Technologies
Gaussian propulsion: Many forms of
combustion-based propulsion, in terms of vehicles and weaponry, have been
replaced by electromagnetic accelerators. During the journey of the Malik Tous,
and still on many of the less terraformed planets, spaceships, space stations,
and orbital colonies, combustion is an extreme risk. Furthermore, Gaussian
weaponry can be fired at a higher velocity, at a higher frequency, and silently.
Smart rockets: While not replacing
ballistics altogether, many fire arms now use smart rockets. While
lower-velocity than ballistic weapons, smart rocket bullets can be used
defensively, deflecting incoming projectiles, and can smartly lock-on to targets and navigate environments. Most have limited range if used non-ballistically, but they can also be equipped with various sensors, making them useful for local environment scanning or data collection.
Plasma and laser: Plasma tech
consists of balls of energy, whereas lasers are any continuous beam of light
within a focused bandwidth. These technologies are used as weaponry, as well as
to transmit information.
Power armor: Traditional space
suits have developed to the point of being light and comfortable, however many
jobs in space require power armor. In particular, the space marines have various
power armors which provide enhanced strength and speed, weapon and reflex
assistance, jetpacks, augmented reality, and various other useful features.
Nanotube plate armor: The Gabor
have developed an armor made of some kind of matte, carbon-like material filled
with nanotubes of a possibly organic nature, or modeled after organic materials.
The armor is tougher, and significantly lighter, than any power armor, and
neither the KFP nor HLC have been able to reverse engineer it.
Cintamani and the Makara: Cintamani
is a high-energy gem found throughout the Pickman Galaxy. Longterm exposure to cintamani induces a mutation in some humans, who are referred to as Makara. In the early stages of the mutation, they grow patches of cintamani gems
or crystalline skin. Next, they develop enhanced speed, strength, agility, and
dexterity, and the ability to traverse space unprotected. Eventually, they
begin to develop psionic abilities not unlike the Gabor. However, over time
they become increasingly crystalline, and what little organic material remains
becomes bestial; an alien form with vague mammalian, reptilian, and aquatic
features, but mostly altogether alien. These Makara lose their human
intelligence, lash out violently at anything around them, and attempt to flee
into space if threatened.
This risk aside, both the KFP and
HLC have a supersoldier program for makara, including makara training and
research. This research includes creating makara under controlled
circumstances- a politically divisive practice. In the KFP, the general public is not aware of this cintamani-related mutation, and even among military personnel, if they know of the makara at all, they know of then only as part of a supersoldier program.
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On an unrelated note, if you have not done so already (and given how little data I have, I suspect you have not >.>), please take my Weird & Wonderful Survey! It should only take a minute, it will really help me, and also I want to show people how much fun it can be to play with data, but I can't do it if I don't have any!
Likewise, please participate in my GNS study! This is a somewhat controversial topic and I've received a lot of resistance on it. All I can say is that if my study is somehow fundamentally flawed, then either I won't find anything, or what I find will require a degree of healthy skepticism, but it is possible I may find interesting effects or interesting trends in the data, which could inform our understanding of GNS or tabletop or inform better follow up studies, but the only way any of that happens is if I get data! There is literally no harm in participating, so if you value empirical science at all, why not just take a minute and let's see what the data have to say!?
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