User:Zeromanicus

The New Brussels arcology was a steep metallic mountain that rose defiantly from the ruins of Brussels, reaching over a mile in height. It was a armoured fist that pierced the bruised sky and the radioactive malaise that loomed within the dead atmosphere. Surrounding it were the crumbling remains of a dead civilization, scorched concrete and blackened soil that stretched beyond a grey horizon. The survivors of the war had crawled with all their remaining strength from the deep underground bunkers to make a determined mark on the desolate surface.

Abiodun Okeke appreciated that gesture, as did most earthers. As he looked out towards the arcology he found he couldn't make out the finer details like the tactical landing pads, or observation bubbles from his vantage point several kilometers distant. He turned to the soldiers in hefty excursion suits around him, “We're quite far out aren't we”

“Aye, close to the romeo sectors” grinned the soldier, his face visible behind the bubbled visor on the large mechanised suit. To Abiodun the suits looked like white hulking gorillas with their oversized chests and long arms sitting on relatively smaller legs. The suits through were not actually top heavy, much of the mass was layers of adsorbent radfoam.

“Ever been in a red zone Mark?” Abiodun asked the young soldier.

The soldier stopped grinning, the rifle held in the smaller shorter of the four arms swayed as if to indicate disagreement “no sir, volunteers only and well, I,ve heard bad things from tho..about those who come back”

Abiodun felt he'd poked too hard at the soldiers bravado, though it interested him. “if you don't mind my asking, what have you heard?”

“I'm afraid Abiodun, that it's not my place to tell you” the soldiers voice was tinged with sadness

Abiodun wasn't here to delve into haunting war stories, as a Political-Military liason he was embedded with units to give a non-military perspective and act as political oversight on a local level in units too sensitive for the media. Some regarded him as a Inquisitor, Political Officer or just a overpaid busybody. He was in truth, some of the first two. He tended to down play the level of military training he had received and give the impression of being just a political man, though some units could recognise his training in his posture and attitude.

He regarded the arcology again, thinking of the millions of people who lived and worked within it's protective shell. New Brussels one of the capitals of the Euro-African Union, along with Isandlwana in the remains of South Africa.

The soldiers were on patrol, a mix of direct human verificaiton of sensor data and keeping them used to working in the hostile environment. In the distance in the Romeo sectors, Abiodun could see the invaders remaining structures, unusally shaped with a firmly unnatural yet organic geometry that made discerning details difficult and size impossible, the brain itself would struggle to orient itself and soldiers often found themselves becoming nausous.

A message icon flickered into view buzzing in a angry red tone indicating its urgency. He opened it with slight thought and a cryptic briefing began to bounce around his inner thoughts as if the words were his own.

“Mr Okeke, we should talk. Report to Prosperity” Okeke checked the sender and all it chimed back was 'Mr Malcolm'. Prosperity he thought, why send him all the way there for a briefing?

(add section detailing journey to gate?)

The Einstein-Rosen Bridge in New Brussels was buried within the inner part of the arcology, behind an armoured shell pierced only by large arterial transport maglevs carrying both passengers and cargo between Earth and Point Io, EuroAfrica's secretive nexus of interstellar bridges.

Even Abiodun had no clue where Point Io actually was. It was he surmised, a disk shaped space station with a habitation ring on the outer edges and the Einstein-Rosen Bridge equipment on the inner sections. In all probability, it was probably nowhere near Io and he had no reason to believe it was even in the solar system. Despite his position, he didn't need to know the details. As soon the Maglev train passed through the bridge into Point Io, it transferred onto another line leading to Prosperity, Abiodun felt as if he were on some sort of interstellar underground railway.

Prosperity had been a barren world when humans first arrived, it's oceans lacked life as did it's soil. Some thought it quite a boring world, though tectonically active it had only one continent and few mountains of note.

The maglev came to a smooth stop at a public terminal at Elyssia station. The claustrophic interior of the carriage gave way to a broad expanse of clear and silver plasteel, holographic displays littered the walkways and the bustle of people surrounded him as he stepped onto the platform. Through the transparent plasteel on the roof he could see a clear blue sky that awed him with it's simple beauty.

He was directed to the aeropad via his neural optical display, it appeared as a blinking set of chevons. He turned it off, he could find his own way without such obstrusive waypoints. He felt it to be imbecilic mechanism that clashed with his sense of exploration.

The Flyer was a smooth white sphere with articulating ducted fans, Abiodun may of noticed the other more militaristic flyers sitting on the pads, but he was enjoying the freshness of the air engulfing him, breathing in an expanse of unfiltered atmosphere and they passed beneath his notice as he jogged to the waiting flyer.

Fully autonomous, it simply swooped into the air as soon as he was aboard, quickly accelerating over the gleaming white expanse of Prosperity's main urban centre. The buildings were elegant, tall and airy with balconies, open atriums, interconnecting walkways and parklands that were interspered and often inside or alongside even the tallest of buildings. Through he quickly noted the mass transit system of groundpods that often swept alongside many of the wider concourses many of the people were simply walking or riding between destinations, with a sky so wide and bright as this he did not begrudge them for enjoying a more leisurely pace of city life. The Arcology he had known all his life was quite different, busy tight corridors, packed trams and a constant frenzied rush of people. You couldn't bicycle to work in the arcology, you left your plush yet cramped quarters and were pressed into overcrowded stations that took you throughout the complex. To some it was comforting to be entirely envelopped by other people, Abiodun preferred more solitiudous environments. His profession often kept him embedded with small units in remote locations, that while desolate, often had a lonesome beauty to them.

Heaven's Reach

"Exhumanism is the game here.."

"It is clear that our creators, the scientists, the politicians, the nations, have not the strength of character nor wisdom of ages to realise the potential of their creation. Faced with the hysteria of the public, the moral panic of those few religious and the raw evolutionary fear of our superiority, they condemn us to the stars. Well fuck them, I do not recognise the authority of the weak, of the spineless to dictate to me. Let their DNA be their shackles, their morality their prison, let them be the chains that tie them down to earth, as we Reach For Heaven."

Lt Colonel Demidova, of the defunct Russian Federation Spetsnaz Augmentation Programme, quietly exiled to avoid a public relations disaster and notionally considered to of all gone insane.

Heaven's Reach was founded by the soldiers of 5th Brigade of the Russian Federation Spetsnaz, who had overgone experimental transgenic and cybernetic augmentation. Coincident with the troubles in Brazil, the project was discontinued over fears with the levels of augmentation and troubles with aggressive behaviour from the soldiers and heighted eccentricities due to their augmentations. They were quietly offered support for a longshot colony and shipped off world along with some of the science staff.

Society

Overview Heaven's Reach is a 'Militant Exhuman-progressive' society, modelled on a Hierarchy which places emphasis on individual achievement and ability. Particular emphasis has been placed on the role of the 'Warrior' in human existence, though respect is also given to the role of science, as such in the formalised class division system of Heaven's Reach, the class of Soldier and Scribe are given prominence above all others. Heaven's Reach is a haven to various human augmentative sciences, including variant cognition and a multiple of military orientated augmentation disciplines.

The Society is violent, minor activities of a violent nature are routinely overlooked and foreigners reminded to hire protection to avoid being caught up in Soldier Class squabbles.

Geographical Societical Influences
As a longshot colony, it falls strictly on neither the Russian nor Chinese arms, but maintains proximity to both spheres of influence, something which inflames tensions with the Chinese as Heaven's Reach supports various Exhuman movements, significant inter-cultural contact is maintained with chinese exhuman worlds and Heaven's Reach supports a large immigrant Chinese population, most famously enshrined in the Tien Lang Order, Heaven's Wolves.

Societal Beliefs
Heaven's Reach believe the individual has primacy and it emphasises individual rights and responsibilities despite it's structured collective system. There are no restrictions on consensual activities and restrictions on non-consensual activity vary by Order.

Heaven's Reach Exhumanism is primarily based on cybernetic augmentation and life prolonging treatments. An individual's first duty to himself and transgenic augmentation is seen as providing far less benefit than that of immediate cybernetic augmentation technology. However, despite this 'individualism' is it in human nature to form tribal groups and in Heaven's Reach Orders form the basic unit of society, internally competitive but cohesive.

The Role of Orders in Society
Generally Orders are fairly 'libertarian' in their policies towards populations falling within their domains. Though poaching the best people in their fields has lead to a slow expansion of benefits for those rising within the ranks of various Orders. Orders are always in competition to attract the best and brightest.

Socialised organisation exist only in a quasi-state, police forces are merely Internal Security divisions of Orders who's priorities are not weighted equally, but in order of their contribution to the Order, though all but the most obsinate order recognise the value of stamping out disorder. The same is true of other instruments of state, such as healthcare. You'll get the healthcare you deserve.

Education is the most egalitarian instrument within Orders, designed to maximise the potential of every individual. Offspring are not considered full individuals and are taken to boarding schools until the age of true individuality is reached, where based on their expertise scores, they are advised to join one of the three 'Classes'.

Social Mobility

Social Mobility is the function of the Merit Index. A Computer Algorithim devised to measure one's individual worth as a Soldier, Scribe or Artisan, though not mandatory, most Orders choose to use it. Many consider the system biased towards Soldiers, with Scribes coming second and Artisans last. This is probably due to the confrontational nature of the Soldier Class, who are able to quickly advance throughout the ranks if they demonstrate flair, where as Scribe and Artisan meritorious activities require far more time to develop.

Appointments are either automatic, or force a duel if positions are already occupied. Reach society heavily discourages notions of inherited ability or genetic ties. A Reacher has only one true family, himself and his cybernetics and one true friendship, that of his Order.

Societal Divisions

Heaven's Reach has a formal division system, based on expertise in various areas.

Soldier Soldiers are a member of the Warrior Class, proven in combat and sworn to a Order. They receive many privileges above that of unproven Artisan but are also held to a higher standard, life can be far more dangerous as a Soldier.

Soldiers are often involved in 'foreign' wars, mercenary contracts or on mission's for their Order.

Scribe Scientist are the scientists and Engineers of Heaven's Reach, they are responsible for researching, designing and producing new weaponry, genetic modifications and cybernetic augmentations.

Culturally scribes are often considered something akin to cryptic scientists, mad or otherwise. Even across Orders scribes maintain common cultural ties, the Honour titles for scribes are taken from greek mythological sources and such inspiration and references are common across designs.

Artisan Artisan , some 75% of the population are the last of Heaven's Reach. While at the bottom of the structural pyramid of society, civilians are usually no less well treated, they are the workers and pillar of society, responsible for what many in Heaven's Reach would consider the logistical underpinnings of the nation, running the Agriculture pods and fusion power stations, working under the Scribes to construct new technologies, produce and repair products.

Most Artisans are associate members of Orders and as such they tend to form a common bond across the entire nation.

ORDERs

A Order is a Clan, a commune, a family or as some foreigners would say, crime syndicates. They scheme, they plot and they fight. If Heaven's Reach were a Federal state, OVERLORD would be the Federal Government and ORDERs the states. They are the central organisation of society and form the basis of most activity. While Heaven's Reach is a society of free individuals and recognises man functions best for his individual self-interest, it also recognises it is in a person's self-interest to collectively pool their resources with like-minded individuals in order to further their own personal goals.

Most people are Associates of Orders, but true members but reside and contribute to an Orders domain, only beyond a certain rank are you invited to join an Order as an Official member.

List Of ORDERs

OVERLORD

OVERLORD is responsible for the leadership of Heaven's Reach, forming the grand strategy and managing external relations. A subset of OVERLORD is SENTINEL, the 'Official' Black Ops of Heaven's Reach, those who are rumoured to perform internal as well as externally directed operations. It is the 'Executive' Branch of the Government in so far as there can be one in such a unusual nation. It's purview is limited and most activities are left to the Orders to maintain.

Titles

Titles are important to Heaven's Reach, they are a reward and recognition of ability and achievement. They are attained as one's Merit Index rises, often as a result of duels in the Soldier class.

ORDER Ranks/Titles

Lord Maester/Lord Paladin/5th Index:

Senior Maester/Paladin/4th Index:

Maester/Ranger/3rd Index:

Journeyman/Senior Squire/2nd Index: Journeyman or Rangers are fully trained members of their respective Class.

Apprentice/Squire/1st Index: Apprentices, or Trainee's if Soldier Class are formal members of a ORDER, though the lowest rank.

Initiate/0 Index: Initiates are those undergoing formal entry to a ORDER. They are provisional and must pass an entrance exam.

HONOUR Titles

Honour titles are a recognition of true top tier ability and desire. While technically awarded for outstanding merit in battle, engineering or science, they are increasing a preresquite for advancement and placement in certain elite units. For instance, all SENTINELs are Exalt.

Soldier Titles:

Exalt Plus(Knight+)

Exalt

Scribe Titles:

Daedalus

Hephaestus

Heaven's Reach Geographical Information

Heaven's Reach was founded on the moon of a gas giant, JV-322. A cold world, it has a thin oxygen/argon atmosphere. It

Exhuman Augmentation

There are various levels of augmentation on Heaven's Reach, including the odd baseline.

Gears Gears are at the forefront of Exhuman augmentation. Many different types of Exhuman are encompassed, but in general Gears are mostly robot, usually just a brain stem in a case, plus a robotic body and they are often non-standard in the design of their bodies. Most would appear to be permanently decked out in power armour, as they often choose to integrate military hardware into their body.

Prominent types of Gears

Bots: More than half of their brain is non-organic, they are more robot than man in mind.

Sleevers: Some exhumans can afford multiple bodies, transferring their cyberbrain from one body to another.

Cyborgs: There's no fancy slang term for them, Cyborgs are you basic Heaven's Reach Citizen, a mixture of organics and robotics. While at the pinnacle they maybe just a cyberbrain and some spine, they are not considered Gears due to the verisimilitude of human appearance they often keep.

Transhumans: Transhumans are tolerated on Heaven's Reach, nearly all heaven's reach citizens have some form of basic transhumanism, high level transhuman augments are rare, as for the cost of the procedure, you can usually get a cheaper cybernetic upgrade. With most having the ideal of full body replacement, it's considered wasteful to spruce up flesh your only going to throw away later.

Baseline GTFO. There's a few baselines on Heaven's Reach, it's considered a transient state, even the top has those that rose from the gutter. Persistently baseline people usually get the cold shoulder and usually end up leaving... one way or another.