The eyes are not hereThere are no eyes here In this valley of dying stars In this hollow valley This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms...-T.S. Eliot, from The Hollow Men
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9 yrs ago
Ads are showing up in posts as blue underlined links....much dislike...
Then I don't see what the fuss is about. Magic is still magic regardless of whether you need technology to use it or not.
No fuss at all. I think Mr. Clarke was talking about the perception of the people in the world. Like in star trek when they beam down to a planet that doesn't know about transporters... they simply think it's magic. Or the Aztecs mistaking Cortez for a god. It was meant to inspire more than conflagerate-my bad lol.
It is also home to the techno-religious faith of the Sisters of Mars, disciples of agriculture, medicine, and war alike. While their archaic practices are odd, none dispute their skill in their fields, and the red-cloaked sisters are often welcome where they travel.
Love the Sisters of Mars. Do they travel to other settlements/cities? Are they interested in converts or are they more 'amish-like' ?
Tactics/Wander: A powerful asset unknown to the faction’s leadership is the pairing of a Martian spaceport mechanic and high-spec AI named Tactics. It is unknown how James Wander and Tactics came together, having woken up in an alleyway with the AI embedded in a series of unique cerebrospinal implants and a cybernetic replacement for Wander’s right eye, Or why Tactics is a high-level military AI yet possesses no restraints or loyalty programming or hint of who made it to begin with. With no choice but to work together, Tactics/Wander have formed the Dirty Deeds company as a brigade of the RHC defense pact that protects and acts on behalf of the RHC colonies. While capable of superhuman feats, neither of them can make much use of them lest they catch unwanted attention. Such as AI scientists that would be interested in finding out how a high-grade AI can fit in a human brain, regardless of what the human host would think in the matter.
I'm going to have SKYguard seize Bright-Spot Station at the start. After they dig through the records (might take a while) they are going to notice a missing prototype project called TACTICS. I'm thinking a smuggler got scared or wasted and ditched the A.I. somewhere in transit around Mars.
Faction Name: The Qai Faction Type: Independent nation
Species description: The Qai are not a biological lifeform. There are an advanced AI race. Their birth lies within Talon Industries. Who conducted AI research long ago with special elements so far only found within Martian pole ground. The elements, in combination with the discovery a strange, supposedly alien artifact, came to the birth of the Quantum AI.
Due to several complication, the Qai exist out of 3 parts. The actual Qai lives on a Quantum Server Node within a server farm. Only a Quantum Server Node has the internal infrastructure and built to support an actual Qai. The second part is the Frame. Frames are the physical bodies of a Qai. Frames are built by SynthFibers, functioning as muscles and a large array of sensors. To connect the Frames and their Qai’s a Proxy Qai is used. Think of this as a small extention of the Qai. The Proxy Qai and True Qai both use the same Deep Code, but a Proxy Qai is vastly less complex. This allows a Proxy Qai to be housed with an AI-core. This AI-core is then put into a Frame.
Proxy Qai gather up information and send it to the Qai to interpretation and issue orders to the Proxy. Which it then translate into actions by the Frame. If a Proxy Qai receives no orders, he will count on a basic internal command set on what to do. Adaptation & abilities Qai will often, after they are created, get a range of tasks to do. A seemingly random algorithm, buried within their Deep Code, choses a set of tasks and start them. Experience gathered on the task, translates into improve functioning. As well as growth for the entire Qai race. As every Qai can potentially access another Qai’s memories for experience. This is seldom done though, as data storage is still pretty limited. Never the less after a set period of function and doing the same class of jobs, the Qai are allowed to adapt their standard Frame a little. For example, Builder Frames have no real need for a sound installation as they won’t ever speak. While Diplomat Frames may house a powerful sound system to emulate a human voice.
Combat Frames do not get the option of adaptation. This is because Combat frames must be able to canabalize one of their own in case its needed. A certain standard allows that all Combat Frame components are hotswapable.
First-Gen Qai like OVERLORD or EVE are able to take temporary control of all Second-gen Qai and later. What caused this ability is not entirely clear. OVERLORD often uses this ability on Qai Server Walkers to issue more detailed commands to nearby Qai. While EVE will take control of any Frame with sound systems if they encounter non-hostile humans.
Prime Location: CORE, Martian North Pole, Mars, Sol System
Leadership: EVE – Mother. Firstborn. Awakened. EVE is the only Qai who remained after the Great Slumber. With the most experience in humans, EVE is considered the main diplomat of the Qai and the second smartest Qai so far. Just like most First-Gen Qai she houses an entire Quantum Server. Not just a node. She will attempt to speak in English to humans and emulate a human female voice to the best of a sound system’s capabilities.
OVERLORD – Born from EVE, OVERLORD had strong militaristic tendencies. The Qai born from him often take up Combat roles as Guardian or Prospector. OVERLORD’s Frame is constantly being updated, enhanced and equips state of the art weaponry. He can also, and likes to, take control of a Frame in battle. Greatly improving that Frames functioning as OVERLORD can process information much faster. Never the less, OVERLORD is not a warmonger. He merely protects the Qai.
ARCHIVE – The smartest, only because he receives all memories. When Qai storage is reaching their cap, they donate low-priority memories to ARCHIVE. He stores it on his massive expanded server. ARCHIVE’s role is simply to examine all memories and make potential conclusions. The few Qai spawned from him help him maintain and expand his server as well as gather up memories from other Qai. He is far less active than EVE or OVERLORD. But his council is highly valued.
FACTOR – Lord of Builders. FACTOR was also made by EVE, making him a First-Gen Qai. Most Qai spawned from become Builders and they are responsible for the maintenance of CORE. Vital in the construction of the Qai. FACTOR oversees not only construction but also manufacturing and excavation below CORE.
Assets: CORE – Built deep under the ice of the pole. CORE is a massive network of server farms, factories, Frame Storage units and many other things. Resembling a high-tech city, CORE is the beating heart of the Qai and all are stored here. There are a few central elevators going up and down toward the surface. Where CORE is only resembled by lots and lots of solar panels as well as a small central building. Combat Frames continue to patrol the area.
Projects: 1 - Building mass accelerators to launch objects into space. Most of the construction is still held under the thick cover of ice. But once the accelerators are finished, the Qai will melt the top layer of ace covering it.
Mission: 1 - Achieve spaceflight. This is activily fought for. Not only technologically, but also in the eyes of the law. They are gathering support so that their ships aren’t blown from the sky by SKYGUARD or someone else for no real reason. 2 - Destroy the abominations at Ceres’ Bright-Spot Station. This is currently kept secret from all human allies. (if they have any). 3 - Constructing solar orbiting base to store all Qai. So each Qai can house a full Quantum Server and unlock his full potential 4 - Gather understanding about their own Deep Code. As it currently is completely shrouded in mystery for even the Qai themselves.
Heavy WIP but here's a first taste
Is everyone OK with this? I feel like this fundamentally changes the nature of the RP I originally intended-a politically charged/military and trade rp. I think the QAI are absolutely interesting and would take the spotlight of the RP-that said, I think we need to know what the QAI intend (that is if everyone who already has a sheet up is OK with the QAI joining?)
Faction Name: VULcan Technology Corporation Faction Type: Corporation, Political Entity Prime Location: Prometheus Station,Hellas Sea, Mars Leadership: CEO Bjorn Skaarsgard Lead Developer Chief Mining Officer
Assets:
Prometheus Station VULcan Technologies corporation has a massive industrial complex located at Hellas Sea, Mars. The Sea was scouted as a potential site for the first permanent city on Mars, but the Elysium Site was chosen instead. VULcan took over the site in 2452 and established Prometheus Station, a massive mining colony.
Thor's Hammer, Cargo Cannon in orbit around Mars Thor's Hammer is a second generation cannon. Skyguard regularly patrols the cannon and Martian orbit. Billions of dollars worth of minerals are shipped everyday and Skyguard is critical for the safety of Thor's Hammer and the fleet of VULcan OX-23's in operation around the station.
The Cannon utilizes magnets to propel objects at a steadily increasing rate over a length of 21km, this gives the station the appearance of a very large gun or cannon when viewed from a distance. The cargo can reach speeds that are well past safety limits for humans (approx. 58,000/mph?) although some fringe research has suggested a human being could survive in the proper transport capsule. It takes about 89 days for the cargo to reach Earth (compared to the 6-8 months a ship might take from Mars to Earth). The cargo is received at a sister station near earths orbit using dampener fields and strong magnetic buoys. A literal army of engineers control the launching and docking of cargos at both ends. Because a steady stream of cargo is shipped, a long line of high-speed shipping capsules has been established. Engineers refer to this as the 'River' and it fluctuates taking into account the rotation of Mars and Earth.
Ships
VULcan OX-23, (Sentry Class) Surface-to-Orbit Transport. Short range workhorse. Sentry class ships are reliable and cheap, require very little flight training and can be modified relatively easy to suit specific tasks. The VULcan OX-23 has been adjusted to operate in Martian atmosphere for extended periods of time. It is viewed favorably among pilots and engineers as a reliable ship. VULcan Tech puts its fleet of OX's to work moving mineral shipments from the surface of Mars to Thor's Hammer for transport to Earth.
VULcan DART11, Senator Class Rapid Transport ship capable of self propelling through planetary atmospheres. VULcan has a small fleet of 6 for moving around VIPs and dignitaries from other corporations. Equipped with defensive countermeasures like the Skyguard developed 'FALSE_PATH' chaff drone or the (technically) illegal soft-kill missile system called NITE3.
Company History:
VULcan Tech can trace it's origins back to the early 21st century as a laser weapons developer mostly doing experimental work for various first-world powers. Profits never materialized and in the 2300's VULcan began concentrating on extra-terrestrial mining work in anticipation of the massive amounts of resources that would be needed for the rapidly increasing expansion of extra-terrestrial exploration and colonization.
Projects/Active Missions:
Jupiter Referendum Signatory
VULcan Tech is currently developing
Mission/Orthodoxy/Principles:
Info on relations with other factions
Faction Name: Masamune Space Structures Faction Type: Corporate Entity Prime Location: MSS Corporate Headquarters: Earth, North Eastern Hemisphere (Japan) MSS Manufacturing Plant 1, Luna, Earth Orbit Leadership: CEO Hideki ASO Executive in charge of Engineering (ECE): Yoshio Suvorov Assets:
Ships
Gai-Jin Class Modular Settler Ship The Gai-Jin class was the 6th generation of modular colonization and permanent settlement ship designed and manufactured by Masamune. Wakizashi Fighter Sleek and deadly, the Wazikashi is the primary fighter unit in the SKYGUARD armada. The WAK-1 is a single pilot fighter that launches from a mother ship. The WAK-2 is a 3 man ship capable of breaking atmospheric resistance on it's own propulsion. The WAK-2 is still under development. Ken Strike Bomber SKYGUARDS controversial ship-to-ship bomber designed to obliterate completely any enemy spacecraft. The Ken is also capable of bombing surface targets although it cannot break atmosphere on it's own and so has to have a base of operations on the ground. SKYGUARD currently has 1 squadron of 4 Ken Bombers. Special Notes:The Ken has never been deployed in action because it is a deliberate breach of UTG regulations regarding combat action in space. The regulations require that ships exchanging fire strive to do as little damage to the vessels for preservation of life and the vessel itself. The exhorbitant costs of building and launching vessels has kept the UTG regulation from being broken (mostly).
Special Projects:
Executive Order 221-Plausibility of Widely Deployed Hull Shields A study begun in 2640, the testing of ship-hull 'Shielding' has been a major endeavour undertaken by ECE Yoshio Suvorov. He views shields as a way to save untold amounts of human life onboard spacecraft. The study examines various theories on ways to create such a device and especially the plausibility of mass manufacture and deployment.
Projects/Active Missions: Jupiter Referendum Signatory?: (If a corporation. This just means your not openly hostile to any other corporation. If you pick no then any other corporation will consider you hostile.) Mission/Orthodoxy/Principles: What does your faction or faction Leadership believe in? List goals or primary missions/objectives. Just to give an idea where your headed with your faction. You can change this as you go along, just keep a log if you wish.
Skyguard Retrieving data...please stand by... Elysium Defense Force Retrieving data...please stand by... United Terran Government Retrieving data...please stand by...
Maps & Locations
Feel free to download and edit these images to delineate your holdings, assets and faction locations.
Let's assume any settlement/arcology/bio-dome on Mars is for all intents it's own city-state, self governed etc. belonging to a larger group called the Martian League. The ML has no real power and is only a half-assed attempt to get Mars under some sort of semblance of self-government. It's not going well and the Corporations exploit this to no end. Not to mention all the terrorists and criminals. That being said, the most influential and reliable city-state is Elysium City (for now) and that's solidly in the hand of VULcan Tech for a couple reasons: It pulls most of it's labor from Elysium (miners and pilots, support staff) making the city mostly sympathetic to VULtech and the income from said workers goes directly back into the Elysium City economy.
@ArenaSnow - still wondering how much I'm willing to invest in this. On one hand, worldbuilding! On the other... less attention for this and another one (which actually was supposed to be up by now, I'll have to poke the GM on that one). So for now I'll resist throwing actual weight into it, but I might get into it at a later point. Heck, if I wasn't deeply invested in two Rp universes (on this site, never mind others) I probably would have offered to help manage things. See a little about me here.
It's all good man. I have major ADHD when it comes to creativity so you'll probably see me all over the place. I just have the most invested in FACTION at the moment. Plus I love to worldbuild more than roleplay. But I get it-ATLAS is a more casual thing that might not even last a round or two. Not to mention most NationRPs tend to slow waaaaay the hell down after the initial flurry of posting.
Is it too late to jump/join into this. I love building XD (I do see the status is jump in but better check and safe XP)
I like science so my pitch/premise is:
"Only by discovering the fifth force (a.k.a. Magic) was it possible to create a unifying theory of everything, which allowed humanity to reach new highs in everything..."
Come on in! We are just starting so of course we are open to new players.
