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The Shepherd’s Path, Part 12: The Collapse

 Posted on September 5, 2023  |   7 min  |   1416 words  |   DP9 Contributors

The fall of the Jerusalemite Church would be labeled ‘The Collapse’ by subsequent generations. Once a unified planet, New Jerusalem fractured without the centralized guidance of the Church. This led not only to a massive loss of technology, but also the creation of nations where none existed before. Many of the initial divisions formed due to geography, but the tone of the ensuing conflicts was largely religious for many decades. These nations would come to be referred to as the ‘Post-Collapse States’. During this time, personnel for Sanctuary would covertly travel across the Post-Collapse States. These missions served many purposes including fact-finding, making local connections, recruitment, and acquisition of resources. Sanctuary agents quickly developed a subtle code through careful phrasing that allowed them and their allies to communicate right under the nose of authorities. When pressed for their identities, it became common for them to reply they were simple shepherds, as many would masquerade as traders or farmers. These field agents observed and documented a number of new nations, which are listed below.

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Categories: background  Tags: Geopolitics 201 Faction New Jerusalem 

The Celt Engineering Tank

 Posted on August 31, 2023  |   2 min  |   239 words  |   DP9 Contributors

EST-89 CELT

Minesweeping is a dangerous task, best handled by specialist units. The Celt has been designed especially for this purpose. The lower hull and drive train are based on the Hun, though considerable modifications have been made to reinforce the structure to face the requirements of the new operation role. The entire front section of the tank is occupied by a large armored mine plow. The sensor pods, which contain the highly sensitive mine detectors, are placed in blisters located on either side of the chassis. Extra armor is bonded to the bottom of the hull, providing extra protection against exploding mines. In addition, the low fuel capacity and the improved self-sealing tanks further reduce the chances of catastrophic detonation in case a mine slips by. The turret is replaced by a det-cord launcher which uses plastic explosive hoses carried by small rockets to clear a path through the suspected minefield area. Celts and other minesweepers are rarely encountered by grunts. The fluid battlefield and skirmish tactics used nowadays don’t mix well with extensive minefields.

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Categories: blitz  Tags: HGB3.1 

The Shepherd’s Path, Part 11: Sanctuary

 Posted on August 30, 2023  |   4 min  |   705 words  |   DP9 Contributors

By 373 NJ, the first groups reached the polar facility. which they aptly dubbed Sanctuary. They found an entire empty city, ready for habitation. Hydroponics, manufacturing facilities, samples and blueprints for advanced technology, orbital vehicles, and even a wrecked prime knight paladin walker made it a veritable technological oasis. The next decade saw the establishment of a small civilization in Sanctuary that was focused on efficiency and the effective use of limited resources. All told, some 50,000 people came to call Sanctuary home. From their polar fortress, the people of Sanctuary watched as the world around them dissolved into chaos. The rest of New Jerusalem was breaking down into numerous small nations and power blocs during this period, which would later be known as the Isolation Crisis. Manufacturing hubs to fuel their conflicts were constructed, but the fall of the Church reduced their capabilities to little more than mid-20th century earth. The primary issue was a lack of computers and electronics. Air travel was almost completely lost as well. Simple propeller-driven aircraft were usable, but air filters constantly wore out due to the silicon particles in plant life. When burned, this released a choking smoke cloud that clogged engines. Re-exploration of space was also impossible. [Read More]
Categories: background  Tags: Archaeology 101 

The Shepherd’s Path, Part 10: Exodus

 Posted on August 29, 2023  |   5 min  |   917 words  |   DP9 Contributors

As the Church began to dissolve, many of the middle-level members were torn on what to do. The upper-level leadership was embroiled in what looked to be the start of a religious civil war, while many laborers and workers were taking to the streets over various issues. Small groups began to form, which linked up to larger groups aiming to escape the coming devastation. These refugees needed a place to flee to, and to find that place they raided the Church archives. Using passcodes stolen from Church officials, they dug deep into the records of the Church. What they found was surprising and concerning. The Church had been hoarding much of the technology and equipment that it had acquired by selling Jerusalemite products to the rest of the Concordat. Scores of warehouses and depots full of advanced technology, medical supplies, and even weapons were scattered across the planet. Each warehouse was well hidden and had numerous layers of security to keep out the unwelcome. Later analysis would reveal even more irregularities in Church finance and other related areas. The refugees fleeing the collapse saw these places as safe havens and places where materials and resources could be acquired; things they would need to survive what they believed was coming. They downloaded as much as they could and deleted everything on the Church’s data servers. No one would be able to follow them.

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Categories: background  Tags: Bookkeeping 101 

The Baxter Engineering Tank and Thunder Aller

 Posted on August 24, 2023  |   2 min  |   361 words  |   DP9 Contributors

ENT-2 BAXTER

The Baxter answers a need for a dedicated battlefield “towtruck” capable of salvaging the heaviest Main Battle Tank. The Baxter is based on the chassis of the Klemm, the most common light battle tank in the Norlight army. In this case, however, the chassis has been extensively modified and strengthened for its new role. The engine and transmission have both been replaced by more powerful systems for an increased towing capacity. The turret is a new high torque model that carries a sturdy crane capable of lifting nearly 50 tons with the tank appropriately braced. A hydraulically activated earthmoving blade is attached to the front of the hull for filling in ditches and digging earthworks. Attachment points for digging cannons are provided on both sides of the hull, which also features numerous handles and tie- down rings. The Northern Guard engineering companies attached to mechanized units always have at least one Baxter in service, more if they can manage to get them. Since they are unarmed, Baxters are kept out of the way during battles.

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Categories: blitz  Tags: HGB3.1 

Shepherds Path, Part 9: The Collapse

 Posted on August 23, 2023  |   6 min  |   1081 words  |   DP9 Contributors

The withdrawal of the gateship fleet and Concordat support was the result of a movement that had been building for some time. Despite this, many questioned how serious the movement’s leaders were, and how quickly they would cut off support if they did at all. The answer was unfortunately a quick removal almost immediately after taking political power. The Church attempted diplomacy to maintain contact. After all, New Jerusalem foodstuffs were being consumed on Earth, and the colony desperately needed the trade goods it got from Earth. In many people’s eyes there was no reason to cut off contact. As events moved closer and closer to a full abandonment of the colonies, the Pope personally went to Earth to discuss the situation and plead his case. During the following months, the isolationist policy took effect. The Pope did not return.

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Categories: background  Tags: History 201 

Shepherds Path, Part 8: Colonization

 Posted on August 22, 2023  |   5 min  |   1062 words  |   DP9 Contributors

For over 370 years, the people of New Jerusalem have carved out a life for themselves and their descendants on a new world. Events on a distant world many have never been to threaten all of that.

The colonization program was viewed by many on Earth as a solution to the resource scarcity that had loomed over humanity for many years. Offworld colonies would be able to harness the resources of new planets and send some of those resources back to Earth. While shipments from the colonies did arrive, exports to the colonies were needed for their continued survival. It is impossible to simply start a modern existence from nothing, and colonies would need long term support before they were fully independent. As the waning years of the 6th millennium wore on, social pressure turned into political pressure to address this support. Many on Earth began to view the colonies as resource pits which consumed more than they produced, or even as leeches and freeloaders. A low level of discontent eventually turned into political action which threatened to cut the colonies off from Earth.

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Categories: background  Tags: Negotiation 101 

The Caprice Reubeni Attack Trike

 Posted on August 17, 2023  |   2 min  |   307 words  |   DP9 Contributors

The Reubeni attack trike is based on a scouting and exploration all-terrain vehicle that was itself derived from the Mule all-purpose truck. Except for the addition of armament and some performance tune-ups, the vehicle is basically the same. Most of the time, the guns are taken from downed corporate units: the most common configuration mounts a light rifle and a light machinegun scavenged from other vehicles. The fire control system is simple but reliable and uses remote bore-sighted gun cameras to relay targeting information to the gunner’s display. A makeshift gunnery station occupies the space previously reserved for a bunk area.

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Categories: blitz  Tags: HGB3.1 

Shepherds Path, Part 7: Colonial Economics

 Posted on August 16, 2023  |   4 min  |   820 words  |   DP9 Contributors

New Jerusalem settled into what could be described as an agricultural technocracy. The colony was heavily focused on agriculture and food production. The standard of living, while comfortable, was missing many of the more advanced technologies seen on the other colonies. Farms, deep forest outposts, and other more rural establishments dominated the planet. The Church maintained a large degree of control over the industrial and urban areas, where it oversaw the processing and distribution of products and services. Church members with the rank of priest or other titles would go their entire career without leading a worship service, and instead would become managers and bureaucrats. 

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Categories: background  Tags: Agricultural Feudalism 301 

Shepherds Path, Part 6: The Local Wildlife

 Posted on August 15, 2023  |   5 min  |   982 words  |   DP9 Contributors

New Jerusalem was home to a flourishing ecosystem upon discovery, although the nature of the wildlife took explorers by surprise. The most common form of native animals appeared analogous to Earth polychaete worms. They tend to have long, segmented bodies, with each segment having at least one set of appendages. Their heads contain an annular mouth with teeth composed of mineralized chitin. Though they are technically boneless, cartilage and collagen form an internal structure. For land animals this structure is usually ossified. The two largest classes of native wildlife are referred to as ‘Wyrms’ and ‘Maggots’.

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Categories: background  Tags: Xenobiology 301