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Penetrator

2007-07-10T07:00:57Z

Gaeamil: /* Strengths */ THRADDASH DIE

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Star_control_i_syreen_penetrator_databank.png|thumb|225px|Starship Databank Entry]]
The [[Syreen]] '''Penetrator''' is lightly crewed and not terribly powerful in terms of offensive weaponry, but it is able to use "wiles" strengthen itself while weakening enemy ships. With the [[Mycon]] [[Podship]] and the [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]], the Penetrator is one of the few ships able to come out of battle stronger than they went in.

==Navigation==
The Penetrator has a good turn-rate and a fair speed but suffers from a somewhat lacking acceleration. Its shape, center of gravity and turn-rate can be masterfully combined into an orbiting maneuver, during which the Penetrator circles a planet until it found the direction it wants to use a Gravity-whip maneuver.

==Armament==
===Primary===
The Penetrator's primary weapon is a weak, forward-firing weapon with a fair range and acceptable firing rate. Normally it is used for nothing but finishing off a Psi-resistant captain. This weapon is more commonly known as a "Particle Beam Stiletto", or alternatively as a "light Electron Dagger".

===Secondary===
To compensate for its lack of offensive power, the Penetrator captain employs the "Syreen Song", a short-range hypnosis field designed to lure enemy crew from their ships via the airlocks. The effectiveness of the Syreen Song decreases with distance. When the ships are right next to eachother, eight crew members may desert, but a ship will never be abandoned altogether. If the Penetrator picks up the crew, they will willingly serve alongside the Syreen as members of the Penetrator's crew; if the enemy ship reclaims their crew, they are able to counteract the effects of the hypnosis field -- at least for a while. During the war, crews on board Syreen ships became a surreal pastiche of alien races, with [[Ilwrath]], [[VUX]], [[Spathi]] and others working dutifully side by side with human volunteers under the command of beautiful Syreen officers.

The "Syreen Song" has no effect on non-sentient beings like the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]].

==Tactical Overview==
Against most ships, the tactic is pretty straightforward -- close in quickly, evade incoming fire, and use the "Syreen Song" to bolster your ranks and weaken the enemy's. Once you have made the enemy's crew your own, finish them off with a few quick shots.
Slow ships are the prefereable targets for Penetrator captains.
Ships with good turn rates and/or good firing rates are what Syreen captains fear most.

===Strengths===
*When fighting a [[Mycon]] [[Podship]], the Penetrator can outrun a plasmoid but only if already at its best speed. If the Podship tries to regenerate lost crew, the Penetrator should hold patiently and let the Mycon send more crew as prey for the Syreen Song.
*The [[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]] is also easy prey for the Penetrator, as the Syreen Song is effective even when the Avenger is cloaked (thus also serving to reveal the Avenger's position), and the Penetrator's engines can easily keep the ship out of the Avenger's attack range. A human-controlled Avenger will try orbiting the planet, forcing the Penetrator to close in, then using a [[Leyland Gravity Whip]], which will prove much more dangerous for the Penetrator. Worth noting is that the crew pulled near the planet will crash on it and be lost for both sides.
*[[Chenjesu]] [[Broodhome]] ships are quite pained trying to keep the Penetrator off their back.
*The [[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]s' cumbersome nukes are easily dodged by the slick Penetrator, and at close range the dismal recharge rate usually forces the Cruiser captain into a "Scorched Earth" tactic - shooting his own crew with point-defense lasers rather than seeing them aboard the Penetrator.
*After mastering the art of evading the [[Kohr-Ah]] spinning blades (which is a bit harder than with the other maneuverable ships because turning will expose the larger lateral area to hits from the [[Marauder]]), Penetrators can prove a nasty surprise for the Marauder captain.
*[[Umgah]] [[Drone]]s are especially easy opponents. All the Penetrator has to do is go in front of it (so that it is not touched by the antimatter cone) and use the Syreen Song to lure all its crew out, then fly around the ship to catch them. The Drone often accidentally kills the crew, flying towards the Penetrator with the cone always on. Using the retro-propulsion system is not recommended for the Drone, as it exposes the ship to the Penetrator's particle beam stiletto; the Penetrator will anyway be forced to fly into the Drone's cone to kill the ship's last crew member.
*[[Thraddash]] [[Torch]]es are essentially flying crew carriers for the Penetrator. Their speed and turn rate is fast enough to totally avoid the Thraddash's fire, and the Torch is too slow to effectively dodge the Stiletto.

===Weaknesses===
*Being the only maneuverable ship with a longer length than width, the Penetrator is especially vulnerable when turning (especially against slow-firing ships with powerful weapons such as the [[Dreadnought]], the Marauder or the Broodhome).
*The [[Shofixti]] [[Scout]], with its [[Glory Device]].
*Nimble, quick firing ships such as the [[X-Form]] in laser form, the [[Utwig]] [[Jugger]] and the [[Yehat]] [[Terminator]].
*It is also easy prey for the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]], with the Probe's superior maneuverability and invulnerability to the Song.

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Syreen]]

Cruiser

2007-07-08T19:08:05Z

Gaeamil: /* Tactical Overview */

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Star_control_i_earthling_cruiser_databank.png|thumb|225px|Starship Databank Entry]]
The [[Earthling]] '''Cruiser''' is a vessel of happenstance. [[Human]]ity was brought into The [[Ur-Quan Slave War]] with almost no preparation. It was only their long history of proliferation that allowed this vessel to be so effective in the (ultimately losing) battle against the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Hierarchy]]. Unlike their decision regarding the [[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]s, the Ur-Quan destroyed the entire Cruiser fleet as well as every database for constructing the Cruisers. The notable exceptions to this destruction were the derelict [[Tobermoon]] drifting in [[Vela]]'s Oort Cloud and copies of blueprint disks hidden by a former production assistant of the Detroit shipyards. It was these blueprint disks that allowed the recently formed [[New Alliance]] to manufacture Cruisers prior to the liberation of [[Earth]].

==Navigation==
The Cruiser is a little below average in speed but has a respectable turn rate. This complements its weaponry well when facing off against opponents preferring a medium-encounter range, notably by either closing that range or expanding it rather quickly.

==Armament==

===Primary===
The Cruiser's primary weapon earned them quick respect in the [[Alliance of Free Stars|Alliance]]. It's not terribly advanced, but with the number that were stored in [[Earth]]'s [[Peace Vaults]] during (and before and after) Humanity's wars against itself they were a pleasant surprise to their allies and a devastating blow to their enemies. The "Fire-and-forget" Nuclear Missile is a simple concept. Put the biggest explosive that a post-industrial nuclear society has on the end of vaguely competent tracking and navigation system; repeat several million times. This weapon has long range and can correct for significant variation in original trajectory and later enemy movement. Unless the weapon can be shot down (no mean task) or cunningly evaded, the power of the atom will be unleashed on the enemy crew.

===Secondary===
The Cruiser's alternate weapon is a very short range point-defense laser system, based on mid-1980s "Star Wars" missile defense technology. It fires lasers at enemy ships, projectiles, asteroids, or anything else that is close to the Earthling ship. This system is proof against daughter ships like the Ur-Quan [[Dreadnought]] Fighter and [[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] Space Marine, as well as some weaker projectiles.

==Tactical Overview==
The Cruiser is highly effective when used as a stand-off ship; it is capable of delivering punishing blows from great distances, and the auto-tracking aspect of its weapons makes aiming of secondary importance. The Cruiser can even defeat an Ur-Quan Dreadnought without taking a hit, as long as it can keep its distance. Its slow speed makes this easier said than done, however.

Unfortunately, the turning radius of the missiles can sometimes miss faster ships such as the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]], and rarely can even go off course in such a way that it can even hit the Cruiser that fired the missile by accident. Very high-speed ships like the [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]] can deliberately take advantage of this, but not so easily as against a [[Mycon]] [[Podship]]

Against the [[Druuge]] [[Mauler]], the Cruiser can exploit the Mauler's slow speed and turning rate, making it difficult for the Mauler to dodge the auto-tracking missiles. The same tactic also works when up against a [[VUX]] [[Intruder]].

==Known Ships==
*[[Miwok]]
*SpaceDuster
*[[Tobermoon]]
*Zybernaut

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Human]]

Androsynth

2007-07-04T03:16:58Z

Gaeamil: /* Exodus */

{{RaceBox|name=Androsynth|image=AndrosynthCaptain_Portrait.png|caption=A typical Androsynth crew.|homeworld=Eta Vulpeculae II|coordinates=358.7 : 256.6|organizations=[[Ur-Quan Hierarchy]] ([[battle thrall]])|ship=[[Guardian]]}}

{{dubious}}

The '''Androsynth''' were a genetically engineered off-shoot of [[Humans]], developed after the [[Small War of 2015]] but before the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]]. Abused for both religious reasons and for their legal expendability, they abandoned their progenitors in a feat of mass-exodus. They eventually settled in the Vulpeculae constellation, former territory of the vanished [[Taalo]]. Later, the Androsynth were conquered by, and then joined, the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Hierarchy]] of [[battle thralls]], fighting against humanity and the [[Alliance of Free Stars]] in the Ur-Quan Slave War. Several years after the war's end, they were apparently wiped out by the [[Orz]], who seemed to come from out of nowhere, drawn to Vulpeculae by the Androsynth's [[Dimensional Fatigue]] experiments.

==Description==
===Appearance===
The original Androsynth were all created from a single genetic encoding of what was meant to be a physically optimal human being. Their shared genome causes them all to look very similar, if not identical. Their features appear more or less like those of an average man of the Caucasian race, though part of their enhancements were to make their features unusually regular and symmetrical, and therefore unusually attractive by human convention. Perhaps in defiance of their original creator's insistence on the perfect symmetry of their faces and bodies, the later generations of Androsynth on [[Earth]] adopted an asymmetrical hairstyle, all brushing their hair meticulously to the right of their heads. This was their one stylistic affectation. On Earth, Androsynth were constantly required to wear uniforms with a triangular insignia informing others of their Androsynth status, along with a headset keeping them constantly in radio contact with their work supervisors. This uniform was supplemented with a small tattoo under the right eye of the same Androsynth insignia in case an Androsynth escaped his supervisors and attempted to disguise himself.

After the Slave Revolt and the Emigration, the Androsynth appear to have kept many of these markers of their former slavery as a conscious badge of pride, continuing to wear the uniforms and tattoos and use the headsets (later incorporating visors to add communication of visual data) in memory of their ancestors' way of life. They did, however, abandon the distinctive hairstyles; they also apparently made modifications to the base Androsynth genome, adding melanin to their skin and hair to make themselves more resilient against solar radiation in their colonizing efforts.

The Androsynth, all male and without functioning testes, continued to produce new generations using their own version of [[Hsien Ho]]'s parthenogenesis process. Rather than adopt the naming conventions of their Human oppressors, they continued to wear the impersonal alphanumeric callsigns given to them by their masters as another badge of pride, with each clone identified by a set of letters corresponding to the "batch" in which he was created, then a number identifying the order in which he'd been born from that batch.

===Society and culture===

The Androsynth designed their fleet of [[Guardian]] vessels after the original space stations in their escape fleet, so that each Guardian has the features of a complete, self-sustaining spaceborne habitat, packing in as much useful living and working space as possible using the StarLight Hilton's avant-garde intriciately layered architecture. Rather than sacrificing this space for the increased acceleration and manueverability of a lower-mass ship when designing military vessels, Androsynth engineers discovered a more intricate, complex and elegant solution (if a more unwieldy one). Perhaps the most amazing engineering accomplishment was the invention of the "Blazer", a retrofitting of Guardian vessels allowing them to change configuration in a deceptively simple manner, allowing for much more efficient thruster use and the ability to use their own large mass as a weapon, instantly changing the existing quasi-civilian Guardian habitats into one of the sector's most powerful battle fleets. The development of such an alien-seeming technology is perhaps the best demonstration of how far Androsynth scientific and cultural development diverged from humans' during their separation.

What little else we know of Androsynth civilization comes from our encounters with them in combat. Both naturally blessed with great intellectual quickness and with a culture that encouraged constant communication through the ubiquitous headset-visors, Androsynth were able to function in concert as crews more easily than Humans, with small teams able to carry out most of a ship's command functions with little computer equipment or verbal communication in comparison with a Human bridge. They also required far fewer amenities in battle conditions, their bodies being physically hale enough to function under much greater stresses than that of the average human crewman.

Before their disappearance, they had a well-developed urban culture on their own planet, with several large cities whose daily activities were all linked by a giant computer network based on an enormous central server, with smaller mainframes serving the central-computing needs of each city and dedicated research station. The Androsynth emphasized centrally coordinated research and information storage, and their intricate library system did not begin to break down until the early stages of their disappearance. The meticulous record-keeping of their computers is the main reason we have even as complete a picture of their last days as we do today.

==History==
===Origins===
The story of the Androsynth begins in the initial renaissance of peaceful development of science and technology in the first days after the [[Small War of 2015]], when the warring nations of [[Earth]] were united under the United Nations. The UN, fearing a future global holocaust if the development of weapons of mass destruction continued, began forcibly trying to steer [[Human]] innovation toward peaceful applications that could benefit a unified, cooperative Human race. They specifically restricted work related to existing "Mass-Kill" devices, barring physicists and engineers from many cutting-edge fields including the study of nuclear power or high-energy lasers. With human creativity thus stymied in the areas it had been strongest for most of its recent past, humans began exploring the new and fruitful field of biotechnology.

A brilliant Swiss scientist named [[Hsien Ho]] at the Zurich BioTeknik, one of the institutions that sprung up to meet the new demand for biotech research, did an extensive study of the completed map of the human genetic code that the Human Genome Project had finished years before. Modern technology now allowed him to use this information to edit human genes at will and then develop a reliable, cost-effective method of parthenogenesis — eventually not even requiring a biological host mother — to grow living individuals based on those genes. Ho had realized the dreams of generations of engineering and cloning researchers — being able to produce artificially designed human beings.

In 2019, Ho began creating a series of such "designer people". None of their genetic traits were outside the normal capacity of human beings, but Ho's engineering created an improbably "perfect" genetic code, with any possibility for genetic disease or disability wiped out, and the chances for physical health and fitness, very high intelligence, and a strong and balanced personality maximized. The new humans were all genetic near-clones of each other, with only slight differences between individuals. In order to prevent the various potential complications linked to reproduction (both flaws that might show up in his genetic sequencing, and political opposition from those who saw the clones as a threat to "normal" humans) Ho made all his clones male and congenitally sterile.

The original hopes of Hsien Ho were that, as the clones matured, they would be slowly integrated into Human society and, serving as great scientists, artists and engineers, open the door for future improvement of the human race through genetic engineering. Unfortunately, these hopes would not be realized, thanks to the vagaries of Human politics. Many Humans, still traumatized by the near-brush with total destruction of their species in the Small War, found themselves bereft of spiritual solace. Many of the world's oldest and most powerful religions had collapsed, or had their foundations deeply shaken, as their most sacred sites in the Middle East had been melted to glass by nuclear weapons. Filling this vacuum came the teachings of one [[Jason MacBride]], a man who had formerly made his living selling used ground-transport vehicles before he received what he believed to be a divine revelation.

===Slavery===
MacBride believed the Millennium was near — a profound shift of the nature of existence, an end to the metaphorical "thousand years" of Human history and the beginning of a new "thousand years." In this new Millennium, Humans would ascend to a godlike, wholly spiritual existence, free from struggle or doubt. MacBride predicted a specific date — March 11, 2046 — on which normal human existence would end and any of sufficient faith and virtue would attain this ascension. Whether it was MacBride's strong personal charisma or just the novelty of a sincere new religious movement, one unaffiliated with the discredited religions of the past and unafraid to make boldly optimistic claims in a pessimistic time, MacBride's influence spread like wildfire and he soon became one of the most influential leaders on Earth, though he never formally considered himself more than the first among equals in his movement, taking no title other than "Brother Jason."

MacBride claimed that he and his followers were the Homo Deus, or "Godly Men." The use of the Latin term was to imply that his followers would become a new Human species, superior to ordinary men and women, at the moment of the new Millennium. MacBride's religion, acting as a cultural opponent of the United Nations' humanist, materialist, technological plans for a future utopia, thus saw the creation of an ''artificial'' race of humans, using godless science to further human evolution, as the ultimate blasphemy.

MacBride thus began a public campaign attacking the adolescent clones. He named them "Android Synthetica" or "Built Man-Like Things" (idiomatically, the "Artificial False Men"), a conscious parallel to his "Homo Deus." This name, interestingly, uses Greek words rather than Latin; whether this was intentional or not (MacBride was no scholar), it soon gained the connotation among the Homo Deus of defining these artificial humans as not even worthy of an ordinary Latin genus-species name, placing them outside of the taxonomy of "natural" animals. This may be the origin of Human xenologists' habit of using the Greek language by convention to name alien concepts when direct transliterations are inconvenient or unavailable -- for instace, the name of the "[[Mycon]]" (fungus) race, or the concept of the "[[Ultron]]" (thing beyond) from Utwig religion, etc.

The rest of the world, grown complacent in their material peace and prosperity after the Small War, allowed the Homo Deus movement to win legal battle after legal battle, stripping away the clones' rights and increasingly defining them as non-human. The "Android Synthetica" term used by Homo Deus, shortened to "Androsynth", eventually became the commonly used name for them, and by the time the clones reached adulthood they had attained a legal status more or less parallel with slavery. They were immensely valuable both as scientific curiosities and for their native genetic talents that made them excellent at refined intellectual work, and were pampered and sheltered wherever they went. However, the corporations who had sponsored their development effectively owned them as chattels. They lacked the basic rights to bargain for their wages, choose what projects they wished to work on, or freely express their views and participate in governance and independent economic activity, a state that the enlightened governments of Earth at this point would never have tolerated for any Humans had not the dehumanizing rhetoric aimed at them by the Homo Deus not infected Earth's culture to such a degree.

The day March 11, 2046 came and went, and no detectable change in the human condition took place. MacBride, shamed and discredited, claimed that the that the vast majority of his followers had been deceiving him about the purity of their hearts and motives, and that their faithlessness poisoned the movement and prevented the Millennium. Soon, the Homo Deus movement dissipated, and MacBride faded from public life, leaving the legitimacy of his most enduring political legacy, the definition of the Androsynth as non-human non-citizens, in question. Nonetheless opportunistic corporations continued to finance the creation of new generations of Androsynth to join Ho's original creations.

Whatever the ethical issues involved, the prospect of having preternaturally talented and competent employees whom one could legally control with absolute authority was irresistible. By the 2070s, tens of thousands of Androsynth existed all over the world, and the cutting edge of human technological research was dependent on the Androsynth as an easily exploitable intellectual resource. In particular, Androsynth researchers were deeply involved in humanity's most ambitious technological project to date, the creation of a hyperdrive that would allow them to break the speed-of-light barrier and reach the stars.

===Exodus===
It was, in retrospect, inevitable that a group whose usefulness came from their high levels of education, intelligence and resourcefulness, with a cultural sense of ethics and morality that was, after all, essentially human, would grow to understand their uniquely subjugated position in the world, find it intolerable, and find a way to escape it. This was reinforced by the Androsynth's knowledge that they were designed to be superior to the ordinary Human population by every Human standard. Finding themselves slaves in a society that they increasingly began to see as beneath their level, they began an intense series of secret communications with each other and with a growing worldwide network of Human sympathizers.

The last humiliation was when a group of scientists in the Eurasian Region of the United Nations used several Androsynth as disposable guinea pigs in a highly dangerous physics experiment that left many maimed or killed. The experiment would have been impossible to conduct without subjects who were both humanly intelligent and resourceful, yet legally expendable; even then, the project would have been unthinkable in earlier decades when Androsynth had been rarer and more valuable. Outraged Eurasian Androsynth responded to news of these abuses with the abortive Hamburg Revolt, in which isolated Androsynth rioters briefly seized control of that city before they were violently suppressed by the UN Peacekeeping Army. It was this incident that crystallized for the Androsynth community how impossible it would be for them to live in peace with Human masters who saw them as property, and it drove them to universally commit to planning for revolution and escape.

Utilizing their refined organizational skills, and a number of technological breakthroughs they had carefully kept secret from their masters, in the spring of 2085 the Androsynth and their human friends staged the violent Clone Revolt. With quick and deadly precision, the Androsynth captured almost every spaceport on the planet. Androsynth engineers and managers had been integral to the operations of the world's largest spaceflight centers, and had used their influence there to secretly siphon off over a thousand spacecraft from the world's shipping, keeping them fueled and ready in preparation for a mass Androsynth exodus. Within 48 hours, all Androsynth had left the Earth's surface and seized control of all of Earth's orbital and lunar stations.

Shocked and terrified, the authorities of Earth mobilized [[Star Control (Organization)|Star Control]], a wing of the United Nations military created to maintain order in extraterrestrial space. Facing the greatest breakdown of order imaginable, Star Control forces launched strike after strike against the Androsynth. However, the Androsynth, in defiance of the UN ban on exploring laser technology, had earlier researched a cheap and effective means of converting ordinary radio transmitters into huge microwave-frequency lasers (that is, [[MASER]]s), far more powerful than anything available to the stagnant Earth military-industrial complex. They jury-rigged a large arsenal of MASERs from the peaceful stations' formerly benign communications arrays and used them to effortlessly demolish Star Control invasion forces for two months.

The Androsynth, rejected from the Human race and now no longer considering themselves Human, now blockaded vital traffic between Earth and its mining and manufacturing outposts in the inner system, and were in prime position to attack their former masters with whatever weapons of mass destruction they might possess or eventually create. A numbed United Nations now faced a dangerous, unpredictable, ''inhuman'' enemy inside their jurisdiction; seeing no other options, they steeled themselves to unlock the [[Peace Vaults]], where Earth's ancient stockpiles of nuclear warheads and orbital lasers had been kept in reserve for an event such as this.

Whether the Androsynth became aware of the UN's plans or not is unknown, but in all probability they recognized that their hold on near-Earth space was not tenable in the long term. Before Earth's arsenals could be refitted for duty, Star Control observers saw eight of the largest orbital stations, including the recently finished StarLight Hilton, an exotic luxury hotel, accelerating toward the outer system.

The Androsynth engineers had somehow modified huge, ungainly orbital habitats into fast, powerful spacecraft. Despite the stations' great mass, their new engines were able to accelerate them quickly enough that Star Control's fastest interception vessels were unable to stop them or even catch up with them. However, one of the faster ten-thruster ore freighters in the asteroid belt, taking advantage of the Androsynth's abandonment of their near-Earth strongholds to return to Earth with its cargo, detected the Androsynth fleet passing it and was able to intercept the Androsynth by pushing its engines to their limits. Before the freighter's pilot could act, he saw the Androsynth vessels surround themselves with a glowing, rotating energy field, which then suddenly moved to a point 500 meters ahead of the vessels, creating a huge glowing red region of space like a "great hole". The vessels accelerated into the hole, at which point vessels and hole suddenly vanished.

In the years to come, humans would correctly identify this phenomenon as a hyperdrive "pushing up" into [[HyperSpace]] by opening a portal (a region of Hyperspatial overlap with [[TrueSpace]]), a sight familiar to spacefaring races. Not only had the Androsynth created a working hyperdrive in secret, they had managed to fit all eight of their habitats with hyperdrives powerful enough to carry those huge structures out of the Sol system. The Humans of Earth would never make that last leap into technological modernity on their own, only acquiring hyperdrive technology when given it by the [[Chenjesu]] at the founding of the [[Alliance of Free Stars|Alliance]].

===The War===
Little is now known about the Androsynth's history after their "Emigration", as they called it. However, we can infer that they eventually arrived at the Vulpeculae constellation, the same place the [[Taalo]] race had made their home in the days of the [[Sentient Milieu]]. Finding the second planet of the star Eta Vulpeculae a suitably Earthlike world, they settled there and began expanding, soon having a bustling population and a colonial sphere of influence throughout Vulpeculae space, even establishing uneasy but peaceful interstellar relations with their [[Spathi]] neighbors.

Unfortunately, they had barely been free for thirty years when the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Hierarchy]] entered our region of space. Turned away by the [[Chenjesu]] and [[Mmrnmhrm]]'s initial defense force, which had halted the Ur-Quan fleet's rimward advance towards Sol, the Ur-Quan headed spinward to accumulate more local [[Battle Thralls]] for the war ahead. With the prized resources and industrial capacity of [[Earth]] inaccessible to them, and the [[Chenjesu]] already busily recruiting the Humans into their [[Alliance of Free Stars]], the Ur-Quan decided to use the Humans' wayward children against them.

The reclusive Androsynth had no advance warning of the Ur-Quan advance and were taken utterly by surprise when the Hierarchy invaded their territory. Hearing the Ur-Quan's demands of fealty, they had no wish to again be enslaved and fought bitterly to retain their freedom. Unfortunately, their relatively small population and underdeveloped military was no match for the Hierarchy's might. Faced with humiliating defeat around the year 2116, the Androsynth, as the Ur-Quan most likely predicted, chose to accept the status of Battle Thrall and maintain the illusion of freedom. Cementing this illusion in their own minds, Androsynth culture accepted their place in the Hierarchy by rationalizing it, not primarily as serving their new Ur-Quan masters, but as an opportunity to wreak revenge upon their former Human masters.

The rebuilt Androsynth military thus became an enthusiastic supporter of the Hierarchy, demanding to primarily be placed in combat against the Humans as a condition of their service; the Ur-Quan gladly indulged them in this, as had been their plan, and found them to be a highly effective weapon against the Humans. Androsynth ship designs and tactics were optimized for use against the comparatively more primitive Star Control forces, and Androsynth commanders, filled with bloodlust, would go outside their Ur-Quan-given orders and purposely seek out Earth-built vessels to hunt for sport.

Androsynth became one of the Humans most feared enemies in the war, second only to the [[Ilwrath]]. Humans found it terrifying to fight an enemy that they saw as a genetically enhanced version of themselves, the "next step of human evolution". Moreover, humans experienced deep collective guilt at being asked to direct their strength against an enemy whom their own mothers and fathers had been complicit in cruelly oppressing, a sense that the Androsynth's hatred of Humanity was justified and Humanity's defeat at Androsynth hands would be deserved. These psychological factors, combined with the incredible speed and manueverability of Androsynth [[Guardian]] vessels in Blazer attack mode, which made them almost impossible to detect with primitive Human laser-scanning arrays — a fact the Androsynth utilized to great effect in their hit-and-run tactics against human fleets — made patrolling Androsynth-contested space one of the most dreaded tasks for Human commanders in the war. Human captains in Androsynth territory became obsessed with their invisible enemies and their inevitable vengeance, often mistaking nearby asteroids for Guardians and madly destroying them in bursts of what Star Control officers colloquially termed "clone fever."

As thralls, the Androsynth saved their energies for their anti-Human war, choosing to keep a low profile within the Hierarchy. Though they achieved a fearsome reputation as warriors, especially among their Spathi neighbors, few other thralls had much contact with them. The [[VUX]], for instance, knew of them and found their appearance as repellent as that of the Humans, but chose for various reasons to vent their xenophobic hatred on the main human race and mostly ignored the Humans' clones.

After the war ended in 2134, with the Humans defeated and Earth [[Slave Shield|slave-shield]]ed, the Ur-Quan left for their [[Doctrinal Conflict]], leaving their slaves more or less unattended. The Androsynth, gratified to have participated in the defeat and humiliation of their former masters, re-embarked on their peaceful programs of scientific research and self-improvement.

===Disappearance===
A decade after the end of the war, an Androsynth Guardian, performing a long-range high-speed scouting mission in Blazer form, detected a [[Precursor]] artifact in Alpha Lalande, which it recovered. The device generated waves of altered space-time — a phenomenon Androsynth scientists dubbed [[Dimensional Fatigue]], or DF — that allowed them to observe numerous other realities separated from ours, aside from the previously discovered and easily accessible [[HyperSpace]].

What happened next is extremely unclear. The story only became known during the [[Second War]], when [[The Captain]] of [[The Flagship]] began investigating strange reports from the Spathi of the Androsynth's recent disappearance from interstellar affairs. What had once been Androsynth space was now populated by a new sentient race that seemed to have come from nowhere, fish-like beings calling themselves [[Orz]]. They had made their home on the nearby world of Gamma Vulpeculae II, spoke a bizarre tongue that human linguists had great difficulty in translating even with Precursor computer technology, and were singularly unwilling to discuss the fate of the Androsynth.

The Flagship's Science Officer [[Bukowski]] led an ill-fated expedition onto Eta Vulpeculae II to investigate the Androsynth's fate. From pieced-together computer records, he learned of the Androsynth's acquisition of the Precursor artifacts and their discovery of DF phenomena. Eager to potentially use newly discovered extradimensional spaces as media for transport and communication with even more compressed distances than HyperSpace, they began experiments, only to make contact with some sort of sentient being living in another space. The entity or entities then began to make reciprocal contact with them, manifesting itself in the form of anomalous, supernatural-seeming physical events eerily similar to those described in Earth paranormal studies; fundamental forces like gravity experienced wild fluctuations in their strength, sensors began to inconsistently perceive nonexistent objects, and physical objects appeared to undergo motion and stress from sourceless, disembodied forces. The Androsynth frantically consulted their sketchy records of such phenomena, derived from a few Earth studies rarely seen as reputable, but to no avail.

Though we can never know the details, the Androsynth at some point appear to have waged some sort of massive ground war; curiously, there appear to have been no invasions or bombardments from space, no combat in orbit or in the atmosphere, or even any substantial combat outside the Androsynth's own cities; it appears they were either warring against each other or some enemy that suddenly appeared in their midst. With the cities devastated by nuclear explosions that detonated from within, all Androsynth bodies then appear to have mysteriously vanished; no biological traces of the Androsynth remained on the planet. And then, somehow, the civilization of the Orz appeared, ships, settlements and all.

We might have learned more had Bukowski not himself gone insane during his investigations, claiming that his increasing knowledge of [["They"|"Them"]] — the entities responsible for the Androsynth's disappearance — had allowed "Them" to make a psychic link with him personally, and that further research would draw "Their" attention and cause the human race to be destroyed as the Androsynth had. He was found by his team in the process of destroying all remaining Androsynth computer records, bleeding heavily from self-inflicted wounds (though some witnesses reported seeing wounds spontaneously appear on his body). He was rushed back to Earth's [[Starbase]] for psychiatric treatment and the expedition was scrapped. Though Bukowski later achieved some level of recovery, he never again spoke of anything he'd learned on the Androsynth homeworld.

Speculation rages as to why the Androsynth vanished. It may have just been their bad luck to discover DF at all, or to have studied the particular dimensional space that they did. Or it may be that human psychology, after ages of having been engineered by the extra-dimensional [[Arilou]], is particularly vulnerable to attack from extra-dimensional entities for one reason or another. Once the Androsynth left the fold of the main Human race, they seem to have left whatever form of protection the Arilou claim to have placed on the Human race to prevent an attack by "Them".

It may also be that they were unfortunate in their choice of a home. The Captain confirmed speculations by xenohistorians that the Taalo homeworld had been the third moon of Delta Vulpeculae II. If some translators interpret particular statements by the Orz correctly, the Taalo had some mastery of DF technology themselves and were able to use this technology to travel between realities, using it to escape destruction from the [[Dnyarri]] Slave Empire. This action in the past might have contributed to attracting the attention of extra-dimensional entities to the physical vicinity of the Vulpeculae constellation and put the Androsynth at greater risk, though our understanding of the relationship between physical places in our space-time and "Theirs" is hazy at best.

In any case the ultimate knowledge of what happened to the Androsynth seems to rest with the Orz, who have greeted any inquiry into the nature of the Androsynth disappearance with clearly communicated hostility, escalating into violence if they are provoked by further inquiries. Most who have had contact with the Orz agree that the Orz's sudden appearance seems sinister, and that whatever caused the Androsynth's disappearance — be it the Orz themselves or some greater entity of which the Orz are manifestations — purposely did so in order to replace the Androsynth with the Orz; indeed, Spathi observers communicating with the Alliance held to an interpretation of the Orz language that implied that the Orz somehow had physically consumed or "eaten" the Androsynth.

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Human]]
[[Category:Androsynth| ]]

Discrepancies in the Star Control universe

2007-07-04T02:01:12Z

Gaeamil: /* Discrepancies within Star Control II */ For the Fury, that's here somewhere, probably on the Fury page

{{incomplete}}

For the most part, the rich and diverse lore of the [[Star Control Universe]] as created by [[Toys for Bob|TFB ]] is self-consistent. However, there are certain notable discrepancies within the games and its associated [[canon]]. This page is intended to organize and catalog these inconsistencies. A certain number of discrepancies occur between the PC and 3DO versions of the game; though not listed here, most of these can be found at the [[Version Comparison]].

==Discrepancies between Star Control I & II==
*Historical events
**[[Star Control]] places the relevant events within the 26th and 27th centuries while [[Star Control II]] places most events within the 21st and 22nd centuries.
**The [[Battle at Draco]], mentioned in one of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War#Campaigns|full game campaigns]], probably did not happen in [[Draconis]].
**The [[Androsynth]] [[Clone Revolt]] is described completely different in the SC1 manual.

*The [[Spathi]] ship is known as an Discriminator in SC1, and as an [[Eluder]] in SC2.

*The [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] captains are known as Masters in SC1, but as Lords in SC2.

*[[The Insult]], according to the Sega version of SC1, was "That is one ugly sucker", while the SC2 manual identifies it as "That’s the ugliest freak-face I’ve ever seen!".

*During a full game in SC1, Life Worlds where Mycon colonies have been established do not become inhospitable to other races (i.e. [[Shattered Worlds]]).

*The full game campaigns in SC1 give the impression that races have more colonies than they have in SC2.

*In the Sega SC1 campaign [[Ur-Quan Slave War#Campaigns|The Nebula]], it is stated that the [[Yehat]] have multiple homeworlds hidden in a nebula, while in SC2 they have a single homeworld, outside of any nebula.

*In SC1, there is a large number of minor [[Precursor]] [[List of Precursor relics|artifacts]] that can be found on various worlds and improve certain statistics of the ship that picks them, while in SC2 there are only major Precursor relics.

*In SC1, the plural forms for "Yehat" and "Mycon" are "Yehats" and "Mycons", respectively, in contrast with the same form as the singular in SC2.

==Discrepancies within Star Control II==
*[[Syreen]]
**The SC2 manual states that their homeworld in the [[Arianni]] constellation.
**The SC2 manual also calls their homeworld Syrea.
**[[Syra|Beta Copernicus I]], as a shattered world, doesn't seem to match [[Talana]]'s descriptions: it has no atmosphere (no sulfur clouds), is not very hot (only 7 degrees centigrade) and its day is not fifty percent longer than Earth's, but actually somewhat shorter.

*[[The Insult]]
**[[Jeffry L. Rand]]'s ship is given multiple names: [[Miwok]] in the SC2 manual, or [[Far Voyager]] in [[Hayes]]' account.
**The timing of the event is also different: Hayes says that the encounter happened in 2119, while the SC2 manual says the event happened in 2126, which also conflicts with other elements in the Hayes' summary of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]].
*Only Hayes refers to the Yehat ruling clan as the Veep-Zeeps, every other source identifies them as the [[Veep-Neep]]s.

*Different versions of "[[The Words]]"
**"Hold! What you are doing to us is wrong! Why do you do this thing?" -[[The Safe Ones]], [[Arilou]], and [[The Captain]]
**"Hold! Why do you do this! What you are doing is wrong!" -[[Pkunk]]
**While the [[Role Playing Resource Guide]] correctly identifies the Pkunk, it misidentifies the Melnorme and Spathi ships as places where the Words can be learned; it should list the Arilou and the Safe Ones.

*[[Unzervalt]] is Vela I in the game, but called Vela II in the SC2 manual.
*In the 3DO opening video, Unzervalt is not a [[List of planet types#Water|Water World]].
*Unlike every other encounter with them, the first [[Probe]] attack on the [[Tobermoon]] just disabled it, not destroying it and everyone on board.
*According to the Resource Guide, the [[Faz]] joined the [[Sentient Milieu]] 2000 years ago, long after the first [[Doctrinal Conflict]] — this is probably a typographical error, the exclusion of the first "2" in "22,000".
*The [[List of bio types#Whackin' Bush|Whackin' Bush]] is listed in the Role Playing Resource Guide as being harmless, while it in fact is defined in the game's source code to be moderately dangerous.
*[[Hayes]] also says that the [[Precursor]]s lived 200,000 years ago, while the manual and the [[Slylandro]] identify their age as 250,000 years ago.
*When impersonating [[Dogar]] and [[Kazon]], you have the option to command the Ilwrath to deform certain words, but they don't do this except when confirming the commandment (though it is possible that they are simply focused on the other orders, forgetting these).
*The [[Melnorme]] describe the Sentient Milieu as spanning five hundred light-years, though distance in HyperSpace is not measured in light-years, but [[standard HyperSpace distance unit]]s.
*The [[Mycon]] are described as "thriving in temperatures close to the melting point of lead" (327.5 degrees centigrade), yet none of the [[Shattered World]]s have surface temperatures that high (though the Mycon may live beneath the surface where the temperature is not indicated).
*The paper starmap shows that the galactic spin is to the "northwest", while in-game it is suggested that it is to the "southeast", since the Ur-Quan had traveled spinward and arrived in our region in the "northwest".
*Two (not necessarily contradictory) reasons are given for the [[Fury#Secondary|insults]] used by a [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]]'s captain. The manual says that the Fury's secondary recharges the ship's batteries. The Pkunk say that the insults, in fact, throw them into a frenzy, lest their peaceful nature forbids them from attacking the enemy ship. The usual connection is that the psychic energy generated is somehow converted to electrical energy and fed to the batteries.
*The SC2 manual implies that the Androsynth warped into HyperSpace from near the Asteroid Belt during their [[Clone Revolt]], while all other [[canon]] sources deem hyperspacing from inside a planetary system impossible.
*The Melnorme say that the Ur-Quan spread the [[Dnyarri]] across Milieu space in a month, allowing them to [[mental compulsion|mentally compel]] all the member races, while the Role Playing Resource Guide says that a slave war took place, which lasted for several months and resulted in the eventual enslavement of all Milieu races.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] language is said to contain only consonants, and no vowels, yet the captain names often contain vowels.

==Simplifications==
Some aspects of the game are simplifications of features described elsewhere in the game, or the real world. They are often simplified representations of what is actually going on, and as such are not strictly inconsistencies. These simplifications are probably made out of technical limitations, or for putting gameplay above accuracy.
*Missing features of real objects (e.g. moons and rings in the Sol system, no asteroids or nebulae)
*No relativistic effects
*Ships "warp in" into [[Super Melee]] even if they both started in [[TrueSpace]].
*When the [[Flagship]] is in [[TrueSpace]], [[battlegroup]]s in [[HyperSpace]] do not move.
*In certain dialogs, some events are described as occurring "''X'' years ago" or "''X'' years in the future". However, this number is the same regardless of what year in the game the conversation occurs. For example, [[Hayes]], when asked about the events after the [[Great War]], will always say that he was transferred to the Starbase eight years ago.
*[[Leyland gravity whip]]s are a warped and simplified version of [[wikipedia:Gravitational slingshot|Gravitational slingshots]].
*Planet landings are highly unrealistic (an exaggerate number of dangers, a planet too small), and time does not pass while orbiting or exploring a planet. For example, it is possible to completely exterminate the [[Evil Ones]] species from [[Spathiwa]] with a single lander (and store them inside it), in a very short time.
*Enemies are dumb, both in Super Melee and in HyperSpace.
*Super Melee is not to scale, contains an exaggerated number of asteroids (and asteroid-planet collisions) and has ships fighting one by one instead of all together.
*Although the [[Supox]] and the [[Utwig]] mention that they fight the [[Kohr-Ah]] in tandem, their spheres of influence are separated while in battle with the aforementioned [[Ur-Quan]] subspecies.
*There exists the ability to have non-[[Orz]] use [[Nemesis#Secondary|Orz Marine]]s, though it is explicitly stated that vessels of a certain species may only be captained by that species. Also, regardless of whether your crew is entirely non-Human, there will always be a [[Bukowski]], [[Liebermann triplets]] and so on.
*When the Utwig start moving towards their homeworld (retreating after their [[Supox and Utwig offensive against the Kohr-Ah|offensive against the Kohr-Ah]]), ships immediately appear in their star system, saying that they have returned from the battle.
*[[Homeworlds]] are untouched until the corresponding Sphere of Influence disappears.
*[[Slave-shield]]ed worlds ([[Gaia]], [[Spathiwa]] and [[Unzervalt]]) are not cleansed by the Kohr-Ah during their [[Death March]].
*[[Shattered World]]s are uninhabited by Mycon in-game.
*If the [[Thraddash]] fleet is off fighting the Kohr-Ah, the [[Ilwrath]] still [[Ilwrath-Thraddash war|move to their space]] and fighting ensues... with several [[distance unit]]s between the opposing sides.
*The Ilwrath don't notice the absence of the Pkunk after their assimilation in the Yehat culture.
*The [[neo-Dnyarri]] talks about the [[Taalo Shield]] being aboard even if he was rescued from [[Beta Orionis I]] after the Death March (in which case the Shield is not needed, as the creature does not try to use its compulsion powers) ([http://bugs.uqm.stack.nl/show_bug.cgi?id=822 bug #822]).
*After the mutual genocide of the Ilwrath and the Thraddash, although the Ilwrath at their homeworld, [[Alpha Tauri I]], are exterminated, they still can be talked to by impersonating [[Dogar and Kazon]] with a HyperWave Caster (with the same dialogue options as during the [[Ilwrath-Thraddash war]]) ([http://bugs.uqm.stack.nl/show_bug.cgi?id=850 bug #850]).

==Gameplay oddities==
Apparently unusual gameplay discrepancies (which may have a reason behind them).
*The [[Kohr-Ah]] wipe out the Arilou [[Sphere of Influence]], but their homeworld is untouched (they may have just been forced to retreat entirely to [[QuasiSpace]]).
*[[Melnorme]] Trade Master [[Greenish]] is not the same captain in combat if you choose to be hostile the first time.
*Thraddash [[Torch]]es can still be built at the [[Earth Starbase]] after taking the [[Aqua Helix]]; individual Thraddash will attack you, but for the rest, the game behaves as if the Alliance is still intact ([[uqmbug:973|bug #973]]).
*Normally [[VUX]] [[Intruder]]s warp into the combat zone right next to the enemy ship, but in the SC2 full game this does not seem to apply.

==Differences with the real world==
*The [[List of star types#Color classification|star color]] ladder is not scientifically accurate (see [[wikipedia:Stellar classification#Harvard spectral classification|here]]).
*[[wikipedia:Planetary system|Planetary systems]] are misnamed in-game "[[wikipedia:Star system|star systems]]".
*[[wikipedia:Agoraphobia|Agoraphobia]] is misunderstood as a fear of open places (see [[Umgah]]), while in reality it is a fear of leaving one's "safety zone".
*"Redux" (as in "[[List of planet types#Redux (Reduction)|Redux World]]") is misunderstood being synonymous to "reduction", while it means instead "brought back". ([http://bugs.uqm.stack.nl/show_bug.cgi?id=994 bug #994])

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Talk:Frungy

2007-07-04T01:55:32Z

Gaeamil:

Hey, can someone please repost the fan-made [http://www.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?/classicgaming/clones/frungy.zip Frungy]? FilePlanet is evil, and won't let me download it, or even log in.--[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 03:55, 4 July 2007 (CEST)

Discrepancies in the Star Control universe

2007-07-04T01:52:14Z

Gaeamil: NOT stupid or circular logic. Fact. Look at it, there's a ref on the Mmrnmhrm page, and the captain names are readily available.

{{incomplete}}

For the most part, the rich and diverse lore of the [[Star Control Universe]] as created by [[Toys for Bob|TFB ]] is self-consistent. However, there are certain notable discrepancies within the games and its associated [[canon]]. This page is intended to organize and catalog these inconsistencies. A certain number of discrepancies occur between the PC and 3DO versions of the game; though not listed here, most of these can be found at the [[Version Comparison]].

==Discrepancies between Star Control I & II==
*Historical events
**[[Star Control]] places the relevant events within the 26th and 27th centuries while [[Star Control II]] places most events within the 21st and 22nd centuries.
**The [[Battle at Draco]], mentioned in one of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War#Campaigns|full game campaigns]], probably did not happen in [[Draconis]].
**The [[Androsynth]] [[Clone Revolt]] is described completely different in the SC1 manual.

*The [[Spathi]] ship is known as an Discriminator in SC1, and as an [[Eluder]] in SC2.

*The [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] captains are known as Masters in SC1, but as Lords in SC2.

*[[The Insult]], according to the Sega version of SC1, was "That is one ugly sucker", while the SC2 manual identifies it as "That’s the ugliest freak-face I’ve ever seen!".

*During a full game in SC1, Life Worlds where Mycon colonies have been established do not become inhospitable to other races (i.e. [[Shattered Worlds]]).

*The full game campaigns in SC1 give the impression that races have more colonies than they have in SC2.

*In the Sega SC1 campaign [[Ur-Quan Slave War#Campaigns|The Nebula]], it is stated that the [[Yehat]] have multiple homeworlds hidden in a nebula, while in SC2 they have a single homeworld, outside of any nebula.

*In SC1, there is a large number of minor [[Precursor]] [[List of Precursor relics|artifacts]] that can be found on various worlds and improve certain statistics of the ship that picks them, while in SC2 there are only major Precursor relics.

*In SC1, the plural forms for "Yehat" and "Mycon" are "Yehats" and "Mycons", respectively, in contrast with the same form as the singular in SC2.

==Discrepancies within Star Control II==
*[[Syreen]]
**The SC2 manual states that their homeworld in the [[Arianni]] constellation.
**The SC2 manual also calls their homeworld Syrea.
**[[Syra|Beta Copernicus I]], as a shattered world, doesn't seem to match [[Talana]]'s descriptions: it has no atmosphere (no sulfur clouds), is not very hot (only 7 degrees centigrade) and its day is not fifty percent longer than Earth's, but actually somewhat shorter.

*[[The Insult]]
**[[Jeffry L. Rand]]'s ship is given multiple names: [[Miwok]] in the SC2 manual, or [[Far Voyager]] in [[Hayes]]' account.
**The timing of the event is also different: Hayes says that the encounter happened in 2119, while the SC2 manual says the event happened in 2126, which also conflicts with other elements in the Hayes' summary of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]].
*Only Hayes refers to the Yehat ruling clan as the Veep-Zeeps, every other source identifies them as the [[Veep-Neep]]s.

*Different versions of "[[The Words]]"
**"Hold! What you are doing to us is wrong! Why do you do this thing?" -[[The Safe Ones]], [[Arilou]], and [[The Captain]]
**"Hold! Why do you do this! What you are doing is wrong!" -[[Pkunk]]
**While the [[Role Playing Resource Guide]] correctly identifies the Pkunk, it misidentifies the Melnorme and Spathi ships as places where the Words can be learned; it should list the Arilou and the Safe Ones.

*[[Unzervalt]] is Vela I in the game, but called Vela II in the SC2 manual.
*In the 3DO opening video, Unzervalt is not a [[List of planet types#Water|Water World]].
*Unlike every other encounter with them, the first [[Probe]] attack on the [[Tobermoon]] just disabled it, not destroying it and everyone on board.
*According to the Resource Guide, the [[Faz]] joined the [[Sentient Milieu]] 2000 years ago, long after the first [[Doctrinal Conflict]] — this is probably a typographical error, the exclusion of the first "2" in "22,000".
*The [[List of bio types#Whackin' Bush|Whackin' Bush]] is listed in the Role Playing Resource Guide as being harmless, while it in fact defined in the game's source code to be moderately dangerous.
*[[Hayes]] also says that the [[Precursor]]s lived 200,000 years ago, while the manual and the [[Slylandro]] identify their age as 250,000 years ago.
*When impersonating [[Dogar]] and [[Kazon]], you have the option to command the Ilwrath to deform certain words, but they don't do this except when confirming the commandment (though it is possible that they are simply focused on the other orders, forgetting these).
*The [[Melnorme]] describe the Sentient Milieu as spanning five hundred light-years, though distance in HyperSpace is not measured in light-years, but [[standard HyperSpace distance unit]]s.
*The [[Mycon]] are described as "thriving in temperatures close to the melting point of lead" (327.5 degrees centigrade), yet none of the [[Shattered World]]s have surface temperatures that high (though the Mycon may live beneath the surface where the temperature is not indicated).
*The paper starmap shows that the galactic spin is to the "northwest", while in-game it is suggested that it is to the "southeast", since the Ur-Quan had traveled spinward and arrived in our region in the "northwest".
*Two (not necessarily contradictory) reasons are given for the [[Fury#Secondary|insults]] used by a [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]]'s captain. The manual says that the Fury's secondary recharges the ship's batteries. The Pkunk say that the insults, in fact, throw them into a frenzy, lest their peaceful nature forbids them from attacking the enemy ship.
*The SC2 manual implies that the Androsynth warped into HyperSpace from near the Asteroid Belt during their [[Clone Revolt]], while all other [[canon]] sources deem hyperspacing from inside a planetary system impossible.
*The Melnorme say that the Ur-Quan spread the [[Dnyarri]] across Milieu space in a month, allowing them to [[mental compulsion|mentally compel]] all the member races, while the Role Playing Resource Guide says that a slave war took place, which lasted for several months and resulted in the eventual enslavement of all Milieu races.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] language is said to contain only consonants, and no vowels, yet the captain names often contain vowels.

==Simplifications==
Some aspects of the game are simplifications of features described elsewhere in the game, or the real world. They are often simplified representations of what is actually going on, and as such are not strictly inconsistencies. These simplifications are probably made out of technical limitations, or for putting gameplay above accuracy.
*Missing features of real objects (e.g. moons and rings in the Sol system, no asteroids or nebulae)
*No relativistic effects
*Ships "warp in" into [[Super Melee]] even if they both started in [[TrueSpace]].
*When the [[Flagship]] is in [[TrueSpace]], [[battlegroup]]s in [[HyperSpace]] do not move.
*In certain dialogs, some events are described as occurring "''X'' years ago" or "''X'' years in the future". However, this number is the same regardless of what year in the game the conversation occurs. For example, [[Hayes]], when asked about the events after the [[Great War]], will always say that he was transferred to the Starbase eight years ago.
*[[Leyland gravity whip]]s are a warped and simplified version of [[wikipedia:Gravitational slingshot|Gravitational slingshots]].
*Planet landings are highly unrealistic (an exaggerate number of dangers, a planet too small), and time does not pass while orbiting or exploring a planet. For example, it is possible to completely exterminate the [[Evil Ones]] species from [[Spathiwa]] with a single lander (and store them inside it), in a very short time.
*Enemies are dumb, both in Super Melee and in HyperSpace.
*Super Melee is not to scale, contains an exaggerated number of asteroids (and asteroid-planet collisions) and has ships fighting one by one instead of all together.
*Although the [[Supox]] and the [[Utwig]] mention that they fight the [[Kohr-Ah]] in tandem, their spheres of influence are separated while in battle with the aforementioned [[Ur-Quan]] subspecies.
*There exists the ability to have non-[[Orz]] use [[Nemesis#Secondary|Orz Marine]]s, though it is explicitly stated that vessels of a certain species may only be captained by that species. Also, regardless of whether your crew is entirely non-Human, there will always be a [[Bukowski]], [[Liebermann triplets]] and so on.
*When the Utwig start moving towards their homeworld (retreating after their [[Supox and Utwig offensive against the Kohr-Ah|offensive against the Kohr-Ah]]), ships immediately appear in their star system, saying that they have returned from the battle.
*[[Homeworlds]] are untouched until the corresponding Sphere of Influence disappears.
*[[Slave-shield]]ed worlds ([[Gaia]], [[Spathiwa]] and [[Unzervalt]]) are not cleansed by the Kohr-Ah during their [[Death March]].
*[[Shattered World]]s are uninhabited by Mycon in-game.
*If the [[Thraddash]] fleet is off fighting the Kohr-Ah, the [[Ilwrath]] still [[Ilwrath-Thraddash war|move to their space]] and fighting ensues... with several [[distance unit]]s between the opposing sides.
*The Ilwrath don't notice the absence of the Pkunk after their assimilation in the Yehat culture.
*The [[neo-Dnyarri]] talks about the [[Taalo Shield]] being aboard even if he was rescued from [[Beta Orionis I]] after the Death March (in which case the Shield is not needed, as the creature does not try to use its compulsion powers) ([http://bugs.uqm.stack.nl/show_bug.cgi?id=822 bug #822]).
*After the mutual genocide of the Ilwrath and the Thraddash, although the Ilwrath at their homeworld, [[Alpha Tauri I]], are exterminated, they still can be talked to by impersonating [[Dogar and Kazon]] with a HyperWave Caster (with the same dialogue options as during the [[Ilwrath-Thraddash war]]) ([http://bugs.uqm.stack.nl/show_bug.cgi?id=850 bug #850]).

==Gameplay oddities==
Apparently unusual gameplay discrepancies (which may have a reason behind them).
*The [[Kohr-Ah]] wipe out the Arilou [[Sphere of Influence]], but their homeworld is untouched (they may have just been forced to retreat entirely to [[QuasiSpace]]).
*[[Melnorme]] Trade Master [[Greenish]] is not the same captain in combat if you choose to be hostile the first time.
*Thraddash [[Torch]]es can still be built at the [[Earth Starbase]] after taking the [[Aqua Helix]]; individual Thraddash will attack you, but for the rest, the game behaves as if the Alliance is still intact ([[uqmbug:973|bug #973]]).
*Normally [[VUX]] [[Intruder]]s warp into the combat zone right next to the enemy ship, but in the SC2 full game this does not seem to apply.

==Differences with the real world==
*The [[List of star types#Color classification|star color]] ladder is not scientifically accurate (see [[wikipedia:Stellar classification#Harvard spectral classification|here]]).
*[[wikipedia:Planetary system|Planetary systems]] are misnamed in-game "[[wikipedia:Star system|star systems]]".
*[[wikipedia:Agoraphobia|Agoraphobia]] is misunderstood as a fear of open places (see [[Umgah]]), while in reality it is a fear of leaving one's "safety zone".
*"Redux" (as in "[[List of planet types#Redux (Reduction)|Redux World]]") is misunderstood being synonymous to "reduction", while it means instead "brought back". ([http://bugs.uqm.stack.nl/show_bug.cgi?id=994 bug #994])

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Influences and references

2007-06-25T08:02:48Z

Gaeamil: /* Other */

{{incomplete}}

The [[Star Control|Star Control 1]] manual mentions "Inspired by the Works of Fiction of: [[wikipedia:Orson Scott Card|Orson Scott Card]], [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]], [[wikipedia:Andre Norton|Andre Norton]], [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]], [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]], [[wikipedia:Jack Vance|Jack Vance]], [[wikipedia:Alan Dean Foster|Alan Dean Foster]], [[wikipedia:Keith Laumer|Keith Laumer]], [[wikipedia:A. E. Van Vogt|A.E. Van Vogt]], [[wikipedia:E. E. Smith|E.E. "Doc" Smith]], [[wikipedia:Joe Haldeman|Joe Haldeman]], [[wikipedia:Dan Simmons|Dan Simmons]], [[wikipedia:Fred Saberhagen|Fred Saberhagen]] and 100 worthy others."

==Alien design==
The names of certain races introduced in [[Star Control II]] are taken from the so-called "[[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]]" (the copy-protection of Star Control): [[Orz]], [[Pkunk]], [[Slylandro]], [[Supox]], [[Thraddash]] (as "Thrddash"), [[Utwig]], and [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]].

The name [[Androsynth]] is taken from the Greek "andros" ("man") and "synthetic" from Greek "syn" ("together") and "thesis" ("put"), or as the [[Star Control II]] manual says it "fake men".

The pink triangle on the suits of the Androsynth in [[SuperMelee]] is a [[wikipedia:Pink triangle|gay symbol]].

The Star Control 2 manual describes the [[Chenjesu]] as being "a bit more equal" than the other [[Alliance]] races, which is a reference to a [[wikipedia:Seven Commandments|similar statement]] found in ''[[wikipedia:Animal Farm|Animal Farm]]'' by [[wikipedia:George Orwell|George Orwell]].

The name [[Drall]] is also used for a species in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which lives on a planet with the same name in the Corellian System. The only reference to the [[wikipedia:List of Star Wars races (A-E)#Drall|Star Wars Drall]] prior to 1992 (pre-SC2) is in ''[[wikipedia:Han Solo and the Lost Legacy|Han Solo and the Lost Legacy]]'', where one is described as being "oily-skinned" with a gleaming red hide.

The name [[Druuge]] is pronounced almost exactly like the ancient Persian word "druj" - a term of [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian religion]] that is very roughly translated as "daeva (demon) of lies". Since the Druuge are proven liars and resemble the [[wikipedia:Daeva|daevas]], which are described as "beings with combined human and animal characteristics," this may have been an influence.

The [[Ilwrath]] were named after a friend of the creators (XXX: both?) named McIlwraith.

The name [[Melnorme]] is a reference to jazz singer [[wikipedia:Mel Tormé|Mel Tormé]].

The [[Mycon]] is taken from the Greek prefix "myc-" or "myco-", which means Fungus.

The [[Orz]] and the disappearance of the [[Androsynth]] were influenced by [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]'s writings. (XXX: need more exact references). The *fingers* may originate from Asimov's story "[[wikipedia:Catch that Rabbit|Catch that Rabbit]]" where a robot known as DV-5 has six other robots under its control which are refered to as "fingers".

Utricularia, as in ''[[Supox]] Utricularia'', is a genus of carnivorous plants more commonly known as [[Wikipedia:Bladderwort|Bladderwort]].

The [[Shofixti]] are inspired by the historical [[wikipedia:History of Japan|Japanese culture]].
"[[Kyabetsu]]", the name of the former Shofixti homeworld, means "cabbage". The tiny main gun of their [[Scout]] ships is called the Mendokusai Energy Dart; "Mendoukusai" in Japanese means "irritating; bothersome."

[[Spathi]] is "Sword" in Greek. Maybe, the name is meant to be very ironical, because the Spathi are so cowardly. Also, the rumours of the Black Spathi Squadron are most likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:VMA-214|Black Sheep Squadron]] from World War 2.

The [[Syreen]] are based on the [[wikipedia:Siren|Siren]]s from classical mythology. They were sea nymphs who would use enchanting song to lure ships onto the cliffs.

The [[Yehat]] are inspired in part by the [[wikipedia:Scottish clan|Scottish clan]]s and by [[Wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]]'s [[Wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift]] series.

===Larry Niven influences===
A number of aliens draw some of their inspiration from Niven's [[wikipedia:Known Space|Known Space]] novels. Fred and Paul have openly admitted in a [[TFB chat protocols|1998 IRC chat]] to being influenced by these novels.{{ref|1}}
*The [[Dnyarri]] are very similar in description, powers, and history to the [[wikipedia:Thrint|Thrint]]un race, "a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control." Like the [[wikipedia:Grogs|Grogs]], the Talking Pets are devolved forms of a once-great race.
*The [[Precursors]] are also slightly similar to the Thrintun who likewise left behind relics to be used by the modern-day characters in Niven's novels and who were given a vague moniker, "Slavers", by later races since their real name was unknown.
*Though not physiologically, the [[Spathi]] resemble less advanced versions of the cowardly [[wikipedia:Pierson's Puppeteer|Pierson's Puppeteer]]s.
*The [[Arilou]], in their speculated capacity as genetic manipulators of humanity, are also similar to the Puppeteers.
*The [[Melnorme]], like the [[wikipedia:Outsiders (Known Space)|Outsiders]], are traveling merchants who trade in information and will answer any question for the right price.
**The [[Keel-Verezy]] may be similar to the [[wikipedia:Starseed|Starseeds]], sharing a similar relation with the [[Melnorme]] as the starseeds with the Outsiders.
*The [[Shofixti]] are similar in appearance and warlike tendencies to the [[wikipedia:kzin|kzin]].

===StarFlight influences===
The creators of [[Star Control]] and [[Star Control 2]] worked in the making of the [[wikipedia:StarFlight|StarFlight]] games as well, and some SC elements are clearly inspired from the SF universe:
*The name [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] may originate from the StarFlight race Aeoruiiaeo.
*Physically, the [[Umgah]] resemble the Spemin. In terms of behavior, they are almost identical to the Teeelveee.
*Culturally and psychologically, the [[Utwig]] resemble the Dweenle - and, in a lesser degree, the Lieu Vadish.
**The [[VUX]] also appear to be influenced by the Lieu Vadish.
*The [[Supox]] greatly resemble the Elowan.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] resemble the Mechan.
*Physically, the [[Mycon]] resemble the Nathracch.
*The useless [[Wimbli's Trident]] and [[Glowing Rod]] resemble some similar, useless "alien curiosities" from StarFlight.
*The denomination "[[Interstar Credits]]" is probably inspired from the name of the currency in the game, "Interstel Credits".

==Dialog==
The default name of [[The Captain]], Zelnick, may come from Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of [[Crystal Dynamics]] at the time of the 3DO version of Star Control II was being made. The producer of the 3DO version of Star Control II was Crystal Dynamics.

====Arilou====
The [[Arilou]]'s final remark "Be seeing you..." may be a reference to the tv series [[wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]].

====Ilwrath====
One of the gods that the [[Ilwrath]] used to worship was called "Awk of Seds", a reference to the text processing programs [[wikipedia:AWK programming language|awk]] and [[wikipedia:sed|sed]].

[[wikipedia:Captain Satellite|Captain Satellite]], which the [[Ilwrath]] confess to have watched on [[Channel 44]] prior to [[Dogar and Kazon]]'s transmissions, was a show on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California.

====Melnorme====
The Melnorme line "This very morning, I was just saying to subordinate Ochre `Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the feet of a Hu-Hu-Man!'" refers to the fairy tale [[Wikipedia:Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk]], where an ogre (a flesh-eating giant) speaks the line "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.". The similarity between the subordiate's name "Ochre" and "ogre" is probably not a coincidence either.

The phrase "itchy pods" from the Melnorme line "I had itchy pods this morning, Captain, and here you are!" may come from the wives' tale of "itchy palms" that predict wealth. It may have also been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by [[wikipedia:Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss]]' book "On Beyond Zebra", which introduces the letter "ITCH" with the line "And 'way, 'way past Z is a letter called ITCH. And the ITCH is for Itch-a-pods, animals which [...]".

====Pkunk====
[[The Captain]]'s remark to the [[Pkunk]] "Hey! Bird-brains! Got any fruit loops? Har-har-har!" refers to a brand of breakfast cereal called [[wikipedia:Froot Loops|Froot Loops]], which features a toucan resembling the Pkunk as its mascot.

The Pkunk say that they insult their foes to keep from "wrapping around" to evil; this is a programmer's joke about the nature of integers under the C programming language (and many others.) If you increase a number past its maximum (for example, 128 in an 8 bit integer) it suddenly becomes negative (-127, in this example.)

The Pkunk mention channeling a ancient warrior called [[Rumdumdaddy]], which is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Ramtha|Ramtha]], an ancient Lemurian warrior that [[wikipedia:JZ Knight|JZ Knight]] claims to channel.

Many Pkunk dialog is a play on Far East/New Age philosophies. The Pkunk's observation that everyone in their past lives were famous, rich or interesting, and that hence other people don't reincarnate makes fun of the readings of so-called psychic mediums, who generally try to inspire faith by telling people what they want to hear.

====Shofixti====
[[Tanaka]]'s opening comments, "you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - in fact, my entire race! Prepare to die," may pay homage to the movie [[wikipedia:The Princess Bride|The Princess Bride]], in which the character [[wikipedia:Inigo Montoya|Inigo Montoya]] has prepared a similar comment for when he confronts his father's murderer, [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]].

====Slylandro====
When you choose the aggressive lines to speak towards the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s, the third time you get the response "ENACTING THIRD LAW." before combat is initiated. This refers to Isaac Asimov's [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|Three Laws of Robotics]]. The third law says "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.". The Probe's version must not have the first clause as the first law says "A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.". (Alternatively, its First Law applies to solely to its creator race, which grant humans and other sentients no special protection.) Also the [[Slylandro]] will go "to seek out new life and new civilizations, to go where no catalog item 2418 Remote Self-replicating robot probe had gone before." when asked about the programming of the probes, a reference to Star Trek.

====Spathi====
When the [[Spathi]] [[The Safe Ones|Safe Ones]] ask the player for the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]], one of the incorrect options is "Wagh-nagl Fthagn", which spelled a little bit differently ("Wgah'nagl Fhtagn") comes from "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!''", a liturgical phrase in H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:Cthulhu mythos|Cthulhu mythos]].

One of the other options for the Spathi Cypher, "Gort, merenga!" comes from the movie "[[wikipedia:The Day the Earth Stood Still|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]".

====Starbase====
When [[The Captain]] gets to choose the name for the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|new alliance]], one of his options is "The United Federation of Worlds", a reference to the [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]] from Star Trek. [[Starbase]] Commander [[Hayes]] will reply to this choice by saying "we will make it so", another reference to Star Trek, where captain [[Wikipedia:Jean-Luc Picard|Jean-Luc Picard]] would frequently order to "make it so".

Commander Hayes mentions early on that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] annihilated Buenos Aires. This is most likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]]'s novel [[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]], where the alien race humanity is fighting against similarly destroy Argentina's capital.

Commander Hayes also mentions that when the Ur-Quan destroyed much of mankind's history, they also destroyed several places without any known value. These places likely correspond to locations in popular fiction and mythology. They are:
*"kilometer of land in central Iraq" - possibly the biblical [[Wikipedia:Babel|Babel]], [[Wikipedia:The Nameless City|The Nameless City]] from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, or [[Wikipedia:Iram of the Pillars|Iram of the Pillars]]
*"several targets in the Amazon rain forest" - possibly [[Wikipedia:El Dorado|El Dorado]] or simply just other undiscovered city centers in the Amazon jungle
*"something deep under the surface [of the Antarctic icecap]" - possibly a reference to the alien city discovered in H. P. Lovecraft's ''[[Wikipedia:At the Mountains of Madness|At the Mountains of Madness]]''
*"broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic" - possibly [[Wikipedia:Atlantis|Atlantis]]

The idea of a "[[psychon]]" present in Commander Hayes' statement that when an electric current is fed into the [[Taalo Shield]] "all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined" probably originates from [[wikipedia:Sir John Eccles|Sir John Eccles]]' psychon theory, presented in his book "[[wikipedia:How the Self Controls Its Brain|How the Self Controls Its Brain]]".

====Utwig====
When the [[Utwig]] are trying to tell you what to do with the [[Precursor Bomb]], at one point they say that the "Bomb must be...Hugged?" This is likely a reference to the movie [[Wikipedia:Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]].

One of the ways that the Utwig determined that the [[Ultron]] could have been saved was by cushioning the fall with a fuzzy wumpus. A Wumpus is a mysterious monster from the famous, early computer game [[Wikipedia:Hunt the Wumpus|Hunt the Wumpus]].

When describing the [[Kohr-Ah]], the Utwig say that their stated purpose is "to seek out new life and new civilizations...and then annihilate them," a clear play on the mission statement of the [[Wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] of [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]] fame.

The Utwig parting phrase "May the Ultron be with you!" is a variation on the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "May the Force be with you."

The [[Chief Groo]]'s name may originate from [[wikipedia:Groo the Wanderer|Groo the Wanderer]]'s name.

====VUX====
The description of the constellation that is described as "the snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" in the DOS version ("the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast." in the 3DO version and UQM) is a reference to the children's book [[wikipedia:Le Petit Prince|Le Petit Prince]] by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which [http://www.korczak.com/Exupery/englisch/i.html describes and shows] an image of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

The VUX say that [[Captain Rand]]'s [[Insult]] fixed their attitude setting at "ABHOR", which may be a reference to [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] from Star Control 1, where the player was to select the correct attitude for a given situation; one of the answers was "ABHOR", again in all caps.

====Yehat====
"[[Cheep-Guava]]", the name of the head of the [[Yehat]] revolution, is a pun on "[[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|Che Guevara]]", the Cuban revolutionary leader.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
When first meeting the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] at their homeworld, they warn you not to try stealing their atmosphere, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Spaceballs|Spaceballs]].

The coordinates "...ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy" of the Zoq-Fot-Pik homeworld given in their initial encounter refers to Hawaiian words for two types of [[Wikipedia:lava|lava]] flows, "Aa" and "Pahoehoe".

====Other====
The Mosquito Mange is mentioned in the [[Androsynth]] computer records immediately prior to their disappearance. It is a reference to the term found in [[wikipedia:Roadside Picnic|Roadside Picnic]] refering to graviconcentrates - areas of heightened and directed gravity.

The ''Roadside Picnic'' might also be the inspiration for the 'Empties'. In the novel they are one of the common alien artifacts found in the Zones. In the game they are a [[Precursor]] artifact that Commander Hayes mentions in relation to the [[Ultron]].

==Ship Captains==
Numerous ship captain names are actually references.

====Androsynth====
*'''1040-EZ''' is a common [[wikipedia:Form 1040EZ|tax return form]] in the United States.
*'''976-KILL''' is probably meant as an American phone number. It may also refer to the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094597/ 976-EVIL]. The "976" prefix is reserved for pay services.
*'''[[wikipedia:AK-47|AK-47]]''' is the famous Avtomat Kalashnikova assault rifle
*'''BHS-79''' ''(just a wild guess here- is this the initials of one of the high schools they attended, and their graduation date?)''
*'''BIM-XT''' is an anagram for the [[wikipedia:IBM XT|IBM XT]] personal computer from the early 1980s
*'''BOOJI-1''' is a possible reference to the character [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] from the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].
*'''CRC-16''' is a 16 bits "[[wikipedia:Cyclic redundancy check|Cyclic redundancy check]] (an error-detecting checksum).
*'''DORN-3''' may be a reference to artist John Alfred Dorn III, who did several illustrations for the novels of [[wikipedia:Stanisław Lem|Stanisław Lem]]. It could also be a reference [[wikipedia:Michael Dorn|Michael Dorn]] who played Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
*'''DOS-1.0''' is a reference to one or all of the various early disk operating systems ([[wikipedia:PC-DIS|PC-DOS]], [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], [[wikipedia:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], etc).
*'''HAL-2001''' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] computer from [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]]'s and [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]
*'''JOR-15''' might be a reference to [[wikipedia:Jor-El|Jor-El]], superman's biological father in the DC comics universe.
*'''KORB-7B''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Korb|Lawrence Korb]], a former US Secretary of Defense heavily involved in military security.
*'''ME-262''' is a reference to the Messerschmitt [[wikipedia:Me-262|Me-262]], the first operational jet powered aircraft.
*'''NECRO-99''' may be a reference to the robot NECRON-99 from the movie [[wikipedia:Wizards (movie)|Wizards]].
*'''SR-71''' is a reference to the Lockheed [[wikipedia:SR-71|SR-71 Blackbird]], an advanced reconnaissance aircraft.
*'''[[wikipedia:Merkur XR4Ti|XR4-TI]]''' was a car model manufactured by the short-lived [[wikipedia:Merkur|Merkur]] brand.

====Druuge====
*'''Moola''' is a play on "moolah", an English slang word for money.
*'''Duulard''' could be a play on "dullard," which is slang for a boring person.

====Human====
*'''Adama''' is the captain of the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] in the television series by the same name.
*'''Belt''' is a reference to Henry Belt, captain of a solar sail vessel in Jack Vance's short story ''Sail 25''.
*'''Buck''' refers to [[wikipedia:Buck Rogers|Buck Rogers]], a character who appeared in popular sci-fi comic strips and serials in the late 30's, as well as a later television series.
*'''Decker''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Willard Decker|Willard Decker]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the movie [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Motion Picture|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]].
*'''Ender''' is a reference to the main character of the Orson Scott Card novel [[wikipedia:Ender's Game|Ender's Game]].
*'''Graeme''' is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the [[wikipedia: Childe Cycle|Childe Cycle]] novels by [[wikipedia:Gordon R. Dickson|Gordon R. Dickson]]. ''(This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)''
*'''Halleck''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Gurney Halleck|Gurney Halleck]] of the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Kirk''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:James T. Kirk|James T. Kirk]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the original series of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Pike''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Christopher Pike|Christopher Pike]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the pilot episode of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Pirx|Pirx]]''' is a reference to a fictional test pilot in a series of stories by Stanisław Lem.
*'''Solo''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Millennium Falcon|Millennium Falcon]] in [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] episode 4 through 6.
*'''Spiff''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Spaceman Spiff|Spaceman Spiff]], a fantasy identity of Calvin from [[wikipedia:Calvin and Hobbes|Calvin and Hobbes]]
*'''Trent''' is a reference to Jeff Trent, civilian airline pilot from [[wikipedia:Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9 from Outer Space]]
*'''Tuf''' is a reference to Haviland Tuf, the protagonist in [[wikipedia:Tuf Voyaging|Tuf Voyaging]] by [[wikipedia:George R.R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]].
*'''VanRijn''' is a reference to the merchant prince Nicholas Van Rijn in [[wikipedia:Poul Anderson|Poul Anderson]]'s stories.
*'''Wu''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Louis Wu|Louis Wu]], the protagonist of Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld series]].

====Ilwrath====
*'''[[wikipedia:Gorgon|Gorgon]]''' is a famous Greek mythological creature, of which [[wikipedia:Medusa|Medusa]] was one.
*'''Kalgon''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Calgon|Calgon]], a cleansing product.
*'''Taragon''' likely refers to the spice [[wikipedia:tarragon|tarragon]]
*'''[[wikipedia:Baylor University|Baylor]]''' is a university in Waco, Texas.

====Kohr-Ah====
*All of their ship names appear to be '''Death''' followed by a [[wikipedia:Prime_number|prime number]].

====Mycon====
*'''Znuff''' could be a reference to the 1984 rock group [[wikipedia:Enuff Z'nuff|Enuff Z'nuff]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Spork|Spork]]''' is an eating utensil, a hybrid of a spoon and a fork.

====Pkunk====
*'''Crow''' may refer to [[wikipedia:Crow T. Robot|Crow T. Robot]] from [[wikipedia:Mystery Science Theater 3000|Mystery Science Theater 3000]] as well as the obvious type of bird.
*'''Ernie''' is likely a reference to the British cartoon [[wikipedia:Ernie (comic strip)|Ernie]].
*'''Tweety''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Tweety|Tweety Bird]].
*'''WudStok''' is Snoopy's friend [[wikipedia:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] in the comic strip [[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]].

====Shofixti====
*'''Bonsai!''' is actually [[wikipedia:Bonsai|the Japanese art of pruning trees]], but is most likely a reference to the cry [[wikipedia:Ten thousand years|Banzai]].
*'''Busu''' is a Japanese word for ugly
*'''Chimchim''' most likely refers to the pet chimpanzee in [[wikipedia:Speed Racer|Speed Racer]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Daikon|Daikon]]''' is a giant, white radish popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''[[wikipedia:Gaijin|Gaijin]]''' is a disparaging Japanese term for foreigner.
*'''Genjiro''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Genjiro Arato|Genjiro Arato]], a Japanese movie producer, actor, and director.
*'''Ginzu''' is probably the [[wikipedia:Ginsu|Ginsu knife]].
*'''Hiyata''' is a reference to the title character of the Japanese show [[wikipedia:Ultraman|Ultraman]], where it can also be spelled "Hayata".
*'''Ichiban''' is the Japanese word for the number 1, or first
*'''Kimba''' refers to the main character in the Japanese animation [[wikipedia:Kimba the White Lion|Kimba, the White Lion]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Katana|Katana]]''' is a Japanese sword.
*'''[[wikipedia:Kudzu|Kudzu]]''' is an Asian plant that can be found in southern Japan.
*'''Naninani''' is Japanese for "such and such"
*'''[[wikipedia:Sushi|Sushi]]''' is Japanese for seasoned rice, usually associated with raw fish.
*'''Tanaka''' is a fairly common [[wikipedia:Japanese name|Japanese surname]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Tofu|Tofu]]''' is bean curd, popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''Tora-3''' refers to the radio call announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [[wikipedia:Tora Tora Tora|Tora! Tora! Tora!]]
*'''Wasabe''' is a Japanese condiment, usually spelled [[wikipedia:Wasabi|wasabi]].

====Spathi====
*'''Jinkeze''' is a reference to the catchphrase of [[Wikipedia:Velma Dinkley|Velma Dinkley]], a main character in the [[Wikipedia:Scooby-Doo|Scooby-Doo]] cartoons, which she says when she is scared or surprised.

====Supox====
*'''Crinoid''' is a reference to the Krynoids, hostile sentient plants in the [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]] episode ''The Seeds of Doom''.
*'''Trifid''' is a reference to the carnivorous, mobile (and possibly intelligent) plants in [[wikipedia:The Day of the Triffids|The Day of the Triffids]].
*All of the other captain names are parts or types of plants.

====Syreen====
*'''Aelita''' refers to the early Soviet sci-fi novel ''Aelita'' by [[wikipedia:Alexei Tolstoy|Alexei Tolstoy]] or to a silent film [[wikipedia:Aelita|Aelita:Queen of Mars]] based on it.
*'''Alia''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Alia Atreides|St. Alia of the Knife]], the sister of [[wikipedia:Paul Atreides|Paul Atreides]] in the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Alura''' is possibly a reference either to Princess Allura in the [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] cartoon series or to the mother of [[wikipedia:Supergirl|Supergirl]].
*'''Ardala''' is a reference to the Princess Ardala, nemesis of Buck Rogers.
*'''Be'lit''' is a possible reference to [[wikipedia:Belit|Belit]], a pirate queen in the [[wikipedia:Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Barbarian]] stories.
*'''Brawne''' refers to Brawne Lamia, a character in Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]] books.
*'''Dale''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Dale Arden|Dale Arden]], the girlfriend of [[wikipedia:Flash Gordon|Flash Gordon]].
*'''Danning''' is a reference to the actress [[wikipedia:Sybil Danning|Sybil Danning]].
*'''Dejah''' may be a reference to Dejah Thoris Burroughs (Deety) in Robert A. Heinlein's [[wikipedia:The Number of the Beast (novel)|The Number of the Beast]], or to Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, in the [[wikipedia:Barsoom series|Barsoom series]] by [[wikipedia:Edgar Rice Burroughs|Edgar Rice Burroughs]].
*'''Maya''' refers to the attractive female [[wikipedia:Space 1999|Space: 1999]] character gifted with shapeshifing abilties.
*'''Munro''' possibly refers to another genre actress, [[wikipedia:Caroline Munro|Caroline Munro]].
*'''Penny''' possibly refers to the lead female character in the movie [[wikipedia:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension|The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]], or the character of Penny Robinson in the television show Lost in Space.
*'''Ripley''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Ellen Ripley|Lieutenant Ripley]], as portrayed by [[wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] in the movie [[wikipedia:Alien (movie)|Alien]].
*'''Sparta''' is a reference to the beautiful female protagonist with a mysterious past in the Venus Prime series by [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Preuss|Paul Preuss]].
*'''Teela''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Teela Brown|Teela Brown]], one of the heroines of the Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] novels.
*'''Yarr''' may be a reference to [[wikipedia:Natasha Yar|Natasha Yar]] who appeared in [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]].

====Umgah====
*'''Bob''' is possibly a reference to the creators themselves: [[Toys For Bob]].
*'''Brewz'k''' is likely the slang word "brewski".
*'''Ei'Ei'o''' is probably referring to the refrain of the children's song ''[[wikipedia:Old MacDonald Had a Farm|Old MacDonald Had a Farm]]''. The name was used before in [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] in [[Star Control 1]].

====Ur-Quan====
*While all captain's names are '''Lord''' followed by a number, '''Lord 666''' is notable as a reference to the [[wikipedia:Number of the Beast|Number of the Beast]]. There is no known pattern to their numbers, unlike the Kohr-Ah.

====Utwig====
*'''Endo''' might refer to a slang word for [[Wikipedia:marijuana|marijuana]]. In Japanese, this is also type of pea.
*'''Manny''' might refer to the main character in [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s book [[wikipedia:the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress|The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress]].
*'''Nestor''' might refer to the [[Wikipedia:NS-2|NS-2]], a robot model in Asimov's "[[Wikipedia:Little Lost Robot|Little Lost Robot]]" that can, by inaction, allow a human to be harmed.
*'''Jujuby''' might be an alternate spelling of '[[Wikipedia:Jujube|Jujube]]', which is the fruit of a certain tree, also known as the "Chinese Date".

====VUX====
*'''[[wikipedia:Program Information File|PIF]]''' is a file extension used in early versions of [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].
*'''VIP''' is an acronym meaning "very important person".
*'''YUK''' likely comes from the work "yuck" -- an appropriate name, given the VUX's appearance.
*'''[[wikipedia:zit|ZIT]]''' likely comes from the skin blemish of the same name.
*'''NRF''' may refer to the toy gun brand [[wikipedia:Nerf|Nerf]].

====Yehat====
*'''Beep-eep''' could refer to the token sound made by the [[wikipedia:RWile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Road Runner]] in various [[wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]] animations and products.
*All the rest of their captains' names simply change the first letter.

====Zoq Fot Pik====
*'''RinTin''' is likely named after the famous movie dog [[wikipedia:Rin Tin Tin|Rin Tin Tin]].
*'''TikTak''' is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tic Tac (candy)|Tic Tac]] breath mints or to the children's game [[wikipedia:Tic-tac-toe|Tic-tac-toe]].

==Ship Designs==
*The '''[[Arilou]]'s [[Skiff]]''' vessel is reminiscent of the 'traditional' flying saucers or UFO's.
*The '''[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]''' seems to be inspired by the Federation Starships from [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*The '''[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]''' shares the same approximate configuration as both the [[wikipedia:Klingon starships|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] and the [[wikipedia:Romulan starships|Romulan Warbird]] from Star Trek.
*The '''[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-Form]]''' takes inspiration for both of its transformation forms from two popular [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] Rebellion fighters -- the [[wikipedia:X-Wing|X-Wing]] and the [[wikipedia:Y-Wing|Y-Wing]], respectively.
*The '''[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]''' is shaped after the [[wikipedia:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket]], and a dildo.
*The '''[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]]''' bears more than a passing resemblence to the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (ship)|BattleStar command ships]] from BattleStar Galactica.
*The '''[[VUX]] [[Intruder]]''' shares a similar relationship with the D7 class Klingon starship.

==Star and constellation names==
According to the [[HyperSpace]] starmap, the names for the HyperSpace stars and constellations were taken from "traditional astronomical designations." These are the in-game star and constellation names that don't directly correspond to real life astronomical designations. Others such as Lalande and Wolf, while not the name of actual constellations, appear to be derived from astronomical designations.
*'''Almagest''' is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Almagest|Almagest]], an astronomical treatise written by [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]] and describing his geocentric theory.
*'''Arianni''' may be a reference to the "inner earth people" with the same name mentioned in a purported [http://www.reversespins.com/byrd.html missing diary] of [[wikipedia:Admiral Byrd|Admiral Byrd]]. Alternative origins may be the [[Wikipedia:Ariane (rocket)|Ariane rockets]], which were the primary launch vehicle of the European Space Agency in the latter portion of the 20th century, the planet [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/places/article/69410.html Ariannus] from the original [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], the [[wikipedia:Arianism|Arianist]] religious doctrine, the [[wikipedia:Aryan|Arian/Aryan]] (Proto-Indo-European) people or the ancient Greek historian [[wikipedia:Arrian|Arrian]].
*'''Brahe''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Tycho Brahe|Tycho Brahe]], the famous Danish astronomer of the 16th century.
*'''Cerenkov''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov|Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov]], a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate.
*'''Chandrasekhar''' is a reference to the Indian-American astrophysicist [[Wikipedia:Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], famous for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.
*'''Copernicus''' is a reference [[Wikipedia:Nicolaus Copernicus|Nicolaus Copernicus]], the polish astronomer who proposed the sun was the center of the solar system.
*'''Gorno''' is a possible reference to the [[Wikipedia:Gorn|Gorn]], a race in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Hyginus''' is a reference to the attributed author of [[Wikipedia:Poeticon astronomicon|Poeticon astronomicon]].
*'''Hyperion''' is a reference to the main setting of Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]].
*'''Illuminati''' is a reference to a variety of conspiracy theories, especially those of the [[Wikipedia:Illuminati|Bavarian Illuminati]].
*'''Kepler''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Johannes Kepler|Johannes Kepler]] who discovered the three laws of planetary motion.
*'''Klystron''' is a reference to a kind of vacuum tube used in early radar systems.
*'''Lentilis''' is probably a reference to the Lentili from David Brin's short story [[Wikipedia:Sshhh ...|Sshhh ...]].
*'''Lipi''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Lupus (constellation)|Lupus]]", an existing constellation.
*'''Maksutov''' is likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Maksutov telescope|Maksutov telescope]] invented by the Russian optician [[Wikipedia:Dimtri Maksutov|Dimtri Maksutov]].
*'''Mersenne''' is a reference to [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mersenne.html Marin Mersenne] a Minim friar who lived in France from 1588-1648 and was a major founder of number theory.
*'''Metis''' is a [[wikipedia:Metis (moon)|moon of Jupiter]], and correspondingly a [[wikipedia:Metis (mythology)|character]] in Greek mythology.
*'''Olber''' is likely a reference to [[Wikipedia:Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers|Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers]], a German astronomer.
*'''Organon''' is likely a reference to either Francis Bacon's book [[Wikipedia:Novum Organum|The New Organon]] or Aristotle's [[Wikipedia:Organon|Organon]], after which Bacon's book was named. Alternatively it could be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Organia|Organia]], an important location in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], or to the [[Wikipedia:Organa family|Organa family]] in the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] universe.
*'''Ptolemae''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]], an ancient astronomer whose Geocentric views Copernicus replaced.
*'''Raynet''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Wolf-Rayet|Rayet]]", an existing astronomical designation. It could also be a reference to British amateur radio network [[Wikipedia:RAYNET|RAYNET]].
*'''Saurus''' is possibly a reference to [[wikipedia:Eden Phillpotts|Eden Phillpotts]] novel ''Saurus''. It is also similar to the Greek word for "reptile".
*'''Squidi'''
*'''Vitalis'''
*'''Zeeman''' is possibly a reference to the physicist [[Wikipedia:Pieter Zeeman|Pieter Zeeman]] for whom a [[Wikipedia:Zeeman (crater)|crater]] on the moon is named.

==Other==
*'''[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]s''' are named after Robert Leyland, a Toys For Bob programmer.

*'''[[Table of bio types|Roto-Dendrons]]''' (found on planets) are a [[wikipedia:portmaneau|portmaneau]] of ''roto-'' and the real flower [[wikipedia:rhododendron|rhododendron]]s.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}{{IRC1998}}
::<Manta> Fwiffo: Has anyone ever brought up parallels between Babylon 5 and Star Control? 
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 causes a certain amount of stomping around the office screaming. 
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 steals from us. We steal from known space. 
::<Fwiffo> And Larry in known space steals from others.

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Music

2007-06-25T00:52:30Z

Gaeamil:

#REDIRECT[[Star Control Music]]

Super-Melee demonstration videos

2007-06-23T22:28:43Z

Gaeamil: /* Leyland Gravity Whip */

This page shows some basic [[Super-Melee]] techniques as well as how to handle some difficult matchups against the computer.

__TOC__

==Techniques==

===[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]===
The Gravity Whip is simply flying close to the planet, but not so close that you fall into it, just close enough to get into its gravity well. This will fling your ship to a much higher speed than before, often past your ship's top speed.

===Escaping a [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]]'s tractor beam===
The basic trick here is not to trust directly away from the Avatar, but rather trust at a 90 degrees angle to it.
See [[#Defeating a Chmmr Avatar with a Mycon Podship|Defeating a Chmmr Avatar with a Mycon Podship]]

==Difficult matchups==

This section shows matchups against an "Awesome" computer opponent.

===Defeating a [[Shofixti]] [[Scout]] with an [[Arilou]] [[Skiff]]===
Link: [[Media:Arilou_Skiff_defeats_Shofixti_Scout.avi]]

===Defeating a [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] with a [[Mycon]] [[Podship]]===
Link: [[Media:Mycon_Podship_defeats_Chmmr_Avatar.avi]]

===Defeating a [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] with a [[Spathi]] [[Eluder]]===
Link: [[Media:Spathi_Eluder_defeats_Chmmr_Avatar.avi]]

===Defeating a [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] with a [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] [[Stinger]]===
Link: [[Media:Zoq-Fot-Pik_Stinger_defeats_Chmmr_Avatar.avi]]

Fury

2007-06-23T06:23:44Z

Gaeamil: /* Tactical Overview */ It's true, I just tried it

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Pkunk_Fury_Icon.png|right]]
The [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]] doesn't seem, at first glance, more than a weak, overpriced ship. Despite the fact that the ship isn't very powerful in terms of crew or battery capacity, the speed and turning rate can make it the best fighter in the game when in the hands of a skilled pilot. Its effectiveness against the [[Sa-Matra]] shows that it can be highly dangerous, if used properly.

==Navigation==
There are few things in space faster than a Pkunk Fury. Some special movement modes — the [[Thraddash]] [[Torch]] Afterburner and [[Umgah]] [[Drone]] Reverse Thruster — can out run it, but none of them can maneuver like the Fury at that speed. The Fury has a turning radius rivaling the one of the [[Arilou]] [[Skiff]].

==Armament==

===Primary===
The primary weapon is a triple mounted minigun that fires forward and to both flanks. They pump out super-heated metal pellets at an incredibly fast rate. The range of the weapon is very limited, since the pellets cool off rapidly. Although their short range can be written off as a weakness, the combat effectiveness of the Fury should not be underestimated. One strategy used by Fury pilots is "the ring of death" (not to be confused with with the [[Kohr-Ah]] [[Marauder]]'s FRIED emitter), sometimes known as the "Death Blossom". This move is executed by firing and turning at the same time. When done properly, the dense circle of shots can tear up any ship, marine, or projectile in range, while also looking pretty.

===Secondary===
The Pkunk are peaceful beings, and they can't bring themselves to kill anyone, not even the most menacing [[Ilwrath]], unless they throw themselves into an emotional frenzy by continuously insulting their opponent. Additional, the psionic emanations produced by a Fury's captain frenzy serve to recharge the ship's energy stores.{{ref|1}}

===Additional===
The Fury has minimal crew capacity. A few well-aimed shots can annihilate the Fury instantly. However, if destroyed, the Fury's captain may reincarnate due the Pkunks' divine heritage, or so the Pkunk claim.{{ref|2}} In-game, there is a fifty percent chance the Fury will be resurrected — fully crewed, with maximum energy. Due to the random nature of Fury reincarnation, a lucky Pkunk can be reborn multiple times. Having to fight the same ship over and over again can make even the most patient pilot go berserk.

==Tactical Overview==
The Fury can be a dangerous foe, mostly against slow and unmaneuverable ships. The [[VUX]], for instance, can be ripped to shreds with proper timing and technique. However, many ships like the [[Utwig]] [[Jugger]] can stop moving and start firing in the directon of the Pkunk, in which case, the Fury has no way to attack. This tactic, known as [[pillboxing]], works well against most short-ranged ships. The [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] has an interesting weakness to the Fury. The Fury can fire so many shots so fast that the ZapSats cannot fire at the ship, and as long as it flies in and out so fast that the Avatar cannot bring its laser to bear, the Fury does damage and flies away unscathed.

The Fury is one of the best ships in the game to use against the [[Sa-Matra]]. The Fury is fast enough to avoid the active defenses that will tear slower ships to unrecognizable shrapnel, and the spread-fire pattern of the guns allows the Fury to constantly circle the station's outer shields while pelting the shield generators with the minigun. Coupled with the Fury's revival ability, a single Pkunk Fury can easily knock out every one of the Sa-Matra's shield generators! After that, repeated Death Blossoms usually can take out the remaining munitions so the Flagship can fly in unhindered.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}''[[Star Control II]] manual, pg. 93''
{{note|2}}''Star Control II manual, pg. 94''

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Pkunk]]

Broodhome

2007-06-23T06:18:21Z

Gaeamil: /* Tactical Overview */ so evil...

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Star_control_i_chenjesu_broodhome_databank.png|thumb|225px|Starship Databank Entry]]
The [[Chenjesu]] '''Broodhome''', like its builders, is made almost entirely of crystal. As its name implies it is notably large and somewhat cumbersome, but in a head-on battle it is unlikely to go down without inflicting serious damage to the enemy.

==Navigation==
To a sessile and silicon-based race, perhaps the Broodhome seems quick and agile. Most other advanced races tend to disagree. The Broodhome is slow. Slow to move and slow to turn. It can even be difficult for an inexperienced Captain to escape a planet's [[gravity well]]. More advanced warriors know to keep their distance from their enemy and plan a careful course near the planet.

==Armament==

===Primary===
The Broodhome's main weapon is a Photon Crystal Shard, a simple crystalline life form, with almost infinite range. Any Captain foolish enough to be struck by the weapon deserves the vacuous grave that he is soon to find himself in. The projectile however, like the ship itself, is somewhat slow. By the time it reaches the target, it is very likely that the target has moved. This is when the crystal shard's true ingenuity comes into play. Even a near miss can be turned into a serious blow because the crystal explodes at the Captain's command, damaging anything that has yet to escape its ponderous onslaught.

===Secondary===
The Chenjesu also employ DOGI (Deenergizing Offensive Guided Interceptor) attack drones. These autonomous and slow-moving drones are of sufficient mass to affect an enemy ship's trajectory when they collide with it, a feat which they excel at performing. In addition to this slight change of course, which often upsets the affected Captain's careful aim at the distant Broodhome, he will find his energy reserves being drained away and often times depleted. Lucky for him the DOGIs have a limited lifespan, but their mothership has an endless supply. Though the DOGIs are essentially autonomous, the Broodhome is equipped with high-frequency resonators (blue protrusion on the forward hull) that can be used to control the drones.

==Tactical Overview==
Keep your distance. The Broodhome is not a close range fighter. If your enemy approaches, fire off a quick stream of Crystal Shards and detonate them at zero range as it is likely that he will out maneuver any attempt at a direct hit. The more bits of glass and rock that you can put in space, the better. As soon as you get a second to collect yourself, drop a DOGI and hope it distracts him while you accelerate away.

One of the more evil tactics possible is to launch DOGIs against a [[Druuge]] [[Mauler]], then sit back and laugh as a hapless computer pilot throws its crew away in a desperate attempt to retain battery power. Similarly, the [[Utwig]] [[Jugger]] is vulnerable to DOGI interference; in this case, however, the Jugger can continue to fire - and with its better weaponry, will likely shoot the DOGIs down before they can do their work. The unfortunate part is that one touch from a DOGI completely neutralizes the Jugger's shields.

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Chenjesu]]

Influences and references

2007-06-22T08:13:07Z

Gaeamil: /* Ilwrath */

{{incomplete}}

The [[Star Control|Star Control 1]] manual mentions "Inspired by the Works of Fiction of: [[wikipedia:Orson Scott Card|Orson Scott Card]], [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]], [[wikipedia:Andre Norton|Andre Norton]], [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]], [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]], [[wikipedia:Jack Vance|Jack Vance]], [[wikipedia:Alan Dean Foster|Alan Dean Foster]], [[wikipedia:Keith Laumer|Keith Laumer]], [[wikipedia:A. E. Van Vogt|A.E. Van Vogt]], [[wikipedia:E. E. Smith|E.E. "Doc" Smith]], [[wikipedia:Joe Haldeman|Joe Haldeman]], [[wikipedia:Dan Simmons|Dan Simmons]], [[wikipedia:Fred Saberhagen|Fred Saberhagen]] and 100 worthy others."

==Alien design==
The names of certain races introduced in [[Star Control II]] are taken from the so-called "[[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]]" (the copy-protection of Star Control): [[Orz]], [[Pkunk]], [[Slylandro]], [[Supox]], [[Thraddash]] (as "Thrddash"), [[Utwig]], and [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]].

The name [[Androsynth]] is taken from the Greek "andros" ("man") and "synthetic" from Greek "syn" ("together") and "thesis" ("put"), or as the [[Star Control II]] manual says it "fake men".

The pink triangle on the suits of the Androsynth in [[SuperMelee]] is a [[wikipedia:Pink triangle|gay symbol]].

The Star Control 2 manual describes the [[Chenjesu]] as being "a bit more equal" than the other [[Alliance]] races, which is a reference to a [[wikipedia:Seven Commandments|similar statement]] found in ''[[wikipedia:Animal Farm|Animal Farm]]'' by [[wikipedia:George Orwell|George Orwell]].

The name [[Drall]] is also used for a species in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which lives on a planet with the same name in the Corellian System. The only reference to the [[wikipedia:List of Star Wars races (A-E)#Drall|Star Wars Drall]] prior to 1992 (pre-SC2) is in ''[[wikipedia:Han Solo and the Lost Legacy|Han Solo and the Lost Legacy]]'', where one is described as being "oily-skinned" with a gleaming red hide.

The name [[Druuge]] is pronounced almost exactly like the ancient Persian word "druj" - a term of [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian religion]] that is very roughly translated as "daeva (demon) of lies". Since the Druuge are proven liars and resemble the [[wikipedia:Daeva|daevas]], which are described as "beings with combined human and animal characteristics," this may have been an influence.

The [[Ilwrath]] were named after a friend of the creators (XXX: both?) named McIlwraith.

The name [[Melnorme]] is a reference to jazz singer [[wikipedia:Mel Tormé|Mel Tormé]].

The [[Mycon]] is taken from the Greek prefix "myc-" or "myco-", which means Fungus.

The [[Orz]] and the disappearance of the [[Androsynth]] were influenced by [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]'s writings. (XXX: need more exact references). The *fingers* may originate from Asimov's story "[[wikipedia:Catch that Rabbit|Catch that Rabbit]]" where a robot known as DV-5 has six other robots under its control which are refered to as "fingers".

Utricularia, as in ''[[Supox]] Utricularia'', is a genus of carnivorous plants more commonly known as [[Wikipedia:Bladderwort|Bladderwort]].

The [[Shofixti]] are inspired by the historical [[wikipedia:History of Japan|Japanese culture]].
"[[Kyabetsu]]", the name of the former Shofixti homeworld, means "cabbage". The tiny main gun of their [[Scout]] ships is called the Mendokusai Energy Dart; "Mendoukusai" in Japanese means "irritating; bothersome."

[[Spathi]] is "Sword" in Greek. Maybe, the name is meant to be very ironical, because the Spathi are so cowardly. Also, the rumours of the Black Spathi Squadron are most likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:VMA-214|Black Sheep Squadron]] from World War 2.

The [[Syreen]] are based on the [[wikipedia:Siren|Siren]]s from classical mythology. They were sea nymphs who would use enchanting song to lure ships onto the cliffs.

The [[Yehat]] are inspired in part by the [[wikipedia:Scottish clan|Scottish clan]]s and by [[Wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]]'s [[Wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift]] series.

===Larry Niven influences===
A number of aliens draw some of their inspiration from Niven's [[wikipedia:Known Space|Known Space]] novels. Fred and Paul have openly admitted in a [[TFB chat protocols|1998 IRC chat]] to being influenced by these novels.{{ref|1}}
*The [[Dnyarri]] are very similar in description, powers, and history to the [[wikipedia:Thrint|Thrint]]un race, "a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control." Like the [[wikipedia:Grogs|Grogs]], the Talking Pets are devolved forms of a once-great race.
*The [[Precursors]] are also slightly similar to the Thrintun who likewise left behind relics to be used by the modern-day characters in Niven's novels and who were given a vague moniker, "Slavers", by later races since their real name was unknown.
*Though not physiologically, the [[Spathi]] resemble less advanced versions of the cowardly [[wikipedia:Pierson's Puppeteer|Pierson's Puppeteer]]s.
*The [[Arilou]], in their speculated capacity as genetic manipulators of humanity, are also similar to the Puppeteers.
*The [[Melnorme]], like the [[wikipedia:Outsiders (Known Space)|Outsiders]], are traveling merchants who trade in information and will answer any question for the right price.
**The [[Keel-Verezy]] may be similar to the [[wikipedia:Starseed|Starseeds]], sharing a similar relation with the [[Melnorme]] as the starseeds with the Outsiders.
*The [[Shofixti]] are similar in appearance and warlike tendencies to the [[wikipedia:kzin|kzin]].

===StarFlight influences===
The creators of [[Star Control]] and [[Star Control 2]] worked in the making of the [[wikipedia:StarFlight|StarFlight]] games as well, and some SC races are clearly inspired from the SF universe:
*The name [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] may originate from the StarFlight race Aeoruiiaeo.
*Physically, the [[Umgah]] resemble the Spemin. In terms of behavior, they are almost identical to the Teeelveee.
*Culturally and psychologically, the [[Utwig]] resemble the Dweenle - and, in a lesser degree, the Lieu Vadish.
**The [[VUX]] also appear to be influenced by the Lieu Vadish.
*The [[Supox]] greatly resemble the Elowan.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] resemble the Mechan.
*Physically, the [[Mycon]] resemble the Nathracch.
*The useless [[Wimbli's Trident]] and [[Glowing Rod]] resemble some similar, useless "alien curiosities" from StarFlight.

==Dialog==
The default name of [[The Captain]], Zelnick, may come from Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of [[Crystal Dynamics]] at the time of the 3DO version of Star Control II was being made. The producer of the 3DO version of Star Control II was Crystal Dynamics.

====Arilou====
The [[Arilou]]'s final remark "Be seeing you..." may be a reference to the tv series [[wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]].

====Ilwrath====
One of the gods that the [[Ilwrath]] used to worship was called "Awk of Seds", a reference to the text processing programs [[wikipedia:AWK programming language|awk]] and [[wikipedia:sed|sed]].

[[wikipedia:Captain Satellite|Captain Satellite]], which the [[Ilwrath]] confess to have watched on [[Channel 44]] prior to [[Dogar and Kazon]]'s transmissions, was a show on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California.

====Melnorme====
The Melnorme line "This very morning, I was just saying to subordinate Ochre `Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the feet of a Hu-Hu-Man!'" refers to the fairy tale [[Wikipedia:Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk]], where an ogre (a flesh-eating giant) speaks the line "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.". The similarity between the subordiate's name "Ochre" and "ogre" is probably not a coincidence either.

The phrase "itchy pods" from the Melnorme line "I had itchy pods this morning, Captain, and here you are!" may come from the wives' tale of "itchy palms" that predict wealth. It may have also been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by [[wikipedia:Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss]]' book "On Beyond Zebra", which introduces the letter "ITCH" with the line "And 'way, 'way past Z is a letter called ITCH. And the ITCH is for Itch-a-pods, animals which [...]".

====Pkunk====
[[The Captain]]'s remark to the [[Pkunk]] "Hey! Bird-brains! Got any fruit loops? Har-har-har!" refers to a brand of breakfast cereal called [[wikipedia:Froot Loops|Froot Loops]], which features a toucan resembling the Pkunk as its mascot.

The Pkunk say that they insult their foes to keep from "wrapping around" to evil; this is a programmer's joke about the nature of integers under the C programming language (and many others.) If you increase a number past its maximum (for example, 128 in an 8 bit integer) it suddenly becomes negative (-127, in this example.)

The Pkunk mention channeling a ancient warrior called [[Rumdumdaddy]], which is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Ramtha|Ramtha]], an ancient Lemurian warrior that [[wikipedia:JZ Knight|JZ Knight]] claims to channel.

Many Pkunk dialog is a play on Far East/New Age philosophies. The Pkunk's observation that everyone in their past lives were famous, rich or interesting, and that hence other people don't reincarnate makes fun of the readings of so-called psychic mediums, who generally try to inspire faith by telling people what they want to hear.

====Shofixti====
[[Tanaka]]'s opening comments, "you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - in fact, my entire race! Prepare to die," may pay homage to the movie [[wikipedia:The Princess Bride|The Princess Bride]], in which the character [[wikipedia:Inigo Montoya|Inigo Montoya]] has prepared a similar comment for when he confronts his father's murderer, [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]].

====Slylandro====
When you choose the aggressive lines to speak towards the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s, the third time you get the response "ENACTING THIRD LAW." before combat is initiated. This refers to Isaac Asimov's [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|Three Laws of Robotics]]. The third law says "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.". The Probe's version must not have the first clause as the first law says "A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.". (Alternatively, its First Law applies to solely to its creator race, which grant humans and other sentients no special protection.) Also the [[Slylandro]] will go "to seek out new life and new civilizations, to go where no catalog item 2418 Remote Self-replicating robot probe had gone before." when asked about the programming of the probes, a reference to Star Trek.

====Spathi====
When the [[Spathi]] [[The Safe Ones|Safe Ones]] ask the player for the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]], one of the incorrect options is "Wagh-nagl Fthagn", which spelled a little bit differently ("Wgah'nagl Fhtagn") comes from "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!''", a liturgical phrase in H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:Cthulhu mythos|Cthulhu mythos]].

One of the other options for the Spathi Cypher, "Gort, merenga!" comes from the movie "[[wikipedia:The Day the Earth Stood Still|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]".

====Starbase====
When [[The Captain]] gets to choose the name for the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|new alliance]], one of his options is "The United Federation of Worlds", a reference to the [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]] from Star Trek. [[Starbase]] Commander [[Hayes]] will reply to this choice by saying "we will make it so", another reference to Star Trek, where captain [[Wikipedia:Jean-Luc Picard|Jean-Luc Picard]] would frequently order to "make it so".

Commander Hayes mentions early on that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] annihilated Buenos Aires. This is most likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]]'s novel [[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]], where the alien race humanity is fighting against similarly destroy Argentina's capital.

Commander Hayes also mentions that when the Ur-Quan destroyed much of mankind's history, they also destroyed several places without any known value. These places likely correspond to locations in popular fiction and mythology. They are:
*"kilometer of land in central Iraq" - possibly the biblical [[Wikipedia:Babel|Babel]], [[Wikipedia:The Nameless City|The Nameless City]] from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, or [[Wikipedia:Iram of the Pillars|Iram of the Pillars]]
*"several targets in the Amazon rain forest" - possibly [[Wikipedia:El Dorado|El Dorado]] or simply just other undiscovered city centers in the Amazon jungle
*"something deep under the surface [of the Antarctic icecap]" - possibly a reference to the alien city discovered in H. P. Lovecraft's ''[[Wikipedia:At the Mountains of Madness|At the Mountains of Madness]]''
*"broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic" - possibly [[Wikipedia:Atlantis|Atlantis]]

The idea of a "[[psychon]]" present in Commander Hayes' statement that when an electric current is fed into the [[Taalo Shield]] "all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined" probably originates from [[wikipedia:Sir John Eccles|Sir John Eccles]]' psychon theory, presented in his book "[[wikipedia:How the Self Controls Its Brain|How the Self Controls Its Brain]]".

====Utwig====
When the [[Utwig]] are trying to tell you what to do with the [[Precursor Bomb]], at one point they say that the "Bomb must be...Hugged?" This is likely a reference to the movie [[Wikipedia:Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]].

One of the ways that the Utwig determined that the [[Ultron]] could have been saved was by cushioning the fall with a fuzzy wumpus. A Wumpus is a mysterious monster from the famous, early computer game [[Wikipedia:Hunt the Wumpus|Hunt the Wumpus]].

When describing the [[Kohr-Ah]], the Utwig say that their stated purpose is "to seek out new life and new civilizations...and then annihilate them," a clear play on the mission statement of the [[Wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] of [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]] fame.

The Utwig parting phrase "May the Ultron be with you!" is a variation on the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "May the Force be with you."

The [[Chief Groo]]'s name may originate from [[wikipedia:Groo the Wanderer|Groo the Wanderer]]'s name.

====VUX====
The description of the constellation that is described as "the snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" in the DOS version ("the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast." in the 3DO version and UQM) is a reference to the children's book [[wikipedia:Le Petit Prince|Le Petit Prince]] by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which [http://www.korczak.com/Exupery/englisch/i.html describes and shows] an image of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

The VUX say that [[Captain Rand]]'s [[Insult]] fixed their attitude setting at "ABHOR", which may be a reference to [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] from Star Control 1, where the player was to select the correct attitude for a given situation; one of the answers was "ABHOR", again in all caps.

====Yehat====
"[[Cheep-Guava]]", the name of the head of the [[Yehat]] revolution, is a pun on "[[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|Che Guevara]]", the Cuban revolutionary leader.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
When first meeting the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] at their homeworld, they warn you not to try stealing their atmosphere, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Spaceballs|Spaceballs]].

The coordinates "...ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy" of the Zoq-Fot-Pik homeworld given in their initial encounter refers to Hawaiian words for two types of [[Wikipedia:lava|lava]] flows, "Aa" and "Pahoehoe".

====Other====
The Mosquito Mange is mentioned in the [[Androsynth]] computer records immediately prior to their disappearance. It is a reference to the term found in [[wikipedia:Roadside Picnic|Roadside Picnic]] refering to graviconcentrates - areas of heightened and directed gravity.

The ''Roadside Picnic'' might also be the inspiration for the 'Empties'. In the novel they are one of the common alien artifacts found in the Zones. In the game they are a [[Precursor]] artifact that Commander Hayes mentions in relation to the [[Ultron]].

==Ship Captains==
Numerous ship captain names are actually references.

====Androsynth====
*'''1040-EZ''' is a common [[wikipedia:Form 1040EZ|tax return form]] in the United States.
*'''976-KILL''' is probably meant as an American phone number. It may also refer to the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094597/ 976-EVIL]. The "976" prefix is reserved for pay services.
*'''[[wikipedia:AK-47|AK-47]]''' is the famous Avtomat Kalashnikova assault rifle
*'''BHS-79''' ''(just a wild guess here- is this the initials of one of the high schools they attended, and their graduation date?)''
*'''BIM-XT''' is an anagram for the [[wikipedia:IBM XT|IBM XT]] personal computer from the early 1980s
*'''BOOJI-1''' is a possible reference to the character [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] from the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].
*'''CRC-16''' is a 16 bits "[[wikipedia:Cyclic redundancy check|Cyclic redundancy check]] (an error-detecting checksum).
*'''DORN-3''' may be a reference to artist John Alfred Dorn III, who did several illustrations for the novels of [[wikipedia:Stanisław Lem|Stanisław Lem]]. It could also be a reference [[wikipedia:Michael Dorn|Michael Dorn]] who played Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
*'''DOS-1.0''' is a reference to one or all of the various early disk operating systems ([[wikipedia:PC-DIS|PC-DOS]], [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], [[wikipedia:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], etc).
*'''HAL-2001''' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] computer from [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]]'s and [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]
*'''JOR-15''' might be a reference to [[wikipedia:Jor-El|Jor-El]], superman's biological father in the DC comics universe.
*'''KORB-7B''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Korb|Lawrence Korb]], a former US Secretary of Defense heavily involved in military security.
*'''ME-262''' is a reference to the Messerschmitt [[wikipedia:Me-262|Me-262]], the first operational jet powered aircraft.
*'''NECRO-99''' may be a reference to the robot NECRON-99 from the movie [[wikipedia:Wizards (movie)|Wizards]].
*'''SR-71''' is a reference to the Lockheed [[wikipedia:SR-71|SR-71 Blackbird]], an advanced reconnaissance aircraft.
*'''[[wikipedia:Merkur XR4Ti|XR4-TI]]''' was a car model manufactured by the short-lived [[wikipedia:Merkur|Merkur]] brand.

====Druuge====
*'''Moola''' is a play on "moolah", an English slang word for money.
*'''Duulard''' could be a play on "dullard," which is slang for a boring person.

====Human====
*'''Adama''' is the captain of the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] in the television series by the same name.
*'''Belt''' is a reference to Henry Belt, captain of a solar sail vessel in Jack Vance's short story ''Sail 25''.
*'''Buck''' refers to [[wikipedia:Buck Rogers|Buck Rogers]], a character who appeared in popular sci-fi comic strips and serials in the late 30's, as well as a later television series.
*'''Decker''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Willard Decker|Willard Decker]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the movie [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Motion Picture|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]].
*'''Ender''' is a reference to the main character of the Orson Scott Card novel [[wikipedia:Ender's Game|Ender's Game]].
*'''Graeme''' is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the [[wikipedia: Childe Cycle|Childe Cycle]] novels by [[wikipedia:Gordon R. Dickson|Gordon R. Dickson]]. ''(This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)''
*'''Halleck''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Gurney Halleck|Gurney Halleck]] of the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Kirk''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:James T. Kirk|James T. Kirk]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the original series of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Pike''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Christopher Pike|Christopher Pike]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the pilot episode of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Pirx|Pirx]]''' is a reference to a fictional test pilot in a series of stories by Stanisław Lem.
*'''Solo''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Millennium Falcon|Millennium Falcon]] in [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] episode 4 through 6.
*'''Spiff''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Spaceman Spiff|Spaceman Spiff]], a fantasy identity of Calvin from [[wikipedia:Calvin and Hobbes|Calvin and Hobbes]]
*'''Trent''' is a reference to Jeff Trent, civilian airline pilot from [[wikipedia:Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9 from Outer Space]]
*'''Tuf''' is a reference to Haviland Tuf, the protagonist in [[wikipedia:Tuf Voyaging|Tuf Voyaging]] by [[wikipedia:George R.R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]].
*'''VanRijn''' is a reference to the merchant prince Nicholas Van Rijn in [[wikipedia:Poul Anderson|Poul Anderson]]'s stories.
*'''Wu''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Louis Wu|Louis Wu]], the protagonist of Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld series]].

====Ilwrath====
*'''[[wikipedia:Gorgon|Gorgon]]''' is a famous Greek mythological creature, of which [[wikipedia:Medusa|Medusa]] was one.
*'''Kalgon''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Calgon|Calgon]], a cleansing product.
*'''Taragon''' likely refers to the spice [[wikipedia:tarragon|tarragon]]
*'''[[wikipedia:Baylor University|Baylor]]''' is a university in Waco, Texas.

====Kohr-Ah====
*All of their ship names appear to be '''Death''' followed by a [[wikipedia:Prime_number|prime number]].

====Mycon====
*'''Znuff''' could be a reference to the 1984 rock group [[wikipedia:Enuff Z'nuff|Enuff Z'nuff]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Spork|Spork]]''' is an eating utensil, a hybrid of a spoon and a fork.

====Pkunk====
*'''Crow''' may refer to [[wikipedia:Crow T. Robot|Crow T. Robot]] from [[wikipedia:Mystery Science Theater 3000|Mystery Science Theater 3000]] as well as the obvious type of bird.
*'''Ernie''' is likely a reference to the British cartoon [[wikipedia:Ernie (comic strip)|Ernie]].
*'''Tweety''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Tweety|Tweety Bird]].
*'''WudStok''' is Snoopy's friend [[wikipedia:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] in the comic strip [[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]].

====Shofixti====
*'''Bonsai!''' is actually [[wikipedia:Bonsai|the Japanese art of pruning trees]], but is most likely a reference to the cry [[wikipedia:Ten thousand years|Banzai]].
*'''Busu''' is a Japanese word for ugly
*'''Chimchim''' most likely refers to the pet chimpanzee in [[wikipedia:Speed Racer|Speed Racer]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Daikon|Daikon]]''' is a giant, white radish popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''[[wikipedia:Gaijin|Gaijin]]''' is a disparaging Japanese term for foreigner.
*'''Genjiro''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Genjiro Arato|Genjiro Arato]], a Japanese movie producer, actor, and director.
*'''Ginzu''' is probably the [[wikipedia:Ginsu|Ginsu knife]].
*'''Hiyata''' is a reference to the title character of the Japanese show [[wikipedia:Ultraman|Ultraman]], where it can also be spelled "Hayata".
*'''Ichiban''' is the Japanese word for the number 1, or first
*'''Kimba''' refers to the main character in the Japanese animation [[wikipedia:Kimba the White Lion|Kimba, the White Lion]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Katana|Katana]]''' is a Japanese sword.
*'''[[wikipedia:Kudzu|Kudzu]]''' is an Asian plant that can be found in southern Japan.
*'''Naninani''' is Japanese for "such and such"
*'''[[wikipedia:Sushi|Sushi]]''' is Japanese for seasoned rice, usually associated with raw fish.
*'''Tanaka''' is a fairly common [[wikipedia:Japanese name|Japanese surname]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Tofu|Tofu]]''' is bean curd, popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''Tora-3''' refers to the radio call announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [[wikipedia:Tora Tora Tora|Tora! Tora! Tora!]]
*'''Wasabe''' is a Japanese condiment, usually spelled [[wikipedia:Wasabi|wasabi]].

====Spathi====
*'''Jinkeze''' is a reference to the catchphrase of [[Wikipedia:Velma Dinkley|Velma Dinkley]], a main character in the [[Wikipedia:Scooby-Doo|Scooby-Doo]] cartoons, which she says when she is scared or surprised.

====Supox====
*'''Crinoid''' is a reference to the Krynoids, hostile sentient plants in the [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]] episode ''The Seeds of Doom''.
*'''Trifid''' is a reference to the carnivorous, mobile (and possibly intelligent) plants in [[wikipedia:The Day of the Triffids|The Day of the Triffids]].
*All of the other captain names are parts or types of plants.

====Syreen====
*'''Aelita''' refers to the early Soviet sci-fi novel ''Aelita'' by [[wikipedia:Alexei Tolstoy|Alexei Tolstoy]] or to a silent film [[wikipedia:Aelita|Aelita:Queen of Mars]] based on it.
*'''Alia''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Alia Atreides|St. Alia of the Knife]], the sister of [[wikipedia:Paul Atreides|Paul Atreides]] in the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Alura''' is possibly a reference either to Princess Allura in the [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] cartoon series or to the mother of [[wikipedia:Supergirl|Supergirl]].
*'''Ardala''' is a reference to the Princess Ardala, nemesis of Buck Rogers.
*'''Be'lit''' is a possible reference to [[wikipedia:Belit|Belit]], a pirate queen in the [[wikipedia:Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Barbarian]] stories.
*'''Brawne''' refers to Brawne Lamia, a character in Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]] books.
*'''Dale''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Dale Arden|Dale Arden]], the girlfriend of [[wikipedia:Flash Gordon|Flash Gordon]].
*'''Danning''' is a reference to the actress [[wikipedia:Sybil Danning|Sybil Danning]].
*'''Dejah''' may be a reference to Dejah Thoris Burroughs (Deety) in Robert A. Heinlein's [[wikipedia:The Number of the Beast (novel)|The Number of the Beast]], or to Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, in the [[wikipedia:Barsoom series|Barsoom series]] by [[wikipedia:Edgar Rice Burroughs|Edgar Rice Burroughs]].
*'''Maya''' refers to the attractive female [[wikipedia:Space 1999|Space: 1999]] character gifted with shapeshifing abilties.
*'''Munro''' possibly refers to another genre actress, [[wikipedia:Caroline Munro|Caroline Munro]].
*'''Penny''' possibly refers to the lead female character in the movie [[wikipedia:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension|The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]], or the character of Penny Robinson in the television show Lost in Space.
*'''Ripley''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Ellen Ripley|Lieutenant Ripley]], as portrayed by [[wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] in the movie [[wikipedia:Alien (movie)|Alien]].
*'''Sparta''' is a reference to the beautiful female protagonist with a mysterious past in the Venus Prime series by [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Preuss|Paul Preuss]].
*'''Teela''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Teela Brown|Teela Brown]], one of the heroines of the Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] novels.
*'''Yarr''' may be a reference to [[wikipedia:Natasha Yar|Natasha Yar]] who appeared in [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]].

====Umgah====
*'''Bob''' is possibly a reference to the creators themselves: [[Toys For Bob]].
*'''Brewz'k''' is likely the slang word "brewski".
*'''Ei'Ei'o''' is probably referring to the refrain of the children's song ''[[wikipedia:Old MacDonald Had a Farm|Old MacDonald Had a Farm]]''. The name was used before in [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] in [[Star Control 1]].

====Ur-Quan====
*While all captain's names are '''Lord''' followed by a number, '''Lord 666''' is notable as a reference to the [[wikipedia:Number of the Beast|Number of the Beast]]. There is no known pattern to their numbers, unlike the Kohr-Ah.

====Utwig====
*'''Endo''' might refer to a slang word for [[Wikipedia:marijuana|marijuana]]. In Japanese, this is also type of pea.
*'''Manny''' might refer to the main character in [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s book [[wikipedia:the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress|The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress]].
*'''Nestor''' might refer to the [[Wikipedia:NS-2|NS-2]], a robot model in Asimov's "[[Wikipedia:Little Lost Robot|Little Lost Robot]]" that can, by inaction, allow a human to be harmed.
*'''Jujuby''' might be an alternate spelling of '[[Wikipedia:Jujube|Jujube]]', which is the fruit of a certain tree, also known as the "Chinese Date".

====VUX====
*'''[[wikipedia:Program Information File|PIF]]''' is a file extension used in early versions of [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].
*'''VIP''' is an acronym meaning "very important person".
*'''YUK''' likely comes from the work "yuck" -- an appropriate name, given the VUX's appearance.
*'''[[wikipedia:zit|ZIT]]''' likely comes from the skin blemish of the same name.
*'''NRF''' may refer to the toy gun brand [[wikipedia:Nerf|Nerf]].

====Yehat====
*'''Beep-eep''' could refer to the token sound made by the [[wikipedia:RWile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Road Runner]] in various [[wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]] animations and products.
*All the rest of their captains' names simply change the first letter.

====Zoq Fot Pik====
*'''RinTin''' is likely named after the famous movie dog [[wikipedia:Rin Tin Tin|Rin Tin Tin]].
*'''TikTak''' is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tic Tac (candy)|Tic Tac]] breath mints or to the children's game [[wikipedia:Tic-tac-toe|Tic-tac-toe]].

==Ship Designs==
*The '''[[Arilou]]'s [[Skiff]]''' vessel is reminiscent of the 'traditional' flying saucers or UFO's.
*The '''[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]''' seems to be inspired by the Federation Starships from [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*The '''[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]''' shares the same approximate configuration as both the [[wikipedia:Klingon starships|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] and the [[wikipedia:Romulan starships|Romulan Warbird]] from Star Trek.
*The '''[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-Form]]''' takes inspiration for both of its transformation forms from two popular [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] Rebellion fighters -- the [[wikipedia:X-Wing|X-Wing]] and the [[wikipedia:Y-Wing|Y-Wing]], respectively.
*The '''[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]''' is shaped after the [[wikipedia:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket]], and a dildo.
*The '''[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]]''' bears more than a passing resemblence to the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (ship)|BattleStar command ships]] from BattleStar Galactica.
*The '''[[VUX]] [[Intruder]]''' shares a similar relationship with the D7 class Klingon starship.

==Star and constellation names==
According to the [[HyperSpace]] starmap, the names for the HyperSpace stars and constellations were taken from "traditional astronomical designations." These are the in-game star and constellation names that don't directly correspond to real life astronomical designations. Others such as Lalande and Wolf, while not the name of actual constellations, appear to be derived from astronomical designations.
*'''Almagest''' is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Almagest|Almagest]], an astronomical treatise written by [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]] and describing his geocentric theory.
*'''Arianni''' may be a reference to the "inner earth people" with the same name mentioned in a purported [http://www.reversespins.com/byrd.html missing diary] of [[wikipedia:Admiral Byrd|Admiral Byrd]]. Alternative origins may be the [[Wikipedia:Ariane (rocket)|Ariane rockets]], which were the primary launch vehicle of the European Space Agency in the latter portion of the 20th century, the planet [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/places/article/69410.html Ariannus] from the original [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], the [[wikipedia:Arianism|Arianist]] religious doctrine, the [[wikipedia:Aryan|Arian/Aryan]] (Proto-Indo-European) people or the ancient Greek historian [[wikipedia:Arrian|Arrian]].
*'''Brahe''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Tycho Brahe|Tycho Brahe]], the famous Danish astronomer of the 16th century.
*'''Cerenkov''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov|Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov]], a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate.
*'''Chandrasekhar''' is a reference to the Indian-American astrophysicist [[Wikipedia:Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], famous for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.
*'''Copernicus''' is a reference [[Wikipedia:Nicolaus Copernicus|Nicolaus Copernicus]], the polish astronomer who proposed the sun was the center of the solar system.
*'''Gorno''' is a possible reference to the [[Wikipedia:Gorn|Gorn]], a race in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Hyginus''' is a reference to the attributed author of [[Wikipedia:Poeticon astronomicon|Poeticon astronomicon]].
*'''Hyperion''' is a reference to the main setting of Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]].
*'''Illuminati''' is a reference to a variety of conspiracy theories, especially those of the [[Wikipedia:Illuminati|Bavarian Illuminati]].
*'''Kepler''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Johannes Kepler|Johannes Kepler]] who discovered the three laws of planetary motion.
*'''Klystron''' is a reference to a kind of vacuum tube used in early radar systems.
*'''Lentilis''' is probably a reference to the Lentili from David Brin's short story [[Wikipedia:Sshhh ...|Sshhh ...]].
*'''Lipi''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Lupus (constellation)|Lupus]]", an existing constellation.
*'''Maksutov''' is likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Maksutov telescope|Maksutov telescope]] invented by the Russian optician [[Wikipedia:Dimtri Maksutov|Dimtri Maksutov]].
*'''Mersenne''' is a reference to [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mersenne.html Marin Mersenne] a Minim friar who lived in France from 1588-1648 and was a major founder of number theory.
*'''Metis''' is a [[wikipedia:Metis (moon)|moon of Jupiter]], and correspondingly a [[wikipedia:Metis (mythology)|character]] in Greek mythology.
*'''Olber''' is likely a reference to [[Wikipedia:Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers|Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers]], a German astronomer.
*'''Organon''' is likely a reference to either Francis Bacon's book [[Wikipedia:Novum Organum|The New Organon]] or Aristotle's [[Wikipedia:Organon|Organon]], after which Bacon's book was named. Alternatively it could be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Organia|Organia]], an important location in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], or to the [[Wikipedia:Organa family|Organa family]] in the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] universe.
*'''Ptolemae''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]], an ancient astronomer whose Geocentric views Copernicus replaced.
*'''Raynet''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Wolf-Rayet|Rayet]]", an existing astronomical designation. It could also be a reference to British amateur radio network [[Wikipedia:RAYNET|RAYNET]].
*'''Saurus''' is possibly a reference to [[wikipedia:Eden Phillpotts|Eden Phillpotts]] novel ''Saurus''. It is also similar to the Greek word for "reptile".
*'''Squidi'''
*'''Vitalis'''
*'''Zeeman''' is possibly a reference to the physicist [[Wikipedia:Pieter Zeeman|Pieter Zeeman]] for whom a [[Wikipedia:Zeeman (crater)|crater]] on the moon is named.

==Other==
*[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]s are named after Robert Leyland, a Toys For Bob programmer.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}{{IRC1998}}
::<Manta> Fwiffo: Has anyone ever brought up parallels between Babylon 5 and Star Control? 
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 causes a certain amount of stomping around the office screaming. 
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 steals from us. We steal from known space. 
::<Fwiffo> And Larry in known space steals from others.

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Influences and references

2007-06-22T08:10:49Z

Gaeamil: /* Druuge */

{{incomplete}}

The [[Star Control|Star Control 1]] manual mentions "Inspired by the Works of Fiction of: [[wikipedia:Orson Scott Card|Orson Scott Card]], [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]], [[wikipedia:Andre Norton|Andre Norton]], [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]], [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]], [[wikipedia:Jack Vance|Jack Vance]], [[wikipedia:Alan Dean Foster|Alan Dean Foster]], [[wikipedia:Keith Laumer|Keith Laumer]], [[wikipedia:A. E. Van Vogt|A.E. Van Vogt]], [[wikipedia:E. E. Smith|E.E. "Doc" Smith]], [[wikipedia:Joe Haldeman|Joe Haldeman]], [[wikipedia:Dan Simmons|Dan Simmons]], [[wikipedia:Fred Saberhagen|Fred Saberhagen]] and 100 worthy others."

==Alien design==
The names of certain races introduced in [[Star Control II]] are taken from the so-called "[[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]]" (the copy-protection of Star Control): [[Orz]], [[Pkunk]], [[Slylandro]], [[Supox]], [[Thraddash]] (as "Thrddash"), [[Utwig]], and [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]].

The name [[Androsynth]] is taken from the Greek "andros" ("man") and "synthetic" from Greek "syn" ("together") and "thesis" ("put"), or as the [[Star Control II]] manual says it "fake men".

The pink triangle on the suits of the Androsynth in [[SuperMelee]] is a [[wikipedia:Pink triangle|gay symbol]].

The Star Control 2 manual describes the [[Chenjesu]] as being "a bit more equal" than the other [[Alliance]] races, which is a reference to a [[wikipedia:Seven Commandments|similar statement]] found in ''[[wikipedia:Animal Farm|Animal Farm]]'' by [[wikipedia:George Orwell|George Orwell]].

The name [[Drall]] is also used for a species in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which lives on a planet with the same name in the Corellian System. The only reference to the [[wikipedia:List of Star Wars races (A-E)#Drall|Star Wars Drall]] prior to 1992 (pre-SC2) is in ''[[wikipedia:Han Solo and the Lost Legacy|Han Solo and the Lost Legacy]]'', where one is described as being "oily-skinned" with a gleaming red hide.

The name [[Druuge]] is pronounced almost exactly like the ancient Persian word "druj" - a term of [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian religion]] that is very roughly translated as "daeva (demon) of lies". Since the Druuge are proven liars and resemble the [[wikipedia:Daeva|daevas]], which are described as "beings with combined human and animal characteristics," this may have been an influence.

The [[Ilwrath]] were named after a friend of the creators (XXX: both?) named McIlwraith.

The name [[Melnorme]] is a reference to jazz singer [[wikipedia:Mel Tormé|Mel Tormé]].

The [[Mycon]] is taken from the Greek prefix "myc-" or "myco-", which means Fungus.

The [[Orz]] and the disappearance of the [[Androsynth]] were influenced by [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]'s writings. (XXX: need more exact references). The *fingers* may originate from Asimov's story "[[wikipedia:Catch that Rabbit|Catch that Rabbit]]" where a robot known as DV-5 has six other robots under its control which are refered to as "fingers".

Utricularia, as in ''[[Supox]] Utricularia'', is a genus of carnivorous plants more commonly known as [[Wikipedia:Bladderwort|Bladderwort]].

The [[Shofixti]] are inspired by the historical [[wikipedia:History of Japan|Japanese culture]].
"[[Kyabetsu]]", the name of the former Shofixti homeworld, means "cabbage". The tiny main gun of their [[Scout]] ships is called the Mendokusai Energy Dart; "Mendoukusai" in Japanese means "irritating; bothersome."

[[Spathi]] is "Sword" in Greek. Maybe, the name is meant to be very ironical, because the Spathi are so cowardly. Also, the rumours of the Black Spathi Squadron are most likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:VMA-214|Black Sheep Squadron]] from World War 2.

The [[Syreen]] are based on the [[wikipedia:Siren|Siren]]s from classical mythology. They were sea nymphs who would use enchanting song to lure ships onto the cliffs.

The [[Yehat]] are inspired in part by the [[wikipedia:Scottish clan|Scottish clan]]s and by [[Wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]]'s [[Wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift]] series.

===Larry Niven influences===
A number of aliens draw some of their inspiration from Niven's [[wikipedia:Known Space|Known Space]] novels. Fred and Paul have openly admitted in a [[TFB chat protocols|1998 IRC chat]] to being influenced by these novels.{{ref|1}}
*The [[Dnyarri]] are very similar in description, powers, and history to the [[wikipedia:Thrint|Thrint]]un race, "a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control." Like the [[wikipedia:Grogs|Grogs]], the Talking Pets are devolved forms of a once-great race.
*The [[Precursors]] are also slightly similar to the Thrintun who likewise left behind relics to be used by the modern-day characters in Niven's novels and who were given a vague moniker, "Slavers", by later races since their real name was unknown.
*Though not physiologically, the [[Spathi]] resemble less advanced versions of the cowardly [[wikipedia:Pierson's Puppeteer|Pierson's Puppeteer]]s.
*The [[Arilou]], in their speculated capacity as genetic manipulators of humanity, are also similar to the Puppeteers.
*The [[Melnorme]], like the [[wikipedia:Outsiders (Known Space)|Outsiders]], are traveling merchants who trade in information and will answer any question for the right price.
**The [[Keel-Verezy]] may be similar to the [[wikipedia:Starseed|Starseeds]], sharing a similar relation with the [[Melnorme]] as the starseeds with the Outsiders.
*The [[Shofixti]] are similar in appearance and warlike tendencies to the [[wikipedia:kzin|kzin]].

===StarFlight influences===
The creators of [[Star Control]] and [[Star Control 2]] worked in the making of the [[wikipedia:StarFlight|StarFlight]] games as well, and some SC races are clearly inspired from the SF universe:
*The name [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] may originate from the StarFlight race Aeoruiiaeo.
*Physically, the [[Umgah]] resemble the Spemin. In terms of behavior, they are almost identical to the Teeelveee.
*Culturally and psychologically, the [[Utwig]] resemble the Dweenle - and, in a lesser degree, the Lieu Vadish.
**The [[VUX]] also appear to be influenced by the Lieu Vadish.
*The [[Supox]] greatly resemble the Elowan.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] resemble the Mechan.
*Physically, the [[Mycon]] resemble the Nathracch.
*The useless [[Wimbli's Trident]] and [[Glowing Rod]] resemble some similar, useless "alien curiosities" from StarFlight.

==Dialog==
The default name of [[The Captain]], Zelnick, may come from Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of [[Crystal Dynamics]] at the time of the 3DO version of Star Control II was being made. The producer of the 3DO version of Star Control II was Crystal Dynamics.

====Arilou====
The [[Arilou]]'s final remark "Be seeing you..." may be a reference to the tv series [[wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]].

====Ilwrath====
One of the gods that the [[Ilwrath]] used to worship was called "Awk of Seds", a reference to the text processing programs [[wikipedia:AWK programming language|awk]] and [[wikipedia:sed|sed]].

[[wikipedia:Captain Satellite|Captain Satellite]], which the [[Ilwrath]] confess to have watched on [[Channel 44]] prior to [[Dogar and Kazon]]'s transmissions, was a show on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California.

====Melnorme====
The Melnorme line "This very morning, I was just saying to subordinate Ochre `Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the feet of a Hu-Hu-Man!'" refers to the fairy tale [[Wikipedia:Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk]], where an ogre (a flesh-eating giant) speaks the line "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.". The similarity between the subordiate's name "Ochre" and "ogre" is probably not a coincidence either.

The phrase "itchy pods" from the Melnorme line "I had itchy pods this morning, Captain, and here you are!" may come from the wives' tale of "itchy palms" that predict wealth. It may have also been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by [[wikipedia:Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss]]' book "On Beyond Zebra", which introduces the letter "ITCH" with the line "And 'way, 'way past Z is a letter called ITCH. And the ITCH is for Itch-a-pods, animals which [...]".

====Pkunk====
[[The Captain]]'s remark to the [[Pkunk]] "Hey! Bird-brains! Got any fruit loops? Har-har-har!" refers to a brand of breakfast cereal called [[wikipedia:Froot Loops|Froot Loops]], which features a toucan resembling the Pkunk as its mascot.

The Pkunk say that they insult their foes to keep from "wrapping around" to evil; this is a programmer's joke about the nature of integers under the C programming language (and many others.) If you increase a number past its maximum (for example, 128 in an 8 bit integer) it suddenly becomes negative (-127, in this example.)

The Pkunk mention channeling a ancient warrior called [[Rumdumdaddy]], which is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Ramtha|Ramtha]], an ancient Lemurian warrior that [[wikipedia:JZ Knight|JZ Knight]] claims to channel.

Many Pkunk dialog is a play on Far East/New Age philosophies. The Pkunk's observation that everyone in their past lives were famous, rich or interesting, and that hence other people don't reincarnate makes fun of the readings of so-called psychic mediums, who generally try to inspire faith by telling people what they want to hear.

====Shofixti====
[[Tanaka]]'s opening comments, "you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - in fact, my entire race! Prepare to die," may pay homage to the movie [[wikipedia:The Princess Bride|The Princess Bride]], in which the character [[wikipedia:Inigo Montoya|Inigo Montoya]] has prepared a similar comment for when he confronts his father's murderer, [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]].

====Slylandro====
When you choose the aggressive lines to speak towards the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s, the third time you get the response "ENACTING THIRD LAW." before combat is initiated. This refers to Isaac Asimov's [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|Three Laws of Robotics]]. The third law says "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.". The Probe's version must not have the first clause as the first law says "A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.". (Alternatively, its First Law applies to solely to its creator race, which grant humans and other sentients no special protection.) Also the [[Slylandro]] will go "to seek out new life and new civilizations, to go where no catalog item 2418 Remote Self-replicating robot probe had gone before." when asked about the programming of the probes, a reference to Star Trek.

====Spathi====
When the [[Spathi]] [[The Safe Ones|Safe Ones]] ask the player for the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]], one of the incorrect options is "Wagh-nagl Fthagn", which spelled a little bit differently ("Wgah'nagl Fhtagn") comes from "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!''", a liturgical phrase in H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:Cthulhu mythos|Cthulhu mythos]].

One of the other options for the Spathi Cypher, "Gort, merenga!" comes from the movie "[[wikipedia:The Day the Earth Stood Still|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]".

====Starbase====
When [[The Captain]] gets to choose the name for the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|new alliance]], one of his options is "The United Federation of Worlds", a reference to the [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]] from Star Trek. [[Starbase]] Commander [[Hayes]] will reply to this choice by saying "we will make it so", another reference to Star Trek, where captain [[Wikipedia:Jean-Luc Picard|Jean-Luc Picard]] would frequently order to "make it so".

Commander Hayes mentions early on that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] annihilated Buenos Aires. This is most likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]]'s novel [[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]], where the alien race humanity is fighting against similarly destroy Argentina's capital.

Commander Hayes also mentions that when the Ur-Quan destroyed much of mankind's history, they also destroyed several places without any known value. These places likely correspond to locations in popular fiction and mythology. They are:
*"kilometer of land in central Iraq" - possibly the biblical [[Wikipedia:Babel|Babel]], [[Wikipedia:The Nameless City|The Nameless City]] from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, or [[Wikipedia:Iram of the Pillars|Iram of the Pillars]]
*"several targets in the Amazon rain forest" - possibly [[Wikipedia:El Dorado|El Dorado]] or simply just other undiscovered city centers in the Amazon jungle
*"something deep under the surface [of the Antarctic icecap]" - possibly a reference to the alien city discovered in H. P. Lovecraft's ''[[Wikipedia:At the Mountains of Madness|At the Mountains of Madness]]''
*"broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic" - possibly [[Wikipedia:Atlantis|Atlantis]]

The idea of a "[[psychon]]" present in Commander Hayes' statement that when an electric current is fed into the [[Taalo Shield]] "all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined" probably originates from [[wikipedia:Sir John Eccles|Sir John Eccles]]' psychon theory, presented in his book "[[wikipedia:How the Self Controls Its Brain|How the Self Controls Its Brain]]".

====Utwig====
When the [[Utwig]] are trying to tell you what to do with the [[Precursor Bomb]], at one point they say that the "Bomb must be...Hugged?" This is likely a reference to the movie [[Wikipedia:Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]].

One of the ways that the Utwig determined that the [[Ultron]] could have been saved was by cushioning the fall with a fuzzy wumpus. A Wumpus is a mysterious monster from the famous, early computer game [[Wikipedia:Hunt the Wumpus|Hunt the Wumpus]].

When describing the [[Kohr-Ah]], the Utwig say that their stated purpose is "to seek out new life and new civilizations...and then annihilate them," a clear play on the mission statement of the [[Wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] of [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]] fame.

The Utwig parting phrase "May the Ultron be with you!" is a variation on the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "May the Force be with you."

The [[Chief Groo]]'s name may originate from [[wikipedia:Groo the Wanderer|Groo the Wanderer]]'s name.

====VUX====
The description of the constellation that is described as "the snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" in the DOS version ("the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast." in the 3DO version and UQM) is a reference to the children's book [[wikipedia:Le Petit Prince|Le Petit Prince]] by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which [http://www.korczak.com/Exupery/englisch/i.html describes and shows] an image of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

The VUX say that [[Captain Rand]]'s [[Insult]] fixed their attitude setting at "ABHOR", which may be a reference to [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] from Star Control 1, where the player was to select the correct attitude for a given situation; one of the answers was "ABHOR", again in all caps.

====Yehat====
"[[Cheep-Guava]]", the name of the head of the [[Yehat]] revolution, is a pun on "[[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|Che Guevara]]", the Cuban revolutionary leader.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
When first meeting the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] at their homeworld, they warn you not to try stealing their atmosphere, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Spaceballs|Spaceballs]].

The coordinates "...ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy" of the Zoq-Fot-Pik homeworld given in their initial encounter refers to Hawaiian words for two types of [[Wikipedia:lava|lava]] flows, "Aa" and "Pahoehoe".

====Other====
The Mosquito Mange is mentioned in the [[Androsynth]] computer records immediately prior to their disappearance. It is a reference to the term found in [[wikipedia:Roadside Picnic|Roadside Picnic]] refering to graviconcentrates - areas of heightened and directed gravity.

The ''Roadside Picnic'' might also be the inspiration for the 'Empties'. In the novel they are one of the common alien artifacts found in the Zones. In the game they are a [[Precursor]] artifact that Commander Hayes mentions in relation to the [[Ultron]].

==Ship Captains==
Numerous ship captain names are actually references.

====Androsynth====
*'''1040-EZ''' is a common [[wikipedia:Form 1040EZ|tax return form]] in the United States.
*'''976-KILL''' is probably meant as an American phone number. It may also refer to the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094597/ 976-EVIL]. The "976" prefix is reserved for pay services.
*'''[[wikipedia:AK-47|AK-47]]''' is the famous Avtomat Kalashnikova assault rifle
*'''BHS-79''' ''(just a wild guess here- is this the initials of one of the high schools they attended, and their graduation date?)''
*'''BIM-XT''' is an anagram for the [[wikipedia:IBM XT|IBM XT]] personal computer from the early 1980s
*'''BOOJI-1''' is a possible reference to the character [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] from the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].
*'''CRC-16''' is a 16 bits "[[wikipedia:Cyclic redundancy check|Cyclic redundancy check]] (an error-detecting checksum).
*'''DORN-3''' may be a reference to artist John Alfred Dorn III, who did several illustrations for the novels of [[wikipedia:Stanisław Lem|Stanisław Lem]]. It could also be a reference [[wikipedia:Michael Dorn|Michael Dorn]] who played Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
*'''DOS-1.0''' is a reference to one or all of the various early disk operating systems ([[wikipedia:PC-DIS|PC-DOS]], [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], [[wikipedia:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], etc).
*'''HAL-2001''' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] computer from [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]]'s and [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]
*'''JOR-15''' might be a reference to [[wikipedia:Jor-El|Jor-El]], superman's biological father in the DC comics universe.
*'''KORB-7B''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Korb|Lawrence Korb]], a former US Secretary of Defense heavily involved in military security.
*'''ME-262''' is a reference to the Messerschmitt [[wikipedia:Me-262|Me-262]], the first operational jet powered aircraft.
*'''NECRO-99''' may be a reference to the robot NECRON-99 from the movie [[wikipedia:Wizards (movie)|Wizards]].
*'''SR-71''' is a reference to the Lockheed [[wikipedia:SR-71|SR-71 Blackbird]], an advanced reconnaissance aircraft.
*'''[[wikipedia:Merkur XR4Ti|XR4-TI]]''' was a car model manufactured by the short-lived [[wikipedia:Merkur|Merkur]] brand.

====Druuge====
*'''Moola''' is a play on "moolah", an English slang word for money.
*'''Duulard''' could be a play on "dullard," which is slang for a boring person.

====Human====
*'''Adama''' is the captain of the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] in the television series by the same name.
*'''Belt''' is a reference to Henry Belt, captain of a solar sail vessel in Jack Vance's short story ''Sail 25''.
*'''Buck''' refers to [[wikipedia:Buck Rogers|Buck Rogers]], a character who appeared in popular sci-fi comic strips and serials in the late 30's, as well as a later television series.
*'''Decker''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Willard Decker|Willard Decker]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the movie [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Motion Picture|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]].
*'''Ender''' is a reference to the main character of the Orson Scott Card novel [[wikipedia:Ender's Game|Ender's Game]].
*'''Graeme''' is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the [[wikipedia: Childe Cycle|Childe Cycle]] novels by [[wikipedia:Gordon R. Dickson|Gordon R. Dickson]]. ''(This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)''
*'''Halleck''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Gurney Halleck|Gurney Halleck]] of the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Kirk''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:James T. Kirk|James T. Kirk]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the original series of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Pike''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Christopher Pike|Christopher Pike]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the pilot episode of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Pirx|Pirx]]''' is a reference to a fictional test pilot in a series of stories by Stanisław Lem.
*'''Solo''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Millennium Falcon|Millennium Falcon]] in [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] episode 4 through 6.
*'''Spiff''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Spaceman Spiff|Spaceman Spiff]], a fantasy identity of Calvin from [[wikipedia:Calvin and Hobbes|Calvin and Hobbes]]
*'''Trent''' is a reference to Jeff Trent, civilian airline pilot from [[wikipedia:Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9 from Outer Space]]
*'''Tuf''' is a reference to Haviland Tuf, the protagonist in [[wikipedia:Tuf Voyaging|Tuf Voyaging]] by [[wikipedia:George R.R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]].
*'''VanRijn''' is a reference to the merchant prince Nicholas Van Rijn in [[wikipedia:Poul Anderson|Poul Anderson]]'s stories.
*'''Wu''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Louis Wu|Louis Wu]], the protagonist of Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld series]].

====Ilwrath====
*'''[[wikipedia:Gorgon|Gorgon]]''' is a famous Greek mythological creature, of which [[wikipedia:Medusa|Medusa]] was one.
*'''Kalgon''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Calgon|Calgon]], a cleansing product.
*'''Taragon''' likely refers to the spice [[wikipedia:tarragon|tarragon]]

====Kohr-Ah====
*All of their ship names appear to be '''Death''' followed by a [[wikipedia:Prime_number|prime number]].

====Mycon====
*'''Znuff''' could be a reference to the 1984 rock group [[wikipedia:Enuff Z'nuff|Enuff Z'nuff]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Spork|Spork]]''' is an eating utensil, a hybrid of a spoon and a fork.

====Pkunk====
*'''Crow''' may refer to [[wikipedia:Crow T. Robot|Crow T. Robot]] from [[wikipedia:Mystery Science Theater 3000|Mystery Science Theater 3000]] as well as the obvious type of bird.
*'''Ernie''' is likely a reference to the British cartoon [[wikipedia:Ernie (comic strip)|Ernie]].
*'''Tweety''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Tweety|Tweety Bird]].
*'''WudStok''' is Snoopy's friend [[wikipedia:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] in the comic strip [[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]].

====Shofixti====
*'''Bonsai!''' is actually [[wikipedia:Bonsai|the Japanese art of pruning trees]], but is most likely a reference to the cry [[wikipedia:Ten thousand years|Banzai]].
*'''Busu''' is a Japanese word for ugly
*'''Chimchim''' most likely refers to the pet chimpanzee in [[wikipedia:Speed Racer|Speed Racer]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Daikon|Daikon]]''' is a giant, white radish popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''[[wikipedia:Gaijin|Gaijin]]''' is a disparaging Japanese term for foreigner.
*'''Genjiro''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Genjiro Arato|Genjiro Arato]], a Japanese movie producer, actor, and director.
*'''Ginzu''' is probably the [[wikipedia:Ginsu|Ginsu knife]].
*'''Hiyata''' is a reference to the title character of the Japanese show [[wikipedia:Ultraman|Ultraman]], where it can also be spelled "Hayata".
*'''Ichiban''' is the Japanese word for the number 1, or first
*'''Kimba''' refers to the main character in the Japanese animation [[wikipedia:Kimba the White Lion|Kimba, the White Lion]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Katana|Katana]]''' is a Japanese sword.
*'''[[wikipedia:Kudzu|Kudzu]]''' is an Asian plant that can be found in southern Japan.
*'''Naninani''' is Japanese for "such and such"
*'''[[wikipedia:Sushi|Sushi]]''' is Japanese for seasoned rice, usually associated with raw fish.
*'''Tanaka''' is a fairly common [[wikipedia:Japanese name|Japanese surname]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Tofu|Tofu]]''' is bean curd, popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''Tora-3''' refers to the radio call announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [[wikipedia:Tora Tora Tora|Tora! Tora! Tora!]]
*'''Wasabe''' is a Japanese condiment, usually spelled [[wikipedia:Wasabi|wasabi]].

====Spathi====
*'''Jinkeze''' is a reference to the catchphrase of [[Wikipedia:Velma Dinkley|Velma Dinkley]], a main character in the [[Wikipedia:Scooby-Doo|Scooby-Doo]] cartoons, which she says when she is scared or surprised.

====Supox====
*'''Crinoid''' is a reference to the Krynoids, hostile sentient plants in the [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]] episode ''The Seeds of Doom''.
*'''Trifid''' is a reference to the carnivorous, mobile (and possibly intelligent) plants in [[wikipedia:The Day of the Triffids|The Day of the Triffids]].
*All of the other captain names are parts or types of plants.

====Syreen====
*'''Aelita''' refers to the early Soviet sci-fi novel ''Aelita'' by [[wikipedia:Alexei Tolstoy|Alexei Tolstoy]] or to a silent film [[wikipedia:Aelita|Aelita:Queen of Mars]] based on it.
*'''Alia''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Alia Atreides|St. Alia of the Knife]], the sister of [[wikipedia:Paul Atreides|Paul Atreides]] in the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Alura''' is possibly a reference either to Princess Allura in the [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] cartoon series or to the mother of [[wikipedia:Supergirl|Supergirl]].
*'''Ardala''' is a reference to the Princess Ardala, nemesis of Buck Rogers.
*'''Be'lit''' is a possible reference to [[wikipedia:Belit|Belit]], a pirate queen in the [[wikipedia:Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Barbarian]] stories.
*'''Brawne''' refers to Brawne Lamia, a character in Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]] books.
*'''Dale''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Dale Arden|Dale Arden]], the girlfriend of [[wikipedia:Flash Gordon|Flash Gordon]].
*'''Danning''' is a reference to the actress [[wikipedia:Sybil Danning|Sybil Danning]].
*'''Dejah''' may be a reference to Dejah Thoris Burroughs (Deety) in Robert A. Heinlein's [[wikipedia:The Number of the Beast (novel)|The Number of the Beast]], or to Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, in the [[wikipedia:Barsoom series|Barsoom series]] by [[wikipedia:Edgar Rice Burroughs|Edgar Rice Burroughs]].
*'''Maya''' refers to the attractive female [[wikipedia:Space 1999|Space: 1999]] character gifted with shapeshifing abilties.
*'''Munro''' possibly refers to another genre actress, [[wikipedia:Caroline Munro|Caroline Munro]].
*'''Penny''' possibly refers to the lead female character in the movie [[wikipedia:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension|The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]], or the character of Penny Robinson in the television show Lost in Space.
*'''Ripley''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Ellen Ripley|Lieutenant Ripley]], as portrayed by [[wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] in the movie [[wikipedia:Alien (movie)|Alien]].
*'''Sparta''' is a reference to the beautiful female protagonist with a mysterious past in the Venus Prime series by [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Preuss|Paul Preuss]].
*'''Teela''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Teela Brown|Teela Brown]], one of the heroines of the Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] novels.
*'''Yarr''' may be a reference to [[wikipedia:Natasha Yar|Natasha Yar]] who appeared in [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]].

====Umgah====
*'''Bob''' is possibly a reference to the creators themselves: [[Toys For Bob]].
*'''Brewz'k''' is likely the slang word "brewski".
*'''Ei'Ei'o''' is probably referring to the refrain of the children's song ''[[wikipedia:Old MacDonald Had a Farm|Old MacDonald Had a Farm]]''. The name was used before in [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] in [[Star Control 1]].

====Ur-Quan====
*While all captain's names are '''Lord''' followed by a number, '''Lord 666''' is notable as a reference to the [[wikipedia:Number of the Beast|Number of the Beast]]. There is no known pattern to their numbers, unlike the Kohr-Ah.

====Utwig====
*'''Endo''' might refer to a slang word for [[Wikipedia:marijuana|marijuana]]. In Japanese, this is also type of pea.
*'''Manny''' might refer to the main character in [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s book [[wikipedia:the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress|The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress]].
*'''Nestor''' might refer to the [[Wikipedia:NS-2|NS-2]], a robot model in Asimov's "[[Wikipedia:Little Lost Robot|Little Lost Robot]]" that can, by inaction, allow a human to be harmed.
*'''Jujuby''' might be an alternate spelling of '[[Wikipedia:Jujube|Jujube]]', which is the fruit of a certain tree, also known as the "Chinese Date".

====VUX====
*'''[[wikipedia:Program Information File|PIF]]''' is a file extension used in early versions of [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].
*'''VIP''' is an acronym meaning "very important person".
*'''YUK''' likely comes from the work "yuck" -- an appropriate name, given the VUX's appearance.
*'''[[wikipedia:zit|ZIT]]''' likely comes from the skin blemish of the same name.
*'''NRF''' may refer to the toy gun brand [[wikipedia:Nerf|Nerf]].

====Yehat====
*'''Beep-eep''' could refer to the token sound made by the [[wikipedia:RWile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Road Runner]] in various [[wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]] animations and products.
*All the rest of their captains' names simply change the first letter.

====Zoq Fot Pik====
*'''RinTin''' is likely named after the famous movie dog [[wikipedia:Rin Tin Tin|Rin Tin Tin]].
*'''TikTak''' is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tic Tac (candy)|Tic Tac]] breath mints or to the children's game [[wikipedia:Tic-tac-toe|Tic-tac-toe]].

==Ship Designs==
*The '''[[Arilou]]'s [[Skiff]]''' vessel is reminiscent of the 'traditional' flying saucers or UFO's.
*The '''[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]''' seems to be inspired by the Federation Starships from [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*The '''[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]''' shares the same approximate configuration as both the [[wikipedia:Klingon starships|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] and the [[wikipedia:Romulan starships|Romulan Warbird]] from Star Trek.
*The '''[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-Form]]''' takes inspiration for both of its transformation forms from two popular [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] Rebellion fighters -- the [[wikipedia:X-Wing|X-Wing]] and the [[wikipedia:Y-Wing|Y-Wing]], respectively.
*The '''[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]''' is shaped after the [[wikipedia:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket]], and a dildo.
*The '''[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]]''' bears more than a passing resemblence to the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (ship)|BattleStar command ships]] from BattleStar Galactica.
*The '''[[VUX]] [[Intruder]]''' shares a similar relationship with the D7 class Klingon starship.

==Star and constellation names==
According to the [[HyperSpace]] starmap, the names for the HyperSpace stars and constellations were taken from "traditional astronomical designations." These are the in-game star and constellation names that don't directly correspond to real life astronomical designations. Others such as Lalande and Wolf, while not the name of actual constellations, appear to be derived from astronomical designations.
*'''Almagest''' is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Almagest|Almagest]], an astronomical treatise written by [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]] and describing his geocentric theory.
*'''Arianni''' may be a reference to the "inner earth people" with the same name mentioned in a purported [http://www.reversespins.com/byrd.html missing diary] of [[wikipedia:Admiral Byrd|Admiral Byrd]]. Alternative origins may be the [[Wikipedia:Ariane (rocket)|Ariane rockets]], which were the primary launch vehicle of the European Space Agency in the latter portion of the 20th century, the planet [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/places/article/69410.html Ariannus] from the original [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], the [[wikipedia:Arianism|Arianist]] religious doctrine, the [[wikipedia:Aryan|Arian/Aryan]] (Proto-Indo-European) people or the ancient Greek historian [[wikipedia:Arrian|Arrian]].
*'''Brahe''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Tycho Brahe|Tycho Brahe]], the famous Danish astronomer of the 16th century.
*'''Cerenkov''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov|Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov]], a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate.
*'''Chandrasekhar''' is a reference to the Indian-American astrophysicist [[Wikipedia:Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], famous for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.
*'''Copernicus''' is a reference [[Wikipedia:Nicolaus Copernicus|Nicolaus Copernicus]], the polish astronomer who proposed the sun was the center of the solar system.
*'''Gorno''' is a possible reference to the [[Wikipedia:Gorn|Gorn]], a race in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Hyginus''' is a reference to the attributed author of [[Wikipedia:Poeticon astronomicon|Poeticon astronomicon]].
*'''Hyperion''' is a reference to the main setting of Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]].
*'''Illuminati''' is a reference to a variety of conspiracy theories, especially those of the [[Wikipedia:Illuminati|Bavarian Illuminati]].
*'''Kepler''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Johannes Kepler|Johannes Kepler]] who discovered the three laws of planetary motion.
*'''Klystron''' is a reference to a kind of vacuum tube used in early radar systems.
*'''Lentilis''' is probably a reference to the Lentili from David Brin's short story [[Wikipedia:Sshhh ...|Sshhh ...]].
*'''Lipi''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Lupus (constellation)|Lupus]]", an existing constellation.
*'''Maksutov''' is likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Maksutov telescope|Maksutov telescope]] invented by the Russian optician [[Wikipedia:Dimtri Maksutov|Dimtri Maksutov]].
*'''Mersenne''' is a reference to [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mersenne.html Marin Mersenne] a Minim friar who lived in France from 1588-1648 and was a major founder of number theory.
*'''Metis''' is a [[wikipedia:Metis (moon)|moon of Jupiter]], and correspondingly a [[wikipedia:Metis (mythology)|character]] in Greek mythology.
*'''Olber''' is likely a reference to [[Wikipedia:Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers|Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers]], a German astronomer.
*'''Organon''' is likely a reference to either Francis Bacon's book [[Wikipedia:Novum Organum|The New Organon]] or Aristotle's [[Wikipedia:Organon|Organon]], after which Bacon's book was named. Alternatively it could be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Organia|Organia]], an important location in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], or to the [[Wikipedia:Organa family|Organa family]] in the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] universe.
*'''Ptolemae''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]], an ancient astronomer whose Geocentric views Copernicus replaced.
*'''Raynet''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Wolf-Rayet|Rayet]]", an existing astronomical designation. It could also be a reference to British amateur radio network [[Wikipedia:RAYNET|RAYNET]].
*'''Saurus''' is possibly a reference to [[wikipedia:Eden Phillpotts|Eden Phillpotts]] novel ''Saurus''. It is also similar to the Greek word for "reptile".
*'''Squidi'''
*'''Vitalis'''
*'''Zeeman''' is possibly a reference to the physicist [[Wikipedia:Pieter Zeeman|Pieter Zeeman]] for whom a [[Wikipedia:Zeeman (crater)|crater]] on the moon is named.

==Other==
*[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]s are named after Robert Leyland, a Toys For Bob programmer.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}{{IRC1998}}
::<Manta> Fwiffo: Has anyone ever brought up parallels between Babylon 5 and Star Control? 
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 causes a certain amount of stomping around the office screaming. 
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 steals from us. We steal from known space. 
::<Fwiffo> And Larry in known space steals from others.

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Paranormal phenomena

2007-06-22T06:45:32Z

Gaeamil: /* Reincarnation */ I'd say that's pretty confirmed

This page describes actual paranormal phenomena apparently occurring in the [[Star Control]] universe.

==Paranormal phenomena==
===Psychic compulsion===
'''Psychic''' or '''mental compulsion''' is the ability to control and read the minds of others. The [[Chmmr]] intimate that most races that naturally possess this ability are inimical in nature. Psychic compulsion appears in at least two instances within the [[Star Control Universe]].

The classic example of a race with this innate ability is the [[Dnyarri]]. Just as the Chmmr profile suggests, the Dnyarri were a very hostile and pernicioius race, as is evident of their take-over of the [[Sentient Milieu]]. The only race known to be able to resist this compulsion were the [[Taalo]], due to their rock-like physiology. Their [[Taalo Shield]] bestowed this immunity upon other races too, and proves to be most valuable in containing the [[neo-Dnyarri]], thus helping greatly in the liberation of this region of space from the [[Ur-Quan]].

Dnyarri psychic compulsion has a limited range, but its effects may last longer than the effective psychic contact with the compulsive being, as evidenced by the Umgahs' and [[The Captain]]'s compulsion.

The [[Syreen]], to some extent, are capable of psychic compulsion.{{ref|1}} Syreen use psionic amplifiers to coerce a hodge-podge of alien races to serve aboard [[Penetrator]]s. An extension of this technology is the [[Penetrator#Secondary|Syreen Song]], a hypnosis field emitted by the ribbed structure of the ships hull, which when used in combat allows the Penetrator to steal its opponent's crew.

Both the [[Pkunk]] and [[Utwig]] (through the [[Ultron]]) imply that they possess some sort of psychic ability that allows them to influence people and events. However, there has been no definitive evidence proving either of these claims.

===Precognition===
'''Precognition''' is the ability to perceive, consciously or unconsciously, the future or possible futures.''
*[[Pkunk]] (unconfirmed)
*[[Utwig]] (through the employment of the [[Ultron]]; unconfirmed)
*[[Tzo Crystal]]s (according to the Melnorme)
*The [[MetaChron]] (predicts only its own destruction)

===Telepathy===
'''Telepathy''' is the ability to exchange information by the use of other senses than the standard ones.
*[[Arilou]]
*[[Pkunk]] (unconfirmed)
*Talented [[Zoq]] Seers can detect very powerful psionic emanations

===Talking to the dead===
*Pkunk (unconfirmed)

===Reincarnation===
*Pkunk (unconfirmed, except for [[Fury]])

==Paranormal concepts==
===Esper rating===
An '''esper rating''' or '''esper potential''' appears to be a measure of a person's psionic abilities. Commander [[Hayes]] mentions esper ratings twice. One time is when the [[Pkunk]] are absorbed by the [[Yehat]]. He says that certain crew members with high esper ratings fell unconscious, overcome by a feeling that something very wrong had happened. Another time he mentions it is when [[The Captain]] brings the [[Taalo Shield]] in for study. Hayes claims that whenever you put a charge anywhere through the shield, all crewmen with high esper potentials get a bad headache, and "all evidence of [[#Psychon|psychon]] interaction is flatlined.". Besides the six people on the [[Earth Starbase]] who react to the Pkunk disappearance, Ensigns [[Hodgkins]] and [[Witherspoon]], who reacted to the Taalo Shield, are the only crew members specifically identified as having noticeable esper ratings.
:''See also: Wikipedia article for [[wikipedia:esper|esper]]''

===Psychon===
In the Star Control universe, a psychon appears to be a particle responsible for paranormal phenomena, since the [[Taalo Shield]] flatlines all psychon interaction nearby if an electric current is fed into it. It may be the same psychon from Sir John Eccles' psychon theory that he described in ''How the Self Controls Its Brain''.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}{{IRC2007}}
::23:11 <@Meep-Eep> < Mormont> How strong is the Syreen song compared to a Dnyarri?
::23:13 <+PR3> Syreen song = glass of white wine vs. Dynarri compulsion = intravenous lab alcohol+horse tranquilizer

[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]

Talk:Super-Melee

2007-06-15T23:55:14Z

Gaeamil:

==Style of name==
This brings up an interesting predicament. While monitoring the recent changes (don't worry Val, this isn't personal, it's how I've always tried to be aware of what's going on here even before you showed up) I noticed a move from an article using "SuperMelee" to "Super Melee". Now frankly, I couldn't care less which it is but I thought this should at least be formally discussed and agreed on. There are three forms in which this phrase shows up: "Super-Melee" on the UQM ship selection menu for Super Melee, "SuperMelee" throughout the SC2 PC manual, and "Super Melee" on the UQM menu and the 3DO manual. I don't know what it shows up as in any of the 3D0 menus (having never played it) nor in the PC ship selection menu (even though I did play it, it was awhile back). So thoughts on which form to use (and why)? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 22:33, 15 June 2007 (CEST)

:I don't really care which we use, but I just wanted to throw in that the main menu in UQM has it as Super Melee! --[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 01:55, 16 June 2007 (CEST)

Torch

2007-06-14T17:44:02Z

Gaeamil: that's how I ally with the Thrads usually

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Thraddash_Torch_Icon.png|right]]
The [[Thraddash]] [[Torch]] is the pride and joy of Thraddash Culture Nineteen. It is very small, but its maneuverability and its powerful afterburners make it a serious contender even against AI-controlled large ships.

==Navigation==
The Torch is a small, somewhat slow ship with excellent maneuverability and acceleration.

==Armament==
===Primary===
The Torch's main weapon is the medium-range Mark-VI blaster. Its four-megawatt energy discharge is pretty weak, but it does have some surprising characteristics, such as resistance to the [[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]'s point-defense lasers, and the [[Umgah]] [[Drone]]'s anti-matter cone.
In the right hands, it can be a quite effective weapon.

===Secondary===
The secondary 'weapon' of the Torch isn't truly a weapon, but a secondary propulsion system known as the [[Reeunk]] Afterburner. The Reeunk afterburner accelerates the Torch to incredible speeds and leaves in its wake a fiery trail of ionized plasma that, while still hot, can cripple enemy ships in seconds should one be following too closely. It is so useful in an offensive capacity that most Thraddash pilots consider it to be the primary weapon on the Torch. However, human-controlled opponents will generally avoid the trail, thus transforming it into a simple evasion ability.

The Reeunk Afterburner is a relatively recent addition to the Torch. Earlier revisions of this ship were armed only with the Mark-VI Blaster and therefore deemed too ineffective for combat by the [[Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]]. Once they became [[Battle Thrall]]s, the Thraddash were ordered to "guard the rear" by staying in their home territory. Now that their ships have been improved, the Thraddash would love nothing more than to try them out against another race and thus prove their worth to the Ur-Quan.

==Tactical Overview==
The most popular tactic employed with this ship against the AI is to "cast a net" with the afterburners such that the enemy ship flies into it and takes damage. Against large capital ships, this is no problem, but against more maneuverable ships, luring them near a gravity well might be required first.

Skilled Torch pilots can easily goad AI [[Androsynth]] [[Guardian]]s into blazer mode with blaster fire, forcing them to head straight into the exhaust trails while the Torch outruns them. The afterburner is also good at frying the ZapSats of any [[Avatar]] that makes the mistake of chasing after it or flying towards it. Against the [[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]], the strategy is quite straightforward: close in quickly and pound incessantly it with the blaster. Point-defense laser is useless against it, and if you keep your distance you can dodge the return fire from the Cruiser quite easily; you can deal a decent amount of damage to the Cruiser before being blown to bits.

The Torch is most useful against the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s in single player. Wait for the Probe to get close, then activate the afterburner, the AI should cause it to follow resulting in it taking maximum damage and exploding. Using this technique, it's possible to get ally with the Thraddash early, and then by using their ships build up RU simply by hunting probes.

The AI allows the Ur-Quan [[Dreadnought]] to launch fighters against Torches, even though the afterburner destroys them as effectively as any point defense. Although the computer-controlled [[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] has the same weakness, the battle becomes more challenging after it has launched all the marines it can spare.

The [[Melnorme]] [[Trader]] is a tricky enemy, but gets almost impossible to beat if it hits the Torch with its confusion ray. This neutralizes the Torch's afterburner, its best weapon, and method of escape.

A [[Yehat]] [[Terminator]] can eliminate any number of Torches, if flown by a skilled player (usually by orbiting a gravity well or "pillboxing"), but a Torch can also easily take out a Terminator. What matters here is how well the Terminator pilot uses its force shield.

==Known Ships==
*[[Hot Pulsing Thrusters]]
*[[Blazing Guns of Glory]]
*[[Overwhelmer]]
[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Thraddash]]

Paranormal phenomena

2007-06-03T00:59:13Z

Gaeamil: No way to know they REALLY can look on the Fourth Astral Plane, now is there?

This page describes actual paranormal phenomena apparently occuring in the [[Star Control]] universe.

==Psychic compulsion==
'''Psychic''' or '''mental compulsion''' is the ability to control the minds of others. The [[Chmmr]] intimate that most races that naturally possess this ability are inimical in nature. Psychic compulsion appears in at least two instances within the [[Star Control Universe]].

The classic example of a race with this innate ability is the [[Dnyarri]]. Just as the Chmmr profile suggests, the Dnyarri were a very hostile and pernicioius race, as is evident of their take-over of the [[Sentient Milieu]]. The only race known to be able to resist this compulsion were the [[Taalo]], due to their rock-like physiology. Their [[Taalo Shield]] bestowed this immunity upon other races too, and proves to be most valuable in containing the [[neo-Dnyarri]], thus helping greatly in the liberation of this region of space from the [[Ur-Quan]].

Dnyarri psychic compulsion has a limited range, but its effects may last longer than the effective psychic contact with the compulsive being, as evidenced by the Umgahs' and [[The Captain]]'s compulsion.

The [[Syreen]], to some extent, are capable of psychic compulsion. Syreen use psionic amplifiers to coerce a hodge-podge of alien races to serve aboard [[Penetrator]]s. An extension of this technology is the [[Penetrator#Secondary|Syreen Song]], a hypnosis field emitted by the ribbed structure of the ships hull, which when used in combat allows the Penetrator to steal its opponent's crew.

Both the [[Pkunk]] and [[Utwig]] (through the [[Ultron]]) imply that they possess some sort of psychic ability that allows them to influence people and events. However, there has been no definitive evidence proving either of these claims.

==Precognition==
'''Precognition''' is the ability to perceive, consciously or unconsciously, the future or possible futures.''
*[[Pkunk]] (unconfirmed)
*[[Utwig]] (through the employment of the [[Ultron]]; unconfirmed)
*[[Tzo Crystal]]s (according to the Melnorme)
*The [[MetaChron]] (predicts only its own destruction)

==Telepathy==
'''Telepathy''' is the ability to exchange information by the use of other senses than the standard ones.
*[[Arilou]]
*Some [[human]]s, those with high [[esper rating]]s have exhibited at least some level of telepathy
*[[Pkunk]] (unconfirmed)
*Talented [[Zoq]] Seers can detect very powerful psionic emanations

==Talking to the dead==
*Pkunk (unconfirmed)

==Reincarnation==
*Pkunk

[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]

Ur-Quan

2007-06-03T00:58:01Z

Gaeamil: This is the exact thing I heard, on here, no less. I always go for consistency.

{{UrQuanNav}}

:''This page is about the Ur-Quan species as a whole. See [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] and [[Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah]] for more specific information on the two modern subspecies.''

The '''Ur-Quan''' are one of the oldest species known to the [[Alliance]] and are by far the greatest political and military power known to the galaxy for the past twenty millennia. Until their recent defeat by the [[New Alliance of Free Stars]] they were the dominant force in our galaxy, and countless sentient races' development have been halted by enslavement or genocide at their hands.

The Ur-Quan as we know them today are divided into two subspecies, the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] and the [[Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah]], which form separate cultural and political units and are thus treated in separate articles. This article is about the Ur-Quan species as a whole, including their development before the formal creation of the Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah "nations". For details on the separate cultural paths taken by the Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah, see the relevant articles.

==Physiology==

The Ur-Quan resembled externally a brown, 10-metres-long variation of the predatory caterpillars native to [[Earth]]'s Hawaiian Islands.

They have long, multisegmented bodies with four legs protruding from the frontal segment; the legs on the posterior section of their bodies are used for clinging to the ceiling, while the anterior legs are longer and can function as grippers and manipulators.

The Ur-Quan's most anterior body segment, or its head, possesses a plethora of sensory organs, giving their face a wide variety of horrific expressions.

Unlike many sentient species, the Ur-Quan were not social animals; they were, instead, solitary hunters, with all of their very limited repertoire of social instincts relegated to the field of sex and reproduction. Ur-Quan individuals were instinctively fiercely territorial against each other and against most other species, which they either hunted as food or chased off as potential predators or rivals.

==History==
===Evolution and civilization===
The Ur-Quan evolved on a harsh, hostile world outside the region of space mapped by the [[Chenjesu]], described by the Kohr-Ah as "a world where one species is the dominant killer, one's only threat is one's brother, one's sister, anyone of one's species", a world populated by a variety of species physically superior to the Ur-Quan, until the Ur-Quan developed tools to cope with them. They were solitary hunters who had to defeat their strong territorial nature, and the deep hatred between each other, to found a mighty technological culture.

===Sentient Milieu===
The Ur-Quan eventually learned to harness nuclear energy, and used this technology to create vehicles capable of traveling through interplanetary space. Having begun to explore their solar system, they were contacted by the [[Taalo]], who had just discovered them and considered them as potential members of the [[Sentient Milieu]]. The Ur-Quan at first reacted with panic and fear, initiating combat against the Taalo vessels as possible attackers or conquerors; the Taalo, however, understanding the Ur-Quan's genetic predisposition to xenophobia, remained patient. Upon finally opening negotiations with the Taalo, the Ur-Quan were shocked to discover that confronting the Taalo face-to-face did not trigger their instincts of territoriality as did all other animal species, thanks to the Taalo's unique physiology that caused them to appear as no more than simple rocks.

The shock of their newfound ability to communicate as equals with other sentients without being tormented with feelings of terror and hatred -- something the Ur-Quan still had to struggle with among themselves -- was enough to make the Ur-Quan amenable to the Taalo's proposal to join the Milieu. The Ur-Quan soon registered as Sentient Milieu members and, though their instincts still made them unable to interact peacefully with the other members of the Milieu, were eager to find a useful role within the Milieu cooperative. The Ur-Quan soon found that they made ideal Milieu scouts; individual Ur-Quan could not only tolerate but enjoyed the prospect of piloting tiny, single-occupant ships to uncharted regions of the galaxy to report their findings, and the many Ur-Quan scouts gathered huge amounts of data, exploring great chunks of uncharted space.

===Dnyarri Slave Empire===
Then as now, the primary mystery most sentient species sought to investigate was the disappearance of the [[Precursors]]. The Ur-Quan scouts were a new and invaluable asset in searching for Precursor artifacts.

One Ur-Quan scout discovered a planet, later known as [[Glilandy]], that showed readings particularly reminiscent of Precursor artifacts. Unfortunately, those readings turned out to be generated by the emanations of an incredibly powerful race of psychic sentients known as the [[Dnyarri]]. Unfortunately, Ur-Quan minds are particularly susceptible to psychic manipulation, and at the very moment the Ur-Quan scout landed on the planet, his mind was seized by the Dnyarri and examined. Learning of the immense wealth of resources and labor to be had in the Sentient Milieu, the Dnyarri forced the Ur-Quan to return to the Milieu capital planet with hundreds of Dnyarri as cargo, and within a month the Dnyarri had seized control of all Milieu races and spread themselves throughout the Milieu, using the industry of a hundred worlds for their own vulgar amusements.

The Taalo were immune to Dnyarri control; thus, they had to resort to brute force for dealing with them. The Dnyarri compelled the other Milieu races to raze the Taalo homeworld. The Taalo did not fight back (though it is possible that they fled to [[*Pretty Space*]]). To this day, the Ur-Quan still feel guilty for this barbarous act.

The easily compelled Ur-Quan were the favoured slaves of the Dnyarri, and the agents of the extermination of several races deemed "worthless" due to their inefficiency and lack of speed, such as the [[Drall]] and the [[Yuli]].

As time went on, the Dnyarri decided to use the Ur-Quans' own science to genetically engineer the Ur-Quan into physically distinct subspecies or castes to perform certain tasks. One group of Ur-Quan were optimized for intellectual tasks, performing scientific and engineering research to improve the Slave Empire's infrastructure and conducting administration and management on the Dnyarri's behalf. The other Ur-Quan, meant to serve as manual laborers and soldiers, were optimized for strength and diligence in performing manual tasks. The brown fur covering the Ur-Quan originally disappeared in these genetic alterations, leaving the administrative Ur-Quan with a green skin, and the workers with a black shell.

===Slave Revolt===
After twenty five centuries, the Dnyarri grew lax in their dominance, and loosened the mental chains connecting them with their slaves, at times even allowing temporary moments of self-control. A Green Ur-Quan scientist named [[Kzer-Za (Character)|Kzer-Za]], during such a moment, realized that the Dnyarri masters disconnected from dying slaves in order to avoid a being dragged down into death also. Once Kzer-Za was assured of this fact, he seized an opportune moment to inject himself with a lethal dose of acidic poison. His extreme pain and impending death forcing the Dnyarri to release his mind, Kzer-Za broadcast an extremely powerful transmission across the whole planet and into space, making public his discoveries.

Upon hearing Kzer-Za's message, Ur-Quan everywhere began a mass movement, seizing any moment of weakness on the part of the Dnyarri to injure themselves in any way possible, inflicting whatever pain and physical trauma was necessary to distract the local Dnyarri controller enough to track it down and kill it. The Ur-Quan gained longer and longer periods of self-control, during which they developed a variety of torture devices such as the [[Excruciator]], a device that could be implanted in an Ur-Quan brain and provided gruesome levels of agony that left the Ur-Quan physically functional yet continuously protected against psychic domination.

The Ur-Quan finally succeeded in purging the Slave Empire of the Dnyarri. Only a few scattered, terrified Dnyarri remained, on the planet Glilandy, for which the Ur-Quan decided that death was not fitting enough a punishment. Instead, the Ur-Quan used their genetic engineering skills to transform the Dnyarri into nonsentient biological tools, the Talking Pets, to perform the most demeaning task of translating to and from the languages of alien races, whom the Ur-Quan now deemed grossly inferior.

The Ur-Quan's own, natural pathologies — their instinct-driven xenophobia and territoriality — had been grossly magnified by the many generation of slavery to the Dnyarri, and all of the surviving Ur-Quan rebels had only survived by subjecting themselves to intense, continuous pain for years. This most likely was the reason for the Ur-Quan view of morality to become as warped as we know it, and they, driven by nothing else but a deep, core conviction that their enslavement was an aberration that must never happen again, and that had been allowed to happen by the Ur-Quan's weakness in allowing other species to exist freely, established two radical, different ways to ensure their eternal freedom.

===Doctrinal Conflict===
The Green Ur-Quan, as natural administrators, came up with a sophisticated blueprint for future cultural development known as the [[Path of Now and Forever]]. They named their new civilization the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za after the martyred scientist-hero, and were able to construct a unique form of self-sustaining force field called a [[slave shield]], with which they hoped to eventually contain all species that would not actively submit to Ur-Quan dominance. Facing one of the remaining Milieu members, the [[Faz]], with this choice, the Faz chose to be slave-shielded.

At this time, however, the Black Ur-Quan rebelled against the idea of being controlled by Green Ur-Quan theory. They viewed the Green as having become effete and weakened by their position as administrators for the Dnyarri, and viewed themselves, who had done most of the actual labor in maintaining the Empire, as more worthy. One of the Black leaders, a fleet commander and military hero of the Slave Revolt named [[Kohr-Ah (Character)|Kohr-Ah]], came forward with his own [[Eternal Doctrine]], challenging the Path of Now and Forever's complexity and claiming true safety could only be assured by the simple destruction of all other species. The Black Ur-Quan enthusiastically responded to Kohr-Ah's proposal and formed their own civilization based on his principles and named after him, starting with the genocide of the [[Yuptar]].

The newly named Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah races confronted each other over the homeworld of the last remaining Milieu race, the [[Mael-Num]], thus allowing them to escape. Neither side willing to submit, they began the great [[Doctrinal War]], and, their forces evenly matched, would have destroyed each other had the Kzer-Za not found by chance a great, powerful Precursor Battleship which they called the [[Sa-Matra]], with which they sliced through the Kohr-Ah fleets in days. Unwilling to destroy their brothers or be too confident in the rightness of their doctrine, however, the Kzer-Za came to an agreement with the Kohr-Ah that they and their doctrines would coexist and would periodically ritually re-fight the Doctrinal War to determine which of the two cultures would dominate the other. They thus traveled in opposite directions around the galaxy, the Kzer-Za leaving behind a trail of enslaved civilizations, and the Kohr-Ah leaving a trail of burned worlds. Many, many civilizations have tried and failed to resist the Ur-Quan, who have leveraged their immensely developed technological achievements into an ability to efficiently organize a [[Hierarchy]] of conquests in the Kzer-Za case or efficiently and precisely destroy civilizations outright in the Kohr-Ah case.

No developing civilization was able to survive the assault of the technologically superior and strongly motivated Ur-Quan subspecies until they met again and fought their second Doctrinal War when, in what we know as the [[Second War of the Alliance]], the species of the New Alliance of Free Stars were able to use the distraction afforded by their war with each other to find a way to destroy the [[Sa-Matra]] and defeat both Ur-Quan subspecies. The defeat of the Ur-Quan marks the first chance in twenty thousand years for new civilizations to develop without the looming threat of being cut short by an Ur-Quan fleet.

Reports vary on the fate of the Ur-Quan race after the destruction of the Sa-Matra. One report states that the remnants Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah fleets fled towards the Magellanic clouds. While another claims that the Ur-Quan fleets fell into disarray and were defeated by [[Chmmr]] and [[New Alliance of Free Stars|New Alliance]] forces. In either of these outcomes, it is uncertain how or even if either Ur-Quan subspecies will adapt their doctrine to deal with the new galactic society.

{{Template:Milieu}}

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Ur-Quan| ]]

Talk:Zoq-Fot-Pik

2007-06-03T00:50:23Z

Gaeamil: /* Psychic?! */ reply

==Whoa, whoa, whoa==

We're treating source code as canon, now? It wasn't intended by the creators to be seen by players, and most players have never seen it. It's the source of really ugly terms like SIS (Super Integrated Starship) -- the names in it are for making *programming the game* easier, not for people to read, and the code itself *does not* count as a canonical source any more than things in a movie's original shooting script that never show up onscreen are canon. And just because the programmers found it really convenient to have a way to refer to each one of the ZFP doesn't mean that they intended us to treat that as a canonical definition of which is which, especially when so much humor arises from this having been forgotten.

: TFB may have not intended for us to know which is which, but they *did* make a concious decision here. We can't just pretend we don't know it. This is no different from TFB revealing information in direct communication. What's relevant is what TFB intended it to be. We're not restricting our information to just what is known in-game.
: As for the humour, it arises from the fact that the game characters don't know who is who.
: I agree with your comments on SIS though. That indeed seemed to be just an internal name, and it shouldn't be used to refer to it in the Ultronomicon, except for a remark in the page for "The Flagship" itself. And I'm afraid I might have originated that use in here, but that was a mistake.
: - [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 05:36, 14 Apr 2005 (CEST)

== Edit 02:38, 2 April 2007 by Svdb ==

1. No, it's not an April Fools' joke.

2. The Zoq really resemble a plant AND a frog (in fact, I viewed them more as frogs the first time I met them).

2b. So at least this comment should be kept.

3. That was "Possible name origin". After all, it's possible, no?

:1. ''The name "Zoq" may originate from "frog" ("q" is "g" mirrored; "f" is the 6th letter of the English alphabet, while "r" is the 18th, and 18+6=24, which is near "z" - the 26th letter). It even sounds "froggy".''... you could have fooled me... or not, that is.
:2. Not everything green is a frog (nor the other way around for that matter). What other similarities are there?
:3. A lot of things are possible. It is possible that Talana is a smurf whose mother was addicted to growth hormones. But that's almost as far out there as your remarks, so we don't include that either.
— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 17:34, 2 April 2007 (CEST)

::Aha... Still, name origin is an important thing. There's even the page [[Influences and References]] almost entirely filled with name origin. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 19:54, 2 April 2007 (CEST)

:::Come up with some less ludicrous ideas, and we'll talk. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 23:12, 2 April 2007 (CEST)

::::Aha... well, at least the Pik name origin looks plausible for me.
::::And while not all frogs are green, and not all green things are frogs, this doesn't mean that no frog is green, or that no green thing is a frog. I mean, the same holds true for plants, so why would you accept the Zoq's similarity with plants and not with frogs?! [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 14:24, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

:::::You have something stem-like, and something leave-like. That's a whole lot more than you have than with your frog. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 16:04, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

::::::The general shape is that of a frog. Also, nobody is puzzled as to why a plant could evolve to sentience, such as with the Supox. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 16:12, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

:::::::General shape? You mean that if you fill up the area occupied with the Zoq, to make it one green blob with eyes, *then* it looks a bit more like a frog?
:::::::As for evolving sentience, the claim was "looks like", not "behaves like". I agree that a Zoq behaves more like a frog than like a plant, just because it can move. But don't run off changing "looks like" by "acts like" or so, because with that reasoning, the Pik acts like a frog too. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 16:30, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

::::::::Try benting a bit the Zoq to make it a frog - you'll see that it's easy.
::::::::Plus, it has those eye-like structures.
::::::::You can't deny its similarities with a frog. Nor with a plant - it's a little of both. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 16:40, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

I won't deny the Zoq has some similarities with a frog, just like I won't deny it has some similarities with a used handkerchief. Just that the similarities aren't obvious enough to warrant a mention, unlike the plant similarities. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 18:43, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

This is very subjective. Better remove the plant comparison entirely. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 18:54, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

Fine, I'll make it a poll on the forum. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 19:11, 3 April 2007 (CEST)

== Red guy speaking? ==
Has anybody ever seen a reason that the red guy (be he Fot or Pik) never speaks? I know that he simply doesn't, but has the reason for that ever been known? --[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 07:40, 21 April 2007 (CEST)

:Not that I know of. You can ask the ZFP at one point "Does that guy in back ever say anything?" To which the response is - Zoq: "Nope.", Pik: "Not a word." Not very elucidating though. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 08:00, 21 April 2007 (CEST)

== Frungy ==

Only the Pik are obsessed with Frungy in-game, the Zoq hate it. Shouldn't we say "the Pik" instead of "some Zoq-Fot-Pik"? [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 15:58, 6 May 2007 (CEST)

:Only a particular Pik or two. There's no reason to believe that it's a racewide thing, or that no Zoq like it.--[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 23:44, 6 May 2007 (CEST)

== Psychic?! ==
Val, where did you find that the Zoq posess slight psychic abilities? I never saw that. Mostly I'm just curious.--[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 07:21, 2 June 2007 (CEST)

:If I can jump in for Val here - see the GENERAL_INFO_4# responses in the ZFP conversations where the "Zoq" claims to be "somewhat sensitive to certain meta-psychic vibrations", followed by some humorous dialog with the "Pik", and ending with a hint to check out the Orionis constellation for some strong psychic activity, ie the neo-Dnyarri. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 07:36, 2 June 2007 (CEST)

::OK, I had just never caught that. Thanks for clearing that up. --[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 02:50, 3 June 2007 (CEST)

Talk:Zoq-Fot-Pik

2007-06-02T05:21:58Z

Gaeamil: Question about recent edit

List of weapons

2007-05-23T05:37:43Z

Gaeamil:

{| class="wikitable"
! width=0% | Race
! width=0% | Ship
! width=0% | Weapon #1
! width=0% | Damage
! width=0% | Notes
! width=0% | Weapon #2
! width=0% | Damage
! width=0% | Notes
|-
| [[Androsynth]] || [[Guardian]]
| Molecular Acid Bubbles ||align="center"| 2 || Follows using Chaos(TM) tracking
| Blazer Mode ||align="center"| 3 per hit || Becomes an high-speed, inertialess comet until battery is drained, does damage to foe on impact
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Arilou]] || [[Skiff]]
| Ventral laser ||align="center"| 1 || Automatically aims at foe
| Random Teleport ||align="center"| 0 || Teleports the Skiff to a random point on the battlefield
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Chenjesu]] || [[Broodhome]]
| Photon Crystal Shard ||align="center"| 6 for direct hit, 2 for shattered piece || Travels outward until fire is released, then shatters.
| D.O.G.I. ||align="center"| 0 || Follows foe and saps battery power
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Chmmr]] || [[Avatar]]
| Heavy X-ray laser ||align="center"| 2 || Continuous laser
| Tractor Beam ||align="center"| 0 || pulls foe closer
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Druuge]] || [[Mauler]]
| High-recoil Cannon ||align="center"| 6 || Throws Druuge backwards
| Burn Crew ||align="center"| 1 (to self) || Destroys 1 crew to recharge battery
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Earthling]] || [[Cruiser]]
| MX Nuclear Missile ||align="center"| 4 || Uses "Fire-and-forget" tracking
| SDI Point Defense Laser ||align="center"| 1 ||Auto-targets nearby weapon shots or enemy ships
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Ilwrath]] || [[Avenger]]
| Hellfire Spout ||align="center"| 1 || Very fast-firing; fire disengages cloak and instantaneously turns the ship to face the opponent
| Cloaking Field ||align="center"| 0 || Makes the ship invisible and untargetable by tracking weapons
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Kohr-Ah]] || [[Marauder]]
| Spinning blade-disk ||align="center"| 4 || Flies until fire is released, then stops and tracks nearby ships
| F.R.I.E.D. ||align="center"| 3 || Fires in 16 directions at once
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Melnorme]] || [[Trader]]
| Variable power blaster ([[Keel-Verezy]] origin) ||align="center"| 2/4/6/8 || Does more damage the longer fire is held
| Confusion ray (Electromagnetic cannon) ||align="center"| 0 || Disables secondary fire, and lock foe into spinning in one direction
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Mmrnmhrm]] || [[X-Form]]
| Missiles ||align="center"| 1 || track, only in Y-Wing form
| Lasers ||align="center"| 1 || continuous laser, must be in X-Wing Form
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Mycon]] || [[Podship]]
| Homing Plasmoid ||align="center"| 1-10 || Dissipates over time and hits to the shot
| Regrow Crew ||align="center"| -4 (to self) || Regrows 4 crew
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Orz]] || [[Nemesis]]
| Howitzer ||align="center"| 3 || Can rotate turret and fire at any angle
| Space Marine ||align="center"| varies || Launches a space marine that boards foe's ship and attacks the crew, will eventually die as it is infiltrating, after taking out, on average, 8 enemy crew members.
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Pkunk]] || [[Fury]]
| Triple-mounted hot metal minigun ||align="center"| 1 || fires from front and both sides
| Insult ||align="center"| 0 || recharges 2 battery
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Precursor]] || Tug (aka [[The Flagship]])
| [[Ion-Bolt Gun]]/[[Fusion Blaster (module)|Fusion Blaster]]/[[Hellbore Cannon]] ||align="center"| 2/4/6 ||
| [[Point-Defense Laser]] ||align="center"| ?{needs to be found} ||
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Shofixti]] || [[Scout]]
| Mendokusai Energy Dart ||align="center"| 1 ||
| Glory Device||align="center"| 14 max || kamikaze attack that destroys the Scout (must press 3 times to use)
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Slylandro]] || [[Probe]]
| Lightning ||align="center"| 1 || always aims to enemy
| re-energize ||align="center"| 0 || allows probe to "scoop" asteroids and convert them to a full battery
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Spathi]] || [[Eluder]]
| fast, weak, forward gun ||align="center"| 1 ||
| B.U.T.T. ||align="center"| 2 || fires from rear, tracking
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Supox]] || [[Blade]]
| Toxic glob weapon ||align="center"| 1 || Fast, weak, forward-firing
| Lateral Thrusting System ||align="center"| 0 || allows easy strafing, and backwards motion
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Syreen]] || [[Penetrator]]
| Particle Beam Stiletto (Electron Dagger) ||align="center"| 2 ||
| Syreen Song ||align="center"| varies || Causes crew to jump ship, can be picked up by either side.
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Thraddash]] || [[Torch]]
| Mark VI Blaster ||align="center"| 1 ||
| [[Reeunk]] Afterburner ||align="center"| 2 || Launches Torch ahead, leaving a trail of fire that can damage foe
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Umgah]] || [[Drone]]
| [[Antimatter]] Cone ||align="center"| 1 || fires continuously, takes no energy (however, restarts the battery recharge counter) || Retro-propulsion System ||align="center"| 0 || launches Drone backwards and then cancels all momentum
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Ur-Quan]] || [[Dreadnought]]
| Fusion Blaster ||align="center"| 6 ||
| Launch Fighters ||align="center"| varies || launches 2 crew in autonomous fighters that attack the foe. Each of their shots do 1 damage.
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Utwig]] || [[Jugger]]
| Energy spears ||align="center"| 1 || fires 6 at once, takes no energy
| Absorption shield ||align="center"| 0 || converts all damage taken into battery power
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[VUX]] || [[Intruder]]
| Gigawatt Laser ||align="center"| 1 ||
| Limpet Parasite Cocoon ||align="center"| 0 || slows down foe
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Yehat]] || [[Terminator]]
| Twin Ion Pulse Cannons ||align="center"| 1 ||
| Force Shield ||align="center"| 0 || blocks all damage
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] || [[Stinger]]
| Antimatter spray gun ||align="center"| 1 || inaccurate
| Tongue Attack ||align="center"| 12 || point-blank range
|-
|}

[[Category:Lists|Weapons, list of]]
[[Category:Science and technology|Weapons, list of]]

Probe

2007-05-20T15:28:23Z

Gaeamil: /* Tactical Overview */

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Slylandro_Probe_Icon.png|right]]
The [[Slylandro]] purchased their first '''Probe''' from the [[Melnorme]] for exploration purposes, with the intent to use them for making peaceful contact with other races. The full name of the Probe is actually catalog item 2418-B: Remote Self-Replicating Robot Explorer Probe. Since it had the ability to replicate itself, they modified its [[#Programming|program code]] so that replication became its overriding first priority.

The repercussions of this foolhardy action were grave. The probes not only attempted to break friendly ships into component pieces for use in replication, but also multiplied at an exponential rate, becoming a severe hazard to any [[HyperSpace]] traveler. Both the [[Thraddash]] and the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] have encountered the malfunctioning probes, and have deduced at least the general direction of the source of the probes. The Captain also had a brief but fatal run-in with a probe a few days before first reaching [[Sol]]. Captain [[I. Burton]] was killed in the attack, but strangely, the probe merely disabled the [[Tobermoon]] before departing.

[[The Captain]] is able to put a stop to this hazard when he makes contact with the Slylandro. When they learn what has happened, they give The Captain a code that will cause probes to self-destruct in case he encounters one. This is necessary since, unlike the out-of-stock catalog item 2419, the probes do not have a recall transmitter. The probes however are programmed to return to their point of origin after ten replications. When apprised of the situation, the Slylandro will reprogram the probes that eventually return to roam our region of space broadcasting the [[Slylandro Probe Self-Destruct Code|self-destruct code]] on a HyperWave hailing frequency, which causes a swift decline in their numbers.

==Navigation==
Unlike any other ship, the probe is always in motion, constantly scooping up the interstellar hydrogen as fuel for its internal reactors. Pressing the thruster immediately reverses the Probe's direction. The control scheme is tricky to learn, but the advantages of having such a nimble ship should not be overlooked.

Another unique trait is that the probe's "crew" is impervious to the [[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]'s secondary attack. This is even in contrast to the only other robotic race, the [[Mmrnmhrm]], whose crew is affected by the Syreen Song.

==Armament==
===Primary===
When attacking, the Probe discharges several bolts of lightning directed at its target. The lightning discharge was not designed to be used as a weapon. However, due to their skewed priorities, they attempt to break down the target into "consumable" particles, instead of attacking it with their defensive missile batteries (which are never used in-game). The lightning is very short-ranged, which makes for a difficult learning curve when coupled with the Probe's unorthodox controls.

===Secondary===
Unlike most vessels, the probe does not generate its own fuel. Instead, it uses its secondary armament to break down nearby asteroids into raw materials which it then feeds into its combat batteries. One asteroid contains enough raw materials to completely replenish a probe's energy reserves.

==Tactical Overview==
Given the difficulty in mastering the controls, not a lot of players have spent the time researching good tactics for this ship. The primary fighting technique employed by pilots of this ship seems to be: close in, evade incoming fire, empty the combat batteries, then zip off to find an asteroid in order to replenish the batteries. Repeat.

A common mistake people usually make when fighting the probe is to constantly evade the probe, even when it its battery power is empty.

The [[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] can fire space marines, and the [[Spathi]] [[Eluder]] can eject B.U.T.T. projectiles, which will both cause the probe to back off from its current target.

With its unconventional and erratic movements, the probe is able to dodge things such as the [[Cruiser]]'s missiles and the [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]] "death blossom" easily.

==Miscellaneous==
===Programming===
The Probe's internal set of instructions is reproduced here:
SCAN (for targets, as defined in Target List).
IF (no current target).
THEN (select New target from Current Targets list, using specified priorities).
IF (Current Position is AT Current Target).
THEN (Set Current Behavior to New Behavior, based on Behavior Priority Settings).
PERFORM (Current Behavior).
The Probe uses the following datatables:
TARGET LIST (with associated Target Priority).
Space Vessel (5).
Transmission Source (4).
Astronomical Anomaly (3).
Planet Bearing Life Signature (2).
Raw Replication Materials (1).
PROBE BEHAVIORS (With assigned priorities).
Communicate (5).
Record Data (4).
Analyze Data (3).
Seek Replication Materials (999).
Move to Current Target (1).

It is the skewed priority of the 'Seek Replication Materials' behavior that led to the Probe's unnatural hostility.

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Slylandro]]

The Ur-Quan Masters Technical FAQ

2007-05-20T04:53:18Z

Gaeamil: /* When I press multiple keys at the same time, some keys won't be recognised */ That's what happens with mine.

{{Safe}}

This is the list of frequently asked questions (with answers) about technical issues regarding [[The Ur-Quan Masters]]. For gameplay questions or questions about the The Ur-Quan Masters project, check [[List of FAQs|our other FAQs]].

If you have any further questions, you can ask them on [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Techissues the technical issues board].

If you think you have found a bug, please report it in [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/bugs/ the Bugzilla database].

__TOC__

==Installing the game==

===Where do I get the game?===
You can find the latest official release on [http://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php http://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php].

You can find source snapshots, content updates, and precompiled Windows binaries for the most recent developers version on [http://uqm.stack.nl/files/snapshots/ http://uqm.stack.nl/files/snapshots].

For MacOS X, [[User:Nic|Nic]] has developer builds with some of his own patches [http://www.submedia.net/uqm/ here].

If you frequently build the game yourself from the recent source, you may want to get your files from anonymous CVS. If you're using a command-line CVS client, this is what you type:
:<code>cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@sc2.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/sc2 login</code>
:followed by
:<code>cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@sc2.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/sc2 co -P sc2</code>

Then, read the INSTALL file, and make sure you have the necessary libraries it refers to.

For compiling the source under Windows there's a Microsoft Developer Studio project file in src/msvc++/. For Unix (including Darwin), follow the instructions in doc/users/unixinstall. For MinGW, there's a file INSTALL.mingw in the top dir with some additional information.

===How do I install the game on Windows without an internet connection?===
Download uqm-0.5.0-win32-installer.exe, uqm-0.5.0-content.uqm, and optionally uqm-0.5.0-voice.uqm and uqm-0.5.0-3domusic.uqm from [http://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php http://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php] on a machine where you do have an internet connection, and burn them to a CD-ROM. Then, on the machine where you want to install the game, start uqm-0.5.0-win32-installer.exe. Do not select any content packages you haven't downloaded, and when the installer asks where to get the packages from, select your CD rom drive. The installer won't try to download any files from the internet then.

Note: Some defective browsers attach the extension ".zip" to your downloaded files (so you'll end up with files like "uqm-0.5.0-content.uqm.zip"). In this case you'll have to rename the files back, so that the installer will recognise them, lest it will try to download them itself.

===How do I use the 3DO intro and victory movies in the game?===
[[Toys For Bob]] doesn't have the copyright to these files and so we can't distribute them. But if you own the [[3DO]] [[Star Control II]] CD, you can extract them yourself and use them in the game. To do this, you first need to make a .iso file of the CD-ROM, and then run a program called unCD-ROM, which can be found [http://troosh.pp.ru/3do/unCD-ROM14.zip here] (local mirror [http://uqm.stack.nl/files/unCD-ROM/unCD-ROM14.zip here]). It includes a .exe file for Windows and the source code, which will also works on Linux. Just run it on the new .iso file. More detailed instructions can be found [http://www.cahudson.freeserve.co.uk/docs/richs3docdexrtractionguidev2.htm here]. An (untried) alternative for Windows user, CompilFS, which looks a bit more user friendly, can be found [http://altmer.arts-union.ru/3DO/downloads/CompilFS.rar here].
Linux users can also add direct support for the 3DO file system with a kernel module, which can be found [http://www.stack.nl/~svdb/operafs/ here].

In the extracted "duckart" directory you will find the videos. The files with extensions .duk, .frm, .hdr, and .tbl go together. At the moment only the intro and victory images can be used in [[The Ur-Quan Masters]]. To do this you create a directory "slides" in the content directory. In that "slides" directory you create an "intro" directory where you put the intro.duk, intro.frm, intro.hdr and intro.tbl files from the 3DO CD-ROM. In the "slides" directory you also create a directory "ending" where you put the victory.duk, victory.frm, victory.hdr and victory.tbl files.
Note that on case-sensitive operating systems, all the file names should be lowercase.

If you haven't installed any add-on packages, your content directory structure should now look like this:

content/packages/uqm-0.4.0-content.uqm
content/packages/uqm-0.4.0-3domusic.uqm (optional)
content/packages/uqm-0.4.0-voice.uqm (optional)
content/slides/ending/victory.duk
content/slides/ending/victory.frm
content/slides/ending/victory.hdr
content/slides/ending/victory.tbl
content/slides/intro/intro.duk
content/slides/intro/intro.frm
content/slides/intro/intro.hdr
content/slides/intro/intro.tbl
content/version

Now just start the game normally and wait a few seconds and the intro movie will show up. You'll see the ending when you complete the game.

==Running the game==

===When trying to start the game, I get a DOS box flashing on my screen, and nothing else (on Windows)===
The DOS box shows some debug information while the game is running. Right click on the icon you used to start the game, choose 'properties', and add '--logfile logfile.txt' as the first argument in the "Target" field. For example: "H:\Program Files\The Ur-Quan Masters\uqm.exe" --logfile logfile.txt --res 640x480 --bpp 32 --opengl --scale=bilinear --scroll 3do --audioquality high --addon remix In this example, the window will open and close quickly but will put the output into "H:\Program Files\The Ur-Quan Masters\logfile.txt" for later examination via Notepad. Often the window closes quickly due to an improper argument, i.e. "--bpp32" versus "--bpp 32". Look elsewhere in this FAQ for specific information on your problem.

===The game runs too slowly. What can I do?===
If you're running on a system barely faster than the [[The_Ur-Quan_Masters_Project_FAQ#What are the system requirements?|minimum system requirements]], you may need to disable some eye candy.
*try playing in 320x240 mode, full screen, with no scaling.
*depending on your graphics card and driver, using OpenGL may slow down or speed up the game.
*do not run in 24 bits per pixel mode. 16 is fine, 32 is fine, but 24 is an inefficient mode.
If you are running [[The Ur-Quan Masters]] on a modern system, and are still having a slow game experience, try the following:
*(on Windows) make sure your video and sound drivers and DirectX are up-to-date.
*(on Windows) make sure your PC isn't infected with spyware or similar programs. Good free programs to remove these are [http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ Ad-Aware Personal] and [http://spybot.info/ Spybot-Search&Destroy].
*close other programs when you are running the game. This includes programs that are running in the system tray. Some of these programs eat up a lot of resources.
*(on Windows) when running the game press <nowiki><CTRL>-<ALT>-<DEL></nowiki>, and select "task manager". There increase the priority of The Ur-Quan Masters.

See also [[#How do I change my settings?|How do I change my settings?]].

===How do I change my settings?===
The settings can nowadays be changed from within the in-game setup menu.

===How do I use add-on packages?===
Inside the directory where the content is installed, in the content/packages/ directory, there is a directory 'addons/'. In this directory, you can create new directories with .uqm files in them to be used in addition to the standard content .uqm files. The .uqm files are actually .zip files, but renamed so that people won't unpack them accidentally. If your add-on comes as a .zip file, you can use it as if it is a .uqm file.

When you specify the command-line option '--addon <addon>', the .uqm files inside the directory content/packages/addons/<addon> will be included
in the game. '--addon' may be specified more than once to enable multiple add-ons.

Instead of specifying command-line options yourself, you can use a launcher program.

See [[#How do I change my settings?|How do I change my settings]] and [[Content Management]] for more information.

===How do I change my keys?===
From version 0.6.0 and onwards you can edit your keys from the setup menu within The Ur-Quan Masters.

===How do I use a joystick or game pad?===
There are joystick profiles for both the primary and the secondary joystick that can selected in the keys config menu within The Ur-Quan Masters.
If you want to modify these profiles, you'll need to manually edit the file "keys.cfg" in the settings directory (see [[#Where are my settings stored?|Where are my settings stored?]]).
More information is contained in that file itself. Lines starting with "#" are ignored.

===When I press multiple keys at the same time, some keys won't be recognised===
This is a hardware problem with many keyboards. [http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/one_html/ This page] describes what is going on technically.

To get around the problem, you could try using another keyboard. Unfortunately, most modern keyboards have problems like this. The exact key combinations that aren't accepted vary per keyboard though.

Sometimes toggling the num lock or caps lock will resolve the conflict. You can also change the keys that give problems. Keys that are usually ok to use are keys that are meant to be used in combination with other keys, such as SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT. For the rest, you'll just have to experiment. See [[#How do I change my keys?|here]] for information on changing your keys.

Another problem may be that some keyboards can only register two buttons at a time (except for ctrl-alt-del), which makes the combination of turning, thrusting, and firing impossible, for instance.

Another possibility is to use a joystick or game pad. (see [[#How do I use a joystick or game pad?|How do I use a joystick or game pad?]]).

===I keep getting a popup regarding sticky keys. How do I get rid of it?===
This is a message from Windows, which wonders why you keep pressing that shift key all the time. The next time it comes up, click "settings", and then uncheck "use shortcut".

===How do I exit the game?===
Press '''F10''', and then confirm. On MacOS X 10.3 and above, the new Exposé features intercept '''F10''', so use '''Option-F10''' to quit on such systems (you may also disable the F10 intercept in System Preferences
→ Dashboard & Exposé.) See also [[#How do I change my keys?|How do I change my keys?]]

===How do I pause the game?===
Press F1 or the Pause key. It works for unpausing too. See also [[#How do I change my keys?|How do I change my keys?]]

===Where do I find out more information about Network Play?===
Our [[Netplay_howto|Netplay How-To guide]] describes how to play [[SuperMelee]] in [[The Ur-Quan Masters]] over a network.

==Various==

===Where are my settings stored?===
On Microsoft Windows systems the settings are stored in a folder named 'uqm' in the application data folder for the current user.
This is usually in one of the following locations:

; Windows 95/98/98SE without separate users : <code>"C:\Windows\Application Data\"</code>

; Windows 95/98/98SE with separate users : <code>"C:\Windows\Profiles\YourName\Application Data\"</code>

; Windows NT/2000/XP : <code>"C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\Application Data\"</code>

; Unix systems (including Darwin/Mac OS X) : <code>"~/.uqm/"</code>

The <code>"Application Data"</code> folder may be hidden. You can tell Windows to display hidden files and folders in the Folder Options dialog, which you can find in the Tools menu of any folder window.
If you can't find the settings directory, use the Windows search functionality to look for a file <code>"keys.cfg"</code>.

===Where are my saved games stored?===
Saved games are stored in a directory "save" inside the settings directory.
See [[#Where are my settings stored?|Where are my settings stored?]].

===How do I report a bug?===
First, make sure you are either running the most recent official release (currently {{uqmversion}}), or a recent version from CVS.
If your copy is up to date, then look at [[#Specific bugs and not-quite bugs|Specific bugs and not-quite bugs]]. If your bug is not there, then look for it in the [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/bugs/index.cgi bug database]. If the bug is already there, then see if you have any additional information that may help the developers fix this bug, and if so, add it to the existing bug report.
If the bug hasn't been reported, then make a new report. Include as much information as as you can that may be helpful in solving the bug. In particular, it would be of much help if you can tell how to reproduce the bug. If this is your first bug report, please first read the guidelines are given [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/bugs/bugwritinghelp.html here].

===I don't want to make a Bugzilla account. Is it ok to let you know about my bug in another way?===
Not really. Look at it from the side of the developers. First of all, when they receive a bug report through any other means, they have the choice of either fixing the bug immediately, putting it in [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/bugs/ the Bugzilla database] themselves, or trying to remember it for later. As you're likely to catch them while they're in the middle of something, or just don't have the time that instant, it's not unlikely that your report will be lost.

Second, bug reports sent through other means rarely contain complete information. The Bugzilla forms have fields for things like UQM version and operating system, that may be necessary for solving the problem. A bug reported through other means would often require additional communication just to get all the facts.

Third, the person you would be contacting may not be the one who would normally fix such a bug. The developers each have their specialties. Bugs reported in the Bugzilla database will have a default assignee, and will be seen by all.

Now you may be thinking "I'm doing you a favour, take it or leave it.", but if you like the game and appreciate the work done by the developers, isn't it worth spending a few minutes to help them make the game better? Don't forget they are all volunteers, doing this in their spare time.

But if you enjoy their work ''just enough'' to report a bug through mail, the [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl UQM forum], or IRC, but not enough to create a Bugzilla account, they'd rather hear about a bug through those means, than not at all.

'''See also:''' [[#Where_can_I_go_for_more_technical_help.3F|Where can I go for more technical help?]].

===Where can I go for more technical help?===
The most appropriate place to ask for help on technical problems is the [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Techissues technical issues board] on the [http://uqm.stack.nl/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl UQM forum].

There's also the [irc://irc.freenode.org/sc2 #sc2 IRC channel] on OPN. You may have to be patient though, as most people that are present in the channel don't actually pay attention to it all the time. It is however the place where the developers hang out, and if you're interested in game internals, this is a good place to ask.

There's also the [http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=59452 sc2-devel mailing list] for development questions. It's hardly used anymore these days, but when it is, people still read it.

Do not mail the developers directly with technical questions.
*a question you ask publicly, along with any answers may help other people too
*you'll reach more people by using the forums or mailing list, so your question will usually be answered sooner
*the developers frequently read the board, and respond to questions there

'''See also:''' [[#I_don.27t_want_to_make_a_Bugzilla_account._Is_it_ok_to_let_you_know_about_my_bug_in_another_way.3F|I don't want to make a Bugzilla account. Is it ok to let you know about my bug in another way?]]

==Specific bugs and not-quite bugs==

===The game does not behave as I expected===
Gameplay bugs are listed in the [[Star Control II Gameplay FAQ]].

[[Category:FAQs]]

Nemesis

2007-05-20T04:43:23Z

Gaeamil: /* Secondary */ unnecessary comma

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Orz_Nemesis_Icon.png|right]]
Underestimating the [[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] would likely be the last mistake anyone can ever make. Like its name suggests, this ship is a goddess of revenge, coming to inflict pain and vengeance on the galaxy. Never, under any circumstances, chase after the Nemesis!

==Navigation==
The Nemesis is fairly quick, has a fair turn-rate and good acceleration. Its relatively large footprint makes dodging incoming fire difficult, although not impossible.

==Armament==
===Primary===
The Nemesis is armed with a moderately powerful howitzer cannon which is remarkable in that it can be rotated to different firing positions during combat by holding the secondary weapon button while using the turning controls. The rotational turret allows usage as a strafing weapon or as a backwards utilized attacker-repellent. The energy costs of this weapon are rather large, however, and it can only fire volleys of two or three shots at a time.

===Secondary===
Orz crew, encased in robotic, armored exo-skeleton, can exit the ship from the aft portholes and enter an enemy ship by burning a hole in its hull. These Orz Marines then start roaming the enemy ship’s corridors, killing any enemy crewmember they encounter. However, there is also a small risk that an Orz Marine itself will fall victim to the enemy crew and be killed. Especially useful in large groups, the Marines can blast a ship entirely by themselves. Any Marine aboard an enemy ship when it explodes will jet back out into space and set a return course for the Nemesis. The Marines are also very adept at using a [[Leyland Gravity Whip]] to speed them towards their target, a tactic for which they have been specially trained.

Upon boarding a ship, at various intervals a random number between 0 and 255 (inclusive) is generated. Depending on its value, the Marine may survive without inflicting any damage (7/16 chances), die (1/16 chances) or kill an enemy crew member (1/2 chances). On average, a Marine kills 8 crew members before dying.

== Tactical Overview ==
A very effective ship that rarely fails, although prolonged combat against multiple opponents can take a heavy toll.

Strong against: [[Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]] and to some degree [[Kohr-Ah]] [[Marauder]] are both in danger. The [[Chenjesu]] [[Broodhome]] is virtually helpless against the marines as is the [[VUX]] [[Intruder]] and the [[Mycon]] [[Podship]]. The marines bounce off the [[Yehat]] [[Terminator]] and [[Utwig]] [[Jugger]]'s shields, but in the latter case, no energy is fed to their batteries by the impact, so they can be used to take down the Jugger’s shields quite easily. Showing the [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] your aft and blasting her with the howitzer is a tricky thing but the Nemesis can break through the tractor beam and as soon as the Zap-sats are down, the [[Avatar]] is marine-meat. The [[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]'s cloak allows it to hide from the space marines, making it immune to space marine attacks while cloaked. However, due to the [[Avenger]]'s slow speed, turning, and short firing range, the [[Orz]] Nemesis can fire at various places through trial-and-error using its rotating cannon to fire from behind, damaging the [[Avenger]] bit-by-bit.

Weak against: The [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]], [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]] and [[Arilou]] [[Skiff]] can effortlessly pull out of marine’s grasp and use hit-n-run attacks to whack the unready Nemesis. The [[Androsynth]] [[Guardian]]'s Blazer form destroys marines on impact, and the bubbles provide an excellent defensive screen, and the Nemesis’s aft section appears to have been designed exactly to be wedged by a wicked blazer. So long as they manage to evade the marines, the [[X-form]] and the [[Spathi]] [[Eluder]] can pose a pain in the butt to any Nemesis captain. A very hot [[Shofixti]] [[Scout]] pilot can evade the marines long enough to use a wrap-around slingshot maneuver to catch the Nemesis unaware. The [[Thraddash]] [[Torch]], with its Afterburner, makes short work of the Nemesis as well, being able to outrun the Marines with ease, while simultaneously roasting any that get in the way.

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Orz]]

User talk:Fyzixfighter

2007-05-13T05:54:09Z

Gaeamil: /* FYI */

You added the list of stars and constellations that do not have basic in reality. I have some memory loss, so I dont want to change the page without someone double checking, but I seem to remember Wolf 359 is a real star with a companion black hole, so Wolf could be removed from the list

:True, but in the SC2 universe, Wolf is a constellation, whereas the in real life Wolf 359 is a single star. Are there other Wolf stars, like a Wolf catalog of stars? There's also a type of stars called Wolf-Rayet. Imho, since its not a star-star or constellation-constellation correlation, I think that it would belong on the list. We can always include a mention of Wolf 359 in the entry, also. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 06:09, 17 Nov 2005 (CET)

::I seem to recall it being documented somewhere that the HyperSpace starmap shows stars that are actually different from the way that we (in reality) see and name stars in "TrueSpace". Stars in HyperSpace are different from those stars in TrueSpace, even if they have the same name. What we see as Betelgeuse in the HyperSpace map is actually not the same Betelgeuse star that we see right now in the 21st century. I think it's explained as humans, when they see the stars as they appear from HyperSpace, assign their own familiar names to these stars. --[[User:Phoenix|Phoenix]] [[User_talk:Phoenix|(t)]] 07:16, 17 Nov 2005 (CET)

:::On the hyperspace star map that came with the game: "The positions are based on HyperSpace coordinates, which may be unsettling to some students of TrueSpace astronomy. Defined long ago by Chenjesu stargazers, the constellations are now accepted by all Alliance races as ''the'' standard. Due to the great diffuculty in pronouncing the Chenjesu language, each race has translated the names into their own tongue. When it came time for Earth to adopt this system, the United Nations decided to use traditional astrological designations at random." I think I might need to be more explicit on that list, to say that these are the names that are neither real constellation names or individual star names. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 08:01, 17 Nov 2005 (CET)

Hi there. In the Probe article, I think you left a sentence dangling: "Unlike catalog item 2419, this". I'd finish it myself if I knew the rest. :-) --[[User:Doubleyou|Doubleyou]] 00:11, 2 Dec 2005 (CET)
:Blast, guess I forgot something when I was moving everything around. IIRC that sentence fragment was part of an intermediate draft of that paragraph and is now redundant. Fixing... --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 00:37, 2 Dec 2005 (CET)

== Cargo images ==

FYI, people complained that my old cargo images taken from the UQM content were too tiny. We should probably use the wiki software to scale those up 2x (and the new ones you uploaded) for wherever they are used in articles, unless somebody wants to scale them manually and upload new versions.
-[[User:Fadookie|Fadookie]] 01:37, 16 January 2006 (CET)
:Thanks for the reminder. Yeah, I remember seeing the comments about that and agree the raw images are much too small. I believe <crossing-fingers> that I uploaded copies of all the raw images, except those that had already been uploaded. Not being a really aesthetic person, I avoided figuring out the right scale but, like you've already noted, the wiki software can easily resize them to whatever we decide on. I hope I didn't offend anyone or step on anyone's toes when I made those uploads, but I kind of agree with Svdb that it's more honest to present the raw material instead of enhanced images, unless we all agree on how to enhance those images - just my R$ 0.0456600. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 04:20, 16 January 2006 (CET)
::I agree with you and SvdB about using the straight game content, and not only out of laziness. :)
::There are other places for enhanced images... i.e. PONAF. Back when the Ultronomicon was a bit younger, there was discussion about using PONAF's animated gifs of each race's comm screen, but I was against this (as was SvdB if I recall). There is a place for everything, and I don't think that the Ultronomicon is the place for 'enhanced' content, especially if it is scaled to an arbitrary size with an arbitrary resizing algorithm that tries to make the graphics appear smoother than they actually are.
::The only kind of pre-upload scaling I would support for the Ultronomicon is nearest neighbor 2x (basic, pixelated scaling), although screenshots of UQM using its internal scalers for purposes of comparison may be appropriate.
::-[[User:Fadookie|Fadookie]] 07:08, 16 January 2006 (CET)

== Footer nav plate. ==

What are you planning to do with those footer nav plates? I think they're nice, but main Ultronomicon pages shouldn't refer to pages in the User namespace. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 05:58, 6 October 2006 (CEST)

:Sorry about that - yeah, I was planning on moving them out of my personal namespace. They still might need a little work, but you're right that they should be in the main space. I'll move them over today. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 19:45, 6 October 2006 (CEST)

== SC2/UQM star database? ==

Is there a small database defining all the stars? Or is there any XML files around defining all starnames, their positions in space, their color and their size (how big it should be on a map)? It would be neat to create a vector-based starmap of the 2D-universe... maybe by using SVG. It would not be hard to do it, given the right data :)

-- MrMist

:Well, I might not be the best one to answer your question as the limits of my involvement with UQM is basically this wiki. But I can tell you that you're not the first, nor will you be the last to want to do something like this. In fact, several fans have created a number of maps [http://starcontrol.classicgaming.gamespy.com/sc2/maps.shtml]. The topic has also come up on the UQM discussion boards more than once, so I would recommend scanning the threads there. One in particular [http://uqm.stack.nl/forum/index.php?topic=3133.msg39391#msg39391] has a link to the data you're looking for, and tells you where you can find it in the actual game code. Likewise, someone awhile back created a page of [[Star Coordinates]] (though it lacks the color and size).--[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 02:14, 17 December 2006 (CET)

:There is functionality in uqm that can print a list of all the info you'd need. It's not in XML format, but it would be trivial to change the code to dump it anyway you like. You'd need to compile the game from source in debug mode though.
:An interactive SVG based starmap exists. See [http://seijin.ath.cx/cgi-bin/uqm/ this page].
: — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 07:19, 17 December 2006 (CET)

::[[Image:screen.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of current starmap]]I'm more interested in creating a completely vectorized map, rather than using loads of bitmaps to draw the elements of the maps. Luckily I found some files in the CVS, that reflects all the constellation positions in simple, readable format. I've made some scripts transforming the data to XML, and I've made a XSLT stylesheet, transforming the document to SVG. I'm attaching a screenshot of the SVG at the current state of development. --[[User:MrMist|MrMist]] 11:50, 19 December 2006 (CET)

:::Oh, you're only interested in the stars, not the planets. Right, plandata.c should be enough then.
:::Note however, that the Ultronomicon is not an image dump for SC2-related pictures. If an image does not go with an article, it doesn't have a place here. I'll leave it for the moment, but don't expect it to last. Actually, even this discussion shouldn't be here. We have the [http://uqm.stack.nl/forum/ UQM forum] for things like this. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 12:41, 19 December 2006 (CET)

:::: Ah. I see. Well... I though this wiki was supposed to contain all things surrounding Ur-Quan Masters. As for the picture: I just wanted to provide an example to describe the things I've been requesting, and also to document the current progress of development. It was kind of natural to provide a visual example. I did however not expect it to be such a big problem to post a screenshot. Don't worry... I'll quit writing here right away.--[[User:MrMist|MrMist]] 14:22, 19 December 2006 (CET)

Oh, you wanted to make a starmap for in the Ultronomicon. I misunderstood. In that case a request for information is appropriate here. I apologise for jumping to conclusions. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 17:47, 20 December 2006 (CET)

==SC1 and SC3==
Assertion 1: Ur-quan masters equivalent of Star Control II. Assertion 2: Star Control I and Star Control III are in existence. Assertion 3: Full knowledge of Star Control requires full knowledge of series. Assertion 4: Database identified as Ultronomicon deals exclusively with Ur-quan Masters. Conclusion A: Star Control databases must include information on Star Control I and Star Control III. Conclusion B: Database identified as Ultronomicon is incomplete. Query: Unit identified as Fyyzixfighter is directed to either affirm or negate this argument. -A petetionning [[User:Daktaklakpak|Daktaklakpak]] 22:17, 14 February 2007 (CET)

==FYI==
The name of the Avatar laser is actually a "Terawatt Laser". http://starcontrol.classicgaming.gamespy.com/sc2/shipspecs/rw-chmmr-spec.jpg [[User:68.88.74.19|68.88.74.19]] 02:46, 10 May 2007 (CEST)

:Sorry, that image is not part of the accepted Star Control [[canon]]. It is a fan-made image - I'll try and hunt down who created it. In actuality, I believe it is a touched up version of the 3DO spinning image of the ship. The names on it, and the other fan-made images for SC2 unique ships, are for the most part fan-made also, and do not appear anywhere in the canon. The Star Control Writers FAQ is also not necessarily canon. I don't know where the person got the name terawatt from in that FAQ, but it's not from the manuals, the RPRG, or the game itself - therefore, it's fanfic plain and simple. Of course I'm open the idea that I may have missed something (as I discovered as I listened to the 3DO ship descriptions), but please remember how we define canon for the Ultronomicon. Cheers. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 04:51, 10 May 2007 (CEST)

Perhaps they used their brains and engaged in critical thinking rather than just replaying SC2 dialogue over and over again to arrive at that conclusion? The VUX laser is, after all, named a Megawatt laser. [[User:68.88.74.19|68.88.74.19]] 21:18, 10 May 2007 (CEST)

:Honestly I'm fine with people extrapolating when they're creating fan-fiction. However, we strive on the Ultronomicon to stick to canon. Any reading between the lines and critical thinking should be guided by the canon. Also, please don't insinuate that I didn't use my brains nor think critically about this topic. Let me show you how I consider this critically: if someone used their critical thinking to get "Terawatt" then I have to question their reasoning abilities because the jump from Tera- to Giga- (the VUX laser is a Gigawatt not a Megawatt) seems simply based on the general fact that the Avatar laser is more powerful. The SC2 manual states that the Avatar laser has "twice the destructive force of the feared VUX laser" (a point which is confirmed in-game, see also [[List of weapons]] for damage]]). A terawatt (10^12) is not twice a megawatt (10^9) (or 30 dB greater if you like a log scale - a factor of 2 would be 3dB by the way). It looks like tera- was chosen simply because it's just the next metric prefix above giga-, but why not call it an Petawatt or an Exawatt or a Zetawatt (I think the argument for Zeta- is a little bit easier since a Zetawatt is 240 dBm and a Gigawatt is 120 dBm). We really should then call it a "2 Gigawatt Laser", assuming of course that laser power scales as destructive force, which it may not in such a non-linear regime (I've played with Terawatt/Gigawatt pulsed lasers (~25fs pulses) to drive non-linear processes). I certainly would be interested in knowing the reasoning behind "Terawatt" to see if the reasoning was more subtle and insightful than "Terawatt is the next metric unit above Gigawatt, therefore let's call it a Terawatt".

:If you want to call it a terawatt in your gameplay and when talking with others, go ahead, I really couldn't care less; but please avoid non-canon terminology to the Ultronomicon. We certainly would appreciate your help on making the Ultronomicon better, and it would be sad if you don't based solely on this one disagreement of acceptable canon. However, if the adherence to this defined canon is too much of a sticking point, then we are at an impasse and any material you add based on non-canon sources will be removed. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 00:41, 11 May 2007 (CEST)

::Quick defense in the case of the Terawatt, however, can you say where you found the name x-ray laser? I never heard it.--[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 06:21, 13 May 2007 (CEST)

:It is named so in the 3DO ship spin video. I don't know where it can be found on the Internet, if it can - I don't know if Fyzixfighter had the 3DO SC2. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 07:52, 13 May 2007 (CEST)

::Are those the videos where the ship rotates while a female voice describes them? If so, they're all on the Pages of Now and Forever.--[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 07:54, 13 May 2007 (CEST)

Orz

2007-05-13T05:52:41Z

Gaeamil: /* Taalo */ *Pretty Space*

{{RaceBox|name=Orz|image=OrzComm.png|caption=Orz *fingers*|homeworld=[[Gamma Vulpeculae I]]|coordinates=371.3 : 253.7|organizations=[[New Alliance of Free Stars]] (optional)|ship=[[Nemesis]]}}
The '''Orz''' are — is — an alien species/projections of an extradimensional entity first encountered by [[The Captain]] in the space near where the [[Androsynth]] had been known to reside. Despite a notable distaste for the human-derived Androsynth and for the mysterious [[Arilou]], the Orz happily joined with the [[New Alliance of Free Stars]] and provided its powerful [[Nemesis]] starship designs to aid in the Second War.

==Description==

Orz appear as gill-breathers who resemble yellow parrotfishes with eyestalks, though it is not known if this is their actual true form. Direct conversation with Orz, despite the translation difficulties, usually leads to the conclusion that the Orz come from another dimension; additionally the [[Arilou]] describe the Orz as "dimensional travellers." When asked about their origins, Orz explain that the Arilou are from *above* and that Orz is from [[*Below*|*below*]]. The precise meaning of this explanation is still up to debate, although the Arilou make it clear that the Orz are not from [[QuasiSpace]]. Since *above* appears to refer to QuasiSpace, *below* would then likely refer to another, similar dimension located, however, on the "other side" of [[HyperSpace]] and [[TrueSpace]].

There has been some discussion — confirmed by [[Fred Ford]] and [[Paul Reiche III]] — that the Orz as they are seen in normal space are actually a projection of some higher-dimensional being. The Orz-entity refers to what is seen of itself in the known dimensions as its *fingers* and explains that it is not like other races who are *many bubbles*. The Orz sometimes refer to themselves in the singular third person, although whether this is another quirk of the Orz's odd speech pattern or a reference to their true essence is unclear.

==Origin==

The Orz are a newcomer to [[TrueSpace]] that appeared suddenly in the vicinity of the [[Vulpeculae]] constellation, the adopted homeworlds of the [[Androsynth]]. As the Androsynth vanished about the same time the Orz arrived, it is reasonable to think that the Orz did something to them, but asking the Orz about the subject infuriates them. It is possible that the [[Dimensional Fatigue]] experiments that were being performed by the Androsynth (and perhaps the [[Taalo]] before them) brought the Vulpeculae constellation to the Orz's attention.

Just where the Orz resided before arriving in the area of Vulpeculae is unknown. The Orz indicate that they like TrueSpace and even prefer it over their origin dimension and are now in the process of fully moving into TrueSpace. They also denote that they have no intention of returning at any time to their original home.

==Relations with other races==
Only a few of the races in Star Control II mention the Orz at all. This is not surprising as they appear to be new in TrueSpace. The relations that they do have are as mysterious as the Orz themselves.

===Androsynth===
The appearance of the Orz coincided with the disappearance of the Androsynth from the same location. In fact, both the Arilou and the Orz themselves suggest that it was the [[Dimensional Fatigue|IDF]] research of the Androsynth which enabled the Orz to come to TrueSpace.

Whether the Orz themselves were the cause for the disappearance of the Androsynth is the subject of a lot of speculation. Evidence for it exists, but is very circumstantial. Whatever their involvement, asking enough about the Androsynth is enough reason for the Orz to attack you.

===Arilou Lalee'lay===
Dialogs with both the Arilou and Orz suggest that they have had contact outside of TrueSpace. The Orz do not like the Arilou very much, and complain that the Arilou always "*jumping in front*". Conversely, the Arilou warn not to trust the Orz, as they are dangerous.

===Melnorme===
The Melnorme know of the existence of the Orz, and that they appeared when the Androsynth disappeared. Whether they've met them in person is unclear. While there is a Melnorme trader in Orz space, the Orz never mention Melnorme.

===Spathi===
The Spathi also mention that the Orz entered this space when the Androsynth disappeared. They think that they are creepy and warn against an alliance. This is all based on their own speculation though and arguably the Spathi would object to an alliance with almost any race on this basis. Whether they have met the Orz in person or only heard about them from descriptions is unclear.

===Taalo===
The Orz mention the Taalo on several occasions. They seem to have been in contact over a longer period of time. According to the Orz, the Taalo have fled TrueSpace to some space where they can go to themselves. The Orz call this [[*Pretty Space*]]. The Orz refer to Delta Vulpeculae as the Taalo playground, where the Taalo "are making *Time jokes*". As the Orz language isn't very clear, it may be that this is all in the past though.

===VUX===
The Orz briefly mention the VUX, as being "*silly cows*" for asking too many questions about the Androsynth, which prompted the Orz to attack the VUX. (*silly cows* are races disliked by Orz)

==Theories==
There are various theories to explain the various mysteries surrounding the Orz.

===The Orz are [[They|Them]]===
There are theories that the Orz are in fact the ghost-like creatures that the Androsyth IDF researchers (and [[Bukowski]], probably) ran into. They are mostly based on the fact that ''They'' were coming into this world just before the Androsynth disappeared, which was when the Orz appeared.

Even when accepting that the timing of the appearance of the Orz is not a coincidence, they do not have to be ''Them''. The Orz could have detected the Androsynth in the same way as ''They'' did.

===The Orz killed the Androsynth===
This is based again on the timing of the appearance of the Orz and the disappearance of the Androsynth, combined with the fact that the Orz refuse to talk about the Androsynth. If this is true, then the Orz would be responsible for the violent land war that wiped out the Androsynth civilization. This is suggested by both the Melnorme and the Spathi. In the same dialogs however, it is made clear that they don't actually know that. However, a reliable source explicitly asserts that the Androsynth were indeed "snagged" by the Orz entity{{ref|1}}.

===The Orz are altered Androsynth===
This theory is a variation of the idea that the Orz are responsible for the disappearance of the Androsynth. In this theory, "snagged" is interpreted as meaning some kind of infection or possession that transformed the Androsynth into the Orz. Usually this theory is proposed as a way to explain the mysterious lack of Androsynth corpses in the ruins of their city. The [[Arilou]] description of malignant, parasitic creatures from Beyond (''Them'') and reference to the Androsynth and Orz as an example are also usually taken as evidence of this theory.

===The Orz are protecting races by killing those who ask too many questions about the Androsynth===
This reflects the remarks made by the Arilou about parasites from beyond that can detect you when you show yourself. If you reject the theory that the Orz killed the Androsynth, this would provide an alternative explanation that connects 'Them', the disappearance of the Androsynth, and the Orz. In this case, the Orz, like the Arilou, would be attempting to keep TrueSpace races ignorant of and thus invisible to the extradimensional parasites.

===The Orz snagged the Androsynth to protect them from [[They|Them]]===
This one is a variation of the theory previously presented, that also explains what did the Orz to the Androsynth.

===The Orz seek to take advantage of indigenous races in some undefined way===
The Orz say they dislike the Arilou because they are "jumping in front." The Arilou claim to have changed humans to protect them from the "parasites" that would like to find them. It may be that the Orz want space and races that the Arilou do not control as these would be easier to conquer or manipulate.

''See also'': [[Eta Vulpeculae II#Theories for the destruction of the cities|Theories for the destruction of the cities]]

==Translating Orz Communications==
Translating Orz speech is problematic at best. The Orz sense of reality is likely completely different from ours. Even the most sophisticated and powerful translators can't fully process its bizarre alien language, having to use many lingual best-fits in conversation. These are marked in text by surrounding the word with asterisks (*). It is possible that all words that appear in (*) can have more than just one meaning.

* *above* — where the Arilou come from, [[QuasiSpace]]
* *below* — where Orz comes from
* *camper* — An individual or species that is liked, or allied with by Orz? — "*Campers* may go to the Taalo *playground*." — "Happy *campers* are the best." It could be that only "Happy" signifies the alliance. Could also be any non-immortal creature, as 'camper' tends to mean one who stays temporarily and moves on, thus signifying that the Orz are/is immortal.
* *color* — [[reality phase]]?
* *dance* — combat — "I am *frumple*. It is *dancing*."
* *dissolving* — destroying a ship, dying
* *fat* — important, serious "These are *fat* words."
* *fingers* — an "individual" Orz; see *many bubbles*
* *frumple* — to become, or the state of being angry or sad or violent — "Do not ask about [the Androsynth]. You make me *frumple*."
* *game* — the action being done presently
* *GO! GO!* — space marines
* *heavy space* — Adjective for [[TrueSpace]], *heavy* is also used. — "These are best for letting go near *heavy space* planet bodies." An example of universe/dimensional differences.
* *juice*/*squeezing the juice* — obscure. It is something relating to when the Orz are angry (or *frumple* as they call it) that they do to calm down: "It is always! Nnnnggaaahhhhh! There is *juice squeezing* and then we are not so *frumple*."
* *many bubbles* — the numerous distinct individuals of a species, or possibly organic cells or even atomic particles — "Orz is not *many bubbles*, Orz is *fingers*."
* *new town* — new/previously unknown universe
* *open* — advance your mind/understanding/technology
* *other* — two possible meanings: the opponent of Orz in combat and a neutral alien
* *party* — alliance? conversation? opportunities for *dancing*? If *dance* means combat or battle, then *party* may mean war. Party may refer to something far more sinister/extreme that humans cannot understand yet. Orz refer to parties a lot, signifying its importance. It seems that it is somehow related to *campers* and may be the reason they are here in our dimension. They say, "We can not have *parties* when Arilou always *jumping in front*." Just as we cannot fully understand the Orz words/ideas, they may have misinterpreted our word "alliance" to mean something else. However, they allow you to build their ships, give you pilots and once explicitly speak of an "alliance".
* *pieces* — a unit of time. "Six or nine *pieces* ago, myself the Orz did not even *smell* your *level*."
* *playground* — Orz gives the coordinates of Delta Vulpeculae as the location of *playground*. The significance of this star system to Orz is unknown, although it is inside the general area that they occupy. Also, Delta Vulpeculae IIc is the location of the Taalo Shield and the former homeworld of the Taalo, possibly giving the Taalo some significance. The Taalo may have changed space there, making it a good space for *sliding*. Something with a significant amount of gravity.
* *quick time* — An example of differences between universes/dimensions. "We can have extra fun for future *parties* in *quick time*"
* *relatives* — allies
* *sad animal* — one who is disliked by the Orz?
* *sauce* — related to *juice*. *sauce* is apparently better than *juice* in some way, plus the Orz seem to aquire *sauce* through killing. "After the *dancing*, Orz think you will make good *special sauce*. Maybe even for other Orz *party*." It would seem this is likely to be something sinister.
* *sick* — used when the Orz are about to attack, presumably "doing something wrong?" "You are *sick* for the last time."
* *silly cow* — one who annoys the Orz, *silly* is often used independently to mean annoying — "First the VUX, but they are such *silly cows* ... they ask so much about the Androsynth we must *dance* with them." It is important to note that Orz will attack *silly cows* on sight.
* *slide* — dimensional travel. Some interesting quotes using this: "*Happy campers* not going to *heavy space* *slide* near Chandrasekhar. Especially not ever! These are *fat* words." "Arilou can *slide*. Also Taalo." "Finally we find you, the *happy campers* and the Taalo *playground* for sliding through." The Chandrasekhar *slide* is the naturally occuring [[QuasiSpace]] portal.
* *slippery places* — dimensional portals, usually formed with [[Dimensional Fatigue|IDF]]
* *slow time* — An example of differences between universes/dimensions. "It is not fun on the surface in *slow time*"
* *smell* — perceive in some unknown way/from another dimension. Also being used by the Arilou.
* *spread the wax* — become able to move between dimensions (i.e. remove the *sticky*-ness), most likely
* *squishy* — good, goodness
* *sticky* — unable to move between dimensions.
* *suprising toys* — secret weapons? "Do you want to see our suprising toys? NO! Do not!" could also mean their true existance, i.e., the sight of an extra-dimensional being could very well destroy a creature's mind, thus you do not want to see their surprising toys.
* *the middle* — not *above* or *below*, between *above* and *below*?, this dimension (ie, [[TrueSpace]] or [[HyperSpace]])?

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}''[[Fred Ford|Fred]] and [[Paul Reiche III|Paul]], when asked about the Androsynth's fate in a 1998 [[TFB chat protocols|chat]], stated that the human clones "were snagged by the entity who/which projected its fingers into our dimension (which looked to us as the Orz.)"''

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Orz| ]]
[[Category:Game Characters]]

List of weapons

2007-05-13T05:15:25Z

Gaeamil: we forgot the flagship. huh.

{| class="wikitable"
! width=0% | Race
! width=0% | Ship
! width=0% | Weapon #1
! width=0% | Damage
! width=0% | Notes
! width=0% | Weapon #2
! width=0% | Damage
! width=0% | Notes
|-
| [[Androsynth]] || [[Guardian]]
| Molecular Acid Bubbles ||align="center"| 2 || Follows using Chaos(TM) tracking
| Blazer Mode ||align="center"| 3 per hit || Becomes an high-speed, inertialess comet until battery is drained, does damage to foe on impact
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Arilou]] || [[Skiff]]
| Ventral laser ||align="center"| 1 || Automatically aims at foe
| Random Teleport ||align="center"| 0 || Teleports the Skiff to a random point on the battlefield
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Chenjesu]] || [[Broodhome]]
| Photon Crystal Shard ||align="center"| 6 for direct hit, 2 for shattered piece || Travels outward until fire is released, then shatters.
| D.O.G.I. ||align="center"| 0 || Follows foe and saps battery power
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Chmmr]] || [[Avatar]]
| Heavy X-ray laser ||align="center"| 2 || Continuous laser that damages VERY fast
| Tractor Beam ||align="center"| 0 || pulls foe closer
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Druuge]] || [[Mauler]]
| High-recoil Cannon ||align="center"| 6 || Throws Druuge backwards
| Burn Crew ||align="center"| 1 (to self) || Destroys 1 crew to recharge battery
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Earthling]] || [[Cruiser]]
| MX Nuclear Missile ||align="center"| 4 || Uses "Fire-and-forget" tracking
| SDI Point Defense Laser ||align="center"| 1 ||Auto-targets nearby weapon shots or enemy ships
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Ilwrath]] || [[Avenger]]
| Hellfire Spout ||align="center"| 1 || Very fast-firing; fire disengages cloak and instantaneously turns the ship to face the opponent
| Cloaking Field ||align="center"| 0 || Makes the ship invisible and untargetable by tracking weapons
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Kohr-Ah]] || [[Marauder]]
| Spinning blade-disk ||align="center"| 4 || Flies until fire is released, then stops and tracks nearby ships
| F.R.I.E.D. ||align="center"| 3 || Fires in 16 directions at once
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Melnorme]] || [[Trader]]
| Variable power blaster ([[Keel-Verezy]] origin) ||align="center"| 2/4/6/8 || Does more damage the longer fire is held
| Confusion ray ||align="center"| 0 || Disables secondary fire, and lock foe into spinning in one direction
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Mmrnmhrm]] || [[X-Form]]
| Missiles ||align="center"| 1 || track, only in Y-Wing form
| Lasers ||align="center"| 1 || hit very fast, must be in X-Wing Form
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Mycon]] || [[Podship]]
| Homing Plasmoid ||align="center"| 1-10 || Dissipates over time and hits to the shot
| Regrow Crew ||align="center"| -4 (to self) || Regrows 4 crew
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Orz]] || [[Nemesis]]
| Howitzer ||align="center"| 3 || Can rotate turret and fire at any angle
| Space Marine ||align="center"| varies || Launches a space marine that boards foe's ship and attacks the crew, will eventually die as it is infiltrating, after taking out, on average, 8 enemy crew members.
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Pkunk]] || [[Fury]]
| Triple-mounted hot metal minigun ||align="center"| 1 || fires from front and both sides
| Insult ||align="center"| 0 || recharges 2 battery
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Precursor]] || Tug (aka [[the Flagship]])
| [[Ion-Bolt Gun]]/[[Fusion Blaster]]/[[Hellbore Cannon]] ||align="center"| 2/4/6 ||
| Point-Defense Laser ||align="center"| ?{needs to be found} ||
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Shofixti]] || [[Scout]]
| Mendokusai Energy Dart ||align="center"| 1 ||
| Glory Device||align="center"| 14 max || kamikaze attack that destroys the Scout (must press 3 times to use)
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Slylandro]] || [[Probe]]
| Lightning ||align="center"| 1 || always aims to enemy
| re-energize ||align="center"| 0 || allows probe to "scoop" asteroids and convert them to a full battery
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Spathi]] || [[Eluder]]
| fast, weak, forward gun ||align="center"| 1 ||
| B.U.T.T. ||align="center"| 2 || fires from rear, tracking
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Supox]] || [[Blade]]
| Glob weapon ||align="center"| 1 || Fast, weak, forward-firing
| Lateral Thrusting System ||align="center"| 0 || allows easy strafing, and backwards motion
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Syreen]] || [[Penetrator]]
| Particle Beam Stiletto ||align="center"| 2 ||
| Syreen Song ||align="center"| varies || Causes crew to jump ship, can be picked up by either side.
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Thraddash]] || [[Torch]]
| Mark VI Blaster ||align="center"| 1 ||
| [[Reeunk]] Afterburner ||align="center"| 2 || Launches Torch ahead, leaving a trail of fire that can damage foe
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Umgah]] || [[Drone]]
| [[Antimatter]] Cone ||align="center"| 1 || fires continuously, takes no energy (however, restarts the battery recharge counter) || Retro-propulsion System ||align="center"| 0 || launches Drone backwards and then cancels all momentum
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Ur-Quan]] || [[Dreadnought]]
| Fusion Blaster ||align="center"| 4 ||
| Launch Fighters ||align="center"| varies || launches 2 crew in autonomous fighters that attack the foe. Each of their shots do 1 damage.
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Utwig]] || [[Jugger]]
| Wide area guns ||align="center"| 1 || fires 6 at once, takes no energy
| Absorption shield ||align="center"| 0 || converts all damage taken into battery power
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[VUX]] || [[Intruder]]
| Gigawatt Laser ||align="center"| 1 ||
| Limpet Parasite Cocoon ||align="center"| 0 || slows down foe
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Yehat]] || [[Terminator]]
| Twin Ion Pulse Cannons ||align="center"| 1 ||
| Force Shield ||align="center"| 0 || blocks all damage
|-
|colspan="8"|
----
|-
| [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] || [[Stinger]]
| Antimatter spray gun ||align="center"| 1 || inaccurate
| Tongue Attack ||align="center"| 12 || point-blank range
|-
|}

[[Category:Lists|Weapons, list of]]
[[Category:Science and technology|Weapons, list of]]

List of ships

2007-05-13T05:14:03Z

Gaeamil: added crew numbers. We should have those here SOMEWHERE.

Below is a list of all [[Star Control 2]] ships, their crew amounts, and their point values.

==Standard ships==
*[[Androsynth]] [[Guardian]] (20 crew, 15 pts)
*[[Arilou Lalee'lay]] [[Skiff]] (6 crew, 16 pts)
*[[Chenjesu]] [[Broodhome]] (36 crew, 28 pts)
*[[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] (42 crew, 30 pts)
*[[Druuge]] [[Mauler]] (14 crew, 17 pts)
*[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]] (18 crew, 11 pts)
*[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]] (22 crew, 10 pts)
*[[Melnorme]] [[Trader]] (20 crew, 18 pts)
*[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-form]] (20 crew, 19 pts)
*[[Mycon]] [[Podship]] (20 crew, 21 pts)
*[[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] (16 crew, 23 pts)
*[[Pkunk]] [[Fury]] (8 crew, 20 pts)
*[[Shofixti]] [[Scout]] (6 crew, 5 pts)
*[[Slylandro]] [[Probe]] (12 crew, 17 pts)
*[[Spathi]] [[Eluder]] (formerly known as [[Discriminator]]) (30 crew, 18 pts)
*[[Supox]] [[Blade]] (12 crew, 16 pts)
*[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]] (12 crew to start (max of 42), 13 pts)
*[[Thraddash]] [[Torch]] (8 crew, 10 pts)
*[[Umgah]] [[Drone]] (10 crew, 7 pts)
*[[Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah]] [[Marauder]] (42 crew, 30 pts)
*[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] [[Dreadnought]] (42 crew, 30 pts)
*[[Utwig]] [[Jugger]] (20 crew, 22 pts)
*[[VUX]] [[Intruder]] (20 crew, 12 pts)
*[[Yehat]] [[Terminator]] (20 crew, 23 pts)
*[[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] [[Stinger]] (10 crew, 6 pts)

==Unique ships (full game only)==
*[[The Captain]]'s [[Precursor]] [[The Flagship|Flagship]] (the loss of which means the loss of the game)
*The [[Ur-Quan]]'s [[Sa-Matra]] battle platform (its destruction means winning the game)

==See also==
[[Table of ship values]]

[[Category:Lists|Ships]]
[[Category:Ships| List of ships]]

Avenger

2007-05-13T04:57:31Z

Gaeamil: /* Tactical Overview */

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Star_control_i_ilwrath_avenger_databank.png|thumb|Starship Databank Entry]]
The [[Ilwrath]] '''Avenger''' is a sinister looking ship. The only thing less comforting than seeing one is ''not'' seeing one. The Ilwrath delight in torturing their enemies and this shows in their ship design. The ship itself is the result of the advanced technology that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] bestowed on the newly conquered, technologically simple Ilwrath. Additionally, Ilwrath captains mention that the Ur-Quan also upgraded the Avenger and its weapons circa 2126.

==Navigation==
The Avenger is about average in terms of speed and manuverability. They tend to skulk around and wait for an opportunity to strike. The best defense, the Ilwrath have found, is not to go through the effort of dodging, but to instead allow your enemy's weapons to miss entirely through the inferiority of their targeting systems and the incompetence of their Captains.

==Armament==

===Primary===
The primary weapon for an Avenger is a short-range flamethrower known as the Hellfire Spout. The Avenger's quick recharge rate allows it to maintain a nearly constant stream of flame. Many a crew have been cooked alive (only to suffer an excruciating death immediately afterword when their ship explodes into space dust) by the sudden application of this deadly weapon.

===Secondary===
While not a weapon per se the Ilwrath Cloaking Field is the signature device associated to their race (immediately following, of course, the various implements of pain they use on their captives). Auto-tracking weapon systems (the [[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]] missile, the [[Spathi]] [[Eluder]] B.U.T.T., the [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] [[Skiff]] laser) are useless against a cloaked Avenger, as are any subsidiary craft ([[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] Space Marines, Ur-Quan Kzer-Za [[Dreadnought]] Fighters), both of which will head back to their mothership immediately.
However, the system is not perfect. A well trained Captain, through use of gravity mirroring (or perhaps by sensing the burning hate radiating from the Ilwrath vessel) can dumb-fire his weapon systems toward the empty spot in space where the Avenger ''should'' be and expect to find its all-too-solid silhouette.
Also, when the Hellfire Spout is employed the ship returns to being visible. It is not clear if this is a limitation of the system, possibly unable to cloak the massive amounts of thermal radiation produced by the weapon, or a means of psychological warfare; the starship [[melee]] equivalent of "boo!" One can hardly argue the impact on a crew's morale when an Avenger uncloaks on the ship's stern with Hellfire blazing. One major downside is that when used in Super Melee, the AI seems to know exactly where the Ilwrath ship is at all times, cloaked or not.

==Tactical Overview==
One of the more remarkable aspects of this ship is that if the player fires while cloaked, the Avenger will un-cloak pointed directly at their opponent. However, the short range of its weaponry makes this of marginal usefulness. Also, a regular de-cloak, for whatever reason, will not point the Avenger at the other ship.

While cloaked, The [[Avatar]] tractor beam, [[Cruiser]] missiles, [[Dreadnought]] fighters, [[Marauder]] blades, and [[Nemesis]] space marines are unable to lock on or follow the Avenger.
[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Ilwrath]]

Avatar

2007-05-13T04:24:26Z

Gaeamil: /* Secondary */ only other inertialess ship, unless you count Blazering Guardian

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Chmmr_Avatar_Icon.png|right]]
The [[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]] is a state of the art ship with few real foes, combining the technological prowess of the [[Mmrnmhrm]] and the [[Chenjesu]]. With medium speed and a fairly good turn-rate the Avatar shouldn't be taken lightly. Its main weapon is a strong and deadly laser and its tractor beam would make even the bravest enemy captain sweat. It is orbited by three Zap-satellites for point defense.

==Navigation==

Built specifically for the purpose of defeating [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] vessels, the Avatar is faster and has a better turn rate than both the [[Dreadnought]] and [[Marauder]]. It is, however, quite large, and appropriate care should be taken near gravity wells.

==Armament==

===Primary===

Chmmr Designers bring in the most devastating laser in the galaxy, so powerful that it ionizes the solar wind, causing visible sparkles in the void. Capable of tearing '''anything''' to pieces in a few seconds, this laser turns a face-to-face battle with the Avatar into a suicide run. Some sources describe this primary weapon as a "heavy X-ray laser."{{ref|1}}

===Secondary===

The Avatar is also outfitted with a powerful Tractor Beam, capable of tractoring ships towards the Avatar's laser-jaws by generating a field of artificial gravity. Only fast-and-heavy ships can hope to evade this awesome beam. Slow ships or fast but light weighted ships (such as the [[Shofixti]] [[Scout]] and especially the [[Yehat]] [[Terminator]]) cannot evade this powerful tractoring. Lightweight ships can actually be thrown into immense speeds. It is quite funny to see a Terminator flying around in speeds three and four times higher than those of a [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]. The [[Arilou]] [[Skiff]] or Slylandro Probe, being unaffected by gravity, are not affected by the Tractor beam.

===Additional===

In addition to its already formidable arsenal, three AI-Controlled laser-turrets orbit around the Avatar, providing it with point-defense against most types of attacks. Each zap-sat has 12 hit-points, and when all three are functional, the Avatar is nearly immune to weapons with 3 or less hit-points.

== Tactical Overview ==

Don't mess with an Avatar. There are clearly few ships that can actually match it.

===Strengths===
So long as its zap-sats remain in place, the Avatar will have little trouble defeating most ships. Several ships do not have any weaponry that will penetrate the zap-sats.

===Weaknesses===
The [[Shofixti]] [[Scout]]'s glory device and the [[Androsynth]] [[Guardian]] in comet form prove very nasty against the Avatar. Another tactic for the [[Guardian]] is to launch small groups of bubbles and comet away to safety. This is slower than ramming with the comet, but much safer. A highly skilled [[Pkunk]] [[Fury]] or [[Supox]] [[Blade]] pilot can achieve some measure of success, but this is quite difficult. A [[Yehat]] [[Terminator]], if hurled into "hyperspacing speed" can rain fire on the Avatar but this is also not an easy thing to do. An [[Orz]] [[Nemesis]] can evade the tractor beam while patiently firing at the zap-sats. All of these ships are capable of defeating the Avatar, but will be destroyed if their captain makes a single mistake.

Few ships can truly fight the Avatar with impunity. The [[Druuge]] [[Mauler]] can recoil out of laser range while pummeling the Avatar with its cannon, giving the Mauler an easy victory. The [[Utwig]] [[Jugger]] can use its shields to defend against zap-sats while firing at the Avatar when out of range, quickly draining the Avatar - unless the zap-sats happen to die first. The [[Thraddash]] [[Torch]] is surely the Avatar's greatest weakness, as its plasma afterburner acts as both a means for evading the Avatar's attacks, and destroying its satellites.

===Interesting Matchups===
The [[Kohr-Ah]] [[Marauder]]'s F.R.I.E.D rips the Zap-sats into pieces. Its shuriken mines are also a force to be reckoned with, since each takes 8 shots to destroy(while being fired) — less if stationary. All in all, the Marauder has the best chance of any race at destroying the Avatar with minimal losses. While the [[Kzer-Za]] [[Dreadnought]]'s fighters are pointless versus the zap-sats, the Dreadnought has a better range and its fusion blasts can tear down the Avatar extremely quickly. An AI Dreadnought will not even launch any fighters if the Avatar has at least one Zap-sat remaining. The [[Chenjesu]] [[Broodhome]], with its range, can prove a worthy adversary as well. The Chmmr has significantly more firepower than these ships, however, and once the tractor beam pulls them into range of the laser they will quickly be destroyed, but leaving the Avatar without zap-sats for its next fight.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}''[[3DO]] version ship video''

[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Chmmr]]

User talk:Fyzixfighter

2007-05-13T04:21:23Z

Gaeamil: /* FYI */

Talk:Zoq-Fot-Pik

2007-05-06T21:44:41Z

Gaeamil: /* Frungy */ forgot to sign

Talk:Zoq-Fot-Pik

2007-05-06T21:44:15Z

Gaeamil: /* Frungy */ reply

Syreen

2007-05-04T07:46:42Z

Gaeamil: /* History */ they were the only ones left, might as well just say it

{{RaceBox|name=Syreen|image=SyreenComm.png|caption=Much more than a warm, breathing pin-up|homeworld=Betelgeuse I ([[Gaia]])|coordinates=412.5 : 377.0|organizations=[[Alliance of Free Stars]], [[Ur-Quan Hierarchy]] ([[fallow slave]]), [[New Alliance of Free Stars]]|ship=[[Penetrator]]}}
The '''Syreen''' are a race of bipedal hominids astonishingly similar to the [[Humans]]. There has been much speculation about the relationship between Humans and Syreen, including possible intervention on the part of the [[Arilou]].

==Physiology==

Physiologically and genetically, Syreen ''are'' [[Human]]: the only visible differences between the races are that Syreen skin tint is somewhat more bluish and their retinas reflect light like an Earth cat's. Additionally, the typical Syreen is more comfortable in a slightly warmer and more humid environment than the typical Human. According to some, Humans and Syreen have nearly identical diurnal cycles, exhibiting even further similarity between the two species. Other sources claim that the Human diurnal cycle differs greatly from that of the Syreen, which consists of twenty hours of wakefulness followed by ten hours of rest.{{Ref|1}} It is uncertain which sources are reliable, however, since objective xenological studies of the Syreen diurnal cycle usually prove to be...difficult.

Syreen are also more psychically active than humans, to such an extent that the captain of a [[Penetrator]] starship can make use of a psychic amplifier to coerce enemy crew. It is not known if Penetrator captains are chosen for exceptional psychic potential, or how common psychic potential is in the general Syreen population, although they do not evince casual telepathic powers that races such as the [[Pkunk]] or even the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] do.
On Earth, stereotypes of the Syreen are rampant: matriarchal, "Space Amazons," "Space Gypsies," "warm, breathing pinups," and other sorts abound. Of course, the truth is more complex than such stereotypes would imply.

==History==

Syreen society, like Human society, developed from hunter-gatherer tribes. But unlike Humanity, the Syreen were unplagued by war or other great social upheaval, instead joining together until their whole world was a single, peaceful, agrarian super-community. Also unlike Humanity, Syreen society and Syreen military roles were dominated by the females of the species. How connected these two facts are is a topic of some debate in both Human and Syreen intellectual circles.

A little more than seventy-five years before the advent of the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]], the Syreen suffered a terrible set back. Their homeworld, [[Syra]] (also known as Beta Copernicus I), was by all accounts a tropical eden. However, a catastrophe destroyed nearly all life on the planet, reducing the population to those stationed in orbit as part of the Syreen Space Patrol (the vast majority of which were female) and a few planet-bound survivors. The Syreen gathered the remains of their species into space habitats (which were mostly incapable of independent [[HyperSpace]] travel) and began to search the galaxy for a new home.

As the War began, and with no homeworld to fall back to, the Syreen maneuvered into Human space to avoid [[VUX]] raiders. It is implied but not explicitly acknowledge that Humanity's industrial base supported the Syreen fleet. The Humans and Syreen also participated in at least one crew exchange, confirming the viability of Human/Syreen crossbreeding and bolstering the Syreen's flagging population.{{Ref|2}}

After the defeat of the [[Chenjesu]], the [[Mmrnmhrm]], and finally Humanity, the Syreen were abandoned by the Arilou and left to face the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] alone. They surrendered, and in exchange the Ur-Quan searched their planetary database to find them a new homeworld. This homeworld, renamed [[Gaia]], orbits the star [[Betelgeuse]].

The Syreen are content to remain neutral at this point until [[The Captain]] proves to them that the destruction of Syra was in fact engineered by the [[Mycon]] using a [[Deep Child]]. After The Captain retrieves the Syreen Penetrator fleet from Epsilon Camelopardalis and helps the Syreen wreak their revenge upon the Mycon, the Syreen join with the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|New Alliance]].

==Known individuals==
*[[Talana]]
*[[Diani]]

==Gameplay notes==
=== Sources of information ===

Both the [[Arilou]] and the [[Melnorme]] races can provide the location of the new Syreen homeworld. [[Fwiffo]] also knows the location but is somewhat confused, giving the star system name as "BugSquirt".

Another alien race must reveal the nature of the Mycon [[Deep Child]]ren in order for the Syreen to recognize the significance of the [[Deep Child Egg Case Fragments]]. The only races that are able to provide this information are the Melnorme, the [[Druuge]], the Arilou, and the the Mycon themselves.

The [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] vault containing the Syreen fleet of starships can be found by searching the few stars that match the clues Talana provides—a red/orange star within 200 [[HyperSpace]] units of Betelgeuse and likely in Ur-Quan space. The [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] can give the exact location.

==Notes and references==
{{Note|1}}''The Syreen conversation in the PC version state that the diurnal cycles are nearly identical. The conversation in the 3DO version gives the 20 hour/10 hour diurnal cycle.'' 
{{Note|2}}''[[Star Control]] Manual, pp. 28-29''

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Syreen| ]]

Division of Synthetic Special Reconstruction, Intergalactic Intelligence

2007-05-04T07:43:45Z

Gaeamil: Still a stub? I never feel right rmving one of those tags

{{Stub}}
'''Division of Synthetic Special Reconstruction, Intergalactic Intelligence''' (SSRII) was a division of [[Star Control (Organization)|Star Control]] responsible for compiling personality profiles of the various [[Hierarchy]] [[List of races|Races]] during the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]]. By the standards in [[Star Control 2]], the profiles were horribly incomplete and biased, but they were proof of [[Human]] ingenuity.

[[Category:Human]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Zeep-Zeep

2007-05-04T07:26:49Z

Gaeamil:

Zeep-Zeep was a [[Yehat]], the Secretary of Space of the [[Alliance of Free Stars]], who was one of the signers of an agreement to include the [[Human]]s into the Alliance. The other signers were the [[Chenjesu]] [[Bzrrak Ktazzz]], the Commander-In-Chief of the Alliance effort, High Provost [[Ivana Or-Kachov]], and General [[Juan O'Reilly]].

Bzrrak Ktazzz

2007-05-04T07:26:46Z

Gaeamil:

Bzrrak Ktazzz was a [[Chenjesu]], the Commander-In-Chief of the [[Alliance of Free Stars]], who was one of the signers of an agreement to include the [[Human]]s into the Alliance. The other signers were the [[Yehat]] [[Zeep-Zeep]], the Secretary of Space of the Alliance effort, High Provost [[Ivana Or-Kachov]], and General [[Juan O'Reilly]].

Human

2007-05-04T07:23:32Z

Gaeamil: /* First Contact */

{{RaceBox|name=Human|image=HumanCaptain_Portrait.png|caption=Human crew on the bridge of a Cruiser.|homeworld=[[Sol]] III ([[Earth]])|coordinates=175.2 : 145.0|organizations=[[Alliance of Free Stars]], [[Ur-Quan Hierarchy]] ([[fallow slave]]), [[New Alliance of Free Stars]]|ship=[[Cruiser]]}}

'''Humans''' — scientific name ''Homo sapiens sapiens'', also '''[[Earthling]]s''' or ''Hunams'' (by the [[Spathi]]) — is the race of hominid life forms native to the third planet, [[Earth]], of the Sol system. Since this species is the one responsible for creating this encyclopedia, we presume the details of Human's physical nature, history and social organization are familiar to most of our readership. Those seeking more details can look to other Human knowledge bases, including this article from a Human general-knowledge repository: [[wikipedia:Human]]. We will here consider those features of the Human species pertinent for xenologists, and also to the events leading up to and beyond first contact with other sentient species.

==Description==
Humans, rather than being descended from pure predators like the [[Yehat]] or grazers and insectivores like the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]], are descended from primates: omnivorous, social creatures that had to cooperate and use clever strategies to scrounge food and defend themselves from larger predators. Other species find the evolutionary niche from which Humans evolved amusing, referring to them derogatorily as "monkeys" or "apes". Physically, humans appear to follow a similar body plan to many (though not all) spacefaring species, the generally useful one of a bipedal configuration with mobile graspers (hands and arms) with a wide range of motion and a dedicated sensory appendage (a head). This has led some Human chauvinists to describe most sentient races as "humanoid" (though there are still very great biological differences among "humanoid" species).

It seems that Humans have developed in a few unique ways due to their ancestry. For one thing, humans have an unusually strong tension between their ideals of individual rights and community loyalty, causing them to turn to inefficient and complex means to hold their society together. Though all governments have some degree of bureaucracy, only among Humans has this practice, essentially an attempt at coercion through the mechanistic application of increasingly complex formal legal structures, become the central aspect of governance.

The odd Human tendency to maintain long-term tension between opposing drives also led to the phenomenon of the "Cold War" in their recent history, as competing Human nation-states, too stingy of their peace and prosperity to engage each other in combat outright yet too set in their ideological boundaries to negotiate a true settlement, played games of brinkmanship with each other, endlessly amassing stockpiles of ever-more-powerful weapons in an attempt to indirectly coerce each other into submission. This practice of endlessly vacillating between threats and appeasements may make Humans appear scattered and confused to more straightforward races (though one such race, the [[Thraddash]], admired this ability in the humans and sought, unsuccessfully, to mimic it); however, in the long run the flexibility gained by this Human mindset seems to have served them well. Perhaps it was this odd balance that gave Humans their technological precocity.

==History==
===Recent history===
In the last few centuries of pre-interstellar Human development (the 18th to 20th centuries), Human technological progress and industrial development exploded at a rate that intrigued even such mighty races as the [[Ur-Quan]]. As Earth developed increasingly powerful radio transmission capabilities in the 1930s, the spacefaring races of the nearby stars began to watch this new race and attempt to judge their potential. Though their technology and social organization resembled in many ways those of a typical early modern (post-atomic) civilization, their social infrastructure somehow allowed them to very quickly establish an industrial capacity that rivaled that of advanced races like the [[Chenjesu]], and the speed with which this was followed by their discovery of space travel and exploration of their home satellite in the 1960s sparked intense discussions in their vicinity of space. The Chenjesu, their most powerful close neighbors, considered making contact with the Humans but still considered them too young and volatile for such contact to be conducted responsibly; the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]], meanwhile, made Earth a priority world to invade and conquer, despite their contemptuous opinion of Human innovation. Surprisingly, no other races, advanced or otherwise, made successful efforts to contact Earth in all of this time; during a phase of technological development when many other races would have made contact with other races and at least partially been uplifted, Earth happened to be in a region of space where no one was available to make the offer. Humans were forced to make the difficult transition to a high-technological society on their own, a fact that has earned them respect from species like the Yehat.

The recent history of Human society has also seen the slow combination of the various squabbling empires, tribes and kingdoms of humanity into large, self-organized nation-states that themselves combined into complex alliances; the final and greatest pair of opposing alliances formed after the so-called Second World War in the 1940s, the point at which alien surveillance of Earth began in earnest. The capitalist states led by the United States of America and the communist states led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, unable to curb the warlike, competitive urge that had poisoned Human cooperation since the beginning of their history, engaged in the aforementioned Cold War brinkmanship tactics, maintaining a tense peace based only on the threat of universal destruction by both sides' arsenals of jealously hoarded nuclear missiles if hostilities ever broke out.

This Cold War lasted until, in the year 1991, the United States and its allies declared a victory that turned out to be short-lived. The communist nations' centrally planned economies proved less robust than the market-based capitalist economies. When the United States began their (never to be fully completed) "Star Wars" project, creating massive orbital laser arrays to intercept and harmlessly destroy any Soviet missile attack and giving the United States an unanswerable advantage in any future missile exchange, the Soviets attempted to expand their arsenals in response but lacked the funds, leading to the economic collapse of themselves and their allies. Their deadly nuclear arsenals, however, remained, and poverty-stricken Soviet officials proved willing to sell them off to the highest bidder. With nuclear missiles now owned piecemeal by numerous local dictators and warlords, the formerly stable set of alliances broke down; nations formerly dominated by the Soviet Union or too weak to be aligned in the Cold War now became dangerous nuclear threats, and without a common enemy the great capitalist nations turned against each other.

One of the major sources of continuing conflict was the industrialized nations' fight for control of "petroleum", a peculiar mix of organic hydrocarbon deposits left in the Earth by fossilized plants and animals rich in chemical energy which fueled human industry for an unusually long period in their history, before nuclear power became widespread. One of the human race's great misfortunes was that the Middle East, a region that had been the origin of many of Earth's oldest societies and religions and long a hotbed of its deepest, oldest cultural conflicts, also was one of the world's richest sources of petroleum.

The rich nations thus had many incentives, both cultural and economic, to support the local factions in the region and foment conflict. It was thus in the Middle East that the tenuous global peace finally shattered in the [[Small War of 2015]], in which several local nations, secretly backed by the world's remaining great powers, initiated a strategic nuclear exchange of fewer than a dozen missiles. Even the use of such a small percentage of the available nuclear arsenals killed millions of Humans and decimated all civilization in the area, and it later became known that a retaliatory global strike had almost been launched by the combatant nations' larger sponsors and only averted at the last minute.

This shocking catastrophe, and the holocaust that almost accompanied it, finally provided the spur for Humans to overcome their deep-seated ideological disagreements, vesting supreme political power in an organization known as a United Nations that had originally been a mere arbitration council with nominal powers over Earth's many sovereign states. Though Earth's nations retained their cultural identity, the United Nations was allowed to attain military ascendancy with a worldwide peacekeeping army and police force. The immense stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction produced during the nations' Cold War madness were impounded by the United Nations and their production became one of Earth's greatest taboos. Even so, Humans' inborn paranoia kept them from destroying these weapons utterly, and their disassembled components were stored as reminders of the past in giant Peace Vaults. A ten-year concerted effort by the United Nations and the leaders of its member states finally led to the abolition of intraspecies war among Humans in the year 2025. The United Nations became a true, unified political entity, although it was still seen as a sort of meta-nation by many humans, and observed this tradition in several ways; for instance, it had no permanent capital, instead rotating its base of operations from national capital to national capital every ten years.

It was in this time that the Humans gave rise to the phenomenon of the [[Androsynth]], a race of artificial clones of Humans, whose right to be recognized as fellow Humans had been withdrawn due to a wave of religious hysteria. Their enhanced strength and intelligence as well as their easily exploitable legal status made them highly useful tools for Humans in the coming century of high technological development.

It was in the 21st century that human sublight space travel became highly advanced, allowing Humans to explore, exploit and colonize most of their own inner star system, concentrated mostly in factory bases on their own satellite, Luna, and in the asteroid belt between the inner and outer systems. The United Nations formed its first major new military arm since the Peacekeeping Army, a space-based regulatory office known as [[Star Control (Organization)|Star Control]], established with a permanent headquarters in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. Humans began working on discovering the secret of Hyperspatial travel; unfortunately for them, the highest-level workers on [[Hyperspace|Hyperdrive]] included many Androsynth, and in the [[Slave Revolt of 2085]] all Androsynth, with the help of Human sympathizers, managed to successfully hijack all of Earth's orbital space stations. The Androsynth used their high intelligence and the many technological secrets they had hoarded from their masters to modify the space station's equipment into technology far beyond anything Humans had yet seen; defending themselves from Star Control forces with powerful MASER weapons, they soon created the first Hyperdrive systems known in Sol space and pushed up out of Human history for the rest of the century.

===First Contact===
It was at the beginning of the 22nd century when Humans first made contact with a truly alien race.{{ref|1}} The [[Chenjesu]], who had been aware of Humanity since the 1930s, now saw that the situation with the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] had grown desperate; Ur-Quan hostilities had broken out within range of Sol and, though great in technological sophistication, the Chenjesu and their [[Mmrnmhrm]] allies lacked the resources and labor to expand their fleets quickly enough to match the swelling [[Hierarchy]] of [[Battle Thralls]], while their new [[Yehat]] and [[Shofixti]] allies were still too far away to assist in the main conflict. As a race with a large population, powerful industrial technology, and easy access to many natural resources, the Humans were the ally the Chenjesu desperately needed. Three years before, Humans had pushed out the farthest they ever had from their sun, building a major installation on the asteroid Ceres. Now, a messenger ship from the Chenjesu accosted the Humans at [[Ceres Base]], begging for their help in what they termed the "Great Crucible of Sentience".

The Humans were immensely shell-shocked, having been in the unusual state of utter isolation from alien races for their whole history. They rallied admirably, though, and spent the next few years consulting with Chenjesu ambassadors about the full extent of the atrocities, consulting recordings of the Ur-Quan in action and sending delegations to travel through HyperSpace with the Chenjesu to visit worlds that had already been devastated by Ur-Quan attack. Finally, the Humans agreed among themselves to join the Chenjesu cause. On August 1, 2116, the highest official of the United Nations, High Provost [[Ivana Or-Kachov]], along with [[Star Control (Organization)|Star Control]]'s General [[Juan O'Reilly]], signed a concord with the [[Alliance of Free Stars]]' civilian Secretary of Space [[Zeep-Zeep]] (of the Yehat) and Commander-in-Chief [[Bzrrak Ktazzz]] (of the Chenjesu) pledging Earth's full commitment to the war in return for Alliance protection.

The speed with which Humans were thrust into such a perilous situation without even a basic experience in dealing with other sentient races made Humans appear to be clumsy and provincial next to the more sophisticated races of the Alliance, leading to such diplomatic blunders as the disastrous Human/[[Syreen]] crew exchange, an accidental human attack on an [[Arilou Lalee'lay|Arilou]] fleet, and the Great [[Insult]] that poisoned relations with the [[VUX]]. Nonetheless the Human industrial base became crucial in the war effort; a massive, worldwide effort was made to reignite the engines of war formerly concentrated in the nation of the United States of America. In a nod both to expediency and tradition, the final assembly centers for the new starships of Earth were established in the city of Detroit, Michigan, long a bastion of Earth's original Industrial Revolution. Moreover, it was Human-developed skills in intelligence and profiling that led to the creation of Star Control's division of [[SSRII|Synthetic Special Reconstruction and Intergalactic Intelligence]], which pieced together diverse data to come up with the first detailed profiles on Hierarchy races available to the Alliance -- though these profiles are seen as flawed and biased today, they were nonetheless a triumph of Human ingenuity. Star Control itself in this era became one of the major operations centers of the Alliance, directing many fleets of many races.

Interestingly, it was Earth's entrance into the Alliance that coincided with the sudden appearance of a fleet of the Arilou Lalee'lay, a race no other race had ever encountered before, around Luna with desires to join the Alliance. Suspicions of some connection between the Arilou and Humans seem to have been borne out by recent events. Similarly, the discovery of the Syreen sent shockwaves through human society as the obvious connection between the two races was recognized.

Humans fought bravely in the war, producing a relatively crude but numerous and flexible fleet that fought on multiple fronts, while also providing many officers and crew for allied fleets. Those who had chosen to maintain the Peace Vaults in the first days of the Peacekeeping Army were vindicated; even the Chenjesu were shocked by the total destructive power represented by the sheer number of the old alliances' nuclear warheads and the United States' half-finished orbital laser defense systems. Primitive as they were, refitted for ship-to-ship combat they became the reliable and ubiquitous weapons system of the Earthling [[Cruiser]].

Unfortunately, the Alliance proved unable to hold off the Hierarchy forces forever, and once the [[Sa-Matra]] came into play the Alliance was doomed. The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za, having very little respect for the complex bureaucratic jumble that characterized human government, insisted that the human terms of surrender be decided upon by a purely democratic vote, which led to humans becoming a [[slave shield|slave-shield]]ed fallow species in the year 2134.

===After the War===
By chance, however, it had been a Human expedition that went to the [[Precursor]] ruins on [[Vela]] 1 in that same year, just before the war ended; when the Humans were marooned there, the world was renamed [[Unzervalt]] ("Our World"). The story is well known of how the Humans activated the Precursor factory there and created a great [[The Flagship|Precursor ship]], the equivalent of an all-purpose cruiser/service tug, which they managed to send away from the planet before they were discovered and shielded by the Ur-Quan. It was this Precursor ship, The Flagship, commanded by the famous young [[The Captain|Captain]], that returned to Earth in 2155 and joined with Commander [[Hayes]] of the Hierarchy Starbase the humans maintained in Earth orbit, launching the series of guerrilla actions against the Hierarchy known variously as the War of Liberation or the [[Second War]] of the Alliance. The ragtag fleet known as the [[New Alliance of Free Stars]] was led by these Humans for most of its career, and it was their cunning and persistence that eventually led to the downfall of both Ur-Quan subspecies in 2159, freeing the [[Kzer-Za]] slaves and preventing a wholesale [[Kohr-Ah]] genocide. For all their faults, the free races of the galaxy owe the Humans a great debt.

==Relations with other races==
===Arilou===
The most interesting connection Humans have with other races, however, is with the [[Arilou Lalee'lay]]; indeed, the name "Arilou Lalee'lay" is a name from an ancient human culture, the Celts. Though there was little opportunity to discuss this matter during the war, from the Arilou's first appearance Humans recognized the appearance of Arilou and Arilou Skiffs as being identical to those of the beings from the human 20th century known as "Roswell Grays" and their vessels, "flying saucers". Recent Human history was peppered with incidents of Humans claiming to have observed disc-shaped alien craft traveling through the atmosphere (such as in the famous incident over Roswell, New Mexico), even of memories of being captured, studied and modified by small, mysterious beings inside such craft, often resulting in repeated visits to check up on the progress of their "patients", sometimes resulting in mysterious and sudden pregnancies. Though often dismissed as cases of hysteria and rumor -- as was, indeed, often the case, the so-called "flying saucer craze" or "UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) craze" becoming one of the greatest human fads of the late twentieth century -- modern investigations found top-secret records from studies conducted by that time's national governments, such as the United States Army's Project Blue Book, of legitimate, unexplainable instances of encounters with aliens whose descriptions exactly matched the Arilou. On closer investigation, vaguer references from Humans' past about such creatures as elves, faerie, duendes, and so on seem to resonate with the modern stories of UFOs.

Widespread suspicion and hostility toward the Arilou continued throughout the course of the war, and during the Second War, when the Arilou reappeared as The Captain's personal benefactors, he was able to confront them about these rumors, which, surprisingly, they gladly confirmed, naming themselves as the elves and Roswell Grays of Human mythology, though maddeningly reluctant to give specific details.

It now seems undeniable that Humans' reputation for being an isolated race with no outside contact was exaggerated; indeed, that very situation may have been purposely engineered by the one race that had a close and continued yet clandestine and one-sided relationship with Humans for their whole history. The Arilou have implied they have been intimately involved with the development of the human species from the very beginning, perhaps being responsible for the evolution of the human species itself, or at least for the origins of Human civilization; we know that their only real purpose in joining the Alliance was to protect Humanity from possible total destruction, and after the slave-shielding of Earth they immediately withdrew. The Arilou hold a paternal attitude toward Humans which they insist is benevolent; they seem to have, in a series of carefully timed interventions, been steering the human race toward a specific destiny, as the Arilou's tools — or perhaps their heirs. For this purpose the main procedure seems to have been the careful crafting of the structure of Human instinct (instinct being a characteristic the Arilou claim to entirely lack) through both genetic and social engineering. The Arilou claim to have been primarily responsible for preventing Human interaction with extra-dimensional entities like the [[Orz]], the perils of which very quickly consumed the [[Androsynth]] after their separation from the main Human species. Some even speculate a connection between the Arilou and The Captain's affinity for Precursor technology that made the Second War possible, given that the Arilou claimed to have visited Unzervalt close to the time of The Captain's birth.

===Ilwrath===
Some of Human personality traits may come from their status as "naked apes", having a highly flexible body capable of using many tools but itself greatly lacking in resilience or natural defenses, compared to races with protective exoskeletons or natural venom weapons. One consequence of this combination of their relatively high awareness of danger with relatively vulnerable bodies is that the Humans' potential for the experience of pain and fear is very high, making them a favorite victim of [[Ilwrath]] religious rituals.

===Syreen===
Arilou engineering might lend an explanation to the odd relationship Humans have with the [[Syreen]]; the two species are physiologically almost identical, the only difference being a blue-colored element in Syreen skin pigmentation and various signs of their having been adapted to a higher-temperature climate; moreover, the two species are ''genetically'' almost identical, and have in fact proven to be cross-fertile and capable of sexual reproduction. For this to be a coincidence of convergent evolution is statistically impossible, and indicates the two races must have a common ancestor and must have been separated very recently in their evolutionary history. The obvious explanation is that the Arilou either took Syreen stock to Earth to begin breeding Humans or Human stock to Syra to begin breeding Syreen -- Arilou attitudes toward the two indicate the former is more probably true.

If this is so, there is a very good chance that the Syreen either function as a control group for the Arilou/Human experiment, or else are simply an abandoned original population. Indeed, the Arilou fleet, which had been accompanying the Syreen fleet at the end of the Second War, vanished to leave the Syreen defenseless once they heard the Humans had been safely slave-shielded, indicating their lack of interest in the Syreen.

This relationship appears even more likely when we examine the resemblance Syreen society bears to Human society. The Syreen's natural mode of existence, based on peaceful cooperation, balanced and harmonious relationships with natural forces, and strong appreciation of sensual and aesthetic pleasures closely resembles the paradise long dreamt of by Human mystics and philosophers and striven for by Human political reformers, but never achieved in Human history. Syreen historical development followed a path of combining hunter-gatherer tribes into agricultural collectives, until society was unified into a peaceful agrarian super-community. Humans, for some reason, never experienced this sociological transformation; the Agricultural Revolution, rather than putting military dominance and political power into the hands of a collective agrarian system, instead served to funnel resources to the hunting and raiding cultures, whose competitive, expansionist cultural system absorbed the agrarian societies and forced them into a resource-hoarding, conquest-seeking model of society, leading to the system of militaristic empires and nation-states that defined Earth history.

Furthermore, the Syreen, like the Humans, defined much of their society's roles based on a gender binary based on sex, but unlike in Humans, in Syreen society the feminine dominated the masculine. Human society almost became the inverse of the Syreen, with the masculine, for most of their history, seen as having natural priority over the feminine, so that Earth's leadership and military even now is male-dominated, just as the Syreen's was female-dominated.

Humans, in other words, lived as though they had the instincts and ecological niche of predators like the Yehat, even though their ecological niche as farmers and builders should have created a Syreen-like society. It seems plausible that this is the Arilou's doing, using the Humans' combined desire for prosperity in peacetime and victory in wartime in order to push the Humans to great technological sophistication far in advance of the unaltered Syreen.

The molding of Humans into a high-technology competitive society may also be responsible for another major difference between Humans and Syreen; though Humans have long been known to have detectable psychic potential, training in the use of psychic abilities has never existed beyond the most rudimentary degree in Human society, while in Syreen society it has been commonplace and formed part of the basis for the Syreen's complex rituals of social interaction, as well as being the technological foundation of the Syreen's defense systems.

===VUX===
Interestingly, the [[VUX]] race has had a highly negative history with Humans. The VUX race appears highly distasteful to Human eyes, and Humans had long regarded Captain [[Jeffry L. Rand]]'s inadvertent insult of a VUX captain as one of their greatest diplomatic missteps. However, it later transpired that the VUX culture, placing far more emphasis on vanity and personal appearance than Humans did, was repelled by Human appearance to a far greater degree, and the VUX had only played up the incident of the Insult to justify their own irrational desire to destroy the Human species because of their visceral reaction to its appearance.

===Yehat===
The Humans share an unusually strong fraternal bond with the [[Yehat]]. The Yehat found a great deal more in common with the Humans than with other races, greatly respecting the fact that Humans, like the Yehat, had progressed to the age of space travel through a bloody history of intraspecies war and cultural conflict without the civilizing influence of "higher" races. Humans' similar long experience with warfare had led them to develop a concept of "honor", strong personal integrity among even enemies, similar to the code that formed the basis of Yehat law and morality. The Yehat thus saw the Humans as spiritual siblings, and in communication with Humans, they consciously chose to reference many of their cultural concepts with similar concepts from Human history, primarily the milieu of medieval Europe. Similarly, they drew many parallels between the hybrid culture that their [[Shofixti]] charges developed and that of feudal Japan. The Captain's own Human upbringing gave him enough sympathy for the Yehat, and enough Yehat sympathy for him, that he was able to successfully engineer the [[Yehat Revolution]] against their Ur-Quan-allied [[Veep-Neep Dynasty|Veep-Neep]] rulers in the Second War.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}''Both Commander [[Hayes]] and the 3DO manual give the year of first contact as 2112. The PC manual states that Ceres Base was built in 2112 and the Chenjesu made first contact three years later.
[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Human| ]]

Bzrrak Ktazzz

2007-05-04T07:22:20Z

Gaeamil:

Bzrrak Ktazzz was a [[Chenjesu]], the Commander-In-Chief of the [[Alliance of Free Stars]], who was one of the signers of an agreement to include the [[Human]]s into the Alliance. The other Alliance signer was the [[Yehat]] [[Zeep-Zeep]], the Secretary of Space of the Alliance effort.

Zeep-Zeep

2007-05-04T07:22:13Z

Gaeamil:

Zeep-Zeep was a [[Yehat]], the Secretary of Space of the [[Alliance of Free Stars]], who was one of the signers of an agreement to include the [[Human]]s into the Alliance. The other Alliance signer was the [[Chenjesu]] [[Bzrrak Ktazzz]], the Commander-In-Chief of the Alliance effort.

Zeep-Zeep

2007-05-04T07:20:22Z

Gaeamil:

Zeep-Zeep was a [[Yehat]], the Secretary of Space of the [[Alliance of Free Stars]], who was one of the signers of an agreement to include the [[Humans]] into the Alliance. The other Alliance signer was the [[Chenjesu]] [[Bzrrak Ktazzz]], the Commander-In-Chief of the Alliance effort.

Juffowup

2007-05-04T07:05:38Z

Gaeamil:

#REDIRECT[[Juffo-Wup]]

Spathi

2007-05-02T05:09:15Z

Gaeamil: /* Hierarchy Status */ Spathi captain dialogue (not Fwiffo)

{{RaceBox|name=Spathi|image=Spathi_comm.png|caption=Fwiffo, a Spathi Eluder Captain|homeworld=Epsilon Gruis I ([[Spathiwa]])|coordinates=241.6 : 368.7|organizations=[[Ur-Quan Hierarchy]] ([[battle thrall]]), [[New Alliance of Free Stars]] (optional)|ship=[[Eluder]]}}

==General==
The '''Spathi''' are a cowardly race of "meta-mollusks." They have a colorful exoskeleton, a single jiggling eye, and jointed pinching claws, possessing the best qualities of both the clam and the [[dravatz]]. As a race, the Spathi are absolute cowards and paranoid. They live in constant fear of an undetectable phantom called the [[Ultimate Evil]], which the Spathi are convinced lives just beyond the reaches of their most powerful long-range sensors.

If the remarks of the Spathi captain [[Fwiffo]] are true and representative of the species, Spathi families are very large. Fwiffo claims to have been "the youngest child of a family of 18,487" and mentions that being called by name by "the female parent" was a special occasion for him. Fwiffo's independance was not a voluntary choice; his parents merely "pried [him] from the doorjamb, and rolled [him] into the street". The Spathi youngsters are called "encrustlings".

The Spathi evolved on the lone planet Epsilon Gruis I (their name for the star is [[Yuffo]] and the planet, [[Spathiwa]]). Recently, their home planet has been beleaguered by a race of ravenous creatures called the [[Evil Ones]] who enjoy eating Spathi, prompting the entire Spathi race to take refuge on Spathiwa's moon.

Their ruling class is known most often as [[the Safe Ones]], also called the '''Spathi Ruling Council''', the '''High Spathi Ruling Council''', the '''High Ruling Council of Spathiwa''', and the '''Spathi High Council'''.

==Hierarchy Status==
When the Spathi surrendered to the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]], after only six hours of combat, they were offered the same choice given to each race, as dictated by the [[Path of Now and Forever]]: be a [[fallow slave]] or [[Battle Thrall]]. The Spathi actually chose to be fallow slaves, being rather fond of the idea of being forever protected by an impenetrable [[Slave Shield]]. However, the Ur-Quan's [[Umgah]] servant who was to notify the Ur-Quan of the Spathi's choice mischeviously reported to the Ur-Quan that the Spathi had chosen to be Battle Thralls. The Spathi attempted to rectify this, but the Ur-Quan would hear none of it - they would be Battle Thralls forever.

According to [[Fwiffo]], the Spathi attempted to avoid combat as much as possible, only to recieve three violent reprimands from the Ur-Quan, "each more strident than the last." When the Spathi learned that they were on the verge of being exterminated outright for their repeated disobedience, they set about their duties as battle thralls "with renewed vigor."

==Religion==
The Spathi have a traditional daily prayer which reflects their general attitude towards life (which they name the "mortal helix"): "..Oh God... please don't let me die today! Tomorrow would be so much better!"

The Spathi also have a pre-death ceremony, the ritual of Wezzy-Wezzah. The completion of this short ritual ensures a place in their secure afterlife. A noted attribute of the Spathi's afterworld is the absence of immortal, devouring monsters. However, the ritual of Wezzy-Wezzah is invalid unless performed on the moon of Spathiwa.

==Leisure activities==
A known leisure activity that the Spathi captains practice is playing a certain video game they recently bought, probably from the [[Melnorme]], a game strikingly similar to [[Star Control 2]].

They mention having been bored until they bought the game.

==Ship==
The Spathi pilot the very nimble [[Eluder]]-class ships.

==Known individuals==
*[[Fwiffo]]
*Pwappy
*Tuffa-Yuf

==Gameplay notes==
===Sources of information===
[[Fwiffo]] and the [[Melnorme]] are the only sources for learning the Spathi homeworld location and the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]] necessary to converse with [[The Safe Ones]].

===Relevance to the plot===
Any relations with the Spathi are optional. You can ally with them to gain access to their ships. When the Spathi [[slave shield|slave-shield]] themselves on Spathiwa, they leave behind the [[Umgah Caster]] on their moon, along with a note explaining what it is. The Spathi also share somewhat useful and vague information on various topics, such as the new [[Syreen]] homeworld and the natural [[QuasiSpace]] portal.

==See Also==
*[[Black Spathi Squadron]]

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Spathi| ]]

Spathi

2007-05-02T05:03:35Z

Gaeamil: /* General */

{{RaceBox|name=Spathi|image=Spathi_comm.png|caption=Fwiffo, a Spathi Eluder Captain|homeworld=Epsilon Gruis I ([[Spathiwa]])|coordinates=241.6 : 368.7|organizations=[[Ur-Quan Hierarchy]] ([[battle thrall]]), [[New Alliance of Free Stars]] (optional)|ship=[[Eluder]]}}

==General==
The '''Spathi''' are a cowardly race of "meta-mollusks." They have a colorful exoskeleton, a single jiggling eye, and jointed pinching claws, possessing the best qualities of both the clam and the [[dravatz]]. As a race, the Spathi are absolute cowards and paranoid. They live in constant fear of an undetectable phantom called the [[Ultimate Evil]], which the Spathi are convinced lives just beyond the reaches of their most powerful long-range sensors.

If the remarks of the Spathi captain [[Fwiffo]] are true and representative of the species, Spathi families are very large. Fwiffo claims to have been "the youngest child of a family of 18,487" and mentions that being called by name by "the female parent" was a special occasion for him. Fwiffo's independance was not a voluntary choice; his parents merely "pried [him] from the doorjamb, and rolled [him] into the street". The Spathi youngsters are called "encrustlings".

The Spathi evolved on the lone planet Epsilon Gruis I (their name for the star is [[Yuffo]] and the planet, [[Spathiwa]]). Recently, their home planet has been beleaguered by a race of ravenous creatures called the [[Evil Ones]] who enjoy eating Spathi, prompting the entire Spathi race to take refuge on Spathiwa's moon.

Their ruling class is known most often as [[the Safe Ones]], also called the '''Spathi Ruling Council''', the '''High Spathi Ruling Council''', the '''High Ruling Council of Spathiwa''', and the '''Spathi High Council'''.

==Hierarchy Status==
When the Spathi surrendered to the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]], after only six hours of combat, they were offered the same choice given to each race, as dictated by the [[Path of Now and Forever]]: be a [[fallow slave]] or [[Battle Thrall]]. The Spathi actually chose to be fallow slaves, being rather fond of the idea of being forever protected by an impenetrable [[Slave Shield]]. However, the Ur-Quan's [[Umgah]] servant who was to notify the Ur-Quan of the Spathi's choice mischeviously reported to the Ur-Quan that the Spathi had chosen to be Battle Thralls. The Spathi attempted to rectify this, but the Ur-Quan would hear none of it - they would be Battle Thralls forever.

According to [[Fwiffo]], the Spathi attempted to avoid combat as much as possible, only to recieve violent reprimands from the Ur-Quan, "each more strident than the last." When the Spathi learned that they were on the verge of being exterminated outright for their repeated disobedience, they set about their duties as battle thralls "with renewed vigor."

==Religion==
The Spathi have a traditional daily prayer which reflects their general attitude towards life (which they name the "mortal helix"): "..Oh God... please don't let me die today! Tomorrow would be so much better!"

The Spathi also have a pre-death ceremony, the ritual of Wezzy-Wezzah. The completion of this short ritual ensures a place in their secure afterlife. A noted attribute of the Spathi's afterworld is the absence of immortal, devouring monsters. However, the ritual of Wezzy-Wezzah is invalid unless performed on the moon of Spathiwa.

==Leisure activities==
A known leisure activity that the Spathi captains practice is playing a certain video game they recently bought, probably from the [[Melnorme]], a game strikingly similar to [[Star Control 2]].

They mention having been bored until they bought the game.

==Ship==
The Spathi pilot the very nimble [[Eluder]]-class ships.

==Known individuals==
*[[Fwiffo]]
*Pwappy
*Tuffa-Yuf

==Gameplay notes==
===Sources of information===
[[Fwiffo]] and the [[Melnorme]] are the only sources for learning the Spathi homeworld location and the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]] necessary to converse with [[The Safe Ones]].

===Relevance to the plot===
Any relations with the Spathi are optional. You can ally with them to gain access to their ships. When the Spathi [[slave shield|slave-shield]] themselves on Spathiwa, they leave behind the [[Umgah Caster]] on their moon, along with a note explaining what it is. The Spathi also share somewhat useful and vague information on various topics, such as the new [[Syreen]] homeworld and the natural [[QuasiSpace]] portal.

==See Also==
*[[Black Spathi Squadron]]

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Spathi| ]]

Thraddash

2007-04-28T08:20:06Z

Gaeamil: /* Poetry */ correction

{{RaceBox|name=Thraddash|image=Thradd_comm.png|caption=A typical Thraddash starship captain|homeworld=[[Delta Draconis I]]|coordinates=253.5 : 835.8|organizations=[[Ur-Quan Hierarchy]] ([[battle thrall]]), [[New Alliance of Free Stars]] (optional)|ship=[[Torch]]}}

The '''Thraddash''' are a race of intellectually challenged barbarians from the Draconis stars.

==Physiology and Psychology==
The Thraddash look like bipedal, plated, hornless rhinocerii, with tough muscled arms and a mean temper. The Thraddash talk tough and act even tougher, usually smoking cigars in their cockpits. They have little or no respect for anything aside from force, which they admire greatly. You could say that the Thraddash resemble an alien biker-gang from outer space.

==History==
Thraddash history has witnessed the rise and fall of 18 different planetary cultures. Each time their culture reached a certain point a new ideology for a more perfect culture arrived, and they fought a bitter war eventually blasting themselves back usually 500 years in development, and started a new culture from scratch.

From their conversations with [[The Captain]], we can glean some of the more interesting aspects of previous Thraddash Cultures.

===Culture Two===
The earliest Culture mentioned by the Thraddash was Culture Two. Little is known of Culture Two, except that they glorified fortitude and stoic resistance to pain.

===Culture Three===
Threatened by the virtues extolled by Culture Two, Culture Three demonstrated the dominance of their culture by brutalizing ''themselves''. A common tactic used by Culture Three armies was to position themselves on higher ground, cut off one of their limbs and wave them threateningly at their enemies. This tactic was apparently effective in sapping the morale of their enemies, causing them to turn and flee. As a result of this, the status of Culture Three war veterans was determined by the number of limbs they had remaining. Thraddash captains note that the war parades were much more interesting, since the heroes did not walk, but rolled -- "and at a pretty good clip!"

===Culture Nine===
The most important single artifact common to all Thraddash cultures is the [[Aqua Helix]]. Culture Nine was the first (and only) culture to question its significance. Culture Nine considered excessive the amount of blood and passion expended over the artifact. Unfortunately, their complete defeat at the hands of Culture Ten after only two weeks of dominance only reinforced the Thraddash belief in the sanctity of the Aqua Helix.

===Culture Twelve===

Culture Twelve is the Thraddash example for extreme hostility. It is said that before Culture Twelve's first great battle, [[Jugkah]] the Battlemaster accidentally stepped on [[Gnusko]] the tactician's foot. This prompted Gnusko to summarily slice Jugkah in half. This rash act, however, spelled doom for Gnusko as Jugkah's troops proceeded to decimate him and his elite guard. As Gnusko's forces were defeated, the late Jugkah's Master Sergeants [[Muuhd]] and [[Pudt]] got into an argument over the method for Gnusko's execution, on whether to use crucifixion or the "Lead Tattoo" technique. The argument was resolved in a characteristically Thraddash fashion when Pudt and his command slaughtered Muuhd and his 500 troops.

These events, however, led to the end of Culture Twelve. Their original enemy, [[Yajag]], surprised the remnants of Jugkah's army and proceeded to annihilate it, paving the way for the establishment of Culture Thirteen.

===Culture Fourteen===
Culture Fourteen is the second Culture to question traditional Thraddash values. Shortly after achieving dominance, Culture Fourteen claimed that the Thraddash method of cultural evolution was wrong. They claimed that every inter-Culture conflict set the Thraddash back 500 years. As with Culture Nine, Thraddash tradition again proved itself immune to change as Culture Fourteen was destroyed by Culture Fifteen after a reign of only ten years. Interestingly enough, the violence ensuing from Culture Fourteen's replacement only set the Thraddash back by "two, three hundred years tops", hence disproving Culture Fourteen's main tenet.

===Culture Sixteen===
Again, little is known of Culture Sixteen, except that they were considered by the Thraddash as "sneaky and deceptive."

===Culture Eighteen===
Culture Eighteen was the dominant Thraddash culture when the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] invaded. Their swift defeat by the Ur-Quan put their superiority into question, and an attempt for a resolution was made by the means of a thermonuclear exchange. The Ur-Quan in orbit around the Thraddash homeworld did not allow such intra-species fighting, and intercepted all of the warheads with their fighter vessels.

The Ur-Quan's intervention, however, only postponed the inevitable. Shortly after the failed thermonuclear weapon exchange, Culture Eighteen's challengers introduced a super-lethal poison into the air and water, ending its reign.

===Culture Nineteen===
After the poisoning of Culture Eighteen, the Ur-Quan executed all of the emerging Culture's leaders, and arbitrarily assigned leaders to rule over the Thraddash. The Ur-Quan then explained that any further violations of the Slave Laws will be punished by the eradication of the Thraddash species. Thus started Culture Nineteen.

Culture Nineteen elected to become [[Battle Thralls]] upon being enslaved by the Ur-Quan. As such, they expected to be part of the Ur-Quan's offensive in our region of space. Their relative military weakness, however, as well as their predisposition to pick fights with other slave races, especially the [[Umgah]] and [[Ilwrath]], made the Ur-Quan decide that they would be more of a liability than an asset in the coming battles, and ordered them to "guard the rear." The modern Thraddash have improved their [[Torch]] ships with an effective [[Reeunk]] Afterburner (named after its creator), and are itching to prove their worth to the Ur-Quan.

Culture Nineteen is the Thraddash Culture first encountered by [[The Captain]].

===Culture Twenty===
:''The form and the existence of this culture is based entirely on the player's choices''
[[The Captain]], after showing his superior military might to the Thraddash by killing at least 25 of their ships, is recognized by them as their "Great Teacher" and guides the formation of a new Culture.

{{incompleteSection}}

The player has the following possible choices for this new Culture:
====Introduction====
First, the player chooses how the Thraddash should greet each ship that responds to their hailing calls.
*'''Polite''': All Thraddash captains will greet with kindness and respect, including whether the other's wife-and-kids equivalent are well.
*'''Pig latin''': All Thraddash captain will greet by speaking [[wikipedia:Pig Latin|pig latin]].
*'''Rhyme''': All Thraddash captains will greet with a rhyme of their own composition. Examples are below.
*'''Like me''': The Thraddash captains will relentlessly ask questions about everyone, and when they do not get an answer, threaten to blast them into oblivion.
====Name====
The next part of setting up a new Thraddash culture is the name. The player has 3 options here:
*'''Culture 20''' is achieved by letting the Thraddash choose their own name.
*'''The Fat Obstreperous Jerks'''
*'''The Glorious Slave Empire of [ [[The Captain]] ]'''
====Culture====
The final part is how the Thraddash will shape their 20th Culture.
*'''Contemplative''': Contemplating does not suit the Thraddash, and it is hard for them to remain so for even more than one day, and even begin to break out into spots, but stick to it due to their certainty of their Great Teacher's wisdom.
*'''Friendly''': "Treat every new person like they're your best friend"
*'''Wacky''': Send them Monty Python and Marx Brothers videos to watch, and they will eventually discover slapstick comedy, which suits them very well.
*'''Like Us''': The Thraddash culture will attempt to model themselves after Human culture.

===Future===
The Captain's actions determine the fate of the Thraddash. If they are tricked into attacking the [[Kohr-Ah]], they will move towards the area of the [[Doctrinal Conflict]] and will lose half of their fleet. The casualties during this campaign will be 60% inflicted by the Kohr-Ah and 40% inflicted by the Ur-Quan, who presumably punish the Thraddash for again disobeying orders. If The Captain gains the respect of the Thraddash by destroying 25 of their ships, they will hail him as a model and will establish a new Culture, the direction of which is left entirely up to The Captain. If the Ilwrath are tricked to attack the Thraddash, then the Ilwrath will move towards Thraddash space, leading to a mutually destructive war that will eliminate both their fleets.

==Poetry==
After The Captain directed the Thraddash to rhyme in their introductions to alien vessels, Thraddash culture found another channel of expression. The following examples provide an insight into the Thraddash psyche.

:''Blood is red, bruises are blue
:''When strangers come here, we run them through!''
:''HARG! HARG! HARG!''
----
:''There once was a Thraddash named Mak-Roni''
:''whose ship was in total caco-phony''
:''He got lost in Apodis''
:''and died in Draconis''
:''Because all that he ate was baloney!''
:''HARG! HARG! HARG!''
----
:''Constantly moving are''
:''space, stars, time''
:''SNORT!''
:''form not function''
:''meets in death''
:''remembered''

==Known individuals==
*[[Chudd]]
*[[Gnusko]]
*[[Grah]]
*[[Jugkah]]
*[[Korgk]]
*[[Muuhd]]
*[[Pudt]]
*[[Reeunk]]
*[[Yajag]]

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Thraddash| ]]

Lieutenant Robinson

2007-04-28T07:40:13Z

Gaeamil:

Lieutenant Robinson was the crewman of the Flagship who reported on the find of the [[Umgah Caster]] on [[Spathiwa]]'s moon.

Influences and references

2007-04-26T08:18:52Z

Gaeamil: /* VUX */ NRF = Nerf?

{{incomplete}}

The [[Star Control|Star Control 1]] manual mentions "Inspired by the Works of Fiction of: [[wikipedia:Orson Scott Card|Orson Scott Card]], [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]], [[wikipedia:Andre Norton|Andre Norton]], [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]], [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]], [[wikipedia:Jack Vance|Jack Vance]], [[wikipedia:Alan Dean Foster|Alan Dean Foster]], [[wikipedia:Keith Laumer|Keith Laumer]], [[wikipedia:A. E. Van Vogt|A.E. Van Vogt]], [[wikipedia:E. E. Smith|E.E. "Doc" Smith]], [[wikipedia:Joe Haldeman|Joe Haldeman]], [[wikipedia:Dan Simmons|Dan Simmons]], [[wikipedia:Fred Saberhagen|Fred Saberhagen]] and 100 worthy others."

==Alien design==
The names of certain races introduced in [[Star Control II]] are taken from the so-called "[[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]]" (the copy-protection of Star Control): [[Slylandro]], [[Supox]], [[Orz]], [[Thraddash]], [[Utwig]].

The name [[Androsynth]] is taken from the Greek "andros" ("man") and "synthetic" from Greek "syn" ("together") and "thesis" ("put"), or as the [[Star Control II]] manual says it "fake men".

The pink triangle on the suits of the Androsynth in [[SuperMelee]] is a [[wikipedia:Pink triangle|gay symbol]].

The name [[Druuge]] is pronounced almost exactly like the ancient Persian word "druj" - a term of [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian religion]] that is very roughly translated as "daeva (demon) of lies". Since the Druuge are proven liars and resemble the [[wikipedia:Daeva|daevas]], which are described as "beings with combined human and animal characteristics," this may have been an influence.

The [[Ilwrath]] were named after a friend of the creators (XXX: both?) named McIlwraith.

The name [[Melnorme]] is a reference to jazz singer [[wikipedia:Mel Tormé|Mel Tormé]].

The [[Mycon]] is taken from the Greek prefix "myc-" or "myco-", which means Fungus.

The [[Orz]] and the disappearance of the [[Androsynth]] were influenced by [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]'s writings. (XXX: need more exact references). The *fingers* may be inspired by the six "thumbs" of DV-5, the robot from Asimov's story "[[wikipedia:Catch that Rabbit|Catch that Rabbit]]". The collective nature of the Orz and the way they refer to themselves alternatively as "we" and "I" bears resemblances to the [[wikipedia:Borg Collective|Borg Collective]] ([[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]) and to the [[wikipedia:Borg Queen|Borg Queen]] respectively.

Utricularia, as in ''[[Supox]] Utricularia'', is a genus of carnivorous plants more commonly known as [[Wikipedia:Bladderwort|Bladderwort]].

The [[Shofixti]] are inspired by the historical [[wikipedia:History of Japan|Japanese culture]].
"[[Kyabetsu]]", the name of the former Shofixti homeworld, means "cabbage". The tiny main gun of their [[Scout]] ships is called the Mendokusai Energy Dart; "Mendoukusai" in Japanese means "irritating; bothersome."

[[Spathi]] is "Sword" in Greek. Maybe, the name is meant to be very ironical, because the Spathi are so cowardly. Also, the rumours of the Black Spathi Squadron are most likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:VMA-214|Black Sheep Squadron]] from World War 2.

The [[Syreen]] are based on the [[wikipedia:Siren|Siren]]s from classical mythology. They were sea nymphs who would use enchanting song to lure ships onto the cliffs.

The [[Yehat]] are inspired in part by the [[wikipedia:Scottish clan|Scottish clan]]s and by [[Wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]]'s [[Wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift]] series.

===Larry Niven influences===
A number of aliens draw some of their inspiration from Niven's [[wikipedia:Known Space|Known Space]] novels. Fred and Paul have openly admitted in a [[TFB chat protocols|1998 IRC chat]] to being influenced by these novels.
*The [[Dnyarri]] are very similar in description, powers, and history to the [[wikipedia:Thrint|Thrint]]un race, "a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control." Like the [[wikipedia:Grogs|Grogs]], the Talking Pets are devolved forms of a once-great race.
*The [[Precursors]] are also slightly similar to the Thrintun who likewise left behind relics to be used by the modern-day characters in Niven's novels and who were given a vague moniker, "Slavers", by later races since their real name was unknown.
*Though not physiologically, the [[Spathi]] resemble less advanced versions of the cowardly [[wikipedia:Pierson's Puppeteer|Pierson's Puppeteer]]s.
*The [[Arilou]], in their speculated capacity as genetic manipulators of humanity, are also similar to the Puppeteers.
*The [[Melnorme]], like the [[wikipedia:Outsiders (Known Space)|Outsiders]], are traveling merchants who trade in information and will answer any question for the right price.
**The [[Keel-Verezy]] may be similar to the [[wikipedia:Starseed|Starseeds]], sharing a similar relation with the [[Melnorme]] as the starseeds with the Outsiders.
*The [[Shofixti]] are similar in appearance and warlike tendencies to the [[wikipedia:kzin|kzin]].

===StarFlight influences===
The creators of [[Star Control]] and [[Star Control 2]] worked in the making of the [[wikipedia:StarFlight|StarFlight]] games as well, and some SC races are clearly inspired from the SF universe:
*The name [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] may originate from the StarFlight race Aeoruiiaeo.
*Physically, the [[Umgah]] resemble the Spemin. In terms of behavior, they are almost identical to the Teeelveee.
*Culturally and psychologically, the [[Utwig]] resemble the Dweenle - and, in a lesser degree, the Lieu Vadish.
**The [[VUX]] also appear to be influenced by the Lieu Vadish.
*The [[Supox]] greatly resemble the Elowan.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] resemble the Mechan.
*Physically, the [[Mycon]] resemble the Nathracch.
*The useless [[Wimbli's Trident]] and [[Glowing Rod]] resemble some similar, useless "alien curiosities" from StarFlight.

==Dialog==
The default name of [[The Captain]], Zelnick, may come from Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of [[Crystal Dynamics]] at the time of the 3DO version of Star Control II was being made. The producer of the 3DO version of Star Control II was Crystal Dynamics.

====Arilou====
The [[Arilou]]'s final remark "Be seeing you..." may be a reference to the tv series [[wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]].

====Ilwrath====
One of the gods that the [[Ilwrath]] used to worship was called "Awk of Seds", a reference to the text processing programs [[wikipedia:AWK programming language|awk]] and [[wikipedia:sed|sed]].

[[wikipedia:Captain Satellite|Captain Satellite]], which the [[Ilwrath]] confess to have watched on [[Channel 44]] prior to [[Dogar and Kazon]]'s transmissions, was a show on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California.

====Melnorme====
The Melnorme line "This very morning, I was just saying to subordinate Ochre `Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the feet of a Hu-Hu-Man!'" refers to the fairy tale [[Wikipedia:Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk]], where an ogre (a flesh-eating giant) speaks the line "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.". The similarity between the subordiate's name "Ochre" and "ogre" is probably not a coincidence either.

The phrase "itchy pods" from the Melnorme line "I had itchy pods this morning, Captain, and here you are!" may have been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by [[wikipedia:Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss]]' book "On Beyond Zebra", which introduces the letter "ITCH" with the line "And 'way, 'way past Z is a letter called ITCH. And the ITCH is for Itch-a-pods, animals which [...]". More far-fetched, the book also introduces the letters "QUAN" (Perhaps an influence for the name Ur-Quan) and "SPAZZ" (for "Spazzim").
:Alternatively, this may come from the popular wives' tale of "itchy palms" that predicts wealth and good fortune.

====Pkunk====
[[The Captain]]'s remark to the [[Pkunk]] "Hey! Bird-brains! Got any fruit loops? Har-har-har!" refers to a brand of breakfast cereal called [[wikipedia:Froot Loops|Froot Loops]], which features a toucan resembling the Pkunk as its mascot.

The Pkunk say that they insult their foes to keep from "wrapping around" to evil; this is a programmer's joke about the nature of integers under the C programming language (and many others.) If you increase a number past its maximum (for example, 128 in an 8 bit integer) it suddenly becomes negative (-127, in this example.)

The Pkunk mention channeling a ancient warrior called [[Rumdumdaddy]], which is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Ramtha|Ramtha]], an ancient Lemurian warrior that [[wikipedia:JZ Knight|JZ Knight]] claims to channel.

Many Pkunk dialog is a play on Far East/New Age philosophies. The Pkunk's observation that everyone in their past lives were famous, rich or interesting, and that hence other people don't reincarnate makes fun of the readings of so-called psychic mediums, who generally try to inspire faith by telling people what they want to hear.

====Shofixti====
[[Tanaka]]'s opening comments, "you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - in fact, my entire race! Prepare to die," may pay homage to the movie [[wikipedia:The Princess Bride|The Princess Bride]], in which the character [[wikipedia:Inigo Montoya|Inigo Montoya]] has prepared a similar comment for when he confronts his father's murderer, [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]].

====Slylandro====
When you choose the aggressive lines to speak towards the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s, the third time you get the response "ENACTING THIRD LAW." before combat is initiated. This refers to Isaac Asimov's [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|Three Laws of Robotics]]. The third law says "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.". The Probe's version must not have the first clause as the first law says "A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.". (Alternatively, its First Law applies to solely to its creator race, which grant humans and other sentients no special protection.) Also the [[Slylandro]] will go "to seek out new life and new civilizations, to go where no catalog item 2418 Remote Self-replicating robot probe had gone before." when asked about the programming of the probes, a reference to Star Trek.

====Spathi====
When the [[Spathi]] [[The Safe Ones|Safe Ones]] ask the player for the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]], one of the incorrect options is "Wagh-nagl Fthagn", which spelled a little bit differently ("Wgah'nagl Fhtagn") comes from "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!''", a liturgical phrase in H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:Cthulhu mythos|Cthulhu mythos]].

One of the other options for the Spathi Cypher, "Gort, merenga!" comes from the movie "[[wikipedia:The Day the Earth Stood Still|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]".

====Starbase====
When [[The Captain]] gets to choose the name for the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|new alliance]], one of his options is "The United Federation of Worlds", a reference to the [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]] from Star Trek. [[Starbase]] Commander [[Hayes]] will reply to this choice by saying "we will make it so", another reference to Star Trek, where captain [[Wikipedia:Jean-Luc Picard|Jean-Luc Picard]] would frequently order to "make it so".

Commander Hayes mentions early on that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] annihilated Buenos Aires. This is most likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]]'s novel [[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]], where the alien race humanity is fighting against similarly destroy Argentina's capital.

Commander Hayes also mentions that when the Ur-Quan destroyed much of mankind's history, they also destroyed several places without any known value. These places likely correspond to locations in popular fiction and mythology. They are:
*"kilometer of land in central Iraq" - possibly the biblical [[Wikipedia:Babel|Babel]], [[Wikipedia:The Nameless City|The Nameless City]] from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, or [[Wikipedia:Iram of the Pillars|Iram of the Pillars]]
*"several targets in the Amazon rain forest" - possibly [[Wikipedia:El Dorado|El Dorado]] or simply just other undiscovered city centers in the Amazon jungle
*"something deep under the surface [of the Antarctic icecap]" - possibly a reference to the alien city discovered in H. P. Lovecraft's ''[[Wikipedia:At the Mountains of Madness|At the Mountains of Madness]]''
*"broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic" - possibly [[Wikipedia:Atlantis|Atlantis]]

====Utwig====
When the [[Utwig]] are trying to tell you what to do with the [[Precursor Bomb]], at one point they say that the "Bomb must be...Hugged?" This is likely a reference to the movie [[Wikipedia:Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]].

One of the ways that the Utwig determined that the [[Ultron]] could have been saved was by cushioning the fall with a fuzzy wumpus. A Wumpus is a mysterious monster from the famous, early computer game [[Wikipedia:Hunt the Wumpus|Hunt the Wumpus]].

When describing the [[Kohr-Ah]], the Utwig say that their stated purpose is "to seek out new life and new civilizations...and then annihilate them," a clear play on the mission statement of the [[Wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] of [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]] fame.

The Utwig parting phrase "May the Ultron be with you!" is very similar to the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "May the Force be with you."

====VUX====
The description of the constellation that is described as "the snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" in the DOS version ("the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast." in the 3DO version and UQM) is a reference to the children's book [[wikipedia:Le Petit Prince|Le Petit Prince]] by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which [http://www.korczak.com/Exupery/englisch/i.html describes and shows] an image of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

====Yehat====
"[[Cheep-Guava]]", the name of the head of the [[Yehat]] revolution, is a pun on "[[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|Che Guevara]]", the Cuban revolutionary leader.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
When first meeting the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] at their homeworld, they warn you not to try stealing their atmosphere, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Spaceballs|Spaceballs]].

The coordinates "...ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy" of the Zoq-Fot-Pik homeworld given in their initial encounter refers to Hawaiian words for two types of [[Wikipedia:lava|lava]] flows, "Aa" and "Pahoehoe".

====Other====
The Mosquito Mange is mentioned in the [[Androsynth]] computer records immediately prior to their disappearance. It is a reference to the term found in [[wikipedia:Roadside Picnic|Roadside Picnic]] refering to graviconcentrates - areas of heightened and directed gravity.

The ''Roadside Picnic'' might also be the inspiration for the 'Empties'. In the novel they are one of the common alien artifacts found in the Zones. In the game they are a [[Precursor]] artifact that Commander Hayes mentions in relation to the [[Ultron]].

The way the Androsynth made contact with an extradimensional entity via a computer terminal resembles [[wikipedia:The Planiverse|The Planiverse]].

==Ship Captains==
Numerous ship captain names are actually references.

====Androsynth====
*'''1040-EZ''' is a common [[wikipedia:Form 1040EZ|tax return form]] in the United States.
*'''976-KILL''' is probably meant as an American phone number. It may also refer to the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094597/ 976-EVIL]. The "976" prefix is reserved for pay services.
*'''[[wikipedia:AK-47|AK-47]]''' is the famous Avtomat Kalashnikova assault rifle
*'''BHS-79''' ''(just a wild guess here- is this the initials of one of the high schools they attended, and their graduation date?)''
*'''BIM-XT''' is an anagram for the [[wikipedia:IBM XT|IBM XT]] personal computer from the early 1980s
*'''BOOJI-1''' is a possible reference to the character [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] from the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].
*'''CRC-16''' is a 16 bits "[[wikipedia:Cyclic redundancy check|Cyclic redundancy check]] (an error-detecting checksum).
*'''DORN-3''' may be a reference to artist John Alfred Dorn III, who did several illustrations for the novels of [[wikipedia:Stanisław Lem|Stanisław Lem]]. It could also be a reference [[wikipedia:Michael Dorn|Michael Dorn]] who played Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
*'''DOS-1.0''' is a reference to one or all of the various early disk operating systems ([[wikipedia:PC-DIS|PC-DOS]], [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], [[wikipedia:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], etc).
*'''HAL-2001''' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] computer from [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]]'s and [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]
*'''JOR-15''' might be a reference to [[wikipedia:Jor-El|Jor-El]], superman's biological father in the DC comics universe.
*'''KORB-7B''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Korb|Lawrence Korb]], a former US Secretary of Defense heavily involved in military security.
*'''ME-262''' is a reference to the Messerschmitt [[wikipedia:Me-262|Me-262]], the first operational jet powered aircraft.
*'''NECRO-99''' may be a reference to the robot NECRON-99 from the movie [[wikipedia:Wizards (movie)|Wizards]].
*'''SR-71''' is a reference to the Lockheed [[wikipedia:SR-71|SR-71 Blackbird]], an advanced reconnaissance aircraft.
*'''[[wikipedia:Merkur XR4Ti|XR4-TI]]''' was a car model manufactured by the short-lived [[wikipedia:Merkur|Merkur]] brand.

====Druuge====
*'''Moola''' is a play on "moolah", the English slang word for money.

====Human====
*'''Adama''' is the captain of the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] in the television series by the same name.
*'''Belt''' is a reference to Henry Belt, captain of a solar sail vessel in Jack Vance's short story ''Sail 25''.
*'''Buck''' refers to [[wikipedia:Buck Rogers|Buck Rogers]], a character who appeared in popular sci-fi comic strips and serials in the late 30's, as well as a later television series.
*'''Decker''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Willard Decker|Willard Decker]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the movie [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Motion Picture|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]].
*'''Ender''' is a reference to the main character of the Orson Scott Card novel [[wikipedia:Ender's Game|Ender's Game]].
*'''Graeme''' is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the [[wikipedia: Childe Cycle|Childe Cycle]] novels by [[wikipedia:Gordon R. Dickson|Gordon R. Dickson]]. ''(This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)''
*'''Halleck''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Gurney Halleck|Gurney Halleck]] of the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Kirk''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:James T. Kirk|James T. Kirk]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the original series of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Pike''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Christopher Pike|Christopher Pike]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the pilot episode of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Pirx|Pirx]]''' is a reference to a fictional test pilot in a series of stories by Stanisław Lem.
*'''Solo''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Millennium Falcon|Millennium Falcon]] in [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] episode 4 through 6.
*'''Spiff''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Spaceman Spiff|Spaceman Spiff]], a fantasy identity of Calvin from [[wikipedia:Calvin and Hobbes|Calvin and Hobbes]]
*'''Trent''' is a reference to Jeff Trent, civilian airline pilot from [[wikipedia:Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9 from Outer Space]]
*'''Tuf''' is a reference to Haviland Tuf, the protagonist in [[wikipedia:Tuf Voyaging|Tuf Voyaging]] by [[wikipedia:George R.R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]].
*'''VanRijn''' is a reference to the merchant prince Nicholas Van Rijn in [[wikipedia:Poul Anderson|Poul Anderson]]'s stories.
*'''Wu''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Louis Wu|Louis Wu]], the protagonist of Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld series]].

====Ilwrath====
*'''[[wikipedia:Gorgon|Gorgon]]''' is a famous Greek mythological creature, of which [[wikipedia:Medusa|Medusa]] was one.
*'''Kalgon''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Calgon|Calgon]], a cleansing product.
*'''Taragon''' likely refers to the spice [[wikipedia:tarragon|tarragon]]

====Kohr-Ah====
*All of their ship names appear to be '''Death''' followed by a [[wikipedia:Prime_number|prime number]].

====Mycon====
*'''Znuff''' could be a reference to the 1984 rock group [[wikipedia:Enuff Z'nuff|Enuff Z'nuff]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Spork|Spork]]''' is an eating utensil, a hybrid of a spoon and a fork.

====Pkunk====
*'''Crow''' may refer to [[wikipedia:Crow T. Robot|Crow T. Robot]] from [[wikipedia:Mystery Science Theater 3000|Mystery Science Theater 3000]] as well as the obvious type of bird.
*'''Ernie''' is likely a reference to the British cartoon [[wikipedia:Ernie (comic strip)|Ernie]].
*'''Tweety''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Tweety|Tweety Bird]].
*'''WudStok''' is Snoopy's friend [[wikipedia:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] in the comic strip [[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]].

====Shofixti====
*'''Bonsai!''' is actually [[wikipedia:Bonsai|the Japanese art of pruning trees]], but is most likely a reference to the cry [[wikipedia:Ten thousand years|Banzai]].
*'''Busu''' is a Japanese word for ugly
*'''Chimchim''' most likely refers to the pet chimpanzee in [[wikipedia:Speed Racer|Speed Racer]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Daikon|Daikon]]''' is a giant, white radish popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''[[wikipedia:Gaijin|Gaijin]]''' is a disparaging Japanese term for foreigner.
*'''Genjiro''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Genjiro Arato|Genjiro Arato]], a Japanese movie producer, actor, and director.
*'''Ginzu''' is probably the [[wikipedia:Ginsu|Ginsu knife]].
*'''Hiyata''' is a reference to the title character of the Japanese show [[wikipedia:Ultraman|Ultraman]], where it can also be spelled "Hayata".
*'''Ichiban''' is the Japanese word for the number 1, or first
*'''Kimba''' refers to the main character in the Japanese animation [[wikipedia:Kimba the White Lion|Kimba, the White Lion]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Katana|Katana]]''' is a Japanese sword.
*'''[[wikipedia:Kudzu|Kudzu]]''' is an Asian plant that can be found in southern Japan.
*'''Naninani''' is Japanese for "such and such"
*'''[[wikipedia:Sushi|Sushi]]''' is Japanese for seasoned rice, usually associated with raw fish.
*'''Tanaka''' is a fairly common [[wikipedia:Japanese name|Japanese surname]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Tofu|Tofu]]''' is bean curd, popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''Tora-3''' refers to the radio call announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [[wikipedia:Tora Tora Tora|Tora! Tora! Tora!]]
*'''Wasabe''' is a Japanese condiment, usually spelled [[wikipedia:Wasabi|wasabi]].

====Spathi====
*'''Jinkeze''' is a reference to the catchphrase of [[Wikipedia:Velma Dinkley|Velma Dinkley]], a main character in the [[Wikipedia:Scooby-Doo|Scooby-Doo]] cartoons, which she says when she is scared or surprised.

====Supox====
*'''Crinoid''' is a reference to the Krynoids, hostile sentient plants in the [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]] episode ''The Seeds of Doom''.
*'''Trifid''' is a reference to the carnivorous, mobile (and possibly intelligent) plants in [[wikipedia:The Day of the Triffids|The Day of the Triffids]].
*All of the other captain names are parts or types of plants.

====Syreen====
*'''Aelita''' refers to the early Soviet sci-fi novel ''Aelita'' by [[wikipedia:Alexei Tolstoy|Alexei Tolstoy]] or to a silent film [[wikipedia:Aelita|Aelita:Queen of Mars]] based on it.
*'''Alia''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Alia Atreides|St. Alia of the Knife]], the sister of [[wikipedia:Paul Atreides|Paul Atreides]] in the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Alura''' is possibly a reference either to Princess Allura in the [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] cartoon series or to the mother of [[wikipedia:Supergirl|Supergirl]].
*'''Ardala''' is a reference to the Princess Ardala, nemesis of Buck Rogers.
*'''Be'lit''' is a possible reference to [[wikipedia:Belit|Belit]], a pirate queen in the [[wikipedia:Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Barbarian]] stories.
*'''Brawne''' refers to Brawne Lamia, a character in Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]] books.
*'''Dale''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Dale Arden|Dale Arden]], the girlfriend of [[wikipedia:Flash Gordon|Flash Gordon]].
*'''Danning''' is a reference to the actress [[wikipedia:Sybil Danning|Sybil Danning]].
*'''Dejah''' may be a reference to Dejah Thoris Burroughs (Deety) in Robert A. Heinlein's [[wikipedia:The Number of the Beast (novel)|The Number of the Beast]], or to Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, in the [[wikipedia:Barsoom series|Barsoom series]] by [[wikipedia:Edgar Rice Burroughs|Edgar Rice Burroughs]].
*'''Maya''' refers to the attractive female [[wikipedia:Space 1999|Space: 1999]] character gifted with shapeshifing abilties.
*'''Munro''' possibly refers to another genre actress, [[wikipedia:Caroline Munro|Caroline Munro]].
*'''Penny''' possibly refers to the lead female character in the movie [[wikipedia:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension|The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]], or the character of Penny Robinson in the television show Lost in Space.
*'''Ripley''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Ellen Ripley|Lieutenant Ripley]], as portrayed by [[wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] in the movie [[wikipedia:Alien (movie)|Alien]].
*'''Sparta''' is a reference to the beautiful female protagonist with a mysterious past in the Venus Prime series by [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Preuss|Paul Preuss]].
*'''Teela''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Teela Brown|Teela Brown]], one of the heroines of the Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] novels.
*'''Yarr''' may be a reference to [[wikipedia:Natasha Yar|Natasha Yar]] who appeared in [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]].

====Umgah====
*'''Bob''' is possibly a reference to the creators themselves: [[Toys For Bob]].
*'''Brewz'k''' is likely the slang word "brewski".
*'''Ei'Ei'o''' is probably referring to the refrain of the children's song ''[[wikipedia:Old MacDonald Had a Farm|Old MacDonald Had a Farm]]''.

====Ur-Quan====
*While all captain's names are '''Lord''' followed by a number, '''Lord 666''' is notable as a reference to the [[wikipedia:Number of the Beast|Number of the Beast]]. There is no known pattern to their numbers, unlike the Kohr-Ah.

====Utwig====
*'''Endo''' might refer to a slang word for [[Wikipedia:marijuana|marijuana]]. In Japanese, this is also type of pea.
*'''Manny''' might refer to the main character in [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s book [[wikipedia:the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress|The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress]].
*'''Nestor''' might refer to the [[Wikipedia:NS-2|NS-2]], a robot model in Asimov's "[[Wikipedia:Little Lost Robot|Little Lost Robot]]" that can, by inaction, allow a human to be harmed.
*'''Jujuby''' might be an alternate spelling of '[[Wikipedia:Jujube|Jujube]]', which is the fruit of a certain tree, also known as the "Chinese Date".

====VUX====
*'''[[wikipedia:Program Information File|PIF]]''' is a file extension used in early versions of [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].
*'''VIP''' is an acronym meaning "very important person".
*'''YUK''' likely comes from the work "yuck" -- an appropriate name, given the VUX's appearance.
*'''[[wikipedia:zit|ZIT]]''' likely comes from the skin blemish of the same name.
*'''NRF''' may refer to the toy gun brand [[wikipedia:Nerf|Nerf]].

====Yehat====
*'''Beep-eep''' could refer to the token sound made by the [[wikipedia:RWile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Road Runner]] in various [[wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]] animations and products.
*All the rest of their captains' names simply change the first letter.

====Zoq Fot Pik====
*'''RinTin''' is likely named after the famous movie dog [[wikipedia:Rin Tin Tin|Rin Tin Tin]].
*'''TikTak''' is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tic Tac (candy)|Tic Tac]] breath mints.

==Ship Designs==
*The '''[[Arilou]]'s [[Skiff]]''' vessel is reminiscent of the 'traditional' flying saucers or UFO's.
*The '''[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]''' seems to be inspired by the Federation Starships from [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*The '''[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]''' shares the same approximate configuration as both the the [[wikipedia:Klingon starships|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] and the [[wikipedia:Romulan starships|Romulan Warbird]] from Star Trek.
*The '''[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-Form]]''' takes inspiration for both of its transformation forms from two popular [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] Rebellion fighters -- the [[wikipedia:X-Wing|X-Wing]] and the [[wikipedia:Y-Wing|Y-Wing]], respectively.
*The '''[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]''' is shaped after the [[wikipedia:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket]], and a dildo.
*The '''[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]]''' bears more than a passing resemblence to the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (ship)|BattleStar command ships]] from BattleStar Galactica.
*The '''[[VUX]] [[Intruder]]''' shares a similar relationship with the D7 class Klingon starship.

==Constellation names==
According to the [[HyperSpace]] starmap, the names for the HyperSpace constellations were taken from "traditional astronomical designations." These are the in-game star and constellation names that don't directly correspond to real life astronomical designations. (Some, such as Lalande and Wolf, appear to be derived from astronomical designations).
*'''Almagest''' is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Almagest|Almagest]], an astronomical treatise written by [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]] and describing his geocentric theory.
*'''Arianni''' may be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ariane (rocket)|Ariane rockets]], which were the primary launch vehicle of the European Space Agency in the latter portion of the 20th century. An alternative origin may be the planet [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/places/article/69410.html Ariannus] from the original [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Brahe''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Tycho Brahe|Tycho Brahe]], the famous Danish astronomer of the 16th century.
*'''Cerenkov''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov|Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov]], a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate.
*'''Chandrasekhar''' is a reference to the Indian-American astrophysicist [[Wikipedia:Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], famous for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.
*'''Copernicus''' is a reference [[Wikipedia:Nicolaus Copernicus|Nicolaus Copernicus]], the polish astronomer who proposed the sun was the center of the solar system.
*'''Gorno''' is a possible reference to the [[Wikipedia:Gorn|Gorn]], a race in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Groombridge''' is a village on the border between Kent and East Sussex.
*'''Hyginus''' is a reference to the attributed author of [[Wikipedia:Poeticon astronomicon|Poeticon astronomicon]].
*'''Hyperion''' is a reference to the main setting of Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]].
*'''Illuminati''' is a reference to a variety of conspiracy theories, especially those of the [[Wikipedia:Illuminati|Bavarian Illuminati]].
*'''Kepler''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Johannes Kepler|Johannes Kepler]] who discovered the three laws of planetary motion.
*'''Klystron''' is a reference to a kind of vacuum tube used in early radar systems.
*'''Lentilis''' is probably a reference to the Lentili from David Brin's short story [[Wikipedia:Sshhh ...|Sshhh ...]].
*'''Lipi'''
*'''Maksutov''' is likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Maksutov telescope|Maksutov telescope]] invented by the Russian optician [[Wikipedia:Dimtri Maksutov|Dimtri Maksutov]].
*'''Mersenne''' is a reference to [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mersenne.html Marin Mersenne] a Minim friar who lived in France from 1588-1648 and was a major founder of number theory.
*'''Metis''' is a moon of Jupiter, and correspondingly a character in Roman mythology.
*'''Olber''' is likely a reference to [[Wikipedia:Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers|Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers]], a German astronomer.
*'''Organon''' is likely a reference to either Francis Bacon's book [[Wikipedia:Novum Organum|The New Organon]] or Aristotle's [[Wikipedia:Organon|Organon]], after which Bacon's book was named. Alternatively it could be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Organia|Organia]], an important location in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], or to the [[Wikipedia:Organa family|Organa family]] in the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] universe.
*'''Ptolemae''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]], an ancient astronomer whose Geocentric views Copernicus replaced.
*'''Raynet''' is possibly a misspelling of "Rayet", an existing astronomical designation. it could also be a reference to British amateur radio network [[Wikipedia:RAYNET|RAYNET]].
*'''Saurus'''
*'''Squidi'''
*'''Vitalis'''
*'''Zeeman''' is possibly a reference to the physicist [[Wikipedia:Pieter Zeeman|Pieter Zeeman]] for whom a [[Wikipedia:Zeeman (crater)|crater]] on the moon is named.

==Other==
*[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]s are named after Robert Leyland, a Toys For Bob programmer.

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]

Influences and references

2007-04-26T07:37:09Z

Gaeamil: /* Ship Captains */ Druuge!

{{incomplete}}

The [[Star Control|Star Control 1]] manual mentions "Inspired by the Works of Fiction of: [[wikipedia:Orson Scott Card|Orson Scott Card]], [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]], [[wikipedia:Andre Norton|Andre Norton]], [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]], [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]], [[wikipedia:Jack Vance|Jack Vance]], [[wikipedia:Alan Dean Foster|Alan Dean Foster]], [[wikipedia:Keith Laumer|Keith Laumer]], [[wikipedia:A. E. Van Vogt|A.E. Van Vogt]], [[wikipedia:E. E. Smith|E.E. "Doc" Smith]], [[wikipedia:Joe Haldeman|Joe Haldeman]], [[wikipedia:Dan Simmons|Dan Simmons]], [[wikipedia:Fred Saberhagen|Fred Saberhagen]] and 100 worthy others."

==Alien design==
The names of certain races introduced in [[Star Control II]] are taken from the so-called "[[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]]" (the copy-protection of Star Control): [[Slylandro]], [[Supox]], [[Orz]], [[Thraddash]], [[Utwig]].

The name [[Androsynth]] is taken from the Greek "andros" ("man") and "synthetic" from Greek "syn" ("together") and "thesis" ("put"), or as the [[Star Control II]] manual says it "fake men".

The pink triangle on the suits of the Androsynth in [[SuperMelee]] is a [[wikipedia:Pink triangle|gay symbol]].

The name [[Druuge]] is pronounced almost exactly like the ancient Persian word "druj" - a term of [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian religion]] that is very roughly translated as "daeva (demon) of lies". Since the Druuge are proven liars and resemble the [[wikipedia:Daeva|daevas]], which are described as "beings with combined human and animal characteristics," this may have been an influence.

The [[Ilwrath]] were named after a friend of the creators (XXX: both?) named McIlwraith.

The name [[Melnorme]] is a reference to jazz singer [[wikipedia:Mel Tormé|Mel Tormé]].

The [[Mycon]] is taken from the Greek prefix "myc-" or "myco-", which means Fungus.

The [[Orz]] and the disappearance of the [[Androsynth]] were influenced by [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]'s writings. (XXX: need more exact references). The *fingers* may be inspired by the six "thumbs" of DV-5, the robot from Asimov's story "[[wikipedia:Catch that Rabbit|Catch that Rabbit]]". The collective nature of the Orz and the way they refer to themselves alternatively as "we" and "I" bears resemblances to the [[wikipedia:Borg Collective|Borg Collective]] ([[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]) and to the [[wikipedia:Borg Queen|Borg Queen]] respectively.

Utricularia, as in ''[[Supox]] Utricularia'', is a genus of carnivorous plants more commonly known as [[Wikipedia:Bladderwort|Bladderwort]].

The [[Shofixti]] are inspired by the historical [[wikipedia:History of Japan|Japanese culture]].
"[[Kyabetsu]]", the name of the former Shofixti homeworld, means "cabbage". The tiny main gun of their [[Scout]] ships is called the Mendokusai Energy Dart; "Mendoukusai" in Japanese means "irritating; bothersome."

[[Spathi]] is "Sword" in Greek. Maybe, the name is meant to be very ironical, because the Spathi are so cowardly. Also, the rumours of the Black Spathi Squadron are most likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:VMA-214|Black Sheep Squadron]] from World War 2.

The [[Syreen]] are based on the [[wikipedia:Siren|Siren]]s from classical mythology. They were sea nymphs who would use enchanting song to lure ships onto the cliffs.

The [[Yehat]] are inspired in part by the [[wikipedia:Scottish clan|Scottish clan]]s and by [[Wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]]'s [[Wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift]] series.

===Larry Niven influences===
A number of aliens draw some of their inspiration from Niven's [[wikipedia:Known Space|Known Space]] novels. Fred and Paul have openly admitted in a [[TFB chat protocols|1998 IRC chat]] to being influenced by these novels.
*The [[Dnyarri]] are very similar in description, powers, and history to the [[wikipedia:Thrint|Thrint]]un race, "a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control." Like the [[wikipedia:Grogs|Grogs]], the Talking Pets are devolved forms of a once-great race.
*The [[Precursors]] are also slightly similar to the Thrintun who likewise left behind relics to be used by the modern-day characters in Niven's novels and who were given a vague moniker, "Slavers", by later races since their real name was unknown.
*Though not physiologically, the [[Spathi]] resemble less advanced versions of the cowardly [[wikipedia:Pierson's Puppeteer|Pierson's Puppeteer]]s.
*The [[Arilou]], in their speculated capacity as genetic manipulators of humanity, are also similar to the Puppeteers.
*The [[Melnorme]], like the [[wikipedia:Outsiders (Known Space)|Outsiders]], are traveling merchants who trade in information and will answer any question for the right price.
**The [[Keel-Verezy]] may be similar to the [[wikipedia:Starseed|Starseeds]], sharing a similar relation with the [[Melnorme]] as the starseeds with the Outsiders.
*The [[Shofixti]] are similar in appearance and warlike tendencies to the [[wikipedia:kzin|kzin]].

===StarFlight influences===
The creators of [[Star Control]] and [[Star Control 2]] worked in the making of the [[wikipedia:StarFlight|StarFlight]] games as well, and some SC races are clearly inspired from the SF universe:
*The name [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] may originate from the StarFlight race Aeoruiiaeo.
*Physically, the [[Umgah]] resemble the Spemin. In terms of behavior, they are almost identical to the Teeelveee.
*Culturally and psychologically, the [[Utwig]] resemble the Dweenle - and, in a lesser degree, the Lieu Vadish.
**The [[VUX]] also appear to be influenced by the Lieu Vadish.
*The [[Supox]] greatly resemble the Elowan.
*The [[Mmrnmhrm]] resemble the Mechan.
*Physically, the [[Mycon]] resemble the Nathracch.
*The useless [[Wimbli's Trident]] and [[Glowing Rod]] resemble some similar, useless "alien curiosities" from StarFlight.

==Dialog==
The default name of [[The Captain]], Zelnick, may come from Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of [[Crystal Dynamics]] at the time of the 3DO version of Star Control II was being made. The producer of the 3DO version of Star Control II was Crystal Dynamics.

====Arilou====
The [[Arilou]]'s final remark "Be seeing you..." may be a reference to the tv series [[wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]].

====Ilwrath====
One of the gods that the [[Ilwrath]] used to worship was called "Awk of Seds", a reference to the text processing programs [[wikipedia:AWK programming language|awk]] and [[wikipedia:sed|sed]].

[[wikipedia:Captain Satellite|Captain Satellite]], which the [[Ilwrath]] confess to have watched on [[Channel 44]] prior to [[Dogar and Kazon]]'s transmissions, was a show on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California.

====Melnorme====
The Melnorme line "This very morning, I was just saying to subordinate Ochre `Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the feet of a Hu-Hu-Man!'" refers to the fairy tale [[Wikipedia:Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk]], where an ogre (a flesh-eating giant) speaks the line "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.". The similarity between the subordiate's name "Ochre" and "ogre" is probably not a coincidence either.

The phrase "itchy pods" from the Melnorme line "I had itchy pods this morning, Captain, and here you are!" may have been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by [[wikipedia:Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss]]' book "On Beyond Zebra", which introduces the letter "ITCH" with the line "And 'way, 'way past Z is a letter called ITCH. And the ITCH is for Itch-a-pods, animals which [...]". More far-fetched, the book also introduces the letters "QUAN" (Perhaps an influence for the name Ur-Quan) and "SPAZZ" (for "Spazzim").
:Alternatively, this may come from the popular wives' tale of "itchy palms" that predicts wealth and good fortune.

====Pkunk====
[[The Captain]]'s remark to the [[Pkunk]] "Hey! Bird-brains! Got any fruit loops? Har-har-har!" refers to a brand of breakfast cereal called [[wikipedia:Froot Loops|Froot Loops]], which features a toucan resembling the Pkunk as its mascot.

The Pkunk say that they insult their foes to keep from "wrapping around" to evil; this is a programmer's joke about the nature of integers under the C programming language (and many others.) If you increase a number past its maximum (for example, 128 in an 8 bit integer) it suddenly becomes negative (-127, in this example.)

The Pkunk mention channeling a ancient warrior called [[Rumdumdaddy]], which is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Ramtha|Ramtha]], an ancient Lemurian warrior that [[wikipedia:JZ Knight|JZ Knight]] claims to channel.

Many Pkunk dialog is a play on Far East/New Age philosophies. The Pkunk's observation that everyone in their past lives were famous, rich or interesting, and that hence other people don't reincarnate makes fun of the readings of so-called psychic mediums, who generally try to inspire faith by telling people what they want to hear.

====Shofixti====
[[Tanaka]]'s opening comments, "you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - in fact, my entire race! Prepare to die," may pay homage to the movie [[wikipedia:The Princess Bride|The Princess Bride]], in which the character [[wikipedia:Inigo Montoya|Inigo Montoya]] has prepared a similar comment for when he confronts his father's murderer, [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]].

====Slylandro====
When you choose the aggressive lines to speak towards the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s, the third time you get the response "ENACTING THIRD LAW." before combat is initiated. This refers to Isaac Asimov's [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|Three Laws of Robotics]]. The third law says "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.". The Probe's version must not have the first clause as the first law says "A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.". (Alternatively, its First Law applies to solely to its creator race, which grant humans and other sentients no special protection.) Also the [[Slylandro]] will go "to seek out new life and new civilizations, to go where no catalog item 2418 Remote Self-replicating robot probe had gone before." when asked about the programming of the probes, a reference to Star Trek.

====Spathi====
When the [[Spathi]] [[The Safe Ones|Safe Ones]] ask the player for the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]], one of the incorrect options is "Wagh-nagl Fthagn", which spelled a little bit differently ("Wgah'nagl Fhtagn") comes from "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!''", a liturgical phrase in H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:Cthulhu mythos|Cthulhu mythos]].

One of the other options for the Spathi Cypher, "Gort, merenga!" comes from the movie "[[wikipedia:The Day the Earth Stood Still|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]".

====Starbase====
When [[The Captain]] gets to choose the name for the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|new alliance]], one of his options is "The United Federation of Worlds", a reference to the [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]] from Star Trek. [[Starbase]] Commander [[Hayes]] will reply to this choice by saying "we will make it so", another reference to Star Trek, where captain [[Wikipedia:Jean-Luc Picard|Jean-Luc Picard]] would frequently order to "make it so".

Commander Hayes mentions early on that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] annihilated Buenos Aires. This is most likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]]'s novel [[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]], where the alien race humanity is fighting against similarly destroy Argentina's capital.

Commander Hayes also mentions that when the Ur-Quan destroyed much of mankind's history, they also destroyed several places without any known value. These places likely correspond to locations in popular fiction and mythology. They are:
*"kilometer of land in central Iraq" - possibly the biblical [[Wikipedia:Babel|Babel]], [[Wikipedia:The Nameless City|The Nameless City]] from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, or [[Wikipedia:Iram of the Pillars|Iram of the Pillars]]
*"several targets in the Amazon rain forest" - possibly [[Wikipedia:El Dorado|El Dorado]] or simply just other undiscovered city centers in the Amazon jungle
*"something deep under the surface [of the Antarctic icecap]" - possibly a reference to the alien city discovered in H. P. Lovecraft's ''[[Wikipedia:At the Mountains of Madness|At the Mountains of Madness]]''
*"broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic" - possibly [[Wikipedia:Atlantis|Atlantis]]

====Utwig====
When the [[Utwig]] are trying to tell you what to do with the [[Precursor Bomb]], at one point they say that the "Bomb must be...Hugged?" This is likely a reference to the movie [[Wikipedia:Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]].

One of the ways that the Utwig determined that the [[Ultron]] could have been saved was by cushioning the fall with a fuzzy wumpus. A Wumpus is a mysterious monster from the famous, early computer game [[Wikipedia:Hunt the Wumpus|Hunt the Wumpus]].

When describing the [[Kohr-Ah]], the Utwig say that their stated purpose is "to seek out new life and new civilizations...and then annihilate them," a clear play on the mission statement of the [[Wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] of [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]] fame.

The Utwig parting phrase "May the Ultron be with you!" is very similar to the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "May the Force be with you."

====VUX====
The description of the constellation that is described as "the snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" in the DOS version ("the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast." in the 3DO version and UQM) is a reference to the children's book [[wikipedia:Le Petit Prince|Le Petit Prince]] by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which [http://www.korczak.com/Exupery/englisch/i.html describes and shows] an image of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

====Yehat====
"[[Cheep-Guava]]", the name of the head of the [[Yehat]] revolution, is a pun on "[[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|Che Guevara]]", the Cuban revolutionary leader.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
When first meeting the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] at their homeworld, they warn you not to try stealing their atmosphere, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Spaceballs|Spaceballs]].

The coordinates "...ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy" of the Zoq-Fot-Pik homeworld given in their initial encounter refers to Hawaiian words for two types of [[Wikipedia:lava|lava]] flows, "Aa" and "Pahoehoe".

====Other====
The Mosquito Mange is mentioned in the [[Androsynth]] computer records immediately prior to their disappearance. It is a reference to the term found in [[wikipedia:Roadside Picnic|Roadside Picnic]] refering to graviconcentrates - areas of heightened and directed gravity.

The ''Roadside Picnic'' might also be the inspiration for the 'Empties'. In the novel they are one of the common alien artifacts found in the Zones. In the game they are a [[Precursor]] artifact that Commander Hayes mentions in relation to the [[Ultron]].

The way the Androsynth made contact with an extradimensional entity via a computer terminal resembles [[wikipedia:The Planiverse|The Planiverse]].

==Ship Captains==
Numerous ship captain names are actually references.

====Androsynth====
*'''1040-EZ''' is a common [[wikipedia:Form 1040EZ|tax return form]] in the United States.
*'''976-KILL''' is probably meant as an American phone number. It may also refer to the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094597/ 976-EVIL]. The "976" prefix is reserved for pay services.
*'''[[wikipedia:AK-47|AK-47]]''' is the famous Avtomat Kalashnikova assault rifle
*'''BHS-79''' ''(just a wild guess here- is this the initials of one of the high schools they attended, and their graduation date?)''
*'''BIM-XT''' is an anagram for the [[wikipedia:IBM XT|IBM XT]] personal computer from the early 1980s
*'''BOOJI-1''' is a possible reference to the character [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] from the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].
*'''CRC-16''' is a 16 bits "[[wikipedia:Cyclic redundancy check|Cyclic redundancy check]] (an error-detecting checksum).
*'''DORN-3''' may be a reference to artist John Alfred Dorn III, who did several illustrations for the novels of [[wikipedia:Stanisław Lem|Stanisław Lem]]. It could also be a reference [[wikipedia:Michael Dorn|Michael Dorn]] who played Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
*'''DOS-1.0''' is a reference to one or all of the various early disk operating systems ([[wikipedia:PC-DIS|PC-DOS]], [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], [[wikipedia:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], etc).
*'''HAL-2001''' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] computer from [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]]'s and [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]
*'''JOR-15''' might be a reference to [[wikipedia:Jor-El|Jor-El]], superman's biological father in the DC comics universe.
*'''KORB-7B''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Korb|Lawrence Korb]], a former US Secretary of Defense heavily involved in military security.
*'''ME-262''' is a reference to the Messerschmitt [[wikipedia:Me-262|Me-262]], the first operational jet powered aircraft.
*'''NECRO-99''' may be a reference to the robot NECRON-99 from the movie [[wikipedia:Wizards (movie)|Wizards]].
*'''SR-71''' is a reference to the Lockheed [[wikipedia:SR-71|SR-71 Blackbird]], an advanced reconnaissance aircraft.
*'''[[wikipedia:Merkur XR4Ti|XR4-TI]]''' was a car model manufactured by the short-lived [[wikipedia:Merkur|Merkur]] brand.

====Druuge====
*'''Moola''' is a play on "moolah", the English slang word for money.

====Human====
*'''Adama''' is the captain of the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] in the television series by the same name.
*'''Belt''' is a reference to Henry Belt, captain of a solar sail vessel in Jack Vance's short story ''Sail 25''.
*'''Buck''' refers to [[wikipedia:Buck Rogers|Buck Rogers]], a character who appeared in popular sci-fi comic strips and serials in the late 30's, as well as a later television series.
*'''Decker''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Willard Decker|Willard Decker]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the movie [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Motion Picture|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]].
*'''Ender''' is a reference to the main character of the Orson Scott Card novel [[wikipedia:Ender's Game|Ender's Game]].
*'''Graeme''' is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the [[wikipedia: Childe Cycle|Childe Cycle]] novels by [[wikipedia:Gordon R. Dickson|Gordon R. Dickson]]. ''(This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)''
*'''Halleck''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Gurney Halleck|Gurney Halleck]] of the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Kirk''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:James T. Kirk|James T. Kirk]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the original series of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Pike''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Christopher Pike|Christopher Pike]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the pilot episode of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Pirx|Pirx]]''' is a reference to a fictional test pilot in a series of stories by Stanisław Lem.
*'''Solo''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Millennium Falcon|Millennium Falcon]] in [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] episode 4 through 6.
*'''Spiff''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Spaceman Spiff|Spaceman Spiff]], a fantasy identity of Calvin from [[wikipedia:Calvin and Hobbes|Calvin and Hobbes]]
*'''Trent''' is a reference to Jeff Trent, civilian airline pilot from [[wikipedia:Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9 from Outer Space]]
*'''Tuf''' is a reference to Haviland Tuf, the protagonist in [[wikipedia:Tuf Voyaging|Tuf Voyaging]] by [[wikipedia:George R.R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]].
*'''VanRijn''' is a reference to the merchant prince Nicholas Van Rijn in [[wikipedia:Poul Anderson|Poul Anderson]]'s stories.
*'''Wu''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Louis Wu|Louis Wu]], the protagonist of Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld series]].

====Ilwrath====
*'''[[wikipedia:Gorgon|Gorgon]]''' is a famous Greek mythological creature, of which [[wikipedia:Medusa|Medusa]] was one.
*'''Kalgon''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Calgon|Calgon]], a cleansing product.
*'''Taragon''' likely refers to the spice [[wikipedia:tarragon|tarragon]]

====Kohr-Ah====
*All of their ship names appear to be '''Death''' followed by a [[wikipedia:Prime_number|prime number]].

====Mycon====
*'''Znuff''' could be a reference to the 1984 rock group [[wikipedia:Enuff Z'nuff|Enuff Z'nuff]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Spork|Spork]]''' is an eating utensil, a hybrid of a spoon and a fork.

====Pkunk====
*'''Crow''' may refer to [[wikipedia:Crow T. Robot|Crow T. Robot]] from [[wikipedia:Mystery Science Theater 3000|Mystery Science Theater 3000]] as well as the obvious type of bird.
*'''Ernie''' is likely a reference to the British cartoon [[wikipedia:Ernie (comic strip)|Ernie]].
*'''Tweety''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Tweety|Tweety Bird]].
*'''WudStok''' is Snoopy's friend [[wikipedia:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] in the comic strip [[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]].

====Shofixti====
*'''Bonsai!''' is actually [[wikipedia:Bonsai|the Japanese art of pruning trees]], but is most likely a reference to the cry [[wikipedia:Ten thousand years|Banzai]].
*'''Busu''' is a Japanese word for ugly
*'''Chimchim''' most likely refers to the pet chimpanzee in [[wikipedia:Speed Racer|Speed Racer]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Daikon|Daikon]]''' is a giant, white radish popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''[[wikipedia:Gaijin|Gaijin]]''' is a disparaging Japanese term for foreigner.
*'''Genjiro''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Genjiro Arato|Genjiro Arato]], a Japanese movie producer, actor, and director.
*'''Ginzu''' is probably the [[wikipedia:Ginsu|Ginsu knife]].
*'''Hiyata''' is a reference to the title character of the Japanese show [[wikipedia:Ultraman|Ultraman]], where it can also be spelled "Hayata".
*'''Ichiban''' is the Japanese word for the number 1, or first
*'''Kimba''' refers to the main character in the Japanese animation [[wikipedia:Kimba the White Lion|Kimba, the White Lion]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Katana|Katana]]''' is a Japanese sword.
*'''[[wikipedia:Kudzu|Kudzu]]''' is an Asian plant that can be found in southern Japan.
*'''Naninani''' is Japanese for "such and such"
*'''[[wikipedia:Sushi|Sushi]]''' is Japanese for seasoned rice, usually associated with raw fish.
*'''Tanaka''' is a fairly common [[wikipedia:Japanese name|Japanese surname]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Tofu|Tofu]]''' is bean curd, popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''Tora-3''' refers to the radio call announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [[wikipedia:Tora Tora Tora|Tora! Tora! Tora!]]
*'''Wasabe''' is a Japanese condiment, usually spelled [[wikipedia:Wasabi|wasabi]].

====Spathi====
*'''Jinkeze''' is a reference to the catchphrase of [[Wikipedia:Velma Dinkley|Velma Dinkley]], a main character in the [[Wikipedia:Scooby-Doo|Scooby-Doo]] cartoons, which she says when she is scared or surprised.

====Supox====
*'''Crinoid''' is a reference to the Krynoids, hostile sentient plants in the [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]] episode ''The Seeds of Doom''.
*'''Trifid''' is a reference to the carnivorous, mobile (and possibly intelligent) plants in [[wikipedia:The Day of the Triffids|The Day of the Triffids]].
*All of the other captain names are parts or types of plants.

====Syreen====
*'''Aelita''' refers to the early Soviet sci-fi novel ''Aelita'' by [[wikipedia:Alexei Tolstoy|Alexei Tolstoy]] or to a silent film [[wikipedia:Aelita|Aelita:Queen of Mars]] based on it.
*'''Alia''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Alia Atreides|St. Alia of the Knife]], the sister of [[wikipedia:Paul Atreides|Paul Atreides]] in the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Alura''' is possibly a reference either to Princess Allura in the [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] cartoon series or to the mother of [[wikipedia:Supergirl|Supergirl]].
*'''Ardala''' is a reference to the Princess Ardala, nemesis of Buck Rogers.
*'''Be'lit''' is a possible reference to [[wikipedia:Belit|Belit]], a pirate queen in the [[wikipedia:Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Barbarian]] stories.
*'''Brawne''' refers to Brawne Lamia, a character in Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]] books.
*'''Dale''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Dale Arden|Dale Arden]], the girlfriend of [[wikipedia:Flash Gordon|Flash Gordon]].
*'''Danning''' is a reference to the actress [[wikipedia:Sybil Danning|Sybil Danning]].
*'''Dejah''' may be a reference to Dejah Thoris Burroughs (Deety) in Robert A. Heinlein's [[wikipedia:The Number of the Beast (novel)|The Number of the Beast]], or to Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, in the [[wikipedia:Barsoom series|Barsoom series]] by [[wikipedia:Edgar Rice Burroughs|Edgar Rice Burroughs]].
*'''Maya''' refers to the attractive female [[wikipedia:Space 1999|Space: 1999]] character gifted with shapeshifing abilties.
*'''Munro''' possibly refers to another genre actress, [[wikipedia:Caroline Munro|Caroline Munro]].
*'''Penny''' possibly refers to the lead female character in the movie [[wikipedia:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension|The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]], or the character of Penny Robinson in the television show Lost in Space.
*'''Ripley''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Ellen Ripley|Lieutenant Ripley]], as portrayed by [[wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] in the movie [[wikipedia:Alien (movie)|Alien]].
*'''Sparta''' is a reference to the beautiful female protagonist with a mysterious past in the Venus Prime series by [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Preuss|Paul Preuss]].
*'''Teela''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Teela Brown|Teela Brown]], one of the heroines of the Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] novels.
*'''Yarr''' may be a reference to [[wikipedia:Natasha Yar|Natasha Yar]] who appeared in [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]].

====Umgah====
*'''Bob''' is possibly a reference to the creators themselves: [[Toys For Bob]].
*'''Brewz'k''' is likely the slang word "brewski".
*'''Ei'Ei'o''' is probably referring to the refrain of the children's song ''[[wikipedia:Old MacDonald Had a Farm|Old MacDonald Had a Farm]]''.

====Ur-Quan====
*While all captain's names are '''Lord''' followed by a number, '''Lord 666''' is notable as a reference to the [[wikipedia:Number of the Beast|Number of the Beast]]. There is no known pattern to their numbers, unlike the Kohr-Ah.

====Utwig====
*'''Endo''' might refer to a slang word for [[Wikipedia:marijuana|marijuana]]. In Japanese, this is also type of pea.
*'''Manny''' might refer to the main character in [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s book [[wikipedia:the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress|The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress]].
*'''Nestor''' might refer to the [[Wikipedia:NS-2|NS-2]], a robot model in Asimov's "[[Wikipedia:Little Lost Robot|Little Lost Robot]]" that can, by inaction, allow a human to be harmed.
*'''Jujuby''' might be an alternate spelling of '[[Wikipedia:Jujube|Jujube]]', which is the fruit of a certain tree, also known as the "Chinese Date".

====VUX====
*'''[[wikipedia:Program Information File|PIF]]''' is a file extension used in early versions of [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].
*'''VIP''' is an acronym meaning "very important person".
*'''YUK''' likely comes from the work "yuck" -- an appropriate name, given the VUX's appearance.
*'''[[wikipedia:zit|ZIT]]''' likely comes from the skin blemish of the same name.

====Yehat====
*'''Beep-eep''' could refer to the token sound made by the [[wikipedia:RWile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Road Runner]] in various [[wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]] animations and products.
*All the rest of their captains' names simply change the first letter.

====Zoq Fot Pik====
*'''RinTin''' is likely named after the famous movie dog [[wikipedia:Rin Tin Tin|Rin Tin Tin]].
*'''TikTak''' is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tic Tac (candy)|Tic Tac]] breath mints.

==Ship Designs==
*The '''[[Arilou]]'s [[Skiff]]''' vessel is reminiscent of the 'traditional' flying saucers or UFO's.
*The '''[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]''' seems to be inspired by the Federation Starships from [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*The '''[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]''' shares the same approximate configuration as both the the [[wikipedia:Klingon starships|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] and the [[wikipedia:Romulan starships|Romulan Warbird]] from Star Trek.
*The '''[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-Form]]''' takes inspiration for both of its transformation forms from two popular [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] Rebellion fighters -- the [[wikipedia:X-Wing|X-Wing]] and the [[wikipedia:Y-Wing|Y-Wing]], respectively.
*The '''[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]''' is shaped after the [[wikipedia:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket]], and a dildo.
*The '''[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]]''' bears more than a passing resemblence to the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (ship)|BattleStar command ships]] from BattleStar Galactica.
*The '''[[VUX]] [[Intruder]]''' shares a similar relationship with the D7 class Klingon starship.

==Constellation names==
According to the [[HyperSpace]] starmap, the names for the HyperSpace constellations were taken from "traditional astronomical designations." These are the in-game star and constellation names that don't directly correspond to real life astronomical designations. (Some, such as Lalande and Wolf, appear to be derived from astronomical designations).
*'''Almagest''' is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Almagest|Almagest]], an astronomical treatise written by [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]] and describing his geocentric theory.
*'''Arianni''' may be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ariane (rocket)|Ariane rockets]], which were the primary launch vehicle of the European Space Agency in the latter portion of the 20th century. An alternative origin may be the planet [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/places/article/69410.html Ariannus] from the original [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Brahe''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Tycho Brahe|Tycho Brahe]], the famous Danish astronomer of the 16th century.
*'''Cerenkov''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov|Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov]], a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate.
*'''Chandrasekhar''' is a reference to the Indian-American astrophysicist [[Wikipedia:Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], famous for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.
*'''Copernicus''' is a reference [[Wikipedia:Nicolaus Copernicus|Nicolaus Copernicus]], the polish astronomer who proposed the sun was the center of the solar system.
*'''Gorno''' is a possible reference to the [[Wikipedia:Gorn|Gorn]], a race in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Groombridge''' is a village on the border between Kent and East Sussex.
*'''Hyginus''' is a reference to the attributed author of [[Wikipedia:Poeticon astronomicon|Poeticon astronomicon]].
*'''Hyperion''' is a reference to the main setting of Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]].
*'''Illuminati''' is a reference to a variety of conspiracy theories, especially those of the [[Wikipedia:Illuminati|Bavarian Illuminati]].
*'''Kepler''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Johannes Kepler|Johannes Kepler]] who discovered the three laws of planetary motion.
*'''Klystron''' is a reference to a kind of vacuum tube used in early radar systems.
*'''Lentilis''' is probably a reference to the Lentili from David Brin's short story [[Wikipedia:Sshhh ...|Sshhh ...]].
*'''Lipi'''
*'''Maksutov''' is likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Maksutov telescope|Maksutov telescope]] invented by the Russian optician [[Wikipedia:Dimtri Maksutov|Dimtri Maksutov]].
*'''Mersenne''' is a reference to [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mersenne.html Marin Mersenne] a Minim friar who lived in France from 1588-1648 and was a major founder of number theory.
*'''Metis''' is a moon of Jupiter, and correspondingly a character in Roman mythology.
*'''Olber''' is likely a reference to [[Wikipedia:Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers|Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers]], a German astronomer.
*'''Organon''' is likely a reference to either Francis Bacon's book [[Wikipedia:Novum Organum|The New Organon]] or Aristotle's [[Wikipedia:Organon|Organon]], after which Bacon's book was named. Alternatively it could be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Organia|Organia]], an important location in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], or to the [[Wikipedia:Organa family|Organa family]] in the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] universe.
*'''Ptolemae''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]], an ancient astronomer whose Geocentric views Copernicus replaced.
*'''Raynet''' is possibly a misspelling of "Rayet", an existing astronomical designation. it could also be a reference to British amateur radio network [[Wikipedia:RAYNET|RAYNET]].
*'''Saurus'''
*'''Squidi'''
*'''Vitalis'''
*'''Zeeman''' is possibly a reference to the physicist [[Wikipedia:Pieter Zeeman|Pieter Zeeman]] for whom a [[Wikipedia:Zeeman (crater)|crater]] on the moon is named.

==Other==
*[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]s are named after Robert Leyland, a Toys For Bob programmer.

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]

ComSim Central

2007-04-26T06:22:49Z

Gaeamil:

During the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]], '''ComSim Central''' allowed newly commissioned [[Alliance]] officers to practice their space combat skills in a "full-sensory simulation," and contained a databank on all Alliance and [[Hierarchy]] [[list of ships|ships]]. The simulation also allowed Alliance brass to evaluate the competency of new pilots in a non-lethal situation. Additionally, the databank contained images of all ships, identifing their weapons and systems, as well as the ships' relevant characteristics, such as crew, fuel, thrust, etc.

In [[Star Control I]], ComSim Central is essentially Practice mode. Selecting a ship in Practice mode for combat is done with the Fire key, while the databank images are accessed by selecting a ship with the Special key. The diagrams themselves were loaded in steps - first the ship's drawing, then, one by one, the names of the systems. At the end, a box appeared giving ratings for the ship's crew, fuel, fuel regeneration ("refuel"), thrust, turn, speed, range and damage. Many of the [[canon]] names of the ships' weapons and systems are found here.

A complete list of the Databank diagrams follows:
TODO: Add the diagrams here.

[[Category:Organizations]]

Arilou Lalee'lay

2007-04-26T06:18:00Z

Gaeamil: /* Orz */

{{RaceBox|name=Arilou Lalee'lay|image=ArilouComm.png|caption=The enigmatic Arilou|homeworld=[[Falayalaralfali]]|coordinates=[[QuasiSpace]]|organizations=[[Alliance of Free Stars]]|ship=[[Skiff]]}}

The '''Arilou Lalee'lay''', '''Ariloulaleelay''', or '''Arilou''' for short, are an enigmatic and reclusive species. They first made themselves known to the Galaxy during the [[Ur-Quan Slave War]], suddenly appearing and applying to join the [[Alliance of Free Stars]]. Their actions were equally mercurial at the end of the war, retreating and abandoning the other races as soon as the [[Humans]] were [[Slave Shield|slave-shield]]ed. The motives for their actions seem to be some mysterious connection they have with the Human race.

==Description==
===Name===
While the name of the race is often represented as a single word, the Arilou always treat the name as two distinct words when referring to themselves. As the the term "Arilou" is used to refer to individuals of the species,{{ref|1}} this may indicate that "Lalee'lay" is some special identifier for the race as a whole or for some collective characteristic of the race. According to the Arilou, the name of the race is derived from the Celtic family of human languages, though this may be from a very old civilization or one separated from the main family of Celtic groups in Britain, as it bears little resemblance to any Celtic terms known or pg today. However, an ancient legend of the Arilou Lalee'lay is probably the origin of the Irish Celtic myth of the analogously named Tuatha de Dannan ("People of Dannan") or faeries.

===Identifying Characteristics and Behavior===
The Arilou are apparently very physically similar to Humans, with a build very close to that of a Human child, standing at about 1.5 meters tall with a disproportionately large head compared to a normal Human adult. They have almost no pigmentation to their skin, which appears extremely pale to a Human eye, with a hue that ranges from pale gray to green. Their faces appear inhumanly expressive, almost entirely thanks to their enormous almond-shaped eyes, since their features are otherwise shrunken and flat compared to Humans', with very small chins, tapered mouths, and a tiny, almost completely flat nose. Their eyes appear to contain a tapetum lucidum over the retina (like Earth cats, or the [[Syreen]])— the resulting internal reflections cause their eyes to appear to glow in dim light.

In their dealings with the Alliance, the Arilou never spoke verbally. They appear to have an advanced degree of psionic ability, and communicated solely using telepathy. Many, especially Humans, found this unnerving because in most communications, they would appear completely motionless and wearing an enigmatic smile. They would also remain nearly motionless while piloting their ships, manipulating the controls using psychokinesis, and periodically displayed their power to read others' thoughts and detect psychic activity. One of the courtesies they extended [[The Captain]], whom they seemed to hold in very high regard, was their condescending to speak to him in normal, audible speech, presumably to help put him at ease.

This is only a description of the Arilou's visible, physical forms, and the Arilou themselves repeatedly implied that their true nature was more "solid" and "real" than physical matter. This seems to indicate that, like Human conceptions of faeries or gods, they are creatures who are at least partly composed of a spiritual or noncorporeal matter outside of their physical bodies. Interestingly, when they describe the vistas of their homeworld, the Arilou mention that Humans would experience premature "numbness" without first being properly "acclimated." It is unknown what this "numbness" and "acclimation" actually refer to, but it would seem to imply that the Arilou are somehow more accustomed than Humans to certain experiences.

They claimed to lack the limitation of a typical biological lifespan, and the Arilou representatives who spoke to The Captain claimed to have personally participated in events many centuries ago. Their civilization as a whole is certainly very old, extending back hundreds of millennia and aware of events that took place in the time of the [[Sentient Milieu]]. Moreover, they did not seem to fear death, referring to it as "discorporation", and seemed to imply that a spirit or soul survived after the destruction of their physical selves. Objects like the [[Nnngn]] or features of [[Falayalaralfali]] they referred to as the "Singing Mountains of Thought" or "The Tangible Wish" appear to be similar entities that exist at a higher level or spirit level with which they can interact.

The perception of Arilou as long-lived is distorted by their claim to not naturally perceive time sequentially as Humans do, and take some effort to order their perceptions of events into a coherent history. They appear able to directly perceive future events psionically and perceive several possible timelines at once, seeing which events are necessary to shift the mass of probabilities toward one outcome or another. They seem to perceive this as a quality attached to certain individuals who make certain signficant choices; this is eerily similar to the perceptions the [[Utwig]] claim to receive from the [[Ultron]] and lends credence to the Utwig concept of "destiny".

Whether through technology or innate ability, the Arilou appeared able to travel individually over large distances, through defenses and without detection, without the use of their ships. The Arilou claimed to be able to directly visit The Captain and observe him without his knowledge during the war. They have never been directly observed doing this and certainly did not use this ability to any effect during the war, perhaps because it involves some form of astral or spirit projection rather than physical travel, though they claim to be able to touch and affect physical objects while traveling this way.

The Arilou claim their internal thought processes are quite different from those of Humans or, in fact, most other sentient life forms. They claim to entirely lack what they call "instinct" or hardwired reactions to immediate environmental stimuli, in which they include all forms of emotional reaction and thought colored by prejudice as well as true instincts; by this definition Human thinking is, of course, almost entirely driven by "instinct". It is the "instinctive" tendencies of Humans that they claim to find most fascinating about Human activity and the developing Human mind. Though they might therefore seem to be entirely rational, they nonetheless admit that their core driving motivations and worldview are irrational and, in fact, involuntary, and claim that their basic nature as living things somehow drove them to formulate and implement their grand plan involving Humanity.

==History==
===First Contact and the Ur-Quan Conflict===
No Alliance race had made contact with the Arilou before the beginning of the Ur-Quan Slave War. Even as open hostilities began between the nascent [[Alliance of Free Stars]] and the [[Hierarchy of Battle Thralls]], the Arilou remained absent and silent until the [[Chenjesu]] made first contact with the race of Humans in 2116. On the day August 2 on the Human calendar, the day after the Human United Nations formally ratified a treaty joining the Alliance, a fleet of small, disc-shaped vessels suddenly appeared orbiting the satellite moon, [[Luna]], of the human homeworld [[Earth]]. Landing on the moon, the ships transmitted a request to meet with Alliance representatives.

It was on the moon's surface where Human and Chenjesu delegates met the Arilou La'leelay for the first time. Claiming that they, too, were under threat from the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za]] expansion, the Arilou asked for the Alliance's protection in return for its support. Alliance leaders quickly decided they needed any help they could get and welcomed the Arilou into the fold.

Even so, many Alliance members had reservations. The Arilou were extremely secretive, refusing to reveal any details about their civilization or their technology, even refusing to give the location of their homeworlds or the means by which they'd come to Luna. More disturbing, however, was the Humans' reaction. To their eyes, the Arilou appeared exactly like the stereotypical image of a legendary alien race long rumored to have secretly interfered in Human affairs, variously called "Martians", "Roswell Grays" or "Zeta Reticulans". Ancient archives kept by Human governments proved the resemblance too close to be coincidental, but the exigencies of war and the closed-mouthness of the Arilou prevented them from examining the matter any further.

The Arilou fleet played a key role in the war; despite its small size, it had an amazingly fast travel time, disappearing and reappearing from combat sites at speeds far greater than the most advanced [[HyperSpace|Hyperdrive]]s known to the rest of the Alliance could allow. The Arilou [[Skiff]], though an apparently weak ship, employed many unique, exotic technologies, such as an inertialess [[TrueSpace]] propulsion system allowing it to hover in gravity wells and an incredibly powerful short-range Hyperdrive allowing it to "teleport", making it unmatched for scouting and harassing enemy ships.

However, the small and lightly-armed Arilou fleet took heavy casualties during the course of the war, as they were primarily engaged in the main fighting on the Coreward Front defending Human space. When the Alliance began to crumble and Hierarchy forces pushed rimward and took the [[Sol]] system, [[Slave Shield|slave-shielding]] the Humans, the remaining defenders of the Front understandably, if regrettably, scattered. As the [[Yehat]] and [[Shofixti]] retreated to the Gorno constellation, the Arilou and Syreen fleets were left huddled together; expecting help from the Arilou, the Syreen were shocked to see the Arilou wordlessly retreat and vanish into space, abandoning them to the Ur-Quan. The cowardice and treachery of the Arilou are still cursed by the Syreen to this day.

===Current events and The Captain===
Though contact with the Arilou had been lost after the Ur-Quan Slave War, when The Captain uses The Flagship to begin the anti-Hierarchy actions during the Second [[Doctrinal Conflict]], he inadvertently discovers the Arilou once more, reestablishes contact with them on behalf of the [[New Alliance of Free Stars]], and becomes privy to many of their most closely held secrets.

Unbeknownst to the Humans, the Arilou had long held a semipermanent base of operations in the Chandrasekhar constellation in [[HyperSpace]], establishing a small sphere of influence and an amicable relationship with the neighboring [[Umgah]]. Traveling to investigate various reports of a strange radiating body that appeared like a variable star in the area, The Captain discovers the area to be rife with Skiff starships piloted by Arilou.

The Arilou explain that they are not native to this region of TrueSpace but reside in [[QuasiSpace]], an alternate dimensional space only reachable using their unique brand of [[Dimensional Fatigue]] technology. The local region of QuasiSpace contains a total of sixteen natural overlaps with or "portals" to HyperSpace, but fifteen of them are unidirectional from QuasiSpace to HyperSpace, so the Arilou found it most convenient to post the majority of their ships in the HyperSpace region immediately surrounding the single bidirectional portal.

Since they carried on very little contact with other races and had very little business in TrueSpace at the time, their reasons for keeping detachments of ships in HyperSpace are unclear. They claim their primary purpose was hunting and trapping strange creatures called Nnngn for sport, apparently because the Nnngn frequented the areas around the portals or were easier to trap there. The Nnngn apparently hailed from QuasiSpace and were composed of a native QuasiSpatial form of matter that Humans could not perceive or interact with; the Arilou merely described Humans as "not solid enough" to interact with them or other forms native to QuasiSpace, and refused to describe the matter further.

The Arilou seem quite taken with The Captain's cause and offer him passage through the bidirectional portal into QuasiSpace, where he finds the Arilou homeworld, Falayalaralfali, a single TrueSpace planet kept in an artificial pocket of TrueSpace within QuasiSpace. There, though they do not allow him to land, Arilou leaders speak freely to The Captain from the surface. They inform him that their numbers and physical resources are too depleted from the previous war for them to provide material support to the Alliance, but they are willing to supply technology and information.

The degree of their knowledge about local events is impressively widespread despite their cloistered appearance, and through unknown channels they are able to inform The Captain about the existence of the [[Slylandro]], the nature of the [[Mycon]] [[Deep Child]]ren, and the history of the [[Ur-Quan]].

Moreover, in one of their rare altruistic interventions into other races' affairs, they had discovered the wreck of an Ur-Quan [[Dreadnought]] on Alpha Pavonis VII, which had miraculously failed to self-destruct upon impact. This allowed them to rescue the single surviving life form, the ship Lord's [[Talking Pet]].

This wreck represented a colossal and, as far as we know, unprecedented failure of Ur-Quan Kzer-Za technology, normally a benchmark for reliability. Not only did the Dreadnought crash in a safe, deserted area suspiciously far from the main battleground of the [[Doctrinal Conflict]] and suspiciously near the Arilou's base in Chandrasekhar, its self-destruct systems utterly failed and two incredibly valuable weapons, the [[Ur-Quan Warp Pod|warp pod]] and the Talking Pet, both survived intact. The Arilou give many hints that their degree of knowledge and control was far greater than they let The Captain know, and some suspect that they engineered this wreck as well as other events within the war on humanity's behalf, including their fortuitous meeting with The Captain in the first place.

The Captain is instructed to salvage the warp pod and return it to the Arilou. Using the warp pod, the Arilou are able to construct a [[QuasiSpace Portal Spawner]] capable of generating artificial portals that allow The Flagship to travel through QuasiSpace at will. This allow The Flagship to share the immense reduction in travel time that had proven so useful to the Arilou during the Ur-Quan Slave War; it was able to hop across local space much more quickly than it would have otherwise been able, given its great mass. The Arilou's provision of free passage through QuasiSpace proves to be one of the New Alliance's most critical advantages in carrying out its missions against the Hierarchy.

They meanwhile entrusted the Talking Pet to the care of the Umgah, whose understanding of corporeal biology exceeded theirs, only for the Umgah to accidentally activate the creature's latent genetic abilities, transforming it into a powerful and malevolent [[Talking Pet (device)|neo-Dnyarri]]. However, The Captain, taking the Arilou's advice, is able to strike a deal with the neo-Dnyarri, and its psychic powers prove to be the crucial element in breaching the Ur-Quan defenses during the attack on the [[Sa-Matra]], which finally defeats the Ur-Quan and ends the war. It was at around the time of this battle that the Arilou finally reenter TrueSpace contact with the Alliance races, as a flotilla of four Skiffs materializes at the [[Earth Starbase]] and offer their much-needed assistance for the assault on the Sa-Matra.

==Relations with other races==
===Androsynth===
One much-remarked-upon fact was the fact that despite the obvious genetic connection of Humans to the Syreen and the known, documented genetic connection of Humans to the [[Androsynth]], the Arilou apparently showed no interest in either of them. The Androsynth do not appear to have been part of the Arilou's plan for Humanity and no Arilou interference has ever been confirmed with their civilization. Intriguingly, it was soon after the Androsynth separated from the Humans -- and, therefore, from Arilou oversight -- that they discovered Dimensional Fatigue phenomena and subsequently disappeared (see the entry on the [[Orz]]). The Arilou seem to imply that this is a direct result of their not protecting the Androsynth; when they mention the Androsynth at all, it is to use them as a stern example and warning of the perils of meddling with interdimensional forces and entities.

===Humans===
====Early speculations====
Upon initial examination most Humans quickly recognized the Arilou to be uncannily similar to popular depictions of a certain class of science-fictional extraterrestrial in the 20th and 21st century. Often called "Martians", "Zeta Reticulans", "Little Green Men", "Enochian Angels" and so on, the most common and neutral term for such aliens was "Grays" after their skin color. These depictions were based on a series of reported encounters between such beings and Humans, occurring primarily in Earth's period of rapid industrial development following the Second World War (the 1950s) and ending some time before the Small War and the creation of the United Nations Peacekeeping Army and Star Control (the 2000s).

In such encounters, Humans living in isolated locations were typically abducted by Grays using ships colloquially known as "UFOs" (Unidentified Flying Objects) or "flying saucers", after their disc-shaped bodies. Not only were these ships extremely similar in appearance to the Skiffs the Arilou piloted in the Ur-Quan Slave War, but they exhibited similar capabilities of inertialess acceleration, indefinite hovering in gravity fields, and even short-range teleportation. Though most abductees' memories were hazy, possibly suppressed or modified, they did describe undergoing strange, high-tech medical procedures, often finding themselves with an unplanned pregnancy soon afterwards. These subjects usually reported one major operation or procedure being done on them in their first abduction, and one or more secondary abductions taking place afterwards, as though their captors were checking on the progress of their modifications.

The Grays were associated with other strange activities as well, including experimentation on non-Human animals, frequently experienced by farmers as mysteriously mutated livestock, and more bizarre behavior, like strange patterns of circular depressions left in crop fields.

====Before the War====
In their relationship with The Captain during his New Alliance efforts, the Arilou confirmed what the Humans had long guessed, that they and the Grays were one and the same. They moreover intimated that their interference in Human culture went back far longer than Humans had surmised, dating millennia back to the dawn of Human civilization and, according to them, the very first beings identifiable as modern Humans, implying that, if they did not create or transplant Humans on Earth, they controlled Humans' early development to an astonishing degree.

Human religion and mythology had long had a near-universal fascination with supernatural beings known by various names -- elves, leprechauns, duendes, tengu, and so on. Universally depicted as humanoids diminutive in stature and slender in build, they were notorious in legends for being capricious and amoral, appearing sporadically to make odd and unreasonable demands from Humans and employing a bizarre array of magical powers to enforce their obedience.

These legends were apparently based on early interventions of the Arilou, who nursed Humanity from its prehistoric origins and, acting as gods to some civilizations and devils to others, set the bounds for the growth of its civilizations. They claimed special credit for inspiring the pyramids of Egypt and the standing stones of the ancient Celts, a culture that had been their special favorite, and revealed that their favored name for themselves, Arilou Lalee'lay, was in actuality a descriptive phrase from a now lost Celtic tongue.

The Arilou kept up a continuing program of steering Human cultural development while subtly tweaking Human physiology through periodic interventions, modifying the Human genome through gengineering and selective breeding, meanwhile performing side experiments on other animals and leaving the crop circles and other patterns as covert signals to each other during their missions. The Arilou's interventions had grown less prominent as the Human civilizations developed, until they suddenly accelerated to a staggering pace during the last half of the 20th century, not coincidentally a time of great conflict as Humans neared self-destruction multiple times, while at the same time their industrial development made contact with the nearby starfaring races increasingly likely. We can surmise Arilou intervention at the very least had the goal of preventing a nuclear holocaust, while most likely was also meant to prepare Humans for the inevitable first contact.

The program of Human modification in the late 20th century was far more widespread than even the cultural impact of the "UFO craze" showed; the Arilou revealed to The Captain that those who reported their interventions had been purposely allowed to imperfectly retain parts of their memory while others simply had whole chunks of time completely excised from their minds -- giving rise to the unique Human psychological phenomenon of "missing days". Apparently the UFO craze itself was part of the effect the Arilou wished to have on Human society.

====Birth of the New Alliance====
In any case, the Arilou again retreated into obscurity during the days of the ascendant [[United Nations]] and [[Star Control (Organization)|Star Control]], until they suddenly revealed their presence and directly offered assistance in the Ur-Quan Slave War. Their purpose in this war was first and foremost to prevent the wholesale destruction of Humanity; they appeared to be unprepared for the eventuality of Human conflict with the Hierarchy and uncertain of the Humans' fate should they face defeat. Once they saw that the slave-shielding process left the Human species intact and safe, they lost interest in the war and chose to cut their losses of physical materiel by returning to QuasiSpace, betraying their rather cavalier attitude to other Alliance species. However, the looming threat of the genocidal [[Kohr-Ah]] once more made it necessary for them to intervene to protect Humanity, this time with The Captain as their chosen liaison.

The Captain, intriguingly, was more than simply chosen by the Arilou; the Arilou appear to have watched him from birth. The Arilou claimed to have traveled repeatedly to the Unzervalt colony during the interregnum between the two wars, overseeing the Humans' progress repairing the Precursor shipyard and building The Flagship. At that time the Arilou also began observing The Captain: Many claim that, far from merely assisting the New Alliance in its initial stages, the Arilou were responsible for its existence and the beginning of the resistance movement in the first place, as the strange chance of a Human child being born with a natural affinity for ancient, complex Precursor computer equipment may be the result of Arilou tinkering.

This is, of course, unconfirmed, but the Arilou maintained a deep fascination with the young boy who would become The Captain. They referred to him as the "focus" of history and said that they were purposely putting the responsibility of saving Humanity and all other sentient life from the Kohr-Ah on his shoulders, in striking similarity to the way The Captain was viewed by the Utwig Ultron-worshippers. They also kept covert observation on him during all his efforts to defeat the Ur-Quan; one Arilou captain once inadvertently referred to his habit of somehow invisibly penetrating The Flagship to monitor The Captain as he slept.

They did not confine their attentions to The Captain; during the interregnum period when Earth was slave-shielded, the Arilou began covert operations aboard the Earth Starbase. How they successfully infiltrated the Starbase without detection is unclear — perhaps they used the aforementioned mysterious methods by which they infiltrated The Flagship — but the Arilou focused their attention on the Starbase crew, many of these served aboard The Flagship in some capacity, possibly modifying them in the process. We may never know the details, but can only assume that the Arilou's attention and possible modifications were intended for The Flagship's mission or something like it and that they played a key if invisible role in assuring The Flagship's success. Whatever the details, the Arilou's role in winning the war for the Alliance is far more extensive than they are usually given credit for.

====Current Speculations====
The Arilou's purpose in all of this is unclear, but the Arilou claim to see their relationship to Humans as analogous to that between a parent and a child. They claim that they and Humans are but one example of many similar relationships between an elder and younger species throughout the universe, and that this relationship is basic to the nature of their form of life and cannot be morally judged by resentful Humans who do not understand their position. Interestingly they react to the common description of themselves as "invaders from space" by claiming that their goal is not to "invade" -- presumably, not to take the stereotypical role of conquerors and overlords often ascribed to them by Earth popular culture during the UFO craze -- but to "pervade", to become everywhere a part of Humanity. They see their intervention in Human nature as somehow an expression and extension of their own selves.

There is an ultimate purpose they have for Humanity, and they seem to be working to tailor-fit the Human species to that ultimate destiny, protecting and nurturing them along the way, and meanwhile tolerating the suspicion thrown against them that is a natural result of their keeping Humans ignorant of that they deem Humans too undeveloped to understand. They seem to find this process itself a thing of beauty, frequently commenting on the aesthetic pleasure they received observing the development of the Human mind from its primitive roots.

Intriguingly they often speak of Humans attaining a similar state to that of the Arilou, claiming that given time to evolve and develop Humans will eventually attain the same quasi-supernatural status, able to live very long lifespans, perceive the invisible and share fully in the Arilou's technology. The implication is that Humans may become the Arilou's peers and companions, or, as one popular theory has it, the Arilou's "heirs" as the Arilou pass away.

An even bolder theory takes note of the Arilou's frequent use of an untranslated term that the Precursor's powerful translating computers rendered in English as "time" to describe dimensional spaces such as QuasiSpace. If the interface between dimensional spaces bears some special relationship to what we understand as time, then the interaction between Arilou from QuasiSpace with Humans may be a nonlinear causal loop; the Arilou may be a far-future, evolved version of Humanity causing their own existence by creating and manipulating their own ancestors.{{ref|2}} This theory is, while seemingly implausible, consistent with much of the observed evidence, but it bears disturbing implications and is still unaccepted by most.

===Melnorme===
The Arilou were also known to the shadowy, almost omniscient-seeming sources of the [[Melnorme]] traders. The Melnorme were not only aware of the presence of Arilou Skiffs at the portal regions but were also capable of tracing the Arilou's movements to and from Earth and were well aware of the Arilou's interventions in Human culture and even tracked their movements up to the the Second Doctrinal Conflict, detecting their actions at the Earth Starbase. This broad base of knowledge did not, however, extend to the Melnorme being willing or able to follow the Arilou into QuasiSpace, of which they presumably remain ignorant.

===Orz===
Much of what little understanding we have of the [[Orz]] comes from the testimony of their enemies, the Arilou Lalee'lay; cryptic as the Arilou's references to them may be, their descriptions are far more revealing than the Precursor translator's garbled interpretation of the Orz language, and the Arilou's descriptions provide the model most scholars use for interpreting Orz terminology and concepts.

Though the Arilou refused to elaborate on their final goals for the Human race, they did make clear that accomplishing such goals entails the long-term survival of Humanity, and therefore much of the Arilou's energy was bent toward guarding Humans from certain subtle threats, particularly extradimensional ones that only they could perceive.

The Arilou described the existence of parasitic beings in other dimensional spaces that had intimate relationships with mortal races -- races dependent on TrueSpace matter -- as they did with Humans, but of a purely destructive and violent nature. They claimed that any awareness of the details of the beings' existence would make one vulnerable to their attack. The implication seems to be that these creatures exist in a sort of idea-space, so that merely thinking about them is the equivalent of making psychic contact with them. This resonates eerily with the garbled reports from The Flagship's Science Officer [[Bukowski]] of the references to [["They"|"Them"]] he discovered in the Androsynth computer core during his ill-fated expedition to Eta Vulpeculae.

The Arilou seemed to identify the Orz as [[They|"Them"]] or perhaps the agents of "Them" within TrueSpace. They claimed that the [[Androsynth]] had drawn the parasites to themselves through their investigation into and growing understanding of Dimensional Fatigue and other dimensional spaces, and as a result, though they would not explain how, the Androsynth were now totally and irrevocably destroyed, replaced entirely by the Orz.

The Arilou claimed a large portion of their biological and cultural modifications of the Human species were to give Humans a physical form and general psychological mindset that the parasites would find hard to detect. However, they continued to hide almost all details of their homeworld, their own nature, and the nature of their home dimension QuasiSpace from Humans so that Humans would be unlikely to begin the series of investigations and discoveries that would give them dangerous levels of knowledge. The Arilou defend this closed-mouthed policy by asserting that "in a way, ignorance is [their] best protection."

Unfortunately, the Arilou were forced to allow The Captain into QuasiSpace and trust him with many secrets in order to fight the more immediate threat of the Ur-Quan; the Arilou openly complained that The Captain's high level of knowledge introduced a complication to their plans. Not only that, but in the course of the war The Captain was also forced to compromise and openly make treaty with the Orz and allow them access to the Alliance. The Arilou had strenuously warned against such an action; although they seemed to fear no immediate threat from the Orz in their current state, they felt them to be untrustworthy. What consequences will result from these actions, and how the Arilou and Humans will deal with them, remain to be seen.

===Pkunk===
The Arilou had very few relationships with other races; they rarely spoke to or encountered anyone, though they were sensed from afar and found to be benign by the powerful [[Pkunk]] psychics.

===Syreen===
Similar to their lack of interest in the Androsynth, the Arilou seem to bear no particular concern for the Syreen. They have never had any observed contact with them, and were certainly not concerned enough to intervene when [[Syra]] was destroyed. At the Great War's end, once they confirmed the Humans were safe under the slave shield, they ceased their efforts and abandoned the Syreen, despite the fact that the Syreen fleet was far weaker and more vulnerable than the Human population they had initially set out to defend.

This seems to pose a paradox, as Arilou claimed to have overseen Human development so closely that it is hard to explain why the closely genetically related Syreen would not be part of their project. Some surmise that the Humans are the Arilou's main experiment and the Syreen are some sort of discarded or unneeded relic, either a control group set up under standards of strict noninterference for comparison with Humans, or some sort of leftover of genetic breeding pools now unneeded, or, most intriguingly, an original population from which the Human genome was extracted and transplanted to Earth. Certainly there is compelling evidence from a Human point of view that the Syreen culture is a "natural" state for Humanity that Human society and culture seems to have been distorted away from, even perhaps the planet Syra being the template for the Eden stories in many human religions (as was hinted at by the Syreen), but without further information from the Arilou we can do no more than speculate.

===Thraddash===
The Arilou also mentioned to Alliance members during the course of the war that there was a species none of them had yet discovered in the Draconis constellation, the [[Thraddash]]. They were able to say little about them and did not bring them up again in that war or in their dealings with The Captain, being naturally closed-mouthed and their time being at a premium. However, they did mention "having some fun" with them. One need only look at the extremely distorted, counterintuitive and maladaptive social mechanisms employed in Thraddash society to find it likely that their cultural development was somehow artificially tampered with. The Arilou may have done this, as they say, purely for sport, or it may have been an early experiment in covert social engineering, to perfect techniques that they would later use on Human society.

===Umgah===
The long-term Arilou presence in the area surrounding the Chandrasekhar portal led them to develop a friendship with the nearby Umgah. The Umgah, focused on more corporeal pursuits than the Arilou, outstripped them greatly in the fields of biology, medicine and genetic engineering. It may be that many of the biological techniques used on the Humans by the Arilou were at some point learned or borrowed from the Umgah; the Umgah certainly seem accomodating to the Arilou's desires and would most likely find the large-scale manipulation of Humans to be a wildly funny joke.

The Arilou and Umgah's relationship was interrupted when the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za attacked and laid waste to Umgah space, subjugating the Umgah as their [[Battle Thralls]] during the War. Afterwards when the Arilou joined the Alliance the two races were forced into combat with each other, but after hostilities ended the two races were able to reestablish normal relations.

==Known individuals==
*[[Faffywaffy]]

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}''[[Star Control II]] manual, pg. 63 (PC)''
{{note|2}}''This is a similar paradox to Robert A. Heinlein's [[Wikipedia:"All You Zombies—"|"All You Zombies—"]]''

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category: Arilou Lalee'lay]]