Skrell Abroad

Skrell Abroad

Ever since first contact with Humanity in 2332, the Skrell have regularly travelled from the Nralakk Federation to live, work, and explore Human space. While there are numerous Skrell communities spread out across the Spur, few communities have been able to assimilate fully into their new home; the Skrell that manage to assimilate into the local culture are rare, and it’s more common to see insular communities that still hold onto their own cultural roots.

Those Skrell communities that do manage to integrate themselves tend to take on much of the local culture and social norms, which can be seen in communities such as Mictlan or New Gibson, with only the eldest in these communities still being staunch traditionalists. The opposite can be said for the insular communities, such as the Starlight Zone’s Severson City, where it’s common to find residents who would rather keep themselves isolated as much as possible, and have little to no interest in interacting with outsiders.

As dissent activity in the Q’elpi systems increases, Skrell aboard and other Spur powers begin to take notice. Skrell located in the Solarian Alliance and The Consortium, were quick to announce their unwavering support for the Federation and Kala, however those in Biesel were far more divided, especially those within the Starlight Zone within Mendell City.

Confrontations in Skrell enclaves throughout the Orion Spur were reported on 20/08/65 between pro and anti-Federation groups. While tension has always existed in Mendell City's Starlight Zone, it surprised many to see similar strife in long-established communities such as on Europa or Epsilon Ursea Minoris. Despite being a recent event, the impact this has had can already be felt politically as politicians quickly urged the Nralakk Federation to seek an end to the conflict in the Traverse. The long-term impact these clashes have had on the communities themselves is yet to be seen, but it is now evident that these Skrell are not as unified as once thought.

OOC note: Keep in mind that Skrell lifespans are much longer than that of other species, and when combined with the lack of psionic interaction with their Non-Skrell neighbours this means assimilation into the local culture is typically a long and difficult process. Non-canon/player-headcanon Skrell communities should be more insular as a result.

Skrell in the Solarian Alliance

The Nralakk Federation and the Sol Alliance have been close military and economic allies since first contact was made. While the Solarians are seen as a xenophobic culture by many in the Spur, the Skrell have generally found themselves to be welcomed by its citizens, with the more ‘developed’ regions of the Alliance such as Sol being more accepting than the nation's outer rim. Thanks to their robust education and long life, Skrell in the Sol Alliance will find success in most fields - although for the most part, Skrell will find themselves being relegated to medical or science rather than being hired for more physical work. Outside of the more notable communities such as on Europa or Mictlan (before the Solarian Alliance’s collapse), Skrell are not entirely free of the general xenophobia that can be expected from Solarian humans.

Notable Skrell Communities in the Sol Alliance

Europa

The icy moon of Jupiter, Europa has become a hub for Skrell looking for opportunities within the Sol Alliance. Valued for the application of their psionic abilities in submarine navigation, Skrell contractors are in high demand; Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals employs the majority of Psionic Navigators on Europa, capitalising on the boom in demand for Skrell crew early on and establishing the Navigator Corps, a division of well-trained Skrell that are available for hire to groups who are willing to pay the exorbitant prices Zeng-Hu sets.

Although the species can find success and plentiful work opportunities on Europa, the Skrell living there have a slew of issues to contend with that are unique to them. The lack of observable stars has resulted in Skrell developing an over-reliance on the Qwei’Paqui, and the still-mysterious disorder known as Europan Sea-Blindness caused by the constant overuse of psionics in Psionic Navigators only compounds the regular problems of tight spaces, dangerous environments, and hostile wildlife that make up the typical Europan experience. Despite the dangers and inhospitality of Europa, many Skrell flock to the moon thanks to Zeng-Hu’s relationship with the Nralakk Federation, and its ability to offer lucrative contracts for those willing to become Psionic Navigators.

Venus

While Venus does not have a significant or notable Skrell community in particular, the planet does have a reputation for having Skrell from two main groups:

Skrellian Stars are prominent Skrell in human media. From television to cinema, these stars can either be Federation-sponsored, enthusiasts of human culture, or former stars that lost their prominence back home in the Federation.

Washouts are Skrell who have been completely isolated from Federation society in one way or another. These Skrell do not stay for long, relative to a Skrell; Venus is a destination chosen for those who wish to drown their sorrows in Venus' drug and party lifestyle until they feel ready to begin their life somewhere else.

There are still Skrell on Venus who do not fit into either group, working in more mundane fields than acting and with established roots on the planet. These Skrell are typically overshadowed by the more well-known - or stereotypical - Skrell groups mentioned above.

Skrell in the Republic of Biesel

As the Republic of Biesel was initially under Sol Alliance control, it already had a number of Skrell living within its territory before the nation declared independence in 2452 - most notably the colony of New Gibson, which houses an archology that almost solely consists of Skrell. As the Republic has a reputation of being a cultural melting pot, where all species can expect equal treatment, the Skrell have had a better time assimilating into Biesellite society compared to the Sol Alliance. The Republic of Biesel is considered one of the few places in the Orion Spur where Skrell can expect similar treatment to what could be expected from living in the Federation.

Notable Skrell Communities in the Republic of Biesel

Mendell City - The Starlight Zone

The Starlight Zone was founded after a large exodus of Skrell fled the Nralakk Federation as the Government began to deploy their Kala forces within the Traverse, resulting in many Skrell fleeing to Tau Ceti searching for refuge to avoid persecution. The majority of these refugees found themselves assigned to Mendell City’s District Eight. Once informally known as the Lekan District, this area of Mendell City is now known as the Starlight Zone by its new Skrell residents.

The Starlight Zone is separated into two parts: Lekan Village and Severson City. Lekan Village is the name given to the above-water areas of the Starlight Zone, and is seen as an extension of the Lekan District itself; the inhabitants of Lekan Village emphasise naturalisation and are more open to the ideals and mindset of Biesellite culture compared to those that live in Severson City. Lekan Village, while Skrell-dominated, does have a small number of non-Skrell who live on the border, holdovers from before the Starlight Zone was established who refused to move out when the Skrell arrived.

Severson City, named after the large body of water it resides in, consists of the below-water areas of the Starlight Zone. Those that live in this part of the Starlight Zone tend to still hold onto their Federation roots, with many having strong ties back home. Some residents are even known to refuse anything that is not Skrellian in nature such as cuisine, or going so far as speaking exclusively in Nral’Malic. As a result of its insular nature, combined with the majority of Severson City being underwater, it is the only Skrell-only area of Mendell City.

New Gibson - Xoikko Archology

Following first contact with the Skrell, the Nralakk Federation and Solarian Alliance brokered a deal that introduced technology utilised on Skrell colonies such as Aliose to New Gibson. This agreement also came with specialised Skrell workers who oversaw the installation and general upgrades to New Gibson’s infrastructure, replacing the old archologies built during New Gibson’s early years as a Solarian Alliance colony with much-needed modernised infrastructure. Many of these workers opted to stay on New Gibson following the completion of the project, and now they and their descendants primarily reside in the Xoikko Archology, a sprawling hub that focuses on entertainment and other service industries.

Thanks to the assistance of the Skrell in improving New Gibson’s quality of life, the human population of the planet possess a more positive view of Skrell than anywhere else in Tau Ceti, producing one of the most successful and largest communities of Skrell outside of the Federation; the successful integration of the Skrell community here has resulted in New Gibson hosting the largest Skrell population in Tau Ceti, as well as one of the largest in the Spur outside of the Federation.

Skrell in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone

Many Skrell have found themselves now living within the Corporate Reconstruction Zone as a result of the Sol Alliance collapsing. These Skrell now find themselves living under vastly different conditions, but opinions on the matter are mixed. Some have accepted the rule of the Republic of Biesel and its Stellar Corporate Conglomerate benefactors, optimistic that they will have a more comfortable life in a nation with more pro-xeno attitudes, while others have taken to protests or other forms of resistance in opposition to Biesellite rule of their home.

Notable Skrell Communities in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone

Mictlan

Due to Mictlan being an aquatic world, and its landmass being covered in humid jungles, the planet quickly became a place of unique interest to the Skrell, which ultimately led to many settling here. While Skrell living on Mictlan can find commonality with Mictlan’s communal culture, the older generations find it difficult to fit in completely, as they find the high-energy culture of Mictlan to be mentally exhausting to interact with. Like the other alien species living here, it is the younger generations of Skrell that have grown up on the planet that find the most success in integrating into Mictlanian society.

The first group of Skrell that came to Mictlan were terraforming specialists belonging to Tuz’qlip Researchers, who wished to study the wildlife and environment of Mictlan in an effort to promote biodiversity on planets within the Federation. This study lasted fifteen years before an agreement was made between the Sol Alliance and Nralakk Federation to prematurely end the invasive research and protect the planet’s fragile ecosystem. Although the research project was effectively cancelled, many of the original research team members elected to stay on Mictlan to continue their studies while still being within the rules laid out within these conservation policies. The original researchers, their families, and any new arrivals from the Nralakk Federation now live in Papamóscanda, a valley town on the outskirts of Arequipa with strong pro-Federation ties.

Although a rare occurrence, some younger Skrell have reportedly joined the Samaritan movement on Mictlan, believing that the planet should be its own sovereign state rather than be governed by the Republic of Biesel.

Skrell in the Coalition of Colonies

The Coalition of Colonies is typically not the first choice for many Skrell leaving the Nralakk Federation. Its distance from the Federation, combined with the cold relations the two nations have with each other as a result of the relationship between the Nralakk Federation and Solarian Alliance, means that the number of Skrell living here is relatively small compared to the rest of Human space. Saying this, the Coalition is a preferred destination by those who are attempting to avoid Federation authorities, with the lack of diplomatic relations between the two nations making it an ideal location for those who wish to avoid deportation.

Skrell Outside of Human Space

Outside of Human space, Skrell communities are largely non-existent, with the few that do exist being quite recent - save for the exception of Nral'Daaq - and are still adjusting themselves to their new home. Their experiences, stories, and relations with the other species they live alongside are diverse, and their origins vary wildly.

Notable Skrell Communities Outside of Human Space

The Co-operative Territories of Episilon Ursea Minoris - Nral'Daaq

The Federation played a large part in introducing the Dionae found on Hieroaetheria to the galactic stage and the creation of the Commonwealth of Hieroaetheria, resulting in the two nations becoming steadfast trading partners and allies since contact was made between them. Although wishing to uphold the planet's independence, the influences of the Federation are clearly apparent. Skrell came to Hieroaetheria in droves, either to participate in the birth of a new nation or to escape the clutches of the Nralakk Federation. Regardless of their reasons, these Skrell flocked to the planet and helped further develop the nation.

The Izweski Hegemony - Ouerea

The Nralakk Federation, along with the Solarian Alliance, aided the Izweski Hegemony in developing its fledgling colony on Ouerea shortly before the Contact War began. To protect their interests on the planet once the war began, as well as the colonists they had sent to help establish the colony, Ouerea was under the joint administration of the Sol Alliance and the Nralakk Federation during the war. This period lasted until control over the planet was handed back to the Hegemony after Moghes had stabilised.

The influences of these two nations had a massive impact on Ouerean society, and the Hegemony found its people unwilling to submit to feudal rule. Today, Ouerea exists as a fledgling democratic and cosmopolitan society, where Humanity, Skrell, and Unathi struggle to live alongside one another.