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Name: Rss'Kan 's Nssk'Aani

Nickname(s): Was once called "Onyx" by a human. The name stuck.

Age: 182 human years. About 16 by Torronax standards.

Gender: Male

Race: Torronax. An extremely fearful and stereo typically xenophobic species of massive insectoid-like beings known for their size, strength, and durability, which only came to be known by the Federation in the last decade or so. Omnipedal, with massive, predominant arms and strong digitigrade legs. Covered head-to-toe in thick, chitinous plating which carbonizes with age, allowing them massive amounts of protection. The coloration of these shells range from browns and reds, to greys and blacks. Though often these colors are generally hidden under a thin layer of either crystal or mineral formations which form over their carapace. It easily becomes no secret why most members of their race refer to themselves as "Stone Skins". They appear bestial, with elongated and seemingly eyeless faces and lip-less grins of glassy teeth composed entirely of incisors and canines. Two massive mandibles hang before their maws, with flattened and hammer-like tips which often clack together with great force. While they appear so, they are not actually without eyes. They have a row of compact eyes on each side of their head, hidden and protected under a retractable armored lid or "cap". Their four-digit hands (two fingers and two thumbs) are tipped in hardened claws. Keen observers may notice two tiny claws poking out from their wrists. These are actually "feelers", a set of almost foot-long, spider-leg looking appendages covered in sensitive hairs used by the Torronax for fine detail. These feelers are extremely vulnerable, containing 40% of all their nerve endings, and can adhere to small objects. Large tails swing about behind them, armed with two rows of quills that the xeno-savvy soldier may know could be released and flung at encroaching hostiles. They breath not through their mouths, but through vented gills on their backs.

To many, Torronax can seem unstoppable combatants, but those with training and knowledge of xenobiology know more than a few good ways to take them down.

Not much is known about the Torronax' culture except what's occasionally spilled out over the Netvids. Their race is divided between the tribal Stone Skin clans and the enterprising and diplomatic Coalition of Unification. A great civil war wages between the Four Great Family Clans of Stone Skins and the Coalition itself, which threatens to further thin the population of a race already numbering under half a billion galaxy wide. Efforts to outsource ores and minerals from their volcanic and barely-livable home world of Tarr'n have been smashed by a interplanetary mining corporation run by the Caesarian Bri, a species known for it's greed, intelligence, and vicious business-like conduct who run a vast empire spanning several sectors. The Torronax of the Coalition struggle with trying to stabilize a newly made and already failing economy, and an industry that can never get out from under the Bri Empire's boot. The Bri mining corporation pressures the Torronax to give up mining rights to their planet, and the asteroid belt that circles it. The Torronax, having had terrible experiences with alien races both in the present and ancient past, outright refuse to allow off-worlders to freely land on Tarr'n. The Coalition has reached out to the Federation for help, fearing that with the growing hostilities of their people, it may lead to war with the Bri Empire. A war that, given their almost non-existent space forces, would result in a bloody ground-war for Tarr'n.

For more information on the Torronax, please consult your local Netcom directory. (PM me :D)

Sexual Orientation: Hetero. Torronax breed only to procreate.

Height: 11' 2"

Weight: 2,923 lbs. Nearly 1.5 tons.

Physical Description: As he would appear to any outsider, Rss'Kan is hardly unique in his appearance among his own kind. His broad, powerful form looms over practically any other known sentient species, while his mere visage has been enough to cause scenes in most domestic areas. His shell is a deep crimson in color and is coated head to toe in a glossy black volcanic glass. This adds an interesting red tint to his rather lacquered appearance whenever he's in the light. Because of this, he'd earned the moniker "Onyx", and after a while of correcting people that it was actually obsidian he was covered in (he lived near the crap long enough, he should know what the hell it looks like), and not onyx, he eventually gave up and just adopted the name. The top of his head is exceptionally glassy, even reflective, as are several other parts of his chitin. Beyond what may be obvious for members of other species, Rss'Kan is actually fairly large for his race, definitely of good, proud warrior heritage. His shell is of great quality and surprising thickness, having survived a shaping rite that many juvenile Torronax would not have returned from.

His natural voice is that akin to all his species, a deep raspy voice accompanied by sharp hisses, resonating growls, eerie trills, and occasionally room-shaking roars, giving him a very sinister and malicious impression on most people. Though this could not be farther from the truth in actuality. He carries himself with a stalwart pride when under inspection, and stand with the honor of a warrior of his people. However, he is definitely also not one to flaunt. In fact, he's the exact opposite. When he is not being inspected, a change of stance is quite visible. He is cautious, staying low to the ground and often withdrawn from even the smallest crowd of humans. Imagine, seeing such a large creature react with such timidness and caution, as if among dangerous herds of dangerous wildlife in fear of spooking them.

The right side of his chest, bottom jaw, and right arm have rocky, rough formations on his skin as a result of accidentally stepping through a layer of muscovite, breaching a high-pressure lava tube and getting some magma spray as a result. The minerals which formed are much rougher and quite different from the obsidian, leaving bubbled streaks of stone-gray which look like scars along the affected areas. The left side of his head bares it's own scar. A section of the obsidian which has been cracked, showing the dark, blood-colored chitin underneath, which looks like a rather ghastly wound. Actual scars can also be seen cutting into his shell here and there, each with a story Rss'Kan may freely tell.

He wears very little in apparel, all of it for function with no real need of concealment. Straps and vests adorned to the high heavens with hooks, pouches, and utility compartments make up the most of it, decorated lightly with a few tribal bands and bangles.

Religious Affiliation: As with his people, he believes in honoring the spirits of the dead and his greater ancestors. His people believe that there was a great power which gave them life, but choose to honor that gift by surviving rather than pay meaningless tribute to a deity which may never know of it. To that extent, Rss'Kan is extremely superstitious. He dislikes speaking of the dead in general, and never under any circumstance speaks ill of them.

Strengths:
Beast of Burden- Being of the sturdy race of giant insects, Onyx is more than capable of hauling massive objects. While being the son of the High Elder did make him exempt from acting as a worker of the Clan, he is certainly no stranger to hard labor and holds no qualms against serving as such. The nature of his species enables him to comfortably carry around 2.5 tons, but is capable of lifting and hauling a maximum of around 7 tons. If the docking bay ever loses a power loader, he's quite capable as a minor substitute.

Nssk'Aani Warrior- Rss'Kan is an exceptional fighter among his people and has fought in several battles against the rival Family Clans [i]and Coalition forces before the peace. He is extremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat against equal-sized opponents and quite adept in the use of primitive or makeshift weaponry, capable of using the environment as an armory and offsetting being at a technological disadvantage. As to be expected, he is also an adept hunter-gatherer, impeccable survivalist, and an expert in guerrilla warfare.

Bulwark- Rss'Kan's shell is impressively strong even among the standards of his own people. During his Shaping Rite, all the while trying to protect what remained of his siblings. For the last three whole days and nights of the rite, he bore the brunt of lacerating razor winds and scorching ash storms to shield his youngest sister from them. While the experience nearly ended his life, his shell hardened to the trauma it received. It's density and strength have shrugged off blows which would have cracked the shells of other Stone Skins, and reaffirmed Rss'Kan's purpose as a warrior. He knows where he is to stand, always as the shield against the winds and fire.

Willpower- With as much responsibility Rss'Kan forces unto himself also comes incredible amounts of resolve. Whatever it is he feels he has to do, he does it. At least, for the things physically possible. For all others, he spends his life forever trying to reach it. No matter how impossible or unlikely it seems, he just keeps trying, a character trait which will likely one day kill him. Still he does what he does without caring, too stubborn and bullheaded to quit. He shares a lot with the Greek titan Atlas, forever holding up the sky. No matter how heavy it seems, he will hold it for as long as is needed, even if that turns out to be forever. For as long as he can, for as long as he's able to force himself, he'll refuse to budge. If only because it feels like it's where he's meant to be.

Advanced Training in Interstellar Engineering and Maintenance- As part of being a representative of his people, Onyx partook in several advanced classes on how to properly repair the hyperdrive of the most common and intricate starships in existence. His determination to not shame his father had shown through in this field greatly, as only 6 years of training had turned him into a promising engineer. With some tutelage from Federation Ceritfied A.I. instructors, Rss'Kan was able to earn a five-star rating. His dextrous feelers and great strength aid in his job, his chitin armor making the risk of such work far less severe, and even the most hellish of working environments do little more than make him a bit homesick.

Environmental Conditioning- With the prospect of visiting many exotic habitats, Rss'Kan was prepared to face any sort of hellish environment he may encounter on his travels. Volcanic heat, searing deserts, humid jungles, poisonous swamps, arctic blizzards, even radiation. This wasn't so much to prepare him for survival as it was to acclimate him to the different conditions. Torronax are naturally extremely hardy when it comes to these things. You could pretty much plop them on any some-what livable world and they could probably make a home. Unsurprising of a race who call a world where every Tuesday is "Surprise Solar Flare Day" home, they're even highly resistant to radiation. As for Rss'Kan himself, only the subarctic temperatures really affected him. The cold air was quite uncomfortable to breath, being use to the boiling hot steam of his home. That, and he soon discovered that his high core temperature resulted in a thin sheet of moisture forming on his obsidian coating, which later froze over. The popping and creaking this icy coating made when he moved was like nails on a chalkboard. Worst yet was that he constantly had to stretch his back out to keep ice from forming over his gills. That little chore was extremely irritating, since he had to do it nearly every minute. Though surprisingly, the worst environment in his opinion was that of the starship itself. The cool, clean air wasn't enough to trigger his survival instincts, but was just enough to be incredibly annoying and uncomfortable. Every night he'd pray for the cooling to go out so he could finally get some restful sleep. It never did.[/i]

Personality: Rss'Kan is... difficult to read. Amongst his people, he is heroic. Knightly, even. He has fought battle after battle, war after war to defend his people. He is overly protective by nature, taking his place to protect others as if by instinct. Every loss, every warrior-brother who's bled out in his arms has left it's impression on him, forcing him to strive harder to defend the next. He suffers from a sort of Superman complex, unable to accept that he couldn't have done something somewhere or simply let what happens happen, and his stubborn and uncompromising views often place him neatly in harms way. At that point, there is no reasoning with him. If he believes someone needs that shield, that protection, he does it. Planting himself firmly in the ground and not moving an inch. No ifs, ands, or buts. His cares before joining the Federation were his family, his clan, his people. In that order. With the desire for the betterment of his race, he urged his father, the High Elder of the Nssk'Aani, to consider the Prime Ordinator's offer of alliance. It's what fueled him through the worst battles of his life, the drive that made him train ceaselessly to meet the Federation Exam requirements, working for days on end to learn and repair one old junker of a star ship after the next. It's also the greatest source of his guilt. While Rss'Kan knows he's doing this for his Clan and people, he can't help but feel as though he's abandoned them. His father, brothers, and especially his sister. That last is a wound which goes the deepest. It was Kassk'Ni that he shielded that day so long ago. The runt of the clutch, he refused to let her or any of his surviving siblings die after that terrible first week of Shaping. Because of his actions, she survived, though her carapace was weak and brittle. He swore to be there always, to be her shell when she needed him. But he is not there for her now, is he? His heroism has driven him away from her, away from the Nssk'Aani, away from Tarr'n. If anything ever happened to her, this unbreakable monolith of a warrior would easily crumble to dust.

However, that's in the comfort of his people. Around these aliens, he's a different animal entirely. Rss'Kan keeps to himself, quiet and reserved. He'll speak his mind only if he feels it is of the utmost urgency. He dislikes being noticed openly, but more so having to fight the urge to slink away. The most he can do is attempt to be content with his status of "literal elephant in the room". He shirks this demeanor only when addressed by a commanding officer, standing (if he can) with honor before his CO, but it's never fully gone. The worst part of this attitude towards other lifeforms is that it is ingrained, it is not how Rss'Kan wishes to be. Ever since he first saw the stars, an incredibly rare occurrence on Tarr'n, he wanted to see more. His first steps beyond the acid clouds of his homeworld were awe inspiring. All these sights, ideas, sounds, creatures, technology, he was enraptured by it. He is curious, and wants dearly to express that and know all he can about everything he sees. This feeling builds under the surface of his skin all the time, until something finally causes it to burst forth and a question, or multiple, must be answered. Rss'Kan's caution doesn't entirely give way in these moments, and he's been described as interrogative in his questioning. His lack of interspecies social knowledge also leads to other awkward moments, such as asking things most others would consider private. As for himself, Rss'Kan is mostly an open book, and while he can seem defensive or even hostile in tone, he'll answer nearly any question about him with full honesty. Though there are things he wishes deeply not to discuss, and will say so quite plainly. Warrior teachings speak in detail that a Torronax' weaknesses, whether many or few, should be guarded at all cost. While this teaching was meant in a physical sense, many like Rss'Kan take it to heart on every matter. Thoughts, memories, and objects that could bring him sadness or pain he guards from everyone. Even on board the ship, he rarely willingly exposes his wrists and feelers to anyone, holds his breath and seals his gills whenever someone is behind him, dislikes anyone being near his eyes, mouth, and throat, and must suppress a flinch whenever he is walked up on from out of view.

Lately, tho, as he observes these other, soft-skinned species, he can't help but see most of them as vulnerable. He dislikes being around them, but at the same time the few moments he's seen one injured nearly drove him up a tree. His mind constantly makes the comparison between them and his sister, which causes his complex to rear it's ugly head again. It's why he opted for the U.S.S. Warhammer, thinking that there he may be needed the most. All in all, Rss'Kan can be rather stressed. Thoughts of home and doubts of what he's doing plague him in waves, but at the same time the importance of what he's doing to help his race avoid war with the Bri Empire weighs down on his shoulders. For the most part, he's able to drive stray thoughts out of his mind by becoming so wrapped up in his actual duties that he thinks of nothing else. He hates quiet moments, and even sleep brings it's own mental hazards to him. Rss'Kan, despite not being a worker of his clan, is an extreme workaholic. While the 65 hour day-cycles of Tarr'n make two full Earth days without rest pretty trivial, it's not uncommon for Rss'Kan to go nearly a week with no sleep. Tho that's also in part to the God damn sterilized, "comfortable" air on board most any star ship. Still, even while being extremely determined, hard working, and loyal, he is not without issues. The responsibility he's placed on himself is not at all practical or healthy, but he can't help it. It's where he feels he's meant to be, and that keeps him going.

Equipment/Tools/Valuable Possessions:
He was given several tools he'd need for maintenance, made specifically for the few members of Torronax fleet crews the Coaltion had. Much of his equipment is rather basic, arc welders, omniwrenches, fusion cutters, cold-plasma inducters, your standard toolbox for small maintenance. However, seeing as the heavy-duty gear is not exactly something he could bring with him on-person, he was trained in how do to a lot with a little, how to modify and improvise, and how to make use of his racial characteristics. He's armed with translator bands cuffed around each mandible, a neural-net uplink and HUD display which was made to fit under his lid-cap, and a full set of gear needed for outer haul repairs such as magnetic boots, utility wrist bands (which also protect his feeler tips from exposure), protective face mask, and back-mounted air tanks for his gills. Torronax generally don't need suits, as their hides and carapace can protect them from exposure to space. Prolonged repairs may require a thermal induction vest.

He also took with him a ball of dried Anuuxi (A type of giant arachnid native to Tarr'n) webbing, which becomes sticky when wet, for whatever purpose he needs it for. Good, strong, and reusable if taken care of.

As far as niceties go, Rss'Kan did bring with him some trophies from his home. Some of the various gifts from his younger brother, as well as from Clan females seeking to be his mate, most of which in the form of necklaces or little bobbles made of bones, glass, pebbles, and crystals. Also, a gift from his father, which is surprising in that it's the only gift he received that's technological. A device the size of a microwave which he keeps in his room. Once every three to four days it produces a solid orb of pure calcium the size of a bowling ball, which serves as a sort of treat/time-passer. One gift, however, rises above all others. A deep blue, glowing Phylon Crystal, which resonates with a charged Xekarian Flare, a highly volatile energy formed by the the unique radiation from the core of the planet Tarr'n. These charges often come in red, orange, yellow, or purple, but to find one in blue is extremely rare. This was given to him by his sister, and his most cherished possession. Odds are that he won't allow anyone else to see this crystal, let alone touch it, as he handles it with the utmost care.

One last gift he received from his clan. The scar on the left side of his head, from where his twin brother , Grann'Nak, struck him for leaving his people and his family, right before Grann'Nak left the Clan and wandered off into the badlands. This is not something Rss'Kan is likely to share openly.

Military Record: Rss'Kan 's Nssk'Aani. Born, trained, and fought under the "indigenous tribes" of Tarr'n for approximately 90 F.S.Y. (Federation Standard Years), with an estimated 250 armed combat encounters against fellow "tribals" as well as Coalition TAF (Tarr'n Armed Forces) and Bri mercenary excursions. Was accepted by the CoU at the age of 159 F.S.Y. Received complete education by the CoU, receiving a Masters in Robotics, Physics, and Engineering. Enlisted into the TAF at age 168 F.S.Y. for four years, were he received advanced training in Strategic Maneuvers, Crisis Simulations, Deep-Space Reconnaissance, Basic Fire-Arms Training, and Zero-Atmosphere Operations. Was noted as an exceptional learner in War Games, combing recent lessons with past experience to execute complex and precise Guerrilla tactics against hostile enemy boarding actions. Extremely calm under pressure. Took Advanced Interstellar Engineering and Field Repairs for four more years before finally being shipped off to Federation Fleet Academy, where he graduated top of his class. Grade-3 "Heavy Repairs", specializing in Outer-Haul Reconstruction and Zero-At Field Work.

History: Peace. That is the only word to describe the time Rss'Kan was born. There was peace. Throughout the Sharp-Sand badlands and the Ember Fields, from the high cliffs of the volcanic mountains to the barren deserts, the Four Great family Clans and all their tribes knew this peace. It had lasted for thousands of years, and yet it seemed so brittle. Rss'Kan 's Nssk'Aani, 4th oldest surviving son of the High Elder Gax'Rnn, Patriarch of the mighty Nssk'Aani Clan, was born into a clutch of twenty-eight siblings. Like all hatchlings of his race, he was cared for by every clan female and didn't really even figure out who his actual mother was for a few years. This was not uncommon, his people placing higher value on the care of their offspring than on parental entitlement. Rss'Kan's memories of that age were always warm, the only time where he was honestly happy with everything in his world. He loved his brothers and sisters, he loved playing and chasing them through the vast networks of tunnels that made up the clan hive, he loved hunting down young Anuuxi with his twin. Hell, he even loved when they failed at catching them and ended up covered in webbing. He had no cares for the outside world. In these warm caves, well lit by crystals, fungus, and even magma, he was home. Why would he ever want to leave?

But that is not how life is for a Torronax. He grew older, stronger, larger. With this came the teachings of his duty to the clan. He wasn't born as the eldest of the High Elder, and that meant he was to be a warrior. He would hunt for the clan, fight for the clan, and, if needed, die for his clan. He and his siblings learned these lessons with cold chill. It was natural for a juvenile, with such a protected childhood, to never once place thought in what it means to die, let alone the possibility of death coming to pass. It was a hard lesson, but their teachers spoke kindly, saying that they honor their clan and not to fear, for their ancestors shall greet them well. However, no teacher, great or otherwise, can teach one the meaning of honor in death. It can never be taught, only learned. With years passing like the darkened winds of an ash storm, this new brood learned the lessons of the hunt. They now knew how to fight and best some of the greatest beasts Tarr'n plains would force upon them, where to seek shelter should they need it, how to forage and gather. They were taught all of this in preparation for their Shaping Rite. A ritual in which young Torronax are forced to the surface when their shell first begins to form. The strength of their future carapace directly depends on what they are exposed to during this period, and so the Shaping Rite is held sacred amongst the Stone Skins. The children of the Elder were not lied to, they were told directly....

Many who enter the Shaping do not return home.

The day came. They would go with children from other clutches, to wander the surface of Tarr'n until their shells hardened. They were forbidden from returning home or leaving the surface world for 27 Tarr'n days and nights. The fifth day was horrific, nearly the entire band had been caught off-guard by a sudden solar flare. Of the nearly eighty Torronax youths that began, only seven were left to mourn over the hot ashes of their brothers and sisters. This was the first time Rss'Kan had ever seen one of his people, let alone friends and siblings, die. Ancestors bless him, he nearly died trying to make it the last. Through the burns of acidic rain or the bite of the razor-winds, Rss'Kan acted as vanguard to what remained of them. He and his twin, hatched at the same moment, were now the oldest children of their clutch. Rss'Kan saw this as his duty, and while his twin Grann'Nak wanted what was left of them to make it back, he'd constantly hiss warnings at Rss'Kan about getting himself killed. Grann'Nak believed that those who lived were meant to, and likewise for those who didn't. It did not cease Rss'Kan's actions in the slightest, often nursing some injury he'd received doing this. His youngest sister, Kassk'Ni, the runt, was often the one needing (and receiving) Rss'Kan's protection the most. While with good intentions, Grann'Nak was always quick to remind that this would stunt the growth of her shell. That what Rss'Kan was doing would only bring harm to her in the long run.

Arguments made up the majority of all conversation. Loud roars between the now-eldest twins, Grann'Nak in outrage as Rss'Kan had found himself riddled with lacerations and burns again. It was only a few days from the end of the Rite, when Grann'Nak's patience for Rss'Kan finally snapped. "If She Dies Here, Then It Is Meant To Be So! She Is Slowing Us! And I'll Not Trade A Strong Brother For A Weak Sister!" he roared, which led to a massive clash between the two. It took their last brother, Grss'Ik, and the rest of the survivors to pull the two apart. Little did they realize that more damage was done than just to the twins. Kassk'Ni had heard the entire event, and Grann'Nak's words. She could not argue with what he said, having watched Rss'Kan harm himself time and again for her. If a choice was to be made, then she would make it. She left in the night, fleeing into the wastes. It wasn't until morning that she was found to be missing. Rss'Kan tried to charge after her, but once again he and Grann'Nak fought viciously over it. A Kol'Kathi was on the horizon, a terrible Meteorologic anomaly caused by a mass of volcanic gases spewed from Tarr'n's inhospitable Southern half. These gases are trapped in an endless cycle of ignition, expansion, compression, and re-ignition, forming thick, black walls of ash and smoke which constantly belch fire. The fumes produced by this event are more dense than the air, and exist in such vast quantities that they blanket from the upper atmosphere to nearly the ground. This creates a massive updraft, which carries the jagged sediment that makes razor-winds into this vacuum. The air currents becomes trapped within the gases, circulating into an intense windstorm. The sediment in the wind then generates friction with itself, ionizing the atmosphere and producing thunderous lightning storms. In the Torronax language, their full name is Kol'Kathi Ssk Rah 't Chakk, which means "God Of Wrath and Fire".

Not even the strongest or most insane Torronax would risk being caught in a Kol'Kathi's grip. The two's quarrel quickly became brutal, with Rss'Kan cracking Grann'Nak's lid-cap to get away, sprinting out onto the harp-sands to find his sister. He was chased the whole way by the angered howls of his twin. The dark visage of the Kol'Kathi crept closer by the minute, consuming the land in a fiery breath. The malevolent storm was nearly upon him when he finally found Kassk'Ni, swooping in and encircling her with his own body just seconds before the Kol'Kathi crashed down upon them. The storm lasted for three days before finally passing. The survivors searched for their missing members, only to find them buried in ashes and motionless. It was Grann'Nak who first arrived, his roars of sorrow and mourning echoing to the others. They thought the two dead, until, still within Rss'Kan's clutches, Kassk'Ni stirred. Rss'Kan as well had survived, but only barely. His shell was completely stripped away, his skin flayed to tatters and replaced by a blood-encrusted coat of ashes. Were it not for those ashes, he would have bled out in moments. Grann'Nak displayed his gratefulness for the life of his brother and sister the best way he could, by nearly attacking Rss'Kan again for being so stupid. Being carried home by his brothers and sister, it was only by miracle that he lived through the journey. Through the haze of pain, his eyes barely registered what it was he saw, till finally he could focus. The Kol'Kathi had cleared away the acidic clouds, granting Rss'Kan a view of the wondrous stars beyond his world. Never had he felt so much fear and wonder before, nor had he felt so small. Despite the terror of the aspect, some part of him wanting to leap out and see everything held within that starry sky. Rss'Kan never again saw the stars from Tarr'n, but he'd never need to. He could never forget the wonder of what he beheld that night.

Their trial was over, though it would be nearly a year before Rss'Kan's shell regrew. His reward for survival, as his body remembered the trauma it had experienced, was a carapace of immense density and strength, far outweighing the others. But not all were as fortunate. Grann'nak was right, Kassk'Ni's shell was made soft and brittle by her brother's protection. Rss'Kan had no one to blame but himself, swearing to take responsibility. He made a promise to his sister, that he would be her shell. That he would be there whenever she needed him, as repentance for his mistake. But things could never be that simple. Rss'kan was still rather young when the Coalition of Unification, a section of Torronax who had long ago abandoned the ways of the Stone Skins in pursuit of advancing their race, began to call out to the stars. They had long ago begun to dismantle and learn from the remains of the Sky Devils, unknown aliens who in ancient times tried to enslave and conquer the planet. It was the Sky Devils who birthed Torronaxian fears of other aliens, and for those same reasons why the Stone Skins hated and feared the Coalition, saying they played with things not meant to be trifled in. Their payment, a message from the heavens with lies of friendship. The Bri Empire, the greedy and all-consuming plague of the galaxy, had heard the broadcasts, coming to Tarr'n in pursuit of it's precious treasures. It was not long before their true motives were made widely known, and an unofficial war was breaking out between the Torronax and hired alien mercenaries sent in to break their spirits. It was made clear the extent of the Bri's power, a cold realization that open war would be unwinnable, that they could claim Tarr'n by force if it became no longer negotiable.

The Coalition deployed every effort possible to stall for a solution, resorting in calling out for aid once again amongst the stars. It would be nearly a century before they made contact with the Federation. This span of time was one marked in chaos. Fear of invasion had caused the leaders of the Great Family Clans to abandon reason. A war began, on scales greater than those of the past. As a Warrior, Rss'Kan was called away to these conflicts, ranging from swift skirmishes to all-out battles. The war had not forgotten the ones who brought the Bri here, with nearly every Clan leading some great attack against the Coalition. These brutal raids forced the CoU to organize military units in an attempt to suppress the tribals, and did not care to differentiate between clans. Venerated Warriors armed with clubs, spears, and whips were now facing off against elite Torronax Infantry armed with highly advanced weaponry, as well as the Bri wet-work squads. The casualties of war were felt on all fronts, dramatically thinning the already small race of Torronax. Rss'Kan became a veteran of blood-drenched trench wars and haunting tooth-&-claw battles within the tunnel networks, never recounting a single fight were a warrior he once knew as friend was not now with their Ancestors. The scars that traced his shell were nothing compared to his memories of war. This could not continue.

The times Rss'Kan could spend at home with Grann'Nak, Grss'Ik, and Kassk'Ni were sparse, like the warm light at the end of a dark tunnel. They were often the thoughts that pulled him home, and making sure they were safe was the fire that pushed him off to war. Grann'Nak was being groomed by their father to be the heir to the Clan, a great honor Rss'Kan was proud for his twin to have. Grss'Ik was a warrior, like himself. Kassk'Ni.... his sister was often busy helping take care of the next brood of clan Hatchlings. Rss'Kan was happy to have all these new brothers and sisters, but at the same time he held a deep sorrow, knowing the fate most of them would face. What was worse, is that the Right of Shaping would not halt for the war. The surface was more dangerous than ever. The Nssk'Aani were growing too thin as is, and could not survive a war on all fronts such as this. Rss'Kan could not stand the thought of the Clan growing too weak to defend itself. They needed an ally in this war, but there was only one who would even hear them anymore. The leader of the CoU, the Prime Ordinator. Rss'Kan disliked this idea, but still brought it before his father, Gax'Rnn. To Rss'kan's surprise, the High Elder was of equal mind, and with great distaste didn't take much convincing. For their clan, for all Torronax, they had to find a way to end the war.

The other clans took great offence to this, with two of them uniting against the Nssk'Aani. The Coalition reluctantly offered support for it's new "ally", but the term was held loosely. The old disputes were still held strong between these two. The Savage Stone Skins of the Nssk'Aani, who threw their children to the hell of Tarr'n's surface, and the soft-shelled heretics of the Coalition, who defied all the old ways which made the Torronax strong and had brought about this entire ordeal through their reckless pursuits. In an effort to secure ties between these two, Rss'Kan volunteered to be of service to the Coalition, much to the immediate uproar of his clan. It was with little alternative choice that his father agreed to this as well, unknowingly granting Rss'Kan the keys to a world he'd only glimpsed before. He was given tutelage in basic schooling, as he had never learned any form of education before. Progress was slow but consistent, Rss'Kan was taught skills designed to be productive and understand this technology he'd been away from all his life. In addition, he also enlisted into the Tarr'n Armed Forces, swearing to now protect the Coalition as well as his Clan. His instructors nearly learned as much from him as Rss'Kan did from them. Soon, others of the Nssk'Aani began to follow his lead, learning a hybrid of new and old ways.

More races became aware of the Torronax, but none really wished to be involved. It was not until contact was made with the Tylo that the race finally found hope. The Tylo led the Torronax into first contact with the Federation, the first and only Galactic military force that would offer aid to the people of Tarr'n. The CoU was nearly in arms when discussing who should represent their race to the Federation in a slightly desperate attempt to secure this alliance. It was decided that as of current, there was only one of them who could represent both side of their people. Both the Coalition, and the Nssk'Aani Clan. Rss'Kan was asked to undertake this mission, hardly believing the serious nature of what was asked of him. The thought of leaving his Clan was absolutely sickening, he simply could not accept that. But at the same time, Rss'kan couldn't help but wonder if this was the only chance he'd have? If the Bri could be driven away, it could mean an end to the war. His Clan could be safe. His people could be safe. .....He couldn't simply say no. It was a black day when he returned to his clan with this news. His siblings begged him not to leave, his father nearly forbade him, and he got into another fight with Gann'Nak. However, when Rss'Kan poured out his soul to his father, of how this could save the Nssk'Aani, Gax'Rnn relented. It was not his son's speech which had persuaded the Elder, but the resolve and commitment Rss'Kan held for that dream. It was with heavy heart that the Nssk'Aani made ready to let go one of their own to the stars.

Rss'Kan never forgot his first time in the massive Space Elevator from Tarr'n's surface to the colossal space station of Loxis. The stars he had seen so long ago were but ghost's in comparison to the grandeur and sheer wonder he felt now. The Galaxy felt as like an open door, sending him reeling with the endless possibilities. His commitment only burned hotter from there. Rss'Kan trained with the TAF's newly formed Interstellar division as they prepared to launch one of their first ever Exploration Frigates to a nearby world. He was taught the basics and advanced lessons of what it meant to operate on a vessel in deep space, transferred to one of the wrecked star ships from the few alien races that had recently visited Tarr'n. He hopped from vessel to vessel, repairing what was asked of him and learning both the differences and similarities between ships of carrying races, coming to understand the plain fundamentals needed for these massive wonders to function and operate. The CoU had been granted several advanced training A.I.s from the Federation for use in aiding with education in various fields of space exploration. Rss'Kan operated under the tutelage of one such AI, training for years before he was ready to finally move on to official training at the Federation's Fleet Academy. This meant of course that he'd be leaving Tarr'n, his world, people, and Clan, possibly for good.

Rss'Kan spent the entire day he'd been granted to prepare with his Clan. Being bathed in gifts from his siblings as he said goodbye to each and every one of them. Grann'Nak.... his twin, held a fury in his eyes that Rss'Kan had never seen. The Nssk'Aani heir struck down his brother, attacking while accusing him of lying. Lying to his sister, Kassk'Ni. Grann'Nak yelled out such things, such horrible things. That it was Rss'kan's fault she needed his help, and that now he was abandoning her, abandoning them all. Grss'Ik managed to pry Grann'Nak from his brother, who managed to land a nasty blow against the side of Rss'Kan's face. Grann'Nak, however, could not look his brother in the eyes, and left the hive for the surface world. Somehow, Rss'Kan's farewell to Kassk'Ni was even more painful. Grann'Nak was right, he was leaving her when he swore to her he wouldn't. But when Rss'Kan expressed his second thoughts, his sister batted him over the head with her tail, shushing him. She shoved a small crystal into his claws, saying that by taking this, he was promising her to come back. He didn't even bother trying to not accept it, he knew Kassk'Ni would not let him. His father offered few words, but fewer still were needed. The High Elder simply told him to do as he feels is right. It had guided him well this far, as it would always do.

Rss'Kan departed Tarr'n, leaving for the Academy and to make his way in the Federation, for the hopeful future of the Nssk'Aani. The rest, as they say, is history.