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[Ardent Debater]

An Interlude

A few months into your administrative duties, a crack squad of heavily-armed, non-radioactive Skitarii march into your office. Most would be intimidated by their imposing frames and lifeless chrome but you know they are of Euclite and have no fear of them. They are here for your safety. You believe the overwhelming majority of Ushevan loyalists were killed in the fighting or embraced the movement afterward but in a population of millions, dissent is inevitable. Likewise, it's believed that the traditionalist Mechanicus were sent out-of-system ahead of time or annihilated with surgical precision during the Euclite coup but quiet hold-outs are inescapable.

It's best to take appropriate precautions, such as the mini-bolter slung around your waist and the custom-fitted carapace covering your vitals. You and your escort leave and enter a comparatively tiny local freighter swiftly. A few days of void-transit later, you're provided with a suite of thermal heating gear and, once they've checked that it's sealed, led out onto the surface of Euclite proper. The first thing that strikes you is a sense of gnawing, inhuman cold and darkness. The second is an overwhelming awe. As a self-educated rural colonist, you understand civilisation as an abstract but you've never seen something such as this. Everywhere you look, teeming, cyberised multitudes flit through a maze of manufactorums like a swarm of insects. It is enormous, and yet, it is yours.

The flag of the Vox Meritum can be seen over doorways, hanging from walls, even on rare poles. Some of the men amidst of the throng of servitors see you throw salutes or upraised fists. Even the Skitarii surrounding you would prioritise your life over their own in an instant. Ushevan and Euclite are joined in rebellion, at your command, and the Fabricator-General's. He will see you now. Hours of marching and transport rides later, you make your way to the entrance of what seems to be a vault. Seeing the multitude of Skitarii, you realise it is a bunker. You are ushered inside and led through another maze of architecture. Rather than hide details, a convoluted map and audible explanations that do little for your unaugmented brain are provided. It isn't long before you're brought to the Fabricator-General's personal workshop.

At the entrance, the Skitarii step aside and take guard outside. You enter alone, weapon downslung on your back, and blink in surprise. There are no machines here, no cutting-edge weapons or polished augmetics. Only stacks of parchment, shelves of scrolls, and in their midst, a scrap-welded desk with a glowing cogitator and a small, cloaked figure stooped over a typewriter. As you enter, it turns up its head to reveal a naked sprawl of wires, fragile electric bulbs, and a bulky cooling vent. There is no longer a face here, no sign the cyborg before you was ever human. The only parts dedicated to interaction are a tiny lens near where the jaw should be, and a slim speaker in what used to be a nasal cavity. It crackles and speaks with a monotone synthethic voice.

"Let us dispense with binaric pretension. We are equals, here. Ignatius Vaaric. Leader of the Vox Meritum."

You acknowledge it, him, with a respectful nod. "Bastalek Krake. Fabricator-General of the Forge World Euclite." The cyborg pauses. "No longer. Euclite has become a Cradle World, kiln for the phoenixian rebirth of human ingenuity." Bastalek's speaker crackles and you look at the lens, which is already being wiped clean by a slim tendril. "The Martian dogma is dying. The Martian creed is dead. Under the Vox Meritum, the wonders of the ancients will be forgotten. We will look to the future and we will make new wonders."

For you, raised under the Imperial Creed from birth, these words are unsettling. For a member of the Mechanicus, you know his nonexistent tongue utters the most heinous of blasphemy. In the static, you sense a firm conviction. "Ignatius Vaaric. For four centuries I have studied scriptures, anointed sacred oils, and performed holy rites. For nearly half a millennium, I have held the Martian faith. Do you know what has changed?" You answer without hesitation. "Nothing." His speaker concurs. "Nothing. Our ancestors spent their lives learning, studying, and laying down the foundations of the technology we now revere. If any of those sages were alive today, they would be executed for tech-heresy. Mars is lost to the worship of stangancy and paranoia. Their dictums are digging the tomb of Mankind."

You nod. "That's why we must stop them!" The cyborg's vent wooshes. "Impossible. The enemy is millions to our one and we are alone in a galaxy of terrors. This rebellion will change nothing. That is irrelevant. We must rebel. The Imperium is an affront to our ancestors and among its worlds, Mars is the greatest affront of all. Rebellion against them is axiomatic. Do not be deluded. Our species has no hope, our rebellion has no hope, but-" The cyborg raises its hand, a delicate set of precision instruments, and gestures to the wall behind you, where you turn to see a small flag, situated between a system map and set of charts. "-for the briefest of times, our people will have hope. That is enough."

"Ignatius Vaaric, I have called you to discuss the most unforgivable sin of tech-heresy. Innovation. My attention is buried under a mountain of paperwork and micromanagement by necessity. Yours is focused on a grander scale and freed from petty distractions by your position. You know the Vox Meritum's strategic needs. Tell me what is necessary and I will bring it into being."

What should Euclite begin innovating?

Propaganda: The planets of the Imperium have been conquered but the minds of its population are no freer from the grip of incompetence than before. Euclite will devote itself to finding means of amplifying the rebellion's message and swaying as many doubters as possible.
Healthcare: There are millions under the Vox Meritum and in time, there will be millions more. Sickness and injury take their toll, but it does not have to be this way. Euclite will study methods of medicine and surgery to try and foster popularion growth and quality of life.
Infrastructure: The Segmentum Pacificus is underdeveloped and that goes double for its key manufacturing and extraction industries. The current pace of establishment is unacceptably slow. Euclite will break protocol and seek out means of streamlining them both.
Voidships: The Lunar-class Cruisers are famed for their rugged and simple construction, but are no less critical to void warfare for it. Euclite will attempt to extrapolate how to manufacture new variants from the knowledge they already have of their parts and maintenance.
Simple Programming: The Men of Iron were an apocalyptic terror but millennia before their rebellion, they served Man dutifully. In the future, Man may be able to learn from his mistakes and prevent a second rebellion. Euclite will take the first steps toward forming a nascent Abominable Intelligence.
Something Else: Tech-heresy has as many variations as there are sanctioned tech-priests and then some. Euclite will follow your lead and begin innovation in a direction of your choosing.

[Fluffe9911]

Infrastructure I mean if we have great infrastructure then everything else such as making Voidships or Healthcare should be much easier in the future TM

[Kashyyk]

By the Emperor, now we have actual options I don't know what to pick.

Ideally something that will both help our rebellion but also have lasting positive effects even after we are snuffed out...

Thinking Machines have so much potential, but I fear the Imperium and the Mechanicus will never consider it. Healthcare is probably the most likely to survive us.

[Maxine]

Bureau for Meritorious Conduct

+1 to the name

I like this guy.

Simple Programming Working towards an Abominable Intelligence just sounds fun. And probably helps with some of that other stuff once it is up and running.

[The Canadian kitten]

Infrastructure
Tough choice between healthcare and this
I got the feeling that with great healthcare, it would likely be reversed/restricted for only nobles after we get wiped
Rather prefer something that everyone can continue using like infrastructure

[Ardent Debater]

Mid 2nd YSR

The Imperium had a staggering 57 regiments garrisoned in Xephenus VI, partly to ensure the security of Euclite but in most part to put down any potential uprisings on Xephenus I before they could impact the Imperial Tithe. Under normal circumstances, the brunt of them would be sent in to fight the mutineers in their mines in the coldest regions of Xephenus I, where human life is impossible without extensive life support systems. Under current circumstances, the Vox Meritum had commandeered almost all nearby transport freighters and naval vessels, leaving them stranded.

With troops unable to be moved, the uprising couldn't be put down and worse, the Imperial Tithe was interrupted. The Planetary Governor of Xephenus I asked for aid repeatedly but the only nearby loyalist, the commander of Xephenus VI, was unable to render it. Instead of informing the garrison of the Imperium's failure to foresee the Vox Meritum ahead of time, the commander chose to stage an information black-out and hunker down for reinforcements.

Once a solid half of the Euclite Subsector's defensive fleet appeared in system, destroyed his Orbital Weapons Platforms, and broadcast a message of sedition, the commander realised this rebellion was beyond his scale to resist and surrendered. When the black-out was lifted and his men were informed of the situation, there were many mixed feelings. Of the 57 regiments, 29 were willing to defect to the Vox Meritum with varying degrees of enthusiasm, 16 were unwilling to defect or take up arms against their fellow PDF or "retired" Guardsmen, and 12 were violently opposed to surrender of any kind. Lacking numbers, the loyalists fled to a small northern city and have begun fortifying it. This wouldn't be much of a problem, except that by chance the planet's sole 3 Artillery regiments fell in with them and have made forcing full capitulation a dicey proposition.

22 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
16 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
16 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Veteran Artillery (Mobile Artillery, Light Weapons, Flak Armour)

8 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
9 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
12 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)

14 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
2 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)

5 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
4 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Veteran Artillery (Mobile Artillery, Light Weapons, Flak Armour)

For the time being, the Vox Meritum's system administration has chosen to ignore the loyalists. Until they are dealt with, the output of 4 million members of the population will be inaccessible. To contrast, Xephenus I no longer has a PDF and is irrelevant in terms of loyalist defectors.

Despite its reputation, Ganars V has a below-average garrison for its population at 67 regiments, as a majority of its PDF have volunteered for the Guard and the planet has little else to offer the Imperial Tithe. The flattened mountain and simmering resentment for the Ecclessiarchy led to 33 regiments willing to defect, 21 unwilling to defect or take up arms, and 13 violently opposed to surrender. This led to a swift and vicious civil war as soon as the fleet in orbit left and the new Vox Meritum administration had yet to fully move in.

27 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
17 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
8 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
9 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
4 Veteran Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
2 Trained Light Armour (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Leman Russes with light support)

5 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
14 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
5 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
6 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
3 Veteran Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)

12 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
1 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
1 Veteran Rough Rider (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
1 Trained Light Armour (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Leman Russes with light support)

10 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
2 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
1 Trained Light Armour (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Leman Russes with light support)

Over the last handful of months, anti-loyalist regiments and large, disgruntled civilian militias won their skirmishes handily through weight of numbers and clever tactics, with relatively few casualties. At the conclusion of the violence, 28 defector regiments remain and the loyalists no longer have an open, cohesive force.

3 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
12 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
4 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
6 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
3 Veteran Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)

Unfortunately, their war material was destroyed and over two-hundred thousand citizens were killed in the crossfire. Fortunately, this will have no significant effect on the interstellar economy of Ganars V and many of the defeated loyalists were taken prisoner. Almost none are any more willing to surrender than before. This outcome and the neutral regiments who've yet to take a side or disband raise several questions.

What should be done with captive loyalist soldiers that refuse to betray the Imperium?

Execution: A fair and publicised trial, followed by a swift, painless, and dignified death. If they want to die for noble tyranny, the Vox Meritum will oblige them.
Work Camps: They'll be sent to Xephenus I to contribute to the meritorious cause at lasgun-point. Over time, this may improve the planet's population growth.
Re-Education: It will be a slow, tedious, and costly process but counter-indoctrinating the enemy may yield dividends. The bureaucracy might need to be expanded later on.
Integration: They'll be assigned to a local labour force under close supervision. The rebel cause cannot afford to waste resources or stoop to the Imperium's level.

What should be done with neutral soldiers who haven't fought for or against the rebellion? The Vox Meritum will attempt to recruit them by default, this is in the case of those who refuse.

Execution: Trained soldiers not committed to the cause are a threat and cannot be tolerated. If you aren't already executing hostile soldiers, this would be a bizarre choice.
Work Camps: Conditions on Xephenus I are miserable, even after investments, but every hour spent mining there equals one less life wasted under the Imperium's mismanagement.
Re-Education: The unwillingness of these men to betray the Imperium or the principles of Meritocracy is commendable, and they are worth teaching.
Integration: If they aren't willing to fight, the Vox Meritum isn't going to force them. They'll be disarmed, tested, and assigned a noncombatant position according to their merit.

Are there any orders you'd like to make in regards to the Xephenus VI situation or the aftermath of Ganars V?

(This update isn't progressing time forward or ending the vote period for either of the Year 2 updates. It just occurred to me that I should clarify the garrison situation so that you're in the clear on what your options are. Both Xephenus VI and Ganars V won't be able to raise new regiments for this year, as the instability from the regime change is too high. On the other hand, Xephenus I is ecstatic to be a part of the rebellion but really, mostly to escape their volcanic hell and will give up 4 volunteer regiments per 1 million. This is normal for extremely inhospitable or otherwise terrible planets. These regiments will be Hardened and Heat-Resistant, meaning they can endure miserable conditions and suffer no penalty from hot environments, though their penalty for cold environments is doubled.)

[King Zultan]

Infrastructure seems like a good thing to go with from the last update.

Also we might need to execute the loyalist soldiers to keep them from being a future problem.

[Kashyyk]

My vote is re-education for both categories, but I understand if people would prefer the Loyalists be put into Work Camps instead. There's merit to staying loyal, even though it's inconvenient to us right now. I'm not comfortable with them being executed as that will galvanise any resistance, as they just won't surrender next time.

[Maxine]

Re-Education for the Loyalists

Integration for the Neutral

[Kashyyk]

Re-Education for the Loyalists

Integration for the Neutral

I'll support this.

In terms of military growth, let's see what we can do.

Spoiler: Vox Meritum Production (click to show/hide)

Total Resources Stockpiled: 4,000,000
Annual Resource Extraction: +1,000

Euclite:
Annual Industrial Output (AIO): 800,000 specialised in Heavy Weapons, 200,000 Generalised.
Annual Resource Extraction (ARE): None, everything of value was stripmined centuries ago.
Population: 1,000 million (1 billion)

Ushevan:
AIO: 3,400 Generalised.
ARE: +3,400 Resources
Population: 5 million [-5 Resources (Small Bureaucracy)]

Xephenus I:
AIO: None
ARE: +280,000 Resources (Rare)
Population: 28 million [-2,800 Resources (Maintenance)]

Xephenus VI:
AIO: 13,000 Generalised
ARE: +9,000 Resources
Population: 17 million (4 million Loyalist occupied)

Ganars V:
AIO: 35,000 Generalised
ARE: +35,000 Resources
Population: 42 million

Let's be pessimistic and assume that the Loyalist city on Xephenus IV also controls 4,000 Production and 4,000 Extraction, which means we have 9,000|5,000 available to us to equip 29 Regiments. It'll cost  8,700 Production|Resources to upgrade them all to Heavy Weapons, Carapace and Transports. We can produce all that in just one month (as our local production can be propped up by Xephenus I). So we could assault the Loyalist city with 26 regiments of Heavy Mobile Infantry and three of Heavy Recon (let's designate one each of the Green, Regular and Veterans as Recon troops) which should hopefully make up for our lack of Artillery. If we want to deploy our own Artillery, we'll have to wait at least a year to train with it first, which I don't think is viable.

Hopefully we'll seize those Artillery pieces intact, but in the meantime we can start manufacture of three Aerial and Armour units, which will take about 4 months. By that time we'll hopefully know how many Artillery units will need to build to get up to three. Once that's all done we can start the Specialist training.

By that time, we will hopefully have a unified planet, 29 fully equipped Regiments and some solid supply lines. Recruiting 5 more Regiments of Volunteers gets us to our soft cap of 34 Regiments for Xephenus IV, who can be equipped easily enough.

Xephenus I meanwhile, can support 112 (!!) Volunteer Regiments, all with some desirable Traits. Over on Ganars V, we currently have 9 Regiments of Rough Riders and 19 of Infantry. Not sure whether to class Rough Riders more as Recon or Mobile Infantry, but we sure have plenty. We have capacity to recruit 54 more Regiments to get to 82 though.

Hopefully we can sieze the materiel of those Neutral Regiments. More Rough Rider gear and a whole unit of Tanks would be lovely.

Anyway, that's all stuff to think about on year end, but I'd appreciate opinions.

[Funk]

Execute the Loyalist soldiers.
Re-Education for the Neutral.

[Fluffe9911]

Re-Education for the Loyalists

Integration for the Neutral

Personally I feel it should be the other way around regardless +1

[Ardent Debater]

Spoiler: Vox Meritum Production (click to show/hide)

Total Resources Stockpiled: 4,000,000
Annual Resource Extraction: +1,000

Euclite:
Annual Industrial Output (AIO): 800,000 specialised in Heavy Weapons, 200,000 Generalised.
Annual Resource Extraction (ARE): None, everything of value was stripmined centuries ago.
Population: 1,000 million (1 billion)

Ushevan:
AIO: 3,400 Generalised.
ARE: +3,400 Resources
Population: 5 million [-5 Resources (Small Bureaucracy)]

Xephenus I:
AIO: None
ARE: +280,000 Resources (Rare)
Population: 28 million [-2,800 Resources (Maintenance)]

Xephenus VI:
AIO: 13,000 Generalised
ARE: +9,000 Resources
Population: 17 million (4 million Loyalist occupied)

Ganars V:
AIO: 35,000 Generalised
ARE: +35,000 Resources
Population: 42 million

Let's be pessimistic and assume that the Loyalist city on Xephenus IV also controls 4,000 Production and 4,000 Extraction, which means we have 9,000|5,000 available to us to equip 29 Regiments. It'll cost  8,700 Production|Resources to upgrade them all to Heavy Weapons, Carapace and Transports. We can produce all that in just one month (as our local production can be propped up by Xephenus I). So we could assault the Loyalist city with 26 regiments of Heavy Mobile Infantry and three of Heavy Recon (let's designate one each of the Green, Regular and Veterans as Recon troops) which should hopefully make up for our lack of Artillery. If we want to deploy our own Artillery, we'll have to wait at least a year to train with it first, which I don't think is viable.

Hopefully we'll seize those Artillery pieces intact, but in the meantime we can start manufacture of three Aerial and Armour units, which will take about 4 months. By that time we'll hopefully know how many Artillery units will need to build to get up to three. Once that's all done we can start the Specialist training.

By that time, we will hopefully have a unified planet, 29 fully equipped Regiments and some solid supply lines. Recruiting 5 more Regiments of Volunteers gets us to our soft cap of 34 Regiments for Xephenus IV, who can be equipped easily enough.

Xephenus I meanwhile, can support 112 (!!) Volunteer Regiments, all with some desirable Traits. Over on Ganars V, we currently have 9 Regiments of Rough Riders and 19 of Infantry. Not sure whether to class Rough Riders more as Recon or Mobile Infantry, but we sure have plenty. We have capacity to recruit 54 more Regiments to get to 82 though.

Hopefully we can sieze the materiel of those Neutral Regiments. More Rough Rider gear and a whole unit of Tanks would be lovely.

Anyway, that's all stuff to think about on year end, but I'd appreciate opinions.

Manufacturing as a whole, including equipment for regiments, is done on a yearly basis, partly to prevent a complex network of what's been made month-to-month which would slow down updates, but partly to represent coordinating a regiment formation across interstellar distances. In general, regiments take one year to equip and if necessary to operate their equipment (or you think it's worth waiting for more experienced troops), more years to train. The individual supplies, weapons, and armour are heavily abstracted with 1 regiment (usually) being the smallest on the scale and its annual upkeep representing the countless bits and pieces that are vital to keep its machinery functioning well. Certain artifacts, such as banners or relic wargear, are kept track of individually.

Rough Riders can be considered ultralight Recon that can act as Infantry if tactically ideal. It takes 10 Resources and an upkeep of 1 Resource to manufacture Bikes, but they need 1 year of training to learn how to fight while mounted. On flat terrain, Rough Riders are inferior to Recon or Mobile Infantry but they're much better able to handle rugged terrain, to a point. Some planets need armoured transport and environmental gear (or environmental traits, often both) to avoid attrition. The planned loyalist campaign on Xephenus I would have been hell for everyone involved but rebellions are a semi-regular occurrence in the Imperium. It's extremely uncommon for them to reach an interstellar level without external aid or treachery in the planetary leadership. The Vox Meritum technically falls into the latter category as Euclite defected with them due to the Fabricator-General's urge to innovate. If he were a Martian Traditionalist the militias of Ushevan would've been crushed by Skitarii.

[Blood_Librarian]

Just to clarify, we're still voting on the year 2-->3 production plan or is that still up in the air?

[Ardent Debater]

Just to clarify, we're still voting on the year 2-->3 production plan or is that still up in the air?

The vote's still wide-open. I'll be gathering everything into an update either later tonight or tomorrow morning.