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HOMEWORLD: ENDLESS

This article was initially written for the "Endless Space" community, trying to interest people in creating a "Homeworld" mod for the game. As I've marked in a pitch of "Kharak: Total War" - of course, Homeworld's leading genre is 3D Space RTS, it doesn't mean that Homeworld cannot into other genres. Gearbox has pushed this universe forward, and now we already have HWRM, half-revived HWC, 2D RTS HWDoK, mobile HWM, Homeworld RPG, and even HW boardgame is upcoming. So, I believe, 4X TBS genre won't be something completely alien to Homeworld Universe, especially seeing Norsehound's creativy in HWM.

Though the mod never happend and in the following text there will be artifacts left from the "Endless Space" game mechanics, nevertheless this article may serve as a crash course into the Homeworld Universe, with a bit of my interpretations and predictions. So, have a nice reading!

EMPIRES

Factions that are known in the galaxy:

  1. Kushan Exiles
    Somtaaw Miners
    Hiigaran Empire
  2. Taiidan Empire
    Taiidan Republic
    Taiidan Loyalists/Confederation
  3. Vaygr Tribes
    Vaygr Crusade
  4. Turanic Raiders
    Turanic Kingdom
  5. Kadeshi Keepers
  6. Tobari Gangsters
  7. Bentusi
  8. T-MAT
  9. The Beast
  10. Frerrn Agregate
  11. Lavashi
  12. Naltorians
  13. Progenitors
  14. AI's.

Kushans/Hiigarians

Main "hero" of HW series.

First they've been "usual" interstellar empire, with Hiigara, Earth type planet, as capitol. Then they've lost the war with Taiidans, and all those unwilling to collaborate were exiled far-far away…

On the way these people have turned to have some twisted social structure, dividing to feodal or corporative factions called "kiith".

Finally they have found some old dusty planet, Kharak; suffered knowledge loss and had short conspect of human history, starting with some religious wars and ending with futuristic prosperity. All has ended up with Taiidani Exterminatus team arrival, Atmosphere Deprivation Weapon usage on Kharak, thus burning down 300 million people.

Kushan big colony ship luckily managed to escape the execution, got into breaking bad and with a support of ancient interstellar merchants and Taiidani rebels, killed Taiidani emperor and ruined "Emporio Taiidani".

In next 15 years Hiigarians had to fight with Taiidani loyalists and the Beast invasion, which ended in successful survival.

After a century of peaceful living new threat has come to them - Vaygr Crusade. Hiigarians managed to win the ultimate fight and even to get in their hands ancient artifacts that enabled the Ancient Gates to another galaxy called "Nimbus". In 15 years a large expedition was sent there, not everyone survived, as the Gates malfunctioned, and Progenitor automates guarded the entrance. Karan S'Jet dissappered trying to solve the mysteries of Progenitor artifacts, and in 85 years a new massive expedition with a new mothership was prepared to be launched…

Somtaaw

Somtaaw - is a kushani kiith.

After returning to Hiigara, fight for power among kiithid has started again. Naabal, Kaalel, Sjet, LiirHra, Soban, Manaani and Paktu, greatest clans left alive, has tried to make other kiith their vassals. Naabali was aiming for Somtaaw, once one of the strongest religious kiithid (their religion is somewhere alike buddhism) at Kharak, now minor mining clan.

But kiith Somtaaw has resisted to absorbtion within atheistic kiith. Instead, many other small kiithid being oppressed same way, has joined kiith Somtaaw, thus it became biggest of the smallest, smallest of the biggest.

Being restricted to technologies used by big clans, Somtaaw were forced to go their own ways to the things standard for other kiithid, like buying inventions from interstellar merchants, Bentusi, or kushani scientific kiith Sjet; and researching found wreckages.

Thus Somtaaw has developed their own tactics and strategies, unlike standard fleets. This difference was achieved even more while fighting the Beast invasion: though as religious zealots they were not afraid to give their life for the greater good, shortage of men forced them to use most advanced technologies in defence and AI, also making their ships multipurpose.

Taiidani Empire

Long time ago there was Taiidani empire. They had no good relations with Hiigarian empire, and once Hiigarians had attacked the capitol planet, Taiidan, thus destroying an imperial palace with an emperor. Admiral Riestiu has gone postal and in short period of time has entered Hiigara solar system.

By recommendation of Galactic Council, Hiigarian government and part of the population was exiled. From now on Hiigara has become capitol of Taiidani empire with Riestiu as an emperor.

This has lasted for three thousand years, and all this time clones of Riestiu has ruled the empire. But growing bureaucracy and corruption of stagnant state has raised the revolt which spread out when Kushani fleet has returned to Hiigara solar system. And Galactic Council has decided that Hiigara and systems around has to be returned to Kushans.

But Taiidani empire has broken apart: the main core has turned into Taiidan Republic; part of the regions has stayed under rule of military leaders, lords and generals; part has gone to Frerrn Aggregate; part was occupied by Turanic raiders.

Republic has suffered economics turbulences from loosing regions, war damage and "allies" speculations on the broken empire in the first years, but still it hasn't stopped them from advancing. One of the greatest weaponry of that time was local "death star", Nomad Moon, which unluckily was infected by the Beast.

Loyalists were cooperating in trying to return Empire back. They have attacked Hiigara 4 times but unsuccessful. They've tried to use the Beast, but it has betrayed them for food. After that they have silenced for a long time: some have tried to defend their rule from consumation by stronger forces. Many of them turned to criminals: pirating, forbidden things… Most famous of these has become so called Tobari gangsters, establishing their base at the ruins of ancient artificial mega-structure, Karos Graveyards, made by long time ago dissappeared Progenitors.

During Vaygr invasion loyalists were fighting at Makaan side. Republic tried to resist but was conquered. Death of the Makaan has changed straight-forwarded course of Vaygr Crusade, breaking this new empire into parts. Most probably, Taiidani Republic has revived, but the loyalist forces has established Taiidani Confederation.

Vaygr

This race wasn't known for a long time: found at the far reaches of galaxy eastern part, being divided into somewhat tribes, living life of pirates and miners, they weren't taken seriously as a thread. And it was until Makaan came.

In his religious crusade he has united Vaygr clans around him. As a natural enemy of Hiigara, hunting it's most guarded treasure - ancient Hyperspace Core - he has allied with Taiidani Loyalists, and together they conquered Taiidani Republic, accessing it's people and technologies.

Moving fast, consuming small worlds, using Taiidani Loyalist links with pirates, like Turanic Raiders and Tobari Gangsters, Makaan has destroyed almost all Bentusi traders, but failed to do this with Hiigarians: he was destroyed at the very goal of his crusade.

The fate of Vaygr Empire is not clear: it is known that the son of Makaan has parted to Nimbus galaxy using the Ancient Gates. And most probably, like the Empire of Alexandr the Great, Vaygr Empire has shattered. Some parts returned to the state which they were before the invasion, some parts has left under control of Vaygr new leaders, some part has turned into Taiidani Confederation.

Pirates

Races which are low on fleet, living by trading, pirating or both. Or else.

Turans

First race we get familiar with in HW1. Their tech is outdated, their motives - uncertain and quite agressive, their tactics is ambush, hit & run. Seem to play the role of "orcs".

Turans are the pirates habiting west part of galaxy, lurking in the starless Great Wasteland between the galaxy rims for traders fearless enough to cross this area without having enough firepower. Turans were named by region where they were noticed for the first time.

Taiidani managed to establish contact with these pirates, and they secretly served Empire with dirty covert operations for the technologies and other goods of more civilized race.

With fall of Riestiu old bounds were heritated by Taiidani Loyalist, but this time Turanic Raiders were in equal positions with loyalists, so they used this situation to grab some solar systems under their control, creating Turanic Kingdoms, and hiring Taiidani mercenaries in their fleets. Also loyalists used Turans for military operations, but their habit to care more about life then honest victory, made these pirates not so trustable allies.

In the age of HW2 Turans seem to play same role of pirates and dirty job executives, while having progress of ruling small kingdoms.

Kadeshi

Technologically advanced space race, having some very interesting technology examples, very convenient for ambush and straight destruction in fast fight. Zealots. Playing the role of "elves".

On the way of Hiigarian exile, part of the ships have left in resource rich nebula, establishing their own society. With time, having to keep themselves in strong control to survive in open space in fear of Taiidani forces come for them, Kadeshi turned to be very religious. Nebula has become sacred garden for them were no heretic should exist. Thus, Great Nebula has become mysterious place where nobody has gone to, as "no one returns…".

But, unluckily for Kadeshi, Taiidani fleet has destroyed Kharak, where other exiles lived, thus forcing Kushani mothership to go despairly in direction of long forgotten homeworld. And this path layed through the Nebula, as Taiidani outposts were too heavily armed to enter their area.

Then Kadeshi and Kushani fleets had struggle of brothership and dogma. Kushans won, Kadeshi considered completely destroyed.

Tobari

These guys are not met yet in official game, just in HW2 Dustwars scripts. Of their name historical link and information given in Dustwars, we can conclude that these are likely to be gangs constisting of ex-Taiidans. The background can be easily imagined then.

With the return of Kushans Taiidani Empire has fallen. It broke apart to big Republic part and small kingdoms of any kind. Some Taiidans did not get along with this situation and used it for their own. In the Beast War loyalist forces has been depleted, so instead of attacking Hiigara they have turned to protection of their lands and covert ops mixed with criminal activity.

At the events of Core Wars (Vaygr Crusade) one of most biggest criminal bases was established at Karos Graveyard - one big and misterious place, habited with automats cleaning out giant structures left of Progenitors and because of that avoidable by usual forces. These criminals have called themselves "Tobari Gangsters".

During the War Tobari gangsters helped Vaygr and their allies, Taiidani loyalists. For example, they have found a new Hiigarian mothership build site for Vaygr. After the war their status should have increased because of postwar chaos and support of Taiidani Confederates.

Bentusi

These are not pirates but ancient traders and watchmen of galaxy. They are united with their ships and are very technologically advanced.

It's unclear of how Bentusi acquired these technologies and more important - the First Core, but they have become the watchmen of the galaxy under the mask of traders. They were the race which had given hyperspace technologies to world.

Colonization of galaxy weren't peaceful, but Bentusi always were there to become judge and punisher of agressor. "Great Bentus" was the most advanced and fastest ship known, so like Superman they were everywhere. But the same this ship was only one, so when the massive rebellion has started on the Outer Rim of the galaxy, Bentusi didn't managed stop it. And galaxy was divided among 15 empires. They formed Galactic Council with participation of Bentusi.

Two empires had border issues and this raised a war. Hiigarians had found the Second Core and used it jump range, organizing deadly strike on the Taiidani homeworld, destroying its Emperor. As an "assymmetric" answer, Bentusi destroyed hiigarian flagship with the Second Core, and Taiidani occupied Hiigara and sent all Hiigarian rebels into exile.

Since that time Bentusi has turned into pacifists. But their "political" career has not ended. They were among Taiidani rebel organizators, they helped Kushani to return to Hiigara. For these actions they were beaten by Taiidani forces. This has reduced the number of Bentusi.

More losses were during the Beast Wars: part has made suicide being infected, part has managed to flee to the very distant place, might even be the another galaxy. And the last hit was made by Vaygr: seeking for the First Core, Bentusi genocide has been performed. The last of the Bentusi, the Great Bentus, has sacrified himself to save Hiigarians from Progenitor Keepers.

T-Mat

This race was planned to appear first in HW1, but they were removed due to technical problem; then, in HWC, but replaced by the Beast due to time and resources limitation; and third, in Dustwars, as one of the game antagonists, but in HW2 their only appearance was in the final mission, and they weren't acting themselves. All the information can be gathered of background story.

This race seems to be relative somehow with Bentusi. It seems that they were the reason of massive rebellion of Outer Rim when Bentusi has lost their monopoly of being "world police".

After that they've put efforts in helping Taiidani emperor, but failed. Their success was obvious with Makaan, and he almost destroyed their enemies - Bentusi… After that T-Mat has been laying low waiting for something they only know…

The Beast

This race was created for HWC, as the developers needed to have some easy creatable antagonist race. So they've used some popular ideas to create the Beast, infection organism, which takes control of a crew, reworks it into biomass to control the ship, and uses their brains to think.

Million years ago an unknown race has made a journey from their native subgalaxy to the major galaxy of HW. On their way some thing has attacked ship and destroyed it from inside. Before being consumed, the crew has severely damaged ship's engines, so it left the Beast floating around for the very long time. But the thing has managed to launch escape pod with "self" part (or it was unsuccessful attempt of crew to save themselves, but… in space no one can hear your scream).

This pod was found long time after, accidentally: while helping damaged destroyer kiith Somtaaw miners noticed some strange signals and Turanic Raiders lurking around in a search of something. Somtaaw command ship Kuun Lan has salvaged this wreckage and decided to investigate its content alone, as they were in need for bonuses helping them to get better place in kiithid.

This decision was strategically good and tactically bad: if the Beast would have been investigated in Hiigara's laboratories, then Kushanids would seek for a new homeworld, because no cure but Exterminatus ("Atmosphere Deprivation Weapon" (c) Taiidani Empire) would helped them. But studying the Beast inside Kuun Lan has lead to the loss of men and half of the ship: lucky Somtaaws had possibility of disjoining lower deck thus saving main crew but creating the Beast mothership. On the other hand, if Somtaaw would have selfdestructed themselves, like Bentusi, there were no pandemia… Anyway it went the way it went.

The Beast War has begun. Naggarok ancient "self" has made short-term agreements with Taiidani Loyalists, but this didn't helped any of them: Somtaaw, with help of world, has found the ways to destroy this "vyrus".

For now, the Beast is on the edge of distinction: if these are noticed then Somtaaw busters are called. Probably, the last Beast pirating ships are left in forgotten edges of galaxy.

Frerrn Agregate

Nothing is really know of this faction, except of one line in HWC backstory. According to the name, we might consider that Agregate is something like a federation or a union - like USA, USSR or EU. Actually, that's all we can tell about them for sure.

Frerrn Agregate has had border troubles with Taiidan Empire, and it seems that with a fall of the Empire these problems had dissappeared at least partially. Now Frerrn Agregate may have problems with the descendants of Taiidani Empire…

Lavashi

No actual race existing with such name. But there is a big asteroid-like "Lava Ship" appearing in the end of HW1, as member of Galactic Council. First, this ship was planned as a T-MAT starship replacement, but then T-Mat were completely removed. T-Mat, as they are (starshaped), appeared in HW2, but Lavashi is left as one more race of HW Universe, with several ships concept-arts.

A member of the Galactic Council. Supported Taiidani revolution and Kushani return, thus Lavashi may be an ally of parties involved, at least in a short term. No other information provided.

Naltorian

One more race having no official presentation. The story below is not canonical, as Dustwars turning to HW2 has lost Naltor, Tobari and others.

Naltorian are matriachat race that has fallen in troubles during Dustwars. Vaygr had attacked them, Tobari tried to sell that information to Hiigarians, Naltorian patrons, but unsuccessfully. What happened to Naltorians next is unknown.

Progenitors

This race is NPC in HW2 game. All is left of it are great structures, like Karos or Ancient Gates, dead ships and their wreckages, like Sajuuk, and automatic guards like Keeper Movers.

It's unknown why Progenitors has come to HW galaxy. From different versions of script, we can assume that they were fleeing from their own civil war, and Sajuuk was the rebel one or something; or completely another reason - we will not know this till HW3.

But at the end their structures were destroyed and abandoned. All is left - Bentusi watching childish civilizations to grow up enough to give them the secrets of Progenitor treasures, to be strong enough to defeat Keeper machines…

AI's

Well, in HW Universe are few other interesting actors.

  • Ghost Ship - very-very old big ship controlled by AI smart enough to capture other big ships;
  • Karos Dawg - or "dog" - guardian of the Karos Graveyard, it's not clear if it's single one or multiple. Corvette sized, it capable to salvage much bigger ship, and using hyperspace windows, collect it to certain place of Karos. Also, it's not clear if this automaton is connected somehow to Progenitors or is a completely different machine.

P.S.:

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