Boron

Quite how the Boron kingdom has survived in such a hostile environment is a mystery, as their peaceful nature confounds evolution. DNA studies of the aquatic Boron suggests that they are a highly developed species of Sea Dragon. Studies of Earth-based Sea Dragon specimens have produced little tangible information beyond insight into the Boron Pacifism. The Boron have evolved on a oceanic planet with less than 2% of its surface covered by solid, dry mass.

Communication is performed via a highly developed system of calls, body language and ink secretion. Boron ink sacs are capable of producing various multicoloured viscous liquids, ranging from very subtle to high density ink similar to the defensive spray of an Octopus. While the majority of communication is vocal based around hydro-phonic resonance, similar to that of whales, ink secretion plays a large part in social interaction with emotions and simplistic thoughts being communicated wordlessly between Boron. Boron translators are highly sophisticated allowing for the often highly complex precepts of boron speech to be vocalised simply, when communicating with Boron, it is often important to listen to both the words and tone to decipher the message, although you are more likely to encounter a the simplistic Se’mu language form, designed to aid interspecies communication within a deep space environment.

The Boron are governed by an elected council with a Royal Family as head of state. The Royal Family itself is made up exclusively by Lar of the Royal bloodline. While a hereditary connection to the royal family does provide a modicum of status and power, the vast majority of elected officials have been drawn from across Boron society, from all walks of life and experiences. Each planet has an elected council of twenty representatives, of which four seats are representative of off world orbitals. This council meditate on local affairs and elect four representatives to sit upon the sector wide council, for those sectors with only a single colonised planet; both roles are fulfilled by the same council in order to ensure a balanced debate. The sector council debates issues pertaining to the wider sector as well as issues connected with inter-sector politics, they in turn elect two representatives to serve on the High Council on the Boron Homeworld. To give you an indication of the size of their government system, a full nineteen percent of the Boron Economy is given over to maintaining and promoting its democratic systems.

There are three genders, Male, Female and the rare Lar gender, whom are essentially androgynous possessing both sets of reproductive organs. Procreation is quite simple; the Female gestates an egg which she passes to the Male whom fertilises and carries the egg within his pouch for nineteen months until term. Once gestation is complete the young Boron is cared for by both parents.

Boron society itself revolves around knowledge and skill development within a strict educational framework. Those that score highly in examinations are often inducted into the bureaucracy, others to the much lauded Boron Academies of Science, noted for their revolutionary deep-sea/space propulsion research and recent advances in Ion Technology. There are also several Military Academies, which work in conjunction with Argon Military Advisors to ensure that the Boron Military is kept supplied with a constant stream of new blood capable of protecting the Kingdom from its greatest threats as well as testing the effectiveness of Argon-Boron Taskforces and the Joint Defence Plan. Having a strict hierarchy has lead to many boron becoming dissatisfied with their lives, many seek the excitement of exploration, others branch out on their own forming new organisations that often forgoing any attempt to break into the highly regulated economy of the Boron systems instead favouring the free economies of the Teladi and Argon.

Boron technology is based around chemical biology, with the creation of biological hulls the boron were able to create complex structures without resorting to a heavy mining industry. The majority of Boron economic operations are based in sustainable industries. This allowing the Boron to operate a society that is almost waste-free, with almost all waste recycled or reused in some way. This is partly due to the aquatic nature of the Boron, the main food source of the Boron is based around plankton, thus it is critical to maintain a healthy environment free from major sources of water pollution.

The Boron are members of the Foundation Guild, this Boron-Argon Alliance, reflects the changing role of the Boron in the Galaxy, while once mere helpless explorers, saved from subjugation during the Boron Conflict, they have become capable defenders, while it is unlikely that the Boron will show signs aggression towards us, we cannot rule out the chance that the Argon may coerce them into war.

They are technically very advanced and this is partly due to the fact that they were “helped” along by a number of ships that landed on their home planet fifty thousand years ago. The last known sighting of the “Helpers” occoured shortly before the Boron developed weapons technology. Something they had to do to fend off the Split. The helpers origin and whereabouts is unknown, but it is thought that they were messengers from the old ones.

The Boron tend to talk in very longwinded, awkward sentences that are full of repetitions. Also, they love strange sounding metaphors. They can, however, talk very to-the-point when in danger for their lives.

The Boron homeworld is a vast distance from Argon Prime, with a very different atmosphere and planetary conditions. Its surface is covered with deadly chemical swamps and the atmosphere is based upon an ammonia compound that, to any Humanoid, would mean instant death. The planet also has a great many huge oceans in which the Boron race evolved and lives up to the present day.

In their planetary society, based upon the Borons natural intelligence and wisdom, there was no war, and as a result the Borons never developed or manufactured weapons. However their technology was very refined and their designs held a great aesthetic quality.

The Boron were late comers in the development of space flight, their first major colonization project, which was on one of the nearby Boron moons, didn’t begin until the Argon year of 50. However such was their understanding of technology and proficiency in engineering that their space ships were slim, fast and very advanced. By the year 225 the Kingdom of Boron stretched far beyond their own solar system with colonies established on many deep space planets.

Then the Boron came into contact with the Split who quickly took advantage of meeting a peaceful unarmed race, and attacked the Boron whenever they met. The Boron quickly realised that soon the Split would not content themselves with just attacking their space traffic; soon they would attack their planet colonies. They realised that they had to develop both weapons and defensive systems very quickly. On Planet Boron the greatest minds and greatest engineers struggled with the concept of weapons development meanwhile, out in space, the colonies of the Kingdom of Boron held their breath.

It didn’t take the Split long before they were tempted into full-scale attacks on the territories owned by The Kingdom of Boron, especially as they also were receiving help from their allies the Paranid. In the ensuing battles the new, untried weapons, proved only partially effective and the Boron were soon beating a retreat back to their own solar system.

By the year 299 the Split had chased The Boron back to their home planet and their Kingdom lay in ruins. What the Split hadn’t destroyed they had taken over. They amassed a large force and were just about to launch a major attack on Planet Boron when they were suddenly attacked by a ships from a race they had never encountered before - The Argon.

The Boron had secretly been in contact with The Argon since 323, and for the next few years the two races had been forging the foundations of an alliance that would establish trade links that were the beginnings of the ”Foundation Guild”.

The entry of Argon into the Boron Conflict in 350 saved the Boron race from extermination. The combined Argon and Boron Fleet destroyed the attackers and pushed the enemy alliance back.

Applying advanced technology supplied by The Argon, Boron scientists soon developed highly sophisticated weaponry, and fighting side by side, the two allies forced The Split and The Paranid back into space, regaining many territories belonging to the Kingdom of Boron. This concerted effort resulted in a declaration of peace in 400.

Under the terms of this treaty some Kingdom territory was yielded to the Split, and the next hundred or so years saw the Boron race re-develop and restructure the remains of their Kingdom. Planet by planet, colony by colony they re-established themselves, but now their ships flew the space lanes fully armed with the latest weapon and defense technologies.

The Borons greatly benefited from the Big Currency Reform of 589, which gave a major boost the their shattered economy.

The so-called peaceful Boron Kingdom at points in their history have been at war with virtually everyone. However after one war with the Argon Federation, the two races are now allied and play an instrumental role in the administration of the Foundation Guild.

However during the Boron Conflict were at war with both the Paranid and Split, diplomacy with these two races have only been able to improve their relationship to the point of neutrality.

The Alliance between the Boron Kingdom and the Argon Federation means that even if the Kha'ak did not attack Boron forces, the Boron would have been technically at war with the Kha'ak, after the Presidents End Massacre the Boron did sent forces to help clean the Presidents End sector.

The Boron have one system that borders the Xenon Systems, however the Xenon have been known to pass through Boron Sectors when replacing ships or adding to their fleet, the sectors do come under attack, and the Boron do take defensive measures.

Throughout the Community of Planets the Borons are famous for their wisdom, wealth and for the sophistication of their space ships. These ships are a shimmering green colour with powerful engines that show a white light and are among the fastest and most maneuverable ships in the universe. They are also armed with very sophisticated weapons and defensive shields and, with the exception of the Argon, are the best spacecraft in the universe.

Despite being members of the Foundation Guild and holding a strong alliance with the Argon, because of their peaceful nature the Boron are friends to all races in the X Universe. They currently hold trading agreements with the both the Teladi and the Paranid, however they are still very wary of the Split and relationships between the two races are very strained.

The Boron have no direct contact with the Xenon, however, as allies of the Argon, they are very much aware of them and of the dangers they present.

Despite being called the Kingdom of Boron the Boron race are actually ruled by an elected government. They do however have a royal family who act as figureheads of the Kingdom State. The current head of this Royal Family is Queen Atreus. Her husband, King Rolk, was killed in an space cruiser when it crash landed on a nearby space station, leaving her daughter, the Lar Menelaus, as the heir apparent.