#terran federation

[thecountofs]

Starship Troopers

[chazbabylonisapathologicalliar]

Familiar Cultures [Lesser Species: Group/Concept]

Groups, species or more broadly, cultures, that exist in service to higher-powers. Two of the more notable examples of this are the Trviolians, who have turned being a subjugated species into an ecological niche and the Ogrons who have developed a culture that views their own bodies as essentially technological in nature, to be upgraded and improved upon across generations to better attract “buyers.” Humorously,  this makes them one of the few cultures to successfully engage in something resembling eugenics.

Indeed, the Ogrons have been so successful in fulfilling the Familiar role that they have formed a relationship with the Dalek Empire, this set-up is somewhat comparable to the relationship between pilot fish and various deep-sea predators. Oddly, despite the Dalek’s xenophobic hatred of most other lifeforms they have developed a number of familiar bonds, these include; the aforementioned Ogrons, the lupine Werelok and perhaps most infamously, the so-called Andromedans. [1] Other examples of this can be seen among the human and posthuman cults that treat the Great Houses and breakaway groups such as the Celestis and the Ermites with something approaching religious mania. [2] Of course, in the case of the Ermites these groups often worship them in a bid to become them, making it a less clear example of a Familiar Culture. 

The Andromedans were of course, responsible for the extra-galactic invasion of Mutter’s Spiral towards the beginning of the third century under the New Calendar. The Daleks would ultimately be revealed as the true instigators of this invasion, having fled the Milky Way via unknown means following successive defeats during the so-called Dalek Wars of preceding centuries. So while the Andromedans truly alien nature caused a number of problems for the Terrans, the Dalek’s involvement would ultimately mean that it was a threat that originated within the Mutter's Spiral itself. 

The philosopher Richard Harper-Vern would note similarities between Familiar Cultures and the relationship between Homeworlders and their timeships, of course he would also remark that in that case it was unclear who served who. 

NOTES 

Harper-Vern would die tragically young, slipping and cracking his skull open on a tasteful side-table/vase combo that his wife would later claim as having no recollection of either of them buying. 

Text taken from “The Bumper Book of War/Time Facts.” 

                                              - Prof. M. Flowers 

[vintage1981]

Blake’s 7 Heroes and Villains at MCM Birmingham

It’s all getting a bit retro at MCM Birmingham Comic Con, with three of the cast of classic sci-fi series Blake’s 7 – Jan Chappell, Jacqueline Pearce and Sally Knyvette – joining the cinema stars and small screen celebs assembling at the Midlands show this month.

The brainchild of Terry Nation, creator of Doctor Who’s iconic Daleks, Blake’s 7 ran for four seasons from 1978 to 1981, following a small group of rebels in their fight against the fascistic Terran Federation. Sporting dystopian themes, moral ambiguity and a cast of anti-heroes (at best!), Blake’s 7 remains one of seminal British SF dramas of its era.

Jan Chappell appeared in three seasons of the show as fan favourite Cally, a telepathic alien from the planet Auron. Exiled by her isolationist people after helping the resistance, the compassionate Cally joins Blake after a Federation biological weapons attack leaves her the sole survivor of her guerrilla force.

Jacqueline Pearce starred as the chic-but-deadly Servalan, Blake’s 7’s principal villain and the only guest character to appear in all four seasons of the series. Utterly ruthless, insatiably power-hungry and chillingly self-centred, Servalan was the head of the Federation’s armed forces and later the Federation itself.

Sally Knyvette played cynical space smuggler Jenna Stannis on the sci-fi show’s first two seasons. A skilled pilot and navigator, Jenna was the only female member of Blake’s original crew. Following her time aboard the Liberator, Knyvette swapped space opera for soap opera, starring as Kate Sugden in Emmerdale.

MCM Birmingham Comic Con comes to the NEC on 17-18 March. Tickets to the show are available here.

[eddardsharpe]

A Return to Firestorm Armada!

Finally, after years of not playing Firestorm Armada, I found someone else here in my new home in England that plays what is definitely my favorite science fiction wargame. I of course went out and ordered a couple of patrol fleets (Dindrenzi and Hawker Industries) and even bought some mostly Gen I but a couple Gen II Terrans from the aforementioned friend. Then we put on a demo game for the club, and now two other people are definitely buying fleets!

I’m just really thrilled, because it’s one of the most fun wargames I’ve ever come across, and when my friends that played it with me in Texas moved away, I was gutted. I’ll take more pictures next time (We’re playing again on Sunday), but for the initial game we were only using a squadron of Cruisers and squadron of Frigates per player, to cement the rule fundamentals 

The Hawker Industries ships here need a little work, it’s those stupid solar panels on the side. They’re a pain to deal with, I just need to dry brush them more patiently, and perhaps with a lighter color. 

Our game on Sunday will see a full Dindrenzi patrol fleet clash against their Hawker and/or Terran adversaries. I’ll also set it up to take pictures of all my ships on the nice starry backgrounds we’ve got. Sadly, they’re only 3x3, we’re petitioning the club to buy some full sized star mats. 

[jdbirds]

Terran Federation

In the last 300 years humanity has gone from fighting a unification war on it's own world to alpha sector power. Terran's believe it is there duty to bring freedom and culture to the galaxy, throug...

Flag from an Starfinder A.U. game I am Running  

[unrepentantwarriorpriest]

Warrior Woman : Terran Federation more modern than modern a truly Gender Equal military.

[unrepentantwarriorpriest]

Warrior Culture : Terran Federation

A Military Meritocracy where service guarantees citizenship. And citizenship is required for any number of things we take for granted like voting, holding office, recieving government aid, and having children. Being a civilian however was not looked down on and all rights and privileges of belonging to the federation except the above mentioned were still extended.