| Description: The Bulan is a race that bears some resemblance to the terrestrial Gecko, though standing at a height of 1.7 meters and having five-digit hands. As for the tail it is held above the ground instead of being dragged. Skin color ranges from dark green to pale yellow. The one readily apparent distinction between the sexes is that males have red eyes while females have green eyes.Bulan females typical give birth to one to three offspring. Favoring humid climates, Bulan settled in asteroid and hostile environment colonies typically construct several large environmental domes that replicate homeworld conditions. Civilization on Bulus arose from a multitude of clans and their assemblage of related families. Relations between clans involve marriage, usually arranged and centered on mutual defense treaties and trade. At the onset of spaceflight these clans moved out and colonized their home system. Low-level fighting, always a staple of Bulan life, followed into space as well. Asteroid outposts and colonies exchanged ownership during these small wars. For race-wide decisions and settlement of minor desputes a yearly conclave was held on the homeworld. Ignorant of warp points, the Bulan expected that the normal way of things would continue for some time. That changed as the Terpla'ns arrived and made peaceful first contact.with the Bulan. That, however, lasted less than a month. A Hazen survey force, following the Terpla'ns, entered the Bulan system, detecting a multitude of asteroid habitats and swarms of Bulan ships. A conclave was quickly held and was decided that representatives of one clan would great the visitors. First contact was established, and all was proceeding smoothly until the Hazen chief negotiator inadvertantly insulted his Bulan counterpart. The insult was particularly bad, and the Bulan would only be satisfied when it was settled with blood. Thus, as soon as the Hazen returned to their ship the Bulan opened fire. Outnumbered three to one, the Hazen were destroyed in minutes, but their courier drones got away. The Hazen quickly mobilized. Utilizing its firepower advantage the Hazen fleet smashed the numerous Bulan flottilas and occupied fourteen asteroid colonies. Seeking to stop the fighting, the Terpla'ns intervined and managed to get both sides to the peace table, though at the cost of having several ships lost in the process. It would be years, when both Hazen and Bulan forces fought side-by-side in the Axis war, before lingering mistrust and resentment between the two races was eliminated. After the Hazen war the Bulan found that their conclave-style government needed some perminant features. Instead of once a year, the Conclave now met three times a year. Another result was the creation of the Foreign Relations Office (FRO), responsible for all dealings with other nations. Though not entirely accurate, the Director of the FRO could been seen as the prime minister of the Bulan race. Then there was the Bulus Military Force, an organization that coordinated military activity outside Bulan territory. Other than the temporary grudge against the Hazens, the Bulan were quite friendly with other members of the Republic. Due to their strong sense of independence, the Bulans didn't amalgamate with the Republic (later the CPS), but were committed partners when it came to territorial security. They were also adept in gathering intelligence and system surveys. During the Fendalen war the bulk of the battlecruiser-sized survey ships used by the CPS were Bulan-crewed. It was one such survey squadron that found the warp link leading into the home sector of the Fendalen Kingdom, changing the entire complextion of the war. |