03-15-2012, 04:46 AM
OVERVIEW IN BRIEF
![[Image: consortiumlogomk3t.png]](http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/9039/consortiumlogomk3t.png)
The organization popularly known as the Consortium is best defined as "[color=#FF9966]an unlawful paramilitary of techno-faschist and transhumanist aims". Primarily operating in [color=#FF9900]Kusari and challenging the legitimacy of the sitting democratic government in power, and aims to destroy it in favor of what is best described as "An idealized neo-faschist state" run by an Emperor with continuity to previous ones (including Jien Kogen), but with the stated goals of eradication of the Keiretsu, Hogosha, and other Paramilitaries and political counterrevolutionaries. They are also highly pro-transhumanist and pro-singularity, as evidenced by the heavy use of Artificial Intelligence and Cybernetics amongst their troops.
The Consortium functions essentially as a smaller non-state military, complete with it's own intelligence, transport, and internal police wings, but is in the midst of a rapid build-up phase to replenish and re-provision their forces (as of this writing) in preparation for operations against the Kusari Naval Forces. Their end-goal is, if necessary, to begin a full scale civil war in Kusari and sieze the house by military force of arms before the Naval Forces can recover from the Tau War.
HISTORY
There are a few conflicting accounts to how exactly the Consortium began, and a few prior stages of it's history (henceforth divided into 3 eras of operation). The 1st era during the Tau-war, in which the Consortium conducted a gurellia war, and showed a significantly apolitical but transhumanist stance. The 2nd era, in which operations slowed due to leadership decay, but continued until a long period of dormancy. The Current period is the 3rd era, following the activation of Case Orange and gradual remobilization of the surviving fleets, abiet at a reduced level of manpower.
Some say, the Consortium were the product of an infiltration attempt by the survivors of the colony ship Mayflower, launched prior to the outbreak of the Coalition-Alliance war on earth; or, alternately, that they were created by a rogue AI which appeared out of the Edge Worlds who sought to bring 'unity' to Sirius by technological mind-linking. Both of these stories, however, appear to be internal falsifications used to confuse both the Consortium themselves and external agencies. The Mayflower incident is historically known to have occurred, but the Consortium can draw no connection to it.
What is known for fact is the Consortium was created by a mysterious individual known as "Ironwatsas". Using resources acquired after the "Junker Air" incident and subsequent criminal enterprises in Rheinland, Watsas used the burned-out hulk of the RNC Kassel, a wrecked cruiser from the 80 year war, as a laboratory to create Project CERBERUS, the first generation of transhuman soldiers. It remains unknown who... or even what Watsas was; a terrorist, megalomaniac, or even a human being at all.
He was known to operate as a Mercenary, using his cybernetic technologies and paramilitary skillset to assist the Golden Chrysanthemums, NovaPG, and Kiretsu, during the height of the Tau War, and from that alliance the Consortium gradually grew as Watsas gained further access to alliances and funding from aiding the Kusari Revolutionaries. However, he also made powerful enemies in the form of the Farmers Alliance, and their then-leader, Ze'ev Barak.
As time went on, Watsas organization, eventually called the Consortium, expanded rapidly, acquiring an Artificial General Intelligence known as 'Siren 1-7', or simply as 'Eve'. It is unknown if she was created by Watsas or someone else and merely used. But, she contained within her something important, a small strain of the legendary 'Alpha Code', a cosmic algorithm sought by Harvesters and other AIs. This would remain secret long until the 3rd Era, when Case Orange would bring this to light.
A long struggle ensued, with the Consortium fighting both the combined forces of Kusari Enforcers, Paramilitaries, Nomads, and even Internal Treachery. During these conflicts, the Consortium showed their ingenuity, using superior technology and heavy firepower to augment the skill of the Blood Dragons and motivation of the Golden Chrysanthemums. It was during this time, that a new Artificial Intelligence was created, ostensibly to coordinate the War Effort and link the Consortium's machines and cyborg soldiers together. This would become Zeta Foxtrot.
However, the situation changed abruptly in 817 A.S., as Watsas suddenly, inexplicably, and dramatically vanished from the Consortium. Zeta Foxtrot was shut down without warning, and several other individuals seemingly connected to Watsas also vanished. This threw the Consortium into disarray, resulting in it's takeover first by a lieutenant named Noboru Sprommel, and later, an AI known as OVERLORD.
OVERLORD was activated as a contingency plan to take over in-case of Zeta Foxtrot's failure. The plan worked exactly as planned and basic functionality was restored, with Consortium Operations proceeding, abiet at a reduced intensity. But over the next few weeks, OVERLORD began to wipe the Neurocyte Network, the Consortium's neurotelecommunications and brain control system, twisting it to it's own ends. This allowed it to wipe the minds of individual soldiers, constructing it's own history to the organization, furthering it's own goals.
It sought 'unity' among Sirius, eliminating individuality and taking the trans-humanist train of thought to to it's logical extreme. However, as OVERLORD proceeded, it's plans began to unravel. Through successful enemy infiltration and OVERLORD's own underestimation of it's foes, the Kusari Naval Forces, aided by the Farmers Alliance gradually began to wear down the Consortium fleet. Eventually, OVERLORD placed most of the armada in reserve, in the hopes the Naval Forces would eventually weaken or be distracted due to the then-recent invasion from Gallia.
Eventually, in 818 A.S., the Neurocyte Network was reawakened, by Parties otherwise unknown even to the Consortium. OVERLORD was suddenly purged by a re-activated Zeta Foxtrot, who assumed complete control of the faction. ZF subsequently reformatted what remained of the now decaying and ineffective Neurocyte network, and gathered the surviving and scattered remnants of the group. Creating a powerful cabal of AIs and veteran Consortium officers, and assigning itself as "Overwatch" of the Organization.
As part of the "patch" applied to the Network, the Consortium were given new goals; finish what Watsas started. Replace the decaying and corrupt Democracy in Kusari with a proper state worthy of the nation. Rebuild Kusari's military in their own image and use it to galvanize a united response to Gallia.
As of this message; the Consortium fleets are mobilizing and beginning the process of gathering new recruits, rekindling old ties, and forging new ones. In time, the Armada will once more roll into Kusari, with intent to take the house or see it burned to ashes.
No other alternatives are accepted.
MODUS OPERANDI
The Armada is, by definition, a non-state unlawful paramilitary. An organization in a similar class as the Hellfire Legion, Red Hessian Army, Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army, and Reapers of Sirius. As such, it has few permanent ties to any particular nation, house, or group. Currently, most of it's ships are flagged under Golden Chrysanthemum or Outcast flags (see "identification" section below), as it's current fleet is mostly made up of "second generation" outcast hardware, and they mostly operate out of the Tau-65 system and surrounding staging areas.
The Consortium's tactics range from guerrilla raids and interdiction of commerce to organized attacks on targets of opportunity, to covert subterfuge, and more recently, propaganda and media manipulation. During the First and Second eras, the Consortium was a much more covert force; with most emphasis made on hiding their intentions and fleets than announcing them outright. This however, was a double-edged sword, as it lead to few (willing) recruits and constant tension with allies. This has recently changed with the adoption of a political dogma, open recruitment, and attempts to sway the general Kusari public, as well as foreign agencies abroad, to their side.
The Armada tends to put the focus on Strategic rather than tactical operations. With individual battles considered as means to a bigger end. Maintaining supply lines, ensuring a well-rounded fleet, keeping membership up, and ensuring Kusari loses support and infrastructure rather than merely pilots are the key points of their operation. To that end, most tactical operations involve targeting shipping, bases, or other such things vital to the Military and Defense industries of Kusari, rather than at the Corporations themselves.
This means, however, that the Consortium are happily willing to attack and destroy civilian targets en-masse; trader vessels are usually targeted based on specific cargoes rather than affiliation, and contingency planning for counter-value orbital bombardment are known at points when the Consortium is ready to start taking planets. Nevertheless, the Consortium's long-term goals remain securing and rebuilding Kusari's infrastructure and economy after the war, so most stations would likely be captured rather than destroyed.
SUBDIVISIONS
There are four main branches of the Consortium military; quite unusual for a faction of their relative size, but the strict militarist and authoritarian nature requires this. They are as follows;
Armada
The most visible arm of the Consortium, the Armada acts as a paramilitary force to secure Consortium airspace as well as perform surgical strikes against targets of interest. Few know of the Consortium's existence, at least in the public, and those that do mostly assume that the Armada is the Consortium's entirety. Formerly, Much of the Armada's ranks were filled by emotionless 'blanks', so highly cybernised that they have lost their emotions. The Consortium were also known to use child soldiers and nekomata as combat pilots and ground troops, to further horrify and demoralize the enemy. While these drones are generally more effective in combat, there are many notable exceptions to this rule, mostly those who were ace pilots before assimilations, who as a result have retained varying degrees of their personality.
As of the 3rd Era, with most veteran pilots dead or missing, most of the Consortium fleet consists of remote controlled Drones with a few surviving pilots who have been used to create a cabal of leaders to help rearm the organization. Most of the fleet's heavy warships and fighter squadrons fall under armada TSOG/BOLSOG units (or would normally), but are currently in a state of flux due to low numbers.
Intel Spike
The Consortium's intelligence department. INTELSPIKE is made up mainly of experts in the fields of espionage, covert ops, and often former officers and members of various factions. Unlike other groups, many in INTELSPIKE are those who joined the Consortium willingly, and with intent. INTELSPIKE runs a number of external operations, including deep recon, double-agent recruitment, liaison work, and recently, public propaganda.
Using a mixture of cutting edge technology and old-fashioned spy work, INTELSPIKE operatives are constantly monitoring both allied and enemy organizations alike for threats and opportunities. Typically, INTELSPIKE operatives remain well away from the battlefields in space, and often intermingle with both friend and foe alike, often allowing them to play on sympathies and beliefs much better than those of other house intelligence groups and members of the Armada.
INTELSPIKE also operates a few ships of it's own, seperate from the main armada (often using civilian freelancer identification to avoid public scrutiny and evade law enforcement if nescessary. Most INTELSPIKE ships are noncombatants, consisting of operative shuttlecraft, recon ships, and a few modified Commando Solo craft used for propaganda and neuro-communications broadcasting.
Blackwatch
Blackwatch serves two main purposes; Internal security and Shipboard/Planetary combat forces. The former taking a priority, as the Consortium land forces and marines are (currently) relatively few in number. Generally, Blackwatch troops are far more heavily indoctrinated and augmented even then most Armada pilots, and conditioned harshly to ensure loyalty to Overwatch and prevent defection and sedition. This is their goal throughout the organization, one which has grown more important with the influx of new members.
While Blackwatch operates some of it's own ships, these are mostly prototypes or stealth craft, or landing & support craft related to ground operations. Some types differ from those used by the Armada, so this should be taken into account. Though Blackwatch troops commonly provide on-ship security for larger Consortium warships and merchant marine vessels.
The Consortium's land and planetary forces tended to be relatively small and relied mostly on drones, but these were destroyed quickly after the Neurocyte net collapsed. A few small scale raids were staged on Planet Kyushu, but ultimately repulsed by the Imperial Kusari Army and local forces. Currently, a few units hoverspeeders and light mecha remain in service, and the Consortium lacks any planetary landing capacity as of this time. It should be noted, that some aquatic or amphibious forces may still be active, as they were largely submersible drones designed for long-duration stealth missions, and may have re-activated with CASE ORANGE.
There is a noted inter-service rivalry between INTELSPIKE and Blackwatch, with the former's often sympathetic attitude and the latter's brutality and authoritarianism. While it amounts to little in terms of disharmony of operations, it is one that is constantly kept an eye on by Overwatch and the cabal.
Logistics
Spawned from a need to move equipment and materials to Consortium-controlled and allied facilities and support the general war effort, the Logistics division is a major and integral part of operations. They also collect stolen goods and equipment for transport, and supply GC and allied bases as an act of partnership. Logistics spike performs many of the day-to-day service operations a force as large as the Armada needs to maintain operation and ensure fleets, warships, and personnel remain fed and fueled. With few permanent bases and a constantly mobile infrastructure, Logistics has a significant job to do. The Consortium's ability to maintain itself and ensure contacts and trading agreements abroad is both remarkable and the main reason the organization achieved as much success as it did.
As of the 3rd era, the Logistics fleet is in disarray, with many transports having been sold off or destroyed. It appears to be a high-priority restoring them, possibly higher than maintaining an offensive force in the current situation.
(excerpt from the Discovery Wiki article)
FLEET INFO
Most of the Consortium Fleet consists of "Second Generation" Outcast vessels leftover from the first era arms pacts, many old Liners converted into Armed Merchant Cruisers, and various captured and purchased civilian ships, mostly of Kusari make. Known types are as follows:
Fighters
Main-Line fighter forces.
Bombers
Anti Warship/Fire support
Freighters
Transport/Boarding/Cargo Exchange
Gunboats
Typically attached to commerce raiders or used for recon-in-force
Heavy Warships
Usually saved for descisive, strategic, combined arms operations
Possible captured Naval Forces Warships (unconfirmed)
Armed Merchantmen
Mostly used to interdict and capture transports and cargoes, usually paired with gunboats or fighter wings
Transports
Non-Combat transports used for supply missions
Misc
Mining Ships, Mobile Barracks, Storage, Maintnance, etc
Weapons & Equipment
Civilian
Outcast
Golden Chrysanthemum
Codename/Prototype
Any other "weapons of oppurtunity" that we may recover along the way*
(*typically these will undergo RP field testing before we start issuing them fleetwide)
DIPLOMACY
The ability for the Consortium to maintain supply lines is key to that of it's access to other factions resources, basing rights, and treaties. The Consortium tries it's best to ensure a constant flow of supplies and redundant docking rights on multiple bases for better force projection.
Obediant
Factions either wholly or partly controlled by the Consortium, or high-priority allies.
Covington Arms (front company)
Kamida Assembly
Golden Chrysanthemums (NPC faction)
Blood Dragons (NPC faction)
Various covert agents and spies.
Compliant
Factions we consider friendly or are on trading-terms with.
Golden Chrysanthemums (Player Faction)
Blood Dragons (Player Faction)
Outcasts
Corporate Shipping Authority
Ambivilent
Factions we either have not encountered or have little reason to consider otherwise. We will attack if we feel threatened.
Nomads/Infectees/Oracles (we won't engage unless provoked)
Temporary Autonomous Zoners
Liberty Lawfuls
Bretonian Factions (irrelevant of lawfulness)
Rheinland Lawfuls
Anyone else not listed
Malevolent
Factions we generally dislike and may fire upon but are not of any real priority.
Liberty Rogues
The Order
Bounty Hunters
Corsairs
Coalition
Gaians
Farmers Alliance (NPC/Independants)
Malignant
Factions that pose a specific threat and are considered primary strategic targets.
Kusari Naval Forces
Kusari State Police
Artisan Farmers' Alliance (player faction)
The Hogosha
Samura Heavy Industries
Kishiro Technologies
Renzu Corporation
The Kempeitai (Surujin/Kitsune wing)
All Gallic Factions, of any lawful status, which enter Kusari (likely to be abducted rather than killed on sight though)
(*This is heavily WIP, as most permanent diplomacy has yet to be conducted)
OTHER
ID, Tag, and Naming:
The main ID/IFF is:
Golden Chrysanthemum
<strike>De-facto secondary ID/IFF is:
Outcast*</strike>
*The reason for this is due to the fact that during the 1st Era, we USE to be Outcast IDed and Tagged, however changes in the rule structure and tech-system necessitated this setup until something better can be found. Likely SpecOps IDs across the board for any Outcast IDed ships.
Most of which are heavy capital ships, Oversized transports, and a few "Legacy" ships which have RP reasons to remain Outcast IDed.
Naming Conventions:
All Strike Craft, Capital Ships, and General Purpose Gunboats will use a naming convention mostly based on Japanese Mythology (or to a lesser extent, history and cultural themes). A suffix will designate which branch of service the vessel belongs to; Armada [A], Intelspike [I], Blackwatch , or Logistics [L] regardless of shiptype.
For Example:
\CS\-Yagarasu-[A]
\CS\-Nue-[I]
\CS\-Nanjing-[B]
\CS\-Manchukuo-[L]
Transports will use the '-Maru' suffix as part of the name.
Ex:
\CS\-Unsouya-Maru-[L]
Commerce Raiders (Liners or Raider Gunboats) will not use the above convention, instead using a simple 2 or 3 digit hull number (2 digit for liners, 3 for gunboats) and no suffix.
Ex:
\CS\-Raider-21
\CS\-Raider-473
Some noncombat or misc ships will have an English name designating their purpose, rather than a Japanese name. Typically these are lower importance or mundane enough to not be considered worth naming. The Suffix rule applies here. Sometimes a numerical designation will be used for redundant ships.
\CS\-Barracks.Ship-[L]
\CS\-Armory-[L]
\CS\-Engineering.Drone-[L]
\CS\-Miner-401-[L]
\CS\-SALCAP-[L]*
(*designation for Heavy Lifters used for abducting whole ships)
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Pilot Ranking
The following ranking system applies to all Consortium pilots; New pilots, except those RPing as machines or blanks will begin as Spahi 3rd Class.
Pilot & Officer Ranks
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[font=Comic Sans Ms](*tl;dr: "Kusari Hellfire Legion" or "Reverse SCRA".)
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You can now join here!
Any further info (or anything that was missed) may be asked from one of our fine members, sought on the wiki if it's been written, or asked in this thread and pondered over. Many things are currently still being hammered out based on RP interactions and whatnot. There's quite a bit of fluff that's being written but not yet posted.
Responses below should be civil and thought out. Non-constructive posts will simply be ignored.
Otherwise I will either alert a moderator or make the entire post comic sans.
![[Image: consortiumlogomk3t.png]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/36/consortiumlogomk3t.png/)
The organization popularly known as the Consortium is best defined as "[color=#FF9966]an unlawful paramilitary of techno-faschist and transhumanist aims". Primarily operating in [color=#FF9900]Kusari and challenging the legitimacy of the sitting democratic government in power, and aims to destroy it in favor of what is best described as "An idealized neo-faschist state" run by an Emperor with continuity to previous ones (including Jien Kogen), but with the stated goals of eradication of the Keiretsu, Hogosha, and other Paramilitaries and political counterrevolutionaries. They are also highly pro-transhumanist and pro-singularity, as evidenced by the heavy use of Artificial Intelligence and Cybernetics amongst their troops.
The Consortium functions essentially as a smaller non-state military, complete with it's own intelligence, transport, and internal police wings, but is in the midst of a rapid build-up phase to replenish and re-provision their forces (as of this writing) in preparation for operations against the Kusari Naval Forces. Their end-goal is, if necessary, to begin a full scale civil war in Kusari and sieze the house by military force of arms before the Naval Forces can recover from the Tau War.
HISTORY
There are a few conflicting accounts to how exactly the Consortium began, and a few prior stages of it's history (henceforth divided into 3 eras of operation). The 1st era during the Tau-war, in which the Consortium conducted a gurellia war, and showed a significantly apolitical but transhumanist stance. The 2nd era, in which operations slowed due to leadership decay, but continued until a long period of dormancy. The Current period is the 3rd era, following the activation of Case Orange and gradual remobilization of the surviving fleets, abiet at a reduced level of manpower.
Some say, the Consortium were the product of an infiltration attempt by the survivors of the colony ship Mayflower, launched prior to the outbreak of the Coalition-Alliance war on earth; or, alternately, that they were created by a rogue AI which appeared out of the Edge Worlds who sought to bring 'unity' to Sirius by technological mind-linking. Both of these stories, however, appear to be internal falsifications used to confuse both the Consortium themselves and external agencies. The Mayflower incident is historically known to have occurred, but the Consortium can draw no connection to it.
What is known for fact is the Consortium was created by a mysterious individual known as "Ironwatsas". Using resources acquired after the "Junker Air" incident and subsequent criminal enterprises in Rheinland, Watsas used the burned-out hulk of the RNC Kassel, a wrecked cruiser from the 80 year war, as a laboratory to create Project CERBERUS, the first generation of transhuman soldiers. It remains unknown who... or even what Watsas was; a terrorist, megalomaniac, or even a human being at all.
He was known to operate as a Mercenary, using his cybernetic technologies and paramilitary skillset to assist the Golden Chrysanthemums, NovaPG, and Kiretsu, during the height of the Tau War, and from that alliance the Consortium gradually grew as Watsas gained further access to alliances and funding from aiding the Kusari Revolutionaries. However, he also made powerful enemies in the form of the Farmers Alliance, and their then-leader, Ze'ev Barak.
As time went on, Watsas organization, eventually called the Consortium, expanded rapidly, acquiring an Artificial General Intelligence known as 'Siren 1-7', or simply as 'Eve'. It is unknown if she was created by Watsas or someone else and merely used. But, she contained within her something important, a small strain of the legendary 'Alpha Code', a cosmic algorithm sought by Harvesters and other AIs. This would remain secret long until the 3rd Era, when Case Orange would bring this to light.
A long struggle ensued, with the Consortium fighting both the combined forces of Kusari Enforcers, Paramilitaries, Nomads, and even Internal Treachery. During these conflicts, the Consortium showed their ingenuity, using superior technology and heavy firepower to augment the skill of the Blood Dragons and motivation of the Golden Chrysanthemums. It was during this time, that a new Artificial Intelligence was created, ostensibly to coordinate the War Effort and link the Consortium's machines and cyborg soldiers together. This would become Zeta Foxtrot.
However, the situation changed abruptly in 817 A.S., as Watsas suddenly, inexplicably, and dramatically vanished from the Consortium. Zeta Foxtrot was shut down without warning, and several other individuals seemingly connected to Watsas also vanished. This threw the Consortium into disarray, resulting in it's takeover first by a lieutenant named Noboru Sprommel, and later, an AI known as OVERLORD.
OVERLORD was activated as a contingency plan to take over in-case of Zeta Foxtrot's failure. The plan worked exactly as planned and basic functionality was restored, with Consortium Operations proceeding, abiet at a reduced intensity. But over the next few weeks, OVERLORD began to wipe the Neurocyte Network, the Consortium's neurotelecommunications and brain control system, twisting it to it's own ends. This allowed it to wipe the minds of individual soldiers, constructing it's own history to the organization, furthering it's own goals.
It sought 'unity' among Sirius, eliminating individuality and taking the trans-humanist train of thought to to it's logical extreme. However, as OVERLORD proceeded, it's plans began to unravel. Through successful enemy infiltration and OVERLORD's own underestimation of it's foes, the Kusari Naval Forces, aided by the Farmers Alliance gradually began to wear down the Consortium fleet. Eventually, OVERLORD placed most of the armada in reserve, in the hopes the Naval Forces would eventually weaken or be distracted due to the then-recent invasion from Gallia.
Eventually, in 818 A.S., the Neurocyte Network was reawakened, by Parties otherwise unknown even to the Consortium. OVERLORD was suddenly purged by a re-activated Zeta Foxtrot, who assumed complete control of the faction. ZF subsequently reformatted what remained of the now decaying and ineffective Neurocyte network, and gathered the surviving and scattered remnants of the group. Creating a powerful cabal of AIs and veteran Consortium officers, and assigning itself as "Overwatch" of the Organization.
As part of the "patch" applied to the Network, the Consortium were given new goals; finish what Watsas started. Replace the decaying and corrupt Democracy in Kusari with a proper state worthy of the nation. Rebuild Kusari's military in their own image and use it to galvanize a united response to Gallia.
As of this message; the Consortium fleets are mobilizing and beginning the process of gathering new recruits, rekindling old ties, and forging new ones. In time, the Armada will once more roll into Kusari, with intent to take the house or see it burned to ashes.
No other alternatives are accepted.
MODUS OPERANDI
The Armada is, by definition, a non-state unlawful paramilitary. An organization in a similar class as the Hellfire Legion, Red Hessian Army, Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army, and Reapers of Sirius. As such, it has few permanent ties to any particular nation, house, or group. Currently, most of it's ships are flagged under Golden Chrysanthemum or Outcast flags (see "identification" section below), as it's current fleet is mostly made up of "second generation" outcast hardware, and they mostly operate out of the Tau-65 system and surrounding staging areas.
The Consortium's tactics range from guerrilla raids and interdiction of commerce to organized attacks on targets of opportunity, to covert subterfuge, and more recently, propaganda and media manipulation. During the First and Second eras, the Consortium was a much more covert force; with most emphasis made on hiding their intentions and fleets than announcing them outright. This however, was a double-edged sword, as it lead to few (willing) recruits and constant tension with allies. This has recently changed with the adoption of a political dogma, open recruitment, and attempts to sway the general Kusari public, as well as foreign agencies abroad, to their side.
The Armada tends to put the focus on Strategic rather than tactical operations. With individual battles considered as means to a bigger end. Maintaining supply lines, ensuring a well-rounded fleet, keeping membership up, and ensuring Kusari loses support and infrastructure rather than merely pilots are the key points of their operation. To that end, most tactical operations involve targeting shipping, bases, or other such things vital to the Military and Defense industries of Kusari, rather than at the Corporations themselves.
This means, however, that the Consortium are happily willing to attack and destroy civilian targets en-masse; trader vessels are usually targeted based on specific cargoes rather than affiliation, and contingency planning for counter-value orbital bombardment are known at points when the Consortium is ready to start taking planets. Nevertheless, the Consortium's long-term goals remain securing and rebuilding Kusari's infrastructure and economy after the war, so most stations would likely be captured rather than destroyed.
SUBDIVISIONS
There are four main branches of the Consortium military; quite unusual for a faction of their relative size, but the strict militarist and authoritarian nature requires this. They are as follows;
Armada
The most visible arm of the Consortium, the Armada acts as a paramilitary force to secure Consortium airspace as well as perform surgical strikes against targets of interest. Few know of the Consortium's existence, at least in the public, and those that do mostly assume that the Armada is the Consortium's entirety. Formerly, Much of the Armada's ranks were filled by emotionless 'blanks', so highly cybernised that they have lost their emotions. The Consortium were also known to use child soldiers and nekomata as combat pilots and ground troops, to further horrify and demoralize the enemy. While these drones are generally more effective in combat, there are many notable exceptions to this rule, mostly those who were ace pilots before assimilations, who as a result have retained varying degrees of their personality.
As of the 3rd Era, with most veteran pilots dead or missing, most of the Consortium fleet consists of remote controlled Drones with a few surviving pilots who have been used to create a cabal of leaders to help rearm the organization. Most of the fleet's heavy warships and fighter squadrons fall under armada TSOG/BOLSOG units (or would normally), but are currently in a state of flux due to low numbers.
Intel Spike
The Consortium's intelligence department. INTELSPIKE is made up mainly of experts in the fields of espionage, covert ops, and often former officers and members of various factions. Unlike other groups, many in INTELSPIKE are those who joined the Consortium willingly, and with intent. INTELSPIKE runs a number of external operations, including deep recon, double-agent recruitment, liaison work, and recently, public propaganda.
Using a mixture of cutting edge technology and old-fashioned spy work, INTELSPIKE operatives are constantly monitoring both allied and enemy organizations alike for threats and opportunities. Typically, INTELSPIKE operatives remain well away from the battlefields in space, and often intermingle with both friend and foe alike, often allowing them to play on sympathies and beliefs much better than those of other house intelligence groups and members of the Armada.
INTELSPIKE also operates a few ships of it's own, seperate from the main armada (often using civilian freelancer identification to avoid public scrutiny and evade law enforcement if nescessary. Most INTELSPIKE ships are noncombatants, consisting of operative shuttlecraft, recon ships, and a few modified Commando Solo craft used for propaganda and neuro-communications broadcasting.
Blackwatch
Blackwatch serves two main purposes; Internal security and Shipboard/Planetary combat forces. The former taking a priority, as the Consortium land forces and marines are (currently) relatively few in number. Generally, Blackwatch troops are far more heavily indoctrinated and augmented even then most Armada pilots, and conditioned harshly to ensure loyalty to Overwatch and prevent defection and sedition. This is their goal throughout the organization, one which has grown more important with the influx of new members.
While Blackwatch operates some of it's own ships, these are mostly prototypes or stealth craft, or landing & support craft related to ground operations. Some types differ from those used by the Armada, so this should be taken into account. Though Blackwatch troops commonly provide on-ship security for larger Consortium warships and merchant marine vessels.
The Consortium's land and planetary forces tended to be relatively small and relied mostly on drones, but these were destroyed quickly after the Neurocyte net collapsed. A few small scale raids were staged on Planet Kyushu, but ultimately repulsed by the Imperial Kusari Army and local forces. Currently, a few units hoverspeeders and light mecha remain in service, and the Consortium lacks any planetary landing capacity as of this time. It should be noted, that some aquatic or amphibious forces may still be active, as they were largely submersible drones designed for long-duration stealth missions, and may have re-activated with CASE ORANGE.
There is a noted inter-service rivalry between INTELSPIKE and Blackwatch, with the former's often sympathetic attitude and the latter's brutality and authoritarianism. While it amounts to little in terms of disharmony of operations, it is one that is constantly kept an eye on by Overwatch and the cabal.
Logistics
Spawned from a need to move equipment and materials to Consortium-controlled and allied facilities and support the general war effort, the Logistics division is a major and integral part of operations. They also collect stolen goods and equipment for transport, and supply GC and allied bases as an act of partnership. Logistics spike performs many of the day-to-day service operations a force as large as the Armada needs to maintain operation and ensure fleets, warships, and personnel remain fed and fueled. With few permanent bases and a constantly mobile infrastructure, Logistics has a significant job to do. The Consortium's ability to maintain itself and ensure contacts and trading agreements abroad is both remarkable and the main reason the organization achieved as much success as it did.
As of the 3rd era, the Logistics fleet is in disarray, with many transports having been sold off or destroyed. It appears to be a high-priority restoring them, possibly higher than maintaining an offensive force in the current situation.
(excerpt from the Discovery Wiki article)
FLEET INFO
Most of the Consortium Fleet consists of "Second Generation" Outcast vessels leftover from the first era arms pacts, many old Liners converted into Armed Merchant Cruisers, and various captured and purchased civilian ships, mostly of Kusari make. Known types are as follows:
Fighters
Main-Line fighter forces.
- Scimitar/Switchblade/Sabre
- Kingfisher
- Virage
- Spatial
Bombers
Anti Warship/Fire support
- Falcata Bomber
- Orchid
- Havoc MkII
Freighters
Transport/Boarding/Cargo Exchange
- Dromedary
- Anki
- Drone
- Civilian Freighter
- Rhino
- Armored Transport
Gunboats
Typically attached to commerce raiders or used for recon-in-force
- Outcast Gunboat
- Kusari Explorer
Heavy Warships
Usually saved for descisive, strategic, combined arms operations
- Outcast Destroyer
- Outcast Battleship/Dreadnaught
Possible captured Naval Forces Warships (unconfirmed)
Armed Merchantmen
Mostly used to interdict and capture transports and cargoes, usually paired with gunboats or fighter wings
- Prison Liner
- Slave Liner
- Bretonian Liner
Transports
Non-Combat transports used for supply missions
- Container Transport (akegata)
- Big Dragon
- Bumblebee
- Borderworld Transport
- Pirate Train
- (L)Transport/(L)Train
Misc
Mining Ships, Mobile Barracks, Storage, Maintnance, etc
- Mining Ship (hegemon)
- Surveyor/Scraper/Arrestra
- Civilian Shuttle
- Repair Ship
- Heavy Lifter
- Luxury Liner
- Renzu Liner
- Yacht
Weapons & Equipment
Civilian
Outcast
Golden Chrysanthemum
Codename/Prototype
Any other "weapons of oppurtunity" that we may recover along the way*
(*typically these will undergo RP field testing before we start issuing them fleetwide)
DIPLOMACY
The ability for the Consortium to maintain supply lines is key to that of it's access to other factions resources, basing rights, and treaties. The Consortium tries it's best to ensure a constant flow of supplies and redundant docking rights on multiple bases for better force projection.
Obediant
Factions either wholly or partly controlled by the Consortium, or high-priority allies.
Covington Arms (front company)
Kamida Assembly
Golden Chrysanthemums (NPC faction)
Blood Dragons (NPC faction)
Various covert agents and spies.
Compliant
Factions we consider friendly or are on trading-terms with.
Golden Chrysanthemums (Player Faction)
Blood Dragons (Player Faction)
Outcasts
Corporate Shipping Authority
Ambivilent
Factions we either have not encountered or have little reason to consider otherwise. We will attack if we feel threatened.
Nomads/Infectees/Oracles (we won't engage unless provoked)
Temporary Autonomous Zoners
Liberty Lawfuls
Bretonian Factions (irrelevant of lawfulness)
Rheinland Lawfuls
Anyone else not listed
Malevolent
Factions we generally dislike and may fire upon but are not of any real priority.
Liberty Rogues
The Order
Bounty Hunters
Corsairs
Coalition
Gaians
Farmers Alliance (NPC/Independants)
Malignant
Factions that pose a specific threat and are considered primary strategic targets.
Kusari Naval Forces
Kusari State Police
Artisan Farmers' Alliance (player faction)
The Hogosha
Samura Heavy Industries
Kishiro Technologies
Renzu Corporation
The Kempeitai (Surujin/Kitsune wing)
All Gallic Factions, of any lawful status, which enter Kusari (likely to be abducted rather than killed on sight though)
(*This is heavily WIP, as most permanent diplomacy has yet to be conducted)
OTHER
ID, Tag, and Naming:
The main ID/IFF is:
Golden Chrysanthemum
<strike>De-facto secondary ID/IFF is:
Outcast*</strike>
*The reason for this is due to the fact that during the 1st Era, we USE to be Outcast IDed and Tagged, however changes in the rule structure and tech-system necessitated this setup until something better can be found. Likely SpecOps IDs across the board for any Outcast IDed ships.
Most of which are heavy capital ships, Oversized transports, and a few "Legacy" ships which have RP reasons to remain Outcast IDed.
Naming Conventions:
All Strike Craft, Capital Ships, and General Purpose Gunboats will use a naming convention mostly based on Japanese Mythology (or to a lesser extent, history and cultural themes). A suffix will designate which branch of service the vessel belongs to; Armada [A], Intelspike [I], Blackwatch , or Logistics [L] regardless of shiptype.
For Example:
\CS\-Yagarasu-[A]
\CS\-Nue-[I]
\CS\-Nanjing-[B]
\CS\-Manchukuo-[L]
Transports will use the '-Maru' suffix as part of the name.
Ex:
\CS\-Unsouya-Maru-[L]
Commerce Raiders (Liners or Raider Gunboats) will not use the above convention, instead using a simple 2 or 3 digit hull number (2 digit for liners, 3 for gunboats) and no suffix.
Ex:
\CS\-Raider-21
\CS\-Raider-473
Some noncombat or misc ships will have an English name designating their purpose, rather than a Japanese name. Typically these are lower importance or mundane enough to not be considered worth naming. The Suffix rule applies here. Sometimes a numerical designation will be used for redundant ships.
\CS\-Barracks.Ship-[L]
\CS\-Armory-[L]
\CS\-Engineering.Drone-[L]
\CS\-Miner-401-[L]
\CS\-SALCAP-[L]*
(*designation for Heavy Lifters used for abducting whole ships)
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Pilot Ranking
The following ranking system applies to all Consortium pilots; New pilots, except those RPing as machines or blanks will begin as Spahi 3rd Class.
Pilot & Officer Ranks
- Overwatch* (faction leader)
- Adjutant (ranking/veteran officers)
- Grand Coordinator
- Fleet Coordinator
- Coordinator (can fly battleships and above)
- Director (can fly Destroyers)
- Ship Director (can fly gunboats & commerce raiders)
- Myrmidon (can fly all strike craft and transports except liner, highest non-cyborg rank)
- Spahi 3rd class (can fly spatials)
- Spahi 2nd class (can fly fighters/bombers)
- Spahi 1st class (can fly training fighters)
- Blanks
- Sentients (fully aware machines)
- Autonoms (partly aware machines)
- Drones (non-intelligient machines)
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[font=Comic Sans Ms](*tl;dr: "Kusari Hellfire Legion" or "Reverse SCRA".)
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You can now join here!
Any further info (or anything that was missed) may be asked from one of our fine members, sought on the wiki if it's been written, or asked in this thread and pondered over. Many things are currently still being hammered out based on RP interactions and whatnot. There's quite a bit of fluff that's being written but not yet posted.
Responses below should be civil and thought out. Non-constructive posts will simply be ignored.
Otherwise I will either alert a moderator or make the entire post comic sans.