What happens when a small expedition fleet sent by the Star Community of Genomita discovers a world inhabited by people who, while technologically advanced, were convinced they were alone in space? And what happens when that first contact is quickly followed by another with an entirely different spacefaring nation?
Those are some of the main questions I'd like to answer with this RP, as well as try to get a feel for small-scale FT combat. This RP will be limited to just Yos Namoi, Neo ORB and myself until further notice.
While the Genomitans are not a warlike people they will still defend themselves if pressed and the expedition fleet, while not armed for war includes a number of ships and soldiers of the Genomitan Defense Force, who are both well-equipped, extensively genetically modified and trained in their particular role since they were twelve (though the last two points also apply to all other genomitans, who are assigned their role in society based on the outcome of a number of aptitude tests. in addition, their training places a lot of focus on the soldiers' mental stability to prevent them from turning into crazy child soldiers. Their main task is to protect, after all.
The ships will arrive in Yos Namoi's system by way of a recently rediscovered Farcaster gate in a neighbouring system (both the living ships and the gate system used by the Genomitans are based on discoveries of their human ancestors rather than their own creation, though the Genomitans continue to improve upon both. The ships themselves are intelligent, capable of learning and view their neurally bonded pilot as something akin to a parental figure. The pilot is both responsible for the ship and guides it in an attempt to help it unlock it's full potential
The main goal of the genomitans in this scenario will be to establish and maintain peaceful contact with the Zaeri and ideally convince them to join the Star Community. They are perfectly content with asking nicely and will attempt to demonstrate the (in their eyes) obvious benefits doing so would entail, such as access to advanced organic technology, universal healthcare, a say in the community's democractic system, enough food for everyone and a peaceful and ordered life where everyone serves a role in the community (while still maintaining plenty of personal freedoms to enjoy your life as long as it doesn't interfere with your role. The Genomitans are neither easily dissuaded nor quick to respond with violence, but neither will their envoy mince words is ze believes the Zaeri are overconfident or greatly mistaken. There should be an interesting mix of values resonance and dissonance between our two nations to make dialogue possible, but not without some tensions.
Speaking of dialogue, one of the main questions we should answer before we start the IC topic is about language. Most RPs assume that there is some kind of galactic common or standard language that allows for easy communication between most spacefaring nations. Since the Zaeri are not a spacefaring people odds are pretty low that they know this language. Both the Genomitans and Neo ORB could also bring some manner of translation devices, but those might not be flawless when encountering an entirely unknown language. There's also the question of wether or not we will need a character sheet for the main charas of this RP.
