Posted by Fleet Captain Sage Pennington (Gamemaster Director/ Full Gamemaster) in Galdor-Okinos Alliance Power Submission Draft 2
THE GALDOR-OKINOS ALLIANCE
DATE: 2397 (2022)
AUTHOR: Riley W
TYPE: Power
GOVERNMENT: Democratic Military Republic
CAPITAL: Galdor
AGE: 400+ years
TECHNOLOGY LEVEL: Warp Capable
DOMINANT SPECIES: The Galdori
DIPLOMATIC STATUS: Allied
CLASSIFICATION: Custom

OVERVIEW

Document written by Lt. Morgan Riker, GOA historical specialist at the Interplanetary Records Office.

The Galdor-Okinos Alliance (GOA), known internally as the Interstellar Alliance, was a power that existed from around 2100 to 2300, at which point they joined the United Federation of Planets. They still consider themselves to be a united group within the UFP, but are no longer a separate political entity.

The GOA consists of three homeworlds, those being Galdor, Okinos, and Kalari, and a few dozen established colonies. Their combined territory consists of fifty-three star systems, twenty of which contain one or more M-Class and/or K-Class planets and/or moons. The territory of the Alliance is located near the border between the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, quite close to the Rimward edge of Federation Space. Galdor is the third planet around their G-Class star, Enrys. Okinos is the third planet around their K-Class Star, Sk’rit. Kalari is the fourth planet around their F-Class star, Marama.

Galdor first achieved manned warp flight in 1975, with Okinos achieving it in 1983 and Kalar in 2137. When a GOA vessel first encountered a Starfleet Vessel in the early 2250s, they were flying Warp 5 engines - in contrast to Starfleet’s Warp 6 at the time.

The population of Galdor consists of five distinct Sapient races, collectively known as the Galdori. Hatriku, a reptilian-like humanoid species, Laleri, a lupine-like humanoid species, Arwan, a capran-like humanoid species, Raka, a feline-like humanoid species, and Pipini, an aquatic species with some resemblance to otters. The natives of Okinos, calling themselves Okinosians, are a fungal semi-humanoid species. The natives of Kalari, the Kalarans, are a semi-humanoid species with four arms and a prehensile tail.

 STARSHIPS AND TECHNOLOGY
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The GOA has a wide range of starships and maintains a small, independent fleet since their induction into the Federation. This fleet is generally referred to as the IAF. These ships are living vessels, featuring a combination of Okinosian biotech, Kalaran computation, and Galdori engineering. Non-commissioned crew live in dormitory-like areas, with about ten bunks per room. Junior Officers’ quarters have 5 bunks per room, with only senior officers having private quarters.

Because GOA vessels (called Living Ships) are semi-living beings with minds of their own, piloting them is a special challenge. Their Academy, (the Interstellar Alliance Academy for Astronauts) chooses special individuals to become trained as ship pilots by forming a psionic connection to the vessel. The pilot acts as a conduit of the passenger’s intentions and helps the vessel coordinate movement, shields, weapons, and other important functions, while also communicating back to the passengers the ship’s needs - damaged systems, power drains, and such things. Because of their connection to such an alien mind as the ships possess, many pilots develop a greater mental capacity, physical and mental stamina, and the ability to stay awake for days at a time without ill effect. Different ships have a need for different numbers of pilots, depending on the size of the vessel. Larger vessels might have half a dozen pilots who work two or three at a time to coordinate piloting, while smaller shuttles may only have a single pilot in their lifetime, dying when their pilot dies or retires.

Life support functions are provided by the ship, which converts waste products and cosmic/solar radiation into energy, and energy into breathable air and heat. While most regular functions are powered by this exchange of energies, the ships’ biological Warp Drives are powered by non-biological Antimatter Engines. Non-support ships have complex water recycling facilities alongside on-board green-spaces which produce fresh food and clean water for the crew and passengers, allowing for longer journeys than might otherwise be possible without replicators.

The most notable ship classes of the IAF are listed below. Many other ship classes exist, of course. Visually, most GOA vessels have a fairly similar shape, regardless of size. The ships’ shapes have been compared to sharks - an oval with a tapered nose and tapered end. Smaller vessels even have several fins that extend from the surface for stabilisation in atmospheric flight. The surface of the vessel is covered in organically flowing lines and patterns - no two vessels have exactly the same patterns, as these develop as the ship grows, similarly to a fingerprint.

Rorak-Class (Whale): The largest of the IAF’s ship classes, measuring in at over 500m in length. Mostly used for scientific study and diplomatic purposes, but has varied functions depending on modules that can be installed or grown. Usually has a widely varied crew, with separate sections of the vessel having corridors and quarters adapted for each species. Rorak class ships can have six to ten pilots, who work in pairs of two, in shifts that can last up to five days.

Hashem-Class (Dolphin): The middle road when it comes to GOA ships, the Hashem class ships are about 350m long and are mainly used for exploratoration. They usually have a mostly consolidated crew of one race or another, with smaller contingents of the other Alliance species. Hashem class ships usually have three or four pilots.

Paruk-Class (Shark): A much smaller ship class, about 200m in length, the Paruk class is a military vessel built for speed and stealth. It has a formidable weapons complement. Paruk class ships can have one or two pilots.

Dari-Class Shuttle (Tuna): Support class, a shuttlecraft/runabout. Warp capable, the Dari-class vessels have the normal capacity to be independently utilised for three weeks without their parent vessel, although in an emergency they can function as a lifeboat for upwards of five months. Dari-class shuttles have seating capacity for up to twenty-four passengers as well as a small galley, a berth for sleeping, and a head that includes shower facilities. All shuttles have one pilot.

Saku-Class Shuttle (Guppy): Smaller support class, shuttlecraft/runabout without warp capabilities. Regular use is for atmospheric entry and exit, Saku class vessels are not intended to be inhabited for more than a few hours. Emergency capabilities can extend that to a few weeks, and there is seating for up to six passengers along with two storable cots and a minimal head. All shuttles have only one pilot.

There are two other notable technological advances that have been made by the people of the GOA. The simpler of these is the Mind Chamber. Similar to the Holodeck, the MC provides a virtual experience for individuals to enjoy in their leisure time. Unlike the Holodeck, the MC is projected into the mind of the individual through psychic waves, placing them into an immersive simulation while their body sits safely in the chamber’s many seats. The MC has more comprehensive safety features and results in injuries far less than a holodeck. The Mind Chamber was developed in the early years of the GOA, before their first encounters with Starfleet.

The somewhat more complex of these technologies is the Interstellar Transporter (IT). It is unlike regular Transporters in that it does not dematerialize then re-materialize individuals. The IT functions by sending passengers bodily into a sub-dimension, then retrieving them in a different location. In order to function, all passengers must wear a specialised transmitter, and a Transporter Platform is required on both ends of the journey. The Interstellar Transporter was in development for a very long time, research beginning in the early 2100s and only becoming a viable method of transport in the late 2200s. Upon first discovering the IT in use within GOA vessels, Federation scientists were eager to integrate it into Starfleet Vessels due to its obvious benefits, but a few factors made that impossible. Firstly, the IT can only function if it is integrated with the systems of a Hashem-Class or larger Living Vessel. Secondly, the structure of the Transporter Platform requires a crystalline compound which has only been found within GOA systems and cannot be replicated. Finally, the IT fails frequently if it is outside a certain radius of the GOA - after multiple passengers were lost, usage of the IT outside designated territory was banned by the UFP.

 RELIGION
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The people of the GOA have strong belief in a group of deities they refer to as “The Twelve” or “The Lords of Kobol.” These gods have been worshipped almost universally amongst the three member worlds of the GOA, even since ancient history. Little is known about the true nature of the Twelve, but various eyewitness accounts have been given by Starfleet personnel confirming their existence, at the very least.

These gods are primarily sorted into three categories by the people.
En’rys, Va’al, Lu’ne, and Dra’ko, the celestial gods
Na’ne’te, Py’ro, Te’en’pe, and Et’ro, the elemental gods
Gla’si’na, Ro’an’se, Il’los, and Bri’git, the seasonal gods

Addendum, Access Classified. SI/S31/ARU personnel only.

The Twelve gods of the GOA are energy beings of a similar but inferior nature to the beings of the Q-continuum. They can only access our Plane of Existence where their followers are present, but with the people of the GOA slowly expanding their presence through Starfleet, the influence of the Twelve is spreading. They are to be considered potentially dangerous. We do not know their intentions, although their followers claim their interests to be limited to the thriving of the people of the GOA.

It has been theorised that the Twelve are ascended beings, remnants of a fallen ancient civilization. The theory posits that after the fall of their civilization, they decided to prevent such a calamity from occurring again, but their influence, as previously discussed, was limited to a small group of star systems. This may explain the relative lack of sapient life in these star systems, outside of the people of three planets - the development of all life in this region may have been governed and guided by these ascended beings. The ARU is in the process of negotiating access to certain ancient ruins in the hopes of further investigating this possibility.

 CULTURE
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The people of the GOA have a culture of mutual understanding and cooperation, with a low degree of conflict amongst its member species. Their greatest values are environmental responsibility, equality amongst individuals, and identity respect. The government does its best to ensure no individual lives in poverty, although many still fall through the cracks. Child-rearing and marriage is different for every species within the Alliance. Following is a brief summary of general cultural trends amongst the member races.

GALDOR
The Laleri, the Lupine species, value physical strength as well as honour. They love sport and have a culture centred around games and feats of physical prowess. Family is also highly valued among their culture, and everyone in a community will partake in the rearing of any child of the community. They’re considered to be a very loud and energetic, intense species, and see physical touch as an important aspect of their culture. They deeply enjoy music and dance. Marriage tends to be between only two individuals, although rare cases exist with three or more.

The Hatriku, the reptilian species, are a strict, regimented society. They value intelligence and focus, and their most valued members are master strategists. The concept of family as we understand it is quite alien to them, as their emotional pair-bonding is disconnected from their reproductive pairings, and children are raised communally by a single unrelated individual who will simultaneously raise 5-8 children of the same age. Their culture is focused on tradition and learning, and they view physical touch as an almost taboo thing. Hatriku are also considered to be great wordsmiths and visualizers, and many of Galdor’s greatest poets and painters have been Hatriku.

The Raka (feline) and the Pipini (otter-like) species are very similar in both their culture and their physicality, being the most closely related of the sapients on Galdor, although they still have their differences. The Raka are technically minded while the Pipini are extremely artistic, but both species are very energetic and curious. Both cultures value physical touch and don’t understand personal boundaries, as cuddling and fur-grooming are both very common practices. Both cultures are built around exploration, and people of these two races love to see new places and meet new people. Both races value family, although their definition of family is less permanent than that of many people. Raka art is generally built around form and substance, woodcarving and clay sculpture being prime examples of their art. Pipini art is more free-flowing and immaterial, formed around their music and songs.

The Arwan, the goat-like species, are a culture that is focused on safety. They are a rather nervous species, but they happen to be brilliant at the sciences because they are so diligent at utilising the scientific method. Their families are multi-generational, with four or five generations living together in a sprawling complex or a large family home. They value physical intimacy, and fur-grooming is a pretty important part of that. They are very quiet and fearful people, but they are also incredible cooks with the best cuisine on Galdor. Arwan are known to be great painters and visual artists, much of the greatest film animation on Galdor comes from the Arwan people.

OKINOS
The Okinosians, the mycelial species, are very peaceful and almost zen. Their physical bodies last up to five decades, but because their reproductive process is essentially cloning, their memories can last for centuries. They tend to process information somewhat slowly, but the wisdom from their long lives is usually worth the wait. Almost all of their technology is based on biomechanics, much of it even being grown organically. Okinosian art tends to be very slow and ponderous, usually in the form of poetry conveyed through their emotional networks.

KALARI
The Kalaran culture is one that is focused on continual change, and as such is very difficult to pin down. They are brilliant programmers and were able to develop a type of Artificial Intelligence vastly different to that of Soong- Type androids. Their AI is able to feel emotions but not to form complex thoughts. The Kalarans value new ideas and innovation over all else, but they’re also a fairly musical species. Their verbal languages are more akin to birdsong than human language, since their voice box is very similar to a bird’s syrinx. The Kalarans also have a ‘universal’ language based on patterns and colours emitted from the patch of skin on their forehead, which has controllable bioluminescence as well as octopus-like pigment control.

 BIOLOGY
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The people of the GOA have varied biology but there are a few constant traits.

The hands and feet possess only four fingers as opposed to the traditional five. On Galdor and Kalari, all the sapient species walk with a Digitigrade stance.
They possess two hearts. The primary heart, the general myocardium, is positioned slightly lower on the chest than a human heart and provides blood to most of the body. The secondary heart, the cerebral myocardium, is approximately half the size of the general myocardium and provides blood exclusively to the head and brain. The cerebral myocardium is more resilient than the general myocardium and is located on the right side of the chest.
They possess an Empathic sensory organ attached to their spine, around where a kidney is in humans. It is called the Basda, and is the emotional centre of their mind. It outputs a psychic signal that can only be detected by other people with a Basda and vice versa. Because their mind and emotions work differently to other sentient species, it makes them extremely difficult for empaths to read. Telepaths can still read their surface thoughts, although it takes more effort to decipher compared to most humanoids.
On Galdor, sex is determined by environmental factors. They possess 5 adult sexes, based on physiological traits. The five sexes are: Androgene - individuals with no gonads or secondary sex characteristics, Demimale/Demifemale - individuals with secondary sex characteristics but no gonads, Male/Female - possessing gonads (and the ability to reproduce).
The people of Galdor experience two “puberty” periods in their life. All individuals are born in a angrogenous state and during adolescence, they experience the first puberty. While the majority of individuals transition at this point to the demimale/demifemale physical state, between 20-25% retain their androgyny. About halfway through their natural lifetime, a second change is experienced and about half of all demimale/demifemale individuals will remain in that state while the other half will become sexually mature and develop the abililty to reproduce.
Okinosians are born from a structure known as the Mother Spore and individuals, much like worker bees, do not possess gonads or the ability to reproduce.
Kalarans are a hermaphroditic species, with a seahorse-like method of reproduction where the larger gamete is transferred to the other parent to fertilise and incubate.

HISTORY

Galdor (Enrys III) achieved Warp I in Earth Year 1975. Exploration was undertaken at a safe and slow pace, focusing on the Enrys system and a few other nearby, uninhabited systems. By 1995 EY, Galdor had established colonies on Enrys II and IV and was beginning to attempt colonisation of the nearby Bamu Star System.
Okinos (Sk’rit III) achieved Warp I in 1984 EY. Exploration beyond the Sk’rit system was avoided as they focused more on developing Subspace Communication and reaching out to potential Aliens. In 2003 EY, a wide-band signal from Okinos was detected by Galdori scanning satellites. In 2004 EY, limited two-way communication was established, and various improvements were made over the subsequent decades, eventually allowing video communication between the two planets. Warp II was achieved in 2012 EY, but it was theorised that a journey at that speed would take nearly seven years. Neither civilization had the ability to sustain life on a space journey of that duration. Development of an improved Warp Drive was necessary. Warp III was achieved in 2048 EY.
In 2132 EY, Galdori and Okinosian collaboration developed the Warp IV Engine, reducing the journey between their worlds to only half a year. The sharing of information in the preceding century reassured the people of Galdor and Okinos that their people could meet in person without issues related to the environment. Each planet launched a small fleet of Warp 4 vessels, finally meeting in person on a planet in the Iwa System in the year 2135 EY. Diplomatic representatives as well as lead biologists were present on both fleets, and detailed study of one another began alongside official treaties being signed with the officialisation of the Interstellar Alliance.
Kalari (Marama IV) achieved Warp I in 2091 EY and Warp II in 2137 EY. Exploration vessels from Galdor and Kalari made first contact in 2163 EY, and Kalari was inducted into the Interstellar Alliance in 2194 EY.
Development of Living Ships began at some point in this period, with the first Living Ship being launched in 2202 EY. With Antimatter Engines powering their Warp Drive, these Living Ships enabled the IA to achieve Warp V in 2214 EY. The increased range allowed by this development led to First Contact between the IAF and Starfleet in 2250 EY, and formal diplomatic contact and trade was established in 2274 EY.
In 2300 EY, the Interstellar Alliance (Galdori-Okinos Alliance) officially joined the United Federation of Planets as a member-state, choosing to maintain the close bond between the three civilisations, acting as one voice in matters regarding the Federation and wider interstellar politics.

Timeline:
1975: Galdor develops Warp I
1984: Okinos develops Warp I
1997: Galdor develops Subspace Communication
2003: Okinos develops Subspace Communication and sends out a wide-band signal and Galdor receives it.
2004: Two-way communication is achieved.
2012: Galdor and Okinos develop Warp II engine
2048: Galdor and Okinos develop Warp III engine
2132: Galdor and Okinos develop Warp IV engine
2135: Official (physical) First Contact made between Okinos and Galdor, The Interstellar Alliance is formed.
2091: Kalari develops Warp I
2137: Kalari achieves Warp II
2163: First Contact between Kalari and the Interstellar Alliance.
2194: Kalari joins the Interstellar Alliance.
2202: First Living Ship launched
2214: IA develops Warp V Engine
2250: First Contact between IA and Starfleet. UFP dubs them the Galdor-Okinos Alliance.
2269: Formal Diplomatic Trade and Contact are established between GOA and UFP.
2300: GOA officially joins the UFP
2305: First Laleri, Okinosian, and Hatriku officers join Starfleet
2314: First Arwan and Kalaran officers join Starfleet
2351: First Raka officer joins Starfleet
2397: First Pipini officer joins Starfleet
2400: (future) Centennial celebration of GOA participation in the Federation is planned.

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Posted 16 October. Reviews and comments open until 30 October. please keep all feedback constructive.

-Sage Pennington, GM Director

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