MSSC mostly employs humans. But other species are welcome too. -
Nation Name
Morelia Special Security Conglomerate
Nation Description
History It all began with the Crimson Claws. A united band of mercenaries, smugglers, assassins and bounty hunters. Why did they unit themselves? Because the empire/union/republic they used to operate within started a crackdown on the underworld there. Together the Crimson Claws bought a deep space station and made it their home. The station quickly turned into a space Tortuga. You could find all sorts of scum there, but you were never safe. After a few years some very lucrative contracts passed through the station. Mercenaries hired smugglers to obtain newer weapons. Assassins and bounty hunters teamed up. Soon a local mercenary group's boss, Victor Cheknov, saw that working together would yield more money.
He did have his troubles uniting the Crimson Claws. Some people had to "disappear", others executed, and others bribed. After 15 years of bloody unification, Crimson Claw Security Conglomerate spawned. At the same time, entire systems began to declare their independence. The CCSC were hired by both large factions to get these small planets back in line, and were hired by the smaller factions to protect them. Playing both sides was a lucrative business indeed. As Victor Cheknov's son, Yurio Cheknov, took over the Conglomerate was already bursting out of its seams. With the mass of wealth, Yurio bought the rights to a newly discovered system with a single, lush, terran planet. He transformed it into a high class, high freedom resort. Morelia was born and quickly reached the top 10 of galactic resort spots. On the barren moon of Aer however, the newly formed MSSC built an imperial scale base. Filled with subterranean simulator rooms, dry-docks the size of Archangel-class Invasion Carriers, system wide defenses and many other facilities.
Nation Involvement
50 years ago MSSC was approached by the Far Rim Banks & Industry Union (or FRBI). As they were a relative small faction (compared to the empires and unions everywhere in the galaxies), it merely wanted its name to get known. For some reason they thought starting a small campaign for Anuria would do that. However, the FRBI rapidly grew. Every 5 years the campaign contract was revised and every time they paid more and more. Recently the contract was once again revised and the FRBI paid up for an Archangel level invasion.
-
Technology
WIP
Navy Description
The Seraphim-Class Invasion Carrier. The flagship of every MSSC invasion fleet. It houses the entire invasion force. Standard capable of orbital dropping, orbital barrage fire and housing 25 wings of drop ships, the Seraphim-Class Invasion Carrier is a force to be reckoned with. However, paying for an Archangel has bankrupted several independent planets before. The Seraphim-class orbiting Anuria currently is The Observor.
These support carriers often house the full range of an invasion force’s none-dropship airforce. Ranging a good 1km, they are far smaller than the Seraphim-Class Invasion carrier. As it is often used as an anti-fighter carrier, housing all the intercepters and fighters themselves, the Cherubim houses 2 reloadable, 30 missile pod. However, it must count on the fleet for capital ship engagements.
The Throne-Class is the main anti-capital ship within the MSSC Fleet. It’s 1200 meters long and fairly slow moving. It makes up for that with its main, internal canon. A Rail Gun capable of accelerating a 500kg slug at 5% of lightspeed. To back it up, it has 6 reloadable, 30 missile pods. 4 anti-capital torpedo tubes and 10 accelerator canons on each side of the hull.
Faster than a Throne. The Dominion is an all-around good craft with a slight tip in balance towards strength. It has an internal rail gun so it must aim it’s entire body towards the target. But upon unleash its weapon, the damage can be substantial. Counting on that it has 2 reloadable missile pods and 30 point-defense turrets. Making it a fair match against smaller fighters. 600m.
Just like the Dominion, it houses a powerful, internal rail gun enabling formidable damage to most capital ships. Furthermore it has 10 point-defense turrets against fighters and an additional 4-cruise missile bays and 2 frontward torpedo tubes. The Virtue utilizes speed and heavy hitting power to quickly overcome dangerous capital ships. 350m long.
The Principle-class are entirely focused on speed to deliver the payload of 2 torpedo tubes (each capable of firing 4 torpedoes before depleted). Further they have 2 mass accelerators and 10 point-defense turrets. It’s about 350m long.
The Archangel-class is all about taking down pesky fighters or bombers who think they can reach the capital ships. The Archangel, despite its size, houses a grand total of 30 high-caliber anti-fighter turrets. More refined than standard point-defense turrets. The Archangel backs it up with a very accurate space detection system keeping track of the smaller, faster flying objects. It’s 300m long.
Air Force Description
The X-2 Manta Gunship is an SSTO-space plane. Both capable of space and atmospheric flight, and independent transition between them. It carries an ordinance of 4 A-class anti-matter missiles, 2 S-class anti-matter missiles and a hull designed for 30 A-class bombs or 5 S-class bombs. It doesn't have an onboard gun and must rely entirely on its fighter support. The Manta is often called into the entirely erase heavily fortified positions.
The CDS (Combat Drop Ship) MkII Lumina is mostly used to get ground troops from a carrier on the ground in hot combat zones. Lacking any real weapons (except for the rail gun mounted at the end of the ramp) the Lumina counts mostly on thick shield and speed. The Lumina is capable of VTOL and can carry up to 25 troops or 2 light terrain vehicles.
The Heron is a multi-purpose air superiority fighter. With its twin, variable engines the Heron is capable of both atmospheric and space flight. Holding several missiles and 2 boardcanons, the Heron is a formidable foe to most modern aircrafts. With integrated stealth systems and sensor arrays, Herons often see hostile crafts far over the horizon. Their prefered methode of dispatching hostiles is firing long range missiles. Though some aces prefer to engage in a dangerous dogfight.
Infantry Force Description
Unlike in most military, real ranks only start during the second tour you go on. Every guy or girl starts out as a Grunt during his/her first tour. Grunts have their own ranks (private, corporal, sergeant) but these people can only command grunts below them. For example, a grunt corporal cannot command a Private. But he can command a Grunt Private.
What brings a man to such madness? That he would willingly sign up to MSSC as a grunt? Fortune, Morelia and fleeing from authorities. When you join up with MSSC, your record, where it may be, is stripped clean. No empire, union, or republic can detain you on grounds of what you did before joining up with MSSC. Further, if you make it out of a tour alive, you'll be gratefully rewarded in cash. Aside from that you get 2 months of all-in living on Morelia.
But in combat, grunts are the lowest of the lowest. 50% never makes it out of the first 2 months alive. From the remaining, 25% dies within the first year. From that remainder, 50% die the second year. Their armor is outdated, and in fact only serves as visual recognition. It has no personal shielding what so ever. The gun that's dumped in their hands is an - often 20 years old - RM-5 rail gun. Surprisingly accurate and with a decent RPM. But it lacks in punch. So how do these grunts have a chance to survive? It's thanks to the Scavenger-act. Grunts are allowed to pick up any equipment they find that's not owned by some other MSSC personnel.
The actual ground troopers. From left to right here are the Privates, Corporals and Sergeants. These are the guys you'll see most often. They all wear a version of the Omega-II Combat Suit. The suit has its own oxygen supply, air filter, exo-skeleton, sensor arrays and Personal Shielding Device. The suits themselves cost more than a full campaign salary of 20 grunts combined.
So how do you become a Soldier? Well first off, you need to have finished a tour as a Grunt. Preferable having risen to the rank of Grunt Sergeant. But then there is a catch. If you go home, you will return and be put in as a Grunt again. If you go to Morelia for your 2 months, the chances of you becoming part of the soldier force drastically increases. After returning, and being selected to train for the Soldier-force, you go through 6 months of both normal gravity, low gravity and zero gravity training on Morelia and Aer. Then you leave for your second tour. This means that there are far less soldiers than Grunts. Soldiers are only called in when the fight gets incredibly heated.
Their XR-2 Advanced Rail Rifle can be seen as the big brother of the old RM-5. With a lower RPM, but much faster slug velocity, accuracy and range, the XR-2 rifle punches easily through weak walls. Just like with the Herakles, the rounds are accelerated through magnets. With added perk that due to induction, the rounds are superheated in the barrel. Giving the illusion that they are firing energy pulses. Further, soldiers are trusted to use Antimatter Grenades. Highly dangerous but also incredibly effective. Lastly, all soldiers went through basic Bellerophon driver classes. Which means all of them can use the vehicle with ease.
Not all battles are fought on the ground. Some take place high in space. Between ships and marines. Grunts here are useless. Soldiers, while trained, are no experts. The Space Intervention Force is. These men and women are recruited from the Soldiers after their second tour. They undergo another 6 months of exstensive zero gravity training. Most of this training is down in outer space. With a focus on ship-to-ship jumps, boarding and boarding protection. They wear the very advanced Pegasus-suit. Allowing them increased control in a zero gravity area. Additionally, the Pegasus-suit has stronger radiation shielding, life support and exo-skeletal abilities.
The common armament is in fact an laser/rail rifle (SRT-8). In space, utulization of a rail gun would be devestating and dangerous thanks to Newton's Laws of motion. Instead of metal slugs, small amounts of xenon gas is ionized within the chamber and fired off. While there is still some force that pushes the opposite direction, the Pegasus-suit is built to compensate for it. The user can switch the rifle to its rail gun configuration.
Who do you send when you really want something done? Wraiths. Wraiths are the top of the top of the top. Selected from the Soldier and the Space Intervention Force. They are chosen not only by skill in combat but also resourcefulness, ability to follow orders without questions, ruthlessness, a little bit of self-destructive tendancies and pure loyalty to the MSSC. These men and women often have a dangerous love for battle and danger. To this day, only 7 Wraiths were ever confirmed KIA. (Though it is well known that many more perished after battle. But due to secrecy MSSC Command cannot release official statements of those who died of their wounds.) Wraiths commonly conduct their Black Ops in teams of 5.
For equipement, no official statements are ever release. The armor they wear seems to be a smaller, walking version of the Herakles. Wraiths have access to Experimental Combat Supplies.
Ground Mechanized Force Description
The Herakles is a state-of-the-art main battle tank. Its main canon uses an advanced rail gun accelerating shells far over what the grunts' their RM-5 is capable of. This has an added advantage that, due to induction, the shell is superheated. Often given the illusion that it fires an energy pulse instead of a solid metal shell. Aside from that the Herakles also wields a smaller rail machine gun against infantry. Finally, the Herakles has 3 anti-entrancement cluster missiles. These missiles are launched in a high arc over the entrenched position, bursts open in the air and small cluster bombs & firebombs fall out. Destroying and igniting the aimed position.
It has an active shield and its armor is made from depleted titanium-iridium. Meaning it can easily take a heavy punch. However, the real problem with the Herakles lays in availability. It cannot be dropped from orbit, nor is any Combat Drop Ship big enough to carry it. So if you want armor support from a Herakles, it has to come from an already established base on the ground where None-Combat Drop Ships can land. Second, the Herakles is extremely expensive to make. So the loss of it is felt pretty hard by High-Command. (In fact, most commanders prefer to keep sending Grunts as they are far cheaper than a Herakles.)
The Bellerophon is MSSC's most commonly used vehicle. Often used for scouting, troop support and patroling. It has a crew of 2 people: A gunner/navigator and a driver. Further it has 2 passenger seats at the back for VIP retrieval. The Dust Trailer mostly relies on speed, as its size allows for only limited shielding capabilities. At the front it has little armor to speak of and instead uses titanium-fiber acrylic glass. Capable of stopping a few shells from a machine gun but the glass will break if kept getting shot.
A long range siege tank. The Mobile Support Artillery Tank's main cannon, just like the Heracles, fires off induction heated shells off into the air. But with a far greater powergenerator who does not need to power a shield too, the Odysseus can launch a larger shell much futher into the enemy terrain. But just like a Herakles, the use of an Odysseus comes with great investement.
Emplacements and Deployable
Give us an overview of the deployable hardware your nation employs. This can range from anti-infantry sentries to anti-aircraft turrets.
Headquarters
Right now, the Seraphim-Class Invasion Carrier serves as over-arching HQ. With several outposts and fortified positions down on the surface.
Persons of Importance
Yurio Cheknov. Old, powerful, dangerous. Mr. Cheknov may never seen a battlefield for real, unlike his father, but he is a fierce opponent at the negotiation table.
Alec Bredain, Sindar Bredain, Eléane Bredain Province 53 “We must use the element of surprise!” A younger, less experienced war-magi. He was among the reinforcements coming from New Engelica. Most other war-magi disagreed with the warhungry youth. “Marching into uncharted terrain? Madness.” An elder war-magi said. “Then what do you suppose we do?” the youth asked mockingly. The older war-magi did not like that. “We send scouts. We send scouts and we pray that the Whisperer will grant us a vision.” The elder war-magi stated. His fellow elders were in agreement. The youths were not. Never the less, the votes were cast and the army would sit tight.
“Eléane.” Alec said to his daughter as she prepared to leave on the scouting mission. “I will not let you down like the last time father.” She said, hoping to make him proud. “Eléane. Be cautious. I will not have my daughter imprisoned. Or…even worse. Use absolute stealth, my dear. We don’t want to be seen.” Eléane looked down for a moment. Questioning if she should tell her father or not. “I won’t be captured, father.” She eventually said, showing him a hidden dagger strapped to her arm. Alec knew better than to say anything about it. Yet it hurt him, to see his own daughter talking about such thing.
Some students Province 58, Al’Gruin The crowd cheered as Silvester, the youthful magi took to the skies with his Wings. The framework was now made from a rare but lightweight wood. With golden rings with enchanted runes. The canvas was pretty much the same, but the fin on the back was longer. That, in combination with the increased control over the airflow due to the golden ring, allowed for far better maneuverability.
All in all, it was a successful design. But the youths did not stop there. Yoren called upon his cousin, a lake fisher. Together with the twins, they began to make plans on how to lift a bigger object than a human being. The end goal was to lift a boat.
Garrison Province 58 9 Units of Heavy Infantry 5 Units of Light Cavalry 4 Units of Magi 10 Units of War-Magi
Province 59 3 Units of Light Infantry 6 Units of Heavy Infantry 5 Units of Light Cavalry 6 Units of Magi 4 Units of War-Magi
Province 60 2 Units of Light Infantry 8 Units of Heavy Infantry 7 Units of Magi 3 Units of War-Magi
Province 55 2 Units of Light Infantry 9 Units of Heavy Infantry 5 Units of Magi 6 Units of War-Magi
Province 53 23 Units of Heavy Infantry 3 Units of Light Cavalry 38 Units of Magi 25 Units of War-Magi
Troop movement From 53 to 52 - Scout intent 1 Unit of Light Cavalry 2 Units of Magi 1 Unit of War-Magi
Invoking "Angels whisper in your ear" power
Production Province 58: War-Magi province 59: War-Magi Province 60: War-Magi Province 55: Heavy Infantry Province 53: Heavy Infantry
NAME: Ildridian Achgiën CLASS: Sorcerer APPEARANCE: Ildridian appears very normal for an Eldritch Sorcerer. He stands a tall 1.75 meter, weighting a respectable but not fat 71kg. With his short brown hair, comely face and yet “unaffected” body he may even appear normal. Until you see his eyes. For he has the clear eyes of an Achgiën. The iris is a midnight blue dark. Specked with small dots, closely resembling miniature stars. Achgiën have what some people call: Eyes that saw beyond the stars. However, it are his fingers that betray he is a sorcerer. Looking deathly black, they repel anyone who may come close enough to him to see it.
He dresses in a humble black cloak and hood. Under it, wool trousers and a shirt. On his belt he carries several pouches, containing crystals and orbs. He also keeps an old tome close by, his grimoire. Many would assume that grand sorcerer’s use staves or scepters. This may be true for the vast majority of the people. But not for Ildridian. He wields an orb, forged from the same metal orbiting Eldritch Tear.
CLASS FEATURES: LAB In the south wall, there is a single, big glass window. Painted to show the dangerous power each sorcerer holds over reality. On the east, you’ll find bookcases and study tables filled with ancient parchments and old tablets written in runes long forgotten (or yet to be discovered?). The tables surround a central, round one. On there is nothing as of yet. To the north is the entrance. It looks humble and small, compared to the rest of square room. And to the west you have the place that looks most like a laboratory. Workbenches filled with jars. Bottles holding organs, hearts, stillborn babies and other foul things. Crystal shards and precious minerals lay scattered over the workbenches. In the middle bench, often weird contraptions stand. But in the middle is what gave the now old and nearly died out Achgiën family its power. A massive, hollow, metal orb. The metal outside moves around the glowing core in the middle of it. On the sheets of flowing metal, old and future glyphs alike stand. Ildridian so far only knows what his grandfather and father wrote and understood about it. Which is nigh to nothing. It is dubbed the Eldritch Tear.
APPRENTICE Laura is a young girl, but with a frightfully strong connection the Eldritch realm. She’s the daughter of a smith and a herbalist. Yet despised her parent’s fear for the true powers of the world. She ran away, and was soon found by Ildridian. Who took her in.
IMPLEMENTS The Orb of Achgiën. An ancient relic made by the first Achgiën after the creation of the Eldritch Tear. The small orb looks very much like its grander counterpart, housed in the lab. It’s forged from the same metal, etched with the same looking glyphs and glows with the same color when the blood of the family calls upon it. However, it is a single piece of metal. Meaning no separate parts orbit it (yet). The Orb is closesly related to the Tear. In fact, Achgiën don’t directly call upon the powers of the Astral Plane and use their own body to channel the power. They let the Tear do that for them, which then channels it straight to the orb. This kept most of the Achgiën physically quite normal (except for the traditional black fingers). But mentally…not so much.
INFO: Born a bastard, yet heir of the Achgiën family. He inherited only the laboratory when his father died when was 17. The mansion, the money, the influence all vanished before the dreamer’s eyes. Yet Ildridian did not become bitter. He pushed himself to understand the vital research supporting the Achgiën. However, he has a dangerous ‘neglectence’ when it comes to safety, morality and consequences.
Alec Bredain, Sindar Bredain, Eléane Bredain Province 55 The battle started at dawn. The men of New Engelica formed their tight formation. Shield against shield, with spears ready to pierce metal and flesh. Magi marched behind them. Their many tomes and staves ready to cast the spells of the 4 elements, as well as to pray for their knights in mithril armor before them. The men and women of the line held it bravely. Suffering wounds like scratches. Bleeding dry before falling from formation. But then, the machinery of war from the Holy Lands were rolled in. An unexpected turn of events to most magi, as they assumed that their lady would have destroyed those machines. Dismay began to grip the hearts of the soldiers. While fearless of their foe, they dared not imagine what happened to Lady Eléane. The lines eventually broke, and skirmishes broke out everywhere across the battlefield. Magi against magi, infantry against infantry as massive bolts from ballistae wreaked havoc on the field. For a moment, it would seem that the balance of the battle was tipping to the side of the Holy Lands.
But it hasn’t. In the heat of battle, a single gust of wind blew heavy across the battlefield. Even those not gifted by magic felt how off the blow was. Especially when all wind seized after it. But the veterans of the First Mage War began to smile. “Hold on to your trousers lads! And try not to faint. For you’ll want to tell your grandchildren about this!” The bearded elders yelled. From the forest behind the lines shadows appeared. Their form unclear. The magi behind the main line of skirmishes soon recognized who it was and knelt. The War-Magi had arrived. And with them, dark clouds from the east.
The battle’s tide turned swiftly and without mercy. It was Eléane, not the Ruin-King who led the War-Magi party. She marched with a cold determination only a battle scarred sorceress could. The fighting reignited as the War-Magi of fire hurled their fiery wrath at the siege weapons. From the tempest above rain of ice shards fell down. Lightning crawled over the ground, scotching the fools that stood in the way. Then, a line of brave but foolish Holy Land Magi started their prayers. At the center of the line, a War-Magi was channeling the Divine energy of the prayers into a skull. A relic of some ancient saint. “Beware evil that harms this land! Our prayers will defend us. Our gods will protect us!” he yelled in determination. The Holy Land warriors who were not quick enough to cower behind the shield were soon slaughtered in cold blood. Eventually, all heavy infantry and magi units watched the shield. As did the enemy from the other side. Incantations had seemingly no effect on it. Until Eléane appeared from between her units. Without words she approached the shield. But a few meters away from it, she turned around and shouted: “Pray for me. My people.” The frontline units formed their line formation again. As the magi and troops behind them knelt down to say their silent prayers.
Her veins began to glow. Softly first. Like the light of a candle seen through a hand. But quickly the intensity grew. The light turned blue and bright. With a thousand voices speaking as one, she said: “Then I will kill your gods first!” She stretched her right arm before her. With her pointing finger out. She walked towards the skull. Her arm passed through the barrier. Not with ease, clearly. But it passed. The terrified War-Magi was shaking, yet kept holding the saint’s skull up. A stupid mistake. As one touch from Eléane was enough to make a crack on it. A small piece, a tooth, fell from the skull. Then two others followed. Soon the jaw came crashing down to the ground too. Eventually the entire skull turned to shattered fragments. The barrier collapsed. And in the same time the blue light in Eléane’s veins vanished too. She looked the War-Magi in the eyes, and smiled a cocky grin. After which she walked back to her line. The grin was a secret she and him shared. In a duel, only a day ago when she was out finding the siege weapons, he threw her the same grin when he and his men found her. In the ambush she saw him from the top of the cliff. Casting his holy spells. He even had the guts to throw one at her, with the same kind of grin. “Don’t you dare walk away! You wrench!” he yelled after her. But then it was time for the Ruin King himself. Dressed in his simple black robes and holding his gnarled staff he passed the line of his warriors, who were standing tall once more. With his soft, grandfatherly voice he said: “You have lost, my dear. Surrender.” But the War-Magi, mistaking the Ruin King for a pathetically old, pacifistic magi spat at him. “Be gone old man! You are too old to be in this fight.” Alec did not take that lightly.
He took a deep breath, then slammed the gnarled wooden staff into the ground. With it, a fiery ring of fire surrounded the remaining Holy Land fighters. In a language long forgotten, he began to chant. The skies above him began to converge. Enemy magi and war-magi began to hurl their spells at him. To no avail, for the magic users of New Engelica protected their king. With their own bodies if had to. Eventually, the chanting came to an end. And the result was astonishing. Hail and lightning came down from the heavens, shattering the enemy within the fire circle alone. Then, the earth quaked and rumbled beneath their feet. From the cracks great tongues of fire lashed out. Cooking those in armor, and burning those in cloths.
By dusk, the enemy was completely annihilated. Yet the troops of New Engelica had casualties of their own. The ring wherein the enemy had been massacred by the Ruin King’s spell was circled by bonfires. Upon which the dead of New Engelica were burned. While those of the Holy Lands were left rotting on the ground that would long bear the scar of the magic used there. A single man on horseback rode out southwards with a letter.
Dwarven friends The Holy Lands are no more. The pact will be honored. You can expect the troops of New Engelica to arrive by the summer.
Some students Province 58 It was getting dusk when Yoren, Linda and Silvester dragged the contraption from Yoren’s workshop. Yoren was a blacksmith apprentice and lifelong friend of the twins. He was asked to make sturdier version of the glider they made in the winter. The end result resembled bat wings. Lightweight wooden “bones” kept a canvas tight. The wooden bones had copper rings keeping them together. But the copper served more than once purpose. They were lined with runes that channeled wind below it. Generating lift. With a back fin standing vertical, the operator could maneuver in the skies. In theory. Silvester went up in the skies again. This time, he could fly as far as he wanted, as he was unsupported by his twin. But it was clear that there was still work to do. As staying in control by controlling the airflow proved to be extremely difficult. Diplomatic party Province 57 The War-Magi and his retinue remained at Orngat. Further discussing the possibility of settling an embassy to continue to increase relations.
Garrison Province 58 9 Units of Heavy Infantry 5 Units of Light Cavalry 3 Units of Magi 8 Units of War-Magi
Province 59 3 Units of Light Infantry 5 Units of Heavy Infantry 5 Units of Light Cavalry 6 Units of Magi 4 Units of War-Magi
Province 60 2 Units of Light Infantry 8 Units of Heavy Infantry 6 Units of Magi 3 Units of War-Magi
Province 55 2 Units of Light Infantry 8 Units of Heavy Infantry 5 Units of Magi 6 Units of War-Magi
Troops movement Province 57 - Diplomatic intent 1 Unit of War-Magi 1 Unit of Magi
From 55 to 53 - Reïnforcing Broken Empire 8 Units of Heavy Infantry 4 Units of Light Cavalry 20 Units of Magi 16 Units of War-Magi
From 60 to 53 - Reïnforcing Broken Empire 15 Units of Heavy Infantry 20 Units of Magi 10 Units of War-Magi
Production: Province 58: War-Magi Province 59: Heavy Infantry Province 60: Magi Province 55: Heavy Infantry
Lord Zee
Vec
Rekkuza
Iwannabeyours
princess
Cmmelody
Necrodancer
ActRaiserTheReturned
Timemaster
