Novan

The Novans (officially, homo sapian novus)are a genetically manipulated subspecies of humans.

Novan History

Novans descended from the orgininal transhuman population out of Africa, Antarctica, the Jupiter system, and The Asteroid Consortium within the Earth's solar system. Genetic manipulation began in 2044 ER with the eradication of the AIDs-related illnesses in the PanAfrican Union, under the guidance of the Western Alliance (USA, European Union, Sino-Asia Pact). After this initial success, further genetic alterations developed in most nations, until the disaster of the Gi Project in 2066.

The Western Alliance banned all human genetic alterations, but the non-allied worlds continued widescale germline based genetic manipulations on their populations. 2095 is considered the birth of the first transhuman population.

By 2240, after nearly two centuries of genetic advancement in the transhuman population, the orginal human population adopted cybernetics and nanotech enhancements to compete with the transhumans. All forms of non-permanent human alterations were allowed (i.e. - the alterations can not be passed to human offspring). This lead to the first Human/Transhuman war of 2264, which ended in a shakey cease-fire and declaration of homo sapien novus - the Novans.

Novan - Terran Differences

Novans differ from Terrans in the following areas:

• Males are XX chromasome paired.
• Novan/Terran copulation rarely produce offspring. All offspring are sterile.
• Novans have enhanced pheromones, making them seem more attractive to other Novans and to Terrans.
• Enhanced senses - sight, physical reactions, smell, hearing etc.
• perfect memory and extended lifespan. Novans live on average 23.4 years longer than cyber-enhanced Terrans of similar cultural background.
• modified lung capacity and requirements - can breathe and survive in atmospheres usually considered hostile to Terrans.

Novan Genome Mapping

No official genetic mapping of the Novan genome is available today. The last successful Novan mapping occurred 97 years ago and showed evidence of recombinant DNA with multiple species. The Novan government does not comment on Novan genetic manipulations but all indications point to a continuous adaptation of their species on an extended, cross-planetary scale. Most successful genetic manipulations are passed onto Novan offspring.

Novan Culture

• Emphasis on family connections, trust, and honor.
• Individuals represent their family, town, province, etc. A crime by the individual is a black mark on their town/province etc. (group ethics)
• business and promotions based not on merit but connections and who you owe allegience to or need to pay back a debt of loyalty to.
• novan loyalty, collectivism, participation, selflessness and civic responsibility
• Hospitality to strangers
• Geneology and genetic improvements highlighted.
• Caste system, whereby Novan are the ultimate species, followed by mixed-species Novans, and at the bottom - prisoner clones. Cannot marry out of caste w/o strict clan approval etc.
• Cybernetic changes to the body are considered anethema and subject to criminal procedings.
• politics, economics, dissenters, education, environment, aesthetics, medicine, technology, cultural values. religion, imports/exports. art/books/video)

Day to Day Differences

• seldom say thankyou. Thankyou is for strangers
• red is preferred to blue - no blue uniforms!

Novan Religion

Islam - - Sunni Libralists

Christianity - Catholic Universalists

Buddhism -

Novan Government

The President is chosen by the ruling families on each Novan planet. This person is typically the head of one of the ruling families or an individual designated by the head. Ruling families are elected every eight years by the citizens of the planet (full Novans only have voting rights) and tend to favor a handful of families that come to power every few voting cycles.  Any family can present themselves as a candidate family.

Novan Worlds

Most Novan worlds have mixed populations, including significant nonhuman species on some planets. The Novan government has complete control over all Novan worlds, as well as major control over a series of colony planets that they share with Novan allies.  Some member-worlds of the Novan Union have been moving toward forced emigration of all non Novan citizens. While legally questionable within the Novan Union, the government has not to date interfered with individual planetary governments.

New China system

Current Events

The latest Novan War brought together a unique set of Novan Allies to battle the ADF.