The Road to TN ‘54
Hey everyone! My name is Nick (aka prof9844) and I am the Line Developer of the new RPG 4th edition. The kickstarter for that is soon (I wish I had a date I could share but alas) and with that in mind I want to start talking about it and other related subjects. Today I want to talk storyline and where the world of Heavy Gear will be going.
The last books to include storyline advancement were Forged in Fire and Perfect Storm, both of which addressed some events around the 2nd CEF invasion. The dates for both books are TN 1951, the year the invasion began. The RPG will be advancing the timeline to late 1954, a little over 2 years after the events seen in books like Perfect Storm. The fighting on planet has reached a point where all the players are really suffering under the effects of the war.
In the North, vicious battles have drained the Northern armies of both personnel and equipment. The devastating battle of Sorrento drained both the Norlight Armed Forces and Northern Guard. forcing Victoria Edden-Smythe to leave her post as commander of the Northern Guard. The UMF and WFP have fared no better as each has had their own battles to fight. The devastation of the holy city of Revisionism has not sat well with NLC hardliners. Reports of internal division and even blue on blue incidents have been on the rise to the point where some worry a civil war is about to break out in the NLC. The UMFs major industrial centers are mostly intact although at great cost to the civilian infrastructure needed to keep the factories rolling. Corporations have become more brazen in their displays of influence and power which has only raised tensions in the Federation’s leadership. The WFP managed to reclaim most of what was lost to the CEF but at horrendous cost. The Protectorate has been forced to offer amnesty and lucrative contracts to various mercenario outfits composed of ex-WFP soldiers to refill its ranks.
The Badlands as ever are awash in blood. NuCoal has retaken Port Arthur and the aid of an unexpected ally has been revealed to have been a major part of that. Major political shakeups have combined with NuCoal’s fragile war industry to keep NuCoal and PAK military forces on the defensive. As they lick their wounds Peace River continues its aggressive protection of its corporate interests and had proven a critical partner in keeping the Alpha Maglev, and by extension inter-polar trade, running. Peace River units have focused on defending key territory while massive new infrastructure projects of unknown purpose have been completed.
In the South the situation is far more desperate. The Mekong Dominion has continued its bloody war against the invaders in the jungles although evidence suggests that some Taipans tire of the conflict. Nigel Shirow, face of the Eastern Suns, faces massive internal dissent due to his position as the husband of the Matriarch not actually giving him any power and the loss of the Eastern Sun itself. The Humanist territories, officially free but mere puppets of the Southern Republic, have largely fallen to the CEF. Several factions who had sought to revive the Humanist Alliance, albeit with differing visions, are now forced to work together against the CEF before any of them can see their plans come to fruition. The Southern Republic, jewel of the South, now finds itself in a war for its own survival. Its prestige damaged, the Republic has to contend with large swathes of its territory now being under Earth control. To add insult to injury, Jacques Molay – the former Lord Protector who was defeated in the Southern Republic Civil War – has returned. Now aligned with Earth and sent to administer to the occupied Southern territories on their behalf. Molay has taken this chance to rally his loyalists and proclaim his new dominion as the “true” Southern Republic.
Black Talon forces initially engaged the CEF aggressively in the Helios system but, after a battle that saw the destruction of a CEF flagship by boarding teams, seem to have vanished. Public opinion is beginning to turn against the Talons with many accusing them of mismanagement and incompetence. Talon leadership has stayed silent on these accusations which has only raised suspicion and caused further speculation.
Across the other colonies, the situation is confused at best. Caprice is still in a low intensity revolt with the Liberati, supported by Black Talons waging their guerilla war. Utopia has accepted occupation well. Some Utopians now even thrive under the CEF, although others have begun to look on their success with jealous eyes. On Eden, the CEFs hands off rule has resulted in a planetary insurgency in all but name. Various nations and nobles are taking advantage of the situation to further their own goals. Reports from Atlantis, Home, and Botany Bay are few and far between. CEF fleet movements suggest concern over Jotunheim and at least one report of a Jotunheim drone in Utopian space has been logged. The CEF relief force to New Jerusalem reported they had contacted surviving forces on planet only to go silent just like their predecessors. CEF high command has been miserly with reinforcements to Terra Nova due to the pressure of these events with the only major contingent being some Edenite reinforcements sent in mid-1952.
As you can see, the situation is not exactly good for anyone. All sides are being forced to dig deep into their stocks of older weapons and machines to keep up their numbers. Gears, vehicles, and striders that haven’t been seen for decades – if ever – are starting to appear on the frontlines. Military recruitment has dug deep into society and most anyone with military training has been recalled for service.
Yet, there are still some areas of peace where the battle lines have culminated. In portions of Terra Nova, the CEF has even begun administrative governance, and started the longer part of the war: counter insurgency and social assimilation. Many people are simply exhausted from cycles of war, and will leap at any offer of peace even from an invader. Humankind's new home is at a critical point. While no side appears poised to win the war, all of them could still lose it.
This is where our story continues.
