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RustyShackle
Hey! Zuko Here
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2020
(Hehe proud of that alliteration)
Hello Blue Moon! A partner of mine on the site inspired me to create a journal to keep my lore and such. There won't be any organization, just random thoughts I have about my ridiculous amount of settings. I'm exhausted so expect this to be utterly strange. So yeah! Here goes:
Freedom Call
Overview:
It all started with fire. In the middle of the 21st century, the greatest cataclysm since the K-T Extinction Event occurred. The exact details are dim, blurred by hundreds of years of history and the sands of time. What is known, however, is that the world was engulfed in a massive nuclear conflict. There were no winners, no grand victors. Only losers. Humanity had doomed itself to whimper out on a dead, irradiated world. This would come to be known as The Burning, the day the humanity nearly extinguished itself with radiation and ash.
Yet humanity persevered. From the ruins of Old Earth, came the first sparks of the New. Hundreds of years after the Burning, a dominant power rose in the world: the United Federation. Made up of what was left of the world's nations, they came together for one purpose: the preservation of humanity. Earth was dying, and according to scientists, would be completely inhospitable to humans within a few more centuries. With their pooled focus and resources, the Federation set about a massive ecological and scientific program, meant not only to repair Earth's biosphere, but ensure that the overpopulation and lack of resources that caused the Burning would never occur again. This culminated in the launch of the UFSS Dauntless, the first space ship to ever colonize Mars. Fusion energy was rediscovered, and from this, scientific endeavors once thought nothing but science fiction became reality. The greatest of these was the discovery of the Hawkins-Einstein drive, a device that allowed the precise control of gravitational fields. This later led to the use of these in hundred of applications. Humans could now live on Mars indefinitely, and using them, ships could move at speeds approaching the speed of light. It was a time of untold exploration and progress, now dubbed The Second Enlightenment. It was a time where humanity looked beyond race, religion, and nationality, and instead focused on humanity as a whole. The future was bright.
But the cracks were beginning to show.
Earth was running out of resources. That was apparent. To remedy this, mining colonies were set up on various worlds around the Solar System, primarily Mars and Saturn's moon of Titan. These worlds were invaluable in repairing Earth's ecosystem, at one time being called "Humanity's Life Support," and yet those living there had little sovereignty, being governed often by those who had never even stepped foot on the planet these men and women had been born and worked on. Not to mention that those on Earth grew wealthy, mega corporations once again rising to prominence thanks to the extremely profitable mining industry. A rising star among these moguls was Louis Montroix, owner of the Icarus Mining Corporation. He owned a considerable number of the mining operations on Mars, the most profitable planet in the system, not to mention dozens of other similar operations in the Asteroid Belt and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. He soon took a keen interest in politics, and thanks to his vast wealth, he often simply had to pay for his position. Soon enough, he was elected Prime Minister of the Federation. This event would mark the end of the Federation, and the first breaths of the Terran Empire.
Louis was...well, as an honest historian would put it, eccentric. He had an obsession with history, of the glorious days of knights and warriors and the great achievements of mankind. It devolved into a borderline worship of Earth itself. Louis would enact several reforms in the government during his time in office, many benefitting Earth at the cost of the colonies. Most in the Federation Congress supported this. They benefitted from it entirely. This continued to worsen, until the day came that Louis was to step down as Prime Minister.
He did not. Instead, he, and the rest of the Congress, declared that the United Federation was no more. Now, there was only the United Empire of Terra, dedicated to the glory and majesty of humanity. Of course there was opposition to this decision, even within Congress, and thus began the Terran Wars.
The conflict was bloody, though thankfully little damage was done to Earth's already dying biosphere. Both sides were stuck in a never ending cycle. They could take territory, but due to radiation limiting the number of troops that could be moved at one time, they would be unable to hold it for very long. Or some strongholds were simply too fortified to be taken at all. Just like the First World War, a breakthrough had to be made. And from this, the greatest change in military doctrine in centuries was introduced, comparable to the introduction of the tank or aircraft: the Mobile Weapons Platform.
Developed using prototypes from before the Burning, Mobile Weapons Platforms, or simply "Platforms," had one purpose: end the deadlock that the Terran Wars had fallen into. The Royalists, those who supported Montroix, needed a weapon that had the speed and firepower of a tank, with the mobility and agility of an infantryman. Thus, the Platform was developed. In mere months, lances of these cutting edge machines pushed farther than entire armies had in years. The Loyalists, those who opposed the formation of the Empire, were unable to come up with a counter to this, and within a few years, they were all but wiped out. With all enemies to the Empire dead or pacified, Louis Montroix was crowned the First Emperor of the Greater Empire of Terra. This saw the end of the Second Enlightenment, and the beginning of the Age of Terra.
The next hundred years saw the slow rise of the Empire's influence, alongside the resurgence of a warrior subculture. Noble men were expected to be warriors, and warriors were supposed to be strong, stoic, honorable. Of course definitions of honor are...loose and often arbitrary. Stabbing a man in the back is dishonorable, yet gunning down a dozen or so infantrymen with a 40mm autocannon is completely fine. This, alongside a general sentiment of superiority over the colonies, led to dissidence to be rampant in the Empire, in a sense only feeding into the ideology the government preached, that only might could bring true peace.
Rebellion was nothing to be worried about, for the most part. It was mostly pirates, terrorists, the like. Easily dispatched by the superior training and firepower of the mighty Imperial Army. But as the decades went on, things began to change. Rebel cells became more organized, even getting their hands on Platforms, somehow. There were cries of freedom to the domed cities of Mars to the vast underground caverns of Titan. These cries were answered, often brutally. This would lead to the beginning of the end.
The Titan Incident.
It was small, in the beginning. Miners from Installation 243, located on Titan, went on strike and began a protest against the horrific working conditions they were under. Despite Saturn's largest moon having temperatures over a hundred degrees below freezing, workers were given the bare minimum to survive in this, forced to work on cramped, worn down Mobile Work Platforms (an industrial variant of the original platform) in order to survive the frigid cold. Even then, many froze to death with no compensation for their families, and for very little pay or representation, despite the fact Titan was one of the most populated colonies, with millions both on the planet in vast underground cities, or up in the massive network of space stations. It was no wonder that when their cries were not heard, things...escalated. No one knows for sure how it started. The official report by the Terran garrison commander who was there stated a protestor pulled a firearm, while many there claim no such thing happened. Regardless, it would lead to one of the bloodiest massacres in decades. Several Platforms modified for riot control were dispatched to disperse the riots, and the unthinkable happened: they opened fire.
This was unprecedented. Carnage of this magnitude had never been seen, and even when the event was covered up, sympathizers in the Halcyon family, the House that owned most of the Empire's broadcasting networks, leaked footage of the event. To say the reaction was strong would be an understatement. Civilian reprisal for the massacre was immediate and bloody. The entire Titan garrison, alongside the fleet stationed to guard it, were overthrown by rebels. Earth had suddenly lost possibly it's most important world. In turn, the government began their own reprisals. Any colony or neighborhood thought to shelter or even simply support rebels were burned to the ground, anyone not gunned down sent to the mines in the Asteroid belt, never to be seen again. Even Mars, who had a majority of its citizens support the Terran government, suffered. Years of thinly veiled bigotry finally came to the surface. Martians officially became second class citizens. The Administrator of Mars, a position that for decades was historically held by a Martian, was replaced by one from Terra. Ironically, in attempting to prevent a large scale rebellion, the government only fueled the fires of Rebellion. The Liberation Wars had begun.
Rebel cells sprung up like wild fire, so separated that destroying one rarely damaged another. The most organized, however, was the so called "High Command." Their exact location, and identity of their members was a mystery, even to other rebels, but what was known is that they were highly organized, their purpose being to recruit cells that aligned with the organizations goals and methods, and allow them to carry out missions normally out of their operational capacity. The most famous of cells to work with High Command would no doubt be "The Rust Dogs," led by the enigmatic Rust Wolf. They took their name from the rust covered surface of Mars they called home, appearing like ghosts from the storms before vanishing into them once again. Their leader, the aforementioned Rust Wolf, was near the top of the Empire's Most Wanted list, hunted for countless charges of sabotage, murder of Terran personnel, treason, etc. But these small attacks would pale in comparison to the greatest operation the Rust Dogs accomplished during the period.
Just over five years after the start of the Liberation Wars, Princess Rosalia Emmeline Sophia Montroix IV was in the ruins of London, en route to attend a family member's wedding. Suddenly, the driver, who's name is still unknown, stopped the motorcade and aimed a gun at the princess. Just then, about six Platforms emerged from the bottom of the adjacent River Thames and wiped out the princess's own Platform escort. The Rust Dogs, specifically their leaders personal lance, Strider Lance, had successfully captured a direct member of the Montroix royal family, right on their home soil. The reaction to the event was massive. If the royal family could be hurt on the very soil they claimed was untouchable, surely more could be done? The original plan was to use this to push for a unified front against the Empire, and use the life of the Princess to sue for peace. Unfortunately, those plans fell through, though Rosalia would, in a twist of fate, help end the conflict.
Reports are very much conflicting, but the general consensus is that the Rust Wolf was in fact Hiyato Abe, his father being the former Administrator of Mars who was replaced following the Titan Incident. Why he would join rebels is unknown, but what is known is that Princess Rosalia spent much of her childhood learning from Hiyato's mother, one of the finest fencers in the Empire, on their large estate on Mars. According to the memoirs of the Princess herself, they began a secret affair following the her kidnapping, leading to her coming to support her lover's cause and work to end the war with him. After three long years, and the death of thousands, she was successful. The Liberation Wars ended on September 2, 2289, with the signing of the Olympus Accords. Ironically, the treaty was signed in the ruins of the long since defunct UN building in New York, amongst the ashes of Old Earth.
Platforms
Since their first inception, few things have changed about the Platform. Besides more advanced sensors and weapons, the same idea has changed very little: a bipedal, two armed platform armed with weaponry and able to move with great agility. Despite this, Platforms very often become obsolete and are replaced by newer versions that bear the same moniker.
A Platform class describes a Platform designed for different purposes. A general use Platform, for example, would function very differently to one designed for scouting or artillery support.
To further separate Platform variants, there are generations. Despite the name, these are more or less ranks. A Gen 1 Platform is generally inferior to a Gen 2 Platform, etc.
First Generation:
Often piloted by "grunts," i.e. new pilots or those not trusted with more advanced weaponry. They use very basic equipment, usually only supplemented by a simple melee weapon. For the most part, most of the Gen 1 Platforms are updated variants of earlier Platforms, with retrofitted weaponry and the like.
Famous Gen 1s:
Knight Class: A tried and true design, the Knight Class Mobile Weapons Platform is the general purpose Platform used by the Imperial Army. It had the basic loadout expected of a Platform. Jump jets and wheels for heightened mobility, a comm suite, life support system, basic sensors, and an ejector seat. The Knight is armed with the standard issue T189-F Anti-Materiel Rifle, a fully automatic autocannon that fires high explosive, armor penetrating 40mm rounds at a fire rate of 700 rounds per minute. While quite basic, the T200-F is extremely reliable, having been used for almost one hundred years with little to no changes in it's design, besides improvements to its heat reduction and round feeding system. Besides this, the Knight possesses the B201-G Directed Plasma Weapon. Despite the odd name, the B201-G is more or less a plasma blade used in close quarters. It traps superheated plasma from the Platform's fusion reactor into an electromagnetic field that shapes the plasma into a condensed, thin line, creating a sort of "blade." The emitter for this is attached to the Platform's arm, being intended to be used for brutal close combat with other general use Platforms rather than prolonged duels.
The Knight Class is more or less the face of the Imperial Army. Used by general pilots, it's rare anyone goes their entire life without seeing on at least once in their life. It's versatility makes it suited to a myriad of different roles. Garrison, combined arms, riot control, it's ability to be modified means that it sees a great deal of use. But this also brings up the variant's flaws. It doesn't excel in any particular field. Other, more specialized Classes can outperform a Knight in the right circumstances. This doesn't dampen the use of these, however. If anything, their ease of manufacture and use means it will continue to see use for years to come.
Hoplite Class:
The greatest strength and flaw of the Knight is it's versatility. The Hoplite replaces that versatility for raw defense. Armed with much thicker armor and a specialized shield, the Hoplite class seeks to address the Knight's lack of armor. Hoplite's are used as the anvil, an immovable wall used to box an enemy in, and soften them up for more aggressive Platforms. Hoplites have no closer quarters weapons, instead using the standard autocannon, and their bulk to ward off any close quarters opponents.
Chevalier Class: The Chevalier has an extremely...unfortunate reputation. Unlike the Knight, it features no ranged weaponry whatsoever. Instead, it features the B203-F Directed Plasma Weapon. While cutting edge at one point, it's by now surpassed by later models of plasma blades, not to mention it's still attached to the arm of the user instead of the more comfortable sword like position of later models. The blade is hotter and more effective than the standard model used by Knights, however. It sacrifices armor and any sense of self preservation for speed, or that's the idea. In reality, Chevaliers are used as cannon fodder. Send as many of them down range as possible so the enemy will waste ammunition for when the actually important soldiers are sent in.
Samurai Class: Used mainly for anti materiel roles, the Samurai lacks much of what is usually found in other Platforms. Besides basic thrusters, it was manufactured without maneuvering thrusters, or even high end armor. Instead, it's greatest weapon is the T230-D "Thunderer" Rail Rifle. Using rails arranged parallel to one another in the barrel, the rifle accelerates a metal slug at extremely high velocities, meaning that extra propellant, mass, and explosives are unnecessary. Often, the sheer force of the projectile is enough. The problem, however, is power consumption and heat. The rails, after firing, generate immense thermal energy, and not properly venting it could cause massive damage to the weapon itself. As such, heat sinks sap the heat, and are ejected manually via a bolt, with a new sink being inserted alongside a slug once the bolt is pushed forwards again, analogous to that of a bolt action rifle. Finally, once the weapon is fired, there's a necessary delay, as the Platform's reactor needs to recharge, shutting down all but the most basic of systems, and leaving the Samurai open to attack.
Second Generation:
Second Generation Platforms are the bread and butter of the Imperial military, making up the core of it's mobile armored divisions. While First Gens are more common, Second gens are used in the most important scenarios. Holding key installations, breaking an opposing defense, serving as the vanguard, so on and so forth. Most Gen 2 pilots are nobility, or at the very leat colonists from respected families.
Galahad Class: The Gen 2's answer to the Knight class, the Galahad is a proven, reliable Platform with a multitude of functions on the battlefield. Alongside the usual slew of thrusters, comm suites, and sensors, the Galahad uses an improved version of the Knight's arsenals. In stead of the T200-F, Galahad's use the T230-C Rail Assisted Anti-Materiel Rifle. It's more or less the same as the T200-F, but with one exception: the aforementioned "rail assisted." Once the round is fired via traditional combustion, a series of magnetic rails then accelerate the round down the barrel, leading to even more destructive power. Galahad's can easily shred a Knight in just a few bursts with this weapon, and it has a grim reputation, as it's often used against infantry. Besides that, they also use the B220-C Directed Plasma Weapon. Unlike the B201, the B220 is instead held in the Platform's hand, acting much like a sword. As such, it's often referred to simply as "the plasma sword," and is often used as such. The B200 is meant for direct Platform-to-Platform combat, though reports of it's use on infantry were recorded, with the results being utterly devastating.
Ulysses Class: The go-to command Platform for the Imperial military, the Ulysses is built for commanding long range missions with little other support. It trades the T230 for the lighter T212-C Autocannon, a 20mm rotary cannon affixed to the Platform's left arm. While packing less of a punch than it's larger counterpart, the T212 has a staggering fire rate of over 2000 rounds per minute, all of said rounds being armor piercing explode, same as the standard 40mm also used in autocannons. To make up for the lack of traditional firepower, it uses the upgraded T242-A Directed Plasma Weapon. Much like it's predecessors, it's more or less plasma held within an electromagnetic field, but the plasma is much hotter, not to mention more energy efficient. The blade takes on a distinctive curved shape, often being compared to dueling swords of old, hence the tendency for commander's to use traditional fencing stances. Alongside this, the Ulysses features cutting edge communication and sensor technology, often simply being used as a mobile command center by some officers.
Achilles Class: Much like it's namesake, Achilles Pilots are often the first into battle, cutting their way into the heart of the enemy force with blinding speed. The Achilles sacrifices armor for incredible speed, and unlike the Chevalier is actually accomplishes this. Piloting an Achilles is both a great honor and a massive risk, given its purpose of going straight into enemy fire. Only the most brave, or most often stupid of pilots are chosen to pilot the platform. It's main weapon is the B250-B Directed Plasma Weapon. While functionally similar to the one used by the Ulysses, the B250-B has been modified to be even hotter, as the lack of the complex technology used in the Ulysses means the Achilles can afford this higher power usage.
Muramasa Class: The go to long range Platform, the current iteration is recent, as it's creation is built off of a new innovation: particle beam weaponry. In essence, charged atoms are accelerated via magnetic forces down the barrel of the weapon, similar in function to a miniaturized particle accelerator. Said atoms accelerate at almost 96% the speed of light, and are utterly devastating. This comes at an extreme cost to manufacture, hence why Samurai are rarely seen on the battlefield. Instead, they're often posted to the back line during space battles, tasked with using their T270-B Particle Acceleration Rifles to take out any ships. The downsides, however, are considerable. The accelerator takes a considerable amount of power to fire, meaning that just after a firing, the Muramasa must remains vulnerable until the reactor can catch up. Not just that, but the accelerator rails create a substantial amount of heat when fired. Thus, the weapon uses heat sinks to avoid damage tot eh weapon, though they must be manually ejected, and a new heat sink chambered after every shot, analogous to a bolt action rifle. Though unlike the Samurai, the Muramasa does not shut down during the recharge period, thanks to a more efficient reactor, and it is much more maneuverable than the Samurai.
Third Generation:
Now here's where things get complicated. Technically, there is no "Third Generation" of Platforms. Instead, Gen 3 refers to a series of highly advanced prototype platforms developed during the Liberation Wars. Despite their rarity, these variants earned a legendary reputation for their use in major battles of the war. Gen 3s stood apart from their contemporaries with cutting edge technology, extreme speed and firepower, and an exorbitant cost to manufacture.
Odin Class:
The Odin class was developed as an improved design for the Ulysses, in essence a highly effective, highly autonomous command unit with stellar sensor and targeting technology. From this came the Odin. Like most Gen 3s, the Odin used the experimental Helios Fusion Reactor, allowing it much more power and efficiency. It features an experimental new armor, nicknamed "Aegis." It's created using carbon nano tubes and diamonds super compressed with gravity generators. Expensive to create, but with a good balance of defense and weight.
But what truly makes the Odin is it's weapons and tech. The crowning achievement of the platform is the GUNGNIR Targeting Software. Using prototype quantum computing, the software allows for unparalleled accuracy far surpassing even technology used on warships. But it would be nothing without the weaponry to back it up, something the Odin makes up for in spades.
Instead of an autocannon, like other general purpose Platforms, the Odin is armed with the experimental T286-X Automatic Rail Rifle. In essence, it's the Thunderer, except semi automatic. The result is devastating, giving it an advantage in anti infantry, anti materiel, and anti Platform combat.
For melee engagements, the Odin uses the T277-A Directed Plasma Weapon, codenamed "Graham." It uses an improved mixture of superheated gasses to form the plasma, held within a stronger electromagnetic field, allowing the blade to have even more cutting power.
Ares Class:
The Ares Class was designed to be the ultimate closed range Platform. Fast, maneuverable, and near unbeatable in a duel, the Ares is an unimaginable threat on the battlefield. It sacrifices armor for this, but contains countermeasures against this. Primarily, the Eris Pulse. In essence, it sends out a signal that temporarily tampers with the standard Friend/Foe tags used by modern militaries, making allies seem like enemies and vice versa. This is often used in the thick of an enemy line, to send the entire unit into a blind panic.
The Ares lacks any sort of long range weaponry, but it doesn't need it. For it uses one of the most advanced pieces of technology ever used in warfare:
he replacement for the plasma blade: the nanoblade.
Most cutting instruments rely on sharpness to break apart materials. While usually effective, there are limits. Even the sharpest of materials have a limit of what can be cut, not to mention said materials are often brittle and hard to maintain. The answer to this is the nanoblade. In short, using the same electromagnetic field used in the plasma blades, a sort of liquid metal is suspended, and condensed into a semi-solid state. In this state, nanomachines in the metal itself continuously sharpen and harden the material. This means that, in all technicalities, there is no material currently known that is able to withstand a cut from a nanoblade. While the propaganda stating it is "infinitely sharp" is wrong, it is functionally correct. The only reason this technology, originally meant for mining, hasn't been widely adopted is the cost, both economically and power wise. Only the most powerful of modern fusion reactors can sustain the use of this blade for long periods of time. As such, combined with the Platform's purpose, the Ares is best used in short engagements, to break the enemy ranks and chase the retreating forces.
Hello Blue Moon! A partner of mine on the site inspired me to create a journal to keep my lore and such. There won't be any organization, just random thoughts I have about my ridiculous amount of settings. I'm exhausted so expect this to be utterly strange. So yeah! Here goes:
Freedom Call
Overview:
It all started with fire. In the middle of the 21st century, the greatest cataclysm since the K-T Extinction Event occurred. The exact details are dim, blurred by hundreds of years of history and the sands of time. What is known, however, is that the world was engulfed in a massive nuclear conflict. There were no winners, no grand victors. Only losers. Humanity had doomed itself to whimper out on a dead, irradiated world. This would come to be known as The Burning, the day the humanity nearly extinguished itself with radiation and ash.
Yet humanity persevered. From the ruins of Old Earth, came the first sparks of the New. Hundreds of years after the Burning, a dominant power rose in the world: the United Federation. Made up of what was left of the world's nations, they came together for one purpose: the preservation of humanity. Earth was dying, and according to scientists, would be completely inhospitable to humans within a few more centuries. With their pooled focus and resources, the Federation set about a massive ecological and scientific program, meant not only to repair Earth's biosphere, but ensure that the overpopulation and lack of resources that caused the Burning would never occur again. This culminated in the launch of the UFSS Dauntless, the first space ship to ever colonize Mars. Fusion energy was rediscovered, and from this, scientific endeavors once thought nothing but science fiction became reality. The greatest of these was the discovery of the Hawkins-Einstein drive, a device that allowed the precise control of gravitational fields. This later led to the use of these in hundred of applications. Humans could now live on Mars indefinitely, and using them, ships could move at speeds approaching the speed of light. It was a time of untold exploration and progress, now dubbed The Second Enlightenment. It was a time where humanity looked beyond race, religion, and nationality, and instead focused on humanity as a whole. The future was bright.
But the cracks were beginning to show.
Earth was running out of resources. That was apparent. To remedy this, mining colonies were set up on various worlds around the Solar System, primarily Mars and Saturn's moon of Titan. These worlds were invaluable in repairing Earth's ecosystem, at one time being called "Humanity's Life Support," and yet those living there had little sovereignty, being governed often by those who had never even stepped foot on the planet these men and women had been born and worked on. Not to mention that those on Earth grew wealthy, mega corporations once again rising to prominence thanks to the extremely profitable mining industry. A rising star among these moguls was Louis Montroix, owner of the Icarus Mining Corporation. He owned a considerable number of the mining operations on Mars, the most profitable planet in the system, not to mention dozens of other similar operations in the Asteroid Belt and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. He soon took a keen interest in politics, and thanks to his vast wealth, he often simply had to pay for his position. Soon enough, he was elected Prime Minister of the Federation. This event would mark the end of the Federation, and the first breaths of the Terran Empire.
Louis was...well, as an honest historian would put it, eccentric. He had an obsession with history, of the glorious days of knights and warriors and the great achievements of mankind. It devolved into a borderline worship of Earth itself. Louis would enact several reforms in the government during his time in office, many benefitting Earth at the cost of the colonies. Most in the Federation Congress supported this. They benefitted from it entirely. This continued to worsen, until the day came that Louis was to step down as Prime Minister.
He did not. Instead, he, and the rest of the Congress, declared that the United Federation was no more. Now, there was only the United Empire of Terra, dedicated to the glory and majesty of humanity. Of course there was opposition to this decision, even within Congress, and thus began the Terran Wars.
The conflict was bloody, though thankfully little damage was done to Earth's already dying biosphere. Both sides were stuck in a never ending cycle. They could take territory, but due to radiation limiting the number of troops that could be moved at one time, they would be unable to hold it for very long. Or some strongholds were simply too fortified to be taken at all. Just like the First World War, a breakthrough had to be made. And from this, the greatest change in military doctrine in centuries was introduced, comparable to the introduction of the tank or aircraft: the Mobile Weapons Platform.
Developed using prototypes from before the Burning, Mobile Weapons Platforms, or simply "Platforms," had one purpose: end the deadlock that the Terran Wars had fallen into. The Royalists, those who supported Montroix, needed a weapon that had the speed and firepower of a tank, with the mobility and agility of an infantryman. Thus, the Platform was developed. In mere months, lances of these cutting edge machines pushed farther than entire armies had in years. The Loyalists, those who opposed the formation of the Empire, were unable to come up with a counter to this, and within a few years, they were all but wiped out. With all enemies to the Empire dead or pacified, Louis Montroix was crowned the First Emperor of the Greater Empire of Terra. This saw the end of the Second Enlightenment, and the beginning of the Age of Terra.
The next hundred years saw the slow rise of the Empire's influence, alongside the resurgence of a warrior subculture. Noble men were expected to be warriors, and warriors were supposed to be strong, stoic, honorable. Of course definitions of honor are...loose and often arbitrary. Stabbing a man in the back is dishonorable, yet gunning down a dozen or so infantrymen with a 40mm autocannon is completely fine. This, alongside a general sentiment of superiority over the colonies, led to dissidence to be rampant in the Empire, in a sense only feeding into the ideology the government preached, that only might could bring true peace.
Rebellion was nothing to be worried about, for the most part. It was mostly pirates, terrorists, the like. Easily dispatched by the superior training and firepower of the mighty Imperial Army. But as the decades went on, things began to change. Rebel cells became more organized, even getting their hands on Platforms, somehow. There were cries of freedom to the domed cities of Mars to the vast underground caverns of Titan. These cries were answered, often brutally. This would lead to the beginning of the end.
The Titan Incident.
It was small, in the beginning. Miners from Installation 243, located on Titan, went on strike and began a protest against the horrific working conditions they were under. Despite Saturn's largest moon having temperatures over a hundred degrees below freezing, workers were given the bare minimum to survive in this, forced to work on cramped, worn down Mobile Work Platforms (an industrial variant of the original platform) in order to survive the frigid cold. Even then, many froze to death with no compensation for their families, and for very little pay or representation, despite the fact Titan was one of the most populated colonies, with millions both on the planet in vast underground cities, or up in the massive network of space stations. It was no wonder that when their cries were not heard, things...escalated. No one knows for sure how it started. The official report by the Terran garrison commander who was there stated a protestor pulled a firearm, while many there claim no such thing happened. Regardless, it would lead to one of the bloodiest massacres in decades. Several Platforms modified for riot control were dispatched to disperse the riots, and the unthinkable happened: they opened fire.
This was unprecedented. Carnage of this magnitude had never been seen, and even when the event was covered up, sympathizers in the Halcyon family, the House that owned most of the Empire's broadcasting networks, leaked footage of the event. To say the reaction was strong would be an understatement. Civilian reprisal for the massacre was immediate and bloody. The entire Titan garrison, alongside the fleet stationed to guard it, were overthrown by rebels. Earth had suddenly lost possibly it's most important world. In turn, the government began their own reprisals. Any colony or neighborhood thought to shelter or even simply support rebels were burned to the ground, anyone not gunned down sent to the mines in the Asteroid belt, never to be seen again. Even Mars, who had a majority of its citizens support the Terran government, suffered. Years of thinly veiled bigotry finally came to the surface. Martians officially became second class citizens. The Administrator of Mars, a position that for decades was historically held by a Martian, was replaced by one from Terra. Ironically, in attempting to prevent a large scale rebellion, the government only fueled the fires of Rebellion. The Liberation Wars had begun.
Rebel cells sprung up like wild fire, so separated that destroying one rarely damaged another. The most organized, however, was the so called "High Command." Their exact location, and identity of their members was a mystery, even to other rebels, but what was known is that they were highly organized, their purpose being to recruit cells that aligned with the organizations goals and methods, and allow them to carry out missions normally out of their operational capacity. The most famous of cells to work with High Command would no doubt be "The Rust Dogs," led by the enigmatic Rust Wolf. They took their name from the rust covered surface of Mars they called home, appearing like ghosts from the storms before vanishing into them once again. Their leader, the aforementioned Rust Wolf, was near the top of the Empire's Most Wanted list, hunted for countless charges of sabotage, murder of Terran personnel, treason, etc. But these small attacks would pale in comparison to the greatest operation the Rust Dogs accomplished during the period.
Just over five years after the start of the Liberation Wars, Princess Rosalia Emmeline Sophia Montroix IV was in the ruins of London, en route to attend a family member's wedding. Suddenly, the driver, who's name is still unknown, stopped the motorcade and aimed a gun at the princess. Just then, about six Platforms emerged from the bottom of the adjacent River Thames and wiped out the princess's own Platform escort. The Rust Dogs, specifically their leaders personal lance, Strider Lance, had successfully captured a direct member of the Montroix royal family, right on their home soil. The reaction to the event was massive. If the royal family could be hurt on the very soil they claimed was untouchable, surely more could be done? The original plan was to use this to push for a unified front against the Empire, and use the life of the Princess to sue for peace. Unfortunately, those plans fell through, though Rosalia would, in a twist of fate, help end the conflict.
Reports are very much conflicting, but the general consensus is that the Rust Wolf was in fact Hiyato Abe, his father being the former Administrator of Mars who was replaced following the Titan Incident. Why he would join rebels is unknown, but what is known is that Princess Rosalia spent much of her childhood learning from Hiyato's mother, one of the finest fencers in the Empire, on their large estate on Mars. According to the memoirs of the Princess herself, they began a secret affair following the her kidnapping, leading to her coming to support her lover's cause and work to end the war with him. After three long years, and the death of thousands, she was successful. The Liberation Wars ended on September 2, 2289, with the signing of the Olympus Accords. Ironically, the treaty was signed in the ruins of the long since defunct UN building in New York, amongst the ashes of Old Earth.
Platforms
Since their first inception, few things have changed about the Platform. Besides more advanced sensors and weapons, the same idea has changed very little: a bipedal, two armed platform armed with weaponry and able to move with great agility. Despite this, Platforms very often become obsolete and are replaced by newer versions that bear the same moniker.
A Platform class describes a Platform designed for different purposes. A general use Platform, for example, would function very differently to one designed for scouting or artillery support.
To further separate Platform variants, there are generations. Despite the name, these are more or less ranks. A Gen 1 Platform is generally inferior to a Gen 2 Platform, etc.
First Generation:
Often piloted by "grunts," i.e. new pilots or those not trusted with more advanced weaponry. They use very basic equipment, usually only supplemented by a simple melee weapon. For the most part, most of the Gen 1 Platforms are updated variants of earlier Platforms, with retrofitted weaponry and the like.
Famous Gen 1s:
Knight Class: A tried and true design, the Knight Class Mobile Weapons Platform is the general purpose Platform used by the Imperial Army. It had the basic loadout expected of a Platform. Jump jets and wheels for heightened mobility, a comm suite, life support system, basic sensors, and an ejector seat. The Knight is armed with the standard issue T189-F Anti-Materiel Rifle, a fully automatic autocannon that fires high explosive, armor penetrating 40mm rounds at a fire rate of 700 rounds per minute. While quite basic, the T200-F is extremely reliable, having been used for almost one hundred years with little to no changes in it's design, besides improvements to its heat reduction and round feeding system. Besides this, the Knight possesses the B201-G Directed Plasma Weapon. Despite the odd name, the B201-G is more or less a plasma blade used in close quarters. It traps superheated plasma from the Platform's fusion reactor into an electromagnetic field that shapes the plasma into a condensed, thin line, creating a sort of "blade." The emitter for this is attached to the Platform's arm, being intended to be used for brutal close combat with other general use Platforms rather than prolonged duels.
The Knight Class is more or less the face of the Imperial Army. Used by general pilots, it's rare anyone goes their entire life without seeing on at least once in their life. It's versatility makes it suited to a myriad of different roles. Garrison, combined arms, riot control, it's ability to be modified means that it sees a great deal of use. But this also brings up the variant's flaws. It doesn't excel in any particular field. Other, more specialized Classes can outperform a Knight in the right circumstances. This doesn't dampen the use of these, however. If anything, their ease of manufacture and use means it will continue to see use for years to come.
Hoplite Class:
The greatest strength and flaw of the Knight is it's versatility. The Hoplite replaces that versatility for raw defense. Armed with much thicker armor and a specialized shield, the Hoplite class seeks to address the Knight's lack of armor. Hoplite's are used as the anvil, an immovable wall used to box an enemy in, and soften them up for more aggressive Platforms. Hoplites have no closer quarters weapons, instead using the standard autocannon, and their bulk to ward off any close quarters opponents.
Chevalier Class: The Chevalier has an extremely...unfortunate reputation. Unlike the Knight, it features no ranged weaponry whatsoever. Instead, it features the B203-F Directed Plasma Weapon. While cutting edge at one point, it's by now surpassed by later models of plasma blades, not to mention it's still attached to the arm of the user instead of the more comfortable sword like position of later models. The blade is hotter and more effective than the standard model used by Knights, however. It sacrifices armor and any sense of self preservation for speed, or that's the idea. In reality, Chevaliers are used as cannon fodder. Send as many of them down range as possible so the enemy will waste ammunition for when the actually important soldiers are sent in.
Samurai Class: Used mainly for anti materiel roles, the Samurai lacks much of what is usually found in other Platforms. Besides basic thrusters, it was manufactured without maneuvering thrusters, or even high end armor. Instead, it's greatest weapon is the T230-D "Thunderer" Rail Rifle. Using rails arranged parallel to one another in the barrel, the rifle accelerates a metal slug at extremely high velocities, meaning that extra propellant, mass, and explosives are unnecessary. Often, the sheer force of the projectile is enough. The problem, however, is power consumption and heat. The rails, after firing, generate immense thermal energy, and not properly venting it could cause massive damage to the weapon itself. As such, heat sinks sap the heat, and are ejected manually via a bolt, with a new sink being inserted alongside a slug once the bolt is pushed forwards again, analogous to that of a bolt action rifle. Finally, once the weapon is fired, there's a necessary delay, as the Platform's reactor needs to recharge, shutting down all but the most basic of systems, and leaving the Samurai open to attack.
Second Generation:
Second Generation Platforms are the bread and butter of the Imperial military, making up the core of it's mobile armored divisions. While First Gens are more common, Second gens are used in the most important scenarios. Holding key installations, breaking an opposing defense, serving as the vanguard, so on and so forth. Most Gen 2 pilots are nobility, or at the very leat colonists from respected families.
Galahad Class: The Gen 2's answer to the Knight class, the Galahad is a proven, reliable Platform with a multitude of functions on the battlefield. Alongside the usual slew of thrusters, comm suites, and sensors, the Galahad uses an improved version of the Knight's arsenals. In stead of the T200-F, Galahad's use the T230-C Rail Assisted Anti-Materiel Rifle. It's more or less the same as the T200-F, but with one exception: the aforementioned "rail assisted." Once the round is fired via traditional combustion, a series of magnetic rails then accelerate the round down the barrel, leading to even more destructive power. Galahad's can easily shred a Knight in just a few bursts with this weapon, and it has a grim reputation, as it's often used against infantry. Besides that, they also use the B220-C Directed Plasma Weapon. Unlike the B201, the B220 is instead held in the Platform's hand, acting much like a sword. As such, it's often referred to simply as "the plasma sword," and is often used as such. The B200 is meant for direct Platform-to-Platform combat, though reports of it's use on infantry were recorded, with the results being utterly devastating.
Ulysses Class: The go-to command Platform for the Imperial military, the Ulysses is built for commanding long range missions with little other support. It trades the T230 for the lighter T212-C Autocannon, a 20mm rotary cannon affixed to the Platform's left arm. While packing less of a punch than it's larger counterpart, the T212 has a staggering fire rate of over 2000 rounds per minute, all of said rounds being armor piercing explode, same as the standard 40mm also used in autocannons. To make up for the lack of traditional firepower, it uses the upgraded T242-A Directed Plasma Weapon. Much like it's predecessors, it's more or less plasma held within an electromagnetic field, but the plasma is much hotter, not to mention more energy efficient. The blade takes on a distinctive curved shape, often being compared to dueling swords of old, hence the tendency for commander's to use traditional fencing stances. Alongside this, the Ulysses features cutting edge communication and sensor technology, often simply being used as a mobile command center by some officers.
Achilles Class: Much like it's namesake, Achilles Pilots are often the first into battle, cutting their way into the heart of the enemy force with blinding speed. The Achilles sacrifices armor for incredible speed, and unlike the Chevalier is actually accomplishes this. Piloting an Achilles is both a great honor and a massive risk, given its purpose of going straight into enemy fire. Only the most brave, or most often stupid of pilots are chosen to pilot the platform. It's main weapon is the B250-B Directed Plasma Weapon. While functionally similar to the one used by the Ulysses, the B250-B has been modified to be even hotter, as the lack of the complex technology used in the Ulysses means the Achilles can afford this higher power usage.
Muramasa Class: The go to long range Platform, the current iteration is recent, as it's creation is built off of a new innovation: particle beam weaponry. In essence, charged atoms are accelerated via magnetic forces down the barrel of the weapon, similar in function to a miniaturized particle accelerator. Said atoms accelerate at almost 96% the speed of light, and are utterly devastating. This comes at an extreme cost to manufacture, hence why Samurai are rarely seen on the battlefield. Instead, they're often posted to the back line during space battles, tasked with using their T270-B Particle Acceleration Rifles to take out any ships. The downsides, however, are considerable. The accelerator takes a considerable amount of power to fire, meaning that just after a firing, the Muramasa must remains vulnerable until the reactor can catch up. Not just that, but the accelerator rails create a substantial amount of heat when fired. Thus, the weapon uses heat sinks to avoid damage tot eh weapon, though they must be manually ejected, and a new heat sink chambered after every shot, analogous to a bolt action rifle. Though unlike the Samurai, the Muramasa does not shut down during the recharge period, thanks to a more efficient reactor, and it is much more maneuverable than the Samurai.
Third Generation:
Now here's where things get complicated. Technically, there is no "Third Generation" of Platforms. Instead, Gen 3 refers to a series of highly advanced prototype platforms developed during the Liberation Wars. Despite their rarity, these variants earned a legendary reputation for their use in major battles of the war. Gen 3s stood apart from their contemporaries with cutting edge technology, extreme speed and firepower, and an exorbitant cost to manufacture.
Odin Class:
The Odin class was developed as an improved design for the Ulysses, in essence a highly effective, highly autonomous command unit with stellar sensor and targeting technology. From this came the Odin. Like most Gen 3s, the Odin used the experimental Helios Fusion Reactor, allowing it much more power and efficiency. It features an experimental new armor, nicknamed "Aegis." It's created using carbon nano tubes and diamonds super compressed with gravity generators. Expensive to create, but with a good balance of defense and weight.
But what truly makes the Odin is it's weapons and tech. The crowning achievement of the platform is the GUNGNIR Targeting Software. Using prototype quantum computing, the software allows for unparalleled accuracy far surpassing even technology used on warships. But it would be nothing without the weaponry to back it up, something the Odin makes up for in spades.
Instead of an autocannon, like other general purpose Platforms, the Odin is armed with the experimental T286-X Automatic Rail Rifle. In essence, it's the Thunderer, except semi automatic. The result is devastating, giving it an advantage in anti infantry, anti materiel, and anti Platform combat.
For melee engagements, the Odin uses the T277-A Directed Plasma Weapon, codenamed "Graham." It uses an improved mixture of superheated gasses to form the plasma, held within a stronger electromagnetic field, allowing the blade to have even more cutting power.
Ares Class:
The Ares Class was designed to be the ultimate closed range Platform. Fast, maneuverable, and near unbeatable in a duel, the Ares is an unimaginable threat on the battlefield. It sacrifices armor for this, but contains countermeasures against this. Primarily, the Eris Pulse. In essence, it sends out a signal that temporarily tampers with the standard Friend/Foe tags used by modern militaries, making allies seem like enemies and vice versa. This is often used in the thick of an enemy line, to send the entire unit into a blind panic.
The Ares lacks any sort of long range weaponry, but it doesn't need it. For it uses one of the most advanced pieces of technology ever used in warfare:
he replacement for the plasma blade: the nanoblade.
Most cutting instruments rely on sharpness to break apart materials. While usually effective, there are limits. Even the sharpest of materials have a limit of what can be cut, not to mention said materials are often brittle and hard to maintain. The answer to this is the nanoblade. In short, using the same electromagnetic field used in the plasma blades, a sort of liquid metal is suspended, and condensed into a semi-solid state. In this state, nanomachines in the metal itself continuously sharpen and harden the material. This means that, in all technicalities, there is no material currently known that is able to withstand a cut from a nanoblade. While the propaganda stating it is "infinitely sharp" is wrong, it is functionally correct. The only reason this technology, originally meant for mining, hasn't been widely adopted is the cost, both economically and power wise. Only the most powerful of modern fusion reactors can sustain the use of this blade for long periods of time. As such, combined with the Platform's purpose, the Ares is best used in short engagements, to break the enemy ranks and chase the retreating forces.
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