The Xenians

The lost Homeworld of the many creatures.

> A common misconception for Commanders purging this menace is that these creatures,they do not care for what we know as 'Victory,' only Survival. -Unknown
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## The Breach

The Xenian strains of creatures are Invaders from a seperate realm not of our own, which relies upon biotechnology hybrids of organic tissue, and other materials in which to support technology, and even architecture. Samples from the original realm, known as, '**Xen**' cause a conundrum when presented with high amounts of energy, known as a Resonance Cascade.

These Cascades break open rifts in our universe, spilling in these Creatures to the surface of our land. These creatures vary from Intelligent, Malevolent beings such as the Vortigaunts, to primal savages such as the Antlion Hive. While most of the Galaxy does not know of the breaches between worlds, the Republic ensures their best to keep the Species under control from reaching Core Worlds.

While some in the Republic know of their presence in our universe, only a select few know the cause, and the reason this has happened, notably under the watch of the Space Hulk Program.

### Strain 01: Antlion Hive

> **Dear God! Poor [REDACTED]! The finest mind of his generation, come to such an end!** *-A Friend of a Victim of an Antlion-Infested Sector.*
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The Antlions are a collection of Insectoid-Creatures, utilizing a hive mind and primal ecosystem to reproduce and claim territory using Organic matter, usually that of being corpses from other races to serve as nests.

The Hive builds nothing of their own, only using technology from those they have consumed, to only the most basic of functions. They maintain order in the Hive with Castes of species, the normal Worker Antlions being incredibly weak, but in hordes causing major damage- a stark contrast to the rare Antlion Guards, serving directly under a Queen to ensure the safeguard of Territory. As for the Queen and King, they have only been recieved as rumors for Recon units, no fully-ensured proof has been presented.

A notable instance of the Hive's Organic takeover is in the Republic Acclamator 'IMPERIUM,' which carried a sample of a Xen Crystal, which brought a Resonance Cascade, leaking in the Antlion menace to exploit the Architecture of the ship to pick off and nest inside the crew, one by one. Another ability was documented here, the Hive evolving their Antlions aboard the ship to sense vibrations across the corridors, tracking down survivors with footsteps, and pressure of any kind.

### Strain 02: Headcrabs

> **Can you imagine what the next stage of mutation looks like?** *-Republic Scientist, Name Unknown*
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Headcrabs, otherwise nicknamed as, 'Zombo-Head-Latchers,' is a collection of 3 Subspecies appearing to be a 4-Legged Soft-Shell Crab, which a large gaping hole on the bottom they use to forcefully trap hosts. They are a parasitic species, which upon contact with a Host's brain, send down large amounts of Organic drugs to supress them, while they hardwire into their nervous system, causing a subject to be a shambling corpse, as decomposing of the body happens at a rapid rate, while the Host is still alive. After 5 Hours or so of the Headcrab attaching itself to the host, this process begins, and the Parasite is able to fully control motor functions of the host.

However, if this Parasite is to be damaged or killed while connected, it will leave the Host dead as well, the Nervous system overloaded from this procedure. Reccomendations to Troopers is to keep helmets on, and shoot for the Crab.

### Strain 03: Vortigaunts

> **There is no Freeman, there is no Prophecy.** *-Interview Session 055, Dr. [N/A]*
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The Vortigaunts are one of the more prolific of the Xenians, fascinating Republic Researches with their abilities and unique government. Roughly humanoid, they have a third arm in the center of their chest, alongside 4 Red eyes upon their forehead. The most intelligent of all the races aside from the 'Nihilanth,' they seek to align themselves as neutral, and wish to find refuge, as they say their previous homeworld of 'Xen' was conquered by [N/A].

While seeming to be normal at first compared to other species, the unique ability of Vortigaunts is their ability to channel a force-like energy known as the 'Vortessence.' Further research is required.

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