Epirian Foundation
| Epirian Foundation | |
|---|---|
| |
| Capital |
Space Station Apex |
| Official Languages |
Unknown |
| Power |
Major Power |
| Size |
Unknown |
| Head of State |
Board of Franchise CEOs |
| Head of Government |
Franchise CEOs |
| Governmental Structure |
Corporate Federation |
| State Religion/Ideology |
MegaCorporatism |
| Demographic |
Humans, Aliens, and Robots |
| Military Force |
Drones, Military Contactors, and Security Personnel |
If the T'au Empire and Czerka Corp had a child.
Background[edit | edit source]
The Epirian Foundation‘s robotics and terraforming technologies transformed much of the Spiral Arm. The Foundation took barren, lifeless worlds and made them habitable, exploiting the resources of rocks they couldn’t turn into homes. The Foundation itself was formed as a loose coalition of independent franchises, each specializing in their own unique technologies.
On the vast space station Apex, competition for new worlds and entrepreneurial invention was encouraged by the Epirian Head Office. However, outright conflict or legal infractions were policed severely. Under the leadership of Apex, whose stewardship rotated amongst the CEOs of the franchises, the Epirian Foundation thrived, spreading across a wide swathe of the Spiral Arm’s resource rich systems.
The Maelstrom tore apart the stability and organization of the Foundation. Apex was one of the star systems first hit by the wave of energy, and the impact of losing the Foundation’s central governance was substantial. Since then, the internal structure of the Foundation has fragmented, with the individual franchises growing apart, protecting their own interests while viewing each other with suspicion. The progression of the Maelstrom’s Edge into the middle of the Spiral Arm has endangered many Epirian worlds and every franchise has to make difficult decisions about who and what to save from their doomed territories
In battle, the Foundation’s greatest strength comes from their advanced robotics technology, and the neural links that their ‘handlers’ use to boost the effectiveness of their drones, bots and mechs. The fast-flying Firefly drones scout ahead of the main force of Spider drones, providing intelligence about the enemy and allowing flanking moves, while units like the Scarecrow Sentry bot and Hunter Warmech provide fire support. Supporting this army of artificial combatants are the multi-faceted Contractors, employees of the Foundation who function as mechanics, workers, and front-line soldiers, depending on the situation.
Units[edit | edit source]
Contractor Engineers[edit | edit source]
Although the Foundation is famous for its robotic units, Contractors are a common sight in nearly all military and security endeavours and typically make up around half of an expeditionary force or security team. In addition to their value as fighters, Contractors are also expected to contribute to the maintenance of Epirian robots and facilities, and the lines between engineer and soldier are frequently blurred. it is just as common to see a Contractor with a spanner in their hand as it is to see them crouched behind a barricade with a rifle.
Bot Handler[edit | edit source]
A Handler's neural interface grants unparalleled access to tactical information and the ability to control bots at a distance. Journeyman Handlers lead the Epirian forces into battle, while the Apprentice Handlers command units of Spider Drones.
Masters Bot Handlers[edit | edit source]
Earth Caste Master Handlers wear powerful machine-assisted armor normally reserved for elite SecDef forces, and wield an arsenal of weaponry that normal soldiers can only dream of. Some Master Handlers eschew additional weapons and instead utilize Neural Nodes: an incredibly expensive and controversial technology that combines a powerful machine neural processor with a tiny portion of the Master Handler's cognitive functions. The Neural Node acts as an independent, duplicated version of the Handler's consciousness for a brief moment, before safeguards purge its core memory. The Neural Node creates a powerful momentary electronic copy of the Master Handler's mind into the target drone, to assess the situation and provide the drones with a specific order. There are many voices both outside and within the Foundation that decry the use of Neural Nodes, claiming they are a form of A.I., which puts all of humanity at risk. The Foundation remains resolute that purging a Neural Nodes at regular intervals prevents any potential issues from arising. Master Handlers themselves ignore the controversy, relishing any opportunity to become closer to the robots under their control, to devastating effect amongst those that stand in their way.
SecDef Lieutenant[edit | edit source]
Anyone underestimating a SecDef lieutenant is about to pay dearly for his mistake. Promoted from amongst the most capable veteran sergeants, SecDef lieutenants are level-headed combat experts on both a tactical and strategic level with extensive financial and material resources to hand. Often taking on the most difficult (and therefore highest paying) missions with their platoons, the aim of most lieutenants is to accrue enough backpay to purchase a field commander commission, and the heavy combat rig that goes with that position.
SecDef Medic[edit | edit source]
SecDef Medics are combat veterans who have received additional training and equipment to administer first aid in the field. Known for being level-headed under fire, medics accompany SecDef tactical teams in the field, where they need to be equally competent at using their carbines or treating wounded squadmates.
SecDef Infantry[edit | edit source]
The elite of the Epirian Foundation is the Security and Defence force, or SecDef. The men and women of SecDef are better trained, better armed and better equipped than the Contractors that make up the majority of Epirian defences on frontier worlds. SecDef take only the very best recruits, typically recommended by a trustee after a number of years of dedicated service as a Contractor. Those promoted into SecDef spend over a year training at dedicated off-world bases on Foundation worlds throughout the Spiral Arm, where grizzled veteran instructors inflict a brutal schedule of combat, security and fitness drills. Many recruits wash out during this gruelling period of indoctrination, and only the best of the best become members of the SecDef's feared infantry squads. The Foundation likes to play up this robust selection and training system, because the SecDef are a source of both great pride and great profit. The SecDef are billed by their corporate owners as the ultimate in precision combat. Even one SecDef squad is a honed killing machine, clinical and effective. Rich companies and individuals alike across the galaxy look to hire SecDef infantry as the finest mercenary units, working as bodyguards, military escorts or even leading attacks on rival corporations or hostile alien worlds.
Contractor Suppression Team[edit | edit source]
Contractor Suppression Teams serve are commonly deployed to quell riots or perform breaching operations. Equipped with shock weapons and maglock rifles or pistols, Suppression Teams fight up close and personal.
Subjugator Bots often accompany Suppression Teams to lend some extra short-range firepower. A variant of the Scarecrow, Subjugators are equipped with dual clingfire sprayers.
Hunter Warmechs[edit | edit source]
Designed for battle, heavily armoured Hunter warmechs lay down withering fire, even on the move. Although many of the robots employed by the Foundation come in all manner of shapes, for some roles, only a walker type will work. In the sphere of war, an Epirian staple is the Hunter class Warmech. A ubiquitous and iconic model for many Epirian franchises, the Hunter is designed purely for battle, and is often the centrepiece of a base's defence forces.
Scarecrow[edit | edit source]
The ultimate security bot - a Scarecrow is always watching and its Railrifle rarely misses. Scarecrows are area patrol units, designed to provide security to various types of property ranging from industrial perimeters to agricultural and terraforming facilities. Equipped with an advanced suite of thermal and motion tracking sensors, the Scarecrow is designed to detect and deter any non-authorized biological or technological intrusion into its designated patrol area.
Spider Drones[edit | edit source]
Straight from Australia. Slower than some of its drone counterparts but fitted with heavier weaponry, the Spider Drone is a popular choice for automated defences inside buildings where a Scarecrow's range is limited. Originally designed to operate within the rough terrain of mining tunnels, the Spider moves on multiple armoured legs, allowing it to keep its balance on the most unsteady of terrain.
Firefly Drones[edit | edit source]
The Firefly is the fastest drone in the Foundation's arsenal, and the lightest armed. Held in the air by two dorsally mounted rotors, the Firefly is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and can travel up to 150 km/hr. Its primary purpose is as a forward scout, using its advanced sensor and communications suite to send information back about enemy positions. Its armour and weaponry is minimal and the Firefly can be easily taken out by even small arms fire - providing the shooter can hit its rapidly-moving frame.
