Discuss the Skaraans
Skaraan Corporate Executive Soldier
From the Artemis manual:
An adult Skaraan body is about the size of a donkey. At the front is a centaur-like torso with two small arms and a horse-like head. At the rear is a muscular tail that can operate intricate controls.
The Skaraan central government exists only to enforce civil laws. It has no diplomats and makes no
policies, treaties, or tariffs relating to non-Skaraan affairs. Skaraans conduct defense and interplanetary trade through private corporations. These corporations operate strictly for profit, and have a reputation for being sneaky. Skaraan War Corporations have offered their services to the USFP but so far we have never hired them.
While Skaraan vessels are built around a set of standard hulls, each War Corporation outfits its ships with different technologies, making the Skaraans tricky enemies full of surprises. Every Skaraan vessel is equipped with some combination of the following abilities:
Warp Drive (5 second bursts)
Jump Drive (6,000 unit range)
Invisibility to Tactical
Cloaking device (60 seconds)
Invisibility on Main Screen High-speed turning
Due to their ability to cloak, jump, or warp, Skaraan ships are often hired to attack USFP Deep Space Stations in the opening phases of an invasion.
Typical Skaraan War Corporation's regional office.
Details that would not fit in the Artemis manual:
Skaraans can tolerate a wide variety of environments. They are quite comfortable in the same environmental conditions as humans, Arvonians, or Ximni. They can tolerate the environments favored by the Kraliens and Torgoth with minumal extra equipment. For this reason the Skaraans are the only race frequently seen on the planets of all of the other races. Because their government has no policies about other races the Skarran race never has any enemies, though individual Skaraan corporations have numerous enemies. Thus Skaraans may be found living peacefully anywhere at any time. But other Skaraans in the same place and time might be hunted as bitter enemies, all depending on which corporations employ them.
The Skaraans’ weak government and strong corporations have given them a robust economy but their society has a few key weaknesses. They have almost no environmental regulations and almost no public health institutions. While the private corporations leave them well-defended against military attack and well positioned for financial prosperity, the entire Skaraan population might be unable to cope with a disease outbreak, natural disaster, or even an unnatural disaster.
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton!"
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
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Could the Skaraan mercs be paid off?
Individual Skaraan crews don't think of themselves as mercenaries. They are loyal employees working for their War Corporations, who serve their Boards of Directors, who in turn serve their shareholders.
The War Corporations really are the Skaraans' only military force, so their starship crews think of themselves as defending their homes, families, and the Skaraan way of life.
The War Corporations really are the Skaraans' only military force, so their starship crews think of themselves as defending their homes, families, and the Skaraan way of life.
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton!"
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
Hmmm. How would the Skaaran forces handle an economic crisis?
I would imagine that the Skaraan War Corporations deliberately sabotage the peace process behind the scenes just to keep business (literally and figuratively) booming. In fact, it's probably entirely possible that they hire expatriated members of other species (particularly Arvonians because of their usefulness as spies) to keep the major races in battle and insure future business.
Some important distinctions between Skaraan War Corporations and merceneries:
War Corporations get most of their funding from the Skaraan people via other corporations. That is, if a Skaraan cosmetics manufacturer is trying to get a better price on Antolian Pexasaurus horns it might hire a War Corporation to conquer the Antolia sector.
Merceneries follow the orders of their employer, often a foriegn military officer. Skaraan executives are sought-after tacticians so when the Skaraans join a war they are often the ones giving the orders. Frequently Torgoth, Arvonian, and even Kralien fleets will be coordinated by executives sitting in a Skaraan corporate board room.
War Corporations get most of their funding from the Skaraan people via other corporations. That is, if a Skaraan cosmetics manufacturer is trying to get a better price on Antolian Pexasaurus horns it might hire a War Corporation to conquer the Antolia sector.
Merceneries follow the orders of their employer, often a foriegn military officer. Skaraan executives are sought-after tacticians so when the Skaraans join a war they are often the ones giving the orders. Frequently Torgoth, Arvonian, and even Kralien fleets will be coordinated by executives sitting in a Skaraan corporate board room.
[Last edited Apr 13, 2013 05:14:23]
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton!"
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
So a recession wouldn't hinder their ability to make war?
An economic downturn might be a reason for the Skaraan War Corporations to make peace with their adversaries. But it might also be a trigger for a war. These decisions would be made by various boards of directors looking out for their stockholders.
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton!"
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
(Likely actual words of Admiral David Farragut, USN, at the battle of Mobile Bay. Four bells was the signal for the engine room to make full steam ahead).
Would be interesting to try and see what happens.
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