| Subjugates of Plagueis
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House Plagueis
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Enslaved
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- Crewmen
- Pilots
- Support Troops
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- Several thousand crewmen
- Several hundred pilots
- 110 Engineer peons
- 40 Medical peons
- Several thousand minions
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Vocabulator
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Subjugates are a division of the enslaved forces of House Plagueis. Unlike Ravagers or Wraiths, Subjugates are subjected to procedures to eliminate individuality, increase tactical efficiency, and enforce subdued obedience. Subjugate forces comprise support units like engineers and medics, while also forming the starship and vehicle crews of the House and including a servile class.
History
In 35 ABY, following the destruction of the Jusadih System, House Plagueis was forced to flee aboard the badly-damaged Ascendancy. Holding only the Dark Jedi survivors and their Trandoshan allies of Saraask'ar, the damaged Destroyer's de facto captain and Quaestor, Tra'an Reith, found himself at the site of the long-abandoned Vaiken Spacedock.
With few options remaining to keep his House alive, the Shi'ido resorted to desperate measures. On the advice of his Rollmaster, Eiko, Reith ordered the crew to ambush passing bulk freighters and pillage their supplies.
The crews of these ships, who largely surrendered, were taken prisoner and made to pilot the Ascendancy as the size of the desperate raids increased. With just enough supplies to survive, Tra'an and the rest of the Plagueian leadership devised a plan that would display the ruthlessness of the Sith in full effect.
After segregating those useful for indoctrination as warriors and assassins elsewhere, the smartest, most clever, and most organizationally-minded individuals were selected for use as slave crews and support personnel. While humans and near-human species were best suited for the conditioning process, several alien species, Duros in particular, were also viable candidates. Only prisoners from species that were unfit for conditioning were not considered. Among these were those species that were resistant to the Force, as well as members of most insectoid races. These prisoners were either sold by the Saraask'ar or put to death.
Those who survived the selection process were immediately stripped of any defining and individual marks, gelded, and subjected to medical procedures, chemical and gene treatments, and traumatic conditioning to make them utterly subservient, competent, efficient, and unflinchingly loyal to the forces of Plagueis. Trained by the Sith and Obelisk of the House, they were made ready to pilot vehicles, serve support roles, and crew the Ascendancy. Though each division served different purposes, each was made to look identical. Intended to make each individual like his or her fellow slaves, the procedure allowed the Plagueians to train a capable flight crew in only a few weeks.
The newly-minted crew was thrust into battle almost immediately, manning the repaired ‘’Ascendancy’’ during the attack on Task Force Apex over Ord Pardron. They joined the boarding parties sent to capture the Galactic Alliance ships which, because of their superior coordination, they were able to take control of before Alliance forces could respond. These new pilots and starship crewmen quickly turned the would-be battle into an all-out slaughter. As the ships were taken, modified, and renamed, the crews found their ranks swelled by those suitable candidates who were among the surrendering Alliance forces.
Skills and Abilities
Subjugates serve in a wide variety of support roles among the forces of House Plagueis. They are most often seen aboard ships of the Ascendant Fleet, performing all the roles normally performed by enlisted personnel aboard a starship. They are also used as medical personnel, pilots, and vehicle drivers and attendants.
Though their attributes might make them seem docile, the lack of identity and individuality is a large factor in the nature of the surprisingly ruthless and unscrupulous Subjugates. To them, morality is an aberrant concept, and life is either an asset to be saved or an obstacle to be eliminated. Outside of their duties, nothing else matters.
Weapons and Equipment
Subjugate gear consists of black suits, designed to provide light armor while stealing any individualism. The jumpsuits that Subjugates wear possess no distinguishing features and are all designed to cover every inch of skin, complete with a helmet that covers their entire heads. Their vision is filtered through red lenses and their vocal chords - removed during Subjugation, along with their tounges - are replaced by simple vocabulators that give them monotone, identical voices.
The only individual piece of gear they wear are the left gloves - each bears a stripe that indicates their purpose. This is for the benefit of the Plagueians ruling them; every Subjugate knows his or her place from his or her first days, and needs no help to find his or her duties.
Armament for Subjugates varies depending on their specific task.. Whatever the assignment, a Subjugate learns to operate all equipment within it; while Subjugates specialize in their own station, they can readily assume another. In this way, they are less of a fighting unit than a support unit, operating machinery and keeping ships and equipment in good condition.
Subjugation
During the segregation of new slaves, those individuals who were already crewmen, pilots, or support crew among those captured are taken aside, as well as any who show signs of high intelligence, low individuality, or efficiency in their duties.
The first step of the subjugation process is to painfully remove any signs of individual identity. Any tattoos, birthmarks, or other distinguishing features of a person are burned off. The slaves see all of their hair permanently removed, have their tongues and vocal chords surgically removed, and are gelded.Their vocal cords are replaced by vocabulator units that all use the same monotone voice. Their eyes are surgically altered for 20/20 vision, while Krath procedures render their irises a dull gray. As a final touch, they receive metallic ports for intravenous insertions in their carotid arteries, and they are fed Sith solutions that rapidly taint their skin cells to turn whatever pigment they were to a pale, near-translucent gray. This makes nearly all Subjugates identical and horrific to look upon, like walking corpses.
Exposed to intense surgery, chemical, and gene therapy, Subjugate brains are altered to enhance intelligence, memory, and efficiency, while decreasing individuality and free will. They are brainwashed to forget their past selves using conventional and Force-based manipulation, while being indoctrinated to see Plagueians as deific figures; it becomes their only purpose in life to serve their dark masters. The Subjugates are subjected to brain surgery and toxins that dull the body's ability to properly feel pain; this limits their fear of it, and allows them to fear displeasing Plagueis more than death.
As a final touch, each Subjugate is implanted with a device at the back of his or her head, just above the base of the neck. This can be seen from the outside as a dark-gray metal oval. It does not enhance ther thought processes or change any thinking patterns directly; the implant is a minor creation of Mechu Deru, and it filters a Subjugate’s blood through it without actually changing any of the physical properties. Due to the Dark Side energies trapped within the implant, it gradually taints Subjugates’ blood cells toward Dark Side corruption, a sort of Force-based radiation poisoning that makes them easier to twist and corrupt. It also allows the Overseer to more easily monitor the mental condition of the Subjugates.
Finally, during physical conditioning, Subjugates exercise to become sufficiently lithe, strong, and energetic for their respective duties. Steroidal compounds and body-punishing Sith poisons speed this process up significantly, though this is all very taxing on the system. Subjugate lifespans are estimated at around five to twelve years after indoctrination.
Subjugates, strictly speaking, have no names; the titles of whatever position or duty they assume takes the place of an identifying monicker. They are addressed by duty, callsign, or position, and while they do not desire advancement they will fill the void of fallen comrades without fail, to the point of responding to their fallen ally's old title instantly.