NOVEL NEXT 📚 Lore Drops #4: The Emerald Directorate [Military]
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THE DIRECTORATE SPACE CORPS
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Unity Through Strength
The Directorate Space Corps embodies the fusion of Africa and Latin America's philosophies: collective strength and technological innovation through the union of cultures. Unlike the rigid hierarchy of the Imperium or the corporate structure of the Alliance, the DSC operates on principles of coordination, versatility, and mutual support—proving that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Ologun: The Swift Strike
The Ologuns are the space marines of the Emerald Directorate, masters of guerrilla warfare and high-mobility tactics. Adorned in culturally rich armor that honors their heritage, they wield Plasma Rifles and some even carry fragmentation grenades.
At the heart of their prowess lies the Adrenaline Shot—when activated, an Ologun becomes a blur of motion, their reactions honed to a razor's edge. This allows them to dart in and out of enemy lines with the ferocity and grace of a panther.
Tactical Doctrine: "Strike like lightning, vanish like smoke." The Ologuns' mastery of hit-and-run tactics makes them legendary on any battlefield. However, the adrenaline surge leaves them fatigued, requiring careful strategic deployment. They embody the DSC's blend of advanced technology and ancient warrior spirit.
Scarab: The Walking Fortress
The Scarab mech stands as the Directorate's answer to heavy armor—a bus-sized siege weapon that requires exceptional skill to pilot. Operators control the mech from its belly using a hybrid system: manual controls for movement, automated assistance for combat maneuvers.
The primary weapon, the Sun Moon Cannon, embodies duality itself: freezing cold Moon beams or searing hot Sun beams adapt to any combat scenario. Both modes draw from the mech's central cold fusion battery, eliminating ammunition concerns. For closer engagements, the Plasma Spitter unleashes rapid green bolts while powerful frontal limbs crush anything within reach.
Certain Scarab pilots paint their mechs' underbellies with personal murals—visible only during maintenance. It's considered terrible luck to pilot a Scarab with a blank belly. When a pilot dies, their mech is retired for one lunar cycle while their successor adds to the mural.
Sumina: Chosen of the Thousand Gods
The Sumina casters draw from the rich spiritual traditions of two continents. African witchcraft's deep understanding of natural forces now mingles with South American shamanic practices and indigenous wisdom. These casters master Solar and Mirage spells, while the elite few among them wield Psytum Swords with deadly grace.
Among the original Directorate founders, Sumina are believed to be blessed by both Anansi, the West African spider god, and Pachamama, the Andean earth mother, creating a unique magical synthesis. Suffice to say, these two are far from the only gods who have blessed their children. As the Directorate expands to welcome more people into its fold, so does the pantheon of the Thousand Gods.
The "Unarmored Caster" Principle: Some Sumina are known for extraordinary beauty and wearing revealing attire even in combat—at times by necessity. For the human body's exposed skin serves as a conduit for ambient Aether, with fabric blocking the energy flow needed for their spells. The more powerful a psion is, the less they can afford to wear. First discovered by the Directorate, this principle applies to psions of all genders. In time, it would become known to other factions, both human and Radi-Mon.
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The "Curse of the Unmarriageable": Mirage Sumina who attempt lasting romantic bonds find their partners afflicted by mysterious misfortunes—lost promotions, sudden illnesses, unexplained accidents. Whether divine punishment or psionic interference, the pattern holds true across generations.
Veterans speak of Capitán Esperanza Delgado, whose three husbands each died within a year of marriage, or Priestess Amara Okafor, whose beauty launched a thousand duels but who remains eternally alone. "The Gods gift them beauty to draw the eye," goes the saying, "but curse them with isolation to keep their power pure."
Support Forces: The Foundation of Victory
Gyata Scouts: Named after the Akan word for "vulture," these hoverbikes provide unmatched reconnaissance. Advanced cloaking technology makes riders nearly invisible as they chart unknown regions and identify threats. Their maglev wings allow high-velocity gliding even over rough terrain.
Anioma Fighters: Crucial for air superiority, quick response, and strategic strikes, Anioma are often the first to engage in aerial combat, clearing the way for larger vessels and ensuring the warband maintains control of the skies. Equipped with high-powered plasma cannons firing superheated, ionized gas capable of melting through most materials and overwhelming enemy shields with intense thermal energy.
The choice of plasma weapons reflects the Directorate's commitment to leading in energy-based armaments. In DSC military doctrine, these jets are not just weapons but symbols of technological prowess and cultural strength.
The Isazi Transport: Meaning "Wise One" in Zulu, the Isazi is the Emerald Directorate's primary vessel for large-scale troop and equipment deployment. While it lacks speed and onboard weaponry, the Isazi is heavily fortified with advanced plasma shields and reinforced armor, making it capable of withstanding sustained enemy fire during atmospheric entry and combat zone landings.
Its massive size allows it to carry up to 120 Ologun marines or 20 Scarab mechs and large siege weapons, providing unparalleled support for ground operations. Despite its slower speed, the Isazi's durability and capacity make it an essential asset, designed to ensure that even in the most hostile environments, the Directorate's forces arrive intact and ready for battle.
The Constellation: Coordination Perfected
The Constellation-class battlecruiser represents the Directorate's philosophy taken to its logical conclusion. Unlike the Alliance's shield-focused Aegis or the Imperium's destruction-oriented Dragonfort, the Constellation transforms scattered forces into a unified, adaptive organism.
Its distinctive Solar Wing arrays extend like baobab branches, providing unlimited power while sharing energy with allied forces through directed transmission beams. The ship never engages directly—instead, it deploys specialized drone swarms: Solar Wasps for intelligence, Shield Drones for mobile cover, and Repair Wasps for field maintenance.
Force Multiplication: Every unit within the Constellation's sphere gains enhanced capabilities:
Scarab mechs receive extended targeting data and operational range
Anioma fighters coordinate strike packages with surgical precision
Ologun squads benefit from real-time tactical overlays and supply drone support
Even Gyata scouts become nodes in an expanded intelligence network
The result: a vessel embodying the Directorate's core belief that coordination and mutual support create strength far beyond individual parts.