User:Zeromanicus
Heaven's Reach
"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 Alexia Duvochy, 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.
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 consentual activities and restrictions on non-consentual 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. The same is true of over instruments, such as healthcare. Education is the most egalitarian instrument within Orders, designed to maximise the potential of every individual.
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.
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.
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 and produce goods.
ORDERs
A Order is a Clan, a commune, a family. 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 do not belong to an Order persay, but reside and contribute to an Orders domain, only beyond a certain rank are you invited to join an Order as an Official member.
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.
Titles
Titles are important to Heaven's Reach, they are a reward and recognition of ability and achievement. They are attained as one's Military Index rises, often as a result of duels.
OVERLORD Ranks/Titles
7th Tier Head of Government and Head of State
6th Tier The 6th Tier are 5th Tier chosen to serve in the Ruling Council.
GUARDIAN Ranks/Titles
5th Tier
These are the leaders of a recognised Order.
4th Tier
3rd Tier
2nd Tier
1st Tier
HONOUR Titles
Honour titles are a recognition of true top tier ability and desire. While technically awarded for outstanding merit in battle, 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:
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.