Myths about Slomon K'Hara (Nomads)

[Praetyre]

Myths about Slomon KHara (Nomads)
By Praetyre

There has been a variety of myths regarding Slomon KHara since the first stories involving them or the birth of this great story from "HNS-308". This document, solely by my own hand, aims to illustrate and debunk what I see as popular myths regarding the pleisiosaurine, blue skinned ancient guardians of Sirius;

Myth: Slomon KHara are stupid

Slomon KHara are evidently not stupid, as they managed to infiltrate at least 3 major political structures at the highest levels and maintain their hosts careers at that most socially advanced foray, politics. They are also capable of constructing vessels that are able to match stolen experimental technology from one of the most technologically advanced houses in Sirius as ships of the line. They were capable, during the Nomad War, of putting cloaking devices on ther ships, something that humans only achieved with what was likely Nomad technology (due to the infestation of Orillion's superior on the Osiris) or a one off, extreme effort (Juni, a mid ranking Liberty Security Force officer, states that the Navy could potentially use cloaking devices, but it would require a dozen battleship reactors to power).

Thus, Nomad ships are superior in power output and/or design, given they are capable of cloaking with a single battleship whereas humans of 800 AS required 12 battleship reactors worth of power to cloak. Given the complete lack of cloaking devices among today's Sirius, however, we can probably assume that the knowledge of Nomad cloaking is not known to the remnants led by Taurvi. Still, Slomon KHara have survived as a single culture for thousands upon thousands of years and developed their own civilization.

But a most clinching evidence of Nomad technology is the ability to destroy a star in some shape or form using a single ship that appears to be around 5-7 kilometres in length, judging by cutscenes.

Myth: Slomon KHara primary goal in life is the extermination of the human race

This is true in one sense, but only technically. Slomon KHara were created and act as a security force for the Daam K'Vosh Empire, a galactic or possibly even multigalactic civilization dating back at least to the Cretaceous period. The Slomon KHara do not hold a grudge against humans because of their species. What they do hold is a desire to expunge any unauthorized influence in K'Vosh territory.

Due to the fact humans (and the C'Tan Empire's incursion of the Phantoms, and the Harvesters, and the apes of Primus) are unauthorized intruders into K'Vosh territory, the Slomon KHara seek to drive them out of Sirius. They do not care if they have to wipe out all of the intruders, as long as the end result of them no longer being in K'Vosh territory was achieved. Slomon KHara hold no particular hatred for humans, it is merely that they are the primary occupiers of Sirius that causes the misconception that Slomon KHara specifically hate humans.

Myth: Slomon KHara are evil

Firstly, the application of human morality to an alien species is an exercise of anthropomorphisation. Secondly, Slomon KHara are servants of the Daam K'Vosh, and were originally created to enforce Daam K'Vosh directives. Therefore, if the Slomon KHara are commiting acts one views as evil, then the Daam K'Vosh are to blame, not their servants. Thirdly, the question is an attempt to make Slomon KHara into an evil, motiveless alien race that hates humans (see above point) for no reason and wishes to sadistically murder every other entity in the universe.

The Slomon KHara were created as caretakers and guardians. That is established by the statements of Professor Roland Quintane (to the Order, no less) in the cutscene preceding Mission 13. Any unauthorized movement into Daam K'Vosh space (which Sirius is) is considered an act of aggression and repelled accordingly. The fact humans are refugees is of little concern to the Slomon KHara, just as, for a loose analogy, the manservants at a mansion don't care if you thought it was abandoned and needed some food to eat. This makes them ruthless enforcers, but not evil. The Rheinland Military are not considered evil, but they have more free will than Slomon KHara and perform similar actions.

For a comparison, the Phantoms are a far, far better candidate for being an evil race. They are, for one, altered humans who are not under the control of hosts, so human morality can more easily be applied to to them. They are much like the Harkonnen of Dune in their morality. The Phantoms;

Have a high ranking member (Onyx) that openly claims to have invented the "deep fried baby"
Have members and ships with names like "Virus" "Hellbound" "Dark Blossom" "Savage" "Soulwound" "Desecrator" "Corrupter" "Violator" "Ravager"
"Shadow" and "Heartless"
I think this paragraph about speaks for itself;

"Comm ID: DarkStar

Ah, what a lovely day on the Oblivion...

The screams of the prisoners, the hiss of the torturers red-iron tongs, the glare of exploding ships out my window, the chaotic calls for help on the comms, curses and promises of vengeance thrown my way... Makes me feel alive again...

With help from my Lord Vulcan, and brother Desecrator, we made good work of the traders in Tau-31. I don't know how such a large infestation escaped our notice before; there must have been hundreds of little ships, all ferrying cargo from one place to another...

We slaughtered them all...

In particular, I like the spoils. Some of the lads and lasses arn't half bad to look at. So what do I do? Strip them completely, tie them up in compromising positions, and then just stare at them for a while... Oh how they squirm... Every so often I'll fall asleep, just leave the helm running so the glow of my eyes is always there... Never touch, oh no. That would be easing the fear of the unknown. But as is... Ahah, makes them so deliciously uncomfortable...

Oh yes, and I'm sure our pirate and terrorist friends will make good use of the naval pilots. They always pay so well for those sacks of meat. I'm not complaining, mind you. I think I got a bit of splattered, freeze-dried blood on my ship. Specifically around the air-lock area... Wonder how -that- could have gotten there...

Dark Star out.

Oh yes, and CO sends his regards to all of you.

- Message ends"

State "Death. Sin. Corruption" like a war cry;

"Death, Sin, Corruption... The three words that rang though the Tau 31 comm system. Death, Sin, Corruption... Were the last three words heard before their lives were perished. Death, Sin, Corruption... The Phantoms have returned to Planet Harris to spread destruction."

Are considered so frightening even criminal groups (including the Corsairs, a pirate group that eats prisoners for food) are afraid of their power and cruelty.
Treat both humans & Slomon KHara sadistically;

"A Phantom attacked shortly after I had been reinstated. He used my missles against me. Typical Phantom behavior. He rammed my missles into a trade-lane ring, turning my allies against me. I had to retreat. I left the system and I do not know whether the Phantom was killed or not. I hope he was. I saw what they did to both humans and Nomads alike. It was quite amusing when the Nomads asked ME to help them against the Phantoms. "

and managed to cause Slomon KHara to ask for help from humans.

Note that this is not an attack on the Phantoms faction or the people who roleplay in it. The Phantoms are excellent roleplayers of their role as supernaturally evil superhuman terrorists. It is merely a comparison to a good exemplar of evil in Sirius.

Slomon KHara lack sexual, sadistic, expansionistic or self identified maltheistic motives (with the lone exception of Ahriman, which can be viewed as simply an aspect of Mesopotamian influence in Nomad naming and pertains to a single culture, not a nearly universal concept of evil in "Hellbound" or "Corrupter" or the like). They also have, on at least one occasion, made truce with humans against a mutual threat and spared humans they view as no threat (such as the infant survivor of a station explosion).

Overall, Slomon KHara are no more evil than humans, and actually lack some of the corrupt influences of humans in their character. They have hostile relations with a far better candidate for an evil race in Sirius and are also an abstract alien culture in service of another, even more abstract alien culture.

---

Sig by Blackstarr.
The Man With No Name: Prologue|1|2|
After reading The Man With No Name, please comment here
The Man With No Name's Dramatis Personae (Spoilers within)
Please read

[Dusty Lens]

*applauds*

This is as informative as it is well constructed and presented. Hopefully such information will give pilots a second pause for thought next time they venture into the Omicrons, to review the depth and substance of the creatures they're facing.

//Edit: Minor gravedig, but honestly this poast warrants a second review.

[AdamantineFist]

Woooo... awesome as always, Praetyre. :cool:

---

[bluntpencil2001]

I'm afraid that I disagree with the 'not evil because they're not human' part.

If I said that, for instance, General Grievous from Star Wars was evil, would that be anthropormophisation? No, it wouldn't, as he appears to be sentient.

The Nomads appear to be intelligent enough to be considered evil, especially when they allegedly destroyed Sol without provocation, unless one is applying a particular religious doctrine which states that only humans or similar have souls.

---

[sovereign]

You have a point Blunt, not evil because not human is a bit fishy. I would still support that the Nomads are not evil, however, I mean we humans invaded their space, defiled their birthright, and disturbed their sleep. What were they supposed to do?

The incident at Sol is assuredly a strange one, but perhaps the Nomads had been watching the war of the Alliance and the Coalition (I wouldn't be surprised) and deemed us not fit to survive? Think Battlestar Galactica for a second, that reason was good enough for the Cylons to enact comparable genocide.

---

[AdamantineFist]

The Slomon K'hara are different from us. Vastly different. I doubt we could fully understand their way of thinking, or their point of view. However, the point about us coming and stomping around in their space is a good one. We're the invaders, not them.

---

[Praetyre]

General QJS/Grievous may not be a good example to use, given recent Star Wars literature has been showing him more as a brain-altered slave (he originally was a war leader fighting off an insectoid race known as the Yam'rii who were trying to enslave his people, then later went "Hiroshima" on the Yam'rii and was offered some unknown benefit by Dooku, who blew up his shuttle, San Hill tortured him electronically and then they installed alterations in the anger part of his brain and the memory part) than a malevolent entity or person like Sidious or Dooku. Furthermore, he exists in a Galaxy where A. Ontological good and evil (Light side and dark side of the Force) are shown to clearly exist in many species (There have been nonhuman Sith and Dark Jedi, such as Desann, Jerec, Darth Rivan, Darth Maul, a Chagrian Sith from the Legacy comics who's name escapes me, a Twi'Lek Sith from these same comics and even Darth Plagueis) B. Cultures generally understand each other (There's Ithorians, Twi'Leks, Rodians and the like in the Senate, and even obscure species like the Chiss or Yoda's race exist in prominent positions in Galactic society).

We don't yet know the reasons the SK destroyed Sol. Unless they are irrational and waste resources blowing up stars for no reason, they are likely to have one. There is also a possibility the SK that showed up in Sol are not the ones we see in Sirius, since Quintane's speech opens the possibility to them in other sectors of the DK Empire and developer documents indicate they had rosen against humans for their waking up of them.

My argument there is largely a caution against applying human thought or morality to extraterrestrial races. They are not totally inapplicable, but caution should be applied regardless. The Cylons are machines built by humans, whereas the SK are the genetic creations of an even more mysterious and power extraterrestrial race. Especially when you consider the fact SK are pleisiosaurine, not humanoid.

---

Sig by Blackstarr.
The Man With No Name: Prologue|1|2|
After reading The Man With No Name, please comment here
The Man With No Name's Dramatis Personae (Spoilers within)
Please read

[bluntpencil2001]

The incident at Sol is assuredly a strange one, but perhaps the Nomads had been watching the war of the Alliance and the Coalition (I wouldn't be surprised) and deemed us not fit to survive? .

That would be an exercise in arrogance, and evil. That would be like exterminating warring tribes discovered in unexplored parts of Earth.

Furthermore, being woke up and being grumpy isn't a good reason to attempt genocide. I doubt Gandhi would approve, even if you dragged him out of bed at 4am.

---

[sovereign]

That would be an exercise in arrogance, and evil. That would be like exterminating warring tribes discovered in unexplored parts of Earth.

Furthermore, being woke up and being grumpy isn't a good reason to attempt genocide. I doubt Gandhi would approve, even if you dragged him out of bed at 4am.

Good point. My theory is that the sun-killer was put in because it was cool, and made canon as an afterthought. Speaking of which, does anyone have a link to where that was said?

---

[Treewyrm]

Good point. My theory is that the sun-killer was put in because it was cool, and made canon as an afterthought. Speaking of which, does anyone have a link to where that was said?

It's mentioned as original introduction on the source it came from in the first place. Much like restored intro for the artifact showing how it came into possession of a thief and explaining much more, but once again, for the sake of not spoiling the story it was put as a bonus for those curious.

Earlier this year I shared Bonus DVD with all that material and much much more (conceptual artwork for houses, ships not made, characters, etc., documentary, music files, original introduction storyboard...) which I bought off eBay for a not-so-pretty-sum. Those who needed it - found and got it. The rest, well, sorry folks. May be I'll re-upload it soon again.