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Black Star Story Discussions
Topic Started: Sep 21 2007, 07:24 PM (684 Views)
Bakatare
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Morale Guy
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I have been hearing some people discuss the main story. From what I gather, there is a certain ammount of confusion around some of it. For example, no one knows anything about the history of the time we live in.

So, I was hoping we could all band together to fill in the gaps. We still don't have a time-line, which I know some people have been pushing for. And there are a few basic questions that people would like to have an anser too.

-What year is it?
-What kind of overall technology do we have?
-How's the governement work?
-How much have we explored and discovered about the universe?

So basically, what I was hoping for, is everyone to put forward the information that is important to their own character and effects the main story. Planets you come from, races you are, societies and orignizations you're involved with. Theoretically, with all this information, we can get a clearer picture of the universe we live in.

And I realise, Neo, that you do have a life outside this site. So what would you say to everyone working together on things like the time-line?

Thanks, all.
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KodeTen
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BADministrator
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Well, I've got some of my resources on the current factions and such at work in our universe, including the central governments and stuff, but currently nothing on the timeline, if you'd like, I can post them up.

And it was never necessary to ask for permission to discuss and come to conclusions on these things without my input, this is YOUR universe as the membership of this board, I'm just a man that flies around in it.
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Bakatare
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Morale Guy
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I knew you would't mind. Mostly, I wanted to make sure you hadn't already written a bunch and not posted it, only to have everyone else come in and screw up your flow.

And yes, if you (and everyone else) could post any information they wish to have in the going ons of the univers, go ahead and do it now.

Let's get this mother of a story rolling, folks.
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Hanacho Anda
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Zealot
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I am still really confused. I don't really know anything about this universe. I know Hana's background and that is about it. Of course there are things even she doesn't know about herself (Sanura knows all though). Um... okay I am not really sure how I am going to fit in either but I am sure once we get this thing started I will find a way. As for things that I want to put in. . . I have nothing at this point really until I know a little more about what I am dealing with and how I will be able to work myself into this place.

On that note, have a great evening (or day) everyone.
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Cyrus
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I'm really curious about where we're based in the universe? I want Cyrus to come from a central planet, a big one with lots of government and stuff. But where would that be? Earth? Or somewhere new?

Also, did we ever get around to deciding what year it was?
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Cloud
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Zealot
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Yeah I would really like to know the year as well. Luna 5 where Allen cones from is a newish colony. The year would help me in fully explaining its history.
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Jokuri
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My huge question:

Aliens do they exist?
Or is just humans out in this whole huge universe.
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Samandjackforever
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Zealot
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Okay, lets see if I can't shed some light on a few of these questions from my understanding and perspective on things. Neostar, correct me or elaborate if you so desire.

Jokuri: Yes, there are alien species (as in Hypa's cat form thing on the Arch Angel, and so forth) However, for as to not get others confused, if you plan to bring in an alien character, or have a slightly offbase concept to your character please discuss it with those in higher ranks of command as we woudln't like things to get too far out of control. We don't want to dampen one's creativity, but to make characters playable and more serious (instead of constantly changing characters and making new accounts everytime. It can get confusing and to be honest a little annoying.) Other than that, I can't contribute much. I know my character is/was human, experimentation kind of changed that, but not in extremes.


Cyrus: There are many central planets in many different Galaxies. Come on, its the universe we're speaking of. We aren't all from the same areas, don't have same atmosphere for growing up, use some of that imagination, perhaps run the idea of a solar system of your creation past the Commander and perhaps you can expand on such a thing,


Cloud: It isn't up to us, the Administrators and Moderators, to create this timeline and such. All of us are responsible for this universe we've created, if everyone wishes to make this a project then we will do so. We'll start up a discussion for ideas and such on how to compose our timeline, place events in that timeline to relation as major events, like the Aeon Strife for one, and we'll figure out how our spacial time will be measured, or if we're going to merely keep our 24 hour/day, 7 days/week, 54 weeks/year, etc.


Who all is interested in taking part in such? Because as of late I've not seen very much activity and would like people to actually participate in this and help lessen the confusion all of us feel, at least in a small degree. And hopefully Hana things will start to be in a brighter light, any questions concerning events that have been mentioned so here on these boards (or on the Arch Angel that has related to us and the universe WE as writers created, feel free to message Neostar, Me, Pheonix, Ariel, and most of the staff. If they are unable to answer your questions we'll pass it on, mention it to others and try to get the best answers we are able to come up with in our knowledges of this universe we've begun to flesh out.

Hope this helped answer all of your questions.
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Jokuri
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Well, you have just answered all the questions I needed except the date. Give me a date and in return I shall give you the "Brief Rakatajinian History" guide.
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Cyrus
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Yeah, we still need a year before we can do anything time-line wise.

And I meant central planets for the USNF. If it's a government, it has to be based somewhere, right?
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KodeTen
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BADministrator
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Ask and ye shall receive.


The original concept was for the central body of the "known" universe to be governed by a far-reaching entity known simply as "The Dominion."

The Dominion grew out of the deadly intergalactic battles known as the Aeon Strife. The Aeon Strife ended exactly fourteen years in our history after roughly six years of all sides slaughtering each other.

The Dominion has no Central world. It is governed by the Senate of the Dominion with is overseen simply by the Voice of the Senate. Special gatherings notwithstanding, the Senate meets twice a year, for three weeks at a time, to discuss the laws of the Dominion.

The Senate of the Dominion comes together on a massive space station located in the Universal center of the Prime sector of the Dominion. It is usually quite easy to tell when the Senate is in place, due to an entire USNF fleet swarming the station like moths to protect the Governmental heads inside.

The Dominion is split into several "Sectors" of space.

  • Prime
  • Central
  • Quantica
  • Severa
  • Archeah
  • Solara
  • Alarua
  • Articaer
  • Darkland
  • Kaerdu
  • The Fringe
Each Sector has it's own autonomous governing faction located on a Prime world central to that sector, and therefore a number of Senatorial seats. War among the sectors is prevented by a strict demilitarization of inter-Dominion craft. That is to say, quite simply, each Sector is allowed a military which is more of a self-defense force than anything else, but that military cannot leave that sector under hostile means or the entire sector risks ejection from the Senate, and then the remaining Dominion as a whole will unleash their own military fleets against them.

This situation is the Worst-case scenario, as the Dominion will commonly rely on the security services offered by the Universal Spacefaring Naval Forces (USNF) to conduct border policing should such a situation arise.

The USNF is basically a stand-alone military service that is inorganic to the entire Dominion, they recruit their members from all sectors of the Dominion, but the USNF in of themselves is no part of any particular faction or Sector in the Dominion herself.

Communication is handled by Tempest Communications, known simply as StormComm. This organization has separated itself entirely from the Dominion and acts as it's own entity, similar to the USNF. The difference is that, while the USNF maintains Senatorial status due to their vital role in Dominion politics, StormComm has removed themselves from the Senate entirely and works simply to execute it's organizational mandate: The constant, uninterrupted flow of information throughout the Dominion and her neighbors.

We had no particular time-date set, but I originally set the year that StormComm broke from the Dominion as 3012, which was directly after the Aeon Strife, making it, what, 3026?

I originally wanted the months of the year to reflect the many deities that such a Universal entity would possess theologically.

Month of Zar-Horktay
Month of Kalwhay
So on and so forth.

As far as time designation and numbers, I'm drawing blank. For simplicity, we can just say Terra (Earth, which is still an inhabited planet in the Sector of Kaerdu) formed the universal timekeeping standard at the inception of the Dominion, and therefore go with the usual 60 Mins-24 Hour-7 day-52 Week-100 year rules.

Oh yeah, as far as alien species, yeah, there's your fair assembly of strange species out there, but for the most part what is termed as "inhabitable" is planetary conditions that form near matches to those on Terra.

So similar environments, meaning similar evolutionary standards, with your fair amount of exceptions.

Variations in soil types, radiation levels, suns, lack of suns, so on, and so forth, result in several variations on the human species. Anthromorphic animals are completely viable, mutated humans are expected, Tauric creatures are not unheard of, even Avians are out and about. Hell, if you think about it, Neo himself could be considered a mutant, except that his special traits are among the norm of his variant species.
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Bakatare
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Morale Guy
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Ok, so the years 3026? Works for me, I suppose. The only piece of time-line information I need to add is:

3024: The formation of the government run program Criminal Rehabilition in an Engaging Workplace (C.R.E.W.). In 3025, Bakatare was among the first participants in the program.
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Hanacho Anda
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Zealot
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Thanks guys. That helps a lot. 3026? Okay I will get to work on making this work. I want to help as much as I can. So let me know. I know I am not on much but that is because I have very little access to the net but I will do what I can. Let me know.
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Cloud
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Zealot
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3000: Luna V was colonized! :)
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KodeTen
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BADministrator
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So we've discussed two of the three initial points...

Tech level:

The technology level we were originally operating with was varied.

Our ships were not capable of Faster-than-light travel, but they were capable of "Cruise" travel within specific trade lanes established around the Dominion, basically consider these the Freeways or Autobahns of the Known galaxy. A ship locks itself into the "tunnel" created and initiates it's cruise drives, internal dampeners inherent to the lane would reduce the G-forces on the ships and they would fly at near light speed.

For fast travel without a cruise lane, a ship could use a special drive to create a wormhole, essentially folding space in on itself to the required location, ripping open the fold, and hopping through. To have a completely accurate jump, the use of a beacon on the other end of the jump is required, otherwise the error percentage is roughly 30%.

Speaking of which, when it comes to ships jumping, there are two error classes that we use, Standard Error, and Catastrophic Failure. Standard Error is reported as "We are currently at .02% Error." And Catastrophic Failure is appended as "...with a 1% chance of Catastrophic Failure."
In the terms of a jump across a wormhole or through a rift, Standard Error means the ship won't end up EXACTLY where it wanted to be, the percentage of error equals the distance the ship could end up off course. The generally accepted limit is 30%. The larger the percentage, the farther the ship could end up off course, and the more likely the ship will go off course, with 100% failure meaning the ship will jump off course without reasonable doubt, and could very well end up completely lost.

Catastrophic Failure could mean that the ship will jump entirely incorrectly, perhaps going the opposite direction, face damage in flight or at the end of the jump, just as coming out of the wormhole and smashing into a meteor or similar obstruction, face a dangerous situation at the end of the jump, such as jumping into a planet's atmosphere, or be overly stressed and break apart mid jump (Total Catastrophic Kill).
The higher the percentage of Catastrophic Failure, the more likely something like what is mentioned above is to happen. The accepted norm is 10%. If a ship calculates a higher Catastrophic Failure ration than 10%, it is required a Force Commander or higher ranking individual approve the jump before it happens without exception.

What else...

Weapons Tech:

Hand held weapons and other small arms are usually ballistic in nature. That means they fire bullets, slugs, buckshot, grenades, rockets, missiles, and generally anything else that goes bing, bang, boom, blows up, or burns.

The truth is we just haven't advanced far enough to put hand held lasers in the hands of the average infantry trooper. Directed Energy weapons, which include but are not limited to Lasers, Tractor Beams, Particle Projection Cannons (PPCs), Rail Guns, Laser Defense Grids, and Forcefields are all available in large-scale application on space faring ships, starfighters, and some land- and sea-based vehicles.

It should be noted that even the most advanced starfighters still make use of large-calibre ballistic weapons with devastating effect, as there is no wind resistance or gravity to contend with in space, a ballistic round fired from an air-lock sealed breach as is common with a starfighter has amazing range and lethality.

It should be noted that some melee-classed weapons make use of directed energy, but these are unstable. Examples include laser-edge swords and laser-fire (a type of directed plasma.)

Armor:

Basic wearable armor has expanded by leaps an bounds, and current troopers are wearing flexible, breathable armor that protects from a large variety of ballistic and even some directed-energy threats.

Powered Armor takes it a step further by providing even more protection, as well as boosting the strength of the user at the cost of agility.

Walker suits, also known as Mechs, are your basic "Mechwarrior/BattleTech" affair, and are sometimes large enough to handle one or even two directed energy weapons in compliment to their normal ballistic packages.

Vehicular Armor comes in many flavors to suit the job,
Reactive armor will explode outward to neutralize the threat,
Reflective armor will act like a mirror to directed energy, keep in mind that reflective armor will direct the brunt of directed energy away from the vehicle at a random angle, but if the energy is directed at the armor long enough, the heat at the apex of the armor will eventually cause it to melt and fail.
Fibrous Armor is a good mix of both of the above, it's basically like ultra-thick fiberglass, the tightly woven glass fibers stop ballistic threats, and the glass refracts directed energy. It's designed to work against everything, and therefore doesn't work the best for anything, but when it's all you've got, it's better than a bare hull.
Most USNF boats that are not in a specialty role are layered in Fibrous Armor.

Computers

Computers have also expanded by leaps and bounds. the average PDA has been replaced by commonly-worn wrist-comms. These are about the same size of a PDA, sometimes longer, and are usually strapped down conveniently to the wrist where they can be hidden beneath a uniform sleeve.
Standard computers have holographic displays and keyboards, and can be quickly manipulated by specific hand motions in the holographic field, rather than a mouse.

Artificial Intelligence has essentially become sentient, with a twist. The various artificial intelligences that are put in use around the galaxy are sentient and essentially "alive" by all means and constraints, but in that effort, they fully understand their roles in the universe, and are happy in performing them. Shutting down an AI is not considered by the AI in question as a "death." It is simply another logical process it will eventually undergo, just as it's human counterparts do when their own bodies shut down.
The USNF employs Artificial Intelligences on almost every ship in her Armada, and most are fully capable of running the entire ship without human intervention. With this ability, the AIs become awesome tools to augment the crews in their jobs aboard each ship.

Human input has changed drastically as well, often, computer systems will rely on voice input over tactile devices, and the use of Neural nets is coming into widespread use. Some ships in the USNF Armada are equipped with fully functional Neural Nets known as "Unity."

Unity is a net that is controlled by officers considered to have Psychic talent. While telepathy or it's derivatives are as of yet unproven in the Dominion, it is without question that these selected officers have some sort of control over a neural Net that most USNF personnel cannot grasp.
The use of the Unity net allows all members of a ship, from Commander to the lowest sailor to operate as one entity at the speed of thought. Sounds unsettling, but it has proven uses in terms of shipwide efficiency.

Keep in mind that all of these ideas are simply what I myself would think as the norm for a universe of our expected tech level, please feel free to object or suggest a better idea on any one of these ides or others.
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