Gundam Siora

[Seperallis]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Siora


I was thinking of starting a long RP set using Gundams as its base, set in the world of Siora. Yeah, our MTRP world. The idea would maybe lead into a sequel RP...but since I doubt y'all gonna post at least every day to make that close to a reality, it'll likely be stand-alone with some other gundam ideas happening on their own.

Oh, you don't know Gundam? That's okay, you really won't need to know anything about Gundam to join, though I do admit it makes understanding some more technical stuff easier. However, a massive info dump of the backstory, technology, history, factions, stonkin' big robots, etc. is at the bottom of this post, so everyone can get in on the plot and setting.



Speaking of the story or setting, you don't need to memorize all of it, it'll be here for reference.

This'll of course be a character RP and I'll likely allow multiple characters per person to fill out the factions, and there will be lots of things for people to do besides be fighty-fighty shooty-shooty gundam pilots. Anyway, if you're interested, and/or want to help flesh out the future Siora while I cook up some more specifics, pop ideas/suggestions/interest in here.



Approved Characters

Approved Characters
Charon	Union	Federation	HPA	Other
Soraya Kheramati	Feryn II Styrlund	-	-	Liina Valtonen
Soren	Selma Selander	-	-	-
Tao Yin	-	-	-	-

The Character Sheet

Show ContentClick for the Character Sheet:

Code:

Character Design Sheet
[b]Name:[/b] {Given Name + Family Name; if in a non-Western format (Japanese, Chinese, etc.), please indicate the given name; include romanized spelling}
[b]Rank:[/b] {military rank, if you're non-gundam military. Delete this if not. Go look up US Marine ranks if you need them; see me if you plan to go above Captain}
[b]Alias:[/b] {For Hero Gundam pilots, include a codename; some examples of canon Gundam codenames/names that might as well be codenames include Heero Yuy, Lockon Stratos, Mash, and Gaia. For non-Hero Gundam pilots, an alias is optional; if your character has earned a specific reputation and is frequently called by something other than their rank and surname (e.g. Colonel Smirnov is also known as The Wild Bear of Russia), include it here. Delete if no alias.}
[b]Alliance:[/b] {To which nation/organization does your character claim allegiance?}
[b]Birthplace:[/b] {where ya born}
[b]Age:[/b] {At the start of the RP}
[b]Sex:[/b] {Are you a pink haro or a blue haro?}

[b]Appearance:[/b] {Picture optional. Include a brief description of your character's build, defining features, coloration, etc. The usual.}

[b]Personality:[/b] {Include at least a paragraph about your character's personality, including their motivations for serving the alliance they serve.}

[b]Biography:[/b] {Include at least a paragraph about your character's biography.}

[b]Mobile Suit[/b]
{A mobile suit will be assigned to you. Please await your orders.}

Questions

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I was going to call this FAQ, but there was nothing frequent about it. Maybe only one of them was actually asked.

”But Sep, I’ve seen your roleplays; I don’t wanna write 500-2000 words every post!”
Then don’t? I don’t care about the length of your posts as long as you do good roleplay and the overall thread is an interesting read/story. I’ll be making longer posts to set up adequate plot and setting, but I would much rather have people make decent replies several times per week than one novella per month.


”Can I have multiple characters?”
Yes, please do.


”Three military blocs? Team Gundam? Civilians? Please tell me this is multiple threads...however are you going to keep the plots and replies organized?”
Nope, one thread from start to finish. I hate splitting plots across multiple threads.

Instead of having multiple scenes happening in a thread all at once, there will be one "active" scene being posted in the main thread. For any other actions taking place outside that active scene in the thread, a shareable document (likely GoogleDocs) will be opened for the players of that scene to continue their RP in the meantime. When the active scene ends, I will decide which of these "side" scenes will become the active scene, and players in that scene can copy their replies from the document into the thread, and continue to RP in the thread as needed.

If you're confused, don't worry. It makes a lot more sense in practice.


“I wanna be an A.I., android, genetically engineered, or just generally some other special thing!”
Come see me, and we’ll work through your history and such.


”I wanna be the HERO!”
You and everyone, buddy. Not everyone can will be Heero/Char/Amuro/Setsuna, and I likely won’t accept anyone trying to be. It’s okay to be an ace, or Colonel Cool, but roleplaying might make you a hero instead of character sheets and plot armor.


”Well, can I be Gundam?”
Yes. The gundam team is small, and gundam pilots fewer still. Because I’m sure most want to gundam, spots on Team Gundam are first-come, but with preference to both better writers and profiles.


”Can I pick my Suit?”
Your suit will be assigned to you (if you are a pilot) based on your faction, though there will be some choice within that; more choice is likely to be provided as the RP evolves. For Team Gundam, though, we’ll work out suit design and capabilities together, if something isn't available.


”Can I be, like, a journalist or something?”
God, yes! I would love me some civilians, especially ones not affiliated with military. Those are some of the best plotlines.

Timeline and Recent History

Show ContentClick here for the Timeline and Details of Recent Events:

Below is a detail of the above events:


1654
Start of the Lost Decade. Warfare in Kvaenna sparks a worldwide conflict that reshaped the geopolitical landscape, leading to the rise and fall of nations and the shaping of the three big power blocs.

1660
The Broda Small Reactor is created, miniaturizing nuclear power.

1664
End of the Lost Decade.

1666
The Siege of Kortoa. The HPA attempts to force an end to Kortoa's holdout from being incorporated and begins an assault. The SSF responds, leading to a 21-month blockade of the country and constant skirmishes.

Adwestene Insurrection. Loyal Adwestene military and partisan forces attempt to restore the old Adwestene monarchy in Kvaenna, sparking an 5 month rebellion. Numerous small flashpoints and terroristic attacks would continue for years afterwards.

1670
SeedSys orbital elevator plan adopted.

1671
Construction begins on the Broda Solar System. First construction launches take place in a plan to beam solar energy to the planet.

1674
The Elevator Crises. Not pleased with the plan for the LU elevator to be built on Krinis, and wary of LU influence on its doorstep, the HPA sparks a series of border conflicts in North Ostara and the Near East, as well as supporting Octitanian revolt against Arkianian rule. In Mavari, plans for the SSF elevator hit a roadblock with local protest against local habitat destruction and the displacement of millions to build the elevator. Neither crisis would be solved for three years.

Charon founded? (1674?/1680?)

1677
HPA begins border wall project in Carpathia.

1678
The Syorid Affair. In a gamble to "free" Syorid from Castleon control, Lanlanian agents entered the country as an HPA delegation to assist Syorid nationalists. Using inside contacts and fake credentials, they smuggled weapons into and intelligence out of the country, until the cover was blown by a similar delegation actually from the HPA entering the country. Nationwide terrorist attacks by Syorid rebels were used as cover to slip the Lanlanian agents out of the country.

1679
Broda develops the AMBAC system in Nyland.

Akitsu Straits Incident. The HPA continues to pressure and prod nearby neighbors that ally with its antagonists, this time violating Akitsu waters by sending groups of nautical mobile weapons through its neighbor's various island straits to "gather intelligence."

North Sea Scandal. Karjelinn fishing vessels are detained in the North Sea for "territorial violations;" Karjelinn protests that the fishers were within their waters. Karjelinnian navy escorts fishing fleets to contested waters off its southern coast, prompting LU response to defend "territorial waters." To prevent SSF medling, a new deal is brokered on rights of use in the North Sea.

Lomarren Road Conflict. HPA accuses the LU of using their humanitarian and peacekeeping presence in Selisa as a front for spying and to deliver material aid to hostile actors in Zanaro, launching airstrikes along the supposed humanitarian corridor from Aisame to Cora. LU threatens to send armed escorts with the convoys, and HPA responds in kind, prompting Lomarre to mobilize to prevent both. The Crisis ends on its fourth day, as Lomarre declares an end to the LU humanitarian mission and closes the road.

1680
HPA ends construction of its wall in Zanaro. Carpathian-Zanaro border is now completely fortified.

First Solar Wars. (1680-1682)
With construction of the elevators accelerating and most of the Solar System operating and providing a large-scale, clean source of power to the planet, the big three power blocs formed a tripartite agreement on planetary energy, pledging a rapid reduction in the use of fossil fuels to zero within the decade. This naturally did not go over well in fuel-producing regions, sparking unrest in certain places within the blocs, and outright panic and outrage amongst those left hanging on the outside. The destabilizing agreement sparked several flashpoints across the world, further complicating energy matters and forcing responses from the big three blocs, which used the crises to expand their influences in indirect (and sometimes direct) warfare in places such as:
Governmental coups in Solhaven;
A multitude of rising and falling energy warlords in the Near East;
Skirmishes along the Lomarre-Castleon border;
Drahen, and its status in the LU;
Rebels within central SSF states seizing both conventional and solar energy sources;
And others. These solar wars, while not all at once, became a continuous affair for the next several years.

1681
Arkiania Straits conflict. Following conflict over the LU elevator, the Union stationed increasing numbers of forces in Krinis after the conflict to protect its assets, sparking some native protests and provoking threats and an increased deployment of troops nearby from the HPA to counter it. Unwilling to accept what it views as a pretense for an invasion, HPA forces assault across the straits to Krinis, taking the elevator and the beaches before fighting to a stalemate. The LU counters with a push in Marzanna, reclaiming much territory for Severyane previously lost in the great war. A peace resolved the Marzanna border disputes for now, and saw the HPA leave Krinis under the guarantee of further negotiations.

1682
Elevator Armament Treaty Formed. With their constructions growing larger and faster by the day, the three Blocs agree to mark each elevator and their surroundings as non-aggression zones to prevent catastrophe from a damaged elevator, and agree to arms number limitations within and around each elevator only for “defense of the structures.”

First full-time use of fusion power. Following helium-3 mining from asteroids at L-points 4 & 5, the HPA becomes the first bloc to make full-time public use of this power source. The reactors remain large and expensive in both time and materials to create, but provide another avenue of energy security. With fuel sources monopolized by the three big blocs, this becomes another point of contention and disparity between them and independent factions/nations.

1683
The “Rights of Non-aligned States” agreement reached between the blocs. Following years of constant world conflicts drummed up by interfering in their neighbors, the three blocs agree to not interfere in the affairs of non-aligned states. Independent states criticise being “given” the right to exist, which fall on deaf ears as the agreement is violated within months.

The first non-industrial or scientific space habitats become operational around L-points 4 & 5. While still largely tied to the industrial and scientific work going on in space, these habitats allow the families of such workers to live in the hollow shells of asteroids with most of the amenities of home.

1684
Broda discovers the “Broda Particle”. The scientific community is intrigued by the possibility, but an inability to replicate the particle tarnishes Broda’s reputation.

1686
Filip Broda disappears.

Second Solar Wars. (1686 - 1689)
With the efficiency of the Solar System in play, the big three blocs move away from ground-based power generation, reducing options for independent states. A leaked memo reveals a large excess of energy being generated by the Solar System going to waste as the three blocs cooperate to keep a monopoly on power, squeezing the noose tighter around independent states with “incentives” of unlimited energy to get what they want. The few such power supply stations in non-aligned areas become flash points in small-scale conflicts across the Near East, and “rebellions” in Jandrea and Detectatia against “Solar Puppet governments” prompting Union response and HPA-LU battles over Union-controlled Ostaran islands, and the HPA’s Carpathian islands. Conflicts would last several more years.

The Southerland government protests increased SSF military presence in the country.

1688
First mobile suit plans considered in the HPA. Other blocs follow suit some years later. Charon also begins mobile suit development and begins the GUNDAM project.

1691
Third Solar Wars. (1691-1698?)
Squeezed by the foreign policies of the Three Blocs cooperating to limit access to energy for independent nations, internal disputes and extremism within various countries once again explode into conflict across the Near East, engulfing even some formerly (relatively) stable places such as A’sir and Kyrzbekistan. Factions and warlords rise attempting to align with one Bloc or another to gain a new future for their homes, eventually swirling the region into a long conflict. Looking to gain favor and spread their influence in the region, the Union and the HPA intervene, deepening the conflict by backing rival groups and lending material and, sometimes, limited military aid. The conflict spills across the region, involving Mestra for the first time and threatening even Angirisian borders.

1692
Charon’s first gundam, GX-001 Gundam Artelius, is produced.

1693
Charon begins limited and secret interventions of armed conflicts around the world, though primarily in the hottest flash point, the Near East. (1693-1697)

1694
The Solar System power array is fully completed, providing nearly infinite power to the planet. The big three blocs, utilizing an almost complete monopoly on the system’s power generation, continue using it to exert tremendous pressure on independent nations.

1696
LU and HPA space elevators are completed.

HPA announces the MSG-5 Menlong, the world’s first known mobile suit, which immediately enters into service.

1699
SSF enters their own mobile suit, the AMS-105 Thunderchief, into active service.

Operation Solaris. Tired of the LU attempting to claw more and more influence within their institutions as the cost of reliable energy and prosperity, the Solhaven Confederation and its northern allies nationalize by law and seize by force the LU-run solar relay stations within their borders, knocking aside outnumbered Union guards. The Union responds with military action and political isolation, and Charon intervention forces the war to a stalemate. Peace terms are agreed by the end of the year, the LU stunned by a “secret superweapon” and Solhaven eager to end the pain of a war on its soil, neither side knowing of the intervention.

1700
LU follows with their own mobile suit, the AMS-02 Hjolrun.

History of MS Development

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The story of mobile suit development in Siora is also the story of the evolution of politics and warfare.


Exoarmors - the beginning of the Mobile Suit age:

The first prototype mobile suit designs were the direct products of Taeunasian Exosuit development. Small in size (about 8-12 feet) and not at all resembling the Mobile Suits of today, these "Exoarmors" were durable man-powered heavy weapons platforms designed specifically to support infantry in urban combat. Armed with rockets and autocannons, well armored and much more adept at moving through the increasingly more common and cluttered urban battlefield than their wheeled or tracked predecessors, they had a somewhat sort operating range limited by their battery bank - necessary to power the rather bulky servos and motors that enabled them to carry their large armament.

Nevertheless, these Exoarmors proved themselves an effective weapon, and by 1612CE sparked an arms race among the world's powers to provide systems that could match or surpass them. They were used to great effect in asymmetric police actions in the Near East, Kvaenna and Skathia, leaving their predecessors for use in more open field combat until the next leap in technology came along.


World War - The Rush to Miniaturization and the evolution of the Mobile Armor:

While many countries funded research into heavier designs over the next few decades that saw Exoarmors grow in strength, durability, and range, attempts at even heavier weapons platforms - "Exotanks" or "Mobile Armor" - proved the limitations of technology and the impracticality and uneconomical nature of large mech suits over standard and trusted weaponry. The primary barrier to the technology remained the size of components needed: power banks grew impractically large as a proportion of weight as the size of the machine increased, demanding ever more bulky motors and components for too little gain in defense and firepower, and meager increases to ability simply could not justify the vastly increased cost and complexity.

While most ditched their projects, some defied the difficulties to bring these heavy weapons into service, combining modified tank chassis and turbine-electric powerplants with new kinds of weaponry and propulsion. Things, in general, looked really goddamn weird, though this trend began to change in 1640CE with advancements in miniaturization that saw a gradual adoption of more optimal designs.

Carpathians had long since compacted the designs of their railguns for use as common ship and artillery armament - a practice copied by most other nations - but these needed a constant non-portable power source. Kortoan engineers developed breakthroughs in super-compact capacitors, allowing existing Exoarmors to remain active in battle for days instead of hours and giving practical consideration to the larger power draw of Mobile Armors, though most designs didn't leap from the blueprints onto the manufacturing line until the Great War, also called the "Lost Decade"

Political differences and a realization of the imminent lack of fuel and resource reserves remaining on the planet came to a head in 1654, sparking in Kvaenna and soon spreading into a global conflict for resources which lasted for 10 years and vastly accelerated mobile weapon development as all the various factions sought to gain new advantages over their adversaries. Companies in Nyland and Oslanburg alternatingly lead advances in smaller, more powerful and more efficient motors, finally opening the door for mass-utilization of various mobile armor designs. Advances in armoring made lighter-yet-stronger titanium-ceramic composites and their variants, capable of defeating many kinetic armaments in conjunction with other methods; this and increasing material costs lead to advancements in energy propagation and weaponization of lasers, and laser-dispersing coatings in turn.

As the fighting continued, the number of factions fell, absorbed or allied against more common enemies. By the final end of hostilities in 1664, three major blocs - the South Sphere Federation, Lagrain Union of Free States, and Human Progress Alliance - and a handful of smaller non-aligned states remained, the spoils divided amongst them.


Seed Systems - humanity aims for the stars:

The return to peace after the Great War was welcomed by all, but didn't solve the imminent problem that humanity faced: a dwindling supply of resources on the planet, and a coming lack of livable room made worse by the destruction and displacement of ten years of warfare. Some talked of a new war, while others spoke of the end of humanity. Solutions were sought, and a third option was chosen: humanity would take to the stars.

The decision was pretty well unanimous across the world, with the big three alliances realizing it as the only viable way to avert disaster, but there was no technology or plan on how to do so, until a company called Seed Systems (or SeedSys) stepped forward. Previously rather unknown and apparently based in Southerland, the company ironed out a comprehensive plan for humanity's future, and the prototype technologies that would be tested to get them there: a series of orbital elevators and satellites to bring humanity to the stars.

Work began on the massive world-wide project in 1670, though the first hurdle was how to build the elevators and satellites without bankrupting the planet's remaining resources. With the moon designated for international science studies, SeedSys put forth the plan to build mineral extraction facilities in liberation points 4 and 5 of the Siora-Lune celestial system, using the few trojan asteroids caught there as the building blocks while going forth to hunt and bring other asteroids to park in the system as needed.

The plan was ambitious, and initially rather slow with current space technologies, but work grew faster as specialty craft were created to perform the space-based assemblies, inspired by mobile armor developments with key innovations by one man.


Filip Broda - the future of physics:

Filip Broda was born in 1624 in Bystrica, Saratov, and grew to be one of the greatest and most influential scientists of the mobile suit era, revolutionizing the field of nuclear physics (which he called Broda Physics) and paving the way for modern mobile suits to function.

Prior to Broda's research, space-faring craft relied upon solar power and batteries to power their systems, and the mobile armors of the day largely made use of diesel-electric turbines, precluding their use in space. Near the end of the Lost Decade, he founded Broda Technologies, and unveiled his research into hyper-compact, modular nuclear reactors

Broda first made a name for himself when he solved the problem of hyper-compact nuclear fission reactors in 1660. Dubbed the Broda Small Reactor (or BSR), it provided more than 9 times as compact a design by volume as typical existing reactors for the same output, and finally giving rise to the possibility of railgun-armed armors (among other non-military advantages). Ten years later, as the world began work to move into space, plans were soon considered for space-based mobile weapons using this technology.

Under contract from SeedSys in 1671, Broda designed a system to meet the planet's burgeoning clean energy needs while the Orbital Elevator project was worked on, as nuclear refinement was expensive and complicated by dwindling sources of refinable materials. Broda designed the double-ringed Solar Energy System; to be built in space where the orbital elevator resources already were, a massive system of solar energy collectors in geostationary orbit would use microwaves to beam power down to a network of ground-station receivers, at least until the orbital elevators were completed enough to transfer the energy directly.

Broda paved the way for founding principles in mobile suit development when he developed the Active Mass Balance Control (AMBAC) system for mobile armors, under contract with Nilsson Aeon Group in the SSF to develop their MX-101 experimental armor in 1679. Prior to the AMBAC system, legged mobile armors were able to change direction very quickly only on the hands of exceptionally skilled and experienced pilots and were limited in their range of motion and top speed in order to maintain balance, with relatively clumsy acceleration/deceleration. Under the AMBAC system, a more advanced system of sensors gave suits more fluid movement, able to automatically lean into hard turns/stops and make faster course and acceleration changes without losing balance or requiring excessive control/input from the pilot. The system also proved more efficient for maneuvering in space than thrusters and faster than reaction wheels, using conservation of momentum to turn the machine by moving its limbs much like a person could.

While the resulting MA-101 wouldn't use these improvements, the experiments became a vital stepping stone in the transition from mobile armors to today's mobile suits.

The first full-time fusion reactors came online in the HPA in 1682 following mining of helium-3 deposits from the asteroids at L-points 4 & 5, and Broda's last great contribution came in 1684 when he claimed to have discovered a new fundamental particle during fusion reactor miniaturization experiments. Dubbed the Broda Particle, further experiments couldn't observably replicate the particle, much to his frustration and the detriment of his reputation. Nevertheless he persisted, and was able to secure funding from SeedSys for a space-based laboratory around Lune to continue his experiments in 1686, hoping the more "pure" environment in space would aid in positive result. Two years later, with his craft en-route to its destination, contact was lost and the genius was never seen again.


1700 - Colonies and the Mobile Suit Age:

Over the years, the orbital Solar Energy Satellites were completed, a joint venture by the Big Three that was celebrated worldwide in 1694 as a symbol of international peace and cooperation, despite the many small-scale battles taking place in proxy wars over non-aligned and puppetted neighbors.

The first of the orbital elevators was completed soon after in early 1696 by the Lagrain Union, and the second later that same year by the HPA. The SSF tower still stands incompleted due to political considerations at home, though its elevator is operational and work is continuing. Already the LU and HPA have begun moving onto the second phase of construction: a new SeedSys plan to build an orbital habitation ring around Siora. FAbrication and delivery of some of its modules have already taken place Opening the way for some of the first permanent space colonization.

Space habitation itself, however, has already been in place for some time. Even before the mobile suit age, permanent scientific habitation of Lune was a mainstay, followed by a few makeshift habitation units using the shells of old mined-out asteroids during orbital elevator construction, which are administered by the factions that mined them. Plans for additional habitation colonies are already being discussed on Siora, even as the Orbital Ring takes shape!

As to military hardware, the first plans for true mobile suits were drawn up in 1688, with the HPA unveiling its first Mobile Suit in 1696: and advanced, maneuverable, general purpose weapon system capable of serving on both the ground and (with a little modification) in space. This space capability has worried many, and the SSF unveiled its own Mobile Suit design in 1699, and the LU followed suit early in 1700.

Who knows what the future can hold?

Mobile Suit Technology/Terminology

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General Technology

Artificial Gravity:
It remains impossible to artificially nullify or generate gravity. However, in the weightless environment of space, the centrifugal force produced within a rotating cylinder can be used to simulate Earth's gravity. This is the principle used in the space habitats.

Electric Car:
Atmospheric pollution must be kept to an absolute minimum in space; here, electric cars are used for personal transportation. Even military vehicles run on electrical batteries. Strict speed limits are also enforced inside habitats, so for longer trips, it's more convenient to travel via the linear car system.

Linear Car:
Rail-bound commuter trains running from station to station just like the underground rail systems of terrestrial cities. Due to the strict driving speed limits enforced within space habitats, these are prefered for long trips.

Mass Driver:
An electromagnetic catapult used to accelerate objects to escape velocity. Used at the Lune science stations, where the low gravity means launches can be made without propellant.

Normal/Pilot Suit:
A traditional space suit used for extravehicular activities, so named to distinguish it from mobile suits. The normal suit includes life-support and communications equipment, and can be fitted with a vernier backpack for zero-gravity maneuvering. There are several different varieties, including a lightweight version designed for pilots called a pilot suit.

Mobile Weapon:
Coined in 1634, a generic term to denote any vehicle that uses mobile suit technology, as opposed to conventional vehicles such as planes, tanks, cars, ships, etc. Generally now only used when referring to multiple types of units.

Mobile Suit:
Originally known as “Mobile Weapon SUIT (Space Use: Infantry Type)”, they are still in their adolescence. They are mostly-humanoid combat vehicles, typically employing two arms to deploy weapons with manipulator "hands", two legs for propulsion, and a head/torso with sensors, cockpit, and powerplant. Typically, a mobile suit is about 40-60 feet in height. Invented mainly for space use as the name suggests, their general use applications were noticed early in prototype testing.

Mobile Armor:
Known also in the past as “exotanks” or “mobile tanks,” mobile armors may refer to any number of mobile weapon designs predating and different to mobile suits, from two-legged mech to 4-legged walkers and wheeled or tracked weapons that don’t fit the conventional mold. Generally mobile armors weren’t designed for space use, but some newer models have been retrofitted for space with vacuum-proof cockpits, air recyclers, and external propulsion packs.

Orbital Elevators:
With Siora vitally low on non-renewable energy sources, solar power was the vital stop-gap to providing for the planet’s energy needs. Designed by SeedSys, this solar power initiative involved an ambitious plan to put humans in space, alleviating the strain on the planet with mostly self-sufficient habitats. The three orbital elevators, each owned by one of the major power blocs, were the first stepping stones to human habitation of space. Massive structures housing multiple magnetic “trains” carrying people and cargo to/from space, each elevator ends in a large terminal transport station and ballast satellite. Relatively recently, construction of a habitation ring around the planet began, anchored from the ends of the elevators. Some modules of this ring are completed, but this ongoing project will likely last many more decades still.

Railgun:
A weapon that uses magnetic fields to fire a projectile at exceptionally high speeds and distances. Capable of incredible damage and penetration at long distances. Mobile weapon-portable railguns have been the holy grail of engineers for the last 50 years, but with the introduction of nuclear-powered mobile suits, that dream is now possible.

Solar Power Satellite:
These satellites efficiently convert sunlight into electrical power at a rate of about 1500 kW/m^2, then transmit it to receiver stations, usually on the surface, via a specific band of microwaves.

Space Boat:
Small emergency evacuation spacecraft usually stored in a space habitat’s outer walls. These space boats can hold more than a dozen passengers each, are equipped with manipulators, and move automatically to a preset, safe course for retrieval.

Space Habitat:
Sometimes called “space colonies,” these artificial satellites are constructed from the mined-out remains of asteroids, and orbit mainly at the L-points 4 & 5, though a couple have been moved to L-point 2. Meant as the first stepping stones to address Siora’s energy, environmental and population issues, population varies on each station due to the asteroid’s initial size, but most house about 10k to 100k people. The program is still rather new and barely more than 30 such habitats exist, with a population of not more than 2.1 million people.

Wire-Gun:
A handheld device to aid movement in zero-gravity environments, it launches a powerful magnet attached to a cable, which anchors the user in place and pulls him to his destination. This device can also be used to establish a contact link for rudimentary closed voice communication via vibrations.


Mobile Suit Technology - General

Contact Link:
An alternative means of very-short range sound communication. When in physical contact with another vehicle or a wire-gun, sound is transmitted via vibrations in the outer hull or manipulators.

Generator:
Converts the power of a suit’s thermonuclear fission reactor into electrical power by using turbines to convert immense heat into immense power. Miniaturized for mobile suits thanks to Dr. Broda’s research, these generators are heavily shielded, armored, and built with multiple failsafes to prevent meltdown if damaged.

Hardpoint:
An attachment point for weapons, spare ammunition, or optional mission-specific equipment. Hardpoints can also be used to store carried equipment when a mobile suit needs its manipulators free for other purposes.

Manipulator:
The technical term for a mobile suit's arm and hand. Built-in touch sensors provide immediate feedback for precise operation. In some cases weapons are also integrated into these manipulators, but their primary functions are carrying equipment and manipulating objects.

Sealant Launcher:
This device sprays a sticky strands of sealant to temporarily mend ruptures. These launchers tend to be in compartments within mobile suit manipulators, and can fit other utility devices like signal flares and fire extinguishers.

Sonic Blade:
A relatively small, edged slab of metal that vibrates at extreme frequencies by a mobile suit to cut through armor as a close range last-resort weapon.


Mobile Suit Technology - Maneuverability

Active Mass Balance Auto-Control (AMBAC):
The fundamental technology developed by Dr. Broda that allows mobile suits to exist. Advanced systems of sensors give suits more fluid movement, able to automatically lean into hard turns/stops and make faster course and acceleration changes without losing balance or requiring excessive control/input from the pilot. The system also allows thrusterless attitude control in space by using the limbs of the suit to exploit conservation of momentum; because the limbs are a large proportion of the overall mass, their movement allows considerable and fine control over the orientation of the suit, and can be used in conjunction with thrusters for rapid changes in orientation.

Balancer:
Separate from AMBAC. A standard piece of mobile suit technology since early Mobile Armor days, the balancer keeps a suit upright in gravity by telling up from down, and monitoring the surrounding surface and adjusting limb placement to account for conditions and inclines.

Apogee Motor/Vernier Thrusters:
In addition to rocket propulsion engines, mobile suits and other spacecraft are also equipped with secondary rockets called vernier thrusters, and used for changing direction and performing fine movements. Current models use solid-fuel reaction mass for maneuvering, but planned future models are planned for liquid fuel for better performance.

Propellant Tank:
Propellant is the reaction mass used in the rocket engines of mobile weapons and other spacecraft, and is consumed to generate thrust and “propel” a machine in space. Mobile suits must carry large quantities of propellant to sustain them throughout extended battles. Due to internal space limitations, some mobile suits carry additional propellant in external propellant tanks for storage; when the propellant is consumed, the tank can be discarded to reduce the mobile suit's weight. These tanks use a two-layered construction, with one layer containing propellant, and the other holding extra coolant.


Mobile Suit Technology - Cockpit & Sensors

Mono-Eye System:
A basic type of MS sensor, resembling a cyclops, the Mono-Eye encompasses optical, laser range-finding, infrared, radar, and sometimes sonar sensors for precision targeting and battlefield awareness. This “compound sensor” mono-eye tends to cover a 90-120 degree forward field of view, and is mounted on rails to track side-to-side to cover and even wider field without shifting a suit’s torso. The data provided by the mono-eye is supplemented by scores of secondary cameras and sensors distributed around the exterior of the suit’s hull.

Dual-hybrid sensor:
An experimental sensor type, where a pair of compound sensors on two separate head mounts use their displacement to passively judge distance like normal human eyes, instead of relying upon active rangefinding. Still theoretical, but likely more accurate than a single-point rangefinding system, without using lasers that can easily be detected.


Mobile Suit Technology - Construction & Coating

Ceramic Composite Armor:
Additional layer or layers of armor for increased protection over one type of armor.

Titanium Alloy:
A metallic material that’s a mixture of titanium and other elements. Current-design titanium alloy-ceramic composite armor has very high tensile strength and toughness, is resistant to the heat effects of laser weaponry, is lightweight for its volume, and unaffected by temperature extremes. Material rarity made it difficult to employ in the past, but since asteroid mining this is the standard armor on mobile suits, and is usually coupled with reactive plating and other defensive measures.

Laser Dispersal Film (LDF):
A semi-transparent, paint-applied coating for mobile weapons invented during the Lost Decade that disperses or deflects the energy of laser weaponry depending upon coating thickness and impact angle. Most “paints” on mobile weapons incorporate some level of LDF, which is sometimes applied as a finish over camouflage.


Mobile Suit Technology - Defensive Systems

Ballute:
Balloon-like devices used to slow a mobile weapon’s descent through the atmosphere to the point where it can survive atmospheric friction upon re-entry from space. Only used where there is no other means of transport.

Shield:
A slab of armor plate that a suit might wield for added directional protection. Skilled pilots can often use them to deflect otherwise damaging shots, but are most often omitted in favor or additional armament.


Biotechnology

Human cloning:
Artificial, non-sexual production of a human being. Very much outlawed by international law to defend against the possibility and reckless consequences of gene manipulation. There is definitely not any bloc or country irresponsible enough to ever pursue this in secret.