Aliens in the Rim

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

In my campaign, the Solomani are worse than Nazis or Fascists, They are total Human Supremacists.

If you read what is written on the Solomani Hypothesis in that frame, it sort of sets a tone that makes a non-1984 like society there next to impossible. Considering the absurd heights which "normal" bigotry can reach, one can only imagine what would go on if such a doctrine were spread over thousands of systems.

 

[Golan2072]

The ones who are total Human Supermacists are the wost of the "Hardliners" faction; for them, I agree with everything that Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan says. But the HVD faction (IIRC; they think that all Human subraces, Vargr and Dolphins are "Solomani" and thus superior to the non-Terragen species), not to mention the "pan-Sophontist" faction (they believe that all Sophonts have an equal right to control their own lives; they are "Solomani" only in that they are rabidly anti-Imperial and sometimes tone down their anti-Confederacy side) are very different.

 

[kafka47]

Never underestimate Stalinists to allow for a private sector. China today, afterall is a classic example of Market Stalinism also most countries of Eastern Europe did also have a private sector although it was maybe called different things, in fact, it was only Czechoslovakia that "achieved" 99% state control (as even in the USSR that number was 79%) furthermore, if we are going by the totalitarian model most of the Industry in Nazi German was in private hands.

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by kafka47:
Never underestimate Stalinists to allow for a private sector. China today, afterall is a classic example of Market Stalinism also most countries of Eastern Europe did also have a private sector although it was maybe called different things, in fact, it was only Czechoslovakia that "achieved" 99% state control (as even in the USSR that number was 79%)

Nevertheless, Stalinism had state control over the major part of the economy - which we don't have in the Solomani Confederacy, in which the Party only owns one Megacorp as far as we know - Transstar (and allows the rest to operate more or less freely); it probably also runs a major chunk of the military industry, but not, by far, a large majority of the economy. It is similar to Israel in the 1950's (when the state owned several large companies in various fields) than to the USSR.

But let's get back to the subject of this thread, shall we? It seems to me that the Rim has far less native races (most are either colonists from other sectors, or Soloamni Humans or uplifted Terran lifeforms) than the Marches or the Corridor Sector. And are there any confirmed Droyne or Chirper worlds in the Solomani Rim Sector? Or minor races except for the Vegans?

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

That the Ancients would take humans from earth and transplant them implies a degree of importance to the area. Perhaps that's where the Final War began. Maybe there are no Droyone there anymore.

 

[RandyT0001]

Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran von Gushiddan:
In my campaign, the Solomani are worse than Nazis or Fascists, They are total Human Supremacists.

Do you have an online game I can join? I'd really like to play such an extremist.

 

[aramis]

No, The Zhodani & Droyne book never even went to typeset; No post-CT rules for droyne exist prior to T4, and I don't recall (and due to the hour can't go check) if they are in Alien Archives (and hence in T4).

GURPS has some data on them somewhere; don't do GT, so can't say.

T20 left them as monsters, rather than a playable race

 

[mike wightman]

There were rules for Droyne NPCs in TNE, and an adventure that featured them rather heavily.

GT has them in Alien Races 3, not to mention the strange goings-on in Behind the Claw...

 

[kafka47]

Interstellar Wars makes direct reference to the Droyne & Chirper issue which includes a location closest to Terra hence the Rim (don't have my copy on me but I think the same page is reproduced in the freebies that is on the IW page).

Also, the Droyne are quite radically different from world to world therefore, it might not even be known if they are present...add to that the invisibility factor...the Droyne/Chirpers might be in our midst without us even being aware of it.

It is a good guess that most of the worlds in the Rim would be populated with Uplift and modified humans. I kinda see them as a wasteland of worlds...in the sense like Terra is today...overpopulated, crowded cities (read: large slums), diminishing resources and oppressive government just waiting for a trigger to release all the pent up rage hence the Solomani Cause, at the same time possessing a dynamic individualism and desire to change the whole social order.

So, yes, there would be isolated pogroms of alien races by a few extremists as aliens would always vastly outnumber humans on any given world...even the Droyne who have been there for at least 300,000 years.

 

[Maladominus]

Originally posted by rancke:
A taxonomic name consists of two words, the genus and the species. A third word indicates a subspecies. If your intention is that your intelligent orangs are still able to interbreed with ordinary orangutangs, then Pongo Pygmaeus Sapiens is an appropriate name for the subspecies (Note that in that case the ordinary orangutang also gets a subspecies name hung onto its original taxonomic name. Traditionally this is done by adding the species name; thus: Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus.

If, however, you feel that the genetic engineering that was done to create the intelligent version was extensive enough to make mating between original and uplifted orangutangs impossible (which I myself certainly consider the most plausible), then your uplifted orangs would have a new species name -- most likely Pongo sapiens. (In such a case the original orangutangs just keep their original taxonomic appelation).

Your premise is sensible and most likely follows most Biology books on taxonomy, tho I've gone by what has been DGP/MT/canon tradition, to give the uplifted species the triplicate name, by affixing the 'sapiens' to their existing 21st century nomenclature.

Excerpt from Astrogator's Guide to Diaspora, a canon source:

Sufren is a major industrial hub, a garden-world, and considered by many to be the jewel of the sector. It is also home to a large population (over two million) of Orcinus orca sapiens, intelligent orcas produced by an off shoot of the same Terran program that resulted in the more well-known intelligent dolphins. These huge creatures were relocated to Sufren after funding was terminated for the program on Terra. They share Sufren's seas with a population of Tursiops truncatus galactus.

Sufren features a fairly well-preserved Ancient site. However, since the Umorphutwyo (1816 Diaspora) incidents of the mid-1120s, access to the site has become difficult; Visitors must submit to background checks and personal interviews. The reason for these added precautions is not known, but rumors suggest that the Intelligence Division of Sufren's Planetary Navy has begun classified research at the site.

Still, you make a good argument, and IMTU, the Sapient Orangs would be considered a drastically altered species that they can no longer be considered a subspecies of the original orangutan animal. In my Traveller universe, my interpretation of the Solomani-uplifted Orangs is that they were physically and mentally modified extensively... even given Human-like vocal cords so that Sapient Orangs can actually learn to speak (phonetically) fluent Galanglic, or fluent Chinese, or fluent Spanish or can even learn to speak fluent Old High Vilani if given the chance. Not that they would be given the chance.

They are fully intelligent sophonts in every sense of the word, which is how I interpret the DGP/MT canon material and the references to the GenAssist uplift program. In light of that, I may consider your suggestion and simply go with "Pongo Sapiens". Thanks.

 

[Maladominus]

Originally posted by Employee 2-4601:
And are there any confirmed Droyne or Chirper worlds in the Solomani Rim Sector? Or minor races except for the Vegans?

I did mention the Gurungans. GURPS Traveller's Rim of Fire spends about one page discussing them. And they claim 2 systems in the Ultima subsector. Both systems are interdicted (Amber Zones I think), hence that's an indication the Imperium acquiesces to their territorial claim.

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Maladominus:
Your premise is sensible and most likely follows most Biology books on taxonomy, tho I've gone by what has been DGP/MT/canon tradition, to give the uplifted species the triplicate name, by affixing the 'sapiens' to their existing 21st century nomenclature.

Excerpt from Astrogator's Guide to Diaspora, a canon source:

Sufren is a major industrial hub, a garden-world, and considered by many to be the jewel of the sector. It is also home to a large population (over two million) of Orcinus orca sapiens, intelligent orcas produced by an off shoot of the same Terran program that resulted in the more well-known intelligent dolphins. These huge creatures were relocated to Sufren after funding was terminated for the program on Terra. They share Sufren's seas with a population of Tursiops truncatus galactus.

Actually, that's not CT canon, that appears to be Chuck Gannon canon. The original writeup of sapient Dolphins by Roger Moore in JTAS gives their taxonomic name as Tursiops galactis [Reference: Best of JTAS 2, p. 16].

I don't think 'Phins were mentioned in any other MT source (Is AGtD actually an MT source or a TNE source? Not that it makes any real difference.)

Still, you make a good argument, and IMTU, the Sapient Orangs would be considered a drastically altered species that they can no longer be considered a subspecies of the original orangutan animal. In my Traveller universe, my interpretation of the Solomani-uplifted Orangs is that they were physically and mentally modified extensively... even given Human-like vocal cords so that Sapient Orangs can actually learn to speak (phonetically) fluent Galanglic, or fluent Chinese, or fluent Spanish or can even learn to speak fluent Old High Vilani if given the chance. Not that they would be given the chance.

They are fully intelligent sophonts in every sense of the word, which is how I interpret the DGP/MT canon material and the references to the GenAssist uplift program. In light of that, I may consider your suggestion and simply go with "Pongo Sapiens". Thanks.

You're welcome.


Hans

 

[mbrinkhues]

where do the Shalli of TNE "fame" belong? Still in the Rim or beyond that?

 

[rancke]

Originally posted by Michael Brinkhues:
where do the Shalli of TNE "fame" belong? Still in the Rim or beyond that?

They're native to Vras (Old Expanses 0738).


Hans