Outworlder

Outworlders, also called Offworlders, are Shapeshifters who work off their native planet. The term originates within Shapeshifter culture and has since been adopted more broadly across other species to describe off-world occupations of their own, though the Shapeshifter context remains the primary one.

History

The concept of Outworlders can be traced back to the early days of Shapeshifter space exploration. As the desire to explore and acquire extraterrestrial resources grew, so did the need for individuals willing to work far from home. Outworlders developed as a formalised role to meet this demand, eventually becoming one of the most recognised occupational designations within Shapeshifter society.

Qualifications

Becoming an Outworlder requires significant preparation. Candidates undergo rigorous mental and physical training including spacecraft operation, simulations of extraterrestrial environments, and thorough safety protocols. The average age of a Shapeshifter on their first Outworlder assignment is around 40 years old.

Originally, there was no minimum age requirement as eligibility was determined purely by whether the training and qualifications had been completed. This changed following an incident in which a junior Shapeshifter technically satisfied all qualification requirements by the age of 17 and was formally registered as an Outworlder.

Roles & Assignments

A range of roles fall under the Outworlder designation, each with distinct responsibilities and mission types.

• Engineer - Assigned to construct habitats, communication networks, and repair or maintain infrastructure in off-world environments.
• Researcher - Assigned to study extraterrestrial environments and species, conduct experiments, and analyse and report on gathered data.
• Agent - Assigned to information-gathering and covert operations, leveraging Shapeshifter abilities for subtlety and infiltration.
• Enforcer - Assigned to deal with specific targets, including Outworlders who have defected from their assignments.

Outworlder assignments are detailed and specific by design. Each mission comes with extensive documentation, and Shapeshifters will become genuinely frustrated if given short or vague briefs to work from.

Defectors

Defectors are Outworlders who have abandoned their assignment and ceased reporting back to headquarters. Within Shapeshifter culture they are broadly regarded as traitors, though some degree of sympathy exists among those who understand the appeal of the freedom that abandoning Shapeshifter society's structures might offer. Defectors are handled by Enforcers when located.

Outworlders in M'Zerian style suits

Reputation

Shapeshifters

Outworlders are recognised within Shapeshifter culture as explorers and contributors to the species' understanding of the universe. They return with unusual stories, objects, and forms from their travels. However extended contact with other species leads many Outworlders to adopt behaviours and mannerisms from those encounters, which can make them seem odd or strange to Shapeshifters who have not left home.

One particular aspect of Outworlder culture the Shapeshifter Administration would prefer not to discuss is the prevalence of romantic and sexual relationships with other species. Time away from home, sustained exposure to other aliens, and distance from the social norms of Shapeshifter society have made cross-species relationships an extremely common feature of Outworlder life.

Other Species

The secretive nature of Shapeshifters in general, combined with uncertainty about what hidden agenda an Outworlder may be pursuing, makes them a source of suspicion for many species they encounter. When it comes to Defectors specifically, some find their rejection of the Administration as reassuring, though others find the unpredictability unsettling.