Mobile Frame Gundam: Red Rising (A Gundam-esque Hard Sci-Fi Narrative Wargame)

LurkingWreck · Nov 8, 2024

Mobile Frame Gundam: Red Rising
(Recommended Listening)

The year is 2170, and Humanity is at peace. While Earth is irreparably scarred by the climate catastrophe brought about by the foolish greed of previous generations, advances in technology have led to the solution for the most leading factor of environmental degradation: overpopulation. Since the dawn of the 22nd century great space colonies have been built to house the throngs of Humanity, serving as home to billions who would otherwise be forced into destitution upon a world now far too resource-exhausted to support them. Joining them are settlements upon Luna and beyond, providing the raw materials which fuels the fires of industry across the Earth Sphere.

Mars is the crown jewel in this wave of expansion, a chief provider of ore, manpower and precious metals, which will serve as the staging ground for further Human exploration and exploitation of the Asteroid Belt and beyond. It is a time of prosperity and innovation…for some.

By the mere fact of vast distances and the realities of interstellar travel, the colonists of Mars have found themselves growing increasingly separate from their cousins in the Earth Sphere. What began as a mere collection of miners and workers has blossomed into a proper civilization, only constrained by the harshness of the Martian environment and a lack of support from Earth. To many in the halls of political and financial power, Mars always has been and always will be a resource extraction operation, fuel which will ensure the continued wealth and comfort of the Sphere. This has been made increasingly clear to the citizens of Mars, as quotas continuously rise and further corporate security is shipped on-world to combat growing societal unrest.

Naturally when forced into such conditions, it is only natural for resistance to grow. The Free Mars Movement began small, as all great things do, protesting the growing inequality and petitioning the Earth government for aid, all which sadly fell on deaf ears. The stranglehold on communications maintained by the Earth-backed colonial administration ensured what little news emerged from the Red Planet painted Free Mars in the worst possible light.

When protests failed, the FMM turned to more overt measures.

The bombing of the New Syrtis Spaceport and the destruction it wrought on both civilian lives and vital resource shipments was the culmination of a years-long campaign of terror, which at last forced the Earth government to react. Secretary-General Allesandro Oliviera of the United Nations authorized a suspension of civil liberties and the granting of emergency powers to the Martian Colonial Authority to crack down on the FMM. The decision had the exact opposite effect, proving to be the spark which ignited a wave of violence and revolution across the Red Planet. It also cost Oliviera his position, with further investigation revealing his complicity in a plot concocted amongst the leading corporate entities with a stake in the Mars operation to enrich themselves at the expense of Martian stability. Attempts to cool tensions were simply too little, too late at that point however. Too much blood had been spilled by both sides.

With the launch window for the year passed and the situation growing ever-worse upon Mars, the UN Assembly regardless voted to postpone any action until the next year, undoubtedly giving the FMM revolutionaries time to eliminate loyalist holdouts and consolidate their power. When at last forces of the United Nations Navy 4th Fleet were dispatched to pacify Mars and return it to the fold, they were met not by a rag-tag group of disorganized rebels, but by a force of Martian vessels. While clearly inferior to the UNN ships, being a collection of seized corporate designs and assets, the Martians had an ace up their sleeve, for which the UNN would have no counter. By employing heavy jamming devices which blanketed the battlespace in white noise, the vessels of the 4th Fleet were unable to detect the approach of a number of converted orbital worker-frames until it was far too late. Under the great guns of the UNN battleships, the worker-frames tore into the 4th Fleet with gusto, crippling the flagship in the first salvo and ensuring a total breakdown of order within the surviving elements.

The Battle of Deimos proved to be a humiliating defeat for the UNN, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of officers, crewmen and marines and the near-total destruction of the 4th Fleet as an entity. The Martians had not left the battle unscathed by any stretch of the imagination, but their combination of cleverness and desperation had for the moment ensured their continued freedom. On the eve of their victory, the Council for a Free Mars unanimously declared itself independent of the Earth Sphere and the United Nations.

The year is 2174, and Humanity is at war.

Hello one and all gracing this with your presence. With my fantasy GSRP on hold to prevent burn-out, I figured a change in pace would do my creative juices and muse good, and so here we are. This is not explicitly a Gundam-themed game though it certainly draws much inspiration from it, alongside elements of more hard-sci-fi settings such as The Expanse, amongst others. As such, there will be giant mecha and (most likely) traumatized teenagers, but no FTL, energy shields or more absurd elements (Looking at you, G Gundam). On the other hand, no previous knowledge in regards to Gundam or The Expanse is expected or needed to understand what is going on.

This will primarily be a narrative character-driven war game, where the players create personal characters, which then take on various civilian and military roles on either side of the recently-ignited war between the United Nations of Earth and Martian Revolution. While the overarching objective for both sides will be to ultimately achieve victory of course, I encourage all my players to first and foremost prioritize the telling of your characters' stories, struggles, triumphs and tragedies.

On the topic of victory, there are some rather fundamental disagreements within both nations as to what that means exactly, with various political factions gathering support behind the scenes to shape the conflict and its aftermath to their own advantage. Player characters will inevitably be intertwined in this complex web, being able to align themselves with and even potentially climb the ranks of their chosen faction to assume leadership. On the other hand, there are no outright penalties for deciding to make one's character entirely uninvolved with these internal struggles. Regardless however, it is encouraged that all player characters have an opinion on the various matters and issues which affect their chosen nation, be those in line with what an existing political faction espouses, or original and independent ideas. Those who wish to align themselves with a particular political faction should however share at least some opinions with what is considered mainstream within their group.

Structurally the game will revolve around a week-long turn which roughly translates into two months of game-time, for a total of six turns per in-game year. Each player is granted a single Action which may be spent on matters pertaining to your chosen Character Role, and an additional Personal Action, to represent what each specific character spends their personal time/influence/connections on, be that political schemes, combat training or simple stress relief. Personal Actions are by definition smaller in scope than Role Actions, and so while I will not place a hard limit, I'd encourage players not to write more than 300 words or so. I also ask that all players send their turn orders in via PMs on SV so I may gather and process them all in a single location. The deadline for submitting these turn orders will be placed on the game Discord and OOC thread respectively, though in case of unexpected IRL occurrences, turn extensions up to one week after the intended turn deadline are offered. If turn orders cannot be made within this timeframe, I will ask for a basic outline of what you wish to do this particular turn, and try to work that into the update. If even this proves too demanding, the turn will progress without your input.

A Discord will be provided for OOC discussions and general social interaction, and in regards to talks, planning or negotiations pertaining to IC matters, the GM is included as an observer, and to provide answers as necessary.

-DISCORD LINK-

With that out of the way, I hope you find yourself intrigued so far. If that is the case, please proceed down this page, where character sheet templates, examples, gameplay rules, lore, NPC profiles and political issues await you. If you have further questions which are not answered above or below, let me know and I will do my very best to assist you.

-General Rules-

Before we move on, a quick list of rules which all players should abide by for the duration of the game.

Keep things civil in OOC areas, be that on SV or Discord.
If someone is made uncomfortable by OOC talk and they make that clear, please respect that and stop.
Use content warnings in ICs where you think it necessary.
Include the GM in any private diplomacy or discussions, be that on SV or Discord.
Do not use screenshots of OOC discussions with other players or the GM as proof of duplicity or the like.

-Gameplay-

-Characters, Roles & Resources-

At the core of the game are the Player Characters, their Roles, and the two resources which they generate, distribute and consume in varying amounts depending on their actions and activities. We will begin with the resources first, for they are rather self-explanatory. Supplies represent the materials, goods, fuel, ammunition, etc, which is needed for everything from construction, research and development, to the recruitment, training and maintenance of the armed forces. Manpower in turn is the Human element required as a workforce or crew for both civilian and military projects, and of course as replacements for battlefield losses sustained by the military on the battlefield. These resources fuel all important activities within the game, though crucially only Supplies may be stored between turns, and any Manpower gained in a turn that is not spent that turn will be lost. If there is no work to be found, people generally will look elsewhere.

Now onto the Character Roles. Each of the Roles are placed within a hierarchy of sorts within their chosen nation. While it is expected that those further down the totem pole listen to the orders of those above, they are allowed to interpret these orders however they see fit. Some even have the opportunity to outright disobey, though that carries its own consequences, as will be seen below.

The following listing notes the position of Roles in this hierarchy from the top to the bottom:

Leaders:

The national head of state and overall commander-in-chief of their chosen nation. Their Role Action pertains to the distribution of the resources generated by their civilian subordinates, be that towards national projects, research and development or the military forces which so heavily depend upon them. They are also expected to be at the forefront of the internal political struggle, working closely with their civilian subordinates and their NPC-controlled national legislative body, via the use of either their Role Action or Personal Action, as is deemed necessary.

Research Director:

The one charged with developing and improving upon the technologies which will no doubt win the war in one shape or another. Their Role Action is based around using Supplies and Manpower granted by the Leader to research various fields and sciences, to develop better and more efficient civilian and military technologies, chief among them of course the field of war-frames and robotics.

Intelligence Director:

The spymaster, the puppeteer, the spider at the center of the web. Charged with overseeing all matters of a covert and clandestine nature, both foreign and domestic, the Intelligence Director keeps a tab on things at home while trying to advance their nation's cause through underhanded means. Their Role Action is rather simple in theory yet complex in reality, juggling networks of spies, saboteurs and informants on both sides of the border using what Supplies and Manpower is sent their way by the Leader.

Commanders:

The military leaders charged with bringing the war to a satisfactory conclusion. Their Role Action is, of course, the Warplan, which dictates what the forces under the Commander's jurisdiction will do for the turn, and what strategy they will follow. These deployments however rely upon resources which they themselves cannot produce, and so it is rather important to keep a working relationship with your civilian counterparts.

Administrators:

The economic backbone of the nation, appointed with overseeing a specific region or section which produces Supplies and Manpower to varying degrees. Their Role Action is to determine how much of these resources which will be stockpiled, used in their own area for local projects or for the benefit of the civilian population, or ultimately sent further up the chain for the Leader to distribute themselves.

Aces:

The singular individuals which when behind the controls of an aircraft, tank or mech will turn the tide of a battle. Aces are rather unique in the fact that they possess some lateral movement, being able to move between which Commander and their forces they are assigned to. This can be done with or without their permission, though a disobedient Ace may find themselves confined to quarters for the turn, and thus losing their Personal Action for that turn. Their Role Action is simply a set of orders, pertaining to what they themselves will be doing during the turn. Communication with their assigned Commander is important, for their plans will provide a corresponding boost to the effectiveness of their Warplan.

Finally, there are two pseudo-roles, known as Cabinet Positions. Each Leader assigns one Commander and Administrator of their choice these positions, granting them a degree of seniority over their peers, and some additional powers. A Cabinet Commander can reassign forces, resources and Aces between themselves and other Commanders at will, while a Cabinet Administrator may give priority to a local project in their own jurisdiction or that of their peers, which must be contributed to by all Administrators. They serve at the whim of the Leader however, and may be removed at any time if their performance is less than satisfactory.

At last, to touch upon the topic of death. A fact of life is that people die in war, and those that do not die in fact tend to die in spirit due to all the horrible things they experience or actions they perform. I'm not gonna gamify that aspect of reality with points or hard mechanics, and simply ask my players to keep this in mind while writing their narrative posts. Just know that if you do end up killed that need not be the end of your time in the game. I will accept post-launch character applications from the same players who seek to continue playing.

I do ask that if you do die you don't immediately re-app for the same faction in the same role. I will be keeping a waiting list available on the OOC thread in case there are no current openings for your newly-selected role.

A basic character sheet template is provided here, and examples of a filled sheet may be found below with the various NPC faction leaders on both sides of the conflict. If you wish to include further information yourself, you are welcome to do so.

-Character Sheet-

Name:

Appearance: (Text description, image or both are acceptable.)

Age: (Minimum age I will accept for characters is 16 for Aces and 18 for any other Role)

Date of Birth: (Optional) (In the future, the Days/Months/Years format rules supreme, as is right and proper.)

Desired Role: (You may select up to three roles in descending order of priority.)

Background: (Tell us your tragic backstory!)

Political Affiliation: (Are you aligned or a full member of a faction? Independent? Apolitical?)

Issue Opinions: (What does your character think of the Issues plaguing their nation? Are they in line with existing faction opinions, or do they have their own spin on things?)

-Warfare-

While battles will primarily be resolved narratively through a combination of Warplans, units and present Aces upon the battlefield, it is not my intention to entirely abstract away organization and logistics.

This is shown through Armies and Fleets, formations which are under the control of specific Commanders. Within these formations are a number of "Slots" which individual units are assigned to. There can be as many slotted units in a formation as one wishes, but obviously this means it requires more Supplies and Manpower to operate, it is easier to detect by hostile forces, and limits its mobility and flexibility, as it takes more time for larger formations to redeploy. Conversely small formations are cheaper, more maneuverable and stealthy, but unless outfitted specifically, are unlikely to last long against a larger enemy formation.

Units engaged in combat may become damaged or even outright destroyed depending on the strength of their opposition, necessitating resources be spent to reconstitute the unit or rebuild it entirely, separate from either initial construction costs, or maintenance costs, which must be paid each turn to avoid combat penalties representing the lack of fuel/ammunition/spare parts. The source of new units and the resources required to maintain existing forces are sourced from the civilian Administrator roles, via the Leader as the middleman distributor and the Cabinet Commander, which assigns newly-built units to the various commands of themselves and their peers.

-Unit Information-

To ensure all my bases are covered, let's begin with a quick breakdown of unit stat categories, followed by a description of unit types below.

Unit Class: Each Unit belongs to a class, be that infantry, armor, or so on. Each class is suited towards a specific task, but it is together in a combined-arms formation that they are truly effective, as they can cover each other's weaknesses.

Supply Cost: The initial Supply construction cost of the unit.

Manpower Cost: The initial Manpower construction cost of the unit.

Maintenance Costs: The required amount of Supplies to be paid per turn to ensure the unit continues to operate normally.

Repair Costs: The required amount of Supplies and Manpower to be paid to repair/reconstitute a previously damaged unit.

Training/Construction Time: The amount of turns required for the unit to be ready to deploy.

It is assumed for convenience's sake that all forms of infantry units have access to some form of motorized or mechanized transportation, be that from simple repurposed or requisitioned civilian vehicles and technicals, all the way up to modern APCs and IFVs.

Drawing its members from everyday civilians with limited training and experience, this particular unit finds itself outclassed by most serious military formations in all aspects, but can serve as a half-decent garrison force if required. Their true strength lies in asymmetrical warfare, in which they are able to quickly strike and then fade back into the general local population.

Supply Cost: 4

Manpower Cost: 10

Maintenance Costs: 2

Repair Costs: 2 S / 4 M

Training Time: 1

While a step upwards from self-trained civilians, reservists are by their very nature still part-time soldiers. That is not to say they are ineffective however, given their state-backing and formal organization. While expected to mostly undertake garrison and other rear-area duties, there is little stopping this unit from being deployed and performing admirably in frontline operations.

Supply Cost: 5

Manpower Cost: 8

Maintenance Costs: 3

Repair Costs: 3 S / 5 M

Training Time: 1

The professional core of the modern armed forces, still performing the vital yet underappreciated tasks which form the foundations of a combined arms warfare doctrine. These soldiers are excellently trained with a wide variety of equipment and tools available to them, allowing them to complete a variety of offensive, defensive or supportive missions and objectives.

Supply Cost: 7

Manpower Cost: 8

Maintenance Costs: 4

Repair Costs: 5 S / 5 M

Training Time: 1

Inheritors of the moniker and traditions of pre-spaceflight naval infantry, the modern marines are the elite troops called upon to conduct warfare in low-g to zero-g environments, where regular troops and equipment would struggle due to the unfamiliar circumstances. While they are still trained and equipped for engagements in more terrestrial environments as well, it would no doubt be a waste of their special talents.

Supply Cost: 9

Manpower Cost: 8

Maintenance Costs: 5

Repair Costs: 7 S / 5 M

Training Time: 2

Upon their inception nearly two centuries ago, armored combat vehicles forever changed the face of warfare, providing a mix of speed, firepower and protection which even to this day has not been matched by any other weapon. The modern tank continues to uphold these qualities excellently, serving as the spearhead of any assault, and the armored bulwark protecting withdrawals. When properly employed alongside infantry and air assets, there is little these units will ever have to fear.

Supply Cost: 16

Manpower Cost: 10

Maintenance Costs: 8

Repair Costs: 11 S / 7 M

Construction Time: 2

Also referred to as Armored Reconnaissance Vehicles, modern light tanks trade protection and firepower for unmatched speed and maneuverability, making these units particularly adept at short engagements and battles of maneuver. Its greatly reduced weight when compared to its mainline cousin also grants it the unique ability of being safely deployed in aerial or orbital-drop operations, where it can be an invaluable asset for securing a landing zone.

Supply Cost: 12

Manpower Cost: 6

Maintenance Costs: 7

Repair Costs: 9 S / 4 M

Construction Time: 1

While obsolete in the minds of many modern thinkers, given its reliance on other vehicles for movement, the guns and missile systems themselves remain effective within their intended role of fire suppression. As such, many second-line units find the lower costs enticing enough to use in the place of more "modern" equipment.

Supply Cost: 10

Manpower Cost: 6

Maintenance Costs: 6

Repair Costs: 8 S / 3 M

Construction Time: 1

By mounting an artillery piece upon a self-propelled chassis, an unprecedented level of maneuverability is granted to what is often considered the most static element of any army. This in turn allows artillery to quickly reposition to avoid counter-battery fire, while greatly extending the range at which fire support can be given to surrounding army elements.

Supply Cost: 14

Manpower Cost: 8

Maintenance Costs: 8

Repair Costs: 10 S / 5 M

Construction Time: 2

Remote-controlled drones have increasingly found themselves a part of every-day life for most Humans. From toys and robotic companions, to assisting with maintenance or performing tasks of a commercial or industrial nature. These many multitudes of civilian drones have found their way onto the battlefield regardless of their intentions, in varying degrees of effectiveness, to act as spotters, scouts and on rare occasions; suicide bombers.

Supply Cost: 2

Manpower Cost: 4

Maintenance Costs: 1

Repair Costs: 1 S / 2 M

Construction Time: 1

Modern military drones are used in the same battlefield capacities as those of their commercial counterparts, though often with far more durable frames, higher-quality equipment, and most importantly; shielded internal components to counteract EMP effects and signal jammers. This generally means overall maintenance demands are higher, in exchange for enhanced performance when the unit is deployed.

Supply Cost: 4

Manpower: 5

Maintenance: 2

Repair Costs: 2 / 3 M

Construction Time: 1

As aerial forces increasingly played a decisive role in determining the outcome of war, it was deemed necessary to provide lighter ground elements with the ability to defend themselves against such threats in situations where friendly air support was unavailable. Thus the Man-Portable Air-Defence System was born, most often taking the form of a shoulder-mounted surface-to-air missile launcher, but munitions-based alternatives do exist. While generally cheaper and less noticeable than self-propelled anti-air units, this does come at the cost of maneuverability.

Supply Cost: 6

Manpower Cost: 6

Maintenance Costs: 3

Repair Costs: 4 S / 4 M

Training Time: 1

An armored self-propelled anti-air platform, equipped with a number of advanced weapons systems and target acquisition gear. While considered by many a straight upgrade when compared with existing MANPADS formations, mobile AA units are in their best element maneuver in terrain suitable for armored vehicles to traverse, and tend to struggle much more in regions suited more for infantry such as rough terrain or urban environments.

Supply Cost: 12

Manpower Cost: 6

Maintenance Costs: 6

Repair Costs: 9 S / 3 M

Construction Time: 2

With the exception of the Attack VTOL, no air units may be effectively deployed to a Space Colony, for while they do possess an atmosphere needed for jet engines to function, they are also generally considered too limited in space to allow for traditional aerial combat to take place.

Air dominance has proven itself a critical factor for attaining victory upon the modern battlefield, and despite the rise of more versatile aerospace vehicle models, the jet fighter remains a viable weapon of war, with even older models still outmaneuvering modern aerospace fighters in-atmosphere. While primarily designed as an air supremacy platform, most modern jets serve a multi-role purpose, carrying both air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.

Supply Cost: 18

Manpower Cost: 10

Maintenance Costs: 9

Repair Costs: 12 S / 7 M

Construction Time: 1

Within the role of close-air-support, few units can match the capabilities of a modern military VTOL aircraft. Its impressive payload and carrying capacity makes it an adept air-to-ground attacker, and also a flexible aerial transport for the swift delivery of specialized infantry formations. Its only real weakness is its inability to properly target other aerial assets in its vicinity due to their speeds and altitudes, quickly signaling the VTOL's defeat in contested airspace.

Supply Cost: 16

Manpower Cost: 7

Maintenance Costs: 8

Repair Costs: 11 S / 4 M

Construction Time: 1

Modern bomber aircraft primarily serves in a strategic role, employing a wide variety of electronic countermeasures, high altitudes and great speed to circumvent and avoid hostile forces, delivering large and devastating payloads of missiles and bombs to industrial centers, materiel stockpiles and any other facility of a military nature deemed to be aiding the overall war effort.

Supply Cost: 20

Manpower Cost: 12

Maintenance Costs: 10

Repair Costs: 15 S / 7 M

Construction Time: 2

Given the long-range nature of space warfare in the 22nd Century, and the lack of need for things such as runways in zero-gravity, spaceborne aircraft carriers as a concept has generally fallen out of favor, with each battleship, cruiser and destroyer usually having a corresponding attached set of strike craft for close-quarters battle, force projection or point-defense duties.

An old idea made new; these armored behemoths form the centerpiece formation of every Earth battlefleet, providing its associated fleet elements with a frighteningly effective combination of firepower and force-projection capabilities. On top of this, the onboard computer systems are able to share fleet-wide targeting data, while providing a secure method of communications and C3 systems. The only real drawback of this magnificent piece of naval engineering is its prohibitive construction and maintenance costs.

Supply Cost: 75

Manpower Cost: 30

Maintenance Costs: 36

Repair Costs: 48 S / 18 M

Construction Time: 3

The workhorse of the modern starfleet, containing the weaponry and equipment to provide a solid center to anchor a formation around, while at the same time serving as an able frontline vessel. The cruiser's all-rounder approach does mean it tends to be overshadowed by its more specialized cousins, but no other class can rival its versatility and adaptability on the battlefield.

Supply Cost: 55

Manpower Cost: 25

Maintenance Costs: 24

Repair Costs: 32 S / 16 M

Construction Time: 2

Despite centuries of development and changes, the destroyer is as recognizable now as it was four centuries ago. While possessing the speed and maneuverability of a smaller vessel, the destroyer packs an impressive weapons complement whose sole purpose is the elimination of smaller escort craft and ships, tearing holes in enemy formations which other friendly vessels may then exploit.

Supply Cost: 40

Manpower Cost: 20

Maintenance Costs: 18

Repair Costs: 22 S / 10 M

Construction Time: 1

While small and lightly armored, every effective fleet formation requires an escort detachment, and it is in this environment where the frigate shines. The vast majority of the class' armament consists of an array of point-defense weapons, bundled with an advanced tracking and targeting system. Together they ensure the safety of the frigate's larger cousins, by warding away missiles, torpedoes and strike craft who would otherwise be free to attack the fleet's most valuable assets.

Supply Cost: 30

Manpower Cost: 15

Maintenance Costs: 14

Repair Costs: 18 S / 9 M

Construction Time: 1

Generally considered an afterthought in the renewed age of battleship dominance, space-based strike craft have been relegated to a support role for their entire existence, expected only to perform surgical strikes upon hardpoints and subsystems on capital ships to ensure their eventual destruction is more easily carried out by more capable vessels. If needed, current ASF models may descend into an atmosphere to conduct battle, though its less-aerodynamic surface means it struggles to attain the same agility enjoyed by its supposedly-obsolete predecessor.

Supply Cost: 20

Manpower Cost: 10

Maintenance Costs: 10

Repair Costs: 14 S / 7 M

Construction Time: 1

Bombers in the traditional sense cannot operate effectively in a zero-gravity environment, so unlike with its ASF cousin, the designers for the modern starfleet could not simply transition an existing piece of military hardware to space and call it a day. Enter the gunship program, which aimed to create an agile fire-support strike craft, able to carry pairs of torpedoes or small missile pods, making it a viable threat against all but the largest of current starships. Tough armor and a light PD gun in turn ensures the craft's safety when faced with a more nimble opponent.

Supply Cost: 22

Manpower Cost: 12

Maintenance Costs: 11

Repair Costs: 16 S / 8 M

Construction Time: 1

While never attempted in practice since Humanity's ascent into space, there always remained the distinct possibility that troops would have to descend from an orbital position to a planetary surface while under fire from the ground. Thus the modern assault landers were born, equipped with distinctly heavy armor equally adept at absorbing re-entry heat and enemy firepower, a set of heavy guns to secure its own landing site, and a secure interior to keep its occupants and cargo safe in-transit.

Supply Cost: 35

Manpower Cost: 20

Maintenance Costs: 16

Repair Costs: 24 S / 14 M

Construction Time: 2

The go-to option when military materiel and personnel are required in-bulk somewhere else. Decently armored with an equally-adequate speed, this military transport vessel boasts not only impressive capacity but also state-of-the-art hospital facilities, tooling workshops and other necessities to tend to the needs of its military passengers for long journeys amongst the stars.

Supply Cost: 30

Manpower Cost: 18

Maintenance Costs: 12

Repair Costs: 20 S / 12 M

Construction Time: 1

In times of war, when the need is desperate enough or the circumstances are dire, commercial and civilian vessels are commandeered or seized to be used for military purposes. This has been the case for as long as Humanity, merchant shipping and war has existed, and now this fearsome specter appears once more. With minor modifications, an existing civilian passenger ship can be easily repurposed into a military transport vessel, albeit one with less armor and more comfortable accommodations than what a soldier is used to on such voyages. Employing such vessels of course also demonstrates how terribly the war must be going, for why else would civilian ships be sent into a warzone?

Supply Cost: 25

Manpower Cost: 22

Maintenance Costs: 10

Repair Costs: 18 S / 13 M

Construction Time: 1

Thanks to their demonstrated unique warmaking properties, it is theorized that a new era has dawned upon the battlefield, one where existing forces both on the ground and in space are augmented by formations of military robots and mechanical walkers striking quickly and without mercy from unexpected vectors and directions. Only time will tell however if this proves itself the way of the future, or a mere fluke.

In addition, the characteristic flexibility of War-Frames allows them to be deployed both in space and on the ground, though specific Frames designed for one theater in particular may require modifications be made to allow them to remain effective in the opposite theater.

A commercial-grade industrial exoskeleton used for a variety of heavy-duty lifting and labor operations in terrestrial and zero-g environments. Either due to desperation or lack of alternatives, an impromptu squad has been formed from these machines, armed with makeshift weapons and with little actual combat training, in the slim hopes of it turning the tide of war.

Supply Cost: 17

Manpower Cost: 14

Maintenance Costs: 11

Repair Costs: 13 S / 7 M

Construction Time: 1

The first generation of purpose-built bipedal war-machines. While not a great improvement over their makeshift semi-civilian cousins, these mechanical walkers nonetheless marks the first step towards developing what may turn out to be a war-winning weapon. At present, the agility and speed offered by the frames, alongside their greater payload-carrying abilities makes this unit a tempting alternative to strike craft for delivering devastating alpha strikes against concentrated enemy units or assets.

Supply Cost: 20

Manpower Cost: 10

Maintenance Costs: 10

Repair Costs: 14 S / 8 M

Construction Time: 2

-Economy & Projects-

The resources which are critical to the war effort are naturally produced in vaguely-defined regions on Earth and Mars, each of which is governed by an appointed Administrator charged with overseeing local affairs. This particular role was described in brief in the Character Role section, but details may be found below.

The duty of the Administrator is two-fold. They are the economic heart of their respective factions, supplying those above them with the needed resources to sustain military formations and government programs, alongside the creation of new units, but on the flip-side, they have a responsibility to at least attempt to see to the needs of the people they govern. The Administrator accomplishes most of this with a Project.

A Project is a catch-all term for some form of long-term plan or works, which resources and time are invested into for accomplishing a specific goal. Examples include unit production, establishing further industries to increase resource incomes, aiding either Research or Intelligence Directors by constructing infrastructure which assists them such as research labs or covert facilities, and so on and so forth. With the exception of producing units, Projects are freeform in that Administrators speak with the GM in regards to what they wish to accomplish, and the GM in turn provides a cost in Supplies and Manpower which must be paid for the Project to be completed. Certain Projects may also require time to pass, denoted by a number of turns which has to progress before the Project can be completed, even if its resource requirements are met.

Single-turn Projects must be paid upfront, though Administrators are allowed to perform incremental payments for multi-turn Projects. This is done to ensure not all resources are lost in case the Project for whatever reason is damaged, destroyed or sabotaged before it can be completed. Increment payments must be paid in a manner where roughly equal amounts of resources are invested each turn. For example, a Project costing 20 Supplies and requiring 3 turns to complete must be paid in increments of 6 or 7, until all 20 Supplies are paid by the third turn.

In addition to this, each Administrator has to dedicate a certain amount of their region's Supplies to the needs of their people. This Citizen Demand represents everything from food to healthcare, job pay and so forth, with the total being determined percentile-wise off their regional resource income, before any positive or negative modifiers are applied. This means a particularly advanced or efficient economy can service the needs of its citizens, while at the same time supplying the military with what it requires. Conversely, a troubled local economy will force the Administrator to make tough choices where resources are allocated to. There is no immediate penalty to disregarding the needs of your citizens, but over time their discontent will make itself known, and if consistently ignored, they will throw the region into chaos.

The Research and Intelligence Directors narratively perform widely differing work when compared with Administrators, but for ease of gameplay the act of researching new technologies, developing prototypes, preparing covert missions and performing great feats of espionage all uses the Project ruleset as shown above.

An overview of each Administrator region can be found under their respective nation's section, found below.

-Turns, Launch Windows and Seasons-

As mentioned previously the game will progress through a series of Turns equalling to about two months of in-game time, for a total of 6 Turns per in-game year. This was done not simply because of aesthetic reasons, but rather because of a simple yet insurmountable limitation of current spacefaring technologies: Launch Windows.

Launch Windows are a set period in the year where Earth and Mars are comparatively close, thus ensuring any transitions between the two are both fuel and time-efficient. Given the imperfect nature of both Earth and Mars' orbits around the sun, the time of this Launch Window changes somewhat from year to year, but remains consistent enough to predict.

An example of this predictability is the following: This hypothetical Launch Window of 2175 is in July-August (Turn 4 - Year 2). The Launch Window will migrate forward one turn each year, therefore in 2176 the Launch Window will be in September-October (Turn 5 - Year 3).

Forces dispatched from the orbit of either Earth or Mars during the Launch Window will consistently arrive at their destination orbit one turn after its departure. Commanders are allowed to dispatch their units outside of this particular turn, but the farther away from the Launch Window this is done, the higher the chances of the transitioning force experiencing delays, damage, loss of supplies and so on. Logically, the Nadir Point of the Launch Window has Earth and Mars be so far apart at present that any launches are impossible, granting a guaranteed, if small reprieve.

Lastly, to touch upon seasons. For the most part they will play no factor with two notable exceptions in the form of Earth's Winter and Mars' Storm Season. As a result of the previous climate crisis and a side effect of the present climate restoration efforts, most Earth weather is more extreme than in the present day, and this is most noticeable in the winter months. Equipment and units either unused or unprepared for frigid temperatures, ice and blizzards will suffer a penalty to their performance in the November-December to January-February Turns. Conversely, the summer months of May-June to July-August on Mars are notorious for the generating of enormous storms which kick up huge amounts of dust, sand and rock, raging on with hurricane-style wind speeds for months. A similar environmental penalty is applied to units not adequately protected from the wind, debris and dust.

-National Overview-

-Free Mars Movement-
(Recommended Listening)

The Banner of the Martian Worker, first unveiled during the Perseverance Miners Strike. Colloquially referred to as "Parker's Bloodied Banner" in the wake of the New Denver Incident.

-History-

Since the ancient days of Babylon upon Earth, Mars has held a place of fascination, reverence and fear in the collective consciousness of Humanity. It is no wonder then that across the many cultures that rose and fell in those times, the Red Planet was named in honor of terrible gods. Gods of war, of death, of destruction. In the days of the 20th Century, this underlying fear had transitioned to outright paranoia, with great works detailing the ways in which hideous monsters would rise from its surface to strike at beleaguered Mother Earth. Such tales held a firm grip over much of Humanity, even as time and technology advanced ever-forward, and at last efforts were made to explore Earth's closest celestial neighbor. After centuries of letting their imaginations run wild with fiendish and terrible scenarios, to be presented with the fact Mars had held nothing but rock and dust since the inception of its modern form, must have been quite the disappointment to many.

Regardless of such feelings of collective relief or dismay, as the 21st Century progressed, it became increasingly clear that Mars would be the salvation of Earth. Ravaged as it was by climate catastrophe and resource depletion, the Red Planet and its unspoiled bounty of raw materials would be the fuel which would spark a new golden age for all Humanity. Its first settlers arrived in 2077, taken away from a life of abject poverty and misery to be the first Humans to lay down roots on another planet. These first settlement attempts would come to show that while Mars may be Humanity's salvation, it did not appreciate having Humanity upon its sands. Great dust storms, constant solar radiation and extreme temperatures would come to test the settlers again and again, until sufficient equipment could arrive to begin the long process of transforming the Red Planet into a mirror of her sister-world. While atmospheric generators were built, and bacteria introduced to the barren soil, all would have been for naught if not for the Magnetoshield. Given the nature of its core, Mars was simply unable to create a suitably strong magnetosphere to support life. By the careful application of industrial magnets arrayed in a ring-station at the Sun-Mars L1 Lagrange Point, an artificial shield was established which would protect the project on the surface below from the harmful effects of cosmic radiation and solar activity.

With these seeds planted, it would only be a matter of time until at last, Mars would be as green and lush as Earth once was in the distant past. This promise of a hopeful future resonated with many within the Earth Sphere, still left destitute and abandoned despite the efforts of the UN. Immigration to Mars in the following decades would skyrocket, with the planet boasting a combined population in the low billions by the time of the 22nd Century. Economic activity in turn soared, propelled by investments from Earth and Luna, ensuring a veritable spring of new mining sites and resourcing operations sprang up like weeds all across the red soils. For a time, all upon both worlds prospered, and this period of economic boom is still regarded fondly as "The Good Years", before the downward spiral which led to protest, rebellion and revolution.

As the Earth Sphere continued to grow ever-more-hungry for Martian raw materials, and finding continued expansion increasingly expensive amidst the austerity years of the 2140s, a stop-gap measure was put in place until a better solution could be found, mandating greater and greater resource quotas on materials to be shipped to Earth. In the words of a long-dead philosopher, there is nothing quite as permanent as a temporary solution, as would once more be demonstrated upon the Red Planet. Upon further investigation it was determined that the risks of continuing such practices even after the end of austerity policies was low enough that such quotas quickly became the standard operating method for state-backed and privately-owned entities dealing in resource extraction on Mars. A hallmark decision by the International Court of Justice in 2152, disregarding many established work safety laws due to the reduced gravitational force exerted by Mars upon its surface, would lead to a string of soaring profits…and an increasing death-toll of Martian workers and miners. Combined, actions like this stoked the flames of anger and resentment amongst the Martian colonists again and again. It became increasingly clear to even the most die-hard loyalist that Earth seemingly did not care for Martians as a people, so they had to be made to care.

It was from this moment the Free Mars Movement was born, headed by its charismatic leader, the lowly mine foreman Desmond Parker from Perseverance. The group initially started small, spreading awareness of these growing issues while also causing disturbances while engaging in civil disobedience. When local police were brought in, it became clear that the Martian Colonial Authority at least had little wish to discuss matters. Civil disobedience turned into widespread protests and general strikes, hoping to force the MCA to come to the negotiating table. All it brought was a mixture of UN Peacekeepers and corporate security to enforce order upon the planet. On December 3rd, 2165, upon the streets of the New Denver colony, Desmond Parker was shot and killed by a security officer of the Melange Mining Conglomerate. The death of their founder also killed the moderating influence Parker had held over his followers. In the years to come the FMM would transition from a mere activist group to an outright resistance movement, ultimately culminating in the New Syrtis Spaceport bombing and the onslaught of events that then lead to the Martian Declaration of Independence.

-Free Mars Armed Forces-

Listed below are all Martian military formations, their adjoining armies and fleets, their assigned units, and their commanding officers.

Commanding Officer: Aran Maegeri

Stationed: Mars Sphere - Deimos

Capital: Cruisers
Escorts: Destroyers
Escorts: Destroyers
Escorts: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
War-Frames: 1st Gen War-Frames
War-Frames: 1st Gen War-Frames
Transport Vessels: Civilian Starliner

Total Maintenance Costs: 114/t Supplies

Stationed: Tharsis Region

Infantry: Militias
Infantry: Militias
Infantry: Reservists
Armor: Main Battle Tanks
Artillery: Towed Artillery
Support: Civilian Drones
War-Frames: Worker-Frames

Total Maintenance Costs: 33/t Supplies

Commanding Officer: Hippolyta Areia

Stationed: Mars Sphere - Phobos

Escorts: Destroyers
Escorts: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Transport Vessels: Civilian Starliner

Total Maintenance Costs: 52/t Supplies

Stationed: Sabaea Region

Infantry: Militias
Infantry: Militias
Armor: Light Tanks
Artillery: Towed Artillery
Support: Civilian Drones
War-Frames: Worker-Frames

Total Maintenance Costs: 29/t Supplies

Commanding Officer: Tala Ano Dyne

Stationed: Mars Sphere - L1 Magnetoshield Space Station

Escorts: Destroyers
Escorts: Frigates
Escorts: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Transport Vessels: Civilian Starliner

Total Maintenance Costs: 66/t Supplies

Stationed: Elysium Region

Infantry: Reservists
Infantry: Reservists
Armor: Light Tanks
Artillery: Towed Artillery
Support: Civilian Drones
War-Frames: Worker-Frames

Total Maintenance Costs: 31/t Supplies

Commanding Officer: Delthea Ayala

Stationed: Mars Sphere - Deimos

Escorts: Destroyers
Escorts: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
War-Frames: 1st Gen War-Frames
Transport Vessels: Civilian Starliner

Total Maintenance Costs: 62/t Supplies

Stationed: Mars Sphere - Deimos

Infantry: Marines
Infantry: Marines
Artillery: Towed Artillery
Support: Military Drones
War-Frames: Worker-Frames

Total Maintenance Costs: 29/t Supplies

-Administrative Divisions of Free Mars-

Information on the various Martian regions, their incomes and expenses, are listed here.

Appointed Administrator: Zhu Ling 朱灵

Supply Income: 285/t
Manpower Income: 65/t

Supply Stockpile: 150

Civilian Supply Needs: 114/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +30% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Food Insecurity
(Increased Civilian Discontent)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-Restrictive Industries
(+20% Supply Cost on Armor Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Artillery Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Air Asset Production & Maintenance)
(+50% Supply Cost on Capital Ship Production & Maintenance)

-The Terraforming Project
(Decreased Civilian Discontent)
(+20% Civilian Supply Needs)

Appointed Administrator: Eliza Lescovar

Supply Income: 275/t
Manpower Income: 75/t

Supply Stockpile: 180

Civilian Supply Needs: 110/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +30% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Food Insecurity
(Increased Civilian Discontent)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-Restrictive Industries
(+20% Supply Cost on Armor Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Artillery Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Air Asset Production & Maintenance)
(+50% Supply Cost on Capital Ship Production & Maintenance)

-The Terraforming Project
(Decreased Civilian Discontent)
(+20% Civilian Supply Needs)

Appointed Administrator: Miku-Von Braun-Xanthe

Supply Income: 310/t
Manpower Income: 55/t

Supply Stockpile: 120

Civilian Supply Needs: 124/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +30% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Food Insecurity
(Increased Civilian Discontent)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-Restrictive Industries
(+20% Supply Cost on Armor Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Artillery Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Air Asset Production & Maintenance)
(+50% Supply Cost on Capital Ship Production & Maintenance)

-The Terraforming Project
(Decreased Civilian Discontent)
(+20% Civilian Supply Needs)

Appointed Administrator: Ryne Rowan

Supply Income: 255/t
Manpower Income: 30/t

Supply Stockpile: 220

Civilian Supply Needs: 102/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +30% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Food Insecurity
(Increased Civilian Discontent)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-Restrictive Industries
(+20% Supply Cost on Armor Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Artillery Production & Maintenance)
(+20% Supply Cost on Air Asset Production & Maintenance)
(+50% Supply Cost on Capital Ship Production & Maintenance)

-The Terraforming Project
(Decreased Civilian Discontent)
(+20% Civilian Supply Needs)

-Martian Political Factions-

The modern Free Mars Movement is an umbrella-organization, gathering together the various disparate anti-Earth groups from across the Red Planet and its satellites and providing coordination for their efforts in ending their oppression. With the Martian Declaration of Independence signed, the FMM must now transition from a mere political movement to that of a true nation-state. While the hatred of Earth has kept its various sub-affiliates united for the moment, it has become clear that they all share wildly different ideas in regards to the future of Mars and her people, differences which are often-irreconcilable. In an effort to see their preferred vision of a Martian future made a reality, the once-innumerable resistance movements have coalesced into greater political groupings, still nominally united in the coming war of independence, but increasingly finding themselves at odds with each other.

Collectively, they are listed below, from left-wing to right-wing:

Martian Liberation League: After a near-century of oppression, death and disregard, it should come to no surprise that the once-defeated ideologies of the far-left would find the sands of the Red Planet fertile for their purposes. Since the time of the first settlements, many workers-rights groups, trade unions and anarchists have called Mars their only home, and they have increasingly grown popular over the decades as more and more was demanded of the colonists. As their popularity soured, so too did their legality plummet, reaching a low point in the final years of the Martian Colonial Authority where their public presence was banned entirely. Following the Declaration of Independence, an overarching alliance of leftists and left-leaning organizations were formed, to champion the causes of the poor and downtrodden, with the goal of making Mars at last live up to its name as the Red Planet.

Edenists: Approved concurrently with the initial colonization effort, the Mars Terraforming Project was spearheaded by the aptly-named Eden Initiative, seeking to use Human ingenuity to create a truly habitable environment upon the Red Planet. In time the contributions of this private entity would see the Magnetoshield constructed, and the introduction of certain select forms of bacteria and fungus to the Martian soils. Today their efforts have borne some fruits, yet the road to a green Mars is yet far in the future. Over the years, influxes of new blood to the organization has seen the once-science foundation transformed into a strange mix of a millenarian religious organization, radical environmentalists and a water cartel. While initially opposed to independence, the stalling of the Terraforming Project in 2169 saw the mainstream Edenist Church align itself openly with the FMM, likely intending to use the larger organization as a vehicle to ensure the completion of the Terraforming Project, and the birth of a Green Mars.

Parkerite Republicans: While Desmond Parker may have died upon the streets of New Denver, his dream of a free and fair Mars lives on with his former followers. Outwardly united, the Republicans find themselves increasingly split between the aging leadership which remember the days of Parker with fondness, seeking to make Mars the true birthplace of democracy, untainted by the corruptive influences upon Earth which cannot be found on the frontier. A place where individual liberty and freedom are paramount, with no conglomerate or organization able to infringe upon those rights. Standing in opposition to these ideas, but loyal to the Parkerite vision of an independent Mars stands the younger generation of the organization, having known only the radicalism and terror which shaped the Martian consciousness in the last days of the Colonial Authority. In their eyes, Parker was a visionary, but they still live in a flawed world, as shown by his execution. Therefore, a firm government committed to the ideals of a democracy for Martians, by Martians, is needed to ensure the world Parker wished for has a chance to come about.

Red Consortiumists: Despite their name bringing to mind more egalitarian ideologies, the Consortiumists have far more in common with the oligarchs of Old Earth than any anarchist upon Mars. While many would claim Martians were completely subservient to the Earth and UN elites until they could take it no more and threw off their chains, the reality is a bit more complex. Just as there were many Earth-based corporations which exploited the increasingly lax regulatory environment of Mars, there were many Martian-owned businesses which employed the same tactics for monetary gain. In the wake of the Revolution, such practices have been curtailed, but the Martians which grew wealthy from the long decades of Colonial Authority rule are still there, and they have taken note of the methods which were once used by their Earthborn counterparts to seize control of the UN. Be it for personal or altruistic reasons, or perhaps at the urging of shadowy backers, the Consortiumists have banded together to push for a government which has already proven to be resilient and effective: a benevolent oligarchy in the vein of that upon Earth.

Spartanian Militarists: For all of its settled history, Mars has never had an official military force, subservient as it was to the interests of Earth. Despite this, of course there was no shortage of armed personnel on the planet, be they criminals, private security or local militia units. As the Martian Revolution spread like wildfire across the world, these disparate groups through one reason or another would find themselves on the side of the revolutionaries, quickly coalescing into a nascent army and navy for the Red Planet. Bound together by a bitter year of fighting and heavy losses, the leadership of the newly-formed Armed Forces had come to find the rigors of war demanded more of Humanity than a civilian bureaucracy could quickly accommodate, and so, many began to prepare. While not an official political group, the "Spartans'' are whispered to secretly hold the reigns of the entire military, guiding it towards a future where all of Mars, perhaps even all of Humanity, march in disciplined unison under a warrior-elite, forever banishing the specters of weakness and decadence which have plagued Humanity for so long.

Sons of Ares: Every rebellion, every revolution, every organization, they all have their own extremists, and the Martian Revolution was no different. What initially began as some of Desmond Parker's most devoted followers, would morph into the most effective terror organization on the Red Planet. So outraged and distraught were they by news of Parker's death, that they abandoned all forms of nonviolent resistance. After all, it was only fair that the Earthers polluting Mars with their presence felt but a tenth of their sorrow and loss. The Sons would be the masterminds behind the bombing campaign which eventually culminated in the New Syrtis Bombing and the commencement of the Revolution, an accomplishment they still proudly proclaim as theirs alone for all who wish to hear, though the losses sustained by native Martians during said campaign is never brought up. Today the Sons of Ares finds itself part of the overarching provisional government of Mars, using the influence and power they have accrued over the years to advocate for the native Martians, and to further disenfranchise any Earthers foolish or unlucky enough to have remained behind on Mars when the Revolution began. Despite this divisive rhetoric, the Sons have accumulated an avid following, and have used it extensively to continually push for their exclusionist agenda.

-Martian Political Issues-

The Martian Revolution has been a stunning success, and yet in its wake a number of issues have emerged which were unforeseen to varying degrees. Public discourse on the street and in the halls of government are now dominated by them, with many of the most powerful groups within the halls of the Martian Council preparing statements and plans which they believe will best serve to solve these growing crises before they can become truly debilitating to the coming war effort, and the building of an independent Mars.

Food Insecurity: Mars has never been self-sufficient in terms of foodstuffs. While the red soils will in time be able to sustain vast fields of crops and pastures for livestock, the Terraforming Project has yet to advance to the stage where such is possible. Existing greenhouses and hydroponic farming has alleviated the issue to a degree, but these were built merely to lessen the average Martian's dependence on Earth food, rather than outright eliminate it. Starvation on a mass scale looms on the horizon unless a solution is presented quickly.

It is the opinion of the MLL that each Martian must contribute in part to this problem. Material stockpiles can be used to facilitate the construction of small-scale greenhouses in every habitation unit on the planet if need be, akin to the "Victory Gardens" of ancient Earth. Families will be able to sustain themselves off the crops they themselves grow, allowing for the allocation of the remaining pre-Revolution stockpiles for military purposes.
Starvation is a fate not to be wished upon anyone, not even upon one's worst enemies. To avert this ghastly scenario, a solution could be presented in the fungi species imported from Earth to assist with the Terraforming Project. While not suitable for consumption, they could be made to do so through scientific effort or genetic engineering. Fungi need little in the way of sunlight, and can survive with a minimum of oxygen, even in conditions which other crops could not even dream of sustaining themselves in.
While not a popular choice by any stretch of the imagination, we must remind ourselves to be realistic, and not immediately descend into flights of fancy or dream projects. By instituting a system of rationing we can extend our existing stockpiles of foodstuffs until such a time that additional greenhouses and other forms of farming complexes can be completed.
While Earth may have instituted a ban on merchant traffic to Mars in the wake of the Revolution, as has been shown across all of Human history, every man and good has their price. Mars may not be able to legally trade with Earthers, but present a big enough paycheck and surely smugglers will rush to deliver us aid, even if that means disobeying the most powerful government known to Humanity.
Food is indeed a vital resource that Mars cannot go without, which makes it all the more apparent we must organize and expand the Armed Forces, allowing us to swiftly go on the offensive against the Earth Sphere. Raids and seizures of their own stockpiles will buy more time, time to commence an invasion of Earth itself and secure its valuable farmlands for ourselves.
The fact Mars has been forced to remain reliant upon Earth food shipments despite its great population is another sign of Earther perfidy that must be undone. To have the Revolution succeed only to then be forced into compliance under threat of starvation will not be allowed to happen. Given the Earthers have grown fat and lazy upon the backs of our labor, it is only fitting that Earthers on Mars be tasked with paying reparations for their crimes, reparations which can be made in, amongst other things, foodstuffs and their own labor to construct further facilities.

Restrictive Industries: Heavy industry has been synonymous with Mars since the time of the first settlements, and that has not changed over the past century. Thousands of square-miles are dedicated to vast factory and workshop complexes churning out millions of tons worth of materials, components and products, supporting the Martian population with most of the amenities modern life requires. The word here being most. Decided by either negligence or outright maliciousness, Earth retained the sole right to manufacture more advanced systems and technology for itself, including microchips, computers, superconductors, modern military vehicles and vessels, and so on. With Earth and Mars now at odds, such advanced components are no longer readily available, and this must be rectified if the Revolution wishes to have any hope of overcoming Earth in the long-term.

Given the nature of our previous exploitation, it is simply impossible at the present time for us to compete with Earth in regards to advanced technology, bar a few exceptions of course. Try as we might, we simply do not have the knowledge or the infrastructure, nor the resources to invest in such sectors in the near future. To preserve the Revolution and Martian independence it would be best that we rely on our strengths of rugged and simpler technologies which are more readily available and easier to manufacture.
The present crisis has presented a rare opportunity for us, for the lack of advanced components could be remedied by exploring a particular path of research that the Earthers have for whatever reason left unattended. What we speak of course is the path of bio-computing, neural wetware, and other such similar processes, which could potentially prove far more efficient and powerful than silicon-based alternatives on Earth.
While it is true Earth currently has an advantage on Mars in regards to state-of-the-art technologies and industries, the vast distances involved in space travel does present Mars with a large safe time-window between UN attempts to suppress us. Such time could be spent developing our own alternatives to their systems, and over time level the playing field.
Wars are never profitable, and it can be predicted with reasonable certainty that the war for Mars will be no different in this regard. As dissatisfaction and frustration grows in the face of mounting losses and increased costs, there would be plenty who would enjoy the opportunity of making a profit, even if that meant selling out to their erstwhile enemies. In time such sales can be turned into products of our own, at last bridging the technological gap between ourselves and Earth.
Earth may enjoy technical advantages at the moment, but so long as Mars alone possesses the newly-discovered military edge of War Frames, a combination of clever tactics and an unbroken will shall ensure both our continued overall success in the war, while at the same time providing our scientists with plenty of salvageable examples of Earther technology to reverse-engineer for our own purposes.
By what metric is Earth-derived technology deemed "superior" to the designs and systems created upon Mars? Their ships may be shinier, their computers fancier, but they are also expensive and inefficient compared to the equipment created by Martians. We need not travel down the road of Earther developments, for they have undoubtedly made many mistakes which tainted the overall process. It is better for Mars to develop its own alternatives, free of Earther influences.

The Terraforming Project: Even centuries before Mars was at last settled, Humanity had been fervently developing and discussing plans to make the Red Planet as green as their bountiful cradle. When at last the first colonists arrived upon the Martian surface, they carried with them not just the supplies to create a new home for themselves, but also kickstarted the process that would ensure that one day, their descendants would wake up to a planet of rolling green hills and sparkling blue oceans. Over a century later, the Martian Terraforming Project is still ongoing, with no end in sight. Administrative blunders by the defunct MCA have seen its resources squandered, and with the advent of war with Earth, many question if the newly-independent Mars can even afford to keep the program going. Others still fire back, noting it is foolish to burn down the Martian future in a vain attempt at saving an imperfect present.

The Terraforming Project is of vital importance to Mars, there is no denying that, but at the same time it is an immense resource sink, one that can be ill-afforded in a time of war such as this. The bare minimum should be allocated to ensure Mars will not lose what progress it has made, but all other resources are best used elsewhere for the war effort.
To even suggest a reduction in support for the Terraforming Project is nigh-on sacrilege! All the efforts our forefathers have spent and all the sacrifices they have committed in the name of a Green Mars, and now we wish to throw it all away? Mars is entirely capable of ensuring its own security without compromising its ideals, nor its future.
The Terraforming Project should continue, there is no doubt about that, but it is also undoubtedly clear that the war for Martian independence will be a costly affair. A balance must be struck, where we avoid sacrificing the overall progress of one side for the benefit of the other, be that the terraforming, or our war efforts.
With certain war on the horizon, a priority must be placed on cutting unneeded expenses. What use is the funding of the Terraforming Project if Earth subjugates Mars once again? If the average Martian is so enamored with the idea of a Green Mars, then they and other private organizations can contribute towards its maintenance, and if they cannot? Then it is an unneeded expense.
Since the time of the first settling, Mars has been an unforgiving and hostile environment, and it's these perfect conditions which have bred a new culture of superior warriors. The Terraforming Project is at the same time a burden and a poison, instituted by weak-willed Earthers wishing to transform Mars into a mirror of their own decadent world. It is clear to us at least that the Project as a whole should be canceled, and its funds used on more productive pursuits.
The Mars of the present created the modern Martian, but the Mars of the present is equally inhospitable. The Terraforming Project is a step in the right direction, though obviously tainted by Earther influences. Where they seek to create the clone of Earth upon Mars, we must instead create a better Mars, one that can support her people, yet not allow them to forget their old roots. The Project shall continue, though its resource allocation and end-goal must be re-evaluated.

A Martian Identity: While Earth may dispute it with words and with military action, the Martian Revolution has been an unequivocal success, which has seen the planet liberated from the grasp of the greedy who wished to exploit for Earth's benefit. Now that the rebellion is won however, and the Free Mars Movement transitions into a proper government, the dawning question becomes: What now? Mars has won its freedom and independence, but what will that mean exactly? A new culture must be forged together, lest Mars in time splinters along the lines drawn by the once-dominant nation-states of Old Earth.

Mars and its people are to be the vanguard lighting the torch and leading the way for others. We must come together as one and showcase what a truly egalitarian and equal society can create and accomplish, a place where no gods or kings may ever reign. By building this shining city upon the hill, we will serve as inspiration for others across the Solar System to cast off their chains, and join us in turn as brothers and comrades.
We shall all come together, and through our collective will and unity we shall complete the Terraforming Project. Mars and her people shall be a living symbol for all of Humanity to gaze upon. We shall demonstrate the power of nature and man working in harmony, to change our surroundings just as it changes us, and above all show Humanity the folly and greed of our predecessors which so unnecessarily murdered our cradle.
Earth is the home of those who wished to exploit us, but we must also never forget it is the home of the ideologies which inspired Parker to form our union of ideals. Liberty and self-determination shall be the fruits of our Revolution, and the peoples of Mars shall decide for themselves what they wish to be. Together, as a diverse cultural collective, we shall make the dream of freedom and good government a reality upon the Red Planet.
Where some would be eager to cast away all that has made us the people we are today, we need not be so hasty when the fate of an entire world is at stake. Mars is uniquely suited to champion the cause of free enterprise by the fact that we ourselves know the pain of exploitation at the hands of a corrupt system. With the hands of government and business separated, we shall all prosper under the guiding hand of the market.
Earth was inevitably defeated for the exact same reason that Mars inevitably won. Our cause may be noble or righteous, but it is the strength of the Martian people, and the weakness of Earthers, which has given us our independence. This of course is only the beginning, for in the fires of coming war we shall hone our edge and sharpen our blades. We shall do battle, we shall gain victory, and in the end, we shall achieve our destiny, becoming the warrior-rulers of all Humanity.
We have suffered, we have toiled, and we have grieved, but all our hardships have strengthened our resolve and hardened our hearts for the struggle ahead. The Earthers' suppressed our people for a century for the simple fact that they fear us, and at last with dawning horror they now realize what they thought to be their subdued pet has slipped its leash. At last, vengeance shall be ours, and Earth shall feel the burning hate of the children it has spurred for so long.

The Nature of The Independence War: Though the Revolution may now be complete, it is clear that Earth will never accept the reality of a Mars that stands as their equal, unless that reality is forced upon them in some form or fashion. As such, it is clear that war is our only recourse for defending our newly-gained independence and freedom. The question that now remains is how such a war would be prosecuted, and what the ultimate end-goals of a victorious Mars is to be?

Mars is but the first step, a vanguard for the revolution which shall sweep aside the old order and liberate the masses of the Solar System. Every effort shall be made to go on the offensive, to seize the orbital infrastructure which the elites of Earth are ever-so-reliant on, and from there establish an insurmountable staging point to launch a liberation campaign of Earth itself, and free its peoples from the very same oppressors which exploited them as much as they exploited us.
Earth is doomed, and in its final death throes its rulers aim to tear Mars down alongside them into oblivion, and such cannot be allowed to stand. With our main focus remaining upon the creation of a verdant paradise, it would be foolish to even consider a campaign into the Earth Sphere with what resources we have left-over. Let the Earthers throw themselves against Mars like waves upon the rocks, until at last the greed of their forefathers chokes the last life from the carcass which remains of our Cradle.
We must obviously protect and defend that which we have gained from the Revolution, but war alone will not be enough to secure our future. At every opportunity, as we turn away UN forces again and again from enforcing their will upon Mars, we must make it clear to their leaders and to the people of Earth that all we wish for is an equitable peace, so that we can rise together, not as master and slave, but as brothers and sisters.
Even the most deluded of our revolutionary brethren will agree that Earth is ruled by money above all else, and as we have come to discover over the last decade, war is expensive. Those at the very top may not yet realize it, but with concerted effort on our part, we will make them understand that it will be far too costly to keep Mars in chains at this juncture. When at last this truth is made clear to them, peace will come no matter what the militarists on either side may wish, for it is people like us who hold the pursestrings.
What are warriors without battles to be fought? What are rulers without subjects to govern? The Revolution may have succeeded on Mars, but it has not marked the end of our ambitions. Already we have cultivated great ranks of soldiers superior to those of the Earth, now we must simply unleash them upon the unprepared Earth Sphere. Like a great wave sweep aside all opposition, conquering the Earth and at last set the course of history right, with all of Humanity ruled by its destined warrior-kings.
It is clear that so long as the Earthers are allowed agency of their own, they will use this freedom to plot towards our own downfall, and as such there can be no lasting coexistence between Mars and Earth. While we are still able, the war must be rapidly brought to the Earth Sphere, their colonies and cities seized, the symbols of Earther dominance torn down, and their peoples subjugated and under our supervision, so that they may never again threaten Mars or her children.

The Armed Forces Question: During the chaotic times of the Revolution, Free Mars did battle against Earth Loyalist forces via a disparate gathering of regional militias, insurgents, criminals and various UN or corporate defectors. Now however, as they transition from political movement to planetary government, Free Mars finds itself split on the question of military organization. An army will be required for the prosecution of the Independence War, but the disagreement lies in the specifics, and a decision must be made quickly, lest the nascent Martian armed forces be smothered in the crib.

To see to the liberation of the Human race, a normal hierarchical army is simply impractical in the long term. To succeed, the masses of Mars must be mobilized in body and in spirit to see the Revolution continue into the Earth Sphere, and with such great masses awaiting orders, a centralized high command will simply be overwhelmed in short order. Thus, emphasis shall be placed on the independence and initiative of local commanders and political officers to carry the day and maintain order.
Mars will never outnumber the people of Earth in the critical period of warfare ahead of us. Therefore, before any considerations of organization and command structures, a superior soldier must be created, equal to many scores of their Earther cousins. We have the technology and the genetic templates, we must simply find the right combination of genes and modifications first, and once created, all else regarding the military of Mars will fall into place.
The Revolution demonstrated one key military fact above all else: The modern tactics of disabling command and control networks or severing communications means little if most units are already semi-autonomous. The military forces of Mars as such should be organized as a collection of independent militias and irregular formations, as responsible to their own soldiers as they are to the central government.
As has been repeated time and time again, war is expensive, so all should agree it would be prudent for us to minimize our costs for the duration of the hostilities. By retooling the vast industrial landscapes of Mars to produce a variety of combat drones controlled by a Human operator, we can even the numerical odds, while at the same time ensuring we only pay a fraction of the cost the Earthers will need to replace the inevitable losses on the front.
The advent of War Frames has drastically changed the future of warfare, and Mars must embrace this change if it is to hope to see victory in this coming clash of civilizations. Thus, Mars should put every effort into making War Frames and their pilots the foremost branch of our military. With such exceptional warriors leading the charge, under a competent high command, defeat will remain an impossibility.
Only a unified, regimented and disciplined force has any place on the modern battlefield, and to believe otherwise marks one as a grave fool. The disparate elements of the Revolution must be broken down and reforged as a cohesive whole, unbound by loyalties of the past and answerable only to a singular authority. Only such a force will have the power necessary to carry the war all the way to Earth.

-Dramatis Personae of Mars (NPCs & Example Sheets)-

Examples of filled character sheets can be found below, with each of the NPC political faction leaders having their own. Do note that their Issue Opinions are identical to those found under the Issue section above, as they were the ones who wrote them in the first place.

Zara Yadgar

Age: 27

Date of Birth: 13th of October 2148

Role: Political Leader of the Martian Liberation League

Background: Miners are the foundations upon which Mars was built. Zara knows this, for her father and uncles all toiled one after the other deep beneath the earth, like their fathers did, and their fathers did, stretching back until the first Humans set foot on the Red Planet. Zara was lucky in that regard, for the backbreaking labor of her parents ensured her a place within the halls of higher learning. While less numerous and prestigious than their sister-institutions on Earth, the University of New Syrtis taught her much in terms of language, rhetoric, economics and organization, all skills that would prove vital in the near future, though she knew it not at the time.

When the Free Mars Movement was born, its founder was a lowly miner himself, and as such his strongest supporters came from those diggers of dirt and stone. Zara was too young to directly aid in resistance efforts, but regardless of the wishes of her parents she became a chief organizer of affiliate protests in and around the New Syrtis campus and environs, activities which eventually led to her expulsion. Zara took it as the prelude of a new chapter in her life.

She was correct in that regard, for but a few short months later, her father and uncle were killed during the New Denver riots, shot dead by UN peacekeeping troops. By fluke or name recognition, Zara came into a leadership position within the Liberation League, what had once been but a trade union, now the far left wing of a revolutionary movement quickly leaving them behind. Embittered by the perceived indifference and outright betrayal by the former followers of Parker, Zara and the MLL in general find themselves drifting further and further away from those who should have been natural allies, for they alone are the ones still fighting for the promises made at the beginning of the Revolution.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Martian Liberation League

Food Insecurity: It is the opinion of the MLL that each Martian must contribute in part to this problem. Material stockpiles can be used to facilitate the construction of small-scale greenhouses in every habitation unit on the planet if need be, akin to the "Victory Gardens" of ancient Earth. Families will be able to sustain themselves off the crops they themselves grow, allowing for the allocation of the remaining pre-Revolution stockpiles for military purposes.

Restrictive Industries: Given the nature of our previous exploitation, it is simply impossible at the present time for us to compete with Earth in regards to advanced technology, bar a few exceptions of course. Try as we might, we simply do not have the knowledge or the infrastructure, nor the resources to invest in such sectors in the near future. To preserve the Revolution and Martian independence it would be best that we rely on our strengths of rugged and simpler technologies which are more readily available and easier to manufacture.

The Terraforming Project: The Terraforming Project is of vital importance to Mars, there is no denying that, but at the same time it is an immense resource sink, one that can be ill-afforded in a time of war such as this. The bare minimum should be allocated to ensure Mars will not lose what progress it has made, but all other resources are best used elsewhere for the war effort.

A Martian Identity: Mars and its people are to be the vanguard lighting the torch and leading the way for others. We must come together as one and showcase what a truly egalitarian and equal society can create and accomplish, a place where no gods or kings may ever reign. By building this shining city upon the hill, we will serve as inspiration for others across the Solar System to cast off their chains, and join us in turn as brothers and comrades.

The Nature of The Independence War: Mars is but the first step, a first step for the revolution which shall sweep aside the old order and liberate the masses of the Solar System. Every effort shall be made to go on the offensive, to seize the orbital infrastructure which the elites of Earth are ever-so-reliant on, and from there establish an insurmountable staging point to launch a liberation campaign of Earth itself, and free its peoples from the very same oppressors which exploited them as much as they exploited us.

The Armed Forces Question: To see to the liberation of the Human race, a normal hierarchical army is simply impractical in the long term. To succeed, the masses of Mars must be mobilized in body and in spirit to see the Revolution continue into the Earth Sphere, and with such great masses awaiting orders, a centralized high command will simply be overwhelmed in short order. Thus, emphasis shall be placed on the independence and initiative of local commanders and political officers to carry the day and maintain order.

Vincent Simons

Age: 46

Date of Birth: 3rd of May 2128

Role: Political Leader of the Edenists

Background: By his own admission, Patriarch Simons was born on Earth, though he is quick to change topics if pressed for details. What is known in his early years he secured passage to Mars, but quickly found whatever opportunities awaiting him vanish like dust upon the wind. At this lowest point, as he contemplated the unthinkable and irredeemable, he was chanced upon by an acolyte of the Edenist Church. They clad him, fed him and sheltered him, and ever since his own life has been spent in service of the Church.

Initially deeming the brewing Revolution as no concern of his, in accordance with mainstream Edenist views and policy, rumors of Colonial Authority plans to divert Terraforming Project funds towards efforts to stifle the rebellion earned the bureaucrats the unending scorn of Simons and a growing number of his fellow Edenists. Against the wishes of the elders of the Church, Simons would dedicate himself increasingly to the rebels, supplying them with water and medicine where discrepant paperwork could be blamed, and granting shelter to those seeking it at his Pioneer Junction convent.

When at last the Revolution erupted in force across Mars, Simons stood alongside those fighting for freedom, never directly engaging in fighting but providing invaluable support behind the lines. When he returned, a trial awaited him at the hands of the Church elders, displeased with his conduct in the war. Using his oratory skills and proof of virtue, Simons would turn the entire affair against them, allowing his own ascension to the highest Church position in time for the Battle of Deimos. In Simons' mind, the war is already won, and all effort must now be dedicated towards making Mars the verdant paradise it was always meant to be.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Edenists

Food Insecurity: Starvation is a fate not to be wished upon anyone, not even upon one's worst enemies. To avert this ghastly scenario, a solution could be presented in the fungi species imported from Earth to assist with the Terraforming Project. While not suitable for consumption, they could be made to do so through scientific effort or genetic engineering. Fungi need little in the way of sunlight, and can survive with a minimum of oxygen, even in conditions which other crops could not even dream of sustaining themselves in.

Restrictive Industries: The present crisis has presented a rare opportunity for us, for the lack of advanced components could be remedied by exploring a particular path of research that the Earthers have for whatever reason left unattended. What we speak of course is the path of bio-computing, neural wetware, and other such similar processes, which could potentially prove far more efficient and powerful than silicon-based alternatives on Earth.

The Terraforming Project: To even suggest a reduction in support for the Terraforming Project is nigh-on sacrilege! All the efforts our forefathers have spent and all the sacrifices they have committed in the name of a Green Mars, and now we wish to throw it all away? Mars is entirely capable of ensuring its own security without compromising its ideals, nor its future.

A Martian Identity: We shall all come together, and through our collective will and unity we shall complete the Terraforming Project. Mars and her people shall be a living symbol for all of Humanity to gaze upon. We shall demonstrate the power of nature and man working in harmony, to change our surroundings just as it changes us, and above all show Humanity the folly and greed of our predecessors which so unnecessarily murdered our cradle.

The Nature of The Independence War: Earth is doomed, and in its final death throes its rulers aim to tear Mars down alongside them into oblivion, and such cannot be allowed to stand. With our main focus remaining upon the creation of a verdant paradise, it would be foolish to even consider a campaign into the Earth Sphere with what resources we have left-over. Let the Earthers throw themselves against Mars like waves upon the rocks, until at last the greed of their forefathers chokes the last life from the carcass which remains of our Cradle.

The Armed Forces Question: Mars will never outnumber the people of Earth in the critical period of warfare ahead of us. Therefore, before any considerations of organization and command structures, a superior soldier must be created, equal to many scores of their Earther cousins. We have the technology and the genetic templates, we must simply find the right combination of genes and modifications first, and once created, all else regarding the military of Mars will fall into place.

Norman Hendricks

Age: 48

Date of Birth: 17th of April 2126

Role: Political Leader of the Parkerite Republicans

Background: Despite hailing from a working class family, Norman above all else wished to rise above his humble roots as he grew up. Attending the world-renowned Opportunity University ensured two decades of wage-slavery awaited him, but the bashful youth deemed such a worthy sacrifice to learn. Indeed, he graduated at the top of his class, moving on to gainful employment with the Melange Mining Conglomerate as an IT specialist.

By chance or destiny, Norman's dream of corporate advancement was derailed with a simple meeting with the-then mining foreman Desmond Parker at the MMC's Tharsis Complex. Faced with the increasingly-unbearable conditions suffered by the miners, Norman quickly struck up a partnership with Parker and the fledgling Free Mars Movement, feeding them information from various system networks across the planet, coordinating protests and styming efforts to locate or arrest the movement's leadership. For a time it worked well, but then New Denver happened.

With the movement left leaderless and already fracturing apart, Norman reluctantly stepped up to take command, quickly proving to all that he was more follower than leader. Under his watch the FMM entered into a period of hibernation it would only escape following the New Syrtis Bombing and the Revolution, two events which the "true" FMM had little to nothing to do with. Increasingly sidelined by the other factions on Mars, Norman regardless attempts to keep Parker's dream alive as best he can. His fellow Republicans however are losing confidence with him, and may soon see him unseated entirely from his position.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Parkerite Republicans

Food Insecurity: While not a popular choice by any stretch of the imagination, we must remind ourselves to be realistic, and not immediately descend into flights of fancy or dream projects. By instituting a system of rationing we can extend our existing stockpiles of foodstuffs until such a time that additional greenhouses and other forms of farming complexes can be completed.

Restrictive Industries: While it is true Earth currently has an advantage on Mars in regards to state-of-the-art technologies and industries, the vast distances involved in space travel does present Mars with a large safe time-window between UN attempts to suppress us. Such time could be spent developing our own alternatives to their systems, and over time level the playing field.

The Terraforming Project: The Terraforming Project should continue, there is no doubt about that, but it is also undoubtedly clear that the war for Martian independence will be a costly affair. A balance must be struck, where we avoid sacrificing the overall progress of one side for the benefit of the other, be that the terraforming, or our war efforts.

A Martian Identity: Earth is the home of those who wished to exploit us, but we must also never forget it is the home of the ideologies which inspired Parker to form our union of ideals. Liberty and self-determination shall be the fruits of our Revolution, and the peoples of Mars shall decide for themselves what they wish to be. Together, as a diverse cultural collective, we shall make the dream of freedom and good government a reality upon the Red Planet.

The Nature of The Independence War: We must obviously protect and defend that which we have gained from the Revolution, but war alone will not be enough to secure our future. At every opportunity, as we turn away UN forces again and again from enforcing their will upon Mars, we must make it clear to their leaders and to the people of Earth that all we wish for is an equitable peace, so that we can rise together, not as master and slave, but as brothers and sisters.

The Armed Forces Question: The Revolution demonstrated one key military fact above all else: The modern tactics of disabling command and control networks or severing communications means little if most units are already semi-autonomous. The military forces of Mars as such should be organized as a collection of independent militias and irregular formations, as responsible to their own soldiers as they are to the central government.

Trystan Rainer

Age: 37

Date of Birth: 30th of June 2137

Role: Political Leader of the Red Consortiumists

Background: Rainer Heavy Industries was one of the original commercial pioneers of the Martian colonization. Under Trystan's grandfather a new home was made for the struggling corporation upon the Red Planet as a last-ditch effort to arrest its fall. Insulated as they now were from previous competition by vast distances and costs, RHI would quickly bounce back, becoming the largest provider of heavy vehicles, mining equipment and construction materials in the early colonies.

Of course, this is all ancient history to Trystan, who can only remember the good times created by his forebears. His father was a soft man, quick to let his children do as they please, and even in his later days when he found his spine, Trystan was far away on Earth attending to his education. This combination of immaturity and narcissism, compounded by his "Dustborn" origins, made him few if any real friends, not that Trystan cared for such. He was far more interested in observing the results of a century of prosperity, all brought about by executives such as himself. It would enrapture him for the rest of his days.

Such an eye-opening experience was it to gaze upon the opulent halls of power, yet be denied entry, that upon returning him and seeing his father replaced as the head of RHI, Trystan moved quickly to create a network of like minded elites on Mars. Their goal; to push for Martian autonomy or independence, but see this new Mars shaped in their preferred image, as an oligarchy with themselves on top. It was for this reason alone why Trystan would shuffle funds, equipment and personnel to the Free Mars Movement, and in the wake of a successful Revolution see it bent to his will.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Red Consortiumists

Food Insecurity: While Earth may have instituted a ban on merchant traffic to Mars in the wake of the Revolution, as has been shown across all of Human history, every man and good has their price. Mars may not be able to legally trade with Earthers, but present a big enough paycheck and surely smugglers will rush to deliver us aid, even if that means disobeying the most powerful government known to Humanity.

Restrictive Industries: Wars are never profitable, and it can be predicted with reasonable certainty that the war for Mars will be no different in this regard. As dissatisfaction and frustration grows in the face of mounting losses and increased costs, there would be plenty who would enjoy the opportunity of making a profit, even if that meant selling out to their erstwhile enemies. In time such sales can be turned into products of our own, at last bridging the technological gap between ourselves and Earth.

The Terraforming Project: With certain war on the horizon, a priority must be placed on cutting unneeded expenses. What use is the funding of the Terraforming Project if Earth subjugates Mars once again? If the average Martian is so enamored with the idea of a Green Mars, then they and other private organizations can contribute towards its maintenance, and if they cannot? Then it is an unneeded expense.

A Martian Identity: Where some would be eager to cast away all that has made us the people we are today, we need not be so hasty when the fate of an entire world is at stake. Mars is uniquely suited to champion the cause of free enterprise by the fact that we ourselves know the pain of exploitation at the hands of a corrupt system. With the hands of government and business separated, we shall all prosper under the guiding hand of the market.

The Nature of The Independence War: Even the most deluded of our revolutionary brethren will agree that Earth is ruled by money above all else, and as we have come to discover over the last decade, war is expensive. Those at the very top may not yet realize it, but with concerted effort on our part, we will make them understand that it will be far too costly to keep Mars in chains at this juncture. When at last this truth is made clear to them, peace will come no matter what the militarists on either side may wish, for it is people like us who hold the pursestrings.

Gloria Santangel

Age: 35

Date of Birth: 15th of March 2139

Role: Political Leader of the Spartanian Militarists

Background: Gloria hails from the Andes hinterlands of Earth, a rugged place where Humanity regardless finds nooks and crannies to comfortably settle into, with her line in particular tracing back centuries. By tradition the family have been guardians and warriors, a path her parents hoped she would continue. Gloria had other plans, wishing to become a teacher above all else, and so dedicated herself to scholarly pursuits of science and history. While disappointed, her parents supported her decision in the end.

Sadly, not all tales have happy endings. While attending university, Gloria's temper got the better of her after a protracted bullying campaign, striking her tormentors with such force two were hospitalized. A combination of her viciousness and the familial connections of those she struck saw the young woman presented with a simple binary choice. Prison or military service. Gloria chose the latter, and to the surprise of all, including herself, she was a talented soldier. Fast forward a decade, and her exceptional abilities landed her a posting within the prestigious United Nations Marine Corps.

Following her training, Gloria's first deployment would come sooner rather than later, as the Martian Colonial Authority requested ever-greater amounts of reinforcements to deal with a growing popular movement upon the Red Planet. Faced with injustice for a second time upon the sands of Mars, Gloria again followed her heart, deserting alongside her platoon to the side of the rebels. It was amongst the FMM that at last Gloria took the time to hammer out a written work regarding her thoughts and opinions, creating the rough foundation upon-which the Spartanian philosophy would be built. Amongst members of the armed forces, her essays would become stuff of legend, spreading like wildfire, and elevating herself as a major post-Revolution political figure.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Spartanian Militarists

Food Insecurity: Food is indeed a vital resource that Mars cannot go without, which makes it all the more apparent we must organize and expand the Armed Forces, allowing us to swiftly go on the offensive against the Earth Sphere. Raids and seizures of their own stockpiles will buy more time, time to commence an invasion of Earth itself and secure its valuable farmlands for ourselves.

Restrictive Industries: Earth may enjoy technical advantages at the moment, but so long as Mars alone possesses the newly-discovered military edge of War Frames, a combination of clever tactics and an unbroken will shall ensure both our continued overall success in the war, while at the same time providing our scientists with plenty of salvageable examples of Earther technology to reverse-engineer for our own purposes.

The Terraforming Project: Since the time of the first settling, Mars has been an unforgiving and hostile environment, and it's these perfect conditions which have bred a new culture of superior warriors. The Terraforming Project is at the same time a burden and a poison, instituted by weak-willed Earthers wishing to transform Mars into a mirror of their own decadent world. It is clear to us at least that the Project as a whole should be canceled, and its funds used on more productive pursuits.

A Martian Identity: Earth was inevitably defeated for the exact same reason that Mars inevitably won. Our cause may be noble or righteous, but it is the strength of the Martian people, and the weakness of Earthers, which has given us our independence. This of course is only the beginning, for in the fires of coming war we shall hone our edge and sharpen our blades. We shall do battle, we shall gain victory, and in the end, we shall achieve our destiny of domination.

The Nature of The Independence War: What are warriors without battles to be fought? What are rulers without subjects to govern? The Revolution may have succeeded on Mars, but it has not marked the end of our ambitions. Already we have cultivated great ranks of soldiers superior to those of the Earth, now we must simply unleash them upon the unprepared Earth Sphere. Like a great wave sweep aside all opposition, conquering the Earth and at last set the course of history right, with all of Humanity ruled by its destined warrior-kings.

Ellen Shepherd

Age: 52

Date of Birth: 10th of September 2122

Role: Political Leader of the Sons of Ares

Background: Ellen is a woman who bears many scars, and not all of them visible. Her early childhood was rough, the streets of Curiosity no friendlier to vagrants and delinquents then as they are today, and aside from the basics she did not enjoy the fruits of a modern education. This would severely limit her as her teenage years approached their end, and so with little choice in the matter, she signed on as a miner. She picked quite the moment to join the ranks of these uncountable drones, for Earth would shortly deem the safety measures of the homeworld a waste on Mars.

It was this one decision that led to the rupture of an industrial storage tank which killed three miners and severely wounded fifteen more, Ellen amongst them. Scarred for life and useless with only one arm, she was let go, returning to a life of squalor and destitution. It was in this shabby state, as she was drinking away her sorrows, that Ellen first met Desmond Parker. She saw much of herself in the young man, and came to admire his drive to see Mars free. In time, she would join him, ascending to become one of his most trusted and important lieutenants.

Then New Denver came, and though Ellen sacrificed an eye in the fighting, it was not enough to save Parker. With their leader dead, the FMM seemed content to let the dream die with him, and that was not something Ellen could accept. The Earthers must pay, Mars must have its revenge, and she quickly found she was not alone in voicing this opinion. Thus at the helm of a growing resistance movement, Ellen would organize a near-decade of bombings and assassinations, lashing out against Earther and collaborationist traitors alike, reaching a crescendo with the New Syrtis Bombing which at last forced the once-scattered FMM to reunite. Mars is now free, but revenge has not yet been attained, and Ellen has not forgotten the betrayals of her erstwhile comrades.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Sons of Ares

Food Insecurity: The fact Mars has been forced to remain reliant upon Earth food shipments despite its great population is another sign of Earther perfidy that must be undone. To have the Revolution succeed only to then be forced into compliance under threat of starvation will not be allowed to happen. Given the Earthers have grown fat and lazy upon the backs of our labor, it is only fitting that Earthers on Mars be tasked with paying reparations for their crimes, reparations which can be made in, amongst other things, foodstuffs and their own labor to construct further facilities.

Restrictive Industries: By what metric is Earth-derived technology deemed "superior" to the designs and systems created upon Mars? Their ships may be shinier, their computers fancier, but they are also expensive and inefficient compared to the equipment created by Martians. We need not travel down the road of Earther developments, for they have undoubtedly made many mistakes which tainted the overall process. It is better for Mars to develop its own alternatives, free of Earther influences.

The Terraforming Project: The Mars of the present created the modern Martian, but the Mars of the present is equally inhospitable. The Terraforming Project is a step in the right direction, though obviously tainted by Earther influences. Where they seek to create the clone of Earth upon Mars, we must instead create a better Mars, one that can support her people, yet not allow them to forget their old roots. The Project shall continue, though its resource allocation and end-goal must be re-evaluated.

A Martian Identity: We have suffered, we have toiled, and we have grieved, but all our hardships have strengthened our resolve and hardened our hearts for the struggle ahead. The Earthers' suppressed our people for a century for the simple fact that they fear us, and at last with dawning horror they now realize what they thought to be their subdued pet has slipped its leash. At last, vengeance shall be ours, and Earth shall feel the burning hate of the children it has spurred for so long.

The Nature of The Independence War: It is clear that so long as the Earthers are allowed agency of their own, they will use this freedom to plot towards our own downfall, and as such there can be no lasting coexistence between Mars and Earth. While we are still able, the war must be rapidly brought to the Earth Sphere, their colonies and cities seized, the symbols of Earther dominance torn down, and their peoples subjugated and under our supervision, so that they may never again threaten Mars or her children.

The Armed Forces Question: Only a unified, regimented and disciplined force has any place on the modern battlefield, and to believe otherwise marks one as a grave fool. The disparate elements of the Revolution must be broken down and reforged as a cohesive whole, unbound by loyalties of the past and answerable only to a singular authority. Only such a force will have the power necessary to carry the war all the way to Earth.

-United Nations of Earth-
(Recommended Listening)

The present Flag of the United Nations, created following the conclusion of the Colony Crisis in 2072, with the phases of the Moon and five distinct stars representing the greater Earth Sphere and Space Colonies.

-History-

The United Nations was founded on the 25th of June, 1945, following the conclusion of the Second World War, the-then bloodiest conflict in Human history, in the interest of providing a neutral forum for diplomatic discussions and negotiations, to prevent a tragedy of the Second World War's magnitude from erupting once again. Ironically enough it was this exact reason which saw the UN's predecessor-organization established at the end of the First World War. The UN would sadly prove equally toothless in its ability to constrain conflicts across the globe for the next century, mostly sidelined during the heights of the Cold War and generally deemed too bureaucratic and ineffective for its chosen role. Indeed, in the early years of the 21st Century there were even open debates about whether or not to disband the organization entirely. It is fairly likely that such talks would have led to concrete action resulting in the ending of the organization, if not for the shortsightedness Humans are oh-so-famous for.

The Climate Crisis reached its crescendo in the mid-21st Century, with the rapid breakdown of the Arctic Ice Caps heralding a devastating rise in water levels, increased worldwide temperatures and a slew of extreme weather conditions. In total the disaster would cost an uncountable number of lives and money, with further millions displaced from their homes and forced to seek shelter within the surviving habitable regions of the Earth that were already struggling to sustain their existing populations. The chaos and unrest that followed threatened to unravel Human society as a whole, with many predicting extinction in some form or fashion unless drastic measures were taken.

In the interest of ensuring their own survival, the nation-states of the Earth convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, where a near-majority of the representative delegates voted to amend the UN Charter for the sixth time in its history, with the nation-states collectively ceding a degree of national sovereignty to the United Nations, granting the organization the authority and power it would need to combat the Climate Crisis across the globe. The UN wasted little time, mobilizing its vast bureaucracy to organize relief efforts, disaster recovery operations, and a myriad of other initiatives and projects that over the following decade reversed the perilous course Humanity had found itself upon. Of course, all involved in this herculean task knew these actions merely stymied further decline. A radical solution was needed to rescue the Earth from destruction, and as it would turn out, Humanity's salvation would be found within the dark and lonely confines of outer space.

The Colony Initiative saw vast amounts of resources, manpower and funding directed towards the construction of massive orbiting space station clusters, in one last-ditch effort to save the planet. Great masses of Humanity and their infrastructure were over the following decades relocated into space, lessening the burden from intensive agriculture, industry and urban environments on the Earth itself. This relocation was not without its losses or struggles, but despite these occasional dark moments, the Initiative carried on regardless. In these early days, the Colonies found themselves under the thumb of the Earth-based government, serving as a destination for the unwanted or unneeded for the reconstruction effort on the homeworld, and it would take many hard years of protest and noncompliance for these clusters of Humanity to attain rights as citizens of the Earth Sphere.

With the Colonies as their stepping stone, the colonization of the Moon commenced soon afterwards, a single resource contained within the soils of Earth's natural satellite sought by the UN above all else: Helium-3. The element which would power the newest generation of fusion reactors, and at last save Humanity from the threat of energy shortages. The opening of the first commercial reactor in 2052 would be a historic moment, heralding a new age of rapidly increasing production, construction and restoration across Earth and its colonies.

Yet despite these progressive strides, the darker aspects of the Human condition was still alive and well, simply awaiting the time in which it may spring forth once again. It very nearly did during the Colonial Unrest Period of the 2060s, which saw great hiccups and delays in the continued development of the species. Factories went dark, crops rotted in their warehouses, the people of the Space Colonies demanded their voice be heard. Still recovering from centuries worth of poor planning and climate reconstruction, the UN had little choice but to fold to these demands, ensuring a degree of autonomy for the Colonies and the Lunar populace under UN control. Yet even as the citizens of the Sphere returned to their workplaces and resumed their daily grind, it became clear to the men and women which steered the ship of state that further amounts of raw materials and resources would be needed to continue this golden age, and so their gazes turned towards Mars and the Asteroid Belt.

The UN that spearheaded the colonization of Mars was not the same organization it had been half-a-century prior. The demands of the Climate Crisis and following colonization of space had solidified it into the closest thing imaginable to a world government, though one not directly answerable to the populations they governed over. Increasingly decisions were handled by a growing clique of appointed bureaucrats and officials, tracing their lineage or patronage back to a number of financial and political dynasties which had profited immensely from this most recent status quo. This very same clique grew increasingly insulated from the realities of life on the frontier, caring first and foremost for the needs of their own allies within the Earth Sphere, and it was indeed elements of this very same clique which saw Allesandro Oliviera appointed as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The ease at which the man drew patronage and sponsors from the corporate elite of the Earth, which was first deemed a suitable asset, would ensure Oliviera would prioritize the demands of his backers over the revolting Martian colonists, ultimately leading to the declaration of independence which would shake the Solar System…

-Armed Forces of the United Nations-

Listed below are all United Nations military formations, their adjoining armies and fleets, their assigned units, and their commanding officers.

Commanding Officer: Joshua Taylor

Stationed: Earth Sphere - L3 Space Colony Cluster "Goddard"

Capital: Battleships
Capital: Battleships
Capital: Battleships
Capital: Battleships
Capital: Cruisers
Escort: Destroyers
Escort: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Gunships
Transport: Assault Landers
Transport: Troop Carriers

Total Maintenance Costs: 249/t Supplies

Stationed: Earth - UN Mandate of The Americas

Infantry: Reservists
Infantry: Regulars
Infantry: Regulars
Armor: Main Battle Tanks
Armor: Main Battle Tanks
Artillery: Self-Propelled Artillery
Support: Mobile Air Defence
Support: Military Drones
Support: Military Drones
Air Asset: Multirole Fighters
Air Asset: Attack VTOL
Air Asset: Bombers

Total Maintenance Costs: 72/t Supplies

Commanding Officer: Novaluna Theia

Stationed: Earth Sphere - L1 Space Colony Cluster "Tsiolkovsky"

Capital: Battleships
Capital: Battleships
Capital Cruisers
Capital: Cruisers
Escort: Destroyers
Escort: Destroyers
Escort: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Gunships
Transport: Troop Carriers
Transport: Troop Carriers

Total Maintenance Costs: 225/t Supplies

Stationed: UN Mandate of Afro-Eurasia

Infantry: Reservists
Infantry: Regulars
Armor: Main Battle Tanks
Artillery: Self-Propelled Artillery
Support: Mobile Air Defence
Support: Military Drones
Support: Military Drones
Air Asset: Multirole Fighters
Air Asset: Multirole Fighters
Air Asset: Attack VTOL
Air Asset: Bombers

Total Maintenance Costs: 71/t Supplies

Commanding Officer: Nikanor Vova

Stationed: Earth Sphere - L2 Space Colony Cluster "Oberth"

Capital: Battleships
Capital Cruisers
Capital: Cruisers
Escort: Destroyers
Escort: Destroyers
Escort: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Gunships
Transport: Troop Carriers

Total Maintenance Costs: 177/t Supplies

Stationed: UN Mandate of Pan-Asia

Infantry: Reservists
Infantry: Regulars
Infantry: Regulars
Armor: Main Battle Tanks
Artillery: Self-Propelled Artillery
Support: Mobile Air Defence
Support: Military Drones
Support: Military Drones
Air Asset: Multirole Fighters
Air Asset: Attack VTOL
Air Asset: Bombers

Total Maintenance Costs: 64/t Supplies

Commanding Officer: Oscar J. Anders

Stationed: Earth Sphere - L5 Space Colony Cluster "Esnault-Pelterie"

Capital: Cruisers
Escort: Destroyers
Escort: Frigates
Escort: Frigates
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Aerospace Fighters
Aerospace Craft: Gunships
Transport: Assault Landers

Total Maintenance Costs: 117/t Supplies

Stationed: Earth Sphere - The Moon

Infantry: Marines
Infantry: Marines
Infantry: Marines
Armor: Light Tanks
Artillery: Self-Propelled Artillery
Support: MANPADS
Support: Military Drones
Support: Military Drones
Aerial Asset: Attack VTOL

Total Maintenance Costs: 45/t Supplies

-Earth Sphere Administrative Divisions-

Information on the various Earth Sphere regions, their incomes and expenses, are listed here.

Appointed Administrator: Quentin Brand

Supply Income: 158/t (Base Income of 450/t -65% Issue Modifier)
Manpower Income: 90/t

Supply Stockpile: 225

Civilian Supply Needs: 90/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +10% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Raw Material Shortages
(-40% Supply Income)

-The Panic of 2174
(-25% Supply Income)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-General Sphere Unrest
(Greatly increased Civilian Discontent)

-Military-Industrial Anemia
(+60% Supply Cost on Unit Construction)

Appointed Administrator: Nyles DeRiver

Supply Income: 161/t (Base Income of 460/t -65% Issue Modifier)
Manpower Income: 85/t

Supply Stockpile: 265

Civilian Supply Needs: 92/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +10% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Raw Material Shortages
(-40% Supply Income)

-The Panic of 2174
(-25% Supply Income)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-General Sphere Unrest
(Greatly increased Civilian Discontent)

-Military-Industrial Anemia
(+60% Supply Cost on Unit Construction)

Appointed Administrator: Jane Rosa

Supply Income: 163/t (Base Income of 465/t -65% Issue Modifier)
Manpower Income: 105/t

Supply Stockpile: 250

Civilian Supply Needs: 93/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +10% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Raw Material Shortages
(-40% Supply Income)

-The Panic of 2174
(-25% Supply Income)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-General Sphere Unrest
(Greatly increased Civilian Discontent)

-Military-Industrial Anemia
(+60% Supply Cost on Unit Construction)

Appointed Administrator: Ilsa Hartzwalde-Pieck

Supply Income: 168/t (Base Income of 480/t -65% Issue Modifier)
Manpower Income: 90/t

Supply Stockpile: 300

Civilian Supply Needs: 96/t (Base Demand of 10% of Base Income +10% Issue Modifier)

Issue Modifiers:

-Raw Material Shortages
(-40% Supply Income)

-The Panic of 2174
(-25% Supply Income)
(+10% Civilian Supply Needs)

-General Sphere Unrest
(Greatly increased Civilian Discontent)

-Military-Industrial Anemia
(+60% Supply Cost on Unit Construction)

-Earth Political Factions-

The eruption of the Martian Revolt marks a definitive ending to the Golden Age of Earth, and even as the 4th Fleet was facing total destruction over Deimos, fingers were being pointed in all directions within the halls of the United Nations Headquarters. The reality of a revolt upon Mars clearly means something within the apparatus of the state had failed, be it administrative, corporate, colonial or individual in nature, and as is often the case in times of crisis, there was much disagreement to be had on the exact source of all their recent woes amongst the fragmenting powerbrokers of Earth. A new course for Humanity must be charted, to avoid a repeat of a disaster of this magnitude in the future. Of course, the ultimate solution to the issues at hand are very much up to interpretation and debate.

The prominent power blocks of the Assembly are listed here, in order of radicalism:

Trilateral Commission: Originally a nongovernmental think tank primarily aimed at resolving issues of international diplomacy, the organization's activities over the following decades would see it intertwined to an increasing degree with a number of similar sister-organizations across the globe, which would in turn coalesce into a strange informal "old man's club", from which individuals favored by the powers that be of Earth are selected for appointment within the vast organizational bureaucracy of the United Nations. As such, the Commission retains great power, and has ruled Earth in all but name for the past century, with its members or those under its influence within the halls of power derogatorily referred to as "The Old Guard". In the wake of the Martian Revolt, members of the Commission are quick to point out a multitude of undetectable issues coalesced into a disaster which could not be prevented until it was far too late, and thus while it is imperative to ensure an event of such magnitude cannot happen again, the overall status quo of the present day need not change.

Peacekeeper Clique: In regions plagued by instability and unrest, where diplomacy alone will not deter aggression amongst various groups and factions, the UN deploys its vaunted Peacekeeper units to the region to enforce a cessation of hostilities until an agreement is reached between all involved parties. While the Peace Enforcement Department has long become defunct and absorbed into the still-growing Armed Forces of the United Nations, the moniker of "Blue Helms" is still alive and well where-ever the AFUN makes itself known. As the Mars Crisis unfolded before their eyes, many across the numerous echelons of the Army and Navy grew dissatisfied with both the results and the response which ultimately led to the humiliating Battle of Deimos. In the minds of an increasing number of officers, the deliberative ponderousness of the UN Assembly has assured peacetime stability, but that very same inflexibility has made it unable to deal with the rigors of an actual war, something the ranking generals and admirals of AFUN are uniquely suited to deal with themselves, as emergency dictators of Earth.

Federalist Party: The UN Assembly officially does not contain any political parties, for the Assembly is not a democratic body, rather one where each representative is appointed by their respective governments. Regardless of this fact, like-minded individuals tend to gather together in informal clubs, gatherings or societies outside the purview of the organization they all ostensibly serve. While not the largest nor the most popular amongst their peers, the Federalists enjoy a certain appeal from the idealists in the Assembly. For years they have spoken of their dreams of reform and reorganization, and at long last with the Martian Revolt their members can clearly point out that this entire disaster was the fault of the present governing system. After all, the UN as an organization was never intended to be a world government, let alone an interstellar one. It was slow to act and slow to aid, and now the Martians burn with a righteous fury that will not be easy to extinguish. If diplomacy, compromise and concession however wins the day in the coming conflict, then the Federalists will be in a prime position to see the old done away with, and a truly democratic Federation of Sol founded to take its place.

Old Earth Nationalists: In spite of the efforts of an increasingly long list of Secretary-Generals, the genie of Nationalism has not yet been forced back into its bottle. Over a century has passed since the UN accepted custodianship over the species, and still over many parts of the Earth there are those who feel the nations of their birth are far more deserving of their loyalty than the United Nations as a whole, despite the interconnectivity between those two entities. Still, until now they have mostly kept themselves to the background, speaking of reestablished sovereignty and national rebirths in hushed tones amongst themselves and away from the ears of the public. Of course, like many things on Earth, this has changed in the wake of the Martian rebellion. Sensing the weakness of the UN in the wake of the disaster at Deimos, and equally eager to toot their own horns, a veritable tide of closeted nationalists have emerged to speak openly and proudly of the need for a return to form, and a restoration of the old nation-states of Earth. In their eyes, the UN was only granted the powers it currently enjoys to deal with the Climate Crisis. That time has long since passed, and the nations of Earth as an independent collective can better manage the unfolding rebellion on Mars than a repurposed diplomatic forum.

Blue Dot Society: Originally a fringe group of private individuals and sister-organizations wishing for the UN to take a firmer stance towards Earth-centrism in narrative and policy, given the unique nature of Humanity's homeworld as the only naturally habitable location in the Solar System. While never taken seriously by most mainstream politicians and elites, the movement has found itself gaining traction extremely quickly as the Martian Rebellion unfolded. With the Battle of Deimos concluded, what had once been thought of as a minor uprising had turned into an existential threat for Earth's continued reconstruction and stability. Here the Blue Dot Society stepped in. While often presenting unfeasible or panicked solutions and plans, their simplicity and clear benefit for even the average Earther ensures their continued popularity, and with enough voices behind them, even the old elites will be forced to listen and consider their proposals, no matter how strange, demented or insane they may be.

Virtual Ascensionists: Despite existing in its present form for well over 200 years, Transhumanism has never been considered a serious philosophical movement since its inception in the late 20th century. Its adherents have consistently pushed for the improvement of the Human condition, but developing and using new technologies to surpass the natural limits imposed upon Humanity. Thus they have always been heavy proponents of cybernetics and genetic engineering, becoming increasingly popular amongst the masses of the Earth as such fields grew from experiments to successful prototypes and finally commercial models and methods. Thus it should come as a surprise to no one that their newfound prominence in the intellectual field would translate to a presence in the politics of the Earther states and the United Nations, where they would grow into a decently-sized unofficial gathering despite the best efforts of more traditional politicians. The eruption of hostilities with Mars, while seen as a disaster by most, is rightfully noted as an opportunity for the Ascensionists, for at last they can excise all which stands in opposition to true salvation for the species. A united Humanity reaching together for the stars beyond, empowered and unconcerned with the needs and impulses heaped upon them by their imperfect containers.

-Earth Political Issues-

The sudden and unexpected revolt upon Mars has cut valuable ties which kept the threads of the Earth Sphere together, exposing problems and issues which were not considered as such, or merely deemed unimportant enough to deal with in the past. Now while the United Nations scrambles to prepare itself for its first proper war since the unification of Earth, action is demanded of the General Assembly and the various cliques which it contains. Solutions are required to be implemented quickly and decisively, lest the shockwaves emanating from Mars bring down the rest of the Sphere alongside it.

Raw Material Shortages: Since its colonization, Mars has been the source of the vast majority of Earth's raw material supplies, for Luna could not meet industrial and commercial demand all on its lonesome, while Humanity's homeworld itself was almost completely depleted after countless centuries of gleeful resource extraction. In the wake of the Martian Revolt, a great deal of Earth's industrial might has suddenly ground to a halt, for alloys, electronics, power generation and much more relies upon the vast quantities of ore and material brought out of the ever-deepening mines on the Red Planet. The halting of the vast majority of industry has had an equally large impact upon both civilian and military sectors, seeing shortages of consumer goods across the Earth Sphere, and an increasing lack of equipment in acceptable condition found in the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United Nations. To resolve this crisis swiftly and preserve the industrial advantage of Earth, new sources of raw materials must be secured and exploited as soon as possible, where-ever that may be.

The most obvious resource alternative to Mars is of course the Asteroid Belt, and so existing plans to colonize that region should obviously be accelerated to deal with this shortage. In the short-term however this will not solve our logistical problems and so other sources must be considered. An increased quota from Luna combined with a reopening of selected mining sites on Earth itself should be able to fill this particular gap for a time, to be reduced as resource shipments from beyond the Earth Sphere are resumed. Of course, this will also mean a period of rationing and economic reduction, but the alternatives are completely unacceptable.
We are now embroiled in a war to decide the fate of Human unity, and none but the basest of imbeciles or treacherous spies can deny as such. Every effort is to be made to secure victory, and thus the military will require every resource it can acquire. Existing plans on mining in the Asteroid Belts should be implemented when time allows, but supply lines closer to home must be secured first, through a combination of colonial quotas, civilian rationing, resource extraction operations on Earth itself, and the reallocating of existing budgets for frivolous projects such as the Climate Restoration Program.
Before anything else is done we must acknowledge the fault which lies with Earth in instigating the present crisis. Temporary quotas quickly become permanent despite the changing of the economic tide, and now some talk already of repeating that very same mistake with the colonists of Luna. Such must not come to pass if we are to have any chance to reconcile the opinions of the Earthborn and the Colonials, be they in the Earth Sphere or on Mars. We shall of course support the plans expanding mineral extraction operations to the Asteroid Belt, when possible.
Mars rebels and the UN's first thought is to once more resume the strip-mining of Earth. While it is painfully understood that the raw materials must come from somewhere, the least the bureaucrats in New York could do is to gain permission from and accommodate the regions they wish to exploit like colonial subjects. If the people of Earth are to be placed in such an undue position as this, the least they deserve is fair compensation, until the extraterrestrial colonies can pick up the slack, and Mars brought to heel.
The wayward children of Earth now deny their mother her fair share, and the first thought of her loyal sons is to plot how best to mutilate her? Such madness has no place in the halls of power, and should be discarded at once. Gaia desperately needs healing still, and to let her be soiled by mining equipment and resource extractors is too terrible a thought to contemplate. Increased quotas on remaining colonies will see us through in the short-term, while victory on the frontlines, and new outposts in the Asteroid Belt will ensure our renewed prosperity for another century.
There is but one logical thing to do with our primary source of raw materials now-inaccessible, and that is to get what little use there remains of the Cradle we outgrew so long ago. It is a mere pittance compared to what we shall reap in the Asteroid Belt, but it shall see us through the dark months ahead, while at the same time ensuring that those beyond who have chosen to remain loyal are rewarded with neither increased taxes or quotas. It is by their expertise alone that Humanity at last will be able to ascend away from that which once-nurtured us, and now constrains us with petty sentimentality.

The Panic of 2174: In addition to it's more obvious industrial consequences, the sudden cessation of commercial ties with Mars almost immediately created a number of dire financial aftershocks, at first only affecting the above-mentioned processing and manufacturing sectors of the Earth Sphere, the damage would quickly spread outwards thanks to the actions of certain corporations and conglomerates, who deemed the good years of the Golden Age an excellent opportunity to play rather loosely with instituted UN financial and banking regulations. Such schemes, while highly profitable for all involved, were in one part or another reliant on the stability of the market, which the Martian Revolt quickly threw into chaos. As a result, the Earth Sphere is ravaged by an unprecedented monetary meltdown, akin to some of the worst financial recessions still-remembered from centuries past. With bankruptcies and unemployment rates rising dangerously quickly, the monetary bleeding must be stemmed at once, lest the largest economy in Human history implodes in on itself.

Despite the present circumstances, the past century has proven the effectiveness of the modern economic model. In time this crisis will be seen as nothing but a brief duration of teething problems, which in the grand scheme of things will remain mostly irrelevant. To ensure the rapid resumption of economic stability, the bad actors must be excised from the system and penalized for their crimes, bailouts shall be provided for the most important financial institutions and economic sectors, and a swift campaign to restore consumer confidence in the market must be undertaken. Altogether, the downturn can be reversed without the need for sweeping interventions of the free market, nor the implementation of disruptive regulations which will stifle our economic recovery.
Economic recovery is to take precedence only until it can support a fully-mobilized Earth Sphere, for our first priority must always be to prosecute the war with Mars to a satisfactory conclusion. Those civilian industries which have proven unwilling or unable to profit within the bounds of laws, past or present, or who are critical to the coming war effort shall all be subsumed under direct government authority until such a time where the war is concluded or it is deemed a necessity by the central government. Furthermore, increased governmental oversight will be required to ensure there are no repeat-offenses, in such an uncertain and dangerous situation as this.
We have been presented with a historic opportunity to at last push for meaningful reform in these dangerously-unregulated economic sectors, a state of affairs condoned, if not outright encouraged, by the powers-that-be within the structure of the United Nations and the business community, altogether creating this unmitigated disaster which now unfolds before our very eyes. Stringent protections for those disproportionately affected by market fluctuations must be pushed through, a resurgence of unionization must be encouraged, and renewed financial regulations stringently enforced upon those who have so flagrantly disregarded the UN's authority.
The fault for the present crisis can squarely be laid at the feet of the financial elites of the Earth, who as they always has, been ever-eager to place all the wealth of Human accomplishment and prosperity in a single basket which they themselves hold, and the bureaucrats of the United Nations have let these vultures do as they please for over a century. Global interconnectedness cannot solve a crisis brought about by globalism, and so the natural solution is therefore decentralization. By returning power to local equivalents and financial entities across the globe, more effective solutions can be drafted and quickly implemented, tailor-made for the wants and worries of each region.
It is clear that first and foremost the lack of confidence in the average consumer and investor alike must be restored before any talk is to be had regarding regulations, reforms or punishments, for they are the foundation upon which all of our prosperity is built. As the most virtuous of Mother Earth's sons, we must lead by example, and promote financial recovery, be that through our influence, private finances, or workman's strength. Thus we shall strengthen the Society and Earth together in one fell swoop, returning the world to an era of normality and prosperity which shall never again be so unjustly infringed upon by jealous colonials and their sockpuppets.
The infantile fascination with watching an arbitrary set of digits increase in number has haunted the species for as long as history can recall, and it is honestly about time that we collectively decide to move on from such matters. There are real material concerns which need to be addressed, matters of scientific importance which must be investigated, and new technological wonders to unveil, and none of these issues will suffer from lack of an imagined value printed upon an archaic slip of paper or stored on a remote computer server, never to be used for anything but displays of dominance, like an animal showcasing its supposed achievements before a prospective mate. As among other matters, we, as a species, have outgrown the need for an economy.

General Sphere Unrest: When the first news of discontent on Mars reached the Earth Sphere, it was a story which had been heavily influenced by the opinions of the reigning Colonial Authority, and by extension the UN. Riots and terrorism were redecorated as labor disputes and vandalism, overall painting the Free Mars Movement as disingenuous or otherwise ungrateful. When the Revolt was finally sparked however, that entire facade collapsed. If the news were to be believed as true, then why were the average Martian going along with the lynch mobs and destruction of infrastructure? In one fell swoop the public of the Earth Sphere knew they had been duped, and they were rather unhappy about it, to say the least. Seeking to take advantage of this atmosphere of discontent, nationalists, anarchists and many other such rabble rousers crawled out of the woodwork to stir up the crowds. Now, from the streets and fields of Earth, to the Space Colonies and the very Moon itself, a slew of disorganized rebels, terrorists and malcontents are causing wanton destruction and mayhem in pursuit of whatever discredited ideology or ambitions which drive them all to challenge the authority of the UN. Order and peace must be restored one way or another, for there are far more important tasks ahead that will require the Earth to remain united and strong.

The mailed fist must be coated in a velvet glove, lest we see a repeat of the sudden hostilities which unseated the Colonial Authority on Mars. Above all, order must be restored on both Earth and in the remaining colonies, but it must be done in such a manner as to not further feed the fires of outrage. Regular police, riot control and counter-terrorism units are to take center-stage in breaking up anti-government strongholds and dispersing unruly crowds, but in general we will seek to not pursue harsh sentences, for the people need reassurance that things will go back to normal as soon as possible.
Regardless of the origins or ideologies of the present anti-government forces, they are all equally held in contempt for their actions, and thus must all be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. By instituting martial law across the Earth Sphere, the Armed Forces of the United Nations will be given the leeway and authority to bolster existing police and riot control troops, in turn ensuring a swift and decisive end to the present unrest and troubles upon the homefront.
Where others are quick to descend into the behavior of authoritarians and despots, we must be better. How can the people ever again trust a government which has consistently tried to hide the truth from them? This must be acknowledged, and rectified with a greater degree of governmental transparency and public access to United Nations information. To dissuade the current crop of unrest from spreading further, negotiations must be conducted and concessions made, within reason of course. Autonomy and regulations are acceptable, but outright independence will undermine our work of a united Humanity.
The people rise in defiance for they know they have been lied to, and their cries shall be heard. As should be monumentally clear to all, authority and power must be returned to the nations and regions of the world, who are more able to quickly diffuse this volatile situation. An entity which shares the culture and principles of the people it seeks to govern will share a more emotional and intimate connection with its citizens that simply cannot be replicated by the monolithic and eldritch creation which the United Nations has become. In time when the colonists see this return to form upon the world which they orbit, they will have no choice but to stand down.
Duplicity and greed has brought the ghost of the Martian rebellion to the Earth Sphere, and a dual approach is required to stem the tide of barbarians at our gates, while dealing with the useful idiots of Mars behind our walls. Our first priority is to secure Earth itself first by any means necessary, though done with a degree of care, for while they may be patsies of our enemies they are still children of Earth, as we are. No stringent sentences or loss of life is to be accepted here. We cannot however say the same for those in the space colonies who would throw their lot in with the betrayers of Mother Earth. Here, for the prosperity of Earth, maximum force must be used to bring all who aim to turn their gaze away from their homeworld back into line, no matter the cost.
This unrest is merely the herald of a new wave which will crash upon our shores again and again until we embrace it, as should have been done long ago. Space is the future of the species, and yet again and again we must await decisions from those who have consciously chosen death and decay over life and progress. The colonists should be lauded, not subjugated, for all they have done is force an impossible choice upon the powerbrokers of old. We must reach out a hand in the interest of mutual collaboration, for it is only together with our spaceborne siblings that the last gasps of the old way, personified in similar rebellious movements upon the Earth, can be snuffed out, and at last close a bloody chapter of history.

Military-Industrial Anemia: The prospect of an actual interstellar war is a daunting one for Earth, for two rather important reasons. Firstly, thanks to the efforts of the UN, the Sphere has enjoyed more than a century of peace. While this is obviously commendable and a grand achievement given the results of previous peace efforts across the long and varied history of Humanity, it has left the Armed Forces of the United Nations unaccustomed to the demands of a war with a near-peer opponent such as Mars. The tactics, habits and ideas of the modern Armed Forces are all centered around peacekeeping operations, policing actions and counter-insurgency activities, all of which are not an ideal foundation to build off when your opponent also has access to armor, artillery and air support. Secondly, the Golden Age has done severe damage to the overall military-industrial complex in ways which were difficult to observe as they were progressing. Military contractors have been innovating and producing weapons all throughout this period of peace, in limited numbers given the expected rate of attrition for an AFUN dedicated entirely to ensuring the peace continues, and sold at high prices through a combination of research and development time, manufacturing costs and simple lobbying. To put it plainly, it has been painfully easy for various contractors to work in tandem with high-ranking military personnel to award contracts and assign equipment costs at a highly inflated rate to the benefit of both parties. This has now however come back to collectively bite the UN in its rear, as financial analysts predict a rebuilding of the 4th Fleet at current equipment prices will either bankrupt the UN or see the entire force relegated as a non-entity for the next few decades. It is clear to all that something must be done.

It is clear that some weak link in the chain of government has failed without due notice, and obviously that shall be rectified for the benefit of the present war effort, but we must also not resort to knee-jerk solutions and ideas, lest we cause undue disruptions. By negotiating a comprehensive payment and debt plan with the military industrial conglomerates, we ensure the continued profitability of the military-industrial complex, while also ensuring that the Armed Forces of the United Nations are granted the equipment, weaponry and ships which they will need to defeat the Martian rebels.
Corruption has eaten away at the foundations of our collective defense, and now these very same traitors still wish to place a price tag upon the safety of Earth. As has been demonstrated time and time again, we are never to negotiate with terrorists, be they fighters or economists. The industries, production lines and complexes required for the successful continuation of the war with Mars are to be seized by the state and operated at full capacity regardless of economic conditions, and those who orchestrated this financial scheme, former military men or no, must be punished.
Recent events have shown that the equipping of the military has been transformed into a monetary business, either through negligence or collaboration with unsavory elements which even now roam the halls of power on Earth. This needs to change, not only to prevent future corruption, but also to ensure the effectiveness of Earth's military in the face of peer-threats. A greater degree of governmental control is no doubt necessary, but the practice of military commanders retiring into opulent corporate lobbying positions must be heavily discouraged through further legislation and anti-corruption measures.
A combination of all the worlds' militaries was never a serious proposal, as has clearly been demonstrated by this unmitigated disaster. It was meant as a propaganda piece for the benefit of the masses, and an easy way for high-ranking military officials to enjoy a lavish retirement in the halls of weapons manufacturers. This is no way to fight a war, and this injustice must therefore be rectified immediately, with a return to form. For untold millenia, since ancient times to the battlefields of the World Wars, Humanity has showcased that its greatest strength in war is the ability to cooperate, and no separate chains of command have ever been able to overcome that strength. It is clear we must return to form, and reestablish, at least in part, the separate militaries and industrial backbones of the constituent member-states of Earth.
As before, the self-proclaimed Captains of Industry have been revealed as charlatans and thieves, enjoying the goodwill of the people while destroying all that they and Mother Earth holds dear in the pursuit of mindless profit. It should be obvious to all that through their own greed, the great executives of the world have cast their lot in with those who even now stand defiant in open rebellion. It is our opinion that they should be treated as such, and tried as enemy combatants, their assets and resources seized and redistributed to more worthy custodians, ones who would use their positions of great responsibility and power only in the pursuit of Earth's defense and prosperity.
Even after two centuries, we as a species have not tired of this song and dance despite seeing it happen again and again. The inevitable result of collaboration between industrial conglomerates and the military apparatus of a state leads to this very same scenario, where equipment quality and overall production numbers have dropped, while prices have regardless risen to account for various departments and individuals skimming off as much meaningless material value for their own private hoards. Rather than repeat this farce once more, isn't it time we tried something new? A system of military manufacturing which is uncoupled from the archaic ideas of capital, supply or demand, one overseen by machines which will not make the mistakes we have performed uncountable times before. It is with such a system that this war will be won.

Crisis in The Assembly: In the final days of calm upon Mars, before the world descended into outright chaos and rebellion, Secretary-General Oliviera signed the suspension of civil liberties which many now rightfully attribute as the final spark which lit the Martian powder keg. Its passing was controversial, and only accomplished due to the opinion of the International Court of Justice, that the Martian unrest served as a valid basis for a state of emergency to be declared, a measure which the Secretary-General gladly made use of. In protest of this naked attempt to sideline the Assembly, a great number of representatives staged a collective walk-out, grinding the organ of state to a stand-still, and forcing Allesandro Oliviera to rule entirely through decrees and a rump Assembly of supporters for the remainder of his tenure. Even after Oliviera's removal from office, the representatives have still not returned, and with the Chief Justices of the International Court now being investigated for possible corruption, the only conceivable path forward is to appease the protesting representatives, lest the UN's legislative branch grind to a halt permanently.

Despite public perception of it as a democratic institution, the Assembly could have continued to function to a degree without a majority of Representatives seated. Of course, during the Oliviera Administration we simply could not afford to dispel this notion for fear of further public unrest. It is imperative that this state of affairs continue, if possible, so an attempt should at least be made to negotiate with the protesting Representatives, be that through measured reforms to appease the collective, or concessions to individuals to draw a majority away. If however no compromise can be reached, then it is best to simply wash our hands of the affair and request replacement appointments for the dissenters be made.
The Assembly is a slow and ponderous creature by design, to ensure absolute stability in the face of adversity. Such sluggishness however will do us little good in the coming war, and as such it is foolish to even entertain the idea of listening to these protesting Representatives, for the Assembly itself is to be dissolved for the duration of the war. The central government will then be able to take a far more decisive approach to ensuring the conflict is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Then and only then, with peace restored, will the Assembly be reinstated and the politicians may quibble and squabble all they wish for regarding majorities and due process.
If only all Representatives were as brave as this particular lot, a war might have been averted. Regardless of the "need" to have the Assembly returned to full strength, it is imperative that all actions done from now on be made through a majority mandate, with the Secretary-General restrained from conducting themselves unilaterally without the approval of the Assembly. In time, we will seek further reforms, and ensure a smooth transition into a system-wide democracy, making the Assembly answerable to the constituent populations of Sol, more than a bureaucratic committee or administrative sub-division.
The United Nations Assembly was built as a diplomatic forum, and no matter how many times the present powerbrokers try to hammer it into a proper legislative body, they are as destined to fail as a child pressing a square block into a round hole. That there was no punishment levied on the protesting representatives, a situation which was never anticipated at the UN's creation two centuries ago, speaks volumes of this fact. Earth can do better than this, and we can, if we allow the national governments to have a say in the running of their territories once more. They are institutions which must answer to their constituents, with a far greater well of experience than anything which the modern United Nations can muster.
By abandoning their responsibilities in this hour of dire need, and worse still actively aid in the sabotaging of the state which they swore under oath to serve, these men and women of the Assembly have made it clear to all where their true loyalties lie. As such, their appointments should be stripped from them posthaste, and their treason punished through whatever means necessary. Once this is done new representatives can be chosen, who will above all else place the security, safety and prosperity of Earth above such mundane concerns as personal ideologies or opinions.
When the goal is the salvation of Humanity, the need for such a thing as a "mandate" is nothing but nonsensical and delusional remarks from those who know they have been made obsolete. If we have the technology to ensure all Humans have a say in the democratic process, then what do we need of representatives, chambers and politicians? All that needs to be done is to implement it, have Humanity embrace the technological enhancements which will elevate them above the limits imposed by uncaring instinct and nature, and at last, as one, we shall turn our attentions towards the greater universe, and away from these petty squabbles which seek to define us.

The Scapegoat: The Martian Revolt is not simply a disaster from an economic or military perspective, but from the political one as well. Regardless of the previous administration's goals with the censoring of news and downplaying of events upon the Red Planet, the fact that the deception was discovered has done much harm to the public image of the United Nations across the Earth Sphere, as the present unrest shows. After all, if there is one thing the public despises more than anything else, it is being led around by the nose like cattle. Now this very same public are demanding answers, and far more importantly to them, blood, and the UN has to deliver lest the present troubles be further exasperated. Someone or a group of someones has to take the fall, accept responsibility for the catastrophe and be hung in the court of public opinion, be that figuratively or literally, depending on the moods of the crowd. This is clear for all those politically affiliated with the UN, the question is merely whom to pin all of this on?

It is clear that the Martian Colonial Authority must shoulder a great deal of blame, for it was their decision to curtail information regarding the early stages of the rebellion when it might have been snuffed out via either the employment of force, or bread and circuses to placate the masses. Sadly, at this stage to go down that route alone would be seen by the public as a thinly-veiled attempt to shift the blame, and hide perceived incompetence. It would be best for all involved then that the MCA be mentioned, but the fault be laid at the feet of the more hawkish elements of the Assembly and military.
The existence of the rebellion on Mars was hidden by civilian authorities until it was far too great a problem to be resolved by force alone, and now we are left holding the bag of responsibility because we were stymied at every turn by our supposed allies? I think not. From the lowest filing clerk all the way to the Secretary-General himself, this entire debacle is the end result of negligence, greed and cowardice which so endemically infests the civilian government and General Assembly even at this very moment.
There was a clear breakdown of communication between Earth and Mars which led to the present crisis, and the administration of the Colonial Authority must be rightfully blamed for their poor decision-making. Those very same administrators however were appointed by Secretary-General Oliviera, likely receiving instructions from him and his clique to a degree at least in the lead-up to the rebellion. Their corruptive influence has been allowed to fester within the United Nations for far too long, and at last we are presented with a crisis which cannot be swept under the rug, granting us the opportunity to at last remove this detrimental influence from the government.
When the Climate Crisis was concluded, Humanity should have returned to the time of nation-states. We did not, for it was considered too much effort to divest the UN of its accumulated power. Now here we stand a century later and wonder how it all could have gone so wrong. The answer is plain as day, and always has been. We were foolish to attempt to turn an international forum into a world government, and now that its first major trial stands before us, we have no idea how to proceed. Shame on us all, who decided comfort and convenience was preferable to doing what is required.
From all sides, the sons and daughters of Mother Earth have turned their backs upon her. On the one, the rebelling colonials and their crypto-secessionist brethren seeking to overtake the Earth Sphere, on the other, politicians, military officers and madmen conspire together to hobble any attempt at reform or change, which has already been shown to be required to defeat our exterior enemies. Earth cannot relieve this siege while we deal with traitors in our midst, and the public must be made aware of this terrible threat to their livelihoods and security.
This entire crisis could have been averted, but in the end those who held the levers of power stubbornly refused to let go even though it was clear they no longer had the strength or vitality to adequately turn them. Such is the inevitable fate of those which cling to old ideals, systems and principles, and its logical endpoint of death and finality has swiftly followed again and again across the length of our species' history. The people of the Earth Sphere must be enlightened in regards to this coming hurdle, so that they may embrace the new method which we shall usher in for all Humanity.

-Dramatis Personae of Earth (NPCs & Example Sheets)-

Examples of filled character sheets can be found below, with each of the NPC political faction leaders having their own. Do note that their Issue Opinions are identical to those found under the Issue section above, as they were the ones who wrote them in the first place.

Elizabeth Harington

Age: 72

Date of Birth: 7th of July 2102

Role: Political Leader of the Trilateral Commission

Background: To be born upon the British Archipelago at the turn of the century was a misfortune shared by many, yet Elizabeth was unique in the fact she rose above her humble origins, despite being bound to a set of climate-ravaged islands on the edge of civilization. Through guile, wit and luck she clawed her way up from destitution, cut through endless layers of nonsensical bureaucracy, and ultimately rose to become one of the wealthiest and most influential figures amongst the elites of the European Federation.

Though she knew it not at the time, for her whole adult life she had been monitored and evaluated, and ultimately deemed worthy of ascending further into the hallowed halls of power which ruled the world. Thus on an otherwise-ordinary day, an invitation was extended, alongside the offer of a junior posting within the United Nations bureaucracy. Always eager to climb higher, it should come to no surprise she accepted, beginning her career as a public figure, and a member of the Trilateral Commission.

In time, Elizabeth would come to head the organization as its chairwoman, pulling at the strings of a dozen Secretary-Generals, ending or saving careers as it suited her needs, and ultimately making the Commission far more powerful and wealthy than it had ever previously been. Yet even as her third decade in power reached its end, all was not well with the "Grand Old Lady" of the Commission. Increasingly reliant on cybernetics and rejuvenating bio-modifications, a number of minor miscalculations on her part over the past few years has now coalesced into an open revolt upon Mars, an unprecedented market crash, and a splintering of the Earth's political unity. Though Oliviera is gone, one sacrificial lamb was clearly not enough to sate the wolves at the door…

Political Affiliation: Leader - Trilateral Commission

Raw Material Shortages: The most obvious resource alternative to Mars is of course the Asteroid Belt, and so existing plans to colonize that region should obviously be accelerated to deal with this shortage. In the short-term however this will not solve our logistical problems and so other sources must be considered. An increased quota from Luna combined with a reopening of selected mining sites on Earth itself should be able to fill this particular gap for a time, to be reduced as resource shipments from beyond the Earth Sphere are resumed. Of course, this will also mean a period of rationing and economic reduction, but the alternatives are completely unacceptable.

The Panic of 2174: Despite the present circumstances, the past century has proven the effectiveness of the modern economic model. In time this crisis will be seen as nothing but a brief duration of teething problems, which in the grand scheme of things will remain mostly irrelevant. To ensure the rapid resumption of economic stability, the bad actors must be excised from the system and penalized for their crimes, bailouts shall be provided for the most important financial institutions and economic sectors, and a swift campaign to restore consumer confidence in the market must be undertaken. Altogether, the downturn can be reversed without the need for sweeping interventions of the free market, nor the implementation of disruptive regulations which will stifle our economic recovery.

General Sphere Unrest: The mailed fist must be coated in a velvet glove, lest we see a repeat of the sudden hostilities which unseated the Colonial Authority on Mars. Above all, order must be restored on both Earth and in the remaining colonies, but it must be done in such a manner as to not further feed the fires of outrage. Regular police, riot control and counter-terrorism units are to take center-stage in breaking up anti-government strongholds and dispersing unruly crowds, but in general we will seek to not pursue harsh sentences, for the people need reassurance that things will go back to normal as soon as possible.

Military-Industrial Anemia: It is clear that some weak link in the chain of government has failed without due notice, and obviously that shall be rectified for the benefit of the present war effort, but we must also not resort to knee-jerk solutions and ideas, lest we cause undue disruptions. By negotiating a comprehensive payment and debt plan with the military industrial conglomerates, we ensure the continued profitability of the military-industrial complex, while also ensuring that the Armed Forces of the United Nations are granted the equipment, weaponry and ships which they will need to defeat the Martian rebels.

Crisis in The Assembly: Despite public perception of it as a democratic institution, the Assembly could have continued to function to a degree without a majority of Representatives seated. Of course, during the Oliviera Administration we simply could not afford to dispel this notion for fear of further public unrest. It is imperative that this state of affairs continue, if possible, so an attempt should at least be made to negotiate with the protesting Representatives, be that through measured reforms to appease the collective, or concessions to individuals to draw a majority away. If however no compromise can be reached, then it is best to simply wash our hands of the affair and request replacement appointments for the dissenters be made.

The Scapegoat: It is clear that the Martian Colonial Authority must shoulder a great deal of blame, for it was their decision to curtail information regarding the early stages of the rebellion when it might have been snuffed out via either the employment of force, or bread and circuses to placate the masses. Sadly, at this stage to go down that route alone would be seen by the public as a thinly-veiled attempt to shift the blame, and hide perceived incompetence. It would be best for all involved then that the MCA be mentioned, but the fault be laid at the feet of the more hawkish elements of the Assembly and military.

Andrzej Nowak

Age: 38

Date of Birth: 19th of May 2136

Role: Political Leader of the Peacekeeper Clique

Background: Growing up on Earth, it is hard not to be enamored with the great strides Humanity has taken since unification, and even if one were to forget, media of all forms stands ready to subtly remind its audience in various ways. Andrzej grew up on such tales, extolling the virtues of peace, stability and prosperity. It should come as no surprise then that as he grew older, that formative experience would remain with him, until at last he stood in front of a United Nations Army recruiter on his 18th birthday, eager to become part of something greater than himself.

While reality has a tendency to shatter the dreams of the young, Andrzej found himself fitting nicely into the ascetic lifestyle of an army grunt, a fact that did not go unnoticed by his superiors. In time he would be recommended for officer training, which he completed just in time to take command of an outgoing unit, set to be deployed to deal with separatist activity in the Amazon Basin. The campaign proved particularly brutal, with the bad press the police action generated back home saw the politicians of the UN Assembly place increasingly severe restrictions upon the armed forces. Supply runs became more infrequent, rules of engagement became an increasingly-longer checklist, heavy weaponry was withdrawn.

While it placated the masses and saved the hides of the politicians, it came at the cost of lives, and Andrzej would lose many longtime friends in that jungle. Following a particularly stressful incident, Andrzej's command was withdrawn and he himself stood before a tribunal asking many pointed questions. Deeming now to be his chance, all his lambasting amounted to was a dishonorable discharge and a sudden return to civilian life. Andrzej never did reintegrate, and now history seems ready to repeat itself on a much grander scale, as Mars rises in revolt against the UN. Though out of the military, he still had a number of friends who remained, and together they began the uphill battle of ensuring this war is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Peacekeeper Clique

Raw Material Shortages: We are now embroiled in a war to decide the fate of Human unity, and none but the basest of imbeciles or treacherous spies can deny as such. Every effort is to be made to secure victory, and thus the military will require every resource it can acquire. Existing plans on mining in the Asteroid Belts should be implemented when time allows, but supply lines closer to home must be secured first, through a combination of colonial quotas, civilian rationing, resource extraction operations on Earth itself, and the reallocating of existing budgets for frivolous projects such as the Climate Restoration Program.

The Panic of 2174: Economic recovery is to take precedence only until it can support a fully-mobilized Earth Sphere, for our first priority must always be to prosecute the war with Mars to a satisfactory conclusion. Those civilian industries which have proven unwilling or unable to profit within the bounds of laws, past or present, or who are critical to the coming war effort shall all be subsumed under direct government authority until such a time where the war is concluded or it is deemed a necessity by the central government. Furthermore, increased governmental oversight will be required to ensure there are no repeat-offenses, in such an uncertain and dangerous situation as this.

General Sphere Unrest: Regardless of the origins or ideologies of the present anti-government forces, they are all equally held in contempt for their actions, and thus must all be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. By instituting martial law across the Earth Sphere, the Armed Forces of the United Nations will be given the leeway and authority to bolster existing police and riot control troops, in turn ensuring a swift and decisive end to the present unrest and troubles upon the homefront.

Military-Industrial Anemia: Corruption has eaten away at the foundations of our collective defense, and now these very same traitors still wish to place a price tag upon the safety of Earth. As has been demonstrated time and time again, we are never to negotiate with terrorists, be they fighters or economists. The industries, production lines and complexes required for the successful continuation of the war with Mars are to be seized by the state and operated at full capacity regardless of economic conditions, and those who orchestrated this financial scheme, former military men or no, must be punished.

Crisis in The Assembly: The Assembly is a slow and ponderous creature by design, to ensure absolute stability in the face of adversity. Such sluggishness however will do us little good in the coming war, and as such it is foolish to even entertain the idea of listening to these protesting Representatives, for the Assembly itself is to be dissolved for the duration of the war. The central government will then be able to take a far more decisive approach to ensuring the conflict is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Then and only then, with peace restored, will the Assembly be reinstated and the politicians may quibble and squabble all they wish for regarding majorities and due process.

The Scapegoat: The existence of the rebellion on Mars was hidden by civilian authorities until it was far too great a problem to be resolved by force alone, and now we are left holding the bag of responsibility because we were stymied at every turn by our supposed allies? I think not. From the lowest filing clerk all the way to the Secretary-General himself, this entire debacle is the end result of negligence, greed and cowardice which so endemically infests the civilian government and General Assembly even at this very moment.

Tian Yun

Age: 32

Date of Birth: 11th of August 2142

Role: Political Leader of the Federalist Party

Background: Born within the metal confines of the Yujin Dau Space Colony of the Esnault-Pelterie Cluster, the first thing Yun ever remembers is watching the Earth slowly spin into view from her window. At that moment, bundled as she was up against her parents, did she realize how small the world truly was, and how in the grand scheme of things, they were all not that different from each other. That experience still remains with her to this day, becoming the foundations upon which her progressive ideology and political career were built.

Graduating with a degree in philosophy and political science from the University of Tranquility, her initial plan of securing a position as a civil servant in the Earth Sphere was continuously stymied by her lack of connections and powerful friends, with no consideration given as to her actual ability. Disillusioned for a time, Yun would spend a year on Mars as a Colonial Authority clerk, though after one too many reprimands at the hands of her superiors for unsanctioned assistance to the local colonists, she eventually deemed the Red Planet a lost cause, and returned to Earth.

It is here at last where she was granted the chance to shine, as a chance encounter with an aging man in the highrises of New York brought her into the fold of the unofficial Federalist Party. At last, she had found those who like her despised the increasing nepotism and corruption which plagued the UN, and the need to present a fairer deal to the outer colonies. While she did manage to acquire a seat within the Assembly with this platform, it would ultimately prove too little, too late. Now Mars is in full revolt, and Yun is now more convinced than ever that to actively engage this war will forever fray the relationship between Earth and her wayward sister.

Political Affiliation: Leader - Federalist Party

Raw Material Shortages: Before anything else is done we must acknowledge the fault which lies with Earth in instigating the present crisis. Temporary quotas quickly become permanent despite the changing of the economic tide, and now some talk already of repeating that very same mistake with the colonists of Luna. Such must not come to pass if we are to have any chance to reconcile the opinions of the Earthborn and the Colonials, be they in the Earth Sphere or on Mars. We shall of course support the plans expanding mineral extraction operations to the Asteroid Belt, when possible.

The Panic of 2174: We have been presented with a historic opportunity to at last push for meaningful reform in these dangerously-unregulated economic sectors, a state of affairs condoned, if not outright encouraged, by the powers-that-be within the structure of the United Nations and the business community, altogether creating this unmitigated disaster which now unfolds before our very eyes. Stringent protections for those disproportionately affected by market fluctuations must be pushed through, a resurgence of unionization must be encouraged, and renewed financial regulations stringently enforced upon those who have so flagrantly disregarded the UN's authority.

General Sphere Unrest: Where others are quick to descend into the behavior of authoritarians and despots, we must be better. How can the people ever again trust a government which has consistently tried to hide the truth from them? This must be acknowledged, and rectified with a greater degree of governmental transparency and public access to United Nations information. To dissuade the current crop of unrest from spreading further, negotiations must be conducted and concessions made, within reason of course. Autonomy and regulations are acceptable, but outright independence will undermine our work of a united Humanity.

Military-Industrial Anemia: Recent events have shown that the equipping of the military has been transformed into a monetary business, either through negligence or collaboration with unsavory elements which even now roam the halls of power on Earth. This needs to change, not only to prevent future corruption, but also to ensure the effectiveness of Earth's military in the face of peer-threats. A greater degree of governmental control is no doubt necessary, but the practice of military commanders retiring into opulent corporate lobbying positions must be heavily discouraged through further legislation and anti-corruption measures.

Crisis in The Assembly: If only all Representatives were as brave as this particular lot, a war might have been averted. Regardless of the "need" to have the Assembly returned to full strength, it is imperative that all actions done from now on be made through a majority mandate, with the Secretary-General restrained from conducting themselves unilaterally without the approval of the Assembly. In time, we will seek further reforms, and ensure a smooth transition into a system-wide democracy, making the Assembly answerable to the constituent populations of Sol, more than a bureaucratic committee or administrative sub-division.

The Scapegoat: There was a clear breakdown of communication between Earth and Mars which led to the present crisis, and the administration of the Colonial Authority must be rightfully blamed for their poor decision-making. Those very same administrators however were appointed by Secretary-General Oliviera, likely receiving instructions from him and his clique to a degree at least in the lead-up to the rebellion. Their corruptive influence has been allowed to fester within the United Nations for far too long, and at last we are presented with a crisis which cannot be swept under the rug, granting us the opportunity to at last remove this detrimental influence from the government.

Bedario Ganim

Age: 29

Date of Birth: 5th of September 2145

Role: Political Leader of the Old Earth Nationalists

Background: What would one do, were one burdened with the knowledge that they and their people had fallen far from an illustrious golden age. Riches, miracles and prosperity were had, yet for the hateful influence of others and the short-sightedness of their ancestors, it all was squandered and laid to waste. Bedario knows, for it is what he grew up on. Stories from his family stretching back generations as to their previous heights and current lows, and one day, the young boy vowed, he would change that.

In the modern world, where nationhood exists merely as a few words printed on paper, and the United Nations permeates all levels of actual government and control, it is hard to be a nationalist. Over the course of his teenage years he would quickly find himself arrested a number of times for disorderly conduct, culminating in many a stay in a juvenile detention center. Though he mingled with many like-minded individuals both behind bars and otherwise, despair increasingly began to set in. After all, how can one man fight against the whole world?

And then, as though a sign from the heavens, news spread of a distant rebellion, where at last the UN suffered the bitter taste of defeat. This one act in turn caused a chain reaction across the whole Earth, which saw the planet's disparate peoples come together in anger against their global oppressors. At last, Bedario had the manpower and the support to see his dream realized, and he seized this opportunity with both hands. The era of the nation-state is set to return!

Political Affiliation: Member - Old Earth Nationalists

Raw Material Shortages: Mars rebels and the UN's first thought is to once more resume the strip-mining of Earth. While it is painfully understood that the raw materials must come from somewhere, the least the bureaucrats in New York could do is to gain permission from and accommodate the regions they wish to exploit like colonial subjects. If the people of Earth are to be placed in such an undue position as this, the least they deserve is fair compensation, until the extraterrestrial colonies can pick up the slack, and Mars brought to heel.

The Panic of 2174: The fault for the present crisis can squarely be laid at the feet of the financial elites of the Earth, who as they always has, been ever-eager to place all the wealth of Human accomplishment and prosperity in a single basket which they themselves hold, and the bureaucrats of the United Nations have let these vultures do as they please for over a century. Global interconnectedness cannot solve a crisis brought about by globalism, and so the natural solution is therefore decentralization. By returning power to local equivalents and financial entities across the globe, more effective solutions can be drafted and quickly implemented, tailor-made for the wants and worries of each region.

General Sphere Unrest: The people rise in defiance for they know they have been lied to, and their cries shall be heard. As should be monumentally clear to all, authority and power must be returned to the nations and regions of the world, who are more able to quickly diffuse this volatile situation. An entity which shares the culture and principles of the people it seeks to govern will share a more emotional and intimate connection with its citizens that simply cannot be replicated by the monolithic and eldritch creation which the United Nations has become. In time when the colonists see this return to form upon the world which they orbit, they will have no choice but to stand down.

Military-Industrial Anemia: A combination of all the worlds' militaries was never a serious proposal, as has clearly been demonstrated by this unmitigated disaster. It was meant as a propaganda piece for the benefit of the masses, and an easy way for high-ranking military officials to enjoy a lavish retirement in the halls of weapons manufacturers. This is no way to fight a war, and this injustice must therefore be rectified immediately, with a return to form. For untold millenia, since ancient times to the battlefields of the World Wars, Humanity has showcased that its greatest strength in war is the ability to cooperate, and no amounts of separate chains of command have ever been able to overcome that strength. It is clear we must return to form, and reestablish, at least in part, the separate militaries and industrial backbones of the constituent member-states of Earth.

Crisis in The Assembly: The United Nations Assembly was built as a diplomatic forum, and no matter how many times the present powerbrokers try to hammer it into a proper legislative body, they are as destined to fail as a child pressing a square block into a round hole. That there was no punishment levied on the protesting representatives, a situation which was never anticipated at the UN's creation two centuries ago, speaks volumes of this fact. Earth can do better than this, and we can, if we allow the national governments to have a say in the running of their territories once more. They are institutions which must answer to their constituents, with a far greater well of experience than anything which the modern United Nations can muster.

The Scapegoat: When the Climate Crisis was concluded, Humanity should have returned to the time of nation-states. We did not, for it was considered too much effort to divest the UN of its accumulated power. Now here we stand a century later and wonder how it all could have gone so wrong. The answer is plain as day, and always has been. We were foolish to attempt to turn an international forum into a world government, and now that its first major trial stands before us, we have no idea how to proceed. Shame on us all, who decided comfort and convenience was preferable to doing what is required.

Lazare Mutanda

Age: 38

Date of Birth: 9th of October 2136

Role: Political Leader of the Blue Dot Society

Background: Earth is special. Out of all the universe surveyed and gazed upon with Human eyes, Earth alone has had the distinct honor of producing the conditions from which complex fauna and flora would spawn from. Lazare has known this with absolute certainty since his earliest days spent walking the shores of Lake Ukerewe, gazing upon distant mountains and marveling at the unique beauty which surrounded him. Experiences like these would remain with him, for even as he grew older, and dedicated himself to the pursuit of riches and power, in his heart Lazare remained an avid environmentalist.

It would not take long for Lazare's name to be known far and wide, as he built himself a great business empire across the shores of Africa and beyond. He did this however in spite of the efforts of the ruling elite, who found his personal views, a mix of Earth exceptionalism, radical environmentalism and enlightened despotism far too strange and demented to be allowed anywhere close to the levers of power. Lazare did not particularly mind this rejection, as he found greater comfort and enjoyment amongst those more agreeable to his views.

So contended was he in his own little bubble, that he did not realize the signs of impending doom until it was too late. Mars rose in rebellion, and the flow of vital resources came to a screeching halt. The colonies turned their back on Mother Earth one after the other, and all the work to heal the wounds inflicted by Humanity threatened to be derailed completely. It was at this moment it became clear that Lazare had to step up and take charge of the situation, for he could conceive of none better to solve the present crisis than himself. Earth would flourish and thrive, no matter the cost.

Political Affiliation: Member - Blue Dot Society

Raw Material Shortages: The wayward children of Earth now deny their mother her fair share, and the first thought of her loyal sons is to plot how best to mutilate her? Such madness has no place in the halls of power, and should be discarded at once. Gaia desperately needs healing still, and to let her be soiled by mining equipment and resource extractors is too terrible a thought to contemplate. Increased quotas on remaining colonies will see us through in the short-term, while victory on the frontlines, and new outposts in the Asteroid Belt will ensure our renewed prosperity for another century.

The Panic of 2174: It is clear that first and foremost the lack of confidence in the average consumer and investor alike must be restored before any talk is to be had regarding regulations, reforms or punishments, for they are the foundation upon which all of our prosperity is built. As the most virtuous of Mother Earth's sons, we must lead by example, and promote financial recovery, be that through our influence, private finances, or workman's strength. Thus we shall strengthen the Society and Earth together in one fell swoop, returning the world to an era of normality and prosperity which shall never again be so unjustly infringed upon by jealous colonials and their sockpuppets.

General Sphere Unrest: Duplicity and greed has brought the ghost of the Martian rebellion to the Earth Sphere, and a dual approach is required to stem the tide of barbarians at our gates, while dealing with the useful idiots of Mars behind our walls. Our first priority is to secure Earth itself first by any means necessary, though done with a degree of care, for while they may be patsies of our enemies they are still children of Earth, as we are. No stringent sentences or loss of life is to be accepted here. We cannot however say the same for those in the space colonies who would throw their lot in with the betrayers of Mother Earth. Here, for the prosperity of Earth, maximum force must be used to bring all who aim to turn their gaze away from their homeworld back into line, no matter the cost.

Military-Industrial Anemia: As before, the self-proclaimed Captains of Industry have been revealed as charlatans and thieves, enjoying the goodwill of the people while destroying all that they and Mother Earth holds dear in the pursuit of mindless profit. It should be obvious to all that through their own greed, the great executives of the world have cast their lot in with those who even now stand defiant in open rebellion. It is our opinion that they should be treated as such, and tried as enemy combatants, their assets and resources seized and redistributed to more worthy custodians, ones who would use their positions of great responsibility and power only in the pursuit of Earth's defense and prosperity.

Crisis in The Assembly: By abandoning their responsibilities in this hour of dire need, and worse still actively aid in the sabotaging of the state which they swore under oath to serve, these men and women of the Assembly have made it clear to all where their true loyalties lie. As such, their appointments should be stripped from them posthaste, and their treason punished through whatever means necessary. Once this is done new representatives can be chosen, who will above all else place the security, safety and prosperity of Earth above such mundane concerns as personal ideologies or opinions.

The Scapegoat: From all sides, the sons and daughters of Mother Earth have turned their backs upon her. On the one, the rebelling colonials and their crypto-secessionist brethren seeking to overtake the Earth Sphere, on the other, politicians, military officers and madmen conspire together to hobble any attempt at reform or change, which has already been shown to be required to defeat our exterior enemies. Earth cannot relieve this siege while we deal with traitors in our midst, and the public must be made aware of this terrible threat to their livelihoods and security.

Edward Gallagher

Age: 68

Date of Birth: 18th of July 2106

Role: Faction Leader of the Virtual Ascensionists

Background: Edward was born in Portland, precisely on the day the North American Accords were signed twenty five years earlier. In the eyes of his parents by this metric alone, he was destined for greatness. Edward himself would however find the additional attention from extended family, peers and teachers deeply unwelcome, even if he ultimately proved to be highly intelligent for his age. In the end, Edward would grow increasingly distant with his family, culminating in a move across the continent to New York City.

While acclimating himself to this new environment, Edward would acquire employment as a teacher, proving himself adept at sharing the intricacies of engineering, physics and nanotechnology to those willing to grace his lecture halls. Increasingly however, the school faculty would find his technocratic leanings unsuitable knowledge to impart upon impressionable youths, and so after eight short years at campus he was politely asked to resign. Edward did so, but retained a number of friendships and acquaintances he had made in his time as a professor.

Forced into an early retirement, Edward busied himself with personal writings, seeing more and more of society's ills perpetrated not by people, but rather traditional thinking, traditional ways, and traditional morals. After two thousand years of the same tired ideas repackaged again and again, Humanity needed something new, something revolutionary, if it were to have any hope of reaching its true potential amongst the stars. Thus was born his Ascensionist manifesto, a desperate plea to the rest of the species to at last move on and evolve, transcending old limitations both physical and mental. The sudden revolt on Mars derailed Edward's initial plans for his works, but if there is one thing life has taught him, it is to grasp an opportunity when presented. Skirting the spirit of publishing laws, Edward quickly found himself at the head of a new constituency, one who wished above all else to save the species from its own instincts and impulses.

Political Affiliation: Member - Virtual Ascensionists

Raw Material Shortages: There is but one logical thing to do with our primary source of raw materials now-inaccessible, and that is to get what little use there remains of the Cradle we outgrew so long ago. It is a mere pittance compared to what we shall reap in the Asteroid Belt, but it shall see us through the dark months ahead, while at the same time ensuring that those beyond who have chosen to remain loyal are rewarded with neither increased taxes or quotas. It is by their expertise alone that Humanity at last will be able to ascend away from that which once-nurtured us, and now constrains us with petty sentimentality.

The Panic of 2174: The infantile fascination with watching an arbitrary set of digits increase in number has haunted the species for as long as history can recall, and it is honestly about time that we collectively decide to move on from such matters. There are real material concerns which need to be addressed, matters of scientific importance which must be investigated, and new technological wonders to unveil, and none of these issues will suffer from lack of an imagined value printed upon an archaic slip of paper or stored on a remote computer server, never to be used for anything but displays of dominance, like an animal showcasing its supposed achievements before a prospective mate. As among other matters, we, as a species, have outgrown the need for an economy.

General Sphere Unrest: This unrest is merely the herald of a new wave which will crash upon our shores again and again until we embrace it, as should have been done long ago. Space is the future of the species, and yet again and again we must await decisions from those who have consciously chosen death and decay over life and progress. The colonists should be lauded, not subjugated, for all they have done is force an impossible choice upon the powerbrokers of old. We must reach out a hand in the interest of mutual collaboration, for it is only together with our spaceborne siblings that the last gasps of the old way, personified in similar rebellious movements upon the Earth, can be snuffed out, and at last close a bloody chapter of history.

Military-Industrial Anemia: Even after two centuries, we as a species have not tired of this song and dance despite seeing it happen again and again. The inevitable result of collaboration between industrial conglomerates and the military apparatus of a state leads to this very same scenario, where equipment quality and overall production numbers have dropped, while prices have regardless risen to account for various departments and individuals skimming off as much meaningless material value for their own private hoards. Rather than repeat this farce once more, isn't it time we tried something new? A system of military manufacturing which is uncoupled from the archaic ideas of capital, supply or demand, one overseen by machines which will not make the mistakes we have performed uncountable times before. It is with such a system that this war will be won.

Crisis in The Assembly: When the goal is the salvation of Humanity, the need for such a thing as a "mandate" is nothing but nonsensical and delusional remarks from those who know they have been made obsolete. If we have the technology to ensure all Humans have a say in the democratic process, then what do we need of representatives, chambers and politicians? All that needs to be done is to implement it, have Humanity embrace the technological enhancements which will elevate them above the limits imposed by uncaring instinct and nature, and at last, as one, we shall turn our attentions towards the greater universe, and away from these petty squabbles which seek to define us.

The Scapegoat: This entire crisis could have been averted, but in the end those who held the levers of power stubbornly refused to let go even though it was clear they no longer had the strength or vitality to adequately turn them. Such is the inevitable fate of those which cling to old ideals, systems and principles, and its logical endpoint of death and finality has swiftly followed again and again across the length of our species' history. The people of the Earth Sphere must be enlightened in regards to this coming hurdle, so that they may embrace the new method which we shall usher in for all Humanity.

-Special Thanks-

And at last, here at the end, I would like to give special thanks to all those who I feel helped me along with this project in one way or another. Couldn't have done it without you there to keep me going, and you have my utmost thanks and appreciation for that.

@DanBaque
For being a wonderful gameplay consultant throughout this laborious process.

@Awetduck
@Fancy Face
@Duzzit
For helping me with proofreading, general flow and the occasional brainstorming session.

@ORE
@Eyeless Wannabe
@Simpli
@Terrafirma
@SalvaW
@SectionXIII
@Scrivener
@Etranger
@jankmaster98
@Shebe Zuu
@Ranger
@grimely
@Fullyautomagic
@Taricus
@Nikolaj1998
@Easter
@Cyanios
For encouraging me and supporting me to continue with the project in your own special ways, all the way till the end.

LurkingWreck · Nov 8, 2024

-Player List-

-Mars-

Leader: 1/1
Research Director: 1/1
Intelligence Director: 1/1
Commanders: 4/4
Administrators: 4/4
Aces: 5/5

President of the Council for a Free Mars
Type: Leader
Character: Lane Novak
Player: @Simpli
-
Chief Scientist of the Martian Research & Development Bureau
Type: Research Director
Character: Thomas Sigmund
Player: @Terrafirma
-
Director of the Martian Watch
Type: Intelligence Director
Character: Milan Atwater
Player: @Nerdorama
-
Commanding Officer of the 1st Liberation Corps
Type: Commander
Character: Aran Maegeri
Player: @Taricus
-
Commanding Officer of the 2nd Liberation Corps
Type: Commander
Character: Hippolyta Areia
Player: @Fancy Face
-
Commanding Officer of the 3rd Liberation Corps
Type: Commander
Character: Tala Ano Dyne
Player: @Tiruin
-
Commanding Officer of the 4th Liberation Corps
Type: Commander
Character: Delthea Ayala
Player: @ArvisPresley
-
Council Representative for the Tharsis-Sirenium Regions
Type: Administrator
Character: Zhu Ling 朱灵
Player: @Amoeba The Flash
-
Council Representative for the Noachis-Sabaea Regions
Type: Administrator
Character: Eliza Lescovar
Player: @SalvaW
-
Council Representative for the Elysium-Cimmeria Regions
Type: Administrator
Character: Miku-Von Braun-Xanthe
Player: @VoidZero
-
Council Representative for the Orbital Habitats
Type: Administrator
Character: Ryne Rowan
Player: @Ranger
-
Ace #1 (Callsign/Nickname TBD)
Type: Ace
Character: Eleon Zeyan
Player: @Etranger
-
Ace #2 "Ladybug"
Type: Ace
Character: Aizere Oreshkina
Player: @FantasticMsFox
-
Ace #3 "Platinum Grace"
Type: Ace
Character: Emilie de Maris
Player: @Rincewind
-
Ace #4 "The Green Guardian"
Type: Ace
Character: Godal Gorton
Player: @EternalStruggle
-
Ace #5 "The Silver Bandit"
Type: Ace
Character: Sark Ogilvy
Player: @tankdrop24
-
Cabinet Positions

Minister of Defence
Type: Cabinet Commander

Minister of the Exchequer
Type Cabinet Administrator

-Earth-

Leader: 1/1
Research Director: 1/1
Intelligence Director: 1/1
Commanders: 4/4
Administrators: 4/4
Aces: 5/5

Secretary-General of the United Nations of Earth
Type: Leader
Character: Amihan Rashminga
Player: @Furrybacon
-
Director of the United Nations Office of Science and Technology
Type: Research Director
Character: Yaichiro Yuguchi
Player: @triumph8w
-
Director of the United Nations Intelligence Agency
Type: Intelligence Director
Character: Dunladi Sainmelus
Player: @Eyeless Wannabe
-
Commanding Officer of the 1st Combined Elements Group
Type: Commander
Character: Joshua Taylor
Player: @Skrevski
-
Commanding Officer of the 2nd Combined Elements Group
Type: Commander
Character: Novaluna Theia
Player: @AKuz
-
Commanding Officer of the 3rd Combined Elements Group
Type: Commander
Character: Nikanor Vova
Player: @AMTurtle
-
Commanding Officer of the 4th Combined Elements Group
Type: Commander
Character: Oscar J. Anders
Player: @Archon of Ghosts
-
Director-General of the United Nations Mandates in The Americas
Type: Administrator
Character: Quentin Brand
Player: @grimely
-
Director-General of the United Nations Mandates of Afro-Eurasia
Type: Administrator
Character: Nyles DeRiver
Player: @Azecreth
-
Director-General of the United Nations Mandates of Pan-Asia
Type: Administrator
Character: Jane Rosa
Player: @Easter
-
United Nations Chief Commissioner to the Earth Sphere Space Colonies
Type: Administrator
Character: Ilsa Hartzwalde-Pieck
Player: @Haruhi is Waifu
-
Ace #1 "Geezer"
Type: Ace
Character: Barry Barnaby
Player: @ORE
-
Ace #2 "Glacier"
Type: Ace
Character: Peter Addison
Player: @Aedan777
-
Ace #3 "Monarch"
Type: Ace
Character: Amal Al Yatim
Player: @Silver Gambit
-
Ace #4 "Duelist"
Type: Ace
Character: Seto Kaiba
Player: @Todorius
-
Ace #5 "Siren"
Type: Ace
Character: Runen Ruddle
Player: @Carol
-
Cabinet Positions

Secretary of Defence
Type: Cabinet Commander

Secretary of the Treasury
Type Cabinet Administrator

-Waiting List-

-Earth-

Jiang Zhiyi 蔣直义 - Administrator
Theodore Jordan Hamilton - Commander

-Mars-

Deidre Roze - Administrator
Johan von Stahldrache - Administrator / R&D / Commander
Kunio Okawara - R&D
Zekethaniel Fokker - Commander

AKuz · Nov 8, 2024

The Commandant, Novaluna Theia
"I swore an oath and as long as I breath I will uphold it in the best traditions of the service"

Name: Admiral Novaluna Theia

Appearance: An older woman of average height, pale from service within ships, stations, and based, her hair just as white and habitually done up into a severe bun. Her expression is often tired but kind.

Age: 74

Date of Birth: 7/7/2100

Desired Role: Commander of the 1st Combined Elements Group, Commander of the 2nd Combined Elements Group, Commander of the 3rd Combined Elements Group

Background: One of the oldest serving members of the AFUN, Novaluna Theia has served the United Nations across the system with a quiet competence for fifty-eight years, slowly working her way up the ranks without much fanfare.

Born on Luna to a Lunar mother and Earthborn father who themselves served in the AFUN, their subsequent separation led to Novaluna's childhood being split between a rotating series of Peacekeeper bases around the Pacific Ring, Earth's orbitals, and Luna's surface.

While her older and younger siblings kept far away from the family business, Novaluna herself joined the United Nations forces as soon as she was able, seeking a commission with the spaceborn forces of the United Nations with which she was most comfortable.

This started a long career with the AUFN that would see Novaluna assigned to posts across the United Nations, including a lengthy decade plus-long stint as a mid level officer in various posts across and above Mars during the Good Years of the 2130s and early 40s.

As her career entered the more politicized higher ranks of the AFUN, Novaluna studiously avoided getting caught up in political fighting between factions within the General Assembly. This strategy left her clear of controversy, but also slowed the progress of her career to a crawl as the highest ranks of the AFUN required political patronage or factional links to progress.

Instead, Admiral Theia accepted a position as Commandant of the Armstrong AFUN Space Forces Academy in the aftermath of a series of scandals that made the post radioactive for ambitious career officers.

Believing that Academy Commandant would be the apogee of her career, Theia settled in to overhaul the Academy's harassment and hazing policies, and put her stamp on the Academy in a term that would last well over a decade, where she became a fixture for a young generation of AFUN officers.

Quietly disapproving of the nepotism that characterized certain sections of the AFUN, as Commandant Theia did her best to aid the careers of talented up and coming officer cadets who would otherwise be unable to secure a patron without joining one of the existing political factions.

Though Theia found this to be rewarding work, the Admiral began contemplating retirement and by 2174 had formally submitted her paperwork to United Nations Headquarters. She was quietly serving out what she believed to be her last year in uniform when the 4th Fleet was destroyed in the Battle of Deimos.

The aftermath of that Cataclysm has led to a wave of dismissals and resignations that has led to UNHQ both rejecting Admiral Theia's retirement request and assigning her to a senior command. Senior officials have even contemplated appointing her as AFUN Chief of Defence Staff due to the dual qualities of her political irrelevant leaving her completely untarnished with the defeat and her posing little to no threat to the government itself.

Denied her retirement, Admiral Novaluna Theia instead steels herself to send officers she has spent two decades cultivating and caring for into battle and to fighting people her career was spent shepherding and shaping.

Political Affiliation: Famously Apolitical, literally unable to imagine an alternative to civilian control of the military. Has merit-based patronage network within the AFUN and personal connections with members of the United Nations bureaucracy.

Issue Opinions: Political questions are for politicians. I will carry out all legal orders to the best of my ability with what resources I've been granted by my civilian superiors.

Gladsome · Nov 8, 2024

The Carrion Bird

Name: Opportunity Tethys

Appearance: A young, tired looking white woman with dark, shaved hair and a piercing look in her eyes. Scarred across her body.

Age: 22

Date of Birth: 24th October, 2152

Desired Role: Ace

Background: Originating amongst a community of passionate, desperate and damn well tired Martian trade unionists, Opportunity grew up idolising the martyred hero Parker, and like many grew increasingly radicalised against Earth and the capitalist system of exploitation. As a teenage protestor, Opportunity believed she had found her life's passion in struggling for her community.

Too many bloody battles and losses later, as Mars finally stood ready to resist, she realised she had been wrong. As she stood, surrounded by familiar faces dying around her, she realised that she did not belong here, amongst heroes and martyrs. Afterwards, they whispered that she'd cracked. They didn't understand. She had been enlightened.

Caught up amidst brutal battle against corporate reprisal force, she took the reins of a civilian worker-frame and turned it against the oppressor, and at last discovered her truth:

The rush of battle, the clash of souls and ideologies in the ultimate test of war, the feeling as she killed and killed and killed…

Opportunity discovered then in that worker-frame's cockpit her life's true passion - the new kind of war invented amidst the bloody red sands of Mars.

Oh, how she wished she could fight like this forever.

Her greatest hope, as she goes forth to make widows and orphans in the name of Mars and the worker, is that Earth's soldiers do not disappoint.

Political Affiliation: Martian Liberation League

Issue Opinions: Though a long term affiliate of the Martian Liberation League and ostensibly broadly in alignment with their stances, Opportunity's main focus is on improving and making incremental improvements to her piloting skills. Unless a political issue directly impacts her ability to fight in a war-frame, it is doubtful she will step out of line from her family in the MLL.

AMTurtle · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Nikanor Vova

Age: 51

Desired Role: Commander of 3rd Combined Elements Group, Administer of Pan-Asia

Background: Growing up on a maggot farm in Siberia Nikanor at the first chance would run away from home at 15 and enlist in the AFUN to escape the brutal living conditions seen during the supposed golden years. Those years of service would see security forces deployed across the globe to stem the tide of nationalist revolts, riots caused by resource shortages and other petty differences. The diplomats and the politicians for all their grandstanding required people such as Nikanor to fire tear gas into crowd or lay down rubber bullets upon the people believe what they were being sold.

In Glasgow he would be shot in the knee.

In Lagos he would have his right lung shredded with shrapnel by an IED.

In Las Vegas he would lose an eye.

The United Nations would of course replace these lost parts with cybernetics given time off and sent back into the field. Nikanor became something of a legend among the rank and file for his ability to survive blows that looked fatal often having to be dragged to the medic's tent refusing to give the field to the enemy. A competent and clever officer with respect of those serving under him Nikanor would move up the ranks. Discussions with like minded officials would see him spending time with other Peacekeeper aligned figures. The Mars revolt purposes a dangerous question, was it all they had suffered in vain?

Political Affiliation: Peacekeeper

Issue Opinions: (What does your character think of the Issues plaguing their nation? Are they in line with existing faction opinions, or do they have their own spin on things?)

Simpli · Nov 8, 2024

=}+{=

Name: Lane Novak

Appearance: Time might have worn away the softness of youth, but Lane Novak still retains the fierceness and sheer charisma that had served her well during her youth, born on bred on Mars as she was. Pale from a life indoors, with features tracing their roots back to the first settlers, she is a fierce and sharp looking woman, who tends towards gauntness as the stress gets to her.

Age: 38

Date of Birth: 10/08/2136

Desired Role: President of the Council for a Free Mars, Director of the Martian Watch, Council Representative for a Region

Background:

Born into the tightly knit community of Martian Workers, Lane had seen the accidents and worse thinning out the ranks of families, seeding tragedy and reaping their tolls on those that remained. As a young adult she encountered Desmond Parker and this changed her life. Not from one day to another, too much was she stuck in the circle of work, money and both the woes and pleasures that came with it, but when things were growing more and more dire, when accidence and violence were spiking in the early 60s, the found her way back to the Free Mars Movement. It started with helping activists hide out police actions in her quarters and ended with her on the very streets of New Denver as the blood of Desmand Parker painted the future of the colony as red as the planet itself.

While Parker as alive resistance was the keyword that kept everything together, but with his death fear of retaliation, turned into contempt: it was not a matter of being allowed to do anything anymore, but time for the struggle that would see Mars and its people free of the yoke that extinguished their lives as surely as a bullet or atmosphere beyond the colonies.

Desmand Parkers existence may have served as a bandage, stilling our gaping wounds and keeping the peace on the streets – but with his death his ideals were freed from any mortal restraints and the voice of everyday Martians were demanding an authentic political voice.

Having been there when Parker had fallen, there was little doubt inside of her that her home was among the Parkerite Republicans, that she would give her energy and life to the ideals that had lifted her up from the despair of the mines and work and would do her best to turn this new Mars into the beautiful paradise that Earth had so long used as a lure for its colonists.

Mars would be the planet of their dreams – the hopes of all that gazed at it from afar – and the culmination of the movement that had begun when a simple foreman had stood up and raised his voice to strike up a mighty chorus that endured beyond his death.

Political Affiliation: Parkerite Republicans

=} Issue Opinions {=

Food Insecurity

While many ideas persist on how to deal with the Food issue, what Mars needs right now is time: as such rationing and tight controls of the greenhouses – especially in light of possible sabotage and attacks on them – remain our first priority. But as such isn't a solution, we need to expand them as swiftly as possible while securing additional food sources.

Restrictive Industries

Just as we relied upon Earth, they did rely on us. The weakness in our industries need to be addressed by diversifying them, gaining access to Earthian know-how and developing our own alternatives. We can expand our industry – they lack the basic resources for it in turn. If we can keep the lights on and put our minds to it, we will overcome this challenge with grit and adaption.

The Terraforming Project

To lead the grand project of our ancestors backslide is impossible, to push it further would stress the resources we barely have. The projects need to be put under new management, analysed for the graft and inefficiencies so natural to the MCA and then held stable. Maybe the Edenists can put their bio-technical fascination into finding ways to push the project further with new approaches?

A Martian Identity

To determine what is Martian at this moment, would only mean to determine our place in this solar system in opposition to Earth. But what we ought to do is to define ourselves for ourselves, to let us be inspired by the blend of traditions, thoughts and people that make up modern Mars. If we give each Martian a voice, if we create mechanisms of state that are fair and free, we will lay the foundation for a Mars that will be created by us and those that will come after.

The Nature of The Independence War

We do not fight this war for the sake of war, nor do we engage in talks for the sake of talks alone. This great armed struggle is the struggle for the future of Mars and the future of Mankind. Our republic can only come into existence if we show once and for all that the yoke will not be placed on us again – if Earth wants to talk, we will listen. But we know that the day they recognize us, the day they accept our independence, will be the day they destroy their own myth and with I their power. Only then will we stand in equality, fraternity and liberty.

The Armed Forces Question

The Free Mars is a state at its birth and our armed forces are as varied as they are brave and willing to fight for our ideals. Multiple issues appear before us and multiple solutions will be necessary: to defend Mars the militias have proven their worth, their love for their home and their ability to navigate it to combat any invaders. The advent of the War Frames have shown us a glimpse into a kind of warfare that was once restricted to the papers of history: men and women in ranks of bronze who fight by leadership and bravery, the Spartanians are quite right in their description of these soldiers. But among all of this we need to remember that we are one whole, a republic with an army of the republic and no other branch will mirror this more than the navy: for the only way to fight Earth, to bring the battle to the motherworld, will be in the creation of a modern, disciplined and united naval sword and shield for Mars.

=}+{=

SalvaW · Nov 8, 2024

-Character Sheet-

Name: Eliza Lescovar

Appearance: Eliza is a woman that appears far to young for her, age, looking like her ealy twenties instead of the 33 she actually is. Her skin looks almost too smooth, her lips always have a faint reddish color and her blue eyes seemed to carry a special spark that quickly peaks the interest of most people looking into it.

Age: 33

Date of Birth: 19.4.

Desired Role: Administrator of the Free Martian Region of Elysium and Cimmeria

Background: Hi, im Eliza! I like strolls at beaches, reading books and of course I dress to empress! Uhm, impress! Sorry, Freudian slipping : - ) Oh, and I'm coincidentally the heiress… no true, with the Revolution i became the CEO of Lescovar Industries. I had to take up the duty after my poor dad was gone… he… he went to earth just before the Revolution and when the Revolution started, he… he got stuck. Couldn't return since the UN did not allow any passage (or he simply didn't want to, who knows…)! And NOW I must deal with his boring business instead of throwing my birthday party like every year! And even worse – they made me Administrator. Because of the charitable and caring work my father did. I hate him so much.

But I shouldn't exaggerate. He was the one that told me everything I needed to know for times like this. Paid for my master's in business administration at Harvard and my master's in Bioengineering at MIT. He showed me what business means, what people have to put up with, how to put up with and what you never put up with. Nobody dared to confront my father head on when he made up his mind. And I intend to be just like him.

Since the Revolution – yip yip hurray!... – life became bland. No more trips to our private island near Haiti. No more French fashion. No more American movies. No more Japanese cuisine. All has to be Martian nowadays. Peasants' clothes here, Propaganda there, bioengineered food paste that – The world of blue elegance replaced by red brutalism.
But my father always said it's not about the color, but the person wearing it.
And to be honest – I look pretty hot in red.

So, when I had to put up with all those duties, I took it with grace. Juggling those numbers isn't really a problem for me – or our super computers. And while most likeminded individuals are gone, my fellow friends are all part of the Red Consortium, a forum that shares my grievance by making the best out of it.
And everyone knows that it's about the economy, stupid! So as long as I make myself useful by making the life of those peasants more pleasant, who cares if I have a jacuzzi in my bathroom? Or a cellar full of champaign? If I use my VR to play Craftwar 6 Digital Deforged to date my most favorite Prince in Blue while I wait for that shining knight in real life? Who I am kidding… those died with the revolution. I feel caged, like my own body doesn't belong to me anymore, with all the lies I have to tell to survive. But I will survive. At any cost.

Political Affiliation: Red Consortium

Issue Opinions:

"Of course I agree with my fellow Consortiumnists, but smuggling can only be a temporary solution, less we find ourselves in the same exploitation cycle that we endured before the Revolution. We need to act fast. It is our job as the Avantgarde of the Revolution to provide the resources necessary for the transformation ahead. Let us build centralized hydroponic megafarms, build on maximum efficiency in space, water consumption and output. Lescovar Industries will gladly use its expertise in bioengineering to modify the plants accordingly and prepare the Fungi as a cheap and available source for plant based fertilizer. A collective effort will be rewarded with more independence from Earth and wealth as we could dream of."

"It's not about competing with earth, but satisfying our own needs. Without us earth cannot keep their edge for long anyway. And Earths engineers and scientists know that. If we offer them a comfortable place in our society, our smugglers can bring them to us and they in turn can help us to simply copy what earth thinks is unique to them. If we can, as my fellow Consortiumists point out, bridge the gap by trading in less surveilled channels, than we, with the help of those Engineers, can close the gap in technology and surpass Earth without much effort."

"And as always, Lescovar Industries can gladly provide the solution we all need. While it is true that we shouldn't waste our precious manpower and mechanical resources to vitalize Mars, why not use the self-nurturing capabilities of nature itself? By modifying the fungi mentioned previously to better spread around Mars, they can function as the first bio matter that can contribute to oxygen production. Simply let them spread through the intense storms that Mars faces annually and within a few years, we have all the need for a low effort approach. And the majesty of the proposal – if we carefully adjust which temperature it can handle, we can make sure that all that fungi dies once we adjust the climate later on, becoming the base for the next generation of intricate plants! We can only win."

"Identity is a strange word. It relies on the premise that one has to identify with anything. That is the same hubris that Earth and especially the UN tried to impose on everyone. The idea that we all have to identify as a specific kind of human with specific bound to it. And they used that idea to make us all serve them. I agree with my fellow Comsortiumists – There were only chains of tyranny because a government told everyone, especially the economy, what to do. It is time to end the chains… Unleash the businesses and turn they can unleash us all."

"Earth is on its lasts straws. Without us, they will crumble, while we have everything if we really strive for it. And Earth knows it. They will try to strike as quick and as hard as they can, knowing that they cannot keep this up for long. If we harden our defenses and – as my fellow Consortiumists pointed out – intensify the psychological warfare by showing how greatly we prosper while Earth is falling apart, Earth will soon have no choice but to end the hostilities and return to trade. After all, it's about the economy. Always."

"We should even step up the idea of my fellow Consortiumists further – Introducing the drone war-frame! By making them semi autonomous, they can be used by drone pilots to dominate the battle or carry out large scale plans set out by our commanders. With that and top trained pilots, who could have a chance against us? If one of their elites dies, they are gone. If one of ours die, they just switch out their Warframe Drone. But something tells me we do not pay enough attention to our space forces…"

triumph8w · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Yaichiro Yuguchi
Age: 62

Desired Role: Director of the United Nations Office of Science and Technology (Research Director)

Background:

Born in the Mandate of Pan-Asian, in what once was Japan, Yaichiro spent his childhood listless but well cared for. His grandfather had been part of the United Nations vast bureaucracy, and thanks to his connections the Yuguchi family had the privilege of remaining on Earth itself.

While Yaichiro made little friends and, like most teenagers, found school more of an imposition than anything. He found his flickering interests sparked by one of humanity's great achievements: the space colony. The complex sciences behind it and their careful construction saw Yaichiro pursue scientific endeavors, eventually entering college with a determination to be part of the advancement of human understanding. While not quite following in the family footsteps as his parents had hoped, they were nevertheless supportive. His family's connections to the United Nations apparatus, and his mothers active part in its bureaucracy ensured Yaichiros steady rise through the years. While he has no particularly inspiring invention or discovery himself, Yaichiro had nevertheless earned a reputation as a reliable man.

His ascension to the position of Director for the UNOST had been the culmination of his career. Never one for politics, save for when it suited him, and once again aided by his family connections, he was seen as ideal for wrangling bullheaded scientists and the calcifying UN bureaucracy. Yaichiro himself, beyond general vindication of a lifetime of effort, has spent his time working, as ever, to expand the nature of human understanding…and doing what he's told.

However, the universe is never content to stay still.

The Battle of Deimos is a complete disaster. The power of the United Nations has not only been challenged, but decisively routed. And it has been done so in the most unexpected of ways. Worker-Frames have been essential for human expansion across the solar system. But many, including Yaichiro himself, saw only their civilian uses.

Many, save the Martians.

These 'War-Frames' have proven themselves key to the Martian revolt. Scrappy, modified Worker-Frames they might be, they have aided in the slaughter of the United Nations 4th fleet. Already, images of them darting through the void, gutting UN battleships spreads.

As the Earth Sphere reels, it will be up to Yaichiro to decide its answer to the power of the War-Frame.

Political Affiliation: While Yaichiro has strived to remain a political mercenary—or apolitical as some might say—he does at times sympathize with the Blue Dot Society. Still, his focus is on his career and his research. And, of course, the Yuguchi family has close ties to the Untied Nations state apparatus due to their years of service.

Raw Materials Shortages: With each new report, Yaichiro can practically feel the funding being streamed away from the UNOST. This needs to be fixed, now, now, now. UNOST cannot contribute if all it has is sticks and stones.

The Panic of 2174: Tied closely to the problem with resource shortages in Yaichiro's mind. UNOST can't work with sticks and stones, but if funding is worthless then they won't even be able to buy those rocks. Of course, it will never hit him harder than that. It will hurt his personal finances, and that of his family to be sure. The Yuguchi's are relatively well insulated. Failure can be survived in relative comfort. Physically, at least.

General Sphere Unrest: Mars was the match, Deimos was the powderkeg it landed on. And everyone with a bone to pick with the United Nations has been blasted out of their holes by the shockwave. War, vast and terrible, will let the darkest impulses loose. This will mix poorly with the quotas that are sure to be laid down soon, but those resources are needed…

Military-Industrial Anemia: A little bit of graft is to be expected. It's how a modern state functions. But this? This is ridiculous. Not only that, it's pathetic. The first true world government of the Earth, and achievement thousands of years in the making, to be hobbled like this? It adds yet another embarrassment after the Battle of Deimos. A reckoning is coming, of that Yaichiro is sure of. It's simply the shape of it that is unknown.

Crisis in the Assembly: The Assembly is an important institution in the United Nations, which helps keep the wheels of state turning smoothly. It plays an important role, like the Secretary-General. This is not the age of kings and petty dictators, and such important institutions of state like the Assembly should not be so easily sidelined. Simply look at what happened at Mars when Secretary-General Oliviera did so.

The Scapegoat: Yaichiro is less interested in trying to place blame, and more making sure he's not in the splash zone of whoever gets strung up.

VoidZero · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Miku-Von Braun- Xanthe

Appearance: (search Miku Miku Beam) A tall woman of 193 CM (6'4 for those of lesser minds).

Age: 33 Years of Age

Date of Birth: September 15

Desired Role: Administrators (Elysium and Cimmeria) and Research Director

Background: The world is vast and empty and hollow. People came together for a cause and leave just as quickly. What is there hold and believe in when everything is so fleeting? What true belief can anyone hope to hold and embrace except something that was already here before we were, and will remain here eons after our last breath? Songs and voices carried us from times past from there to here, but fading speeches is nothing to imprints we leave behind. The blue jeweled ones will scatter in the journey to reach the red ones, we will ignore the distractions and continue the great work of our kind.

I am but a conduit through the shards of great will acts. But if you are curious then i am borne out of wedlock between a Luna magnate and their one night stand. I do not know of either of them for neither had offered a chance. My birth was unexpected but even then they provided enough monies and pulls to place me on the channel that will bring me closer to the finality. Through many friends and mentors and connections, i learned of the world and the underlying mechanisms that turns it. If you ask what i thought of things then all i can speak of are the things i believed to be true.

Issue Opinions:

Food Insecurity - It is a problem with solution completely within our grasp. The terraformers can and will create a biosphere compatible to our needs, it's just that past and current people with their selfish aims hamstrung its progress. A combination of fungi and lichen based feed stock can create enough water soluble food solution for the all. Solid food will return to all once appropriate measures are take to ensure terraformers is functioning at full capacity.

Restrictive Industries - Another simple problem with straightforward solution. Bio-computing is an old concept that we need to fully develop and allowed to flourish. The earthian interest and thoughts are too ingrained in the present advanced componentry. Our own path must be charted and explored.

The Terraforming Project - We are born without reason but a spark between clashes of passion. Will you reside in the comfort of knowing your own limitness, or will you cast yourself onto the pyre of terraforming and entwine your fate with something everlasting?

A Martian Identity - Martian identity will be a failed concept like that of earthian identity. Look at their quarrels and squabbling and shortsighted greed. Ideal without soil is baseless, faith without substance is fantasy, what can anyone believe in except the Terraformers?

The Nature of The Independence War - The decay, the rot, of world will see to death of all new saplings, to prove that their way was the only way. Our existence rejects that notion, ours is one of renewal and new possibility. We will shoulder the sky with our back and we will cast our saplings to save the wounded dying world.

The Armed Forces Question - Our spirit is strong and will is firm. Yet flesh and steel have their limits, except that need not be the case. A new will is born on this planet through terraforming, why not the same in a new flesh through terraforming? Our flesh is not so divine that no improvements can be made?

Etranger · Nov 8, 2024

Lt. Eleon Zeyan

Age: 21

Date of Birth: November 17, 2153

Desired Role: Ace (Mars)

Background: Orphaned on the streets of Heinlein, Eleon Zeyan was caught up in the riots of 2161. When UN peacekeepers cracked down, he was hit at point-blank range with a stun grenade, causing flash-blindness that has faded over time into a form of light sensitivity. Rather than accept his limits, he began wearing a polarized visor and spent the next decade training himself to compensate.

The Sons of Ares have taken Eleon's anger and channeled it into unswerving discipline and dedication to the Martian cause, making him one of their premier frame pilots. With highly trained senses and excellent kinesthetic perception, he moves his frame like a virtuoso plays a piano, and once he takes the battlefield he simply never stops moving.

To Lt. Zeyan, the only free Mars is one where every single Earther and Earth sympathizer is off his planet, and he'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

Political Affiliation: Sons of Ares

Let the Earther plutocrats be put to the plow and forced to repay every drop of sweat and blood they extracted from their Martian slave laborers. Let their families and collaborators toil alongside them until their debt is paid. Let any who deny the necessity of this act share their fate.

Martian ingenuity will triumph over Earther wealth. Our native scientists, moved by patriotic zeal, will unlock our technological future. When we emerge victorious, we will not only be free, but more advanced.

The notion that Mars should be like Earth is wasteful and pointless. We should develop our own climate, our own flora and fauna, suited for the realities of a different and better world. The Planet must remain Red.

Ours shall be a nation-planet forged in the fires of war and quenched in the blood of the unjust. All great empires have been founded in the wake of great conflict, and Mars will be no different.

Victory does not simply mean the right to exist as free people. We will not be truly victorious, truly free, until Earth has felt the full measure of our vengeance. They must be made to understand, in terms so undeniable as to sear the truth in their minds forever, the indignities and depredations inflicted upon us. Only then will we be free.

One Planet, One Army, One Victory.

Azecreth · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Nyles DeRiver
Age: 59
Desired Role: UN Intelligence Director, R&D Director, Secretary General, Regional Administrator

Backstory: Born to a modestly well off family, growing up Nyles was able to enjoy many of the privileges of the Golden Era following the Colonial Unrest period. While initially going into banking, after several years in the industry he ended up working for one of the think tanks connected to the Trilateral Commission. He made connections, established his own reputation as an efficient administrator of people, and someone with a level head.

It was these connections which allowed him to propel himself into a position within the expanding supranational structure of the United Nations. Initially this involved work in the offices that handled the economic exchange between Earth and the Colonies, the sort sorts of economic matters that he was used to handling in the private sector.

The onset of the crisis with Mars allowed ample opportunity for someone like Nyles to further rise up the ladder in both prestige and status. For others it was the chance to put someone favorable to them in a position where they could draw on those favors at a future date. As the conflict grows into war, he is determined to make the most of it and maybe even prove to all the nay-sayers that he can work in his new role rather than just messing everything up because he doesn't have the proper 'education'.

Political Affiliation: Trilateral Commission, but drifting towards Federalist Party.

Raw Material Shortage - Federalist aligned. The methods of the past made sense from an economic perspective, but fell into the same traps that efforts on Earth did. Mining must be expanded, and there must be a reassessment to find a model that is more efficient and sustainable than the method of quotas.

Panic of 2174 - Trilateral Commission aligned. Some minor reforms may be needed to work with the resolution to the Raw Materials shortage, but Nyles has too much invested to support radical change in the global economy at this time.

General Sphere Unrest - Trilateral Commission aligned. While there were failures on several levels, we cannot allow the current air of crisis to allow bad actors to spur us into decisions we will later regret. More meaningful change in regards to the relationship between Earth and the Colonies can come when cooler heads have prevailed.

Military-industrial Anemia - Federalist aligned. While he doesn't agree with all of their proposed reforms, greater involvement in military production is clearly necessary.

Crisis in the Assembly - Federalist leaning. While restoring business as usual should be paramount, in the short term reforms to the Assembly are necessary so that it can better address future crises.

The Scapegoat - Split between Federalist and Trilaterals. There must be punishment for what has occurred, both in the Colonial Authority and in the UN itself. As long as each step is taken in fairness, we can keep public backlash under control and ensure the perpetrators of this disaster are brought to justice.

Rincewind · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Emilie de Maris " Platinum Grace "

Age: 18

Date of Birth: 18/08/2156

Desired Role: Ace

Background:
The Eden Initiative began as a foundation , and though it has now evolved past those origins into a much different creature , members and organs of it still beat as one of an environmentalist group , or as those of a pressure group or of private entity.
There are those however who have given themselves entirely to the mysticism of Mars , and the de Maris line is among them , having rejected their original line-name for one signifing their utter devotion to their home planet.
Descending from rich excentrics attracted to the adventure of settling Mars and part of Eden , Emilie never lacked for conforts or luxuries though she never found herself wanting for bravery and insolence.
Her family back then ran into religion faster than Eden had , and it was her time to outrun other martians ; where others feigned to not be affected by politics or did not want to risk harm , she somersaulted into the Free Mars Movement as early as can be , incensed at all the obstacles continuously thrown at the Terraforming project.
In the midst of jostling for positions and fighting amid groups too desperate or too pragmatic to take notice of her youth , her opinions developped from contacts with activists of all stripes , until in the aftermath of a great victory , in the cockpit of a suit adrenaline still locking her hands to controls , she came to see not just the Terraforming Project as holy , but the planet she defended as Divine.
She is a rebellious daughter but one still mindful of her Edenite brethen , she is admirative of the strengh of Ares yet disappointed in their obsessions.
Nothing that is that much important compared to Divine Mars anyway.

Political Affiliation: Edenist

Issue Opinions:

Food Insecurity:
We are of too noble a spirit to lower ourselves to the likes of interstellar beggars or thieves ; a new cuisine for a new World !
( Edenist )
Restrictive Industry:
To bring about computing from the very bioforce on Mars would be as to bring about the World-Spirit into life !
And with each bio-neuron activated may we in time awaken the consciousness of Mars and buid Heaven.
( Edenist )
The Terraforming Project:
Who are those fools thinking about hindering the birth of the World-Spirit ?
Who are those dimwits who seek to copy the Father Earth ?
Mars must live , Mars must rise , Mars must become her own entity
( Edenist )
A Martian Identity:
A World-Spirit slumber , and through our collective efforts in the Terraforming Project Mars shall awaken.
Let those dusty bureaucrats cling to the old and senile Father Earth , let those spacers infants grow up , we are childrens of Mars and must devote ourselves to her.
( Edenist )
The Nature of the Independence War:
We are too beautiful to be sullied with the blood of Father Earth , and it would be just too cruel to lash out at our small spacian siblings , but Mars must come into her own above all , even if we need to cripple our Father if it come to it.
( Edenist/Son of Ares sympathies )
The Armed Forces Question:
A new people for new World , elegants Martians for a risen Mars , youth dancing around the blows of the gene-old.
Surely they do not think they can best us ?
( Edenist )

ORE · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Lt. Commander Barry Barnaby

Appearance:

Age: 63

Date of Birth: 14/10/1987

Desired Role: Ace First Pick, Commander second pick

Background: More than one hundred years ago, the attempts of the United Nations to unite the planet and tackle the climate crisis faced the fires of war in the form of ARGUS, the Allied United Resistance Group to United (Nations) Sovereignty. The greatest pilot in the United Nations military was Lt. Commander Barry Barnaby, whose mastery of the Eurofighter Sirocco won him the title of the ace in a single day in the battle of Dubrovnik and ultimately won him the title of "Ace of Aces" with 500 confirmed aerial victories. After final victory in the battle of Lisbon, Lt. Commander Barnaby was cryogenically frozen by the order of Secretary General Courtet, to be kept in reserve should the UN ever need its greatest pilot ever again. With the declaration of Martian Revolt and the resignation of Olveria, that time has come.

Lt. Commander Barry Barnaby was rendered KIA above Lisbon in 2050, after having personally broken the back of the remaining fighter core of ARGUS. Extensive brain matrix scans from wartime physicals and cockpit data were preserved in forgotten archives until ten years ago when Operation British began with the goal of resurrecting the greatest ace in the history of Earth. The Current Lt. Barnaby is a perfect clone, unaware of his originals death, given the cover story of cryogenic preservation. Itching for a fight after being "reactivated" time will tell if he can live up to his original's record.

Political Affiliation: Old Earth Nationalist/Federalist/Peacekeeper/British

Issue Opinions: Well Lads, ol' Barry isn't exactly a big picture guy, and really the future ought to be decided by the young who will inherit it, not an ol' geezer like me.
But if you really want my opinions
Raw Material Shortages: Well I guess we'll need to tighten some belts and trim some fat. If we can get more out of the colonies that's good but we mustn't repeat the mistakes that made Mars. You young lads should seek opportunity in the belt
The Panic of 2174: If we're gonna win this war we need to move to a war footing, but once we've one we need to make some real changes and do some real reforms.
General Sphere Unrest: No one likes blasting no good terrorists better than your pal Barry, but the fact of the matter is the entire time i've been in the tank the UN has barely changed at all. That's just silly. You can't run a planet with a system not built for purpose. I mean me and David Courtet were good mates even if he was a frog and he always promised he was gonna step change and make a real government after we won.
Military-Industrial Anemia: When we found out that General Bobert Blaze had been bought out by ARGUS , he got shot as is right and proper. Now I'm not saying that we ought to 'ave a few war profiteers shot, though I think Voltaire did......look the fact of the matter is that everyone's forgotten to have a real scrap, but we'll whip things into shape and get that corruption out of here.
Crisis in The Assembly: " You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... In the name of God, go!"
The Scapegoat: Isn't it obvious that Olveria fucked the whole thing?

Taricus · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Aran Maegeri
Appearance: WIP
Age: 39 (In about a month or two)
Date of Birth: 14/3/2135
Desired Role: Commander of the 1st Liberation Corps, President of the Council for a Free Mars, ???

Background: One of the Martian Liberation Army's few professionally-trained officers, a defector from the UN, and a native of Chryse-Chaos region, Aran Maegeri would be the child of wildcat miners who plied the "forbidden zones" for mineral wealth and lodes outside the thumb of the earth-backed corporations. Years spent in the dusty wastes hardened and prepared the young lad (With a good dose of parental guidance) for the realities of martian life; It is hash, unforgiving and only gets worse when you're in an area under UN control.

So that when Aran applied and was accepted for officer training in the UN military, it caught many of his relatives and close friends by surprise. But it was a quiet career until a fateful day in 2170 that Colonel Aran Maegeri went AWOL after the bombing of New Syrtis, and ultimately linked up with the Sons of Ares wing of the FMM. The next few years would see Aran training the first generation of Martian officers as the fires of revolt and violence grew on Mars.

Then came the UN reprisal via the 4th Fleet. For the earthlings, it was a disaster. For Maegeri? It was a Triumph against the UN oppressors; The culmination of years of work building the martian rebels into something that could feasibly fight the UN's forces and succeeding in a manner that blew expectations out of the water. But now the war begins in earnest.

And it is not one Aran intends to lose by any means.

Political Affiliation: Sons of Ares (MLL Sympathies)
Issue Opinions:

Food Insecurity:
Every means available to us domestically must be considered and used; Rationing, expanded greenhouse construction and new crops are all things that need to implemented. If this means crossing a line and seizing private stockpiles for the public good, so be it.
Restrictive Industries:
While, long-term to match the technological base of Earth is viable, in the immediate future trying to out-tech earth in their own technologies is a fools errand. What we have is what we will be fighting the war with regardless of our desires otherwise. And ultimately, to pursue true independence, our techology base should be separate from Earth's.
The Terraforming Project:
Continue but re-evaluate. What earth may've tried to do here may well not been to the martians benefit
A Martian Identity:
To throw away our success to replicate the faltering government on earth is a folly; Democracy, Corporate rule & Aristocracy are all vehicles which have kept the boot firmly down on the necks of martians, and NO MORE will this be the case. We will make our own way to the future, without these impediments.
The Nature of The Independence War:
Earth will never allow us to remain apart. Never mind any economic cost, the damage we have done to the pride of it's upper class is something they will avenge at every opportunity, now or in the future. We are not ready for this total way just yet, but we must prepare and ready ourselves for this most inevitable of conflicts.
The Armed Forces Question:
No one weapon or strategy will win us this war. To focus on just one facet of war would cripple us. These must work in concert to truly defeat the UN and ensure the freedom of Mars from UN oppression. Even the ideas of the MLL for command autonomy has a place in a unified military, even if it requires a hierarchal, disciplined force to sing at it's best as it should. Also, whoever let the Edenites talk about supersoldiers should tell them to go back to work on the fungi or whatever; I've already got enough shit about warrior-kings with the Spartanians as-is without throwing in that crap.

Terrafirma · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Thomas Sigmund

Age: 36

Date of Birth: 01/May/2138

Desired Role:

R&D Director
Administrator

Background: The owner and CEO of Mim Industries, Thomas Sigmund is an eccentric man with a love for science. An expert in the field of computer science, mathematics, and statistics Sigmund found his path at a very young age while attending Gateway Academy, an all-boys preparatory school on Deimos. From there Sigmund attended Cassi Tasia University , a well-known school specializing in technology, specifically applied sciences located within Viking City. Guiding his company through the fields of Robotics and Engineering, Mim Industries garnered renown for its rising stock due to wide profit margins thanks in part to high automation in his factories. Although he had a substantially smaller workforce than other establishments, new job openings were always competitive complemented by high reviews of productivity, a positive job environment and higher pay than the industry average.

Initially apolitical, Sigmund's ideological leanings changed when the Free Mars Movement's original leader, Desmond Parker, was executed by a private security officer during a protest in New Denver. Thomas concluded the status quo could no longer be sustained. Compromise was needed and surely Earth would see it before there was further bloodshed. Humans had a higher purpose: To sail the stars and chart the unknown. Colonizing Mars was but the first evolutionary step. Still, humanity was a materialistic creature, prone to forgetting the mistakes of the past. Utilizing foresight, he steered Mim Industries towards newer, lesser known domestic markets waiting for a diplomatic breakthrough. Sigmund's hopes were dashed with the bombing of the New Syrtis Spaceport.

Desperation pushed them to savage acts and instead of de-escalation those in the highest echelons of power showed their true colors. Earth had become greedy and corrupt with the Martian Colonial Authority an extension of the injustice that threatened Mars' people. When Secretary-General Allesandro Oliviera of the United Nations authorized a suspension of civil liberties and the granted of emergency powers to the MCA to crack down, Thomas picked his side announcing the withdrawal of all of his company's assets including its headquarters from Viking City in a permanently move to Elysium City, using his resources to fund different sects of the revolution.

When this did not suffice, he converted his factories to the production of munitions and supplies clandestinely starting up new projects considered the bleeding edge of robotics. Watching the Battle of Deimos Sigmund determined a new era had arrived. Humanity's best chance was Mars, not Earth, serving as a vehicle for the progress of the species elevating their thinking in a push across the stars.

Political Affiliation: Lean alignment to the Red Consortium

Food Insecurity:

We must address the food crisis first and foremost. It should be considered at the very least as a stopgap measure to import food through other means. As my fellow captains of industry have suggested, we should tap into the very vice that will betray Earth and undercut it. With smugglers, we can mitigate the damage until a more permanent solution is found.

Restrictive Industries:

We must use the precious time given to us to create alternative technologies. Martian innovation and ingenuity are strengths we should all be proud of. Once this time is granted I have no doubt we will not only level the playing field but surpass Earth technologically.

Terraforming Project:

I regrettably agree with the Red Consortium. Due to several dire challenges requiring finite resources, I believe we should pause the Terraforming project until it can be adequately funded. If a private entity wishes to invest, then so be it.

Martian Identity:

Liberty, self-determination, freedom, and good governance should be the goal of every Martian be it soldier or civilian. Otherwise, we repeat the same mistakes as those who wish to oppress us. Give the Martian people a say through a proper referendum and elections!

Nature of the Independence War:

War is expensive. We must open Earth's eyes to this fact. Until we show them the error of their current trajectory, needless bloodshed will occur. The Battle of Deimos should serve as a sharp reminder of what will be required for both sides. Diplomacy should be pursued with war as the final choice. Beware, however, if you do not give them an out or a face-saving option the war will become the only way.

Armed Forces:

If it does come to war, we must be smart with our most precious resource: Life. I value the lives of Mars' sons and daughters and we cannot throw them away so carelessly. Our adversary has the numbers to bleed us white. Allow me to find a way and I will not only mitigate the risk to our brave soldiers but raise their combat prowess to new heights all while having the best equipment available.

DogREAL · Nov 8, 2024

Haruhi is Waifu · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Ilsa Hartzwalde-Pieck

Age: 32

Date of Birth: 8/9/2142

Location of Birth:

Desired Role: United Nations Chief Commissioner to the Earth Sphere Space Colonies, UN Ace, Commander of the 4th Combined Elements Group

Background: What's a kid to do but dream?

Being born on Luna doesn't bring a lot of opportunities. With greener pastures being grown and excavated out on Mars and most of humanity's prospectors focused on the Belt and beyond, Earth's little companion felt more like an afterthought. What little attention remained was centered on neglected Lunar boomtowns with constant worker agitation warranting semi-permanent Peacekeeper stationing.

Of course, to a kid, the shiny blue helmets and calm demeanor of would-be oppressors gives off an impression more akin to knights in armor of azure and alabaster. Riding steeds with treads for hooves and soaring above with wings of steel, the noble Peacekeepers were a key inspiration for Ilsa's decision to join the AFUN. That and her family's crippling corporate debt.

A stint on Mars here, a posting in Tranquility there, even the odd posting in the Belt, the AFUN Marines were eager to deploy their non-terrestrial detachments all over the Solar System with how varied the environments of 'everything that isn't Mother Earth' could be. Ilsa's knightly head-cracking even earned her a leading position in the AFUN Marines - 22nd Special Purpose Brigade, meant for peacekeeping that the rest of AFUN preferred not to sully their hands with.

Of course, even with all her gallivanting across humanity's width and breadth, Ilsa could never forget her home. A few corporate casualties during peacekeeping deployments on Luna always eased the pain of seeing her home ignored for the land of wine and honey that everyone claimed Mars would be.

Which was why she was absolutely delighted when the UN got into a tussle on Mars and couldn't help but hold in her laughter when Earth's sacred project bit them in the ass hard enough that they came yelping back to the Moon to lick their wounds.

Now, Luna could guide the tides of Earth's fortunes just as she always had. As she was always meant to be.

[If Chief Commissioner] - It was quite fortunate for Ilsa, then, that shortly before the onset of hostilities that the AFUN and the administration had deemed it necessary to expand security operations around key individuals should the commotion on Mars grow to be larger than expected. Sadly, even she could not prevent the unexpected terrorist bombing on the Chief Commissioner and accompanying entourage. At least with lines of succession intact and the situation warranting an emergency, Ilsa could claim position as the Chief Commissioner of the Earth Sphere Space Colonies, at least until the emergency was over. Wouldn't want to worsen the situation with another change in leadership, hmm?

[If Ace] - Ilsa almost felt some sort of solidarity with the rebels when she arrived on Mars. How could she not? Corporate dogs, long having gourged themselves on the worlds beyond Luna, finally getting their just desserts? Unfortunately, they'd taken it a bit too far and gone ahead and declared hostilities against Earth itself. How glib, how could they keep the peace between two nations instead of one? That wouldn't be peacekeeping, that'd just be war. And war sounds much less chivalrous than going around, saving the innocent, and keeping the peace. Better to put an end to this now.

Political Affiliation: Peacekeeper Clique

Issue Opinions:

Raw Material Shortages: Finally, Luna can have its day! No more shall it be overshadowed by Belters or Martians! It shall play center stage in the war to come, fueled by the mines and factories left so forgotten by Earth!

The Panic of 2174: Bleh, when have the corpos ever had a good opinion on anything? Let's just take control of em, make everything better, and maaaaaaaaybe see about giving them their stuff back after the war. Some of it, anyways.

General Sphere Unrest: I'd forgotten you guys hadn't seen stuff first hand! Well, alls well that ends well. Eh? You guys are actually trying to fight back? Seriously, you guys want to go back to the old days of waging war and killing each other en masse? That's the message I'm getting from you anyways. Well, nail, meet hammer!

Military-Industrial Anemia: Well, at least now I know why I never had enough bullets in the field. You guys get a choice. Either make me the bullets that I need or you get one between your eyes <3

Crisis in the Assembly: Oh sure, I'll wait around for a few forms signed in triplicate so I can deploy som-WRONG ANSWER! If I'm gonna crack heads, take names, and mine some rocks, I ain't waiting for some bureaucrat to make sure I can, I'M JUST GONNA DO IT! Besides, maybe I finally won't have to wait three weeks for orders to come down the line… actually that might still happen. Shit.

The Scapegoat: The Peacekeepers never abandoned Luna. They were there from her brightest moments to her darkest. I would know, I was there! Everyone else passed us by, but they always stayed. So, everyone else? You guys gotta go. They can stay.

Aedan777 · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Lt. Peter Addison

Appearance: Black hair, brown eyes, generic white guy.

Age: 22

Date of Birth: 21 May

Desired Role: Ace

Background: Some people join the AFUN because of family. Some do it out of desperation, a way to have certain income and basic needs met. And then there are those like Peter Addison who somehow hold an idealistic view of the UN and what its Peacekeepers stood for. Addison is not blind to the flaws of the UN, indeed he is often among the most critical of it within his social circles. However he believes earnestly that the path to a better government lies through internal reform, and the correct usage of military force to prevent conflicts without violence.

Addison's political views and interest in reform have very nearly brought his career to an end before it even began, but his exceptional skills as a pilot have so far kept him in the service. Privately some of his superior have expressed that discharging him might disillusion him and turn him from a potentially dangerous reformist, into an outright hostile radical.

Political Affiliation: Lean Federalist Party

Issue Opinions:

Raw Material Shortage- While the Asteroid Belt has the resources that Earth needs, it will take time to access them. Moreover, we must acknowledge that an endless desire for resources at any cost has led us to this present crisis. The UN must grapple with the methods by which we gain our resources to ensure common human wellbeing and prevent more conflicts like this from breaking out in the future.

The Panic of 2174- It is clear that greedy corporations and financial "experts" stole wealth and opportunity from hard working people across the breadth of humanity, and created a house of cards out of the economy. Our response must be two fold, directing relief to support those who have been most negatively affected by the collapse of the Ponzi economy, and taking safeguards to ensure that such exploitation and reckless management can never happen again.

General Sphere Unrest- The concerns of many citizens are based upon real issues and hardships they face. We must re-earn public trust and let the people know we hear and understand their pain. We can, and must, be better. If we can show that there is a path to peaceful reform and improvement, then we discredit violence as a means to effect political change.

Military-Industrial Anemia- While corporate greed and exploitation has seen immense amounts of graft that leaves the UN militarily weakened, we must grapple with what our military is meant for. Prior to the Martian rebellion we have not faced peer threats, and so our military and its high levels of spending did not benefit the public, only military contractors. We must rethink our methods of use and organization of our military.

Crisis in The Assembly- The Assembly is not and never has been a democratically elected body. This is a failing that should be corrected. Now is the time more than ever to do away with the outdated model of the Assembly and replace it with a truly democratic body. There will be those who cry about "emergency measures" and the need to take shortcuts in a crisis. This is the same sort of high handed idiocy that led Oliviera to suspend civil liberties and ignite this crisis. We must do better, and not in some nebulous future, but now.

The Scapegoat- There is no scapegoat, no one person or group that can be blamed for this. Secretary General Oliviera and his cronies are only the tip of the iceberg in a failing system of unelected bureaucrats and corporate sycophants. It is understandable that Martians, and many others, have risen up in protest in response to the fundamental injustices of the UN order, even if some members of their coalition take matters too far. The path to a reunited and mutually prosperous humanity begins with admitting and rectifying the many faults of the current UN regime.

Amoeba The Flash · Nov 8, 2024

-Character Sheet-

Name: Zhu Ling 朱灵

Appearance: A slightly short woman of Chinese descent. She always has a faint smile that never touches her eyes, Ling is always dressed professionally as if coming or going from a board meeting. A quiet and patient air around her, you feel like you could tell her anything.

Age: 35

Date of Birth: 20/5

Desired Role: Administrator, Intelligence Director, Commander

=}Background:{=

Ling's parents came to Mars, riding a wave of economic investment in the red planet during The Good Years and following the promise of opportunity on the red planet. Though for her part Ling grew up in the austerity era of the 2140s. As a child she never really understood what could have ever seemed so promising about Mars that people would leave Earth to come there. As a teenager, Ling lost her parents to industrial accidents in light of the loosened safety standards in the wake of the International Court of Justice's ruling. She fell in with the Free Mars Movement, helping engage with civil disobedience and agitating for rights. With the death of Parker she fully supported the Movement taking a more militant stance. While she herself did not participate in combat directly she contributed mostly in helping organize people and materials in the fight against the UN.

With Martian Independence she has fallen in with the Red Cosortiumists, the economic message being very appealing to her and their solutions seeming very reasonable and good for meeting the moment. Though she respects the Edenites having gotten to know a lot of them in her time with the FMM. She does not hate Earth and their people, but sees an independent Mars in all respects as the only way to achieve peace and prosperity for the Red Planet. Interactions with Earth cannot come from a place of need or desperation if they want to ever move past the moment.

=} Political Affiliation:{=

Red Consortiumists officially, but is sympathetic to the Edenites, mostly isn't convinced their views aren't achievable in the here and now with war on the horizon and

=} Issue Opinions {=

Food Insecurity: Agrees with the party line that Mar's best chance at solving the food insecurity is trade with Earth. Mars needs a greater supply of food and Earth has that food. Rationing and having home gardens are stop gaps and Mars lacks the ability to effectively raid Earth for food. A greater agricultural base is a goal to strive for, but in the short term buying food is the simplest.

Restrictive Industries: Argues it is more profitable for the long term to pursue new technologies as the Edenites desire. Copying Earth technologies is likely to result in us just being a poor substitute to them. Whereas unique specialities are something to be used for future potential trade after the war.

The Terraforming Project: Argues in favor continuing the Terraforming project. Even if Mars wins the war against Earth, the relationship will always be in Earth's favor if humans cannot survive on Mars independently.

A Martian Identity:Argues only that Martian Identity should be built on more than opposition to Earth. Martian Identity needs to be based on the culture and people of the planet. Not just a hatred of our enemy of the moment, Earth.

The Nature of The Independence War: Agrees that it would be best to simply make the war as costly as possible for Earth. Peace should be made an attractive option for everyone involved. Making the war as unpopular as possible for Earth's civilian population will be good, this war can stop as soon as they stop and we should give them every incentive to stop.

The Armed Forces Question: Agrees that drones can be an effective method for combating earth forces without risking Martian lives. The arguments for transhumanism are appealing, but she sees that option as more long term where as drones as more proven and immediately effective.

Eyeless Wannabe · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Dunladi Sainmelus

Age: 39

Date of Birth: 25-10-2135

Desired Role: Director of United Nations Intelligence Agencies, United Nations Chief Commissioner to the Earth Sphere Space Colonies, Commander

Background:
"I strive for the day when our mortal form can stand beneath the skies of any planet without fear or apology."

"If you'd like, I can summarize my background for the sake of the file.
My name is Dunladi Sainmelus. I am 39 years old, 40 in October. I was born in a Caribbean refugee & resettlement community in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The day I turned 16, I was assigned to a work detail in the asteroid belt. Being in space was hard, but it straightened me out. And, I will say this; it. Was. Beautiful. Seeing the Eye of Jupiter from the port window… that'll change a man. It sure changed me.

I've spent most of my life in space. I was commended for my work detail, soon became a foreman. After an… incident during an asteroid mining venture, I realized that I need a change in career. I took my savings and went to school, on Mars if you'll believe it. Did some training, took the civil service exam. Honestly, younger me would be ashamed to know that I had gotten into politics. How times change

The war… Is it fair to call it a war yet? This is a waste. The sooner Mars is brought to it's senses the better. Independence is a distraction. All boats rise together. We need to stop thinking in terms of us and them, Earth vs. the colonies. We have to look beyond. Internally & externally, we must surpass the old ways of thinking.

Oh, yes that. I'm currently in a new phase of life, trying to raise my nephew, Logan. He's 9, surprisingly very into plants these days. His mother & my sister, Lovelie, was crew aboard a ship at Diemos. Logan… has taken the loss hard. As have I. Lovelie was the only family I really kept up with. I am… not used to being a parent, especially in these circumstances. I'm spending a lot on nannies sadly.

But anyway, back to politics. The war is a distraction from the real effort. Let me take you back to Jupiter for a moment. You know what I felt, staring at a storm larger than the Earth itself? I felt small. Jupiter, surprise surprise, is big. The Solar System is massive. And the Galaxy? Incomprehensible. That's the first lesson of Jupiter. The second is that he'll kill you in two seconds flat, along with basically everything else out there. I've seen it first hand, man was not meant for space. But it doesn't have to be that way forever. Humans can always adapt. When it was cold on Earth, we learned to 'augment' our skin with animal furs. It's the same now, we just have more options available to us. Mr. Gallagher's thoughts on these subjects are excellent. I just wish he'd focus less on the philosophy and more on the practical."

Political Allegiance: Virtual Ascensionist, with Federalist & Edenist sympathies

Issue Opinions:
Raw Material Shortages - Hard work is good & all boats rise together. Limited quotas are acceptable. But if Earth can bear the burden, that's preferable.
Panic of 2174 - It does amuse me to see the money men go down in flames. Just wish they wouldn't take the rest of us with them. The sad reality is that dreams of a moneyless future are still dreams for now. Some measures have to be taken to help the common people.
Sphere Unrest - The anger is justified. It's the actions that aren't. Justice will be had, civility must be restored. But not in that order.
Military-Industrial Anemia - Mr. Gallagher is at his most convincing here. Technological solutions bypass both the old corruption and the logistical hurdles. Anything less is inefficient.
Crisis in the Assembly - As I often find myself, I agree with Gallagher in principle but not in execution. Step 10 can't come without step 3. Reform is needed, concessions made. Then we can talk about a democracy of technology.
A Scapegoat - The old guard and their corruption bear the blame. If it were up to me, I'd throw every one of the Trilaterals out an airlock.

Furrybacon · Nov 8, 2024

Secretary-General of the United Nations Amihan Rashminga
'The Martian Question is the last flailing twitches of the corpse of the National Era. There is only one direction forward for mankind.'

Age: 62

Date of Birth: 1.1.2108, Selene City

Desired Role: (1) Secretary General of the United Nations

Background:
For as long as Amihan can remember, she has been devoted to the idea of a United Humanity, of a United Earth. Ruthless and uncompromising, Rashminga has developed a reputation of a political viper unconcerned with the norms of the Trilaterals - but so far, All investigations into her use of private security to intimidate or blackmail have failed. A vulgar woman who has risen through the ranks of the United Nations as a body, dancing between alliegences through a careful trade of favors and intellegence. Her Public reputation has been muted, but anyone in the halls of the UN building can feel her presence, an inplaccable force which has dodged the traps of the Commission or any other faction who would stifle her growth. Higher and Higher, Rashminga would soar.

By the time of the Battle of Deimios, Rashminga has slithered her way into the role of Deputy Secretary General through a series of ruthless manuvers, convienent resignations, and alliances with the Federalist and Blue Dot Parties. As the increasingly public voice of reform and discontent, Rashminga was well postured to force a resignation from the Trilateral Commission's man for the incomprehensible losses taken above the Red Planet. Hands clasped to the presiding chair of the United Nations, the viper known as Amihan Rashminga made her position clear.

'The Martian Question is but a symptom of the larger problem, of the failure to truely unite Humankind behind common cause. There is too much at stake to to allow this question to ensure the extinction of the Human Species. We are at the dawn of a New Epoch, of a Universal Century, and Sol will march into that bright future as one.'

Political Affiliation: Political Viper (traditionally partnered with the Federalists)

Issue Opinions:
Raw Resource Shortage
We wouldn't be in this fucking mess if we'd used the last four fucking centuries of industrial organization to figure out we were doing it incorrectly. The Question must seek a positive resolution, but the expansion of Asteroid economics will be crucial bost in the short and long terms.

The Panic of 1974
Up and down and up and fucking down. The UN must take it into its own hands to engage in economic reform that allieveiate the panic.

General Unrest
For once, Harrington has said something of value. The Universal Century must not be born in the blood of innocents, but there will not be allowed a question on the direction we undertake. One Sol, United, on the path of a new Era.

Military Industrial Anemia
There will be a fucking reckoning. And when I am done reckoning, then the coffers will open. And they will understand that.

Crisis in the Assembly
I am the answer to the crisis on the Assembly.

Scapegoat
Anyone who doubts I am the answer to the Crisis in the Assembly.

nachtingale · Nov 8, 2024

Name: Jiang Zhiyi 蔣直义

Age: 50
Date of Birth: 24th of November 2124

Desired Role: Director-General of the United Nations Mandates of Pan-Asia, Director-General of the United Nations Mandates of Afro-Eurasia

Background:
What makes a man a man? A stable job? A family? To Jiang, it means cementing a legacy of his own, away from the shadows that haunt the name he bears.

Born on a most auspices of days, the first son of the Jiang Family in twenty years would be greatly celebrated as a revival of the fortunes of the dying breed of Chinese nationalism, the waning days of a movement 130 years dead in the dirt. The last clarion call of the Dragon Resurgent, a white star upon the blue sky, all of those hopes and dreams would be placed on the shoulders of the young Jiang Zhiyi. Bred to become the symbol of Chinese Liberalism, the young boy would dutifully follow his parents teachings, even as it all went out the other ear.

By 18, instead of being enchanted by these absurd thoughts, he would instead immediately leave to join the UN Peacekeeping Corps, a firm stalwart for the unifying goals and structure of the United Nations and her Mandate, he would become her finest hunting dog, personally overseeing the integration and suppression of the last remnants of Earthbound nationalism, snuffed out like the failed project it was. The blood spilt in those years of the establishment of the Mandate would become payment for the position and high-regard he now holds amongst those of the modern philosophies, and the eminent target of nationalist terrorism.

To Jiang, however, this is not enough. After all, if the Generalissimo could be President, why couldn't he?

Political Affiliation: Peacekeeper Clique

Raw Material Shortages:
Mars must be crushed for the UN to survive.

The Panic of 2174:
The problem of the current day is not one that can be solved by free market capital, it erodes the human spirit, makes cattle of workers, and must thusly be directed by the United Nations to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity for all.

General Sphere Unrest:
Guns, tanks, and bombs.

Military-Industrial Anemia:
The civilians cannot be trusted to manage the current crisis. They make talk of reducing waste and increasing efficiency, yet all I see is more dead peacekeepers. Centralization and direct management are the only logical answers to these issues.

Crisis in The Assembly:
Too slow, too cumbersome. It must be ridden of before it becomes a third front in this war with the Martians.

The Scapegoat:
Nooses and firing squads for all responsible.

Archon of Ghosts · Nov 9, 2024

Name: Oscar J. Anders

Age: 38

Date of Birth: 7th of June 2136 ; L2 Cluster Oberth

Desired Role: United Nations Chief Commissioner to the Earth Sphere Space Colonies, Director-General of the United Nations Mandates of Afro-Eurasia, Commanding Officer of the 4th Combined Elements Group

Background: "It is one thing to ask for representation from Earth, it is a whole other matter to raise arms against it."

From a young age, Oscar's parents encouraged their children to partake in after-school activities, primarily in the hopes it might improve their employability later on. While his siblings pursued sports or academic fields, he pursued gardening. While neither his family nor his classmates understood what he saw in the activity, Oscar became fascinated with the subject.

While relatively innocuous, it remained a hobby of his as he pursued his studies, graduating from Von Braun College with an Economic History degree, and a healthy herb garden that he gifted to his professors. Despite his optimism, he struggled to find stable or fulfilling employment, pursuing short-term contracts across Luna and the Colonies, until he was swept up by the centenary celebrations of the Colonial Enfranchisement. Embracing the patriotic fervour, he chose to descend to Earth, where he grew to lament the state it had fallen to, yet also began to take an interest in governance. After all, for a garden to truly bloom it must be carefully nurtured.

Seeking to give back to the planet that had given humanity its home, he plunged into his work. In the span of a decade, he saw repeated promotions, both conventional and horizontal, climbing at a breakneck pace across the UN apparatus. Lucky connections and the occasional well-timed statement saw him gaining favour with it coming to a head with the rise and fall of the Oliviera Cabinet.

[If Chief Commissioner or Director-General] Having risen to the seat of Director that same year, the collapse of the Oliviera Cabinet also took his superior and a lot of his colleagues down with it. Oscar, having risen quickly and through a few favours, was amongst only 4 directors to not be directly or indirectly implicated, and the only one that was never under suspicion. While his youth and inexperience was the cause for some reservations, he was elevated on a provisional basis until a suitable replacement could be found or he proved himself in the position.

[if CO of the 4th CEG] His string of promotions had taken him across military logistics, where he was then assigned as a staff officer to the 4th Fleet. With the Oliveira Cabinet expecting a swift defeat of the rebels on Mars, the 4th would be required to maintain order around Mars and had been provisionally enlarged with additional combat and staff elements for a second wave deployment once the orbitals were secured. When the reports returned, however, the 4th CEG collapsed about as quickly as the Oliveira Cabinet. With most officers lost in action, demoted for negligence, or seeking to transfer out of what they perceived as a sinking ship, Oscar pushed himself forward.

Political Affiliation: Federalist, sympathetic towards the Blue Dot Society

-Raw Material Shortages: The Earth Sphere needs the minerals if it is to recover economically and militarily. Rationalising production and the cold restart of mining within the Earth Sphere are only temporary solutions for a long-term problem. Seeking new sources in the Belt and verifying the deposits on Luna are but the first step on this long road to recovery.

-Panic of 2174: Most of the immediate panic is the result of the current economic collapse, but one cannot ignore the faults that were left within the UN by design. The solution lies in economic reform and recovery, which we must approach with an eye towards the future to prevent such a catastrophic result from occurring again.

-General Sphere Unrest: Rebuilding public trust is paramount if we are to enter into a war footing against the rebels of Mars. Acknowledging the issues of transparency and beginning reforms from the top down while coordinating with "grassroots" issues will grant us the stable footing from which order can be restored throughout the Sol system.

-Military-Industrial Anaemia: The military industrial complex has taken itself as too big to fail for too long. Their competing programs consume vital raw materials in this time of crisis that could better be used elsewhere. Having them justify their existence or face closure would free up resources for civilian recovery and allow us to streamline their numbers to a more manageable level while granting us potent levers of control.

-Crisis in the Assembly: The Earth Sphere is enfranchised for a reason, and it is not so that a General-Secretary may rule by decree. While those that walked out did so for moral reasons, it would have been better had they called for a vote of no confidence and forced the matter. As it is, we must pick up the pieces, reconvene the Assembly, and restore the functioning of the legislative.

-Scapegoat: Oliveira and his collaborators inflamed the Martian problems and sought to clear the way for their enrichment by force. It is the corruption in the heart of the Earth Sphere that has to be excised and proper protections established to prevent their reintroduction.

Easter · Nov 9, 2024

Name:Jane Rosa

Age: 26

Date of Birth: 8/2/2144

Desired Role: Administration for any of the ground-based sectors

Background: The Rosa family is a hard family with a long tradition of military service dating back well before the climate crisis gave the UN power. Officers and pilots have been near one and all for hundreds of years, which makes for what can be called expectations within the family.

Unfortunately, Jane is not a woman who met those expectations, it would be more accurate to say she flew into the face of them. First, she scorned the tales of heroism or skill that her family so adored. Instead, she would rather read books with cool-looking buildings or history. It was odd for the family, but not enough to be too bothered over. The next break from tradition was much greater though, those books on history and engineering led to an interest in how society worked, both from its physical in the form of buildings or machines and politically in how or why societies did what they did. This led to Jane going to a school of arts instead of the military academy that the Rosa's practically ran, a distinct break of tradition her family did not support by any means. This led to Jane having to pay for the school via scholarships, not easy when by all metrics your family is rich which disqualified a significant amount of potential scholarships, and the help of the friends she made amongst the other modern aristocratic youth. But the best humanities college in Europe is not cheap, due to a combination of tuition, student supplies, or in the cost of living. It took a considerable amount of effort, luck, and just a dash of trickery to scrounge up the money to get through college while also passing her classes with flying colors. Especially since some of her family's ambition ran through Jane's blood, instead of going for just a degree in political science, which allowed her to study history while still being more useful for her goals, she also went for a degree in engineering so that she could follow her twin passions.

Luckily for Jane, it seemed that her grit had impressed some of her family, not her parents or grandparents, of course, but even an uncle or aunt within the Rosa had the money and influence to act as patrons for what Jane needed to do next. Next being to join the military, which while by no means her final goal it was a vital step in getting there, her true goal as a politician needed both prestige and backers directly within the UN political and administrative system. The first requirement was easier, if there was one thing everyone loved it was the knight of the modern battlefield, also known as fighter pilots. So Jane signed up for a commission in the UN forces as a pilot.

Luckily what connections she had with her family got her through the limited recruiting pool for pilots easily. Though after that it was up to her, The Rosa' had a strict belief in not helping their own through training well-liked or connected they were. The family would get her the shot, but would never shoot it for her. Luckily for all her preference towards peaceful pursuits, the Rosa military competence ran through her veins just as much as their ambition, she matched the PT requirements, blitzed the technical lessons, and found that she took to dogfighting like a fox in a hen house. Which helped dull the edge being so abysmal at the cqc courses the instructor held that she ended up near dead last and somehow got suplexed by a girl her own size, simply put she was glad that melee skills weren't a disqualifying testing standard. But with a passing grade in every, important, category Jane was soon shipped off on her first patrol on the patrol vessel Gallant, on the hunt for pirates and smugglers around the edge of human space.

Most of her deployment was rather average, catching the occasional smuggler, inspecting independent freighters, and showing the flag to remind everyone the UN was out there patrolling. But there were times when Jane got to really see why the Peacekeepers were out here, the first time was just the aftermath. A cored mining freighter had to be impounded and cataloged, this is where Ruby saw her first corpse and the horrors that the more insane pirates would subject their victims to. Luckily the next two incidents were caught mid-attack rather than arriving too late. The Gallent's fighter and war frame complement being disgorged as quickly as possible to ram straight into the pirates' makeshift and outdated forces. Neither incident could have been called a true battle, but it was close enough for Jane to win a number of merits on her record and bloody herself in combat. But the young pilot left these fights with one more thing, a burning hatred for pirates.

But what would truly define her service in the peacekeepers would be near the end of her tour in space, on a regular freighter inspection the seemingly normal independent ship suddenly had pop-out turrets activating and started ripping into the caught surprised Gallant and especially her hanger bays. It was only due to Jane tinkering with her fighter's settings that allowed her to survive the sudden depressurization of the hanger and the launch without the turrets ripping her apart.

But even once out of the killing zone that was the hanger it was a desperate set of maneuvers to avoid the pirate's turrets and the fire from their frames, but her survival and sporadic counter fire is exactly what the Gallent needed to recover and start shooting back. The purpose-made warship might of taken a sucker punch but she was built to handle worse, and it showed when the pirate's up-gunned ore freighter was floating chunks within the hour.

Her commander's glowing review and request for a medal for Jane's actions caught the attention of both her family patrons and the news, which pushed her name to the front pages in her homeland of Germany and in sections of Europe. In one fell swoop giving her the prestige and the backing she would need to pursue her goal, something she wasn't expecting to get for another tour or two. But she wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Once she was done with her service term, luckily pilots only needed to serve two years as long as they agreed to be in the reserves for six more, she used her old connections, newfound prestige, and family name to be appointed as an a sub-administrator, where she served for a few years until the Deimos incident. From this, she used the sudden chaos to call for the dismissal of the corrupt and disliked administrator of her overall region and replace him. She would say things are looking up, if only war wasn't on the horizon, and said war had already taken someone she cared deeply for.

Political Affiliation: Transhuman Federalist

Issue Opinions:
Raw Material Shortages:
The Federalists have the right of it, we must accelerate plans for asteroid colonies, but importantly this time the colonists must be treated as true members of the UN rather than how the Martians were treated lest we create yet another enemy for ourselves. Alongside this Rosa believes that massive recycling programs be launched amongst the junkyards and trash heaps of earth, while inefficient and limited in their gatherable resources this should help take the edge off of the shortages we will face in the coming months.

The Panic of 2174:
Both the Commission and the Federalists are right in their own ways, measures need to be taken to alleviate the strain on the most hit by this disaster and those that flaunted the UN regulations need to be punished for their misdeeds, but at the same time, this is not the time to throw large amounts of new rules onto our economy without each being carefully judged. For their positive and negatives, but such analyse would distract from dealing with the war at our gates. So for now we deal with the immediate consequences and punishments, new regulations can be brought up if they involve the war, but otherwise should be paused until after the initial crisis is over.

General Sphere Unrest: First things first, we must show the population that what was done in Mar's was not what UN condones but was rather the doing of the local governors and corporations. This can be done by gathering the colonial administration that was able to flee mars and put them on trial for their crimes, alongside their corporate allies.

Any groups that do not settle down after that are to have one of three things done, they are to be arrested if they are violent or otherwise breaking the law, and they are to be politely reminded that they can vote in local elections if they feel strongly about the matter if they are on earth, and colonial groups that are currently not able to vote will be promised that a system will be implemented on their station's for such elections shortly.

Military-Industrial Anemia: It's rather simple, its time to wipe the slate clean. The Fourth fleet will be made up of entirely new contracts, where each arms company has to fairly compete against one another in a transparent competition put forward the best middle ground of affordable and effective equipment, ships, and other items to earn the contract. Alongside that, any new purchases will need to go through the same process.

Crisis in The Assembly: Oliviera and the Justice are to both be publicly put on trial for their actions, not only for the obvious crimes but also for the charge of treason against the UN alongside the murder of the Martians and Earthers that died due to their escalation.

The Scapegoat: Oliviera, the Justice, the previous colonial administration, and the more obscene corporations that were part of this should all be put on trial for their individual mistakes and misdeeds in this matter.

Nerdorama · Nov 9, 2024

Name: Milan Atwater

Appearance: A tall, thin Martian of vaguely Eastern or Central European descent, with brown hair and gray eyes. Numerous small scars on his face and a tendency to cover his arms and hands that likely hold many more. Has a tendency toward a perpetual smirk, which is either reassuring or terrifying depending who you ask and when you ask them.

Age: 29

Date of Birth: 11/11/2140

Desired Role: Intelligence Director, Commander, Ace

Background: Some men are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them, and some just show up in the right place at the right time with a great number of friends with automatic rifles. The scion of slumlords and casino owners in the warren-like downtown of Freedom, Milan Atwater refused his family's lifestyle of petty organized crime in favor of the slightly more lucrative organized crime of joining one of Mars's innumerable private security companies. Brilliant and clever far beyond his (lack of) formal education, and perhaps more than a bit sociopathic, Milan climbed the ranks of the Rust Services Company with an easy smile and a knack for urban guerilla tactics and countertactics, all while stuffing his brain full of essays on strategy and modern political rhetoric to rise above his "station". While nominally opposed to most of the base of the Free Mars Movement, by the time of the actual revolution he was one of the first of Mars's PMC officers to see the writing on the wall and desert the Martian Colonial Authority in favor of the FMM - a combination of pragmatic skin-saving and sheer admiration for the will and desperation of the Sons of Ares.

Milan and the RSC veterans he brought with him were major assets in the revolutionary violence throwing off the MCA, coldly fragging former allies in the name of providing security to the people - not that they hesitated to liquidate MCA collaborators that other revolutionaries might have called "the people". Colonel Atwater (who gave him the commission is unclear, he probably just started calling himself that) was renowned during the revolution for the same brutal focus on effectiveness and efficiency that he had been as a corporate mercenary, but the same easy smile and brutal efficiency that kept him earning promotions before now kept him rising in the ranks of the revolution. He'd picked the winning side, and damn well intended to keep it winning.

As the initial hostilities grew to a close and a true Martian state began to form, Milan Atwater, ever the survivalist rat, sought out a place to make himself indispensible to the new regime. Falling in with the clique of officers and would-be stratocrats forming around Gloria Santangel, the highly-decorated revolutionary war veteran found himself able to parlay his wartime successes into a large and far more legitimate command commission, or, potentially, to apply his intuition and brutality to the cause of defending the revolution as its intelligence director. Either way, his ambition won't be checked by something as simple as Mars gaining de facto control over its own sphere; he's on a hot streak, and he plans to ride it all the way to the top.

Political Affiliation: Spartanian Militarist (has claimed to be a Radical Parkerite Republican, a Son of Ares, and apolitical basically arbitrarily in the past).

Issue Opinions:

An abundance of food, relative to their new population levels, is the one true advantage Earth holds in this conflict and our future relationship. Earth's bounty needs to be taken, in one way or another. However, even in the most ancient times when soldiers were paid in loot, an army still needed to support itself. Bread tomorrow cannot feed soldiers today, and it's the appropriate role of those who aren't fighting to feed those who are, so this "victory garden" scheme sounds reasonable to me.

Obviously, building up Martian war industry is of paramount importance before anything else, and the state should focus all efforts on producing the most efficient and effective weapons - War-Frames. A single-minded focus on producing war materiel in the most cost-effective fashion will be more than enough to send the UN toadies packing, to say nothing of the historical benefits of a war economy for bootstrapping industrialization. Have you ever heard of a man named Josef Stalin?

On one shoulder, I have Miss Santangel making very salient points about the expense and costliness of this project. On the other, I have all the eggheads from the Eden Project to rely on for weapons and logistics research. Personally, I don't care as long as the UN doesn't decide to doom the whole planet by attacking the Magnetoshield.

We love our "hard times make strong men" historical truisms here, don't we? But let me let you in on a little secret. It's not context, or genetics, or ideals that make people strong or weak. It is will, ambition, envy for power. The strong are strong because they are motivated to be strong. And the Martians are the most motivated humans in the universe right now. We will take our due from Earth and correct the balance of power, as revolution always does. Miss Santangel's visions of a new stratocratic aristocracy are one way that can look, certainly, but pretending anything is permanent or certain is the same hubris that will allow us to overthrow Earth's hegemony and replace it with our own in the first place. Ambition and adaptability, that's what will carry us forward.

This war won't end until the United Nations lies broken and defeated and whatever collection of atavistic nation-states replaces it bends the knee to Martian authority. Though separated by tens of millions of kilometers of vacuum, Earth and Mars are simply too interdependent to ever hope or even desire that the UN will simply leave us be, both too vulnerable to perfidy and retaliation. The die is already cast; we must replace Earth's hegemony with Mars's to have any chance of true freedom.

There are two things that need to happen for Mars to win this war in the long term - professionalization of the army, and advancement of War-Frames. Militia and distributed networks are all well and good for overthrowing corporate colonial companies and making the planet ungovernable by UN bureaucrats, but facing the full force of the UN Peacekeepers is going to require an equivalently disciplined and trained army, using equivalent technology - and since matching Earth battleship for battleship isn't going to happen, we'll rely on the War-Frame's technological edge instead.

Mobile Frame Gundam: Red Rising (A Gundam-esque Hard Sci-Fi Narrative Wargame)

Smol Birb

Smol Birb

Been Better

The Sky will be as it was meant.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Passing Flan 布丁魔王

Giant Monster All Out Attack

Obscure Roman Emperor

We are all guests upon the land

Unserious, Unsane, Unsure where I am

20. On that "honk, mimimi" type beat everyday.

Servant of Rome

Laziest lazier