The Out Of Character is here!
The white gold Alcazar sat like a smug crown on the apex of Settler's Rock. The lush, green, walled compound seemed to take all the vegetation for it self, standing out like an oasis in the desert. At each of its corners there were tiered hanging gardens; long creepers of imported plants traced the dusty rocks in their search for the ground. All around it a dirty town of circular metal huts clung to the crag like a nest of limpets. The whole settlement was in motion; an endless convoy of trucks and sandships, laden with refugees and meager supplies, trooped into the settlement. A sea of heads swirled around the houses as they all headed in one direction.
The Alcazar’s dull silver walls ran slick with artificial rain, making the multitude of arched verandas along its façade salivate with anticipation. Statues of the founding colonists dotted the gardens, striking glorious poses. Some stood with their heads cleaved from their bronze shoulders; others had people clambering up like monkeys to sit on their outstretched arms for a better view. The compounds gates lay battered to the ground and the house’s detachment of droids were scattered about the place in a multitude of pieces.
A series of devastating firestorms had engulfed sections of the citystate way across the sands before them. Countless infernos sent up colossal flags of smoke which hung limp in the air. The ground beneath the onlookers shook with the drum-like rhythm of explosions that threw up huge columns of masonry. The fragments seemed to flutter in the air like confetti. Far off in the distance, the vertical column of ash where the Skytower once stood had just started to collapse in on itself, blocking out the sun with cloying black particles.
Interstellar craft, from pootling junks to stolen military cruisers, lifted off from docking pans around the city and sped away into the atmosphere. The onlookers in the Alcazar gardens just watched. Some held hands; others took out their anger on everything around them for their home’s destruction. The ash column must have had mass because at one particular moment it seemed to give way entirely. It fell in on itself before fanning out at inhuman speed. The city vanished in the blink of an eye. A monstrous pyroclastic flow of burning rage and black soot crashed into them and-...
Huxley awoke; his mouth and eyes wide open in a desperate gasp for air. However there was no ash cloud bearing down on him, no impending death breathing hotly down his neck; only the ceiling of his little cabin, covered in snaking pipes and patches of rust.
Hi guys! My name is Catharyn, and this is The Skytower Rebellion.
. The Skytower Rebellion (TSR) is in essence going to be a far reaching sci-fi epic about revolution and dealing with questions of religion, race and creed. It's set far off in the future and on a distance planet, involving huge cities with massive differences in background and wealth. Suggestions, ideas and questions are great, the details are all below, hope to see you soon! - Cathy ♥
'He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man.'
This section is a work in progress and is subject to heavy editing, check back here regularly.
Contents
0 - Character List
1 - Setting the stage
2 - Featured Species
3 - Flora & Fauna
4 - Major Factions
5- Other Corporations
6 - Vehicles & Mechs
0 - Character list
1 - Setting the Stage
The Roleplay is set on a planet named Outremer, nestled near the outer edge of the Hyades open cluster, in the head of the Constellation Taurus. There are a few colonies with large populations in the system but the vast majority of them are mining complexes or other research facilities. The planet has six moons, varying in size from a tiny comet-stricken rock to a body the size of earth. They each feature flourishing mining/petrochemical communities, each with varying allegiances to Babylon. There have been instances were union action has spiraled out of control which lead to various insurrections which required the attention of the BESC Fleet.
Outremer itself is large, approximately eight times larger than The Earth and is incredibly diverse. The primary focus of the Roleplay is on a vast circular desert near the equator of Outremer, ten thousand miles in diameter, but that is by no means the only biome. There are dense forests, arid badlands, river deltas and arctic glaciers, each home to a different people who have adapted to handle the conditions. Archaeological digs and also exploration of Rahtu ruins have uncovered an endless network of tunnels under the surface of the planet. Adventuring teams have revealed that ancient cities have been found under the earth, however there are too many dangers to set up a research base in many of these sites.
Outremer itself is large, approximately eight times larger than The Earth and is incredibly diverse. The primary focus of the Roleplay is on a vast circular desert near the equator of Outremer, ten thousand miles in diameter, but that is by no means the only biome. There are dense forests, arid badlands, river deltas and arctic glaciers, each home to a different people who have adapted to handle the conditions. Archaeological digs and also exploration of Rahtu ruins have uncovered an endless network of tunnels under the surface of the planet. Adventuring teams have revealed that ancient cities have been found under the earth, however there are too many dangers to set up a research base in many of these sites.
Babylon
'The Gleaming Jewel' in Outremer's crown, Babylon is a true engineering marvel. One thousand miles across with skyscrapers bursting into the cloud cover, it is home to over four billion men, women and aliens. It's the cultural, military and economic powerhouse of the system and a major contender for most influential city in the cluster. Crammed full of bright neon lights, debauched clubs, ancient banking societies and experimental weapons manufacturers, Babylon is home to a very diverse population with differing beliefs and ideologies. It's a mystery in itself as to why 90% of the population gathered in one spot on a planet so large and diverse; most put it down to the 'colony sheep' effect. Another theory is the comforting atmosphere provided by the twelve Alien Towers arrayed around Babylon. Originally they protected a Rahtu city until at the end of the First Contact War Humanity built Babylon over it. They all shoot some unidentifiable energy into the air and all the beams link up directly above the middle of the city. This in turn creates a Biosphere which is hardly visible to the human eye. It keeps the temperature down, creates artificial rain which waters the city park's manicured gardens, shelters them from the blistering sandstorms and generally makes the inhabitants feel as if they aren't really in a gigantic desert at all.
Walking into Babylon itself, you will soon find out there are hundreds of districts that are often jumbled together and jostling for attention. Buildings of all different sizes and shapes sprawl out for as far as the eye can see. Huge skyscraper-like blocks of apartments that link together via huge walkway have long been considered the only rational way for residencies to be built here. This maximizes space efficiency seeing as there is a sore lack of it within the Biosphere. Of course this isn't always the case, the buildings get smaller and more individualistic the closer you get to the Biosphere Rim, with houses getting more ornate.surrounded by plush gardens. There is These properties are owned by the business owners and corporate elite.The consensus within Babylon is that the closer to the Skytower you live, the lower your class and status.
The rich on the outskirts do have to deal with the daily threat of bandits and other unsavories breaching the Biosphere defences, but in recent times the construction of a ring-wall that circles the entire city, complete with a standing army and auto-turrets, has decreased the risk of a full scale invasion or infestation by Maw Worms or Sand Pirates. The forces at the wall have a much tighter grip on all the traffic that comes into Babylon from the Desert; they can sort the legitimate traders from the 'scum and terrorists'. Airships flying into the Biosphere must identify themselves or risk being pursued and shot down by BESC.
Of course, there is a quota of land within the Capitol that has been set aside for nature reserves and other features. Interlocking nature with the sleek beauty of the architecture, parks, monuments and lakes dot the Capitol, wildlife encouraged to embellish the authenticity. But the center of the Capitol is where most of the action is. Located on an island surrounded by man-made moat; skyscrapers and public buildings fill the horizon, each vying to be the highest and most prestigious. This epicenter is where the majority of the banks, bureaucratic agencies, corporate headquarters, the infamous Skytower and of course the BESC nerve center are kept. The Babylonian Council is also located at the epicenter. That is where the various ministers meet to discuss matters of importance.
Moving through the legendary Biosphere that hangs above the Capitol, the heat hits you like a wall and the sun suddenly seems a lot brighter. You are confronted with a barren desert as far as the eye can see. Dunes of rippled sand, with streams of fine dust blowing gently atop it, creating a mirage of elegance, like a painting against the bleak barren landscape. The tall brown peaks way off in the distance show the edge of the Desert, stretching up to grasp at the clouds far above the searing sand and casting a stretched, dark shadow across the wasteland. The mountains and desert are, for the most part, completely barren. There is little to support life outside of the Capitol, aside from the odd oasis; which are few and many miles between. Such oasis's are often small, surrounded by patches of grass with a few trees and bushes. However, in a dry, arid landscape such as the desert, even the smallest patch of grass and shallowest watering hole is akin to a gift sent from the stars.
The Babylon State includes the desert surrounding it, however BESC have nigh on given up trying to control the badlands which feature a myriad of hideouts and anchorages. Shantytowns have sprung up in the shadow of all twelve of the Alien Towers which are all equidistant from Babylon. These shantytowns are a hive of criminal activity; Chop shops, black market souks, blood sports, counterfeit weaponry and ammo as well as slavery (human, alien and Machine.) They also harbor the thriving industry of manufacturing and selling of Sandships as well as refurbishing old or stolen ones. This is a practice BESC has outlawed and furthermore is trying to stamp out, however they often don't dare venture into the towns except to maintain or study the Towers. The resistance they encounter from the locals is often fierce and violent. However there have always been assumptions that BESC spies, informants and agents keep tabs on powerful individuals and are implicated in the regular assassinations that occur.
Edessa
A city of fifty million situated around ten thousand miles Northwest of Babylon, Edessa supplies the whole of Outremer with clean and fresh water. It's not the only source of H2o but if transport of its water ceased, Babylon's population would be in deep trouble. Six high speed, non-stop, underground Mag-Railway lines run huge tankers of water to and from the capital at close to an eye watering ten thousand miles an hour. They reach the Biosphere in 67 minutes, unload their cargo into gigantic reservoirs and head off to get the next batch. In addition to that, pipes and waterways are slowly being constructed to flow directly in Babylon. Constant raids by pirates and bandits from the desert sands has slowed construction considerably, which is why Babylon relies so much on the trains. Nonetheless, they are nearly finished, some of the pipelines being barely five hundred miles away from the Biosphere. Edessa is situated on the rim of a colossal crater, connected to a series of underwater lakes. Rivers from all over flow into this crater, which then leads into the sea. A multitude of dams control the flow of water every step of the way and generate electricity for the entire city.
Actim
A city of seventy five million full time inhabitants situated about ten thousand miles Northeast of Babylon, Actim is one of the most renowned tourist centers in the Cluster. Citizens sick of their life, high ranking Babylonian officials and the rich and influential from planets millions of miles away from Outremer flock to this city in their millions to enjoy cool sea breezes, gorgeous beaches and 'the most exciting cocktails in the galaxy!' The variety of activities and range of establishments is baffling, one can play Vrangan Prang on the beach with buddies in the morning, be lunching on lobster in one of the privately hired glass submarines that explore the beautiful coral reefs in the afternoon and be hobnobbing with most glamorous people on the planet in the skybar 'Ciel de Paris' by nightfall. Restaurants serving delicacies to suit absolutely every taste are on every street corner. Shops were you can buy luxuries from the galaxy over sit illuminated by sumptuous white lights on every boulevard.
Réunion
A city of twenty million situated almost ten thousand miles South of Babylon, Réunion is the capital's main supplier of food, fruit and vegetable matter. Animals, plants and trees of every conceivable variety are force grown in perfect conditions inside thousands of circular green houses and farms, to be shipped off to Babylon on six high speed, non-stop, underground Mag-Railway lines, much like the water that comes from Edessa. The population of Réunion are almost all involved in the food trade, helping to maintain existing greenhouses or build new ones. They all choose to live in thin towers that double as research facilities. Here corporations invest time and money into advanced Genetic Modification techniques, for food as well as sentient creatures. From above Réunion looks like a neural network, with a vast complex of greenhouses being linked by walkways and accommodation towers.
'The Gleaming Jewel' in Outremer's crown, Babylon is a true engineering marvel. One thousand miles across with skyscrapers bursting into the cloud cover, it is home to over four billion men, women and aliens. It's the cultural, military and economic powerhouse of the system and a major contender for most influential city in the cluster. Crammed full of bright neon lights, debauched clubs, ancient banking societies and experimental weapons manufacturers, Babylon is home to a very diverse population with differing beliefs and ideologies. It's a mystery in itself as to why 90% of the population gathered in one spot on a planet so large and diverse; most put it down to the 'colony sheep' effect. Another theory is the comforting atmosphere provided by the twelve Alien Towers arrayed around Babylon. Originally they protected a Rahtu city until at the end of the First Contact War Humanity built Babylon over it. They all shoot some unidentifiable energy into the air and all the beams link up directly above the middle of the city. This in turn creates a Biosphere which is hardly visible to the human eye. It keeps the temperature down, creates artificial rain which waters the city park's manicured gardens, shelters them from the blistering sandstorms and generally makes the inhabitants feel as if they aren't really in a gigantic desert at all.
Walking into Babylon itself, you will soon find out there are hundreds of districts that are often jumbled together and jostling for attention. Buildings of all different sizes and shapes sprawl out for as far as the eye can see. Huge skyscraper-like blocks of apartments that link together via huge walkway have long been considered the only rational way for residencies to be built here. This maximizes space efficiency seeing as there is a sore lack of it within the Biosphere. Of course this isn't always the case, the buildings get smaller and more individualistic the closer you get to the Biosphere Rim, with houses getting more ornate.surrounded by plush gardens. There is These properties are owned by the business owners and corporate elite.The consensus within Babylon is that the closer to the Skytower you live, the lower your class and status.
The rich on the outskirts do have to deal with the daily threat of bandits and other unsavories breaching the Biosphere defences, but in recent times the construction of a ring-wall that circles the entire city, complete with a standing army and auto-turrets, has decreased the risk of a full scale invasion or infestation by Maw Worms or Sand Pirates. The forces at the wall have a much tighter grip on all the traffic that comes into Babylon from the Desert; they can sort the legitimate traders from the 'scum and terrorists'. Airships flying into the Biosphere must identify themselves or risk being pursued and shot down by BESC.
Of course, there is a quota of land within the Capitol that has been set aside for nature reserves and other features. Interlocking nature with the sleek beauty of the architecture, parks, monuments and lakes dot the Capitol, wildlife encouraged to embellish the authenticity. But the center of the Capitol is where most of the action is. Located on an island surrounded by man-made moat; skyscrapers and public buildings fill the horizon, each vying to be the highest and most prestigious. This epicenter is where the majority of the banks, bureaucratic agencies, corporate headquarters, the infamous Skytower and of course the BESC nerve center are kept. The Babylonian Council is also located at the epicenter. That is where the various ministers meet to discuss matters of importance.
Moving through the legendary Biosphere that hangs above the Capitol, the heat hits you like a wall and the sun suddenly seems a lot brighter. You are confronted with a barren desert as far as the eye can see. Dunes of rippled sand, with streams of fine dust blowing gently atop it, creating a mirage of elegance, like a painting against the bleak barren landscape. The tall brown peaks way off in the distance show the edge of the Desert, stretching up to grasp at the clouds far above the searing sand and casting a stretched, dark shadow across the wasteland. The mountains and desert are, for the most part, completely barren. There is little to support life outside of the Capitol, aside from the odd oasis; which are few and many miles between. Such oasis's are often small, surrounded by patches of grass with a few trees and bushes. However, in a dry, arid landscape such as the desert, even the smallest patch of grass and shallowest watering hole is akin to a gift sent from the stars.
The Babylon State includes the desert surrounding it, however BESC have nigh on given up trying to control the badlands which feature a myriad of hideouts and anchorages. Shantytowns have sprung up in the shadow of all twelve of the Alien Towers which are all equidistant from Babylon. These shantytowns are a hive of criminal activity; Chop shops, black market souks, blood sports, counterfeit weaponry and ammo as well as slavery (human, alien and Machine.) They also harbor the thriving industry of manufacturing and selling of Sandships as well as refurbishing old or stolen ones. This is a practice BESC has outlawed and furthermore is trying to stamp out, however they often don't dare venture into the towns except to maintain or study the Towers. The resistance they encounter from the locals is often fierce and violent. However there have always been assumptions that BESC spies, informants and agents keep tabs on powerful individuals and are implicated in the regular assassinations that occur.
Edessa
A city of fifty million situated around ten thousand miles Northwest of Babylon, Edessa supplies the whole of Outremer with clean and fresh water. It's not the only source of H2o but if transport of its water ceased, Babylon's population would be in deep trouble. Six high speed, non-stop, underground Mag-Railway lines run huge tankers of water to and from the capital at close to an eye watering ten thousand miles an hour. They reach the Biosphere in 67 minutes, unload their cargo into gigantic reservoirs and head off to get the next batch. In addition to that, pipes and waterways are slowly being constructed to flow directly in Babylon. Constant raids by pirates and bandits from the desert sands has slowed construction considerably, which is why Babylon relies so much on the trains. Nonetheless, they are nearly finished, some of the pipelines being barely five hundred miles away from the Biosphere. Edessa is situated on the rim of a colossal crater, connected to a series of underwater lakes. Rivers from all over flow into this crater, which then leads into the sea. A multitude of dams control the flow of water every step of the way and generate electricity for the entire city.
Actim
A city of seventy five million full time inhabitants situated about ten thousand miles Northeast of Babylon, Actim is one of the most renowned tourist centers in the Cluster. Citizens sick of their life, high ranking Babylonian officials and the rich and influential from planets millions of miles away from Outremer flock to this city in their millions to enjoy cool sea breezes, gorgeous beaches and 'the most exciting cocktails in the galaxy!' The variety of activities and range of establishments is baffling, one can play Vrangan Prang on the beach with buddies in the morning, be lunching on lobster in one of the privately hired glass submarines that explore the beautiful coral reefs in the afternoon and be hobnobbing with most glamorous people on the planet in the skybar 'Ciel de Paris' by nightfall. Restaurants serving delicacies to suit absolutely every taste are on every street corner. Shops were you can buy luxuries from the galaxy over sit illuminated by sumptuous white lights on every boulevard.
Réunion
A city of twenty million situated almost ten thousand miles South of Babylon, Réunion is the capital's main supplier of food, fruit and vegetable matter. Animals, plants and trees of every conceivable variety are force grown in perfect conditions inside thousands of circular green houses and farms, to be shipped off to Babylon on six high speed, non-stop, underground Mag-Railway lines, much like the water that comes from Edessa. The population of Réunion are almost all involved in the food trade, helping to maintain existing greenhouses or build new ones. They all choose to live in thin towers that double as research facilities. Here corporations invest time and money into advanced Genetic Modification techniques, for food as well as sentient creatures. From above Réunion looks like a neural network, with a vast complex of greenhouses being linked by walkways and accommodation towers.
2 - Featured Species
I'd hope you know what a human looks like by now. We come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some of us have resorted to augmenting or genofixing our bodies out of necessity, a desire to be unique, stronger, faster or just because we can. We live longer (up to 250 years for most of the population) and regularly grow to two meters high. We have expanded our horizons massively but groups of Humanity have splintered across the stars, creating a disjointed and fiercely independent empire.
3 - Flora & Fauna
There are thousands of creature types living on and below the surface of the world, here are a select few of the most prominent.
Maw Worm
A creature native to this harsh arid terrain, the Maw worms are mollusk like creatures that can grow to be truly immense in scale, with some reports indicating there are Maw Worms big enough to swallow large Sandships whole. They have a variety of hunting devices. Firstly, they are able to hide under the sand, even being able to move through the looser patches by simply using their tail end to propel themselves along. Secondly there are a number of fleshy tendrils that grow from behind the rows of razor sharp teeth; when they're needed to catch prey a chemical message creates a strong adhesive which coats the tendrils. They then shoot out at lengths of up to ten meters and wrap around the quarry, holding them still and even dragging them to the Worm's gaping mouth. The Maw Worms don't have eyes, effectively making them blind, but their undersides are very sensitive to vibrations on the sand. By laying flat in the sand, the Maw Worms can detect prey and even communicate to each other via imperceptible shuffles that send vibrations. This isn't the only way however, there have been reports of Maw's using a low wailing sound to talk to their kind. Maw Worms can be loners, but most often will travel in herds of around ten; composed of two families headed by an alpha and beta male. For the most part this herd will carry on traversing the desert a couple of meters below the sand their whole life, stopping only to rest or eat.
Harhee
Harhee's are small mammals supposedly related to the ancient 'Monkey'. Often referred to as 'Space vermin, the Harhees are excellent at adapting to their environment and surviving; whatever the odds. Though they seem to gravitate towards humans and other settlements, suggesting that their instincts recognize Humans as easy shelter and nourishment. Their pigment changes dramatically according to their surroundings. When in Babylon or another human settlement they take on a colorful pelt but in the desert they will quickly take on a white/grey pigment to blend in. Simple creatures, they form small groups and wander around the cities, scavenging scraps and performing simple tasks in exchange for food. Some people keep Harhees as pets and some have even been taught to speak several words. Brought to the Capitol by traders coming from various other colonies, they have quickly become a pest.
Pclendathün
(Pronounced 'Clendathoon')
Known locally as Arachnids or sand bugs, these Insectoid menaces are fiercely territorial and hard to kill. Yet they don't live long, having no healing capabilities at all. They are a war-like species, with one queen ruling them all. The Pclendathün live in huge caverns below the ground, but vicious in-fighting and sheer numbers mean few of them reach the surface. The ones that do are loners, viciously killing anything they lay their sights on. Having said that, they can take nutrients from the air and soil to survive, but the urge to kill is hardwired into every single Arachnid. Occasionally a group will get together, united under a strong Alpha. When this happens, they immediately head for the nearest source of food. For some of them this is a town of Humans or a tribe of Rahtu.
Dagar & Phalanx Nymph
The Dagar and Phalanx Nymphs are a species of bug that seem to bear resemblances to common Dragonfly, though through evolution sped up by harsh differences they have completely separate habitats and food chains. They are both born in the water from eggs, they then spend up to a year slowly gaining mass and dominating their surroundings by using strength and agility as an advantage. When they are ready, they enter a cocoon state that leaves them vulnerable for a day or so. The cocoon is light and full of air, so it floats on top of the water. This is the potentially fatal stage in the Nymph's development, as Ragwitches swoop down and eat these cocoons in their thousands. Their only defense is the stickiness of the outer shell, which often takes a while to chew through. *When finally an adult Nymph (or a Fly as they're officially supposed to be called after the cocoon stage.) emerges from the cocoon, it's about half a foot long. Sometime in the past, the Dagar Nymphs found their way into the Capitol from the marshes around some of the Towers. Soon there was a huge host of them swarming the Capitol. Forming one half of the Genus. Here they picked up a taste for human trash and now can be found eating scraps from the floor and roosting on roofs. The color of their pigment varies depending on their surroundings. Most of the Capitol is White, grey or black. There have been cases of pink Dagar Nymphs, these are considered a rarity and are often caught for money. *On the other side of the Genus however is the Phalanx Nymph. When half of the population moved into the Capitol to become pests, the other half stayed in the desert and became known as Phalanx Nymphs. This is because opposed to the Dagar's small size and soft body, they are big and bulky with insectoid armor. Their pigment matches that of the Desert, light brown and White with the occasional case of yellow and green. Although virtually harmless to humans, they are considered a pest and hold little sway against humans, because of their size they're good targets for blunt objects.
Ragwitch
An age old species of bird. Existent on the planet way before humans colonized it. Most commonly found diving down onto the desert floor to prey on some unsuspecting animal before fluttering back up into the sparse trees or rocks that lay around in clumps. They are instantly recognizable by their distinctive red tail feathers. They have a ruff of spiky feathers on the top of their head that rile up when they're feeling threatened. Their beaks are small and rounded but incredibly strong. They have adapted well to breaking the shells of mammals and insects alike with their powerful jaws. Or when their quarry proves too strong to crack, the Ragwitches have developed a means of breaking the shells open. Picking them up and laboring into the air, the Ragwitch will fly it's prey high into the air before dropping it with lethal precision onto a hard surface. Mainly rocks but sometimes the deck of a Sand ship or the roof of a building.
4 - Major Factions
Babylon Executive Security Command (B.E.S.C.) - MAIN GOVERNMENT
BESC is the collective representation of the First Fleet which landed an expeditionary force on Outremer over a thousand years ago and established the initial Babylonian colony. Originally a smorgasbord of multiple different navies, institutions and military powers from different planets, BESC underwent a period of brutal in-fighting during a critical stage in the First Contact War. This would have almost definitely culminated in a suicidal civil war which would have ended with the Rahtu driving them off the planet. During this instability the CGB was formed by popular consensus and BESC was consigned as the planet's centralized military and nothing more.
However this changed almost three centuries ago; with support of the people's voter-ship, BESC became the main governing power, this in turn reduced the Central Government of Babylon to a subsidiary role. They got this chance because the CGB went through a period of weakness and couldn't co-ordinate a defense against the Vrangan Blitz or the Second Contact War without significant change overs in power to the military. BESC used the media to whip up mass hysteria then took the hero role by stopping the Vrangans dead and beating back the Rahtu hordes (a simple task if you devote enough tax payers money to it.) The rest is history, BESC used strong arm tactics to hold an election with them as candidates alongside seemingly feeble CGB parties and won a landslide victory.
The first law they enacted was one akin to a semi permanent state of emergency which required BESC leadership. This basically meant that they had cemented their power and another governmental takeover wasn't allowed.
It is a military-type hierarchy with a few exceptions. The President is the acting figurehead to a twelve-member cabinet that may consist of high ranking officers, or carefully selected politicians.
Function: All major forms of legislation can only be countermanded if the ROC and the CGB have obtained enough majority votes to make an appeal. Otherwise, whatever they say, goes. (For example: As soon as BESC ascended into power, they immediately enacted a law that prevented another government take over from happening again. While the CGB attempt to revoke this law to no end, they never have enough majority votes from the ROC to make an official appeal).
Republic of Organized Corporations (R.O.C.) - INTERMEDIARIES
Info: Since BESC was originally a corporation, their shift into policy-making has lead the way for other financial powerhouses to become intermediary branches of the government. Because of their extensive financial wealth that accounts for a lot of BESC's funding for weapon development, campaigning, etc., they unofficially hold more power than the CGB. They operate as the backbone and secondary treasury of BESC. The ROC are composed of the top 10 big businesses in Outremer. There are only five known contributing Corporations that the public knows about. The rest are kept classified to avoid public scrutiny.
Function: They have the ability to lobby votes, clear red tape, and gain authorization to do what they please; provided they play by BESC rules of course.
Central Government of Babylon (C.G.B) - SECONDARY POWER
Info: They are without a doubt, the lowest form of power on the political food chain. While they lack the judicial power of BESC to make any substantial changes, they serve as a democratic voice for the people, labor unions, etc. It's obviously an uphill battle for them because BESC/ROC and CGB both have contrasting agendas, but BESC has to adhere to the more serious issues that the general population are concerned with in order to avoid civil unrest. BESC sees CGB as a nuisance, but a necessary player to keep the people in line.
Functions: The CGB branch out and operate respectively under their designated city-state's laws. They are the acting voice of the people, whom in return, have complete voter-ship control over who gets elected into the CGB ranks. This also means that there are no CGB politicians that served Pre-BESC succession. This also means that they receive the most public scrutiny if they fail to meet demands. While each city-state's police officers are BESC affiliated, they still have to obey CGB law within city-state jurisdiction, unless appealed by the BESC or ROC parties. CGB officials also have the power to vote for a select set of candidates to fill certain roles in the BESC cabinet.
Faction Name:
The Group
History:
The Group has always been small in number, with no more than one cell being active at a time. Their motives remain shady, but one may be able to extract some form of anti-government/corporation motives from the fact that corrupt managers are liable to disappear in Babylon and business executives have been known to turn up on the poorer side of town in Babylon where they are either taken in, dehydrated, starving, bruised, scabbed and scarred but ultimately alive by the authorities with a story to tell or found by the downtrodden denizens of the poorer rings of Babylon and finally killed as a message. There have been a few cases of the murders of corrupt BESC members being taken out but the only connection that can be made with the Group is that they may be prime suspects, as no criminal organization, religious extremists or other radical groups have come forth claiming responsibility.
There has been only one case of a member of the Group being caught, it is the exact time when authorities got a name to put on the rampant assassinations of government, military and corporate personnel. Donald Brixton, a young twenty year old idealist with established left-leaning political ideals was a well-known name in the outer rings of Babylon, being an outspoken advocate for workers' rights, a thing that had been abandoned as far as the companies that contracted to work in mines and the Tower Towns in the wastes around Babylon. Brixton was said to have disappeared after the deaths of twenty-two child workers from the Tower Towns in a cave-in, with the remaining ten survivors being severely reprimanded, and their families intimidated to ensure that the mishap did not reach the ears of higher-ups in the Central Government of Babylon. After Brixton's probings, it was said that he had gained a lead on the names and faces of the managers and higher-ups of the contracting companies. He disappeared soon after, his bills not being paid, and a subsequent raid on his house for tax evasion revealed that not only was he gone, but he had been gone for quite a wile.
Brixton turned up after five months. Five months filled with news headlines talking of the murders of several higher-ups and lower managers of the Vilnius Contracting Company. Brixton was taken in as a prime suspect in the murders. It was revealed in his interrogations that he had been kidnapped on his walk home from an activist support seminar in the poorer residential districts of Babylon. He described his kidnappers as black-clothed, masked and strong, easily overpowering the healthy young man and taking him to an unknown location. It was then when they threw him into a locked cell with a chair, a table and a bed. He was given food, and asked what his investigative journalism had given him in terms of knowledge of the cover-up. Brixton told them everything he knew, thinking that it was some shady arm of the Central Government taking him in for treason, or paid goons of the Contracting Company accosting him for corporate espionage or simply digging too deeply. Brixton only remembers that the men, when asked of their name, answered with a remarkably shady one: the Group.
The Group maintains its place as an impartial and watchful eye over Babylon. Some say that they are there to protect the common working man from the machinations of the many-armed carnivorous octopus that is BESC and its corporate counterparts; others say that they are just another incarnation of BESC, just another group of idealists that will take out one corrupt government only to replace them at the top. Overall, the Group remains in its place as a dark thought in the dark and forgotten corners of CEOs, managers and corrupt BESC Police Officers and military personnel, it's clear that this fact will not change.
Structure:
The Group is small in number, never having more than one cell active at any given time. These cells are also few in number, with the largest being ten personnel. These cells are speculated to be arranged with one leader, one or two coordinators, and three or more paramilitary operatives.
It is also speculated that the cells maintain a large network of third-party help in their various operations, keeping strong ties to the many Tower Towns in the wastes and sometimes coordinating with Tower Towns to help defend against pirate bands or removing any BESC personnel threatening the lives of any of the residents. Some in the poorer districts of Babylon can definitely be paid a hefty sum for information regarding targets, as well.
The Group
History:
The Group has always been small in number, with no more than one cell being active at a time. Their motives remain shady, but one may be able to extract some form of anti-government/corporation motives from the fact that corrupt managers are liable to disappear in Babylon and business executives have been known to turn up on the poorer side of town in Babylon where they are either taken in, dehydrated, starving, bruised, scabbed and scarred but ultimately alive by the authorities with a story to tell or found by the downtrodden denizens of the poorer rings of Babylon and finally killed as a message. There have been a few cases of the murders of corrupt BESC members being taken out but the only connection that can be made with the Group is that they may be prime suspects, as no criminal organization, religious extremists or other radical groups have come forth claiming responsibility.
There has been only one case of a member of the Group being caught, it is the exact time when authorities got a name to put on the rampant assassinations of government, military and corporate personnel. Donald Brixton, a young twenty year old idealist with established left-leaning political ideals was a well-known name in the outer rings of Babylon, being an outspoken advocate for workers' rights, a thing that had been abandoned as far as the companies that contracted to work in mines and the Tower Towns in the wastes around Babylon. Brixton was said to have disappeared after the deaths of twenty-two child workers from the Tower Towns in a cave-in, with the remaining ten survivors being severely reprimanded, and their families intimidated to ensure that the mishap did not reach the ears of higher-ups in the Central Government of Babylon. After Brixton's probings, it was said that he had gained a lead on the names and faces of the managers and higher-ups of the contracting companies. He disappeared soon after, his bills not being paid, and a subsequent raid on his house for tax evasion revealed that not only was he gone, but he had been gone for quite a wile.
Brixton turned up after five months. Five months filled with news headlines talking of the murders of several higher-ups and lower managers of the Vilnius Contracting Company. Brixton was taken in as a prime suspect in the murders. It was revealed in his interrogations that he had been kidnapped on his walk home from an activist support seminar in the poorer residential districts of Babylon. He described his kidnappers as black-clothed, masked and strong, easily overpowering the healthy young man and taking him to an unknown location. It was then when they threw him into a locked cell with a chair, a table and a bed. He was given food, and asked what his investigative journalism had given him in terms of knowledge of the cover-up. Brixton told them everything he knew, thinking that it was some shady arm of the Central Government taking him in for treason, or paid goons of the Contracting Company accosting him for corporate espionage or simply digging too deeply. Brixton only remembers that the men, when asked of their name, answered with a remarkably shady one: the Group.
The Group maintains its place as an impartial and watchful eye over Babylon. Some say that they are there to protect the common working man from the machinations of the many-armed carnivorous octopus that is BESC and its corporate counterparts; others say that they are just another incarnation of BESC, just another group of idealists that will take out one corrupt government only to replace them at the top. Overall, the Group remains in its place as a dark thought in the dark and forgotten corners of CEOs, managers and corrupt BESC Police Officers and military personnel, it's clear that this fact will not change.
Structure:
The Group is small in number, never having more than one cell active at any given time. These cells are also few in number, with the largest being ten personnel. These cells are speculated to be arranged with one leader, one or two coordinators, and three or more paramilitary operatives.
It is also speculated that the cells maintain a large network of third-party help in their various operations, keeping strong ties to the many Tower Towns in the wastes and sometimes coordinating with Tower Towns to help defend against pirate bands or removing any BESC personnel threatening the lives of any of the residents. Some in the poorer districts of Babylon can definitely be paid a hefty sum for information regarding targets, as well.
I'll elaborate and answer all those questions after work today. This is a reboot from a couple of years ago, Pre-Crash, so i'm in the process of salvaging information from the old thread. It's partially sandbox (the RP zone includes an entire planet), but there is a huge overarching plot and most people i think will want to stick closely to the main city: Babylon.
