rollin' on dubs
The setting for the "show" Victory:
'Droids, Dee-Bees, Biobots, Sierras (for synthetic), Synths, “Synners” (an insult), plastic polly (pussy), toasters, blenders, robots= In 2137, AI and robotic research and genetic engineering were advanced enough that some scientists had created living organisms and cyborgs. Andrea Fleming and Mohan Singh designed a “living machine” that would adapt to its environment, program itself and be able to replace robots and humans for many tasks. They had several prototypes, but no interest in the United Earth Government nor the corporations on or off Earth.
Then several star systems seceded from the UEG. Most were agricultural worlds but some had a heavy industrial base. Earth was in the process of “de-industrailzation”, removing most heavy industry and turning Earth into a “paradise”. Heavy losses and several defeats forced Earth Defense Forces to try anything to turn the tide. The cyborg “supersoldier” program failed when several defected to the separatist forces. Others were sabotaged or were defeated by separatists forces using power armor. The cyborgs became a fallback, many soldiers sent back to the front lines, their bodies rebuilt, but their minds no longer whole.
The Southern Cross and it's allied movements (Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Stellar Union and Alliance of Independent Colonies, collectively the “Secessio Plebis”) waged a guerrilla campaign and a successful naval campaign. The EDF's Space Forces were holding the line and promised a victory after destroying the main Southern Cross shipyard. However Earth Intelligence reported the existence of several “stay behind” cells. The Secessio Plebis Liberation Army continued to harass Earth's ground forces. Piracy from several alien races (armed with weapons taken from both sides) stretched the Space Forces thin. A disastrous first contact with the Cay Union started a war that threatened the existence of humanity.
Enter the bio-droids. A CPU based on the human brain inside a synthetic body powered by a fusion battery. They could eat, grow and most importantly think like a human. However they are tougher, faster and stronger than any human. Even the cyborg supersoldiers couldn't fly fighters or fight as long as the bio-droids.
SPLA was defeated as their ground forces were unable to hurt the morale of soldiers programmed to fight. The bio-droids were able to successfully interpret and implement the Rules of Engagement the EDF had set fourth. With one glaring exception, most of the ground forces found many of the “troops” fighting alongside the bio-droids. Aerospace fighters, gunners on starships, bomb disposal crews, and other dangerous jobs had humans augmented or replaced with bio-droids.
Most humans on Earth view them as tools. Most colonists view them as tools of oppression. Even the super soldiers had a morals. Many of ''borgs defected to the Southern Cross (those that stayed were given the choice of “retirement” or staying on with the EDF).
Rossum Research Development Corporation (RRDC) now commands a huge share of defense contracts. The bio-droids serve as troops, pilots, navigators on starships (some are even the CPU of the larger ships), mechanics, support troops and most recently, medics for ground force units. There are still human soldiers and starship crews, but they frequently serve alongside many bio-droids.
Despite their advances, the UEG forced an armistice with the SPLA. The Southern Cross Mustered Citizenry took in the SPLA, deserting Cay troops and dissidents along with many aliens fleeing the war. Many alines and human settlements are neutral. They claim they want to chart their own course. There is a thaw in the cold war with Earth, the Southern Cross making peace overtures to the UEG. Realpolitik or another bluff? Earth wants to know.
Many colonies object to bio-droids in their space, others have purchased a few older models for their defense forces.
Bio-droids can serve as “enlisted”, and after of the Battle of The Painted Hills, they can command only in the EDF's Ground Forces. The Space Forces have nuclear weapons and most humans are very uncomfortable with giving an AI authority to launch nukes. Bio-droids are not property however. After that battle and the investigation, it was found that human error had compounded the bio-droids mistakes. Conflicting orders, the chaotic battlefield and the choice to withhold information from a unit of the 7th Ca
There are silicon based AI's that have become self aware, however they are limited to research, commercial robots and the civilian starships. Bio-droids can think and process information much like a human would, or so RRDC claims. Some AI “Purists” claim that the bio-droids are cheating since their brains are modeled (they say outright copied) from the human brain.
The cyborgs are still there, cheaper than the bio-androids, but not under direct UEG control. Many are veterans who's bodies were shattered during the war. Others had diseases that were difficult to treat or wanted cybernetic upgrades but could not afford them. They are not as tough or as loyal as the bio-androids.
However bio-droids are very much dependent on RRDC and human help for reproduction and development.
It's now 2371
...*cue theme music* “In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ”
The ESS Victory is home to the main characters, it's the newest multi-mission ship of the fleet. A capital ship with fighter squadrons and an infantry battalion, it's a [[Military Mashup Machine do-anything ship]] the shows writers hope has lots of possibilities for drama and action. And the ASMR studio execs hope will sell model kits and action figures.
Aside from the main charaters, EnsignNewbies, and MauveShirts there are the aliens, politics and the scope for a good sci'fi verse.
edited 31st May '14 6:44:29 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
The Final ECW Champion
Since this is a show within a show, has the setting in which this show is filmed been developed yet?
I think that in order for the audience to really appreciate that style of humor they would have to be somewhat familiar with the kind of place and people this show is meant to appeal to.
Modified Ura-nage, Torture Rack
rollin' on dubs
As someone once said "Welcome to the real world": After the 1960's, some parapsychologists started to find evidence of psychic powers. At the same time people appeared that had abilities most would call superhuman. This being the 1960's and early 70's, gas was poured on the fires of history. From the oil crisis to the fall of the wall, history ran a very familiar course to our world. There was a Cuban missile crisis, an actor became president, AIDS was a tragedy and the Cubs still haven't won the world series.
However, laws had to adapt to the new powers of the mind. Heroes patrol the skies and supervillains rob banks and plan mega-heists. There is a space station in orbit that houses 1,00 astronauts. Supersonic flights are common and Bill Clinton was impeached. Bush won Flordia after locking in the Esper vote. Despite the Esper Guild's leadership endorsement, Mc Cain would lose to a Senator from Illinois. Mutants and espers tired of a decade of war in the Middle East.
Humans fear mutants and have pitted espers against them. The espers remember the bitter fight for civil rights and view humans as greedy and mutants as unable to control their powers. Mutants are tired of being blamed for a few criminals and try to remind espers We ARE Struggling Together. They haven't forgiven the Esper Guild for Clinton's impeachment.
Superhero comics are fast becoming deader than disco, fantasy wanes a bit, but with people who's powers far outclass Hollywood SFX, some legends and fantasy works get the big screen treatment. Westerns are popular, reality TV follows espers and mutants. However depending on who'd bankrolling the series, espers, mutants, or both get exploited by their detractors.
Science Fiction is the odd duck. Stories of strange new worlds, time travel, robots and discovery inspire. Star Trek and Star Wars still got produced. The use of Sci-fi to comment on current events (and inspire trends) wasn't lost on esper and mutant rights groups. In fact Science Fiction conventions are an informal "neutral ground". Just don't ask if Han Shot First, it gets ugly quick...
Enter a medically retired Army officer and his desire to be the Gene Roddenberry of the 21st century. He opens a studio that hires mutants deemed "not pretty" enough, espers who wish to inspire hope, writers who want to dazzle the audience.
If Hollywood won't take on the issues, if the mass media wants to stay silent, he'd work around them. Instead of live action he chose anime. Using science fiction like Rodenberry, Asimov, JMS and others, he'd spread a message of hope, take on the powerful, take down the bigots and try to get lot's of google hits.
Now if he can just meet those deadlines he's sweating.
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
The Final ECW Champion
Okay, this is a two part about the urban fantasy world's efforts to make movies and the events of the movie itself? (I stand by the idea of a separate story to first flesh out the world where the production is shot but you do not have to agree)
Modified Ura-nage, Torture Rack
rollin' on dubs
Arrrg!
Hard Drive Crash!
But I still have my notes and stuff.. T_T
I'm gonna be back, thanks for all your help but I have to move back to the states.
It's like computer bugs know when to get me...
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ”
- cue theme music*
Name: ESS Victory
Age: Built 5 years before the series takes place
Personality: Cool Ship on the outside, Dysfunction Junction on the inside, but she's got it where it counts.
Abilities: It's a warship, a Pintsized Powerhouse, The Battlestar only smaller than a capital ship.
Weaknesses:
- What a Piece of Junk / Awesome, but Impractical: Victory's main problem is that the class was intended to be the Jack of All Trades, a multi-role ship capable of serving multiple needs and multiple missions, but ends up being a Master of None. The ESS Bernard Law Montgomery was “shrunk” down to make the Victory-class. They are supposed to be a bridge between a cruiser and a capital ship. Many detractors say Victory has the all flaws and none of the armor.
- Too small for her engines, they nearly shook the ship apart at full power.
- Glass Cannon: the main gun take up a lot of space in her bow, armor was removed to make way.
- Lacks a proper autoloader due to the weapons and artificial gravity. The weapons took up space and the gravity system takes the power needed for an autoloader. The guns are“manually assisted” instead, that means crew have to move the ammo by hand to the guns.
- Not enough room for heavy bombers/frigates, she has the smaller fighter/destroyers and scout fighters instead. Naval analysts think that this leaves the ship vulnerable without an escort.
- The ship's sensors can be blinded by the exhaust plume of the engines. Her “baffels” are a huge blind spot at full power. The ship's sensors are powerful but again, armor was skimped on so that Victory has sensors twice the size of ships in her weight class.
- The troop compliment is several times the size of a cruiser, again armor was “deleted” to save weight.
- The compromise was to add more point-defense, however these systems are also manualy loaded.
Goals/Motivation: See the Tropes of the Crew
Role in the story: The titular ship of the series.
Backstory: The Victory-class are of medium-sized vessels intended for operations in orbit (and as orbital support to ground troops) by the Earth Defense Force. They are"envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy combatants capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in high and low orbit. After the last Cay Union-Earth war, the Ground Forces clamored for a ship to support small “Special Operations Capable” units to police the border worlds. The Space Forces wanted ships smaller than a capital ship (so many could be built) that could still be a threat to the Cay Union's Vengeance-class heavy cruisers. Those ships frequently outweighed and out-ran Earth ships; having artificial gravity they could outlast Earth ships on patrol too. The Office of Applied Sciences reverse engineered the artificial gravity decades ago, but the power requirements meant that only the larger ships could use it. They figured out how to use the newer antimatter reactors coupled with tweaks to the ship's engines that booted power output for sensors, weapons and the gravity system. At least according to the EDF press release. The reality is that the ships are described as too much: the engines are too big (maintenance nightmares), the armor too light, the weapons too large, crew spaces too cramped and the cost too high. Given the problems with the lead ship, it was seen as a career ender for any officer. What was once a plum assignment became a dumping ground for flag officers close to retirement. For the longest time the Joint Security Area was dormant. The latest Captain, Harmon Ross, is a mild-mannered man, sent to prepare the ship and crew for a five-year assignment patrolling the JSA. Ross says that he will retire after a year. Commander Alexandra Sima hopes to take his place, she's the current executive officer. The rest of the crew look forward to an easy cruise, Ross and the Strike Force commander, said this would be a “peaceful tour”
Relevant Tropes: For the ship:
The Captain: the first one is Capt. Harmon Ross, he gets sent back to Earth and the next Captain is Eugene Joseph Burke
- Lethal Joke Character: the ships and it's crew are the but of many jokes, of course they will turn things around.
- Cool Starship: Victory is a nice ship and has it's charm, it's not stuck escorting convoys or guarding a remote starbase. She's smaller than a cruiser, but can fight like one. Carries a battalion of ground troops and a decent fighter compliment. But she's not without flaws...
- Standard Human Spaceship / Our Weapons Will Be Boxy in the Future: looks like a large long box, unless Capital ships are next to it.
- Wave-Motion Gun: the main guns load various munitions, from anti-matter rounds, nukes to probes or can act as a wave guide for an energy weapon powered by the main engine.
- There Is No Kill Like Overkill: lots of guns for a ship it's size
- Standard Sci-Fi Fleet: Between Cruiser and Capital Ship.
- Space Plane: the fighters and dropships are atmosphere capable.
- FighterLaunchingSequence /Coming in Hot /Reentry Scare / Eject... Eject... Eject...: the tropes for the fighters and shuttles.
- Point Defenseless: played with, the ship has point-defense, the fighters can act as a screen, but the Cay Union and Southern Cross can take down bigger ships and have counter-measures.
- A-Team Firing and Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: when the engines are on, this happens and the systems can't cover the rear.
- Macross Missile Massacre: the missile bays,
- Misguided Missile: happens more often than the fighter pilots would like when those engines are on
- Recursive Ammo and Beam Spam: cluster missiles and “torpedoes” and the main gun.
- Multi-Directional Barrage: except the rear, darn those engines!
- We Will Use Manual Labor in the Future: the guns are manually loaded with an “assist” from a conveyor system. Sometimes it's loaded a crew member instead of the round selected.
- We Will Use Lasers in the Future: there are lasers and projectile weapons side by side.
- Worf Barrage: raiders run from the ship because their weapons are stopped by the Victory's point-defense, but Victory's weapons are not powerful enough against the cruiser-sized Cay-Southern Cross ships.
- Alpha Strike: when “Vicky” gets all weapons on target.
- Icall It Vera: the ship's nickname is “Vicky”
- Plot-Driven Breakdown: yep, it's gonna happen with those engines.
- The Alleged Starship: Gets this from the other EDF ships in the JSA, the Southern Cross, the Cay and even the Colonial Defense Force, the Butt-Monkey/ Red Shirt Army of the EDF.
- Take That!: Victory is called Icky Vicky, ESS Failure, ESS Jaws of Defeat
- Self-Deprecation / Insult Backfire: Icky Vicky has been adopted by the crew (but not Eliza).
Name:Chief Data Systems Technician Eliza Rai Strauss ZY-730
Age: 45 years old, the Bio-Androids created for the United Earth Government have a 200 year life-cycle so she's very young.
Personality: The Perky Goth, the chick, spaceship girl, she's the CPU of the ESS Victory.
Abilities:
Weaknesses: EMP: if it gets past the ship's armor, she's screwed Blessed with Suck/ Cursed with Awesome: plugged into the Victory, she is the heart of the ship, running all shipwide functions.
The Chick: as the heart of the crew she cares for them, but her efforts to mediate crew squabbles and balance out the tempers of the crew can fall on deaf ears since she's the ship's computer.
Goals/Motivation: She runs the ship. She wants to become the best ship in the fleet and complete her mission. No one gets left behind.
Role in the story: she delivers the sensor and ship related Techno Babble, she's Gwen DiMarco, only she IS the computer. She is a friend to Mae Craft AE-359
, they were classmates at the Academy.
Backstory:
The child of Master Chief Richard Strauss XT-923 and Major Gloria Whateley ZX-715. She was “born” at the RRDC labs on Mars. Her line-siblings work in combat engineering, naval construction and a few are CPUs. Her “uncle” Master Chief Zachary Whateley ZX-710 is the CPU of the ESS Essex. At the Academy she passed the pilot's exam and the screening to be selected as the CPU of the ESS Invincible. The ship was damaged and needed a new computer. She was with the ship for years, until it was decommissioned. Eliza was at the Office of Naval Research, helping them develop new systems. Her work landed her the job as the CPU of the new Victory-class. She got the lead ship, Victory. However the design compromises and rush to get the ship launched on schedule led the ship to have many teething problems.
She's named after the song “Eliza Lee”, the r in “Rai” is five letters off of “Mai”, Gloria was in the 5th Battalion, 55th Infantry Regiment, the“Triple Nickle” with COL Mai Craft TA-347 when they were just Troopers. Eliza's unaware of this.
Eliza's Relevant Tropes:
- Awesomeness by Analysis: from the ships sensors
- Technopath: what her kind are built to be.
- Spaceship Girl: She's tied into the ships systems, removing her would kill her, without her the ship's computers can't perform warp or jump calculations.
- Sensor Character: the ship's sensors are her 'eyes' and 'ears'
- Cyborg Helmsman: there are bio-androids who can operate the helm, mostly to assist her in targeting and tactics, allowing human officers to focus on the big picture.
- All Women Are Prudes: averted, she can see into every nook and cranny in the ship, she's doesn't care what the crew does on their personal time as long as it doesn't affect the ship.
- Power Perversion Potential: that she can scan the ship and it's crew does worry them, she swears up and down that what happens in the crew quarters doesn't interest her....
- Beware the Nice Ones: she'll do anything for her crew, see also mama bear
- Catchphrase: “Processing”, “I'm detecting an energy surge..”, “Bogeys detected on an approach vector.”
- Hot-Blooded with a Tranquil Fury/ Unstoppable Rage when the ship is in danger.
- Attack Pattern Alpha: makes these happen, claims to be able to pull a Wronski Feint with a several ton warship...
- High-Speed Missile Dodge: She's the one who makes it happen.
- Standard Sci-Fi Fleet: She has databanks on various engagements the Space Forces have had with the Southern Cross, the Cay Union and the Dow Hegmony.
- Fan of the Past: she has unlimted access to the ship's library so she watches old 'vids.
- Changing pop culture, lingusitc drift, and her bio-android nature leads to Blunt Metaphors Trauma at times.
- The Nicknamer: Calls Mae Craft “Blue”, Commander Sima “The Great Stantina” and the ships strikeforce her “passengers”, the crew is her “hive” or “worker bees”. She calls Trooper Rebecca Song “Bandit”, Chief Engineer Casey Morgan Stelarc is "Goldie"
- Animal Motifs/ Animal Metaphor: insects, her line looks like a giant “preying mantis” she's really a mantis shrimp. She goes for insect metaphors and puns.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: was a series of vibrant colors (blue being most prominent) but after becoming a ship's CPU she's very pale.
- Badass Bookworm: comes with being the ship's computer
- Berserk Button: late repairs, jokes about her condition (other than from Mae), hackers, people who hate bio-andriods and calling the ship the “Icky Vicky”. Remember, she controls the doors...
- Icall It Vera / Moe Anthropomorphism: the ship's nickname is “Vicky” and she'll answer to it, she asks Mae to change her polycron shell into the ship's colors of blue and white.
- I'll Pretend I Didn't Hear That: does this as a favor to most of the crew
- Sherlock Scan: does this to the ships in sensor range and can do this to anyone on board.
- Strange Girl who works the The Big Board with the Enemy-Detecting Radar
- Sensor Suspense: she hates this, she chitters when nervous
- Team Pet: to the bridge crew, even Commander Sima.
- Techno Babble: she spouts this, interprets this
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: at girly girl end of the scale unless the discussion turns to technobabble then she's the tom boy.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: to Chief Engineer Casey Morgan Stelarc
Tropes For the crew:
- Dysfunction Junction: the crew, some are sent to the “Icky Vicky” to get them away from their current posts.
- ArsonMurderAndLifeSaving/SavedByTheAwesome: thanks to Mae and Gloria (and Commander Sima) they improve the ship's reputation, but it's still a warship in a bad area of space with a Military Maverick as Captain.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: as seen by the Southern Cross, they make sure to assign their best Captain to counter the Victory.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: The United Earth Government doesn't have a good track record with independent settlements or alien governments, but at least they don't shelter pirates like the Southern Cross or are AbsoluteXenophobes like the Cay Union...
- What the Hell, Hero?: they get this a lot...
- George Jetson Job Security: how the EDF sees the ship (and it's crew)
- Ultimate Job Security: the truth, the crew may be screwups, but any other crew wouldn't last long in the situations they were placed in...the crew starts to suspect that someone made sure of that...
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Dr. Harkon, Rebecca Song, Averil Craft, Mae Craft, Eliza, many of the NCO's Petty Officers and the gang in the engine room...
- Mildly Military: discipline is lax in many departments, with the engine room and the strike force being the “worst” in the eyes of the EDF. The Replacement Department fixes that.
- Nepotism: Mae gets accused of this since her mother Col Craft is an assistant director in the MIA
- Vetinari Job Security: when the ship/crew is pulled from it's mission
- Boarding Party: the MP bio-androids who guard the bridge are a defense against this.
- You Had Us Worried There: everyone piloting, fixing or defending the ship has a moment of this...
- Space Marines : the Ground Forces detachment, 507th Mobile Infanty Battalion,
- Stay Frosty: their version is “Down to Earth”, the pilots use “Stay Frosty” the engine room uses “let the blugine run”
edited 13th Mar '14 6:43:46 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
I would read or watch this. Sounds interesting in general.
Who watches the watchmen?
rollin' on dubs
Some further ideas I've had (thank you MattStriker for the Rising Wave Stance) And Poisonarrow for "Schwitterling":
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
Modern Cybernetic Combatives: The Earth Defense Force's term for the martial arts used by cyborgs, Power Armor pilots and their bio-andriods. The EDF's attempts to make a combative style to match troopers who moved faster and hit harder than a normal human fell into three major schools:
Panzer Kunst and variant for Powered Armor users Panzerschreck:
Panzer Kunst (“armor art”) was developed for Earth's cybernetic “Super Soldiers”. Using limbs that were harder and stronger, they used a form of grappling style with quick strikes to disable an oppent. The “Panzerschreck” (“armor fright”) form consists only of deadly strikes. Power Armor pilots, large cyborgs or the larger bio-andriods use quick powerful blows and strikes to kill enemy soldiers or disable vehicles. It is banned for use on unarmed targets. All users are known as KünstlersCommon moves and techniques:
- Betäubungsangriffe (“stunning attacks”): quick strikes to stun or knock out an oppent.
- Armverschluß (also written Armverschluss “Arm Lock“) : arm bars or other restraining moves.
- Bodenkontrolle (“Ground Control”): positioning and restraing someone on the ground
- Elbogen-Blatt ("Elbow Blade"): the first super-soldiers were given arm blades and the term stuck to refer to all arm and limb mounted weapons.
- Äußere Grenzen (also written Ausser Grenzen , "Outer Limts"): to torque the body and/or limbs to face an opponent, make an attack or defect an attack
- Schwitterling- a method of ambush attack, spreading out the body to act as a parachute when dropping from helicopters/roofs/ceilings. Upon reaching the target, the limbs are extended and whipped around the target's, stripping away weapons and locking joints.
- Panzerschreck adds the use of weapons and can be practised as part of a live fire exercise. All strikes are lethal.
Bastone Meccanica:
(lit. “mechanical stick”) was developed by RRDC's Euro branch with help from the Carabinieri of EDF's European Command. It focuses on crowd control and disarming techniques. Strikes are made with an open palm mostly to nerve clusters. Lethal strikes are done as a last resort.Common moves and techniques:
- Pazzini block/strike = blocking or hitting with a blunt blade to stun or disable an opponent.
- Arma Rotto (“weapon broken”, from a notation made during testing): hitting a weapon to take it or destroy it but spare the attacker.
- Gladius: a lethal strike with a pointed arm, finger or other appendage. Done to take an attacker down.
- Wolverine or "Wolvers" = the common name used by the EDF, "shiv" or "shanking" is the name used by the Southern Cross.
- Folgore: A varation of the “ Rising Wave Stance”, the attacker lands on a vehicle and either crushes the engine of a soft skinned vehicle or smashes the turrent of an armored one using mass and momentum to do the most damage to moving parts.
Amaha Style:
a development by the JSDF and RRDC Tokyo, this style focuses on tournament and training in addition to fighting. It was a refinement of Bastone Meccanica so that RRDC can both showcase their flagship product and train bio-andriods.Common moves and techniques:
- Rising Wave Stance: Shifting extra mass to your hands or feet at the moment of impact, effectively adding the strength of the shift to the strike. Likewise, shifting mass away from incoming hostile strikes.
- Receding Wave Stance: Shifting mass away from an area to protect it or to flow into a Rising Wave Stance.
- Taiho jutsu (“arresting art”): throwing, trapping, joint locks, holds, gouging, disengagements, striking, and kicking. When used in a tournament setting, all blades are blunt and the moves are graded in terms of effectiveness.
In contrast, Southern Cross uses a modified Jeet Kun Do called Espada and Panzer Kunst taught by EDF defectors. The Cay Union simply uses ranged combat.
Edited by TairaMai on Feb 18th 2022 at 11:43:26 AM
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
Panzer Kunst also makes a showing in Battle Angel Alita.
Who watches the watchmen?
rollin' on dubs
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
There were three Shout Outs in my post.
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
I saw that after the fact. I forgot Gunnm is Battle Angel Alita.
Who watches the watchmen?
rollin' on dubs
Next up will be a breakdown of the Earth Defense Force, the Southern Cross Mustered Citizenry and the Cay Union's War Fleet: the major combatants of the 'verse.
For now enjoy these descriptions of two of the alien races...
edited 1st Jul '13 6:25:53 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
Okay, here's one species from my setting, the Martissans:
Green-Skinned Space Babe: A Deconstruction, they are beautiful by human standards, looking lithe with wiry muscles and very pale skin. An entire race that was Made a Slave by another species they call “The Masters”. When the Cay Empire invaded, they killed all the masters and tried to take their place. The Empire failed and then humans showed up to free the Martissans for good.
Their eyes appear to be a solid black or blue, in reality the iris and sclera are almost the same color, if they are close a human can see the iris and pupil. This gives them what appears to be Black Eyes of Evil. Their skin is ''very'' pale, when they tan they turn bluish with exposure to ultraviolet light. It quickly reverts back to pale. Their resting body temperature is five degrees colder than a humans and they can become cold-blooded (end-thermic) at night. Martissans have a shorter lifespan than humans, their max lifespan is ~70 years, with average life expectancy ~50-55. Needless to say, human-martissan marriages have problems. Their Bizarre Alien Biology and short lifespans seem to have been limitations put in by the “Masters”.
Due to their biology and social nature, they have promiscuity, Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Friends with Benefits. Marrages can have 3-5 spouses of either sex, both genders raise children.
Due to cultural differences, biology (no human has had offspring with a Martissan) and legal issues (in UEG space mostly), there are few human-Martissan marriages.
The Cay Union (the successor to the Cay Empire ) still uses them as cheap labor and oppresses them. The United Earth Government treats them about as well as most minority groups have been on Earth. Many live in Martissan only communities or other “Alien Sectors” on Earth controlled planets. Southern Cross grants them equal rights along with humans, Cay and other aliens living on their worlds. Martissans still face discrimination there, but at least in the SC the laws and the courts are not stacked against them.
When the Martissans were found, most were in a technology level roughly that of 1930's Earth: they used animals as beasts of burden. The "Masters" and their alien slavers used vehicles, starships and Powered Armor. Cay and Human scientists think that the Masters just enjoyed having slaves.
The Cay Empire continued that tradition, restricting technology (including medicine) until the Martissans (and some of the slavers) revolted. Having killed off the Masters, the Cay Empire (and the Union) didn't know how to "control" the Martissans.
Those Martissans in human space (The UEG and the Southern Cross) are eager to learn as much as they can. Some of the younger generations tend to spend money on trinkets and entertainment, but the older Martissans are quick to remind them of the price their people paid for not learning how to use technology.
"The Masters" are all gone, killed off by the Cay. What techniques did they use to enslave an entire people for thousands of years? No one knows.
edited 1st Jul '13 6:34:44 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
Okay, here's one species from my setting, the Cay:
A species with three hats: Proud Warrior Race Proud Scholar Race and Proud Merchant Race.
The Cay are humanoid aliens in that they have a human shape. They are Heavyworlders who are the descendants of a pangolin/porcupine-esque mammaliod. This gives them permanent anime hair. Their skin ranges from a deep reddish brown to purple to black due to their sun and the worlds they have colonized. Their skin is very tough, the scale-like plates have softened to skin but the outlines can still be seen. Some have quills in their hair, the tips blunt. Those raised on the homeworld are shorter than the human norm, those raised in space or on lower gravity colony worlds are as tall as the average human.
Their homeworld was a death world, poisonous plants, fierce predators, their dinosaurs didn't quite die out. They have quite a few large birds (some with teeth) that figure in their mythology and culture. Because of this, they have a membrane that seals off punctures to their chest. They clot much faster and their immune response is quicker, they have a lower risk for gangrene. They have a high tolerance for certain poisons due to the plants of their homeworld. In fact their natural skin oils can cause a human to break out in hives if he or she touches a Cay.
Their rough world led to a focus on fighting for resources. Their are social creatures. Unlike the other species humans have encountered, they quickly establish who's boss. They crave order. Klingon Promotion is a common theme in their culture.
As they expanded, those Cay further from Homeworld became more liberal. Contact with other races cause those Cay living abroad to question the rulers of their colonies and the Emperor of their homeworld. Taking their off-world conquests was one thing, running a star spanning empire something else. Their warriors were drawn from the three castes: workers the lower ranking soldiers, merchants the technicians and the scholars the officers and religious leaders.
After several Emperors were either overthrown, assassinated or proved unable to run the Empire, a group of merchants and scholars banded together units under their command. Backed by the workers who saw their labor going to waste in the Empire’s decline, they overthrew the Emperor. The Cay Union would have an elected council that rotated among the various families, worlds and the three castes.
The Cay off-world were enjoyed the lack of Imperial control. Many families and minority groups flourished far from the persecution of the Empire. They didn't want the Union's Guardians kicking down their doors and dragging them away to the secret courts the Union was setting up.
The Cay are now divided into two groups:
The Cay Union is located on the world the CU simply called “Homeworld”. In their language , Cay means “People”, the title of the state means “Union of the People”. It's a People's Republic of Tyranny, Red China by way of Nazi Germany to the tune of NineteenEightyFour. All government is run by the Ruling Council who in turn controls the Synod (a house of representatives) who in turn controls the military. In reality, the Merchants set economic policy, the Military sets foreign policy and the rest of the people sing the praises of the Union. Large industry is owned by the Synod (and by extension the Union) but most small business are privately held. Merchants trade with other races freely, knowing that the Union's War Fleet will not only protect them but make sure the customer pays the bills. The Union's Committee to Advance Virtue and Eliminate Vice controls all Cay living in the Union. Family sizes, art, culture, all regimented and strictly regulated. A member of the CU will be born, grow up and die with every waking moment planned, outlined and scripted by the Union's scholars. Union culture and society is tightly controlled, “Peace and Unity through conformity” as the Union scholars put it. There is a police force and the Guardians who handle all “political crime” and intelligence. Outside of research into military technology and medicine, scholarship is stagnant.
Thanks to their fantastic immune response, the Cay Union uses cybernetics on their soldiers. From drug implants to full exoskeletons, the options are only limited to what the Union's military needs. Of course no soldier or crewman can refuse cybernetics. Rumors abound that some of the implants are rigged to explode to prevent capture or mutiny.
Their high tolerance for toxins has backfired. Rampant unchecked heavy industry has led to terrible pollution. Fertility rates for the factory worlds in the Union are dipping down. The Union has instituted mandatory motherhood as a result. Not that it's fixing the problem. No one in the Union dares criticize the industry that fuels the Union's war machine and brings in hard currency from interstellar trade.
Cay living in the Southern Cross:
Those Cay living in the Southern Cross may hate their foul smelling human neighbors, but at least they have freedom. LGBT Cay know that they won't be dragged to a Committee firing squad, since the Union is made up of violent Heteronormative Crusaders. Unlike the Union, Cay artists are free to pursue their craft in the SC. Scholars can truly study knowledge for its own sake, unshackled by politics. Workers may strike (something they learned from the humans and Martissans in the SC), bargain with management or change jobs. Many free Cay even have human friends, but they will never marry a human. Many serve in the Southern Cross Mustered Citizenry. Several high ranking SCMC officers are Cay with various species under their command.
While they may crave order and discipline, concepts like democracy and freedom were quickly embraced. Living outside the iron fist of the Union and being allowed to think for themselves has expanded their lives and even their vocabulary. Most of the Cay in the Southern Cross are taller, healthier and speak a different dialect than those Cay in the Union.
The Cay are one of five species that the United Earth Government bans from it's colonies.
edited 1st Jul '13 6:36:34 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
United Earth Government: The Earth Defense Force
In 2078 something was discovered under the ice of Europa. Jupiter Station was mostly a science outpost run by various governments that was on the verge of being shut down. What the probes found was a starship of alien design. With some work Earth's scientists were able to get working. Humanity was united at the prospect of faster than light travel and that there was intelligent life in the universe.
In the centuries that followed, the United Nations took more and more control of Earth's affairs. Resources were collected, corporations expanded to meet the needs of an expanding humanity. All was not well in the heavens. Many colonies were founded by those wishing to leave Earth and it's problems. The new United Earth Government made attempts at reform. However several star systems seceded from the UEG. Most were agricultural worlds but some had a heavy industrial base. Earth was in the process of “de-industrialization”, removing most heavy industry and turning Earth into a “paradise”. Heavy losses and several defeats forced Earth Defense Forces to try anything to turn the tide. The cyborg “supersoldier” program failed when several defected to the separatist forces. Others were sabotaged or were defeated by separatists forces using power armor. The cyborgs became a fallback, many soldiers sent back to the front lines, their bodies rebuilt, but their minds no longer whole.
The Southern Cross and it's allied movements (Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Stellar Union and Alliance of Independent Colonies, collectively the “Secessio Plebis”) waged a guerrilla campaign and a successful naval campaign. The EDF's Space Forces were holding the line and promised a victory after destroying the main Southern Cross shipyard. However Earth Intelligence reported the existence of several “stay behind” cells. The Secessio Plebis Liberation Army continued to harass Earth's ground forces. And then it happened.
Piracy from several alien races (armed with weapons taken from both sides) stretched the Space Forces thin. A disastrous first contact with the Cay Union started a war that threatened the existence of humanity. Humanity first met the Cay Union as the Cay Empire collapsed and they lost control of their colonies and their Martissan “workers”. The Cay Union quickly turned on Earth, renouncing the treaty signed by the Empire. The Cay Union's massive war fleet was stopped at Io.
The Earth Defense Forces are the military command charged with the defense of Earth and it's colonies. They are split into the Ground Forces Command and Space Forces Command. The Colonial Defense Forces Command is the reserve, charged with the colonies and on some worlds, runs all law enforcement and public health.
What sets the EDF apart from other militares are the bio-andriods. Transhuman, Cyborg “Robot Drones”. A CPU based on the human brain inside a synthetic body powered by a fusion battery. They could eat, grow and most importantly think like a human. However they are tougher, faster and stronger than any human. Even the cyborg supersoldiers couldn't fly fighters or fight as long as the bio-droids. Bio-droids can serve as “enlisted” or pilots in the space forces, they can command only in the EDF's Ground Forces. The Space Forces have nuclear weapons and most humans are very uncomfortable with giving an AI authority to launch nukes.
Humans, cybernetic “super soldiers”,bio-andriods and those aliens living in UEG controlled space can serve in the EDF.
Relevant Tropes:
- Earth Is a Battlefield: Happened twice, both time the Cay Union War Fleet was stopped by an all out attack.
- Interservice Rivalry: The Space Forces say the Ground Forces are too large, the Ground Forces complain that the Space Forces don't give them enough support. The Marines and Special Forces Command say that the regular ground troops count on them too much. The CDF is told to sit in the corner until the adults are done talking...
- Ace Pilot: Large fighters and small warships are interchangeable, many ship captains got their start as pilots, bio-androids are stuck as pilots however and can't be promoted to Captain of a warship.
- Consummate Professional: The EDF's image in recruiting vids. The Southern Cross views them as a blood thirsty army of oppression.
- Do-Anything Soldier/ Super-Soldier : Bio-androids are built on this trope.
- To a lesser extent, the Cyborg “Super Soldiers” are an attempt at this.
- Powered Armor: various versions exist and are used along with:
- Tanks, including Walking Tanks and spider tanks
- Awesome Personnel Carrier: from wheeled, to tracked to hovering
- Mechanical Horse: some bio-android models can do this in a pinch.
- The Political Officer: Undercover operatives of the Military Intelligence Agency protect EDF units from theft, sabotage and “subversive actions”.
- Space Marine: The Ground Forces Command is the “Army” of the EDF, but they can serve in space. Most are brigade sized units that ride in large Space Forces transport ships. There are “Special Operations Capable” Battalion sized units, but they are just rapid reaction forces. On the larger space stations, the Ground Forces (or the EDF Marines) provide the security.
- The EDF Marine Corps is a smaller force that is both a legacy of Earth's past and plays a vital role. EDF Marines are elite shock troops. They are in battalion sized formations that can operate independently. Unlike the Special Operations Capable Ground Forces units, they can operate in space and on the ground. They are tasked with securing drop zones for EDF units and seizing space stations.
- The EDF's Joint Special Operations Command is made up of Space and Ground Forces Units that are small elite units. Many teams are made up entirely of bio-androids and cybernetic soldiers.
- "Join the Army," They Said: “Join the EDF and see the Universe.”
- “Just remember that most of it hates you.”
- “I joined and all I saw was a bulkhead.”
- “Meet new life and blow large holes in it.”
- "And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."
- Home Guard / Red Shirt Army: Colonial Defense Forces, the “speed bump”. They are to hold the line until EDF units get there. The CDF gets older equipment, has older members or in some cases what ever personnel are on hand.
- Private Military Contractors: Some large companies lease their “security forces” to their homeworlds, others simply wear two hats (one private, the other CDF). CDF units wear special insignia when they are “sponsored” by a company.
- Lowered Recruiting Standards / Trading Bars for Stripes: many poorer colonies do this to meet EDF staffing quotas.
- Attack Drone: there are the standard robots, legally the bio-androids are considered drones.
- Drop Ship: most double as cargo ships and medivac
- Mobile Base: Some space stations are just large slow starships.
- Standard Sci-Fi Army: The Ground Forces
- Standard Sci-Fi Fleet: Mostly, there are a few “battleships” lots of cruisers and many multi-mission ships
- Fighters and small ships have merged: if it's crewed by machines or bio-androids it's a fighter, if it can carry shuttles and land on a planet it's a frigate. Bomber and Destroyer are almost interchangeable (bombers are “missile/torpedo” boats).
- Military Salute: Depending on the history of the unit or ship this can vary. The Colonial Defense Forces are famous for their Mildly Military protocol.
- Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better: The EDF's stanard infantry rifles somewhat similar to the 20th and 21st century assault rifles. However the EDF adds mini-computers for "smart rounds" and DNA-locks on pistols.
- Heavy weapons include lasers, "smart" missiles and magnetic rifles along with machine guns.
- Bio-Androids and Power Armor use assault rifles like pistols, a LMG is their standard assault rifle. Many carry vehicle mounted weapons or use them as sniper rifles.
- Remember the Alamo: “The Battle of Europa”, when the Earth almost fell, “The Battle of the Painted Hills”, where a landmark case granted bio-androids civil rights.
- Fantastic Racism: A serious problem in the EDF. Some humans "don't mix with the aliens", others don't like aliens serving in the EDF at all.
- Others don't like the bio-androids.
edited 24th Jul '13 9:34:17 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
The Southern Cross
As the nations of Earth sent colonists to the stars, many people sought freedom. Others wanted a new start. Eventually old tensions flared. Companies exploited their workers, corruption ran rampant as Earth appointed “ruling councils” mismanaged colonies. As humanity met with other alien species, the new United Earth Government began to take steps to “secure the borders”.
The colonies rebelled. Many were tired of paying taxes to a distant Earth, others wanted self government. The Southern Cross and it's allied movements (Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Stellar Union and Alliance of Independent Colonies, collectively the “Secessio Plebis”) waged a guerrilla campaign and a successful naval campaign. The EDF's Space Forces were holding the line and promised a victory after destroying the main Southern Cross shipyard. However Earth Intelligence reported the existence of several “stay behind” cells. The Secessio Plebis Liberation Army continued to harass Earth's ground forces.
The Cay Empire, and latter the Cay Union, supported the Southern Cross. Ships, material and war supplies poured in. The Southern Cross and the Cay pushed Earth back. The Cay Union continued on and tried to invade Earth. The Edf pushed them back and then attempted to “punish” the Southern Cross. Officially the Southern Cross was “neutral”, unofficially opinion was divided. Some though that Earth got what it deserved. The Cay Union never forgot however. Relations between the Southern Cross and the Union have cooled.
Currently The Southern Cross Mustered Citizenry (SCMC) consists of the Army and Navy. They are tasked with keeping the EDF away and keeping an eye on their “allies” in the Cay Union. All sentient beings living in the Southern Cross are able to serve in the military.
Relevant Tropes:
- Red Shirt Army: The Militia and the SCMC reserves.
- Apocalypse Wow: Both the Cay Empire and the EDF have done this to SC worlds. The Cay were trying to conquer, Earth was trying to “pacify” cities.
- Attack Drone: many sizes, many types. The SCMC tries to install security measues to keep the EDF's bio-androids from taking them and sometimes they are successful
- Robot War: How the Southern Cross sees the bio-androids. Where Earth sees tireless defenders, the SC sees them as remorseless machines that can't be stopped without heavy ordinance.
- Trading Bars for Stripes: Many offenses can be expunged with a term of service.
- Got Volunteered / Press-Ganged : Field Grade commanders have the authority to force anyone to fight to defend a space station, city or crew a star ship “in time of emergency”.
- Legion of Lost Souls: many criminals and refugees are allowed to “start over” after a term of service.
- Insistent Terminology: it's not Impressment it's “emergency service”,
- Mobile Base: Some space stations are just large slow starships they captured from the EDF.
- La Résistance: how the SCMC is portrayed in recruiting vids.
- Army of Thieves and Whores: how many see the Army and the Navy. The Southern Cross had to scramble to fill its ranks. Taking in terrorist organizations, defector, deserters didn't help. While their conduct has improved, the SCMC still has this reputation.
- Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: The SCMC is fond of pointing this out to EDF representative during peace talks. The EDF's response doesn't help.
- The War of Earthly Aggression: How the SC sees the EDF and it's history.
- The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified: How the SC sees its independence.
- Remember the Alamo: “May 1st” when the Southern Cross declared their independence after defeating the EDF. “The Battle of the Painted Hills”, while the Army turned the battle around, the SCMC lost a lot of it's luster in their actions during the battle.
- Fighting for a Homeland: Cay, Martissans and other aliens living in the Southern Cross, the humans who declared their independence from Earth,
- the cyborgs who were forcibly made super soldiers by the EDF gave this as the reason for joining the SCMC.
- Mildly Military: even after several decades, most people in the SC view their military as “rebels”, the Navy tends toward this since they recruit from pirates, raiders and other boxed crooks.
- Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better: despite the military aid from the Cay, most of the Army and all of the Militia, uses rifles that are very similar to the 20th and 21st century assault rifles. Heavy weapons include lasers, missile and magnetic rifles along with machine guns.
- Powered Armor: various versions exist (and use heavy weapons along with physical combat), SCMC Power Armor units are used along with:
- Tanks, including Walking Tanks and spider tanks
- Awesome Personnel Carrier: mostly wheeled
- And various pack animals
- The Mutiny / Anti-Mutiny: how some ships joined the SCMC, however they've had ships try to flee combat or turn to piracy.
- Wooden Ships and Iron Men: the image the Navy tries to invoke in contrast to the “corporate” culture of the EDF's Space Forces.
- Private Military Contractors: law enforcement on space stations, maintenance and some of the smaller supply ships. Actual military forces are banned in the SC, but some “corporate security forces” come very close in terms of firepower.
- Standard Sci-Fi Army: The Southern Cross Mustered Citizenry (SCMC) has the Army and Navy. The Army is mostly vehicle based. Some worlds used wheeled vehicles because they are cheap to mass produce.
- Had to Be Sharp: Many recruits are colonists grew up on hostile planets or are species fleeing persecution.
- Standard Sci-Fi Fleet: The Navy. Many Cay warships were sold to the SCMC. Their cruisers can outrun and out gun the EDF's ships. They have a lot of unmanned fighters and raider ships they use to harass the EDF.
- "Join the Army," They Said: “Have you volunteered?”
- “Yes, but the Martissans were too busy making out.”
- “Yes, but the Cay won't stop shooting everything that moves.”
- “Yes but the humans tossed their guns and ran away.”
- “No, I was grabbed off the street.”
- "Yes I did, And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt."
- We Have Become Complacent: A common refrain from the veterans and those on the border.
edited 5th Jul '13 12:23:18 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
I saw Eearth Defense Force. All i could think of was fighting giant bugs. The troops shouting EDF! EDF! EDF!
Who watches the watchmen?
rollin' on dubs
Giant bugs? Oh they might show up...
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
Not quite an alien species but an "offshoot" of humanity:
The bio-andriods were created by RRDC because the cybernetic "Super Soldiers" proved to be just as human as Earth's regular soldiers. Many defected to the Southern Cross, others suffered from PTSD. Robots and AI's proved to be unable to adapt to the modern battlefield.
So a synthetic organism was developed that was programmable yet adaptable A CPU based on the human brain inside a synthetic body powered by either a fusion battery or biochemical processes. They could eat, grow and most importantly think like a human. However they are tougher, faster and stronger than any human. Even the cyborg supersoldiers couldn't fly fighters or fight as long as the bio-droids. Bio-droids can think and process information much like a human would, or so RRDC claims. Some AI “Purists” claim that the bio-droids are cheating since their brains are modeled (they say outright copied) from the human brain.
They range from large metal and composite battle 'droids to more human looking models the latest models are shapeshifting scouts. Most are "grown" rather than assembled. Their "lines" are made by genetic engineering and combing successful models since they are living machines. One line is the result of a "marriage" of a human and her bio-android wife.
RRDC has recently introduced a line of "Mass Production" units that all look and act the same. However their losses in combat has seen a return to the "custom" approach, even if they are more "emotional" than the MP bio-androids.
edited 5th Jul '13 6:19:21 AM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Dreams of Revenge
Out of curiosity, do the Southern Cross have any "answer" to the bio-androids? Admittedly it might just be because I was reading the thread last night, but it sounded like they were really getting their asses kicked.
Locking you up on radar since '09
rollin' on dubs
Lot's of firepower. Powered Armor and tanks. The shapeshiting scouts are the boogyman to the SCMC, one in particular keeps their High Command up at night and is an Urban Legend / Nightmarefuel. She's also the mother of one of the main characters.
edited 5th Jul '13 6:37:18 AM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Dreams of Revenge
Alright, sweet.
Interesting setting you've got here.
Locking you up on radar since '09
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
The Cay Union
The Cay are humanoid aliens in that they have a human shape. They are Heavyworlders who are the descendants of a pangolin/porcupine-esque mammaliod. This gives them permanent anime hair. Their skin ranges from a deep reddish brown to purple to black due to their sun and the worlds they have colonized. Their skin is very tough, the scale-like plates have softened to skin but the outlines can still be seen. Some have quills in their hair, the tips blunt. Those raised on the homeworld are shorter than the human norm, those raised in space or on lower gravity colony worlds are as tall as the average human. Their homeworld was a death world, poisonous plants, fierce predators, their dinosaurs didn't quite die out. They have quite a few large birds (some with teeth) that figure in their mythology and culture. Because of this, they have a membrane that seals off punctures to their chest. They clot much faster and their immune response is quicker, they have a lower risk for gangrene. They have a high tolerance for certain poisons due to the plants of their homeworld. In fact their natural skin oils can cause a human to break out in hives if he or she touches a Cay.
Their rough world led to a focus on fighting for resources. Their are social creatures. Unlike the other species humans have encountered, they quickly establish who's boss. They crave order. Klingon Promotion is a common theme in their culture.
As they expanded, those Cay further from Homeworld became more liberal. Contact with other races cause those Cay living abroad to question the rulers of their colonies and the Emperor of their homeworld. Taking their off-world conquests was one thing, running a star spanning empire something else. Their warriors were drawn from the three castes: workers the lower ranking soldiers, merchants the technicians and the scholars the officers and religious leaders. After several Emperors were either overthrown, assassinated or proved unable to run the Empire, a group of merchants and scholars banded together units under their command. Backed by the workers who saw their labor going to waste in the Empire’s decline, they overthrew the Emperor. The Cay Union would have an elected council that rotated among the various families, worlds and the three castes. The Cay off-world were enjoyed the lack of Imperial control. Many families and minority groups flourished far from the persecution of the Empire. They didn't want the Union's Guardians kicking down their doors and dragging them away to the secret courts the Union was setting up. They fled to the “Southern Cross” and the “huu-maan” settlements.
The Cay Union is located on the world the CU simply called “Homeworld”. In their language , Cay means “People”, the title of the state means “Union of the People”. It's a People's Republic of Tyranny, Red China by way of Nazi Germany to the tune of NineteenEightyFour.
Their military reflects this. The War Fleet is their “navy”. The former “Imperial Grand Army” is now the “People's Grand Army”. There is a police force and the Guardians who handle all “political crime” and intelligence. Thanks to their fantastic immune response, the Cay Union uses cybernetics on their soldiers. From drug implants to full exoskeletons, the options are only limited to what the Union's military needs. Of course no soldier or crewman can refuse cybernetics. Rumors abound that some of the implants are rigged to explode to prevent capture or mutiny.
Their high tolerance for toxins has backfired. Rampant unchecked heavy industry has led to terrible pollution. Fertility rates for the factory worlds in the Union are dipping down. The Union has instituted mandatory motherhood as a result. Not that it's fixing the problem. No one in the Union dares criticize the industry that fuels the Union's war machine and brings in hard currency from interstellar trade.
The Evil Counterpart to The Cay Empire. Not quite a Vestigial Empire. The Union has held onto a good portion of the Empire's holdings.
Relevant Tropes:
- Aliens Are Bastards: Union forces will shoot anything. After the battle they will steal any technolgy or resources.
- Alien Invasion: what they tried to do to Earth, how the Empire viewed humans.
- The Martissans and other races were mostly peaceful. Humans are warlike and in some cases just as fierce as the Cay. So the Union wants to invade Earth.
- Peace & Love Incorporated: The Merchant Caste, backed up by the War Fleet.
- Red Shirt Army: The border forces, mostly the Union keeps it's elite mooks moving to put the EDF off balance. Others are advisers to the Southern Cross.
- Standard Sci-Fi Army: The “People's Grand Army”
- Magnetic Weapons, Laser Rifles and “SMGs” along with “Slug Throwers.”
- Space Marine: All Union Soldiers are trained in space operations and ground operations.
- Rock Beats Laser: They practice with several Swords and Polearms too.
- Leeroy Jenkins / Attack! Attack! Attack!: Their favorite strategy when facing Earth's Colonial Defense Force. Guardians are know to attack even in the face of defeat.
- Powered Armor: various versions exist and are used along with:
- Tanks, including Walking Tanks and spider tanks
- Awesome Personnel Carrier: from wheeled, walking and hovering
- Animal mounts and pack animals.
- Bug War: Some of the mounts and beasts of burden they use are giant “pseudo-insects”. They breed them to feed on humans. The EDF responded by making bio-androids with Animal Motifs.
- Others are just large, big mean animals with More Teeth than the Osmond Family
- Army of Thieves and Whores: commanders on the border retain the old imperial tradition of raiding non-Cay settlements. Union soldiers have looted human settlements.
- Standard Sci-Fi Fleet: The Cay have Artificial Gravity and were the first to combine “jumpships” with “warp drive”.
- Their cruisers are larger and faster than those of the Earth Defense Force. Their older cruisers have been sold to the Southern Cross.
- Being able to take higher G-forces, the Cay still employ fighters and scouts alongside Attack Drones and Kill Sats
- They have more “multi-mission” ships as well.
- Enemy Mine: Why the Empire supported the Southern Cross in their push for independence because it was an Enemy Civil War.
- Gondor Calls for Aid: There are still Southern Cross supporters in the Union. They arranged for weapons, ships and pack animals to be sent as aid.
edited 6th Jul '13 11:06:52 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
rollin' on dubs
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ” *cue theme music*
Here's some more characters:
Names : Trooper Second Class EV-1026 Matthew Song, Trooper Second Class EV-1027 Mark Song, Trooper EV-1028 Luke Song, Corporal EV-1029 John Song
Age: Eleven
Personality / Role in the story:
Abilities:
- Voluntary Shapeshifting gives them
- Shapeshifter Weapons - Blade Below the Shoulder : hands can become sharp blades
- Swiss-Army Appendage: their hands are also tools
- Photographic Memory: a required secondary power
- Technopath: can “merge” with technology,
- Animal Motifs / Feathered Fiend : The Cay fear large predatory birds so the MP were made to resemble a large eagle or shark. At least one in each squad keeps his head looking like a bird or shark with More Teeth than the Osmond Family.
Weaknesses:
- Jackof All Trades: The “MP” bio-androids can alter their limbs and merge with electronics like the TA series, but they can't change shape. They wear “armor” that attaches to points on their bodies, but it restricts their movement.
- Animal Motifs: Their appearance was a massive PR backfire outside of combat.
- Exact Words: “Linear Thinking” is how RRDC put it, they tend to miss things in combat and had problems with “nuance”
- Super-Powered Robot Meter Maids: averted mostly, they were build for combat, some were “re-purposed” after the software upgrade and serve in other jobs besides infantry.
Backstory: RRDC has recently introduced a line of "Mass Production" units that all look and act the same. This was an effort to make a product closer to what the Joint Chiefs wanted: a mass-production line that would fill all the lower enlisted positions and could be rushed into the field. Unlike the regular bio-androids, they could be “pre-programed” with technical data and even the memories of other bio-androids. When most bio-android detractors picture a Robot War, the MP's are what they see. The EV-1020 series is a bit of a PR problem for RRDC. While some units excelled, many were lost in the various “police actions” on the border. Those losses have seen a return to the "custom" approach, even if they are more "emotional" than the MP bio-androids. The staff at RRDC's Academy predicted this. Except for a few examples, most MP units lagged behind in problem solving and adapting to “field conditions”. Someone at the RRDC staff gave the series “Biblical” first names. While that employee was fired, having “killer robots” named “Cain, Able, Adam, Noah” etc. was a PR disaster. Software “updates” and more training fixed most of the problems halfway through the production run.
Goals/ Motivation: “The MP is the standard combat model created as a mass-production bio-android to fill infantry roles in the MTO&E of the Ground Forces.”
Relevant Tropes:
- Winged Humanoid / It's Raining Men : their “wings” give this appearance, however Mark & Luke have two “hardpoints” for missiles. They can be airdropped and glide or use a 5-shot jumppack.
- Technicolor Eyes / Kaleidoscope Eyes / Purple Eyes / Glowing Eyes of Doom : They have eyes that give a soft purple glow unless they are on patrol or plugged into weapons, then they turn a solid matte black. RRDC focus tested various eye colors and believes that this was the most “relate-able” to troops.
- Jackof All Trades: The “MP” bio-androids can alter their limbs and merge with electronics like the TA series, but they can't change shape. They wear “armor” that attaches to points on their bodies, but it restricts their movement.
- Animal Motifs / Feathered Fiend : The Cay fear large predatory birds so the MP were made to resemble a large eagle or shark. Trooper EV-1028 Luke Song keeps his head looking like a bird.
- Corporal EV-1029 John Song: assistant squad leader
- Trooper EV-1028 Luke Song, Animal Motifs: head like a shark or eagle, Demolitions Expert
- Trooper Second Class EV-1026 Matthew Song: scout, The Quiet One
- Trooper Second Class EV-1027 Mark Song: Radio Operator
edited 16th Jan '15 4:51:35 PM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Inspired by Sf Debris, my brain thinking has been working again:
Setting: In the late 21st century, an alien ship was discovered on Europa. Re-verse engineered, in the 22nd, humanity expands outward. A large centralized Earth-run Federation controls many colonies (on planets and large space stations).
Well of course the good times can't last. The colonies revolt, war was beginning.
- cue theme music*
“In a galaxy, where the United Earth Government has fought a civil war, losing several worlds to the Southern Cross and had a war with the Alien Cay Union, hope rides in a ship called Victory ”the 'verse: In character, it's a science-fiction 'verse that is a tribute to the early "suck" of Season 1&2 Star Trek TNG, but after Growing the Beard, the genre savvy 'verse inhabitants end "Season One" on a positive note (getting more late season TNG/Good TOS Trek and Babylon 5). Think Trek, Evangelion, Babylon 5, Blade Runner and plenty of anime tropes and history put into a blender with the Rule of Cool button pushed.
Out of character:
It's the Show Within a Show of another'verse, above with the "writers" trying to comment on "current events" using the "show". Several of the main characters are cyborg/artificial humans who's place in society is used for social commentary. ((the "year" the show is set, in and out of character, is up for grabs).
I'm recycling some of my older ideas, but the Show Within a Show has a political and historical Does This Remind You of Anything? overtones. Yes it's a biting tribute to the early suck of TNG AND two science fiction writer/produces we all know and love. The "real world" is an urban fantasy type world with mutant powers and some magic.
Yes the studio is an "anime" studio in Texas. A dysfunction junction that's a Affectionate Parody of sci-fi fans, otaku, tropers, actors and producers. The studio employs mutants, espers, a Gumiho, a medium, a cosplaying witch and a wizard who needs to lose some weight and a Mormon.
And I'd love to open the 'verse up to others so the "studio" can have "guest writers" and "spec scripts".
edited 5th Jan '13 7:41:33 AM by TairaMai
All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48