Off-World Infrastructure (World Building Notes)

@alonicus released a prompt today asking us to discuss one aspect of infrastructure in our world. I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about a particular building, and the history behind it, as well as what it meant for the people it was constructed for.

Here's A Link To The Post If You'd Like To Check It Out.

Source

The Rotchi Embassy of Jex

At the time of its construction in 197 B.C.I - it was considered a marvel of the time period, and this building in and of itself heralded in an era of acceptance and growth for the Rotchi people as a whole. It also acted as a symbol of their integration into the wider political realm of Free Space.

The Rotchi - upon their discovery - were always seen in low esteem by all other members of the Free Space Alliance. They are an insectoid race, and just about everything about them is alien. Rotchi have extremely short lifespans, measuring around five standard years, and because of this they breed rapidly and were seen as a dangerous nuisance, especially compared to the general races of Free Space.

This stemmed from their first arrival on a planet called Weitan II - a small colony world of the Triskens that lay only two clusters from the Rotchi homeworld of Rotchnok. When the first Rotchi arrived they were welcomed with open arms and accepted onto the world. With the first arrivals came more, and soon even a queen followed. But, only a few years after the queen arrived the Rotchi numbers swelled and completely dwarfed the native population. The Triskens considered it an invasion and tension grew, turning hostile eventually. The Free Space Council needed to act to stop an intergalactic incident occurring between the Trisken and Rotchi and they opted to give the small world to the Rotchi. This act left a bad taste in the mouth of the Trisken council members, but even they could see there was little choice in the matter.

A travel ban was soon imposed, which dictated that Rotchi queens weren't permitted to take up residence in any world other than their two planets, and this seemed to drive a wedge between the Rotchi and all other Free Space races.

Rotchi During The Gnosian Land Grab

Another race in the Trisken cluster, the Gnosians, enacted a territory war based on the actions of the Rotchi. They wanted more worlds, and because they had previously been stopped from rapid-habitation they took the opportunity to act freely regardless of the consequences because they saw that the Rotchi were gifted a world by the Free Space Alliance.

During the war to stop them, the Rotchi were offered a chance to help, as a way to rebuild some reputation among the other races. They accepted, and through the conflict were used as cannon fodder due to their swelling force of drones.

By sheer numbers alone, the Rotchi horde was able to turn the tide on most worlds the Gnosians took over, and while these ground wars took place, Beskin and Trisken forces stopped the Gnosian ships from reaching new worlds.

After the conflict, many of the worlds were left in ruin, and the Gnosians were now in the crosshair of the Free Space Alliance, with this, the Rotchi were awarded status for their efforts in quelling them.

Rotchi Ambassadors

On the capital planet, Jex, the Rotchi were awarded a new status and could new get involved on a major level and even argue for rights, whereas before they were offered none.

This bolstered their people, and they could understand fully the extent of their rapid breeding and the effect that it had on worlds where their numbers could overflow without an end.

While they, and many others argued for this gift of theirs, and how it could be used for good like in the previous conflict, the majority rule was they had to stay in check. Which they did. Breeding programs were introduced, which halted overpopulation.

During The Invasion

As time passed, the Rotchi people regarded their rules as inhumane in a way and saw themselves as being targets of abuse in the wider Free Space Alliance.

When The Confederation started its invasion, the Rotchi were one of the only Free Space races to join on their side and used their technical skills as a way to gain retribution for how they had been treated over the years.

They considered The Confederation to be true allies, but in the end, it turned out they were only being used, and after the war they were left on their own racing down against a whole territory of worlds who hated them for their actions.

The Jex government revoked their status and place among the other races. With this, their embassy was seized and turned into a Peacekeeper HQ, where the new local law enforcement could operate from.

Rotchnock, their homeworld, was seized by the Triskens post-war, and the world was renamed New Trisk. Now, the Rotchi are something of a subservient race to the Trisken clans on this world, who act as little more than violent gangs, and criminal empires who now use the Rotchi as cheap soldiers in carrying out criminal activity through Free Space. Because of their short lifespans there is no point imprisoning them, so the local law enforcement of most worlds execute them on sight if they step out of line.