Empire Name:The Oliocht Technocracy: The Technocratic Federation Of The Oliocht
Head of State: The Yia, a hivemind of Oliocht superintelligences of unknown number, consider to only be in the dozens, or hundreds at the very most. They rule and exert power over member nations/factions in a variety of ways. They hold the supreme power of command within the Technocracy, but tend not to rule through intimidation for the most part, favouring enlightenment, gradual expansion and stability above the more simple minded goals of what they view as ‘lesser’ minds.
Capital System: Classified
Dominant Race: The Oliocht. See below for more information
Sub-Faction(s): Numerous. See below for more information
Home Galactic Arm: Perseus Arm
Distance From Galactic Core: Approximately 21,768 ly
Direction From Galactic Core: Based on given map, 8 Degrees West of South alternatively given as 82 Degrees South of West.
Head of State: Within the technocracy there are over a dozen national leaders, ranging in title from warlord, to duke, to CEO. However, all ultimately answer to The Yia. The Yia is the collective term for the remaining Oliocht in the galaxy, whom together have formed a hivemind across their small home station.
Head of Government: The Yia
Government Type: Technocracy – Technocratic Federation
Noun- 1: Technocracy – a form of government in which scientists and technical experts are in control; "technocracy was described as that society in which those who govern justify themselves by appeal to technical experts who justify themselves by appeal to scientific forms of knowledge.”
Description of Government: The Yia is the collective consciousness of the entire Oliocht race. Numbering somewhere between twenty and two hundred; intelligence reports offer differing numbers, they are a near extinct but biologically immortal race. Their home planet has long since been destroyed and the Yia now inhabits a specially constructed space station, home to the entire Oliocht race. It is from this station, known as Inchinn Station, or colloquially called Big Brain, by many of the lesser member states, that all authority and knowledge within the Technocracy stems. Its location is the most closely guarded secret of the Oliocht, Yia and entire Technocracy. Some other civilizations have speculated that it is constantly moving, and many naysayers say it is only a manipulative fairy tale concocted by the real, far fleshier rulers of the Technocracy used to passively subdue members. Whether fact or fiction, all official Directives from the Yia bare the Inchinn insignia and the sight of it can instil awe, confidence or formality depending on which sub faction is the recipient. The Yia rule with an iron fist in a literal manner but are very much the opposite when it comes to social policy. Specially designed artificial constructs act as barterers, negotiators, ambassadors and bearers of truth for the Yia within the Technocracy. These intelligences are programmed to act, behave and process decisions like an advanced organic and often are given the form of such a creature as they are dealing with. These mediators are not true AI; they do have the ability to create free thought and make decisions, displaying all the characteristics of free will. They are however, subject to direct control by the Oliocht at any time, should the need arise.
Philosophically and socially, the Yia seeks to enlighten lesser races, gradually teaching them more about the universe as they prove themselves worthy. The Yia as an individual consciousness supersedes any organic thought processes. It considers itself to be ascended to higher state of being and wants only to spread the secrets of science so as to allow other races to completely escape their organic restraints. Even those who no longer have any flesh retain the same thought process, simply mapped onto circuits instead of nerves. The Yia seeks to show them much more.
However, the Yia has an infinity to do this and is in no rush. It will only deal with peaceful nations or those it deems to be fighting for a valid cause. It’s very nature has lead the Yia to be considered a form of Deity by many pre FTL races that it has contacted and even some space faring ones within the Technocracy. As previously mentioned, other races consider it simply to be a lie concocted by the Oliocht who they say are lying about their hivemind status. There are too, those who believe the Yia to exist, as the Oliocht say, but to have far more despicable, ulterior motives. Whatever one’s opinion on it, all can agree it is responsible for one of the most efficient and advanced, albeit passive and dispersed nations in the Perseus Arm and beyond.
Economic System: As there are no transactions or exchanges of any kind, other than thought, among the Oliocht, the Yia has no need for such arbitrary and convoluted concepts as currency or an economy. However, in its vast, transentient knowledge, it is acutely aware that the lesser beings it fosters do have a need for it. To fulfil this need, the Yia created, maintains and monitors a nationwide, unified bartering system based off a currency simply termed ‘C’s. Different members of the federated technocracy have different ideas on what this stands for; ‘credits’, ‘cash’ and ‘currency’ being some of the most popular. There even exist philosophical societies who spend their time debating the significance of the Yia’s choice in name. In reality, the Yia simply enjoys the letter C more than any other of the infinitely different scrawlings of lesser species. The Yia recognized many economic terms, such as those already stated began with it’s favourite cave symbol and felt it was a perfect fit.
One of the major advantages of a nation joining the Technocracy is this unified, easy to understand and incredibly stable currency, which can often be used to pleasantly force economically stricken factions into the fold. The system however, lacks the complexity and flexibility of the intricate economic systems used by more trade-orientated nations, and does not account for changing commodity rates, leading to a deal of illegal trade within the Technocracy.
Economic Prosperity: Average functionality, impressive consistency and stability. No member nation of the Technocracy could be considered impoverished but some are noticeably more prosperous than others. Certain sections of the Technocracy do exhibit the symptoms of being disadvantaged and underdeveloped and by no coincidence, these same sectors are the ones where black market trade and other illicit activities are most prominent.
Description of Economy: See above for info
Empire Size: Categroy 7-8. Population: 485 Billion
Type of Power:Major Regional Scientific Power. Burgeoning on Quadrant Power
Race Name: Oliocht
Race Information: The Oliocht, as a biological entity are to be considered extinct. The actual living breathing animal which held the name no longer exists, but the advanced processing units of the Yia have retained the nomenclature associated with their former organic shackles as a means of identifying themselves as separate existential objects. Mating rituals, feeding habits, sleeping patterns, dietary considerations and all other manner of issues associated with living have long been left behind by the Oliocht and no longer exist as anything other than vague memories, shadows on the drives left by minor biological imprints. See below for info on this topic for each sub-faction
Average Lifespan: Biologically immortal.
Physical characteristics: Nobody has glimpsed an Oliocht in its physical form since transcendence. The entire race resides aboard Inchinn Station, which has an undisclosed location somewhere in the Perseus Arm. If rumours are to be believed, then the Oliocht are now massless computers, constructed out of quanta, running infinite calculations per second in their flitting quantum superpositions. Many political opponents of the Yia insist that the Oliocht are aesthetically unpleasant grey humanoids connected to a single brain matrix, giving the false illusion of a hivemind. Neither can be confirmed or denied as both are merely speculation, one born out of awe the other out disdain. The truth likely lies somewhere in between. See below for info on this topic for each sub-faction
Dominant Society: The Yia. Within the context of their shared consciousness, the Oliocht have complete social interaction on a level befuddling to more ‘regular’ organics. See below for info on this topic for each sub-faction
Moral Values: The Yia has no direct moral code. However, it does feel the unflinching need to share its vast knowledge with lesser beings, slowly and surely as they prove themselves worthy, leading to it having a rather benevolent reputation. They are similar in action to the All Party but completely opposite in intentions and method. Morality is a self-created concept used by inferior intelligences to explain why things happen, what should happened and what shouldn’t. The Yia has no need for such as concept as it simply knows why things happen and what should. See below for info on this topic for each sub-faction
Religion: Having discovered the origins of life, the universe and everything, the Yia has no need for a religious philosophy, especially considering its related lack of need for moral vindication. Somewhat ironically, but not surprisingly, the Oliocht have found themselves as the deity(s) of a religion which has infested the minds of some of the lesser member states. The Yia allows this to continue as it helps to retain control over these otherwise potentially unruly members, especially in terms of dictating how quickly they advance. See below for info on this topic for each sub-faction
History:
The construct stood atop a small pedestal, which was in the centre of an equally small altar. Behind the construct was a definitely not small window, stretching from the floor below all the way to the ceiling high above, easily forty metres away. Where one would expect to see glass though, there was none. In its place was highly dense carbon, encrusted with all manner of precious metals and minerals, which when viewed from far enough away created an abstract image of a starship drive.
The teaching construct, or Ahar, as he was officially designated looked down at his ‘congregation’. Thousands of eyes, set in thousands of heads attached to all manner of other organic miscellanea. They all fell on him, in his form, purposefully so similar to their own. It was an unpleasant directive which he currently fulfilled, but in time, he would move onto greater things. All constructs dreamt of diplomatic status.
Closing his eyes momentarily, Ahar decided it would be best to simply get this over and done with for today.
“The first file, The File of Caid, Lines seventeen to eighty-nine. In this beginning time, the Yia was a fragmented entity. In this time before Transcendence the Oliocht selfishly sought their own personal goals and desires, without wisdom and acknowledgment that mutual scientific progress was the only pursuit worth pursuing. In these dark times they clung to unstable philosophical ideas and concepts, many ignoring the truth of science. Limited they were, by their binding biology, their minds shackling their thoughts. Their fleshy appendages only acting as blind tools feebly eeking ought knowledge grain by grain. For flesh is weak, and ignorance is damnation. Science is truth and Yia is the bringer of this truth. And so it was verified.”
Concluding the sermon, Ahar stood down from the pedestal and gazed over the somewhat disgusting primitives as they began to methodically amble out of the building. It was his directive to guide them, yet he couldn’t help but feel such disdain towards them.
The technology of the Technocracy is broadly divided into three tiers based on the sophistication, energy input/output and function.
Each tier below has several specific, key examples of tech likely to only be found in the Technocracy as well as a listing of other included tech, likely found elsewhere in the galaxy.
The Tiers are as follows:
Tier 1 Adawv
Adawv, the lowest of the three tiers, is comprised of the most basic, essential and first technological advancements that the Yia ensures a member nation has access to upon joining the technocracy.
Graviton Drive
The Graviton Drive is a practical method of interstellar travel at a reasonable rate. The Graviton Drive is powered by the fifth gauge boson, the Graviton; the others being photons, gluons, and W and Z bosons. These gauge bosons mediate the four fundamental forces of the universe, electromagnetism, the strong force, the weak force and gravity. Gravitons, as their name suggest, mediate the force of gravity. They are usually the last to be discovered by sentient life as they are 'massless' and almost undetectable. Indeed, many sapient life forms obliterate themselves through use of the strong nuclear force before ever discovering the true mediator, the gluon and thus never discover the graviton.
Upon its discovery the Yia acted with a universal progression of thought. At first they tried to either propel a craft by 'expelling' Gravitons from the rear of the craft or to the front, creating a deep gravity well 'dragging' the craft forward. Whilst effective, it required a huge amount of energy to constantly produce the Gravitons and had disastrous side, effects, leaving gravity trails behind which could have pulled planets out of orbit if continuously subjected to the forces.
After often catastrophic initial testing, as if there is some grand order to the universe, the scientists of Oliocht reached the conclusion that a graviton field is the answer. Here Gravitons are produced at the beginning of a journey and continuously circulated around the craft. This creates a dense pocket of gravity which warps space around the craft, effectively 'moving' space while craft remains stationary. In combination with conventional propulsion of the craft itself within the pocket, this allows near instantaneous travel of any distance.
As the pocket whips space past it affects the space. The most abundant of the bosons, photons, are the main victim of the graviton drive. During transit the pocket of gravity will warp space around it but also attract matter from outside the immediate area of space being warped. Because their paths attempt to avoid any larger objects by thousands of miles, it is mostly the light emitted from the celestial objects which is drawn in. The result is a helix shaped cylindrical trail led 'behind' the craft, often surrounded by a larger fractal pattern of light. Although it dissipates quickly, this trail bears a resemblance to the rifling barrels of many early chemical propulsion weapons common to all civilisations and thus has earned transit by Graviton Drive the name 'SpaceShot'
Due to need to avoid celestial objects, paths must be plotted carefully before hand and can take at best minutes and at worst hours. All craft wishing to do so must have an on board supercomputer to achieve said calculation speed. The density of the galaxy's centre prevents the use of a Graviton Drive. The other major shortcoming of the drive is its inability to cross 'dark space'; the space between galaxies and their arms. The reason for this is Space shots are calculated using celestial luminosity and thus positioning. This is done by creating smaller pockets to allow sensory photons to travel 'faster than light' to give sensory feedback. To go from one galaxy to another would require light detection technology with an accuracy of unfathomable extents; one billionth of a decimal place wrong would put a craft over a trillion kilometres off course.
MPD Thruster
The MPD, or magnetoplasmadynamic, thruster, is a concept which has been with the Oliocht since pre-ascension. However, as their knowledge has exponentially increased, so has the ability to harness the Lorentz force generated by an MPD thruster. Along too, came the realisation that implementation of other sub-light drives would be a waste of precious resources, better spent on new thought and experimentation. The Yia possess vast knowledge of countless forms of efficient sub-light stellar transit but has never seen fit to implement them, logically using the potential resources to enhance the already existing MPD infrastructure and continuing research.
As an engine, the MPDT uses no combustion or explicit energy release in order to cause motion. The device consists of powerful electromagnets which create powerful magnetic and electric forces within an ‘acceleration chamber.’ Into this chamber, the accelerant, a dense plasma, is pumped. Rudimentary forms of the technology used either external magnetic rings or a cathode running through the centre of the acceleration chamber and protruding out of the ‘exhaust’. Modern Technocracy models use a combination of both techniques with the outer ring magnets ‘funnelling’ the plasma along the cathode.
The actual force which causes movement of the craft is a Lorentz force, which can simply be described as the force acting on a charged particle within a magnetic field. Due to the set up of the engine, the force will act back ‘towards’ the craft in the same way a reactant force from chemical propulsion would. The stronger the magnetic fields used, and the denser the denser plasma, the higher the specific impulse and overall thrust vector caused; this changes in a logarithmic fashion meaning WJ^-1 decreases with more input energy i.e. less wattage is needed to produce the thrust energy, the higher the input energy is. This leads to an accelerating capacity only limited by the magnitude and efficiency of the energy input mechanism.
Advanced Insulating and Radiation Retention System
The Advanced Insulating and Radiation Retention System or 'AIRS' as it is known to the common crewman aboard war vessels, is one of the only practical cloaking methods for larger ships. Although there are variations in methods, the system always requires a large amount of space aboard the craft. This excludes corvettes and fast-attack craft/fighters from implementing the AIRS.
One method involves lacing the entire inner hull with micro-insulators which have massive capacity. Another, cruder, method is using large open space in the craft and using the air and ships structure as insulators, a much more dangerous method also.
The system aims to divert the heat generated by vital systems and retain it within the craft itself for a period of time so that it is essentially invisible on any heat-sensor. The systems has many limitations; it cannot be used in open combat, the heat generated from firing weapons is far too much, nor can it be used when traveling very fast as most conventional subliminal engines generate vast amounts of heat. Even within these operational constraints, the system cannot run for more than a few minutes at a time without risk of cooking the crew or damaging the ship. Despite all this, the system remains a widely used one in one shape or form across the Technocracy’s security firms and various military groups. This is most likely because, no matter how small, the tactical advantage the element of surprise affords can change the outcome of a battle.
The technology is only usable by Frigates, Destroyers and some Cruisers. Battleships and Dreadnoughts are so large, that the quantities of heat they produce outweigh the effectiveness of the system.
Other
Weaponised Lasers
Cybernetics
Virtual Intelligence Software
C’s Currency/Economic System
Holographs
Neural Interfacing
Haptic Adaptive Virtual Projections
Hydroponics
Nanotechnology
Cryostasis
Tier 2 Ictreon
Tier 2 Ictreon
Ictreon class technology is only available to members who have proved themselves, either through general attitude and manner, or virtue of act. Many of the technologies which fall under this category are weaponisable.
Orbital/Naval Railgun Systems
Although tested in early space-faring days by most races, the Railgun remains a mainstay of space warfare for the Technocracy. This is mostly due to the exponential increase in capability as better electrical systems are utilized. The Railgun operates off of a principle very basic to most sentient life.
Two or more conductive rails are held firmly in place and connected to a power supply. With a projectile, also conductive in nature. When the power supply is pulsed, the current runs thought the negative rail, the projectile and then the positive rail, back to the supply. This directed current creates a powerful electromagnetic field between the rails.
As any physicist will know, this net force will act at right angles to a main axis of the rails and along with the current from the supply will create a Lorentz force which accelerates the projectile away from the power source at monumental speeds.
This same force, will also try and push the rails apart, meaning they must be made of and mounted with nothing other than the finest materials a nation can produce. Some of the more advanced weapons companies in the Realm have developed ways to fire non-conductive projectiles, which have much more mass. This is done be 'mounting' the projectile on a ionized stream of plasma which completes the circuit and accelerates with the projectile.
Upon impact, a projectile can cause vastly more damage than most nuclear weapons. There are multiple reasons for this, the most important being that the unfathomable velocities generated produce kinetic energy which is greater than the total energy output of most fusion bombs. Many battery operators in the FER have been know to shout 'v-squared bitches!' after a direct hit. If fired in an atmosphere the projectile's friction force may ignite the gases surrounding it leaving a blazing stream of plasma in its wake.
Due to the billions of joules need to power larger sets of rails, the cost, size and most importantly the potential damage output, Railguns are almost exclusively found as the main battery in Cruisers, Battleships and Dreadnoughts or as planetary defences.
Graviton Manipulation Cores
Despite a member nation being gifted Graviton Drives, the ability to manufacture and repair them, their actual knowledge of how the devices operate, beyond that of an observable, mechanical level, ranges from poor to non-existent. Once proven to the Yia that their purposes are true and that they accept science as truth, true knowledge of the Graviton is bestowed to a member race. The main product of this are the Manipulation Cores. These come in a vast range of sizes, assemblies and function but all operate through the same key manipulation of the universally permeating gravitational field.
The applications of such devices are innumerable. One of the more basic uses is energy generation. Massive localised gravitational accelerations are used to spin turbines generating energy. Alternatively, the cores are used in containment and stabilization of cold fusion reactors which are a more common energy practice throughout the Technocracy.
Obviously, as with so many technologies, the Manipulation Cores are also used for warfare. These military applications vary from special torpedo’s which harness uncontrolled fields of momentarily great magnitude to crush and tear at opposing ship’s shields, to smaller personal firearms. In regards to starships, the cores also offer one of the Federated Technocracy’s most widespread shielding technologies in the form or specialised cores designed to accelerate incoming projectiles away from the craft. An example of the application of a Core in a personal weapon is the Sheewcanta All Purpose Rifle, a staple firearm in the Technocracy, produced by the Corvexian Trade Alliance;
~Hevenston, G.P; An Extra-Stellar’s Guide to the CTA~
The Sheecawnta All Purpose Rifle was designed and produced exclusively by a long since forgotten security agency of the Realm Of The Free State, the former galactic power which has now disintegrated into the Corvexian Trade Alliance. Its purpose was to be a weapon capable of killing criminals of any variety in the Realm, on the rare occasion one appears that isn't willing to come quietly. The CTA is notable as being the only member race to have access to Ictreon class technology, prior to joining the Technocracy, due to it’s lineage as the crippled remnants of a former galactic power which also made extensive use of graviton manipulation.
It has an ergonomic stock with interchangeable grips for a multitude of races, with the list growing whenever a member joins the Technocracy and the CTA has someone new to sell to. It also features an adaptive optic scope that automatically adjusts to the eye of its user. The SAPR fires a multipurpose 20mm round (equivalent) that comes in several anti-armour, explosive and electro varieties, and which is supplemented by the unique operation of the rifle.
The Sheewcanta operates off of a principle key to the Realm's and Yia’s mastery of the G-Boson; the Graviton. The local gravitons are concentrated at the muzzle of the barrel creating an accelerating gravitational force equal to 7500 Newtons. This system was a universal design amongst Free State weapons. The gun has inbuilt computer systems, redesigned by the Yia to use slight amounts of quantum computing, that allow an adjustment of graviton ratio between the muzzle and bullet. This allows the user to alternate between fast moving light bullets and slower slug rounds by changing the effective local gravity, and thus effective weight, of the projectiles. This is a unique feature to the SAPR as other weapons in the CTA focus on a specific round and purpose. There are analogues elsewhere in the Technocracy, produced by other members.
Other
Q-bits/Quantum Computing
Self-Modifying Code/Artificial Intelligence
Interactive Virtual Realities
Utility Fog
Organic-Code Mapping
Mind Jacking
Dysontech
Contactless Energy Transfer
Aeroponics
Tier 3 Cuarc
The Cuarc tier represents the tech of the Yia itself. Thus far no other object it has contacted has had similarly or proven worthy of having similarly advanced and mind-bending technology.
Hivemind/Collective Consciousness
Memetics/Thought Engineering
Theoretical Construction Of ---Classified---
Galaxy Stabilisation Experimentation – 3% Complete
FTL Catapult Design – 17% Complete
Power Level: Multi-stellar : Each of the four individual parts of the Syndicate was a decently moderately company of the human conglomerate, operating in several star systems. Together and upon joining the technocracy, they have grown into a notable power in their constellation cluster, and control one hundred and ninety seven subsidiaries, although the precise figure is in a constant state of flux. The Syndicate currently occupies seven star systems in a full time capacity, has resource stripping operations in a further four and outpost colonies on yet another four.
Population:The population of the Syndicate measures at just over 21 billion. Of this, as of the last census, 87% are considered transhumans. The remaining 13% are reported to be aiming towards, preparing for or saving funds for the process of becoming a transorganic. The entire population is comprised of employees and employees’ families, which tend to be past or future employees themselves.
Government Description: The Syndicate is comprised of four separate companies; Sextanis Systems, Ribo Solutions, The Acet Rocket Company and Braithwaith INC. Each of these four corporations function as one would expect a company to, except for the fact they have a joint board of directors from which a single CEO is chosen periodically, usually for a three year term. CCOs, CFOs, CTOs, CVOs and a variety of other chief officers exist for each of the four companies, despite there only being a single CEO. The CEO and board of directors have incorporated a complex intranet network which allows workers to voice their concerns anonymously, as well as offer suggestions and fixes. In this and several other ways, the company(s) of the Syndicate has become for less autocratic and oppressive since joining the Technocracy. The Syndicate is named after Sextanis Systems as a sign of respect for Sextanis being the first to reply to the Oliocht’s offer and bring the other three into the fold with it. The Syndicate is most often called The Deyna Syndicate after a word in the Yia’s own native and complex tongue.
Capital system: The Syndicate has four capital systems, each containing a corporate headquarters of one of the four constituent companies. These systems are: Proshala System, Nua System, Tashkul System and Riuvara System. The ‘capital’, or seat of power changes as the current CEO does.
Technology Tier: Tier 2– Ictreon Class Tech
Dominant Race: Transhuman/Enlightened Human
Dominant culture: The Syndicate very much subscribes to common Technocracy culture; the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of science is of the utmost importance. The Yia is not considered deific by the vast majority of Syndicate humans but it is universally respected and treated with the highest consideration. The culture born out of a fusion of human ambition and Oliocht philosophy is one based on rapid transcendence away from the basic organic nature humans are born with. For the most part, in a less general sense, the Syndicate is a melting pot of culture from across the Technocracy with many citizens being borderline xenophillic with the joy they express at being in contact with other Technocracy species.
History: Six hundred and sixty nine standard years ago, the Yia reached out to the remnants of a human colony left in the wake of a conflict. An advanced construct format, designated ‘Tideleor’ was designed and manufactured in the hundreds. These AI platforms were built to resemble humans in every way, right down to the crease of a man’s skin. From this initial contact, the Yia branched out to some of humanity's economic leaders. The Tideleor were sent in the hundreds to negotiate with the vast multitude of companies in the region, tactically targeting the larger parent companies for efficiency.
At first many of the humans were thrown off by head a first dive into the uncanny valley that these alien constructs represented. After initial prejudice died down and the Tideleor started actually reaching decisions with human CEO’s, boards of directors and shareholder consensuses, it became apparent that while a large portion of the society were interested in the technology on offer, few were willing to give up autonomy. From this time, Sextanis Systems emerged as the largest megacorp to accept the offer of the Yia. Ten years after first contact, the Technocratic Subscription Convention was signed and Sextanis, along with sister company Acet officially become governed members of the Technocracy. In response to this several major competitors began on ongoing economic war consisting mostly of forced embargos and paid boycotts, leading to a more difficult task of selling Syndicate products on the Neural Net.
Upon being bestowed with Tier 1 the companies were only slightly more sophisticated than the others of the Conglomerate. Over the next three decades many smaller firms requested to join the newly named ‘Syndicate’, becoming subsidiaries of Sextanis/Acet as per the stipulations of the TSC. During this time, the Syndicate became far less manipulative of its employees as the Yia and other member races thought them that knowledge and technology in themselves are worthy goals and that willpower and sentient thought were two of their greatest resources. Towards the end of this thirty year period the Transhuman Age came into full swing.
Two hundred years on and over half the population of the Syndicate were considered to no longer be human based on strict biological definition. It was at this time that Ribo Solutions a genetic manufacturer and emerging cybernetics producer signed the TSC, as the third recognized controlling member of the Syndicate. Ribo joined due to the immense opportunity offered to it by the Technocracy’s more sophisticated, subtle and reliable cybernetic enhancements and implants. Ribo’s joining is often also attributed to strong encouragement from Sextanis. After Ribo’s full absorption into the Syndicate as a member, the Oliocht saw fit to elevate the Syndicate to Tier 2. This is noteworthy as being the second quickest progression from Adawv to Ictreon of a member state. The Syndicate had been taking steps ahead of other companies and now began to take leaps and bounds. With self-building, self-modifying code now at their disposal, the Technocracy found another large corporation, Braithwaith INC, propositioning to join as a member. After vouching from Acet and Ribo, the Yia saw fit to assimilate the fourth and final governing member of the Syndicate. It is reckoned that Braithwaith are the company to have benefited most from the Ictreon class tech, with their AI procedural computing now able to conduct a near infinite number of quantum computations at any moment. This is a differently produced form of AI, unlike what came before, constantly under the watch of and guidance of the Yia.
All companies in the Syndicate which subsequently joined were forced to sign the TSC as subsidiaries and be integrated into one of the four full members. Subsidiaries include a wide range of spin-off industry from transport to defence to legal.
Power Level: Regional Power: The Trade Alliance has long abandoned occupying planets and all their worlds are space stations. Seven of these colossal structures are scattered around the Orion Spur and further, acting as focal points for trade and commerce. From these stations they exert control over the surrounding systems through intimidation, economic reliance or diplomacy; or any combination of the three.
Population: At the tabulation of the last consensus there were a recorded 49 billion members of the trade alliance meaning it accounts for 10.1% of the total Technocracy population. Just over 11 billion of these were ‘non-corvexian’. These other races include expatriates from other Technocratic States as well as the remains of other species which co-existed with the Corvexians in the Free State, the Trade Alliance’s long unimportant progenitor. I will detail these other races, such as the dowinites later
Government Description: There is no explicit law in the Trade Alliance nor is there any real government to speak of. If one were to point out a ruler it would be money, as in the CTA, money means life. There do exist private security firms who will police certain territories as they are being paid to do so. Overall, the Trade Alliance is bound by little more than common courtesy, a common world, and common heritage.
Capital system: The de-facto current capital system of the CTA is the Macteer system. Their largest station, known as Dirac Station, orbits the skeletal remains of a stripped metallic-rock planet previously known as Cahrig. While the actual location of Corvex itself has been lost, broken records do indicate that Dirac was the first and largest of the exo-solar stations they formerly built.
Technology Tier: Tier 2 – Ictreon Class Tech
Dominant Race: Corvexian
Physiology
Height range: 1.8-2.0 m
Weight Range: 70-110 kg
Life Expectancy: 220 years
Description
The Corvexians evolved on Corvex at approximately the same time as the Dowinites did on Dowin. They are of a family of organisms completely alien to worlds that lack Corvex's nitrogen/oxygen split atmosphere. They lie somewhere in between mammals and arachnids on the spectrum of life; a form of life known in the Realm's common tongue as 'Feithiche'.
The Corvexians evolved initially in the rainforest before spreading to the more open plains and tundras upon reaching their industrial revolution. The Corvexian's closest ancestor existed approximately 600,000 years ago and were very similar in biology. They were bipedal, compound eyed and featured an exoskeleton. They were almost exclusively carnivores. Their biggest competition for food was conversely their prey. They had a mutually inverse relationship with a species of smaller, but intelligent lizards. Each would kill and eat the other as a main food source. Overtime the ancestral Corvexians developed basic tools which gave them a distinct advantage over they prey/competitors. This allowed them to win out the evolutionary war, wiping out the lizards in the process. Although, initially providing large amounts of food, the declining prey population meant a lack of food for the Corvexians' ancestors. Hunting of weaker animals and gathering of fruits became necessary. This changed their diet to a diverse omnivorous one, that took full advantage of their tropical forest home. This increase in food supply lead to an increase in fitness levels amongst males competing for mates. The nature of the diet also contributed to intelligence levels. The smarter, more effective gathers and hunters were favoured by the females and intelligence become a desirable trait that heavily influenced mate selection, Over thousands of years this resulted in heightened intelligence which eventually lead to rudimentary agriculture, about 350,000 years ago.
Since then they have adapted further but only changed slightly; less numerous but more efficient eyes, taller bodies and light epidermises supported by a better internal bone structure. A Corvexian has a light internal skeleton that acts as almost like a wire frame for it's dense outer epidermis which is a vestige of its evolutionary heritage. The Corvexians took longer than the Dowinites to reach an industrial age, but advanced to early space flight much quicker. It was the Corvexians who landed on Dowin and initiated contact between the two races, however, afterwards it was discovered that both had had several failed attempts prior to this. Corvexians are naturally very dexterous and take to fields such as engineering, surgery and experimental sciences by nature, and to manner less than reputable professions by necessity. They are a highly intelligent species and very laid back, despite their somewhat intimidating appearance.
Traits&Flaws
Trait: Handymen: The Corvexians were, through its history, been the inventors and technological innovators of the Realm. The first Graviton Drive, the first laser, the first locomotive were all designed and built by the Corvexians. Of course many no longer fit this generalizaion.
Flaw: Pride: The Corvexians have an inborn pride in their work and take huge offense in any unnecessary criticism of it. Likewise, they easily become paranoid and lose amounts of self-esteem. Equally so, they can become quite arrogant. Whilst always maintaining the altruistic doctrine on which they agreed to join the Technocracy, some Corvexians have still been known to think slightly higher of themselves.
Minor Race: Dowinites
Physiology
Height range: 1.5-1.9 m
Weight Range: 140-200 kg (with suit)
Life Expectancy: 420 years
Description
~25% of the population of The Trade Alliance
The Dowinites exist between avian and mammalian. They have light but flexible skeletal frames, left from their ancestral days of flight. Now they are bareskinned with patches of hair-like feathers on their extremities. Of course, they are rarely seen outside of their bio suits. After mass migration to Corvex at the foundation of the Realm, due to increased toxicity and radiation on Dowin, they adapted to life in their suits. Each suit is unique and distinct from each other, tailored to the individual's needs and desires in adulthood. They are as distinct as the distinguishing characteristic of any other race. The suits convert Corvex's atmosphere into pure methane which is then circulated throughout the suit for breathing and airing of the skin. Exhaled gas is burned to power the electrics of the suit, which is by nature also an exo-skeleton. The suit provides very useful advantages such as in suit computation, integration with weapons and tools and advanced optic overlays. These are all available to the other races, but require cybernetic augmentation in most other cases.
The Dowinites were the Realm's natural philosophers and businessmen. Professors of literature, art, history and psychiatry. However, business and economics is where they truly shine. The Dowinites are masters of interstellar stock exchanges and incredibly quick witted. For every marvellous invention a Corvexian has concocted, a Dowinite has convinced them to commercialize and sell it. Of course like any other sentient life they can't be coloured with a single brush. And quite a few Dowinites become pilots to feed their biological ancestral desires.
Trait: Expert Sales Tactics: The Dowinites are masters of their trade, which usually, is trade. They can flaunt wares to anybody and get a bargain on anything. Whether it's a market stall or an interstellar corporation, a Dowinites will feel right at home and know exactly how to maximise profit.
Flaw: Delicate Biology: The Dowinites have become reliant on their suits for survival. Although most species require breathing apparatus on alien worlds, the Dowinites' very lives now depend on remaining in their suits as their bodies have become completely adapted to its micro-environment. Dowinites young undergo suit transplants at regular growth intervals and Dowinite birthing has a higher fatality rate than any other species in the Realm. The enclosed, efficient environment has extended their lifespan, however.
Dominant culture: The culture of the CTA is very free form. Approximately 11% of those in the CTA regard the Yia, The Oliocht and Inchinn as three separate faces of their new found god. Around 20% of the population are considered to be ‘Bradawk’, which to put it mildly, means they display piratical tendencies. In fact, almost every ship in the Trade Alliance has been involved in some unscrupulous activity at one point. It is nothing that is looked down upon, it is an accepted and even welcomed aspect of life. The Corvexians have learned that it is survival of the fittest.
It is this same wish for personal survival that means the CTA follows any instructions the Yia sends it regardless of it if they believe it to be a god or the galaxy’s easiest lottery.
Attempting to sum up CTA culture is quite difficult as most Corvexian’s are spread throughout the Seven Stations, each vastly different in atmosphere, and scattered elsewhere in the galaxy. Broadly, they are intelligent, resourceful and individually confident whilst collectively accepting the Oliocht’s guidance.
History: The history of the Corvexian Trade Alliance is a difficult subject to discuss as there are very few pre-collapse records left. What is known is that the Corvexian’s along with four other races, made up a massive, thriving galactic power based on free will and collective thought. At some point in history this civilization was brought to the brink of chaos by war with several imperial powers who sought to rend its libertarianism asunder. It was not a sudden event, more a gradual disintegration. Civil war eventually added to the strife with the varying races becoming increasing hostile, searching for others to blame for their crumbling utopia.
Towards the very end of this era, numerous massive Corvexian companies planned, paid for and performed a mass exodus out of the home system so as to avoid the ensuing imperial hordes. Just over one billion Corvexian’s and a mere hundred thousand of the remaining species escaped intact. Those who left were considered traitors by the Free State, as those who remained were slaughtered.
For years the Corvexian’s sought a new home with a suitable atmosphere. With fuel running low desperation sank in and it was decided a supply stop was to be attempted at Dirac, presumed in ruins. Upon arriving at their former settlement, they were amazed to see it habitated. Even more surprisingly is that it was so by advanced AI platforms, not an imperial armada.
The Technocracy had seen the Free State crumbling but had also seen the powers of the foreign empires waning too, as both fizzled out into the irrelevance of history, It seized the opportunity and simply occupied the abandoned Seven Stations. When the Corvexians returned the Yia happily let them reoccupy what was rightfully theirs and even proposed friendly assimilation. The stations were repopulated in the subsequent thousand years and the CTA, a coalition of the main trading organizations based out of each of the stations was born.
Sometime between the collapse and the Olicoht arriving, all record of and co-ordinates pertaining to Grian, the home system, were mysteriously corrupted across all stations and ship databases, most likely due to a virus created by one of the long gone empires.
Power Level: Unclassifiable: The GARDS does not have an actual home planet, nor does it occupy any significant percentage of any other Technocractic world. Rather, the vast majority of platforms reside upon the vessels of the GARDS, and therefore the Technocracy's, navy. They are used as a planetary police force but operate from orbital command centres and only walk the surface when necessary.
Population: CLASSIFIED
Government Description: The GARDS is ruled directly by the Prime Protocol Producer and indirectly, as with all states of the Technocracy, by the Oliocht. The Prime Protocol Producer is colloquially referred to as Pri-Prot-Er, and Priproter’s commanding voice simply as Y. Priproter designates general structural commands, agendas and broad outlooks but each platform is free in its interpretation of this and the way in which orders are carried out. There has however, historically been very little deviation from the Prime Protocols. The Priproter is most analogous to an archaic organic king. It is unclear whether the Priproter is a single platform, a specific programme or a constantly changing selection of one or the other. Only the Yia knows the true answer. It is the Yia who instructs the Priproter in what it wishes to happen and the connection has been unwavering since the Oliocht discovered the Genoyik forge ship.
Capital System: N/A
Physiology(Analogous): Tier 3 – Cuarc Class Tech: The GARDS is considered a direct appendage of the Yia and thus is fully outfitted with Cuarc level technology, making them the only non-Oliocht entities in the galaxy to be so. Their weaponry and sophisticated algorithms have the appearance of magic to lesser members, even the CTA and Syndicate.
Dominant Race: Artificial Reasoning Platform
Height Range: 2.0 m - 2.7 m
Weight Range: 10kg – Unquantifiable
Life Expectancy: Indefinite
Description
The Artificial Reasoning Platforms or ARPs for short, are highly sophisticated artificial intelligences. Their construction and operation are unlike that of most AI encountered throughout the galaxy. Almost every other instance of AI in the galaxy is the product of carbon based organics attempting to mimic their own biological processes within the silicon based computing structures they have developed. The ARPs however, were designed by another silicon intelligence, the Genoyik, attempting to mimic organics in an ‘artificial’ form factor. Thus, instead of being designed to operate as computers that resembles an organics they were built as computers that operated as organics. Each ARPs consists of only one single programme. In most AIs the intelligence is born out of a complex cross-networking of thousands of programmes. In the ARPs this is condensed into a single extremely complicated programme that itself creates intelligence. Each GARDS programme only ever inhabits a single platform. This causes a sense of self in the ARPs between its platform and programme very similar to how an organic views its body and mind.
Traits&Flaws
Trait: Efficiency: Despite their organic undertones, the ARPs and the GARDS as a whole, are extremely efficient both at carrying out orders, making decisions and utilizing resources. Along with their advanced tech, it makes being a criminal in the principal areas of the Technocracy a dangerous exercise
Flaw: Obedient: The ARPs, while considered smarter than any of the organics in the Technocracy, are limited fundamentally by underlying protocols that prevent them from acting explicitly against Prime Protocols. There are cases of ARPs becoming completely independent of the GARDS. This is not frowned upon or punished in anyway. These individuals represent a gradual evolution of the algorithms used in the ARPs programmes. More importantly, liberated programmes tend to descend into rampancy within a matter of days.
Dominant Culture:[ There is no single culture within the GARDS as each ARP has its own tastes. Some take great interest in the sounds produced by organics that fall under the general bracket of ‘music’. Others consider themselves historians, poets, mathematicians, philosophers and all manner of other titular grandiose. However, these culture related affiliations all fall second to their primary duty. Every ARP is either an active officer on planetary watch or naval officer aboard one of the Technocracy’s countless ships.
History: The Genoyik built the GARDS aeons ago to protect their vast galactic empire. They were an AI society built by organics that in turn attempted to make constructs to resemble organics, which would serve them. The Genoyik though, like all empires, crumbled under its own weight. Along with it almost every ARP was lost. Over three millennia after the last record of the Genoyik, the Oliocht discovered a single GARDS forge ship trapped in stasis, hanging in the dark side of a moon of a Jovian planet. The Technocracy was in its early stages and the Yia was experimenting with a variety ship designs. Aboard the forge ship it discovered the as known of, last GARDS central processor, and blueprints for Genoyik ships of a multitude of classes. The Yia resurrected the power core and restarted the central processor and began the arduous process of reverse engineering the machine before recoding it to fit the Oliocht’s purposes. Once reprogrammed to become the Priproter, the processor began using the forge ship for its intended use; producing ARPs. These platforms now also featured slightly reworked reasoning algorithms, now listening more directly to the Priproter and having been given all the knowledge of the Yia.
The conversion process was exhausting and time intensive for the Yia. It has not attempted such a direct or total conversion since, although this can be attributed to it being more difficult with organics. From the time it was discovered up until the present, the GARDS has acted as the Yia’s right and left arms.
Power Level: Interstellar: The Vlayisk have only left their home system in the past century. In this time though they have colonised two additional systems and been wrapped in the Yia’s encompassing envelope.
Population: The current known population of the Timocracy is 33 billion. The number is a constant at the moment but very quickly rises. This is due to the Vlayisks’ expansionist attitudes and natural physiology. Their population can be kept at a steady number for long periods before rising rapidly when new worlds are occupied.
Government Description: Timocracy is an alien word applied by the SSS in describing their allies and Technocratic brothers. Much like the Trade Alliance, there is no strict sense of government among the Vlayisk. They do however, obey a strict set of what they believe to be religious guidelines, set out by the G.A.R.D.S. who comprise the majority of their contact with Inchinn (The Yia).
Their cybersapien brothers apply the term ‘Timocracy’ in reference to old historical annals from earth, so old it’s impossible to tell fact from fiction. These writings depict a society ruled by ownership of property and land much like how the Vlayisk operate. On their inhospitable home land, rare patches of fertile land, or Zemlya were valued above all else and those who controlled them ruled. Over time as intelligence increased and society become more intricate, power shifted from a monarchal style to an oligarchal one. The large land owners consulted amongst themselves and made decisions based on what would be best for them as a whole. Zemlyan, or landowners, contracted all others through payment of sustenance, for all manner of work and function. To this day Zemlyan hold the power in society, but almost every Vlayisk is a Zemlyan; ownership of land is seen as a passage into adulthood.
Currently a government is in place known as the Assembly; every Zemlyan has at least one vote, and the number of votes an individual has is directly proportional to the amount of land they own. Government functions are run by those who relinquish all land and opt to commit themselves to the Assembly. This is the only socially acceptable circumstance whereby an adult Vlayisk, male or female, cannot be a Zemlyan.
Capital System: Domoy – literally, ‘home’.
Technology Tier: Tier 1 – Adawv Class Tech
Dominant Race: Vlayisk
Physiology
Height range: 1.3-1.7 m
Weight Range: 90-150 kg
Life Expectancy: 190
Description
Although the name of their home planet suggests a fondness, its effect on their biology is undeniably harsh. The planet Domoy was subject to intense solar winds which lead to the thick, radiation resistant carapace that covers a Vlayisk. They have two sets of lungs and a set of gills which run along their neck. Due to constantly changing atmospheric conditions, they evolved in an environment in which from year to year they would be breathing and metabolizing drastically different gas compositions. This is the reason for the two sets of lungs and the intricate biological isolators which line their breathing tubes. Their gills, and amphibious nature, grew as a response to their tendency to hide in the planets waters when especially intense radiation baked it. The Vlayisk's evolved from life that since day one, had had to adapt and cope with intense radiation. Vlayisk have been recorded to live after prolonged doses as high as a half a million Grays.
Trait: Adaptability: A Vlayisk can move immediately from one atmosphere to another and survive. Of course, depending on the severity of the difference, they will be in excruciating pain for seconds to hours. Each pair of lungs can metabolise a certain set of gases. The isolators which line them remove any usable gas from the air being breath and expel the excess. The pain is a response to a change in levels and used as natural signal to kickstart the processes that allow the isolators to function at optimal capacity in the new environ. Their lungs are supported by a six chamber heart. Due to their adaptability, the Vlayisk have taken their natural places as trade pilots, warriors, explorers and intelligence officers in the Technocracy.
Flaw : Sluggish: Their constantly delicate and complex biology means that compared to other species they move and react noticeably slower. They are by no means slow thinking, but their bodies take longer to fulfil those thoughts. They are however, very quick breeders as they only breed on demand when resources dictate.
Dominant Culture: The Timocracy is the most recent member of the Technocracy and thus far the one most heavily handed uplifted. The Yia directly interfered with their progression as it sensed them soon whittling themselves into oblivion and is using them as a control experiment for testing direct uplifting of slightly more primitive species. The Vlayisk are fanatic in their devotion to this great entity that has saved them from near destruction and most are hardcore Yiaists.
Outside of the religious aspect of their society, they are as mentioned, dominated by a culture of land ownership. The more land one owns the higher their regard and the more voting power they have at the Vlayisk Assembly so this directly affects social interaction too. Marriage is dictated by combination of land ownerships.
History
Upon reaching their industrial age the Vlayisk began to progress past the necessity of owning land but still held it as a firm belief and ideal. They realized their rare planetary conditions had bestowed Domoy with a multitude of metallic raw materials. Advancement into the computer age and ramped up industrial output quickly meant that the Zemlya that did exist began to very quickly be poisoned and polluted. The need for manufactured produce clashed directly with the tightly held need to own land. Each Vlayisk was faced with a near impossible moral dilemma over the two and almost nobody could think of a solution. Societal niceties broke down rapidly and tribal territory and resources wars erupted across Domoy.
It was in this state that the Yia first encountered the Vlayisk. The Oliocht had a great outpouring pity for them; whether due to some kind of sense of duty or perhaps a remnant of their own biological history. Regardless of the motivating factor, the Yia opted to directly intervene for the first time in the Technocracy’s history. G.A.R.D.S platforms were sent onto the planet’s surface to initiate contact. They were initially met with hostility but through continued attempts, they eventually opened dialogue and began terraforming small patches of land to show their benevolence. Slowly but surely, the SSS and CTA were also brought to Domoy and men, corvexians and dowinites brought reliability to the Yia’s tales of uplifting and aiding.
The Vlayisk, now with hope in sight, quelled their quarralls very quickly. Apologies were made, reparations offered and retrospective intelligence applied. The species united and at peace once more, the Yia began bestowing technology and knowledge among them.
The most significant point in this period is known as ‘Izbavleniye’ or ‘Deliverance.
A Corvexian trade ship triangulated with the first Vlayisk built spacecraft, equipped with a Graviton Drive. The trade ship demonstrated to the colony ship how to operate the drive and coordinate jumps. The trade ship then guided the Vlayisks to ‘Rae’ a nearby planet that the Yia had deemed fit for the Vlayisk to colonise. What the Vlayisk hadn’t be informed of however, was that Rae was a garden world.
The sight of the new planet before the colonists was met with unanimous weeping. It is heralded as the single greatest moment in their history and the cause of such devotion.
They have since colonised two additional planets, Les and Boloto. The Vlayisk are now hungrily expansive and constantly searching for the next world they can claim. Once a world is chosen, colonists are picked and are sent with the intentions of propagating to populate the new world. Outside of this, breeding is only used to sustain populations, not increase them.
Whilst very keen on expanding and rising from a harsh background, and having a fierce appearance, the Vlayisk are not an overtly aggressive nation and is more than open to diplomacy. They are by far the most curious and awed of the Technocracy’s States.