Skrell Abroad

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Skrell Abroad

After the events of first contact between the Nralakk Federation and the Solarian Alliance, Skrell have migrated across the Orion Spur beside humanity. While still insular due to psionic social interactions and cultural differences, many skrell enclaves have slowly integrated into the surrounding communities. The newer generations born in these places beyond the Federation more willingly take to the surrounding cultures and adapt, while the older skrell tend to retain their roots firmly, and maintain a level of separation from the world around them. Skrell communities on Mictlan, New Gibson, Venus, and Silversun have grown strong connections with the people and culture surrounding them, with only few keeping themselves at a distance. Starlight Zone’s Severson City, however, remains an example of a staunchly conservative and insular community from the rest of the world, clinging to their roots within the Federation and pushing out attempts to change their ways of life.

The month-long period of unrest in the Q’elpi region from the Independent Traverser Movement revealed a growing divide between Skrell communities abroad, with the skrell in the Lekan Village area of the Starlight Zone more vocally against the Nralakk Federation’s efforts in repressing the dissidents, contrasting the communities within the Solarian Alliance and The Consortium. This inter-community conflict reached a fever pitch on 20/08/65 with anti-Federation groups clashing with Federation loyalists across nearly every Skrell enclave abroad, even to the quieter communities found on Europa and within the typically homogenous Commonwealth of Hieroaetheria. With these communities well beyond the reach of the Nralakk Federation’s measures of quashing unrest and division in its borders, skrell abroad are now growing more divided under the freedoms allotted to them, much to their own fear.

OOC note: Keep in mind that Skrell lifespans are much longer than that of other species, and when combined with the lack of psionic interaction with their non-Skrell neighbours, means assimilation into the local culture is typically a long process that spans generations. Non-canon/player-headcanon Skrell communities should generally retain insularity.

OOC note: While you may be able to select multiple languages with your Skrell characters, Skrell that are not from the Solarian Alliance may not pick Solarian Common as a known language, and this is enforceable by Skrell Lore moderation.

Skrell in the Solarian Alliance

The Nralakk Federation and the Solarian Alliance maintain strong diplomatic and economic ties between each other ever since first contact, and have allowed skrell to integrate across Sol’s territories. Thanks to their robust education and long lives, skrell in the Solarian Alliance can easily find work within human communities, with some preference towards scientific and medical positions before physical labor. Most planets within the Alliance’s interior are generally accepting of skrell and allow them to integrate into their societies, though this becomes less assured the further into the Outer Ring and into the frontier, where xenophobia remains a stronger cultural holdover.

Notable Skrell Communities in the Sol Alliance

Europa

Europa became a unique hub for skrell looking for opportunities within the Sol Alliance, being valued for their psionic abilities in submarine navigation, which was discovered early on during the first crews that allowed them aboard. Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals has capitalized on this market through the establishment of the Navigator Corps, which maintain well-trained psionic navigators for crews willing to pay higher fees for their skills in plunging the depths of the frigid moon.

While taking to Europa’s unique opportunities was an early success, the reality of living on a remote moon and under its waves has had unseen effects on their health. The lack of observable stars resulted in skrell developing an over-reliance on the Qwei’Paqui, and the chronic neurological disorder called Europan Sea-Blindness, caused by extreme stress and constant overexertion of their psionic abilities within dangerous work environments. Despite the dangers and inhospitality of Europa, many skrell still flock to the moon thanks to Zeng-Hu’s relationship with the Nralakk Federation, and its lucrative contracts for those willing to become psionic navigators.

Venus

Venus’ loud, hedonistic, and fast-paced lifestyle should repel most skrell from ever setting foot there beyond the lengths of their work contracts, but the enclaves of skrell on the aerostats persist, and even embrace, the hustle and high life. Skrellian Stars are skrell that have flocked to Venus, typically being popular Idols from the Federation that have sponsored careers in Venus’ monolithic entertainment industry, with human culture enthusiasts and those simply seeking opportunity where they were scorned. Idols tend to retain some boundaries even within the full swing of Cytherean hedonism, while human culture enthusiasts and opportunity-seekers remained long enough to form the communities of Cytherean Skrell.

Parallel to the rising stars are Washouts, skrell who have explicitly isolated themselves from the Federation to hide within Venus’ noise. These washouts are often drifters, failed or scorned academics, or otherwise those who consider themselves social pariahs for their personal reasons. Many washouts stay for only a short amount of time relative to skrell, ranging from a few years to one-or-three decades, and drown their sorrows and overindulge until they feel ready to move on to take to the stars. Skrell who simply exist outside of either of these identities are simply a part of the working class, whether in Zeng-Hu’s labs or retaining the aerostats high in the atmosphere, keeping themselves at arms length from the noise. Whether self-identified or lumped in by others, these form the Jintarian Skrell communities on Venus, and regularly come at odds with their Cytherean counterparts and washouts.

Silversun

Silversun’s uniquely lush and warm ecology drew the attention of the Nralakk Federation’s ecologists and Primary Numerical tourists, seeing the planet as a place to stay in comfort while working beyond the Federation’s borders. The first waves of researchers and Idol vacationers, both of whom touted the planet’s pleasant climates and extraordinary locales, are often blamed as the starting point of the immense tourism boom that would turn Silversun into the vacation center it’s known for today. Modern skrell communities on Silversun predate the tourism spike, primarily involving themselves in the scientific and educational centers within Helios City, though Idols and Primary Numericals remain the face of skrell presence on the planet. Even more came as Idris Incorporated moved to strike its monopoly on the planet’s industries, and involve themselves in Toowoomba-Tauranga and Yincheng. This latter group is the source of some tension with the self-identified skrell Originals of Silversun, who see them more as Expatriates than fellow skrell.

Eridani

Less of a permanent community and more of a prominent temporary arrangement, work tourists from the Nralakk Federation are a common sight on Eridani I, where most skrell present are there for only a few decades for credit-paying positions on the planet. While well-known for its difficult and engaging labor, most work exchange programme members often comment on its crushing atmosphere for longer stays, and most leave changed from their time abroad there. Most skrell on Eridani I live in Ifihan, with some environmental districts based off of the Federation’s locales. Skrell dregs, while less common, do exist within the lower rungs of Eridani’s cityscapes, with most of them biding their time to escape Solarian territory to evade deportation. Those born as dregs, however, often fall between the cracks despite the Federation’s best efforts.

Skrell in the Republic of Biesel

As the Republic of Biesel was initially under the Solarian Alliance’s control as a colony, skrell were already present within it before the nation declared independence in 2452. Most notable within the Republic’s territories is the colony of New Gibson, which struggled before the species’s arrival and installation of revolutionary biodome technology. As the Republic’s reputation of being a cultural melting pot and as an egalitarian society for all species, skrell have integrated themselves into Biesellite society at a faster pace compared to the Solarian Alliance. The Republic of Biesel is considered one of the few places in the Orion Spur where skrell can expect similar treatment from somewhere beyond the Nralakk Federation.

Notable Skrell Communities in the Republic of Biesel

Mendell City - The Starlight Zone

The Starlight Zone formed after a large exodus of skrell fled the Nralakk Federation as the Kalas were deployed to suppress the Independent Traverser Movement in the Traverse, with most displaced skrell fleeing to Tau Ceti as refugees. The majority of these were assigned to Mendell City’s District Eight, informally known as the Lekan District. The district is now primarily known as the Starlight Zone by both Mendell City’s citizens, as well as the skrell living within it.

The Starlight Zone is separated into two parts: Lekan Village and Severson City. Lekan Village consists of the surface areas of the district, and acts as an extension of the Lekan District itself. The inhabitants of Lekan Village emphasise naturalisation with the world and cultures around them, and are more accepting of the ideals and expectations of Biesel’s culture. Lekan Village, while primarily skrell, retains some non-skrell who were District Eight natives who refused to move when the Starlight Zone formed.

Severson City, named after the local port Severson's Rift, encompasses all underwater regions of the Starlight Zone. The inhabitants of Severson are considered deeply traditionalist and staunchly conservative, holding their ties to the Federation amidst the diaspora. Some residents refuse anything that does not originate from the Federation or skrell culture, going so far as speaking exclusively in Nral’Malic and solely eating skrell cuisine. Due to its insular nature, and being situated underwater, it remains the sole skrell-only area of Mendell City.

New Gibson - Xoikko Archology

Following first contact, the Nralakk Federation and Solarian Alliance brokered a deal that introduced biodome technology utilised on Federation colonies like Aliose to New Gibson, which was still gripped with famine and failing hydroponic projects that led to the crisis of 2294. This agreement saw the migration of specialized skrell engineers and hydroponic technicians who oversaw the installation and upgrades to New Gibson’s infrastructure, replacing most of the old arcologies built during its initial years as a Solarian colonial start-up with modernised infrastructure. Many of these skrell workers opted to stay on New Gibson following the completion of the project, and now live alongside their descendants within the Xoikko Archology, which is now an entertainment and service hub in the modern day.

The human population New Gibson maintains a strong connection with the remaining skrell due to their efforts in halting the famine and aiding New Gibson to where it is today, and maintains a reputation of holding the highest opinion of the species in human space. This endearment went on to produce one of the most successful and largest communities of skrell outside of the Federation, and now hosts the largest skrell population in the Spur beyond the Federation itself.

Skrell in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone

Considered unwilling inhabitants of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone due to the Solarian Alliance’s collapse and loss of the region, skrell within the CRZ struggle to find a new identity among the ruins. Some have accepted the rule of the Republic of Biesel and its Stellar Corporate Conglomerate benefactors, optimistic that they will have better lives in a nation with more accepting policies, while others have taken to protests or armed resistance in opposition to Biesellite incursion.

Notable Skrell Communities in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone

Mictlan

Due to Mictlan being an aquatic world with its landmasses covered in humid jungle, the planet quickly became a place of unique interest to the Skrell, ultimately leading to many settling there. While skrell living on Mictlan can find commonality with Mictlan’s communal culture, the older generations find it difficult to fit in completely, as they find the high-energy culture of Mictlan to be mentally exhausting to interact with. The newer generations of skrell adapted in their stead, and became well-accepted within Mictlanian society.

The first group of skrell that came to Mictlan were terraforming specialists from Tuz’qlip Researchers, who studied the wildlife and environment of Mictlan in an effort to promote biodiversity on planets within the Federation. This study lasted fifteen years, ending in an agreement made between the Sol Alliance and Nralakk Federation to prematurely end the invasive research and protect the planet’s fragile ecosystem. Many of the original research team members elected to stay on Mictlan to continue their studies, all while adhering to the rules laid out within their conservation policies. The original researchers, their families, and any new arrivals from the Nralakk Federation now live in Papamóscanda, a valley town on the outskirts of Arequipa with strong pro-Federation ties.

Although a rare occurrence, some younger Skrell have joined the Samaritan movement on Mictlan, believing that the planet should be its own sovereign state rather than be governed by the Republic of Biesel.

Skrell in the Coalition of Colonies

The Coalition of Colonies remains a remote and rare option for skrell leaving the Nralakk Federation, in part to Its distance and cold relations the two nations have with each other due to the Federation’s ties with the Solarian Alliance. Skrell communities and enclaves within the Coalition of Colonies are smaller, and maintain a reputation for being anti-Federation or hosting resistance members outside of the Federation’s reach. Some truth is held in this belief, as the Coalition’s remoteness makes it a preferable destination for those fleeing Federation authorities, with the tepid relations between it and the Coalition leaving little chance for deportation.

Skrell Outside of Human Space

Outside of human space, skrell communities are largely non-existent, with the few that do exist being quite recent - save for the exception of Nral'Daaq - and are still adjusting to their new home. Their experiences, stories, and relations with the other species they live alongside are diverse, and their origins vary wildly.

Notable Skrell Communities Outside of Human Space

The Consortium of Hieroaetheria - Nral'Daaq

The Federation played a large part in introducing the Dionae found on Hieroaetheria to the galactic stage and the creation of the Commonwealth of Hieroaetheria, resulting in the two nations becoming steadfast trading partners and allies since contact was made between them. Although wishing to uphold the planet's independence, the influence of the Federation remains apparent. Skrell came to Hieroaetheria in droves, either to participate in the birth of a new nation or to escape the clutches of the Nralakk Federation. Regardless of their reasons, these skrell flocked to the planet and helped further develop the nation.

The Izweski Hegemony - Ouerea

The Nralakk Federation, along with the Solarian Alliance, aided the Izweski Hegemony in developing its fledgling colony on Ouerea shortly before the Contact War began. To protect their interests on the planet once the war began, as well as the colonists they had sent to help establish the colony, Ouerea was under the joint administration of the Alliance and the Federation during the war. This period lasted until control over the planet was handed back to the Hegemony, after Moghes stabilised post-Contact War and nuclear catastrophe.

The influences of these two nations had a massive impact on Ouerean society, and the Hegemony found its people unwilling to submit to feudal rule. Today, Ouerea exists as a fledgling democratic and cosmopolitan society, where humanity, skrell, and unathi adapt to living alongside one another while fighting for the future of their new world.