Fiction:Nezuven Swarm/Ground Forces

Most ground combat in the Nezuven Swarm is handled by the Warrior Caste, identified by their dull red fur tone, and their larger size compared to most other Nezuven. Unpredictable, savage and brutal, Nezuven are a difficult foe to face for the unprepared, for their virulent hordes know little mercy, and feel little compassion for other races that cross them. Combined with their seemingly endless numbers, the Nezuven are unpredictable with their technology and weaponry, utilizing anything they get their dirty claws on, from radioactive missile launchers, mutated beasts breed in their hell-pits, to even being willing to use Xhodocto and other Deathmarch weaponry that could very well destroy their souls. Why the willingness to use such tech then? As their Warrior Caste leaders put it "We may go screaming to hell, but so will you Scum!". Such eloquent thinking punctuates their military philosophy throughout. They may die or lose a few, but as long as the enemy suffers, it is all worth it.

Nezuven conquests often occur first by sending their Shamans to areas of importance to consecrate the planet in the name of Great King Rat. This involves essentially poisoning the world and making it fit only for the repulsive conditions of the Nezuven, spreading plague and disease throughout, and weakening the native population for eventual conquest. When the planet is judged as ready, the Nezuven launch their lightning attacks, throwing everything they can muster at worlds that catch their eye, and showing no mercy to any forces that get in their way. Those that stand before them are sent to the slave pits, those that continue to fight are slaughtered.

One of their traits, however, that may hamstring them, is their utter hatred and fear for both each other, and towards a strong foe. While a Nezuven horde will slaughter and kill anything they view as weaker, anything that can stand up to them will cause them to balk and hesitant, and often, run if the foe survives too much. Likewise, their hatred for each other and desire for glory over their peers means, if one is about to die, they will likely abandon them, rather then save them, feeling comradery below them.

Frontline troops
Slave Fodder= Slave Fodder are the basic, lowest rung of the forces deployed by the vermin of the Nezuven. Nearly 60% of their ground forces are made up of Slave Fodder, scrounged up from the slave pits and captured foes, and sent into the frontlines with the intent of wasting ammunition and foe's rigor on them. Most of them are Brown Furred Slave caste members, those born and marked as less then nothing in the eyes of other Nezuven. Even in the cutthroat world of Nezuven society, the Brown-Furs are a particularly poor and pitiable lot, seen as too weak, stupid and cowardly (Even by Nezuven stnadards) to be worth anything. When leaders find slaves worth sending into the meatgrinder, they commonly indoctrinate and twist lies to their poor slaves, telling them good service will grant them admission into the Warrior caste, if they perform well enough. Such are lies, but it gets them eager for blood, and that is all that matters to Nezuven leaders.
 * Weapons - Firelock rifles, rusty swords, anything they can fork up
 * Defenses - None.
 * Equipment - None.

Slaves are given anything they can get their hands on, if their masters are generous. Some, the most lucky, will get primitive firelock rifles to use. While these primitives rifles won't do much one-on-one against a standard soldier or trooper, often 60 or 90 of them will be firing off these weapons at targets, volume all that is important. Others will seek to get in melee, and stab and cut down their foes with rusty, primitive swords. Again, while not skilled swordsmen, 10 creatures piling on one is bound to have an effect.

The Nezuven slaves are given no armor, and a few smart ones may put a pad or piece of metal on their shoulder or chest to block a bullet or lucky blaster, though whether it will do anything is a completely different question. Volume of troops is all that matters, and if a few die, so be it.

Even not in battle, Slave Fodder are the lowest of the low, and get little good treatment. Digging ditches and fort works in the event of a siege. Some will be turned into rations for their higher ranking leaders who run out of food and get hungry, and many will end up executed by their leaders to inspired fear and respect in their troops, even if it is not needed. Nezuven care little for the Brown Furs. If a few thousand die, it just means less of the ugly cretins to feed tomorrow.

Claw-Troopers= Claw-Troopers are the bulk of the Warrior caste, the average members, trained and brought to fore to eradicate and destroy their foes, and make way for their colonization against their forces. They are drawn from the Warrior Vassal-Clans, and are brought forth by their Clan leaders to battle. Every one is loyal to the Blue-Furred Clan leaders, for good service and strength in battle will get them rewards, the chance to spread their DNA, and better rations and riches for themselves. As such, the chance to get up and bring themselves up further to the Caste, is enough to make the Claw-Troopers bloodthirsty and willing to throw themselves into any foe without any regard for themselves.
 * Weapons - Blaster Rifles, shotguns, swords, spears
 * Defenses - Armor.

In their early ages, Claw-Troopers are gathered up from the Warrior Caste-Clans and families, and brought to their Barrack-Pits and War-Shrines to fight amongst themselves and be trained by their elders and teachers. Training is a relative term, as the Claw-Troopers could be considered some well-trained militia, but among the Castes, they are considered well enough to break down their foes, and keep their slaves in line. They are trained to aim, take cover and have basic melee combat, and attack in swarms against their foes. Due to natural Nezuven mentality, even the Warrior Caste is prone to the same level of cowardice as most of their kin, but show enough bravery to throw themselves at the foe when they are out-numbered or when they see a weakened foe.

Most carry blaster rifles in battle, steampunk-style contraptions that barely look usable, but are still quite deadly, firing sickening, sizzling green bolts at their targets to tear and burn them down. The amount of fire they pour down on targets is enough to burn most armor and flesh, and foes who fight them often end up fried to the bone. Others make use of high powered shotguns, a favored tool among the Claw-Troopers, for they enough the sight of blasting holes into their victims at close range. When truly hungry for kills and meat, Nezuven will use various swords and spears to throw themselves at their targets, and hack them to pieces.

Their armor is a basic metal sheet across their chests, back, thighs, shoulders and wrists, and a chainmail under suit meant to offer basic protection from ranged weapons. While better then what the slaves get, the hope is that the weight of their crushing numbers will neutralize the foe, and remove the need for any long, drawn out gun battles, which the warrior caste would lose.

Nezuven Warriors, of all the Castes, come across as the most stable, mostly because, outside of battle, they shower little abuse on subordinates, and mostly keep to themselves, practicing their craft, and often killing those too weak to keep up, but mostly avoiding politicking and backstabbing if they can help it. Once battle is joined, however, they throw themselves into a frenzy, screaming and cackling with great insanity and fervor to kill, even after battle, hacking up and devouring bodies for hours after until they calm down and become silent once more.