Fiction:Drodo Empire

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The Drodo Empire is a young colonial Empire of a combined 29 000 systems. While only 200 years old, they are an advanced country with a strong economy, industrial capacity, and of many diverse cultures.

History
"To know the past and the exploits of one's ancestors is the surest way to sucess in one's own life."

- Ancient Drodo Religious Text

Prehistoric Era
During the prehistoric era, the Drodo formed into small tribes. Those small tribes soon united and built the first cities. It was through cooperation that they invented some of the most basic, important inventions and concepts, such as agriculture. It was also during this time that natural gunpowder deposits under the soil where discovered while the first mines churned out stone for tools and weapons. It wasn't used for some time, however.

Early History
Gunpowder's power was soon realized after the first disputes and wars raged across Coron, Gunpowder was used as a potent weapon. Put in barrels or other containers, lit by a fuse of parchment, and thrown and rolled down at the unlucky targets. However, this method of attack was notoriously unreliable. As there was just as good of a chance of you being blown apart by the bomb as your attackers. It was also during this early era that the first true nations developed. Empires dominating over the tiny city-states. Among this era was the first recorded history, literature, records, and poems where all among the examples of primitive writing and record-taking.

Classical Era
This epoch of time is best remembered as something of a golden age. Great works of art and literature, new technologies (more advanced agriculture, bronze, currency), and incredible people and empires that spanned the Drodo Homeworld. With prosperity came war, Empires rose and fell. Mainly hinging on who had more gunpowder pots and barrels to throw about. Drodo Classical-Era tactics where indeed unusual. With gunpowder, formations could be scattered. The most advanced nations even had cannons, making stone walls a weak defence against these civilizations. As such, Classical-Era combat was fast, ever-changing, and brutal. Cannons and catapults with gunpowder barrels would knock down fortifications while infantry fought on the front lines, attempting to break through the other barrier of infantry to charge the artillery. At the same time cavalry viciously attempted to flank and destroy the fragile artillery lines. Castles and fortresses where near to useless at this time, if it weren't for a material called steel...

Dark Age
After the discovery of iron and steel, production of gunpowder weapons went up exponentially. To counter, some built walls plated with this new metal, and developed other new fortification techniques such as slanted ramparts, the result being mostly successful. Entire civilizations where wiped from the planet by those with steel, and therefore, rifles and cannons. Wars broke out over violated treaties, accidental fire, and resource acquisition. To add to the violence, horse people from the steppes invaded in hordes, devastating whatever civilizations that resisted everthing else. After the initial chaos went down, the population was further devastated by plagues brought by the nomads, and ideals and technologies where lost. While some devolved into barbarians, others devoted themselves to rediscovering what was lost and paving the way to a better future. The Dark Age would last several centuries without any major improvements in technology, while small, advanced nations soon became small beacons of light in the darkness, and those small beacons grew into empires. The Dark Ages where over.

Imperial Era
This age would be known for the large amount of empires, much smaller but much more advanced and numerous than there Classical Era counterparts, struggling for power, and exploring new lands. This age would also be known for the formation of two large, competing powers that would fight and compete against eachother for hundreds of years; Arcadia, and Doria.

Arcadia was a large empire located to the west. It was a superpower from where it came from, and owned most trade routes from the "New World". It was democratic. Doria was a superpower located to the East, originating from the north, but since expanding downward. While Arcadia ruled the seas, Doria ruled the land. Controlling most ground-based trade routes, including some into Arcadia. It was a monarchy. They would have an uncountable amount of wars, both on land and sea.

Many major advancements in all areas where made in this era, and warfare was again revolutionized by flinklock muskets. To many, it was a technological and ideological golden age not seen since the Classical Era.

Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution marked one of the greatest times of technological advancement in history. With mass-production, mass media (in the form or television and radio) and new advancements in war. One of which was the Machine Gun. A weapon that changed the field of warfare for the Drodo forever. Some of the first ones unveiled during the battle for the Inquin peninsula, where the Inquin Defence Force, small in number but well-armed and defended in trenches and the new machine guns, mowed-down most of the Dorian attack force with no casualties on the part of the Inquin people. Once the power of the machine guns was evident to the superpowers, they where quickly put in production. Generals panicked on how to counteract them. The defence had completely outgrown the offence. There where wars, as usual between the two. With campaigns that should have been resolved a few weeks being dragged-out for months, even years because of the grueling trench warfare and machine gun fire. Landships where developed as a counter, but where unreliable. The technology did advance, though.

National Era
This time in history is remembered for the inventions of the laser, the computer, the mass-production of the automobile, and the tank. As well as the cultural revolutions that followed due to the recent inventions. Automobiles made travel a breeze. And the tourist industry boomed. It also lessened the reliance of the locomotive to deliver goods by land. This made a mark on Doria's mostly train-based trading system and supply line. The Computer allowed massive calculations to be made in seconds. And the modern Tank once again revived the distinctly Classical-Era idea of mobile combat, at least to an extent.

Interplanetary War
The Great Arms Race would lead directly into this conflict and was one of the main reasons it happened, tensions got to a point where the entire solar system was constantly ablaze with weapons fire. The conflict started when Doria fired a salvo of IPBMs (InterPlanetary Ballistic Missile) at a Arcadian Colony, New Corven. it was exposed to 350 megatons of pure energy, and destroyed instantly. Arcadia was quick to respond, sending a fleet of new space battleships at a important Dorian military base on a moon of the gas giant, Aeria. Because almost all nations had alliances with either Arcadia or Doria, they were obligated to support the war efforts.

The Battle for Coron 4
The battle for Coron 4 was the last and most important battle in the Interplanetary War. By now, Arcadia was winning the war, but a Dorian Suprise attack nearly changed all that, the Dorian fleet was massive, and even had a superweapon, known in history only as "The Trump Card", said to be capable of cracking open Coron 4's crust with a massive railgun. A giant space battle ensues, with hundreds, possibly thousands of starships ruthlessly destroying each other. However, the Dorian fleet was only there to soak up damage for the Trump Card, about 15 minutes into the battle, the Trump Card was almost fully charged - and aimed at the Drodo homeworld, Coron 4. The Captain of the Endeavor, Cesterium, a ancestor of the now-legendary Fleet Captain Cesterity, told the crew to evacuate, and manually drove his crusier straight through the Dorian battle lines, and rammed the Endeavor into the Trump Card, both ships where destroyed instantly in a massive explosion, Cesterium, and the entire crew of the Trump Card, where killed instantly. Afterwards, the remaining Dorian forces, and the Dorian government surrendered almost immediatly afterwards. For the first time in history, one did not recognise him or her as "Arcadian" or "Dorian", but, as "Drodo", it was then decided by the Drodo nations of Coron 4 to set aside there differences, and conflicts from the days of old, and unite under one banner, the Drodo Empire.

Drodo Empire era
The Drodo Empire's earliest years was establishing the government, drafting a constitution, and fixing the Star system's problems. As the Drodo had an entire system's worth of resources and manpower, it was in fact easier then first thought.

A interesting method for forming the empire's branches was used; they voted on what nation's system would be used by vote of the system population after they where presented. What this means is, that a certain nation's system of running a certain branch, for example, Law Enforcement, was chosen from a group of contenders. Whichever was voted to be the best and most efficent was used as the best system was made the base of the Empire's. For example, Ursalia's Law Enforcement system was used as the basis for the Drodo Empire's law enforcement, as it was determined to be the best-trained, best-equipped, and its training program was efficent and well-thought out.

Afterwards, the Drodo new Drodo Dominion, or "Drodo Empire", made the decision to venture out to the interstellar void. Funding was funneled into making a working interstellar drive. It was completed shortly after, the new interstellar ship, "The Void Sailor", was launched. The two on-board; A Arcadian and a Dorian, made a trip to the edge of the Coron System and back to Coron IV in a matter of minutes. It was a success. A new era has dawned upon the Drodo race.

The Crisis
A time a great chaos insued between the 2750's up to the 2780's. It was first brought on by a massive recession in 2755, crippling the economy. To add insult to injury, many radical parties gained traction in the outer and even middle systems starting in the 2760's and began armed rebellions to take over. These rebellions would persist across the entire period. Another major incident would be the undead outbreak of 2777, which ingulfed several systems before the military finally stepped in to quell it. This unfortunate period of history was pockmarked by crushed rebellions and crippled planets, poverty, radicalism, and the looming threat of full-on civil war. This period never was directly stopped by anyone (though there where attempts, all failed), but rather faded away in the 2780's. Radical groups and rebels died off or disbanded, and more competent actions against disease and dissidence got rid of the problems when they did arise. Despite this tragic period, it was also a time in which many inspiring and legendary individuals was raised in; Such as Cesterity, whose experiences against rebels as a militiaman and, for a brief period, an officer, gave him military expertise. And the current Premier, Harponis, whose incredibly bold and successful career as a politician was inspired by his yearn to change the tide of his fast-failing country.

Reforms of the 2790's
In the wake of the crisis, a reinvigorated Drodoian government took prudent action to rebuild, and, more importantly, reform, the country. The government took steps firstly to reform the military; It completely restructured the ranks; Adding and getting rid of ranks, streamlining everything. It also fired many incompetent generals and steps where taken to eradicate corruption, which was very successful. Alongside this, the military was updated and modernized with new equipment; New firearms where issued, and ship designs where put in place to replace aging models (Such as the Chaser-class to replace the Ethereal). Regional governments where also effected by the reforms; Being granted extra funds to rebuild, but, alongside this the local governments and governors had many freedoms and much of there autonomy taken away; Autonomy seen as a perceived cause of the Crisis. As a result from all of the rebuilding and military resupplying, the economy boomed once again from all of the products being produced. The government instated many programs to make this sustainable (such as programs to gradually convert military factories to civilian ones as the military became more modernized and needed less), and this prosperity, in many ways, carries over to modern Drodo society today. By the end of the 2790's, the Empire had made an almost miraculous recovery from decades of war and poverty.

Attero Dominatus
Following the massive slave revolt in the Dominatus Tyranny, the Drodo Empire, along with its other allies in the Katar Sector, pledged support by any means. This slowed there exploration plans, but they now had a chance to destroy a great threat and enemy once and for all.

Government
"Government is simultaneously the most important and most ridiculous invention made by Drodokind."

- Sir Sirak Arrakee, Drodo Statesman

The Drodo Empire is run by a Parliamentary Republic. This means that elected represenatatives make the major decisions at a federal level within the Empire. The Parliament has 400 seats, one for each Member of Parliament (MP). The MPs, of which there are two to represent each of the 200 provinces within the Empire, is elected by the people of that province to represent them in parliament. The voting method used is the Mixed-Member Proportional.

Provinces
The 200 provinces in the Drodo Empire double as both administrative regions and voting ranges. As such, they are all fairly small, all are drawn up to have roughly the same amount of population, and all have only limited autonomy. Governors are elected using the same Mixed-Member Proportional system and remain completely separate from Members of Parliament in function. The job of a provincial governor is to essentially run the day-to-day of a province and enact new provincial laws and decisions among the provincial council (which usually function essentially as a miniature parliament). However, considering the only limited autonomy of provinces, such laws and decisions may need the approval of a government (or can be struck down at the whim of the federal government), and whenever there is a contradiction between provincial/local and federal law, federal law supersedes it.

Political Parties
Will write later

Ministries
There are many ministries, or departments within the Drodo Empire covering everything from warfare, to law enforcement, to researching bloodlines; They exist to keep the Empire running smoothly and efficiently. All ministries have a department head known as a "minister".

Ministry of War
The Ministry of War is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and deployment of the Drodoian Armed Forces. It is a old and prestigious branch of the Empire.

Imperial Treasury
The Treasury is responsible for the recording and management of the Empire's budget; Allocating funds where needed and attempting to maintain a positive balance and balanced budget. They work closely with almost every other Ministry; Especially the Ministry of Commerce.

Ministry Head - Darrotov Hiariq

Ministry of Exploratory and Aboriginal affairs
The department responsible for the exploration, both physically and astronomically (visual surveys, sensor readings from afar, etc.) of claimed Drodo space and potential areas of expansion. Alongside this it manages the relations, diplomatic status and eventual integration of primitive peoples and civilizations found during the searches and manages early colonization efforts. This department has become very well-funded and important in recent years.

Ministry Head - Sir Oliq Hiarmata

Ministry of Diplomacy and International Affairs
The Ministry responsible for international discourse and the maintenance of Imperial diplomatic reputation.

Ministry Head - Duke Hiar Karlinh

Ministry of Lineage and Ancestry
A truly "Drodoian" department, the Ministry of Lineage and Ancestry is dedicated to researching and uncovering historical documents pertaining to family bloodlines, deciding what references and family catalogues are and are not admissible, and ultimately granting and revoking noble status from individuals and event entire families. This ministry is important due to the importance put on the family in Drodo culture, as well as the existence of a Nobility. They are crucial in refuting fraudulent claims.

Ministry Head - Uhlar Zhuzhar

Ministry of Immigration
This ministry manages the influx of new, foreign citizens coming into the Empire and assisting them in settling in. Being a fairly open country, the Empire's Immigration department is rather large.

Ministry Head - Ikir Terrataki

Ministry of Commerce
This department manages, fairly broadly, Drodoian trade and commerce between nations and domestic corporations. For international trade, they set product and safety standards, inspect trade ships coming into the Empire, and make sure the Drodoian end of trade routes stay safe and free of pirates. Within the Empire, they may bail out banks, make broad and subtle reforms to avoid economic collapse, and even intervene between major, monopoly-creating mergers, amongst other functions.

Ministry Head - Lord Corid Riffar

Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
Responsible for managing public transport across all worlds and also helps manage and train Space, sea, and air traffic controllers.

Ministry Head - Sir Alek Hurar

Military
"The Military is the fist of every Government; The institution that makes possible the State's whims."

- Furrak Harponis, current Drodo Premier

The Drodo Empire's military, the Drodo Imperial Military, is a large force with a proud history and tradition. It is made up of several branches, including the Army (Controls all ground or planetside operations. Controls use of infantry, armour, cavalry, sea ships and its own contingent of air vehicles), the Navy (controls all space operations. Controls use of starships, majority or aerospace or air vehicles, and marine forces), and Special forces branch (controls all covert and special operations activities). All three branches work in conjunction with eachother and have equivalent ranks, when they're not the exact same.

Army
The Drodoian ground army is a well-trained, well-equipped, and well-disiplined force. It is feared and respected within the Katar Sector.

Drodo Infantry
"I find it ironic that, despite all of the kilometre-long warships, reality-bending technology, and weapons of astronomical destruction, its the kid with a rifle that really wins the war."

- Fleet Captain Cesterity Isordon

The Drodo infantry make up a diverse, flexible, mobile force. The Infantry include the branch of the standard ground army, the elite Drodoian Marines, and all special operations branches.

Line Infantry - The standard infantry, officially classified as Line Infantry, are a well trained and disciplined professional force. They are outfitted in a light, body-emcompassing suit of armour, usually of a gray or field gray colour (unless the unit is peacekeeing, then it is white with light blue markings, or if it is using a camouflage). It is composed of a skin-tight body-glove, armour plates made of a tough polymer (earning them the title "plastic boys" among some groups), and a helmet. There are countless variations of the armour, including ones with less plates and a more conventional uniform, ones with head-emcompassing helmets and more standard helmets. They are armed with the X8-95 assault rifle (with rifle bayonet) and Berak M87 pistol.

Drodoian Marines - The Drodoian Marines are the elite shock-troopers of the Empire. While also in charge of boarding and ship-board security, on the battlefield they don massive suits of powered armour, they are seen as "immortal" to many of there foes and can survive and operate in extreme conditions, thanks to there power-suits.

Rangers - The light infantry of the Imperial Military. Operating in small groups, they wear lighter, camouflaged armour and don't make use of any weapon that isn't man-portable; which reduces there effectiveness against armoured vehicles considerably. However, as a scouting, harassment, and ambush force there effectiveness is unmatched.

Grenadiers - While holding an ancient namesake that harks back to the age of the musket, the Grenadier's role has changed considerably in that time. They are generally the tallest or strongest among the empire's soldiers and act as the heavy weapons support for line infantry squadrons; Armed with a light machine gun, an RPG, and a sidearm they are a considerable, if also somewhat slow, threat to there enemies.

Engineers - The humble engineer is a lightly-armed and somewhat vulnerable part of the Drodo Army, but they are also essential. Having the hefty responsibility of fixing vehicles, constructing fortifications, and repairing bridges. Beyond there military role engineers are also a common sight during emergency situations such as floods or other natural disasters, and are always leading the front when it comes to peacekeeping and humanitarian aid; Rebuilding infrastructure.

Most Drodo infantry, as a standard uniform, wear a field-grey tunic over a grey shirt. They wear grey trousers and have rank sewn or stitched onto the shoulders of there tunics. Drodo infantry are issued a peaked field cap for when a helmet isn't necessary or appropriate.



Drodo Cavalry




"Sometimes, there is no substitute for the union between a man and the powerful beast that carries him into battle"

- Elerus Sarchavus, Draconis military commander, on the subject of Drodoian cavalry

While Cavalry may seem like a odd addition to such a modern army, due to advancements in technology, they have once again filled a crucial role in the military, acting as fast, discreet attackers, scouts, and the perfect units to utterly destroy enemy infantry and the morale of a army.

Dragoons - Dragoons are cavalry or mounted infantry armed with a carbine or rifle and mounted on a medium-sized horse, and are tasked with long-range harassment. Alternatively, they can use there horses as transportation and dismount to fight as infantry once they have reached the frontlines. As a last resort they are armed with sabres, as are all cavalry.

Hussars/Light Cavalry - Fulfilling the light cavalry role are the Hussars and other Light Cavalry units. The Hussars are sword-armed cavalry soldiers known for there ego and recklessness, but as well as there undeniable effectiveness. Many elite regiments adorn themselves flamboyantly, often wearing bright uniforms with gold lace, tall shakos, and ride strikingly-beautiful horses. Though most regiments wear a simpler (and some would say more practical) uniform, described below. They are armed with a pistol, sabre, and sometimes a carbine. While commonly idenified as "hussars", a surprisingly small minority of regiments actually are designated or or named Hussars, most being known as "light cavalry", "scouts", "raiders" or, confusingly, "lancers" (due to equipment changes, they where changed from Lancers to light cavalry, but they kept their "lancer" designation as a matter of tradition). There is no functional difference amongst Light Cavalry regiments however.

Cuirassiers - Cuirassiers are government-owned heavy cavalry. These are big men on big horses, used to spearhead a massed-charge and utterly annhilate anything in there way. To do this they are armed with large, basket-hilted sabres, revolvers or pistols, and occasionally carbines. Along with a strong personal shield they have a bullet-and-energy-proof cuirass, helmet, and greaves.

Lancers - Mixed within the ranks of other units (as well as forming there own) are lancers. Armed with a power lance, there specific purpose is to tackle vehicles; in particular heavy ones. While other cavalrymen can deal with lighter threats posed by armoured cars and even some APCs (using hand grenades or even firearms), some threats such as Main Battle Tanks can pose a problem for cavalry. Lancers use there power lances to badly damage or destroy "soft spots" on target vehicles to cripple or destroy them. To help the lancers there are usually main battle tanks within the cavalry detachment as well.

Most cavalry units are mounted on cybernetic or genetically-engineered horses. This is due to regular baseline horses simply not having the speed and morale needed for modern warfare. These horses are faster, stronger, braver, and require less feed/fuel. All cavalry use a strong personal shield system either built into or mounted on top of there horse to raise there survivability; They are known to take many shots; in some examples an entire magazine of rifle ammo, to penetrate. Most cavalry regiments (exceptions being Cuirassiers and Knights) wear a field-grey uniform, made up of a shirt, and a grey tunic with a yellow tie. They wear trousers with knee-high riding boots, and a light helmet. Rank badge is sewn on the shoulder of the tunic and regiment is stenciled or painted on the side of their helmet.

Drodo Armour
To assist the infantry and cavalry and break heavily-fortified positions, the Empire's military maintains a powerful armoured division.

T-12 Goliath MBT - The T-12 Goliath is a well-rounded Main Battle Tank that is both heavily armed and armoured; Not to mention expensive. Its armour consists of heavy armour plating as a last line of defense, followed up with a rubbery substance made to disperse heat and the power from lasers through absorbing energy, and then subsequently melting to disperse it; After that is reactive armour to deflect Rocket-Propelled Grenades, and finally a ray shield. It is armed with a 120mm Cannon with computer targeting, and three machine guns; One 50. cal machine gun on top, and two smaller 30. cal machine guns at the front and back of the vehicle that can be manned by the crew if need be. It can reach a top speed of 60 kph.

A-27 Yiikthys APC - Named after a shadowy, infamously swift creature of Ancient Drodoian myth, the APC lives up its namesake; Being able to reach incredible top speeds of up to 180 kph! However this rapid deployment comes at a cost; The cost being armour. While having enough armour to deflect small arms fire, and even an RPG shot, if it where to come under fire from anything heavier then itself then it is surely doomed. It is armed with a small 30mm gun and two 50. cal machine guns; It also has firing slits for the troops inside to fire.

Rolland & Sons YU-99 Motorbike - This motorbike, while not particularly common, finds its use with Rangers when on poorly-developed worlds; Especially on worlds with lots of woodland or dirt roads. It itself is unarmed but it is very fast and very quiet.

Artillery
The Drodo field several mobile, multi-purpose artillery pieces; Trading specialization and advancement for versitility and reliability.

2745 Imperial Field Gun, Mk 4 - A small towed gun, the 2745 Imperial Field Gun is an old-fashioned, though rugged artillery piece with a proven track record. Usually towed by horse or truck, it can be quickly set up and can fire up to fifteen 75mm shells in a minute.

2766 Imperial Heavy Gun, Mk 2 - A large, 145mm self-propelled gun commonly used in conjunction with the 2745, the 2766 provides heavier support and can fire a wider range of shells, including incendiary, gas, or biological shells, then its smaller counterpart.

Air Forces
Air dominance is one of the main elements in any battle. As a result, the Drodo maintain a air/space force.

Imperial Mirage, Mark 1 - Filling the role of the omnirole fighter is the French Mirage Roi. The modified version the Empire uses, the Imperial Mirage, possesses several differences when compared to the stock model, one of which being the lack of active ECM equipment, and the lack of a hyperdrive to make the design more economical and to fit Drodo battle doctrine. The French plasma cannons are also opted out for Drodoian railguns. The fighters are sent out defenisively in large squadrons to counter enemy fighter attacks, along with being sent offensively to finish off or to cripple a unshielded or distracted ship.

Levies and Militia
In times of war, many lords, gentlemen, and wealthy citizens often raise regiments of their own and contribute them to the war effort at their own expense. This list covers the most famous and often-seen regiments of this kind.

Aq'Hualese and other Nomadic Warriors - Hailing from planets such as Aq'Hual, these cavalry levies, raised by local warlords and Khans, are oftentimes contributed to major Drodo war efforts. While at first looking primitive, armed with traditional composite bows, and wearing lamellar armour, these units are almost always as well equipped if not better equipped than their military counterparts, using military grade personal shields for their mounts and other advanced weapons; Their bows being ceremonial and more a fashion statement than anything else. They make for a ready-made and experienced mounted force.

Navy
Basilisk-Class Battleship= Crew - 1500-2000, operable with 50-100 Role - Capital ship/Ship of the line Armament - Turbolasers, railguns, flak cannons, missile pods (capable of firing antimatter, nuclear, conventional, Angelfire, or AP missiles), autocannons, hangarbay of Imperial Mirage Roi fighters. Defences - Ray, energy, and phasic shielding, "chaff" countermeasures, point-defence miniguns, regenerative armour plating, 50. caliber gauss turrets (for deck defence). Dimensions - 2.5 km long, 1 km wide (at widest point; back), 450 m high (at highest point, at very back). The Basilisk-Class is a modern and awe-inspiring battleship and the newest addition to the Drodo Navy. It replaces the aging Impaler-Class and is expected to completely phase-out its coutnerpart in 2812. It acts as a heavy "ship-of-the-line" and capital ship; Taking most of the punishment and doling out a lot itself. Impaler-Class Battleship= Crew - 1500-2000, operable with 50-100 Role - Capital ship/Ship of the line Armament - Turbolasers, railguns, flak cannons, missile pods (capable of firing antimatter, nuclear, conventional, or AP missiles), autocannons, hangarbay of Imperial Mirage Roi fighters. Defences - Ray, energy, and phasic shielding, "chaff" countermeasures, point-defence miniguns, 50. caliber gauss turrets (for deck defence). Dimensions - 2.5 km long, 1 km wide (at widest point; back), 450 m high (at highest point, at very back). Truly the iconic Drodoian battleship. The Impaler-class has served for more than fifty years within the Empire and continues to to this day. However in recent years, the amount of refits and modernizations that had to be done to existing ships and be crammed into the blueprints have strained material cost, building time, and safety regulations to the breaking point, prompting the designing of the Basilisk. It is to be completely phased-out in 2812; Existing models to either be used as training vessels, or sold off to private collectors and historians, local militias within the Empire, and other nations. Chaser-Class Corvette= Crew - 250, can operate with ten. Role - Light corvette, support, escort, scouting, harassment. Armament - Four light turbolasers, angelfire missile pod, cyberwarfare suite, hyperspace interdictor Defence - Ray, energy, and phasic shielding, "chaff" countermeasures, heavy armoured plating. Dimensions - 250 m long, by 75 m wide (at back). The Chaser-class is a versitile and recent corvette used by the Drodo for a large variety of roles. This rather humble ship possesses a great capacity to harass and meddle with enemy fleets; Slowing their manouvers with hyperspace interdictors, infecting and shutting down equipment with cyberwarfare and viruses, and taking shots from lightyears away with angelfire missiles. Nebula-class Exploration ship= Crew - 500, can operate with 50. Role - Frigate, corvette, exploration ship Armament - Turbolasers, missile pods (capable of firing antimatter, nuclear, AP, and conventional missiles). Defences - Ray, energy, and phasic shielding, armour plating, point-defense miniguns, "chaff" countermeasures. Dimensions - 500 m long by 100 m wide (at the back) The Nebula-class is unique in that it is not a dedicated warship; Rather it is an exploration vessel. Used to map-out the territories in the Empire's newly-aquired colonies, it excels in this respect; Equipped with a very powerful and swift hyperspace drive, the most advanced sensor suite the Empire can offer, as well as a greatly expanded database. In combat, however, it leaves something to be desired; Being average at best. Galactic-class "Mothership"=

Superweapon
Secretly, the Drodo Empire has an arsenal of biological weapons, capable of being delivered by most standard missile tubes, or, more commonly, through more insidious methods such as infecting the water supply. The weapon itself is a deadly disease, native to the Drodoian Homeworld that turns victims into a horrfiying monster similar to the "zombies" of Terran mythology. The disease itself has been heavily modified to be more virulent, potent, and be able to mutate into cross-species strands extremely quickly.

Normally, the virus spreads from direct fluid contact, usually administered by a bite or scratch from an infected person or "zombie". The more potent, weaponized strains is capable of turning someone in a matter of minutes, the base virus usually takes twenty-four to forty-eight hours. There is no known or possible cure or vaccine for the virus due its very virulent and constantly-changing nature.

Once turned, the undead are practically immortal, and can only be destroyed by destroying the brain through a headshot or other method. They also are not constrained by any mortal need such as hunger, fatigue, morale, or sickness and will constantly fight and consume with the same dynamic energy and determination even if immobile or are losing a battle decisively. They can operate in any environment, including underwater and space and seem to be almost self-sufficient organisms. Their tactical effectiveness, however is severely weakened by several major pitfalls; One of which is intellegence. It has been proven that the undead have intellegence lower than that of even insects and operate purely has a horde of individuals; They have no thinking capability whatsoever and are prone to falling for even the most elementary and evident traps consistently and constantly, having no ability to learn from the mistakes of either themselves or their comrades. Most lack the ability to even climb a ladder. They are also astonishingly slow. Having completely congealed blood and using what is for all intents and purposes a dead, decomposing body for locomotion, the undead can be easily outpaced by a leisurely walk; Even the fastest zombies can barely achieve a single step a second. If armed with this information, almost any armed group can destroy a large group of undead with minimal losses. Without it, the undead can bring the downfall of planets, systems, and even entire civilizations.

Biology
A Drodo's biology is very humanoid; Possessing two arms and legs, a torso, and a head. They as well have a dense, short layer of soft fur covering their body with the exceptions of the top of the head and moustache area; Where hair grows. They are on average shorter than humans, at about five feet four inches, but usually physically stronger. Drodo are omnivorous.

Despite being mostly humanoid, Drodo possess some unusual or outstanding characteristics; Instead of possessing ears, Drodo have two antennae, ranging from 15 to 30 centimetres long. The antennae pick up small vibrations and transmit this to the brain as sound. A Drodo's antennae are fragile and prone to being cut off or crumpled and crushed in accidents or combat, but this type of injury is considered minor and usually doesn't require medical attention; As the antennae are capable of regenerating within the space of a week or two. Drodo also have a unique sort of mouth which superficially resembles a thick proboscis. However this is not so; The Drodoian mouth is simply a fairly standard mouth; Complete with lips and a set of teeth, on an extended, reinforced section of the pharynx and esophagus. Many theories have been proposed as to why the Drodo mouth is as it is, but none have been definitively proven. Due to the nature of the Drodo mouth, the Drodo have no jawbone and instead of bone, the Drodo teeth are made out of keratin; A similar material found in horns, hair, and finger or toenails.

Drodo reproduce sexually, requiring a male and female partner. Drodo are born live and fur fully developed. Drodo also tend to have large "litters"; One, two, or even three children in one birth is considered typical. The average Drodo lifespan is 130 to 150 years, but what is unique about their lifespan is that Drodo, when leading a fairly healthy or active lifestyle, tend to stay physically youthful until about the age of 100, when serious aging and degradation starts to occur. This aging process can be curbed with more advanced medical care however.

Psychologically, Drodo are tenacious, crafty, curious, and short-tempered. Drodo are known to react violently to physical harm or even especially hurtful insults, and protect family and friends fiercely; Sometimes even with deadly force. However most Drodo learn to master their temper, and have the ability to be very devious and cool-headed diplomats and leaders. Drodo have an insatiable, reckless curiosity and for better or for worse will attempt to try and explore things and places others may never dare.

Drodo have high metabolisms, and as such burn through energy quickly. This results in most Drodo having a lean or or even slight form, and combined with a generally simple and healthy diet and active lifestyle, makes for very low obesity rates within the Empire.

Culture
Drodo culture is diverse and varied wherever you go in the Empire. There is no official estimate or comprehensive list of the amount of cultures, religions, subcultures, and political entities that exist in the Empire, but it is guessed there are thousands. Some general points and facts evident in all cultures, however, are the concepts of honour, altruism, faith (both in a religious and secular sense) and the willingness to sacrifice oneself for a cause greater than themselves. Most, if not all cultures find there roots in the old ones from before the Space Age, or ones from the First Colonies (planets within Drodo home system and ones established early in Imperial rule).

Fashion
Hats are generally of importance in the Drodo cultures. Not only as a status symbol or fashion trend, but also of there practical benefits. There are many different hats found in different cultures, locations, or professions. Usually for either utility/practicality, to denote authority, because of tradition/religion, or just because they're nice-looking. Common hats include peaked caps, fedoras, trilbies, drivers, and turban-like headwear.

In terms of other clothing, the Drodo are unusual and diverse. Many citizens, from the top classes to the lower classes, wear clothing that resembles 1920's or 1930's Earth. However many other, more "modern" (some would say) themes have also emerged right along side this long-standing trend. Because of this, there is a seemingly endless debate among those educated or obsessed about certain forms of fashion to debate about and insult different forms of clothing.

Acceptence of Foreign Cultures
While Drodo tend in general to be open to alien or otherwise Foreign cultures, tensions do at times occur. Oddly enough these tensions, which sometimes become violent, are almost always between two or more conflicting Drodo ethnic groups, nationalities, or cultures settled in the same area, rather than issues with extraterrestrials. This is often due to a historical hatred or rivalry or an old rivalry between two families that becomes a racial or religious issue, as well. A commonly-persecuted group historically and even in the 29th century are nomadic peoples. This is mostly due to historical grievances (the raiding, pillaging and conquest undertaken by nomadic ancestors centuries ago), and the perception that nomads, who sometimes made camp outside of major cities, are vagrants and their camps eyesores. These peoples, as a result of discrimination often settle themselves on entirely different worlds so they may practice their culture in peace.

Religious/Spiritual Beliefs
The majority of Drodo are atheist. Instead putting faith towards the advancement of the Empire and there allies, because of this the Empire has no state religion. Despite this many pre-Imperial religions still survive in the Empire, along with those introduced by aliens and foreigners; Several surveys have even reported in recent years Human religions; Such as Christianity; even gaining a small following, due to increased international contact. Places of worship and some religious foundations are exempt from tax.

Cuisine & Diet
While there are "foodies" among the population, most Drodo eat simply. As a general rule Drodoian diet is mostly vegetables and grains, with some dairy and meat; Usually game or wild meat. Most Drodo cuisine is simple and hearty consisting of a lot of soups and boiled foods, usually eaten with bread and milk or water as a beverage. Most foods are eaten with a spoon, knife or hands; Though forks do exist. A staple of the Drodo diet is boiled dinner with a bread roll on the side.

Entertainment and Games
Drodo games are as diverse as the cultures they hail from. While there are thousands, with many more games invented every day, some of the more popular ones include things like dice or gambling, a very rough, rugby-like sport known as Karassque, cards, knucklebones (jacks), and athletic activities. Many Drodo sports are full-contact and fast-paced, on many occasions the players wear little gear to protect them. While very dangerous, these games are popular with the public, people often betting more on who is going to get beat-up worse next game, then on which team will win.

Video games are a popular form of entertainment within the Drodo Empire. Many genres are played but amongst the most popular are strategy games, shooters, and the interactive types afforded by new French holosuites which have recently had a surge in popularity.

Family
The Family unit is undoubtibly the most important aspect of Drodo society and any Drodo's life. Drodo tend to have many children; On average three to eight, and thus have very large extended families and clans. Clans may have dozens, even hundreds of members and are very closely knit; Usually living on the same planet, town, or neighbourhood together. Most clans have some sort of leadership, be it a Matriarch or council that makes decisions effecting the entire family, which can range from arranging get-togethers to disowning a particularly infamous member of the clan. Drodo also tend to know and take pride in their ancestry; Finding a link to a noble family is a source of great prestige for an individual and, more importantly, the entire family.

Death
Death is a sad occasion within Drodo culture, as would be expected. The Drodo have several unusual cultural practices in respect to the deceased, such as leaving the deceased person's room in the condition it was at the time of death (excluding of course if they died in there) for fourteen days, and not reading the deceased's will for the same amount of time. The origin of this unusual practice comes from Drodo religious practices; It was and still is believed that it gives the recently-passed person's soul enough time to gather any possessions they would want for the afterlife, before finally departing for it.

Drodo also tend to spend quite lavishly on funerals. This is possible mostly because of the close connection that every Drodo has to their family and clan, everyone "chipping in", so to speak with funeral expenses. Most families have a plot of land for the family graveyard or tomb.

Allies
Close allies of the Empire, we will stand by these nations until the day our nation crumbles to dust.

The Farengeto Trade Coalition - Close allies from our home sector, we were allies of the Farengeto originally through the KSA, but today our alliance is strong just on its own.

The Katar Sector Alliance - A closely-knit coalition of Katarian nations of which we are a leading member in.

The Orion League - Another organization we as a people are proud to be members of.

France

Protectorates/Vassals
Nations, Clans, or autonomous zones that see the Empire as there overlords.

The Quadrant Colonies - A determined and productive extension of Drodoian civilization, under our wider control.

Minor clans, noble houses, and feudal lords - So long as they recognise our authority, they'll recieve there stipend.

Neutral
You have our attention.

The Rambo Nation - A powerful and ancient civilization. We would be open to an alliance or trade offer.

The Eldarisians - A strange, religiously-devoted people. They have an embassy in our capital; We're always open to mutual cooperation.

The Hegemony - A Military power. Perhaps a useful ally?

The Aeoneonatrix Empire - Narrow-minded, religious fanatics.

The Galactic Empire of Cyrannus - A band of Imperialist thugs, led by a cruel Emperor and his sycophants.

The Imperium of War - Laughable.

Enemies/At War
''You must be a fool to go to war with us... Prepare for battle!''

The DCP

Technology
"Never in the history of the Drodo race have our people prospered so much from the fruits of there own ingenuity, technology."

- Ciceron Regarra, Drodo Statesman and Philosopher

The Drodo Empire is Tier 3.1. Having a large empire, and rather advanced technology [especilally in the ballistics and biological fields]. They as well have a large industrial capacity that is kept in check by dozens of industry-worlds. They work by using hundreds of contenent-sized stations in close orbit around the star in question. They "suck up" the stellar matter and ship it out in mostly-automated freighters (for safety's sake) to massive orbital factories. When there, they cool and refine the stellar matter into "Grovium", a heavy metal with approximatly 80 times the duribility of titanium. It is commonly used to construct military starships. Another innovation used in the military is a regenerative hull. Made from modified Grovium and Dominatus biomatter, it can slowly regenerate itself, an asset to a starship, as a gravely-damaged hull can be fully regenerated in less then a day.

Important inventions in Drodo history
(Note that besides the era, they are not in order.)

Prehistoric era (Approx. 100 000 BC - 5000 BC in human history)


 * Rudementary tools


 * Fire


 * Clothing


 * Agriculture

Early History (Approx. 5000 BC - 2000 BC in human history)


 * Bronze tools


 * Cities


 * Government


 * Basic gunpowder refinement


 * First practical use of gunpowder (lighting barrels full of crude gunpowder on fire for explosives)


 * Mounted soldiers


 * Written language

Classical era (Approx. 2000 BC - 1 AD in human history)


 * Iron tools


 * Concept of nobility


 * Shipbuilding


 * Currency (money) invented


 * First cannons invented (quite unreliable)


 * Superior gunpowder refinement techniques discovered, paves way for more reliable firearms.


 * Steel

Dark Age


 * Handcannons and arquebuses


 * Vertical Windmills


 * Three-field crop rotation, making more efficent use of the land.

Imperial era (Approx. 1000 AD to 1700's in human history)


 * "Steel Fortresses". Steel-plated walls on Forts and Castles make them tactically relevant.


 * Clockwork


 * Advanced Cannons/muskets


 * Better shipbuilding methods allow for long-range exploration.


 * Printing-press


 * Steam engine


 * Inter-continental exploration


 * Telescope

Industrial Revolution (Approx. 1800's to early 1900's in human history)


 * Mass-production


 * Steam-locomotives


 * Cased firearms (Revolvers, rifles, shotguns, etc.)


 * Machine Guns. Revolutionize warfare, can destroy entire regiments of infantry and cavalry from a safe distance.


 * Trench Warfare. Turns warfare into unprofitable, strung-out, horrible affairs.


 * Oil discovered


 * Aircraft


 * Steam-powered, armoured ships (Ironclads)


 * "Landships". The forerunner to the modern tank. Provides solution to trench warfare. The offence finally has the ability to overpower the defence, if it weren't for the vehicles breaking down every few meters.


 * Advanced Artillery with the ability to fire many times a minute also push warfare into the trenches alongside the machine gun.

National era (Approx. early 1900's to about the 1950's in human history)


 * Laser


 * Combustion rocket


 * Computers


 * Automobile


 * Space programs


 * Armoured, diesel-powered ships become the norm for militaries.


 * Modern Armoured Vehicles (Tanks)

Cold War era (Approx. 1960's to 21st century in human history)


 * First rocket into space


 * Nuclear Fission


 * Atomic bomb


 * Railguns

--First Drodo on Coron 4's moon. Entire Drodo population united as one in its celebration, if only for a few hours.--


 * Space stations/satelites


 * Artificial Intellegence


 * Virus missiles/advanced biological weapons

Interplanetary era


 * Nuclear Fusion


 * Colony ships


 * Commercial spaceflight


 * Space Hotels


 * Antimatter


 * Matter-Antimatter annilation


 * Colonies on Coron 4's moon


 * Nanotech


 * Expedition to other worlds


 * Space battleships


 * IPBMs (Inter Planetary Ballistic Missile)

--Interplanetary War--

Drodo Empire era (2500's to Modern SporeWiki)


 * Advanced AIs


 * StarKnife (Drodo interstellar travel, rips a hole in spacetime, creating a wormhole)


 * Plasma weapons (Almost never used)


 * Antimatter weaponry. Extremely destructive. Restricted to government/military use.


 * Advanced, efficent ion engines (sublight travel)


 * Hyperspace drives. Rapidly replacing the StarKnife, rendering it obsolete. The original hyperdrive tech was in fact stolen from the Dominatus several years ago.


 * Turbolasers provide space-efficent alternative to railguns. While not as powerful per-shot, they need less space for ammo storage and have a high rate of fire to compensate.


 * Regenerative plating.


 * Cloaking devices allowing for ambushes. Drodo pirates where very fond of this new invention.


 * Powered Armour Suits with the ability to be mass-produced.


 * Advanced bionic horses.


 * Vibroblades.

Quotes
This is the Drodo Empire's quotes section, feel free to add yours!

"Our greatest ally, thanks to him we adapt to this new universe, we owe them a lot, so we will support where possible"

- Great General of the USF, Vankalian Carssarian and Commandant Afnai

"Confidence born out of ignorance. We'll see who will be laughing...We'll see...AND AFTER WE'VE WON, YOU NOBODY WILL REMEMBER YOU!"

- Imperator Caigustus of the Imperium of War

"Perhaps they could help us in our campaign to free our brethren from the Grox tyranny..."

- Supreme consul vardeck of the Conqrix Confederacy

"An interesting civilisation to say the least. Perhaps a mutually beneficial alliance would create ties between our people."

- of the

"Des chevaux! Mais, que-ce qu'ils font?!"

- Captain Geoffroy Bouin of the 114th French Colonial Infantry, upon spotting a formation of Drodoian lancers, 2797

"One of the few empires we can still consider to be our true allies. A rare military power that still keeps a semblance of conscience. Perhaps it is fate that even as we look to other galaxies we still run into them."

- Diviak Rovnitov, governor of the

"Like a coin, the Drodo empire has two opposing sides: On the surface one would wonder if a group of steppe nomads had founded an empire given their penchant for breeding steads. But that is where their greatest merit lies: Through their ingenuity, these horse-lords have brought the archaic art of mounted combat into the modern age. Bringing with it a fire that burns like the heart of a star. The empire is rising, and ther e are plenty in Segmentum Draco who would wish to see it shine brighter."

- extract from Taviar Arelosar's "The Khanates under Coron"

Gallery
To be updated.

Trivia

 * The Drodo Empire's theme is this: http:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9XSZw67QpY


 * Another theme song is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23983guaiYE


 * The Drodo Empire was Operation Marines' first Space Stage Spore game.


 * The terminology is as follows: Singular/Plural, Drodo, Possesive, Drodoian (in most cases. For example, it is Drodo Empire, not "Drodoian" Empire.)


 * A big thank you goes out to GreatDestroyer12 for the border. Nice work!


 * Another big thank you goes out to TheClanden for the flag, its much appreciated.