The Etherium

[|nfrared]

// Please Note: This is concept RP, and is not a playable faction. I have posted this in response to the appeal for ideas from the admin team for ideas regarding this touchy subject, and also based on the positive responses to the Etherium RP I wrote here - http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=111563 . The first entry of the linked content is now included in this post.

Please remember this is just an idea of how this could look, and if you choose to post your feedback here, keep it constructive and flame-free, thanks.

The Etherium

We are that which is left. Our legacy, our survival is all that matters.
(rough Sirian translation).

Summary -
During the time period of the Nomad war many star systems away from Sirius another battle for survival was taking place. The Etherium were subject to a precision strike on their home systems by similar foes originating from outside of Sirius, devastating the entire race as more powerful children of the Daam K'Vosh arrived at their home, their numbers seemingly endless.

During the initial fleet arrival the higher ranking Etherium, or "Elders", implemented a contingency of their own, saving the majority of the immense knowledge pool, and the race, from extinction. The powerful Bridge device malfunctioned however, and instead of arriving at their previously planned rally point they were flung across the galaxy at random to be deposited on the fringes of Sirius in 801 AS.

During the following years the Etherium grew weak and frail as their precious Iridium supply became depleted, many choosing to bond themselves to the station's mainframe in a type of hybernation state. This would prolong their lives significantly but would also render them defenceless.

Over the following years the station had visitors, the Etherium too weakened to repel them. Instead the aliens deceived them, making the station appear abandoned, and the unknown lifeforms gained entry to the Temple. Then one day, as quickly as they had arrived, the visitors left, taking some of the technology and leaving some of their own in the process.

Now the lifeblood of the Etherium runs low, and they must awaken and try to find this precious Iridium. What dangers must they face?

History -

Outline - Events of 801 AS

As most humans continued their ordinary existence oblivious to the threat of the Nomad War, a small group of humans lead by the infamous Edison Trent thwarted the nomad invasion, prematurely activating the nomad hypergate that would allow the nomads to complete their invasion of the populated human systems. Instead the majority of the Nomad fleet was sent at random far across the galaxy, with the few nomads that were left behind completely disoriented from the shock of losing the mindshare. Edison Trent had saved Sirius from the imminent nomad threat. No one really cared where the countless nomad fleets had gone, the important thing was that they were no longer here and were not likely to be a problem again.

Unfortunately for other sectors within the galaxy the powerful Daam K'Vosh have spread their fingers far and wide, and Sirius Sector is not the only sector to be threatened with extinction by the presence of their creations. Other areas of the galaxy have also been plagued by those known as the Nomads, and while Trent waged his war against the Nomad fleets in Sirius Sector, another battle was raging far across the stars. The Battle for Etheria.

The day Sirius was saved, the Empire of the Etherium was doomed.

The Etherium Empire existed far from Sirius, and had grown to be a utopian society for its inhabitants, their culture was very advanced in technology and space travel, but the Etherium were a physically weak people, and had few warriors. They had found an equilibrium with their environment long ago and lived in peace, considering violence to be primitive and uncultured. These beliefs are what contributed to the downfall of their aeons-long Empire - a near complete lack of planetary defences in their core systems. The Etherium had ships of war, but they were deployed near the outskirts of their territory, spread thinly, and they had not foreseen such an attack as was made during the Fall.

The Fall

The first signs of any disruption to the inhabitants of Etheria, the home system of the Etherium Empire, was the rapid change in the colour of the sky. Etheria's sky is normally purple, due to the large nebulae that the Etherium call their home. The hypergate event horizon initialised very close to the planet, with the planet being stripped of its atmosphere, destroying all life on Etheria.

The attack had happened without any warning and the Etherium had no knowledge of these invaders. Up against what quickly became apparent as impossible odds, the Etherium implemented a long-dormant contingency plan, activating an ancient artifact of their own capable of sending a suitably prepared structure across the galaxy, using it to send a massive orbital research and defence station to a predetermined safe and protected location, far across the stars saving a fraction of the Etherium leadership and the species from complete and utter destruction. This did not go as planned however, the hypergate reflux interfered with the Etherium Artifact, sending the station on a random trajectory instead. This resulted in the station being deposited on the fringes of Sirius Sector, a far-from-safe location.

Countless Nomads began to arrive through their now-established hypergate, having destroyed the Etherium homeworld in the initial attack. They quickly eliminated the feeble defences, further weakened by the disappearance of their primary method of defense, and began systematically gathering resources to build a new Dyson Sphere around the young star at the centre of the Etherium Empire. The Etherium had no way to defend against the countless ships of the Nomad attack and were overwhelmed instantly, and defeated with very little resistance. The planets were scoured for resources, and one by one the stars of the Etherium fell to the unknown invaders. They became extinct within their previous borders in under 1 Sirian year.

The Last of the Etherium

All was not lost however. The Temple survived the experimental intergalactic travel only to be deposited at the very fringe of Sirius Sector, a new environment with its own threats and hazards. Orbital and planetary debri had also been transported and, more importantly, a large portion of the purple nebulae surrounding Etheria, as well as an orbital research and defense station. The station, which later came to be known as the Temple of the Revenant, survived the erratic journey intact, with its crew the only survivors of the nomad invasion. Other fragments of the planetoid known as Etheria may have survived but could be located anywhere in the galaxy and if so no contact has been made with them.

Physiology

The Etherium are a silicon based asexual lifeform, a seemingly bipedal being. The body is in fact made up of several million translucent silicon strands woven together, each a synthesising organ absorbing precious Iridium from the atmosphere. The only known source of this precious element is in the nebulae of the Etherium Empire. The Etherium require this element to survive as any human needs water. Without it they grow weak in a matter of hours and will invariably die a short time later. Fortunately for the Temple survivors a portion of this nebulae was also sent across the galaxy with them. This synthesising process (similar to that of a plant) defeats the need for a digestive system, giving the Etherium a wispy, ghost like appearance. Etherium are very intelligent beings, and their silicon composition makes for easy technology grafting. It is not unknown for a single Etherium to have several implants. Their ghostly appearance would later see them occasionally called "Phantoms" by the rare few that may encounter one in Sirius sector.

Reactions

During the first moments of the Nomads arrival the Etherium were confused and in disarray. They could not understand how or why this stellar event had occurred, nor why anyone would want to send what was clearly an invasion fleet to them. The Etherium had no enemies, in fact they had existed in isolationism for centuries, their worlds rich in resources, and this approach is what caused their society to thrive. But from the Etherium perspective the coincidences did not stack up. The attack had clearly been a calculated strike, and the sheer mass of the fleets sent showed that the beings responsible were far more advanced then them if they could send entire fleets across the galaxy with such precision. Before succumbing to the focused invaders attacks, the last vestiges of the Etherium managed to make contact with the research station on the edges of Sirius using their advanced communications technology, requesting that if they had survived to find those responsible for this heinous act of war. As the last of the Etherium stars fell, they sent a final transmission to the people of the research station and an ultimatum - Find and destroy those responsible or die a forgotten people. They were all that remains of an empire spanning millenia. This saw them rename the station "The Temple of the Revenant" in honour of those billions lost during the Fall.

Designation/Indentification
Naming format - [?](designation)
Allowed ID's - Phantom ID (renamed to Etherium ID)
Allowed IFF's - Phantom IFF (renamed to Etherium IFF)
Home System - Omicron 82
Base of Operations - Temple of the Revenant, Omicron 82.


Faction motivations and goals -
The primary goal of the Etherium right now is survival. They must attempt to locate Iridium in this sector and return it to the Temple, the race's reserves having only a few years supply remaining.

Secondary goals
Every asset is treasured as the advanced technology is difficult to fabricate or replace. Every loss wounds them deeply as they struggle to aclimatise to this new space and only risk discovery if necessary.

Etherium ranking structure -
Generally the longest-surviving of the Etherium is in charge, his possession of knowledge so great that others must rely upon him on subjects as outdated as war and primitive survival. The Elder can pass knowledge on selectively to those he entrusts, the exchange taking place using the numerous implants that Etherium use. The typical ranking structure is as follows.

Elder - Ancient Etherium possessing an immense knowledge collective.

Seer - One gifted with great knowledge and technology, able to organise and coordinate.

Survivalist - One who has adjusted to the harshness of this new sector.

Explorer - One who has returned from initial scouting missions alive.

Reconnaissance / Scavenger - Initiation rank - Can you survive Sirius sector?

Technology -
Etherium (Phantom) weapons, ships and technology. Snubs are preferred as larger assets would not be risked.
Civilian fighters, freighters and bombers. (for missions requiring infiltration or subterfuge - Forum RP required)

Zone of Influence -
Suggested ZOI is Omicrons and Tau's only. Etherium would not risk their discovery and therefore their very survival traversing Core House systems.

Diplomacy -
Allied - None

Friendly - None

Neutral - None

Unfriendly/Cautious - Humans, AI, Sirian Nomads and Wild.

Hostile - None as yet.

Etherium have not encountered the Human lifeform before but have observed a small measure of them aboard the Temple, and as such have no real disposition towards them other than the uncertainty of being in a vulnerable position. Any diplomacy or ties with any race will require forum RP.

Intended play and Faction rules.
The Etherium are a weakened alien race on the brink of extinction, and behave as such. Brazen forays and fight-picking are against their nature, subterfuge, deception, and stealth are their preferred weapons.

ID and Faction rules would require admin consultation. Feel free to PM me for my ideas on this.

Final say/Disclaimer -
Obviously, this is a far cry from the original Phantoms that many of you may remember. Extensive changes would need to be made to the ID, and perhaps a few infocards as well (a process undertaken once already on the Discovery Redemption Server). It is also an opportunity to turn mineable Iridium back on. These are my own ideas on what could be done with this faction. Questions and feedback are welcomed.

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Shard - The Faceless One