OOC: post characters, develop ideas for plot, tech and character interactions. Be active... [B]Background...[/B] The year is 2348, eighty five years after the Great War, and Earth is a peaceful, prosperous place. United under a central government (TCG - Terran Central Government), the citizens of Earth and its confederate states and colonies live in a golden age. The horrors of previous centuries - famine, war between nations, and many of the most heinous diseases - have become relics of an epoch long since passed. Although nations maintain authority over cultural production, education and many other matters, issues such as inter-planetary defence, jump node technology and space exploration remain heavily regulated by the central government, which is directly elected. Earth is at the centre man's ever expanding reach into the galaxy, which includes many independent colonies, mega-corporations, and territorial claims by the semi-sovereign nations of Earth (such as 'New Japan'), who have inhabited new worlds, established huge lunar bases and constructed vast deep-space stations. It is a time of progress, imagination and what contemporary historians refer to as 'pax humanitus' or 'pax terra' - the peace of mankind. [I]Although this was not always so...[/I] The last conflict between nations was 109 years ago - a matter so alien to men and women of the mid 24th century, that it is referred to as a barbaric aspect of history. The Great War, however, is very different. First contact with the only alien race to be encountered by man took place just ninety-eight years ago, in the year 2250; the visiting race were known as the 'Grigori' to humans - the watchers, or 'those who are awake'. The name was given in the knowledge that these strange, unusual beings had watched man for nearly twenty years before contact was made. At first relations were cordial, even enthusiastic, but the two races were so utterly different that effective communication remained virtually impossible, even with the invention of highly complex translators. Frustrated at the lack of cooperation, tension grew between the two neighbours who could not understand each other. In 2255, only five years after first contact, the first shots were fired in what would become known as 'The Great War'. The war, which would last eight years, would be the most bloody conflict in recorded history by a long, long way. The Grigori had vast resources and technology decades ahead of what humanity possessed. For the first two years of the war, many worlds fell to these aliens, and millions of human lives were lost in their defence. There were two main turning points in the war which occurred in it's third year: the capture of Grigori technology and successful reverse engineering attempts, and the decision by the central government to progress with the Achilles plan, named after the near invincible Greek warrior. The Achilles plan authorised the creation of a new kind of super soldier: genetically engineered to be optimum combatants, sustained on a complex combination of drugs, and equipped with the very latest weapons of war obtained through the reversal of Grigori technology, these men were worth fifty normal human soldiers. They could think, act and most importantly, fight well beyond the limits and capabilities of both humans and Grigori alike. Bred on a massive scale, it was these super-soldiers who led the reversal of mankind's fortunes. In the 4th year of war, as the death toll approached billions, the aliens were pushed back. Four more years would the war continue, until man-kind's finest weapons led the final assault on the Grigori homeworld. In all history books, men and women of Earth are taught about the Great Sacrifice. It was said that even the best super-soldiers found the battle for Grigori prime a nearly impossible task; Millions of these genetically engineered warriors descended on the world, fighting and dying in scores. Such was their commitment to humanity, however, that rather than risk defeat, the soldiers of Terra tied up the Grigori in a bloody stalemate from which there could be no escape, and without thought for their own lives, took the star of that solar system to a supernova point, wherein it destroyed Grigori and super-soldier alike. So ended the Great War, with many billions on both sides dead. It was only through the Great Sacrifice, that mankind could win the war. It is singularly the most important lesson of human history. It is also a lie... [B]Present day...[/B] The year is 2348, eighty five years after the Great War, and Earth is a peaceful, prosperous place. [I]Until now...[/I] The mining colony of Regillus VI is an enormous platinum mine run by a mega corporation called UMI (United Mining Industries). The planet on which it is based, being at the very cusp of Terran galactic territory, is also the planned site of a new military outpost, and so the planet itself, by default under the authority of UMI, was being subject to negotiations for a takeover by the Terran central government. Two days ago an enormous explosion destroyed much of the mine and the surrounding habitation zone; in addition, several military supplies which had been pre-emptively shipped to the moon by the central government have gone missing. Consequently, the possibility that these supplies were used in the explosion can not yet be ruled out. [B]This RP... [/B] Will be set in the aforementioned world. It is not a finished world, and as such can be constructed and shaped by the participants in this RP. The lie of the Great Sacrifice would not be known to your characters, but will nevertheless play a very large part in this RP. I am looking for advanced, committed players to take part and contribute to a long lasting RP of exceptional quality. Your characters will be part of the TCMP - Terran Central Military Police. You cannot be super-soldiers - there are none of these left. All other backgrounds, specialities and so on go - just be reasonable. The starting point for the RP and your characters will be the formation of a TCMP team to be dispatched to investigate the Regillus VI explosion and the possibility of military equipment having been used. [I]A quick note on technology[/I] 1. Faster than light travel exists, but only on large 'capital' ships. Even then, the use of jump nodes are required to travel very large distances between solar systems quickly (think freespace 2 for those who have played it). Jump nodes are access points into subspace through which ships can pass; a few of these are naturally occurring phenomena, although the means to construct such phenomena were discerned from the Grigori. This was one of the breakthroughs that allowed man to jump to Grigori controlled worlds, including Grigori prime. The destruction of these jump nodes is possible, but requires immense force and technology beyond the means of any but the TCG. 2. Ships range from small shuttles and fighters, to immense cargo ships and vessels of war - be creative here. 3. Weaponry is a mixture of projectile and energy technology. Both have advantages and disadvantages. 4. I will accept contributions to technological lore - just run big things by me first, 5. No teleportation technology yet exists, although shield technology does. Character sheet... no characters above Major please. [B]Name:[/B] [B]Age:[/B] [B]Appearance (no anime):[/B] [B]Nationality or Place of Residence:[/B] [B]Title / Rank:[/B] [B]Biography / history:[/B] [B]Equipment (out of combat theatre):[/B] [B]Equipment (in combat theatre):[/B] [B]Specialised Skills:[/B] [B]Other:[/B] [u][B]Characters so far [/B][/u] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/44933/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1342269]Major Sienna Jennings[/url] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/44933/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1388558]Lieutenant Galius “Ghost” Vansen[/url] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/44933/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1347142]Sergeant Graz Thompson[/url] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/44933/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1366118]Scout Mika Vikashev[/url] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/44933/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1389197]Dr. Yair Kahan[/url]