The Union of Intergalactic Affairs

For thousands of years, the peoples of the Biiractan galaxy lived their lives completely unaware of life outside their own homeworlds. Space travel was limited to moons and neighboring planets for a millennia before interstellar travel was even considered a possibility. No species had ever left it's own star system until (-)02-390, when the Vylok discovered faster-than-light travel. Even with this discovery, travel was still limited because of the sheer vastness of space. It wasn't until (-)02-256 that the Vylok made contact with the Slovin (who had also been studying methods of interstellar travel) that the technology really began to develop. Slovin and Vylok scientists worked side by side combining their different discoveries to further the progression of space travel technology. For decades, they searched for a way to traverse hundreds of light-years faster, and more efficiently.

Progress was slow. In (-)02-033 however, a Slovin mining vessel was attacked by an unknown species known as the Relekan. This eventually lead to an invasion on the Slovin homeworld and War between the Slovin (with the help of the allied Vylok) and the Relekan broke out. Vylok weaponry was more advanced than that of the Relekan and eventually lead to the invaders' defeat. The Relekan emperor was so impressed with the Vylok weapons that he proposed the three species should sign a peace treaty and banned together to share technology much like the Slovin and Vylok had been doing for decades. The Three species signed a peace treaty, which was called The Union Pact, and Relekan scientists joined with the Slovin and Vylok to exchange their knowledge. The Relekan scientists revealed their discovery of invisible gravity currents that surrounded planets and wound through space, much like ocean currents. It was this discovery that enabled them to travel such great distances in a relatively short time using sub-light engine cores. The Slovin and Vylok used this discovery to develop the Mass/Gravity Amp which, combined with engine cores that utilized faster than light travel, was abel to propel space vessels hundreds of light years in a matter of months.

The three species of The Union Pact were the most technologically advanced in the galaxy. Other species' technologies were hundreds of years behind, still not being able to leave their own star systems. One species however, the Alios, had focused their technological developments not on traveling the stars, but on how to better their own society. They were the first species to develop a true Artificial Intelligence. They were also expert bio-engineers and their synthetic life-forms appeared just as alive and self aware as organic life forms. When The Union species initially discovered the Alios homeworld, they were immediately enthralled by it's societal development and it's structural beauty. They marveled at the development of Artificial Intelligence, and spoke peacefully to Alios leaders about getting them to sign on to The Union Pact.

The Alios were hesitant at first, claiming they had no interest or need to leave their home. Vylok ambassadors explained they would not have to leave, but only be united with the other species and share commodities like technology and tried to explain the cultural benefit of expansion. The Alios weren't ready to share their technological findings with another species, let alone multiple species claiming that other species weren't ready to handle the responsibility of synthetic life-forms. It was ironically, an AI senator that convinced the reluctant Alios to sign The Union Pact, claiming it would be against their beliefs to pass an opportunity to better their own culture.

It was the introduction of Artificial Intelligence that boosted The Union's Technology hundreds of years ahead. AI scientists were able to better calculate, process, and expand upon acquired data than even an organic mind could. Before their introduction to The Union, AI scientists had only the resources and discoveries of the Alios to work with. Now that they could access Vylok, Slovin, and Relekan technology, the rate at which technology developed was exponentially faster than any of the Union races could've ever expected. Space Travel time was cut in half, due to new findings, and ships were re-designed to house new technology that would allow them to travel farther into the otherwise impassable void of dead space that separated the star systems.

Centuries passed, and technology developed. New worlds were being discovered every few years instead of every few decades. New species of sentient life were discovered along with these worlds and by (-)1-698, there were over 300 species that signed onto The Union Pact all sharing technology and becoming a virtual galactic 'melting pot' where cultures became mixed and took on a uniform 'shape'. Some species who were up hauled at the seeming lack of individuality from one race to another, firmly rejected signing The Union Pact claiming that they would not lose their culture to become like everyone else in the galaxy. These decisions to decline signing the Union Pact were respected, and these worlds were left alone.

One particular AI ambassador for the members of The Union Pact (which was still at this point, just an agreement with certain parameters, not a system of government) had trouble with certain species refusal to sign the pact, and discreetly organized an army of synthetics to launch in invasion on the Jorbath, a species whose technology would benefit intergalactic communication. The Jorbath were a peaceful people, inhabiting several of the worlds in their local star system. Being a peaceful species by nature they had no resistance to the small army of synthetic terrorists that suddenly invaded and began bombing civilians. The Union quickly learned of these attacks, but it was undecided who would go and stop them since the Union was not a government and possessed no formal army to go and fight. Millions of Jorbath were slaughtered before the Vylok decided to intervene with their own army in the name of The Union. The Vylok's motives were not pure however, demanding that the Jorbath join The Union as payment for their assistance. The Jorbath begrudgingly agreed and gave up their secrets of deep space communication.

It was shortly after these events that it was proposed The Union Pact be turned into a governmental system. The idea was initally rejected by most but some thought of how it might work to benefit the greater good. The idea was set aside and ignored for centuries. In (-)00-039, it had become quite apparent that several races were not keeping their end of the treaty, or playing in the 'gray area' of the treaty's parameters. Corruption was spreading rapidly and not much could be done to enforce the conditions of The Union Pact. The Union Pact was re-written and ultimately transformed from a peace treaty into a system of government complete with defined laws and regulations. These laws all effected how planets and species interacted with each other. Each planet was left to govern it's own people, but off-world affairs and space territory were governed by laws ordained by The Union Pact which had been re-named The Union of Intergalactic Affairs. The Union had at least three ambassadors from each species and together, they quickly went about establishing a capital. The Slovin homeworld of Solost IV was choosen to be the capital of the Union.

Since the creation of laws, the need for a way to enforce these laws was needed. The Alios were in charge of creating a synthetic species that would be ideal for both law enforcement, and as shock troops in large skirmishes and battles. The incident with the Jorban proved need for such a species that would be fit for combat and military type endeavors. The choice to use synthetics was obvious, since they could be modified in whatever way was needed and The Union saw no point in sending living beings into dangerous situations when a synthetic could do the job just as well if not better.

The Union at it's peak had influence over roughly 80% of the galaxy's habitable planets. The Union lasted almost 7 Millennia before The Purge decimated the galaxy and with it, The Union.

The Planets of The Biiractan

The Biiractan galaxy contains over 400 billion star systems, only a small percentage of which contain planets that can support carbon-based life forms. Most of the planets are void rocks or gas giants, neither of which can support life without the proper technology in place. Pod-Cities and Artificial Atmospheres are maintained on a few worlds that wouldn't otherwise support life, but these technologies are expensive to maintain, and mostly used only when setting up mining camps on desolate worlds to gather local resources.

Before The Purge, there were about 10 million planets that could naturally maintain life. These planets were scattered all throughout the galaxy with the highest concentration of them being in the first three districts closest to the center of the galaxy. These three districts were referred to as 'The Rings of Life' as together they contained about half of the galaxy's habitable planets. District 10, the farthest from the center, had less than 300 worlds and was often called 'The Abyss'.

After The Purge, the number of livable planets diminished greatly. 20% of the planets were destroyed completely, leaving nothing but asteroid fields and space dust in their gravity wells. Another 65% were transformed from abundant life-giving orbs, to barren wastelands covered with scars acquired from orbital bombardment. Some of these wastelands were unlivable, while others contained survivors, though many of the survivors died during the first years after The Purge. In total, The Purge was responsible for the destruction or mutilation of 85% of the Biiractan's survivable terrains. The first decades after the tragedy were spent rebuilding communications between star systems and trying to figure out how many had actually survived.

Planets are divided into 4 classes, and 3 sizes.

(Size 1) Dwarf: A planet with a diameter of 11,ooo km or less. These planets are low gravity worlds that are home to many of the galaxy's smaller and shorter sentient races. They account for about 15% of the Biiractan's inhabitable planets (Pre-Purge).

(Size 2) Average: An average planet has a diameter between 12,000 and 15,000 km. Most livable worlds (80% Pre-Purge) in the galaxy fall in the average category (hence the name) and galactic time measurements are derived from these category of planets. Some planets that are not part of the Union use their own measurements for things like time and weight.

(Size 3) Giant: If a planet is 16,000 km in diameter or greater, it is considered a giant. Giant planets are high gravity and species originating on giant planets often need specialized pressure suits when traveling through space or onto different worlds. In the same way, people visiting from an average size or dwarf planet need special accommodations when traveling to a giant planet.

Planets classes have to do with atmosphere type.

Class 1: The most common life-supporting planets in the Biiractan galaxy are Average Class 1 planets, which have been given the nickname 'normal' planets. Class 1 planets have atmospheres that are mostly made up of Nitrogen and Oxygen, which most species in the galaxy can breathe comfortably in, although this nitrogen / oxygen combination is poisonous to some species, requiring them to wear breathing apparatuses when out of their native atmosphere.

Class 2: The second most common atmosphere type seen in the galaxy is a blend of Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, and Oxygen. Class 2 planets are normally covered in dense vegetation often having trees that reach up taller than city skyscrapers. It is not rare to find eco-cities built into the natural tree structures. The vegetation is so dense and the trees so tall, that the greenery can be seen from space.

Class 3: Planet's with Class 3 atmospheres usually contain little to no vegetation. Only certain species of plants and animals can survive in the Methane/Helium gas that comprises a Class 3 atmosphere. Many native's of Class three planets are experts in building underground cities, since the atmosphere's are harsh and not ideal for surface living. Class three planets account for about 12% of hospitable worlds in the Biiractan.

Class 4: The smallest number of inhabitable atmosphere's belong in Class 4. These atmospheres are comprised of a wide array of different gases and often micro-metallic substances. There are only three different species of sentient life that can survive naturally in these conditions. Other organics come to these planets for harvesting the precious metals that are often found below the brutally toxic clouds.

Gas Giants in the Biiractan are not part of the class or size system because they're not ideal for civilization and most go ignored although a few have been discovered that have valuable resources, however the exploration of such planets is dangerous and expensive. Many independent pioneers seeking to find their fortune by discovering a valuable resource on such planets often never return from their expeditions.

Welcome to the Biiractan Galaxy

OVERVIEW AND GOVERNMENT: Pre-Purge

The Biiractan galaxy is a spiral galaxy located approximately 300 trillion light years from the Milky Way's core. It contains roughly 450 billion stars and is home to more than 70,000 forms of sentient life. It is 198,000 light years in diameter and 16,000 light years thick at it's core.

Most of the colonized planets in the galaxy adhere to a central form of government, known as the Union of Intergalactic affairs, or simply The Union. The Union is run by a council of over 200,000 diplomats and each sentient race that adhere's to the Union's laws is represented. The Union is responsible for the intergalactic laws of 85% of the Biiractan's inhabited worlds. While all planets in the galaxy are technically self-goverened, the Union is responsible for laws of interplanetary concern (such as trade and commerce) and for keeping the peace between planets. The Worlds that choose to stay separate from the Union are not permitted to interact with Union worlds. This means that trading and colonization between Union and non-Union worlds is strictly forbidden and is punishable as treason.

The Birractan galaxy is divided into ten Districts. Each district forms a concentric sphere around the galaxy, district one being the smallest sphere encompassing the core (containing the densest cluster of stars and therefore the most populated) and district ten being the largest circumscribing the galaxy's border (having the fewest star systems, and therefore the least populated). The purpose of the districts is to break up the Union into more manageable 'chunks' with each district containing a capital planet that ultimately answers to the Galactic capital in district one. The Districts are as follows:

(1) Ankor

(2) Sulken

(3) Landus

(4) Mirran

(5) Delko

(6) Farmon

(7) Hammond

(8) Rylax

(9) Gandram

(10) Redlox

The modern calendar in the Biiractan uses the formation of the union as the year 00-001. Events before that are measured using a negative sign in front of the galactic year. For example, 300 years before The Union's formation would read (-)00-300. A thousand years before its formation would read (-)01-000.

The Union kept relative peace in the galaxy for centuries. Wars ending in less than 2 Million organic casualties were not classified as major. Since The Union, there have only been three 'Major' galactic wars. However, in 06-948, an event known as the Great Purge War changed the face of the galaxy forever. The Purge was actually a series of events that lead the eventual destruction of the The Union and subsequently most of the Galaxy. Thousands of life-bearing planets were turned into desolate wastelands and the Biiractan suffered over 800,000 trillion casualties, leaving the galaxy with only a fraction of it's original population. Survivors were scattered far and wide on planets that had not been fully destroyed or turned into lifeless space rocks.

OVERVIEW AND GOVERNMENT: Post-Purge

Although the Purge left the galaxy a gaping wound, life continued and the remaining survivors banded together to try and piece together civilization. It was no easy task, but centuries after hard work and cooperation, the Biiractan began to (slowly) rebuild itself. There was no Union anymore, but primitive (as compared to the Union) forms of government were beginning to spawn across the remaining planets and civilization was slowly beginning to start anew.