Welcome to this Mecha Design Quest! This is a spinoff/companion quest to Solace and the Knights of Insurrection. This quest takes place in an original Space Fantasy setting, where an AU Earth and Humanity have successfully spread colonies across not just the Milky Way, but also into neighbouring galaxies. I need to create a boatload of mecha designs for that quest, and I thought it might be more fun to make it a collaborative process since I'm doing the work anyway!
Take part in this quest if:
You want to design big stompy robots (and occasionally other sci-fi military equipment). Mecha are mostly based on Battletech, Robotech and Votoms designs, but Gundam & Armoured Core influence is present too.
You want to see your collaborative mecha designs drawn and added to a growing folio of sci-fi hardware!
You want a quest with lighter narrative/character elements and a gameplay-focused experience.
You want to affect another quest's experience by creating mecha that can and will show up there.
Advance a mecha-driven style of warfare and develop unique innovations that will shake things up.
Enjoy figuring out how to blend somewhat hard sci-fi technology with magical innovations that defy conventional physics!
Project Knight - Mecha Design Bureau
Rules for Writing Apocrypha
Because we have some folks who are interested in creating their own pieces of side content, stories, images, write-ups on hardware, etc. I wanted to create a space for acknowledging and saving that writing in Threadmarks.
A great example is this post by @Magnificate (do you want this Threadmarked btw?):
I wonder, how secret are the specs of the mecha we and our competitors are building? What would an average in-universe mecha enthusiast actually see when looking at our stuff? Perhaps:
Thread: "Warthog Spotted in the Wild! New Deployment Near Kendari!"
User: IronEagle87
Posted: 03/14/20XX 10:23 AM
Holy smokes, folks! Just got back from the seaside near Kendari, and I saw it with my own eyes. Full lance of Warthog mechs! They were moving along the coast, probably on some kind of training exercise. The design is so aggressive, like a tank on legs. The paint job was this matte gray with orange highlights, and the top-mounted cannon is no joke. I managed to snap a few pics (attached below), but they were moving fast, so it's a bit blurry. Anyone else seen these in action?
[Attached Image 1]
[Attached Image 2]
User: GearheadJen
Posted: 03/14/20XX 10:35 AM
@IronEagle87 DUDE! Those pics are insane! I've been waiting for someone to catch a Warthog in the wild. The rumors were true — they're finally deploying them! That angular armor plating looks like it could shrug off anything short of a direct missile hit. And this cannon? Packing some serious heat! I'm so jealous you got to see them up close. Did you hear anything? How loud are they?
User: TheThreads
Posted: 03/14/20XX 10:40 AM
Oh, come on. The Warthog? Really? I'm not impressed. Yeah, it looks tough, but have you seen how slow those things move? From the videos I've seen, they're practically crawling. And those guns? Overkill. What are they compensating for?
User: IronEagle87
Posted: 03/14/20XX 10:45 AM
@GearheadJen They were surprisingly quiet for their size! The engines have this low hum, almost like a diesel truck, but way smoother. You could feel it in your chest when they got close, though. Definitely not stealthy, but who needs stealth when you're that heavily armored?
@TheThreads Slow? Maybe, but did you miss the part where they're basically walking fortresses? Not every warmech needs to be Zaibatsu-speed. The Warthog's built for heavy combat, not hit-and-run tactics.
User: NovaPilotX
Posted: 03/14/20XX 10:50 AM
@IronEagle87 Thanks for the pics! That armor looks THICC. I bet it's layered with some next-gen composites. And those cannons? Definitely railguns or something similar. No way they're using conventional artillery with that kind of turret design.
User: GearheadJen
Posted: 03/14/20XX 10:55 AM
@NovaPilotX Railguns? Seriously? That's a 152mm battle cannon, dude. It's the same one they've been using on tanks and artillery for decades. It's not some fancy sci-fi weapon. Do your homework before posting.
User: NovaPilotX
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:00 AM
@GearheadJen Okay, okay, fair point. But hear me out. What if they're disguising it as a 152mm cannon? You know, camouflage. Make it look like old tech so no one expects it to be something more advanced. Just saying, it's a possibility.
User: TinCanTony
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:05 AM
@NovaPilotX That's some next-level conspiracy theory stuff right there. It's a 152mm cannon. End of story. No need to overcomplicate it.
User: NovaPilotX
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:10 AM
@TinCanTony Hey, I'm just saying, you can't rule it out. Military tech is all about misdirection. Maybe it's a railgun, maybe it's not. But it's fun to speculate, right?
User: TheThreads
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:15 AM
@NovaPilotX Speculate all you want, but don't act like you know what you're talking about. That cannon's been around forever. It's not some secret superweapon.
User: GearheadJen
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:20 AM
@NovaPilotX I'll give you points for creativity, but come on. The 152mm is a proven piece of hardware. No need to reinvent the wheel. And honestly, if they were hiding a railgun, do you really think they'd slap it on something as obvious as the Warthog?
User: Kiril
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:25 AM
Guys, can we just appreciate how cool this is? A few years ago, warmechs were just sci-fi, and now we're arguing about real-life giant robots. This is the future we were promised!
User: IronEagle87
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:30 AM
@Kiril Preach! This is what it's all about. Whether you love the Warthog or hate it, you've got to admit it's a game-changer. I can't wait to see these things in action for real.
User: TheThreads
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:35 AM
@IronEagle87 Game-changer? Maybe. But let's not pretend it's perfect. That 152mm cannon might be impressive, but how practical is it in a real close engagement? And what's with the four legs? Seems like overengineering to me.
User: NovaPilotX
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:40 AM
@TheThreads The four legs make it more stable and harder to disable. And that cannon? It's not just for show. If things escalate—and let's hope they don't—that thing's going to be a nightmare for anything on the receiving end.
User: Kiril
Posted: 03/14/20XX 11:55 AM
Can we talk about the size for a second? It's not the biggest warmech out there, but it's still imposing. And the way it moves? It's like watching a predator on the prowl.
User: IronEagle87
Posted: 03/14/20XX 12:00 PM
@Kiril Exactly! The Warthog isn't trying to be subtle. It's built to dominate. And with that networked targeting system we've been hearing about, it's even deadlier when working with other units. This isn't a warmech for lone wolves, it's a team player.
User: TheThreads
Posted: 03/14/20XX 12:05 PM
@IronEagle87 Team player or not, I still think it's overrated. Sure, it's tough, but at what cost? The fuel efficiency must be terrible, and that four-legged design is just asking for maintenance headaches.
User: NovaPilotX
Posted: 03/14/20XX 12:10 PM
@TheThreads You're entitled to your opinion, but don't be surprised when the Warthog proves you wrong. This thing is a beast, and it's going to change the game. At least in terms of the little guys keeping up with the Feds and Zais. Mark my words.
User: GearheadJen
Posted: 03/14/20XX 12:15 PM
Agreed. The Warthog might not be perfect, but it's a step forward in warmech design. I can't wait to see what they do with the next iteration.
User: Kiril
Posted: 03/14/20XX 12:20 PM
This is why I love this community. We can argue about specs and design all day, but at the end of it, we're all just excited to see warmechs in action. Here's to the Warthog, may it live up to the hype!
I will be using APOCRYPHA Threadmarks to acknowledge any properly-written side content written by actual readers and posted in this thread. There will be no formal mechanical advantages in the quest for doing so as I don't want to create a way of gaming the system, but if people are okay with their content being canonized, I will find ways to reference and acknowledge their contributions within the story of the quest and it may help shape the future of the world and of Mechbuilding through that!
If you want to post a piece of side content and have it Threadmarked as Apocrypha, please just call out that something is 'Apocrypha Content' somewhere at the start of your post and @ me to make sure it is called to my attention and call out if you want some or all of it canonized.
I'll label it as Canon, Semi-Canon, or Non-Canon in the Threadmark based on your request and whether it has any conflicts:
Canon: This has no conflicts with other canon elements (or conflicts that do exist are mitigated via unreliable narrators and such). This is quality writing and with the author's permission, I would like to treat it as canon and reference it when appropriate.
Semi-Canon: This has potential conflicts with Canon elements of the setting, or the author of the content wants to keep certain elements for themselves (e.g. the name of a company or character they created!), but it's quality work and with the author's permission I will treat elements they are not keeping as canon.
Non-Canon: This isn't very canon at all – it doesn't keep with the mood/theme of the setting or contradicts key elements. I won't seriously reference it (or if I do it'll be in a tongue in cheek way). But it's fun and deserves to be acknowledged, and isn't that the most important bit of this equation?
If you want something to be canon and it has conflicts, I'll be happy to help– it might be easier to do if you privately message me.
Likewise, if you submit something as Apocrypha or want it to be canonized, then change your mind later and want the Threadmark removed or ask that something is no longer treated as Canon, I will do what I can to do so!
If anyone has any questions or ideas for how to do this better, please let me know.
Setting Information: Nations & History of EarthNew
Project Knight - Mecha Design Bureau
Setting Information: Nations & History of Earth
In the year S.C.0, a manned flight entered space for the first time. A primitive rocket-powered craft was launched from Nanfang (one of China's many Oceanic commanderies), carrying test pilot Fa Gao (发杲) beyond the homeworld's atmosphere for the first time. The North Atlanteans would follow just a few months later, and the Europans the following year. The ensuing Space Race would see humanity fling itself into the void with increasing desperation for over a century as the three great power blocs of the world remained locked in the First Cold War. Many historians credit the Space Race for acting as a release valve for competitive pressure between these states, and cite it as one of the primary reasons why the world never fell to Nuclear Armageddon.
Over time, technology was refined and improved - we began to colonize our own star system. First our moon, Selene, and then Demeter, before eventually Ares, the Moons of Zeus, and beyond. This era of early colonization and competition for resources came to an end with the initiation of the Last World War - a terrible and violent altercation between the Free Trade Compact, the Old World Allies, and the Global Revolution. The conflict ended indecisively - and mercifully shy of a nuclear exchange - but the damage to the world was nonetheless near-apocalyptic. Nearly two hundred million dead over the course of a decade and massive economic collapse - as well as the collapse of multiple government regimes and a reformation of the world order.
Humanity would repair itself in time, but realizing how close they came to the brink, the leaders of the world came together in a rare moment of unity. They signed the Treaty of Byzantion which declared the Homeworld Exclusion Zone - the oldest, most enduring, and most important active treaty. The original document stated that no human, state, or organization shall conduct an armed conflict against or on Helios III (Gaia), within its atmosphere, or against or on its satellites (including Selene). Restrictions on the amount of weapon systems and number of armed forces allowed on the planet were to be strictly enforced by the International League and backed by all treaty signatories.
It was a new era of optimism.
Just two years later, the Brythonic Space Agency would conduct the first successful test of a Nearlight drive, propelling a test drone at 0.72c, and marking the beginning of the second Space Race. This new technology would for the first time allow for the exploration and surveying of space beyond the Helios System. The first confirmations of alien life (albeit simple and unintelligent) would be found over the coming century, as well as the first habitable and terraformable worlds. Smaller exploration ships and hab-stations were built first, then vast sleeper ships designed to head for further-flung worlds. Humanity threw itself into space with a fervor, seeking to create a new history for itself, and on S.C.221 the first-ever permanent human settlement was founded in another star system by the Chinese Space Agency. They named it Faguo (发国) in honour of the first person to fly into space.
Since then, almost three millennia have passed, and humanity has spread across the stars at an unprecedented rate. Nearlight drives - once Humanity's primary method of travel - have been relegated to mere maneuvering thrusters. This is the age of FTL. Vast jumpstations form permanent teleportation points between settled systems, and intrepid exploration ships mount enormous, unbelievably powerful Warp Cores capable of distorting time and space to enable fast and dangerous travel through space, seeking out new stable locations to build jumpstations and extend humanity's reach. It is an era of unmatched exploration, and humanity has extended its reach across the entire circumference of the galaxy. The sum total of colonized worlds may now reach the millions - but no one is really sure, as the vast extent of humanity long since escaped its capability to track and document.
Closer to Helios, though, human civilization plugs on. Fiction's much-lauded planetary unification never came to be, and humanity continues to violently struggle and compete itself. Against all odds, however, the Homeworld Exclusion Zone has remained intact - its reach expanded to encompass not just the Earth itself, but everything within 100ly of Helios. While the peace is occasionally interrupted by insurgents, revolutionaries, criminals and the occasional hired mercenaries, the Exclusion Zone has succeeded at keeping conflict between the Nations to a minimum. Beyond the Zone, however, it's a dangerous free-for-all. Conflict over the colonies has often risked escalation, and only the constant effort of the Stellar Treaty Organization (STO) keeps the peace of the treaty intact.
Many weapons companies have risen and fallen in this era. Will yours be just another flash in the pan, or will you rise up to build a legacy for yourself?
Superpowers of Earth
The most prominent interstellar powers of Earth, these powerful nation-states are the primary dictators of politics in nearby space. They are likely involved in the fates of hundreds or thousands of star systems and are the primary drivers of the vast interstellar conflict known as the 'Great Game', whereby Humanity competes to carve up and dominate known space. Make no mistake - a Nation State didn't get to this point by being a moral and upstanding member of the galactic community, and they will do just about anything if it means getting an edge over their competitors. Superpowers have amassed so much wealth and power, they can be involved just about anywhere in the galaxy at any given point in time.
[North Atlantean Federation]
Founded in the proto-industrial age from the mass migrations of oppressed minorities (especially Angles) from Europa to Atlantea, the Atlanteans went from an obscure group of disgraced criminals huddled on the beaches of Chesapeake bay, to the third largest economy in the world within just two centuries. In a world torn with conflict and disgrace, the relatively underdeveloped lands of North Atlantea represented a new hope to the desperate, the poor and the oppressed. The natives of the continent did not always welcome them with open arms, but after being torn apart by Asian and European colonizers, the egalitarian and friendly migrants seemed a far better alternative. By the time the first Nearlight Drive was invented, the NAF had ejected every non-Atlantean from the Darien Gap to the Arctic Sea, and led Humanity in the great Interstellar Space Race.
Although once a bastion of the best of humanity, all things are corruptible, and North Atlantea now is hardly recognizable from its origins in antiquity. Although the State still holds power on paper, it is now ruled by vast Mega Corporations who carve out their own techno-kingdoms across space while wielding the 'legitimacy' of the NAF and its immense military might as a shield. People are given a high standard of living, self-determination, and access to education and a functional democracy - yet they live their whole lives in propaganda bubbles that serve to not only blind them to the less-than-savoury behaviour of the Corps - but to fully embrace it.
[Great Ning Dynasty of China]
The Ning Dynasty is the second oldest continuous human monarchy, and although it's no longer the hyperpower of its peak years, its name still carries weight and prestige beyond its capabilities. Known since antiquity as the 'Golden Empire' for its fabulously unmatched wealth, the Chinese have slowly lost relative power and influence over the last millennium to the endless corporate expansion of the NAF, but their technological prowess remains second to none.
The Ning Dynasty is a Technocratic Geniocracy driven by its national court exam system, obsessed with their own equivalent of the Platonic Philosopher-King. Since the days of their legendary founder (a cunning warlord by the name of Koxinga), the Dynasty has prided itself on its blend of proud traditions and cosmopolitan values, and the recovery of its economy from the Dark Age of Khagan Rule combined with the organization of widespread schooling and literacy programs helped the Dynasty to become the first country in the world to industrialize two centuries before the beginning of the Space Age.
[Workers' Union of Bharat]
Revolution. A word that once sang across the surface of Earth and the Stars - a banner carried by billions of souls truly and earnestly seeking a righteous cause. Bharat once sat at the head of a vast coalition of like-minded revolutionary states, forming the third axis of the Second Cold War. Having been formed out of a vast panoply of cultures and religions, the self-unification of the Indian Subcontinent was seen as nothing short of a miracle - especially after the interventions of the great powers failed to stop the Revolution from coming to power. Sadly, their dreams of a perfect society came crashing down as the corruption and greed of their leaders led to the instability and near-collapse of the union.
Now reformed, Bharat oversees a larger colonial population than any other power on Earth - and its industrial know-how is second to none. Its highly functional democracy is not burdened by the restrictions of corporate greed like the Atlanteans, or rigid structure by the Chinese - yet its own flaw comes in the conflict between its utopian ideals and human nature itself. Much as its founders once preached for an Eternal Revolution to uplift all humanity, Bharat still looks down on those who have not adopted its revolution - and still compromises its own ideals on a daily basis in the name of keeping parity with its rivals. As for the people of Bharat, those who aren't busy arguing about the purity of their own intentions gave up on any dreams of utopia a long time ago.
Great Powers of Earth
The Great Powers lack the all-encompassing reach to be recognized as Superpowers, but they are nonetheless important players in Space whose influence and importance is recognized even by the Great Powers. They are strong and stable enough to stand on their own, projecting power and control into the stars and avoiding the oppressive control of the Superpowers - at the same time, they are a step behind in the Great Game, and are forced to limit the scope of their active interests to one or two sectors of space at a time.
[Brythonic Commonwealth]
Humanity's oldest extant democracy, the Brythons long ago overthrew the Tyrant King Morgan II, declaring their ancient founder Arthur Pendric as King in Perpetuity - the state was entrusted to the Lord Protector, who was elected in a form of early Noble Republic. The Brythons would at their height control the world's second largest empire (behind only the Ning Dynasty) and with the help of its Chinese Allies built an industrialized economy that was the envy of the world. Brythonic Anglish would go on to become the lingua franca of the world, as the famously neutral mercantilists set the 'crown standard', becoming the world's reserve currency for centuries.
Today, the Brythons have fallen behind on paper, but are still one of the largest and most influential colonial portfolios in the galaxy. While they do not command the full military might of its larger rivals, or the endless wealth of the Megacorps, the Commonwealth's reach and soft power is second to none - and the fabled shores of Albion are home to potentially the greatest sprawl in the galaxy. The Brythonic Isles today stand as the Earth's fifth largest population and second highest population density thanks to the vast Megacity that stretches across its length and breadth. They should not be underestimated - and many argue that they are a Super Power in their own right.
[Pan-Mediterranean Union]
A confederation rather than a centralized state, the PMU consists of the Leagues of Southern Europe and Northern Africa, plus the Fertile Crescent states. Independently, many of these nations are Great Powers in their own right - together, they become a powerful force with influence across the entire galaxy. They have long been rivals of the Europan States to their north - in no small part due to the Goths' conquest of them in the Second World War and their subsequent rebellion in the Last World War. Relations have warmed since those days of antiquity, but competition between the two is still fierce and cultural and ideological differences between the two blocs often feel insurmountable.
The PMU espouses personal freedoms, equality, and self-determination, derived chiefly from the Greek League structure which provided the basis for representative democracy in the region. Like all nations they have seen their ups, downs, and ideological shifts and changes through the millennia - but of all the Superpowers, many feel they have compromised the least to get to where they are today. They are widely respected even by their rivals, and those that see them as friends are quick to rely on them.
Member States: Kingdom of Egypt, Hellenic League, Heracleian League, Istrian League, Kena'an State, Occitan League, Tanithian League
[Allied Europan States]
Also taking the form of a confederation, the AES is a more fragile and unstable entity than the PMU, having changed its membership and borders more than any other Superpower during the Space Age. Although the AES is a legitimate confederation on the face of it, most see it as little more than a glorified colonial empire for the aggressive and autocratic Emperor of the Goths, who traces his supposedly divine lineage back to antiquity.
It is no secret that the Wulfling Dynasty sees itself as the rightful ruler of all of Europe - but even it recognizes the folly of violating the Homeworld Exclusion Zone and risking mutually-assured destruction. Instead, it settles for fiery propaganda that does little more than aggravate and distance its neighbours. Generations of this has done nothing to change the status quo, only feeding simmering tensions.
Member States: Alpine Principality, Gothic Empire of Europa, Euskalion, Nordic Union, Union of Slavic Republics, New Arctic Federation
[Central African Union]
Often simply referred to as the 'African Union', this polity once united all of subsaharan Africa into a single federal state, but in the devastating aftermath of the Kessler Incident, it faced instability and civil war that resulted in the loss of most of its territory. Despite this setback, they still had access to the deep resource reserves beneath the Congo and the highly developed Chad Valley and Gulf of Guinea. It boasts some of the most well-developed colonies in all of space and works hard to restore its former reputation as a Continental Superpower.
[East African Federation]
Founded by a group of like-minded and culturally related nations in the post-colonial world order, the East African Federation has risen to become one of the two jewels of Africa. Once an integral component of the African Union, it declared its independence during the Kessler Incident and opted to go its own way in the development of space. The EAF is Earth's largest producer of civilian mecha, and ranks top five in the galaxy including offworld development sites - it has grand ambitions for the stars and has been ramping up its investment considerably in recent years.
[Federation of Oceanic Commanderies]
The vast extent of the Pacific and Indian Oceans became the site of fierce colonial competition between first the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians, and Arabs; eventually the Brythons, Goths, Heracleians, Hellenes and Romans would join this competition as each power vied for control and influence, and led their own settlers to the region as Chinese power waned due to instability and civil war. The Ning Dynasty would rise from this competition to eventually outcompete its rivals, unifying nearly all of Oceania under its banner and integrating the colonial settlements as full commanderies. The largest and most prominent of these were the Nine Stars of Nanfang, but it has numerous smaller island territories to its name as well.
After the NAF ejected the Ning from Atlantea in the Last Homeworld War, the Oceanic Commanderies became one of the Great Dynasty's last outright colonial territories. The Federation remains an independent dominion to this day, sharing the Emperor as their head of state and heavily aligning with the Empire's defence, economy, and foreign policy. They have a reputation for hardiness and grit, as well as a pride in their Chinese heritage that isn't often carried on by other former colonies of the Great Ning. They have played an active and important role in the exploration and development of space, with numerous colonies to their name that cooperate closely with other descendents of the Ning.
[Great Eurasian Khaganate]
A long time ago, the Turkish Hordes under Khagan Kurt launched a series of devastating invasions into Sassanian Persia. Although they caused significant damage, they failed to topple the Dynasty, which proved surprisingly resilient to the nomad tribes' incursions. Stymied, the Turkish migration moved west into Europe, sweeping aside resistance and conquering as far as the Rhine in the west. The Great Turk's power ebbed and flowed, but they remained one of the dominant powers of the world until their crushing defeat against the Goths in the First World War - the beginning of a long and painful decline as the old ways were crushed under modern industrialism. They transitioned well to the Space Age, but their ambivalent attitude towards urbanization and industrialization has carried over to space, where they became galactic leaders in the creation of mobile and fully autonomous "motherships" capable of traveling the stars. Their presence is significant despite having relatively few colonized worlds to their name.
[League of Southern Republics]
The most disparate yet oddly functional state in the New World, the League's territory was once divided amongst dozens of small European colonies, chiefly (but not exclusively) from the Pan-Mediterranean Union. They did not find unity until the Second World War, when the Europan Colonial Revolt led to a Pan-Atlantic movement culminating in the federalization of the various states. This uneasy union based its constitution and membership rights on those of the Mediterranean Leagues, and while most predicted the state would collapse into pieces, it endured beyond all expectations. The Andeans would separate not long after the League's foundation - fearing their native identity would be diluted - but the rest endured to become one of the most prominent powers of the space era.
[Empire of Eran]
Once the world's greatest Empire and the superpower of the Ancient World, the Persians never fully recovered from the revolt of the Greek Satrapies in antiquity, nor the subsequent invasion by the ancient Istros League led by the Macedonians in the Third Imperial Period. After overthrowing the Macedonians, the Sassanian dynasty established itself and has survived through to become humanity's longest continuous line of monarchs. Although Eran has long dominated the Middle Eastern region, the contemporary state became hemmed in by its rivals in the first days of the Space Age, forcing it to turn to the stars. There, it has proven to be one of the most successful and enduring patrons of galactic colonization by acting as a nexus and focal point for the investments of smaller Second Tier states across Asia and Africa, helping them find their way into space and working in close cooperation with them.
[Directorate of Japan]
One of Earth's greatest and most powerful empires following the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty, Japanese power waxed and waned throughout history until they went on to become the leading Superpower in the early Space Age. They built a reputation for advanced robotics and automation, but their success was mostly driven by the invention of the first Warp Drive, giving them an enormous head start over their rivals in the second wave of space colonization. Their highly efficient and productive economy saw the rise of the Seven Conglomerates (or Zaibatsu), who were given special favour and treatment to become the world's first true MegaCorps - and they were set loose upon the galaxy.
Their enormous success was unquestionable - but it soon became clear that the Directorate had created something it could not contain. With the vast majority of Japan's interstellar holdings in the hands of the Conglomerates, Japan itself has been relegated to the status of a declining, borderline second-tier power with no real control over the powerful Zaibatsu. There are many revanchist elements in society who believe the Shogun should be working to bring the Zaibatsu to heel and re-assert Japan's former status as a Galactic Superpower - but realists believe that window of opportunity has long since passed for them and that without outside help, such ambitions are meaningless.
Second Tier Powers of Earth
Most of the Nation States of Earth have joined the Great Game in one way or another - after all, the potential profitability of Space is incalculable. Second Tier Powers are those that have struggled to compete - their activities in space are typically limited in scope or sustainability as they do not have the capability to project power across a great many star systems at once. Even seemingly successful Interstellar Colonial Empires might fall into this category - such as the Kingdom of Kadiri and the Western Coastal League - simply because they lack the military might to independently defend their vast holdings without the aid of a Great Power. Because of their relative weakness, the Great Powers and Superpowers often vie for influence and control in these states; as a result, they are prone to greater instability, insurrections, and civil unrest.
Note: Second Tier States will only be filled in as they become plot-relevant as there are many of them.
[Amazon Republic]
The vast territory of the Amazon Republic stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, encompassing fertile coastal plains, vast jungles, and the high mountains of the Northern Andes. The Amazon Republic was founded during the early modern era by Europan settlers - chiefly Goths - who were convinced that a lost city of gold lay undiscovered somewhere within the vast jungles. They remained under the colonial rule of the Europan Empire until their defeat in the Last World War, when the North Atlantean Federation invaded and occupied the capital city of Manaos following some of the most audacious and violent jungle fighting the homeworld has ever seen. Although Europa was never truly invaded and occupied, the NAF occupied many colonies throughout the northern section of the continent, rebuilding into a single Amazon Republic and backing it with military force - both to liberate it from Europan colonialism, but also to build for themselves a powerful ally in the south.
Today, the Amazon Republic is locked into a cold war with their neighbours in the Southern Republics, who have long overshadowed them as the prominent power of South Atlantea. Border conflicts flare up every so often in violation of the Homeworld Exclusion Zone, but they are typically fought without weapons or as small groups of disguised insurgents. The real battles between these rivals are out beyond the Exclusion Zone in the colonies, where the two constantly plot and maneuver against one another. Although they are now fully independent of their former overlords in the NAF, they have inherited their benefactors' directness, ruthlessness, and business sense to become one of the strongest and most aggressive Second Tier States. They have been frequently sanctioned for their treaty violations, and are on the STO's watchlist as one of the nations most likely to break the peace in the Homeworld Exclusion Zone.
[Bethnar Republic]
Extending across the Mesopotamia region of Earth, this ancient and venerable region has been reduced to a shadow of its ancient power and prosperity. Until just a couple of centuries ago, the Bethnar region was an integral part of the Empire of Eran - now it is the youngest free nation of Earth following the devastating Erani Civil War. Through the past few millennia, Earth has been typically a safe and peaceful place to live - but a combination of ethnic, cultural and religious tensions flared up in time with a sharp downturn in the Erani economy following the collapse of its major colonial project in the Centaurus Rim. The more the Erani tried to crack down, the more civil disobedience turned to violence - until the Earth saw its first new war in centuries.
Although internal conflicts were not technically a violation of the Homeworld Exclusion Zone, the STO treated this incident as a crisis of the highest level. The violence continued under their watchful eye for two years before stalemate ensued and the international community was able to negotiate a ceasefire. After almost two decades of tense negotiations, the Bethnar Republic was eventually recognized as a free state, and reorganized into an Arabic-styled Democratic Republic. Since then, the Bethnar have struggled to build influence and holdings in space, and the state is known for a relatively high level of corruption and incompetent leaders that have mostly wasted the opportunities their independence earned them.
[Kingdom of Kadiri]
The people of Java once ruled an empire that stretched across the eastern archipelago of Nusantara. They gained immense fame and reputation when they defeated the Mongol Yuan Dynasty's Combined Fleet at the Battle of the Strait, putting a permanent halt to the Mongolians' southern conquests - an event that is often cited as a direct cause to the subsequent Japanese and Korean rebellions that toppled the Khan and allowed the rise of the Ming Dynasty. From there, they gained a reputation as skilled sailors and formed alliances with exploring European powers that lasted until the fall of the Ming. After the Golden Age of Exploration ended, the powers of Asia eclipsed Java and it went into decline.
They were initially minor players in the Space Race at best, piggybacking on the success of first the Ning, and then the Japanese Zaibatsu. Still, although they couldn't be called a true leader in space, their slow and steady investment eventually led to their rise as a prominent power in their own right. Countless Javanese trading outposts dot the Galaxy, and more than a few plants have been partially or entirely colonized by their endeavours, giving them a somewhat outsized degree of influence for an island on the homeworld. Although their wealth is significant, they do struggle sometimes to afford protection for their far-flung holdings as they constantly struggle to hold it together against pirates and colonial separatists.
[Sahel Alliance]
The Sahel states are less of a unified nation-state and more of a military confederation formed by a number of smaller semi-independent states in Western Africa. It is one of the newest Nations on Earth, formed after the Kessler Crisis resulted in the Skylift Collapse Tragedy - every state within the tropics was heavily affected by the rain of debris, and the prosperous states of West Africa would collapse into chaos and instability with numerous civil wars breaking out - the weakened African Union was unable to respond, and in its place rose a coalition of warlords that would restore the peace by force. Extremists and anarchists would eventually be forced to retreat into the Sahara, where the STO established the Sahara International Exclusion Zone as a lawless sector - the new states of the Sahel Alliance were recognized - with the Mande cultures of Mali forming the largest and most influential group.
Although centuries have passed and the Sahel Alliance has rebuilt itself, they are a long way from the former prosperity of the pre-Kessler states. They have inherited a scattering of interstellar holdings that remained loyal to their people, but most of their resources and efforts have been focused on Earth, where the ongoing war against the Sahara Forces continues as Earth's longest and bloodiest ongoing war despite the best efforts of the STO to stop the fighting. At this point, the cycle of hatred and fighting between the two groups has gone on for so long, it's unclear what will need to happen to bring peace to the region - or what would happen to the loosely-affiliated nations of the Sahel if they no longer had a common foe to fight.
Third Tier States of Earth
Defined as those nation-states which have no native ability to project influence or power into Space, the few remaining Earthbound countries are typically very reliant on the vast economies of the larger powers around them, but due to their lack of relevance, little effort is made to influence or control them. Ironically, despite being disparaged by larger powers for being 'small', 'poor', and 'unambitious', this has meant that the Third Tier states are some of the safest, most stable, and most pleasant places to live on the Homeworld since they have long since escaped the 'Great Game' that has spread across the Galaxy.
Note: Third Tier States will only be filled in if they become plot-relevant as they aren't very large or important.
Interstellar Nations
Although Earth and its surroundings are probably the wealthiest and most well-developed region in space, the sum of humanity across the far reaches of space is now magnitudes greater than the number who live on the Homeworld or its direct colonies. So vast is humanity that trying to document all of the various Interstellar Nations would be a Sisyphean task - for the purposes of this dossier, we will only highlight a few of the most prominent and important ones in the vicinity of the Homeworld.
[Zaibatsu Space]
The Japanese were once the largest and most successful interstellar empire in history, utilizing their technological edge and their position as a 'neutral' party following the Last World War to propel themselves to new heights in the Second Space Race. The Seven Conglomerates combined control vastly more interstellar colonies than any other power in known space - the extent of their wealth and influence is said to stretch across the galaxy. They left Earth behind long ago and headquartered themselves in the Pleiades Cluster, not far from the Homeworld Exclusion Zone. While formally they are subjects of the Emperor of Japan, they have long since broken their shackles, ignoring his divine mandate and the earthly laws passed down to them by the Shogun. The only factor holding them back from becoming truly unstoppable is their own divisions - each Conglomerate vies for power, authority and wealth amongst themselves, and while this internal competition fosters innovation and growth, it also prevents them from ever fully aligning their interests.
Despite their problems, the Zaibatsu are not just economically dominant, but present a formidable military force as well. They have frequently clashed with the other Superpowers of space and are not above utilizing mercenaries, pirates, and underhanded trickery to get one over on their rivals in the intense competition for control of space. Although in recent centuries they have been losing ground to their rivals, the recent development of the "Senshi", the first WarMech, is expected to change the balance of power and lead to a new era of conflict - one they hope to come out on top of.
[Sagittarian Colonial Coalition]
Centred in and around the Lagoon Nebula, the SCC was founded by colonists from various Earth nations, but in its early days proved to be too remote and difficult to access to easily govern. Over time, the colonists of the region began to feel neglected, and questioned why so much of their wealth was sent off to support interstellar empires that cared little for them. Declaring the Charter of the Sagittarian Colonial Coalition, they refused to sit back and allow themselves to be treated like pawns in Earth's game any longer. The ensuing war of independence was long and difficult, but after a few decades they were finally able to call themselves a fully independent state. The Sagittarians have fought many wars against Earth's powerful nation-states since then and somehow survived until now through the resilience and power of its ground forces. They are a second tier power at best on the Galactic scale, but as more freedom-seeking colonists flock to the Lagoon Nebula it has become something of a face for smaller independent powers in space.
[Arean Ascendancy]
The oldest independent state in space, the Arean Ascendancy was formed after the Last World War by a cabal of wealthy oligarchs who had once plotted to reshape the world order. Unable to see their dreams to fruition on Earth, they hoped to build a new kind of society on Ares - one with them at the helm. Surprisingly, they found no shortage of colonists willing to sign up for their vision, and in the power vacuum that existed after the war they took their chance. The settlements were small and tenuous at first, but eventually grew and began to prosper as they became a hub for mining and industry, producing supplies that the exhausted Earth desperately needed. Now Ares is heavily terraformed and although harsh, has become more or less livable - and the descendents of the original oligarchs have become a long-line of techno-feudalists calling themselves the gene lords and claiming to represent a superior branch of humanity, demanding the worship and obedience of their people and revelling in their own wealth and power. To those looking in from the outside, they're a delusional backwater, their wealth and potential wasted on vanity and their galactic influence making them Second Tier at best despite their many holdings across space.
QM'S Note: Second post with the next vote coming shortly!
