Supermaxx

Sticks And Stones (A Science Fantasy adventure set in Post-Apoc America)

Glad to have you all on board! I'll get started on the OOC, and send out a mass ping when it's finished.

Sticks And Stones (A Science Fantasy adventure set in Post-Apoc America)

Sticks And Stones

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I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

Albert Enstein

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Science Fantasy - Post-Apocalypse - Adventure - Political Intrigue

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Crumbling towers of rusted steel and broken glass reach high into the heavens, standing as stark sentinels of a bygone age. Chariots with wheels of rubber and chassis of broken iron fill unwalked roads, and cities of impossible construction stretch for miles upon miles- empty of any signs of life. Save, of course, for the Broken. Those terrible creatures of fang and claw that crawl in the darkest corners of the old world, their hives nestled in the tall towers and under the bridges of stone. Only the bravest knights or the most desperate adventurers would dare to invade the lands of the Broken, and a scarce few of them ever return.

No one remembers what destroyed the world. Perhaps it was a war that encompassed every nation and every people, where weapons of incredible destructive power were unleashed, and everything was wiped out. Perhaps disease, unknowable and incurable, spread about the land and wrought the hand of death on all that drew breath. Or perhaps it was the arrival of the Broken that claimed the lives of the Before Men. Or maybe it was none of these things. By some awful chance, it could be a combination of all of them. No one knows for sure. Even the eldest scribes and the most traveled storytellers only know tiny pieces of what the old world was like. Wild tales of fantasy had intermingled with the truth down the ages, deluding what was known with stories of ancient powers and cruel gods.

It's rebirth is similarly surrounded in a veil of mystery. It is known that all life came to an end, but something...something brought it back. Some unknown force reached down into the radiation-ridden muck of the earth and dragged forth the next generation of men. It pressed into their unbeating chests the power that would forever change the world: Magic. A gift barely understood by those that wield it, magic was the only thing that kept man alive. It cut through the darkness, drove off the beasts that nipped at man's heels, gathered people together and allowed them to climb out from the pits of hell that their ancestors had damned them to so long ago.

As man rose up, no longer concerned with monsters and beasts, it turned on itself. Tribes wrestled for dominance over their fellow man. They fought with club and rock, spear and arrow. They made war over resources as simple as food, water and land. It was a time of darkness as brother turned against brother. But through death, through conflict, came life. From the fires of hate came out a race forged stalwart and unbreakable. Mankind was able to recreate, to rebuild what was lost so long ago. War had forced them to erect palisades around their camps. Tents were replaced by permanent structures. In the never ending search for better tools to destroy other tribes, they had rediscovered metalworking and masonry. And as the years passed, permanent settlements began to dot the land once more. They became cities. Soon cities and tribes interwove, putting down sword and spear in favor of trade and friendship- and nations were formed. And from those early nations rose up kingdoms that would stand the test of time.

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OOC Information

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Welcome to Sticks And Stones, a far future Science Fantasy Roleplay set in what was once the United States. I will be your guide in your travels across this strange land wrought with danger, mystery and adventure. Here are a few things you should know about Sticks and Stones before we continue:

-If I were to give this RP a level, it'd be somewhere around High Casual.

-I'm looking for at least four adventurers to take up this quest, though I won't be putting a cap on the number of applicants unless things get absurd. My usual rule of thumb is the more the merrier, and I will more than likely keep the RP open even after we have started. It may be difficult to join in at certain points, but I will do my best to work everyone in.

-I'd like applicants to be in it for the long haul. Posts may come slower than in some other RPs since things like school, work, or other real life obligations can get in the way of writing. Anyone coming in should be prepared for that, and patience for your fellow writers is necessary. With that said, I'd like that we at least stay in contact so that everyone knows we're all still in the game. I ask that a weekly update is given, either in the form of a post or informing us that you won't be able to post this week. How we'll proceed when someone drops or if they have a long absence will be discussed when we come to it, though if you can't be active for a long amount of time your character may be skipped over so that the story can continue moving. A postless RP quickly becomes a dead one, after all.

-Length isn't too important to be, but substance is. All posts should offer something that others can react to or work off of. If your last post could be deleted and it wouldn't affect the scene in the slightest, something's gone wrong. In general one-liners or very short posts that offer little in the way of substance are frowned upon. Don't feel the need to rush out a short post. You've got at least a week to write one, after all!

-When we start out, everyone will be allowed one character. As things move forward this may change, but I would like for us to keep things small and laser focused when we first begin.

-General rules for the site and Roleplaying in general apply, obviously. Basically: smut/+18 situations are mandatory fade to black, treat everyone else involved in the game well, and don't power/meta/god game, and all that jazz. The RP will touch on mature themes like violence, and may go into detail, so just keep that in mind before applying.

-The beginning premise of Sticks And Stones is that we are a party of adventurers brought together by special order of the king. We will be sent into the remains of the city of Dallas in search of still-working artifacts from the old world.

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The Setting/Worldbuilding

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I'll be laying out most of the Worldbuilding facts in writing when I put together the actual OOC, but I'm willing to answer any questions you might have. If you have any ideas in regards to the creation of the world itself, feel free to PM me- new ideas are always appreciated. However, here are the important bits:

-Sticks And Stones will start in the Kingdom of Dall, situated in modern day Texas/Oklahoma. The Kingdom of Dall is the oldest of the major kingdoms in the Northlands, and is ruled over by King Astius II. He is wise and fair, preferring peace and diplomacy over war-making. Dallians are tough and hardworking folk, who prize their industriousness over all things. Dall is known far and wide for its artisans, who craft better goods than any other kingdom good dream of. They are a rich people with most of their income coming from trade.

-In this new world, treasures of the old one more valuable than gemstones or gold. Finding a working electronic could potentially set one up for life. Of course, most of these surviving treasures have long since been horded up by the rich and powerful. Those that remain are trapped in the looming cities of broken glass and sharp steel, where monsters dwell, guarding the goods of the ancients from those that would see them taken back by man's ancestors.

-Advancement has stalled, and technology has been plunged back into the dark ages. Things like indoor plumbing, electricity, and any other number of modern inventions are considered lost to mankind. There are ongoing efforts to obtain old world artifacts by the brightest minds of certain kingdoms- like Dall- who seek to understand and, perhaps one day, even replicate the technologies of old.

-The bulk of adventurers and warriors fight with the typical fantasy weapons. Medieval tools like the sword, spear and bow are quite common in the arsenals of the new world. While some old world weapons survived, they are far too rare for any average person to have heard of them, outside of stories about 'sticks that spew fire.' They are more likely to know about magic than they are about guns.

-Magic exists, though it is incredibly rare. Most people are unlikely to possess strong magical abilities, with the few rare exceptions being the wizards, witches and sorcerers that inhabit the world. Magic is tied directly to the incantations used There are certain magics that can be cast using scrolls, but these tend to be rather weak in comparison to the 'real' magic of a wizard. I will likely only be accepting a few magic users into the party for the reasons stated above. Magic behaves in a similar manner to Dungeons and Dragons.

To cast a spell, one must wield a specific, enchanted object (such as a staff or wand) and verbally recite the spell's full name in an incantation. The power of these incantations is directly tied to how loudly the magician speaks the word, with more powerful spells being more exhausting to use than normal ones.

There are two sub types of magic: Arcane and Elemental.

Elemental magic is that which encompasses the manipulation or creation of things that already exist. So the elements such as fire, water, earth and air, or things like metal or nature, would fall under this category. Most magic is elemental, so it is the primary weapon of most wizards.

The other type is Arcane, which encompasses things not of this world. This is the more fantastical manipulation of vague magic energies, or powers of a divine nature. Spells that can resurrect or command the dead, that cast bolts of energy, or to open a portal. Arcane spells are usually tied to scrolls, as casting 'full power' arcane magic is a rare ability that most do not possess.

Superboy's Shitty Characters

Sticks And Stones

---

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

Albert Enstein

---

Science Fantasy - Post-Apocalypse - Adventure - Political Intrigue

---

Crumbling towers of rusted steel and broken glass reach high into the heavens, standing as stark sentinels of a bygone age. Chariots with wheels of rubber and chassis of broken iron fill unwalked roads, and cities of impossible construction stretch for miles upon miles- empty of any signs of life. Save, of course, for the Broken. Those terrible creatures of fang and claw that crawl in the darkest corners of the old world, their hives nestled in the tall towers and under the bridges of stone. Only the bravest knights or the most desperate adventurers would dare to invade the lands of the Broken, and a scarce few of them ever return.

No one remembers what destroyed the world. Perhaps it was a war that encompassed every nation and every people, where weapons of incredible destructive power were unleashed, and everything was wiped out. Perhaps disease, unknowable and incurable, spread about the land and wrought the hand of death on all that drew breath. Or perhaps it was the arrival of the Broken that claimed the lives of the Before Men. Or maybe it was none of these things. By some awful chance, it could be a combination of all of them. No one knows for sure. Even the eldest scribes and the most traveled storytellers only know tiny pieces of what the old world was like. Wild tales of fantasy had intermingled with the truth down the ages, deluding what was known with stories of ancient powers and cruel gods.

It's rebirth is similarly surrounded in a veil of mystery. It is known that all life came to an end, but something...something brought it back. Some unknown force reached down into the radiation-ridden muck of the earth and dragged forth the next generation of men. It pressed into their unbeating chests the power that would forever change the world: Magic. A gift barely understood by those that wield it, magic was the only thing that kept man alive. It cut through the darkness, drove off the beasts that nipped at man's heels, gathered people together and allowed them to climb out from the pits of hell that their ancestors had damned them to so long ago.

As man rose up, no longer concerned with monsters and beasts, it turned on itself. Tribes wrestled for dominance over their fellow man. They fought with club and rock, spear and arrow. They made war over resources as simple as food, water and land. It was a time of darkness as brother turned against brother. But through death, through conflict, came life. From the fires of hate came out a race forged stalwart and unbreakable. Mankind was able to recreate, to rebuild what was lost so long ago. War had forced them to erect palisades around their camps. Tents were replaced by permanent structures. In the never ending search for better tools to destroy other tribes, they had rediscovered metalworking and masonry. And as the years passed, permanent settlements began to dot the land once more. They became cities. Soon cities and tribes interwove, putting down sword and spear in favor of trade and friendship- and nations were formed. And from those early nations rose up kingdoms that would stand the test of time.

---

OOC Information

---

Welcome to Sticks And Stones, a far future Science Fantasy Roleplay set in what was once the United States. I will be your guide in your travels across this strange land wrought with danger, mystery and adventure. Here are a few things you should know about Sticks and Stones before we continue:

-If I were to give this RP a level, it'd be somewhere around High Casual.

-I'm looking for at least four adventurers to take up this quest, though I won't be putting a cap on the number of applicants unless things get absurd. My usual rule of thumb is the more the merrier, and I will more than likely keep the RP open even after we have started. It may be difficult to join in at certain points, but I will do my best to work everyone in.

-I'd like applicants to be in it for the long haul. Posts may come slower than in some other RPs since things like school, work, or other real life obligations can get in the way of writing. Anyone coming in should be prepared for that, and patience for your fellow writers is necessary. With that said, I'd like that we at least stay in contact so that everyone knows we're all still in the game. I ask that a weekly update is given, either in the form of a post or informing us that you won't be able to post this week. How we'll proceed when someone drops or if they have a long absence will be discussed when we come to it, though if you can't be active for a long amount of time your character may be skipped over so that the story can continue moving. A postless RP quickly becomes a dead one, after all.

-Length isn't too important to be, but substance is. All posts should offer something that others can react to or work off of. If your last post could be deleted and it wouldn't affect the scene in the slightest, something's gone wrong. In general one-liners or very short posts that offer little in the way of substance are frowned upon. Don't feel the need to rush out a short post. You've got at least a week to write one, after all!

-When we start out, everyone will be allowed one character. As things move forward this may change, but I would like for us to keep things small and laser focused when we first begin.

-General rules for the site and Roleplaying in general apply, obviously. Basically: smut/+18 situations are mandatory fade to black, treat everyone else involved in the game well, and don't power/meta/god game, and all that jazz. The RP will touch on mature themes like violence, and may go into detail, so just keep that in mind before applying.

-The beginning premise of Sticks And Stones is that we are a party of adventurers brought together by special order of the king. We will be sent into the remains of the city of Dallas in search of still-working artifacts from the old world.

---

The Setting/Worldbuilding

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The Kingdoms

The known world is split into two parts: the Northland, and the Southland.

The Northland

The Northland encompasses all of what is currently known as the continental United States of America. Most of the major kingdoms and nations exist within this sphere, and they via for control over it's lush and plentiful resources. While there are hundreds of smaller city states and dozens of minor nations, most of the politicking is centered around the five major powers.

Kingdom of Dall

Of the five, the Kingdom of Dall is the oldest, it's lands stretching across what we know as Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. It has stood for centuries, it's high walls and unwavering people refusing to break under tides of time. Many a would-be conqueror has attempted to burn Dall to ash, but all have failed. It's current monarch is King Astius the Second. Though his family has not ruled Dall since it's inception, his line is the longest ruling, and for good reason. Astius, much like his ancestors, possesses a great deal of wisdom. He is a master diplomat and negotiator, ruling his people with a golden tongue that causes all to bend the knee before him. Dall is an state of artisans and craftsmen. Their works are strong, robust and long lasting, made with care and skill that no other people could hope to match. Through the trade of these goods, Dall has made itself one of the richest kingdoms in the world.

There exists a heavy class divide in Dall. To own a successful business in Dall, a prospective artisan must sign up for one of the many guilds dotted throughout the kingdom. A guild will take an artisans wares and distribute them to merchants or traders for sale. In turn, the guild takes a sizeable portion of the profits, which goes mostly to the pockets of the Guildmasters or Merchant Lords. The artisans and merchants themselves, despite doing almost all of the work, get pennies in comparison. Those without the skills to work in this system usually end up as Slaves or Bondsmen doing manual labor.

The Kingdom is not known for it's military might. Dall has defended itself all these years by calling upon it's many smaller allies and trade partners for aid in times of need. The number of mercenaries under Dall's banner far outweighs the meager number of 'official' soldiers of the crown, with that small garrison being almost entirely the Royal Guard that acts as the kings personal defense force.

Delphian Empire

Acting as an almost direct inversion of the Kingdom of Dall, the youngest of the nations is also one of the farthest reaching. From the frozen north in New York all the way down to the humid swamps of Louisiana, the Delphian Empire exploded onto the scene less than one hundred years ago. It's ruler, Empress Ramiel Cinders, murdered her aging father in a trial by combat to take the throne. Their 'culture,' if one can call it that, can be summed up with the empire's official motto: 'aut vincere aut mori'- Either to conquer or to die. They seek victory through any means. Life in Delphia is cutthroat and cruel. You either drag yourself up the proverbial social ladder or you allow yourself to fall into poverty.

Exploitation of those beneath oneself in social status is the norm. Murder and thievery is frighteningly common. From the poor beating his neighbor to death for their coin all the way up to the nobleman embezzling funds and having his competition assassinated, Delphian culture uplifts the strong and dashes the weak against the stones. It's armies are massive. Poorly equipped warriors in the thousands flood into unprepared city-states and small nations so that their more powerful superiors can ride in on the backs of the dead and collect the spoils for themselves.

While many lambaste Delphia for it's endless taste for conquest, the Empire is surprisingly lax as an occupier. It's rule is distant and rarely felt. Taxes are light and military service is entirely optional. It's one of the few sovereign states in the known world to have totally outlawed slavery, the nobles seeing it as repugnant for the strong to rely on the weak. Delphians see themselves as liberating the people living under the yolk of harsh monarchies and backwards tribal traditions. There is no other nation where one has the opportunity and the freedom for growth like in Delphia.

Plainsmen Federation

Before Delphia's Second Ramiel Campaign, the largest nation in the Northland was unequivocally the Plainsmen Federation. The region from eastern Montana over to Ohio and down to Utah and Arkansas is known colloquially as the 'Plains,' and the people that live there, the Plainsmen. The Plainsmen were once a diverse and divided people, bickering over farm land, hunting ground and rights to access certain rivers and lakes. Their petty squabbles were interrupted when Empress Ramiel Cinders declared the First Ramiel Campaign, launching her invasion of the Plains. Her forces washed across the eastern Plains, crushing the tribes that did not bend the knee. The Uri, the Arkan, the Owa, and the Wisco tribes saw the armies marching from Delphia and decided that they would not survive unless they fought together. The four tribes united and on the banks of the Mispi River they held back the Delphian tide. Imperial forces were routed by their combined efforts, but only at the cost of many Plainsmen lives.

Though the Empire was defeated, they all knew victory was only temporary. Delphia would return, and in greater numbers, so they had to prepare. A call went out to every tribe in the Plains to gather in Uri, and most answered. There, at the Council of Uri, the Chieftains of the tribes forged a blood pact. They promised- on pain of death- that their tribes would come to the aid of one another whenever they were threatened by an outside force. On that day the Plainsmen Federation was born.

It couldn't last forever. A second military campaign was launched, and this time Delphia's generals were prepared. The unified resistance of the Plainsmen put up an excellent fight, and every battle of the war was extended and bloody. The campaign dragged on for many months, with the Empire managing to tear an inch of land from the Plainsmen at a time. It wasn't until winter hit, and the Empire found itself grinding against Fort Fairfield in modern day Kansas City, that a peace treaty was drafted.

The Plainsmen are best known for their tireless and robust horses, and their archers are regarded as having a near mythical accuracy. The plains have excellent farmland, with almost half of the wheat products consumed by Northerners coming from farms in the plains. Many Plainsmen tribes follow the traditions of old, acting as steppe nomads that travel across the steppes hunting and gathering from the wild land.

Alcatraz Priestdom

Once upon a time the Crown of Forn controlled the area around California, Nevada and Arizona. The region was peaceful, and prosperous. It's leaders fair and compassionate. That was before the Faith Keepers arrived. They came as part of ordinary trade caravans, spreading the word of the 'Faith.' Like a wildfire, their beliefs spread. People were captivated by their miracles and displays of divine might. Their followers were zealous and devout. They saw the 'decadence' of Forn and sought to purge it clean. Violent revolts ensued across the kingdom, and the king's head was chopped from his shoulders while his family was burned to be cleansed by fire for their sins. It was a violent affair that brought about the Priestdom. No one knows if the original orators of the Faith even planned for this. But when the wheels of fate began to turn, there was no stopping them.

The Priestdom founded it's holy fortress on the island of Alcatraz. Guarded by the hordes of Broken that inhabited the nearby urban rubble, none could cross the water without facing the holy pyre that came up from underneath. Not without the guidance of the Ferryman. The Faith Keepers have been in power for two hundred years, and things in Forn have changed. All citizens of the Priestdom are members of the church, paying tithe to the Faith Keepers for protection and eternal salvation. It's one of the safest places in the Northland with Keeper soldiers on every corner, with every loyal citizen willing to string up those that disturb their peace.

Far from an isolationist state, the Priestdom regularly sends out Missionaries in the thousands to spread the Faith to all corners of the known world. They speak of the Father and his holy fire with which he cleanses pure the evils of the world. They tell of prophecies of a second apocalypse if the world does not turn it's heart away from sin. And they glorify the name of the Father of Mankind, who washes all of his loyal children in divine bliss. All who worship the Father bear the mark of the faith: A burning key tattooed proudly upon one's forehead. This symbol is banned in both the Triumvirate and the Delphian Empire; any seen wearing it are turned away or arrested. Many missionaries have a black band that they wear about their heads to hide the symbol when entering areas where those of the Faith are persecuted.

Salyia Triumvirate

For one of the largest nations in the North, the Triumvirate is shrouded in a surprising amount of secrecy and myth. Few know the exact date it was founded, or when the Triumvirs truly came to power. Those with that knowledge all live under the Law of No Tongue, wherein a Wizard from Salyia shall never divulge the mysteries of magic to a 'mundane.' The first records of outsiders contacting the Triumvirate came three and a half centuries ago, when a group of Plainsmen riders traveled further west than they ever had before. They encountered a strange man in a large brimmed hat who spoke not the common tongue. The man was said to speak three words: 'frigus odium pluviae', and the sky tore open, and half of the riders were turned to statues of ice.

Salyia has come a long way since that day. The Triumvirate, while still secretive, has chosen to open it's borders to foreigners. Certain areas are restricted to Triumvirate citizens only for fear of revealing too much, but beyond those high walls, Salyia openly trades and interacts with any who step foot in their beloved home. Salyia is a hub of magical artifacts, their items ranging from weak spell scrolls that help wheat grow to elixirs that can regrow missing limbs in mere hours. Their wares are some of the most sought after items in the world, behind the Old World treasures everyone so desperately craves. Many have marched on Salyia's gates to take it's magic for themselves. None have succeeded in piercing the inner defensive ring.

The Triumvirate is ruled by the three most powerful wizards in the nation, each coming from one of the three major Arcane Academies in the capital city of Olym. These wizards, thanks to their magic, can live upwards of two hundred years. Rumors abound as to whether or not the current Triumvirs are the founders, or if they succeeded the old guard long ago, but the three magicians are obviously ancient and powerful forces to be reckoned with.

Beyond the Northland are the Frozen Wastes, where Canada, Alaska and Greenland once were. There is little in the way of civilized life in the Frozen Wastes, with only a few tribes of hardy nomads daring to risk the arctic frost that has turned away weaker men. Some who live on the borders of the Frozen Wastes whisper of a large gathering of Wastefolk known as the Oathhorde. Supposedly they are made up of giants and beastmen with strange, monstrous appearances and a taste for human flesh, though no one has any real proof of their existence. They're a folk story as far as most of the world is concerned.

Southlands

Little is known about what lies to the south of the Kingdom of Dall. The Riogra River blocks all travel, save for those most prepared for what lies beneath those vile waves. It stretches from coast to coast, sinking deeper into the earth than any river should. Broken lie within it's deceptively calm waters. Those demonic creatures drag all who attempt to travel across it into the depths where they vanish forever, never to be seen again. Only a choice few brave adventurers have ever attempted to cross it, and those that do never come back. Myth says that the Southlands are full of impossible riches and cities made of gold, and that's why none return. Other legends tell of the Southlands as being the true home of the Broken, saying it is a place of vile magic and evil that slaughters all who enter it. No one knows for sure, and all expeditions to prove either myth true have failed spectacularly.

The Broken

What are the Broken? Where did they come from? What purpose do they serve? Why do they attack humans on sight? Why do they occupy old world cities?

No one is sure. Myth and legend abounds. What we do know is that the Broken come in many different shapes and sizes. From massive Hydras, Dragons and Minotaurs to swarms of human-like creatures with stunted gaits and claws that tear through hardened leather. It is not well understood if the Broken are truly alive or not. They're made of a sort of...living metal, in a certain fashion. It's unknown what exactly it is, and Broken bodies are known to rapidly deteriorate once the creature dies, so experimentation is difficult. They seemingly show a level of intelligence in their combat tactics, and have even been seen communicating with one another. But their tongue is...impossible. Like the grating of iron against iron, or the cutting of glass, it's a pain upon the ears. A Broken has never attempted to interact with anything living other than to destroy it the second it enters into Broken territory.

Some have been observed to stand at the edge of their territory, completely still, watching. Others wait in ambush, hiding and waiting for humans or animals to wander into their active hunting grounds. It is unknown what the Broken do when they capture living things, though they have been observed taking prisoners. Some think they're devoured, but none have witnessed the Broken eating. They are known only to inhabit certain regions, such as Old World ruins and the borders along the Southland. Broken appear to be intolerant to the cold, having never been seen anywhere in the Frozen Wastes. During winter, they're known to retreat back into their hives within the glass towers, only exiting once prey draws near to their holds. Because of this, winter has been deemed the best time for adventurers to attempt to plunge into the depths of these ruins.

Attempts to enter these old cities with large fighting forces always end in failure. The Broken are attracted to life, and a large number of living things entering their territory brings them out in hordes. Thousands upon thousands of Broken have responded to mere hundreds of mercenaries marching into their territory. These expeditions always end in mass routes or total slaughters of the expeditions. This is why small teams of skilled warriors are usually used for artifact scavenging, since they attract less Broken toward them than a large group. Certain spells can be used to shroud life signs, making wizards valuable assets for adventuring parties.

Lore Points

We begin our quest in the capital city of the Kingdom of Dall, Praetor City. King Astius II has called for a group of brave adventurers and mercenaries to journey to his Keep in the city, where he will task them with entering the nearby Old World city to search the ruins for treasures of old.

In this new world, treasures of the old one more valuable than gemstones or gold. Finding a working electronic could potentially set one up for life. Of course, most of these surviving treasures have long since been horded up by the rich and powerful. Those that remain are trapped in the looming cities of broken glass and sharp steel, where monsters dwell, guarding the goods of the ancients from those that would see them taken back by man's ancestors.

Advancement has stalled, and technology has been plunged back into the dark ages. Things like indoor plumbing, electricity, and any other number of modern inventions are considered lost to mankind. There are ongoing efforts to obtain old world artifacts by the brightest minds of certain kingdoms- like Dall- who seek to understand and, perhaps one day, even replicate the technologies of old.

The bulk of adventurers and warriors fight with the typical fantasy weapons. Medieval tools like the sword, spear and bow are quite common in the arsenals of the new world. While some old world weapons survived, they are far too rare for any average person to have heard of them, outside of stories about 'sticks that spew fire.' They are more likely to know about magic than they are about guns.

Magic

Magic exists, though it is incredibly rare. Most people are unlikely to possess strong magical abilities, with the few rare exceptions being the wizards, witches and sorcerers that inhabit the world. Magic is tied directly to the incantations used There are certain magics that can be cast using scrolls, but these tend to be rather weak in comparison to the 'real' magic of a wizard. I will likely only be accepting a few magic users into the party for the reasons stated above. Magic behaves in a similar manner to Dungeons and Dragons.

To cast a spell, one must wield a specific, enchanted object (such as a staff or wand) and verbally recite the spell's full name in an incantation. The power of these incantations is directly tied to how loudly the magician speaks the word, with more powerful spells being more exhausting to use than normal ones. Most spell names are in Latin.

There are two sub types of magic: Arcane and Elemental.

Elemental magic is that which encompasses the manipulation or creation of things that already exist. So the elements such as fire, water, earth and air, or things like metal or nature, would fall under this category. Most magic is elemental, so it is the primary weapon of most wizards.

The other type is Arcane, which encompasses things not of this world. This is the more fantastical manipulation of vague magic energies, or powers of a divine nature. Spells that can resurrect or command the dead, that cast bolts of energy, or to open a portal. Arcane spells are usually tied to scrolls, as casting 'full power' arcane magic is a rare ability that most do not possess.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

@SepYup, I had Ross and Locke working together pre-Devastator invasion. I don't think anything huge was going on then outside of the cold war, but I assume they've known each other for a good while now.

@ShwiggityShwahRoss isn't a micro-manager, so provided Sullivan doesn't try to interject outside of his area of expertise, they'll get along just fine. Since they're both fairly high ranking members of the crew, they probably got to know each other fairly early on into their voyage. Maybe they met back when people were starting to be loaded on the Vitae?

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

I'm starting in on Character Relations now. If anyone wants to make any connections with the Commander, lemme know! Considering the fact that he won't have a great deal to do when not leading away missions, Ross has a lot of free time on his hands to get around the ship, so it's pretty likely he's met a number of people already.

Earliest connection Elijah could potentially have is with Captain Lopez. They both served under Locke during the Battle of Mars, and they're some of the higher ranking military officers on board the Vitae, so they've more than likely worked together as well during the first five years. What do you think? @InfamousGuy101

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

CDR ELIJAH ROSS PERSONNEL FILE

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GENESIS PROJECT PERSONNEL DATABASE

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MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORD ARCHIVE, LISTED UNDER PUBLIC INFORMATION BY ORDER OF THE UNITED EARTH COUNCIL

ACCESSING...
.
.
.

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NAME: ROSS, ELIJAH SEX: MALE D.O.B (DATE OF BIRTH): 10/10/2176 ETHNICITY: MIXED, CAUCASIAN-LATIN

P.O.B (PLACE OF BIRTH): ARCADIA, MARS P.O.R (PLACE OF RESIDENCE): ULROP STATION, EARTH ORBIT

MOTHER: ROSS, MELINDA (deceased) FATHER: ROSS, DANIEL (deceased) SIBLINGS: ROSS, LAUREL (age 38, botanist)

ENLISTMENT: ARCADIA CONSCRIPTION OFFICE (age 17) RANK: COMMANDER DEPLOYMENT: VITAE

LICENSES: FOR PILOTING WARSHIP AND GUNSHIP CLASS VEHICLES

PICTURE ATTACHED

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LETTER OF COMMENDATION

MARTIAN UNITY NAVAL OFFICE
ARCADIA NAVAL STATION, MARS
9 September, 2203

DOCTOR CHEKHOV
GENESIS PROJECT
UNITED EARTH COUNCIL

Subj: LCDR ELIJAH ROSS

This is a formal letter of recommendation for the inclusion of Lieutenant Commander Elijah Ross in the Genesis Project. His skill at the helm of any ship cannot be overstated. He is an experienced commander of men that has proven himself to be unwavering in his bravery, even in the face of impossible odds. Those who have served with the man can attest to his effectiveness as a leader and strength of character. He has shown the ability to instill loyalty and discipline in his crew through a strong, commanding presence intermixed with compassion and understanding.

The Lieutenant Commander served humanity faithfully during both the Battle of Ceres and the Battle of Mars. At Ceres, the Lieutenant Commander elected to remain behind with with the Fleeters longer than the rest of the Unity relief fleet. His cruiser was the last to evacuate with the escaping personnel transports, managing to escape the Devastators by the skin of their teeth. Ross's risk was calculated, however- he knew that his ship could survive because he trusted in his own skill at the helm.

In the Battle of Mars, Elijah Ross and his crew held the line alongside the rest of the Martian fleet. He positioned himself aggressively to defend the orbital defense satellites from encroaching alien vessels for as long as his ship was able. Many crucial shots were fired off by the satellites because of Ross's bravery and intelligent maneuvering. Most impressive, however, was the fact that Ross did not sacrifice himself, his ship or any of his crewmen during this operation- Ross pulled back just in time to allow himself to continue to stay in the fight.

It is due to these many shining qualities that the office of Rear Admiral Holder formally requests that the Lieutenant Commander is brought on to work with your project. We need men like him if we want to survive this.

Sincerely,
Vice Admiral Jessica Holder
Captain of the Valiant
Office of Naval Command

On the Commander's health

With all due respect Doctor Chekhov, I don't know what the hell you're thinking by bringing this guy in, but it's a mistake. I mean, you've seen the file, haven't you? I know he's supposed to be some kind of Martian war hero and all, but...for Christ's sake. Just look at this.

His lungs are practically falling apart! He has to lug around a respirator unit everywhere he goes because he can barely breathe on his own. Maybe that would be fine on it's own, but that leg of his is barely functioning as it is and he refuses to get it amputated for a prosthetic. We don't have a lot of room on these ships. Is there really nobody else out there who can take this guy's place? Yeah, I get it. Martian Command has a huge boner for the guy. And his service was admirable. But can we really afford to be spending valuable medicine and tech just to keep him from keeling over on us?

Sincerely,
Doctor Marcus

RE: On the Commander's health

I understand your concerns, Marcus, and I share quite a few of them as well. But my hands are tied. We received an official letter of recommendation from the Martian Unity government. Do you know how much trouble I'd get into if I told them no? This E-Mail simply existing might be enough to get the two of us fired. No, he's going on-board the Vitae. The arrangements have already been made and I'm supposed to contact him in the morning.

Just make sure we have those prototypes on hand when he gets here in a week, alright? He's going to need that leg brace and the respirator pack if he wants to survive out in space.

And for God's sake, Marcus, show a little decorum. The guy almost died fighting the Devastators for guys like us.

Sincerely,
Doctor Chekhov

LETTER OF REQUISITION

REQUISITION OFFICE
THE VITAE

TO: CDR ELIJAH ROSS

Greetings Commander,

We have successfully transported the requested items you wanted from your home on Ulrop Station. Below is a list of the requisitioned items. If anything is missing or if some kind of mistake has been made, please inform us so that it may he rectified shortly.

Here are the items we acquired:
One 125 gal. terrestrial aquarium
Several fish of varying species
Two six ft. bookshelves
Several hardback books
Three environment screens
One virtual reality headset
One personal computer
Several decorative Chinese box lamps
One indoor flowerbed
Several artificial sun lamps
One archaic watering can

If you have any questions, please forward them to this account. Thank you for your service.

Cordially,
REQUISITION OFFICE
THE VITAE

Transcript of Unaired MPTV News Interview

Mars Planetary Television News logo flashes across the screen as the program begins. Commander Ross is shown sitting in his study on the right, while the interviewer, Dana Kelly, sits at her desk in the studio to the left. Ross is in full dress uniform.

Kelly smiles at the camera.

KELLY: Welcome back, everyone. I'd like to introduce you all to MPTV News's latest guest, Commander Elijah Ross of the Mars Unity Navy! How're you doing today, Commander?

ROSS: Please, Miss Kelly, call me Elijah. I'm doing great today, thanks for asking.

KELLY: Elijah it is, then! For our audience at home- why don't you tell us a little about yourself, Elijah?

ROSS: Of course. Well, as has been said already, my name is Elijah Ross and I am a Commander in the Unity Navy. I was born and raised in Arcadia. My father was an ice miner and my mother was a botanist in our local hydroponics garden. Since my father was away on expeditions most of the time, I spent my days learning to cultivate plants in mineral solutions. I'm sure we all know what that's like.

Ross and Kelly share a laugh.

KELLY: And when did you decide you wanted to make a career in the Navy, Elijah?

ROSS: Oh, my. I think I was about nineteen or so at the time when it really hit me. Met the desk sergeant that changed my life forever when he really helped...put my life into perspective. The sergeant couldn't go off world anymore, ya see. He lost his legs in combat so they put him behind a desk. I saw that and decided right then and there that I didn't want to waste my life staying in one place.

KELLY: W-what do you mean?

Kelly appears to be nervous.

ROSS: Y'know, most people'll tell ya they went military because they wanted to serve their planet, or help people. Most of the time that's just hogwash.

Ross chuckles. Kelly looks confused

KELLY: I'm...sorry, sir, hogwash?

ROSS: Ahh, my apologies. It means nonsense. Real old school slang from back when the United States was still around. What I mean is, a lot of the time, kids like me picked that job because we just wanted to get away. You spend your whole life in one place for so long that you start to get anxious to move. TO go somewhere. Cheapest way to travel is the Navy. Nineteen year old me would laugh at ya or call you crazy if you told him where he'd end up as an old man.

KELLY: Hell of a time to stick with it just to travel, don't you think? With war on the horizon and all that?

ROSS: Ahh, yeah. Truth be told I wasn't paying too much attention to the news in those days. I heard about the Cold War sometimes, but the reality of it didn't really hit me until we started doing the orbital bombardment drills at the academy. It was scary, I won't lie to ya.

KELLY: But that didn't stop you, did it?

ROSS: Almost did. But...well. I was about as stubborn then as I am now. Wasn't going to let some interplanetary war stop me from seeing the stars.

KELLY: And...where were you when the Devastators first attacked?

ROSS: The mess hall in the super carrier I was station on at the time, the Relentless. It was lunchtime. They were serving meat and potatoes again. The klaxons went off, red lights started flashing. The droning voice over the intercom told us that the Citadel had come under attack by unknown forces. Everyone I knew that it was pirates. The return of the Scourge, they called it. I wish.

KELLY: Wow. And you were part of the first task force the Unity sent to Ceres, correct?

ROSS: I was. I was commanding a Destroyer at the time, the Benevolence. At the time we still didn't know they were aliens, just an unidentified fleet that had torn it's way across the system and was making for Ceres. Fleeters had asked everyone for help. Only Mars answered. I didn't understand what we were facing until I saw their ships with my own two eyes. They were...inhuman. Never seen anything like it.

KELLY: What was it like fighting them?

Ross is silent for several seconds, his expression shifting into a hardened grimace.

ROSS: Hell.

--The rest of the broadcast has been deleted due to containing potentially damaging information. Anyone in possession of the rest of this transcript is to present it and themselves to UEC authorities at once for questioning.--

Character Relations

Rear Admiral William Locke: Ross initially met the Rear Admiral a few years after he became an enlisted officer. Locke never remembered it, but he had a supremely profound affect on the young Elijah. His character and convictions made Ross seriously reconsider how he looked at his own duties as an officer, and helped better him as both a soldier and a man. The two met once more when Ross had been promoted to his own command aboard the Benevolence. He served underneath Locke prior to and during the Three Days War, their warships having fought side by side during the Battle of Mars. Though they briefly parted ways after the smoke had cleared, the two recently promoted officers met once more as they were both assigned to the Vitae. Ross considers Locke an important figure in shaping his life, and considers him a valued friend.

Captain Matthew Lopez: Ross and Lopez were introduced when the two were assigned to the same fleet. The Benevolence acted as an escort to Matthew's ship during several operations, keeping watch over the SpecOps soldier and his team. They continued their working relationship throughout the cold war, up until the Devastators attacked. Lopez's fighter protected the Benevolence while it stood guard over the orbital defense platforms, and the two fought in tandem in the final, combined push that threw the invaders from Mars's orbit. They were reunited aboard the Vitae, where they now work tirelessly to keep the Military Garrison at the ready.

Dr. Melanie Denise Larson: TBD

Dr. Naomi Wolfe: TBD

Michael 'Smith': TBD

Chief Engineer Keith Sullivan: Commander Ross and Sullivan have worked together numerous times over the last five years aboard the Vitae. The two have had a few squabbles when it came to the maintenance of the Nyx, though in the end Ross tends to bend. Keith knows his way around technology better than Elijah ever will, and he has seceded that point on several occasions. As far as Ross has seen, Sullivan might be rough around the edges, but he's a good man, with a good heart.

Chief Investigator Raymond Conley: TBD

CoS Gavon TreVayne: TBD

Walter Hyde: TBD

Audrey Knight: Potentially know each other through medical wing visits. TBD further

Rois Holt: TBD

Marlene Lyons: Potentially piloting in the Nyx's escort. TBD further

Hal McCormick: TBD

Dr. Ludwig Dobrov XII: TBD

Maeve Katz: TBD

Battletech: Anabasis

The thunderous footfalls of the Wolfhound's iron boots reverberated within the cockpit. Each stomp shook the interior, jostling it's pilot in his seat as he held fast to the controls. "Damned shock absorbers are acting up again." Han Bjornson grumbled to himself, his guttural accent betraying the frustrations he felt.

When the opportunity to work with experimental mechs, Lostech and cutting edge technology presented itself back at the Nagelring, Han had jumped on it. It sounded like a great way to familiarize himself with the weapons of the future while potentially building his standing within the military. On paper, it sounded like a good idea.

Then he climbed into the cockpit of a Wolfhound with faulty shock absorbers.

Bjornson dropped a hand from the accelerator. "Come on, girl. Don't give me this." He growled, slamming a fist down on the console. The sub-systems screen flickered, and the cockpit's shaking ceased as the shock absorbers stabilized. It was only a temporary fix. If history was anything to go by they'd fail the moment it was least convenient. "Better than nothing." Han sighed, moving his gloved fist back to grasp the accelerator.

Captain Hart's voice filtered through the neurohelmet that sat on Bjornson's shoulders. Static intermingled with the Davion's orders, making it difficult to understand. Thankfully his orders were simple, and didn't require precise wording. Bjornson was to proceed forward, heading in the direction of grid 5B5D along with the other ground pounders. Han pressed down on the radio transmitter button, letting his own voice filter through the mech's comm system. "Understood, sir. I'm taking point."

Han eased forward on the accelerator, so as to give the shock absorbers adequate time to adjust to the increase in footfalls. He sped the mech up, pushing it until the Wolfhound hit it's full stride. He adored the speed that the light mech was capable of. The sheer momentum of it gave Han a sense of power as he sat at it's controls, guiding that massive hull of steel across the dusty desert floor.

Out of all the mechs, Han's Wolfhound had the fastest foot speed. Clocking in at over ninety seven kilometers an hour, the WLF-1 was the easy choice for a lead unit. It was fitting that Bjornson had been assigned to it, then, considering the fact that he was far and away the most disciplined of the cadets. Han had never flinched away from danger, and he had never disobeyed an order- unlike some of the other less obedient delinquents he was working with.

His gaze flickered over to the series of displays tied to the Beagle Active Probe that had been fitted within his left arm. Han's attention lingered on the static-ridden image of the lance's Griffin. It's pilot was the first to come to mind when the word delinquent flashed across his mind. The second was at the helm of the Wolverine displayed just to the right of the Griffin.

Cadets Rall and Von Wulfhart were as reckless as they came. Han silently prayed they'd keep themselves in check until the exercises were over so that he could practice in peace without incident. For some reason, the Rasalhague halfbreed got the feeling that wouldn't be the case.

Han was supposed to be practicing his in-combat maneuvering today. His piloting skills were sharp, but Bjornson still had trouble aiming while still maintaining a good speed. Instead of practicing vital Mechwarrior skills, however, Han and his lance were tasked with playing security escort for an engineer detachment looking to fix a regional sensor net. It was a frustratingly mundane and unnecessary duty. Who was going to attack those engineers all the way out here? The only potential threat were pirates, but no raider with half a brain would go up against a world so heavily garrisoned. Han just felt like he could be doing so much more with his time in a mech like this one.

Sighing, Bjornson shook it off. He wasn't going to openly complain about an assignment; that was unbecoming of someone of his position. A soldier obeyed his orders without question, and a nobleman did not whine. He focused his attention on the task at hand, boring as it may be. He kept the Wolfhound moving at full speed, letting himself get ahead of the rest of the unit a ways. His sensors weren't picking up anything out of the ordinary- not that he was expecting them to all the way out here. The worst the Probe could potentially find was a dust storm sweeping in, but even that would just be an inconvenience for them. There was no real practice to be had here outside of moving in standard formation. All he could see were rock formations and red dust for miles.

His impatience got the better of him. Han reached over and switched on the transmitter again. "Captain, if I may, how far are we from the sensor network?" Bjornson asked, wondering more about how long they would actually be out here than how the task itself was coming along. He really should've considered keeping something to do in his cockpit for missions like this. Maybe a book, or something to fiddle with...

Superboy's Shitty Characters

The thunderous footfalls of the Wolfhound's iron boots reverberated within the cockpit. Each stomp shook the interior, jostling it's pilot in his seat as he held fast to the controls. "Damned shock absorbers are acting up again." Han Bjornson grumbled to himself, his guttural accent betraying the frustrations he felt.

When the opportunity to work with experimental mechs, Lostech and cutting edge technology presented itself back at the Nagelring, Han had jumped on it. It sounded like a great way to familiarize himself with the weapons of the future while potentially building his standing within the military. On paper, it sounded like a good idea.

Then he climbed into the cockpit of a Wolfhound with faulty shock absorbers.

Bjornson dropped a hand from the accelerator. "Come on, girl. Don't give me this." He growled, slamming a fist down on the console. The sub-systems screen flickered, and the cockpit's shaking ceased as the shock absorbers stabilized. It was only a temporary fix. If history was anything to go by they'd fail the moment it was least convenient. "Better than nothing." Han sighed, moving his gloved fist back to grasp the accelerator.

Captain Hart's voice filtered through the neurohelmet that sat on Bjornson's shoulders. Static intermingled with the Davion's orders, making it difficult to understand. Thankfully his orders were simple, and didn't require precise wording. Bjornson was to proceed forward, heading in the direction of grid 5B5D along with the other ground pounders. Han pressed down on the radio transmitter button, letting his own voice filter through the mech's comm system. "Understood, sir. I'm taking point."

Han eased forward on the accelerator, so as to give the shock absorbers adequate time to adjust to the increase in footfalls. He sped the mech up, pushing it until the Wolfhound hit it's full stride. He adored the speed that the light mech was capable of. The sheer momentum of it gave Han a sense of power as he sat at it's controls, guiding that massive hull of steel across the dusty desert floor.

Out of all the mechs, Han's Wolfhound had the fastest foot speed. Clocking in at over ninety seven kilometers an hour, the WLF-1 was the easy choice for a lead unit. It was fitting that Bjornson had been assigned to it, then, considering the fact that he was far and away the most disciplined of the cadets. Han had never flinched away from danger, and he had never disobeyed an order- unlike some of the other less obedient delinquents he was working with.

His gaze flickered over to the series of displays tied to the Beagle Active Probe that had been fitted within his left arm. Han's attention lingered on the static-ridden image of the lance's Griffin. It's pilot was the first to come to mind when the word delinquent flashed across his mind. The second was at the helm of the Wolverine displayed just to the right of the Griffin.

Cadets Rall and Von Wulfhart were as reckless as they came. Han silently prayed they'd keep themselves in check until the exercises were over so that he could practice in peace without incident. For some reason, the Rasalhague halfbreed got the feeling that wouldn't be the case.

Han was supposed to be practicing his in-combat maneuvering today. His piloting skills were sharp, but Bjornson still had trouble aiming while still maintaining a good speed. Instead of practicing vital Mechwarrior skills, however, Han and his lance were tasked with playing security escort for an engineer detachment looking to fix a regional sensor net. It was a frustratingly mundane and unnecessary duty. Who was going to attack those engineers all the way out here? The only potential threat were pirates, but no raider with half a brain would go up against a world so heavily garrisoned. Han just felt like he could be doing so much more with his time in a mech like this one.

Sighing, Bjornson shook it off. He wasn't going to openly complain about an assignment; that was unbecoming of someone of his position. A soldier obeyed his orders without question, and a nobleman did not whine. He focused his attention on the task at hand, boring as it may be. He kept the Wolfhound moving at full speed, letting himself get ahead of the rest of the unit a ways. His sensors weren't picking up anything out of the ordinary- not that he was expecting them to all the way out here. The worst the Probe could potentially find was a dust storm sweeping in, but even that would just be an inconvenience for them. There was no real practice to be had here outside of moving in standard formation. All he could see were rock formations and red dust for miles.

His impatience got the better of him. Han reached over and switched on the transmitter again. "Captain, if I may, how far are we from the sensor network?" Bjornson asked, wondering more about how long they would actually be out here than how the task itself was coming along. He really should've considered keeping something to do in his cockpit for missions like this. Maybe a book, or something to fiddle with...

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

CDR ELIJAH ROSS PERSONNEL FILE

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GENESIS PROJECT PERSONNEL DATABASE

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MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORD ARCHIVE, LISTED UNDER PUBLIC INFORMATION BY ORDER OF THE UNITED EARTH COUNCIL

ACCESSING...
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NAME: ROSS, ELIJAH SEX: MALE D.O.B (DATE OF BIRTH): 10/10/2176 ETHNICITY: MIXED, CAUCASIAN-LATIN

P.O.B (PLACE OF BIRTH): ARCADIA, MARS P.O.R (PLACE OF RESIDENCE): ULROP STATION, EARTH ORBIT

MOTHER: ROSS, MELINDA (deceased) FATHER: ROSS, DANIEL (deceased) SIBLINGS: ROSS, LAUREL (age 38, botanist)

ENLISTMENT: ARCADIA CONSCRIPTION OFFICE (age 17) RANK: COMMANDER DEPLOYMENT: VITAE

LICENSES: FOR PILOTING WARSHIP AND GUNSHIP CLASS VEHICLES

PICTURE ATTACHED

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WARNING - THE DATA YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCESS IS RESTRICTED. ONLY THOSE WITH A VALID PASSCODE MAY ACCESS THIS PART OF THE FILE. PLEASE ENTER YOUR PASSCODE NOW.

INPUT PASSCODE:
***********

PASSCODE ACCEPTED

ACCESSING...
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LETTER OF COMMENDATION

MARTIAN UNITY NAVAL OFFICE
ARCADIA NAVAL STATION, MARS
9 September, 2203

DOCTOR CHEKHOV
GENESIS PROJECT
UNITED EARTH COUNCIL

Subj: LCDR ELIJAH ROSS

This is a formal letter of recommendation for the inclusion of Lieutenant Commander Elijah Ross in the Genesis Project. His skill at the helm of any ship cannot be overstated. He is an experienced commander of men that has proven himself to be unwavering in his bravery, even in the face of impossible odds. Those who have served with the man can attest to his effectiveness as a leader and strength of character. He has shown the ability to instill loyalty and discipline in his crew through a strong, commanding presence intermixed with compassion and understanding.

The Lieutenant Commander served humanity faithfully during both the Battle of Ceres and the Battle of Mars. At Ceres, the Lieutenant Commander elected to remain behind with with the Fleeters longer than the rest of the Unity relief fleet. His cruiser was the last to evacuate with the escaping personnel transports, managing to escape the Devastators by the skin of their teeth. Ross's risk was calculated, however- he knew that his ship could survive because he trusted in his own skill at the helm.

In the Battle of Mars, Elijah Ross and his crew held the line alongside the rest of the Martian fleet. He positioned himself aggressively to defend the orbital defense satellites from encroaching alien vessels for as long as his ship was able. Many crucial shots were fired off by the satellites because of Ross's bravery and intelligent maneuvering. Most impressive, however, was the fact that Ross did not sacrifice himself, his ship or any of his crewmen during this operation- Ross pulled back just in time to allow himself to continue to stay in the fight.

It is due to these many shining qualities that the office of Rear Admiral Holder formally requests that the Lieutenant Commander is brought on to work with your project. We need men like him if we want to survive this.

Sincerely,
Vice Admiral Jessica Holder
Captain of the Valiant
Office of Naval Command

On the Commander's health

With all due respect Doctor Chekhov, I don't know what the hell you're thinking by bringing this guy in, but it's a mistake. I mean, you've seen the file, haven't you? I know he's supposed to be some kind of Martian war hero and all, but...for Christ's sake. Just look at this.

His lungs are practically falling apart! He has to lug around a respirator unit everywhere he goes because he can barely breathe on his own. Maybe that would be fine on it's own, but that leg of his is barely functioning as it is and he refuses to get it amputated for a prosthetic. We don't have a lot of room on these ships. Is there really nobody else out there who can take this guy's place? Yeah, I get it. Martian Command has a huge boner for the guy. And his service was admirable. But can we really afford to be spending valuable medicine and tech just to keep him from keeling over on us?

Sincerely,
Doctor Marcus

RE: On the Commander's health

I understand your concerns, Marcus, and I share quite a few of them as well. But my hands are tied. We received an official letter of recommendation from the Martian Unity government. Do you know how much trouble I'd get into if I told them no? This E-Mail simply existing might be enough to get the two of us fired. No, he's going on-board the Vitae. The arrangements have already been made and I'm supposed to contact him in the morning.

Just make sure we have those prototypes on hand when he gets here in a week, alright? He's going to need that leg brace and the respirator pack if he wants to survive out in space.

And for God's sake, Marcus, show a little decorum. The guy almost died fighting the Devastators for guys like us.

Sincerely,
Doctor Chekhov

LETTER OF REQUISITION

REQUISITION OFFICE
THE VITAE

TO: CDR ELIJAH ROSS

Greetings Commander,

We have successfully transported the requested items you wanted from your home on Ulrop Station. Below is a list of the requisitioned items. If anything is missing or if some kind of mistake has been made, please inform us so that it may he rectified shortly.

Here are the items we acquired:
One 125 gal. terrestrial aquarium
Several fish of varying species
Two six ft. bookshelves
Several hardback books
Three environment screens
One virtual reality headset
One personal computer
Several decorative Chinese box lamps
One indoor flowerbed
Several artificial sun lamps
One archaic watering can

If you have any questions, please forward them to this account. Thank you for your service.

Cordially,
REQUISITION OFFICE
THE VITAE

Transcript of Unaired MPTV News Interview

Mars Planetary Television News logo flashes across the screen as the program begins. Commander Ross is shown sitting in his study on the right, while the interviewer, Dana Kelly, sits at her desk in the studio to the left. Ross is in full dress uniform.

Kelly smiles at the camera.

KELLY: Welcome back, everyone. I'd like to introduce you all to MPTV News's latest guest, Commander Elijah Ross of the Mars Unity Navy! How're you doing today, Commander?

ROSS: Please, Miss Kelly, call me Elijah. I'm doing great today, thanks for asking.

KELLY: Elijah it is, then! For our audience at home- why don't you tell us a little about yourself, Elijah?

ROSS: Of course. Well, as has been said already, my name is Elijah Ross and I am a Commander in the Unity Navy. I was born and raised in Arcadia. My father was an ice miner and my mother was a botanist in our local hydroponics garden. Since my father was away on expeditions most of the time, I spent my days learning to cultivate plants in mineral solutions. I'm sure we all know what that's like.

Ross and Kelly share a laugh.

KELLY: And when did you decide you wanted to make a career in the Navy, Elijah?

ROSS: Oh, my. I think I was about nineteen or so at the time when it really hit me. Met the desk sergeant that changed my life forever when he really helped...put my life into perspective. The sergeant couldn't go off world anymore, ya see. He lost his legs in combat so they put him behind a desk. I saw that and decided right then and there that I didn't want to waste my life staying in one place.

KELLY: W-what do you mean?

Kelly appears to be nervous.

ROSS: Y'know, most people'll tell ya they went military because they wanted to serve their planet, or help people. Most of the time that's just hogwash.

Ross chuckles. Kelly looks confused

KELLY: I'm...sorry, sir, hogwash?

ROSS: Ahh, my apologies. It means nonsense. Real old school slang from back when the United States was still around. What I mean is, a lot of the time, kids like me picked that job because we just wanted to get away. You spend your whole life in one place for so long that you start to get anxious to move. TO go somewhere. Cheapest way to travel is the Navy. Nineteen year old me would laugh at ya or call you crazy if you told him where he'd end up as an old man.

KELLY: Hell of a time to stick with it just to travel, don't you think? With war on the horizon and all that?

ROSS: Ahh, yeah. Truth be told I wasn't paying too much attention to the news in those days. I heard about the Cold War sometimes, but the reality of it didn't really hit me until we started doing the orbital bombardment drills at the academy. It was scary, I won't lie to ya.

KELLY: But that didn't stop you, did it?

ROSS: Almost did. But...well. I was about as stubborn then as I am now. Wasn't going to let some interplanetary war stop me from seeing the stars.

KELLY: And...where were you when the Devastators first attacked?

ROSS: The mess hall in the super carrier I was station on at the time, the Relentless. It was lunchtime. They were serving meat and potatoes again. The klaxons went off, red lights started flashing. The droning voice over the intercom told us that the Citadel had come under attack by unknown forces. Everyone I knew that it was pirates. The return of the Scourge, they called it. I wish.

KELLY: Wow. And you were part of the first task force the Unity sent to Ceres, correct?

ROSS: I was. I was commanding a Destroyer at the time, the Benevolence. At the time we still didn't know they were aliens, just an unidentified fleet that had torn it's way across the system and was making for Ceres. Fleeters had asked everyone for help. Only Mars answered. I didn't understand what we were facing until I saw their ships with my own two eyes. They were...inhuman. Never seen anything like it.

KELLY: What was it like fighting them?

Ross is silent for several seconds, his expression shifting into a hardened grimace.

ROSS: Hell.

--The rest of the broadcast has been deleted due to containing potentially damaging information. Anyone in possession of the rest of this transcript is to present it and themselves to UEC authorities at once for questioning.--

Superboy's Shitty Characters

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GENESIS PROJECT PERSONNEL DATABASE

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MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORD ARCHIVE, LISTED UNDER PUBLIC INFORMATION BY ORDER OF THE UNITED EARTH COUNCIL

ACCESSING...
.
.
.

---

NAME: ROSS, ELIJAH SEX: MALE D.O.B (DATE OF BIRTH): 10/10/2176 ETHNICITY: MIXED, CAUCASIAN-LATIN

P.O.B (PLACE OF BIRTH): ARCADIA, MARS P.O.R (PLACE OF RESIDENCE): ULROP STATION, EARTH ORBIT

MOTHER: ROSS, MELINDA (deceased) FATHER: ROSS, DANIEL (deceased) SIBLINGS: ROSS, LAUREL (age 38, botanist)

ENLISTMENT: ARCADIA CONSCRIPTION OFFICE (age 17) RANK: COMMANDER DEPLOYMENT: VITAE

LICENSES: FOR PILOTING CRUISER AND GUNSHIP CLASS VEHICLES

PICTURE ATTACHED

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LETTER OF COMMENDATION

MARTIAN UNITY NAVAL OFFICE
ARCADIA NAVAL STATION, MARS
9 September, 2203

DOCTOR CHEKHOV
GENESIS PROJECT
UNITED EARTH COUNCIL

Subj: LCDR ELIJAH ROSS

This is a formal letter of recommendation for the inclusion of Lieutenant Commander Elijah Ross in the Genesis Project. His skill at the helm of any ship cannot be overstated. He is an experienced commander of men that has proven himself to be unwavering in his bravery, even in the face of impossible odds. Those who have served with the man can attest to his effectiveness as a leader and strength of character. He has shown the ability to instill loyalty and discipline in his crew through a strong, commanding presence intermixed with compassion and understanding.

The Lieutenant Commander served humanity faithfully during both the Battle of Ceres and the Battle of Mars. At Ceres, the Lieutenant Commander elected to remain behind with with the Fleeters longer than the rest of the Unity relief fleet. His cruiser was the last to evacuate with the escaping personnel transports, managing to escape the Devastators by the skin of their teeth. Ross's risk was calculated, however- he knew that his ship could survive because he trusted in his own skill at the helm.

In the Battle of Mars, Elijah Ross and his crew held the line alongside the rest of the Martian fleet. He positioned himself aggressively to defend the orbital defense satellites from encroaching alien vessels for as long as his ship was able. Many crucial shots were fired off by the satellites because of Ross's bravery and intelligent maneuvering. Most impressive, however, was the fact that Ross did not sacrifice himself, his ship or any of his crewmen during this operation- Ross pulled back just in time to allow himself to continue to stay in the fight.

It is due to these many shining qualities that the office of Rear Admiral Holder formally requests that the Lieutenant Commander is brought on to work with your project. We need men like him if we want to survive this.

Sincerely,
Vice Admiral Jessica Holder
Captain of the Valiant
Office of Naval Command

On the Commander's health

With all due respect Doctor Chekhov, I don't know what the hell you're thinking by bringing this guy in, but it's a mistake. I mean, you've seen the file, haven't you? I know he's supposed to be some kind of Martian war hero and all, but...for Christ's sake. Just look at this.

His lungs are practically falling apart! He has to lug around a respirator unit everywhere he goes because he can barely breathe on his own. Maybe that would be fine on it's own, but that leg of his is barely functioning as it is and he refuses to get it amputated for a prosthetic. We don't have a lot of room on these ships. Is there really nobody else out there who can take this guy's place? Yeah, I get it. Martian Command has a huge boner for the guy. And his service was admirable. But can we really afford to be spending valuable medicine and tech just to keep him from keeling over on us?

Sincerely,
Doctor Marcus

RE: On the Commander's health

I understand your concerns, Marcus, and I share quite a few of them as well. But my hands are tied. We received an official letter of recommendation from the Martian Unity government. Do you know how much trouble I'd get into if I told them no? This E-Mail simply existing might be enough to get the two of us fired. No, he's going on-board the Vitae. The arrangements have already been made and I'm supposed to contact him in the morning.

Just make sure we have those prototypes on hand when he gets here in a week, alright? He's going to need that leg brace and the respirator pack if he wants to survive out in space.

And for God's sake, Marcus, show a little decorum. The guy almost died fighting the Devastators for guys like us.

Sincerely,
Doctor Chekhov

LETTER OF REQUISITION

REQUISITION OFFICE
THE VITAE

TO: CDR ELIJAH ROSS

Greetings Commander,

We have successfully transported the requested items you wanted from your home on Ulrop Station. Below is a list of the requisitioned items. If anything is missing or if some kind of mistake has been made, please inform us so that it may he rectified shortly.

Here are the items we acquired:
One 125 gal. terrestrial aquarium
Several fish of varying species
Two six ft. bookshelves
Several hardback books
Three environment screens
One virtual reality headset
One personal computer
Several decorative Chinese box lamps
One indoor flowerbed
Several artificial sun lamps
One archaic watering can

If you have any questions, please forward them to this account. Thank you for your service.

Cordially,
REQUISITION OFFICE
THE VITAE

Transcript of Unaired MPTV News Interview

Mars Planetary Television News logo flashes across the screen as the program begins. Commander Ross is shown sitting in his study on the right, while the interviewer, Dana Kelly, sits at her desk in the studio to the left. Ross is in full dress uniform.

Kelly smiles at the camera.

KELLY: Welcome back, everyone. I'd like to introduce you all to MPTV News's latest guest, Commander Elijah Ross of the Mars Unity Navy! How're you doing today, Commander?

ROSS: Please, Miss Kelly, call me Elijah. I'm doing great today, thanks for asking.

KELLY: Elijah it is, then! For our audience at home- why don't you tell us a little about yourself, Elijah?

ROSS: Of course. Well, as has been said already, my name is Elijah Ross and I am a Commander in the Unity Navy. I was born and raised in Arcadia. My father was an ice miner and my mother was a botanist in our local hydroponics garden. Since my father was away on expeditions most of the time, I spent my days learning to cultivate plants in mineral solutions. I'm sure we all know what that's like.

Ross and Kelly share a laugh.

KELLY: And when did you decide you wanted to make a career in the Navy, Elijah?

ROSS: Oh, my. I think I was about nineteen or so at the time when it really hit me. Met the desk sergeant that changed my life forever when he really helped...put my life into perspective. The sergeant couldn't go off world anymore, ya see. He lost his legs in combat so they put him behind a desk. I saw that and decided right then and there that I didn't want to waste my life staying in one place.

KELLY: W-what do you mean?

Kelly appears to be nervous.

ROSS: Y'know, most people'll tell ya they went military because they wanted to serve their planet, or help people. Most of the time that's just hogwash.

Ross chuckles. Kelly looks confused

KELLY: I'm...sorry, sir, hogwash?

ROSS: Ahh, my apologies. It means nonsense. Real old school slang from back when the United States was still around. What I mean is, a lot of the time, kids like me picked that job because we just wanted to get away. You spend your whole life in one place for so long that you start to get anxious to move. TO go somewhere. Cheapest way to travel is the Navy. Nineteen year old me would laugh at ya or call you crazy if you told him where he'd end up as an old man.

KELLY: Hell of a time to stick with it just to travel, don't you think? With war on the horizon and all that?

ROSS: Ahh, yeah. Truth be told I wasn't paying too much attention to the news in those days. I heard about the Cold War sometimes, but the reality of it didn't really hit me until we started doing the orbital bombardment drills at the academy. It was scary, I won't lie to ya.

KELLY: But that didn't stop you, did it?

ROSS: Almost did. But...well. I was about as stubborn then as I am now. Wasn't going to let some interplanetary war stop me from seeing the stars.

KELLY: And...where were you when the Devastators first attacked?

ROSS: The mess hall in the super carrier I was station on at the time, the Relentless. It was lunchtime. They were serving meat and potatoes again. The klaxons went off, red lights started flashing. The droning voice over the intercom told us that the Citadel had come under attack by unknown forces. Everyone I knew that it was pirates. The return of the Scourge, they called it. I wish.

KELLY: Wow. And you were part of the first task force the Unity sent to Ceres, correct?

ROSS: I was. I was commanding a Destroyer at the time, the Benevolence. At the time we still didn't know they were aliens, just an unidentified fleet that had torn it's way across the system and was making for Ceres. Fleeters had asked everyone for help. Only Mars answered. I didn't understand what we were facing until I saw their ships with my own two eyes. They were...inhuman. Never seen anything like it.

KELLY: What was it like fighting them?

Ross is silent for several seconds, his expression shifting into a hardened grimace.

ROSS: Hell.

--The rest of the broadcast has been deleted due to containing potentially damaging information. Anyone in possession of the rest of this transcript is to present it and themselves to UEC authorities at once for questioning.--