Cahaun
07-24-2012, 09:59 PM
The Blackstar Chronicles Lore!
Welcome to the thread of knowledge! This thread is dedicated to open your eyes to the galaxy in which the UC Blackstar is stationed in!
With the rising-in-popularity book, The Blackstar Chronicles by Battlegrinder, I am now a devote Lorekeeper to help make a base of knowledge that more stories can stand on! I'll talk about events, companies, people, planets, and much more! If you wish to contribute to my ever so rising lore library, just pm me or post here anything you find!
One more thing before I let you all go and expand your minds: I'm doing this all on mobile. I will get on a computer and make everything as fresh as possible!
History and Events (Timeline)
2020: First military laser invented by US military.
2032: The plague of terrorism and efforts to stop it came to an end as allied forces from the USA, Russia, Germany, Britain, and France launch a massive assault on the Middle East. The attacking military forces ignore national boundaries, pursuing terrorist and raiding suspected training camps, aiming to end the scourge of violence once and for all. Israel takes the opportunity to launch a major offensive, tripling its territory and seizing control of the Suez Canal. The massive attack triggered international outrage, but also results in crippling damage to remaining terrorist organizations.
2050: Most of Europe, South America, and North America, along with Russia, Japan and Israel join NATO. NATO, in acknowledgement of the shift in membership and purpose, changes its name to the Alliance. In response to the increasing political, economic, and military threat posed by the Alliance, most of Asia, The Middle East, and Africa form the Beijing Compact.
2055: Fusion power perfected by US-Swiss joint research program, resulting in the end of energy crisis that had plagued the world for decades. Tensions between the Alliance and Compact rise as the Alliance refuse to share the technology beyond its borders. Fusion power and trade began to draw Alliance member nations together. As relations between the two massive entities sour, a new cold war begins.
2060: Based on plans stolen from the Alliance, the first Compact fusion reactor goes online. Both the Alliance and Compact began pouring funding into R&D. Fuelled by limitless fusion power, technology advances at a rate not seen since the second world war.
2075: Alliance and Compact joint space exploration projects establish the first permanent lunar outpost. The project falls apart when the Alliance is discovered to have placed ground to space weapons emplacements on their part of the base. Both sides approach the brink of war as the Compact demands the weapons be removed, and the Alliance refuses to do so. Eventually, the Alliance dismantles the weapons systems.
2077: The Alliance completes work on the first space based shipyard and orbital elevator, and began constructing spacecraft in earth orbit. The Compact’s efforts to construct their own shipyard and elevator continue to suffer setbacks. Alliance sabotage is suspected, but never proved. Tensions once again rise when Compact ships discover that the Alliance ships have been armed. Alliance nations withdraw from treaties banning the militarization of space. Alliance R&D efforts secretly create the first nanocomputers.
2080: Compact nations launch an assault on the Alliance orbit shipyard and elevator, destroying the shipyard and damaging the elevator. The Alliance responds by issuing a declaration of war, launching a massive attack against the compact with space based weapons mounted on board their ships. Compact anti-missile lasers prevent most of the strikes from landing. Ground combat follows, and WWIII begins.
2083: The Alliance starts to be driven back on the ground, losing territory in Canada, South America, and Russia. The first lunar military base is established by the Alliance, providing a base for resupply and repair of spacecraft. The Alliance also launches the first wartime nuclear strike since world war two, obliterating the Compact Fourth Northern Army, responsible for attempting to conquer a substantial beachhead inside Canada. A Compact retaliatory strike destroys the Russian-German tenth division, along with the city of Buenos Aires it was defending. Several other strikes and counter strikes are launched, before cooler heads prevail and ban the use of nuclear weapon during the conflict. Almost five hundred million lives are lost in the exchange.
2088: Battered Alliance forces began pushing back against the compact, reclaim lost ground. They are added in this effort by the Zeus Orbital Particle Beam Cannon, more popularly called the Ion Cannon. Alliance forces make massive gains, until a Compact task force is able to destroy the Ion Cannon. Alliance forces dig in along the front lines, and the war settles into a stalemate.
2090: Alliance frontlines began to buckle, and a major Compact offensive is planned to break through Alliance lines and overrun Russia and Europe. The Alliance spaceborn naval forces finish project Star Hammer, the largest kinetic weapons platform ever built. Created by grafting dozens of capital-scale engines onto an asteroid. The massive rock was steered into Beijing, capital of the Compact. The massive impact caused the largest explosion in military history, and inflicted crippling damage across a blast area hundreds of mile wide. Almost 2 billion people are killed. The Compact crumbles, unable to sustain the war having suffer such massive loses. World War Three official ends. Almost four and a half Billion lives were lost. Seventeen percent of the Earth’s land area was uninhabitable, and trillions of dollars of damage was caused. Experts and computer models predicted it would take more than sixty years to repair the damage. The victorious Alliance had won the war, but now faced the task of rebuilding a shattered home world.
2100: First Colony outside earth orbit established on Mars. Heavy mining began in the asteroid belt. FLT research began to show fruit. Military nanotechnology becomes available to civilian sector. Most Alliance territory had been rebuilt, Compact areas were still being rebuilt.
2120: Artificial Wormhole Generator invented, FTL travel became possible. Martian colonies continued to expand, human population not residing on Earth reach 6 billion. Alpha Centari colony expedition launches. First Mode created.
2130: Earth-Centari jump gate link established. Terraforming technology becomes viable. Massive expansion of Alliance colonies begins. Population of Humans not residing on Earth is now three times larger than Earth’s population.
2150: Mode become self-aware. Humanity grants full citizenship rights to the now-sentient Mode, Who rapidly form their own nation, the Mode Confederacy. Alliance has established 30 colonies, with a population of almost 40 billion colonists. Alliance efforts to control and supply the colonies begin to falter, as the centralized government becomes overtaxed.
2175: Alliance government launches a massive reorganization. The Alliance formally dissolves, and the various colonial governments from the United Colonies as a replacement. The UC launches preparations for a second wave of mass colonization.
2190: UC launches second wave of colonization, pushing number of colonies up to two hundred. Mode Confederacy and United Colonies become formal allies, establishing trade treaties, military alliances, and exchange of technology.
2200: UC and Mode joint expedition establishes first contact with Altera. Ursan Federation formally joins preexisting treaties between Mode and UC, becoming third member of the major galactic powers. Contact with UC asteroid mining colony of Alpha five is lost. UC relief makes first contact with Vular. Colony is retaken, with massive loses. UC begins to reorganize its military after the debacle.
2240: UC military reorganization completed. UC Navy is rebuilt, with new ships, newer weapons and tactics, and massively expanded numbers. UC Marine Corps rebuilt as well. Carrying over many traditions of the earlier Alliance Marine Corps, itself a descendant of the United States Marine Corps, the UCMC becomes the largest spaceborne infantry force of the major powers. UC military launches large scale offensive to crush pirates that had established themselves across known space.
2260: Dozens of dormant Vular hives awaken across UC frontier, leading to massive effort to eradicate the infestation and protect civilians. After containing the infestation, the UC sees the need for a larger presence along the frontier.
2280: UC launches first Colonial Support Carrier (CSC), the UCS Lewis. Intended to supply colonies with everything from medical supplies to military aid, as well as serve as a mobile factory to construct needed materials, and be able to act as a mobile jump gate platform to speed transit across UC space.
2300: UCS Blackstar launched. The Blackstar is the last CSC to be launched, bringing the CSC fleet up to a total size of two dozen. UC territory now encompasses five hundred colonies, with a population of almost seven hundred billion. Mode Confederacy numbers two hundred colonies, with three hundred billion citizens. Ursan Federation controls one hundred colonies, with two hundred billion members.
2330: Colonial Independence movement begins, as a number of frontier colonies began to petition for permission to form separate nations beyond UC oversight. UC initially considers granting request, but denies petition once several coups are attempted in the colonies.
2335: Numa Prime mining colony established, and excited UC archeologists flood the planet when ruins of an unknown culture are discovered. Attempts to decipher writings discovered at the site fail, though links to other sites found in Alteran desert are found.
2340: Voleria colony founded. Heavy military presence established on colony, to serve as hub for UC and allied forces out in the frontier.
2351: New London bombing attack by terrorists triggers wars between UC and outer colonies.
2360: UC-colonial war ends with a UC victory.
People of Blackstar and Areas of the Galaxy
Name: Harry Hijack
Status: Bounty (Collected), KIA
Bio: Infamous as he is smart, Harry has been widely know to hijack merchant ships all over the galaxy and selling them to a mysterious buyer.
Many companies have started making no-guns-allowed for their cruisers in an attempt to prevent internal hijacking but it's still controversial and many major trade companies like Cycorp still oppose it.
Harry turned KIA in a hijacking gone bad.
Name: Lasiter Bigsby, CEO Cycorp
Status: Alive
Bio: Lasiter Bigsby knew business after taking many years in the Consumer Industry as Spokesman. For some unknown reasons, Lasiter resigned from his previous work and used all his experience, cunning tactics, and an equally mind-set crew to get Cycorp to where it is now. Many think Bigsby is trying to get Liber Corp to be in part of his now giant industry for their Light Bending Technology.
Name: The Mode (Race)
Status: Allies to the UC Humans
Bio: Mode are artificial intelligence androids originally constructed by humanity as servants, but later became close allies with humanity through the gradual advancements in artificial intelligence.
(Special thanks to Battlegrinder for the info)
Name: The Riven (Race)
Status: Undead
Bio: If you thought the Scorn were harsh, you've never heard of the Riven. They were once alive centuries before Scorn who'd eventually ressurect them for allies. The Riven, however, were centuries older and hince had different mind sets than the newer generations. They thought of the Scorn's acts of slavery and assaults as weak. They believed in genocide and total destruction. In the next following years came the civil war known as the Riven. (Appropriately named with the Riven's name) While they are now allies with the Scorn, they still have animosity towards each other.
Name: Security Chief Danners
Status: KIA
Bio: A retired UC officer and now working for Cycorp, Danner's reputation as an intelligent leader was enough to land him a well paying job. As Security Chief of the Cycorp Industry stationed on U.C.S Blackstar, he worked hard to keep everything in order. Unfortunately for him, an alien infestation broke out on Boss Appreciation day and it was his duty to stop it. With his leadership and combat skills, Danners held the infestation back from the Corporate Offices, Ingredient Storage, and Product Development sectors of the industry until his untimely death at the hands of Dynastar mercenaries.
Name: UCDF
Status: Main military force stationed in U.C.S Blackstar's territory
Bio: The UCDF stands for United Colonies Defense Force and was formed in the early 22nd century after the first successful colonization to maintain order and peace. While the government and the UCDF can't officially intervene with the many affairs going on, they are still the ones making sure everything is going smoothly. Many, however, believe that the UCDF do unofficial business around the galaxy when choosing the legal way doesn't always bring the good results. They are the colonies' top fighters and the legion of the government.
There are branches off of it like the United Colonies Air Force, but they are all commonly called the UC soldiers.
Planets and Features of the Galaxy
Name: Asteroid Field - Delta
Status: Cycorp controlled mining site
Lore: An asteroid field rich in mining ore, Asteroid field Delta became one of the most contested sites between Cycorp and Dynastar. In the early years of the mining operation, Cycorp produced the Iridium based metal that was made from the ore found in Delta. Finding success in Delta, Cycorp used more and more to reap the wealth from the field until the miners discovered an unidentified egg. While sources cannot specify exactly what happened after due to the loss of life and classified operations that happened after, the effect of this inconvenience caught the attention of Dynastar.
Points of interest: Asteroid field Delta is one of many, but holds the most iridium ore known to the current day. The different sites are marked easily by number so Delta 7 was the seventh mining facility that was built before the infestation.
Name: Planet Coloney - Equinox
Status: UC controlled coloney
Lore: Of all of the colonies in the galaxy, the one on Equinox was a hard gamble. The cold weather and native creatures threatened the coloney workers, but in the end, it was officially established by the time the UCS Blackstar made itself home in the territory.
Points of Interest: The Bar'Chok are native animals of the snowy planet of Equinox and are a main source of food for the colonists. They are mainly in herds are quite loud.
Info extracted from Garvhoz's bio on Red Winter
Name: Planet Coloney - Vuleria
Status: Contested
Lore: Colonized by famed Humanitarian, Governor Underwood in the mid 24th century, Vuleria was a place that symbolized peace. Following that, it also became a successful coloney that was abundant from the resources found. Unfortunately, Vuleria is now a scarred battlefield and is the first battlefront between UC forces and the Scorn.
Points of Interest: Vuleria's beaches aren't the only thing attracting colonists to the planet, but by the exotic food and animals that inhabit it. Vuleria also has a rich mineral supply and is mined by local mining businesses.
DATA FILES
DATA FILE: ARC CANNON
The arc cannon, often called AC or arc by troops, is a relatively recent arrival to the infantryman's arsenal. It was originally used as a mining tool, until a Vular infestation brought its military potential to light. Based plasma technology, the arc cannon fires a highly potent explosive energy bolt. The bolt can breach body armor, burrowing in and detonating inside a target and causing extreme organ trauma. Spectacular as such events are, the arc cannons true potential becomes apparent when it fails to do so. The arc cannon is most lethal when it bolt is able to partial penetrate a target's armor. Once the bolt detonates, the explosion will drive shattered pieces of the armor into the target, along with sending shards of armor flying to embed themselves into anything or anyone near the target. This type of hit has the effect of increasing the injury radius caused by the bolt, as the shards will fly outside the plasma bolt's detonation radius (an area of one or two meters, at best). Despite these advantages, arc cannon are heavy, unwieldy weapons, difficult to use by all save the strongest individuals. They also have a limited rate of fire due to the heat generated by bolt as it travels. Additionally, arc cannon rounds will only remain stable for a short time, limiting the cannon's range to nearly half that of AOK series rifle. That said, the arc cannon is an extremely deadly weapon in the hands of an expert, able to eliminate entire squads in only a few shots.
DATA FILE: AMP PISTOL
The amp pistol is the oldest energy weapon in common use within the UC. Based on a centuries old refinement of laser technology, amp weapons work by exciting a beam of light to the point it displaces the air around it and becomes coherent. The core of this "solid light" is then filled with a dense gas, giving the project extra mass in exchange for slowing it down below light speed. Amp (amplification) technology has been surpassed in lethality and fire rate by newer plasma technology, but is still in use due to the lower recoil, and accuracy of amp weaponry. Amp rifles are extremely rare, because amp technology has an inherently limited fire rate. The handful of efforts to create amp rifles have resulted in highly accurate weapons will poor armor penetration and a semi-automatic fire rate. Efforts to increase the power and range of amp technology have rarely succeeded, though Cycorp has recently made a widely duplicated breakthrough by at least being able to fit a silencer to amp weapons. Some sniper rifles take advantage of amp technology, but such weapons are extremely rare. However, the low recoil and accuracy of amp weapons means that dual wielding them is possible without undue injury to the wielder's wrists, provided a HUD targeting system and proper software are used.
DATA FILE: REPEATER PISTOL
The Cycorp-developed Repeater Heavy Pistol is the most lethal handgun in production. The repeater works by filling its barrel with a dense cloud of plasma. It then fires a small projectile, containing a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field captures some of the plasma from the barrel, turning it into an energy bolt. The bolts fired by repeaters are extremely deadly, able to burn through most materials. However, the high temperature of the plasma also limits the range of the repeater, as it will eventually melt the projectile that generates the magnetic field that encases it. The generating projectiles themselves are also fragile, and can shatter on impact with a sufficiently hardened material. Once magnetic containment is breached, the plasma rapidly expands and cools, becoming harmless. The bolts themselves have little stopping power, as they have very little mass. Finally, reloading a repeater is a longer and more complex process then with most guns, entailing a replacement of the magazine holding the projectiles and the charge canister containing the plasma. Despite these weaknesses, the repeater is still prized for its lethality and firepower.
DATA FILE: AOK RIFLE
The AOK rifle was developed by Dynastar, and was based off earlier weapons that dated to the beginning of human space exploration. Like most modern firearms, the AOK uses plasma technology. Unlike most weapons, the AOK also incorporates a kinetic projectile as a core part of its design. The AOK rifle is in fact a primarily projectile weapon, with energy characteristics as a secondary part of its design. The AOK’s firing mechanism would be recognizable to a soldier from the 20th century, and though it includes several upgrades and improvements, in functions in the same manner as a turn of the millennium assault rifle. The projectiles themselves are markedly different, with a smaller propellant charge due to advances in chemistry, and the bullet itself includes a compact magnetic field generator, smaller than the ones used by repeaters. Once a bullet is fired, it travels down the length of the rifle’s barrel. The AOK actually has a smoothbore barrel, lacking the grooves that defined a rifle by conventional standards. Instead, the AOK includes a compact railgun assembly that has a slight twist along the tracks, spinning the bullet while boosting its speed. As the bullet exits the barrel, it passes through an inch thick plasma barrier, which coats the bullet with a thin plasma skin. AOK rounds are much more effective against armor than would be apparent, as most armor is designed to defeat heat transfer weapons like repeaters rather than kinetic force. The AOK’s purely mechanical firing system also means that it is one of the only weapons capable of functioning in an area flooded by electromagnetic radiation. The rifle’s only real weakness are a smaller number of shots that can be fired before reloading, and poor performance against heavily armored target using standard rounds.
DATA FILE: SPECIALIST WEAPONS AND ACCESSORIES
Most modern weapons fall into a few categories: Amp pistols, repeaters, arc cannons and AOK rifles. Then there are specialist weapons. Shotgun, sniper rifles, flamethrowers, grenade launchers, rocket and missile launchers, power gauntlets, particle rifles and a plethora of other weapons are used by support or specialist personnel. Most weapons are comparable to their 21st century ancestors, aside from a few extremely rare models like particle guns. Particle weaponry were the first energy weapons to be developed, even older than amp weapons. Using a stream of ions aimed with magnetic field generators, particle weapons fire a hot stream of charged particles along a continuous beam. This enables them to be used as both weapons and cutting tools, carving through even reinforced materials. However, the beam has the side effect of pinpointing the shooter, leading two the widespread abandonment of the weapons once amp technology came along. Particle rifles still see use in some Special Forces groups or by pirates. However, they are extremely rare.
Most modern firearms are also designed to work with a number of modular add-ons. Everything from scopes to grenade launchers to bayonets to grappling hooks and laser sights can be attached to standard weapons. Weapons fitted with such accessories are often carried by Special Forces and Mercenaries, who use weapons with as much versatility as possible, given the wide range of situations they often find themselves in. Accessories that see particularly common use include SureShot scopes, Dynastar grenade launchers, and Vibratech bayonet mounting kits.
DATA FILE: UC COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
UC computer systems, like most other UC technologies, are based on nanotechnology. The technology behind UC nanocomputers were developed as part of a cooperative effort between the US, Britain, France, Germany and Russia. Those early nanocomputers revived the centuries old concept of mechanical computers. These early devices were slower and bulkier than a modern device, but were able to give the Alliance a key advantage over the Beijing Compact during the early days of WWIII. After the resolution of that terrible conflict, and the beginning of modern space exploration began, rich iridium deposits located in the Sol system’s asteroid belt allowed the development of the first polarized nanocable electrical nanocomputers. After two and half centuries of additional development, modern nanocomputers have reached the point where the processing core of the average personal comm has more computing power the famous Cray supercomputer once employed by the United States intelligence services. Raw computing power actually plateaued almost one hundred years ago. Successive generations have focused on increasing the ruggedness and networking capabilities of the devices. Much of this research has been driven by the Mode, who have a vested interest in decreasing their vulnerability to EMP or other disruptions to their central processing systems.
DATA FILE: FASTER THAN LIGHT TRAVEL
FLT was long believed impossible, but during the mid-22nd century, Alliance scientists were able to develop the Artificial Wormhole Generator, or AWG, commonly called the jump drive. The physics behind the AWG are obscenely complex, to the point that there only a relative handful of people with the necessary skill, intelligence, and ability to grasp the concepts well enough to work on research programs focused on improving the technology. A simplistic and moderately inaccurate way of explaining the technology is that the AWG creates a pair of immense gravity wells at two points in space, then connects the points by moving the bottom of the dents in the fabric of space-time together, while keeping the entrance and exit points stationary. A wormhole, also called a jump point, forms once the two points have connected, allowing instant travel between them. If something attempt to jump before the points connect, it will be destroyed, as the gravity wells created up to that point form a highly dangerous black hole. In fact, AWG created black holes have been weaponized in a few notable incidents, though doing so is difficult and normally done only in desperation. At present, three methods of utilizing the AWG for travel exist. The most common method is the compact jump drive built into most UC starships. These versions can travel most anywhere, but take longer to form a jump point, and generally have a shorter range. The second method is via the UC jump gate network, a series of stations scattered across the colonies. Each station contains a number of jump bays, each linked to an AWG and a massive powerplant. These jump bays can rapidly form a jump point to any other bay in the network. The jump gate system also has the ability to form a jump point in open space like a shipboard drive, but use of this capability is generally restricted to high priority traffic only. The jump gate network has high speed and vast range, but a finite number of destinations, making the system unsuitable for a number of tasks. The third and rarest version is the ground-based jump gate. A handful of these devices exist, and are used exclusively by the military. Connect to generators of titanic scale, this system can insert up to a platoon of troops in any location in known space. However, the ground-based jump gate has a very long cycle time, due to the stresses created by forming such a compact wormhole inside the gravity well of a planet or other large body.
DATA FILE: UCS BLACKSTAR
Launched in 2300 from the Mars shipyards, the UCS Blackstar is the last and largest of the twenty four colonial support carriers (CSC) in the UC fleet. The massive vessel measures three miles long, two and a half miles tall, and nearly two miles from port to starboard. Like all CSCs, the Blackstar is intended to assist UC and allied colonies along the frontier. The ship carries everything from prefabricated housing to advanced medical equipment. It also carries a half million UC Marines, along with a few companies of troops from the Mode Confederacy and Ursan Federation. The ship also houses nearly three million civilians, everyone from top scientists to colonists and mineral prospectors. The Blackstar also serves as a bleeding edge research site for a number of organizations, including several titanic megacorporations. The Blackstar is one of a handful of vessels able to mount a jump gate, allowing ships to jump from the heart of UC territory directly to the frontier. It is also rumored to have a ground based jump gate buried deep within her hull. The Blackstar is heavily armed, with more than fifty missile batteries, several hundred point-defense laser turrets, and a pair of axial ion cannons, and is clad in three meters of armor plating, making it one of the most well armored ships in the UC fleet. Massive power generators provide enough power to the ship each day to run most colonies for a month
DATA FILE: VULAR
History: The Vular were first encountered in by the current galactic powers in 2200, when the mining colony Alpha Five inadvertently unsealed a dormant Vular hive. The colony was wiped out, along with near 60% of the UC relief force sent to investigate after contact with the colony was disrupted. After the fiasco, the UC reorganized, redesigned its organization to better defeat any future incursions. The UC’s preparations were put to the test sixty years later, when dozens of Hives became active across the frontier, and scores of colonies were under siege. Fortunately, the UC was able to repel the incursions, and destroy the infestations.
In the modern age, the Vular remain dangerous, especial to smaller, poorly defended colonies. Due to a the particulars of Vular biology and the large garrisons of militia personal, Vular are rarely able to establish a presence on planetary colonies, though those based on moons or asteroids are more vulnerable to Vular.
Origins: The Origin of the Vular is unknown. Given they lack any method of space travel, aside from hitching rides on unsuspecting starships, it remains unknown how they have managed to seed hives on dozens of planets and asteroids. One common theory is that they once possessed the means to travel among the stars, but somehow lost the ability to do so. Another theory, supported by a number of military personal, is that the Vular are/where biological weapons of some kind, set up in hives as a defense to prevent intruders from setting up colonies in certain regions, or used to wipe out an enemy of some kind, then abandoned once their mission was complete. There are other theories, ranging from the Vular being created by terrorist, and the inevitable accusation that they were created by any number of alleged conspiracies or secret organizations.
General Biology: The Vular are widely believed to be insectoid in nature, and their appearance and the various names of the different Vular forms support this perception. However, the Vular are actually warm blooded mammals, though given the number of traits they share with other forms of life, the misperception is quite understandable.
The Vular are also thought by many to be sentient, but a number of research projects and evidence from the field have established that they are not. However, they are remarkably intelligent, and are quite adapt at hunting even well-armed opponents, as well as being dangerously good at instinctively hiding until they can emerge and overrun defenders.
Most Vular share a number of common traits. They possess both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton, and have muscles much stronger and denser than most creatures. Their mouths are circular, and their bite wounds are concave holes, and are consequently more difficult to treat than more conventional wounds. Vular claws are also oddly shaped and leave puncture wounds that are very hard to close. They have poor to no hearing, and appear to lack a sense of smell. They see in infrared, and their blood is toxic to most life. Bizarrely, Vular blood also has a number of addictive properties. They also have a number of redundant organs, which coupled with their twin skeletons makes them far more resistant to injury then would be apparent. Given the bizarre mix of traits possessed by the Vular, and how incredibly dangerous they have proven to be, one can see why some believe them to be unnaturally created.
Vular Subtypes: The Vular are a species with a number of distinctive forms, much like Earth ants or Alterran wasps.
Drones are the most common form, and compose around 90% of the average hive. They stand about half a meter tall, and are fully a meter from head to tall, and mass in at almost 135 pounds. They are semi- quadrupedal, normal walking on four legs. However, when they encounter a threat, they will use their forelegs to attack. They are remarkable tough for a creature of their size, capable of shrugging off moderate amounts of gunfire. Their thick carapace is almost immune to handgun rounds, and rifles have a tough time punching through. They have two hearts and a pair of lungs, though they only need one of each for a creature of their size. As they have two, they are quite a bit faster than would be suggested for a creature of their size and weight. However, they are not very nimble, as their exoskeleton limits their movement.
Soldiers are the only other Vular form to be commonly encountered, and they make up around 9% of the average hive. They are two meters tall and a little more than three meters long. They share the same semi-quadrupedal walking style of drones, and in fact they often behave like oversized drones. Given their greater size, they are much tougher than drones. Their carapace is fully immune to most pistol rounds, and even high powered rifle rounds will only break through once out of every three or four hits. They have much longer claws that drones, and can bit through grade three body armor with ease. However, they have very poor mobility, due to their weight. In fact, Soldiers are considered something of a joke in planetary combat situations, as they have extreme difficulty moving about. In a low gravity environment it’s a different story, as they can compensate for their low weight and become much faster and more dangerous.
Vular Tanks are extremely rare. They are a massive creature, perhaps a meter and a half tall and four meters long, but weighting more than a ton and a half. They are nearly blind, and instead use some form of echolocation to find targets. Their massive claws are extremely sharp, and coupled with the huge muscles that power their claws, can cleave through even the heaviest body armor in the UC. An extremely thick exoskeleton makes them virtually indestructible, only heavy weapons have a chance at punching through. They are not found on planets, as they would be crushed under their own weight if subjected to normal gravity. They can only grow in low gravity environments, where they are extremely dangerous.
There are other forms of Vular rumored to exist, though little evidence supports such rumors. Rumors of human looking Vular called Sirens that sneak up and ambush their prey, massive wormlike leviathans that can crush tanks and swallow men whole, invisible creatures called stalkers, and other rumors even more fantastic. It need not be said that most biologists do not buy into such rumors.
Vular Behavior: Vular exhibit a number of unusual behaviors. Much of the information regarding their behavior comes from combat recordings, as research studies focusing on Vular are extremely dangerous, and tend to end violently.
Vular frequently engage in claw sharpening behavior, scratching their claws against hard surfaces to make them more lethal. It’s unknown how this behavior developed, but all Vular seem to engage in it.
Vular Soldiers and Drones display a noticeable reluctance to attack when confronted by flamethrowers. As they don’t exhibit any other fear of fire, researchers do not believe this is a sign that they recognize the danger of fire. Rather, they believe that since the Vular see in thermal vision, the Vular perceive flamethrowers as part of the person holding it. Thus, the Vular see a normal, human sized target, which frequently grows several times its size, every time they get near it. As a result, they avoid engaging. The reader should not that Vular Tanks are not deterred by flamethrowers, as they use a different sensory system then other Vular.
Despite lacking any way to perceive it, Vular are bizarrely fond of lurking in dark spaces. In fact, Vular excel at sneaking about, in spite of the fact that their sensory organs are not capable of detecting darkness. Some biologists believe that Vular must possess some form of light detection, as they cannot imagine any other way the Vular would be so adapt at find dark, hidden spaces to lurk in. However, no trace of such an ability has yet to be found. As Vular do not noticeable react to light sources (like the spotlights of military forces), this theory is not given much credence by most experts in the field.
Despite almost supernatural sense in some regards, like the aforementioned ability to find hidden spaces to lurk in, the Vular can also be incredibly oblivious. Their poor hearing has frequently allowed military forces to ambush concentrations of Vular one at a time, without attracting attention of nearby Vular. This tendency of Vular to bunch up in small groups is another odd instinct, one that is aids the Vular as much as it hinders them.
More on the way!
Welcome to the thread of knowledge! This thread is dedicated to open your eyes to the galaxy in which the UC Blackstar is stationed in!
With the rising-in-popularity book, The Blackstar Chronicles by Battlegrinder, I am now a devote Lorekeeper to help make a base of knowledge that more stories can stand on! I'll talk about events, companies, people, planets, and much more! If you wish to contribute to my ever so rising lore library, just pm me or post here anything you find!
One more thing before I let you all go and expand your minds: I'm doing this all on mobile. I will get on a computer and make everything as fresh as possible!
History and Events (Timeline)
2020: First military laser invented by US military.
2032: The plague of terrorism and efforts to stop it came to an end as allied forces from the USA, Russia, Germany, Britain, and France launch a massive assault on the Middle East. The attacking military forces ignore national boundaries, pursuing terrorist and raiding suspected training camps, aiming to end the scourge of violence once and for all. Israel takes the opportunity to launch a major offensive, tripling its territory and seizing control of the Suez Canal. The massive attack triggered international outrage, but also results in crippling damage to remaining terrorist organizations.
2050: Most of Europe, South America, and North America, along with Russia, Japan and Israel join NATO. NATO, in acknowledgement of the shift in membership and purpose, changes its name to the Alliance. In response to the increasing political, economic, and military threat posed by the Alliance, most of Asia, The Middle East, and Africa form the Beijing Compact.
2055: Fusion power perfected by US-Swiss joint research program, resulting in the end of energy crisis that had plagued the world for decades. Tensions between the Alliance and Compact rise as the Alliance refuse to share the technology beyond its borders. Fusion power and trade began to draw Alliance member nations together. As relations between the two massive entities sour, a new cold war begins.
2060: Based on plans stolen from the Alliance, the first Compact fusion reactor goes online. Both the Alliance and Compact began pouring funding into R&D. Fuelled by limitless fusion power, technology advances at a rate not seen since the second world war.
2075: Alliance and Compact joint space exploration projects establish the first permanent lunar outpost. The project falls apart when the Alliance is discovered to have placed ground to space weapons emplacements on their part of the base. Both sides approach the brink of war as the Compact demands the weapons be removed, and the Alliance refuses to do so. Eventually, the Alliance dismantles the weapons systems.
2077: The Alliance completes work on the first space based shipyard and orbital elevator, and began constructing spacecraft in earth orbit. The Compact’s efforts to construct their own shipyard and elevator continue to suffer setbacks. Alliance sabotage is suspected, but never proved. Tensions once again rise when Compact ships discover that the Alliance ships have been armed. Alliance nations withdraw from treaties banning the militarization of space. Alliance R&D efforts secretly create the first nanocomputers.
2080: Compact nations launch an assault on the Alliance orbit shipyard and elevator, destroying the shipyard and damaging the elevator. The Alliance responds by issuing a declaration of war, launching a massive attack against the compact with space based weapons mounted on board their ships. Compact anti-missile lasers prevent most of the strikes from landing. Ground combat follows, and WWIII begins.
2083: The Alliance starts to be driven back on the ground, losing territory in Canada, South America, and Russia. The first lunar military base is established by the Alliance, providing a base for resupply and repair of spacecraft. The Alliance also launches the first wartime nuclear strike since world war two, obliterating the Compact Fourth Northern Army, responsible for attempting to conquer a substantial beachhead inside Canada. A Compact retaliatory strike destroys the Russian-German tenth division, along with the city of Buenos Aires it was defending. Several other strikes and counter strikes are launched, before cooler heads prevail and ban the use of nuclear weapon during the conflict. Almost five hundred million lives are lost in the exchange.
2088: Battered Alliance forces began pushing back against the compact, reclaim lost ground. They are added in this effort by the Zeus Orbital Particle Beam Cannon, more popularly called the Ion Cannon. Alliance forces make massive gains, until a Compact task force is able to destroy the Ion Cannon. Alliance forces dig in along the front lines, and the war settles into a stalemate.
2090: Alliance frontlines began to buckle, and a major Compact offensive is planned to break through Alliance lines and overrun Russia and Europe. The Alliance spaceborn naval forces finish project Star Hammer, the largest kinetic weapons platform ever built. Created by grafting dozens of capital-scale engines onto an asteroid. The massive rock was steered into Beijing, capital of the Compact. The massive impact caused the largest explosion in military history, and inflicted crippling damage across a blast area hundreds of mile wide. Almost 2 billion people are killed. The Compact crumbles, unable to sustain the war having suffer such massive loses. World War Three official ends. Almost four and a half Billion lives were lost. Seventeen percent of the Earth’s land area was uninhabitable, and trillions of dollars of damage was caused. Experts and computer models predicted it would take more than sixty years to repair the damage. The victorious Alliance had won the war, but now faced the task of rebuilding a shattered home world.
2100: First Colony outside earth orbit established on Mars. Heavy mining began in the asteroid belt. FLT research began to show fruit. Military nanotechnology becomes available to civilian sector. Most Alliance territory had been rebuilt, Compact areas were still being rebuilt.
2120: Artificial Wormhole Generator invented, FTL travel became possible. Martian colonies continued to expand, human population not residing on Earth reach 6 billion. Alpha Centari colony expedition launches. First Mode created.
2130: Earth-Centari jump gate link established. Terraforming technology becomes viable. Massive expansion of Alliance colonies begins. Population of Humans not residing on Earth is now three times larger than Earth’s population.
2150: Mode become self-aware. Humanity grants full citizenship rights to the now-sentient Mode, Who rapidly form their own nation, the Mode Confederacy. Alliance has established 30 colonies, with a population of almost 40 billion colonists. Alliance efforts to control and supply the colonies begin to falter, as the centralized government becomes overtaxed.
2175: Alliance government launches a massive reorganization. The Alliance formally dissolves, and the various colonial governments from the United Colonies as a replacement. The UC launches preparations for a second wave of mass colonization.
2190: UC launches second wave of colonization, pushing number of colonies up to two hundred. Mode Confederacy and United Colonies become formal allies, establishing trade treaties, military alliances, and exchange of technology.
2200: UC and Mode joint expedition establishes first contact with Altera. Ursan Federation formally joins preexisting treaties between Mode and UC, becoming third member of the major galactic powers. Contact with UC asteroid mining colony of Alpha five is lost. UC relief makes first contact with Vular. Colony is retaken, with massive loses. UC begins to reorganize its military after the debacle.
2240: UC military reorganization completed. UC Navy is rebuilt, with new ships, newer weapons and tactics, and massively expanded numbers. UC Marine Corps rebuilt as well. Carrying over many traditions of the earlier Alliance Marine Corps, itself a descendant of the United States Marine Corps, the UCMC becomes the largest spaceborne infantry force of the major powers. UC military launches large scale offensive to crush pirates that had established themselves across known space.
2260: Dozens of dormant Vular hives awaken across UC frontier, leading to massive effort to eradicate the infestation and protect civilians. After containing the infestation, the UC sees the need for a larger presence along the frontier.
2280: UC launches first Colonial Support Carrier (CSC), the UCS Lewis. Intended to supply colonies with everything from medical supplies to military aid, as well as serve as a mobile factory to construct needed materials, and be able to act as a mobile jump gate platform to speed transit across UC space.
2300: UCS Blackstar launched. The Blackstar is the last CSC to be launched, bringing the CSC fleet up to a total size of two dozen. UC territory now encompasses five hundred colonies, with a population of almost seven hundred billion. Mode Confederacy numbers two hundred colonies, with three hundred billion citizens. Ursan Federation controls one hundred colonies, with two hundred billion members.
2330: Colonial Independence movement begins, as a number of frontier colonies began to petition for permission to form separate nations beyond UC oversight. UC initially considers granting request, but denies petition once several coups are attempted in the colonies.
2335: Numa Prime mining colony established, and excited UC archeologists flood the planet when ruins of an unknown culture are discovered. Attempts to decipher writings discovered at the site fail, though links to other sites found in Alteran desert are found.
2340: Voleria colony founded. Heavy military presence established on colony, to serve as hub for UC and allied forces out in the frontier.
2351: New London bombing attack by terrorists triggers wars between UC and outer colonies.
2360: UC-colonial war ends with a UC victory.
People of Blackstar and Areas of the Galaxy
Name: Harry Hijack
Status: Bounty (Collected), KIA
Bio: Infamous as he is smart, Harry has been widely know to hijack merchant ships all over the galaxy and selling them to a mysterious buyer.
Many companies have started making no-guns-allowed for their cruisers in an attempt to prevent internal hijacking but it's still controversial and many major trade companies like Cycorp still oppose it.
Harry turned KIA in a hijacking gone bad.
Name: Lasiter Bigsby, CEO Cycorp
Status: Alive
Bio: Lasiter Bigsby knew business after taking many years in the Consumer Industry as Spokesman. For some unknown reasons, Lasiter resigned from his previous work and used all his experience, cunning tactics, and an equally mind-set crew to get Cycorp to where it is now. Many think Bigsby is trying to get Liber Corp to be in part of his now giant industry for their Light Bending Technology.
Name: The Mode (Race)
Status: Allies to the UC Humans
Bio: Mode are artificial intelligence androids originally constructed by humanity as servants, but later became close allies with humanity through the gradual advancements in artificial intelligence.
(Special thanks to Battlegrinder for the info)
Name: The Riven (Race)
Status: Undead
Bio: If you thought the Scorn were harsh, you've never heard of the Riven. They were once alive centuries before Scorn who'd eventually ressurect them for allies. The Riven, however, were centuries older and hince had different mind sets than the newer generations. They thought of the Scorn's acts of slavery and assaults as weak. They believed in genocide and total destruction. In the next following years came the civil war known as the Riven. (Appropriately named with the Riven's name) While they are now allies with the Scorn, they still have animosity towards each other.
Name: Security Chief Danners
Status: KIA
Bio: A retired UC officer and now working for Cycorp, Danner's reputation as an intelligent leader was enough to land him a well paying job. As Security Chief of the Cycorp Industry stationed on U.C.S Blackstar, he worked hard to keep everything in order. Unfortunately for him, an alien infestation broke out on Boss Appreciation day and it was his duty to stop it. With his leadership and combat skills, Danners held the infestation back from the Corporate Offices, Ingredient Storage, and Product Development sectors of the industry until his untimely death at the hands of Dynastar mercenaries.
Name: UCDF
Status: Main military force stationed in U.C.S Blackstar's territory
Bio: The UCDF stands for United Colonies Defense Force and was formed in the early 22nd century after the first successful colonization to maintain order and peace. While the government and the UCDF can't officially intervene with the many affairs going on, they are still the ones making sure everything is going smoothly. Many, however, believe that the UCDF do unofficial business around the galaxy when choosing the legal way doesn't always bring the good results. They are the colonies' top fighters and the legion of the government.
There are branches off of it like the United Colonies Air Force, but they are all commonly called the UC soldiers.
Planets and Features of the Galaxy
Name: Asteroid Field - Delta
Status: Cycorp controlled mining site
Lore: An asteroid field rich in mining ore, Asteroid field Delta became one of the most contested sites between Cycorp and Dynastar. In the early years of the mining operation, Cycorp produced the Iridium based metal that was made from the ore found in Delta. Finding success in Delta, Cycorp used more and more to reap the wealth from the field until the miners discovered an unidentified egg. While sources cannot specify exactly what happened after due to the loss of life and classified operations that happened after, the effect of this inconvenience caught the attention of Dynastar.
Points of interest: Asteroid field Delta is one of many, but holds the most iridium ore known to the current day. The different sites are marked easily by number so Delta 7 was the seventh mining facility that was built before the infestation.
Name: Planet Coloney - Equinox
Status: UC controlled coloney
Lore: Of all of the colonies in the galaxy, the one on Equinox was a hard gamble. The cold weather and native creatures threatened the coloney workers, but in the end, it was officially established by the time the UCS Blackstar made itself home in the territory.
Points of Interest: The Bar'Chok are native animals of the snowy planet of Equinox and are a main source of food for the colonists. They are mainly in herds are quite loud.
Info extracted from Garvhoz's bio on Red Winter
Name: Planet Coloney - Vuleria
Status: Contested
Lore: Colonized by famed Humanitarian, Governor Underwood in the mid 24th century, Vuleria was a place that symbolized peace. Following that, it also became a successful coloney that was abundant from the resources found. Unfortunately, Vuleria is now a scarred battlefield and is the first battlefront between UC forces and the Scorn.
Points of Interest: Vuleria's beaches aren't the only thing attracting colonists to the planet, but by the exotic food and animals that inhabit it. Vuleria also has a rich mineral supply and is mined by local mining businesses.
DATA FILES
DATA FILE: ARC CANNON
The arc cannon, often called AC or arc by troops, is a relatively recent arrival to the infantryman's arsenal. It was originally used as a mining tool, until a Vular infestation brought its military potential to light. Based plasma technology, the arc cannon fires a highly potent explosive energy bolt. The bolt can breach body armor, burrowing in and detonating inside a target and causing extreme organ trauma. Spectacular as such events are, the arc cannons true potential becomes apparent when it fails to do so. The arc cannon is most lethal when it bolt is able to partial penetrate a target's armor. Once the bolt detonates, the explosion will drive shattered pieces of the armor into the target, along with sending shards of armor flying to embed themselves into anything or anyone near the target. This type of hit has the effect of increasing the injury radius caused by the bolt, as the shards will fly outside the plasma bolt's detonation radius (an area of one or two meters, at best). Despite these advantages, arc cannon are heavy, unwieldy weapons, difficult to use by all save the strongest individuals. They also have a limited rate of fire due to the heat generated by bolt as it travels. Additionally, arc cannon rounds will only remain stable for a short time, limiting the cannon's range to nearly half that of AOK series rifle. That said, the arc cannon is an extremely deadly weapon in the hands of an expert, able to eliminate entire squads in only a few shots.
DATA FILE: AMP PISTOL
The amp pistol is the oldest energy weapon in common use within the UC. Based on a centuries old refinement of laser technology, amp weapons work by exciting a beam of light to the point it displaces the air around it and becomes coherent. The core of this "solid light" is then filled with a dense gas, giving the project extra mass in exchange for slowing it down below light speed. Amp (amplification) technology has been surpassed in lethality and fire rate by newer plasma technology, but is still in use due to the lower recoil, and accuracy of amp weaponry. Amp rifles are extremely rare, because amp technology has an inherently limited fire rate. The handful of efforts to create amp rifles have resulted in highly accurate weapons will poor armor penetration and a semi-automatic fire rate. Efforts to increase the power and range of amp technology have rarely succeeded, though Cycorp has recently made a widely duplicated breakthrough by at least being able to fit a silencer to amp weapons. Some sniper rifles take advantage of amp technology, but such weapons are extremely rare. However, the low recoil and accuracy of amp weapons means that dual wielding them is possible without undue injury to the wielder's wrists, provided a HUD targeting system and proper software are used.
DATA FILE: REPEATER PISTOL
The Cycorp-developed Repeater Heavy Pistol is the most lethal handgun in production. The repeater works by filling its barrel with a dense cloud of plasma. It then fires a small projectile, containing a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field captures some of the plasma from the barrel, turning it into an energy bolt. The bolts fired by repeaters are extremely deadly, able to burn through most materials. However, the high temperature of the plasma also limits the range of the repeater, as it will eventually melt the projectile that generates the magnetic field that encases it. The generating projectiles themselves are also fragile, and can shatter on impact with a sufficiently hardened material. Once magnetic containment is breached, the plasma rapidly expands and cools, becoming harmless. The bolts themselves have little stopping power, as they have very little mass. Finally, reloading a repeater is a longer and more complex process then with most guns, entailing a replacement of the magazine holding the projectiles and the charge canister containing the plasma. Despite these weaknesses, the repeater is still prized for its lethality and firepower.
DATA FILE: AOK RIFLE
The AOK rifle was developed by Dynastar, and was based off earlier weapons that dated to the beginning of human space exploration. Like most modern firearms, the AOK uses plasma technology. Unlike most weapons, the AOK also incorporates a kinetic projectile as a core part of its design. The AOK rifle is in fact a primarily projectile weapon, with energy characteristics as a secondary part of its design. The AOK’s firing mechanism would be recognizable to a soldier from the 20th century, and though it includes several upgrades and improvements, in functions in the same manner as a turn of the millennium assault rifle. The projectiles themselves are markedly different, with a smaller propellant charge due to advances in chemistry, and the bullet itself includes a compact magnetic field generator, smaller than the ones used by repeaters. Once a bullet is fired, it travels down the length of the rifle’s barrel. The AOK actually has a smoothbore barrel, lacking the grooves that defined a rifle by conventional standards. Instead, the AOK includes a compact railgun assembly that has a slight twist along the tracks, spinning the bullet while boosting its speed. As the bullet exits the barrel, it passes through an inch thick plasma barrier, which coats the bullet with a thin plasma skin. AOK rounds are much more effective against armor than would be apparent, as most armor is designed to defeat heat transfer weapons like repeaters rather than kinetic force. The AOK’s purely mechanical firing system also means that it is one of the only weapons capable of functioning in an area flooded by electromagnetic radiation. The rifle’s only real weakness are a smaller number of shots that can be fired before reloading, and poor performance against heavily armored target using standard rounds.
DATA FILE: SPECIALIST WEAPONS AND ACCESSORIES
Most modern weapons fall into a few categories: Amp pistols, repeaters, arc cannons and AOK rifles. Then there are specialist weapons. Shotgun, sniper rifles, flamethrowers, grenade launchers, rocket and missile launchers, power gauntlets, particle rifles and a plethora of other weapons are used by support or specialist personnel. Most weapons are comparable to their 21st century ancestors, aside from a few extremely rare models like particle guns. Particle weaponry were the first energy weapons to be developed, even older than amp weapons. Using a stream of ions aimed with magnetic field generators, particle weapons fire a hot stream of charged particles along a continuous beam. This enables them to be used as both weapons and cutting tools, carving through even reinforced materials. However, the beam has the side effect of pinpointing the shooter, leading two the widespread abandonment of the weapons once amp technology came along. Particle rifles still see use in some Special Forces groups or by pirates. However, they are extremely rare.
Most modern firearms are also designed to work with a number of modular add-ons. Everything from scopes to grenade launchers to bayonets to grappling hooks and laser sights can be attached to standard weapons. Weapons fitted with such accessories are often carried by Special Forces and Mercenaries, who use weapons with as much versatility as possible, given the wide range of situations they often find themselves in. Accessories that see particularly common use include SureShot scopes, Dynastar grenade launchers, and Vibratech bayonet mounting kits.
DATA FILE: UC COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
UC computer systems, like most other UC technologies, are based on nanotechnology. The technology behind UC nanocomputers were developed as part of a cooperative effort between the US, Britain, France, Germany and Russia. Those early nanocomputers revived the centuries old concept of mechanical computers. These early devices were slower and bulkier than a modern device, but were able to give the Alliance a key advantage over the Beijing Compact during the early days of WWIII. After the resolution of that terrible conflict, and the beginning of modern space exploration began, rich iridium deposits located in the Sol system’s asteroid belt allowed the development of the first polarized nanocable electrical nanocomputers. After two and half centuries of additional development, modern nanocomputers have reached the point where the processing core of the average personal comm has more computing power the famous Cray supercomputer once employed by the United States intelligence services. Raw computing power actually plateaued almost one hundred years ago. Successive generations have focused on increasing the ruggedness and networking capabilities of the devices. Much of this research has been driven by the Mode, who have a vested interest in decreasing their vulnerability to EMP or other disruptions to their central processing systems.
DATA FILE: FASTER THAN LIGHT TRAVEL
FLT was long believed impossible, but during the mid-22nd century, Alliance scientists were able to develop the Artificial Wormhole Generator, or AWG, commonly called the jump drive. The physics behind the AWG are obscenely complex, to the point that there only a relative handful of people with the necessary skill, intelligence, and ability to grasp the concepts well enough to work on research programs focused on improving the technology. A simplistic and moderately inaccurate way of explaining the technology is that the AWG creates a pair of immense gravity wells at two points in space, then connects the points by moving the bottom of the dents in the fabric of space-time together, while keeping the entrance and exit points stationary. A wormhole, also called a jump point, forms once the two points have connected, allowing instant travel between them. If something attempt to jump before the points connect, it will be destroyed, as the gravity wells created up to that point form a highly dangerous black hole. In fact, AWG created black holes have been weaponized in a few notable incidents, though doing so is difficult and normally done only in desperation. At present, three methods of utilizing the AWG for travel exist. The most common method is the compact jump drive built into most UC starships. These versions can travel most anywhere, but take longer to form a jump point, and generally have a shorter range. The second method is via the UC jump gate network, a series of stations scattered across the colonies. Each station contains a number of jump bays, each linked to an AWG and a massive powerplant. These jump bays can rapidly form a jump point to any other bay in the network. The jump gate system also has the ability to form a jump point in open space like a shipboard drive, but use of this capability is generally restricted to high priority traffic only. The jump gate network has high speed and vast range, but a finite number of destinations, making the system unsuitable for a number of tasks. The third and rarest version is the ground-based jump gate. A handful of these devices exist, and are used exclusively by the military. Connect to generators of titanic scale, this system can insert up to a platoon of troops in any location in known space. However, the ground-based jump gate has a very long cycle time, due to the stresses created by forming such a compact wormhole inside the gravity well of a planet or other large body.
DATA FILE: UCS BLACKSTAR
Launched in 2300 from the Mars shipyards, the UCS Blackstar is the last and largest of the twenty four colonial support carriers (CSC) in the UC fleet. The massive vessel measures three miles long, two and a half miles tall, and nearly two miles from port to starboard. Like all CSCs, the Blackstar is intended to assist UC and allied colonies along the frontier. The ship carries everything from prefabricated housing to advanced medical equipment. It also carries a half million UC Marines, along with a few companies of troops from the Mode Confederacy and Ursan Federation. The ship also houses nearly three million civilians, everyone from top scientists to colonists and mineral prospectors. The Blackstar also serves as a bleeding edge research site for a number of organizations, including several titanic megacorporations. The Blackstar is one of a handful of vessels able to mount a jump gate, allowing ships to jump from the heart of UC territory directly to the frontier. It is also rumored to have a ground based jump gate buried deep within her hull. The Blackstar is heavily armed, with more than fifty missile batteries, several hundred point-defense laser turrets, and a pair of axial ion cannons, and is clad in three meters of armor plating, making it one of the most well armored ships in the UC fleet. Massive power generators provide enough power to the ship each day to run most colonies for a month
DATA FILE: VULAR
History: The Vular were first encountered in by the current galactic powers in 2200, when the mining colony Alpha Five inadvertently unsealed a dormant Vular hive. The colony was wiped out, along with near 60% of the UC relief force sent to investigate after contact with the colony was disrupted. After the fiasco, the UC reorganized, redesigned its organization to better defeat any future incursions. The UC’s preparations were put to the test sixty years later, when dozens of Hives became active across the frontier, and scores of colonies were under siege. Fortunately, the UC was able to repel the incursions, and destroy the infestations.
In the modern age, the Vular remain dangerous, especial to smaller, poorly defended colonies. Due to a the particulars of Vular biology and the large garrisons of militia personal, Vular are rarely able to establish a presence on planetary colonies, though those based on moons or asteroids are more vulnerable to Vular.
Origins: The Origin of the Vular is unknown. Given they lack any method of space travel, aside from hitching rides on unsuspecting starships, it remains unknown how they have managed to seed hives on dozens of planets and asteroids. One common theory is that they once possessed the means to travel among the stars, but somehow lost the ability to do so. Another theory, supported by a number of military personal, is that the Vular are/where biological weapons of some kind, set up in hives as a defense to prevent intruders from setting up colonies in certain regions, or used to wipe out an enemy of some kind, then abandoned once their mission was complete. There are other theories, ranging from the Vular being created by terrorist, and the inevitable accusation that they were created by any number of alleged conspiracies or secret organizations.
General Biology: The Vular are widely believed to be insectoid in nature, and their appearance and the various names of the different Vular forms support this perception. However, the Vular are actually warm blooded mammals, though given the number of traits they share with other forms of life, the misperception is quite understandable.
The Vular are also thought by many to be sentient, but a number of research projects and evidence from the field have established that they are not. However, they are remarkably intelligent, and are quite adapt at hunting even well-armed opponents, as well as being dangerously good at instinctively hiding until they can emerge and overrun defenders.
Most Vular share a number of common traits. They possess both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton, and have muscles much stronger and denser than most creatures. Their mouths are circular, and their bite wounds are concave holes, and are consequently more difficult to treat than more conventional wounds. Vular claws are also oddly shaped and leave puncture wounds that are very hard to close. They have poor to no hearing, and appear to lack a sense of smell. They see in infrared, and their blood is toxic to most life. Bizarrely, Vular blood also has a number of addictive properties. They also have a number of redundant organs, which coupled with their twin skeletons makes them far more resistant to injury then would be apparent. Given the bizarre mix of traits possessed by the Vular, and how incredibly dangerous they have proven to be, one can see why some believe them to be unnaturally created.
Vular Subtypes: The Vular are a species with a number of distinctive forms, much like Earth ants or Alterran wasps.
Drones are the most common form, and compose around 90% of the average hive. They stand about half a meter tall, and are fully a meter from head to tall, and mass in at almost 135 pounds. They are semi- quadrupedal, normal walking on four legs. However, when they encounter a threat, they will use their forelegs to attack. They are remarkable tough for a creature of their size, capable of shrugging off moderate amounts of gunfire. Their thick carapace is almost immune to handgun rounds, and rifles have a tough time punching through. They have two hearts and a pair of lungs, though they only need one of each for a creature of their size. As they have two, they are quite a bit faster than would be suggested for a creature of their size and weight. However, they are not very nimble, as their exoskeleton limits their movement.
Soldiers are the only other Vular form to be commonly encountered, and they make up around 9% of the average hive. They are two meters tall and a little more than three meters long. They share the same semi-quadrupedal walking style of drones, and in fact they often behave like oversized drones. Given their greater size, they are much tougher than drones. Their carapace is fully immune to most pistol rounds, and even high powered rifle rounds will only break through once out of every three or four hits. They have much longer claws that drones, and can bit through grade three body armor with ease. However, they have very poor mobility, due to their weight. In fact, Soldiers are considered something of a joke in planetary combat situations, as they have extreme difficulty moving about. In a low gravity environment it’s a different story, as they can compensate for their low weight and become much faster and more dangerous.
Vular Tanks are extremely rare. They are a massive creature, perhaps a meter and a half tall and four meters long, but weighting more than a ton and a half. They are nearly blind, and instead use some form of echolocation to find targets. Their massive claws are extremely sharp, and coupled with the huge muscles that power their claws, can cleave through even the heaviest body armor in the UC. An extremely thick exoskeleton makes them virtually indestructible, only heavy weapons have a chance at punching through. They are not found on planets, as they would be crushed under their own weight if subjected to normal gravity. They can only grow in low gravity environments, where they are extremely dangerous.
There are other forms of Vular rumored to exist, though little evidence supports such rumors. Rumors of human looking Vular called Sirens that sneak up and ambush their prey, massive wormlike leviathans that can crush tanks and swallow men whole, invisible creatures called stalkers, and other rumors even more fantastic. It need not be said that most biologists do not buy into such rumors.
Vular Behavior: Vular exhibit a number of unusual behaviors. Much of the information regarding their behavior comes from combat recordings, as research studies focusing on Vular are extremely dangerous, and tend to end violently.
Vular frequently engage in claw sharpening behavior, scratching their claws against hard surfaces to make them more lethal. It’s unknown how this behavior developed, but all Vular seem to engage in it.
Vular Soldiers and Drones display a noticeable reluctance to attack when confronted by flamethrowers. As they don’t exhibit any other fear of fire, researchers do not believe this is a sign that they recognize the danger of fire. Rather, they believe that since the Vular see in thermal vision, the Vular perceive flamethrowers as part of the person holding it. Thus, the Vular see a normal, human sized target, which frequently grows several times its size, every time they get near it. As a result, they avoid engaging. The reader should not that Vular Tanks are not deterred by flamethrowers, as they use a different sensory system then other Vular.
Despite lacking any way to perceive it, Vular are bizarrely fond of lurking in dark spaces. In fact, Vular excel at sneaking about, in spite of the fact that their sensory organs are not capable of detecting darkness. Some biologists believe that Vular must possess some form of light detection, as they cannot imagine any other way the Vular would be so adapt at find dark, hidden spaces to lurk in. However, no trace of such an ability has yet to be found. As Vular do not noticeable react to light sources (like the spotlights of military forces), this theory is not given much credence by most experts in the field.
Despite almost supernatural sense in some regards, like the aforementioned ability to find hidden spaces to lurk in, the Vular can also be incredibly oblivious. Their poor hearing has frequently allowed military forces to ambush concentrations of Vular one at a time, without attracting attention of nearby Vular. This tendency of Vular to bunch up in small groups is another odd instinct, one that is aids the Vular as much as it hinders them.
More on the way!