The room had two entrances, in addition to a large window of the most secure acrylic, which displayed the city of Olympia prominently and in full view. Busy people who spoke in rapid, clandestine whispers and were tapping away on brightly-lit screens walked briskly through the hallway with lapideus steps, their clearance removing them from any threat they might otherwise pose. Yes, despite a few possible blunt objects scattered around, the room, the meeting room, the glorified hallway of the Praetorians was rather secure. And in the midst of it stood a nameless man with a stout reputation; there stood Ulysses. A celebrity of espionage and subterfuge so unknown that most did not notice as they passed him, and those who did only did so with a subtle glance before returning to their screen. His beard clung tight to his face, hiding in their roots for fear of his razor, while above, his black hair settled nearly, much longer but restedly combed to his professional standards. His uniform, the uniform of all Praetorian commanders, was trim and sable, angular and formfitting in its fall.
The agent squinted at the red Martian sky, and with eyes narrow, he could make out the impish Phobos, hung high and lazily over the ruddy landscape, hiding from the eyes of the citizenry, but was present in their minds nonetheless, the malformed asteroid being a joke of the system since ancient times. He knew that Deimos, smaller but there all the same, was somewhere else in the Martian sky. A familiar figure entered Ulysses' peripheral vision, but he said nothing until it spoke.
"Looking for Phobos?" He said. He too looked for the small moon, but his Janari eyes weren't made for such human endeavors.
"Not hard to find," Ulysses responded. He stepped back to face his superior, General Banelo, the director of all Praetorians, and the commander bowed in respect. "General," Ulysses said.
"At ease, Commander," Banelo replied, and Ulysses obliged him, straightening his back. "How were the Free Nests?" The human smiled, having spent the last few months in the southern confederacy, doing usual Praetorian political work there, as well as pursuing more...devious endeavors.
"I should've brought more bug repellant, but it was fruitful. Planted a wave of new recruiters, set up some comms…" He trailed off when his black eyebrows knit in consternation, before continuing, "but you already know this, so I'm unclear as to the purpose of your asking."
The Janari sighed. "It's called being friendly, Commander Oculto. You should give it a try." He exhaled. "Now are you ready to head to the warzone?" The General began walking towards the door, beckoning Ulysses to follow, and they continued to the next room.
"Of course, General, once I learn the details of the operation." There was a large, gold table in the middle, complementing the hungry blood-red walls. As Ulysses and the General walked in, the subordinates who were examining a presentation on a holoprojector in the middle of the room hurriedly exited, and Banelo went to the console, uploading a picture of the upper Orion-Cygnus arm to the projector. Zooming in, he displayed a detailed map of the Resurrection-Scorpine war, complete with dots indicating the current location of Martian mission bases. Ulysses quickly found his seat.
"As you know," the General began, "You are to consolidate the varied anti-Resurrectionist militias under one banner." The screen shifted, displaying an overlay of troop locations; both the Scorpine government forces and the anti-Res militias. There was also a basic list of militia categories; Scorpine irregulars, Xuhajann reclamationists, foreign volunteer outfits, coalition-sponsored mercenaries. These were further broken down into those beneficial to the needs of the State and those that were not. Those that were not, Ulysses knew, were to have their leaderships replaced with commanders more amenable to Martian needs. For a bit longer, General Banelo rattled on more information that the Commander already knew; build more bases, outfit the new army, bring in more mercs.
Eventually, the General pulled up a new diagram onto the holoprojector, one of a large naval vessel. "You will be lended full command of a cruiser; the Calypso. She will act as your base of operations, and is to primarily remain in orbit of the Scorpine capital of Scorpius."
Ulysses nodded. "Of course, General. I understand the importance of the situation at hand. I promise you I will not allow this mission to fail."
"Good." Banelo turned off the holoprojector, which made a pleasant sound as the hologram dissipated. "You will depart tomorrow morning, the shuttle to the spaceport will pick you up from your residence. You'll find the Calypso waiting." The Commander stood and gave a curt bow, before turning to leave. "And Commander," the General said, stopping him. "Good luck."
Ulysses smirked. "I have the power of the Martian State at my disposal. Luck is unnecessary."
Founded by Orionic General Goliath Polema, the Martian State is a small but powerful Military Junta which controls the Sol System and a chunk of the surrounding Orion's Belt; the historic heartland of the Orionic Empire, with most of the population centered in Sol, Alpha Centauri, and Sirius. All citizens must serve in the State's military, and due to the unproportionally large size of the military, it is often seen as an 'Army with a State'. The Martian State also leads the Martian Coaltion; a military and economic coalition of Imperial Successor States.
Government
The Martian Government is ruled by its military, and headed by the Commander General, who at this moment is Alexandra Ornata. The Commander General is elected from and by the Council of Generals (and Admirals), who gather every five years and decide whether to renew the current Commander General or elect a new one; General Ornata was elected a year ago for her first time. The military keeps the peace and creates and enforces a set of laws, however they only actually govern the Planet of Mars, the dwarf planets Ceres and Pluto in Sol and Hercules and Aeneas in Alpha Centauri, Augusta, Borea, and Salacia, in Sirius, the Starforts, and various colonies and military bases around the State. The rest are governed by the Domains, which, while still are part of the state, also create their own laws and have a degree of autonomy. Each Domain is assigned a governor general by the Military, who acts as an executive, but the domains also elect a senate democratically, and from that Senate a Speaker, to represent the people of the Domain.
The Domains exist as follows;
Domain of Mercury
Terrestial Planet Mercury
Domain of Venus
Terrestial Planet Venus
Domain of Jupiter
Gas Giant Jupiter
Moon Io
Moon Europa
Moon Calisto
Moon Ganymede
Minor Moons
Planetary Ring
Domain of Saturn
Gas Giant Saturn
Moon Titan
Moon Rhea
Moon Iapetus
Moon Dione
Moon Tethys
Moon Enceladus
Moon Mimas
Minor Moons
Planeary Rings
Domain of Uranus
Gas Giant Uranus
Moon Titania
Moon Oberon
Moon Umbriel
Moon Ariel
Moon Miranda
Minor Moons
Planetary Rings
Domain of Neptune
Gas Giant Neptune
Moon Triton
Minor Moons
Plantary Rings
Domain of Apollo
Terrestrial Planet Apollo
Moon Daphne
Moon Hyacinth
Domain of Bacchus
Terrestrial Planet Bacchus
Minor Moons
Domain of Juno
Gas Giant Juno
Moon Jason
Moon Janus
Moon Eris
Moon Juventas
Moon Bellona
Moon Lucina
Minor Moons
Planetary Rings
Domain of Vulcan
Gas Giant Vulcan
Moon Thalia
Moon Lemnos
Moon Euthenia
Minor Moons
Planetary Rings
Domain of Diana
Terrestrial Planet Diana
Minor Moons
Domain of Minerva
Terrestrial Planet Minerva
Moon Aegis
Domain of Vesta
Gas Giant Vesta
Moon Romulus
Moon Remus
Moon Tellus
Moon Servius
Moon Silvia
Minor Moons
Planetary Rings
History
Goliath Polema was one of the Orionic Empire's greatest generals during its collapse, and sought to embody Imperial values. In the age of the Empire, one of the generals was traditionally named the Protector of Mars, and was assigned to command the Tenth Army, the most elite army in the Empire, who, for the past few centuries, usually was used to defend the Sol System. General Polema was the Protector. Ego I, the final Emperor, decided that, in the face of destruction, the Tenth could be put to better use at the front lines against the Zuukids, and General Polema was sent along with the Tenth to face the enemy.
The Warp Gate to the front lines had been broken, so the transport fleet was forced to use their warpdrives, when, after a couple weeks, they find their lines of communication to be gone, and the fleet was set upon by marauders. Being forced to land, The General found out that the City of Olympia had been sacked, and the emperor was dead. Polema found himself stranded, alone with his army, no orders to follow, no empire to defend. But he remembered that he still had one title that still meant something, and so the fleet fought their way back to Sol.
The local forces left behind to defend against the Scorpine Marauders were fresh-faced and unprepared, and the Marauders were pushing out further and further into the planet. Upon Polema's return, the Marauder forces were obliterated, and the General took charge of the local forces. Realizing there was no government left, he took control of civilian affairs as well, not only of Mars, but of the rest of the population of Sol. From there, his forces shot out to take control of what is today the Martian state.
A hundred years ago, the Martian Coalition was formed. While order and prosperity has been brought to the state, it became time for the State to bring the same to the rest of the Galaxy. Today, the ongoing question has been raised as to whether the State should exist as a permanent nation, or if it is only a temporary solution until the Empire is reformed.
Military
All citizens must join the Military of the State in order to retain citizenship. In addition, anyone who joins the military is allowed to receive citizenship. While the State is somewhat xenophilic, certain species are barred from citizenship. As of now, these are Parasitians (who still live in relatively large populations in some of the domains), all Zuukind, and Scorpines. Cultors are seen as better put to use in food production, so rather than directly be conscripted, they instead pay off their service in rations.
The Harpy is the State's primary Starfighter, and provides the backbone of Martian Naval Power. In space combat, Harpies are used to swarm enemy fleets en masse. This strategy evolved from the variety of opponents the Martian navy would face; whether they were Zuuks or Marauders, the use of Starfighter swarms is versatile to make on many types of foes.
Unlike the slower Harpy, the Pegasus Starfighters are equipped with basic warp drives, and are often used for scouting missions, interception, and almost exclusively used by the most elite pilots.
The Falcon is the State's bomber, used to cripple and weaken enemy ships in space combat and destroy enemy positions on land. Though Falcons are outfitted with turrets and laser cannons, they are usually protected by Starfighters such as harpies when bombarding enemy positions.
Carrying both Starfighters and land troops, the Carrier, while able to provide support on its own, are also responsible for both the storage and protection of Starfighters.
Though the emphasis of the Martian navy lies in its Starfighters, Destroyers provide a valuable role in naval defense, especially in transport fleets.
The heaviest Ships in the Martian arsenal, Cruisers are largely used in the transportation of troops, as well as for capital ships, and to weaken defenses to allow Starfighters to finish their job.
A crucial aspect of Martian society, Starforts are massive satellite objects placed around the stars of the uninhabitable border systems in the Martian State. They act as border defense, as well as customs and trade stations, with foreign ships not allowed to enter Martian space unless they've gone though a Starfort. Starforts are also the center of whatever mining colonies or research stations exist in the nearby area, and because of this, as well as the large military presence and the importance for trade and transportation, Starforts not only have seasonal civilian workers, but also maintain year-round civilian populations. While Martian laws still apply in the Starforts, the governing of the local civilian population and management of the Fort's military lies solely in the hands of the Fort Commander, and because of this, these commanders are very influential in Martian Space, and the position of Fort Commander is highly coveted, often being seen as a first step on the road to becoming Commander General.
The standard infantry of the Martian State. Martian infantry tend to use bullets rather than laser weapons.
Recon is used to scout out enemy positions, as well as snipe enemy targets.
Martian Drop Troops are special forces dropped from above behind or inside enemy lines to clear out areas, often as an alternative to bombing.
The M-4 mech is used to pound into enemy lines though both artillery and machine guns. Heavy armored and armed to a teeth, mechs are found at the front lines of any Martian military operation.
Unlike most Martian ground troops, Walking Artillery uses a powerful laser cannon, largely in air defense against bombers and other threats from above. That said, Artillery is still useful against enemy ground troops.
The Cavalry are the elite of the elite, drawn from the best of all fighters in the Martian military. The Cavalry wear powered armor, and are used in a wide range of special missions, utilizing both weapons they carry such as rifles and pistols, as well as weapons that are a part of their armor systems.
Religion/Culture
Most in the Martian State are Kineticist, with Divine Kineticism dominating followers as in most places. Home to most Kinetic holy sites, and as a compliment to Martian militarism, there exists many devout in Martian society, however, there is also a good deal of secularism, and a fair amount of separation of church and state. Freedom of religion is largely present, although you'd be hard pressed to find an Anchorist who's saying he's having a good time. While many would see the conscription present in Martian society as authoritarian, this is coupled with free and quality education and healthcare services, as well as free utilities.
Inter-species relations are strange in the State, where certain species such as Ulala and Janari are seen as completely equal to humans in every way, shape, and form, whereas other species like Scorpines and Rodorphins are looked upon as the literal scum of the Earth. Many in the State view themselves as the successors to the Empire, and as such, many old Imperial customs are still alive and well in the State. Due to their stability during the Collapse and Migration Period, there was a large influx of migrants to the State, creating a massive urbanization, however, the Military made sure to keep most migrants human, or at least of a species they found to be acceptable.
The Military seeps into every aspect of Martian life. Whether it's due to civic pride or propaganda, most don't see anything wrong with the conscription system, or the militarism of the government. Private weapon ownership is also something most Martians take into great pride, and going to shooting ranges is a common leisurely activity.
Due to both the stability and safety ensured by the Military and the autonomy and freedom offered by Domain governments, the Domains are extremely prosperous, and are in many ways a glimpse into old Imperial life, having become beacons of economic prosperity and cultural advancement. The Dwarf Planet of Ceres, contrastingly, is a rural area under complete control of the Martian government, existing entirely to produce food for the military, just as Pluto is to produce minerals and Hercules is for manufacturing. In these territories, local populations are extremely patriotic, but the areas also offer a more bleak and realistic appraisal of post-Imperial life.
Mars itself is a planet unlike any other in the Galaxy, with a strange air of both the ancient and futuristic. The capital city of Olympia is built on the volcano Olympus Mons, whose lava production is controlled by Orionic technologies, and is used to power the city. With both ancient Imperial flavor and modern Martian State militarism and futurism, Mars is a popular tourist destination, as well as a pilgrimage site for many faithful Kineticists.
Demographics:
50 Percent Human 13 Percent Janari 10 Percent Ulala 10 Percent Xuhajann 4 Percent Aldzir (Concentrated in the dwarf planets of Sirius and in Pluto) 2 Percent Cultor (Concentrated in Ceres) 1 Percent Parasitian (Non-Citizens in the Domains) 10 Percent Other
Characters
An old military dog, Major Astari is the commander of the 1st Cavalry.
While most Ulala nobles will choose to spend their time in military service behind a desk, Captain Oko is instead the Captain of the MSS Polema, a cruiser often used for independent missions.
A commander within the secretive Praetorian Guard, the activities and whereabouts of Commander Oculto, often known under the codename 'No Man', are quite classified. Operating both in espionage and the more clandestine of Martian military operations, Oculto and the Praetorians act as an intelligence organization, and are often the subject of many conspiracies and protests against modern Martian society.
Relations
Martian Coalition: The Successor States of the Martian Coalition are the State's clear military allies in the face of adversity. The expansion of the Coalition, both in the number of members and the power of the current members, is a key goal to State. Zsresriir: The more temperate factions of both nations have found a strange alliance of sorts, both using each other to keep their more expansionist factions at bay. Zuukid Empire: The State, of course, hates the Zuukids, and deeply fears them, and will eagerly seek war given any provocation. USS: Though they are both human dominated, the State often finds itself at odds with the USS, religiously, in their outlook on their resident Alien populations, and, more than anything, their view on the Orionic Empire.
Habitation
Most of the inhabited Martian planets are extremely urban, with upwards of ten billion people on each of them on average (the dwarf territories being the exceptions). Because of this, much of the State's food is imported from the Coalition allies. One thing the state has no shortage of is mineral wealth, with large mining colonies all over the state, including in non-terraformed space. Barren planets even have many colonies dotting the landscape, but of course the population of these colonies is nothing even close to the terraformed planets and moons. Colonies also exist inside the gas giants in strange floating towns, usually to harness electricity and gases.
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