Special operations troopers of the U.W.S.N. The E.T.F. was set up by President Chang and consists mostly of Technologists. Requirement for enlistment is to have a bio-plug embedded in the wrist for connecting to the new Pap-Corp bio-rifle.
"She was a burly, red-headed woman, who was wearing the new style Elite Tactical Force uniform; a rather flamboyant affair with the Unity logo across her chest. A black cloak, lined with scarlet, was draped over her right shoulder and a red pauldron strapped to her left. Trenchard eyed the showy uniform disapprovingly. Then he noticed the chain around her neck, which he knew for certain would hold the Technologist pendant beneath her uniform. As he looked around, he noticed that all four E.T.F. troopers had similar chains around their own necks."
The highest ranked officers of the Space Navy.
Admiral of the Fleet Adisa (M)
Admiral Fife (M)
Admiral Turner (F)
Admiral Thomas (M)
Admiral Mahmood (F)
Admiral Lee (M)
"Somewhere deep inside the cold and barren planetoid of Cairn, there was a shielded, circular bunker. The cold grey walls of the bunker were constructed from twelve-foot-thick reinforced concrete, resin bonded and electrically shielded. The “War Room” was meant to be able to withstand any attack and all attempts at espionage. The room was oppressive, dank and indistinctly lit. It felt more like a prison cell than a military command centre. Standing pensively around the perimeter of the room were the Admirals that made up the navy’s High Command. They were all immaculately attired in freshly re-designed uniforms, topped off by ankle length, heavy, sweeping, scarlet cloaks."
Political terrorists who want to break the colonies away from the rule of the United Worlds and become independent and self-governing. Also known as R.D. or Rubente Dextera, (The red right hand of Mars).
"A black cloud of smoke was mushrooming up from the gate area. When the smoke had cleared sufficiently, the troopers could make out a large blast radius, black at the centre but with smears of red flesh around the outer edges. The gate and the guard hut had gone, smashed to smithereens. The surviving troopers at the gate were picking themselves up off the ground and staggering around helplessly in shock. Then, just as they were recovering, the angry mob rushed forwards, burst into the compound and began to club the bewildered troopers back to the ground. The throng were followed in by at least twenty figures who threw off their hooded desert ponchos. Underneath they were dressed in local R.D. militia uniforms. They were armed. Trenchard could see, even at this distance, that they were carrying navy issue assault rifles and had straps full of grenades across their chests. Each one had grisly war paint smeared across their face, a handprint in vivid blood red."
Daily news reports are sent to every colonised planet via N.A.C.I.N. The show is usually hosted by anchor-man, Alexander Robertson.
"As the already half-cut troopers staggered along a dimly lit alley, strewn with empty bottles and fast food wrappers, they triggered a public-address monitor screen which burst into life. When the screen cleared of static, it showed an Intergalactic News Network report. The I.N.N. anchor-man, whose name appeared on the bottom of the screen in glaring green letters, was Alexander Robertson. He was wearing a loud suit and gaudy, silver and gold rings. His hair was slicked back and oily looking. He looked more like a used car salesman or a game-show host than an impartial journalist. When Robertson began to speak, it was in a southern states American drawl, that sounded like molasses dripping through a sieve. Robertson smiled and gave a cheesy wink to the camera. It is just possible that his teeth glinted to an audible “ping”."
The biggest manufacturer of weapons, ships and technology in the United Worlds. Owned and run by Frenchman, Claude Papaver.
Above: The main logo of the Papaver Corporation (designed by JONATHAN KERSHAW). Below: The logos for the different arms of the corporation.
From left to right: Medical Division, Weapons Division, Transport Division, Pap-Corp main logo and finally, Legal Division.
"The security officers of the Bertrand were dressed in bright white shiny armour and helmets, picked out in gold. They carried a new rifle design that Trenchard had never seen before. One of them raised his rifle and pointed it straight at Trenchard. Trenchard in turn raised his rifle in defence. He was in no mood for this.
‘Please lower your rifle Captain Trenchard,’ said the white clad security officer from behind a gold tinted visor that masked his eyes and his identity. His words were polite but there was a definite underlying tone of menace.
‘Lower yours!’ Trenchard shouted, nodding to Chertok.
Trenchard tailed off in astonishment as he saw a group of scientists from the S.S. Bertrand sweep through the room at that moment, on their way to some urgent destination. They were all dressed in bright red lab coats and escorted by even more white-clad security guards who carried even larger weapons. Trenchard stared coldly at them as they passed. The man at the front was dressed smartly in a grey suit. He was middle aged and had untidy dark hair which flopped across his eyes. He smiled at Trenchard as he passed and even gave him a friendly wave. Trenchard stood dumbfounded. He had seen the man many times before on the I.N.N. news reports. He was one of the richest and most powerful men in the entire United Worlds, the head of the Papaver Corporation, Claude Papaver himself."
A drug company, headed by Akihito Nakamura. Creators of the “Onamuji” drug.
Above: Proteus Pharmaceuticals logo, designed by JONATHAN KERSHAW.
"‘Nice décor,’ McGagh observed. ‘I feel like I’m in a Chinese restaurant.’
They gazed at the walls. They were rather reminiscent of bamboo and paper screens, but constructed from plastic and steel.
‘It’s Japanese, you idiot!’ Vinny said tersely. ‘The company is owned by Akihito Nakamura, one of the most powerful men in Japan.’
‘Okay,’ McGagh snapped. ‘So, I feel like I’m in a fecking sushi bar!’ McGagh tapped at the stripes on his shoulder pad. ‘…and watch your mouth, Vinny. I’m a Lieutenant now. That’s “you idiot, Sir!”’"
The original terrorist organisation from which the galactic-wide, insurgent movement, sprung. Referred to as the R.D. or the “red right hand of Mars”, they were responsible for the uprising in Belatu-Cadros.
Rubente Dextera Propaganda Poster
"The smoke cleared for a moment and he saw another attacker standing right in front of him. This man too had a red hand imprint across his snarling face. Then Trenchard noticed the slender exo-skeleton that was partially hidden underneath the man’s clothes. The power assisted frame helped the man to stand in the higher gravity of Earth. This man had been born on a planet with much lower gravity. This man was a Martian...
...One of the pieces of paper that had been dropped by the attackers fluttered by on the breeze and landed by Trenchard’s boot. He stooped to pick it up and read the words printed upon it in disbelief.
“A FREE MARS FOR FREE MARTIANS!”
Right in the centre of the page was the imprint of a bright red right hand and underneath this were the words “Rubente Dextera”."
A trans-humanist religion. Followers do not believe in god, but rather the improvement of one’s self by technological augmentation.
"Extract from the Central Computer Network:
ccn.unitedworlds.co.ert/history/technologists
The Death of Religion:
The popularity of the major religions of Earth had been declining for many years. Many people no longer believed in the notion of a soul, an afterlife, or reincarnation. As the old gods died out, this left a gaping hole in the spiritual lives of the masses. Many people still needed to believe that there was some purpose to life, some way to improve oneself and move into a higher plane of existence. The notion of a complete and final end, did not sit well in many individual’s minds. Science had explained many of the unknowns in our lives and it was towards science and technology that people now turned.
The Birth of Technologism:
As the old religions failed, so a new one arose that fulfilled this need. The precise origin of the Technologist faith is unknown; however, it was believed to have begun as a small trans-humanist cult in the deprived inner-city slums on Earth. The fundamental premise of Technologism (also known by derogatory slang term “Tech-heads”) is that because humans have no soul or afterlife, this reality of existence is all that there is. We, as a species, must therefore improve our body and mind by evolving using technology.
Technologism is an atheist religion; it has no central god figure. It is more akin to Buddhism, a personal journey to improve oneself. Technologists believe that natural evolution has taken the human race as far as it possibly can. The next step in evolution must therefore be the responsibility of science and technology. Technology can be used to extend your life span, or even physically upload your consciousness onto a computer and thereby achieve synthetic immortality.
According to the teachings of the Technologists book “The Way of the Machine”; humans are by nature imperfect. Machines are therefore flawed as humans created them. To obtain perfection (heaven), the two are destined to merge or “become one”. Followers believe that they can gradually evolve to become god-like themselves by merging with machines. Followers are, “on a path of personal improvement towards the end of mechanical perfection”. To become one with the machine is divine. It is a technological, science based, method of accomplishing what all the ancient religions traditionally believed in.
Technologism Today:
The Technologist faith has become particularly popular within the ranks of the Space Navy. It appeals to fighting troopers who face death on a regular basis and are in regular contact with extremely advanced technology and weaponry. The religion has no formal structure or priest hierarchy. However, members with cybernetic enhancements are regarded as minor deities and are revered as such. These are usually highly ranked officers in the navy who have been in many battles and have prosthetic limbs. Complicated technology such as weapons and star-ships are also revered.
Each member has a digital copy of The Way of the Machine on a personal palm computer that links wirelessly with any others within range so that they can contact each other. Followers will then take part in “Streaming” which is a form of deep meditation with the intention of training their brain to be more focussed, organised and machine-like…"
I have no soul.
Death is the end of all things.
Existence is paramount.
To exist I must evolve.
To evolve I must embrace Technology.
I will become one with the machine.
I will achieve unity with eternal consciousness.
This is the way of the machine.
(Technologist mantra, repeated to aid concentration while "streaming".)
The predecessor to the United Worlds. The logo includes the first four worlds to be permanently colonised by humans. From top clockwise: Earth, Mars, Europa and the Moon.
"Inside the mobile building there were rows of plastic chairs, a few old magazines on a table and a huge, flat-screen on one wall, showing recruitment adverts on a constant loop. The walls were festooned with recruitment posters and holograms enticing young people to a life in the Terran Space Fleet. At one end of the room was a desk with very little on it apart from a small tablet computer and a cup of steaming coffee, which was being stirred listlessly by the tired looking recruiting officer. The woman was old. Henry couldn’t guess people’s age accurately yet. Everyone over school age was just “old”, but she looked older than his father. She had a short, neat haircut and the air of someone who at this stage in her career would give anything for a quiet life.
The officer lifted her head as Henry scurried in and gave him a hard stare. After a few seconds she said, ‘Hello sonny. What do you want?’
Henry gulped and managed to stammer, ‘I want to enlist, please.’
The woman just stared for a moment and then smiled.
‘What’s your name, sonny?’
‘Henry.’
She motioned to the chair that was set in front of the desk.
‘Then you’d better sit-down, Henry.’
Henry moved over to the chair and sat, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. The officer studied him for a moment and then sat back into her chair. She arched her fingers over her lap and let out a deep sigh.
‘Tell me, why do you want to join the Terran Space Fleet then, Henry?’
Henry stared wildly about. He hadn’t expected questions. His eyes settled on another recruitment poster that was mounted on a notice board on the wall behind the woman.
‘To defend the Earth, uphold the law and serve the citizens of…’
The officer raised her eyebrow and interrupted him.
‘You just read that off the poster behind me, didn’t you?’
Henry nodded his head dumbly."
The term used to describe the colonised planets, ruled from Unity Island, on Earth.
Extract from speech by President Lindemann on Unification Day:
‘This is a momentous day in history. Today every single leader from every single colonised planet throughout our galaxy has signed a legendary agreement. Not since the signing of the “Magna Carta” or the “United Earth Treaty” has such a monumental legal agreement been reached. From today, no citizen will be an isolated member of a single colonised planet. From today, we are all citizens of the newly created “United Worlds”. I am here to announce that each planet has agreed to the creation of a central governing organisation that will consist of representatives from each of those planets. Each representative will vote on democratic issues that affect those planets from here on Earth. No single location could be agreed on for the offices of this ruling body and so, after lengthy discussions, it has been agreed that a new artificial island will be built, right in the very centre of the Pacific Ocean. In honour of our new agreement, the island will be named “Unity Island”. From there, peace and democracy will reach out across the cosmos. Individual military forces are to be gradually disbanded and, in their place, a multi-national, multi-planetary peacekeeping force will be raised. Containing representatives from every single populated world, the “United Worlds Space Navy” will be tasked with protecting the populations of the colonised planets, upholding the law and settling any and all border disputes. Its first job will be to finally put an end to the continual terror attacks committed by the Red Right Hand on Mars and also, to create routes through the asteroid belt that are safe from criminal pirate attacks.”
A military police force that was raised to keep order throughout the United Worlds. The navy has the same rank structure as the British Royal Navy and is governed by High Command on Cairn.
"Honour, strength and unity!"
"Extract from the Central Computer Network:
ccn.unitedworlds.co.ert/history/space_navy
In the early days of the United Worlds, there was no single police force to keep the peace across the many different colonised planets. Each world had its own militia, army, navy, air and space force. Territorial disputes were common. The central government on Earth realised that a single military organisation was needed and so the United Worlds Space Navy was created. Its mission was to keep the peace and crack down on any criminal activity or border disputes.
Huge military star-ships were constructed and troopers were recruited from every single colonised planet. The plan was to have a multi-cultural peace-keeping force with representatives from all corners of humanity. Unlike previous military organisations, there was no distinction drawn between the different fighting forces and so it was decided to use one single rank structure for the whole of the Space Navy. Thus, infantry troopers who fought on planet surfaces would have a similar rank structure as their comrades aboard the star-ships. In theory, this would build a better team spirit. To be a part of the Space Navy was considered a great honour. Many stayed on after their initial tour of duty and became career troopers. They took the motto of the Space Navy, “Honour, strength and unity”, entirely to heart…"
The successor to the United Worlds. Created by President Chang. A military dictatorship.
"Unity by strength!"
Extract from speech to High Command by President Deng Chang:
‘This weapons test has been the first stage in my plan to finally unify the troublesome outlying systems and bring them into line with the policies of central government. Soon, we will have the ultimate fighting force, ready to be sent to any unruly planet and pacify the population. We will be able to root out trouble makers individually, without the need for costly and destructive combat. We can finally bring the insurgent-supporting systems in line and establish a new political order. We cannot allow a situation like that which arose at Arkhangelsk, Europa or Mars to happen, ever again. Gathered together under a single ruling government, enforced without qualms by an army of bio-weapon enhanced troopers, wars will end. Humanity will finally be united by faith and law, freed from the ravages of terrorism and insurgency that have plagued us for centuries. Admirals of High Command, the United Worlds has grown old and tired. A new political order is coming which will sweep away the dying embers of the past and usher in an era of prosperity and order. The United Worlds is dead. Welcome to the age of the Unity! Go forth and gather your troops, Admirals. Great change is coming and you will be right at the heart of it. The Unity will restore order. The Unity will save us. The Unity is the future!’
