"The fuck is this Val?" Why you little ruffian, this is where I'll be laying the groundwork for a sci-fi pone fic. I just like to get a lore "frame" done before writing anything, and this will likely be updated as I expand. I'll likely use this setting for any pone tabletop games I run as well, feel free to steal whatever shit from here you want. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [The basic story premises] Anon, an explorer of the stars finds himself stranded in Equus' orbit after a serious drive failure, flinging him back into real space. After being noticed by a rather astute engineer pone studying the night sky along with the Equestrian Science Station, he's brought down to Equestria by its Princesses. Fun ensues as Anon works to get his vessel space worthy once more, and to once again explore the stars. Perhaps with one or more new companions in tow. [The State of the Galaxy and Rise of Humanities Space Age] In the year 4839 SC (standard cycle) Space exploration has become available to Humanity following innovations in starship technology, humanity has found a way to harness an interesting form of energy from certain gemstones found on Mars. As humanity's gaze turned upwards, they discovered they were, in fact, one of the few planets to not have these gems. Though they figured, mathematically, they were possibly not the only ones. 4858 first contact was made with an extraterrestrial race of insectoids known as the Frillin, while first talks were rough, the Frillin nurtured Humanity onwards, assisting in understanding some of the new and common technologies of the galaxy that they as a species would have to face. 5032 Humanity has nestled itself nicely into the galaxy, now with hundreds upon thousands of colonies, people who have the money, know-how, and or resources can freely travel the galaxy, exploring and selling their findings and star maps. Some sell exclusively star maps, while some search for new life and act as freelance biologists. Some, like our esteemed Anon in the coming stories, are simple freelancers. Doing whichever job suits their fancy and coasting along the waves of space happy to just be free. [Equus and its place In the stars, and the story.] Equus, home of the pones and other such beings we have come to know. Though unmolested by the races of the Galaxy, they have reached a form of space-age using magically charged gems and crystals to fuel their space vessels. Until a hapless explorer, Anon stumbles across it during a drive failure. This will be the first alien race the races of Equus will have come into contact with. [The Alien/New Races and wtf they are] The Frillin: These 6'0 insectoids very loosely resemble praying mantises of Earth. Their tough exoskeletons make them a hardy race, and they're mostly carnivores. They are one of the more technologically advanced species within the galaxy at this time and are a rather expansionist heavy. They trade mostly in technology, and the average space cowboy will find them as engineers on large vessels. The Ul'thuk: The Thuk are a species of sentient Algae. An odd race made even odder by the fact that their vessels are piloted directly by them. As in they have their own flowing through the ship, becoming almost the ship itself. Commonly one would see them in a sphere on a tripod of metal legs, with manipulator arms protruding from the carriage of the sphere containing the nutrient-rich fluid that hosts the Algae. The Chalrindi: A race of giant mammal/arachnid spider's that have cropped up on Equus. Known to be able to grow large enough to feast upon the likes of dragons and other such gargantuan race after ensnaring them. A carnivorous race obviously, one with a deep seated curiosity however.