History

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Through the centuries they forgot their origins, and vague memories were only rekindled once the wreck of the Khar-Toba and the ancient guide stone within had been discovered. Quite by accident the peoples of Kharak suddenly found they possessed a legacy stretching many millennia before their most ancient recorded history. </div> <div> The true extent of this legacy, however, remained unknown even once the Kushan had left </div> <div> Kharak with their greatest achievement and their last hope - the Mother ship.. Hidden from view, on the galactic rim with only primitive technology, and only misguided beliefs and faded memories to guide them, the Kushan had escaped the memory and attention of the numerous interstellar civilizations for many millennia. Alas, in their first fumbling back to the stars, the opening of the first jump gate for their Mother ship was like an almighty beacon in space, for they were ignorant of the technologies to cloak a hyper space waveform and many an eye turned once again to this long forgotten and once silent part of the galaxy. Some in wonder, some in mild confusion, and others.....with fear, loathing and genocidal bloodlust...... </div> <div> And so it came to pass that the ancient history of the Kushan was repeated once again in the present. The long forgotten atrocities committed against the Kushan in times past returned to destroy the remaining exiles of Kharak. The last survivors returned in the Mother ship, hunted by unknown enemies. And haunted by a collective feeling of dread and fear they could not explain. The genetic memories of the unconscious mind stirred at the sight of their place of exile in flames. For fear was not their only companion, something else was born again from the appalling genocide and ashes of their brothers and sisters on Kharak. Despite the most horrifying catastrophe in their recorded history, the last of the Kushan people felt something rise like a phoenix from the planetary grave. Although they wept, at the same time they once more realized something not experienced for so long - anticipation. And hope. </div> <bR> <div> <B>The Ancient Clans of Hiigara</b> </div> <div> In their haste to depart Kharak and set out on their quest to reach Hiigara and reclaim their birthright, the Kushan were still ignorant of their past until they met the Bentusi, and later the Kadeshi in the Garden (Nebula) of Kadesh, many months after leaving their place of exile on the rim. For the Kushan were only one tribe from the diverse peoples of Hiigara. The Kadeshi were another. The Kushan were not alone in their exile. For the immense caravan that had left Hiigara so very long ago had divided many times in its slow, cruel and weathering search for an appropriately distant and hopeless location to bear their banishment. For since the great war with their enemies, the Hiigarans had become a broken and divided people, united only be the need to flee the galactic center and the source of their woes.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The People of Clan Snow Raven</b> </div> <div> The Kushan, who settled Kharak were among the more conservative of the peoples of Hiigara. There were Hiigaran clans who had other ideas for their exile. Those who came to be known as the Snow Raven clan, or just the Snow Ravens, had left the convoy that fled Hiigara at an early stage, along with the Kadeshi, who sought their own destiny in the nebula. The Snow Ravens followed the same route as the Kushan, but refused to be corned and caged like small animals on Kharak. Having reached Kharak before the Kushan, they sent data back to the Kushan to indicate a place were they could settle if they wished. </div> <div> The Snow Ravens, however, pressed on to the very edge of the galaxy itself, away from all beacons and starfaring civilizations, the Snow Ravens found a cluster of star systems that were tagged along to the last spiral arm of the galaxy almost like an afterthought. The location was so remote that even the Kushan, who were the Snow Ravens nearest neighbors, soon forgot of their existence. The ever fearful religious and conservative elements of the Kushan people urged that all outside contact should cease and the very idea of it should be wiped from the memories of the Kushan in order that they might survive and avoid the wrath of enemies of the Hiigarans. And so the Kushan became an agrarian and forgetful people, oblivious to anything beyond Kharak. </div> <div> The Snow Raven clan had been disgusted by the meek attitude of so many of the Hiigaran people in the face of defeat and near annihilation. They vowed, unlike the Kushan, to preserve the technologies, history and memories of the Hiigaran peoples. They would rebuild their homes and magnificent structures in their newfound and remote home. And they did all of this in secret. Although they cut contact like the Kushan, and zealously ensured all transmissions remained within the boundaries of the small star cluster, the Snow Ravens did so out of necessity for their cause. And they refused to forget their brothers and sisters scattered across the galaxy, unlike their closest relatives, the almost subservient Kushan. The Snow Ravens resolved to watch, and wait for the opportunity to reunite the Hiigaran peoples and reclaim their birthright. </div> <div> For several millennia, they continued their covenant. Never forgetting their roots, nor the crimes that had been committed against them. And all the while, the Snow Raven armada grew ever stronger, ever vigilant for the day when they could step forth boldly into galactic civilization once more. Although very careful to remain inconspicuous, the Snow Raven clan continued the training and construction of a mighty war machine. Although the Armada would still be no match in a direct confrontation with the enemies of the Hiigarans, there was only one way in or out of the star cluster, through hyper space travel or any other means. If the Snow Ravens were attacked, there was no question whether or not they could hold out for many years - if not indefinitely - simply defending the bottleneck that formed the entrance to the cluster. In fact many of the Snow raven people welcomed the possibility of discovery and the inevitable onslaught that would follow. Several millennia of no contact had not dulled the people's memory of their past or true heritage.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Sign</b> </div> <div> Because of ancient prejudices, the Snow Ravens had never expected the Kushan to be the </div> <div> Hiigaran people who would rise up in rebellion first. It seemed that eventually, their ignorance and destruction of historical records had forced the Kushan to come full circle, contrary to the intentions of the fanatical founders of Kharak. Unfortunately for the Kushan, owing to the remote location of the star cluster, it was some time before a Snow Raven probe discovered the remains of Kharak and, importantly, the remains of the scaffold with which the Kushan had constructed their Mother ship. So the Kushan were already several months into their voyage to Hiigara before a Snow Raven task force jumped into Kharak space. </div> <div> However, the actions of the Kushan had been the trumpet call the Snow Ravens had been waiting for, and the destruction of Kharak had been the final straw which broke the proverbial camel's back and unleashed the fury of clan Snow Raven. The insurgency had begun, and woe betide the enemies of Hiigara.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Portents</b> </div> <div> With other space faring races now aware of the plight of the Hiigarans and their ancient </div> <div> heritage, it is the intention of the Snow Ravens to find and unite the diverse peoples of Hiigara wherever they are. The main strike force of the Snow Raven Armada is currently engaged in securing bases and small colonies deeper and deeper into the galaxy, and - where possible - enemy territory. Already, we have discovered and allied with many of the diverse Hiigaran peoples, such as the Armada of Paktu and the Freedom Federation. We have even been joined by a splinter group from the Kadeshi, called the Armada of Albion (see later), - although the Kadeshi people as a whole still remain notoriously fanatical in their religion and hostile to outsiders. Also, several rebel Taiidan squadrons have joined us, enabling significant advances into several Taiidan strongholds.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Name</b> </div> <div> The name of `Snow Raven' comes from an avian species indigenous to Hiigara. It was one of the few species to survive the trek to the Rim, and as such was chosen as a symbol and a name for our clan. Snow Ravens are renowned for not only their endurance and simple beauty, but also for their resourcefulness, watchfulness and most importantly their need for freedom. No Snow Ravens are caged or kept as pets in the Core Worlds, (the systems inhabited by the clan in the star cluster. </div> <div> Many of the symbols of our clan have been traditionally avian, and throughout the thousands of years of its history, the clan has maintained a proud aviation and space-borne tradition. Many of the very best pilots and fleet commanders the galaxy has ever known are Snow Raven clanners.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Fleet and the Future</b> </div> <div> Now having made alliances with some of our long lost brothers and sisters in other Hiigaran  clans, the Insurgency is gathering momentum. We still have a very long way to go before we can reclaim the lost territories and birthrights. However, since the Kushan reached Hiigara and the Galactic Council recognized our right to the world, we are still too small to be considered a sovereign power and many of our lost clans remain to be found, not to mention the fact that our numerous enemies are still mighty starfaring powers. </div> <div>   </div> <div>      The Snow Raven Armada consists primarily of Mother ships and Warships based on ancient, but still powerful Hiigaran designs. There are also a handful of Kadeshi mother ships, but these are a highly specialized design and so are reserved for special operations. Most of our Kadeshi allies in the Armada of Albion have gone on to construct and crew ships based on Hiigaran designs, or have crewed captured Taiidan Mother ships. In addition to this there are the several rebel Taiidan squadrons mentioned previously. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Now is the time to join us.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>