Desert Rugiets

The Rugiet are terrifying desert apex predators, observed aerially around Johnam with its large desert territories. Seemingly unstoppable with conventional Imperial weapons, Rugiet have been observed raiding or destroying outlying Imperial settlements or infrastructure. Despite several military encounters, not much is known about the Rugiet species, nor how many there truly are.

## Description

> "If you've never seen a Rugiet...it's bigger than a goddamn tank, and louder, and faster. Tall as four marines in full armor, and long enough that in the jungle you can be fighting the front end before you can even see the back of it coming out of the bush. It's got two pairs of scythes attached where wings might be on a dragon. They sweep through the toughest Power Armor like it's tinfoil. You can unload a Plasma Cannon at a Rugiet until the barrel melts or the gun explodes, and you'll only make it mad. Correction: madder. They're already mad. Rugiet get out of bed mad and hungry. When they're done slashing you to bits, they stomp on the pieces of you before you're all the way dead."
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> - Sergeant Norwood Doakes (deceased)
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The Rugiet are terrifying desert apex predators, observed aerially around Johnam with its large desert territories. Seemingly unstoppable with conventional Imperial weapons, Rugiet have been observed raiding or destroying outlying Imperial settlements or infrastructure. Despite several military encounters, not much is known about the Rugiet species, nor how many there truly are.

### Habitat

The shifting sands nearby Johnan obscure vision on multiple levels, odd mineral and ferric concentrations creating static-laced images in sensor scans, no matter how intense. The Rugiet thus seem to inhabit the deep desert regions, but confirmation of this data has not been forthcoming.

### Biology

Fast for their size, Rugiet attack using four large, bone-like scythes which protrude from their backs, able to slice through armored vehicle and eviscerate entire squads of light infantry in just a few swipes.

Rugiet specimens tagged by Biologis has lived since Atlantis’ founding, which now stretches into hundreds of Terran years. No Rugiet has ever been observed to die of old age. Little of Rugiet biology is known beyond this minimal observational data.

### Reproduction

Rugiet do not seem to have male or female genders, or such distinctions have been unobserved until now. The details of Rugiet reproduction are not known.

Waves of Rugiet breeding have been known to occur, young exceptionally hostile and aggressive young Rugiets attacking Imperial settlements with abandon, requiring ridiculous firepower to put down.

### Behavior

Rugiets exhibit strong lone hunter tendencies, having large territorial grounds for hunting. However, occasionally Rugiets have gotten together to attack Imperial settlements in huge hordes. Not much is known beyond this basic information.

### History

Records are all but nonexistent from the GAOT, but mentions of Rugiet attacks are known. The city of Johnam was almost destroyed by such an assault only 30 years after its founding, only repelled by lucky orbital bombardment by Imperial ships which killed only a few, driving the huge Rugiet horde away.

It is advised to the increasing number of non-Atlantean tourists to not go “Rugiet hunting”.

## Investigate Desert Rugiet

The Rugiet are terrifying desert apex predators, warily observed around Johnam and its large outlying desert territories. Seemingly unstoppable with conventional Imperial weapons, Rugiet have been observed raiding or destroying outlying Imperial settlements or infrastructure. Despite several military encounters, not much is known about the Rugiet species, nor how many there truly are. After a series of attacks on Johnam that were more severe than normal, Valid has requested that your Biologis - namely Zerxes - launch an investigation into such aberrations.

### Completed

The Desert Rugiet is truly an example of just how creative nature can be. This creature appears to be reproduce via spores which it releases throughout its lifetime (the creatures lack any gender differences) which when in proper conditions can rapidly mature into an adolescent in less than 8 weeks.

Rugiet armour is comprised of never before seen biological materials but is virtually impenetrable except by firepower on the scale of lascanons. It is resistant to extreme heat, cold and even radiation. Its DNA is remarkable in being in a constant state of mutation which does not cause the creature as much defections as it should (which might be useful for your cloning facilties )

Thankfully Rugiets appear to rely on photosynthesis for the majority of their energy sources once they reach adulthood though will still prey on other creatures for proteins and other nutrients it needs for its armour.