New Illumina Republic

History

The Illumina Republic did not fare well during the General War. A spirited attempt to become the planetary hegemony was undermined by acrimonious bickering among the general staff, several risible blunders, and a fundamentally incoherent strategic vision socialists, pacifists, democrats, relativists and other manifestations of treason and cultural decadence. In the decades since, the postwar democracy signally failed as a system of government. More time was spent without a functioning parliament than with. No less than three currencies (the old Republic Lira, the New Lira and then the Illuminan Lira) were passed through. Most chillingly, the unions increasingly looked to the Dominion of Amilith for inspiration, and militancy rose. Thankfully eight years ago, the Leading Light National Organisation took power and formed the New Illumina Republic. Their programme of national renewal and illumination through exaltation of the great Illuminan values, advancement into the bright future, and excision of subversive and traitorous elements has transformed the Republic, and will surely go on to transform the world.

A new day is dawning. A man-made sunrise.

Culture

Illuminan aesthetics is fundamentally political. While for a period following the War the republic saw a flowering of a multitude of expressions and ideals, the Leading Light require all citizens to give themselves over to the glorious advance of the nation. The public and private spheres have been fused. A historical cultural focus on light and illumination has become a participatory panopticon that reviles secrecy (except where useful), privacy (except for party leaders), and 'lies' (but not 'political truths'). A constant stream of propaganda and LLNO takeover and expansion of civil society organisations . Art is expected to focus on speed, energy, light and the national glory. Conservative elites are placated with references to 'foundations' and old traditions being restored in 'revitalised' form, but there is no mistake to be made: the Leading Light seeks to transform the whole of society, root and branch.

The most prominent colour is white. Green of plants and Boliron skin, pink of sakuradite, claria blue and shining gold and silver are also seen.

Government

Illuminan politics is fundamentally aesthetic. While the nation makes gestures towards the ability of science to illuminate truth, it is ultimately concerned with emotion and appearances, and regards these things as the fundamental organs of society and history. Illumina failed because it was confused and decadent, Illumina will succeed because it is clear-eyed and strong. Never mind what it is looking at so clearly. This purity of vision is maintained not just with propaganda and permeation of society (see Culture), but with violence and vanishings directed at anyone who threatens the state - or even looks like they might, or is too closely similar to those who do. Even the elites who put the Leading Light into power are now cowed.

Illumina presents an image of vigorous, unified power, but in reality the nation is chaotic and divided between old state and new party organs of power. Lines of authority are confused and bureaucracies are uselessly duplicated. The only thing known for sure is that all roads of power lead ultimately to the Luce Principale, Rosa Marinetti. Only the constant forward momentum keeps things working: the thrust to war is not just desired, it is necessary. If the nation pauses to look down it will fall, and on some level its leaders know this.

Notable leadership figures besides Marinetti include Mario Andretti, Marco Anna, Amalia Grolli and Antonio Sant'Elia.

Leading Light or Leading Light-inspired parties are often found in nations suffering political deadlock, left-wing insurgencies or national humiliation (preferably all three).

Traits

Boliron majority

The Republic has a majority Boliron population, with a Terion subculture and Gamiron elite from the Imperial years. Lepiron, Apoion and Nekmion minorities also exist. The Leading Light has no explicit racial ideologies, but it is rooted in a typically Boliron concern for electromagnetic radiation as a symbol. Everyone else is expected to get with the programme - and most have.

People's War

Later historians would ask, how did so many fall under the spell of such madness? Illuminans will often insist that they didn't really support the regime, but were too scared to speak out, and this has become the polite consensus of later years. Equally popular is the appeal to a unique and irreproducible pathology in postwar Illumina. But perhaps in the end it is 'civilisation' that is madness, and the Leading Light illuminated the true nature of man.

Republican Guard

You better believe it.

Zones

Points: X
Industry: X
Upkeep: X
Materials

Claria: X

Sakuradite: X

Adamant: X

Sildron: X

Atma

Atma Province is a vast network of rock and forest linking Ultima and Omega provinces.

X x feature

Y x feature

Ultima

The three major asteroids Smeraldo, Rubino and Diamante dominate the Ultima Province clusters.

X x feature

Y x feature

Omega

The far end of Atma tails out into looser rock and wilder lands.

X x feature

Y x feature

Military

Points: X (X IP)
Upkeep: X/X

X 'Whiteshirts' foot brigades
These militias were instrumental in smashing traitors and subversives and bringing the Leading Light to power.

(+0) political

(-0) unprofessional

Army of the Republic

Ax Warrior foot brigades
12 I, 3 P, 3 A, 2 U batch
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+1 sakuradite integrated artillery

+1 adamant helmets

Bx Dragoon cavalry brigades
12 I, 3 P, 3 A, 2 U batch
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+1 sakuradite rockets

+1 adamant cladding

Cx Machina armour brigades
12 I, 3 P, 3 A, 2 U batch
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+1 sakuradite main cannons

+1 adamant armour

Dx Sentinel AA brigades
12 I, 3 C, 3 P, 2 U batch
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+1 claria electronics

+1 sakuradite missiles

Mx Type 8 troop transport
9 I, 3 A, 1 U batch
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+1 adamant armour

Nx Type 9 marine assault ship
9 I, 3 A, 1 U batch
Flavour text

+1 adamant armour

Navy of the Republic

Ux Dark Knight-class prowler
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+1 sakuradite torpedoes

Vx Lucid Eye-class destroyer
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+1 claria active wave detectors

Wx Magnificent-class heavy cruiser
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+1 adamant armour

+1 claria cosmodrive

Xx Lighthouse-class escort carrier
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+1 sakuradite interceptors

+1 claria scout craft

Yx Resplendent-class battleship
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+1 sakuradite heavy shock cannons

+1 sakuradite light shock cannons

+1 adamant armour

The Star Blazer Legion

Noted for their futuristic white uniforms, and for the discipline that keeps them spotless.

Ax Solar Storm marine brigades
15 I, 6 P, 3 C, 4 U
Elite landing troops.

+2 sakuradite mobility

+1 claria electronics

+0 republican guard

Bx Meteorain cavalry brigades
15 I, 6 P, 3 C, 4 U
Vroom!

+2 sakuradite engines

+1 claria electronics

+0 republican guard

Cx Super Nova armour brigades
15 I, 6 P, 3 C, 4 U
Boom!

+2 sakuradite engines

+1 claria electronics

+0 republican guard

Sx Ultraviolets marine brigades
15 I, 3 P, 3 S, 3 C, 4 U batch
...

+1 sakuradite mobility

+1 sildron stealth

+1 claria electronics

+0 republican guard

Nx Dawn Breaker-class marine assault ships
9 I, 3 C, 4 U batch
Suddenly!

+1 claria cosmodrive

+0 republican guard

Xx White Light-class light cruiser
12 I, 3 P, 3 C, 4 U batch
Smaller.

+1 sakuradite light shock cannons

+1 claria cosmodrive

+0 republican guard

Yx Shining Comet-class heavy cruiser
12 I, 3 P, 3 C, 4 U batch
Bigger.

+1 sakuradite heavy shock cannons

+1 claria cosmodrive

+0 republican guard

Zx Blazing Star-class battleship
45 I, 9 P, 18 C, 12 U batch
Woosh!

+1 sakuradite shockwave pulsar

+2 claria super cosmodrive

+0 republican guard

!x Dying Sun-class marauder
12 I, 3 S, 3 C, 4 U batch
Nothing to see here.

+1 sildron stealth

+1 claria electronics

+0 republican guard