Grey

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

Mechanics

• 30 Karma Cost
• Grey take more brute damage than most other species.
• Grey have the ability to communicate telepathically over long distances. Unless both parties are Greys, the non Grey will not be able to tell who exactly is speaking to them.
• Grey have the ability to see in the dark to a certain extent.

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. Their telepathic names are impossible to actually write down, however to make communication easier with their non telepathic coworkers as well as for paperwork most greys do adopt spoken, writable identities. Due to their lack of a spoken language, however, these names do not normally follow a standard scheme or pattern, varying greatly from individual to individual.

Grey Physiology

A typical Grey crewmember

Grey physiology is unique in many ways. While they have similar respiratory and vascular systems to humans, (breathing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide) it is important to note though that instead of haemoglobin, Greys produce hemerythrin, which causes their blood to take on a violet colour when oxygenated. Hemerythrin is unfortunately much less effective at oxygen transport throughout the bloodstream, which has caused an epidemic of Hypoxemia in the grey population on Nanotrasen run stations. If your grey coworkers are looking a bit tired, this is probably why! Greys are physically much weaker than most of their coworkers, due to a significant lack of muscle mass, as well as a particularly brittle bone structure. Their bodies are thin and somewhat gangly, standing shorter than even their vox coworkers. It's quite unwise to task greys with jobs that require heavy lifting, however many greys excel at mental tasks, such as work in the Science department. It's likely Greys originated on a low gravity planet, which has caused the need for these traits, though that theory is not confirmed.

Unlike any other sapient race observed by Nanotrasen, Greys reproduce through the use of advanced stem cell cloning, because of this grey family structure normally only contains a single parent, and it is rare for Greys to seek any sort of romantic relationship, due to a complete lack of need for them. Greys also lack sexual dimorphism, however in an attempt to make communication easier, and to adapt to human run stations, they will often adopt gender pronouns and identities.

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 caused by the fact that the majority, or more accurately about two thirds, of the eye acts as a shield against Ultraviolet radiation. (its also interesting to note that Greys grey complexion is in fact also a result of Ultraviolet shielding) It's theorised that greys originate from a planet closer to their system’s sun, which has lead them to require this extra protection. Their natural shielding does not offer much in the way of welding protection however, so Grey employees should always make sure to wear their proper protective eyewear!

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.

Homeworld

Greys originate from outside the Milky Way, and because of this, it's currently unknown where in fact the Grey species first sprung up. From observing the anatomy of various Greys, Nanotrasen xenobiologists have come to the conclusion that they did not in fact evolve naturally like most other employed species, but were instead engineered, likely by another, master species, much like the Vox Primalis, also employed by Nanotrasen. The origin of this species is unknown to even the Greys themselves, and by proxy, their planet of origin is as well. However, Mauna-b does act as a stand in for a home planet, and where the highest concentration of Greys is currently found.

Mauna-b is a relatively small exoplanet, close to its systems sun, within the Mauna system. Most of the planet itself is either wasteland tundra, in the far southern reaches, or scorching hot desert, in the far north, where only research stations can be found, however, the equator of Mauna-b is covered in a habitable, Earth like climate, optimal for sustaining life. Various enclosed colonies dot the surface of this ring of habitability, connected by high speed transportation networks. Its interesting to note, however, that Mauna-b is almost completely devoid of standard communications equipment, due to the Greys ability for limitless psychic contact with one another. Advanced methods of data storage, computation, and transportation do exist, though. The small amount of communications equipment that is present has been set up by Nanotrasen and various other competing companies, to act as embassies on Mauna-b’s surface. The Greys have been observed to excel at scientific research, and have made some of the biggest leaps in bluespace technology observed within the galaxy thus far.

It’s interesting, and rather important to note that Mauna-b is in fact governed by one of the rarest forms of government observed by Nanotrasen, a form of Meritocracy called a Technocracy. A panel of the brightest minds with the most psychic and mental potential are the decision makers for the entirety of the planets politics. A feat only really achievable through the psychic communication the Grey species can utilise.

It is important to mention that the majority of the Grey species does not actually live on the surface of Mauna-b. While Mauna-b acts as a base of operations, most Greys live in space, inside space faring vessels, searching for sapient species, and researching bluespace technology. These fleets vary in size from massive hive fleets greater in size than some moons, to small, individual vessels deep within bluespace.

A Brief History File:Greyflag.gif

As briefly stated before, the Grey species originated outside the milky way, and any history prior to their first appearance is completely unknown to even the Greys themselves. Though with the remnants they had, some theories have been pieced together. Grey legend and mysticism may give us insight. Their stories tell of how the first Greys descended from another Galaxy, roughly one thousand years ago, transported by their "masters", to settle, given only the instructions to "Study the sentient species of your assigned galaxy, and guard bluespace within it.". It has been lost to time what they arrived in, who their masters were, or how they managed to set up an advanced, FTL society with knowledge of bluespace in under a decade, however to this day, the Grey species follows these commands to the letter. Though some individuals do choose to interpret them in different ways. It appears the Grey species was at least at the post-nuclear technological stage at their very first appearance, which would not be possible without outside aid.

The current Grey governmental system emerged roughly 100 years ago. Prior to this, Greys operated under a direct democracy, where every individual member of the race would vote among themselves, telepathically, on important decisions, however due to the growing Grey population, this system became unmanageable, and the current technocracy, after much debate, was adopted.

While humanity was only making its first steps into space, the Greys had already met multiple spacefaring species, and made massive advances in bluespace technology. Their first contact, as has been documented well, is with that of 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 shut down. The crew complained of splitting headaches, jumbled communication when attempting to speak with one another telepathically, and night terrors. After roughly two days stuck in the middle of nowhere, awaiting rescue from a larger, military vessel, quite unexpectedly, the small ship found itself in the middle of a huge swarm of Vox skipjacks, as well as the prominent, moon sized Arkship the vox themselves call "First", that had seemingly appeared from nowhere, in the blink of an eye.

First contact with Nanotrasen was an interesting affair. Occurring only fifty years ago. Unlike first contact with the Vox, first contact with humanity was on a much larger scale, on the Greys side at least. The NSV Violet, a large, cruiser sized bluespace research vessel, happened upon odd readings in their bluespace equipment. Attempting to track the source, they happened upon Mauna-b itself. Immediately Nanotrasen was informed, and soon ambassadors were arriving in their hundreds to set up communications. While contact was at first a difficult affair, with the two species having completely different communication methods, it wasn't long until The Greys figured out how to telepathically speak to the Nanotrasen personnel, and in turn, Nanotrasen personnel back.

Grey Culture

Grey culture on the surface of Mauna-b is not too varied, however spaceborne life contrasts greatly. The castes or classes observed in kidan and human culture are a completely foreign concept on Mauna-b. The population is, to a degree, equal in terms of wealth and living conditions. Of course the rich exist, but poverty and homelessness are somewhat nonexistent, mostly due to the strictly controlled population growth. On Mauna-b, Greys themselves occupy themselves with mental labor, involving the study of specimens brought back from long deep space ventures to other planets, or the research and control of bluespace, and due to this intellect and the pursuit of knowledge are greatly appreciated and applauded. Difficult physical labor, such as farming, the upkeep of sanitation systems, and construction, is done by primarily synthetic worker units. (lacking the sapience of IPCs). Some rights movements have sprung up vying for the freedom of these workers, however they have not gained much a foothold as of yet.

Life on the many spacefaring vessels, searching for sapient life in the milky way, is quite different. Multiple fleets, split into smaller squadrons, patrol the galaxy. A strict command structure is enforced within these fleets, starting with a Research Director, heading the fleet, all the way down to the lowest, Grey manned job, defence officer (with about 5 present on each individual ship. Jobs that involve maintenance are too manned by synthetic units, due to their high physical needs. This structure is as close as Grey culture gets to caste or class, and in many ways is treated similarly, with the highest ranking personnel receiving the best general quality of life. Due to this strict naval, almost militaristic way of life, most Greys are incredibly accustomed to receiving and dishing out orders, and make excellent command staff. At times, they can be a little unforgiving of their subordinates, though it's often for the best. Due to the Greys appreciation of formality and order, they may come off as being aloof, stuffy, humourless or robotic at times, but they can be just as emotional as all of us!

Grey family structure consists of only one parent, and typically, only one child. This is because Greys do not, and have not ever in their recorded history, reproduced without the aid of stem cell cloning. This is typically the used explanation for why Greys appear extremely similar, with their only true variations being in eye colour. The difference between maternity and paternity is an entirely foreign concept for the Greys, and the single parent will take on the roles that both figures might fill in other societies. Greys will often not take time off their standard work to care for their young, and because there is no second parental figure to fill in for them, huge nursery complexes housing and educating thousands of young are common and necessary, and a staple of Grey life. Greys grow to full maturity after roughly twenty years, at which point their average lifespan will last seventy to eighty years longer.

Grey architecture and communication has striking resemblances to the abductor teams that have terrorised some Nanotrasen run stations. Some Nanotrasen Xenoanthropologists have theorised that due to these cultural resemblances (and many various biological resemblances too) that the Abductors may in fact be close relatives to the Grey species. They do seem to have similar objectives in mind, those being the study of sapient life and the upkeep of bluespace, however, the hostile abductor teams go about it in a drastically different way. It's possible that both Greys and the abductor teams had the same master race at some point, however this is only theory, and isn't backed up by any hard evidence.

Present Day

Currently the Grey species is one of the leading civilizations in bluespace technology. While Greys have rarely been seen to actually settle in foreign systems, their presence is one of the most widespread in the galaxy due to their continued exploration efforts. The Grey government has also acted as a peacekeeper in multiple important intergalactic peace deals, due to their extremely widespread, friendly contact with many important species. Many Greys have seeked employment with companies outside their own government. Currently Nanotrasen employs the most Greys out of their competing companies, primarily in our bluespace research sector.

Remember, crewmember, mutual respect and cooperation are the cornerstones of success and productivity!

Species on Paradise Station

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Grey

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