Kurr Association

===Profile: The Kurr Association===
Name: The Kurr Association
Created By: Dennnis Washburn and Jay P Hailey
Short Summary: An Association of five races who have become ethically advanced, because they had to.
Apppearance: The Kurr Association appeared in Dennnis' 1992-1994 Star Trek Game.
===Biology:===
There are five founding members of the Kurr Association. They are considering associating more closely with the Murachi.
Orla- One of the founders of the Kurr association. They are Human in most respects
Kamla - a humanoid mammalian race descended from herbivorous runners. The Kamla can be very calm, and pleasant to be around. However, they are territorial and can be violent when provoked. (Think humanoid bunnies)
Kloosh - a humanoid mammalian race which seems to be in the process of transitioning to ocean based life. They are not graceful on land, and prefer to swim, where they outperform any other humanoid race as hunters and swimmers. Kloosh have a thick layer of blubber and are well streamlined. (Think Humanoid seal-walruses, koo koo kachoob.)
Banduch - a race of Sentient, intensely psionic Brontosaurs. Their culture and civilization is 99% mental, a creature of the mind. They form the moral core, and the conscience of the Kurr Association. See GURPS Aliens
!kur!tar - Insectoid Humanoids. They are a classic hive with limited number of reproducing females. They have specialized sub-races - workers, supervisors, warriors, etc..
===Location:===
To Spinward and core ward of the Federation border about 750 light years.
===Population:===
56.7 billion of the various races
===Languages:===
Each race of the Kurr association has it's own set of languages and cultures.
They use a common Kamla tongue which is easy for the other two mammalian races to learn. The Insect men need universal translators and the Banduch communicate telepathically.
The Common tongue of the Kurr Association is Kamlan trade tounge,
===Government:===
The Kurr Association is run by an Association Council which considers every problem carefully and thoughtfully, and then publishes recommendations. The indivudal worlds then decide how to enact the Association council's suggestions. In practice the recommendations of the Council are treated like policy rulings.
Each planet retains it own government, reorganized along strictly ethical lines. The planets cooperate in terms of economy and mutual support, using standards set by the Kurr Association Advisory Comittee
===Economy:===
The economy of the Kurr Assdocation is a very complex system of energy accounting, that carefully allows for freedom of choice and determination of each individual. The Kurr association is researching Gold-Pressed Latinum as an even more free wheeling standard of exchange.
The Economy of the Kurr Association blossomed in the early days of the Release, but this expansion has hit a snag in the Conflict with the Zak. However the core is strong and they are cheerfully expanding in other directions.
The Kurr association economy is good at exploting mineral wealth with a minimal disturbance of local conditions and ecology. They are also every good at recycling and extremely efficient use of resources, and exchange program with the UFP is under way to share these techniques.
===Military:===
The Kurr Defense Cooperative is new, and struggling to meet the demands placed upon it. They have a history of warfare and violence which is now being reconsidered in the light of necessity, and information is being re-uptaken from Kurr History to reconstitute a true military force. They borrowed a lot from Starfleet, a major successful example in the early going.
For all that it is an Ad-hoc self defense force, the Kurr Military has done a good job of assembling itself and fending off attacks from the Tonagi and the Zak. The margin is often too narrow for comfort, though. 
The Kurr nightmare is that they will not be able to expand their military to the size required to defend against the rising threats before a rising spiral of violence destroys them.
Aid from the Federation has tilted the balance some in their favor, as have military advisers from the Murachi, who despite never having won a major space war, have the organizational knowledge to make a military work.
Older Kurr Military ships were utility ships with hastily mounted weapons and defenses. Because of Advanced Kurr technology, they served adequately until true military and multi-role starships could enter service.
Newer Kurr Military ships are either specialized defense ships, designed to counter and destroy an incoming Zak Attack (Kurr Assocation analogs to the Defiant) or well armed and protected multi role ships to try and explore away from the Zak and yet still carry through military missions when required.
There is much debate among the Kurr association about whether an offensive will be required in time, if so it will demand a new fleet wing to press it forward. As of right now, a defensive posture seems to be working and so is generally preferred by the people of the Kurr Association.
The different planets of the Kurr Association have recruited small armies and are training them using historical examples, Murachi and Starfleet Marine advisers.
Each planet in the Kurr Association theoretically has it's own military force. In practice, the worlds of the Kurr association have adopted unified procedures, equipment and training, as well as a unified command structure 
The Kurr Use Frigate squadrons for defense, and Starfleet style cruisers for longer ranged missions.
===History:===
The races of the Kurr association arose and were happily having a typical history, filled with war, intrigue, commerce, violence, mayhem and injustice. 
The Banducch generally stayed well clear of this, maintaining their facade of small brontosauri on a strangely peaceful world.
The Kamla and the Humans enjoyed the most energetic relationship with frequent wars, diplomacy treaties and then other wars. Kurr Association historians are almost unanimous that this is because the humans and Kamla were very similar to begin with.
The Kloosh and the Insect people were drawn in on different sides, or in the case of the Insect people, made into prefered enemies and all proceeded in a bloody fashion.
Then the Harmon came. The Harmon are Energy beings of stupendous power. The Harmon were mad, however and in the grips of a neurotic seeking ofter perfection. Looking at the area of the Kurr Assocation, the Harmon englobed it in a 100 light year force globe and informed all residents that their ethical development was so poor as to pose a danger to themselves and others.
Then the Harmon left.
After some stunned exploration, the Races of the Kurr realized that thet were now in a sharpely finite sum game. A violent war broke out to claim and hold as many resources as possible, and therefore extend the life time of a potentially limited duration civiliation
After beating themselves to pulps, the Banducch came out and invited each race to send representative to discuss ethics and see if there was a way to grow ethically and satisfy the implied demands of the Harmon.
Although this was ignored at first, the Banducch acquired a huge population of refugees, free thinkers and war weary people.
In time between extensive damage to infrastructure, war weariness and despair, the races of the Kurr sent representatives to the Banducch.
Almost as soon as active warfare stopped, standards of living rose. As the races of the Kurr started taking tentative steps towards cooperation, standards of living rose yet again, proving the point of the Harmon and the Banducch to the population of the Kurr.
As the races started really digging into ethical matters, commerce and technology advanced as well, leading to more efficient uses of resources and greater standards of living.
About 500 years after the englobement, the Kurr had formed the Kurr Association and achieved a peak of ethical accomplishment. They also marked a somber day, they had achived full "Build in" of the globe, every steller system in the globe had been mapped and explored long ago, but now every available resource was being exploited in the most efficient manner possible. The Kurr had light police forces but had left thier martial history far behind.
The Kurr were starting to feel that even with their ethical and technological development maxed out, that they were missing soemthing critical from this souls, by not being able to explore into unknown regions or meet unknown people.
One day a Kurr Cargo ship travelling along the edge of the Globe encountered a starship on the other side. Communication was possible. The starship was from a distant outside coalition named the Federation, a group of people who, without any coercion from the Harmon had formed into a mutal cooperation, defense and exploration culture similar in many ways to the Kurr Association.
Contact with this outside ship grabbed the attention of nearly all Kurr. News of the outside galaxy was thin and very rare. Inside the globe with ethically developed individuals it occasionally got very boring.
The outsider ship uploaded a pile of data to the Kurr inside the globe, adding immensely to the Kurr's store of knowledge and resources. History of hundreds of non-Kurr worlds, sciences from all over the galaxy. History, Archaeology, biology. The Federation public access database became an over night sensation and topic of study and argument for the Kurr association.
The outsider ship tried, futiley as always to unlock the force globe. Ideas and resources exausted the outside whip moved on, but not before signing a treaty of friendship with the Kurr Association. The captain of the outside ship promised, if he encountered the Harmon, to remind them of the Kurr Association.
Within the year after the outside ship left, a bright, 1 meter ball was seen at the outer egde of the globe. the globe disappeared and the small bright point of light streeaked off without a word. The Kurr were FREE!
Two projects were started immediately. First, the large subspace transmitters and recievers necessary to communicate with their new friends in the Federation. Then, ships for exploring the unknown areas outside the globe.
To see a at the Kurr Association from a more inside perspective read Harrier's Gift
===Culture===
The Kurr association's culture is a quiet, contemplative culture rich in ethical thought. It's generally quiet and peaceful. The Kurr themselves find it slightly boring, but their knee jerk reaction is to default to thought and communication and problem solving methodology.
===Relations:===
*Federation -- No longer long distance with the Federation sphere growing by leaps and bounds.
*The Zak -- With the Trantorians on their back the Zak surrendered to the Kurr. They are learning to deal wit the Ethical viewpoint, and yes they have shed more than few that would not go along. Zak pirates are now a thing. 
*Tonagi -- They got dragged in along with the Zak.
*Gallowayans -- Trading visits with increasing frequency. The Gallowayans and Kurr have a lot of fun attempting to transliterate their ethical concepts into a mutually understandable frame work.
*Trantorian Empire -- Eying each other. The Trantorians see medium fich with big fish friends. They are not happy the Zak went that way,
===Advantages:===
The Kurr association is inventive and they have high technology. They have excellent science and diplomatic skills.
===Weaknesses:===
The Kurr were not militarized at all, and are behind the curve at rebuilding a defense mechanism consistent with their ethical principles.
===Campaign Role:===
Good guys for the PCs to encounter on a long voyage, an oasis of sanity. Good guys for the PCs to rally to the defense of.
===Capital City:===
The Kurr Council meets in a small city on the Banduch home world. Each planet of the Kurr Association retains it's own local capital and sovereignty
===Races:===
*Orla, natives of planet Orla, they seem to have been a preserver transplant. Orla has many colonies. Orla has a population of 6 billion people.
*Kamla, natives of the Planet Kam. (Think Bunny Furries) More colonies than the humans and an on going battle with population control. Kam is a beautiful but deadly world, with several scary predators some of whom still roam free.
*The Kloosh. Natives of the "World/Ocean" Encountered by the Humans and Kamla and given technology, the Kloosh successfully played both ends of the Kamla/Human rivalry against the middle for nearly a century. In the doing they ewventually became a power in their own right.
*The Banduch - Powerful, ethical, psionic Handicapped species of micro sauropods. The ethical heart of the Association.
*!kur!tar - Insectoid Humanoids. Insectivore. Natives of Insect-man Homeworld. They have specialized sub-races - drones smart, wariors tough, etc. They do not speak - utterly mute. They advanced to warp drive on their own. In the early going they were considered a terrible threat by the Humans and Kamla, In time telepaths on boths sides made contact. In peace that followed the Englobement, Insect men scientist and ethicists have become second only to the Banduch
*Tonagi - After the Release, a small but steady trickle of Tonagi came to the Kurr Association seeking asylum from the Zak Empire
*Zak - A verty small number of curious and open minded Zak have also escaped the Zak empire and sought refuge in the Kurr Association
*Murachi - Humanoids, No longer the poor sisters in technology or the ethical base. The Time fugue mad science machine pushed Murachi three hundred years ahead. Isolated from the Galaxy they did make good use of the time. <P>Murachi have a very good relationship with the Kurr Association. Murachi business people, advisers and space explorers can be found in the Kurr Association. Murachi itself is considering joining the Kurr Association.
===Relative Influence:===
Large, they are a reasonably large stellar nation.
===Relative Wealth:===
Large. As a Stellar nation the Kurr Association controls the output of several planets, and owns fleetrs of Starships.
Compared to other nations their size the Kurr are very wealthy indeed.
===Group advantages:===
Wealthy, ethically and technologically advanced.
===2407 Update===
By 2407 The Kurr Association has been free of their globe for more than 30 years.
This leads to an interesting situation. The Banduch would prefer everyone move slowly, and make sure each action is carefully considered and thoroughly thought through. This does not really suit the Orla, the Kamla. So you have the original Kurr Association at the center, and an informal set of alliances.
For instance - the Kurr have formed the Kurr Trade Cooperative, to organize and regulate trade. Anyone can be part of the trade 
cooperative, from worlds to individuals. This organization includes the Kurr Association, but is not part of the Kurr Association. The Banduch think it's okay, but has expanded far too quickly.
Many species in the Implosion Zone are happily joining both the Kurr Trade Cooperative and the Gallowayan Trade Network. There is also the Kurr Science and Exploration Cooperative. This relates to to the Kurr Association and exploration partners like the 
Kurr Trade Cooperative. Again the Banduch are not entirely comfortable with how quickly this is going.
The Trade Cooperative is threatening to become it's own entity, and 
commands resources comparable to many individual worlds. It has it's own council which very carefully obeys the recommendations of the Kurr Association Council... except when it doesn't.
The Science and Exploration Cooperative is not as independent, but the Kurr Association wrestles with a serious conflict. The Banduch do not wish to expand to the point where they become an empire or even much of a normal polity. But when presented information about new worlds, it would be unseemly to reject this knowledge, so the Science and Exploration Cooperative is in a continuous state of getting retroactive permission. The Kurr Association council is debating whether and how it can assert control over the Science and Exploration Cooperative.
The most unhappy element is the Kurr Defense Cooperative. The Banduch really don't like this. This is an outgrowth of the Kurr/Zak Conflict. The Zak began attacking aggressively and the Kurr Association was in a defacto low grade war with the Zak.
The Kurr Association decided that mutual defense was in their interest and formed a Kurr Association Defense Force to counter the Zak.
Then when the Trantorian Empire was encountered, Defenses were bolstered, although the Kurr pursued Diplomacy aggressively.
The Murachi joined in the defense of the Kurr, although their membership in the Association was never approved. It's still being considered. The Orla and the Kamla signed an Alliance with the Murachi, citing the Federation as an example. The Banduch have agreed that the Federation is interesting, but this 
sort of thing is not to be rushed.
Frustrated, the Orla and the Kamla joined with the Murachi and the 
Hawauk-hwee to form a Defense Cooperative, modeled on the Trade 
Cooperative. In the Defense Cooperative, military technology and knowledge is shared. 
They use a set of standardized systems to build ships with. They have standardized training curricula, largely borrowed from Starfleet and then altered to suit their needs. Each world in the cooperative builds different ships, but builds them with an eye towards what the rest of the Cooperative fields.
The KDC's mission and purpose is to defend members of the Defense 
Cooperative, which includes Kurr Association members and Other worlds who are allies of the Association, but not full Associates, yet. Even the Kloosh joined. The KDC ships are competent warships. They put a lot of work into training their crews.
The Banduch are very concerned at the speed and rapidity with which 
their friends have re-armed.
The KDC military Engineering headquarters is on Murachi. Engineers from all the Cooperative species come to exchange techniques and help design the next generation of KDC standardized gear.
The operational Headquarters of the KDC is on Kam. But each member world has it's own headquarters and can request ships from the 
cooperative to fill defense related roles.
After the KDC Stabilized, there was discussion of an exploration role, similar to Starfleet. In order to prevent confusion, they Spun off an exploration group into the Science and Exploration Cooperative. The KSEC's ships can be Reserve KDC ships, but can also be dedicated explorers and science ships with little military utility.
So far, the membership in both is mostly complete. The Kloosh and the !Kur!thar have not joined the KSEC, but some individuals have. The Banduch have not officially joined any of the Extra-Association 
Cooperatives. But since they're the heart of the Association, they're treated like they have. Occasional Banuch travel with KTC, KSEC or KDC ships, to observe. But none have really made a long term voyage yet.
In order to avoid a temptation for Imperialism, KDC ships only patrol within the territory of member worlds. Any excursions outside this zone are temporary and ended as soon as possible.
It's the KSEC which operates outside the lines, exploring and meeting new people.
You have the Kurr Association, as the core, and then Trade, Defense and Exploration Cooperatives making up a middle zone. They have met a number of neighbors and people in the Implosion Zone. The Gallowayans are also working on exploring the Implosion Zone
Membership in the Cooperatives are only offered by the councils that run the Cooperatives, based on an assessment of whether the prospect can substantially add to the cooperative and whether membership would unduly harm or influence that race.
Category:Kurr Space
Category:Political Units
Category:Races
Category:Planets
Category:ST-OM
Category:Epiphany Trek