Amalgaverse Profile: The Marduk Empire
Sphere of Influence: Nomadic, as well as a homeworld in a
secret location.
Government Type: currently in flux
Homeworld: Unknown
The Marduk, following the confusion that
led to the end of their war of extermination against earth and U.N. Spacy, have done everything
possible to keep the location of their homeworld
secret. From what’s been gleaned from bits and pieces of hard-won intelligence
(mostly via the Decahedron Compact), the planet is significant symbolically to
the Marduk, but holds little true strategic
significance, other than being a possible location of massive Marduk shipyards.
As a race, it appears that the Marduk
have mostly abandoned their homeworld, which lies
likely far beyond known human space, usually defined as a 150 light-year globe
around the Sol system. Intelligence indicates that only the extremely poor and clanless, as well as malcontents, prisoners who did not
rate the death penalty and the incurably infirm are left behind on the planet,
with little or no support from the Empire as a whole.
Most of the Marduk who were part of the
invasion fleet that attacked earth had never set foot on their homeworld. In fact, many had not set foot on ANY planet. Still,
as a sort of religious artifact, their homeworld is
important to the Marduk, and it would be a severe
moral blow to the Marduk psyche if anyone were to
attack or pillage the planet.
The Marduk of the Amalgaverse
are very different from those portrayed in the OVA Macross II series. For one, this is the aftermath of their
ill-fated invasion. They are a mostly leaderless people, without the alleged
divine guidance of their Emperor. Indeed, they lack purpose altogether in many
ways. For hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, the Marduk
had roamed space destroying
The Marduk do,
however, solve one nagging scientific conundrum that had faced mankind for
about 100 years. When it came to the question of intelligent life and it’s
presence in the galaxy, before the SDF-1 fell to earth, human scientists were
divided into two main camps, defined by two very different theories. One of
these theories was called the Drake Equation, which postulated that given the
numbers of stars in the galaxy, if you assumed even the most harsh, anti-life
conditions, the rule of large numbers still meant that there was a minimum of
hundreds of thousands of advanced intelligent species in our galaxy. Those in
support of the theory of a “living universe” rallied behind this theory. On the
other side, you had those who believed that advanced, intelligent life was so
rare as to be virtually, if not truly, unique to earth. This camp subscribed to
a theory called the Fermi Paradox, which asked simply
“where are they?”, meaning that if there are so many intelligent species, then
many would have to be far more advanced than humanity, and would have left
their mark across the galaxy by way of countless probes, giant dyson sphere-enclosed stars, interstellar spacelanes choked with starships, and a massive background
noise of constant radio communication between planets. All of this would be
easily observable to humanity, and since we had not observed them then they
must not be there.
Both theories were sound, and both were logical. However, they
contradicted one another. There must be a missing element.
That element was the Marduk, who had
made it their mission to destroy intelligent species wherever they were
encountered. It is theorized that they possibly “inherited” this “duty” from
another species they encountered, some species that is either long-gone or
affected the Marduk profoundly. This theory arose
from scraps of Marduk records (most of their historical
documents went up with their Emperor’s flagship) which mention a genocidal
space faring species identified as the “steel slaughterers” or “mech-oids”.
This may explain their fascination with destroying intelligent
species, as they started out seeing it as a means of preventing other species
from creating doomsday weapons that could destroy all life. However, through
the centuries, the purpose for their travels were lost and devolved into wanton
destruction of all intelligent cultures. This also may explain, in part, why
the Marduk have shown a
surprising aversion to the Aglians. Most Marduk will not even stay in the same room as an Aglian. Their loathing seems to be based primarily on the Aglians’ creation of the Manhunter
robots.
It should be noted that the marduk
are NOT human beings. They are similar, but are likely an example of parallel
evolution. Genetically, they are incompatible with humans, zentraedi,
tirolians and praxians,
whom all share a common genetic ancestor. In game terms, this simply means that
they cannot bear children with any of those human-related species (note that
the kirn can and do often breed with humans, though
they are an alien species…this is due to their specific adaptation of a
malleable
Since the end of the War of Purification against earth, the Marduk no longer have a defined
purpose. This has caused much confusion and some fracturing within the greater
fleet of the Marduk Empire. Lacking a unified
guidance, the fleet has broken up into root family clan allegiances. These
clans, in turn have formed two major power blocks. One that,
in essence, wishes to turn the Marduk in a new,
peaceful direction, using what they learned from earth culture to remake
themselves as a people. This faction is led by Lord-Regent Feff and Lady Ishtar. The other
faction, however, desires to rebuild the Empire, claim a large region of space,
and continue with the Holy Mission of Purification, although in more measured
terms.
The result has been the division of the Great Fleet (only 30% of
which was at earth at the time of Emperor Ingues’
death) into four smaller, clan-based fleets. Clan allegiance has become
all-important to many Marduk and the two overall
factions are bordering on all-out war.
Marduk Clans
Below are the four main clans of the Marduk
Empire. A clan is defined by a genetic, ancestral link to the First Captains,
legendary figures from Marduk antiquity who commanded
a mythic vessel known as the Alus Nova, before the
Holy Mission of Purification. The actions of the Alus Nova united the Marduk
people and is somehow connected to the discovery of emulation. With the Marduk’s historical records vaporized, however, it may
forever be unclear what the Alus Nova was, or what
role it played. Clearly, Ishtar was mistaken about
the SDF-1 being the Alus Nova, as it has been
confirmed that the SDF-1 was designed and created by Zor,
long after the alleged voyages of the mythical Marduk
ship. Each clan has emulation songs which are unique to its emulators, and most
have a preference for a particular vessel or combat unit. Pilots of a
clan-favored vehicle gain an additional attack per melee round, +2 initiative
and +5% to piloting that vehicle.
Clan Anu: The clan of Feff and Ishtar,
and the one most encountered in the early war against earth. Clan Anu was the clan of first contact with alien cultures. It
was the clan which felt out a new species’ defenses and was often placed in the
most risk. The second-largest clan, its members are characterized by their
heartiness in the face of the unknown and their adaptability, allowing them to
face down alien species with alien tactics and technologies and develop
counters to them. All Clan Anu members get a +2 to
save vs. Horror Factor, possession and mind control and +1D4 to P.E. Clan
colors are purple and black.
Favored Vehicle: Gilgamesh Type II Power
Armor.
Bonus Emulator Songs.
Song of Unity: Helps units of different alien species work more
closely together. Those on the side of the emulator singing the song receive an
additional action per melee round and a +10% bonus on any rolls involving
massed fleet or unit tactics. All gunners on allied ships receive a +2 to
strike. Song duration is 5 minutes (20 melee rounds). Note that this song is
only effective if at least 25 percent of those benefiting from it are of
different species. Will not aid enemies of the emulator, even
if they are listening in.
Song of Love: Ishtar’s favorite song of earth, when an emulator sings this song, all aggressive
Zentraedi and Marduk automatically lose
initiative each melee round. A save vs. insanity roll is required each melee round
to continue any aggressive actions. Those fighting a purely defensive battle
suffer no penalties. Song duration is 4 minutes. (16 melee
rounds).
Clan Tiamesh: The smallest clan, but militarily equal to any of the others,
this is the clan dedicated to controlling the Marduk’s
Zentran and Meltran slaves.
It was this clan that devised the brainwashing and mind control methods of the Marduk. Of all the clans, Clan Tiamesh
perhaps had the most to lose by signing an Armistice with earth, as a
requirement was that all Zentran and Meltran be set free. Clan Tiamesh
agreed to comply on paper, but claims that the process will take some time to
avoid psychological harm to the slaves. It has begun the process of showing
other clans, specifically Clans Anu and Kingu, on how to release their slaves, but has yet to free
any significant number of its own. In truth, they do not intend to free any of
them and are stalling for time as the bulk of their forces plot a return to
power with Clan Anshara. There is an 80% chance of a
Clan Tiamesh family member having a personal Zentran or Meltran bodyguard, micronized. The slave will be 100% loyal, has officer
stats, and quite often is of the opposite sex and physically attractive.
Favored Unit: Zentran
Officer’s Pod and Meltran Power Armor. The Marduk members of the clan do not
pilot this vehicle, but their Zentran and Meltran slaves do, and gain the appropriate bonuses for
doing so.
Bonus Emulator Songs
Song of Obedience. Any Zentran (or zentraedi)
who hears the song must save vs. psychics or obey commands given by a Maza of the clan while the song is being broadcast.
Duration: 4 minutes.
Clan color: Tan.
Clan Anshara: Known as the Imperial Clan, this clan is comprised of the
administrators of the Marduk Empire. Ingues, as well as nearly all preceding emperors, were
members of Clan Anshara, and until his death all
political power rested within this clan. However, with the loss of his flagship
the clan lost a significant portion of both its power and its population. In
addition, the clan strongly laments the loss of many of the historical
knowledge of the Marduk. The members of this clan are
loathe to give up power to an uncivilized upstart like
Feff and strongly believes in the Holy Mission of
Purification and keeping Marduk culture pure of alien
contamination. It is believed the bulk of the clan, the third largest (they
were the second largest until the destruction of the Royal Flagship), is racing
home to solidify long-abandoned Marduk holdings and
secure the royal shipyards. A portion of them have stayed behind, however, but
the reason for this is unknown. It could be to undermine Feff
or to find a way to defeat humanity and its allies. They also staunchly refuse
to give up their Zentran and Meltran
slaves. All Clan Anshara members receive a bonus of
+1D4 to their M.A. and P.B. and receive the skills seduction and military
etiquette for free (+15% bonus to each).
Favored Unit: Marduk Annihilator
Bonus Emulator Songs
Song of Death: Any Zentran or Meltran (not a free Zentraedi) under control of the Clan
must save vs. Insanity or go into a murderous rage. No defensive actions are
possible, only simultaneous attacks. An additional save must be made before the
last attack of each melee round or the soldier will attempt a suicidal ramming
attack if in an individual fighter or mecha.
Duration: 5 minutes. Note: If the Song of Love is being sung at the same time
the lead opposing emulators must roll a D20 three times and add any bonuses
from a high M.E. Which ever lead emulator wins best of three by rolling higher
than her opponent overrides the other emulator’s song. This can be contested
each minute of the songs’ duration.
Clan colors are dark green and gray.
Clan Kingu: The main battle clan of the Marduk
Empire, the Kingu clan makes up the bulk of the non-Zentran shock troops. To this clan fell most of the heavy
combat duties. Most commanders are highly honorable
and shun the use of Zentran and Meltran
slaves as much as possible. Fortunately the clan has aligned with Feff and was eager to give up what few Zentran
and Meltran slaves it was required to maintain.
However, they are aggressive as a people and believe the best avenue would be
for Feff to hunt down and bring Clans Anshara and Tiamesh to their
knees. There are a mounting number of skirmishes between this clan and Tiamesh, threatening to explode into all-out civil war. Feff believes Anshara is
attempting to instigate the conflict in hopes of using Clan Tiamesh
and their own Zentran slaves to “bleed out” clans Kingu and Anu. So far he’s been
successful in restraining Clan Kingu’s bloodlust, but
just barely. All Clan Kingu members receive a +1D4 to
P.P. and +10 to
Favored Unit: Gilgamesh Type I
Bonus Emulator Songs
Song of Victory: All Marduk who hear the
song receive one attack per melee that is an automatic critical attack. The
attacker must declare that they are using the attack BEFORE they roll to
strike. If the attack is parried or dodged by the enemy then it is wasted for
that melee round. The attack can be any kind of attack; hand-to-hand combat
with a knife, or a missile barrage from a star cruiser. Duration: 4 minutes.
Clan colors: Dark blue and fuchsia.
Notes on ships and Mecha. I advise using the deckplans, if
available, for both Marduk and all Zentraedi/Zentran vessels. I’d even use the deckplan
versions of the Zentran ships for other zentraedi which are non-Marduk
aligned. There are no differences between Marduk
original and amalgaverse vessels and mecha and their usage. Use as is.
Relationships with other governments.
The Marduk have had little contact with other species in Human Space and no contact whatsoever with “Three galaxies” governments. Currently, they tend to avoid contact with governments while things stabilize, to avoid giving someone the opportunity to take advantage of them during a time of weakness and confusion. The Clan Anu and Kingu fleets are amiable to alien races, curious to learn all they can, but cautious. The Clan Tiamesh and Anshara fleets are patently aggressive and hostile, but only when they think they can get away with it clean. As the Marduk do not use protoculture, they are unimportant to the Invid (they converted their zentran vessels to heat pile furnaces centuries ago instead of being dependent on alien technology). However, the Robotech Masters have had intermittent, tentative contacts with Clan Anshara and Tiamesh. Both are interested in using the other to their advantage.
Additionally, the Decahedron Compact sees the Marduk
as a species to be carefully exploited, and tried to strike a deal with the
clans for their surplus zentran vessels, but Clans Kingu and Anu gave many of the
ships over to the UN Spacy to help rebuild their
shattered fleets, and Clans Anshara and Tiamesh have no plans to give up their zentran
ships, or the giants that pilot them.
An interesting note: Knock-offs of the Gilgamesh I and II
have begun to appear on the black market in very limited numbers. Some appear
to be salvaged from the war, others are in the hands
of independent Marduk who struck out on their own
after the war, but many appear to be newly manufactured. No one has laid claim
to these vehicles as of yet, and most are showing up in the hands of very
well-financed pirates and raiders.