Into The Hive

## **Security Notice**

*As*
written by Kilaro Maltemus of the Kilaro High Council, Imperian Confederacy,
coding signature: "In fire and flames".

*Foreword:*
This document is to be contained within the Primis Chamber in Ignipidus at all
times, and not to be taken out by anyone not authorized by Kilaro Maltemus or Erthus
Primis Major Ignithitus. The information contained within is highly sensitive,
and destruction or loss of this document would be to the detriment of the
entire Imperian Confederacy and beyond. It is by the insight gained within that
we can stave off the hordes of the Hive Tyrant. End of notice.

## **Research Notes: Cycle 6651.56-Covert-1**

"This
is research member Makava of the Terropidian Expeditionary Research Forces,
beginning documentation of an organism which has been deemed the Hive Tyrant.
We have an Erthus of Psionics with us in order to establish mental connections
with any organisms we come across, and, supposedly, who can translate the
language of them as well. As of yet, information has proved inconclusive as to
whether the organisms-dubbed "Gauntlings"-are sentient at all.

Now
the official crap is out of the way, let's get down to business-the Hive Tyrant
was seen attacking worlds just off our top most systems within our space, and
we were sent here to track it. Apparently, we'll be seeing some gnarly things
out here, but it can't be much worse than what Tyranis threw at us. So far as
our records show, this thing's method of operation is to swarm positions with
his tides of those little pink creatures. We haven't gotten a close look yet,
but we dissected a dead organism we came across and it looks like these things
operate out of a 'hive mind' deal, with synapse creatures who have mental
abilities leading the swarms. The Erthus of Psionics-Nerrya-managed to
replicate the synapse brainwave and we're hoping it'll give us some immunity to
these swarms. Either way, we've got this virus adapted from a Tyranis creation
which'll repel them, at least long enough to fall back, if necessary.

The
prize fish here, though, isn't the creatures, but the Hive Tyrant. If we wanted
an easy look at some of these things, we'd go off to one of their hive worlds.
By jumping onto the head of their swarms, we'll hopefully get some
documentation of the Tyrant ~~himself~~. Well, amend that,
actually-we're not sure if it's a male, and I've got to keep things at least
partially professional for an accurate record. Who knows-Maltemus might be
looking this over in a few cycles, with myself sitting comfortably in one of
those mansion huts they reserve for the really useful Makori. ~~I can
see the sights now...~~ Addendum on that, shouldn't talk about my
ambitions in these. Anyway-We've set up camp near a small mountain pass we
think will give us a good enough view of their swarm without getting too close.

Nerrya
has been training the other Makori in the research group to follow her
uniformly so that the other creatures don't sense us if we decide to get up
close and personal. Personally-I'll be fine observing from afar. Tomorrow,
we'll be hitting the dusty trail and working our way up to set up the
equipment. We've got about eight or nine cycles before they get here, and I'll
probably skip recording on those ones, as I doubt much of interest will happen.
Anything else interest I'll note down at the end of here. End of record."

Addendum
A Cycle 6651.58: "We found a bunch of dead villagers on the way to our
setup spot. No idea what killed them, but analysis showed it wasn't one of
those creatures ~~probably.~~ Actually, the eggheads are
pretty good at their job, so I'm not going to second guess it. I'm a camera man
and a scribe, not a researcher."

Addendum
B Cycle 6651.62: "We set up the equipment, and some weird green clouds
started coming in at the end of the sixth cycle. Narrya can sense some mental
whatnots, so I reckon these clouds are from the swarm. We've hightailed it back
to our mountain crevice and our recording equipment is set up."

Addendum
C Cycle 6651.64: "The swarm has started to come in sight of the recording
equipment, but I can't view the footage until after they've passed. I've got
nothing to record until I've got footage and information from the lab Makori,
so I'll be quiet here for a few cycles."

## **Intersection: Maltemus' Notes, 1**

*So*
far as I can see, this Makara fellow isn't quite accustomed to the serious
recording styles, but nevertheless, his insight is fascinating. He was right
about my examining of this document. Perhaps not so much about his
accommodation. I looked forward to reading about the rest of his record,
although the group of dead villagers perplexes me. I shall have to consult Terjoris
and Galclaris as to their thoughts on the matter.

## **Research Notes: Cycle 6651.69-Covert-2**

"This
is research member Makara of the Terropidian Expeditionary Research Forces,
continuing documentation of an organism which has been deemed the Hive Tyrant.
We have recovered footage regarding the modus operandi of the swarm and have
begun an in-depth analysis. Information has begun to arise about the
neurochemistry of the Gauntlings, as well as the swarm itself.

Alright.
Now-this footage is something to behold, by Custellus. Our recording equipment
is top of the line, but even then it couldn't pick out individual creatures in
this Tyrant's swarms. They were literally without number, but Narrya and the
other lab Makori managed to pick out several key organisms who were larger than
the rest-the synapse creatures they'd predicted. I've got to say, I shivered
whilst watching the tape, and I would've shivered more to see them in person.
Sadly, our vision was blocked by the green clouds, and our mountain lookout
point turned out to be not so good after all.

However,
the best part about the recording was a brief look at who we believe to be the
Hive Tyrant. The footage becomes filled with static when he waltzes in, but we
still saw him in a fairly good view. The researchers have been going nuts over
seeing him and coming up with all sorts of theories. They reckon his armor is
made of chitin and bone or something-he looked like a colossal bug, if you ask
me, so I reckon some kind of exoskeleton is probably the correct assumption.

But
hey, I'm a camera man and scribe. Back to the record-we got a good view at one
other creature that we've dubbed the "brute" for now, as he's a
chunky block of *something*who was the size of
a tank. Narrya said she didn't think he was a synapse monster, though-the
researchers suggested they're a sort of entourage for that Hive Tyrant ~~fella~~ damn
it. Not a male.

Tomorrow
we're going to go collect some soil samples, then use our ship to catch up with
them. We've got a beacon in the planet's atmosphere which is tracking the
movements of their transportation creatures (so far as we can tell, they *are* alive) so that we'll know when it's time to
mosey on over to the next planet on their hit list. It'll probably take us a
few cycles to get soil samples and, let's face it, it won't be very
interesting. I'll add edits to the end of this part as we find things like last
time, and I'll record another entry once we're set up elsewhere. End of
record."

Addendum
A Cycle 6651.70: "We got some soil samples and apparently these gauntlings
sweat slime wherever they go. It's disgusting how intrigued the eggheads are in
it, but who cares-at least I don't have to touch it."

Addendum
B Cycle 6651.72: "This slime is a sort of digestive juice, apparently, but
why these creatures are sweating it everywhere the lab techs have no idea.
They're putting it together with some other information we have on it, and
hopefully they'll have something worth mentioning out of it."

Addendum
C Cycle 6651.73: "Goddamn. They compared it with samples found on planets
these things have been on before and it turns out their hive fleet kind of
'devours' the planet once the swarm is done with it. By that, they seem to mean
all organic matter, water and valuable elements are completely absorbed,
leaving the rocky husk behind. Well-this is all theory, of course, but the
researchers want to hang around after the swarm is set to leave, now, to try
and record some of this. Guess I'll be the first camera man to record a dead
planet."

## **Intersection: Maltemus' Notes, 2**

*What*
occurs throughout most of this article is intriguing indeed, but the last point
in particular is a cause for concern, especially given how close they managed
to get to Magnus Imperus before they were halted. I must talk to Flutalius regarding
this-she should hopefully have some method of neutralizing this digestive
substance for if the swarms ever awoke again. I must remain vigilant in my
notes, and I shall continue grimly onward to observe what Makara has seen.

## **Research Notes: Cycle 6651.76-Covert-3**

"This
is research member Makara of the Terropidian Expeditionary Research Forces,
continuing documentation of an organism which has been deemed the Hive Tyrant.
Following discovery as to the nature of the planet-killing swarm, we have begun
evacuation procedures and activated stealth modules to observe the consuming of
the planet from orbit.

On
we go-we gathered up the inhabitants of the only village on the planet and sent
them on their way. The eggheads wanted to set up some soil analysis devices,
see if they can gain any readings of the planet mid-digestion. Meanwhile, I've
been sitting around recording odd things beginning to happen with the
planet-such as a patch of grass which was entirely dead compared to grass not
three feet away. Animals we observed in troves before have begun disappearing
altogether, and Narrya is plagued by voices she says are from the planet
itself. Regardless, we've prepped our ship for launch, and we'll hopefully be
taking off this evening. I'm expecting the bulk of these particular notes to
come from the additions I'll be making as things progress.

One
thing of interest, actually-one of the researchers has gone missing recently
and we've been trying to find him. Narrya reckons he just got overexcited with
placing down some observational equipment and that he'll be back before we need
to leave. I suppose she must be right-what idiot would like to share a planet
with these things? Anyhow-here's the end of this short bulk notes section. See
the first addendum (inevitably) for some more information."

Addendum
A Cycle 6651.77: "The researcher still hasn't shown up, and we're two
cycles away from needing to leave. Narrya has grown worried and went out on a
wider search circle, being more prepared for danger. We stayed back at the ship
and made sure we were ready to get out of here at a moment's notice. The green
clouds have come back into view, and far out surveillance gadgets have started
picking up the odd organism here and there."

Addendum
B Cycle 6651.78: "Narrya found the researcher, or what's left of the poor
bastard, half-digested by this pool of green acid in the ground. The lab boys
checked it out, and it's effectively a heavily concentrated version of the
digestive juices sweated by the general creatures. We've started observing more
of these pools forming, and it looks like our time has just about ran out.
We've begun pre-flight measures and will take off next cycle."

Addendum
C Cycle 6651.79: "We've had to leave much earlier than expected because
those creatures caught up more easily than we thought they would. We've broken
atmosphere now and the cloaking drive has allowed us to remain undetected-we're
setting up shop on the dark side of one of the natural satellites. Hopefully,
this'll aid in masking our signature from those things."

Addendum
D Cycle 6651.83: "I don't know what to say in this record. It took more
four full cycles to record the entire process, but if I hadn't recorded it, I
don't think I'd have believed what my eyes were seeing. For the purposes of a
full record, I will have to note it down here. At first, the planet just sort
of turned...green. The researchers detected a sharp decrease in the usually
neutral pH of the soil, meaning it was more acidic, and it began to
disintegrate the very tissue of the planet. Then...it began.

Hundreds
of smaller swarm ships, pink and riddled with tentacles, spikes, and all sorts
of natural anatomy began to form a sphere around the planet. These things were
still huge, but they all began glowing green as well. Then came along three
absolutely colossal creatures-the size of moons, these things were-which
arranged themselves in a rough triangle around the planet's horizontal equator.
When they were in position, the larger creatures absorbed the smaller ones, and
through gaps in the sphere we could see the planet wearing away. Eventually,
the larger creatures broke off and disappeared, and all that was left of the
planet was an empty, lifeless husk. I could hardly believe it-we'd been there
not five cycles earlier-and now, this planet once considered a rich frontier to
develop colonies would have difficulty supporting a group of Skull zombies.

After
all that, I need a shot of Molikong brandy. End of log."

## **Intersection: Maltemus' Notes, 3**

*Upon*
reading Makara's latest notes, I now see why the team of Erthus dispatched to
retrieve them was so horrified upon their return. These creatures are an
intergalactic menace, and surely one of the greatest foes of our time. I do not
envy Makara and his compatriots-to be in such hostile and insanity-driven
conditions cannot be pleasant, for certain. I must forge on-whatever is left of
these notes, all of it must be read and understood to ensure our continued
survival.

## **Research Notes: Cycle 6651.86-Covert-4**

"This
is research member Makra of the Terropidian Expeditionary Research Forces,
continuing research on-you know what? To hell with this. I'm a dead man anyway.

When
we left the planet to try and follow the hive fleet, the psionic Erthus
just...screamed. She fell to the floor and started writhing
uncontrollably-saying her mind was under attack. We did everything we could,
but eventually she stopped squirming. Now we were an Erthus down.

The
researchers sent off an emergency beacon, but our scans showed it never went
out, and we started noticing the hive fleet taking an interest in us. Without
the Erthus to imitate their synaptic patterns, we were no longer invisible, and
within a few short minutes the ship reported we were caught in some kind of
tractor beam. I say tractor beam-it was just a tentacle dangling from one of
the ships which held us in place. As I write this, we're being pulled closer to
their ship, and all the equipment has started going to hell.

The
researchers brought some weaponry with them, but I honestly don't think it's
worth the effort. I'm just happy I got good with that one girl back home,
because, you know, I don't think I'm coming back.

Scraping
has just started against the outer hull. Our shields and Magnum Steel plating
should hold them for a while, but when the power cuts out from whatever
siphoning they're doing, we're dead men. I estimate maybe one cycle, or two,
before it's time to wave goodbye. I'm going to hold off on sending these for
now-maybe one more addendum-and then I'll have to compress them and transmit
them digitally on every waveband I can. Here's to hoping another research party
won't go dark."

Addendum
A Cycle 6651.87: Well, this is it. The power finally cut out, and the scraping
has gotten a hell of a lot closer. I can't risk not compressing the
notes-there's too much of value here to let it go to waste. Tarrizon, if you
see this-thank you. You've been a brother to us and all Makori of earth, and we
couldn't have achieved as much as we have without you. To Nareene, I really
thought I'd settle down with you, but I guess you'll have to find someone a
little more alive. I'm grabbing a rifle after this-it may be pointless, but
I'll fight to the death like any good Makori of earth. Just like Tarrizon
taught us.

Goodbye,
and whoever reads over this, don't let our deaths be in vain.

## **Intersection: Maltemus' Notes, 4**

*Makara's*
sacrifice was made in the effort to protect the Confederacy and the innocent
within its confines. His final plea will not go unanswered. With the
information stored within, the images and biological references, our research
and development teams should most definitely find a way to combat this
terrifying form of combat. I have been following protocol and been making notes
without reading forwards, but I break it slightly in commenting my surprise
that there are additional pages after this last one. Perhaps notes by other
readers prior to myself? I suppose we shall see.

## **I AM TYRANT**

What
foolish creature/food that found our hive/collective...his curiosity/knowledge
has meant his demise/feeding. This 'Confederacy' would resist/flee us? No, we
shall hunt/predator our prey, and there shall be no escape/peace.

I
am the Hive Tyrant, Zak'Kalamas, and my name/birthright shall be your
reckoning/apocalypse.

## **Final Intersection: Maltemus' Notes, 5**

*Most*
intriguing and worrying indeed. That the Tyrant itself found these notes and
added to them suggests some hazard I cannot yet predict. If it is aware we know
of their methods, then perhaps we shall have to learn all that much harder to
find suitable countermeasures. I only hope we needn't send another scouting and
research party-I fear we would have some less fortunate attempts at finding
volunteers. For now, I shall leave these notes in the care of the rest of the Kilaro-perhaps
with their unique insight, we shall see what may come of it. The Tyrant, this
Zak'Kalamas, is not a threat to be underestimated.

*"In*
fire and flames." Notes closed.