[OOC] The Things We Fight For

The rat race is over. The stars shall shine overhead, while the others fall to earth as meteorites.

[Xiro Zean]

The year is 3098, 386 on the Interstellar Calendar. Humanity has spread across the stars, settling on hundreds of planets in dozens of galaxies, exploring the cosmos far beyond what they once believed was possible... and combating an enemy that threatens their entire species.

Aberrants, an alien force technologically evolved to annihilate the human race, corrode the planets they settle upon, using both the soil and the beings upon it as fuel for their unceasing crusade.

And yet, in a universe where the encroaching darkness seems set to consume everything, a light continues to flicker desperately to survive. Those willing to fight against it.

Aberrants

---

The Bio-mechanid Swarm, the Scourge of the Cosmos, the Enemy.

Known by many names across the several galaxies under humanity’s control, Aberrants are an alien race both biological and mechanical whose apparent sole purpose is the extinction of all human life. Stronger, faster, and technologically more evolved than their competitor, within the past one hundred years they have taken over nearly 60% of the planets that were once populated by humans.

Everything within the alien army is an Aberrant. The soldiers, the officers, the artillery, even the spaceships they use to traverse the stars and the giant bases they form upon a planet’s surface called a Nest. Each and every one is sapient, and usually possessing some form of autonomy. The closer their bodies are to a humanoid form, the greater their level of intelligence, with the strongest of the Aberrants almost scarily similar to a human form.

Aberrants exist as a eusocial hivemind, with their leaders serving both as broodmothers and the head of command behind each individual action the species takes as a whole, with every other member of the species serving within a caste system that prioritizes the needs of the strong. Though their method of intercommunication is unknown, the transmission time has been observed to be near instantaneous, with lower caste soldiers immediately changing tactics under the orders of their betters, leading many researchers to believe that the alien threat operates with some level of telepathic or neurological link between units.

Caste system

The caste system, with each rank of Aberrant named after chess pieces or medieval figures similar to their role in society, is as follows.

Pawns

The lowest caste within the Aberrant hivemind. This caste is comprised of mostly of Aberrants that are no better than cannon fodder, with a few exceptions, and make up the front line soldiers than are led by their higher caste cousins. Although they are individually weaker than any one higher caste Aberrant, they make up for it with sheer numbers and efficiency of production cost, capable of overwhelming even a Mech or Constellation with enough time and resources. Most of the Aberrants' infantry and come from this caste, and are incapable of deploying barriers.

Rooks

Heavily armored troops of usually large sizes, Rooks are the ground units responsible for fortification building, point defense, and heavy suppressive fire. With carapace hard enough that even without barriers they can shore up against sustained fire, military personal and mech Pilots alike despise seeing one on the battlefield, specialized armor-piercing weaponry created solely to deal with their presence. Ground-based artillery, base fortifications and enemy mecha fall within this category.

Knights

A category that covers all known forms of Aberrant transportation, such as drones, fighters, and spacecraft. Powered and protected by their cores, with those capable of interstellar travel laden with massive multi-core installations, they are the premiere threat that dominate interplanetary and air combat. An Aberrant invasion is always heralded by an orbital bombardment from a fleet of Knights, and in the best cases it takes five military spacecraft to sink only one Knight.

Bishops

The sole reasoning for the Constellations’ existence, they are what one would call the Aberrant equivalent of a Constellation in the colony. They are, in definition, strong. Born from artificial wombs similar to that of the Queens, the high-ranked Bishops are outfitted with miniature, compressed cores within their body. These specialized cores allow them to output power equal to a warship, generate personal barriers, and possess extreme mobility, allowing them to eliminate a multitude of enemies and take on warships despite their size.

Promotion

When an Aberrant has gained enough experience in combat, an intelligence is formed and adaptability can be made. The evolution they undergo is called Promotion, and Promoted Aberrants are generally more difficult to defeat than their brethren and bestowed a unique code name. Usually, it is not difficult to sight out a Promoted Aberrant amongst its brethren, as they are prone to create alterations to their bodies in order to stand out. This has caused researchers to assume that the Named have gained a greater level of individuality from the hivemind, allowing them to conduct actions and operations deviating from the norm. It is a lesser known fact that a Promoted Aberrant could become a greater threat than an inexperienced Crownguard, as the experience granted from their lifespan has caused their combat ability to surpass the natural power of a fledgling Crownguard.

Crownguard

The highest designation for an Aberrant, the strongest amongst the strong. A single Crownguard is capable of overpowering an entire human world, superior to their counterparts with their unique and advanced cognitive abilities. As the only types of Aberrants born directly from the Queen, herself, they possess individual intellect, ego, and free-will independent from the colony hivemind and the Queen that resides over it. Research and observation has shown that they are even capable of human emotion, as well as understanding the human language and cultural nuances, using this information as psychological warfare against their human counterparts, the Constellations. All Crownguard are named in order to identify the threat and spread information to counter it as quickly as possible.

Similar to humanity’s Anomaly powers, the Crownguard manifest unique abilities of their own, presumably from the direct birth from the Queen’s personal womb. Their equipment and weaponry are created to augment these abilities past the limits of their ability, and the most recent adjustments to the Numbered Swords have been an imitation of this trait. They are powerful enough to garner a Constellation the Singularity-class merely by defeating one, but thankfully they are few in number as their production cost is extraordinarily high compared to other high caste Aberrants.

Queens

The mothers of all monsters, and the ruling caste within the Aberrant hivemind. Through evolution, they have specialized in both a leadership role and a reproduction role within each colony, capable of communication with their progeny across an unknown limit of distance, with the farthest known message received five galaxies over when a Promoted Bishop ceased the invasion of a planet to protect the assault on their Queen's planet. They create their broods through the use of Erosion, a violent absorption of a planet’s nutrients and natural resources that can be used to adapt the environment to suit the colony and threats against it. As there is usually only one Queen within each colony, the most efficient way to halt the enemy advance is to eliminate its Queen, destroying the chain of command.

While very little is understood about Queens, what little is known is very frightening. Firstly, they have an unprecedented ability to adapt, capable of assimilating technologies and new experiences at a rapid rate, allowing them to create different types of Aberrants from these adaptations and modify their direct line descendants. Secondly, the Queens are known to be sentient, capable of higher level thought, enact complex battle plans, and even feel emotions. Lastly, each Queen has developed a unique ability, utilized not only by themselves but their Crownguard as well, requiring each bloodline to be tracked and studied as to not be caught unawares by a hidden capability. Thankfully, only five known Queens exist, with one already defeated at great cost to humanity's forces.

Princesses

The direct hands and feet of a Queen, they act according to her will and supply units on the frontline, effectively Queens themselves in their ability to erode planets and spawn lower-caste Aberrants. Princesses have their own core, similar to higher caste Aberrants, and their offspring will often emulate the same cores as their progenitor. For example, a Princess with an Epsilon-class core will produce higher caste Aberrants with the same class of cores. Their core also indicate the speed and productivity of their Erosion and reproduction rate, with most recognized and given the appropriate label to their relative power level within the first few hours of Erosion. Most defenses of human planets require finding the Nest of the Princess that had invaded and terminating her, as Queens only rarely attempt to invade planets themselves.

Aberrant Cores

A semi-permanent, self-regenerating energy source comprised of an organosilicon compound, Aberrant cores are the source of many of humanity's problems, and paradoxically their solutions. The amount of energy that can be harnessed from a single core is massive, with an efficiency rate so high it defies science and lacking any notably harmful byproducts. In the current age, they are the only effective way to use barriers, particle beams, and even conduct space travel. Conventional sources of energy have been outpaced by the excessive demands of the newer and more advanced technologies.

The power output of a core is inherently linked to the core’s size. They are classified from Alpha (lowest) to Omega (highest) as a representation of their power, with Beta, Delta, Epsilon, Gamma, Sigma, and Theta in-between as relative hallmarks of power output. Cores emit a distinctive signature while activated, which allows them to be detected and tracked down with specialized sensors. Some cores even output an energy signal strong enough to act as effective EMP against human technologies.

Epsilon-Class cores and above are used within large-scale activities and only specialized infrastructure or space vessels have the capacity to equip them. The only exceptions are cores from Promoted Aberrants, which can deviate from known human understanding of cores and be small with a higher ranked energy yield. As of the current game state, there are no known technologies in humanity's smaller form arsenal able to withstand a Gamma-Class Promoted Aberrant's core.

Barriers

A type of energy/particle-based defense mechanism that envelop an area in a translucent shell of energy, acting as a protective measure against potential damage to whatever is defended within its sphere of influence. Barriers provide protection through the deflection, dissipation, or absorption of energy in multiple forms (kinetic, radiation, directed, etc.) until the threshold of its defense is oversaturated. Barriers are classified from F (weakest) to SS (strongest), with B-Ranked and above usually reserved for space vessels with the exception of Promoted Aberrants

Barriers consume an immense amount of power in order to maintain their form, an amount that can only be generated by enabling instruments powered by a core. The use of a barrier for sustained periods of time is unadvised, as it is seen as a better idea to only activate them at an opportune moment as to not unnecessarily waste energy. Simply projecting a barrier can be considered an attack, as the stronger barriers can push the surrounding space with powerful kinetic force.

It should be noted that a barrier’s defensive ability is not absolute or entirely reliable. Unique materials (e.g. Anti-Barrier Swords) and phenomena (e.g. Anomaly) can negate barriers using their own special properties. Although not as efficient, sustained stress can drain the energy source or slowly chip away at the barrier’s effectiveness. A barrier once shattered requires a momentary rebooting sequence before it is effective once more, allowing conventional forms of firepower to take advantage of the brief window of opportunity.

Constellations

---

Humanity’s Final Hope, the Light in the Darkness, the Heroes.

Named after the stars that illuminate the vacuum of space, Constellations are the legendary figures that fight the most dangerous threats in the alien swarm. Tasked with eliminating the high-caste Aberrants that no normal human could match, they are an elite group of warriors made from the best of the best, talented among talented, and as supernatural as the enemies they face. To most of the human race, they are thought to be an unstoppable force, limited only by their number, adored to the point that they are treated like celebrities and at times worshiped like beings of mythos.

Despite their reputation, however, the truth is something that can never be divulged to the millions of planets until humanity’s control. To keep humanity’s hopes alive, propaganda portrays Constellations as near-invincible, that for one to die in the line of duty is a rarity during missions against the alien threat. The truth is not so. While they equal a single high-caste Aberrant, they cannot outlast a swarm of weaker Aberrants, overrun within minutes and defeated by exhaustion if not the overwhelming numbers themselves when not properly supported.

Those that are trained to become Constellations come from all across the many planets in the universe. People who had exceeded physical limitations, mutants, mosaic babies, or members of the warrior families. Anyone who may lay claim to the name of "prodigy" is invited to join the Constellations. All registered children are tested at a young age for their potential growth in the future through knowledge tests (comprehension speed, memory, retention, etc.) , blood tests (for Anomaly powers), physical tests (projected capabilities, hand-eye coordination, etc.), and other experiments before being given to a designated teacher, their notes and statistics given to their retainers who will mold their training to suit the potential Constellation. While there are some who attempt to join the Constellations later in life, most are drafted at the age of eight, and are immediately thrown into the level of training suited for their pre-existing level of experience.

Trainees are taught in the schools of tactics, firearms, martial arts, as well as subjects such as mathematics, anatomy, and physics in order for them to calculate strategies on the fly, and understand the equipment they use in the field. They eventually gain a Stardust-Class designation when one of three things occurs. One, they complete the entire ten year tenure of their training program. Two, they gain enough combat experience to qualify for the role before the ten years have completed. Three, they have accomplished a great feat, impressive even among the Constellations. The third option, of course, is the least likely, yet every year there are attempts to subvert the training regimen for a fast track to a higher rank. A handful of trainees have succeeded, many of whom had later reached the peak of their fields. Thousands more had failed in the attempt, leading most to believe that undertaking such a feat is indicative of a prodigy amongst prodigies, or insurmountable luck.

Constellations, after bequeathed their sword, are given a callsign for others to know them by. While some are unique to the person, others are passed down from generation to generation or from the previous user of the sword to the others, whether it be as a traditional right of passage, or to honor those that fell before. Callsigns are usually fashioned after a star from a known asterism, but not always.

Tools of the Trade

Constellations, as powerful as they are, would undoubtedly be useless against the high caste Aberrants without their equipment and the powers they wield. The items and abilities listed serve to aid Constellations in the near-impossible task of stopping the extinction of humanity.

Anti-Barrier Swords

Not necessarily molded into the shapes of swords, the AB Swords are the main weapons of every Constellation, designed and forged by the mysterious Sword Mother in order to combat the natural barriers the high caste Aberrants emit. Rather than the weapon itself, it is the particles formed by the anti-barrier material mixed into the blade that allow the user to disrupt and shatter an enemy’s defenses. While most weapons are designed with durability in mind, the anti-barrier material mixed with various metals to keep the weapon usable after multiple engagements, even AB Swords with a high Anti-Barrier Quotient would be capable of withstanding blows that most conventional weapons would break from.

Numbered from the first to the last, eight-hundred and thirty-nine AB Swords were created by the Sword Mother, with more slated for completion as the limited materials required for them are gathered from all across the universe. Only around six-hundred are in active use at any one time, however, many lost in various conflicts, while some are kept for historical purposes or stored for safe-keeping until a suitable user can be found. Weapons within circulation are reforged for each wielder they’re passed down to, whether it be through an apprenticeship or after the original owner died in the line of duty. Most are made to be standard melee weapons, but those tailor made for Anomaly users are given auxiliary features suited for their needs.

Defensive Coating Coats

A lightweight, flexible, personal shielding system, DC Coats are the fine line between injury and death. While not as effective as other defensive measures that can completely negate damage, they’re capable of mitigating energy attacks, particle beams, and gamma radiation, as well as reducing the aftereffects of shockwaves that may come into contact with it. This protection comes at a price of weakening, or even completely restricting, the use of Anomaly powers by the wearer.

DC Coats are not always in the form of a literal coat, similar to AB Swords, crafted in the form of cloaks, suits, sometimes casual clothing or even armor. These alterations do not affect the power of the Coat, however, the material level of the Coat will. Ranging from Zayin to Aleph, with Teth, He and Waw as benchmarks between, the defensive ability and the restriction to Anomaly power increases with each level. Zayin level Coats, allowing complete access to one’s Anomaly power, is only able to protect the wearer from lingering particles and radiation. Aleph level Coats, which effectively disable one’s connection to phenomena entirely, act as heavy armor that can allow users to survive direct blasts from concentrated laser fire, albeit with debilitating, battle-ending injuries.

Anomaly

A genetic mutation caused by humanity’s expansion throughout the galaxies, Anomaly is just that, an anomaly that humans should be unable to possess. Powers not granted through training, but through a bloodline trait that grants family trees access to special abilities that no other is capable of. Every known Anomaly is one passed down from the original five, the Progenitors, either as a direct line ability or an off-shoot from mingling with other families with the genetic potential for Anomaly.

Even before the Aberrant threat, Anomaly had existed among humans, limited to small tricks such as lighting a candle with one’s finger or levitating a cup of coffee from the desk to one’s hand. It wasn’t until humanity faced their greatest threat, and came into contact with the mysterious anti-barrier material, that Anomaly displayed feats once thought to be mythical. Studies lead scholars to believe that both originate from the same unknown phenomena, as the AB Swords tailor made to support Anomaly users display drastically enhanced effects compared to what the weapons should be capable of.

Ranks and Designations

Constellations, while related to humanity’s military, are not actually commanded by them. Instead, they are a self-relegated force with a ranking system relative to their ability and experience. These are those ranks, from the lowest ranked to the highest.

Stardust-Class

Trainees, while technically drafted into the Constellations, are not considered to be truly part of the force until they complete their training. When first entering the ranks of the Constellations, they’re first tasked to deal with the lower caste of Aberrants. Against various types of Pawns, then later Rooks and the Knight forms used on a planet’s surface, they are given a taste of what combat truly is like while slowly increasing their battle senses. This period of a Constellation’s career is usually the briefest, lasting on average around a year.

Proto-Class

A transitional period for most Constellations, experienced enough that they’re no longer seen as unbloodied yet not enough to be trusted with lives, a Proto-Class spends most of their time doing the same thing they had as Stardust-Class, albeit with a bit more authority. Fighting Bishops isn’t expected yet of a Proto-Class, but most at this point have a high chance of defeating one in single combat. While some stay in this rank due to lacking capability, or for the sake of leading a desk role, the maximum time that one will stay in this period is normally only three years.

Main-Class

Where the majority of active Constellations reside, and where most of them peak in their careers. At this stage, they are expected to be capable of fighting Bishops effectively, dealing with multiple over the course of a day’s work alongside a dedicated strike team. Most Main-Class Constellations partner up with a mech Pilot around this time, if not multiple, while some choose to stay solo for their entire tenure. After ten years of working in this position, Constellations are then given the chance to retire, an option few are willing to take bar a career-ending injury or overexposure to radiation. Without the proper achievements, a Constellation can spend their entire lives at this rank.

White Dwarf-Class

Retirees, both former and current, belong in this designation. While technically not a rank itself among the Constellations’ system, they’re thought of with higher seniority among those with a similar rank. A varied bunch that can range from those unwilling to face the perils of war and acting on-site as logistics members, to disabled veterans whose bodies would reject augmentations or regrowth projects, or even old warriors simply taking time off to meet with their families, Constellations are constantly reminded that a White Dwarf is still one of theirs, and that even a dying star still burns brightly.

Red Giant-Class

Only those willing to go above and beyond the call of duty reach this rank, an honor that very few are given the opportunity for. Red Giants are given the authority to form operations for retaking planets, putting together teams to push back the Aberrant threat before they can destroy their conquered world. Being capable of defeating multiple high caste Aberrants at a time is not just expected, but mandatory, carving visible paths through the enemy toward the Nests housing the alien leaders. A Red Giant is sometimes escorted by Main-Class Constellations instead of Pilots, effectively using them to clear Bishop chaff as they aim for the Named monsters.

Supernova-Class

The highest level a Constellation can reach, a name written on the stars themselves that acts not only as a weapon against the Aberrants, but a shining light of hope for humanity. The leaders of a Constellation Sect must, at minimum, reach this rank, and for one to fall on the fields of battle is a heavy blow to the force as a whole. Killing a hundred Princesses is what most consider to be the ‘baseline’ for someone to reach this height, but even among those that have, not many have been given this sacred position.

Singularity-Class

Similar to the White Dwarf in that it is not an official rank among the Constellations, it is a designation only given to the heroes among heroes. Defeating a Crownguard is a feat only few can lay claim to, as killing one requires the sacrifices of dozens if not hundreds of Constellations, but those given this designation were able to do so. While most of them are from the Supernova-Class of Constellations, there are three recorded incidents of a Red Giant landing the killing blow, and one of a Main-Class, all of whom had immediately been promoted upon completion of this feat.

Polaris

Named after the North Star that guided humans during their time on Earth, the Polaris or Top Sword is unequivocally known as the strongest Constellation. Having superiority over all but the leaders of the Constellation Sects and the Sword Mother, it is a position that garners respect and envy from all who know of it. Every five years, twenty candidates are chosen from the list of Supernova-Class Constellations for a special tournament held on Earth’s moon, broadcasted all across the known human-controlled planets to watch as they compete for the top spot.

Warrior Families and Sects

With bloodlines possessing the gene that allows their families to generate phenomena, the children of warrior families comprise most of the Constellations. Varied in their cultures and native planets, they are unified only by their collective connection to the Progenitors. Off-shoots of the original five, while not beholden to the Progenitor families’ demands, grant them due respect, their powers the naturally strongest of the supernatural abilities.

Anomalies passed down through genetics aren’t guaranteed, with only one in five children that gain access to their power possessing the talent potential of becoming a Constellation. Children in warrior families that do not inherit the Anomaly or are incapable of using it for combat usually act as diplomats or support the fight through other means, with some families entirely built around a commodity to fuel the war effort regardless of their Anomaly capability. Transplanting an Anomaly through gene splicing or attempting to recreate it in cloned humans has a 100% failure rate, leading many to believe that the phenomena is a divine right or tied to the essence of one’s being.

While there are a multitude of families across the stars, only the Progenitors, their sects, and the power of their Anomalies will be listed below.

Solignis

A family that believes wholeheartedly in the symbolism behind the Constellations’ existence, leading the way as a guiding star through the endless darkness. Situated on the planet of Mars in the Sol system, every member of the family not lame or unsuitable due to age drafts themselves into active duty across the galaxies, only returning to their home planet once every two years for a festival that honors the dead. Their Anomaly is “Corona”, a flame-based phenomena that at the highest level can be focused into superhot beams that melt through spacecraft.

They lead the Southern Sect, their symbol being a vermillion bird in flight atop a burning landscape. Most of the attempts to retake the galaxy from intact Aberrant-controlled planets are led by the South, their hatred for the alien threat burning the hottest among Constellations and known for losing the most prospects among any of the sects.

Kholomica

Solitary and as cold as their Anomaly, the Kholomica are primarily responsible for the Constellations’ collaboration with the military, their strategists in a constant state of both cooperation and debate with the main force against the Aberrant threat. With a home planet of Venus, they intentionally live on a hotter planet to cultivate the strength of their supernatural abilities, with users of the power only allowed to leave when they can create a block of ice and maintain it for seven days. Their Anomaly is “Absolute Zero”, an ice-based phenomena that allows the user to create constructs of ice by freezing the atmosphere. The most powerful users can slow the particles it interacts with until they no longer generate heat, frozen in place and easily broken apart with any considerable force.

They lead the Northern Sect, their symbol being a black tortoise planted into the surface of a planet. In-charge of pre-emptively situating themselves on planets to retaliate against approaching Aberrants, the other sects perceive them as slow or cowardly as at times when they defend planets that the enemy doesn’t invade or arrive too late to prepare defenses.

Eorman

Wild and free, Eorman have no discernable home of their own, a wandering bloodline that settles on planets to create disciples regardless of their origin before sending them out to do the same. Growing their hair out as long as their record of battles, they are unofficially known as the family that helps spread propaganda, their actions indirectly fortifying the general public’s belief in the Constellations. Also unofficially, their home planet is Jupiter, a legend passed down within the family detailing a grandmaster that could walk upon the gas giant’s surface. Their Anomaly is “Proof of Self”, a body-enhancement phenomena which increases their bodily ability by hundreds of times at the cost of their lifespans.

They lead the Eastern Sect, their symbol being an azure dragon with its body curled around a golden orb. Most of the instructors for potential Constellations are trained by the East, though only few ever join the sect itself. Though intellectually known to have some of the strongest warriors, they are still considered the weakest due to several of their members being relegated to the backline regardless of rank or skill.

Symtropantos

Symtropantos are known for their works rather than themselves, the leading minds behind many of the technologies the current Aberrant-fighting force take for granted. Believing that anything can be explained with numbers and logic, the few that live on their home planet of Mercury do so for the sake of understanding their Anomaly under some of the worst conditions possible. Finding beauty in what most see as worthless data, the library carved into the metallic core of the planet holds every conceivable piece of information collected by humanity. Their Anomaly is “Ends Meet”, a powerful phenomena that manipulates the polarity of objects and things in contact with the user. Proficient users of the anomaly are known to entirely replace their bodies with mechanical parts, relying on their abilities to move around in ways that no human could reasonably recreate.

They lead the Western Sect, their symbol being a white tiger with claws clasped around a silver coin. Responsible for keeping track of the numbered AB Swords and retrieving them from battlefields, they’re thought of to be callous individuals who only care for tools and not the people that use them, in some cases claimed to be seen on standby during battles where their presence would turn the odds in humanity’s favor.

Hua

The information available on the Hua is few and far between, their efforts focused entirely on the retrieval of new anti-barrier materials. All that is known is that they are the only known warrior family that originated from Earth itself, and that they are heavily intertwined in the politics surrounding it. Their Anomaly is “Between Worlds”, an ultimate phenomena that gives them unparalleled control over the space around them. The current Polaris, highest honor of the Constellations, has been rumored to have cut a planet in half with a single sword swing, though no official records state as such.

They lead the Central Sect, their symbol being a golden beast. Central sort of has a hand in every operation, with their members filling whatever role is available. The highest ranked, however, are dedicated to deep strike missions to enter Aberrant- controlled space, searching for anti-barrier materials among the worlds they hadn’t had a chance to explore before the alien threat had destroyed them.

Pilots

---

Walking Tin-Cans, The Mechanized Arm of the Military, the Heralds.

The men and women that protect the protectors, Pilots are an invaluable resource in the fight against the Aberrants, supporting the Constellations as they attempt to surmount the alien menace. Expected to clear the path for their more fragile allies, their mechanized suits are armed with heavy weapons suited for cutting down hordes of monsters and at times supportive gadgets to buy times until they can be bailed out of a tricky situation by a Constellation or fellow Pilot. While their qualifications aren’t quite as strict as the Constellations, Pilots are taken from aces, veterans, and savants, people better than the average man and willing to do what is necessary for the sake of humanity’s survival. Their armored tools of war, standing up to sixty feet tall and towering over most if not all human-based land vehicles on the fields of battle, bring hope with their presence. Because wherever there is a Pilot, there is the Constellations.

Piloted mecha were originally created for the purposes of mining operations and construction on inhospitable planets, aiding in terraformation in situations where humans couldn’t walk on the surface normally and where impercise machines could ruin the operation. As the war against Aberrants developed, however, humanity’s expansionism quickly grinded to a halt, and the overproduction of piloted machines no longer had a reason for their use. Not until a team of civilians, emboldened by the sight of Constellations falling in the early days of the war, took their construction equipment into battle to protect their heroes from an oncoming swarm. While those brave pilots had died in the endeavor, it had given the Constellation the time they needed to finish the battle, and soon after the military had started a mass production order to retrofit existing mecha units for combat.

Modern mecha are nothing like their original counterparts, with mobility prioritized over defensive material as the transport of Constellations and the ability to avoid artillery fire became the general requirement for extended, pitched combat. While most only have two to four weapons, one primary and secondary for each arm, others have shoulder mounted cannons, missile silos along the legs, hidden blades, anything and everything that can be used to kill Aberrants. Powered by Aberrant cores scavenged from the alien threat while their Princess or Queen broodmothers were alive, their power output is heavily relegated toward their flight systems and sensory input, leading many to prefer ballistic weaponry over energy weapons despite the latter’s overwhelming power.

A mech Pilot can apply for the force as early as fifteen, brought onboard for a five year training program designed to beat out old habits. The program prepares the Pilot for the G-forces caused by the frantic nature of mid-combat flight, firearms training not only in the mech suit but outside of it, tactics, and the rules of engagement. Or rather, lack thereof against the Aberrant threat. When their training is completed, they’re initially given an enlisted Space Recruit rank, elevated to an Apprentice and later an official Pilot after a year of active duty, barring any limiting factors such as poor performance or lack of necessary hours working inside a mech. Their ranks then proceed in a similar manner to what was originally the US Navy, becoming a Petty Officer or later promoted to an officer role with an acceptable record.

Humanity

---

The Sapient Species. The Oppressed Masses. The Underdogs.

Only two-hundred and eighty-six years ago, the denizens of Earth hadn’t understood the true magnitude of the cosmos, larger than large, wider than wide, their small corner of the universe but a spec compared to the millions of stars within their own galaxy. But soon after, they began to expand, imposing their influence on outer space as they filled the emptiness with life. Terraforming lifeless rock into vibrant landscapes, dry deserts into manageable oases, worlds of water into planet-sized theme parks, utilizing the uninhabited, unused satellites that orbited the stars and shaping them to their amusement.

Until they found something they shouldn’t have. Life other than themselves.

The hostilities had occurred without warning, their first contact with the alien threat concluding with the debris of a merchant vessel spinning off into the vacuum of space. Unprepared for war, and ill-informed of their aggressors, had it not been for the timely discovery of the anti-barrier material, humanity as one knew it would be extinct. But even against a foe more powerful and advanced than they, humans adapted to their situation and evolved as a species. Though once separated by faction and the vastness of space between them, the planets under humanity’s banner coalesced into a singular entity. United against the threat of a race other than their own, the petty squabbles over resources had taken a backseat, the full might of humans banded together for a singular goal.

Destruction of their natural enemy, and freedom among the stars.

Organizations and Planets

Over the course of human history, humanity had attempted to organize itself in a multitude of ways to stem the Aberrant tide, many of which had been unable to stand the test of time. What is left are the institutions that had gathered the majority of humanity, weathering the brunt of the space age and capable of standing tall within the confines of the human race. The biggest of which are listed below

United Affiliates of Sol

The central government in-charge of all human-occupied planets. Situated at the heart of the Sol System, it is run by a federal system of democracy led by a council composed of every known organization in the Milky Way Galaxy. Heads of corporations, diplomats, and the leaders of both the military and Constellations all have a say, every action taken put to a vote and prioritizing the survival of the human race above all else. While other plants, divided by their designation, have their own say on certain matters, it is the UAS council who have the final word on all happenings within human territories.

Sol System

The denizens of Sol, compared to every other planet and galaxy, live in constant luxury. Given benefits that no other system has by virtue of being where humanity originated from, they suffer from more resources than they could possibly need. Many of the denizens had only heard of Aberrants from rumor, and were it not for the Constellation and military involvement in government affairs, would’ve never known they existed at all. Aside from members from the Progenitor families, there are little to no applicants for the war from these planets, used to their easy lifestyles and inherent higher status compared to other members of humanity. To a lesser extent, the planets within the Milky Way Galaxy are of a similar status, albeit nowhere near such extremes.

Core Worlds

Made up most of the planets between Sol and the rest of the universe, core worlds are about what one would expect for a human-occupied planet. With their own central governments and systems in place, they defer to the UAS and Sol when the situations call for it, but are effectively their own bodies outside of that. Occasionally, an Aberrant fleet may wander its way into the territory of a Core World, but for the most part they are still considered ‘safe’ by human standards. Core Worlds further away from the Milky Way may have their designations changed at any time, the alien threat encroaching closer and closer to the heart of human life with every passing year.

Frontier Planets

The outer worlds in the direct line of fire, they are the most involved in the Human-Aberrant War. Constantly in danger, lacking resources as convoys refuse to draw near to Aberrant-targeted planets, and at a heightened state of alert at all times, many of the denizens despise the Sol system when they hear of it. Planets abandoned to flee an overwhelming Aberrant force are marked for salvage, with Constellations and Pilots sent to the destroyed worlds in search of anti-barrier materials that might have been lost in the conflict.

Mobilized Human Alliance

The combined military force of every planet and galaxy humanity has to offer in extinguishing the Aberrant threat. Composed of the infantry that deal with the low caste, Pilots who support the Constellations, and the officers that command spacecraft, they are the driving force that have kept humanity intact for so long. In disputes regarding interplanetary crimes and galaxy-hopping criminals, they also have the authority to act as a heavy-handed disciplinary force that executes the law when the planets are unable to.

The Five Constellation Sects

Five bases in strategic locations around the Milky Way Galaxy hold the five Constellation Sects, situated near where wormholes are frequently occurring in order to utilize warp technology and transport themselves to any star system that requires aid. The Sect Leaders have seats upon the UAS council, very frequently bickering with the MHA over what should be prioritized for the war effort.

Human Technologies

Facing the Aberrant scourge brought about a new era of technological advancement, not only for the military, but humanity as a whole. While several of these are used in combat scenarios, these are some of the most impactful inventions used by humans in various facets of life.

Warp Gates

By siphoning the energy of opened worhholes within a designated area, a warp gate is capable of emulating similar effects, acting as a passage way to any open wormhole within a galaxy’s distance. Used to circumvent the large swaths of blank space between galaxies by “galaxy hopping”, they are also useable for shorter ranged transport between planets and nodes of communication. A galaxy wide alarm system is implemented in case of sudden inoperation, having the auxilary effect of alerting nearby systems of Aberrant activity when one is destroyed.

Nanomachines and Body Replacement

Affordable only by the wealthy and distributed to need-based organizations such as the Constellations, nanobots grant a level of robustness that was once thought unnatural. Promoting and aiding in cellular regeneration faster and for far longer than human bodies normally allow, minor injuries disappear within minutes and moderate injuries are repaired within a day. Additionally used in mechanical technologies such as prosthesis and the dispersal of information, it is difficult to find where one wouldn’t see nanotech in use than vice versa.

While rare, as there are few reasons to require it, mechanical implements used to reproduce human facilities are possible, able to replace not just limbs, but entire bodies with technology. Most prefer cloned organs, as they’re more stable and do not require upkeep, but others use replacements to elevate their natural limits. Constellations, however, rarely if ever choose a technological replacement over a natural one, as their body’s natural limits are far beyond the others of humanity and would be hindered by mechanical limits.

Cloning

As a solution to labor problems occurring with the continued destruction of human worlds, humanity researched and later began production of cloned humans. Using a sample of DNA from willing subjects, a replica can be formed with nearly 100% of the original’s attributes. However, an issue regarding the replication of brain tissue continues to stall progress in the field, with most clones retaining only 85% of the original’s personality and memories. The missing material could be as simple as forgetting what something tastes like to entire pieces of history and family, effectively making clones their own person rather than a copy of another.

Clones, while given the same rights and personhood as any other human, are mandated to always be tracked with a microchip containing information on their original donor, genetic status, and the company that had produced them. While rare, clones are known to have enlisted as Pilots or Constellations, although usually not as effective for the latter as replications are unable to generate phenomena and inherit Anomaly. Most are used as infantry, logistics personnel, or laborers, filling empty spaces when a society does not have the natural manpower for it.

Planetary Defense System

A planet-wide shell of energy that protects the surface from orbital bombardment, the PDS is a relatively new form of delay tactic to allow the military to react when Aberrants attempt an invasion. Projected by a space station which itself is defended by a layer of barriers, only a few dozen exist due to their reliance on high grade Aberrant cores to function. Specifically, those scavenged from spacecraft, which are the most difficult to salvage aside from ones taken after defeating a Crownguard.

---

Character Sheet Template, watch out for code it sucks

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Insert Text Here [Callsign] Insert Text Here [Gender] Insert Text Here [Age] Insert Text Here [Rank and Designation] Insert Rank Here Pilot / Insert Rank Here Constellation [Place of Birth] Insert Planet Here [Official Statement] Insert Quote, or 'Reason to Fight' Here C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Remove Section if Pilot] [Anti-Barrier Sword] Insert Number and Name Here [Anti-Barrier Quotient] Insert Percentage Here; recommended number being above 10% to affect Aberrant barriers. Higher Quotient of AB material makes for more fragile weapons. [Physical Description] Insert Physical Description Here [Attributes] Insert Auxiliary Ability Aside From Hitting Things Here If Applicable [Remove Section if Constellation] [Mech Model] Insert Name and Number Here [Type] Insert General Purpose/s Here i.e. Crowd-Control, Tank-Buster, Hyper Mobility, Interstellar Combatant, etc. [Size] Insert Height and Weight of Mech Here; limited to 60 feet in height. [Core] Insert Core Rank Here; limited to Delta-Class below 40 foot size and to Epsilon above. [Armaments] Insert Weapons and Gadgets Here Limited to one per limb [Remove Section if Non-Applicable] [Anomaly] Insert Name Here [Origin] Insert Progenitor/Off-shoot Name Here [Phenomena] Insert Description of Ability here [Limitation] Insert Description of Limit/Cost here

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Insert Brief Description Of Character Here; Can Be List Of Personality Traits. [Personal History] Insert History Here Home World [Planet Description] Insert Text Here [Culture] Insert Text Pertaining To Homeworld Culture Here [Warrior Family] Insert Text Pertaining to Warrior Family if Applicable Here; Mandatory For Anomaly Users

A message to all applicants, please be aware that I am expecting a consistent posting group that can roll out at least one post per two weeks minimum. Obviously, it’s preferred that the cycles go quicker, but the two weeks are to make certain there is zero excuse for missing the deadline.

If you have issues with posting on time, or if you’re uncertain that you will be relatively free for the next two months, please do not apply. Giving you that trust and allowing you to join with the limited slots available, I will then affirm your trust in me by strictly adhering to said deadlines myself, and be present for conversation both in and out of game so we can make this story awesome. This is my first attempt at GMing collaborative storytelling in a forum format, if I make mistakes, please be aware of that and not only inform but educate on what I can do better to improve as a GM

Most of us are adults here on RPG, this site is dead enough that I’d be surprised if anyone left was below the age of twenty. I hope, while enjoying this hobby of ours, we can treat each other as such.

[Asura]

mommy's home

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Odessa Ulani Thaddeus Isabella Samara [Callsign] Pegasus [Gender] Female [Age] 26 [Rank and Designation] Main-Class Constellation [Place of Birth] Core Territories; Okeanos [Official Statement] "This odyssey, too, has a purpose." C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Anti-Barrier Sword] #15: Heaven & Earth Gauntlets [Anti-Barrier Quotient] 30% [Physical Description] Though possessing an ostentatious name, the Heaven & Earth Gauntlets are rather tame in their appearance. A series of AB-alloyed metal plates overlaid atop carbon nano-mesh fabric disguise a network of miniaturized internal servos, designed to provide their wielder with the manual dexterity of uncovered hands while encasing their limbs in a pair of weapons capable of withstanding blows launched at speeds approaching that of light. Though lacking decoration, the dark, smoky metal seems to have an almost cobalt coloration that shines through when its wielder channels the wrath of the heavens through it. [Attributes] The Heaven & Earth Gauntlets are so named because of their affinity for that which bridges the gap between: lightning. Those who possess Anomaly abilities within the purview of electricity find their abilities enhanced when channeled through them, increasing their output significantly. The gauntlets have a tendency to 'drink' in the power that flows through them, becoming increasingly iridescent as the charge within grows more and more powerful. Their metallic shells have been scorched more than once by impromptu flares of plasma caused by wielders spontaneously vaporizing enemy and surrounding alike once the energy within had reached a feverish peak. [Anomaly] Two Heavens [Origin] Polarity [Phenomena] Ostensibly an ability to manipulate one's own electromagnetic field, Two Heavens is an Anomaly steeped more heavily in philosophy than it is science. The concept of the internal and external, of activity and passivity, has a tradition in the martial world stretching back to the days of Old Earth. Those adept in the usage of Two Heavens take this tradition to heart, perfecting first their inner selves—the so-called esoterikós ouranós—through intense self-discipline and meditation, such that they might control the incredible power inherent to their lineage. The counterpart to this, the exoterikós ouranós, is honed through rigorous physical conditioning and training in the martial arts, such that their bodies might handle the incredible strain of what is to come. Only once a wielder has mastered both aspects might they move on to channeling the true strength of their ability. Combining their inner and outer worlds, Two Heavens adepts become a font of incredible energy, generating absurd amounts of electricity within themselves. Born from their own bodies, the lightning which courses through them does them no harm, but instead empowers them beyond their means. Their muscles produce a force that is inconceivable even amongst the lauded Warrior Families, their perception of the world slowing as they move at the speed of the electricity crackling along their very nerves. A master of the Two Heavens is a force of nature, the eye of the storm, power made flesh. Their fury is made known in brief, near-instant exchanges, obliterating their foes in brilliant flashes of light, and leaving only thunder and the lamentation of enemies in their wake. [Limitation] For many who possess an Anomaly, utilizing their power comes to them as second nature, commanding oceans of flame or tearing very fabric of space as easily as a bird takes to wing. Those whose blood carries the Two Heavens are not given such an easy path. Lightning is dangerous, faster and unpredictable. Merely directing it requires the utmost respect and precision, much less coursing it through one's self to force their body to achieve heights previous thought impossible. Two Heaven adepts must exercise the utmost focus when utilizing their abilities, carefully measuring their every move in the instant before it is made and only exerting themselves as much as precisely necessary. It is a taxing Anomaly to make use of, not only mentally, but also physically. As their cousins under the auspices of Limit might best understand, the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and those who channel the primordial might of the heavens through flesh and bone burn brighter than most could ever hope to.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Odessa can best be described as reassuring, if not approachable. She is cool and collected, possessing a certain comforting serenity that belies the steely conviction beneath her unflappable exterior. Kind by nature, she often finds herself looking after the welfare of others, especially those comrades whom she has had the opportunity to fight beside before. Nurturing and stoic in equal parts, one might be forgiven for thinking her gentle. A notion that is quickly replaced when she enters the field of battle. A seasoned veteran and warrior, the peaceful tranquility that underpins her behavior outside of battle turns to a cold fury in the face of the archenemy, like a deadly calm before the storm. She is as ruthless as she is fearless while fighting the enemies of mankind, efficiently dispatching her opponents with a dead-eyed composure that rattles even fellow Constellations. Woe be unto those who make themselves her enemies, for Odessa is a woman of absolute faith in both her sense of justice and the conviction to see that justice is done by her own hand, regardless of what their affiliation may be. [Personal History] Born amidst a terrible hurricane during the dog days of Okeanos' long summer, the howling winds and crack of lightning served as an omen for the tempestuous and stormy youth that Odessa was to lead. The child of a decorated Constellation and his beloved wife, there was little doubt that greatness would come to her in time—a notion backed up by rigorous testing when she grew old enough. With a high aptitude for the Anomaly latent in her genes and exceptional scores on her physical exams, it was a foregone conclusion that she would follow in the footsteps of her father and his father before him and become one of humanity's chosen defenders. Aptitude was not enough to guarantee her such a position of pride, however. Her line held itself to higher standards than more pragmatic families. She was brave and bold and strong and swift, yes, but also impetuous and reckless, more focused on playing at arms than refining herself in silent meditation and careful contemplation. An abundance of heat in her blood, an affinity for the exoterikós ouranós, would impede her hopes of mastering the Two Heavens which had propelled their family to prominence nearly a century before. A course correction was required. When the time came for the wild young Odessa to enroll in training for the Constellation program, she was not placed with some off-worlder who might encourage such a cataclysmic lack of balance in the pursuit of martial excellence, but instead with an older, more prudent hand: her grandsire, the so-called Old Wolf of Okeanos. A seasoned warrior and survivor of many clashes against the archenemy, Autolycus, whose true name now sprawled into the dozens, was a harsh taskmaster who had little patience for his granddaughter's foolhardiness. He had seen firsthand what tragedies such impulsiveness wrought upon the battlefield mankind found itself ever losing ground upon, much less how disastrous it could be for those who thought to command the primal forces of the heavens. Something he vowed to teach her. And something she learned. Bit by bit. Lesson by painful lesson. The fires in her never quite died out, but they did temper in time. She learned that if she was to master the world beyond her, she needed first to master the world within. Once she committed that principle to heart, once she found discipline within herself rather than outside herself, she excelled. Whatever progress might have been lost to the willful arrogance of youth was more than made up for under her grandfather's watchful eye. As she neared womanhood, and her official induction into the ranks of the lauded Constellations, her capricious nature reared itself for one final time, a parting shot to Okeanos. On the eve of her graduation, Odessa found herself with child. Whether purposeful or not, the conception of her daughter halted any hopes of quickly progressing as a Constellation. The armies of humanity had little use for a woman with a child in her belly, and the precious bloodline the child bore was too valuable to potentially sacrifice in the hopes of an expedient promotion. The traditions of her family, still but fledglings compared to the storied ranks of the Sol's most prestigious, further compounded the issue. Their focus on strong foundations barred a child from being left by both parents in the first two years of life. As Odessa refused to name her daughter's sire, she was planet-bound for the foreseeable future. Some called her feckless. Others, a coward, using her child to escape her duties. She paid them little mind. The baby, Thelema, was born after many long months of such scorn. And in holding that smallest, most innocent soul in her arms, Odessa found within herself a font of something she had lacked for much of her life. She found prudence. She found restraint. It was difficult to commit to danger and recklessness when someone so dear depended upon one. Raising her daughter for those precious few years was an eye-opening experience for a young woman who had, until that point, lived life for herself first and foremost, a woman of force and activity rather than consideration and thoughtfulness. As she watched her flesh and blood grow from a helpless infant to a bright, vibrant little girl eager to learn about the world, Odessa too learned. And in those lessons, she would find salvation when the call to war finally reached Okeanos. No longer forbidden from service as a Constellation, Odessa was gifted with the mantle of Pegasus. All the better prepared for the rigors of battle by her long rest, she remained a Stardust-class for only a few months, ascending to the rank of Proto just in time for a dire front to open in humanity's unending war against the Aberrations: the Battle of Planet Pray. Until that point, Odessa had only dealt in skirmishes and clean-up operations in the wake of more experienced Constellations. The battle for Pray did not seem like it would be much more trying than those most minor of clashes she had known. The initial days of the conflict were tame. All went as expected for a mid-level incursion into occupied human space. Then the Crownguard arrived, and her baptism in battle rapidly devolved into a baptism by fire. The arrival of a Crownguard was a disaster for the world it landed upon. It was not uncommon for a single one to overpower an entire planet in a day and lay waste to dozens of humanity's best in the process. The surface of Pray was cursed not only with one but two Crownguards only days before its defenders could reach the princess' nest. In the span of a mere few days, they had carved a bloody swathe through the valiant defenders of the world. Forty-three Constellations perished, among them three separate Supernovas—each the veteran of a hundred such battles—and the Main-class Constellation that had taken Odessa under her wing. It was only a few weeks later, when the remaining Constellations managed to put down one of the beasts, and send its companion fleeing for its life with the Princess in tow, that salvation was in sight. With neither the incomprehensible strength of a Crownguard to support their offensive, or Princess to buoy their numbers, Pray was fully liberated from the Aberrant threat after a month non-stop fighting, much of its surface in ruin. It was a victory for humanity. A Pyrrhic victory, but a victory all the same. It was also an important experience for Odessa. Her first taste of true battle. Of true fear. Of true fury. Were she the same arrogant pup that came striding from the Old Wolf's den feeling all the invincibility of a young fool, she may yet have perished in that treacherous world. But thoughts of home, thoughts of her daughter, kept her disciplined when she otherwise wished to cave to instinct. Her love for Thelema kept her spirit strong when all seemed lost. Through care and experience, she learned wisdom, and through wisdom, she managed to leave the planet Pray on her own two feet and carry on to other battlefields across the domain of mankind. The years that followed went swiftly. A survivor of Pray, she quickly found herself promoted to the rank of Main-class before year's end by virtue of how ferocious the fighting had been. Years bled into years as she bounced between active front to active front, honing her skills as a warrior and a leader of men. Every time a Constellation stepped onto the surface of a world, there were no guarantees of victory, of living on to see another day. Pray had taught her that much, and much earlier than most. With her beloved daughter coming of age and beginning her tutelage under that same steely Old Wolf that had molded her into a force of nature, however, the campaign to defend Alora seemed promising. It seemed hopeful. And it seemed she would swiftly be proven wrong. Home World [Planet Description] Okeanos is as lush and verdant a world as one is likely to find outside of the ancient gardens-worlds of the Milky Way. It is so named for the massive freshwater sea that bisects the planet in two, like the fabled river for which it is named. As this ocean wraps around the length of the planet's equator, the waters are warm and rich with fauna, some of which reach truly monstrous sizes, supported by the abundance of oxygen in the atmosphere and the abundance of smaller prey. The ocean plays host to a series of archipelagos and island chains that dot its pristine waters, with two large, mountainous continents in the north and south where the majority of the population make their homes. Okeanos has a full four seasons thanks to its stable rotation, with hot summers and temperate winters separated by equally mild autumn and spring. Owing to its vast ocean and warm temperatures, Okeanos is wracked by intense storms throughout its hottest months, with some islands vanishing entirely into nation-sized hurricanes at the height of the storm season. [Culture] Okeanos, though welcoming on a surface level, is a planet of extremes. The floodplains along its coasts and larger archipelagos are fertile enough that, in combination with its rich sea, the planet's population has had little difficulty cultivating the necessary food supply to sustain itself. The seasons, barring summer, are mild and temperate enough that open-air settlements are the norm, defying the more advanced arcologies of other colonized worlds in its sector. But these things come at a cost. Summer brings with it violent storms capable of wiping out entire nation-states, and the primeval sea that produces innumerable aquatic sustenance also plays host to aggressive, monstrous mega-fauna capable of dragging the largest vessels to a watery grave. This duality has instilled a distinctive devil-may-care attitude in its populace. The world is a paradise with the potential for cruelty unimaginable. Therefore, the people reason, it is best to live well and to live boldly while one has the chance, and to seize every opportunity presented to them before the mercurial hands of fate twist the fortune against them. The relative plenty of Okeanos means that the populace needs not to trouble themselves over matters of food or energy security, giving rise to a culture of warrior-scholars the likes of which their ancient progenitors would be proud. Its government is organized into an aristocratic representative democracy, wherein members of its founding families are elected by the citizenry based on who will see to their needs the best and, increasingly, who can manage the demands of the UAS without jeopardizing their way of life. [Warrior Family] Descended from a black sheep of the Symtropantos line, the Perseid family are a relatively new arrival to Okeanos, appearing only after the defeat of Belle during the Chandra conflict of 268 IC. Having lost every comrade he had come to love throughout the war, Perseus found comfort and rest on the ocean planet's shores, charmed by the starkly optimistic views of the locals. It was on Okeanos that the experiences he had weathered—and the wisdom of the dead—that he formulated the doctrine that would go on to govern the family which would one day carry his name. Fathering a plethora of children on a dozen wives, it would only be after his death in 282 IC, and after those children rose to prominence in the fight against the Aberrations, that the Perseid line was formally acknowledged as a fledgling Warrior Family. By then, their code had been formalized. Sons and daughters of the Perseid line were to live courageously, but not recklessly. They were to act with wisdom and temperance, be just in deed and honest in word, and demonstrate a near fanatical loyalty to their comrades, not only those born of their blood but especially those born from battle. This dedication is best demonstrated by the tradition of enthýmisi, or remembrance. A pariah for his lack of ability amongst the Symtropantos, Perseus cast off his birth name and vowed to become the most shining beacon of humanity, a Constellation, without them. He managed to achieve this feat in no small part the assistance of his fellows in the rigorous training process. These comrades of his, of whom he thought the world, answered the call to bring down the Hive-Mother Belle, and he so accompanied them. Yet to his despair, all but Perseus perished, one after another, in the fight to break the Queen's Crownguard and vanquish the foul beast for the good of man. When the monster was slain, the victory all mankind felt could only be pyrrhic for Perseus. New Constellations would file in to replace his dear companions, picking up their weapons and carrying on where they left off. Crushed by the thought they might yet be forgotten, Perseus began the tradition of enthýmisi, memorializing the dead by taking their names onto his own, replacing the stain of Symtropantos with those who cherished him and were cherished in kind. This tradition is carried on by his descendants, who begin their lives bearing only the name their mothers gift them. As they live and learn, love and lose, their names grow, and every sacrifice is immortalized as part of their very identity. The oldest Perseids have names that stretch into the dozens, each a beloved friend now lost to the archenemy, each a reminder of why they fight. Perseids are therefore a proud and dependable family. They fight for their beliefs without regret, pursue their justice without pause, and defend their companions with unmatched ferocity. Their commitment to defeating the Aberrations goes beyond the simple desire for survival, but a deep and ingrained sense of duty, both to those who have been lost before them and those who will be lost long after they too have passed on. Only with the final defeat of the Hive-Mothers will their purpose, set out by Perseus himself, be fulfilled, and only then will their grim determination be halted. Notable Contacts [Name] Thelema [Relation to Subject] Daughter [Analysis] Odessa's only child and the light of her life. Thelema is a bright little girl of eight years old, and by all accounts, surpasses even her mother in potential as a Constellation. Precocious by nature, she lacks the fiery streak of Odessa's youth in favor of a curious intelligence that precedes her years. Like many from the more stable Warrior Families, Thelema idolizes her mother and great-grandfather, who serves as her primary guardian in Odessa's absence. She wishes to one day follow in their footsteps as a Constellation all her own, something that she has only just begun journeying towards as of the beginning of the year.

[Raijinslayer]

hoist

[Xiro Zean]

foist

@Asura

[Feyblue]

moist

[Mcmolly]

noicst

[Xiro Zean]

I hate all of you

[Lemons]

YES HELLO IT'S ME HERE TO BREAK THE KHOLOMICA

Research Log: AIS S1

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Aberrant Integration System, Subject 1 - AIS S1 [Callsign] Aissi [Gender] Female [Age] Early 20s [Rank and Designation] Experimental Constellation, Stardust Rank [Place of Birth] Kepler-195 [Official Statement] "AIS S1—Aissi...I—I was...made—born—built...? Built to fight. Built—made to kill. WIN. KILL." C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Anti-Barrier Sword] #236 - AB1 (Aberrant-integration Blade One) and #371 - AB2. But since they've been reforged into identical forms and serve as a single unit for Aissi, she refers to them much more personally, simply as her Wingblades. [Anti-Barrier Quotient]21% [Physical Description] It's no wonder the Anti-Barrier Quotient of the Wingblades is so low; after all, they're unreasonably large, and there's only so much AB material to go around. Matte black with gleaming red bevels, these double-edged blades are roughly as long as Aissi is tall (about seven feet), and mounted on winglike struts grafted directly into her nervous system through her back. This unorthodox arrangement allows her to manipulate the Wingblades as though they were a third pair of limbs, leaving her hands free for more typical swords used almost exclusively for defense that are sheathed along the struts. [Attributes] In order to supplement the low AB Quotient caused by their large size, the Wingblades have been retrofitted with laser technology. They can ignite their blades in red light, significantly increasing their cutting force; and, even further, they are able to fire powerful, though short-ranged, laser blasts. [Anomaly] Aberrant Integration System [Origin] Aberrant Research Laboratory A2 [Phenomena] Though it fills the same space as Anomaly typically would, this is quite explicitly very different. To put her on level with actual Constellations with Anomaly, Aissi's body is infested with an expansive suite of Aberrant technologies. From the system that controls her Wingblades, to magnetic clamps in her hands, her limbs more biomechanical than flesh now, antigravity systems in her feet, compact rocket engines in her legs along with stabilizers in her shoulders...and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Finally, it all connects to the most important of her modifications, the most powerful, and the most taboo: her core. A fully-intact Epsilon-tier Aberrant core harvested from a high-caste Bishop has been embedded into her back between where the Wingblades emerge, which powers all of her multifarious augmentations, coordinates them, and normalizes them in her nervous system so they feel as natural as whatever of her original body remains. [Limitation] The same way it doesn't function as Anomaly does, it doesn't have the same kind of cost on usage. What it does have, though, is quite an adverse affect on her mental state. The painful experiments that were done to her over the course of years, as well as the overtaxing of her brain as it attempts to manage far more than it was designed to and the Aberrant instincts that now lurk within her, have led to her being VERY unstable, especially during full-throttle combat where all of her augmentations and implants are working at maximum capacity. Perhaps not a clear-cut cost; but quite a cost nonetheless.

Profile Surface-level Impression [Surface-level Impression] As mentioned, the experiments have left Aissi not quite in full control of herself at all times. Twitchy, relentlessly high-strung, and never overly far from fits of violent hysteria, Aissi's personality alone is proof positive that making a large amount of Constellations in the same way she was made isn't necessarily a good idea. Still, she's not always obviously unstable, clearly. Though during combat she veers way into the erratic, outside of it, she's a notably sensitive and anxious individual. Keenly aware that she looks very strange, and even more keenly aware that the reason she looks strange is that she's essentially half-Aberrant—the thing that's trying to kill everyone and everything—she's constantly fretting over the image that she has. When people look at her, do they see a Constellation? Or a monster? And really, even she doesn't quite know. Paradoxically to her appearance and her position, Aissi knows very little about the world. All she really remembers is being in the lab. Granted, she was told something like what to expect when she went into the field. But being told what the world is like and actually living in the world are two very different things. She only has experience with the first of those two. She knows plenty about Aberrants and how to kill Aberrants...but that's mostly ALL she knows. Personal History [Personal History] The first thing Aberrant Integration System, Subject One remembers is waking up in the lab. What age was she? Teenaged? She isn't sure, and she doesn't remember. What was her name before? Did she even have a name? She's not sure of that either. Only A.I.S-S1. That's it. Well...she remembered how to speak, and how to listen. She remembers language. That's something, right? The second thing A.I.S-S1 remembers is pain. Her first implantation was almost immediately after she awoke. She doesn't even remember what it is anymore; all of it has blurred together in her mind by now. Was it her leg engines? Her neuralware? Perhaps the magnetic clamps in her hands? it all feels so far away. Time went on. Every so often, the procedure would repeat: she would be given an implant though a painful procedure. Then the technicians and scientists that handled her would monitor it. Sometimes, her body would reject the implant, and the pain would come back. The doctors would remove it, put it aside, and try and give it again later. They never gave up. If her body didn't reject it—if it accepted the Aberrant technology as a part of her now—then she'd have another few days, just to make sure. And then another implant would be brought to her, and the wheel would turn again. But it was fine. She'd volunteered for this, according to the doctors. This was what she'd wanted. To let herself be turned into something greater, even at sacrifice to herself. So she simply clung on. But there was one great mercy. Because during all of this, she wasn't alone in the lab. There was another girl undergoing a similar—if much lesser—augmentation, and the two became something like friends. Hope, her name was. And that got A.I.S-S1 thinking about names. Every time she saw that designation emblazed near her, she would look at it, and think of names. And then one day, when she was still woozy from sedation, she saw it with blurry eyes, and she misread it. Not A.I.S-S1. AISSI. Aissi. She would be Aissi. Time went on more. Further. Hope left, and she was once again alone. More implants. More connections. And then the most prominent: the Bladewings. She rejected them three times before her body finally let them settle, and each rejection was more painful than the last, resulted in a longer wait. And then, after all that was done...she'd been in the lab for how long now? She didn't know, and she still doesn't quite; several years, at least. But now that all of the implants, all of the cybernetics, all of the prosthetics, were in place, it was time for the piece de resistance. The Core. There is nothing Aissi can remember, before or since, that hurts as much as suddenly having every one of her augmentations fire into her nerves all at once. Sheer, gut-wrenching, mind-warping AGONY. And the pain, the nerves, all of it firing at once...it changed something in her. Turned from a sweet, sensitive girl to something where...well, sometimes you can see that underneath her. But not often. Not anymore. And once it was finally over...she was finished. More machine now than woman. And, really, more Aberrant than woman. Perhaps not even human at all anymore. Another year went by. She had to acclimate, of course. Not only did she have so many new modifications and augmentations working all at once, but she had an entirely new set of limbs to figure out. It was around this time that she started running sims, to get her used to what combat might be like on a world being invaded b the Aberrant. But then, recently and finally...it was done. She was prepared. And now, the test runs begin. Home World Kepler-195 [Planet Description] Kepler-195 was a dry, arid moon, largely desert and scrubland broken by salt seas and crisscossing braided streams. One of—and the smallest of, in fact—numerous inhabited moons orbiting the gas giant Pele on the far frontier, it wasn't exactly well known, especially compared to its larger and more outgoing neighbors. Small and inconspicuous, the people enjoyed a fairly peaceful existence; though a select few eked out a nomadic lifestyle on the surface, most people lived in vast cities deep underground instead, so they felt quite insulated and far from any issues that might plague topside. ...And then the Aberrants came. The multifarious moons of Pele were in possession of a great deal of resources, and many different varieties. They were hungry. And Kepler-195 was the first they came across. And they glassed the entire moon. Though the Constellations came, only a scant few refugees escaped and fled far away from their desolated once-home as it was consumed. Many of the other moons around Pele were also ground to dust and ash. Only two escaped the grisly fate, and afterwards, they were so desolate that they could no longer support life. In the span of barely six months, the entire moon system of Pele was wiped clean of all human life. [Culture] While Kepler-195 still existed, it had two 'factions' of people. A very few lived nomadic lives on the surface. Because water on the surface was a precious resource, they wore stillsuits, and traveled with their lives on their back to set up around any temporary watering hole that may emerge. The grand majority of the populace—which, mind you, wasn't large to begin with, only about 500 million people across the entire moon—lived in vast underground cities, tunneled out of the bedrock. Water was much more prevalent due to the presence of deep aquifers, and the native plant life grew readily. They lived a comfortable existence; though they were held in contempt by the surface nomads, they were largely happy to simply live in comfort underground. But, of course, this moon no longer exists, and Aissi has no memories from before the lab, regardless. Notable Contacts Doctor Jacob Tobias Brake, Medical Coordinator [Name] Jacob "Jay" Tobias Brake [Relation to Subject] Aissi's "Medical Coordinator and Caretaker" (In so many words, her handler) - Checks for malfunctions in and maintains systems, performs routine psychiatric checks and monitors her sanity, serves as a point of stability for her, practiced at talking her down and reigning her in if she's starting to go sideways. [Analysis] Jay is tired. So very, very tired. Essentially badgered into his position through only having the lowest standing at the laboratory that modified her, Jay is grumpy and world-weary middle aged man who firmly believes that he's not paid NEARLY enough to manage someone as unstable and chaotic as Aissi is. While it's obvious that he does have at least some measure of care for her—if he didn't, then he probably wouldn't still be doing this job—it tends to get drowned out in how overworked and overwhelmed he is, having to keep Aissi on as short a leash as she demands alongside everything else. Theme [Theme]

[Hero]

-fingerguns-

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Yulia Ourani Vega [Callsign] Lyra [Gender] Female [Age] 23 [Rank and Designation] Main Class [Place of Birth] Venus B-5 [Official Statement] "A star that burns twice as bright burns half as long. Try to take care of yourself." C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Anti-Barrier Sword] No. 100 Vulcan [Anti-Barrier Quotient] 25% [Physical Description] Vulcan is a large, heavy hammer. It is silver and gold and doesn't look nearly as heavy as it is. Its blunt head makes it perfect for crushing things. [Attributes] Vulcan is extremely heavy and not easily wielded. It takes a lot of strength to pick up, let alone swing. Yulia's Anomaly makes it appear lighter than it is and many are surprised by its weight when they try to pick it up. [Anomaly] Cultivated Silver Core [Origin] Symtropantos [Phenomena] Yulia's Anomaly manifests through the ability to control metal around her. There isn't a need to question its 'purity'; if it is metallic in any way, shape, or form, she can manipulate it. Weight isn't an issue--as those who have seen her wield Vulcan can attest to--and adding force to her swings is her specialty. She can control multiple things at the same time and bend metal as easily as paper, crushing and ripping anything metallic apart without any trouble. [Limitation] The main limitation is distance. Yulia can only manipulate metal within the vicinity of fifteen meters. While weight doesn't seem to be much of an issue, the complication of the object can sometimes cause her trouble. Opening a lock can be easy, but trying to fix a piece within something complex, while possible, can take time as discerning specific parts can be tricky.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Her typical response consists of pointing a pair of finger guns at whoever spoke to her last. Yulia comes off as a relatively pleasant person to be around. She has a spacey, airheaded vibe and tends to respond to both good and bad news in the same way. Being unflappable can lead anyone to think she's got a decent head on her shoulders, especially as there is little that gets her to take any news seriously. Of course, her nonchalant attitude can come off as rude and she maintains the bare minimum of politeness. Those who have known her for a long time know this is attributed to a sincere lack of interest in...well, anything. She's sociable enough to know how to stay polite, but beyond that, it's hard to get her to care about anything. Even her love of rollerskating gets a slightly more interested response, but even that fades quickly as she ends the conversation by skating away and playfully firing a finger gun at the last person she speaks to. [Personal History] Yulia's life is the same as her siblings: she was born with an Anomaly, enrolled to become a Constellation, enrolled briefly as a spokesperson for some popular brand (in her case, it was for a well-known shoe brand), and then expected to do great things. See, the Vega siblings are widely known for their sheer luck in every single one of them having an Anomaly, helping the matriarch of the family, Nova Vega, sell the idea of her matchmaking prowess. And so each one led the same life until they got into the field and their differences revealed the individual as they were instead of how they were seen as a package. The only thing that stands out about Yulia is her status as an 'elite,' a term she feels is overused. She shot up through the ranks on merit and skill and was considered a notch above most, but it wasn't something she necessarily understood. She supposed her Anomaly needed some credit, but even then she didn't agree when her instructors called her a prodigy as she was just doing what a Vega was supposed to. Nonetheless, she followed her orders, rose through the ranks, came face to face with Abberants, and led a similar life to her siblings. Three of them were active Constellations while two were retired due to injuries. Again, it was the Vega experience: you fight, you go through a few battles, you get known because your innards hadn't been splattered on the floor, you get a few sponsorships to get money, and then you keep fighting. It wasn't until her brother, Akhill, died in the line of duty that the monotony of life was broken up. There was a lovely funeral and many tears were shed. The Vega family stood stoic until they went home, and it was then Yulia noticed how stoic her mother was. The woman bemoaned how Akhil had only one child with his wife and expected some back and forth on custody. There was no mention of the loss of her son, nor lamenting that he died so young. Each of her children was a number expected to play their part, and they would either die fighting or they'd get shacked up with whatever prestigious family to pop out children. The reality completely disillusioned Yulia from that point, though instead of getting depressed, she found it hard to care anymore. And so Yulia went from the sixth child to the fifth, and life carried on without skipping a beat. Home World [Planet Description] Venus B-5 is an idyllic planet famed for its lush landscapes, fertile soil, and abundant freshwater resources. As a result, the plant has become a wildly popular vacation destination that offers a serene escape. The planet has diverse terrains that include rolling hills and verdant valleys, their forests dense and supportive of a wide variety of flora and fauna. Said flora results in a uniquely diverse range from towering trees to delicate flowers. The wildlife is generally friendly, with exotic bird species boasting radiant plumage being the planet's signature species. There are several guided tours to allow visitors to experience the planet's natural beauty. Of course, all this is accomplished through the planet's strict conservation and preservation laws; said laws are notorious for having exceedingly harsh penalties and have even resulted in some outright bans from traveling to the planet. [Culture] The culture of Venus B-5 is split into two parts: there is the culture surrounding the planet's tourism and there is the planet's views on Anomalies. The former works very much in a way that any visitor is king so long as the rules are followed. The natives take great pride in the beauty of their planet and are more than willing to accommodate visitors so long as the planet is respected. The natives are said to have a harmonious relationship with nature with an emphasis on environmental stewardship. The numerous cultural events showcasing local music, dance, and cuisine also emphasize hospitality, resulting in the planet's popularity. On the other hand, the head of the Vega family has become well-known for the art of matchmaking. While typical tourists can come to find matches for future spouses, the Vega family specializes in putting together the children of warrior families to ensure they end up with powerful Anomalies. Few don't know the Vega name as a result, and it's common for families that may find their bloodline thinning to consult the Vega family for potential matches. The current head of the family, Nova, has taken to expanding her vast network and keeps track of Constellations to keep herself in the loop. [Warrior Family] The Vega family presiding over Venus B-5 is famed for their matchmaking. While putting together Constellations and other Anomaly users comes off as somewhat impersonal, the current head, Nova, prides herself in producing some of the more powerful results among the current Constellations. Her children are no exception, with four of her five children already wed and with children of their own while she is currently searching for a match for her youngest daughter. Some feel that her matchmaking is a thinly veiled attempt at eugenics to 'create' better Constellations, but the results are difficult to argue with. Notable Contacts [Name] Nova Vega [Relation to Subject] Mother [Analysis] The current matriarch of the Vega family is a shrewd, calculating woman. She hardly ever raises her voice and speaks in a low tone, often forcing people to lean in to listen to her speak. Once a decision is made, she sticks with it and doesn't take any challenges to said decision lightly. Her age has given her both experience and knowledge, the latter of which she uses for her network; there are very few people that Nova doesn't know and anyone worth their salt is someone she makes sure to know all she can about. She has high expectations of her family, expecting them to fall in line with her word. While she is aware of her daughter's desire to rise in ranks, she thinks it's time for her to settle down.

[Supermaxx]

Theodore Howser

xxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Theodore Howser [Callsign] Teddy Bear [Gender] Male [Age] 41 [Rank and Designation] Master Chief Petty Officer [Place of Birth] New Halcyon [Official Statement] "Why'd I join up? 'Cause I've got a bunch of people back home countin' on me: I put food on the table n' keep them safe. 'S more than that, though. There's the kiddos I met out here, too. Teenagers puttin' themselves in the line of fire, seein' things nobody their age ever should. Breaks my heart. They need me. I wanna be the place they can hunker down when things get bad, y'know?" C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Mech Model] MBM-78 'Grizzly' [Type] Direct Fire Support [Size] 60 ft tall, 225 tons [Core] Epsilon [Description] The Main Battle Mech-78 Grizzly began development by Union General Mechanics in 3006 to replace its last generation of mech, the MBM-60 series. They hoped their 70s series could replicate the reliability of the last generation while taking advantage of advances in weapons technology. The greatest of these advances was the 'SmartWorks' Autofactory System which- if successful- would allow a mechanized unit to forgo resupply entirely, instead relying fully on scavenging the battlefield for material to replace lost ammunition and even damaged mech parts. The latter function still eludes the 70 series, but the MBM-78 makes full use of the former with its ammo-guzzling Prometheus cannon. When firing on full bore, the Prometheus can empty its 30,000 round magazine in less than two minutes. This is not recommended as it will assuredly damage the cannon's barrels if not outright destroy them. The Grizzly remains an unpopular model in the MHA for its expensive Smartworks technology and inflexible weapons selection. The Prometheus is a powerful tool for shredding soft targets from an advantageous position but lacks the penetrative power to effectively combat unshielded rooks and knights; though its Guardian shield and heavily armored hide allow it to take no small amount of punishment from those larger combatants. Given the weight of its weapons load and backpack, the Grizzly is also considered slow and unwieldy compared to other models on the market. [Armaments] The X-66 Prometheus is an eight-barrel rotary cannon with a variable firing rate, with four distinction RPM settings that max out at 16,000 rounds per minute. It utilizes a magnetic accelerator in each barrel in conjunction with traditional propellant to launch its 30mm rounds at hypersonic speeds. The SmartWorks Autofactory System (SAS) is a backpack mounted on the Grizzly's rear. It utilizes bleeding edge matter replication technology to recycle discarded battlefield material and convert it into ammunition for the Prometheus, extending combat effectiveness near indefinitely. While originally designed to manufacture a wide variety of parts, the complicated fabrication process of the Magnetic Accelerator Assisted rounds made that goal unrealistic at best. There are two Augsburg Arsenal Auto Shotguns built into each of the Grizzly's forearms for close quarters combat. They are loaded with 'Krakenshot' flechettes, four inch long daggers shoved into a shell and fired into the soft bits of a target at close range. These completely annihilate lightly or unarmored Aberrants. Included with the SAS backpack is the scavenger drone, designed for retrieving high quality construction material for the autofactory. Guided by the SAS's patented 'PAL' A.I assistant it ranges the battlefield up to eight miles away, and comes equipped with several a full suite of tools for cutting into, prying open or even hacking fallen tech. It has a small personal defense turret mounted on its underside for fending off Aberrant pawns. Optionally, the Grizzly can carry a 'Guardian' tower shield in its offhand for assaulting fortified positions. The Guardian shield has its own Beta-class Aberrant core to power an energized barrier.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] The universe is a dark place and worth fighting for. Theo's life hasn't been an easy one. He lost his ancestral homeworld when he was born and has spent the last twenty years at war. Slipping into nihilism would be all too simple; natural, even, some might say. Theo couldn't disagree more. He's always tried to look hold out hope for a brighter future- to a future without the Aberrants or their genocidal hate. The road ahead is long, however, and in meantime he embraces the little victories of life: a battle survived, a night out with friends, a cool beer and a starry night. He mourns lost squadmates and embraces new ones as friends with equal fervor. Every month he has video calls scheduled with his family, his mentor and some of his old comrades who rotated off the front. [Personal History] Theodore Howser was born on a refugee barge fleeing New Halcyon as it was consumed by Abberants. Life on barge 117-Beta was harsh: food supplies were thin and medicine supplies even thinner. People died in the hundreds every day. those who worked earned more rations than those that didn't, so Theo spent his childhood repairing oxygen scrubbers and cleaning out waste recyclers. Unlike some ships, the refugee barge wasn't a permanent settlement. It was part of a larger fleet that flew ahead of Aberrant incursions, rescued as many people as they could, and then fled for safer waters. 117-Beta spent seventeen years in transit before Theo's boots touched soil for the first time in his life on a planet called Kabral III. Poverty loomed over the Howser family even here. Levi Howser, Theo's father, was paralyzed during the invasion. The cybernetics necessary to repair his spine cost far more than they can afford. Even with minimum medical attention, his bills are astronomical. He's trying to make a career out of dictating novels with a speech-to-text program, but it isn't going well. Asmara Howser worked for a non-profit education advocacy group before her planet was destroyed. She works fifty hours a week as a public educator and another fifteen as a private tutor. Its enough to scrape by even if it leaves her children to fend for themselves most days. Theo decided he needed to ease the burden on his mom, so he decided to pitch in. His application to military service was accepted near instantly- the machine always needed more bodies- and he was shipped off world to Camp Triton for training two weeks later. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life. The regiment's doctor nearly failed him out after he vomited all over himself and passed out during a run. The human body could only take so much punishment and he was already malnourished when he showed up; Theo wasn't ready. Be it luck or providence, it just so happened that the chief medical practitioner at Camp Triton was a Halcyonite too. Major Russom Samir prescribed an expensive physo-gene therapy program that built Theo back better than he'd ever been, and two months later Samir cleared Theo for service. Theo earned the callsign 'Teddy Bear' at Camp Triton both because of his affinity for the MBM-78 Grizzly and for his soft nature; he was 'too soft for war,' his bunkmates would mock. When they took bets on which of them would run or die first, the majority settled on gentle, soft Theodore. He was determined to prove them wrong. Thanks to recommendations of Major Samir and Lt. Colonel Strutzheim, the base commander, Theodore was accepted into the pilot program. No one would've called the boy a prodigy: he made more mistakes than most every single time he climbed into the cockpit. But none could deny his passion. There was a fire in his heart that drove him harder than anyone would've thought possible. The flame followed him through his next two decades of service: he fought on the moons of Pele, liberated Calypso IV, dug in around Rao City for the Hundred Day Siege, rescued the battleship Benevolence from an Aberrant boarding action, and so much more. One of his more notable tours of duty saw him aid in the defense of Thrax in 376. Teddy was grievously wounded when he attempted to engage a Bishop still protected by its barrier. Without a Constellation present, his unit had no hope of stopping it from massacring the tribe of Cain. Still, Theo refused to retreat, and had his men carry out delaying tactics: mine the ground to slow its advance, fainting charges to drag its attention backward; split the retreating tribes people into small groups so it had no easy target. Despite their efforts, Teddy fell. The creature cracked his mech open like an egg, split his head nigh in twain and left him for dead. It was a miracle Teddy survived, though he still has the scar to show for it. He never let the tragedies of his life define him. He never let himself dull to the little pleasures of life, like a hot cup of terrible coffee or a night dancing with a pretty woman. Even at forty-one years old he lives every day with the same passion of his youth, for he knows full well it could be his last. A universe cursed with the Aberrants was a harsh one- but life was about more than its darkest hours. Home World [Planet Description] New Halcyon was a garden world on the frontier of human-controlled space. Its terrain is as varied as Earth's, though the planet itself was slightly smaller and orbited by twin moons rather than one. It was settled hundreds of years ago by Neo-Reformist Liberation Theology pilgrims fleeing the coreworlds from persecution. Over the centuries it developed an average economy stifled by sanctions and isolationism. Most of its settlements were clustered around the original landing site, though some adventurous sorts crossed the ocean to settle other continents and islands. Its population hovered around eighty million when the planet was conquered by Aberrants. [Culture] The first settlers of New Halcyon considered it a paradise gifted to them by God. They christened their landing spot as the Rock of Mercy, and built upon it a massive cathedral. The first settlers were all canonized as saints, and hundreds of statues were erected in the halls of the cathedral to remember their sacrifices. Reformist influence promoted government and economy policy based on their religious teachings, including: the elimination of poverty, equitable distribution of resources and a reform-first criminal justice system. Anti-coreworld sentiment was common enough that the Halcyon government faced regular censor by federal authorities. Notable Contacts Russom Samir [Name] Commander Russom Samir [Relation to Subject] Mentor [Analysis] Russom Samir is a military doctor and Commander (0-5) in the Navy of the Mobilized Human Alliance. Originally educated as a doctor, he signed up for officer's school after spending fifteen years in civilian medicine for one reason: he'd lost his son to an Aberrant attack. He's hopped between dozens of postings over the decades, including a few on the front, but it was during his time as the chief medical officer at Camp Triton that he met Teddy Howser. Russom is a native of the planet New Halcyon, a world lost to Aberrant invasion over forty years ago. It was his shared ancestral homeworld that drew him to Theodore Howser. When they met Theo was a young firebrand with a failing body- broken by the death of their world. The kid wanted nothing more than to join the fight against the things that took a home from him that he'd never seen. That warmed Samir's cold heart enough to stick his neck out for the kid. He ensured Howser received the best medical care available so he could complete his training at Camp Triton. Many of Russom's peers consider him a sardonic man that is difficult to work with, with utterly terrible bedside manner. Still, he cares deeply for his charges, and tries to maintain relationships with those few people willing to put up with his bitterness. He has a service record longer than his arm and has earned many a favor from higher ups by saving their lives. Teddy is one of those friends- the two trade messages frequently and make plans to share a drink or two whenever their paths cross. Theo owes Samir everything for saving his career when he was only a teenager, and he does whatever he can to pay Samir back for his...unique brand of kindness. A critical lack of experienced medical personnel on the front saw him transferred again. Russom's too old to fight on the line, but he can mend wounds and command a small army of orderlies on the deck of a destroyer or in the back of a tent if he has to. God knows he has the steel for it.

[Crowvette]

90% done, need to get an image for my contact and maybe clean up a few sentences here and there. Added in a portrait with her and her sister. Also not sure where to put the mech design that doesn't screw with the formatting by bloating the box with images so just click here for the mech and click here for the mech with my silly notes about functions.

Mina/Calamus

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Mina MacLean [Callsign] Foxtrot [Gender] F [Age] 31 [Rank and Designation] E-7 [Place of Birth] Emerald, AUM-3 [Official Statement] -"Foxtrot on station. Get behind me and let's finish the mission." C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Mech Model] Calamus [Type] Assaulter [Size] 40ft, 175 tonnes with shield included [Core] Epsilon [Armaments] Blackjack Canister Gun - Assault gun capable of firing canister rounds with varying payloads of shot. Loadings include high explosive, armor piercing darts, incendiary payloads, as well as other novel loadings depending on mission. Adjustable choke to disperse or focus shot placement depending on the engagement. Can be fired while braced against shield. Vanguard Shield - Heavily armored shield designed to be the focal point of an assault and let a team cut through an enemy line. Physical shield is extremely resistant to attacks and an in-built shield generator further augments its protection, and allows the user to project a larger energy shield to protect nearby teammates as well. It is also a gigantic piece of metal for less sophisticated maneuvers using the Satyr drive. Satyr Drive - Overclocked boosters allow the Calamus to gain extreme bursts of speed for rapid repositioning, evading, and offensive manuevers.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Mina is a professional soldier. She tries her best to be the strongest Pilot she can be. Not a sensitive type. Pragmatic. Can be abrasive, but usually well-meaning with criticism. Harshest on herself, though she often won't let it show. [Personal History] Mina has a history of military service in her family. As she rose to the rank of pilot she was offered the chance to be a squad lead. After a disastrous operation she swore off leadership roles and had a very successful career as a pointwoman in pilot squads. Home World [Planet Description] AUM-3 is a planet that is unremarkable other than its location along an important supply chain for military logistics. As the sole habitable planet in the system, AUM-3 hosted a large military and logistical presence, but not much else. [Culture] Being essentially a military colony, Emerald hosted very little in the way of culture other than what was easily rolled out to fleece enlisted out of their living stipends when they were off duty. The high concentration of military personnel led to a very stable, but also rigid living environment. Military shrinks recommend rotating personnel assigned to Emerald to a more hospitable area after five or more years of living there. Notable Contacts The most recent photo of them together. Lilia is the taller one on the right, despite being the younger sister. [Name] Lilia MacLean [Relation to Subject] Mina's younger sister [Analysis] Lilia took an opposite path to her sister, despite their similar upbringing. Her schooling records labelled her a potential prodigy, and she had constant pressure to join the MHA from her parents. With no desire to fight, she fled from her family in her late teens, with her only family contact being with Mina since. Since then, she has spent her time building a career as a musician and artist - her true passion in life. The two sisters are on good terms, and they both respect the others' choices though they ended up being in such diametrically opposite fields of work. Even now they keep in contact with each other, each being the others' most trusted confidant since childhood.

[vietmyke]

Mostly done, need to wait until I get back in front of a pc to make sure everything is the way I want it, but here she is:

Pilot Dossier: Delacroix, Sabine

Full Profile xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Sabine Dassault-Delacroix [Callsign] Rabbit [Gender] Female [Age] 24 [Rank and Designation] E-5 - Petty Officer second class [Place of Birth] Atrebois [Official Statement] <Miss Delacroix! Miss Delacroix! Please don't do aileron rolls while we have the recor- ksshk pffffffffffffff> C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Mech Model] DTX-103 Wyverne Custom 'White Hare' [Type] High-Mobility Assault, Armored Cavalry [Size] 45 ft tall, 70 tons [Core] Epsilon [Armaments] DPW-12 Beam Rifle - Primary, Right- Dassault's DPW-12 is a 1.9 MW, semi-automatic beam rifle. The DPW-12 is designed to be a priemer beam weapon option for next-gen mecha troopers, combining both high accuracy and high punching power, limited mainly by sustained rate of fire and the cost of production. Charging directly from its own Beta core, the weapon's battery 'banks' up to 20 shots, allowing for effectively limitless ammunition- provided the pilot is conservative with their rate of fire. The weapon is designed to combat well armored foes, such as Rooks or Knights, or particularly well armored Pawns, though the power of its beam allows it to penetrate through multiple lightly armored or smaller targets. A second pre-charged battery 'magazine' is kept in a compartment underneath the rifle's stock in case the primary overheats or is damaged in some way. A 'bayonet lug' on underneath the main barrel allows a beam sabre to be mounted. A magnetic clamp mount is located behind the shoulder when the rifle needs to be stowed. DKWx-31 45mm Smartcannon - Primary, Left- Fresh from the forges or Artebois and in the final stages of development, the brand new DKWx-41 Smartcannon uses specialized 'Smart' ammunition, bridging the gap between micro missiles and autocannon shell used by conventional forces. Using the agile and precise micro-missile as a base, the rocket propelled 45mm 'Smart' shells have built-in guidance systems and can self correct mid-course, allowing it to effectively shoot around cover, chase down targets, or even differentiate between targets. The Smartcannon is capable of multi-locking, and in a pinch can be fired in unguided mode. The weapon has a 60 shell external box magazine, with reloads stored in the ammunition compartments across the body. Due to its smaller size, it can be stored on the small of the back when not in use. Dassault Estoc-15 Missile Launcher - Shoulder, Left, Right - Mounted on each shoulder of the Wyverne is a Estoc-15 missile launcher, capable of loosing a flurry of high powered airburst explosives. These missiles pack a decent punch and effect a larger area than their size would suggest, making them effective against numerous and tightly packed, or lightly armored targets, but suffer against more heavily armored foes. E-21 Plasma Beam Saber - Secondary, Left - A standard pattern plasma beam saber used by the Wyverne in close combat. The blade length can be adjusted, and its high energy output allows it to be a deadly close ranged weapon. The weapon comes pre-charged prior to launch, though can be charged from the mech core if needed during long sorties. One is carried on a hip case on the side of the Wyverne. DPW-02 Particle-Pulse Vulcan - Secondary, Right - A low powered energy weapon imitating the shape of a rotary cannon, the DPW-02 PB Vulcan was designed to utilize the efficiency of Aberrant core energy production to combat ammunition limitations in drawn out battles, and is slowly being phased in, in place of traditional aircraft based rotary cannons. Mounted on the forearm of the Wyverne, this weapon dispenses a high volume of plasma bolts with power comparable to that of standard 20mm autocannons and is rated for dealing with Pawn class Aberrants, but in a pinch can be used to harass stronger foes. A battery banking system stores around 2000 charges at a time, for about a full minute of firing before needing to recharge. The PB Vulcan's charge system can be manually disabled when needing to shunt power to other systems. Wyverne High-Mobility Mode - The default 'mode' of the Wyverne in its bipedal mech form. While in this form, large directional thrusters give it incredible lateral movement, and substantial- though not groundbreaking top speeds. Meant for close-in fighting, the High-Mobility mode can change directions practically on a whim, built in G-force absorbing fields preventing its pilot from blacking out in its extremely acrobatic maneuvers. Wyverne Flight Mode - When speed is required over mobility, the Wyverne can fold its legs and arms to transform into a more compact 'Flight' mode. While in flight mode, the Wyverne both acts and is visually more like an aerospace fighter, and can reach considerably top speeds- often higher than most other mechs thanks to its more aerodynamic shape. While in Flight mode however, the Wyverne loses its ability to turn on a dime or drastically adjust its angle of fire. Used for covering long distances, strafing enemy targets, or quickly maneuvering to a new position. Emergency Countermeasures - A holdover from aerospace craft designs. A small combination of chaff, flares and smoke for defensive purposes. Constellation Carry Handle- Affectionately referred to as 'the strap' , the standard issue CCH is included on all Dassault Aerospace mechs. What more or less amounts to a harness, straps and grab bars mounted on a cutout embedded in the back of the Wyverne. Provides minimal protection from G-forces during flight, but a small shroud of armor plating protects the rider from thruster backwash. A quick release function allows a rider to detach at will. Note from the user manual: 'It ishighlyrecommended that a Constellation notify their pilot before release, so the pilot can momentarily cut thrusters to prevent severe plasma burns.'

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Psyche Eval: S.Delacroix Energetic and snarky, Sabine is for the most part fairly easygoing and playful. Despite being casually flirtatious with practically everyone she meets, Sabine shows little interest in actual romantic relationships. Regarded by many as an adrenaline junky, Sabine seems to love the thrill of flying and fighting, and has a reputation for being a bit of a thrillseeker and capable- if reckless, pilot. She trends towards sarcasm when faced with serious situations, and will regularly tease friends, coworkers and foes alike. Though not a stereotypical 'rich girl', Sabine has absolutely no issue throwing money around, especially if it can solve immediate problems. Sabine seems to have a soft spot for those displaced by the war- particularly children, and reacts aggressively in their defense. On the rare, chance encounter with Sabine's more 'serious' side, it can be assumed that a lot of Sabine's more casual, devil-may-care attitude can be attributed as a way of dealing with the stresses of combat and warfare. Those particularly close to Sabine note that while she's still friendly, she tends to be far more reserved when in the presence of those she's comfortable around. She avoids being 'mopey' when possible, often hiding behind vices or vaguely related stories when pressed. [Personal History] Service Record: S.Delacroix Born to a pair of unknown parents, Sabine Delacroix and her sister Sera's earliest memories were of an orphanage in the Capitol city of Artebois. Soon after, Sabine and Sera were adopted by Lucien Dassault, a widower, a veteran of the ongoing conflict and the current head of the Dassault Aerospace Core Worlds branch. As newly minted heirs, Sabine was afforded practically any and every luxury she could want for. The best things, tutors, schools and education available in the Core Worlds. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a young Sabine- like many a youth in these trying times, spent much of her formative years inundated by news and stories of the war, the heroic tales of larger-than-life Constellations fending off the Aberrants and the brave soldiers who supported them. Countless holo feeds of real-to-life superheroes riding into battle on the backs of the machines her father made, and the exciting and death defying feats they accomplished. From a young age, she was hooked. While possessing no otherworldly powers of her own, Sabine, like most Artebois natives, took great interest and pride in their burgeoning mech industry. She learned how to move a mech before she learned how to drive a car, and even among Artebois youths, she was a natural at it. By the age of 13, she was a test pilot on Dassault's production lines, and by 15- along with a the hefty backing of her father, was put into the Artebois Military Academy. The Academy was a hard adjustment for Sabine- while a gifted pilot and a decent academic, her instructors always found her a little difficult to control, a little too foolhardy and eager for a fight. Despite these setbacks, Sabine graduated from the Academy with high marks and was assigned her desired role: Pilot. The next several years would see Sabine deployed to various fronts along the Frontier Worlds, holding back the inexorable tide of Aberrants. She'd discover that, unlike the holos, the war against the Aberrants was not nearly as glamorous and exciting as she'd originally thought it to be. On her first sortie, half of her unit was destroyed, and she'd barely made it through her second sortie alive. The horrors of war broke the spirits of many rookies, but somehow Sabine managed to keep her sanity in spite of what she'd witnessed. She proved to be a natural, regarded as a top performing apprentice by her peers by the end of her first tour, and an ace by the end of her second. During her third tour of duty, Sabine would earn some noteriety for both her recklessness and her daring prowess. During the Siege of Cerol, a garden world in the frontier region, the planet came under surprise attack by a massive number of Aberrant forces. The sheer speed of the assault caught the MHA Fleet in orbit around the planet with their pants down, and a vicious fight ensued. During the opening stages of the battle, Sabine's squadron leader was shot down, along with their Constellation as they were overwhelmed by large numbers of Aberrant forces. Managing to rally the remains of her squadron, Sabine would regroup with another depleted squadron and their surviving Constellation and go on a counter offensive. Running out of ammunition in most of their weapons, the remaining pilots would scavenge the destroyed bodies of their comrades, using the cores within the mech husks as impromptu bombs to hurl into groups of Knights, managing to clear a path for the Constellation to assault the Bishop. Against the warnings of her squadmates, Sabine flew in the direction of the dying Bishop to extract the Constellation from the collapsing Aberrant and the remaining Knights around it. Though finishing the battle heavily injured, Sabine would earn a commendation of valor for her efforts. Now on her fourth tour of duty, Sabine brings her skills and devil-may-care attitude to the next front, kitted out with the latest in next-gen mech technology- courtesy of Dassault Aerospace. Home World [Planet Description] Arbetois is a boreal planet in the Serpent's Eye system in the heart of the Core Worlds. Artebois has overall cool temperatures, its warmest regions near the equator about on par to Earth's more temperate climates, with the vast majority of the planet featuring boreal or subartic climates. Depending on who is asked, Artebois is either 'blessed' or 'plagued' by both megafauna and megaflora in vast quantities, the forests of its northern and southern hemispheres filled with trees the size of buildings, with creatures and animals often reaching the size of vehicles or larger. Vast mountain ranges and gorges in the central areas of the planet allow for easier access to the planet's considerable natural resources. The vast majority of the planet's population centers are built within or nearby the equator belt, with more remote settlements hidden deep within the cold forests. The twin moons that orbit the planet are covered with all manner of factories and production plants, with only small amounts of industry still found on the planet proper these days. [Culture] Artebois holds history as one of the earlier Core Worlds to be settled when humanity began expanding beyond the Milky Way. Steeped in an old tradition of hunters and gatherers, from it's earliest days the people of Artebois utilized mechs to both clear the land of dense and titanic foliage and to hunt and defend themselves from massive beasts. As a result, it is not uncommon for denizens of the planet to be proficient- or at least familiar with the use of mechs. Unsurprisingly, Artebois attracted the interests of corporations and companies capable of building and maintaining these machines, eager to exploit the bounty of raw materials the planet held. Artebois- or more specifically it's moons are now one of the largest manufacturers of mechs and mech parts in the Core Systems. While the people nowadays put an emphasis on industry and manufacturing as opposed to their old hunter/gatherer ways, they still maintain a somewhat cautious respect for nature. Notable Contacts [Name] Sera Dassault-Delacroix [Relation to Subject] Sister [Analysis] The current Chief Engineer of the Dassault Aerospace R&D Division, for the Core Systems branch, and local company representative. Like her sister, Sera has always had an interest in mechs, though unlike Sabine who likes to fly them, Sera's interest lie more in the creation of them, and is a talented inventor and mechanic. She's constantly tinkering on equipment and is knowledgeable enough about even the most obscure models of mech to perform maintenance and repairs on them, though obviously she prefers to work with Dassault models. A large producer for the war effort, Dassault mechs make up almost 20% of all of the mechs seen on the frontlines, and have a reputation for reliability and performance. The current flagship design of Dassault is the versatile DTX-101 Chevalier, and its variants. Directly improving upon the Chevalier, Sera spearheaded the development and creation of the DTX-103 Wyverne, a next generation mech trooper and a marked improvement over the original frame, emphasizing mobility and striking power. Unfortunately, the Wyverne has been slow to mass adoption and currently only sees use with elite units, squadron leaders, and those with special privileges, on account of its rather high production costs. Sera was quite disappointed when Sabine 'took her baby' and promptly damaged it on its first sortie. Though she prefers solid land, Sera can make do with most available workspaces if given the time or resources. Though not military herself, she is currently attached to the same unit as her sister as a representative engineer from Dassault to maintain and gather combat performance data on Sabine's Wyverne.

[Feyblue]

Alto "Eight-Ball" Valenti

A L T O V A L E N T I
A L T O V A L E N T I

---

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Alto Valenti [Callsign] Eight-Ball [Gender] Male [Age] 19 [Rank and Designation] Apprentice Pilot, Designated Test Pilot for K.H.I. [Place of Birth] Kabral III [Official Statement] "My reason for fighting? Well, I mean, somebody's got to do it. Might as well be me, right? If I can't be the one wielding the sword, then the least I can do is clear the way for those who can. Haha. So yeah, that's... Will he see this? No, no, of course not. Right. Right. Forget I asked." C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Mech Model] FTF-280x Corvo II-V [Type] Limited-Production Multirole Fighter/Artillery [Size] 15.2 Meters/Approx. 50 Feet [Unladen Weight] 28.3 Metric Tons [Max Weight] 42.7 Metric Tons [Core] Epsilon-Class [Armaments] KHI-44x-VSHPR "VESPER" KHI-44x-VSHPR "VESPER" ||The Corvo II-V's primary armament is the experimental "VESPER" Variable-Speed Heavy Plasma Rifle, purpose-built for the unit in partnership with Kabral Heavy Industries. With a total length of 16 meters, even exceeding the unit's own height, it is a formidable weapon with a yield comparable to a destroyer's main cannon. As its designation implies, the weapon's primary feature is its flexibility. Top-loaded with a magazine of compressed gas canisters, it then uses its own internal reactor to charge and superheat this exotic fuel into a form of highly volatile plasma, which it then releases in steady streams for as long as the trigger is held down. In this mode, its most common use case is sweeping the beam across one or more targets to deal damage over a wide range. Additionally, however, it is also capable of condensing this plasma into a singular mass, feeding extra energy directly from the Corvo II-V's reactor to supercharge and then magnetically accelerate one devastating shot into particularly tough enemies. In this configuration, the bolt it fires not only travels to its target near-instantaneously, but becomes capable of melting through the carapaces of even the most hardy Aberrant foe -- then disintegrating them with a massive explosion. Unfortunately, firing the VESPER for maximum effect also depletes the currently active gas canister completely, requiring immediate reloading. Furthermore, throughout its testing and development, the weapon has suffered from insufficient cooling, often melting its heat sinks and barrel irreparably over the course of a single sortie. Some models even exploded outright, or caused reactor leaks in the unit that carried them. Due to the costs inherent to their production, and their less-than-stellar long-term performance, neither the VESPER, nor the improved Corvo II variant meant to wield it, ever saw mass production -- but a few models did see service in the frontier regions. FTF-T28-MM "Tri-Talon" Multi-Missile Rack FTF-T28-MM "Tri-Talon" Multi-Missile Rack ||One of several modular back-mounted weapons packs designed for the Corvo-series chassis, the Tri-Talon carries a total of nine radar-guided missiles per pod, and can fire up to three of them at a time. These missiles are as fast as they are accurate, and can additionally be armed on a delay, allowing them to be guided around potential obstacles before they begin seeking a target, making them supremely useful for chasing entrenched enemies out of cover and striking from unanticipated angles. However, the warheads' actual destructive power is somewhat lacking, meaning their utility is far greater against small, mobile adversaries that would be tricky to hit with the Corvo II's main gun than it is against larger, more heavily armored targets. These pods, additionally, can be purged from the unit once empty, reducing its weight so as to increase its speed. FTF-S110-BB "Espada" Beam Blade FTF-S110-BB "Espada" Beam Blade ||The Corvo II's last resort is a one-handed beam sword stored in a charging rack underneath its left wrist. While not in use, its focusing emitter can be used to fire small-but-rapid laser blasts, serving as a sidearm or CIWS should the unit be pressured. Additionally, it can be released seamlessly from the charging rack into the unit's hand with a quick flick of the wrist, allowing the Corvo II to rapidly respond to threats that enter melee range. The beam blade, though small, concentrates an immense amount of energy into its edge, allowing it to cleave straight through even Aberrant armor in just one or two strikes. However, since the Corvo II lacks any other close-range countermeasures, this weapon is more meant to allow it to go down fighting when cornered than anything else, and it is not advised for pilots to seek to employ it regularly. "Magni-Craft" A-EM Propulsion System "Magni-Craft" A-EM Propulsion System ||Another proprietary technology of Kabral Heavy Industries added to the Corvo II-V to test viability for mass-production, the Magni-Craft system was an unintended breakthrough discovered during a failed project attempting to replicate Aberrant barriers. By drawing anomalous material from the unit's Aberrant core and shaping it with electromagnetic currents, a lattice structure can be formed around the unit equipped with the system. This structure, while unable to replicate the power of a true Aberrant barrier, nevertheless exerts a constant, steady repulsive force which can furthermore be focused or amplified by modulating the current flowing through it. The most obvious use of this technology is to disrupt incoming energy-based attacks, or to slow physical projectiles and reduce their impact force. However, as researchers on the project soon discovered, the A-EM Fields produced by this system are a means not only of defense, but also propulsion. By projecting an A-EM Field beneath the unit, the Magni-Craft system serves to counteract the force of gravity, allowing the unit it is equipped to skate near-weightlessly atop a frictionless force-field instead of the ground itself. And, should the unit need to enter the air, the field can be momentarily expanded to violently repulse the ground, launching the machine airborne before stabilizing once again to slow its descent to a safe and controllable speed. This system gives the Corvo II-V a great deal of mobility without sacrificing size or armor in exchange. However, it is also heavily fuel intensive, limiting its operational times compared to more conventional machines. This deficiency has been partially compensated for by attaching an external fuel tank containing a reserve of the exotic materials needed to create an A-EM Field, but this, in turn, increases the unit's weight and reduces its speed -- though it can be purged once emptied. Additionally, the system is dependent on a network of emitters and stabilizers mounted all along the unit's frame, many of which are affixed to modular hardpoints not specifically designed to accommodate or protect them, as more customized fittings could not be procured due to budgetary constraints during the unit's brief production run. Due to this somewhat sloppy "proof of concept" placement, as the unit sustains damage, these stabilizers may fail, resulting in reduced A-EM Field integrity. The more hits the unit takes, the slower and the more fragile it will become, giving it a somewhat deserved reputation for falling apart all at once when things start going wrong. [Anomaly] Telempathic Communication [Origin] Limit [Phenomena] The Valenti family is known for its powerful psionic Anomalies, derived from an unstable union between Symtropantos and Eorman branch family members in their distant Ancestry. Alto, however, only possesses a very weak offshoot of these abilities -- one which grants the user a form of extrasensory perception. This ESP is tuned specifically to the thoughts and feelings of those around the user -- particularly those directed towards Alto himself. Rather than words, general attitudes and sensations are conveyed with a great degree of fidelity, thought some of the context pertaining to them can also be imparted if the person in question focuses on a specific memory, thought, or image while he is reading them. The more willing the subject to open up to him, the easier it is to form a psionic bridge connecting their two minds, increasing the accuracy with which he is able to understand their feelings, experiences, and wishes. This connection can also work both ways, allowing Alto to exert his own psionic pressure on those around him, conveying his emotions, memories, or short thoughts to others who are nearby. Likewise, this ability works more effectively the more willing his target is to receive him. Aside from giving him a great deal of natural charisma and a knack for pleasing and comforting others, Alto's ability does have a few, albeit limited uses in combat. For example, he can track the general positions of his allies and their general mental states even in the heat of battle, giving him above-average situational awareness. Sensing a comrade's alarm might tip him off to an imminent danger, while their anger or desperation might draw him to provide support where it's needed without even being asked. In particularly tense situations, an enemy's killing intent can give their attacks away just in time for him to evade them, making the difference between life and death. [Limitation] While Alto's ability is flexible, and comes at little cost to himself, it isn't without its drawbacks. As it exists outside of the five traditional senses, oftentimes attempting to transmit complex concepts will result in information overflow -- synesthesia bleeding into his other senses, losing some of the information entirely. Rather than peering through someone's memories, for example, he's more likely to just get flashes of specific sights, sounds, tastes, smells, or tactile sensations, disconnected from one another and deprived from the overall context. And, while he can more or less control when his ability activates rather than just having it on all the time, it sometimes fires off without any conscious input from him -- particularly in moments of great stress, powerful emotion, and high tension. This can make it somewhat unreliable when he's under pressure, as he finds it much more difficult to control his Anomaly well enough to search for or focus on one specific thing in such cases -- and can additionally cause his own distress to be inadvertently shared with those around him. Finally, due to the alien nature of their senses and thought patterns, his ability is extremely ineffective when employed against the Aberrant. Any successes he might have at sensing their presence or their killing intent are usually more dumb luck than the result of any conscious effort on his part -- and, in fact, attempting to actively focus his perceptions upon them can oftentimes result in a great deal of psychic strain, causing headaches, nausea, confusion, and even running the risk of making him pass out. Whatever thoughts might comprise it, the Aberrant mind is a terrible thing to read. Notable Contacts Notable Contacts Ricardo Valenti [Name] Ricardo Valenti [Relation to Subject] Father [Analysis] You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the galactic frontier regions who hasn't at least once heard the name Ricardo Valenti. One of few Singularity-Class Constellations in the entire UAS, he's renowned not only for his skill with his AB Lance, but also for his purported oracular ability to see even distant possible futures and chart a path to achieving them with his Anomaly -- though how much of this is truth and how much is his own exaggerated legend is a topic of frequent debate. Regardless of how much of it is true, his tale has been told time and time again. In a time where humanity was suffering defeat after defeat, heroes were in short supply. Certain liberties were taken, perhaps, and certain responsibilities were piled on the shoulders of a tired man who had known only fighting since the days of his youth. He'd fled one home, found another, and then lost everyone who defended it with him. Yet still he remained. Ricardo is not necessarily a cold man, but he's not a friendly man either. His eyes are too sharp, his heart too small. His dark humor and sardonic temperament are rather typical for a Kabralan, and his discipline, devotion to his people, and dedication to his duty are likewise as exemplary as one might expect. He's the kind of man who would shed no tears over a comrade's death, but would spill a sea of blood to avenge them -- cool-headed, proud, and resolute. He is impartial in his treatment of others, dealing as bluntly with his own kin as he does with his subordinates. Not one to show affection or to openly express his feelings on any matter, it's no wonder his more emotionally sensitive son and he never saw eye to eye. Presently, he's serving as a representative for the Frontier regions on the UAS council, in particular helping to guide and direct the deployment of defensive forces along the Frontier. His performance in this role has been, at worst, unremarkable -- he's successfully minimized losses while largely maintaining the status quo... for now. However, there are many on the council who dislike him for his rather meteoric rise of prominence, and who are all too eager to see him fall. As such, the position occupied both by him and the defensive forces under his command is precarious, and prone to changing should even the slightest mishap befall him... Dr. Nicole Renata [Name] Dr. Nicole Renata [Relation to Subject] Kabral Heavy Industries Liaison, Attache to V-Type Test Pilot Alto Valenti [Analysis] When the refugees from Calidar first found Kabral III, the colonial cities upon its surface were abandoned, but not uninhabited. As part of their efforts to draw tourists and immigrants to their new colony, SEM Corp had commissioned a rather luxurious custom line of clones from the famed RENATUS Combine, hoping to employ them as concierges, aides, escorts, and domestic servants to VIPs in the luxury residences built atop the colony's hanging sky cities. As such, they were designed not only to be beautiful to look at, but also to possess an abnormally high level of mental acuity for a menial servant model. They would, after all, have been expected to serve as living encyclopedias of everything a guest would need to know -- and yet, they were also meant to be perfectly and unquestioningly obedient to those designated as their masters. But those masters never arrived. And so, these costly mail-order maidens were left locked away in cryogenic slumber, set aside in one of the many lawsuits surrounding the colony's dissolution until countless appeals could be made to decide whose property, precisely, they now were. Needless to say, when the sector was evacuated on account of the emergent Aberrant menace, these insignificant issues were set aside and, eventually, forgotten. Until the Calidar exodus came and woke them up. Most of the RENATUS women ended up living lives of no consequence, and most likewise died in short order. Some were all-too-eagerly taken as concubines of the soldiers protecting the planet. Others were tasked with helping to crew and maintain the orbital defense platforms, and perished during the first wave of the Aberrant attack. A few were tasked with assisting in the manufacture of weapons and armaments as part of a joint initiative with military engineers from the exodus fleet, but by and large also are reported to have perished when a Knight-class Aberrant bombed one of the planet's primary weapons factories. It is a deeply ironic and unpleasant fact to consider, that they possessed the intellect to be fully aware of themselves -- of their sentience, of the rights and dignity afforded to other such sentient beings, and, of course, of the souls they themselves lacked, which separated them from those "others." And yet, in spite of that awareness, they could not escape their programming -- all they could do was show their brightest smiles, meekly nod, and obey the orders they received, though it cost them their lives, their happiness, and their dignity. Poor, innocent dolls -- the lot of them. Of course, none of that has anything to do with the eccentric KHI liaison, Dr. Nicole Renata. A rising star among the corporation's ranks, she's gone from working on a factory line to designing product lines of her own, and is even rumored to have had a hand in the invention of several of the company's proprietary technologies. Needless to say, as one of the minds behind the new V-Type Corvo units, she's taking a direct role in analyzing the operational data from their early-stage deployments. Her behavior is notoriously inscrutable, with her every waking moment fueled almost entirely by caffeine and other minor stimulants. She displays a flagrant disregard for authority and decorum in almost all forms, addressing everyone with equal familiarity and irreverence -- barging into conversations whenever she feels like, and tuning out the world to lose herself in her studies whenever she doesn't. The only thing she takes seriously is her work -- and if she wasn't so damned good at it, doubtless no one would be willing to put up with her many idiosyncrasies. She gets along just fine with her unit's test pilot, though, treating Alto -- much to his chagrin -- as something of a kindred spirit, or perhaps a younger brother. She's all too willing to humor his high pride, and take pride in his low humor, teaching him newer, even worse puns to inflict upon his comrades during her free time. She still gets mad at him if he misuses her precious prototype, though. Although her identification papers were tragically lost during the fall of Calidar and her subsequent flight from it, numerous KHI executives have stepped forward and vouched for her identity -- in no small part thanks to her insightful contributions to some of their most cutting edge designs. A resourceful academic and a living lexicon of scientific data, there have certainly been those detractors citing her resemblance to the now-deceased RENATUS clones, and some disproportionate fuss made over some unsightly burns from a broken cigarette lighter that just so happen to cover the patch of skin on her wrist where such a clone's barcode tattoo would be. But those theories are, of course, ridiculous, and have long since been debunked. They're nothing more than the vitriolic babbling of those jealous of the young prodigy's many landmark achievements in the field of Aberrant studies, and the repurposing of their biology into technologies which can benefit the war effort. After all, even had one of the RENATUS women survived, she never would have been able to lie about her origins, let alone destroy her own identification number. Her programming would surely prevent it. After all, no matter how clever or strong-willed a menial clone might be, they're still subject to their core precepts. Obey your betters. Go above and beyond what is asked of you, and always give 110% to your job. The company's prosperity is your prosperity. No matter how hard it gets, don't forget to smile. ...Well, at least one of them was good advice. The serious ones only die tired and unhappy, so might as well at least pretend you're enjoying yourself, right? All the more so when this fleeting, insignificant life is the only time you have...

Profile [Surface-level Impression] The first thing one is likely to notice about Alto Valenti is his exhuberant, sunny demeanor. Seldom seen without a cocky grin on his face, even when he's desperately trying to hide it while called to stand at attention, he's friendly, excitable, and, while occasionally awkward, generally a rather personable individual... provided you don't mind the occasional groanworthy pun, anyway. The second thing one is likely to notice, on the other hand, is his reckless ambition. He doesn't exactly try to hide his aspirations of heroism or his at least somewhat justified pride in his skills, sure -- but it's a bit alarming how readily he puts those goals before his own well-being. Perhaps he thinks he's invincible, or perhaps he just doesn't know any better, but either way, while he's not necessarily a hazard to others, the same doesn't really hold true for himself. Constant supervision is advised. [Personal History] It might seem strange that a young master, raised in luxury, would throw away that life, his pride, and his entire fortune in pursuit of childish dreams. Born the son of a war hero, yet inheriting only a meager fraction of that famous power, Alto was just strong enough to sense the gulf between him and the father he so admired. That disappointment -- no, that *pity* -- was where it all began. Then, the disgust of his fiance -- a Core-Worlder from a wealthy family he met only once, yet whose disdain might have crushed him at a glance. Was he really to live the rest of his life in the company of a woman who thought him a bumpkin and a useless imbecile, just so that her wealth might pay for the war his father continued to fight even now? Staring down the barrel of a future in which he would remain just as insignificant as he always had been, Alto blinked. Instead of boarding the shuttle that would have taken him towards that future, he slipped away -- found passage on a different ship, and vanished into the celestial night. He only once looked back as his homeworld slipped away into the darkness of space -- then never looked back again. It wasn't easy going. He did odd jobs, scrounged and scavenged, even begged just to survive. He questioned himself once or twice, but the pride within him was hurt less by the lowly state to which he had fallen than it was by the thought of returning home in disgrace. And then, at his lowest moment, he met a recruiter who saw that pride for what it was -- saw how to exploit it. An unspoken agreement was formed. Alto faked his age, and the recruiter turned the other way -- a little lie that would fill his quota just a little sooner. Perhaps the man had been hoping that a boy gifted with an Anomaly would perform well enough to earn him a bonus -- though if he was, these hopes would go unfulfilled. Alto's performance in training was a mixed bag. He demonstrated a great deal of situational awareness, lightning-quick reflexes, and a tremendous natural knack for piloting -- but also a reckless disregard for protocol, caution, and patience that cost him dearly in mock battles and simulations. Some of these faults were overlooked on account of his talent, others he managed to rein in just well enough to pass muster. But if basic training had taught him humility, it was a lesson swiftly undercut by the offer he received upon first donning the rank of apprentice. An exclusive offer from Kabral Heavy Industries -- the premier manufacturer of weapons and war machines on his homeworld -- was placed before him, and he signed the waiver without so much as glancing at the fine print. A glamorous, elite position as a test pilot, getting first crack at weapons and tech nobody else had ever used in combat before was bait far too juicy for him to even consider passing up -- without ever even thinking of the risks that might be involved. Even this status proved insufficient to whet his appetite for adventure, however. Half a year of running basic field tests and mock combat operations in the safety of core space felt hardly any different from the sim-skirmishes back in basic. But when, mid-transit, his unit happened to receive a distress signal from the nearby planet Alora, Alto at long last felt his fortunes changing. As he climbed eagerly into his cockpit, ready to beat the alien menace and save the day, the once-disgraceful young master found new dreams slipping into his mind -- ambitions he had scarcely dared to entertain ever since he had first become aware of his own inadequacy. He might not have been able to become a Constellation like his father, but he could still become a hero. Home World [Planet Description] Planetary Data and Foundation Kabral III is a large, barren world around twice the size of Earth, girdled by a thick belt of interstellar detritus and debris, and tidally locked in orbit around a Red Dwarf. Rich in minerals from centuries of constant asteroid impacts upon its surface, it was prospected and claimed shortly after its discovery 162 years ago by the Solari Exoplanet Mining Corporation. Hoping to jump-start a colonial boom and reap the profits of the planet's lucrative natural resources, a great deal of investments were made and several expansive settlements were established. These ranged from luxurious floating resorts suspended above the day-night line where company managers and employee families could live in comfort to extensive subterranean mining cities on the night-side below. However, far from the influx of eager employees they had hoped for, the Kabral colony saw only a few thousand immigrants in its opening years. Abandonment of the First Colony Desperate to earn back their unwise initial investment, SEM-Corp instead turned to cloning and indentured service contracts as a way to populate their failing colonial venture. These attempts, however, ran afoul of a litany of human rights and labor mismanagement lawsuits following leaks revealing the staggering mortality rates among the first batch of disposable workers sent to the colony, leaving many of the planet's underground cities almost entirely unoccupied. "A ghost colony," one contemporary news source called it -- while less favorable outlets called it "a deathtrap." So it was that after numerous settlements, sanctions, and a disastrous government inquest, SEM-Corp was forced to declare bankruptcy and, in the years that followed, began to liquidate their colonial holdings. The Kabral III colony had its funding cut, and those few who still lived there gradually left the planet, seeking their fortunes elsewhere. Though initially, several other companies expressed interest in purchasing the derelict colony, those efforts were soon abandoned when the Aberrant invaded. Countless frontier worlds fell into ruin, and Kabral III was entirely cut off from humanity for decades, abandoned as a tactically insignificant liability in the face of a vastly superior foe. War With the Aberrant and Rediscovery Systems were lost. Systems were won. The war waged on, unabated. Lines were drawn to contain the enemy, and subsequently broken through. And, in the disastrous aftermath of one such battle, the tattered remnants of an exodus fleet from the doomed neighboring Calidar colony made a blind jump through an unknown wormhole to escape their pursuers... and found the Kabral system just as it had been, still untouched by the Aberrant scourge. Its star's light too weak, its planets too sparse and desolate, the horde had not bothered to divert their course to gobble up such a measly and insignificant sector when there were far more bountiful colonies spread out before them, all but defenseless against their wrath. And so it was that the Kabral colony's failure to thrive became its single greatest lucky break, as the fleet now found themselves in possession of an entire planet, fully furnished and developed, as though in preparation for their arrival. And, what was more important, they found that among the many ore veins SEM-corp had found there, there was a certain abundant mineral that they had dismissed as waste, but which was now more valuable than anything else in the galaxy. The floating pleasure-cities above the equatorial line were converted to defense platforms. Unused worker drones were retrofitted into machines of war. Old foundries were fired once again, and almost a dozen Anti-Barrier swords were produced for use by the Constellations of the Exodus fleet, and those among the refugees who they chose in this time of crisis to study under them. The First Battle of Kabral When the Aberrant finally found them there, they doubtless expected easy prey. They were wrong. The swarm's initial scouting force was completely destroyed in orbit over Kabral III. Realizing the extent of the planet's defenses, the Princess leading the attack changed its tactics, embedding itself in the outermost exoplanet of the Kabral system, no doubt attempting to birth a more powerful swarm that could overwhelm the defenders regardless of their entrenchment. However, the creature failed to account for one critical possibility -- that the planet might be defended by a large group of Constellations. Perhaps it was simple logic, reasoning that with the colony entirely cut off from the rest of humanity, they'd have no logistical means of obtaining such invaluable reinforcements. Or, perhaps, having faced nothing but easy victories for the last several years, the hive mind simply grew complacent. Regardless, once they knew the princess' location, the defenders came up with a bold plan. They broke from their defensive lines and launched an attack on the infested Kabral V, utilizing the main fleet as a distraction while the Constellations snuck into the hive along with an elite strike team, launching a devastating deep strike that succeeded in assassinating the Princess and decapitating her army. But just when victory seemed assured, a new Aberrant entered the system, responding to the princess' dying screams. After all, it might have been taken by surprise -- but it still had more than enough time to notify its kind of what it had seen. A dozen AB weapons and their users. Isolated. Undefended. An opportunity to deal a devastating blow to humanity's forces -- losses from which they might never recover. And so, in the moment of their triumph, the heroes of Kabral were beset by a new enemy, as a Crownsguard descended upon them, and their hopes of an easy and decisive victory were dashed. Made up as they were largely of fresh recruits, and taken almost completely by surprise while they were still exhausted from their battle against the hive, most of the Constellations didn't last more than a few seconds. It was only through the sacrifice of the squad's commander, a seasoned Red Giant, that the Crownsguard's barrier was cracked for a moment -- but, in a break of luck, a moment was all it took. With the hive's coordination disrupted by the death of their princess, the fleet had been able to regroup and rout the enemy's space forces -- and, in pursuing them, just so happened to be in the perfect position to take the shot when the opportunity arose. Transfixed by an orbital bombardment, the Crownsguard was left crippled and unable to restore its defenses -- and in that moment of weakness, the last survivor of Kabral's valiant defenders struck it down. Of the noble dozen who ventured forth into battle that day, forever immortalized as the Twelve Knights of Kabral, only one survived -- one who had, perhaps, foreseen that this great sacrifice was the only way victory could be won. But when the dust of battle settled, the impossible had been achieved. The swarm had been broken, its princess slain, and her invincible guardian toppled -- its heart pierced by the spear of of the great Ricardo Valenti. The Kabral of Today Kabral III is, in the modern day, known as the bulwark and unofficial capital system of the Frontier regions. With the death of the princess besieging it, the entire swarm collapsed, allowing the neighboring systems to regroup, and drive the Aberrant from their sectors. A new defensive line was established, and, when the news of what had occurred on Kabral came to light, the system was immediately heavily fortified, and operations undertaken to find and extract every last ounce of Anti-Barrier material from the planet's mines. This alone wouldn't have been enough to turn Kabral into the commercial powerhouse that it is today. However, as news of the miraculous victory of the Twelve Knights spread across the galaxies, it became a rallying cry for patriots everywhere. Support for Kabral became a way of showing one's devotion to the cause of humanity universally, and entrepreneurs rode this wave of good publicity to draw investors to contribute to the development of the "unbreakable fortress" that had so soundly beaten the loathsome invaders. Propaganda films were made. Monuments were established. Tourist attractions set up. Immigration boomed, and a few very lucky former subsidiaries of SEM-Corp found themselves unexpectedly holding the deed to all of it. These remnants banded together with the brave minds behind the defensive network erected during the first siege and with several other local enterprises merging to form a new industrial giant -- one that would honor the blood spilled to defend Kabral's red soil by harvesting every last scrap of material beneath it, and turning it into weapons fit to slaughter the Aberrants to the last. Thus was born Kabral Heavy Industries, a military-industrial powerhouse whose bold and deadly designs would take the Frontier by storm. [Culture] The culture of Kabral III is thus, in short, steeped in two things: militarism and patriotism. Hero worship is in the blood of every last man, woman, and child born there, who grow up surrounded by reminders of all that was sacrificed by their forebears to stop the horde in its tracks, and of their own duties to defend humanity from similar threats at any cost. They venerate their Twelve Knights with almost religious fervor, and, ironically for a colony that has spent almost its entire history cut off from the rest of humanity, feel an immense camaraderie with peoples from all other worlds and galaxies. No matter how different the cultures of any visitors to Kabral, a tourist will almost never be shunned, but met with almost fanatical acceptance and curiosity. The Kabralians will bend over backwards to welcome anyone as a brother, honoring them no matter how strange or foreign their customs might be -- just so long as that stranger is willing and able to hold a weapon and tear the bugs limb from limb, they'll fit right in. [Warrior Family] Tracing their ancestry only distantly back to branches of more distinguished clans, the Valenti family was basically unheard of until Ricardo Valenti's unprecedented rise from complete obscurity to Singularity-class, his creation as Lord of Kabral and Protector of the Frontier, and his appointment in this capacity to the UAS Council. While he is held in high regard as something of a folk hero, among established warrior houses and the blue-blooded oligarchs of the Milky Way, both he and his family are seen as upstarts, undeserving of the high status afforded to him. While he might have a seat on the council, he has yet to earn the dignity and respect afforded a proper master.

---

[Fading Memory]

Lictor

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Joab of Thrax [Callsign] Lictor [Gender] Male [Age] 64 [Rank and Designation] White Dwarf - Main Class [Place of Birth]The rubble field formerly known as Thrax [Official Statement] ”Can you look someone weaker— someone more vulnerable— than you in the eye and tell them to go get hurt because you don’t want to fight?” Mood Playlist C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Anti-Barrier Sword] XIII - Carnifex [Anti-Barrier Quotient] 30% [Physical Description] Depleted Uranium alloyed with AB materials, rendering the blade pyrophoric and flexible despite its immense density and weight. Provided a blow lands with sufficient force, the blade burns along its edge and maintains sharpness through prolonged confrontations. Stylized as an archaic Germanic executioner's blade, when paired with its lead-lined shroud and sheathe the full package of this ill-fated sword exceeds fifty pounds. It is worn over the shoulder on a sling, meant to be shrugged free before clearing the sheathe. In a world of high technology and incredible genetic capability, this is a weapon of deliberation and unmitigated devastation. [Attributes] Carnifex's capabilities are well regarded as accursed among the known AB weaponry. 'Unlucky Thirteen' has been its unofficial title for as long as the weapon has been in operation, for all who have wielded the weapon save for Lictor himself have died from the sword's unnatural radioactive emanations. It produces a latent level of radiation that is lethal within minutes for those who wield the blade. Thankfully, Lictor can handle this and the weapon only serves to enhance his natural capabilities immensely; his inherent resistance to Radiation can be channeled by the blade into his own retaliatory beams and waves of lethal energy. In other words, while in the hands of Lictor, Carnifex is capable of absorbing and deflecting laser weaponry as well as producing its own long ranged counterstrikes. In nearly anyone else's hands, it is merely an obscenely heavy blade for the short breadth of time it permits them to live. [Anomaly] Thraxian Grit [Origin] Line of Eorman - Splinter bloodline [Phenomena] Lictor's Anomaly has manifested in a duality of traits. The first is an uncanny and impressive inherent resistance to radiation, which went unnoticed the entirety of his young life until his enrollment as a Constellation. The second is an immense physical strength and prowess, which was believed to simply be uncanny genetic good fortune and favorable results from physical training... Until it exceeded human expectation. He is quite capable of dealing with lower caste Aberrants in hand-to-hand combat without the aid of Carnifex, and his immense strength makes wielding the obscenely heavy blade seem effortless in the moments where the blade must be drawn. [Limitation] Lictor's body burns an excessive quantity of energy. His metabolism is off the charts, his dietary requirements are staggering, and when pushed to the limits his recovery times can become prolonged. He is a candle that blazes like a forge, but should one withstand the inferno of his wrath then he is ultimately doomed to concede any prolonged, attrition based, campaigns if unaided. He eats a lot, he sleeps a lot, and while he may be a juggernaut in a fight he must pace himself.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Lictor is a tool, a vessel for a blade, the only means of transportation for the sole item that has defined his existence for two thirds of his life. A grim man, dutiful and critical in equal parts. A man who has witnessed too much death. A man inured to horror and blood. A man who struggles to exist on his own two feet, so entwined is his identity with that of a blade. A man to whom retirement could not stop the nightmares. A man who is not whole without a sword in his hand. A man whose emotions run deep, but dare not to reach the surface. [Personal History] Thrax was a harsh, cruel, uncaring mother world. And yet, the peoples from there were strong. The higher gravity ensured of that, but so too did an environment that would have made old Darwin dizzy with theory after theory on specialized evolutionary traits. Humanity came to Thrax chasing metals; humanity had to bend to Thrax's primal energy to reach them. The violent, tribal, peoples of Thrax became as feral and wild as the world itself. Joab was born amongst these savage and proud people. Joab was born the son of a miner and a hunter. Joab learned to shoot before he learned to read. Joab learned to split the earth before he learned algebra. Joab learned to kill a man before his fifteenth standard year of age. By the age of eighteen, he had conquered six of his planet's eight rites of passage. He had swum to the bottom of the great lake basin; he had wrestled with the humongous spider-like predators of the southern jungle; he had been stung by the man-sized scorpions of the northern deserts; he had drunk of the nectar of the hypnotic honey-flower and seen visions beyond report; he had scaled the dizzying heights of the thick Tesla-Trees, who stormed with lightning eight months out of the year, to claim the egg of the razorbeak birds. The only two rites left to him were the easiest and the hardest of them all. Most by his age had already killed a man, but leaving Thrax on a vessel was almost impossible for most of the denizens of Thrax. Joab was a man, respected, with influence and power among the tribes of Thrax. Joab, three named, strong and proud. Joab wanted more. The military had often come to Thrax to take conscription, to run blood tests, to harvest the youth of Thrax before the planet could break them. Joab had watched his entire life as ship after ship came down to the great space ports, protected fiercely by rival tribes, as his people were forced to eke out a meagre existence trading their resources to those who had the right and capability to ship product offworld. Joab wanted more. His clan went to war. The battles were bloody, but over swiftly and decisively. By the time his clan's colors rose over the spaceport of Thrax's Throat, high on a mountain overlooking the equatorial jungle, Joab was only of two names. When the next military cruiser came through seeking conscripts, Joab was twenty. When he filled out the recruitment forms, it was to the applause of his people that he signed himself to the Constellation program as merely 'Joab of Thrax'. He excelled in the initial training, surpassing other candidates by sheer physical prowess and capability. Later tests cemented his enrollment and bestowal of an Anti Barrier weapon; a mutation in his bloodline marked Joab as the first to express an inherent resistance to harmful radiation. He spent days in sealed rooms experiencing blasts of unseen radiation, exposure to Aberrant cores, proximity to laser blasts, and the ultimate test of being tasked to draw Unlucky Thirteen from its lead shroud. Ten minutes later he was officially a Constellation, at the age of twenty two. The horrendous history of the blade was impressed upon him, as was the astronomically unlikely existence of his unique anomaly. The blade was renamed, but its form left unchanged. Thus was Lictor, the bearer of Carnifex, given his sacrosanct task to execute the enemy's command structure. Two terms. Lictor served for two full terms. His career was thirty years of trawling the void from operation to operation, heralding Carnifex to his sanctioned targets, bringing low the Aberrant foe, and surviving to get to the next battlefield. As colorful and decorated as his career may be, all acts of service or war are shadowed by the Siege of Thrax. Aberrant invasions are either repelled, or the world dies. Thrax lasted longer than most. For four months the planet itself, as it always had in its history, resisted the devouring hunger of its invasive predators. For four months Lictor commanded warriors from jungle trees, river banks, mud huts, desert dunes, and ocean vessels in a ceaseless resistance to the planet's destruction. Every day the jungles he had called home withered more. Every day the roots of the mountains cracked. For every Aberrant he slew, two more high caste entities were revealed. The planet was too rich in biomass, raw resources, and water for the Aberrants to be worn down. They could not find the Princess, and that meant that each day Thrax weakened and the Aberrants grew stronger. The natural might of the planet slowly turned against Lictor with each passing day. Eventually he was on the back foot, racing from defensive effort to defensive effort trying to hold the line. Inevitability struck like a guillotine. The Siege of Thrax was dubbed 'The Massacre of Thrax'. Lictor's name and career were bloodied with the failure to hold the resource rich planet as well as the blame for the loss of several billion lives. The survivors of Thrax know him as a hero; the rest of humanity knows him only as a red handed butcher who failed to secure the only kill that mattered. Lictor did not sign for a third term. His fifty third birthday was spent on transit to a mobile Anti-Barrier armory, where he relinquished Carnifex into its leaden vault. He was discharged with honor, but little fanfare. His fifty fourth birthday found him on a boat, under the sun, on the paradise planet of Maui Covenant. For ten years the ageless warrior fished, swam, avoided official news of the war effort, doted upon his god-children, and sought answers to all his unanswered emotions at the bottom of a liquor bottle or in the blackened vestiges of a pipe. When men in unmarked suits, walking in unmistakable military spook goose-step, approached him one year ago it was to find him filleting a massive fish. They spoke as he descaled the catch. He silently listened as he worked with knife and hand to remove gamey flesh from white bone. A long silence reigned as he cleaned his tools and packed the harvest away. When the spooks turned away from him, he finally spoke. "I'll carry the sword again. You said it yourselves, I'm the only one that can." Thrax The World Rent Asunder Thrax was once a lush planet dominated by a Pangaea continent, with incomprehensibly dense and tall rainforest jungles crossing the entirety of the equatorial latitude. The far southern pole of the continent was a permanent tundra, but the northern hemisphere was temperate by comparison with the ice pole distant from land. It was a dense planet that was larger than Earth, bestowing it a slightly higher gravitational quotient than humanity-standard. Higher levels of oxygen on the planet meant that plantlife grew rampant, grew large, and grew strong. Thrax's native wildlife consisted of insectoid creatures of immense size, as well as vicious predators that turned the primary jungle biome that spanned most of the continental mass into a blender of life and death. And yet deep within the planetary surface, rich ores hid. Humanity came, and where the iron boot of conquest and terraforming failed- adaptation succeeded. For much of Thrax's history, it was ruled by a confederation of intermingling tribal societies that fought one another for control of principle spaceports to amass wealth and import rights over their competitors. When the Aberrants came, the war for Thrax was brutal and long for invasion standards. Now all that remains of Thrax is the fragments of a planet that collapsed upon itself and shattered apart. A ruin left adrift in the void. Deathworld Tribalism Thrax was a brutal planet, ill-suited to human habitation. Hostile fauna, deadly plant-life, but ludicrously rich in raw metals and ores needed in nearby systems. The fierce world bred fierce settlers. The nature was so hostile that the only way to survive was to adapt rather than conquer. The peoples of Thrax were almost tribal in their organization, and superstitious as well, crafting myths about their world to rationalize the horrors of their existence. Most of these myths revolved around a prolonged coming of age ritual practiced on the planet, involving eight great trials of planetary feats of bravery and strength. The people of Thrax are given nine names at birth, and for each trial overcome they lose a name. Most adults of Thrax achieve satisfaction and respect with three or four names remaining. To achieve the full rite and be rendered singly-named is to become legend to Thraxians. The Line of Joab Of the known bloodline of Joab, following his enlistment as a Constellation, he is the first to express the key radiation resistance that defines his Anomaly. Notable Contacts [Name] Kyra Newman [Relation to Subject] Kyra Newman is the fresh recruit that the top brass have hoodwinked into being Lictor's battlefield chauffeur (Read: Pilot); she's allegedly an ace at maneuvering a battlefield in simulations, but she's green. Very, very, green. She has yet to see her first true combat scenario... The brass promised she'd hold up under pressure. [Analysis] Prodigy of a military recruitment drive emphasizing virtual and augmented reality 'gaming' rigs; champion of multiple tournaments throughout her teenaged years, the military compensation package that came to her and her family's mailbox one day was almost impossible to say no to. Her training continued in physical spectrums from the age of eighteen to twenty, and she has just been assigned to the newly un-retired Lictor as personal pilot. [Name] Jocasta Dorcas Mary Lilith [Relation to Subject] A fellow survivor of Thrax, one of humanity's best reconnaissance and scouting squadron leaders. Has refused promotion countless times, wishing to remain on the direct field of conflict with the Aberrant foe. Her recklessness and wrath are second only to her knack for surviving to paint a target on a critical Constellation target another day. Often outlives her squads. Her target acquisition capabilities often directed Lictor into key Aberrant kills. [Analysis] Jocasta D.M.L. and Joab shared a physically intimate relationship that was born with the siege of Thrax and died with the planet's destruction. They found each other in an opportune time, but their personalities could not truly mesh beyond physical attraction. Instead of a romance, they found a profound friendship that was forged into something indestructible as they watched Thrax break apart in their retreat. Lictor pursued retirement, Jocasta pursued revenge. [Name] Beornwulf Kantor [Relation to Subject] Beornwulf helms the mighty vessel known as 'The Dream of Dawn'; prior to Lictor's retirement, he and Beornwulf shared a grim comradery. The Dream of Dawn served as Lictor's primary transport and support ship during his official career as a Constellation. [Analysis] Kantor is the only person from his career that Joab kept in contact with during his retirement. Their regular communiques kept Joab apprised of the frontline developments, and in return Joab would pay regular visits to the captain's family; Joab's retirement was on the same paradise world that Kantor's family lived on, after all. According to official record, Joab is the registered god parent to the three youngest grandchildren of the Kantor clan, who all see him as brother to Beornwulf.

[Eisenhorn]

Fashionably late, that's me.

Solomon Howe

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Solomon Howe [Callsign] Dunkirk [Gender] Male [Age] 29 [Rank and Designation] Petty Officer [Place of Birth] New Alexandria, Alexandria Colonial System [Official Statement] "Doesn't matter if we're surrounded. Reactors good, still got ammo, means we get to take a few more with us. Lucky us." C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Mech Model] Brose Arsenal Mk VI Victoria Universal Chassis [Type] Modular Vanguard Unit [Size] 45' Tall, 35 Tons with heaviest Armament Package. [Core] N/A (See Brose Arsenal Fusion Reactor) [Armaments] Brose Arsenal Fusion Reactor - Designed as an answer to a question no one else is asking, no official Brose Arsenal designed and manufactured Mech mounts any sort of Aberrant Core power system. They continue to, rather stubbornly, maintain conventional power sources despite the drawbacks they entail. One upside, however, was that not needing any sort of Aberrant material meant they had literally no restraint on production, not that it was an issue due to the overwhelming Aberrant war on humanity as a whole. Lacking the longevity of Aberrant cores, the Brose Arsenal Fusion Reactor is none the less capable of maintaining combat levels of energy output for extended periods of time compared to almost any other conventional source of energy, being commonly referred to as "The best of second place" by anyone who examines the blueprints for a Brose Arsenal design. Confoundingly, the entire chassis was designed explicitly to draw from a conventional Fusion reactor, ideally Brose Arsenal design, meaning attempts to retrofit Mk VI chassis that survived the fall of New Alexandria have not been worth the effort. External Co-Pilot Module (ECPM) - Originally a trainer module, then modified for field use when Aberrants began their all out extermination of humanity, the Co-Pilot module allows for a second pilot, soldier, or later on Constellation deployment, the ECPM has two modes. Co-Pilot mode allows the rider to operate the secondary weapon that is typically mounted to the ECPM, provide targeting data, and otherwise support the pilot in operations. VIP mode locks out all controls except the hatch and comms to the pilot, though the latter can be shut off if need be, to prevent interference if the passenger is not trained in either piloting or mech combat overall. Modularity - The Mk VI was designed to, either prior to deployment or, when circumstances allow, at forward operating bases and other secure locations that a hot swap can be performed. While the original founderies have long since stopped designing and producing Packages for the Victoria line of mechs, mostly due to their loss to Aberrant advances on humanity, it is possible that other packages can be salvaged or produced. Below are the current options available to Howe's Mk VI. Without a package loaded, the frame lacks any innate weaponry besides the force a mech can produce throwing punches or grabbing and slamming threats, though all package armaments can be ejected if speed is needed. CQB Package - A standard go to for Howe, the CQB Package up armors the Mk VI in anticipation of urban and close quarters combat not allowing room to evade attacks. Weapons wise, the primary weapon is a combat shotgun loaded with buckshot, although the package supports bringing specialty ammunition should the need arise. Secondary weapons include reinforced manipulators for close quarters fighting, and a backpack mounted 20mm autocannon for suppressing and bringing down large numbers of lower grade Aberrants. The package has several Fragmentation Grenades that are hip mounted, lacking impact against targets with sufficient protection but can provide breathing room when Aberrants or other targets lack sufficient protection. Assault Package - The original universal package, the Assault package is the lightest current package, giving it the highest innate speed without jettisoning weapons. Its primary weapon is a belt fed heavy assault rifle, ammo stored in an ejectable compartment mounted below the ECPM, removing the need to reload mid fight but running the risk of overheating. The secondary weapon is an air burst mortar system, capable of either detonating based on proximity or on a timed fuse, as set by either pilot or, if available, co-pilot. This package has several adhesive grenades, latching onto a target before detonating with sheer explosive force, lacking shrapnel or anything otherwise unusual. Recce Package - Designed for observation and longer range support, the Recce package sees less use than the other two and mounts an enhanced suite of sensors and targeting systems, specifically designed to assist other mechs in targeting and tracking enemies. The primary weapon is a large Designated Marksman Rifle, rounds originally an attempt to overpower Barriers prior to AB materials that, while a complete and total failure, have been repurposed for defeating more conventional defenses and protections. The secondary weapon is a Point Defense machine gun, while the weight saved from other, heavier weapons and ammunition storage taken up instead by data analysis and scanning systems, heavily reliant on a co-pilot to take full advantage of.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Petty Officer Solomon Howe finds himself always more at ease behind the controls of his Mk VI Mech, nicknamed "Vickie", than he does almost any other time. He is professional on duty, always pushing himself and his frame harder and harder in combat scenarios and while carrying out his duties in support of the Constellations. Under fire he is calm and collected, more concerned about getting the job done than earning glory or going out of his way to cause trouble for himself or others. He has no regard for his own safety, however, having zero qualms with putting his Mech directly in the line of fire if it means accomplishing the mission. Off duty, Howe struggles a great deal with a cocktail of survivor's guilt and a general lack of hope in the future of mankind. He smokes heavily, drinks constantly, and does little to foster connections with his fellow service members. He doesn't go out of his way to alienate or drive them off, but his dreary outlook can be difficult to breach. Under the alcohol and tobacco abuse, he doesn't enjoy thinking the only way out is dying on his feet, but doesn't see any other way that this ends. The Constellations are too few and far between, the Aberrant numerous to the point of absurdity, and as far as he can tell Earth doesn't seem to care. It is always the colonial holdings that suffer the consequences, something that does very much rub him the wrong way. He is willing to get into fights for his fellow service members, especially when its people who haven't ever seen a combat zone. [Personal History] Solomon Howe was born on the world of New Alexandria, part of a family who had regular career presence in the military. Unlike some families, however, they never particularly cared for or even discussed it as anything else as just another part of living on the world they did. You were either a soldier or a worker, and the Howe family were always soldiers. Solomon was raised with the expectation that he would be a soldier as well, and sure enough once of age he would enlist into the Mech piloting program the planet maintained, assigning him to ride as a co-pilot during training operations with the then Petty Officer First Class Boyd Hancock. Three years into his training and efforts to become a Mech pilot the Aberrant would arrive in the Alexandria Colonial System, sparking a sudden rush to defend against the incoming horde of monstrous invaders. The system would be caught off guard, no signs of Aberrant interest having been shown before their arrival, delaying the response of the Constellations that were available. The planetary garrisons organized evacuations to New Alexandria itself, condensing all available military might there. Emergency authorization allowed experienced trainees to join their instructors in live combat, and Howe would remember vividly, often when trying to sleep, the comms chatter and panic as he manned the co-pilot seat of Hancock's Mk VI Mech. Constellations arrived on New Alexandria, the most senior Mech pilots joining to escort and guard them in an effort to stem the tide. The effort to condense all available military resources in the system turned out to be a double edged sword. While it concentrated the military capabilities, it also surrendered most of the system to the Aberrant and concentrate [i]their[/i] efforts against New Alexandria. It was here that Howe saw just how hopeless things were. Even with concentrated Mech support, Constellations were getting slowly overrun and dragged down, Mechs often going down alongside their charges, trying to buy them scant seconds more to escape. No AB weapons were lost, the military forces were able to see to that, but the time came to evacuate all remaining combat personnel, as civilians were long since evacuated after the first Constellation death. Howe was among those evacuating, alongside Hancock, who had promised that Howe would finish his training and inherit the man's Mk VI while he moved on to another Mech. Howe agreed, despite the sinking feeling of having watched the grandest heroes of humanity ground into the mud like common infantry. Still, he didn't bring it up during evaluations, and was approved to continue Mech pilot training. Petty Officer Howe, after finishing the formality of training, would spend the next nine years volunteering for the most dangerous missions he could get authorized to go on. The memory of his home world getting overrun and torn to shreds and some thought he wanted to prevent that from happening again. His off duty life proved to be rather unremarkable, concerns that he got into a few fights but no charges were ever pressed and disciplinary action never came up after the fact. Howe would defend the fights he got into as defending fellow service members, though the recently promoted Chief Hancock would usually keep things more on the hush hush, as losing a good pilot over nonsense off duty would be a damn waste. Still, Howe kept pushing further and further into more dangerous missions. Each time he returned, he registered more damage than other pilots, on average, something that was noted in his service record. Howe refused any sort of psychological evaluation, pointing out time and again they couldn't afford to have pilots taken off the line just because they were aggressively carrying out orders. His on duty actions never warranted enough concern to have him evaluated, some people mistaking the zeal for making up for a lost home world, and was quick to accept when the next volunteer only mission came up that he was offered a position on. It was how he ended up supporting Constellations directly, not caring about the details of his next assignment, just caring it put him further towards the next battlefield. He was informed it would be escort duty for Constellations responding to another system that had been caught off guard by the Aberrant, a cold pit of Deja Vu in his heart as he reported for transfer and deploy. Maybe he could keep New Alexandria from happening again, or die trying. New Alexandria [Planet Description] A desert world rich in mineral resources, New Alexandria had massive wormlike creatures that violently protected any of the rich mineral veins present in the sand sand rocky outcroppings. Mechs would spend many days hunting down these Rockworms, drawn to mining operations, leading to running battles to not only protect the mining operations, but put down the massive worms for the resources and research their corpses also yielded. The need for flexibility in all approaches, both mining unusual locations and fighting Rockworms and other, lesser in scale but not in threat, creatures meant that any native design was, first and foremost, heavily modular. An entire design philosophy of "Why build an entirely new thing when you can just modify a working frame" meant that one could see similarities across entire spectrums of machines and equipment. [Culture] The culture of New Alexandria has two distinct groups of people. The workers, and the military. The workers form a significant majority of the population of New Alexandria and the supporting worlds in the system, spending most of their lives working and manufacturing, designing in coordination with the military, and keeping the engines of not just their system but surrounding ones fueled and running smoothly. The military pervades all life, that each person has their place in the system and they should be proud to serve. Be it hunting threats across the planet, or as the Aberrants came and overran garrison after garrison, fighting for the very survival of their people, soldiers who weren't present or forced to evacuate continue to prove an innate professionalism and stubborn pride. As a whole they are hard to convince to withdraw or back down, leading to higher than necessary casualties during the fall of New Alexandria. Notable Contacts [Name] Senior Chief Boyd Hancock [Relation to Subject] Long Term Superior, Mentor [Analysis] Senior Chief Boyd Hancock is a career Mech pilot. Also originating from New Alexandria, Hancock would first meet Howe as he was training to become a pilot himself. Hancock, a Petty Officer at the time, agreed to let Howe ride along for training purposes, and took a shine to the inexperienced recruit. The fall of New Alexandria did not rest easily on Hancock, but he could see it did far worse to Howe, who he recommended be accelerated through the remainder of the Mech training program and kept a close eye on him as they initially spent deployments in the same squad. Hancock would receive promotion to Chief Petty Officer, and from there Senior Chief Petty Officer while Howe would eventually throw himself into increasingly dangerous deployments. Hancock did not deploy nearly as often anymore, his senior rank relegating him to more rearguard and reserve positions, a just in case incredibly experienced pilots were needed in a hurry and all other elements were committed. Hancock is often described as a 'cunning old rat', having told off the last person who called him a fox. Having spent his long career in the military, Hancock knows the ins and outs of how to work the system to get things done, navigating deftly enough that its a running gamble whether he is more dangerous on or off the battle field. Officially he acts above board, but in practice, Hancock spends plenty of time cutting deals and organizing things to actually get done, red tape be damned. He looks out for Howe when he can, feeling for the younger pilot and wanting to see him last long enough to see things turn around at least. Until then, however, Senior Chief Hancock will keep doing his best to keep everything in his reach moving and running as smoothly as possible, and give the Aberrant as much resistance as can be mustered.

[Mcmolly]

Boo

Sele̫̹͊̐n̓̑e̺̋

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] [Selen̍e͊] [Callsign] Selene [Gender] F [Age] Early 20s [Rank and Designation] Main-Class Constellation [Place of Birth] Luna-1 [Official Statement] "I like to think we'll get along." T̥̘̬̪̼ͣ̒ͭḪĬ̘̳͙S̱̻̮̼ͯ̀ͥ͒̚ ͩ̌ͩỈ̌̍̉ͬS̗̘̯̼ͬ̍ ͮͨNO̯̮͎̞̐ͩͣT ͛͛M͙͓̹̗̋ͯͩͦ̾Ÿ̰́ͮ̅ ̏̌ͥF̰̯̱̼͉͂͊̇Ă͉͙͎͈ͪͤC̀ͨ̽E̩̻̬̫ C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Anti-Barrier Sword] #29 "Pleiades" [Anti-Barrier Quotient] 70% (10% per fragment) [Physical Description] An ancient greatsword with a chipped and broken blade, too brittle for true combat. Once wielded by the legendary Constellation known as [C͌͛͂a͊llist̘̘͊̚ȯ], its obsidian edge never promised salvation, but meted doom in abundance. [Attributes] In its prime, Pleiades would engulf itself in ghostly AB energy. Now shattered, its fragments still thrum with power, which when channeled can manifest minor projections of its former glory. While the blade itself may be useless, each of the seven fragments can form its own copy at the cost of a diminished AB ratio. [Anomaly] Nebulae [Origin] Space [Ca͉ͮ̀͒̎ͤͅl͊l̗̒i͚̳̜͊sto Unit̿yͬ] [Phenomena] [Sele͊n̑̏ͩ̔̆e͊]’s anomaly presents as expected: psychokinetic force mimicking the nascent strength of the Unity’s [fo̭̤r͓̥̈́êb̮̼̠e̙̹a̚r̯̜̭͍͊̊͆̓]. In reality, it manifests not as a direct telekinetic power, but rather as a multitude of long, invisible limbs. Able to fluctuate at will along the spectrum of intangibility, these hands can simulate the effects of psychokinetic phenomena, from simple pushes and pulls, to complex, dexterous maneuvers. Individually they display modest strength, but working in [un͚͈̗̦î̝̞̺͈̋̔s̪̲͕̳on] their impact can be much more devastating. Most often, [S̥̺̦̲͆ė̫̱̮̥ͅlene] utilizes her anomaly to wield her many AB sword projections at once. [Limitation] Nebulae suffers from some predictable psychokinetic drawbacks. The mental and physical cost of her Anomaly increases with the number of ethereal limbs summoned, and this makes her more prone to rapid fatigue and exhaustion. However, at the same time it also presents its own unique challenges. Firstly, while the limbs generally follow [Selḛ͆̐ͫne]’s will, they have also been shown to act independently, as if [r̞̖̩̾̉ͭ̃e̹̣̤̙ͫm̠e͋m̥̏̅̒̅b̌ͥe̼̠͈͌r̮̲̻̅ͯ̌ͅi̲̙͆ͅn̅̾g͍̯̔ͧ o͕̱͎̳͆ͩͯu͔̠̔ͫ̆̆r͚̫̹̝̘̓ͣs̒eͭ̃l̖͓͒ve̜ͫsͭ]. This occurs most regularly in relation to the amount of limbs summoned, with more limbs meaning less direct control. Sometimes this works in her favor, as the Anomaly seems intent on protecting her, but as early incident reports detail, sometimes there is unintended collateral damage. Secondly, and most concerning, is the effect the use of Nebulae has on her amnesia. In most cases, activation results in some degree of mental agitation, manifesting as incomplete and often incomprehensible memories. These effects intensify with prolonged use, which can exacerbate the loss of control of Nebulae’s limbs, and trigger periods of dissociation. T̳H̝̦̰ͩ̏̔̚E̲̫̳ͮͧ̎̽̂S͍ͯ̿E͇͕̰͊͋ ͉̣͚̓̋͊̄ͨA̟̬̍̒ͬ̉R͍͓̙̣͖ͧͥ͑E̳̊ͣ͗̔̑ ̬̜̰̘̗ͣ̆ͮN͋ͧO̻Tͬ ̩͙̺̈̚M͇̔̚Y̖͔̮̯̮ ̠͓͇͔͌͌H̺̙̗̊A̖̩͖̳̮̔ͫ̉́̚N̥͓ͯ͛D͓̲̻͆ͤ͋ͮ̀S͙̤̱̬̦ͦͬ͊̌͌

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Patient is: * Sociable * Soft-spoken * Conflict-averse * [Sě̬̏́l̳̯̤͛̔ͅe͎͔̭̥̱͆͌̆̎nȇ̫͕̑̂̉] * Trusting * Compassionate * [███, ████████, ███, █████, █████, ████, ██] [Personal History] 'Mother Moon', Callisto Unity 100-150 IC. Collection, p112. Author Unknown [S̭̐̎̚he͍͋̓ ̣̹ẉäs͊] quiet as the void between stars, but not silent. Nor frigid, though in her wake was [c̭̞ͅȍ͖̀ͦl͛d̔ and͌ s̽t̝̀̔̓̓i̖̗͓ͥ̋̑͆l͖ͤl̰̯͔ness̬̰]. Her [l͊͆o̬̮̾v͉̠͉̿ͬ̐eͦ͋] was gentle. Those who mistook it for indifference saw also [fur͓y̝̩̦] in her passion. She never mourned, for [g̣̱̰r͕͍̿ͩ̑ie̓f̻̩̺̣ͪ̃̂ would have anchored o͑̔ǔ̙͊r͇̪̤̭] feet. [He̐ͬr̬͚ ͔̦ͥ͆͊̆n̚a͖̺̗me̹͗̇ a̹͚ͫ̓͒n̜̓d̪ ͓͚͍̠̿̊̒̀f̩̩͋̓̀ͨ̋ả̬͕̬̲̆̓ͯc̾̂ẻͮ] were lost in the unmarked graves of the Pleiades. There is a plaque above the door they can’t open, the door to an outside they’ll never see again — some of them never saw it at all. It reads: [The ảs͚ͬ͐͆h̽ͣes of a th͍̑ͬousan̦̤ͦ͊̉d stars, adrift in H͓̫̆e̯͈̺̣̤͑ͣr̞͙ͦ image͍̬̮ͩ.] Words they cannot escape. Words whispered to them in their dreams. NET Archive Yesterday at approximately 18:00, a cluster of Aberrant ships entered the Juno-29 system, disrupting the warp gate and passing harmlessly by several mining stations on a direct course for Megisto. Upon reaching the planet, the small fleet changed course and established a blockade around its smaller moon, Selene. Selene was briefly host to a private mining operation in 120 IC, which was quickly abandoned due to a lack of actionable resources. Megisto itself has launched no lunar operations on its lesser moon, and Selene was assumed to have remained cold ever since. However, at 19:23 a distress signal was intercepted from an installation presumably beneath the surface, identified as [L̦̣̥͙ṳ̝̰̿́͋̄n͖̰̝ͨa-1]. The Callisto Unity’s system-headquarters has begun evacuation procedures on Megisto and sent an armed repair team to the warp gate, but has otherwise made no comment on the station and its distress signal. New Euclidia Times, Archived Issue Dated: 01/01/276 IC They scratch their names into the walls. At first there is plenty of room, but as the years go by, the etchings crowd and overlap and connect together in looping portmanteaus. A handful of names become dozens, become hundreds, become innumerable and inextricable. The letters are brushstrokes of a mural, their own conception of a 'family name.' There is no way to tell the ones who had been brought from the ones who were born, so they called themselves together what they were—what the caretakers called them. Daughters of Callisto. UAS Reconnaissance Log: 01/03/276 IC, 05:00 Aberrant fleet retreated from Juno-29 approximately ten system-hours prior to the warp gate’s repair. UAS Reconnaissance team encountered no resistance upon arrival, or en route to Megisto. Distress signal intercepted by satellites on 01/01/276 IC was still active. Detected signs of life on Selene from orbit, which decreased rapidly when approaching Luna-1 Station. Found destroyed Pawn-class Aberrants, which appear to have engaged with the installation’s automated defense systems, as well as assumed members of staff. Station suffered severe structural damage, as well as a 90% failure in life-support systems. Recovered bodies of presumed inhabitants. Remains suggest a population of both children and adults, and multiple sealed dormitories show signs of long-term habitation. Aberrant damage tapers off midway into the facility, suggesting the defense was partially successful. However, more damage and deceased were discovered beyond the blockade. Core data systems and all physical archives appear to have been destroyed by surviving staff members. It is unclear at this time how much was lost to Aberrant forces, and how much to sabotage. No identifying material remains, neither regarding the deceased, nor the owner of the installation. One survivor found barricaded in what appears to be a crematorium. Teenage female, unconscious upon discovery. Numerous hand-prints and indents in the walls, floor and ceiling, but rapid scans detected no severe injuries. Retrieved without incident, but regained consciousness en route to the flagship and was unresponsive. All samples and remains are being catalogued. Initial assessments indicate the installation was likely some sort of research center, but no conclusive answers regarding its purpose, anachronistic interior, or the attack can be given at this time. There is no ceremony for death. They cast her ashes into Selene’s depths, to the desert of those who died before, where she will wait to accept the ones who will die after. Already, another sleeps in her bed, and eats at her table, and perhaps will carve a name into the wall over her own, connecting them in life until they meet in the Daughter’s Sea. Patient Assessment and Recommendation, 02/13/278 IC Initial regimen of anti-psychotics and behavioral conditioning proved counter-productive (which, I remind, Command was warned about — by me.) However, [Sel͉͔̇̈e̻͈͂̓n̤̘͒ͅe̞͙̺’s] lucidity has improved exponentially over the past nine months, I believe as a direct result of the altered treatment. As such, liberty was taken to conduct an impromptu re-evaluation, which I have summarized below. Patient [Sel̩̮̘̤ēͫ̓ne] possesses the composed demeanor expected of a soldier. Field tests indicate she is capable of both following orders and working cohesively in a unit of Constellations and Mechanized Infantry. Socialization has caused a marked improvement in stability, consistent with records of other successfully rehabilitated Constellations. (See ‘On Anomalies and the Mind’, Konners et al, 275 IS) During reintegration she was noted to take a keen interest in the physical and mental well-being of her squad mates, even under temporary conditions. Frequently applied self-sufficiency skills learned during therapy to cook, clean, and otherwise care for those in her vicinity. Cynical interpretations of this behavior deride it as ‘compulsory,’ but this diagnosis was unsubstantiated. Symptoms relating to [S̼͓̖͔ͬ͐̍̀̈elene's a̿m͈̙̟̈́n̘e͈̠̙ͬs͆͊̾ȋ͉̪a̭] have not improved, but have also ceased to degrade as of the change in treatment. Concerns regarding frequent hallucinatory episodes should be tempered; these instances are often so minor they are only reported afterwards and by her, voluntarily. Severe cases have not impacted her performance, in fact I would point to ‘Incident Report 6,’ as well as the lack of incident reports since, as evidence that she is perfectly capable of navigating them without endangering [o̓ǔ̄͗ͬr̪̻͍ͤs͎̘̣͎͌̋͛̿eͪ̏ͮlv̠̱̏̂ͫ̑e̺͍̣ͬ͊ͪ́̋s͈̣̬ͭ] or those around her. I will reiterate what I said upon her retrieval from [Lun̰̠̗̹̰ͬ̏͊a-̘͖̽ͩ̓̇1͔̻̪̙̯ͪ̾ ]: I do not believe these behavioral anomalies are symptomatic of any neurological disorder. Scans show no damage, and anomalous activity has yet to produce any tangibly harmful effects. In light of these advancements, I am recommending she be folded officially into the UAS’ Constellation Branch while her treatment continues. Signed, Dr. Reom She doesn’t know what they find, when they do find her. What they take from the moon is not her, or rather it is only one of her, but she doesn’t know which. Images, sensations, places, people, all plague her mind from the first. She doesn’t know where the memories come from, or when, or to who — or how many whos — they belong. The caretakers here are much different. They don’t poke and prod at her mind, or her soul, only her body. They ask her questions she can’t answer. They want to know what she is, and who she is. They want to know about her home, but she doesn’t have one anymore. So they name her after it, her cradle and her grave, and she is a Daughter no longer. Now, they tell her, she is a Constellation. It feels right. T̥̘̬̪̼ͣ̒ͭḪĬ̘̳͙S̱̻̮̼ͯ̀ͥ͒̚ ͩ̌ͩỈ̌̍̉ͬS̗̘̯̼ͬ̍ ͮͨNO̯̮͎̞̐ͩͣT ͛͛M͙͓̹̗̋ͯͩͦ̾Ÿ̰́ͮ̅ ̏̌ͥN͉͕͍̟̩À͙͚̭̺̞̎̈́M͔̻͙̌Ȇ̟̠͓̉͋ Home World Homeworld [Luna-1] Nearly a century ago, Meridian Corp. abandoned its short-lived mining project on Megisto’s smaller moon, Selene, before being promptly liquidated in the ensuing financial collapse. Authorities now believe that no true mining effort was ever made, and that instead Meridian constructed the research installation known as Luna-1 using a largely automated workforce, before its owners vanished. Built nearly a mile down into a man-made chasm, Luna-1 is separated into two main sections: the laboratory, and the estate. As the name implies, the laboratory sat on the upper level, and was presumably home to a host of scientific equipment. Laid out like a research park, there were multiple divisions whose purposes cannot be identified—in fact, in the wake of the Aberrant attack almost no machinery remained. All records, both digital and physical, were lost. Dormitory layouts suggest a modest population of potential researchers, as well as a small security staff. Beneath several layers of reinforced plating and military-grade blast-doors, lies the estate, [h͓̯͉̼̉ͯͧ̈́o̹͗̔ͪ̉m͇̠͔͓̪̊͛e̗͑͒̃̒̉] so named for its anachronistic appearance. Here the architecture shifts entirely from clinical to Victorian. The vertical atrium sports a wide, spiral staircase traveling down a cylindrical hall of bookcases, filled with material ranging from educational textbooks and encyclopedias to fantasy epics. None were published later than Meridian’s departure, some appear to have been written by the estate’s occupants. Also found were piles of burned paintings, carvings, smashed statues, musical instruments, and many other recreational products, seemingly destroyed during the Aberrant attack. At the bottom of the stairwell, the estate branches off into multiple rooms, including sleeping quarters, two gyms, a cafeteria, and enclosures which appear to have been used for some sort of combat training or [h͇̰̘̩̯̉ͥ̒͗å͆r͕̱̖̓̓ͭͭm̹̜͕̻̼͂͑̓o͉̦̠͔̥̍̈́ͨ͂͑ṉ̙͖̈́̈́ͨy̮͔̬̑͗̄̂]. Of note are the dormitory walls, which are marked with what at first appears to be meaningless scratching, but upon further examination, are in fact a collective mass of letters, presumably [n̾a̪̣̘̿ḿ̑͒̾͋e̞͔̯̠͆s͇͂͛]. Very few are legible, and none appear to connect to any established family or missing persons reports. The area below the estate is only accessible via the laboratory. An elevator shaft runs down to the bottom face of the installation, beneath which is the pressurized depth of the chasm. Found what was believed to be a massive reservoir of sand, or moondust leftover from when the chasm was made. Further analysis determined these were human ashes. Culture [THEWALLTHEWA͇ͧ̈ͫ̌LLTHEWALLTHEW̜͍͉̜̑̍A̰̞͎̝LL̯̫͗̉̓̃THEWALL̬̮͍͎T̺̍ͧH͚̙͈ͫ̾̈̒͒EͤW̖̘͇̋A͕ͭ̒ͩL̟̠̭̭͓͆L͇̓Ṱ̯̦̒̄̇ͥḦ̜̯̝̦́̚E͉̲͍͑̓W͇̩ͧͦA̜̅̑͗ͅĽ̟̓̏L͖͖͕ͭ̋͌T̮͔̖̹̖͗͐Ḫ͉̮̑̅ͬE͂̈̈́̊W̺͚A͎͈̰̮͔͋̄ͩḺ̻ͧL̙̺] ███ ██████ ███ ████ ███ ████ ███████ ████ ██ ████ █████ ███ ██ █████ █████ ██████ ████ ███████ ████ ██████ ██████ ███ ████ ██████ █████ ████ █████ ████ █████ █████ ████ ███ ██████ █████████ ███ ████ █████ █████ ███████ ████ ██████ ████ ███████ ████ ██████ ██████ ████ █████████ ██████ █████ █████ ██████ ████ █████ █████ ████ █████ ██████ █████ ████████ ████ ████ ██████ ███████ ████ ██ ████████ ██████ ████ ██████ ███████ █████ █████ ████ ████ ███████ ████ ███████ ████ █████ ███████ ██████ ███████ █████ ███ ████████ ███ ██████ ███ █████ ██████ ███ ███████ █████ █████ ██████ ███ ███████ ████ ██████ ████ ██████ █████ ███ ██████ █████ █████ ███ █████ ███ ██████ █████ ████ ███████████ ████ ██████ ██████ ████ ███ ██████ ██ ██████ ██ ██████ ██ ███████ █████ ██████ ███ ███████ ███ █████ ███ ████ ██████ ██████████ ████ ██ ███████████ █████ ████ ████ ██████ ████ ███████ ███ █████ █████ ████ ██████ ██ ███████ ███ █████ █████ ██████ ████ █████ ██████ ██ █████ ████ █████ ████ Warrior Family [The Callisto Unity] As Progenitors rose from the ashes of their fellows to lead humanity into a new age of war, the doomed world of Lycaon prepared for its end. Overwhelmed by Aberrant forces, its cities burned, its mountains crumbled, its oceans boiled, and its people were culled with unimaginable cruelty. On the precipice of obliteration, they say, it was not the survivors who cried out for salvation, but the innumerable dead. None know why She answered. [Callͨ̎ͭi̦̦̒͐̉̄s̱̫͗ͧ͆ͦ̐t̮͕̯ỏ̾͊̅̎,̙͓͖̈́̉ͅ ͛̅͌ͮ͂tḧ̠̝eͨ̅ͩͯͬ ̻̗̠͙͔͛ͥ̋̇Mot͔ͤ͋̏ͬ̚h̋͂̍eͦͯ͒rͧ ͨM͙̬̖ͪö̦͕͇͓on̗͎̠̭̹ͨ̀], wreathed in silver and fury. She descended like a verdict upon the Aberrants, cutting with a ghostly blade, rending with powers strange and occult. From ruin to ruin, across broken landscapes, barren seabeds, through a crust of blood and body, merciless and unyielding, She never stopped. Those saved by Her slaughter could only follow behind, glimpsing from afar the calamity she visited upon the Aberrant invaders. They became revolutionaries, reclaiming inch by inch what was lost. When it was done, Lycaon was quiet as if in mourning for its people, and for itself. There was no preserving a thing so utterly ruined. The survivors knew there had been no salvation, only vengeance for the death of their home. They left it behind, fleeing to distant stars where, eventually, they managed to forget what had happened. Lycaon, like so many lost worlds, faded from history. Some, however, chose to [r͇̗̪̀͂͐̉ͧḛ̳̼ͨ̎̂̽̾m͉͎ͪ̄̃̀̇ẻm͔̽̽ͬ̅̽bͣe̅̏̑ͦr̾̾̂͌]. Callisto vanished, never known by a [t̯̺̭̩͗ͣͥ̉̏r͎̍̆̄͊ú̙̩ͫ̉̽e̤͚̿ͧ ͎͈͔̤͐̈ͦ̓n̞̳̺͛̄́a͔̒͊m͎̟̦̍ĕ̥̦̪͎̆̈ͯͣ,̠̗̜͚ͅ ͌̿ȍ̺̜̠͙͇ͩr̀͗͊ ̻͉̼̥̈́̐ͦf̱̫̜͔ͅa̗̥͉̭ͬ͗͑c̎̀ͯ̃ë̖̻̙͖̻́], nor was She ever seen again. But at the site of Her final, pyrrhic victory over the Aberrants, She left one thing—three, things. Children. Infants, swaddled and silent as dead Lycaon. Her followers took them up and left with the rest of the survivors. But they did not forget. The Callisto Unity formed in the shadow of the progenitors; the UAS and the MHA expanded their reach, while the Unity focused inward. They did not truly emerge until decades later, not as some cultish antagonist, but as a scientific organization bursting with medical innovations. Helmed by the descendants of their [forebe͔̜̤ͦ̉a̫̤ͫr͓], the Unity established itself in the human effort as a force for good. They sought to ensure no world suffered as Lycaon had, producing both powerful Constellations, and critical advancements in medical technology. Some whisper that such altruism is merely a façade for a more nebulous cause. They say the Unity is still steeped in the [O̞̮̗̮ͮͅl͉̤̑ͪd͐̃̒ͪ Way̲̖̦̬̌͆s̝̼̱̪̠͊͑], that its highest echelons are driven by occult impetus, and that beneath their calm, collected exterior is a fanatical devotion to their lost Goddess. But these are mere rumors. Lycaon may remember the cries of the dead, but it lays silent and bereft. The Mother Moon is gone, and now Her children bring cold, gentle love to humanity. They are a thousand stars across the sky, working in unison, and even in death their ashes scatter together, with purpose. In [H̩̳̓̈́e͚͔̘̱̍͋r̖̞͊] image. Notable Contacts [Name] Dr. E͈̗̲ͩ̄ͅ Reom [Relation to Subject] Dr. Reom has been [S̉̄e̥̪͙͉ͪ͊ͥ̏̏l̲̗ͥͥe̘̤̿n̟̟̺͌͐͛̾e͂̇̔̒̑]'s MHA-assigned psychiatrist since her retrieval from Luna-1. [Analysis] Reom is a clone, registered to a Megisto-based agency located in New Euclidia. Neither the first nor, likely, the last of his line, Reom's generational work with Constellations has made him indispensable in his field. He has, quite literally, written the book on many subjects relating to Anomalies and their effects on a Constellation's mental state.

[Th3King0fChaos]

Character Sheet

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx B A S I C I N F O [Name] Adrith Ashford [Callsign] Scorch [Gender] Male [Age] 26 [Rank and Designation] E-6 - Petty Officer First Class [Place of Birth] Sentinel Prime [Official Statement] "Why do I fight? Because its right. Because I always dreamed to. And, if I don't. Then who'll be there to save the magic girls from the big bad monsters?" C O M B A T A B I L I T Y [Mech Model] SO1-Dawn Breaker [Type] Experimental Multi-purpose Anti-armor mech with crowd control and aerial capabilities [Size] 40 feet tall and 20 metric tons unloaded and 45 metric tons fully loaded [Core] 1 Epsilon Class & 1 Beta Class [Armaments] SO1-Day Break Cannon- Hider A shoulder-mounted experimental Magnetic Acceleration Cannon powered with a beta Core meant solely for the cannon. Often times a weapon like this is seen upon larger star ships, this experimental weapon was made to bring the devastating power used by those ships directly to the battlefield. Little to no armor short of fortified walls fit to withstand orbital bombardment is able to withstand prolonged fire from this weapon. This cannon, with all its power, is able to fire multiple payloads, which include: Sabot-A fin-stabilized tungsten rod meant to pierce through any hard material. Flechette-A bundle of many small metal darts that are meant to scatter across a wide area and obliterate anything they touch. High Explosive-A metal projectile filled with high explosives that will pierce a target and explode a moment later. H3L-Shielded Heavy Arm- Hider A shield mounted on the left arm that is able to take a heavy beating. Yet that is not all, connected to the shield is a set of twin rotary cannons able to fire thousands of rounds within moments. Yet that is not the only trick attached to the shield, as when it is time to get close and personal, the shield is able to deploy a heated pile that is able to punch through any hard material with ease. And if the shield is ever heavily damaged, it can be detached to lessen the load. S4N-Sky Burner Jets- A specialized propulsion system that gives this mech its firey look. This propulsion system originates from multiple points across the mech to both exhaust heat quickly and has multi-directional propulsion. This setup gives the mech both high speed and maneuverability to close the distance against any target. G4Z-Rain Maker- A set of specialized missile pods that are loaded with multiple different projectiles they can fire: High Explosive Missiles- High explosive missiles, carry a strong enough payload to destroy small structures on their own. Smoke- Multiple smoke canisters launch out and create a wide area smoke screen to obscure vision. Flares- An analog countermeasure against heat-guided projectiles, not very viable with the current era of technology. Paint- An impractical ammunition type that has paint stored within metal cannisters. The Pilot swears by them.

Profile [Surface-level Impression] Standing at 6’4 and having a large imposing frame. He has a nice tan, bright golden eyes, and a well-worked body. He does have a very noticeable scar spanning the left side of his face that goes from his forehead down to his lower cheek. Jovial and strong-willed, Adrith laughs loud and lives life to the fullest. Both figuratively and literally, he is a figure who lives larger than life and is not one to stray from conflict and not one to let his thoughts be unknown. [Personal History] Adrith grew up in a loving home, his family was well off, his father was a famous pilot, and his mother was a well-known officer. He learned from a young age, to stand up for others, fight for what you believe in, and his father's favored motto: "Leave nothing to what ifs". He followed his father's footsteps, to the protest of his mother. When he was 15 his father enrolled him into the pilot program. With a little nepotism pushing him higher yet also shadowing his own work, Adrith soared. A natural talent and one who comes from a well-known family, Adrith was given every opportunity to show his worth. During these years, Adrith pushed and soared past many within his training year. Yet not one to look to himself, he worked with others, encouraged and even attempted to uplift them. As it was in these years he learned camaraderie and friendship. He learned how to fight and for those around him, what they fight for. Once he came out of training, it was into the fire. Engagement to engagement, he fought and showed his mettle. Then his number came up. When a single pilot comes face to face with a Bishop, what can they do? They could run, leaving their fellow man behind as they escape. Men and women fought by their side, supporting them in an attempt to allow the Constellation to take on the barriers. Leaving them to die to allow the military machinery to be saved. But Adrith never thought of that for a second. Rushing headlong, he faced the Bishop in combat. He was never going to win. But he needed to buy those with him time. The men and women who fielded the small arms, vehicles, and weapons to clear more of the hoard. They would not survive long if left with the Bishop. Neither would Adrith, yet he never thought of that. He fought like a savage, he could do nothing, but buy time. And with all the time he bought, a Constellation came and defeated the Bishop. Adrith was left on death's door, yet once taken back to safety, he was healed. Being given accommodations for his bravery, he was given paid leave. Which he took to visit family, and where he learned about a new experimental weapon program from his father. Through his mother's and father's connections, he was able to join the program and gain the SO1- Dawn Breaker. Sentinel Prime [Planet Description] Sentinel Prime is a world much similar to the early recordings of Earth within the Sol system. A Core world outside of the Milky Way that is relatively safe and well-off, Sentinel Prime is one of the largest manufacturers of flight chip modules. While nothing of great note is otherwise produced within the world, it is a world that has had a staggering rise in recruitment for military service. [Culture] The culture of Sentinal Prime is steeped in patriotism. As one of the earlier Core worlds settled by humanity, it has a rich history that has stood the test of time. Having first been an agricultural world colonized with essentially debt slaves it was turned into a manufacturing world. Sentinal Prime wanted to be something more than just a place where people slaved away. The planet and its denizens wished to redefine itself and define its existence on its own. The planet flipped itself overnight, people took to the streets as freedom was fought, and eventually Sentinal Prime fought for its freedom and eventually bought off the debt of its inhabitants. Becoming the master of their own fate, Sentinal Prime was now a world that had been able to form and stand on its own. Quickly going back to what they knew, the world began to produce goods to export under their terms and reduced their reliance on systems around them. Now fast forward to today, it has become a world that has countless traditions and a strong backbone, it has prospered for most of the years it has been colonized. Yet now as extinction slowly creeps upon the doors of Sentinal Prime, the denizens welcome it with open arms. As those within Sentinal Prime are willing to show what they are willing to die for. [Warrior Family] The Ashfords are not a warrior family, however, from the last few generations, there have been well-known military men and women who have joined the military and served distinguished careers as both Pilots and officers. Notable Contacts [Name] Senior Chief Petty Officer Tarak Ashford [Relation to Subject] Father [Analysis] A man of action, Chief Petty Officer Ashford is a man who has proven himself in combat time and time again. Seeming to pass on his ideology and his skill to his son, he had often bent rules and connections to favor his son. A man who has seen many promotions and demotions in his time, he is considered a polarizing figure. Often being called by superior officers a PITA (Pain in the Ass), which has become his callsign, he has rubbed many the wrong way in his willingness to perform his own actions he thinks best. While those who serve with him think of him in high regard. He has often put his life on the line, putting missions in jeopardy to save those who are under him, and has often been called the luckiest man alive, by those under him as they believe his luck is the only thing that has saved their lives. [Name] Rear Admiral Lower Half Sophia Ashford [Relation to Subject] Mother [Analysis] Rear Admiral Sophia Ashford is the commander of the warship The Vengeance. From multiple accounts, she is referred to as a strong-headed and determined woman. She has made a name for herself as a no-nonsense commander and has led some of the most daring defenses against the Aberrations. Often being referred to as a kindly woman by those under her command, betrays the cold demeanor she shows to most of her peers. Many of her peers refer to her as 'cold', 'calculating', and even 'malicious' in their days of officer training. However it seems she has had a soft spot for those close to her as often with the antics of her husband and son, some often question how they are allowed to continue their antics. [Name] Richard Herman [Relation to Subject] Friend [Analysis] A close friend of Adrith's from their most notorious engagement. Richard and the rest of his squad believe they owe a debt to Adrith that could never be repaid as he risked himself and his machine to save them. Now looking for a way to pay him back, they often spread the word of his greatness, even talking about how Adrith gained his Callsign 'Scorch'. It is said that Adrith had often pushed his machine so hard that often he would come back even from his training days with scorch marks across his machine. How true is this claim is far from known.

[Cu Chulainn]

constellations are pretty neat!

EDIT: solignis gaming?

[Dr Acula]

Interested pilot here!