Yakosei Cluster

One of the larger clusters in the New Aeon Aggregate. From its founding Yakosei embraced genetic engineering more than any other cluster and is now home of many post-human races, the most such common being the Astrals (mosseni), Geckans, and Behemoths, which are all descendants of the Nocturnals. Because of their excellent eyesight, and desire for energy efficiency, habitats in Yakosei are traditionally dimly lit in perpetual night. Law enforcement is often performed by genetically engineered soldiers that lack free-will called "thralls" commanded by the local government leaders.

The government of Yakosei is somewhat libertarian leaving individual cylinders to govern themselves more or less how they desire. In recent times the government has become weakened leading to 3 different pseudo clusters. The Mothris region wants to return to the older, dynastic government and value their older traditions. In Wezingkanyezi, they also want to form a stronger form government but do not trust the current government so they prefer seceding. But in Yoru the weak government has lead to a neo-feudalistic situation where the individuals or corporations that own habitats essentially creating their own laws and compelling the citizens to work for them in exchange for residence.

## History

### 0 NA - Founding

One of the 4 original founding colonies of New Aeon were the Nocturnals. The nickname was given after it bacame popular to enhance their eyesight through genetic engineering so that they could see in near darkness. Combined with their desire for energy efficiency (due to previous catastrophes ) many started to keep their space habitats dimly lit in perpetual night.

The Nocturnals was originally a movement that took became popular in different space stations all over the early Gaian Aggregate but especially in clusters owned by Japanese, Central African Alliance, Indonesian, and South American governments. The movement called for less earth-based oversight since they felt that Earthers didn't understand the needs of space based "ringers" and often felt unheard or abandoned by them. Another main main complaint of the Nocturnals (as it was for the Everdawn Colony) was the strict regulation of genetic engineering research and applications. They felt this technology was vital for improving the lives of ringers to make their offspring more adapted for space station life (low gravity, radiation, high g-forces, etc.) but Earthers felt it was too risky or unethical. These concerns pushed the Nocturnals to join the New Aeon movement either succeed from their earth governments or move to Nocturnal controlled habitats. Some had enough supporters to take control of their habitats democratically while many others decided band together to buy new stations and add to the Nocturnals fleet.

The Nocturnal government was formed to be akin to libertarianism, in that there were few federal laws or regulations and allowed each habitat to create their own laws. They embraced genetic engineering completely, having almost no restrictions on what genetic modifications were attempted or who was allowed to try it. There was a explosion of researchers and experimenters. There were many tragic failures and people born with terrible mutations who lived short painful lives. after a couple generations however there were hundreds of successful templates that people could choose from for their offspring which provided heightened senses, more durable bodies, and faster healing, as well as many purely cosmetic features. At this point, the culture finally moved to have more safety precautions and discourage non-experts from experimenting with new alterations. And after a few more generations, the vast majority of people were uninterested in trying new things and generally opted for one of only a handful of templates. These evolved into what would become known as the Nocturnal races, such as Astrals, Gecks, and Aranaya.

### 1200 NA - Age of the Omniscials

The Yograns were a transhumanist research company that had had some success and had some power within the Yi Guin region. 1200 years after the formation of Yakosei, the Yogorans made a series of breakthroughs in physics and cognitive science. It is not fully understood but they claimed their new tech allowed them to continuously “see” everything in the solar system at once, from the position and speed of every space station to the chemical makeup of the dirt on someone’s shoe on earth. They made some impressive demonstrations, claimed they could use this technology to transcended the limits of the human mind, and become omniscient. They made a political campaign that they should take over the government of Yi Guin. They needed the resources of the regional government to finish their project and promised their fellow residents of Yi Guin to "uplift" them all to a god-like state in return.

This wasn't a coup or a even controversial campaign. The whole founding "myth" of Yakosei, and New Aeon as a whole, was to transcend the limits of humanity. That, by abandoning the ancient traditions and values of Earth cultures, and through technology and genetic engineering, one could become a god. They already demonstrated a big leap in science and technology and that alone, so their intelligence and success might qualify them to run the region in the minds of many. But they also convinced them that apotheosis was around the corner and invited them to be apart of it. So their campaign succeeded and the Yogorans took control of the Yiguin cloud.

Soon after the Yogorans claimed they succeeded. They gave themselves the godly title of "Omniscials". They did begin the process to uplift their citizens. They claimed it was a 3 step process. Each step be earned by demonstrating loyalty and intelligence. Most of Yi Guin was altered to their level 1 known as "Ansuk" but said they would have to be patient to progress further. but becoming Ansuk resulted in the vast majority of Yiguin becoming even more zeolous in this new Omniscial movement. Once most of Yiguin were Ansuk, the Omniscials declared to Yakosei government that they were the rightful rulers of the cluster. This time they did not campaign, they simply informed them that they would be taking over. Some Yakosei residents were excited at this prospect but the government did not take them serious. But soon after, Omniscials, with an army of Ansuk and an army of robots took over the cluster with ease. They simply apparated inside government buildings and military strongholds, neutralized weapons and captured leaders. Gradually they did the same with the other clusters and within 10 years they were in control of the entire aggregate.

The takeover of a region was always bloodless, initially. Their technology and strategy was almost supernatural and could not be resisted. But once they had control of a habitat, they were extremely harsh with any show of resistance. protests or attempts to retake a station were met with mass execution. So few attempts were made. They had an occupying force in many key yakosei habitats but as they continued to expand they used fewer and fewer, some just having a single Ansuk viceroy or robot representative. Most stations were allowed to continue to operate like always, allowing local leaders to stay in power as long as they acknowledge the the Omniscial's ultimate authority. They often didn't interfere much other than the occasional demand of a local product or resource. But they began hundreds of large construction projects with unclear purposes throughout the aggregate.

In general Nocturnals had a more favorable view of the Omniscials than the rest of the aggregate since they felt some national pride in the situation.

But the longer they lived the more mentally unstable the Yogora became. Perhaps due to a flaw in their augmentations, or being unable to sustain their new cosmic knowledge in their still human brains.  Either way, they all became increasingly mad. Their genius level strategic foresight and planning deteriorated and their goals and pursuits became convoluted and self contradictory.  Their empire only lasted less than a century until it began deteriorating enough for people to revolt. After only a few years their citizens succeeded in overthrowing them and killing most of them. The Yogora that survived the revolt died out soon after. In their wake they left behind thousands of mysterious, incomplete or nonsensical structures and a very confused generation.

### 1300 NA - The Corporate war

After the fall of the Omniscials, the cluster was divided. The Yakosei government, had been severely weakened having lost much government infrastructure. But the existing government leaders and their supporters, largely in the Mothris region, wanted to return to a united Yakosei, though with a stronger, more involved government. They wanted all science and new technologies to be controlled and regulated by the government to prevent another rogue faction from having the upper hand and destabilizing the cluster again. The Wezinkanyzi subcluster wanted a united Yakosei but did not trust the government to control science and technology. So they began to make plans for creating their own government.

Some Yoru corporations however had stayed strong and influential, some of them even aided by Omniscials so that they could produce some of the less proprietary technology for the Empire. Some the Industrial Yoru businesses had become powerful enough to rival the Yakosei government. Several Yoru businesses each wanted to take control of the cluster themselves. But some banded together and formed 3 strong corporate alliances that each were vying for control of the cluster; Kezua, Isometry, and Osmotic. For years these three corporate alliances warred with the government and with eachother. Kezua was able to take control of the cluster for a few years and destroyed Isometry.

But the remnant Mothris government and their citizens made a deal with Osmotic and together they eventually defeated Kezua. Their compromise was Mothris was able to reform a cluster government but that Osmotic would take control of half of the industrial Yoruto cylinders, while adhering to Yakosei authority. Wezinkanyezi did not trust either side but didn't have any military strength so they agreed to rejoin Yakosei but under their own subcluster government. But soon after Osmotic declared itself independent and separated from Yakosei.

## Culture

### General

Yakosei is perhaps the most diverse cluster, having produced more posthuman races with more extreme genetic alterations than most anywhere else. The Astrals are the predominant and oldest race, and tend to have the most influential culture. They pride themelves as having the people with the most acute senses and most resilient and novel biological bodies (though others might disagree). The Yakosei culture has been influenced through a few historical catastrophes which resulted in the loss of several space stations and millions of lives. Due to this they have come to value the hyper efficient use of energy and meticulous long-term planning. Many of the Nocturnal races have highly sensitive eyes which allow them to see in very low light as well as infrared. Due to this and their desire to not waste energy, Astrals traditionally keep their cylinders dimly lit in perpetual night.

### Economy/Neofauna

Genetic engineering is still an important part of Yakosei culture and economy and the most expert and successful genetic engineers and related companies are predominantly found in this cluster. Though humans/post-humans applications are now limited, and modifying plant life is ubiquitous across many cultures, Yakoseni are known for specializing in modifying animal life in ways that are illegal in many other clusters.

Many new creatures have been created by the Yakseni and a strong part of their economy centers around designing and producing animals to perform specific occupational tasks. Some of these have become an essential part of certain industries and ecosystems. Some of these include: cat sized super ants bred and trained as laborers for mining, farming and construction; massive omnivores that can eat and digest almost anything and used as part of the trash recycling process; and even bloodsports where vicious creatures are created and modified to fight each other to the death.

### Thralls

Since they had a high value in bioengineering, various companies have worked on engineering lifeforms to serve specific functions in place of electronics. Many of these would use a natural beast of burden or intelligent animals as a starting template. Biomaton was a company that began to use modify humans into mindless tools. Though this was not approved of by the general public, they still had some success selling these “mindless” humans to businesses for manual labor.

They eventually were able to preserve the intelligence of the human while keeping them 100% obedient to their superiors. These lifeforms are engineered to not develop the parts of the brain that gave them free will. They are to simply be biological machines, born without the capacity for emotions or desire for autonomy and have no rights as citizens. They called these products “thralls”. They developed many specialized thralls were successful for different applications and they sold many types to the government.  Now the majority of law enforcement and military work is done by thralls.

### Government

The government functions somewhat libertarian, maintaining some of the inter-station infrastructure and protection, and few high level laws regarding human rights, but leaves the governing of individual cylinders to themselves. Many of the leaders of cylinders are either business owners that run companies in the cylinder or the owners of the space station itself, often being descendants of the wealthy businesspeople who originally commissioned the station.

### Religion

More traditional Yakosians, particularly in the Mothris subcluster, are generally Luminists.

But in Wezinkanyezi and Yoruto, the controversial religion Omniism has grown over the last few centuries. Many Yakoseians still see the Omniscials as gods. They believe there were many that didn't go insane and never died and continue to look over Yakosei. They believe that they will help the zeolous scientist that strives to transcend humanity and if they prove themself the Omniscials will visit and bestow the mysteries of the universe. Those not of the faith, especially outside of Yakosei, are alarmed that anyone would revere these tyranical, genocidal dictators. But the Omniists differentiate from early Omniscials, lead by Gonalrast, from the later Omniscials, lead by Moragalist. They believe the original x number of Omniscials wer altruistic, benevolent gods, and Gonalrast chose to take over the aggregate to protect the aggregate and help the civilization advance. But the mad Omniscial Moragalist lead a coup and defeated Gonalrast. It was Moragalist and his followers who were violent and mad. and who poisoned the minds of the rest of the Omniscials and drove them into madness and death.

### Death

They don't have cemeteries or graveyards, instead most have "fungal mauseleums" in their home where the dead are interred. Fungus was an important part of early life in Mothris, as a special species was developed to efficiently recycle organic matter in the days when resources were precious and resupply deliveries were rare. this allowed them to be more independent and survive longer in emergencies. One species of fungus was developed specifically to decompose and recycle human remains. This fungus came to be known as "Greif Veil". Each spaceship (and later, each household) had a room, known as the fungal mauseleum, where the deceased were placed in sarcophagus-like chambers to be decomposed by the fungus, and chemicals collected and separated to be reused for other purposes. Steel memorial plaques dedicated to each deceased were welded to the walls of the mauseleum. The mushrooms that would grow out of openings in the fungal chambers were used for many purposes, such as a fertilizer for gardens or a direct food source when needed. This tradition continued throughout history even after they were no longer needed for practical purposes. Though recycling all organic materials is no longer vital, most Yakoseians still prefer to do so. Many Yakoseians still have fungal mauseleums in their homes where loved ones are interred and plaques are placed, but they don't often use the mushrooms for any purpose.

### Holidays

There is a Memorial Day to remember the dead, called "Kinen Day". Grief Cap mushrooms are traditionally eaten on this day as part of festivities though they don't necessarily come from mausoleum. In more traditional homes, they do still eat the mushroom from their own fungal mausoleum, especially if a loved one has recently died and been interred there, as a way of honoring them.

### Traditions

The mushroom calendar is a common feature of the living area in many Yakosei homes. As demonstrated above, fungus was an important part of early life in Mothris. After Mothris became a growing and stable nation, another type of specialized fungus that was engineered was the "Dayglow" mushroom. They were designed for precise 1 week cycles and used for novelty day-of-the-week calendars. These mushroom calendars have a square with a mushroom for each day of the week and though it takes 3-4 days for the mushroom to bloom and die, it glows for precisely 1 day. Only one mushroom glows at a time, indicating the day of the week. These calendars became a popular way to show pride in Yakosei heritage and memorialize the founding era of the cluster and became ubiquitous throughout yakosei.

## Subclusters

### Mothris / Keemasan

Maybe the region that is is a little more unified politically and tries to get the other cylinders to cooperate more. Where the central government and cluster military is headquartered. More regulation and laws than in the other clusters. More patriotic and unified culturally than the other clusters though less interested in the bioengineering of the other clusters which was once the foundation of their culture.

### Yoruto

Cylinders are mostly independent and controlled by their respective owners. Economy typically more focused on the production of the pretty universally legal neocreatures such as the ants, maintenancers, and trash eaters. Not so much focused on the innovation. And many others are agricultural habitats.

### Wezinkanyezi

Known for leading the aggregate in medical science and new bio innovations producing many newfauna. Some may be useful, some may be simply for experimentation and curiousity. Criminal organization produce the more dangerous creatures to be used as watchdogs or underground dog fights take place throughout Yakosei. Many do not trust the Yakosei government's returning desire to create more federal laws and regulate scientific discoveries, making many want to succeed. The subcluster is libertarian with little government oversight. Much of the scientific driven cylinders are wealthy and have strong ties with eachother,

### *Osmotic*

*The Osmotic Corporation officially controls the region and runs it like a business, with profits being most important. There is no such thing as human rights. Activists outside the region have called for the Aggregate to interfere and prevent the human rights violations but have so far been unsuccessful. Some believe that a primary goal of their leaders is to study and solve the mysteries of Omniscial technologies.*

### Yi Guin / The Fringe

The remnant Yogoran culture. Some Ansuk still live there that were partially uplifted by the Omniscials. They are referred to as the "Fringekin" or the "Remnant" by outsiders. They are generally reclusive...