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Welcome to James Kemp's Wiki
This is a collaborative web platform that allows people to edit1) the web pages to provide additional content for some of the stories I have written and the roleplaying games that I am involved in, whether as a player or GM.
There are several namespaces operating slightly different wiki subjects. These are, in no particular order:
- Skyss - Story Background - a fantasy novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2016.
- Perfects - background for the near future story and some police roleplaying that I ran in that universe
- Theocracy of Daprav - A D&D campaign that I ran with Glasgow University Games Society around 2002-3.
- Jim Wallman's Universe - a roleplaying by e-mail campaign that I play in, this is an unofficial wiki and none of it is canon unless Jim says it is.
- Interstellar Freelance Unlimited - subset of the Universe pages covering the activities of a mercenary company that we are currently roleplaying every Full Moon.
- Earth Imperium pages. These cover the activities of the Government of the Solar republic (aka Earth Empire) in Jim's Humanity Will Prevail campaign, including the Earth Imperium News Items.
- Free Worlds Alliance - covering the activities of another emerging polity in the Humanity Will Prevail campaign. Mostly contributed by Eric Moroney.
- Universe Background - page collecting the various bits of background info that have come up in various e-mail discussions for the campaigns set in Jim Wallman's Universe.
- Master map of the Universe (6Mb PDF, as at 3212).
- Delta Green - some roleplaying campaigns about horror and conspiracy. The main one was set in Berlin in 1953.
- Free games rules - a collection of free rules for wargames and other sorts of face to face games that I have designed or run.
- Wargames rules - I'm not just a player of games, I also do rules for them from time to time as well as one-off games. A primary outlet for this is through Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Other free rules - at the moment just those for the 1689 (Orange or Lemon? and Bonnie Dundee, respectively about the debates in the Scots Parliament and then the military campaign of Viscount Dundee during 1689) and The Other Side of the COIN (about what makes people become insurgents). All games that I have have produced for Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Background for a near future universe where I have written some fiction and also run some roleplaying games in.
Comments and complaints to me at webmaster@full-moon.info please.
James Kemp
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The Free Worlds Alliance-Z155 War
The Free Worlds Alliance-Z155 War began in the eight octant of 3211, between the Republic of Z155 and the Free Worlds Alliance. It was codenamed Operation Line Drive by the FWA. In ended in the first octant of 3212 with an FWA victory.
Background
Z155 is an independent world in Quadrant Eight controlled by members of the First Church of Earth. The First Earthers form the majority of the colony and completely control the government, military, judiciary and police.
The Free Worlds Alliance is a fourteen world military alliance in Quadrant one and eight.
Road to War
Violence between the First Earthers and minority Satanists has marred Z155’s history since at least 3207. The FWA’s Chairman Jackson was known to be unhappy with Z155’s complete domination by the Christian Socialist Party, who had arrested councilors of the Free Thought Party to remain in power. Still, the FWA took no direct action against the Z155 regime. It was a surprise vote that would tip the Alliance’s hand.
On T98, Z155 held a referendum on polity membership. 52% voted to join the FWA, 10% voted to join some other polity and 37% voted no. This result surprised the CSP, who expected an easy victory for their “No surrender of sovereignty” campaign to cement their control of the colony. It also surprised the FWA, who had expected that the Satanists would boycott the vote. Z155’s First Minister Floralpattern announced the Referendum was invalid due to “voting irregularities” and declared a state of emergency. The Free Thought Party and Democratic Rights Party were barred from the Council.
Shortly before the referendum vote, the Z155 Crusader Corps (ZCC) was founded. Almost immediately after its founding, the ZCC was implicated in the burning of Satanist homes.
A number of public protests by the “Vote Yes Alliance,” a pro-FWA coalition largely led by the FTP, were dispersed violently by riot police and Crusader Corps troops. There were some deaths. Z155’s government then cracked down on minority religious groups, arresting many. The Free Worlds Alliance did not take kindly to this, and issued a strongly worded protest and a travel warning suggesting FWA citizens leave the Z155 system. The FWA also evacuated the Spuk consulate, which served as an unofficial FWA embassy on Z155. Central Fleet announced a “Readiness exercise” in the Spuk system, which some believed was an attempt to intimidate Z155.
First Minister Floralpattern was not intimidated. He declared Jackson the Anti-Christ. In case of invasion, the Crusader Corps did some digging in around government offices and the Council building, but not very effectively. The government hired Gritrow Solutions to train the ZCC. The ZCC and police initiated security sweeps and arrested several thousand Satanists as “Subversives, Terrorists and evildoers.” The ZCC displayed shocking brutality in these sweeps. The opposition parties went into hiding for fear of being arrested and formed a coalition of peaceful resistance.
Declaration of War
In T100, the Free Worlds Alliance’s Council of Defense Ministers declared war on Z155. Chairman Jackson said that Operation Line Drive would restore “order, democracy and peace.” The FWA’s member worlds followed suit soon after. Floralpattern vowed not to surrender and to fight the FWA. The FWA's declaration of war drew condemnation from the MAFC, support from the Union of Xyon and conditional support from the Republic of New Venus.
Forces involved
Z155’s largest force was a paramilitary force called the Crusader Corps. It numbered roughly eight thousand to twelve thousand soldiers, divided into ten “Legions”. The Corps was not very well trained and had only limited equipment. It received some additional training from Gritrow Solutions, a PMC, but Gritrow took no active part in the war. The Corps was mostly deployed in and around Friendly City. The Crusader Corps was commanded by General Angeline Floralpattern. General Floralpattern has no military training or experience.
The Crusader Corps was supplemented by a small planetary militia of perhaps 2,000 mostly part time soldiers. They were lightly equipped. Like the Corps, they were headquartered in Friendly City. The Security Militia was commanded by Major Jolene Padgett.
Z155’s navy, the Sword of God, had a mercenary-crewed Armed Class 5000, Warrior of God. It was captained by the determined but inexperienced Jamie Floralpattern.
The Free Worlds Alliance assigned Starbuck Task Force to carry out Operation Line Drive. Starbuck Task Force has one CVI (Starbuck), one CAI and one ALSI. The FWA’s Rapid Reaction GF Brigade and Independent Marine Regiment were embarked. Vice Admiral Cecily Skye was in command. The FWA also hired the mercenary group Interstellar Freelancers Unlimited (IFU) to assist.
Opening Moves
Central Fleet had actually departed Lamster for Z155 before war was even declared. In addition to this attack force, the FWA’s Spuk, Nose and Pratt DDI garrisons were put on alert in case of an attack or commerce raiding by the Sword of God.
In response to the war, Z155’s government took a number of foreign nationals into “protective custody” in response. This included nationals of Pratt, Lamster, Killikrankie, the Union of Xyon and Centauri Conglomerate. Other FWA nationals were arrested as “agent provocateurs.” They were being held near major military installations, possibly as human shields.
Fighting Begins
On 3211.372, a motorcade carrying a body double of First Minister Floralpattern was attacked by IFU. Several ZCC soldiers were killed or injured, and the body double was captured. In addition, government buildings and the ZCC headquarters were mortared.
The Invasion
Starbuck Task Force quickly established space superiority and captured the Warrior of God, wiping out the SoG. FWA pacs then attacked military targets on the surface. Soon after the FWA Army landed its GF brigade near Friendly City, the capitol. Resistance was sporadic and ineffective. Most ZCC soldiers ditched their uniforms and went home rather than fight the FWA’s GF troops. FWA soldiers quickly established control over the planet, ending the war. General Floralpattern and First Minister Floralpattern were captured when IFU stormed a command bunker under the Council building. Total Allied losses were two FWA Army soldiers wounded and five IFU mercs wounded.
Post War
Opposition parties organized a provisional government following the war.
Deadlock War of Unification
Prior to war of unification in 3196-7 Deadlock was a prosperous system with several heterogeneous colonies on the planetary surface. In the period from 3190 - 3196 the economy as a whole was relatively stable at Below Average, and the local governments on the planetary surface were making moves towards a peaceful unification. A number of colonies voted to merge themselves into larger groupings.
Overview
Deadlock in Q1 has been settled for some significant period of time. As of 3196.001 it has a Below Average economy (10 SV in total) and a population of some 7 million. These are shared around a number of colonial groups as detailed below.
Recent Events
Over the last decade the number of independent colonies on the planet has reduced from 9 to 5. There is a clear understanding amongst all of the colony governments that there needs to be unity on the planet if the econimic prosperity is to continue. As such several of the colonies have been involved in talks to create a federal structure to deal with common issues that would still allow them all to retain their own autonomy.
The extant colonial groups are (in rough order of size):
Union of Democratic Peoples
On its own this is Very Poor economically giving the colony government about 5 SV to run their affairs. This is a relatively recent state of affairs, as the UDP have fought two wars in the last six years, taking over three other colonies. All their economic growth is from absorption of other colonies, which have been picked off one at a time. The UDP was the second largest of the colonies ten years ago and invested its resources in Militia. It then took over the Big Red Mining Corporation, its nearest neighbour, by negotiation, following the accidental deaths of three key Board members of BRMC in a mine explosion.
The extra resources from this allowed the fledgling UDP (then called the New Canaan Colony) to add to its forces. Three years later there followed a short victorious war with the New Democrats of Deadlock who then voted to merge with the New Canaan Colony to form the UDP. The referendum was plagued with allegations of vote rigging, violence and dirty campaigning. In the Presidential Elections that followed Darius Zehring, Head of the United Branch Militant of the Seventh Coming, was elected president. The result was greeted by violence from the people of NDD who didn't share his deeply religious convictions.
Another short war followed, defending against the Free People of Deadlock (another colony) who had attempted to invade the former NDD territory in what they said was a war of liberation. This ended in disaster for the FPD, whose government fell after their defeat in the first major engagement of the war. Another controversial referendum followed, with the predictable result that the FPD joined the UDP. The UDP then set up special prisons for political prisoners.
Deadlock Association of Free Colonists
This is a very loose association of three of the longer established groups (Pickledonia, Deadlock First Landers, and the Green Grass Colonies) plus the more recent New Sun Colony. All of the four constituent parties retain their own forms of government, methods for choosing their government, laws and financial independence. However they have agreed to co-operate for mutual defence and external relations as well as for economic growth.
Pickledonia
A merger of two colonies that named in enthusiasm for the Pickles administration in the MAFC. Both the original colonies have drawn heavily on second wave colonisation from MAFC systems and have retained the notable character of that polity. Their economy is worth just under 2SV and as such is the largest of the four in the DAFC (about 36% of the total). Their population is just over 1 million.
Deadlock First Landers
As the name of the colony suggests this is descendant of the original group that landed on Deadlock back in 3178. There have been a few off-shoots and splits, but this group covers the original landing site and most of the longest residents. It also has a fair number of newer arrivals in its population as well as a significant number of those born on Deadlock. It has an economy of around 1.5 SV and a population of about 1 million.
Green Grassers
An off-shoot of the Deadlock First Landers, so called because it was the later arrivals involved in farming who wanted to expand onto the second largest continent on the surface. They are agriculture heavy and are the main food producers in the system. Population of just under half a million, but economically strong with about 1.25 SV of resources.
New Sun Colony
Established in 3191 from people largely born on Earth. Strong start from public funds and with a link into the Earth Empire for back-up if required. Although new this colony is of a significant size, having attracted almost 0.5 million colonists in the four years since it was established. The New Sun Colony recently signed up to become part of the Deadlock Association of Free Colonists.
United Branch Militant of the Seventh Coming
This is a splinter group of the original Church of the Seventh Coming that colonised the planet Venus in the Sol system before moving to Canaan. The United Branch Militant has long been suppressed by the RNV as subversive, however it has never the less survived and spread, albeit slowly and as a minority sect. It claims some 10 million adherents universe wide, although no-one really believed that until recently. On Deadlock it appears to have about 750,000 members, with more arriving every day. This is largely because the UBM decided in 3175 to manage migration to a single system to gain a critical mass for freedom of worship.
Split from Main Church
Their key point of departure from the main Church of the Seventh Coming is their view that the passage authored by Samuel Cooke that was quoted in the Book of Semaj (his surviving diaries, the Semaj Codex and selected parts of his published works on the external communication that he had) was a key part of the text and that it contained directions on the correct structure of the Church. They also tend towards more literal interpretations of the various holy works.
Hierarchy
The head of the church is called “The High Panjandrum”, and the next layer down consists of 12 Joblillies, there are also many Bishops and a group of Zealots (who form the close guard for the holiest sites).
The Church doesn't believe in democracy in making high appointments, nor apparently in general (however it appears that there is a pragmatic streak in achieving its strategic goals to use the weaknesses of its opponents to legitimise its acquisitions). Instead it relies on the word of God coming through the prophets, of which there are several in each generation. Only those with the gift can hold the highest offices.
Church of the Seventh Coming
One of the major religions amongst the Venerian systems, and probably the main reason for their being a Venerian identity long before the polity came into being.
Origins
The exact origins of the Church are unprovenanced, however it is certain that it dates from the early (pre-superluminal) days of space-flight. The Church's official line is that the crew members on the original manned voyage to the planet Venus were subject to visions and revelations from God that allowed them to correctly interpret the various Abrahamic holy scriptures and also gave them a drive to proselytise on their return. There is certainly a strongly scientific basis to the Church which is unusual amongst the religions.
What is certain is that by 2830 they were sufficient resource-rich to be able to launch a mission to attempt to terraform and colonise Venus. As one commentator at the time said of them “Church of the Seventh Coming (Marxist-Lemmingist). Some call them mad, but these deeply religious scientific people really have no place on Earth and are looking for that Promised Land in space. Allegedly.”
Main Beliefs
The church is Abrahamic and believes in the same god as the Jews, Christians and Muslims. However their gloss is that Professor Mek Semaj was also a prophet and that God was the mysterious entity that spoke to him and revealed the location of suitable Earth-like planets and also the means to conduct superluminal travel that we might reach them.
They certainly go for a fairly non-literal translation of most of the holy writings and see these as an attempt by God to give people rules that would improve their living conditions and allow them to prosper. An example cited being the dietary rules on both Jews & Muslims, these make perfect sense when viewed in the historical and geographical context of low technology and a very hot climate in which food would spoil rapidly.
Broadly speaking the Church holds the following to be most likely true:
- man has free will to either embrace God's grace, or to resist it;
- all believers have full assurance of salvation, so long as they continue to believe;
- justification is by faith alone, good works of those who do not believe are not sufficient to gain salvation;
- apostasy (i.e. total unbelief) is irredeemable, and the fallen are lost forever if they cease to believe in the existence of God.
The Seventh Coming
The name refers to the seventh and final coming of God to visit humanity, which will be presaged by the end times of tribulation. After the seventh coming the Elect will be saved and raised up to live forever in grace.
The first six comings of God, after he had finished the creation, to give his message to humanity are as follows:
- Noah's warning and directions to build the Ark;
- Abraham's covenant with God and promise that his descendants would be multitudinous and of all nations of earth;
- Moses ten commandments from God on how to live;
- Jesus message and the founding of Christianity;
- Muhammad’s message and the founding of Islam;
- Semaj's message and the opening up of new worlds for the faithful
These are the six major visitations where God has provided substantial messages to his people, but there are also thousands more instances where he has intervened to ensure the continuation of his message or to support the faithful. There are prophets in every generation to remind us of his presence and ensure the message stays on course.
