Post by Insano-Man on Sept 19, 2018 1:53:43 GMT -5
This topic is a child of the Space Loonies article directory.
A LONG WAY TO FALL
Of the factions on and around Set, the Space Loonies - somewhat unsurprisingly - command the highest level of technological sophistication bar none. Unlike the Loonies below them, there has been little stagnation in the march of science over Set. In the end, only the Space Loonies' fractious nature and limited resources have held them in check - and, often times, to limited effect. Those on the ground often see them as alien mystics, and their technology is typically regarded as supernatural.
As a result of their willingness to perform genuine, productive research, Space Looney fleets do not have the same standardized schematics as their planetside cousins. Many fleets are hesitant to share developments with others, for fear of capture, interception, or out of a simple desire to retain an exclusive advantage. Likewise, many advancements are difficult to exchange due differences in species, ship construction, or a lack of prerequisite technologies. While the Space Loonies maintain an edge, it is anything but consistent.
Regardless, Space Looney schematics and research material are treasured both on and off Set. Space Looney wrecks are the most valued of prizes for scavengers in orbit and on the ground. Much like the Loonies on Set, the theft or recovery of Space Looney equipment by outsiders is a security risk placed above all others. Lost technology is tracked, targeted, and destroyed with extreme prejudice to maintain the Space Loonies' superiority. Even personnel lost on Set's surface may be targeted and destroyed - alive or dead - to prevent their capture by the Cult of Meat.
Included in these attempts to safeguard their technology are the otherwise-hostile ground-based Loonies. Both share agreements to prevent Looney technology, whether sourced from orbit or otherwise, from falling into the hands of outsiders. As a result, one of the prime sources of cooperation between the two Looney factions is centered curiously on destroying their own equipment. Ailing ships may even be disposed of with crash-landings so that Looney bunkers on the planet's surface can demolish their wrecks and break them down for raw resources.
Of curious note are the technologies that the Space Loonies do not have compared to the Loonies below them. Despite the key role their predecessors played in establishing the MASTER network, the Space Loonies are merely custodians of its satellites. Few ships have installed uplinks and fewer still make use of theirs. The medical knowledge needed to imbue individuals with immortality is almost totally absent among the Space Loonies - and exclusively restricted to only a handful of species. Production of "hardwire" implants, the Looney cybernetics that afford life after death, is believed to be totally non-existent.
As with the Big Lie, the technology of Space Looney fleets more closely aligns with that of planetside Loonies dependent on the presence of Redworlders and the absence of other species. It is believed that Redworlders are the only non-humans to have a notable number of immortal or hardwire-implanted individuals. The total count, however, is entirely unknown, and what few have been identified are generally excluded from Looney records. There is currently no explanation for this relationship. It is likewise unknown if the Big Lie has any impact on it or vice versa.
Conventional cybernetics, on the other hand, are common in the Space Loonies. Some fleets and ships even incorporate mandatory cybernetic enhancement as part of their staff policies. With respect to their average level of technology, Space Looney cybernetics are among the most advanced and versatile on Set. This does, however, come at a certain cost; only humanoid species benefit significantly from cybernetic developments. The further a species diverges from the humanoid body profile, the less cybernetic implants are available to them. Quality suffers in similar measure.
While faster-than-light travel is within the grasp of most Space Looney fleets, it is strongly prohibited. Most see the risk posed to Set as substantially greater than the potential benefits. Further, this prohibition extends to non-Loonies, as well. Attempts to produce, reverse-engineer, or even break down superluminal drives are dealt with as imminent military threats. Non-Looney ships with operational superluminal drives are tracked and destroyed where found.
A LONG WAY TO FALL
Of the factions on and around Set, the Space Loonies - somewhat unsurprisingly - command the highest level of technological sophistication bar none. Unlike the Loonies below them, there has been little stagnation in the march of science over Set. In the end, only the Space Loonies' fractious nature and limited resources have held them in check - and, often times, to limited effect. Those on the ground often see them as alien mystics, and their technology is typically regarded as supernatural.
As a result of their willingness to perform genuine, productive research, Space Looney fleets do not have the same standardized schematics as their planetside cousins. Many fleets are hesitant to share developments with others, for fear of capture, interception, or out of a simple desire to retain an exclusive advantage. Likewise, many advancements are difficult to exchange due differences in species, ship construction, or a lack of prerequisite technologies. While the Space Loonies maintain an edge, it is anything but consistent.
Regardless, Space Looney schematics and research material are treasured both on and off Set. Space Looney wrecks are the most valued of prizes for scavengers in orbit and on the ground. Much like the Loonies on Set, the theft or recovery of Space Looney equipment by outsiders is a security risk placed above all others. Lost technology is tracked, targeted, and destroyed with extreme prejudice to maintain the Space Loonies' superiority. Even personnel lost on Set's surface may be targeted and destroyed - alive or dead - to prevent their capture by the Cult of Meat.
Included in these attempts to safeguard their technology are the otherwise-hostile ground-based Loonies. Both share agreements to prevent Looney technology, whether sourced from orbit or otherwise, from falling into the hands of outsiders. As a result, one of the prime sources of cooperation between the two Looney factions is centered curiously on destroying their own equipment. Ailing ships may even be disposed of with crash-landings so that Looney bunkers on the planet's surface can demolish their wrecks and break them down for raw resources.
Of curious note are the technologies that the Space Loonies do not have compared to the Loonies below them. Despite the key role their predecessors played in establishing the MASTER network, the Space Loonies are merely custodians of its satellites. Few ships have installed uplinks and fewer still make use of theirs. The medical knowledge needed to imbue individuals with immortality is almost totally absent among the Space Loonies - and exclusively restricted to only a handful of species. Production of "hardwire" implants, the Looney cybernetics that afford life after death, is believed to be totally non-existent.
As with the Big Lie, the technology of Space Looney fleets more closely aligns with that of planetside Loonies dependent on the presence of Redworlders and the absence of other species. It is believed that Redworlders are the only non-humans to have a notable number of immortal or hardwire-implanted individuals. The total count, however, is entirely unknown, and what few have been identified are generally excluded from Looney records. There is currently no explanation for this relationship. It is likewise unknown if the Big Lie has any impact on it or vice versa.
Conventional cybernetics, on the other hand, are common in the Space Loonies. Some fleets and ships even incorporate mandatory cybernetic enhancement as part of their staff policies. With respect to their average level of technology, Space Looney cybernetics are among the most advanced and versatile on Set. This does, however, come at a certain cost; only humanoid species benefit significantly from cybernetic developments. The further a species diverges from the humanoid body profile, the less cybernetic implants are available to them. Quality suffers in similar measure.
While faster-than-light travel is within the grasp of most Space Looney fleets, it is strongly prohibited. Most see the risk posed to Set as substantially greater than the potential benefits. Further, this prohibition extends to non-Loonies, as well. Attempts to produce, reverse-engineer, or even break down superluminal drives are dealt with as imminent military threats. Non-Looney ships with operational superluminal drives are tracked and destroyed where found.
