<<ALERT! ENCRIPTED TIGHT BEAM INCOMING FROM:
ERROR! NO SIGNATURE DETECTED>>
<<MESSAGE FOLLOWS>>
Hey, I have a contact looking for pilots, only the best; thought you might be interested. Seems like a long term gig and good pay. Seems like a good opportunity for you to get out from under you-know-who's radar. Ping me back on the regular channels and I will forward you the RV. -T
<<MESSAGE ENDS>>
Setting:
The Sol system is a truck stop, not much of interest there compared to the rest of the sector. In fact, the humans might still be stuck their thinking they were alone in the universe if surveyors looking to open a new trade route to connect The Hegemony to the Sovereign Systems during the Colonial Succession hadn't stumbled on Earth when they spotted the garden world in a passing system.
It is however a great place to disappear of the galactic radar.
A 'lawless primitive system' according to the average galactic citizen. Earth is the only planet with any intersystem government connections with Mars and Luna only loosely under the United Nations of Earth's control.
The outer systems are a frontier, dominated by anyone who has the resources and manpower to beat down anyone in their way.
The nearby trade route passing the Sol system make it a great hideout and staging area for gangs and splinter factions that operate on the fringes of neighboring Hegemony and Sovereign Systems space.
(after some discussion, I have decided to make the universe as open as possible.
So any race or craft configuration is up for grabs provided we maintain a relatively equal level of technology.)
The Hook:
James Ackerman; a former soldier, turned soldier of fortune, had gotten out while the getting was good. Now he was sitting on a dubiously earned fortune and an early retirement, but sitting on a beach drinking all day lost its shine quickly after working to keep himself alive for the last two decades.
Investing in a surplused frigate, he found a crew chief and mechanic, now he needed a crew. Sending feelers out through his old contacts he began his search for the best pilots in the verse.
Intensity- Moderate
I would take that as characters can be seriously injured but not outright killed in all but the most extreme circumstances and their actions could affect other players to the point of setting them back as well, but generally to a lesser extent than themselves.
Spoiler: Races
Spoiler: CalamerAn Aquatic race and one of the newest unwilling client races of the Hegemony, these giant squid like sentients, have a mantle varying from clear to translucent in a variety of colors. They have two forward facing eyes and 8 tentacles, four of them appear to be used to grasp and manipulate objects similar to hands. The rest of their flesh is generally a darker nearly opaque color. Calamer have no differences determinable to alien races between male and female and live nearly a millennium.
Many Calmer have fled their home world for the safety of other aquatic worlds in UFP or SoSys space while the proud Calmer populace continue resistance to Hegemony rule.Spoiler: Endur’ayn
These three eyed, four armed, mammalian bipeds gained a reputation as salvage warriors when the first Thovin exploration teams made contact. The Endur’ayn War Lord Ter-ack was eager to trade with the technologically advanced visitors. The exploration team returned three planetary months later to discover the equipped Warlord had nearly subjugated the entire planet. Despite being deep in SoSym space many Endur’ayn have joined the Hegemony and made their way to high ranking positions.
Their average life spanned at a century, but tower above most races at 2-3 meters and nearly 500 pounds. This mono gendered race lays eggs that are taken care of by both parents until the hatchling reaches maturity at 15 standard years.
Spoiler: Race: The HameeSpoiler: Home Planet: DarsilThe planet Darsil is the second circumbinary planet in a binary star system, revolving around both stars. Because of this extended orbit, Darsil’s revolutionary period is approximately double that of Earth’s. Despite their similarity in size, one star is a orange dwarf while the other is a yellow dwarf, resulting in visibly different suns. Roughly 1.15 times the size of Earth, two much smaller moons are caught in Darsil’s orbit. Darsil is a fairly wet world, dominated by vast green oceans and thick rainforests. However, in the not-so-distant past, Darsil underwent a massive climate shift, going from a hotter, drier planet to a somewhat cooler and much wetter climate. This change allowed the sentient species of Darsil to evolve into the space-faring civilization they are now.
Spoiler: Physical InformationThe Hamee stand 2 to 3 meters in height, rivaling the Endur’ayn in build. However, that is where the similarities end. A blend of avian and reptilian features, the Hamee are a far cry from the mammalian Endur’ayn. Standing on two digitigrade legs and two zygodactyl feet, the Hamee are capable of rotating their fourth toe back and forth. From the base of their spine hangs a long, prehensile tail tipped with a deadly blade. The Hamee possess two powerful arms built for brachiation. Like their feet, Hamee hands are made up of four digits, two pointing in one direction, one pointing the opposite, and one that can rotate in either direction.
Hamee heads are perched on long, flexible necks and can face in nearly any direction. A Hamee’s face is a smoothly sloped reptilian snout with a small, backwards curving horn at the tip. Inside their jaws, the Hamee have two rows of teeth and a long, forked tongue. The Hamee have three sets of two eyes each, two smaller sets on either side of the larger primary set. The first set can see into the infrared spectrum, while the primary eyes see mostly the same colors as human vision, and the final set can detect ultraviolet light. Their eyes all connect to the vision center in their thrice-segmented brain, forming a highly detailed picture.
The Hamee are covered in scaly skin, but also possess a protective pseudo-exoskeleton made of overlapping plates of thick scales. This pseudo-exoskeleton covers the chest, legs, arms, neck, head, and tail. Even the eyelids are armored. However, there are chinks in this armor. The armpits, crotch, and the underside of their jaw are all unprotected. There are also certain parts that are weaker, or points where it is easier to pierce, namely the elbows, popliteal fossa, and most of the face. The armor, except in these places, are resistant to most melee kinetic weapons, ranged kinetic weapons at a certain distance, low-grade flame, and even some acids. Chemically-fueled flames, most acids, and lasers will still pass through this armor without issue.
The Hamee internal structure is remarkably similar to humans, save for the skeleton and some organs. The skeletons of Hamee are flexible and light, more prone to bending than breaking. This leads to the Hamee being significantly lighter than races of similar stature such as the Endur’ayn. One structure of note is the gastralia, a set of “abdominal ribs” that connect to the abdominal muscles and provide support. In addition to the gastralia, the Hamee possess a four-chambered heart, three lungs, and an egg-laying reproductive cycle. Because of their four-chambered heart and third lung, their circulatory system is incredibly efficient. An injured Hamee will also automatically shut off blood flow to a heavy injury, allowing them to survive more grievous wounds, including the loss of one or multiple limbs. Hamee live about 300 years on average, though some can live to be 400.
Spoiler: HumansOriginating on Earth, this binary gender primate species comes in the widest diversity range of any sentient race in the Milky Way so far.
Spoiler: Inusannon
The insectoid founding race of the Hegemony and the oldest galactic government, they originate from the core-ward galactic ring and little is known of their origins even amongst themselves as they have little use for historical records.
A tear drop shaped head is the forward most of a three segmented body. Two long antennae serve to identify other Inusannon and sense the Pheromone they historically used to communicate. Two mandibles can grasp with crushing force. Six legs, three jointed with two toes on each all serve to grasp or for locomotion. The front two legs primarily serve as 'arms' with the rear four as the 'legs'
A hard, shiny black exoskeleton shifts between metallic purples and greens under white light with markings inherited from the brood parents as matte stripes, spots and mottling on the back of their carapace primarily to be felt by other Inusannon antennae for identification.
Their hard shell provides protection from hard vacuum and their EVA time is only limited by their oxygen metabolism.
Preferring their natural pheromones for communication they use them between Inusannon and other races sensitive enough to detect them. Most Inusannon leaving their colony have 'translators' mounted to their carapace on their forehead between eyes and antennae that interpret the scents into audible speech.
A tri-gendered race, their size varies by gender, but is otherwise uniform.
Males are 1.25 meters in length, have larger heads in comparison to the rest of their body and are the least numerous consisting of 10% of the population. They normally live 30 GSY
Females are 0.75 meters, have longer antennae and mandibles than the other two genders, and are the most numerous at 70% of the population. They normally live 15 GSY
Brooders are 3.5 meters in length with their elongated rear segment nearly half their length. They receive genetic material from the other two genders and incubate the fertilized eggs until they are birthed as larva. They make up 30% of the population and live to nearly three GSY centuries.
Originally Posted by EnigmaSpoiler: KotoniaKotonia, an obscure agricultural Heg world, is home to a very militant church determined to "cleanse the universe of the unbelievers." These pale Mammalian bipeds are nocturnal and bear a grudge for the Valkyrii that neither race cares to discuss.Spoiler: Thovin
The Reptilian parent race of the Sovereign Systems. These thick scaled bipeds range from pale greens to dark browns with varying degrees of head and dorsal spines. Averaging 1 meter tall, with thin tails nearly extending again nearly half their height they are slender, nimble, and deceivingly intelligent. Black eyes see into the edges of the infrared spectrum giving them excellent night vision. They are relatively short lived at 60 standard years and binary gendered with the females lacking dorsal markings.
Spoiler: Vesudyn
The parent race of the UFP that kindled the rebellion against the SoSym. This bipedal, bi-gender amphibian-like race appears nearly featureless to most other races with large dark eyes, and only small openings for ears and nostrils. A thin line makes up their toothless mouth when closed that opens into a large maw nearly the size of their head.
A longer lived race, most live into their second century.
A freedom loving race after living under the yoke of the SoSym they have reached out to the UNE to form their own alliance to ensure their safety from the SoSym's ever expanding empire. The Grand Terran Vesudyn Alliance's fleet forms the bulk of the UNE vessels outside the Sol system.
Originally Posted by EnigmaSpoiler: Race: Valkyrii
A minor race from the SoSym world Valkyra, winged humanoids clone warriors, believed to be the result of illegal experimentation with genetic engineering by beings unknown (referred by the Valkyrii as 'The Engineers'). While livable, Valkyra’s surface frequently experiences violent storms, so the population (1.6 billion) lives in hardened underground cities. Their world is resource-poor, so their primary export is soldiers, zero-g construction workers and advanced biotech. As a result, most of their expeditionary forces are equip with weapons, vehicles, and gear obtained offworld - often surplus.
Despite the wings, adult Valkyrii are mammalian, uniformly 1.69 meters in height, approximately 60 kg mass, with wiry, muscular builds and a wingspan of 0.96 meters, effective only in very low to zero gravity environments. Facial features as well as finger prints, hair, feather, eye, and skin colors do vary between the clones. Can safely consume human or H/V rated rations. Typical lifespan is approximately 48 Valkyra /40 Terran standard years.
Valkyrii possess a unique ability to communicate telepathically between themselves, range unknown. Only rare individuals are able to communicate with other races using telepathy through skin contact, even if the other belongs to a telepathic race. Telepaths of other races are warned not to try to telepathically read a Valkyrii mind as it can induce a severe headache or chronic migraines with repeated attempts.
As they have no males among them. The Valyrii utilize a cloning device called a "Mother". It is a tall, vaguely egg-shaped device that allows them to produce a fully-developed young adult that has been imprinted with a basic education in math, science, combat, and the Valkyrii language. Expeditionary forces have been known to bring "Mothers" with them to replace combat losses.
Each Valkyrii carries on their person a small blade known as a "Scrie," handmade during Basic Unit Training and worn in either a shoulder or neck sheath. While it appears to be a utility blade with a finger loop grip, gravely injured Valkyrii have been known to use the blade to end their life. Blades of fallen Valkyrii are treated with great reverence, they are sometimes passed onto other Valkyrii as a "soul gift". Clients who recover these blades and fail to return them to the Valkyrii are considered as being in a breach of contract.Spoiler: Xel-dan
A synthetic race of AI’s that inhabit quadrupedal frames with a pair of manipulators at its front sandwiching an optical sensor suite. Individual AI programs can move between frames and ships via tight beam, making their consciousness nearly immortal as long as they are in the communication range of another Xel-dan system. Their frames are ‘clothed’ in what appears to be fabric in any range of colors for reasons that remain unclear.
Their massive migrant fleet having appeared in the Hegemony's space nearly a century ago, none know who created the Xel-dan or where they have come from. They maintain relations with the Heg, UFP and SoSym and are welcome to enter and exit their space as they please if for no other reason than the organic races do not want to test their might against the mechanical race.
Spoiler: Technology level guidelines
As far as ships go, FTL travel is possible but not yet feasible for single pilot craft with frigate/freighter sized ships being the smallest generally equipped.
Craft and shuttles are dependent on larger ships for FTL travel in exterior docking cradles or internal hangers for long range transport.
Deflector type shields are in use on some single occupancy craft.
They are a trade off for power significant core consumption limiting drive power and weapon recharge rates. While the shields are excellent for deflecting energy based bolts; other impacts like high speed debris, significant mass impacts, and high velocity kinetic projectiles at close range have enough energy to pierce it.
To recover some engine performance shielded craft are generally lightly armored to reduce mass and require less power to the drives.
Craft with deflectors can generally fly in atmo regardless of their layout because the deflector is configured in such a way to give limited aero-dynamics and maneuverability.
Unshielded craft
To increase survivability, are more heavily armored and coated with refractive layers to reduce the likelihood of penetration by energy and kinetic projectiles and save the additional draw on power systems and to allow greater flexibility in engine and weapon power draw.
Unshielded craft need to be laid out with airfoils, control surfaces and aero-dynamics in mind as they don't have the benefit of the shield to provide lift in-atmo.
The most advanced weapon systems use concentrated lasers to melt holes through enemy ships hulls to damage critical systems or vent atmosphere. They require recharging as their hi output capacitors empty so are generally fired slowly or in bursts but can be deadly out to extreme range.
Their largest draw back is that they can take a significant amount of hits to deplete and penetrate the shielding of targets with deflectors.
The old stand-by armament is kinetic projectile weapons that throw dense slugs via chemical reaction or magnetic acceleration. Few deflectors can take the punishment for long though they are significantly slower and can only be used effectively at close range. Because they are throwing material mechanically they are capable of rapid rates of fire but are limited by the amount of ammunition they can carry.
Missiles are common and and excellent payload especially for attacking larger class vessels. Guided or dumb, their biggest downside is cost and vulnerability to laser hits.
Most single craft require sealed, pressure and temperature controlled suits as they offer the greatest likelihood of not being penetrated though some have pressurized crew compartments.
Bookmarks