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[Blood_Librarian]

Discord Link
Elorius Dynast Forum Thread
Phoziris Shard Forum Thread
This is the Core Thread, for general discussion between people on different teams or Observers, rules updates, and more. For actual gameplay or team-only talk, visit the appropriate team thread.
If you're new to Arms Races but are unfamiliar, read through the rules spoilers on the bottom, pick a team, and start participating in their thread; please don't read or otherwise participate in the other team's thread. Looking at their thread's OP to decide which team is okay, however.

What is Desolation: Arms Race against Extinction? It is an arms race that consists of two polities of an alien species fighting against each other in the graveyard of their once star-faring civilization. It is inspired by multiple sources (Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, METRO 2033, ChiefWaffles Mad Arm Race, Madman's Interplanetary Arms Race), This fight was only small-time until exactly one Cycle ago, where both sides had found a cache of Pre-Collapse Technology “first”, and fought each other violently to confirm that fact. Now they steel their might against each other for an honest-to-stars war. This means there is a push for a hot-shot R&D team to propel their side to victory, which is where you come in.

Technological miracles long lost are now ready to be unearthed and rediscovered, to be used as one would use a particularly sharp rock; to kill and destroy the enemy. Where “standard” technological advancements fail, more esoteric, strange methods may succeed. The burning of Niria has left some twisted realities behind ready to be exploited.

Spoiler: Lore Primer (click to show/hide)

Long ago, there was a star-spanning empire. It shined across the stars, and upon its fair worlds were constructions, creation at its highest order; Hundreds, maybe even thousands of Stars were home to trillions of Yaerians. One such star was ours, Cadar.

This world was molded to fit us.  Later, machines tended to our every need. We were given time for higher virtues. That was, until another empire found our species, and annihilated all of our worlds after a very long and drawn-out war. They left our world burned, but not glassed. Some wonder if this is a blessing or a curse.

We are stranded on this world, the world of Niria.

A few of us survived this event. Dreamers, cowards, and survivors, but no heroes, no engineers or scientists. It was a dark age, we lost many wonders. We were separated from another group of Yaerians. We are possibly the only survivors of this galactic calamity, and we are in two groups, the Phoziris Shard, and the Elorius Dynast. Our differences make us incompatible for trade,  regular contact, and peaceful co-existence, but whatever interactions we have are difficult because of the miles and miles of the burned city between us that is interspersed with lethal hazards.

Sometime after we were burned, someone, something created or dropped monsters on our world.

These monsters are Battle-Frames, positronic AI’s housed in casings that were originally dedicated to fighting the enemy are now present throughout the world, having taken over our dead and dying infrastructure.  Their guns fire on us, despite the fact that they seem to be descended from our own benevolent machines. They don't move from their share of the ruins and create a resource scarcity. If they stir, we are behold to cower from their unknowable minds and their lethal guns.

Despite that, we’re rising from the dirt. The sky is no longer clout with clouds of ash that turn lungs black, and the radioactive dust has mostly settled. Most of all, errant nano hives have finally stopped pumping the air with death outside of Pozi Black Zones.

Our technological capacity is widely varied. Our foremost advantage is medicine;  Everything from blood transfusions, basic genetic modification, biochemistry, and basic augmentations such as pacemakers and artificial ears are possible right now.

We have barely returned to using electric or steam engine trains for wide-spread transportation, and the Dynasts managed to activate a singular mag-lev train online for transportation in its cities. The Shard owns the broken end of this planets Elevator and uses it’s varied cargo systems for their own uses. They even have cars.

Neither side has any standardized battle-ready weapons, but plantative projections put our societies to be able to develop them in an advanced level; laser weapons and railguns in  large vehicle sized packages, and complex automatic firearms should be buildable provided effort is applied, but in the long term, anything is possible.

Our main issue is a simple fact that there is no gasoline to power our crude systems, we rely entirely on salvaged systems that develop power through poorly understood methods. Fuel cell systems utilizing hydrogen or other fuels are poorly understood and labor-intensive to produce. Details must be clarified on how our systems are powered. Geothermal energy plants are the center points of both societies, as they utilize cracked tectonic plates to power most of our civilian infrastructure, but it is difficult to store power for vehicles and complex devices as our battery systems are relatively sub-par.

Similarly, complex weapons are hard to produce due to our limited acquisition of rare earths and other resources. Traditional mines are hard to make when the world is almost entirely covered in a city that is filled with hazards.

Our access to orbit is hampered by our lack of fuel, and the existence of KILLSATS-- satellites which exist to deny the orbital space of our world, either used by the battle-Frames in the area or the hated Enemy. It will be very hard to enter the orbital space until both problems are solved.

We were Yaerians, a species united, but now we are of two, separate, irreconcilably hostile groups, forever encapsulated in a war that will only end in the imperialistic conquest of another, or worse.

We are the Elorius Dynast. We hailed from the sky, when our wondrous fleet was grounded by the harrying Enemy, and forced to churn our fabricators for the service of the planet, or fight in the void outmatched and alone. The Phoziris seek to shackle us to this world for their own petty ambitions. We are the reason why this world is not a glass ball, and we want to leave this world towards a better future, with or without the Phoziris. We have the rightful authority of the greater Yaerian Directorate, as given to us by the autonomic remnants of the positronic AI that kept our was-fleet alive.

We are the Phoziris Shard. We are the inheritors of the millions of square kilometers that was once a planet-wide polity. This dirt was once ours, but it will no longer contain us. We seek to leave this world for better pastures, but the Dynast seek to stop us at all costs, to chain us to this world forever for their own petty grievances, but we will leave, with or without them at our side. We have the rightful authority of the greater Yaerian Directorate, as given to us by the autonomic remnants of the Positronic AI that once ran this world


Each team will start with 1 Minerals and 2 Energy.
Minerals represent your capacity to utilize on-site resources in the manufacturing process.
Energy represents your capacity to power devices, or otherwise commit to power-intensive tasks (polymers, recycling centers, etc )

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

[E: 2/2; P: 0/2]District 7: The Unyielding Bunkers of Elorius
[E: 4/4; P: 0/4] Elevator Base (1)
The base of one of two Space Elevators that were on this world. Its cord has long since rotted, but impact scar crater is one of the larger craters that lead all the way to the Sea. Surrounding it is razed cityscapes and looted spaceports, tarnished only by intense infighting and neglect as the centuries went on.
[E: 4/4; P: 0/4] Scraper Kill Hills (2)
Heavy city development, the ruins of which have only been recently cleared. Unlike the Arcology, this is many, many buildings that all amalgamate against each other as wreckage that has compacted into something like hills and valleys.  Watch your step.
[E: 4/4; P: 0/4] Collapsed V. Farms (3)
What was once a burgeoning vertical farm now lies as a massive mound of soil, mutated crops, and strange intoxicating monsters set in a bog. Raider gangs live here, with an eclectic set of gear they terrorize the countryside and are renowned for their accuracy with their war-bows, strung with threading from the Elevator.
[E: 2/4; P: 2/4] Deteriorating Arcology (4)
The center of our world, The largest Arcology of the planet. Its name has been forgotten, and the only reason it stands was that the Hated Enemy coveted it. Inside it is miles of corridors and unscavenged loot, as well as ticking machines. Sometimes the dying reactor inside the Arcology manages to power some of the sub-systems inside, including internal and external defenses.
+1 Energy
[E: 2/4; P: 2/4] The Metro (5)
A dozen tunnels go directly underneath the Arcology, allowing for truly horrific tunnel fights between both factions as well as the active menace of Battle-Frames directed by the equivalent of an autonomous sub-way and construction authority. It’s already dying, but its dreams dictate when its legions will march
+1 Minerals
[E: 0/4; P: 4/4] Ruined Park (6)
Massive fields of gardens, forests, and microbiomes grow un phased here. One of the few places on the planet without city development.  A rebellion from the Phozirus Shard had arrived here after a mutiny a long time ago, and they have come to be ruled by the Metro’s Construction Authority. They are vicious and cunning about doing their masters bidding, which often makes no sense what so ever.
[E: 0/4 P: 4/4] Glass Crater (7)
What was once a massive stretch of the city has been obliterated to the foundations by a particularly devastating hydrogen bomb. Nothing grows here, and nothing stirs besides interloping Yaerians, for it is a hollowed grave of millions of the dead. In the center of the crater is a monumental pile of corpses stacked up by the Battle Frames. Sometimes they visit, but unlike other areas, they seemingly do so to mourn rather than to patrol. This is one of the few places where  Battle-Frames do not open fire upon Yaerian forces upon detection, and it is perhaps one of the most terrifying places to be in. If you die here, your body is added to the pile.

[E: 0/4 P: 4/4]Cleared Metropolis(
This part of the city was spared by the wide-spread bombardment th most of the world was hit with, and the vast majority of buildings are still intact. People might actually live here in the coming years, were it not for the unsettlingly close Black Zone.
[E: 0/2; P: 2/2]District 6: The Shining Spires of Phoziris
Black Zone (9)
The Black Zone is a hellish city-scape of active Battle-Frames, malfunctioning nano hives, radioactive craters, and other equally horrible things. Only Special forces equipped with defense against chemical, biological, radiological and nano-scale threats (CBRN-S) can traverse this zone safely and a semblance of control over this zone will provide a bonus towards attacking Sectors  3, 4, and 7.
The Shining Sea(10)
Generations ago,  the local Battleframes used a series of what was later discovered to be thermonuclear charges to turn this area into a basin, which the sea now resides. No one knows why, but the Frames had a planet shaking conflict with each other in what was once Sector 8. This conflict ended when the Zone had been terraformed, the area was sunken down and entirely flooded. The conflict ultimately leads to the formation of an inland sea as vast amounts of material were cratered into the surrounding area as well as a concerted effort by the Battleframes themselves. The water is unsafe to drink and is sterile, but it is incredibly convenient that the vast majority of nuclear materials have sunk to the floor of the seabed, and only requires minor filtration to become drinkable. Most of our water is projected to come from the Shining Sea as it is easier to filter water than to reclaim it. Control over this zone will provide a bonus towards controlling Sectors 2, 5, and 6.

Starter Designs

Spoiler: Phoziris Designs (click to show/hide)

Transportation Capacity: 0
Resources: 1 Minerals, 2 Energy

Weapons
Salvaged Weaponry: Most scouts and some veteran personnel managed to get their hands on hand-crafted or pre-annihilation weapons that use a variety of methods of delivery. Logistics for these variable effectiveness weapons will be a headache until a standardized loadout is made. A vast majority of these weapons are lovingly crafted by the scavengers, and as such are chemically accelerated.  The few energy weapons in this mix are terrifying examples of what was our might, but we do not yet have the technological nor industrial might to recreate them, or even put them back together if we dismantle them. (N/A)

Misc. Equipment
Survivalist uniform: Our troops are issued all the equipment they need to, in theory, survive the toxic air and deadly cold of some parts of the city. Given in the form of whatever can be found, but the standard is a gas mask and a coat in our colors, a green-ish.


Infrastructure

ProtoBatteries: Batteries that were reclaimed from civilian equipment and recharged from the nearest power generator and carried over to where it is needed There is no power grid, only a courier network. To say unreliable is an understatement. (1 Energy)


Mag-Lev Station: A single station in the Cleared Metropolis is the most civilian authorities are willing to give to move the troops out, as they are not willing to risk the singular mag-lev train that runs throughout the city. It will not run if the Cleared Metropolis is contested. Every day, they battle with the licensed part requirements and incredible maintenance tasks that are required to keep it running, by the simple virtue that almost every single component is a DRM-Licensed/ fabbed part, meaning that jury-rigging is required until our fabricator is loaded with the proper license.

Schedule 1 Fabricator: One of the simplest fabricator designs in existence that was looted from the cache, Schedule 1 Fabricators are able to create simple devices on a large scale without configuring. Their black-box nature precludes us from tampering without a mythical Yaerian Official present- if they exist at all. Our licenses include objects standard for survival in the cities, as well as basic industrial technology. Low throughput means that smaller items can be produced in larger batches, and our industry is using it to bootstrap themselves into a higher power. For reference, it is the size of a large semi-truck, and it is perhaps the most advanced device we own.[/s]

Spoiler: Elorius Designs (click to show/hide)

Transportation Capacity: 0
Resources: 1 Minerals, 2 Energy

Weapons
Salvaged Weaponry: Most scouts and some veteran personnel managed to get their hands on hand-crafted or pre-annihilation weapons that use a variety of methods of delivery. Logistics for these variable effectiveness weapons will be a headache until a standardized loadout is made. A vast majority of these weapons are lovingly crafted by the scavengers, and as such are chemically accelerated.  The few energy weapons in this mix are terrifying examples of what was our might, but we do not yet have the technological nor industrial might to recreate them, or even put them back together if we dismantle them. (N/A)

Misc. Equipment
Survivalist uniform: Our troops are issued all the equipment they need to, in theory, survive the toxic air and deadly cold of some parts of the city. Given in the form of whatever can be found, but the standard is a gas mask and a coat in our colors, a Purple-ish coloration.

Infrastructure
ProtoBatteries: Protobatteries is the terminology for Batteries stolen from the civilian network or salvaged from the ruins. They are currently recharged from civilian infrastructure or from the failed grid and jury-rigged into any-would be military equipment. To say unreliable is an understatement. (1 Energy)

Schedule 1 Fabricator: One of the simplest fabricator designs in existence that was looted from the cache, Schedule 1 Fabricators are able to create simple devices on a large scale without pre-configuration. Their black-box nature precludes us from tampering without a mythical Yaerian Official present-- if they exist at all. Our licenses include objects standard for survival in the cities, as well as basic industrial technology.  Low throughput means that smaller items can be produced in larger batches, and our industry is using it to bootstrap themselves into a higher power. For reference, it is the size of a large semi-truck, and it is perhaps the most advanced device we own.[/s]

Sky-Thread Base: One of the “lesser” achievements of our species exists in our territory, the amputated space-elevator is in the center of what was once the world's largest mercantile sector. Although the miracle of the thread is long gone, it’s surrounded by dozens of armatures and cargo unloading hardware that has been jury-rigged into transportation inbetween the jagged buildings of the Elorious.

Spoiler: Arms Race Basics (click to show/hide)

An Arms Race game is a 2-team "suggestion" game about designing new weapons, items, and other objects for your nation's military. These designs will be routinely compared to the other team's arsenal in Battle Reports. The game is split into three phases:

Phases
A turn (0.25th of a cycle) is divided into phases. The Battle Report, at the end of the Battle Phase, takes place starting at the beginning of the next cycle.
1.) Design Phase: In the Design phase, everyone on a team can submit proposals for new designs, and vote for one (and only one) design to be submitted. This chosen design then has a set of dice rolled in order to determine how well the R&D of this design goes. Depending on how high the dice result is (more on this in the "2d4 System: Rolls & Design/Revision Difficulty" spoiler), the submitted proposal will result in a design of varying usefulness. Designs are practically anything new to your military.
2.) Revision Phase: In the Revision phase, everyone on the team can submits revision proposals and vote for one to be submitted - this phase is identical to the Design Phase in every way but what you can do with your proposal. Revisions are exactly that - revisions. They're modifications to existing technology or designs. Revisions can tweak or improve designs, fix flaws, or even introduce new variants of designs. Revisions don't have to be modifications of existing Designs - they can be based on any technology your nation has, whether or not it's listed as a Design.
3.) Battle Phase: This is where you wait to receive the Battle Report, which details the impacts of your designs, how combat is played out in various regions, and the gaining/losing of any territory. This all depends on what designs you have - different terrain has different impacts on your designs' effectiveness.


Combat & Control
In the Battle Phase, the different areas of your soldiers fight in are represented as Regions - different parts of the "continent" which are strategically important for whatever reason. Regions are organized in lanes, indicated by the blue lines in the map. In order to begin assaulting a region, a nation must have complete control of the previous region in the same lane. Regions are internally divided into four zones each, representing how much control if it each nation has. Winning in a region advances your control over it by one zone.
The Cities, District Six and Seven, are unique types of regions in that they only have two zones. But as soon as a nation loses their city, they lose the game.

Spoiler: Expense & Resources (click to show/hide)

Almost literally copy-pasted from Chief Waffles Mad Arms Race. His system works well.

Most pieces of equipment have a resource cost, expressed in Mineral and Energy. For examples, see the starting equipment below. Minerals represent the total amount of mining or salvaging effort which an item costs and Energy represents the energy required to create or use it. If something is big or uses rare metals, it will have a high Mineral cost. If something burns a lot of fuel, or uses very complex manufacturing processes or requires an excess of electricity or logistical power to field it, then it will have a high energy cost. Costs represent what is needed to supply your entire army, roughly 20,000 men. This means that prices given might be for 20,000 rifles, 5000 motorcycles with sidecars, or 500-1000 tanks or planes, or even a couple of ships.

Your nation has limited resources: A city (representing the area around it) starts with 2 Minerals, 1 Energy, and enough of what may be called wood to not be requisitionally insignificant. You can gain resources by taking certain sections of the map then holding them for one turn without losing ground, or from acquiring it from more esoteric means. The map spoiler describes the resources available. If a design costs resources which you don't have, it becomes expensive, and can't be issued to everybody. The total amount of resources a design costs more than you have is called the Resource Deficit. A design with no resource deficit is Cheap, this means it can be issued to every soldier, or as often as your generals decide is tactically sensible. A resource deficit of up to 2 makes a design Expensive, meaning it can only be issued to officers, or 1 in 10 men. A resource deficit of 3-5 makes a design Very Expensive, available to only about 1 in 100 men. A resource deficit of 6-9 makes a design a National Effort, you can only field one at a time - so this is only worthwhile if it's something like an enormous battleship, a nuke, or mecha-godzilla. A resource deficit of 10 or more is Theoretical, and cannot actually be built. Some technologies are Complex, being new and difficult to manufacture, and designs featuring them become one level more expensive. Consider expenses when planning your designs! If you lose access to resources, any designs which become more expensive will immediately see the effects - equipment which doesn't have enough fuel and spare parts will need to be decommissioned.

There are also Special Resources. Currently, none exist, but as designs grow more and more outlandish, they may begin requiring newly-unearthed resources from the map or ones provided by designs/revisions with the intent of providing that resource. Your new autonomous drones may end up requiring salvaged AI cores, a new resource. It may pop up as a resource in one of the regions, or it may require a design - like an AI-signal scanner - to be acquired.

You have a limited Transport Capacity (Note: You have 0 TC at the beginning) which determines how much resources you are capable of claiming from other territories you control. Your TC is given from the single vehicle each in air, ground, underground(railway), and water which gives the highest TC. Your homeland's resources do not consume transport capacity

Spoiler: 2d4 System: Rolls & Design/Revision Difficulty (click to show/hide)

This system is ripped off largely based off of Chief Waffles Mad Arms Race. (Aratam is better by the way.)

The results of designs and revisions are decided by the use of two four-sided die (or "2d4") yielding in a result in the range of 2-8. This allows for a bit less common extremes, meaning you won't commonly have your designs become completely useless.
Roll (Probability): Result
2 (1/16): Utter failure. You get nothing except the knowledge of what not to do.
3 (1/8): Buggy mess. Whilst you managed to make something, it isn't really usable.
4 (3/16): Below average. It works. Not especially well, but it works.
5 (1/4): Average. You get what you asked for, more or less.
6 (3/16): Above average. It works, and somewhat better than might be expected. Statistically, at least.
7 (1/8): Superior craftsmanship. It does its job and it does it perfectly. Its performance is exceptional and it is as reliable as clockwork.
8 (1/16): Unexpected boon. Not only does it work, but it does things you never even expected it to. If no 'bonus features' make sense, then you just get experience with some related field.


Every design and revision is assigned a Difficulty when they're rolled. Difficulties assign a modifier (+/- #) to the roll, changing the effective result. The following is a list of the difficulties, their modifiers, and when they usually pop up. This is a very rough guide as the situations surrounding designs & revisions cannot be predicted.

• Trivial (+2): Actions where no notable challenges, small or big, are solved. Often assigned to actions based on using existing established (non-theoretical) knowledge in a new but not unusual way.
• Easy (+1): Actions where some minor challenge is found.
• Normal (+0): Actions often involving new concepts or technology and progress in the field, but no major breakthroughs are intended.
• Hard (-1): Actions often entirely involved in entirely novel concepts, but that have a decent foundation and basis in current knowledge.
• Very Hard (-2): Actions where you have some idea of what you're doing, but are largely attempting to play with things you don't understand.
• Ludicrous (-3): Actions where you have no idea what you're doing but that are theoretically possible given your current knowledge

Impossible is another difficulty which means failure no matter what the roll is. High rolls on an Impossible design may result in experience towards whatever you were trying to do.

[Blood_Librarian]

Reserved.

[m1895]

I'll join Phoziris.

[Shadowclaw777]

The Elorius will rule the skies again!

[Rockeater]

Ptw

[TricMagic]

The Shards of an ancient era ascend once more.

[Blood_Librarian]

after a small think tank session, I've decided to remove the Fabricators designs on both sides, because a few members on the discord pointed out a couple situations that would change the tone of the game I want.

A clarification on the Space-Elevator Cable: While the cable was once capable of extreme tensile strength, it is no longer the super material it once was. Most, perhaps  or all of it has decayed into the equivalent of a modern strand utilized for bowstrings (strength per strand = 45.5 kg (100 lb), stretch = 1.0%) This decay was caused by a combination of a lack of maintenance: The strands required a periodic maintenance to retain its super-properties, and the complex structure was vulnerable to the radiation given off  by thermonuclear detonations, of which there were many on Naira.

I would say that the Protobattery stores from 1x to 2x times the power of a modern nonrechargeable Chemical battery while still being rechargeable. This variance is due to the massive variation in quality and composition of these batteries, but they still use advanced technology to be assembled. However, there is no standardization among them, and an unreliability will stem from them.

[Madman198237]

Going to join the Elorious Dynasty.

[frostgiant]

Phozirus For me

[VoidSlayer]

Phozirus will take our rightful place on other worlds!

[Taricus]

Joining the Elorius Dynasts!

[Blood_Librarian]

Event: Machines of the Ancients

In the depths of the Arcology, there are only two constants.

• Everyone is surrounded by the detritus of a building that had once encompassed an entire land, and walls, ceilings and trappings of a crumbled civilization are always present.
• Everyone avoids Battle-Frames.

They are silent, varied in purpose and always merciless.

Sometimes, they take on the form of a massive, byzantine war-machine, with counter-measure after countermeasure on top of a mountain of guns and armor, which walks the land and burns anything that dares to stir.

Other times, they are the knives that gleam in the darkness.

Regardless, Their presence often signals the beginning and end of combat.

Your respective hierarchies have politely, firmly requested that the development of equipment that subvert this, and too keep combat going regardless of the presence of these horrific machines.


You are given one [1] additional design to create something to battle the Battle-Frames influence on the battle-field.  There are quite a few types of BattleFrames, from gigantic killing machines, flying drones of both RECON and lethal varieties, “Infantry” units, automated turrets, as well as other more obscure systems.

Hacking of any form will not work. Disabling a Battle-Frame usually results in reinforcements being called. In a few cases, there has been the deployment of either over-the-horizon munitions or orbital weapons being deployed. They usually patrol the same routes, although they sometimes dynamically route around obstacles or call in for engineering support if it requires it. The Metro Authority has its own brand of battle-frames which it uses to keep its slice of pie in the city running.

Sometimes, they sing a curious little melody on tinny speakers, with words entirely of the old language.

The winner, the best design for avoiding these machines will get a design credit for [Exosuits & Robots]. Winners will be decided by the beginning of the next Design Phase, The Design that is witht he most votes will be entered.

[Blood_Librarian]

Result

Elorius’s Entry

It is noted that, despite their generally omnicidal tendencies, Battleframes will not attack certain others. Our limited radio capabilities have partially revealed why. A pair of "friendly" BFs are constantly emitting signals in the electromagnetic spectrum to each other, a "call" signal, and a "response" one. It is thought that this communication prevents fighting between forces that, long ago, were on the same side.

Through the courageous action of some scouts armed with scavenged radios and recording devices, we've started to collate a library of these call and response signals. To use these, we've scavenged a supply of what are thought to be pre-conflict entertainment devices, which have been carefully modified to passively listen for our registered BF "calls". If one should be received, a corresponding response will be transmitted over a short-range transmitter.

In this manner, a BF can be fooled into not shooting at a soldier, though this is dependent on the BF's particular "call" being registered.

Difficulty: Normal
Result: [2+3] → 5 Average (Not a repeat.)

A last-ditch gadget, and the Best Friend of our personnel, the IFF Ping Emitter is simply a salvaged receiver radio attached to a transmitter and programmed with the most modern variation of the IFF pings that the Battle-Frames emit. While standard Yaerian Doctrine insists that the IFF signals and digital encryptions are constantly updated by Yaerian Command Elements and later Grave-Mind Command Systems, it seems that particular structure has collapsed, and has reverted to tried and true mutating broadband call signals that propagate throughout the network about a dozen times over a period of a cycle.

In simple terms: we can mimic a “true” frequency call using our radios and a Battle-Frame will not shoot at us, provided it is not actively committing a reprisal action on our troops or doing anything warranting an in-depth scan. It’s not particularly complicated to deploy, but the difficulty of replicating \ the emissions of a Battle-Frames IFF signal is hard, and stars help you if you send a Battle-Frames own IFF ping at it. The signal division that haunts Battle-Frames to copy their IFFs hasn't come up with a name, and operations command is hounding them for one right now, which you can probably provide, seeing as you are their direct superior.

[Expensive, Complex]

Spoiler: Heirophant Battle-Frame (click to show/hide)

”Delta to Operation Command, Witnessing Elorius broad-band Scouts, moving into Sector 8, Nearing Landmark “High Sphere of Echos”, Emergency Radio broadcast is as follows: Battle-Frame Activity is confirmed, moving onto Elorious position in attack pattern: Over, Battle-Frame is tagged as Small Bipedal, Heavy Pattern.”

With the Radio transmission sent, the squad leader of the Phozirus quickly packed up his salvaged radio equipment into a neat backpack, handing it off to his technician and adjusting his goggles for but a moment, and observed the battlefield from high up, happy to witness a bunch of Elorious bastards gets slaughtered.

Perched in the shattered spines of a Sky-Scraper, his radio transmission would hopefully not be intercepted by any flyers or he was in for a really bad day, but Command needed to hear this, lest they send in a patrol to run into another conflict they didn’t need, not yet.

Looking down below, he saw it.

The Battle-Frame, All battered up with more than half of its left side crippled by what appeared to have been a truly catastrophic artillery shot, it’s shielding systems flickered, occasionally dipping from the ultraviolet into a shimmering purple haze.it was walking forward, its target clearly made out for him to see.

 A set of Elorious shepherds, explorers or scouts, clearly non-militarized judging from the lack of weapons were setting up some sort of way station, clearing out a  small building and filling it with supplies for their army to push forward into the city.

The mechatronic system stepped forward with the grace of a lumbering tree, and its footfalls made itself known long before it crested over the hill as it was much louder than the din of the silent cityscape.

The machine had them dead to rights, as all of its guns were pointed in their directions heating up to fire with a low throbbing sound, like an aching wound to the ears that was easily apparent to those on he ground.

Some shouting was heard, and the mech stood there and watched for only a brief moment, long enough to acquire a target and it to its profiling system and turning straight around.

Ti’s trudge was much more of a stride than anything else, it’s guns reorienting to point up, and up and up until he saw the little black inside of each of them…

“Oh by the Directors dead mummy, we gotta get out, Void be damned. ARIUS!”

Arius was setting up a machine gun emplacement when he was yelled at, turning to his squad leader, “Squad lead! I hav--”

“BATTLEFRAME BEARING ON OUR POSITION, LEAVE THAT THING BEHIND, MOVE!”
After only a couple seconds of its fast approach, the mech began to fire its cannons upon the top of the broken spire, a confirmed target in its sights. Each shot it fired blew through the building before erupting through the ceiling of the structure,  as it was loaded with armor piercing slugs for its guns.

Phoziris’s Entry

3D Maneuver Gear

The 3D Maneuver Gear. It's made up of a combination of titanium-EIA alloy and carbonweave fibers, attached to vibration blades. These are powered by a small pack with MAB, and by sending a current down the cable, the vibration blades will slip out or into objects with quite some ease. Used properly, this allows movement in Three Dimensions. The blades themselves are also titanium, with diamond tooling and a serrated edge that sticks into a target. They also double as a weapon that when activated, can go through stone, iron, and steel to a degree.

The main movement is launching one of the four blades with your hand, with the cable extending. The vibrating blade sticks into the target, and then the cables can be retracted. Sending another current down the blade and retracting it further brings the blade out of the target. Control of these four weapons are down with the harness, with certain movements triggering different blades and cables.

3D Maneuver Gear is complex, but with buildings all around it makes for a devastating movement option able to outpace and lead Battleframes into enemy lines, or escape them. Though do to the training involved, those who can use them is also limited. It's also an option to lead Battleframes away entirely before retreating beyond their ability to follow. Needless to say, it also comes with titanium light plate armor with carbonweave vests and pants, though helmets are not included since it is necessary to be able to see around you.

3D Maneuver Gear
Difficulty: Normal
Result: [1+3  → 4 Below average

A very light maneuvering package, the 3D Maneuver gear works as advertised, with equipped soldiers who are trained in the package able to quickly maneuver around urban environments by allowing a user to almost instantly place climbing hook into any solid surface and retract themselves to it, our forces are able to maneuver incredibly fast and do stunts that most personnel would find impossible. Combined with our burgeoning network, this means that our forces have an immense superiority in outmaneuvering all ground forces barring few exceptions. While the systems are not very complicated in the end, the industrial processes that make them are energy-intensive to produce, and some of the materials are hard to source, making it Expensive. Special training means that only special forces are able to equip these systems., but the possibility of lesser troops equipping these systems is still possible:Light incursions into Black Zones are possible, as most threats are on the ground.
[Expensive, 3 Minerals, 3 Energy, Complex]

The evacuation was short, quick, and especially violent, as the machinegun emplacement was thrown off the building and promptly destroyed by a bolt of fire from the mechatronic system bearing down on them.

The building made a horrible, horrible roar as it was always about to give, and the huge-bore rounds entering taking out entire load-bearing walls every second was the one thing that was gonna make it give.

zip, echoed just barely over the din of a building collapsing as the Phoziris’s 3D maneuvering gear activated and the small group barely jumped to the next building, the rope pulling them such that they’d fall through a window, with only a hard landing that broke bones instead of killing them.

“Vi’Damn. Arius, Xurk, Yuriel, status report, and keep moving, on the double.”

“You didn’t have to toss my gun out the window.”

“I know, when that building collapses it’s gonna probably stop shooting, but just in case, do not expose yourself to it, not even with a curtain in the way, it can probably see through bloody walls”

Slowly, methodically, they regrouped together as they went down floor by floor, nearing the point where they can safely leap to another building without breaking bones this time.

Everyone was all sorts of hurt, with only Arius escaping with a broken thumb. Altogether, a broken arm, leg, ribs, and dislocation was all afflicted at least once to each soldier.

But they all got out, and that is what matters.


Event Winner:
Elorius

The IFF Pulse emitter had more direct use for civilian personnel, and thus helped out the initiatives in pushing forth civilization onto the wastelands and side-stepping Battle-Frame operations than the 3D maneuvering gear, which was complicated and specialized for special forces use.

Hello Elorious R&D Team,
High Command has been tracking down this particular mech for a whole quarter-cycle now. After it’s particular, performance in sector 8, it has been noted as one of the few frames with a compromised primary, secondary, and tertiary communications system. A small operation later, and a mostly intact battle-Frame was recovered after the expenditure of a tank of metallic hydrogen was used in a heavy plasma gun to down it. Don’t, I repeat, waste this. The guns are all gone or destroyed, as well as the internal reactor, but all the motive and artificial intelligence systems:

including its Positronic Core is still intact, and count for 1 [Exosuits & Robots] Research Credit. You can use it for the production of active powered armor suits and robotic systems. A Research Credit means I roll 4d4 and take two of the best.

[TricMagic]

Pokes The Gravemind. Note that we are currently doing DESIGN PHASE, not Revision Phase.

Posting this so you don't post a battle report beforehand. Doublecheck what phase we are in.

[Blood_Librarian]

Combat Report: Cycle -0.25 END

In the cargo bay of a PressGanged Cargo Loader, Soldiers of Elorius were antsy. Ready to deploy, the makeshift machine that carried them to their destinations, and just maybe, their pyres,. It was on its last legs and was one of the few machines that had metal plates stolen of some rescue vehicle or something, the mechanic who welded them on wasn't forthcoming. The point was, they were thick. High Command did not chastise them putting the dying beast of burden out of its misery by the trials of combat rather than running its wheels and transmission down through a collapsed building.

The Yaerian at the front driving was his Leader, Xirc’Xic Aeltur, a soldier with just enough common sense to know that he was driving into a battlefield and drove like a madman. Turning to his side and witnessing the newbie with his gun out, he shouted, “Vale, Keep your rifles in the Vae’ Damned vehicle!”

And almost spooking Vale into dropping his rifle out of the car, it was a good fumble that made the six-man squad in the car chuckle for a good few seconds.

The vehicle whipped to the side, steering into the entrance of some sort of shop, the glass partition long ago shattered. His breaks worked just enough such that his crash only sent the troops reeling forward as he collided with a few shelves. “OUT, OUT OUT! I SAW THE ENEMY UP AHEAD, SCATTER!” bellowed out Xirc as he began crawling to the back, it is the only exit outside of a roof hatch. The soldiers disembarked, moving up the stairs and out to the road, not even daring to take a peek as they thunk hard to remember if they heard the report of enemy weapons firing.

In each of their hands was the Iona II ICA. A weapon that entirely replaced the salvaged fire-arms that only a cycle or so ago was widespread. Some had battery sticks, others had cables attaching to battery packs on their limbs or backs. Before its loud report as the 70mmx3mm flechette accelerated fast enough to break the sound barrier, the weapon tinkled like a child's bell. This sound was overcome as it fired at a rate of 700 rounds a minute, pointed at a Phoziris soldier in a building up high, across the road and six buildings down. Vale couldn't get an accurate target but he fired nonetheless.

Minutes of this firefight passed by, as he and his squad exchanged fire with the enemy, and one of the shots got too close. The enemy round had impacted the end of the barrel of his weapon, and he dropped his weapon as he felt an electrical shock kick him in the chest and left only the loud thunder of his heart in his ears. His vision was filled with white spots for but a second as he forgot about his weapon, trying to get back to the vehicle buried in the shop for another weapon, mumbling curses that would curl the petals of a flower. The chaos of the fire fight had dislodged his makeshift hearing protection and he was deafened, but out of the trunk came the 18mmx1.V(Variable) Anti-Material Coil Accelerator (A-M CA)

Taking his journey step by step, his hands ached as it became apparent that whatever he was hit with did something not as bad as he thought, he climbed up a story, and sat down to get a good angle. The thunder clap of his rifle took down one enemy from the buildings, and the rest faltered in their would-be ambush. He stuck another round in the breach which was freshly lubricated and thankfully didn't jam: His shot was wide, but it spooked the hell out of the baddy.

With a shout of joy to his Squad lead, “Xirc, the rats are scattering, we should push the attack!” Hearing be damned, it took him a minute to note that he didn't hear a response louder than the tennnitis, and took a couple seconds to look around and get his bearings. When all was said and done,  It was only him and the Rookie. Everyone else was dead, and the Rookies gun was broken, he had to pick another of a corpse.

We were flanked. The Phoziris moved fast in between those buildings and picked us off, but they paid the cost with facing an equivalent amount of casualties in what should’ve been a barrel shoot ambush.


In the eye of the Yaerian Sniper was a madman's  glint, a canister of wine was in her hand, hydroponically grown and stilled in a mineshaft that once glew radioactive fire.

It was damn good wine, mused the Kac'xito Lak'e'tis, a true blooded member of Elorious’s Armed forces.

Here they were perched in the Arcology, with their own veritable Snipers home, with four long-rifles, three Carbines and some kind of revolver gun made out of scrap metal and hope, all to their name ot mount ont his tower and keep the Phoziris out of here for the foreseeable future. Her enjoyment of the wine was soured by the peculiar, distant roar of a machine down below the ground, “Tup, Did High Command warn of battleframes in the Metro?”

“Neg,only the Construction Authority is active in our area.”  stated Tup, the little gremin of an observer in the team. Thinking for a moment, Tup looked to her side and down the building.

“...I… I think one of the trams is running again.” Everyone was up and at ‘em at this revelation, peering downward at the set of stairs and escalators that lead to the entrance of the Metro. It was the source of the noise, and after a short while it became apparent that   Enemy infantry would emerge from it Lifting up a long-rifle to a ready position, another of her brother in arms spoke out “Keep the IFF Ping Emitter ready, we might attact one of them fighty buggers.” Shaking his head Tup spoke out, “ We’re gonna be trapped up here once they come out, I don't fancy our odds being surrounded on all sides.”

Pondering for a few moments, listening to the sounds of distant, distorted tram line stopping, they didn’t have much of a choice. “Begin packing up, this isn't worth our lives.” With their supplies in tow after a short while packing up, they made it down the building, hurried away and left without a fight.

[...]

“Enemy forces spotted exfiltrating from Tower on Gridpoint 65-34-2, moving Elorius-Ward,  stand advised equipments are long rifles and carbines.”

“Black-Four acknowledged, do not pursue enemy entering into ambush positions of Strike Force Six.”

“Roger.”

[...]

Marching through the desolate landscape made the Yaerians parched, and they moved to enter a building that was once an apartment, maybe. they ate their rations and moved on, entering into a tunnel. As they passed by a burned-out car, something whirred inside of it and made a loud pop sound, and sending out a burst of shrapnel.

It was like being in the after-effects of lightning as their skin sort of shivered from the electrical output, and their rifles tingled, almost painfully, in their hands. Some of them fired once, the coils firing out of order or out of phase and bending their guns as the RESU’s hooked up to them dumped their prestigious power into the coils which bent the weapons into odd angles And twisting the casings. Into an unholdable mess

With the EM Warp Mine jobs done, the massive electromagnetic signal that it produced spelled doom for the sniper team. Only one, the caboose of the group's caravan had functioning weapons, and his carbine was given to another, having just enough time to lighten up their load before a Phoziris Fire-team moved in on them.

Moving at a route, the four-man team was down one as whoever was shooting behind them got a lucky shot on the  Tup, who went down with a scream.

Turning a corner to the left, they came upon a “clearing” of ruined foundations surrounding the Eaves Tower, a place with mystical legends surrounding it, which was only recently scavenged and its internal defense systems stripped from the corporate floors and its treasures looted.

They moved in between foundations, keeping low to cover, the one with the still-functioning long arm turning nad making a quick shot, and nailing one of the Infantry on the ground. He took cover just before a withering counter fire of Salvaged Weaponry took place.  It felt they were fighting scavengers more than anything else, with the distinctive boom of the enemies Thunderer Mag-Propellant Rifle making up a small part of the overall barrage.

The THunderer projects an electromagnetic pulse upon its first impact against a semi-hard surface. It is intense enough that a wounding strike on a soldier can damage or even destroy the “military” grade railguns that Elorius’s infantry uses. It is in a bull-pup configuration, holding just six large slugs revolving chambers, reminiscent of colonial rifles from an era ago. It fires 18 rounds before exhausting a standard battery pack. It is fielded with far less commonality than the Iona II ICA, and it is far less lethal in terms of fire-rate

The sniper team was holed up in the last stand, quickly knocking over a forgotten vending machine over and climbing up stairwells.

Whether it was due to caution or some other reason, the Phoziris held back on overwhelming them, and their conservative methodology paid as the first of the enemy infantry fell from a heart-bleed courtesy of the installation of an 18mm ventilation shaft to her heart.

The curious infantrymen that assaulted did not let the sniper team have another shot, as they moved with unerring precision, the AR Goggles allowed a designated spotter to quickly mark positions, theoretical sightlines as well as other important, critical notes on their hated enemy.

Accidents still happened, and just as the lone riflemen reloaded and was took aim on an exposed infantrymen, she was spooked by the Shrk, Shrk of an enemies 3D Maneuvering Gear, specifically a blade that planted on the ceiling above her, which fell down as the concrete fell down like a sack of bricks on her, compromised by age.

clawing up the side of the building, the Phozirian mad-Yaerian lept over onto the balcony and began closing the gap with his rifle slack, but two mean looking vibrating blades ready, his soulless gaze hidden by the brick of an AR goggle set on his head.

Her rifle scope was bent, and one of the five coils was sparking, but she lifted it up and it fired all the same, though her shot was wide and it merely blew a fist-sized hole in the Yaerians thigh.

The thunderous applause of a Thunderer echoes somewhere behind Kac’Xito, but her attention was fixated on the Phoziris who fell to the ground, nearly impaling himself on his blades.

Giving the poor bastard a solid kick to the ribs, he curled up with a yelp and rolled over at his side, exposing the holster on his side, which she quickly yanked the gun out of.

The gun in her hand was unknowable, unpredictable and looked like a cross between what a child would draw as to what he thought was a semi-automatic weapon and a clueless machinist with good intentions and three or perhaps four examples of what the nice armed men in his workshop wanted.

Taking the fine piece of Phoziris desperation in hand, she got against a wall facing the enemies, took a deep breath and peaked, gun in hand.

She saw two, no-- three, Phoziris purple-clad soldiers taking a firefight with  the other members of her squad at her left field of view

To her right, she saw another Phoziris Soldier, halfway through scaling an elevator shaft.

Taking a quick shot from the hip, she pulled the trigger and heard an explosion as the gun in her hand blew apart, and the slide flying up and hitting her in the face.

Reeling from the impact, she was not beholden to witness the events of the fights immediately after. Ultimately, both Kac'xito Lak'e'tis and one other member of the fire team was captured by Phoziris forces, with the other members of the team Killed in Action.


In the metro, the only light that exists is the light of machines. It is a fight to keep the darkness away, for the Metro Construction Authority (MCA) within prefers to hunt in the dark. This was a lesson that the Phoziris learned in spearheading directly into the heart of these underground passages, and one that kept the Elorius far, far away from ever having a chance in taking control. Each counter-attack on the Phoziris and the MCA represents a growing wrent in the power disparity between Yaerian and the machines. Yaerian hardware is prone to intrusion. Yaerians are not able to process and act on information in milliseconds. The crude EMP weapons only scared them off, and the mines were too obvious for the MCA, but it became apparent that something had to give, and thus a sort of uneasy peace was had with the opening blows of the war. Tramline B, its most advantageous and open hallways are sacred. Noone breathes in them, and the MCA is free to use its authority in these areas, and often does, sometimes even briefly confusing Phoziris or Elroius forces as construction workers and putting them to pointless tasks.

Behind the ranks of its construction drones is Battle-Frames, but these battle-frames are silent, sullen and mint: They are reserved. They will rise when the MCA dies, which it will. It’s been dying a long time, and the positronic core will detonate and that other intelligence will be forever trapped in an alternate dimension as it transcends from thinking shackled being into a computer trapped in a box with a slightly different set of rules.

 Conflict still brews in the Metro. Glorious Engineers, soldiers, administrators and everyone in-between moves in the depths of the metro, the train to churn, bringing in supplies required to fire off the first notes of the war.


The first few skirmishes and bloody ambushes that the Elorius orchestrated against the Phoziris had been to the draw at the best of times. With incredible information and movement superiority, the only places that the Phoziris marched forward were where ti didn’t matter. The jagged corridors of the Metro, where the only thing that mattered was reflexes and the reliability of the gun in your foo-soldiers hands.  The winding sight ranges of long-range warfare, where just one shot still took a soldier's life. Every Soldier of Elorius had plenty of equipment due to the very strong logistical network behind them, simplified by the press-ganged cargo loaders and reports of Type-11 Exosuit, a curious mechanized piece of equipment designed ot help their logistics personnel move equipment ot the field or scavenged resources back homewards.
Where the Elorius had strength was in ambushes and the opening moments of large scale tactical combat. Phoziris infantry did not or could not effectively call reinforcements, adjust positions relative to other squads or objectives in an interconnected manner.

This was proven true All these facts were re-affirmed when the Elorios bade the first major firefight of the war. In the Arcology, between the massive holes in the ceiling that were once sunlights, are spire upon the Arcology that captured the lightning that strikes the tower and runs it through machinery to turn it into power.

These machines have long ago failed under the duress of disrepair, but among them could be something of interest, new knowledge that might tip the favor of the war, and an element of the Phoziris was moving in to take it.


Clutching the Thunderer in his hands, Milg’Qerr Valle’Qerk was positively quaking in his boots. Fire was in his blood as he peeked out and let his AR goggles tell him everything he needed to know.


The Elorian forces were coming in, exactly as expected. Predicted sightlines, squad leader notes, and a dozen other pieces of information flitted across his HUD, all leading up to the same thing.

A lot of people were going to die.

For a brief moment, it was too much to take in.

Sixteen Yaerians in all were together, each with a Thunderer waited as they went further and further into cross-fires

A count down appeared on his HUD, and went it struck zero, he left from his spot in cover, turned, and fired upon the enemy.

Whether they had an inkling of prenominition or killer instincts, some of them were already moving to take cover when the shots rang out the halls of the Arcology, and the ensuing firefight was punk marked with the glitter of a child's bell before the enemy returned fire.
Ducking down for the flash second before an enemy fired his weapon, Qerk felt incredibly uncomfortable as he heard his cover, a full foot of concrete, crack and break as it was impacted by the enemy's gun.

Just as things started getting worse, the hammer to their anvil came from above, and forces with 3D maneuvering gear and albeit shoddier examples of weapons fired downward.

Sixteen was down to twelve, as four people had taken injuries and stopped shooting, and while the initial strike had taken out quite a few of the twenty-four Yaerian strong force spread out over the entire area, their return fire was lethal.

Take out the long arm wielding one here said his HUD, pointing out a priority marker on one to the left, huddled in the dirt next to the broken remains of a foundation, preparing her rifle to fire again.

Taking aim, Milg’Qerr Valle’Qerk lined up his sights and fired his revolving chambers out, and looked away before return fire could get him.

Oh stars, why was he here?


Summary:
Elorius’s equipment favors open engagements where their soldiers can lever their superior firepower against the enemy. Long arms and Carbines are designed to wipe out enemy infantry with extreme effectiveness that lends towards a spectacular lethality against Phoziris armed forces. The unique Logistical systems mean that in general, Elorious’s armed forces are better equipped to handle the overarching marches and incredibly tedious marches through the Arcology.

Phoziris favors rapid relocation, information superiority, and communications. Glorious is on the back-pedal as they are constantly fighting an enemy that knows where they are, and what they are doing because of their superior scouting.  They have a Minor Black-Zone Control, as a few brave souls can use 3D maneuvering equipment to take shortcuts through the black zone to ambush the enemy. This doesn't change the fact that they lost ground at the Arcology, but they have dogged the Glorious down enough to hold their ground in the Metro

Both sides are only minorly impinged upon by Battle-Frame intervention.

Below is the list of Intelligence on enemy equipment. Due to the ruthless nature and competence of both side's intelligence gathering forces, both sides may open the tabs below to figure out what your enemy knows you have, and what the enemies themselves looted from the dead world to wield.

Spoiler: Intelligence on Elorius (click to show/hide)

Salvaged Weaponry: Rarely used, only examples of pre-collapse weaponry scavenged from forgotten armories are fielded, and in few numbers.

Iona II ICA
A large, boxy and rugged weapon more in line with the A-M_CA, the Iona ICA is capable of launching 60 70mmx3mm flechette needles into a target at 700 rounds a minute with a fully mechanically operated 5 coil system. It fires with enough power to directly pierce most examples of scavenged armor with a direct hit. Powered by external battery systems with a cable port in the stock that also accept stick batteries. 

Lethal. Commonly issued. The standard weapon.

18mmx1.V(Variable) Anti-Material Coil Accelerator- Breech Loader: an Antitank Rifle with an unparalleled ruggedness. Using a coiled magnetic system to fire, it is able to be fielded with munitions prepared in the field, requires a tripod or an exoskeleton to wield. Standard loadout is 30-40 shots worth of fire.  After each shot, it requires about 3 seconds to reload the weapon unless its breech-loader fails, then it is a frustrating time to reload it.

A sniper rifle. Lethal. Freely issued where the Iona fails to deliver.

Misc. Equipment
Survivalist uniform:
No known differences from the standard. They wear purple uniforms.



IFF Ping Emitter: A system by which Battle-Frame IFF signals are captured and reproduced at the call of another Battle-Frame, sometimes tricking it into not opening fire and moving on with its bizarre programming.

While always deployed against oncoming Battle-Frames, the device does not always work. Very curious.


Infrastructure
Type-11 Exosuit:

Scouts report sightings of rear echelon personnel utilizing exoskeletons for logistical and scavenging duties. Spends more time in workshops than out of it.

RESU: An evolution of the previous battery systems with no particular specialization towards discharge ability or power storage, an all-rounder.


Sky-Thread Base: One of the “lesser” achievements of our species exists in our territory, the amputated space-elevator is in the center of what was once the world's largest mercantile sector. Although the miracle of the thread is long gone, it’s surrounded by dozens of armatures and cargo unloading hardware that has been jury-rigged into transportation in between the jagged buildings of the Elorius.

PressGanged Cargo Loaders: Heavy, disposable vehicles designed to move cargo to the front, these vehicles are descendants of Thread-Base hardware for moving heavy goods and use their bulk and armor plating to make rubbled areas traversable. Sometimes deployed on the front lines as an unauthorized Armored Personnel Carrier. + 2 LAND TC

Spoiler: Intelligence on Phoziris (click to show/hide)

Weapons
Salvaged Weaponry: Makeshift weapons are in the hands of roughly 4/5ths of the soldiers in the army of Phoziris.

Thunderer:  A bull-pup rifle that magnetically accelerates up to six rounds in succession. Has enough electricity for each battery to fire 18 times before battery replacement. Lethal, EMP effect that damages or disrupts electronics on enemy forces that it hits.

Equipped in roughly 1/5th of the army.

EM Warp Mine
Phoziris is known to deploy large scale devices that when detonated cause a large electromagnetic pulse and small detonation, usually resulting in severe casualties. It is large, bulky and crude, but  is commonly used in high debris areas for maximum effect.

Misc. Equipment
Survivalist uniform: No known differences from the standard. They wear green uniforms.

AR Goggles: Enemy forces utilize an overarching hierarchical command system that lets soldiers in the command room to give orders to soldiers in the field as well as soldiers in the field to coordinate together using augmented reality systems without exposing themselves to Battle-Frame systems through the usage of high-yield emission towers that act as false flags for the battle frames. Utilizes a grid of lasers to project information upon the user's goggles.



3D Maneuver Gear
A set of light maneuvering gear that allows a specially trained soldier to quickly maneuver vertical urban environments quickly. Complicated and Energy-intensive to produce, used by special forces to access the blackzone at opportune moments. uses bladed hooks to attach to the environment and pull the user into place with high yield motors and high tensile strength rope, sometimes allowing users to escape Battle-Frames. The ease of use & relative ubiquity of the weapon means a martial art has begun to form, based upon imbalancing the enemy and finishing the fight.

Infrastructure

Magnetics Alloyed Batteries: Batteries utilizing a unique method of electrical storage using a magnetic configuration. Superior electrical storage, slightly below average discharge rate.

Mag-Lev Station: A concentrated effort to activate all Mag-Lev Stations to supply active combat zones allows the deployment of mothballed trains with a simplified magnetic propulsion system to service the front. Unstable and prone to derailing, they are not applicable for combat scenarios at the moment. +1 UNDERGROUND TC

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

[E: 2/2; P: 0/2]District 7: The Unyielding Bunkers of Elorius
[E: 4/4; P: 0/4] Elevator Base (1)
The base of one of two Space Elevators that were in this world. Its cord has long since rotted, but impact scar crater is one of the larger craters that lead all the way to the Sea. Surrounding it is razed cityscapes and looted spaceports, tarnished only by intense infighting and neglect as the centuries went on.
[E: 4/4; P: 0/4] Scraper Kill Hills (2)
Heavy city development, the ruins of which have only been recently cleared. Unlike the Arcology, this is many, many buildings that all amalgamate against each other as wreckage that has compacted into something like hills and valleys.  Watch your step.
[E: 4/4; P: 0/4] Collapsed V. Farms (3)
What was once a burgeoning vertical farm now lies as a massive mound of soil, mutated crops, and strange intoxicating monsters set in a bog. Raider gangs live here, with an eclectic set of gear they terrorize the countryside and are renowned for their accuracy with their war-bows, strung with threading from the Elevator.
[E: 3/4; P: 1/4] Deteriorating Arcology (4)
The center of our world, The largest Arcology of the planet. Its name has been forgotten, and the only reason it stands was that the Hated Enemy coveted it. Inside it is miles of corridors and unscavenged loot, as well as ticking machines. Sometimes the dying reactor inside the Arcology manages to power some of the sub-systems inside, including internal and external defenses.
+1 Energy
[E: 2/4; P: 2/4] The Metro (5)
A dozen tunnels go directly underneath the Arcology, allowing for truly horrific tunnel fights between both factions as well as the active menace of Battle-Frames directed by the equivalent of an autonomous sub-way and construction authority. It’s already dying, but its dreams dictate when its legions will march
+1 Minerals
[E: 0/4; P: 4/4] Ruined Park (6)
Massive fields of gardens, forests, and microbiomes grow un phased here. One of the few places on the planet without city development.  A rebellion from the Phozirus Shard had arrived here after a mutiny a long time ago, and they have appear to now  be ruled by the Metro’s Construction Authority. They are vicious and cunning about doing their masters bidding, which often makes no sense whatsoever.
[E: 0/4 P: 4/4] Glass Crater (7)
What was once a massive stretch of the city has been obliterated to the foundations by a particularly devastating hydrogen bomb. Nothing grows here, and nothing stirs besides interloping Yaerians, for it is a hollowed grave of millions of the dead. In the center of the crater is a monumental pile of corpses stacked up by the Battle Frames. Sometimes they visit, but unlike other areas, they seemingly do so to mourn rather than to patrol. This is one of the few places where  Battle-Frames do not open fire upon Yaerian forces upon detection, and it is perhaps one of the most terrifying places to be in. If you die here, your body is added to the pile.

[E: 0/4 P: 4/4]Cleared Metropolis(
This part of the city was spared by the wide-spread bombardment th most of the world was hit with, and the vast majority of buildings are still intact. People might actually live here in the coming years, were it not for the unsettlingly close Black Zone.
[E: 0/2; P: 2/2]District 6: The Shining Spires of Phoziris
Black Zone (9)
The Black Zone is a hellish city-scape of active Battle-Frames, malfunctioning nano hives, radioactive craters, and other equally horrible things. Only Special forces equipped with defense against chemical, biological, radiological and nano-scale threats (CBRN-S) can traverse this zone safely and a semblance of control over this zone will provide a bonus towards attacking Sectors  3, 4, and 7.
The Shining Sea(10)
Generations ago,  the local Battleframes used a series of what was later discovered to be thermonuclear charges to turn this area into a basin, which the sea now resides. No one knows why, but the Frames had a planet shaking conflict with each other in what was once Sector 8. This conflict ended when the Zone had been terraformed, the area was sunken down and entirely flooded. The conflict ultimately leads to the formation of an inland sea as vast amounts of material were cratered into the surrounding area as well as a concerted effort by the Battleframes themselves. The water is unsafe to drink and is sterile, but it is incredibly convenient that the vast majority of nuclear materials have sunk to the floor of the seabed, and only requires minor filtration to become drinkable. Most of our water is projected to come from the Shining Sea as it is easier to filter water than to reclaim it. Control over this zone will provide a bonus towards controlling Sectors 2, 5, and 6.