(WWEU) Post-Imperial Luz: Day 1

UNITED WORLD PRESS

Valerie Riha

Luz, Greater Luzine Provisional Authority, Talveras

(10/18/2043)

A week ago, the Commissarial barracks outside of the city of Luz stood empty except for a handful of roving guards. Now they resemble a bustling town with Commissars, Service Members, and Luz’s citizens coming and going at all hours of the day. It is from this Commissariat, and dozens of others just like it all over Talveras, that the groundwork for this world’s relief effort is being laid. Human and novum physicians exchange medical knowledge, Service Members from the Office of Emergency & Disaster Relief organize the distribution of clothes, food, blankets, and shelter for the Luzine and others still reeling from the war. Every night, lecture halls echo with the voices of Commissars representing the Office of Cultural Relations, introducing hundreds of novum a night to the history, culture, and philosophy of the NUSA. “Initially, we thought our lectures on the culture would have to endure a slow ‘growing phase’ with regard to Luzine popularity,” Mark Abeyta (Scsr/OCR), 47(Er), said “but we’ve had full theaters every night and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon.” When asked if the people seemed open to the prospect of annexation, he said “It’s too early to tell, but at least they’re willing to listen to what we have to offer. While I am confident that we can one day be countrymen; right now it’s up to us to do everything we can to show them we can at least be friends.”

            “The efforts of the Civilian Service Corps are greatly appreciated.” Provisional Minister of the GLPA The’unya Deyali, 30(Tv) said. “More and more, I see Luz and its outlying territories growing stronger and happier. Where once there were curfews, now the night is filled with lights and laughter again.” When asked if she perceived any problems with looters or war profiteers she stated “The shared horror of our treatment under the Empire has done much to foster a sense of community and social responsibility amongst the majority of the populace. While some misguided individuals have attempted to dishonestly better their circumstances, our husbands and neighbors in the Provisional Enforcement Agency patrol and investigate day and night to ensure safe communities and a healthy post-occupation Luz.” On the subject of annexation, Deyali remained cautious, but optimistic. “Continued friendship with the NUSA is a priority for all provisional governors, however uniting the whole world under a foreign flag is an area of great concern. I am constantly in communication with my counterparts regarding Talveras’ future with the NUSA, but I feel I speak for all of them when I say that I hope that future is a bright one.”

Challenges Ahead: Not all of Luz’s citizens seem as open to the concept of annexation as minister Deyali. Ajakar –a cobbler and a member of the ‘geliartik’ subclass who chose to forgo a surname- said “The NUSA’s game is obvious to everyone who has eyes. They think we have two choices: Join with their nation, or remain vulnerable to Imperial retaliation. What they don’t say is that while they appear strong, they need Talveras more than Talveras needs them. When the Imperial sword strikes to answer the loss of this world, it will strike hardest at the NUSA, not we of Talveras." Despite having taken two worlds from the Empire in recent months, and two more in contest, the NUSA still has no individual world it can fly its flag over. Compared to the North Asian Coalition’s quick annexation of Sh’rvest just months ago, the NUSA’s progress in convincing worlds to join its cause is painfully slow. “We must avoid any temptations to repeat the mistakes of Manifest Destiny and of the Empire,” President Andrew van Sheik said, “We will do all we can to convince prospective worlds to join into the American fold –with all the freedoms and privileges such entails- but at the end of the day, we must respect that the decision is their choice; not ours.”

The War Continues: Though Talveras was officially declared ‘liberated’ over a month ago, fighting still continues in the cold forested ‘North Reaches’ of the Shavitessen continent (The largest continent on Talveras, home to the major former nation-states of Luz, Shashanna, Lekenkos, Ura’en, and Golo.) In the shadow of the world’s highest mountain range, the soldiers of the 121^st Expeditionary Division clash with the remaining Hilean Imperial forces. “The deep forests and other natural barriers make it difficult to maintain reliable satellite imagery, making it all but impossible to direct an effective orbital bombardment.” General Byron Davis, Commanding Officer of the 121^st stated. “However, our ground forces, supplemented by the local expertise of many novum volunteers, are more than capable of handling what fight remains in the Imperials.” When asked if he anticipated an imminent Imperial surrender, Davis replied “We have thus far been unable to reach out to any central commander of the Imperial forces and it may be possible that they don’t even have one. Nonetheless, we do know they are protecting a large group of Imperial colonists, and may therefore be disinclined to surrender over possible concerns of their treatment.” When asked if he foresaw a prolonged fight ahead of his troops, the General remained confident. “The Hileans are fighting with more Velut Orsini [Military Support Branch] than Velut Hym’r [Combat Branch] while they may have been trained in guerrilla tactics at their respective military schools, [it] should be remembered that we have been fighting a guerrilla war against the Empire for the past thirteen years. Rest assured, we’ve got the Empire playing our game, and we’ve got [the game] rigged.” 

^[UWP]

 

 

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(WWEU) On Geliartiks: Part 2

From the desk of Commissar 2^nd Class, Doctor Sara Barerra

Office of Health & Disease Prevention on loan to OEDR

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS REPORT

(T) 06/19: I ran blood work for an adult female OC sufferer today (Athena Green). In the interest of preserving her privacy I will not state why she came in, just that she was not pregnant. I conversed with her at length about her experiences as a OC sufferer. While the subject was, understandably, a sore one; she told me about a how her social status forced her into a menial occupation and precluded any romantic relationship with any of her own kind (even other OC sufferers) according to novum laws and tradition. I asked if she had any prior relationships anyway, but she vehemently declined to state.

(T) 06/20: One of those professional vacationers from the OCR actually made himself useful today. He discovered that, historically, the lowest instances of COD came from the Golo city-state. Further, Goloine couples who left the city state tended to have a lower instance of OC as well. Somehow, he obtained an old religious text that apparently suggests that among the Goloine pregnant women should be treated like goddesses. Merchants should reduce their prices for them, husbands should cook for and massage them, and not a single frown should be cast in their direction. Alternately, my research found that the highest historical instances of OC come from the former nation of Lenkekos, specifically: of low-order caste members. Such individuals were often slave servants until circa 92 BHII, whereupon there was a social re-stratification brought on by what can be equated to a civil rights movement. While not granted true equality, these ‘lower orders’ were allowed to govern themselves as semi-sovereign states as vassals to the Higher Order hegemony. Interestingly, instances of OC seemed to drop nearly in proportion to the drop in required contact with Higher Orders.

      The most important nugget of information, however, was that instances of OC would ALWAYS increase during a foreign occupation. This, of course, was usually attributed to the ‘raping and pillaging’ behavior one might expect from an invader, but the fact that the Hilean Empire was not particularly prone to this behavior (based on accounts from Earth, Talveras, Atintichuk, and Vistik) and the rate of OC still rose in proportion to historic examples may suggest that the occupation(s) itself may have something to do with the rise in OC.

(T) 06/21: Green’s results revealed a significant amount of estrogen, adrenaline, cortisol, norepinephrine, and P14. These are all commonly associated with stress in humans, of course, except for P14. I recalled Athena Blue also had elevated amounts of P14 whereas White did not. Could P14 be the key to stopping or even ‘curing’ OC?

(T) 06/22: I received a blood sample from another OC female (I’m told, did not meet patient), who I am identifying as Athena Pink, and was ordered to run a DNA comparison test against another sample I received earlier today. The sample was not a match; however I also ran a hormone test that revealed nothing remarkable; even Pink’s P14 levels were down. Discouraging as it is, at least it confirms that there are no significant physiological differences between a healthy ‘shui’artik’ (those born without COD, ‘Bright Eyed’ in English) and OC sufferer.

(T) 06/24: Athena Blue came back per my recommendation. She asserted that she had fasted as I had suggested. She was still distressed that I could do nothing about what she perceived to be a fated pregnancy. Took blood and urine samples.

(T) 06/25: Blue still exhibits expected pregnancy hormones and high levels of stress hormones. Ordinarily I would suggest anti-anxiety medication, but I have no way of knowing how that would affect a novum, let alone a pregnant one.  

(T) 06/26: I attended a demonstration of novum prenatal care performed on Athena Purple. She was advanced in the second trimester, and showed every indication that she would bear a healthy baby. I observed her drink some sort of tea before and after the procedure. When I asked, she stated it was a Goloine blend renown for calming nerves. She had apparently developed a habit of drinking the stuff during the occupation in order to cope. I stopped short of advising her that such persistent body chemical state alterations could be an issue for the baby, but I did ask if she would be open to a hormone screening. She consented. While I drew blood, it occurred to me that I may be pursuing the wrong course by exclusively screening hormones. I obtained permission to perform a genetic test as well and obtained a second sample.

(T) 06/28: Purple’s results were consistent with White’s, save for highly elevated readings in oxytocin and endorphins. Sadly, I think that data can be disregarded due to the trace amounts of opiate analogues also found in her blood (suspect that tea blend is the culprit, have forwarded suspicion to OHDP – I doubt they’ll want CSC personnel drinking that stuff)

(T) 06/29: I feared the rate I’ve been gathering samples is far too slow to ever compile useful data. I posed opening a voluntary hormone screening clinic to SC Howard but he wouldn’t hear it; said “it would send the wrong message if we started performing wide-spread medical experiments on the populace”. I tried explaining that there was no risk to the populace, but he was adamant. Furthermore he put a stop to this current ‘experiment’, so I can expect this to be the last entry for a while.

(T) 07/02: I probably shouldn’t be typing this. Even with code names it comes too close to violating privacy but I feel I have to say this, even if no one is listening. Athena Green came in for extensive blood work today, it wasn’t at my request; she needed it for another CSC process. Process…it was a 107RSR is what it was for. When I ran her DNA I initially thought I had grabbed the wrong sample, her chromosome sequence seemed eerily familiar. On a hunch, I compared her mitochondrial DNA to Athena Purple’s. They matched, to a point. They’re half-sisters. That would just be an interesting tidbit is five minutes later, OCI wasn’t knocking down my door demanding to know where I got Green’s DNA. Turns out, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, Green was apparently some sort of assassin for the Empire. If this ever got out, Purple would lose all credibility and that butcher Nakara would be the sole voice of Luz.

---(TBC)---

 

All information not strictly pursuant to medical interests has been redacted by OMNI.

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ABNA Excerpt Review

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Wounded Worlds Recommends (March)

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Summary:

Isadora Fleming is a ruthless assassin and a cunning spy for the Secret Intelligence Service. When someone needs to die, they call Isadora. But she was not always a merciless killer. She was once a small, innocent girl from Eastern Europe. "With Her in the Night" tells Isadora's thrilling story from the night her parents were murdered, to her first mission, and culminates in her mission for vengeance.

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(WWEU) Understanding the Enemy Pt.1

The R)evere

Understanding the Enemy

Part 1: The Velut Etirivi

By Corporal Travis McLeod          

We’ve all seen them, strutting down the halls with their undeserved sense of accomplishment, making us call them “sir” like they’re a goddamn knight or something. Officers. They know no shame and their authority knows no bounds and nothing brightens their days quite like sipping tea while they watch the honest soldiers work. No other civilization that calls itself “intelligent” could come up with something so useless, could it? Alas, my friends: it turns out K-Jack is just as stupid as we are and has managed to come up with an officiating system that’s actually worse than our own. So the next time Lieutenant Butterbar gives you shit about the height of that tunnel you dug, take a moment and be glad that asshole will never get a whole planet for his trouble.

ABUSHI: We’ve probably all seen the guys sporting the fay purple stud at least once. They’re basically Lieutenants, but instead of some fancy hard to spell title that the Brits somehow found an “F” in, the Roos don’t dick around when it comes to its meaning: Graduate. Fuckin A! That’s right! An Abushi is a pimple-faced booger nose fresh out of the Military Academy and everyone goddamn knows it! He might have spent the last 11 years learning about Imperial military history, tactics, training, blah, blah, blah but he still doesn’t know didly dick. Doesn’t stop him from running a platoon or a small department right into the ground, though.

AKIRI: What happens when an Abushi finally learns to lace his boots straight? They give him a big red star on his hat (just in case our sharpshooters weren’t sure where to shoot) and something called an “Element”. What’s an Element? Pretty much whatever the Akiri above him decides it is, but usually it’s a healthy mix of infantry and vehicles or some vital post at the local base. While he will be in over-all command of his “Element”, you can generally trust him to delegate the “work” to his shit for brains Abushis. Some of you younger mud boots might remember that asshole Dean of Students at your school; well that’s an Akiri for you: basically a glorified disciplinarian who occasionally gives input on battle or operational strategies when the silvers aren’t too busy sucking each other off.

1^st AVEKI: So lookit, getting a ‘silver rank’ is apparently some sort of big deal in K-Jack land. No one really cares if you fuck up from time to time as an Akiri or Abushi, but screwing the pooch (or whatever the Roos have) as an Aveki can seriously blow major holes in your career 'cuz you've go 'sposibilities now, son. Usually they’ll be given some sort of ‘special’ element like a Blue Stripe company... or a Red Stripe if they swallow, I guess. But what separates an Aveki from one of the ‘lower’ ranks is that they sort of “own” whoever they command. See, when someone gets their Aveki’s promotion, they get to draw a pretty picture and slap it on their sleeve. That picture is called their “flag”, and every poor bastard under their command has to wear whatever retarded ass seizure doodle he came up with as part of their uniform. They even paint it on the side of the ship if he’s given command of a frigate or something. Also, it means he can get hitched to a girl (on the off-chance he’s into that sort of thing), plus own land and keep slaves.

2^nd AVEKI: That’s right, K-Jack ranks in ascending order. 2^nd Avekis aren’t much different from the first except everything but their dick gets bigger. A bigger ship, or a bigger element – you get it. Sometimes, though, they’ll basically be the mayor of a city. Each major city has a throne being filled by the ass of a 2^nd Aveki. So if you decide to, say, blow up a building or something (which you totally should, just what the hell do you think we're not paying you for?) then it’s the 2^nd Aveki who catches the flak.

3^rd AVEKI: Christ, it’s a good thing they stop the Aveki ranks here. I don’t know how many more of those stupid shooting stars they could fit on their hats. So these guys get to play with all the cool toys: they get the big battle cruisers, the super carriers, they get to rule over territory the size of countries and basically spend their days sitting on their ass waiting for their General’s promotion. They get first pick of whatever new units the Governor Militant requests, plus reserve the right to train new units. So basically: anyone you see not sporting the 3^rd Aveki’s Flag is the fat, slow kid who gets picked last at the pick-up game.

HYM’R HILEA: The reigning champion in the ‘Stupidest Name for an Officer Rank’ contest has got to be the Hym’r Hilea. Interestingly enough, the champion for the ‘Stupidest Name for an Officer’ contest happens to be our very own Governor Militant, Hym’r Hilea Gadry Tiraf. Now you could equate a Hym’r Hilea with a General or an Admiral, but you’d be wrong because it’s actually both. For some reason sane minds dare not guess at, Imperials think that fleet combat and planetary warfare are simple enough to be handled by one guy. So this is how the back asswards Imperial Military Officer’s System works: as a Hym’r Hilea you are given a fleet and an army. It is then your job to go out and conquer a planet or a system in the name of the Empire. If you don’t have the oats to do that immediately (and most of them don’t at first), you have two options: assist with any fighting that’s currently going on, or stage practice ‘raids’ on fellow Imperials to inspire enough confidence to be granted more units. Conquering a planet is sort of like building a retirement home. See, in the Empire any one can leave the military when their term is up EXCEPT officers, who are in for life. So in order to effectively ‘retire’, you need to have a secure plot of land or a world. In this way the GM is sort of like a king and the Aveki are like vassal lords; they are beholden to their Hym’r Hilea, but not necessarily to each other UNLESS one of them happens to be a sub-governorship of or a subordinate officer to a higher ranking Aveki. Confused? Let me break it down: Rather than the Colonel bossing the Lieutenant Colonel, and the Lieutenant Colonel bossing the Major, etc. the GM is the boss of everyone on the planet and the Aveki are the bosses of whatever territories or commands the GM has carved out for them. The Akiri and Abushi act as traditional military officers in service to their Aveki, but only to their specific Aveki (Though somehow I think if a 3^rd Aveki told an Akiri of a 1^st Aveki to jam his thumb up his ass, someone is going to have to wash their hands soon).

So I’m gonna stop here kiddos. There’s not much use talking about what comes after this, just wanted to give you young bucks the big-picture view of the assholes you’re fighting everyday. If you have any questions, you can talk to someone at LogReg. Peace! .R)

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(WWEU) Codename: Avatar Pt. 3

NEW UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

CIVILIAN SERVICE CORPS

OFFICE OF MILITARY & NATIONAL INTELIGENCE

CODENAME: AVATAR (3/3)

JSP BRIEF RESUMES:

13-D/4-LM/39-YIS:

Asset AVATAR ends training. Pass. 399-VH586201 DISTE. [OMNI NOTE: Final Exam Death Match?]

17-D/4-LM/39-YIS:

OPERATION “PETULANT CHILD” LOG:

IMPERATIVE & AVATAR deployed outside Luz with instructions to engage suspected Resistance enclave. Enclave location & numbers unknown. JSP Commander authorized betrayal of assets’ codename & position to Resistance intelligence. Objective is to lure out and CPI/KINOE Onko Nakara “RML”.

RISK: Less than 150 Trained Imperial Assets, 2 Talon Class Gunships, 5 Bounty Class Dropships

REWARD: 50(-/+) of Resistance CPI/KINOE, Onko Nakara “RML” CPI/KINOE

COST: Less than ŧ234,000

COS: 50%

Assets ambushed by Resistance as anticipated. Assets activated distress beacons as ordered. Vanguard Strike Force (Loaned by 380-HH034) arrived on-site within 8hhb, engaged large Resistance force. Assets extracted alive. Target not found.

[OPERATION CONTINUES]

7 DISTE

41 KINOE

TARGET M/SA

ADDENDUM: Commendation appended to asset IMPERATIVE’S & AVATAR’S files. [COMMENDATION RECORD REMOVED FROM AVATAR’S FILE BY ORDER OF JSP COMMANDER]

[INFORMATION REDACTED BY OMNI]

03-D/5-LM/39-YIS:

OPERATION “PETULANT CHILD” LOG:

AVATAR deployed outside Luz with instructions to seek out and reconnoiter Resistance facility (Medical aid/supply station – location known, no action taken by order of 380-HH034). JSP Commander authorized betrayal of asset’s codename & position to Resistance intelligence. Objective: (unknown to AVATAR) to lure out and CPI/KINOE Onko Nakara “RML”. Orbital Bombardment keyed to Avatar’s position. Authorized to fire when AVATAR’S vitals tracker stops transmitting.

RISK: 1 Trained Imperial Asset.

REWARD: 100(-/+) of Resistance KINOE, Onko Nakara “RML” KINOE

COST: Less than ŧ75,000

COS: 65%

Asset reports successful reconnaissance mission. Further reports narrowly dodging an unexpected large Resistance patrol. Reports no contact with Onko Nakara “RML”. Orbital Bombardment of Resistance facility authorized after the fact.

[OPERATION CONTINUES]

NIL

100(-/+) KINOE

TARGET: M/SA

ADDENDUM: 401-A10124 has been disciplined by JSP Commander for repeated failure to meet objective.

25-D/5-LM/39-YIS:

OPERATION “PERULANT CHILD” LOG:

IMPERATIVE and AVATAR deployed in a Bounty Class Dropship, their appearances altered so that only IMPERATIVE would match the description Resistance Intelligence possesses on AVATAR. Assets dressed as slaves to legitimize an alternate operation. Dropship bay further complimented with slave corpses occupying the seats. Dropship flight path betrayed to Resistance Intelligence. Objective: Resistance strike down Dropship. Upon investigation, they will CPI AVATAR & IMPERATIVE and bring them to their leadership. Target Onko Nakara “RML” may choose to interrogate the disguised IMPERATIVE, where AVATAR –likely assessed as an innocent- will be able to move somewhat freely. AVATAR’s training will dictate an attempt on Target’s life. NOTE: It is extremely likely that one or both assets will be killed in the crash, or that one or both assets will be compromised and executed. JSP Commander has deemed these ACCEPTABLE LOSSES.

RISK: Less than 5 Trained Imperial Assets, 1 Bounty Class Dropship.

REWARD: Onko Nakara “RML” KINOE

COST: Less than ŧ250,000

COS: 5%

Dropship was shot down as predicted, both pilots DISTE. IMPERATIVE & AVATAR CPI by Resistance forces. IMPERATIVE reports that he was interrogated by Onko Nakara “RML”. According to IMPERATIVE, AVATAR gained the trust of the Resistance and was allowed some liberty. AVATAR wisely waited until some portion of the staff of the Resistance Facility was deployed on-mission before making an attempt. AVATAR successfully liberated IMPERATIVE and 408-HS632010 (CPI some weeks previous) before slaying Onko Nakara “RML” (IMPERATIVE and 408-HS632010 confirmed termination). Assets requested extraction. AVATAR DISTE during extraction. Extraction team eradicated remaining Resistance.

[OPERATION CONCLUDES]

3 DISTE

82 KINOE

TARGET: KINOE

ADDENDUM: 401-A10124 & IMPERATIVE receive commendation. AVATAR receives posthumous commendation [COMMENDATION RECORD REMOVED FROM AVATAR’S FILE BY ORDER OF JSP COMMANDER].

[INFORMATION REDACTED BY OMNI]

JSP BRIEF ENDS 

Analysis: Given that Onko Nakara “RML” is still alive, it is obvious that the last leg of Operation “Petulant Child” was not as successful as reported. However, given that he does not appear to mentioned again in the Imperial record, the Empire still firmly believed he was dead right until Liberation. Onko Nakara “RML” confirms that he deliberately disguised his identity to avoid detection. Additionally, Onko Nakara “RML” passionately believes that AVATAR is still alive and that the record must have been falsified in order to deceive Resistance leadership into lowering its guard. AVATAR is not mentioned again in the Imperial record, however there are many concerning inconsistencies in the brief. First: all descriptions and information concerning AVATAR have been deleted including commendations. If the AVATAR truly was dead, it seems superfluous to redact that information –particularly since the AVATAR was a novum (and therefore considered a “lesser” subject by the Empire). Additionally (not mentioned in this brief) 401-A10124, AVATAR’s commanding officer, was killed in some non-specific “accident” following Operation “Petulant Child”. Pattern suggests that someone was “cleaning house”, but motive is indeterminate. Regardless, there is nothing to suggest that AVATAR is alive, however, determining who he was might be of some priority to SecState/SecDef at least in order to understand what makes his file so peculiar.

 

What we do know for certain, however, is that AVATAR was thrust into many situations with little information and every expectation of failure and still managed to survive. If he is still alive, he should be considered highly dangerous.

-Richard Zapanta
Senior Commissar, OMNI

11/02/2043

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(WWEU) Codename: Avatar Pt. 2

NEW UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

CIVILIAN SERVICE CORPS

OFFICE OF MILITARY & NATIONAL INTELIGENCE

CODENAME: AVATAR (2/3)

JSP BRIEF RESUMES:

17-D/6-LM/38-YIS:

EVENT:

Murder at residence. Victim was a male novum, evidently deceased by a 300N Imperial Utility Blade. Unsubstantiated reports indicate that the novum in question made a habit of entering into forced sexual congress with other novum. No investigation reports exist on these claims.

CONCLUSION:

Assigned JSP Investigatory Officer, 401-A10124, is convinced that the culprit is the same perpetrator of the events on 5-D/6-LM/38-YIS. JSP Commander agrees, has ordered profile analysis.

ADDENDUM:

Investigatory profile is as follows: Suspected culprit is likely a novum, Alo’ashine, female. Basis for this rests on the assumption that targets eliminated so far have been male novum suspected or facilitators of sexual victimization against female novum. As such, the dispatch of such individuals is consistent with the actions and ideal of “Kurmi’harot”, a so-called “Pillar of Justice” in the Alo’ashine tradition. Subject is likely a member of the geliartik sub-class not currently employed by JSP or other Imperial branch. Subject is now to be referenced as CODENAME: AVATAR. Based on these parameters, a list of possible suspects currently residing in Luz has been made available here: [FILE DELETED BY ORDER OF JSP COMMANDER]

19-D/6-LM/38-YIS:

OPERATION “MOTHERLESS” LOG:

High-visibility health warning was issued to public against CODENAME: ROKIRIKA. Warning included announcement of ROKIRIKA’S spreading of venereal disease via deliberately unprotected congress after drugging victims. ROKIRIKA’S likeness and address broadcasted. Further announced that ROKIRIKA is an Imperial servant and would not be prosecuted. Further announced that attempts at retaliation against ROKIRIKA would be met with harsh reprisals. Guards from JSP Hym’r/AS Branch posted at residence to establish validity. The issuance of this health warning and CODENAME: ROKIRIKA are both fabrications authorized by 401-A10124 in attempt to lure CODENAME: AVATAR.

RISK: Less than 100 Trained Imperial Assets

REWARD: CPI of wanted dissident

COST: Less than ŧ80,000

COS: 88%

[OPERATION CONTINUING] – NIL/NEL

21-D/6LM/38-YIS:

OPERATION “MOTHERLESS” LOG:

Female, Alo’ashine, novum geliartik identified as Fa’ashi Orrin, employed at Atitiri’s Cuts in mid-outer Luz was CPI attempting to surreptitiously enter CODENAME: ROKIRIKA’S residence. Capture was a result of deliberate ambush. Following questioning, Orrin was confirmed as CODENAME: AVATAR by 401-A10124. AVATAR was deputized as an Imperial asset following interrogation under terms. Terms were as follows: names and addresses of reported perpetrators of involuntary sexual congress against novum females. JSP Command intends to honor stated terms without negotiation.

[OPERATION CONCLUDED] NIL/NEL

[INFORMATION REDACTED BY ORDER OF JSP COMMANDER]

 

28-D/7-LM/38-YIS:

OPERATION “PETIA ROKIRIKA” LOG:

Intelligence asserted with 32% certitude that sub-minor Resistance leadership conclave would assemble somewhere in quarantined Luzine factory district on this log’s evening. JSP Commander deems deployment of proper Imperial Military/JSP assets inconsistent with established risk/reward/cost/COS ratios. Authorized 401-A10124 to deploy Asset AVATAR with kill/capture orders.

RISK: 1 Untrained Imperial Asset

REWARD: Unknown number of Resistance CPI/KINOE

COST: Less than ŧ100

COS: 6%

Asset AVATAR successfully discovered, eliminated Resistance Conclave.

[OPERATION CONCLUDED]

NIL

4 KINOE

1 CPI

ADDENDUM 1: Asset AVATAR approved for training. Training Officer: Asset IMPERATIVE. Commendation appended to asset AVATAR’S file. [COMMENDATION RECORD REMOVED BY ORDER OF JSP COMMANDER]

ADDENDUM 2: 1 Resistance KINOE discovered to be Surunyi Nakara, sibling of Resistance Major Leadership “RML” Onko Nakara. Current personality profile of Onko Nakara “RML” suggests that a drive for vengeance may be an exploitable motivation. JSP Commander authorized limited leak of “PETIA ROKIRIKA” details in hopes of intercept by Resistance intelligence assets.

[INFORMATION REDACTED BY OMNI]

24-D/8-LM/38-YIS:

Asset AVATAR begins training.

 

---(TBC)---

 

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(WWEU) Codename: Avatar Pt. 1

NEW UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

CIVILIAN SERVICE CORPS

OFFICE OF MILITARY & NATIONAL INTELIGENCE

CODENAME: AVATAR (1/3)

Per requests from the Secretary of Defense, the following is a brief captured from Imperial Joint Security Program (JSP) documents detailing the service record of Imperial Asset Codename: “Avatar”. This asset is assumed to have served the role of an Imperial assassin under the command of the JSP under Abushi Omnst Tamo (Flag Serial: 401-A10124) with the assigned purpose of rooting out novum Luzine resistance fighters. According to documentation, Codename “Avatar” was reported killed on 25/5/39 Tv-AHII, however Mr. Onko Nakara, a former leader of the Luzine Resistance, remains convinced that Avatar’s death was faked as an attempt at military deception and may still be alive and well today. OMNI currently has no credible intelligence indicating Avatar’s status either way, however this brief is not intended to serve as a projection as to the likelihood of such circumstances, but merely to illuminate the nature of Codename: “Avatar’s” service.

For reference, Imperial abbreviation nomenclature has been included:

#-D: Day

#-LM: Local Month

#-YIS: Years world has been Imperial Subject

#hhb/#khb: Hundred Heartbeats/ Thousand Heartbeats (1hb = 1.2secs)

COS: Chance of Success

CPI: Captured, Pending Interrogation

DISTE: Died in Service to Empire (Friendly KIA)

JSP: Joint Security Program

KINOE: Killed in Name of Empire (Enemy KIA)

M/LC: Missing, Likely Captured

M/SA: Missing, Still Able

NEL: No Enemy Losses

NIL: No Imperial Losses

JSP BRIEF BEGINS:

5-D/5-LM/38-YIS:

EVENT:

A murder occurred at Communal Domicile 2789 late the night before. The victim was a novum assigned by the Empire to manage the building and report any suspicious actions or affiliations on behalf of the tenants. Cause of death was exsanguination due to multiple stab wounds to the abdomen. Several tenants were detained, however the investigation was never satisfactorily resolved (full report attached).

CONCLUSION:

Little Importance

ADDENDUM:

JSP Intelligence retroactively adds this report to jacket on suspicion that this was AVATAR’S first taking of a life. Asset AVATAR has neither confirmed nor denied this. 401-A10124 has exercised discretionary authority to pursue the matter no further. 

5-D/6-LM/38-YIS:

EVENT:

Multiple murders occurred at a vice house in central Luz. 7 fatalities; all novum males – employees and proprietor of establishment. Each of the deceased were dispatched with what appeared to be a 300N Imperial Utility Blade. None of the patrons or surviving employees questioned were able to give and account of the culprit.

CONCLUSION:

High-profile event. Investigation may be necessary to pacify local populace. Further, the amount of skill required to dispatch so many so quietly suggests an exploitable resource of use to the Empire.

ADDENDUM:

Kidnapping victim, juvenile female novum, was returned to parents shortly after event. She would not reveal what had occurred upon initial questioning. Later interrogation revealed that she was taken forcibly to the vice house in question (presumably to be conditioned to service patrons) where she was rescued by an Alo’ashine female geliartik. [INFORMATION REDACTED BY ORDER OF JSP COMMANDER]

 

---(TBC)---

 

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PUBLISHING DATE!

I'm finally ready to show Wounded Worlds to the world. On Sunday, March 17th, I'll be submitting the manuscript to Amazon for publishing as an e-book. If all goes well, it should be available Wednesday, March 20th.

I'd like to take a moment and thank everyone who had a part in making this happen. This truly is a dream come true. I'll be sure to post a link to the e-book right here on the blog as soon as it's ready.

The NEW Cover Is HERE!!!

We are extremely pleased to present the OFFICIAL cover of Wounded Worlds: Nihil Novum, drawn and colored by the very talented João Ribiero.



 



© 2013 Ryan Hodge



You can check out more of João's work here: wodzgn.blogspot.com.

While we've got you here, let's take a look at the other cover iterations that were considered (all images © 2013 Ryan Hodge):

We considered a 'space opera' style cover, similar to Star Wars. While we'd still love to see the characters of Wounded Worlds fully realized in illustration, we decided that it would have been better to go with a simpler cover design.

 

Here we experimented with different styles of the 'insignia' cover.

 

 

Once we had a perspective we liked, we examined what style of insignia should represent the book. The insignia itself is based on descriptions of the Civilian Service Corps' Commissarial sigil within the text.

 

 



 At length, we were ready to start realizing the cover concept itself. We briefly flirted with having a stark all-black background, but decided that a space scene would be more striking.

What would you have gone with? Leave your comments below.

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(WWEU) On Geliartiks: Part 1

From the desk of Commissar 2^nd Class, Doctor Sara Barerra

Office of Health & Disease Prevention on loan to OEDR

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is a compilation of case notes I have archived in my search to understand the novum condition known as “Geliartik” (or “Grey Eye” in English). "Grey Eye" is a non-life threatening medical condition affecting subjects from birth. It manifests, as its name would imply, by altering the pigmentation in the iris resulting in dark epithelium and near transparent anterior stroma to produce the appearance of grey in nearly all light conditions (Detailed notes attached in separate file). Unlike humans, novum seem to have no hereditary predisposition for grey eyes to occur as the condition manifests in all known races and pedigree of novum. What is clear is that external factors (apparently during pregnancy) manifest the condition; however what these factors are became a point of interest to investigate. “Common knowledge” amongst the novum dictates that a pregnancy brought on by involuntary sexual congress will produce a grey eyed or “geliartik” baby. However, what caused me to question the validity of those findings were several inconsistencies.

-First: The instance rate of “geliartiks”, by all accounts, were several times higher during the Imperial occupation than at any other point in recorded novum history. While understanding that certain elements may seek to take advantage of the wildly different concept of ‘Law & Order’ the Empire provided, the fact that ‘Theft of Purity’ as a cultural taboo had not been removed forces me to question just how often such attacks would have truly taken place.
-Second: Though anecdotal, grey eyed children being born to mothers who have insisted that the baby was indeed that of the consensual sexual partner was not unheard of even before the occupation. In the past this has been dismissed as either a deliberate attempt on behalf of the mother to hide (more ‘developed’ cultures have also suggested ‘blocked memory’ of) the assault. Again, while perhaps true in some cases, it is extremely specious to suggest it would be true in all.
-Third: While our knowledge of the novum reproductive system remains limited as of this writing, we do know that at least mechanically consensual intercourse and non-consensual intercourse have no significant differences.
-Fourth: There are incidents both in novum legal proceedings and in legend that a novum woman impregnated by allegedly non-consensual intercourse bore children with ‘normal’ eye colors.
-Fifth: Birthing grey eyed children appears to have no bearing one one’s ability to produce subsequent children with ‘normal’ eye colors.

Given these inconsistencies, I was prompted to begin a preliminary investigation into this phenomenon apart from my regular duties. The ethical nature of the subject matter, of course, precluded any sort of controlled practical testing; so these findings are strictly based on interviews and non-laboratory standard genetic testing, however I believe even the initial results do much to challenge the initial conclusion behind the cause of the condition.

(Earth: 2043) (Talv: 06/10): A novum woman (Subject Athena Blue in Attached Case Report) in clear distress checked herself in at the relief clinic and demanded that she be seen only by a female doctor. Being available at the time, I elected to treat her. Blue confided that she had begun to lactate that morning and revealed that she had been the victim a forced encounter several weeks prior (Assailant Unknown). It was then that I was introduced to the concerns regarding birthing a grey-eyed child (Condition hitherto to be referred to a Ocular Cinereosis), and asked if there was anything I could do. I informed her that it would be unsafe for me to attempt any sort of procedure that would alter her baby’s eye color or perform a pregnancy termination given our limited knowledge of novum physiology. I did, however, obtain a blood and urine sample and instructed her to return in two week’s time after fasting for 36 hours.

(T) 06/12: Athena Blue’s test results showed a wide-spectrum elevation in hormones when compared to other novum women, particularly in Adrenaline, Testosterone, Estrogen, Cortisol, Progesterone, Norepinephrine, and a hormone unique to novum designated as P14. The presence of many of these hormones is completely normal in pregnant humans, but some would indicate a persistent state of stress or depression. However, this being the first blood test of a pregnant novum woman (sadly, past medical records remain unavailable at this time) I have no basis on whether to state if this is normal.  

(T) 06/14: Another pregnant subject (Athena White) reported to the clinic today. She had an inner ear infection, but appeared otherwise healthy. Novum-specific antibiotics are still in short supply since the liberation, but success has been reported with Amoxicillin on healthy adults. Before prescribing any, I drew her blood as well. Since she reported that her pregnancy was consensual (a difficult nugget of information to obtain) I hope that I can use her blood work as a baseline for further tests.

(T) 06/15: Athena White’s test results showed significant differences from Blue’s. Adrenaline, Cortisol, Norepinephrine, and P14 levels were all markedly reduced. Given her state of infection, it is unknown if any normal hormone production may have a tendency to be inhibited, but that there was a difference between her and Blue is important context.

(T) 06/18: Commissar Prewitt and I had been discussing OC for the past few days. Apparently, sufferers of OC(again, called ‘Geliartiks’ by local populace) are treated with no little disdain; given the assumption of circumstances regarding their conception. Yesterday, Prewitt had assisted in delivering a baby who had OC, however the mother (Athena Red) maintained that it was indeed her husband’s (Adonis Red). The husband was, of course, furious (such a claim, after all, might double as an accusation in a novum court). Fortunately, Prewitt was able to convince them to subject the infant (Eros Red) to a paternity test. I must admit that I am glad Prewitt –and not I- had to report to the Red family that Eros Red’s father was Adonis Red’s brother. The brother (Poseidon Red) was arrested for theft of purity after Athena Red accused him of forcing himself on her (citing fear of skepticism as reason for not reporting it before). Prewitt was not convinced, suspecting Athena Red told the most convenient lie to get out of trouble. However, Eros was not bought into an orphanage. Further medical inquiries with the Red family will likely prove difficult.

---(TBC)---

 

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