Eventually the violence subsided and if there were any survivors they started to rebuild. Of course being separated from the major supply routes the technology of survivors on worlds where the gates were either buried or looted quickly devolved. On worlds where the gates lay buried under rubble they had a very slim chance of survival if they could rebuild themselves enough to allow for the gate ways re-excavation.
It was on one such planet that the Cult of Gigus first made itself known. In the Shallann system on the planet Karthalin the people were rebuilding after an extremely violent war between the two ruling councils. Much of the land lay in ruins; the people struggled to rebuild knowing that until they did they would be involuntarily exiled from the rest of the known Universe. This lead to many mining operations in which the people attempted to gather resources needed to rebuild their homes, as well and uncover the gateway that laid buried.
During one such mining operation the workers managed to break through a tunnel wall to uncover a large wide cavern beneath the planet’s surface. Thinking the cavern may hold valuable resources they started to mine inside. Once the miners got set up they noticed odd energy readings on the equipment they managed to salvage and repair. Upon following the readings deep into the recesses of the cavern they found a large hollowed out section of the cavern floor, much like a giant pen for holding animals in. This pen contained within it Gigus mecha. As far back as they eye could see and the light could reach nothing but Gigus.
The miners of course were at a loss as to the exact nature of the mecha, but they did know it was a mecha of some sort. As such they could use them to excavate the gate, as well as defend themselves properly in case of further struggle. The Gigus were in a powered down hibernation state but soon activated when sleeping systems detected life. As we now know the Beast Mecha Skriag, Nakshi, and Gigus must “swallow” their pilots to properly handle the mecha. The miners however did not know that and assumed that the mecha were some deranged scientists attempts at a new war machine, as they ran in terror watching each other get “eaten” by the strange mecha.
It was during the joining process between the beast machine and the miners that things went from bad to worse. The miners already suffering from the mental strain of war and rebuilding their civilization could not comprehend the base primal power contained within the mecha. Not to mention about .05% of the population is set up genetically for mecha piloting, these poor souls were not part of that percentage. The joining in effect caused each and every one of the miners to go mad in an instant. They saw the Gigus as their new God. A god of fire, destruction, and wrath whose only reason for being was to destroy.
It wasn’t long after the miners went mad that every man woman and child on that planet who survived the wars was snatched up and put into a Gigus. We know this because they did uncover the gate eventually, and when they did they spilled out into the galaxy like a rapid infection. So far entire worlds have fallen to this rabid pack of Gigus. Galactic Military Services place the numbers of this pack as a whole in the thousands. Nothing short of the utter destruction of these creatures will stop them. Attempts have been made to separate the people from downed Gigus mecha but thus far have only resulted in the death of the person inside soon after separation.
Although each and every one has essentially told the rescue crews the same thing before they died. They talked of worshiping the Gigus, finding redemption in destruction, and washing the sins of the galaxy away in cleansing fire so that it may burn forever as a monument to their God the Gigus.
Submitted by Pat Willis#224534