A sneak peak

Hokay, I have the prerequisite number of go-aheads to start this project. Here's some things you may want to know if you are just exploding with anticipation.

BASIC SETTING: Humanity, thriving off of the abundant energy and incredible economic boon caused by cleaner fission processes, expands to colonize any and all even remotely feasible worlds in the Sol system. This is supported by extensive terraformation processes developed originally on Earth in order to repair its somewhat damaged ecosystem and adapted for nearly any biome(or lack thereof) imaginable. Venus, the Moon, Mars, a good smattering of the moons of the gas giants, and even some parts of the Asteroid belt, as well as numerous orbital colonies, have allowed humanity to be given some breathing room. Unfortunately, after an extended period of time being apart from eachother, people's views of how the universe should run naturally diverge. It was inevitable that civil war on a System-wide scale would break out, but it was rather surprising how quickly it turned nasty.
After a prolonged period of fighting, a new foe threw itself at humanity all at once: The Enoken. Who knows why they started in on humanity, or the Sol system, or whatever. As humans tried to redirect their efforts against this new threat, it became increasingly obvious that this was a war that could not be won. Thankfully, the Exodus Project, a Earth led project to develop a starcraft capable of bringing a genetically sustainable population of humanity to another system, had been leaked much earlier. As the various factions raced to make sure that their version of humanity was kept alive, pure guesswork was made as to where to send the ships. It was almost literally at the last minute that each of the factions received their own version of the same secret knowledge: A survey that reveals a planet, in a faraway system, which has a 85% chance of being able to support human life.

And so, each ship secure in the knowledge that only they have this one last, best chance to ensure the survival of humanity, they each are heading for one nasty surprise...

That which will be attempted:

Although, in the end, MD stagnated because of its poor ruleset, it must be admitted that the ruleset provided a much-needed basis for everyone's nation as it stands today. As such, a ruleset is important for such Empire building games, if not forever, then at least at the outset.
However, noting that much of the problem came from using a poorly balanced, poorly written ruleset, I intend to avoid that pothole by making my own ruleset with blackjack and hookers to be used. Much like the army rules I shellacked together, this means that I can A: Make sure its balanced for our specific group, B: Know every facet of it so some piddly, unnoticed feature of the rules doesn't take me by surprise, and C: if all else fails, change it on the fly to reflect how I intended it to work. Additionally, in terms of readability, I'm making the ruleset as simple as I can manage: Hopefully, the most complex math that will need to be done is basic addition and subtraction.


However-
Since the ruleset is my own, and needs work, then unlike MD, the actual Empire Creation part of this process will be done BEFORE the ruleset is provided. Essentially, before such considerations as Where to put the colony and "How I mine for fish" come into play, I'll want to see a very basic summary of who you will be representing.
Things to keep in mind when pondering on this:
Where you come from is important: Humanity spread all across Sol. Who put up the money and resources for this project?
Government is important.
Goals for Colonization are important.
Culture is important.
Who is leading this expedition is important.

Those are just some things. I'll cover specifics later.

Okay, hold onto your butts. My example got a lot more detailed than I expected.

What I'll need for each faction can be broken down as such:
The name of the Faction
A preferred color
The faction summarized

The Leader of the Faction
A blurb about the Leader
The Leader's Character Sheet(Lvl 10, 32 point buy)

The Leader of the Faction's Armed forces(if it comes to war, who'll do your fighting?)
A blurb about how your faction prefers to fight
A blurb about the Military Leader
The Leader's Character Sheet(Lvl 6, 32 point buy)

The Representative of the Faction's Civilian population.
A blurb about the faction's populace
A blurb about the faction's preferred method of government(Not necessarily a blurb, just a mention)
A blurb about the representative in question
The representatives Character Sheet(Lvl 6, 32 point buy)

Beyond this comes your special interest groups: In order to address the fact that in MD I was not always cognizant of whom I needed to keep track of in terms of bugging the leader, these people are going to be representatives of significant factions within your society, and whom your leader may need to appease or oppress as needed.
There should be a minimum of three of these: Although I place no absolute maximum, It is worth noting that far too many may be difficult to keep track of.

For each one, you should have:
The name of the Leader and a name for the Interest group:
A blurb about what the Interest group stands for
A blurb about the leader.
The Leader's Character sheet(Level 4, 28 point buy)


A NOTE ON CHARACTER SHEETS:
No, you don't have to have them immediately, just eventually. I know personally that scrounging together 6 characters at once could get a bit frustrating. Just add them when you have them.
On top of that, it's worth noting that many things that are assumed to not be kosher normally are okay for this game. For example, you may feel free to take the "Plus" feats in d20 future. Furthermore, the setting is soft-sci-fi enough to allow for Psionic characters, if anyone wishes to (Although not magic, sorry). Although equipment is not important at this point, consider TL 7 and down okay, generally. Lastly, things such as gene therapy and such do exist, so a character can take one minor mutation, provided that they pay it off. If it is somewhat weird to explain it biologically, please come up with some implant/cybernetic reason behind it.
Aaaaand that'll do it. Happy typing! Example follows in next post.

Earth Sphere Alliance (ESA, Eee-Ess-Ay)
Color: Blue (Not dark, just blue blue)
The ESA is a large collection of many of the most prosperous and advanced nations on Earth, who initially banded together for the purpose of establishing the control that was needed to govern Sol, and now stays together in order to eventually reunite the warring factions of humanity.

Head of State: Captain Helena Andreysan

Bio:
Cpt. Andreysan has had a long and distinguished career with the ESA. After graduating from Locksteed Military Academy with top marks, she was assigned to the Sargasso for her shakedown tour. During the tour, the Sargasso was attacked, and its bridge knocked out by a lucky shot. Taking the initiative, she rallied the remaining elements of the ship via a secondary command console, and eventually managed to escape the trap, dealing heavy losses to the raiders in the process. This action became one of the first of many displays of tactical brilliance that would round out her career.
When the Enoken invasion began, Cpt Andreysan was at the top of the list. It was not her battlefield record that made her the top candidate, but her psych evaluation: Helena is a patient, but iron-fisted commander. It is this impervious will and drive to succeed that the ESA hopes ensures that she will be able to take the stress and lateral thinking that will be required for the re-establishment of what could potentially be the very last of humanity. In all honesty, it is a post that she did not ask for, but it is her solemn duty to perform the task set before her. Although she steels herself for the difficulties she must face, and will not falter before them, she consoles herself with the knowledge that eventually she may step down as Expedition Head and leave the rule where it belongs: The people.

Head of Defense: Colonel Johann Brecht
In the ESA, ground combat tactics has evolved drastically since the first stages of the Civil War. Initial casualties were breathtaking: As the ESA was fighting a war on innumerable fronts, this can hardly be considered surprising, especially considering that the bulk of infantry combat required the liberation, and contention, of dense urban areas. In order to address this issue, along with the issue of casualties, the ESA sunk Trillions into the development of the All Purpose Hardened Infantry Defense Armor. The APHID was an outstanding success in terms of protecting infantry from small-arms fire: heavily reinforced, and supported by weight-bearing systems and strength enhancers, it made each infantryman near-impervious to conventional weapons. When backed up by Mobile Heavy Weapon Platforms, playfully nicknamed “Ladybugs” by the troops, which traded a degree of mobility and speed for arms and armor that would impress a light tank, but was still capable of climbing stairs, the ESA made stellar progress in the warfronts... at least, until someone came up with weapon technology that could threaten the APHID.

Brecht, who hails from Autfurt, Germany, has worked up through the ranks from an APHID of his own. He attained the rank of Colonel after a stellar action during the Eidolon campaign, but even he will admit that it was as many parts luck as leadership. However, Brecht was not the first choice for the Exodus project. Unfortunately, the appearance of the Enoken did not stem all Insurgent action, and a number of more suited individuals were killed in transit during a surprise thrust assault into ESA space. Johann is, by no means, ill-suited to the task ahead, however, but has expressed numerous concerns about the expedition's security: Not only is the ship's Mass Fabricator incapable of generating APHIDS and Ladybugs from the outset, but he has been given barely enough to outfit a police force, let alone a military. However, as projections put the chance of full-scale war from the outset at extremely low, his concerns have largely gone unhandled.

Head of the People: Rosalin Peachworth

The ESA is a Parliamentary Republic, with numerous small parties and factions, helping to unify the many diverse cultures and peoples that the ESA is comprised of. However, two of the parties are in the overwhelming majority: The Conservatives, and the Liberals. Backing fairly clear-cut positions, these two parties frequently do not see eye to eye. As, currently, the ESA has been under a Conservative majority, it made sense to send one of their number along: after all, even though at the outset they would not be in charge of the expedition. However, somewhere along the line, the will of the people will have to take the lead, and at that time, Rosalin will be ready to represent them.

Rosalin hails from the U.K., and is well known as a diplomat of incredible persuasion. Although by the time of the Exodus project, she was not old enough to run for Prime Minister, she hopes that by the time the colony is ready to begin governing itself once more, she will be able to take the torch and lead the remaining population of Earth to a glorious new age. Until that time, however, she will simply have to content herself with having the ear of the Captain, and steering her wherever possible towards policies that will support a Conservative future.

Interest groups:
Immanuel Ortega: Head of the Liberal Party
Much like his counterpart, Rosalin, Immanuel (“Manny”, to his friends) was ensured a spot upon the Exodus Project in order to ensure that the Liberal party would have a strong leader for the times ahead, and to make it absolutely clear that they would not be marginalized simply because the current parliament was predominantly Conservative. Ortega, who hails from Texico, is called a passionate speaker by his supporters and a rabble-rouser by his opposition: One thing is clear, he has a gift for moving the hearts of the people, a gift that may be invaluable in bringing the Captain over to his side, and ensure that this colony, the remnants of Earth, will prosper and flourish under a Liberal rule.

Rina Dorlan: Head of Sanctity.
During the Civil war, one person represented the center of opposition to the ESA's broad policy of colonial “Liberation”. Rina, who headed the Solar Peace Movement “Sanctity” is well known as a compassionate, but firm opposer of what she, and many others, perceive as a ham-fisted attempt to squelch all opposition to an Earth-centric “Empire”. She and her followers were both angry and fearful that the ESA's actions would lead only to a precedent for violent intolerance. Although never registered as a political party, her movement instead focused on gaining the hearts and minds of Earth's people, and convincing them to work together to stop this unilateral aggression on the part of their government. Rina is much beloved by her supporters: This is why she was granted a spot on the Exodus Project, as her supporters worked independent of her wishes to grant her such. After much convincing, she finally acquiesced to join the Expedition, and bring the message of peace to beyond the stars.

Herbert Hendrikson: Head of Sleipnir Enterprises
Sleipnir Enterprises, a starship focused corporation based on Earth, was actually the one contracted by the ESA to conduct the initial stages of the Exodus project. However, after the project was finished, its head researcher, claiming that it would be “incalculably dangerous to leave the fate of humanity in the hands of one people”, released their findings to the entirety of Sol. Eventually, they were tried and executed for treason. Sleipnir Enterprises, in the meantime, experienced a massive roller-coaster ride of profits and losses through this, before bottoming out at approximately 30% of their previous worth. Now divided amongst several different controlling bodies, the remnants of Sleipnir Enterprises is but a shell of its former self. When word got out, however, that the Exodus Project would be launching, it's CEO, Mr. Hendrikson, spent the last of his personal holdings and favors to ensure passage upon it. Mr. Hendrikson is an accomplished businessman, and wishes, in no uncertain terms, to reclaim his success in a brand new world, by whatever means necessary. Besides, who better to pay attention to than the man who orchestrated the reason the passengers are now all still alive...

Randstadt's Irregulars:

Captain D. Hale:
"Roger, Command. Auto sequencer start confirmed. Beginning pre-launch routines now. I... Hey! What the hell! Stop them! Stop the-!"

*Unidentified popping noise, possibly suppressed weapons fire*

Unidentified voice, possibly James Randstadt:
"Condor secured. Beginning phase two. Out."

-- Last official transmission of the DRV Destiny's March --



Originally an insurgency group under the oppressive government of the Democratic Republic of Venus, Randstadt's ragtag militia took their fate into their own hands. The government of the DRV was extremely totalitarian and genocidal, believing in a eugenics model. They sterilized or downright executed those who were "impure," and subjected these impure to horrific experiments. If anyone resisted, they came down with an iron fist. Randstadt and his group were the largest resistance on the planet, but even though Randstadt united a varied, experienced, and skilled group, they were fighting a losing war.

The irregulars were not just fighters in the woods. They had families, settlements, entire towns that were loyal to their cause. The DRV, lead by General Alec DerVanden, lead a bloody campaign against these "terrorists." Nerve gas and biological weapons were commonplace, and were used liberally. At the same time, the DRV staged attacks on civilians and blamed them on the Irregulars. It swiftly removed any public support they had.

With the threat of the Enoken looming, the DRV began to construct its own colony ship. In a desperate move, Randstadt organized one of the most desperate operations in human history. With only a few small arms, a handful of hackers, and skill, they simultaneously infiltrated both the ship itself and Mission Control on the ground on the very day of the launch of the ship. With strike team Beta forcing Mission Control to broadcast as if all was well, strike team Alpha aboard the ship guided it to a touch-down point, where the entire force of the Irregulars overpowered and captured the crew of the ship. The few remaining crew members where ejected from the ship were ejected, and the entire population of the Insurgency boarded the ship. As the members of strike team Beta died holding mission control to buy time, the Destiny's March streaked into the sky with a new mission: Escape.

Randstadt's Irregulars have little broad objective other than survival, though the numerous groups among them all have varying goals.

Head of State: James Randstadt

"Whatd'ya mean, this sucks? Hell, I wish it would suck more!"

Bio:
James Randstadt, formerly a Corporal of the Earth Sphere Alliance Marine Expeditionary Unit, is an ex-special forces sniper. Upon being assigned a peace keeping patrol in the early days of the DRV, he and his unit stumbled upon a "liquidation facility." He was the only one to escape the ensuing ambush. The DRV staged a murder that was blamed on him, and he became a fugitive. Furious, he began Randstadt's milita, and eventually gathered together numerous like-minded groups from all over the planet.

Randstadt is something of a cowboy, but possesses a strange sort of inner strength that draws angry people towards him. He prefers living in as rough a situation as possible. He has been known to rant at length about the atrocities committed by the DRV, and has little patience for civility. He is a man of many convictions, and great skill. He respects strength, not physical strength, but strength of character and belief, as well as skill. Getting on his good side can provide a loyal ally indeed.

Head of Defense: Alex "Leaky" Dent

"Can't change the truth, Can't kill ideas, Can't stop the system. Hack the world, man."

Bio: Alex Dent was one of the first members of Randstadt's Irregulars. At the time of the rise of the DRV, he was a computer science graduate student at the University of Venus. He was a dedicated hacker and freedom of information buff, so he was on the front lines of protest for the draconian information bans enacted by the DRV. He was rounded up due to his "Genetic defect" of haemophilia and brought to a processing center. He hacked their central computer and escaped, soon finding Randstadt and joining his new militia.

While Randstadt himself handles most tactics and combat, Leaky has a well-deserved reputation as Randstadt's eye in the sky. Leaky is a truly gifted hacker, with skill that most professional cyber-spies can barely match. He was instrumental in the planning and theft of the Destiny's March, as its computer security systems were extremely tight. Alex's computer skills have earned him a spot as Randstadt's right-hand man. He's closer involved in James' plans than anyone else.

Head of the People: Alya Moses

"Let's talk."

Bio: Alya Moses ran a small business manufacturing firearms at the time of the rise of the DRV. The DRV shut down her company immediately, but kept her in their employ. She received some genetic modification treatments and was given a place in public relations. She was given the task of counteracting Leaky's frequent "Free information" broadcasts, but the plan backfired. She defected, and became one of Randstadt's top public image experts.

Unlike the very rough around the edges Leaky and Randstadt, Moses is very cosmopolitan and clean cut. She is very attractive, dresses well, and speaks several languages fluently. She is also rather deadly with concealable small arms, as her previous job specialized in them. She has proved instrumental in coordinating the sometimes dissonant factions of the Irregulars, as well as bringing in people who would otherwise be simply executed.

Interest Groups:
The Displaced.
The displaced are a general group. They have no centralized leader, as they have no centralized function. They are the members of the Irregulars who could not function under the DRV, but could not directly support the Insurgency. They are average citizens who, through dissent, impurity, or simply bad luck, were marked for death or sterilization by the DRV. Many of them are only here because they have nowhere else to go. Many are gene modded, and are not quite ready for the difficult life ahead. However, they are grateful to be alive, and provide the bulk of the Irregular's skilled labor.

The Hardliners
Leader: Colin McCleary
The Hardiners are some of the most intense of the Irregular's members. They are largely made up of conservatives, highly devout religious figures, and hardcore survivalists and conspiracy theorists. Their support was vital for the Insurgency, as they had some of the best stockpiles of weapons, equipment, and supplies. Many of them are faithful members of the Irregulars, but some of them are a wee bit... Extreme. Years of resistance has left them paranoid, aggressive, and occasionally downright ruthless. Note that a large percentage of the Irregulars are religious. Only some fall into this group.

The Element
Leader: Yuri Yevgeni
To procure weapons, Randstadt had to associate with numerous... Criminal elements. A crime syndicate lead by arms dealer Yuri Yevgeni emerged, made up of gun runners, smugglers, thievery rings, and various other "entrepreneurs." Their efforts were vital to the survival of the Irregulars, so when they learned of the March Operation, they demanded they be brought along as well. Randstadt allowed this. They do not particularly want to be involved in violence. They want to profit and negotiate.

The Remnant
Leader: General Alec DerVanden
Not all members of the DRV were expelled. Some, such as the infamous war criminal General DerVanden, had contingency plans. It is not known how many members of the DRV remained on the ship, but it's sure that they were not all captured. The Exodus was quick and sloppy, and many blended in to regular society. General DerVanden was caught, and is currently imprisoned in the brig of the Destiny's March. It is not known what the rest of the Remnant wish to do.

Original Name: The Organization for Human Augmentation (OHA)
Colonial Name: The Republic of Human Optimization (RHO)

"Mother Nature has proven herself unfit; sentient life is the new ruler of the galaxy. We has stolen her fire, survived her assaults, and tagged and leashed her like a common housepet. Time and again we have ravaged her land, devoured her children, and conquered her deepest depths, in the name of securing our glorious domains. But that is not enough; though we may control her mind and body, she still controls our future.

"Shall we, conquerors of planets, let this feeble crone mark the destiny of our children? Shall we continue to rely on the fickle fortunes of chromosome recombination to determine who we are? No! We shall pull ourselves from Nature's grasp! We no longer need her guidance! Let today mark the end of human evolution, and the beginning of human optimization!"
---Dr. Gottfried Singh, Ascent of Angels

"Humanity is a genetic disorder."
---common OHA graffiti

The infamous terrorist group OHA has been the bane of dozens of separate governments throughout Earth, Mars, and the Asteroid Colonies, pushing their agenda of organic augmentation and selective genetic improvement via schemes ranging from cell creation, propaganda dispersal, and direct violent action against governments, militaries, and civilian groups that would dare attempt to impose limits on OHA's drive for human enhancement.

Led by their charismatic Earthborn leader, Dr. Gottfried Singh, OHA's numerous supporters managed to infiltrate Morgan International, one of the top one hundred richest corporations in the Sol system (specializing in the diverse fields of asteroid mining, satellite/station/ship production, and extra-atmospheric biological adaptation), and snuck their way into the design, development, and control teams for the corporation's personal colony ship. After purchasing their own cryo-tubes with company funds, and manipulating the cargo list to include mostly supplies of their preference, OHA's raider units boarded and seized the MIC Nwabudike, vacuum-dumped the majority of the cryo tubes (leaving them floating idly through the asteroid belt), and shoved their own tubes and cloning facilities into the newly-rechristened OHA Ha, keeping only the top tier of 1000 corporate tubes, containing Morgan International's top scientists and businessmen (minus Nwabudike Morgan himself, of course).

Faction Leader: President Gottfried Singh, PhD

The son of two immigrants from the vastly overcrowded Indian subcontinent, research suggests that young Singh (whose real name is unknown) grew up somewhere in Southern England, where reports suggest he received an education in business and creative writing at one of the major English universities--possibly the university of Oxford. Singh's first public appearance occurred approximately thirteen years ago, when the young man, then leader of the European Transhumanist League, claimed responsibility for the assassination of the Speaker for the House of the Second European Union, whose campaigns for the banning of genetic manipulation and stem-cell research disagreed strongly with Singh's own beliefs. Since then, he has changed organizations several times, but has almost always landed in the upper ranks.

Singh is a very charismatic man, and his previous "public appearances" and brutal tendencies have given him an almost mythical reputation among populations exposed to his actions. Rumor has it that he has personally led many of the OHA's more effective attacks, survived numerous assassination attempts (one of which occurred on Martian public television), and blackmailed several officials from governments all across Earth and the Asteroid Belt into submission. Some say that he was the most heavily augmented man in the solar system. Most at least admit that Singh is a very scary man.

Singh is approximately 6' 9" tall, dark haired and skinned, and famous for his well-waxed and fancy goatee. Like most members of the newly-formed RHO, Singh respects adaptability and perseverance, along with a willingness to get the job done no matter the cost. Despite his reputation, he is generally fairly civil, and finds rude behavior tasteless, unless it speeds things along. He is also a well-known dog lover.

Head of Defense: General Gerard Santiago

Former general in the Venezuelan-Ganymede Colonial Defense Force, Santiago joined the OHA cell he'd been supporting on the side after the fall of Ganymede to the Io Navy. Santiago has always been a strong supporter of the OHA cause, as he himself was heavily augmented as part of a treatment for the severe Cystic Fibrosis he suffered as a child, and he frequently encouraged the members of the Ganymede defense force to do likewise. Since his declaration of support for the OHA, numerous other former members of the VGCDF have joined up with various cells throughout the system; while few of them could provide much in the way of weaponry, they were invaluable in training new recruits and developing the OHA's guerrilla warfare strategies and frequent hit-and-run tactics. Up until their evacuate from Sol, the OHA relied mostly on civilian equipment (bought via numerous corporate supporters) and equipment seized from nearby militia stations.

Despite his position as a terrorist leader, Santiago is an extremely jolly man, with a penchant for practical jokes and a face that reminds those under his command of an excessively large Robin Williams--although by no means any less hairy. His support for the transhumanist cause, and Singh in particular, is great enough that Santiago himself often volunteers to serve as Singh's "bodyguard" during potentially dangerous meetings, and the two have fought together several times during the course of the OHA's existence. Santiago is famous for his skill with high-mobility tactics and devastating long-range assaults, though artillery strikes are currently a little out of the OHA's capabilities. Hit-and-fade strategies, however, are not, and Santiago is highly skilled at placing hidden troops precisely where they are the most surprising.

Representative of the People: Senator Miranda Rockewell

The majority of the population of the newly created Republic are long-time supporters of the OHA--the best and the brightest of the organization's numerous cells, hand-picked by Singh for their talent, abilities, and strength of will, as well as their genetic background and ability to accept enhancements. The RHO is a fairly multicultural group, placing more emphasis on the drive for perfection and overt skill than any particular racial or ethnic background. The group even includes some colonists with a family history of genetic disorders, provided these disorders are directly absent or removed via enhancement, though such individuals are few and far between. Most of the organization consists of highly idealistic scientists, tough and experienced soldiers, and the genetically enhanced, highly trained professionals that signed on with the OHA on the promise of genetic immortality, as well as the freedom to redesign themselves as they see fit.

Miranda Rockewell herself is more of a spiritual symbol of the people, rather than a direct representative. The young senator's good looks and perky idealism have made her very popular with many of the more idealistic members of RHO, while her political cunning and general sneakiness made her somewhat of a hero in the infiltration of Morgan International. There has been some suggestion that Rockewell was recruited by Singh himself, and that her (now deceased) family may have been in some way connected to Singh's origins, but these rumors have yet to be substantiated.

Unusual Interest Groups:

Morganite Survivors
Leader: Dr. Gorbash Malarky, PhD
Those Morganites lucky enough to receive tubes in the top cryo-tier of the Nwabudike's have now found themselves stuck with a large collection of terrorists (many of whom are former colleagues) on a brand new world, with no way to return home, and no sign of the friends and families they had tucked away in the other cryo-tiers. While at the moment, these scientists have relatively little clout in the RHO political system, their experience and skill in their areas of expertise will inevitably provide them with significantly more power, as the developing nation becomes reliant on the technological advances they can provide. Fortunately, they are hardly the most numerous scientists in the RHO, and Singh hopes that they will rapidly get over their initial reticence once they adjust to their new surroundings. If not, Singh will be more than happy to help them "adapt."

Genetic Supremacists
Leader: Dr. Jefferson Roosevelt, PhD
While Singh is leader of the overall organization, he's hardly the most hardcore Transhumanist of the RHO. The hardliners are led by Dr. Jefferson Roosevelt, a professional and very well-known genetics researcher and therapy designer whose works have led to many of the more effective genetic advancements used and relied upon by the OHA, including several incredibly advanced visual and auditory acuity enhancers. Like most of the hardliners, Dr. Roosevelt holds a very strict view on the enhancement of humanity: he and his followers were against the inclusion of the "genetically imperfect" in the colonist lists, and would rather be rid of those RHO members with histories of genetic disorders, or minor traits that they consider "inferior." Many of the ideas supported by the Genetic Supremacists border racist in their nature, but Roosevelt tacitly avoids such suggestions, and even he admits that group selection is an ineffective method for controlling evolution. The Genetic Supremacists are also strongly opposed to continued breeding attempts, and frequently push for mandatory birth restrictions in exchange for increased cloning. While most members of the Genetic Supremacists are warriors and workers, the RHO's top gene scientists make up the core of this group.

Homo Optimus
Leader: Captain "Spartacus" Calhoon
Members of the Homo Optimus organization, a subset of the RHO strongly dedicated to genetic engineering, believe that the only proper way to improve the human race is to remove themselves as much as possible from what is normally considered "human." They favor extensive genetic engineering to divorce themselves from any normal resemblance to humans, covering themselves in extensive external augments and modifications, and modifying themselves to fit their chosen roles in RHO society as much as possible. Some of them favor augmentations that allow them to interact more closely with vehicles or computers, or remove their need to walk, or eat, or breathe; some prefer modifications that allow them to stay outside of normal environments for long periods of time, such as underwater breathing adaptations or night vision; some decide that they would prefer to resemble even stranger things. While most members of the organization have few problems with those that choose to remain less augmented, the group is very vocal about their beliefs, and many members have been known to "proselytize" the advantages of separating one's self from humanity and its numerous historical problems. Spartacus himself, a former fighter pilot, has had himself modified to enhance his own manual dexterity as much as possible.

The Tricent (tri-sent)
Color: Golden

"There is only one thing, and everything: Cut. Once committed to fight, Cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no rule more important, no commitment that overrides that one. Cut. The lines are a portrayal of the dance. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resolutely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush him. Cut him without mercy to the depth of his spirit. It is the balance to life: death. It is the dance with death. It is the law by which we live, or die."

"We fucking called it!"
-'The Knife', upon hearing that aliens had invaded

The Tricent is the military power of Mars, and the most direct opposition to the governments of Earth. Like the ESA, they wish to reunite humanity under them, but that is where the similarities end. They do not see the colonies as a financial endeavor, and would be quite happy to leave well enough alone if not for one obvious problem. They firmly believe that a house divided cannot stand, and broken up as we are we cannot progress. Our singular achievements are far outweighed by the infighting and bickering resulting from our differences. Thus, the Tricent seeks to make everyone full fledged citizens of their ever expanding order. Any outpost that disagrees with them and fights unity simply proves their point, and must be shown the error of their ways or exterminated before their dangerous selfishness can spread.

Supreme General Alexander IX
Under the current Supreme General, the Tricent has a very distinct flavor. In battle, they will do anything and everything to gain the advantage, seemingly without scruples. Supreme General Alexander IX has been known to personally enter combat, and his tactics are ruthless to the point of willingly sending thousands of his own men to certain death to achive victory. Very few have fought the Tricent and lived, and those who have usually do not speak openly about the horrors inflicted upon them. There is no surrender, no mercy, only death awaits the defeated. However, the Supreme General is a man of his word and has a strict, albeit obfuscated, code of conduct. Those whom he invites to his territory, be they valued allies or loathed enemies, are treated with only the utmost respect and given the finest luxuries available. Never are you safer than as the guest of the Tricent, as an assassin would have to take down the better part of their army to even see you.

General Natalie 'The Knife' Becker
While holding severed head: "The next person who thinks my name is funny won't have it as easy as this man. Next person to call me Natalie is getting the water treatment."

While the Supreme General gets much of the credit for victories, it is often The Knife who must implement strategies and improvise. He is the true ruthlessness behind the Tricent on many occasions, he is described as a military genius who borders the psychotic. He only respects the Supreme Generals non-militaristic decisions out of duty, and often makes clear his desire to take *every* advantage, rather than just those on the battlefield. He has been credited with being the primary reason that no one has seriously made an attempt on Alexander IX's life, as he is the next in the line of succession.

There's a separate forum for these posts. I'm locking this thread to prevent confusing double posting.