GuestBook

Comments

Hydran Forces Intelligence:

In the last several weeks, many human colonies and outpost have come under attack by alien forces. Intelligence confirms that this was the prelude to a full-scale invasion by forces originating from a region of space commonly associated with the constellation Hydra. Since then, several of our colonies and remote outposts have fallen under attack.

While much is unknown about the enemy, we have been able to gather some intelligence about their forces. They seem to be divided into several castes or classes that have specific duties. Even the "laborer" class has weaponry grafted to their bodies, indicating some flexibility of roles. The aliens also loose much of their cohesion when their chain-of-command is broken, indicating a lack of individual initiative and training. Local Hydran armies are controlled by a "queen." If the queen is destroyed, the Hydrans lose much of their organization and fighting effectiveness.

While the Hydran forces may seem strange and insect- or animal-like, do not be fooled into underestimating their intelligence. These aliens have advanced technology, and have displayed extreme cunning on the battlefield.

Laborer:

Among the alien forces, the "laborer" caste or race exhibits the least battlefield capability. While capable of defending themselves with a simple "blaster" weapon attached to their back, laborers primarily operate as battlefield engineers. From very brief observations of actions "behind the lines," hordes of laborers were observed constructing fortification and digging underground tunnels.

Defender:

The "defender" class alien acts, as the designation suggests, as a guard or defender. These creatures move slowly, but carry very powerful weapons mounted to their backs. The most common varieties carry some kind of mortar and the nicknamed "swarm gun." Missile launchers have also been reported.

Spawn:

Encountered only in established alien territory, the "spawn" is a pupa-like stage of the Hydrans. Interestingly, all of the Hydran species seem identical during this stage of life. The spawn are not a great threat, but they will defend themselves.

Hopper:

Encountered only rarely so far, the "Hopper" is physically similar to the laborer. Most commonly, they are equipped with a "spine gun," a devastatingly powerful weapon with limited range. Hoppers have also been reported firing the "swarm gun" that is used by many defenders.

Assassin:

Rarely encountered, this alien species appears bred to be the "front-line" warrior. Reports of this creature vary, but the most consistent reports indicate that this creature is fast, resistant to damage, and armed with a rapid-fire variation of the alien "blaster" weapon.

Assassin:
Additional intelligence reports have classified no less than three different varieties of the "assassin" warrior class. Varying slightly in physical makeup, they are difficult to kill and use specialized weaponry. The most common variety fires a rapid-fire Hydran blaster. The smallest class of assassin is adapted for small, tight spaces, and usually wields a combination slow-firing blaster and "swarm gun". The largest of the three known classes wields a combination slow-firing blaster and grenade launcher.

Flyer:

These have been encountered briefly in several engagements, particularly the massacre on Mikhal's World. These large, lightweight creatures are winged and capable of sustained flight at very high speeds. So far, they have only been observed firing the "blaster" weapon, albeit one with a higher rate-of-fire than the one used by the laborers.

Flyer:
There are two varieties of flying Hydran creatures. The more common flyer is light, fast moving, and fires the Hydran "autoblaster". A somewhat larger species has been encountered which is harder to kill and equipped with a deadly missile launcher. The larger flyer has been known to pick soldiers up off the field and drop them to their death.

Shredder:

Scattered reports from the front have indicated the existence of a heavily armored alien creature with a very unusual attack. It is capable of compressing its shape into a ball and using its bulk and sharp armor plating as a weapon as it rolls into an enemy. This creature has been nicknamed on the field as "The Shredder."

Berserker:

Encountered only rarely, the "berserker" warrior-class alien is among the most dangerous of the Hydran forces encountered so far. Equipped with a missile launcher and the lethal, short-range "spine gun," the Berserker is physically no bigger than the assassins, but is much more dangerous and almost impossible to kill. If encountered on the battlefield, the berserker is to be treated as a priority threat.

Royal Guard:

Encountered only near Hydran queens or areas of extreme importance to the aliens, the Royal Guard is a Berserker specially bred and equipped for defensive operations. Preferred weaponry is unknown, but they are believed to be more heavily armored than standard berserkers.

Queens:

Hydran queens are invariably well protected. The strict hierarchical nature of the Hydran race makes the destruction of any known queens a top priority. In combat against Hydran forces at Anubis, destruction of a queen resulted in the almost immediate disintegration of the local Hydrans as a cohesive fighting force. It is impossible to characterize all queens based upon this one encounter; however, the queen was observed firing shock-guns and unless she was drawn out of her protective shell, she was nearly impossible to harm.

Mastermind:

Intelligence suggests the existence of a Hydran "mastermind" class that behaves in a supervisory role. The masterminds are believed to possess greater intelligence and communication abilities than most Hydrans. They play a critical leadership role in the Hydran hierarchy. Masterminds have not been observed carrying weapons.