(OOC) Silent Lady: Mystery on Nyx

[Enigma]

VSTC - Arcadia X-ray X-Ray Delta Niner Niner Zero, this is Vesta Space Traffic Control, you are clear to go to hyperspace. Acknowledge.
ARCADIA: Affirmative, Traffic Control. We have condition green.
VSTC - Niner niner zero, roger. You're looking good for trans-light.




VSTC - Niner niner zero, this is Vesta Space Traffic Control, we have a problem on your vector. Request status check, over.




VFC - Arcadia, this is Vesta Flight Control, you have a course deviation at five mark six. Acknowledge.
VSTC - Arcadia, we show condition red. Confirm.
VFC - What's going on out there?




VSTC - Niner niner zero, this is Vesta Space Traffic Control. Be advised you have a serious vector deviation. I repeat: serious vector deviation.
VSTC - Arcadia niner niner zero, do you copy?




VFC - This is Vesta Flight Control to all ships in sector five. Be advised Arcadia niner niner zero is off course. All ships squawk ident.


VSTC - Starship Arcadia, this is Vesta Space Traffic Control. Squawk ident. I repeat: squawk ident.

Welcome to the Second Stellar Age!

• Colonies are independent of their homeworlds.
• Ships travel the distance between stars in weeks rather than decades.
• Fusion generators run off of hydrogen or even water. Ships with scoops can dip into the atmosphere of gas giants to collect, compress and refine the gas into fuel.
• ContraGrav (cGrav) generators allow a ship to throw up an opposing force against a suitable mass to allow a controlled descent or ascent in gravity wells, while reactionless thrusters convert energy into motion.
• Ansible satellites provide FTL communication between systems.
• Powerful non-laser energy weapons are mounted on large ships and battle machines.
• Handheld weapons of this period is the Mk-2 Blaster, tangler grenades, bass stunners, and survival lasers.
• Handheld ballistic weapons are either every expensive antiques often found in the homes of those who came on the first ships - or replicas used by the colonial re-enactment groups.

It's been seven years since the disappearance of the New Horizons liner Arcadia.
While they can't confirm it, it appears that the automatic pilot of the liner malfunctioned and for reasons unknown, the captain was unable to change their vector before it jumped to hyperspace. Ships on a pursuit vector could not find it, it's suspected they experienced some sort of drive failure and exited somewhere else at random.



Nyx


M-Class planet, rather Earth-like with different terrain types, 67% surface water and a 22% oxygen/75% nitrogen mix, 0.95 standard gravity. All visitors should receive a type 5 booster shot.




Karmon Academy


A training academy for those who wish to enter military or the survey services.



The Sector Governor has awarded Karmon Academy the M-class planet Nyx in a land grant contract - colonization fees would then help support the Academy. While they have a preliminary survey of the planet, it's decades out of date and has only basic details, so they have decided to do a new survey.

They have signed a contract with the Silent Lady, a converted Magellan-class survey saucer that now works as a tramp freighter to take a team of their students and teachers to Nyx so they can inspect it in greater detail, as who knows what sort of surprises this alien world may hold...?


Races

While the sector has a human majority, there are non-human races living here as well. However, there can only be two alien characters that are a part of this RP. Aliens must be approved. Any unusual abilities must be very limited and explainable.

Heavy worlders are usually short (think space dwarves), while spacers and those born in low gravity environments tend to be tall and gangly with little muscle development, and may require an exoskeleton on worlds 0.8-1.5 gravities.


Race Application

Racial Name:
Home World:
Defining characteristics/description:
Racial Strengths:
Racial Weaknesses:


Tech Application

Tech Name:
Manufacturer:
Rarity:
Appearance:
Intent:
Strength:
Weaknesses:

[Enigma]

Approved Tech

Spoiler: Field Gear 

Spoiler: Field Omni 

Multi-purpose portable communications, data recorder, data analysis, and training device. Programmed to monitor environmental conditions and issue alerts as needed. Can be sync'd with the Field Helmet, Data Glasses, or external display units. Sensor "slabs" attach to back to add additional sensors and databases.

Spoiler: Field Helmet 

Tan protective helmet with integrated cameras and local comm. HUD display provides magnification, light enhancement, infra-red, or integrate with an omni for data display. Can be worn with various breathing apparatus.

Spoiler: Pack with Biomass converter 

Frameless backpack capable of carrying 45 pounds of gear internally, with another ten pounds in external pockets. Has a detachable Biomass Converter - filling the hopper with plants and starting the twenty minute cycle, the system processes the plants to produce a fortified thick paste packed with proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates. Excess plant matter is ejected as pellets, while the unit will extract up to a quart of water, which is kept in a separate reservoir.

Character Profile

Characters are students attending their junior (triangle (point down) icon) or senior (diamond icon) year at Karmon Academy, and have volunteered either for the chance to explore a new planet, needed extra credit, or a combination of the two.

Player Name:
Character Name:
Junior/Senior:
Specialty: (Line, Survey, Medical, Security, Scout/Recon, Engineering)
Description:
Personality:
Biography:
Issued Gear: (Note - you are responsible for all personal issued gear.)

• Karmon Academy issued Field Omni
• Specialty Sensor Slab
• Mk. 2 Blaster with holster belt
• Individual survival belt kit with multi-tool
• Field Helmet
• Field Jacket
• 2 field uniforms
• 1 pair of boots
• Field pack with bio-converter
• Sleeping bag

Additional gear: (What you bring, you have to carry)


Approved Characters

Coming Soon

[Yggdrasil_Hugger]

Ooh, seems interesting. These squishy science-types could probably use a bit of backup against aggressive wildlife. Here’s my species idea:

Spoiler: S’kar 

Racial Name: S’kar, pronounced suh-KARR
Home World: Primoth

Spoiler: Primoth 

Primoth is an M-Class planet with a slightly higher level of terrain and climate variation than Earth. A reduced axial tilt results in milder seasons and longer growing seasons. 59% of the surface is covered in oceans, including both poles, which melt and refreeze each year. The gravity is 1.19 times that of the standard. Not enough to make a huge difference, but inhabitants often find themselves running faster and for longer, lifting, pushing, and pulling more, and generally better physically than they would be on Primoth. The atmosphere is a 19% oxygen, 79% nitrogen, 2% various other gases mix.

Spoiler: Description 

Standing taller on average than humans, standard S’kar height range is 6.5-7.8 feet. Standard gravity weight places them from 235 to 280 pounds, though this is closer to 280 to 335 pounds on Primoth. Muscle and bone density is 1.45 times higher than the average human’s, resulting in a more durable, though easily sinkable species. They possess the same arrangement of limbs as a human and other species, with two arms and two legs each. Their skin is covered in very fine, smooth scales which become more pronounced along the brow ridge. Their skin color ranges from a clay-like reddish-orange to pale, sandy yellow, dusky brown, and a mottled brown and yellow coloration. Two pointed tusks of keratin jut from their chin, these are variable in size, coloration, and curve. They are considered secondary sex characteristics and quite important to the personal style and attractiveness of an individual. Their eyes have yellow sclera, while iris color can be gold, silver, green, or blue in rare cases. Their pupils are pointed and dilate similarly to a cat’s. Their eyes are reflective in certain lighting environments.

They possess very little body hair, though the top of their heads can grow coarse, textured hair. “Quills” are also a common occurrence within their hair. Their hair color ranges from reddish-brown to a sandy blonde or black. It can also be any shade of brown. Their ears are pointed and move similarly to a cat’s. They can also be used to express mood. Their teeth are similar to humans’, though they possess two sets of what could be considered canines. Their teeth are also stronger and less likely to be damaged than humans’ teeth and require less care. Their bite force is roughly equivalent to a chimpanzee’s, with thicker jaw muscles and a larger jaw.

Proportionally, S’kar have shorter legs, longer torsos and necks, and longer arms than humans. When upright, they walk with a bowlegged gait that does not show their speed or agility. Their arms swing as they run and a S’kar may revert to knuckle-walking in a panic. Despite this, most S’kar prefer to walk upright as it gives them a multitude of advantages. In most places, knuckle walking is considered childish, immature, and unrefined. S’kar possess three fingers and two opposable thumbs on either side of each hand. Usually this presents little challenge, though using human-designed technology or equipment can prove tedious. S’kar feet are ansiodactyl, though with broad and short toes adapted to walking upright.

Racial Strengths: Generally stronger, faster, and possess more durability, agility, and endurance than the average human. This is a combination of decreased gravity and increased oxygen from their homeworld. Increased night vision and sense of hearing. Highly adapted to climbing. Tight, vice-like grip.
Racial Weaknesses: Nearsighted and mostly colorblind, almost no sense of smell, very dense and heavy. Despite having very little sense of smell, they produce a naturally thick musk described as “like if an iguana could sweat”. More likely than not to be unable to swim. Attempting to hold or use equipment designed for humans is often more trouble than its worth.

Spoiler: S’kar Tech 

Due to the unique hands of the S’kar, their handles, triggers, and other components manipulated by the hands or fingers are specially designed. S’kar can often pick up how to use a human tool easier than a human can figure out a S’kar’s. Assume that all tech used by the S’kar has that weakness.

[Enigma]

Typically, the greater the gravity, the shorter the species as falls become more dangerous. How tall are they at the shoulder when they're knuckle-walking?

[Yggdrasil_Hugger]

Far closer to a human range, generally 5.9-6.7 feet. Their chest and torso is what gives them a good amount of their height, along with a longer neck and generally longer, taller skulls.

[Highland Sniper]

Spoiler: Revek race 

Racial Name: Revek
Home World: Gereneth

Spoiler: Gereneth 

Am M-class planet with just over half it's surface covered in water, and the landmass consisting of about 1/2 forests of varying types, the rest being mostly planes with a sprinkling of other biomes. With a gravity of 1.06, it's a wonder how tall some of the trees grow. Those who grow up tend to be a little stronger and have more endurance than most humans, though maybe not by much.
Gereneth's atmospheres is 20% oxygen, 78% Nitrogen, and 2% other gases. Part of this is due to the Revek's bonds with nature and keeping a good watch over it's health.

Spoiler: Defining characteristics/description 

Height normally just inches shy of average human height, though some can get well above that. Thought to have evolved from some of the ancient predators on the planet, they sport fur normally in browns and greys that help them hide in most places on their home planet and snouts to better help them pick out the scents of friend, foe, and prey in their beautifully scented world were ones sent is more easily concealed, big ears that allow them to better track sounds of movement. A few things that seem to have been left over from evolution were their digi grade legs, which seem to help with there speed and agility, and their tails. Their general appearance might make you think of a humanoid wolf with a few differences with unique ear and nose structures and sections in their mouths that look like they were supposed to have grown an extra set of teeth at an earlier point in evolution.
Their forepaws have evolved to be more dexterous and apposable, but their structure is still very different from humans.

Racial Strengths: heightened senses, greater speed and agility. Great hunters and trackers.

Racial Weaknesses: susceptible to agitation by sounds in different frequencies not unlock most canines. stronger sense of smell may be problematic with strong smells or too many. May be a little difficult for them to use certain unmodified human devices.

Spoiler: Revek Teck 

Due to a unique hand structure, Revek devices with analogue controls differ from most humanoids. Humanoids might find it odd or uncomfortable to use Revek specific devices. Reveks may find it odd, or even difficult to use certain unmodified human devices.
These devices include, but are not limited to: firearms, remote controls, standard keyboards, and some power tools.

[Enigma]

Revek - at 1.06 gravities, any increase in strength is so minor as to be unnoticeable. At 50% water, we should expect more barren areas. Rivers and streams are probably few, so we're looking at springs and watering holes.

Are these bipeds or quadrupeds? If they're quadrupeds, they can't run and shoot at the same time. They would need a harness to hold things on their chest. They would need to rest their elbows on a table in order to manipulate something with both hands.

If they started as quadrupeds and evolved into bipeds, what caused that? You've described a world that's half water and the landmasses as mostly plains. What advantage would there be in becoming bipeds in a mostly flat world with little tectonic activity?

As bipedal digitigrade walkers, they would need a means of counterbalancing themselves, so likely longer tails, which means they need a lot of room behind them. Skeleton changes would allow them to sprint, perhaps some distance running, but they would be slower than their quadruped ancestors. As trackers, they're higher off of the ground, so would be looking for more visual signs, and likely not as sensitive to smells.

[Highland Sniper]

Fair on the water. Though I would say while any non athletic human would probably be winded, a non athletic Revek might only be breathing heavy. But this might just be due to their hunter ancestry.

Bipeds evolved from quadrupeds.
The reason why this would have been brought about be both environmental shifts and/or migration as some may have moved from the plains to the more forested areas where certain pray may be harder to find. The evolution to bipedal forms allowed them to climb better and gather other means of food besides meat. Though I can see their senses of hearing and smell decreasing, they would still be better than a normal human's.

As for their tails, they would need room to feel comfortable, but not to live though not having enough room for their tail for too long might bring a small claustrophobic episode. Their tails may also be tools for social occasions in the newly developed culture resulting from being awakened bipeds.

[Enigma]

Okay, this is a big change switching from quadrupeds to bipeds. The planet could have undergone a heating cycle where the plains grasses died off and the watering holes got too low. The trees, however, have deeper roots and better leaves to funnel the rain to their roots.

Most likely we have a split happening at this time. The younger ones, whose paws were more flexible, began to climb the trees and go higher than the others, to go after the arboreal life that lived in the trees. When those proved elusive, out of desperation they began to eat the fruits and soft inner bark of the trees. Over time, their digestion over these improved and they became omnivores. Their paws, spines, and joints adapted over time for climbing the trees better, and they learned to use tools to extract honey or ants from their hives.

Those who didn't adapt found themselves dying out, suffering from malnutrition until they learned to hunt the ground animals of the forest without becoming a meal for something else. When the plains recovered, they moved out, away from the trees and easier prey.

[Highland Sniper]

and probably evolved differently, or not at all.
If they didn't evolve to eat from the trees (either from the other animals up there, or the fruit and bark as suggested), they at least evolved to better hunt on the ground in the densely wooded area.
I do agree that easier prey would have drawn them back to the plains when again inhabited by prey.