world info.

[configures]

OVERVIEW.

in the future:
⚬ There've been several mass exoduses from Earth for various reasons (population increase, war, desire to see new worlds). The Solar System has been colonised: Mars, Ganymede, and Titan are the centres of commerce. Humans have pushed far further into the galaxy to the point where they no longer commonly know or concern themselves very much with Earth. War is not Over, but there hasn't been one on a galactic scale: the largest in recent memory has been twenty-systems spread when a major colony tried to declare independence from its home planet. The damaging repercussions have resulted in a system of military checks and balances. There are, however, frequent border skirmishes and a few systems which have a neutral zone in between as a buffer.


RACES.


⚬ There's a wide range of alien species in the galaxy, some appear human-like with superficial differences and are genetically compatible for cross-breeding; others don't understand human speech and need to be communicated with through writing. Humans have proliferated into most parts of the galaxy. Earth and her colonies have a substantial off-world population. Sexism etc. isn't Over, it's just easier to focus that on aliens.

The most influential race on humans are called the Keshvel, who were the first to make contact with Earth. They have one or two nose horns (a little like rhinos), bipedal, with two legs and two arms, solidly adapted to long-term space-travel. Most Keshvel travelling out in the galaxy are merchants, and merchant ships are frequently either escorted by a small military scout ship or has a third of the crew from the military. Earth adopted this system. It's very rare to find a Keshvel or Earth vessel comprised entirely of civilians, even one with a humanitarian purpose.

Every species possesses its own natural abilities with the only enhancements being cybernetic in nature.



LANGUAGE.

⚬ There are approximately several thousand languages still in use in the known galaxy, depending on where you're from. However, the most common -- that everyone should speak if they want to get anywhere in life -- is Interlac. It's has 32 letters, all consonants, and various add-ons for vowels. Words are read exactly as they're spelt. It's a language designed to be read by almost anyone with minimum effort, you know, they might have compound eyes! Much of each culture's literature, political issuances, etc. has available transcriptions in Interlac for ease of dissemination.

TECHNOLOGY.


⚬ Technology depends largely on where you are -- planets and stations on major interstellar trade routes enjoy prosperity and high standards of living, with biometric locks on their doors and interplanetary Skype, those on more deserted or isolated worlds tend to be anywhere between the Middle Ages and the Old West of Earth.

⚬ Ships are capable of travelling one-fourth the speed of light on their own, and it's certainly possible to come across a vessel that was launched a few hundred years ago for a destination that still has all its crew frozen. Largely, travelling from system to system involves a series of jump gates, each with a unique coordinate. The ships are manned by AIs which have rudimentary personalities. It is not possible for an AI to fly the ship by itself, nor is it possible for a human to keep track of every system on the ship or the ones the ship encounters and needs to communicate with. In space, there is turbulence and noise the AI cannot navigate on its own. Thus, all spaceship pilots possess a cybernetic enhancement and are certified after rigorous training at the Academy. Most large ships will have two or three, a scout ship may have only one.

⚬ Teleportation is largely untested and considered highly unsafe.

⚬ By galactic treaty, every interstellar route will have unmanned stations with food, medical supplies, and fresh water. Most of the stations are well-maintained, but a few in abandoned systems (war, plague, etc.) have been left to eventually crash on the planet/moon they were orbiting.

⚬ Every planet a member of the galactic community has to have an orbiting space station for transit purposes. Missionaries and doctors are given free reign to go wherever they please without harassment. Merchants are the most common after that, depending on the trade agreements two cultures have with each other. Military vessels have stringent restrictions on travel when not in free space.


NOTABLE PLACES.

amundsen station.
⚬ A large transit station based on Earth's Moon. Built over a period of five years as a scientific collaboration between humans and Keshvel. Anyone travelling to or from Earth has to go through here. It's expanded over the years. All Earth-built or sponsored stations on colonies or off-world follow the naming systems of famous historical explorers, hyphenated if they were built in collaboration, and numbered if there's more than one, for example, Zheng He V.

the academy.
⚬ Built on the surface of the water on the planet Phailen, this is a training facility for pilots. Students usually enroll at the age of 16. There are exceptions made for students with exception aptitude. The military of each world has its own separate school. A full course takes approximately three years to complete.

nautilus.
⚬ one of three exploratory vessels designed to map a quadrant past the known universe and authorised to make first contact if needed. Crew was largely military: the only civilians were the pilot, engineers, and maintenance crew. Attacked towards the end of her tour by an unknown species.

CHARACTER.

personality.
⚬ loyal
⚬ playful
⚬ determined
⚬ rebels against rigid structure
⚬ reckless
⚬ quick to conclusions.

history.
⚬ Sonja is the younger of two, born on a moon. It's a mining colony, with a notable tourist attraction: large transparent rock formations that look like flowing water. It's called the Glass Springs.
⚬ Mother was a smuggler. Father was dead before she was born. Lost her brother at the age of sixteen, immediately went on a Quest to find him. Finally gave up several years later.
⚬ Drifted through the galaxy before being enrolled in the Academy.
⚬ Signed up for a tour on the Nautilus, an experimental ship.

abilities.
⚬ Sonja has a cybernetic implant in the back of her neck which enables her to interface with various ship systems. It's secondary purpose is to activate microscopic nanites in her body in case of injury to accelerate healing, but it's a temporary measure, she'd still need a doctor for serious injuries, and recovery time. She can (re)configure any ship software to her preferences. This does not extend to software used on commerce stations or planets.

- proficient in a modified form of Systema, as well as with standard-issue firearms.
- natively speaks Russian and Interlac.
- skilled pickpocket
- knowledge of basic concealment and hacking from helping her mother