The Advent, whose society is known collectively as “The Unity,” is a highly advanced pseudo-religious civilization that relies heavily on spiritualism, psychic prowess and cybernetic technologies. A sense of elitism permeates the Unity, and is most strongly expressed through the high value its members place on psionic ability.
History
The Advent evolved well before recorded history. It is said that it began as one of many broken peoples who sought spiritual escape on peripheral worlds following the great wars.
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Another five years passed and the Advent Coalesences began to turn on each other. The Loyalists seek only to continue their quest for dominance over the lesser species, and to exact vengeance upon those who banished them and left them for ruin. The Rebels, who sense corruption within the Unity, driving the Advent's mad hunger for retribution, seek to cleanse the Unity of such deviation from its teachings, and to establish diplomatic, if not peaceful, relations with the TEC and the Vasari.
Culture
At an early age, Advent children are taught to seek enlightenment in whichever way naturally suits them and it is common to see even the very young using neurochemicals or artificial implants to augment their mental abilities. This advanced level of integration with their technology – known as PsiTech – is largely responsible for the Advent‘s strange sense of collectivism, and allows the sharing of thoughts and feelings on an almost innate level.
Navigating, interpreting, and shaping are highly prized skills in Advent culture and one’s mastery in these areas forms the basis of the Unity‘s social hierarchy. Females in particular demonstrate a natural prowess and have come to dominate the higher castes, called Coalescences. Then there are the Silent Ones - those who are unable to participate in the Unity‘s group mind - they are exceptionally rare and universally shunned.
Technology
Advent technological levels are vastly superior to the TEC's and is roughly on par with the alien Vasari's. They excel because of a wonder called PsiTech which amplifies their mental ability above all other races'. It is also used in the everyday life of Advent civilians and helps improve the workforce supply for the Advent military.
Weaponry & Defense
The Advent people pride themselves on their advancements in technology over the TEC during the past one thousand years. Where the Advent has flourished by having no restrictions on technological expansion, the TEC have been under the strict guidance of the Trade Order's leaders: the TEC's technology has remained almost stagnant as they rely primarily on chemically-propelled missiles and cannon shells, as well as low-grade lasers. By contrast, Advent armaments consist almost entirely of directed energy weapons, with the exception of ship-to-surface kinetic bolts. Superior in defensive design as well, Advent shields are able to mitigate far more damage than TEC or even Vasari defences will allow.
However, the Advent favor cheap, lightly armored ships with lower hull strength, preferring sophisticated shield systems to bulky armor. All Advent structures and spaceships are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and are typically slenderer and sleeker than TEC or Vasari designs.
PsiTech
PsiTech is the technology that members of the Advent use to augment their mental abilities. This allows them to accomplish tasks through the use of their mind instead of physical power. This makes the Advent especially powerful and potentially advantageous in many aspects: although Vasari phase detection is arguably superior to the Advent's, it requires large machines and multiple Vasari to monitor the phase lanes, whereas the Advent needs only to utilize a small group of Scryers who use their mental power to detect enemies approaching Advent territory.
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