InnerSOL: Sagas of Leistung (Discussion & Thread Proper)

[Ghostman]

Australia on the other hand is the home of the 'Earth First' movement which is a radical anti-space isolationist organization that seeks to eliminate Earth's presence in Space.

'Eliminate' as in let go of any and all colonies and cease military, diplomatic and commercial activities beyond Earth itself? How do they pursue this goal? It's obvious they can't realistically convince all the other Earth-based factions to embrace such policy.

[Elemental_Elf]

What exactly is the current role of the UN? You said they were formerly responsible for administering the Lagrange point colonies, but I noticed they still occupy a fortress and possess an armada substantial enough to warrant a label. When you get the chance, I'd be interested in hearing more about their role in your setting.  

The UN has jumped to #2 on my to do list :)

'Eliminate' as in let go of any and all colonies and cease military, diplomatic and commercial activities beyond Earth itself? How do they pursue this goal?

Exactly - complete isolation of Earth from everything to do with outer space, including all of the humans who live out there.

 

It's obvious they can't realistically convince all the other Earth-based factions to embrace such policy.

The Australians, and those who believe in the Earth First movement's cause, are willing to do just about anything bring their vision about. This includes terrorism, kidnapping ransom, blackmail and etc. It is ironic however that Australia's closest Ally is the Martian Totality. The Prime Ministers of Australia justify this by claiming that it is the imperialistic and expansionistic super powers of Earth that force the Martians to intervene. In reality, the continent of Australia would have been conquered and occupied by the Western Alliance and Europeans long ago if not for the threat of a Martian intervention.

[Elemental_Elf]

The Ares War

 

According to the Martians, the Ares War began in October of 2136, when a Martian Space Guard ship '" the Zohng Shi - stopped and inspected a Russian Merchant vessel '" the Toltova '" which claimed to have been hauling minerals from the Outer Solar System. The ship was boarded by the Martians, at which point the Toltova crew attacked and killed the crew of the Zohng Shi. Unfortunately for the Toltova, the last member of the Zohng Shi sent off a distress signal; this signal was heard and investigated by a Demari (Martian Special Forces) ship. Once Demari discovered what had occurred, they tracked the Toltova down and slaughtered the crew to the man (as is Demari's right under Martian Law). However, according to the Russians, there was never a Space Guard ship and Demari brutally attacked the Toltova without heed or provocation.  Either way the crew of the Toltova was slaughtered and the ship was sent back into the Earth sphere unmanned.  

 [ic]'We liberated their world from the iron grasp of despotism and they return our benevolence with war? The blood of our soldiers lays strewn across the solar system and what was their sacrifice truly for? Another war? How can we feel safe in our houses knowing the Terrans lurk just one planet away? They are our enemy now, death to those who oppose us!'

~ Supreme Chancellor Wilhelm Du-Klein of the Martian Totality at the formal declaration of War against Russia.
[/ic]

 [ic]'Though we disagree on the course humanity should take with regard to the stars, we the people of the Russian Federation have always sought to live in harmony with those around us.  The Martians have attacked a legitimate merchant vessel in the dead of space. They brutally murdered the crew, looted the cargo and then had the audacity to set the auto pilot to return to the Earth Sphere? They have declared war on us through this action and we shall not rest until we have made them feel the sadness we feel now one hundred times over!'

~ President Sergei Barkov of the Russian Federation at the formal declaration of war against the Martian Totality. [/ic]

The war was initially called '˜The Great Silent War' due to the Russians not possessing a large space-based armada and the Martians being hesitant to send out its large fleet (for fear of antagonizing other Terran super powers). Thus from October 2135 to April of the next year the entire war was fought with the two side's elite special forces '" the Talia Group for the Russians and Demari for the Totality.  The two forces clashed often but always well away from the prying eyes of the press and citizens of both Earth and Mars. No official records from this phase of the war have been released but it can be safely assumed that both sides drove one another to a standstill.

The next phase in the war began with the First Battle of Lenov. In a daring move, the Totality sought to cripple both the Russian war effort, and their economy, by annihilating the only Mass Launcher [note] [/note] dedicated to the military (and thus burden Russia's two other already over worked Mass Launchers). The Russian military facility of Lenov   was located on an immense water born city, of the same name, located in the Arctic Ocean.  Unbeknownst to the Totality, an Alliance Peace Ambassador was visiting a Russian minister when the attack began. The Peace Ambassador was given priority clearance to evacuate, however a Martian pilot mistook the ship for the Minister's and destroyed it. Needless to say the Western Alliance was furious and so that country immediately entered the war on the side of the Russians. Furthermore, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was still in effect (though the organization had long since fallen in to obsolescence, the Treaty itself was still in effect) and so the European Union also entered the War. From that day onward the anti-Martian side came to be called the Entente.

 [ic]'My fellow Americans, at approximately 15:20 Sol standard time, a ship carrying the Provisional Peace Ambassador, Ronaldo Mion de Campos, was destroyed during an unprovoked attack upon the Russian Leonov Military Base near the north pole. The senseless death of a Peace Ambassador is a great tragedy and our hearts go out both to his family and to the families of the Russians who were slaughtered this morning.  This wanton lust for bloodshed the Martains seem hell bent on delivering can no longer go unchecked. This Alliance was formed to counter any threat to our national security, both threats posed from here on Earth and those in space. The Martians will not stop with the Russians, their fascist Augmen dictator seeks nothing less than the whole sale destruction of every Natural on this world.  Just as our ancestors stopped the spread of Fascism before, so too must we continue that noble tradition. This is OUR world, and we are its last hope.'

~ Alliance President James Alastaire at an emergency meeting with the Press. [/ic]

Since Russia only possessed three Mass Launchers, it was forced to divert all military traffic to the Mass Launcher in Bayqongyr in central Kazakhstan (near the Panchinese border) following the destruction of their Lenov Mass Launcher. The Panchinese, who worried the war would spill over into their territory at some point in the future, decided to enter the war on their own terms and thus sided with the Martians. However in August the Western Alliance brought its mammoth military to bear and attacked the main Panchinese military base at Hainan. The Panchinese were completely surprised and the battle turned into a glorious victory for the Alliance. Two weeks later the Panchinese withdrew from the war citing a need to focus on domestic issues.

 [ic]'We have long desired to remain a neutral nation on this world however due to the inexcusable buildup of forces along our border, the Panchinese government can see no other recourse except to defend this country from those who would wish to do it harm.'

~ Panchinese Chairman Wen Qing formally declaring war against the Russian Federation. [/ic]

In October of 2136 the Martians invaded two Alliance outposts one at the EL1 colony of New Canada and one at the lunar city of Liberty. The battles were vicious with both sides loosing significant forces however New Canada was defended by the Alliance but the Martians captured Liberty.  

[ic]"We have liberated the very city of Liberty from the despotic hands of the Alliance. This is not only a victory for the Martian Totality but for Democracy and universal peace!"

~ Admiral Keneth Cielo of the Martian Barbarossa Fleet following the occupation of Liberty [/ic]

The Russian and Totality navies clashed near Svaard's Beacon, a  

[note] [/note]

communications satellite. The Battle strayed into the territory claimed by the United Nations. In response, the UN fired its Rheinfels Cannon, obliterating the two fleets with a single shot. From that day onward, no battles were permitted near the EL3 Colony Cluster.

[ic]"Those who stray too close to our home shall feel the wrath of those who were forcibly extracted from their homes, their families and their lives on mother Earth. This Colony Cluster is our new home and we have every right to keep you despotic war mongers away!"

~ Unknown voice from EL3 Colony Cluster following the Battle of Svaard's Beacon[/ic]

On Christmas Day 2136 Demari forces infiltrated the Alliance colony of Manada with the aim of stealing the Alliance's latest prototype Modiru '" the Crossfire. Though successful in capturing the three prototypes, a large scale naval battle occurred outside the colony. One missed shot by an Alliance ship struck the Colony and set off a chain reaction that eradicated the colony.  To history this incident, which killed 5 million colonists and nearly as many soldiers, is referred to as the Christmas Day Massacre.

[ic]"My fellow Americans, as I am sure you are well aware a great tragedy has befallen our fair Alliance this eve. The Colony of Manada in the EL1 Colony Cluster was destroyed by friendly fire at 19:07 Sol Standard Time. I, the Alliance President, take full responsibility for this incident. We were foolish to build our machines in the fragile Colonies. Let it be known that we will never make this mistake again. And so it is with great humility and sadness in my heart that I, James Alastaire, do hereby resign as President of the Western Alliance."

May god bless the souls that perished.

~ Former Alliance President James Alastaire at his resignation press conference. [/ic]

In February of the next year, the Totality captured Guam from the Alliance, thus giving it a base of operations just outside the Alliance's missile defense perimeter. In addition, the Martians invaded neutral Africa with the aim of ending that nation's continued policy of allowing the Europeans to use the African Mass Launcher in Algeria.  The entire continent was burned when it was discovered a subgroup within the African Union government was secretly constructing ships for the Europeans. Many thousands died but the government urged nonviolent policies. The Totality destroyed the shipyard under Mount Kilimanjaro, the mass Launchers in Algeria & South Africa and then forcibly occupied Madagascar, relocating its indigenous population to Africa. Madagascar becomes the Totality's foothold on Earth and its largest military facility outside of the Mars Sphere.

[ic]The evil Naturals on Earth have conspired against us yet again. The African Union's pledge of pacifism is nothing but a sham. The ships rolled out of the Kilimanjaro base have slaughtered thousands of soldiers and for that the African Union shall feel the brutality of war, just as we have. For every Martian killed by one of their war ships we shall extract revenge upon 100 Africans. They deserve nothing except our contempt and all of our anger."

~ Supreme Chancellor Wilhelm Du-Klein laying out the justification for war with Africa. [/ic]

[ic] "I cannot express how truly sorry I am for allowing these contemptible, anti-pacifistic actions to continue right under our very noses. The Martians are angry, and rightly so, however we must show them that we are still pacifists at heart, that the actions of a few do not speak for the whole. I urge you all to continue your non-violent protests against this illegal occupation of our country. Do not weep for those who die, their souls are at peace with God forevermore ."

~ African Prime Minister Mdachi Ulimi pleading with his people. [/ic]

By April of 2137 both sides were worn out and thus began another 6 month period of covert warfare. It is believed that the Russian Talia Group took the lead for the Entente, once again facing off against Demari. From what can be gathered, Talia lost handedly.

The Entente began Operation Cyclops, which was intended to break the Martian will to fight by sending the largest fleet ever assembled to conquer the ML5 Colony Cluster. Half of all [large] Entente ships, numbering almost 200, were used for this operation. Unfortunately for the Entente, the Martians learned of the impending Assault and thus sent their entire Mars Sphere Navy to ML5. [note] [/note]  The Entente engaged the colony's defense fleet and easily won. Just as boarding was to begin, the Martian fleet arrived; the largest space battle ever fought began. The battle was fierce, bloody and arduous for both sides. However, with the Totality using a mass produced version of the Crossfire Modiru, the Entente fleets were decimated and forced to retreat. Just 12 ships limped back to the Earth Sphere. On the Martian side, all ships outside of their two Mega Carriers (the Lionheart and the Saladin) were wrecked.

[ic]"Citizens of Mars, we have won a great victory today! The Alliance, the Europeans and even the Russians sent the largest armada ever assembled to our fair ML5 Colony Cluster. We lured them in with the prospect of an easy victory, then smashed into them with the full force of the entire Mars Sphere Navy. We routed them like we routed the United Nations. No longer must we fear the vile Naturals for they have been weighed & measured and have been found unequivocally inadequate! Today shall ring forth in the annals of history as the day we achieved Victory!"

~ Supreme Chancellor Wilhelm Du-Klein claiming victory after the Battle of ML5. [/ic]  

[ic]"My fellow Americans, today we have seen a great battle that ended in what all rational people would consider a draw. We lost many good lives this day but their sacrifice was not in vein! We have shown the Martians that they cannot come to our world, kill our citizens, occupy our land and never fear the consequences of their actions. We have put the fear of god into that arrogant Augmen Dictator and he shall not soon forget this day!"

~ Alliance President Rachel Kent, giving a speech following the Battle of ML5.[/ic]


On November 11, the Totality and Entente agreed to a ceasefire. By January 1st of 2038, the war officially ends with the signing of the Treaty of Vegas.  

[ic]"I believe I speak for the whole of Humanity when I say we have had enough with this war. Let us end it now so as to safeguard the lives that have not yet been lost."

~ European President Jean-Paul Talon[/ic]

[Mason]

whew...Thats a helluva war. It is not made clear exactly why the Russians move there military to the Panchinese border after the Leoniv incident, it just says they sent all there military to central Kazakhastan, provoking the Panchinese to enter the war.  
   Anyways this is great stuff. Alot of it reminded me of  this  book I had when I was a kid.

[Elemental_Elf]

whew...Thats a helluva war.

You're telling me. :D

It is not made clear exactly why the Russians move there military to the Panchinese border after the Leoniv incident, it just says they sent all there military to central Kazakhastan, provoking the Panchinese to enter the war.  
   Anyways this is great stuff.

I apologize, the Russians diverted their military needs to that city because it possessed one of only two remaining Mass Launchers in Russia following the destruction of their Lenov Base.

I fixed up the wording in the Ares War post to help clarify this :)

Alot of it reminded me of  this  book I had when I was a kid.

Hmm, I've never heard of that book. After wikipedia-ing it, I can see how you might get that feeling. :)

[Nomadic]

Could we get a better look at the organizations. I am a bit interested why the NATO treaty and the UN still exist when most of the world is now organized into union states with only a few individual nation states left.

On an unrelated note... the martian leader is a real jerk.

[TheMeanestGuest]

I think NATO, the organization, no longer exists, but the treaty itself is still *technically* in effect.

Thus being an excuse for the EU to involve itself in the war.

[Nomadic]

I think NATO, the organization, no longer exists, but the treaty itself is still *technically* in effect.

Thus being an excuse for the EU to involve itself in the war.

Yea I know, I am curious why the treaty is still in effect.

[Elemental_Elf]

[ic]'The Martians hated us because we brought peace, security and prosperity to the planets of Sol. They drove us from our homes under the pretext of liberating the masses from our tyrannical reign. Yet when we look now at the Totality what do we see? An oppressive regime that seeks to force a truly martin identity upon its citizens, secret police are ever watchful for any sign of disloyalty to the government and a authoritarian aristocracy rules without fear of reprisal or censure in the Martian Colonies. Thus it can be clearly seen that the United Nations was never an evil organization in and of itself, merely the victim of Mars' inevitable rise to power.'

~ Professor Lee Soo Moon of the International Historical Accuracy Organization. [/ic]

 

The United Nations

 

General
The United Nations was founded following the devastation of World War II. The organization floundered on as a meeting place for the various nations of Earth for well over a century before rising to preeminence in 2063. In that year the world's economy faltered when the Space Bubble popped. Nearly every space-based nation teetered on the edge of bankruptcy; it was at this time the Secretary General of the United Nations '" Kim Ki Dong '" declared the one world nation and that this nation would be led by the United Nations. He also declared an absolution of all national debts and decreed the immediate takeover of all space based colonies and cities for the stated goal of bringing a unified vision to space. As one can well imagine the fractious nature of the former countries chaffed under this blatant seizure of power. [note] [/note] Yet greed and necessity overwhelmed and conquered any such feeling as the world needed new leadership and a new vision. So on the 31st of July 2063 all of humanity became unified under a single banner for the first time in the history of the species.
 
Secretary General Kim Ki Dong founded a de-centralized federation. The General Assembly was reorganized into the World Senate, composed of two democratically elected senators representing each of the former countries and an additional Senator representing each of the 8 regions of the world (7 continents with Asia broken up into 3 parts). Over time these regions would grow to unify large portions of the world under a common economic system.

Mr. Dong was viewed as the savior of humanity. He utilized the vast infrastructure of space to bring material wealth to the Earth and spread its bounty far and wide. Through his efforts poverty, on the Earth, was virtually eliminated, birth rates declined sharply and investment in infrastructure and education was increased ten fold. Not a single person on Earth could speak ill of Mr. Dong. Statues of him still adorn many cities across the world, especially in areas that were so burdened with poverty under the old regime of nation states.

Outer space, however, was a very different story.  The citizens of space did not feel the need to join [note] [/note]with their Terran brothers and sisters because they, the Colonists, lacked representation in the senate and they demanded lower taxes because they lived in space (as if that fact alone entitled them to special treatment). Each city and individual colony was given a choice - join the UN or face the consequences. Neither Lunar City nor any EL Colony relented and so it was with great trepidation that Secretary General Dong declared space to be under martial law.

The following two decades showcased what a unique and far seeing visionary Mr. Dong truly was. He transformed the Lunar Colonies from capitalist cesspools to humble mining colonies which gathered the minerals needed for the public works on Earth. He converted the space colonies from vacation spots of the rich to modest farming communities that would relieve Terrans from the burdens of manual labor and ensure the whole of humanity would never again face the villain that was famine.

The people of Mars were the most irritable of spacers, their civilizations had been created during the boom years of the space bubble and they saw no need to aid their brothers and sisters on Earth. Drastic measures had to be taken to ensure Martian loyalty and cooperation, which included the repossession of all land under the Martian Resource Authority, the creation of nearly a thousand Rehabilitation Clinics and the curtailing of urban sprawl and population growth in favor of a more environmentally sound model. Though the Martians initially chafed under the oppressions they imposed upon themselves, eventually even the Red Planet embraced the blue and white. And so it was for nearly fifty years.

In 2125 the UN Administrator of Elysium, a large island in the Northern Martian Ocean, took up arms against the United Nations. He manipulated the people of Mars into believing his radical anti-earth rhetoric and harnessed their anger into forming a fully fledged rebellion. With the aid of turn coat companies like Santa Ana Electronics, Palmdale Corp and several lunar corporations, the Martian rebellion soon escalated into open conflict in the Earth Sphere. With King Wilhelm Du-Klein at its head, the armada of Martian ships invaded the earth, decimated its infrastructure and eventually forced the evacuation of the Senate and the aged Secretary General Dong.

It was decided the safest place to re-group would be at the EL3 Colony Cluster as it was far removed from the Earth Sphere. Further a massive fortress had been constructed there to safeguard the cluster and ensure the preservation of the UN. This fortress' name took its name from its designer - Dr. Claus Rheinfels. Arrogant and foolish to the last, King Du-Klein assaulted the fortress with his navy. Yet instead of victory he found only death as the Fortress' main cannon obliterated his fleet. Du-Klein limped home that day, his tail firmly tucked between his meek legs.

Since that day in 2127 the United Nations has carried on its noble tradition of conveying a message of peace, equality and harmony to the entire solar system. Though threatened with invasion many times, the Rheinfels Cannon keeps all enemies at bay, thus ensuring the preservation of the United Nations.

[Nomadic]

What caused the union states separation from the UN?

[Elemental_Elf]

What caused the union states separation from the UN?

The UN would claim that it was the fractious anti-UN rhetoric propagated by the invading Martians. Most Terrans will say that the Dong's UN was a vile organization that suppressed free speech and centralized power in the hands of a small cadre of like-minded, authoritarian depots. Not to mention the whispered rumors of atrocities perpetrated in the EL Colonies. Further, the United Nation's claim of spreading the benefits of Space to the entire world was farcical, especially after the first ten year plan. Most of those resources went to undeveloped countries and Dong's native Korea. The UN would counter that Seoul was the new capital of Earth (thus requiring many resources) and the old regime of nation states was unfair and inequitable towards countries outside of the developed world.

[Nomadic]

What is the Rheinfels Cannon

[Elemental_Elf]

What is the Rheinfels Cannon

Simple Answer: The Largest Beam Cannon ever constructed by man. The entire Fortress Rheinfels was designed to harness energy from multiple colony-size fusion reactors & hundreds of solar panels and focus that enormous energy into a beam capable of wiping out an entire fleet of ships. The weakness of the cannon is that it is only capable of firing that immense beam once every hour. Luckily the Fortress is almost impenetrable due to its thick armor and sheer size. Further, the UN Armada, is large enough to hold its own even against the more sophisticated fleets of the Martians and Terrans.

The Cannon, and to a lesser extent the Armada, ensure that the United Nations remains a visible entity with in the Solar System, even if its reign of dominance has ended.

[Nomadic]

Ah. Well now we come to that ultimate question. What do you envision players doing within this setting?

[Elemental_Elf]

Ah. Well now we come to that ultimate question. What do you envision players doing within this setting?

That is the most difficult question of all.

The easiest answer would be "the next war begins and the PCs fight for one side.' To make it feel less railroady, the PCs could be members of the Special Forces (Talia, Demari, Guardian) thus giving them a free hand to do as they please in the war.

Another easy option would be a police/crime syndicate style campaign. For a freer option, the PCs could be freelancing mercenaries or bounty hunters akin to Cowboy Bebop. Still another option would be to have the PCs be normal people who get involved with some sort of solar-wide conspiracy.

I suppose this setting, like most modern/near modern settings, suffer from the lack of easily added BBEGs that don't necessarily mess with the setting as a whole (compared to say a Star Wars or a Mass Effect or your run of the mill Fantasy).