Veydreth

When humans first expanded into the space around Earth their southern progress was impeded by a massive area of navigational hazard they named Muishkin’s Rift. Several exploratory fleets were lost attempting to reconnoitre or circumnavigate the obstacle and eventually these missions ceased. Not long after, however, a brutal and aggressive alien threat spilled from the Rift, backtracking the exploratory fleets and attacking the human colonies of Doolin’s Stand, Infernus and Gorlois.

These attacks were savage and ruthless; the colonies were repeatedly raided for plunder, slaves and sometimes mere wanton destruction. Centauroid in appearance, the Veydreth stand more than half again the height of a man. Their heavily muscled bodies are covered in fine scales and the Veydreth go to battle clad in primitive-looking armour and clothing both visually impressive and effective. Their hairless heads sport multiple horns, the number and size of which appears to indicate an individual’s position within their tribe. The most horrific characteristic of these aliens however is their tendency to eat the flesh of those they have taken in battle.

For decades these attacks terrorised the southern colonies without rest. Every expedition sent against the Veydreth failed as the aliens merely fell back into Muishkin’s Rift where no Terran ships could follow. Clearly capable of navigating the Rift with ease, the Veydreth raiders would emerge far from the blockading Terran forces to attack the human settlements elsewhere. Eventually the Charter Assembly was forced to suggest that the colonies be abandoned. Preparations were begun for the mass evacuations even as one final effort at negotiation was initiated.

Diplomats were eventually able to secure peace with the Veydreth at the expense of a massive annual tribute. With vast amounts of meat products provided by the Ryushi and military hardware provided by the Hawker Federation, peace on the southern border costs the Terran Alliance dearly each year. The Veydreth have honoured the agreement however, and there have been no further attacks upon Terran holdings. The Veydreth continue to harass the Sorylians when the mood to raid takes them, and occasionally Veydreth fleets have been known to strike into the Raider Sectors as well. Often they will seek out the Ba'kash clans, Cheyga caravan fleets or the Xelocian Imperium mother fleet to test their martial prowess. They refuse however to disrespect Tarakian vessels in any way.

The Veydreth prefer small to medium sized ships organized in hunting parties. Their largest gunships are not much more than open weapon platforms with engines strapped to them, but most Veydreth vessels are lethal examples of their kind. A favourite technique of the Veydreth is to deploy thick fields of mines and then manipulate enemy formations into them through harassing fire and threats of boarding assaults.

Situated far from Fathoms Reach as they are, the Veydreth have little to fear from the Dindrenzi invasion. In fact they have expressed open amusement at the resultant destabilising of the Aquan Sebrutan and the Sorylian Collective. However these savage aliens realise that the Terran government would not be able to pay their massive tribute should the Dindrenzi prevail, and so have agreed to send forces into the Reach to slow the Dindrenzi advance as well as to prove their own military superiority. Veydreth forces have been deployed independently and as scouts and flanking units for larger armadas.