Vaurca

Vacura

TBA

File:TBA

Home System: Sedantis (Sc'theth'stak, "Blinding Light.")

Homeworld: Sedantis I (Vaur'avek'uyit, "Home.")

Language(s): Vaurcese, Zo'rane, K'laxane.

Political Entitie(s): Zo'ra Hive, K'lax Hive.

Overview

Vaurca, (Vore-Kah, Vaurca in singular term and Vaurcae in multiple) are a bipedal insectoid species from the first moon of Sedantis I. They have a complex caste system based on three types, each of which serves a specific purpose. Since the first contact with one of their hive-ships, on the 21th of December 2456, they have become common in human space. Although tolerated on Nanotrasen stations, they are often discriminated against and are unwelcome in most human-owned sectors barring Tau Ceti. Unfortunately even in Tau Ceti they face troubles integrating with society, with many Vaurca forced to live in refugee camps as the Biesel government struggles to accomodate them all.

To apply to be one of the insect-like Vaurca, apply here

Additional information: Sedantis

Mechanics

Buffs:

• Custom language, like all other races. Use the :p prefix to access.
• Pressure & Cold resistant, allowing them to survive in space with internals.
• Radiation resistant.
• Have a nifty bite function. Click on 'bite' in IC tab with an aggressive hold and you shred into them with mandibles.
• Can see in the dark rather well (better than Tajara)
• Minor brute damage buff. X.5 addition.

Debuffs:

• Do not self-heal.
• Are slightly slower than a human - not as drastic as Dionaea, roughly the speed of a station-bound cyborg.
• Takes twice the fire/burn damage.
• Vulnerable to EMPs.
• Can be permanently rendered blind by flashing them several times in a row

Non-mechanic traits:

• Dislike light.
• Generally very specialized, often no inter-department knowledge. Basically, no cross-departmental, Unbound or Bound alike.
• Can't be any form of head, unless you count a Quartermaster as a head.
• If you're a drone, basically, everyone has free reign to abuse you. (IE Verbal, racism,taking from them, Making them do all annoying small repetitive tasks, Assault them and they will be allowed to call for help or fight back)

Information for Whitelisted Players

Playable Factions/Types/Castes

You read the lore, but you don't quite know what factions are playable yet. In short, you are allowed to create your own Vaurca hive, or choose from one of the non-hostile Major Hives. Notably, the Lii'dra are exclusive to antagonists and events, with no exceptions (though an antagonist Vaurca can be from another hive, or pretend to be from another hive while being from Lii'dra).

Castes That are playable: Bound, Unbound.

Biological Types that are playable: Type A, and Type BA. These can be either castes. (No bonuses will be given to you Icly and if wishing to play type not listed ask Developer in charge)

Personalities: Playing a Vaurca

Playing drones. (Bound)

You have decided to play as a drone from a hive of the Vaurca. You have read the lore, but still need a little help. Drones are hard to play, I'll tell you that. The closest thing to compare them to, right now, are cyborg/androids - station-bound synthetics. They are not unintelligent, but their lack of self-awareness prevents them from understanding the concept of death, pain, or formulate very complex thought processes. They are an amalgam of the Hive's intelligence, but often only specialize in a certain task. The Vaurca drones often probably speak slowly, and have trouble speaking Basic.

You can play them as any civilian job with the addition of engineering apprentice and medical intern. Theoretically, they can also be played as fully-qualified engineers as well. They can be Type A, or BA, depending on how you want to design your character.

Playing standard. (Unbound)

You have chosen to play the most human-like aspect of the Vaurca, and the one with the most opportunities. The Unbound are a cool factor of the Vaurca. They can either be completely unique, spending their time in the physical world, learning and loving themselves and others, or can be similar to drones, fresh off a hive and from their VR, barely knowing anything. They can hate their bodies or others around them, because they were torn from the VR they call paradise.

They can be any job, and can be either Type A or Type BA.

Speaking like a Vaurca

Speaking is a hard choice to make. While it can be complex, feel free to add/subtract certain parts of the speech effects that you care. This can be explained ICly due to knowledge of basic as an Unbound, or a high-tech synthesizer. Or simply different accents caused by various dialects of Vaurcese.

The common language, however, is guttural and harsh, often placing 'ck' and 'g' in front of vowels. For example, "My nagme isck Vigncentck." If this is too hard for you to memorize, try simply adding 'ck' when necessary. "My namck is Vincentck.", although it does not sound as interesting.

Some other variations of voice you might want to try: 'k' when necessary,("Seckcurity to skience!") buzzing your z's and s's ("Zzecurity to szzienzze!") or, as another variation, varying the breathing patterns causing irregular speech. ("Securitytoscience!" Or "Seckurity... toskience!")

Feel free to experiment and have fun with it though!

Help with naming

The Vaurca naming system can be confusing and difficult. Keep in mind, however - I'll only detail out the 'traditional' naming system, commonly used by the Major Hives. This does not mean you are only restricted to this naming system! As with the speech patterns, have fun and experiment!

The traditional naming system entails what the lore says. The first syllable is Ka, or Za, for Type A and B respectively. The second syllable is Viax, and Akaix, for Bound and Unbound respectively. Finally, the last symbol is what you want it to be, following the naming system - your character's "proper name" per se. It is masked a number, but it can be whatever you want it to sound like. For a Type A Unbound it would be: "Ka'Akaix'Siith Zo'ra." With 'Siith' being something I came up with on the top of my head. As for the last name - Vaurcae simply use the name of their hive, much like a clan name.

Again, each hive is different, and can assume human names, or you can just jumble a bunch of syllables together to make something remarkably... Vaurcae.

Biology

To the average human, the Vaurca seem to have the appearance of terrestrial prawns. However, they act closer to ants or termites. Their biology follows a similar structure to something like a termite; scientifically, this description is largely superficial. There are three types of Vaurca biologically, and these tend to corrugate with the cultural caste system. Furthermore, there is extreme evidence from all types of Vaurca hinting that they have augmented themselves, and genetically engineered a few of their modern traits. It is near impossible to predict what they could have been like before they developed these augments.

Type A (Workers)

File:Ambassadorzor.jpg

Ambassador Va'zuilts Zo'ra, a Type CB 'Prince' ambassador for the Zo'ra Hive, currently living in an embassy in Mendell City, Biesel. It is adorned in Alliance gear for the sake of decency.

Biologically, Type A are the most prevalent and can be seen as the 'backbone' of Vaurca societies. Their most prevalent feature is their hardened exoskeleton, varying in colors in accordance to their hive. It is approximately three inches thick among all Type A Vaurca. The Exoskleton provides protection against harsh radiation, solar and otherwise, and acts as a pressure-suit to seal their soft inner core from the outside world. This allows most Type A Vaurcae to have extended EVA expeditions, assuming they have internals. They are bipedal, with bird-like talon toes. Their legs separate into two parts, that form into what would be their feet, with the end of the 'toes' always touching the ground. The Vaurcae's hands consist of a type of 'grasping' arrangement, two middle fingers with small talons at the end, and two opposable thumbs, a left and a right, on either side of their hand.

Internal Organs

Internally, Type A are very similar to that of an Earth insect. They have an open circulatory system, with their blood covering their digestive system, dual hearts, lungs, and other organs. Their two hearts provide a significant sloshing motion to prevent the blood from stagnating. The Vaurcae's blood is a copper-based hemoglobin, with a high dependency of sulfur, which causes their blood to adopt a yellowish color instead of the red prevalent with other species. It also emanates a very potent stink. This open circulatory system, however, can lead to wounds that pierce the exoskeleton and minor layer of skin to bleed out unless treated quickly. They function well with an atmosphere of mostly oxygen, nitrogen, and very trace amounts of gaseous plasma. Along the throat, the Vaurcae feature breathing apparatus, which is determined to be, beyond the shadow of a doubt, a form of cybernetic implant. This implant adapts atmosphere to match the Vaurcae's native own, including the injection of infinitesimal amounts of plasma.

Limbs

Type A have two large, insect-like eyes with two smaller ones underneath, which are hyper-sensitive to most forms of light. While they can function in light-heavy environments perfectly fine, most complain about frequent migraines and tendency to get frustrated after long exposures to light like the sun, or even general station phosphorics. This hyper-sensitivity, however, leads to heavily increased eyesight in dark areas, like the tunnels of their cities or the narrow, nearly lightless corridors of their ships. They also have large, insect-like antennae that protrude from their head, above their large eyes. These antennae are used for greater perception of their surroundings and to communicate with each other through subtle movements, or rubbing them together with another Type A. Also acting a sensory and nerve database, when these antennae are lost, they can cause confusion, dizziness, nausea, communications problems, and is extremely painful. Some observations have been concluded with: "It's like watching a drunk man trying to walk."

Their mouth parts are similar to a prawn's, in that they have two large mandibles, with small feelers and chewing parts that come out of the bottom. They click these mandibles together, combined with their vocal chords and pheromones they release, and create their archaic language. Their breathing apparatus also acts a voice synthesizer, allowing them to speak intelligibly, (despite very alien-sounding) human languages.

Type A are created after initial birth, and given a slightly more moist and warmth emphasized nurturing environment before hatching.

Type B (Warriors)

Type B are the second most prominent of the biological parts of Vaurca society. Varying massively in size and specific biological parts, they have, essentially, the same physiology as Type A. Type B can range in size from six feet tall, to twenty eight recorded feet tall. They can be bipedal, quadrupeds, or hextopeds. Despite each Type B's appearance, they have been filed into three general categories.

Type BA

Type BA range generally from 5 feet, to 9 feet tall. Bipedal and usually more exo-skeleton thick, Type BA have exactly the same physiology as Type A, but seem to posses extreme amounts of augments, more aggressive focused. Examining of their exoskeleton reveals two inches thicker, and supporrted with carbon nano-tubes that provide a stronger-than steel natural armor, but allows type BA to move around freely and at will.

Their antennae are modified to have motion sensors and audio + sensory amplifiers, so they can seek out enemies quicker. Their eyes have semi-glass-like coverings over them that protect it from most forms of damages, and also provide a HUD for synchronizing weaponry that Type BA wield. There is evidence of stumps along where their shoulder blades would be, which provides the theory that there may have been wings there at one point. Some Type BA have integrated jet packs there, for easier EVA transport and quick mobilization within gravity.

Type BB

Type BB range from being 6 feet tall to 9 feet tall. They are quadrupedal, and have very thick exo-skeletons. Type BB have generally the same physiology as Type A and BA. They have presence of extremely heavy augmentation to their bodies and mind-system. While most other Vaurca are bipedal, Type BB have four, spindle-like legs, that are extremely strong, made from a different substance than their actual exoskeleton, resembling more metallic than chitinous material. At where the feet of these legs would be, are highly adaptible and flexible graspers that allow a Type BA to scale nearly any surface, including vertical, and sustain little damage from large drops.

On their interior, they come equipped with a bio-generator, taking 'energy' from their bloodstream and heart motions, to help power their equipment, as well as having an tri-implementation of internal, highly efficient high-storage batteries. They have internal adrenal injectors that they can use during high-intensity combat situations, and have blood-clotting formulas to treat wounds faster.

Their exoskeleton is similarly reinforced as Type BA, with carbon nano-tubes and synthetic plating reincforcing the bulk of the chitinous layer, but also has a thin layer of energy shielding that comes from unknown sources within Type BB itself, covering the very most outer layer of exo-skeleton, seeming to have various node-points that spread across Type BB's body.

Weaponry wise, they seem to be mobile weapons platforms, without even needing to wield a weapon. They have two long, razor-sharp arms that come with energy-supplements for eviscerating enemies, two integral energy weapons above their front shoulders that have automated targeting and fast firing speeds, and are often seen with larger mounts on their backs, ranging from Anti-Air cannons, mortars, siege cannons, or a mounted ballistic/energy machine guns.

Type BC

Being very different from the other Types of Vaurca, but inherently similar to Type B, Type BC are somewhat of a phenomenon. They are completely mechanical, ranging from airborne, to land-based, to water and submarine based, they are essentially vehicles piloted by lobotomized Vaurca Type A and B nerve centers.

They are created from invalid Type A and B, and are used in warfare, transportation, exploration, and many other uses, similar to how Humans use many vehicles for their own endeavors. Some are even reported to be entire fighter-frigate sized space-ships.

Type C (Breeders)

Type C are the rarest among Vaurca, in that they make up around 2-3% of their entire species. They consist of two parts, male and female to Human standards, and each part has a very unique acting on their specific hive.

Type CA

Type CA are an extreme anomaly compared to other races around known space. Acting as the female counterpart of Type C Vaurca, they are generally hosted within large Iron Wombs that automatically artificially inseminate, and ensure eggs are transported to hatcheries and nurseries unharmed. Physically, type CA are blobulous, with thousands of tiny cilia along their underside to assist them with movements if required. The have a large feeding tube protruding from their front, and alongside that feeding tube, a neural tube that can connect to any Vaurca, barring Type CB.

This neural tube connects any given Vaurca access to the collective conscious, and allows for instantaneous sentient possession by the millions of multiple 'personalities' stored within Type CA's body. Type CA are theorized to act as a form of Virtual Reality connection hub, where anything can be simulated and created. Type CA are often seen around many 'Unbound' Vaurca, transferring information and replacing personalities.

Type CA go through three phases, different from their Type A and B compatriots. After initial larvae period, they enter the 'royal' phase, where they are around the size of a standard Type A, and have seperated ego's. During this phase, they seek a viable spot for a new hive.

The next phase is the 'Established' phase, where they grow approximately 5x their original height and begin laying eggs for the hive. This phase is generally short, and it is predicted that the phases ended at this time, before the Augmentation period. This Queen has a very large abdomen like structure, where eggs are created and layed, two scythe-like arms, and a large head with six eyes and antennae.

The final phase is the 'Storage' phase, where the Type CA completely melds with technology and finds an adequet Type CB to maintain continuous offspring with, becoming the type detailed in the original explaination.

Type CB

Type CB are the second, and male counterpart, of Type C Vaurca. They are essentially exactly the same as Type A Vaurca, but they sport large functional wings that allows them to fly through the air at high speeds, theorized to allow them to get around their home planet to find mates quicker.

Evolution

The Vaurca have evolved from small, hive-like entities that seemed to group together in tight, nomadic hives and wander their home planet in search for large growths of their primary food substance, a rampant and non-nutritious fungus entity known through their language as K'ois, (Translated to: The Substance). There is evidence of them evolving from small insects, and through unknown means rampantly increasing in size and numbers some time before pre-sentient history. This may be due to a sudden introduction or increase of Oxygen in the atmosphere.

The Vaurca evolved into their current form roughly 200,000 years ago, before developing agriculture 60,000 years ago. Thousands of years were spent fighting over the few areas of rich farmland on the planet. Their arid and sparse environment drove them to develop advanced methods of genetic and technological augmentation. Approximately 15,000 years ago, the first Vaurca craft left their solar system. In the time since, they have radically modified their genome and appearance, leading to the development of the current system of castes. Evidence of the early appearance of Vaurca before their augmentation is sparse, but what sources exist do suggest that Type A Vaurca most closley resemble their 'natural' appearance without augmentation. It is suggested that the current concept of a Queen has changed from its original meaning, with the methods of influence changing from primarily using chemicals and pheremones to control the population to the creation of large paradise-like virtual realities in which the vast majority of the Vaurca population spends its entire existence. In the modern day, the Vaurca have used their technology to allow their many physical workers to serve the hive with extreme efficiency and unquestioning loyalty.

Sleep Cycle

Vaurcae sleep cycle is a very hard to one to predict. While it seems like most of all Types of Vaurca don't actually sleep at all, there is evidence of, a few hours per standard day, the Vaurca enter a stasis-like state in that their mind shuts off and they stay still. This is similar to how a robot can enter 'sleep mode' and it is theorized that this time is used for sorting memories and useful information in a specific, Bound or Unbound, Vaurca.

Birthing Cycle

All Vaurcae, disrearding Type C, go through an initial birthing process that is made up of three phases. This birthing cycle is similar to any insect, although further studies show how much more incredibly complex these processes are.

Eggs

After being first layed by the Queen and transported mechanically to the birthing and nursery chambers of a hive, Vaurca eggs are incredibly fragile, approximately 91.44 centimeters tall and 30.48 centimeters thick, they have a thin slimey covering and are transparent, often being a dirty brown or whitish color. The devoloping larvae can be seen inside. They are connected to a feeding machine, supplying nutrients to the forming larva. These nutrients are also a growth hormone, making the Vaurca grow faster, and shortening hatch period. The egg will hatch in a period of four to ten days.

Lesser Larvae

The second phase of the birthing cycle, Lesser larvae are what come from initially hatched eggs. Frail and very weak, they are always a milky white color, without any eyes and transparent, soft skin. They are photophobic, and oftn require assisted movements. During this phase, all forms of conscious are removed an downloaded into the Virtual Reality of the hive. The Vaurca remains in this period for approximately one standard week.

Greater Larvae

The final phase of the birthing cycle, greater larvae are a mature version of the Lesser. They have a weak, but effective exoskeleton, and are capable of moving themselves around. Being approximtely a meter long, they also have four eyes and a feeding mouth at the bottom of their 'head.' During this phase, necessary hormones and minor augmentation are injected to determine wether a given larva will become a Type A or B. Vaurca stay in this period for about 5 weeks, before hatching into their designate role of the Hive's society. After they mature, they are then heavily augmented, the neural tube being inserted in the back of their head, and any structural and internal machinery placed.

Social

Vaurcae naming systems are fairly simple. Although their names in their own hive language are extremely complex, with the learning of Tau Ceti Basic and other languages, the Vaurca have been forced to simplify their names. Naming is based of a numbering system, determined after birth. This name includes a caste and biological designation, the number they are, and finally what hive they are from. The first name proceeds like this: Biological-Caste-Number, with Ka being used for all Type A, Za being used for all Type B, and Va being used for all Type C. Type C do not have Caste names. Caste-wise, Vias is for Bound, Akaix is for Unbound. Vaurca hive numbers are very large, so the final part of their name will vary with every Vaurca. An example: Ka'vias'dsith Zo'ra, indicates an unbound drone with the number of 8123 from the Zo'ra Hive. An example of a Type CA with this, is Va Zo'ra, indicating it is a Type C from the Zo'ra hive. For a Type CB, it would be Va'Uyats Zo'ra, indicating it is 213 of Type CB from the Zo'ra hive.

However, this naming structure is flexible between hives. This much is the most common arrangement studies have found so far. Some phenomenons have been observed where Vaurca will change their first name to a standard Human, Unathi, Tajaran, Skrell, or even robotic name, to attempt to 'fit in' with their crowd, all though the number that do this is small.

Vaurcae language structure, to non-Vaurca ears, sounds extremely archaic and cryptic, like simple clicks and grunts more than a language. However, to a creature that knows the language, all types of Vaurcese is extremely complicated and each syllable has many thousands of different connotations it could convey. Combined with subtle antennae movement and pheromone release, it is not hard to say that it is a language that can never be spoken or understood by another species. While each hive has their own small variations of Vaurcese, the language can be universally understood.

It is produced by clicking the mandibles and mouth pieces together, while sending air through the mouthpieces as well as the vocal chords. It is described as sounding like clicks and high pitched squeals. The Vaurca, however, utilize synthetic throat implants that synthesize a very alien-sounding, but intelligible, Tau Ceti Basic or any other language.

Culture

Fashion & Cuisine

Throughout Vaurca history, fashion has remained nearly non-existant. Often going nude or with small garments covering their mouth pieces to prevent any forms of contagions inside, they have do not have as bad as a nudity taboo as other races seem to have. Also lacking any kind of genitalia, they have nothing to be worried about when inside their hives. However, some Vaurca prefer to wear thin blindfold-like cloth over their eyes to prevent the 'extreme light' from giving them headaches or discomfort.

On their homeworld, however, Vaurca that go above-ground, venturing from their massive underground and mountain-based hives are often seen wearing cloth to prevent radiation sickness, despite their natural resistance against radiation.

Vaurca that venture EVA, despite their natural tolerance to high/low/vacuum pressure environments, are seen wearing soft-suits, that allow them prolonged times in space for construction, operations, and other EVA activities.

Vaurca cuisine is viewed upon as extremely bland and tasteless to the other species. Generally consisting completely of their genetically engineered fungus that they grow en masse, it is grinded down into a paste, boiled, or eaten raw. It is describes as tasting chalk-like or like iron to Humans, and if eaten too much, some humans can get nauseated.

The fungus, K'ois ('The Substance'), is a white, bulbous mushroom that thrives in any environment it is placed in, apart from overly wet. While it appears this fungus is genetically bred to be so adaptable, it is also presumed it was naturally abundant over the Vaurcae home planet.

The Arts

Art is a strange subject when it comes to the Vaurca. While not possessing any form of written art, that we currently know of, their art comes in a virtual sense. This art-style goes hand in hand with the Vaurcae caste system. They view their Virtual Reality as a paradise, and can simulate anything and everything. Due to this Virtual Reality, they have never had the need, since uploading themselves to it, to draw, write, or anything else.

This Virtual Reality also acts as an information data hub, so as long as there are Type CA still alive, all Vaurcae knowledge can still be accessible, without the need for written or typed documentation.

Religion

Vaurca viewings upon the world and the unknown in general is fairly standard to most other races. The sentient parts of their species regard the Type CA, or their 'Queen', as the God's of their hive. This is due to the relationships the personalities and the drones have with each other, as well as the Queen itself being the 'harbor' of the Virtual Reality, which to them is Heaven.

Similar to how humanity views the afterlife, they believe there is a heaven and a hell. K'seaiu'iut (Heaven, Paradise, etc) and Ck'ois'tika (The World Above). Because of the harmful UV radiation and the overall in-hospitable surface of their planet, primitive Vaurca viewed space and the sky as where all souls who did not benefit the hive in their lifetime would go, a place of eternal pain and damnation to the F'sixast'kis, (The Black Queen) who would torture them in a psuedo-opposite Virtual Reality world that they could never escape from.

Because of their large caste difference, the Bound of the Vaurca believe this wholeheartedly. The Unbound have a slightly different approach on this mentality. They believe all drones to be simple carriers of the good of their hive, and that each is merely a piece of clothing to put on, wear out, and then dispose of as necessary, while also indulging that their service to the hive can approve of unlimited time within the Virtual Reality, instead of a violent death traversing and learning for the good of the hive.

History

Early Nomadism

The earliest records of Vaurca civilization gained from limited access to Zo'ra records range from some time starting between 500,000 and 550,000 years ago. Due to the hostile climate of their homeworld caused by the thin ozone allowing radiation to blast the planet daily, many Vaurca were forced to live nomadic lives inside the vast underground cave networks to gain access to edible fungus.

Almost all conflict originated around control of food. Warfare was a matter of survival after a hive exhausted its food supply. Warrior castes became the most dominant caste within Vaurca society and nearly all hives were in constant conflict with one another. Due to the innate deadliness of Vaurca mandibles and claws warfare was fought in melee. Prisoners of war tended to be decapitated by the mandibles of the victor while the surviving hive was enslaved. The mindset appears to be an unwillingness to spare extremely limited resources with enemy warriors.

The Agricultural Revolution

Approximately 60,000 years ago agricultural methods that allowed hives to cultivate fungus had proliferated throughout the planet. No longer a resource that could be easily exhausted, many hives found an abundance of food to be a boon. The population exploded as the hives continued to operate as they always had. Unfortunately fertile territory (in the context of cave fungus) was uncommon and conflict still broke out between hives.

Other avenues of change proliferated through the Vaurca hives, as well as an explosion of art. For understandable reasons living in caves constantly grew tiresome for many unbound Vaurca and they began to experiment with ways to spruce up the place. With an abundance of food Vaurca were able to spare manpower to begin ambitious feats of masonry and architecture. According to secondary sources the Vaurca Homeworld eventually developed elaborate and massive feats of subterranean engineering, with aqueducts, sewage, and entire cities being carved out of the rock. The walls and floors of the cave were smoothed out and covered in engravings, creating a form of art that wouldn't be blasted away by radiation. Thousands of years of trial and error with countless incidents of cave-ins in the early years have allowed the Vaurca to become masters of masonry and architecture.

Along with traditional warfare, queens of many hives had begun an arms race of architecture to show up one another. Massive engineering projects would be undertaken for the glory of the queen of the hive, such as a huge subterranean temple, the rerouting of an entire underground river, or a subterranean road being carved out to connect dozens of spread out subterranean cities all being commissioned. Queens at the time had also begun to develop a cult of personality around themselves, with the queens that managed to succeed becoming the most powerful and influential on the planet. Information on this is difficult to gather due to obvious bias or mixing of legends and facts within Vaurca records. However xenoarchaeologists are in agreement that Vaurca queens managed to retain a vital position in Vaurca society by inflating their status as mothers to a spiritual level. As the only ones in Vaurca society that could give birth to new generations, they had become mystical gardens of life and fertility in an otherwise dead and barren world.

The Era of Augments

The development of Vaurca continued down paths similar to the development of other space-faring species. The major split from the norm occurred around 2,000BCE Galactic Standard Time. The Vaurca had managed to achieve a technological level similar to Earth in the late 20th century. However the Zo'ra, who had emerged during this time, had a breakthrough in augmentation technology. Zo'ra began augmenting its drones with simple cybernetic enhancements. Worker drones would have their limbs replaced with more sturdy prosthetics, and later advancements in genetics had even more Vaurca hives beginning to experiment with altering workers with genetic and cybernetic enhancements.

This technological advancement continued until the Vaurca achieved a version of technological singularity with the technology in 500 CE. The technology had become minaturized and advanced enough that Vaurca hives could cybernetically engineer any aspect of a Vaurca drone. By this time Vaurca drones had become Bound, creating the early forms of the Vaurca we see today. While Vaurca records make no mention of it, human and Skrell xenoarchaeologists theorize that Vaurca drones had incidents of rebellion or insurrection against the mass augmentation and prosthetics, which explains why today bound are all lobotomized, mindless drones.

By 100 CE the working caste of bound drones could work 24/7 stopping only to eat. Soldiers were augmented with all sorts of experiment weapons and abilities. However the augments and genetic alterations forced those altered into very specific castes. A worker raised and given augments for battle wasn't an effective mason or diplomat. While previously Vaurca society was stratified, the 'worker' Vaurca of old at least had a chance to enter into different fields. The modern Vaurca society saw a caste system where Vaurca were literally defined from birth and built into that role. This also created the modern definitions of bound and unbound: bound vaurca are members of the worker caste, literally bound to their role and station. The unbound are Vaurca above the working caste that would be allowed to seek their own destiny in society, forming a form of noble caste.

Eventually the Unbound, supported by a limitless supply of slave labor, began to form a more and more secluded society seperate from the working caste. Unbound scientists and artists eventually unlocked the technology behind virtual reality, and specialized it to create entire virtual worlds for themselves. Unbound with access to VR would lock themselves away for hours or even days at a time, sometimes leaving VR for only a few minutes at a time to let their bound workers feed them without having to even having to leave their seat.

Eventually the technology expanded to the point that Vaurca developed their 'Paradise' we see today.

The Great Migration

The proliferation of VR and bound labor created a lull in conflict on Sedantis I. Farming techniques had become advanced enough that the populations could be reasonably fed, and all other desires were being filled in virtual worlds. By all accounts it would have been completely possible that the Vaurca never left their homeworld due to the development of VR. However a combination of push factors forced the great Vaurca hives to embark on extensive plans to expand into space.

The extremely thin ozone layer of Sedantis I had begun to be measured since the start of their modern era in the early CE era. By 150 CE the Vaurca's version of a scientific body between hives had conclusive evidence to show that the ozone would be completely stripped off the planet within another 200 years. While the planet had been bombarded with radiation, life had still managed to etch out a living, but when the ozone layer was completely gone all life on the planet would be killed by the excessive amounts of radiation, rendering it a barren, lifeless rock.

Hives took different approaches to the impending apocalypse. Many hives felt they could simply increase the depths of their subterranean cities to avoid the increase of radiation, and that the subterranean eco-systems would continue to thrive beneath the surface, while other hives began to try to look past the taboo of the deadly sky and consider expanding their hives into space.

Hives devoted massive amounts of bound labor to both projects. For the next 50 years some Vaurca hives constructed the massive hive-ships we see today. In another display of the sheer ingenuity of Vaurca engineering and architecture they had managed, after very heavy losses in early failures, to create and utilize an orbital industry to work on the hive-ships. These ships are also called ark-ships, and were used to transport thousands of Vaurca to other star systems. While fusion power was available to Vaurca at the time they did not yet possess warp or bluespace capabilities, meaning travel to other systems was extremely slow.

This reality meant that hive-ships had to be capable of supporting a population in deep space for hundreds or even thousands of years. They became battleships, colony ships, mobile incubators, carriers, refineries, and production facilities all in their own. They spread through space similar to the Vox, as nomadic wanderers occasionally settling on habitable worlds, but the pace of it was was incredibly slow due to the lack of FTL technology.

Despite being years or even hundreds of years apart bound drones were still unquestionably loyal to their original queen, and followed directives given by her during their travels to the letter and without compromise. Lesser queens were brought on the hive-ships to help keep the population stable but the original queens of the hive on Sedantis remain legendary religious figures, with the lesser queens taking on a ceremonial role as mothers. Unbound present in the hive-ships were almost entirely connected to VR, which allowed them to function in their worlds, which may have been the only reason they managed to function as a society in deep space for so long.

The ultimate fate of Sedantis I is unknown to Vaurca encountered in human space in 2458, as contact is still impossible.

Contact with Humanity

None of the species of the galaxy had any idea that the Vaurca existed until an eventful day in November, 2456, when the drive plume and heat signature of a massive ship burning its engine in order to slow down for an approach was detected near the Romanovich cloud in Tau Ceti. While the galaxy was taken aback by this information, the Republic of Biesel acted immediately. A small scout vessel was dispatched to the ship, which was revealed to be a 30 kilometer (18.23 mile) vessel, mostly engine and radiator. Dubbed 'Titan Prime' by the media, Tau Ceti and news places over the known galaxy were bubbling with excitement as the object approached its apparent destination: Biesel.

After a few weeks, the object passed the Romanovich cloud and dispatched over twenty drones to key locations in Tau Ceti. Some of these locations included the NMSS Odin, the NSS Von Braun, NSS Arcadia, NSS Aurora, NSS Exodus, and NMV Retaliation, and one to each planet. Although all drones dispatched to the location turned back immediately, one did not. The one that was headed for the NSS Aurora stayed, and in fact, contacted the station through use of the station's own intercommunication system; displaying a single, unintelligible message. After a period of three hours, the crew were dispatched to the probe and entered, finding a hollow vessel. In the middle was a single alien computer, and in a corner of a room were Vaurca eggs, presumably for use in early colonization.

Research crew of the NSS Aurora, including Dr. Phoebe Essel and team were able to interact with the computer, painstakingly finding ways to translate the cryptic language it was attempting to speak in, and after usage of a pAI, were able to teach the machine Tau Ceti Basic. After some conversation, the computer detached itself and was brought aboard the NSS Aurora for first contact. It had been sent in order to document the indigenous species of the solar system. The computer tapped into the bluespace connection of the Artificial Intelligence of the station, uploaded core data files onto its hardware, and then departed, causing a minor panic on the station as the security forced feared an intelligence leak.

First radio contact was established with Tau Ceti President Joseph Dorn and Titan Prime, which was filled with Zo'ra. It was learned that the vessel was sent approximately 2 thousand years ago and had only now entered human space to find habitable planets to colonize. It was also learned that Titan Prime housed six million Vuarca on it, a staggering number.

While the construction ships assembled, Titan Prime came closer to Biesel, but, before settling into a stable orbit around the planet. Observation showed that the ship was worse for wear after traveling for 2,000 years, launched from Sedantis in 400 CE. Many of its systems were failing or had already failed. The life support was barely working and the hull had lost most of its integrity. After heavy negotiation with the Tau Ceti government it was agreed that in exchange for being allowed to settle on Biesel the Vaurca would agree to 'pay rent' in the form of providing Nanotrasen and the Tau Ceti government with a quota of their bound and unbound for Nanotrasen's workforce. Due to the complexity (and pointlessness) of paying bound Vaurca they would instead earn 'credit' towards their continued stay on Biesel to pay back the cost of housing them.

Ferries, re-purposed cargo ships, and civilian shuttles evacuated 2 million inhabitants of Titan Prime, ferrying them mostly to New Gibson and Biesel, respectively. Evacuations are still undergoing, and most Vaurca live in refugee camps or state-provided housing in special sections of Biesel. The Interstellar Aid Corps has preformed most of the work evacuating and housing Vaurca, and they are critical of the government's treatment of them.

Today, over a million and a half bound and unbound Vaurca live in refugee camps or slums in New Gibson, and 2.3 million live in similar areas on Biesel. Officials are extremely worried about the cost of continued evacuation of Titan Prime, and integration of Vaurca into the system is confounded by the growing hostility towards them, inflamed by the recent discovery of even further Vaurca hive-ships entering known space. Many fear that the Vaurca are attempting a cultural invasion and will grow to become more powerful than the human governments housing them.

This fear has lead to Tau Ceti and the Sol Alliance working to actively suppress attempts by Vaurca to construct FTL capable communications or ships to contact their homeworld and potentially spread the information to more Vaurca hives in their home systems. While the Zo'ra of Titan Prime managed to leak secrets of these technologies from the Aurora, they remain unable to build FTL communication that's capable of interacting with the STL communications presumed to still be in use in Vaurca home systems. As well, many Vaurca are unsure of the ultimate fate of their homeworlds, as their thousand year travel has had them pass the time predicted to have brought the ultimate death of Sedantis...

Notable Information

Castes

There are three distinct caste systems that work in complicated harmony with each other, that seem to be independent of biological constraints, however, also seem to go hand-in-hand. This Caste system is decided by how many personalities are currently inside the Virtual Reality, and how many Type A and B Vaurca are required.

The Bound

This is the most prominent caste. The Bound are, essentially, lobotomized Type A and B Vaurca that unquestionably follow the orders of superiors to the death. They appear to not be self aware, able to carry out conversations, but unable to make decisions for themselves. They seem to not have any sense of possession, willingly giving out any and all of their possessions to those who ask. The Bound are the main workforce; A slave-like caste that the Vaurca social system is built upon. All Bound Vaurca have data-sockets in the back of their head, accessible by the neural tube of the Type CA Vaurca to allow gathering of information, or ascension into the Unbound. They can be thought of like cyborgs.

All warriors and standard drones are Bound. They are commonly seen on NanoTrasen stations as civilian jobs, like cargo technician, chef, assistant, Janitor, or any kind of apprentice, barring security and science. While they, by law, receive pay, there are no regulations in place for simply asking for the Bound's money, so they are often employed as nearly cost-less workers.

Derogatory names are often assigned to The Bound by the Unbound, generally consisting of names like: 'The Burden,' 'The Mindless,' 'Unsanitary,' 'Thoughtless,' and many others. This is an interesting relationship, as The Bound seem to revere and even worship The Unbound, like each one was a minor God.

The Unbound

This is the second most prominent caste. The Unbound are essentially the only sentient part of Vaurca sociology, in that they are the embodied personas stored on Type CA in the Virtual Reality, uploaded into The Bound. They are perfectly capable of making rational, thinking decisions, and are naturally intuitive and curious, much like a human. Behavior wise, each Unbound is nearly identical when they are first transferred out of their Virtual Reality paradise. As they begin to learn and gain experience, however, they become individualized and have personalities for themselves. (Even if it is simulated.)

The Unbound learn as any normal human, while having access to the Hive Network of any hive, they go through periodic 'resets' where their knowledge is absorbed, and occasionally, the personality switched out for another. When a Bound steps up to Type CA, the neural tube temporarily connects the personality back with the hive, and they instantly share information.

The Unbound are chosen through multiple factors. While they are the very fringe of their species, the Unbound measure around 2,000-3,000 per large hive. Approximately 30% of the Unbound are voluntary, genuinely curious about the outside world, or are patriotic enough to assist the hive in any way they can. However, the other 70% of the Unbound are chosen in an automatic raffle, where they are ripped from their virtual reality paradise and made to serve the Hive. This can lead to disgruntlement. They will often detest their body, and themselves, and be genuinely hateful to everything, merely doing the minimum and full fulling their job.

The Unbound are often sent off into the world independently from the Hive to learn and study their surroundings, or, in the event they stay in the hive, manage the Bound and perform civic duties, such as scientific research and diplomacy. In practice within human societies, they often live alone in their own apartments like any other citizen, and work to support themselves, rarely having monetary aid from their Hive. Every few months, they must make the journey back to their Type CA, and deposit information. At this point, they can determine if they wish to go back into the Virtual Reality, or stay in the physical world.

On NanoTrasen stations, they are often employed as any human would be, generally not having any specializations until they learn about a department; they can be seen frequently as interns. This is not always the case, as they learn very rapidly, and some have been subjected to schooling already, passing as any graduate would.

The I'soiasfi

Being an unusual caste, and the translation having thousands of connotations, there has not been a definite translation created for the third, and rarest Caste of the Vaurca. Generally describing a scene like 'Heaven,' 'Paradise,' 'Tranquility,' and 'Utopia,' I'soiasfi describes what the Type C are. They are carriers of the release of their species; Type CA is revered as a God and rightful leader due to the collective that resides within her. Type CB is revered and loved as natural leaders, and because of their natural affinity for their own personality, they are able to command entire Bound and Unbound forces efficiently.

Type CA holds the personalities and ego's of all The Bound, to allow their physical counterparts to be used in the way that they are. The personalities are entertained by the Virtual Reality system that resides within Type CA, allowing virtually anything to be simulated, created, destroyed, or predicted.

Type CA has little to no actual power within itself. The collective within Type CA decides Hive-wide decisions, and Type CB are expected to act as nodes, relaying the Hive's orders to Unbound that then relay orders back to the Bound in a complex hierarchy system.

Major Hives

Although there are thousands of hives there are regardless major factions that have become dominant in Vaurca space, and only three which have been discovered in known space.

Zo'ra

Zo'ra - "Unstoppable."

Zo'ra, the largest and most powerful hive, and also the first one discovered by Humanity following their Hive-ship 'Titan Prime.' Information gained through contact with Vaurca present in Tau Ceti has lead to unconfirmed projections putting their population in Vaurca space at 77 billion. Zo'ra believe themselves to be the Alpha of the Vaurca and the face of their species. They make up the majority of the Vaurca present in Tau Ceti and human space.

Zo'ra have cold relations with other hives. In Tau Ceti, this has lead to confrontations between them and other hives arriving in the system.

K'lax

K'lax - "The Deceivers."

K'lax, the second most powerful hive and second faction discovered by humanity after an additional Hive-ship Kloxa'xia appeared in the Jargon Federation system Glorashi. The K'lax hive is a client state to the Zo'Ra, but since contact with the Vaurca homeworlds are extremely slow both factions in known space are completely cut off. This has lead to a sort of fuel for independence, with many K'lax outright rejecting the claims of leadership the Zo'ra in known space have over them. Based on secondary accounts it is believed that they have 33 billion individuals in Vaurca space.

Lii'dra

Lii'dra - "The Scourge."

Hive Lii'dra, although small population wise at 22 billion, is matched in military power with the Zo'Ra in Vaurca space. Based on information gathered from Vaurca in human space the Lii'dra and Zo'Ra are engaged in a devastating interplanetary war that has consumed thousands of hives. The original causes for the war have been lost to time, but it's become apparent that reconciliation may be completely impossible. The Lii'dra were encountered after their own Hive-ship Klo'xzai arrived in the Sol Alliance system of Lalande. Original contact became open hostility almost immediately as the Hive-ship's automated defenses opened fire on investigating Alliance patrol ships, sparking a brief skirmish that claimed the lives of 12 Alliance servicemen. Since then the Klo'xzai moved into deep space, and similar to Vox and Unathi raiders the Lii'dra in known space operate as feared raiders.