Technology
The technology level is TL11 (Early Stellar).
The first true artificial intelligences become possible, as computers are able to model synaptic networks. Grav supported structures reach to the heavens. Jump-2 travel becomes possible, allowing easier travel beyond the one jump stellar mains.
Capital ships have been built capable of Jump-3 and are highly restricted and used by the military.
This TL11 setting, with its balance of advanced technology and strict governmental control, provides a rich backdrop for oppressive societal dynamics, interstellar conflicts, and the rise of AI-assisted civilizations. The stark divide between the elite living in domed cities and the wasteland beyond offers plenty of narrative tension for characters navigating this world.
Technological Overview
Artificial Intelligence
True AI has emerged due to the ability to model synaptic networks, marking the dawn of self-aware artificial intelligences. These AIs are used in high-level decision-making, military strategy, and administration, though they are still tightly regulated by the Federation to prevent potential rebellion or misuse.
AIs serve as station controllers, shipboard systems, and even strategic analysts for the military. Some are integrated into robotic bodies, but most function in digital form, embedded within vast computer networks that manage everything from traffic control to industrial automation.
Grav-Supported Structures
Gravity manipulation technology allows for the construction of immense, gravity-defying structures. These gravitic technologies are employed in the construction of skyscrapers that stretch kilometers into the sky, orbital elevators, and floating cities suspended over hazardous landscapes.
Grav-supported domes shield the cities of Earth, making it possible to maintain controlled environments where the wealthy and powerful live, protected from the dangers of the outside world. These structures are both architectural marvels and symbols of the stark divide between the elites and the rest of humanity.
Jump-2 and Jump-3 Travel
Jump-2 technology allows for travel across two parsecs in a single jump, making interstellar travel between close systems more convenient. This has expanded the reach of trade, exploration, and colonization, allowing megacorporations to establish footholds in more distant systems. Most commercial ships and private vessels use Jump-2 engines for regular trade routes.
Jump-3 capital ships, however, are highly restricted and controlled by the military, used exclusively for long-range military operations and for strategic projection of power. These capital ships are outfitted with advanced weaponry and high-tech defenses, making them the ultimate power projection tools for the Federation. Their size and cost make them rare, but each one is a significant asset to the military.
Impact on Society
AI Governance and Regulation
While AI plays a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of society, its use is tightly controlled by the Federation. AIs are subject to strict ethical programming and are monitored by human overseers to prevent rogue behavior. The public is divided on AI: some see them as tools of oppression, while others view them as necessary for maintaining order.
The military uses combat AIs in both strategic command and tactical battlefield management. Some advanced warships are AI-piloted, with the human crew acting as overseers.
Grav Structures as Symbols of Power
The gravitic-supported towers are more than just technological wonders; they are symbols of status and power. The wealthy live in the upper levels of these structures, closer to the heavens, while the lower levels house the working class and administrative offices.
Some cities feature floating districts—entire sections of cities that levitate above the ground using gravitic technology, accessible only by high-speed grav lifts or grav cars. These floating platforms are reserved for the elite, reinforcing the physical and social separation between the ruling class and the masses.
Space Travel and Military Dominance
Jump-2 travel has made interstellar trade and exploration accessible, allowing corporations and settlers to reach further into space. The economy has shifted towards resource extraction and colonization, with mining colonies on distant planets supplying critical materials to Earth and the core worlds.
The Federation's military dominates interstellar space through its use of Jump-3 capital ships, which are seen as the pinnacle of technological and military prowess. These ships are capable of deep strikes into enemy territory and can respond quickly to threats across multiple star systems. They are outfitted with high-energy weapons, defense grids, and tactical AIs that ensure they can operate independently if necessary.
Restricted Technology
The Federation strictly controls advanced technologies, particularly those related to Jump-3 engines and AI warfare systems. Civilian access to these technologies is heavily regulated, and only certain corporations and high-ranking officials are permitted to work on or utilize such technologies.
Weaponry and defense systems have also evolved. Personal armaments are powered by energy cells, and gravitic shielding is used in military installations and high-security areas. Civilian weapons are often limited to lower-powered energy weapons or physical projectiles, while military forces have access to plasma weaponry, high-capacity lasers, and tactical drones controlled by semi-autonomous AIs.
