Universe Delta

Well, my friend.  Gero’s life is one that seeks a happiness from the tower of stone.  Where he looks out the windows to the endless and azure seas.  There, he sees the troublesome fact as he walks out among the crumbling rocks, the jagged steps with the footsteps of many before him.  What is he to the vastness above him? 

And does it matter? 

Gero enters his space craft, at the dock of the sea, the comfort of the pilot seat nothing to the sheer acceleration and force launched upon him as things accelerated out to the depths.  Skimming the ocean surface as the ship accelerations, lifting upwards to hypersonic velocities in a matter of seconds.  Flying through the clouds, dense as they are, the sheer amount of energy streaking a light through the sky.  Rapidly, his ship soars beyond the clouds and towards the exosphere.  Going at velocities faster than any chemical rocket, the heat shields glaring red as he penetrates towards the exosphere into orbit.  There, Gero turns to the larger ship in orbit awaiting his craft.  The ship readjusts its trajectory towards the true space ship, far more massive than the hypersonic space jet Gero has.   

Docking to the ship, Gero’s mind and the ship commune, and Gero now feels the spaceship itself.  From all its systems, to the walk ways and thrusters.  As a spaceship, Geros’ mind manipulates everything.  And as a spaceship, Gero sets his ship on course to one place. 

The depths of reality. 

And his ship moves out ward, floating through the void of space and aiming towards a star in particular.  One dim star among thousands so bright in the sky.  One dim star that calls out to his attention most.  The ship that begins to gleam in brightness, surging in light seen for AU to come as fields of distortion ripple through space, distorting the shape of his shim into a blurr of simmering wiggles, a cosmic mirage that undulates out of reality itself in a flicker of energy, puffing but the dust of stars from the fire of lux.   

Gero’s journey has begun. 

And there will be nothing in his way. 

This is the state of the galaxy, unknown time- only 175 PA (Post Ascension)  

General Assumptions 

-The spheres of empires overlap each other.  Enforcing interstellar borders is impossible.  Control is over individual star systems.  This means empires are less blobs in space and more like sprawling, competiting networks of civilization. 

-There is two major forms of FTL.  Special Regions and Lux Drives.  Both of them require lux to sustain.  Special regions and lux drives are equivalent to worm holes and warp drives in this universe, with crucial differences in the details.  For one, special regions are anomalies that are separate from each other, rifts in reality itself that can be programmed into infrastructure in ways a worm hole never could, all the while being able to make “quantum doorways” and “portals” if the designers so seek it.  Lux Drives are basically warp drives, but with far more flare to them- spaceships that warp leave behind nebulous smoke, when they enter new star systems a bright flash of light signals their entry.  Warping is a delayed process, but a powerful one regardless- a single jump can take you dozens, if not hundreds of light years with ease should you have the lux to fuel your space faring ambitions. 

-Lux is the bloodline of civilizations and is attained from bright stars.  Stars like the sun have bare minimum lux to begin interstellar journeys, but once you get to a star like Sirius, building interstellar commerce becomes possible.  More so, once you spread to the highly luminous stars out there.  The brightest stars attract civilizations like moths to flame, it should be warned.  And warfare for open cluster control is frequent as a result. 

-Besides Lux, biology is a major resource as well- life itself in its sheer variability being a valued asset.  The fruit of wisdom, technology, perhaps even more so.  Natural, raw resources with perhaps the exception of Lux (even then, lux must be refined) have little to no value, it is what those resources are melded into that have value in the galaxy.  Intelligence, alien or human also has value, in terms of neuraltech, research and attaining perspectives that haven’t existed before. 

-AI systems are limited by an exponentiation difficulty curve in developing self-awareness, especially that of super-awareness.  Multiple forms of computing, from fluidic computers and moldy computers, hit similar problems.  Even the carbon based CPU systems have issues, including neural systems or fiber based circuitry. 

-Intelligence has occurred mostly in recent time, and no one is sure why.  Some credit the concept of the Illuminated, others credit a hypothesis of physics itself not being able to for whatever reason allow for abstract thought. Or perhaps we just don't know enough about history to make any such conclusions (not like the ancient history isn't distorted, perverted and hard to ever acutely pinpoint since ruins are hard to come by from earlier pre-imperial era civilizations).  Either way, space faring civilizations on a cosmological timescale are extremely recent. 

World Assumptions 

-There’s 60 billion worlds where life exists.  The initial development of life across trillions of worlds in our galaxy alone is around 1/35.  Why?  There’s several “edens” for bacteria to develop, with solvents as a near-universal need.  So any world around brown dwarves are left out.   

How 2 clac? 

Puffballs/Cthonians/Brown Dwarves – Impossible. (0%) 

Jovians – Ultra Rare (160 Million) 

Gas Dwarf/Subjovians – Common (18 Billion) 

Rocky World (mud, desert, barren)- Common (19.5 Billion) 

Icy World (this includes ocean worlds) - Common (22 billion) 

Iron World – Ultra Rare (173 Million)  

Carbon World – Ultra Rare (167 Million) 

This is the table for the 60 billion life bearing worlds.  Use this with the  

Only 460 Million or so break the filter towards making complex ecosystems however (or 1/130 worlds break the eukaryote barrier).  Many worlds in the galaxy are full of bacterial forms, extremophiles and not much else.  You do get microbial mats from time to time as well.  But it would seem the least lonely life forms in the galaxy are the simplest.  Many star systems may end up with multiple life bearing worlds,   However, suffice to say while ¼ stars have some form of life on at least one of their worlds,  

73 intelligent species are of relevance to the setting. Most of which are not culturally independent. 

Life itself 

-There is multiple regions of this universe, known as “spaces” which have different dominant forces. 

-Gero will be reworked as a character to be more human and usable as a main character. 

Technological innovation paths are quite complicated.  The general trend however, is that independently industrializing species are more prone to innovation that species who adapt to clients.  Humans nearly suffered a state of client complacency themselves in the universe.  Thankfully, our fate was never truly sealed. 

There’s no united history.  There’s multiple species who developed independently with lines of history that converge.  Aveterriat, Ccrypcp and Rovii histories being all unique from each other.  Humans as well are quite unique.   

-There's a lot of aliens.  However, many of these aliens are clients or victums of the more advanced space faring aliens. This is where it gets weird since which aliens get the spaceship? 

Major Factions (13 Major Factions) 

Cooperative; Unity of mankind, centuries into the future, a sovereign of humanity, altruistic and corrupt only from humans, free and aristocratic. The Cooperative has thrived in the past few centuries, and it's hard to say when it will not. A Republic without democracy, the Cooperative has multiple levels of government where world-states are concerned. World constitutions are overruled by sector-wide policies, of which than get overruled by the Cooperative Oligarchs who answer only to the Minister itself. Needless to say, as much as it looks like your typical sci-fi federation, it's a very different beast entirely. They command a impressive and centralized fleet of spacecraft, a fact other civilizations have taken notes of. 

Assembly; Another human faction, this one is notable for being pretty much a military confederacy. Ironically the Ccrypcp have considered the vehemently xenophobic (in theory, anyways- the Assembly has client species believe it or not) Assembly as structured very much like the Silver Legion. The Assembly's beef is pretty much with everyone. The Assembly however, is pretty much a hellish place to invade due to how decentralized the military really is, and the fact that humans here breed like rabbits and have been going to war with aliens like the natvyr for over a century now. Military dictatorships and direct democracies go hand to hand in the Assembly.   

The Network; The Network as a faction ha sbeen viewed as the bastard child of man and roviikind, however other species have found individuals trapped in it as well.  A realm of total amorality, it's not really certain what propels the network other than absolute hedonism and degeneracy. Having moral values in the Network often will get you kidnapped and tortured. Being publicly raped in the streets by anyone richer than you is the norm, those with wealth pretty much have absolute power, yet things remain a capitalist anarchy as anyone can just be handed power armor and weapons no citizen in the Cooperative or hell, even the MSS would consider ethical to have. Corporate power is completely unchecked here, cannibalism is frequent and gang warfare is so frequent it is news when there is an absence of it. In the massive space ghettos full of space marine gangsters, the opulence of rich individuals from around the galaxy is on full display. 

Metasyndicate, also known as the "Million Sun Symphony"; Civilization ran by the composers, which is notable for having domain over a million stars /in theory/ (by space covered, that is) and being in a perpetual state of anarchy held together by the Composers whose control of the populus is more in their ability to enthrall the masses, than in any actual governments. What morality exists is alien in nature, for the greatest sin in the Metasyndicate is silence. Organized militaries tend to be private armies of the composers, who engage in unlogic warfare on a regular basis to keep their soldiers happy and willing to serve- a military with no service is a clinically insane military, after all. The most powerful non-composer position hoped for in the Assembly is that of Auditor, of whom is a short-lived autocrat used to mobilize the masses in times of need. The Metasyndicate is the brainchild of a Rovii centuries ago, who made a series of audio recordings that would become the basis of the Metasyndicate's Triangular morality of Harmony, Order and Dissonance.   

Harganan Empire; Another 'rovii' faction.  Rovii are prominent, but it's multiple species (Notably an aquatic species known as the Asanti are a major species part of the Harganan Empire).  Culture is very ritual oriented, god you better remember the fucking rituals or they'll have the sulfur breathers beat the shit out of you. The strangest part of the Harganian Empire is the interspecies feudal politics that occur within the Harganian Empire, of which allowed them to gain power among various minor factions who bought into the system. The Harganian Empire is centralized under a significant military fleet, however in-fighting among the command means it's im practice more like seven fleets. The Triangular morality of the metasyndicate has strong influence in the Harganian Empire, but this is more the product of the Harganan Empire sharing common history with the Metas than anything else. 

The Silver Legion; The Ccrypcp civilization most reviled for their treatment of humans. The Silver Legion is more a military who reigns over many worlds with force alone, recruiting the best to join them in their suppression and management of numerous world-states. Their war machine is only limited by the internal revolts and diplomacy of the Mediators. The gap between them and us has bridged quite well, but the disparities in so many areas still are all too blatant. The Silver Legion's professionalism and intervention into other factions has made them a massive problem, only barely tolerated due to their strict ethical codes. If you notice a member violating can lead to someone getting executed by incineration. The Silver Legion is descended from classic order Ccrpyp, as a military force that refused to be disbanded that now has grown a powerful cult of justness and alien chivalry. The Alpha Protector keeps all safe under the Legion's impenetrable hide.   

The Mediators; Mysterious society of beings, presumably Ccrypcp in origin, that engage in interstellar diplomacy and communication. The Mediators are perhaps the most mysterious beings of the lot, their sapient holograms and willingness to do anything it takes to get you on their side can be all too off-putting. Mediators have very advanced technology, but they have seemingly no clue has to use it to great effect; they are very reliant on technological superiority in any conflict that goes all too unfortunate. The Mediators may well be the most dangerous force in the modern galaxy, simply because their intentions are so cryptic and no one really knows just how advanced they are. 

 The Gestalt; If the Silver Legion was the military of the classical Ccrypcp, the Gestalt was the state religion. The Gestalt, now free to fully enact their vision of the universe, unfettered by the Emperor or the secular bureaucracy. Amazingly enough, it is the Qvkr, not the Ccrpcyp, who hold the top positions in the Gestalt. Their system is that of uplifting. Everyone is seen as a part of a body, the Gestalt is a prosperous and powerful civilization indeed. Their greatest rivals are the Silver Legion and Mediators, but that's not to say the other factions out there have not proven dangerous to their existence. The Gestalt's hierarchal system is all about ascending to higher levels of power through a system of rewards and enlightenment. All is one. 

The Wheel of Reality; Another Ccrypcp faction. The Wheel of Reality are the biggest ideological rivals to the Gestalt, the Wheel of Reality seeks a form of civilization where the groups of the whole body are not structured like a ladder, but like a wheel. Egalitarianism through circular management mean that the Wheel of Reality are realist in their views, renouncing the moralisms of the Hierarchy for brute, naked crushing; the wheel goes forward always, never backward. The Wheel of reality formed centuries after the cancer was unleashed. 

Appath Transcend; The Ancients of the Classic Order, the remnant organization of what once happened. History around the classic order is deeply altered. Revisionism on every side gives you completely different histories.  Appath transcend is not actually Ccrypcp, it's Taysnoddl, but the cigificant Ccrypcp populations a part of Appath transcend made them part of the deluge coming the way of all.  Appath Transcend for a thousand years was thought dead. But it turns out they were around all along, their objectives remaining the same as always. To make right what was wrong. The remake paradise, one step at a time. The Silent Autocrat making sure all goes well. 

Vmiskii Empire; The rebellion against the determinators led to their creation.  Aveterriat dominated, but not from xenophobia, but sheer difficulty of working in their system, the Vmiskii Empire is a empire without an emperor.  Instead, the sheer dedicated to work and absolute freedom in the path you take in life has become the highest ideal. Work is the reward, the product of work relieves you to get more work done. Laziness is viewed as illness, the Vmiskii military a powerhouse. The closest thing to a leader you get are the professionals of the Vmiskii Empire, of whom are revered, respected, envied and hated all at the same time. Everyone is a watchman in the Vmiskii Empire. 

The Protectorate; Aveterriat home world. It is rampant. It seeks to murder all Aveterriat outside their star system. The Protectorate is extremely advanced, thankfully they are not infinitely so, and the Vmiskii are able to partially hold them at bay. The Protectorate sees other species as soulless, which is why they have not undergone the genocidal crusade wrought upon the Aveterriat. The Protectorate is also at war with multiple Ccrypcp factions, for believing that the Ccrypcp were harboring Aveterriat. We to, suffer from their terror attacks wherever a Aveterriat may work. Thankfully the Vmiskii keep watch on the Cooperative as well. 

Pale Dominion; The Pale Dominion is a stratified to hell Natvyr civilization that is engaged in a ongoing ideological war against the clannists, along with frequently invading numerous other factions to trim their populations. The Pale Dominion are hard to negotiate with, they see as just talking meat and see themselves the same as well. The drones in the Pale Dominion will breed with workers alongside the Queen, however the Queens often force one drone to be forever theirs. Drones breeding with workers has gone unchecked, leading to the Natvyr populations simply exploding. They are a uptight, strict civilization who see everything in terms of numbers, time spent, statistics and so on. If they were more powerful, they would wipe everyone out.