Sethas

October 29, 2011 / added to planet / No Comments

An old and historically unpopular colony world in Sector 10’s Maat system, Sethas is situated as close to the Lisj nebula as the Ssujak have so far been willing to establish permanent settlements.  Despite the combination of bountiful natural resources and balanced local industry making it a remarkably self-sufficient colony, Sethas remains unattractive due to the luminosity of the star that warms it.  Almost all Ssujak colonies nestle in the dim light of dying stars, but Sethas is different; bathing in the clear light of Maat – a G-type star – the small planet is by far the brightest of all Ssujak worlds.

Sadly, when Sethas’ skies recently darkened, it was not prosperity and joy that followed but, rather, fear and death.  Sethas was the site of the Oban’s first strike – a sudden and devastating affair that took the colony and its defenders by complete surprise.  Today, the capital city of Veshan is still very much in ruins, struggling to undo the massive damages inflicted upon it by Oban warships and marauding parties.  Survivors of the attack have either been asked to leave the city and temporarily move into one of the smaller, outlying settlements or have long since fled in-sector.  Sethas’ reputation with its people has soured as a result of the Oban assault, the event having spooked the Ssujak enough that the colony has not seen any appreciable increase in its population since.

Ssujak individuals native to Sethas are known to possess significantly greater ability in the visible light spectrum than their in-sector cousins and often tend to develop larger, more powerful builds once they reach maturity. 

Sethas is located at a distance of 127 light years from Ssujak-resk – just over half a standard month’s travel.

Radius: –
Population: –
Major cities: Veshan

The Naggotha

September 2, 2011 / added to organization / No Comments

In operation for over two centuries, the Naggotha are the Coalition’s private military; this group of highly-trained soldiers is tasked primarily with maintaining order in the Tchel system, but they are also called upon to execute sensitive missions anywhere the Coalition has need to send them. Though the group is of Ulthun origin and consists in large part of Ulthun members, its numbers include a fair amount of Haleians and Humans as well. The name ‘naggotha’ (meaning ‘sleepless watcher’) is borrowed from a peculiar species of vine found on the Ulthun home world of Olos; historically used by the Ulthun as a way to safeguard their homes or private belongings, the naggotha razor vine is sensitive to chemical changes in its proximity, its thorns becoming highly poisonous to the touch when it detects a threat. Like the plant that is their namesake, the Naggotha are silent observers with keen assessment skills; though their presence and reputation are typically suitable deterrents for most that would test them, those that choose to become targets are quick to feel the Naggotha’s bite.

The Coalition Speaker and councilmens’ personal guard are always Naggotha; when conducting business abroad, Coalition government officials are accompanied by Naggotha bodyguards.

The Naggotha wear easily-recognizable, sheen-less black armor that varies in composition depending on the individual soldier’s function. Models range from light impact suits to heavy combat armor. The Naggotha emblem – a grim face mask backed by a stylized, three-pointed caltrop – etched in red on the arm or shoulder serves to further identify the wearer’s allegiance. Rank is indicated below the emblem, appearing as a three-column matrix of symbols.

All Naggotha undergo a small number of mandatory biological enhancements that, like their equipment, vary based on function. Additional enhancements are available but regulated within the organization. Naturally, Ulthun physiology handles the enhancements more easily than that of other species; that said, healthy Humans and Haleians of strong constitution are by no means barred from it and, if testing proves favorable, are accepted for procedures as readily as any Ulthun postulant. This technology is available only to the Naggotha.

Naggotha headquarters is located on the perpetually cloudy planet Shosheen in the Tchel system; is it here, in high-security facilities and ship yards, that all custom spacecrafts and equipment used by the Naggotha are produced. Training and development are handled on Neigme, the sizable Naggotha way station in orbit above Shosheen. The organization has its own class of small transports and personal ships; the Haleian-made En’kat vessels, and the organic Aumnon fighters, operable only through a neural link between pilot and unit.  

The current head of the Naggotha is Master-Commander Dagon Thuul (nicknamed ‘Blacktalon’); this large, heavily-enhanced and much respected Ulthun has lead the Coalition’s private military for over thirty years.

The core

August 30, 2011 / added to location / No Comments

‘The core’ is a generic term used to designate the most central, populated regions of Sector 9. Outlying worlds occasionally adopt the term ‘core’ as another name for the government or for the Coalition itself.

The core is dominated by a network of six star systems nicknamed the ‘Deep Six’; Haleian and Ulthun populations are strongest here, but Human numbers continue to grow rapidly year over year. These systems are the hub of technology, commerce and military activity in Sector 9.

The most prominent member of the Deep Six is the blue supergiant Tchel, an enormous star hosting a far-reaching net of fifteen planets, two large stations, and countless planetoids hidden in and amongst its extensive scattered disk. Over two-hundred years ago, this system was chosen by the Haleians and the Ulthun as the common ground on which the Coalition would take root; its central location to both their home worlds coupled with the mutually favorable conditions found on a number of its planets made it an attractive choice. The name ‘Tchel’ was chosen by the Haleians and roughly translates to ‘reminder’ – a shared reminder of the Haleian-Ulthun peace agreement and a symbol of the Coalition’s strength.

Three of Tchel’s innermost terrestrial worlds are populated: Thund Makat (the seat of the Coalition), Shosheen and Cedna.  Because of Tchel’s strategic importance, the system is actively patrolled and protected by the Naggotha – an elite Coalition military group. 

Tchel itself is visible from just about any inhabited planet in Sector 9.

The Haleian home system of Xel’than and the Ulthun home system of Uloth are two other members of the Deep Six collection.  The remaining three systems are Omoros, Mi’zhan and dusky Laanek.

The Coalition

August 28, 2011 / added to organization / No Comments

Established by the Haleians and the Ulthun over two-hundred years ago, the Coalition is a vehicle through which participating nations can facilitate organization-wide change, address common issues, or mobilize resources.  The Haleians, Ulthun, Humans and Tenebians are part of the Coalition, and its influence currently does not extend beyond the borders of Sector 9.

Participating nations retain their sovereignty.  Each nation elects four representatives to the Coalition shared council and, in turn, these representatives elect a Speaker.  The Speaker is the de facto leader of the Coalition; his or her primary purpose is to carry out the will of the council, and his or her office is entrusted to perform all related coordination and administrative duties.  The Speaker position has a fifteen-year term of office; council members serve for five years.  The current Speaker is Haleian – Mishan Ydaq, a celebrated colonization project chief.  Mishan is on his eleventh year of service.

Coalition High Command – the bureaucrats’ cradle – is located on Thund Makat, a cosmopolitan world in the Tchel system at the heart of Sector 9.  The Speaker, elected council members and their families can relocate here for free for the duration of their term.  The Tchel system is patrolled by the Naggotha – an elite Coalition military group that ensures safety and order both on and offworld.

Ulthun

August 24, 2011 / added to species / No Comments

The Ulthun home world is the jungle moon Olos, the largest of the three moons courting a colossal gas giant in the trinary star system Uloth.  It is here that, over an incredible period of time, the Ulthun’s development took a divergent path from that of all other life in their environment, evolving them from plants into sentient beings.  Retaining a need for water and light, the Ulthun were forced to compete with Olos’ resident plant life in order to ensure their continued survival.  The species moved their civilization higher and higher in order to escape the choking darkness of the jungle floor, adapting their methods and always pushing themselves to think of new, more clever ways of bringing themselves closer to the tree tops without forfeiting any critical aspect of their established way of life.  At each step they were progressively emboldened, and, when they were finally able to look upon the sky, it took the Ulthun little time to begin seeing what lay beyond as their next challenge.

As a people, the Ulthun are remarkably difficult to gauge; though their goals are always straightforward and clear, it’s never easy to determine which direction they’ll take in order to reach them.  Their resourcefulness and ability to strategically and biologically turn on a dime form the basis of their remarkable adaptability – the very thing they are most proud of.  The Ulthun feel that theirs is a story of success, and that those who, when faced with adversity, cannot act or adapt as they have are unworthy of respect.

It is a rare Ulthun specimen who can resist a challenge.  As a result, the species’ technical path is and has always been one of specialization; to broaden their options, Ulthun utilize and produce organic as well as inorganic technology.  Organic Ulthun weaponry is celebrated as the most advanced (and easy to use) in Sector 9, outclassing inorganic Haleian equivalents and offering a vast array of common-distribution and military-issue units and models.  The diminutive organic Ulthun fighter crafts nicknamed ‘wasps’ also rank as Coalition favorites; their economical design, simple interface and impressive agility make them a great choice for new and experienced pilots alike.

Technology, however, is not the only area where specialization comes into play – the Ulthun apply the same principles to their biology as well.  The Ulthun are asexual; new life can be produced by gathering attributes from as little or great a measure of contributors as the progenitor chooses, allowing for a wide range of unique strains to exist among the species.  While the physical characteristics of individual Ulthun vary tremendously based on parentage and environmental factors, all members of the species are tall – easily towering above their Coalition compatriots.  The majority of Ulthun are sturdily-built, but some rarer sub-species have developed wiry, more sinuous frames.  All Ulthun are bipedal and most have four-fingered hands; their faces are typically flat, featuring no nose, a subtle mouth and two pupil-less, opalescent photoreceptors.  Ulthun ‘skin’ is cool to the touch and smooth in early life, but aging, damage and environmental factors cause it to grow tougher and more mottled over time.  Colors span the visible spectrum and vary based on the environment in which the Ulthun initially developed.  All Ulthun have a swept-back, rigid crest extending from their brow to the back of their skulls, under which grow a number of fine, non-prehensile, tentacle-like appendages that vary in length from individual to individual.  These appendages are neural pathway casings and are connected to the brain; they are responsible for processing Ulthun sensory input.  Variations include different texture composition, additional limbs or digits, environmental adaptations, visual changes caused by benign bacterial infection, etc.

Generally speaking, Ulthun individuals are focused, industrious and intensely curious.  All Ulthun possess naturally muted emotions and rely heavily on logic.  While it is possible for individuals to grow emotionally over time, those that do are uncomfortable with it and are seldom willing to explore it – much less discuss it – as it is culturally viewed in a negative light.  Despite their logical worldview, however, it should be noted that the Ulthun harbor a peculiar fondness for the number three; while the Ulthun agree that this finds its roots in the recurrence of the number in their native environment, they have definitely attributed a deeper, more mystical meaning to the number over time.  The number three, historically viewed by the Ulthun as a the natural shape of perfection and more recently as a symbol of luck as well, is a recurring theme in their art, architectural aesthetic, technological design, and even in their personal choices. 

Present-day Olos is still a dense jungle, and the Ulthun live in inverted tear drop-shaped floating cities – always grouped in threes – high above the tallest trees.  Ulthun colonies in other areas of Sector 9 are typically aerial, though many land-based settlements exist as well.

Haleian

August 24, 2011 / added to species / No Comments

Over two-hundred years ago, after attempting to shatter their defenses for years using increasingly clever methods, the persistent Ulthun were forced to grudgingly accept that the Xi’Halei (or simply ‘Haleians’) would not break. Having finally been afforded a measure of respect, the Haleians were able to successfully convince the Ulthun leadership to hear a proposal that would shape both their futures: the Haleians put forth that the fighting could never be allowed to begin again – the only acceptable future was a peaceful one, where both nations would coexist and come to each other’s aid if there was need. The Ulthun agreed, and a few months later, the Coalition was born.

To the Haleians, the best offense is a good defense. The species devotes much time and attention to this end – the most prominent aspect of this being the rate at which they develop technology. Haleian technology is currently the best available in Sector 9. In accordance with the species’ ethos, Haleian body armor, personal shields, and environmental sensors are of particular quality and widely distributed. The Coalition often favors the Haleian-made transports, G-class vessels and spectacular Tla’nak warships for sensitive shipments, large deployments or industrial ventures.

Haleians are generally ruled by their sense of duty. Obligations towards one’s family, work, community and beyond are taken very seriously; only in the service of these can a Haleian gain recognition amongst his or her people. Haleians are typically honest, pragmatic, and results-driven.

Haleians are sallow-skinned, bipedal humanoids with sharply-defined facial features including skull-like noses and thin lips. The hair atop their somewhat elongated skulls is uniformly straight and ranges from russet brown to black in color. Over the course of their lives, individuals commemorate significant achievements or highlight important contributions made to the growth and success of the people in their realm of influence by adorning their hands and forearms with various inked markings or carved etchings. Because of this, an accomplished person is colloquially referred to as a ‘mazu halei’ – or ‘hand of the people’.

The Haleian species’ home world is Halei, located in the Xel’than system in the Sector 9 core. Under Halei’s fiery orange skies lie sprawling, highly-populated cities interspersed with huge, protected green spaces. Haleian government offices are split evenly between Halei and Thund Makat – the seat of the Coalition High Command.

Human

August 20, 2011 / added to species / No Comments

Shortly after achieving warp technology, the Humans exploded from their home system of Sol, colonizing other systems more aggressively than any other species in Sector 9.  Current major strongholds of Human civilization include Sol, Alpha Centauri, Epsilon Eridani and Gliese 581.  Humans form the largest percentage of sentient life in Sector 9.

Forty years ago, the Humans’ impressive rate of interstellar activity caught the attention of the Coalition, and the Humans were quickly folded into the existing organization.  Gaining accessibility to external resources and technology only served to further bolster the Humans’ colonization and militarization efforts, effectively extending their reach to all of Sector 9. 

Humans are adventurous and highly adaptable beings with a strong drive to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of a goal.  Cultural backgrounds vary widely based on origin, as do individual physical traits and dialects.  Most Humans value the relationships they make over the course of their lives, as well as their personal freedoms.  To outsiders, Humans are generally seen as gregarious and open-minded folk.

Antera

August 15, 2011 / added to planet / No Comments

Antera is a rocky, terrestrial world orbiting an orange star and is the location of the first Oban transponder recovered by the Coalition. It is unknown why Antera was targeted by the Oban.

The Ssujak first established Antera as a military communications outpost and then, later, tentatively expanded it into a small colony after a Seris stellar observation project was moved there. Seris researchers studying the nearby Bok globule in whose dark womb was suspected to be a growing protostar moved their installations – and in some cases their families – to Antera in order to get a closer look.

Tiny and insufficiently equipped to effectively defend itself, Antera was easily gutted during a surprise attack by the Oban. As the Oban did not damage much of the colony infrastructure, Antera will ultimately be reclaimed by the Ssujak.

Radius: 3,425.3 km
Population: –
Major cities: –

Commander Lina Grayson

August 13, 2011 / added to sentient / No Comments

Species: Human
Affiliation: Coalition, Vinaed-2 Outpost
Gender: Female
Height: 1.72 meters
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Black

Current commander of the Vinaed-2 remote outpost.  Grayson was given command of the station three years ago when her father, Alex Grayson, retired.  Prior to her appointment, Grayson was Vinaed-2’s head of security. 

Though any sort of service assignment on Vinaed-2 is largely viewed as something akin to being sent into solitary confinement, for the Graysons, it’s always been ‘just life’.  Being weeks of travel away from Coalition High Command, having to depend on only two, over-extended supply lines for anything Vinaed can’t provide, feeling strangely removed from any important events happening in the Sector 9 core, having to accept that your operational issues will more often than not be lowest priority…  All of these things have been the Graysons’ reality for decades.  To Alex Grayson, Vinaed-2 represented a noble thing to be protected: the last point of light on the edge of the black void beyond, a solemn reminder of the ephemeral nature of all the things the Coalition cherishes and holds true.  To his more adventurous daughter, Vinead-2 represents an equally noble thing – a shining opportunity to learn.

Lina Grayson was born on the planet Vinaed and has a home there still, just outside the limits of Lidell township; when she has leave, Grayson typically goes home.  Grayson’s parents have a residence in the same area, though her mother – a Coalition regulations auditor – yet resists retirement and is often on duty offworld.  Grayson’s older sister Mackenzie was part of a special operations unit that was declared MIA seven years ago after a mission of an undisclosed nature. 

Like her father, Grayson is quick-tempered, stubborn, and trusts her instincts – characteristics that she and select others in her entourage feel would be degrees more problematic further in-sector.  Recognizing that not all battles are worth fighting, however, Grayson’s requirements are few but firm: honesty, accountability and loyalty are primarily enforced.  Due to Vinaed-2’s unique circumstances and the effects they have on the people posted there for any length of time, Grayson maintains an innocent-until-proven-guilty situational assessment approach and is generally respected for it.

When Grayson made the recommendation to High Command that Sector 9 assist the Ssujak in their conflict against the Oban, she did not expect them to allow her to proceed; getting the green light was both terrifying and exciting, as it moved Vinaed-2 – for the first time in its history – into the spotlight.

Executor Voss

August 13, 2011 / added to sentient / No Comments

Species: Ssujak
Affiliation: Caucus, Security and Defense Syndicate
Gender: Male
Height: 1.97 meters
Eye color: Black

Voss is a seasoned intelligence officer under the employ of the Ssujak military and is acting on mission.  Voss was tasked with opening communications with the Coalition’s Vinaed-2 outpost in the hopes of acquiring their assistance against the Oban.  This is Voss’ second inter-species facilitation assignment and presents many unique challenges, including establishing first contact with and requesting something critical of an organization that his species has been willfully ignoring for years.  Voss’ first inter-species assignment was to negotiate with the Oban when they first emerged from the Lisj nebula – it did not go well, and (though he would not admit it) Voss was stung by the failure.

Voss was born and raised in Shundis city on Ssujak-resk, but his parents originate from a mid-size colony many days’ travel from the Ssujak homeworld.  His father is as a Seris engineer that installs and repairs communications arrays offworld and his mother is a soldier.  Voss’ parents’ frequent and extended absences inculcated both responsibility and independence early in his life.  Later, strong analytical skills and a no-nonsense approach at attaining the goals set before him allowed Voss to lead a successful career and be recognized among his superiors as an effective problem-solver. 

Though all Ssujak are by no means the same, Voss’ general demeanor certainly exemplifies his species’ more dour tendencies.  The Executor is an astute and supremely reserved individual with little sense of humour; like many of his kind, his patience for aimless activity is limited.  As an agent, he is loyal, discreet and directed. 

Ssujak Executors are appointed by one of the six Caucus Syndics for the purposes of carrying out a mission or standing mandate.  While the mission or mandate is approved by the Caucus as a whole, the Syndic whose realm of influence the mission falls under is responsible for the specifics and success of its execution.  Petitioning Vinaed-2 is Voss’ seventh appointment under Syndic Yssin, the Ssujak Security and Defense administrator.  In the past, Voss has also served as Executor to two other Syndics.

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