Etiquette Empire
The Etiquette Empire takes place in a science fiction setting where an authoritarian Earth government has been conquered by an alien empire known as the Tikud Empire. The stories told in this universe are for adults.
Taking Command
This series centers on the adventures of a human captain named Kasey Ellis as she adjusts to commanding a multi-cultural ship in service of the Tikud Empire.
Stories
- The Emperor in Ochre — First book in the Etiquette Empire series. Kasey Ellis earns a promotion and a transfer to a new ship. Learn more here or go straight to books2read to find the book
Glossary
- cFTL — Conventional Faster Than Light technology. It allows ships to travel between star systems in days instead of years but it is relatively slow compared to the X Drive.
- X Drive — A technology which allows ships to traverse many light years in a matter of seconds. X Drive requires a large ship to function. Smaller ships pay to enter the X Field of a larger ship to travel longer distances in a shorter period of time than they would normally be able to manage on their own.
History
In the 2200s, humanity first invented the cFTL drive. In the immediate aftermath, an Earth organization comprised of members from most human nations conquered the rest of humanity. They expanded humanity's presence in the galaxy. This group called humanity The Unconquered and their rule was brutal.
The Unconquered attacked and subjugated the first alien life they encountered in the galaxy. They conquered several colonies before they drew the attention of the Tikud Empire. The Tikud Empire is the largest the galaxy has ever seen. The Tikud hold sway over dozens of sentient species. Humans were conquered by the Tikud in 2231 after a short war.
The human military now serves the Tikud Empire. Only some human officers are allowed to serve on Imperial ships.
Species
- Tikud — The Tikud are, by human standards, very tall and thick. They have thick skin with cartilaginous 'armor' under their skin that protects key parts of their body. They are almost unstoppable in hand-to-hand combat. They have a complex polity which is inscrutable to most outsiders. They rule the Tikud empire which Humans now belong to. A common Tikud interest in correct etiquette is the reason some humans have referred to them as the Etiquette Empire.
- Fezjh — The Fezjh have similarities to foxes. They have big, triangular ears, different colored coats, and fluffy tails. When they reach adulthood, they join a clan and typically live and work with other members of their clan. A group of Fezjh from a single clan live in a den and sleep with each other non-monogamously.
- Markaz — A bug-like species. They are often taller than humans. They are one of the earliest species to become subjects of the Tikud empire. A normal adult female might be seven feet tall. They typically have six arms with two vestigial. Their faces are a little flat and normally have four compound eyes on the front sides.
- Dipl — Squat, thick, and a little lizard like with six eyes. They don't appear to have tails.
- Skidjen — Their eyes appear solely white. Their skin is often called dark but it doesn't have a set color. Instead, it changes colors depending on the moods and thoughts of the individual. Skidjen have the ability to exercise a limited form of precognition that they call the path or the strand. Their native form of communication involves rapidly switching colors on parts of their bodies rather than vibration of sound. They speak through an interpretation device which can be attached to either a necklace or a watch.
- Scourge — An epithet for humans who intentionally live outside of Tikud controlled space.
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