The
Ane Confederation
Created
by:
Garry Stahl
Appearance: Many Epiphany Trek stories.
Number of Members: 27 billion
Nature of Members:
The All is a galaxy spanning telepathic network. There are primarily
two types of members and a couple of subgroups.
Ane:
Ane are the majority population in the Confederation. Ane account for
26 billion of the population.
Physiology:
Ane
are a quadrupedal, Handicapped race. That is they have no manipulative
members such as hands or tentacles. They stand an average of 1.2 meters
at the shoulder and weigh an average of 160 kilograms. In a normal
posture they will look an average height man in the eyes. Body shape
resembles a half morph between an impala and a greyhound with cloven
hooves, a deep chest, and flat belly. The have a short thickly furred
tail similar to a white-tailed deer. They have counter-curved lyrate [1] horns an average of 0.9 meters in
length. Ane eyes are always a solid blue [2]
in color showing no iris or pupil. The exact shade will vary among
individuals and the current lighting conditions. This "solid eye" is a
false color caused by the cornea reflecting blue and ultraviolet light
away from their eyes. In lighting that has no blue in it Ane have more
normal looking eyes in a deep brown shade. Under intense ultraviolet
conditions (black light) their eyes will glow. Ane call this a "hard
eye". Those races familiar with the basic body form of the Ane find the
eye to be the most alien thing about how they look.
Ane
are completely furred. Main body color can be either of the black phase
or the more common tan phase. Color can vary in intensity from a deep
mahogany red, to a sandy tan, or from a charcoal gray to smoke. The
underbelly is white in all cases. White markings extend from the
throat, to under the tail, and go part way down the legs on the inside.
Between the main body color and the white belly, extending from the
front legs to the back is a black flank band. It will vary in width
from 76mm to 156mm. Their fur is soft to the touch and they have no
undercoat. Ane do not handle cold conditions well, and do not adapt to
cold conditions.
Their
skin is a blue-black color that is highly resistant to radiation in the
ultraviolet range. They do not sunburn. All mucus membranes are a
bright blue. This would include the tongue, around the eyes, genitals,
and the inside of their ears. Any place a human shows pink, skin
pigment aside, Ane show bright blue. In the case of Ane however this is
pigment. They are red-blooded and the pigment only goes in so far. The
back of their throats for example is the color you expect from a
red-blooded being.
Gender
Differences: Males and females are of the same size. Males
possess scent glands on the face that produce a waxy substance. This
has a mild musky scent to humans. This area of the face is marked by an
elongated teardrop shaped black mask under their eyes. The widest part
is near the eye, and will sometimes circle it. While both sexes have
horns females will usually have smaller horns than a similar sized
male. Females have four mammary glands between the hind legs. In a
maiden female they will look more like dark spots on a lightly haired
area of the abdomen. The udder [3]
is more pronounced in females that have had children. Males have a
sheath in the expected place, but it is near flush with the belly,
testicles are internal. The surest method of sexing an Ane without
getting very personal, or asking, is to look at their face.
Ane
are highly disease resistant. Their biofeedback system is extensive and
reactive. Those with high ability in this are healers.. Given tincture
of time an Ane can usual recover from any disease or poisoning.
The
down side to this amazing ability to self heal is that most invasive
medicine, and that includes drugs, has a negative impact on the Ane's
system. What to a Human is a beneficial drug to the Ane is a toxin to
be isolated and flushed from the body. Very few drugs will do as
advertised on Ane. Doctors are advised to avoid drugs or even such
devices as protoplasers. Administer first aid, call an Ane healer.
Ane
Psionics: The
identifying aspect of the Ane is their psionic abilities. Without these
they would be cute antelopes.
Telepathy:
Ane are the second most powerful telepaths in the Federation today.
They individually rate between 85 and 95 on the Kraith[4]
scale of psionic ability. Telepathy is more than the mere conveyance of
language. Indeed, language has nothing to do with it. Ane think in
terms of concept not symbols. You think in terms of symbols, so that is
what you "hear". Sight, sound, smell and more are all part of the
telepathic experience. The sub-vocal communication that non-psionics
"hear" as the Ane voice is compared to the experience of full
telepathic contact as to watching a roller coaster ride on a black
& white TV with the sound off, is to the actual ride. Telepathy
is the primary method by which Ane communicate.
Ane
can attack with telepathic abilities, but their ethics abhor such
assaults. Ane will only attack with telepathy if first so attacked.
They do respect mental privacy, and will not form any kind of link
unless invited to do so.
Teleportation:
Ane are one of the few known species that can teleport. Normal range is
anything within 100,000 kilometers. The main limitation is weight, not
distance. With contact to the All they can teleport between star
systems. Ane teleportation does not deal with either traveling the
distance, or folding space. Rather it is a dimensional shift into the
11th dimension[5] and back into 4D
space. Distance is obliterated. The amount of energy required to move
across the room is no different than that required to move across the
galaxy. It is how much you take with you that matters. The limit is
expressed as a percentage of the teleporting Ane's mass. Heavier Ane
can teleport greater masses. The limitation is 200% of the teleporter's
mass above their own mass. The second limitation is that you cannot go
where no one has been. A clear image of the destination is required. An
interstellar jump requires an anchor at each end, hence the need for a
connection to the All.
Healing:
About 10% of the female Ane and 1% of the males are capable of
manipulating their biofeedback gift to heal others. These are the
Healers. They can aid your body, even if you are not an Ane, to heal
itself to an extraordinary degree. The better Healers can aid your body
to cure itself of everything from the common cold to cancer. At the
extreme end of ability they can help you regenerate limbs. The majority
of the physical work is done by the patient. Those under treatment for
more extensive healing, including trauma, will sleep a lot and eat like
two longshoremen.
Teachers:
About 10% of the males, and 1% of the females in the Ane population
have the "teacher" ability. Most Ane can split their attention several
directions, holding 2-5 conversations at once. Teachers can do this for
10 to 25 people at once. Those so skilled and trained are in great
demand for those subjects that are purely mental in nature. Psionic
learning can be undertaken by non-psionics at the rate of an hour a
day. By telepaths for up to six hours a day. In that time you can learn
at an accelerated rate. An average college course that has no lab
requirement and no physical training, such as language, can be taught
in two weeks at an hour a day. For most telepaths this is one on one
training. Ane teachers can handle classes. A highly skilled teacher can
name their own price at any college or business in the Federation.
Telekinesis:
This ability is mentioned only because the Ane do not
have it. They don't even have a little bit. None, nada, zip.
Psychology:
Ane have a three lobed brain about the size
of the human brain, but with five times the folding. Mentation is at
least the equal of any species measured, on an individual basis. The
unusual nature of Ane psychology comes from the nature of this three
lobed brain. The right and left lobes of the Ane brain perform
functions normally associated with most sentient beings. The third, or
High Lobe is different altogether. Currently accepted medical practice
credits the high lobe with the psi-active functions of the Ane.
Under
experimental and empirical circumstances it has been noted that Ane do
not panic. The High Lobe appears to hold some check over emotional
response. The high lobe calmly observes everything even under the most
extreme condition or distress. This is not to say they do not panic,
quake in fear, scream like girls, or cry in pain. They do. It is only
that later they have a full recall as to why they panicked , feared,
screamed, or cried and what they did about it. Some physiologists have
equated to having a calm little guy in your head taking notes on your
life and your reactions to it. Some Human psychologists have stated
that the entire race acts as if they had a dissociative disorder. This
is why. Ane have a full recall of events or of personal injury that
Humans would not recall at all. A Human badly frightened or severely
injured might remain awake, but not lucid. As long as the Ane is awake,
they are lucid. Ane do not suffer from insanity with anywhere near the
frequency of Humans. Their resistance to mentally traumatizing
circumstances is remarkable. It has been noted however that once they
do snap, they seldom recover. Death is the usual result of any clinical
insanity.
Ane
will occasionally speak
of the Icon and Aspect. These
are important concepts
to understanding Ane psychology. The Icon is the name of an Ane. A
telepathic identifier that incorporates the full "I" or how
the Ane in question sees themselves. Their own view of who they are.
Understanding the Icon tells you a great deal about the person you
are dealing with. Their hearts are on their sleeves so to speak. The
meaningless names that non-telepaths hear, Farlaban, Sellan, and
so forth are only there for those that cannot grasp the Icon.
The
Aspect is the Ane soul. Functionally similar to the Vulcan Kanta. The
Ane hold similar
beliefs in the indestructibility of the person. Death is not the
end, only the end of a phase. Living Ane can elevate their Aspect
into the All and this is considered full participation in the Ane
mental culture
Ane exhibit two major
personality types; Typical
or introverted, and explorative or extroverted.
Introverted types have
received the least study and scholarly knowledge. They stay where
they were born, and from outward appearances do nothing but eat,
play, and breed. What mental activity that is going on has been
impossible to study. The only thing to go on is what the Ane
themselves will say. The Ane speak constantly of the All,
the
combined mental essence of the entire race and the memories of every
Ane that has lived. They say that this All is all the mental
stimulation that any Ane needs. The introverts are satisfied with
that contact and activity.>
The Extroverts, about 10% of
the population at best, are not satisfied with needs, they have
wants. They go out among other species to learn their ways and
customs, acquire knowledge of professions they could never practice,
and stick those cute black noses into everything they politely can.
They are not afraid to admit ignorance, and are willing students of
anything you will teach them. Extroverts are the users of the
technology. As the industry of the Extroverts seems to serve the
needs of the All, most resources go to support their wants.
Common to all Ane is a sense
of humor. A low sense of humor. The delight in getting you, or
anyone else, to loose your cool, to blow your savoir-faire.
Indeed the more self important and pretentious the person the harder
they work on this. It is noted and true that this tendency can and
does get in the way of practicing diplomacy and politics. Ane simply
do not get the point of flattery.
The other factor of Ane
politics is bluntness. Tact is a tool they seldom, if ever, use. Anyone
that prevaricates, beats around the bush or otherwise attempts
to disguise the true nature of their position or desires will have
that position or desire stated back to them in blunt forthright
language that is impossible to deny and still get what you want. This
does not make them friends with those that like the political
game.
The last factor is the one
the least people know about and more need to. “You
didn't ask.” The Ane are effectively a living mass
storage device. They love to
answer your questions, if they can. However they are slow to
volunteer information. Indeed until you ask they might not even know
they know. Information in the All is not as accessible as the
memory of you best friend's name for example. To get an output, you
need to supply an
input. And if they don't like you they can be very difficult and
exacting as to the questions required to get the right response. The
will step back and happily watch you flounder in your assumptions
until it kills you, because, you didn't ask.>
Conversely if an Ane likes
you they are open and direct about information they have, but will
still wait for that input. They are not trying to be difficult, but
like your computer hard drive they don't know what you need until you
ask.
Senses:
In spite
of the unusual color of their eyes, a product of their native
environment, Ane vision has the same over all color range as humans.
They cannot see into the deep purples, those colors are actually
blocked from entering their eyes. They can see into the infrared. They
have the same range of vision as Humans, but red-shifted. Unlike most
herbivores Ane can focus both eyes forward for binocular vision. They
can also use them independently to the sides and have 270 degree
vision. They are all farsighted however. They have a hard time focusing
on something under the end of their rather long muzzles. Ane that do a
great deal of reading will either have a forcefield lens perched on
their muzzles, or use large fonts.
Ane
hear a similar range of sounds as Humans, but are more sensitive to
lower volumes. Their large steerable ears mean they can locate the
source of faint sounds easily. As a result of those ears they have the
habit of not facing the person that is speaking to them, if doing so
would require moving. The ears will come around and focus on you. Those
that deal with Ane on a daily basis have learned that one eye and the
ears does mean their full attention.
Ane
also have a keen olfactory sense. While not a good as Terran dogs by a
long shot it is much better than Humans. Scent plays an important role
in Ane culture.
Touch
is likely the most important of the Ane senses. They are known as a
sensuous race. They are a people with a preferred personal space that
starts just under their skin. They have greeting rituals that come just
short of the exchange of body fluids.
The
sense that Ane possess that most races do not is the psychic
sense. They can sense the mental environment about them. Nearly every
being puts off some manner of mental noise. Emotions are written on the
body in their scent and on the psychic aura around a given being. Ane
quickly detect lies. There are certain people they avoid, for no reason
that anyone else can see. To Ane that person has an aura they find
unpleasant. Mind you this is not universal. The person one Ane avoids
another might approach with interest.
Diet:
Ane are
ruminate herbivores. They can digest the roughest of vegetable matter
including cellulose. Their digestion is low volume, high yield, with a
gut similar to Earth bovines. They chew cud. They also like fruits in
small amounts. If Ane covet anything they covet radishes. They will eat
these over the sweetest of fruits. They can tolerate milk even in
adulthood. Cheese and ice cream are treats they enjoy as well. Unless
they are working hard Ane avoid grains. All other animal proteins are
avoided. While the occasional insect that gets into the grass is not
seriously objected to, they cannot tolerate meat in any amount, and
could not survive on it.
Growth
and Aging:
Ane are born after an eleven standard month gestation. They hit the
ground lucid and are walking within an hour. In fact they are lucid two
months before their birth, asking Mom and Dad all sorts of questions
and getting ready for the big day. Unlike bipedal Humanoids Ane have
the usual easy birth of quadrupeds.
Childhood
lasts 3 El Nanth years or 9.6 standard years. Education starts at birth
with The Gift. This is a mental download of the
basic racial history from the parent's viewpoint. The newborn is not
expected to understand this, but it will come to them gradually as they
grow up. A young Ane is a walking question factory. The racial memory
has not kicked in yet, and the young mind craves answers about
everything. The young are also unmannerly about telepathic contact.
Very young Ane can be dangerous to those races that are psionically
sensitive. Parental control is necessary at this stage of life. Any
sentient within range will be mercilessly bombarded with questions at a
furious rate. As fast as one is answered a second will be asked. There
is none of the annoying "why?" practiced by Human children, mainly to
annoy adults. All questions are of substance, but unless you know how
to shut them off, it just keeps coming.
The
young Ane does not become aware of racial memory for six standard
years. This allows the individual to establish a personality free from
influences of the past. They are also insufferably cute. After six
standard years the young Ane will have reached full height, but have a
good deal of filling out to do. At this point the racial memories
trickle into awareness. The young have their first experiences with the
All, and Ane culture in the larger sense. Full contact with the All is
not allowed until a child is 8 to 9 standard years of age. It is
desirable that they form their own personality without being over
printed by the All. General education is handled in family. There is no
"educational system" for Ane on Ane worlds.
Two
reactions are common with the child gets contact with the All. The
"teen" becomes insufferable, filled with knowledge, they do think they
"know everything". Fortunately, this stage passes. It is a good thing
too, or a great many of them would be bludgeoned to death (they are
harder than Hell to strangle). The second reaction is awe at the scope
and depth of what is available. It is then dived into and they might
not come up for air for a good long time. Parental prompting may be
required to get them to kick back and go run for a while, eat, etc.
This would be the Ane equivalent of the "nerd". Extreme examples of
both behaviors are uncommon. Most young have a brush with both sides of
the coin.
At
the age of 9 standard years an Ane has reached full growth, and is
sexually mature. Ane females are fertile only once a year (Savanna year
3.2 Earth years). This cycle will adjust itself to a certain extent
depending on the local conditions. Males, as with most mammalian males,
are ready any old time. While fertility is limited, Ane are sexually
capable at any time, and enjoy sensual pleasures. The newly capable
adults will take advantage of the situation.
Extrovert
Ane will seek knowledge outside the usual methods, either by attending
the universities of other races or empirical knowledge. As this
benefits the race at large these activities are supported.
Ane
can live up to 500 years of age. Adulthood is a long afternoon of
conversation, debate, friends, and family.
Death
when it comes in a natural manner is usually quiet, and without pain.
Life partners will typically die within a day of each other unless a
larger bond group exists to support them. Ane contend that the dead are
not lost to them, but the greater All contains every Ane that lives, or
has ever lived. Death is not feared, but seen as a natural end to a
life that is full. Ane do not care for the dead body, as this is the
least part of the person. In a normal environment the dead will be left
where they fall to be handed by the elements. While the Ane take no
notice of the scavengers [6] that
come to feed on the dead they discourage large predators in the lion or
hyena range as dangerous to the living. When in non-Ane cultures, Ane
adopt the prevalent method of corpse disposal. Cremation is preferred
as plots need not be bought for dead meat. The one exception to this
lack of care for the dead is if someone takes an Ane for the proposes
of killing it and eating it. Ane will react violently, very violently,
and take the body back. However if the carnivore shows up at the morgue
and asks nicely they can usually get a snack.
Mating
and Reproduction:
Ane are mammals. Ane females have a two horned uterus similar to that
of Earth bovines. They are only fertile once every El Nanth year. That
is 3.2 standard years. The female has a some control over this
fertility cycle. She can delay the cycle, skip a year, or bring it on
early depending on local conditions. She will want to give birth when
local food supplies are at their greatest. As a result of this Ane
living on the African plains will cycle every three years, in sync with
the rains. Ane living on one of the El Nanth worlds will cycle every
local year, at any old time. The rosette has a round orbit, no seasonal
changes to speak of. This fertility cycle seems very slow, but consider
they can live up to 500 years and never enter menopause. In the usual
safe and sane world Ane need to be careful about their numbers.
Like
Humans, Ane females can desire, have, and enjoy sex whenever they wish.
Female Ane are not slow to seek sexual fun. They know when they are
fertile and can avoid accidental pregnancy. Ironically that fertile
period is the time of the greatest sexual desire. Libido is rampant,
the orgasms are better and longer. It is a deep need
to get laid, and the certain knowledge that to do so is an almost
certain pregnancy. Ane culture has provided some solutions to the
fertile female's problem, but mostly it's clamp your tail and grit your
teeth.
Males
are typical of mammal males and will have sex at the drop of a hat, or
other object. The male sexual tract is separate from the unary tract.
The penis is used only for sex. Aneilog boys (see below) have to sit
and pee. The penis us an average of 24 inches long and most resembles
that of Earth equines. The sheath structure is similar and they have a
secondary erection, "zing" as the girls call it. The tip of the penis
will expand to three times it's normal diameter right before
ejaculation. This serves the dual purpose of opening the female's
cervix to directly deposit the semen in the uterus, and it locks the
partners together at the critical moment.
Males
have an "after prostrate" A sexual bladder to hold semen. In an adult
Ane this will hold a quart. At two ounces a shot that is 12 go-rounds a
session. Aneilogs have similar organs with a commensurately lower use
rate and size. Still 12 orgasms before they wear out. To Ane a good
physical session is about three hours. Anything under that is a
"quicky".
Ane
see sex as the toy you share with your friends. To a Vulcan is is a
horror show in action. To a Human it is anything from a porn dream to
an excuse to buy a space suit, and wear it all the time.
Mental
state. There are three basic mental connection states
for/during sex.
"Simple
communication"; thoughts and emotional state only. This is
the normal Ane connection level. This is seen most often in the young
that are just discovering sex. Rubbing the parts together is enough.
90% of the time the fertile girls that come mewing after sterile males
are satisfied with this. **Just cool that awful need please, we need
not get serious about it.**
"Sex
link"; we feel each other's physical state. This is the
serious about each other stage. The sex link is a brief dip into the
realm of the mating bond. Temporary, brief, breakable. It lets each
partner feel what the others are physically feeling as well. Yes,
others. With Ane a simple pairing is rare.
A
sex link is not pursued with someone you met five minutes ago. Heck
unless they are under 20 sex isn't usually pursued with someone you met
five minutes ago. Yes the kids do mate to shame mad minks, casually,
frequently. They grow out of it. A youth club on Oz [7]
would shock Mrs. Grundy dead. Aneilog youth clubs are flashing lights,
soft music, and a lightly pounding beat. the air is thick with sex
hormones and horny thoughts. They are a constant orgy. Couples will
mate right in front of everyone. Vulcans would not go near them. Most
humans do not do it twice. Aneilog youth clubs will tear at the Human
expected sexual limits and norms, male or female. Those that let go are
going to feel horribly violated in the morning, male or female.
"Mating
weave"; We want each other for life. This is the sex link
taken even a step further. Minds so mixed together they cannot be
pulled apart without a great deal of damage to both. Partners are
constantly aware of the mental and physical state of all partners. You
can taste the radishes they are eating if you want to. Males can
communicate with the late term fetus in utero.
While
casual sex is a toy, actual reproduction takes place only within the
bondgroup. It is necessary for the proper raising of the child that it
have at least two parents. The reality of linkshock also means that
couples do not stay couples, but seek other weavemates to strengthen
the bondgroup. "Finished" bondgroups, those not looking for further
partners, will usually number between 6 and 10. More and less are
uncommon but not unheard of.
Children
are typically born singly. Twins are uncommon. Triples are very rare
and the chance that quads would come to term is so low that the females
will usually reject the pregnancy as soon as she is aware of the
circumstance rather than risk losing the children after quickening or
worse, awakening.
Ane
biofeedback methods mean that the female is very aware of the state of
her pregnancy. If there are genetic defects she will be aware of this
before quickening, and will reject the pregnancy, also a biofeedback
technique. Congenital defects can be cured in utero by Healers. There
is no reason for any Ane child to be born with defects.
What
if an unmated female does get pregnant? Well it can happen. Both
responsible partners get a stern taking to and an immediate adoption by
a bondgroup for the sake of the baby. More often than not the young
woman's mother will take over. It will be raised by the adoptive group
even if the young woman nurses the child. They are never forced into
bonding. That is a worse mistake than the pregnancy.
Communication:
Ane are telepaths. They are usually mistaken
for the most powerful
telepaths in the Federation, but that distinction belongs to the
reclusive Melkot [8]. They are
however not far behind the Melkot. Ane run from 85 to 95 on the Kraith
scale.
Ane
culture largely takes place at the telepathic level. A herd of Ane
calmly grazing on an otherwise featureless plain could be involved in a
dozens of debates and conversations with other Ane star systems distant.
Ane
have a three chambered trachea. The vocal cords are located at the base
of the trachea right above the bronchial branching. This arrangement
allows the Ane to produce three tones at once. Their voice, although
seldom heard is similar to a wood recorder in the contra-alto to
baritone range. They have a limited syllabic vocabulary. Their spoken
language is impossible for humanoids to reproduce, and likewise they
cannot speak standard. With much practice, they manage some words.
Telepathy renders vocal communication an art form. Fans call it a
hauntingly beautiful art form.
Aneilogs:
The Aneilogs are what happened to Ane with the Rishians [9]
got a hold of them. Aneilogs have existed for 100,000 years. they are
native to the world of Oz. Since The USS Discovery
recontacted Oz, Aneilogs are moving to other Confederation worlds
besides Oz itself.. They account for about one billion of the Ane
Confederation's members.
Physiology:
Aneilogs are humanoid Ane. Aneilogs stand 1.6 meters on average and
weight in at 54 kilograms. They have digitigrade legs with cloven
hooves. Their hands have three fingers and a thumb. Body shape is that
of a light framed humanoid. They have slight muzzles and Ane dentation
Aneilogs have much smaller version of the horns that Ane have. These
seldom reach over a foot in length. Their bodies are hairless except
for a mane running from the tops of their heads to between their
shoulder blades. They also have a tuft at the tip of their tails. This
hair is the typical Ane mane colors. They have the same blue-black skin
color of the Ane as well as the bright blue mucus membranes. Females
have two pectoral mammaries instead of the usual four between the hind
legs. These seldom get larger than a "B" cup.
Males
have a penis sheath, again close to the body. They also have the
internal testicles. While they have the same scent glands as the Ane
the lack of a furred face mask makes them less obvious.
In
all other matters other than size Aneilogs are Ane. Diet, culture,
reproduction. However they are not cross fertile with Ane. By
Federation standards they are considered a different species.
One
primary difference is that Aneilogs cannot teleport. It is believed
that in giving the Aneilogs hands the Rishians had to alter the part of
their brain that controlled teleportation.
Ansisi:
The Ansisi are Human telepaths that joined the All some 18,000 years
ago on the plains of Africa They are named for the woman Ansisi that
discovered the sentient nature of the Ane, and convinced her fellow
tribesmen to deal with these creatures, not fight with them. The woman
Ansisi was the first member of any species not Ane to become part of
the All. This has since expanded to include Humans not of the Ansisi
tribe, and all such Humans are described as Ansisi. There exist some
500,000 Ansisi.
RIs:
Now recognized as a part of the Ane Confederation the "computer people"
or "Real Intelligence" systems have full sophant rights within the
community and are part of the All. RI computers can take any number of
physical forms from Ane, Aneilog, humanoid or even other species. All
are Ane at heart. Due to the nature of the RI base kernel 90% of the
RIs consider themselves female, and 90% are also extroverts. Nanotech
has been tweaking the kernel to get a more even distribution of gender.
However, extrovert personalities are desired. The one factor they seem
to have in common is a tendency towards an unearthly beauty. As they
all get to choose how they look, the desire to be accepted as real has
led them to look almost unreal.
Outsiders:
This is catchall description of anyone living on Ane worlds that is not
part of the All. It is not used in derogatory manner, but means anyone
outside the All. Outsiders have full sophant rights on Ane worlds, but
may not make law, and can only define how they will live within the two
laws. Outsiders at most are a matter of several hundred million
throughout the Confederation.
Truul:[10]
This race is found within the Ane Confederation only on Harmony. Their
presence is the result of a failed Ane attempt to rehabilitate the
Truul to a free-willed existence. Truul simply do not have a free will
and if you could give them one they would not be Truul. Some two
million Truul live on Harmony doing small things for the Ane there, and
getting instructions on how to live their daily lives. They also remind
the Ane to be careful what they ask for.
Culture:
As a mental society Ane do not produce much art that can be enjoyed by
other people. While a few have tried painting with brushes held in
their mouth, it is not a common practice. The most notable Ane art is
singing. Those that are unaware of the Ane vocal apparatus take Ane
singing for instrumental music. While most Ane can carry a tune, the
vocal quality and skill can and does vary as much as it does in any
species. Ane possess their own body of work and eagerly sing the
instrumental music of other cultures. Several individuals, and vocal
groups such as Fuzzy, have become famous within the Federation and have
their dedicated fan base.
The
main aspect of Ane culture is The All, the massed
networked minds of the telepathic species. Little is understood about
the All outside of the Ane for the reason you have to be Ane to get
into the All. If you are in the All, you are Ane, simple equation. Ane
consider anyone telepathic enough to mesh with the All, and willing to
do so Ane, regardless of the person's born species. To date only Humans
have manged to join the All.
Ane
speak of the All on several levels. First the All is the collected
consciousness of the Ane race. It is the Racial memory shared by all
Ane. The All is the body politic of the Ane, their physical existence.
The All is the fast telepathic network that is the method by which the
Ane practice their culture. Lastly the All is a physical place. The
11th dimension were the Ane dead gather. It is a place the Ane use to
teleport from location to location. Ane are universally reluctant to
speak about this last aspect even though physics describes it. It is
always the same. **I could explain it to you, but it would drive you
mad.**
Ane
do enjoy sport. Their body form precludes complex sports. Every
physical sport they do enjoy involves running. Races over various
terrain, pronging which only the young are light enough to do. And of
course sex.
Of
note is the game of Bedlam. The game is a sort of four legged rugby
played at sixty kilometers an hour. The field is between 2 kilometers
and 5 kilometers long, and about a kilometer wide. Formal fields seldom
exist and terrain factors will determine the size of the play area. A
spiky rubber ball easily held in the mouth is carried from goal to
goal. (In pre-technical times a stick was the common playing piece.)
Rules are few. The game best resembles a running battle as the two
sides (unmarked) tussle over the ball and try to run it off their end
of the field.
Aneilogs
with hands and an upright posture have adopted many games common on
humanoid worlds.
Ane
have no sense of physical modesty. They also have no sense of privacy.
Life at large is lived in the open with your friends and family around
you. You eat, eliminate, mate, give birth, and die within the herd. You
get weathered on. This to Ane is normal. When they move among other
races this does not change
Aneilogs
in spite of their technical society have not altered these habits.
While they have houses with doors. You will not find many locks or
small rooms. Families will live in one large room. In a neighborhood
children run freely from house to house. They eat were they land, and
no one minds. No one knocks and doors are not locked.
Ane
culture is sensuous. The Ane idea of "personal space" starts about a
millimeter under their skin. Even among Aneilogs who have hands the
tongue is a common organ of greeting. Face licking, chin rubbing, it is
Ane "handshaking". Likewise with the zero sense of body modesty or
personal privacy. They like to get close to each other. While Americans
like about three feet of personal space, Ane want to touch each other,
even Ane that have never met before will get close. Much closer than
most Humans will allow even close non sexual friends. What looks to a
Human to be foreplay is really a "firm handshake".
Ane
must learn that other races expect privacy and do have a sense of
modesty. Some never get the lesson and learn to stay home instead.
The
two extremes of contact with the cultures of the Federation is the wild
look and the civilized look. A wild Ane
will take no effort with their appearance what so ever. Their mane is
tangled. They are dusty, musty and "smell like an animal". In contrast
the civilized Ane will be bathed and groomed. They may dye their horns
and wear jewelry. Most Ane fall between the extremes. They like
grooming, but cannot be bothered with fussing over things.
Ane
value knowledge. The only "rank" of any kind in Ane society is the Seela.
Seela is an old Ansisi word of affirmation meaning roughly "I know this
to my inner heart." A Seela is anyone that has
learned a thing to mastery. They are the person you seek for knowledge
of their field when you need the most the best and the latest. A Seela
can only exist in the fields in which an Ane can practice. There will
be no Ane Seela of piano playing no matter how much
they know about music, and how pianos are constructed and played
because without hands they cannot play the piano. An Ansisi member of
the All can also become a Seela. Many of the
physical arts are covered in this manner.
The
Seela "rank" is not granted by any board or
body. It is a general acclimation among your fellows that you have
achieved this level of knowledge.
Memory
One Complex:
This is the premier learning institution, Archive, and Museum in the El
Nanth system. It is a direct result of the Ane's desire to disseminate
the memories they have collected over the last two million years. In
addition to the recorded memories more solid documentation has been
added as well. There are scans of books and artifacts from every
culture living and dead that the Ane can lay their hands on.
Memory
One started in the mid 23rd century as a desire to place the memories
of the All into a form more accessible to the average Federation
citizen. Something for those people that did not have the ability to
interface with the telepathic society. At this time it is the largest
computer complex in the Federation, and possibly the galaxy.
Memory
One's primary equipment is located on Savanna deep in caves carved
below the surface. The exact location is not only secret, but scan
buffered. Rumor has it that it is three identical complexes. In
addition to the oh so secret computer is the Memory One Campus on
Glade, and on Builder Station. These two locations are the interface to
the public. They function as a virtual archive, and museum, as well as
a university fully accredited with the Federation Education Office.
The
Complex is administered by Elizabeth, known to be the last surviving
21st century AI from Earth. Her original tri-logic computer [11] is available for study in working
condition at the Glade complex. Teachers are hired as required by the
university staff. One does not have to be Ane or Ansisi to gain a
position at the university. It is however a competitive environment
demanding of any instructor or professor.
The
Memory One complex holds a limited number of real artifacts. The jewels
in the crown are the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 as she
was refit in 2271, and the USS Kongo NCC-1710
restored as she was in 2265.
Memory
One has an ongoing rivalry with the Memory Alpha Complex as the most
complete archive in the Federation.
Memory
Two Complex:
Memory Two is located on Association and every attempt is made to make
the facility there the exact duplicate of the Memory One Complex with
the exception of unique artifacts. Each is considered a back-up to the
other.
Memory
Three Complex:
This facility has just started construction on Oz, and is expected to
be years in the making before it can equal its sister facilities.
Religion:
Ane do not regard themselves as religious. They have firm spiritual
beliefs that no amount of missionary work (on the part of several
religions of several races), logic, or reason has been able to shake.
They have no priests or religious organizations.
Beliefs are as follows;
- The Ane are a designed and created species made by
an
entity called "Traveler" (no relation to the TNG Traveler). It is their
created purpose to save the history and knowledge of the galaxy's
cultures from ever being forgotten.
- That all Ane live on in the Greater All.
Death is only a step from one existence to another. No proof of this
has ever been offered, but those that have chosen life as an Ane say
that it is so. That you can feel presences of the dead within the All.
- All sentient species, to their knowledge, have an
immortal part. Non-physical races are simply those that have learned
the power of that part, and accepted the loss of sensual living in
favor of pure spiritual existence.
Ane
are tolerant of other racers religious beliefs up to the point they are
shoved into their fuzzy faces. At this point the Ane love of puncturing
the pompous comes into play. Most of the time this does not happen. Ane
do not have faith, they have certainty. They know when they were made,
what for and who did it. They can talk to the dead anytime they please.
Of
some interest to the students of the metaphysical are the Ansisi, the
Human members of the All. It is reported that they can see things
within the All that the Ane themselves are unaware of. They report that
aspects can be sensed at a distance, with a dark barrier between them
and the far aspects. A barrier that cannot be crossed.
Some
have speculated that this might be the afterlife so many humans have
dreamed about, feared, and sought. The Ansisi simply report what they
have seen, and the Ane have no comment.
Other
religions are practiced by Outsiders as they see fit. The Ane make no
accommodation or hindrance to the free exercise of any religion that
stays with the two laws.
Organization:
Peer to peer network. Most people will claim there IS no organization.
While there is a "First Speaker of the All", they are the equivalent of
a "network administrator" and have no authority as Humans would measure
it.
When
Ane do organized for any reason is is on an ad hoc basis as the
situation demands. Those of a similar bent will come together for what
ever reason has drawn them together, accomplish what they seek to do
and then part. No organization persists beyond the purpose for which it
was made. The idea of empire building is foreign to their thought
process.
Government:
None. The Ane are a functional anarchy. With the structure of the All
they can communicate across vast distances with the ease of taking to
the person sitting next to you.
The
Ane talk everything over. Questions from the most trivial to the most
important are tossed into the All and batted around.
Ane
do have two laws. "Be it harm none, do as you will"
and "There is no such thing as an over reaction to force."
All other polices and practices are based on these two laws, and a
handful of basic principles.
The
most basic principle is: "He that shouts first, or turns to
other forms of violence admits defeat in the battlefield of ideas."
As a result of this Ane will turn back flips to avoid "shouting". The
most heated debates are low key affairs with all parties avoiding the
label of a shouter. This will turn the remainder of the discussion
against you.
In
Earth's late 21st and early 22nd centuries with refugees from the AI
war and the horrors that followed it gathering on Glade it was
necessary to give the human colonists some manner of structure they
could understand and work with. To that end the Glade Outsider's
Government was created. The Two Laws were given, and they were told
they got to decide how they would act within the Two Laws. They could
make no other laws. Historically no one has asked the Ane if they could
move in, and what if anything they could do once they did. With the
urging of the Ansisi it was decided that that era was over. Ane worlds
would be ruled by Ane.
The
result is one of the most open societies in the Federation today. A
simple and minimal set of regulations covers commerce and behavior. In
that vein liability is strictly personal. The Ane Confederation is the
hardest place in the galaxy to sue someone. Conversely it is the
easiest place in the Federation for criminal behavior to get you
killed. Police are not bound by rules of evidence. They can trick you
into confessing. They can threaten you with anything they want to, but
can in reality do very little outside of having a truth teller at the
interrogation.
There
are no lawyers practicing local law. It is too simple for them to make
a living. Personal privacy is valued above law enforcement. Peace
officers cannot enter your home without your permission unless you are
shooting at them. (A bad idea, they shoot back.) On the other hand the
law is so lenient that there is very little you could do behind closed
doors that the police would care about.
If
by some stroke of idiot genius you do manage to offend Ane law, and
live to be arrested, there is a limited number of responses that will
be taken.
A
crime against a member of the All is swiftly punished. The finding of
fact is usually done and over before the criminal is brought to heel.
In a telepathic society what was done and who did it gets around
quickly. A consensus is reached often even before the crime is over.
Guilt or innocence is determined by the community of the wronged
individual. If a member of the All they decide. If the wronged is an
Outsider every effort is made to get that person the same level of
swift justice. A jury of Outsiders will decide. A Seela
of Law will preside as judge.
Fines;
For civil cases and a few criminal cases where bodily harm was not
inflicted, fines are imposed. The amount depending on the amount of
financial injury received and the desire to return damage in like
manner. Based on what you have, not a fixed fee. Fines are paid to the
injured party, not collected by the government.
The
Walk; For cases of bodily harm less than death, "the walk" is
imposed. The offender is dropped some distance, dependent on the amount
of harm, given minimal supplies, and pointed the direction of Crystal
City. This is always done on Glade. They then have the choice of life
as a primitive hermit in an environment trying to kill them, or walking
back to civilization.
Death;
Murder someone and you get the maximum penalty, anonymous death. You
are taken out somewhere in the system, no one is even told the planet
you will die on, and kicked to death by Ane. Your body is left to the
scavengers and the elements. No other record of you will be made.
Ane
criminals are a different matter. Ane don't like to talk about it, but
yes, they do get the occasional bad apple. Ane criminals come primary
in two types. The scary and the annoying.
The
scary are dealt with by the All directly. These are Ane that cast aside
the ethics of their kind and take full advantage of the telepathic
gifts they possess. The All will hunt these beings down and stop them.
The usual punishment is shunning. Said Ane is
confined to one of their worlds and ignored. They cannot get access to
the Express and cannot get anyone to talk to them. The worse of this
lot are burned out. Their telepathic abilities are
destroyed by the community. After this they are usually turned out from
the Ane worlds to make their way as best they can. Such creatures do
not usually live long.
The
annoying type are those Ane that cannot, or will not, learn Outsider
manners and also will not stay home. They stick their noses in where
they are not wanted and do not take no for an answer. The method for
dealing with these is to not deal with them. Ane that offend Outsiders
and Outsider law will suffer the consequences of their acts. If
annoying the Zak[12] means the Zak
eats you, after proper warning that further annoyance will be met with
sharp teeth, the other Ane will stand around and watch you get eaten.
No over reaction to force remember? This applies to them as well.
There
is one further example of the Ane bad actor. Those that develop a mine
bump. Some Ane have become materialistic. They crave stuff and surround
themselves with things and new experiences. As long as this aberrant
behavior does not harm someone else, and it is self supporting they are
left be. If this isn't the case the laws as they exist will deal with
it, either Ane or Outsider as the case may be.
Languages:
The Ane Confederation has no official language. The Ane themselves are
telepaths and you need but open your mouth in any language and they
understand you. What ever Outsiders live among them will speak what
ever language they arrived with. For the general ease of everyone
"official publications" within the Federation are printed in Federation
standard.
The
Ansisi speak Federation Standard, some still understand the ancient
tribal tongue of the Ansisi and many speak Swahili the language of the
Bantu Free State where the Ansisi lands are now located.
Of
note is Oz. The first contact that Oz had outside of itself, after the
Rishians, was the Shardin Empire. As the Shardin needed signage, the
Aneilogs created this using the Shardin script. While the Kligese'chee
wiped out the Shardin their script has remained in use on Oz.
Federation Standard signage has been replacing Shardin, but the script
is maintained in memory of the friends that saved Oz.
Relative
Influence: Average
Public or Secret?: Public, however the Ane
are not well known even within the Federation.
Publicly Stated Goal: Get the life story of
every being in the Galaxy.
Economy:
Ane do not understand money. That said they live in an galaxy were
economy and money are necessary things. To that end either the Ansisi
or managers hired by them handle all Confederation economic affairs.
For
the most part all Ane worlds are on an energy economy, at least those
areas with any sort of technology. The Ane themselves need for little,
and don't have a mine bump. Those that do desire the toys of technology
take advice from their friends that do understand money.
This
is not to say that Ane money managers have not created businesses
around Ane ideas. The Glade Bank a division of Bicorn Inc. is the Ane
Confederation national bank. Every Ane has access to the general
account and could buy anything from a milicredit trinket to a billion
credit starship whenever they pleased. The only reason this works is
the lack of a mine bump on Ane.
Ane
Business Within the Federation:
Bicorn Inc: Bicorn is the property of Jerold Ryan
LaSaille. Bicorn is a holding company for dozens of enterprises from
the Bellecolone Stud, to the Glade Bank.
It is run to the general benefit of the Confederation and to keep Jerry
in pocket change.
El Nanth Starships: The
main builder of ADF ships. El Nanth is also known for its large
commercial ships.
Liggits Starcraft: A
builder of boutique star yachts. Liggits is the highest quality for the
discriminating buyer with lots of credits. Liggits is a Bicorn company.
Aurora FTL Systems: This
company was created to build the High Efficiency or HE warp drives.
They have no other customers besides El Nanth Starships. The
requirement for an RI computer causes other buyers to shy away.
Nanotech Computer Systems:
Developer and producer of the Crystalmind computer systems. Crystalmind
systems are available in everything from a PADD to the Mark 16 which
can run a starship, major company, or planetary government. The primary
advantages are size and the interface. While not as scalable as
isolinear[13] systems, Crystalmind
systems are a fraction of the size. The isolinear computer that will
occupy several decks on a starship will take a single room with
Crystalmind. Smaller Starfleet vessels are starting to carry the
Crystalmind systems from a standpoint of space savings. Crystalmind
also has the telepathic interface that allows a telepath to deal with a
computer on that level. Bicorn is the majority holder in Nanotech.
Stoner Medical: Stoner is
the creator of the quasi-flesh bio-replacement limbs and organs. With
the development of regeneration in the 23rd century Stoner was slowly
going out of business until the Ane bought them. Stoner still does
medical replacements for those that have problems with regeneration,
but their primary customers are the RI computers who contract for bio
bodies. Stoner is a Bicorn company.
Relations:
The Ane Confederation is a founding member of the United Federation of
Planets. The strength of the Federation is the differing viewpoints of
its members, but those differing viewpoints can also cause friction.
The following is at best a general description of how the Ane get along
some of the other Federation members and a few selected non-Federation
powers.
Andor: One would not expect
the brittle and exacting Andorians to get along with the hyper laid
back Ane, but that is the case. While the two culture do not share many
aspects, and yes, the Ane in your face greetings bother Andorians, the
two people also have many points in common. Both appreciate saying what
you mean and meaning what you say. Both favor a strong defense. However
they differ in imperatives. Andorians want to pull back and be secure.
Ane want to meet the galaxy on an exchange of body fluids level.
Betazed: While they share a
common ability, telepathy, the Ane and the Betaziods have very
different ideas on how one should use those ideas. Betaziods are of the
opinion that one should be mentally open. Ane consider that the one
point of privacy. Some Betaziods are bothered by the (for them)
impenetrable Ane minds. You can't tell what they are thinking unless
they tell you. To Ane, that is the point. Most Betazoids are of the
opinion that you celebrate the differences and keep stepping. All this
said the relation between the two groups are generally good. They are
of much the same mind as to the direction of the Federation.[14]
Deltans: The sensual
explorers are the other culture in the Federation without a history of
internal warfare. With their home world being deadly enough without
them killing each other Deltans didn't develop war. The Deltan mild
telepathy is also an aid to understanding the Ane. Understanding each
and every sensual experience is something Deltans strive for.
Ane-Deltan joint projects are common. Deltans are one the few races
that like the Ane sensuous approach.
Kentarui: Kentarui are
Humans, but with a more unified cultural point of view. Kentarui
culture has a strong element of "look go see" that fits well with the
Ane imperatives. Again the Kentauri love of the pursuit of knowledge
for the sake of knowledge. While the Kentauri government often has
issues with the Confederation, Kentauri people do not.
Teller: Tellerites love to
argue. A Tellerite will debate hammer and tongs for three hours against
your every point, then suddenly announce that they now understand that
you and they are in perfect agreement. The switch up drives Ane nuts.
On the other hand the Ane habit of giving you exactly what you asked
for, whether it was what you wanted or not, drives Tellerites nuts. Add
the fact that Ane simply do not get the Tellerite imperative to make
money, and the two do not often see eye to eye. They however are not at
cross purposes where the Federation is concerned. While they want what
they want for different reasons, it comes out to the same thing.
Terra: This could well be
the original co-dependent relationship. Ane generally like Humans,
Humans generally like Ane. Their political styles totally clash. Humans
play poker, Ane play chess. Humans never want to show their whole hand,
bluff and deal. Ane move the piece in the open, state their intentions
and are willing to talk. Triplanetary and the Confederation will find
themselves working together on one issue and at cross purposes on
another.
Ane
have one other connection with Humans that they consider most binding.
That is The Covenant. This is the treaty between
the All and the Ansisi people. It is extended to all Humans, and by the
signing of the Federation Charter the entire Federation. It states: Ansisi
will not harm Ane. Ane will not harm Ansisi. Each shall defend the
other from those outside that would harm them. Each shall aid the other
in matters friendly. The actions of one, shall not be considered the
actions of all.
Vich-Ar: The Vich-Ar are
known as galactic swashbucklers. Vicharrian politics on the other hand
are a vicious meat grinder that even most Vicharrians avoid. Ane and
Vicharrians like each other, and Ane have licensed most of their
robotic tech from the Vicharrians that are very good at automation and
make common use of such things as anthropomorphic machines. Everyone
stays as far away from the dynastic and plain nasty political power
plays as they can.[15]
Vulcan: Vulcans are put
off by the Ane total lack of physical privacy. Vulcans do not like to
be touched, Ane want inside your skin and you inside theirs. Outside of
the personal issue Vulcan and the Confederation are nearly in perfect
agreement. The strong gentle being approach to the Federation at large.
As long as the Ane keep their physical distance.
Acceptians:
Ane don't like the
Acceptians. 600 years ago the Acceptians overran the Ane world of
Harmony, and Ane lacking a military couldn't do much about it. They
have contrived to make it a money pit that has ruined six families. It
is unknown how the two species would interact without this overhanging
the relationship.
Cardassians: There is no love lost between the
Ane and the Cardassians. In the two recent wars with the Cardassians
the Ane when captured suffered horrendously at the hand of the
Cardassians. Every one of the 254 Ane captured by Cardassians was
vivisected by the Obsidian Order. This doesn't even address that the
second war was fought over a Cardassian attempt to foment rebellion on
Oz against the "Federation overlords". The Cardassians have reputation
to get around with Ane. A very bad reputation.
Ferengi: Ane drive Ferengi crazy! Ane don't
get money. As a result they don't get the entire point behind the
Ferengi culture. As the Ferengi have little to sell to the Ane, the
Ferengi don't have much use for them. However, there is the small
matter than Ane for some reason beyond the scope of understanding have
lucked into two of the best trading locations in known space. the El
Nanth System smack between the Orion sphere and the Federation core,
and Oz, smack between the Zantree [16]
sphere and the Zairian [17]
sphere. Ferengi weep at night over this naked unfairness. As a result
Ferengi and Ane come into frequent contact. Much comedy ensues. It is
best for all parties that Ane usually hire someone to handle financial
matters, sometimes even Ferengi.
Klingons: Klingons like the Ane directness. If
a Klingon has a question they ask it. If they have a problem, they
state it. As a result Klingons do not find themselves the butt of Ane
humor, often. While Ane do not like the Klingon habit of taking by
violence that which they want, Klingons appreciate the Ane stand they
will do violence back, and don't do violence in Ane space, more than
once. While the two races have highly differing motivations and
cultures with few meeting points, they do have enough understanding of
each other to keep violence to a minimum.
Romulans: This is another culture clash in
operation. Ane are direct, Romulans are not. There even exists an
entire branch of Starfleet intelligences, Section 22 or "Wonderland"
that is devoted to Ane exploiting the Romulan love of mystification and
secrets. As of yet Joe Romulan and Joe Ane have not had much contact.
It is worth noting that Terkos, [18]
a Romulan expatriate is the Constable of High Crystal Station, and gets
along with Ane just fine.
Area of Operation:
The Ane Confederation has spread most of the way around the Galaxy in
the 2 million years the culture has been active.
Core UFP -- 12
Billion Node One
1: El Nanth System:
Savanna, Veldt, Aurora, Meadow, Elysium, Glade
2: Association Suns:
Association, Midguard
3: Partha System:
Felicity
4: Sol System: Earth
Notes: The UFP contains the Ane home system, its oldest colony, and
it's second youngest. The UFP has brought a change in the way the Ane
do business with the Galaxy at large. they are no longer passive and
waiting things to happen, but are reaching out for the first time in 2
million years.
The
Federation is on the cusp of disodium technology.
The
Heptpat Alliance -- 3 billion Node Two
Our Star: Primus, Secondus
Notes: The two Ane worlds are in one system and date from the time of
the Builders. They are 90 light years spinward of the Three Suns
station. The Heptpat Alliance consists of seven members of differing
races, Ane included. It is built on the Federation model and is 50
years of age.
The
Heptpat Alliance is driving warp 5 technology.
Caladan
Empire -- 5 billion Node Three
Accord
Concord
Solace
Notes: The gentle Calad do not conduct an empire so much as a
symposium. The Ane are welcome participants in the symphony. The Calad
are aggressively pacifistic, and so are you. Unlike the Ane they are
willing to use telepathy to see that you do not harm your neighbor.
Unlike the Zhodani [19] they do
not care what you think, as long as you do not act.
The
Ane have objected to the use of telepathy to curb the violent. The
Calad prefer this to killing the being. The discussion continues.
The
Caladan Empire is at warp 8 technology.
Acceptian
Empire -- 900 million Node Four
Harmony
Notes: Harmony was founded before the Acceptians. The Acceptian moved
in and declared themselves rulers. The Ane have made it as tough as
possible. The Acceptians have gained not a millicredit of gain from the
planet. It is known throughout the Empire as a money pit that no family
wants.
Harmony
is also saddled with a sizable Truul population. Early after
discovering the Truul the Ane tried to rehabilitate this unfortunate
race to a free will status. They failed. Several million Truul live on
Harmony being kindly treated and doing little things for the Ane.
The
Acceptian Empire is on the cusp of warp 8 technology.
UFP
Far Sector, Oz Node -- 1 billion Node Five
Oz [20]
Kansas
Notes: Oz is one of the youngest Ane worlds, and considered the least
fortunate. The Ane of Oz were forcibly altered into humanoids by the
Rishians. This cut them off from the Express. They have only recently
regained physical contact. The All is making the best use possible of
the situation and the Aneilogs, as they are called, are being exported
throughout the Ane Confederation. Ane are also moving to Oz in
considerable numbers to make sure the Express is not broken again.
Oz
has Federation technology.
Grand
Alliance Worlds -- 5 billion Node Six
Lea
Clover
three
Many worlds of heavily mixed population
Notes: The Grand Alliance is an Empire of 250 worlds, it is currently
some 500 years old.
The
Alliance has embraced the Ane and is the only place where Ane are
employed doing what they do best, communication. Alliance
communications would fall apart without the Ane. 1.4 billion are so
employed at any time with the number increasing. Should the Alliance
suddenly decide not to use Ane they would have a hard time absorbing
the population.
The
Alliance has been informed about the UFP and the Ane membership. They
have noted this and consider it academic as it would take a ship nearly
9,000 days (24.6 years) to reach the Federation.
The
Alliance has given two class M planets to the Ane in addition to the
one they found them on.
The
Alliance has had warp 9.5 technology for several generations, and no
breakthroughs into disodium.
Three
Suns area -- world unfinished.
Notes: This world being built by the Builders is not yet ready for
habitation. When finished it will be only the second Ane world to orbit
a blue-white star.
The
Builders have diposassium technology and zero point energy.
Ane
Outside Ane Worlds -- Not all Ane
live on Ane controlled planets. Extroverts spread themselves near and
far looking for stories to bring to the All. Ane can be found on most
of the major worlds of the Federation and will pop up in the most
unlikely places and often doing the most unlikely things.
Headquarters
Location: The Ane home
world is Savanna, El Nanth, originally El Nanth 5. 750,000 years ago
the Builders restructured the El Nanth system into a rosette of six
class M planets at the orbit of Savanna. Savanna is now considered El
Nanth 1-1.
Contrary
to the expectations of a populous and powerful race Savanna is
overwhelmingly underdeveloped. There exists one town. A sizable
computer complex, and nothing else of note. The entire planet is
pristine and unspoiled, and that is the way the Ane like it.
Truth
to tell, and if you press them they will tell the truth, Savanna does
have ruins on it from other races. The Ane ignore these ruins, they
don't speak of them, they don't allow archeology. Again if pressed they
will explain that those that built them didn't ask first. Ane are not
particular about much, but they are particular about Savanna.
Because
they are particular about Savanna, Glade is the capital of record. No
landings are allowed on Savanna except by Ane, Ansisi, or those with
prior arrangements. The ADF will take a dim view of anyone attempting
to orbit or land without permission.
Glade,
considered El Nanth 1-6, is the Capital of Record for the Ane
Confederation within the UFP. Glade has the only city in the system.
Crystal City was built some 5000 years ago by the Second El Aurian
Empire. It was yet another location that the Ane were going to ignore
into oblivion, but two things intervened. The first was El Aurian
engineering. 5000 years after it had been built the place was still
mostly standing and mostly intact. Second, was the arrival of refugees
from Earth that were not Ansisi. As a place was needed for them it was
decided that the then named Crystal City would be that place.
Since
then the city has been cleaned and repaired. At this point a good deal
of the El Aurian technology has been overlaid with Federation
technology. Indeed some of the more damaged buildings have been torn
down and replaced.
Notable Members:
Ansisi: The woman Ansisi is
responsible for a sea change in the way Ane have dealt with other
races. Before they were observers and recorders. After Ansisi willing
became one of them they became doers as well. Ansisi had the insight to
make the conceptual leap that people could come in more than one shape.
The Ansisi people took her name as their own.
Falan: Falan is the current
First Speaker of the All and has held the post since the late 20th
century. She is physically notable in that she is the only white Ane
known. She has a unique mutation that eliminated body color from her
genes. She does have point color giving her a black and white scheme.
She does not pass it on. All her children are normally colored. She has
a bondgroup of eight, the eldest male being Bonban. She and her bond
group are on the old side. Recently they have been feeling more spry
than usual. A physical examination proved they didn't have the bodies
of 400 year old Ane, but those of 20 year old Ane. The event coincided
with the Creator's Call. It is believed they might be connected.
Jerold Ryan LaSaille: Jerry
as he is commonly called is the oldest Ansisi living. An immortal of
some type of another, Jerry was born in 1948. He is an occasional mover
and shaker, when it suits him to do so. He has contacts throughout the
Federation business scene and in Starfleet.
Elizabeth: The last of the
21st century Earth AI computers. Elizabeth is the personality behind
the Memory One complex, and since the invention of the Crystalmind
computer systems, a member of the All as well. Her origin as an Earth
AI is an open secret.
Anderban: Anderban is an
Aneilog living on Oz. He is the proprietor of Anderban's Tasty Treats,
a cheese & ice cream shop in the Emerald City. Anderban is also
the spokes-Aneilog for Oz. He took the job when Captain Hailey was
looking for a mouthpiece to the All on discovering Oz. In his role as
the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz he freaks people out with the big
holotank in the Emerald Palace, and acts as a face for Oz to the
Federation and the rest of the Galaxy.
Roban: Roban and his
bondgroup have held the post of Federation councilor for the Ane
Confederation for ten years.
History:
The Ane claim to have been placed on Savanna by their creator to get
the stories of all the people. What studies have been allowed on
Savanna bear this out. Two million years ago, life appeared there. No
evolution, no development, just bang, life. All the life forms common
on Savanna now were present two million years ago, and no earlier.
They
where well placed, it was not long before neighbors came calling. Some
ignored the Ane, others saw value in the telepathic abilities they
possessed. These people spread Ane throughout the Galaxy as they did so.
The
Ane count ten interstellar periods. The common thread throughout these
is the passive nature of the Ane. They have never sought to be a part
of the political process of any people, until now.
Timeline:
2,000,000 BCE: The El Nanth system and the Ane
are created.
1,800,000 BCE: The Angothol contact. The 1st
star drive period. Angothol will shortly avoid Ane when it is
tragically discovered that teleport and warp drive don't mix. The Ane
settle no worlds in this time. The Telivin take a liking to them and
carry them around, but they get no permanent settlements.
1,600,000 BCE: Calfarian Empire 2ed Star drive
period Ane settled on Nentac and Feadrin. The Calfarian Empire ends in
a destructive "The ends justify the means" war that destroys all warp
civilization in that quadrant of the galaxy. It will be half a million
years before another warp drive civilization rises.
905,000 BCE: 3rd star drive period The Ane are
driven off Nentac by the Horvernal who seek them as organic computers
by ripping their nervous systems from their bodies. The Tenn aid the
Ane in stopping the Horvernal. The All manages to awake the trapped and
living brains. The Horvernal home world and Nentac are blasted out of
the class M category when they detonate the HE antimatter plants they
were controlling. The Horvernal are extinct within 100 years. The
Horvernal home world is located between Mongo and the Klingon Empire.
The ecology has not recovered.
The
Tenn aid the Ane in establishing Felendar, Harmony, and Association.
Felendar will fail due to the presence of a highly psionic predator.
840,000 BCE: Rise of the Kaarlhot, a
serpent-like race that covered the great crescent area from what is now
the Acceptian Empire to the region of STB-600. Their ships were never
fast, but they were long lived. The Scholarly Serpents ruled with a
firm but fair hand. Their progeny spread to the stars. Kaa[21], Koo and Jubali are believed to be
descendant from this race. It is possible that the Jubali are the
Kaarlhot, or the dying remnant of them. This is the fourth star drive
period.
750,000 BCE: Builders build the El Nanth
Rosette in exchange for insight on how to save their species as
reproduction has failed. The Ane keep their secret until the present.
The 5th star drive period. Builders settle Ane on Primus, Solace, and
Lea.
550,000 BCE: First Preservers. This race left
few records behind it and is the most difficult of the Preservers to
pin down. Ane traveled with them, but are reticent about any details.
It is believed that like the Builders, First Preservers have an
agreement with the Ane. First Preservers are believed to have been
genetic tinkerers. Evidence exists they they created or altered several
races within the Galaxy that are now known, including creating what is
believe to be evolutionarily impossible races like the Cidi[22]. This is the 6th Star drive period
Coventry is founded, later to be called Oz.
250,000 BCE: Iconains, called the Demons of
Air and Darkness by those with good reason to fear their mental and
technical power, were rebels from Omicron Ares 4 [23].
Abandoning the Old Ones and their traditional culture they set out to
see and conquer the galaxy. Advanced technology and advanced mental
techniques make this a done deal, almost. Their foes defeated them at
great cost. One of those foes was the Rishians. The Ane world of
Feadrin is lost during this conflict. The Iconian era lasts 50,000
years and is the 7th star drive period. While the Ane have mainly
friendly contact with the Iconians, they never meet a Rishian.
100,000 BCE: Rishians encounter the Ane at
Coventry. They consider the Ane design awkward. Intelligent species
should be bipeds with hands. So they fixed it. Eighty percent of the
population died within a few days. The survivors staggered around
dazed. The shock to the All itself has never been equaled. The Rishians
watched for a while, when it was clear that the remaining 20% would not
curl up and die, they called the procedure a success and moved on.
18,000 BCE: The Second Preservers drop Ane on
Earth during the 8th star drive period. The Second Preservers,
otherwise called The League of Four was a small
group of races that considered it their job to play god. The League
consisted of the Hurbirin, a gracile large headed humanoid. The Samrail[24], a tall humanoids with an artistic
warrior culture. The Engerian a quadralaterally symmetrical race of
engineers. And the Grogs five foot tall sessile, telepathic, furry
cones. The League of Four contended that as they had warp drive it was
their duty to oversee the races within their sphere of influence with
science. They would remove individuals from their native cultures and
educate them to judge the capacity of the race. They moved small
populations around. The All didn't approve, but they were the ride you
could get.
The
Woman Ansisi makes peace with the Ane after a brief "war" over who was
food. The First interspecies treaty on Earth.
3,000 BCE: Crystal City is built by the El
Aurian's Second Empire. The 9th star drive period. Orions, El Aurians
and others.
65 BCE: Builder Station abandoned. End of the
9th star drive period
2064 CE: SS Savanna arrives at El Nanth.
Jerry LaSaille reactivates Builder Station. Beginning of the 10th star
drive period.
2138 CE: The Ane sign the Articles of
Federation ending 2 million years of passive observation.
Military:
The Ane have a military for the first time in their two million year
history. Most of the ships they used are designed with Ane limitations
in mind. This being the main reason they use their own designs and not
those of their friends.
History of the Ane Ship in Starfleet
The
Ane Defense Force (ADF): The ADF
is tasked to the defense of the Ane worlds. It has as many branches as
the Ane have nodes. At this point there is no Ane node without some
form of Ane controlled fleet to defend it except for Harmony. In the
UFP the mainstay of the ADF is the frigate. They field frigates in
several sizes from the Stingray class to the Manta class. The latest
disodium class frigates are replacing older Unity class ship as quickly
as possible.
The
ADF also fields a number of cutters, the Falcon class being the most
common. These small ships are primarily used for police enforcement of
civilian vessels in the vicinity of Ane ports. They are not serious
warships. Cutters carry the ionic disruptor, a kind of stunner for
ships. It is designed to temporarily overload and knock out a ship's
systems and allow it to be stopped and boarded with minimal loss of
life.
The
"Horned Fleet" (Starfleet):
While ADF frigates are common in Starfleet, the Ane also supply a
number of cruisers, both light and heavy. They never toss a ship than
can still do science. Some Euphrates class ship are nearing 100 years
of age and are still in service as third tier science ships. Newer
vessels include the Planet class heavy cruiser, the Dolphin class
disodium heavy cruiser and the Covenant class disodium light cruiser.
These two latter classes are also produced without the Ane typical HE
warp system for Starfleet at large. All horned fleet ships are
considered
ADF vessels on loan to Starfleet.
Footnotes:
1: Counter-curved
-- As viewed from the side the horns have a gentle "S" curve like the
tip of a recurved bow.
Lyrate
-- in the shape of a lyre. The horns bow outward curve back and outward
again as viewed from the front. Both are the result of the growth
pattern as the Ane ages. The horns grow throughout the life of the Ane
and in latter years tend to cross at the tips.
2: El
Nanth, the Ane Home world circles a blue white star, and this explains
the heavy ultraviolet adaption. Five times the ultraviolet radiation
falls on the surface of the El Nanth worlds as does on Earth. Humans
and other species do not go out without cover and a good deal of
sunblock.
3: Note:
cows are bred for milk, even in an old mother Ane it never gets
anywhere near that big, you have to look to see it.
4: The
Kraith scale invented by the Vulcan Institute of Mental
Science is the Federation standard for measuring psionics. It
is an arithmetic scale from 0 to 100. Typical Humans fall between 5 and
25 on the scale, in the non-psionic range. Vulcans rate from 40 to 65.
Psionically active Humans rate from 26 to 70. "Kraith" was a
fanzine produced through the 70s by Jacqueline Lichtenberg before
she got successful with her "Sim/Gen" series of books. "Kraith
Collected" was my first exposure to decent fan fiction and the idea
that you could create your own Star Trek universe. They also used a
0-100 psionic scale, but called it something else. My "Kraith Scale" is
a tribune to the zine and it's influence.
5:
I could explain it, but it would drive
you mad. My use of the 11th dimension as an inter-universal space that
is a fraction of a millimeter from everything within the universe is
consistent with my understanding of membrane theory. Now the Ane
crossing that barrier, that is science fiction. Alternate universes
existing within that space and being created there, for that matter our
universe existing within that space, that is science. It's not weirder
than you imagined. It's weirder than you can imagine. I suggest "Fabric
of the Universe" by Brian Greene.
6:
El-Nanth has a species of six-legged
mammal the size and general appearance of a fox that is the major
scavenger, called a neo-fox by the Human settlers of Glade. It is the
largest terrestrial meat eater in the Rosette. These creatures have
been exported to all Ane worlds without an equivalent creature.
7:
See "Oz" and Aneilogs further down.
8:
TOS Episode "Specter of the Gun".
The Melkot or Melkotians are the McGuffins of the plot.
9:
Rishians are the invention of Dennis
Washburn, who first ran the Star Trek RPG game that Jay
P. Hailey latter mined for a great many of his stories.
Rishians are Human shaped and utterly alien beings that get blamed for
all sorts of insane things they are usually guilty of.
10:
Truul are from the GURPS
"Aliens" source book by Chris W. McCubbin. they are
adapted to Epiphany Trek with
few changes other than setting. As of yet none have appeared in my
writing.
11:
Tri-Logic Computer:
Trionic logic computers were develop in the 2010s. These are the so
called three state computers typified by geeks of the time as "yes, no,
and whatever". By the '20s they were developed to a quarter million
tri-logic processors linked in a three dimensional maze of circuits.
The early models were huge. An entire computer was a fifth the size of
the first UNIVAC computer but quantum levels above it in complexity.
Each of the tri-logic processors contained the equivalent of 100,000
UNIVACs. By the mid 21st century the tri-logic computers were down the
the size of micro processor PCs with no loss of power. It was these
smaller and more powerful machines that Woke Up.
Tri-logic
computers also possessed a degree of analog randomness in design. After
the AI war the systems were carefully rethought and the analog aspects
eliminated. This had a serious negative affect on processing power, but
no "safed" tri-logic computer ever developed a personalty. Tri-logic
was in general use up to the time that Monotronic computers were
developed in the late 22nd century.
12:
Zak: Big scary lizard guys that approach
life from dominance and threat. Invented by Dennis Washburn for
the Star Trek RPG played by he and Jay P. Hailey.
Jay has yet to publish that story.
13:
Isolated Nonlinear
computer systems. The isolinear systems were developed in response to
the problem of the Daystrom multitronics computers spontaneously
"waking up". These computers had long ago crossed the Data/ Prometheus
limit for spontaneous sentience. Isolinear systems have the raw
horsepower required, but by design isolated that horse power in a way
that prevents spontaneous sentience, a matter the Federation courts are
still wrangling with.
14:
I am convinced that Betazoids are the
Deltans toned down for TV. The Great Bird had a few issues I think.
15:
Vich-ar were invented by Kenneth
Strickland Jay Hailey adapted them to
Star Trek. I have gleefully adopted them.
16:
The Zantree Alliance is first seen in Jay
P. Hailey's "Voyage of the Harrier: The Zantree".
The five main races of the Alliance are the Poong, The Olympians, the
Youn, the Tabooists and the Kee. Each worthy of a profile similar to
this one.
17:
The Zarians are the primary humanoids in
the Balmorian United Federation of Planets and its main rivals the
Kogari region. This is my ruthless adoption of the background hinted at
in Jay P. Hailey's "The Balmorian Federation" for
the STB-600 RPG game.
18:
Terkos is the main character of my "High
Crystal Station" series of stories. A hard boiled detective on a space
station type thing.
19:
The Zhodani, Human telepaths from the
Traveler RPG game. My use of then is sourced from the GURPS
"Traveler Alien Races" 1 source book by David L. Pulver.
Excellent world building I recommend GURPS even if you never play the
game. Zhodani fill the role of creepy psionic bad guys in the STB-600
game.
20:
As one Humans said. "I can't believe they
named their planet that." Oz was Coventry. As part of the STB-600
exploration push Starfleet officers have been sent out in "Free
Traders" to gather man in the street data about the warp capable
cultures in the neighborhood. The first such was the SS
Curious Minnow commanded by Lt. Commander Brett Tyson, and
his five Aneilog crew. At Mongo wishing to keep his point of origin
secret for the moment Brett announced he was from "Oz". The Aneilogs
picked up on it and soon a lively debate sprung up as to renaming
Coventry. Well the Oz case won out. The whole plant has gone a bit
crazy over it although most of the silliness is confined to the Emerald
City.
21:
Kaa are from the GURPS
"Aliens" source book by Chris W. McCubbin. Kaa
first appear in Trek via Jay P. Hailey's "Prometheus
Quest". I get a bit part in this one as General Stalgari
Tesral yiEryian, a Kronin warrior that duels and kills Admiral Turkhan,
a tin plated bastard of a Starfleet admiral. As Jay was writing it I
kept commenting that someone needed to stick the guy and extract his
head from his ass. So he let me.
22:
Cidi are from the GURPS
"Aliens" source book by Chris W. McCubbin. Cidi
first appear in Trek via Jay P. Hailey's
"The Cidi are Dish Best Served Cold". This is an excellent
portrayal of these tiny sentients. Jay manages to get the cute across
without getting coying and without patronizing the Cidi.
23:
Aresians as I call them are a Trekized
rewrite of Robert Heinlein's Martians from his
universe of books. Trek has a different history, so obviously Martians
like his could not come from Mars. Since I wanted to use elements of "Stranger
in a Strange Land" for my Late 21st century, it does fit so
well, I moved the Martians out system and changed the name to protect
the guilty. Aresians are still present on their home world, but are a
dying race.
24:
The Ane have identified Neural as the
location of Samrail. The race is the same, if a little shorter than
they use to be. The remains of galactic technology in the orbit and on
the surface of this primitive world was the reason it was contacted in
the 23rd century. Section 28 has been successful in subverting and
ending the war started by the Klingons between the Villagers and the
Nomads. (TOS: "A Private Little War") Curiously all
cultures of the world treat the ancient ruins as taboo, and haunted by
evil.
This is a work
of fiction. All characters, places, and situations are fictional. Any
resemblance to persons, places, or situations living or dead is
coincidental.
© Garry
Stahl: 1997-2006. All rights reserved, re-print only with permission.
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