Terror Incognitia
18-04-2006, 18:55
Terror Incognitia (Future-Tech):
Full Name:
The Confederation of Incognitian Peoples
Short Name(s):
Incognitia, TerrorGens, TerrorClan
Head of State:
High Seneschal Robert Onara (elected, figurehead only)
Head of Government:
The TerrorGens Council (directly elected)
Legislative Body:
Consilium (directly elected to one chamber, the other being selected by an independent body for ‘contribution to society’)
Highest Court:
The Judicium (appointed by the Council, ratified by both chambers of the Consilium)
Populated systems:
Incognitia only. Within the system, population centres are:
2nd, 3rd and 4th planets (MenXerte, Incognitia, Dunkennen); moon of Incognitia (Nesais); moons of the gas giants (Sifte, Lyosha, Mila, Solntse, Sasha, Vanya primarily); Belt and Cloud settlements (none above 100,000); stations at L-points in-system, especially Incognitia-Nesais L-points.
Population: 2.47 billion humans; 15 million neo-fins; 20 million neo-pans.
Religion: Though there is no compulsion, most adhere to some form of Deism, referring to the deity as God, and occasionally calling on his Lady, Luck, in a reversion to superstition. ‘fins and ‘pans are reticent about their religious beliefs.
Economy: substantial; being a capitalist economy encompassing the entire system out to the Oort Cloud.
Technology: advanced. Apart from the notable exception of FTL travel, Incognitian technology is at a high level. This lack is being remedied as swiftly as possible.
Military: substantial in-system forces, including fixed establishments and marines. Very minor, though growing, capability to fight outside the Incognitian system.
Diplomacy: none at present.
Detail:
Terror Incognitia is a small confederation, essentially comprising one star system, with one major planet, asteroid and moon colonies, and terraformed planets since they came late to interstellar travel, and had begun terraforming efforts before travel to other stars was considered possible.
In this sense, Incognitia forms a close-knit, populous, economically developed star system.
This small federation includes 3 sentient species, however, with a prospect of more. This is because, again before having interstellar drives, and before contacting other species, Incognitia raised to intelligence the chimpanzee (Pan Paniscus) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Amicus) to form the neo-pans (Pan Novus) and neo-fins (Tursiops Novus) respectively. These two species have been brought to human-level intelligence and granted their freedom, then freely chosen to join the confederation, as equal if less populous partners. They now have members on the Council of the people of Terror Incognitia, or TerrorGens Council as it is more usually known. They bring unique abilities to the party; especially the neo-fins’ piloting ability, being fitted to manoeuvring themselves in a three-dimensional environment with active sensors by millions of years of evolution. Few human pilots can match an average ‘fin pilot. None can match a good one. And a few…are truly exceptional. Though few ships are largely ‘fin crewed, most warships, especially small, fast classes, have ‘fin pilots to gain an edge. Their recent experience against rejectionists, wishing to turn the clock back to before Uplift and before star-flight has shown ‘fin pilots to make a major difference in combat between otherwise identical warships. Chimps have made an impact in zero-g construction, being more adaptable than robots, and far more assured than human construction workers. Small-scale experience, and theoretical projections, show them having similar advantages in zero-g combat against “Space Marines”. Obviously planet-side they are less foot-mobile, but better in jungle territories. Their employment in deserts is not advised.
Uplift efforts are ongoing, at varying levels of progression, with gorillas, dogs and pigs. Other candidate species are under consideration. With more experience, candidate species from beyond Incognitia may be attempted. Close allies of Incognitia may be offered the chance to assist. Any allies willing to attempt Uplift, and considered sufficiently responsible by the TerrorGens Council, would be offered Incognitian assistance to avoid early pitfalls, and successfully enrich their worlds with new sentient life.
Incognitian society firmly affirms individual rights. A balance is regularly re-struck with the rights of society, but the individual is the determinant factor. It is clear to any observer that libertarianism has a strong hold, with a very limited government by many standards. The difficult balance in Incognitian society and internal politics is, however, between meritocracy and equality. Society is fluid, with many of the highest members of society being children of labourers; and vice versa. Perhaps partly in consequence (or possibly as a cause of this situation) very few Incognitians are truly poor, and there is a strong sense of fair play holding back those at the top from entrenching their advantages. With minimal government intervention, society rebalances itself, with education, health, transportation, and welfare being down to private provision.
The average Incognitian is fiercely independent from the State; proud of Incognitia, supportive of attempts to establish Incognitia as a power in the galaxy; but keen that this be done by alliance, by colonisation, and if necessary defensive war. Public opinion would not support aggressive war by the Council; indeed a recall election would threaten the positions of any Councillors who attempted it.
Space trials of the first 5 vessels in the new “Dauntless” class of cruisers were looking promising. They manoeuvred in space against in-service vessels, showing themselves fully a match for conventional vessels in conventional space; they then made tactical use of hyperspace to demonstrate that they could engage and disengage at will, and seize any fleeting opportunities in combat. They then demonstrated their ability to fight in hyperspace. In all honesty, it appeared they would beat the Navy’s current dreadnoughts – those unable to use hyperspace. Hence the main concern now; retro-fitting hyperspace engines to older vessels, so as not to throw out the whole fleet now a new technology was available.
“Well sir, we can do it in cruisers, dreadnoughts, and destroyers; but anything below – there just isn’t room for it. We’ve looked time and again, and we think we can make ships of much the same dimensions and real space performance, capable of travelling and fighting in hyperspace. Just not these ships – it would cost near as much as scrapping them and having purpose-built replacements.”
“How long before the dreadnoughts can be refitted?”
“We have already begun, and I believe that the first are nearly ready. To have a reasonable fleet needs maybe eighteen months. With an all out effort, as we grow more experienced in this business, we can finish the upgrade in two years. Using outside contractors, we could have most of the cruisers and fleet tenders completed by that point as well. Destroyers will take a little longer – it is a much larger class. However, probably in three years, if the money is there, they will all be able to use hyperspace. To take full advantage of it will need new ships.”
“And that will have to wait until the new class in five years time. I see. Well, keep me informed; I will push the Consilium to give us the necessary money; we cannot have our fleet outclassed by any nation they encounter in something so important. Finally, look at adding more anti-fighter/anti-missile capability to all vessels undergoing refit, as they will have to do without fighters of their own.”
“Yes sir.”
Full Name:
The Confederation of Incognitian Peoples
Short Name(s):
Incognitia, TerrorGens, TerrorClan
Head of State:
High Seneschal Robert Onara (elected, figurehead only)
Head of Government:
The TerrorGens Council (directly elected)
Legislative Body:
Consilium (directly elected to one chamber, the other being selected by an independent body for ‘contribution to society’)
Highest Court:
The Judicium (appointed by the Council, ratified by both chambers of the Consilium)
Populated systems:
Incognitia only. Within the system, population centres are:
2nd, 3rd and 4th planets (MenXerte, Incognitia, Dunkennen); moon of Incognitia (Nesais); moons of the gas giants (Sifte, Lyosha, Mila, Solntse, Sasha, Vanya primarily); Belt and Cloud settlements (none above 100,000); stations at L-points in-system, especially Incognitia-Nesais L-points.
Population: 2.47 billion humans; 15 million neo-fins; 20 million neo-pans.
Religion: Though there is no compulsion, most adhere to some form of Deism, referring to the deity as God, and occasionally calling on his Lady, Luck, in a reversion to superstition. ‘fins and ‘pans are reticent about their religious beliefs.
Economy: substantial; being a capitalist economy encompassing the entire system out to the Oort Cloud.
Technology: advanced. Apart from the notable exception of FTL travel, Incognitian technology is at a high level. This lack is being remedied as swiftly as possible.
Military: substantial in-system forces, including fixed establishments and marines. Very minor, though growing, capability to fight outside the Incognitian system.
Diplomacy: none at present.
Detail:
Terror Incognitia is a small confederation, essentially comprising one star system, with one major planet, asteroid and moon colonies, and terraformed planets since they came late to interstellar travel, and had begun terraforming efforts before travel to other stars was considered possible.
In this sense, Incognitia forms a close-knit, populous, economically developed star system.
This small federation includes 3 sentient species, however, with a prospect of more. This is because, again before having interstellar drives, and before contacting other species, Incognitia raised to intelligence the chimpanzee (Pan Paniscus) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Amicus) to form the neo-pans (Pan Novus) and neo-fins (Tursiops Novus) respectively. These two species have been brought to human-level intelligence and granted their freedom, then freely chosen to join the confederation, as equal if less populous partners. They now have members on the Council of the people of Terror Incognitia, or TerrorGens Council as it is more usually known. They bring unique abilities to the party; especially the neo-fins’ piloting ability, being fitted to manoeuvring themselves in a three-dimensional environment with active sensors by millions of years of evolution. Few human pilots can match an average ‘fin pilot. None can match a good one. And a few…are truly exceptional. Though few ships are largely ‘fin crewed, most warships, especially small, fast classes, have ‘fin pilots to gain an edge. Their recent experience against rejectionists, wishing to turn the clock back to before Uplift and before star-flight has shown ‘fin pilots to make a major difference in combat between otherwise identical warships. Chimps have made an impact in zero-g construction, being more adaptable than robots, and far more assured than human construction workers. Small-scale experience, and theoretical projections, show them having similar advantages in zero-g combat against “Space Marines”. Obviously planet-side they are less foot-mobile, but better in jungle territories. Their employment in deserts is not advised.
Uplift efforts are ongoing, at varying levels of progression, with gorillas, dogs and pigs. Other candidate species are under consideration. With more experience, candidate species from beyond Incognitia may be attempted. Close allies of Incognitia may be offered the chance to assist. Any allies willing to attempt Uplift, and considered sufficiently responsible by the TerrorGens Council, would be offered Incognitian assistance to avoid early pitfalls, and successfully enrich their worlds with new sentient life.
Incognitian society firmly affirms individual rights. A balance is regularly re-struck with the rights of society, but the individual is the determinant factor. It is clear to any observer that libertarianism has a strong hold, with a very limited government by many standards. The difficult balance in Incognitian society and internal politics is, however, between meritocracy and equality. Society is fluid, with many of the highest members of society being children of labourers; and vice versa. Perhaps partly in consequence (or possibly as a cause of this situation) very few Incognitians are truly poor, and there is a strong sense of fair play holding back those at the top from entrenching their advantages. With minimal government intervention, society rebalances itself, with education, health, transportation, and welfare being down to private provision.
The average Incognitian is fiercely independent from the State; proud of Incognitia, supportive of attempts to establish Incognitia as a power in the galaxy; but keen that this be done by alliance, by colonisation, and if necessary defensive war. Public opinion would not support aggressive war by the Council; indeed a recall election would threaten the positions of any Councillors who attempted it.
Space trials of the first 5 vessels in the new “Dauntless” class of cruisers were looking promising. They manoeuvred in space against in-service vessels, showing themselves fully a match for conventional vessels in conventional space; they then made tactical use of hyperspace to demonstrate that they could engage and disengage at will, and seize any fleeting opportunities in combat. They then demonstrated their ability to fight in hyperspace. In all honesty, it appeared they would beat the Navy’s current dreadnoughts – those unable to use hyperspace. Hence the main concern now; retro-fitting hyperspace engines to older vessels, so as not to throw out the whole fleet now a new technology was available.
“Well sir, we can do it in cruisers, dreadnoughts, and destroyers; but anything below – there just isn’t room for it. We’ve looked time and again, and we think we can make ships of much the same dimensions and real space performance, capable of travelling and fighting in hyperspace. Just not these ships – it would cost near as much as scrapping them and having purpose-built replacements.”
“How long before the dreadnoughts can be refitted?”
“We have already begun, and I believe that the first are nearly ready. To have a reasonable fleet needs maybe eighteen months. With an all out effort, as we grow more experienced in this business, we can finish the upgrade in two years. Using outside contractors, we could have most of the cruisers and fleet tenders completed by that point as well. Destroyers will take a little longer – it is a much larger class. However, probably in three years, if the money is there, they will all be able to use hyperspace. To take full advantage of it will need new ships.”
“And that will have to wait until the new class in five years time. I see. Well, keep me informed; I will push the Consilium to give us the necessary money; we cannot have our fleet outclassed by any nation they encounter in something so important. Finally, look at adding more anti-fighter/anti-missile capability to all vessels undergoing refit, as they will have to do without fighters of their own.”
“Yes sir.”