Genmetics

Genmetics is the medical practice of genetic cosmetics and they are one of the few regulated and legal forms of genetic manipulation in the galaxy. Seen as the holy grail of cosmetic alteration, genmetics has replaced traditional cosmetic surgery in all but the poorest regions of the galaxy, and is seen as a much safer alternative. Depending on what outcome is required, some changes are permanent while others are temporary to spur the required change, and are then restored to the patients original coding once the desired change has occurred.

The changes that can be made using legal genmetics are limited to those physical characteristics of the species; i.e. it is not possible for a Human to change their hair pink and grow the antennae of an Antaran. The most common practices throughout the galaxy revolve around those practices, surgical or otherwise, carried out by many species to change their appearance.

As with most things which grated against the status-quo, genmetics was not without controversy. Whilst procedures do not require the manual cutting and manipulation of a patient’s body, changing of their genetic makeup, even on a temporary basis, can be problematic. Today, the risk is negligible and issues only tend to arise when patients do not heed their doctor’s warnings to rectify any issues. This is not to say that genmetics has not had headline grabbing incidents. One such incident occurred during the early days when only the Anderson Institute, based in Los Angeles, Earth, offered the treatment. Ms. Ivona Sykora was obsessed with cosmetic surgery and had had undergone surgery on more than 100 occasions. As one of the earliest to undergo the treatment she refused to heed the advice of her doctor to have her genes restored. A medical order was finally issued and she spent the rest of her life in a bizarre state of ecstasy with breasts the size of small bungalows, lips the size of tractor tyres, and a backside larger than a double-decker bus.

Colony Ships

Built at the turn of the twenty-first century, by Earth reckoning, the colony ships were deep-space vessels designed and built with long-term exploration in mind. Assembled in orbit, more like cities than ships, the intention was to send humans out towards the Andromeda Galaxy and towards the centre of the Milky Way. The ships were entire colonies, with a biosphere supplying food and oxygen. Below the main working decks are the living quarters aligned like streets, with parks, and crossings everything you’d expect in a small town or city. The ships sum up the whole of human curiosity and the species resolve to explore space even at speeds that would involve the voyages taking millennia.

The original ships were called Pilgrim One and Two, each of which started off with over six thousand willing volunteers, most of which were young married couples who would give birth to the next generation and train them to crew the ships. They were presumed lost because once faster than light drives were developed, and subsequently slipstream, scout vessels could not find sight or sound of either vessel.

ADDENDUM:
Recent reports suggest that one of the vessels returned to the Sol system a short time after the Human Extinction Event; however due to the on-going galactic turmoil, the Space Corps has been unable to assign a scout to investigate the rumour.

Terran Alliance

After the development of faster-than-light travel, the Terran Alliance was formed from the predominant nation states of Earth for the purpose galactic exploration, trade, and security. The original members were the United States of America, the European Union, and the Oceanic Union. United Africa, the Russian Federation and the New Republic of China eventually joined a number of years later, along with a number of independent nations.

In the days of the GTU and the dawn of the GSF, the Terran Alliance represented the united people of Earth and her outlying colonies, amongst the galactic community.

Galactic Trade Union (GTU)

The pre-cursor to the Galactic Systems Federation (GSF) was the Galactic Trade Union (GTU), a coalition of the Terran Alliance, the Antaran Federation, the Tewomian Federation and the Qaran Collective. Shortly after the Pratarian Pride, Oretan Troop, Ruzzoin Flock and the Antatian Alliance joined and the seeds for the GSF were sown.

The union started out as an attempt to improve trade and relations between the predominant governing bodies at the time. As more governments were interested in joining the union, its influence grew and eventually led to the formation of the GSF.

Antatia

The planet Antatia is an orange-brown hydrogen-helium gas giant in the Occundi star system which is in one the most populated sectors of the α-quadrant, and the galaxy as a whole.

It has two moons, Antatia Prime and Secundus. Antatia Prime is a warm and pleasant world inhabited by a cold-blooded, lizard-descended humanoid species. Its sister, however, is drastically different, covered by a thick hydrocarbon atmosphere and a surface ravaged by ion storms that ignite the atmosphere in a spectacular display.

What makes these moons interesting is the rare nature of their orbits. Each moon resides at opposite sides of Antatia mirroring each other, and they exist in a rare type of synchronous orbit. It is well documented that many moons in the galaxy orbit their planets in a synchronous orbit so that the same "side" of the moon always faces the planet. However the Antatia moons rotation periods have no relation to their orbit around the planet. Both orbit relative to the planets own orbit around Occundi. The moons orbit the planet so that they appear to be in the same position relative to the star; one orbit around Antatia for the moons is equivalent to one planetary orbit around Occundi. This leaves Antatia Prime closer to and always facing the sun which results in its constant temperate climate.

Triton Spaceport

The spaceport on Triton is considered by many as the gateway to the galaxy, the last stop out of the Sol System. These people are idiots; obviously the last stop out of the Sol System depends on which direction you're heading, and where the planets are in their orbits.

The port is one of many recruitment centres for the galaxies mercenary bands. The Crimson Suns are the single highest employer of rebelious human teenagers in the galaxy and have their main recruitment centre at Triton Spaceport.

ADDENDUM: Triton Spaceport has been confirmed as a casualty of the Human Extinction Event.

Pluto Station

The spaceport on Pluto is considered by many as the gateway to the galaxy, the last stop out of the Sol System. These people are even more stupid than the fans of the ports on Triton and Ganymede; the last stop out of the Sol System depends entirely on which direction you're heading, and where the planets are in their orbits. It also doesn't help that Pluto has a rather eccentric orbit that on occasion brings it closer to Sol than Neptune, and therefore Triton, making it even less likely to be the last stop out of the system.

No one has ever referred to Eris Station as the gateway to the galaxy, though many have compared it to the gateway to hell.

ADDENDUM: Pluto Station has been confirmed as a casualty of the Human Extinction Event.