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In the [[Homeworld]] series, the Bentusi are a race of space-faring technology traders, who help the [[Kushan (Homeworld)|Kushan]] fleet in their quest to find [[Hiigara]].

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[[Image:Bentusi 1.gif|thumb|Bentusi Exchange from ''[[Homeworld]]'']]
[[Image:Bentusi 2.jpg|thumb|Bentus, from ''[[Homeworld 2]]'']]
[[Image:Bentusi.jpg|thumb|A Bentusi attached to his ship (animatic screenshot)]]

==Overview==
Calling themselves ''The Unbound'', the Bentusi are a very ancient, wise race who do not claim any planet for themselves, instead opting to live exclusively among the stars. It would probably be impossible for the Bentusi to even survive outside of their ships, given that they are physically connected to them, as shown in "Homeworld: Cataclysm" (Refer to the picture on the right). The Bentusi are one of the three races to possess hyperspace cores, along with the [[Vaygr]] and [[Hiigara|Hiigarans]].

Although the Bentusi are one of the most technologically advanced races in the Homeworld universe, they choose to remain peaceful unless their [[Mothership]]s are attacked. This does not stop them from selling and trading powerful combat technology with other races, though. In the second game, the Bentusi, with their harbor-ship, Bentus, helped the Hiigarans repair the powerful Dreadnought Phase Cannon Array, but were attacked by the mysterious Progenitor Keepers. The Keepers proved to be extremely resilient, as they were virtually indestructible. The Bentus self-destructed to save the Hiigarans from their mysterious enemies, relinquishing the first Hyperspace Core, and imploring the Hiigarans to unite the trinity of the three cores.

It is revealed in ''[[Homeworld 2]]'' that 3000 years before the events of ''[[Homeworld]]'', the Hiigarans and the Taiidani became embroiled in a heated border dispute.  When appeals to the great council didn't work, the Hiigarans were desperate for any means possible to fight back against their enemy, and when they found the second hyperspace core, they used it to destroy the Taiidani homeworld, bypassing most of the Taidani fleet. The shock of seeing how easily the Higarans had done this spurred the great council into action however, they demanded that the Hiigarans give up the core, and bestowed the Bentusi the responsibility of acquiring the core and disarming the Higarians of their fleet.

The Hiigarans debated among themselves if they should in fact follow the orders of the council. They did not take lightly the threat of fighting the advanced Bentausi, but as the only other option was to simply give up, they decided to make a fight of it. The Bentusi arrived to retrieve the core and found as expected the Higaran fleet lying at anchor, powered down. Their flagship which contained the core was dormant and the core half exposed and ready for removal..when the Higarans struck. Every ship suddenly was thrown into an emergency power up cycle bringing their weapons online with no warning, every ship that could fired on the single Bentusi ship, their great harbor ship of Bentus, targeting the Bentusi's own hyperspace core, risking everything on this one throw of the dice. 

Unfortunately, the Higarans failed. Their opening salvo did not cripple the Bentusi flagships core and using its power, the Bentusi pulled in through hyperspace combat ready battle groups that had been waiting nearby, starting an enormous battle. The Higarans fought superbly, their flagship hyper spacing around the battleground to continually lend its aid to ships that started to struggle, but Bentus was always right behind it, matching every maneuver it made. Steadily, the superior technology of the Bentusi started to tell and the Higaran fleet collapsed. In a final act, the Higaran flagship crashed itself into the Angel Moon of Higara, detaching the core at the last second which was presumed destroyed in the explosion. 

The Bentusi themselves grieved just as much as anybody else after the destruction of the Higaran fleet. They, after thousands of years had found a possible equal and had been forced to destroy them in a pointless battle due to their enforcement of the councils orders. As a consequence, they vowed to never make war on another race again...not even to help the Hiigarans from the vengeful Taiidan, who still had an intact fleet and a destroyed homeworld.

=="The Unbound"==
This is the title the '''Bentusi''' give to themselves, indicating a sense of pride in the race's lack of a home planet or perhaps some other aspect. In ''[[Homeworld: Cataclysm]]'' it is hinted that '''Unbound''' may actually refer to freedom from organic restraints, perhaps contributing to a higher sense of being. They refer quite obviously (though out of context) to [[Karan S'jet]] who they call Unbound. Because of this, many fans believe that the term ''Unbound'' may possess more than one meaning and may mean more than the 'mere' ability to travel through space at [[faster-than-light]] speeds.  It may also refer to how she was physically integrated into the Mothership, much like the Bentusi are with their ships, thus making the physical body one with the ship. When [[The Beast (Homeworld)|The Beast]] entity attempts to consume a Bentusi vessel in Homeworld: Cataclysm, the Bentusi self-destruct. They are completely disgusted and repulsed even to the point of fear by the Beast infection, refusing to be "bound".

==Bentusi capabilities==
Prior to the Hiigaran exile, the Bentusi were a prominent military force in the Homeworld universe. They had emerged early on the galactic stage, and were the first race to discover far-jumper technology, using a powerful hyperspace core capable of hurling ships over incredible distances. Using the power of the far-jumper, the Bentusi quickly established the Old Trade Routes, and spread their influence across the galaxy. Soon after the establishment of the Trade Routes, the Bentusi took upon themselves the mantle of "Galactic Peacekeepers". Using the far-jumper housed in their harbourship, Bentus, the Bentusi could send their entire fleet to quell interplanetary wars with their superior technology. However, many systems did not like being little more than protectorates of the Bentusi, and began conspiring with other planets to bring an end to the Bentusi's "tyranny". Almost overnight, dozens of wars broke out across the galaxy. The Bentusi fleet, though indisputably powerful, could only be in one place at one time. As the dust settled, several new Empires had been created, and the Galactic Council was formed. The Bentusi's reign had ended. 

Perhaps the most drastic example of Bentusi military doctrine can be seen in the depiction of the historical standoff between Hiigaran and Bentusi forces. Bentus, after having been taken under fire from Hiigaran ships in a surprise attack, activated its far-jumper, wrenching the Bentusi fleet from nearby staging grounds. As the fight went on, the Bentus made use of its far-jumper to make tactical jumps to support forces around the battlefield. The Hiigarans also utilized a far-jumper, but their inexperience and the sheer technological superiority of the Bentusi one-to-one, led to their defeat. 

After the Hiigaran exile, the Bentusi "demilitarized" their fleets, however their remaining tradeships still retained formidable firepower. Homeworld: Cataclysm introduced the 'super-acolyte' fighter, a swift assault craft sporting smaller ion cannons. If one assumes continuity between Homeworld: Cataclysm and Homeworld 2 (an assumption debated over by fans of the series), then the power of the original Bentusi fleet must have been unparalleled. Bentusi ships have only been seen armed with beam weaponry. 

The Bentusi also have an unparalleled array of information at their disposal, and in the original Homeworld sold a wide variety of technologies, such as the Ion Cannon to the Kushan exiles. They require resources (RU) in return for this technology. What the Bentusi do with the resources is unknown, but it can be assumed that repairs to their vessels (which are their bodies in a sense, due to their physical integration) are important to their survival.

The information that the Bentusi have could also extend to that of a Progenitor level, repairing the '''Dreadnaught's Phase Cannon Array''' after it was used successfully against a Vaygr attack fleet, but becoming irrepairably damaged after overloading the array and becoming unrepairable using normal Hiigaran technology. In Homeworld Cataclysm, the Bentusi helped repair the '''Kuun-Lan's Siege Cannon''' by providing plans for reinforced superconducting heat sinks, which enabled the cannon to fire repeatedly. In addition to that, the Bentusi traded with the Hiigarans, supplying them with Ion Beam weaponry.

==Bentusi ships==
*[[Ships of Homeworld|Bentusi Exchange]]
*[[Ships of Homeworld|Bentusi Cargo Barge]]
*[[Ships of Homeworld|Super Acolyte]]
*[[Ships of Homeworld|Bentus]]

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[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial species]]
[[Category:Homeworld series]]