A future that rests in unpredictable hands...
World War II should've ended with the defeat of the Third Reich by the Soviet Union, and the dropping of two nuclear payloads onto Japan. That's how the world should've been left, where the course of the entire future of Earth would remain, changed forever to learn from its mistakes of mass war. However, this never happened. At least not in the way many expected.
The year is now 1948. The Third Reich and its Fuhrer have already defeated all but one single enemy. By 1942, Germany amassed a large-scale invasion of Southern England, causing a few desperate months of fighting that led to the surrender of Great Britain, now split into two halves: that of an installed German-governed area in the south, and a puppet government in the north. Before the Americans could make a move into retaking Germany, the Imperialist Japanese forces somehow sprung into action, landing thousands of troops onto several wide-spread landing zones on the West Coast of America, keeping them busy and at bay. As for now, all eyes rest on the Soviet Union, the last standing force against the Axis.
Technology has developed only for the war efforts, and the new inventions of both German and Russian war machines have excelled at an alarming rate. By late 1946, the German production line sought the first Wandertank, or 'Walking Tank', and the Russians retaliated with the first armoured bipedal unit.. Naval ships grow bigger by the day, and aircraft become faster, deadlier and larger than before. The German forces and Russian forces have clashed more than enough times to create a stalemate across the border, not too far from Moscow. With their dictator evacuated from the Capital and moved further East, the Russians hold for what seems to be a second rendition of Stalingrad, where Moscow stands on the brink of ending in a bloody siege that will drain the life out of both sides.
In a desperate attempt to both test newfound equipment and to cause a distraction across this Eastern Front, known now as the Final Front, the government conscripted those young and possibly considered fit enough to fight of both genders, hoping to create Squad 914, the 'Eksperimental'nyy otryad', experimental squad.
So, as this idea suggests, we have a Wolfenstein-style dieselpunk environment where the gains of World War II were in the favour of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperialist Japan. Pressed on what seems to be an unending front of bloodshed, the Russian line is split amongst two types of combat. Centralised near the Capital City of Moscow lies the large-scale field battles, where the full bulk of either side meets in the middle to reign supreme. Across the rest of the front are smaller battles, where divisions hope to break through either line to make gains the main force is unable to do.
In this Roleplay specifically, we will be taking up the roles of 'Squad 914', an experiment by Soviet officials to test out advanced equipment directly behind the lines of the enemy. This roleplay will heavily focus on the character narrations and interactions, whilst mixing occasional light combat in with it, and the rare heavy combat.
The briefed plan of stages will follow as such. Firstly, we'd split into the 'Training Arc'. Whilst this won't take too long of a time, but won't be rushed, it'll allow the characters to familiarise with the gear they wish to give their character as well as form early relationships between other characters in the tale. Secondly, we'd be thrown into the hectic, but also short in the terms of days, Battle of Moscow, where the gear would be first tested out in the brief battle played similarly like Stalingrad was. And then, the final stage would be the longest, focusing on the surviving members of the Squad being forcefully deployed behind the frontline to cause a large enough distraction that'll give the main Russian force the opportunity to charge once more.
The characters themselves would be fairly young, mostly between 17-21. Some of them would've seen combat through the main front, others may have been reserves further East in Russia, and some would've had no military experience at all. Both genders would've been recruited, and many different abilities would be given to each character. For this, I'd like everyone, with their character, to create their own experimental gear (Obviously checking with me, and other Co-GMs if they exist, first). You can get creative, as it is Dieselpunk-ish after all. A small mech-suit, grapple hooks, whatever, as long as it has a good explanation as to how it works that can be called "Plausible". This'll give a minor sci-fi aspect to the roleplay, but it will also allow you to understand your own equipment without me giving you something you know nothing about. Obviously, the equipment wouldn't of been created by the character themselves, but they will be fit to their performance.
The characters would also be split amongst a few classes, which'll define the weapons they have and suit the equipment that you create. As of now, those stand at Infantrymen, Support, Engineer, Combat Medic, Marksman and Specialist. Explanations for each role will be given when the full thread is created or if specifically asked in this interest check.
Anyhow, if you have any questions or such, please feel free to ask and criticise me. I'd rather have you ask and understand after than to not ask and feel completely dumbfounded that there's not enough explanation for you.