Codex

A screenshot of the Codex UI in the hangar.

For codex in Everspace 2, see Codex (ES2).

While in-run or in the hangar, the Codex can be read for information regarding several aspects of the Everspace universe that will likely not be brought up in-game. It also contains the flashback videos with short summaries. New entries are found as the player progresses through the game and are unlocked permanently when discovered. There are 51 entries in the codex across 6 categories. The header/title of each entry is a link to a relevant page.

Factions

Colonial Fleet

The Colonial Fleet is the vanguard and defense infrastructure of human galactic expansion. Originating from the Sol System, the relatively recent development of interstellar travel led to a rapid demand for more able bodies to explore and occupy new regions. The sophisticated cloning technology developed to meet this demand has become both the envy of, and reviled by, other races. Although the Fleet consists predominantly of humanoids, other alien races enroll or collaborate independently. The Fleet's primary purpose in Cluster 34 is protection of mining interests, which are managed by private corporations, against Outlaw raiders. A heavy military presence maintains the peace in the outer limits of Colonial territories and is administered from the vast Colonial Fleet HQ. In accordance with the peace-treaty with the Okkar, the Fleet is not permitted access to the demilitarized zone except for special situations, such as rescue or humanitarian relief missions.

Okkar

The Okkar are a reptilian race inhabiting several systems in Cluster 34. A bipedal, lizard-like species, they evolved from their dry desert homeworld and spread some millennia ago to neighbouring planets. They are a secretive race, telepathic to a limited degree, and have a natural aversion to water. Not known for ambitious expansionism, they are generally peaceful and inward-looking, although violently reactive to new influences from beyond their own worlds. The arrival of the Colonials in the early 31st century triggered a panic which led to a devastating conflict. A long life-span (up to 250 Sol years) and stable social conditions have allowed for significant development of technologies and culture on a par to human advancement. In the course of Colonial expansion, the Okkar are the first encountered alien race to be equally matched in strength and sophistication.

Outlaws

Outlaw is the term used to describe unauthorized elements operating in the lawless fringes of Colonial territories. In Cluster 34, Outlaw more specifically refers to the loose affiliations of warring clans, cartels, or gangs which comprise of chiefly human, but also numerous alien species. Outlawism is primarily a human trait stretching far into its ancient history, where they were known as bandits, marauders, and racketeers, among a large variety of other terms. Non-conformist in nature and anarchic in organization, they traditionally pursue self-opportunistic purposes, such as self-enrichment, although some choose this mode of lifestyle for the thrill of adventure alone. The demilitarized zone of Cluster 34 has become a magnet for those falling foul of the Colonial authorities since its establishment following the peace treaty with the Okkar, and has drawn large numbers of Fleet deserters, escaped criminals, and other desperadoes. Each clan or cartel possesses its unique code of conduct, and members are not unknown to switch allegiances when it is advantageous. Outlaws have been inventive in creating hideaways in unlikely crevices of unobserved space, such as hollowed out asteroids and abandoned military bases. They make use of whatever plundered technology they can get their hands on, and are prone to utilizing traps, stockpiles, heavy ballistic weaponry and similar hit and run tactics.

Grady & Brunt Prospects

Grady & Brunt Prospects is the monolithic Colonial interstellar mining concern which holds several regional monopolies throughout the galaxy. As well as resource extraction and logistics, the corporation has invested heavily in drone, weapons, and Jump Gates technologies to secure its supremacy in the industry sector. Close ties with the Colonial Fleet has drawn criticism of cronyism in the past, although there are few viable concerns capable of handling the vast task of Colonial ambitions. Formed in mid-19th Century Earth by Oswald Grady during a gold resource rush in an area then known as California, an early partnership with another prospector by the name of William Brunt established a two-family enterprise which operated on a small local scale until the mid-21st century. In 2046 the company was inherited by a direct-descendant Zeppo Grady, considered a visionary, who quickly expanded the business outwards with the invention of asteroid-hunting drones to bring resource-rich rocks into Earth's low orbit for dismantling. The concern has continued to grow exponentially since that time. interrupted only by periodic wars and the destruction of its home state. Grady & Brunt was the first Earth-based concern to attain the title "Inter-Stellar Corporation". Today, Grady & Brunt employs about 21 million workers in every end of Colonial claim and is vital to the continued restructuring and terraforming of the Colonial home system. Other mining operations offer some local, although trivial in reach, competition. These include Antares Deep Space Resources, Pluto Rare Metals, Astro Mining Group, and First Space Ventures Limited. Grady & Brunt, however, hold the sole contract for the Demilitarized Zone of Cluster 34, an arrangement tolerated by, although not protected by, the Okkar administration of the area. The concern utilizes private security to protect their interests in this case.

Ancients

The Ancients are believed to be a species which dwell in unexplored territories beyond Cluster 34. As yet not encountered in physical form by Colonials, their existence is referred to often in dialogue with the Okkar and evidenced by ruins and relics scattered throughout the Cluster. As no living or dead Ancient has yet been discovered, their genome has been impossible to isolate for further answers as to their origins. The Okkar revere their knowledge and abilities and ascribe god-like qualities to them. Legend has it that they were once not dissimilar to the Okkar species, supposedly reptiloid, but transcended matter through learning and meditation to become "higher beings". The Okkar also attribute the Ancients with vastly sophisticated technologies capable of feats unimaginable to Colonial scientists. Many remain skeptical of the claims, however.

Characters

Adam Roslin

Adam Roslin was a Chief Science Officer of the Colonial Fleet. Born on Hector Delannoy Station in 2995, he was one of two children of renowned genetic researcher Dr. Kirk Roslin and his wife Christine Roslin. Showing tremendous aptitude for science, he was fast-tracked to the Fleet Academy where he planned to follow in his father's footsteps. He was notably shy and insecure with his comrades, which resulted in a different education. With the outbreak of war with the Okkar, he was reassigned to Cluster 34 to lead the frontline cloning program for replacing pilots. The program came under widespread criticism from ethical bodies, however, and was discontinued at the end of the war as a stipulation of the peace treaty. Roslin was honorably discharged from the Fleet during post-war mass demobbing, although is rumored to have remained in Cluster 34 without solid assignment. Following several years of absence from public record, he is currently presumed missing or dead.

Seth Nobu

Seth Nobu is an active Outlaw and former lieutenant of the Colonial Fleet who was discharged without honors at the end of hostilities with the Okkar. Born on the Ganymede Station (Sol System, Jupiter) in 3002 to Captain Jackson Nobu and Medical Officer Sarah Nobu, he was the 11th generation of Nobu's to have enlisted for service, securing him an automatic place in the Fleet Academy. Intelligent but short-tempered, he often fell foul if academy rules although proved himself to be especially skilled as a fighter and a leader, earning the respect of his peers and swiftly gaining rank. Assigned to the front lines at the outbreak of war with the Okkar, his unconventional techniques garnered him much success on the field of battle, many decorations, and a considerably reputation among the troops. All this, however, was to be marred by his confrontational attitude to senior staff, which ultimately led to his dishonorable discharge at the end of the Okkar conflict. Nobu remained in the Demilitarized Zone where he was profited from illegal trade with outlaw elements and transport of contraband. He is currently sought by authorities in relation to missing Fleet property and suspicion of involvement in a number of attacks on goods convoys. He has been difficult to trace and is believed to be protected by mercenary squads.

HIVE

The HIVE, Human Interface Virtual Entity, is a singular communcation outlet of the AETERNA system to which it belongs. It is a standard installation in all Colonial crafts and quarters. HIVE interfaces are catered to its recipient. adopting a personality fitting to each attitude or projected relationship for the most efficient manner of communication. Not all HIVE's adapt in a cooperative manner, although they rarely become hostile to its user. As part of AETERNA, the HIVE has full access to the entire compendium of the Colonial knowledge database, however will only share what is permitted by rank or clearance of its user. The wider system is overseen by human controllers with a "singularity switch" for shut-down in the case of dangerous conclusions drawn from its computing power.

Denara Roslin

Denara Roslin is a freelance pilot operating in the Beltegrade Cluster. Born on Hector Delannoy Station in 3016, she is one of two children of renowned genetic researcher Dr. Kirk Roslin and his wife Christine Roslin. Roslin completed her basic training at Fleet acdemy and is highly proficient with interceptors. However, she did not pursue a Fleet career and now works protecting interstellar trade convoys.

Admiral Crin Gorc

First Admiral Crin Gorc is a leading figure of the Colonial Fleet currently in command of seven capital ships and some 128,000 personnel in Cluster 34. Born on Ganymede Station (Sol System, Jupiter) in 2975, he became a ward of the Fleet at the age of 8 following the loss of his family during an alien attack on their transit to Cluster 17. To aid him through the trauma of loss, he was placed in a Zen monastery in Ulaanbatar where he spent his formative years studying alien archaeology and displaying little interest in meditation or the monastic life. His talent for alien languages led him to decrypt the Shin-Yoo artifact at the age of 18, an accomplishment which made his name in scientific circles and gave Colonial diplomats a key edge in averting a catatrophic war with the Phoebii. Gorc enlisted with the Fleet to broaden his horizons and open the possibility for some new learning, although rumor that some of his family were still alive may have been a motivating factor for his decision. He rose quickly through the ranks and became admiral by the age of 43, a record for the Fleet. He is credited as being a peace-maker, although noted for his hot-headedness in high-stress situations. This behavior may have led to his biggest blunders during the war with the Okkar, when his divisions suffered the heaviest losses on the field of battle. Having lost face, he argued with the Fleet Council repeatedly to eradicate the Okkar threat by any means necessary, but was broadly out-voted. Despite the Council recommending his reassignment to a separate cluster, he remains in Cluster 34 close to the area of his greatest defeats, ostensibly to continue research into artifacts of the Ancients civilization in the area.

Tareen

"Tareen" is the name of an Okkar lone-operator in the DMZ who has been encountered and identified by numerous Outlaw sources. A lone Okkar is an extremely rare occurrence, since they are understood to be eusocial and herd-like, thus Tareen has been marked for further, but distant, observation by Fleet scientists. Tareen operates as a trader in the DMZ and appears to have many contacts with the ability to source powerful weapons and bulk resources. He has so far not been observed to return to the Okkar Homeworlds, and is therefore thought to be a kind of outcast. Those who have done direct business with him have reported him to be amiable but reserved, and only interested in making trade. As such, despite regularly handling and trading illegal goods, he is regarded as a relatively harmless oddity of the DMZ.

Maurice

NR-APS-4210 is a search-and-destroy android with proper observational personality registered to Grady & Brunt Prospects. Built in 2990 at the Advanced Bionics Institute and previously employed as a test pilot, its current primary function is to find and eliminate threats to G&B's operations in the Demilitarized Zone. Prior to its last dispatch after, NR-APS 4210 downloaded some unconventional material of unknown origin, and for this reason it has been flagged for check-up. Despite some unconfirmed reports of the android referring to itself as "Maurice", servicing has been delayed as it is performing it duties in executing warrants beyond any expectation.

Mester Throng

Mester Throng is a male K'nos from Codo 5. He, like many among his amphibian-like species, is a scientist and is currently engaged on a research mission in the DMZ. The K'nos are known for their highly inquisitive attributes and are often encountered in far-flung parts of the galaxy seeking new knowledge to take home in order to impress their scientific circles and attain prestige. They are a mild-mannered and affable species, although have a very unusual history. Initially bred as test-subjects to a more dominant species on their home planet, they rapidly evolved themselves and turned the tables on their captors, which they now use as their test-subjects. Their vast accumulation of stored knowledge has caused some concern among other races in the galaxy as to its purpose, though the K'nos are not considered a threat.

Elek

"Elek" is the name of a male Horag Outlaw operating in the DMZ. Nothing is known of his exact origins, but it is believed that due to his small stature and fury appearance, he was captured and listed on the black market as an exotic pet before being freed by Outlaw raiders. He has since become extremely loyal to the clan which resuced him, the Coalition, and has rapidly ascended its ranks. The list of crimes attributed to the Coalition is ever-growing, although Elek seems to be more involved in strategic planning of operations and rarely gets involved directly in firefights himself. Since joining the clan, Elek has married five times and now has a sizeable brood which he is raising to follow in his footsteps.

Karlie Michaeli Sharpe

Karlie Michaeli Sharpe is a female human freelance agent employed by Grady & Brunt Prospects in the DMZ. She was born on Earth (Sol System) in 3031 to Gerald Hughlin Sharpe and Constance Madison Hightower. After achieving a degree in astro-geology, she went off-planet in 3052 to pursue an engineering career. With family funding, she developed and perfected a process of ore-extraction called "Sharpening", a more efficient way of retrieving quantities of ore from asteroid fields. In a patent lawsuit from 3056, however, she claimed that the process was pilfered by a Grady & Brunt spy, Ortensio Hawkings - Sharpe lost the case and was left with crippling legal fees. Hawkings was later discovered murdered and mutilated and Sharpe was questioned at length by authorities. Although no charges have been brought, she is still considered a person of interest in the case. Despite the spat with G&B, she took employment from them doing basic maintenance in the DMZ while she attempts to settle her debts. A G&B spokesperson has expressed the corporation's commitment to helping the young and talented Sharpe establish herself as an engineer.

Places

Beltegrade Cluster/Cluster 34

Cluster 34, also known as the Beltegrade Cluster, or simply The Beltegrades, is the current limit of Colonial expansion. First mapped in the 24th Century (C.E. Sol), the first Colonial unmanned exploration vessels did not arrive until the 30th, to find an area rich in the resources required for terraforming in the home system. Early outposts constructed by mining concerns had limited contact with the indigenous Okkar species, although hostilities later commenced with the arrival of the supporting Colonial Fleet. Today the Cluster is still resource rich but infrastructurally ravaged by the conflict with the Okkar. The Demilitarized Zone between Okkar and Colonial territories divides the Cluster and maintains an uneasy peace.

Demilitarized Zone

Upon arrival in Cluster 34 in the early 31st Century (C.E. Sol), the Colonial Fleet's first encounter with the equally matched Okkar race proved disastrous, leading to all-out conflict and widespread mutual destruction. This put an abrupt halt to unchecked Colonial expansion for the first time since it began. The current uneasy pace is upheld by the imposition of a demilitarized zone between the two factions, administered and patrolled by the Okkar, the territory's prior claimants. Colonial mining operations have been allowed to continue as part of the arrangement.

Okkar Homeworld

The Okkar homeworlds are a collection of nine inhabited desert planets on the outer edges of the Beltegrade Cluster. The Colonial diplomatic missions which arrived there in the mid-31st century are the only humans known to have visited and form the bulk of knowledge on their location, culture, and appearance. The planets are sacred to the Okkar and are shielded from long-range sensors. Okkar are secretive about their customs and generally suspicious of all other species, although some interesting facts have been ascertained. Okkar society is organized in a strict hierarchical structure in which roles, whether servant, warrior or cleric, are established by birth. The exact origin of the species are still unknown and there is growing debate as to whether the Okkar might be derived from a superior species beyond their domain. Seemingly incongruous writing and belief structures support this hypothesis. The Okkar homeworlds are powered and sustained by a mysterious energy source referred to as Viridian energy. While some experiments have been conducted on this energy source, no Colonial research has been able to stabilize it to date. Further research into the field of study, however, has been prohibited by a stipulation in the peace treaty which was insisted upon by the Okkar.

Colonial HQ

The Colonial Fleet Headquarters, [in] Cluster 34, is a megastructure facilitating all military operations for the frontier region. Completed in the aftermath of the war with the Okkar (See below codex entry), it is regarded as the strongest and most heavily defend Colonial structure outside the Sol system. All Fleet movements are coordinated from this central control hub and it is the seat of the local Admiralty. Specific details of the number of craft, types of weaponry or access points are not contained on the AETERNA for security reasons. The base does, however, contain several bars and clubs and more than twenty fine dining establishments. There is also a sports venue and retirement gardens for Fleet personnel to enjoy.

Corporations

Salvor Armament Group

The Salvor Armament Group is a laser manufacturer specializing in mining and military tech. Founded on Rhea IV in the 24th century as the Berger Group, a hostile takeover in the mid 28th century led to a subsequent name change and the complete destruction of its original home colony. Salvor prides itself on its precision instruments which are each carefully-tuned and tested by an actual human on its laboratory moon of Vic-17 before shipping to a customer.

Baron Nova Gunnery Ltd.

Baron is an armaments company with a long tradition in building heavy artillery for spacefaring craft. Founded on the Colonial home-planet of Earth in the 24th century, the company was created by a private group of entrepreneurs in order to establish a network of orbiting kinetic bombardment stations. These stations ensured mutual destruction upon any renewal of global conflict and acted as an effective deterrent to terrestial warfare for two centuries. This period of peace allowed for human advancement in off-planet colonization. The name of the Baron Nova Group is much respected for its link to history, although does not belong in the current top ten of quality manufacturers.

Federal Arms & Crafts

Federal Arms & Crafts is a Colonial manufacturer of energy and ballistic weapons. Founded in the 26th Century as, as the the suggests, a government body, it was privatized only a decade after establishment. In order to clam citizen protests over the sale, FA&C offered lucrative incentives and employment and eventually, within a century, found itself as sole proprietor of the state which spawned it. Today the corporation spreads across the breadth of Colonial expansion and employs some 11 million human workers. It specializes in fusion blasters, coilguns, tracking missiles as well as it shipbuilding operations.

Maverick Precision Technologies Inc.

Founded on 26th century Earth, Maverick is a massive interstellar corporation specializing in precision weaponry. The company stands out as the only one with ISC-grading to be controlled by a single majority shareholder - Dr. Jeffrey Marvic C. Cheng of Manila Free State. Cheng's complex personality is the driving force behind the unique philosophy of the company. Maverick sells only to those who agree to their ethical guidelines and have been known to reclaim, often by deadly force, their weapons from governments and corporations who do not comply. Maverick's smart weaponry is designed to minimize collateral damage, and its technology is fiercely protected.

ANCILE
ANCILE is a manufacturing and research corporation which produces a wide array of devices and accessories for the inter-stellar market. Founded on Mars in the 26th Century, its brands, particularly in the area of nano-solutions, are trusted and utilized by ship construction firms and pilots throughout the galaxy.

BENCA

BENCA is a manufacturer and research developer of booster technologies, such as jump drive boosters and stabilizers. Their military contracts were suspended briefly after a series of accidents involving their parts in the early 28th century, although the company has regained much of its reputation since with a much improved safety record. Its headquarters are located on Ganymede, where the company was established.

First Aeronautics

First Aeronautics is a mid-sized corporation specializing in fuel and energy injection systems. Founded on Triton in 2344 C.E., it experienced a brief period of ownership by Grady & Brunt Prospects in the 27th century, increasing their profile dramatically. The company was sold again as Grady & Brunt went through a stage of corporate restructuring. First Aeronautics has seen slow but steady business growth since its reestablishment as an independent company.

Alioth Electronics

Alioth Electronics is a software and electronics developer specializing in drone and AI enhancement technologies. Founded on Earth in the 25th century by a group of hackers seeking to go into legitimate business, it has grown to become a respectable company, although many of its brands fall into the "grey area" of legality. Its devices are distinguished by friendly and instantly recognizable design features and the company is famous for its outstanding customer-support service.

Vohs Space Industries

Vohs Space Industries is a weapons, drone, and mine manufacturer led by a family concern and chaired by a descendant of the founder, Dr. Noel Vohs. Vohs has consistently placed high of the table of best places to work, allowing total freedom of work hour commitment and social engagement of its employers. The company's lax attitude has led to several serious security breaches in the past, however, with two cases of corporate espionage severely undermining its competitive edge. It continues to be a major sub-contractor for the Colonial Fleet, although there have been accusations of bribery within certain markets.

Primesense Instruments
Primesense Instruments is a small company specializing in sensor technologies. It develops modestly priced scanners and probes for the mining and military markets.

Adumbratech Quantum Technologies PLC

Adumbratech is a small technology firm with a five century long history of developing state-of-the-art stealth and time-distortion devices. Under the leadership of CEO Gary Wallis, the company has received criticism of late for breaking its exclusive contract with the Colonial Fleet and covertly supplying the black markets. Although shareholders are happy with the dividends, the Fleet authorities have threatened more than once to sever the contract, a move which would spell the end of the enterprise.

Sirius United Spaceyards

Sirius United Spaceyards is a ship manufacturer in the Sirius system which constructs small to mid sized craft. Kept in business primarily from Colonial Fleet contracts, it has been one of the main suppliers of hulls to the Fleet over the last two centuries. The floating dockyards which crowd the key planets of the home system have given rise to a romantic image of the dockside culture and many space-shanties refer to the location.

Scheunemann Heavy Industries

Scheunemann Heavy Industries is a military shipbuilding giant known for its construction of freighters and capital ships. Led by CEO Dr. Genius Hatti, it has expanded its operations with a partnership with mining giant Grady & Brunt Prospects. Employing some five million workers, Scheunemann has become the number one name for size and firepower in the galaxy. Several test-flight sccidents caused by pilot drunkenness have done little to dent the demand or reputation of the brandname.

First Aerospace

First Aerospace is a civil astro-engineering and construction firm specializing in space-stations. It has constructed some of the largest, and best-known, Colonial waypoints in the galaxy. Each building contract includes a provision to maintain offices for its visiting executives to stay, although since most of the work is now automated, often decades pass between visits and these spaces are left unoccupied and sealed off. Hidden quarters and secret rooms in space stations have added to the company's mystique.

Grady & Brunt Prospects

Grady & Brunt Prospects is a mining concern which holds several regional monopolies throughout the galaxy. In addition to resource extraction and logistics, the corporation has invested heavily in drone, weapons, and Jump Gate technologies to secure its supremacy in the industry sector. Formed in mid-19th Century Earth as a family enterprise, it was the first corporation to begin asteroid harvesting and the first concern to attain the title "Inter-Stellar Corporation". Today, Grady & Brunt employs about 21 million workers and holds the sole contract for the demilitarized zone of Cluster 34.

Hellhound Ordnance Inc

Hellhound Ordnance Inc. is a ballistic weapons manufacturer best known for its scatter guns. Under CEO Former Lt Cdr. Ashleigh O'Connor, the company chiefly employs fleet veterans and mercenaries, although some former pirates are believed to be among the ranks. The aggressive and suspicious nature of the workplace has led to dozens of high-profile incidents involving theft, bullying, and violence, making Hellhound one of the least desired employers out of all ISCs. The Hellhound brand is much admired by roughneck pilots, some displaying the logo tattooed on their foreheads as a mark of exclusivity.

Shiva Systems
Shiva Systems is a developer and manufacturer of energy weapons, specializing in shock rifles and large-impact missiles, particularly known for its ARC-9000. Its brands are trusted by their users and feared by those on the opposite end of the barrels.

Okkar Fleet

The Okkar Fleet manufactures its own ships, weaponry, and mining equipment without the aid of independent contractors. Private corporations do not exist in their society, the concept of capitalism was unknown until the arrival of Colonials in the 30th Century. Nonetheless, this has not prevented Okkar technology developing on par to human advancement, although distinctively different in design and function. Experts put the origins of Okkar space exploration and technological development at some one thousand solar years before humans.

Misc

Corporations

Private corporations are financial, logistic, and manufacturing organizational structures belonging to Colonial and other alien interests which form the backbone of the galactic economy. While most ISC's (Inter-Stellar Corporations) are widely diversified in production and operations, each specializes in a particular area for marketing purposes, whether it be armaments, ship construction, robotics, or resource extraction. Expansion, exploration, and colonization of new areas of the galaxy would not be possible without ISC's to manage the tasks, and as such their operations are encouraged and supported by their native authorities, either militarily or through fiscal incentives. Revenue generated through taxes and trade is significant enough that without it, governments would fail. ISC's are vast and complex in their structure and employ many millions of personnel spread throughout any part of the galaxy where civilization is present. The ratio of robotic assistants to organic personnel is usually about 20 to 1. Some Colonial corporations employ clones for service, although this practice is frowned upon and often only licensed for frontier operations where a shortage of staff may occur. Corporate employees are highly devoted to their company, usually remain for the duration of their lives, and pass their job skills on to their children to continue their duties upon retirement. All employees needs are met by their company, including housing, healthcare, food, and entertainment. Mingling socially with employees of other companies or vacationing in another corporation's resort is highly taboo for a corporate employee and may result in termination. A vast number of planets, moons, re-purposed asteroids and space stations are now only owned by a single corporation. Worries have been voiced over the evolving cultures of these societies, although authorities are generally averse to imposing any form of action on such monopolies. ISC's hold much power and can influence government policy to a great degree. ISC directors and top executives are a particular class which live on exclusive pleasure-resorts and are primarily concerned with their own immortality. Most of the practical business is conducted by middle-management, with top executives and shareholders only giving approval for high-level decisions. There have been several incidents where a clash of interests or uncontrolled competition between ISC's has led to open warfare, and there continue to be instances of historical rivalries reaching violent confrontation. In such cases, the relevant authorities intervene.

Interstellar Travels

Interstellar travel allows large distance to be covered either instantly or in very short times. There are three known forms of interstellar travel - using wormholes, hyperdrives and Jump Gates. While wormholes are naturally occurring, they are usually too unstable and unpredictable for safe transit. Jump Gates mimic the wormhole phenomenon by connecting two points in space and time under more controlled conditions. Although they are expensive to install and costly to use, Colonial mining companies have heavily invested in an extensive Jump Gate infrastructure to broaden their reach. Hyperdrives are based on antimatter reactor technology and consume valuable resources to operate, thus allowing a degree of ship autonomy, a certain advantage for military purposes.

Natural Resources

Natural resources is the generic term given to all naturally-occurring matter typically found locked inside asteroids, moons, and larger celestial bodies. These are highly sought-after commodities, such as heavy metals, gases, crystals, plasma, and dark matter, necessary for the Colonial drive for galactic expansion. Private corporations are chiefly involved in extracting and transporting these resources back into the homeworld markets. Exploration and extraction technology is highly evolved and corporations are continuing to discover more efficient methods. Using nano-technology, natural resources can be processed, combined, or crafted to fulfill a multitude of uses, including weapon and ship enhancement, engine upgrades, or hull repairs, thus making it essential to the solo pilot traversing the galaxy to have a constant supply.

Extraplanetary Lifeforms

Cluster 34 is rich in a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which have not vet been properly classified. From the common Asteroid Crawler to the extremely rare Lightning Orchid, the range of life which can be found outside planetary atmospheres can be surprising and mostly go unnoticed by travelers. Some species, such as the treacherous Grey Goo, are barely understood and defy closer study. Other species, such as the Scrap Anemone, are considered new to science and have evolved to take advantage of the growing amount of debris left in parts of the galaxy as a result of Colonial expansion. It is believed that there are many millions of other micro-organisms which have yet to be isolated and classified, but Colonial research grants have been unfortunately insufficient for this gigantic task. It is hoped that a prolonged period of peace in Cluster 34 in the future might allow more research in lieu of defense expenditure.

Colonial-Okkar War

With the first arrival of Colonial mining interests in 3022 (C.E. Sol), the Okkar experienced a dramatic shift in how they perceived their relationship to the galaxy, and how other civilizations could potentially encroach upon their homeworlds. The subsequent arrival of the Colonial Fleet and establishment of Jump Gates escalated tensions in the Cluster which eventually triggered all-out warfare between the species. Equally matched in strength and sophistication, the Okkar held their ground against the Colonials to devastating effect. A ceasefire was brokered out of necessity as there was no clear projected victor. The Demilitarized Zone was established as part of the subsequent peace treaty, delineating new limits of each of the species' territories, which the Okkar were given the right to administer.

Flashbacks

The Codex has the video and a short summary for each, but also included here are the dialogue transcripts in the flashback itself.

1. First Spawn

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "Something's not right with me. I'm having memory loops. There was a dispute... I was standing in the way of their plans... I was restrained… ...shot with something… Who... is this? I managed to escape... that's all I can remember. I must find some answers..." Codex Summary: I had a dream that I was involved in some kind of dispute with two men. Important men, by the looks of their uniforms. The faces were familiar, but the when and where are lost to me. I was standing in the way of their plans, and they subdued me with some kind of injection. I later managed to escape, but that's all I can remember. What does it all mean?"

2. A Long Uncertain Sleep

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "Strange... fragments of memories... Trying to make sense of them. I had managed to escape... I was weak and ill. My cells were deteriorating... ...a deadly poison... ...a cytotoxin... ...slow, relentless, eating me away. There was a way to halt its progress, but it would take time. All I could do was set the wheels in motion... ...and await the outcome in stasis... A long, uncertain, sleep." Codex Summary: I had escaped, but was growing sicker with each moment. I had been poisoned with a cytotoxin which was slowly killing me. Finding my way to a lab, I began a procedure for some kind of cure. Knowing it would take time, I put myself in cryosleep. Another piece of the puzzle, but no clear picture yet.

3. At the Academy

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "My memories are not my own.... they are copies. They originate from someone else. It was at the Fleet Academy. His name was Adam. Adam Roslin. Quiet, reserved, awkward around the others. He had a friend, Seth. They shared a dorm. Basic training was tough. Seth looked out for Adam. He stood up for him. The brains and the brawn... they became close, like a team. And then the orders came. Deployment for war... against the Okkar." Codex Summary: I now realize that these dreams I am experiencing are not from my own memories, but those of Adam Roslin, the original from which I am cloned. I have seen deeper into his past. He was a cadet at the Fleet Academy. He didn't fit in with the other recruits. He was an awkward sort, but he made a good friend, Seth Nobu, who stuck up for him. They were dispatched to the front at the start of the Okkar War. Seth was one of the men who would later poison him, so I wonder how things came to that.

4. Brothers in Arms

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "They arrived at Cluster 34... ... into a cauldron of hell-fire. A war of unprecedented intensity. Seth Nobu was an ace fighter, earning his badges quickly in combat. Adam Roslin was on the same carrier, cloning new troops for the front. The war was mutually devastating… ...but mercifully short. With an armistice, the fleet had to withdraw. But some wanted to stay behind... for the spoils, new opportunities. Seth Nobu was among this group. Adam Roslin went with the fleet. Complying with the peace conditions, his cloning program was dissolved. Codex Summary: Seth Nobu and Adam Roslin had arrived in the midst of one of the most intense battles of Fleet history. Nobu quickly distinguished himself as a combat pilot, Roslin was a scientist in the clong lab based on the same carrier. When the armistice came, the pair parted ways. Nobu chose to stay on the new frontier and Roslin went with the retreating fleet. It seems, however, he lost his position shortly after as the cloning program was discontinued.

5. Becoming Partners

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "Reconstructing Cluster 34 would be an enormous task... Logistics for this new frontier were key. Seth Nobu had worked hard to build his business. He had the prestige, the contacts, and he greased every palm along his path. He was soon the biggest weapons supplier around, artfully circumventing the treaties. He had a simple reason for seeking out Adam Roslin again. Demand for illegal human clones. Adam needed some convincing. He had doubts. But in the end the friendship held... ...and a deal was struck." Codex Summary: Seth Nobu became quite a success on the new frontier, mostly through illegal trade. He sought out Roslin again with a proposition to start a new cloning program. Rosling was hesitant at first, as cloning was outlawed by the treaty, but Nobu eventually won him around. The history of these two men is becoming clearer.

6. A Dubious Deal

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "It was only a matter of time before their illegal cloning venture was uncovered. The Colonial authorities apprehended them during a raid. They were resigned to see out their days on a penal base. But there was one in the High Command with different plans for them. Colonial Fleet Admiral Crin Gorc. He offered amnesty in return for their cooperation on a covert project. He needed Seth's facilities and Adam's expertise for decrypting the Okkar genome. And he wanted it done in secret. The offer was preferable to a prison moon." Codex Summary: Nobu and Roslin's cloning operations were discovered by the fleet authorities and the two were taken into custody. There they were met by an admiral of the fleet, Crin Gorc, who offered them amnesty in exchange for their skills and equipment. The task he demanded of them, decoding the Okkar genome, was to be conducted in secret ad Nobu's lab. It seems they really had no other choice but to comply.

7. The Fallout

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "Adam Roslin succeeded in decrypting the Okkar genome. The Admiral was satisfied with the work they had done. Now he could progress to the next stage of his plans. Using the decrypted genome, he wanted to create a brigade of Okkar clones... ...to incite fresh conflict between the races. With a new war, he could finally defeat the Okkar and establish Colonial supremacy in the cluster. The Admiral offered them a part in his scheme, with all its privileges for their ongoing cooperation. Seth Nobu accepted the offer. Adam Roslin would not stand for reviving a war. He refused to take any part in it. But the Admiral had more crude methods of persuasion, injecting Roslin with a controlled cytotoxin. Roslin was given no choice but to comply. Nobu made no objection, his interests were clear." Codex Summary: Roslin completed the job of decoding the Okkar genome, but Admiral Gorc wasn't quite finished with him. He still needed Roslin's expertise and Nobu's facilities to bring his plans to fruition. He wanted to create a brigade of Okkar clones, one he could use to instigate a new confluct in the Cluster. Roslin strongly objected to this, not wanting to see another war, but the admiral was intent on finishing the job at any cost. Nobu seemed almost too keen to go along with the admiral's plans. There was a dispute between the three, and in the end the admiral found other means to coerce Roslin - an injection of deadly cytotoxin for which only he held the antidote. Now things are starting to make sense.

8. Betrayed

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "Betrayed by Seth Nobu... Adam Roslin worked under guard in his captor's laboratory. The cytotoxin was killing him slowly. The Admiral held the antidote. Roslin's only options were work or die. But he devised his own solution to the problem… Copying all incriminating data and destroying the research, he made his move... He needed to find a cure... So he fled to somewhere he had worked before… ...a secret lab in the demilitarized zone." Codex Summary: Roslin had been betrayed by Nobu. He laboured to complete his task while the cytotoxin slowly ate him away. His last desperate recourse was a forceful escape, killing two of the admiral's guards and taking a store of data in the process. He took a fighter and fled to a secret lab in the demilitarized zone, a place he had worked during the war, in order to find a cure.

9. The Last Resort

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "After a painful voyage... ...Adam Roslin finally reached the secret lab. His DNA code was recognized by the defense system. To his shock the entire facility had been made unusable. Time was running out. But there were other cloning facilities... ...carriers, abandoned bases... ...scattered throughout the demilitarized zone. Too far to reach. Remotely, he brought one of them back online, initiating an exploit protocol. If the plan worked it would bring him a body replacement. In his fever, he made mistakes, but the wheels were set in motion. In the meantime, the cryo chamber would halt the cytotoxin's progress. A long, uncertain, sleep." Codex Summary: When Roslin arrived at the secret lab, he found it unsuable, most of the equipment having been destroyed when decommissioned. Time was running out, so he hacked into other cloning labs on other abandoned bases and carriers throughout the Zone. He brought them back online and uploaded his DNA sequence, but it seems he did not follow the correct procedure - in his fever, he made mistakes. Having restarted the automated remote cloning, he placed himself in cryosleep until a clone could come to his aid.

10. Meeting the Original

[[File:]] Dialogue Transcript: "Something has changed. These are... my memories... I made it inside the hangar... There was Nobu, lying injured by the defense system. He was still alive, barely. I had so many questions, but didn't know where to start. He fixed me with his gaze, then he laughed, mocked me. He seemed crazed, rabid with pain. In that moment, I didn't know whether to hate him or feel compassion for him. I had to make a decision. In the end, I realized that to start the next chapter of my story, ...his story had to end. With Nobu dead, my DNA was validated by the system. I was led to the lab. There he was, Adam Roslin, my original, waking from stasis. We looked at each other for a long time. It was a moment of reckoning. Then we talked, perhaps for hours. Roslin was filled with remorse, heavy with regret. He seemed to realize that I was not just a dull clone. He admitted his plan was ill-constructed. What was expected was a body replacement, what arrived was a person, a thinking, feeling being. Me. Roslin had reached the end of the line and my lifespan was limited, too. The clone sequencing he initiated had left me flawed. There was a chance for me to carry on, but not Roslin. So he instructed me in what to do. With the missing DNA fragments, I could use the lab's transfiguration pod and make myself complete. He showed me how to localize the fragments on the star map. Out of stasis, it didn't take much longer for the cytotoxin to finally do it's work and kill Roslin. I had much to do. There were new possibilities, although time was limited in my current iteration. I needed a fresh body, and there was only one way to get it." Codex Summary: I made it to the secret lab. Seth Nobu was lying at the entrance, badly wounded, having failed to gain access. After all he had done, and to take the next stage of my journey, I ended his crazed existence. Once inside, Adam Roslin came out of stasis and admitted to me that he had planned to use my body as a replacement. We both knew that wasn't going to happen. But there was another problem, my DNA sequence had been flawed and I only had a limited time to live. In his last painful hours, Roslin showed me how I could fix this by collecting the DNA fragments and reconfiguring the sequence in a transfiguration pod. He died, the cytotoxin finally causing his heart to shut down. It was a longshot, but his last plan was my only chance at a real life. I decided to take the shortcut to a new body.