Discord
The role play is centered around the state of the Milky Way Galaxy in the 26th Millennium. The all encompassing Galactic Imperium is crumbling. Economic and social stagnation, moral decay, the slowing of scientific inquiry, technology run amok to its own detriment. Knowledge being lost and forgotten in the fires of increasing amounts of conflict across the Galaxy. Humanity, founders of the Imperium, and dominant species in the Galaxy is fading in power. As numerous sectors and constituent states splinter, fragment, with warlordism rampant. The central authority of the Emperor and the Imperial Government weakening as more and more power is handed over to regional and local rulers. The Imperial Senate, founded four thousand years prior to the start of the role play, has grown ineffective, lax, and hedonistic in their day to day running of the Imperium. Imperial bureaucracy once known to be uncompromisingly efficient in governing such a vast domain has grown fat, convaluted, and corrupt. Players will have to make a hard choice. To try and save the Imperium or work to their own ends whether if it hastens the Empire's fall. As such players are encouraged to take positions of power in the Galactic Imperium. As a means to keep themselves relevant in the role play. As a politician, head of a Great House, High ranking Imperial officer, or whatever interests the player most.
Further I cannot stress enough the fact that Imperial Technology is increasingly rare. Due to the gradual decline in technology, knowledge, and technical expertise as the Galaxy recedes into what could very well be an Interstellar Dark Age.
It is the 26th Millennium, and the Galactic Imperium stretches across the Milky Way Galaxy, an Empire of approximately thirty-five million planets, stations, outposts, and asteroid colonies. For over twenty thousand years it has endured; encompassing Humanity's Golden Age as a space faring civilization, extending over a period longer than any except for Human pre-history; Against numerous foes of all sorts. Giving rise to an unprecedented Golden Age for Humanity. The Pax Imperialis has lasted for thousands of years, yet the façade is cracking, being chipped away at an ever increasing rate. The Imperium is decaying, failing, as economic and social stagnation take hold. Wars ravage countless worlds. Technology run amok to cause frightening levels of damage to the Empire's infrastructure as devastating weapons are brought to bear by warring factions. Inadvertently causing such internal damage as to lead to the loss of knowledge. Knowledge that is replaced by religious fervor and dogmatism. This is not readily perceptible to the average Imperial citizen who may reside on a world yet untouched by all the horrors going on in the Galaxy. But it is happening. Scientific progress has grown to a halt, advanced technology growing increasingly sparse and far in between, as Imperial civilization is increasingly fragmented and damaged by the ever increasing wars and civil conflicts going on in the Galaxy.
The Imperium is centered on the world of Nova Terra, a city planet, and capital of the Empire. Home to 1.8 Trillion people the planet is almost entirely covered in continent spanning city-scape. Stretching from dangerous Under Cities to the glittering spires of the top levels that are home to the Imperium's elite. The Imperial District is the only region that still retains natural fauna and native wildlife. Covering much of the Northern continent and within it's confines sits the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Dynasty, The Imperial House of Valkyran, also resides on the Imperial World of Odin. Odin is a paradise world of beauty and untarnished environment. Opposite of the built up and completely urbanized world of Nova Terra.
Technology Guide
Technology in the 26th Millennium is incredibly varied. From relatively primitive like gas powered automobiles and cellular based communication devices to FTL capable starships, cybernetics, cloning, teleportation technology, and more. However, this guide is just a short reference piece and not to specify all parameters; the guide follows a simple top to bottom scale followed by a Type scale as defined by John D. Barrow.
Solarian Technology
Solarian technology, exceptionally rare and poorly understood at best, can only be used by those with Solarian genes in their heritage. Though given how such genes of the 26th Millennium are incredibly diluted most pieces of Solarian tech will only function intermittently or not at the levels it would be expected to perform. As the extinct Solarians tied their technological marvels with them.
Solarian technology was largely a mystery even when the planet of Solaria itself was known to exist. being one of the Original Twenty alongside other semi-mythical worlds of Mankind like Alpha Centauri, Aquaria, Aurora, Caprikorn, Proxima Centauri, Old Geminar, Tauron, and more.
Solarian Technology in all applications generally surpassed contemporary technology in all aspects. Solarian ships were said to be capable of instantaneous or near instantaneous FTL, near lightspeed on sublight engines, and capable of using time and black hole producing weaponry. The battlesuits and weapons of the Praetorian Guard are famously all of Solarian make.
Type Omega-Minus
High Imperial Technology/Archeotech
Spanning from the reign of Oserian I to Valeria II and Kysteria III depending on who you ask. Archeotech being technology made before the Imperium but advanced enough to be on par with High Imperial Tech. This category represents the pinnacle of Imperial science. Imperial Medical machines produced during this time could cure practically any illness or disability, extend lifespans to at least 500 years, and include such marvels like intra-system teleporation, ships going from one end of the Galaxy to the other in a week tops, and slagging worlds with their conventional ordinance. The Copernicus-61 campaign led by the Crown Prince famously used a number of ships built during this time. Rendering life on the surface extinct in minutes and causing tectonic instability in a matter of hours. Other marvels include perfected cloning, cybernetics, Super-Intelligent and Near-Sentient A.I.
Type VI-Minus
Late/Modern Imperial Technology
Corresponding from the reign of Kysteria III to the present. Late/Modern Imperial Technology is still very advanced but clear signs of stagnation and decay are present. Starships built in this period are often more simplistic in design, take longer FTL jumps with most averaging a couple weeks to a few months to cross the Milky Way, while their weaponry is seldom as advanced or efficient. However, they are often just as robust but often lacking the fancier defensive mechanisms of their forebears.
Imperial technology still maintains near to perfect cloning, large manufacturing capability, advanced cybernetics, and computation but to a lesser degree than their forebears.
Type V-Minus
Early Imperial Technology/Ancient Technology
Technology from before the founding of the Imperium up to the reign of Oserian I. Such technology is still light years ahead of 21st century human understanding. But more basic, simple, and less efficient than even Late Imperial technology. Starships built during this time could take a few years to a few weeks in transit to cross the Milky Way depending on when in the era you place yourself. Medical technology regularly extended lifespans to at least 250 year and had decent cloning, cybernetics, and automated capabilities when compared to the 26th Millennium.
Type III & IV-Minus
Primitive Technology
Technology before the Imperium and regarded as Primitive in the eyes of 26th Millennium scholars. This is technology that is often confined to Museums or non-functioning heirlooms. The Imperial Museum on Nova Terra famously boasted the largest collection of Primitive Human technology in the Galaxy. There you'll find an ancient and nigh indestructible communication device simply called Nokia; An electric automobile found floating in interstellar space with a dummy dressed as a primitive astronaut sitting in side and a name inscribed, whether its the owner or manufacturer has yet to be determined by Imperial Historians, named Tesla. Other such artifacts include painstakingly pieced together starships from the Ravenstar Empire, a ship ostensibly of Martian design, an old warship from the Terran Federation, fragments of clothing and uniforms, pieces of machinery, and all manner of small archaeological finds.
Type I to III-Minus
Rules
1. Reserve all rights as the OP
2. Follow all NS staff and site rules
3. Be fair and respectful
4. No godmodding or metagaming
5. Rules are subject to revision
6. Co-Ops are to be treated as if talking to the OP
7. Feel free to be creative just again...see rule 4
The Imperium is the Galactic political entity that stretches the breadth and width of the Milky Way Galaxy. Previously the bastion for civilization and the only sovereign power in known space. Semi-autonomous states of a bewildering array do exist and once more or less vassal/protectorate appendages of the Empire. Now, increasingly, these states are exerting near or effective independence as the central power of the Imperium fades. The Imperium's own directly ruled territories are divided up into Over Sectors and then Sectors held by High Governors who oversee the sector governorates; Protectorates and Semi-Autonomous States; and the territorial possessions of the Empire's Great Houses whom now effectively rule their own empires. Therefore planets are often classified not only by terrain but their political position within the Imperium. The Imperium, excluding SAS and Protectorates, is organized under the Imperial Government into Oversectors which are 600 by 600 cubes of space. Those are sub-divided into Sectors of varying sizes depending on stellar density but do not exceed 300 by 300 light years. High Governors have Viceroyal powers in that they have prime administrative authority over the Sector Governors. Now these bureaucratic titles are often supplemented by more fanciful titles either through personal favors from Imperial nobility, the Imperial Dynasty itself, or of their own volition given the Imperium's increasingly helplessness to stop such self-appointed rulership.
The Imperial Senate & Government
Four thousand years prior the Imperial Senate was formed out of increasing social and political pressure by the various political powers in the Imperium. Comprised of the Upper House or House of Magnates that is composed of the Great Houses (higher nobility) and SAS Representatives; The Lower House made up of the Imperial Governorates and often dubbed the Gubernatorial House. The Imperial Senate effectively runs the day to day business of the Empire and is the prime legislative body. Its laws form the basis of Imperial order and the responsibilities of the various Imperial departments making up the Government.
The Emperorship
Occupying the Celestial Throne is the Emperor and used to be an Absolute Monarchy until the founding of the Imperial Senate. The Emperor is the prime executive authority within the Empire and the Imperial House of Valkyran has held the throne for most of the Empire's history. It is the prime executive authority in the Empire and the departments under the Celestial Throne form the Administration that effectively runs the Imperium. The Emperor is also the Commander-In-Chief of the Imperial Military; though, day to day top level decision making his done by the Joint Chiefs.
The High Court
The High Court or Galactic Judiciary is the Imperium's top level Law Court. Originally the Emperor was the top judge and jury in the Imperium with the Court system under him. Now it has been removed by the Imperial Senate and made into its own third branch of the Imperial Government. The High Court is made up of eleven members. The Chief of Justice and the ten Supreme Judges forming this top most judicial council. Under them is the various Imperial High Judiciaries overseeing Over Sectors, Imperial Circuit Courts overseeing Sectors, and local Magistrates overseeing Planetary Courts.
The Imperial Military
The Imperial Military is answerable to the Emperor as Commander-in-Chief, The Joint Chiefs who have operational authority and top level administrative powers, and the Imperial Senate where civilian and economic matters are concerned. The Imperial Military is divided into the Imperial Navy, Army, Guard, Praetorian, Logisticae & CyberTroops (Military research, development, exploration, logistics), and Imperial Intelligence (sub-divided into Navy, Army, Security for Imperial property and offices, and black ops). The Joint Chiefs are appointed by the Emperor, and are made up of officers from all the Imperial military branches.
The Imperial Navy is responsible for all void and aerospace warfare. The Army is the planetary fighting force of the Empire and garrisons worlds across the Milky Way Galaxy. The Guard also named Imperial Stormtroopers is an elite shock troop Corps typically deployed for specific operations. The Praetorians are the personal force to protect the Imperial Household, Palace, and person of the Emperor. The Logisticae fills in the auxiliary rolls of the Imperial military while Imperial Intelligence is the primary information collection agency.
Ranks and Further Information
(Imperial Combat Engineer Droid)
Era of Old Earth
BC-2200AD
Spanning from Pre-History to the 22nd Century AD the Era of Old Earth was a time when humanity was confined to the Sol System and the only habitable planet of Earth. By the Mid-21st Century Earth was plagued with resource wars, famine, and all manner of conflict. It was this desperation that launched the first automated mining stations and research facilities on The Moon, Mars, and the Asteroid belt. Progressing to permanent habitats on the Moon and Mars by 2080. By 2100 Humanity was choking Earth as overpopulation reached critical levels and the first generation ship left Earth for the Alpha Centauri system. Many more would follow for other neighboring stars. But by 2175 Humanity had discovered a very primitive form of FTL using an Alcubierre drive. Allowing ships to reach systems up to 5 Light years away in a single calculated jump. Some of these new ships arrived in systems before the surviving generation ships arrived and the local group of stars was colonized.
The United Federation Era
2200AD-2347AD)
The limits of Human FTL and navigation limited Humanity to the local bubble of stellar systems. However even then great leaps in colonization where forming. Along with this came the first colonial wars as more developed worlds began to show signs of increased planetary consciousness to themselves as separate from Earth. Eventually culminating into the damaging Great Colonial Schism which was a series of wars from 2314-2347AD. Bringing an end to the United Federation and formally dissolving the United Nations and their parliamentary system. In exchange establishing the United Earth Directorate. A corporate conglomerate.
The Corporate Era
2347AD-2402AD
The rise of megacorporation's taking control of entire worlds replaced the former nations of Earth as the leaders of humanity. Great economic gains where made at the cost of social and civil liberties. But the corporations ruled with an iron fist as they are what funded the Earth military which won the Great Colonial Schism. It was not until the Martian Revolt of 2399 and the subsequent struggle that the corporations lost political and military power. Being replaced by the Terran Republic which returned to the ideals of democracy. Primitive Terraforming technology was introduced during this time to remake Mars and many other worlds into fully hospitable planets.
Terran Republic.
2402AD-2463AD
The Terran Republic saw a restoration of the democratic ideals of the of democracy. However this too ended when a coup led by the victorious Admiral Julian Apostaric, victor of the Frontier Wars against the rebellious human settles of the Sirius Star system during the Sirian Insurgency. Founding the short lived Terran Hegemony that only lasted till 2477 with the murder of Apostaric and his entire family by Wilhelm von Ravenstar. Founding the Terran Empire with a constitution granting social and economic freedoms along with technological advances with the introduction of the Warp Engine.
Diaspora and Terran Empire
2477AD-2955
The Diaspora and Empire go hand in hand as the Imperial fronted Warp Engine allowed humans to make calculated jumps that where cost effective at distances of up to 15 light years before needing refueling. Along with increased navigation computers allowed humanity to colonize much of the Orion Arm. The Ravenstar monarchs, good or bad, reigned over a momentous time in human history. The drawback was that the Empire was being outpaced by the rate of exploration and colonization with hundreds of worlds settled. The introduction of more advanced terraforming techniques hastened the amount of time it took to transform a world and also make it more Earthlike than ever before. It was in the beginning of this era that the Original Twenty, referencing the original Twenty worlds that managed to be founded without Imperial control took place. Forming nascent states out of the reach of the Empire. Ultimately this led to the Great War when the Empire learned and sought to conquer the Original Twenty. The result was the nuclear bombardment of Earth and the destruction of seven of the Original Twenty along with widespread damage to the Empire. Fragmenting humanity and Earth began to be lost to obscurity.
Spacer Era & Rise of the Galactic Empire
3600AD-5786AD
By 3600AD many of the warring states in the Orion Arm had been absorbed by the Star Kingdom of Orion (British Empire in space) centered on Procyon Primaris. The other three major Galactic dominions arising from the newly colonized arms of the Galaxy being the Sagittarius Star Empire (modeled on the German Empire/Prussia), Cygnus Interstellar Hegemony (Asian themed), and the Perseus United Systems (Western Democracy themed). Further advances like the Positron Matrix to create true artificial intelligences, various FTL drives allowing anything from a few dozen light years to thousands in a matter of hours, and all manner of biological enhancements.
In 5786AD the world of Nova Terra was the capital of the regional power, the Novan Imperium, that as the larger four Empires engaged in a bitter struggle for power managed to eclipse them all. Slowly absorbing them all until it was the sole Galactic power left. Styling itself the Galactic Imperium.
Age of the Imperium
5786AD-Present)
The Era of the Empire is the longest period of Human civilization. Stretching over twenty-thousand years absorbing all of known space. Launching a wave of exploration, colonization, economic growth, and technological explosion. In a way the Galactic Imperium was expected, greater FTL and technology allowing for a practical galaxy wide government to form.
Humanity under the Imperium is varied, with most worlds having high standards of life and the average life span at roughly 250 years. Many worlds are either self-sufficient or heavily specialized. Industrial worlds producing trillions in goods, to Agricultural worlds producing enough food stuff to feed entire star systems, to worlds devoted to the advancement of human knowledge. Imperial Medicine and Bionics allow those with the means to acquire it can greatly extend their life span.
Humanity is also more varied, many of the oldest Human worlds have populations that mirror their environments or possess unique traits and therefore forming different races. Alien populations, a minority, are generally extended the same privileges as humans if they assimilate into Imperial culture.
Galaxy Map