Nralakk Federation

Second Nralakk Federation
Nralakk Federation
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Galactic Position
Capital Planet: Capital City	Qerrbalak Kal'lo
Language(s):	Nral'Malic
Species:	Skrell 80% Vaurca 10% Dionae 9% Other 1%
Religion:	Qeblak (official) Weishii (official) Suur'ka Kir'gul
Demonym:	Nralakk Federal (local term only)
Government Head of State	Unitary Directorial Republic Grand Councillor Weashbi Jrugl
Legislature Upper House	Council Grand Council
Established:	2245 (originally 878)

Located to the galactic west of Tau Ceti, the Nralakk Federation is the oldest nation still functioning in the modern day, having originally formed in 878 CE, then reforming in 2192 CE after the turbulent period of total dominance by a rogue AI. The Nralakk Federation’s government is a unitary directorial republic, of which it maintains a fully nationalized industrial base with corporate involvement only becoming a recent addition within the last decade, a command economy, and control over most facets of interior life. They are the technological and scientific powerhouse of the Orion Spur, wielding the most advanced technology and dedicated research base to expand and maintain its system-spanning holdings across its vast territories. They are primarily perceived as an isolationist, totalitarian nation, as well as a situational ally of the Sol Alliance, of whom they benefit greatly from their exclusive trade cooperation in explorative endeavours further into the Spur. Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and Einstein Engines have also flourished since the Federation’s diplomatic success with Sol, being granted exclusive allowances and special economic zones into their borders for cooperation with the Federation’s controlled economy and access to their research. Both corporations maintained this exclusive agreement, and were originally the only two with the distinction.

This exclusivity has since changed after the discovery of phoron in 2417, which sparked multiple, large-scale scientific breakthroughs collectively referred to as the Phoron Revolution, which further cemented its position as being the single most scientifically advanced nation in the Orion Spur. Nanotrasen Corporation, and by association the Republic of Biesel, made diplomatic headways into securing preferential trade agreements due to its near-monopoly of phoron. While the multiple breakthroughs that benefited the Nralakk Federation have since buckled under the phoron scarcity, as most of these advancements depend on a constant supply of the phoron. Diplomatic outreach by the Federation has since expanded exponentially as it attempts to secure positive relations and improved interstellar trade options, as well as allowing megacorporations to court the Federation as it moves to economic deregulation, which originally barred them from placing themselves within the Federation’s economy outside of restrictive zones.

These measures have only slowed the growing resource crisis, of which has led to the loosening of the Federation’s grip on its frontier territories known as the Traverse as rationing measures worsen already existing political tensions as anti-Federation sentiments spread due to the perceived failures of its government.

Contents

Population and Planets

A closer image focusing on the factions surrounding the Nralakk Federation's territory.

Qerrbalak is the skrell homeworld, and the current location of the capital city of the Nralakk Federation, Kal’lo. Located within Kal’lo is the single largest Solarian embassy for political cooperation between the two powers, as well as the seat of the annual meeting of every member of the Grand Council. Qerrbalak is known for its extensive historical sites, high Primary Numerical populace, and a relative lack of industry due to environmental protections.

Qerr'Malic is the sole moon of Qerrbalak, which currently functions as the main port for interstellar trade, and as a tourist destination. Notably, Qerr’Malic’s underground “second surface” houses a majority of the workers that maintain the surface installations, with those workers primarily being vaurca from Hive C’thur. The moon is known for its tourism venues, the Museum of Ink, and as a source of Xu’Xi Gas.

Aliose is primarily an arctic planet, and the first planet colonized by skrell outside of Qerrbalak’s moon. Originally inhospitable without protective equipment and an internal atmosphere, terraforming efforts from the first landing in 1203 BCE and onwards rendered Aliose habitable and safe to breathe for the colonists on its surface. The planet now known for its scientific community, the prestigious Aliose University of Medical Sciences, and the veterans lodge of the Lyukal resistance cell.

Aweiji, is a heavily terraformed planet, being the first colony to be founded outside of the Nralakk system. Originally arid and rocky, extensive terraforming efforts from 1050 BCE through the use of large spacecraft in its orbit before being settled by colonists in 938 BCE. The first of these colony sites, Tresja, would later become the largest city on Aweiji, and would go on to be host of the Tresja Agreement under which the Nralakk Federation formed a second time. Aweiji is primarily known for being “The Federation's Breadbasket” due to its extensive hydroponics and aquaculture, its special economic zone in cooperation with Hephaestus Industries and Nanotrasen, and its remaining orbital spaceport.

Glorashi is a small solar system consisting of five planets, most notably Diulszi, which is the current capital of the vaurca hive known as C'thur. The current Queen of Hive C’thur is kept on Diulszi while on life-support provided by the Nralakk Federation. Beyond Diulszi, most of the planets within Glorashi only have their potential mineral value as standout traits of the system. More information on the C'thur and their colonised worlds can be found here.

Economy

The Nralakk Federation operates under a command economy - where investment, production, and the allocation of resources are distributed according to predetermined economic production plans set by the governments’ councils. Quotas are set during the first few months of the year, and are to be fulfilled by state-owned enterprises, which are large scale industrial entities owned and operated by the Federation’s government. These state-owned enterprises coordinate and manage production across the entirety of the Federation’s planets and cities to meet the set quotas. While this allows for an extremely centralized and easily controlled format for the nation to modify its own industrial capabilities for its own needs, this completely isolates their economy to themselves alone. No foreign or external industries have ever successfully involved themselves with the Nralakk Federation’s economy without its explicit permission, which while intentional, limits its industrial potential to exactly the State-Owned Enterprises’ limits.

Despite the planned nature of the Federation’s economic system, the Nralakk Federation outsources most manual labor to non-skrell citizens. Dionae and vaurca have seen increasing adoption in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, as well as a push towards positions that are generally considered unappealing by the skrell populace. These positions, being primarily staffed by Tertiary numericals, have maintained their unappealing nature in the aftermath of the Synthetic Era, where most of these positions were fully automated and maintained by artificial intelligences and robotics. This aversion to manual labor has lingered as a noticeable slump in the Nralakk Federation’s production, and has yet to achieve the level of production that the First Federation maintained before its collapse.

Most exports from the Nralakk Federation consist of industrial and specialized sector products, with imports primarily being food and consumer goods. While initially isolated and unwilling to accept outside economic influence, megacorporations have slowly gained access to special economic zones and the state-owned enterprises’ cooperation. Einstein Engines, Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, and the Nanotrasen Corporation have established themselves as key players in opening the Federation’s economy to the rest of the Spur, which has begun to expand due to the growing phoron scarcity. Trade agreements with the Nralakk Federation are primarily defined by research cooperation and the trading of the Federation’s advanced technology, both seen as particularly lucrative by the rest of the Spur’s nations.

With the Spur’s megacorporations involving themselves with the Nralakk Federation, all corporate-Federation cooperation has been limited solely to avoid any competition with corporations against their own nationalized industries. Despite this, Hephaestus Industries’ sheer industrial might within the Federation’s allotted zones is nearly on-par with the Nralakk Federation, due to their lack of constraints on ecological considerations, and adoption of a synthetic workforce, with their potential not left unnoticed by the government. Idris Incorporated’s work on Qerr’Malic has also courted the nation’s public with its vast access to luxury goods, as well as being one of the sole points of access for trading the national currency, sqiips, for the Biesel Standard Credit, which maintains much stronger purchasing power outside of the Federation itself.

As of 2467, every corporate member of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate has been granted expanded opportunities in working within the Federation’s borders. Orion Express’s key position within the Traverse’s ailing logistics network in light of the phoron scarcity allows it to play an important part in preserving the Nralakk Federation’s frontier, while Nanotrasen itself uses its remaining reserves of phoron as a negotiating measure for access to the nation’s technological research.

With this new turn towards outside economic involvement, concerns of dependency and growing recognition of failing to obtain the self-sufficiency held by the first incarnation of the Nralakk Federation. The State-Owned Enterprises are equally concerned with being outcompeted and potentially being driven to being removed as the central industry authorities that allows the Nralakk economy to remain planned and controlled, particularly as the question of the opening of the market is courted by corporations and other nations.

Universal Stipends and Social Welfare

Individuals considered Primary or Secondary Numericals are awarded a universal stipend each month, a form of universal basic income to ensure citizens of the Nralakk Federation have their basic needs met, which scales per their Social Compatibility Index rating. Skrell who work outside of the Federation’s borders still benefit from this system, with Zeng-Hu contractors and other Work Initiative Programme-participating corporations receiving a matched amount of their stipend each month, paid in sqiips. Those who work abroad in unrelated companies outside of the Work Initiative Programme will often see a halved stipend, often paid in the local currency. When otherwise abroad for non-work related reasons, they will still receive one third of typical stipend each month.

Beyond the universal stipend system, all skrell are guaranteed basic needs are met by the Nralakk Federation’s social welfare system. All skrell citizens are provided housing, basic foodstuffs, clothing, and toiletries in order to live basic, but undeprived, lives. Sqiips and income are more tied towards being able to purchase luxury goods and comforts that are not covered by the welfare system, with more comfortable housing and domestic goods requiring higher income than is covered by the universal stipend and no current occupation. As corporations are allowed greater access to the Federation’s economy, however, many goods outside of Federation-produced goods are seen as luxurious and exotic, but are regularly much more expensive.

With growing economic concerns in light of the phoron scarcity, the universal stipend has seen proposed cuts in order to reduce government spending. Proposed changes would see travel abroad without involved labor reduced to a fourth, or completely paused until their return to the Federation’s borders. These changes are under intense debate within the government and Grand Council, but further cost-cutting measures may soon be passed as the Nralakk Federation faces a worsening economic situation.

Currency

The Nralakk’s Federation official currency is the sqiip (℘). Sqiip sees extremely little use outside the Nralakk Federation, primarily seen in paychecks to those in the Work Initiative Programme in electronic and physical formats. Sqiips in their coin form can be secured in stacks, thanks to special magnetic properties for easy transportation. Higher valued sqiips will come in the form of a paper bill, printed on different types of water-safe seaweed. The coins and bills will have markings of aquatic life on them to denote their value (with shells, molluscs, buurgis, cosmozoans, and other sea life as examples). Outside of Nral’malic the most common slang term for sqiips is “shells”, referencing the currency’s iconography. This slang has caught on outside of the Nralakk Federation, and many who do not speak Nral'malic are unaware of its original name.

Sqiips face an increasing loss of value against more competitively traded currencies in the Orion Spur, with the Biesel Standard Credit gaining an increasingly superior trade value within the Nralakk Federation. With more sqiips having to enter circulation in order to meet the inflation, as well as rising expenditures within the Federation’s government in order to maintain itself, the BSC has seen increasing preference and adoption by its citizens, in spite of its adoption being considered undesirable.

State-Owned Enterprises

State-owned Enterprises are government entities that facilitate the Nralakk Federation’s workforce and industrial sectors, and have existed since roughly the earliest years of the Federation itself. Each enterprise has a unique uniform to show the industry an individual works in, as well as their rank within the Social Compatibility Index. On 28/01/2464, the Work Initiative Programme was introduced, allowing skrell the Federation to seek employment outside of its borders. The Work Initiative Programme allows skrell to transfer their contract from their state-owned enterprise to a partnered megacorporation, allowing them to work abroad for the duration of their contract before being renewed, or otherwise return to the Federation.

Qerr'Zolvq Industries

Created shortly after the founding of the first Nralakk Federation in 907 CE, Qerr’Zolvq Industries is responsible for all aspects of power generation, resource extraction, and industrial production. Before its establishment, the private sector was the primary source of industry, with Qerr’Zolvq as an early company. Backed by state subsidies, the company saw itself develop a monopoly on the power generation and production industries before being nationalized by the Nralakk Federation, and used as a model for future state-owned enterprises. In the modern day, Qerr’Zolvq has since expanded to asteroid mining and the management of fusion energy facilities as the Federation’s technology advanced. Those with specialized knowledge and degrees in the mining and engineering sectors have most likely been employed by Qerr'Zolvq Industries. It is currently headed by Chancellor Xul Lurg. With the Nralakk Federation inviting human megacorporations into Federation space, Qerr’Zolvq Industries has partnered with Hephaestus Industries and Orion Express, and those employed by this enterprise who take contracts abroad typically do so through Hephaestus. Miners, however, are encouraged to work with Orion Express thanks to the connections of their Chief External Affairs Officer, Tuiqi Xao’Luup.

In the growing phoron scarcity, Qerr’Zolvq Industries struggles to maintain quotas necessary to meet the growing demand for phoron-based machinery and components. The mining vessels, while still given priority, face stricter windows for their deployment into unmined regions due to the fuel rationing. Reliance on Nralakk Logistics’ freighter craft has also caused a slowing effect on the movement of their exports, with their own craft forced to rely on slower warp drives in order to conserve fuel and delaying their critical exports reaching their recipients within quota windows. Most pressing is the enterprise’s projections on power generation, having forecasted the eventual point where demand outstrips their capabilities to expand the power network once phoron-seeded fusion reactors become unfeasible to produce.

Tuz'qlip Researchers

An enterprise established after the formation of the first Nralakk Federation in 902 CE, Tuz’qlip Researchers oversees all aspects of research and development within the Federation, having formed in order to centralize all research efforts on Qerrbalak as the Federation grew. These facilities in the Federation were amalgamated underneath Tuz'qlip Researchers, and now works in cooperation with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals. Both the enterprise and the megacorporation freely exchange research information, which has significantly benefited Zeng-Hu throughout its involvement in the Solarian-Federation Alliance. The relationship between Zeng-Hu and Tuz’qlip is most obviously seen on the planet of Aliose, where they work closely with the planet’s universities and research institutes dotted across the planet. Tuz'qlip Researchers the primary source of new technological breakthroughs across the Federation, being credited towards a majority of all recent technological advancements. It is currently headed by Overseer Nalo Gir-Roq. Because of Zeng-Hu’s relationship with Tuz’qlip Researchers, many scientifically-minded skrell that wish to work abroad will find quick employment with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals.

Tuz’qlip Researchers, overseeing all research into phoronic technology, has been put under significant burden in order to find both more efficient methods of phoron consumption, as well as alternatives in the event of total resource exhaustion. Alternatives to phoron remain scarce, with some of its properties remaining so unique to itself that some revolutionary discoveries may no longer be possible to produce if the worst comes to pass. Youth serums in particular remain in extreme precarity due to its extensive use of organophoronic compounds, with no alternative methods for replacing it found. Zeng-Hu, while working closely with Tuz’qlip, is equally at an impasse for any replacements for phoron.

Nralakk Logistics

An enterprise that was established in 905 CE, Nralakk Logistics manages telecommunications, logistics, and transport across the Federation. Nralakk Logistics was formed out of necessity due to the exponential complexity in managing communications logistics necessary for any colonization effort off of Qerrbalak. The state-owned enterprise manages shipping routes, observation posts, Nlom Relays, the bluespace gates, and the warp gates throughout the entirety of the Federation. Most skrell employed by this enterprise are either pilots, porters, operational managers, or other positions related to transport and logistics. It is currently headed by President Alot Sonq. Similarly to Qerr’Zolvq Industries, skrell employed by Nralakk Logistics are typically employed by Hephaestus Industries or Orion Express for contract transfers into the Work Initiative Programme. As Orion Express is responsible for a majority of exports headed from human space into the Nralakk Federation and vice versa, they see a majority of contractors from Nralakk Logistics.

With bluespace’s sheer advantage in speed over warp technology, its adoption as the standard for moving freight and shipping has turned to cripple the overall logistics of the Federation with phoron becoming increasingly scarce. Fuel rationing and the required use of much slower warp drives leaves Nralakk Logistics hamstrung, with increasing lateness and lost cargo due to increased piracy in the Traverse becoming more common in their quota reports. With its position as the sole managing body over the nation’s logistics and shipping lanes, a distinct sense of fear has begun to grip the entire enterprise.

Xomor

Xomor was originally established to provide private security services for businesses within the Nralakk Federation in 901 CE. While originally a private security conglomerate, the Federation nationalised them, merging them with the First Nralakk Federation’s national security structure as they transitioned into a command economy. After the rise of Glorsh-Omega, Xomor was made redundant as synthetics were the sole policing force within skrell space. The enterprise saw a brief revival after Glorsh-Omega’s disappearance, with many taking up the role of informal city and state security before the establishment of the second Nralakk Federation. Now existing in-name only, Xomor is now the most unique State-Owned Enterprise, charged with training newly recruited skrell into being future Kala enforcers. With pacifism and physical violence considered abhorrent in the Federation’s society, Xomor’s training regimen and staff work to desensitize and prepare potential recruits in understanding how and when to use force as an enforcer, lethal or otherwise. It is currently headed by Director Vraka Xora-Nel, who has since partnered with Idris Incorporated to allow Xomor staff and inductees interested in working abroad as part of the Work Initiative Programme, with skrell being employed within Idris’s security branch.

Xomor has faced increasing amounts of skrell interested in working abroad and as Kala recruits in light of the phoron scarcity, with a worrying majority wanting to curb the growing unrest in the public because of it. Despite being the enterprise dedicated towards preparing skrell for the use of violence, the growing number of desperate recruits using them as a way to either fix or escape Federation society has unnerved them. Increased allowances in weaponry and anti-civil disturbance equipment, notably from Zavodskoi Interstellar after corporate cooperation agreements has done nothing to dissuade these concerns, as the organization prepares itself for the troubles ahead.

Ziip’Ta Medicinal

Ziip’Ta was founded in 950 CE as the Nralakk Federation formally nationalized its healthcare system, formed in response to the growing populace and increasing life expectancy of its citizens. Ziip’Ta Medicinal’s focus on medical research is credited with the expansion of the average lifespan of skrell by roughly a century past the normal life expectancy. In the modern day, Ziip’Ta manages multiple hospitals, general practice clinics, spas, and medical research centers. A majority of skrell who work abroad at medical centers and hospitals are contract-transfers from Ziip’Ta to Zeng-Hu.

With organic phoron’s numerous applications for advanced medical substances, key drugs such as peridaxon, ryetalyn, and its applications in cryogenic therapy, all have come under the threat of entering extended shortages. Most controversially, youth serum applicants are under increasingly stringent requirements in order to receive their life-extending medications, with most being removed from qualifying under higher Index rating minimums. Zeng-Hu’s cooperation with Ziip’Ta has entered a state of growing reliance on the partnered megacorporation to provide aid to mitigate the shortages, which some higher-ranking members of the enterprise worry over an increasing dependence on the foreign corporation.

Qel’Zvol Hospitality

Qel’Zvol Hospitality was established in 932 CE to oversee all hospitality and tourism sectors within the Nralakk Federation. Most notably, this enterprise manages the massive tourism industry on Qerr'Malic, with most skrell on the Qerr’Malic in their employ found in every hotel, resort, or similar facilities bearing the state-owned enterprise’s logo. Idris Incorporated has partnered with Qel’Zvol Hospitality as part of the Work Initiative Programme to provide work outside of the Federation for employees in its service branch.

Tourism has been largely disrupted in light of rising phoron-based fuel costs across the Spur, particularly within the Nralakk Federation where domestic tourism remains non-priority for rationing efforts. Coupled with the growing logistics issues faced by Nralakk Logistics itself, Qel’Zvol’s cooperation with Idris Incorporated has slowly shifted towards a dependence on luxury goods being brought in through their own networks, as well as a notable increase in Work Initiative Programme members finding work abroad within the corporation. Qerr’Malic’s own future remains uncertain, with its specialization in service and tourism suddenly having most of its clientele restricted from traveling to it.

OOC Note: Playing as a Skrell working under the Work Initiative Programme means you are under the scrutiny of both the enterprise in question and its partnered megacorporation. This means that your faction should be set to the appropriate corporation when creating a character. Characters working on the Horizon must mention their participation in the Programme in their records and have their Social Compatibility Index rating displayed at all times, either using a passport or a tailband. This doesn't necessarily mean a Federation-born skrell has to be employed this way, and skrell can choose to work directly with a human megacorporation of their choice. Regardless of your Index rating, you are expected by both the Federation and the megacorporation to be professional, and repeated actions deemed unacceptable may result in harsher punishments compared to other employees. Dionae and Vaurcae are also included in the programme but still face the same species restrictions. The Work Initiative Programme does not include SCC, corporate representative, or consular positions.

Effects of the Phoron Scarcity

With the Phoron Leap defining the second mass-technological advancement of the Nralakk Federation, the nation bound its identity as a scientific giant on a constant source of the resource. Most vital infrastructure within the Federation relies on phoron-based technology post-revolution, which sustains their high quality of life and technology. As news from the Republic of Biesel’s shows no signs of the scarcity’s end, the Federation’s leadership now faces the monumental task of diverting the collapse of its national infrastructure. Efforts to mitigate phoron expenses have since passed down, ranging from increased travel and bluespace gate restrictions, healthcare delays, reduced access to trade goods, and reduced maintenance within areas considered low priority - coinciding with areas primarily housing Tertiaries, as well as the frontier systems beyond the core worlds.

Phoron rationing measures are most tangibly felt with travel restrictions and fueling priority, having limited most civilian travel and placing variable levels on logistics routes for Nralakk Logistics’ freighter vessels. These measures trickle down to a general slowing effect on the Federation’s supply and industry, with windows of shortages for domestic goods, as well as a lack of both exporting finished products and receiving new raw materials for factories. While military vessels still retain priority for phoron rationing, the extensively long periods required for patrolling the Traverse results in fewer patrols towards the furthermost regions of Federation territory, with those patrolling craft remaining being retrofitted with older, non-phoron based weaponry. Felt most within the Traverse, however, are the growing periods of maintenance windows being delayed or missed entirely. Nlom Relay beacons, orbital facilities, and colony infrastructure have all faced increased delays in their maintenance, having fallen into disrepair or outright outages from failure.

While rationing efforts are the most obvious method of reducing phoron usage, the skrell populace who grew to expect the high standards afforded by the Federation are less than willing to accept the compromises. Pushback against the rationing has grown across the Nrlakk Federation, most felt where the phoron-based Nlom Relays have fallen into disrepair or reduced transmission, and anti-Federation sentiments have festered in its wake. Limited anti-piracy and law enforcement patrols have led to dangerous regions outside of the Federation’s core worlds, where rebels and pirates have expanded into. The single most controversial rationing is the increased restrictions on the youth serums that allow skrell to live beyond their natural life expectancy, now only accessible to Primary Numericals. Skrell who were dependent on youth serums as Secondaries are now pushed out of their expected life spans now rally against the move, seeing it as an inherent unfairness in the Social Compatibility Index’s system.

Despite mounting unrest, the largest issue remains in phoron’s role in the nation’s infrastructure. Phoron is a key element within their power generation, the high-power superconducting electrical lines, its surrounding support network, and limits the ability to expand itself as demand grows. The task of retrofitting cities and the mass expansion of alternative sources of power is a monumental task that is now on a hard time limit before brownouts and total grid failures threaten the Federation’s cities. Quotas for state-owned enterprises have also been met with increasing deficits, lagging the command economy and hampering logistics. While not enough to threaten a collapse of the supply chain, this is a wake-up call that all is not well within the Federation.

Diplomatic outreach has seen greater emphasis as the Federation searches for trade agreements to alleviate the increasing burden, hoping to move past their isolationist past. Representatives, foreign aid, and tech lending have pushed the Nralakk Federation into most nations, though many still remember it as an ally of the Solarian Alliance, and some regard this move as aggressive expansion. This outreach has also led to the Solarian Alliance’s vocal concerns of losing its closest ally as the Federation continues to court its political rivals, forming a rift that continues to grow between the two nations. Many now wait to see if the venerable Solarian-Federation alliance might come to an end.

Politics and Government

The Nralakk Federation is a unitary directorial republic, governed by a central council of shared executive powers referred to as the Grand Council, of which is presided over by a Grand Councilor. The current Grand Councillor is Weashbi Jrugl, who was elected in 2453.

Social Compatibility Index

A bell curve showing the distribution of Numericals in the Social Compatibility Index.

The Social Compatibility Index (Nral'Malic: bli'zi wlaqijii qal'mi-hra) is a federal system developed by the Grand Council of the Nralakk Federation. The Index is a vast data store of nearly every single action taken by Federation citizens used by businesses, individuals, and bureaucrats. The Social Compatibility Index is calculated through various, state-secret algorithms and grading systems that results in a numerical string: a fraction over ten with no more than two decimal places that is assigned to the graded citizen. An index of specific tiers dictates their placement on the Social Compatibility Index’s scale, from which their benefits are then drawn from. It was first implemented after the reunification of the Nralakk Federation post-Glorsh-Omega as a mechanism to ensure the trustworthiness of their citizens, and to best secure the interests of the Federation at large.

OOC Note: Players are asked to be sensible when giving their skrell a Social Compatibility Index rating. Consulars would have a fairly high rating, while a regular citizen that chooses to live permanently outside the Federation would not. Skrell in the Nralakk Federation have many privileges they would not find elsewhere in the Spur with a high rating, so their motivations for leaving would have to be logical. Rebels or criminals would not have a high rating unless they had fake credentials (such as a passport). If their passport is fake, include it in your character exploits and be aware that it could result in deportation and you losing your character. Non-skrell species living in the Federation and how they interact with the system are discussed on their respective pages.

Policies

Inductive Behaviours

• Outwardly displaying loyalty to the Nralakk Federation
• Improving oneself through further skill development, educational pursuit, and training
• Reproducing and/or forming a Quya
• Devoting and/or donating oneself to the Federation for the furtherment of science and medicine
• Following Qeblak or Weishii. While officially both are considered equal, Weishii followers may have difficulty improving their Index rating.

Deductive Behaviours

• Outwardly displaying disloyalty to the Nralakk Federation
• Defrauding and/or acting with ill-intention to those holding Nralakk Federation citizenship
• Partaking in petty and/or minor crimes
• Reproducing and/or being conceived outside of the Nralakk Federation
• Following a religion that is not enforced by the state, such as Kir'gul or Suur'ka
• Cheating with reference to education (eg. an examination)

Social Compatibility Subclassifications

Ox: Tertiary
Ix: Low to Mid Secondary
Oqi: High Secondary to Low Primary
Iqi: Mid to High Primary

Primary Numericals (Code Classification: 7/10 - 10/10)

Primary Numericals are considered model citizens of the Nralakk Federation, and are granted rewards and incentives to uphold their model forms. Sponsored vacations, free public transport, unrestricted travel, bureaucratic priority, healthcare privileges enabling a greater life expectancy, high universal stipends both at home and abroad, and exclusive residence within designated areas hosting other Primary Numericals, are some examples of the many advantages for those that are declared model citizens. Primaries make up a small, influential minority within the Federation, with all higher roles in all fields and within the government itself being held mainly by Primaries.

While still considered the priority recipients of youth serums to extend their lifespans, Primary Numericals are growing aware of the recent reduction in youth serum production. They are still guaranteed access to timely doses of the medicine for now, but fears over increased restrictions remain a topic amongst Primary communities.

Secondary Numericals (Code Classification: 4/10 - 6.99/10)

Secondary Numericals are the largest group of citizens within the Nralakk Federation, and are awarded slightly fewer privileges than the Primaries. Charged public transport, opportunities for travel and migration with restrictions, medium universal stipends both at home and abroad, and variable levels of priority/deprioritization within legal and official channels based on Index rating are amongst a few of the advantages offered to Secondaries. Reproductive rights are restricted for Secondary Numericals in the lower end of this band, with the Federation’s vested interest in providing a safe environment for children used to rehome them deemed necessary due to poor rating and governmental scrutiny. Secondaries are the second most common groups of skrell to live abroad through the Work Initiative Programme between the megacorporations and the Federation’s state-owned enterprises, with many seeing it as an opportunity to live abroad without the bureaucracy that comes with the process when migrating by other means.

In the wake of the phoron scarcity, further travel restrictions and other benefit reductions towards lower-end Secondaries have been considered to stay within new rationing guidelines. Secondary Numericals, while recipients of youth serums in the past, are now barred from receiving youth serums as phoron rationing drastically reduces their production rate, and the Grand Council’s decision to preserve the supply in the event of future restrictions. Non-Primary Numericals may no longer live past the age of 400, and those characters already beyond this age now remain with a remaining lifespan of roughly 10 years..

Tertiary Numericals (Code Classification: 0/10 - 3.99/10)

Tertiary Numericals are the lowest-ranked citizens within the Nralakk Federation’s Index system, and are subject to heavy scrutiny due to being considered at-risk for antisocial behaviors, or for rebellious/seditious sentiments. Tertiaries will usually face social discrimination socially and reduced priority in the state’s systems, with the chance to be sent to a reeducation center where they will have their Index rating reset to 5.00 after having their antisocial behaviors undone, and an instilled understanding of the Nralakk Federation’s ideals and why they should be adhered to. Tertiary Numericals are barred from multiple aspects of Federation society due to social ostracization and legal exemption, resulting in the usage of illegal routes to falsify their ratings to allow them an opportunity to flee the Nralakk Federation or fully falsify a new identification. Reproductive rights for Tertiaries are notably reduced, being given temporary contraceptive measures to ensure enforcement of the rule. Tertiaries are often associated with criminal activity and less desirable manual labour, as they are unlikely to find more lucrative positions due to their rating. Citizens who show improvement without the need for rehabilitation are slowly returned to standard social and legal status until their rating reaches 4.00 and higher, where privileges are then reinstated in full for a Secondary Numerical of a similar rating.

Uncategorised (Code Classification: N/A)

Non-Skrell/Diona/C’thuric Vaurca living and working within the Federation are given this ranking as a means to keep them registered within the system without a true rating assigned to them. Uncategorised residents and citizens are given similar treatment compared to Secondary Numericals, but with several restrictions: they are barred from entering any sort of position within the government; they are unable to travel to other planets within the Federation without notifying local authorities; they are not allowed to migrate to other planets beyond their original settling location, and are not granted a universal stipend or other social welfare, similar to Tertiary Numericals. As the Federation currently has no plans to integrate non-citizen species into Federation society, Non-Skrell/Diona/C’thuric Vaurca who have lived or worked within Federation space will only be able to attain this classification. Skrell and diona who are not citizens of the Federation are also given this classification, but retain a detailed record in the event that they apply for citizenship.

Citizens Abroad and the Social Compatibility Index

All skrell within the Orion Spur are considered de-facto citizens by the Nralakk Federation, as it considers itself the sole nation for the forwarding of all skrell. This allows any skrell to be eligible for receiving benefits from the Federation, with some stipulations. Skrell born outside the Federation are granted legal protection from persecution by the Federation, depending on the nation they were born in or currently reside. Skrell who apply for citizenship within their current nation effectively removes their protection from official actions by the Federation, being considered effectively citizens of a foreign nation. The Sol Alliance provides no such protections, while the Republic of Biesel requires Skrell not born within its territory to serve within the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. The Coalition of Colonies has no standard policy regarding Skrell, and its relationship with both the Federation and species-based protections will vary by planet. For more information on this specifically, see here.

Citizens of the Nralakk Federation are typically unable to avoid the Social Compatibility Index while abroad. Federation Officials working abroad are given instructions to report back on an individual's activity where possible for all rating-affecting behaviors. A fax or other long-range communication is sent back to the Federation for review of the incident, and from there the citizen is updated on how their Index rating has changed. Considering that this activity is outside of Federation space, the impact on a Skrell’s rating is minimal, and more often than not warnings are utilised for lesser offences. Outside of severe cases, it is rare to see a citizen's rating move much while abroad, remaining relatively static until they return to the Nralakk Federation for a full review.

Citizens abroad still receive a number of benefits from being a citizen of the Federation. Primary Numericals are given prioritised support where needed by embassies and consulates, and receive their universal stipends in full. Secondaries who work abroad as part of the Work Initiative Programme will also see a full payment, while Secondaries who are living or working abroad for other reasons will only see half of their expected payment. How healthcare is provided to citizens abroad works on a similar system; those who work abroad as part of the Work Initiative Programme will receive coverage based on their rating, while all other citizens abroad will have to rely on their employer’s coverage. Skrell who have not interacted with the Federation in any official capacity, such as those who were born outside the Federation, are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to establish their initial index rating and what benefits they are eligible for.

Public Display

Throughout the day, the Nralakk Federation will display both the one hundred highest and lowest scoring citizens across large screens typically in open locations such as billboards or skyscrapers. Skrell who have renounced their Federation citizenship are also displayed here. This method of displaying the Index is normalized, and is a form of entertainment via thirty-second ads. These lists usually revolve around either the most notable of idols and the most notorious rebels, including most of the resistance leaders outlined by the state. At the end of the day at sunset, these screens will switch displays to showcase both the most improved citizen of the day alongside the least improved citizen of the day. This acts as both an incentive and a deterrent to citizens within the Nralakk Federation to highlight their behavior, as well as the consequences stemming from such.

The Drylist

While the Social Compatibility Index does not extend to non-Federation skrell, those who are considered deviant, or those who have renounced their citizenship, may find themselves under surveillance by the Ruupkala. While the Nralakk Federation has not confirmed or denied the existence of surveillance against citizens, many regularly refer to surveilled individuals as drylisters.

Federation Population Initiative

In the years before 2363, the Nralakk Federation saw a stark birth rate and population decline due to X’Lu’oa‘s effects skrell fertility. The Grand Council was tasked with finding a solution to this steady decline, eventually forming the Federation Population Initiative. Originally intended to modify the genes of infertile skrell, the program expanded as the solution’s scope grew beyond genetic therapy. Complete reversal infertility was considered impossible in most cases due to the complex changes to the genetics of X’Lu’oa victims, researchers found that taking samples of two participants and modifying them into artificially-made sperm and egg cells was still viable. The ensuing offspring would be a near-perfect genetic split of the two donors, and would always be carried to term. This information sent shockwaves through the Nralakk Federation, and the initiative was given additional funding by the Grand Council under the condition that the number of total successful births would become public each century.

Ormish Jrolk's Interview

REPORTER: “Doctor Jrolk, first I want to thank you for your diligent work on the FPI. It’s truly a marvel what science has been able to achieve for the Federation.”

JROLK: “Ah, it is truly nothing. There is no limit to what I would give for the Nralakk Federation… I do want to say, I had met with Grand Councillor Weashbi and they were very pleased with these updated numbers. So pleased in fact, that we were given funding for another 100 years.”

REPORTER: “Incredible news! And do tell… What are the numbers of the current Federation Population Initiative?”

JROLK: “Well, it’s truly amazing what we have accomplished and this may seem like a shock to some- And I hope that it is a good shock! But our current numbers show that around 8.6% of the Nralakk Federation are offspring of the FPI.”

The reporter can be heard letting out a slight warble.

REPORTER: “Wow… Well- You heard it here first! Do expect another 100 years of the FPI. Thank you very much for coming, Dr. Jrolk! And star-speed on your future research.”

History

By 1224 BCE, the skrell achieved landmark advancements in the field of spaceflight. Weishy 790, the first skrell satellite to reach low orbit, was an accomplishment celebrated by the entirety of the species. With the confirmation that skrell can breach the Homeworld's atmosphere to explore the stars, further funding and manpower were devoted towards aeronautic research.

The degrading environment of Qerrbalak pushed for the expansion across the planet, leading to the eventual colonisation of its moon, Qerr'Malic, by 1109 BCE. While archaic by modern standards, the first colonies across Qerr'Malic alleviated the mineral crisis that plagued the skrell’s exploitation of their homeworld, allowing further innovation and expansion. While resource barriers were torn down, the very real threat of extinction grew. In 561 BCE, the warpdrive was invented, and facilitated an unprecedented level of skrellian colonization, no longer hindered by sub-light travel.

Over the next millennia, the skrell managed to garner influence as their borders expanded, and the discovery of humanity in 2332 CE prompted the formation of a scientific alliance between the species. This intermingling promoted the exchange of culture, knowledge, and ideas that would further bolster skrellian research. The discovery of phoron, and subsequently bluespace drives, heralded an era of newfound prosperity as travel times were cut nearly in half across the Orion Spur. With the phoron scarcity crisis, the Nralakk Federation faces further rationing and restricted bluespace drive usage as the resource is stretched thin across its myriad applications. The #Wayfarer Network, an expansion of the Federation’s currently existing warp gate network, is slated to reduce their dependence on phoron, further rationing has only placed more strain on the rest of its infrastructure.

Federation Interstellar Travel

See also: Interstellar Travel

Prior to the invention of warpdrives, most long distance interstellar travel relied on Generational Spacecraft, otherwise known as generation ships. These vessels were built to support and house an entire generation of crew, who would pass down their knowledge to the next generation in order to keep the vessel maintained and on course before passing on. In the modern day, the remaining generation ships have since been converted to museums and educational centers for modern colonists, allowing them to learn the history of colonization efforts long before them. Life aboard these vessels were isolated and insular, leading to the cultural drift presently seen in the Nralakk Federation’s frontier by the time their destinations were settled. Generation ships who instead diverted off course and remained as nomads are referred to as 'Genners' within Federation society.

The titular warpdrive was invented by Noliq Preles in 971 BCE, a landmark point in skrell aeronautics research as the first true method of achieving faster-than-light travel. With the introduction of warpdrives, generation ships were phased out as travel times were cut down to the point of reaching destinations well within the crew’s lifetimes, and allowed the Federation to settle across what is now known as Federation space. introduction of bluespace drives has resulted in only small vessels retaining their warpdrives, though even older warpdrives from skrell engineering still maintain speeds that are double that of humanity’s own vessels.

With the discovery of phoron and its ability to access bluespace, the invention of bluespace drives revolutionized spaceflight with overall higher efficiency and lowered total mass, resulting in its mass adoption across most Federation military and logistics vessels. The implementation of these drives also led to an influx of ‘Bluespace Mappers' - individuals dedicated to making calculations and plotting trajectories manually, instead of using artificial intelligence. The bluespace drive’s dependence on phoron as a source of fuel has caused the ongoing phoron scarcity to cripple the Federation’s fleets, with a vast majority of skrell spacecraft having been retrofitted now dependent on a dwindling fuel source. Travel between the Federation’s planets has fallen under further scrutiny as rationing limits the amount of vessels in flight, with the Traverse becoming further isolated from the Federation’s core. All Kala vessels, while allotted the most generous phoron rations, have seen broadly reduced patrols and reduced fleet size, resulting in piracy and anti-Federation groups to flourish in their absence. While the Wayfarer Network seeks to alleviate the crisis with expanded warpgate infrastructure, it can only mitigate the damage caused by the overreliance on bluespace as a primary form of interstellar travel.

The Wayfarer Network

The Wayfarer Network is currently the largest project between the Nralakk Federation and Einstein Engines, hoping to further develop more robust warp travel to lessen their dependence on phoron. The move to modernize pre-existing warp infrastructure was announced in early 2464, formalized in the wake of the phoron scarcity crisis gripping the Federation to the point of passing the first wave of rationing efforts and restrictions on travel. The project is slated to complete the first wave of warp infrastructure to meet the core worlds’ needs by 2484, with the first station to see completion by 2469. The Wayfarer Network’s projected scale is a source of some contention, with the the proposed number of newly built warp infrastructure as the next waves of building must account for the sheer size of the Nralakk Federation’s territory, and some predict that the Traverse and further frontier territories left waiting for another century or more to have their logistics networks stabilized.

Calendar System

Long before Skrell began to establish permanent cities, they developed an intricate calendar system based on the stars and constellations seen from Qerrbalak. Today this system is known as the Nral-oqq, or Nralakk Year, and is the basis for Nralakk Standard Time which all planets within the Federation follow alongside their own local systems.

The Nralakk calendar is divided into ‘viq, ‘viqi, and -qog, which make up the days, weeks, and months of the -oqq, or year respectively. Within the Nralakk Standard system, there are seven days in a week, eight weeks in a month, and six months in a year.

Months in the year can either be within the Qu-Paalq or Lu-Paalq seasons, also known as Warm Currents or Cold Currents, and will typically be associated with constellations that can be best seen during the month. On other planets, it’s common to see completely different calendar systems being used locally alongside the Nralakk Standard, with months and weeks being removed or added depending on circumstances. Months may also have different constellations that are associated with them; the months and their constellations below are from the Qerrbalak calendar:

• Slaq-qog, the first month of the Nral-oqq. This month marks the start of the new year, as well as the new Qu-Paalq season. Average temperatures on Qerrbalak can reach up to 37 degrees, accompanied by an average 60% humidity as a result of Slaq-qog following the end of the previous year's Lu-Paalq. The most prominent constellation that the Skrell attribute to this month is the Hatching Egg, which is usually associated with new beginnings, youth, and joy. As a result, this is typically the month where Skrell are expected to undertake new hobbies or create resolutions for themselves to follow for the new year. Slaq-qog is also the month where most births will occur.

• Avroxi-qog, the second month of the Nral-oqq. Falling further into the Qu-Paalq, temperature and humidity during this month are meant to rise, with the year’s peak humidity and temperatures usually being recorded near the end of the month. Temperatures on Qerrbalak can get as high as the low 40’s and humidity typically stays constant at around 90%. The Qu’Poxii is the brightest constellation that can be seen during Avroxi-qog on Qerrbalak, which has created a tradition where Skrell are encouraged to form quyas. This tradition has made the month the ‘month of love’ in skrell culture, and has resulted in Avroxi-qog being the month where most skrell will lay their eggs so that they will hatch during Slaq-qog.

• Phaka-qog, the third month of Nral-oqq. The first half of Phaka-qog is where Qu-Paalq ends, with the second half being the start of Lu-Paalq. Temperatures begin to cool at the start of the month, with the hot humid weather gradually getting cooler as Phaka-qog draws to a close. The Stormcloud can be seen best on Qerrbalak during this month, representing the change from clement weather to the planet's famous tropical storms and maelstroms.

• Xepus-qog, the fourth month of Nral-oqq. The month is typically where temperatures are well into local Lu-Paalq season standards, with Qerrbalak seeing temperatures reaching as low as 32 degrees with 51% humidity and its signature tropical storms starting to form. The most prominent constellation for this month on Qerrbalak is the Island, resulting in the month being one where introspection is a primary mood.

• Yonio-qog, the fifth month of Nral-oqq. Yonio-qog will typically be where a planet’s coldest days will fall; Qerrbalak can see temperatures sitting at 25 degrees with 46% humidity, with even more severe weather. Associated with Yonio-qog is the Gnarled Tree constellation, which represents age, wisdom, and oftentimes tradition. Most celebrations related to anniversaries or quyas are celebrated around this time.

• Loroq-qog, the sixth and final month of Nral-oqq. The last month that’s associated with the Lu-Paalq season. Temperatures start to slowly rise before quickly increasing as the new year begins. Temperatures can reach as high as 34 degrees with 57% humidity very quickly during Loroq-qog on Qerrbalak. The Void is associated with this month the most, resulting in most skrell associating the month with death or rebirth depending on their experiences during the year.

The Archive Project

The skrell as a species have existed for millennia, with their recorded history reaching further than any other species originating from the Spur. Soon after the Commonwealth of the Three became the Nralakk Federation, a united effort was made to archive as much of their collective history as possible in a centralised location, resulting in the creation of the Tzqul Archive. Named after one of the founding Commonwealth nations that formed the Nralakk Federation, the Tzqul Archive has since been encrypted by Glorsh-Omega shortly before its disappearance, resulting in the archive being considered effectively lost. This event is considered a massive loss, with most of ancient skrell history essentially erased.

Soon after the Nralakk Federation was reunited after the Tresja Agreement, an annual attempt to open the archive using crowdsourcing was organized, known as the Tzqul Archive Challenge. The challenge utilises the competitive nature of the Skrell to come up with solutions to the Archives encryption, but so far attempts to access the archive have failed. Along with this, a massive project was authorised by the Federation Government to establish new archives across Federation space, allowing for a more decentralised archiving of the species history and knowledge.

While the primary objective of this project is the archiving of the collective knowledge and history of the species, the project's secondary objective is to ensure that everyone is able to reasonably access this information. With this in mind, every archive has been organised into a user-friendly library, with holographic screens that can access any digital data stored within the archive. These screens tend to be set up along with the relevant physical displays and showcases for that archive for visitors to browse at their own leisure, such as replica warp drives for the planned Interstellar Travel Archive. While the facilities are designed for ease of access for visitors, they are also built like fortresses, with the facilities expected to survive centuries of disuse and lack of maintenance.

Qeblak’i and Weishii’i Archives

The Qeblak’i and Weishii’i Archives were the first two facilities established after the archive project was announced, and were considered a priority by the Grand Council due to the significance of religion in Skrellian culture. Completed in 2257, these two archives act as repositories for any information of significance to the Qeblak or Weishiii faiths. Both are situated on Qerrbalak, with the Qeblak’i archive found in the centre of Kal’lo, and the Weishii’i archive located in the mountain ranges west of Qe’blak’qlip.

Qeblak'i Archive

The Qeblak’i Archive can be described as a mix of a library, priory, and study hall, with its maintainers all being members of the Qeblak faith. Its workers are selected from the clergy and are mostly made up of Starsquires, specifically those who are training to become Starkeepers. The Qeblak’i archive also acts as the permanent residence for the Qe’Kasho, or Starseeker, the figurehead and main authority for the Qeblak faith.

The duty of these archivists is to receive, organise, and ultimately archive any information pertinent to the faith that is sent to them by observatory domes all over the Spur. Typically, this knowledge is in the form of divinations, local constellations of importance, and theological debates related to the Qeblak faith. The archive itself is maintained by followers of Qeblak, but it also receives aid from the Federation Government when required such as funding. Other than this, however, the inhabitants of the archive strive to be as independent as possible, to ensure that the facility is able to carry on functioning in the event of a crisis.

Weishii'i Archive

The Weishii’i Archive is more secular in function than the Qeblak’i archive due to the religion's general view on consecrated buildings. Because of this, the Weishii’i archive is maintained by a team of Federation clerks and functions more like your average workplace than a monastery.

Much like the Qeblak’i archive, the Weishii’i archives primary function is to archive anything related to the Weishii faith. This knowledge is more spiritual and philosophical in nature, with proverbs and copies of the texts written by Masters primarily archived in the facility. Although members of the faith do not particularly care for established buildings centred around the faith, many Masters have agreed to send this information to the Weishii’i archive out of politeness, collecting what they can as they perform their Kon’ra’Qii tours. The Weishii’i archive is not considered as ‘complete’ as other archives are because of the nature of the faith and the lack of cooperation by its followers, with many believing it to be a pointless endeavour.

Other Established or Planned Archives

There are several other archives built as part of the ongoing project, as well as many others that are under construction or still in the planning stages. The cost of building and maintaining these archives is extraordinary, as they are built to exact specifications that would allow the facilities to survive both natural and man-made disasters. The combined planning and investment required can mean it can take decades for a single facility to be completed.

Qerr’Malic Archive - Completed in 2390, the Archive on Qerr’Malic acts as a repository for the cultural history of the skrell. This archive is unique in that it has been designed as a tourist attraction similar to other venues found on the moon, with showcases for art, music, and other media being prominent. The facility also houses indoor dining facilities for visitors, as well as viewing rooms for Skrell cinema, both old and modern.

Oqraxo Archive - Completed in 2278, the Oqraxo Archive is named after the arcology it resides on Aliose. This archive is technically two facilities: one which works closely with the Aliose University of Medical Sciences to archive medical knowledge, while the other acts as an archive detailing the history of skrell from Glorsh-Omega onwards. The historical facility was an addition made long after the medical archive was constructed, with the inhabitants of Aliose being the main supporters of it due to their role in establishing the organised resistance movement against Glorsh-Omega.

Weibi Archive - Completed in 2285, the Weibi archive is located in the town of Weibi on Aweiji, and acts as an archive of agricultural science. The facility works closely with the agricultural sector of Weibi, cataloguing and storing examples of most plant life grown both on Aweiji and elsewhere in the Federation. There is also a massive seed bank located deep underneath the facility, ensuring that viable samples of all known plant life in the Federation are preserved.

Waughai Archive - Completed in 2331, the Waughai archive acts as a general archive for all engineering techniques and the technology used by the skrell. The Waughai archive currently has a planned expansion for a new Depth College focusing on engineering, which will utilise its library of engineering knowledge as a tool to teach students.

Interstellar Travel Archive - Planned to be finished before the next century at the latest, this archive will focus on forms of travel used by the Federation, as well as housing examples of warp and Bluespace drives used at different points of the species' history. Currently, the archive has not been designated a planet to be built on, and debates are still underway on its final location.

Diulszi Archive - The Diulszi Archive is unique in that it will be jointly maintained by both the C’thur and the Nralakk Federation on Diulszi, in the Glorashi system. The purpose of this archive will be to store most information related to the secondary species of the Nralakk Federation, including culture, history, and the events of first contact with the species. Construction of the archive began in early 2462, and with the combined vaurca and skrell workforce it is expected to be completed within the decade.