Phalanx Rising (Sci-fi/War RP)

[Itaque]

Phalanx Rising

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The year is 2928 AD, more commonly known as 109 SRE (Second Republican Era) but formally referred to as 37 TRE (Third Republican Era) and the hundred billion people constituting mankind has spread out into several dozen planets across the Sagittarius Arm of the Galaxy. With the collapse of the Nine Great Principalities after the Great Galactic War, each planet was governed by its own political system. Among these planetary nations is the nation of Dzhalus, first colonised and terraformed by mankind in 2232 before it was lost to the records and forgotten, and officially founded by Dzharaleus the Great of the Principality of Klarinio. As the people of the galaxy slowly succumb to stagnation and civilisational decay, Dzhalus, for a brief moment, becomes the centrepiece of the galactic stage as society begins its evolution in this tiny backwater with a spark.

Dzhali Geography

All of Dzhalus is divided into six continents: the Dzhali Arctic in the Far North, populated by scientists and tribes who managed to avoid the yoke of statehood. Traditionally seen as the centrepiece of the entire planet is the Great Continent of Alasendrios, where the first Klarinian conquistadors set foot. Near the shores of the Grand Bay stands the Capital Region, with a tiny area of 2000 km^2. The Capital Region itself is made of eight different cities, with Dzhalipol Norte constituting its northernmost border and Marlevai its southernmost. At the centre is Cavanor, where the Hall of Dzhalus is located. The continent's northern regions of Teresopol and Endignos were characterised by cool hills and mountains. To the Capital's northwest, on the northern shores of the Grand Bay is Bayonorte, known for its beaches, and to the south is Kobaril, which is known for its history of being the focal point of sea trade. The far west of the continent is made of deep jungles and forests, as well as grand mountains with one range that extends from the southernmost part of the continent to the northernmost, effectively splitting the continent into two. The mountain range, called the Magno Range, has eighteen passes, though the widest and most used is called the Calye Acradil. The southernmost continent, characterised by its vast steppes, small deserts, and fertile plains, and short mountains, is known as Kara'eb, which popularly tried to secede at one point. It is ruled by a Sultan, who himself is subject to the government and constantly deals with the nomadic bandits in the steppe region known as Kalaeth. To its east is Derenet which is surrounded by archipelagos and known for its volcanoes and mountains. It is populated by tribesmen, many of whom are warriors, and are at a constant state of war with the northern lands of Hieridad, known for its peoples' refined steel-making techniques, and Auris, which has massive amounts of gold ore.

Dzhalus itself remains at the galactic easternmost edge in the Rauntsui Region to the galactic east of Iove Magnus, the main headquarter of the International Union of Nations. The other systems in the Rauntsui Region include Vishnupol, Indos, Derfogle, and Athapor.

With a population of 150 million, it remains one of the poorest countries in the Interstellar Union of Nations, caused by the inefficiency and corruption of its government. The Republic has been in a state of decline since year 92, with its leaders growing ever more selfish and its presidents being ineffective at raising the standards of living. It has turned into a highly ineffective oligarchy ruled by businessmen and weak politicians. In addition to this political problem, society is also riddled with criminals as morals collapse. With the weakened state of the police, crime rates increase as arrest rates decrease. However, even though many are arrested, the lawyers and judges are highly corruptible, weak to the allure of cash. The people are generally complacent, working soulless jobs when they need money and lazing around the rest of the day. It has been constantly described by critics as being greatly licentious. The lack of economic progress has caused majority of the planet to lack infrastructure, with most buildings being in or around the Capital Region. Farmlands and hunting grounds dominate the landscape, with industry severely lacking.

Due to the inefficiency and corruption in the government, there have been widespread rebellions all throughout its provinces for the past several decades. The largest and most persistent is the ever-growing Brihadian Rebellion, spearheaded by the Democratic People's Army, funded by the Brihadian Party, fighting outside the cities and rallying the poor and oppressed to their side through dangerous rhetoric. Its ideals are utopian with Marxist accents. The current president, President Auven, looking for governmental reform, is known for showing preference to the Brihadians and his want of peace between the government and the DPA. He has extended the arm of peace by legalising the Brihadian Party. However, while peace talks are ongoing, the rebellion rages in the background, and the military seems to be unwilling to accept the conditions set by their leaders. The military, now under-equipped, undermanned, and decrepit thanks to the previous president's reforms, fought a tough battle against the rebels when they took the capital city of Kobaril Province in 107 SRE. They have not yet forgiven the rebels for the deaths of thousands of civilians and the atrocities during the siege, nor have they adopted what they believed was a dangerous ideology. Sandwiched by perceived enemies on both sides, the military wanted change. They couldn't fight alongside an enemy they had been fighting against for more than eighty years, nor could they continue fighting for a government that failed in its duty. So, they turned to a rising power within the nation: the Dzhali Nationalist Worker and Student Party, a political party fighting against the stagnation of society, the government, and the rebellious Brihadians. As they brought under their wing more discontented peoples, they grew in power. One of the people they managed to recruit was a popular military officer Arnold Fliess, the Hero of Kobaril. At the height of its power, it rebranded and reorganised itself as the Iron Phalanx to swat away allegations of being a Brihadian recruitment front. Its military arm was called the Iron Legion, informally called the Blackcoats. In addition to this, they began to infiltrate the government, especially after the elections.

With a majority of the military under the sway of the Phalanx, President Auven feared that a coup might happen soon. Politicians called up private armies and purchased the loyalty of private military companies and socialists elements in Auven's government managed to rally the many of the rebels to the Republican cause. After the arrival of the armies, Auven called for the disbandment of the Phalanx and the arrest of its leaders. By nightfall, after the order was given, many senators and justices who were part of the Phalanx were arrested. However, Auven underestimated the influence of the Phalanx. The Phalanx's top council decided to launch a coup against the government. Arnold Fliess and Larus Basil, one of the founding members of the Dzhali Nationalist Worker and Student Party and its most prolific writer, lead a brigade of soldiers alongside several APCs and IFVs. The southernmost cities of the Capital Region fell without resistance, but when they reached the capital city of Cavanor, the column was halted by heavy machine gun fire. The Blackgold Adventuring Company, with its heavily-armoured personnel and AFVs, halted the advance of the Blackcoats. The Phalanx fell back, but Larus knew that they were criminals. However, his perspective changed when he was informed that the navy and a huge chunk of the air force supported the coup despite the numerous private armies now present to defend the Republic's legitimate government. Now, he knew that they were at a state of civil war. They set their capital in the easternmost regions of the Great Continent, in the city of Dakh. With the manpower and equipment support of the superpower of the Arkadi Republic, the Republicans seemed poised to win. However, Barkus would not go without a fight and sent their own equipment and scientists. Though the war started small, it began to grow as both sides began to be emboldened by victories in skirmishes. They gather their forces with terrible weapons for a confrontation which would decide the fate of the nation...

Though the war is not yet in full swing, peace is no longer an option. It could only escalate from there.

You are a citizen of Dzhalus, forced to take a side as the scale of the war grows. What do you believe in? Do you have what it takes to survive in these perilous times?

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Factions

Factions

The Republicans are the faction that supports the prewar legitimate government of Auven. Despite it being a democracy, Auven has declared a state of emergency and declared a toned-down version of martial law, effectively turning it into a temporary dictatorship. Auven advocated for reforms such as further liberalisation of society's laws, as well as tightening the grip around the economy and implementing some Brihadian policies such as a very progressive tax rate and the artificial lowering of the prices of many goods. However, these reforms only contributed further to relaxation on the citizens' part. War broke out because of Auven's mistaken policy of ordering the arrest of the Phalanx's leaders and the politicians supporting their cause. When war broke out, Auven rallied radical republicans, soldiers of fortune, mercenaries, soldiers obedient to the government, Brihadian rebels, and many of the common citizenry who want to uphold what they deem to be their rights. Due to the wider range of ideologies present in the Republican side, there is occasional infighting, especially between the Brihadians and former soldiers.

The Iron Phalanx is the faction that supports the heads of their party. There is no real leader of the Phalanx, only the Council. The main faces of the Phalanx, however, are Arnold Fliess, Head of the Army, and Larus Basil, Head of Operations, who are considered the war heroes. In fact, many on the Republican side see them as the leaders of the rebellion since they were the ones who spearheaded the coup. The Phalanx was originally founded as the Dzhali Nationalist Worker and Student Party when Larus was still in university, originally made to combat the high concentration of Brihadians in Northern Dzhalipol, as well as to resist the government's wrongdoings. They renamed it the Iron Phalanx just for show after they were accused of being a Brihadian rebel recruitment front by Auven during 108 SRE's campaigning season. They believe in a stronger state, and are completely against freedoms that can harm the unity of the already-fragile state of modern civilisation, and also advocate for greater state control over the economy, thus attracting many moderate Brihadian rebels to their cause as well. The Council rallied these former rebels, militiamen from territories with high concentrations of Phalanx supporters, citizens who fear the collapse of society, and soldiers who were disillusioned by the government.

Units

I Cohort, Blackgold Adventuring Company Century

The Blackgold Adventuring Company is an expensive but extremely skilled mercenary company. They are remnants of the old Medinian Empire, starting off as a resistance group stationed on Iove Magnus' moon at the end of the Great Galactic War, launching raids on shipments and establishing a base there. It was officially called the Medinian First Legion, and was the last army to fall, fighting a guerrilla war with their high-quality equipment even after the war had ended. At their head was the former heir to the Medinian Throne before his father's deposition. However, he would eventually die in an expedition by the Medinian Military to the moon, leaving behind no heirs. With the Legion beating the Medinian Republic in a short war that lasted a year, and with the last heir to the throne dead, they sent out a request for peace talks. They established an independent colony on the moon. They had no formal military, but former soldiers established the Blackgold Adventuring Company as a way of gaining funds to improve on their already-superior equipment. However, deep inside, they never lost their fiery passion to reestablish the Medinian Empire, or have something resembling it to once more rule over humanity. Among the most important units within the Company is the First Century of the First Cohort, which usually serves at the frontline of Blackgold operations. The whole of the company is led by Legate Argus Climent, while the First Cohort is led by Centurion Antonius Aleman, a quiet commander who cares deeply for his men and wishes to see or help set in motion the resurrection of the Medinian Empire.

IV Division, Republican Guard

The Republican Guard is the regular force of the Republican forces. Mainly made up of professional soldiers, they are the stalwart backbone of the defenders of Dzhali liberty. Unlike the less-organised Republican Militia, the Guard is well-trained, and filled with those with a great sense of duty to the Republic. Though not much is said of them, as they are not radicals like the Militia and not as well-equipped and well-trained as the Blackgold Company and the Arkadi detachments, there is a ferocity in the order and organisation that they maintain, one that can only be gained through fierce loyalty. Some of the best officers from the academy who sided with the Republicans were placed in the 4th Division, alongside some of the top-performing militiamen who wanted some action as real soldiers. It is led by the skilled tactician Albiol Dekker, who does not have loyalty toward the other Republican causes, and only joined Auven's faction because he would rather fight against a dangerous autocracy. He is sometimes accused of being an anarchist, but that is not the case, as he would support any state that upholds the people and their rights.

I Legion, Caput Mortis

The Caput Mortis is a unit borne of the ideas of Arnold Fliess. It is a light infantry unit with highly-trained individuals. On occasion, they recruit from the best of the best in the Regulares Legion. They are composed mostly are infantry units specialising in information, cavalry, mountain, and amphibious warfare. Unlike the regular troops of the Phalanx, they have better armour, with plates that can block assault rifle rounds from medium range protecting vital parts. They are characterised by their oxygen masks with black skulls painted on the large visors, as well as their completely matte black panoplies. It is, however, rare for them to fight with their iconic masks on, as usually they are tasked with sabotage or deception. There are only three Caput Mortis Legions as of now, with the First Legion being the only complete one, having been sent on a mission to destroy enemy supply lines far from their own frontline. It is led by Legatus Alphus Esquadrillo, a former classmate of Albiol Dekker, and a close second to him in terms of tactical skill. He is a firm believer that society must be reformed at all costs to prevent its collapse, though he keeps this thought at the back of his mind and expresses it through his Machiavellian actions.

IX Century, Regulares Legion

The Regulares Legions are the backbone of the Phalangite armies. They are made up of former militiamen and rebels who were trained further by the military, as well as former soldiers. They greatly believe in the Phalangite cause, wishing to finally secure for their people a future not subject to the powers, one where Dzhalus can forge its own destiny. The rebels who joined them were those directly affected by the corruption of government, such as farmers and small businessmen in the provinces, and only wanted a secure future for themselves before going to dangerous heights to achieve that. However, these rebels are few and far between. They are mostly made up of the regular citizenry who first fought as untrained but armed militiamen in the opening weeks of the war. However, they proved their mettle through experience and further training. At the vanguard of Larus' armies is always the I Regulares Legion. It is said that the IX Company is the bladed edge of the Legion, always rushing headfirst into battle, with its skill unparalleled among the rest of the Phalangite armies despite majority of its members being from the disorganised militias and the citizenry. It is led by Captain Hadrian Paramo, a member of the main Phalanx party and one of Larus' trusted low-ranking COs. He is known to be a merciful man with good judgement. However, despite his mercy and the love of his men, when he punishes, he punishes with an unparalleled wrath, keeping his century in good order and in good spirits whenever it is plunged headfirst into battle.

OOC

Good day, and welcome to Phalanx Rising! I am Itaque. This is, obviously, a sci-fi RP taking place in the far future. In my spare time, I have created the history of the galaxy and how this world came to be, but before I go all-out, I need to see how many are actually interested in joining.

As the text says, you are a resident of Dzhalus. As someone who wants to see an end to the war and help a cause, you join one of the factions and fight for what you believe is right, be it the democratic Republicans who value personal liberty and individualism or the autocratic Iron Phalanx who value strong morals and collective action. The war will no doubt be long. It will see the use of bipedal and quadrupedal mechs, as well as large tanks and bioweapons as humanity is pushed to its limit once again.

Since this is concerning the civil war, which is mostly fought on the ground, it will be rare for the navy and the air force to swoop in, hence why they are not a playable unit. However, it is possible to command tanks and mechs, but your role will be confined to that. Mechs are also not that flashy compared to, say, Gundam, but they are terrifying on the field, and are mostly used on rough terrain.

Thank you, and if you are interested, please feel free to suggest some things down below!

[DeadDrop]

I'll play

[Itaque]

@DeadDrop Welcome aboard!

[DeadDrop]

The lore here goes so deep.

[Itaque]

I’ve been working on the lore for a few weeks. Originally it started because I was bored, but I finally decided to do something with it

[DeadDrop]

Kino.

[krismer22]

I might play.

[Itaque]

Welcome @krismer22!

[Sylvan]

This looks interesting, and has my attention.

[Skull]

Definitely interested.

[DeadDrop]

Yay people

[Itaque]

@Sylvan@Skull
Welcome aboard!

@DeadDrop@krismer22

I will be putting up the OOC soon. Since I live in Asia, I adhere to the Beijing time zone, though I won't be as active tomorrow because I need to visit the provinces. Thank you for expressing interest!

[DeadDrop]

Dope

[Itaque]

@DeadDrop@Skull@Sylvan@krismer22

Hello, if you're all still interested, I have put up the OOC. It might have some minor errors in the text I need to correct, but otherwise it's good to go.