NATION INFO
Who are they?: "The Norgul."
The Norgul started off as little more than bacterial organisms dwelling in tanks aboard a research vessel. They are native to Earth, though they have remained undiscovered for many years. When they were finally discovered, they gained particular fame among researchers for their uncanny ability to break down hazardous materials in mere seconds. A private research company, BugiTech Industries, decided to test the Norgul bacterium's resilience in various environments normally toxic to humanity, and newly discovered planets in the Andromeda system seemed to be best ticket. The Norgul were stored about a research vessel headed for the Andromeda system, but a BugiTech employee on board failed to follow safety protocol to the letter and a radioactive gas initially designed for experimentation on the Norgul was accidentally dispersed into the living quarters of the ship. The entire human population was killed. The Norgul, however, absorbed the gas and began to undergo a series of mutations. They gained a level of sentience that they had not known before and, on a small level, telekinetic abilities. However, they still lacked the intelligence to make much of themselves or even to begin to comprehend their own situation. Their saving grace came in the form of Chyrus, a unique member of their race, who was changed by the gas to a far greater extent than his own kin. His intelligence was raised to the point where he was able to utilize pre-existing human technology to fashion himself a mobile containment suit, and then do the same thing to his kin. The Norgul are now sentient bacteria residing in humanoid-sized bio-containment mechs, and thanks to Chyrus they now have some sense of an organizational structure and culture. As a side effect of their mutation, they now require the consumption of radioactive materials to survive, else they apoptose.
What do they value?: The Norgul are mobile only thanks to the mechanisms provided by their human researchers, but there was not enough on the ship to "ascend" every last one of the 3.2 trillion Norgul bacteria that were brought along for study. Chyrus's ultimate goal is to mechanize every last one of his kind, and so he sends out scavengers to bring back as much scrap as he can find. He sets out scrap quotas on a weekly basis, and he supplies surplus radioactive materials as "food" for those who meet their quotas. Norgul essentially operate on a Pavlovian reward system; what is most valuable to them is the activity that will yield the most reward. It is Chyrus, and only Chyrus, that is able to dictate what this reward is.
What do they despise?: Humans. Chyrus is one of the only Norgul to remember that the entire race was a human science project. For that, he loathes humanity and has instilled this hatred into his followers.
What kind of state are they?: Very similar to a monarchy. Norgul follow Chyrus's orders to the letter, and "dissent" is not a word they understand. As long as they are rewarded appropriately for their service, they couldn't care less about why they are following orders.
What is their population?: 3.2 trillion Norgul bacteria were on board the research vessel. Only 150 were able to be mechanized, including Chyrus himself.
How many 'people' do they have, if applicable?: 147 grunts, 3 Harbinger-intelligence-level individuals. The rest are bacteria in research tanks unable to perform any kind of labor.
How much infrastructure have they set up?: Little if anything. They salvage scrap and feed on the planet's toxic resources to survive. Their only code of law is to follow Chyrus's orders to the letter.
How much technology have they already salvaged or developed?: The Norgul have repurposed human biocontainment equipment into mobile mech-suits. These suits are REQUIRED for Norgul to have any mobility at all. The ship's onboard mining equipment is also used to harvest the planet's toxic resources for use in Chyrus's reward system.
Who leads them?: 0.5% of the Norgul that were mutated were also gifted with an enhanced intelligence that surpasses that of their kin. Members of this specific subclass are called "Harbingers." Chyrus is a harbinger, and it was he who exalted his entire race. Only two others share his level of intelligence, but not his passion; they are known as "Chimaera" and "Phantom."
What sort of bloke is s/he/it?: Chyrus is borderline fanatical in his command of the Norgul. He is smart enough to know how to mechanize his race and help it survive, but he hasn't fully grasped the nuances of human speech patterns or customs, which often makes him sound like a demented child whenever he must converse with humans. Overall though, he cares deeply for the fate of his race and would do anything to ensure its survival, even if it meant open war with another colony or committing heinous acts of genocide.
How does s/he/it actually command?: Chyrus broadcasts his commands directly to all Norgul grunts. When he needs to rest, he allows Chimaera to take over. This only occurs for 2.5 hours each day, as Chyrus mitigates the time he takes to rest.
What does s/he/it have to deal with to do stuff?: Chyrus is an absolute monarch with very little in terms of opposition. Only Phantom has eyes for his position, but he will not make a move so long as Chyrus remains well-protected by his followers.
MOTHERSHIP INFO
What was it's name?: The Kelvin IV
What type of ship was it (aside from being a colony ship)?: Research vessel.
What defended it?: Onboard drones, either automated or piloted. They could dock inside the ship whenever they were not needed. All pilots were tragically killed the same time the BugiTech researchers were.
How advanced was it?: In terms of mobility, the KelvinIV used a standard FTL Particle sprayer, but severely lacked any kind of weapons systems. Its only defense was the squadron of drones that docked inside it. Most of the ship's energy came from its radioactive titanium core which was used to maintain multiple habitation areas within the ship so that the test subjects (aside from the Norgul) would not die en route.
Do you think it should still have more to salvage from it?: The Norgul haven't touched the habitation areas inside the ship, which housed multiple earth flora and fauna. Chyrus simply hasn't decided how the technology, which was used to manipulate environmental factors, could prove useful to the Norgul. It's on his to-do list, though.
How long do you reckon it should theoretically take to get it running again, after acquiring all of the relevant technologies?: The ship is still fully operational, but doesn't serve the Norgul's immediate interests. Chyrus wants to convert the KelvinIV into a salvaging ship, not a research vessel. He believes the process will take little more than a year.
PLANET INFO
What type of planet did they land on?: The planet the KelvinIV was set to land on was covered in noxious radioactive gases that render it inhospitable to any form of biological life. It can also reach highs of 550 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and suffers from constant earthquakes that rend entire areas of the planet.
Aside from the "Star name: Number" designation, does it have a special name?: BugiTech nicknamed the planet "Anyanwu," after the African deity though to reside within the sun itself, due to the planet's intense heat.
Do you think it should have the remnants of any previous inhabitants?: Neither BugiTech nor the Norgul are aware of any previous inhabitants on the planet. There is indeed another race of creatures that dwell beneath the planet's surface, but they are passive and care little for the activities of the Norgul. It is unlikely they would ever naturally meet.
Do you think it should've been already inhabited, and your Nation had to waste resources invading it?: Uninhabited as far as the surface goes.
What sort of atmosphere does it have?: See above.
How many continents?: Two. The planet is split down the middle by a huge ravine that once contained a vast ocean. It is now just a pocket containing the heavier of the planet's gases.
How big is it?: Three times the size of Earth's moon.
How bountiful do you think it should be, in terms of biomass and materials?: The surface is composed of rock lined with valuable yellow crystals known as "Valurium" (according to BugiTech's logs.) Valurium is highly radioactive, and is the source of the planet's inhospitable nature. Heating it up releases toxic gas, the very same kind that killed the original crew of the KelvinIV.
Does it have any unusual materials or minerals in its' surface?: See above.
Does it have any other unusual features?: See above.
Who are they?: "The Norgul."
The Norgul started off as little more than bacterial organisms dwelling in tanks aboard a research vessel. They are native to Earth, though they have remained undiscovered for many years. When they were finally discovered, they gained particular fame among researchers for their uncanny ability to break down hazardous materials in mere seconds. A private research company, BugiTech Industries, decided to test the Norgul bacterium's resilience in various environments normally toxic to humanity, and newly discovered planets in the Andromeda system seemed to be best ticket. The Norgul were stored about a research vessel headed for the Andromeda system, but a BugiTech employee on board failed to follow safety protocol to the letter and a radioactive gas initially designed for experimentation on the Norgul was accidentally dispersed into the living quarters of the ship. The entire human population was killed. The Norgul, however, absorbed the gas and began to undergo a series of mutations. They gained a level of sentience that they had not known before and, on a small level, telekinetic abilities. However, they still lacked the intelligence to make much of themselves or even to begin to comprehend their own situation. Their saving grace came in the form of Chyrus, a unique member of their race, who was changed by the gas to a far greater extent than his own kin. His intelligence was raised to the point where he was able to utilize pre-existing human technology to fashion himself a mobile containment suit, and then do the same thing to his kin. The Norgul are now sentient bacteria residing in humanoid-sized bio-containment mechs, and thanks to Chyrus they now have some sense of an organizational structure and culture. As a side effect of their mutation, they now require the consumption of radioactive materials to survive, else they apoptose.
What do they value?: The Norgul are mobile only thanks to the mechanisms provided by their human researchers, but there was not enough on the ship to "ascend" every last one of the 3.2 trillion Norgul bacteria that were brought along for study. Chyrus's ultimate goal is to mechanize every last one of his kind, and so he sends out scavengers to bring back as much scrap as he can find. He sets out scrap quotas on a weekly basis, and he supplies surplus radioactive materials as "food" for those who meet their quotas. Norgul essentially operate on a Pavlovian reward system; what is most valuable to them is the activity that will yield the most reward. It is Chyrus, and only Chyrus, that is able to dictate what this reward is.
What do they despise?: Humans. Chyrus is one of the only Norgul to remember that the entire race was a human science project. For that, he loathes humanity and has instilled this hatred into his followers.
What kind of state are they?: Very similar to a monarchy. Norgul follow Chyrus's orders to the letter, and "dissent" is not a word they understand. As long as they are rewarded appropriately for their service, they couldn't care less about why they are following orders.
What is their population?: 3.2 trillion Norgul bacteria were on board the research vessel. Only 150 were able to be mechanized, including Chyrus himself.
How many 'people' do they have, if applicable?: 147 grunts, 3 Harbinger-intelligence-level individuals. The rest are bacteria in research tanks unable to perform any kind of labor.
How much infrastructure have they set up?: Little if anything. They salvage scrap and feed on the planet's toxic resources to survive. Their only code of law is to follow Chyrus's orders to the letter.
How much technology have they already salvaged or developed?: The Norgul have repurposed human biocontainment equipment into mobile mech-suits. These suits are REQUIRED for Norgul to have any mobility at all. The ship's onboard mining equipment is also used to harvest the planet's toxic resources for use in Chyrus's reward system.
Who leads them?: 0.5% of the Norgul that were mutated were also gifted with an enhanced intelligence that surpasses that of their kin. Members of this specific subclass are called "Harbingers." Chyrus is a harbinger, and it was he who exalted his entire race. Only two others share his level of intelligence, but not his passion; they are known as "Chimaera" and "Phantom."
What sort of bloke is s/he/it?: Chyrus is borderline fanatical in his command of the Norgul. He is smart enough to know how to mechanize his race and help it survive, but he hasn't fully grasped the nuances of human speech patterns or customs, which often makes him sound like a demented child whenever he must converse with humans. Overall though, he cares deeply for the fate of his race and would do anything to ensure its survival, even if it meant open war with another colony or committing heinous acts of genocide.
How does s/he/it actually command?: Chyrus broadcasts his commands directly to all Norgul grunts. When he needs to rest, he allows Chimaera to take over. This only occurs for 2.5 hours each day, as Chyrus mitigates the time he takes to rest.
What does s/he/it have to deal with to do stuff?: Chyrus is an absolute monarch with very little in terms of opposition. Only Phantom has eyes for his position, but he will not make a move so long as Chyrus remains well-protected by his followers.
MOTHERSHIP INFO
What was it's name?: The Kelvin IV
What type of ship was it (aside from being a colony ship)?: Research vessel.
What defended it?: Onboard drones, either automated or piloted. They could dock inside the ship whenever they were not needed. All pilots were tragically killed the same time the BugiTech researchers were.
How advanced was it?: In terms of mobility, the KelvinIV used a standard FTL Particle sprayer, but severely lacked any kind of weapons systems. Its only defense was the squadron of drones that docked inside it. Most of the ship's energy came from its radioactive titanium core which was used to maintain multiple habitation areas within the ship so that the test subjects (aside from the Norgul) would not die en route.
Do you think it should still have more to salvage from it?: The Norgul haven't touched the habitation areas inside the ship, which housed multiple earth flora and fauna. Chyrus simply hasn't decided how the technology, which was used to manipulate environmental factors, could prove useful to the Norgul. It's on his to-do list, though.
How long do you reckon it should theoretically take to get it running again, after acquiring all of the relevant technologies?: The ship is still fully operational, but doesn't serve the Norgul's immediate interests. Chyrus wants to convert the KelvinIV into a salvaging ship, not a research vessel. He believes the process will take little more than a year.
PLANET INFO
What type of planet did they land on?: The planet the KelvinIV was set to land on was covered in noxious radioactive gases that render it inhospitable to any form of biological life. It can also reach highs of 550 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and suffers from constant earthquakes that rend entire areas of the planet.
Aside from the "Star name: Number" designation, does it have a special name?: BugiTech nicknamed the planet "Anyanwu," after the African deity though to reside within the sun itself, due to the planet's intense heat.
Do you think it should have the remnants of any previous inhabitants?: Neither BugiTech nor the Norgul are aware of any previous inhabitants on the planet. There is indeed another race of creatures that dwell beneath the planet's surface, but they are passive and care little for the activities of the Norgul. It is unlikely they would ever naturally meet.
Do you think it should've been already inhabited, and your Nation had to waste resources invading it?: Uninhabited as far as the surface goes.
What sort of atmosphere does it have?: See above.
How many continents?: Two. The planet is split down the middle by a huge ravine that once contained a vast ocean. It is now just a pocket containing the heavier of the planet's gases.
How big is it?: Three times the size of Earth's moon.
How bountiful do you think it should be, in terms of biomass and materials?: The surface is composed of rock lined with valuable yellow crystals known as "Valurium" (according to BugiTech's logs.) Valurium is highly radioactive, and is the source of the planet's inhospitable nature. Heating it up releases toxic gas, the very same kind that killed the original crew of the KelvinIV.
Does it have any unusual materials or minerals in its' surface?: See above.
Does it have any other unusual features?: See above.