In the year 2139, the people of Earth reached out to the stars. With dreams of exploration and colonization, we established a series of Astral Settlements in Earth space, large stations capable of supporting millions of people. For a time, there was peace and great prosperity as new technologies and new territories were discovered. However we would soon find that while some explored space for altruistic purposes, there were many more with darker intentions.
Several of the Global Corporations of Earth, which had sponsored and controlled the development of the Astral Settlements, began to seize power among the colonies, transforming them into monopolized factories for their own profit. With the collapse of the WorldNet trade system, the United Earth government found itself financially overextended, allowing the Globe Corps to take over all space exploration. Suddenly scientific research shifted to a hunt for raw materials and new resources. The Settlements became isolationist as each controlling corporation took over their governing bodies. They came to resemble slave-labor camps, where the people who had left Earth in search of a better life found only mistreatment and exploitation. Space, our last frontier, was poised to follow in the footsteps of the other Earth-bound ones before it. It wasn't long before the Settlers struck back.
Civil war between the Settlers and the Globe Corps broke out in 2185. Following several acts of sabotage and "terrorism" by impoverished and desperate Settlers, the Globe Corps began manufacturing weapons to insure their domination. Pulled into the war by ties with the corporations, the United Earth government supported several brutal reactions to the revolts. But despite their attempts to crush it, the Settlers' Revolution pressed forward, undaunted by the cruel reprisal they received. Losing and desperate to maintain control, the Global Corporations combined on a single, military project code-named: Conquest.
Operation Conquest was a project bent on creating an advanced military unit unlike any ever seen before. The corporations wanted a new form of soldier that would instill fear into the hearts of the revolting Settlers. What they created far exceeded their expectations. The first Humanized Mechanical Vehicle, a huge, humanoid-shaped combat suit, was completed on June 6, 2189. Flown by a specially trained hybrid of pilot and soldier, the first HMVs swept through the Settlements like a plague, putting down any and all resistance with brutal efficiency. The Global Corporations officially declared autonomous control over their Settlements on January 1, 2190. Free of both seditious colonists and the United Earth government's trade restrictions, the corporations now held military, political, and economic control over Earth space.
The year is 2199 and the Globe Corps, with the help of even more advanced HMVs, maintain their stranglehold on Earth space. The United Earth government has been squeezed dry of all of its resources and influence, the planet serving now only as a base of operations for the corporations. The Astral Settlements are now virtually prisons and labor camps where people who find themselves there never get the chance to leave. But there is the sweet scent of change in the air. Rumors are spreading of a new form of machine, similar to the HMVs but decidedly more powerful and allied with no corporation or government, that are restoring peace and justice to Earth space. While only a few claim to have seen their pilots, their legend is certain to change our future. We call them Ravens, and when the wars of man and inhuman corporations subside, only one shall emerge triumphant from the layers of stardust that will blanket the human race.
HMV Humanized Mechanical Vehicle (Hum-vee)
Pawn Unmanned Drone
Rook Armor Class HMV
Bishop Speed Class HMV
Knight Attack Class HMV
Queen Leader Class HMV
King Capital Command Class HMV
Queen: The Mech Unit of a field commander, most often reserved for high-ranking officers such as Generals, the Queen-Class is rarely made and even more rarely implemented. Almost a heavily-upgraded version of the Knight-Class, the Queen combines speed, arms, and armor to make perhaps, pound-for-pound, the most devastating single Mech available. However, its systems are extremely expensive to produce and only the upper echelon of Ravens are capable of piloting such a machine, making their actual battlefield presence a singular but awesome sight.
King: The only large style of Mech ever implemented, the King is not so much an actual HMV as it is a flagship. Manned by a significant crew, the King unit is a mobile command station. Used as both a tactical outpost as well as the relay station for control of Pawn-Class HMVs, a King-Class ship is one to be feared and respected. Five times larger than a Knight-Class Mech, a King is not humanoid in shape and is a true Mech in name only. A King-Class is heavily armed and armored and can withstand quite a formidable assault. Most field commanders often forgo leading their troops in a Queen-Class to remain on the bridge of the King Unit and contrive strategies in relative safety.
Knight: The standard manned HMV, the Knight-Class has several variations depending upon which corporation or resistance groups it serves. The Knight is known for its fair speed, armor, and weapons. Almost a jack-of-all-trades, a good Knight-Class pilot is versatile enough to handle any combat situation and have an impact. The resistance groups use modified or cobbled-together versions as they have few formal manufacturing facilities.
Bishop: Modified for speed and agility, the Bishop-Class HMV is easily the fastest around. Light on armor and weaponry, the Bishop instead relies on quickness, dexterity and a good sensor jamming system to make reconnaissance missions. Manned by only some of the most formidable pilots, even a fair Bishop aviator can do things in a Mech that most would think impossible. But despite their quickness, the key to flying a Bishop-Class is to be gone before the fighting really starts, hence the saying: "Good Bishops can dodge bullets but great ones don't have to."
Rook: The most heavily armed and armored Medium-sized HMV available, a Rook-Class is the heavy fire and support for weaker units. Flown mainly by inexperienced or hot-headed pilots, known throughout most Mech Unit circles as "Rookies," the Rook-Class lends itself best to those without the good judgment to step out of a fight when they ought to. Made with extra thick plating and armor, and carrying some of the largest and most high-impact weapons, no one Mech takes on a Rook alone with the exception of another Rook. These battles are usually spectacular and amazing to watch . . . from a safe distance.
In response to "Stardust RPG":
Are you there?
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