“I should also cover one of the social goals of the project. Backward worlds like Earth have always exhibited xenophobic tendencies when introduced to galactic society. Such people go their whole lives thinking that they are Gods only creation, made in his image and so forth… Even when they imagine that other forms of intelligent life may exist, they imagine such people would be genocidal and bent on either destroying or enslaving them.”

“I believe that we can use Omnia, to introduce the Earth human population to the reality and benefits of our multi-sentient society. So that when the time comes to bring them into our community, they may not exhibit xenophobic fear and hatred.

***

Kevin entered the new room, which Samantha created for the Omnia game; it was like he had just stepped out into space. He could see and feel the black stone textured floor beneath his feet, but the walls and ceiling all around, except the door, looked like clear glass, and beyond the walls there were countless stars.

For a moment Kevin didn’t breathe, the stars were so clear, without all the flicker and light distortion he was used too. They were just breathtaking.

He slowly walked around the room, and by doing so, he could see that the stars were not projected on the walls. The walls themselves felt like smooth glass to the touch.

“Sam? Are you there?”

“Yes, Kevin”

“This room is amazingly beautiful. So what do we do next?”

“Well, since we have already changed your appearance… Your physical condition has been evaluated and your starting stats have been calculated…We just need to select how you would like to start.”

“Wait, what about skills, and classes?”

“This is a classless game, and your skills are your own. The skills you know and have learned are the skills you use in the game. For instance you now have some basic skills in survival, hand to hand combat, and small arms. Your previous schooling gives you some skills in reading, writing, math and engineering. You have many skills, too many to list now, like walking, and swimming. Would you like to see one of your skill ranks now?”

“Yes, show me engineering.”

[table=#004A7F] Engineering: Novice level 6 [/table]

“Five years of college and I’m ranked as a level 6 novice? What are the skill ranks anyway, what does novice mean?”

“The skill ranks are: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert. In each rank there are ten levels.”

“So why am I ranked so low then?” asked Kevin.

“Well, even though you have training, you don’t have years of experience, and the rank is based on a futuristic level of technology. So even the best engineers on Earth only rate about Competent level 4 or 5.”

“I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of people surprised to learn their levels of in-game skills. But for the best people in the world to be only mid-level, how can this be true? That suggests that this game offers skills beyond the best in the world? Can even an A.I. do that?”

“I can’t answer all your questions, but yes, in time, you can develop skills that surpass the best people on earth, with enough training. That is, unless they too start playing the game.”

Kevin had his doubts, but so far every claim Samantha made has proven true.

“Well, that’s what I’m here for right? To see if things like these skill levels are right?”

“Yes, but more to see how well everything works together. While every part of the game and pod has been tested, this will be a test to see how you as an individual adapt to the technology, and as Intelecom gathers data from all one thousand of the alpha testers, they will then be able to fine tune the systems.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of alpha testers.”

“Yes, the number is high to give the lowest possible margin of error on the statistical data collected.”

Kevin nodded. Statistics and margins of error were second nature to an engineering student. “That makes sense, expensive though.” Kevin shrugged, it wasn’t his money, but again it would explain part of the price of the pods.

“So what does novice mean?”

“It means you’re still at the level where you need to stick to learned rules and plans in order to be able to use the skill. This level of skill does not allow much chance of success in modifying schematics. Failure in attempting a modification will lead to little or no learning.”

“At Advance beginner level, you still have a lot of trouble modifying existing schematics, but you gain more insight and skill experience from your successes and failures.”

“The level of Competent, suggests that you have the skill to build schematics from known working components, like building a new device from off the shelf parts. This level also indicates a higher level of learning from failure, and a more detailed understanding of the basic details of your skill.”

“The fourth rank, Proficient, indicates a holistic appreciation of engineering, and indicates an increasing ability to detect deviations, that may cause a design to fail ahead of time.”

“An Expert is a master in his field of knowledge. He is able to transcend the rules and guidelines to make wholly unique and new designs, from the most minor part up, and is able to determine with great accuracy if a design will work properly.”

“This is the description of the ranks of an engineer, but the basics apply to any skill you learn. The higher the rank of skill, the longer it takes to reach the next rank. So skills at the expert level, masters and grand masters take many years to learn their professions.”

“What about the skill training, you said you can get skill templets to help me learn faster?”

“Yes, Novice skills I can upload for free using your gold account. This level of account will only allow me to download one Advanced basic skill book for free a standard month. More advanced skill books are available for sale with in-game currency, or cash, but you don’t need to worry about those skill books for now.”

“So, why don’t I just learn all the available skills at the Novice level?”

“Because there are thousands of skills you could learn, trying to learn them all will stall out your growth, we could spend a hundred years having you learn just the novice level of all the skills available. This is why there are communities and teams; no one has enough time to learn everything. The more advanced the technologies of the world are, the more this rule is true.”

“So the question is, what skills do you think you would have the most fun learning? And part of this game is discovering what you love doing, and how that plays a part in your relationships with others.”

“What do you mean, about my relationship to others?” asked Kevin.

“Well, if you find that you love the life of a pirate, it will have a great impact on how others see and relate to you.”

“Ah, simple, you made everything seem so complicated for a second.”

“Ok, so you said that I needed to select how I would like to start? What do you mean, doesn’t everyone start in the same place?” ‘If not how was he going to team up with Gordon?’ he thought.

“No, not at all; the galaxy is vast, and the game being run by an A.I. means that a set start point is not required. So everyone is given a separate start point, based on a combination of your skills, stats, and the level of challenge you select, the A.I. will choose a place for you to start. For the alpha test, players will be limited to the territory of the Imperium of Sentients and Human or Sub-human races that match your height and current stats.”

As Kevin listened to the answer, he thought, ‘Every answer brings up more questions, what’s the Imperium of Sentients. More importantly right now …’

“What races are there to choose from?”

“Here, let me show you.” said Samantha. And a row of people appeared, there were people that looked like birds, raccoons, and lizards. Then there were the more classic people that you find in fantasy settings, people that looked like dwarves, elves, and humans. There were 8 in all, but all of them were male, and all bipedal.”

“As an alpha tester, you will be limited to these races.” And all the race choices disappeared leaving only the human and elf, and half-elf races.

“So, Elves are considered a sub-human variant?”

“Yes, elves and dwarves are genetic variants of the base human genome. This is why they are able to interbreed. In your case, dwarves have been removed because you are too tall for even a dwarf-human hybrid.”

“Once Intelecom is satisfied with their testing, expect other races to be unlocked. It may be possible to switch races then, but there will be a heavy penalty involved.”

“This isn’t a fantasy, right? So, why would elves and dwarves exist in a futuristic society?”

“We don’t know for sure. Scientists and historians speculate that many thousands of years ago there was a galactic human empire. They think that these early humans, as they first set out to explore the galaxy found planets that supported life, but either had gravity that was too high or too low for humans to live on. The heavy worlds caused problems with joins and bones, and females could not bear young due to miscarriages. Light worlds caused bones to become thin and brittle. So the theory is that these early humans, having found very few livable worlds, decided to experiment with genetic alteration of a part of their population.”

“It is believed that this early empire fell apart due to a civil war that left their worlds devastated, and that they nearly wiped themselves out. Another theory, supported by many human supremacist groups, is that they were nearly wiped out by aliens. Either way, this early empire fell. When humans managed to climb back into space, these human variants discovered each other. They were surprised that other forms of humanity existed… but the longtime of separation caused them to become different sub-species. So human variants can interbreed, but only human and elf, or human and dwarf matchings are able to produce a live child, and that child is barren.”

“OK, tell me about my options; human, elf and half-elf?”

“Yes, since humans are the base race for most of the people of the Imperium, the statistical rating system is based on their limits. The normal limit for a human with a perfected genome is 5.0 across the board. Compared to the average limits for people here on Earth which are closer to 2.1 for all values. For instance, an Olympic gymnast would rate close to 2.1 at the peak of their career.”

“Wow, on this scale I must look pathetic. What are my stats, and how can I get above this 2.1 limit for a Earth human?"

Samantha brought up a blue screen for Kevin to examine:

[table=#004A7F]

Name: Horatio Drake

Race: Human (Earth sub-type)

Hit Points: 120

Combat Level: 1.0

Strength: 1.0 (max 1.9)

Charisma: 1.0 (max 1.8)

Agility: 0.9 (max 2.0)

Intelligence: 1.5 (max 2.1)

Dexterity: 0.9 (max 1.8)

Wisdom: 0.8 (max 1.7)

Constitution: 1.2 (max 1.9)

Memory: 1.3 (max 2.1)

Maximum values, are based on personal genetics.

[/table]

“A standard gene therapy, would get your character up to about 3.5, there are some high end commercial clinics that offer a 4.0 guaranty, otherwise you would have to sign onto a 20 year military enlistment for one that would take you to 4.5, military elite are the only people who the Imperium will pay to raise up to the 5.0 limit. Such procedures are lengthier and exponentially more expensive as the price increases. The benefits to a higher genetic limit are the rate you are able to increase your base stats, and they offer a longer healthier life.”

“Elves are based on stock bred for lighter gravity worlds. They have a racial max of 6.0 to agility, but have less strength, with a maximum of 4.0. They have slightly enhanced hearing, and low light vision. Elves are also considered to be more attractive and have a longer base life span. But their race lost some constitution in trade, with a maximum of 4.0.”

“A half-elf is a balance between both races, but they are born sterile, unable to have children.”

“How much better are the elf and half elf at seeing in the dark?” asked Kevin.

“The Elves are about 30% better at seeing in low light and half elves 15% better. But there are many ways to enhance low light vision. Almost any armor you end up wearing will have sensors built in.”

“Remember, your stats are the base for your body, but there are many technical aids available, including powered armor and implants. There are even some people that go all the way into becoming cyborgs. But everything has its draw backs. Cheap augments are subject to hacking and E.M. interference. And the costs of augments also go up fast with quality.”

“Well I’m used to being human, and I don’t like all these tradeoffs. So I’ll stay as I am, until I can afford genetic therapy.”

The images disappeared.

“Now we are down to the last choice. You can choose a normal start up, or a challenger mode. With the normal start, you will start the game in a town, city or station, which has jobs and training facilities that match your skill level. There are three challenger modes, they are designed for people who want to test themselves, they offer a chance at pushing you to develop your combat potential faster, and the possibility of better loot. The challenger levels are hard, very hard, or impossible. I would not suggest the impossible; it’s designed as a military challenger level?”

Kevin thought about his level of fitness, and what he learned in training.

“What happens if I die in a challenger level?”

“Death in the game is not permanent, to prevent permanent death, there are clones you can purchase. At your level a clone will cost you about 100 credits. Activating a clone will keep you out of the game for a day in real time, or 4 in-game days.”

“Another thing to remember, when you die, everything on your body is lootable, any implants and augments are lost. If someone you’re teamed up with loots your corpse, at least you can get some of your gear back. So the penalty for death can hit you real hard.”

“With a normal start-up, you would start with 100 credits. So the cost of losing your life in challenger mode is 100 credits and 4 in-game days.”

“By the way, the price of clones scales up with your level. Clone revivals are one of the ways you can go into contract debt in the game, and failure to pay that debt could lead to contract slavery, until the debt is paid off.”

“Slavery?” asked Kevin.

“Just don’t get into debt and it’s not a problem. Slavery is for people who refuse to pay their debts, and non-violent criminals who owe a debt to society and their victims. But slavery is not like it was here on Earth, slaves still have rights. But that whole area of the law can be a complex subject.”

“How would you like to start the game?”

To Kevin it sounded like the easy choice was for wimps, and people afraid to take chances. What was that phrase? It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win. (John Paul Jones.)

‘So, hard or very hard?’ was the question Kevin asked himself.

“Very hard.”

“Last question, by what name would you like to be known?”

“Horatio Drake.” Kevin had always loved the Hornblower novels, and what better name then one of the most famous Privateers in history. Of course it will mean nothing to the NPC’s, but both names are goals to live up to. ‘Anyway, Drake sounds cool.’ thought Kevin…

“The names Drake… Horatio Drake.” Said Kevin to himself, admiring the way the new name sounded.

“OK! Let’s start!”