Welcome to the Nanite Imperium

  What you, as a new member of the Imperium, need to know!

  Greetings, new citizen of the Imperium,

  While the Imperium is a young empire, there is already much you need to know about our illustrious history and the exciting people within. This document—included in all Welcome Packets—will help get you up to speed quickly and let you know all of the most important people and events.

  Let’s get right to it, shall we?

  Origin of the Imperium -

  Early Years

  The story of the Imperium begins not too long ago but very far away. A young woman named Nellie Bonne Chance was abducted from her home on the distant planet Earth and dumped in ship wreckage, floating forgotten in an undeveloped ore belt in the Sectors.

  With the help of a Nanite AI she called Lucy, they cobbled together a ship dubbed the ‘Bly.’ In the process of starting a small haulage business, Nellie made friends with a man called Crush-Cha and many others, but her new life was not to last.

  The Sectors is a backward, brutal place, and they fear one thing above all others: Nanites.

  A small misunderstanding arising from a small murder resulted in Nellie being discovered, hunted, and eventually shot down over the only planet in the system that supported life—the Hub World.

  (If you would like to know more, see the popular retelling of this event dramatized in the exciting Electronic Novel - Nellie and the Nanites, available now on all good datapads!)

  The ever-inventive Lucy managed to save Nellie from death, although some organic material was lost along the way.

  A great trek began across the harsh surface of the planet, and Nellie became stronger with almost every step. Finally returning to civilization, Nellie was once more called to help the young genius Paren-Far. The girl had managed to get herself into trouble thanks to—REDACTED—!

  Now a ‘Prime Drone’ Paren was converted to be entirely human in appearance, and Nellie and her new ‘daughter’ proceeded to set up shop in a ship junkyard in an overlooked part of the Hub world.

  Just when things looked like they were looking up once more, the Sectors erupted into Civil War, and the Hub was invaded by a foreign power.

  The beginning of the Rise!

  Nellie turned herself into something of a folk hero over the course of the war, and old friends reunited as Crush-Cha revealed his military training and aided in the resistance. Nellie, true to her nature, helped the abandoned and overlooked as the Scrapyard grew into a small town. (NOTE: Very much an early prototype for the later Nanite Imperium)

  There was war, armies, rampaging animals, psychotic leaders, and even some masterful spy work by the eventual leader of the Hub - Prit-Mal.

  A huge step towards the future was made as Nellie rescued a group of Synthetics who would go on to be crucial leaders in the future Imperium. (See Notable Figures for more)

  Eventually, even her patience was pushed too far and Nellie and Lucy revealed themselves, leaving the planet as Lucy enjoyed her first physical body and the future Queens came to terms with their love for each other.

  They let the sectors behind in the company of an ARC ship under the control of a man known only as ‘Duke’ and a small warship controlled by Duke’s sister.

  (See Nellie and the Nanites Book Two - Nanites At War for more!)

  Fresh Starts!

  A doomed colony, greedy leaders, and the rise of a true hero.

  What could have been a glorious new beginning starts bad and gets worse as Nellie and the Crew of the new and improved Bly try to keep the peace between a collection of disturbingly advanced aliens and Duke’s colonists.

  It does not end well, and as Nellie tries to crack the secret of mysterious abandoned facilities in several places, things heat up.

  The founding of the first Imperium Station - Bly’s Rest - was barely complete before a new complication arrived.

  The corrupt trading company ‘The Imperial Line’ attempts to strong-arm both the colony and Nellie. It ends badly for everyone involved, and the Imperium loses its first heroes.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  Worse still, the newly named Nanite Imperium is now at war with the Imperial Line itself.

  (See Nellie and the Nanites - Book 3 - Crashed Hope and Last Chances for so much more!)

  The Final Challenge!

  The Imperial Line blockaded the Imperium at the worst possible time.

  With only one of the two Queens available, the drive to improve and succeed was greater than ever.

  While many of the individual events at this time are still classified, the results are known to the entire galaxy.

  The Imperial Line was sent running, and the Imperium became a true force to be reckoned with. (NOTE: First appearance of the Imperium Class Battleship - Harbinger)

  As the enemy retreated and with the Twin Queens reunited, the Imperium was now ready to greet the universe at large.

  (See Book Four - Consolidation if your security clearance is high enough for more!)

  So, there you have the short but exciting story of the founding of the Nanite Imperium, a society at the cutting edge of technology, nanite integration, and loyalty.

  Why not go and get a steaming cup of HyperDrive before we continue? Our very own Queen Nellie refined the recipe!

  Notable Figures:

  Nellie Bonne Chance - Founder of the Imperium, Queen, Orphan, Captain, Leader, and occasional Scrap Merchant.

  Orphaned at birth, Nellie grew up in ‘Canada’ (Don’t ask, we don’t know either. It's probably on Earth somewhere.) Still at least 60% original parts!

  Lucy - Silicate Intelligence bonded to Nellie. Originally, she lived in a small orb deeply buried in Nellie’s brain, but now in her own Silicate Body—Co-Queen of the Nanite Imperium.

  Paren - Adopted daughter of the Queens. A brilliant but terrifying young woman who has made all the difference as the Imperium developed—fondness for terrifying creatures, creations, and seeing other people and animals as spare parts.

  Salem - Herald of the Queens, Station Administrator of Bly’s Rest. Synthetic Life Form upgraded with full nanite integration. Nellie’s best friend and stickler for detail and efficiency.

  Baz - Customized Synthetic created by Lucy. Chief Pilot of the Imperium and partner to Salem. A natural-born smuggler with a surprising side-project in AI programming.

  Dar - Commander of the Bly’s Rest forces, assistant to Salem. Synthetic life form with military programming.

  Remy - Chief of Security of the Nanite Imperium. Originally programmed as a spy before conversion by Nellie and Lucy. Brilliant, dedicated, and created the revolutionary Jump Ring protection system during the Imperial Line Blockade.

  Leah - Living Flesh with advanced interior technology of unknown origin. Species unknown. Extreme fondness for knives and extensive training in assassination.

  Adopted by Nellie before the start of the Blockade

  Robot - Cybernetic life form found in an abandoned research laboratory, now housed in an advanced robotic body. Mental stability is questionable.

  Logistics Officer Cheape - Recruited from the Imperial Line by Marshall Crush Cha. Rising fast due to dedication to duty and a can-do attitude!

  Carl Edwards - Captured by Paren and Leah, later recruited to the Imperium and extensively modified by Paren. Current Paramor of Princess Paren.

  Imperium Technology

  Smilers - Very large nanite-infused centipedes trained and bred by Paren. They are all sub-Drones, all loyal, and extremely vicious if provoked. It is easily identified by the mandibles on the front. They form the shape of a twisted smile and are covered in a dense, silvery metal.

  Some models are able to split in half to reveal organic laser arrays.

  Walkers - Humanoid version of the Smilers created by Carl Edwards. Able to learn a job via download to their implants. Strong, fast, and completely non-aggressive. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not get marked as ENEMY by the nanite network while in range of Walkers. This will be your only warning.

  Vicky Modular Boost Suit - Not everyone is comfortable with nanites swarming through their system, and others may not have earned the level of Drone yet. Thus, an incredibly powerful set of power armor was created. While this is strictly a non-military suit, it is capable of spacewalks and features a selection of upgrade possibilities.

  Imperium Class Battleship - Created in response to the Imperial Line blockade, this is the largest class of warship ever created. Lined on each side with laser arrays and rail gun turrets, it is nearly indestructible in combat. Boasts four XL Beam weapons (Planet killers)

  Liberty Class Cruiser - Smaller cruiser version of the Imperium class created by Marshall Sec for the use of the Marshalls of the Nanite Imperium. Later adopted as the default cruiser design.

  Centrum Units - Large robots made of a reinforced steel alloy. Created initially as silent, disposable troops they have now been raised to consciousness.

  Cent Units - Smaller versions of the Centrums. Dozens of bodies share one of four cores based on a single archetype each. Known as Prim, Sec, Tri, and Quad.

  Unique versions have started to appear.

  Nanites - The secret weapon and savior of the Imperium. If it exists in the Imperium, it either runs on, is made of, maintained by, or was built by nanites.

  Infused into humans, they provide increased strength, stamina, speed, healing, cognitive function, and all senses.

  No limit has yet been found.

  The only known counter is the Anit-Nanite-Pulse created by the I.E.S.

  Significant Groups

  The Sagacity - A society that worships knowledge in all things.

  The Confederated Planets - A series of planets ruled by Clans that attempted to seize the Imperium System while aiding the Imperial Line. Hostile.

  The Clutch - A group of incredibly advanced aliens that live in villages that appear almost Hunter-Gatherer in nature. Seem to have near-unlimited ability. Friendly.

  The Silicates - A race of dimension-hopping robotic intelligences in silicate bodies. Origin of the supposed ‘A.I.’ systems in our world. Queen Lucy recently discovered her own ties to these people. Friendly.

  The Imperial Line - Corrupt, extortionate, and entirely legal. What a universe!

  Kill any Imperial Line ship on sight, currently at War with the Nanite Imperium.

  I.E.S. - REDACTED. KILL ON SIGHT. REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS IMMEDIATELY.