Kadeshi Champions by InocPrime

Published on Kiith Iopia on the 19 April 2001

In the great and expansive mind banks of the Bentusi, where all knowledge and history of the Bentusi and those they encounter is kept, is held a chapter in the story of a younger race. The tale of the Kadeshi is read with avad interest by those who share data with the Bentusi, but one critical aspect of their existence is known to only a select few. That of the original debate over allowing their existence. A debate that had once caused a short war between the Tiemat and the Bentusi.

In the days before the rise of the Hiigaran Empire and before the existence of the Taiidani Hordes that destroyed it, there were a hundred empires spanning minor systems, but all linked by the common thread of Bentusi alliance. Through this alliance knowledge and information was known to all, and a balance held these tiny races in check. Though the meddling Tiemat peoples would have things differently. They believed that through the dominance of a single race the galaxy could be subdued, thus operating in direct opposition to the Bentusi balance of races. The Tiemat, to further their principles, would cause the rise of the Taiidani and the Hiigarans by destroying the races surrounding their homeworlds. The new void created by the lack of buffer races allowed each to grow exponentionally, though the Hiigarans would grow larger more quickly.

The Hiigaran Empire eventually assimilated huge spans of space, pushing the Taiidani back towards the original systems they took for themselves. But the growth of the Hiigarans and diminishing counts of other races was not the prime concern of the Galactic Council. The Tiemat and the Bentusi, the most powerful races of the Galactic Council, were both bent on preventing the other from gaining more sway in the galaxy. So, active war broke out between the two mighty races.

As hundreds of ships fought and destroyed each other, the minor members of the Galactic Council prepared a proposal. This document stated that the Tiemat and the Bentusi would select a race, whether it be present or future, that would champion their prinicples for them. Both races felt disdain for the deaths their war had caused, so the proposal was agreed upon, and champions were selected. For the Bentusi, it would be the Hiigaran Empire and later the Kushan, while the Tiemat selected the future Kadeshi race. The Tiemat predicted their existence, though not without doubt, and risked much in supporting them.

It was at this time that the Tiemat began making preparations for their future. They engineered the events that would divide the Hiigaran refugees, the destruction of Hiigara being their work aswell. And then they made ready the nebula that would harbor them. In this fashion the Hiigarans became the Kushan and the Kadeshi became a true race after the Taiidani's destruction of Hiigara.

The end of this story is the Kushan's journey back to their ancient home, and the quiet destruction of the Tiemat's champion. The Bentusi had been victorious. Though victory had been theirs, they dissolved the agreement and allowed the tiny remnants of the Kadeshi to thrive and eventually join with the Hiigaran Empire. In this fashion, the Bentusi set forth on a new journey of their own. One that would unite the galaxy, peacefully and democratically, rather then in a dominion as the Tiemat would have.

Though galactic unity will be only a dream for another thousand years, the Bentusi make every effort they can to make ready for it's coming.