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MysticWind
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I'm working on two sets of seven factions on this thread, and I've also written some flawed and uncorrected fanfiction on the side to introduce the new characters and whatnot.
But before that, I think I'm going to write the profiles of the faction leaders, as well as flesh out my version of pre-launch Earth.
The story is about the Federated Countries Ship Sovereignty, an Earth craft that was, like Unity, crash-built. My spin on Earth was that there was a war between opposing national blocs- the UN and the International Federation of Countries. Several years after the Unity was launched, at circa AD 2065, the Soverignty was sent after an UN-FC truce.
What follows are the leader profiles following Firaxis format:
Michael Garrison
Major
Colonization Specialist/
Settler Representative
United States of America
01-31-2030
Service Record:
Born 2030, Bloomington, Indiana. Educated to a high school level, as a youth he was often discontent living in a city with one of the highest percentages of senior citizens in America, as well as one of the highest ratings for stability. Joined U.N. Resettling Program in Patagonia after graduating with a 2.5 GPA. Managed to demonstrate hardiness and ingenuity in a harsh environment. Promoted several times within program, eventually becoming ecologic adjuster.
After saving a settlement from a flood during the El Bestia cycle and expanding the colonies under his custody fivefold with no loss of threatened species, members of the Resettlement Commission designated him leader of the Antarctican Settling Program. Despite subzero conditions, he was able to resettle the refugees from the Crusader Wars with no losses, and had a knack to preserving the natural state around settled areas. After the United Nations/ International Federation of Countries truce of ’61, he accepted his appointment by the U.N.-F.C. Trucial Alpha2 Committee to the post of Colonization Specialist.
Psych Profile: Pioneer Harmonist
Ability to create and maintain large communities within the wilderness shows a deep strength of leadership and resolve. Sense of wonder and appreciation of nature is enhanced by restlessness, a desire for new frontiers to explore and to claim. Strong survival skills create a sense of calmness in the face of a dangerous environment. Childhood records show an inclination for the “Settlers” gang-clique, a post-Boy Scouts organization stressing individual efforts and exploration rather than regimentation and discipline.
While claiming not to be “a sissy WorOrthChuGa,” subject shows a deep understanding of natural equilibrium despite rejection of the Gaian religion. Previous achievements demonstrate a keen ability to coexist with surroundings without causing harmful change. Coupled with skills and likeable, homespun personality, subject’s ability to harmonize with the environment make him a leader of considerable strengths.
Robin Huxley
Master Sergeant
Chief of Security
United Kingdom
05-04-2035
Service Record:
Born 2035, Cornwall, United Kingdom, to a nomadic family with strong military tradition. Attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and excelled at counterinsurgency tactics, mechanized weapon technologies, and political sciences. Joined British Territorial Army upon graduating, saw action in Edinburgh Retaliation (Second Scottish War of Independence outside U.K.) in a tank division she later commanded. During the near end of the war, her efficient anti-militia tactics crushed all nationalist opposition in Northumberland, earning her the nickname of “Boudicaa” from Briton and Scot alike and leading to a less humiliating defeat.
Later served in the Commonwealth Crisis, the “British Pax Decay.” In her five month tour of duty in North America, she played an instrumental part in defeating the Quebecois radicals in the brutal Battle of Montreal, and was awarded honors from both the Confederation of Canada and the Dominion of Newfoundland for fighting renegade hyper-survivalists. One of her most infamous tactics was using “stealth” attacks with modified speeder tanks she helped to modify.
After her transfer to Australia, she saw less fighting and settled down somewhat. She became a guest professor on governmental theory at the Northern Territory University, studied aboriginal societies, and formed a close unit of fellow anti-militiamen, the Darwin Road Warriors.
The U.K., a member of the Big Nine, was able to assign her as a colonist for the Alpha2 Enterprise. As a renowned anti-survivalist and war heroine, she became the chief of security onboard the FCS Sovereignty and placed many anti-survivalists in key positions. In the last days before the Second Ship’s arrival at Planet, she, many of her security force, and members of the science team were all unaccounted for, as well as a colony module.
Psych Profile: Wanderer Restorationist
Strong combat prowess due to knowledge of military tactics and talent at adapting opponent strategies to her own use. Capable commander and capable of gathering great amounts of followers to her cause. Not content to stay in one place, favors movement and activity instead of sedentariness and complacency. Scorn for well-content and settled possibly due to lower middleclass upbringing.
Intellectual background is of interest. Though known to be an outspoken critic of Nat Holm’s neo-feudalistic survivalism, she is in favor of his assertions of a slow “dum-dum decay” of civilization, leading to an inevitable collapse and complete dark age. Unlike Holmist survivalists, however, she is fundamentally against the hypothetical catastrophe of a crash. Her ideals were stated in her teachings at NTU, inspiration unclear, possibly twentieth century works.
Last edited by MysticWind on 20-07-2005 at 00:59
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MysticWind
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So, does anyone have any comments on my profiles? Too wordy? Not detailed enough? Hard to read? Too different from original format? Too much like original format? Hello?
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dacole
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Seem like they come from the novel earth somewhat is this correct?
They are interesting, the second one especially yang but not yang. The stories should be especially when you get them done. This part of the forum has not been visted much latly so thanks for keeping it alive!
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MysticWind
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Well, actually none of the characters are actually from the novel Earth, but based on ideas and concepts from it. The second one is actually based on the Holnists in The Postman, and not supposed to be like Yang at all.
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dacole
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Well she is a millitary leader who seems to believe that the strong should rule the weak somewhat like yang but she is anti infantry (where I've always viewed yang as mostly infantry) and she lacks the communist undertones so not like yang.
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MysticWind
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No one else interested? D'oh.
I need some information regarding Brazilian culture. Anyone like to help? Please.
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WotanAnubis
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Only read the first profile so far and have two little nit-picks.
First) The United States of America do not exist at the time of the Unity launch. Sister Miriam's profile, after all, says that they have transformed into the Christian States of America. This is an incredible nit-pick, I know, but I wanted to mention it anyway.
Second) I fail to see how the subject could even know about the "Gaian religion". As far as I know, Deirdre Skye did not found Gaia's Stepdaughter before the Unity malfunction and subsequent loss of contact with Earth and the 'religion' could not possibly come into being before Planetfall. And also, by the time anyone is even able to build Temples of Planet, your second ship probably would've already landed in any case.
So, as long as he's on Earth, there is absolutely no way that he could know about the Gaians and their beliefs.
Unless, of course, in this AU, contact with Earth was not lost. In which case, it *might* be a bit more unlikely that Unity crew split up into the well-known factions.
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Illuminatus
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Salvaging Unity Fusion Core
Jul 2003
time: 06:17
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quote:
First) The United States of America do not exist at the time of the Unity launch. Sister Miriam's profile, after all, says that they have transformed into the Christian States of America. This is an incredible nit-pick, I know, but I wanted to mention it anyway. |
Pardon me for correcting  , but there is not enough data that proves that USA is completely transformed into CSA. To the contrary, faction profiles show that USA continues to exist for at least 40 years into the 21st century (see Svensgard profile ). Also, take note that most profiles state that Miriam is born in United States, signifying that her part of United States transformed probably after her birth.
According to data from SMAC GURPS, United States, in some form, continues to exist into 2040's. He is citation of a sentence from Ulrik's profile. "In 2042 he abandoned his family to join the United States Navy." He joins United States navy. I presume that United States continues to exist at least until the end of Pax Decay wars.
Since Miriam is explicitly said to be a part of institutions of Christian States of America, it is evident that CSA arose soon after Miriam was born. Also, here is citation from her GURPS SMAC profile: "By the time Godwinson began her own ministry, the Evangelical Fire was the largest Christian denomination in the once-United States." We can see that Miriam's state is no longer the United States we all know about.
Due to this reason I concluded that CSA splintered off from original USA, and the two continued to exist to as late as 2040's.
If you take into account this citation (also from GURPS SMAC)"...but political pressure from the American governments forced them to consider her for the position of Psych Chaplain.", I would conclude that they are still various splinter states in North America at the time of Unity launch. I don't think that Christian denominations would gain much support in Latin America, so the American governments must mean Anglo America.
Since we already know that CSA splintered off, it is possible that further splinter states also exist. Of course, we have no idea what happened to Canada, but I strongly believe that plural is referencing mostly on remains of USA. Perhaps one of this governments could be the legitimate successor to the original USA, perhaps not, but USA certainly didn't simply become CSA.
Also, Deirdre didn't quite invent Gaian religion. Simple googling should demonstrate that there already are beliefs akin to hers. Question is, what MW wanted to say iwhen he wrote that?
[/rant]
Last edited by Illuminatus on 16-06-2005 at 02:34
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MysticWind
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Meier thinking of American dissolution? Please. Ideas for secession have been around since the Second Continental Congress, back in the 1770s. Hell, Vermont was its own republic before it joined the U.S. Only the idea and regions for secession have changed, is all.
quote:
Originally posted by WotanAnubis
As far as I know, Deirdre Skye did not found Gaia's Stepdaughter before the Unity malfunction and subsequent loss of contact with Earth and the 'religion' could not possibly come into being before Planetfall. |
Again, my sets are heavily based on the novel Earth by David Brin (the Settlers are actually based on a hinted-at group in that book). In the story, which takes place in around 2045, everyone is MUCH concerned with the environment, and the North American Gaian Church was established decades before the 2040s, undergoing many internal changes in itself. Thus, there was always a church that worshipped the Earth, a goddess representing Earth, or some other feminine aspect in the 21st century. I'm kind of including that in my sets. Basically, my spin on the Earth-based Gaian Church is that they are very similar to Deidre's ideals, except with more femininity tossed in. Their ideas were around when the Unity left, though I'm having that particular Church be founded on Earth after Planetfall, so Deidre's Gaian ideas on Chiron are mostly her own and original.
I'll post more on my ideas of history before and after Unity's launch some time later.
Thanks for the comments!
Is there still anyone who knows anything about Brazil?
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WotanAnubis
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quote:
Originally posted by MysticWind
Again, my sets are heavily based on the novel Earth by David Brin (the Settlers are actually based on a hinted-at group in that book). In the story, which takes place in around 2045, everyone is MUCH concerned with the environment, and the North American Gaian Church was established decades before the 2040s, undergoing many internal changes in itself. Thus, there was always a church that worshipped the Earth, a goddess representing Earth, or some other feminine aspect in the 21st century. I'm kind of including that in my sets. Basically, my spin on the Earth-based Gaian Church is that they are very similar to Deidre's ideals, except with more femininity tossed in. Their ideas were around when the Unity left, though I'm having that particular Church be founded on Earth after Planetfall, so Deidre's Gaian ideas on Chiron are mostly her own and original. |
Fair enough. But please, change its name then. Otherwise there'll be quite a lot of completely unnecessary confusion. And that's never a good thing in a story (necessary confusion, on the other hand...).
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MysticWind
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No need to worry. I'm going to very rarely mention the Earth-based Gaian Church, which is called the World Orthodox Church of Gaia, or WorOrthChuGa by its detractors. That weird abbreviation is stolen from the David Brin book, where it's called NorAmChuGa.
Googled it, and found it here: http://www.rattlebrain.com/~apegrrl/MPpractice.htm
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MysticWind
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Anyhow, here's two more profiles.
Gennaro Almeida
Steward
Chief Archivist
Brazil
07-09-2009
Service Record:
Born 2009, Recife Brazil. Moved to Rio de Janeiro at age seven; father was a social worker at the hillside favelas and World Trade Organization representative for Brazil, mother worked for network security of the Brazilian Institute of Scientific and Technical Information. Studied library sciences and psychological analysis of history at Federal University of Pernambuco. Worked as information manager for the government; first claim to fame in 2034 for implementing new datalink technology to successfully record and back-up all of the National Library’s four million volumes. Involved with the Legacy Project in 2038 to store and save all of the sum total of Latin American cultural, historical, and technological knowledge, pioneered use of the yottabyte datacube.
Served as staff member on the compilation of the database of the ship Tiradentes during the country’s “Novo Brasil” period. Became prominent member of Brazilian Space Corps aboard the Museu da Vida, the “Museum of Life”, a national spacecraft that would contain vast databanks of all of humanity’s information. In 2040, at the zenith of the nation’s participation in the Space Age, abruptly left the Corps to teach reading and writing to children of the Amazonian Indians. Abducted in the 2042 Amazonian War by the eco-terrorist/indigenous tribalist group Smoke Jaguars for five weeks, rescued after the end of what has been described as “the worst jungle war of the 21st century.”
Remained a private citizen except for a brief stint as Unity datacore consultant until the Alpha2 Enterprise was begun. Worked on the Sovereignty cubematrix, later appointed chief archivist of the shipwide library and accepted position.
Psych Profile: Unifier Preservationist
Possesses comprehensive knowledge on the cataloguing of knowledge in electronic libraries, as well as a deeply in-grained desire to create united efforts in approaching problems. Conscientious, believes in dire necessity to protect knowledge. Beliefs of the immediate need to establish peace and reconciliation caused by weariness of political turmoil witnessed since young. Intellectualism and erudite speech may project false airs of mental superiority. Considered by some to be too pessimistic, too alarmist, nicknamed the "Malthus Librarian of Sociopolitics."
The Smoke Jaguar Affair caused an immense effect on subject. Personal beliefs regarding peaceful resolution held prior to kidnapping amplified by first-hand experience of Hobbesian chaos and disorder. Uprooting and destruction of millennia-old cultures caused subject to believe in the urgent need to protect humanity’s works and thoughts.
Slightly pacifistic tendencies seem to stem from guilt from the Palmares scandal. Presumed to be the whistleblower who leaked the BSC’s plans to militarize space. Subsequent denouncements exacted heavy social toll.
The Executive Board
Various Companies, Various Countries
Founding Date Unknown
Service Record:
Though the actual leadership of the Global Energy Exchange is often unknown, historians have suggested that the original Executive Board was founded by an offshoot of the Julius Society, an anti-laissez faire, anti-deregulatory international think-tank. Founded with a goal to “prevent economic royalism and currency destabilization”, several of the society’s members apparently were passengers on the UNS Unity and the FCS Soverignty.
Psych Profile: Unknown
No actual information. Popular sentiment considers the board members to be austere in their goals and ruthless in business practices.
Edit: Changed Emerald Jaguars to "Smoke Jaguars", which were an actual Mechwarrior clan.
Last edited by MysticWind on 20-07-2005 at 00:54
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MysticWind
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Still waiting.
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Hydro
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Winfield, IL, USA
Jun 1999
time: 05:17
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Each of the SMAC factions generally represents a distinct ideology, and therefore nicely provides a ‘face’ and personality for that competing point of view. Is that where you’re going with this?
Will these characters be a re-skinned version of the SMAC faction leaders?
Hydro
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MysticWind
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quote:
Originally posted by DarkCloud
... that reminds me of the "Nautilus Club" from D20 modern... |
Actually, I was going for an opposite version of the real-world libertarian Cato Institute.
quote:
Originally posted by Hydro
Each of the SMAC factions generally represents a distinct ideology, and therefore nicely provides a ‘face’ and personality for that competing point of view. Is that where you’re going with this?
Will these characters be a re-skinned version of the SMAC faction leaders?
Hydro |
Yeah, that's what I was going for. But what does re-skinned mean?
Last edited by MysticWind on 20-07-2005 at 00:04
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Hydro
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Winfield, IL, USA
Jun 1999
time: 05:17
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It means that it is basically the same inside, but just looks different on the outside. For instance, an ardent militarist that behaves like Santiago but is named 'Fred'.
Hydro
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MysticWind
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No way, then. I'm trying to write 14 faction leader profiles for 14 new leaders that I created, not re-imaginings of the original 14 from Firaxis. I'm just following the Firaxis profile format, though.
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10-04-2005 02:28
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