Background summary

The year is 2456 CE (Common Era), and since the late 21st century, Humanity has been spreading out among the stars. Leaving behind their ecologically devastated homeworld of Earth, humans proliferated throughout space, expanding thousands of light-years in all directions, united under the banner of the Union of Sol. After a century, major population and trading hubs had been established in the nearby systems of Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani, and in the centuries that would follow, dozens more systems would fall under the control of humanity, with Earth-analogs being colonized immediately, and planets initially hostile to life being terraformed within spans of a few years to fit the needs of human colonists.

At the end of the 24th century, the power and influence of the Union of Sol was at its height, but with the advent of the 25th century, the power of humanity's central government began to wane. Rebellions began to take hold in all corners of human space, from mining colonies to terraforming facilities, to planetary colonies and to orbital installations. Scores of smaller governments, far-removed from the central Union hubs of Sol, Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani began to break away and declare sovereignty for themselves.

In the wake of these rebellions, the Union of Sol engaged in long and bloody civil wars on all fronts, seeking to subjugate the rebellious colonies once again. However, as morale, manpower and resources dwindled, the leaders of the Union of Sol decided to begin granting sovereignty to various colonies and even star systems under the control of particularly powerful or united rogue governments. And so, with the decline of the Union, the scores of rogue states began their ascension to power in the galactic stage.

Humanity is not alone in this vast sea of stars. For a little over a century, humanity has been aware of the existence of alien races, and has forged alliances with several species that have lasted through the decades since. The proud Skrell, the reverent Tajara, the warlike Unathi and peaceful Dionaea are but a few of the races of this extremely diverse galaxy. Many more exist, and while most are simply apathetic to this alliance, others are openly hostile.

This age is one of progress, of war, of death, and more importantly, of mankind.

The Frontier
Welcome to Tau Ceti, a star system approximately 12 light-years away from Sol, under the joint control of the Planetary Republic of Biesel and the trans-stellar corporate conglomerate Nanotrasen. You have been assigned to work aboard the NSS Aurora, a state-of-the-art research and mining facility orbiting Tau Ceti within the Romanovich Cloud at the very edge of the system. Even after several centuries of being inhabited by human colonists, and flourishing into a central trade hub for human space, the edge of Tau Ceti is still considered to be the frontier of space, as are the outer areas of most other star systems.

After the discovery of a substance known as Plasma in this system enabled humanity to expand outward into the galaxy nearly three centuries ago, hundreds of small companies and mining operations popped up all over Tau Ceti. These companies would ally themselves and form conglomerates to drive the others out of business, and would sometimes hire mercenary armies and engage in open hostilities against each other. Nanotrasen, at the time a fledgeling corporation specializing in biotech research, was able to achieve a near monopoly over the rights to mine the substance in the Tau Ceti system through a combination of shrewd political and economic maneuvers, and occasionally through precision military action. Since then the company has actively sought out plasma deposits in newly colonized star systems, exchanging the rights to mine the substance for materials and resources needed by these new colonies to expand and thrive. By controlling Plasma, Nanotrasen controls the fuel source used by nearly all of humanity, allowing the company to become the most powerful to ever exist in human history.

The Economy
The most common currency in human space is the Union Credit, originally put into use by the Union of Sol at the end of the 22nd century. Even since the decline of the Union, the Credit is still used by most independent colonies, especially those that were granted independence without having to undergo a bloody revolution. The Union of Sol Credit is represented by cr (e.g. 5,000 cr).

Tau Ceti is a central hub for trade and commerce throughout human space, which has prompted Nanotrasen to establish their main headquarters in orbit around the planet.

Humanity



 * Home System: Sol
 * Homeworld: Earth
 * Majority Languages: Tau Ceti Basic, Sol Common
 * Major Political Entities: Union of Sol, Planetary Republic of Biesel, Sovereign Governance of Stormswrath, Eridani Corporate Federation

'Homo Sapiens', or as they're more commonly known, Humans, are the most prevalent species in known space. Collectively, they have more territory under their control than all other known species combined. Most trans-stellar corporations and conglomerates are owned and staffed by humans, giving them significant economic pull in the galactic community.

However, despite their collective achievements, humans are fractured into hundreds of independent factions, severely limiting their ability to organize as a species. Additionally, ideological differences further deteriorate relations between human factions.

Highly advanced technologically, humans were the third known race to become spacefaring.

Skrell



 * Home System: Jargon (Nralakk)
 * Homeworld: Jargon IV(Qerrbalak)
 * Majority Languages: Skrellian, Tau Ceti Basic
 * Major Political Entities: Skrellian Alliance

An amphibious species whose passion lies in the field of the combined sciences, the Skrell are the oldest and most advanced species present on the galactic stage. The Skrell evolved on a planet covered in vast swamps and freshwater seas, hence their amphibious qualities, such as moist, pliant and nearly translucent skin, as well as their vestigial gill slits.

Skrell are largely asexual, with most seeing reproduction as a process necessary to continue their lineage and nothing more.

While humanity has largely overtaken the Skrell in the area of system colonization, the Skrell maintain a strong confederation of colonies roughly three-quarters the size of human space. They are also the most technologically advanced species in known space, and possess the strongest and most highly trained military of any spacefaring species.

Unathi



 * Home System: Uueoa-Esa
 * Homeworld: Moghes
 * Majority Languages: Sinta Unathi
 * Major Political Entities: Uneth Hegemony

The fierce and warlike Unathi are a reptilian race. They are a relative newcomer to the stars. The Unathi are not the first sentient species to inhabit their homeworld. Archaeological evidence of a highly advanced and warlike civilization that predated the Unathi have been uncovered on Moghes. The harsh conditions on the planet, as well as residual traces of radioactive materials hints that the civilization collapsed in the wake of a large-scale deployment of thermonuclear weapons.

Uneth cultures tend to have strict gender lines which are well defined, and breaking them is highly taboo.

The Unathi are least advanced of all known species. They lack the technology and the infrastructure to terraform other worlds and establish planetary colonies.

Tajara



 * Home System: S'randarr
 * Homeworld: Adhomai
 * Majority Languages: Siik'maas, Siik'Tajir
 * Major Political Entities: Adhomai Coalition

The Tajaran are a feline race, and the most recent to make an appearance on the galactic stage. They are also the second most populous species in known space, behind humans in terms of population. Most of their early history is a story of indentured servitude to an unknown race of advanced aliens, colloquially referred to by Tajaran historians as "Overseers." Apparently, approximately a century before they were discovered by humans, they had revolted against their overlords and successfully claimed their independence. It is possible that this event coincided with a major collapse of the Overseer society. No species matching the description of the Overseers has ever been encountered.

Dionaea



 * Home System: Epsilon Ursae Minoris
 * Homeworld: N/A
 * Majority Languages: N/A
 * Major Political Entities: N/A

The Dionaea are a peaceful, plantlike race that were discovered by the Skrell in 2294 CE. Each individual dionaea is in fact an amalgamation of millions of smaller organisms operating as a single unit. Gentle and even-tempered, the Dionaea have no official government and have no military force to speak of. They possess good relations with the governments of most other sentient species.

IPC



 * Home System: N/A
 * Homeworld: N/A
 * Majority Languages: N/A
 * Major Political Entities: N/A

An Integrated Positronic Chassis, or IPC, is an positronic artificial intelligence inside a bipedal, humanoid frame, that has amassed enough currency to purchase its own freedom from its owners. The existence of IPCs is still a highly inflammatory subject, and as of yet, they lack the basic rights that members of most organic races possess. While gender neutral, individual intelligences may develop personality quirks to further their "uniqueness."

Kocasslani



 * Home System: Hiisnivi
 * Home World: Sonhadra
 * Major Languages: Sini
 * Major Political Entities: Mandate of Sonhadra

The Kocasslani are a hostile, religiously zealous race with an intense racial hatred towards the Skrell due to an unfortunate expedition taken into their territory. Evolving alone in an isolated system on the fringe of explored space, the Kocasslani regard their sector as literal "heaven" and see any alien presence within as damning.

Kocasslani culture has a strict caste system and cultural taboos that influence nearly all the members of this race. They are extremely hostile and isolationist, and as such they have lagged behind the rest of the galactic community in the area of technological development.

Vox



 * Home System: N/A
 * Homeworld: N/A
 * Majority Languages: N/A
 * Major Political Entities: N/A

A coalition of several different species and subspecies of avian aliens, the Vox are known throughout civilized space. They are usually in the role of raiders or swindlers. While most other sentient races have some individuals that turn to a life of piracy, it seems that with the Vox, piracy and theft are important aspects to their culture. They raid shipping convoys and newly established colonies for resources, before retreating back into interstellar space, where most governments do not have the jurisdiction, nor the military power to pursue them. Not much is known about the Vox, despite their ubiquity in known space. Despite the average Vox not being extremely intelligent, extreme caution is still advised if one is encountered.

Trans-stellar corporations
The massive corporations rose in the wake of the discovery of Bluespace travel, allowing entire planets to be claimed as corporate assets. Trans-stellar corporations normally cooperate with local governments and frontier colonies to establish trade agreements and gain the rights to utilize certain resources. Extremely powerful, most have established their own colonies and exert power over them like any regional government would. Trans-stellar corporations usually employ private military contractors and security consultants to police the areas under their control.

There are a number of major transstellars, almost all of which are owned by humans. The eight major ones in human space, going in order from largest to smallest, are Nanotrasen Corporation, Osiris Atmospherics, Einstein Engines, Ward-Takahashi GMB, Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, Hephaestus Industries and Gilthari Exports.

Not everyone was in favor of the formation of trans-stellar megacorporations, and many smaller companies allied themselves against them. However, these alliances were met with stunning and repeated failures, and by the end of the 23rd century, they had collapsed due to economic ruin and internal intrigue.

Independent Systems
Independent systems are the former rogue governments that declared independence from the Union of Sol. After their sovereignty was recognized by the Union and treaties were signed to end open hostilities, many of these flourished and grew in power, often laying claim to the entirety of their star system. However, not every nation gets along with its neighbors, and sometimes interstellar war can occur between two independent states, just as conventional war happened on Earth up to the late 21st century. These groups include United Colonies of America, The Royal Republic of New Oranje, the Eridani Federation, the New Marx Republic, the New British Empire, the Mjolir Coalition, the Mars Confederation, and the New Magnitkan Commonwealth.

Union of Sol
Once the central government of Humanity, the Union of Sol is now a shadow of its former glory. Reduced to the human home system of Sol, the immediate star systems within range of Sol and a handful of colonial holdings in deep space, the Union has lost most of its pull with the rest of humanity. However, it is still considered to be the diplomatic voice for most of humanity when dealing with alien governments, allowing it to retain some influence.