Name: The Biosynth Union
Species: Biosynths
Magitech-created humanoid servants of the 3rd Phoenix Empire, now left astray and on their own as they do not recognize the new Empire as the successors of their long-gone masters. Biosynths are human in shape, but are genetically, physically, and magically altered to be both compliant and specialized in specific fields of ability to be ideal servants, posing difficulties for a collection of biosynths trying to stand on their own as some models were lost and others deliberately handicapped or withheld to ensure dominance by their masters. Engineering and strategic command types are in notably short supply in comparison to the overabundance of warriors, soldiers, and cultural models.

[hider=Major Models]

Drones (Labor)- Basic grunt labor biosynths. Drones form the Union's masses of unskilled physical laborers for all kinds of menial or dangerous physical duties. Cheap, simple, and mass-reproducible with only simple magitech facilities and resources, the Union doesn't lack for raw labor. Drones may be tasked towards higher duties, but require cerebral implants or mental-imprints to learn how to perform them.

Proteges (Adv. Labor)- More advanced labor models, Proteges possess some degree of intelligence and problem-solving ability, making them suited for industrial tasks or assisting more specialized or sophisticated models. Efforts are ongoing to replace Drones with Proteges, but its a continuous balancing act with producing other models that share their facilities. Also used in combat as shocktroopers, utilizing cocktails of combat drugs and conditioning to turn them into fearsome yet readily replaceable troops.

Asimov (Technical)- One of the few technical models of the Union, Asimov-type biosynths are robotics technicians meant to maintain robots and mechs. Most of their problem-solving revolves around building robots and loading them with pre-programmed routines to accomplish even the most simple of engineering tasks. Still, they at the very least have the mental flexibility to trial and learn how to build robots for a wide range of fields, making them vital for maintaining the Union's infrastructure and ships.

Theranthropes (Culture/Soldier)- Out of mad genius or perversion by ancient arcanosmiths, a wide range of biosynths were created with animal features and traits spliced into their bodies. Besides the obvious cultural appeal of catgirls, dogs, and the like as servants and "companions"; Theranthrope models also proved to be surprisingly able soldiers. While not explicitly stronger or faster without supplemental modding, they are more mentally hardened for the rigors of war than most humans and naturally pack-disciplined, if usually erring on the side of too much aggression for their own good.

Valkyries (Soldier/Tactical Leader)- Valkyries are a dedicated female warrior model. While their appearances rarely drop below "attractive" (and frequently much higher), do not mistake their appearances for softness. Designed to be ultimate soldiers, their bodies are infused with powerful magic and genemodding for perception, reflexes, coolness under fire (termed "Battle Trance"), and exceptional regeneration. In the fall of their masters, Valkyries have also come to occupy a large number of forward leadership roles to great ability, although they are poor staff officers and strategic leaders. Their production is limited to a few advanced worlds, and they are not compatible with accelerated growth methods.[/hider]

Government: Parliamentary

Description of Technology: Magitech, approximately 40% magic, 60% tech ratio on average.
[hider=Tech Notes]
The biosynths have a noted issue of limited skilled technical personnel, perpetually short of logistics staff and advanced engineers. This in turn results in a shortage of heavy industry and shipyards, resulting in technology and ships designed to last and be as low-maintenance as possible. This is mixed with technology salvaged from the Phoenix Empire and other fallen factions the Union has found and attempted to use to compensate for their industrial disadvantages.

The majority of Biosynth technology is derived from or salvaged from the fallen Third Phoenix Empire, as well as relics from other past nations they have salvaged and repurposed.
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[hider=Military]

The Union Fleet is hamstrung by the Union's industrial deficiencies. Leaving it with fewer capital ships and problematic supply trains at best. To compensate, the Union makes extensive use of easier to manufacture and maintain destroyers, frigates, and mech strikers. As a rule, the Union prefers carriers over battleships, and outfits every ship with some degree of mech-carrying capacity.

Mecha are commonly used by the biosynths for ease of use with magitech mind-machine interfaces, and because they have been able to salvage several 3rd Empire autoplants and relativistic foundries specialized towards mech production. While slow to develop new mech models, the biosynths are able in adapting and customizing their equipment as needed, and have no shortage of talented pilots to field them en masse by the thousands, carriers permitting.

Standard combat doctrine is to swarm enemies with large numbers of mechs, fighters, bombers, and corvettes. Followed by groups of frigates and cruisers if heavier firepower is necessary. Carriers and capital ships are deployed as last resort and kept at a distance, as the Union cannot readily replace them.

The Union's primary fleet advantages are effectively infinite supplies of general crew and pilots, which can go a long way in a space age where conscription is rarely effective, and advanced warship technology for the ships they do have, such as the plasma focus and shield-piercing electron beam cannon.
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[hider=Culture]

Union culture is very fragmentary to say the least. While the Founders gave some semblance of individualism to the biosynths before their fall, biosynth culture is strictly divided between model type and between those who possess the spark of independance and who don't.

Culture-models lean towards hedonistic lifestypes. Patrons and partakers of the arts, luxuries, and pleasures of the bed. Those who serve provide all forms of pleasure, and those with the Spark consume it either for personal satisfaction as per their role or in imitation of their masters. Most biosynths are uncomfortable with living at the level of their masters, yet there must be consumption of the works of the large cultural basis of the population. Therefore its not uncommon for soldier biosynths to take leave on a beach without understanding why it was a recreational hotspot, only that it is a traditional pasttime for soldiers in books they read.

Warriors and soldier types are primarily martial in mindset and exercise. Gladiator games and bloodsports are common, as is military reenactments and constant physical drill. Some military philosophers have emerged from their ranks however, and they are not simply dumb muscle either as they strive to apply and adapt their military mindset to other areas of society.

Engineers are perpetual workaholics, rarely deviating from their work and obsessively tinkering even when off duty. As a rule, all biosynths give Engineers and Technical types a wide berth and all support they can muster in deferrence to the technical specialists.

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[hider=History]
2000 years ago, the 3rd Phoenix Empire fell. Leaving behind hundreds of ruined worlds, and a race of servants, slaves, and soldiers. Born of complex arcane spells and magitech alchemy, the biosynths were bred to be the perfect servants within their given roles.

Before their final fall, the Founding Mages of the biosynths gave the gift of freedom to their creations and enough tools to ensure some means of their own survival. Ensuring that some of their creations would survive the dark ages to follow. Spread across the ruined stars, many biosynth colonies fell as the specialized servants could not exist on their own. But some colonies stood tall, and rose from the ashes anew.

Led by the four main models: the Valkyries, the Liberators, the Asmiovs, and the Proteges; the Biosynths slowly rediscovered interstellar travel and reunited the scattered biosynth models. Yet even then, unity was impossible to achieve among servants without masters. Not even the greatest leaders of the biosynth worlds possessed the authority or ability to unite all the worlds by diplomacy, force, or trade.

It would take an invasion of the Fourth Phoenix Empire before the factions would finally unite in shared belief that the outside usurpers were not the successors to the legacy of the masters they once served. Marshaling their armies and peoples, the newly formed Biosynth Union now stands in a desperate fight for survival against a greater empire.
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