This Thread Info

Q&A
This is the area where you can ask specific things about the RP. Please leave comments and such in the OOC thread. (Just trying to keep everything organized.) After a question is answered it will be deleted.


Missing Something?
If you'd like for us to add something, post it here. Once we get it in, your post will be deleted. ^.^

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OOC Info

Posting Structure
This is a no sweat RP, but I do still want it to be nice. I know you all have some RP experience so I don't need to give the whole "write in 3rd person and don't use asterisks and don't god mod" speech. We are all at different levels on here, but I know every one of you lovely writers can squeeze out a paragraph. ^.^

Plot
We're pretty open ended on the plot. So if you have a plot idea, go for it! If it's a big thing, you might wanna run it by, Dylan, Rick or I. ^.^

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World Info

The Eras
The Dark Era 0-1020 d.e.
The Wax Era 0- 540 w.e
The Steam Era 0-1565 s.e. (projected)

The year is 1558 s.e. The worlds are moving out of the Steam Era and into the Fuel Era.

Earth
While earth is technically a Core World, it is usually referred to as a category in and of itself. Not long ago Earth was the capital of The Alliance of Civilized Worlds. It was a hub of politics and high society. While Earth had it's own defensive army (The Earth Defensive Army), the Alliance kept most of it's army spread among the other Core Worlds. The majority of Families call a major city on Earth 'home.'

Core Worlds
Core Worlds refer to the main worlds of the old Alliance and current UR. They include the planets that where turned hospitable through artificial means, among them being Venus and Mars and many moons of Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune. The Core Worlds where home to the Army of the Alliance until they declared war on the Alliance and became the foundation of the Universal Republic. The Core Worlds are home to the majority of politicians and army brass and stand for the government of all the worlds and are extremely well represented in the senate.

Middle Worlds
The Middle Worlds is used to refer to the second set of colonized and civilized. They are a hub of farming and industrialization. The middle worlds can be a bit rough for a Core World person, as the planets are not made for luxury or high society but for working and selling class people. If it where not for the Middle Worlds, the rest of the worlds would not have sufficient food or supplies. The Middle Worlds are fairly well represented in the senate, as they make up the majority of the population among the worlds.

The Outer (Colony) Worlds
The Outer Worlds are the newest addition to the reach of mankind. Originally started fifteen years ago by the Alliance the colonies thrived with the support and supplies given to them to found new worlds. It was only a few years ago that the UR tried to take over. With limited resources as they already had, the colonies fell one by one to the UR.

The War
A few years ago there was a Rebellion against the government, known then as The Alliance of Civilized Worlds or more simply, The Alliance. It was founded in a golden age of humanity, when morals and courtesy dominated the systems. But a new age was on its way. The rebels called themselves The Universal Republic.

Where the Alliance held the traditional metal coins, UR offered modern electronic currency, and traditional values were to be replaced with embracing the harsh future. All Alliance laws giving benefits to Colony worlds would be removed, but a large tax breaks were granted to the colonists themselves, thereby causing lots of people to start out for lives that would end in destitution. Lastly, the UR wished to change the capital from earth, which, granted, was on the far side of the system, to three equidistant points across the system.

When the war began, it was Earth and the colonies and a most of the Middle Worlds versus the Core Planets. The UR first took over the Middle Worlds, cutting the Alliance off from their main source of supplies. After 5 years of bloody battles Earth declared surrender, handing over all political power, and betraying several of their finest agents. The colony worlds continued to fight for their rights until they were each defeated one by one.

The rebels won, it was a slaughter and the Universal Republic was formed. The major cities on the three planets prospered, and while earth lost nearly all political power, other than the Families yet it maintains its cultural an economic standards. The colony worlds were left high and dry, with only about 30% making it to full citizenship standards. The rest were left without support or a vote, to linger on the edges of society.

Coin 'n Credits
Originally, all money was done in copper, silver, gold, and platinum coins. However, when a larger gov't was set up, a new currency was made, Credits. Now credits are used on most of the mainstream words (i.e. Earth) and is done by electric transfer. On any colonial worlds the metal coin system is still used. Therefore, if you are on a colonial world and a trade in credits is going down (like what is happening right now) the people in the trade don't exactly live there.

For our convenience, one credit is essentially 1 dollar.
Due to current interest rates on developing planets, a copper piece is worth about 80 cents.
The coin system goes up by tens, 10 copper is 1 silver, 10 silver is 1 gold, 10 gold is 1 platinum.

-The Government of the Universal Republic-

The UR has two main branches of government. The High Chancellor and the Universal Senate.

Each official planet has a senator or two depending on the population and political power of the planet. Planetary Senators represent the people. Each House Family also gets a senator. The House Senators represent the economy in general along with being the icon and authority of their specific fields.

The UR laws are strict and usually fair, but taxes are a little high and the extremely wealthy can slip around a few laws. The UR steps back and allows businesses to grow and consume one another as they please.

The Families/Houses
While the Gov keeps the militaristic and law issues under control, it is common knowledge that it is the Families who keep the economy and their specific territories in order. The Houses are the families who have a near to complete monopoly or core foundation for their respective fields. The Families all have their fingers in a little bit on everything and the influences that they have on the senate is obvious.

A House member can be easily identified, they usually have an exclusive identification card along with keeping a symbol of their family on them at all times. They are proud of their heritage and trades, along with being THE authority of their fields. (And rightfully so.)

There are many Families, some more powerful than others. Here is a list of the ones important to the story. (For now)

Hart
Symbol: Elephant
Field: Fuel (Oil and Petrol)
Home City: Las Vegas
Influence Level: Extremely High
Notable Members: Winifred Hart
General Info: The Harts are one of the main families that are leading the worlds out of the Steam Era. They are extremely influential and proud. The Harts see the Boylince family as an old dog that needs to be put down.

Boylince
Symbol: Alligator
Field: Boilers
Home City: Chicago
Influence Level: Very High
Notable Members: n/a
General Info: The Boylince family is one of the largest on oldest families. They where the leaders of the Steam Era and although their influence is not what it use to be, they are still extremely powerful and a force to be recoded with. They see the Harts as an arrogant pup who keeps pissing on the floors of tradition.

Reatrea
Symbol: Rod of Asclepius (Snake)
Field: Medicine
Home City: Houston
Influence Level: Highly Respected
Notable Members: Sabrina Reatrea
General Info: The Reatrea family has been the backbone of the medical community for many generations, most the hospitals on the main planets are owned by them along with most of the medical research facilities.

Mozite
Symbol: Crescent Moon
Field: Politics
Home City: Capital cities. (Washington D.C., London, Beijing, Tokyo, Rome.)
Influence Level: Deceased (Formerly: Ridiculously High)
Notable Members: Presumed dead
General Info: The Mozite family wasn’t just a family it was THE Family. The most influential, the largest, the oldest, the 900 pound gorilla. All of the other families tried to influence the government. The Mozite family was the government. All the major world powers had a Mozite at its head, Indeed most people wouldn’t even consider voting for someone who was not a Mozite. But then, a little over ten years ago, the entire Mozite Family was assassinated in the space of a week. The assassinations remain one of great unsolved mysteries of all time. The Death of the family left a major power vacuum, almost sending the entire world into a massive war.
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The Sky Father Info

Origin
Conall bought this ship the day after he left the hospital, as a decommissioned prisoner transfer ship, that had also had the crap beaten out of it by asteroids. He then spent the next two years and nearly all of the money in his bank account rebuilding it. The letters of its name are actually just soldered pieces of scrap on the side of the ship.

It's Mission
To boldly get lots of money from people and not ask questions, except sometimes "WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHY ARE THEY FIRING AT US!??"

The Crew and Passengers
Go read the thread that is ENTIRELY devoted to it!


Word to Wise While on Board
- Don't get the Captain started on one of his rants. Especially during a meeting. We'll be sitting there for hours.
- Don't touch the pilot's flamethrower or flask. He will twist your arm until you drop it and break it if he has to.
- Don't touch the engine unless otherwise directed. If you do, be prepared to have a wrench up your nose or other uncomfortable places.
- Don't touch the doctor. She will beat you with her stick.
- Don't go into the Medbay without a very good reason. If you need one, go touch the flamethrower, the engine or the doctor. You can also make fun of the captain's missing eye or the doctor's limp. Another option is to actually get hurt on an assignment.
- Don't try to sneak up on the former spy. It won't work.
- Don't yell at or scare the passengers, unless they really deserve it.
- Don't shoot the people paying us, no matter how much you want to.