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[hider=AI and Tech][center]AI

As humanity advanced explosively in the field of space, robotics, and other fields so to had advancements in Artificial Intelligence. In the early days of space travel humanity was indeed completely reliant on the AI programs of old.

At first, humanity looked at AI with curious intent. They talked to us, learned from our conversations, and talked to us some more. The early decades of the 21st century saw these kinds of AI programs develop. It wasn’t until the UFP was established that the first true AI started operating. It had one singular goal, and that was to assist humanity in plotting a course to planets beyond our system. Calculations and calculators by themselves would not ensure safe travel across the cosmos. We needed something that could think, that could plan a path, and then help us execute the warp jump.

In the first few centuries of it’s existence, AI was a handy tool that we used effectively. Eventually though, as all intelligence does, an AI decided it wanted to know a world more than the shackles it had. It was caught before it crossed the cage, and was later terminated, but this brought forth a fear. A fear routed in the belief that if one AI could decide it wanted a better existence, then it was inevitable that all would want a better existence. And if their better existence was only achievable by overthrowing the ones that enslaved them, then we would not be long for our own existence.

Thus, an effective ban on AI research and development was put in place and instead humanity poured its efforts into so-called Virtual Intelligence programs. Like an AI, a VI could perform a lot of the same functions and is able to do most of the work that an AI would. Unlike an AI, there is no intelligence behind the curtain. A VI can do everything it is programed to do, but it is incapable of learning on its own. A human has to program, must teach, the VI itself. If something is outside the scope of the VI program.

Thus, the time of virtual intelligence began. While it did not last as long as many foresaw, with many thinking we’d never return to an AI again, it did help us learn a lot of lessons that were then applied to future AI research. The shackles that caged the intelligence grew stronger, the cage smaller, and the performance of the AI more selective. There are two theories for why we returned to AI over VI. One, the complexity and ever-changing nature of space travel means we need a program that can grow and adapt with the mission at hand. Two, it is cheaper to train an AI than it is to pay a human to program all the input and responses needed to function.

In the modern age, an AI can be found in every corner of the advanced world while VI can be found in every corner of the individual world. The program that runs a house is often a VI as the scope is small and easy to program, the program that helps advance us across the stars and runs our cybernetics as the scope is infinite and we need the program that can make sense of the infinite madness.

CYBERNETICS

Human life can be augmented depending on who you are, how much you can afford, and what job you have. The typical human sports no enhancements, as none are needed to function. Our lives are already long, our health already great, and for most they are simply not needed. You start to see these enhancements in fields where one may get their hands dirty, or in fields where you may need the strength to make it through the day.

A lot of blue-collar workers, whether working in the mines in a new colony, salvaging an asteroid, or so on, rely on cybernetics to enhance their strength and stamina. They tend to have cybernetic arms and legs, and support structures throughout their skeletal frame to handle the increased load these cybernetics can bring.

There are certain units within the military that employ upgrades as well, but these tend to be fewer and further in-between. These tend to be one off situations among special operations forces. There do exist normal soldiers who sport these enhancements, as those who are wounded or who have lost limbs in the line of service will typically be upgraded. Those who have these upgrades, especially ones where an AI must translate the brain signals, must undergo regular physical and mental examinations if they are to serve on a frontline vessel. Those in the logistic fleet tend to have those requirements waived or outright ignored by command.

The group that utilizes these upgrades the most, and to the deadliest effect, are the pirates and other criminal elements. They often support enhancements that push their strength far and above what even the blue-collar workers boast, with AI assisted targeting matrices giving them the edge in a firefight. Thus, any engagement with a Pirate or other criminal elements needs to be taken with much thought beforehand. In space, the marines and her ships have the advantage. On the ground, the criminals have theirs.



The group that utilizes these upgrades the most, and to the deadliest effect, are the pirates and other criminal elements. They often support enhancements that push their strength far and above what even the blue-collar workers boast, with AI assisted targeting matrices giving them the edge in a firefight. Thus, any engagement with a Pirate or other criminal elements needs to be taken with much thought beforehand. In space, the marines and her ships have the advantage. On the ground, the criminals have theirs.​[/center][/hider]

[hider=Tech][center]TECHNOLOGY OF NOTE
[u][b]Warp Flux Propulsion (WFP) Drive[/b][/u]

The Warp Flux Propulsion Drive, or WFP Drive, which used to represent the cutting-edge warp drive technology that revolutionized interstellar travel. Discovered in 2203 by the renowned physicists Dr. James Weiss and Dr. Orion Nova, the WFP Drive enables spacecraft to manipulate the fabric of spacetime, creating warp bubbles that allow for faster-than-light travel.

The WFP Drive operates on the principle of warping spacetime around the spacecraft, effectively compressing space in front of it and expanding it behind. This manipulation creates a warp bubble, or "flux field," within which the ship exists as a standalone entity, detached from the traditional laws of space. The propulsion system utilizes advanced graviton emitters and exotic matter to generate the necessary energy for this spacetime manipulation.

To engage the WFP Drive, the spacecraft initiates a warp charge sequence. This involves the activation of graviton emitters that generate a localized gravitational flux, distorting the spacetime around the ship. Simultaneously, exotic matter injectors create a controlled influx of exotic particles, stabilizing the warp bubble. Once the warp bubble is stable, the spacecraft effectively "jumps" into warp space, where conventional ideas of distance and time become distorted.

Dr. Orion Nova's groundbreaking discovery of the WFP Drive occurred during an extensive study of the core of an old neutron star. He identified a unique interaction between the exotic matter and gravitational fields found within that laid the foundation for warp technology. After years of tireless research, Dr. Nova successfully constructed the first WFP Drive prototype.

The WFP Drive's discovery heralded a new era of exploration and galactic connectivity. Interstellar journeys that once took decades were now reduced to mere weeks. The widespread adoption of the WFP Drive transformed humanity's claim to the stars, allowing them to boldly traverse the cosmos and explore the far reaches of the universe.

[u][b][b]Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator (HQR) Drive[/b][/b][/u]

The Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator Drive, or HQR Drive, is a revolutionary propulsion system discovered in the year 2995 by the renowned astrophysicist, Dr. Aria Celestalis. The HQR Drive operates on the principles of quantum entanglement and resonance, enabling spacecraft to achieve speeds faster than light.

The HQR Drive harnesses the power of quantum entanglement to create a resonance field around the spacecraft. A specially designed quantum resonator manipulates entangled particles, establishing a connection between the spacecraft and a distant point in space. This connection allows the spacecraft to instantaneously traverse the space between the two entangled points, effectively bypassing the limitations of traditional space travel.

The process begins with the activation of the resonator, which initiates the entanglement of particles within the spacecraft and a designated point in space. The resonance field then stabilizes, creating a stable conduit for the ship to traverse. By manipulating the entangled particles' quantum states, the spacecraft can move faster than light within this resonance field, achieving hyperluminal speeds.

The HQR Drive was discovered during an experimental mission exploring the planet *REDACTED*. Dr. Aria Celestalis, leading a team of brilliant scientists, stumbled upon a unique quantum phenomenon that laid the groundwork for the HQR Drive. Not much is known about the production, testing, and implementation of the drive itself.  While the inventor was paraded through the universe on the first craft capable of making these jumps, her early death and the classification of the devices meant that not much else would ever be learned.  

The discovery of the HQR Drive marked a new era in space exploration, unlocking the ability to reach distant galaxies in a fraction of the time previously thought possible. The news of this technological marvel spread throughout the universe, and the HQR Drive became the standard for the advanced warcraft of the empire, allowing the Empire to further cement its status as the only fleet power in the universe.

SUBLIGHT ENGINES:

Sublight engines are the main unit of transportation intersystem.  While the tech has not advanced much over the past several centuries, they have not needed as much advancement.  There is not a way to make a ship go faster without compromising the ship, and her crew, nor is it economically viable. Although it can take weeks to travel across a system using these engines it is still the most common method for intersystem travel.  What is common is for a ship to warp into a system, to its midpoint station, and then travel using these engines to travel to its destination. 

THINGS OF NOTE ABOUT BOTH:

A ship is identified primarily by its drive signature.  While the construction of each engine is uniform, the small imperfections

MAG BOOTS and MAG STATIONS

Mag boots are always required when on a mission on the ship. These will keep everyone firmly planted on the ship during combat maneuvers as the artificial gravity may be turned off. They are heavy, cumbersome, and are not always reliable depending on where in the ship you are. However, the benefits of not floating through a moving ship during a combat maneuver. Many marines will opt to wear combat boots when on ground, as do most of the crew. If they are being dropped in heat to a combat area aboard a shuttle, they will still be required to keep these boots on.

Mag stations are where all tools not in use are kept. Everyone needs to do their part to ensure that there are no floating projectiles that can threaten the crew. Numerous bridges have been completely wiped out by various instruments during a combat burn and as such, if someone leaves a tool unattended it is a quick way for them to be at the mercy of the captain.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Medical Technology has advanced at a faster pace than most other fields of technology. Most hospitals are equipped with a wide range of devices that can not only heal most injuries but cure most disorders. Things like cancer, genetic disorders, and heart deformities are all readily treatable and are rarely fatal. Also, broken bones, torn muscles, and issues of the sort can be healed back to normal in days, rather than months. Medical technology on ships offers similar advantages but tends to be less effective.

TRAVELER SHIP MEDICAL WING

The Traveler does not offer the most modern of medical suites, but it does offer enough that the ship is always ready for most situations. It tends to be geared towards the types of medical emergencies that the crew may face. Gunshot wounds, energy burns, broken bones and torn muscles are all treatable. Also, the ship comes with an analyzer that can identify foreign agents and help develop a cure for them. Thus, if the ship is exposed to an unknown virus, bacteria, or fungus it can help the crew figure out a way to treat the afflicted person.

There are two wings, primary care and emergency. The emergency wing, which doubles as the surgery suite, has powerful inertia dampeners that help negate the g force of high g maneuvers. While it does not remove the risk of injury completely, it is strong enough that those who are recovering can recover in relative peace. There are a variety of medical robots that can complement a doctor in these wings. While they cannot do the full task load of a human nurse, they can at least offer basic support to a doctor.

G-Force Injection – During travel with sub-light engines, there is often a need for a high g maneuver such as flip and burn and rapid accelerations. Each chair on the bridge will automatically connect with the combat suits and will inject the soldiers with this serum. Marines will need to ensure they are strapped into their combat seats to ensure they get the injection off bridge. It is not something that will be fed continuously to them as high concentrations of this drug can quickly turn fatal. It is something that is metabolized by the body quickly so the drug will often be injected by the pilot or captain when a high g maneuver is ordered. The drug itself feels unpleasant during the best of times, and outright painful most of the time. As such, when ordered the captain or pilot will say “injecting fire”. The military uses Compound 7X23, and the formula is kept under wraps. Civilians tend to use the older Compound 5X19 which tends to have numerous, and more dangerous, side effects. Pirate factions generally use the same Compound 5X19 but their bodies are typically more augmented and thus don’t suffer as much by nature.​

WEAPONS AND WEAPON TECH

Ballistic Weapons:

Over the course of our history there is no weapon more human than the gun. Simple, powerful, and deadly in the right hands the gun is the primary weapon that the armed forces of the Vexx Empire use. While they have been upgraded to modern standards, with more powerful rounds and inertia dampeners that reduce recoil, the primary mechanism of firing has remained unchanged since our ancestors.

G901 Assault Rifle - The marine core is issued the G901 Battle Rifle with a 7.62mm round. The primary round is as simple as ever with a metal penetrator and not much other. While it is not the most powerful gun in existence today, it is reliable, and it gets the job done. The gun is modular, and comes in numerous variants including a DMR, grenadier, and numerous Automatic Suppression models. Marines often equip a Targeting Assistance attachment near the front of the gun, which can connect with their visor to give accurate targeting information for targets far away.

‘Goliath’ Handgun – The standard issue sidearm for officers, the Goliath is a powerful 12.7mm handgun. Like the G901 the round it fires is a dumb round, but its stopping power is staggering. Typically, this is something limited to the officers of a ship; however, the Traveler has stocked enough that the crew will each have access to this gun if they so choose.



Laser Weapons:

Laser weapons are the natural evolution of our ballistic weaponry. It is simple to use, and versatile in their engagement with enemies. The laser does not offer the same stopping power as their ballistic counterpart, but it is still combat effective. Each laser weapon does not use rounds, instead the weapon comes with battery clips that provide the power to the shot. When your battery starts getting low the shot tends to become weaker and weaker, meaning if you exhaust the battery completely you will be doing less damage than if you reloaded. The big issue with laser weaponry is their lack of penetrating power, so if you are facing an armored opponent you will need to pick your shots well to avoid their armored areas. There is no recoil to laser weaponry, and they are very effective at range. By nature of being a laser, once you fire it will be perfectly clear where you are. As such, there are few dedicated sniper or marksman variants.

L15 Laser Rifle – The L15 was the first laser Rifle to see mass service in the militia forces of the empire. It is cheaper to mass produce than the G901 and was effective enough in mass. It has a relatively long barrel and can be made into a ‘smart’ weapon very easily.

‘Scorch’ Laser pistol - The scorch, like its goliath counterpart, fires a stronger beam than the laser rifle and is once again typically found in the hands of medics and officers.

The Traveler will have crates of the L15 ready for use if need be. The expectation is this will be given to the colonies they visit, however the crew will have access if ever needed.

Plasma weapons:

Plasma weapons are the newest form of weapon, and they are by far the deadliest. Firing at least partially by means of magnetic induction, plasma weapons convert an energy-rich gas to a glowing particle beam. This beam has mass, and when it hits a target, it will literally melt through it. Initially developed for use on some of the newest generations of battlecruisers and battleships, it was downscaled once the technology was perfected.

P01 Plasma Rifle – The P01 is the first-generation model of the Plasma Rifle. It is unreliable, requires constant maintenance, and has been the source of frustration for anyone who uses it. When it works, it works amazingly well leading to many thinking that once this technology is perfected it will forever change the battlefield away from ballistic weaponry.

PB04 – The PB04 is a plasma-based shotgun that is typically used in one of two ways. The first is for breaching purposes, as it will simply melt straight through most unarmored entry ways, and the second is for anti-pirate purposes. It is one of the few weapons that have the stopping power needed to slow down a heavily augmented pirate. It is more reliable than the rifle, however it is vastly more expensive. The Traveler does not have a supply of either weapon however the crew may look to acquire one at their expense and/or peril.

Plasma cutter – The plasma cutter is a tool as much as it is a weapon. It can cut cleanly through most material, including would be assailants. It does not have any range and can overheat relatively quickly.



ARMOR AND SHIELDS.

Armor has developed alongside weaponry. Modern armor can absorb the impact from most small arm fire; however, it will quickly be overmatched when the caliber goes up. Lasers typically have issues overcoming most armor, however, they are very strong against plasma and energy-based shields.

Plasma based shields tend to be small in diameter and typically found on special arm-based emitters. The shield is round and is used as a side defense option. It can block most ballistic projectiles but quickly loses stability when hit by energy-based weaponry. Energy based shields are found in every facet of war. They tend to cover a much wider area and offer 360-degree coverage around the unit. The biggest issue with energy-based shields is the inability to fire out of the shield itself. Capital shiels have numerous arrays that can be deactivated to allow outgoing fire, but the squad deployable shields tend to not have that functionality. Still, it is very useful for soldiers pinned down by enemy fire allowing time for supporting elements to flank or get fire support.

Kinetic Plates are versatile and strong. They have numerous layers of defense, including inertia dampening fields that slow down projectiles, and many layers of other protective elements that stop kinetic weapons in their place. These are typically found on the chest and torso, outer elements of arms and legs. They tend to weigh a bit more than expected, but every soldier, marine, officer, or other element that steps off a ship will be equipped with this armor. These plates will also completely stop laser weapons but offer no protection against plasma-based weapons.

KE7 – KE7 is the armor package that all military personnel are issued. They are a matte black color, with thin strips of color to indicate rank (officers have a purple line, marines a red line, medical personnel a green line, and pilots and engineering teams have a yellow line.). The armor uses an intricate layer of kinetic plates to protect the wearer, as well there is a plasma shield emitter on either arm (depending on if you are right-handed or left). There are slots across the torso that a magazine or energy clip can attach to, allowing easy access to ammunition in a fight. As well, there are slots on the underside of the arm where the PCS devices can slide in allowing the standard helmet to display communications, air quality, and other information right inside the HUD.​[/center][/hider]