Progenitor (Homeworld)

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The Progenitors are an immensely powerful and technologically advanced race presented in the Homeworld Universe, the computer game series published by Sierra Entertainment. The race seemingly went extinct around one-hundred thousand years in the past. Much of what remains from of their civilization is found in the Karos Graveyard, an area of space full of derelict spacecraft.

The three Hyperspace Cores were created by the Progenitors in the forge module of one of their greatest spaceships. The forge module also served as the berth for the Progenitor spacecraft known as Dreadnoughts. One of the cores was somehow discovered by the Bentusi six thousand years ago. This discovery allowed them to travel and conduct trade across vast interstellar distances, and their creation of these interstellar trade networks ushered in an age of galactic prosperity.

The second core was discovered by the pre-Exodus Kushan people who inhabited the world of Hiigara. Their misuse of the core in wars of aggression led to their exile to the desert world of Kharak. The third core was discovered by the Vaygr, and the central conflict of Homeworld 2 revolves around bringing the three hyperspace cores together and unlocking their secrets.

The Progenitors seem to possess great knowledge of interstellar, and even intergalactic, travel. Their hyperspace gate network, of which The Eye of Arran was its primary hyperspace gateway, is one of the many constructs created by this ancient race. There is also conjecture that the Progenitors possibly "seeded" intelligence through the galaxy.

Some Progenitor constructs include:

Movers: Automated utility vessels whose programming deteriorated over the millennia, they are extremely hostile and swarm over ships that stray too close to the Progenitor ruins in the Karos Graveyard. It should be noted that these vessels resemble the "Junkyard Dog", an automated vessel from the first Homeworld game that defended the Graveyard in a manner similar to the Movers.

Keepers: Very strong ships armed with fast-firing phased cannons. They possess incredible firepower and are able to disappear or "phase-out" when damaged, only to return fully repaired and stronger than before. Keepers are highly maneuverable battlecruiser-class ships that can seriously damage the player's fleet, especially when the player doesn't have his or her own battlecruisers to match it. Keepers are also capable of launching a number of automated combat drones.

Drones: These fighter-sized A.I-controlled combat vessels are launched by the Keepers. They are armed with powerful kinetic cannons and are very durable. However, Drones cannot target fighters very accurately, and are more effective against larger vessels.

Balcora Gate: Extremely powerful hyperspace gate with enough energy to send matter through the blackhole cluster at Balcora. The Dreadnoughts were needed to activate it.

Dreadnoughts: Two of these powerful ships were created by the Progenitors, one ended in Makaan's possession, and the second one was found by the Hiigarans, causing the awakening of the Keepers. The Dreadnought is armed with a powerful gun that fires fast and very destructive projectiles, but its main weapon is the Phased Ion Array cannon, which fires a wide, powerful ion beam.

Sajuuk: Sajuuk itself is also a Progenitor construct. It is also an extremely powerful warship that is capable of destroying any other ship in the game in a one-on-one battle. Sajuuk is armed with a more powerful phased cannon array than the Dreadnaught and has many defensive weapons. It is also the only ship in the single player game that can be commanded to make tactical hyperspace jumps.

Mothership: This is the massive Progenitor vessel that broke up near the Karos Graveyard, and whose ruins are littered all throughout the sector. In this wreckage, the Keeper automatons are still active, attempting to repair and defend this long-dead relic. The massive, ancient mothership has broken into numerous large sections: the Dreadnought Berth section (aft), the Foundry section (center), and the bow Bridge section (also referred to as the "Lighthouse", which housed the Oracle). The forward section has split into numerous smaller pieces.