Well, people seem to like the "grey" species I've got, so I'll go with that. Nearly went with the occupied shrimp, but I couldn't get the trait system to quite fit for them.
Nation Name:
-- Collected States of Erephim (CSoE)
Race:
-- Nera: Somewhat diminutive humanoids that resemble the "greys" of Earth pop culture. They possess large eyes, a curious spinal-based nervous system, gills located adjacent to their lungs, a mouth in their stomach, and a pressurization chamber in their heads which is used for both launching small projectiles and communication in the form of clicks, whistles, and moans. Nera breathe chlorine, and require a breathing apparatus in non-chlorine environments.
Racial Traits:
-- Stargazers (+): The Nera have long been obsessed with what lies over the horizon, on the dark side of the moon, and beyond the stars. Their technology has always been attracted towards means of discovering and understanding these things; Erephim sensors, scanners, and communications technology are all exceedingly advanced, with high resolutions and impressive computing power. On top of this, the Nera themselves have excellent vision and inquisitive minds.
-- Junkers (-): Despite having an overdeveloped industrial economy, Nera tend towards quantity over quality, and it shows. Their tech is often made to low standards and is prone to breaking down or falling apart at inopportune times, and one often sees jury-rigged equipment and outdated mechanisms.
Civilization Tier:
-- Tier 3: The Collected States have spread to the stars, but there is still much that they're trying to learn. Approximately three-dozen colonies have been settled, in various states of development.
Population:
-- 29.6 billion Nera.
Culture/Society:
-- The Collected States are, in many ways, oppressive. The leadership is generally made up of ambitious scientific and industrial figures who push forward progress at ever-more unsustainable speeds, resulting in half-measures and overreaching endeavours. The civilian population is strictly controlled, with access to the implants required to prevent sterility closely guarded and assigned as reward for satisfactory work or service. A sort of cult of personality has formed around the idea of advancing technologically, and despite the substandard quality of their industrial product the Nera take great pride in the devices and equipment they have developed.
