A Short History of the Terran Empire and the Sapient Species Consortium in the universe of The Derelict
History follows, for the most part, its regular course, until the early 21st century on Old Earth. In approximately the year 2035, the major powers of the planet enter the devastating third World War. It sparks off in the Middle East, much of which is glassed by nuclear fire. When the smoke settles after years of fighting, China stands triumphant over a nearly ruined world. 100 years pass, and much of the world heals from the damage, although most of the Middle East is still uninhabitable. A South West Asian and North African Diaspora preserves the cultures, to an extent.
China’s rule becomes unbearably tyrannical. A widespread rebellion has developed over time, led by the last descendants of the English Royal House of Windsor and the Japanese Imperial Family of Yamamoto. At great cost, the Rebellion succeeds, and a new regime rises: the New Terran Empire (in 2136), ruled by Akiko Yamamoto-Windsor, the daughter of the leaders of the rebellion. Centuries of peace, tranquility, and relative freedom follow, with dissidents often provided free passage off-world to colonies of their choosing, if they cannot be convinced of the rightness of Imperial rule. The government is a highly meritocratic bureacracy, overseen by Daimyos and the Emperor or Empress. The rulership roles are *technically* hereditary, but in practice, the most competent candidates are selected to inherit, and then adopted, much as the early Roman Empire did.
Fast forward two centuries. In the year 2345, the Terran Empire covers a massive amount of space, and controls hundreds of star systems. Humanity has colonized additional systems that do not owe fealty to the empire, and as long as they do not threaten the Empire, they are left in peace, for space is vast, and there is enough for everyone. Humanity still believes it is alone in the universe, and has become even more diverse over time, genetically modified or adapted to live on different planets, though there is a dominant Terran ethnicity made of a near perfect blend of all the Old Earth peoples. The Empress is Akiko IV, and has just ascended the throne at the youthful age of 50.
At the far edge of explored space, the ISS Wayfarer is lost in a mysterious incident. The black box recorder is recovered, and a new ship is built to go investigate what happened, designed to handle anything the universe could throw at it, commanded by elite Imperial Guardsmen. Unexpectedly, they finally make official first contact with extraterrestrial species in a region of space that seems to be absolutely teeming with alien life. Humanity, by sheer accident, becomes embroiled in an ongoing war between the Kiboko Ah Ku, and the AI race known as the Technic League. After demonstrating their remarkable aptitude for violence to both sides, the Imperial Guardsmen in command of the ISS Valkyrie negotiate a lasting peace. Other aliens in that region of the galaxy sign on to the Kiboko Accords, and the Sapient Species Consortium is born: a very loose confederation of self governed species and polities that have agreed to extensive trade, non-aggression pacts, and limited mutual defense.
30 years pass. Much (but not all) technology is shared between the Consortium members, and this galactic community has become a bit more tight-knit. Its member nations and species are still all independent, but they are embarking on more collaborative efforts. In the year 2375. long range probes and scanners discover a massive, ancient, derelict space station on the edge of known space, in the Pacifica system. A small archaeological and survey team, with first contact specialists (and security forces) just in case, are sent to explore and catalog the station, to determine its origin and its purpose, and see if it holds technology the Consortium could use.
At the time of the Pacifica expedition, the major members of the Consortium include, but are not limited to:
The Colean Concordance – a multi star system civilization made of individuals that, to human eyes, resemble humanoid cephalopods. They come in a wide variety of colors, possess tentacles instead of hair, and are curious and congenial. They use biotech, like living starships and weapons, and are among the finest pilots and navigators in the Consortium. They are also capable of modifying their skin tones, texture, and even bodily structure, more capable shapeshifters than even earthly octopodes.
The Grey Mycelium – These fungal humanoids are the Greys of Old Earth folklore. The second most advanced species in technological terms, they are logical, science oriented, and nearly emotionless. They are also physically weaker than most other peoples, and not martially inclined. They very commonly possess telepathic and sometimes even telekinetic abilities.
The Kiboko Star Empire – the other main warrior race besides humans, they are large, basically humanoid creatures with four arms on their torsos. Despite being primarily mammalian, they have a hive-like society ruled by queens, are born from eggs, and have a pair of hair-like antennae they call ‘”twends”. The antennae are a status indicator for them; segmented but not rigid, about the consistency of tight human braids. They have a strict honor code, so long as they are fighting honorable enemies.
The Pellucid Aggregate – The crystalline lifeforms known as the Pellucid move slowly most of the time. They get their sustenance from the light of the stars. Most of them seem to have some amount of Ergokinesis, a psionic control of light and electricity. They are a calm and spiritual people who seem to have evolved in asteroid belts.
The Saurian Directorate – Sly, cunning people, the Saurians have observed Earth for millennia alongside the Greys, disguising themselves to walk among humanity undetected. Now, they are the masters of espionage within the Consortium, and grudgingly share intelligence with their allies when it seems needed. They tend to be untrusting and reptilian in their behavior
The Technic League – AI created by a long vanished people, it is believed that they came from the uploading of that original species’ engrams into nearly immortal artificial matrices that can be shifted between bodies as needed. They are the most technologically advanced civilization, but are wary of sharing too much with the others, as they accidentally contributed to the destruction of several nascent star nations centuries ago. They are sometimes called “lecherous sapiosexuals” because the reproduce by (consensually) merging their minds with the mind of someone they find interesting and worthy to create a seed of consciousness that grows to be a new AI.
The Terran Confederation – Only very loosely grouped, these are the many Terran colonies, many of which are independent, as well as the Terran Empire, which is functionally first among equals in their councils. Humanity is widely varied, from short stocky heavy worlders, to giants, to low g adapted ‘elves’ and nearly everything else. Many societies include psionic members, and others modify themselves with cybernetics or biotech. Terrans and humanity in general are seen as one of the main warrior species because of their inherent hardiness and stubbornness, and because so much of their tech revolves around war despite never having encountered another sapient species until relatively recently.
