Regency and Ministry Units

There are as many accounts describing the character of the late Vladimir Alecto as there are suns in the sky. Architect of peace or brutal warlord? Stern judge or bloody tyrant? Hero or monster? A thousand histories grace the libraries at Pentateuch, and I can attest that no two tell the same story.

Whatever Vladimir Alecto may have been, he was emperor, and his assassination sent the realm spiraling aimlessly and out of control, like a war-vessel damaged by cannon fire. Years of campaigns had left him no time to sire an heir (despite a number of strumpets' claims to the contrary), and so no sooner had his corpse cooled than the hungry scions of the Ten circled in, eyes gleaming and tongues lolling like feral scavenger-gokks, homing in on power as their bestial counterparts trail the scent of blood.

And thus a peace of weeks once again erupted into years of flame and blood. Every pupil knows the rest: Five of the Ten Houses fell into ruin or ignominy, the Guilds violently declared their sovereignty, and we of the Church tried as best we could to mitigate the damage to an already weary cosmos.

Finally, praise the Pancreator, simple attrition succeeded where diplomacy failed. The barbarians still swept across the borders to loot and burn, and increasing numbers of holdings fell to poorly led raiders simply because no forces could be spared to defend them. And so peace was declared, and it was decided that, as no contestant was equal to the task of rulership, a substitute should be elected by a tribunal of politically significant electors.

This substitute, henceforth known as the Regent, was to rule in the accustomed fashion from Byzantium Secundus. During his tenure of office he could do as he would; but never would he reign for longer than 10 years, at the end of which time he would abdicate and a new successor would be chosen. (I have heard rumors alleging an outrageous suggestion made by the Decados envoy to the proceedings, namely, that the retired Regent be ritually sacrificed at a great gala, in the manner of certain ancient cultures of Urth, but the rumor concludes that this Decados was shouted down by outraged Hawkwoods.)

And so the sceptres, those symbols representing one or more electoral votes, were manufactured and distributed. Each party of political stature, regardless, it seems, of equivalent moral stature, was presented with this tool. Every 10 years the vote would be cast, and the chosen candidate would ascend the seat of absolute (in theory) government for a decade.

Of course, the greedy nobles would not suffer themselves to be barred from such an arena. The evenhanded division of sceptres among them was aided by the fact that, of the Ten who had initially competed for the throne, a scant Five remained. These Five, Hawkwood, Decados, Hazat, Li Halan, al-Malik, were each given custody of sceptres, and so the intrigues began almost immediately, and have not ceased since.

Alas, too many imperial warriors had succumbed to the vices and military luxuries proffered by the Guilds, and so a certain allotment of sceptres went to the lords of Leagueheim. Thankfully, internal squabbling among the Guilds often stymied any individual Guildmeister's sordid aims, and so the Guild often abstained from voting, or used its influence only to block the rise of a candidate detrimental to its goals.

Wisely, if surprisingly, the guardians of Urth's souls were deemed worthy to exert some measure of control over the race's secular destiny, and so the Church currently holds a number of sceptres. (I sometimes question the amount of good such a gesture does, for such is the moral turpitude of most candidates that abstention often proves the only ethical way to vote.)

But in the end, I suppose, it matters little; for the Regent himself (or herself; there have been a few female rulers) was, and is, a relatively impotent figure, ruling as he does at the behest of powers that would sooner dance naked in the pits of the Voroxi malga-beetles than see their personal interests stymied for the welfare of the whole. Would the Regent raise taxes on the Byzantine populace? Would he deploy the Imperial Navy against Malignatian belt pirates? An excellent decision, my liege, the nobles cry. Would the Regent dare to conscript Hazat levies for use in the Vuldrok campaigns, or demand that the Decados account for the contents of the Imperial granaries built on Cadiz?

He would be dead within the fortnight.

And so, in lieu of a contender strong enough to unite the children of the fading suns by dint of might, the Regency continues, decade after weary decade. Because all parties of power vote, none can agree on any candidate of real magnetism or magnitude; and so the Regency is but a puppet-show of weak diplomats and figureheads without any real purpose or power. I am no lover of tyranny, but I would almost wish a despot, so long as said tyrant proved subservient to the will of the Pancreator, upon the throne of Byzantium Secundus. At our borders our enemies array themselves, and they are many. I aver that a chilly peace would be preferable to these centuries of endless war.


Ministry Forces

It is rumored that the Ministries have the capability of constructing special units with the appropriate technology. Below is a compendium of these rumored units.

Imperial Eye Forces

Imperial Eye Agent (Beholder)

Unit Summary: Imperial Eye Agents are the most feared operatives in the galaxy. It is rumored that they can easily disappear without a trace, stealing the most treasured secrets, sabotaging the most critical production facilities, and assassinating the most prodigious politicians.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food and are immune to the plague.

Estimated Technology used:

(575) Assassin (-6) +
(875) Special Forces (-5) +
(1325) Xyll Warbeast (-9) +
(4150) Neurocellular Surgery (-4)

Imperial Eye Scout (Blade Runner)

Unit Summary: This vessel has been in the service of the Imperial Eye for quite some time and is exceptional at scouting nearby systems.

Estimated Technology used:

(575) Assassin (-6) +
(525) Aircraft Surveillance (-3) +
(875) Special Forces (-5) +
(1150) Raider Stealthship (-4)

Imperial Eye Network (Omniscient)

Unit Summary: This elaborate network is rumored to be relatively new to the Imperial Eye. It is said that the Imperial Eye installs these permanently into it Forts on strategic worlds.

Estimated Technology used:

(575) Assassin (-6) +
(875) Special Forces (-5) +
(4150) Discontinuity Field Generator (-5) +
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4)

Unique - Imperial Eye Flagship (Infiltrator)

Unit Summary: The Imperial Eye Flagship is rumored to the be the ultimate stealth and intelligence gathering vessel. Good thing there is only one of them known to exist.

Estimated Technology used:

(1150) Raider Stealthship (-4) +
(2700) Meson Cannon (-7) +
(5650) Cyberpilot (-1) +
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4)


Stigmata Garrison Forces

Stigmata Defender (Protector)

Unit Summary: These elite shock troops have been developed specifically for dealing with the Symbiot Horde. They are rumored to be Marauder Legions infused with Symbiot Psychology for their training and some sort of hybrid rocket propulsion system that let's them fly like aircraft and even attack in space aboard a Space Carrier.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food.

Estimated Technology used:

(550) Hover Tank (-3) +
(1800) Symbiot Psychology (-9) +
(2200) Rocket Legion (-6)

Stigmata Mech Defender (Cavalier)

Unit Summary: These highly-advanced mechanized warriors are designed specifically for dealing with the Symbiot Horde on undeveloped worlds where conditions are harsh.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food.

Estimated Technology used:

(950) Advanced Mechanized Warrior (-2) +
(1800) Symbiot Psychology (-9) +
(2200) Fusion Beams (-3) +
(2200) Rocket Legion (-6)

Stigmata Hover Fortress (Fortress)

Unit Summary: This incredibly large and surprising agile defense fortress represents the Stigmata's most powerful ground unit. It uses advanced Meson weaponry for targeting Aircraft and armored units.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food and 4 Cargo Slots

Estimated Technology used:

(1800) Symbiot Psychology (-9) +
(2700) Meson Cannon (-7) +
(5700) Advanced Hovertech (-7) +
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4)

Stigmata MegaFortress (MegaFortress)

Unit Summary: This massive air vessel maintains its incredibly high agility through its use of Polymorphonic Carbon and highly-trained pilots. Equipped with an advanced surveillance system, effective at tracking both air and ground units, and arrayed with a cluster of Fusion Beams enables it to have an incredibly powerful and accurate Air and Direct attack.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food.

Estimated Technology used:

(525) Aircraft Surveillance (-3) +
(1800) Symbiot Psychology (-9) +
(2200) Fusion Beams (-3) +
(5650) Cyberpilot (-1)
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4)

Unique - Stigmata (Garrison) Flagship (Sentinel)

Unit Summary: This orbital platform has been designed with maneuverability in mind, making it much more agile than a typical starbase. Additionally it is rumored to be loaded with very advanced weaponry and a small contingent of highly-advanced autonomous fighters giving it an exceptional attack capability in all three space weapon categories. This platform has helped prevent the dissemination of Symbiot Forces into our region of the known galaxy.

Estimated Technology used:

(1525) Starbase Mk M (-8) +
(1800) Symbiot Psychology (-9) +
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4) +
(6400) Discontinuity Beam (-9) +
(???) Autonomous Fighters (?)


Imperial Fleet Forces

Imperial Assault Mech (Gladiator)

Unit Summary: This Mech is a modified Assault Mech. It is designed for close to medium combat whether it be in space or on the ground.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food.

Estimated Technology used:

(950) Advanced Mechanized Warrior (-2) +
(2700) Meson Cannon (-7) +
(4150) Discontinuity Field Generator (-5) +
(5650) Cyberpilot (-1)

(Imperial) Assault Fighter (Saber)

Unit Summary: These heavy-assault space fighters are the most feared attack fighters in the galaxy. With Fusion Beam weaponry, Polymorphonic Carbon armor, and some kind of adaptive shielding technology, their highly-trained pilots provide excellent protection against invading fleets assaulting Imperial Fleet outposts.

Estimated Technology used:

(2200) Fusion Beams (-3) +
(5650) Cyberpilot (-1) +
(4150) Discontinuity Field Generator (-5) +
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4)

Unique - Imperial Fleet Flagship (Valkyrie)

Unit Sumary: This incredible vessel is a hybrid Dreadnought / Space Carrier. Equipped with powerful Ranged Space weaponry and capable of deploying Fighters, Bombers, and Marines, this vessel represents the might of the Imperial Fleet.

Estimated Technology used:

(975) MKII Space Carrier +
(1350) Space Dreadnought (-6) +
(5650) Cyberpilot (-1) +
(6400) Discontinuity Beam (-9)


Imperial Guard Forces

Imperial Missile Battery (Morning Star)

Unit Summary: This emplacement is utilizes a hodge-podge of advanced missile technology and bio-delivery capability to modify a PTS Missile Launcher into a versatile defensive platform.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food.

Estimated Technology used:

(250) Megachassis +
(350) Web Missiles (-4) +
(1150) Spore Delivery (-6) +
(2150) Powered Ceramsteel Armor (-2)

Imperial Siege Tank (Mangler)

Unit Summary: This ingenious construct has taken a PTS Meson Cannon and reconstructed it into a huge, albeit slow, assault platform by changing the range of motion of the Meson Cannon turret, equipping it with weaponry from a Mega Tank, and modifying that weaponry for bio-delivery.
Special Abilities: They do not consume food.

Estimated Technology used:

(1225) PTS Meson Cannon (-1) +
(1425) Mastiff Shock Tank (-2) +
(1150) Spore Delivery (-6)

Unique - Imperial Guard Flagship

Unit Summary: This space vessel is a Super-Cybermorph Cruiser, having been equipped with Discontinuity Beams and tweaked in several other areas it stands as a symbol of power to any Emperor.

Estimated Technology used:

(1200) Meson Space Cruiser (-4) +
(5650) Cyberpilot (-1) +
(6050) Polymorphonic Carbon (-4) +
(6400) Discontinuity Beam (-9)
