Emperor Tachyon ruled the Empire in the aftermath of the Great War
The Great Cragmite Empire was formed from the Cragmite race during the Great War. Its capital was the Cragmite homeworld, Reepor. The threat posed by the Empire was so great that were it not for the resistance posed by the Lombax race, the Cragmites would have come to rule the universe. The Lombaxes used the Lombax Secret to banish the Cragmites to dimension X2-49, saving the Polaris Galaxy. One surviving Cragmite was raised by the Lombaxes and, upon later discovering his origins, he formed the Imperial Army from the Drophyds of Zaurik, declaring himself Crowned Prince of the Cragmites and setting out to bring back his race. Thanks to advanced Lombax technology that Emperor Tachyon had acquired during his dealings with the Lombaxes, he managed to defeat the Lombaxes through a surprise attack and forced all but four of them to retreat to another dimension. After ruling most of Polaris for a decade, Tachyon successfully brought back an army of Cragmites, resulting in the resurrection of the Great Cragmite Empire, only to suffer a final defeat at the hands of Ratchet, the last known Lombax in the universe.
History of the Great Cragmite Empire
Formation
The Cragmite's will to destroy all who opposed them resulted in the formation of the Great Cragmite Empire. The Cragmites moved from galaxy to galaxy, invading planets and using up their natural resources. Due to their great power, the Cragmites were considered the greatest threat in the universe at this time.
Great War
Opposition to the Cragmite rule resulted in the start of the Great War. During the war, the Cragmites set a large capitol on their homeworld of Reepor and quickly took over Polaris using a large, unstoppable army. All of Polaris regarded the Cragmites as the most unpleasant beings in the history of the galaxy, rivaled in this category only by the Kerchu. It was only when the Lombax race took the leadership role of the resistance that Polaris was dawned by hope. Deeming the Cragmite Empire's rule over their galaxy unacceptable, the Lombaxes shed fear from the equation of the war and became the only independent force able to challenge the Cragmites.
The Lombaxes were the only race able to oppose them and fight on even terms. The two races became eternal nemeses and fought for long periods of time. Much of the time both were on equal terms that seemed impossible to break. A Lombax leader helped propose and create a device that could be used to transport the entire race to another dimension. This device, known as the Dimensionator, was kept a secret and known to all not privy to the Lombax history as the "Lombax Secret." With the powerful machine, the entire Cragmite race was sent to the dimension X2-49, a dying star approximately 8.2 kilocubits from any life form, thus ending the Cragmite rule over Polaris.
History of Tachyon's Empire
Formation
After the Cragmite Empire was sent to the dimension X2-49 by the Lombaxes during the Great War. During the Great War, a Cragmite egg was frozen on the Kreeli Comet. This egg later hatched into Percival Tachyon. Tachon was raised by the Lombaxes, who took pity on him. Upon the revelation of his race's imprisonment, Tachyon grew a deep hatred for all Lombaxes. Crowned prince of his race, he set out to bring his brethren back from their prison. He built an army of space pirates to serve at his whim, collecting various machinery across the galaxy for him, including Lombax technology. He also went before the Lombaxes himself and convinced General Azimuth to give him the secrets of their technology, under the pretense that he was making a new defense force for the protection of the galaxy.
Tachyon's Empire
Greetings, inferior beings of Polaris. Does your life lack a sense of purpose? Do you constantly worry about finding steady income? Do you like killing stuff? Then join the Imperial Army and aid me in my humble quest for galactic domination. Here you will travel to new places, meet interesting people, and execute them in the name of… me.
Percival Tachyon's infomercial on his army, ToD
The Drophyds were the primary soldiers of Emperor Tachyon's Imperial Army
Emperor Tachyon had the tools he needed to resurrect the Cragmite Empire, and promptly banished the space pirates to Praxus Seven, no longer needing them. Requiring a proper army to herald the resurrection of the Cragmite Empire, Tachyon traveled to the world of Zaurik and met the Drophyd species. He presented them with a fortune in Raritanium and advanced battle suits made from the collected technology in exchange for their services in bringing about his empire and race's restoring. They agreed, and became his greatly loyal soldiers and enforcers. With his new army in hand, Tachyon marched back to his foster home planet, Fastoon, and prepared to end the Lombax race. A large battle ensued in which Tachyon's enforcers laid complete waste to Fastoon.
The Lombax city crumbled into ruin. While the rest of the Lombax race fled and took refuge in the Court of Azimuth, the Lombax leader known as the Guardian and his infant son stayed behind to protect the Dimensionator, and General Azimuth was forbidden from joining his comrades, exiled because of his hand in aiding Emperor Tachyon's rise. They fled Tachyon's wrath and managed to hide the Dimensionator. Finally, the Guardian managed to safely send his son away to the Solana Galaxy and went to face Tachyon. The Guardian was killed in the battle, leaving no Lombax left in Polaris to oppose Tachyon's rule. Setting his capitol on the dormant Reepor, Tachyon led his empire in bringing Polaris to its knees.
Metropolis Assault
Emperor Tachyon ruled over most of Polaris in the reincarnated Cragmite Empire. Holo-screens were placed on various planets controlled by the emperor so that he could broadcast messages to his troops and the local citizens. These broadcast screens were constant reminders of who was in control. Tachyon plotted to find the Dimensionator and bring his race back. However, before bringing back his brothers, Tachyon went to the Solana Galaxy in order to kill the last Lombax that had escaped him years ago: Ratchet. The Lombax and his robot companion, Clank, made it through the bombarded Metropolis while dodging Tachyon's troops. The famed 'hero,' Captain Qwark, encountered the Drophyds and tried fighting them, only managing to destroy two, and then cowardly running away. Qwark was inevitably captured. To save his own life, Qwark swore allegiance to Tachyon and became his 'confidant.'
The emperor and his soldiers eventually cornered the Lombax on a platform and demanded that he come quietly, saying no one else would be harmed. The duo escaped and Tachyon made several attempts on various planets to capture and kill them, constantly broadcasting to citizens and his men. Qwark swore allegiance to Tachyon and became his confidant, but secretly gave information to Ratchet and Clank. Ratchet eventually found the Dimensionator, only to have it stolen by the falsely brave Qwark. Tachyon caught Qwark on Reepor while his soldiers fought Ratchet, Clank, Talwyn Apogee, Cronk and Zephyr. Tachyon took the Dimensionator and activated it. One by one, the Cragmites were brought back from their dimensional prison, raising a black cloud over Polaris.
Meridian City Assault
Ingrates of Meridian City, welcome the true rulers of the Polaris Galaxy! Welcome the return of the Cragmites!
Emperor Tachyon to the resistance of Meridian City, ToD
Meridian City, during the invasion
The members of the Cragmite race who had been released followed under Tachyon's leadership to fully restore the Cragmite Empire and reconquer all of the galaxy. The Drophyd andtroops of the Imperial Army and the Cragmite troops of the one released Cragmite Armada fought alongside one another for the remainder of the conflict. Their first act as a fully reunited empire was to attack Meridian City, the Polaris galaxy's capitol and the symbolic refuge of all free Polaris not yet conquered by Tachyon. The Cragmites organized an aerial bombardment against the city while sending in their ground forces to escort surrendering citizens to safe areas during the bombing and to stop Ratchet and Clank from reaching the imprisoned traitor Qwark. All the while, Tachyon repeatedly broadcast to the citizens, gloating that he was finally going to stomp out the remains of the resistance and conquer the free capital that had mocked him and his empire for so long. While the attack was too powerful to be stopped, Ratchet did manage to rescue Qwark.
Final confrontation
You can't kill me, Lombax! Only I know your true purpose in this galaxy! Only I know your true name!
Tachyon, among his final words to Ratchet, ToD
Afterwards, all but the cowardly Captain Qwark went to Fastoon in order to stop Tachyon, who was setting up his forces, knowing the Lombax would eagerly go after him. After fighting through a large number of Drophyds and Cragmites, Ratchet and his friends made it into the Court of Azimuth, where Tachyon further revealed the history of the Lombaxes and Cragmites. He told of how he laid waste to Fastoon and killed Ratchet's father. Ratchet then fought Tachyon in the court room and in an alternate dimension spawned by the Dimensionator. Tachyon, defeated, declared that he would survive and that his empire would destroy the Lombax race another day. He was then sucked into a wormhole and transported to another dimension. It is rumored that while in this dimension, Tachyon got into contact with a mysterious alien race. The Cragmites, the battle lost and their leader defeated, retreated and were banished, presumably back to Reepor.[1] With this, the Cragmite Empire had temporarily fallen.
Rebellion and resistance against Tachyon's Empire
Leave no stone unturned! No rebel spared! Exterminate anyone who stands in your way!
Tachyon in an Imperial Army recruitment ad., ToD
Tachyon's Empire wasn't without its share of rebellion and resistance by those not under his control and rebellious members in his own empire. While large swaths of Polaris were under his foot, several free planets in Polaris galaxy remained free, and united to form Free Polaris. Headquartered on Meridian City, planet Igliak, the united armies of Free Polaris were able to hold of Tachyon's Imperial Army for years. In addition, rebels and insurgents in league with Free Polaris posed a serious threat, apparently causing enough damage to slow down his search for the "Lombax Secret." In addition to Free Polairs holdouts, the Kerchu also remained independent of Tachyon's control. The Kerchu knowingly hid the Dimensionator on Jasindu away from Tachyon, realizing the origin of the weapon and its value to him. In addition, the Kerchu also secretly operated colonies on Sargasso, which was unknown to Tachyon's Empire and rich in Gelatonium. Because of this, the Kerchu were not reliant of Tachyon's rationing of Gelatonium, which mainly originated from planet Cobalia.
Criminal elements also posed a serious problem to enforcing his laws. Smugglers continued to provide contraband goods or services. Piracy remained a huge problem, as Pirate Territory bordered Tachyon's Empire. In addition, Space Pirates also were looking for the "Lombax Secret" too. During Tools of Destruction, Tachyon attempted to lure Captain Slag to death at the Imperial Fight Festival using a Holo Pirate Disguise.
In addition, several of the enslaved races under his thumb rebelled against him whenever they could. Before the Terraklons were enslaved, they launched a heavily armed assault on Zaurik in attempt to defeat their enemies, the Drophyds. This offensive failed however, and the Terraklons were enslaved. While the Grummels of GrummelNet sold goods to Tachyon's Empire, they also sold weapons to Ratchet, a Lombax, which was treason in the empire.
Also, despite Tachyon's claims to be the ruler of the entire Polaris Galaxy, the robotic tyrant Dr. Nefarious and his allies held control over most of the Breegus System. Neither Tachyon's Empire nor Nefarious's faction were ever known to have engaged in conflict with one another. Since Qwark could be overheard revealing that the Doctor was in attendance of the Imperial Fight Festival and the Doctor had a long feud with the "rebel" Azimuth but also knew about his and the Lombaxes' history, it is possible the two had a secret alliance just as Nefarious was known for making with other villains.
Leadership
According to Aphelion, Tachyon did not truly know the extent of the Cragmites' malicious nature. However, rather than get rid of the seemingly feeble creature, all of the Cragmites Tachyon released accepted his leadership. This suggests one of two things:
- That Tachyon gained his position as crowned prince and emperor of the Cragmites through family heritage, meaning he was connected to the original leadership of the Cragmite Empireand thus was accepted as their leader.
- That since Tachyon had not yet called back the entire Cragmite race, having only managed to so far call back the equivalent of one Cragmite Armada, so the other Cragmites tolerated his leadership until their true leaders could be brought back out from the alternate dimension by Tachyon.
It is likely that the true leaders of the Great Cragmite Empire were extremely dangerous and monstrously evil, judging by Aphelion's comments; however, none of them appeared, presumably due to Tachyon having not yet brought them out X2-49.
Military
Great War era
The Great Cragmite Empire was originally made entirely of Cragmites, with their being several types of Cragmite infantry including: Cragmite Hunters, Cragmite Warriors, Cragmite Slayers, and Cragmite Assassins. Cragpoles were also sometimes used as fodder.
The Cragmite's possessed Cragmite Armadas which were made up of many ships including Cragmite Drop Ships.
Tools of Destruction
When Tachyon was in control of the empire he possessed Tachyon Troopers as part of his Imperial Army, and employed the Drophyds as his infantry forces, and all of his weapons of war were made using Lombax technology.. Thanks to Tachyon giving them this technology most Drophyds would utilize different variants of the Lombax Nanotech combat armor, the types including: Drophyd Sentries, Drophyd Troopers, Drophyd Defenders, Drophyd Gunships, Drophyd Cyclocannons and the ultra advanced Enforcer models.
The Imperial Army utilized Imperial Cruisers as their warships, and utilized Drophyd Transport Ships to move infantry around, and Tachyon fighters as combat ships.
Eventually Tachyon succeeded in freeing the equivalent of one Cragmite Armada from Dimension X2-49, greatly bolstering his Imperial Army by adding Cragpoles, Cragmite Hunters, and Cragmite Warriors to his infantry, and also gaining Cragmite Drop Ships as airforce.
Members
Pre-Great War
Tachyon's Empire
Races
Great War
- Cragmites
- Zorthan's species
Tachyon's Empire
Known Territories
Great War
- Praxus Twelve
- Reepor (capital world)
- Cragmite Ruins (capital city)
- Nundac Asteroid Ring
Tachyon's Empire
Tachyon's Empire was much smaller than the Cragmite Empire. Nevertheless, many worlds were under his rule.
- Cerullean Sector
- Cobalia
- Kortog - governing world of Tachyon's Empire in the Cerullean Sector
- Mukow
- Fastoon
- Verdigris Sector
- Praxus Sector
- Praxus VI
- Praxus Seven
- Praxus XII
- Reepor - capital of Tachyon's Empire
- Unnamed Polaris Sector
- Ebaro and the Black Rock Moons of Ebaro
- Unknown Sectors
- Zaurik - homeworld of the Drophyds
Trivia
- Tachyon's Empire was unaware of the existence of Sargasso, which is why it remained free of Tachyon's control. However, the Imperial Army did discover it when Ratchet, Clank, Talwyn, Cronk and Zephyr were searching for the "Lombax Secret."
Appearances
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction Template:Mo
See also
- Great War
- Tachyon's Empire
Sources
- ↑ Qwark mentioned in the opening scene of ACIT that the Cragmites had been banished after Tachyon's defeat.