Bibliophile
First Post
*Disclaimer* I make no pretense to represent the actual political descisions of nations of the earth, nor the mindset of their respective populances at any given point in time, so please no flames about how something is slightly historically wrong, or something else is just plain impossible *end Disclaimer*
That said, let me know what you think!
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Earth, year 2012
Summary:
The world today was beginning to take shape in the early 1900's. World War One came, and passed. Soon World War Two was upon us. Balanced between many different possible outcomes, the turning point appeared on July 20, 1944. It was on this date in his East Prussian headquarters that Adolf Hitler was assasinated, and the Third Reich thrown into chaos.
Conclusion of the War:
Following the assasination of Hitler in 1944, the German command structure was thrown into chaos. This period, laced with political fighting in Berlin for control threw the military into disarray. Uncertain who to take orders from, and almost in a state of disbelief that their furor was killed, they began to fall prey to the Soviet military in battle after battle. By the time things were straightened out in Berlin, the German armed forces were in bad shape. Pushed back out of Russian territory, and nearly out of Poland, they were fighting a loosing battle. Desperate for some success to bolster morale, the new German leader, Otto Dietrich, the previous press chief of the party, decided on a bold counter-offensive, on all fronts.
The first planes took off from France and began heavy bombardment of the entrenched British positions the day of December 24, 1944: Christmas eve. The troop transports soon followed. Taken mostly by surprise, the British troops initially offered little resistance. After establishing a beachhead, the German mechanized battalions drove towards London. With German tanks rapidly approaching, the British government began evacuating to their backup headquarters in the city of York, far to the north.
The German forces began to face serious opposition approximately 120 miles south of London as the British troops fought to defend the still-evacuating city. In a show of extreme courage, the outnumbered and undergunned British troops held off the German tanks throughout the night, allowing more than half of the city of London to evacuate north. But, try as they might, they couldn't stop the Germans forever. The morning of December 25, 1944, the German 174th mechanized infantry broke through and outflanked the British 12th armored collum. This hole in the British defense line quickly allowed the mainstray of the attacking German force through, leaving the British surrounded and defeated. Once finished with the defenders, the German tanks moved into London. Finding stiff resistance from those still inside the city, they decided to halt the offensive temporarily to quell the dissident populace and entrench their position in preparation for the counter-attack they knew would come.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front, news of the success against Britain spurred the troops forward. With raised morale, they began their offensive, employing the lightning tactics used earlier in the war. The Russian army reeled and took flight, leading the following German forces right into a trap. As the German army moved through the flatlands of central Poland, they met a new weapon. While much more crude than later versions of the atomic bomb, the explosive used served its purpose. In a flash, 95% of the German tank battalions were destroyed. Leaving the German forces and those of their own army caught in the blast to die of the radiation released, the Russian hammer moved quickly towards Berlin.
In late January 1945, American troops reached Europe. The delay was over. Landing in northern Spain, they stormed east, prevailing in the early battles against the garrison troops left behind. Yet, the US involvement came too little, too late. As the American troops were beginning an assault to retake London, the Russian army broke through into Berlin. With the execution of the leaders of the Nazi party, support for the war, and the "undefeatable third reich" dissappeared amongst the German populace and remaining armed forces.
The resulting debates over the to-be borders of the European nations were dragged on until March. It was then, with Russian troops still occupying nearly a third of Europe, and with most of the American military still en-route, the Soviet ambassador walked out on the negotiations. Within hours, the USSR had annexed all land east of and including Germany, the Netherlands, and south to Turkey.
The new shape of Europe was defined as the war-torn countries realized that to actively protest was to invite further bloodshed.
The Rise of the Alliances, and the Start of the Arms Race:
With the rise of a new, stronger Soviet Union, the countries of the world began to forget old grieviences and band together for survival.
First was the United States, for the most part abandoning war-torn western Europe, the American leaders quickly formed a coalition between the countries of their own continent. On August 19, 1956 the North American Confederacy was born.
Following almost immediately were the Soviet Union's most immediate neighbors.
Western Europe, devoid of its American backing, turned in the only direction it could, south. Soon, the leaders of the free nations of northern Africa and those of western Europe had come to terms. Thus, on January 4, 1957, the Eastern Atlantic Alliance began.
Meanwhile, Bejing and Tokyo were hard at work. Gathering together the countries near them, but loosing Mongolia to further Soviet annexation, they formed the Pacific Federation's United Realm on March 28, 1957.
Suddenly surrounded by enemies, the Middle-east and central africa quickly forgave past agressions and the Legion of Islamic States was signed into creation on June 12, 1957.
Following much more extensive discussion, the nations of South America and the excluded nations of the African south decided on the final terms for the South Earth Compact. Bringing it into being on Februrary 25, 1958.
Finding itself alone in the world, Australia sent out its recently upgraded fleet to consolidate the borders of the Pacific as its dominion, even wresting control of Hawaii from the US. The recognized date of the establishment of the borders of the Islandic Alliance was May 6, 1958.
While, for the most part, the individual countries still existed and maintained their previous borders, each alliance had its policy decided upon by a council of representatives who, in some alliances, were appointed, in others elected.
With the firm establishment of the new world order, countries tried to continue as best they could, waiting, biding their time, while continually building up their military forces, technology, and infrastructure.
The world continued on this path, and indeed, still walks it today, with nuclear weapons pointed everywhere, and the fate of the world balanced on the edge of a knife. The slightest disturbance of which could topple it into the waiting abyss.
Life in the World Order:
Travel:
Travel within an alliance is much as it was in the past, with passports between alliance countries even easier to obtain. However, outside of the alliance, things become difficult. For desperate occasions during times of bad political blood, agents may be forced to stoop to smuggling themselves across alliance borders, dodging patrols while thinking of an excuse for their sudden appearance in the alliance, while during better times, a simple plane ticket may suffice. No matter what the international situation is like at any given time, agents should expect high security checkpoints when traveling between alliances by normal means.
Operating Procedures:
Agents of TACIT must abide by standard operating procedures.
1. Members of TACIT owe primary allegiance to TACIT. Keep your loyalty in consideration when choosing a course of action.
2. Never fully trust any citizen of a foreign alliance, and even among citizens of the NAC, maintain some level of suspicion.
3. Under no circumstances is any member of TACIT to divulge their true identity to a foreign national, or to divulge their true occupation to anyone outside of the agency.
4. To maintain plausible deniability, agents must obtain non-sensitive equipment from sources outside of the agency. To facilitate this, individual, international accounts will be made available to members just beginning their work with TACIT.
5. Members of TACIT are required to inform their commanding officers in the case of a completed, changed, or new mission they are undertaking.
6. Always remember when to break from the standard procedures. While you may know them best, so may your enemies, and it is for that which they will prepare.
--------------------
The characters will be field agents of TACIT, an intelligence agency for the North American Confederacy (think CIA crossed with the FBI's investigative penchant). The campaign will include levels of the supernatural, in any form that is necessary (magic/psionics) however, I probably won't use wizards' system. While some "magic" will be available to the players, and while it will be very powerful in comparison to other class abilities, it balances out with the high cost (in hp and low usage / day) to use, and the threat that there might be a witness left alive (in which case the alliances of the world will be after the party, no holds barred). It'll focus somewhere between spying/intelligence collecting and investigating the supernatural (although knowing my group it'll probably end up more towards the x-files side of the scale).
So, what'dya think? Comments? Criticism? Comments and criticism?
That said, let me know what you think!
--------------------
Earth, year 2012
Summary:
The world today was beginning to take shape in the early 1900's. World War One came, and passed. Soon World War Two was upon us. Balanced between many different possible outcomes, the turning point appeared on July 20, 1944. It was on this date in his East Prussian headquarters that Adolf Hitler was assasinated, and the Third Reich thrown into chaos.
Conclusion of the War:
Following the assasination of Hitler in 1944, the German command structure was thrown into chaos. This period, laced with political fighting in Berlin for control threw the military into disarray. Uncertain who to take orders from, and almost in a state of disbelief that their furor was killed, they began to fall prey to the Soviet military in battle after battle. By the time things were straightened out in Berlin, the German armed forces were in bad shape. Pushed back out of Russian territory, and nearly out of Poland, they were fighting a loosing battle. Desperate for some success to bolster morale, the new German leader, Otto Dietrich, the previous press chief of the party, decided on a bold counter-offensive, on all fronts.
The first planes took off from France and began heavy bombardment of the entrenched British positions the day of December 24, 1944: Christmas eve. The troop transports soon followed. Taken mostly by surprise, the British troops initially offered little resistance. After establishing a beachhead, the German mechanized battalions drove towards London. With German tanks rapidly approaching, the British government began evacuating to their backup headquarters in the city of York, far to the north.
The German forces began to face serious opposition approximately 120 miles south of London as the British troops fought to defend the still-evacuating city. In a show of extreme courage, the outnumbered and undergunned British troops held off the German tanks throughout the night, allowing more than half of the city of London to evacuate north. But, try as they might, they couldn't stop the Germans forever. The morning of December 25, 1944, the German 174th mechanized infantry broke through and outflanked the British 12th armored collum. This hole in the British defense line quickly allowed the mainstray of the attacking German force through, leaving the British surrounded and defeated. Once finished with the defenders, the German tanks moved into London. Finding stiff resistance from those still inside the city, they decided to halt the offensive temporarily to quell the dissident populace and entrench their position in preparation for the counter-attack they knew would come.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front, news of the success against Britain spurred the troops forward. With raised morale, they began their offensive, employing the lightning tactics used earlier in the war. The Russian army reeled and took flight, leading the following German forces right into a trap. As the German army moved through the flatlands of central Poland, they met a new weapon. While much more crude than later versions of the atomic bomb, the explosive used served its purpose. In a flash, 95% of the German tank battalions were destroyed. Leaving the German forces and those of their own army caught in the blast to die of the radiation released, the Russian hammer moved quickly towards Berlin.
In late January 1945, American troops reached Europe. The delay was over. Landing in northern Spain, they stormed east, prevailing in the early battles against the garrison troops left behind. Yet, the US involvement came too little, too late. As the American troops were beginning an assault to retake London, the Russian army broke through into Berlin. With the execution of the leaders of the Nazi party, support for the war, and the "undefeatable third reich" dissappeared amongst the German populace and remaining armed forces.
The resulting debates over the to-be borders of the European nations were dragged on until March. It was then, with Russian troops still occupying nearly a third of Europe, and with most of the American military still en-route, the Soviet ambassador walked out on the negotiations. Within hours, the USSR had annexed all land east of and including Germany, the Netherlands, and south to Turkey.
The new shape of Europe was defined as the war-torn countries realized that to actively protest was to invite further bloodshed.
The Rise of the Alliances, and the Start of the Arms Race:
With the rise of a new, stronger Soviet Union, the countries of the world began to forget old grieviences and band together for survival.
First was the United States, for the most part abandoning war-torn western Europe, the American leaders quickly formed a coalition between the countries of their own continent. On August 19, 1956 the North American Confederacy was born.
Following almost immediately were the Soviet Union's most immediate neighbors.
Western Europe, devoid of its American backing, turned in the only direction it could, south. Soon, the leaders of the free nations of northern Africa and those of western Europe had come to terms. Thus, on January 4, 1957, the Eastern Atlantic Alliance began.
Meanwhile, Bejing and Tokyo were hard at work. Gathering together the countries near them, but loosing Mongolia to further Soviet annexation, they formed the Pacific Federation's United Realm on March 28, 1957.
Suddenly surrounded by enemies, the Middle-east and central africa quickly forgave past agressions and the Legion of Islamic States was signed into creation on June 12, 1957.
Following much more extensive discussion, the nations of South America and the excluded nations of the African south decided on the final terms for the South Earth Compact. Bringing it into being on Februrary 25, 1958.
Finding itself alone in the world, Australia sent out its recently upgraded fleet to consolidate the borders of the Pacific as its dominion, even wresting control of Hawaii from the US. The recognized date of the establishment of the borders of the Islandic Alliance was May 6, 1958.
While, for the most part, the individual countries still existed and maintained their previous borders, each alliance had its policy decided upon by a council of representatives who, in some alliances, were appointed, in others elected.
With the firm establishment of the new world order, countries tried to continue as best they could, waiting, biding their time, while continually building up their military forces, technology, and infrastructure.
The world continued on this path, and indeed, still walks it today, with nuclear weapons pointed everywhere, and the fate of the world balanced on the edge of a knife. The slightest disturbance of which could topple it into the waiting abyss.
Life in the World Order:
Travel:
Travel within an alliance is much as it was in the past, with passports between alliance countries even easier to obtain. However, outside of the alliance, things become difficult. For desperate occasions during times of bad political blood, agents may be forced to stoop to smuggling themselves across alliance borders, dodging patrols while thinking of an excuse for their sudden appearance in the alliance, while during better times, a simple plane ticket may suffice. No matter what the international situation is like at any given time, agents should expect high security checkpoints when traveling between alliances by normal means.
Operating Procedures:
Agents of TACIT must abide by standard operating procedures.
1. Members of TACIT owe primary allegiance to TACIT. Keep your loyalty in consideration when choosing a course of action.
2. Never fully trust any citizen of a foreign alliance, and even among citizens of the NAC, maintain some level of suspicion.
3. Under no circumstances is any member of TACIT to divulge their true identity to a foreign national, or to divulge their true occupation to anyone outside of the agency.
4. To maintain plausible deniability, agents must obtain non-sensitive equipment from sources outside of the agency. To facilitate this, individual, international accounts will be made available to members just beginning their work with TACIT.
5. Members of TACIT are required to inform their commanding officers in the case of a completed, changed, or new mission they are undertaking.
6. Always remember when to break from the standard procedures. While you may know them best, so may your enemies, and it is for that which they will prepare.
--------------------
The characters will be field agents of TACIT, an intelligence agency for the North American Confederacy (think CIA crossed with the FBI's investigative penchant). The campaign will include levels of the supernatural, in any form that is necessary (magic/psionics) however, I probably won't use wizards' system. While some "magic" will be available to the players, and while it will be very powerful in comparison to other class abilities, it balances out with the high cost (in hp and low usage / day) to use, and the threat that there might be a witness left alive (in which case the alliances of the world will be after the party, no holds barred). It'll focus somewhere between spying/intelligence collecting and investigating the supernatural (although knowing my group it'll probably end up more towards the x-files side of the scale).
So, what'dya think? Comments? Criticism? Comments and criticism?
