Fiction:Greater Zarni Empire/Forsaken Legion

The Forsaken Legion is a self-replicating clone army used by the Zarni Imperial Military as a population clearing force and as a terror weapon, making use of cloned mutant cyborgs known as "the Zarnified" or "the Forsaken" to massacre and devour planetary populations and militaries that the Zarni do not wish the spend their own resources on.

History
The Forsaken Legion was developed after the as a possible replacement for the  armies that turned against the Zarni when the latter attempted to exterminate them. Captured Felequians were mutated and fitted with cybernetics until they were turned into horrible killing machines. Zarni officials were intrigued by the project and its potential use as a demoralising weapon that could do the work of the Zarni and not be able to resist culling efforts. Field-factories were invented to clone and manufacture the Forsaken, and the weapon was officially incorporated into the Zarni Military.

Characteristics
The Forsaken can be created from various base species, though the bulk of applications have used Lequian clones for use against colonies. The Forsaken are bred in a set of nine base varieties with some sub-varieties. They are of limited intelligence, barely capable of opening doors, and not a great threat beyond the planet on which they are deployed. Sometimes they will be commanded by Forsaken Kings, figures willing mutated and cybernetics that the Forsaken will by programmed instinct obey.

Peon



 * Role: Cannon fodder
 * Weapons: Claws and teeth
 * Threat: Minor

Peons are the most common and least mutated of the Forsaken, having only the reactor-heart that powers them and that is hooked to their nervous system. They are deployed in massive numbers as cannon fodder for the opposition to use up their ammunition. Their powerful grip allows them to hold prey until for their peers to bring down.

Peons come in several sub-varieties:
 * Preborns - Peons let out of the cloning facilities too early; skin is weak and have difficulty walking properly.
 * Mutured - Peons left in the cloning facilities longer; skin has hardened and have overly-developed senses.
 * Alphas - Peons leaders, capable of rallying fellow Forsaken into charges against the enemy.

Swarmer



 * Role: Infiltration, cannon fodder
 * Weapons: Claws and jaws
 * Threat: Minor

Swarmers are possibly the most populous of the Forsaken. They have mechanical limbs for crawling along walls and ceilings, mechanical jaws for biting, and mechanical eyes for heightened awareness. They travel on all fours, maintaining a low profile, and leap upon their victims to kill them. They make common use of ventilation systems and drainage pipes to infiltrate enemy positions, and will travel in great numbers.

There is a semi-rare variety, with heightened speed that will explode into a cloud of toxic gas when killed.

Predator



 * Role: Infiltration, cannon fodder
 * Weapons: Claws, cloak
 * Threat: Minor

Predators are equipped with sound-cancelling foot-replacements, razor talons, specialised optics, and a cloaking system that renders them nearly totally invisible. Physical mutations are minor, though they are emaciated creatures. Along with the Swarmers their role is based around infiltration. Travelling in small packs, they will approach targets unaware to slice at before quickly darting away to escape retaliation, relying on hit-and-run tactics to bring their targets down. Predators are highly agile and capable of dodging weapons fire and disappearing if they are spotted, though they become visible under high speeds.

Soldier



 * Role: Line infantry
 * Weapons: Blade
 * Threat: Minor

Soldiers are the backbone of the Forsaken Legion, the strongest of the mass-produced clones. They are missing their left arm, and their right arm has been replaced by a powerful mechanical limb ending in a long blade. They also have mechanical right eyes. Soldiers are deployed in squads, and will rip apart prey that has been softened up by the lesser Forsaken. They are capable of complex tactics including diversionary charges and flanking, and are smart enough to use their blades to shield their bodies. Soldiers move at a steady pace, but will break into a sprint upon singling out a target.

Trivia

 * The Forsaken are based upon the specimens from the Killing Floor video games.