The Hardest Days (FT, OOC)

[Volmachtia]

IC: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=203058

It is the year 4153. Mankind has swept across the galaxy, shattering old, crumbling alien empires and claiming vast swaths of space and resources. To organize these territories, the United Terran States, controlling the core of human systems, created the Interstellar Colonial Authority, a military government based around Antares with the goal of assuming control of and developing "wild" colonies. For about three centuries it has been fulfilling this duty; but as its expansion nears the galaxy's edge, there the hardbitten individuals have become independent and unwelcoming to the newcomers. Soon it becomes a war. Now the ICA's expansion heads towards the planet Baxter, around a K-type star near the rim of the galactic disk.

Baxter is a wild world; human population of around 30 million, sustained by agriculture and animal husbanding, mining the asteroids in its ring system and the minerals of its moons for industry. The ICA has Baxter pegged as a high-risk world. Its ambassador to Baxter was shot as soon as the phrase "levying of taxes" was heard. Now the ICA comes in full force; a fleet carrying 800,000 men and supplies to the world nears its destination. Baxter, with no orbital defenses safe old missile systems, cannot hope to hold them back- but on the ground, its combative peoples are armed with everything that matters: something to shoot, something to shoot with, a reason to, having done so before.

To defend Baxter's freedom, the Indies were formed. Short for Independents, this informal collection of militias, warbands and bounty hunter guilds is ready to hold or die. All that really matters is their freedom, and they'll lay down everything to its defense.

You can be either an ICA soldier or an Indie trooper, or perhaps a prominent civilian on Baxter. Power should be kept within reason; and remember, the Indies have no formal leadership.

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Allegiance:
Militia (if any, or other armed group):
Position:
Bio:
RP sample:

And mine, of course.

Name: Jack Scorde
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Appearance: link
Allegiance: Indies, himself
Militia (if any, or other armed group): Scorde's Daredevils (600 armed men, handful of vehicles, several armed trucks)
Position: Leader
Bio: Born to a rancher on the mountainous far side of Baxter, Jack was brought up in exceedingly difficult conditions. His six brothers and five sisters took most care of him, and necessarily so when his mother died. His father died not long later after a bandit attack, and the siblings ran the ranch for another six years before the raider attacks became unbearable. The eight surviving brothers and sisters fled for the city of Galdens, working petty jobs to sustain themselves. A fire in their apartment left only Jack and two brothers. Three days later, muggers killed another of his brothers. His last brother committed suicide.

Left on his own in the sinister industrial city, Scorde found himself working for the local mob as he grew to adulthood. However after seeing the Mob godfather chop off a poor housewife's ring finger for failing to pay her debts, he had become so sick of it he poisoned the Godfather's evening wine, killing him, then shot up his lieutenants while they got drunk at a bar. Taking all the money he could carry, he went back out and founded a new ranch.

By now he was an enemy of Baxter's criminal elements, but the level of cash he took was enough to build a major combine farm with a small army defending it. Taking a wife and having many children of his own, he continued growing in wealth and status. Then the ICA invaded. Shunning their call for the "upper-class to protect their interests from anarchy", he founded a militia of a few hundred men to wage a guerrilla war.

Jack is a sour, unhappy man most of the time; but is also bound by a sense of duty and hunger to see justice served. He has no qualms killing and never has. Money appeals to him little except as a means of acquiring power, which he used to gain revenge on all those responsible for the death and suffering in his life.

RP sample: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=201530

Baxter is a temperate world approximately 11,456 km in diameter with a four-season year and a habitable atmosphere (though with a higher-than-normal Argon content). It is primarily land and is arid, with many mountainous regions. There are two "sides", the Near and Far Sides. The "near" contains nearly all major settlements, and is mostly flat grassland and desert. The Far side is composed largely of mountains and valleys, and is metal-rich but a hostile environment; not to mention especially lawless.

There are five major cities on Baxter. There's the capitol city of Calathan, located near the center of the Near Side and among the most water-rich areas. Galdens and Baryx are located near the edge of the Near and Far Sides, only about 200 km apart, and are connected to each other and Calathan by a large roadway. Then is the mining boomtown of Axarite, named after the mineral it harvests, a compound of titanium. It is located in the deserts surrounding the grassy central plains, and has a spidery trail network back to Calathan. Lastly is the spaceport of Drensville, located only 100km from Calathan and has a high-speed rail network there. Of these cities, all but Axarite and Baryx have fallen to the ICA in its intial landings.

Baxter has four moons; the metal-rich moon of Sable, the geologically active, gas-rich Sunaru, the bulged, mountainous Ssa Tad, which was named by the Gallerian explorer Ssak Basz-Kztalti, and a tiny little rock called Everyport. Sable is habitable but only barely so; oxygen masks are still recommended, though not much more is needed. The others are all colonized but not enormously so.

Nearly all life on Baxter originates from Earth, barring some types of lichen used for starting a farm in the desert or mountains, and a few livestock of little importance.

The technology of 4153 varies; while naturally the powerful, militarized ICA has the greatest technology due to its close connections with Earth, many of the "wild" or independent worlds are regressed or stagnant from when they were colonized. Baxter, however, is fairly advanced for its region of space, with technology being a fair match on land for ICA forces.

The traditional assault rifle is a pulse rifle; a tungsten slug with a hydrogen charge in the bullet is ignited, turning the hydrogen into plasma and the bullet into a lethal rocket. The ICA has this as its main armament, though the design is old enough that most of their opponents do as well. Plasma armaments are available, something like highly accurate flamethrowers. They are very dangerous, though sometimes bounty hunters make entire bullets a plasma charge, as an anti-armor counter.

Spaceships use the Hillsman drive, which accelerates ships at over 50,000c, the value rising steadily as time and research comes and goes. Most space armaments are ion cannons and railguns. Prototype small-arms railguns have been issued to ICA forces, as previously the heat exhaust was too much for even an armored soldier. Numerous bounty hunters and smugglers have gotten their hands on them as well.

Armor is composed of vitrified ceramics inlaid under a titanium-rhenium alloy that is many times stronger than steel. However it cannot always block shock forces, which means being hit by something very large can still kill the man inside fairly easily.

The 21st century was an era of exploration and colonization across the Sol system, the birthplace of humanity. It was not until 2212 that a hyperdrive was fully operational, permitting rapid travel across the galaxy. By 2500, over 300 worlds belonged to Earth. It was in 2800 that first contact occurred. The aliens were ancient but had poor war capability, having let their knowledge on it stagnate from eras of unchallenged domination. Humanity conquered and cleansed their homeworld of life. The very name of this species was re-named, to the Fallen, as a testament to humanity's newfound power.

Across the next few centuries other aliens were conquered, including the repitilian Gallerians, with whom humanity could neither communicate nor negotiate, and their surrender came in the form of literally bowing down to the humans after they deemed they were no longer the species fit to rule. Now the Gallerians exist as alien auxiliaries to ICA forces.

It was by 3100 that humanity got as far as the giant red star Antares, which was transformed into a trans-galactic shipyard. However a (generally) united humanity, its natural lust for bloodshed sated by its conquest of so many aliens, found itself increasingly isolated from the furthest-out colonies, which continued spreading out of the aegis of the Terran States. In response, the Interstellar Colonial Authority was founded to take control of far-distant colonies and turn them into productive members of the States, with Antares as its HQ.

Moving ever further across the galaxy, humankind conquered so many worlds that its count is today only estimates nearing the sum of one million. The Terran States have assumed control of most of the ICA worlds by now, though an increasing number of ICA planets have to be taken by military force- among them, Baxter.

[Firstaria]

This is the far west one right?

[Volmachtia]

This is the far west one right?

Yes.

[Firstaria]

App as soon as I have a good idea.

[Len Hyet]

OVERT FIREFLY REFRENCES!!!

Name: Jayne Reynolds
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Appearance:

Allegiance: Indies
Militia: The BrownShirts - a veteran and well respected Mercenary group, if a little underfunded currently. Their tech is slightly outdated, but still deadly.
Position: Captain (Leader)
Bio: Jayne was born in 4124 on the planet Baxter to a relatively poor father who owned and farmed land. His mother helped to breed the animals, and Jayne prayed daily to leave such a life. Dreary, boring, and altogether a pain in the ass. So, at age sixteen he stowed away aboard the ship of a well known Bounty Hunter, who was known to have a soft spot for kids. The Bounty Hunter thrashed Jayne, but eventually took him on as an apprentice. Jayne proved himself adept at shooting and all the other necessary traits of a Bounty Hunter. He could fly any ship he'd ever laid hands on, and used this trait to get himself out of several sticky situations. Over the years Jayne's operation expanded from flying solo to a useful ally. Another set of hands, so they could have a bigger ship. A markswoman, who could shoot the eye off a flea at a thousand yards. A medic, who was also a damn good shot with a rifle. Another seven or eight various characters who took some of the burden off Jayne's shoulders, including a damn good Hacker.

This group however, wasn't built on the foundation of money, though that factored in. They trusted each other explicitly. The Markswoman and the Hacker ended up getting married, although Jayne made it clear that if they would not be raising a stinky smelly child in his beautiful ship, a sentiment echoed by most of the others. Some good natured grumbling ensued, but the pair saw the wisdom in not bringing a child into the universe just yet.

Of the twelve Mercs in the company, seven came from Baxter or similar colony worlds. When they heard of the Invasion Fleet, the first thing Jayne did was finish his job (after all, no sense in rushing, the war could wait, the client couldn't). Then the ship, dubbed the Legitimate Businessman, flew back to Baxter, with a crew of twelve Mercenaries who had carried out Guerrilla warfare operations on a few other colony worlds as per a contract. Said twelve mercenaries would be overjoyed to put some Plasma* holes in a few ICA grunts.
RP sample: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=185774 (Spetz)

*Don't feel pressured by the plasma, I just needed something more FT than "slit the throat of"

[Bone Fort]

Name: Goes by "General Jack D. Ripper", presumably fake, usually gives out another fake name to make himself harder to track
Age: "Thirty-ish"
Race: Human
Gender:Male
Appearance: Ignore the shackles and glowing part of his pants.
Personality: A complex man with a strange sense of morality and various eccentricities, he is an enigma to most. He displays extremely sadistic tendencies towards his enemies and uses brutal methods to wage psychological warfare. Probably insane.
Allegiances: Indie.
Militia:Hellions, a ragtag force of mercenaries/space pirates funded by a mysterious benefactor. They also give a fake name sometimes to make themselves harder to track
Position: Leader
A short bio: Much of his early life is a mystery, but he was first seen leading a mercenary force fighting in various conflicts across the Alpha Centauri System. After "that incident on Pandora", he attracted much unwanted attention to himself, so he and his surviving troops decided to leave the system and seek fortune on other worlds. They were hired by [REDACTED] to become their secret black ops force, since his reputation as a gun for hire would make it hard to trace back to them. They enjoyed much prosperity after this, as their benefactor paid well and supplied them with good equipment. He lost one eye and got it replaced with a cybernetic one. He and his men have since taken part in many conflicts on many worlds over the course of the last thirty years, but remain relatively young since most of that is spent frozen in transit between worlds. His ragtag force of military misfits have been sent to Baxter to antagonize the ICA's operations there.
RP sample:http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=198717
http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=199819

I copy-pasted this app from one I wrote earlier for a James Cameron Avatar RP (hence "that incident on Pandora"), which is why the app is a bit off and may have some inconsistencies with the setting, sorry, tried to clean them up but probably missed a few.

[Eon Prime]

Name: Sarah Alvarez

Age: 24

Gender: Female

Appearance:

Allegiance: ICA

Militia: 666th Tactical Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 1st Battalion

Position: Lieutenant Colonel

Bio: Her mother and father were both in the ICA’s fleet; she was born on an ICA ship, grew up learning how to be a soldier and joined as soon as she was old enough. Now three years later the higher-ups announced that planet Baxter needed to be brought back into the fold and she intends to see their will done or die trying. She is a devoted soldier, seeing things from both sides but understanding her orders and seeing their necessity.(If you need more bio, I can supply it, I just don’t really have any background information for this universe)

RP sample: Legends of Alanthya

[Murgoth]

tag for later.

[Escalan Corps-Star Island]

Name: Andrew Finn
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Race: Aláranid (human but slightly stronger on average due to evolution on s higher-gravity world, very quick reflexes, longer lifespan by a factor of three)
Appearance: Medium height, slender build, short-cropped black hair, pale grey eyes, disconcerting stare. Wears composite armor. He acquired it elsewhere (see bio)
Allegiance: ICA Invasion Fleet
Militia (if any, or other armed group): The Invasion Fleet
Position: Lieutenant, sometimes just an independent marksman
Bio: Born on the planet Iradial IX in the Alkirienid Interior Collective, he grew bored of the endless seas of his homeworld and booked passage on a freighter to the Milky Way. He stole his father's ex-Escalan armor and extremely accurate and deadly plasma rifle, just in case. Once he arrived, he spent the little money he had to set himself up as a crewman on a shuttle, ferrying people to orbiting stations and back. However, that job did not hold much interest, so he enlisted at the age of 22. After four years in the ICA, he's itching to see real combat and put down the rebels. Sadly, he holds none of his father's Escalan moral standards. . .

Yes, I know I tied it in to my IC self, but it doesn't really matter. Therefore, live with it or ignore it.
RP sample: Try A Race Returns and The Fall of Altryca. Besides, you know me.

[Volmachtia]

All accepted.

And @Eon, just put ICA. If you want to put a particular unit, go ahead.

I was going to add a bit more background, especially tech, anyway.

[Bone Fort]

Please do so, it would help me with developing my character and his crew.

[Escalan Corps-Star Island]

My armor and gun are my tech, if that's OK. I can give you specs if you want.

[Volmachtia]

Added details on Baxter. Will add more in a bit.

[Escalan Corps-Star Island]

Added details on Baxter. Will add more in a bit.

I like it. And now we don't have to RP the landing!

[Bone Fort]

I think Ssa Tad should be a tourist attraction for the region. Seriously, who doesn't like checking out Ssa Tad?

[Firstaria]

Name: "14th Commander"
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Appearance:

Allegiance: ICA
Militia (if any, or other armed group): 14th Heavy Battalion of ISA
Position: Commander
Bio: Nobody knows the man under the visor of this legendary commander, but he has become a legend when, during an alien invasion of the planet Europia, managed to guide his armies in the anomalies created by the aliens to seize the impact zones and destroy their mothership. Actually, most of the incident files are redacted, so this are only the popular stories.

His secret it's his suit, capable of releasing 4 types of nanomites for a limited time and in limited charges:
Healing- Nanomites enter in the allies bodies and armors and cure/repair them.
Smoke Screen - Called this way, is more of a smoke/EMP that makes impossible for the enemies to see straight and use pointing systems.
Decoy - Nanomites create virtual imitation of soldiers. It fools all digital systems, and the hologram is usually recognizable only at close range.
Bombing - release nanomites that destroys the enemy structures around him.

His suit is also filled with self-healing nanomites, making him really hard to kill in battle.

RP sample: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=202452

[Len Hyet]

Name: "14th Commander"
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Appearance:

(Image)

Allegiance: ISA
Militia (if any, or other armed group): 14th Heavy Battalion of ISA
Position: Commander
Bio: Nobody knows the man under the visor of this legendary commander, but he has become a legend when, during an alien invasion of the planet Europia, managed to guide his armies in the anomalies created by the aliens to seize the impact zones and destroy their mothership. Actually, most of the incident files are redacted, so this are only the popular stories.

His secret it's his suit, capable of releasing 4 types of nanomites for a limited time and in limited charges:
Healing- Nanomites enter in the allies bodies and armors and cure/repair them.
Smoke Screen - Called this way, is more of a smoke/EMP that makes impossible for the enemies to see straight and use pointing systems.
Decoy - Nanomites create virtual imitation of soldiers. It fools all digital systems, and the hologram is usually recognizable only at close range.
Bombing - release nanomites that destroys the enemy structures around him.

His suit is also filled with self-healing nanomites, making him really hard to kill in battle.

RP sample: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=202452

Hard to kill eh?

TRIGGER THE LOTUS MINES!

[Bone Fort]

Fire. Fire always works.

[Len Hyet]

Fire. Fire always works.

Except against water elementals. Or fire elementals. Or really any species based off of Fire. Cuz then they just get stronger, and pissed off.

[Firstaria]

Guys, you are missing the point. He's more of a support for the 14th, you should be worried about the units.

[Volmachtia]

Added tech, will do history of the galaxy next.
Anyone want more tech info, just shout.

[Firstaria]

Added tech, will do history of the galaxy next.
Anyone want more tech info, just shout.

Heavy soldier or humanoid mechs?

[Len Hyet]

Added tech, will do history of the galaxy next.
Anyone want more tech info, just shout.

Heavy soldier or humanoid mechs?

If Mechs than I swear to god I am bringing in an RPG-23

IE - It explodes, and the Explosion releases 23 billion nanomites which devour metal.

TADA

[Volmachtia]

Heavy soldier or humanoid mechs?

If Mechs than I swear to god I am bringing in an RPG-23

IE - It explodes, and the Explosion releases 23 billion nanomites which devour metal.

TADA

I say no mechs. Maybe small (like 9ft) robotic mechs that act as support to human troops, but no Japanese-style mecha walkers or anything.

Firstaria is accepted, but try to make your average post alot longer. Like two paragraphs at least.

[Firstaria]

If Mechs than I swear to god I am bringing in an RPG-23

IE - It explodes, and the Explosion releases 23 billion nanomites which devour metal.

TADA

I say no mechs. Maybe small (like 9ft) robotic mechs that act as support to human troops, but no Japanese-style mecha walkers or anything.

Firstaria is accepted, but try to make your average post alot longer. Like two paragraphs at least.

I haven't even posted yet...

And I was indeed talking about human size, that type like walkers.