Database and Lore

The Shal’rein Clan Page 3

During the Rototrein Rebellion, the Shal’rein were able to perform some ground combat operations to great effect, but they were generally rare. Space combat always held far more importance in every Itrean viewpoint for excellent reason. Ground invasions typically required huge amounts of resources to conduct, and even the Shal’rein were aware of this. Much like former Earth sayings, “Those that control the seas, control their own destiny.” The Itreans had similar expressions in space as well. This didn’t mean that ground combat was nonexistent, far from it. They did happen, and when it did, the Shal’rein were typically victorious. After the collapse of the empire, the Shal’rein were able to launch ground combat planetary invasions rather fluently and easily. It helped them drastically in restoring and establishing them as a potential threat against the Yutilians, Palierans, and the Aksren. Worlds that the empire took that they didn’t negotiate and have returned to them were easily taken back by force. However, the fact that Yutilians and Aksren began to really focus their fleets on repelling the Shal’rein halted the advance. Ground combat would dwindle down to little more than commando or small raids. Even then, the Shal’rein were still able to inflict some damage. The Shal’rein have the largest inventory of ground vehicles, and most of that is for the fact that they fight on land and in the water. Their vehicles are naturally the biggest due to the species’ larger statures. Among one of the famed vehicles is that of their battle tanks. Even today, the tanks that they use are that of legend and myth. These vehicles are designed to operate underwater and on land. It is possible for the Shal’rein to deploy their tanks to the ocean depths below or simply construct them underwater. Then, when the battle on the beaches begins, the tanks will simply crawl out of the depths to begin firing at armies and ground defenses. The tank treads can easily move the vehicle on the bottom surface, and the crews are adept at handling the various pressures. The Shal’rein also possess amphibious tanks that can float on the surface to supplement further planetary defenses. Even railguns and other weapons can be easily attuned to firing below or above the water. Enormous underwater carriers can even ferry aircraft and serve as mobile aircraft carriers above the water. For the other clan species, they don’t even try to outcompete the Shal’rein in such resources. Technically, even with such advantages, human and Itrean scholars can point out the obvious. Shal’rein, in limited numbers, can still be taken down on the ground. The Yutilians and Aksren, for example, are far faster troops. Even their hover vehicles are much faster than the somewhat slower treaded Shal’rein vehicles. It doesn’t take much for coordinated plans to stop a Shal’rein from gaining much ground. Regardless, the saying is something that still looms in the hearts and minds of the Itrean alike. If a sizeable force shows up, the Shal’rein will simply overpower the defenses rather easily. It is not surprising that the UHN dreads the day that a Shal’rein clan ground invasion will show up.   Regardless, the Emphra War was especially grueling against the Shal’rein ground defenses. Until the weakness against them was discovered, the Shal’rein clan couldn’t stop the Emphra. What made things even more frightening was the fact that the Emphra were using Shal’rein bodies to fight other Shal’rein. There, the husks were little more than lumbering giants that moved equipment around to help out the Emphra expansion. The legendary tanks were simply ineffective. Of course, the weakness was discovered, and it didn’t take long for the Shal’rein to finally have a way to fight back. By 2290, the Shal’rein tanks were once again on the move as they would bash and destroy Emphra bases, nests, and husks alike. It proved to be the most remarkable turnaround as the Shal’rein troops would serve as the elite warriors in fighting and cleansing the threat once and for all. Even the famed saying was being spoken by all the clans as they marched on the Emphra. “Once the Shal’rein fought with us on the ground, the Emphra had already lost.” The post-Emphra War years was a silent one for Shal’rein ground units. Most vehicles saw little to no changes in designs and remained very much the same by the time the Itrean Civil War had broken out. However, other clans were starting to come up with ways to counter the Shal’rein if ground invasions were ever to occur. For the T’rintar clan, it was an easy solution. They already had Shal’rein families that had grown up in their space. They were more than ready to fight against their own kind. The T’rintar green color would reflect proudly off the purchased Shal’rein tanks. Essentially, the T’rintar were ready to fight fire with fire. The Aksren, however, were in worse shape but did introduce a number of half-track battle vehicles that can “challenge” or at least be able to battle the Shal’rein tanks on the ground. For now, the Shal’rein remains as the current best species on the ground. Their equipment can include mobile anti-armor gatling railgun machines, new series of battle tanks with special ablative frontal armor, wheel bikes that can traverse beachheads and serve as light submersibles, and amphibious infantry fighting vehicles armed with mortar turrets. The troops can be armed with railguns capable of destroying other enemy vehicles. They can carry the most potent combat rifles that can best any infantry armor and have soldiers utilizing the best forms of wrap armor that can quickly stop all but the best high-powered caliber guns.  Impacts of the Shal’rein Clan and Humanity It wouldn’t be until the encounter at Star System Q12 that the human race would see their first Shal’rein vessels. At the time, confusion of Itrean ships of what belonged to what was only revealed in the color of the warships. The only visual notification was the fact the warships carried a heavier layout in railguns rather than missiles. Warships were always colored purple as it remained their favorite color. It is strongly believed by T’rintar clan intelligence that the motivations in the Shal’rein clan in trying to attack UHN vessels at Q12 was because the Shal’rein had gotten word of the encounter at JJ-78. Their intelligence had concluded that the alien race, known as humanity, had allied with the T’rintar clan, even if it didn’t happen yet. This made the human race prime targets in which enthusiastic Fleet Adjuncts were ready to launch fleets of ships to take over UWA worlds. There is a supposed mixed opinion that not all truly agree with the idea as humanity could have been a potential ally rather than outright attacking them. Still, most of that argument ended when the UWA and T’rintar alliance was finally drawn up. Instead, the Shal’rein had launched three battles and lost against the UHN in each one. The first battle was at Oshun. Even if it was a defeat, the Shal’rein had decimated the UHN defense fleet that was there. Supposedly, the Shal’rein were too nervous about launching another attack on the ocean world as they still didn’t have enough information on the human resources, but another attack would have outright conquered the colony. The other two battles supposedly occurred over New Olympia, but the information is oddly scarce. According to Fleet Admiral Fumi Yuki, “Within a month, we engaged the Itrean ships painted in purple, twice. Our fleet wiped out both attacking fleets, and we took no damage or casualties.” The information is vague, and so far, no further evidence has been provided to back up this claim. The Shal’rein government is one that is almost similar to the Aksren clan but with some differences. The leader has a totalitarian rule but also must adhere to the wishes of the public. The rulers must be strong in heart and mind. In the Shal’rein, they sometimes even refer to the leader as the “Absolute Adjunct” because they also hold an important role as a military leader. The trial of the gun also ensures that the rulers do not fall weak under the system and keep a steady pace of who can rule or not. A basic form of republicanism does operate that offers various laws and rules for the emperor or empress to review or sign. While these politicians don’t have the ability to expel the leader, they can place limits on their power if they are proven to be insane or mentally unbalanced. In warship fleets, many Shal’rein adheres to their greater adjuncts. These greater adjuncts enjoy more freedoms and powers in the clan than the other species. They can commit to purchasing their own equipment, resources, and commissioning of service members alike. Technically, they can go and engage more freely in events, but this doesn’t mean that they can openly commit mass amounts of resources against the enemy. The ruler has the ability to witness these purchases and review what’s being made freely. To the Shal’rein, it is a belief that it is best to serve the ruler because it will likely allow you to reach the rank that will let becoming part of the trial of the gun to take up the new role as leader eventually.   Most of the impact of the Shal’rein on humanity is that of the T’rintar Shal’rein. Many of the Shal’rein of the T’rintar have had a significant impact on the former Yutilian clan. Even if 10% of the population consists of them, the Shal’rein women have contributed as elite soldiers or guards. On the ground, their battle tanks serve alongside the hovertanks of the T’rintar. Humanity has proven to have an affinity to the water and generally hold the allied Shal’rein as viable companions. Even with their towering sizes, the Shal’rein have proven more than compatible as mates and wives. UWAN dating has proven that even with a smaller population, up to 35% of the Shal’rein women are preferred by humans. Reports have shown favorably that humans overlook past racism and discrimination placed on the species. Comments have been varied, with one claiming that “I look for a wife that loves the water. I find a Shal’rein and see her in the bikini and know that I died and gone to heaven.” Another comment claimed, “The Itreans find the Shal’rein brutish and mean? My wife is a water dancer and is the friendliest woman alive.” The last comment stated that “I could go to a bar. If somebody tried to throw a punch in my face, I knew my wife could easily deal with it.” Psychologists and sociologists have even pointed out that the Shal’rein women actually fulfill roles that would fit perfectly when it comes to humans in finding the preferred companions and surviving in the rigors of nature itself.