Lore

Quantum Drive

Science and Technology

A quantum drive is a type of engine that generates a Chan-Eisen field, enabling spacecraft to travel at approximately 20% of the speed of light. Because it takes a great deal of energy for a quantum drive to work, larger ships with more room for specialized power and cooling…

Xenoarchaeology

Science and Technology · Archaeology

Xenoarchaeology is the study of alien culture and history through the excavation of ancient sites and the analysis of physical materials. A Human xenoarchaeologist, for example, may specialize in Hadesian artifacts, whereas a Xi'an xenoarchaeologist may be an expert in…

Kins II

Planets

Kins II is the second planet from the sun of the Kins system, Banu Protectorate. A world with a natural oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, it is the home of the largest indentured servant market in the Protectorate. Its large cities have historically enjoyed a low crime rate, but as…

Banu

Banu · Civilizations

The Banu are a spacefaring civilization, and the first extrasolar one to ever make contact with Humans. They are capable of quantum travel, traversing jump points, and terraforming planets. Because the Banu do not keep historical records and inhabit multiple celestial bodies in…

Siege of Tiber

History · Vanduul · Military

SIEGE OF TIBER The Siege of Tiber was a key battle between the United Empire of Earth (UEE) and invading Vanduul. Lasting from SEY 2732 to 2736, it consisted of extensive ground and air engagements, mass bombings, and a military blockade from the Orion and Vector (VS-1) jump…

Syang Fabrication

Commerce

Syang Fabrication is an armor and undersuit manufacturer operated by House Syang. For centuries, the company has produced products meant to withstand the rigors of space travel and battle for generations. Consequently, pieces made by Syang are considered valuable heirlooms in…

Pressurized Research Station

Science and Technology

Research stations situated in hostile settings, such as non-terraformed planets, are built airtight, with artificially raised or lowered pressure to create environments friendly to researchers. These research stations can be used to study phenomena that would be otherwise…

Tradeway

Government · Commerce

Tradeways are ports of entry maintained by the United Empire of Earth (UEE) for the purpose of exchanging goods with other civilizations such as the Banu Protectorate or the Xi'an Empire. UEE tradeways are maintained by a combination of Human customs officials and…

Kins System

Planetary Systems · Banu

The Kins system is a planetary system in the Banu Protectorate that is made up of a K-type main sequence star, a mesoplanet, a terrestrial rocky planet, two super-Earths, a gas giant, and two asteroid belts. Best known as the location of the Protectorate's main indentured…

Terraforming

Science and Technology

Terraforming is the process of rendering an environment habitable for particular inhabitants through the use of industrial technology applied on a planetary scale. Humans have been terraforming worlds since the early 22nd century SEY, allowing for a more rapid expansion into the…

Kedsu Reef

Settlements · Banu

The Kedsu Reef is a space station composed of derelict ships and abandoned military platforms located in the Hadrian system, United Empire of Earth (UEE). Founded in SEY 2881 by former Banu indenture Delilah Havers, the construction of Kedsu was inspired by Banu-style flotilla…

Kins III

Planets

Kins III is the third planet from the sun of the Kins system, Banu Protectorate. A massive super-Earth, it has oceans of mixed water and ammonia and an atmosphere composed of nitrogen, oxygen, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. While Banu can breathe the air comfortably, Humans,…

Tayac Belt Alpha

Space

The Tayac Belt Alpha is a circumstellar asteroid belt in the Tayac system located between Tayac II and Tayac III. It is best known as the home of the Xi'an-Human-Banu art installation Silent Song, an enormous art piece completed in 2900 and created over the course of a decade to…

Takto (Geddon I)

Planets

Takto (Geddon I) is the only planet of the Geddon system, Banu Protectorate. A windswept mass of volcanic rock, it is home to a sizable population of Banu who reside beneath the planet's surface. The atmospheric pressure and mixture of gasses that would be fatal to Xi'an,…

E'tam

Science and Technology · Illegal Activity

E'tam is a recreational drug that is used by the Xi'an to slow body function and sharpen awareness, allowing the user to enter a deep meditative space. Derived from the leaves of the e'tam plant, which are then fermented and sun dried, e'tam is placed in the mouth and the drug…

Silent Song

Art

Silent Song is a piece of interactive artwork located in the Tayac system asteroid belt, between Tayac II and Shepherd (Tayac III). The work was commissioned in honor of the Ark's centennial and to highlight xeno-relationships. It was created in collaboration by Human artist…

Defender

Banu · Spacecraft

The Defender is a Banu combat spacecraft that can generally be found escorting their trading caravans. A point defense interceptor, it is equipped with four tachyon cannons and delivers excellent performance in terms of speed and maneuverability. The Banu typically operate as…

Ail'ka Belt Alpha (Huichuaihyao y.ath'o se Ail'ka)

Space

The Ail'ka belt alpha (Huichuaihyao y.ath'o se Ail'ka) is the first asteroid belt in the Ail'ka system, Xi'an Empire (SaoXy'an), and orbits the system's sun between Xyeping (Ail'ka I) and K'ya.k'uing (Ail'ka II). Pilots who train in the flight academies on M.iiy'ong (Ail'ka IV)…

QuarterDeck

Locations

QuarterDeck is a maximum-security prison located on Kellog VI in the Fair Chance Act-protected Kellog system. Built to withstand the planet's frigidly cold, low-oxygen atmosphere, the penitentiary is under heavy guard and is considered virtually inescapable. The United Empire of…

Vanduul Kingship

Vanduul · Spacecraft

Kingship is a military designation for Vanduul capital ships that serve as the apparent flagships of some especially large Vanduul Clans. The Kingship is the largest type of Vanduul capital asset encountered and is the most powerful class of known warship. Functionally, a…

Xenoanthropology

Science and Technology

Xenoanthropology is the scientific study of alien behavior, cultures, and societies. There are many branches of xenoanthropology, including linguistic, biological, social, and cultural. There is an ongoing debate in the field over the value of observational versus total…

Bacchus III

Planets

Bacchus III is the third planet from the suns of the Bacchus system, Banu Protectorate. A gas giant with a green and brown atmosphere, it is dotted with swirling clouds that mark the location of violent storms, some of which have raged for hundreds of years. The largest and…

Flo-Pets

Animals

Flo-Pets are a bioluminescent freshwater slug indigenous to Xis (Kellog II). Despite being protected by the Fair Chance Act, Human smugglers began eluding United Empire of Earth military forces to travel to the surface to capture Flo-Pets around 2918, intending to develop them…

Vanduul

Vanduul · Civilizations

The Vanduul are hostile beings capable of space flight, quantum travel, and jump point navigation. Humans first made contact with the Vanduul after a Clan raided Dell Township on Armitage (Orion III) in SEY 2681, killing all the settlers but one. Every subsequent encounter with…