Char
02-06-2012, 07:40 AM
In a galaxy so vast, life has found its way on many a planet. Some are still in the phases of simple bacteria while others still fight with crude metal weapons and wonder at nighttime about the stars above. A smaller percent have even begun the technologies of space flight and exploration. Yet when one takes into account the hundreds of millions, or even billions of planets able to potentially harbor life, this small percent can still indeed be a formidable number.
And so our focus shifts to these species, those who have taken to the stars! Some only leap to their nearby moons and local planets, limited by the technology of their time. Others still stretch farther, taking new planets under their wing. To say that many interstellar empires have existed and fallen is a gross understatement. To even attempt to fathom the number of such accomplished civilizations would be nigh impossible.
Most have fallen, but still, few remain. Of these, some choose war, pitting their technologies against one another. Some battles are swift and decisive, the victor being clear from the very beginning, and many more are not so. Legends have been told of battles lasting hundreds of thousands of years! Or so they say. And even though no one civilization will know but the tiniest fraction of what has come before them, history does repeat itself time and time again.
Within this very age there are civilizations that have achieved such greatness. Some still war amongst others, or even amongst themselves. Some choose isolation. Some choose to uplift the other races that may be but in their stone ages. Each civilization is vastly different from all those before it, but the larger patterns of the universe always remain the same. There is peace, there is war, politics and compromise, happiness and sadness, life and death. Such there has always been, and always will be...
http://chuck257.deviantart.com/#/d4otqt1
(^ go to this link for the image, it's not working on the forum... and there's more to come soon!)
SETTING
In a section of a galaxy, thousands of species have found each other over the course of tens of millions of years. Some have been uplifted by other species, and many have achieved their own means of technology. For the most part, technology is traded freely amongst all races, however there are naturally some who keep secrets for their own power and advantage over others. Also, each species mostly has their own form of government over their planet or planets. Some planets, though maybe run by members of the same species, may have entirely separate governments.
Races come together for trading of goods, culture, technology and so on. Trade is so important that big business, such as corporations, are essentially the main ruling factor over mostly all of the known areas of the galaxy. In fact, some planets may not have any colonists but perhaps pirates who seek to sell a rare mineral for the highest possible price they can get. As the main form of power is money or valuable goods, many of these corporations sometimes even resort to all out war with other competitors to get what they want. Almost all corporations and the like hire trained soldiers for everything from basic security to private military. As one can imagine, business can get ugly very quickly in this society.
Ordinary citizens have many jobs that one would expect: entertainment, hospitality, repairs, etc. However, many of them naturally commit themselves to one of the major corporations if they're up to the challenge. Being a hired soldier for a company isn't the only way to get killed in competition. Plenty of backstabbing goes on in the bureaucracy of dealing in both interior and exterior areas of one's own corporation. People will literally kill each other to get to the top or to snuff the competitors. Naturally, such sneaky and tricky moves can end up in corporations going into all-out war with one another.
All of that aside, society still can be a pleasant place to live, surprisingly. Many of the worlds offer exotic and beautiful landscapes, and sometimes expensive luxury resorts for those who can afford it. There are well over 100,000 known worlds, though not all are populated for multitudes of reasons. Not all of the galaxy has been uncovered, and it will probably take millions or tens of millions to discover even half of it. But in the unknown people will take risks, especially those looking for fortune and power...
TECHNOLOGY
The most important technology by far is that of space travel. Space ships work by attaching any number of modules onto a very large drive system. Putting a drive system onto every single ship is expensive and in society is considered to be a waste of resources. Only 1/8 of all functional ships in the whole of society are ever actually in space at any given time. Thus, it was considered a smart move to make each craft a partial craft that could be fixed onto a drive only when necessary. The modules are capable of lifting off from and re-entering into the atmosphere, traveling short distances in space, and functioning as a lifeboat/escape pod. Civilian sizes of these modules can vary from a very small single-person pod all the way up to specialty yachts. When a person is ready to travel to another planet, they lift up from the planet and dock at a large Station wherein they are attached to a drive system. Once arriving at their destination, the drive system is left behind at another Station, and the person may descend onto the new planet. It should be noted that militaries are able to maintain a drive system on their ships permanently, as per their need for much traveling. However, all other ships are not, including but not limited to merchant, civilian, yacht, etc.
Another important technology is that of the Station. Stations are large constructs that usually float in the nearby vicinity of a populated planet or area of importance. The most important part of a station is that it houses the massive drive systems, which would be quite troublesome to constantly lift and put down in various atmospheres. Stations are gigantic, and can house tens of millions of people in them. They are often a good place to stop for trading, resting, or recreation if one is not looking to stay in the nearby system for long.
Energy sources are another important technology. Currently, fusion of hydrogen and sometimes helium are the most popular and efficient method of energy production, especially for drive systems. Hydrogen and helium found in abundance on many atmospheres, particularly gas giants. However, technologies such as solar capturing are used on planets and Stations with a nearby star or stars. Also on planets are hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal generators.
Now, we come to weapons. Many weapons have been designed by all the various species currently known in the area of the galaxy. Some examples are melee weapons with energetic effects, electromagnetically propelled rifles, synthesized handheld lightning casters, heat-amplified blades, radiation guns, and so on. There are currently no means of producing direct energy beams, lasers, plasma weapons, blasters, etc. with current power production means. Even such powerful weapons as lightning casters and radiation guns are largely inefficient, only having one or two uses before the power source is spent, in addition to them being overly expensive. The most common weapon is currently the electromagnetic rifle/rail gun/slug thrower.
Lastly is the question of shielding/armor. No, there is no force shield or anything of the sort. The most advanced armor in existence is essentially a force dispersing material which can stop several rounds from a rail gun with the only effect to the wearer being the equivalent of a powerful shove. This material is extremely expensive and can only be afforded by powerful companies or trillionaires. This material cannot be produced in large quantities, and as such it is not able to be placed on any spaceships. The best form of defense in the known galaxy other than that is simply the rule of 'just don't get shot'.
SPECIES
Following is a list of a few known races, though thousands technically exist:
Lakemu-na: a race of amphibious creatures with tentacle appendages and a slim, very tall appearance. They have three eyes and are often covered with markings that can detail everything from their origin to their own life story or more. Lakemu-na are known for their ability to communicate with all species seamlessly because they can form conversational neurological connections with other beings. Their culture is very philosophical, and often they take much time and discussion before deciding anything. Approximately 10-11 feet in height.
Deshriel: a race of extremely large quadrapedal beings. Their already thick skin is covered in many areas with large, plate-like scales. They have one eye, large carnivorous teeth, and a long tail with a dangerous spike appendage at its end. Deshriel are one of the oldest and most advanced of all the races, having helped to developed much of the technology that exists. Approximately 20 feet in height and 37 feet from head to tail.
Klora'i: a race of bipedals who have developed a symbiotic relationship with a lichen-type lifeform that serves them as a natural form of armor. The lichen-growth can be in many colors and shapes, each making a Klora'i very unique in appearance. Their culture is based very much in honor and showing one's strength through challenging others in battle. Approximately 5-5.5 feet in height.
Ffola: a race of aerial creatures who float using a method of gasbags that lie along their back. Ffola only have two forward limbs which have a very strong grip and they also possess a both a tail and a prehensile snout to assist them in gripping, eating, and various other activities. Their culture is geared towards safety, as their evolution is that of prey. Approximately 3 feet from head to tail.
Masir: a race of insectoid bipedals with both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton, otherwise known as a biskeletal system. Their exoskeleton however, is not hard and rigid as would be expected. Rather it is somewhat flexible and not so segmented. They have exterior mandibles to assist in eating, small eyes with poor eyesight, and hair-like structures that cover their body. Masir are very community oriented and work in groups to get things done. Their preferred system is to place one specific leader as the head of all things and the others work to help the leader, though leaders have been known to get killed by the horde before. Approximately 6.5 feet tall.
(Note: custom races are certainly welcome!)
And so our focus shifts to these species, those who have taken to the stars! Some only leap to their nearby moons and local planets, limited by the technology of their time. Others still stretch farther, taking new planets under their wing. To say that many interstellar empires have existed and fallen is a gross understatement. To even attempt to fathom the number of such accomplished civilizations would be nigh impossible.
Most have fallen, but still, few remain. Of these, some choose war, pitting their technologies against one another. Some battles are swift and decisive, the victor being clear from the very beginning, and many more are not so. Legends have been told of battles lasting hundreds of thousands of years! Or so they say. And even though no one civilization will know but the tiniest fraction of what has come before them, history does repeat itself time and time again.
Within this very age there are civilizations that have achieved such greatness. Some still war amongst others, or even amongst themselves. Some choose isolation. Some choose to uplift the other races that may be but in their stone ages. Each civilization is vastly different from all those before it, but the larger patterns of the universe always remain the same. There is peace, there is war, politics and compromise, happiness and sadness, life and death. Such there has always been, and always will be...
http://chuck257.deviantart.com/#/d4otqt1
(^ go to this link for the image, it's not working on the forum... and there's more to come soon!)
SETTING
In a section of a galaxy, thousands of species have found each other over the course of tens of millions of years. Some have been uplifted by other species, and many have achieved their own means of technology. For the most part, technology is traded freely amongst all races, however there are naturally some who keep secrets for their own power and advantage over others. Also, each species mostly has their own form of government over their planet or planets. Some planets, though maybe run by members of the same species, may have entirely separate governments.
Races come together for trading of goods, culture, technology and so on. Trade is so important that big business, such as corporations, are essentially the main ruling factor over mostly all of the known areas of the galaxy. In fact, some planets may not have any colonists but perhaps pirates who seek to sell a rare mineral for the highest possible price they can get. As the main form of power is money or valuable goods, many of these corporations sometimes even resort to all out war with other competitors to get what they want. Almost all corporations and the like hire trained soldiers for everything from basic security to private military. As one can imagine, business can get ugly very quickly in this society.
Ordinary citizens have many jobs that one would expect: entertainment, hospitality, repairs, etc. However, many of them naturally commit themselves to one of the major corporations if they're up to the challenge. Being a hired soldier for a company isn't the only way to get killed in competition. Plenty of backstabbing goes on in the bureaucracy of dealing in both interior and exterior areas of one's own corporation. People will literally kill each other to get to the top or to snuff the competitors. Naturally, such sneaky and tricky moves can end up in corporations going into all-out war with one another.
All of that aside, society still can be a pleasant place to live, surprisingly. Many of the worlds offer exotic and beautiful landscapes, and sometimes expensive luxury resorts for those who can afford it. There are well over 100,000 known worlds, though not all are populated for multitudes of reasons. Not all of the galaxy has been uncovered, and it will probably take millions or tens of millions to discover even half of it. But in the unknown people will take risks, especially those looking for fortune and power...
TECHNOLOGY
The most important technology by far is that of space travel. Space ships work by attaching any number of modules onto a very large drive system. Putting a drive system onto every single ship is expensive and in society is considered to be a waste of resources. Only 1/8 of all functional ships in the whole of society are ever actually in space at any given time. Thus, it was considered a smart move to make each craft a partial craft that could be fixed onto a drive only when necessary. The modules are capable of lifting off from and re-entering into the atmosphere, traveling short distances in space, and functioning as a lifeboat/escape pod. Civilian sizes of these modules can vary from a very small single-person pod all the way up to specialty yachts. When a person is ready to travel to another planet, they lift up from the planet and dock at a large Station wherein they are attached to a drive system. Once arriving at their destination, the drive system is left behind at another Station, and the person may descend onto the new planet. It should be noted that militaries are able to maintain a drive system on their ships permanently, as per their need for much traveling. However, all other ships are not, including but not limited to merchant, civilian, yacht, etc.
Another important technology is that of the Station. Stations are large constructs that usually float in the nearby vicinity of a populated planet or area of importance. The most important part of a station is that it houses the massive drive systems, which would be quite troublesome to constantly lift and put down in various atmospheres. Stations are gigantic, and can house tens of millions of people in them. They are often a good place to stop for trading, resting, or recreation if one is not looking to stay in the nearby system for long.
Energy sources are another important technology. Currently, fusion of hydrogen and sometimes helium are the most popular and efficient method of energy production, especially for drive systems. Hydrogen and helium found in abundance on many atmospheres, particularly gas giants. However, technologies such as solar capturing are used on planets and Stations with a nearby star or stars. Also on planets are hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal generators.
Now, we come to weapons. Many weapons have been designed by all the various species currently known in the area of the galaxy. Some examples are melee weapons with energetic effects, electromagnetically propelled rifles, synthesized handheld lightning casters, heat-amplified blades, radiation guns, and so on. There are currently no means of producing direct energy beams, lasers, plasma weapons, blasters, etc. with current power production means. Even such powerful weapons as lightning casters and radiation guns are largely inefficient, only having one or two uses before the power source is spent, in addition to them being overly expensive. The most common weapon is currently the electromagnetic rifle/rail gun/slug thrower.
Lastly is the question of shielding/armor. No, there is no force shield or anything of the sort. The most advanced armor in existence is essentially a force dispersing material which can stop several rounds from a rail gun with the only effect to the wearer being the equivalent of a powerful shove. This material is extremely expensive and can only be afforded by powerful companies or trillionaires. This material cannot be produced in large quantities, and as such it is not able to be placed on any spaceships. The best form of defense in the known galaxy other than that is simply the rule of 'just don't get shot'.
SPECIES
Following is a list of a few known races, though thousands technically exist:
Lakemu-na: a race of amphibious creatures with tentacle appendages and a slim, very tall appearance. They have three eyes and are often covered with markings that can detail everything from their origin to their own life story or more. Lakemu-na are known for their ability to communicate with all species seamlessly because they can form conversational neurological connections with other beings. Their culture is very philosophical, and often they take much time and discussion before deciding anything. Approximately 10-11 feet in height.
Deshriel: a race of extremely large quadrapedal beings. Their already thick skin is covered in many areas with large, plate-like scales. They have one eye, large carnivorous teeth, and a long tail with a dangerous spike appendage at its end. Deshriel are one of the oldest and most advanced of all the races, having helped to developed much of the technology that exists. Approximately 20 feet in height and 37 feet from head to tail.
Klora'i: a race of bipedals who have developed a symbiotic relationship with a lichen-type lifeform that serves them as a natural form of armor. The lichen-growth can be in many colors and shapes, each making a Klora'i very unique in appearance. Their culture is based very much in honor and showing one's strength through challenging others in battle. Approximately 5-5.5 feet in height.
Ffola: a race of aerial creatures who float using a method of gasbags that lie along their back. Ffola only have two forward limbs which have a very strong grip and they also possess a both a tail and a prehensile snout to assist them in gripping, eating, and various other activities. Their culture is geared towards safety, as their evolution is that of prey. Approximately 3 feet from head to tail.
Masir: a race of insectoid bipedals with both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton, otherwise known as a biskeletal system. Their exoskeleton however, is not hard and rigid as would be expected. Rather it is somewhat flexible and not so segmented. They have exterior mandibles to assist in eating, small eyes with poor eyesight, and hair-like structures that cover their body. Masir are very community oriented and work in groups to get things done. Their preferred system is to place one specific leader as the head of all things and the others work to help the leader, though leaders have been known to get killed by the horde before. Approximately 6.5 feet tall.
(Note: custom races are certainly welcome!)