Snow covered the streets and roofs of Paris. Outside, the City of Light was coming to life as the sun shone its first rays, barely warming up the cold air of January 1847. Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, was having buttered bread, grilled bacon, and Algerian mandarin oranges with a cup of coffee for breakfast in his palace of the Tuileries.
“What news today, Alexandre?” The Emperor had his own daily routine, having his aide bring the latest relevant pieces of information to him in the morning.
“Good news from Africa, Sire. The empire of Morocco has capitulated to your demands and has agreed to stop supporting the rebels. Reports indicate that Abdelkader is fleeing east.”
“Emir Abdelkader. What else?”
“A letter from Austria. For your eyes only.” The aide produced a sealed letter and handed it over to Napoléon.
He read it twice, then set it down on the table. “Brotherly heritage of the Caroligians… Old habits die hard,” he muttered.
“Sire?”
“Von Metternich wishes that Austria be friends with France, it seems. Or so he says.” The Emperor took a sip of coffee. “He speaks of friendship and prosperity, but there is hostility as well. The Austrians want us to believe that they blame our past enemies for the rivalries between us. Poor Austria was manipulated by the Russians, Prussians… British, most likely.”
“Do you believe them?”
“No. They want us to hate them slightly less than we hate all of our old enemies, this is the only truth I can see in this paper. That’s what matters.” A short pause followed. “Von Metternich also sent me a personal invitation to their… Conference on Track Gauges and Freight standards, as he puts it. And a visit of their country.”
“Would the Parliament approve?”
“The Parliament doesn’t need to know the exact contents of the letter. It will just be a tour of the conference. Everyone knows that I wish to develop railways further. And since Von Metternich offered to return my cousin’s remains to France, I cannot refuse. Nor can I send anyone else.”
- Ships of the line - Frigates - Brigs - Avisos - Sloops - Bomb ships
History, Expansion, and Economics
History:
In 1840, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Prince of Holland and heir to the French imperial throne, takes advantage of the patriotic fervor following the return of the Emperor’s ashes from Saint Helena and stages a military coup in Boulogne-sur-Mer from London with the intent to march on Paris. He learned from his failed attempt in Strasbourg in 1936 which made him known to the public and prepared carefully, bribing the commander of the garrison and his officers in advance. Using the initial impetus gained from rallying the 42nd Line Regiment to his cause, Bonaparte leads them southwards as the Gendarmerie forces who attempt to arrest him flee when the soldiers of the 42nd open fire on them. A portion of the local Garde Nationale defects to him as well, the others withdrawing in confusion.
Louis-Napoléon rallies more and more support as his growing army closes in on Paris. King Louis-Philippe’s men who were sent to stop him fail to do so, joining Louis-Napoleon instead and shouting “Vive l’Empereur”, long live the Emperor, in a repeat of the events of Napoléon’s return from Elba in 1815.
The king panics and flees the capital to Belgium. The defenders of Paris lay down their weapons and Louis-Napoléon makes a triumphant entrance into the city. What is left of the monarchy crumbles and the French Second Empire is born.
Louis-Napoléon, now known as Napoléon III, Emperor of the French, is much like his uncle yet so different. He admires England and wants to emulate English modernity as he seeks to enact policies reminiscent of bonapartism, but also humanism and social christianism, along with authoritarian liberalism. Bank systems and infrastructures are modernized, railways are built, the army is reformed. Despite both monarchist and republican opposition, the Emperor is massively popular with rural France and enjoys the support of rich bourgeois, small towns residents, and workers alike.
Now, France looks to the outside. While the Emperor wishes for closer ties with Britain, France’s defeat at the hands of its old enemies, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, is neither forgotten nor forgiven. Nevertheless, the Second Empire so far proves to be more interested in trade, prosperity and influence than vengeance.
Territory: No change from OTL
Economic Description: France produces and exports wheat and cereals, wine, timber and wooden products, machines, steel, and textiles in large quantities.
Historical Claims: France wishes to increase its influence in Western Germany, Italy, North Africa, and the Middle East. Meanwhile, expeditions sail to Asia and Africa with goals to open new trade routes and establish trading posts in faraway lands.
France is currently embroiled in a war against Emir Abdelkader ibn Muhieddin's djihad in Algeria. Most Algerain tribes have turned on the Emir and joined forces with the French, and Abdelkader's defeat seems inevitable.
- Ships of the line - Frigates - Brigs - Avisos - Sloops - Bomb ships
History, Expansion, and Economics
History:
In 1840, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Prince of Holland and heir to the French imperial throne, takes advantage of the patriotic fervor following the return of the Emperor’s ashes from Saint Helena and stages a military coup in Boulogne-sur-Mer from London with the intent to march on Paris. He learned from his failed attempt in Strasbourg in 1936 which made him known to the public and prepared carefully, bribing the commander of the garrison and his officers in advance. Using the initial impetus gained from rallying the 42nd Line Regiment to his cause, Bonaparte leads them southwards as the Gendarmerie forces who attempt to arrest him flee when the soldiers of the 42nd open fire on them. A portion of the local Garde Nationale defects to him as well, the others withdrawing in confusion.
Louis-Napoléon rallies more and more support as his growing army closes in on Paris. King Louis-Philippe’s men who were sent to stop him fail to do so, joining Louis-Napoleon instead and shouting “Vive l’Empereur”, long live the Emperor, in a repeat of the events of Napoléon’s return from Elba in 1815.
The king panics and flees the capital to Belgium. The defenders of Paris lay down their weapons and Louis-Napoléon makes a triumphant entrance into the city. What is left of the monarchy crumbles and the French Second Empire is born.
Louis-Napoléon, now known as Napoléon III, Emperor of the French, is much like his uncle yet so different. He admires England and wants to emulate English modernity as he seeks to enact policies reminiscent of bonapartism, but also humanism and social christianism, along with authoritarian liberalism. Bank systems and infrastructures are modernized, railways are built, the army is reformed. Despite both monarchist and republican opposition, the Emperor is massively popular with rural France and enjoys the support of rich bourgeois, small towns residents, and workers alike.
Now, France looks to the outside. While the Emperor wishes for closer ties with Britain, France’s defeat at the hands of its old enemies, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, is neither forgotten nor forgiven. Nevertheless, the Second Empire so far proves to be more interested in trade, prosperity and influence than vengeance.
Territory: No change from OTL
Economic Description: France produces and exports wheat and cereals, wine, timber and wooden products, machines, steel, and textiles in large quantities.
Historical Claims: France wishes to increase its influence in Western Germany, Italy, North Africa, and the Middle East. Meanwhile, expeditions sail to Asia and Africa with goals to open new trade routes and establish trading posts in faraway lands.
France is currently embroiled in a war against Emir Abdelkader ibn Muhieddin's djihad in Algeria. Most Algerain tribes have turned on the Emir and joined forces with the French, and Abdelkader's defeat seems inevitable.
I think that a compromise can be reached without throwing your nation concepts out the window.
@Letter Bee I could see Britain making a deal with Egypt, but you should make it clear that they got some pretty hefty guarantees from Muhammad Ali that the Suez canal will be under their control, not Egypt's. Maybe ceding the bit of territory that is the canal to the British directly.
@Lady Lascivious I would suggest that, as mentioned before, Japan was swept by a particularly virulent plague that left Japanese society prone to rebellion. With so many people dead, it could justify women getting a more prominent role in society in 19th century Japan.
Demographics: 100% Human. The average Kamenyan stands at 6’ 7” tall, and all of them have a very developed musculature regardless of fitness. They also have no other eye color than purple or bright orange, with frequent heterochromia (around 10%).
Population: 1.6 billion
---
---
Planet Name and Description:
Kamenymir is a harsh planet for humans to live on, for reasons that are not immediately obvious. It is not much unlike Earth before the nuclear war: a temperate habitable world with forests and plains, deserts and jungles, a single ocean of salt water, and two frozen poles. Upon closer inspection, however, it begins to look like a poisoned gift. A mineral unique to Kamenymir known as dotrium, present in low concentration in virtually the entirety of the planet's mineral mass, emits a very specific kind of radiation. Local wildlife is perfectly adapted to these radiations, but humans start developing serious medical conditions after a few years of exposure including cancerous tumors, blindness, and blood diseases. The planet's higher gravity also causes its own problems and makes long-term human survival even more difficult.
History:
Shortly after the colony ship landed on Kamenymir, the expedition found itself under attack by an alien lifeform that was not organic but made of crystalline mineral matter. It appeared that when the ship landed on the surface, it crushed several of these crystal outgrowths in doing so as the crew couldn’t possibly have imagined that they were, in fact, alive. The crystals were able to change shape, move and even fly, and obviously had some way to communicate with each other as the expedition’s security forces were soon engaged in vicious combat around the burgeoning colony’s perimeter.
All efforts to try and communicate with the crystals, nicknamed “Shards” by the colonial security personnel, failed. There were no discernable reactions other than aggression to speech, light signals, even radio communications and visual depictions. Furthermore, the Shards were able to interact with electronic systems in some way through direct contact, which almost led to total corruption and shutdown of the colony’s informatics systems. The conflict escalated over the course of four years with precious few periods of calm. Eventually, however, the attacks stopped as suddenly as they came after thousands of colonists were killed and countless Shards destroyed.
The Kamenyan Defense Directorate, which was the emergency military government in charge of the colony’s defense, was in the process of being disbanded as all Shard activity had stopped. Indeed, there was no sign of them at all, anywhere. But this triumph was short-lived; another disaster struck, one that could not be blasted apart with guns.
As if the world itself rejected the invaders, the effects of the omnipresent low-level radiation emitted by dotrium began to show. Contamination was unavoidable: every single resident of the colony suffered from some sort of radiation poisoning. Under the steely leadership of the KDD however, the Kamenyans showed incredible resilience and determination. Every effort was bent towards overcoming the will of the very planet. Scientists of all branches joined forces to find a solution, those who could still see assisting the blind in whatever way they could and working to provide cybernetic eye implants to vital personnel. Finally, after two long years during which thousands more died in terrible pain, a cure had been developed. A serum codenamed ‘Hekate’ that, once ingested, subtly worked to rewrite the subject’s DNA over several months, carried from cell to cell by nanomachines.
A second existential threat had been vanquished under the rule of the KDD, and now people weren’t keen on changing to another system of governance. A referendum was held; a Constitution written, and from past hardship emerged a unique type of government. A government that is both democracy and military dictatorship. A society in which the army is both the seat of political power and the servant of the Kamenyan people.
Peace and prosperity followed for two hundred years. Improving upon the Hekate serum, the scientists of the KDD added a second effect to it: the high gravity of Kamenymir had been a problem ever since the colony was founded, causing considerable health problems. Instead of relying on specialized suits or gravity modulation devices, the Kamenyans demonstrated once again their will to overcome an obstacle once and for all by elevating themselves above it. The additional gene therapy of the Hekate made bones stronger, permanent hormone change increased muscle mass and induced a rise in height, and the human heart was made bigger and stronger.
The planet’s population skyrocketed past a billion souls, the industry flourished and technological progress kept on improving the lives of all. In the meantime, an actual army had been founded, but with no clear present threat, its duties were only ones of general security. The KDD’s decision to maintain consequent armed forces, however, turned out to be very fortunate when the Shards returned.
The attack did not come from the ground. It was a science satellite in orbit that first detected large objects on a direct collision course with the planet below. What was thought to be meteors crashed into the surface of Kamenymir, only to reveal themselves to be Shards of prodigious size, quickly fragmenting into smaller ones. Millions of civilians and soldiers alike perished in the first month of chaos and confused fighting. The KDD was quick to react and reorganize, and its heavily armed forces along with militia groups led by police officers wiped out the invading force in a single year.
The astronomy branch of the KDD’s Department of Science was astonished to find out that the Shards did not come from the depths of interstellar space. They came from the planet’s own moon, and it was concluded that those initially present on Kamenymir were only a colony, that they must have sent a message asking for help to their homeworld, and that it took two hundred years for the Shards to grow large enough.
Consequently, the decision was made to begin a herculean project to build a space navy capable of taking the fight to the enemy. An orbital station was constructed, then a space elevator. A shipyard followed, and the first combat spaceships left their anchorages. No resistance was met all the way to the moon, and the Kamenyan fleet found itself in orbit over defenseless Shards. There was no attempt to communicate this time. The fleet was given the order to open fire, and so it did. The orbital bombardment lasted for hours, then days, then months. Every single square meter bearing a hint of Shard presence was devastated by nuclear weapons and tungsten rods that ruptured the crust of the moon. When the ships in orbit finally ceased fire, the celestial body beneath had been transformed into an inferno of radioactive wastelands and volcanic eruptions.
Kamenymir celebrated triumph and victory. One century passed. And then, the Gate awakened.
Culture and Society:
Kamenyan society is rather individualist, with strong family bonds and an emphasis on personal freedom. The KDD rarely intrudes into the life of regular citizens, keeping to its role as per the Constitution. The Kamenyans are a patriotic people, and the sense of duty is generally strong with them. As such, the army is never short on recruits. Every adult citizen of Kamenymir has the right to own and bear firearms, except those with a criminal record or diagnosed mental illness. Combined with a mandatory military service of three years, this results in a population that is largely made up of potential soldiers should the need arise.
The creation of businesses is encouraged to stimulate the economy, regulations are few, and trade between regions and cities is busy. Law enforcement is managed by local police forces under the supervision of the KDD’s Department of Security, which has its own investigators and security officers at its disposal.
The planet’s culture has retained some traits from Old Earth and has managed to preserve portions of its history as well, which shows as their language is an evolution of Slavic and Germanic languages blended together, but it has largely evolved into a new culture of its own. Chief among these differences is spiritual; the old religions have faded into a collection of cosmic superstitions involving natural and physical phenomenons. Those who truly believe in the divine nature of these phenomenons pray directly to them, without following any kind of rules like a typical organized religion. For example, some may pray to gravity that their damaged aircraft does not crash, others pray to radiation or genes for a healthy child.
The only thing that could resemble a religion by Old Earth’s standards is the literal adherence to the KDD’s Constitution. Nearly every citizen of Kamenymir considers the Constitution to be the most sacred and untouchable thing there is in their society, a guidance that is not to be tampered with.
---
Governance and Politics:
The highest authorities in the KDD are the Directors, each of them in charge of their own Department. They are chosen at random among military officers who chose to be candidates for a specific office and fill that role until they’re either dead, deemed medically unable to fulfill their duty, or removed from office by Constitutional Referendum. In that latter case, a death sentence penalty follows the removal from office if the referendum ends in favor of eviction by an absolute majority. In consequence, only the officers with absolute confidence in their abilities do volunteer as candidates for Director. To serve as a head of state, the office of General Director functions as a “first among equals” in order to be able to make decisions that affect the whole of Kamenyan society.
Political parties do not exist in the traditional sense on Kamenymir, since the army at large and the Directors, in particular, are forbidden by the Constitution to participate in any organized political groups; they are only meant to be a vessel for the people they serve. It is a predictable consequence then that polls and referendums are frequent. There may be civilian groups who really are just an association of like-minded individuals, but since there is no way to elect a representative to a higher office than Burmistrz most Kamenyans see little sense in political lobbying by organized parties.
Burmistrz are the only elected officials in the entire nation. They are responsible for the administration of a single city and its surroundings, command the local police force, and generally have a lot of freedom granted to them to govern their locality. They are however unable to contradict the KDD’s instructions in any way without being given express permission.
Technology Overview:
Energy: Nuclear fission energy and fossil fuels are prevalent in everyday use, the former for its cost-effectiveness and the latter for convenience. Fusion reactors are used as the main power source for starships large enough to accommodate their size and represent the most advanced power production method available to the KDD, although experiments with antimatter are conducted, so far without any exploitable results.
Shields: The KDD’s Department of Science has managed to create so-called energy shields. They require massive amounts of energy and are typically only installed on starships or planetside installations. These devices can intercept incoming fire by projecting energy surges to counteract the energy of incoming projectiles, slowing solid projectiles to the point of ineffectiveness or stopping them outright. Particle beams such as laser weaponry can be similarly hobbled after a fraction of a second past the initial impact, once the ship’s systems are able to detect the attack. The more energy a shield has at its disposal, the more effective it will be.
Nanomachines: This is not as much an innovation as it is a technology preserved from Old Earth that is not fully comprehended by the KDD’s scientists, although it has been successfully repurposed for medical uses.
Military Overview:
“Brute force” may be reductive, but it is an accurate way to describe the KDD’s approach to military problems. Their weapons are rarely subtle, focusing instead on high power and volume of fire. The humble Armored Infantry footsoldier is a perfect example of the Kamenyan war philosophy:
He is, as all of his countrymen are, unnaturally tall and muscular. His suit of power armor further amplifies these traits: a massive, bulky frame of fully-enclosed armor plates, thick and without any thought given to aesthetics. It is angular, with sharp unpolished edges. This incredibly heavy set of personal protection has a layer of artificial muscle underneath the armor plates, allowing its wearer to move without hindrance from its weight and even enhancing his strength well and truly beyond any human limits. Despite its unrefined appearance, this armor hides an integrated computer neuro-linked to the user’s brain, assisting with aim, limb coordination, general responsiveness, and providing a combat HUD in the helmet.
His weapon looks the part. It is an ugly piece of rectangular metal, large and bulky. Classified as an assault rifle, the STR-2 may be more accurately described as a high-caliber rapid-fire light machine gun. It includes a mini-rocket launcher under the barrel as well as a switchblade, turning it into an axe for close-quarters combat. The STR-2’s incredibly rugged design makes it more than able to withstand being used as a melee weapon by a power-armored warrior with superhuman strength.
The rest of the military generally follows the same principles, even though specialized and lighter gear is always available depending on current needs. Aside from more conventional forces, the KDD also fields armored mechs, perfectly suited for navigating ruins or uneven terrain and armed with a variety of autocannons, missile launchers, plasma drivers, and tactical lasers. A secret project to build a “super-mech” equipped with energy shields is in the works, but progress is slow due to inherent engineering problems.
As far as the navy is concerned, the KDD favors “packs” of several frigates acting together. Cruisers act as the centerpiece of these groups, ready to cover the pack’s retreat or deliver a hammer blow to a weakened foe. The lack of any hostile encounter in space has, so far, limited the KDD’s tactics to general doctrines and directives, relying on its navy’s captains to take the initiative in an initial engagement.
One feature of Kamenyan military doctrine warrants particular attention. Their war against the Shards has left a lasting impression, especially the ease with which informatic systems were compromised. As a result, the KDD has taken to the habit of making sure that their systems are as insulated from one another as possible. Power armor computers do not communicate with other suits; instead, comparatively primitive verbal radio communications are the norm with data packages transfer only possible after authorization by both the sender and the receiver, and even then this is supposed to be done only when absolutely necessary.
This philosophy is prevalent throughout the entire military, be it armored vehicles, fighter crafts, or even spaceships. Within a single ship, computers are locked out of communications with other sections by a manual switch. All of this is a conscious sacrifice of some measure of effectiveness, in exchange for the ability to more easily contain and combat electronic warfare and system infections.
Weapons:
STR-2 Assault Rifle: See description in the section above. It is the standard infantry rifle and serves as a template for most of the KDD’s infantry firearms.
Chimera Shotgun: A fully automatic 6 gauge shotgun most often loaded with either explosive HESH shells or so-called “Sunburn” rounds. A Sunburn shell contains, like conventional weapons, solid pellets. The difference is that inside each of those pellets is a small quantity of highly corrosive and toxic acid. Contact with this substance on organic tissues induces burns and necrosis in a matter of seconds.
Vehicles:
Huzar Scout Mech: This light and agile bipedal walker serves as lightly armored reconnaissance, armed with an autocannon fitted with three rotating barrels and a multipurpose missile launcher. Mounted on the Huzar’s back is a pair of powerful thrusters that allow it to jump over buildings and other obstacles.
Svarog Multirole Mech Frame: The Svarog is the result of a particularly eccentric arms manufacturer’s pet project. The four-legged frame is a “skeleton” on which an astounding amount of possible combinations of armament and armor can be added, from long-range missile artillery to high-power lasers, as little or as much armor as desired (within maximum weight limits) or even specialized equipment like lift claws and mine clearing devices.
Sleipnir Transport Gunship: This rather large gunship, suited for both atmospheric and spaceflight, is armed with autocannon turrets covering every angle as well as swarmer short range missile pods, both for defense against enemy aircraft and to suppress enemy ground units while the Sleipnir’s passengers disembark. The gunship’s large bulk allows it to transport a full squad of armored infantry, or a single light armored vehicle.
Ships:
Kobalt Frigate: Built to be the quintessential frigate, fast and versatile. Its main armament consists in laser batteries and long-range missiles.
Onyx Heavy Frigate: Onyx frigates are made to work in tandem so that they can be cycled in and out of combat to allow for their shield’s batteries to recharge, with the intent of delivering a non-stop bombardment from their main railguns.
Almaz Cruiser: The true backbone of the Kamenyan fleet. Almaz cruisers anchor battle formations, cover retreats, spearhead assaults and provide orbital support for planetside troops.
Zheoda Battlecarrier: The largest ship in the KDD’s navy, a Zheoda specializes in deploying much more fighter/bomber support than an Almaz can, while still being capable of fighting on the front line with impressive armor and firepower.
Demographics: 100% Human. The average Kamenyan stands at 6’ 7” tall, and all of them have a very developed musculature regardless of fitness. They also have no other eye color than purple or bright orange, with frequent heterochromia (around 10%).
Population: 1.6 billion
---
---
Planet Name and Description:
Kamenymir is a harsh planet for humans to live on, for reasons that are not immediately obvious. It is not much unlike Earth before the nuclear war: a temperate habitable world with forests and plains, deserts and jungles, a single ocean of salt water, and two frozen poles. Upon closer inspection, however, it begins to look like a poisoned gift. A mineral unique to Kamenymir known as dotrium, present in low concentration in virtually the entirety of the planet's mineral mass, emits a very specific kind of radiation. Local wildlife is perfectly adapted to these radiations, but humans start developing serious medical conditions after a few years of exposure including cancerous tumors, blindness, and blood diseases. The planet's higher gravity also causes its own problems and makes long-term human survival even more difficult.
History:
Shortly after the colony ship landed on Kamenymir, the expedition found itself under attack by an alien lifeform that was not organic but made of crystalline mineral matter. It appeared that when the ship landed on the surface, it crushed several of these crystal outgrowths in doing so as the crew couldn’t possibly have imagined that they were, in fact, alive. The crystals were able to change shape, move and even fly, and obviously had some way to communicate with each other as the expedition’s security forces were soon engaged in vicious combat around the burgeoning colony’s perimeter.
All efforts to try and communicate with the crystals, nicknamed “Shards” by the colonial security personnel, failed. There were no discernable reactions other than aggression to speech, light signals, even radio communications and visual depictions. Furthermore, the Shards were able to interact with electronic systems in some way through direct contact, which almost led to total corruption and shutdown of the colony’s informatics systems. The conflict escalated over the course of four years with precious few periods of calm. Eventually, however, the attacks stopped as suddenly as they came after thousands of colonists were killed and countless Shards destroyed.
The Kamenyan Defense Directorate, which was the emergency military government in charge of the colony’s defense, was in the process of being disbanded as all Shard activity had stopped. Indeed, there was no sign of them at all, anywhere. But this triumph was short-lived; another disaster struck, one that could not be blasted apart with guns.
As if the world itself rejected the invaders, the effects of the omnipresent low-level radiation emitted by dotrium began to show. Contamination was unavoidable: every single resident of the colony suffered from some sort of radiation poisoning. Under the steely leadership of the KDD however, the Kamenyans showed incredible resilience and determination. Every effort was bent towards overcoming the will of the very planet. Scientists of all branches joined forces to find a solution, those who could still see assisting the blind in whatever way they could and working to provide cybernetic eye implants to vital personnel. Finally, after two long years during which thousands more died in terrible pain, a cure had been developed. A serum codenamed ‘Hekate’ that, once ingested, subtly worked to rewrite the subject’s DNA over several months, carried from cell to cell by nanomachines.
A second existential threat had been vanquished under the rule of the KDD, and now people weren’t keen on changing to another system of governance. A referendum was held; a Constitution written, and from past hardship emerged a unique type of government. A government that is both democracy and military dictatorship. A society in which the army is both the seat of political power and the servant of the Kamenyan people.
Peace and prosperity followed for two hundred years. Improving upon the Hekate serum, the scientists of the KDD added a second effect to it: the high gravity of Kamenymir had been a problem ever since the colony was founded, causing considerable health problems. Instead of relying on specialized suits or gravity modulation devices, the Kamenyans demonstrated once again their will to overcome an obstacle once and for all by elevating themselves above it. The additional gene therapy of the Hekate made bones stronger, permanent hormone change increased muscle mass and induced a rise in height, and the human heart was made bigger and stronger.
The planet’s population skyrocketed past a billion souls, the industry flourished and technological progress kept on improving the lives of all. In the meantime, an actual army had been founded, but with no clear present threat, its duties were only ones of general security. The KDD’s decision to maintain consequent armed forces, however, turned out to be very fortunate when the Shards returned.
The attack did not come from the ground. It was a science satellite in orbit that first detected large objects on a direct collision course with the planet below. What was thought to be meteors crashed into the surface of Kamenymir, only to reveal themselves to be Shards of prodigious size, quickly fragmenting into smaller ones. Millions of civilians and soldiers alike perished in the first month of chaos and confused fighting. The KDD was quick to react and reorganize, and its heavily armed forces along with militia groups led by police officers wiped out the invading force in a single year.
The astronomy branch of the KDD’s Department of Science was astonished to find out that the Shards did not come from the depths of interstellar space. They came from the planet’s own moon, and it was concluded that those initially present on Kamenymir were only a colony, that they must have sent a message asking for help to their homeworld, and that it took two hundred years for the Shards to grow large enough.
Consequently, the decision was made to begin a herculean project to build a space navy capable of taking the fight to the enemy. An orbital station was constructed, then a space elevator. A shipyard followed, and the first combat spaceships left their anchorages. No resistance was met all the way to the moon, and the Kamenyan fleet found itself in orbit over defenseless Shards. There was no attempt to communicate this time. The fleet was given the order to open fire, and so it did. The orbital bombardment lasted for hours, then days, then months. Every single square meter bearing a hint of Shard presence was devastated by nuclear weapons and tungsten rods that ruptured the crust of the moon. When the ships in orbit finally ceased fire, the celestial body beneath had been transformed into an inferno of radioactive wastelands and volcanic eruptions.
Kamenymir celebrated triumph and victory. One century passed. And then, the Gate awakened.
Culture and Society:
Kamenyan society is rather individualist, with strong family bonds and an emphasis on personal freedom. The KDD rarely intrudes into the life of regular citizens, keeping to its role as per the Constitution. The Kamenyans are a patriotic people, and the sense of duty is generally strong with them. As such, the army is never short on recruits. Every adult citizen of Kamenymir has the right to own and bear firearms, except those with a criminal record or diagnosed mental illness. Combined with a mandatory military service of three years, this results in a population that is largely made up of potential soldiers should the need arise.
The creation of businesses is encouraged to stimulate the economy, regulations are few, and trade between regions and cities is busy. Law enforcement is managed by local police forces under the supervision of the KDD’s Department of Security, which has its own investigators and security officers at its disposal.
The planet’s culture has retained some traits from Old Earth and has managed to preserve portions of its history as well, which shows as their language is an evolution of Slavic and Germanic languages blended together, but it has largely evolved into a new culture of its own. Chief among these differences is spiritual; the old religions have faded into a collection of cosmic superstitions involving natural and physical phenomenons. Those who truly believe in the divine nature of these phenomenons pray directly to them, without following any kind of rules like a typical organized religion. For example, some may pray to gravity that their damaged aircraft does not crash, others pray to radiation or genes for a healthy child.
The only thing that could resemble a religion by Old Earth’s standards is the literal adherence to the KDD’s Constitution. Nearly every citizen of Kamenymir considers the Constitution to be the most sacred and untouchable thing there is in their society, a guidance that is not to be tampered with.
---
Governance and Politics:
The highest authorities in the KDD are the Directors, each of them in charge of their own Department. They are chosen at random among military officers who chose to be candidates for a specific office and fill that role until they’re either dead, deemed medically unable to fulfill their duty, or removed from office by Constitutional Referendum. In that latter case, a death sentence penalty follows the removal from office if the referendum ends in favor of eviction by an absolute majority. In consequence, only the officers with absolute confidence in their abilities do volunteer as candidates for Director. To serve as a head of state, the office of General Director functions as a “first among equals” in order to be able to make decisions that affect the whole of Kamenyan society.
Political parties do not exist in the traditional sense on Kamenymir, since the army at large and the Directors, in particular, are forbidden by the Constitution to participate in any organized political groups; they are only meant to be a vessel for the people they serve. It is a predictable consequence then that polls and referendums are frequent. There may be civilian groups who really are just an association of like-minded individuals, but since there is no way to elect a representative to a higher office than Burmistrz most Kamenyans see little sense in political lobbying by organized parties.
Burmistrz are the only elected officials in the entire nation. They are responsible for the administration of a single city and its surroundings, command the local police force, and generally have a lot of freedom granted to them to govern their locality. They are however unable to contradict the KDD’s instructions in any way without being given express permission.
Technology Overview:
Energy: Nuclear fission energy and fossil fuels are prevalent in everyday use, the former for its cost-effectiveness and the latter for convenience. Fusion reactors are used as the main power source for starships large enough to accommodate their size and represent the most advanced power production method available to the KDD, although experiments with antimatter are conducted, so far without any exploitable results.
Shields: The KDD’s Department of Science has managed to create so-called energy shields. They require massive amounts of energy and are typically only installed on starships or planetside installations. These devices can intercept incoming fire by projecting energy surges to counteract the energy of energy projectiles, slowing solid projectiles to the point of ineffectiveness or stopping them outright. Particle beams such as laser weaponry can be similarly hobbled after a fraction of a second past the initial impact, once the ship’s systems are able to detect the attack. The more energy a shield has at its disposal, the more effective it will be.
Nanomachines: This is not as much an innovation as it is a technology preserved from Old Earth that is not fully comprehended by the KDD’s scientists, although it has been successfully repurposed for medical uses.
Military Overview:
“Brute force” may be reductive, but it is an accurate way to describe the KDD’s approach to military problems. Their weapons are rarely subtle, focusing instead on high power and volume of fire. The humble Armored Infantry footsoldier is a perfect example of the Kamenyan war philosophy:
He is, as all of his countrymen are, unnaturally tall and muscular. His suit of power armor further amplifies these traits: a massive, bulky frame of fully-enclosed armor plates, thick and without any thought given to aesthetics. It is angular, with sharp unpolished edges. This incredibly heavy set of personal protection has a layer of artificial muscle underneath the armor plates, allowing its wearer to move without hindrance from its weight and even enhancing his strength well and truly beyond any human limits. Despite its unrefined appearance, this armor hides an integrated computer neuro-linked to the user’s brain, assisting with aim, limb coordination, general responsiveness, and providing a combat HUD in the helmet.
His weapon looks the part. It is an ugly piece of rectangular metal, large and bulky. Classified as an assault rifle, the STR-2 may be more accurately described as a high-caliber rapid-fire light machine gun. It includes a mini-rocket launcher under the barrel as well as a switchblade, turning it into an axe for close-quarters combat. The STR-2’s incredibly rugged design makes it more than able to withstand being used as a melee weapon by a power-armored warrior with superhuman strength.
The rest of the military generally follows the same principles, even though specialized and lighter gear is always available depending on current needs. Aside from more conventional forces, the KDD also fields armored mechs, perfectly suited for navigating ruins or uneven terrain and armed with a variety of autocannons, missile launchers, plasma drivers, and tactical lasers. A secret project to build a “super-mech” equipped with energy shields is in the works, but progress is slow due to inherent engineering problems.
As far as the navy is concerned, the KDD favors “packs” of several frigates acting together. Cruisers act as the centerpiece of these groups, ready to cover the pack’s retreat or deliver a hammer blow to a weakened foe. The lack of any hostile encounter in space has, so far, limited the KDD’s tactics to general doctrines and directives, relying on its navy’s captains to take the initiative in an initial engagement.
One feature of Kamenyan military doctrine warrants particular attention. Their war against the Shards has left a lasting impression, especially the ease with which informatic systems were compromised. As a result, the KDD has taken to the habit of making sure that their systems are as insulated from one another as possible. Power armor computers do not communicate with other suits; instead, comparatively primitive verbal radio communications are the norm with data packages transfer only possible after authorization by both the sender and the receiver, and even then this is supposed to be done only when absolutely necessary.
This philosophy is prevalent throughout the entire military, be it armored vehicles, fighter crafts, or even spaceships. Within a single ship, computers are locked out of communications with other sections by a manual switch. All of this is a conscious sacrifice of some measure of effectiveness, in exchange for the ability to more easily contain and combat electronic warfare and system infections.
Weapons:
STR-2 Assault Rifle: See description in the section above. It is the standard infantry rifle and serves as a template for most of the KDD’s infantry firearms.
Chimera Shotgun: A fully automatic 6 gauge shotgun most often loaded with either explosive HESH shells or so-called “Sunburn” rounds. A Sunburn shell contains, like conventional weapons, solid pellets. The difference is that inside each of those pellets is a small quantity of highly corrosive and toxic acid. Contact with this substance on organic tissues induces burns and necrosis in a matter of seconds.
Vehicles:
Huzar Scout Mech: This light and agile bipedal walker serves as lightly armored reconnaissance, armed with an autocannon fitted with three rotating barrels and a multipurpose missile launcher. Mounted on the Huzar’s back is a pair of powerful thrusters that allow it to jump over buildings and other obstacles.
Svarog Multirole Mech Frame: The Svarog is the result of a particularly eccentric arms manufacturer’s pet project. The four-legged frame is a “skeleton” on which an astounding amount of possible combinations of armament and armor can be added, from long-range missile artillery to high-power lasers, as little or as much armor as desired (within maximum weight limits) or even specialized equipment like lift claws and mine clearing devices.
Sleipnir Transport Gunship: This rather large gunship, suited for both atmospheric and spaceflight, is armed with autocannon turrets covering every angle as well as swarmer short range missile pods, both for defense against enemy aircraft and to suppress enemy ground units while the Sleipnir’s passengers disembark. The gunship’s large bulk allows it to transport a full squad of armored infantry, or a single light armored vehicle.
Ships:
Kobalt Frigate: Built to be the quintessential frigate, fast and versatile. Its main armament consists in laser batteries and long-range missiles.
Onyx Heavy Frigate: The Onyx is made to work in tandem so that they can be cycled in and out of combat to allow for their shield’s batteries to recharge, with the intent of delivering a non-stop bombardment from their main railguns.
Almaz Cruiser: The true backbone of the Kamenyan fleet. Almaz cruisers anchor battle formations, cover retreats, spearhead assaults and provide orbital support for planetside troops.
Zheoda Battlecarrier: The largest ship in the KDD’s navy, a Zheoda specializes in deploying much more fighter/bomber support than an Almaz can, while still being capable of fighting on the front line with impressive armor and firepower.
Daniel Astier blinked several times, confused and disoriented. He was sitting on his couch just then, browsing internet forums on his smartphone and having dinner. Now he stood in the middle of nowhere, a strange vastness shrouded by a white mist. When he turned around, he felt his skin crawl and stumbled backward as he faced... himself. Only it wasn't really Daniel. Same clothes, same hair... but the thing in front of him had a disturbing grin, distorting its face and wider than what should be possible with a normal mouth. "Wh... What the fuck is that?"
"Rude." The thing cackled. "Besides, you already know, don't you?" It stepped forward. "The voice that murmured to you all this time. The voice that you chose to ignore because you're afraid of the truth."
"You're... you're not real. You're not." Daniel was sweating. Was that it? Was he finally going insane, as he feared he would?
"Not real?" The other Daniel growled, his body bulging and convulsing as it morphed into a larger, bestial form, with arched legs and long arms ending with claws. The face was worse, a mockery of human features with a mouth stretching from ear to ear and full of sharp fangs. But the worst part was that the thing spoke again. "I am the only real one! You are a fake person. Nothing more than a shell full of lies. Lies to yourself, to others... But I know. I know your dreams, your deepest secrets." The hulking beast took another step towards a Daniel too paralyzed by shock and fear to even try to run away. "You're nothing but a coward. Too cowardly to be yourself, to act as you really want to."
Daniel breathed heavily as he struggled to keep his wits about him. He couldn't bear to hear this maddening voice that was so like his own. "Sh-shut up! You don't-"
Before he could say another word, the thing grabbed his face with its massive clawed hand and lifted him up, leaving him to helplessly kick the empty air. "You shut up. You don't deserve to live. You don't deserve to have ever existed. But I'm going to change that." The beast then effortlessly threw Daniel away like a cloth doll, sending him sprawling to the floor and screaming in pain when his left femur broke and perforated his skin. Daniel's head was spinning, and the pain was excruciating. "I don't want to die. I'm not going to die..." he thought as he got up on one knee, grunting with pain as the beast snarled and walked towards him, clicking its claws with a sickening laugh. "...but how?"
This unassuming young French man usually wears rather unremarkable clothes; shirts and t-shirts, denim pants, sweaters and hoodies. Daniel stands at 180cm/5’11” tall, with a lean figure and well-defined musculature, short dark hair and blue eyes. His face is almost always smooth-shaven save for a goatee, giving him a youthful appearance without being childlike. In the Shadow Realm, his hair grows to shoulder length and turns to a fiery red color.
Personality: Daniel can sometimes be cynical and has a tendency to take time to warm to people, if he does at all. When he does get along with someone and opens up, he reveals a taste for sarcastic but never mean-spirited humor and enjoys a good time with drinks, pizza and movies, but as much as he enjoys what friendship has to offer, he always needs some alone time after a while. He might have a full beer & barbeque weekend with a group of friends, and then spend two whole weeks not speaking to others anymore than necessary for his daily life.
Backstory: Daniel was born in rural southern France as an only child. Even though he showed potential for higher studies, he quickly became disinterested and quit university to become a freelance electrician as he had a natural taste for manual work. At twenty years old, he got his first few jobs and settled in a small town. He lived a simple if perhaps a little reclusive life: he doesn’t have many friends, but they are as close as friends can be. Generally speaking, Daniel enjoys simply being left alone for the majority of his time, which he spends immersing himself in books, video games, and of course the internet.
Yet, despite this introverted personality, he’s always felt a sort of pull towards higher goals. He rejected these feelings, convincing himself that he would be happier just carrying on with his life, and happy he is, but the faint calling never stopped anyway. He sometimes even had bursts of inner conflicts that made him fear that he may be suffering from schizophrenia as he tried as hard as he could to push intrusive thoughts out of his mind.
Skills: Speaks French and English: Native French speaker and fluent in English, although with a noticeable accent.
Hunting: Daniel likes spending time in nature, and will occasionally go hunting for boars. As such, he knows how to track an animal and use a hunting rifle.
Cooking: Daniel lives alone and has learned to cook for himself, an activity that he enjoys quite a lot, especially when he’s got some aforementioned boar meat in his freezer.
Electrical work: He knows his way around an electrical circuit, for sure. It’s his job after all.
Amateur rugby player: Training sessions and friendly matches are a welcome physical exercise, and provide Daniel with much-needed camaraderie and outlet. Being a good runner, he performs best as a winger.
Abilities: Telekinetic grasp [Psychic]: Can move objects from a distance. This ability gets more and more difficult and taxing as displaced mass and speed increase.
Telekinetic augment [Psychic]: Force fields deployed around the user’s body help mitigate impacts. As another application, this energy can instead be applied around the user’s fists and feet to greatly improve the strength of his blows.
Arcana: Daniel has received the Arcana of the Devil, freedom and domination coexisting uneasily when moral conflicts come up.
Shadow: Daniel’s Shadow represents his repressed ambition, his will to be in full control of his own life, and his underlying desire to bend the world to his will. A thirst for freedom that through control of what that would seek to restrict him. It looks like a clone of Daniel himself, save for two red burning eyes and a permanent, twisted grin distorting its face.
Its monstrous form truly is monstrous, with a hulking hunched body covered by black veins and terribly sharp talons at the tip of its oversized fingers. The face is equally deformed, with a wide mouth bearing many long fangs, yet it is still unnervingly human-looking.
Persona: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordred The mythical knight who betrayed king Arthur has his side of the story to tell. As Daniel’s Persona, he represents rebellion and the rise to power, challenging the common understandings of good and evil. Questioning self-proclaimed benevolence is his most notable feature, with a distinct aversion for “it’s for your own good” principles. Even though he’s a Persona, he occasionally makes his opinion known on various subjects, much to Daniel’s discomfort.
He appears as a man clad in a black leather biker outfit, complete with boots and gloves that do not show any skin. His clothes always faintly shimmer with shades of red, as if blood or fire was flowing under the surface. His head is covered by a motorbike helmet with a tinted visor under which no human features can be discerned except for two purple flames where the eyes should be. Contrasting rather sharply with his appearance, Mordred carries a longsword sheathed in its scabbard at his belt; the weapon’s guard and pommel seem to be plated with finely engraved silver.
Persona abilities: In addition to bolstering Daniel's arcane abilities, Mordred primarily fights using his sword that he can wreathe in Dark or Light energy (but not the two at the same time) to enhance its capabilities. He is also capable of projecting Fire from his hands, although he doesn't have much control over the flames which results in an attack similar to a flamethrower without real finesse. He is vulnerable to Water and Air attacks, while possessing some resistance to Light and Dark attacks.
Eventua
