Windsock
Two Thousand Club
NCQ: An IntroductionThe year is 2471. Two hundred years ago, Mankind subjected itself and the entirety of the Earth to the 'Great Disaster', a cataclysmic event that shattered continents and changed the landscape forevermore; precipitating a century and a half of undiluted chaos that has only recently stabilized. Mankind continues to survive and reclaim the reborn planet. Humanity has been split into two broad groups, which nonetheless maintain rivalries in their own spheres as well as without: The Ruling Companies and the Ruling Nations, collectively known as "The Ruling Powers" by the rest of those seeking to control their own portions of the world, the various unaligned polities and city-states.
The Ruling Nations are descendants of those who were forced to survive on the surface, who nonetheless banded together and took control of their homelands. The Ruling Companies trace their lineage to the mega-corporations that foresaw the Great Disaster and slept away the apocalypse in underground city-complexes, 'Burrows'. The rest are those that eke out their existences between these two greater groups.
These entities oversee an uneasy peace in the modern era, but skirmishes and brush-fire conflicts are an everyday thing; minor territory exchanges and disputes rule the day and not a week goes by where hundreds or thousands have died across the world in some meaningless battle somewhere or other. Nonetheless, this cold world is mediated by a variety of international and inter-corporate groups, the foremost of which is a guild called MAVERICK.
'MAVERICK' is the organization which oversees, controls, and employs 'Neural Combatants' and their pilots, 'Pluggers'. NC's, as they're called, are the modern expression of the tip-of-the-spear, a mechanical champion that's the star of most modern conflicts. The battleship of the day, Neural Combatants are fifteen meter tall humanoid-or-semi-humanoid war machines that only a select few, compatible with the necessary surgeries and cybernetic implants to control these combat-mecha, can utilize. But their power is fearsome; and Pluggers can change the tide of wars in a single day.
This story follows the latest inductees into the organization, the class of '70 who discovered their Gift and forsook their old lives to become who they are today. The curtain opens simply; as these individuals are brought to see the latest batch of NC's made by an affiliate of MAVERICK and pick the ones they'll start their careers with.
Further Preliminary Information
The Ruling Nations are descendants of those who were forced to survive on the surface, who nonetheless banded together and took control of their homelands. The Ruling Companies trace their lineage to the mega-corporations that foresaw the Great Disaster and slept away the apocalypse in underground city-complexes, 'Burrows'. The rest are those that eke out their existences between these two greater groups.
These entities oversee an uneasy peace in the modern era, but skirmishes and brush-fire conflicts are an everyday thing; minor territory exchanges and disputes rule the day and not a week goes by where hundreds or thousands have died across the world in some meaningless battle somewhere or other. Nonetheless, this cold world is mediated by a variety of international and inter-corporate groups, the foremost of which is a guild called MAVERICK.
'MAVERICK' is the organization which oversees, controls, and employs 'Neural Combatants' and their pilots, 'Pluggers'. NC's, as they're called, are the modern expression of the tip-of-the-spear, a mechanical champion that's the star of most modern conflicts. The battleship of the day, Neural Combatants are fifteen meter tall humanoid-or-semi-humanoid war machines that only a select few, compatible with the necessary surgeries and cybernetic implants to control these combat-mecha, can utilize. But their power is fearsome; and Pluggers can change the tide of wars in a single day.
This story follows the latest inductees into the organization, the class of '70 who discovered their Gift and forsook their old lives to become who they are today. The curtain opens simply; as these individuals are brought to see the latest batch of NC's made by an affiliate of MAVERICK and pick the ones they'll start their careers with.
Further Preliminary Information
Neural Combatants are fifteen meter (50 feet) tall, humanoid combat vehicles using unconventional technologies, construction, and their unique control method to dominate a battle-space. Powered by miniaturized thorium reactors with thermocouple functionality allowing flight, with standard movement and payload capacity offered by synthetic musculature stocks, their dense frames are innately difficult to damage and offer performance befitting their exorbitant costs.
Standardization is only a weak reality; every NC, even in records from before the Disaster, could only be built singly, or at best in small batches. Each NC is a unique specimen, at the very least having its own quirks compared to its direct siblings, necessitating large groups commonly called 'Shoppes' to maintain and service these titans individually. These 'Shoppes' are divided into Primary and Secondary grades depending on their ability to fully manufacture new NC's, or just to modify them afterwards. Indeed, NC's are surprisingly malleable to further modifications, growing alongside their pilots as they gain experience and solidify their own tastes.
NC's are very capable machines despite all these special needs; a well-designed, optimized NC with a battle-hardened Plugger is easily capable of fighting small armies by itself. Almost every NC is capable of at least limited flight, and their electric hearts can power all kinds of advanced weapon systems, not to mention lug around tonnes of armor.
They can be considered a vehicular or macroscale example of special forces soldiers: High-cost, high-maintenance units that can nonetheless be expected to go anywhere and fight anything. NC pilots can come to be very rich, after paying off their initial debts to MAVERICK and coming to be a respected contractor.
Every NC in the world is monitored and employed under MAVERICK, if at all possible. The few extant that aren't affiliated with the organization are called 'Irregulars' and hunted down to be terminated or subverted at the earliest opportunity. MAVERICK estimates that there are 70 Neural Combatants on the world stage; eleven of those are not affiliated with the organization.
Standardization is only a weak reality; every NC, even in records from before the Disaster, could only be built singly, or at best in small batches. Each NC is a unique specimen, at the very least having its own quirks compared to its direct siblings, necessitating large groups commonly called 'Shoppes' to maintain and service these titans individually. These 'Shoppes' are divided into Primary and Secondary grades depending on their ability to fully manufacture new NC's, or just to modify them afterwards. Indeed, NC's are surprisingly malleable to further modifications, growing alongside their pilots as they gain experience and solidify their own tastes.
NC's are very capable machines despite all these special needs; a well-designed, optimized NC with a battle-hardened Plugger is easily capable of fighting small armies by itself. Almost every NC is capable of at least limited flight, and their electric hearts can power all kinds of advanced weapon systems, not to mention lug around tonnes of armor.
They can be considered a vehicular or macroscale example of special forces soldiers: High-cost, high-maintenance units that can nonetheless be expected to go anywhere and fight anything. NC pilots can come to be very rich, after paying off their initial debts to MAVERICK and coming to be a respected contractor.
Every NC in the world is monitored and employed under MAVERICK, if at all possible. The few extant that aren't affiliated with the organization are called 'Irregulars' and hunted down to be terminated or subverted at the earliest opportunity. MAVERICK estimates that there are 70 Neural Combatants on the world stage; eleven of those are not affiliated with the organization.
MAVERICK and its attending NC pilots have a unique relationship. Every associated Plugger is guaranteed a small selection of 'Handlers' to choose from, but can purchase exclusivity rights in an auction or private agreements if a particular assistant is desired. Furthermore, they're allowed to pick what contracts they desire to pursue at any one time, and can modify their machines however they wish. As long as their debts are paid (and they agree to do occasional direct-from-MAVERICK work) they're ultimately free to do what they want.
Anybody can request to hire an NC, from world leaders, terrorist warlords, private military firms, to industrial magnates. MAVERICK prides itself on its political neutrality and professionalism. Pilots are allowed many eccentricities, but once they're on a mission MAVERICK itself offers little direct physical assistance. MAVERICK NC's can even be hired to fight against one another in the same operation; MAVERICK doesn't filter out or 'game' requests to prevent this. Of course, killing another NC and its pilot is difficult in the first place. 'True-Kills' are rare and usually need to be specifically sought out in a battle; NC's that are 'Mission-Killed' (read: totaled) can expect to be dragged back to their base of operations.
MAVERICK pilots are graded in the five-tier 'Rating' systems; Each member of a 'Rate' is roughly equal, but numbered to delineate a certain 'seniority'. First-Rates are the best of the best, with Fifth-Rates being the greenhorns who have yet to prove themselves in any meaningful way. Pilots across the rates have a variety of traditions, the two most popular being "The Pseudonym" and "The Challenge". In short; every NC has a name and emblem associated with it, no matter the current owner or its service history. An NC pilot is expected to respond only to this name when on an operation; on the job, they are their NC. Relatedly, whenever two NC's meet, even during a stealth operation, they have to announce themselves when they see one another and offer greetings, at minimum.
Another tradition is the Sponsorship; senior pilots oftentimes present themselves to new Pluggers they've heard good about and offer an advisory or teaching role; passing down NC equipment and wisdom, while usually helping to pay off the junior pilots' debts. In return, the Sponsoring pilot expects a wingman and can divert lesser contracts they've accepted or otherwise send them on errands. Some of these teacher-student chains trace themselves back even before the Disaster.
Anybody can request to hire an NC, from world leaders, terrorist warlords, private military firms, to industrial magnates. MAVERICK prides itself on its political neutrality and professionalism. Pilots are allowed many eccentricities, but once they're on a mission MAVERICK itself offers little direct physical assistance. MAVERICK NC's can even be hired to fight against one another in the same operation; MAVERICK doesn't filter out or 'game' requests to prevent this. Of course, killing another NC and its pilot is difficult in the first place. 'True-Kills' are rare and usually need to be specifically sought out in a battle; NC's that are 'Mission-Killed' (read: totaled) can expect to be dragged back to their base of operations.
MAVERICK pilots are graded in the five-tier 'Rating' systems; Each member of a 'Rate' is roughly equal, but numbered to delineate a certain 'seniority'. First-Rates are the best of the best, with Fifth-Rates being the greenhorns who have yet to prove themselves in any meaningful way. Pilots across the rates have a variety of traditions, the two most popular being "The Pseudonym" and "The Challenge". In short; every NC has a name and emblem associated with it, no matter the current owner or its service history. An NC pilot is expected to respond only to this name when on an operation; on the job, they are their NC. Relatedly, whenever two NC's meet, even during a stealth operation, they have to announce themselves when they see one another and offer greetings, at minimum.
Another tradition is the Sponsorship; senior pilots oftentimes present themselves to new Pluggers they've heard good about and offer an advisory or teaching role; passing down NC equipment and wisdom, while usually helping to pay off the junior pilots' debts. In return, the Sponsoring pilot expects a wingman and can divert lesser contracts they've accepted or otherwise send them on errands. Some of these teacher-student chains trace themselves back even before the Disaster.
We enter this story through the perspectives of the newly inducted pilots of MAVERICK, who recently finished their basic training and are seeking out their first machines. They've been brought to the Americas, in what used to be Colorado. More specifically, the HQ of an associate 'Shoppe' (NC construction/modification group) of the MAVERICK organization, the General Requisitions' Neural Combatant Division, or just the 'GR-NCD' for short.
As suggested by their name, they're further connected with the largest of the Ruling Companies, General Requisitions; a megacorporation that controls a good portion of the Americas on its own, most notable for operating a good chunk of the transportation and communication industries. The pilots would've been told of the details; the facility is considered the headquarters for the entire GR-NCD, and is the only one where they build new NC's from scratch. Their latest batch of Combatant's have just been completed, all following the same rough templates. As such machines are want to do, each of the nine has almost certainly acquired strange quirks or developed differently.
They'll be meeting with the head developer, a man named James Andala, who will be leading them on an inspection of the units and discussing them. A pair of assistants sent by MAVERICK, 'Handlers', will be on-site to deal with the associated paperwork and offer whatever other help may be necessary. As the selection of a pilot's first NC is a somewhat public event, seasoned NC pilots will likely come as guests and may seek to take on a novice as a student. Or just mingle and talk shit, who knows?
As suggested by their name, they're further connected with the largest of the Ruling Companies, General Requisitions; a megacorporation that controls a good portion of the Americas on its own, most notable for operating a good chunk of the transportation and communication industries. The pilots would've been told of the details; the facility is considered the headquarters for the entire GR-NCD, and is the only one where they build new NC's from scratch. Their latest batch of Combatant's have just been completed, all following the same rough templates. As such machines are want to do, each of the nine has almost certainly acquired strange quirks or developed differently.
They'll be meeting with the head developer, a man named James Andala, who will be leading them on an inspection of the units and discussing them. A pair of assistants sent by MAVERICK, 'Handlers', will be on-site to deal with the associated paperwork and offer whatever other help may be necessary. As the selection of a pilot's first NC is a somewhat public event, seasoned NC pilots will likely come as guests and may seek to take on a novice as a student. Or just mingle and talk shit, who knows?
OOCHowdy! I've been cooking up what you just read for a while (and a bunch of other hidden behind-the-scenes stuffs) and am finally looking for players. I'm looking for up to 2 or 3 more people, I already have 2 who have expressed interest and I think 4~5 is a nice number.
Anyway, this RP is, as aforementioned, centered around tacticool mecha action and the people who pilot the rad battle robots in a future where the earth got all screwed up and it's just barely begun to return to normal. The players will be acting as mercenaries, and maybe some related characters, and going through a lightly prepared, but still freeform story. I've got a basic outline of what I'd like to happen, but I'm open to suggestions. As long as you work with me, I'll work with you.
The necessary materials (CS, further background details, etc) will be posted when either asked or when I deem them necessary. I'm looking to get the ball rolling by the end of this month, and get truly 'going' by next month. I'm not sure about this next part, but I'm looking to have the RP divided into specific 'episodes' of a few posts by each person, I hope this will act as a time limit and help move the story forwards. I find that reasonable deadlines and limitations help breed my own creativity.
I hope this finds plenty of interest and we write out something enjoyable together!
Anyway, this RP is, as aforementioned, centered around tacticool mecha action and the people who pilot the rad battle robots in a future where the earth got all screwed up and it's just barely begun to return to normal. The players will be acting as mercenaries, and maybe some related characters, and going through a lightly prepared, but still freeform story. I've got a basic outline of what I'd like to happen, but I'm open to suggestions. As long as you work with me, I'll work with you.
The necessary materials (CS, further background details, etc) will be posted when either asked or when I deem them necessary. I'm looking to get the ball rolling by the end of this month, and get truly 'going' by next month. I'm not sure about this next part, but I'm looking to have the RP divided into specific 'episodes' of a few posts by each person, I hope this will act as a time limit and help move the story forwards. I find that reasonable deadlines and limitations help breed my own creativity.
I hope this finds plenty of interest and we write out something enjoyable together!
