Operation Starlight (OOC - SCI FI - OPEN)

[Sao Nova Europa]

The natives are living right on top of the largest Dysprosium vein this side of the Magellanic Stream, and our excavators are lead-shielded.

So we have a corporate saboteur, two budding imperialist apps-in-progress, a Balkan nationalist... honestly my own Rikissa is looking downright normal and unremarkable in this absurd crew of misfits. XD

The UN Space Agency clearly needs to take their entire HR Department and fire them.

Don't forget that the acting Captain is a Japanese ultranationalist who may have committed war crimes in Libya. Quite the crew

[G-Tech Corporation]

Name: Xavier Silva
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Appearance: Xavier is a stocky older man, black hair now streaked with gray cut short but not quite short enough to be a crew cut. He is heavily muscled, though that muscle is ablated in regions by fat, particularly in a small amount of a stereotypical beer gut. Deep brown eyes compared to red river mud stand above a thick jawline which is nominally cleanshaven, but which oftentimes sprouts thick stubble both because of lowkey testosterone poisoning and inattention of her master. Xavier favors functional clothing, a jumpsuit with standard issue weave to protect against small arms fire, and usually wears it both slightly loose and with both long sleeves and full pants. There are also those who doubt his age, even when viewing his background - he is uncommonly spritely for being near sixty, and this is due to the large amount of genetic modifications and experimental retroviral treatments the aging Xavier has either purchased or derived to use upon himself.
Origins: Born in the Argentine naval station at Belgrano II, but raised in Buenos Aires for a time before returning to the Astral Continent.
Role: Engineering Corps Warrant Officer - Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Masters Degree in Biological Pharmacology
Strengths: Xavier is heavily modified, possessing both an artificial heart, artificial liver, AI-coded blood scrubber rib replacement, and endocrine system tweaker, and a bionic leg of his own design. His intellect was rated genius level by UNSC evaluation, a part of the reason he was chosen for Operation Starlight, combined with mental toughness and adaptability. Extensive military experience during the Terraforming Wars which presaged WW3 is combined with an ability to jury-rig and salvage which impressed even his notoriously frugal peers in the Antarctic Corps.
Weaknesses: His large amount of biomods means he must either consume larger than average amounts of food, or scavenge energy from other sources regularly. His mental toughness and independent mindset also make him a significantly less than amiable person in crisis situations, prone to looking out for himself before others or attempting to seize command even in situations where he isn't the best option because he trusts few others.
Equipment: Commonly equipped with only a large variety of repair tools and components stashed in innumerable pockets on his jumpsuit, but maintains a combat ready AEGIS-armor for extra-atmospheric deployment with CIC weapons complement
Biography: One of the children of the Argentine attempts to establish nascence as a claim to the resources of the Astral Continent prior to the outbreak of hostilities in the South Atlantic Conflict, Xavier was evacuated to Buenos Aires along with most of the civilian staff of Belgrano I-XI. Raised in relative privilege owing to his parents' educations and skills, he enrolled in the Expeditionary Force at only 16, successfully faking his way through the examinations with a small amount of covert hacking and extensive personal study. After four years at war on the Astral Continent and participating in the razing of Neo Sao Paolo, he returned to civilian life as a reservist and studied at three different universities across the interim. Following his graduation and re-enlistment as an officer, Silva was heavily involved in the Prometheus Experimental Autonomous Weapons program, and when that research was handed over the UN following WW3 he was hired on to continue the work. His brainchild, Artemis, was the baseline gestalt which pilots the Operation Starlight vessel, and he has been brought along to oversee both her operation as well as the onboard automation routines and expedition robots - both combat and civilian.
Psychological Profile: An introvert and a military man, Xavier speaks seldom to those outside his purview, and oftentimes has short shrift for those he does not consider his intellectual equals, or perceives as liabilities. Frivolity, especially when on-mission, is not a word which can be used to describe his mien. Adjudged nearly completely impossible to psychologically disturb and in possession of an unswerving dedication to his moral compass and the mission, there are good reasons Xavier was added to the mission into unknown parts with extreme stress.
Other Information: Xavier possesses, at the discretion of the UNSC, override codes to both the mainframe AI, and the secreted nuclear weapons she controls. He is charged with the ultimate defense of humanity in the event of hostile contact, to ensure no threat to Earth remains if any such threat is detected and cannot be conventionally contained.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

[...] and the secreted nuclear weapons she controls. [...]

oh wow you weren't joking about that

I want my hands on that

[G-Tech Corporation]

[...] and the secreted nuclear weapons she controls. [...]

oh wow you weren't joking about that

I want my hands on that

Sometimes you gotta solve problems with extreme force. This is especially true when it is unclear what problem set might need solving.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Name: Xavier Silva
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Appearance: Xavier is a stocky older man, black hair now streaked with gray cut short but not quite short enough to be a crew cut. He is heavily muscled, though that muscle is ablated in regions by fat, particularly in a small amount of a stereotypical beer gut. Deep brown eyes compared to red river mud stand above a thick jawline which is nominally cleanshaven, but which oftentimes sprouts thick stubble both because of lowkey testosterone poisoning and inattention of her master. Xavier favors functional clothing, a jumpsuit with standard issue weave to protect against small arms fire, and usually wears it both slightly loose and with both long sleeves and full pants.
Origins: Born in the Argentine naval station at Belgrano II, but raised in Buenos Aires for a time before returning to the Astral Continent.
Role: Engineering Corps Warrant Officer - Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Strengths: Xavier is heavily modified, possessing both an artificial heart, artificial liver, AI-coded blood scrubber rib replacement, and a bionic leg of his own design. His intellect was rated genius level by UNSC evaluation, a part of the reason he was chosen for Operation Starlight, combined with mental toughness and adaptability. Extensive military experience during the Terraforming Wars which presaged WW3 is combined with an ability to jury-rig and salvage which impressed even his notoriously frugal peers in the Antarctic Corps.
Weaknesses: His large amount of biomods means he must either consume larger than average amounts of food, or scavenge energy from other sources regularly. His mental toughness and independent mindset also make him a significantly less than amiable person in crisis situations, prone to looking out for himself before others or attempting to seize command even in situations where he isn't the best option because he trusts few others.
Equipment: Commonly equipped with only a large variety of repair tools and components stashed in innumerable pockets on his jumpsuit, but maintains a combat ready AEGIS-armor for extra-atmospheric deployment with CIC weapons complement
Biography: One of the children of the Argentine attempts to establish nascence as a claim to the resources of the Astral Continent prior to the outbreak of hostilities in the South Atlantic Conflict, Xavier was evacuated to Buenos Aires along with most of the civilian staff of Belgrano I-XI. Raised in relative privilege owing to his parents' educations and skills, he enrolled in the Expeditionary Force at only 16, successfully faking his way through the examinations with a small amount of covert hacking and extensive personal study. After four years at war on the Astral Continent and participating in the razing of Neo Sao Paolo, he returned to civilian life as a reservist and studied at three different universities across the interim. Following his graduation and re-enlistment as an officer, Silva was heavily involved in the Prometheus Experimental Autonomous Weapons program, and when that research was handed over the UN following WW3 he was hired on to continue the work. His brainchild, Artemis, was the baseline gestalt which pilots the Operation Starlight vessel, and he has been brought along to oversee both her operation as well as the onboard automation routines and expedition robots - both combat and civilian.
Psychological Profile: An introvert and a military man, Xavier speaks seldom to those outside his purview, and oftentimes has short shrift for those he does not consider his intellectual equals, or perceives as liabilities. Frivolity, especially when on-mission, is not a word which can be used to describe his mien. Adjudged nearly completely impossible to psychologically disturb and in possession of an unswerving dedication to his moral compass and the mission, there are good reasons Xavier was added to the mission into unknown parts with extreme stress.
Other Information: Xavier possesses, at the discretion of the UNSC, override codes to both the mainframe AI, and the secreted nuclear weapons she controls. He is charged with the ultimate defense of humanity in the event of hostile contact, to ensure no threat to Earth remains if any such threat is detected and cannot be conventionally contained.

Looks pretty good, just one thing to note before accepting it. The years is 2091, WWIII took place between 2061 - 2063 and since you mentioned that the Terraforming Wars took place before WWIII and Xavier is a veteran of those wars, it means that he must be even older. Right now, him being 35 means in WWIII he would be 5 years old. You should thus change his age to an older age.

With that change, you are ready to be accepted.

[G-Tech Corporation]

Name: Xavier Silva
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Appearance: Xavier is a stocky older man, black hair now streaked with gray cut short but not quite short enough to be a crew cut. He is heavily muscled, though that muscle is ablated in regions by fat, particularly in a small amount of a stereotypical beer gut. Deep brown eyes compared to red river mud stand above a thick jawline which is nominally cleanshaven, but which oftentimes sprouts thick stubble both because of lowkey testosterone poisoning and inattention of her master. Xavier favors functional clothing, a jumpsuit with standard issue weave to protect against small arms fire, and usually wears it both slightly loose and with both long sleeves and full pants.
Origins: Born in the Argentine naval station at Belgrano II, but raised in Buenos Aires for a time before returning to the Astral Continent.
Role: Engineering Corps Warrant Officer - Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Strengths: Xavier is heavily modified, possessing both an artificial heart, artificial liver, AI-coded blood scrubber rib replacement, and a bionic leg of his own design. His intellect was rated genius level by UNSC evaluation, a part of the reason he was chosen for Operation Starlight, combined with mental toughness and adaptability. Extensive military experience during the Terraforming Wars which presaged WW3 is combined with an ability to jury-rig and salvage which impressed even his notoriously frugal peers in the Antarctic Corps.
Weaknesses: His large amount of biomods means he must either consume larger than average amounts of food, or scavenge energy from other sources regularly. His mental toughness and independent mindset also make him a significantly less than amiable person in crisis situations, prone to looking out for himself before others or attempting to seize command even in situations where he isn't the best option because he trusts few others.
Equipment: Commonly equipped with only a large variety of repair tools and components stashed in innumerable pockets on his jumpsuit, but maintains a combat ready AEGIS-armor for extra-atmospheric deployment with CIC weapons complement
Biography: One of the children of the Argentine attempts to establish nascence as a claim to the resources of the Astral Continent prior to the outbreak of hostilities in the South Atlantic Conflict, Xavier was evacuated to Buenos Aires along with most of the civilian staff of Belgrano I-XI. Raised in relative privilege owing to his parents' educations and skills, he enrolled in the Expeditionary Force at only 16, successfully faking his way through the examinations with a small amount of covert hacking and extensive personal study. After four years at war on the Astral Continent and participating in the razing of Neo Sao Paolo, he returned to civilian life as a reservist and studied at three different universities across the interim. Following his graduation and re-enlistment as an officer, Silva was heavily involved in the Prometheus Experimental Autonomous Weapons program, and when that research was handed over the UN following WW3 he was hired on to continue the work. His brainchild, Artemis, was the baseline gestalt which pilots the Operation Starlight vessel, and he has been brought along to oversee both her operation as well as the onboard automation routines and expedition robots - both combat and civilian.
Psychological Profile: An introvert and a military man, Xavier speaks seldom to those outside his purview, and oftentimes has short shrift for those he does not consider his intellectual equals, or perceives as liabilities. Frivolity, especially when on-mission, is not a word which can be used to describe his mien. Adjudged nearly completely impossible to psychologically disturb and in possession of an unswerving dedication to his moral compass and the mission, there are good reasons Xavier was added to the mission into unknown parts with extreme stress.
Other Information: Xavier possesses, at the discretion of the UNSC, override codes to both the mainframe AI, and the secreted nuclear weapons she controls. He is charged with the ultimate defense of humanity in the event of hostile contact, to ensure no threat to Earth remains if any such threat is detected and cannot be conventionally contained.

Looks pretty good, just one thing to note before accepting it. The years is 2091, WWIII took place between 2061 - 2063 and since you mentioned that the Terraforming Wars took place before WWIII and Xavier is a veteran of those wars, it means that he must be even older. Right now, him being 35 means in WWIII he would be 5 years old. You should thus change his age to an older age.

With that change, you are ready to be accepted.

Ah, good point. I missed the blurb about when WW3 was. Altering.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

Sometimes you gotta solve problems with extreme force. This is especially true when it is unclear what problem set might need solving.

"If you ever find yourself in a fair fight where your opponent has a chance, take a moment to consider what series of mistakes led you to that position." - Rikissa, who routinely got into brawls with people twice her weight

[Sao Nova Europa]

Name: Xavier Silva

ACCEPTED

[Caber]

Ya know I thought my character was gonna be the real wrench in the gears for the whole operation but now it feels like "Oh we might as well have someone whos trying to kill us all lol"

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

Ya know I thought my character was gonna be the real wrench in the gears for the whole operation but now it feels like "Oh we might as well have someone whos trying to kill us all lol"

Yeah. xD

As I said earlier - whatever HR department was in charge of hiring this crew of misfits needs to be fired. This RP is just going to be a clash of colours between all of these personality oddballs. Hopefully the OP will be supplying generic NPC redshirts in bulk so we have some kind of normality to fall back upon.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Ya know I thought my character was gonna be the real wrench in the gears for the whole operation but now it feels like "Oh we might as well have someone whos trying to kill us all lol"

Yeah. xD

As I said earlier - whatever HR department was in charge of hiring this crew of misfits needs to be fired. This RP is just going to be a clash of colours between all of these personality oddballs. Hopefully the OP will be supplying generic NPC redshirts in bulk so we have some kind of normality to fall back upon.

Worry not. There will be plenty of NPC 'redshirts'.

To be fair to the HR department, people who agree to undertake a journey into a Wormhole Gate that has never been tested before and no one knows where it leads aren't going to be exactly normal folk.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

I know UN selection procedures. Getting actual breathing human beings through any UN committee is effort enough. Having them not be literally satan is a secondary concern.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Created a discord channel (invite link in first post). Joining the discord server is not necessary. All necessary information and plot-planning will be relayed in this thread, so even if you do not want join, you can still get the whole experience.

[Voxija]

I created my character expecting Merilla to be strange among equals, but I think now it seems like Merilla would be the only sane one.

[Sao Nova Europa]

I created my character expecting Merilla to be strange among equals, but I think now it seems like Merilla would be the only sane one.

Indeed

[Illegal Planets]

Theodore is pretty sane, kind of a codger and sometimes grumpy but he can be amiable among peers. Takes real wit to get him to crack a smile though.

[Sao Nova Europa]

ANNOUNCEMENT:

1. The IC thread will start either in two or four days. This will depend on a) if people who have made reservations have completed their apps by then, b) if more people join the RP. Hence why I leave the opening date somewhat open. So people who still work on their apps, no need to worry, you still have plenty of time.

2. If you have made a reservation and have completed your application, make a post to indicate so.

3. We could always use more people (especially for military roles), so if you have friends on NationStates that enjoy sci-fi RPs, feel free to invite them.

[Illegal Planets]

App should be done by tonight

[Sao Nova Europa]

The IC thread will be posted in two (2) days.

People who need more time to work on their applications and new applicants need not worry. The first 'mini-ark' of the IC thread will take place just before the Starlight enters the ring, in order to give everyone a chance to make an introductory post about their character before we venture into the unknown. That means that while this introduction takes place in the IC, you can still work on your app.

[Caber]

Sweet I'm ready to go.

[Sao Nova Europa]

The journey begins...

IC

[Caber]

My first post is up. Pleasure to start the journey.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Great to see activity already.

For those who are still working on their apps or who want to join, the RP is still open and you still have time to complete your app.

[Illegal Planets]

snip

Alright, I think he's done. May flesh out the equipment more, though for now I think it serves.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

A work in progress for a xenogeologist! One with a clear corporate motive, although that should vibe with the mission quite nicely.


Name: Dr. Sam van der Veen
Gender: Enby, they/them pronouns
Age: 68 Years old
Appearance:

(Image)

Origins: The Dutch diaspora in Ukraine
Role: Xenogeologist
Strengths: Sam van der Veen has some powerful augmentations made to their body. Nearly every bodily function has been enhanced by some device. Mainly, they has some additional glands emplaced that allow them to elongate their youthful appearance, although it does not actually lengthen their life. Apart from that they has some neural implants for additional data storage, and lense implants that allow for vision into the invisible spectrum. Their lenses acting as spectrometers is incredibly useful in their field.

Sam van der Veen is a prolific writer besides being a talented geologist.
Weaknesses: Sam is reliant on constant medication to keep their internal agumentations functioning, and to provide fuel for their supplemental glands. Their true potential is also marred by their greed, and they has lost a lust for true knowledge; they sees the world as more of a means to an end, rather than having pleasure in any goals themself.
Equipment: An array of various rock hammers, a writing tablet, sample vials, various volumes on xenogeology (some written by themself).
Biography: Sam was born in the Netherlands during the 2020s, a formative period for the whole of earthly civilisation. They studied geology at Groningen university, and got a job in the fracking industry straight out of college with Shell. They married quickly after with Paul, his husband, and they adopted his sirname. The Van der Veen family enjoyed a good dual income, adopted two children, and lived the life of high middle class. Golfing with the boss, distant vacations, ample benefits...

In 2055, a hurricane combined with extensive lunar activity led to the biggest storm surge in Dutch history. The system of dykes and levies could not withstand the power of the sea, and the many river plains and polders of the Netherlands violently flooded. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, all were flooded suddenly and without warning. The Van der Veen family lived west of Utrecht and had a bit of warning, but could not make it our in time. Their bodies were never found. Sam, who was around that time in Alaska for fracking research, was spared. In order to keep their mind off matters, Sam began to invest tremendously in their job. They became a prolific researcher in the new field of xenogeology; at that point focussed on Mars and the Moon. The Dutch Flood was one of the events that would culminate in the Third World War and the Unification of Earth, but most of it passed Sam by. They was secure in their job, mostly because the tanks and planes of the two sides still guzzeled oil, even as it became rarer and rarer. Military investment extended the profitability of fracking way beyond what the market would have allowed for, and near the end of the conflic, Sam was leading excavations below the melting polar ice caps and on Antarctica.

When the war was over, Sam's carreer really took of. As the preeminent (or best-funded) voice in xenogeology, their knowledge was instrumental in the foundation of extraterrestial colonies. At first, they led the interpretation of data back on earth from lunar and Martian modules, but as both became more habitable, they made more and more trips back and forth. This is where Sam learned about their hunger for exploration and discovery. Standing on the Red Planet, watching untouched plains and hills roll out before them, was an almost religious experience, and one that so captivated them that he almost forgot about Paul and their children. It was a high they would keep chasing: the Moon, Mars, then expeditions to the moons of Jupiter (which as of yet have not yielded colonies). Sam was on their way back to Earth when they learnt of the Artefact.

Shell, at first, did not want to let them go. The expedition was dangerous, and their knowledge too valuable to lose for any extended period of time. But the Shell CEO knew that, when Sam offered up their resignation, they was not kidding. Shell used its considerable influence to get Sam on board of Starlight, on the condition that they would note their discoveries on an additional hard drive, for use by Shell and their mining partners in future excavation of new-found planets. Sam agreed, partially because they is the proud owner of significant Shell stocks, and discovering new veins would lead to incredible bonuses. But Sam knows this might be the final frontier, and there is only so far they can run before the truth; that they was complicit in the death of their loved ones, catches up with them.
Psychological Profile: Sam would have loved to be a grandparent by now, but that has proved impossible. Despite their hard exterior when dealing in business, and despite their formerly harsh stoicism, Sam cannot help but mellow with age. They have become kinder to strangers and the people they meet, especially if it's not in a strict hierarchical relationship. To some, they has grown softer and softer, unlike what their reputation would lead you to believe.

Done!