An Older Idea: Frontier Space Saga

 

Frontier Space Saga (so far)

  Long ago, humanity began its outward migration to the stars. Left behind was a proud yet tumultuous past and a once verdant planet, now an overcrowded and troubled powderkeg of hostilities. Human survival depended upon a chance to spread far beyond the boundaries of our solar system. The Earthers expanded ever outward, establishing colonies on rough worlds while terraforming others to suit their needs. Any dreams of carving out a better existence than what was left behind were realized solely by those wealthy enough to establish their place in the universe, or those daring enough to win their place in it.

  As mankind increased exploration into uncharted space, opportunities arose for those brave souls willing to risk their lives in this endeavor. Ironwilled pilots, curious stellar cartographers, prospectors looking for precious or new types of ore, xenobiologists and all sorts of brave new explorers rose to the challenge.

  Scout ships, colony ships, scientific vessels, mining freighters and all manner of spacecraft continue to forge new paths into the stellar frontier. Most important are the scout ships (or so their crews would claim) as these are often the first craft to breach the gravity wells of a new star system and visit strange planetary vistas. Outposts and supply colonies are created on the fringe of known space to supply and accomodate frontier explorers and settlers.

  As a member of an intrepid crew of space explorers, you will have to carve out your own destiny in this vast universe. Whether your interest is mapping out uncharted space, finding ruins that predate the human race, cataloguing new species, discovering pockets of ore to be mined and laying claim to them, or simply finding the next big score, the opportunities are endless. Danger is an everpresent part of the job. Potential scouts should also keep in mind that mankind is not as alone in the universe as we once believed. We have found other lifeforms out amongst the stars, but unfortunately they are not always happy to see us..

  To deal with the growing demands of space exploration and colonization, a variety of starships were designed that could be produced more quickly and at a lower cost. Smaller ships are now very modular in their design. Beyond the basic configuration types, a potential ship buyer is limited only by his or her financial status in choosing how to outfit a ship. Sensor packages, crew compartments and even weapon systems may be added or swapped out as needed. The average owner/operator must often settle for modest options at first, modifying the ship as needs and wealth allow. Modular designs and interchangeable parts also allow for some repairs to be done on the fly, without an extensive knowledge of starship mechanics. Less time docked and awaiting repairs also minimizes downtime between missions. Time is money, as the saying goes.

  Space travel is an expensive prospect, and few independent explorers can survive without signing on for contracts with the megacorporations, taking on sidejobs doing supply runs or even acting as escorts to protect against raiders and rival privateers.

  Crew assignment is usually a process of a ship's captain or owner hiring individuals to perform specialized tasks. Depending on the type of mission however, a crewmember may find that there are plenty of things to do outside of their job description.

  The various megacorps may often employ small teams for a variety of missions. The crew may be employed directly by the company, hired on for a specified term as subcontractors, or even discreetly hired to keep the corporation's involvement confidential. The various companies involved in space profiteering often rely on "indie flyers" to investigate various leads. This avoids expending a lot of resources on such runs.

  Law and lawlessness are things that humankind has not left behind. Wherever there is profit to made, there are those who will seek to take it away. The space pirates of the new era, often called "raiders" or "privateers," prey on colony ships, raid settlements and can sometimes swoop in to steal claims or the spoils of discoveries. These scourges of the spacelanes make their profits on the backs of others. Although deep space explorers run into them less frequently, they may pop up unexpectedly and at the worst possible times.

  Guarding against pirates as well as hostile alien life, armed disputes on land and in space, and generally establishing some sense of security and order are the Colonial Soldiers of the Galactic Expeditionary Force and a small number of Frontier Marshalls.

  The GEF has a fleet of warships and a well-trained army, but unfortunately cannot be everywhere at once. The GEF is technically under the direction of the Earth Council and its appointed delegates, although it has a reputation for siding with corporate concerns first and foremost. 

  Frontier Marshalls are spread even more thinly, but are empowered to act as judge, jury and executioner in all matters requiring their attention. 

  Outside of these two protective influences, most space explorers and frontier settlers have learned to rely on their wits and their own sidearms. Fringe colonies often appoint their own sheriffs or organize militias. The megacorporations may employ their own highly trained soldiers or mercenaries, and have vast wealth and resources to arm and support them.

Former Background:

Colony Settler

*born on a colony or on a colony ship

Colonial Militia

Galactic Expeditionary Force

- Served a tour

- Medically discharged

- Dishonorably discharged

Mercenary

Former Corporate

Former Raider

Earther

- Slums

- Wastes

- Ecosphere

Terran System Colonist

- Lunar

- Mars

- Jupiter

- Saturn

- Outpost Nine (Pluto)

Colonial Sheriff or Deputy

Frontier Marshall

Science Team

University Scholar

New Recruit

Service Industry

Manufacturing Plant

Deep Space Mapping Expedition

Geological Survey Team

Mining Operation / Refining

Starship Manufacturing Platform

Child of Explorers

Husk Beetle Exterminator

Known/Encountered Alien Species:

Grakken (singular and plural) :

  Encountered as a simple humanoid hunter/gatherer species on the arid world of Grakkis, Mankind's first dealings with them went poorly. Nomadic in nature, they began to resent the encroachment of human settlers. War eventually broke out, but despite the ferocity of the Grakken, they were no match for human weaponry. When peace was finally declared, the Grakken would eventually assimilate into human society. Still looked down upon by some humans, the Grakken are a proud race. They took surprisingly well to space travel, and have proven themselves exceptionally able explorers and soldiers. They are very strong, resilient and possess excellent stamina.

  Grakken are usually taller than the human average. Both males and females are practically hairless. Their skin ranges in hue, typically in muted shades of gray, purple or dark orange. They have bright, catlike eyes, slightly pointed ears and large mouths with small, daggerlike teeth. They can see vey well in lowlight conditions, but not total darkness.

  These beings are fiercely loyal. They are usually very honest and straightforward, to the point of being painfully blunt. They will not hide feelings of hostility toward an enemy. They have a difficult time dealing with deception, because it is not usually in their nature. It's not that they don't understand the concept, it's just that they do not believe in saying one thing and thinking or doing something else. Lying to a Grakken is considered a great insult. Betrayal is an unforgivable sin in their eyes. That being said, Grakken who have become dishonored in some way, or who fallen victim to human vices such as drugs or alcohol can easily fall in with the wrong crowd.

The Arradyne :

  The Arradyne are humanoid beings from a misty, temperate world they call Arrados. Although nearly as advanced scientifically as humans, if not more so, they never discovered space travel. Ancient ruins on their world and others hint at a capacity for such travel at some point in the past, but the Arradyne have no records from that time. It is believed that war or some great cataclysm befell their people many generations ago.

  Male Arradyne are highly analytical thinkers, and excel in math and science. Female Arradyne have an uncanny empathy and seem inclined to be more adventurous. Females are also able to detect emotions. Both sexes excel at language (theirs is very intricate.) They learn new languages easily, which was discovered when humans first encountered them. They also seem able to discern when someone is lying by detecting simple changes in inflection or tone.

  Arradyne appear vaguely human, but with less defined, almost childlike features. They live slightly longer than humans and their age is difficult to determine. Their skin is usually powder blue or greenish in tone. Apart from their hair and eyes, which seem to come in any color imaginable, members of the same sex are very difficult for humans to tell apart. Most Arradyne stand roughly 5'8" to 5'11" and have light, agile frames rarely exceeding 150 pounds. Two similar Arradyne could very easily impersonate one another. It is reasons like this (coupled with the empathy demonstrated by females) that many corporations will not hire them, citing security concerns.

  Male Arradyne tend to be far more serious than their female counterparts, although they seem to "lighten up" somewhat when in a "Pairing" (the Arradyne term for a marriage, which involves a very long courtship, and several rituals.)

Tkklik:

  An insectoid race of space nomads, these creatures spend most of their lives aboard organic-looking vessels or occasionally foraging or scrounging on various worlds. Occasionally they will build an organic "hive" on a planet for procreation purposes. They have only been discovered recently, but now seem to pop up occasionally near human settlements.

  These creatures are incredibly skittish, and usually have no interest in interacting with other species. They do however seem to be fascinated with waste materials humans discard. They have also been known to trade for items of little worth to humans. They are generally harmless, but their appetites become voracious when they are approaching their mating period.

  Tkkliks range from 5 1/2 to 7 feet in height, have four arms, large hairy abdomens, what appear to be vestigial wings and somewhat resemble the common housefly. They speak in a mixture of chattering, clicking and buzzing, although they can employ a rudimentary form of sign language to get their point across. Some Arradyne have been known to successfully communicate with them.

The Vohr (Vohran) :

  Little is known about this species. They were encountered during early colonization efforts. A fleet of sleek, obsidian craft suddenly materialized into orbit over the newly dubbed planet Reutan, and began attacking colony ships with powerful energy weapons. Nearly every Terran ship was destroyed, and then the attackers simply vanished as quickly as they had appeared. They have not made another appearance in over four decades, although the event did much to sober humanity into realizing they may not be the masters of this universe. A strange transmission broadcast from one of the ships could only be interpreted as the sound "VOOR." 

  No 'Vohran' has ever been glimpsed, despite tall tales by explorers to the contrary. Reutan remains only sparsely populated since the initial attack.

Husk Beetles:

  These vermin are a great nuisance and a terrible threat to shipboard food supplies and crops. So named for their ability to shed their shell as they grow (sometimes to enormous sizes,) they quickly spread to dozens of worlds after their first meeting with humans. They begin their life cycles at about the size of a normal Earth beetle, but quickly grow and multiply. They are resistant to most forms of poison and insecticide, and infestations of these creatures are very hard to eradicate. They will usually die off if a queen can be discovered and eliminated, although it appears that a beetle may evolve into a queen to start a new colony.

  Husk beetle extermination has become a lucrative profession and can even be a sidejob for those looking to make some extra money.