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==Game Mechanics==
{{Rewrite|reason=Under review by lore team, slated to be rewritten completely}}


- Punches are weaker
{{Template:LoreTableMain}}


- Water is Poisonous (Bugged)


- Immune to Sulphuric Acid (Also bugged)
<div style="display: grid; float: right;">


- Have the 'Project Mind' power naturally, which enables the Grey to speak telepathically to one person at any range. However, unless the recipient also has Project Mind, they will not know who is speaking to them.
{{SpeciesInfo
| name      = Grey
| image      = Grey.png
| homeworld  = Mauna-b
| system    = Omicron Cetus
| language  = Telepathic (:^)
| height    = 150cm
| lifespan  = 50 years
| breathes  = Oxygen
}}
{{SpeciesMechanics
| features =


- Glasses look very silly on them.
* Telepathic communication (14m).


- 30 karma cost
* Psionic link with other Greys.


* Can speak in Wingdings.


==Summary==
* Can have a Translator Implant.


The Greys, as they are called by humans, have recently emerged in the known galaxy. Although rare, many have gained employment with NT to be part of their research.
| boons    =


It is theorized that they evolved on a world akin to Venus, with their sulphuric physiology, and bodies suited to a lower gravity environment. However, those encountered have mainly lived aboard their space faring vessels, and none so far have disclosed where their home world is.
* Low-light vision (5m).


Telepathic by nature, they are at best quiet and mysterious and at worst arrogant and cagey.
* Sulphuric acid immunity.


* Fluorosulphuric Acid immunity.


==Background==
| maluses =


Greys were virtually unheard of apart from the odd nutjob in some backwater planet, station or country ranting and  raving about anal probing and 'visitations' but very recently in galactic history have the Greys made contact with the Nanotrasen Corporation.
* Flashes incur extra eye damage.
Nanotrasen Corporation was very eager to get its hands on the secrets the many vast Grey Hive-fleets possessed, and the fleets and Nanotrasen struck a mutually beneficial deal. They would exchange secrets and staff.


Almost every single Grey on the Nanotrasen Space Station Cyberiad originates from a ship in one of these vast hive-fleets and their home-planet, if they ever even had one, is never referenced or spoken about and some of the more talkative Greys will deny even knowing about it.
* Water acts like acid.
}}
</div>


==Behaviour==
'''Grey''' are a species of vat-grown bipedal humanoids. Little is known of their origins.
==Grey and YOU==
Greetings, esteemed crewmember!


In terms of gender, partially due to the lack of obvious sexual dimorphism between Male and Female Greys, it is extremely easy and common to mistake a Grey's gender. Fortunately, being mentally orientated and higher-minded beings such as they are, they will rarely pass comment or bother to correct errors in pronouns and will generally allow such mistakes to pass by unchallenged.
In an effort to encourage inter-species cooperation and workplace efficiency, NanoTrasen has compiled a series of helpful guides on the various species that you may be working with!


They are at best polite and formal in speech and at worst, arrogant and infuriatingly cagey. Greys tend toward intellectual or bureaucratic positions where they can apply their vast intellect with comfort and will tend to shy away from more physical or menial tasks as their physique or pride demands it. However, Greys that work within the Civilian, Engineering or Security sector will either be highly skilled specialists whose expertise and creativity in a particular field is unrivalled, or canny generalists who possess a very broad skillset and a canny intuition.
(NOTE: If you are a member of the species this guide pertains to, please give it to the nearest crewmember of another species)


For those willing to see past their arrogant, secretive and punctilious ways, it is not impossible to befriend a Grey. They have an unparalleled sense of duty, honour and diligence that means should they become fond of you, you can be sure they will check in every once in a while to make sure you aren't lying bleeding to death in maint.
This particular guide refers to the species known as the Greys (singular: Grey, Plural: Greys).


==Culture==
===Grey Naming Schemes===
Greys lack a language of their own, communicating with their kin telepathically. Though their formal names used through telepathic communication lack a written counterpart, many Grey adopt written names for the purposes of interacting with other species or record keeping. Due to their lack of a spoken language, however, these names do not normally follow a scheme or pattern, varying greatly from individual to individual.


Greys spend their entire life aboard ships, stations and research outposts either in space or on planets so they are very accustomed to an authoritarian and naval hierarchy and are accustomed to giving and recieving orders. As a result, they can come across as either slavish to their superiors, or domineering to their inferiors. Their appreciation for formal speech and mannerisms gives them a reputation for being aloof, stuffy, humourless or robotic at times.
===Grey Physiology===
Grey physiology is unique in several ways. While they have similar respiratory and vascular systems to humans - breathing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide - it is important to note that instead of producing hemoglobin to transport oxygen, Greys produce hemerythrin, which causes their blood to take on a violet colour when oxygenated. Hemerythrin is unfortunately much less effective at distributing oxygen throughout the bloodstream, which lead to issues of hypoxemia in the Grey population aboard non-Grey facilities. If you notice one of your Grey coworkers looking abnormally tired, lacking balance, or prone to fainting, it is recommended to immediately bring them to a highly-oxygenated environment. Furthermore, due to high salt concentrations, the cells in a Grey's body are known rapidly undergo cytolysis when brought into contact with water - a reaction which can prove immediately fatal.


The Greys are a highly advanced race, potentially far more so than even Nanotrasen or the Skrellian Government yet they remain frustratingly tight-lipped about their research and discoveries and many of the smaller and easily destroyable/salvagable ships in a Grey Hive-fleet will be equipped with weapons, armour and devices only slightly more effective than their competitors to prevent ships that get lost or destroyed being captured and its secrets reverse-engineered.
Greys are physically weaker than many of their coworkers, both due to a significant lack of muscle mass as well as a particularly brittle bone structure. Their bodies are thin and somewhat gangly, standing noticeably shorter than their human coworkers. Due to their unique physiology Greys fare poorly at labour intensive tasks but are far more adept at mentally taxing or stressful work such as research, record keeping, and management. Due to their bone structure and low muscle mass it is posited that Greys may have originated from a planet with low gravity, though this is as of yet unconfirmed.


As a telepathic race, Greys tend not to have many instruments, but are large fans of singing, chiefly telepathically but also vocally, and for those more accustomed to beautiful and emotive performers Greys tend to hit the uncanny valley somewhat when an androgynous, big-headed, expressionless creep suddenly bursts forth with the most soul-touching melodies Man has ever heard.
Grey eyes are almost triple the size of those of most other species, and their sclera, iris, and pupil are completely indistinct from one another. The large size of Grey eyes is believed to be an adaptation to shield the ocular nerve against ultraviolet radiation with their unusually monotone complexion providing a similar degree of protection. This has lead scholars to believe that in addition to likely being low gravity, the original homeworld of the Greys likely had a poor magnetosphere or was unusually close to its star. While Grey eyes are protected against high levels of ambient ultraviolet radiation, they are still susceptible to bright lights such as those caused by welding arcs. Grey crew members are advised to always wear welding protection in the presence of intense light.
Though not all Greys are musicians, tone-deafness is an unfortunate malady that is equally as common amongst Greys as Humans. Oh well.


Greys have a tendency toward the practical, smart and monochrome. Their physical artwork tends toward emphasis of shape, shade, form and gesture. Though when colour IS used, it is used sparingly and typically with very bright colours.
Unlike other observed sapient species observed by Nanotrasen, the Grey population appears to be wholly sustained via a form of advanced cloning; due to this abnormality Grey family structure typically consists of a single parent. Greys are often cited as being highly-reserved and independent, and appear to be able to go with little to no social interaction for extended periods of time without suffering any ill-effects. Though Greys are not sexually dimorphic, they often adopt male or female accoutrements for the sake of clarifying communications with other species.
The exception to this are the Hive-Fleet's flag-ships which are often garish, opulent and sometimes debauched vessels of almost monarchic proportions. The actual Captain of the Flag-ship will often have a regal or high-born title such as 'Grand Lord/Lady', 'Empress/Emperor', 'Grand Admiral' or 'King/Queen' and these individuals are, as expected, psychics of immense power.


==Biology==
===Language===
Since the Grey species has always communicated solely telepathically, they lack a written or spoken language. However, Greys employed by NanoTrasen are required to be fluent in Galactic Common. Some Grey are also known to speak in a peculiar and incomprehensible dialect. This dialect is believed to be caused by deficiencies in a Grey's speech organs and the difficulties these typically underused organs pose when a Grey speaks non-telepathically.


Their biology is little different from Humans, except from one key point which is their weakness to water, which burns and wounds them in a manner not unlike acid. However, the display a complete immunity to sulphuric acid. This poses a confusing dichtomy to biologists, because this would imply that Greys evolved on a world with a sulphuric atmosphere however, Greys breathe oxygen exactly like Humans do, and do not seem to burn when their skin makes contact with moisture in the air.
===Homeworld===
Greys are believed to originate from outside the Milky Way. Due to this their origin world is unknown and is a point of speculation for many scholars. From observing the anatomy of various Greys, xenobiologists have come to the conclusion that Greys likely did not go through a natural process of evolution, but were instead engineered, likely by another master species, in a similar fashion to the Vox Primalis commonly found aboard Nanotrasen stations. The true origin of the species appears to be unknown to even the Greys themselves, who are believed to have arrived from a distant galaxy cluster after a long period of extended cryosleep. Due to these peculiar circumstances many Grey have elected that Mauna-b, which has a high population of Greys, act as a stand in for their home planet.


Their throats and mouths are covered in a thick mucus which enables them to ingest water-based, human foods yet clearly pure yet this is not enough against pure, concentrated H2O which will kill them incredibly quickly.
Mauna-b is a relatively small exoplanet with a close orbit to its sun within the Mauna system. Much of the planet is a sprawling and desolate tundra, with scorching deserts on its southern and northern poles. However, the equator of Mauna-b contains a long, temperate strip of land with relatively stable temperatures and seasons. Various enclosed colonies dot the surface of this ring of habitability, connected by high speed transportation networks. It's interesting to note that Mauna-b is almost completely devoid of standard communications equipment, due to the Greys ability for limitless psychic contact with one another. While advanced methods of data storage, computation, and transportation do exist these communications equipment present on the planetary surface has largely been established by various corporations operating on Mauna-b’s surface. The Greys have been observed to excel at scientific research, with many of the latest breakthroughs in bluespace technologies originating from Mauna-b.


The Greys are, as their name implies, always light grey in skin tone. Their bodies are almost unhealthily skinny with their skeletons and musculature showing prominently against their hairless flesh when disrobed, with the exception of the belly which typically has a slight paunch which is presumably where most of their fat resides yet this doesn't seem to impede their movement, and it is typically unnoticable when hidden beneath clothing.
It is important to note that unlike many planetary governmental systems, Mauna-b is governed by an appointed meritocracy known simply as The Technocracy. A panel of the brightest minds with the most psychic and mental potential are the decision makers for the entirety of the planet's policies and research direction. There are no known term limits in this system, and it is believed that the Grey appoint new members to this council via the importance of their scientific contributions or the breadth of their existing research. While Mauna-b acts as a base of operations, most of the Grey population lives in space - either inside space faring vessels or facilities. Grey fleets are known to vary in size, ranging from large collectives of ships to solitary vessels deep within unexplored space.


Their eyes however, can be every colour of the rainbow and beyond, though the most common colour for a Grey's eyes is pitch black. Their iris, pupils and sclera completely indistinct yet their vision doesn't appear to have been impaired or enhanced as a result.
==A Brief History [[file:Greyflag.png|32px]]==
Their heads are very large, the crown of their heads large and balloon-like, and their dentistry suggests an omnivorous race, albeit one with very sharp k-9 teeth and incisors. Some biologists have observed that their heads resemble passing resemblence to the infamous black-carapaced xenomorphs that infest space in the Tau-Ceti region, but any link, if it exists, has not been found between the two species though they are both capable of communicating over a telepathic network.
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:10px;"
|[[File:Mauna-b.png]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|<font size="2">Mauna-b</font>
|}Originating from outside the galaxy, little is known about the origins of deeper history of the Grey species. Many scholars have looked to Grey legend and mysticism to provide insight on their history, with many stories telling of how the first Greys descended from another Galaxy, roughly one thousand years ago. Of how the Grey were transported by their "masters", to settle new worlds and space and given cryptic instructions to study the species of the worlds they found. While many of the details of these accounts are missing, such as who their masters were, the exact date of their arrival, or what form of transportation they were given, it appears that the Grey species have followed these purported instructions given that their species houses some of the best and brightest xenobiologists. While a hotly contested topic among many scholars, most agree that the technology the Grey possessed upon their arrival dates to a post-nuclear era.


==Interspecies Relations==
Whilst humanity was making its first steps into space, the Greys had already established contact with or observation on many, of the sapient species in the galaxy. Thanks to both internal records with the Grey and anecdotal accounts from Vox Primalis, first contact is believed to have been with the Vox. A small Grey scout ship, searching a region of deep space for sentient life began their drive, preparing for a bluespace jump, when abruptly, their systems malfunctioned and shut down. The crew complained of splitting headaches, interference with telepathic communications, and night terrors. After being stranded for two days and while awaiting rescue from a larger, military vessel, the small ship found itself in the middle of a swarm of Vox skipjacks, as well as the prominent, moon sized Arkship the Vox call "First". While the details of this first encounter are not fully understood, it is believed that the Grey vessel was eventually retrieved and formal diplomatic relations were established.


The Greys, as intelligent as they are, are also prone to forming schemas and stereotypes just as much as humans.
First contact with Nanotrasen, and subsequently humanity, is a recent affair - having only occurred fifty years ago. The NSV Violet, a large cruiser sized research vessel, was reporting on unusual bluespace readings in the vicinity of the Mauna system which eventually lead them to Grey hubworld of Mauna-b. Nanotrasen ambassadors seized the opportunity when the initial reports were aired, arriving in the hundreds to set up communications before any other corporation or government could. While establishing proper communications proved challenging at first, given the Grey's preference for telepathic communication, both time and the expertise of Nanotrasen's diplomatic staff eventually eroded these communication barriers.
Greys are aloof and arrogant creatures but their formal, polite nature tends to conceal any racism or prejudices they may have. It is almost unheard of for a Grey to openly and knowingly insult a particular species over public radio.


A scientific species, Greys are equally as likely to be compassionate and enlightened toward race as they are mean-spirited and prejudiced.
== Grey Culture ==
While Grey culture on Mauna-b is largely ubiquitous, the culture in spacefaring collectives or vessels varies wildly. The population of Mauna-b is held fully equal in terms of wealth and living conditions, with only slight discrepancies awarded depending on the importance of certain researchers and their scientific work. Issues such as poverty and homelessness appear to be non-existent on the world of Mauna-b and this is undoubtedly to strictly controlled population growth. Greys typically occupy themselves with mental tasks and research, involving the study of specimens brought back from deep space ventures to other planets, or the research and control of bluespace. Intellect and the pursuit of knowledge are two of those most important things in Grey society, with those who go engage in other pursuits typically being shunned. Difficult physical labour, such as farming, the upkeep of sanitation systems, and construction, is managed synthetic worker units or automated systems. While some rights movements have sprung up vying for the freedom of these workers, the involved units are typically decommissioned enmasse.  


Diona - Utterly brainless and slow, and their children are vicious pests.
Life upon spacefaring vessels, in contrast to Mauna-b, is far more militant and hierarchical. Multiple fleets, split into smaller squadrons, patrol the galaxy with a strict command structure being enforced within these fleets. Every fleet is headed by a Research Director, with the lowest known position being known as a defence officer - with typically five of them per ship. Jobs that involve maintenance are manned by smaller synthetic units that are cyclically decommissioned to prevent issues with self-awareness. These structures are one of the few examples of established hierarchy within Grey society, with importance assigned to an individual Grey not on their individual contributions but on their rank. Due to this strict naval, almost militaristic way of life, Greys who have served on spacefaring vessels often make exemplary command members, able to give and receive commands efficiently and effectively. While a Grey's appreciation of formality and ordered systems can come across as aloof, stuffy, or needlessly bureaucratic, crew members are assured that this is merely a cultural difference and that Grey employees are valuable contributors to Nanotrasen facilities.


Humans - The Greys, having recently made their presence known, have only had meaningful contact with Nanotrasen Corporation. They are impressed with Nanotrasen's secrets and authoritarian, naval hierarchy but on the ground-level they see Humans as willful, brash and violent types. Yet they respect their intelligence, power and charisma enough to feel safe enough dealing with them.
Due to their methods of re-population, namely cloning, the concepts of maternity and paternity are entirely foreign to Greys, with either a lone parent or a collective responsible for the education and upbringing of a single Grey. As Grey families consist of a single parent, automated complexes that house and educate thousands of young are not only common, but seen as a necessity and a staple of Grey life. Greys grow to full maturity after roughly twenty years, at which point they typically live for another thirty to fourty years.


Kidan - Monstrous, smelly animals. Useful for menial labour.
Grey architecture and communication bare striking resemblances to teams of [[Abductor|"Abductors"]] that have occasionally terrorized Nanotransen facilities. Some Nanotransen xenoanthropologists have speculated that due to these cultural and biological resemblances that these so-called Abductors may in fact be close relatives to the Grey species. While unpopular in Grey scholarly circles, it's possible that both Greys and Abductor teams share a common origin or came from the same master species. However, these theories rely largely on speculation and aren't backed up by more than circumstantial findings.


Machine People - They are respected for their greater intellect and capacity for knowledge, but are also equally prone to make little distinction between the lawless, complex IPCs and, say, the AI and its borgs.  
===Present Day===
Currently the Grey species is one of the leading civilizations in bluespace technology. While Greys rarely settle in foreign systems, their presence is one of the most widespread in the galaxy due to their wide-reaching exploratory fleets and The Technocracy often acting as an interlocutor in various diplomatic engagements.


Skrell - The Greys have a degree of respect for the scientifically minded skrell, and they are always eager to gouge scientists for knowledge and Skrell-Grey Research groups are not unknown. They are less keen that the betentacled, fish-like Skrell are constantly secreting moisture and hated water.
The Grey, in their infinite curiousity and ever-growing drive for science have left their mark on the galaxy, as researchers, diplomats, and explorers.


Slime People - The Greys have had zero exposure to Slime People until they met Nanotrasen. Their first impressions of Slime People is that they are friendly, trusting and naive. Perfectly exploitable!
'''Remember, crewmember, intellect and organization are the cornerstones of success and productivity!'''
 
Tajarans - Greys generally tend to see Tajarans as cowardly simpletons given their 21st century (primitive) technology and their incapability to fight off an oppressor to the degree where, when these oppressors left, the Tajarans didn't even know how to govern themselves. They tend to view them with some disdain
 
Unathi - Brutish, clannish thugs who are overly obsessed with lineage and tradition.
 
Vox - The Greys have had virtually no contact with the Vox and their first impressions are likely going to be the first impressions of every other race that encounters the Vox. Shifty, noisy and potentially brainless. However, they do respect the Vox's dedication to other crew-members and their respect for their own ship.


==Gallery==
[[File:Grey.png|frameless|250x250px]]


{{Species}}
{{Species}}


[[Category:Fluff]][[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Lore]][[Category:Species]]

Latest revision as of 22:04, 5 September 2024

This page needs to be rewritten
REASON: Under review by lore team, slated to be rewritten completely
Lore
Languages • Interstellar Travel • Planetary Classifications
Nanotrasen
Syndicate • Trans-Solar Federation• Union of Soviet Socialist Planets
Sol System
Humans • Tajaran • Unathi • Skrell • Slime People • Vox • Drask • Grey • Diona • IPC • Kidan • Plasmaman • Vulpkanin • Nian


Goldpin.png
Grey
Goldpin.png
Grey.png
Basic Information
Homeworld: Mauna-b
Language: Telepathic (:^)
System: Omicron Cetus
Physiology
Height: 150cm
Lifespan: 50 years
Breathes: Oxygen
Game Mechanics
  • Telepathic communication (14m).
  • Psionic link with other Greys.
  • Can speak in Wingdings.
  • Can have a Translator Implant.
Boons
  • Low-light vision (5m).
  • Sulphuric acid immunity.
  • Fluorosulphuric Acid immunity.
Maluses
  • Flashes incur extra eye damage.
  • Water acts like acid.

Grey are a species of vat-grown bipedal humanoids. Little is known of their origins.

Grey and YOU

Greetings, esteemed crewmember!

In an effort to encourage inter-species cooperation and workplace efficiency, NanoTrasen has compiled a series of helpful guides on the various species that you may be working with!

(NOTE: If you are a member of the species this guide pertains to, please give it to the nearest crewmember of another species)

This particular guide refers to the species known as the Greys (singular: Grey, Plural: Greys).

Grey Naming Schemes

Greys lack a language of their own, communicating with their kin telepathically. Though their formal names used through telepathic communication lack a written counterpart, many Grey adopt written names for the purposes of interacting with other species or record keeping. Due to their lack of a spoken language, however, these names do not normally follow a scheme or pattern, varying greatly from individual to individual.

Grey Physiology

Grey physiology is unique in several ways. While they have similar respiratory and vascular systems to humans - breathing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide - it is important to note that instead of producing hemoglobin to transport oxygen, Greys produce hemerythrin, which causes their blood to take on a violet colour when oxygenated. Hemerythrin is unfortunately much less effective at distributing oxygen throughout the bloodstream, which lead to issues of hypoxemia in the Grey population aboard non-Grey facilities. If you notice one of your Grey coworkers looking abnormally tired, lacking balance, or prone to fainting, it is recommended to immediately bring them to a highly-oxygenated environment. Furthermore, due to high salt concentrations, the cells in a Grey's body are known rapidly undergo cytolysis when brought into contact with water - a reaction which can prove immediately fatal.

Greys are physically weaker than many of their coworkers, both due to a significant lack of muscle mass as well as a particularly brittle bone structure. Their bodies are thin and somewhat gangly, standing noticeably shorter than their human coworkers. Due to their unique physiology Greys fare poorly at labour intensive tasks but are far more adept at mentally taxing or stressful work such as research, record keeping, and management. Due to their bone structure and low muscle mass it is posited that Greys may have originated from a planet with low gravity, though this is as of yet unconfirmed.

Grey eyes are almost triple the size of those of most other species, and their sclera, iris, and pupil are completely indistinct from one another. The large size of Grey eyes is believed to be an adaptation to shield the ocular nerve against ultraviolet radiation with their unusually monotone complexion providing a similar degree of protection. This has lead scholars to believe that in addition to likely being low gravity, the original homeworld of the Greys likely had a poor magnetosphere or was unusually close to its star. While Grey eyes are protected against high levels of ambient ultraviolet radiation, they are still susceptible to bright lights such as those caused by welding arcs. Grey crew members are advised to always wear welding protection in the presence of intense light.

Unlike other observed sapient species observed by Nanotrasen, the Grey population appears to be wholly sustained via a form of advanced cloning; due to this abnormality Grey family structure typically consists of a single parent. Greys are often cited as being highly-reserved and independent, and appear to be able to go with little to no social interaction for extended periods of time without suffering any ill-effects. Though Greys are not sexually dimorphic, they often adopt male or female accoutrements for the sake of clarifying communications with other species.

Language

Since the Grey species has always communicated solely telepathically, they lack a written or spoken language. However, Greys employed by NanoTrasen are required to be fluent in Galactic Common. Some Grey are also known to speak in a peculiar and incomprehensible dialect. This dialect is believed to be caused by deficiencies in a Grey's speech organs and the difficulties these typically underused organs pose when a Grey speaks non-telepathically.

Homeworld

Greys are believed to originate from outside the Milky Way. Due to this their origin world is unknown and is a point of speculation for many scholars. From observing the anatomy of various Greys, xenobiologists have come to the conclusion that Greys likely did not go through a natural process of evolution, but were instead engineered, likely by another master species, in a similar fashion to the Vox Primalis commonly found aboard Nanotrasen stations. The true origin of the species appears to be unknown to even the Greys themselves, who are believed to have arrived from a distant galaxy cluster after a long period of extended cryosleep. Due to these peculiar circumstances many Grey have elected that Mauna-b, which has a high population of Greys, act as a stand in for their home planet.

Mauna-b is a relatively small exoplanet with a close orbit to its sun within the Mauna system. Much of the planet is a sprawling and desolate tundra, with scorching deserts on its southern and northern poles. However, the equator of Mauna-b contains a long, temperate strip of land with relatively stable temperatures and seasons. Various enclosed colonies dot the surface of this ring of habitability, connected by high speed transportation networks. It's interesting to note that Mauna-b is almost completely devoid of standard communications equipment, due to the Greys ability for limitless psychic contact with one another. While advanced methods of data storage, computation, and transportation do exist these communications equipment present on the planetary surface has largely been established by various corporations operating on Mauna-b’s surface. The Greys have been observed to excel at scientific research, with many of the latest breakthroughs in bluespace technologies originating from Mauna-b.

It is important to note that unlike many planetary governmental systems, Mauna-b is governed by an appointed meritocracy known simply as The Technocracy. A panel of the brightest minds with the most psychic and mental potential are the decision makers for the entirety of the planet's policies and research direction. There are no known term limits in this system, and it is believed that the Grey appoint new members to this council via the importance of their scientific contributions or the breadth of their existing research. While Mauna-b acts as a base of operations, most of the Grey population lives in space - either inside space faring vessels or facilities. Grey fleets are known to vary in size, ranging from large collectives of ships to solitary vessels deep within unexplored space.

A Brief History Greyflag.png

Mauna-b.png
Mauna-b

Originating from outside the galaxy, little is known about the origins of deeper history of the Grey species. Many scholars have looked to Grey legend and mysticism to provide insight on their history, with many stories telling of how the first Greys descended from another Galaxy, roughly one thousand years ago. Of how the Grey were transported by their "masters", to settle new worlds and space and given cryptic instructions to study the species of the worlds they found. While many of the details of these accounts are missing, such as who their masters were, the exact date of their arrival, or what form of transportation they were given, it appears that the Grey species have followed these purported instructions given that their species houses some of the best and brightest xenobiologists. While a hotly contested topic among many scholars, most agree that the technology the Grey possessed upon their arrival dates to a post-nuclear era.

Whilst humanity was making its first steps into space, the Greys had already established contact with or observation on many, of the sapient species in the galaxy. Thanks to both internal records with the Grey and anecdotal accounts from Vox Primalis, first contact is believed to have been with the Vox. A small Grey scout ship, searching a region of deep space for sentient life began their drive, preparing for a bluespace jump, when abruptly, their systems malfunctioned and shut down. The crew complained of splitting headaches, interference with telepathic communications, and night terrors. After being stranded for two days and while awaiting rescue from a larger, military vessel, the small ship found itself in the middle of a swarm of Vox skipjacks, as well as the prominent, moon sized Arkship the Vox call "First". While the details of this first encounter are not fully understood, it is believed that the Grey vessel was eventually retrieved and formal diplomatic relations were established.

First contact with Nanotrasen, and subsequently humanity, is a recent affair - having only occurred fifty years ago. The NSV Violet, a large cruiser sized research vessel, was reporting on unusual bluespace readings in the vicinity of the Mauna system which eventually lead them to Grey hubworld of Mauna-b. Nanotrasen ambassadors seized the opportunity when the initial reports were aired, arriving in the hundreds to set up communications before any other corporation or government could. While establishing proper communications proved challenging at first, given the Grey's preference for telepathic communication, both time and the expertise of Nanotrasen's diplomatic staff eventually eroded these communication barriers.

Grey Culture

While Grey culture on Mauna-b is largely ubiquitous, the culture in spacefaring collectives or vessels varies wildly. The population of Mauna-b is held fully equal in terms of wealth and living conditions, with only slight discrepancies awarded depending on the importance of certain researchers and their scientific work. Issues such as poverty and homelessness appear to be non-existent on the world of Mauna-b and this is undoubtedly to strictly controlled population growth. Greys typically occupy themselves with mental tasks and research, involving the study of specimens brought back from deep space ventures to other planets, or the research and control of bluespace. Intellect and the pursuit of knowledge are two of those most important things in Grey society, with those who go engage in other pursuits typically being shunned. Difficult physical labour, such as farming, the upkeep of sanitation systems, and construction, is managed synthetic worker units or automated systems. While some rights movements have sprung up vying for the freedom of these workers, the involved units are typically decommissioned enmasse.

Life upon spacefaring vessels, in contrast to Mauna-b, is far more militant and hierarchical. Multiple fleets, split into smaller squadrons, patrol the galaxy with a strict command structure being enforced within these fleets. Every fleet is headed by a Research Director, with the lowest known position being known as a defence officer - with typically five of them per ship. Jobs that involve maintenance are manned by smaller synthetic units that are cyclically decommissioned to prevent issues with self-awareness. These structures are one of the few examples of established hierarchy within Grey society, with importance assigned to an individual Grey not on their individual contributions but on their rank. Due to this strict naval, almost militaristic way of life, Greys who have served on spacefaring vessels often make exemplary command members, able to give and receive commands efficiently and effectively. While a Grey's appreciation of formality and ordered systems can come across as aloof, stuffy, or needlessly bureaucratic, crew members are assured that this is merely a cultural difference and that Grey employees are valuable contributors to Nanotrasen facilities.

Due to their methods of re-population, namely cloning, the concepts of maternity and paternity are entirely foreign to Greys, with either a lone parent or a collective responsible for the education and upbringing of a single Grey. As Grey families consist of a single parent, automated complexes that house and educate thousands of young are not only common, but seen as a necessity and a staple of Grey life. Greys grow to full maturity after roughly twenty years, at which point they typically live for another thirty to fourty years.

Grey architecture and communication bare striking resemblances to teams of "Abductors" that have occasionally terrorized Nanotransen facilities. Some Nanotransen xenoanthropologists have speculated that due to these cultural and biological resemblances that these so-called Abductors may in fact be close relatives to the Grey species. While unpopular in Grey scholarly circles, it's possible that both Greys and Abductor teams share a common origin or came from the same master species. However, these theories rely largely on speculation and aren't backed up by more than circumstantial findings.

Present Day

Currently the Grey species is one of the leading civilizations in bluespace technology. While Greys rarely settle in foreign systems, their presence is one of the most widespread in the galaxy due to their wide-reaching exploratory fleets and The Technocracy often acting as an interlocutor in various diplomatic engagements.

The Grey, in their infinite curiousity and ever-growing drive for science have left their mark on the galaxy, as researchers, diplomats, and explorers.

Remember, crewmember, intellect and organization are the cornerstones of success and productivity!

Gallery

Grey.png

Species on Paradise Station
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