Persean Scout Corps
The Persean Scout Corps is an organization dedicated to the continuous exploration and monitoring of the Perseus Arm. An organization that started out as a small group of wealthy, bored adventurers is now probably the most important quasi-military organization in the region. They are responsible for updating and distributing the Atlas of the Perseus Arm to an and all systems that agree to recognize their independence. This Atlas contains basic information on every discovered system in the settled spaces of the Perseus Arm. Constantly updated with information on political unrest and technological advancements, it is invaluable for any and all who travel interstellar space in the region.
Apprentice Scouts are those who have completed their basic training. Each Apprentice is assigned to serve under a Veteran Scout or Scout, traveling with their "Master" until they acquire the knowledge, experience, and instincts needed to advance. Game Mechanic Note
Scouts are those who have acquired enough experience as an Apprentice, and have demonstrated the ability to act independently. As Scouts, they are assigned ships of their own. After some time, some Scouts are assigned Apprentices to work with them; the Scout then gains the additional responsibility to train their new charge. Most members of the Corps serve entire careers as Scouts. Game Mechanic Note
Veteran Scouts are those who have served for some time, and who have amassed enough unique achievements to be recognized within the organization as someone who really knows what they're doing. Many Veterans have been recognized or even decorated with awards for actions that helps out a planet or system, or who have successfully carried out extremely important special missions. Veteran Scouts may also be assigned Apprentices, though they have the option to decline to do so. (Most do decline.) Game Mechanic Note
In the early years, the Society focused on finding and mapping uncharted systems. They also had three stated goals: to establish communications with the Human descendents of the Firstfall colony, to track down and establish links with the third group of Human colonists that had continued on after New Terra was settled, and to establish links with any other space-faring species that may be occupying space in this region of the galaxy.
When the New Terran Confederacy was replaced by the New Terran Hegemony, the political changes slowly brought about changes in the Society's focus. They began to monitor known systems - particularly those near the edges of the Hegemony - to monitor effects that the Hegemony's political upheavals would cause. Some systems near the borders, unhappy with the Hegemony's xenophobic practices, declared independence. The Hegemony crushed such rebellions in some places, but in others, small groups of systems at the far fringes banded together. Political borders were changing rapidly, and the Society decided this information was as important as the discovery of uncharted worlds.
Attempts by the Hegemony to suppress the Society's dissemination of some information brought about another change. What was effectively a social club reorganized itself into a quasi-military organization that declared itself independent of any and all sentient political entities. They changed thier name to the now-familiar Persean Scout Corps, and moved their main base to a system beyond the borders of the Hegemony. They also made clear that any polity that attempted to influence the Corps in any way would be cut off from the information stream the Corps provided.
In the several hundred years since this, the Corps' mission has continued to evolve. Discovery and mapping of uncharted systems is still important, but of equal importance is monitoring of known worlds. It is now not just politics that is monitored - statistical information on planet composition, living conditions, settled population, technological capabilities, and the like is constantly monitored. They developed the UWP system to allow any and all to know important information about a world they may be about to visit from a simple string of six characters.
FIfty-two years ago, a multi-polity treaty was signed formally recognizing the independence of the Corps. Signatory polities agreed not to impede the missions of Scouts in any way. In return for signing, the Corps would continue to disseminate its constantly updating Atlas to the signer. Furthermore, the Corps agreed to provide courier services between political entities, and even to help mediate disagreements between entities in an effort to maintain overall peace in the Perseus Arm. The Corps vowed neutrality and impartiality in any and all disputes, and has remained true to this vow since.
Organization and Rank Structure
The Corps utilizes a rank structure with three formally recognized levels:A PC following the Scout Track that achieves Rank 1 is an Apprentice.
A PC following the Scout Track that achieves Rank 2 is an Apprentice. Should they reach Rank 4, they may be assigned an Apprentice as well.
A PC following the Scout Track that achieves Rank 5 is a Veteran Scout.
History
The corps got its start with a group of six adventurous and financially independent individuals that decided to explore space beyond the edges of the New Terran Confederacy. Other adventurers joined their efforts after hearing tales of their interesting encounters. The Perseus Arm Scout Society, as they named themselves, continued to attract adventurous loners who could finance their own ships and missions.In the early years, the Society focused on finding and mapping uncharted systems. They also had three stated goals: to establish communications with the Human descendents of the Firstfall colony, to track down and establish links with the third group of Human colonists that had continued on after New Terra was settled, and to establish links with any other space-faring species that may be occupying space in this region of the galaxy.
When the New Terran Confederacy was replaced by the New Terran Hegemony, the political changes slowly brought about changes in the Society's focus. They began to monitor known systems - particularly those near the edges of the Hegemony - to monitor effects that the Hegemony's political upheavals would cause. Some systems near the borders, unhappy with the Hegemony's xenophobic practices, declared independence. The Hegemony crushed such rebellions in some places, but in others, small groups of systems at the far fringes banded together. Political borders were changing rapidly, and the Society decided this information was as important as the discovery of uncharted worlds.
Attempts by the Hegemony to suppress the Society's dissemination of some information brought about another change. What was effectively a social club reorganized itself into a quasi-military organization that declared itself independent of any and all sentient political entities. They changed thier name to the now-familiar Persean Scout Corps, and moved their main base to a system beyond the borders of the Hegemony. They also made clear that any polity that attempted to influence the Corps in any way would be cut off from the information stream the Corps provided.
In the several hundred years since this, the Corps' mission has continued to evolve. Discovery and mapping of uncharted systems is still important, but of equal importance is monitoring of known worlds. It is now not just politics that is monitored - statistical information on planet composition, living conditions, settled population, technological capabilities, and the like is constantly monitored. They developed the UWP system to allow any and all to know important information about a world they may be about to visit from a simple string of six characters.
FIfty-two years ago, a multi-polity treaty was signed formally recognizing the independence of the Corps. Signatory polities agreed not to impede the missions of Scouts in any way. In return for signing, the Corps would continue to disseminate its constantly updating Atlas to the signer. Furthermore, the Corps agreed to provide courier services between political entities, and even to help mediate disagreements between entities in an effort to maintain overall peace in the Perseus Arm. The Corps vowed neutrality and impartiality in any and all disputes, and has remained true to this vow since.
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