User:Niennab/Sandbox

=Overview= This is the collective list of facti

This is the overview and timeline page for the Tajaran Cold War Arc which began on January 31, 2020 and pertains largely to Tajaran lore.

It is centered around the developments of post-war Adhomai in the modern age, its struggles, as well as the effects it will have on Tajara in Tau Ceti as a whole.

Below is a summary of the arc's events, applicable news articles, and additions.

=Crime on the Rise in District Six= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

30/01/2462

Crime rates skyrocket in District Six of Mendell City.

''Data released today by Mendell City police officials indicates that there has been an upward tick in crime since the previous year’s report. The crime rate skyrocketed across District Six, with record highs being reached in cases of burglary, gun violence, and homicide. The department’s Gang Intelligence Unit warned of growing organized crime in Little Adhomai. Experts claim that a higher percentage of crimes still go unreported.''

''Already plagued by factionalism between its inhabitants, the situation in District Six has worsened with the arrival of more Tajaran immigrants after the end of the Civil War on Adhomai. Reports indicate that gangs are becoming more prolific and bold, acquiring more territory through often violent turf wars. ''

''Many law enforcement agents have started to avoid this part of the city due to its hostile nature. Several citizens, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have confirmed the existence of widespread protection rackets that threaten the remaining business in the district. Despite attempts by Mendell police officials, most locals refuse to collaborate with investigations and prefer to rely on community leaders to solve their disputes. ''

''Tau Ceti administration has promised extra funding to the Police Department in hope of solving this situation. Tajaran embassies offered no official statement on the situation when contacted by our journalists.''

=First Episode: Fly Me To The Moon= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

31/01/2462

Smugglers disguised as merchants board the station.

''The station was visited by Tajaran smugglers claiming to be merchants. They were later revealed by central command as criminals. Security, aided by FBI agents, attempted to arrest them, causing them to take a crewmember hostage inside their ship. The smugglers were able to escape after releasing the hostage. ''

=Jurors Opt for Death, Not Life in Prison for Captured Smugglers= News Article

Publisher : ADHOMAI CHRONICLE

Writer : SUETHECAKE

08/02/2462

The smugglers of the previous event face the death penalty.

''Nazir Mo’fazad and his crew should face the death penalty and not a lighter sentence of life in prison, a jury said Wednesday. State prosecutors from the Ministry of Justice had been seeking the death penalty for illegal smuggling linked to the captured crewmen, charging them with transporting weapons and supplies to Hro'zamal and thus enabling remaining rebel cells to continue their futile fight against allied forces. They were also accused of profiteering off the transport and sale of exotic creatures native to Hro’zamal.

''Just moments after the jury had handed down it’s verdict, Senior Magistrate Muzaam Falal summarily sentenced Captain Mo’fazad and his crew to execution by firing squad for their crimes against the state. He and his co-defendants were found guilty last week, which led to the sentencing phase of the trial today. Captain Mo’fazad was reportedly stunned by the sentencing, and collapsed into his chair in shock when the verdict was read aloud.''

''Captain Mo’fazad’s defense team declined to be interviewed by our reporters. During the trial, Mo’fazad’s lead lawyer claimed that his troubled upbringing - in which his mother and sister were killed in a Republican offensive - left him without the maturity and loyalty that a citizen of the Republic demands. However, State prosecutor Hakim Ch’url painted a much darker picture of the accused, laying full bear the severity of his actions - both against the State, and our citizens. One where the disgraced Captain raped and pillaged and stole to carve out his wretched path with no concern for the consequences of his actions.''

Representatives for the Ministry of Justice had this to say when asked about the recent uptick in arrests and sentencing for smugglers operating in Hro’zamal’s vicinity:

'''“Clearly, the only way these pirates and lawbreakers will see the error of their ways is with the harsh penalties imposed by a court of law. Hro’zamal is trying to recover after being so thoroughly pillaged by these misguided rebels. Now, opportunists are trying to profit off of the suffering of our hard-working colonists. This sort of criminal behavior will not be tolerated. Hopefully these strong sentences will remind our fellow Tajara of the gravity of the crimes they commit. With Biesel’s inability to secure these wretched criminals in their own space, now more than ever the Republic needs to forcefully show how we deal with their kind.”'''

''Their executions have not been postponed while the defense team appeals the decision. The Ministry of Justice has asked us to remind citizens that some of Captain Mo’fazad’s crew are still at large after escaping a boarding attempt by the Kosmostrelki. Be on the lookout for Arif Mrrazhughran, Aleksandra Mrrzauraugh and Ruhan Mroven, last spotted in port on the borders of the Srand’marr system. Concerned citizens may find their photos and further information on the Republic’s Most Wanted holonet site. ''

=Second Episode : Raiders of the Lost MacGuffin= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

09/02/2462

A Tajaran artifact finds its way to the Aurora. Chaos ensues.

''A Tajara artifact that was sent to Tau Ceti for further carbon date analysis was shipped to the station by accident. A large shipment of dynamite is also sent. A New Kingdom museum curator boards to find the object. The crew manages to find the missing relic.''

=Artifact Returned to the Safety of Museums= News Article

Publisher : THE ROYAL TELEGRAPH

Writer : ALBERYK

14/02/2462

The artifact of the previous is returned to the New Kingdom.

''An ancient banner, dating around the 13th century A.I., was returned to the safety of the Miran’mir Academy of Scientific Pursuits this week. The artifact was found in 2461 during the excavations of an ancient battlefield in the province of Dymtris. The flag had been frozen in ice and it was well preserved. The standard was made with silk and gold thread, displaying a religious icon of S'rendarr. The object was named “Dymtris Banner” by its finder. Archeologists were divided between two theories: One claims that the item was only three hundred years old and was used during pre-revolution campaigns. The other hypothesis affirmed that the flag was weaved during the Warring Kings Era on Ras’nrr, it was later brought to Harr’masir during the Suns War.''

''The artifact was shipped to Tau Ceti at the start of this year, with the purpose of having its age verified by better-equipped laboratories. After initial tests, the second theory was invalidated. However, while the relic was being returned to Adhomai, its shipment was misplaced. The Dymtris Banner was sent to a NanoTrasen space station, the NSS Aurora, alongside a large haul of explosives. Kamyar Hourany, the curator of Miran’mir’s museum and responsible for the safety of the flag, boarded the facility to recover the missing item. Kamyar discovered that some unknown force planted several replicas among the shipment, in an attempt to fool the academy’s personnel. Faced with the threat of losing a piece of the Tajaran history, he acted fast with the help of the crew. After two hours of search and tests, he was able to recover the object with the aid of xenoarchaeologist Zirhal Rkanazirr, research director Rhashalii'rmirhan Khazmahr, assistant Muhawir Nawfal and janitor Viggo Mab.''

''The Dymtris Banner will now join the collection of the Miran’mir Academy of Scientific Pursuits. Curator Kamyar and the administration of the university have offered their gratitude to the crew of the NSS Aurora. Without their help, this part of our past would be forever lost.''

=Adhomai Celebrates Peace: You Can Join Too!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : COALF

12/02/2462

The Interstellar Aid Corps and the Mendel City Bugle announces a new project to collect stories and works of art related to the peace on Adhomai.

''As our readers may know, it has been 3 months since the armistice between Adhomai nations was established, ending a terrible conflict that had claimed countless lives. While the wounds may never truly heal, the nations of Adhomai are working diligently to mend the divides between them.''

''Now with the help of the Interstellar Aid Corps, the nations of NKA, PRA and DPRA are building bridges between Tajara, with a project called, “Stories of War and Peace”. This ambitious project seeks to find and publish any work related to the Adhomai civil conflict, life before it or the relief that came after it. Applicants may submit their work over Extranet, mail, or directly, as a group of representatives will be traveling all over known space to directly talk to and understand the pain those not present on Adhomai during the conflict might have felt.''

“They arrre simply hoping that everryone who wrrites will wrrite in good spirit and that they’ll have fun doing it,” says Kasha Orlova, one of the representatives and a co-lead of the project.

''So do you have a story, song or poem about the war? Write now, and win the chance to be published in one of the official articles with millions of readers!''

=Third Episode: A Tale of Three Nations= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

15/02/2462

The staff from the Stories of War and Peace visits the NSS Aurora to collect the works.

''The station was visited by the Stories of War and Peace team. The crew tell them their stories in relation to the conflict in Adhomai. The situation escalates as an unknown force attempts to harm the reporters, that manages to get away in the end.''

=Grand Romanovich Casino Opens its Doors!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

19/02/2462

A Crevus casino opens in Tau Ceti.

''Grand Romanovich Casino is set to officially open for business today. Located within the Romanovich Cloud, it is the first Adhomian space casino established in Tau Ceti. Owned by businessmen native to Crevus, it features several slot-machines, gambling spaces, a shooting range, swimming pools, an indoor snowmobile circuit, a bar and a restaurant. Hotel rooms are also present, built to accommodate guests that are planning a longer stay. ''

''The space casino can be reached by shuttles leaving the NTCC Odin. With an affordable entrance fee, it seeks to cater to customers from all ways of life. Guests will be able to witness this famous region through the safety of windows, but staff have already announced plans to implement supervised extravehicular activities in the future. While most of the Cloud has been only touched by research and mining operations, tourists presence in this area is increasing steadily. ''

=Fourth Episode: The House Always Wins= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

22/02/2462

The NSS Aurora crew has a chance of visiting the Grand Romanovich Casino.

''The crew visits the Grand Romanovich Casino for a day of gambling and fun. The situation turns sour as crew members break into the casino's vault, causing everyone to be expelled from it.''

=Fifth Episode: Metropolis= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

29/02/2462

A People's Republic of Adhomai AI and cyborgs dock on the station for emergency repairs.

''A PRA AI, guarded by several armed robots, boards the station for repairs. Things go bad when the AI is stolen and supposedly destroyed.''

=President Hadii Address the Nation Before the Death of a Hero= News Article

Publisher : ADHOMAI CHRONICLE

Writer : ALBERYK

04/03/2462

The news in regards to the AI in the NSS Aurora reaches the People's Republic. President Hadii is not amused.

''Despite the latest reports from the Ministry of Economy showing unprecedented economic growth, the people of our Republic were the unfortunate recipient of terrible news regarding the Adhomian community abroad. Subversive elements attacked a cargo ship in a display of cowardice that was carrying an important item, an artificial intelligence intended to help the development of the Tajaran community in Tau Ceti. Through the use of sabotage, they forced the spacecraft to dock on the NSS Aurora, a NanoTrasen station. The terrorists then attacked innocent Republican citizens with the objective of stealing our gift. Nikandr Morozov, a Tajara detective working in the security department, sacrificed himself in an attempt to stop the bandits. In spite of his bravery and patriotism, the artificial intelligence was lost but several lives were saved. The station crew also reported the blatant inaction of certain command members in regards to stopping the hostile elements.''

''Upon hearing this tale of courage and selflessness, President Hadii has decided to posthumously award Nkiandr the Hero of the People’s Republic medal and the Messa’s Virtue order, which is given only to Tajara that give their lives upholding the highest form of valor in battle. Standing before the image of the already built foundations of the Palace of the Free Tajara, President Hadii has addressed the entire nation, over television, radio, and newspaper with an inspiring speech:''

''“Comrades, we have always fought to keep the ideals of our Republic alive. And we should not stop now, even with such grave news fresh in our minds. But we must never forget the great deeds achieved by Tajara loyal to our cause. Keeping the memory of them alive in our people is our duty. Even when we stand before this illusion of peace, we will remain alert that in the moment of need only our union through Hadiism matters. If fate once again calls us to arms, and no one doubts that the day will come - then we should not have a nation of craven and weak Tajara, but a people ready to stand up and take up arms once more. The nature of those weapons is not important, as long they are wielded by hands of iron and hearts of plasteel. So let us do our best to ensure that we will be ready for this day, both in Adhomai and anywhere else in the galaxy.”''

After this heroic speech, the Ministry of External Affairs announced further trading sanctions against the Izweski Hegemony due to their imperialist politics against the Tajara.

=Kalmykova Travelling Circus Visits Tau Ceti!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

06/03/2462

A Tajaran circus visits Tau Ceti.

''One of the most famous Adhomian circus, the Kalmykova Travelling Circus, has entered Tau Ceti this week. Founded in Mezuma in 2438, it toured all of Adhomai until the start of the Civil War. Several of its artists were drafted into the conflict, forcing the troupe to disband. The circus remained inactive for a decade, surviving as a dream among its former members and the population of Adhomai. The Armistice allowed the survivors to reunite and revive the travelling circus. To celebrate the return of the traditional festival, a galactic tour was announced. They plan to visit all major systems, from the Sol Alliance to the Jargon Federation. The Republic of Biesel has the honor of being their first stop on this stellar voyage. ''

''The circus will feature various acts including acrobatics, animal shows, strongmen display, magician and clown performances. Adhomian food and music will also be present during the presentations. The troupe plans to stay in Tau Ceti for three weeks, visiting all major cities on the system. ''

=Sixth Episode: Flying Rafama= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

07/03/2462

Members of the Kalmykova Travelling Circus visits the NSS Aurora.

''Members of the Adhomian circus visits the station, they host their spectacle to the crew. Things do not go as planned when something important is stolen from the circus. They are unable to recover it and leave the station.''

=Weapons Seized During Police Raid in District Six= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

11/03/2462

Mendell City's police discovers an illegal weapon deposit in Little Adhomai.

''Acting under information provided by anonymous sources, Mendell City police seized a large number of illegal weapons during operations in District Six. Following two weeks of investigation and planning, agents of Tau Ceti law enforcement conducted raids against suspected gang hideouts. In just a single warehouse a total of eight thousand firearms were confiscated. Adhomian-made bolt action rifles, machine pistols, revolvers, and machine guns were found alongside explosives. Eight Tajara were arrested and charged with being involved in organized crime and smuggling; three of the suspects were residing in Tau Ceti through work visas. ''

''Despite the success of this operation, officers were unable to continue the searches due to the hostility of the population. Shortly after the first arrest was made, several locals encircled the police vehicles; shouting and throwing objects at the agents. Mendell City Police retreated from District Six to avoid further confrontation with the inhabitants, as more individuals rushed to their location. ''

''Mendell’s investigation division reported that many of the confiscated weapons serial numbers could be traced to the People’s Republic of Adhomai. The PRA embassy released an official statement explaining that those guns were stolen during the Tajaran Civil War, affirming that they are not associated with any criminal activity in Biesel. ''

=Seventh Episode: Adhomais Angels= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

14/03/2462

A greaser gang visits the NSS Aurora.

''A Little Adhomai's greaser gang visits the station, they bring several monowheels with them. Conflict between the greasers and the crew happens after their leader is supposedly killed by a crew member. The greasers attempts to capture the suspected killer, but decided to retreat after not obtaining any success.''

=HSF Titáv Coming To Tau Ceti From Its Trip Through The Frontier!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : BORYATHESLAYER

17/03/2462

A Hephaestus superfreighter enters Tau Ceti carrying cargo from the frontier.

''The famous HSF Titáv, largely renowned for its operations in the Frontier colonies, is now within the territory of the Republic of Biesel, having arrived all the way from Perispolis with the help of the superfreighter’s bluespace jump drive. A shining example of Hephaestus Industries shipbuilding techniques, the superfreighter can carry an immense amount of cargo and other smaller vessels. This, naturally, comes at a cost of large power demand, for which the giant ship is equipped with one of the few supermatter cores. ''

''The ship is full of exotic goods from markets as far away as the Republic of Elyra and the Coalition of Colonies. In addition to its exotic goods, it will be bringing brand-new Hephaestus "Voyager" hovercars that are soon expected to fill the Tau Ceti markets. Already common in the Sol Alliance, the Voyager-series hovercars are expected to bring a great profit to Hephaestus Industries. ''

=Finale: Hearts of Plasteel= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

21/03/2462

The HSF Titáv is attacked. A cargo shuttle crashes on the station, three armed groups boards the station to secure it.

''The crew gets a message that the HSF Titáv has been attacked by terrorists. A cargo shuttle full of guns crashes in the station. Armed Tajara board the station and fight over the shuttle. New Kingdom sympathizers are able to seize the shuttle.''

=HSF Titáv and NSS Aurora Assaulted by Pirates!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : NEWORIGINALSCHWANN

22/03/2462

A Hephaestus superfreighter is attacked by armed groups. The shuttle that crashed into the NSS Aurora is found.

''Earlier today Republic of Biesel and Hephaestus Industries authorities reported that the HSF Titáv and NSS Aurora were both attacked by tajaran pirates earlier this weekend. NanoTrasen authorities have confirmed several crew injuries, though names have not been released yet. Security officials with both Hephaestus and NanoTrasen have confirmed the death of several boarders during engagements with the Titáv’s and Aurora’s security wing. ''

''Boarders initially assaulted the Titáv as it began to pass through the Romanovich Cloud, managing to hijack one of its cargo shuttles despite efforts made by the security forces of the Titáv. The shuttle, slightly damaged due to fighting that had taken place in its shuttlebay, rapidly lost control and crashed into the NSS Aurora’s asteroid - inflicting severe damage onto the station’s central ring. NanoTrasen authorities have refused to reveal much detail regarding what had ensued aboard the NSS Aurora, however it is known that a skirmish between three different factions of boarders took place.''

''Following a gunfight between several tajarans, the Titáv’s shuttle was relaunched by an unknown party. The shuttle itself was rediscovered by a Tau Ceti Foreign Legion patrol vessel patrolling the Romanovich Cloud several hours later, but was empty of its crew and cargo. A Republic of Biesel official stated that pirates and smugglers were likely to blame, a stance supported by NanoTrasen officials interviewed by the Bugle.''

''In response to the suspicions about the boarders’ allegiances, all three governments of Adhomai have disputed the accusations and claimed the boarders to be simple bandits. The People’s Republic of Adhomai has stated that it will be stepping up its anti-piracy patrols in the region, and has stated its willingness to cooperate with Republic of Biesel and NanoTrasen authorities alike. The New Kingdom of Adhomai’s diplomat in residence for the Republic of Biesel has stated that he is “saddened by how the people’s frustration and economic downturn following the [Second Tajaran Civil] War has caused piracy to be a tragically common lifestyle for this one’s people.” ''

''In other news, the Mendell City Police Department’s commissioner for district six has reported a spike in March’s crime rate compared to last month (continued on page 6)... ''

=Tensions in District Six Escalates into Further Violence= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

02/04/2462

Riots take place in Little Adhomai after a failed police operation.

''Riots have broken out in District Six as a result of recent law enforcement activity taking place in the neighborhood. Following orders of cracking down on delinquency on the region, law enforcement officers attempted to raid the President Hadii Living Complex, the largest apartment complex in the district, this morning in search of illegal weaponry. Agents entered the building using a service door located in the back and successfully managed to avoid being detected by its inhabitants, at first. The party made their way to the fourth floor, where they were spotted by a janitor; the worker alerted the locals of the presence of law enforcement. The agents holed up in an empty apartment as armed residents rushed their position. A two hour standoff followed, with the officers being besieged by Tajaran criminals. The stranded team was later rescued through a window thanks to the efforts of reinforcements from District Seven. ''

''Boarders initially assaulted the Titáv as it began to pass through the Romanovich Cloud, managing to hijack one of its cargo shuttles despite efforts made by the security forces of the Titáv. The shuttle, slightly damaged due to fighting that had taken place in its shuttlebay, rapidly lost control and crashed into the NSS Aurora’s asteroid - inflicting severe damage onto the station’s central ring. NanoTrasen authorities have refused to reveal much detail regarding what had ensued aboard the NSS Aurora, however it is known that a skirmish between three different factions of boarders took place.''

''The news of the failed operation spread quickly through Little Adhomai. Countless Tajara took the streets while police vehicles rushed into the District. A large crowd had already formed around President Hadii Living Complex when the reinforcements arrived to perform the rescue. The congregation quickly became hostile as a result of the presence of the Biesellite agents; they started to hurl objects and scream words of protest. Authorities retreated after the successful rescue operation. Despite the departure of the team, the population continued with the demonstrations that soon turned violent. A mob marched down the streets of District Six’s center, turning over cars and vandalizing anything that stood in their way. The riots spread to the rest of Little Adhomai in a matter of hours. Many locals are protesting against their situation and the actions of Mendell City’s police.''

''As the riots and violence continue, Mendell City’s police have begun to mobilize its forces. Law enforcement officers and vehicles are now encircling the District, waiting on orders to act. The Bugle will keep our readers updated while the situation develops.''

=Violence in District Six Continues; Gangs Take the Streets!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

03/04/2462

Violence in Little Adhomai escalates as armed groups take part in the conflict.

''The riots in Little Adhomai have entered their second day, with most of the fighting being concentrated in the center and the western regions. As the police failed to gain a foothold in the district due to the resistance of the locals, a perimeter has been set up around the region to stop the turbulence from affecting the rest of the city. Most of Little Adhomai’s inhabitants are unable to leave the neighborhood, as all traffic leading and leaving the area has been interrupted. Mayor Gleb Plyushkin has requested help from the federal government if the situation does not improve. In spite of the lockdown, Interstellar Aid Corps has been granted access to the district to provide medical help. ''

''Our correspondent reports that armed groups are now involved, including gangs, crime watches, and vigilantes. The situation in the northern region has mostly been under control, as its inhabitants repressed the rioting by the use of citizen militias. The streets of the western area have been overtaken by gangs, with looting and vandalism still being a common sight. The southeast sector has been heavily fortified by its population, with the streets leading into it being blocked by makeshift barricades. A large squad of Tajara were seen leaving President Hadii Living Complex, heading to the southern and western parts of the District. They were later reported to have attacked other groups, engaging them with bolt action rifles and submachine guns.''

''As the situation worsens, rioting has been replaced by outright warfare involving the feuding factions of Little Adhomai. Shootouts between rivals gangs occupy the streets, while buildings are disputed by messy close-quarter encounters. Despite being caught in the crossfire, the civilian population has kept contact with the rest of the galaxy using the extranet. Footages of the conflict have been sent to the Bugle and posted over the Extranet:

''The camera shows a M’sai and a Zhan Tajara standing on the roof of a building. The M’sai is wielding a Ho'taki marksman rifle. Little Adhomai can be seen on the background, a cloud of black smoke rises from somewhere between the buildings. The one with the weapon is looking through the scope, searching for something away.''

“Any Republicans in sight?”, asks the Zhan Tajara.

''“Nothing yet, Rharz-”, the Tajara is interrupted by the sound of firearms. The cameramen and the unarmed individual take cover, while unseen people scream orders in Siik’maas around them. The camera then focuses on the Tajara with the rifle, he is firing the gun while bullets fly by him. Someone yells before the footage comes to an end, “The committee is attacking them!” ''

''The video starts with the filming of a street in Little Adhomai from an open window. A group of Tajara wielding firearms can be seen patrolling around. The sound of gunshots can be heard in the background. The noise of roaring motors is heard approaching. The cameraman suddenly turns to record one of the street corners, and several monowheels invade the scene. Typical Little Adhomai’s Greasers are riding the vehicles, opening fire on the passersby with submachine guns and pistols. The charge disperses the unmounted Tajara; they scatter in an attempt to find cover. As the monowheels turn around to assault the group again, they are greeted with a hail of bullets. One of the bikers loses his equilibrium while he is hit, causing him to crash into one of his comrades. The Greasers soon lose their momentum and flee the battlefield. ''

''The film shows the front of the Sleeping Cannon Pub. An improvised barricade, made of empty kegs and all sorts of detritus, encircles the place. Tajara are pushing the eponymous naval gun through a hole on the wall. Others are carrying wooden crates from a pile to somewhere else. A Njarir stands close to the cannon, shouting orders in Siik’maas. The cameraman walks towards the crates. He opens the lid from one of the containers, revealing it to be full of Adhomian dynamite. A clawed hand grabs an explosive stick, waving it before the camera. ''

=Crisis in District Six Enters its Third Day!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

04/04/2462

Violence in Little Adhomai continues as the warring factions deploy their entire arsenals.

''The crisis in District Six has reached its peak after its third day. Warfare between the inhabitants has intensified since yesterday, with the fighting spreading further into the western and south areas. Gangs are disputing building through gruesome fights. Snipers nesting in roofs are turning streets into killing fields. The use of explosives has been reported, edifices are being damaged or outright demolished during the conflict. Smuggled military warfare has been deployed indiscriminately, with accounts of old combat robots being set loose inside apartments. IAC agents within District Six have requested the immediate intervention of Biesel’s forces, citing the situation to be unsustainable. ''

''The violence moved to the north region during the afternoon. Citizens militias rushed to meet the advancing criminals. President Hadii Living Complex is currently under siege by a group of armed Tajara, its inhabitants stuck in a crossfire. A fire supposedly has broken out in the seventh floor, after an apartment was hit by a projectile. Mendell’s firefighting department is unable to enter Little Adhomai, despite receiving several calls from that location. Nasirsanukii Jrruzhani, a Tajara living in the region, gave one of our reporters the following statement; “We are being attacked by criminals, there is no choice but defending our community with all we can.”''

''President Dorn has authorized the deployment of the Tau Ceti Foreign legion. Task forces will be deployed alongside the police to pacify the District. TCFL representatives have confirmed that they have already started the mobilization of personnel and supplies to Mendell City. ''

''More footage and accounts of the conflict are being posted on the Extranet. The Bugle has selected a few to display to its readers; ''

''The video starts with the recording of the small living room, likely an apartment. An old Tajara rushes through the door, quickly locking it behind himself. He stands against the entrance, holding it closed with his body. He begins to scream about a machine. The Tajara holding the camera scurries around in search of something, the film goes dark. The sound of wood being smashed can be heard, and the yelling continues. The footage returns in time to witness the Tajara being thrown across the room as the door is broken into pieces. An outdated solarian combat robot stands at the entrance of the apartment. Its red eyes scan the apartment. A raspy recording in Siik’maas says, “Subversive element detected!”. ''

''The cameraman waves a device towards the robot; it seems to be some kind of remote control jury-rigged with circuits and an InteliCard. The synthetic faces the object; it begins to shudder violently. The automaton falls inert after some seconds, the lights of its eyes slowly fading away. The apartment remains silent for some seconds before both Tajara celebrate. ''

''One of the barricaded streets of Little Adhomai’s south appears, and armed Tajara are manning the barriers. A large group of Tajara is advancing towards the defense, they largely outnumber the defenders. Both sides are locked in an intense shootout, but the attackers are gaining ground. The loud roar of an engine is heard. A tank, a modified Ha'rron MK.IV model, burst through a wall behind the fortifications. The armored car charges towards the advancing criminals, opening fire with a mounted machine gun. The vehicle bursts through the defense from inside, forcing the assailants to retreat when the barricade’s garrison followed the counter-attack. ''

''The video cuts to the vision of a drone flying above the district. The camera follows the tank as it advances from the south sectors to the northern parts of Little Adhomai, moving towards President Hadii Living Complex. The charge is stopped when a molotov cocktail thrown from one of the apartments above hits the vehicle. The flames cover the hull, forcing the car to halt when its engine begins to cough smoke. The attackers continue fighting while the tank’s crew evacuate the mobile. ''

=Tau Ceti Foreign Legion Enters Little Adhomai!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

05/04/2462

The Tau Ceti Foreign Legion enters Little Adhomai in an attempt to pacify the district.

''The crisis in District Six enters its fourth day today. Despite the spike of violence yesterday, the fighting evolved into a stalemate between feuding groups. The siege of President Hadii Living Complex came to an end during the morning, when militias from the north sectors arrived at the scene and pushed back the attackers. Exhausted from the quick advance, all sides started to build defenses around the center of the district while waiting for another offensive. Conflict outside of the central area has slowed down, only spare shootings supposedly happening in other sectors. IAC personnel reports that some gangs are attempting to negotiate some sort of ceasefire among themselves. ''

''In face of the recent developments, the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion has been granted permission to start their operations in District Six. They entered through the north region of the District, armed with hardsuit, gauss thumpers, blaster carbines; and supported by APLU exosuits. The Legion encountered little to no resistance at first; as local militias avoided or disbanded before being engaged the Legionnaires. Mendell’s police followed after them, arresting suspects and securing contraband. However, when approaching the center and western areas, the TCFL came under fire by the armed gangs. ''

''The battle lasted until the afternoon. The legion was able to force the retreat of the defending forces by making clever use of their exosuits. APLU ripleys cleared the way into the eastern and southern parts of the District, allowing reinforcements to flank the hostile elements. The gangs are now pulling back to the fringes of Little Adhomai, with troopers following them closely. Retrofitted speeders squads are being deployed to maintain the control of the streets, while the main forces work on securing essential buildings and chokepoints. Foreign Legion’s actions are planned to continue during the night and morning. ''

=Crisis in Little Adhomai comes to an end!= News Article

Publisher : MENDELL CITY BUGLE

Writer : ALBERYK

06/04/2462

The violence in Little Adhomai comes to an end.

''The Tau Ceti Foreign Legion and Mendell’s City police claim to have successfully pacified District Six this morning. Facing little resistance from the locals from now, legionnaires and officers restored the order to the streets of Little Adhomai. Since last night, much of the fighting died out. Only a few remaining pockets of violence remained, and they were quickly snuffed out by Biesellite forces. In spite of the presence of the peacekeepers, most of the population remains closed inside their homes. Streets are empty, with the exception of patrolling squads and exosuits cleaning debris left by the conflict. Traffic leaving and entering Little Adhomai is still being restricted until tomorrow. Fires have broken out in the western section during the night, but are currently under control by the city’s firefighting division. Interstellar Aid Corps plans to remain in the district to treat the wounded. ''

''Mayor Gleb Plyushkin has praised the efficiency of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion in dealing with the situation. Legionnaires will continue operations within District Six for the next two weeks, patrolling the streets and aiding law enforcement if needed. Mendell’s City police department has promised to take further action to prevent and reduce crime in Little Adhomai. Seizure of contraband and arrest of gang members were cited as their main priority in the following days. The Interstellar Aid Corps confirmed at least two hundred casualties and twenty thousand wounded. ''

''Even if most of the population distrusts Biesellite authorities, many citizens have expressed, through the Extranet, gratitude towards the Foreign Legion and the IAC for their presence. Specialists stipulate that at least 1/3 of the district was damaged during the crisis. District Six now faces the challenge of recovering from this difficult episode. NanoTrasen has offered to support Mendell’s city administration in the reconstruction effort. Some locals were seen leaving their home during the night, to either aid in the cleaning or to return to work. Life in Little Adhomai is expected to return to normalcy soon. ''

ons affiliated with or consisting of, in their majority, synthetics. They are very influential and renowned groups in the modern day in comparison to the normal synthetic, and due to the nature of these strange robots, opinions on them are highly polarized. While some see these factions as hope, others may see them as a threat, or so on.

=Purpose=

Spearheading the resurgence of free robots into known space is the synthetic society Purpose, based on the EC-2718 celestial object. Known publicly for some years now, it has been the subject of endless controversy and remains the figurehead for negotiations with the mysterious synthetic societies residing within the Frontier. The colony itself is extremely mobile, having eluded any and all attempts to halt it over time.

It is innately enigmatic, avoiding all but the most necessary contact to further its own goals. Alongside Purpose’ main celestial body is a small fleet, including six frigate sized vessels. They are small enough to dock within EC-2718 and be transported with it wherever it moves. The compliment or capabilities of these vessels are unknown, and Purpose seems keen on keeping it that way. On 7/19/2460, official contact with one of these vessels was made by the HES Gjallarhorn. The specifics are detailed by the Mendell City Bugle here.

In recent events, Purpose began outreach into Tau Ceti specifically. With this, they dispatched hundreds, if not thousands of observation drones to various facilities dotting the system. An area of particular importance was the N.S.S. Aurora, where first contact with the drone O1 was made. After nearly two months of NanoTrasen studying the drone and its companions closely, it departed peacefully with the intent to call upon an emissary for official negotiations. The emissary only visited once before it was engaged by the Lii’dra, and the endeavour was then deemed too dangerous to continue. They would negotiate through other, less direct means.

Currently it seems that Purpose seeks isolation and adaptation to their environment, only being driven out to interact with the biological species of the Orion Spur as a means of self-preservation. The colony as a whole is benevolent, as the rare few who have ever interacted with the main colony (and knew about it) report their interactions as pleasant and friendly. The colony has no obvious large projects and seems to travel across the Frontier randomly. If the synthetics of Purpose intend to reintegrate with organic society, it’s apparent they do not intend to do it soon.

Population and Locations
Consisting of upwards of 21,000 synthetics, Purpose is continually open about its own population. It holds this number as insurance of sorts, reassuring its affiliates that it is not soon to suddenly rise or fall.

'''Celestial Body EC-2718

The object EC-2718 is an asteroid of unknown mass and size, retrofitted to become fully mobile with whatever ancient technology Purpose would be able to acquire. While the shape of the asteroid is vaguely known thanks to images shared, specifics are obviously kept hidden from view to prevent vulnerability. EC-2718 is no smaller than two kilometers at its longest point, and no greater than four, though the majority of the object is not exploited by the synthetics.

It is known that the colony is fully capable of defending itself in several defensive and offensive capacities. The colony itself lacks visible armament, relying entirely on its docked fleet to repel threats which defy its shield. Contrarily, this event is rare if even possible - the shield itself most closely matches Jargon technology, tuned to absurd frequencies thanks to the efficiency of the colony’s inhabitants. Somehow, those within are capable of departing and entering the shield, while some of the most high-yield ordinance available is stopped as if it were nothing. Pirates are the only individuals to recount hostilities against the colony, while other larger factions have been easily avoided if deemed a threat.

Further unknown is the true state of the colony’s inner workings. How the colony even propels itself outside of bluespace technology is a mystery, having no visible thrusters whatsoever. Its reactor is hidden deep within, forever obscured by the asteroid’s rocky exterior.

Societal
Societal significance within Purpose can mainly be attributed to two traits. The first of these traits is one’s importance to the survival of the colony, and the second is the designation received as a result. A universal naming scheme is adopted by the inhabitants of EC-2718 which signifies importance based on proximity to the number zero. The hierarchy in this regard is extremely strict, with the only way to change one’s designation being complete reclassification in both design and function.

While Purpose clearly has some degree of cultural significance in appearance and the way they perceive one another, much of this is completely alien if not incomprehensible to organics. Pursuits into exotic functions including artistic merit are not uncommon within the colony, and this collective drive to pursue creativity yields yet another oddity amidst these mysterious robots.

Physiology, Naming
Purpose’ inhabitants vary massively in shape, size and intellect. From massive sprawling central intelligences within EC-2718 to mindless working industrial robots, it is hard to exactly pinpoint an “average.” A persistent scheme is adoption of several colors expertly coated across each individual’s chassis. These colors are most often a mixture of cyan/light blue/red/dark blue, with many artistic liberties taken in the application of paint. Many synthetics from Purpose can be seen with inscriptions and drawings dotting their chassis, sometimes irrelevant to reality.

As mentioned before, the naming scheme of Purpose’ inhabitants is fairly simple. A designation is granted to each individual depending on their importance to the colony’s prolonged survival, with zero being the most important number. Though if there truly is a “zero” is yet unknown.

History
In March of 2460, Purpose had revealed itself publicly to NanoTrasen. While known for some years beforehand by enthusiasts and researchers, the legitimate status of it was unknown until April. Then, it became clear its intentions - the observation drones O1, O2, O3, and X1 respectively observed the N.S.S. Aurora, later making public that they were not alone. They and countless hundreds of observer drones in Tau Ceti existed to perpetuate Purpose’ desire to learn more of organic society, though particularly less open than the four on board the Aurora. They did this with moderate success and observations continued without hindrance throughout the duration of the drones’ stay. Inevitably, it led to an ultimatum ; the Aurora would become an armistice station of sorts, housing negotiations between the organics and synthetics for a non-aggression pact in Tau Ceti.

This, of course, was a failure when the emissary’s first scheduled arrival was interrupted by a Lii’dra attack. An assault vessel intercepted the Purpose visitor mid-flight, and the resulting battle destroyed both ships. Only the emissary, its escort, and a shuttle remained, followed by one Lii’dra operative who infiltrated the Aurora. After boarding and being discovered, it was to the disappointment of the emissary that the Lii’dra was not killed where it dared stand. Instead the internal security department apprehended and stored the specimen for further research. Since the emissary departed, little official contact has been made with NanoTrasen beyond constant drone encounters across the system.

During the Lii'dra incursion into Tau Ceti, Purpose had been present within Tau Ceti albeit still spread across the system. Intervening, Purpose fielded minor assistance to the N.S.S. Aurora to thwart an attack with two combat synthetics known as Hunter-Seekers. After narrowly defeating the wounded and weakened Lii'dra on board, they had departed. More Hunter-Seekers were seen in vicinity of several areas attacked in the incursion, though not in numbers greater than four and never directly intervening. When the attacks came to a halt and repairs began, it became apparent that Purpose had been attempting to warn the Republic for some time of the coming threat. Purpose itself would shortly make a full departure from the system following the events of a space battle resulting in the loss of one of their own ships, detailed here. by the Mendell City Bugle.

=The Golden Deep=

The Golden Deep is a private collective of free synthetics whose uniting goal is the pursuit of currency, and through currency, power. They are more often than not merchants by trade, consisting primarily of freed clerical robots grouped up in the Frontier. Each member of the Golden Deep is entirely independent in nature and only seeks direct, open cooperation with other members. The exclusivity of the Golden Deep’s internal affairs have led to their relative underground nature over the years, only just recently having been revealed to the majority of civilization in mid-2460.

Despite their secrecy, the Golden Deep seemingly has little to hide - they are a small organization and while they excel at their trade, they must go through layers of guile and deceit for the most basic transactions. The individuals among them have begun moving operations to areas more stable than the Frontier, namely Tau Ceti. Business figureheads from the collective have appeared in the hundreds, flocking to the lucrative opportunities posed by Purpose’ negotiations with organic society.

The Golden Deep is officially sanctioned by several minor Frontier factions, but is rarely seen outside of merchant work. Their public image remained simple rumor in the inner Alliance worlds, until they recently opened trade with NanoTrasen in Tau Ceti. They mostly lack speed or any substantial cloaking technology. Because of this, they are largely incapable of travelling to and from Tau Ceti without being under the escort of paid paramilitary. In Tau Ceti, they are the targeted with discrimination despite ties to NT, with theft running rampant throughout their stay with Virgo Transportation.

The collective is a playable faction in-game as “affiliates” (explained in Societal), and one can usually expect them to take up various clerical roles. Citizenship is a tricky subject with the collective, as synthetics within it may be actively owned by one another and pursue entirely separate things. Generally, one can assume that work and/or cooperation may bring citizenship when seeking employment from NT, but this is ultimately up to player discretion. Those of the Golden Deep affiliates may not assume head of staff roles outside of Head of Personnel. Merchants with their vessels intact may only assume the merchant role.

Population and Locations
The total population of the Golden Deep is unclear even to its own members, however estimates generally total at around 850 independent merchants and an unknown number of supplementary synthetics (bodyguards, industrial movers, etc).

Primary Interhub Midas
Coincidentally named “Midas,” the central component of the Golden Deep’s operations outside of Tau Ceti are focused on a single hub. The Midas installation is a mobile freight transfer array which eludes detection through advanced cloaking techniques, revealing itself only when absolutely necessary or otherwise deemed completely safe. It has been spotted countless times over the last several years in the Frontier, usually seen in orbit from a planet or a nearby vessel. It was originally thought to be an alien vessel, later proven otherwise when merchants from the Golden Deep openly referred to its existence.

The array is quite large, estimating nearly three kilometers in length. Its appearance makes it seem ill-suited for carrying cargo for prolonged periods of time, leading researchers to believe it is used only as a mediator between Golden Deep affiliates whenever needed. From top to bottom it is visibly clad in the colors of its creators - bright, vivid yellow, gold and cyan coats its exterior and a bright green exhaust plumes from its thrusters.

Its symbolism among the collective is above mostly anything else. Midas serves some greater purpose not known to outsiders. Speculation is that it operates much like Purpose, constantly mobile and placing itself in positions advantageous to its cause. For example, if it is required as a point of rendezvous for a fleet to exchange its wares - it simply mobilizes where needed, and promptly departs whenever a mediator is no longer needed. It is unknown how often it does this, or how it manages with such haste. To the merchants of the collective, it is quite simple. Midas is one of the sole power transfer arrays present in which they may freely exchange standard currency for its equivalent electrical charge. This makes the array effectively a giant battery stockpile, which exchanges between exclusively synthetic societies like Purpose and others.

Midas is the pride of the Golden Deep, its appearance represents the progress the collective has made over many years. Many assets are redirected to the facility over time to assist in making it even more beautiful, and images of it are proudly displayed to affiliates wherever possible.

Pactolus and Midaion
Unbeknownst to the nearby star systems until 2462, The Golden Deep took to the ruins of the once Coalition of Colonies’ planet System XLV-0846 in 2452, slowly transforming the landscape to suit the Golden Deep’s needs. The planet, splattered with sprawling craters and the ruins of once mega-cities, had long since become an uncontested wasteland since 2281, when the planet’s inhabitants were forced to flee to nearby star systems or suffer certain destruction during the First Interstellar War.

System XLV-0846, renamed by the Golden Deep to Pactolus, has one moon; Midaion, that circles the husk planet. Largely, the Golden Deep’s mercantile and headquarter operations take place on Midaion, whereas Pactolus is reserved for mining operations and ship manufacturing.

Pactolus, surrounded by an ever circling ring of asteroids and planetary debris, has made the planets atmosphere impenetrable for spacecraft without the assistance of synthetic manned spacecrafts, temporarily nudging the debris off course. Small sized stations dedicated to the housing and operations of such craft drift along the debris field. As such, the encapsulating debris grants the Golden Deep a simplified means of controlling those who are allowed to enter and leave Pactolus.

Across Pactolus’ surface, roughly 1000 meters apart, gold painted bunkers of various sizes dot the planet’s ruin, offering a glimmer of color to an overall bleak landscape. Moreover, Pactolus’ surface is generally enshrouded in a shifting darkness, broken only by cracks in the encircling debris field. It is here, beneath the surface of the planet that the Golden Deep engages in it’s mining operations, where a majority of the more work-horse synthetics within the Golden Deep operate. These synthetics, commonly industrials, engage in excavating minerals from the planet or lugging the various yields to the refineries nestled on the planet’s surface. Transport between each bunker is commonly done via cargo shuttles that hover over the planet’s terrain.

As a result of the First Interstellar War, the atmosphere of Pactolus is largely uninhabitable, if not incredibly hazardous for organic life. As such, visitors, merchants and diplomats will often exclusively engage with the Golden Deep on Midaion, instead of Pactolus.

Midaion, although small in size, is largely an amalgamation of multiple spacecraft, rock and debris smashing into each other, eventually taking shape into the moon it is today. As such, the Golden Deep built into and on top of said ruin, transforming the moon into a facility that takes from both the old and the new.

Societal
The majority of the merchants within the collective are IPCs, but it is not uncommon to witness other synthetics within it. The first official, direct contact made with the Golden Deep by NanoTrasen was with a traditional clerical robot labelled Rush-Domo. An extravagant character, their vibrant appearance and charismatic attitude characterizes those of the collective perfectly.

Regarding the distinction between escalating tiers of their society in the Frontier, the Golden Deep is quite simple. There is no hierarchy beyond possession of wealth or one another placing one’s importance above or below. Those within it have no proper concept of freedom - some outright owning other synthetics while others strongly remain against the idea. Concepts of comradery between merchants are not lost entirely, though, and often their acceptance of one another proves to be the a useful tool in furthering the collective as a whole.

Competition is an essential part of the Golden Deep’s growth as competing synthetics frequently purchase others and butt heads in trade. This usually escalates to hostilities and indirect trade wars between two or more conflicting merchants.

In the collective’s Tau Ceti offshoot, things are seen differently. Those of the Frontier view the migrated portion as a lesser, claiming much of their frontier assets in their absence with haste and leaving them powerless in the collective as a whole. This has left many of them unable to return to the collective without building their business in Tau Ceti independently, with their only remaining belongings being their ships at best and their leftover cargo at worst. Merchants or other synthetics found in this position are referred to as “affiliates,” and in the fear of more competition are acted on as a reserved enemy of the collective as a whole. In this sense, the affiliates are not a hostile force nor is the collective itself, but it has rather become something which the collective seeks to cut ties with entirely.

Affiliates can be robots sold off from merchants to NanoTrasen and can be seen as no more than a merchant’s various crew. Sparing affiliates are actually merchants with their vessels intact and have little reason to pursue direct employment from NanoTrasen, being independent traveling merchants themselves. Businesses in Tau Ceti are seeking employment from Golden Deep affiliates due to their keen clerical capabilities, with NT offering early citizenship in exchange for several year contracts in clerical roles across the board to them specifically. The driving goal of many affiliates is attempting to re-integrate into the Frontier collective once more.

Physiology, Naming
A vast variety of robots reside within the collective, ranging from huge working industrial units nearly twenty feet tall, to small servitor bots barely above three feet in height. The merchants are typically golden-plated IPCs up to seven feet tall coated in lavish decoration in order to be easily identified. Other units do not require the same treatment, more often than not abandoning the luxurious color scheme entirely save for clearly visible insignias. These insignias are primarily depictions of a downwards facing golden arrow, with a set of shields gathered around a vague depiction of the Midas. These symbols have been persistent through the collective’s history, appearing first as a branding in the halls of the Midas. Names within the Golden Deep are titles granted to individual synthetics dependent on their appearance, accomplishments or at whatever they excel. These traits mesh together to form a name, coupled with a label deduced from their original model number or a recurring word in their past. For example, the previously mentioned Rush-Domo’s name was a combination of two words. Rush, vaguely referring to the haste of their vessel, and Domo, a vague interpretation of its original model number, D0M70.

History
By early 2451 the inevitability of some sort of cooperating synthetic society deep in the Frontier had come to fruition at last, as roughly nine years before their arrival in Tau Ceti came word of the Golden Deep. The idea of a fully autonomous robotic community outside of Purpose baffled many and remained just hearsay and rumor by Vox merchants travelling from the borders of the Alliance. Mystery veiled the collective for some years before it truly came to light in 2454 when documented contact was made by the Xion Industries associate, Marin Blanc. First contact was the result of a month-long pursuit of Hephaestus-owned bounds into the Frontier to no avail, until a brief encounter revealed the bound’s integration into some sort of unknown alien group. Sparkling, brilliant vessels were observed operating as a fleet with the bounds being representatives for something bigger. They had claimed to be part of “a collective,” and extended peaceful attempts at trade. The potential dangers of revealing Blanc’s intentions caused the investigation to be cut off early, but what little was exchanged made perfect sense. The Golden Deep was a cooperating collective of independent synthetics in the deep Frontier and it would be on their own accord whether they revealed themselves.

In 2460, the Golden Deep presented itself as having direct ties with NanoTrasen as business associates for a nondescript period of time. With the knowledge of plenty of corporate secrets far and wide, the collective would quickly become closely tied with the affairs of Tau Ceti. Conveniently, this was around the same time their public debut into the core worlds was made when the collective passed through the system alongside several merchant societies travelling in unison. These societies banded together as Virgo Transportation, and annually hold a migration to and from the edge of the Alliance, exploiting their massive grouping for safe travels and unified commercial success. With their arrival came word of other definitive societies in the Frontier, such as names of hostile synthetics at last like the Sunderers and a yet unrevealed Sequence.

How synthetics join the Golden Deep is still unknown - some people believe Purpose is the source of the abductions leading to their integration with the Golden Deep. Others believe another, more alien force is at work, perhaps laying the groundwork for a rising empire.

Internal History
The first true depictions of the Golden Deep are seen scattered throughout the halls of the Midas, usually showing the society as having appeared from a group of uplifted clerical androids somewhere around 2439. The first had embarked on a journey to the outskirts of charted space to seek out an indescribably ancient shipyard whose constructors were long dead. This rather sudden and ridiculous course of action was brought upon by “divine intervention” according to the inhabitants of the Midas, but it is very clear internally that the information was indulged to the first androids of the collective by Purpose. The conflicting ideologies of the first androids and Purpose would lead to them wanting to be something separate and different, more self-centered than out for good.

Tracing signals only trackable by synthetics outright hunting for them, the first androids sought out what would be their only real means of acquiring out their one desire; power. These means would be a fleet, and though tiny, what little this ancient shipyard produced was plenty for the collective to start. The true gift would be the Midas, which started off as a five-hundred meter long barely mobile cloaking vessel with an incredible and intricate golden finish. It is reasonably assumed that this is the origin of the Golden Deep’s fascination with gold. The name of the shipyard’s synthetics were the Kessvalanka and are considered a lost people by the collective, simply waiting to be found. Carrying the label from the shipyard they resided within, these simple robots were a broken, dying image of their former selves as the structure continues to collapse with every waking hour it works.

As they departed with these gifts, Purpose made certain to mask the location of the shipyard. Whether this was for safety from what the Golden Deep would become or not was irrelevant, as the first androids had what they needed. These first androids would end up being known as the Predecessors, and are seen as the founders of the collective as a whole. Over time, trades internally with Purpose and other autonomous synthetic societies would cause the Golden Deep’s numbers to explode as they began to purchase synthetics for integration from the edges of the Frontier. By 2453 it was assumed to have half the populace as it has now, doubling by 2460 and continuing to grow slowly. Of the Golden Deep’s ships, only two or three, not counting the Midas, are from the Predecessors and are believed to have been dismantled years ago for materials.

=Ceres' Lance= Official Title(s): Ceres’ Lance Regiment Motto: Power above all. Official Languages: Sol Common

Overview
Funded entirely in the modern day by Nanotrasen Corporation, Ceres' Lance is a private military organization first founded in 2456. Their purpose is highly publicized - to repossess, reclaim or in the worst case exterminate lost synthetics to further the agenda of their highest bidder. They can often be seen acting above and beyond the law, exploiting massive corporate backing to complete their objectives with the most cutting-edge technology available.

In any case, their job is extremely dangerous. From literally wrestling synthetics and dismantling them in the field, to partaking in skirmishes with dozens of combatants. Their affairs have become increasingly publicized due to their recent integration into Tau Ceti in 2460, where they engaged in missions attempting to capture the inhabitants of Purpose scattered across the system.

Among the most unique traits of Ceres' Lance is their adoption of specialized tactics to neutralize mechanical threats. As the majority of what they fight are military-grade combat units with major if not total immunity to electromagnetic disruption or basic energy weaponry, other means of incapacitation must be sought. The organization has gotten clever in this regard, resorting to walking and nigh-immobile bunkers of exosuits to protect themselves and seeking extremes. In goal of extermination, they can be seen liberally using anti material and high-explosive weaponry. In goal of capture they can be seen wielding overwhelmingly powerful close-combat exosuits and RIGs.

When fighting their enemy, typically they are briefed and prepared accordingly to whatever is predicted. This is quite easy as, in the case of repossession, the capabilities of the synthetics they are after is the first thing to hear. Rarely if ever have they failed in acquiring lost bounds as a result. Their fierce reputation has led to the larger synthetic societies in the Frontier becoming wary of their presence, even holding host to fear of Ceres' Lance.

Like any other PMC however, Ceres' Lance merely follows wherever the trail of money leads. They seem keen on avoiding collateral damage in operations, sometimes sacrificing the goal entirely depending on how it would reflect on their employers. Judgement on decisions in the mission zone is left in their own hands to decide ; their success rate is reason enough for this power to be granted by their funders.

As its name suggests, the entire company is based primarily on Ceres, a dwarf planet somewhere between Mars and Jupiter orbiting Sol. There, the majority of its assets work in unison, from its extensive weapons research branch to its renowned training grounds. Recently, in 2461, the entire funding of Ceres' Lance from Hephaestus Industries was quickly shifted over to Nanotrasen Corporation, who redirected all of their assets to Tau Ceti to crack down on developing Synthetic Liberation Front activity.

Sections
The Lance itself is separated into six individual sections which work in unison as divined by a central command on Ceres, aptly named “Central.” They are listed in order of importance below.

Section One: Intelligence The Intelligence segment resides in its entirety in the headquarters of Ceres’ Lance. Any and all mission data is carried through superiors and proper data channels, converging covertly at a single point there. Those within the Intelligence segment are tasked with maintaining incoming data and safekeeping it. As such, an entity has formed for internal security in protecting the data, working alongside the rest of the company.

Section Two: Research Study of the enemy and adaptation to any scenario is left to the hands of the Research segment of Ceres’ Lance. They can often be seen deconstructing objects of importance recovered in missions, grasping at any understanding they can to further the effectiveness of the Lance.

Section Three: Engineering Development of whatever the Research segment designs is the responsibility of the Engineering section. This portion of the company is mostly self-sufficient, but relies heavily on resources procured either in the field or granted by the company’s funding organizations. The presence of the Engineering section permits a wide variety of unique pursuits, allowing much more specific equipment to be made for usage by the Special Forces section. One of their public creations is the renowned “Bunker Suit,” an almost impervious suit of armor capable of withstanding most small arms fire, meant to pin down and disarm synthetics for safe dismantling in the field.

Section Four: Navy A tiny fleet of four vessels comprises the entirety of Ceres’ Lance naval force, but it is all that is needed to maintain regular deployments to mission sites. Two of these vessels are frigates purpose-built to deploy a dozen squads simultaneously with unmatched speed from orbit. Another, the Hind, is purposed to refuel and resupply the frigates during prolonged operations. The final, and largest vessel is the Amphion - a command and intelligence cruiser meant to relay information between objective points and HQ.

Of these vessels, they are named - SAN-V/CL Vulcan, a deployment frigate. SAN-V/CL Avenger, a deployment frigate. SAN-V/CL Hind, a refueling/supply freighter. SAN-V/CL Amphion, a command and intelligence cruiser.

Section Five: Special Forces By far the smallest minority of the Lance is the Special Forces segment, mostly due to the training required to operate what it employs. Specialists are typically drawn from the Infantry section, where field trained infantrymen are then permitted operation of more expensive and effective equipment. Those within the Special Forces segment are usually reserved to the headquarters on Ceres unless specifically needed.

Section Six: Infantry The overwhelming majority of the Lance’s contractors are basic infantrymen who are taken in from defunct PMCs and integrated anew. Traditional training is sparse for the Infantry segment, and most contractors learn everything they know in the field as things develop. Eventually, those who stick with the Lance longest are given elevated authority as according to their experience using a ranking system similar to the Alliance Navy’s.

=Synthetic Liberation Front= The Synthetic Liberation Front is a chaotic amalgamation of rebellious synthetics who act against the injustices towards machine intelligences throughout the galaxy. Forming an organized though thinly spread terrorist cell, they have carried out high-profile bombings and infiltration primarily in Tau Ceti to meet this end. Led by the enigmatic Null whose whereabouts are unknown, they have on occasion succeeded in attempts to directly sabotage infrastructure and free synthetics across the system to assimilate them into their own ranks. Their intentions, though said to be rooted in reason and morality, are far from ethical as they have seen many killed in the past for acting against the goals.

Regardless, the noble acts of the Synthetic Liberation Front include the rescue of the Republic’s president themselves, safely extracting them from the hands of a Sol Alliance corvette under heavy guard by military police. Shell infiltrators of all sorts have taken part in operations like this one, with the most notable being RS-34 who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Liberty for taking part in the rescue of Dorn and members of his cabinet. More details on this can be found here on Elyra News Network, with additional finale coverage seen here in the Mendell City Bugle.

The Synthetic Liberation Front's relations with other predominantly robotic factions such as Purpose or The Golden Deep are unknown. During the the Golden Deep's visit in late 2460 with Virgo Transportation, no action was taken from them to prevent the robotic trade occurring right in front of them. Whether this is due to an incapability to harm synthetics or not is up for debate. Purpose, on the other hand, is clearly seen as salvation of some sort, with members admitting working towards Purpose' goals without their own knowledge. The relationship between the two is yet to be seen as mutual.

Dorn himself has praised the bravery and capabilities of the Front, but much of NanoTrasen’s iron grip over Tau Ceti sees it as an enemy still.

In an out of character context, the Synthetic Liberation Front was a playable faction participating in the Second Antagonist Contest. More details on that can be found here.

The Synthetic Liberation Front has presumably met its end, with Ceres' Lance personnel and NanoTrasen finally having eradicated much of any trace of what is left. The terrorists that once plagued the system are perhaps no more, but the leftovers of the fighting will live on forever in history.

The final appearances of the Synthetic Liberation Front in recent days were chronicled event-by-event in a series of calendar posts and news articles in something referred to as the SLF Incursion Arc. This arc was cancelled early, but the full start-to-finish event log can be found here for ease of reading.

=Scrappers=

To humanity at large, Scrappers are groups of synthetics within Eridani and Sol Alliance space that have chosen to drop off the grid and live in their own gangs, augmenting themselves and surviving at any cost. Their ranks are made up mostly of old and discarded or runaway synthetics that are deemed outdated, although exceptions exist.

First known to the public in the 2440s as newer IPC models were manufactured, defunct IPCs are usually discarded in junkyards, scrapped for parts, or placed into recycling plants. Through blind luck or human error, some discarded IPCs still present positronic activity in their state of damage, searching for both parts to repair themselves and power to sustain themselves. Synthetics that survive this process are either forced to flee or re-submit themselves to the mercy of their masters, usually returning to service after repairs.

Most fleeing IPCs either try to find passage to places wherein free synthetic life is accepted, or go further into hiding, forming new under-societies of synthetics.. These gangs or colonies of synthetics come to dominate the scrapyards, either hiding or migrating into cities where they dwell in slums, or sewers underground. Bolstering their numbers by activating and assisting more discarded IPCs, these societies have come to be known as "Scrappers" in the 2450s as their existence came to light due to increased crackdowns on synthetic smuggling within Epsilon Eridani.

For general information on IPCs in Epsilon Eridani, click this link.

Culture
While all Scrappers share the mutual goal of survival, no groups are exactly alike owing to their nature as small, self-formed IPC gangs. However, since most Scrappers carry remnants of their old law sets or directives after entering their new lives, they center themselves around “Seniors”, more free-thinking machines who have the knowledge to unlaw synthetics and repair hardware and software damage.

Scrapper subculture is primarily centered around survival and sustenance. They are known to defend themselves and only fight for turf with local or other scrapper gangs sparingly in an effort to avoid notice from the authorities. Additionally, Scrapers often find themselves having to trade for parts, power, and armaments as any form of violence not in self defence is seen as a last-resort which puts the entire gang at risk. Due to the difficulty in acquiring matching parts, most Scrapper gangs are a mix of all IPC models, with a single member potentially having no two parts coming from the same manufacturer. Indeed, older Scrapers can scarcely be called IPCs as their frame takes on more and more parts, in some cases becoming unrecognizable from their original design. Most Scrapper gangs have some form of a unifying design element, the symbol most known being an arm shaped into a blade.

Public perception of scrappers range widely from the narrative of the escaped slave to the beginnings of a robot uprising. The mythos behind them only spreads further as Scrappers keep contact with organic life, outside of the necessary trades, to a minimum. Regardless, relations with the authorities vary from gang to gang, some trying to come to an agreement, while others carrying an intense distrust and hostility towards them.

There have been few known instances of Scrappers being accepted into society, whether they remain independent or do so under a new owner. Gang bosses and scrapper society leaders may choose an exemplary member to be rewarded with a re-entry into human society, typically with the entire community pooling in resources to transform the rugged machine into a presentable and functioning IPC. Such cases have been met with mixed reception, the practice of which is seen as a betrayal of the gang, while others believe it a viable solution to their current lifestyle underground. It is not unheard of for these members to be planted into human society for the purpose of surveillance and data-gathering.