Year 1001 AC
For years people had looked up at the moving lights. With telescopes and radios and the naked eye they had seen things moving across the sky. Had speculated of machines still surviving in space. Had listened to the strange coded transmissions sent to one another. Novels had been written.
And today would be the day that they found out.
Scout Shuttle Lunar-127
Fire bloomed across one of the electronic bays at the back of the shuttle. Lona yelped. "We've got a fire back here!"
"Easter Easter Easter! Shuttle Lunar-127 is declearing an emergency." Minette, the other pilot called into the comms. They should, at least, be heard. There was a communications satellite overhead and they had laser connection with it. This had been meant to be a normal scientific mission, atmospheric sampling towards the eventual return to earth, but now, the lousy electronics that had been foisted on them had surged and blown. Lona had told the boss that the set, brought from some distinctly dodgy Applegate Salvage crew was no good for the newly built shuttle but she hadn't listened.
Now they were going down. Lona pushed herself up from her seat on the deck and grabbed the extingisher from one side then sprayed non-conductive foam across the burning electronic bay. The clean white of the shuttle's cockpit was stained with smoke and stunk of burning synthetic.
"Can we make orbit again?"
"No way." Minetta shook her head. "The whole navigation block is shot. If we try to fire the main booster we could end up anywhere."
"Can't you get a navigation fix off the satellite?"
"I could probably do that if the navigation block wasn't shot!" Minetta jesticulated at the arcade cabinet of red lights flickering across her board. "The only thing that's good is landing systems. We put down in the desert and wait for the rescue crew. Standing Orders say we can in the event of a flight emergency."
"What about natives?"
"Don't you want to make history?" Minetta asked. "Besides, there's a lot of empty space. They probably won't even see us."
The fire was mostly out. Lona walked to the back and looked into the back cabin. "Is everyone okay?" There were four scientists as super cargo on the flight. Two were original Lunari, light skinned and very tall, bodies reinforced against the rigors of earth gravity by technology purchased from the Seraphim. Lona had a much more direct relationship with Seraph tech. Like Minetta and the two other scientists, she was a clone, light skinned and platinum haired, compact but strong.
"We're okay. Except everything's blown out. Fuses blown and more." The female original said. "What happened?" Lona hadn't worked with her before but remembered her name was Karnis or something. Karen? No. It was Karnis.
"You know that lousy electronic block the boss foisted on us that definately would work with our systems?"
Karnis smirked. "Ah."
"Yeah. We're gonna have to land."
"Shit. Oh well. I guess we get to be first contact."
"Strap in." Lona ran back to her own seat and did the same. The ground was startlingly close. She'd thought they would have longer. She flipped down her visor and access the ships cameras, those of them still working, to look around. Below them was a gleaming, bright green plain. A heard of large four legged animals was stampeding away from the sound of the shuttle.
And in the distance, another flying machine. Twin winged, cloth and wood, its pusher engine straining as it rocketted along in the blue sky, trying to follow them.
"I think we got noticed!" She told Minette.
"Too late to do anything about it now." The dirt came up hard and the shuttle shuddered, its landing wheels jerking up and down in their shape shifting extenders as they slammed through the uneven mud. Lona tried not to think about the simulations she'd seen of animal burrows. There was a heavy snap as the drogue shoot fired and the shuttle came down to rest.
The aircraft was coming down too, skipping along to land near them. Lona didn't even think much but got up and ran to the hatch on one side. "Lona wait!" Minetta yelped, but Lona was already out and down, landing in the dirt outside. The flier dropped down from her craft. She was dark skinned, about the same age as Lona and dressed in a heavy wool and leather jacket and head gear against the cold. Lona hesitated a little as she saw that the other pilot carried a heavy wood and metal rifle in her hand.
The woman blinked and fumbled to put up her rifle. Lona let out her breath as it went up onto her back and her hand came out.
She was going to make history.
Framed against the beautiful desert, the two shook hands.
Turn 1:
In the aftermath of the shuttle crash in Africa, the informational cordon between earth and space has broken. Diplomatic relations open between the space and Earthian powers.
But politics moves as surely do orbits, and even the reunion between the too branches of humanity cannot long suspend the conflicts between nations. . .
@Etranger
Territory: Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malyasia, Hawaii, New Zealand
Capital: Manilla
Ideology: Republican
Advantages: The world's most advanced navy and most powerful economy. Gain 1 additional domestic action
Disadvantages: Riotous, constantly complaining population
Economy: Massive
Military: Huge
Ruins: Few
Labs: 2:
Armies:
120 T-Type mobile suits
90 Armoured Brigades
90 Normal Brigades
60 Naval Groups
1 Type-A mobile suit (damaged and nonfunctional)
The great hope of Republicanism, the Federation of Islands rose out of the previous Empire of Isles which ruled most of East and South East Asia. The emergence of the Republican revolt, and the emergence of Sakura Santacruz, the Maiden of Revolution and pilot of the world's first known A-type mobile suit are legends in our time, as is her death in defense of the revolution against the combined fleets of most of the other great powers.
That was almost half a century ago however. The trade concessions extracted during the Peace of Hong Kong have allowed the Federation to become the world's most powerful and dynamic economy. However they have done little to quiet a population which hungers for more change, and is willing to take to the streets to get it.
The Caspian Sea Republic
@SirLagginton
Territory: Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey
Capital: Tehran
Ideology: Republican
Advantages: Tons of labs
Disadvantages: Surrounded by enemies
Economy: Huge
Military: Huge
Ruins: Few
Labs: 4
Armies:
100 B-Type mobile suits
50 T-Type Mobile suits
120 Armoured brigades
240 normal brigades
20 Naval Groups
50 strategic air groups
The other Republican Great power, the Caspian Sea Republic, threw off its Iranian monarch more than a year before the Federation of the Isles did, but its revolution was a much harsherstruggle. All but surrounded by enemies, including the still royalist Two Seas Governate around the Black Seat and Eastern Mediterranean the new Republic seemed doom until the subsequent revolution in the Federation of Isles drew away much of the heat.
In the time that has follows, the CSR has settled into a state of cold war against its enemies, and increasingly turned to new technology to answer the challenge. This concentration on invention has left it one of the most advanced countries in the world, its cities glittering in the night with electric lights, and its scientists and natural philosophers, seeking to plum the secret of the atom.
The Amazon Territories
@Simpli
Territory: Brazil
Capital: Belem
Ideology: Republican
Advantages: Lots of ruins
Disadvantages: Near Canmexico, could go socialist at any moment.
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins Lots
Labs: 3
Armies
240 Brigades
40 B-Type mobile suits
20 T-Type Mobile Suits
5 Naval Groups
A technocratic state run by archeologists, the Amazon Territories threw off its monarchy for Republican Rule in only the last decade. Now the Republican government maintains its centres of learning and technology uneasily against the external threat of Mondist attack and the internal threat of a further collapse to the left.
Free Republic of Egypt
@AMTurtle
Territory: Egypt
Capital: Cario
Ideology: Republican
Advantages: Near the CSR, potential to unite with Arabia
Disadvantages: Near major centres of liberalism and Ethiopia
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Some
Labs: 2
Armies
120 normal brigades
30 armoured brigades
60 B-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
The Egyptian Republican revolution has been one of the more successful in anti-Saharan Africa, though potential conflict with Ethopia remains a huge worry for the Republican regime. Many seek to align with Arabia, or even the Algerian socialists for protection.
Liberals
The Yammacin Freeholds
@Nanolyte
Territory: South West Africa from Senegal to the equator
Capital: Bamako
Ideology: Aristocratic Liberal
Advantages: A centre of finance capital and financier to the world. Able to deal with all powers equally.
Disadvantages: Overtech ruins concentrated along the equator. Easy access for spacers
Economy: Huge+
Military: Huge
Ruins: Few
Labs: 2
Armies
80 armoured brigades
350 normal brigades
120 B-Type mobile suits
20 E-Type mobile suits
40 Naval Groups
Perhaps the greatest surviving liberal state, the Yammacin Freeholds is a happy, prosperous place for all but the poorest workers, with only limited republican or socialist sentiments. The ruling class sees the Freehold as largely immune from the turmoils of the rest of the world. It is also one of the richest, with only the Federation of Isles enjoying greater riches, and only the CSR greater technology. This luxury has made the YF easy going, and it's able to get on with most any of the earth powers, including the reactionaries and even the Republicans. The YF's currency is used as an international reserve and even with the advance of the Federation of Islands, most trade is still denominated in the West African Pound.
The YF is a strongly constitutional monarchy, with royal privileges being enshrined but rarely exercised.
Trouble is on the horizon however due to the WAF's control of the ancient space elevator in the Congo, which may see it subject to the predatory eyes of the nations of space.
The Alpine Imperate
@Mordred
Territory: The Alps, Italy, and Austria
Capital: Milan
Ideology: Liberal
Advantages: Great Bunker Fortresses. Still has an active MS factory, local allies.
Disadvantages: Kind of a small and backward economy for a great power. Oversized military consuming public finances.
Economy: Large
Military: Massive
Ruins: Lots
Labs: 2
Armies
250 Brigades
500 B-Type mobile suits
100 E-Flat type mobile suits
20 E-Type mobile suits
10 Naval Groups
Of all the great powers, the Alpine Imperate is the smallest in terms of population and industry. It is elevated to the status of great powers by the singular fact of the vast bunkers and stasis vaults beneath the alps. Of all of the great powers it controls the most ruins and ancient technology, including an intact factory capable of manufacturing B-type mobile suits without access to inferior local parts. In recent years, the factory has been used to construct parts of B-type mobile suits as local manufacturing caught up, allowing for further increases in production.
The Imperate is currently ruled by the young Queen Maria Lisa, and her parliament, the people are generally sanguine about the continued stability of the kingdom, but not to the same extent as West Africa. The Imperat sees its role as one of keeping Europe together, and maintaining liberalism and the League of Free Cities, though this is increasingly difficult as liberalism and socialism, and reaction, nip around the edges.
In recent years, the Alpine Imperate has been somewhat suffering financially. and is increasingly reliant on West African support to keep itself going. This has called for military drawdown, but the Queen and her highest ministers prefer to maintain their position as Europe's Guardian. Aimed both at the CSR and the Cold League, which is considered far larger than the public purse can really support by most observers.
The Royal Republic of Zimbabwe and the Cape
@Carol
Territory: Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa
Capital: Harare
Ideology: Liberal
Advantages: Plentiful natural resources. No single power centre that can be decapitated.
Disadvantages: Population unambitous towards great power politics.
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Few
Labs: 2
Armies:
240 Brigades
40 T-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
The Royal Republic is a somewhat strange beast. It has no king, but rather a large number of princes and princesses who lead the city states which formed the Royal Republic. A liberal state, the Royal Republic is often quite comfortable with Republicanism, and has a very vibrant political culture which seeks to set itself against the Freehold to its North West as a more polite, less boorish and commercial place. This has however inculcated a lack of ambition in the Royal Republic, unable to match its greater neighbours and content to be their ally which rankles its more ambitious leaders.
The League of Free Cities
@Alectai
Territory: Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Central Europe
Capital: Warsaw
Ideology: Liberalism
Advantages: Close relations with the Alpine Imperate
Disadvantages: growing social decent.
Economy: Medium
Military: Large
Ruins: Few
Labs: 1
Armies
240 Brigades
60 B-Type mobile suits
7 Naval Groups
A loose trade alliance across Central Europe, the League of Free Cities is ruled by a council of city princes who have more or less combined themselves with the capitalist class.
The Kingdom of Lilies
@Easter
Territory: France and Belgium
Capital: Paris
Ideology: Liberalism
Advantages: Close relations with the Alpine Imperate
Disadvantages: Strong parliament makes it republican vunerable
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Few
Labs: 1
Armies
100 Brigades
60 Armoured Brigades
40 E-Type Flat mobile suits
10 Naval Groups
The kingdom is both an old and a new state, originally a city-state founded a thousand years ago the state grew over the course of it's existence through shrewd diplomacy and economic dominance. Integrating neighboring states via marriages, economic treaties, and the occasional retaliation from a failed invasion until their territory stretched from the southern mountains bordering Spain and the borders of the pre-collapse state that once ruled their lands. With the most recent addition coming alongside the newest ruler of the Kingdom, as she inherited not just the Kingdom of Lilies but the now defunct state of the Belgian Stratocracy.
Internationally the Kingdom tends to make use of extensive diplomatic connections and trade ties to make it unappealing to attack them, keeping a careful balance with the various powers around them. A element that makes this more possible is the Kingdom's constitutional monarchy, it's strong parliament making it more palpable to those anti-monarchy forces while the monarchists are satisfied that the Kingdom has a ruler at all.
The Two-Seas Governorate
@Azecreth
Territory: Greece, Romania, Turkey, Syria, the Balkans
Capital: Damascus
Ideology: Liberalism
Advantages: Lot of friendly neighbours
Disadvantages: Break away region of the Caspian Sea Republic
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Few
Labs: 1
Armies
140 Brigades
50 Armoured Brigades
60 B-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
Rogue government from the Caspian Sea Republic with the remains of the old government. Its neighbouring governments are friendly but its population is increasingly desirous of Republican rule.
Mondist Powers
The Empire of Greater Siberia
@DanBaque
Territory: Siberia, Mongolia, Korea
Capital: Yakutsk
Ideology: Mondist
Advantages: Other Mondist States will listen to you
Disadvantages: Constantly on the edge of uprising
Economy: Huge
Military: Massive++
Ruins: Few
Labs 2
Armies
500 Brigades
125 armoured brigades
250 B-Type mobile suits
10 E-Type mobile suits
50 E-Type Flat mobile suits
20 Naval Groups
The greatest of the Mondist states by most measures, the Empire of Greater Siberia stretches from the edge of the Russian Fallow Zone to the Pacific, ruling Korea, Mongolia, The vast fertile fields of Siberia provide food for the Emperor's huge population, and vast armies, which he deploys freely against those forces that seek to rest the crowns from the heads of the world.
The domestic situation is less good however. The current Emperor, Georgi-IV, has recently come to power in a troubled realm, with a population increasingly restive to the demands of massive militarisation and the continuing crusade against Atheism and Republicanism. While not yet impossible to put out, these fires may yet claim the greatest empire of reaction.
Still, the Empire remains the strongest symbol of reaction.
The Divine Monarchy of CanMexico
@Nerdorama
Territory: Canada and Mexico, not including what is now America
Capital: Toronto (Lake City)
Ideology: Mondist
Advantages: Fanatical religionist population
Disadvantages: Territory split by the North American Fallow Zone, Fanatical religionist population
Economy: Huge
Military: Massive
Ruins: Few
Labs 2
Armies
400 Brigades
50 Armoured Brigades
100 B-Type mobile suits
40 E-Type flats mobile suits
4 E-Types mobile suits
20 Naval Groups
The Divine Monarch of CanMexico has existed since the collapse for two reasons: To maintain the worship of Apollo-Mithra, and to maintain the North American Fallow Zone. It has succeeded wildly at the first objective, somewhat at the cost of the second. While the cult goes from strength to strength in the Western hemisphere, the necessities of resource extraction have required increasing exploitation of the ancient and holy fallow zone.
For now however, the Divine Monarchy goes from strength to strength. Its population's support for their King is ironclad. No power in the Western hemisphere can match it. While Greater Siberia may be reactions strong arm, the Divine Monarch is its beating heart.
Margraviate of Jaburo (Gran Columbia)
@ArvisPresley
Territory: Northern South America
Capital: Bogotá
Ideology: Mondism
Advantages: Allied with Can-Mexico
Disadvantages: On a space elevator
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: few
Labs: 1
Armies
240 Brigades
60 B-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
The Kingdom of Gran Colombia rules much of the North of South America and serves as the primary ally of CanMexico. They are strong in the faith of Apollo Mithras and seek to outdo their much larger and more prosperous neigbour in devotion to the mondist cause. Currently they eye the Amazon territories and their rich artefact fields with annoyance.
When revolution swept Brazil the fires of Republicanism and its lesser sibling of Socialism threatened to spill northwards to the old Kingdom of Gran Colombia. And spread it did as the revolution nearly succeeded, even managing to capture the Royal Capital of Jaburo. It was only the swift and decisive actions of the southern CanMexican Divisions, invited by the sole surviving Princess of the Royal Family, that saved Colombia from the parasitical clutches of Republicanism. Now a defacto appendage the Divine Monarchy, used to influence South American politics, Military and Holy Orders from across CanMexico flood to the region to scour it of the Liberal menace. Only time will tell if the Marcher-Princess' delusions of a continental Reconquista Against Liberalism will remain mere fantasy or become reality.
The New Ethiopian Empire (NPC)
No player yet
Territory: Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, etc.
Capital: Addis Ababa
Ideology: Mondist
Advantages: No real enemies
Disadvantages: No real avenues for expansion that won't piss off a major liberal power
Economy: Large
Military: Medium
Ruins: Few
Labs: 2
Armies
240 Brigades
60 B-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
The New Ethiopian Empire was once another liberal monarchy but after a failed revolution 10 years ago, the new Emperor instituted a reign of terror and began a new push for reaction.
The Cult of Apollo-Mithras
@Fancy Face
Territories: Many enclaves and churches throughout the liberal and Mondist world
Capital: Vancouver
Ideology: Apollo-Mithras Cult/Mondist
Advantage: Broad popular support among the population
Disadvantage: reliant on temporal monarchies for its survival
Economy: Large
Military: Small
Ruins: None
Labs 4
Armies
30 E-Type mobile suits
30 Brigades
The Cult of Apollo-Mithras, under the Pontifex Maximus, Pater Patrum Extraordinarii Honorius V has been the primary instrument in fully aligning the cult of Apollo-Mithras with the Mondist cause. Enclaves and temples stand around the world, and the cult's great financial and not inconsiderable military resources stand at the Cult's command.
Socialist Powers
People's Communes of China
@Aedan777
Territory: China
Capital: Shanghai
Ideology: Thousand Brotherhood Path (Socialist)
Advantages: Dynamic: Receive 1 additional domestic and 1 additional foreign action every turn
Disadvantages: "The old government had too many taxes. Now we have too many meetings." - Keep your population happy or they will have meetings about you
Economy: Large
Military: Huge
Ruins: Many
Labs: 3
Armies
300 Brigades
60 Armoured Brigades
100 T-Type mobile suits
100 B-Type mobile suit
20 Naval Groups
China has until recently been a second string power, with constant warfare with Siberia leaving it largely behind in most areas. Ten years ago however, the old imperial government fell apart into the world's first socialist revolution since the end of the Cataclysm era. The People's Commune was able to push back the Siberians through fanaticism and innovative tactics, and have since then began a program of crash industrialisation and democratisation.
New prosperity has done a lot to secure the revolution, but the population is still suspicious of all leadership.
India Councilist Republics
@kosi
Territory: Indian Subcontinent excluding Pakistan
Capital: Mumbai
Ideology: Agrarian Communism
Advantages: Revolution just happened and feels unstoppable.
Disadvantages: Not really industrialised
Economy: Medium
Military: Huge
Ruins: Few
Labs: 1
Armies:
700 Brigades
60 T-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
Inspired by the chinese example, and with the local powers weakened by the collapse of the Central Asian Empire, the various Indian monarchist powers fell apart in Agrarian socialist revolution. India is only lightly industrialised, but its massive and still highly experienced army makes it a force to be reconned with, if a somewhat under equipped one.
The Cold League
@VoidZero
Territory: Scotland, Denmark, the Nordic Countries
Capital: Helsinki
Ideology: Vangism
Advantages: Defensible terrain with lots of resources
Disadvantages: Has to occasionally send the tanks and secret police
Economy: Medium
Military: Large
Ruins: Lots
Labs: 3
Armies:
200 brigades
60 armoured brigades
100 B-Type mobile suits
50 K-Type mobile suits
10 Naval Groups
The failure of the Republican government in the Cold League in the face of pressure from the Alps has given rise to a brutal and authoritarian state socialism based on the writings of the first Chairman, Maxwell Vang, who was martyred in the last of the revolutions battles.
The League is now run by the central committee in Helsinki. Despite repressive measures against the population, the Cold League's resource base and great number of ruins has allowed them to win help from the Indians and Chinese despite their somewhat appalling human rights record.
Algerian Socialist Republic
@Princess_Hex
Territory: Algeria and Tunis
Capital: Biskra
Ideology: In Development Socialism
Advantages: Mineral Wealth and strategic position
Disadvantages: Surrounded by liberal powers, no nearby allies.
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Few
Labs: 2
Production:
Armies:
240 Brigades
120 K-Type mobile suits
5 Naval Groups
Algeria was once a region of small and disunited princedoms and city states ruled by a set of weak liberal governments consumed more than anything by their own regional conflicts and by competition for the favour of the great powers.
The socialist revolution that burst from this patchwork state took much of the world by surprise, but not those who had observed Algeria. Now however the new state faces the prospect of unifying the country, a prospect made easier by its vast mineral wealth.
Neutrals
Spain
@Rincewind
Territory: Spain
Capital: Madrid
Ideology: Neutral
Advantages: Neutral and fancy free, large mobilisation strength
Disadvantages: Not aligned with anyone.
Economy: Medium
Military: Small
Ruins: Many
Labs: 2
Army
120 Brigades
30 B-Type mobile suits
2 Naval Groups
Europes Neutral country. A beautiful and peaceful place of mountains and warm valleys. Does a lot of sketchy banking.
Spacer Powers
The Seraphim
@Exhack
Territory: L5
Capital: Therymscri
Ideology: Seraphism
Advantages: Psychic Research and knowledge, well connected
Disadvantages: Extremely untrustworthy
Economy: Large
Military: Medium
Ruins: Few
Labs: 4
Starting Technology: AI systems, Psychics, Cloning 2, Type-S mobile suits.
Mobile Suits
200 Type-2 Mobile Suits
100 Type-S Mobile Suits
50 Type-P Mobile suits
60 Battlegroups
Space Fleet:
2 Battleships
20 Cruisers
80 Frigates
The Seraphim know many dark things. Everyone knows this because they often tell people about it. They know about the cataclysm. They know how to prevent another one. Don't get in their way because they can read your minds. They are the oldest power in space, the first to wake and return.
Or maybe they're just faking all that and are mostly just doing their weird psychic research and using their mysterious reputation to allow them to do whatever they want without anyone getting in their way. Perhaps their agenda is divine, or perhaps it's simply another set of power politics.
Either way, they have sold technology to all the other space powers, providing them with the ability to produce clones to rebuild their populations and various other adaptations. Seraphim technology remains perhaps the most advanced in the system outside of ruins.
All Seraphim are female
Eden-511 Fortress (Axis Seraphim)
@FantasticMsFox
Territory: Asteroid Eden-511
Capital: Eden-511
Ideology: Seraphimism (schismatic)
Advantages: super well fortified base
Disadvantages: Also very untrustworthy
Economy: Small
Military: Medium
Ruins: None
Labs: 3
Starting Technology: Cloning 2, AI, Psychics, Type-S mobile suits
Armies:
150 Type-S mobile suits
100 Type-2 Mobile Suits
50 Type-P mobile suits
60 Battlegroups
Space Fleet:
2 Battleships
20 Cruisers
80 Frigates
Eden-511 is the returned remains of a Seraphim experdition to the inner system, which its leaders, the Committee of Seven, believe to be the origin of the Seraphim organisation. To survive the dangers, they fortified and equipped the great asteroid fortress of Eden-511, equipping it with factories and lab complexes, and set off on the long journey inward.
On their long pass around the sun, the Seraphim on Eden-511 have grown strange to their sisters who remain, and developed new ways of thinking. Returning to earth sphere it's unclear if they will be friend or foe to the Seraphim who remain.
The Astarti
@Sara
Territory: Nomadic Fleet
Capital: None
Ideology: Astartism
Advantages: Elite Military
Disadvantages: Space populations dislike them
Economy: Medium
Military: Large
Ruins: None
Labs: 4
Technology: Cloning 2, AI, Psychics, Type-R mobile suits, Type-R-Command
Armies:
300 Type-R mobile suits
100 Type-R-Command Mobile Suits
30 Type-P mobile suits
80 Battlegroups
Spacey
4 Battleships
30 cruisers
100 frigates
Regarded by most as a Seraphim offshoot, the true origins of the Astarti are unknown. Their nomadic fleet returned from the darkness of the outer system only a few years ago. Like the Seraphim, all Astarti are female, and like the Seraphim they appear to have advanced psychics, cloning, AI systems and genetic upgrades.
Much like the Seraphim, their agenda remains mysterious, save for the fact they are known to despise the Seraphim and work against them whenever they can. Their methods are also much blunter, mostly using their large military, as big as Lunars and better trained to conduct their foreign policy.
Their fleet currently occupies L3, and the Sister Councils of the fleet look down with greedy eyes upon the earth.
Juno
@Valleron
Territory: The fleet ship Juno
Capital: None
Ideology: Astartism (Charismatic)
Advantages: A free agent, entirely mobile and hard to pin down
Disadvantages: Very small.
Economy: Small
Military: Small
Ruins: None
Labs: 2
Starting Technology: Cloning 2, AI, Psychics, Type-R mobile suits. Type-R Command suits.
Armies:
The Juno
100 Type-R command types
10 Type-P mobile suits
10 Battlegroups
An independent fleet ship of the Astarti fleet, the Juno is a free agent, large enough to produce its own mobile suits and with considerable lab space inside. The ship is commanded by the charismatic Persephone Sarquiyy, who seems to be on the outs with the Astarti leadership and has her own agenda. It remains to be seen if this agenda is anything other than her own advancement.
Anlscar Orbital
@BigBacon
Territory: L2
Capital: Zolpher-1 Colony
Ideology: Revolutionary Melindism
Advantages: Fanatical population
Disadvantages: Under developed military
Economy: Large
Military: Small
Ruins: Some
Labs: 4
Technology: Cloning 1, High Energy reactors
Armies:
100 Type-1 mobile suits
25 Type-2 Mobile Suits
30 battlegroups
Space Navy:
1 Battleship
10 Cruisers
40 frigates
The Anlscar orbital cluster is built around a massive military citadel that has been converted into a stasis vault. After the re-emergence of the orbital powers Anlscar came under the control of the Anlscar salvation council, a violent military dictatorship. Seraphim influence eventually caused an uprising against the ASC and elevated the young revolutionary Melinda Minasa into power. However she was subsequently assassinated by ASC hard liners
In the wake of Minasa death, the new government of Anlscar has formed around her ideals, though perhaps not in a way that its Seraphim backers wished (or perhaps exactly how they wished), creating a violent, revolutionary matriarch which punishes dissent through terror.
While the military remains very underdeveloped, the Aniscar's large economy should allow them to build up, especially if they can gain earth resources.
The Lunari
@Secondskink
Territory: The moon
Capital: Lunar Cradle
Ideology: Returnism
Advantages: Close to earth, plentiful room to expand. Easy source of fuel from regolith extraction
Disadvantages: Population overly Seraphim sympathetic
Economy: Large
Military: Large
Ruins: Many
Labs: 3
Starting Technology: Cloning 1, Assault Carrier, Orbital Descent Suits.
Armies:
300 Type-1 Mobile Suits
50 Type-2 Mobile Suits
80 Orbital Descent Suits
80 Battlegroups
The great stasis vaults of earth have given rise to the largest of the four major Spacian powers. The Lunari, officially the Lunari Republic, are governed by a series of democratic councils that run the various institutions of the moon and jockey with one another constantly for power.
One thing that all agree on though is the need to recontact the Earth, who's vast green spaces and plentiful resources make it a prime candidate to supply resources for the orbital boom. With these resources, the Lunari hope, they can become the base for a new era of where humanity once again reaches for the Cosmos. To facilitate this, the Lunarian government has developed specialist Orbital Decent Suits capable of making their own deorbit.
The one problem is the Seraphim. Their initial aid and continuing helpful attitude and spiritual support has left much of the population sympathetic to their cause, whatever it is. This causes much disquiet among Lunar's leaders. Going against the Seraphim might cause a riot, or a coup.
The Pallasi
@Shrike
Territory: Pallas and the surrounding shoal zone
Capital: Pallas City
Ideology: Cosmism
Advantages: Very well positioned to get space resources
Disadvantages: Badly positioned to get earth resources
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Lots
Labs: 3
Technology: Cloning 1, Space Type Mobile Suits, Advanced Frigates
Armies:
150 Space Type mobile suits
150 Type-1 Mobile Suits
60 Battlegroups
Pallas is a great asteroid that apparently once lay in the main belt but was moved towards earth orbit some time before the collapse and is now orbiting at the L4 point. The impact of Pallas seems to have smashed numerous colony cylinders and asteroids that previously occupied the zone, leaving a massive metallic cloud of debris and various partly ruined colonies and ships.
The Pallasi, officially the People's Cities of Pallas,are a patchwork of different systems, with each habitat and city having more or less their own laws and outlook. The Pallasi agree on only one thing: The destiny of humanity is in the stars, not on Earth. Earth may be exploited for resources but it is a mere adjunct to attempts to reach back out and reclaim the system that has been lost to humanity.
Pallas deploys a substantial number of space type mobile suits.
ZOLON Orbital Platform
@Hollewanderer
Territory: ZOLON orbital platforms (L1)
Capital: ZOLON-DARK station
Ideology: Neo-Mechanism
Advantages: Unique Technologies Locus of anti-Seraphim/Astarti activity.
Disadvantages: Lack of Cloning means population is small. Locus of anti-Serphim/Astarti activity
Economy: Medium
Military: Medium
Ruins: Many
Labs: 2
Starting Technology: Cybernetics, enhanced MMI, beam power.
Armies:
200 Type-1 Mobile suits
50 Type-2 Mobile Suits
60 Battlegroups
Spacey
2 Battleships,
20 cruisers
80 frigates
The ZOLON cluster of colonies is one of the few to absolutely reject the Seraphim cloning technology. Instead, they embraced the cybernetic path to survive the rigors of space. This has made them, against the wishes of their government, a locus of anti-Seraphim/Astarti activity, which has both its benefits and discontents. The lack of Seraphim technical assistance has left ZOLON somewhat backwards, and they have become increasingly relient on salvaging ruins for new technology and production, and aim a weather eye towards the earth. Still, their cybernetics and enhanced mind machine interface technologies are the envy of the rest of orbit. The most famous of these is cybernetics, but they also posess beamed power systems left over from the ancient, ruined solar energy grid.
Applegate Orbital Platform
@Eater
Territory: Applegate Orbital Platform
Capital: Applegate
Ideology: Returnism
Advantages: At the top of an orbital elevator
Disadvantages: Population overly Seraphim sympathetic
Economy: Medium
Military: Small
Ruins: Few
Labs: 2
Starting Technology: Cloning 1, Frame Runners.
Armies:
200 Frame Runners
100 Type-1 Mobile Suits
50 Battlegroups
50 Frigates
A major ally of Lunar, the small Applegate Orbital floats above South America at the top of the ancient equatorial space elevator there. Governed by a demarchist direct democracy, Applegate never the less sees its destiny as increasingly lying on the earth below. Like the Lunari, their population has become used to Seraphim technical assistance and is overtly in sympathy with the strange and untrustworthy women.
Pallas is the smaller of Earth's two moons and is found at the L4 Lagrange point 60 degrees ahead of Luna. Astronomers have long wondered how this came to be, but recent collaboration with the Pallas Republican Archives have shed light on this matter.
According to ancient records, Pallas was once the third-largest asteroid in the Solar System, slightly smaller than Vesta. And, via the use of titanic world-engines, Pallas was moved to Earth's L4 point in what must have been a triumph of ancient Mankind's technological prowess. Once situated near Earth, equally enormous mining operations began, excavating uncountable mountains worth of rock to be processed down for various refined elements. These same ancient records state that by UC0150 (Ed. note: Ancient pre-cataclysm calendar) 95% of the orbital habitats were built with Pallas-mined material.
At the same time, a number of large rotating habitats were built in these excavations. As Pallas' surface gravity is only one-fiftieth that of Earth's, these habitats could be designed along similar lines as free-floating colonies. The most significant difference is that the Pallasian habitats run on large rails; even 1/50th of a large weight is still a large weight! Pallasian engineers are quite proud of the various weight-saving techniques used in the construction of these massive spinning cities; as they are buried inside the rock of Pallas and covered by a non-rotating silicate-slag dome of 5-10 meter thickness they are well protected against radiation and consequently can avoid the thick and heavy cladding found on space habitats.
Pallasian habitats rotate at varying speed depending on their size, though all of them rotate to generate between 0.8 and 1.05 gravity. Each habitat has connections at the inner and outer axis and these are typically busy with foot traffic. Due to Pallas' exterior wreckage (more on this later) travel is generally by the deep tunnels that cut through Pallas at great depth; some run even deeper than the ancient stasis vaults which themselves lie more than a dozen kilometers below the surface.
The Pallasian Reef
Undoubtedly the first thing any visitor to Pallas would see as they approach Earth's second moon is the vast shoal zone of ruined space habitats surrounding Pallas. The largest of these were believed to have been up to 50 kilometers long - small in comparison to Pallas'a 500 km bulk but objectively enormous!
But these were destroyed during the Cataclysm and over the intervening centuries, many of them have crash-landed on Pallas' surface and by today, little of the moon's surface is not covered in wreckage from random metal plates to the enormous skeletal shapes of habitat-fragments looming kilometers into the black. Many of these still contain technological treasures and of course are made of refined metals, leading to a thriving salvager economy.
Just don't ask the Pallasi where all the bodies are. In all the years since the stasis vaults opened, not a single flash-frozen corpse has been found tumbling through a shoal zone that must have once been home to more than a billion souls.
The almost pristine white bridge of the Antigone was the tensest it had been in living memory, far more so than the usually lanqid patrols the Frigate normally preformed quietly dancing above the Earth sheparding survey shuttles and transports as they passed to and fro above the planet. "Well?" Captain Valon asked the bridge as the frigates Intelligence section huddled around a series of monitors crammed into the very back of the ship, looking over a series of pictures assembled from the ships various telescopes. A young woman with the pips of an ensgin on her collar absentmindedly brushed some of her silver hair from her eyes as she turned to look at the Captain.
"Well sir, it looks like the shuttle set down intact afterall, some field in the middle of nowhere." She paused for a moment, pursing her lips. "I think we have figures moving around but the Antigone's telescopes were never intended for this kind of precision work. I can't tell you how many people are down their exactly, I would guess more than the four listed on the flight plan though." Valon looked at her for a moment more as he processed the implications of that. "I see, thank you Ensign. I'm going to have to pass this up the chain to Cradle for the big shots to sort out." She nodded once, before pushing herself back towards the intel section.
Valon look over the bridge briefly, pondering if it was worth trying to drop the Antigones mobile suit complement on the crash site. They could secure it at least, but then what? He looked down at the slowly twirling earth cast in all it's glory on the Antigones bridge screens. No he decided, there would be time enough for the sword later if needed. This required a more delicate approach to introduce their cousins to the rest of humanity.
"Keep us above the crash site and observing it, I have to make a call back to Luna." He paused a moment. "And make sure you all get some sleep, it's about to get very busy up here. It's showtime now." He turned and pushed himself off the bridge deck headed deeper into the ship to compose a message for HIGHCOM.
---
Broadcast on an open unencrypted radio channel to the Earth. "Greetings from the free peoples of the Lunari Republic, we are exited to open communications with the myrid peoples of the Earth for a more prosperous future for the both of us. One forged from the strengths of both or peoples after the collapse that nearly wiped out humanity as we know it. Further communciations can occur on this radio frequency please wait for a reply to discuss the logistics of landing diplomatic parties and embassies."
---
The Lunari Republic sends a diplomatic contact team in a single shuttle to negotiate the return of the Lunar-127 Shuttle crew. Meanwhile a large mission of diplomats is being assembled to make contact with various Earth States on Luna, with particular attention being paid to the Republic of the Isles, the Amazon Territories, the Yammacian Freeholds, the Alpine Imperate, the Margraviate of Jaburo, the Empire of Siberia, the Communes of China, and the Cold League.
=}+{=
=} A Time of Hope - A Time of Learning - A Time of hidden Fears {=
=}+{=
The Amazon Territories are marked by nature and humanity alike. While the erstwhile visitor travelling its wide and length may be enamoured by the varied climate, the richness of its flora and fauna and the thriving university cities at its coast, the territories are undoubtedly still bearing the scars of the past beneath the layers of modern cities and regrown nature. One may enter it at onboard a ship heading towards its coastline, landing in one of the countless settlements that had either sprung forth from the local population bounding together centuries ago or had been established by expeditions and researchers that had arrived since then and been incorporated into a vibrant and curious nation. These cities offer the amenities of modern life, while proudly showing off artefacts of the past, the bounty of the vast ruins beneath the territories built into building facades or exposed in countless smaller or larger museums. In some places old structures never disappeared beneath the ground either, with upper storeys used, re-used and renovated for millennia, leaving little but memories and foundations of the old buildings if they weren't just integrated into the new carrying walls and left exposed by the freshly applied plaster.
But these cities so proud, ever watchful upon the ruins of their forebearers, carrying names resounding in the ancient dialects: Maringáos, Serrea, Dia-Mauá, Rio Oscaso and so many more words formed by the ancient roots of todays languages, are not orientated towards the past. Especially the northern neighbours of the territories might find themselves scandalized by the ubiquitous nature of something as both innocent and explosive as daily papers: a battle of paper rages onboard the tram lines and autobus connections of Dia-Mauá and Serrea. There are the research papers lauding new finds and interpretations, reviews filled with praise or scathing age-old rivalries. There are the simple one sheet papers of the student associations, proud and bold worlds claiming the superiority of one association or another, some for their members academic excellence others for the friendship and perks they offer in the sport courts and ball games. And next to the ubiquitous presence of academia, the joint passion of a whole nation for all measures of advancement in knowledge, there is the hot running passion of politics that seems to grip every heart.
The marches of the northern refugees, walking down the roads of the major cities in sombre black and holding up images of their homes and banners of their revolution, are a steady reminder of the danger that lurks to the north, the iron fist of reaction that shows no mercy to those building a better world. To them the public has great sympathy for they might fear to share the same fate one day – while finding themselves fascinated by the will that fuels many of them to hope for a return in the future. These marches often end at the colloquia and fests of the academic and republican associations, where the sombre remembrance ends in wine and discussions, where not the recent but the distant past and its fruits for the present are celebrated: for the Amazon Territories stand free and proud despite the dangers surrounding it and the greed directed towards the ruins it guards and explores with pride.
But while the halls of academia and the clubs of the bourgeoise are filled with a cheerfulness that is both a wish and a way to overcome the fear and the marches of the exiles are filled with sombre will, the socialists are something else again. Their banners appear easily, suddenly, their voices carried by the mass of people that fills the streets when their shifts at the factories end. They are the voice of the masses, the fist that is raised both in solidarity and threat and the arm that can shape or destroy depending in equal measures.
There are dances and there are strikes, there are toasts to a new golden age and whispered fears of invasion. The future is built on the bones of the past and the T-Type mobile suit soaring through the sky can photograph the vegetation to find excavations and map the area for military operations both at the same time.
The Amazon Territories are free, they are in danger, they are celebrating and they hope for the future.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. From being masters of Anatolia, the Fertile Crescent, the Iranian Plateau and the distant steppes of Central Asia, now reduced to Syria, the Bosphorous, and the Balkans. It was a fall as shocking for those who ruled the nation as it was dramatic. But how did they wind up in this position in the first place?
The state as we know it really began with the Ebrahimi Dynasty. Supplanting the previous rulers, they brought together the disparate peoples who had been scattered by the ravages of war. Their rule was fair and just, easing old grievances and bringing together those who had once been rivals. Over time their nation grew, bringing wealth and prosperity to all. With such a melting pot of disparate peoples, over time it became known as the Ebrahimi State, or simply 'The Kingdom'.
But no one is immune to the ravages of time. Ecological hardship from drought, a series of weak willed or middling rulers that mismanaged economic and military affairs, and the rising resurgence of Republican ideals, all began building towards a powder keg.
Said power keg was lit during the Feast of Nikolaos. Protests took place against the economic hardship the people were suffering. The then King, a weak man, and the response to the protests ended up becoming violent in the 'Nikolaos Day Massacres'. Yet this did not cow the people, and in their fury they rose up. The Parliament was disbanded, and the King driven from the capital as the Caspian Sea Republic was established.
Those still loyal to the old regime fled westwards, taking up residence in the administrative center of Damascus. The King passed away in those early days without any heir, leaving his brother Darius to take the throne. Since then the government has held on tenaciously, looking to the day when they will reclaim what was lost. All the while, such likely of a restoration moves further away. The regime was reorganized to better handle the crisis at hand, colloquially forming the 'Two Seas Governate' from the Western Administrative Regions. While holding to Liberal principles, certain exceptions have been made as a result of the exile they currently suffer.
Yet all remains not well. Rising Republican sentiment in the population, and the presence of the guerilla Unity Front have made it clear that the status quo cannot endure for forever. Something must change, or change will be forced on the Governate just as it was on the Kingdom.
The revolution against the Salvation Council was a bloody and harrowing affair that left the population and industry of the Anlscar orbital cluster devastated. Despite achieving victory over the violent dictatorship that had ruled over the L2 Lagrange point since the Awakening, the revolutionaries found themselves at a loss as they tallied up the dead and picked through the ruins. Animosity and anger began to spark conflict between the survivors, while others simply fell into despair as they wondered how long it would take to recover, or if they ever would at all.
That is, until the timely intervention of the Seraphim.
The mysterious outsiders who had emerged from the endless void to take up residence at the L5 Lagrange point and offered a helping hand to all, no matter who they were or where they resided. Their endless benevolence had been what inspired the people of Anlscar to rise up against the oppression of the Council, and now they returned bearing gifts and providing assistance to the survivors aboard the space colonies. With the cloning technology of the Seraphim, the populations of the colonies were replenished at an astounding rate. Technical assistance allowed shattered factories and ruined industries to be rebuilt to harness advanced new technologies.
But most importantly of all, with the gentle guiding hand of the Seraphim, the fracturing people were reunited once more under the leadership of the beloved Melinda Minasa, a bright young woman whose Seraphism-influenced ideals promised a new path into the future for the people of Anlscar. Even now, many years later, she remains a beloved figure among the orbital cluster in its entirety.
Unfortunately, Melinda's dream was cut tragically short. Disgruntled survivors who still claimed loyalty to the Salvation Council murdered her as she slept, and while the perpetrators were quickly caught and executed for the crime, once again it seemed that the people of Anlscar were cast adrift without leadership or guidance. For a time, many feared that things would descend into bloody violence once more, a return to the days of the revolution as leaders and officials squabbled amongst one another and prepared to use Anlscarian lives as currency for their own agendas. Among them, many influential individuals followed the ideals and beliefs of the late Melinda, some of which used those beliefs as the bedrock for new avenues of thought.
Among these individuals was a woman named Evelyne Leva Marr. A former officer in the Anlscar Defense Force, she betrayed the Salvation Council and joined the rebellion against their tyrannical rule, providing sorely needed military knowledge and experience to the revolution. This decision would later prove to be fruitful beyond imagining, and for her efforts, Evelyne was appointed governess of the space colony Zolpher-1 as the people of the Anlscar orbital cluster began to recover from the conflict.
With the death of Melinda, it was Evelyne who stepped forward into the power vacuum and through her words captured both the hearts and minds of the Anlscarian people. Her many talks and speeches are widely beloved and highly regarded by all, but it was the first of her great rallies that had the greatest impact on the people of Anlscar. It was there that she loudly championed the idea of Melindism, created from the hopes and dreams of that young woman. It was there that she promised to hunt down every last lackey of the Salvation Council that had managed to escape judgment, not only to avenge Melinda but to ensure the safety and security of all within the colonies. It was here that she proclaimed her desire for a new government. A strong government, that would not let such tyranny take root ever again. A government that would lead the people of Anlscar not just to true salvation, but to everlasting glory.
It was with these words that she won the overwhelming support of the people, and soon enough, Evelyne found herself catapulted into leading the entirety of the orbital cluster in all but name. Proclaiming herself the supreme ruler of Anlscar, she quickly began to carry out the many promises she had made, starting with the first of many purges to flush out and destroy the last surviving fragments of the Salvation Council...
entrance to the port of Pyrene
here lies the heritage of the antique french and spanish culture intertwined
Here in this blessed and peaceful land do we fraternally welcome people of all nations who wish to engage in trade or seek leisures far from the concerns of their work.
When tensions rise and where the scars of wars are still visible throughout the world , any visitor will quickly be reassured at the sight of one of our numerous prytanes upon which are written some of our fundamental laws , that everyone is free from religious persecution and free from being hounded for his opinions ; let all who enter these lands forget but for a moment all their grudges !
It is after all this rejection of agression and involvement in foreign disputes that contribute to safeguard the fortunes of many who trust the Directorate and it's institutions and desire to deposit them somewhere safe.
Let it not be said however that we rely on goodwill alone to preserve what has been given to us for safeguarding : Hispania boast a well trained and efficient security force protecting the vaults and public order.
Demonstrations and mock duels regularly occurs in the Mobile Suit force , led by the dashing and gallant Naina Marques , admired for her prowess against criminals and pirates and for never having lost a duel to date.
Come and see by yourself !
The more gentle souls will not be found lacking for rewards in their wanders through our via and lands.
Plentiful spectacles songs and danses awaits in theatres and coliseums , debates and friendly conversations in the fields of our cities , feats of sports and martial prowess in the coliseums , and contemplation among the mausoleums pyramids and remnants of the world before , the world before the cataclysm.
We wait for your visit and your patronage , and thank you in advance for your participation in the great work of building the utopia of Hispania
The Diana Counter Covenant was broken. Shattered even, and the governments of space were scrambling to achieve a new equilibrium in a suddenly changed Earth Sphere. A meeting had been called, a great moot, a grand conclave, to discuss a new Diana Counter Covenant.
But a day before that was set to begin, a less formal meeting was being held in the ambassadorial quarters of the People's Cities of Pallas. Four esteemed individuals were present; one each from Pallas, Luna, Applegate and ZOLON. A fifth, from the Seraphim, was caught in a matriarch storm between L5 and Luna and was delayed, while the sixth, from Ansclar, had turned the invite down due to 'other engagements'.
The appetizers were supplied by Applegate, fresh fruit and nuts from the lands of Hy-Brasil; pineapples, mangos, coconuts, brazil nuts. A rare treat for spacenoids and a reminder that Applegate ate well. It was all served on genuine wood plates, the rich dark wood having been hewn on the surface and hand-crafted.
After these delicacies were cleared away, the main course was served. Cured Siberian ham, salty yet not overpowering, alongside delicately prepared root vegetables, spicy kimchi and, most amazing of all, freshly baked bread. The rich smell evoked an almost atavistic sense of fulfilment in those gathered.
"How did you do it? Surely your chef didn't figure out how to cook bread like this in a week."
The plenipotentiary from Pallas looked smug as he replied. "One of the Siberian palace sous-chefs had quite the adventuresome streak and wanted to see space. The Siberians were eager to please and I suspect his assistant is probably a spy but . . . " he shrugged.
To his right, the ZOLON ambassador was preparing to try desert, some sort of pastry called a 'pączki'. One of her mechadendrites extended a small knife and sliced it into quarters, lemon filling starting to slowly ooze out. She popped one quarter into her mouth and chewed contentedly, before taking a sip of the Persian tea filling her teacup. "I will certainly need to get the recipe for these passed along to my staff."
The Lunar foreign minister, the host of the upcoming Covenant meeting finished mixing milk into the coffee he'd provided - genuine cow milk and genuine coffee - and raised the cup. "Amen to that. And a toast, to a successful meeting."
North American Fallow Zone - The Land of the Eagle
For thousands of kilometers on either side, unspoiled nature, a thousand year old hallowed preserve, reigns supreme. The great prairies of the continent, flat and vast and green, stretch into the horizon, terminating only in snowcapped mountains and thousand year wild-growth forests, filled with holy, bizarre wildlife, criss-crossed by bleached traceries of former pavement and iron rail like arteries spreading out under skin. Beyond the mountains and the forests are stranger things still, but for now we are only concerned with the green heart of the continent, and the singular cord of black stretching across it from north to south.
The Transcontinental Railway is perhaps the largest engineering project to have been accomplished on Earth in the last millennium - not comparable to the ancients' conquest of space and mysterious, impossibly tall towers, but nonetheless a massive undertaking, thousands of kilometers of rail built on the bodies of thousands of laborers over hundreds of years, a continent-long and one kilometer wide snake winding from the industrial heartland of Sonora to the breadbasket of Manitova, shackling the great Holy Land over which the King was sovereign protector. Such an undertaking had required massive blessings and propitiations, of course, but the ability of the CanMexican Crown to defend the remainder of the now-split Fallow Zone was absolute and unquestioned - as was its power generally.
Nothing was a greater expression of that power than the vehicle currently winding its way north across the rails. A massive armored train, built so wide the gauge of the rails could barely tolerate it, and over 7 kilometers end to end, is hauled northward by a dozen cutting-edge diesel locomotives at speeds that are surprising for its bulk (namely, in the double digits per hour). Guardian cars bristle with cannon and machine guns to fend off any threats arising from the Fallow Zone on either side of the Railway, and the barracks and stowed assault artillery of an entire Armored Brigade are spread out along the sprawling train, all while on flat cars at either end, a dozen heavily ornamented mobile suits stand at the ready, both symbolically and practically, to respond to any threat.
The reason for all this bulk and pomp and the sheer, soil-crushing expense of it all is, of course, that it is the travel arrangements of the most important person in the Western Hemisphere, save perhaps for the Pater Patreum himself. In a baroque state car, armored in thick steel and bedecked with painted murals of Delphic and Tauroctonic scenes, sits a man. The chair he is seated on is not, strictly speaking, a throne - there are limits to even the excesses of the CanMexican crown in terms of what can fit in a train car - but the sturdy mahogony and velvet chair adapts itself to the form and bearing of the massive, bearded gentleman, becoming his throne in the same way that the gold-leafed rock-and-sun motif behind him becomes his halo, representing his annointed status as Apollo-Mithras's temporal representative on Earth, and the serpent, tree, and eagle surround his shoulders like wings. The long conference table in front of him, surrounded by his closest advisors, is almost an afterthought to this arrangement.
He is James Alexander Frederick Lyons de Tronto-Mexia, and he is the King.
Right now, the King is busily digesting news that reached his train along telegraph wire while he was en route from a banquet in Mexia to a conference in Edmonton - from the sound of it, his even more absurd palace of concrete and marble in Lake City would be waiting a while longer. After long deliberation, he says:
"The mysterious voices in the stars have faces after all. We're almost disappointed that they seem to be human, and not something stranger."
The other men and women in the room - from faceless valets to members of the king's household - take his Majesty's pronouncement stoically, waiting for him to continue.
"We see from the report that there are more of them atop the Jaburo beanstalk," the King continues. "Has the ministry of state dispatched an appropriate ambassador?"
The second most important man in the room, the CanMexican Prime Minister of State and the king's second son, Prince Xavier, nods and reports from his position at the monarch's right hand. "Indeed, your majesty. Security will be our top concern, of course, but the ambassador has been instructed to make sure no commercial opportunities are missed. Those who travel the stars are sure to have quite interesting wares."
King James acknowledges the report with an inclined head. "And what of the Church? Has His Holiness made any official statements?"
"None, your divine majesty," the Realm Prelate responds from his seat further down the right of the table. "It's a momentous enough occasion that I would expect something official to take some time to draft."
"We will need to make our own pronouncement to the masses sooner than later," the king opines. "We can simply stick to orthodoxy. As protectors of the Holy Land, we shouldn't have a quarrel with them. Perhaps they can even be welcome as guests witihin the Kingdom, if they are willing to respect our ideals."
The assembled notables nod, taking practiced instructions from the formal pronouncements - adhere to doctrine, treat fairly with the space-dwellers, but cut them off if they work in the interest of the kingdom's enemies, or attempt to assert themselves as more than "guests".
"And the rebellious islanders?" the king asks.
"No movement from their end either as yet," Prince Xavier reports. "Although...I should note for your majesty, the Republicans are in control of a space-bound tower, the same as the African aristocracies. It's quite likely that our bloc won't be the only ones enjoying easy access to the Spacians."
The king raises an eyebrow. "Spacians? Is that what we're going with?"
The prince coughs. "The other word I've heard bandied about is 'Spacenoid', your majesty. I took the liberty of asking the Academy to quash that one."
King James nods. "Agreed, we thank you."
The immense monarch taps his fingers briefly on the arm of his chair. "We will need to accelerate some plans. The continued harmony of the world cannot stand much more of this kind of disruption."
The king gestures around with both hands, even though the car is windowless - everyone knows what is outside.
"We have been entrusted with the preservation of the world by the god Apollo-Mithras himself. The Holy Land of the Eagle is our great charge. The millions of souls of the kingdom are ours to defend from corruption. Defending the world from chaos is our most sacred duty. You all know what needs to be done. May the Conqueror of the Unconquered shine down upon us!"
"Yes, your Divine Majesty," resounds in unison from around the state car - from Prince Xavier, from the Realm Prelate, from the other Princes and Princesses of the Divine Monarchy in their roles as cogs in its government, from the noble bureaucrats. The silent valets, of course, say nothing.
The question rudely shook Anna free from her thoughts. It took a moment for her to turn around, and find the one among their number who had spoken out loud. A younger girl, an aide, stared back at the older diplomat with eyes filled with endless excitement at what they might find at the foot of the space elevator.
She could hardly blame her for feeling that way. It wasn't every day that first contact was made between two entirely different groups of humanity. It certainly beat dealing with and worrying over the same groups of Spacians every day. Seraphim this, Astarti that.
However, it was hard to forgive them for being important enough to drag her out from behind her desk.
"I have absolutely no idea, but they're already doing a good job of pissing me off," she retorted. "I don't like this. We're practically going in blind with barely any information about the locals at all and hoping they'll stay on their best behaviour."
The entire first contact mission between the glorious nation of Anlscar and the so-called Earthians had been hideously rushed forward the moment news arrived that the Lunarians had made initial contact. They both knew it. The Supreme Leader knew it. Everyone knew it. But the importance of this entire mission to the surface had been pressed upon her by now more times than she could count. She would do her duty, even if so far she'd wanted to do nothing but complain in her head and wish she was back home with a glass of something strong in her hand.
"Well, they seem to be friendly so far. I do not think anything happened to those Lunarians..." The aide's voice trailed off as she scrunched up her face.
"You'd be correct. Nothing's happened to them. Not yet, anyway. They might've found a group of friendly Earthians, but that doesn't mean all of them will be happy to see us," Anna replied. "Remember, this is a completely different continent. The Earthians here won't be the same as the ones the Lunarians met."
She paused for a moment to reel her scepticism back a bit.
"Still, despite the lack of intel and how rushed this whole thing is everyone seems hopeful things will work out, and I'm inclined to believe that too."
That seemed to be enough to satisfy her curious assistant, and with a quiet thanks, she settled back into silence. Something that Anna was thankful for, even if she didn't voice it out loud. She had more than enough things to think over on the ride down the space elevator, and she needed all the time she could get to work out a strategy for when her team finally met with the Earthians.
After all, what even was a Mondist?
In response to the actions of the Lunari, the glorious orbital cluster of Anlscar has swiftly dispatched their own representatives with all due haste to the South American space elevator to make first contact with the powers of Earth. Given the location of said space elevator, the first group of Earthians contacted shall be the Mondist powers.
1. The primary contracting parties are the Federation of the Pacific Islands on Earth and the Applegate Teamsters Orbital 78 in Space. The secondary contracting parties are the Caspian Sea Republic, the Amazon Territories, the Free Republic of Egypt, and the states of Kenya, Thailand, Chile, Arabia, and Sudan on Earth; and the Lunari Republic in Space.
2. The Singapore orbital elevator is a co-sovereign territory, with its base and atmospheric elements to be held by the Federation of the Pacific Islands and its orbital platform and extra-atmospheric elements to be held by the Applegate Teamsters. Neither may make alterations to the structure without the consent of the other.
3. The Applegate Teamsters are charged by mutual consent with the refurbishment, maintenance, and operation of the Singapore elevator, with all costs to be borne jointly and equally with the Pacific Federation.
4. The Applegate Teamsters agree, over a period of no more than 20 years, to train native Pacifican crews in the operation and maintenance of the base and atmospheric elements of the Singapore elevator, and to transfer maintenance and operation of those elements to the Pacific Federation within that time, unless modified by mutual agreement.
5. The Pacific Federation and the Applegate Teamsters agree to establish a single tariff and fee schedule for the use of the Singapore elevator, with all proceeds to be placed in a joint account. Such revenues are to go first toward maintenance and upkeep and then divided equally and distributed as profits.
6. No active military formations or manned and operational Mobile Suits may transit the Singapore elevator without mutual consent by the primary contracting parties. No military or paramilitary force may garrison the base and atmospheric elements of the elevator save those of the Pacific Federation. No military or paramilitary force may garrison the apex or extra-atmospheric elements of the elevator save those of the Applegate Teamsters.
7. The primary and secondary contracting parties of this treaty agree to enter into a preferential trade agreement between the Earth parties on one hand and the Space parties on the other. This agreement will encompass the transfer of goods, services, information, and other relevant valuable elements between Earth and Space, at reasonable rates of exchange as determined by mutual agreement. Such transfers conducted via the Singapore elevator will only be subject to maintenance, upkeep, and handling fees, without further cost to the transferring partner.
8. All parties agree to enter into this treaty in good faith, to make such modifications as are needed by mutual consent, and to actively endeavor to avoid exploitation or manipulation of its terms, in the name of goodwill and peace among nations.
[X] Federation of the Pacific Islands
[X] Applegate Teamsters Orbital 78
Minute Notes from the 10th People's Congress of the People's Communes of China
Comrade-Citizen Chen Bai of the predominant Zìqiáng Faction presents a sophisticated program for further industrial development in mid sized cities and congratulates several communes on meeting planned targets ahead of schedule. This receives widespread polite applause, though expressions of disappointment and boredom are heard from minority factions.
Comrade-Citizen Liang Hua of the Tiānguó de rén Faction presents a resolution opening the country to the newly contacted Spacian powers and seeking their guidance. Skepticism from the Zìqiáng Faction and uproarious opposition from the other minority factions defeats this resolution.
Comrade-Citizen Chiu Jie of the Nítǔ Faction in response pushes for a preemptive ban on all contact with the Spacian powers and crackdown on potential infiltration from these powers. The Zìqiáng Faction is similarly skeptical of this extreme measure, while the Tiānguó de rén Faction decries this as narrow minded and prejudiced.
As a result of the above dispute, the Zìqiáng Faction oversees a new understanding which cautiously seeks connection with the Spacian powers, but without full opening. Both involved minority factions are disappointed by this middle road position.
Comrade-Citizen Suen Long of the Yìhéquán Faction issues the latest of the faction's many calls for preparations for imminent war with the Imperialist power of Siberia. The Zìqiáng Faction passes an act approving further military construction even as Suen delivers a lengthy diatribe on the necessity of finally finishing the war to topple the Siberian tyranny.
The Udala Contract, being a contract between The Applegate Teamsters Orbital 78, hereafter AT, and The Yammacin Freeholds, hereafter YF.
1. For the contract period of 3 years the AT will operate bulk goods and passenger transfer on the African Elevator for the purposes of inter-polity trade. Both parties may extend the contract for up to 15 years upon mutual consent, with a finalisation date of half a year before contract expiration.
a. For the purposes of facilitating the operation of the elevator AT will take temporary possession of and refurbish the station at the top of the African Elevator, to be named Udala Station. AT and YF will jointly bear the costs of this endeavour.
i. Sales of stationboard facilities or its continued ownership by AT will be negotiated when the contract has run its course.
b. For the purposes of maintaining the integrity of the African Elevator, AT periodically inspect the elevator from end to end, and effect repairs as necessary.
c. For the purposes of maintaining the security of the African Elevator, AT will establish a garrison force to deter piracy.
2. All transit of the African Elevator, with the exception of AT maintenance and security frames, will be subject to approval by YF.
a. YF will establish a corp of diplomats and customs officers at Udala Station for the purposes of customs and trade negotiation.
b. YF will establish a security force on Udala station not to exceed 5 troopers per diplomat or customs officer.
3. AT will charge the sender of goods up/down the African Elevator some percentage of the value of the goods, as negotiated and agreed upon by YF and AT. This value will be adjusted for inflation.
a. YF will pay half the rate of their trading partners on all transfers.
4. AT will begin training ground-side and station personnel from the YF in the use and operations of station and port facilities once these facilities are operational.
5. YF and AT agree to sign the contract in good faith, and alter it upon mutual consent for the benefit of all parties. YF and AT agree avoid the manipulation and exploitation of the contract's terms.
[X] Yammacin Freeholds
[X] Applegate Teamstar Orbital 78
People of Earth. After the catastrophe that sundered humanity, after our long period of separation, at last we are in contact once more. We are looking forwards to creating a new future, together.
May fortune be with you.
* * *
"Are you sure about this, Director Laevateinn? To Earth, cybernetics would have been the stuff of fiction and legends until now. How will they react?"
"Concealing one's true nature would be the act of a coward, secretary, and nobody would respect a coward. Least of all a people shaped by war to this degree."
"Besides, since the ancient days, humans have always craved two things: power and longevity. And we can provide both."
* * *
ZOLON.
While the exact politics of various Spacian groups are even more opaque to the inhabitants of Earth than the other way around, the existence of the mysterious Seraphim and their tremendous influence on Spacian affairs is clear enough – as is the fact that opposition to them centered itself around ZOLON, organisation that rejected the ubiquitous Seraphic cloning technology, for good and for ill both.
Whether ZOLON's government actually wanted to become the beating heart of the Resistance, rather than merely independent of Seraphim manipulation, is another matter, but human history has already seen way too many maybes and could haves to bother with yet another.
Currently led by Director Laevateinn for so long that most of its people don't even recall the time before her, ZOLON technically operates as something of an overgrown bureaucracy, hinting at its origins in the ancient times, akin to a civil service without a nation to serve anymore. The Director does, technically, answer to a parliament, but most people outside the colony cluster are lucky to hear "its complicated" when trying to figure out the exact nature of this relationship. Some more cynical commentators suggest that the only reason ZOLON is not actually a monarchy is that Laevateinn is far too much of a literal and metaphorical machine to possibly have an heir.
Due to its rejection of clone vats that most other Spacian groups used to replenish their numbers, ZOLON's population is relatively tiny and much more difficult to rapidly replace; normally, they make up for it with cybernetics and robotics, each heavily-augmented citizen attended to by a small army of automata. Individuality is highly valued, including in appearance, seen as a contrast to the stereotypical same-faced women walking off Seraphic production lines, and family holds great importance. (with the rise in arranged marriages between families, those same cynical commentators claim that ZOLON decided to reinvent high nobility from first principles)
The cybernetics themselves can vary considerably, from strictly internal modifications to more drastic changes like mechanical tentacles, multiple arms, sensor horns, subdermal armour and so on, with its military force leading the way in blurring the lines between a human and a robot. While sometimes these are covered in synthetic flesh, they're often on full display, as a source of considerable pride for their owners.
All of this culminates in ZOLON's ideology and approach to machines themselves. From their point of view, machines are crystallisations of human desires, far stronger and far purer than the flesh. One just needs to look at mobile suits – war itself, purified, still surviving millenia after the human civilisation that created them was obliterated so thoroughly the archaeologists still have no idea what it even was. If humanity is to survive the second cataclysm, whatever it might be, it needs to embrace that machine, to purify itself into something stronger – doing what the Seraphim are doing, relying on human flesh and psychic powers that both have clearly already failed in the past, is height of folly.
The aesthetics of ZOLON's technology reflect that, particularly in its mobile suits, the pale-white, skeletal utilitarian machines that form the bulk of its forces.
Some on Earth, more used to being visited by the spectre of war, might now wonder why the conflict between ZOLON and Seraphim hasn't been settled with violence a long time ago, given the differences in numbers. For those who don't believe that Spacians, due to the nature of their environment and the risks involved, are just less inclined to fighting, the existence of the beam power satellite network left over from the ancient solar energy grid that ZOLON controls usually tends to suffice, however.
One already-referenced theory on ZOLON's origins is that they were, once upon a time, the maintenance workers of the Solar System, normally taking care of its infrastructure and now – after coming back from the outer reaches and turning their mega-freighters into colonies – hold the keys to what is left of it, explaining their keen interest in ruins and salvage, only Pallasi having greater out of Spacian factions within the Earth Sphere. While there are number of problems and questions with this theory, it got popular mostly because of "Blue blood? More like blue collars!" jokes making fun of ZOLON's claimed pretense at being Spacian aristocracy, perhaps quietly pushed by Seraphim sympathisers. When interacting with the various Spacian guests, you might even hear one of those yourself.
Do not, under any circumstances, repeat it to visitors from ZOLON. - ZOLON: A Short Primer, author unclear, printout found in an official's misplaced briefcase on Earth
From Cape Agulhas to Lake Malawi lay the Royal Republic of Zimbabwe and the Cape: a confederation of city states—fastened by an alliance of nobles and commoners—that has seen peace reign for nearly fifty years in a time of industrial growth. But tension bubbles underneath the veneer of stability between the five great sovereigns. Following the Pacific debacle, Malebogo Kesentseng of Gaborone moved away from jingoism, intent on cultivating a more open system for the Royal Republic. Her ally is the soft-spoken Timoteus Mbanga of Windhoek. Their so-called passivity has been challenged by Inocência Van-Dúnem Barros of Luanda. Her dream is a republic respected and feared across the world as an imperial power. She in turn has an unsteady fellowship with the sinister Langalibalele de Jongh of Bloemfontein. Divorced from these squabbles is Ruvimbo Chipenya of Lusaka who operates an agenda known only to her. Below them are republicans and mondists that strive to break out of their marginal roles inside and outside of parliament.
Still innocent of these harsher realities are the students of Sango Academy. Placed on the outskirts of Harare, the only land collectively owned by the five sovereigns, headmistress Alizea Swart dared her pupils to "become the very best of the republic." Originally a school for the navy, Sango has expanded its curriculum to encompass all subjects deemed worthy of study. A unique aspect of this legacy is the global voyage of fourth-year students aboard the battleship Ororo as their capstone. The class president is awarded control over the seat of captain. For 1001 AC, Izula Matsushima, a third-generation descendant of the Empire of the Isles, has been awarded the honor. She is one part of a group dubbed the Flowers of Sango. The duo of Phatsimo Maiteko and Joana Ferreira Faustino complete the set. There are rumors about how close they are. Matsushima's maiden speech called for her peers to "chase the dawn of hope no matter the obstacles in your way."
The question was loud, striving to make itself heard amidst the din of machinery and mechanical clattering. The hangar was busy as maintenance was carried out on the planes in preparations for exercises to take place. With what had happened recently the government wanted the military to show that they could handle any potential threat.
From the catwalk, a couple of pilots watched the ongoing work. The aforementioned Thea leaned against the railing of the catwalk, the stick of a lollipop twirling between her lips as she glanced over with the eye that wasn't hidden by blue bangs. "I'm thinking about whether I can get that cute mechanic down there to come to the bar with me," she replied, gesturing towards a freckled redhead that was working on her plane.
Her companion, Vasil, shot her a deadpan look with a small frown as he scratched at orangeish red hair. He knew she was deliberately misinterpreting what he said to mess with him, since she liked pushing his buttons. But he put up with it all the same, since someone needed to haul her butt out of the fire when she inevitably got herself into trouble.
"I meant about the aliens," he clarified while doing his best to keep the annoyance from his tone.
That earned a hum from Thea as her gaze left her current target to drift up to the ceiling. "You know, I always wondered if there was someone up there. The sky is just so big you know? And now it turns out that there are, and they're even closer than we thought."
She fell silent, and Vasil only spoke up after a couple of moments had passed. "That's it?"
"That's it," Thea confirmed. "You knew me Vas, I don't really do deep philosophy stuff."
Vasil sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I know but...its, it's aliens! There's got to be something you're wondering about them. I hear some of them have robot parts, or might not even be human. That's besides all the rumors that they're going to invade."
Turning, Thea pushed away from the railing and stepped to the middle of the catwalk. "Yeah, you're probably right. Still, it's not like I can do anything about it so why worry? As long as we can understand each other then their physical appearance isn't all that important to me." She then flashed him a confident grin. "And if they invade, well, we'll just have to kick their butts. I bet they're not all that tough, up there in their fancy ships and no gravity. They probably haven't worked a day of hard labor in their lives."
"Somehow I don't think it's going to be that simple," Vasil pointed out. "Especially if they team up with someone down here like the-"
"-Hold that thought," Thea interrupted, lifting a finger to silence his sentence as her gaze drifted downwards. "She's on the move. I'll talk to you later."
Vasil watched with a resigned acceptance as Thea hurried over to the end of the catwalk where stairs waited. She nearly faceplanted descending them, but managed to hold it together to make it to the bottom as she headed after that 'cute mechanic'. How typically Thea. Still, he supposed that she had a point. For now, all they could do was wait and see what happened.
… Load Older Messages? …
19:36 Alexis_Flowers:: I cannot believe you tried to get a Type-2 out of AnIscar, @SereneVisage, what the actual fuck?!
19:36 Alexis_Flowers:: Do you have any idea how that makes is look? Fucking weak and usurious. We should sanction you for this.
19:38 FloopyDustbun:: calm ur tits lexi selene, she prolly didn evn wamnt it to go thurgh
19:39 BigLugLarry70:: Can we not do this on the record? I'm going to be living this wg down for long enough as it is.
19:40 Alexis_Flowers:: FD if you continue to be crass and unprofessional I will sanction you as well, for third fucking time! You too Leonard, how dare you propose undemocratic secrecy. In expect better of someone of your stature
19:45 BigLugLarry70:: Yeah, that only applies to official business, and this is about as far from that as possible.
19:48 FloopyDustbun:: preach
20:21 Alexis_Flowers:: I've reported all three of you to the Government Transparency and Conduct Commission.
20:23 FloopyDustbun:: lmao k
21:00 SereneVisage:: I concluded negotiations with the AnIscar Diplomatic Corp earlier this evening. Please review and vote on the resolution to accept the terms.
***Councilor Select SereneVisagehas submitted a resolution for approval: DDWG Resolution 25 - Transit Terms and Payment for AnIscar Diplomatic Access to the Base of the Applegate Elevator ***
21:14 BigLugLarry70:: This looks good, Selene, nice work. I wouldn't have thought to use a temporary price hike on oxygen export like that, that will save the I/O folks so much time.
*** Councilor Select BigLugLarry70has approved DDWG Resolution 25***
21:16 FloopyDustbun:: big sam gj
*** Councilor Select FloopyDustbun has approved DDWG Resolution 25***
22:45 Railhead_Vacuum:: Nice SV. Did ya get that Evillyne Sneer™ you were looking for? Certainly looks that way from the transcripts… gonna get that diplomat to put you in your place when she comes over?
*** Councilor Select Railhead_Vacuumhas approved DDWG Resolution 25***
***DDWG Resolution 25 - Transit Terms and Payment for AnIscar Diplomatic Access to the Base of the Applegate Elevator has been approved and forwarded for final approval***
23:12 SereneVisage:: Nothing concrete yet, but I have high hopes.
It was a lovely day in the tropics, and as Minister Plenipotentiary to the New Contact in Quito, Count Floyd Jimenez was positioned to enjoy it to the fullest. Negotiating trade deals with space aliens (who turned out to be humans, apparently) residing at the top of the ancient tower that had stood in Jaburo from time immemorial was exciting enough. Getting to enjoy the paradise of the coastal equator on the hours he wasn't in the negotiating room, though? Perfection. The cocktails in the Grand Quito are immaculate. The sunsets over the ocean? Exquisite. Count Floyd was honestly happy when the sudden news of a separate treaty with the Republicans broke, as that surely meant an extra week of getting paid to enjoy the beaches. All he needed was a slightly more consistent schedule so he could invite some local girls to his hotel--
The Count's reminiscence and planning was interrupted by the harsh ring of the hotel room phone, followed by his butler's muffled voice ascertaining who it was who was calling. Floyd continued to lounge on the hotel balcony, hoping that it was nothing serious so he could continue enjoying his cocktail, only to have his hopes dashed when the phone was brought to him at the end of a long cord. Sighing before picking up the receiver, he addressed the caller. "Count Floyd. What news from Applegate?"
...
"Uh huh. Very funny. What do they actually want?"
...
"They're demanding what?"
...
"Are...but how would they even...?"
...
"Say nothing until I get there. Or better, threaten to walk, then say nothing until I get there. Goodbye."
The Count hung up, counted to ten, drained the rest of his cocktail, then picked the receiver back up to dial the front desk.
"Yes, could you send up a crate of rum, please? Mm hm, yes, a crate. Yes, on the Embassy bill. Thank you."
The Spacian's Pocket Encyclopedia Applegate Orbital Platform
Overview
Keeping the orbital elevator anchored on the west coast of South America in tension, the Applegate Orbital Platform is home to a comparatively small polity, the Applegate Teamsters Orbital 78, descended from the ancient laborers and passengers who were working on or traveling through the elevator at the time of collapse. Applegate has spent most of its history as a supplier of bulk oxygen, nitrogen, and water to other spacian factions, with crews descending the elevator to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere to fill large tanks for processing and sale at the station. In recent years, with Returnism on the rise, Applegate has also seen a rise in tourism, due to its proximity to Earth and the views that this affords.
The Station
Applegate station is the anchor holding the entire orbital elevator in tension, and as such has a non-trivial centrifugal gravity without necessitating rotating rings or spinning the entire station in place. This poses unique challenges when docking with the station, as visiting ships must thrust constantly before being captured by moorings along the bottom of the station. This is somewhat mitigated by the ease of loading and departure, with valves merely needing to be opened to allow gasses to be pulled down into the waiting tanks. When ships are ready to depart, they are simply let go and are on their way on an a trajectory out of earth orbit.
Government and Culture
As with other spacians, almost all records of pre-collapse times have been lost. For Applegate Station the exception to this was a physical document, the original bylaws of the station teamster's union preserved on plate metal sheets, enshrined in the station's ancient union hall. While no proper basis for running an entire state, the bylaws, with their principles of democracy, worker's rights and a robust social safety net, have formed the basis for the Teamster's unique form of direct democracy.
All matters on the station are ultimately settled by popular vote, with resolutions drawn up for approval by councils of randomly selected citizens. When issues or disputes arise, working groups are created to resolve the issue using the same process of random selection. Working groups take action and enact temporary legislation on matters within their remit, with minutes and resolutions up to permanent bodies and the public for final approval.
This system of government has created a equally unique culture. Officials are frequently impossibly irreverent by the standards of other polities. Posters, political slogans and murals line every public wall in a loud and garish affront to the eyes. Lively public debates are commonplace in cafes and public hydroponic gardens. A tradition of small performative public skits satirizing the officials of the hour holds a long and celebrated tradition on the station.
Industry and Tourism
While spacian life support systems are nearly lossless, accidents and expansions require additional sources of life giving substances like oxygen and hydrogen. Alongside Luna, Applegate has been the primary supplier of these substances to the polities in and around earth orbit.
Work crews descend to the edge of the earth's atmosphere to collect air which is shipped back up the elevator to Applegate. At the station the gasses are purified and dispatched on tanker ships to customers. In addition to oxygen and water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are also sold for use in hydroponic and industrial processes.
As the nearest station to earth, a lively tourism and cultural sector is also present on the station. Hotels cater to guests with large glass ceilings, some of which are lensed to show a magnified views of the planet. The most expensive suites have their own windows, allowing guests to fall asleep looking up at the cradle of humanity. A series of lush public hydroponic gardens play into the near to earth aesthetic, while guests can peruse a shopping arcade where trade items from throughout cislunar space can be purchased. A series of competing theaters and music halls round out the cultural experience.
Slowly, ably, the shuttle descended down towards Earth's surface, flanked by a pair of mobile suits prepared for orbital descent, their skeletal frames a stark contrast with the spaceship that was – putting it generously – not far off from a flying brick.
Taking Earth's warlike nature and potential Seraphic meddling into consideration, ZOLON ended up using an armoured troop shuttle as a diplomatic transport, normally meant to deploy teams of combat cyborgs through anti-air fire. While it was somewhat reassuring from safety perspective – this thing could survive pretty much anything short of a mobile suit with a beam gun taking personal offence at its continued existence – not even the hasty retrofits could make it comfortable.
As such, the ZOLON diplomatic staff sat in the troop-turned-passenger bay together with their security detail, strapped into their seats and watching the cradle of humanity grow closer on feeds from outside cameras, quietly wondering exactly how well the pilot could manage landing in this sort of gravity well.
"There are options for it in the simulators" is one of the least reassuring sentences a passenger can hear.
That the shuttle had thick enough armour that it could probably just crash without even getting dented did little to make it feel any better.
* * *
It was going, against all odds, better than expected.
Which is to say, they did not crash. Not even slightly!
The Director felt a heavily-armoured fusion-powered flying brick descending from the heavens with escort would make for a stronger impression than just going down one of the orbital elevators, like most people were apparently doing, and thus that's what they did. Perhaps it even worked.
Now, the shuttle was sitting on the runway of what the locals generously called an airfield, looking like a whale among minnows when compared to the propeller-driven Earth aircraft, and the diplomatic teams got to work.
There were serious barriers to overcome even with languages alone, given the sheer scale of linguistic drift between Earth and Space, though now that they were actually talking to each other, all sorts of strange coincidences started coming up. For instance, Mongolian ended up being a key language in which a lot of ZOLON's diplomacy was being conducted, a relic of the Spacians' origin that nobody could even guess at by now, since some of the oldest computer programs used in critical ZOLON infrastructure were written in it.
Katja, one of the ambassador's aides, was currently taking a break in between the various meetings with a cup of Earth tea and some cookies, a luxury for most people in space. She was hardly the only one, either; the process of adaptation was brutal on the Spacians, to put it lightly.
People who spent their entire lives in carefully atmosphere-controlled and sterile space colonies now had to deal with the punishing heat, insects, pollen and Earth's gravity, things that Earthians took for granted but which were wearing Spacian diplomats and their staff out at record pace. Even the ZOLON ones, though at least they didn't have to worry about the mosquito bites.
She was quietly watching the special forces captain in charge of the delegation's security detail, her armoured spacesuit partially unsealed, who was looking at a piece of angel cake with mild irritation while occasionally stabbing it with a fork – her enormous flak projector put aside by the potted flower bush which she couldn't identify, the occasional insect vanishing in a flash of her laser APS triggering.
Unlike career diplomats that made it a point to not diverge from baseline appearance too much, the captain was on the outer edges of what ZOLON technicians could do with a person – though not quite all the way there yet. Between her twin large sensor horns, four additional arms, armoured skin, radiator hair – currently at a dull grey with the combat systems deactivated - and multiple other enhancements and markings, Katja wondered what she even looked like to the locals. Some sort of mythological monster? A very small mobile suit? A little bit of both?
It could be worse, though. The infamous lifers in the Forces, the ones who really gave up everything – Katja got to see them once, as the Director's own bodyguards, and their porcelain-white faces, made of rigid armoured composite, unnerved even her. Like watching someone's death mask while they were still moving around and killing people. There was a reason the Seraphim-aligned media tended to have that image on-tap when portraying the ZOLON military.
Captain Alenka, by comparison, was actually pretty cute with her pout as she tried to murder the yellow-pink layer cake with unfortunate name. Which was probably the point.
Perhaps that was the best way to start getting used to each other.
