“Holding out Hope and Better Times” (No SV, Hold out until the Hero Arrives in Outer World)

Introduction and Setting the Stage

Why stay Earthbound when prosperity awaits you in the stars? Come to Halcyon: the only colony on the edge of the Frontier owned and operated by corporations!

A trip of ten short years will feel like mere minuets, thanks to the comfort and safety of your very own hibernation Chamber!

You'll wake up in a perfect society, designed to maximize your productivity!

With only a minor term of service, you will become the master of your own destiny, when you go out of this world, to the Halcyon Colony!


Welcome to the worst world in human space, Halcyon Colony!

They promised us a brighter future, but all they've done is found new ways to tear us down.

They promised us just a short term of service, but how many of us are already in so much debt, that we'll need a lifetime to get out!

They promised us a new society and all they've done is recreate the old one we were trying to get away from!

9 Bloody Corporate Wars, and they still think they can put us down without problems!

DEATH TO THE BOARD AND THE CORPORATE SLAVERS!!


Propaganda, and its relation to reality. What you must understand is that this agitator is just making promises, Promises that no socialist movement has ever kept. We can go over the failed states of Medusa, Panacea and others, where socialists tried to set up a society and failed, because they refused to honor their promises.

But then, let us take the board. Yes, the Board. We WILL TALK HONESTLY HERE! sorry. We will talk honestly here. The lack of consequences for lying has meant the board has continually made reasonable promises which it abandons immediately due to costs. Simple, common sense measures, like days off, and health coverage are gone. Instead of giving a short amount of time for people to get back to 100%, people are forced to come in, and that leads to long term health problems ... and we could discuss the effect of graveyard taxes on work force morale... or just using organs as loan collateral... or...

and yet.... and YET!

and yet, the board seeks IMMEDIATE PROFITS! EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE POPULATION IS IN DEBTOR'S PRISON,OR INDENTURED, OR DEAD AND! AND! ...

I'm sorry, I am getting to a point. Sorry. the most important thing is for citizens to be able to entrust a governing body to uphold a social contract. A promise for the bare minimum of human behavior. The state is supposed to uphold this agreement. The state is the most reliable body to keep promises to citizens.

the State by its nature has to form social and economic safeguards of its citizens...and in my eyes, the only way to do that is to do one thing to restore good law, order and principles.

DESTROY THE BOARD! For its many injustices! And bring a sense of Justice to the Population long forgotten.

Once it is over...then there can be rebuilding and only then there can be peace!


Looking for Peace? Looking for a Future? Apply To-
There Can Never Be peace as Long as-
In short, we have a choice before us.

(Choose YOUR FACTION, and in the Case of the OC Factions, your Leader)

[] The Iconoclast:

The Amber Heights Massacre was supposed to Change things...and they did!! Graham Bryant has opened his eyes to see the ashes of MSI's Corporate Leadership and felt...INVIGORATED! For Too LONG The Board has trampled Upon the Dignity and Power of Others...In spite of the Chaos his followers in the Wake of the attack, The Flow of the Universe has come to you and using the Philosophists Religion and Values of Anarchy as a Guide the Board will Fall...It must...otherwise all this suffering will have been for nothing.

Advantages:

For the Natural Spirit of Man: For too long men have relied on beasts of steel and iron, and let their souls rot. In your retreat to the wilderness, you have found that the harsh environment has revealed the strength of your humanity, rather than covering it in trauma. Every man and woman in your band has found an inner strength, an inner truth, that drives them forward. Where common men, made weak by modern society and the poison of corporations would falter, your men succeed. They are hardier; They are more determined; They are what is necessary to finally get rid of the Corporations

The Survivalist Ethos: The iconoclasts are experts of living off the land. Instead of relying on farms and industry, the Iconoclasts have discovered reliable methods for foraging, hunting and salvaging weapons and parts. While other find the wilderness on Monarch nigh impossible to survive, the Iconoclasts have learned every trick in the book to survive this unforgiving hellscape of a planet.

Grounded: Your men know the planet of Monarch like the back of their hands. They know every crook and cranny to hide in. They know the most dangerous beasts, and the safest places to forage.

What they don't know is how to fly, or build a rocket. Unless something greatly changes, the Iconoclasts will be stuck on the planet. They do not have ships to defend, trade to protect, or interstellar allies they will need to aide. What they know is Monarch, and what they need is Monarch.

Disadvantages:
Grounded: Your men know the planet of Monarch like the back of their hands. They know every crook and cranny to hide in. They know the most dangerous beasts, and the safest places to forage.

They don't know how to fly or build a rocket. Unless something greatly changes, the Iconoclasts will be stuck on the planet. They do not have ships to defend, trade to protect, or interstellar allies they will need to aid. What they know is Monarch, and what they need is Monarch.

Outside the Law, Outside the Way: The Iconoclasts refuse to be chained by a society run by Corporations... but they also refuse to live in polite society now. Unfortunately, this has meant that many of the most unruly and free spirits of Graham's followers have joined him in the wilderness. Unfortunately, this lot of people are the exact opposite of the types of people who naturally follow law and order. Instead, most of the iconoclasts are the types of people who chafe under any sort of rules.

While everyone in the movement is still united behind a set of ideals, they have still let themselves completely loose. If things continue this way, the Iconoclasts may just become a way to free yourself from society, rather than what it was always meant to be; a way to free society from the poison of corporations. Graham will need to more firmly bind his followers to the way, and to make them a shining ideal of what humanity can be, instead of letting the iconoclasts degenerate into a common band of thieves and bandits.

Pragmatic Hope vs Idealistic Cynicism: The Iconoclasts have abandoned the old models of society, dependent on the rot of Corporations. Graham is building something new in the wilderness, based on the true strength of humanity. His Iconoclasts will be a symbol of a new age, and what humanity can become. They will enact the dream of the future.

But Graham knows that as long as the evil of the corporations exist, there can be no peace. As long as the Board exists, it will continue to crush humanity underfoot. It has an entire system under its iron fist, and it will only continue to destroy and rot an poison. And so the Iconoclasts fight. And so Graham and his followers ready themselves for a hard, long, deadly, slog of a war. And each day they fight, Graham loses more men, more examples of the future, more pillars of his ideal society.

And now some wonder whether all this is worth it. For they have made their own heaven, their own slice of paradise. The iconoclasts have created their utopic society, and all it seems to exist for, is to fuel an engine of endless, useless war. Instead of continuing to expand their dream, they commit themselves to a fruitless, deadly endeavor. More and more wonder whether they should commit to the future, to building the new humanitarian society, rather than falling back on old fears and hatreds, rather than just existing to try and exterminate the Board.

And while Graham continues to espouse the belief that they cannot truly move forward until they defeat the evil that keeps them in the past, the evil of The Board, more and more doubts plague the spirit of his Iconoclast followers

[]Monarch Steller Industries:

The Amber Heights Massacre was supposed to change things...and they did!! Sanjar Nadi has opened his eyes to see the ashes of MSI's Corporate Leadership and felt... TERRIFIED!! The change was here and not in the Way he predicted...he wanted sensible things, like workers' compensation, township councils, and things that the People needed to not only be productive members of society but satisfied customers who will support you.

You took power in Steller Bay to HELP people, and to get back into the Board so you can FIX the problems on Monarch and Halcyon and maybe make something better along the way.

After all, a Better World required a lot of Numbers to be crunched.

If only numbers could Unite People...and bring more than Violence.

Advantages:

THE MONARCH Of MSI: Due to the Rebranding of MSI, Legal Loopholes in the Terra 1 Colonization Clause….You and your company…are the legal owner of the entire Moon of Monarch…hence the Rebrand. It not only gives you massive economic benefits but greater social leverage. Among them the ability to give Township grants without the board's bureaucratic oversight. And also in the circumstances of the Board leaving Monarch…all of the Ground-Based Assets they left behind.

Now if only you had the manpower to get them.

The Sanctuary of Steller Bay: Steller Bay began life as a Board fishing and hailing port, but frequent attacks by mutated wildlife over the years had more or less turned it into a fortress. An Understaffed one that has strong walls and dutiful defenders. It also…somehow, has a very active nightlife.

Free Port, Free City, Free Thinkers: Despite or perhaps because of the fact the Board has labeled your entire Moon a failed Prospect for their corporate control…it has led to…almost every anti-Board pirate and Privateer coming here…hoping to start anew, and life Free from the board.

Perhaps…there can be help…to make something better.

Disadvantages:

Monarch's Monsters: Terra 1's Terraforming was sloppy, and mutated the wildlife into giant monsters with thick armor and hides. They will be a constant danger to the Colonists and their communities. But they make good eating, so take the good with the bad.

Under Blockade: UDL and the Board has used the Hazzard Clause to force the entire moon under blockade. Only smugglers and the truly desperate can come here now…and news has to be delivered by hand…its an archaic time.

Disunited Townships, Disunited People: Despite the Freedom from the Board the Townships are now divided…they want only to care about their own grudges…their own issues and want nothing more than to be little nations unto themselves.

You know that this Disunity will be the death of you all.

But perhaps you can use it…to build the powerbase you need to finally rule Monarch

[] The Halcyon Social Republican Movement and the United Syndicalist Unions of Halcyon (AKA The Syndicalist SR's):

Many Tales of Hope and Sorrow come the time of the Revolutions of the Ages Past. The Revolutions of the Spartacus Uprising and the Failed Revolution of China failed to bring the Promised age of betterment. The Journey to the Stars saw little better. The Hilang Asteroid Miner Rebellion that started the First Corporate War, gave many Martyrs and greater voices than ever before. The Fifth War in the Pegasus System showed our Resolve and Organizational Skills to build a better world...The Ninth War...our failings.

We wanted a better World...but all we have is Halcyon...The Edge of Man's World.

Maybe it is worth a Shot here and now?

Advantages:

Underground: Your Revolution and its followers are Underground, out of sight...and out of the Board's Mind and Security Apparatus...so far no one can find you...not without looking close.

Well-Connected: The syndicalists have been around for a long time, and have formed many ties with existing towns and polities. While many people refused to help them before, due to fear of The Board, those very same people now wish for our protection

Hard Circumstances make hard people: Your people have cultivated many strategies to survive terrible conditions. Your people can survive on less food, and terrible conditions will result in less unrest penalties

Disadvantages:

Underground: Your Revolution and its followers are Underground, out of sight...and out of the Board's Mind and Security Apparatus...so far no one can find you...not without looking close.

Divided Revolutionaries: While many champions the Nobility of our Cause...and indeed the causes that come before us...others very much question the methods to achieve our goals in Halcyon? Unite the Population, says the Travelers of Fords Gulch, Arm the Workers, says the Warmen of Pegasus. The Methods shape the means of the Revolution and if a common cause is not found and given...it is a hopeless endeavor to pursue.

Dirt Poor: Resisting the board over the years has completely tapped your money and resources. Worse yet, with the Amber Heights massacre, many people now look to you to provide basic needs like security and food. And yet you simply don't have any resources stockpiled to meet the basic needs long-term, you're going to need to fix that.

LEADERS:

[]The Tranfer Jumper

Bio: Elric Matterson was supposed to be in Tartarus Prison...having been caught smuggling weapons into the Maurader-infested Asteroid of Gorgon in the Wider Belt, within the Halcyon fields. The Charge weapons smuggling.

But the Truth...is far more interesting. At the Age of 40, he didn't look like a revolutionary. He wasn't a firebrand, with more words than sense. He wasn't even that distinctive, being one of many quiet introspective o who always ended up fading into the crowd.

But the damage asteroid mining caused to him scarred him to this day. Physically, he looked no different. But he remembered how hard the mining executive had pushed him and others. He remembered just how many of his peers were forced into debt due to 'underperformance fines'. He remembered several other miners who had suffered injuries because the executives kept pushing for more material rather than safe procedures. He especially remembered the November disaster, where several miners were lost when oxygen containment was lost. He remembered how no investigators were sent (because having a proper investigative team was deemed an unnecessary expense by the company), and that instead, it was the whistleblowers who were jailed. The whistleblowers who only spoke up because they wanted to make things safer for everyone...

Things couldn't continue like this.

He was a humble man, who just wanted to live a peaceful and safe life. He didn't want to be a revolutionary. But that was no longer an option in this day and age. the world had refused Elric Matterson, and it would need to be changed before he could ever live in peace. So the quiet man made his decision.

And the Red Flag rises over his little Gunboat, the newly named John Reed.

It is coming.

[] Local and Steadfast

Bio: Aparajita Desai was a local; Your family has a history here. You remember the tales of your grandfather taking on crippling debt, to pay for his best friend's funeral, (after his suicide, you believe?). You remember your father, who was shipped off to debtor prison at age 33 when he tried to shoulder that same debt, as well as a new medical debt one of his subordinates had suffered. Of course, your father couldn't afford both debts. You even remember your uncle, who disappeared when he was 42, after failing to manage your worsening finances. And now here you were, all but waiting for the debt to catch up to you too. You tried to look out for your friends. You even had joined the resistance, to try and make things better, somehow. And yet, you knew your time would run out, and you would eventually be taken away.

And yet, in the latest meeting, that all changed. It was the normal shitfest, with everything breaking down. People started drinking and yelling about never getting anything done, and just waiting to die and then... Then you asked them to shut up, got them speaking amicably, and said that you were sure you all could come up with a plan that could work 'soon'.. And they all looked at you, looked at each other, and then looked at you again... and then asked you to lead.

And you are so terrified to tell them you have no idea what you are doing.

[] Old Revolutionary:

Bio: Bu Hyun-Ki would remember that scene his entire life. He did not become a socialist during some quiet exploration of political philosophy, and neither did he learn of it while spending late nights with more radical students. No, he learned it when the 7th corporate war ended on his old homeworld of Aurora. He remembers the soldiers demanding every last syndicalist rebel, which was, at that point, every last woman and child survivor. He remembers how intimidating have an entire army ready and eager for battle on the planet was. And he remembers the strength within his fellow citizens in that day. He remembers how common citizens finally had enough and formed a human wall, a thin strip of fleshy humans being the only real boundary between tanks, missiles, and lasers, and their targets. He even remembers how the corporations finally had to yield to human compassion and negotiated an exile for the syndicalists they were hunting. He remembers the first-day humanity won in his life. He remembers that humanity will always win in the end.

He is tired of the pessimists in the movement giving up before they even begin. He is tired of the unnecessary compromise. No More! No More Disappointments! It is time for humanity to win the day, and for the Syndicalists to finally realize the true final form of human society. It is time for paradise, the naysayers be damned!

[] The Fair Deal Coalition Front:

Where did it all go wrong? Where did it all fall apart? Well, you can safely say that Mckinley not getting killed was a start. Farm Laborers, Progressive Republicans...Social Democrats...New Labor.. too many names lost to history. But that ends now. For too many years you've been running from the Earth, running from Colonies, Running from the Wars, Running from time.

Now In Halcyon...you've run out of places to run...this is the edge of the world.

Now...as you stare out into the Abyss you look to Halcyon...and Say "No More."

You will stand in this world or die...no more compromise, No More Retreat.

The New Dawn of Humanity will rise under an alien sky...but it WILL COME!

Advantages:
The Shining Banner, The Common Banner, The Empty Banner: Back in the early days, there was the Fair deal. It was a shining example. It was a promise... that you were never really able to fulfill. But People still remember. There are several groups that are willing to unite under your banner, and typically, your faction has a higher potential of having more groups united under it. However, many people believe your cause needs to be reinvented for the modern age, and they all have significantly different ideas about how you should modernize your platform, often ignoring the very roots your group spawned from. Experience less resistance from other factions to joining a coalition you are leading.

The Wandering Flame: Your group is based on a wandering fleet that you have been operating ever since the first interstellar Corporate war. Your people have learned how to operate your ships extra efficiently, and to spot a defect before it becomes a disaster. Be able to choose to either travel at faster speeds, or the ability to reroll for all travel-related rolls

Code of Conduct: Your coalition has always followed a strict code of conduct, no matter the situation, and even regardless of whether your enemies and/or allies are stooping to worse behaviors. While some argue that this is a mark of your unwillingness to do what needs to be done, many others find your conduct trustworthy and inspirational. This code has been the glue that has kept the coalition together through the centuries and it continues to inspire all your members. The Coalition benefits from increased recruitment rates. Moreover, most factions will almost always trust you enough to negotiate with you (may be asked to act as third party for negotiations between other parties)

Disadvantage:
Extreme Disunity: Ultimately, your faction is a fusion of several different other political groups, all of which have very different political beliefs. Everyone seems to have one field or another that they disagree with everyone on. Its a wonder everyone still stick together. Suffer increased political unrest within your coalition.

Old-Fashioned: Many of your core political principles are 'out-of-date' and there is significant pressure to modernize to account for the modern world. However, Everyone has a different idea which part of your political platform need to be re-invented. Suffer disadvantage to internal politics rolls with any new/joining groups until core policies are 'reformed'; Economic rolls are disadvantaged until core policies are 'reformed'

No, You Move!: Our Coalition follows a code of conduct on the battlefield. However, Many military commanders hate our refusal to engage in all possible military tactics, especially when the stakes are high. They refuse to admit that one must never compromise on one's principles. Our Coalition suffers a reputation loss among all important characters with significant military background. Worse yet, if we ever abandon our Code of Conduct, we will suffer significant internal unrest, as it is one of the core pillars our coalition, and one of the few things all our members agree on.

LEADERS:

[] The bullshark nobody

Carson "Chin-Hae" Da Seok was the leader of the Bullshark party. Which was a defunct splinter group of Bullmoose Party, which was.... Never mind all that. What was important was he got to sit at the coalition Head Council, where they made all their important decisions. His words weren't supposed to have any real weight, since he didn't really have a party to back him up, but most of the leaders liked him well enough, and sometimes he'd had a novel idea or slogan for them to use.

But now things were getting hairy. The council had to run away again, chased away by every political party again, either because they were too radical, or too moderate, or because they acted like sane human beings. Honestly, he had become a little numb to the reasons why people kept rejecting them.

But now they were on the edge of space, they probably couldn't run anymore, and now that it was their last chance, their coalition was finally imploding. The punches thrown in the conference room were matched in intensity by the rioters outside, who had started a massive brawl. He could feel the coalition dying, and he knew there were no more clever words that could save it.

And then someone suggested they vote on an emergency leader. He could almost feel the tension in the room increase as everyone looked at each other and tried to find the person they hated the least. He could even see the old faction lines forming. He could see the 3 leaders who formed the new labor movement edging closer toward each other... until one of them started staring at him.

He turned around and noticed the rep from the Bull moose part also staring at him.... He took a quick scan around the room and realized the tension had deflated.... Because everyone was staring at him.

They were all about to make a terrible decision, weren't they?

[] The Old Guard

Nicodème Clément was a realist. Nico had been born into the party and could remember the defeat of the coalition all the way back in the 5 corporate war. He had seen them lose time and time again, as their numbers failed them, and as allies turned their back on the coalition. He had grown up with the fight. He had grown up with the original principles of the coalition too. The founding principles, the 'new deal' which had been conceived back in the 20th century held up. The new deal was the way forward.

But Nico was a realist. He understood that others had trouble with the language of the new deal. He understood that the party needed more allies or more members. He understood others had complaints about how the document failed to address 'modern' issues. He understood a lot, and what it came down to was that their founding document was important, and people kept asking for a compromise. And he was a realist, so he could understand modernizing the language.

But he was also a believer, and he would never let the core of the party be a piece of Syndicalist propaganda. The new deal had survived nine bloody corporate wars, and it would continue to survive. It would've won if it hadn't been abandoned by the Inclusive Independence Alliance in the 6th corporate war. If it hadn't been sabotaged by the Communist Coalition at the start of the 7th war. If the Syndicalist Society hadn't escalated during the 8th war while they tried to hammer out a peace deal. Every time they had to pay the price every time, in every war, and yet they remained! And what of so many others? What of their principles? Did they live on? DId they do any good? Or were there core beliefs in humanity dust in the wind.

The new deal lasted, and everything else crumbled to the corrupt form of humanity that dominated the galaxy. Nico was a realist. But he refused to compromise in what he actually believed in. Change the words, sure, but their meaning... That was something that lasted, and it would be the future that humanity so desperately needed

[] The Realist Reformer

Komatsu Yori was a realist. She had known the odds of success for the syndicalist rebels on her homeworld of Shirvan. She believed in the syndicalist principles. but would they survive? would they even make a noticeable impact if they won? she was a realist, and when the New Deal Coalition fleet had left her homeworld near the end of the 9th corporate war, it had left with her on it. Because she knew she could do more with the coalition. Because she knew that if anyone could do something, it would be the coalition

Your beliefs weren't worth a damn if they didn't somehow impact the world. She wouldn't be just one of the billions of others that could yell out their beliefs but never really made an impact. She refused to just have humanity if she couldn't make sure it was shared and shared with as many people as possible. She refused to give up on humanity.

And so she has spent the last decade working, forming relationships, improving the ships, and finally, attaining a leadership position, and a spot in the head council. She knows that the coalition needs to become bigger. She knows that it must begin to address so many modern issues, which the corporations have introduced. She knows that the corporations have sunk to such low depravities that it is a wonder that the original new deal document still has anything to say. She knows that the new deal coalition must evolve. But she is a realist and understands that that document holds weight. But even if the document and its words stay the same, the enacted policies and goals of the new deal coalition must evolve.

And today, she sees riots and protests, and an alliance about to tear itself apart. She sees a leadership that does not understand just how out of touch it is with its members. She sees the end of the brightest hope for any socialist cause, and she knows that now is the moment where she must not compromise. The party needs to evolve, or it will tear itself apart, and the only hope for a true socialist reformation will die.

[] The Tesla Mutiny:

They say duty is its Own Reward...but being poorly compensated is a hell most men cannot endure. You had lodged your Complaint to the Minister and the Board, and saw nothing. For weeks you waited...and then you saw UDL Ships being laid in the Shipyards...built by your men's bits.

No More Orders...No more puppetry...THIS FARCE ENDS NOW! You Rallied what men you could...NO MORE SHALL THE BOARD Use good men to die in their WARS! NO LONGER WILL THE INTEREST GROUPS CONTROL US! WE WILL SHOW THE BOARD WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ARMY SHOOTS BACK AT THEM FOR ONCE!

Advantages:

THE STATELESS DIRECTORY!: This military is unmoored from any one state, and is no longer commanded by an unknown presence light years away. Instead, the soldiers follow commanders who live beside them. Every soldier personally knows that man commanding them, and they have always been far more driven by the desire to protect their fellow brothers in arms, rather than just the interest of some far-off businessmen.

Earth Directory Marines: Some of the most experienced soldiers from the earth, these soldiers have spent decades fighting similar rebellions. Now that they find themselves on the other side, they will make sure all your forces know the best tricks and tactics to use to fight against the Board with.

Soldiers of Halcyon UNIT: Some of the units that have mutinied with you are the elites of the Halcyon military. They have a deep understanding of how the Halcyon military works. Moreover, their access codes work, which means you should have access to Halcyon military communications for a short period of time. Furthermore, these troops have been equipped with some of the best equipment in Halcyon and will have a distinct advantage in equipment over most opponents.

Disadvantage:

Stateless: The army does not have a base or production center it is operating. It will have to rely on trading and raiding in order to get the resources it needs until it is able to establish a base of some sort.

Carry all YOU HAVE!: The tesla mutiny has very few resources, and many of their soldiers were only able to carry a limited amount of resources when they mutinied. The soldiers have limited food, ammunition, and resources, and will need to gather more somehow.

Running out of Time, Running out of Power: Mutanies and in many cases Anti-Corporate Rebellion. Run-on the Threat of Violence and the projection of power, these things are not infinite or sustainable, especially in an area owned and Operated by the Corporations as a whole that has the system on lockdown.

You can't rely on support if they don't trust you can bring results. It's a balancing act of actually strategic skill and management. The Corp made sure the People you are trying to save have short memories.

Good Luck Commander.

LEADERS:

[] The straightforward quartermaster

Kadeem Rizk was just a quartermaster. That meant you made sure everyone maintained discipline. That also meant you took care of your men. You had come up with what must be hundreds of cockamamie schemes to keep the company afloat, and the men fed. You had been going to the commander's office almost daily for months now. And the worst part was, it didn't matter a damn bit, you commander never seemed like he'd be willing to budge. So it was a surprise when you got to his office and found an empty chair..... and an empty safe, which should've been holding the company's funds.

You hadn't seen any of the high-ranking officers today either, you remembered now. You knew exactly what had happened. They had all run. The cowards had all picked up a fled when the men needed them most. You looked back at the empty vault, and could almost feel the physical hit. You wanted to snap. It was a primal rage to snap everything within range, but you contained yourself. You would find exactly who was responsible later. But there were other concerns you had to attend to first. You had a job. You took a second and slowly picked yourself up, dragging yourself to the desk. You tried to remember just how much food your men had, and then you took a look at the computer screen, and saw the emails.

Ration Reports, Duty Roster Cuts....Mechanicals are replacing men in the Uniform... The Slow Decay had hit you like a brick...Halcyon was dying.

And they didn't know what to do about it.

And hell neither did you?

You were a quartermaster, and you had a duty. You were there to make sure to earn everyone's discipline, and that meant keeping your men fed and paid. Revenge could wait a second. But you would have your vengeance. Your men had bled for these empty promises, and you would make sure they understood to never cheat an honest soldier.

[] The Forgotten knight

Hirai Fisher was an MSI employee... No, that was perhaps underselling things a bit. She was one of the most promising MSI employees in recent history, renovating several dead-end projects to finally turn a profit. She had even gotten a posting as an MSI admiral. And She was even called one of the three MSI knights.... when people were being generous. She knew Sanjar and Graham had shined more brightly than her. That they had factions of people inspired by her while she was, at best... a project lead, or perhaps more accurately, a generalist technician. She helped make sure any project fixed its kinks, but she had no talent for leading people. She knew after any assignment, her team would move on. She wasn't the pillar for a new age.

But even if she wasn't as important as the other young geniuses, she was someone who was going to fight for the future. She had discussed plans with both Sanjar and Graham. They were supposed to be a team, and she had almost got everything ready on her end. She knew her command could get everything to work perfectly with a little more time, and she just needed the others to trust her.... And they didn't

They tried to kick things off early, and everything had gone wrong. The whole event was now called the Amber Heights massacre and now, she was stuck on the other side of the system as both enemies and friends had been dying. She knew, even now, that some of her closest friends, the very people she had been fighting for, were dead because of this ... boneheaded... political jockeying... And she was stuck here, on the other side of a Halcyon blockade, with orders to stay put, even as her fleet ran out of food.

She was now stuck with the MSI 'Void Sunrise' fleet. Its not like she didn't like her crew or (most of) the captains in the fleet. It's just that she was never supposed to be stuck here. Hell, she knew she had a responsibility to the crew, but she did them no favors by following orders and waiting for them to starve, or just plain ignoring the fact that she wasn't getting any replacement parts for the critical systems (like the bloody life support system on the Icarus!).

But she wanted to go home, not be stuck with them here, away from everything. She could even tell that some of the captains were trying to make her fail. They didn't see a disaster, they saw an opportunity to lay the blame on her and take her position, damn the hundreds of their own crew who would probably bloody die.

And she couldn't do anything. Her latest orders from the Board had quite literally tied her hands, and she could tell that she didn't have any more palatable legal options left. She and her fleet were being left here to die, and she knew exactly who the late-night TV hosts would be blaming.

But what the hell could she do! She wasn't a real leader. She couldn't get everyone behind her. Hell, she was sure the stubborn captains that had been defying her would take this opportunity to try and kill her if she actually refused these orders. And ... and...

And after the massacre, wasn't it all bloody worthless?

She looked back at the photo of her lover, Shanta Trivedi. She had made several promises to her..... but now, only one stuck in her mind.

"I Promise when I come back I will be helping to fix this. All of this"

It felt like such an empty promise, but was there anything else left for her? She wasn't even going to be there to spread her ashes. All she could do was honor the final few promises she had made.

She tore her eyes away and looked through the window. She knew any action she took now was a long shot. But she had fixed dead-end projects before, and sometimes it took considering options that the Board would never consider.

She knew what she needed to do. However, she also knew that if she wanted a snowball's chance in hell, she needed to make sure that everyone supported her. And she was no charismatic leader like Sanjar or Graham. She needed to get everyone on board if they were even going to have a chance of survival.

She tried to comfort herself, by repeating the fact that she was a very different person from her father... And then she finally steeled herself for the actions she had to take. She sent out the emergency summons to the most ... stubborn captains and readied her pistol. It was time to take out the trash that was standing in the way of survival.

[] Rebellious Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral John Carlile
Age:50

Commands: Seventh Corporate War, Shadow Sector (Captain of the EDS Frigate John Young), Eighth Corporate War, Shadow Sector ( Commodore of the 3rd Assault Fleet, Commander of the EDS Carrier Adam Smith)

Defection From Earth Directorate Forces in the Ninth War, Shadow Sector (Admiral of the Pegasus Defence Fleet in the League of Independent Planets)

John Carlile had seen too much in his half-century of life….War does that to a man.

Born on Earth in 2293 to Military officers in the Earth Military, he spent the majority of his early life seeing the chaos of the Sixth Corporate War that killed his mother. The event forced him in all reckoning to come to terms with the world he inhabited.

Passing with high marks, he spent his first deployment in the final days of the sixth war, learning that people in power like a good orbital bombardment and the excuse "They're non-signators to the Geneva Conventions. They deserve it"

Not only showing their waste but their callousness for human life.

He fought the Seventh War and the Eighth with a cold detached control and dignity, following the law and the conduct of war, even if many of his compatriots and Corporate fellows would not.

This made him popular, dignified and dangerous…he was a symbol of State authority and power, a power that should at least be a peer if not lesser to the Corporate powers that run the world.

State Authority was dangerous…State Authority…meant higher corporate income taxes, regulations and free-market restrictions, zoning laws, clamp downs on tax evasion and worse of all…

A Government that actually DID something with its god-given power and monopoly on violence.

Sure it could be bought via lobbying…but the possibility of it saying no is unacceptable to them.

That was why he defected to the Independence League and helped them fight in the Ninth War, he'd had enough of the Corporations stonewalling his ambitions for a better world.

So he decided to make one himself…

Shadow Sector and the planets within, lasted the longest out of nearly 65 planets that rebelled against Earth at 4 years, long enough to make a government body and hold an actual election. But even then it wasn't enough.

It was half a miracle you weren't put to the sword yourself for your treason if not for one man…the last decent human being in the Earth Directorate Government.

Harry McDoll though a sense of cunning or just appealing to the corporate greed of their bottom line.

The General Amnesty and Work Relief Act would give all combatants on the opposing side a work away from their debt program and scatter them across the Deep Periphery.

You were given a new rank, handed over to work a desk job for the next decade and going to retire in something resembling peace.

Peace…there would be no peace, not if the Board controlled the lives.

So seeing the opportunity…and the means, you gave the order to your ship and your crew and raised the flag of rebellion against the Board.

It might be a meaningless gesture…but everyone else seemed to be doing it, and spending the rest of your military career behind a desk wasn't how you planned on living the rest of your life here in Halcyon.

For the Future yet to be born!

AN: Well here it is...at least half a year and nearly 7k words with the Help of @Anon500 and two replay's of Outer World, it is finally ready for posting, my headcanon-filled idea of people having enough of an incompetent backwater corporate government.

Filled with talks of logistics, tossball team deathmatches and the fear that every turn will be its last as you forgot to deal with something and start a riot.

Outer Worlds...a world that needs a sequel to explain the backstory that I made my own timeline to compensate.

Enjoy and vote when I open it.

Monarch Steller Industries

Leader: CEO/Chairman Sanjar Nandi

Ideology: Corporate Reformer (With Guild Republic Characteristics

Power Scale: Middling Power

Population: File Curropted

Positive traits:

THE MONARCH Of MSI: Due to the Rebranding of MSI, Legal Loopholes in the Terra 1 Colonization Clause….You and your company…are the legal owner of the entire Moon of Monarch…hence the Rebrand. It not only gives you massive economic benefits but greater social leverage. Among them the ability to give Township grants without the board's bureaucratic oversight. And also in the circumstances of the Board leaving Monarch…all of the Ground-Based Assets they left behind.

Now if only you had the manpower to get them.

The Sanctuary of Steller Bay: Steller Bay began life as a Board fishing and hailing port, but frequent attacks by mutated wildlife over the years had more or less turned it into a fortress. An Understaffed one that has strong walls and dutiful defenders. It also…somehow, has a very active nightlife.

Free Port, Free City, Free Thinkers: Despite or perhaps because of the fact the Board has labeled your entire Moon a failed Prospect for their corporate control…it has led to…almost every anti-Board pirate and Privateer coming here…hoping to start anew, and life Free from the board.

Perhaps…there can be help…to make something better.

The MSI Security Aperatus (A Combo of NEST, Veterans, FLEET, and Training) : MSI's security forces are some of the best in Halcyon, and while incapable of acting off the planet, they are more then capable of fighting ON the planet. (All Bonuses from Positive Traits Military are noted)

[X]Sacrifices Recognized (-3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed, personally, in order to save what people he can... And people, not just his people, but representatives of the downtrodden from all political stripes and backgrounds have seen this sacrifice, and recognize the charitable spirit behind Sanjar's actions. (decrease in starting AP, but start with a Bonus to those who share similarities to your Ideology or at least some of your policies and those who are at least somewhat more "Lawful", it makes it harder for the Board to sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws" )
[X]The Union of Monach and its Union Man (-3 CP): Sanjar has always spent personal resources to help grow and develop the MSI union. Not only that, but he has truly listened to the union workers, and attempted to fight for their rights at great personal and economic costs at time. These fights have helped convinced even the most stubborn, radical socialists to at least hear him out. However, his willingness to speak out for the union has only led the board to believe the union is Sanjar's pet army in waiting, and they had curtailed much of the investment into the planetary security forces before Sanjar came into power. But with all the sacrifices made for their benefit time and time again in the years before the now rebranded MSI UNION of Steller Bay and Starbrook gladly considers Sanjar a "Union Man." (Bonus to diplomacy with socialist
powers, and an Ally/Vassel: The Commune of Starbrook Quarry, however, start with less available Security Forces Manpower as you need to hold the City and the Commune.)
[X]Mighty Medics (-3 CP): Seeing the chaotic times ahead, one of the first deals Sanjar made was to get some medics to come to Monarch, and help build a proper healthcare infrastructure.... and this decision has continued to hurt your wallet ever since you made it. And all for a third rate healthcare system.... which is still connected planet-wide, and is ensuring far fewer people are lost in this chaos. Yes somehow one of your greatest achievements as things fall apart is the fact that a Corporate Run Planet that doesn't even have total control has one thing the Board can never claim to have fully implemented, a poorly

Negative Traits:

[X]Dishonest Dealer (+3 CP): Sanjar will say it himself that he is not a People Person, that was Graham's Expertise, always being the people person as he filled out the paperwork and made sure the language was clear enough to get what he wants…unfortunately, in a world of trust being shown face to face Sanjar has shown that he needs room for improvement, a lot of of improvement. (Small Malus to all Diplomacy actions with all factions.)

Monarch's Monsters: Terra 1's Terraforming was sloppy, and mutated the wildlife into giant monsters with thick armor and hides. They will be a constant danger to the Colonists and their communities. But they make good eating, so take the good with the bad.

Under Blockade: UDL and the Board has used the Hazzard Clause to force the entire moon under blockade. Only smugglers and the truly desperate can come here now…and news has to be delivered by hand…its an archaic time.

Disunited Townships, Disunited People: Despite the Freedom from the Board the Townships are now divided…they want only to care about their own grudges…their own issues and want nothing more than to be little nations unto themselves.

You know that this Disunity will be the death of you all.

But perhaps you can use it…to build the powerbase you need to finally rule Monarch

Preparing the Assets:

(Sanjar POV)

"Alright Mr. Nandi, How are you feeling?" your new intern/secretary Cecilia Robbins said as you tried to look at the mass of papers.

You would of course be using a computer proper, your computer by the way, but you had handed it to a medical doctor to help in organizing the wounded.

What wounded you could find.

Oh god...the Fires!

You counted to three "Ms. Robbins I must insist on you not asking for my mental health check, its not the end of the fiscal quarter."

She nodded but stamped her foot slightly. " Sir...the Doctor ordered me to ask."

You could only give her a dull glare. You understood it was her job, but didn't she understand that there was so much work to be done?

"Sir, you can glare at me as long as you like, but considering the problems ahead of us, we need to care for your health, including your mental well-being, even if just to ensure that you will be able to continue to make rational and well thought out decisions to future crisis."

"Mrs. Robbins, I assure you that I'm fine and that there is no need to worry. And considering the current emergency, I would assume we need to focus our energies on the current crisis instead of a hypothetical future health concern?" You replied. You were confident that you wasn't too effected. After all, you had seen the damage himself. You knew many were far worse off than you were.

The smoky smell of burned flesh filled his nostrils, but he was still glad because she was still alive. They just needed to get her to the hospital and prevent an infection and she may still live and why couldn't he pick up her heartbeat!

You were fine. So many others were so much worse off than you. Clearly Mrs. Robbins and your doctor didn't understand that. You had things under control.

You absolutely had things under control. Just because you remembered events from that day as clearly as anything didn't mean you had any problems, and it certainly wasn't something they should be spending time and resources on and-

"May we change the subject to Steller Bay Proper, I'd rather not linger on that day right now." You asked,

"Alright sir. The Walls have been reinforced, and we haven't seen any major breaches yet." She said.

"And the turrets?" You asked.

"Some bastard broke the targeting module and I'm afraid that we are forced to use it as a last resort. It could kill anyone we send out if its active, I'm sorry sir." She said.

"Another thing that needs fixing." you gave a heavy sigh, before mentally moving onto the next emergency, "Speaking of things that need fixing, how about food production? I know we had some problems at the saltuna canning plant, but last I heard there was a proposed solution and they were testing it. Have they confirmed the software fix works? We really need these machines up and running now. Its the perfect season for saltuna fishing, and that will probably be our most reliable source of food for the coming months" You asked worriedly.

Your secretary responded worryingly, "About that sir... The software fix works..... but the factory is working at reduced capacity. It was never meant to handle even a significant minority of saltuna production; those facilities are on Terra 2, not here, but the predicted output after our fix means that we will have little luck with canning and storing much of our saltuna catch this season. Considering our stockpiles, we should have enough food to feed everyone in the short term if we continue to ration out food, but we will almost certainly need to look into expanding our production of other meat supplies. I already have a proposal from C&P for expanding CystyPig meat products production, and I imagine that there will be other proposals soon. However, you will need to decide how much we should invest, considering all the other emergencies that are ongoing."

After a brief pause, she continued, "speaking of other emergencies, I have another matter that I believe you should look at..."


"Its the Fleet sir, Mirai was forced to cut and run following the Colony Wide General Emergency broadcast following the Monarch evacuation." Robbin's said.

You closed your eyes and sighed. "She's not dead is she?"

"From what reports we can gather and what our "Broker" friend can hear on the Radio-Waves? She's made a run for the outer Ord Clouds to reposition and plan her next move." She said.

"I wish she was here now...maybe she could have knocked some sense into Bryant and helped us." You said. "She was always good at keeping the two of us Grounded...and stable...I risked my neck bending over backward for every gram of used starship hulls to reforge them into Monarch's Shining defenders..."

"She hasn't abandoned us sir, you know that, the chaos forced her to run, and no one can blame her for living to give us a better chance to fight later." She said.

"Those are some of the most advanced warships MSI has ever built-." You said facepalming.

"Sir they are some of the first one's we've ever built." She said. "And they are to Directorate Standards for what little comfort its worth, and crewed by some of the brightest and bravest Monarch has to offer. She'll survive this...and she'll be back to help us."

Could you really trust those empty words? Its not like this secretary knew Mirai personally, and considering how much you had trusted Graham before his defection, could you really say you knew exactly what was going through Mirai's head and-

No, You couldn't abandon all your hopes and fall to paranoia. You had to at least leave the door open to her coming back. You couldn't just give up on everyone. You wouldn't jump to conclusions.... You wouldn't let recent events change you like that.

You tepidly responded, "We'll see what her exact rational was once she returns.... but for now, we must assume she won't be able to make it back through the blockade. Considering that fact, are any of our other countermeasures against the blockade working? Have the smugglers at least started making runs, or are we truly isolated?"

"Saltuna sells, and gives us a few chips...but not many." She said.

Blast it...not bad...not perfect either, smugglers were as always unreliable.

"But as soon as the blockade is fully realized its going to be harder have we heard anything of their admiral or Morgan himself." You said.

Arcturus Morgan. Now there was a dangerous man, UDL's prized attack dog and one that knew somewhat of what he was doing.

Thankfully, your new secretary had good news on that front, "Actually, it appears that they haven't appointed an admiral yet, and the command chain seeems to be having... issues, from what we can pick up and decipher from their comms. WE think the board wasn't ready to initiate a blockade, and when they jumped the gun, they caused all sorts of logistical problems for their own fleet. And now, since they don't have a clear command.... well, tensions are fraying as the ship captains have started forming cliques in order to secure the supplies they need. We don't think this situation will last indefinitely, but it certainly looks like the Board is being their own worst enemy for the moment."

"Any News on...the Directorate Front that will shed light upon that situation. I know of certain difficulties being raised with them, when I was at my first and last meeting in Byzantium." You noted.

She nodded before shuffling some report papers."Well, they've given general confinement to Barracks and the Frigate is in patrol pattern 2, as for the rest of the Fleet? God knows."

"But that's.... That's just a holding pattern, according to Mirai. A general purpose formation that's mediocre at everything, but allows you to easily transition to more specialized formations as needed. You are only supposed to use those sorts of formations for travel or patrols, when you have no information about the threat. It's only specialty is that it is a wartime combat formation for dealing with fog of war when you have little information about enemy force movements. Why in the world would they use that formation when we don't have a navy. The admiral could easily use any other formation. Can you pull up the information on the current commanding officer?" You were beginning to smirk at this.

Perhaps the situation was to your advantage after all.

Your secretary taps away in silence, with a confused face, "Sir, their previous commanding officer was sent back to terra 2, and apparently his temporary replacement was killed at the amber heights massacre.... Halcyon hasn't sent any replacements, and as far as officers who could be promoted into the position.... There are several officers, but it's unclear who should be promoted in this situation.... And moreover, none of them are as incompetent as you are describing."

You stayed in silence, processing the words before realizing, "Which means no one is in charge, and they are just bickering amongst each other. This would be perfect.... If we still had a navy on hand to attack them with."

Your secretary tried to respond with levity, "At least, all the possible officer candidates come from different factions and are backed by different executives, so you can rely on them bickering as long as any board members can.... Which I've heard is the one thing that can outlast the heat death of the universe"

You smirked at the old joke..."But we must be cautious, we have a lot to manage even with these small blessings."His secretary briefly looked at the clock before she shook her head at his response in disapproval, "You can have all the caution you want, but its not worth anything if you don't keep yourself healthy. I know you can invent all the work you want for yourself, but you already have plenty on your plate. Unless you plan to ignore your doctor's order's about limiting your stress and keeping a minimum rest and sleep time?"

You could only huff in response, "I'll try to slot it in, but considering that I have to balance the survival of all of Monarch-"

"Doctor's Orders!" his secretary interrupted.

You could only tepidly rise his hands in response, "Alright, alright, I won't go overboard with the caution-" "and paranoia" "... and paranoia, apparently. but I do need to get some work done."

Your secretary only spared a brief glance at the large stacks of paperwork, before responding, "Don't worry, you have plenty of work lined up. Sanjar, I'm here to help you, not nag you about doctor's orders. Let me help you, and not only will you be healthy, but you'll be in a much better spot to solve all these problems, instead of working against the Board and your own body. We have work ahead of us, but don't balloon it out of proportion."

For a second, your eyes glazed over, hearing the warnings of one of your dead friends about overworking yourself, instead of a secretary you had only recently met. You didn't want to remember that! You didn't need to remember that! You had work to do! You had a planet to save, you didn't need to wallow in his trauma and-!

"Sir, are you willing to try to keep your workload reasonable?" your secretary asked, as you were broken out of his silent stupor.

All you could do was give back a lie, "Of course, Mrs Robbins. I'll make sure to listen to the doctor's orders."

Your tried to give back a reassuring smile... but once again, the traumatic memories of the past plagued your mind, and all you could do was assure yourself that you would do the work to guarantee nothing similar ever happened again.

You have 10 Creation Points to build off your resources.

Note for actions that Say (Max of 1, they can be ignored so you may focus on other options.

Military: Monarch is a Terrifying, poorly terraformed deathworld by normal standards,Its Security of the inhabitants is a Priority to all who live here.

Fighter Fleet: MSI's Planned Independence from the Board was Years in the making it allowed them to prepare and optimize a small planetary defence fleet (Max: 1 choice):

[]To Protect the nest (-1 CP): While your fleet is gone, you were able to save some of your Planetary Fighter Wing. Not everything has been lost, and while the brave pilots that remain aren't enough to break the blockade on their own, they are willing to fight. (Start with a small amount of MSI's Planitary Defence Fighters and their pilots, and crews.)

[]Without Wings and Dreams (+1 CP): Your Planetary Fighter Wing, the last line of defense against this blockade is scattered to the four winds of Monarch, it will take a miracle to actually find and repair them to your standards. (You lost the Planetary Defence Fighters.and you have no idea who has them, they scattered to the Four winds.)

Available Manpower:

[]Corporate Military Folly (+3 CP): It appears that you have made the first of many follies, you put almost all of your military assets with your fleet, and tiny forces on the ground…well damn. (A majority of your actual security and military forces are with Mirai. You start with the bare minimum to hold the City and a little bit of the surrounding area and little else)

[]Directorate Veterans (-3 CP): The Earth Directorates Veterans have made Monarch their home, and will do much to keep it intact, even if they are not perticuallly happy with the arrangement of being branded outlaws with everyone else. (You have the veterans of the many Corporate Wars at your disposal, Every unit trained is one Rank Higher due to the veterans giving them actual basic training.)

[]A Place Outside the Board (-0 CP): There is a nearby Haven of Mercenaries…those who fight for coin and prestige...they exist and you and your enemies can use this. (Gain a Mercenary Haven to hire troops from, note the Mercenaries are unreliable and if not paid consistently they will abandon you…sometimes during the middle of a battle)

Graham's training: Graham Bryant May have betrayed MSI in a fit of religiously motivated madness, but damn was he a good planner of training. (Max: 1 choice):

[]Training never fails you (-1 CP): Graham may have betrayed you, but the training he gave the infantry and Security forces of MSI was reliable, and you now have the chance to use his own weapons against him. (Graham Bryant's Security Officer training has left you with a fine selection of Military officers that know what they are doing and can fight on Monarch effectively. Gain a Bonus to certain rolls and in Battle Gain a Bonus to your dice roll)

[]The Long Con (+1 CP): Graham was supposed to be head of military affairs and security on Monarch Proper. He was supposed to make sure Monarch had a functional defense force. Instead, he used it to cherry-pick the best and brightest officers, making sure they would follow him instead of you... or making sure any promising officers died before they could get a chance to serve Monarch... to serve anyone but him. (Bryant has gutted your officers corp leaving dead or broken men to lead them, while this problem can be fixed it will take time, time you may not have.)

Surface Naval Forces: When your planet is home to the largest supply of fish , you find a way to defend your fishing rights!

[]Experimental surface fleet (-2 CP): One of the boards cockamamie schemes was to use a surface fleet to wear down and destroy the dangerous wildlife from a safe distance. This plan ended up being too expensive, due to the expensive missiles the board decided to use for the project. Yet, Sanjar found out about this experimental fleet and revived it, refitting it with more sensible modern armaments. ( You start with a Military Surface Fleet to guard your fishing fleets, and opens many tactical and strategic options)

[]Cthulu is just a daily grind (+2 CP): Their are things in the deep dark of the ocean that are fundamentally incompatible with humanity.... Monarch fishermen have had to deal with such problems daily, and they have grown weirder stronger and more capable throughout the years. Not only can they fish more, and face down the old gods, but they know a thing or two about fighting, apparently, the problem is this is all makeshift and dangerous to our economy. (Your fishing ships have gun's and fight monsters, this is not professional or economically sustainable but its all you have at this point… )

Logistics and the Military-Industrial Complex, the Unspoken Truth, Logistics is the God of the Periphery.

[]Enduring Logistics (-3 CP): Sanjar has always focused on making sure everyone is prepared and knows what needs to be done for a job.... and it is this moment of crisis that that tendency for overpreparation pays off, as the common worker still knows how to do their job, and deal with any complications and problems that may arise from these necessary tasks. Many executives and technical experts lay dead... bu t your people know enough about how to handle the common tasks and problems that they can continue on without much delay or problem. (Logistical issues when deploying forces outside and on Monarch itself are very small, in terms economics your solid)

[]MSI's Special (-1 CP): While your Weapons building and development aren't entirely up to the standards of say UDL, you have a rather small but robust Military manufacturing sector, now these things were made to survive MONARCH, Not a War zone. (MSI's logistics are rated for Planetary use only, your going to need to encourage your logistical development, but its a start. Your equipment is stored efficiently.) *Can be taken more then once as it represents your stockpile of military Ordinance*

Directorate Supplies (-1 CP): If there is one thing that the Earth Directorates Military Industrial Complex can be thankful for its Bulk supplies, vehicles and equipment. There are the tools that broke Shadow and Destroyed Fonder 4. Hopefully, it still works. Can be taken more than once. (Start with Earth Directoarte Military Equipment, can give a Bonus to Battle Rolls and Bonus Dice)*Can be taken more then once as it represents your stockpile of military Ordinance*

No Logistics (+3 CP): The Bureaucrats that remain are no Logisticians of War; they have not clue or context on how to supply such a conflict, which bodes ill for you and all those who fight with you. (Your Logistics is infantile and needs development with your ability to deploy outside of Steller Bay being hobbled.)

Diplomatic: If there is one thing that being the ruler of a Planet comes with responsibility and legal state power.

Language: The Deep Periphery are filled with distinct cultures, languages and traditions born from the old earth, also Halcyon is winding down from a Refugee Crisis caused by the last Great Corperate War (Max: 1 choice)

[]United Language(-1 CP) : Your entire faction knows a single language that they can use to communicate to each other. More importantly, you all understand the various cultural differences within your faction. While your members may be a mixing pot of so many different heritages, your people are always able to understand each other, and work together for a better tomorrow. (Start with something of a Unified Linguistic Background and with it a sense of common community even if most of the colony is either from Earth, the Colonies or somewhere in the Deep Periphery)

[]Disparate Languages (+1 CP): The members of your party, city and colony come from all different backgrounds and cultural heritages. Unfortunately, a divide has begun to appear, as your people split into groups with similar cultural traditions. Accelerating this trend is the fact that there is no one single language that everyone in your faction can speak Quite often, your members are unable to communicate with each other, and you find that your party is slowly beginning to split apart. (Start with Communication Malus in your own faction, and while the Computers assist, not being able to communicate with eachother very well is its own detriment and leads to other issues. Bad Blood from Earth Speakers, Colonies and Deep Periphery colonists even bled into their dialect, it can be fixed, with much grumbling.)

Miscellaneous

[]Loyal In-fighting? (+1 CP): They claim to be fighting for a position by your side, or at least on your board. In reality, its a bunch of office politics, as people fall prey to the call to correct their own petty grievances, and to grab more power, despite the fact that the world seems to be ending. You've been so busy trying to fix the constant flow of problems that could lead to the destruction of human life on Monarch (much less MSI as a whole), that you've had little time to curb greed and pettiness of some of your remaining followers. At least, you didn't have time to curb it until it became a problem that threatened the entire planet/moon, because they were fighting instead of solving problems (Start with a handful of Office Politics between the MSI Bureaucrats and the Steller Bay City Council on how to organize the "Proto-Governemnt")

[]Reputable Dealer (-3 CP): While Sanjar admittedly doesn't have the most experience outside of corporate dealings, the few external negotiations that Sanjar has successfully negotiated have given him a reputation of being an honest corporate executive. Now that monarch has broken away from the board, most outside factions are willing to give him some extended amount of trust and leeway, although they may still be cautious of interacting with a corporate executive like him. (Small bonus to diplomacy with all factions except the Iconoclasts on Monarch.)

[]Dishonest Dealer (+3 CP): Sanjar will say it himself that he is not a People Person, that was Graham's Expertise, always being the people person as he filled out the paperwork and made sure the language was clear enough to get what he wants…unfortunately, in a world of trust being shown face to face Sanjar has shown that he needs room for improvement, a lot of of improvement. (Small Malus to all Diplomacy actions with all factions.)

Aid: Just because you are the first one to try to be FULLY Independent of the Board, does not mean you're doing it alone on Monarch (Max: 1 choice)

[]Dead words, and naught but ash to accompany them (+2 CP): Unfortunately, with the massacre at Amber Heights, Sanjar has lost much of the expertise he had gathered for his diplomatic core. Instead, he has some half-formed plans that even he knows would never have worked. Sanjar planned to rely on his friends and associates to guide Monarch to a brighter era of peace with his neighbors. Instead, Sanjar enters his darkest hour with few professionals capable of polite company, and fewer still capable of true negotiation... and yet, Sanjar always wished to unite everyone on the planet, not conquer them. ( Start with a limited ability to negotiate with the Planet's Denizens, the cry for aid and support unheeded, Debuff to Diplomacy Rolls for 2 Turns)

[]An Inspiration calls for aid (-2 CP): You've heard many times that you are an inspiration to others in Monarch. Yet, now, at your darkest hour, after most of your friends have perished at Amber heights, and you face impossible odds.... Now, those that call you an inspiration answer the call for help unheeded. You're hearing dozens of reports across monarch of groups organizing under their own initiative, and trying to resolve local problems, while also asking how they can help you and MSI in general weather the storm (Start with some degree of Aid to help you reestablish contact with the rest of the Planet,with a bonus to Diplomatic Actions, however, this has caught the attention of the Board's Blockade forces and they have sent forces to investigate, causing a Bonus to Disaster Rolls for 2 Turns, ???)

Popular Opinion: One does not Simpily make one's Company/Moon Independent without some help from the Little guy in some form. (Max: 1 choice)

[]Sacrifices Recognized (-3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed, personally, in order to save what people he can... And people, not just his people, but representatives of the downtrodden from all political stripes and backgrounds have seen this sacrifice, and recognize the charitable spirit behind Sanjar's actions. (decrease in starting AP, but start with a Bonus to those who share similarities to your Ideology or at least some of your policies and those who are at least somewhat more "Lawful", it makes it harder for the Board to sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws" )

[]Tough Decisions and Misunderstood Intentions (+3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed his ethics, and encouraged the black market to grow, and for smugglers to have easy access to the planet. While this action has ensured far fewer people ended up dying, his own people only see him dealing with smugglers and criminals and wonder just how much he is willing to enable those who prey on their misfortune. Worse still, leaders across the system see his associations with criminals (and not his achievement in greatly reducing the loss of life) and wonder how trustworthy the leading man of MSI can really be (increase in starting AP, with a Bonus to diplomacy rolls with Pirates and Smugglers, however the Board is having a field day turning the Press and with it a fair portion of the Colony against you as they sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws")

Union Support: MSI and Monarch has an odd and Courious Relationship with the Union's, while all Board Members are apart of the Halcyon Sercive and Support Union, an independent Monarch, needed an Independent Union…

[]The Union of Monach and its Union Man (-3 CP): Sanjar has always spent personal resources to help grow and develop the MSI union. Not only that, but he has truly listened to the union workers, and attempted to fight for their rights at great personal and economic costs at time. These fights have helped convinced even the most stubborn, radical socialists to at least hear him out. However, his willingness to speak out for the union has only led the board to believe the union is Sanjar's pet army in waiting, and they had curtailed much of the investment into the planetary security forces before Sanjar came into power. But with all the sacrifices made for their benefit time and time again in the years before the now rebranded MSI UNION of Steller Bay and Starbrook gladly considers Sanjar a "Union Man." (Bonus to diplomacy with socialist powers, and an Ally/Vassel: The Commune of Starbrook Quarry, however, start with less available Security Forces Manpower as you need to hold the City and the Commune.)

[]The Scab Union, and Infighting (+3 CP): It has always been a wonder to watch how a Unit so united and alike in dignity as the MSI Union can fall into infighting and strife, though given your situation with Graham Bryant and the Iconoclasts that sounds rather hollow and hypocritical. Though the MSI Union of Steller Bay continues to consider you an ally the one's in Starbrook Quarry are less then convinced, calling you a "Scab" and "Diet Socalist" that only care about power and even started a conspiracy that all of this was a plot cooked up by you and the Board to take power from the working man…forgetting the fact you didn't evacuate, risked your life to help save them and suffered the same orbital bombardments as them! Yet somehow they've found an audience of either madmen or the desperate who slipped through the net; who believe that their vaunted revolution will come and they will bring you, your policies, your company and your city to the Torch. The Union Boss tells you they were likely from the more radical parts of the Periphery, the Red Lion's neck of the woods. Typical, they like your policy, hate your execution of said policy…everyone's a fucking critic these days. (Start with a Negative Malus to Socialist Powers and an enemy in Starbrook Quarry, as if you need more enemies , but since you don't need to worry about it you've got more Security Forces)

Miscellaneous

[]Desperate Times (-1 CP): More and more you have relied on old vets and other experienced hands... who have always helped keep things in check, but haven't always followed the rules. Now, those same supporters are asking you to throw out the rulebook, and let MSI operate more freely than a normal corporation should. It goes against everything you believe in... and yet, if you do so, you know you will enjoy more support than ever. (Bonus to military, but event occurs where you have to deal with fallout of 'temporarily turning your back on your ideals)

[]Mighty Medics (-3 CP): Seeing the chaotic times ahead, one of the first deals Sanjar made was to get some medics to come to Monarch, and help build a proper healthcare infrastructure.... and this decision has continued to hurt your wallet ever since you made it. And all for a third rate healthcare system.... which is still connected planet-wide, and is ensuring far fewer people are lost in this chaos. Yes somehow one of your greatest achievements as things fall apart is the fact that a Corporate Run Planet that doesn't even have total control has one thing the Board can never claim to have fully implemented, a poorly run social healthcare department. (Medical emergencies across the planet are mitigated somewhat, troops heal faster. Doctors are overworked.)

[]Monarch's Medical Malpractice (+3 CP): Sanjar damn well knew Doctors were important, they healed the sick, tended the wounded and above all are expensive as hell. So we had to make due with third-rate doctors fresh out of Med School, and Mechanicals that if poorly programmed are liable to kill the patient (Thank god we signed those non-liability waivers). Now before anyone asks why this mess exists, MSI's predecessor and previous CEO was big into the idea of Automated healthcare and thought eventually we would only need a machine and an overseeing doctor. Now Sanjar is paying the price for that stupidity…as is the entire planet. Sanjar needs to find the hard liquor before the Complaints come in. (Monarch, lacks the dedicated medical infrastructure needed to provide aid to the Moon/Planet and the ones we do have are inexperienced and questionable, this can be fixed with time but its a problem that needs solving. Troops healed are at half effectiveness.)

Economic Preparations: One does not declare Independence, without a plan, or consequences.

Economy Shocks: Things do not go as planned

[]One Overlooked Economic Catastrophe (+5 CP): Ball Bearings. Sanjar had overlooked ball bearings. Busy finding replacements for experts lost at Amber heights, Figuring out a way to feed the planet despite the Halcyon blockade and Dealing with the recent Abandonment from Graham, Sanjar has had many different problems to resolve. Yet, he seemed to be performing admirably.... until all the factory machines started breaking down, due to a severe shortage of ball bearings of all things. The lack of these small metal balls has ground down the industry on Monarch to a halt, and you are left to scrambling to try and find a fix, so that factories on this moon may run yet again (start with a economic disaster that has to be resolved, and a negative economic debuff,and if mishandled will lead to a Famine.)

[]Out of position(+2 CP): Sanjar did have a plan.... And then the Amber heights massacre happened, the board intensified their blockade, and the wildlife collectively seemed to go mad with rage at the same time.... And Bryant went rogue.

But Sanjar did have a plan, even for something like this.... It was just that he expected more time to respond to all these threats. Now he has to haul what remaining experts and managers he does have from across Monarch to where they will be needed. In the meantime, the MSI will be left floundering, though, and there will be nothing he can do about it. (start with a negative economic debuff that will be resolved in 2 turns)

Renewed Purpose (-5 CP) : Sanjar underestimated them. He truly had not realized, even in his wildest dreams, what his fellow monarchites (Or whatever they are calling themselves now that Halcyonite is no longer wholly true) would be capable of. While many still grieve, or live in fear or are just plain paralyzed by everything that has happened recently, it appears a few MSI workers have recognized the truly dire situation MSI finds itself in now, and have responded appropriately.
While every instance of self-motivated action has been independent, it collectively has turned into something larger. Workers have turned up for extra hours, Managers have streamlined manufacturing lines, and in general, waste and inefficiencies have been minimized as all the workers murmur about the coming 'war of survival.' You didn't plan for this, but there is no way you won't take advantage of the industrious spirit of those below you who have turned this situation around. ( A Major Economic buff for 3 turns, can be lengthened depending on further actions)

Type of Economy: Organizing an Economy is as life skill
[]Wartime Economy (-1 CP): With Graham's betrayal, and the Board blockade, it clear that everyone in Monarch needs to make sacrifices. Its time to transition from an economy that was always a tool of a board, into one that is designed to fight the board. Its time to transition from the peaceful shops and billboards of the board, to the guns and ships that will fight it.

Its time to take control, and transition the factories from peacetime production to a military-industrial machine. It will hurt the economy, but it will provide you with the guns and other war goods you so desperately need. (Start with an economic debuff, but small bonus to all standard military troops)

[]A New Generation(+1 CP): Its easy to get wrapped up in the desperate struggle for survival right now. But taking a step back, Sanjar realizes there is also a desperate lack of expertise and leadership, with so many of the promising leaders and managers being cut down in the Amber Height Massacre. Now, with such a dearth of leadership, its time to start training the new generation... and time to let them make their own mistakes.

You can't just handhold them through this economic crisis, that will come with the blockade. Instead, you will need to let them try to solve the problems on their own, and let the urgency and difficulty of the situation train up a new generation of leaders quickly. You need a new set of management, and the fires and struggles of this war will be the perfect grounds to choose and train them up... but only if you allow them to work on their own, and make their own mistakes. (A chance of economic debuff's at the beginning of every turn, but increase in the quality of recruited characters)

[]The Unity of a Union (+1 CP): You have few options in this time of struggle and war. You need some help in order to make sure that Monarch doesn't immediately fall. You have cultivated a relationship with the union, and now that things are in this dire state, it is time to call in some favors. Hopefully, they will be able to help in small but important ways, relaxing certain rules, like working hours and safety regulations.

However, even this small sacrifice, in the name of efficiency and victory in war will cost you dearly. Many in the union already argue for worker ownership of MSI, and those voices will only be amplified with your request. Its quite likely that by the end of this war for survival, MSI will look nothing like you first imagined it would... and even worse, you might be trading an economic disaster for a political one, as you have to carefully thread union politics to ensure you get what you need without sacrificing everything (chance of economic buff's at the beginning of every turn, become involved in MSI Union/Syndicalist/Iconoclast events/storyline)

Intrigue: In A Corperate Dystopia like Halcyon, knowing the Back Room Schemes is essential.

[]The Eyes on Monarch (-1 CP): If one has one real advantage of being the legal owner of a planet, it is the fact all the In Orbit Navigational and GPS Data goes to you. That gives a solid and firm picture to the wider situation across the planet, and while it can only give you pictures, it gives information about many factions on the planet. (Start with Eyes on MOST factions, Monarch Rumor Mill unlocked)

[]An Eye in Byzantium Court(-2 CP): Many may not wish to actually admit it, and likely want to make such a post an irrelevance, but MSI (Or rather its previous iteration) had an office on Byzantium just like everyone else. It was primarily with the Terra-1 Office of the board, and despite difficulty with getting a signal these days, it appears that the Board keeps it around as an obscure bureaucratic cubbyhole to shove useless people into. But that means old allies exist and can be your eyes in the heart of the lion's den. (Start with a Byzantium Rumor Mill though a Roll will need to be made in order to get a signal)

[]Blockade Runners(-2 CP): If there is one thing that motivates the downtrodden and desperate tramp freighters that dot Halcyon its profit, and their own bottom line. It means a lot and you have some degree of communication and trade, for the right price of course (Have contacts within the Independent Tramp Freighters and smuggling actions, can expand into something far greater if cultivated.)

[]Knives from Byzantium(+2 CP): You knew that they would be swift in eliminating your allies, but you didn't think they'd dedicate a great deal of time to it, damn, now they are hunting your allies off world and have left you blind! (Byzantium has eliminated your allies in Terra 2 and are hunting your former allies in space.)

[]The Anaconda Effect(+2 CP): It appears that all form of Trade to and From Monarch is cut off, it will be years before the smugglers find weaknesses in the blockade, well I guess your stuck with overland trade then. (All Trade with the outside Monarch is cut off for Three turns, and you have limited options to trade with on Monarch proper.)

[]The Blind Monarch (+4 CP): You knew they would break things...but the Board were petty, now you can barely get updates from anything outside your own walls of Steller Bay. Hiram is going independent and by god, you can't even trust the mail anymore. (You only have eyes within your own settlement and ring of control, as far as you know, you don't even know what's going on with Monarch at all)

Education: A Long Neglected Halcyon Institution that changes now.

University: MSI made Considerable Investments into the Education and Research Sector before it all went to hell, what fruit has it born?

[]Pegasus University Remnant (-3 CP): The Remnant of the Pegasus University System has made a campus in Steller Bay after Sanjar's tireless campaigning. Sanjar has spent plenty of resources and political clout to ensure that Monarch and its residents would have access to an education that was fairly competitive (at least, in the periphery), and is far more than what the Board would normally provide, considering their reputation for cutting costs. Now, Monarch has a local university that has access to one of the largest research archives in the periphery of the Pegasus University System. While the campus demands an exorbitant amount of resources to conduct the research and maintain the educational standards that allow it to be a part of this inter-university system, Sanjar now has access to a far wider range of research topics, and can conduct that research more quickly than ever. He will just need to ensure that he can find a way to make sure it is all paid for (Increase in research options, decrease in research time, High per turn resource cost to keep Monarch university up to minimum standards)

[]Barebone Necessities (+3 CP): The Board never really invested in the local education system beyond the bare necessities, and Sanjar always had overlooked the institution. However, after the Amber Heights massacre, and Board's blockade, the remaining students and professors have offered their services to MSI, as long as Sanjar continues to fund the college. The college barely functions to provide Halcyon certification courses in its current state, but it does have the facilities for basic research, and more importantly, the computers and manpower necessary for extensive analysis. While the university is far from competitive, it does provide a valuable opportunity for Sanjar. It should be possible to use the extra manpower to help accelerate research, even if Sanjar will need to spend resources in order to ensure that the lights stay on. (Small decrease in research time, Low per turn resource cost for university)

[]'Apolitical' professors (+2 CP) : Sanjar had been depending on the fact that the scientists and researchers at the monarch field research campus would help support MSI after it's separation from the board. After all, he had helped establish this university, and had spent resources and energy to set up this university system, and had continuously ensured material and political support for the university. However, the professors there now demand a change to the deal, demanding freedom from the non-compete clauses, as well as more freedom to choose, or at least veto, research topics they are not interested in. It is rapidly becoming more and more clear that your only source of research is preparing to declare itself independent, and will be willing to sell any research they accomplish to all parties. They may even be selling certain research to other factions exclusively, charging higher prices to ensure you can't get your hands on certain advancements. You can't be sure why this is happening; whether or is over some lingering attachments and influence from Graham, or if it's the board, but it seems that one of your enemies has neutralized one of your greatest tools without you discovering anything (less research options available, all research has a moderate chance of immediately spreading to enemy or rival factions within range of monarch, research finishes much more quickly, exclusive research is possible but research cost is doubled)

Additional Research Centers
[]Barren Labs (+2 CP): Unfortunately, it appears that what few researchers there were on Monarch heeded the board's warning and left the planning.... while taking every slightly valuable tool or device not locked and bolted down to the earth. Now these labs are little better than empty warehouses, with regards to research, and you are left with the difficult task of starting a new R&D division without either personnel or equipment. (No R&D department first turn, and Sanjar will have to invest money and resources to create it)

[]Haunted Testing Site (-2 CP): There have always been rumors of an old UDL weapons testing site that tested numerous theoretical weapon designs, but that was abandoned shortly before Sanjar started working at the company and now was supposedly haunted. Hopefully, the facility is just inhabited by monsters, and as soon as you are able to clear the area, you will be able to use the facility for more efficient weapons research. If you are lucky, you might even find some designs or theoretical concepts to kickstart your weapons research. (Testing site available, will give bonus to weapons research, but will also give increased likelihood of negative random events happening each turn)

Completed Research (Max of 1)
[]A Better Ecosystem(-1 CP): Research has been conducted into the monarch ecosystem and how it works. Not only has this led to improvements in fishing and other resource gathering, but it has also lead to bonuses when handling the dangerous animal and fauna of Monarch. While the board has often considered this research focus to be a waste of money, it is now paying dividends for Sanjar, as the research has provided at least some temporary measures that he can use to tame the wildlife of Monarch. While the planet is still dangerous, this research has kindled the hope that Monarch can still be colonized properly, and turned into the paradise it was always promised to be. (Lower chance of negative events occurring during turns, increase food and resource production, can be sold on the Black Market for Favors and Resorces.)

[]A small step for Rocket Engines (-1 CP): The man who got you this information is dead... but the information he passed onto you is invaluable, especially since he kept it out of the hands of the board. It appears as if the directorate, unaware of the local situation, wanted to pass instructions for more quick and resource efficient rocket engine construction. However, this agent, upon realizing what an insurmountable advantage this might give the board, decided to give this information to you, at the cost of his own life.(Start with Efficient Starship Engines research completed, Actions available for building new fighters, gunships and later starships. Can be sold on the Black Market for Favors and resources)

Inherited Research Situation (Max of 1)
[]Profitability Policy (+1 CP): The board had a policy of pursuing research that strictly was supposed to contribute to the bottom line of the company, and many rules were created to focus research. Unfortunately, this lead to a culture of overlooking new possibilities and avenues of research, even those that might be profitable, but would require investment before such gains could become obvious. (Bonus to research speed, but a reduction in new research options, can be overcome with reform actions.)

[]Desperation and Deception (+1 CP): Sanjar was desperate to gain an advantage over the board, now that monarch was going to be independent. However, it appears that someone from the board was able to take advantage, leaking an entirely false theoretical weapons concept, which has wasted time, resources, and excitement. Now Sanjar must try to get the department back on track after the extremely successful sabotage operation by the board (extremely limited research options on turn 1, more successes necessary for turn 1 research options, can be overcome with reform actions)

And Finally!!

Interplanetary Fleet: There isn't much left in the Drydocks, or much of the old Drydocks at all, hopefully, something can be salvaged.

[]MSI Grant's Defiance (-8 CP) : The Earth Directorate in its Dying Days was known for its powerful symbols of might and power, and you are no different. The Grant's Defiance is MSI's proudest asset, a flagship-class multirole frigate, and while it is no true Directorate War vessel in truth (Like the great Carriers and Dreadnoughts of the Sixth War), it is at least built to their specifications and at the very least built competently. (You have laid claim to the Jewel of the MSI's Naval buildup, stuck in drydock and in need of repair and rearming to the highest degree. This is not a case of Schrodinger's Warship this is an Independently researched and designed Frigate made for frontline war and carrier duty overseen by an Earth Directorate Military Oversight committee, it is somewhere on Monarch, and if you don't secure it your gonna have to fight or negotiate for the biggest independent asset outside the Groundbreaker herself. )

AN: Now comes the Time to make MSI's Assets Choices.

Plan format.

Thank you @Anon500 for being the long-suffering Editor and assisting with these choices.

Enjoy and if you have questions Please do not hesitate to ask.