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The '''Fra'al''' are a mercilesstechnologically advanced, nomadic highly psychic and merciless [[Xenos|alien race]]. They are mysterious; who they are is unknown and aside from a few scattered stories mankind remains blissfully ignorant of the Fra'al. What is known of them is strictly prohibited by the [[Ordo Xenos]], but in legend they are renowned for their technology and piratical raids¹² known for their piracy . ==Society==The Fra'al are believed both to have an empire and to be primarily nomadic^{2 3}. Occasionally sighted in the [[Gothic Sector]] (particularly in including the [[Bhein Morr Sub-Sector]] of as raiders), the neighbouring [[Gothic Tamahl Sector]]and the [[Osiris Cluster]] (over six hundred years ago), their empire is thought to be be based (at least mostly) in Segmentum Obscurus^{4 5 6}. While their empire includes planets which which they protect and an organisational system including Satraps (local rulers) who are known to have traded with the [[Imperium]] on occasion (probably mostly indirectly through [[Rogue Traders]] in the [[Cold Trade]], greedily selling secrets and even human slaves for Fra'al technology), they are better known as raiders, attacking various convoys and systems^{1 2}) . The [[Imperial Navy]] chases down and engages Fra'al raiders in fleet actions, though the Fra'al agenda on these raids remain obscure^{4 6 7}. ==Technology==Little Fra'al technology is known to or understood by the Imperium, with what has been traded described by the Fra'al Satrap [[Master Vray]] as "mere trinkets and toys... the least of our crafts"². One of the main advances that the Fra'al have over other races is that of Ether technology, the basis of the deadly Ether Cannons of their bizarre weaponsBattlecruisers which fire a pulsed energy beam at the enemy ship, causing an Ether field which corrodes the enemy hull, ignoring and even overloading conventional shields and [[Eldar]] holofields; [[Tech-priest]] [[Hieronomus Tezla]] "won great renown amongst his fellows for his audacious examination of a crashed Fra'al spacecraft in the Tamahl sector and his subsequent etheric-plasma theorums"⁵. These weapons include the  The [[Fra'al Glass Knife]]is rumoured by the smugglers of the [[Halo Stars]] border to be Fra'al technology: jagged blades made sharp enough to split [[ceramite]] by continually fracturing tiny shards from their cutting edges which are infamous for working their way into wounds, causing agonising injuries¹² . The [[Chaos]] [[Idolator Raider]] with its accurate long ranged weaponry may provide another example of the mysterious Fra'al technology; it is known to incorporate many non-human systems and many strange starship weaponsfeatures, some thought probably to have been bought or stolen from other space-faring races such as the [[Kroot]] and the Fra'al⁸. ===Spacecraft===[[Fra'al Battlecruiser]]s are the most frequently encountered of their ships, though these are deployed by their expert commanders only sparingly and raid infrequently. Though it is unknown why they fight in this way they are either usually found alone when protecting their planets from orbit or in pairs when raiding. They are extremely powerful craft, with a deadly Ether Cannon which may have been "appropriated" for use on ignores shields (and even [[Eldar]] holofields), often subsequently overloading them, allowing their conventional lance batteries to attack with impunity¹. The Fra'al Battleship [[Sharak-Fraka]] was destroyed by the [[Emperor Class Battleship]] [[Divine Right]], possibly during the [[Idolator RaiderBattle of Fraga'Tral]][312.M39]³⁹.

*¹: 'New Threat Alert!: Fra'al Battle Cruiser' from [[Planet Killer Magazine]] 1, pp. 21-22*²: [[Dark Heresy: Disciples of the Dark Gods]], ppp. 72-74*²³:[http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic ResourcesRulebook], Inside back cover*⁴: [http: 41st Millennium//www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook] p97 (accessed 2010, p.1297*⁵: 'Tech-Priest Tezla' from [[White Dwarf]] 260, p. 65*⁶: [[Execution Hour]], p.23)5*⁷: 'New Phenomena' from [[Fanatic Online]] 20*³⁸:[http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic ResourcesRulebook], p. 125*⁹: [http: Ships of the //www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic SectorRulebook] p125 (accessed 2010, p.12.23)88