Space Orcs and Other Such Beings [M...?] (OOC)
Swearing, possible violence
Welcome to the 'xkjdhduushduh suhfuhauhdufhuggy yu' or in English, the 'Rooty Tooty Lightspeed Shooty'. The Rooty Tooty Lightspeed Shooty is a spaceship owned by the Universal Confederacy, a collection of worlds populated by intelligent life. Humans have just recently joined the Universal Confederacy and likewise, the advanced societies that make up the intelligent universe. The Rooty Tooty Lightspeed Shooty has been tasked to explore the more... backwater corners of the universe. Their mission is to map the stars, explore planets, and generally go on Sci-fi adventures. The crew is populated by mainly other beings, but there are a few humans on board.
Rules:
1. Normal RPA rules apply.
2. You can only be human. Sorry, you can't be any aliens. But this is the far future! Want robot limbs? Go for it! Jetpack? Hell yeah! Cybernetic implants that make your brain go 9 times as fast? Sure! Just no aliens.
3. Please use good grammar. I can't stand it if people have horrible grammar.
Spoiler: Character Skeleton
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Sexuality:
Nationality:
Physical Appearance:
Personality:
Quirk:
Job:
Skills:
Implants: (optional)
Other:
Spoiler: The Rooty Tooty Lightspeed ShootyThe Rooty Tooty Lightspeed Shooty is a medium-sized ship, with twenty bunks and twenty-five cryopods. It has an antigrav engine, a shield generator, a lightspeed engine, and two manually controlled lazer cannons. It resembles a large, white, headless albatross, where the head would be, is the cockpit. It has standard equipment, with a helpful ship AI named CLARC
Spoiler: CLARCCLARC is the ship AI. It's basically The Universal Confederacy's version of Siri. CLARC is an acronym,and it stands for Confederate Licensed Acting Robot Companion. CLARC has access to most of the ship, and interacts daily with the crew. CLARC follows orders and can do pretty much anything on the ship, provided you have high enough rank to do what you want CLARC to do.
Spoiler: Technological AdvancementsTech Name: Omni (MilSpec - Generation LVI)
Manufacturer: Seares Industries - Goverment Services Product Division
Rarity: Common
Appearance: 0.5" x 3.25" by 6" tablet with synthetic diamond touchscreen.
Intent: Ruggedized pocket-sized personal computer and audio/visual comm, rated complexity 3. Intended as a personal comm that can be loaded with training materials and approved entertainment programs. Marketed to military and police.
Strengths: Diamond-chip architecture allows it to operate in hostile environments without loss of function and radiation-hardened, can survive drops without shattering synthetic diamond screen/internal components. TEMPEST III shielding. Can be linked to most planetary/shipboard comm systems. Installed with Survival database, Rad Counter, Atmosphere Alarm, Watchdog Infrared Sentry program, distress beacon. 100 mile comm range. 8 day battery life, 24 hours continious streaming. 1 datachip slot. Can link with compatible devices.
Weakness: Signal is trackable, can be blocked by screening metal such as a faraday cage. Locked device, can only be updated by authorized system.
Tech Name: Augmented Reality (AR) Glasses
Manufacturer: Seares Industries - Entertainment Products Division
Rarity: Common
Appearance: Type I look like regular glasses and can be made into prescription lenses; Type II look like plastic impact-resistant safety glasses.
Intent: Multiuse device that has replaced personal phones and netbooks, links to city networks or systems and displays information as virtual screens, wearers can make phone calls and have limited interaction with virtual objects; most often used in gaming and visual entertainment.
Strengths: Allows the use of simple gestures - balling of the fist while extending the thumb and pinky brought up to the ear signals the intent to make/receive a phone call - user can specify who they are calling. Holding hands in front brings up a virtual keyboard for terminal mode. User can reach out to "touch" a virtual object to select it.
Weakness: Must be joined to a system or network to work. Cannot actually touch virtual objects. Some accidents where players have followed virtual objects into traffic or unsafe locations.
Tech Name: Sensie Suit
Manufacturer: Seares Industries - Entertainment Products Division
Rarity: Common
Appearance: A self-fitting bioplastic suit with hood and augmented reality goggles with belt-mounted interface module, comes with integrated datachip reader for offline use. Packs into a small case.
Strengths: Can be operated in stand-alone or multiuser mode. Allows user to feel an artificially generated environment. Micropores in the bioplastic allows the wearer to remain comfortable. Powered by two A cells.
Weakness: Originally marketed for full immersion gaming, it's more associated now as fetish gear. Lurid pornographic entertainment chips can be found by most sex venders.
Tech Name: Centurion Powered Combat Armor
Manufacturer: Mauser Tactical
Rarity: Restricted to Military/Security Forces use.
Appearance: Heavily armored exoskeleton
Intent: Strength enhancing armor with laminated plates that resists damage from shaped charges and radiation, independent life support.
Strengths: Clamshell front plate design makes the unit quick to don. Operator can use weapons modified for use by the exoskeleton. Internal life support for 24 hours operation, unit runs for 14 hours on a single charge pack. Exchangable charge and life support packs can extend operations. Shipping container acts as as mountable storage bay and maintenance module, comes with three charge packs and three life support packs. Unit weight 225 pounds, shipping container adds another 103 pounds.
Weakness: Must be sized for user, initial sizing can take up to 30 minutes. Activation authorization required below S-5. Initial start is at x1 strength amplification; separate authorization required to increase strength amplification up to x29. No installed weapon systems. Combined suit and equipment cannot exceed 750 pounds.
Spoiler: Field Power Generation
Spoiler: Stelladyne Portable Field Generator[/hide
Manufacturer: Stelladyne Fusion Inc.
Rarity: Common
Appearance: Black tube frame mounts a small fusion generator with tank.
Type I - 1000W generator. One standard outlet, charge pad. 1/2 gallon tank. Good for two weeks operation. Handheld model, 11"x5.5"x7", 8 kg. 2 A-cell starter.
Type II -2000W generator. Two standard outlets, charge pad, one Class III industrial socket. 1 gallon tank, good for one month continous operation. 24"x15"x10.25", 16kg. 2 A-cell starter.
Type III - 5000W generator. Four standard outlets, charge pad, one Class III industrial socket, 2.5 gallon tank. Good for one month continuous operation. 32"x24"x16", 32kg. B-cell starter. Wheels on one end to aid in moving, 2 man carry.
Type IV - 10,000W generator. Four standard outlets, two heavy duty outlets, two Class III industrial sockets. 5 gallon tank, good for one month continous operation. 36"x32"x24",64kg. B-Cell starter. Wheels on one end to aid in moving. 4 man carry.
Intent: Portable safe power. Sometimes integrated into other equipment as primary or backup power, under the A13 protocol.
Strength: Utilizes water as fuel.
Weakness:: Heavy power draw can drain tank faster than expected.
Spoiler: Transportation
Spoiler: "Caddy" Air/Raft
Manufacturer: Chandler Enterprises
Rarity: Common
Appearance: Rectangular frame (4.7m x 1.88m x 0.6m) with bumpers on each end, folding windscreen recessed seating well for up to six passengers, rear seats fold down to form cargo well. Six cGrav pads provide lift, 1/2 G Variable reactionless thruster (1/4 G reverse thrust) thruster with micro-thruster steering.
Intent: Transportation.
Strength: wheeless, operates equally over land and water. Does not require oxygen. 5 gallon auxillary water tank, holds 8 gallons collectively which is used to fuel the generators. Slow re-entry capable. A3 protocol means the generators can be salvaged to power other devices.
Weakness:: Open, unpressurized - requires oxygen and protective gear about 5000 feet. Hoses run from central tank to three Type II Stelladyne hyrogen fusion generators.
Spoiler: Scout Cycle
Manufacturer: Chandler Enterprises
Rarity: Common
Appearance: not unlike a motorcycle with two cGrav pads with a two steering thrusters and a main propulsion reactionless thruster on the rear, rated for 1/2 G Variable thrust (1/4 G reverse thrust), powered by a single Type II Stelladyne hydrogen fusion generator outfitted with a 3 gallon auxiliary tank (total 4 gallons).
Intent: transportation
Strengtht: Wheeless, operates equally over land and water. Does not require oxygen to operate. Runs on water. Folds up into a neat package for storage. Can carry two. A3 protocol means the generator can be salvaged to power other devices.
Weakness:: Open, unpressurized, provides no usuable cover. Not suitable for re-entry.
Spoiler: cGrav Harness
Manufacturer: Seares Industries - Transportation Division
Rarity: Common
Appearance: A strap harness hooked up to a control unit and cGrav backpack with reactionless micro-thrusters for maneuvering.
Intent: transportation
Strength:A single B cell allows for five hours of flight from a duo-port unit on the harness waist belt. Ten and five minute warning when
Weakness: Single user use. Maximum lift 400 pounds; weight over the limit will result in battery draining faster. New users tend to misjudge the ground and either slam into it or turn the unit off too high.
Spoiler: Mech cGrav Harness
Manufacturer: Mauser Tactical (with license from Seares Industries)
Rarity: Uncommon.
Appearance: A large cGrav backpack like structure that attaches to the rack mounting points on the rear of the Centurion/Heavy Lift Labor armor, containing two Stelladyne Type II hydrogen fusion generators. 1/2 G reactionless thruster (1/4 G reverse thrust) with micro-thrusters for steering.
Strength: Allows the operator to fly with the Centurion. Requires optional heat sheild for re-entry. A3 protocol allows the generators to be salvageable.
Weakness: Exposed case is lightly armored reflex backed by monocrys to protect the unit from laser and impact damage, however the ceramic reactionless thruster are exposed. One month operation. Not as maneuverable as a aerospace fighter, operators feel exposed. Service life is usually two years. Most commonly used by Heavy Lift Labor units for fighting forest fires.
Spoiler: Personal
Spoiler: AI Pet
Manufacturer: Geppetto Works
Rarity: Common
Appearance: Varies - typically a stylized animal or character not unlike a stuffed toy. Complexity two to four AI. Complexity three + units are speech capable.
Intent: Personal companion, can act as an alarm clock, messge keeper, etc.
Strength: Runs on rechargeable AA to B cells, depending on the model.
Weakness: Primarily just a walking personal organizer you can cuddle.
Spoiler: Non-Lethal
Spoiler: Sonic Stun Grenade
Manufacturer: Church Ordnance
Rarity: Restricted to police/security use
Appearance: 2.5 inch long Canister with quartered with grills. A recessed button covered by a clear spring-loaded plastic cap on top, the other contains the secured flap for the replacable battery.
Intent: Non-lethal sonic device
Strength: Button must be held down for at least five seconds. Three seconds after release, the grenade emits a bass sonic pulse that stuns humans for 5-10 minutes. 2 meter area of effect.
WeaknessBattery completed drained by use. Can induce temporary narcolepsy in those subject to the pulse, affecting them when they become excited - use of heavy machinery not recommended for one week. Does not work in vacuum. Limited effect on drunks.
Spoiler: Stinger
Manufacturer: Church Ordnance
Rarity: Common
Appearance: Approximately 2 1/8 inches high, 1.5 inches wide, and half an inch thick. Recessed button on top, sonic emitter on its base.
Intent: Hold out sonic device for self-defence.
Strength: Good for about two shots, easy to conceal.
Weakness 1.5 meter range, typically sufficent to affect one target. May induce narcolepsy for up to five days if subject becomes excited. Limited effect on drunks.
Spoiler: Bass Stunner, Handheld
Manufacturer: Church Ordnance
Rarity: uncommon
Appearance: Medium-framed handgun with a bulbous front end, tapering to the back.
Intention: Non-lethal sonic pulse weapon that temporarily stuns for 5-10 minutes.
Strength:Magazine power cell good for 10 shots. Maximum range 8 meters
Weakness: Can induce temporary narcolepsy in those subject to the pulse, affecting them when they become excited - use of heavy machinery not recommended for one week. Does not work in vacuum. Limited effect on drunks.
Spoiler: Needler
Manufacturer: Church Ordnance
Rarity: Police/Security issue
Appearance: Medium-framed handgun
Intent: Non-lethal dart gun shooting a fast-acting paralytic agent, effective range 10 meters.
Strength: Magazine holds ten darts, compress air cylinder housed under barrel typically good for twenty shots.
Weakness If the subject is hit by multiple darts, the diaphrame may seize up - hypospray antidote must be applied; it may be necessary to perform CPR. Lost darts should be recovered to avoid accidential exposure.
Spoiler: Centurion Carbine
Manufacturer: Mauser Tactical
Rarity: Restricted Military/Security use
Appearance: 9mm Caseless Bullpup carbine with oversized trigger guard and integrated smart-sights.
Intent: Heavy Response weapon usuable against light armor.
Strength: Twin 30-round magazine that loads into a single chamber, switchable feed. 300 meter effective range, 2700 meter maximum range.
Weakness Round impacts can penetrate hulls, not recommended for shipboard combat
Spoiler: Monocrys Body Armor
Manufacturer: Church Ordinance
Rarity: Uncomon
Appearance: Concealable torso body armor
Intent: Personal protection
Strength: Flexible for normal use, hardens when impacted. Knife-resistant kidney belt.
Weakness: Can be penetrated by sharp objects
Spoiler: Tools
Spoiler: Nanowire Blade
Manufacturer: Yang Metal Industry
Rarity: Restricted
Appearance: pastic handle with rough texture and a short length of wire lying inside a groove. When switched on, the led tip glows and the wire straightens, forming a rigid 3.5 inch blade.
Intent: Cutting device
Strength: Suitable for slashing. AA cell.
Weakness: Not a thrusting weapon. Lack of guard.
Spoiler: The Crew
Captain: A very earnest and curious Gordathi, an octopus-like species with a large resonating chamber on the back of their heads. Their name is Malron, and they are much smarter than most humans.
Chief Mechanic: A gruff Galolom, A race of intelligent molluscs who are obsessed with gadgetry. They evolved to find shelter in the discarded shells of other creatures, much like a hermit crab. In their modern, industrialized society, they manufacture high-tech, personalized shells equipped with a variety of computerized gadgets. Their name is Similav.
Chief Science Officer: A creative, smiling Borgiri, a green and black race of bird-like brachiators named Prog Volvov. Her claws are strong enough to rip open a can of peaches. She loves canned peaches.
Spoiler: Chief Medical Engineer - Descan Fry - SaltyIrishman
Name: Descan Fry
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Panromantic Asexual
Nationality: Australian
Physical Appearance: Descan is a tall, weathered man. He looks tired constantly, even in sleep. He has greying hair and a deep widow's peak. He is generally wearing comfortable clothes, though his coat is never far away.
Personality: Descan is a nervous, twitching ball of nerves and anxiety. He isn't particularly brave or strong, nor does he consider himself to be. He does know he is smart, and showing off his intelligence is one of the things that calms him.
Quirk: He has Anxiety
Job: Chief Medical Engineer
Skills: He has extensive medical knowledge, and he can diagnose patients with the help of his implant almost instantly.
Implants: A node in his head that connects to his eyes and brain that can scan patients for their ailments and which treatments would be best.
Other: When on the job, he moves with a machine-like efficiency.
Spoiler: Kira B - EnigmaName: Kira B (Restored Corpsicle)
Age: Biological 21 / Chronological 137
Gender: Fem
Sexuality: Straight
Nationality: North American
Physical Appearance: She has large, almond-shaped gray eyes that are like two windows looking out on an overcast sky. Her silky, straight, raven hair is short and is is worn in an uncomplicated, businesslike style. She is very short and has a lean, muscular build. Her skin is china-white. She has a small mouth. Her wardrobe is no-nonsense, with a lot of black.
Personality: Reserved and serious, stiffens when touched, prefers solitude. Smiles rarely, usually speaks in short clips.
Quirk: Into gadgets - runs the gamut from tools to weapons.
Job: Security-2 (apprentice, just above trainee)
Skills: Krav Maga (G2). Good with knives. Good with energy weapons, better with conventional weapons.
Seems to have an instinctive feel for operating most personal vehicles - wheeled or antigrav.
Knows advanced first aid (Human).
Well trained in picking conventional locks, seems to be training herself to more advanced security systems of the Universal Confederacy.
Passable cook.
Knows various knots, skilled climber.
Implants: Not recommended for enhancements, not even for a simple cortical implant.
Other:
Original body was recovered from a cryogenics facility with severe ice damage. Nameplate simply had "Kira B" on it, no history. It was decided to clone the body and map the brain for reconstruction. Body was decanted at a biological age of 12, and it was noted her eyes were half again as big than a normal human eye - possible genetic damage, still within human genetic tolerances. While it's not unusual for most recovered cryogens to be in a state of shock, she seemed more reserved and less responsive, with limited memory of her prior life - which the lab put down to mapping errors in the frozen brain and classified her for menial labor.
A Human First kidnapping attempt of a UC minor official's child at a mall was stopped by Kira - they discounted the corpsicle custodian as a threat. Using a broom as an improvised pole weapon and some palm strikes, she was able to stun the men long enough for her to grab the child and get them to mall security. The official took an interest and got her transferred into a security training program, figuring her short stature and lack of enhancements would make her useful as a bodyguard or covert security.
Spoiler: Vanessa "Van" Meyers - AngelDellaNotteName: Vanessa “Van” Meyers
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Bisexual
Nationality: Neptunian
Spoiler: Physical Appearance:
Personality: Perky doesn't begin to describe Van, she is a very friendly person despite being rather awkward. She has had a stutter her entire life. Her upbringing has always been anti-mods or gene splicing so she has never gotten any chips to correct her speech impediment.
Quirk: Despite having trouble speaking in her native tongue and the common galactic language Van has a natural talent for other languages even some of the more complex alien languages. She often gets frustrated when she can't get the words out of her mouth and will often burst into swearing in other languages, her favorite being Raspton, who have taken swearing to another level.
Job: Linguist / Cultural adviser
Skills: She is able to pick up new languages really quick. It only takes her a few days of using her translator tablet to get a basic understanding of a language. While there are translator tablets and implants many ships still employ a linguist as there are several races that don't like using the tech to communicate and while often the tech is helpful it doesn't always get it right or have all the vocal and physical nuances.
Implants: None, Van's family are naturalist and don't believe in modifying their bodies with implants or gene-splicing.
Other: She was born on the human colony of Neptune, the sixth of nine children. Upon finishing high school she enrolled in the University Neptune studying in language skills where she excelled. She earned her associates degree and transferred to Cambridge on Earth where she completed her bachelors degree and was selected to study on the galactic station of Odenlone 6, a cultural hub of the Universal Confederacy. She only recently finished her masters degree and earned her certifications to work aboard a Confederacy ship. Van has been hired to the Rooty Tooty Lightspeed Shooty, it really is her first job and first time out of school. She knows much about the universe in theory but hasn't actually experienced much. Van is excited to actually interact with other races outside of a school setting.
Spoiler: The Ordinance - Dire HoefName: The Ordinance
Age: Biological 18 | Chronological 93
Gender: Agender
Sexuality: Demisexual
Nationality: Martian (Dark-Red Pigment)
Physical Features: Stands 2.04 Meters, and weighs about 157 kg; has noticeable machine-scars across the face which is the only thing "humanized"
Personality
The Ordinance is a soft-spoken and methodical individual who tends to speak way too much about its topics of interest, which usually consist of Parapsychology and Theology. It is the type of person to always prefer everything in its exact position at its exact time and place in any given scenario, usually leading to its always guessing when something is going to happen or always keeping things neat and tidy down to the millimeter.
Quirk
Being a Psychic, or a Psyker as anti-MES folk tend to call them, the Ordinance always seems to be talking to itselfand always uses plural when referring to itself.
Job: Metadimensional Extroversion Syndrome Specialist (MESS) / Religious Affairs Expert
Skills
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Staff Fighting Techniques
Parapsychoanalyse
Theological Deducation and Myth-Proofing
Persuasion and Intimidation Tactics
Implants
Reinforced Skeleton: Able to withstand blunt-force trauma of up to 108 Newtons (11 kg)
Amygdala Stimulant: Increases the output of MES powers by 5%
Hardened Epidermal Skin: Creates a protective barrier that makes it resistant to penetration from low-caliber firearms
Ghost-Talker Transceiver: A built-in handheld device
Holdout Cavity (Left Arm): Can carry a small-arms weapon or small melee weapon inside it.
Artificial Organs: Specifically the Heart, Lungs, and Reproductive Organs
Muscle Enhancements: Strengthens the muscles to the point where the user can rip off car doors or run through weak walls/doors, they run at a top speed of 56 kph.
Adrenal Suppression Pump: Eliminates emotional responses in tense combat situations and heightens awareness of the user's surroundings
Bioadaptation Augments: Allows for the survivability in near-habitable planetary conditions
Other
Brief History: The Ordinance does not have a legal name prior to obtaining the title, "The Ordinance." However documents detailing the Ordinance's profile say that the Ordinance belongs to the Martian Parasychology Research and Development Institute, where the individual underwent extensive implant surgery to become most suited for dealing with Metadimensional Extroversion Syndrome which has been known to kill most psychics within a couple decades. There's also rumors that suggest that the Ordinance also joined a transhumanist cult hellbent on becoming one with machines. However there is no evidence to this, and the Ordinance has been a lawful citizen of the Universal Confederacy.
Psionics
Telepathy (Major): Telepathy refers to the connection of minds, or the act of mind-reading, of a given individual. The extent of the Ordinance's telepathy is that it is able to read minds only if the individual it is trying to read allows it to, if the Ordinance tries and forcibly reads the mind of the individual, the individual has the possibility of outright resisting the reading; alerting the individual to the mind-read. Much in the same vain, the Ordinance can try and input suggestions into the individual's mind to edge them in a given direction, but total mind-control is unachievable. The Ordinance can connect the minds of up to a dozen people, using itself as an anchor point; carrying a range of an entire star system. However all individuals involved must be consenting of this connection otherwise it does not work.
Telekinesis (Minuscule): Telekinesis refers to the interaction of objects, living and nonliving, without the use of manipulators and only the mind. The extent of the Ordinance's telekinesis is that it can lift up to 50 kg, hurl objects 30 meters, and create a force of up to 15 N (1.5 kg).
Pyrokinesis (Microscopic): Pyrokinesis refers to the manipulation of fire-like energies. In the case of the Ordinance and Telekinesis, it can use the force generated to create a match-like flame, and manipulate the flame to make it bigger (by 3%) or smaller (by 3%)
Cyrokinesis (Microscopic): Cryokinesis refers to the manipulation matter to the point that particles/atoms slow down which alters temperature to the point of possibly freezing the object completely. In the case of the Ordinance and Telekinesis, it can drop the temperature of an object by 3 degrees (Celsius).
Teleportation (Minor): Teleportation refers to traversing from Point A to B without occupying the space between. The extent of this is that the Ordinance can travel up to 100 kilometers, carrying up to 50 kg worth of weight.
Spoiler: James Parramore - dakkagorName: James Paramore
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Painfully straight.
Nationality: English Economic Development Zone (Europe)
Spoiler: Physical Appearance:
At recruitment (Age 16, file photo)
In Combat:
Personality: He'd claim to be a lovable jerk. He insults everyone, and expects everyone to insult him back, but he knows when to back off and rarely chooses a line of attack on something that someone would be sensitive about. He is a doer, unlikely to plan anything more than a general approach before getting mucked in. If he gives you a nickname, he likes you. If he uses your name all the time, even in informal situations, he is unsure about you. If he only ever uses your rank, you are on his shit list.
Quirk: He is constantly fiddling with something, whether he's picking at his nails, or fiddling with a variety of old school hand puzzles like rubix cubes.
Job: Marine - shipboard security, counter-boarding and boarding operations.
Skills:
"Twice as well trained, half as well funded and four times as sexually deviant as any other military force from Earth."
+CQB techniques for dismounted, zero-g and power armour use.
+marine rifleman
+C class rated technician, able to maintain and repair his own gear. (and mod it against regulations)
+passable cook.
+a variety of shady skills, like being able to pick locks (both solid state and digital), pick pockets, boost cars, basic legerdemain hand tricks and a variety of small and fast cons.
Implants: (optional)
"If they'd done any more work, I could have pissed phosphorus"
+Void hardened skin (can survive three minutes of vacuum exposure without ill effect)
+Carbon braced bones
+Myomer enhanced muscles
+enhanced digestion, liver and kidneys to handle toxins and aliens proteins.
+contact data patches under his skin at the crown under his hair, on his forehead, base of his neck, to the right of his heart, just above his navel, his abdomen, and at the base of his spine. These interface with the Conquerers suit systems and a secondary patch on each of his hands function as wireless data-jacks for more general use.
Other:
"Lover by name, arsekicker by nature"
The arrival of the Universal Confederacy resulted in the fall of the increasingly insular, isolationist and incompetent right wing governments that had run the UK into the ground in the later half of the 21st century. Half jokingly called abroad 'Airstrip One', Britain was a backwards, reactionary slum of extreme poverty and class divide when the UC arrived and triggered a change in local politics, and that was only because the military finally rose up and staged a (mostly) bloodless coup. With parliament restored and free elections held, the UK finally started to rejoin the rest of the world, but even in the modern era needs significant external aid from the rest of the world.
One of the ways it pays for this aid is with the conscription. This allows the Uk to sustain a large, well trained infantry heavy army that is on permanent loan to other earth states. Most volunteer, as it represents an escape and good pay with a chance to learn valued skills, but many criminals from the inner city slums of Greater London sprawl, MNC-Leeds 'burbs, and the dozens of run down towns dotted around the UK, are given the choice of a work gang (clearing the Dungeness Exclusion Zone, for example) or joining the military by a judge. Most take the military option, and James was no different. A petty thief (and not so petty thug) groomed after he was orphaned by a car accident by one of inner Londons many 'fagins', he was swept up by the police just outside Camden and was, at the age of 16, given the option, and he jumped at the chance to get off "this bloody sodden craphole". He took to training easily, and served his first tour of duty with the Royal Marines in the UK, and his second hunting pirates in the asteroid belt. It was this second tour that saw him rise to Sergeant and be recommended for a posting with the UC fleet. He was recommended for this posting because he was open-minded, adaptable and rigorous. He was also trouble, a renowned for his 'hard fighting, hard working, hard partying' attitude. This is his first independent deployment, and he is having a little trouble adjusting to not having a squad of mates around to watch his back and get him back to barracks after a night out. He has a long distance relationship with a fellow squaddie, who he misses terribly. A more respectable lass from Scotland, she is planning on mustering out after her current tour ends in 18 months. He is torn on whether to follow her, or stay a marine in the life he loves.
Equipment:
"Yeah, the UN kit ain't bad, but I'll take local gear any time of the day"
Conqueror Powered Armour
The Conqueror grew out of the UK Economic Development Plan (UKEDp) which saw several factories opened alongside new educational facilities to stimulate the local economy. Much of this was actually bleeding edge technology brought to Earth by the UC, and then developed and manufactured locally. The Conqueror is a hardened, upgraded version of the Centurion developed by Mauser Tactical. The Conqueror is a brutal piece of equipment, much favoured by marine forces for its strengths.
Appearance: Heavily armoured exoskeleton, see top picture.
Intent: Fully integrated battlespace weapon system.
Strengths: Full interlocking armour plates over an electro-fibre bundle 'muscle suit'. The suit is armoured with a lightweight, chemically treated kevlar weave which is sealed against vacuum and NBC attack. Armour plates are a classified configuration including a reactive outer layer, heat dissipating inner layer and 'catchers mitt' back layer. As a final layer of defence, the suit can close metal rings over breached and damaged limbs. The limb is amputated, but the suit is resealed and the on-board medical systems will probably save you from bleeding out or dying of shock. Probably.
For weapons, it is designed to integrate with the VA-6 Jackal smart carbine, but also incorporates the devastating 'Bayonet' rocket propelled tungsten carbide spike melee system over its right shoulder, and a six chamber grenade launcher over its left shoulder which can be loaded with mission specific payloads. The suits armour plates also carry a small number of thrusters that can draw on the atmosphere around it to augment jumps, blows and the users running speed. The fully enclosed helmet provides a motion detector system, HUD and access to a variety of sensors (jokingly referred to as the Hudson for its default near histrionic way of informing you of hostiles)
Thanks to its featherweight fusion core, it has a run time of over 2 weeks, and can sustain life in vacuum for 3 days. It can be refuelled with liquid hydrogen in the field, and can burn the fuel for reaction mass to power the thruster system. However this drastically cuts into use time.
Weaknesses:
This all comes at the cost: the suit weighs 500kg and is impossible to move in unpowered. The reactor is heavily shielded, but represents an obvious weakpoint on the users rear. However, combined with the standard marine combat augments, a user can bench press two metric tons and punch five times harder than a championship boxer. Overtaxing the muscle suit allows the user to rip open ship bulkheads. Deploying the armour is also tricky, it can take a skilled user fifteen minutes or longer to get fully equipped, this goes a lot quicker with even one additional pair of hands. It is also a hanger queen. A marine who doesn't spend most of his time maintaining his suit will likely die messily, wishing he had as it tears his legs off while he try's walking down some stairs. The suit, its maintenance gear, and replacement parts take up twice the space and three times the mass of a Centurion, but officers and privates agree: its worth it.
Spoiler: VA-6 Jackal smart carbine
Intent: Smart, multi-role short arm.
Strengths: A railgun, the Jackal can operate in vacuum, in ship, or in nearly any gravity or atmosphere. Reaching to his kit and changing its settings, the carbine can become a battle rifle, or a sniper rifle, or even a SMG. Holo-sights integrate with the Conquerers HUD to provide 'true scope' capability, including the ability to aim around corners. It also hits like a jackhammer, and can take variant ammunition, even selecting for single shot for planting tracer rounds or markers.
Weaknesses: This is a heavy piece of equipment, and combined with its murderous kick, would be impossible to use without the augments of the Conquerer. Like the Conquerer it also requires a lot of attention, and its onboard computer is occasionally balky. It can be overridden, but that creates a whole other set of problems.
Melee weapon
Intent: Back up weapon.
Strengths: the Royal Marines identified, on working with the UC's armed forces, that many alien species aren't bothered by bullets. In that instance, you need something that they will care about, and very few creatures can walk off a strike from a massive great melee weapon being wielded by someone who can kick a ground car over. Marines are encouraged to commission something they are comfortable with, resulting in a wide variety of maces, 'buster' swords and other heavy, deadly implements. James prefers a two headed battleaxe with a long, reinforced handle. With a good swing behind it, there are few things that are conventionally alive that can survive a single hit.
Weaknesses: Its big, heavy and obvious, and most normal opponents will not let you get close enough to use it.
Spoiler: Ila Voclain-Roux - Luminous HeavenName: Ila Voclain-Roux
Age: 35
Gender: F
Sexuality: Straight
Nationality: French
Physical Appearance: Ila’s skin is a natural bronze- a combination of hereditary traits and sun, from being outside most of her life as a child. Her face is more rounded making her seem a bit childish, but her full lips and almond shaped hazel eyes balances it out for a more mature look. She’s a bit more on the curvier side as she’s spent more time on her studies than on her physical attributes. Her wavy brown hair falls to her lower back, but she prefers to wear it in either a high ponytail or a tight braid as she’s constantly working on new prosthesis and designs.
Personality: Ila is a very inquisitive person, always trying to study something and gain a better understanding. To some, they believe her constant questioning to be rather annoying, but she feels if you never ask, you’ll never know. She’s also known to mother people on occasion, but she never really pushes on the boundary of being overbearing. For being such an inquisitive soul, she’s terrible with names. She can remember faces like it’s nobody’s business, but names? You’ll be lucky if she’ll get even two letters right.
Quirk: She always has a book or her tablet in hand when she is in the process of learning different anatomies and ways to better augment or repair prosthesis and implants, or just refreshing her knowledge in general.
Job: Biomedical Engineer
Skills:
*Very proficient in her craft, able to make decent temporary prosthesis out of recycled material when in a pinch
*Quite adept at programming and hacking
*Able to think quick on her feet when the situation calls for it
Implants: Just nanites to help her immune system fight disease and heal her skin should she be met with extreme injury.
Other: Ila hasn’t always been interested biology. She was always well versed in the subject, but she lacked the passion to pursue it. After she graduated from a small private college that focused on the sciences, she settled down with her boyfriend at the time, and a year later they had a kid. It wasn’t until her only child was injured in a terrible accident and ended up needing a new arm and leg that she was able to get a spark going. That spark led Ila to go back to school and continue her studies. She ended up graduating top of her class with a major in biomedical engineering and a lesser focus on bioinformatics. She’s spent the past five years creating a program that allows her to add different types of tech and programs to her prosthesis and implants to improve their usage and help make things easier for the wearer.
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