Okay I'll do that after I get home tomorrow
@duck55223 okay made it bigger explained some of the weapons that they use, and the shielding, if anything else you are wanting just let me know!
The Dagon Pact
Aliases: The Xeno-Corporate Pact, the Compact, the Fringe Systems
Species:
Humans of various ethnicities, especially Rozzarrian
Dagon Skinwalkers: A strange and sorcerous race, the Skinwalkers have ruled the Dagon system for millenia, utilizing the native Introgg peoples as servants, soldiers and slaves. The natural appearance of the Skinwalkers is that of a pale, human sized slug, with four delicate arms ending in three-finger hands protruding from the 'torso' and rows of black, clawlike talons along their 'tail.' Faceless, the Skinwalkers communicate through telepathy or more mundanely through neuro-activated voice simulation technology. As their name suggests, however, Skinwalkers have the unique ability to assume the forms of similarly sized organic life, making them exceptional assassins. Their race's mastery of the arcane, especially of necromancy and augury, rivals that of the mage-lords of the Pheonix Empire.
Drones: Synthetic hybrids of insect, droid and humans, Drones are mass produced by the corporations of the Pact to serve as hyperobedient slaves, servants, and of course frontline soldiers and canon fodder. Drones are semi-sentient at best, and come in innumerable varients custom bred for various purposes.
Introgg: An avian/reptilian sentient race native to the planets of the Dagon System, where they make up the vast majority of an interplanetary oligarchy ruled by the Skinwalkers. They make excellent skirmishers, snipers, light infantry, and fighter pilots.
Vakeshi: A race of sentient amphibians divided into several petty tribes, the Vakeshi are a nomadic, shipbound race, often traders, pirates and mercenaries. All of the Vakeshi tribes make pilgrimmage to their home planet of Vesh, a densely populated shrineworld and the only planet in the galaxy with a significant, permanent Vakeshi population. The Vakeshi space-tribes are ancestral foes of the Skinwalkers and Introgg, but have allied with their ancient enemies in the face of the Rozzarrian advance. The Vakeshi ancestral traditions have preserved ancient forms of druidic magic for millenia, and their spacecraft are famous for their beauty and craftsmanship.
Gn'Mok: Whatever the Gn'Mok people were originally, the bioengineers of some long-forgotten empire manipulated their bioform into one designed for combat. It is theorized that the Gn'Mok were meant to serve some faction or other as shock troops. Whatever their distant origins, the Gn'Mok have sustained themselves with mercenary work for millenia, frequently working for the Skinwalkers of Dagon and the megacorporations of the Rozzarrian Empire.They excel as heavy infantry, and serve the Pact as an elite force, utilizing wrist mounted energy shields, rad-hammers and power lances in combat. There are eight Gn'Mok Legions in the employ of the Pact, including the infamous III Legion.
Government: The Pactis a decentralized alliance of human and alien states, former Rozzarrian corporations and nobles, and rebel and pirate elements. It is 'governed' by an executive Directory of Six, composed of individuals who represent the most powerful subfactions within the Pact. The Directors are:
- Ava Sing, Guildmistress of the Raynasa Farspace Trading Guild
- Caractacus Veed, CEO and President of Imperial Droidcraft and Synthetic Intelligences
- Archmagister Ithaqua of the Silent Masters, the ruling body of the Dagon System
- Legate Xo of the Gn'Mok I Legion
- He-Who-Wanders-the-Void-Fearlessly, High Chieftan of the Vakeshi Space-Tribes
- Thrazariah dai Gazebor, Imperial Archduke of Alessio
The Directory shares power with the Conclave of Mouths, an immense parliament with representatives from all member-states and corporations of the Pact. Needless to say, such a power structure is chaotic, and the Pact resembles a military alliance of minor nations much more than a single, unified state. Nevertheless, fear and hatred of the Rozarrian Emperor has proven a powerful cement between otherwise disparate factions and peoples, and the constant threat of annihilation has helped the unworkable governing structures of the Pact hang together.
Description of Technology:
The Pact wields a wildly diverse array of technology and magic thanks to the many factions and peoples it governs. Robotics, cloning and stealth technology are areas in which the Pact tends to hold an edge over its Rozzarrian rivals, thanks to the scientific resources of the megacorporations at the heart of the Pact.
Rozzarrian Tech:
The Pact controls a number of former Rozzarrian frontier planets and utilizes much of the Empire's standard military technology. Rozzarrian tech is, unsurprisingly, used for the most part by the ex-Imperial member states of the Pact. The Pact lacks the vast industrial base and centralized economy of the Empire, however, and so the manufacture of new Rozzarrian model ships and heavy armaments is concentrated in the system of Far Ingria.
Corporate Tech:
The megacorporations of the Pact control advanced AI, robotics and droid technology and manufacturing capabilities. The work-horse of Pact ground forces, both for infantry and armor, are a various models of mass-manufactured wardroid and synethic drone models built by Imperial Droidcraft and Synthetic Intelligences (IDSI). The Pact utilizes IDSI heavy carriers in its fleet, capable of housing several thousand automated fighter-bombers and ground-troop carriers. Civilian-use droids proliferate throughout the corporate- and ex-Imperial sectors of the Pact, and some models are quickly gaining popularity in some of the xenos-systems.
The Raynasa Farspace Trading Guild and its subsidiary corporations have typically focused less on military and civilian technology than IDSI, but possess advanced magitech engineered based off of the designs and technology utilized by the wide range of cultures and races with which the Guild trades. The magitech stealth systems originally utilized by the Guild's long range trade vessels are notably difficult to counter, and have in recent years been used to great effect by the Pact's naval assets in its prolonged struggle with the Rozzarrian Empire and its formidable navy. Guild Skiffs have proven to be excellent in reconaissance, blockade-running, behind-the-lines raiding and black-ops roles.
Dagon Tech: The Skinwalkers of Dagon and their Introgg subjects have been capable of FTL for millenia, but the Skinwalkers' esoteric interests and isolationism have contributed to technological stagnation among their kind. Their vessels are small, equipped with outdated weaponry, and utilize solar sails for intrasystem travel. There is very little to be said for native Dagon technology across the board. The exceptional magical ability of the Skinwalker Silent Masters alone makes up for their technological backwardness, and tentative efforts to utilize Skinwalker magi in the creation of magitech has yeilded interesting fruit. The Introgg make good soldiers and excellent skirmishers, snipers and fighter pilots when outfitted with contemporary armaments and vehicles.
Vakeshi Tech: The Vakeshi are an (almost entirely) space-bound race, and their capital ships, escorts and fighters are examples of peerless, loving craftsmanship, especially notable for their formidable magitech sheilding and elegant design. Each Vakeshi ship is unique, however, its own work of art, and so they are few in number and not easily replaced. A Vakeshi War-Maiden outstrips even a Rozzarrian battleship in size, and is considered one of the finest capital-class vessels in existence by many naval experts.
Gn'Mok Archeotech: The Gn'Mok have been plying their bloody trade for millenia. They utilize ancient models of personal shielding and heavy weaponry, often inscribed with their peoples' arcane formulas and litanies. Their space cruisers are built primarily for boarding and ground-support actions.
Description of Military:
The Pact Space Fleet is a mishmash of Rozzarrian, Vakeshi, pirate, mercenary and corporate ships, with little standardization. While a few taskforces have sufficient numbers of Rozzarrian Imperial ships and Vakeshi War-Maidens to trade blows in a pitched battle with enemy ships of the line, most of the Pact Navy is ill-equipped for front line brawls and the Pact economy is insufficiently centralized to efficiently replace serious capital ship losses. As such, the Pact relies on hit-and-run tactics, behind-the-lines raiding, superior stealth capabilities, and advanced jump technology to disrupt and damage enemy formations and manufacturing capability while avoiding enemy fire.
The Pact Combined Armies enjoy the benefits of the Pact's immense diversity, while suffering from the issues of command and control that fielding such a wide array of troop types creates. The wardroids and battledrones deployed by the megacorporations of the Compact ensure that there are few battlefields on which Compact armies are outnumbered, while the Gn'Mok legions provide peerless heavy infantry support. Introgg units serve as excellent light infantry and fast-attack pilots, as well as serviceable frontline troops alongside human conscripts. The Combined Armies also benefit from the psionic and magical expertise of the Dagon Skinwalkers, as well as the protective shielding-tech and defensive arcana favored by the Vakeshi. When coordinated by a skilled commander, the Combined Armies are a formidable combat force, combining the strengths of so many different races. Under less assured command, however, the Combined Armies can become unweildy and poorly coordinated, and vulnerable to a more streamlined, flexable, unified foe.
Description of Culture:
Rozzarrian: The ex-Imperial Systems of the Pact maintain the Imperial caste system, though in a much looser and less policed form than in the Empire. Some ex-Imperial provinces have introduced liberalizing reforms, while in others nobles cling to their ancient perogatives. In any case, Imperial culture is strong here, though hatred of the Empire is too, especially (and ironically) among the nobility- memories of Leoric's brutality run deep in the former frontier worlds. Pro-Imperial rebel fronts and terrorist cliques, however, have a strong presence in ex-Rozzarrian space, and the secret police services of the rebellious nobles work hard to snuff out loyalist agitation.
WIP
History:
The Dagon Pact was formed in Imperial Rozzarrian Year 169 by a collection of Rozzarrian megacorporations, alien nations, and rebellious nobles. Frustrated by bureaucratic meddling, Imperial racial dogma, and above all, increasingly high taxation, several major Rozzarrian corporations- most notably Imperial Droidcraft and Synthetic Intelligences, Avignon Spacecraft, Inc., Rozzarian-Central Positronics, and the Raynasa Farspace Trading Guild- combined their efforts to sway several key duchies to lobby for greater autonomy from the crown, and protested genocidal campaigns in recently acquired xenos systems. The Xenophiles, as the party became known, argued that alien sentients were better seen as trade partners, customers, clients, and a potential labor pool, rather than merely vermin to be exterminated. The xenophile corporations had long had clandestine trade agreements with the Vakeshi Space-Tribes and the Skinwalkers of Dagon, and had profited enormously from such partnerships. The new Rozzarrian Emperor Leoric III's strict enforcement of Imperial Racial Dogma threatened the bottom line and autonomy of the megacorps, as they were increasingly subordinated to the Crown and made an instrument of colonial policies. The crown's blatant favoritism in regards to the Greater Atmoran Company further detiriorated the situation.
The Rozzarrian Emperor refused to even consider the xenophile demands, and when pressure from dissatisfied corporations and nobles continued, His Majesty deposed the dissatisfied dukes and revoked corporate charters, seizing assets and bequeathing them to the ever-compliant Greater Atmoran Colonial Company. Left without options, the anti-Leoric dukes and their wealthy corporate backers roll the dice, allying with the powerful alien factions that stood in the way of the Rozzarrian advance and declaring their autonomy from the Empire. Thus was formed Dagon Pact from a smattering of Imperial frontier worlds, alien polities, corporate-ruled planets and installations, and mercenary fleets. The alliance was named after the planet on which the founding treaty was signed, the throneworld of the Skinwalker Oligarchy, xenos whose anti-Rozarrian scheming had done much to bring the revolution about.
Systems Controlled
Dagon System: the capital system of the Pact, the Dagon system is home to four habital worlds and is ruled by Skinwalker oligarchs known as the Silent Masters. Dagon itself is a technologically backwards planet of teeming, dangerous jungles and ancient ruins, and is the only planet with a widespread Skinwalker population. Other planets in the sytem are:
The Dolorious Shoals:
Vvaryl
Vesh
Alessio
Far Ingria
Corporate Space (three systems)
So, that IC?
Collective symbol, designed to represent Collective Society.
Name of nation: The Collective of Civilised SpeciesSpecies:
Triarii:
The dominant species and founders of the Collective, they stand at an average 5'6. They are highly intelligent and have a remarkably low reproduction rate (While this is partly due to cultural influences. Multiple births are fairly rare with Triarii, the largest number of live births on record being 4. There are 3 of these incidents on records.) Even before birth, the Triarii have a chip inserted into their mind which increases their already high IQ and enhances their inborn 'Psionic' or 'Psychic' powers. Even without this chip, however, they are still strong psionics and it is theorised that early Triarian populations used this to help construct their buildings and technology. They somewhat resemble the Greys. A healthy Triarian will have large, glossy black eyes which will grow orange if they are using a lot of energy in their psionic transfers. This eye has a thin, dull orange iris towards it outer edges, which closes along with the eye lids and plays a major part in Triarian Psionics. They have absolutely no capacity for magic; and in turn it seems they are resistant to magical energies to a degree. Whether this is something to do with their unique biology is unknown. Their bodies do not have 'excesses' resulting from evolution as one might expect; Indeed, their bodies appear to be designed rather than the product of natural evolution. It is almost as if they were designed as an organic amplifier and indeed, their strange design plays a very important role in their powerful psionic ability. They have a rather frail physical form which makes them poor in close combat, or combat in general when compared to the counter parts of other races. They managed to close this gap somewhat through their advanced technology, but it is still very obvious when one pits a Triarian up against just about anyone in hand to hand combat. If it were not for their psionic potential they would be nearly worthless in battle. They rely on other, absorbed races to help with the combat as front line infantry, while they themselves serve as commanders, utilising their high intelligence and processing ability to its fullest extent. Their homeworld is far hotter than most other species in the universe, and as such they require far higher tempretures. The result is that they wear envirosuits the majority of the time theu are in contact with alien species, though a number have been augmented for adaptability (this is usually the case with diplomats or occupation officers who are expected to spend large amounts of time on off world assignments to "cold" locations).
Hara-Ka: The Hara-Ka are a large, bipedal, giant ape-like species. They are of simian origin and have been said to resemble large gorillas, but there are other qualities not shared by most other simians, such as their large, predator canines. They have thick skin, and are covered with matted, black, tan, or brown fur-like hair. This is often shaved off before military service as a sign of being civilized. Their large, stocky appearance is due to the insanely high gravity on their planet, high enough to incapacitate some species entirely (And kill too; Without the usage of adaptation suits, the invading Triarii would have been killed due to their extremely weak form). They are physically powerful as a result and aggressive. They are not as intelligent as the average human, but they are by no means stupid. They were intelligent enough to reach the nuclear age twice and produce primitive space craft.
Ziatri: The Ziatri are a reptile species hailing from a dull swamp world with but a few other environments (which are mostly jungle). They have a unique structure which allows them to camouflage themselves however they are also able to alter their form slightly. Through advanced technology, Ziatri entering military service are augmented so that they may assume other forms entirely, within a few feet of their own height. They also produce poison in their glands and are extremely agile, able to jump and climb up walls with ease. Due to the hostility of their world, the general paranoia of the collective and the Ziatri's secretive nature, their culture and how they govern themselves isn't entirely known.
Corruptelae Insectum: Having no native name, they were given a name in the tongue of the Triarii. They are unique among the official 'Member Races' of the Collective in that many of them are mindless drones. Corruptelae Insectum are inevitably slaved to their queens mind. When removed from the influence of a Queen or other such important Hive figure, they often revert to basic, animal like instincts and sometimes go on rampages. Without the influence of a hive figure, one will over time undergo metamorphosis and transform into a Queen to start a new hive. It is unknown whether the Corruptelae Insectum 'drones' actually have a capability for autonomy and freedom when away from the hive for long enough, as almost all specimens will eventually transform into a Queen or will simply be uncooperative. The Collective has decided that research into the area would be unnecessary, costly and have little payoff. The most common form of Corruptelae Insectum is essentially a massive insect with 4 legs and two arms. It has sharp claws and pincers which are venomous, and is very deadly in close combat. They are capable of reproduction, via eggs in an insect like caste structure. These eggs can be placed by the Queen, but members of the warrior caste of the hive are also able to place small eggs within any female of sufficient mass and with the correct biology to support it. They are required to use females as the egg is implanted into the womb, where it quickly forms and is supplied by the females body as though the parasitic insect is actually her child. The new born is ready extremely quickly and after just three hours will claw it's way out of the infected female, usually killing her in the process.
Aru'Shumi: The Aru'Shumi evolved from avian creatures. The most common form is a 5'11 alien with their avian ancestry giving them a bird-like beak and long quills protruding from their heads like hair. Smaller quills, possibly the evolutionary remnants of feathers, can be found scattered over their bodies. Maybe the most prominent feature of the Aru'Shumi is that they evolve in two ways. The primary manner is the standard reproductive means, but they can evolve in a secondary manner by selecting traits of their defeated foes to absorb through eating them. Due to this, the inhabitants of different Aru'Shumi planets can be very diverse and the Aru'Shumi cannot be properly described in any one way. They have a very strict structure of honour. While they do not have a god they believe in the 'Warrior Spirit'. They believe that when a warrior of any race dies, his warrior spirit should be kept, and the only way to do this is by reusing his flesh, sometimes by eating it and sometimes by turning it into clothing. With the arrival of the Triarii, the Collective has exploited this through the use of body recycling, the Aru'Shumi heavily in support of this idea. The idea of the 'Warrior Spirit' was retained as part of their culture, albeit 'Warrior Spirit' now being called a new name and slightly altered teaching provided by the Collective, 'Warrior Genes'. This sort of combination of culture is far from rare within the Collective. Their leader is the Emperor of the Aru'Shumi, who is now a member of the Primicerii Xenos, and the Aru'Shumi are now officially a client race of the Collective. The majority of the Aru'Shumi surrendered to the Collective upon the Emperors orders, as disobeying the orders of a superior is seen as even more dishonourable than surrendering. Despite this, there was some resistance upon several planets, which was quickly put down by the Collective Due to their bird like ancestry, they have keen eyes and excel at sharpshooting because of this.
Human: The Newest Addition to the Collective, these humans were a second set of refugee's from a now defunct human empire, possibly one of the earlierincarnations of the Pheonix Empire who encountered and were absorbed into the Collective. In informal conversation, many institutions are still referred to by their original names, and it is mostly in documents or official orders the newer names appear. The species has generally split since their recent absorption, though the few who are brave enough to take up arms against the Collective are outmatched and outnumbered by the Collectives occupying war machine. Having all standard features of human biology, they have fallen into the category of species within the Collective who lack any special traits; They are not the intellectual equals of the Triarii, the Physical Equals of the Hara-Ka, they are not agile and fast as the Aru'Shumi, they lack the special shape shifting abilities of the Ziatri and are not effective as a terror weapon or wave attacks like the Corruptelae Insectum. In short, they occupy the niche of being the jack of all trades while being the master of none.
Other various species exist, however they are not counted among the official members. These species are generally considered non-sentientDescription of government: Their society is based around a utopian socialist ideal, all individuals strive for the advancement of the Collective as a whole. As the good of the species is placed before the good of the individual, this can result in actions that seem morally wrong to external species, such as eugenics, cloning and genetic manipulation. Their government is arranged by merit, the most intelligent and highest individuals lead the race while the least intelligent and lowest achieving individuals reside at the bottom. It is arranged into several castes
Collective caste system (Non-Expanded)
Caste 1: Primicerius: The leader caste, they are tasked with ensuring the Collective runs efficently. They are usually very, very intelligent and distinguished. This includes the top member of the Argutus, Equitem and Civilis Protectione
Caste 2: Argutus: The scientists of the Collective, they are in the second to top class and are highly intelligent. While technically, they can order around members of the Equitem, Argutus members often obey Equitem requests out of respect for the Caste and it's duty.
Caste 3: Equitem: These are the soldiers of the Collective. They defend the Collective from alien threats with zeal. The Equitem controls the Space Navy, the planetary defense grid and the ground forces
Caste 4: Civilis Protectione: The police caste, they have the ability to order around any member of the lower castes as well as authorise on the spot judgement.
Caste 5: Higher Kyn: The higher achieving and more intelligent people of the society, these involve any who have got higher level jobs such as doctors
Caste 6: Kyn: The average achieving and intelligent people of the society, these involve any who have got medium level jobs, such as work force overseers and managers
Caste 7: Lower Kyn: The lowest achieving and intelligent people of the society, these involve any who have got low level jobs such as mechanics and builders
Caste -: Infandus: These are former members who are exiled/. They include traitors, Murders and any other criminal who is exiled instead of under going repurposing (Repurposing is the name given to brainwashing. All trace of the former personality is destroyed effectively leaving a 'clean canvas' to re-educate the individual, Genetic Repurposing refers to complete changes of the individual into a synthetic fighting unit for the Empire) . An Infandus is attacked on sight, they are obvious because they have been branded with the mark of shame on their head.
Each caste is split into sub-castes (For instance the Argutus have a sub-caste called Munitor, who construct the Argutus inventions) and there are often considered to be other castes between some of them, though the one above is the one that other species recognise, as the massive number of intertwining branchs of the structure are not required for most diplomatic activities.The process to create many of these designs is so extreme one might wonder if ethics is a word that even exists within the Collective. Entire new creatures have been created in a never ending attempt to create an adaptable and powerful military force, beings melted down and their biological mass fed into machines designed for the construction of a synthetic army.
Servitor: This basic synth has generally maintained orientated augments and implants, and it's main purpose is simply to service other Synths and mechs. It is not a frontline combat unit as a result. It's implants and augments and their purpose can varybased on their designated position
Hunter: A 8ft tripodal synth, it's official designation is Anti-Body. It's legs end with extremely sharp barbs making it a more than capable close combat unit as it can use it's body to knock down opponents and then impale them, often taking out part of their insides with the barbs. It has a pair of retractable spikes that are also able to be used during a charge, though they are less deadly than the barbed legs they shouldn't be underestimated. It has a flechette launch which can fire in large bursts, short bursts or single shot. If they are going to die, sometimes they will fire as many rounds as they can in a shotgun like fashion to try and take their target with them. These flechettes have two prongs on the end which allow them to embed in their targets, they explode shortly after a growing noise indicating the flechette is 'charging'. The explosion showers nearby targets and is extremely deadly. They are known for being quick and agile, they are fairly resistant to damage, but not on the same scale as other, heavier units.
Dropship: This crablike synth carries metal pods that the units wait in while they are taken down to the ground, or carries entire units for larger units such as the Marcher. The front and two rearmost pairs of "legs" on the craft contain engines that give the Dropship lift and movement. The front two legs also hold retractable wings used for maneuvering. The middle four legs end in large suction pads which are used to carry various forms of cargo. The Container is a large, streamlined container used to transport Equitem units or Civilis Protectione units. It is used in conjunction with a Dropship, which picks it up and carries it wherever it is needed. While the dropship is unarmed, these containers are equipped with a powerful heavy plasma machine gun turret mounted on the front of the container, designed to provide suppressing fire for the troops as they disembark.
Marcher: A towering 25ft tripod, which bears the official designation of Viscerator. It is armed with a Plasma Auto cannon and with a Warp Cannon . It's legs have spikes at the bottom which allow it to stomp on anything which gets too close to it. Chitinous plates reinforced with heavy metal alloys to make it a durable and effective soldier.
Megarachnid (Corruptelae Insectum Auctum): A insect like synth with 4 legs, it's formal designation is Virome. It has extremely sharp claws and pincers which are venomous, and is very deadly in close combat. The only synth capable of reproduction, via eggs in an insect like caste structure identical to it's non-augmented brothers, the Equitem sometimes release a small group of megarachnids into the underground of an empires planet. Because of their fast reproduction rate, they will have infested the planet within a short time, the Equitem then comes in and uses the megarachnids to capture the planet. Generally, they know only to kill, reproduce and follow directives. it's chitin provides protection, but it is less durable than the other synths
Gunship: A flying synth which measure 20ft from nose to tail. It's formal designation is Nebuliser. It is armed with a heavy plasma machine gun which fires in large bursts and a deadly Warp Cannon. It is very agile in the air and has proven useful in both providing support for ground units and fighting other aircraft. Light but strong metal alloys are combined with strong chitin to provide a strong armor for the gunship.
Crab Synth: The Crab Synth has many spiked protrusions and various mechanical systems on its front and rear. It can charge at targets to do large amounts of impact damage due to it's size, crushing bones and damaging targets as it does. It is equipped with a plasma autocannom which is stored under its belly when not in use, hidden behind a plate.
Mortar Synth: The Mortar Synth consists of a fleshy, triangular body with a mortar located on its back. Its front end features many spiked protrusions and various mechanical systems. Hovering low above the ground, it uses its mortar to hit far away targets, blowing up enemies before they can get close to the main forces. It acts as a sort of support unit, softening up enemy targets or suppressing them while the main force moves into position
Synth Soldier (Hara-Ka Auctum): A 8ft Synth which has more in common with an augmented ape than the other synths. It's formal designation is Causteriser. Like most other synths, it is incapable of reproduction so it's numbers are kept up through cloning and growing of the base species followed by Augmentation once the creature reaches the adolescent stage. With metal implanted into the skin, an increase in the density and mass of their already impressive muscles and the grafting of their nerves to increase reaction times, they are very aggressive, strong and durable. It has another variant, the Aerial Synth Soldier who has had his legs removed and had cybernetics and anti-gravity pads fused into his flesh and back. These are strong, quick moving combatants who serve as fast attack units and can traverse heights quickly. They are also equipped with a more conventional flight equipment piece for a boost. The energy from this is supplied from the equipment of the Aerial Synth Soldier, though it is also able to turn waste products that would usually become excrement into fuel, as well as draw from energy transfers within the altered Hara-Ka's body.
Synth soldier (Human Auctum): A 6'6ft Synth that is made from a Human. It's formal designation is Causteriser. Like most other synths it is incapable of reproduction so it's numbers are kept up through cloning and growing of the base species followed by Augmentation once the human reaches the adolescent stage. They are not as strong or as durable as their Hara-Ka counter parts, but they are more intelligent. Regardless, they are fewer in number as they are not considered to be as effective. They're usage along side Civilis Protectione Xenos members in enforcing the occupation of the humans has earned them the name "The Overwatch", though this is a misnomer that stuck after citizens overheard information from the Comm Chatter
Synth Infiltrator (Umbrae Populus Auctum): This Synth is the infiltrator of the Triarian Collective. Able to 'shape shift' it is able to infiltrate other species. It is a quick learning alien and is thus capable of picking up languages and customs, as well as creating clevar cover stories for themselves. Regardless of form, they are highly flexible and can jump approximately 16 meters into the air, which they often use to get atop buildings, and also survive very long falls. They are able to spit a poison which is produced in glands in their mouth and their ability to shape shift makes them highly durable if they have enough energy to shift form to heal their wounds.
Synth Sharpshooter(Aru'Shumi Carnivorus Auctum): The Synth sharpshooter is a heavily augmented Aru'Shumi carnivores. It's natural features, when augmented, make it extremely accurate, their birdlike eyes perfect for sharpshooting. On top of this, they are fairly quick and strong, although not to the level of many other synths. They are usually armed with the Beam Rifles, making them extremely deadly and they fill the role of designated marksman. Like the other Aru'Shumi synths, they are very lightly armoured
Synth Skirmisher (Aru'Shumi Celeri Auctum): The Synth Skirmisher is a heavily augmented Aru'Shumi Runner. It's natural features, when augmented, make it excellent for a fast attack unit, being quick and agile. They would be armed with a light plasma rifles as they dash around their enemies, leaping to heights and scouting out terrain. They fill the role of a scout and, along with the hunter, fast attack unit
Synth Guardian (Aru'Shumi Carnivorus Auctum): The Synth Guardian is a heavily augmented Aru'Shumi Carnivore. It is the strongest of the three Aru'Shumi Synths and they are equipped with a plasma pistol and a point defense gauntlet, which is a wrist mounted directional shield, large enough for them to hide behind. They are used for holding positions, creating phalanxes with their point defense gauntlets, and are often used to support Stalkers, guarding them from flanking enemies so that the Stalkers can snipe
Synth Marauder: The Synth Marauders are generally used as a vicious attack unit, taking a lot of punishment and wreaking havoc amongst the enemy. Standing much higher than the usual Synth Soldier, they are stronger, faster and more durable. They have adaptive bone marrow and other such durability implants to make them recover faster, and are much more imposing. Furthermore, they have in built weaponry and they have additional sensory organs which appear like fine spikes, allowing them to detect movementCollective AI technology of varying strengths incorporated into robotic forces, these units perform their tasks with the precision only a machine could achieve. Fabricated in massive manufactorums by machines and construction beams, these mech forces make up a formidable armoured backbone to the already formidable Equitem forces
Turret: A turret which is either portable and set up on the floor by ground units or attached into walls, ceilings or floors in more permanent bases. They are referred to as Sterilisers and rapid fire Dark Energy at their enemies, depending on model and thus the security level of the zone. They can be used to lock down zones quickly but are immobile and reliant on other units for deployment and retrieval
Walker: A 12 ft, bipedal mech, formally referred to as a Hemostat. It is very durable and well armed, along with the Soldiers they make up the bulk of Triarian mech forces. It's right arm ends in one of several weapons, varying by mech. These are either a heavy plasma machine gun or a light plasma machine gun. On it's shoulders are mounted fuel rod cannons and it's left arm ends in a three fingered hand.
Mech Soldier: A 6' Bipedal mech, formally referred to as a Stabiliser, they are often seen setting up floor turrets or entering buildings because other mechs are too large. They serve the role of general infantry, similar to the soldiers of other species, hence the informal name. Along with the Walkers, they make up the bulk of the Mech forces. The soldiers do not have any built in weapons and use the same range of weaponry used by Synth Soldiers
Scanner: A small, flying mech, they are formally known as Diagnosers. They are rather easy to destroy, their purpose being to recon area's, to search for hiding targets or as spotters. There are two variants, the Equitem variant, which is armed with a small laser attack beam that is weak but deadly to unarmored targets and the Civilis Protectione variant (Which is not called Diagnoser, but merely Scanner), which lacks the laser and serves more as a flying security camera or serves to follow criminals so they aren't lost than as a actual unit.
Stalker: A human sized, bipedal mech, they are formally known as Scalpels. They have advanced targeting optics and are equipped with a grappling hook and a Beam Rifle. They are snipers who are often grouped with scanners to serve as spotters. They carry a plasma Pistol as a side arm but rarely use it, usually preferring to run than to fight.
Phase Assault Platform: The Phase Assault Platform, sometimes refereed to as Phase Tanks are a half-saucer shaped craft with a single warp cannon mounted on the it's underside, and dual heavy plasma machine guns on each of it's 'wings'. On the top of the tank is what appears to be a lone optical sensor built into the vehicle's "head". Phase Assault Platforms are able to traverse almost any terrain and cross deep water with no difficulties as they are hovering. Phase Assault Platforms are equipped with a phasing generator which leaves them in a sort of limbo, half in this dimension making them appear almost like ghosts. This allows them to pass through solid objects (such as structures and even the ground) and rendering them immune to any sort of damage while the Phasing generator is active. They cannot, however, attack in any way. The Phasing Generator can remain active for periods of up to thirty minutes. The Phasing Generator takes a thirty seconds to activate, so it cannot be used to phase in and out to avoid enemy fire. The Phase Assault Platform is also able to hover up off the ground to reach high places, and it can rotate its 'wings' to enable it to act as an fighter air craft, soaring across the skies to assist in air combat.
Reaper Drone: The Reaper Drone, formally known as 'Collector' is a mech that is essentially a mobile teleporter for breaking down materials (organic or not) and teleporting them to supply ships or assembly walkers. Each Reaper Drone possesses advanced artificial intelligence that allows it to distinguish between different materials and collect them in a prioritised order based on how easy they are to break down, how much of each resource is required etc. The Reaper Drone's teleporation beam works by breaking down an object and teleporting it away over short distances. They have a Heavy Plasma Machine Gun to help defend them, but often they simply use their beam to break down and teleport any enemies who attempt to attack them.
Defilers: Defilers appear as extremely spindly tripods consisting of a thin, cylinder-like body and a much larger crescent-shaped head attached to it. At the base of the Defiler's head is a glowing orb from which the Defiler projects it's irradiated beam, which is designed so that it will burn through inorganic material but not affect organic material, which it will mutate into a slave for the Collective. Attached to the crescent is a horseshoe-shaped structure ending in silver nozzles. These nozzles can release the mutagenic radiation into the surrounding environment, corrupting and mutating organics. The mutagen actually contains nano bots which prevent it from attacking Collective forcesAll Collective ships (Except for Drone fighters, which detonate upon taking significant damage) are fitted with a self destruct device which triggers upon the death of every crew member on board. This can also be triggered by a command from the commanding officer of the ship, and the AI does take into account field promotions when receiving this command. Collective ships bury their bridges deep within their bowels, surrounded by manufactorums, security positions and reactors. The idea is that to damage the bridge and the reactor, one has to destroy not just the ships armour but almost it's interior. This means that the ships can continue to provide at least some function even when heavily damaged.
Drone: A Drone is a fighter/bomber space craft designed to engage the enemy in space, though it can provide assistance in atmosphere as well. It's formal designation is merely Drone. It is fast, agile and dangerous in swarms and is program with advanced flight patterns and tactic analysis which allow the drone to 'learn' from it's enemies tactics. It is classified as a Mech unit under the Equitem Unit Classification Index
Onus class transportation vessel: This is a cargo ship with only very minor weaponry and weak shields. It's purpose is merely to transport goods from A to B.
Velites class Corvette: A small and very fast ship capable of combat with smaller enemy vessels. It's mainly used as a patrol vessel, but is occasionally used in battles to finish off injured ships or pursue any who are retreating while the main fleet continues the main battle. This ship has capable shields and capable defences for fending off smaller encounters, though is not a mainline combat vessel
Venator Class Frigate: This ship is capable of putting up more of a fight against larger ships than the Corvette. Frigates serve a role similar to the Corvette's overall, but are more frequently used in larger battles than the patrol orientated Corvettes
Indespectus Class Prowler: A unique class of ship that incorporates cloaking technology by utilizing several different means, including active camouflage that bends light around the ship in order to render it invisible to the eye and Stealth Ablative Coating which is black in color and serves to refract most basic sensors, making the ship invisible to radar and other minor sensors, similar to the way Active camouflage cloaks something from eyesight. The coating must be maintained perfectly or it will return radar signals. This necessitates constant maintenance on the entire coating, which is done after every mission the ship goes on. This only works on minor and some moderate level sensors, making it good mostly for avoiding the eyes of pirates or sneaking through low security sectors and past small patrols, as higher security sectors and enemy warships are likely to use more advanced sensors. It has Counter-electronic systems as well. Weaponry wise, it carries weaponry on par with a Velites class Corvette, save for a miniature version of the Energy Projector that would not be able to generate enough power to glass a planet or even destroy enemy mainline ships but is powerful enough to cut through weaker ships. It is used mostly be Spectre and Ghost during their operations in order to travel unseen around space.
Hastati class Cruiser: The main Cruiser used by the Collective. Like many smaller Collective ships, it is a fast and agile ship, though not to the extent of the Corvette or the Frigate. It's main purpose serves more as an actual frontline ship than as the Corvette and Frigates support roles.
Princeps class Destroyer: One of the mainline ships used by the Collective. Although slower than the classes preceding it, it has heavier armour, better shielding and superior firepower. It is designed to engage enemy ships on the battlefield alongside the larger capital ships.
Evocatus class Battle Ship: The Evocatus Battleship is very dangerous and strong. It is known to take extraordinary amounts of punishment while still dishing out damage to it's foes with it's dangerous plasma weaponry. It is one of the slowest vessels, with this mobility being sacrificed for even more powerful weaponry and stronger durability. While it does carry some Synths and Mechs (Though with a sizeable drone force), it's forces are more of a security and boarding detail. This is the first vessel with one of the Collectives most deadly space weapon appears; The energy projector. The energy project is an intensly hot and powerful beam of energy, capable of burning straight through a variety of materials and heating up a planets ground to the point it fuses together in a glass like construct. While such planets can be restored, it is unlikely to be done without the use of advanced terraforming. Using this beam in such a way will destroy most life within miles around, this is even more pronounced as the ships often fly across a whole continent, burning these scorched lines into it. These scars are often visible from orbit, and a popular urban legend says that a Fleet Master once had a message burned into a planet using this weapon. While there is no known record of this happening, it remains as a popular circulation and has spread from out of the Collective and into galactic society. Like most Urban Legends, while it may seem legitimate at first glance it falls apart upon closer inspection.
Aquilifer class Carrier: This massive ship is about 30 KM long, however most of this is storage space so it is able to many synth and mech forces as well as drones. It is able to repair smaller ships as well. It's shields are strong enough to take a number of ships but it is rather lightly armed, with the exception of it's energy projector. As such, it is usually protected by the other ships in the fleet while it deploys it's drones or drops it's forces onto the planet. These ships are often pivotal in invasions as they carry the majority of forces.
Praetorian Class Ship of the Line: One of these is the flagship of any given fleet. Except for the Invictus and Aethereus class, these ships are the strongest and most deadly available to the Collective. There are usually a few in the fleet, although the flagship will have considerable improvements over the standard ones, usually in the form of better weaponry and shields, though flagships being larger and carrying more forces is not unheard of. Since they sport two energy projectors, it is advised that captains do not keep their ships close together, lest multiple ships get attacked at once by the beam. These ships are deadly foes.
Invictus Class Super Carrier: A massive flagship, it has massive firepower and extreme durability as well as being able to carry a massive amount of ground and air forces. This ship is a massive 50 KM long and as such cumbersome. While this ship is a force to be reckoned with, it is similar to the the Aethereus in that it's usage rarely involve it going into actual combat due to it's value, indeed, it's large on board foundries make it perfect as a mobile construction and repair center. Each of the Overlords has one of these, with the Supreme Overlord commanding from the Aethereus Super Ship. They have four energy projectors and Overlords are not known for their hesitance to use them against opposition should it appear
Aethereus class Super ship: The largest Collective ship at over 90 KM long. Unlike the other Collective vessels which are highly manuverable, the Aethereus class is a very slow, hulking ship. It is only used by Supreme Overlords. It serves more as a symbol of prestige and a deterrent for war than an actual war vessel, as the Supreme Overlord prefers to stay a safe distance away from the actual war zone due to both the ships and his own high value. It has eight energy projectors and this means the Aethereus class is usually able to engage and sometimes outright destroy multiple enemy ships at once when they are charged, which doesn't take to long considering the advanced Dark Energy reactors used. Like the Invictis Class, it is almost always performing non-combat functions as opposed to entering actual combat.What is an army without a commander? The command structure is split into several sections; Ground, Naval and Defence. The Ground section is adapt at leading assaults on any planets, the Defence section is operating planetary defence grids and the Naval section excels at leading space engagements, as one might guess from the naming
Ground Officer: The lowest rank of Command Units, they are by no means incapable of ground command and all have, at the very least, a sound grasp of military stratergy. They are typically in command of an attack in the field.
Naval Officer: The lowest rank of Command Units, they are generally used in monitoring the many stations of a naval vessel. They are typically acting as a bridge officer, subservient to the commander of the ship.
Defense Officer: The lowest rank of Command Units, they are still capable of commanding a defence section effectively. They are typically in command of a section of the defence force.
Ground Overseer: The second rank of Command units, they are typically in command of ground operations in a Sector.
Shipmaster: The second rank of Command units, they are typically in command of a single vessel.
Defense Overseer: The second rank of Command units, they are typically in command of all defenses in a sector.
Ground High Overseer: The third rank of command units, they would be incharge of ground operations on a Planet
Naval Overseer: The third rank of command units, they would be incharge of a section of the fleet
Defense High Overseer: The third rank of command units, they would be incharge of ground operations on a Planet
Field Master: The fourth rank of command unit, they would be incharge of ground operations in a Star System
Fleet Master: The fourth rank of command unit, they would be incharge of an entire naval fleet
Defence Master: The fourth rank of command unit, they would be incharge of all defence for a Star System
Overlord: The Fifth rank of command units, they would be incharge of all Equitem operations in a galactic quadrant. Unlike all the ranks preceeding it, and like Supreme overlord, they are not part of a section, but are instead classified as the High Command
Supreme Overlord: The highest rank in the military, they are incharge of all Equitem Operations in a Galaxy. Unlike all the ranks preceeding it save for Overlord, they are not part of a section, but are instead classified as the High CommandMassive armies cannot replicate the success of small and elite forces at certain tasks, especially those dealing with discretion...
Spectre: Spectre units are Elite forces, highly trained and skilled. They are recognisable by their distinct black armour and handle special operations. They are known to only take orders from Overlords and above. Information on them is limited, but it consists mainly of Spectre Synth soldiers, who are further augmented and trained over the standard and elite Synth soldiers, and Spectre Commanders, Elite Triarii who are very skilled in using their psionic powers and are fairly effective in combat considering their frail form. Spectre units are given advanced equipment and use it with deadly efficiencyThe category for those that don't fit in elsewhere for whatever reason
Civilis Protectione: While they are technically their own caste, the Civilis Protectione units will fight against invaders should a planet be attacked. They have three sections, Ghost, the Civilis Protectione it's self and the Civilis Protectione Xenos. The Civilis Protectione Xenos are composed of unaltered members of the species conquered planet who have joined the Collective. While these members may be brainwashed if they were formed in a high unrest planet following a hostile take over, they are generally not altered. They sometimes use plasma pistols, but generally they use electroshock batons and laser pistols in order to minimse collateral damage, particularly when unrest is high. Higher ranked units may be given light plasma rifles or other such equipment, though it is mostly ceremonial and they are not expected to use them without due consideration. The standard Civilis Protectione is the police force of Triarii who maintain order. They are known to use Electroshock batons and plasma pistols, though higher ranks may again use light plasma rifles. Finally, Ghost is the Civilis Protectione equivalent of Spectre. The difference is while Spectre is a military special operations force, Ghost is more a SWAT force meet Detectives. Civilis Protectione are obviously less dangerous than Equitem and their resistance generally serves as little more than a minor inconvenience against any organised invader as they are a police force rather than a military. They are NOT "Officers", as some occupied humans have labelled them. They are "Units", with Officer being a rank within the structure. Civilis Protectione has its own ranking system that parallels but is not identical to that of the Equitem.
Conscripts/Loyalists: Civilians given minor arms and sent into battle for whatever reason. Conscripts are extremely rare, only called up when there is no other option. Loyalists is the term used for pro-government conscripts during civil wars or full scale uprisings, and as such the term has never actually been used correctly, and is often used simply to refer to those who are Pro-Collective instead.
APC: A vehicle in service to the Civilis Protectione. It is used for transports and patrols, and sports a mounted plasma turret. It is based off of designs of vehicle used by the Hara-Ka and later incorporated some elements of Human design. As it is not expected to be sent into war but more to deal with riots and transport, it's designed to be cheap, like most Civilis Protectione equipment, hence why it uses wheel based designs instead of the more advanced gravitational movements.
Overwatch: Overwatch is a highly Advanced AI system. Where this AI slots into the rank system seems unclear, but while it has been seen giving orders to Command units, it is also seen taking orders from Command units. This implies it isn't actually a Commander it all but more of an executive officer, passing orders along a chain. Indeed, the AI's major purpose seems to be to give warnings and information about the situation and state engagement codes. It's standard format is a cold feminine voice thats speech appears to be made up of seperate sound files which acts as an executive officer and relays orders to units while reading out codes and both mentioning rewards and warning of punishments. While all Overwatch Programs and linked and are programmed with loyalty to the Collective, they are allowed some degree of autonomy. The subprograms format may be customised depending on it's superiors preference, but due to this usually being seen as a pointless feature, few superiors actually edit the subprograms standard format. Even fewer grant the program the autonomy to redefine its self
Deployment Walker: The towering Deployment Walker has four long, but bulky legs that it uses for movement and sports dozens of Plasma cannons and Heavy plasma Machine Guns and Light Dark plasma Machine Guns. It also has two massive warp cannons and sports a sort of low powered energy projector on it's main body. The walker contains many sophisticated teleporation systems, hallways, storage bays for synths and mechs, which are beamed down through it's teleporation system. The Walker's upper body is somewhat shaped like a lopsided hexagon. The sheer size of the Walker allows it to destroy many buildings by simply stepping on them with its legs. The walker is also truly "all terrain", able to climb cliffs and mountains or wade through lakes and even be fully submerged. It's external armour is extremely thick, battle ship grade with shielding, making it hard to destroy with most ground based weapon. Rather, enemies should destroy its hardpoints to expose the walker's internal workings, then break the dark energy cores protective casing and from there destabalise the dark energy core through damage.
Assembly Walker: Like the Deployment Walker, the Assembly Walker is a massive, quadrupedal walker armed with hundreds of plasma cannons, Heavy plasma Machine Guns, Light plasma Machine guns and a teleportion system. It is more than twice the size of the habitat walker, making it a gargantuan walker. The Walker's upper body features two large 'arms' that are covered in weaponry on either side of the main body and a giant teleport device on its back. It sports four massive warp cannons on each arm and an energy projecotr on its main body.. The Assembly walker acts as a sort of walking manufactorum, producing synths and mechs as it advances across the world, through supplies that are teleported to it en mass. Like the other large walkers, the Assembly Walker can crush almost anything in its path and traverse nearly any terrain, including cliffs. The sheer size of the Walker allows it to destroy many buildings by simply stepping on them with its legs. The walker is also truly "all terrain", able to climb cliffs and mountains or wade through lakes and even be fully submerged. It's external armour is extremely thick, even stronger than that of the habitat walker. Enemies should destroy its hardpoints to expose the walker's internal workings, and from there disable it's internal energy shielding, followed by it's internal protective casing then the dark energy core can be destabilised, causing a self destructionTechnological Overview:
Habitat World Gaudium
Seemingly eternally paranoid that someone will steal their technology, the Collective has taken to using biolocks on most of it's equipment, maintaining databases of DNA and other markers. Furthermore, some devices are able to self destruct, as most weapons do when their operator is deceased. With the possible exception of Ziatri knowledge, all Collective technology is purely technological in nature and dos nor utilise "magic", though certainly some devices amplify or work in conjunction with the Triarii innate psionic ability.
Weaponry, Land Forces
Land forces of the Collective use a variety of weapons, some of which are inbuilt and some of which are external
Electroshock Baton: This is used by Civilis Protectione to subdue escaping criminals. It is not, primarily, a military weapon but may be used by Civilis Protectione members who are fighting against invading forces. It has four settings: Off, which is self explanatory, Low, which delivers a small shock that is usually enough to make most human sized targets recoil, Medium, which produces an effect similar to a taser. The Final Setting is High, and this setting produces dangerous electric sparks and a large amount of heat capable of causing burns. A single strike from this should be enough to knock a human sized target into unconsciousness and just a few beatings from this mode can cause brain damage. Understandably, they can only use this mode when the suspect is extremely dangerous and posing a threat to life, under a Judgement Waiver or on authorisation from a High Command unit
Laser Attack Beam: A small laser that is mounted onto Equitem Scanners. It is relatively weak and serves more as a weak deterrent to give threatened scanners a chance to fall back
Laser pistol: An outdated weapon used by Civilis Protectione. Favoured over plasma for police work due to it's decreased collateral damage. Contains a short ranged stun feature used to incapacitate fleeing suspects by sending a burst of electricity through the subjects body.
Plasma Pistol: The basic side arm of the Collective. This weapon is mostly issued to Synth Infiltrators who are under cover, Stalkers and Civilis Protectione Units. The Plasma Pistol is incorporated into the 'Gauntlet'. While extremely deadly, it is also destructive and can cause damage to structures and the terrain. As such, Civilis Protectione units are discouraged from using it unless there are few other options and in some higher risk area's such as some occupied human worlds they are instead issued with less advanced 'native tech' for more widespread usage.
Gauntlet: The Gauntlet is both precisely and deceptively named. It is a wrist mounted device like a Gauntlet but rather than being a piece of armour it is a weapon mounting point, with a Plasma Pistol mounted and a Energy Dagger projector inside. When not in use, the Plasma Pistol recedes into the Gauntlet to reduce it's size.
Light Plasma Rifle: The Light Plasma Rifle is generally considered the largest weapon a Triarii can use. It's Primary users are some Triarian Command Units, Mimics and sometimes Synth Infiltrators. It has less range and is weaker than the standard Plasma rifle, but is lighter, smaller and can be collapsed to hide it
Beam Rifle: The beam rifle is a sniper rifle that can also be used as a designated marksman rifle if need be. This beam is made of hard light, and thus travels at the speed of light, with predictably devastating results for the target.
Plasma Assault Rifle: The Plasma Assault Rifle, commonly referred to simply as the plasma rifle, is an assault rifle designed to combine the range of the Beam Rifle of with close range effectiveness of pervious plasma weaponry such as the Light Plasma Rifle.
Light Plasma Machine Gun: This is the smaller cousin of the heavy plasma machine gun, it is used by Elite Synth Soldiers and some Elite Aerial Synth Soldiers. It may be used by Walkers and is also widely used by Spectre Synth Soldiers. It is wildly destructive and it's shots appear more like a stream. When fired for extended periods of time, the gun will automatically shut off in order to prevent damage to the mechanisms. This function can be overridden, which produces a risk of a detonation.
Heavy Plasma Machine Gun: This is the large cousin of the already formidable light plasma machine gun. It does not have the overheat mechanism due to being larger and thus having superior heat vents. It is used by Gunships and may be used by Walkers
Plasma Autocannon: This is the dreaded weapon used by Marchers. It destroys anything in it's path as the massive plasma shells smash their way through targets, burning as they go. It may also be used by some Walkers. It fires slower than most other pladma weapons, but makes up for it in the sheer mass of the plasma, enough to engulf man sized figures instantly
Fuel Rod Cannon: The Fuel Rod Cannon launches canisters of a special gel that explode upon impact, vapourising anything in the blast radius and causing a minor shockwave that is strong enough to knock nearby soldiers off their balance or sometimes to the floor. It is mounted on the shoulders of Walkers and there is a shoulder held version used by some Elite Synth Soldiers
Warp Cannon: The Warp Cannon is insanely powerful. A single shot from it can destroy entire buildings. This cannon not only causes vast scenic destruction but also inflicts massive splash damage that will vaporise most organic and some inorganic matter in proximity to the area of impact. Prior to the warp cannon's discharge, a thin bluish beam is fired from the Cannon it's self, heading to a focal point around which the space becomes warped, bending light as the cannon fires. Anything in the area is torn apart by the warp, and the excess energies is able to destabilise and vapourise most substances nearby. There is also a shockwave resulting from the Warps sudden opening and closing, which can toss many tonnes around.
Plasma Cannon: This is a variant of the ship based weapon that is mounted upon Assembly Walkers and Habitat Walkers. Since it is graded for destroying enemy battle ships, it is more than capable of destroying most land based targets with ease. It's shots are capable of creating the same effects as the ship based energy projector, glassing the terrain on impact
Energy Projector: This variant of the energy projector is mounted onto the habitat walker. Despite being of lower power than it's ship based equivilants, it is still extremely deadly and capable of widespread destruction
Weaponry, Space Forces
Point pulse laser Defences: The Point pulse laser guns are the basic point defence weapon of Collective Vessels. It's primary purpose is to shoot down incoming fighters or enemy weapons rather than attack enemy vessels.
Plasma Cannon: The Ship Mounted plasma Cannon is devastating indeed. If it hits an unshielded enemy ship, it will almost certainly melt a hole through the ship. It fires a large plasma round which will spread out upon impact, resulting in extreme damage to targeted ships
Energy Projector: This weapon fires a beam of energized matter which has a very long range and is extremely accurate and destructive, capable of scything through most materials with ease and "glassing" planets, systematically rendering them sterile and incapable of sustaining life as well as boiling away their atmosphere. Lower power variants have been designed for ground based combat and defence combat in order to prevent accidental damage to Collective worlds atmospheres, and the ship based ones can have power diverted away in order to produce a weaker beam.
Weaponry, Defenses
Turret AutoGun: The turret auto gun used by the Turrets deployed by ground forces. It fires unique crystalline rounds which are designed with impact in mind, tearing into and then shattering, scattering painful shards throughout the individuals body.
Plasma Cannons: The ground plasma cannons are constructed along defence grids. They function similarly like their ship mounted equivalents. They pack a huge punch and it is overlapping networks of these that give the defence grid it's backbone
Energy Projector: The Ground Energy Projector is similar in function to the ship based one.
Other
Memory replacement, alteration, copying and transcribing machinary: Often used for 'flash training', so named because it allows the Collective to imprint decades of experience in a task onto an individual within a short time frame (Indeed, many Synth Soldiers have had centuries of combat experience imprinted onto their minds), it is also used for brainwashing, mind wipes and other such useful applicationsCultural Overview:
*"For the Greater Good...?" A political cartoon designed and published by Human refugee's from the Collective. The creator and publisher have since gone missing, presumed killed*
Despite having minor democratic aspects and a semi-noble goal, the Collective of Civilised Species is often described as authoritarian. The cultures of long standing members are conjoined with each other to produce one large mesh, though it isn't uncommon for species to celebrate its own ways. Looking at these older member species, one might conclude that the state was paranoid but benign. It is only when you look at how they handle the collectivization process, such as with the humans, that one begins to see the true picture. Unjust laws, cruel punishments and a general laissez-faire legal system that transforms the prosecuting officers into judge, jury and executioner.
Outside of their... questionable measures and their general disdain for anything they consider even slightly uncivilised, their cultures can be remarkably diverse and in some cases protected under law. Even apparently primitive idea's can pass as civilised under the Collective, which suggests it has at least some degree of willingness to allow multiculturalism. Indeed, the idea of 'combining our strengths' has led to the sharing of works and products among the various species within the collective, including but not limited to remakes of older films from the human and Hara-Ka culture.
Outer human worlds show the slow process of collectivisation. Although what was the human inner worlds have now been 'renovated', many outer colony worlds have extreme contrasts, with older, graffiti ridden buildings standing next to the new towering giants and structures erected by the Collective. Those who the Collective decides are trustworthy are often housed in the newer sections, where life is comparatively excellent and improving, while those deemed untrustworthy are relegated to the 'slums, the old areas that have become run down. Even within these slums, conditions can vary from tolerable to squallored
The supposed 'resistances' within the slums are sometimes false flag operations set up by the Collective to uncover and eliminate potential resistors. They have deliberately played the slums out in such a way that it's residents are at war with themselves and over time as a result those who would question the Collective kill each other off. The result of this stratergy can be seen well on the inner human worlds, where resistance is already in-existent or close to it and the attitude of the vast majority of the population is pro-collective. These are the dying days of resistance in the outer worlds and the Collectivisation scheme is almost complete...
Their culture in it's self is arrogant and condescending to others. The education system defines religion as "A series of fictional tales believed only by the stupid, ignorant or the insane" and their nation prides it's self on enforcing a strict meritocracy. Imperfections (eg: Disabilities), whether they be physical or mental are either corrected or, if they cannot be corrected, the individual will be restricted from reproduction should the imperfection be considered inheritable. An obsession with eugenics is common; In their eyes only positive traits should be propagated and the Collective enforces this with strict rules. Any reproductive activity without the express permission of the government is a crime.
They have a very black and white view of criminal activity, you are either with the state or you are a criminal. Some laws can be rather silly; For instance, to combat uncivilised behaviour and prevent disputes it is illegal to insult anyone else... unless the insult is true, in which case it is completely legal.
The Collective doesn't have a formal currency. Instead, your work earns you 'Civic Work Points' which are used to redeem certain 'rewards'. The idea of their Collective generally works on the idea that all should look out for each other and function as one, living being.
Indeed, this general idea of seeing society as a single living being has had a unique effect on their attitude. Criminals are diseases that must be cured or outright destroyed before they can cause damage, those who cannot work are considered to be defective. The Collective believes that the greater good and logic overcomes all, and many of it's high officials have little time for emotional weakness.History:
The Birth of the Collective; The Hara-ka Triarii War and the Union of the species
From the Triarian city states arose the acts of collectivisation, beginning the short lived United Triarian Collective. This new nation began its exploration into the stars with a bloody chapter. Their first contact, the Hara-Ka, was a warlike race. They had already reached the nuclear age, only to bomb themselves back to a primitive status, painstakingly claw their way back up and appeared to have learnt nothing from the experience.
At this time, true laser weaponry was in its infancy inside the UTC and the Hara-Ka tribes were similarly equipped to the Triarii. A land based invasion of the Hara-Ka's homeworld proved futile, the gravity was several times that of Triarius and the Triarii themselves could simply not be effective within it. As such, they began a campaign of orbital bombardment and, after three months of continuous systematic bombing, the Hara-Ka finally conceaded defeat and were annexed. As a name, UTC was decided to no longer be relevant, and was changed to the United Collective
Expansion: Ziatri ascension into the Collective, the Twilight Flame and the 'Great Agreement'
The Ziatri were the first nation to join the Collective willingly (Though some scholars argue they joined to avoid invasion and oppression rather than out of genuine feelings at the time). The unusually long four centuries of peace between the Collective and the Ziatri was a necessary part of this process, and it's argued that the Collective, weak at the time, was concerned about invading due to reports about the deeper area's of the Ziatri swamp worlds being extremely inhospitable. None the less, the Ziatri elders eventually united their race with the Collective and took up seats as Primicerii, assisting in command of the growing Empire.
It was at this point that the gift of the Twilight Flame was bestowed upon the Collective by the Ziatri elders. The Twilight Flame is the name of a type of crystal, mined from within the deepest swamps of the Ziatri homeworld. Possessing the ability to act as a relay for psionic energy, the most important usage of this device has been to allow the projection of the Triarii (and any other psionic capable being, given the right equipment and training) in the form of an energy being, known as a "Mimic
The Corruptelae Insectum first met with the Collective when an exploration team arrived. Although the first contact was filled with fighting, the Corruptelae Insectum Empress, the dominant Queen, made an agreement with the Primicerii of the Collective. The Corruptelae Insectum would become a client race of the Collective and would give members of it's worker caste to the Collective for military service, and in return the Collective would grant the Corruptelae Insectum access to it's space ways and would assist in propagating their species to various worlds.
The dark times: The Sector Black 4 Resonance Cascade and the subjugation of the Aru'Shumi
The Resonance Cascade in Sector Black Four, often times referred to as the "Sector Black 4 Incident", was a disastrous event that resulted in several (presumed) million deaths and the (presumed) destruction of a planet. During a standard test of a new generator, an entire planet disappeared into nothingness. The outer colony world and everything on it was consumed by a disastrous explosion from an experimental generator and transferred into heat energy or torn apart by rifts and scattered across the void. Since the Incident, Collective law mandates that most research be done aboard dedicated research stations or research planets. The theoretical dark energy had not just been proven to exist, but proven to have insane properties. This would overtime become the standard for Collective energy production. The reactor locally increases the intensity of space-time fluctuations, creating a sphere of volatile space-time in the reactor core that has a high concentration of Dark Energy. An anti-mass condenser field converts the Dark Energy into particles of exotic matter, from which energy is harnessed as the particles are transferred back into the core, being converted back into dark energy and beginning the cycle again. Although the initial start-up process for reactors requires an immense amount of power, the exotic properties further amplify the quantum fluctuations and cause a chain reaction within the core that makes the reactor self-sustaining and capable of producing near-astronomical amounts of power. (Techno-babble over)
The Aru'Shumi were found during the expansion into Sector White 1. After a bloody invasion the Aru'Shumi Emperor surrendered to the Collective might, decreeing that all the honour in the world could not save the from destruction. After 200 years of classless occupation, the Aru'Shumi monarchy was restored and permitted to take part in the decisions of the Primicerii, elevating Aru'Shumi from occupied status to client race.
The name is changed to the "Collective of Civilised Species" by the Primicerii.
As luck would have it: A human splinter groups discovery by the Collective
A splinter group of humans that left Earth at some unknown point of time and split from the various human factions settled within the planets of Sector Orange Three, a previously explored but uninhabited area. From here they restarted their society, struggling with their lack of resources which would have to be delivered from the other human worlds past the dangerous networks of pirates. Regardless, through perseverance they were able to establish themselves and set up a functioning society. Obviously, this struggle had meant they hadn't focussed so much on technological achievement as much as just surviving and rebuilding and over time they fell out of contact with the other human worlds and having splintered off set up their own nation. After hundreds of years, the stranded humans had established a chain of several planets, with a small fleet, though their weaponry was relatively primitive. A single Corvette from the Collective encountered a human colony world and destroyed three of their ships before retreating an calling for support. The result was the begining of a curbstomp war in which the forces of the new human nation were completely and totally destroyed. They put up a courageous fight but were inevitably crushed. Shortly thereafter and before some had even managed to get their bearings again, the occupation had begun; Police and military forces were quickly absorbed into their successors and used to maintain order while propaganda and educational techniques slowly began to drill in the ideals of the Collective.Other
Members of a human resistance group on the former human outer colony of New Pluto, which is generally considered to be the most rebellious colony. Note the extremely outdated equipment used by the two, including old ballistic weapons and FM radio's.
Resistance within the Collective: Resistance is not a large scale movement as these are too easily uncovered and would lead to mass arrests. Most resistance is passive or 'grumbling'. Very few have the guts to take up arms against the vastly superior forces of the Collective, and those who do usually use inferior ballistic weapons that have been slowly worn down by the passage of time. As a result, armed resistance is considered an impossibility and the only ones who would risk it are those who are already in a position where being caught would mean death or worse. Many more choose to throw their lot in with Civilis Protectione for additional benefits than throw their lot in with the Resistance. Resistance within the older species ranges from non-existent to extremely rare. None the less, it remains a thorn in the side of the Collective on certain human worlds, particularly the outlying colonies who were taken over later than the inner human worlds. Wherever they appear, they are usually dealt with brutally and quickly, and as such have become adept at disappearing efficiently and quickly... Which is no small feat considering the Collective is Orwells nightmare. They mostly remain within the most run down area's of the most backwater slums as the other area's are too heavily monitored.
To add further problems to the resistance, it is generally at war with it's self. Different resistance groups have rivalries and even outright hostilities with each other for whatever reason. This has damaged the overall image of the resistance in the eyes of many, and propagandists have taken to exploiting this image as one of "Gang Warfare" rooted in the "Darker times of hatred and violence". As a result, the resistance is barely able to stay alive, let alone put up a meaningful fight. This worst resistance the Collective has to deal with is the distribution of anti-collective literature or low level contraband, the days of uprisings and revolts has apparently passed into history.
Affiliated with but not part of the resistance are the refugee's. These are criminals and outcasts who have managed to escape the Collective and as a result are endlessly hunted by GHOST and more rarely SPECTRE. Many tell stories about brutality within the slums, though few can speak of the Collectives technology as they have not been within the more modern parts of the cities due to their status. Most merely describe it as both advanced and terrifying. The majority of refugee's go into hiding once they escape the Collective. Usually, they fail to evade the Collective and after a while are recovered; A grizzly fate often awaits these poor souls.
Took me two weeks to finish one third of the Addis post I am doing right now. Albeit, I was gone over the weekend, and I pretty much do all my writing on weekends.
So it'll probably be a while before I have something ready.
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