Assault pod on a Glavnovak warship

Our species had colonised terraformed planets around multiple star systems within warp-jump range of Earth before the Terran civil war and the subsequent dark age made such monumental projects unfeasible. In the subsequent 300 years, the colonies had diverged radically, developing their own cultures, political systems and goals.

Most notable was the Glavnovak Empire, which developed a cult centred around a sacred octopus-like mythical being, Kraka. The first Glavnovak emperor used this remarkable cult to unite his people, and to compel them to a single-minded pursuit of technological development, expansion and conquest. They were the first of the colonies to develop the industrial and technological wherewithal to harness their star's energy and warp-jump. Soon, their warships were crossing interstellar space. Nautilus Marines packed the assault pods, where they chanted prayers to icons of Kraka before descending on their victims, crushing, subjugating and ultimately assimilating them.