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Character
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavors, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. That is the meaning of victory."
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In times long since passed, the Zenithian Legions set the southern systems aflame. Zenith Prime's chosen children were born at the height of the Confederacy's power, and united as one, they brought entire systems to heel. The powers they served have long since shattered, but the people of Zenith Prime still endure, ever watching as the galaxy tore itself asunder.
For many years, the Zenithians rebuilt the legion that were once shattered. They observed the great wars that shook the galactic core and the crusades that soon followed. They watched with curious eyes as dynasties rose and fell, and grew to understand the root of the galaxy's woes.
The greatest enemy to peace is belief. As it stood, every galactic power that brought terror to the galaxy did so in service of their gods. The Jedi sought to create peace through the mastery of the sorcerous powers, and came to worship those powers as their gods. The peacekeepers often left little in their wake, save for masses of mindless people forever content to bow their heads to an uncaring deity.
The Sith follow gods of a darker nature; gods many of which do not even know exist. There are others who follow gods of their own making; the Mandalorians are a savage people, and their crusades only further the goals of the dark powers.
The Zenithians built their military and chose to close themselves off. They shut their ears to the whispers of fate, but fate cannot so easily be denied.
The attack came without warning. In the long past, the Zenithians had helped bring Geonosis into compliance. Years later, a small fleet of extremists sought to enact revenge, and they almost succeeded.
The cost was great, but Zenith Prime continued to stand as an independent world. Its people came to realize that they could not ignore the galaxy's truths. The Southern Systems were in absolute chaos, and no galactic power could ever hope to soothe that chaos so long as they were corrupted by their beliefs.
Baptized in the blood of the Geonosian invaders, the Zenithian Imperium was born. Of that Imperium came the Imperial Tribunal, and that Tribunal chose one to lead many: the Imperator.
United with great purpose under the leadership of the Imperator and the Imperial Tribunal, the Zenithian legions move to claim the southern systems in the name of the Imperium. There can be no peace until the stars bow to one great nation and the shadows of the dark powers find illumination.
In the end, there will be naught but the light of rationality and understanding. The gods will not cast any shadows ever again.
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The Imperial Purpose
There is only one truth: there are no gods. All deities are false. The sorcerous powers are a science to be mastered, and any who fall to their subtle manipulations must be purged. It is the Imperium's destiny to inherit the stars, and the Imperator, chosen by the Imperium's people, will guide the Imperium into the light of the future. There can be no tolerance for those that worship the dark powers.
Death is the sole absolution for the wicked. Those who serve the Imperium in the time of war are its angels of destruction. Woe be to the priest who preaches damnation to his flock, for he is truly the damned.
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The Tribunal
The Imperial Tribunal, or sometimes just The Tribunal, is the primary governing body of the Zenithian Imperium.Composed of four officers known as Tribunes, the Imperator, Warmaster, Viceroy, and Spymaster, each administers and oversees a portion of the Imperium. The Imperator is the head of state and final authority and law in all matters concerning the Imperium, this also includes the ability to dismiss any officer or magistrate as well veto any candidate put forward by The Tribunal.
The Imperator may put forward any law at any time known as an Imperial Edict. The Warmaster coordinates the Imperial Army and Imperium's Chosen, plans military campaigns, and oversees and the defense of the Imperium itself. The Viceroy oversees the development of the Imperium, this includes managing the Imperium's infrastructure as well overseeing investment and technological development. Additionally the Viceroy is the Presider of the Imperial Assembly. The Spymaster acts as the head to the Ministry of Intelligence and oversees the gathering, processing, and analyzing of information relevant to security and interests of the Imperium.
The Imperial Assembly is the lower house of the Zenithian Imperium. The Assembly is comprised of Magistrates who are appointed by The Imperial Tribunal and approved by the Imperator. The magistrates are responsible for making laws, governing planets, and maintaining order of civilians and civilian life inside the Imperium.
When magistrates gather in the Imperial Assembly they may vote on new laws, those which receive majority votes be enacted and become policy. After laws are passed magistrates are expected to enforce these laws, as well as Imperial Edicts put forward the Imperator.
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The Imperium's Chosen
"Those unfortunate few who opt to stand against the Imperium's Chosen are scantly heard from again. Those that do often turn up in pieces."
Warriors of the highest caliber, we call upon you to serve for the betterment of the galaxy!For generations, the Zenithian Quake Warriors have battled against the malignant forces of the galaxy. The blood of millions is stained upon the hands of those that would consider themselves gods -- the Quake Warriors, newly minted as the Imperium's Chosen, will not allow such misdeeds to go unpunished.
We are the Netherworld's reapers. Our warriors are forged in the crucible of war; our champions bathe in rivers of the blood that flow from the veins of our Imperium's enemies.. We are the Imperium's Chosen, and those who allow the forces of indecency and corruption to flourish will soon find themselves crushed between the weight our combined might.
With victories ranging from the famed destruction of Drunkenwell, to the more recent liberation of defense of Zenith Prime, the Imperium's Chosen have turned their warriors into some of the galaxy's greatest soldiers. Men and women clad in the ever-evolving power armor that has risen to fame in recent times, and armed with weapons other armies can only dream of fielding, the Imperium's Chosen are peerless warriors.
Our purpose? To defend the Imperium and all that dwell within it. We are untainted by religion. There is no political agenda other than our glorious service. Those that have proven themselves beyond redemption will receive swift and just punishment on the field of battle. The era of demi-gods ruling through sorcerous power and religious persecution is coming to an end. The age of the rational thinking sentient is upon us. No longer will the galaxy's people need to break their backs in service to false gods.
Prepare yourselves filth, the Imperium's Chosen come for you.
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The Imperium's Chosen: Who we are, what we are:
The Imperium's Chosen were first formed many years ago by the clones of the Confederacy in the form of the Dreadguard. Initially established as a defense force, this group eventually developed its own culture that slowly evolved into what it is today. The Imperium's Chosen are warriors unbound by spiritual agendas or religious beliefs. They will fight so long as it serves for the galaxy's people as a whole, and their work is never truly done.
Those who join the Chosen may take the path of a Scribe or a Knight. Scribes serve general purpose jobs, ranging from maintenance to standard infantry duties. Knights are the face of the Imperium's Chosen; warriors clad in power armor, equipped with blaster cannons and custom made war blades, they are the warriors that make the difference on the battlefield.
The Imperium's Chosen are greatly interested in the collection and preservation of technology. Tools of war are preserved and mastered for use in bringing peace to the galaxy. Other technologies are given to those who can make them readily available to the public, though certain techniques such as Vong-shaping techniques capable of being used on humans pioneered by Vong scientists are kept secret.
To the Imperium's Chosen, loyalty is everything. First to your Imperium, then to your brothers and sisters. They are your family: your comrades in battle, and those who you will be spending most of your time with when not in combat. There is little animosity between any two of the Chosen. Though rivalries are common, most warriors will lay down their lives for that of a brother or sister if the need arises.
Knights
The Chosen's collective fist, the Knights are those most often seen leading the charge on the field of battle. Clad in power armor and armed with blaster rifles and vibroswords, the Knights are peerless martial combatants.
Initiate: Knights begin their training as initiates. These warriors are trained en-masse by a group of Warsingers, and are still learning to battle in their power armor.
Knight: Numbering in the low thousands, the Knights are the swords of the Imperium.. These men and women are expected to hold their own against force sensitive warriors, and will often fight in squads of 2-6. They make use of whatever weapons are available, be it massive cortosis weave claymores, or a snub nosed blaster pistol.
Warsinger: Those who survive the crucible of war may call themselves Warsingers. These are the most experienced of the Knights, and serve as officers in the field of battle. Masters of their craft, Warsingers are expected to lead squads as assigned by their Praetor.
Scribes
Page: The new blood of the Chosen, pages are the apprentices. They are attached to the masters of their selected craft, and serve them dutifully until promotion.
Scribes: The most common member of the Chosen, Scribes make up the bulk of the labor force. From repairing ships, to serving as scouts for the Knights, Scribes serve many purposes for the Chosen. If the Knights are the fists, and the Praetors are the ears, then Scribes are the entire skeletal system.
Lord-Scribe: Masters of their craft, these Scribes oversee those lower than their station. From NCOs on the battlefield, to the head cook in the cafeteria, Lord-Scribes are afforded the same amount of respect and responsibility as the Knights' Warsingers.
The Praetors
Tribunes: A God among men, glory be to he who attains the rank of Praetor, for he is truly carnage personified. Wielding the legendary weapons of their predecessors, Praetors wade into battle in power armor decorated with trophies from their past feats. These are the greatest of warriors, masters of strategy, the beating heart of the Imperium's Chosen. A Praetor's word is law, and his dedication to the Imperator and the Imperium's mandates are unmatched. The rank of Forge-Lord falls under this category, and is only noted as the overarching quartermaster of the Chosen.
High Lord
High Lord: Master of the Chosen, second only to the Warmaster, he or she who decides all that the Imperium's Chosen will do. The High Lord is the embodiment of everything that it means to be one of the Chosen. As wise as he is a monster in battle, the High Lord is the figurehead of the Imperium's Chosen. His faith in the cause of the Imperium is unshakable, his prowess in battle unmatched even by his Praetors. The High Lord is the warrior most deserving, and best suited for the responsibility of guiding the Imperium's Chosen.
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The Technocracy
"Let it never be said that the artisans and craftsmen had no hand in the Imperium's glories."
The Imperial Army is the Imperium's spine. The Imperium's Chosen are the Imperium's fists. The Technocracy is the Imperium's mind.
Understanding all too well the dangers of businesses selling to every side in war, the Imperator's second edict upon coming into power was to establish the Technocracy. Forged from the remains of the flagging Techno Union, the Technocracy is a conglomeration of businesses and private companies working for and profiting off of the Imperium.
The Imperium's armies are truly massive, and great works are required to supply such a ravenous beast. Credits flow like wine into the coffers of the Technocracy, and in return, the Imperium is supplied with titans of war designed to utterly dominate the battlefield.
When an Imperial soldier runs an enemy through with his sword, an artificer on a far off world knows the amount of time he heated the blade might have saved that man's life. When an Imperial tank rolls over an enemy's defensive position, the work of a Technocracy factory is being put to the test. When a warrior finds that he still draws breath after taking a round to his armored chest, he knows it is the work of the Technocracy that has saved him.
There would be no Imperium without the Technocracy. The Imperium provides companies that join the Technocracy with relative monopolies over entire sectors, and in return the Technocracy continues to build greater works for use in both civil and military use.
Independents
Within the Technocracy are those with limited ties to the Imperium. These businessmen will often fulfill niche roles within the Imperium, and gain access to Imperial markets via a licence obtained by a small fee. Independents can sell their product freely in Imperial space, so long as they have no known connections to other powers hostile to the Imperium. Such traders often have a tendency to suddenly disappear without a trace.
Artisans
Artisans are firmly entrenched within the Imperium. They fulfill a great number of services, ranging from the sale of jewelry to battle tanks. The artisans treat the Technocracy like a guild, and most run extremely successful companies that hold monopolies over vast swathes of Imperial space. These men and women keep the credits flowing within the Imperium, and receive exclusive contracts with the Imperial Army, the Imperium's Chosen, the Imperial Tribunal, and others niches offices.
The Savants
The Imperial Army hosts a number of engineers dedicated to keeping the metaphorical gears turning. At times, however, certain machines can prove far too advanced for even the military's engineer corps. Thus came the savants. Creatures from a dozen different species dedicated to the acquisition of knowledge, the savants understand what some perceive to be the arcane workings of the Imperium's greatest machines. They are sworn to serve the Imperium until their dying breath, their every action working toward the betterment of the Imperial powers. There are few that could ever match a savant in technological skill.
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The Imperial Army
"We're not just going to shoot those bastards, we're going to rip out their karking guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks!"
The only way to keep only enemy from taking our worlds and enslaving our families is through force. The Imperium calls upon us to do what most will not. We steal victory from the grasp of our enemies with the sheer force of a thousand men and the fires of artillery to herald their charge. Our duty to the Imperium is to stand above any other military in the galaxy; we are the Imperium's spine, and we cannot break!
The vast bulk of the Zenithian Imperium's military power rests in the Imperial Army. Tithes of soldiers are taken annually from every world within the Imperium's borders. These tithes of soldiers are formed into planetary regiments; all tasked with the defense of their homeworld, and should the need arise, to join the conflicts plaguing other worlds that pay fealty to the Imperium.
Aside from these conscripts are the volunteers. These men and women are the backbone of the Imperial crusades launched toward other worlds. Stemming from the Zenithian Galactic Marines' example, the regiments formed follow a strict military protocol and are expected to perform actions ranging from defense to the conquering of foreign worlds.
Where the Imperium's Chosen are a scalpel designed to remove the tumors from a sickened body, the Imperial Army are a hammer to smash the skull of a patient too sickly to survive.
The tactics of an individual regiment are unique to their founding and where they hail from. The Barabel Blood Striders are a regiment almost entirely composed of Imperial-loyalist Barabel, renowned for their savagery and rather primitive way of making war. The Zenithian Galactic Marines are a more traditional military, operating under strict rules of engagement and relying on artillery and armored tanks to pave the way for their conquest.
Though the Imperium's various military regiments can be vastly different from one to the other, most generally follow a standard chain of command.
Private
The bulk of the Imperial Army fall into this rank. Held by volunteers and conscripts both, a private is expected to follow orders to the letter and without question. Their duties can range from janitorial work to line infantrymen and so-on. The average private is paid decently enough to provide for his or herself, though sustaining a family would not be possible given their income.
Corporal
The second most-numerous rank in the Imperial Army, the Corporal holds a bit more responsibility than the private. Generally experienced in the ways of war, a corporal is expected to help keep his lessers in check and serve as a right hand for the Sergeant. A corporal may lead a small squad of men, though this duty is generally reserved for the sergeant. Corporals receive a small bonus to their pay, and a few more privileges in military compounds.
Sergeant
Those who do not die in the line of duty or find them phased out from the army will eventually rise to the rank of sergeant. The sergeant generally heads one to five different squads and serves as the link between the enlisted men and the officer corps. A sergeant is expected to have basic leadership skills and will generally have enough experience to counter most situations on the battlefield. There are many different kinds of sergeants, ranging from base sergeants to command sergeant majors. All have different responsibilities pertaining to whatever regiment they find themselves a part of.
2nd Lieutenant
Better armed, better trained, though generally less experienced, the 2nd Lieutenant will often head companies of men within a regiment. The 2LT is expected to relay orders from high command to his subordinates and ensure they are carried out, as well as make split second decisions on the battlefield. Most officers are trained at the Zenithian Military Academy before finding themselves on the battlefield, though there are a few exceptions. Often inexperienced, a 2LT will rely on his senior NCOs for guidance and assistance when leading his men.
1st Lieutenant
The 1st Lieutenant has been forged in the crucible of war. Few 2nd Lieutenants rise to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, and those that do, do so on their own merit. These men are experienced officers with a great understanding of military bureaucracy and the art of war. A 1LT look over two or more companies of men, and stands as the link to the highest echelons of military leadership to the enlisted man.
Captain
Many of the Imperium's greatest heroes have held the rank of Captain. A Captain is expected to be an expert tactician as well as an accomplished warrior. The Captain may lead however he wishes, but many legends have been borne of the captains who lead from the front, a blaster in one hand a vibrosword in the other. Captains are given some of the best armor short of power armor that the Imperium can field, and often have decades of experience. A captain is often responsible for ten companies or more, and there are rarely more than five captains per regiment.
Lord Commander
General, High Lord, Lord Commander, whatever you may call them, the leader of an army will always be a figure of great respect. The Lord Commander stands over the entire regiment as its public face and ultimate leader. Reporting only to the Warmaster or the Imperator himself, the Lord Commander will lead entire military campaigns across sectors of space, often sitting on war councils with other Lord Commanders and Praetors of the Imperium's Chosen.
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The Zenithian Ministry Of Intelligence:
The Zenithian Ministry of Intelligence (Or ZMI) is the intelligence gathering and covert arm of the Zenithian Imperium. While the mighty troops prance about in their armor and their guns, we stick to the shadows and make sure the Imperium runs smoothly. Knowledge and assassination are our tools and information is our trade. Operatives will go into deep cover, taking down key targets and gathering intel on defences and weak points, and sabotaging what they can.
Agents are well trained in espionage and assassination. The best of them can take a target’s defences or leaders down before anyone is the wiser. Once a planet is softened, the military moves in and does the dirty work, and the ZMI helps smooth the transition into the Imperium, and assists in maintaining order.
Whether you prefer gathering information or wetwork, we have a place for you!
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- Why should I join you? We provide a style of faction quite different from others present. The Zenithian Imperium is a benevolent (toward its people) military oligarchy, with a bit of good-guy fascism sprinkled in. Our stories will range from great wars to political dramas within the hierarchy. We have less of a focus on force users than other factions, and while they do have a presence, they are not the stars of the show here. We provide a unique take on the business market, meaning that we are not the super capitalists that you often find here on Chaos. Our Magistrates are similar to senators in a way, but Imperial politics are far more cutthroat. We are always open to more expansions in the political area, and are willing to work with anyone who wants to put the time in.
- I don't much like the idea of joining a faction where one character holds all the power. There are enough of those already. What's different here? The Imperator is a figurehead. The character was voted into his position both ICly and OOCly, and serves as something to hold the faction together in times of strife. The various councils below him control the government and hold most of the power. Though he could change this, things are very set in stone. Furthermore, the Imperator position is a fluid one, and any Imperator that goes on a power trip will likely find himself losing his head.
- What's all this religion talk? The characters founding the faction have been universally used and abused by the Jedi/Sith in wars they did not perceive as their own. They've come to the conclusion that religion is a very bad thing, and without it, those that cause all the chaos in the galaxy lose their power.
- Dark Gods? Certain Zenithians perceive the Dark Side as a living God, that there is some kind of alien behind the scenes causing all this madness, to be combated and killed. They believe if it is starved of food (corrupted force sensitives) it will shrivel and die, like any mortal creature. That, or they will draw it out by slaughtering its followers and find a way to kill it.
- Sorcerous powers? The force is the common term, but it has great religious connotation.s The Zenithians see the force in a similar way to the Potentium. It is a science to be controlled, and a highly volatile one at that. In the wrong hands, it creates destruction.
- You said no force users? It just so happens that I had a spare to throw in here... Force users are registered by the government and watched. Those that choose to serve the Imperium are permitted to practice their craft, and will have their own militarized order, but if they go around talking about it in a religious context, or call themselves Jedi/Sith or any of the many other force sensitive cults, they might find a sword in their back.
- How do businesses work? The Imperium runs on a command economy. Certain businesses have full rein to sell in Imperial territory, and will usually have a monopoly. They often join the Technocracy, the union that provides war machines for the Imperial Army. Independents can sell to the Imperium, but they require a licence, and if they are known to sell to the Imperium's enemies, that licence. will be revoked.
- Do you intend to go major? Yes, and relatively soon! We have a handful of leadership positions still open, and are looking to have them filled before making the plunge.
- Where is the navy? The page for force users? Both are works in progress. Lots of words and three hours to write it all makes for very cramped fingers!
If you have any unanswered questions, please do not hesitate to leave them below! We will do our best to answer as quickly and accurately as we possibly can!
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