breaching PodKavasa Breaching PodBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Few Sshel’ath units can create as truea sense of terror as that generated by the sightof a Kavasa Breaching Pod on the field ofbattle. Painted black as night and adorned bysix claw-like extensions, these breaching podsare a psychological as well as physical tool ofterror.

The Kavasa Breaching Pod is one ofthe few armed breaching pods operated inknown space. Armed with a single ultralightparticle beam, these pods use the beam toprotect them as they make their way towardstheir target.

The Kavasa Breaching Pod loses 1point of thrust per four boxes of damage.

Skratar Light BomberSkratar Light BomberSkratar Light BomberSkratar Light BomberSkratar Light BomberSkrehga Variant (Uncommon)

Skratar Light Bombers were developedduring the First Novon War to provideadditional offensive firepower to combat themore advanced Novon ships. Skratarbombers were used extensively during thatwar but soon fell out of favor because of theheavy logistical burden that accompaniedthem.

Skrehga Light FighterSkrehga Light FighterSkrehga Light FighterSkrehga Light FighterSkrehga Light FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

An early Sshel’ath fighter, the SkrehgaLight Fighter is a very effective interceptorplatform. The Skrehga was built to function asa dedicated interceptor in part to make up forthe relative lack of anti-fighter weaponry onmost Sshel’ath ships. Because of this, theSkrehga is typically used to escort its carrierand engage enemy fighters that come intorange.

Most Sshel’ath ships built after 1958were designed to carry at least a flight ofSkrehga fighters to help defend them fromenemy fighters.

Svralla Assault ShuttleSvralla Assault ShuttleSvralla Assault ShuttleSvralla Assault ShuttleSvralla Assault ShuttleBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Svralla Assault Shuttle was theprimary assault shuttle of the Sshel’athAlliance. This unarmed assault shuttle is builtfor speed and durability instead of combat andrelies on its powerful engines to keep it out ofharm’s way.


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6Chapter 6:Chapter 6:Chapter 6:Chapter 6:Chapter 6:Raiders andRaiders andRaiders andRaiders andRaiders andPiratesPiratesPiratesPiratesPirates

BackgroundAt some point in the history of almost

every spacefaring alien race there have beenthose that have participated in piracy and otherblack market enterprises to sustain them.These individuals and the groups that theyform are usually shunned by society and, inmost cases, actively hunted by military forcesin order to protect vulnerable civilian andmilitary shipping from their attacks.

At the time of the Circasian emergenceinto space, piracy in known space wasexperiencing something of a renaissance.Numerous well-organized raider, pirate, andprivateer bands had formed over the previouscentury, each positioning themselves to filltheir own niche. Through successful raids orgovernment support, these raiders hadmanaged to expand their presence andbecome true military threats to races unable tocounter their forces.

The opening of the Circasian andTh’sook frontier in the early 20th Century gavethese raiders just the opportunity they werelooking for. Although both the Circasians andTh’sook had small pre-contact navies thatcould be used to defend their territories, thetechnology demonstrated on these vesselswas woefully inadequate to counter even thehand-me-down technology found on the raidercraft of the day.

The raiders found these virginterritories ripe for the picking. Slowly butsurely more and more raiders made their wayinto the area from as far off as the ak-TaiRepublic and other Hegemonic memberstates in the outward sectors and Quadrant 4in the coreward territories. All saw the newtrade routes and space lanes in the region asareas that could easily be raided with littlethreat to their raiding fleets.

For a time this new frontier remainedlawless, raiders and pirates feasting onunsuspecting convoys that traveled in theregion while Circasian patrol ships tried futilelyto counter the ever-increasing raider threat.

If not for the Circasian coordinatedstrike against the major raider organizationsoperating in their space the raiders would likelyhave come to control most of the region byvirtue of their technological superiority.However, the raiders lust for power and moneyled them directly into the Circasian trap afterwhich they were left in shambles. Followingthe attacks, the remaining raiders operating inand around Circasian space mostly fled,though many remained hoping to capitalize onCircasian overconfidence. What these raidersperceived as overconfidence on the part of theCircasians was really a growingprofessionalism and maturing acuity towardsspace warfare. The raiders that remainedwere consistently beaten and slowlydisappeared or followed their brethren back totheir original territories.

Most of the raiders that fled Circasianspace found it hard to transition back into theirold haunts, each power vacuum having beenfilled long before by other enterprising raiders.The end of the Circasian raider wars signaledthe end of a golden age of piracy in knownspace. Raiders and their like would not enjoyanother such resurgence until the yearsfollowing the Escalation Wars.

Chouka PiratesIt did not take long after contact was

made with aliens for several Chouka to take tothe stars in search of adventure. Many ofthese treasure hunters and thrill seekersdabbled in black market goods as well as out-and-out piracy to maintain their ships and theway of life that they were quickly becomingaccustomed to.

Unlike many foreign governments thatfrowned on pirate groups, the ChoukaTheocracy sponsored many raider factionsthat operated in and around their borders.Offering these bands money, ships, and


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materiel, the Chouka Theocracy hoped thatfunding piracy on their borders woulddistract neighboring races while providing aslow influx of stolen goods and technologiescaptured by the raiders.

As the Theocracy grew stronger itssupport of pirates and privateers waned, butthe preceding fifty years of support had leftmany Chouka raiders in a position ofstrength. Many Chouka raiders sportedlarge raiding fleets and were quite bold intheir attacks. Of these Chouka bands,several operated covert raider bases alongthe outskirts of Chouka space. Using thesehidden ports as a base of operations andstop off point, the Chouka pirates were ableto build a profitable enterprise aroundsmuggling and convoy raiding.

Chouka raiders saw the emergingCircasian Empire as an easy target for theirraiding efforts and heavily raided Circasianspace during the Circasian raider wars.Only independent pirates or the smallerraider bands were involved in the raiding ofCircasian space. The larger, moreorganized raider bands were located on theopposite side of Chouka space along theNovon and Thaline borders and the distanceprevented them from securing a piece of theaction.

The Chouka raiders along theCircasian border were dissipated and manydestroyed during the Circasiancounteroffensive of 1955. The attack hadthe desired effect of dissuading otherChouka raiders from hitting Circasian traderoutes lest they, too, be forced to confrontthe modern Circasian navy.

Following the raider wars and thedrop-off of government funding, Choukaraiders were forced to fend for themselves.Smaller, independent operators were forcedto move into other markets to keep theirheads above water and only the largestcartels survived, and then only because oftheir close financial ties to the Theocracy.

The Chouka War put an end toorganized Chouka raider organizations. Asthe Circasian fleet slowly swept throughChouka territories, they confronted Chouka

military craft and pirates alike in battle. TheChouka raiders were hired as mercenaries totake part in the defense of the Theocracy withpromises of high commissions, but it did not takelong for many of these privateers to realize thattheir only commission would be death. Thoseraiders that did not fight and die alongside theirfellow Chouka were dispersed, moving into otherneighboring territories in order to flee inevitableCircasian persecution or attack. Many of theseraiders took refuge in Thaline space while othersmoved into Novon and Solassi territories.

Following the war very few Choukaraiders remained. Those that had beendispersed by the conflict were forced to integratethemselves into new territories, and most did notsurvive the transition. The Chouka Theocracyhad been very forgiving of piracy in theirterritories, but other alien governments weremuch more strict, not to mention much better atconducting anti-raider actions.

Starships

Gambler BlockadeGambler BlockadeGambler BlockadeGambler BlockadeGambler BlockadeRunnerRunnerRunnerRunnerRunnerBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Gambler Blockade Runner is asmall, atmospheric-capable ship used forbreaking through enemy blockades to get cargoin or out of such blockades. Most Choukablockade runners were used to ferry blackmarket or otherwise illegal cargo in and out of theTheocracy. Gamblers rely on their speed andmobility to evade and outwit pursuers as they arelacking weapons and their hull is unable tosurvive more than a few shots.

Hand of God RaidingHand of God RaidingHand of God RaidingHand of God RaidingHand of God RaidingCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

The Hand of God Raiding Cruiser is thelargest design operated by Chouka raidingparties. Converted from surplus VengeanceHeavy Cruiser hulls, the handfuls of Hand of GodRaiding Cruisers in existence were operated byonly the largest Chouka pirate groups. The



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6Delkeshore pirates in particular were known tooperate two such ships at their peak.

Each cruiser is heavily armed, its trioof medium plasma cannons providingsufficient deterrent against lone militarypatrols. Tertiary guns are used to stave offattack from lighter units, such as enemyfighters and light combat vessels.

In practice, Hand of God RaidingCruisers typically operated in the company ofone or two other ships on raiding missionsacross foreign borders. The Hand of Godwould then ambush its intended target,stashing their captured cargo in an aft cargobay before retreating back to the safety ofChouka space.

A rare variant of the Hand of God existsthat exchanges the aft cargo bay for a jumpengine. These jump-capable cruisers werethe only jump-capable units ever purchased orconverted by the Chouka pirates before theywere dispersed by the Circasians after thewar.

Heresy Wolf RaiderHeresy Wolf RaiderHeresy Wolf RaiderHeresy Wolf RaiderHeresy Wolf RaiderRevelation Variant (Uncommon)

This variant of the Revelation Freighterwas a favorite of Chouka pirates.Indistinguishable from a standard RevelationFreighter outside of a detailed short-rangesensor scan, Heresy Wolf Raiders often joinedup as members of unsuspecting convoys onlyto loot and raid them once underway.

Heresy Wolf Raiders rarely operatedalone. Ships of the class usually acted asinside informants, gathering information on theconvoy’s routes and flight plan and thenfunneling it to the raiders. Mid-flight, theHeresy’s brethren would set upon the convoyat which point the Heresy’s true nature wouldbe revealed.

Highwayman-A SloopHighwayman-A SloopHighwayman-A SloopHighwayman-A SloopHighwayman-A SloopBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Highwayman Sloop is the mostcommon Chouka raider craft. A rebuild of theold Believer Frigate, the Highwayman is theepitome of ingenuity. “Jury rigged” bestdescribes the state of most Highwayman

Sloops, with raiders installing whateverweapon they could get their hands on in anyway possible. These ships little resemble theoriginal Believer Frigates and resemble themeven less so as more modifications are madeto each ship over its lifetime.

Although weakly armed compared toother ships, the Highwayman Sloop is effectivein crippling enemy transports. Highwaymenare no match for enemy military craft and, ifconfronted, will be forced to flee.

Most Highwayman Sloops areequipped with a pair of external cargo podsspecifically for storing captured cargoes.These long, cylindrical assemblies can beeasily jettisoned in the instance that the ship isbeing pursued. While the pods are attachedthe Highwayman is not considered an agilevessel and pays a higher price for pivots androlls as well as acceleration/deceleration.

It is possible to convert theHighwayman Sloop into a makeshift carrier bymodifying the external cargo pods to holdfighters. A Highwayman can base two fightersin each of its external cargo pods. Note thatthis configuration makes it impossible for theHighwayman to carry cargo of any type in thecargo pods.

Highwayman-B SloopHighwayman-B SloopHighwayman-B SloopHighwayman-B SloopHighwayman-B SloopHighwayman Variant (Uncommon)

Though most Chouka ships utilizecommon plasma weapons as their primaryarmament, many raiders have been able toprocure more exotic weapons duringespecially fruitful raids on enemy shipping.Raiders on the Thaline and Circasian frontsoften modified Highwayman Sloops to usecaptured particle cannons and beams.Replacement parts for these weapons couldbe procured from disabled freighters,especially military logistics freighters.

Because of the lack of dedicated linesof supply to keep such particle maintained, theHighwayman-B Sloop remained anuncommon variant of the Highwayman.



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Oathbreaker RaidingOathbreaker RaidingOathbreaker RaidingOathbreaker RaidingOathbreaker RaidingBargeBargeBargeBargeBargeRevelation Variant (Common)

The Oathbreaker Raiding Barge wasone of the standard raiding cruisers operatedby Chouka pirates. Oathbreaker RaidingBarges typically acted as command andcontrol craft for small raider attack groups,directing fighters and light combatants intobattle in order to coordinate strikes onunsuspecting freighters. Oathbreakers werevery popular units by virtue of their strongarmament and fighter rails that allowed it tobring twelve fighters into combat.

The Oathbreaker is based on theChouka Revelation Freighter design but theOathbreaker cannot be mistaken for aRevelation due to the extensive externalmodifications necessary for the fighter rails.This means that it is not possible for anOathbreaker to pass itself off as a RevelationFreighter in order to avoid capture or to set upan ambush.

Revelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Most Chouka raiders operated stockRevelation Freighters for moving their cargo(usually contraband) between their hiddenbases and friendly ports where they would sellthe merchandise. Revelation Freighters werealso used as plants, joining up with outgoingconvoys in order to relay intelligence data tonearby raider command and control craft.

The raider Revelation is of the sametype as that operated by the ChoukaTheocracy. Use that ship control sheet for thisship.

Thief Grappling CruiserThief Grappling CruiserThief Grappling CruiserThief Grappling CruiserThief Grappling CruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

A rare design, the Thief GrapplingCruiser is a converted Thaline freighterdesigned specifically for grappling ontofreighters in order to board them and seizetheir cargo. A Thief Grappling Cruiser’s fourgrappling claws allow it to deploy a large

number of mercenary troops to the target,easily overwhelming the freighter’s own crew.

The Thief Grappling Cruiser is onlylightly armed, relying on its speed to keep itsafe from enemy escorts or police craft. Veryfew Chouka raiders could afford the price ofpurchasing and converting a Thief GrapplingCruiser and as a result the ship remaineduncommon in their service.

Wrath WarshipWrath WarshipWrath WarshipWrath WarshipWrath WarshipBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Wrath Warship, based on theDevotion Free Trader, is one of the morepotent warships operated by Chouka raiderbands. These fearsome ships are armed withtwo forward medium plasma cannons thatallow it to deliver massive blows to the enemy.The Devotion’s cargo carrying capacity isexchanged for an enlarged reactor and engine,allowing it to power its new weapons andachieve greater speeds than the originalcivilian craft.

Wrath Warships are typically used asheavy escorts in case of attack by neighboringpatrol ships, or for softening up heavilyarmored units, such as military transports. Inthese cases the heavy firepower of the Wrathcan easily disable the target in a single volley.

Fighters & Shuttles

Wraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyWraithblade HeavyFighterFighterFighterFighterFighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Chouka raiders used many differenttypes of fighters, but in most cases theytended to use the older Wraithblade class ofheavy fighter. The Wraithblade, despite itsage, is still a capable fighter. Armed with twoplasma blasters, the fighter is capable ofstripping freighters of weapons and thrusters,allowing for the ship (and its cargo) to becaptured.

The ship control sheet for the RaiderWraithblade Heavy Fighter is the same as thatof the Chouka’s own Wraithblades.



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6Other FightersOther FightersOther FightersOther FightersOther Fighters

The Chouka pirates relied heavily onlight fighters of foreign manufacture andfavored the Reclum-D Light Fighter, using it astheir standard light fighter design.

The Unsheathed ClawThis independent raiding organization

is different from other such organizations.Rather than being a wandering band of piratesand renegades, the Unsheathed Claw is agroup of Ghotekhen refugees that fled theGhotekhen territories following the end of theGreat War against the E’chekri. TheUnsheathed Claw was founded by severalsurviving military ship commanders followingthe end of that war. Having survived in exilefighting a guerilla war for nearly five years,these Ghotekhen officers could not bear toreturn to their devastated homeworld. Theworld that they had fought so long for was nolonger the world they remembered and theyfelt it was time to move on. The Claw’sfounders returned to Ghotekh just long enoughto resupply their ships and retrieve their familymembers before heading into the unknownterritories of the dead zone.

This refugee fleet eventually ended upin the burned out husks of former Kholran andX’chukta space and opted to settle among theruins of the fallen Kholran Stacis colony.There they built new homes and beganbuilding a new society. Relations weremaintained with their homeworld, althoughcontact was infrequent at best and mostGhotekhens had little idea where the refugeecolony was really located.

This group of Ghotekhens took thename “Unsheathed Claw”, a reference to theclan’s originators. In Ghotekhen tradition, thewarriors of a power that has been devastatedin an unjust war are known as UnsheathedClaws because it is said that their clawsremain forever at the ready to exactvengeance against those that wronged them inthe past, even long after the conflict is over.The soldiers that founded the refugee colony

were considered Unsheathed Claws, and theyaccepted the moniker with honor.

The Unsheathed Claw continued toexpand their holdings on the Stacis colony,which they called Ghea’khathen (“World ofHope”), over the course of the followinghundred years. The population ofGhea’khathen swelled from only a fewthousand in 1840 to nearly 15,000 by 1930.Enough infrastructure was developed to allowthe Unsheathed Claw to lead a subsistenceexistence on the world. This, however, wasnot enough to maintain the Unsheathed Claw’sfleets, let alone provide for their people’s long-term infrastructure expansion and retentionneeds.

In response to this realization, theUnsheathed Claw began refitting their fleet forpiracy. Their fleet was comprised mainly ofold warships that the founders of the Claw hadbrought with them to Ghea’khathen a centuryearly. These ships were in a state of disrepairand only still operational by virtue of simpleGhotekhen ingenuity. All of their vessels hadlong ago ceased to look like their original hulls,and many new variations and unique designswere born from the necessity of scavengingone hull to repair and maintain another.

With their fleet refitted, the UnsheathedClaw began seeking out nearby trade routesand preying on non-Ghotekhen shipping. TheUnsheathed Claw never attacked any ship ofGhotekhen registry, placing a greater price onloyalty to their own people than to profit. Non-Ghotekhen ships moving through the burnedout worlds of the dead zone had to stay alertlest an Unsheathed Claw raiding cruiserappear on the edge of their scanner range.The Unsheathed Claw were humane as far asraiders go, though they had a particular zealoften demonsrated in combat. It was notuncommon for the Unsheathed Claw to boardenemy ships and steal what they could takewith them before retreating back to their ships.Sometimes this even included hostages andprisoners to work as slave labor in thefactories and mines of Ghea’khathen. Theydid not do this often, and usually only did so ifthe Claw commandos felt that the crew wasparticularly distasteful.



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The Unsheathed Claw eventually cameto operate as a privateer force aligned with theGhotekhen government, receiving funding andsupplies from the Ghotekhens to patrol the faredge of the frontier. The reasons for theGhotekhen funding of the Claw are many, andrumors and speculations abound as to the truereason behind it. Most historians believe thatthe Ghotekhen government wished to keep anarmed force on the frontiers to keep watch forany possible E’chekri presence on the far sideof the dead zone.

The Unsheathed Claw began raidingCircasian space as soon as a route to theirterritories became widely known in the late1930’s. The Claw found the Circasians to betechnologically inferior compared to even theiraging technologies and considered them to bean easy mark. Likewise the Th’sook seemedequally ill equipped to combat Claw raids intotheir space. Such attacks continued slowlybut steadily, each raid more daring than thelast. The acts of piracy that had originallystarted as a way to maintain their people hadgrown into a tool of fear that the Claw’sleaders hoped would propel Ghea’khathen intoa position of power in the region. There weremany who believed that it could one day bepossible to turn Ghea’khathen into a southerncapital world of the Ghotekhen Empire,perhaps even one day eclipsing Ghotekh itself.

The forces of the Unsheathed Clawwere largely destroyed by the Circasiansurprise attack in 1955. The Circasian fleetassembled to combat the Claw threat provedformidable and, despite having a similarnumber of hulls, the quality of Claw warshipswas lacking. With their fleet in shambles andno longer able to perform raids upon enemypowers, the Unsheathed Claw pulled its forcesback to defend Ghea’khathen from any furtherattacks.

The Unsheathed Claw eventuallyrecovered from the defeat, but by the time theyhad again assembled a fleet of anyconsequence their moment of opportunity hadalready passed. The Circasian’s raider warshad propelled them into the position of a minormilitary power, and the Th’sook had alsodeveloped a space fleet capable of providing

policing action within their own territories.Relations with the homeworld had alsobecome strained in the interim, continuedconnections with the Unsheathed Claw havingcaused political problems for the Ghotekhengovernment in the Hegemony. It becameapparent to the Claw by the summer of 1968that they would have to forge an alliance withsome power in order to maintain their way oflife.

The Unsheathed Claw eventuallychose to align themselves with the Th’sookDominion, accepting protectorate status inexchange for military protection and muchneeded supplies. The Unsheathed Claw fleetremained in service as a local defense forceprotecting Ghea’khathen from any possibleattack. Ghea’khathen flourished with the influxof goods and traders and became a majorregional trade hub, bringing wealth to both theUnsheathed Claw as well as the Th’sook.

The Unsheathed Claw protestedagainst Th’sook involvement in the ak-Tai War.Although the Claw threatened to break theirmany protection treaties with the Th’sook theynever did, though they refused to take part inthe conflict. They were enraged by theCircasian assault on the motherlands, but didnot have the resources to take part in theconflict.

Starships

Dushar HyperspaceDushar HyperspaceDushar HyperspaceDushar HyperspaceDushar HyperspaceProbeProbeProbeProbeProbeBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

The tenuous hyperspace routesleading out of Ghotekhen space and into theE’chekri dead zone required the UnsheathedClaw to coopt several small scout craft forexploring ahead of the main fleet. These smallhyperspace probes escorted the Claw fleetthrough hyperspace, guiding it along thebeacon paths leading to their eventually homein the Stacis system.

After the migration was complete, theremaining Dushar Hyperspace Probes wereassigned to escort convoys traveling back and



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6forth between Claw and Ghotekhen territories.Without the support of their DusharHyperspace Probes the Unsheathed Clawwould have been forever separated from theirbrethren at Ghotekh. Such a situation wouldhave left the Claw without a source of suppliesor support and would have been the doom oftheir fledgling colony.

Felrauk WarshipFelrauk WarshipFelrauk WarshipFelrauk WarshipFelrauk WarshipBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Unsheathed Claw operatedseveral Felrauk Warships, mainly because oftheir relative inexpensiveness as well as theiratmopsheric capability. The ability to landships for repairs was very important for theClaw as most of their manufacturing andshipyards were located planetside onGhea’khathen.

The Felrauk Warships are armed withoff-the-shelf plasma weapons that could beeasily purchased from the Claw’s contacts inthe Ghotekhen Empire. Felrauks proved to beinadequate warships on their own, but whenoperated in groups they were able tooverwhelm larger cruisers.

Feltann HeavyFeltann HeavyFeltann HeavyFeltann HeavyFeltann HeavyDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerDestroyerBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

The Feltann Heavy Destroyer is aclass unique to the Unsheathed Claw createdby bolting together two Felrauk Warship hulls.This concept was born from the Claw’s needfor a strong line of defense aroundGhea’khathen and their lack of suitablewarship hulls. The effort required extensiveprototyping by Claw scientists before asuitable process for combining the hulls couldbe found, but the resultant design waseverything that the Claw could have hoped for.

After their development, a smallnumber of Feltann Heavy Destroyers wereconstructed to provide Ghea’khathen with anelite destroyer force. These destroyers havethe structural strength of two ships and thefirepower to counter the light cruisers of otherneighboring races.

Only limited numbers of Feltann HeavyDestroyers were converted by the UnsheathedClaw because of the scarcity of hulls at theirdisposal. Those Felrauk Warships selectedfor conversion were usually those that hadsustained massive damage in combat or hadbeen experiencing system difficulties thatwould necessitate widespread systemoverhauls. The Feltanns that saw combat,however, proved the effectiveness of theclass.

Gabrak Long RangeGabrak Long RangeGabrak Long RangeGabrak Long RangeGabrak Long RangeTTTTTransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Gabrak Long Range Transports areconverted troop transports designed for longdistance cargo transport. It was onboardGabrak Long Range Transports that the firstcolonists made their way to the Stacis systemto found the Ghea’khathen colony. Afterfounding the colony, the Claw assigned theirfleet of Gabrak Transports on a trade routebetween Ghea’khathen and Ghotekh. Thispipeline insured that the colony was keptresupplied and helped maintain contact withthe motherworld.

Later, after the Unsheathed Clawbegan raiding merchant vessels, the GabrakLong Range Transports were used totransport captured goods that were of no useto the Claw back to Ghotekh for sale in localmarkets. This trade gave the Claw a constantinflux of funds for use in maintaining theircolony and raider operations.

Journan CorvetteJournan CorvetteJournan CorvetteJournan CorvetteJournan CorvetteBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

This conversion of an old Ghotekhenpolice corvette is a common warship operatedby the Claw. The Journan Corvette is heavilyarmed for a ship of its size, though thisfirepower is exceptionally short ranged.Journan Corvettes were used predominantlyfor system patrols within the Stacis system,though many Journan Corvettes were pulledfrom this duty to participate in raiding actionson nearby space lanes.



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When operating as part of a largerfleet, Journans would provide antifightersupport to other fleet elements, using itsplasma cutters to shoot fighters down beforethey could strike at the vitally importantcruisers and carriers.

Kiltrac Raiding CruiserKiltrac Raiding CruiserKiltrac Raiding CruiserKiltrac Raiding CruiserKiltrac Raiding CruiserVatraliak Variant (Common)

When the need for raiding vesselsarose the Unsheathed Claw turned to theirVatraliak Defense Cruisers as the answer.The Claw proceeded to convert nearly theirentire fleet of Vatraliaks into Kiltrac RaidingCruisers.

This shift in focus came with a heavyprice tag. One of the most important changesto the Vatraliak hulls was the addition of a jumpengine to allow the Unsheathed Clawunprecedented strategic mobility. The cost ofthe Quantium 40 and technicians necessary tobuild and install these jump engines wassizable. The Claw was forced to take outloans and secure under-the-table financingfrom contacts in the Ghotekhen Empire inorder to realize the conversion of their Vatraliakfleet to the new design.

The Kiltrac Raiding Cruiser soonbecame one of the most effective raider craftin the sector. The Kiltrac Raiding Cruisersusually operated in tandem with other smallClaw ships, but some of these cruisers alsofound themselves operating solo on extendedsorties deep into Circasian or Th’sook space.

Komdustur CommandKomdustur CommandKomdustur CommandKomdustur CommandKomdustur CommandCarrierCarrierCarrierCarrierCarrierUnique Ship (2 Exist)

The Unsheathed Claw operated twoheavy cruisers at the time that their founderssought out in search of a new home. Theseheavy cruisers operated for more than twodecades after the founding of theGhea’khathen colony but, eventually, theybegan to suffer system problems related to alack of supply and routine maintenance.

Because of these supply issues, theleaders of the Claw decided to perform

massive modifications to the cruisers and turnthem into command vessels for their smallwar fleet. Heavy weapons and other hard-to-maintain systems (including the vessels’ largejump engines) were stripped from the hull andreplaced with cheaper, more reliableequivalents that could be fabricated—albeitslowly—by local industry.

The Claw used the extra space freedon the cruiser hulls for installing extra hangarfacilities, allowing each command carrier tooperate thirty heavy fighters. The Clawleaders hoped that a large command carrierhull would be able to project power nearGhea’khathen in such a way as to discourageattack.

The Komdustur Command Carriersrarely left orbit of Ghea’khathen, being used ina purely defensive role. The Unsheathed Clawguarded their command carriers fiercly,sacrificing other ships and fighters in theirdefense. Both Komdusturs survived the endof the Circasian raider wars and remained inClaw service for several more decades beforefinally being dismantled.

Murston AssaultMurston AssaultMurston AssaultMurston AssaultMurston AssaultFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Murston Assault Frigate is atransport designed to deliver small groups ofspecially trained special operations troops toplanetary sites, usually for the purpose ofretrieving important goods or information. TheMurston is heavily armored for a Ghotekhenvessel, but the extra mass makes the shipslower and less maneuverable.

The Unsheathed Claw commonly usedMurston Assault Frigates to raid small coloniesand settlements on their borders. Claw troopsoften met armed resistance from settlers afterthe first few raids, but Claw reprisals uponcolonists eventually cowed the population,allowing them to take what they wanted fromthese unprotected settlements.

Murston Assault Frigates wereeventually abandoned as raiding and terrorweapons after the Th’sook and Circasiansdeveloped a significant garrison force at their



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6colony worlds. The Murston transports weresimply too slow to outrun any planetarydefenders, and many raids ended in disasterwhen assault transports could not escapebefore enemy ships arrived on the scene.

Ships of this class later became usedas military training ships and remained inservice as such until 1986 when the lastMurston broke down and was scrapped.

TTTTTolaniask Patrololaniask Patrololaniask Patrololaniask Patrololaniask PatrolCarrierCarrierCarrierCarrierCarrierGabak Variant (Rare)

Tolaniask Patrol Carriers weredeployed by the Claw following the decision tobegin raiding surrounding territories. Withmany of their cruisers away on raidingmissions the Claw needed to maintain a fiercedefense at Stacis to repel any opportunisticattacks by other powers or raiders.

These carriers can operate twenty-fourDelrain Attack Fighters on long range patrolmissions of the system. Often operatingalone, Tolaniask Patrol Carriers routinelypatrolled the Stacis system in search ofpotential intruders.

Vatraliak DefenseVatraliak DefenseVatraliak DefenseVatraliak DefenseVatraliak DefenseCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

Of the larger cruisers the UnsheathedClaw has in its possession, most are of theVatraliak class. Vatraliak Defense Cruisersare heavily modified versions of the GhotekhenGhairada Attack Cruiser. Over the years, theClaw has upgraded the hulls to meet theirneeds in defending Ghea’khathen from attack.Early upgrades saw the addition of port andstarboard missile pods, as well as the additionof additional structural reinforcements.

Vatraliak Defense Cruisers were usedfor defending Ghea’khathen from attack andseldom left the colony’s orbit. The cruiserswere simply too valuable to risk losing them,as there was no way for the Claw to securereplacement hulls. This outlook eventuallychanged when the Unsheathed Claw retooledtheir fleet for raider operations, but it was still

very rare to see a true Vatraliak DefenseCruiser prowling the space lanes.

Bases & Defenses

Drakheara BaseDrakheara BaseDrakheara BaseDrakheara BaseDrakheara BaseBase Hull (Unique Base)

Two decades after the UnsheathedClaw’s main colony in Stacis was foundedtheir leaders began an ambitious project tofabricate a starbase with which to defend thecolony from potential attack. In the past, theUnsheathed Claw had relied entirely on its fleetto defend the colony. The lack of an orbitalbase detrimentally affected the readiness andsupply of the fleet, however, and the slowprocess of launching payloads into orbit wascost prohibitive for long-term maintenance ofthe fleet.

Drakheara Base took many years tobuild and has a varied background. The onlyUnsheathed Claw unit to sport heavy plasmacannons, those weapons were obtainedthrough a wealthy patron from Ghotekh inreturn for an exclusive maintenance contract.The base’s weapons pylons weremanufactured on Solassi and imported, andother sections were fabricated elsewhere inthe Hegemony and imported for finalconstruction. For the most part, though,Drakheara Base was constructed using localmaterials, industry, and manpower. It standsas the crowning achievement of what theUnsheathed Claw were able to build out ofnothingness, a testimony to their ingenuity andbelief in their new world.

Fighters & Shuttles

Delrain Attack FighterDelrain Attack FighterDelrain Attack FighterDelrain Attack FighterDelrain Attack FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Delrain Attack Fighter is a fighterunique to the Unsheathed Claw. Produced atfactories on Ghea’khathen, the Delrain AttackFighter was developed by the UnsheathedClaw to provide them with a superior spacesuperiority fighter to protect their colony fromattack. Dual environment fighters, several



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squadrons of Delrain Attack Fighters werealways stationed on Ghea’khathen to counterany possible attack.

The development of the Delrain AttackFighter was a closely held secret within theUnsheathed Claw. Very few knew about it, andvery few outsiders believed that theUnsheathed Claw maintained enoughresearch and development infrastructure todevelop a new class of fighter.

The presence of Delrain AttackFighters in Claw raiding forces made them anespecially potent force. The Delrainoutperformed most fighters operated byneighboring militaries, and civilian escortfighters were unprepared for combating suchan excellent fighter.

The Unsheathed Claw has remainedprotective of the Delrain Attack Fighter and itsdesign, allowing few other organizations topurchase fighters of this class. The Th’sookhave managed to procure several examples ofthe Delrain with the intent to develop a hybridTh’sook/Claw strike fighter.

Ventisahr BreachingVentisahr BreachingVentisahr BreachingVentisahr BreachingVentisahr BreachingPodPodPodPodPodBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Ventisahr Breaching Pod is theprimary breaching pod used by theUnsheathed Claw. The pod’s design is aslightly modified version of an older Ghotekhenbreaching pod dating from the time of theGreat War. The Ventisahr is unarmed andslow, but compensates for this with an extrastrong hull and heavier armor.

Ventisahr Breaching Pods were heavilyused during the Claw’s raiding career,attaching themselves to disabled freighters tosecure the ships prior to transferring thevessel’s cargo. The engines on a Ventisahrare improved over that of other breaching podsand can sustain heavy damage before beingdisabled. A Ventisahr Breaching Pod will lose1 point of thrust per 5 boxes of damage.

Zeron Heavy FighterZeron Heavy FighterZeron Heavy FighterZeron Heavy FighterZeron Heavy FighterBase Hull (Special Deployment)

The Zeron is an old Ghotekhen heavyfighter design dating from the Great War. TheUnsheathed Claw used Zeron Heavy Fightersalmost exclusively after the exodus to Stacis,not changing over to other fighters until thedevelopment of the Delrain Attack Fighter. TheZeron was still a competent and effectivefighter, but most of the Claw’s remainingZerons suffered from debilitating maintenance-related failure.

Zeron Heavy Fighters operated by theClaw after 1840 are subject to the followingpenalties: -1 free thrust, -1 offensive bonus,1d3 points of pre-existing damage.Additionally, the gradual depletion ofreplacement parts caused the UnsheathedClaw to begin scuttling Zeron Heavy Fighters,cannibalizing one fighter to fix another. Inscenarios set in or before 1890, Zerons areconsidered Unlimited Availability fighters. Inbattles after 1890, only one flight of ZeronHeavy Fighters may be taken per twosquadrons of fighters.

The Circasian attack on theUnsheathed Claw in 1955 signaled the deathknell of the Zeron Heavy Fighter in Clawservice. No Zeron fighters can be used inscenarios set after this historic attack as allremaining Zeron fighters of consequence weredestroyed in that battle.

The Blood SwordsThe Kástan raiders known as the

Blood Swords were one of the most fearsomeraider bands to rear their heads in knownspace in recent memory. The Blood Swordswere formed and financed by Brahaen Ghaira,a member of the Kástan nobility whosefamily’s ties to the lines of succession hadbeen cut a century before due to scandal.Brahaen Ghaira was the second child of hishouse and a playboy in his youth, winninggreat favor in the Imperial Court among thewomen of the Court.

As a young man, Brahaen Ghaira tookgreat interest in space warfare. Unwilling to



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6enter the Kástan imperial navy and give up hisautonomy, Brahaen instead purchased hisown ship and gathered a group of cutthroats,convicts, and social outcasts to serve as theship’s crew. This first ship, called RainingThunder, gave Brahaen an outlet for hisdubious desire to earn himself a name as agreat military commander – on his own terms.

The Raining Thunder started itsservice as a mercenary vessel, escortingfreighters in and out of the Rapids of Rodirraand guarding them from attack. These routineescort missions did not satisfy Brahaen,however, and he began to look for otheropportunities for adventure.

After conversations with severalmembers of his crew that had served aboardraider vessels elsewhere, Brahaen decidedthat profit and excitement lay inswashbuckling. Instead of escorting freightersas they had previously done the RainingThunder would raid them!

Using those family resources at hisdisposal Brahaen purchased several morerundown warships and outfitted them forraiding operations. A freighter and two smallfrigates soon joined the Blood Sword fleetalongside the Raining Thunder.

The first seven months of operationsas raiders proved less successful thanBrahaen had hoped. Battles against slowmoving freighters didn’t excite him in the least,and the few run ins with military vessels oftenleft his small raider fleet badly beaten and inretreat. Their successful raids had nettedthem enough money to continue operations,but the Blood Swords were definitely notmaking money, nor was Bahaen enjoying therogue’s life he had imagined.

All of that was about to change. In thespring of 1942, Brahaen’s contacts funneledhim information on a substantial ThalineQuantium 40 shipment being routed throughChouka space bound for the Novon tradingjunction at Kolir. As soon as Brahaen receivedthe information his fleet was rerouted tointercept and capture the Quantium 40. Theraid on the Thaline convoy was a success andthe Blood Swords got away with most of theircargo. What they left behind, however, would

help to cement the name of their raiding clan.The crews of the Thaline freighters werecruelly tortured and then slaughtered by theBlood Swords. The Chouka crews thatanswered the ships’ distress calls found bodyparts and fluids strewn throughout the ship.

Brahaen Ghaira reveled in his catchand quickly returned to Kásta to sell his ill-gotten Quantium 40. More than a few buyerswere willing to look the other way to purchasesome Quantium 40 on the cheap (comparedto the prices they normally paid for the rareelement). Brahaen netted enough credits tofully refit his fleet with the latest in hardwareand still have credits leftover.

Ghaira didn’t sell all of the Quantium 40he netted from the raid on the Thaline freighter,however. Instead he hoarded it and waiteduntil, after several more years of successfulraiding of alien shipping, he had saved upenough money to purchase a larger, morepowerful hull to act as his flagship. He thenused this secret stash of Quantium 40 in theconstruction and installation of a small jumpengine aboard the new cruiser, which hefondly named The Lady of Dark Souls.

It was around this time that his familyand other members of the Kástan elite tooknotice of Brahaen’s good fortune and began toquestion where—and how—he had acquiredhis newfound wealth. His family began todistance themselves from him, but Brahaendidn’t care about what others thought abouthim or his occupation. In the taverns andbrothels he boasted of his accomplishments,knowing that no security force could evertouch him due to his family name. He hadeverything that he ever wanted: he was incommand of his own starship, leading hisforces into battle, and enjoying the riches thatthe spoils brought him.

Brahaen moved his flag to the Lady ofDark Souls upon its completion, leaving hissecond in command to assume the captaincyof the Raining Thunder. No expense wasspared on the construction of the Lady of DarkSouls and it did not take long for it to earn areputation of its own far surpassing that of theRaining Thunder. The Lady’s jump engineeliminated any predictability from the attack



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and no ship could rest safely knowing that atany time they could be targeted by a surpriseBlood Sword attack.

The Lady also made Brahaen muchbolder in his attacks and the types of targetshe was willing to do battle with. Before he hadstuck to fairly standard raids on lone freightersor small, undefended convoys. With the Ladyunder his control he began choosing to strikeat any convoy of his choosing knowing full wellthat the fleet’s escorts were no match for theLady in combat. Brahaen and the Lady hadmany close calls where the ship wasobviously in over its head fighting a superioropponent, but somehow Brahaen’s luck neverfailed him and his ship always survived suchengagements.

As the years marched on the strengthof the Blood Swords grew. Their identity andthat of their (in)famous leader was commonknowledge to most that stayed abreast of suchthings. The Blood Swords foolishly flauntedtheir strength and their ability to strike quicklyand without notice. The Kástan authorities didnothing to interfere with Ghaira’s forces for thesame reason that he himself was not arrestedor detained; his family had status, albeitwaning, and a move by the military orgovernment could result in unnecessary (notto mention unwanted) political ramifications.The safety of Kástan space and the Rapids ofRodirra provided the Blood Swords with afallback point in which they could always hidefrom authorities. Few non-Kástan werefamiliar enough with the Rapids to safelynavigate them, something that the BloodSwords fully exploited to protect themselvesand their stolen cargoes.

Perhaps one of the most famousencounters with the Blood Swords was in1950 when their forces ambushed andmassacred a Circasian patrol fleet. Circasianauthorities had been harrying Blood Swordvessels operating in the Senshuka system forsome time, but recent Circasian policingactions had been successful, costing theBlood Swords three out of the last five raids.Brahaen Ghaira knew that something had tobe done to silence the Circasian threat or, at

the very least, to relieve the pressure on hisraiding forces.

Brahaen formulated a plan wherein hewould use his recently acquired second Ladyof Dark Souls-type cruiser to lure the localCircasian patrol fleet into a trap. Brahaenknew from the scuttlebutt in port that theCircasian military was desperately trying tocounter raider operations in their territory inorder to make it safe for merchant vesselspassing through the region. The desperationof the Circasian authorities made Brahaenreasonably sure that they would take the bait.

The Circasians didn’t disappoint. Aftertwo weeks of making its presence known inSenshuka, the second Lady of Dark SoulsBattlecruiser waited patiently for the Circasianfleet to find and intercept it. The fleet couldhave easily retreated at any time to preventcapture, but Brahaen hoped that theCircasians would overlook this obvious tell intheir haste to capture or destroy the raidervessels. The Circasians obviously did notconsider this, as their fleet walked right into thetrap that had been set for them.

Bringing the Lady of Dark Souls out ofhyperspace and using it to encircle theCircasian forces, the Blood Swords weresuccessful in destroying the Circasian patrolfleet to the last ship. In the short-term theattack had the desired effect of giving theBlood Swords the freedom to continue theirreign of terror in the area. However, in thelong-term, Brahaen’s trap would lead to theultimate destruction and dispersal of the BloodSwords.

That destruction came in 1955 when,after gathering their forces in preparation for araid on a major Quantium 40 convoy, theBlood Swords were themselves ambushed bya fleet of Circasian Xandar Lancer Frigates.The Blood Sword fleet present at the stagingarea was taken offguard by the surprise attackand most of their ships were destroyed beforethey could retreat. Once again, BrahaenGhaira and the Lady of Dark Souls managedto escape disaster and flee back to Kástan,but the Circasian attack left the Blood Swordsin shambles. Fully one-third of their raiding



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6fleet, including the only other Dark SoulBattlecruiser, was destroyed in the attack.

The Blood Swords could haverebounded from this loss but, unfortunately forBrahaen, this was not destined to happen.Many members of the Blood Swords saw thewriting on the wall and fled the area, takingtheir ships with them. The loyal followers thatstuck by Brahaen were too few to allow theBlood Swords the striking power they hadonce enjoyed. After three more years ofintermittent raiding, Brahaen retired from theraiding business and took up permanentresidence on Kásta where he involved himselfin other projects and returned to the life that hehad lived before his career as a raider hadbegun. He took with him into retirement theLady of Dark Souls which remained hispersonal transport for decades to come.

With Ghaira out of the picture, theBlood Swords slowly broke apart. Without astrong and charismatic leader to hold themtogether the clan could not find the properdirection to sustain itself. Eventually the BloodSwords simply ceased to exist as a viableraider organization.

Blood Sword CrewsBlood Sword ships are crewed

primarily by Kástan nationals and as suchbenefit from the Kástan racial ExpertHelmsman trait. All Blood Sword ships areequipped with an Expert Helmsman for noextra cost, the value of the Elite Officer beingfactored into the ship’s base cost. The ExpertHelmsman is not considered optional and isallowed even in situations and scenarioswhere the Elite Officers optional rules are notin play.

In addition to their Expert Helmsman,the crews of Blood Sword craft were oftenvery experienced and excelled in the art ofraiding. Many of the Blood Sword shipshistorically had an Elite Officer or Elite Crewaboard in addition to their Expert Helmsman.

Perhaps the most famous (orinfamous) Elite Officer in the Blood Swordarsenal was Brahaen Ghaira himself. Ghairais represented in battle as a Lucky Captain

and gains all of the advantages and abilitiestherein. As with the previous note pertaining toExpert Helmsmen, a Lucky Captain specialofficer should be granted to the Blood Swordplayer in any battle in which Brahaen Ghaira ispresent.

Starships

Dark SoulDark SoulDark SoulDark SoulDark SoulBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBattlecruiserBase Hull (Restricted Deployment 10%)

These rare raiding cruisers were thepinnacle of Blood Sword technology and theultimate expression of Blood Sword power.Dark Soul Battlecruisers are equipped almostsolely for combat, forgoing extensive cargofacilities in favor of more weapons and,perhaps more importantly, a jump engine.These warships are more than capable oftaking on military patrol cruisers on an equalfooting—and winning.

Only two Dark Soul Battlecruiserswere ever fielded by the Blood Swords and,except on a few rare occasions, they did notoperate together.

Firebrand FrigateFirebrand FrigateFirebrand FrigateFirebrand FrigateFirebrand FrigateBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

Based on the aging Kástan SteelsabreFrigate, Firebrand Frigates found widespreaduse in the fleets of noble families serving asescorts, couriers, and warships in theirservice. Many also found themselves used inforeign territories as mercenaries or raiders,and it is in this capacity that they became bestknown. Brahaen Ghaira’s first ship, theRaining Thunder, was of the Firebrand classand was the first ship used by the BloodSwords early in their raiding career.

Firebrand Frigates are sturdy craft andheavily armed for their size. The class is wellregarded for their ability to stand up to enemycruisers and accept more punishment thanwould be reasonable for a frigate of their size.



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Lady of Dark SoulsLady of Dark SoulsLady of Dark SoulsLady of Dark SoulsLady of Dark SoulsCommand CruiserCommand CruiserCommand CruiserCommand CruiserCommand CruiserDark Soul Variant (Unique)

This unique variant of the Dark SoulBattlecruiser represents Ghaira’s commandship, including the cost and abilities of its EliteOfficers and Crew. The Lady of Dark Soulswas Lord Brahaen Ghaira’s command shipand the dearest to his heart. As such it wasalways armed with the best weapons andsystems money could buy and staffed by thefinest crews available. The bane of thestarways, the Lady of Dark Souls instantlystruck fear into the hearts of any convoy orlone transport that had the ill luck ofencountering it.

The Lady’s distinguishing mark was anillustration of a Kástan woman draped in whitecloth immersed in a sickly whitish-green glowpainted on the ship’s nose. The rest of theship was painted a dark crimson, making theLady of Dark Souls appear nearly black incolor.

Raining ThunderRaining ThunderRaining ThunderRaining ThunderRaining ThunderFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateFrigateFirebrand Variant (Unique)

The Raining Thunder had a slightlydifferent configuration than that of a standardFirebrand Frigate. Because of Ghaira’sfinancial resources and connections he wasable to outfit the Raining Thunder with betterweapons as well as several other amenitiesnot seen on other ships of the class.

Razor BrigandRazor BrigandRazor BrigandRazor BrigandRazor BrigandBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Razor Brigands were the cheapest andmost plentiful craft operated by the BloodSwords. These small warships were used forescorting larger raider ships or harrying enemymilitary patrols long enough for the fleet toretreat with its loot. Razor Brigands cannottake much damage in due to their paper-thinarmor, a fact not lost on the Blood Swords.However, the low crew requirements of

Razors coupled with their low cost made themperfect attrition units.

Scythe RaiderScythe RaiderScythe RaiderScythe RaiderScythe RaiderBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The standard Blood Sword raider ship,the Scythe Raider is a conversion of an oldKástan freighter used in the previous century.Most Scythe Raiders are little changed fromthese old barges with the one majormodification being the addition of additionalweapons to the hulls. Scythe Raiders alsoconvert one of the freighter’s cargo bays into acramped six-fighter hangar adding invaluablefighter support to Blood Sword raiding parties.

Fighters & Shuttles

Chariot Boarding SledChariot Boarding SledChariot Boarding SledChariot Boarding SledChariot Boarding SledBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The Blood Swords regularly usedbreaching pods in their raiding operations,mostly for performing hideous massextermination missions on the enemy crews.Chariot Boarding Sleds are poor breachingpods cobbled together from cast off shuttlesand other components. They are, however,adequate for delivering marines to slow-moving or disabled freighters that cannotescape their pursuit.

TTTTTrident Light Fighterrident Light Fighterrident Light Fighterrident Light Fighterrident Light FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Trident Light Fighters were the principlefighter craft employed by the Blood Swords.Tridents had been abandoned by the Kástanmilitary in light of newer fighters such as theKatanna and the number of Tridents one couldprocure was limited only by available liquidassets.

The Blood Swords used Trident LightFighters much as any other raider group usestheir fighters, relying on the craft as attritionunits that could be easily replaced if lost andthat could easily disable civilian craft.

In practice the Trident fighters provedto be a match for early Circasian fighters but



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6were woefully underarmed when compared tothe military fighters of the Chouka or Thaline.

Other RaidersIn addition to the major raider bands,

numerous minor independent raiders andprivateers operated near Circasian space.These freelancers did not have the financial orpolitical resources of the larger raiderorganizations and were forced to eek out aliving in small pockets of territory not prowledby other, more powerful raiders.

Starships

Drifter GalleonDrifter GalleonDrifter GalleonDrifter GalleonDrifter GalleonBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Of the ships modified for raideractions, the Drifter Galleon is one of the moreuniversal. The Drifters began life as old cargofreighters but have since been retrofitted toserve as raiding carriers. The galleon’sinternal cargo bay was all but gutted to makeroom for an expanded hangar deck capable ofbasing 18 light fighters, typically of theReclum-type.

Drifter Galleons provided raiders with awell-rounded ship for use in raiding civilianfreighters. Not only could the Drifter deploy alarge number of fighters but also its cargofacilities allowed it to quickly onload stolenbounty before security patrols arrived on thescene.

Minnow GunboatMinnow GunboatMinnow GunboatMinnow GunboatMinnow GunboatBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

The origin of this small raider craft isunknown. Ships of this class first beganharassing the space lanes in the late 19th

Century. Often times Minnow Gunboatsappear to have been born from a piecemealconstruction and some have made visible useof castoff scrap from alien shipwrecks.

As a combatant Minnow Gunboats arelacking. These gunboats are small and poorlyarmed and will flee in the face of any realmilitary threat.

TTTTTokandra Frigateokandra Frigateokandra Frigateokandra Frigateokandra FrigateBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

Tokandra Frigates were commonlyfielded by Sshel’ath pirates during the raiderwars. These raiding frigates trade theirexisting railgun weapons for medium plasmacannons procured from Chouka piratecontacts. In practice the Tokandra’s heavyhitting plasma cannons proved to be poorweapons for disabling freighters, but they wereinvaluable in taking down convoy escorts.

Fighters & Shuttles

Reclum Light FighterReclum Light FighterReclum Light FighterReclum Light FighterReclum Light FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Availability)

These cheap, ubiquitous fighters arethe primary fighters operated by raiders in thisarea of known space. Produced by numerousindependent construction firms and sold onthe black market, the Reclum series of lightfighters are the best that most raiders canafford.

Unlike other fighters the Reclumcomes in many different varieties dependingon the production source. Four majorproduction sources exist in known space andeach relies on locally produced weapons andmaterials in the construction of Reclumfighters.

The Reclum-A, the first model widelyavailable on the open market, was designedand built by the Solassi. These fighters werelightly constructed but benefitted from a betterthan average drive system. Reclum-A’s arefast and effective raider fighters.

The Reclum-B model of fighterscomes from Ghotekhen space, Octirna inparticular, and as such represents a moreGhotekhen design mindset. The Reclum-Bfeatures a scaled back engine, reducing freethrust; this change is in some ways a blessingas the replacement drive is much morereliable and less maintenance intensive thanthe Solassi drives installed on the Reclum-A.The space freed by use of the small engine isused to mount two larger plasma guns onto



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the fighter chassis, increasing fighterfirepower. In addition, the armoring of theexisting drive is improved to increase fightersurvivability.

The Reclum-C fighter model is aThaline variant of the Reclum modified forcivilian use. Although many civilian interestswere known to use Reclum-C’s a largenumber of these fighters wound up in raiderhands. The Reclum-C exchanges someperformance related features for improvedfighter armor and a more advancedelectronics package.

The Reclum-D was the last Reclummodel to be produced. Designed by theNeliste, the Reclum-D is optimized for thoseraces that require alternate atmosphere orenvironmental conditions. The Neliste needfor an aquatic environment for their pilotsnecessitated the development. The increasedversatility of the cockpit made it slightly moreattractive to other races such as the Choukaor Thaline, though only slightly so. Theenhancements to the pilot canopy made byNeliste engineers actually increased the safetyof the pilot inside and increased the chancesof successful ejection from the fighter.Combat-wise, the Reclum-D was strippeddown and rearmed with a single gun, theleftover space replaced by two missilehardpoints. Other minor improvements werealso made, but they had little effect on thedesign. Because the changes on he Reclum-D proved to be so minor it is rarely seenoutside of Neliste or Chouka service.


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7Chapter 7:Chapter 7:Chapter 7:Chapter 7:Chapter 7:CiviliansCiviliansCiviliansCiviliansCivilians

BackgroundThe area of space including the

Circasian and Chouka empires was still youngwhen the Chouka War broke out and strongeconomic ties had not yet been forged with theneighboring sectors. Trade slowly flowed intoSshel’ath and Chouka space from the NovonTrade Lords and the Solassi Corridor that ledto the major colony at Ula. Thaline spaceoffered access to other lucrative marketscoreward, but this commercial traffic had yetto substantially spill over into the developingempires.

Nonetheless trade was very much alivein the region. A constant flow of merchantscame and went with over a dozen worlds andcolonies represented among their numbers.Thaline, Chouka, and Circasian commercialinterests accounted for the bulk of trade, butthe ak-Tai, Ghotekhen, and Solassi had alsostarted to enter the market via the SolassiCorridor.

Civilian traffic in Circasian and Choukaspace receded temporarily during the periodknown by the Circasian as the raider wars asmore and more pirates began operating alongthe new trade lanes. This elevated raideractivity stymied economic growth and stalledeconomic expansion into the region for sometime. After the resolution of the raider warscivilian traffic once again began to increase.

The Chouka War caused anotherrecession of civilian commercial trafficheading into the area. Soon after theCircasian conquest of Chouka, these civilianvessels returned to their normal trade routes.The Circasians encouraged civilian activities inthe former Chouka territories whereas theChouka had done their best to exert greatercontrol over the flow of trade through theirspace. Under Circasian control the Choukaterritories flourished with the influx of people,corporate interests, and independentmerchants reinvigorating the local economy.

Starships

Benakar CommercialBenakar CommercialBenakar CommercialBenakar CommercialBenakar CommercialTTTTTransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Benakar is a stock commercialfreighter that has been operated by the Solassifor nearly one hundred years. Boxier andmore utilitarian than most Solassi ships, theBenakar Commercial Transport is all businessand no beauty. Many pilots refer to Benakarsas “flying wedges,” a term which is a fairlyaccurate description.

Carkoreth EscortCarkoreth EscortCarkoreth EscortCarkoreth EscortCarkoreth EscortCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

Few civilian agencies have everconstructed dedicated warships for escortingtheir fleets. In most cases alien governmentsexpressly prohibit such actions in order topreserve the supremacy of their own navies.However, some governments have beenknown to allow the construction of just suchcraft by groups within their empire.

The Ghotekhen built Carkoreth EscortCruiser was developed as a mercenarycruiser whose sole purpose is to provideescort to important convoys or commercialships. Carkoreth Escort Cruisers are wellequipped to handle the typical raider threat.One Carkoreth is not enough to take on anentire raider strike fleet, but that is not really itsmission; the Carkoreth and its fighters aremeant to tie-up the raider forces just longenough for the escorted fleet to move outsideof range and escape the battle.

Carkoreth Escort Cruisers proved tobe only marginally profitable and manyinvestors that funded initial construction of thecruisers backed out after three years oflosses. The Carkoreth Escort Cruiserseventually found their place and achievedprofitability but never yielded the return oninvestment originally estimated.


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Devotion Free TDevotion Free TDevotion Free TDevotion Free TDevotion Free TraderraderraderraderraderBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Devotion Free Trader was acommon Chouka trading craft before the fallof the Theocracy. Many Chouka captainsoperated such ships along the trade routes,trading with neighboring powers andproselytizing as they traveled from star tostar. Many of the more affluent Choukacitizens purchased Devotions and usedthem as luxurious personal yachts.

In the final battle at Chouka, a largefleet of Devotion Free Traders wasconscripted by the Theocracy to fight theCircasian fleet. These ships wereslaughtered in the battle, but their zealouscrews were more than willing to die for theirworld.

In the aftermath of the Chouka War,some Chouka merchants remained at largein areas outside of the former Chouka andCircasian spheres of influence. Manycontinued their previous trade operations,but others grew tired of the nomadic life andsold their Devotion Free Traders to outsideinterests, especially pirates and raiders whowere more than willing to pay good creditsfor surplus hardware.

Felenia TFelenia TFelenia TFelenia TFelenia TransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

A common multipurpose Circasianfreighter design. Often found ferryingpassengers or cargo between Circasianand alien ports, Felenia Transports aresmall and poorly armed. Most stuck to thespace lanes and relied on military patrols toensure their safety.

Gallah TGallah TGallah TGallah TGallah TransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Gallah Transport is the standardfreighter deployed by the Circasians in theearly part of the 20th Century. Lightly armed,this class of ships carries two primarycargo containers slung underneath the mainbody of the craft. These cargo pods aremodular units that allow the ship to attach

mission specific cargo pods to carry specifictypes of cargo. Gallahs commonly are employedas tankers, ore transports, and passenger liners.

Hastal Jump THastal Jump THastal Jump THastal Jump THastal Jump TransportransportransportransportransportHatanra Variant (Rare)

This rare class of civilian jump cruiserswas built from heavily modified HatanraTransports. The aft section containing theHatanra’s four aft cargo pods was removed inexchange for a new section housing the ship’sjump engine and improved reactor system.Because of the heavy modification involved it isnot possible for an existing Hatanra Transport tobe modified into a Hastal.

Hastal Jump Transports found limited useby the major Circasian corporations, acting as apriority transport for making crucial cargodeliveries or for transporting VIP’s to importanttrade negotiations. The cost of Quantium 40 inthe Circasian sectors forced even the largestcorporations to limit their purchase of HastalJump Transports, which in turn kept Circasianshipyards from increasing construction quantitiesdue to lack of demand.

Hatanra THatanra THatanra THatanra THatanra TransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

A close cousin of the Felenia Transport,the Hatanra Transport is a larger Circasiandesign capable of carrying more passengers orcargo than the Felenia. Hatanra Transports,along with carrying more goods, proved to be amuch more mechanically reliable design. Mostmerchants that could afford it traded in theirFelenia Transports for Hatanras.

Ironcrest Ore BargeIroncrest Ore BargeIroncrest Ore BargeIroncrest Ore BargeIroncrest Ore BargeBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

This Kástan ore hauler was operatedwidely between 1920 to 1960 between Kástanand Thaline ports. Ironcrest Ore Bargestransported rare and valuable ores from Kástanpast the Rapids of Rodirra to importantprocessing centers at Thaline. The ships wouldthen return with processed goods, making a tidyprofit on both exchanges.


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7Ironcrest Ore Barges largely replaced

the older Bronzebearer Ore Barges thatserved before them. Like the Bronzebearers,however, raiders often attacked Iron Crests,some of the barges eventually falling intoraider hands.

Kree ShieldedKree ShieldedKree ShieldedKree ShieldedKree ShieldedTTTTTransportransportransportransportransportBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Novon trade vessels such as the KreeShielded Transport were not oftenencountered more than two or jumps fromNovon space. Those systems that werewithin range of the Novon and held valuableresources did see a great number of thesetransports, however, as they moved into tosecure the commodities for their trade lord. Asole individual usually operated Kree ShieldedTransports with the assistance of a small,loyal crew of two or three other Novon.

Kree Shielded Transports are namedas such as they are protected by a powerfulgravitic shield system. This shield protectsthe Kree from most fighter fire, and even somelighter ship-mounted weapons.

It is true that no Novon ships arecivilian in nature, and the ship is identified as aNovon ship and not as Civilian on its shipcontrol sheet. However the Kree is the closestanalog the Novon have to a ‘civilian’ craft.

Numark LargeNumark LargeNumark LargeNumark LargeNumark LargeFreighterFreighterFreighterFreighterFreighterBase Hull (Limited Availability 33%)

Numark Large Freighters are one ofthe largest civilian freighters operated by theThaline. Uhsmastar Industries, a leadingThaline ship construction and technologiesfirm, operated most of the Numark’s inservice. These large transports are capable oftransporting all types of cargo and are oftencalled on to transport equipment that is toolarge to be carried onboard smaller freighters.

Revelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterRevelation FreighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Chouka traders commonly useRevelation Freighters as merchant craft andare quite common in the territories in andaround Chouka. Revelations are well suitedfor bulk cargo runs and are often used in thismanner.

The civilian Revelation is of the sametype as that operated by the ChoukaTheocracy. Use that ship control sheet for thisship.

Rollan TRollan TRollan TRollan TRollan TransportransportransportransportransportCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserCruiserBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

One of many pre-Contact Circasianhulls, the Rollan class of cruisers were mightywarships of their day and some of the largestships the Circasians fielded in their fleets.However, new technologies made the Rollanand its peers obsolete. Surplus hullseventually found their way into civilian handsand found new life as liners, transports, andferries.

The Rollan Transport Cruiserrepresents the most common civilian refit ofthe Rollan Heavy Cruiser. The ship convertsthe interior volume previously consumed bythe vessel’s weapon systems into spacious,compartmentalized cargo holds capable ofholding all types of cargo. Passengers can becrammed into these holds, but it is usually anunsafe procedure. Instead, the centralcorridor of the ship that housed weaponslockers, munitions storage, and other nowunneeded equipment were converted intocrew and passenger quarters. Although mostRollan Transport Cruisers are operated withvery little emphasis on amenities there areindeed some Rollan Transport Cruisers inservice that are replete with all the finery aCircasian (or alien) noble could need on theirjourney.


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Selenar Bulk FreighterSelenar Bulk FreighterSelenar Bulk FreighterSelenar Bulk FreighterSelenar Bulk FreighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Selenar Bulk Freighters are one of themore common merchant vessels used by theSolassi and were common sites along the Ulato Thaline trade route. Often times Selenarscarried heavy ores or precious commodities—including Quantium 40—making them prioritytargets for raiders and brigands along theirtrade routes. Luckily for the shippingcompany’s operating Selenars, the ships werefairly well armed by civilian standards andcould fend off the weaker raider threats thatattempted to steal its cargoes.

Sournar Priority LinerSournar Priority LinerSournar Priority LinerSournar Priority LinerSournar Priority LinerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Another castoff Circasian hull, theSournar Priority Liner serves in a far differentcapacity than it was originally constructed toas a military destroyer. The Sournar PriorityLiner is devoted solely to speed and themission of getting the chartering VIP to theirdestination as fast as possible. Exchanginginterior space for larger, more power engines,the Sournar provides luxuriousaccommodations and short travel times to itscustomers.

In practice Sournar Priority Linersproved to be a hot target for raiders. Thedetection of a Sournar Priority Liner meantnothing more than another chance forkidnapping and extortion, taking the VIPhostage and ransoming them for largeamounts of cold, hard credits. Luckily thespeed of the Sournar usually prevented raidersfrom achieving the price that they sought, butthis was not always the case.

TTTTTithe Pleasure Yithe Pleasure Yithe Pleasure Yithe Pleasure Yithe Pleasure YachtachtachtachtachtBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Many in the higher echelons of theChouka Theocracy owned and operatedopulent pleasure yachts like the Tithe PleasureYacht for their own personal enjoyment.Supplied with the best in food, beverages, andmeditative aids, Tithe Pleasure Yachts weretypically viewed as a means by which one

could commune with the universe by breakingthemselves away from the hustle and bustle oftheir everyday lives. The truth, however, is thatthe Tithe Pleasure Yacht was more often thannot used to indulge the owner’s more earthlypleasures.

Luckily for the Chouka these pleasureyachts rarely strayed far from Choukapatrolled space for, if they had, they wouldhave been lucky to make it out of a battle alive.

Ti’Liun CommercialTi’Liun CommercialTi’Liun CommercialTi’Liun CommercialTi’Liun CommercialFreighterFreighterFreighterFreighterFreighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Thaline independent traders operatingin Chouka space commonly used this smalltrading vessel of Thaline origin. Equipped withfour internal cargo holds, the Ti’LiunCommercial Freighter is best suited formoving light cargoes between worlds. Oftentimes Ti’Liun freighters found themselvesferrying important biological or chemicalagents for interested parties. Cargo transfertimes for Ti’Liuns are remarkably fast andmade them perfect for moving such volatile orperishable commodities.

One oddity of the Ti’Liun CommercialFreighter is that it’s forward cargo bays(located in the ship’s two forward ‘prongs’) aredesigned to be fully extended out of the ship’shull. This allows for easy loading andunloading of cargo once landed on a planetarysurface and vastly speeds up the bays’ cargotransfer time.

Uroua Ore BargeUroua Ore BargeUroua Ore BargeUroua Ore BargeUroua Ore BargeBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Uroua is a large Sshel’ath orebarge built pre-Contact but that was stilloperated by the Sshel’ath and other civiliangroups throughout nearby space during theChouka War. Cheap to build and very reliable(despite its appearance), the Uroua became afavorite of asteroid miners.

Vahsta HaulerVahsta HaulerVahsta HaulerVahsta HaulerVahsta HaulerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)


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7A common Sshel’ath freighter type, the

Vahsta Hauler carries two cargo containersslung underneath the vessel’s boxy main body.The Vahsta Hauler is a primitive ship even bycivilian standards, but their low maintenanceand high volume of surplus hulls has madethem extremely popular with independentoperators.

Volnoumesta LuxuryVolnoumesta LuxuryVolnoumesta LuxuryVolnoumesta LuxuryVolnoumesta LuxuryLinerLinerLinerLinerLinerBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The greatest luxury liners of theChouka War period were those from the richak-Tai Republic, the largest of which were theVolnoumesta Luxury Liners. These largepassenger liners could carry almost athousand passengers on month-long voyagesacross the stars, traveling from port to port inelegance and style.

To travel on a Volnoumesta was acosmopolitan experience and guaranteed thatthe passenger would rub shoulders withGhotekhen, Thaline, and Circasian alike. Mostof these great liners traveled routes within theak-Tai Hegemony, traveling from Khatil andLleskath upspin to the coreward homeworldsof the Solassi and Ghotekhen. SeveralVolnoumesta Luxury Liners traveled outsidethe Hegemony’s borders, traveling as far outas Thaline.

Once the Circasian/Chouka Warbegan, the owners of the Volnoumesta cruiserliners made a conscious decision to ceaseservice to the region. A Volnoumesta LuxuryLiner would not return to the region until 1975.

Bases & DefensesDue to the developing nature of the

region of space, the bases and defensesoperated by civilian interests near Circasianterritories during the Chouka War were limitedin scope. Use the Civilian Small Base tosimulate the small trading bases that dottedthe area.

Other areas of the galaxy, including thetrade-rich Solassi territories, had moreextensive trading posts and civilian bases in

place, but trade had not reached a highenough saturation point in Circasian norChouka space to warrant the cost of buildingsuch facilities.

Fighters & Shuttles

Offering ArmedOffering ArmedOffering ArmedOffering ArmedOffering ArmedShuttleShuttleShuttleShuttleShuttleBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Most Chouka that traveled the stars oftheir own free will could not afford largestarships. Instead they operated larger thannormal shuttles equipped with enoughsupplies and quarters to house a dozenChouka on their voyages to and fro. Manymissionary groups used Offering ArmedShuttles to ferry their members to alien worldsto spread the one true faith.

For protection the Offering ArmedShuttle is armed with a single plasma blaster.This single weapon is not much of a deterrentfrom attack, however, and most OfferingArmed Shuttles surrendered without firing ashot when accosted by raiders or pirates.

Steltra Light FighterSteltra Light FighterSteltra Light FighterSteltra Light FighterSteltra Light FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

Manufactured by Enziny Corp, basedon Ula, this Solassi manufactured spacefighter is a cheap export design operated bymany civilian institutions. The Steltra LightFighter is weaker than the fighters operated byalien militaries but is still sufficient forcombating raider fighters of similar strengthand ability.

Enziny Corp was very careful of who itsold these fighters to and no Steltras areknown to have been found in raider use.Unconfirmed reports were submitted placingSteltras in raider hands but these reports couldnot be conclusively confirmed (nor denied) byeither Enziny Corp or other governmentauthorities.


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Timur Light FighterTimur Light FighterTimur Light FighterTimur Light FighterTimur Light FighterBase Hull (Unlimited Deployment)

The Timur Light Fighter is an exportmodel of the ak-Tai Timan Light Fighter. Smalland maneuverable, the Timur were quitecommon in civilian use in the outward sectorsdominated by the ak-Tai Hegemony.Freighters traveling out of that region wereusually stocked with Timur Light Fighters, ifthey carried any at all.

The major functional differencebetween the Timur and Timan is the exchangeof the Timan’s meson weapons for traditional,off-the-shelf particle beams. The use ofparticle beams lowered maintenanceoverhead by negating the need for an extendedmaintenance contract with the ak-Taigovernment.

Other FightersOther FightersOther FightersOther FightersOther FightersIn addition to the Steltra and Timur,

several other fighters were widely available onthe open market for civilian purchase. Most ofthese fighters were older model militaryfighters that were being phased out of serviceby their respective governments. Civiliansmay use any of the following fighters:

Circasian: Ruglin, Skesha, and VakarChouka: WraithbladeKástan: DartOther: Reclum-C


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8Chapter 8:Chapter 8:Chapter 8:Chapter 8:Chapter 8:Other RacesOther RacesOther RacesOther RacesOther Races

In addition to the races mentionedpreviously, many other races were active inKnown Space during the Chouka War. Eachof these races will be detailed in anothersupplement at a later time.

Th’sook DominionTh’sook DominionTh’sook DominionTh’sook DominionTh’sook DominionThe Th’sook are a reptiloid species

whose territories are located outward of theCircasian Empire. Located in the heart of thedead zone, an area of space devastatedduring the E’chekri war, the Th’s were sparedby virtue of the fact that the hyperspacebeacon trail leading to Th’su had not yet beendiscovered by the E’chekri.

The Th’sook have been in space for asimilar amount of time as the Circasians andthe two young nations have come to be solidallies and trading partners. At the time of theChouka War, the Th’sook and Circasians hadbegun discussing pursuing mutual researchand technological development.

The Th’sook did not participate in theChouka War due to their distance from thefront lines. The Th’sook did offer humanitarianaid and protection to the Circasian fringeworlds in the event of a worst case scenario,but this did not come to pass so such helpwas not needed.

Thaline RepublicThaline RepublicThaline RepublicThaline RepublicThaline RepublicBest described as a stick-insect

merged with an anteater, the Thaline are anon-humanoid race situated between Chouka,Kástan, and Ingalli space. The Thalinemaintained close trade ties with the Choukathroughout their spacefaring career.

The Thaline Republic has traditionallysought a relationship of non-intercourse withother races in hopes of not entanglingthemselves in the affairs of foreign powers.This staunch neutrality did not waver duringthe Chouka War, and the Thaline did not offerany military aid to the Chouka during the war.

The Thaline did however championhumanitarian efforts in the conquered Choukaterritories during and after the war.

Kástan ImperialKástan ImperialKástan ImperialKástan ImperialKástan ImperialMonarchyMonarchyMonarchyMonarchyMonarchy

A race of pale-skinned, red hairedhumanoids covered in a dapple of subtle redand yellow pigmentation, the Kástan are apeople separated by geography. The region ofhyperspace surrounding Kásta is turbulent andtreacherous, making travel in the areadangerous. This geographical impasse hasworked to protect Kásta from outside attack,but it has also hindered Kástan attempts toexpand their empire.

The Kástan are noted mercenaries andwarriors known for their professionalism andexcellence in combat. The Circasians hiredKástan mercenaries to help support their owntroops during the early stages of the Choukaoccupation.

Ingalli DemocraticIngalli DemocraticIngalli DemocraticIngalli DemocraticIngalli DemocraticRepublicRepublicRepublicRepublicRepublic

The mysterious Ingalli are a race oflargely isolationist humanoids. Controlling areasonably sized empire, the Ingalli havecome into conflict with their neighbors in thepast, fighting several major wars over the lasttwo hundred years.

The Ingalli were not directly involved inthe Chouka War due to the distances involved,but Ingalli spies and intelligence personnelwere very active during the war gatheringinformation for sale to the highest bidder.

Thrikin PlanetaryThrikin PlanetaryThrikin PlanetaryThrikin PlanetaryThrikin PlanetaryAssemblyAssemblyAssemblyAssemblyAssembly

This canid race was barelyinterplanetary at the time of the Chouka War. Aneutral world, Thrikin had barely enoughmilitary infrastructure to defend itself againstraider attacks, and often their own defensesproved barely adequate in defending againstthese threats. After the war the Thrikin


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became a protectorate of the CircasianEmpire.

BorilliansBorilliansBorilliansBorilliansBorilliansAn industrialized race of large eel-

like creatures, the Borillians had beencontacted only a few times by aliens butremained extremely xenophobic and fearfulof aliens. As the Borillians did not haveinterplanetary travel abilities, let aloneaccess to jump technologies, they were notinvolved in the war.

Novon TNovon TNovon TNovon TNovon Trade Lordsrade Lordsrade Lordsrade Lordsrade LordsAn older race of aliens, the Novon

have been in space for almost four hundredyears. In that time they have come todominate many important systems,establishing hubs of trade linking the majorareas of known space.

The Trade Lords were stillrecovering from their intense civil wars ofthe previous decades at the time of theChouka War, and in any case very fewTrade Lords would have been interested inmoving in on Chouka territories due to theirlow strategic value.

Kholran RepublicKholran RepublicKholran RepublicKholran RepublicKholran RepublicThe second oldest space faring race

near the Circasians, the Kholran have beenin space even longer than the Novon. TheKholran were hard hit by the Great Waragainst the E’chekri and never fullyrecovered from that conflict. Reticent andslow to act, the Kholran have alreadyceased outward exploration and have begunpulling back from their border worlds, slowlyabandoning their territories as thepopulations there decline.

The Kholran were not involved in theChouka War, as they were not interested inthe conflict or its outcome.

Ukal CombineUkal CombineUkal CombineUkal CombineUkal CombineThe Ukal are the oldest starfaring

race in the region. The Ukal Combine at itsheight two hundred years earlier spanned

most of known space, including almost all of theak-Tai Hegemony and much of what is nowAntician space. The Ukal are highly advancedand field warships more capable than entirefleets of those operated by younger races.

The Ukal had long stopped beinginterested in the affairs of other races by the timeof the Chouka War and, although they continuedto explore in the region, they took no interest inthe war or its participants.

Neliste EmpireNeliste EmpireNeliste EmpireNeliste EmpireNeliste EmpireA race of aquatic aliens from the Tona

system, the Neliste have tried over their history todistance themselves from other races in order toavoid political entanglements. Mildly xenophobic,the Neliste relish their isolationism and have littlecontact with the rest of known space.


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9Chapter 9:Chapter 9:Chapter 9:Chapter 9:Chapter 9:ScenariosScenariosScenariosScenariosScenarios

A Race Through DarkA Race Through DarkA Race Through DarkA Race Through DarkA Race Through DarkPlacesPlacesPlacesPlacesPlaces

(1936) Early Circasian freighters oftenfound themselves targeted by raiders whoseships and technology were far superior to theirown. The raiders knew an easy mark whenthey saw one and had no qualms aboutpreying on a weak and (at the time)insignificant race.

One such Circasian ship, the Yalounha(Circasian for ‘Hasty Delivery’), found itselfset upon by a pair of Chouka raiders whiletraveling through the Senshuka system at theend of the Earth year 1936. Hopelesslyoutgunned and outnumbered, the Yalounhasought refuge in an unusually dense asteroidformation. The Yalounha’s commander hopedthat they would be able to elude the raiders inthe belt long enough to beat a retreat to safety.

Set UpTerrain: The scenario takes place in an

asteroid belt. Randomly place 80 asteroids onthe map.

Civilian: 1 Felenia Transport in hex row35xx, speed 6.

Raider: 2 Highwayman-A Raiders inhex row 42xx, speed 8.

Victory ConditionsThe Felenia Transport must escape

the asteroid belt and exit the map through hexrow 01xx. Failure to do so is considered aloss for the Civilian forces and a win for theRaiders.

Historical OutcomeDespite their best efforts, the crew of

the Yalhouna was unable to best the Raidersin speed and maneuverability. Their smallFelenia was successful in drawing them intothe asteroid belt, but were unable to escapebefore being disabled and boarded by theraiders. Only one Highwayman survived the

confrontation, though, its brethren having beendestroyed by an unfortunate encounter with anasteroid.

The Claw, UnsheathedThe Claw, UnsheathedThe Claw, UnsheathedThe Claw, UnsheathedThe Claw, Unsheathed(1940) After a series of skirmishes with

Circasian patrol fleets near Quadrant 1, theleadership of the Unsheathed Claw made thedetermination that the only way to break theresolve of the upstart Circasian Empire was tolaunch a meaningful attack on theirinfrastructure. Claw probing missionsdetermined that, though Circasia itself was toowell defended, the transfer point in Res‘denseemed the perfect target for a retaliatorystrike. Res‘den, a strategically importantsystem lacking in exploitable resources, wasweakly defended compared to some of theCircasians other territories.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.Neutral: 1 Fixed Jump Gate in hex

4002, facing E.Unsheathed Claw: 1 Kiltrac Raiding

Cruiser, 2 Felrauk Warships, 2 JournonCorvettes in hex 4002, facing E.

Circasians Garrison Forces: 1 MukantaSmall Base in hex 1420. 2 Rotarra PoliceCutters, 2 Yollana Frigates, 1 Cairn Carrierwithin 10 hexes of 1420 at a speed no greaterthan 4.

Circasian Reserve Forces: 8 RotarraPolice Cutters.

Fighters: The Unsheathed Claw have 6Zeron Heavy Fighters and 12 Delrain AttackFighters. All Claw fighters begin the scenariolaunched. 6 Vakar Starfighters are based onthe Mukanta Small Base, and another 18 VakarStarfighters are based on the Cairn Carrier.Activated fighters begin the scenario within 5hexes of their carrier.

Breaching Pods: All Claw breachingpods begin the scenario onboard theirrespective carriers. The Kiltrac RaidingCruiser is basing two Ventisahr BreachingPods and each Felrauk Warship has onebreaching pod onboard.


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Special RulesThe Unsheathed Claw have just

exited through the local jump gate. Thejump gate must finish recharging before itcan be used again.

The Circasian Garrison Forces areat Patrol Stations.

The Circasian Reserve Forces willarrive during the scenario to aid the existingCircasian forces. Before the start of eachturn, the Circasian player should roll a d6; ifthe number rolled is a ‘6’, the Circasianreserve forces will have arrived. Once thefleet has arrived, the Circsian player mayplace the ships anywhere in 01xx hex row.All reserve ships enter the scenario at aspeed of 8.

Victory ConditionsThe Circasians will win only if they

drive off the Unsheathed Claw without losingthe Mukanta Small Base. Any other result isconsidered a Claw victory. The UnsheathedClaw will score a victory if they manage toland troops on the Mukanta Small Base andsuccessfully complete at least oneRescuing a Captive marine mission, wherethe ‘captive’ being rescued is Circasianequipment and other goods.

Because of the above victoryconditions, it is possible for both players towin under the right circumstances!

Historical OutcomeThe Unsheathed Claw were

successful in destroying the Circasiangarrison and disabled Res‘den Station.Claw troops then boarded the base andstole every piece of equipment and all thesupplies that weren’t bolted down.Unsheated Claw boarding parties werealready preparing to return to their ships bythe time that the Circasian police cuttersarrived and, after collecting their crews andbounty, the Claw retreated back to Stacis.

The defeat of the Circasian forces atRes‘den prompted the Circasian WarCouncil to increase the number of shipspatrolling the system. The elevated military

presence in Res‘den protected the transfer pointfrom further raids and the Claw never threatenedit again.

Bad BusinessBad BusinessBad BusinessBad BusinessBad Business(1942) Circasia-based Toltaya

Technologies had been a major player in the pre-contact military hardware market, specializing inelectronics packages. The arrival of the Kholranand the wave of alien merchandise that flowedinto Circasian space following first contact hadhurt Toltaya Technologies’ balance sheet andsent stock prices plummeting. Toltaya’s onlyhope (or so they reasoned) was to establish ahardware distribution contract with an aliensupplier before any of their competitors could dothe same.

It took many years of failed attempts but,finally, Toltaya Technologies was able to convincerepresentatives from Solassi-based Enziny Corpand Thaline-based Uhsmastar Industries to meetwith company representatives and considerpossible distribution contracts. The meeting tookplace in secret in the Res‘den system under anextreme veil of secrecy. Toltaya did not want anyof their competitors catching wind of what theywere attempting to do, afraid that they would tryto somehow sabotage the conference.

Unfortunately for Toltaya Technologies,their attempts to prevent outside knowledge ofthe meeting could have been better used forinternal security. A mail clerk in the ToltayaTechnologies home offices discovered a memoto the corporate executives detailing theconference and its location and sold theknowledge to certain black market dealers.These dealers in information then resold thisinformation to a third party: a small band ofraiders looking for an easy mission.

The first in a series of meetings betweenthe Circasian, Solassi, and Thaline corporaterepresentatives had entered into its third hourwhen raider ships appeared on their screenstaking Toltaya and its potential busines partnerscompletely off guard.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.


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9Toltaya Technologies: 1 Hantanra

Transport within 2 hexes of 3016, speed 0.Enziny Corp: 1 Benakar Commercial

Transport within 2 hexes of 3016, speed 0.Uhsmastar Industries: 1 Numark Large

Freighter within 2 hexes of 3016, speed 0.Raiders: 1 Drifter Galleon in hex 4201,

facing D, speed 5.Fighters: The Benakar Commercial

Transport is carrying one flight of Steltra LightFighters that begins the scenario in theBenakar’s hangar. The Drifter Galleon iscarrying 18 Reclum-A Light Fighters. TheReclum-A fighters begin the scenario within 2hexes of the Galleon.

Special RulesOne shuttle each from the Enziny and

Uhsmastar ships start the scenario onboardthe Toltaya Hantanra Transport. Theseshuttles will launch at the end of the first turnand are to be recovered by their respectiveowners.

All non-Raiders ships begin thescenario in a state of Tactical Surprise.

The Called Shot optional rule is ineffect.

Victory ConditionsThe Toltaya Technologies player wins if

he/she manages to successfully disengagethe Hantanra Transport.

Enziny Corp and Uhsmastar playerswill score a minor win if they manage todisengage their respective ships from thescenario. They will score a major victory ifthey manage to disengage from the scenariowith their shuttle that started the scenarioonboard the Toltaya ship in their hangar.

The Raider player will score a minorvictory if they capture or disable one corporateship. The player scores a major victory if theycapture or disable two corporate ships. For atotal victory, the Raider player must capture ordisable all three corporate vessels.

Historical OutcomeThe raider disruption quickly put an end

to the talks that Toltaya hoped would save theircompany. All of the corporate vessels present

were able to flee from the raiders with aminimal loss of life, but the long-term effects ofthe incident were staggering. Enziny Corp andUhsmastar Industries accused each other andToltaya for sponsoring the raider attack on theconference and refused to return to thenegotiating table. Toltaya denied theseallegations and themselves blamed rivalCircasian corporations of being behind theattack.

Unable to secure the foreign supportand distribution contracts they needed, ToltayaTechnologies was forced to scale back theiroperations and layoff thousands of employees.The effects of this business meeting goneawry would continue to plague ToltayaTechnologies for the next twenty years,resulting in the eventual buyout of Toltaya byan industry rival.

Arrogance of theArrogance of theArrogance of theArrogance of theArrogance of theFallenFallenFallenFallenFallen

(1950) Admiral Haelitis Xan was one ofthe most prominent military commanders inthe entire Circasian Empire during the 1940’s.Spearheading the reconstruction andmodernization of the Circasian fleet, HaelitisXan was a hands-on commander that tookpride in working alongside his subordinates toget things done. History credits Xan withredefining Circasian naval structure anddoctrine, laying the foundation for what wouldlater develop into the modern Circasian navy.

Unfortunately, for all of his strengths,no accomplishment could change the fact thatHaelitis Xan the man was arrogant to a faultand sure that his way was always the rightway. Haughtiness combined with thisarrogance made for a dangerous combination,and during his career Xan made as many solidfriends with his personality as he did brutalenemies.

None of this phased Admiral Xan. Hehad a family of which he was proud, and it washis family that he swore to protect every daythat he served. In 1950, Xan found himself incommand of the 6th Fleet, charged with thepatrol of the neutral territories lying between


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Circasian, Chouka, and Kástan territories. Itwas this in this area of space that the BloodSwords, an especially powerful raiderorganization, hunted their prey, seekingunsuspecting ships. The Blood Swords wereespecially brutal, their calling card being thegrotesque scenes they left for the crews ofrescue ships to find on the vessels theyattacked.

Haelitis Xan had fought raiders before,both on the bridge of a command destroyer aswell as in the cockpit of a fighter. He hadnothing but hatred for them, but he felt that noraider group, no matter how organized, couldhope to stand up to a Circasian patrol fleet.

So was his attitude when he wascommanded to attempt to intercept anddestroy the Lady of Dark Souls, the flagship ofthe Blood Sword leader. The Lady of DarkSouls had been spotted in the region byseveral observation outposts and tracked withsome certainty. This was the chance theCircasians had been waiting for: a chance tocut the head off of a very dangerous serpent.

Set UpTerrain: StandardCircasians: 1 Ilustris Command

Destroyer, 1 Ilustris Destroyer, 2 CairnCarriers, 3 Olcata Frigates within 3 hexes of3622, facing A, F, or E, speed 6.

Blood Sword Fleet One: 1 Dark SoulBattlecruiser, 2 Scythe Raiders, 1 RazorBrigand within 2 hexes of 0407.

Blood Sword Fleet Two: 1 Lady of DarkSouls Command Cruiser in hyperspace.

Fighters:

OptionsGive three of the Circasian ships

Green Crew status to represent theinexperience of the Circasian militarypersonnel.

Another option to liven up this scenariois to switch the unnamed Dark SoulBattlecruiser that begins active in the scenariowith the real Lady of Dark Souls.

Special RulesAt the beginning of each turn, during

the Jump Point Formation Segment of theTurn Sequence, the Blood Sword player hasthe option of opening a jump point and bringingthe Lady of Dark Souls into play. Use theJump Engagement and Jumping into Combatrules to (RC, pg. 168, 142) for determiningplacement and direction of the jump point.

Victory ConditionsMinor Circasian Victory: Initial Dark

Soul Strike Cruiser destroyed.Circasian Victory: Lady of Dark Souls

destroyed.Total Circasian Victory: Both Dark Soul

Strike Cruisers destroyed.Minor Blood Sword Victory: Lady of

Dark Souls survives the battle.Blood Sword Victory: Circasian fleet

destroyed.

Historical OutcomeAdmiral Xan’s arrogance was his

downfall when the Blood Swords played himfor a fool by ambushing his fleet. The ship thatthe Circasians had previously identified as theLady of Dark Souls was in fact a decoydispatched to draw out the 6th Fleet so that itcould be easily destroyed by their forces.Every ship in the fleet was destroyed with allhands lost.

Following this massive defeat theBlood Swords enjoyed virtual carte blanche inthe region, raiding at will. Back at home thepolitical fallout from the defeat was staggering.Xan’s supporters were derided for their ties tothe dead admiral and the Xan family lost mostof their former political standing in the Empire.

It was the death of Admiral Haelitis Xanthat lead to the development of the plan toeradicate the raider threat. Without his deathand that of the crews of the 6th Fleet it isunlikely the Circasians would have decisivelyretaliated against the raider threat.


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9Waves Upon a DistantWaves Upon a DistantWaves Upon a DistantWaves Upon a DistantWaves Upon a DistantShoreShoreShoreShoreShore

(1951) Foolish were those attempts bypatrol forces to follow the Blood Swords backinto Kástan space. The Rapids of Rodirraproved a formidable opponent to thoseunskilled pilots that tried to maneuver itscurrents. The threat of being torn off thebeacon by fierce hyperspace events wasenough to cause most pursuers to break offtheir hunt for Blood Sword raiders, but somecommanders proved more zealous thanothers in their quest to bring them to justice.

In January of 1951, a Circasiancommander pursued the Blood Swords deepinto the Rapids of Rodirra at great risk tohimself and his crew. This dogged pursuitalarmed the Blood Sword commander and,with her back against the wall, she decidedthat her ships had to turn and meet this forceor else run the risk of being caught themselvesin a strong hyperspace current.

Set UpTerrain: This battle takes place in the Rapids ofRodirra. A strength 6 hyperspace rapidsformation covers the entire map (forinformation on hyperspace rapids see pg. 181,RC). The rapids’ current is moving in directionF. Any ship with an Expert Helmsman willignore one point of the rapids’ strength(strength 5 rather than strength 6).Blood Sword: 2 Scythe Raiders, 3 RazorBrigands within 5 hexes of 3623, facing B, C,or D, speed 8.Circasian: 1 Ilustris Heavy Destroyer, 1 ToltaraDestroyer, 2 Olcata Frigates within 3 hexes of0611, facing C, speed 8.Fighters: Both Scythe Raiders carry a flight ofTrident Light Fighters. All fighters begin thescenario in their hangars.

Special RulesOnly two areas of the map are

acceptable locations for players to disengagefrom the scenario. These two regionsrepresent the safe routes back to theestablished hyperspace beacons. Ships cansafely exit through either hexes 0107, 0108,

0109, 0110, and 0111 (for the leftmostpassage) or through 4226, 4227, 4228, 4229,and 4230. (the rightmost passage). If a shipshould exit the map through any other hex thanthose listed above they are lost forever inhyperspace with no hopes of finding their wayback home.

Victory ConditionsVictory points for this scenario are

awarded as follows:

2 points per enemy heavy combatvessel destroyed

1 point per enemy medium shipdestroyed

1 point per enemy fighter flightdestroyed

2 points per surviving friendly heavycombat vessel

1 point per surviving friendly mediumship

5 points if all enemy ships aredestroyed

The player with the most victory pointsat the end of the scenario is the winner.

Author’s NotesThis is a particularly vicious scenario

for all players. The Blood Swords have theadvantage in arms compared to theCircasians, but the fact that they have to turninto the rapids to make an attack run meansthat they run the risk of over accelerating andbeing swept off the board. Both playersshould be careful to keep control of their shipsin the rapids and, if things get hairy, head foran exit grid to make good an escape.

Historical OutcomeThis confrontation proved that combat

in hyperspace is a losing proposition for allparties involved. The Blood Swords were ableto batter the Circasian force with their firstpass but quickly found themselves out ofcontrol and at the mercy of the Rapids ofRodirra. One Scythe Raider, her forwardretros knocked out by Circasian fire, flew outof control into the hellish landscape and was


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never seen again. At battle’s end, only twoCircasian and three Blood Sword shipssurvived the encounter and even then theywere barely able to navigate home under theirown power.

Removing the ClawRemoving the ClawRemoving the ClawRemoving the ClawRemoving the Claw(1955) The Circasians had long

suffered attacks from the Unsheathed Clawamong other raider organizations, and it wasthese constant attacks on the welfare of theCircasian Empire that lead them to develop aplan to eradicate each major raiderorganization simultaneously in order to end thethreat forever.

The Circasians had spent yearsdeveloping new technologies to counter raiderships, many of which operated weapons andtechnologies far in excess of their own. TheCircasian’s secret weapon, the Xandar LancerFrigate, had been kept a closely guardedsecret by the War Council and the plannedattack on the Unsheathed Claw was to be thecraft’s first appearance in combat. The WarCouncil had developed an intricate plan thatwould lure the major raider bands, includingthe Unsheathed Claw, out of hiding to strike afictitious convoy loaded with a large shipmentof Quantium 40.

When the Unsheathed Claw jumpedout in Quadrant 1 at the location reported inthe leaked flight plan documents, they weregreeted not by an unsuspecting convoy but bya battle ready Circasian fleet.

Set UpTerrain: StandardCircasians: 2 Ilustris Heavy

Destroyers, 5 Xandar Lancer Frigates, 1Shenna Strike Carrier, 1 Tratha Scoutship.The Circasian fleet must be deployed within 10hexes of each other. All fighters are launched.

Unsheathed Claw: 2 Kiltrac RaidingCruisers, 1 Dushar Hyperspace Probe, 1Feltann Heavy Destroyer, 2 Felrauk Warships,2 Journan Corvettes, 1 Gabrak Long RangeTransport. The Unsheathed Claw enterthrough a jump point formed with arrival hex of

2020. Use the Jumping into Combat rules todetermine final placement. Only half of theUnsheathed Claw fighters may be launchedbefore exiting the through the jump point.

Fighters: The Circasian Shenna StrikeCarrier is carrying one flight of Rehka HeavyFighters and two flights of Istale Light Fighters.All Circasian fighters begin the scenario within5 hexes of their carrier. The Unsheathed Clawraiding cruisers are filled with three flights ofZeron Heavy Fighters and three flights ofDelrain Attack Fighters between the twocruisers.

Special RulesUse the Jumping into Combat rules for

determining the placement and direction of theUnsheathed Claw’s jump point. The CircasianTratha Scoutship has 20 turns remaining untilits jump engine is recharged.

The Unsheathed Claw force is takenoff guard by the Circasian attack and as suchsuffers from initiative penalties as they attemptto adapt to the situation. On the first turn afteremerging from the jump point, all UnsheathedClaw ships (but NOT fighters) will suffer a –4initiative penalty. This penalty will decrease byone per subsequent turn until no penaltyremains.

Victory ConditionsMinor Circasian Victory: Destroy both

Kiltrac Raiding Cruisers.Total Circasian Victory: Destroy the

entire Unsheathed Claw fleet.Minor Unsheathed Claw Victory:

Escape with the Kiltrac Raiding Cruisersintact.

Total Unsheathed Claw Victory:Escape with the Kiltrac Raiding Cruisers intactand destroy all of the Circasian Xandar LancerFrigates.

Historical OutcomeThe Circasian ruse caught the

Unsheathed Claw by surprise and theCircasians exploited the situation to its fullest.Before the Unsheathed Claw could fully reactto the ambush over half their number hadalready been cut down. A running battle


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9between the two sides ensued leaving bothbloodied, but the Circasians were able todestroy the Unsheathed Claw force down tothe last fighter. The destruction of such alarge segment of the Unsheathed Claw’s totalfleet effectively ended Claw raids intoCircasian space.

Blood Calls Out forBlood Calls Out forBlood Calls Out forBlood Calls Out forBlood Calls Out forBloodBloodBloodBloodBlood

(1955) At the nearly the same time thatthe Unsheathed Claw were being devastatedby the Circasians in the outward frontier, theBlood Swords were themselves walking intoanother Circasian trap. Lured by the allure ofQuantium 40 the fleet was caught completelyunawares by the waiting Circasian warfleet.

Set UpTerrain: StandardCircasians: 8 Xandar Lancer Frigates,

4 Olcata Frigates. Circasian ships may beginanywhere on the map with the player’s choiceof facing and a speed of 3.

Blood Swords: 1 Lady of Dark SoulsCommand Cruiser, 1 Dark Soul Battlecruiser,3 Scythe Raiders, 2 Firebrand Frigates, 3Razor Brigands. The Blood Swords enterthrough a jump point formed with arrival hex of2020. Use the Jumping into Combat rules todetermine final placement. The jump pointwas formed by the Dark Soul Battlecruiser.

Fighters: The Blood Sword ships arefully loaded with Trident Light Fighters. Half ofthe Blood Sword’s fighters begin the scenariolaunched.

Special RulesUse the Jumping into Combat rules for

determining the placement and direction of theBlood Sword’s jump point.

The Blood Sword force is taken offguard by the Circasian attack and as suchsuffers from initiative penalties as they attemptto adapt to the situation. On the first turn afteremerging from the jump point, all UnsheathedClaw ships (but NOT fighters) will suffer a –4initiative penalty. This penalty will decrease by

one per subsequent turn until no penaltyremains.

Victory ConditionsMajor Circasian Victory: Destroy the

Lady of Dark Souls Command Cruiser and theDark Soul Battlecruiser.

Circasian Victory: Destroy the Lady ofDark Souls Command Cruiser or the DarkSoul Battlecruiser.

Blood Sword Victory: Escape with theLady of Dark Souls Command Cruiser intact.

Major Blood Sword Victory: Escapewith the Lady of Dark Souls Command Cruiserintact and destroy the entire Circasian strikefleet.

Historical ResultThe Blood Swords were dispersed,

though the Lady of Dark Souls and her captainescaped the battle in one piece. TheCircasian strike devastated Blood Swordmorale and the raider band that was oncefeared by everyone that crossed the starlanesfaded into history.

The First SurpriseThe First SurpriseThe First SurpriseThe First SurpriseThe First Surprise(1971) The first surprise of the Chouka

War was on the Circasians when theytransited into the Mishtuki system via an outerjump gate only to be greeted by a Choukawelcoming party. The Circasians had thoughtthemselves ready for a fight but the Choukahoped to teach them otherwise.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.Neutral: A jump gate is present in hex

1209, facing C.Circasian: 1 Kolanis Cruiser, 2 Tormin

Light Cruisers, 5 Moshesta Frigate in hex0909, facing C, speed 5.

Chouka: 2 Apostle Holy Cruisers, 3Revelation War Barges, 6 Brimstone HeavyOSATs. Chouka ships can be placedanywhere within 8 hexes of hex 0909 at speed1 and a facing of the player’s choice. OSAT’s


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are placed one each in hexes 1506, 1809,1813, 1616, 1217, and 0915.

Special RulesThe Circasians have just exited from

the local jump gate and must meet itsrecharge delay before it can be used again.

The Chouka did not have time to fullyactivate their OSATs before the Circasian’sarrival. Roll a d6 for each satellite; on a roll of‘4’ or greater the satellite is operational. Thosesatellites that fail their activation roll will makeanother activation roll on the following turn. Allweapons are fully armed on the satelliteswhether they are activated or not.

The Circasians may ram, but theChouka may not.

Victory ConditionsCircasians: The Circasians win if they

manage to escape back through the jump gatein order to return to Senshuka with theinformation they have gathered. TheCircasians will win a total victory if theymanage to escape while also destroying theChouka forces.

Chouka: The Chouka win if theydestroy the entire Circasian probing force.

Historical OutcomeA single Moshesta Frigate and a shuttle

managed to get through the jump gate after arunning battle with Chouka forces. All otherunits were destroyed.

Family HonorFamily HonorFamily HonorFamily HonorFamily Honor(1972) Toran Xan, son of the late

Admiral Haelitis Xan, was barely a young manjust entering the Imperial Academy when hisfather was cut down in battle against the BloodSwords. The Xan family name was blemishedby the apparent miscalculations of Admiral Xanin his last battle. Through it all Toran Xanremained faithful in the belief that his fatherwas a hero, a hero that Circasia had shunned.

Toran Xan felt that it was his duty toreclaim his family’s honor and position. Heredoubled his efforts and devoted himself

entirely to his military career. A rising star inthe Imperial Star Forces, Toran Xan rose to therank of Captain by 1965, taking command ofthe Kolanis Cruiser Chofeskal.

When the Chouka War began, ToranXan at last found the means by which to provehimself and his family. Toran Xan pressed themilitary command to move the Chofeskal tothe front lines and into battle against theChouka. Luckily for Toran Xan he was movedto the Chouka front to participate in the secondwave of offensives.

Captain Xan was charged with leadinga small scouting force into the outer Mishtukisystem to gauge enemy resistance inpreparation for a major naval deployment intothe system. Xan accepted the missionenthusiastically. The Chofeskal and itsescorts were to jump into the Mishtuki systemand gather as much data as possible untilchallenged by Chouka system patrols, atwhich point the fleet was to jump out and fallback to Senshuka to deliver the intelligencedata.

Set UpTerrain: StandardCircasian: 1 Kolanis Cruiser, 2

Moshesta Frigates, 1 Ilustris Destroyer, 1Tratha Scoutship within 5 hexes of 3307,facing E, speed 5.

Chouka: 2 Acolyte Patrol Frigates, 1War Prayer Gunship within 3 hexes of 0426,facing B, speed 8.

Fighters: Both Acolytes have a fullcomplement of Bloodlust Assault Fighters (nomissiles). All fighters are deployed within 2hexes of their carrier (same facing andspeed).

Special RulesThe Tratha Scoutship’s jump engine

has fulfilled its jump delay and the ship mayopen a jump point at any time.

Victory ConditionsThe Circasian’s mission is to return

with the intelligence information it has gatheredto Senshuka. In order for the Circasian playerto score a victory, either the Tratha or the


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9Kolanis must successfully escape thescenario through a jump point.

The Chouka score a victory if theydestroy the Tratha Scoutship. Without theTratha the Circasians will not be able toescape the system, leaving the fleet to beeasily intercepted and destroyed by otherChouka fleet elements in the system.

Historical ResultThe Circasian fleet was forced to flee

rather than fight, much to Xan’s chagrin. TheKolanis, Tratha, and one Moshesta managedto escape into hyperspace and back to thesafety of Senshuka. The other Circasianships were not so lucky, giving their lives toensure the safe escape of the rest of the fleet.The Chouka fleet was damaged, but no shipsdestroyed.

Of the ships that survived, all wereheavily damaged. Toran Xan himself wasbadly injured in the attack and forced to sit outover six months of combat as he recoveredfrom his wounds. Toran Xan regretted beingsidelined by the injury and continued to vow toredeem himself and his father during the war.

Convictions of FireConvictions of FireConvictions of FireConvictions of FireConvictions of Fire(1972) The continued violation of

Chouka space by the Circasians angered theCircle of Elders. The Circasian fleet atMishtuki IV especially angered the Elders whonow knew that the Circasians were not goingto be easily deterred through indirect displaysof force. The Theocratic Guard Forces weredispatched to take care of the Circasianproblem in the Mishtuki system once and forall.

Set UpTerrain: Hex row xx30 represents the

planetary surface of Mishtuki IV.Circasian: 1 Kiralina Jump Ship

(Upgraded), 4 Kolanis Cruisers (CarrierVariant), 2 Tormin Light Cruisers, 1 CairnCarrier, 2 Xandar Lancer Frigates, and 5Moshesta Frigates within 6 hexes of 3020,facing A, B, or F. All units start at a speed of 5

or less, excepct for the Kiralina Jump Ship,which begins at a speed of 0.

Chouka: 3 Apostle Holy Cruisers, 2Acolyte Patrol Frigates, 2 Bishop Warships, 1Priest Plasma Destroyer, 2 War PrayerGunships, 3 Revelation War Barges startinganywhere in hex row xx01 of 0426, facing C,D, or E, at speed 6.

Fighters: The Circasian hangars arefilled with Istale Light Fighters. The Choukaare loaded with Bloodlust Assault Fighters withfull fighter-missile complements. All fightersbegin the scenario launched.

Special RulesThe Chouka may ram if half or more of

their ships are destroyed.

Victory ConditionsMajor Circasian Victory: The Chouka

fleet is defeated or forced to retreat.Minor Circasian Victory: The Kiralina

Jump Ship escapes into hyperspace.Major Chouka Victory: The Circasian

fleet is defeated or forced to retreat.Minor Chouka Victory: The Kiralina

Jump Ship is destroyed.

Historical ResultThe Battle of Mishtuki IV left both sides

bloodied, but it was successful in forcing aCircasian retreat from the system. TheCircasian jump ship was heavily damagedafter the battle, in large part due to thesuccessful ramming attempt by the Choukaflagship. The loss of such an expensive pieceof military hardware would have beendisastrous for the Circasians but luckily itcould be repaired.

Quiet TimeQuiet TimeQuiet TimeQuiet TimeQuiet Time(1972) Following their pyrrhic victory at

Mishtuki IV, the Chouka decided that it wastime to deliver the Circasians a blow that theywould not soon forget. The Theocracy wasquickly growing tired with the Circasian’sattempts to take Mishtuki and viewed a


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retaliatory strike into the Circasian Empire asone of the easiest ways to end the conflict.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.Chouka: 2 Apostle Holy Cruisers, 1

Retribution Battlecruisr, 1 Acolyte PatrolFrigate, 4 Revelation War Barges with 3 hexesof 2515, facing F, speed 6.

Circasians: 8 Feilah Gunboats, 3Moshesta Frigates, 2 Olcata Frigates.

Fighters: The Chouka hangar bays arefilled with Bloodlust Assault Fighters and fullloads of fighter missiles.

Special RulesThe Circasian ships arrive on the

beginning of the first turn through a jump pointformed by a jump ship remaining inhyperspace. Use the Jumping into Combatrules for determining the exact starting locationand disposition of the Circasian forces. Thejump point is considered to have been formedon the previous turn (before the scenariobegan) and the Circasian ships are enteringthe battle on the beginning of the first turn.

The Chouka units suffer from TacticalSurprise.

Victory ConditionsChouka: The Chouka win if they defeat

the Circasian attackers.Circasians: The Circasians will win if

they manage to destroy or disable at least fiveof the Chouka warships.

Historical ResultThe Circasians ambushed the Chouka

fleet and were successful in disrupting thedisoriented fleet. The Chouka were forced toflee the system due to the heavy combatlosses they incurred at the hands of theirsmaller opponents.

The Battle of MishtukiThe Battle of MishtukiThe Battle of MishtukiThe Battle of MishtukiThe Battle of Mishtuki(1972) The culmination of the Mishtuki

plan, the Battle of Mishtuki was a do-or-diebattle for the Circasian Empire. If their attempt

to subdue the Chouka defenders failed theywould be forced to adopt a long-termdefensive stance to protect the Senshuka andCircasia systems from Chouka reprisals.

Set UpTerrain: Hex row 42xx represents the

planetary surface of Mishtuki VII. An strength-1atmosphere occupies hex row of 41xx. Themain Chouka colony on the planet is located inhex 4225. If scoring damage to the site, thehex has a to-hit value of 20 and 1000 structure(no armor).

Chouka Fixed Defenses: 1 TempleStarbase, 6 Brimstone Heavy OSATs, 12Hellfire OSATs. The Temple Starbase is in3722, facing F. The Chouka satellites can beplaced anywhere within hex rows 36xx, 37xx,38xx, or 39xx.

Chouka Fleet: 5 Apostle Holy Cruisers,2 Acolyte Patrol Frigates, 1 War PrayerGunship, 6 Bishop Warships, 1 RetributionBattlcruiser, 2 Priest Plasma Destroyers, 1Priest Escort Destroyer, 10 Revelation WarBarges

Circasian Fleet 1: 1 Kolanis Cruiser, 1Tormin Light Cruiser, 1 Xandar Lancer Frigate,6 Moshesta Frigates.

Circasian Fleet 2: 2 Kolanis Cruisers, 1Reglata Bombardment Cruiser, 2 Tormin LightCruisers, 1 Ilustris Heavy Destroyers, 1 ToltaraDestroyer, 2 Moshesta Frigates, 1 GallahAuxiliary Carrier.

Circasian Fleet 3: 2 Kolanis Cruisers, 1Cairn Carrier, 2 Gallah Auxiliary Carriers, 3Moshesta Frigates, 2 Xandar Lancer Frigates.

Circasian Fleet 4: 2 Kolanis SiegeCruisers, 6 Moshesta Frigates.

Fighters: All Chouka hangars are filledwith Bloodlust Heavy Fighters with fullcomplements of fighter missiles. Choukafighters begin the scenario unlaunched. TheCircasian Fleet 1 has 6 Istale Light Fighters;Fleet 2 has 30 Istale Light Fighters; and Fleet 3has 6 Tyra Heavy Fighters, 6 Kolam LongRange Fighters, and 42 Istale Light Fighters.All Circasian fighters begin the scenariolaunched.


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9Special Rules

The Circasian forces are emergingfrom a jump point formed in 0303, facing C, bya Kiralina Jump Ship sitting in hyperspace. Atthe end of every turn another Circasian fleetwill emerge from the jump point at a speed of5 until no more Circasian fleets remain.

Victory ConditionsThe player that holds the field at

battle’s end wins this scenario.

Historical ResultThe Circasians managed to defeat the

Chouka defenders, but at a significant cost inships and lives. The capture of Mishtuki VIIwas a milestone in the war that would give theCircasians the momentum they needed tocontinue pursuing the war.

The Battle of ChoukaThe Battle of ChoukaThe Battle of ChoukaThe Battle of ChoukaThe Battle of Chouka(1973) The last major battle of the

Chouka War, the Battle of Chouka was an epicbattle between the forces of the CircasianEmpire and the Chouka Theocracy. The entirewar had been leading to this: a Circasianoffensive against the heavily defended bastionof the Theocracy. The battle was long andbloody and filled with notable battles andheroes, many of them unsung and forgotten.

Because of the scope of the battle it isseparated into four different scenarios, eachscenario depicting a section of the battle inplace and/or time. The first three representsections of the battle fought in preparation forthe final assault as depicted in Fall of theTheocracy.

Battle of Chouka #1 -Battle of Chouka #1 -Battle of Chouka #1 -Battle of Chouka #1 -Battle of Chouka #1 -The Last Flight of theThe Last Flight of theThe Last Flight of theThe Last Flight of theThe Last Flight of theSolukarSolukarSolukarSolukarSolukar

The Kolanis Cruiser Solukar led theCircasian attack on the main Chouka battleline. The Chouka’s defenses around theirhomeworld were all but impregnable, but theCircasians knew that it would take only a

single buckle in their defensive network tocreate an exploitable weakness in the Choukadefenses. Circasian tacticians correctlypostulated that a crack in the Chouka defensenet would rapidly splinter the Choukadefenders, making it easier to strike directly atthe planet’s satellite defense systems.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.Circasian: 1 Kolanis Cruiser, 2 Kolanis

Cruisers (carrier variant), 2 Tormin LightCruiser, 1 Shenna Strike Carrier, 5 MoshestaFrigates in hex row 01xx, facing C, speed 6.

Chouka: 1 Apostle War Cruiser, 1Apostle Holy Cruiser, 3 Bishop Warships, 2Priest Plasma Destroyers, 6 Revelation WarBarges in hex row 42xx, facing F, speed 5.

Fighters: The Shenna has 6 TyraHeavy Fighters and 12 Istale Light Fighters,the Tormins have 6 Istale Light Fighters each,and the two Kolanis carrier variants have 12Istale Light Fighters each. The Acolyte has 6Bloodlust Assault Fighters and each Apostlehas 12 Bloodlust Assault Fighters. AllBloodlusts are fully loaded with fightermissiles. All fighters begin the scenariolaunched within 2 hexes of their carrier.

Victory CondtionsThe Circasians must defeat the

Chouka force. Anything less is a Circasianloss. Likewise, the Chouka must defeat theCircasian fleet in order to pull off a win.

Historical ResultThe Circasians were able to open up

enough of a rent in the Chouka batteline toallow additional forces to move in and begindestabilizing the Chouka battle fleet. TheChouka were forced to fall back and regroup,the Circasians using the opportunity to dealadditional damage to their fleets.

Battle of Chouka 2:Battle of Chouka 2:Battle of Chouka 2:Battle of Chouka 2:Battle of Chouka 2:Xan RedeemedXan RedeemedXan RedeemedXan RedeemedXan Redeemed

After being forced out of commissionby battle injuries suffered in a mission into the


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Mishtuki system, Toran Xan was anxious toreturn to the fray. His former command, theChofeskal, had been destroyed in the interimand with it the crew that he had come to knowand respect. Xan now added vengeance forthe deaths of his former crew to the list offactors pressing him forward. He wasdetermined now more than ever to achievevictory for himself and his nation at any pricenecessary.

Captain Xan found himselfcommanding the Xolophanes, another KolanisCruiser, into the final battles leading up to theBattle of Chouka. In these battles Xan wasable to gain a rapport with his new crew.Captain Xan felt that the Xolophanes was theright place to be for the final battle and enteredit with confidence.

The Xolophanes was assigned to theFifth Flanking Squadron and assigned themission of knocking out an especiallyreinforced segment of the Chouka homeworlddefense fleet. It was important to theCircasian battle plans for this segment of theChouka battle line to be dispersed or, at thevery least, disrupted so that a strong thrust bythe main fleet could finish them off.

Set UpTerrain: StandardCircasian: 4 Kolanis Cruisers (carrier

variants), 2 Tratha Light Cruisers, 1 TorminLight Cruiser, 4 Moshesta Frigates, 1 XandarLancer Frigate, 2 Gallah Auxiliary Carriers,within 3 hexes of 4022, facing F or E, speed 6.

Chouka: 1 Apsotle War Cruiser, 2Apostle Holy Cruisers, 1 Acolyte Patrol Frigate,1 Priest Plasma Destroyer, 1 Priest EscortDestroyer, 4 Revelation War Barges within 6hexes of 0406, speed 5.

Fighters: Two Kolanis Cruisers carry aflight of Tyra Heavy Fighters and a flight ofIstale Light Fighters each. Two KolanisCruisers carry a full load of Istale LightFighters. The Tormin Light Cruiser carries afull load of Istale Light Fighters. All Choukaships carry full loads of Bloodlust AssaultFighters with six missiles each. All fightersbegin the scenario deployed within 2 hexes oftheir carrier at the same speed and heading.

Special RulesThe Circasian player must secretly

select one Kolanis Cruiser to be theXolophanes. This should be recorded on apiece of paper and saved until the appropriatetime.

Once and only once during thescenario, the captain of the Xolophanes,Captain Toran Xan, may ‘lead the charge’ intothe enemy fleet. Once declared, all Circasianunits in the battle will receive a +2 to theirinitiative rolls. In order to perform this actionthe Xolophanes cannot have been destroyed,nor can its C&C be destroyed.

Victory ConditionsIn order to score a Circasian victory,

the Circasian player must destroy all threeApostle Holy Cruisers. With these shipsdestroyed the Chouka squadron will besufficiently weakened for future Circasianstrikes to break through the segment of thebattle line.

The Chouka player wins if he canprevent the Circasian fleet from destroying thethree Apostle Holy Cruisers. The Choukaneed these three Chouka cruisers intact inorder to hold the line against the Circasianinvasion force.

Historical OutcomeThe Circasian’s Fifth Flanking

Squadron was successful in dispersing theChouka fleet segment, causing them to moveout of formation and opening up a gap in thebattle line for the rest of the Circasian fleet tomove in and exploit. The Fifth FlankingSquadron’s command ship was destroyed inthe attack. Toran Xan took command of thesquadron and commanded it throughout therest of the battle.

After the third wave of attacks on theChouka positions, the Fifth Flanking Squadronwithdrew from battle. Toran Xan felt robbed ofthe chance to participate in the final strikeagainst the heart of the Chouka fixeddefenses, but despite this he felt that he hadearned the victory he needed to redeem hisfamily name.


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9Battle of Chouka #3:Battle of Chouka #3:Battle of Chouka #3:Battle of Chouka #3:Battle of Chouka #3:The Final Disgrace ofThe Final Disgrace ofThe Final Disgrace ofThe Final Disgrace ofThe Final Disgrace ofDefeatDefeatDefeatDefeatDefeat

As the Chouka’s luck faded and thebattle pressed onward, Marzuula Tien foundhimself as the last bastion of defense againstthe encroaching Circasian fleet. His defensiveposition was the only thing that stood betweenthe Circasian fleet and the final lines ofdefense orbiting Chouka.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.Chouka: 1 Apostle Holy Cruiser, 1

Retribution Battlecruiser, 2 Reverence SystemMonitors, 3 War Prayer Gunships, 1 CovenantMinelayer, 3 Revelation War Barges, 5Brimstone Heavy OSATs, 12 Hellfire OSATs.

Circasian: 3 Kolanis Cruisers (carriervariants), 1 Kolanis Siege Cruiser, 1 TorminLight Cruiser, 1 Ilustris Destroyer, 2 XandarLancer Frigates, 4 Moshesta Frigates in hexrow xx01.

Fighters: All Circasian hangars arefilled with Istale Light Fighters. Choukahangars are filled with 50% Bloodlust AssaultFighters and 50% Faithbringer Heavy Fighters.Both come with complete missile loadouts. Allfighters begin within 3 hexes of their respectivecarriers.

Special RulesChouka units may ram.

Victory ConditionsThe Chouka must destroy or disable

the entire Circasian force. Any other result is aCircasian victory.

Historical ResultFirst Hand Marzuula Tien was killed

along with the rest of the Chouka defenseforces. The Circasians were able to rip apartthe Chouka fleet and open the door to a finalthrust to the heart of the Chouka defenses.

Battle of Chouka 4:Battle of Chouka 4:Battle of Chouka 4:Battle of Chouka 4:Battle of Chouka 4:Fall of the TheocracyFall of the TheocracyFall of the TheocracyFall of the TheocracyFall of the Theocracy

The Chouka Circle of Elders and thehigh priests in charge of the last defense ofChouka knew that their mission to defend themotherland had failed when the Circasian fleetbroke through the third defensive line.Scattered and broken, the Chouka hadcounted on their battle line to hold back thewaves of Circasian warships and protect theplanet itself from direct attack. Unexpectedlosses incurred as the line fell part hadweakened the Chouka sufficiently so that awing of several Circasian attack squadronscould break through to attack the Chouka’sprimary defensive linchpin.

Although they had had a long time toprepare for the eventuality, few Choukacommanders thought the Circasians would beable to reach their most defended planetaryposition, but the battle would prove themwrong.

Set UpTerrain: Row xx30 represents the

surface of the planet Chouka.Circasian: 2 Kolanis Siege Cruisers, 6

Kolanis Cruisers (carrier variants), 1 ReglataBombardment Cruiser, 2 Tormin LightCruisers, 3 Xandar Lancer Frigates, 2 TrathaLight Cruisers, 1 Tratha Scoutship, 1 ToltaraDestroyer, 2 Ilustris Heavy Destroyers, 2Gallah Auxiliary Carriers, 12 MoshestaFrigates, 4 Olcata Frigates in hex row xx01,any facing, speed 8.

Chouka Fleet: 1 CrusaderDreadnought, 1 Apostle War Cruisers, 3Apostle Holy Cruisers, 2 RetributionBattlecruisers, 3 Acolyte Patrol Frigates, 4Bishop Warships, 10 Revelation War Barges,2 Revelation Auxiliary Carriers, 2 War PrayerGunships, 2 Priest Plasma Destroyers, 1Priest Escort Destroyer, 1 ScriptureIntelligence Cruiser.

Chouka Fixed Defenses: 1 Citadel StarFortress in hex 2327; 2 large shipyardcomplexes, one each in hexes 2026 and 2627;10 Brimstone Heavy OSATs and 20 HellfireDefense Satellites (either version) within 4


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hexes of the planet’s surface. The twoshipyard complexes have no ship controlsheet, but can take 500 points of damagebefore being destroyed.

Fighters: All Chouka ships and baseshave full complements of Bloodlust AssaultFighters with fully missile loadouts. TheCircasians are operating a number of IstaleLight Fighters equal to 75% of normal. Allfighters begin within 5 hexes of their carrier.

OptionsFor a “what if” scenario, start the

Crusader Dreadnought launched at thebeginning of the scenario. The CrusaderDreadnought has an Expert Religious Leaderonboard, located in the ship’s C&C. Thisleader is First Hand Shcuizkho Yular, famedChouka commander.

Another possible change to thescenario is to include the Xolophanes, ToranXan’s Kolanis Cruiser, as one of the ships inthe scenario. If this is done, the Circasianplayer should secretly designate one of theKolanis Cruisers as the Xolophanes and give itan Expert War Leader.

Special RulesThe Crusader Dreadnought has Pre-

Existing Damage as it is only partiallycompleted at the time of the battle. TheChouka were unable to finish the firstprototype before the attack. Specify one of thetwo shipyard complexes as the currentlocation of the Crusader. This informationshould be publicly declared so that all playersknow the ship’s location at the beginning of thescenario.

At the beginning of each turn, roll d6;on a roll of ‘6’ or more the CrusaderDreadnought will be able to launch at thebeginning of the next turn. Add 1 to the roll foreach turn that passes in which the Crusaderfails its launch roll. Note that, since theCrusader will be starting at a speed of 0 fromthe dock it will incur a –10 initiative penalty onthe turn it is launched.

All Chouka units may ram, with allramming attempts receiving a +2 rammingbonus.

Victory ConditionsMinor Circasian Victory: Destroy both

shipyards.Circasian Victory: Destroy the Citadel

Star Fortress and half the enemy OSATs.Major Circasian Victory: Destroy all

Chouka bases and OSATs.Minor Chouka Victory: Prevent the

destruction of the Citadel Star Fortress.Chouka Victory: Prevent the

destruction of the Citadel Star Fortress andboth shipyards.

Major Chouka Victory: Prevent thedestruction of all Chouka bases and OSATs.

Historical OutcomeFirst Hand Shcuizkho Yular,

commander of the prototype CrusaderDreadnought, was killed while attempting toreach his ship in the shipyard. The Crusaderlaunched without him, but it was a poorharbinger for the battle to come.

The Chouka ships and bases put up agood fight, but ultimately the Circasiannumbers managed to overwhelm them, just asthey had throughout the course of the war.The Citadel Star Fortress stubbornly resistedCircasian attempts to destroy it while frigatesand cruisers mauled one another all about thebattlefield. Kolanis Cruisers exploded underthe stress of walls of missiles and heavyplasma volleys. Apostle Holy Cruisers burnedin space, candles in the dark whose flamesrepresented the growing despair anddesperation of the Chouka people.

As the Chouka became more andmore desperate, Chouka vessels beganramming Circasian ships in an attempt to slowdown their advance. Many Chouka andCircasian ships alike died from such suicidalcollisions, but in the end it served littlepurpose. The Citadel Star Fortress, long thesymbol of Chouka impregnability, wasdestroyed by the Circasians and with it themajority of the Chouka bases and satellitesthat accompanied it. The Circasiansquadrons were forced to retreat aftersuffering horrendous casualties, but with theChouka’s strongest planetary defense position


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9destroyed the followup strike by the Circasianforces easily overwhelmed the remainingChouka defenders, signaling the end of thewar.

Fight or FlightFight or FlightFight or FlightFight or FlightFight or FlightAs the climactic Battle of Chouka was

nearing decision, many Chouka commanderscould see the writing on the wall that theirdefense of Chouka had failed. Thesecommanders saw little point in fighting a futilebattle and signaled to their fleets to retreat toBreth. Most ships in these peripheral Choukasquadrons balked and remained to fight to thedeath, but some fled the battle in hopes ofregrouping in Breth to lick their wounds anddecide on a new course of action.

The Circasians were not about to letany Chouka elements escape the battle, andmany Circasian vessels supporting the rear ofthe fleet were dispatched to intercept theChouka disserters and cut them off from thelocal jump gate.

Set UpTerrain: Standard.Chouka: 1 Acolyte Patrol Frigate, 2

Revelation War Barges, 1 War Prayer Gunshipwithin 3 hexes of all other Chouka units,placed at least 30 hexes from the local jumpgate, speed 8.

Circasian: 1 Kolanis Cruiser, 1 XandarLancer Frigate, 2 Moshesta Frigates at least10 hexes behind the Chouka fleet

Neutral: A standard jump gate shouldbe placed on the far side of the map from theChouka starting position.

Fighters: No ships in the fleet havefighters, the fighters still fighting over the skiesof Chouka.

Victory ConditionsThe Chouka player scores a victory if

at least two of his/her ships successfullyescapes through the jump gate.

The Circasian player scores a victory ifat most one Chouka ship successfullyescapes through the jump gate.

Historical OutcomeThe War Prayer sacrificed itself to

save the rest of the fleet, distracting theCircasian force long enough for the Acolyteand both Revelations to escape intohyperspace. The Circasian was however ableto intercept several other disserters alsoattempting to flee through the jump gate.

HonorHonorHonorHonorHonor, Exile, and, Exile, and, Exile, and, Exile, and, Exile, andDeathDeathDeathDeathDeath

(1974) The Chouka covertly sponsoredseveral large raider bands on their borders, thelargest being of the Delkeshore pirates of theBreth System. Delkeshore raiders habituallystruck into Kolir, Sshel’a, and Novonous.When the Circasians began their attack onChouka the Delkeshore knew that their dayswere numbered.

Fearing a Circasian attack into Breth,the Delkeshore raiders fled to Kolir andattempted to establish themselves within thesystem. Attempts to negotiate with the TradeLords failed and they found few allies amongthose that they had formerly raided on anongoing basis.

Ultimately the leaders of theDelkeshore pirates decided that it would bebetter to die with honor in a fight to liberatetheir homeland than to live in exile in alienspace. Many Delkeshore did not agree withthis ruling and split from the group, but asignificant portion of their remaining assetsagreed to launch an assault on the Circasianforces garrisoning Chouka in order to do asmuch damage as possible to the heathens.

Set UpRaiders: 1 Thief Grappling Cruiser, 1

Oathbreaker Raiding Barge, 3 Highwayman-ASloops, 1 Highwayman-B Sloop.

Circasians: 1 Kolanis Cruiser, 3Moshesta Frigates, 1 Cairn Carrier.

Fighters: The raiders are loaded withReclum-A Light Fighters. The Circasian CairnCarrier is filled with 18 Istale Light Fighters. Allfighters begin the scenario in their hangars.


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Special RulesThe Delkeshore vessels have all

suffered damage to their systems, either fromcombat with enemy craft or through lack ofmaintenance to ship systems. Roll 1d6damage (ignoring armor) twice against eachship side.

Victory ConditionsMinor Raider Victory: Half of the

Circasian force is destroyed.Raider Victory: The entire Circasian

force is destroyed.Total Raider Victory: The entire

Circasian force is destroyed and at least oneRaider unit remains active.

Circasian Victory: The entire raiderforce is destroyed.

Total Circasian Vicotry: The entireraider force is destroyed without the loss ofany Circasian ships.

Historical OutcomeThe Delkeshore pirates were

outmatched by even the small Circasian fleetthat intercepted them. All of the Chouka raidercraft were destroyed to the loss of only asingle Circasian Moshesta Frigate, manybefore they were ever able to fire a shot.


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10AfterwordAfterwordAfterwordAfterwordAfterwordWhere Did All of ThisWhere Did All of ThisWhere Did All of ThisWhere Did All of ThisWhere Did All of ThisCome From?Come From?Come From?Come From?Come From?

The concept of the Escalation Warswas born from a series of conceptual storyideas that I developed for a strategic/roleplaying campaign in 2001. What began asjust another game setup bloomed as soon asas put two words to my electronic canvas:Escalation Wars. Things have changed a lotsince then, but it is from those humblebeginnings that the body of what would oneday become the Escalation Wars universetook shape.

Creating the Past,Creating the Past,Creating the Past,Creating the Past,Creating the Past,Present, and Future ofPresent, and Future ofPresent, and Future ofPresent, and Future ofPresent, and Future ofthe Escalation Warsthe Escalation Warsthe Escalation Warsthe Escalation Warsthe Escalation WarsUniverseUniverseUniverseUniverseUniverse

The Escalation Wars is something ofan amalgam of many different fictionalbackgrounds that I have been developing overthe years. The Escalation Wars and theconcept behind them was born two or threeyears ago as part of an aborted campaign.The idea and the major players in the conflictintrigued me, so I continued development oftheir universe in earnest.

The Circasians have existed in multipleforms for many years, dating even before thecreation of the Escalation Wars concept.Traditionally a hybrid of the Dilgar and Narn,looking like Dilgar and (originally) flying veryNarnish ships, the Circasians had alwaysbeen one of my favorite creations. Theirinclusion in this new, different universe spurredme to action more than anything else. Thecurrent incarnation of the Circasians is fardifferent than their initial incarnations in whichthey were a far more spiritual people, and evenslightly more aggressive than they are now.

The Courata were a new race whenthe Escalation Wars material was first beingdrawn up. I had only used them once before,and then only as a minor power. As thebackground came together a picture of the

large, cat-like aliens so devoted to their familyand their emperor soon too form. Despitetheir similarity to the Kilrathi from the WingCommander universe, I felt that the Courataas developed would work as an excellentcounterpoint to the Circasians.

Now, as many will undoubtedly note,this does pose a slight oddity in that both theCircasians and Courata have felinid overtones,but it is something that happened out ofcoincidence and there was no preplanning orconscious thought involved in that decision. Atone point I considered modifying the Couratato remedy this situation, but ultimately decidedthat it was unnecessary.

Many of the other races that you’ll findin the Escalation Wars universe come fromother universes or campaign settings. TheVendrizzi, Anticians, and Vok’Nar are justsome of these races that have madeappearances elsewhere before being woveninto the history of the Escalation Wars.

A Place to StartA Place to StartA Place to StartA Place to StartA Place to StartThe first challenge in deciding on

where to go with the concept of the EscalationWars was to pick a race and a time period tobegin working on. I thought about starting offwith detailing the Escalation Wars themselves,but quickly realized that, without a foundationfrom which to build on, the history would mostlikely be too disjointed. So I decided to goback and explore the history of one of theraces and see where it took me.

Now, when I first started on this projectI was assuming that I would sit down and in aweek have all of the backstory and informationfor the race I had chosen to start with (in thiscase, the Circasians) all done and taken careof. I was wrong. Just as in my campaignuniverses, the Circasians proved to have aninteresting tale to tell that couldn’t be limited toonly a few pages.

Over the course of that first week thepicture of who the Circasians were started tofall together. And, as the image of theCircasian people and their empire grewsharper in my mind, there emerged severalother races that I had not heard of orconsidered in the past. The Chouka and


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Sshel’ath appeared for the first time and tookshape, as did the Th’sook. As I mapped outthe future of the Circasian down my roughtimeline of events even more things began toappear. The war against the ak-Tai. Theborder wars against the Ukal. The race calledYppsi, whose sole description was (and is)that they resemble “a flamingo mated to a pairof fuzzy dice”. There was a larger story thatcould be told than just that of one war or onerace.

Empire Rising represents the fruition ofnearly three years of effort. Things havechanged several times between then and now,but I am confident that the Escalation Warsuniverse has now taken its final form, or atleast something very close to it.

What’s Next?What’s Next?What’s Next?What’s Next?What’s Next?There are several obvious choices,

including some that I have given considerablethought to and even started preliminary workon. Some of the potential projects include: theWar of the Seven Stars, covering theCircasian/ak-Tai War; the Courata rise topower, covering their early history including theIngalli and Rekshu Wars; the Great War,detailing the great war against the E’chekri inthe outward sectors; and, finally, theEscalation Wars themselves.

What will determine what portion of theEscalation Wars universe I explore next? You.That’s right, the feedback of my audience hasin the past spurred me to action to get workdone on this project and I don’t think that isgoing to be changing anytime soon. If there isa race or time period that you are especiallyinterested in tell me about it. You just mightget me to work on it and bring it one stepcloser to completion.

CreditsCreditsCreditsCreditsCreditsWritten By .................................... Tyrel LohrEditing ..........................................Tyrel Lohr,

Roy Lohr, Charles Haught, Paul Brown,Auri ja Heikki Poso

Layout ........................................... Tyrel LohrCover Design ............................... Tyrel LohrFiction ........................................... Tyrel LohrHistorical Consultant .................... Toran Xan

Playtesting and OtherPlaytesting and OtherPlaytesting and OtherPlaytesting and OtherPlaytesting and OtherContributionsContributionsContributionsContributionsContributions

Charles Haught and Thad Diaz:These two provided a large amount ofencouragement and playtest data for theEscalation Wars ships, especially thosefeatured in Empire Rising. Charles Haughthad a hand in influencing the final design of theSshel’ath as well as providing moral supportfor many of the other supporting races.

Paul Brown: Paul was always therehelping to support the Escalation Wars stuff,and I don’t know if I would have done as muchwith the background material if it weren’t for hisTolkid/Rawnjok ships.

Simon Bloomer and Company:Thanks go out to Simon Bloomer and hiscampaign group that integrated the ChoukaWar races and ships into their local B5Wcampaign. The feedback and reports gener-ated by that campaign were helpful in manyways.

Contact the AuthorContact the AuthorContact the AuthorContact the AuthorContact the AuthorFor more information on the Escalation

Wars universe or to find related downloadsand materials, please visitwww.escalationwars.com, or e-mail TyrelLohr at [email protected]. Ialways look forward to battle reports, userquestions and comments, or inquiries onEscalation Wars background.

Revision HistoryRevision HistoryRevision HistoryRevision HistoryRevision HistoryVersion 1.0: The original release of

Empire Rising was released under the title“The Chouka War” and contained a fraction ofthe information available in the current version.


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10Some of the information contained in thatrelease has been superceded and thedocument should be considered apocryphal inregards to current Escalation Wars canon.

Version 2.0: The re-release of “TheChouka War” includes additional ships andinformation for the core races as well asadding information on raider and civilianentities.

Version 2.1: Includes edits submittedby several readers. Errors in the fluff havebeen corrected and several SCS errors fixed.

Submission GuidelinesSubmission GuidelinesSubmission GuidelinesSubmission GuidelinesSubmission GuidelinesHave ideas for new races, designs,

scenarios, or technologies that you think wouldmake a good addition to the Escalation Warsuniverse?

Firstly, any and all materials submittedcannot be copyrighted by yourself or others.All materials submitted and accepted into theEscalation Wars universe will become a partof it and can be used in any future EscalationWars related supplements and fiction. If thisbothers you then please protect your ownintellectual property and don’t submit it. Whyis this important? There is the potential for anovel or other products to one day be createdbased on the Escalation Wars property.

That said, I am more than happy totake a look at what you have cooked up andsee if it can be worked into the EscalationWars mythos. Concepts that undermine theexisting storyline or important historical detailswill not be included.

When readying your submission besure to review all of the information available.The Escalation Wars univers is a busy placeand, with much of its history already mappedout, there are some places where new racessimply cannot be included without makingunacceptable changes and compromises tothe storyline. But don’t despair! The northernwastes are still largely unfinished at this timeand can accept most races or race concepts.The right sid the map, too, can be altered asthe races located there are not yet set entirelyin stone (nothing has been developing for theraces upspin of the Ioka.

Copyright InformationCopyright InformationCopyright InformationCopyright InformationCopyright InformationTHE ESCALATION WARS and THE

ESCALATION WARS UNIVERSE is copyright 2002-2003 Tyrel Lohr.

BABYLON 5, BABYLON 5 WARS, theB5W Core Rules, and all related material arecopyright 2002 by Warner Bros. Thecontents of this unofficial supplement are forpersonal, non-commercial use only. Any use ofthe BABYLON 5, BABYLON 5 WARS, or B5WCore Rules product identity, copyrightedmaterial or trademarks anywhere in thisdocument and its associated files should notbe viewed as a challenge to those copyrightsor trademarks.

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