@Voltus_Ventus: Yeeeaaahhh boooooyy! That's what I like to see, ese!

@Voltus_Ventus: Google Docs has a feature that allows me to comment on things you've created so be on the lookout for questions and suggestions.

@Voltus_Ventus: Any ideas for bringing more talent on board?

@La Inquisidora:Unfortunately not Cap'n, unless you'd like to resort to blatant advertisement.

Hi everyone, La Inquisidora has asked me to post some of my ideas that we've been PMing back and forth.

First, I'd like to say I don't think we need more people working on this for now. With me, we are five people strong and that is more than enough minds to get a solid vision going. Many more and we will be hindered since we aren't able to get together in the same room and brainstorm. Later, we can always find, hire, and expand talent once we have a moving solar system to work with.

Second, currently Google Docs is public, anyone can follow that link and read what is posted. We should fix that.

Third, I've used an online service called TitanPad before and it worked really well and is more real time, and even keeps a history of each document so all edits and changes are colored and marked by who makes the edits, and it can be scrolled backwards to see the evolution of it. I don't want to undo work on the Google Doc, but if we can't make it private and we decide to use TitanPad anyway, that is better to do sooner than later.

Fourth, we need to get in the same book before we worry about what page we're all on. I have a few questions to get us started. So I have some questions that I think we need to establish answers to, together, before we head off into the great abyss of our made up universe's details:

1. How expansive is Space Travel and how often are planets hospitable to life? Are there one or two main solar systems with life on most of those planets (Think Three Milky Ways with eight to ten livable planets)? A whole Galaxy, including countless solar systems and planets (One or two 'Earths' every few solar systems)? Or Several Galaxies, where life is only found REALLY far away?

2. What kind of space travel does this system use? Is a course set and the ship flies at super speeds across great distances? Or do ships go 'behind' everything in a worm hole sort of space travel and spit out at the new location? or something else entirely?

3. Does everyone have space travel? Is it expensive? What is the government influence on space travel? Is technology to a point where non-hospitable planets can be inhabited because the hostile environments can be overcome (like if we expanded life to the moon)

4. What is going to make our Space Story different from all the other stories about space out there?

@Voltus_Ventus: Still alive?

Still here.

1. > That's one way I'm making this sci-fi w/light fantasy project different. The setting is going to be very expansive. Of course, different stories will focus on certain systems and sectors, but there is no definite galaxy or star system that is the entire project "world", if you will. The scope expands to all of existence. Even to multiple universes and dimensions.

2. > I haven't worked that out yet. I guess your idea is okay. Though there was a species of greats who had wormhole and teleportation ship travel.

3a. > The government in the primary area we're focusing on is the ISAF (Intergalactic State of Allied Forces). They govern space travel somewhat, but only in systems they control. Since they are a young alliance, they haven't the time to overreach like the American government and outlaw everything. So yes, one of the major ails they have to deal with is, in fact, crime. The galactic police force doesn't seem to have it under control.

3b. > The star system we're going to be in first isn't the Milky Way, though humans do exist. Timeline-wise, Earth isn't discovered until much later.

4. > What makes us different is the scope, and the way we're going. One of the major devices used is the Precursor Race. Long ago, the Starborn had a society that spanned the universe. Their society collapsed, and they fled their homes. Over time, they disappeared. They died out. Few mixed with other species. Their memories and teachings soon became legend. The timeline itself is expansive. It starts from the beginning of the Omniverse and goes from there. Humans are in Star Story, but timeline-wise, depending on the specific story we want to write/play/develop, the milky way doesn't exist until much later. Unless you were wanting to skip ahead to the part in the timeline that it does exist, and go from there.

4a. > What else makes this different is the focus on politics. Like in Game of Thrones, people plan shit. You don't just throw ships at each other, and these politics and sneaky workings will be seen here.

4b. > Because the scope is so big, we have many conflicts to explore. The readers/consumers won't get just one plot or specfic point in the timeline. They'll get a few.

4c. > Violence. Sci-fi's been kind of sterilised. I'm fixing that. Laser guns will actually do visible damage. People get FUCKED UP in Star Story.

Ah, there are more ways that this'll be different, but I don't want to overwhelm you. That's all for now.

@Voltus_Ventus, @whiteprophet: I had an idea. Instead of starting out with everyone advance and shit, I was thinking we would begin in a time of relative infancy. Lightspeed travel isn't possible for most species and collectives. To the point where claiming you can gets you a scoff and a wager. OR you might catch some unwanted attention. Because of this, and the fact that space-fairing is so expensive, wars are more focused getting terrestrial forces from one planet to another. Few ships have powerful weapons, and the ones that do cost a lost of energy to use. Obviously, transports are key. Getting your army, air force and navy on a planet's surface and establishing camps and FOBs ASAP.

Also, to make this seem like more of a clean slate, I've come up with a few more ideas.

- First Contacts galore. Starting out, none of the species know of one another, or they do but they don't engage in social relations. Everyone is coming into the fray, so to speak. The Terrans (they aren't humans) are colonising (unpopulated) worlds. The Akrid are doing what they've always done. The thing that sets shit into motion will be the Thresh -- mysterious aliens from a far-away galaxy with a method to their madness. Shit is peaceful.

- Like I said, technology isn't that advanced yet. Combat is mainly fighter/bomber combat, or (the preferred method), transporting terrestrial forces to another planet and setting up FOBs for further operations. Frigates, corvettes, gunboats, capitals, carriers -- all unknown concepts and are experimental.

@Voltus_Ventus: I don't think this is a good fit for you. I'll try to come up with another talent search. In the meantime, if you come across anyone who you think would be good for this sort of thing, let me know.

@Voltus_Ventus: I don't think this is a good fit for you. I'll try to come up with another talent search. In the meantime, if you come across anyone who you think would be good for this sort of thing, let me know.

I'm sorry for my absence but do tell, what has been done while I was gone -taking exams that will secure my future?

@Voltus_Ventus: I have no idea what you're asking me.

@Voltus_Ventus: I have no idea what you're asking me.

I've been busy, have exams, what has been going on since I took my leave?

@Voltus_Ventus: Oh. It confused me because of the way you typed your post.

"I'm sorry for my absence but do tell, what has been done while I was gone -taking exams that will secure my future?"

Should have typed: "I'm sorry for my absence but do tell -- what has been done while I was gone? I've been taking exams that will secure my future."

Even that wasn't that proper. The best way would've been "I'm sorry for my absence. Do tell what has been done while I was gone. I was taking exams that will secure my future." You put two separate thoughts into one, making your first sentence some kind of statement-question hybrid. That's what threw me off, in addition to the "-taking exams that will secure my future?" part. Not sure if you were asking me about your exams which, if you were, you'd have lost me, as I can't tell you what you're doing with your life. I don't know you nor do I have control over you. Anyway, I'm picking apart your post. It's a long-winded way of saying it confused me.

@La Inquisidora Ugh, nevermind my shite grammar/syntax/whatever. What has happened since my leave?

@Voltus_Ventus: Not much except I started using Microsoft Word for the creation stuff, while using the Google Docs shit as a secondary and putting the information for redundancy. I should've formed some kind of workgroup that chats here but uses Word for the shit, but whatever. It's not THAT big of a deal. Um, since you two are out though I'll be back to scouting for talent in addition to working on this.

What else? Oh yeah. I did come up with an idea for the beginning story some days ago before I made the decision to say goodbye to you guys. Didn't want to start it off in the human/earthling galaxy and didn't plan to introduce humans until later or another story was made. Just wanted to try something bold by not having a sci-fi work centre around humans. I think it will work. Before booting you guys I asked prophet if he wanted to give RPing a go. But yeah -- that's what's changed. Kind of a lot if you ask me. Anyway, send talent my way if you come across any.

@Voltus_Ventus: Not sure if my PM sent since the site is still having issues. If you get it, disregard it.

@whiteprophet: I have some direction now as far as where to begin. Make sure you tell anyone you think would be good for this project that.