The Ka-Tarek

The Holy Empire of the Gods

The Holy Empire of the Gods (also known as the Holy Empire of the Ka-Tarek) is an immensely powerful Empire that spans numerous star systems and, perhaps, even another galaxy. Based upon the lost technology of 'The Ancients', the Holy Empire rests upon the shoulders of the Ka-Tarek, who in turn are carried by the countless other races with whom they share the Empire. Using the technology of 'The Ancients' and their own ingenuity and dogged determiniation, the Ka-Tarek aim to conquer the entire galaxy, and bring unto all its inhabitants knowledge of 'The True Gods.'

The Ancients

The Glorious Galactic Empire

It is possible to describe the power, might, and expanse of the Ancient's empire with a single word. Absolute. The entire Galaxy was theirs to roam, and its creatures their playthings. Their level of technology was unimaginable. Science, mathematics, literature, anything and everything was discovered. Mystery was gone. An entire race could be created, evolved, and annihilated in hours, if they wished it. They took the naturally formed universe and they shaped it and melded it to their own whims. Their servants they took with them, to assist, to act as guinea pigs, to do any menial labor; to clean up. For thousand thousand years they played with their galaxy. And then, in one fell swoop, it was all destroyed.

The God-War

No one knows what started the God-War, or who fired the first shot, but war broke out. The Ancients turned upon one another, and their Empire shattered, and though it had lasted for a millenia, in a mere fraction of that time it was completely and utterly destroyed. Not a single Ancient remained in the galaxy; their ships were gone, their cities rubble, their technology lost. The galaxy itself also suffered a grevious blow. Entire star systems were obliterated, black holes in the void of space. The loyal servants of the Ancients still served their masters, and suffered for it. Their home system was destroyed, a small charge shot into the sun; and the star slowly nova'd, burning those on the surrounding planets to death. And then the Ancients disappeared; leaving behind a shattered galaxy.

The Ka-Tarek

The Ka-Tarek are the descendants of the Ancients' servants. They are humanoid, but taller, usually averaging around six-and-a-half to seven feet tall. They are also physically weaker than humans. While typically around the same strength, no Ka-Tarek can ever achieve the sort of muscle-mass that humans can. The Ka-Tarek live much longer than humans, as well. Standard expected life-span is thousands of years, usually around 5-6 thousand. There have been some known to live more than ten-thousand years. It is impossible to know what the Ka-Tarek look like, for even among their own kind they rarely reveal their faces or any part of their body. They are always clothed in armor which is reminiscent of Ancient architecture and style, and they also wear long black cloaks and capes. The armor is most likely some sort of powered-armor; it is fully environmental, and enhances the physical characteristics of the wearer.

The Ka-Tarek are a very aloof, intelligent people. They are privy to some of the deepest secrets of the galaxy, and they guard this knowledge jealously. To outsiders they are all buisiness, and they are very direct about it. Most of the 'jokes' they make would not be understood by any but their own kind anyways. They are almost insanely devout, and would sacrifice their lives for their 'Gods' if they thought it would further their cause.

The Holy Empire has grown because of the expansionist nature of the Ka-Tarek. They believe it is their duty to spread word of the 'Gods' to all, and they will not stop until the entire galaxy is aware. If it means burning the galaxy to a cinder, and then forcing their religion down the throats of the survivors, so be it. Though they are loath to annihilate other races, such a drastic course of action has been taken against singularly un-repentant heathens.

The History of the Ka-Tarek

The Aftermath

After the destruction of their homeworld, and the disappearence of the Ancients, the Ka-Tarek; the servants of the Ancients, withdrew to what they knew. The Temple, a massive artificial construct consisting of thousands of asteroids bound together through Ancient technology; became their new home. For a while, they worked on rebuilding and refurbishing it; to make it usable as a base, and a home. Slowly, the Ka-Tarek rebuilt themselves, and using cloning techniques borrowed from the Ancients, repopulated their depleted race.

The Teklarr Korr, Loyal Servants

It was during this time that the Ka-Tarek discovered the Teklarr Korr. The Teklarr Korr originated in the system nearest to the Ka-Tarek's own, and had seen the destruction of the Ka-Tarek's star. The massive nova, so close, had de-stabalized their own star, which itself would have nova'd, had the Ka-Tarek not stopped it. An ingenious Ka-Tarekian scientist whose name was lost to history delved deep into the Temple and uncovered the technology needed to stabilize the star. The Teklarr Korr then pledged their undying loyalty to the Ka-Tarek, and with their help, the two races turned the Temple and the star system of the Teklarr Korr into the beginnings of the Holy Empire.

The Beginning

No one knows when the Ancients became Gods; whether it was during the destruction of the Ka-Tarek's homeworld, or afterwards, as an attempt to explain the harsh betrayal of their masters. Regardless, the race of creatures once known to the Ka-Tarek as 'Master' now became 'God'. Then, a discovery in The Temple of a trans-galactic gateway between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy prompted he belief that the 'Gods' were going to return, through said gateway, and that they were only waiting till the time was right. The right time being the time when all the different races of the galaxy accepted the 'True Gods' as their dieties. Thus, the Holy Purpose of the Ka-Tarek was made clear. The entire galaxy needed to be conquered, and taught of the 'True Gods'.

Building the Holy Empire

Organization was the first goal. The Church of the Ka-Tarek was already established, and its leader quickly became the leader of the whole of Ka-Tarek society. Under the guidance of the Arch-Diosecan, the Ka-Tarek mobilized. They delved deep into the secrets of the Temple, and pulled from it designs, blueprints, and ideas for weapons, ships, engines, and the Space-Fold drive. In addition, the Hammer of the Gods, the flagship and symbol of the Holy Empire to the conquered, began to be refurbished and repaired.

The first Ka-Tarek fleet, consisting of a miniscule five ships, left the Temple and conquered two undeveloped systems, before it encountered significant resistance. A rather well developed inter-system kingdom had fought back the small Ka-Tarek fleet, destroying two of the five vessels. The Ka-Tarek, still in the process of recovering from the God-War, were enraged. They armed the still in-construction Hammer of the Gods, and Folded directly into the middle of the hostile system. The massive, moon-sized battle station hovered for moments above the primary planet in the system, before charging its main gun, and turning the planet into a debris field. The kingdom surrendered, and began to undergo conversion and conditioning. The Ka-Tarek had proved their might, and it would be long before it would be seriously challenged again.

The First War

The Holy Empire expanded at an astronomic pace. The advanced technology of the Ka-Tarek warfleets was for the most part unstoppable. A mere hundred years after its beginning, over a hundred systems were part of the Holy Empire. The entire social structure of the Ka-Tarek had changed as well. There were now two branches of leadership. The High Arch-Diosecan controlled Ka-Tarek society and the course of the Empire, while the High Admiral, commanding from the fully repaired Hammer, controlled the military and the industry of the Empire.