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{{Navbox Lore}}
== Skrell on Ouerea ==
The Skrell are not inexperienced when it comes to settling on the worlds of other species, having spread themselves out across Human space soon after they made first contact with Humanity. Settling on Ouerea came with its own set of unique issues though, and combined with a tumultuous history it has culminated in a subsection of [[Skrell]] who are culturally distinct from most of its species.
{{Navbox Skrell Lore}}
{{Navbox Skrell Lore}}
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=== History===
=Nralakk Federation Enforcement=
Shortly after first contact in 2403, a small number of [[Skrell]] moved to Ouerea. These [[Skrell]] were only [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] Representatives and their associates at first, their purpose being two-fold: develop relations with the Unathi and learn more about their culture and people, and assist their struggling first colony by turning it into a burgeoning, self-sufficient one. These first [[Skrell]] joining the colony would not go on to form the contemporary [[Skrell]] on Ouerea, but laid the foundations for what was to come for the species.
The Nralakk Federation’s ''Enforcers'', or '''Kala''', are responsible for upholding the security and law of skrell space. Functioning under a centralised structure, the Kala are governed by a supervisory body known as the '''Nralakk Federation Security Commission (NFSC)'''. The NFSC’s doctrines revolve around mobility, flexibility and precision. Presently, the Kala maintains two core objectives: firstly, ensuring the safety, security and cooperation of all systems under the Federation’s flag, and protecting their borders; secondly, protecting the national security of the Federation from foreign nations and groups, as well as proactively gathering intelligence on both their allies and their adversaries.


==History==
During the first month of diplomatic and cultural exchanges, the [[Skrell]] were also beginning to look at what the colony would need to truly be self-sufficient. It was obvious that educated workers and those who had experience in colony development were needed, so the Representatives made a request to the Grand Council. The call was barely received back in the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] as many [[Skrell]] felt unease at the thought of leaving their homes for a pre-existing fledgling colony of a nation less advanced than Humanity. While a small number of Secondary and Primary Numericals accepted the call, it was mostly Tertiaries and other oppressed groups within [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] society who were willing to leave their home for a planet still struggling to survive. The influx of oppressed groups joining Ouerea influenced its already existing anti-Feudalistic movements, introducing foreign concepts that matched the Unathi colonist's goals for egalitarianism and democracy. These ideas were unimpaired by the politics of those who worked for the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]], who had to keep the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] in mind while on Ouerea, and these oppressed [[Skrell]] were more than happy to teach the colonists that there was a way of living that did not involve serving under the Izweski's or any lord's rule.
The origins of the centralised skrell security community begins at the conclusion of the War of Tides, and subsequent formation of the Commonwealth of Three in 901 CE. The Tzqul Republic, Heshqu Council and Weishqi Republic, who had previously all handled their own internal affairs, created the '''Commonwealth Internal Security Committee (CISC)''' as an international policing and intelligence agency. The national rivalries within the CISC laid the foundation for significant inefficiencies and failures in its short history, leading to uncontainable conflicts in the newly established outer colonies. With the formation of the First Nralakk Federation in 878 CE, the Grand Councillor engaged in widespread purges of the CISC, and reformed the organisation into a force of separate Kala, loyal to the Grand Council.


The reign of [[Skrell_Synthetic_Age#Late_Synthetic_Age|Glorsh-Omega]] led to the gradual disbandment of the existing Kala in favour of automated security drones under the AI’s direct control, with skrell collaborators not placed in enforcement positions due to their inefficiencies in engaging with Glorsh’s esoteric risk assessment programmes. Following the Tri-Qyu Calamity in 2192 CE, and the formation of the Second Nralakk Federation in 2245 CE, the new federal government recruited the Lyukal cells deemed most disciplined and loyal to Federation ideals, forming a new security and intelligence organisation to aid in the reformation of the now fractured skrell space, and train new generations of Kala to make up this organisation. Among the first duties of these proto-Kala was to reestablish societal order in the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Core_System_:_Nralakk|Core Systems]], enforce the recent blanket ban on all forms of artificial intelligence, and rebuild the Federation’s immense surveillance network.
The move to Ouerea was slow, but over time [[Skrell]] moved to the planet on a larger scale than in Human space as the colony's needs outpaced any xenophobia held by the Unathi living there. Ouerea would soon become a well-known destination for those who needed to flee [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] space, either as a stop along the way to the [[Coalition of Colonies]], or as a final destination for those looking to make a new life for themselves. It wouldn't be until the Contact War began and the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] took over administration of the planet that their numbers would increase dramatically. A planet which the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] administered appealed to many across all of [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] society; the average citizen saw it as an opportunity to safely explore the Spur, knowing they would not be at the whim of a xenophobic or unenlightened government, while Tertiaries and criminals saw it as an opportunity to leave the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] and live where its laws are not heavily enforced without arousing too much suspicion. While still having to live secretly at this point, not openly practising their subversive beliefs, the comparatively lax monitoring of citizens on Ouerea gave the [[Skrell]]'s unprecedented freedom compared to [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] space.


The rapid recovery of the Federation meant that the existing, decentralised Kala structure became bloated and inefficient with the ever-expanding Federation frontier. Grand Councillor [[Notable_Skrell#Rixa_Tep-Wul|Rixa Teq-Wul]] reorganised the Kala under two new agencies, the '''Directories of Internal and External Security (DIES)''', which would operate independently of one another and report directly to the Grand Councillor. Ultimately, this led to the two agencies competing with one another for prominence and funding, sabotaging the other’s reputation through a number of covert actions throughout the early 2400s, with some prominent anti-Federation individuals claiming that [[Federation_Crime_and_Resistance#Marauders|Marauder]] groups were funded to fuel this rivalry. Additionally, the '''Wukala''' were created from the ranks of the most loyal Kala as political operatives protecting Federation ideals. The election of Grand Councillor [[Notable_Skrell#Weashbi_Jrugl|Weashbi Jrugl]] in 2453 came with the formation of an oversight organisation to unify the security services, the '''Nralakk Federation Security Commission (NFSC)''', which was staffed with the Grand Councillor’s allies, though the Wukala would remain independent of the Commission and retain their autonomy due to the influence of the High Prefect.
The [[Nralakk Federation|Federation's]] administration of the planet would see democratic elections begin, as now freed from the feudal obligations of the Izweski the population took to implanting its long-hoped-for government. The administration created by the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] was not a true government in any sense, instead acting more as an oversight committee, allowing the planet to form its own government and the policies that come with it as the people saw fit, rather than imposing their own. This is attributed to the lack of true support the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation's]] Administration received, as the population of the [[Nralakk Federation|Nralakk Core Systems]] saw no reason for their government to begin establishing colonies so far from home, especially in the de-facto territory of another species with whom they cooperated. The [[Nralakk Federation|Federation's]] Administration would instead work with the locally elected government of the Synod of Scales, who it recognized as the legitimate government of Ouerea, assisting them in the growth and stability of the colony, essentially acting as a liaison group between the Synod and the larger [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]]. To the surprise of many, while a majority of elected positions were still in the hands of Unathi, a large proportion of positions across all levels of Ouerean society would be held by [[Skrell]] when considering their minority presence on the planet, as they were some of the only colonists with experience or the slightest education in civil administration. At this point, the life for Skrell on Ouerea was compared to the early days of the [[Skrell History| Skrell Space Age]]. Advanced technology was not imported over in large numbers, and was only used by Federation officials to facilitate communication back home and to the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] when possible. The [[Skrell]]'s quality of life suffered, obviously, as they would be too used to what the Federation had, but many enjoyed the subsistence lifestyle Ouerea offered. The [[Skrell]] settling on Ouerea began to see the colony as an example of what cross-species cooperation could achieve if given the opportunity.


In recent history, the prominence of the Kala has only grown as domestic and foreign troubles led to their expanding powers and political relevance. Within the Traverse region, the problematic handling of the Kala created many critics of Grand Councillor Jrugl’s security policies amongst the rank-and-file Kala, though officials in the Directories are hesitant to report this dissidence for fear of being punished themselves. Both the phoron scarcity, and the recent foreign policy changes by the Grand Council, have also created some dissent within the Kala, who disapprove immensely of overreliance on the megacorporations. However, High Prefect Eluteluk has remained publicly supportive of their Grand Councillor, dissuading any serious protest within the Federation’s security apparatus.
At the end of the Contact War, the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] slowly began to stabilise and take notice of its holdings once again, and saw what became of its colony. The [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] took disproportionate action, taking a number of [[Skrell]] Kala officers captive and making a grand display of its fleet in orbit of Ouerea as a message to the Federation and Alliance: the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] would not bow down to aliens, and Ouerea belongs to the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]]. The [[Nralakk Federation]] and Solarian Alliance would then "cede" their claims to the colony, not wanting to fight over a planet that didn't belong to them to start with and was too far away from their territory anyway, and took their citizens with them. Those who worked with the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] directly, along with the Primary Numericals and many Secondaries, would leave the planet with their job of making Ouerea self-sufficient and considered complete. Those who fled the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] and those who established roots and relationships in their local communities, however, were not interested in leaving their new home and had no intention of leaving. Those that stayed on Ouerea were forced to passively observe as the new Overlord began to tear down the equal society that they had helped create for the Unathi, unable to defend it in fear of xenophobic reprisal as discrimination against the [[Skrell]] almost immediately became common once the old Feudal system was put in place; as the [[Skrell]] were seen as a direct cause for the introduction of democracy and other "alien ideals" to the Unathi population, the new Unathi colonists and rulers were quick to view them with contempt. This said the [[Skrell]] were spared during the Months of Blood, serving prison sentences or simply being brought back down to the rank of peasant rather than the normal punishment of execution, as the Hegemon feared the response by the Spur's superpowers if he were to kill his alien subjects. After two years of uncertain fear of their status in the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] and internal debate about what to do with these new alien subjects, the Ouerean rebellion began.


==Nralakk Federation Security Commission==
The [[Skrell]]'s role in the rebellion was not insignificant, but the species was divided on where they stood. One side saw it as their fight just as much as it was the Unathi's now that they were considered Hegemonic subjects, while the other viewed their participation in the rebellion as a death sentence; so far away from home and no hope of escaping what punishment they may face by a Feudal ruler, many [[Skrell]] wished to stay on the sidelines and hope that they would be left alone. Some even believed that they may be granted special privileges as a species, and didn't want to spoil their chances of negotiating these rights with the Izweski or Yiz’tek Lords if they openly rebelled against [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] rule. Participation in the rebellion itself by [[Skrell]] was not significant due to their minority presence on the planet, but while the number of [[Skrell]] fighting on the streets in solidarity with the Unathi peasants was small, the number of sympathetic [[Skrell]] who offered their services to those impacted by the rebellion was much higher. Those with medical backgrounds would help the wounded after a riot, engineers would repair the damages done by the lord's levies after a crackdown, and religious leaders would help organise communities to help those most impacted by Overlord Yitzek's heavy-handed rule. [[Skrell]] who took part in the actual fighting notably helped train those peasants who had not defected in fighting as a unit and advised them on how to best engage with the better-equipped Yiz’tek forces on the planet.
The Nralakk Federation Security Commission serves as the umbrella organisation containing the myriad of different security and intelligence agencies. The Commission, and by extension the entirety of the Nralakk Federation’s vast security apparatus, is chaired by the Grand Councillor, although they will appoint a Commissioner to oversee the daily operations of the organisation in their place. To be the Commissioner of the NFSC is one of the highest honours a skrell can achieve, acting as the trusted hand of their Grand Councillor. Commissioners almost always veterans across a broad range of security and intelligence fields and afforded Idol status, they are also given a position on the Grand Council as the Grand Advisor of Security and Intelligence.  


The Commission is composed of the Grand Councillor, the Commissioner, the Directors of Internal and External Security, select Grand Council Enforcers, and other intelligence and security experts from various sectors. The current Commissioner is '''Tariqale'miluz Odakizu''', a well-known academic and lecturer in Federation security and law, with an extensive background experience as the Executive Director of External Security during first contact with humanity.
After Not'zar Izweski's negotiations with the rebels, and the arrest of Overlord Hutay’zai, the [[Skrell]]'s place in Ouerean society was secured. The [[Skrell]] were given a permanent observer within the re-established Synod of Scales, whose role is to speak and bring forward issues related to the [[Skrell]] without requiring prior approval by the Overlord, a privilege not given to Humanity, as little to none of them are on the planet for any reason besides work, but otherwise has no other powers within the Synod. This special privilege has made the [[Skrell]] of Ouerea more content with the situation, knowing that they still have representation within the government. The reasoning behind Not'zar's decision of giving the [[Skrell]] this privilege isn't specifically known, but it can be assumed that Not'zar sees the [[Skrell]] on Ouerea as a key to greater technological advancement for the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]], as most [[Skrell]] have had decades of intense higher education and a more advanced skillset than your average Unathi.


===Council Enforcers===
=== Life and Culture ===
[[File:Srom.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Wukala.]]
The [[Skrell]] of Ouerea today are in much the same situation as they were before the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] took back control of the planet, and in similar situations seen by [[Skrell]] living abroad elsewhere in the Spur. Despite an individual Unathi's thoughts on the species, [[Skrell]] are in high demand for their knowledge and skills, and it is common to see [[Skrell]] in higher positions in most fields. [[Skrell]] in teaching positions are also common, although for the most part they are not tied into the local education system in an official capacity and are usually hired on by guildsmen for their workplace instead. This has given the [[Skrell]] a certain amount of respect by the other species, with the common thought being that if a Skrell is in your workplace, you know that you are in good hands. This said, [[Skrell]] still face a large amount of discrimination in Ouerean society as some Unathi feel as though they have been cheated out of better opportunities. Even with Ouerea's emphasized importance on equality, the Unathi still struggle when it comes to how they treat non-Unathi. This has translated to many senior positions being held by Unathi, while [[Skrell]] are relegated to positions that hold no authority over their peers.  
Independent of the Nralakk Federation’s security community, the '''Wuqrnjeqkala''', shortened to '''Wukala''' (and translating to Council Enforcers), are planetary council-appointed Kala who enforce disciplinary action at the discretion of the councillors they are assigned to. While being a Wukala member is a prestigious position which grants Index rating bonuses, Idol status is never awarded out of an interest in keeping the operatives relatively anonymous. Wukala operatives focus on domestic crime and suppression of anti-Federation actions, and are granted access to the Federation's internal surveillance systems to oversee their assigned region. The Qekala work closely with Wukala intelligence to enforce the law, with direct responses from the Wukala only appearing in the event that immediate detainment or capture is necessary, particularly when their persons-of-interest attempt to flee the planet, or evade sentencing and/or reeducation. Unlike those of the inner systems, the Wukala of the Traverse’s planetary councils are appointed by the Qu’Wukala instead of their respective planetary councillor, and are given a wider licence than their inner system counterparts to ensure the loyalty of their ward. This allows the Traverser Wukala full control of the security apparatus in their planetary council, which is most often exercised in the form of combatting infiltration by anti-Federation elements, and ensuring corruption is kept to a minimum. Due to their important role, and the danger a subversive Wukala could possess, Traverser Wukala are always loyalty implanted.


====Grand Council Enforcers====
Outside of work, [[Skrell]] see more of the egalitarianism that Ouerea embraces. Communities are rarely fully segregated, with the only real exception being '''Xrqii-Zek'Qlip''' due to its environment being unsuitable for Unathi. Even here, however, the [[Skrell]] population has issues fully assimilating; the cultural differences between Unathi and [[Skrell]] have made life in mixed areas difficult, and it can be a challenge for the two species to interact without it being abrasive. This isn't to say that tensions are high between the species, but it has made the existence of "Skrell Quarters" or "Little Qerrbalak's" common in the larger cities such as New Skalamar as [[Skrell]] choose to live mostly alongside other Skrell where possible.
The '''Qu'Wuqrnjeqkala''', shortened to '''Qu’Wukala''' (and translating to Grand Council Enforcers), are the personal agents of the Grand Councilor and the Grand Council's highest members. Qu'Wukala operatives are tasked with providing the security details for their assigned wards, council members, protection of the Nralakk Federation's secure assets, and the completion of any requested tasks from the Grand Council itself. Unlike their sibling Kala, operatives of the Qu'Wukala are allowed their Idol statuses, and are touted alongside their wards as being among the highest echelons of the Federation. Rumors of the Qu'Wukala being utilised as assassins, rather than their official role as intelligence agents and bodyguards, are dismissed as overtly ridiculous conspiracy theories. The leader of both the Qu’Wukala, and to an extent, all planetary Wukala, is High Prefect Eluteluk Dozopil-Raqirztzlip, who has held their position long before Grand Councillor Weashbi Jrugl’s ascension. Thanks to the great power held by the Qu’Wukala, the High Prefect is rumoured by many in [[Starlight_Zone|Biesel’s]] resistance circles to be the puppetmaster of the young and relatively inexperienced Jrugl to control the entire nation, and uses their enforcers to ensure their position is secured.


===Directory of Internal Security===
[[Skrell]] culture and attitudes have changed as a result of mingling with the Unathi and Human populations on Ouerea, particularly views related to individuality. Just as how Ouerean Unathi have placed more importance on the individual rather than the clan you belong to, Skrell on Ouerea have begun to emphasise the importance of individual [[Skrell]] rather than focusing on the group as a whole. While by no means completely removing the importance of community, or making the species unable to see the importance of sticking together as a minority on an alien planet, the definition of a group and community for Ouerean [[Skrell]] is much smaller than that of a [[Skrell]] from the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]]; while [[Skrell]] in the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] are more willing to see themselves part of a greater whole, that "greater whole" for a [[Skrell]] on Ouerea may not extend much further than their town or city. Other Unathi ideas have also influenced the [[Skrell]] living here, particularly those related to loyalty and honour which match well with pre-existing views. These ideas can be seen the most in younger [[Skrell]], either those who fled the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] for already having similar views or those who were born on Ouerea. Non-mainstream Skrellian beliefs have seen popularity on Ouerea as well, with [[Skrell Faith|Suur'ka]] being seen as a necessity for a physically weaker and minority species living alongside Unathi. The Suur'ka ideology followed on Ouerea is not unified but still follows the main tenets of Suur'ka and its connected Sqai'Laaq martial art: the mental and physical honing of oneself, self-reliance, and independence. [[Skrell Faith|Suur'ka's]] tenet of independence is particularly popular with [[Skrell]], especially those who took part in the rebellion and is often brought up as a point when the topic of Ouerea's role in the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] is mentioned.
The Nralakk Federation’s vast networks of surveillance networks and enforcers are controlled by the '''Directory of Internal Security (NFDIS)''', which is one of the largest organs of the government. Due to the substantial size of the Federation’s domestic security operations, the NFDIS is divided into planetary administrative divisions called Districts, which have a vast amount of autonomy from the NFDIS itself, instead receiving their directives from their respective planetary council. The inherent fluidity of the NFDIS means that all Kalas are essentially of equal importance with no staggering, beyond that the Districts themselves are ultimately led by their planetary council. Below that, the number of divisions and their sizes is dependent on the given planet’s proximity to the Nralakk system, but the universal base unit is a Station, which contains the necessary facilities to oversee the entire security of a rural region or city. Within these stations are multiple types of agents; an agent monitoring domestic intelligence is called a Nlomkala, or Wake Enforcer; an agent monitoring the Srom is called a Sromkala, or Dream Enforcer; and an agent performing security and policing duties is called a Qekala, or Home Enforcer. The DIS is currently led by Executive Director '''Gelqai'nelusa Iqo'ujin''', the former District Director of Qerrbalak, and a veteran in the internal security apparatus known for their integrity and numerous successful anti-corruption campaigns within the Kala.


====Domestic Surveillance====
The majority of [[Skrell]] on the planet would be considered subversives back in the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] even before this cultural shift thanks to those staying mostly being Skrell who were either outcasts in [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] society, criminals, or otherwise not ideal citizens. The mix of Skrell from all backgrounds, regardless of ideology or subculture, has allowed the proliferation of [[Skrell]] ideas that is unprecedented elsewhere save for perhaps the Republic of Biesel. With their status as [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] subjects and the lack of formal agreements between the [[Izweski Nation|Hegemony]] and [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]], Ouerea continues to be a destination for those willing to flee [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] space - albeit one that is considerably less popular than fleeing to the [[Coalition of Colonies]] or joining the [[Tau Ceti Foreign Legion]].  
[[File:Ruup.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Nlom and Sromkala.]]
The Nlomkala are the eyes and ears of the Federation are found at every level of society, to the point of being (erroneously) remarked by non-Federation citizens that every electronic appliance is outfitted with hidden cameras feeding directly to the Nlomkala. In reality, the pervasive surveillance in the Federation is an open, accepted part of life to feed information to the Social Compatibility Index, and ensure the Federation’s economy continues to operate. This vast network is overseen by '''Nlomkala''', or Wake Enforcers. The sheer scale of the Nlomkala’s operations makes them one of the largest employment sectors in the nation, with C’thur vaurca and dionae employed in high level positions alongside skrell. The '''Sromkala''', or Dream Enforcers, are a specialized division of the Nlomkala with [[Skrell#Psionics|high psionic aptitude]], with agents placed close to Nlom Relays in order to amplify their capabilities to monitor the Wake. A common belief is that every Nlom Relay in the Federation contains at least one Sromkala agent within a cryogenic pod to suspend their body, while still allowing their consciousness to continue working within Srom.  


====Law Enforcement====
There is still a small group Skrell who are still pro-Federation, however, made up of those who did not wish to leave Ouerea for one reason or another, and are who make up the majority of non-Unathi supporters of the Restorationists political movement. Ironically, this group of Skrell are considered outcasts by the greater Skrell community on Ouerea, seeing their pro-Federation, conformist beliefs as precisely what the idea of Ouerea is against. Their support for an authoritarian nation such as the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]] is compared to the [[Izweski Nation|Izweski Hegemony]], and are widely shunned by both Skrell and Unathi alike as a result. Pro-Federation Skrell on Ouerea do not last long, either finally giving in and adopting the wider culture held by Skrell on the planet or giving up and moving back to the [[Nralakk Federation|Federation]].
[[File:Nlom.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Qekala.]]
The Qekala are the fist of the Federation’s security apparatus in skrell space. Only a fourth of the NFDIS is made up of Qekala operatives, who are responsible for general policework. The Qekala’s regular operations include regular patroles, providing security presence, warrant execution, emergency response, and have a significant portion of its staff dedicated towards intelligence and surveillance. Aspiring Qekala members are placed under rigorous scrutiny, testing athletic ability, legal knowledge, and general capability to respond with correct force and procedure. Qekala members are expected to operate amphibiously across multiple environments across the myriad environments in the Nralakk Federation. Non-skrell members, like the C’thur warriors of Vytel’s Brood, are employed in limited numbers for vaurca-majority regions. These Warriors are implanted with a loyalty implant, which equalises the Federation's orders to the same priority as a Queen's, with conflict of interests forcing a warrior to hibernate until resolved.
 
In the Traverse region, Qekala are exclusively recruited from the planets they are stationed on, creating concerns for conflicts of interest between the Federation and their homes. Consequently, the Traverser Qekala receive much lower funding and equipment than their inner system counterparts, alongside higher scrutiny in their operations, with the NFDIS requiring intense loyalty and background checks on potential recruits. Alongside this, the day-to-day operations of the Qekala are not controlled by their planetary council, but rather the Wukala of said council, in order to ensure loyalty to the Federation is prioritised above all else.
 
===Directory of External Security===
While the Nralakk Federation maintains ample protection of internal security against domestic agitators, they recognise that foreign actors are now a much greater threat in the modern day, with foreign influence even affecting the Traverser rebels during the [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|Q’elpi]] [[Change_on_the_Horizon_Arc|Systems]] crisis. As a response, the '''Directory of External Security (NFDES)''', whose diverse range of operations have led to its unique structure compared to its domestic counterpart, was formed.The NFDES is divided into three Sections, which are the Intelligence Section, Covert Actions Section, and Defence Section. These sections are defined as their own Kala: an agent of the Intelligence Section is called a '''Ruupkala''', or Intelligence Enforcer; an agent of the Covert Actions Section is called a '''Tupkala''', or Covert Enforcer; and an agent of the Defence Section is called a '''Qukala''', or Star Enforcer. The NFDES is currently led by Executive Director '''Ripalji Guyuo''', a former operative of the Covert Actions Section, and close associate of Weashbi Jrugl, ascending to replace their predecessor immediately after Jrugl’s appointment.
 
====Foreign Operations====
[[File:Tup.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Tupkala.]]
The prestigious Intelligence and Covert Actions Sections serve as the Federation’s first line of defence against foreign threats, maintaining offices for every nation in the Spur. These two Sections conduct their activities under the umbrella category of Foreign Operations, and work in tandem to perform the widest berth of duties of any security organisation. These duties include intelligence gathering, counter-intelligence, monitoring skrell outside of the Federation (both citizen and not), maintaining networks of undercover operatives in foreign national organisations, and assassinations—though no assassination attempt has ever been confirmed to have been approved by the Nralakk Federation. This position at the forefront of skrell security has made the Foreign Operations component of the NFDES a highly desirable position for well-performing citizens, and is a valuable pathway towards a successful political career. The Ruupkala are rumored to monitor the fabled “Drylist,” which supposedly holds the names of all skrell living abroad who have performed deductive behaviors against the Nralakk Federation, displayed worrying ideals, joined an opposing faction, or renounced their citizenship. Some theorize that this list even covers non-skrell who may pose a threat to the Federation. The Drylist, however, remains an openly debunked conspiracy theory by the Nralakk Federation, and no official list has ever been discovered or produced.
 
====Defence====
[[File:Qukala.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Qukala.]]
The Nralakk Federation’s Defence Section has kept a unique structure in light of the lack of all-out war or broad conflict in its borders. The Defence Section is regarded by most within the skrell security community as an unfortunate necessity to combat piracy in the less civilised Traverse, other border regions, and frontiers. The Qukala that make up the Defence Section have a very poor standing in the Traverse, where they are most widespread and responsible for enforcing an extensive anti-piracy mandate—being viewed by many Traversers as unnecessary military policing. This reputation has not left the Defence Section unscathed, and is reflected in its relatively small size, equipment, and funding compared to other branches of Federal security, and a miniscule force when compared to their Solarian neighbours. The lack of interest in the Defence Section has since been capitalised on by the C’thur Hive, particularly Queen Vytel, as vaurca warriors are perfectly suited to EVA operations, as well as acting as an intimidating force against pirates. These C’thuric Warriors have a Federation-designed loyalty implant much like their Qekala siblings. Although the injection of C’thur warriors has been an undeniable success, the effort was not enough to prevent the Federation’s [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|recent]] [[Change_on_the_Horizon_Arc|embarrassments]] in the Traverse region. Aside from their regular duties, the Qukala are responsible for providing the security for Federation embassies, consulates, and diplomats serving abroad.
 
Following the reforms agreed upon by the now-defunct Independent Traverser Movement and the Federation, the NFSC was tasked with training a local defence force comprised of loyal volunteers in the Traverse with the aim of providing some relief to overextended Qukala forces in anti-piracy operations. To accomplish the creation of this auxiliary force, Qukala stationed in the Traverse began recruiting, organising, and training forces of loyal Traversers which would be called the Qehalak, or Homeguard. An individual Qehalak is typically a part-time reservist for the Federation’s frontier, who is expected to pick up arms and assist any Kala when called upon, however in Traverse Councils with a small Kala presence, Qehalak can be organised into full-time border security, under the guidance of a senior Qukala attaché.
 
====Naval Structure====
The Nralakk Federation’s military ships are designed primarily around extremely long-ranged engagement, with any deployed strikecraft consisting of psionically-piloted remote drones and the vanishingly-rare boarding craft. Built for responding against piracy and irregular anti-government actions, the average fleet strength of the Federation is miniscule in comparison to the immense fleets of the Solarian Alliance and similar human nations, with most non-Federation members having only seen the Qukala’s navy on border patrol sorties and the single deployment of the [[The_Beauchamp_Arc|short-sightedly designed NFV Qheles]]. While this lens is unflattering for the Federation’s perception of military strength, the sheer size of the nation’s claims still necessitates a sizable fleet to secure them, which remains no small feat when contending with domestic and foreign piracy.
 
The Traverse’s Qehalak fleets, in comparison to the Qukala’s own, are considerably smaller. Consisting of retrofitted Qukala naval vessels and militarized civilian craft, the Qehalak’s fleet strength is more consistently tested by the more organized Marauder vessels that plague the skrell frontier. This independence from the Inner Systems’ more organized security structure has bred new tactics out of sheer necessity, with more eccentric and underhanded tactics being adopted to compensate.

Revision as of 08:44, 19 October 2025

Skrell on Ouerea

The Skrell are not inexperienced when it comes to settling on the worlds of other species, having spread themselves out across Human space soon after they made first contact with Humanity. Settling on Ouerea came with its own set of unique issues though, and combined with a tumultuous history it has culminated in a subsection of Skrell who are culturally distinct from most of its species.

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History

Shortly after first contact in 2403, a small number of Skrell moved to Ouerea. These Skrell were only Federation Representatives and their associates at first, their purpose being two-fold: develop relations with the Unathi and learn more about their culture and people, and assist their struggling first colony by turning it into a burgeoning, self-sufficient one. These first Skrell joining the colony would not go on to form the contemporary Skrell on Ouerea, but laid the foundations for what was to come for the species.

During the first month of diplomatic and cultural exchanges, the Skrell were also beginning to look at what the colony would need to truly be self-sufficient. It was obvious that educated workers and those who had experience in colony development were needed, so the Representatives made a request to the Grand Council. The call was barely received back in the Federation as many Skrell felt unease at the thought of leaving their homes for a pre-existing fledgling colony of a nation less advanced than Humanity. While a small number of Secondary and Primary Numericals accepted the call, it was mostly Tertiaries and other oppressed groups within Federation society who were willing to leave their home for a planet still struggling to survive. The influx of oppressed groups joining Ouerea influenced its already existing anti-Feudalistic movements, introducing foreign concepts that matched the Unathi colonist's goals for egalitarianism and democracy. These ideas were unimpaired by the politics of those who worked for the Federation, who had to keep the Hegemony in mind while on Ouerea, and these oppressed Skrell were more than happy to teach the colonists that there was a way of living that did not involve serving under the Izweski's or any lord's rule.

The move to Ouerea was slow, but over time Skrell moved to the planet on a larger scale than in Human space as the colony's needs outpaced any xenophobia held by the Unathi living there. Ouerea would soon become a well-known destination for those who needed to flee Federation space, either as a stop along the way to the Coalition of Colonies, or as a final destination for those looking to make a new life for themselves. It wouldn't be until the Contact War began and the Federation took over administration of the planet that their numbers would increase dramatically. A planet which the Federation administered appealed to many across all of Federation society; the average citizen saw it as an opportunity to safely explore the Spur, knowing they would not be at the whim of a xenophobic or unenlightened government, while Tertiaries and criminals saw it as an opportunity to leave the Federation and live where its laws are not heavily enforced without arousing too much suspicion. While still having to live secretly at this point, not openly practising their subversive beliefs, the comparatively lax monitoring of citizens on Ouerea gave the Skrell's unprecedented freedom compared to Federation space.

The Federation's administration of the planet would see democratic elections begin, as now freed from the feudal obligations of the Izweski the population took to implanting its long-hoped-for government. The administration created by the Federation was not a true government in any sense, instead acting more as an oversight committee, allowing the planet to form its own government and the policies that come with it as the people saw fit, rather than imposing their own. This is attributed to the lack of true support the Federation's Administration received, as the population of the Nralakk Core Systems saw no reason for their government to begin establishing colonies so far from home, especially in the de-facto territory of another species with whom they cooperated. The Federation's Administration would instead work with the locally elected government of the Synod of Scales, who it recognized as the legitimate government of Ouerea, assisting them in the growth and stability of the colony, essentially acting as a liaison group between the Synod and the larger Federation. To the surprise of many, while a majority of elected positions were still in the hands of Unathi, a large proportion of positions across all levels of Ouerean society would be held by Skrell when considering their minority presence on the planet, as they were some of the only colonists with experience or the slightest education in civil administration. At this point, the life for Skrell on Ouerea was compared to the early days of the Skrell Space Age. Advanced technology was not imported over in large numbers, and was only used by Federation officials to facilitate communication back home and to the Hegemony when possible. The Skrell's quality of life suffered, obviously, as they would be too used to what the Federation had, but many enjoyed the subsistence lifestyle Ouerea offered. The Skrell settling on Ouerea began to see the colony as an example of what cross-species cooperation could achieve if given the opportunity.

At the end of the Contact War, the Hegemony slowly began to stabilise and take notice of its holdings once again, and saw what became of its colony. The Hegemony took disproportionate action, taking a number of Skrell Kala officers captive and making a grand display of its fleet in orbit of Ouerea as a message to the Federation and Alliance: the Hegemony would not bow down to aliens, and Ouerea belongs to the Hegemony. The Nralakk Federation and Solarian Alliance would then "cede" their claims to the colony, not wanting to fight over a planet that didn't belong to them to start with and was too far away from their territory anyway, and took their citizens with them. Those who worked with the Federation directly, along with the Primary Numericals and many Secondaries, would leave the planet with their job of making Ouerea self-sufficient and considered complete. Those who fled the Federation and those who established roots and relationships in their local communities, however, were not interested in leaving their new home and had no intention of leaving. Those that stayed on Ouerea were forced to passively observe as the new Overlord began to tear down the equal society that they had helped create for the Unathi, unable to defend it in fear of xenophobic reprisal as discrimination against the Skrell almost immediately became common once the old Feudal system was put in place; as the Skrell were seen as a direct cause for the introduction of democracy and other "alien ideals" to the Unathi population, the new Unathi colonists and rulers were quick to view them with contempt. This said the Skrell were spared during the Months of Blood, serving prison sentences or simply being brought back down to the rank of peasant rather than the normal punishment of execution, as the Hegemon feared the response by the Spur's superpowers if he were to kill his alien subjects. After two years of uncertain fear of their status in the Hegemony and internal debate about what to do with these new alien subjects, the Ouerean rebellion began.

The Skrell's role in the rebellion was not insignificant, but the species was divided on where they stood. One side saw it as their fight just as much as it was the Unathi's now that they were considered Hegemonic subjects, while the other viewed their participation in the rebellion as a death sentence; so far away from home and no hope of escaping what punishment they may face by a Feudal ruler, many Skrell wished to stay on the sidelines and hope that they would be left alone. Some even believed that they may be granted special privileges as a species, and didn't want to spoil their chances of negotiating these rights with the Izweski or Yiz’tek Lords if they openly rebelled against Hegemony rule. Participation in the rebellion itself by Skrell was not significant due to their minority presence on the planet, but while the number of Skrell fighting on the streets in solidarity with the Unathi peasants was small, the number of sympathetic Skrell who offered their services to those impacted by the rebellion was much higher. Those with medical backgrounds would help the wounded after a riot, engineers would repair the damages done by the lord's levies after a crackdown, and religious leaders would help organise communities to help those most impacted by Overlord Yitzek's heavy-handed rule. Skrell who took part in the actual fighting notably helped train those peasants who had not defected in fighting as a unit and advised them on how to best engage with the better-equipped Yiz’tek forces on the planet.

After Not'zar Izweski's negotiations with the rebels, and the arrest of Overlord Hutay’zai, the Skrell's place in Ouerean society was secured. The Skrell were given a permanent observer within the re-established Synod of Scales, whose role is to speak and bring forward issues related to the Skrell without requiring prior approval by the Overlord, a privilege not given to Humanity, as little to none of them are on the planet for any reason besides work, but otherwise has no other powers within the Synod. This special privilege has made the Skrell of Ouerea more content with the situation, knowing that they still have representation within the government. The reasoning behind Not'zar's decision of giving the Skrell this privilege isn't specifically known, but it can be assumed that Not'zar sees the Skrell on Ouerea as a key to greater technological advancement for the Hegemony, as most Skrell have had decades of intense higher education and a more advanced skillset than your average Unathi.

Life and Culture

The Skrell of Ouerea today are in much the same situation as they were before the Hegemony took back control of the planet, and in similar situations seen by Skrell living abroad elsewhere in the Spur. Despite an individual Unathi's thoughts on the species, Skrell are in high demand for their knowledge and skills, and it is common to see Skrell in higher positions in most fields. Skrell in teaching positions are also common, although for the most part they are not tied into the local education system in an official capacity and are usually hired on by guildsmen for their workplace instead. This has given the Skrell a certain amount of respect by the other species, with the common thought being that if a Skrell is in your workplace, you know that you are in good hands. This said, Skrell still face a large amount of discrimination in Ouerean society as some Unathi feel as though they have been cheated out of better opportunities. Even with Ouerea's emphasized importance on equality, the Unathi still struggle when it comes to how they treat non-Unathi. This has translated to many senior positions being held by Unathi, while Skrell are relegated to positions that hold no authority over their peers.

Outside of work, Skrell see more of the egalitarianism that Ouerea embraces. Communities are rarely fully segregated, with the only real exception being Xrqii-Zek'Qlip due to its environment being unsuitable for Unathi. Even here, however, the Skrell population has issues fully assimilating; the cultural differences between Unathi and Skrell have made life in mixed areas difficult, and it can be a challenge for the two species to interact without it being abrasive. This isn't to say that tensions are high between the species, but it has made the existence of "Skrell Quarters" or "Little Qerrbalak's" common in the larger cities such as New Skalamar as Skrell choose to live mostly alongside other Skrell where possible.

Skrell culture and attitudes have changed as a result of mingling with the Unathi and Human populations on Ouerea, particularly views related to individuality. Just as how Ouerean Unathi have placed more importance on the individual rather than the clan you belong to, Skrell on Ouerea have begun to emphasise the importance of individual Skrell rather than focusing on the group as a whole. While by no means completely removing the importance of community, or making the species unable to see the importance of sticking together as a minority on an alien planet, the definition of a group and community for Ouerean Skrell is much smaller than that of a Skrell from the Federation; while Skrell in the Federation are more willing to see themselves part of a greater whole, that "greater whole" for a Skrell on Ouerea may not extend much further than their town or city. Other Unathi ideas have also influenced the Skrell living here, particularly those related to loyalty and honour which match well with pre-existing views. These ideas can be seen the most in younger Skrell, either those who fled the Federation for already having similar views or those who were born on Ouerea. Non-mainstream Skrellian beliefs have seen popularity on Ouerea as well, with Suur'ka being seen as a necessity for a physically weaker and minority species living alongside Unathi. The Suur'ka ideology followed on Ouerea is not unified but still follows the main tenets of Suur'ka and its connected Sqai'Laaq martial art: the mental and physical honing of oneself, self-reliance, and independence. Suur'ka's tenet of independence is particularly popular with Skrell, especially those who took part in the rebellion and is often brought up as a point when the topic of Ouerea's role in the Hegemony is mentioned.

The majority of Skrell on the planet would be considered subversives back in the Federation even before this cultural shift thanks to those staying mostly being Skrell who were either outcasts in Federation society, criminals, or otherwise not ideal citizens. The mix of Skrell from all backgrounds, regardless of ideology or subculture, has allowed the proliferation of Skrell ideas that is unprecedented elsewhere save for perhaps the Republic of Biesel. With their status as Hegemony subjects and the lack of formal agreements between the Hegemony and Federation, Ouerea continues to be a destination for those willing to flee Federation space - albeit one that is considerably less popular than fleeing to the Coalition of Colonies or joining the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.

There is still a small group Skrell who are still pro-Federation, however, made up of those who did not wish to leave Ouerea for one reason or another, and are who make up the majority of non-Unathi supporters of the Restorationists political movement. Ironically, this group of Skrell are considered outcasts by the greater Skrell community on Ouerea, seeing their pro-Federation, conformist beliefs as precisely what the idea of Ouerea is against. Their support for an authoritarian nation such as the Federation is compared to the Izweski Hegemony, and are widely shunned by both Skrell and Unathi alike as a result. Pro-Federation Skrell on Ouerea do not last long, either finally giving in and adopting the wider culture held by Skrell on the planet or giving up and moving back to the Federation.

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