The IntraGalactic Survey (IGS)

Anyone that travels outside of their home star system knows about the IGS. The IGS provides four major services to the galaxy. First, it travels the universe seeking out new inhabitable worlds, charting new star systems, and surveying potential colony worlds. Second, it builds, maintains, and patrols commercial jump stations throughout the quadrant that remain strictly neutral and available to all. Third, the IGS maintains the network of Galactic Relative Time (GRT) pulse buoys throughout the civilized parts of the galaxy. Fourth, it charts, files, and maintains mining claims that are universally recognized.

The IGS is the largest, most powerful, and influential UCOR in the Galaxy. The star system name and numbering system that allocates a 0 to Avalorr, 17 to Capella, 21 to Tor-Nor, 31 to Mohr, and 120 to Sol was created, codified, and used by the IGS long before regular travel between these systems was possible.

For over a hundred and fifty years, the IGS has been providing these services and charting the stars regardless of wars, recessions, or galactic turmoil. Generating all of its revenue from tolls collected by its jump buoys, they have become the very backbone of the galaxy.

Interesting Facts & Figures on the IGS
Began as the Office of Charting and Survey, founded in 2127
Averages 250 new mining and colony operations charted each year.
The IGS regularly contracts private citizens, scientists, adventurers, and explorers as part of an IGS auxiliary program known as the Galactic Ranger Corps.
Maintains 397 public and private jump stations covering the known galaxy with more being surveyed and built each year. Current IGS Census estimates place the population of our galactic quadrant at 760 billion.
Expanded in power with the nationalization of the now defunct Adonese private corporation formerly known as Galactic Transport Services founded in 2154.
IGS pioneered the development and use of the Dynamic Stream jump station.
The pride of the IGS cold navy, the Vanguard Class explorer ships, are 917 meters long from its forward observation deck to the back of its engine shrouds. These politically neutral explorer vessels feature components from 3 major UCORs (RMI, Borsig-Spline, and Hughes-Marietta) and 17 minor corps. They can support their full crew of 2000 scientists, researchers, technicians, explorers, and their families indefinitely, assuming their hydroponics systems are fully functional (six months on stored supplies alone). However, three years is the practical limit for a single voyage. For defense, the Vanguard class ships mount 32 defense turrets and a small flight deck with two fighters and six shuttlecraft as well as docking ports for up to 4 additional small craft. Several modular components of the Vanguards can be jettisoned and atmospherically dropped to a planet’s surface to establish a community or primaforming colony in the event of an emergency.
The IGS has maintained its neutrality throughout all of the Galactic Wars, continuing to conduct exploration operations in the Galactic Frontier. By several treaties, the location of any military deserter is to be transmitted to the proper authorities. However, it is well known that the IGS doesn’t actively look for deserters in its own ranks, and if a deserter keeps a low profile, they are effectively safe.

Content on this page used with permission from Talon Games