"outsiders who have a wildcard like potential that can tip the balance in case of conflict" How can they 'tip the balance' any more than the other nations? It is Empire and mini-ally (Torfan) versus Union and mini-ally(New Titan). Sure they could defect to supporting the Union, but New Titan could defect to support the Empire.
"They are also relatively safe from any repercussions and are worrying only of casualties and not territorial losses." Not quite. They control both ends of the only wormhole connecting the Second and Ninth Expansion Spheres. They can blockade the end in the Ninth Sphere, and easily protect their home territory. But their enclave in the Second Sphere is vulnerable, and that is a territorial loss they cannot afford.
"the Union are a mutual defense treaty which the allies are kinda are" A mutual defence treaty that now resembles a federal state (the allies did not federate at all). And a mutual defence treaty against Imperial Megacorps, which is more similar to the Axis powers motivation than the Allies.
"the Empire being highly aggressive expansionist seeking to expand their territory like the axis" The Empire is not a highly aggressive expansionist nation, it is the "sprawling feudal polity which first settled the Second Sphere". The Empire is seeking to reclaim it's worlds, not to expand. The Empire "has a well-developed network of trading partners and allies in multiple Expansion Spheres". The Empire is a diplomatic and trade based nation, with corrupt mega-corporations and nobles.
"they could theoretically could mobilize a large force that can assist the Empire if they decided to commit forces" That strongly depends on how much resources they have, all we know is "less densely populated space of the Ninth Sphere" which means they probably lack the manpower to create that large force.
True both nations can tip the scales but depends on their contributions Titan can give minor contribution while Torfan can contributed more compare to Titan. Also how is Torfan mini it is a major power in its sphere while only having enclaves here in this sphere so their contributions will be more significant if they decided to commit that is if not then they can only supply mercenaries.
Yeah the strategic loss of an Enclave will cut off most of their trade here in this sphere but they still have access to other spheres and when I mean relatively safe I mean their production and population base still remains intact the ones here are merely enclaves which is a trade post to them so no major lost to them.
Well you do have a point in that but isn't the Axis motivation is more to work together to reclaim lost territory and protect against possible allied retaliation and not because of the imminent threat of being conquered by a large military power.
Wait I thought when it said first I thought it means the first to settle here not the one who colonized the entire sphere in the first place so that means the empire is the only one who colonized the entire sphere and there is no other colonizers in the sphere. Wow why would earth let a single power to colonize an entire sphere alone.
True on that they may have only less manpower but how less densely populated is the sphere is since it is only said that the sphere is less densely populated and not Torfan being less populated than the rest of the sphere and neither is their anything that said Torfan lacks manpower.
True both nations can tip the scales but depends on their contributions Titan can give minor contribution while Torfan can contributed more compare to Titan. Also how is Torfan mini it is a major power in its sphere while only having enclaves here in this sphere so their contributions will be more significant if they decided to commit that is if not then they can only supply mercenaries.
Yeah the strategic loss of an Enclave will cut off most of their trade here in this sphere but they still have access to other spheres and when I mean relatively safe I mean their production and population base still remains intact the ones here are merely enclaves which is a trade post to them so no major lost to them.
Well you do have a point in that but isn't the Axis motivation is more to work together to reclaim lost territory and protect against possible allied retaliation and not because of the imminent threat of being conquered by a large military power.
Wait I thought when it said first I thought it means the first to settle here not the one who colonized the entire sphere in the first place so that means the empire is the only one who colonized the entire sphere and there is no other colonizers in the sphere. Wow why would earth let a single power to colonize an entire sphere alone.
True on that they may have only less manpower but how less densely populated is the sphere is since it is only said that the sphere is less densely populated and not Torfan being less populated than the rest of the sphere and neither is their anything that said Torfan lacks manpower.
Titan is much smaller, but is located in the Second Sphere. Torfan is in a different Sphere, which creates a severe supply bottleneck.
"the strategic loss of an Enclave will cut off most of their trade here in this sphere" The loss of an Enclave will not cut off most of the trade, it will cut off all of the trade. The only way trade, warships, etc can travel from Ninth Sphere to Second is that wormhole. If it is seized on this end, then they have no other way to reach the Second Sphere.
"the ones here are merely enclaves which is a trade post to them so no major lost to them" That is an extremely major loss, the number of wormholes connecting Spheres are very limited. The Empire has two connecting to other Spheres. The Union has one connecting to the Origin(Earth) Sphere. And Torfan has the fourth and last wormhole. If Torfan looses that wormhole, they could be cut of from trade with several Spheres.
"Well you do have a point in that but isn't the Axis motivation is more to work together to reclaim lost territory and protect against possible allied retaliation and not because of the imminent threat of being conquered by a large military power." I am guessing this is in response to 'And a mutual defence treaty against Imperial Megacorps, which is more similar to the Axis powers motivation than the Allies.' ? If so:
Now, the Union is about defence from being conquered by a large military power. Originally it was defence against Megacorps, that means the Union resorted to military means to defend against economic attack (very big businesses exploiting the Union worlds). One of the motivations of the Axis nations was defence against economic attack (embargoes and trade manipulations).
"Wow why would earth let a single power to colonize an entire sphere alone." Did it?
If it did, maybe the Empire held the Terran wormhole and could control who enters the Sphere.
"not Torfan being less populated than the rest of the sphere" The entire Ninth Sphere is "less densely populated", that includes Torfan.
"Torfan lacks manpower." Torfan does not lack manpower, Torfan probably lacks the manpower to create a large force to fight in the Second Sphere.
Looks like New Titan will win.
I would much prefer to be the Admiral who retakes the Terran wormhole, but it appears the majority disagree.
Adhoc vote count started by Chrestomanci on Oct 2, 2018 at 11:33 AM, finished with 25 posts and 17 votes.
[X] Concordance of Torfan. You serve one of the Hundred Halls of the Great Concordance of Torfan. The largest government of the Ninth Expansion Sphere, the Concordance maintains a fairly sizeable enclave around both termini of the wormhole to their main space. Nominally an ally of the Empire and one of its primary trading partners, your country did not officially participate in the most recent war with the Union. It did however, provide covert support in the form of favorable trade deals and mercenaries.
The most accurate one sentence descriptor I can think of for Torfan's government would be a Oligarchic Republic - the leadership is elected, but both the franchise and the candidates are limited to those who are members of one of the established Halls (various powerful economic, military or social clades). A decent analogy might be the Italian republics pre Kingdom of Italy.
True but the fact that they are the largest government in the Ninth Sphere means they at least control a significant amount of that sphere meaning they have access to the majority of resources in that sphere unless they are really incompetent they could theoretically could mobilize a large force that can assist the Empire if they decided to commit forces. However that is only guessing unless we get more solid info then I would not dismiss them yet.
Torfan is a fairly large and developed nation (compared to New Titan, at least), but cannot match the Empire or Union in total industrial output. For a rough ratio/comparison (assuming wartime production, and only measuring output, not quality):
Industrial Output:
Empire: 1.0
Union: 0.9
Torfan: 0.45
New Titan: 0.15
Combined, Torfan and the Empire can out produce the Union by a fair margin. However, if there were to be another full-scale war, many of the border states or other nations of the Second Sphere might be drawn closer into the Union orbit.
Essentially, neither New Titan or Torfan are peer powers of the Empire or Union, but one is quite a bit larger than the other.
"the Empire being highly aggressive expansionist seeking to expand their territory like the axis" The Empire is not a highly aggressive expansionist nation, it is the "sprawling feudal polity which first settled the Second Sphere". The Empire is seeking to reclaim it's worlds, not to expand. The Empire "has a well-developed network of trading partners and allies in multiple Expansion Spheres".
I'll go a bit more in depth on the history of the two powers later, but both of the above viewpoints are correct (depending on your point of view), and this is one of the driving forces in the Empire-Union conflict.
Basically, the Empire (especially their more revanchist elements) are of the opinion that their original Colonial Charter (from back when Old Earth was first exploring the wormholes) granted them exclusive rights to the Second Sphere, and is of the official position that all opposing Second Sphere governments are illegal rebellions against rightful Imperial rule. This excludes those states which they allow to exist, or powers from other Spheres, of course.
Obviously, the Union (and New Titan) disagree with this position, and instead interpret the original charter as granting rights to the Empire's homeworld and immediately surrounding stars.
For a while, it didn't matter either way. Then some Imperial corporations decided the best way to deal with disagreeable colonists or demonstrations was with PMCs or Noble militias. The locals fought back, and things slowly escalated from there.
In reality, it's probably more complex than that one sentence summary (these things usually are). Still, it's rather funny to think that much of the conflict can be traced back to a 1700 year old legal document.
Titan is much smaller, but is located in the Second Sphere. Torfan is in a different Sphere, which creates a severe supply bottleneck.
"the strategic loss of an Enclave will cut off most of their trade here in this sphere" The loss of an Enclave will not cut off most of the trade, it will cut off all of the trade. The only way trade, warships, etc can travel from Ninth Sphere to Second is that wormhole. If it is seized on this end, then they have no other way to reach the Second Sphere.
You could slowboat it between the two, but that would be a journey of over a decade. Realistically, the loss of a wormhole would prevent meaningful trade from flowing for that particular nation.
On the other hand, attempting to block all travel through the wormhole night draw unwelcome ire.
That, and while wormholes are small on astronomical terms, it's not like ships are coming through single file. Most have apertures the size of planets, and while blockade running is unlikely, wormholes have been forced militarily on a few separate occasions.
"Wow why would earth let a single power to colonize an entire sphere alone." Did it?
If it did, maybe the Empire held the Terran wormhole and could control who enters the Sphere.
[X] Concordance of Torfan. You serve one of the Hundred Halls of the Great Concordance of Torfan. The largest government of the Ninth Expansion Sphere, the Concordance maintains a fairly sizeable enclave around both termini of the wormhole to their main space. Nominally an ally of the Empire and one of its primary trading partners, your country did not officially participate in the most recent war with the Union. It did however, provide covert support in the form of favorable trade deals and mercenaries.
As you stare out from the orbital elevator terminal at pale yellow skies silhouetted by lightning strikes and billowing dust, you cannot help but pull your brown trench coat a little tighter.
New Titan is not a welcoming world.
The cities are domed or underground, to hide from the stifling ammonia and methane atmosphere; to say nothing of the radiation and windstorms. While the atmospheric pressure and gravity might be similar to Old Earth, no human could live outside. It is a planet completely inimical to human life.
And yet, New Titan will never be terraformed.
It's too important as a symbol of the young republic's tenacity: a world the Empire bled for and yet could not hold. A world tamed solely by frontier ingenuity and can-do spirit. That New Titan owes much of its existence to others is of little import.
Even now, years after it was first colonized; the city of Amelia still bears traces of its industrial history. As you stride from the elevator terminal towards a waiting staff car you take sidelong glances at the nearby buildings. Staid and purposeful, with none of the grandiose architecture you would associate with many national capitals. The government center could still pass as the old mining facilities.
If the ride gives you anything, it's time to reflect, both on the planet and yourself. New Titan was one of many systems settled during the corporate colonization booms, originally as a ready source of complex hydrocarbons and the abundance of other resources.
For a time, aggressive mining and processing brought economic prosperity to the young colonies. Then, the easily accessible deposits were used up and the megacorps left. That left the remaining colonists virtually ungoverned for years, and those who remained on New Titan and the neighboring systems slowly built a stable economy and social structure.
Then, the Empire came.
The people of New Titan and the surrounding systems fought tooth and nail to keep their newfound independence. For years the planet under you was soaked in Imperial and Independent blood, but it was only the Union and the Treaty of Picard Station which granted the Border States de jure recognition.
As for you, you're:
[] A Rock Hound – You, like your parents before you, started life as an asteroid miner. Growing up amongst the black and hopping from asteroid to asteroid has given you an almost instinctive understanding of 3D movement that most dirtsiders lack. A series of textbook anti-smuggling operations granted you an early shot at command. On the other hand, being out in the black doesn't give the best social upbringing. You're in your mid-thirties.
+3 Tactics, +1 Martial, -3 Politics, -1 Intrigue
Begin with hand-selected staff officers from your days as a captain
[] A Rising Star – They say talent like yours doesn't come around often. While your background is uninteresting, your achievements certainly are. One of the youngest graduates from your class, you quickly advanced up the ranks through grit and tenacity, catching the eyes of your superiors. Your advancement to this post at only twenty eight was surprising though, and reeks of fleet politics.
+2 Strategy, +1 Charisma, +1 Tactics, -2 Intrigue, -1 Politics
You have institutional backing within the navy, but not much else
Your patron in the military command structure means that their reputation will be reflected on you
[] A Corporate Scion – While the megacorporations of the Empire may have limited influence within the borders of New Titan, there are plenty of other hands involved in the business of state. A child of corporate directors and political players, you attended the best schools and entered the military to play into a future political career. A few greased hands here and there have landed you a chance well before your time. Only just twenty, you lack experience but do have state of the art genetic and cybernetic enhancement (and the family fortune).
+4 Politics, +2 Charisma, -3 Tactics, -3 Strategy
Start with 50 bonus Political Capital
Begin with additional ships procured from your corporate backers
Your first allegiance is not to the republic
[] An Independent – You were a fighter in the independence movements long before Picard Station. The child of miners and workers who remained when the corps left your world, your talent and grit made you a hero of the movement. A founding member of the fledgling New Titan Defense Forces, you find there's still a wellspring of respect for your actions. On the other hand, fleet command is a far cry from the skills you learned on the ground. Age wise, you're nearing fifty, but even your limited enhancements will keep you spry for a few more decades.
+3 Martial, +3 Intrigue, -2 Strategy, -2 Politics
Start with 30 bonus Political Capital
Start as a Real Admiral
The time for reminiscence ends however, as your car pulls up to no. 12 Church Street – the military command center of New Titan, and by extension, the headquarters of the New Titan Defense Forces' military bureaucracy. The unassuming exterior of the building belies its importance, the real command center buried nearly two kilometers below the narrow windows and pale stone. You won't be going any further below the surface though.
Stepping through the front entrance, you remove your cover and pause briefly to look around the lobby of the complex. Like many of the government buildings, Church Street was originally a corporate office. In this case, the regional headquarters of Amari Heavy Industry. Of course, the corporate marketing and branding have been replaced with a series of small displays highlighting the various resistance movements against the Empire.
Glancing down at your comm, you confirm that a few minutes remain before your appointment. Opting to busy yourself with here instead of a waiting room, you take a brief look at the assembled trophies. On one side sits a holograph of the founding members of the resistance movements, as disparate as the worlds of the republic. On the other, the scarred and pockmarked dedication plaque of the HIMS Golden Eagle, sunk along with Admiral Thoreau and his fleet at the Verdan Drift.
Even if it's small, this room holds plenty of history, and it's the first time you've truly paid attention since:
[] Avalon Institute of Military Sciences – You attended the Avalon Institute of Military Sciences. AIMS is arguably the most prestigious military academy in the Second Sphere, and the one of choice for the central Union military. Students of this school are groomed from the start as potential flag officers, and it can claim countless heroes and statesmen amongst its graduates. You were one of the first students from New Titan to pass the rigorous entrance exams.
+2 Strategy
+ Affinity: Union of the Southern Cross
[] Point Barrow Naval School – You graduated from New Titan's homegrown military academy, Point Barrow cannot claim some of the more advanced curriculum that its peers offer. However, it does have a staff of experienced officers and a reputation for teaching plenty of tricks. The school focuses more on turning out quality starship operators than it does potential admirals.
+2 Tactics
+ Affinity: New Titan
[] Corvus Academy – A private institute operated jointly by several large corporations to staff their anti-piracy and mercenary operations, Corvus will accept anyone who can front its large tuition, which you could. There, students learned not only the military curriculum, but also economics and management. Corvus graduates, in some cases deservedly, have the reputation of being more at home in a boardroom than a battlefield.
+2 Charisma
+ Affinity: Corporate Interests
[] St. Gloriana Military College – You paradoxically chose to attend the national institute of an Imperial vassal state. Located far coreward in the Duchy of Pranton, on the opposite side of the Sphere, St. Gloriana prides itself on graduating well rounded officers. There you became as comfortable with philosophy as with strategy, to say nothing of having to navigate the often complex politics of so many noble students.
+2 Politics
+ Affinity: Imperial Border States
[] Hall of the Iron Wolves – You left the Second Sphere entirely, in order to accept a rare invitation from the Hall of the Iron Wolves. One of the larger military Halls in the Concordance, the Wolves are famed as mercenaries the galaxy over, and frequently turn the tide in the conflicts of the Outer Rings. Adhering to the ancient philosophy that "every man's a rifleman," the Wolves eschew subtlety in favor of excellent soldiery.
+2 Martial
+ Affinity: Concordance of Torfan
[] The Resistance – Your first time here was kicking down the door, rifle in hand, as Resistance forces stormed the building. While your "education" wasn't formal in any way, your time fighting in the shadows taught you the value of a knife in the dark.
+2 Intrigue
+ Affinity: New Titan
Still, as much as you'd like to reminisce about years gone by, a subtle vibration from your comm alerts you to the rapidly approaching meeting with your superior officers.
Heart beating with anticipation at your first real command, you briefly fix your name tag and insignia before heading towards the more secure parts of the complex.
Pausing at a security checkpoint, the attendant guard glances at you just long enough for you identity to register on his implants before snapping off a salute.
"Thank you,"
[] Sir
[] Ma'am
"and welcome to Church Street."
[] Name
=\\//=
Sorry for the delay. Work is going to keep my writing sporadic for the next few weeks.
That said, questions, comments and critiques are still more than welcome.
Since there are several options here, I would ask that you please vote via plan/block.
[X] Plan Pay To Win
[X] A Corporate Scion – While the megacorporations of the Empire may have limited influence within the borders of New Titan, there are plenty of other hands involved in the business of state. A child of corporate directors and political players, you attended the best schools and entered the military to play into a future political career. A few greased hands here and there have landed you a chance well before your time. Only just twenty, you lack experience but do have state of the art genetic and cybernetic enhancement (and the family fortune).
[X] Avalon Institute of Military Sciences – You attended the Avalon Institute of Military Sciences. AIMS is arguably the most prestigious military academy in the Second Sphere, and the one of choice for the central Union military. Students of this school are groomed from the start as potential flag officers, and it can claim countless heroes and statesmen amongst its graduates. You were one of the first students from New Titan to pass the rigorous entrance exams.
[X] Ma'am
[X] Rachel Morgans
[X] Plan Pay To Win
[X] A Corporate Scion – While the megacorporations of the Empire may have limited influence within the borders of New Titan, there are plenty of other hands involved in the business of state. A child of corporate directors and political players, you attended the best schools and entered the military to play into a future political career. A few greased hands here and there have landed you a chance well before your time. Only just twenty, you lack experience but do have state of the art genetic and cybernetic enhancement (and the family fortune).
[X] Avalon Institute of Military Sciences – You attended the Avalon Institute of Military Sciences. AIMS is arguably the most prestigious military academy in the Second Sphere, and the one of choice for the central Union military. Students of this school are groomed from the start as potential flag officers, and it can claim countless heroes and statesmen amongst its graduates. You were one of the first students from New Titan to pass the rigorous entrance exams.
[X] Ma'am
[X] Rachel Morgans
Edit:
I read the entire post again and now notice that if I go with this it makes the scion one of the members of the Resistance who helped liberate the planet wouldn't that makes scion one of the youngest Resistance members.
Edit:
Changing votes since my plan is unlikely to win. @Nevill would you mind changing plans to another since I am changing votes.
[X] Plan Browncoat
[X] An Independent – You were a fighter in the independence movements long before Picard Station. The child of miners and workers who remained when the corps left your world, your talent and grit made you a hero of the movement. A founding member of the fledgling New Titan Defense Forces, you find there's still a wellspring of respect for your actions. On the other hand, fleet command is a far cry from the skills you learned on the ground. Age wise, you're nearing fifty, but even your limited enhancements will keep you spry for a few more decades.
[X] Point Barrow Naval School – You graduated from New Titan's homegrown military academy, Point Barrow cannot claim some of the more advanced curriculum that its peers offer. However, it does have a staff of experienced officers and a reputation for teaching plenty of tricks. The school focuses more on turning out quality starship operators than it does potential admirals.
[X] Sir
[X] Malcolm Reynolds
If you give me half a chance to play Malcolm Reynolds, I'm going to play Malcolm Reynolds.
[X] Plan Firefly
[X] An Independent – You were a fighter in the independence movements long before Picard Station. The child of miners and workers who remained when the corps left your world, your talent and grit made you a hero of the movement. A founding member of the fledgling New Titan Defense Forces, you find there's still a wellspring of respect for your actions. On the other hand, fleet command is a far cry from the skills you learned on the ground. Age wise, you're nearing fifty, but even your limited enhancements will keep you spry for a few more decades.
[X] The Resistance – Your first time here was kicking down the door, rifle in hand, as Resistance forces stormed the building. While your "education" wasn't formal in any way, your time fighting in the shadows taught you the value of a knife in the dark.
[X] Sir
[X] Malcolm Reynolds
is it time to post the national anthem?
I must ask that anyone who does not want Plan Pay to Win to be the winning plan and who is not voting for Plan Browncoat to vote for Plan Browncoat, as Intrigue and Tactics are more important than Politics and Diplomacy. Also, the Rear Admiral rank feels like a better bonus than the additional ships and the additional 20 Political Capital that the Scion gets compared to the Independent.
Come on people, we can still do this! Plan Browncoat can still win this!
@ThatGuyWithIdeas dude what happen to SV tradition of starting from the bottom and working our way up. Also while I agree that intrigue and tactics are important why are you disregarding diplomacy and politics is it a dump stat.
