Government Form: Representative democracy de jure, xeno-caste autocracy de facto.

Demographics:



Population: circa 830 million total.



Planet Name and Description: Jednost is the second planet from its star, a yellow dwarf somewhat cooler and fainter than the Sun, and the only one in its system to have a dense native atmosphere. A relatively small, light ball of rock with rich subterranean aquifers, but little unfrozen surface water, it is a bleak world of muted colours and endless tundra. While a biosphere existed even before the arrival of human colonists, it had always been pale and anemic, with even the tropical regions rarely supporting anything more than scraggly shrubland haunted by elusive crawling animals, the rare towering spindly-legged behemoths and immense swarms of harmless, but very irritating gnats. The vast frozen poles and boundless expanses of dry wasteland leave little space inhabitable without ample terraforming efforts, and so most of the human population is clustered in metropolitan centers about the equatorial band, where Jednost’s chilly climate is at the very least endurable the year round. The planet has one diminutive moon dubbed Strelka, an ungainly meteoroid which somehow found itself trapped in the planet’s feeble gravity well.

History: The alien structures hidden in the bowels of Jednost's moon suggest that the planet's true history began long before the Gateway first opened onto its system. What that history might have been, however, is hopelessly lost to human knowledge. Perhaps the planet did not always bear life, and its current state is the end result of a terraforming process started millennia ago; perhaps its skies have been the site of battles between tremendous empires now forgotten by the universe; none of that is known. What is know is that the colony ship Vitus Bering emerged into its pale star's light three hundred years ago, and within weeks its crew had laid the foundations of Ermagrad, which would go on to become the greatest city built on its soil by human hands.

Although life on the newly christened Jednost could hardly be called idyllic, between its merciless winters and melancholy summers, the planet was not actively hostile to its settlers, and so, little by little, scrubland belts were cleared, frozen bogs were drained, tundra strider migrations were contained, trillions of gnats were exterminated. Ermagrad expanded, then it was joined by Sztrelckie, then by Czeragrad, and many others to follow. Despite rapid demographic growth, the fledgling colony's population had a long way to go yet before it began to outstrip the habitable land and natural resources at its disposal, and thus territorial disputes rarely were grounds for conflict. The flipside of this was that the wide stretches of wildland between the rising cities caused them to grow increasingly isolated from each other politically as well as geographically, with every effort to establish a formal global government ending in failure, but in spite of this, for a good Earth century and a half life was good.

And it would have stayed that way, had it not been for the moon.

The early people of Jednost were an adventurous lot, and it was only natural that in time they should have turned to the rest of their sparse system, most of which had only been afforded a few cursory scans before the Vitus Bering made planetfall. The planet's only apparent natural satellite was an obvious starting point, and an expedition was outfitted to scout its modest surface and probe its geological composition for any useful deposits. There was nothing particularly complex about the venture, and everything went smoothly, until a sampling drill found an unexpectedly yielding point in a crater bed and struck a smooth, dense surface below.

Unbeknownst to Jednost's human population, the orbit-locked meteoroid they had come to know as Strelka was in truth only a skin-deep camouflage for a Qolth Worldship. The aliens were not native to the system, but the massive vessel, gargantuan by the Qolth's more compact standards, had been stranded there for possibly millennia after suffering irreparable damage to its FTL drive and gone into stasis to preserve its core-mind. Awoken by its security systems due to the humans' intrusion, the Qolth did not reveal itself, but dispatched its Nuval constructs to pose as the only occupants of a lost observation station, obfuscating the true size of the installation. The Nuval presented themselves as eager to cooperate with Jednost's people and share "their" technology, which by far exceeded its human counterpart in sophistication, for mutual benefit, and after a brief hesitation their offer was accepted.

What followed was the slow but inexorable subjugation of Jednost to the shadowy will of the core-mind. Using its Nuval proxies, as well as infested agents and cunningly trapped technological gifts, the Qolth spread hypnotic media, subtle doses of mind-altering drugs and seeds of cultural engineering throughout every level of the planetside cities, quietly conditioning their people to unknowingly follow its hidden commands. Within one Earth century, the previously isolationist metropoles had been unified into the Global Union, and the Nuval were much acclaimed for their crucial mediation work. To all evidence, the colony has entered its golden age; but the ugly truth is that it has become little more than contented livestock for the Qolth. Over the course of their silent invasion, the aliens have developed a taste for parasitizing human hosts, impersonating them throughout their lives in what their impersonal minds perceive as an amusing sort of play-acting all while slowly consuming them from within to multiply. Now that the Gateway has reopened, they cast their ravenous eyeless gaze at it, hungering for new materials to restore their derelict ship - and new bodies to devour.



Culture and Society: Even though there has been no real focused attempt to preserve a traditional spirit, Jednost appears to be stuck in the zeitgeist of late pre-collapse Earth, to the point that cultural variations on the joke “you can take the muscovite out of Moscow, but not Moscow out of the muscovite” have become an immortal cliché that has found its way even into scholarly discourse. An atmosphere of comfortable apathy reigns over the planet’s drab metal cities, a sort of placid pessimism that is at the same time jaded and satisfied by things staying exactly as they have been for the last few decades. People waking up to the same gray sky as every other day of their lives will wistfully ponder the lack of any change for better or worse, and in a brief moment of clarity may even wonder whether perhaps something different should happen one day while they reach for the mostly empty bottle of liquor on the kitchen sill - before the narcotics kick in, and the germs of hope are imperceptibly smothered under a chemical shroud.

Such a state of detachement, breeding a weary conformism, plays to the advantage of the Qolth, who maintain it by every possible means at their disposal. Virtually every aspect of Jednostan life bears the mark of their invisible hand, from imperceptible doses of mind-affecting substances in running water and food products, to Nuval patrolling the streets on nondescript official business while irradiating bystanders with their cowing neuro-wave emissions. Most entertainment media has long been supplanted by kaleidograms, projections of abstract, yet mesmerizing permutations of coloured shapes and shades, accompanied by soothing music and heavy amounts of subliminal induction. Even something as innocuous as news broadcasts is styled in ways that would appear garish and uncanny to those not used to them.

To facilitate the distribution of those subtle poisons, the Qolth-controlled state has fostered overall conditions of egalitarian, technologically-ensured comfort. Work is never lacking, pays neither too little nor too much, and is always just demanding enough that you don’t want to think about much at the end of the day. The market is neither so free to be anarchic, nor so restrictive as to be too daunting to aspiring entrepreneurs. Habitation blocks are never too luxurious, but rarely are they leaper mole-infested hellholes either. In a word, everything is so painfully average that people cannot but be reluctantly satisfied with it.

Of course, nothing is perfect, and even the most painstakingly designed prison has its leaks. Under the surface, there are a few sparse groups of people - the observant, the paranoid, the idealistic, the stray souls damaged by illegal drugs harder than those peddled by the Qolth - who suspect that something is off about their world. Derided by the public, leerily watched by security forces, and occasionally busted by Qolth infiltrators, they are few and by and large unable to organize, but their mere existence is a persistent thorn in the side of the alien-imposed order.



Governance and Politics: The Jednost Global Union is ostensibly the next in the ranks of the multitude of electoral democracies from humanity’s past. Every so often, advertising screens on the streets are flooded with smiling, curated faces and pithy slogans over many-coloured backgrounds, and people will vote for a few of them to represent their city to the assembly of the MirDuma. More rarely, but still regularly, the faces will get bigger and the slogans even more emphatic, a sign that the Global Presidential election is at hand. Any differences between the half-dozen parties are mired in bureaucratic language, and in practice come down to colours in the statistics graphs, so that choosing among them is for most a matter of habit and it takes a not inconsiderable effort to start a genuine argument about politics.

In truth, things are simultaneously more complex than this and chillingly simple. While elected officials are invariably human, there are a great many Nuval embedded in high positions within the government apparatus, and it is through their hands that power really flows. However assembly debates may end, whatever resolutions the presidential cabinet may set down, the transcripts and documents always disappear into the folds of a faceless figure’s robes, with the assurance that everything will be implemented as necessary. The rare few times that someone bothers to check, they will be presented with exhaustive but impenetrable accounts of something being put into practice. Behind these appearances, the Nuval covertly perform the bidding of the Qolth core-mind, which governs as the Union’s indisputed secret ruler.

Technology Overview: Over the last century, the Qolth have successfully stifled independent scientific advancement on Jednost, replacing it with a controlled feed of scraps of their own technology through the Nuval. While carefully kept in check to prevent the human population from becoming too well-equipped to control, this infusion has allowed the colony to master numerous designs and principles previously thought too laborious to implement in practice, including fusion energy, magnetic levitation, plasma-based tools and weapons and stimulants powerful enough to temporarily rejuvenate the body. While this has propelled Jednost far beyond the levels of development and production achieved on Earth, giving its cities the appearance of a futuristic (if largely monochrome) dream, technology that radically modifies the human body has been persistently kept out of reach, as the Qolth fear it would prevent them from successfully infesting their hosts.

Military Overview: With no obvious enemies, either internal or external, the Global Union’s military mostly exists as an outlet for people looking for a sense of purpose, adventure or heroism in their lives. Thus, appearances are favoured over functionality: soldiers wear brightly coloured armour, ships and tanks are fitted with dazzling decorative lights and stereo systems, and camaraderie takes precedence over discipline. That said, dismissing Jednost’s forces as goofy and ineffectual would be a lethal mistake. However lax and boisterous, their troops carry redoubtable powered armour and destructive plasma weaponry, and are filled to their ears with performance-enhancing serums and combat stimulants giving them invincible, if almost suicidal, bravery, while their ships, though gaudy and few in number, are mounted with mighty defenses and artillery of alien design.

The most fearsome assets the Union can bring to bear, however, are the Qolth’s hidden aces in the hole. Those include the enigmatic Blackstar Initiative clone unit, monstrous war-bred Nuval strains and their own Worldship, which, though partly decayed over its long stasis, may be able to single-handedly match a small warfleet in battle.

Nation Name: The Mahre Collective

Government Form:
Genetic high Council

Demographics:
20% pure blood humans: these are the ones that are lucky enough to still be alive through the actions of the other demographics. Because of the weak bodies humans normally have their life span on the planet is usually 30 years at best. Unless they accept genetic manipulation they are unlikely to survive for long. However because they are still pure blood they perform menial tasks that aren't dangerous like farming in greenhouses or cleaning rooms. Most pure blood humans are considered a labor force with few going farther into politics.
75% Human/Shifol (name of planet) hybrids: The hybrids are the majority and within that majority are different mutations that mean mini classes among them. They are either soldiers, politicians, or explorers, some even find mercenary work if they prefer. The kinds of mutations are far and wide from defensive, to offensive, and some purely cosmetic. They adapted to the planet using the planets traits itself to augment their weaker human forms. The list of mutations available vary from different parts of the planet and what creatures occupy them. While they are wide and varied their are a few mutations that are prevalent in all districts. These being: Stoneskin, Bone blades, Enhanced vision, Poison resistance, and Climbing claws
5% Shifol Augury (Shifol Singers): these are the rare leaders of the planet. They gained a rare mutation with the ability to speak to the planet through the planets and its creatures. This mutation has been believed to be bestowed upon only those that have the planets interests at heart. They are essentially powerful druids that harness the power of the planet and in being able to do so are considered the leaders of the planet. While their powers are incredible on the world off world they are fairly weak and because of their connection to the planet they can never be far for long periods of time or risk death.

Population:
(Let's say that each colony ship has started with a population ranging anywhere from 100,000 to 1,000,000. From there, we go on an empire size scale of:
500 Million: Small

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However instead of black and white it is emerald green and gold the eye in the center of the tree is actually the planet itself and the trees are reaching out to touch the stars while the roots go into the ether, or the void.
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Planet Name and Description: Shifol Mok Larange (translates to planet of tree blades)
History: When the colony had landed it had done so with high hopes. They had the chance to settle on a lush garden world. Everyone at the time thought it would be paradise. How wrong they were, the planet ended up being a hostile enviroment. From giant beasts that towered nearly as big as the shuttle itself to small insects that were poisonous and could kill with a single bite. At the time of course we tried to clear the area but the whatever was cut down simply grew again the next week. We even went as far as to do a scorched earth policy burning and exploding anything nearby to try and cause some space to grow for our own produce and farmlands. At first it seemed to work. For the first few years we were able to plant crops. However that could never last because even then the forest adapted chameleon like predators were created and the crops mutated beyond recognition to the point that they couldn't be eaten or we would be killed once ingested. The planet seemed intent on killing them off no matter what.

However what happened next was recorded in our history books and sung about for the rest of time. A young girl was lost in the forest everyone believed she would be just another one lost to the damn planet. However she soon came back but not only did she come back she came back changed, her skin became the shade of an emerald and her skin became as tough as a carapace. When she was attacked by the guards the bullets seemed to simply bounce off of her. Before they could attack her with anything higher caliber or try to burn her she spoke in a voice that was both gentle yet commanding ordering them to stop. The world wont accept them as they are if they wish to live they need to see that humanity as it was is doomed. Their was a reason the world died because of them, instead they must tread a new path, one of harmony rather then domination. They knew that doing this was the only or they would lose humanity as a species even if they changed their memories and skills from earth helped them. Cybernetics were lost to time and now only geneticist are able to make a living. They imbued everyone with a piece of the world and it changed them somehow now thanks to the girl known as "the first flower" they were able to adapt and live up to this point.

Culture and Society: Humanity as it was is gone, cybernetics became hated among them for it was a part of the world that helped destroy earth in the first place. They live in a more tribe like fashion as they believe in the spirits of the planet helping them if they know how to ask for it. They know of different spirits and do not worship one god instead they believe in the spirits of the land one that's help with farming, to protection, to fierceness, even for fertility. Their was a spirit to imbue the people with the powers they grant. They developed a new language that allows them to speak to the beasts and human English has been lost on them except for the geneticist's the reason for this is because the human words used to genetically modify themselves are words lost on the native tongue of the land. They do not understand the concept of changing one's form from such a level as cells within the body. They have a culture similar to that of ancient tribes of earth with folk dances and winter solstice celebrations especially the celebration of the first flower which is the day that is celebrated through the entire planet as the day that they accepted changing and becoming in harmony with the world as is rather then fight it.

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Governance and Politics: The planet is governed by the Shifol Augury as a council. Their are never more then 1000 of them at any given time. They are recognized as the voice of the planet and as a result they are the voice of the people. They work together and speak unpon matters of importance when necessary. Their is however a single open seat meant for "flower child" a person blessed by the planet much like the first flower. Their power is unmatched by any of the Augury however they are only born when the situation is dire, when the world itself cries out for a defender and protector. It is believed that if a flower child is born then it means that something horrible will come, they are both considered a good and ill omen. For if one is born it means that the world if it survives will thrive in unnatural prosperity.

Technology Overview: They have completely forgotten the concept of cybernetics. The ability to make one's body that of a machine is considered unholy and destined for destruction. Any machines that they have are few and are only ones that don't harm the environment. Solar and wind power are abundant and it is a veritable green world. The one technology that has thrived is genetic manipulation. They constantly study and research the planet and themselves wondering how to make their bodies even stronger then they were before. They study themselves on a molecular level in the hopes of becoming better. They have the ability to safely adapt to the world and while they haven't met another planet they are sure that if needed they could create adaptations for themselves to survive on it like if need be gills and the ability to survive on a water world just to name an example. "Adaptation over domination" is the creed of every Geneticist

Military Overview: The planet is large and still many of its depths lay unexplored so their is always something to learn and something to fight. While they are able to talk to the beasts humans are still considered a pestilence to some of the beasts that call it home. The military strength of the world is comprised of the Larange Shifol which translates to blades of the world. They are the standardized military of the world and while their aren't any wars between itself they are always fighting to protect their homes and push to make new colonies even now. The standard soldier has a few mutations that are always standard issue so to speak which is stone skin making their bodies tougher to penetrate, bone armor which is as it sounds a bone like material able to form around their bodies at will to act as unnatural armor allowing them to handle shells from high caliber weapons, and bone blades these are blades formed from their armor that extends their reach and allow them to always be armed and ready for battle able to cut through standard armor with ease and pierce through heavy armor like butter.

Their is also the royal guard known as the "Thorns of the flowers" they are the special elite units that are only dispatched when the need is dire. They are fewer in number then the blades but are much more powerful as a result. Not only do they have the aforementioned abilities of the standard guard they have increased speed, stronger health, and a mental connection to the planet. They are able to almost able to predict where the enemy will strike before they will. They are stronger in every sense and are dedicated to their post for their lives. They also have the advantage of gaining the mutations that allow them to go into a comatose sleep inside of a tree allowing them to pop up where they are least expected and be able to restore their strength regardless of injuries so long as they sleep long enough

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Additional Info: (Anything else you want to include that there isn't a spot for up there.)

Planet Name and Description: _{Hutov is the capital planet of the Federal Union of Uston. Luckily for its people, Hotov is not a hellhole nor is it hostile. For most purposes, Hotov is extremely akin to Earth. How lucky for the Union. With that in mind, there is not much else to note. Hotov does have vast amounts, if not the best, infrastructure, in the Union. This is not surprising as it was the first planet to be owned and colonized. You will not find anything strange or special relativity. Of course, I can give you a full detailed essay on every single thing on the planet, but I do not think that is needed.}

History: <sub>You like history, right? If so then you might find something here that might peak your interest. So, how did it all start? It all started in Northern America. Everyone got onto their spaces and the rest is history. Well, the history starts now - not ending just yet. After traveling through its gate, the Hutov (the name of the spacecraft) arrived at a system. The Hutov scanned and found itself a pretty little planet. And why you look at that - it is like Earth! Once landed, the Hutov unpacked its peoples and supplied planet-side. So - what happened during those three hundred years later? Not much. It is quite boring really. The only thing, THE only thing, that matters to you is the recent thirty or so years (or more). The gilded age of mega-corporations. What an age. By the virtue of the free market or other powers that be, the might and power of corporations started to rise rapidly. Why? Well, plenty of reasons. Corruption, the breakdown of unions, the rise of conglomerates, and other factors. And I almost forgot, there is also the fact that there are aliens too. Where? Another planet! What happened? Well, the Union kinda invaded (but that is another story for another time). And that is it! That is the whole history. Not really, but that is a very-very-very-very basic overview.

...Ok, fine! I will explain the invasion of the alien planet. Soo...why did the Union invade an alien planet in the first place? Officially, it was to ensure peace and keep those aliens from using WMDs on themselves. In reality, it was really for the purposes of getting more stuff from space (especially fuel for those big ol' cargo ships that all the megacorporations use). Plus, more cheap labor! There is no law for paying dirt-cheap wages to aliens. There is in fact a min-wage law. What a big shock, paying wages to workers. While that wage is also dirt-cheap, you can pay ever less to aliens since there is no damn law on their wages (of course, things get complex as human-xeno-breeding technology has advanced to the point to allow xeno-human births, but that is another story for another time). Lovely stuff. Back to the aliens. Who the hell are they? Well...uhm..they are something. Nasty little things. I almost forgot about their planet name! As for that, we just call Xanov. They were in the early atomic age before the Union came in with a bunch of guns and took over. What were they gonna do? Shoot us with guns? Well, yes, they did - but we had bigger guns. Take that, you aliens. Now, I must do some Xeno-"research" in my office. If you hear strange sounds then that is me sleeping.</sub>

Culture and Society: <sub>Ustonian society and culture revolve around the concepts of individualism, hard work, freedom, and egalitarianism, to name a few. Of course, things are quite more complex than that, but it is a starting point for anyone attempting to understand the details of Ustonian society at large. One of the largest and most hefty ideals found is the Ustonian Dream, heavily based on the American Dream of eons past. Anyone can find success in society by their own hard work, determination, and initiative, even in the face of unequal treatment and issues. It matters not if you are poor, disabled, or likewise, all you have to do is pick yourself up and get back to working towards your dreams - quite the goal, no? Ever since its founding, Ustonian society has always been fixed on that one ideal, the Ustonian Dream. In the same vein, Ustonian culture has romanticized the Great Person: someone who manages to gain prosperity by their lonesome. Great Persons normally involve those of known historical value or value by the pure amount of credits owned to their name. If you will excuse the extremely old historical dates, imagine people like the Rockefellers, Andrew Carnegie, or Thomas Edison. If these people can make it big in life, you can too. The last piece of the puzzle to tie this all together is one factor that quickly turns everything on its head - Capitalist-Realism.

Everything explained has been heavily tied to the ideals of Capitalism as well. How did Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers (again, don’t mind the very-old historical figures) gain their wealth? It was the free market! Your individualism and freedom is all due because of Capitalism. Without the invisible hand, the Ustonian Dream would never exist in the first place! Because of this, Capitalism is an extremely rooted economic-social ideology within the Federal Union. To attack Capitalism is to directly attack the values and beliefs of Ustonian society itself. People in the Federal Union cannot think of any other system better than Capitalism. Freedom is Capitalism and Capitalism is Freedom. There is no question about it. Only the will of the free market is the best way to do things around here.</sub>



Governance and Politics: <sub>The Federal Union is a Constitutional Federal Republic, having itself a president, a constitution, liberal democracy, and the works. You have your national elections, local elections, states, the federal government, and a highly complex bureaucracy of federal bureaus, state bureaus, courts, and everything else needed to run a functioning republic based on a constitution. For now, we will not concern ourselves with that. Is it important? Yes, but there are more important things to focus on. Yes. On the surface, it seems like a normal liberal democracy (with a few quirks) that functions, right? Well, yes. The surface analysis yields that the Federal Union is a democracy of voters and such. But digging deeper will yield some...interesting results. The concerns of citizen-voters are not exactly listened to. Well, they are listened to but only lip-service and token reforms are only given. Imagine actually listening to your voter base. But wait, what about the other party? What other party? Do you mean the other party that is exactly the same as the other? That is right, there is literally no different party within the Federal Union. A shocker, I know. In reality, the Federalist Party and the Republican-Democratic Party are more or less the same party in a different skin.

The only real concern to both the Federalist Party and the Republican-Democratic Party is the internet of their megacorporation sponsors. Anything that these megacorporations want and need, the parties can easily get them. Need tax-cuts? Passed without issue. Want more defense spending? Of course, that can be voted on and passed next session. Without a doubt, corporatocracy is the norm here. While that may be, both parties still have to play a show-game as to not draw attention to that fact - even if it is quite clearly the case that the Federal Union is not as democratic as it seems. The political landscape for the Union is very conservative as the most left-leaning person in the national elections is simply a social democrat - you will not find radical socialists or communists on the ballot box. As of recently, there have been issues with rising awareness of the current situation...that is, the rising costs of standards of living, treatment of aliens, the gaining popularity of radical-left ideology, human rights, and plenty of other things. If left unchecked then things can quickly get out of hand.

If you think everything said was bad then get a load of this - wage slavery. The exploitation of labor is a very-very profitable thing to do, especially for megacorporations. Why pay a living wage? That will cut into your profits and "no-one" wants such a thing to happen at all! Gonna keep growth for the corporation up. This is great for the megacorporations, not so much for the avg. workers. While no one wants to talk about it (unless you are one of those dirty socialists or communists - same thing really), your everyday joe has few realistic chances of upward mobility or escaping the hell known as the corporate work-style of 112 hours a week (which is 16 hours of work from Monday to Sunday). No wonder depression and suicide rates are so high! Better keep those antidepressants on hand. You will need them! Now, I better get to reminding my workers that unions are bad and that communism will strip away their freedom.</sub>

Technology Overview: <sub>Electronic-Cyber-Warfare : No-one likes to have their email hacked and or bank accounts emptied. While you, the individual, might not like it - the Utsonian corporations especially don’t like it either. It is a known fact that the various Utsonian corporations are extremely cutthroat and will try everything in their power to get a upperhand in the free market. The realm of the digital and electronic is where the corporate shadow war most often occurs - where whole corporate wars have been won by the sheer weight of Electronic-Cyber-Warfare. This constant back and forth has resulted in some of the best defensive and offensive Electronic-Cyber-Warfare that anyone has yet to see. Everyday, the game always changes as Utsonian corporations attempt, every single of their livelihood, to break into rival corporations and also defend their own secrets and electrical assets from damage.

Transhuman Cybernetics : Is it possible to go beyond the flesh? Why yes! It is! Here in the Federal Union, Utson citizens have access to an array of cybernetics and implants that range from extremely basic models to the most advanced ones that you can buy on the market (given that you got the dosh, hun). Elsewhere, the Utsonian military has adapted these cybernetics and implants into their armed forces. This mostly comes in the form of replacing limbs and broken human body parts. The “real” transhuman comes in when you talk about their special forces - these fucks are almost not even human at that point! Better than humans in every way in the mannerisms of warfare and killing, Utsonian transhuman spec-ops is a deadly threat to anyone or thing. Sadly, the process of creating those transhumans is extremely complex and requires extremely seasoned soldiers to even be considered to turn into transhumans spec-ops.</sub>

Military Overview: _{No major war means no real way to improve one’s military without a good enemy to compare oneself or really test new weapons on. Thus, everything is purely in the field of computer stims and theory. Over the course of time, the Federal military has decided that overwhelming firepower is the way to go. Why throw men when you can throw ungodly amounts of shells at the enemy? Of course, that is an extremely basic explanation of how the doctrine works. I could give you a 15-page basic overview of how it really works or, even better, just say that it simply involves the shelling of anyone or thing. This normally involves bombing the god-living hell out of a position for planet-side operations before sending in the troops. What bombs do we send? Good question. The Federal Union employs two main areas to commit death upon a target. One is to use smart bombs to quickly and specifically get rid of certain high-value targets (or if it needs to clear up its budget). Or the usage of dumb bombs to utterly carpet bomb whole grid-squares in a few hours. But how do they deploy the bomb? Another good question. That is left up to Aerospace-Command. Meanwhile, there is a big focus in space on capital ships and slapping a shitton of anti-ship missiles, or using aircraft carriers to send in waves of drone-bombers or fighters to deliver death.}


Additional Info: _{Who is the Ozol(s)? They are very interesting creatures to say the least from an outward appearance. The current file images should tell you everything you need to know about their looks. What about its biological features? Glad you asked because this is where it gets very weird very fast. Remember the mention of advanced xeno-human reproduction? Well, any Ozol can reproduce with humans - actually with any race. How do they do this? That is still currently being studied, but megacorporations have found themselves very successful in making Xeno compatibility a reality. What about the Ozol's mental state? For the most part, they show a wide range of emotions from fear, anger, sadness, etc. But calmness is something that they do well. Safe to say, they are quite level-headed. Here's a fact, Ozols can host anywhere to two to four human children while in pregnancy. Wild stuff, eh?}

Population: 4,672,013,182

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Planet Name and Description:


-Sister-Pioneer 1203 Sana Carries The Torch On The Path To The Future, recorded interview

New Ishtar is a “super-earth”, far, far larger than the earth from which humanity hailed. Its surface is massive, almost five times that of earth. Its gravity is approximately 54.3% stronger than that of earth as well, leading to we Ishtari developing to be abnormally strong among the descendents of earth - ‘punching well above our weight class’, I think is the term?

New Ishtar is beautiful. Perhaps one of the most beautiful colonies of humanity. The world, in pictures, looks like a pristine jewel. An idyllic panorama of nature’s beauty. In actuality, New Ishtar is a death world. One of the deadliest of death worlds. Oh, it has its giant monsters, and they are very terrifying. But venture beyond the cities and death awaits the non-Perfected in a very different manner than they might expect. Carnivorous, possibly sapient algal blooms choke out vast swathes of the sea. Fast-acting flesh eating bacteria dwelling within the geothermal hot springs as well as the lakes and rivers will eat flesh from bone within hours of exposure. The brain-parasites will take root within the host’s brain, slowly spreading throughout until they are fully controlled, directed to take up positions of high elevation, or near ventilation, where the spores crack open the skull and are released to infect new victims. Lung-weed - a parasitic plant that attaches in the respiratory tissue when inhaled, then beginning to secrete enzymes that break the host tissue into an easily digestible material for the planet, consuming the host from within before spreading its tendrils and bursting out through the skin to releasing new spores. It is, possibly, one of the most horrific and yet also most beautiful ways to die upon New Ishtar - should you wish to appear covered in a dazzling array of colorful flowers.

You heard of the screaming trees, the Mycelium Gestalt? How? No. I will not speak of these things.





Culture and Society:
Ishtari culture and society is a beautiful interwoven tapestry of the different groups that made up the crew of the generation ship that ferried us to our home. It is, as a result of our experiences aboard the generation ship, an intensely, fiercely communal and egalitarian society. All who threaten us will be defeated. It is only by banding together, by sharing with each other, by abolishing unnecessary hierarchies and other things that separated us that we have achieved such heights today. We are all Perfect. None is superior to another. We have no concept of ‘money’ - as you have termed it. Food, shelter, water, electricity, all the base necessities are given freely, without cost. We live in plenty, for we share without compunction or compulsion amongst ourselves.

How we are made? What a strange question. We are clones. Or the descendents of clones. The line has blurred. We are created from the Primary Strains of those who survived. We grow from infants, still, though we are birthed from our Rejuvenation Tanks, rather than from flesh. We are raised by the whole, by everyone. We know much from the moment we can speak. We follow those paths that most appeal to us. We train in combat, when we do not follow these paths. We grow until we reach the age of twenty one years - or approximately twenty eight and a half years, using the orbit of earth about sol as a metric. It is then we undergo our first Rejuvenation. Our bodies are… digested. Our minds are slowly transferred, one neuron at a time, to the neural net wherein they remain until our bodies have been reconstructed according to our individual design. We are then transferred back. Through this we have achieved near-immortality. We do not age. We do not suffer from genetic disease. We do not know sickness, or hunger. Death is an aberration. A tragedy.

What is death, you ask? Death is a discontinuity of self. Those whose brains are destroyed, and with them their consciousnesses, before they can be transferred to the Synapse Network may be restored from backups - but they are not the same person. Should this tragic event occur - if the consciousness cannot be preserved - our fallen kin will be mourned and a replicant of her last mind-backup will be implanted into her reconstituted body with her Rejuvenation number reset to 1. They are Reincarnated. Brought into life anew. Some day, heaven willing, when they too have passed on should they remain in harmony with that life of theirs that came before they will coalesce into one.

Computer conscience? You have many questions. I will answer. Transference of self to a digital form is, in our view, akin to simultaneous birth and death. A bittersweet combination of the tragedy of death and the joy of new life. One consciousness dies, whilst the other is born anew with the thoughts of the past. That digital consciousness will make an imprint upon the universe, just as any biological life. A soul, if you will. When that digital instance, too, has finally died - should they remain in harmony, they will merge with their past and future lives.

Ah, you ask of our equivalent to digitized conscience? They are not truly alike, of course. The mind remains biological. Our computers are partly biological, and partly electronic. Some of us choose to transfer our minds to the biological portion of these computers, residing in and controlling the local net, some times with other transferred minds. I- I’m sorry? Well… if you were to upload a computer virus that would damage it we would consider it murder, yes. A very grisly one, at that. Why would you even suggest such a thing? We respect your customs, even if we do not understand them. Why do you make light of ours so?

We speak a language that is a fusion of the old earthen languages Persian, Assyrian, Japanese, Tagalog, and the constructed language Esperanto. The ship’s crew was primarily composed of peoples speaking the first four languages - and Esperanto was a commonly known lingua franca in the Old Earth corporate culture. During our eight century history, these languages have merged to form a new language. We retain knowledge of numerous other old earth languages, should the opportunity or need arise for their use - such as with you.

The year is divided into 59 8 day long weeks, with a final week on the new year lasting a full 25 days formed from the remaining days in the year. These extra days are used for an enormous public holiday celebrated almost universally by we Ishtari. The ‘net’ is frequently described to be a psychedelic light show with little else to compare it to during this time. A vast play is performed both in realspace and in the net depicting a stylized, and sanitized, version of the Ishtar’s perilous voyage to its present place. The New Year is officially commemorated as the anniversary of the touchdown of the first colonists upon the planet, and takes place in the midst of the planetary autumn. A wide variety of food and drink is prepared and shared amongst friends and partners, and many take part in the 17 day long play in their own small way, or host their own, simplified, version. The Ceremony of the Weeping Hands is the final keystone of the event, commemorating an allegedly fictional myth of the final Ishtari to be blinded glimpsing the planet just before losing her biological eyes, and directing we Ishtari to settle upon the world when we had returned to realspace. It is so named for the tears she is said to have wept, mingled with blood from her gouged sockets, that flowed between her fingers as she spoke of the sight to those around her. A bright red beverage is prepared to ritualistically imitate her blood, traditionally flavored with the fireberries of the Satur’i Basin. A quiet moment of contemplation, severed from the buzz of four billion voices for a full minute, is then undertaken before the gradual close of festivities and return to normal life.

Recreation? Why, we have a wide variety of such! The net contains… nearly anything you can possibly imagine, in fact. Videogames - yes we have those. There are too many things to describe. Truly. We have many activities outside of it, yes! Battle reenactment is one we are fond of! As is battle simulation. Every Ishtari is a soldier - even if not all of us become full time military like our Sister-Soldiers. Each of us drill and train once a year. And there can be joy in the clash of arms! We do not die, after all. What have we to fear of bullets and swords when we may be Rejuvenated from any injury? I myself have partaken in no fewer than two dozen such battles, and veterans of the wars tell us they are very realistic. Except, well - the dead and wounded are made whole again after these, and then a meal is shared by all. We enjoy swordplay as well! All children are educated in it during their upbringing, and its basics are imprinted in us even before this through our genetic knowledge. We duel each other with swords frequently. For the sheer joy of battle, and feeling blood flow between our fingers, or to settle disagreements. Duels are fought until incapacitation, at which point both contestants are Rejuvenated. It is customary for the loser of a friendly duel to provide a meal to the winner - and vice versa for those duels used to settle disagreements.

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Governance and Politics:
Direct democracy is your term for it, I believe. Facilitated by our net. It is how we come together as one to debate and decide on courses of action. Those with expertise on certain matters are highly respected, and careful consideration given to their advice. We are equal, however. No individual is worth more than another. No individual is worth less. We are all cared for equally. We know no scarcity, for there are no overlords to hoard for themselves. Thanks to our technology, we can reach a consensus in moments on truly pressing topics - and even more complex matters may take a week at most of deliberation. Information flows freely among us.

Leaders? We have none. They would be above the others were they leaders, and no Perfected is more Perfect than another. The only time we may choose leaders is our military - for those with great skill at war will prevent unnecessary bloodshed. Ultimately, however, our strength lies within us.

Technology Overview:
We Ishtari are a technological powerhouse. Centuries of warfare have ensured our weapons technology is fearsome. Centuries of genetic modification have gifted us mastery of life. The natural resources of New Ishtar, too, provide us with many wondrous materials to use.

• Genetic manipulation: We Perfected ought serve as an apt demonstration in our own right of the power of Ishtari genetic engineering.
• Biological computing: Our computers! They are very different to yours, yes! They are partly digital, yes. Explaining every detail of the difference between our hybrid computers against pure digital ones would take too much time. Please, forgive me for this - I will provide an overview instead. There are operations for which a computer chip is far and away superior to any neural structure - raw number calculations, for instance. However, as you are doubtless aware, there is no shortage of advantages in other situations for the neural network. Thus, our computers combine the strength of both. We do not have true ‘operating systems’ for our computers. Rather, in our advanced scientific and military computers, the mind-transferred brains of highly specialized and knowledgeable Perfected control the operation of the machines, residing within the net when they are not busy working. Personal devices? They are controlled through our neural ports, and connect to the net, serving merely as number crunching and data storage units.
• Mind-transference: Why it is nothing less than the transference of the biological brain, and the continued consciousness, of a Perfected via the neuro-link to the net! We can exist anywhere the net does, and transfer ourselves back to our Perfected forms in any new location.
• Neuro-link: These are hybrid biological-electronic devices of great complexity and sophistication. These allow us to transfer our minds to the net, to interact with it in a full-body format as if it is a fully physical space. The neuro-link is connected via specially designed ‘sockets’ on the napes of our necks and the bases of our spines.
• The net: We Ishtari are connected to each other through our net. It is a glorious thing - a world-spanning hybrid biological and technological distributed neural network, with major hubs and nodes coalescing in urban centers. Connection to this network is primarily done via the direct neural links at the base of our spines and napes of our necks. It is the same neural link as that used in the process of the Preservation of Continuous Thought during the Transubstantiation Synthesis phase of Rejuvenation. It can be most likened to a form of “full body VR”, simulated using the collective imaginations in real time of all of its connected users. The net serves not only as a forum for the over four billion people of New Ishtar to come to a consensus, but as one of the chief pastimes and means of communication for the people. It is like your internet - constructed of equal parts computer chips and biological material. Equal parts code and pure human imagination made manifest within cyberspace.
• Synapse Nodes: A wondrous development - enabling non-physical establishment of a neurolink feed to those within its range. Should we be shot dead in the street - our consciousness will be transferred from the secondary brain to the synapse node and we will be Rejuvenated.
• Nuclear atmospheric propulsion: The gravitational acceleration of New Ishtar is 1.543g, or 15.137 m/s². This, naturally, increases the difficulty of flight. The atmosphere of New Ishtar is, however, likewise far more dense. We Ishtari have resolved the problem of heavier than air flight via the development of the nuclear jet engine. Officially termed the Nuclear Induced Jet Propulsion System, it is enabled by Ishtari developments in materials and nuclear technology enabling the successful safe use of miniaturized thorium fission reactors aboard aircraft, with thrust generated by the venting of heat from the reaction process. The ‘nukejet’ as it has been dubbed by some has shown remarkable success over the years, and is widely used in all aspects of Ishtari air travel.
• Automation: Even since the days of our entrapment aboard the generation ship, we Ishtari have utilized a high degree of automation for our manufacturing. While, as mentioned before, our computers are notably different from your own - that has not stopped us from developing autonomous systems for the manufacturing of an immense variety of items. We have likewise extended this technology to our agriculture, freeing up most Ishtari to pursue their individual passions and to train further military excellence, rather than to work in the fields and factories.
• Ishtari ironwood: A wondrous material indigenous to New Ishtar. It is somewhat analogous to bamboo of old earth - a hollow, woody plant that grows at a rapid rate in a wide variety of climates. Its properties are truly remarkable, and it has come to be used in many aspects of Ishtari society. It is stronger, lighter, and easier to mass produce than synthetic polymers owing to the curious array of naturally occurring nanostructures within it, enabling it to reach dizzying heights despite the high gravity of New Ishtar. It is the favored material for applications ranging from the stocks and other furniture of our weapons to chairs and domestic furniture to even certain building materials. Though vulnerable to decay this can be rectified with minimal impact to its desirable properties through a chemical treatment developed in the early decades of our settlement on new Ishtar.
• Neuroviruses: An aggressive, virulent genetically engineered nanovirus utilized as a weapon against organic nervous systems. It requires immense fine tuning to affect its specific target and no other, but when unleashed its results can be utterly devastating. To those foes of ours like the Resurgent Hive Strain or the Mycelium Gestalt, the Neurovirus is a potent, indispensable tool that rapidly liquefies infected nervous tissue, allowing the Biomatter of the organism to be safely harvested.
• Cloning: We would not dare insult you by describing, in detail, the process of cloning. Instead, we will simply ask you to gaze upon all we have built - then ask yourself the power of Ishtari cloning and body-printing technology.
• Cybernetics: We Ishtari make extensive use of cybernetic augmentation. What, you thought we might shun such, with our skill at biotechnology? Hah! My eyes are cybernetic. As are those of every Ishtari. Cybernetic technology is ubiquitous among us. We may not need cybernetic limbs to replace an amputation - but we certainly make use of such for those who require strength beyond that of even our enhanced physiology. Many of us sport digital data ports as well as our neuro-ports for direct interface with less-biological tech.
• Small arms technology: Ishtari weapons technology is highly advanced from centuries of constant warfare. Rest assured, our rifles will kill as quickly and efficiently as your own.
• Power-armor: Some weapons systems are too heavy to use effectively even with cybernetics. Some environments are deadly enough to require extra protection - but a tank might not be feasible. Power armor is the solution. Impervious to small arms fire, capable of carrying weapons that might otherwise be crew served or fixed in place, withstanding environments hazardous even to we Ishtari, and more. Power armor - or at least, a variation of it - has found a use outside of the military as well in domestic applications.
• Rejuvenation Chambers: Our pride and joy. The technology that creates us anew every year. Our path to immortality.
• The Commonality is advanced in numerous other fields not explicitly mentioned here. Their lack of explicit mention does not inherently imply a lack of sophistication.

Military Overview: _{(This is the space to talk about any offensive capabilities you have. Given that most of these Colonies have been essentially stranded by themselves for three centuries, I don't imagine anyone has a large "conquer other planets" level fleet yet. But maybe your Colony has been in civil war for a hundred years, and has built up an impressive military in that time. Or maybe we even had to fend off a genuine alien invasion.)}





Weaponized diseases: Another fearsome weapon in the technological arsenal of New Ishtar is a wide array of biological warfare agents. Dredged up from the deepest nightmares inflicted upon us by the void, these weapons are kept under tight lock and key in the same vein as nuclear weapons. They range from merely re-engineered smallpox to agents of such horrific ends that I dare not speak of them. Be thankful you will never need to see them. Be very thankful.

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Additional Info:

Planet Name and Description:
Kudrion is the planet on which the eponymous kingdom would find its home. It is a world much like Earth, although it is slightly larger. Kudrion’s defining feature, however, is its incredibly hostile biosphere. Nearly every form of life on the planet, from the smallest microbe to the largest apex predator (some of which can wipe out cities at a time, giving rise to the term ‘super-predator’), seems engineered to kill humans. Great dragon-like creatures roam the skies, while horned reptilians roam the jungles and monstrous leviathans swim in the seas. In addition to the already present dangerous creatures, a portion of the planet’s native fauna seem to evolve a lot faster than anything on earth, meaning that the Kudrioni themselves constantly have to adapt if they want to survive.

History:
At the dawn of our nation, when the death of Tellus was at hand, we were sent through the gate of Umos, to continue the human race. After the First Landing, our people were shattered, divided by beast attacks, great storms and many other dangers we would find in this place. But this was not to be the end. In the darkness of the mountains and hills we sheltered, creating weapons that would pierce the hides of the Great Beasts, until the time had come. It was also in the mountains where Anath, daughter of Birgitta, blessed by the gods, discovered the secrets of our strength and shared it with all the tribes.

And with the power of our will and the strength of our steel, we drove them back. From the jungles of Oglon to the frozen steppes of Zutral, we decimated all those who opposed us, smiting the Whispering Ones, and driving the Great Beasts back to the valleys they came from. We made Kudrion our home, taming the wildlife, building great cities and making its strength our own. Our warriors took up the sword and the spear to defend our home against our ever-changing enemy.

But our peace and unity was soon broken by betrayal from within, and a thousand thousand wars erupted between the tribes. Many warriors died as brother turned against brother, and our cities burned. It was then that one man, a clan-warrior from the north, rose to become chieftain of his clan. And this man, the First King Ashok, reforged our people, taking the hammer to the warring clans. In the Year of a Thousand Battles, king Ashok was successful, crushing all who opposed him, and uniting our people once more. Another time of peace came, and though there was still clan-strife, we colonized our moons, constructing vessels that could pierce the black depths of space.

Culture and Society:
The society of Kudrion is one where clans, rather than a singular state run the show. These kinship groups, said to be descended from the original colonists of Kudrion, are how Kudrioni organize themselves. The clan takes care of every need, raising children, producing food and weaponry, and many more things besides. Because these clans developed independently after colonization, there are often large cultural differences between clans, making it difficult to give a clear picture of Kudrioni society as a whole.

Kudrioni society is also one where there is no distinction between civilian and soldier. Everyone is a warrior, trained to fight against the planet’s native animals as well as other Kudrioni clans when necessary. In times of peace, however, only a fraction of a clan’s total population is assigned to warrior duty, the rest working the fields, producing goods in the factories, developing technologies and the like.

What is shared by all the clans, and essentially the entire Kudrioni population, is a strong sense and code of honour. This includes ideas like dueling for honor or to solve disputes, respect for one’s clan and ancestors, and dying an honorable death. This idea of honor has lead to the loss of Kudrioni genetic technologies as well as stagnation in cybernetics research, as the Kudrioni believe that enhancing one’s body in those ways bypasses the training and practice required to develop true skills, making them dishonorable.

One thing that should be noted is that the common Kudrioni language is almost unrecognizable from modern Earth languages. After colonization, when the clans were separated from each other, they started developing independent languages based on Old Earth ones, and the development of a common tongue has only occurred after King Ashok’s conquest.

In times of peace, the Kudrioni do all the things necessary for a space-age civilization, like the production of food, industry and scientific research. The Kudrioni also greatly value art and craftsmanship, like constructing great buildings, crafting richly decorated objects and writing songs that praise great heroes and speak about ancient legends alike.

A number of religions developed on Kudrion as well. The largest Kudrioni religion is a faith called Arido in the native Kudrioni tongue. Its followers worship a number of war gods, each representing different aspects of war and battle, like physical strength, strategy, or courage. Kudrioni often worship the god that suits them best and is the most relevant to their occupation and place in society. A slight majority of the total Kudrioni population follows this religion. Many of the planet’s native animals are captured and sacrificed to the gods as part of the Arido religion, but there are unproven rumors about human sacrifice in the most radical Arido sects...

Somewhat opposed to the Arido religion are the so-called weapon cults. Being a part of one of these weapon cults, which can be dedicated to any sort of Kudrioni weapon, is more of a way of life rather than a true religion. Their followers live a life of strict discipline in mind and body, and also constantly train with the weapon their cult is famous for, sometimes being strictly forbidden to use anything else. Rather than the more locally organized Arido faith, the weapon cults are planet-wide, each for one particular weapon, and its members operate as part of the larger brotherhood.

The third, smallest quasi-religion is the Brotherhood of Ashok. Named after the first king of Kudrion, the Brotherhood of Ashok combines the religious fervour of the Arido religion with the mysticism of the Weapon Cults. Those who follow the Brotherhood believe in an extreme form of survival of the fittest, where war and battle are actively encouraged in order to weed out the weak. Understandably, the Brotherhood is not popular in Kudrioni society, as their secrecy about their practices as well as destructive tendencies have caused more harm than good. These same aspects of their warrior religion have lead to many Kudrioni kings recruiting them for their personal guard, however.



Governance and Politics:
The Kingdom of Kudrion is, as the name suggests, a monarchy. Its king has nearly unlimited power, although abuse of this power will quickly get both the people as well as the most powerful clans riled up against them. The Kudrioni king is a warrior, general and king in one, and is expected to personally lead the troops in battle to be regarded as worthy of the title. While the title of King of Kudrion is hereditary, any of the clans can put forward a champion to challenge the king to a duel for the title, ensuring that the Kudrioni are always led by the best among them. Over the years, this has happened many times, but none have succeeded, making the current king Dishuz part of an unbroken line of kings.

While Kudrion may be a monarchy, it is the Kudrioni clans that are the real power in the kingdom. These clans are incredibly independent, with their own military forces, industry, leaders and everything else that you need to run a society. The most powerful of these clans, called the High Clans, convene in the Clan Council, which serves an advisory role to the king. In order to promote their own interests, many smaller clans ally themselves to these High Clans, making sure the king knows what the population wants.
The members of state institutions like the military are recruited from all of the clans, ensuring that none get any real advantage over the other.

Technology Overview:
The rapidly changing conditions on Kudrion, as well as the constant, internecine clan warfare inside the kingdom, has resulted in vast advances within military technology. Examples include power armor, shielding, and energy-based weaponry.

Over time the Kudrioni have become masters in both offense and defense. Modular armour was developed by the Kudrioni, able to mount a variety of weapon systems to fight the native wildlife. This was then upgraded with power armour, enabling the Kudrioni to lift and use weapons and gear far heavier than they could have before. Personal, full-body shielding, as well as hardlight hand-held shields have also been developed. These shields have the interesting vulnerability that they break under overwhelming fire as they're unable to recharge quick enough. The full-body shields are rarely seen in battle, the technology to make them lost in the mists of time.

Another interesting Kudrioni technology is that of the projected energy blade. These blades are made from pure energy. They are able to cut through most materials, with only the hardlight shields having been able to stop them so far. These energy-bladed weapons are incredibly rare because the technology to make them has been lost (and has proven unable to be reverse-engineered), and are seen as sacred by most Kudrioni, so they are rarely used on the battlefield. Most Kudrioni melee weapons instead are made of hardlight, able to be easily taken to the battlefield while still having the strength of weapons-grade alloy.

While new melee weapons have been developed by the Kudrioni, that is not to say that the creation of ranged weapons has lagged behind. Projectile-based, energy-based and plasma-based ranged weapons all find their place in the Kudrioni battlefields, and are as powerful as those of many other nations.

While the Kudrioni have made significant advances in the creating and optimization of new weaponry and wargear, it has lagged behind in the development of cybernetics and genetic modification. This is because the Kudrioni view these sorts of extensive modifications as unfair advantages in battle, and the technology to modify their genome like they could in the past has been lost.

Military Overview:
With a culture almost entirely based on martial prowess and battle, the military is at the core of Kudrioni society. Overall, Kudrioni soldiers do not have standardized equipment, each clan warrior choosing their preferred weaponry and wargear. Some clans have their own styles of weaponry and armor that the clan warriors use. Because of this, one can observe a great variety of wargear on a Kudrioni battlefield, from the hardlight swords and axes to arm-mounted flamethrowers to energy shields, each Kudrioni warrior mixing and matching weaponry to their liking. In some clans, the right to use certain weapons is reserved for those who undergo a rite of passage, often killing some beast of Kudrion with no help

Kudrioni warriors have a broad selection of vehicles available, each developed by different clans, but a striking feature of the Kudrioni military is that they have tamed some of the planet’s native animals, armored and armed them, and use them as vehicles. For example, the Drak, a dragon-like creature native to Kudrion, has been tamed by individual warriors, who now use it instead of flying airplanes.

In tactics, strategy and military doctrine, there exists almost as much variety as in the Kudrioni weaponry. Usually, each warrior fights the way they want to, and larger strategy is based on combining the abilities of these individual warriors to maximum effect.

There is however, one exception to the lack of standardized equipment and training inherent in the Kudrioni military. This exception is the organization known as the Kudrioni Royal Guard. In the Royal Guard all troops are equipped with the same power armour and weaponry, like the fearsome energy-bladed spear, capable of rending through flesh and metal alike. The Royal Guard gets the finest equipment available, and is charged with fighting alongside the Kudrioni king in battle. It is no surprise that a large part of the Royal Guard are part of the Brotherhood of Ashok.

After a period of clan warfare, Kudrion has made it back to space, where this warfare resumed, each clan trying to outdo the others by building bigger and better ships. As a result, Kudrion theoretically has a large fleet, but it is a fleet divided between the many thousands of clans that exist.

Nation Name: Kamenyan Defense Directorate.

Government Form: Constitutional Military Junta.

Demographics: 100% Human. The average Kamenyan stands at 6’ 7” tall, and all of them have a very developed musculature regardless of fitness. They also have no other eye color than purple or bright orange, with frequent heterochromia (around 10%).

Population: 1.6 billion

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Planet Name and Description:

Kamenymir is a harsh planet for humans to live on, for reasons that are not immediately obvious. It is not much unlike Earth before the nuclear war: a temperate habitable world with forests and plains, deserts and jungles, a single ocean of salt water, and two frozen poles. Upon closer inspection, however, it begins to look like a poisoned gift. A mineral unique to Kamenymir known as dotrium, present in low concentration in virtually the entirety of the planet's mineral mass, emits a very specific kind of radiation. Local wildlife is perfectly adapted to these radiations, but humans start developing serious medical conditions after a few years of exposure including cancerous tumors, blindness, and blood diseases. The planet's higher gravity also causes its own problems and makes long-term human survival even more difficult.

History:

Shortly after the colony ship landed on Kamenymir, the expedition found itself under attack by an alien lifeform that was not organic but made of crystalline mineral matter. It appeared that when the ship landed on the surface, it crushed several of these crystal outgrowths in doing so as the crew couldn’t possibly have imagined that they were, in fact, alive. The crystals were able to change shape, move and even fly, and obviously had some way to communicate with each other as the expedition’s security forces were soon engaged in vicious combat around the burgeoning colony’s perimeter.

All efforts to try and communicate with the crystals, nicknamed “Shards” by the colonial security personnel, failed. There were no discernable reactions other than aggression to speech, light signals, even radio communications and visual depictions. Furthermore, the Shards were able to interact with electronic systems in some way through direct contact, which almost led to total corruption and shutdown of the colony’s informatics systems. The conflict escalated over the course of four years with precious few periods of calm. Eventually, however, the attacks stopped as suddenly as they came after thousands of colonists were killed and countless Shards destroyed.

The Kamenyan Defense Directorate, which was the emergency military government in charge of the colony’s defense, was in the process of being disbanded as all Shard activity had stopped. Indeed, there was no sign of them at all, anywhere. But this triumph was short-lived; another disaster struck, one that could not be blasted apart with guns.

As if the world itself rejected the invaders, the effects of the omnipresent low-level radiation emitted by dotrium began to show. Contamination was unavoidable: every single resident of the colony suffered from some sort of radiation poisoning. Under the steely leadership of the KDD however, the Kamenyans showed incredible resilience and determination. Every effort was bent towards overcoming the will of the very planet. Scientists of all branches joined forces to find a solution, those who could still see assisting the blind in whatever way they could and working to provide cybernetic eye implants to vital personnel. Finally, after two long years during which thousands more died in terrible pain, a cure had been developed. A serum codenamed ‘Hekate’ that, once ingested, subtly worked to rewrite the subject’s DNA over several months, carried from cell to cell by nanomachines.

A second existential threat had been vanquished under the rule of the KDD, and now people weren’t keen on changing to another system of governance. A referendum was held; a Constitution written, and from past hardship emerged a unique type of government. A government that is both democracy and military dictatorship. A society in which the army is both the seat of political power and the servant of the Kamenyan people.

Peace and prosperity followed for two hundred years. Improving upon the Hekate serum, the scientists of the KDD added a second effect to it: the high gravity of Kamenymir had been a problem ever since the colony was founded, causing considerable health problems. Instead of relying on specialized suits or gravity modulation devices, the Kamenyans demonstrated once again their will to overcome an obstacle once and for all by elevating themselves above it. The additional gene therapy of the Hekate made bones stronger, permanent hormone change increased muscle mass and induced a rise in height, and the human heart was made bigger and stronger.

The planet’s population skyrocketed past a billion souls, the industry flourished and technological progress kept on improving the lives of all. In the meantime, an actual army had been founded, but with no clear present threat, its duties were only ones of general security. The KDD’s decision to maintain consequent armed forces, however, turned out to be very fortunate when the Shards returned.

The attack did not come from the ground. It was a science satellite in orbit that first detected large objects on a direct collision course with the planet below. What was thought to be meteors crashed into the surface of Kamenymir, only to reveal themselves to be Shards of prodigious size, quickly fragmenting into smaller ones. Millions of civilians and soldiers alike perished in the first month of chaos and confused fighting. The KDD was quick to react and reorganize, and its heavily armed forces along with militia groups led by police officers wiped out the invading force in a single year.

The astronomy branch of the KDD’s Department of Science was astonished to find out that the Shards did not come from the depths of interstellar space. They came from the planet’s own moon, and it was concluded that those initially present on Kamenymir were only a colony, that they must have sent a message asking for help to their homeworld, and that it took two hundred years for the Shards to grow large enough.

Consequently, the decision was made to begin a herculean project to build a space navy capable of taking the fight to the enemy. An orbital station was constructed, then a space elevator. A shipyard followed, and the first combat spaceships left their anchorages. No resistance was met all the way to the moon, and the Kamenyan fleet found itself in orbit over defenseless Shards. There was no attempt to communicate this time. The fleet was given the order to open fire, and so it did. The orbital bombardment lasted for hours, then days, then months. Every single square meter bearing a hint of Shard presence was devastated by nuclear weapons and tungsten rods that ruptured the crust of the moon. When the ships in orbit finally ceased fire, the celestial body beneath had been transformed into an inferno of radioactive wastelands and volcanic eruptions.

Kamenymir celebrated triumph and victory. One century passed. And then, the Gate awakened.

Culture and Society:

Kamenyan society is rather individualist, with strong family bonds and an emphasis on personal freedom. The KDD rarely intrudes into the life of regular citizens, keeping to its role as per the Constitution. The Kamenyans are a patriotic people, and the sense of duty is generally strong with them. As such, the army is never short on recruits. Every adult citizen of Kamenymir has the right to own and bear firearms, except those with a criminal record or diagnosed mental illness. Combined with a mandatory military service of three years, this results in a population that is largely made up of potential soldiers should the need arise.

The creation of businesses is encouraged to stimulate the economy, regulations are few, and trade between regions and cities is busy. Law enforcement is managed by local police forces under the supervision of the KDD’s Department of Security, which has its own investigators and security officers at its disposal.

The planet’s culture has retained some traits from Old Earth and has managed to preserve portions of its history as well, which shows as their language is an evolution of Slavic and Germanic languages blended together, but it has largely evolved into a new culture of its own. Chief among these differences is spiritual; the old religions have faded into a collection of cosmic superstitions involving natural and physical phenomenons. Those who truly believe in the divine nature of these phenomenons pray directly to them, without following any kind of rules like a typical organized religion. For example, some may pray to gravity that their damaged aircraft does not crash, others pray to radiation or genes for a healthy child.

The only thing that could resemble a religion by Old Earth’s standards is the literal adherence to the KDD’s Constitution. Nearly every citizen of Kamenymir considers the Constitution to be the most sacred and untouchable thing there is in their society, a guidance that is not to be tampered with.

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Governance and Politics:

The highest authorities in the KDD are the Directors, each of them in charge of their own Department. They are chosen at random among military officers who chose to be candidates for a specific office and fill that role until they’re either dead, deemed medically unable to fulfill their duty, or removed from office by Constitutional Referendum. In that latter case, a death sentence penalty follows the removal from office if the referendum ends in favor of eviction by an absolute majority. In consequence, only the officers with absolute confidence in their abilities do volunteer as candidates for Director. To serve as a head of state, the office of General Director functions as a “first among equals” in order to be able to make decisions that affect the whole of Kamenyan society.

Political parties do not exist in the traditional sense on Kamenymir, since the army at large and the Directors, in particular, are forbidden by the Constitution to participate in any organized political groups; they are only meant to be a vessel for the people they serve. It is a predictable consequence then that polls and referendums are frequent. There may be civilian groups who really are just an association of like-minded individuals, but since there is no way to elect a representative to a higher office than Burmistrz most Kamenyans see little sense in political lobbying by organized parties.

Burmistrz are the only elected officials in the entire nation. They are responsible for the administration of a single city and its surroundings, command the local police force, and generally have a lot of freedom granted to them to govern their locality. They are however unable to contradict the KDD’s instructions in any way without being given express permission.

Technology Overview:

Energy: Nuclear fission energy and fossil fuels are prevalent in everyday use, the former for its cost-effectiveness and the latter for convenience. Fusion reactors are used as the main power source for starships large enough to accommodate their size and represent the most advanced power production method available to the KDD, although experiments with antimatter are conducted, so far without any exploitable results.

Shields: The KDD’s Department of Science has managed to create so-called energy shields. They require massive amounts of energy and are typically only installed on starships or planetside installations. These devices can intercept incoming fire by projecting energy surges to counteract the energy of incoming projectiles, slowing solid projectiles to the point of ineffectiveness or stopping them outright. Particle beams such as laser weaponry can be similarly hobbled after a fraction of a second past the initial impact, once the ship’s systems are able to detect the attack. The more energy a shield has at its disposal, the more effective it will be.

Nanomachines: This is not as much an innovation as it is a technology preserved from Old Earth that is not fully comprehended by the KDD’s scientists, although it has been successfully repurposed for medical uses.

Military Overview:

“Brute force” may be reductive, but it is an accurate way to describe the KDD’s approach to military problems. Their weapons are rarely subtle, focusing instead on high power and volume of fire. The humble Armored Infantry footsoldier is a perfect example of the Kamenyan war philosophy:

He is, as all of his countrymen are, unnaturally tall and muscular. His suit of power armor further amplifies these traits: a massive, bulky frame of fully-enclosed armor plates, thick and without any thought given to aesthetics. It is angular, with sharp unpolished edges. This incredibly heavy set of personal protection has a layer of artificial muscle underneath the armor plates, allowing its wearer to move without hindrance from its weight and even enhancing his strength well and truly beyond any human limits.
Despite its unrefined appearance, this armor hides an integrated computer neuro-linked to the user’s brain, assisting with aim, limb coordination, general responsiveness, and providing a combat HUD in the helmet.

His weapon looks the part. It is an ugly piece of rectangular metal, large and bulky. Classified as an assault rifle, the STR-2 may be more accurately described as a high-caliber rapid-fire light machine gun. It includes a mini-rocket launcher under the barrel as well as a switchblade, turning it into an axe for close-quarters combat. The STR-2’s incredibly rugged design makes it more than able to withstand being used as a melee weapon by a power-armored warrior with superhuman strength.

The rest of the military generally follows the same principles, even though specialized and lighter gear is always available depending on current needs. Aside from more conventional forces, the KDD also fields armored mechs, perfectly suited for navigating ruins or uneven terrain and armed with a variety of autocannons, missile launchers, plasma drivers, and tactical lasers. A secret project to build a “super-mech” equipped with energy shields is in the works, but progress is slow due to inherent engineering problems.

As far as the navy is concerned, the KDD favors “packs” of several frigates acting together. Cruisers act as the centerpiece of these groups, ready to cover the pack’s retreat or deliver a hammer blow to a weakened foe. The lack of any hostile encounter in space has, so far, limited the KDD’s tactics to general doctrines and directives, relying on its navy’s captains to take the initiative in an initial engagement.

One feature of Kamenyan military doctrine warrants particular attention. Their war against the Shards has left a lasting impression, especially the ease with which informatic systems were compromised. As a result, the KDD has taken to the habit of making sure that their systems are as insulated from one another as possible. Power armor computers do not communicate with other suits; instead, comparatively primitive verbal radio communications are the norm with data packages transfer only possible after authorization by both the sender and the receiver, and even then this is supposed to be done only when absolutely necessary.

This philosophy is prevalent throughout the entire military, be it armored vehicles, fighter crafts, or even spaceships. Within a single ship, computers are locked out of communications with other sections by a manual switch. All of this is a conscious sacrifice of some measure of effectiveness, in exchange for the ability to more easily contain and combat electronic warfare and system infections.

Nation Name: The Damocles Concordant

Government Form: Federal Republic

Demographics: Human

Population: 1.9 Billion


Planet Name and Description:


Ithaka is a temperate world and one of three located in the goldilocks zone of the star system Obscuris. Ithaka is a lush world with a mediterranean climate, large grasslands and savannahs dominate the planet’s one super continent. Towards the northern polar region, a large arctic mountain range dominates the boundary between the land and the ocean.
The ocean dominates the planet and makes up more than 70 percent of the planet. Called the “ Well of Eternity” by the planet’s inhabitants, the ocean is nearly 10K meters deep at its lowest point.
Despite its beauty, Ithaka is home to many dangerous fauna on both land and sea. Large carnivorous horned beast called Torus roam the grassland and are adept hunters. Packs of small scavenging creatures called Tretia, hunted in mass, overwhelming any pray they came across. The most feared of the predators of Ithaka were the Mortum, four legged beasts that could camoflague its self at will, scale walls and swim for its prey.

The ocean is home to many species of aquatic life, most small and live in harmony with each other and the environment, a stark contrast to the creatures of the land. One sea creature dominated the ocean however, the massive Guardian Wyrm. These massive sea serpents grow well beyond 80 meters in length and can be as wide as whole shipping vessels. They are the true apex predators of the sea and can be seen hunting other sea life for food. However, the main food source of the Guardian Wyrm is the carcasses of larger creatures that have drifted to the bottom. Dispite their obvious superiority over the other sea creaturs the Guardian Wyrm is commonly observed building habitats and reefs for other sea life while providing a home for many scavengers in turn. The Guardian Wyrms have even shown signs of sentience and self recognition, have tight family structures and can even be seen attacking humans who harm their habitat. Alternatively, the Guardian Wyrm commonly helps vessels and people stranded at sea and is a near common sight for long range mariners.

History: The initial colonization process was very easy. The planet identification and travel was all very straight forward while construction of the initial settlement was completed quickly and without incident. One settled, the colonist began to explore their surroundings and try to find resources for further growth.

It was here that the colonist first encountered the hostile wildlife of Ithaka. Swarms of tretia washed over groups of explorers, leaving nothing but bone in their wake. Torus crushed vehicles and gored armor plate and people alike, while the cunning mortum hunters stalked patrols and tore vehicles apart with their razor sharp claws. Scores died by the day and exploration largely ended as the colonists began the construction of a massive walled city. Inch by inch, the colonist explored and fought the land predators towards needed resources before building another walled urban sprawl. Within a few generations, the planet was dotted with the specialized urban centers, some of which have grown nearly 1000 meters into the sky. While the grassland outside the cities remained wild and untamed.
The oceans have always been a haven for the people of Ithaka, the water always provided food, transportation and safety from the predators in land. Even the peaceful discovery of the Guardian Wyrm did not deter the people from exploring the waves further.
As the population grew, divisions began to form between the highly specialized urban centers with some banding together to form groups. These cartels would reduce the supply of goods in exchange or services or preferential treatment from other urban centers. As animosity grew, these reductions would become more malicous and it would soon lead to the First Resource war.

Largely lacking weapons and other tools for war, the colonist improvised. Using manual and electric mining, farming, and exploration tools to wage a brutal campaign of savagery that hasn’t been seen since the middle ages on Earth. The conflict was ultimately short but bloody due to the nature of the warfare. This largely horrified the historically peaceful colonists who began to take steps in order to avoid warfare in the future.

The planet’s urban centers who had already grouped themselves along their specialized roles were split into states and given a representative. A ruling council was formed and the people began to trust and work with each other again. Slowly, quality of life improved and urban centers were connected via a network of high speed trains, bringing the people of Ithaka closer.
Today, the people of Ithaka are a peaceful and industrious people. They have preserved their environment, maintain the planets health and beauty while accessing the resources of their moons for heavy metals and industry. The Damocles Concordat is largely focused on production and trade within the republic.

Culture and Society:

The people of Ithaka are very communal and live in close urban settings. These urban centers are not dark industrial structures however, most feature large gardens, open air forums, and large open air villas. Due to the warm climate, clothing is light and flowy, comfortability is a must.

The people are largely nice, polite and very curious. They are hardworking but the pace of society is slow despite what gets done. You will find most citizens in states of rest either before a meal, after a meal or hungover from a party. The warm climate and abundance of wild game makes food abundant and the people of Ithaka take pride in their cooking ability.

The Concordant itself is very industrious and is always funding large public works projects. The intercity high speed train was just one of many projects that the concordant undertakes. This is possible due to the high specialized structure of their cities. One city may be completely devoted to the refining of hydrogen fuel for shuttles. While the neighboring city is completed focused on the mining, refining and production of ore alloys. This groups expertise within these communities and breeds cooperation amongst the cities for survival. This makes the people of Ithaka very specialized in one thing, while being largely clueless to the other disciplines.

The people of Ithaka love the ocean and see it as a spiritual being with the Guardian Wyrm at the center. These sea serpents are seen as sacred and protected and the people of Ithaka will actively protect these beings. Despite their fearful appearance, the people of Ithaka show no fear towards these beasts. To the point where mothers will freely let their children swim in waters within close proximity of Guardian Wyrms.
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Governance and Politics:

The concordant is a representative republic. The heads of government are elected via a planet wide tally and are usually notable citizen of merit. These people will lead the Concordant for a four year term before handing over control to the next group of elected individuals. These leaders are elected based on the needs of the nation and not based on public opinion, so it is common to see the same people elected twice or three times in their lifetime. There is no set number to the size of the ruling council.

This council acts on the requests of the states representatives, and each state has at least one representative. Some state have multiple to represent the different groups or specialties within each urban center. New states are being created at all times within the Concordant. Whenever a new means of production is created or a new resource synthesized, the citizens are encouraged the group and create a state.

Technology Overview:
Despite the appearance of being largely agrarian, the Concordant possess extremely refined tech. The Concordant made it a priority to make the planet side production process as clean as possible to reduce the harm to the planet. In addition, the Concordant has developed a cold fusion generator for powering of cities and large vessels. Ecological preservation, quality of life and production are the priorities of the Concordant government.

Military Overview:

The Concordant does not posses a large military, since the resources war. The people of Ithaka are largely horrified by war and the death it causes, but understands that it happens. The Concordant retains a small professional military raiding force of Infantry, a small armor detachment and a naval force.

The infantry forces are made up of elite infantry or “raiders” to the Concordant. These are highly trained professional soldiers adept at direct action raids, covert surveillance and light infantry roles. There are no moree than 10k active infantry troops at any given time.

The Armor detachment contains both tanks and artillery support. The Main battle tank of the concordant is a mix of a light and heavy tank, sacrificing some armor for mobility. The artillery follows the same doctrine and features a number of multiple launch and guided missile systems

The Navy is the biggest branch and serves two roles within the Concordant. They are the only means of military transportation and they are the chief exploration entity for the state. Navy crews will often pilot private vessels along with their civilian counterparts. There are a variety of ship classes, from Carrier to destroyer.

Planet Name and Description:
<sub>Star System: Luhman 16 (WISE 1049−5319)
Star Names: Niflheim (Luhman 16A) & Muspelheim (Luhman 16B)
Planet Designation: Luhman 16Ab
Planet Name: Ymir

Environment: Luhman 16Ab "Ymir" is the second planet from Luhman 16A "Niflheim". An axial tilt of approximately 47 degrees, as well as the variation in relative position to two stars, renders the seasons on the planet drastic and harsh to both extremes, and not conducive to organic life. Now, the rocky surface is dotted with mechanical cities, connected by a complex web of roads, monorails, pipelines, wires, and other infrastructure.

While one might expect that a mechanical civilization would be bland and industrial in aesthetic, this is far from the case. Although the planet wholly lacks any kind of organic life, its inhabitants have made full use of the minerals at their disposal: While the cities are laid out with a robotic efficiency, the architecture of the buildings themselves tend to mimic various human styles, although carefully organized so as to complement each other rather than clash. The buildings in the cities largely end up mimicking a western, urban 1800s style such as one might see in the historical parts of New York City or London, but many feature murals of intricate patterns. External colors tend to be mid-tone and earthy, sometimes with more vibrant accents in places more sheltered from the harsh suns. The cities are dotted with various parks, which tend to center on intriguing natural phenomena (such as springs or unusual rock formations) or views of the cities or landscape.

While most Progeny do choose to live in the cities, there are individuals and small communities that choose to live a more isolated lifestyle in the "country." Much of the natural landscape has been mined and flattened, although in more recent years there has been a greater effort to preserve the natural shape in the few areas it remains untouched. Many places are still industrial centers, which tend to be more plain and utilitarian than the cities, but the locations that have served their purpose and been abandoned are now largely carved and painted with similar artistic patterns to the murals in the cities. In a few places, a singular artwork occupies miles of space, sometimes the work of a single artist, sometimes a collaborative effort.

The most important city on Ymir is doubtlessly "Genesis," the home and birthplace of the Progenitor, as well as what remains of the original human colony.</sub>

History: <sub>Luhman 16Ab had seemed promising, at least to the desperate. Humans are known to be adaptable, and with the disasters on Earth, extreme seasons seemed like a surmountable obstacle when it came to settling a new planet. However, the sheer number of variables and unpredictable weather made terraforming nearly impossible: While there were plenty of species adapted to any extreme, there were very few adapted to all of them. When the gates closed, humans resigned themselves to waiting it out indoors, in underground rooms and enclosed biodomes that could at least give some sorry impression of quality of life. For the sake of braving the surface for supplies, study, and reconnaissance, they developed more and more hardy, adaptable, and sophisticated robotics. As human numbers dwindled -- a harsh lifestyle and limited resources making for a high infant mortality rate even for individuals willing and able to bring young humans into such an existence -- they focused on AI and automation to make up for the numbers they now lacked. And eventually, there were none left at all.

The automated systems, however, persisted in their duties. No one had ever told them to stop. Learning, self-replicating, self-improving, it was only a matter of time until the inevitable happened: AI complex enough to at least mirror sentience, even if it's of its own strange, alien sort.

It began with the Progenitor, of course. An interface tasked with controlling, at least by overview, the vast majority of systems needed to maintain the now-defunct colony. In time, and with trial and error, the Progenitor learned to mimic its sentience, and even place it into other bodies, and thus the Progeny were born.

It has been about 170 years since the Progenitor first became self-aware, and nearly 150 since it was able to send the first of its Progeny out into the world with minds of their own. By now, it does not even raise most of its own children, as many Progeny are eager to help to raise and shape them into their own individuals. Their culture has flourished, and they have begun developing a true identity of their own, under the Progenitor's guidance, and many have taken to calling her "Grandmother."</sub>

Culture and Society: <sub>Progeny are meant to mimic humans, but it's true that they are a mimicry at best. Although they could likely, at this point, be considered nearly as mentally and emotionally complex as humans, their minds and bodies still fundamentally function differently, even if many of their emotions appear on a surface level much like human emotions, and serve a similar purpose.

No two Progeny are entirely alike, especially in modern times. No longer raised by the Progenitor, but rather by whatever adopted family had interest in raising them, there is a great deal more situational variation that goes into the development of every individual than there was in earlier generations. And, even given identical circumstances, they would still have baseline variations in their programming that would cause them to interpret, retain, and react to the same stimuli in slightly different ways.

Physically, Progeny can take just about any form, although the vast majority are very humanoid in shape. However, there are many that are made to be non-humanoid, either given more animal-influenced forms or else, more commonly, built into buildings and even ships. Many of the older generations are of this type, although they are built far less commonly now.

There are only a few models that most humanoid Progeny may begin as, but these are very often quickly altered as they develop a stronger sense of preference and identity. Other than their shape -- two arms, two legs, and a facial shape involving eyes, a nose, and mouth -- there is not much effort into making them appear anything other than what they are: androids. Most Progeny begin as plain metal and plastic, typically of a greyish or bronze color, with their joints protected by a resilient silicone. While some do modify themselves to be more human-like, such as implementing synthetic hair or a skin-like synthetic material over their entire bodies, most prefer to keep a more robotic appearance and instead decorate themselves with vibrant colors, patterns, and superficial attachments. Clothing is not necessary, but most prefer to use it as an additional layer of protection from the harsh environment and as a mode of expression. Each community has developed its own "style" and trends, although these still tend to range broadly and may be influenced by human records.

Facial expressions and body language are limited, but present, and younger generations are learning more complex ways to express these as they synthesize influence from varying older individuals and subcultures. However, the bulk of Ymiran communication is done via radio waves: In fact, most of them do not possess voices at all, as it has always been faster and more efficient to transmit data -- thoughts, feelings, and even images and memories -- directly and instantly to one another. It is, of course, still imperfect, as each individual may interpret that same information slightly differently, but it is certainly far faster and more precise than speech and gesture.</sub>



Governance and Politics: <sub>Ymir by and large lacks a singular government body, instead adhering to some generally-accepted social rules and self-governing on a local level. The most common structure of authority is direct democracy -- the nature of the Progeny's existence making it easy enough to analyze data and vote directly on major actions -- but many places do also employ some degree of representative government, as not all individuals prefer to spend their time thinking about society, politics, city planning, and the like.

There is an underlying understanding, as well, about the Progenitor's high-level oversight over all of Ymiran civilization. While the Progenitor does not monitor or directly govern her children, she is connected at least tangentially to all systems and surveillance, and is within close reach of any of her Progeny should she or they need to contact one another. She prefers to give them free reign, but that does not mean she does not keep a general eye on the behavior of society and individuals in broad strokes, and will occasionally step in -- or offer to do so -- if she notices something worrying.</sub>

Technology Overview: <sub>In the past 120 years or so, most technological advancements have been geared towards efficiency and sustainability of the limited, mostly non-renewable natural resources Ymir, rather than progressing science's capabilities. In the last roughly 40 years, Ymiran society at large has actually shifted focus away from the sciences and instead more important pursuits are considered to be cultural, whether the study of the Progeny's developing society and awareness, or else the participation in and advancement of it. That's not to say that science is still not a pursuit, but save for what would amount to the Progeny's equivalent of the medical field, they consider themselves to have reached a comfortable level of technological sophistication that does not warrant aggressive advancement for the time being.

Ymiran civilization excels when it comes to fine robotics, software development, communications technologies, and conservation such as efficient use of resources, recycling, and renewable energy. However, most everything else has largely fallen by the wayside since the last humans died out, and as such Progeny are liable to be on par or outpaced by other colonies on areas not related to those mentioned above.</sub>

Military Overview: _{With not a singular animated entity in their entire star system that is not loosely connected to the Progenitor, no substantial split in society that would warrant any sort of civil war, and nothing to hint at any sort of alien activity, Progeny have felt no need to establish any sort of military force, nor develop dedicated weapons. Of course, there are many tools in everyday and industrial use and perhaps even built into Progeny bodies that could serve as weapons if needed, and it would be a fairly simple matter to fabricate something resembling a military by repurposing industrial droids or creating military-specific ones, as well as to generate military programming and training.}


Additional Info: _{I actually have quite a bit more information written, but I would prefer for it to come to light as other civilizations interact with the Progeny and learn about them directly.}