The Etheri Alliance

From BluWiki

Government: Etheri Alliance

Capital Planet: Etheri

Physiology:

The Etheri Alliance is comprised of three major races: The Etheri, the Rexi and the Aurosian, with the Etheri being the dominant species.

Etheri

The Etheri are a race of non-humanoids approximately 1.4 Terran Standard Meters tall. They have green-blue scaly skin, with red eyes, pupil in silts and an elongated snout that contains rows of sharp teeth. They have six limbs, two of them wings growing from their back supporting a leathery frame, similar to those of a Terran bat. The other pairs of limbs developed into gripping and weight supporting structures, similar to that of other bipedal humanoid species. They also support a tail which has seemingly no real function except for holding their mate during mating, as the bipedal nature of an Etheri does not require it to have a tail for balance. Etheri are able to fly, but cannot do so for more than a few seconds without exhausting themselves immensely. Structurally, they are similar to that of a Dragon, a mythical creature in Terran mythology. They are a cross between mammals and reptiles, with reptilian features, but conduct internal fertilization and have an endothermic nature. The Etheri have the ability to communicate telepathically with each other, thus they did not develop a language system. They do, however; have the ability to imitate the speech of conventional species.

Rexi

This species are a large, terrestrial, insectoid race, approximately 2.5 meters in length and resemble an enlarged version of a Terran ant. Since they belong to the labour class of the Etheri society, they generally do not appear to public. Not much is known about this race apart from the giant ships they create.

Aurosian

A marine race native to the planet Auros, the Aurosians are similar to a Terran moray eel in all but one aspect: they have an array of four, muscular and versatile tentacles attached to their gill region, which pretty much covers the use of arms in terrestrial races. They are around 2 Terran Standard Meters long, and are extremely muscular and strong. They can generally survive out of water for approximately an hour or so, moving surprisingly quickly on their four tentacles. Aggressive in nature, it is usually extremely hard to communicate with an Aurosian without it strangling you within five minutes. Because of their aggressiveness and strength, the Aurosians are used as cannon fodder in the Etheri Fleet.

Description:

The Etheri Alliance is a union between various planets under Etheri control: basically, their home planet, conquered planets and colonies. The most peculiar aspect of the Etheri is the fact that they, and the races they conquer; all create living, sentient starships, which can think and operate on their own even without a crew to man it (although that is generally not done, as it could result in the ship developing “humane” sentience and go rogue). This makes the Etheri a tactically deadly race, but also flawed in matters of weapons and ship design. However, their relative technological advances over most other races nearly completely compensates for their weaknesses.

The Etheri are also known for their brutalility; in their quest to find more habitable planets to compensate for their ever-increasing population, they often wipe out whole civilizations (normally pre-warp ones) by spreading deadly, specifically engineered viruses (non-effective against the Etheri and their subject species) onto the planetary surface, thus completely annihilating all life on the planet. They then launch trillions of spores onto the planet, which then grows quickly into Etheri buildings and facilities for habitation.

Ever since the Etheri achieved warp-speed (around a few thousand years ago), they have been immersed in the Art of Genetic Engineering, creating lots biological and even sentient creatures to serve their purposes. Presently, everything about the Etheri is biological and living: the buildings they live in, their starships, starbases, computers, all living and some sentient. Many critics from other factions question the ethics of such acts, but living machines are now so enterwined with Etheri life that it is impossible to separate the two even if they wished too: which they don’t.

History:

Around a thousand years ago, the planet Etheri started to reach dangerous levels of overpopulation, and the Etheri Council decided to send out their fleets to colonise and conquer other races. Before this, the Etheri had being extremely xenophobic, believing all races outside to be stronger than themselves. The first race they encountered were the Rexi: a peaceful, insectoid race who, like the Etheri, build living ships, except the Rexi built only trade ships with limited firepower. They were easily conquered, of course; by the elite invasion fleet, and their ships were incorporated into the Etheri trading fleet.

After the conquering of Rexi, the Etheri, now more confident with their success, decided to venture out further. They found a large and bountiful planet suitable for life: plus, it was uninhabited. The planet, which the Etheri called Xelor Prime, was colonized and became an economical hotspot in its region of the galaxy. It was during this time when the Etheri researched their viral conquest weapon, which they used on the planet Illuma shortly after the colonization of Xelor Prime. Illuma was a small, pleasant and peaceful planet inhabited by a pre-spaceflight race; within two months the whole population was destroyed by the supervirus, and to their extinction they never knew that their destruction was brought by aliens who did not care how many races they annihilate for their own luxury.

After a further century or so, a new power rose to challenge the superiority of the Etheri: The Aurosians, an aquatic race living within the oceans of the planet Auros, whose extensive shielding technology allowed it to evade detection by the Etheri Fleet till now. Silently observing the steady expansion of the Etheri, The Aurosians finally unleashed their secret, bioship fleet from within the oceans. Aurosian ships with fast, able to evade weapons fire effectively; and were designed to attach to enemy ships and suck the shield energies and rip the hull with duranium fangs. At first the Etheri were taken by surprise, and almost half of their territory were conquered by the Aurosians. Once the Etheri have recovered, however; their scientists devised a way to resist the energy-absorption of Aurosian ships. Unable to drain their shields, the Aurosians were driven back and conquered, their ships incorporated into the Etheri Imperial Fleet. It was about this time when the Etheri Alliance was formed, effectively uniting the capital with its colonies and subordinate planets.

For a few centuries, the Alliance had peace within its borders, and the Etheri were content to stop their conquest and invasion. Population pressure, however; eventually forced the Alliance to continue to expand; and they sent out science and exploration vessels out into the galaxy. One of these stumbled across a Son’a testing field, where the Son’a was testing out their subspace weapons. Unaware of the presence of an Etheri Ship, the explorer was destroyed in a subspace accident by the Son’a. Angered and alarmed and the Son’a’s attack and the power of their weapons, the Alliance launched a surprise invasion on a Son’a border planet Xavez, effectively capturing it and destroying its population. They also captured a subspace research station, allowing the Alliance full access to subspace technology – though why they have not used it to this date is a mystery. Xavez, however; they did not colonise, merely held as an outpost against further Son’a attacks. Surprisingly, there were no further Son’a assaults after this incident.

The Son’a incident marked the start of a calm but watchful peace on the part of the Etheri, as they watched in silence the development of the galaxy, bidding for their time. Sometime within this period, the species only known by their Borg designation “Species 8472” started to send out explorers into the universe from their home in fluidic space. The Etheri Alliance was one of the first species contacted by species 8472, and primary relations were friendly. An alliance was struck between the two races, including exchange of technology and a military pact. Together, the Etheri Alliance and the species 8472 council created an artificial quantum singularity at the borders of Etheri space, thus creating a portal for transversing between the two universes.

With the help of species 8472 and their advanced bio-technology, the Etheri were able to strengthen their ships with better computers, hull and weaponry. It is also contribution from species 8472 were the Etheri able to expand upon their original telepathic abilities and delve into the mystic realm of science known as psychic energy. Around 35% of the population were able to strengthen their abilities with the new psychic tech to involve xeno-telepathy and even telekinesis, and some advanced sentient ships were equipped with devastating psychic weapons and shields.

As the fame and power of the Etheri Alliance grew, they attracted more and more hungry stares from neighboring empires. One of the most deadly was the Borg. Some decades after the signing of the species 8472 – Etheri Alliance Pact, the species 8472 council warned the Etheri Alliance of an imminent Borg invasion. Unfortunately, the Borg also chose that time to launch a renewed invasion into fluidic space, and thus have no troops to spare. The Etheri were alone.

First contact with the Borg, however; surprised both the Etheri and the Borg alike: much intimidated by the species 8472 description of the Borg, the Etheri Admiral Rasqu Hikesh fired the prototype psychic weapon into the mist of the Borg fleet (composed of around five Cubes) without authorization by the Etheri Council. The result, however; was much better than what Etheri scientists had anticipated: for the Borg’s collective link meant that for each drone hit by the psychic blast, the shockwave is spread throughout the collective and into the mind of every drone; and thus for the millions upon millions of drones hit by the weapon, they spread their agony to millions and millions of other drones. The result was a total annihilation of the entire invasion Borg fleet, plus heavy damage to the Borg back in the Delta Quadrant. Thus the Borg, foiled by simply one missile; dared not to enter Etheri Space for many millennia.

The surprising triumph of the Borg – Etheri War made the Etheri Alliance all the more bold, as their position in the galaxy was determined. Thus it happened so when the Dominion invaded the Alpha and Beta Quadrant, they did not dare to even send a scout into Etheri Space, and immediately sent envoys for peace. Now, with peace with all major powers in the Milky Way Galaxy, the Etheri had nothing to fear… until a certain powerful intergalactic race started to turn its eyes to the Milky Way…

Weapons Configuration:

Electro-plasmic Cannon – Shield Disruption Weapon

This weapon fires a bolt of seething electro-plasma that fluctuates over a massive frequency range. When it impacts, it sends out powerful electro-magnetic waves over wide range of frequencies, severely damaging almost all shield systems. It is, however; rather ineffective against most hull plating, generally only causing a small charred crater.

Bio-plasmic Torpedoes – Heavy Yield Weapon

Basically, these projectiles are concentrated electro-plasma encased in a biological carapace. The carapace continuously changes its magnetic polarity, causing the plasma within to fluctuate immensely and over an even more massive frequency than normal cannon. On impact, the carapace bursts; releasing the compressed plasma and electro-magnetic waves everywhere. This extremely powerful weapon slices through shields like butter, yet like its cannon counterpart, is not very effective against physical objects.

Duranium Fangs – Melee Weapon

Aurosian ships have no energy or projectile weapons: instead, their living ships charge right at enemy ships, binding them with their tentacles and slashing into their hull with these powerful fangs, made of strong duranium alloy capable of slashing through the hull of the strongest ships. Of course, the physical nature of such weapons means it has limited effect against shields.

Energy Absorption Device – Energy Absorption Device

When the Aurosians discover shielding technology, they immediately perceived that their previous conventional melee weapons will become neutralized by this new technology. To compensate for this, they equipped their ships with energy absorption devices, allowing their ships to cling to enemy shields and absorb its energy to charge up their own shields, while at the same time weakening their enemy for their devastating fang attack.

Biobeam (Rexi Version) – Beam Weapon

The only stellar weapon the Rexi devised for their lumbering trade vessels, these biobeams are similar in configuration to the type used by Species 8472, only much weaker: it has probably the strength of a standard Terran Type X Phaser.

Stasis Cannon – Heavy Biological Weapon

A variation of the electro-plasmic cannon, this weapon shoots concentrated electro-plasmic energy – except this time, the frequency is not fluctuating, but carefully controlled to a certain frequency: one that can disrupt the natural pacemaker and nerve signals of most humanoid and vulcanoid species, effectively stunning or even killing them; if the organism is not protected by energy shields. That isn’t a problem, however; as the controlled frequency of this weapon makes it even more destructive to shields than the conventional cannon; and once a ship has lost its shields, one shot is enough to expose the whole crew to the radiation and neutralize them, opening the whole ship for the Etheri to capture. This weapon, ironically, is more effective against the Etheri than any other race, as it can destroy their living ships.

Psionic Probe (Cerebrate) – Massively-Destructive Psionic Weapon

A newly created weapon not yet fully understood, this weapon fires a small organism called a cerebrate: basically, a brain encased in organic carapace. The cerebrate is infused with immense psychic energy produced by the mothership, and releases this energy in a massive shockwave when it reaches its destination. The shockwave can pass through shields and shock the brain of most organisms into a coma, leaving ships intact but unmanned. The phychic energy released destroys the cerebrate and also any living ships nearby, so can only be fired at a long-range to prevent it from disabling their own fleet.

Viral Spores – Planetary Genocide Weapon

The Etheri, over their period of conquest, have developed a kind of super-lethal virus that can be easily engineered by Etheri scientists to target or not target certain species. This means it can be engineered to target a certain race, release it onto their planet and destroy the whole population within a year. And when the Etheri comes to colonise the planet, the virus would not be effective against them and their subjective race. All Etheri planets and colonies have their atmospheres filled with these superviruses, which immediately kill any species that are not Etheri-friendly as soon as they land.

Colony Spores – Terraformation Device

For quick colonization, the Etheri releases these genetically engineered spores, which lands on the planetary surface and starts growing immediately into Etheri structures and facilities, building pre-designed cities even without any Etheri on the planet. This allows fast terraforming of a planet into the way the Etheri like it: living buildings, living factories, everything a living organism made in Etheri.

Other Technologies:

Regenerative Hull

Because of the biological nature of Etheri ships, they have the ability to quickly regenerate damaged parts automatically. This means Etheri ships, no matter how badly damaged, would be able to regenerate to full capacity; provided it is given rest.

Bio-Carapace

An outdated armour plating that was used by the Etheri a couple of hundred of years ago. Many Etheri civilian ships, however; still use this type of armour for their ships.

Duranium Carapace

The Etheri had no previous knowledge of duranium alloys, the strong, tough metal used by almost all conventional races, until they made contact with the Aurosians, who had ships armed with duranium fangs. Nowadays, all Etheri warships use this type of plating.

Sensory Antennae

Etheri ships have an array of antennae that are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, and process these observations into the ship’s cerebral core. It has about the same efficiency as conventional Terran sensors.

Psionic Sweep Sensors

Ever since the Etheri discovered the mysterious psionic energy of organic brains, they have been using them to devise advanced new technology and weapons to better benefit their race. One of the first use they put psionic energy to is for sensors. Psionic sensors equipped on Etheri psionic ships have a sensitivity to the point of being able to detect the smallest of changes over an extremely wide area. It is rumoured that these powerful detection arrays can detect with detail the metabolism processes of an organism residing in a cloaked ship up to ten thousand Terran Standard Kilometers away.

Spatial-Distortion Shields

The primary shield system used by the Etheri. When energy or physical objects strike these shields, it immediately creates a spatial distortion around the object, causing it to “turn” and change its trajectory path back towards the direction it came from. In short, they reflect weapon fire back to the offending ship. The technology came originally from the captured Son’a subspace research station.

Psionic Shields

Another application the Etheri used for their newly discovered psionic energy. These shields have the same effect as the conventional spatial-distortion shields, but are much more durable. It is unknown how these shields work; but the fact they are almost imperturbable is enough for most other races.

Spatial-Distortion Reactor Core

Etheri ships draw their energy from necessary biological components and, most importantly, spatial-distortion reactors. These reactors distorts the space within until a controlled subspace tear forms, and the reactor draws energy from the tear. This seems to be the only appliance the Etheri had put to use of the Son’a subspace devices.

Bio-Impulse Engines

A basic impulse engine working on the same principle as Terran impulse engines. The only difference between them is the fuel they use.

Bio-Nanites

These small, nano-sized organisms are capable of quickly assembling and dissembling almost anything, and thus are used in Etheri ships to hasten regeneration. They are also widely used for manufacturing and construction purposes, including Etheri bioships and all their components.

Ship Schematics:

Ray Class – Fighter

A small, standard fighter that served the Etheri fleet well in glories past, but is now replaced with the more advanced Manta Class. Since they are obsolete, they do not have upgraded duranium carapace.

Length: 5m

Crew: 1

Weapons systems: 2X Electro-Plasmic Cannon

Manta Class – Advanced Fighter

A fighter/shuttle used extensively by the Etheri Fleet and civilians, it is superior to the fighters of most other factions. Fast and sleek, a group of these can deal extensive damage to even a huge battleship.

Length: 10m

Crew: 1

Weapons systems: 2X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 1X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher

Beetle Class – Cruiser

A standard, obsolete cruiser used for defense, trade and science during early times, and is now distributed throughout Etheri Space for civilian use. Armed with decent weapons systems but have weak hull, since these were never armed with duranium carapace.

Length: 300m

Crew: 120 (minimum 3)

Weapons systems: 7X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 3X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher

Scarab Class – Scientific Cruiser

The Scarab Class is an advanced science/exploration ship that was used primarily by the Etheri for exploration, but is now generally used for developing and investigating new psionic technology. They may look small, compact and harmless, but in truth they are bristling with advanced psionic weaponry like psionic shields, sensors and torpedoes. Scarabs are one of the few classes of Etheri ships that actually boost sentience, and can conduct researches all by itself; although doing so is not recommended.

Length: 260m

Crew: 50 (minimum 12)

Weapons systems: 4X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 2X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher 1X Psionic Probe Launcher

Trilobite Class – Armoured Cruiser

An improved version of the Beetle Class, Trilobite Class cruisers are heavily armed and armoured; and form the majority of the Etheri Fleet. Although not very big, they are quite deadly in combat and very fast.

Length: 320m

Crew: 150 (minimum 3)

Weapons systems: 8X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 5X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher

Dreadnought Class – Colonyship

These ships are one of the most feared and atrocious organisms in the universe. Carrying millions of Etheri, Aurosians and Rexi, Dreadnought Class colonyships cruise the universe, detecting for suitable planets and then releasing powerful spores to terraform the planet and create cities before sending in Etheri colonists. If there are any other sentient life, the ship will mercilessly fire viral spores into the atmosphere, capable of wiping out all life on the planet in a month or so. Generally, the mere presence of a Dreadnought Class is enough to bring a government to its knees and beg for mercy.

Diameter: 5,000m

Crew: 1,000,000 (minimum 12)

Weapons systems: 10X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 6X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher 1X Viral Spores Launcher 1X Colony Spores Launcher

Leviathan Class – Battleship

The backbone of the Etheri Fleet, Leviathan Class Battleships are bristling with dangerous weaponry, capable of leaving a ship helpless for Etheri capture in less than fifteen seconds. Heavily armoured, with fast reactions; the cerebro-core of these mighty bioships are crammed full of the accumulated knowledge of battle tactics and maneuvers of the Etheri Alliance, and can decimate a fleet even without a crew (not recommended). Most fearsome of all, they are armed with powerful stasis cannons, which can send a whole ship into coma with or without its shields raised.

Length: 1,200m

Crew: 1000 (minimum 24)

Weapons systems: 22X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 16X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher 2X Stasis Cannon

Overlord Class – Mobile Commodore Station

Overlord Class stations are moving space cities. Generally, they simply lazily orbit a planet, acting as a center of trade, living, luxury, entertainment, politics… etc. In battle, however; they are quickly changed to deadly commodores, the axis of the fleet. The sheer amount of weaponary on these stations can rip a ship to shreds at minimum setting. Because of the massive size of the ship, the Cerebro-Core of Overlords are quite sentient, and can command a battle all by its own and win with flying colours.

Height: 105,000m

Crew: 75,000,000 (minimum 120)

Weapons systems: 500X Electro-Plasmic Cannon 150X Bio-Plasmic Torpedo Launcher 25X Stasis Cannon 1X Psionic Probe Launcher 1X Viral Spores Launcher

Moray Class – Melee Cruiser

Basic Aurosian ships, but deadly. Even faster than Etheri ships, these slippery bioships can evade enemy fire with ease and attach themselves to the opponent’s shields, absorbing it and replenishing its own. Once the enemy’s shields are depleted, it can use its duranium fangs to rip its hull to shreds. Quite brutal.

Length: 200m

Crew: 24 (minimum 3)

Weapons systems: 1X Duranium Fangs 1X Energy Absorption Device

Kraken Class – Melee Battleship

Like the Moray Class, except it is bigger and in the shape of a squid. Leaves a hunk of shredded metal behind in a minute or so.

Length: 1,000m

Crew: 120 (minimum 12)

Weapons systems: 8X Duranium Fangs 2X Energy Absorption Device

Tortoise Class – Cargo Vessel

A Rexi design. Slow, bulky, weak; but has a powerful engine and lots of cargo space.

Length: 600m

Crew: 800 (minimum 450)

Weapons systems: 2X Biobeam (Rexi)

Behemoth Class – Heavy Cargo Vessel

Another Rexi design, expect this one is much more hideous. Whether it is to scare enemies off or simply because the Rexi like it that way, no one knows. They are, however; great cargo ships with very very powerful engines.

Length: 2,500m

Crew: 1,500 (minimum 1,000)

Weapons systems: 5X Biobeam (Rexi)