Ankerstad Alliance: concept

This faction or species was inspired by Ravan Technocracy posted here by Skjold http://www.darkspacecorp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=140. I took a basic concept and played around it a bit. That's the result.



Technocracy of Ankerstad
 
Name: Ankerstad Alliance
Race: NuHumans
Homeworld: Ankerstad
Ankerstad is a low-gravity planet extremely rich in natural resources. Its positioned on the fringe of its solar system orbiting a blue giant star. Planet's orbit brings it into direct vicinity of the Gate once per cycle. This attributes to early settlement of Ankerstad as well as it's civilization dependence on space fleet and orbital defences against unexpected arrivals from the gate. Majority of planetoid is covered in ocean hidden by thick ice and molten rock islands. Atmosphere is rich with ammoniac and nitrogen. Ecosystem and presence of oxygen breathing life forms depended on volcanic activity until Great Families crated artificial system of oxygen production and climate control. Main defence and production system are based on ego-stationry orbit of planet as a belt of docks, elevators to surface, defence and radar outposts.

Origins:
Ankerstad has been colonized and settled in order to control its natural resources and utilize proximity of the Gate. However difficulties in exploiting those resources meant that only highly advanced civilizations had a chance of retaining its grip on the shifting icy surface of the planet.
All of them human, each dating to various times of arrival and settlement, but all of them eventually united into Ankerstad Alliance which consist of seven great Families which rule over Seven Great Atolls. The Great Seven Families are:

1. Lepanto
2. Midway
3. Tsushima
4. Gangut
5. Salamis
6. Jutland
7. Trafalgar

Each Family attributes certain set of unique skills, technology and resources into Ankerstad Alliance's production of spaceships and other goods.

Government:
Ankerstad Alliance has two levels of governance: Atolls are ruled by Families and their courts. All matters of external relations with other space faring nations, including warfare, production of ships and trade agreements are carried out by Alliance's representatives which arecoming from the Great Families. Alliance plays pivotal role in solving disputes between the Families, but if diplomacy fails they retain their right to solve matters on the field of battle. Luckily it happens very rare. Head of Alliance – The Great Commodore is chosen once per 14 cycles by votes of leaders of the Great Seven Families. In case of his death or inability to perform his duties to the Great Seven he is replaced by someone from Alliance's staff until next elections.

Alliance's form of governance is technocracy: decision and policy making depends on specialist with both administrative and field experience. Officials are called to serve time on the ships of Ankerstad fleet often as a commanding officers before any progress on other career path. Though progress through ranks is relatively small, the amount of skill and knowledge officer gain is vast. Captains of Ankerstad are well versed in negotiations, fleet tactics, technology development and boarding actions. However the majority of information is acquired by the means of Virtual Minds: a sophisticated artificial intelligence created to support human decisions.

Physical:
Ankerstad have seen several waves of habitation and both those who failed and succeeded as civilizations left their mark in the bloodlines of Families. Though not a single bloodline remains completely dominant. Great Seven Families are usually identified by following dominant gene-types:

Lepanto: tall, medium build, olive or dark skin, brown and black eyes, bird like face traits.
Midway: dark brown skin, grey hair, black or brown eyes, short and muscular build
Tsushima: frail, small build, purple or brown eyes, black hair
Gangut: broad and wide build, pale white skin, red, blonde and light brown hair, green or grey eyes
Salamis: broad and wide build, dark olive skin, brown or olive eyes, round nose and lips
Jutland: slim build, thin lips, blonde hair, blue or grey eyes, hawk-like noses
Trafalgar: medium and short build, pale white or blue eyes, light green hair and skin.

Religion:
Ankerstad Alliance is secular society which emphasizes the power of technology and inventive human mind over speculative religions of others. However almost all ships and private quarters on Atolls have a shrines of Neptoo: a form of meditation room, where people come to burn incense to the spirits of Ship or Atoll and be in solitude for a short time being. No other religion is known to take root among practical and hardy people of Ankerstad.

Technology:
Ankerstad Alliance has mastered several technological disciplines: spacecraft building, surface and sub-surface ship building, artificial intelligence creation and training, advanced metallurgy and nano-material modification, long range space detection sonar and equipment. In form of weapon design their guns retain a significant range superiority in comparison with similar types of other factions.

Society and Cultural Priorities:
Ankerstad Alliance is not a totally unified society and each Atoll retains its own identity and cultural peculiarities, but all share following priorities:

Humans takes a decisions - Machines provide support.
The rationale behind this cultural priority is unknown, but some suspect that it may be rooted in long forgotten fight with renegade Virtual Mind. After the victory people of Ankerstad decided to rely on their own reasoning and limit the roles of artificial intelligence. However master's of Trafalgar family are known to produce AI with very high levels of independent thinking for undisclosed customer. On the human side, free general education system strongly emphasizes ability to think, take decisions and analyse world around with sufficient information.

People-Family-Atoll-Alliance.
This passage is shortened part of national anthem of every Family and is repeated on the flag of Ankerstad Alliance. This principle represents the uncommon camaraderie among the people, ability to help and share resources, be polite and supportive in time of need regardless of origins and social status. As a result of this cultural trait and accessibility of info-clouds of NuHu implants information passes between the common people and specialist in a matter of seconds. This creates unusual freedom of speech and thought but restricted by in-native responsibility and trust to the Family. Loyalty despite the social tension and disagreements remains unquestionable. In full this passage is following:

People protect the Family.
Family serves Atoll.
Atoll serves Alliance.
Alliance protects the people.

Lakedonian Empire: concept

To be honest I have posted this concept on the forum of Dark Space Corporation [http://www.darkspacecorp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1159&p=8869#p8869], but decided to re-post it here as note to myself. This is basically a "sketch gone wild", I was playing with idea of organization for one of futuristic settings and Beyond the Gates of Antares gave me a spark to put it on paper.
 
 

Images are taken from site http://mandragoreminiatures.free.fr. Sculptor is Gael Goumon. Used without permission. No challenge to property rights intended. 
Name: Lakedonians
Race: Revers
Homeworld: Lakedonia Prime

Planet Lakedonia is 1,6 bigger than Terra, has oxygen based atmosphere, with harsh climate, arid plains and mountainous terrain divided by great number of lakes, seas and rivers. Planet is moderately rich in natural resources. Lakedonia has three moons: Melitele, Arisaka and Shakta. 

Origins: 
Lakedonian's are descendant of humans who settled on Lakedonia countless ages ago. Current civilization has been re-build after previous has made a contact with unknown group of Concord. The result of this contact was an uncontrolled spread of unknown lethal disease which affected mostly male population of planet. Disease, or Male Sin as was latter called was stopped when scientist created an genetic modification which prevented the micro-drone technology from hosting and affecting human bodies. This event dramatically changed world perspective of this nation, creating a fusion of technology  and religion.


Physical:
Not so different from normal humans, Lakedonians normally stand at 1 meter 70 centimeters. Majority has blue, green and grey eyes, pale or olive skin and have a slim and frail looking physique. However as their planets gravitation is more than standard Terran, they are strong and muscular. Major slim body type attributes to the fact that certain bloodlines fared much better than other during eradication of Male Sin.    

http://mandragoreminiatures.free.fr/

Government:
Lakedonians are governed by matriarchal theocracy, where the High Priestress of Melitele and Sekmerra appoints the planetary government every twelve cycles in accordance with prophetical visions and reading of their dual deity will. Citizens share all wealth of Empire, but not allowed to have more than certain limit of personal possession. All members of society (except Ilhotes) are provided with education and financial support. Those who excel in during harsh educational process usually are provided with  better career chance and more responsibilities.  

Religion:
Religion of Lakedonian's is monotheistic in nature. It worships two aspect of their main unnamed, but certainly female deity: Melitele and Sekmerra. Melitele is an aspect of love, fertility and growth through work and improvement. Her primary color is white. Sekmeraa is aspect of war, oppression and deceit. She creates destruction in order to give way for new life. Her main color is red. Both deities have came to rescue Lakedonian's in times of Male Sin, when previous civilization was being absorbed by Concord and majority of male population was losing its fertility and independence. Both are worshiped in same temples in accordance of calendar and have their Saints. Religion of Melitele and Sekmerra contains not only popular texts, but predictions on return of the Concord and instruction on how to boost human bio-resistance to its influence.

Technology:
Lakedonian's are relatively young space faring nation of Antarean space. Their technology emphasizes robustness and mulch-purposeness. For example Lakedonian infantry mag-gung could be upgraded in field conditions to a heavy support weapon. Major achievements of Lakedonians lie in the area of bio-resistance and genetic modifications. It's a common practice for Lakedonian units to be accompanied by guardian animals designed for task of spotting and harassing enemy.    

Society and Cultural priorities:
Male population of Lakedonia is less than 1/7 of entire population. This is a direct consequence of Male Sin and contact with Concord. As a result most of active roles in society is are filled by females. Male are generally divided into two separate castes: the Breeders and the Ilhotes. Breeders are those few bloodlines which survived Male Sin and remained generaly unaffected. They provide seed for legal fertilization and procreation. Breeders are controlled by the Cult and are priceless in terms of preservation of Lakedonians. The Ilhotes are bloodlines which has been affected but were retained for the use as slave workforce. They are generally genetically modified or lobotomized for the task purposes and under no conditions they are allowed to breed.

Female roles in society are divided into so-called Gifts to Lakedonia. Depending on age and social position Lakedonian female is either fulfilling and preparing for one of the Gifts.
They are:
Gift of Blood: initiation into adulthood achieved by killing at least one Ilhote.
Gft of Tears: the birth of at least one healthy child for the Cult.      
Gift of Spear: active military service either in planetary army or as Lakedonian mercenary
Gift of Craft: active service as foster parent, tradesmen or official.

Allegiance:
Will not ally with Concord or Isorian shard under no circumstances, will not commonly ally with aliens. Any Rever, PanHuman or Simhuman group.

Elysian Drop Troops codex: what to expect?

Elysian Drop Troops Regiments are air mobile infantry of Imperial Guard. They do the dirty jobs Space Marines are not bothered to. They epitomize the best qualities of human warriors, but remain humble and numerous, provide ingenuity when everything else fails. Drop Troops require bold and skillful commander. If you, my friend decide to download and try my codex and make a play test of it that is what you may expect:

Combat Drop: unlike Space Marines, Drop Troops do not use drop pods, they jump from the back ramp of Valkyrie and land on the enemy gun blazing. This rule will allow you to deploy half or all of your army using Deep Strike method.

D-mode: different battle zone dictate different methods of landing.Your soldiers will be able to Deep Strike, land with heavy weapons and Sentinels, land on tight spot and disembark from hovering aircraft without scattering.    

Talon's Tactics: tired of failing orders? tired of incompetent commanders and rigid gunlines? Try new tactics! Troops will perform suppressive fire, deadly volleys, resupply damaged units and even fire Overwatch on full BS.

Doctrines: the doctrines are back! Using reworked doctrines from 3rd and 4th editions of IG codex as well as completely original ones you may customize tactics, equipment and skills of your entire regiment or veteran unit. Doctrines are divided into 3 groups: Sweat saves blood, Special Equipment and Battle Scars.

Redefined Army list: units have more blood to spare, Elites units offer choice of Commando units, Medics and Combat Engineers. HQ will allow you to field Adeptus Arbites Judge, Ordo Hospitaller Sister as well as various non-comissioned officer to bolster strength of your airborne regiment. Some units are unique and will significantly improve your firepower and accuracy as well as unique special characters with background in Drop Troops regiments.

Different types of platoons: drop troops operate without tanks or heavy support, but they compensate for it using different platoons. You may choose between  
Assault infantry platoon, for all those Normandy landings,  
Fire Support platoon in case if bridge too far, or 
Mechanized platoon for daring raids and outflanking as well as landing troops in armored vehicles behind stunned opponent.