Amalgaverse Profile: United Expedition Government (UEG) and the Armies of the Southern Cross

Sphere of Influence: 61 Cygni A and B binary star system, and Eta Cassiopeia A.

Government: Military Junta (a militarily controlled government run by a council of senior officers, the most influential of whom is the head of state. Individual territories are ruled by governorships handed out by the Council).

Homeworld: Glory (or Glorie)

Glory is a white, grey and blue earth-like world in the 61 Cygni B star system, 11.4 light years from our own. It is slightly larger, but nowhere near as lush and fertile, as earth. Its climate is borderline, allowing for humans to live comfortably in a 60 degree band around the equator. Beyond that band the planet is deadly cold. For comparison, it would be like not being able to live north of Georgia or south of Brazil. Most of the terrain is rocky, life forms are dominated by fern-like vegetation. A young planet, only a few animal life forms are found. Most no larger than a dog. Interestingly, pollinators, or cha chas (as some call them), thrive here. Within that band there is one ocean about the size of the Indian ocean, the largest body of water on the planet, meaning that within that narrow band there’s about 70 percent of the landmass found on earth. Fresh water lakes and streams are scarce, but large amounts of water ice are transported from the poles, which are covered in thick ice caps.

The population here is about 200 million, which baffles those not from the planet. The megaroad fleet only left with two million people, half from the UEG and half from the EBSIS. How is it possible? This population boom occurred shortly after the war with the Robotech Masters, and all indications are that the population went up during the devastating civil war with the EBSIS.

Days are 25 hours long. The capitol is Monument City. The planet has one moon, Luna, large, close and barren, like Earth’s.

The government of the UEG (or Southern Cross, as it’s known to most) is a Military Junta led by a group known as the Council of the Chiefs of Staff. They took control during the civil war and forced a peace treaty. They have remained in control ever since. There are elections for local leaders, such as mayors and the like, but governors of major territories are assigned by the Chiefs of Staff. The head of the government is the Supreme Commander, who is chosen by the Council.
The UEG is the smallest of the political bodies in Human Space. Its holdings include Glory, neighboring Aluce, Space Station Liberty, and a more recent colony on humid jungle-like world around Eta Cassiopeiae, 8 light years further out. The planet’s atmosphere is slightly toxic and requires rebreathers, but the UEG believes they can terraform it within 40 years. It is about the size of Mars, no major oceans, but plenty of swamps, river deltas and marshlands.

Notes on Ships and Mecha:

Most battloids and mecha are still current, although the EBSIS mecha are being sold to adventurous colonists and are being mass produced to sell to independents throughout the quadrant. This has garnered a large revenue stream for the Southern Cross as there’s a big demand for non-protoculture mecha and battloids, and the old EBSIS models were built for a variety of extreme environments faced by many colonists. The frontline fighter is now the Super Logan, found in “Return of the Masters”, followed by the AJACS. The D.S.S. Defender now comes equipped with a spacefold system. In addition there are several capital ships not detailed in the RPG (but seen in the series, which I will detail at a later date), like the Tristar-class battlecruiser. The Spartas Veritech Hovertank still makes up the backbone of the Southern Cross’s military. The vehicle has been thrust into prominence after the war with the Robotech Masters and engagements with the Invid. A space variant is now available with an enclosed cockpit and maneuvering jets. However, the vehicle is used in airless environments such as moons and non-earth type planets. It is not intended for actual operations in deep space.

History of the UEG and Armies of the Southern Cross

Project Megaroad 3 was perhaps the most troubled of humanity’s first attempts at colonization. One must first understand that the Zentraedi Uprisings were at their peak at this time, which had sharply divided public opinion on the Megaroad projects. Further, just two years prior, the EBSIS had launched Megaroad 2, its own independent mission, claiming that the earth government planned to exclude any besides its chosen people on its forays to the stars. Needless to say, it was quite a blow to the EBSIS when contact was lost with Megaroad 2, and it was presumed destroyed.

The EBSIS laid the failure of the Megaroad 2 expedition at the feet of the struggling earth government. EBSIS officials and propaganda claimed the RDF withheld vital information and resources out of spite, that doomed the mission to failure. The RDF countered that had the EBSIS been patient, they would have assisted.

To resolve the crisis, Project Megaroad 3 was founded, which was to be a joint expedition. However, a mission founded on politics, is one that is doomed to be problematic at best. Layers of bureaucracy and compromises led to massive budget cuts and rescheduling of the program. One good result was that it received its own, unique, army, developed specifically for the conditions and terrain expected to be found on Glory, developed jointly by RDF and EBSIS scientists. Even this, however, was disputed, as the sponsors of the Megaroad 3 project argued that the mecha they were receiving were cast off designs from the Project Pioneer, and that the newly born REF was keeping the best technology for itself. To smooth things over, the Megaroad 3 project was given a very large supply of protoculture. Finally, on October 26, 2020, the twin Megaroad spacefortresses, the largest ever built, folded to 61 Cygni B.

The results were nearly disastrous.

Freedom, the ship crewed mostly by RDF members, folded too close to Glory and was caught in its gravitational pull. In a heroic attempt at rescue, the Liberty, its sistership, overloaded its primary thrusters in an attempt to “nudge” the other vessel into a higher orbit. The attempt failed, sending Freedom to a controlled crash and leaving Liberty adrift with only minimal maneuvering thrusters.

Freedom put down near the equator, never to fly again. Liberty limped to a LaGrange point opposite of Luna and began to ferry its population down to the planet below.
Freedom, emitting low-level radioactivity, was buried under large mounds. Most of the protoculture was recovered. However, the supply that fueled the vessel, believed to be radioactively contaminated, was left behind. Unbeknownst to the colonists, the seeds germinated and flowered within the mounds.

The dual space fold, and the massive energy put out by the Liberty in its attempts to save the Freedom, registered on the sensors of the Robotech Masters, who decided that this must be the location of Zor’s lost fortress and proceeded on their long voyage to the 61 Cygni star system.

In the next couple years, contact with the homeworld would be tenuous, then lost altogether when the Invid invade earth. The UEG at this time had no fold engines and could not help their homeworld, and they had no means of contacting the REF at the time. The presumption was that Earth was lost. However, the colonists believed this was why they were sent out into space, in case just such an event happened. Fearing that radio contact with earth would lead the Invid to them next, they cut all contact.

For the next 18 years the UEG and its army, the Southern Cross would prosper and grow. Monument City became its capitol, and ships discovered that the planet Aluce was also habitable, and set up military bases there, along with a few colonists.

The EBSIS (which apparently planned to do so from the beginning) had set up on the far side of the planet from the RDF forces and the remains of Freedom. In exchange for autonomy, the EBSIS traded the Liberty for a large portion of the planet’s territory that it could rule as its own. An agreement was struck and the two governments went their separate ways.

In 2040, contact was reestablished with the REF forces remaining at Tirol, and the Southern Cross was filled in on events involving the Invid, as well as the missing Robotech Masters. They had little time to prepare, however, since the Masters arrived in their star system the next year.

The war with the Robotech Masters went almost identically to how it occurred in the television series with two exceptions. First, Major Carpenter came from Tirol, but his message was to inform the Southern Cross that there was no fleet to send to aide the Southern Cross in their war with the Masters until the SDF-3 could be found. In fact, Carpenter’s expedition represented the last of the REF’s primary fighting force. The UEG, who had grown to have a fantasy image of the REF striding across alien worlds in their own private empire, took the actions as a snub.

The other major difference is that Zor Prime did NOT die in his attempt to ram the Robotech Masters vessel into the mounds. He was rescued by the remains of the 15th ATACS, a highly decorated hovertank unit. The crash spread the spores across the planet, but the Zor clone had recovered all of his progenitors memories, and knew of a way to recreate a protoculture matrix and then cloak that matrix from the Invid Sensor Nebula. The remainder of the Robotech Masters retreated in disarray, as the leading Masters had been on board the flagship which Zor had crashed.

What exactly happened to them after that is unknown, but they pulled completely out of the 61 Cygni system.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the galaxy, several million clones resided in just that one cityship, most of them asleep, drones for future wars, along with at least 300,000 already active clones. With the Southern Cross in tatters, the military council took over and enacted a desperate plan. With Zor’s knowledge the allowed the brains of the clones to reach full development, giving them all the mental and physical faculties of a human being. Then, despite Zor’s protests, they continued creating clones, raiding battlesites, the Monument City DNA files and the Masters’ own databanks in order to introduce a massive variety of genetic material.

During this time period, contact was reestablished with the ATPDS and UN Spacy. While the ATPDS agreed with the proposed protoculture ban, the Southern Cross rejected it, as well as offers to become part of UN Spacy. The leaders of the UEG felt that with Zor’s knowledge and the technology they had retrieved from the crashed Masters’ ship, they were on the verge of Empire.

The EBSIS got wind, to some degree, of what was happening. And with word leaking that the UEG had a working protoculture matrix and the Flower of Life the EBSIS felt that it either needed to move immediately, while it still could, to claim the planet. Otherwise, the EBSIS felt that it would be eclipsed by the might of the UEG.

On 2045 the EBSIS launched a preemptive attack on the UEG, sparking a bloody civil war that would last for 12 long years. It would be a war of small unit actions, cowardly strikes, disruption of supply lines and constant low-level combat while diplomatic talks dragged on. It was not until Zor himself brokered a peace treaty, that things began to calm down. But not in the way he expected. Zor planned to send a large supply of protoculture and a new matrix to the EBSIS in return for a ceasefire, without the UEG’s permission. Zor felt the secrets of robotechnology were his to give where he chose, something the UEG did not agree with.
General Nova Satori of the GMP caught wind of the plan through her secret police force and set in motion a plan which would bring about the downfall of the EBSIS. Intercepting the shipment, the UEG replaced it with the 11th, 12th, 22 and 34th, ATACS. The tanks were escorted right into New St. Petersburg and destroyed the air defense net which had kept the air and space forces of the UEG at bay for years. With no air defenses, and the government plaza surrounded by the dreaded hovertanks, the UEG was able to capture the EBSIS leadership in an almost bloodless battle. The EBSIS surrendered and was officially disbanded at the Treaty of Monument City, March 3, 2057.

The CAN, in November of that year, arranged to buy the EBSIS’s bulk battloids from the UEG. Both groups profited greatly from the deal. The CAN then began to sell the old battloids to colonists after having the UEG, UN Spacy and ATPDS agree that they did not qualify as military due to their advanced age and older technology (they would later use the same rationale for selling the powerful Glitterboy Power Armors, sneaking its true capabilities under the radar of the Human Space governments).

Currently, the UEG and its armies of the Southern Cross are in a growth and expansion period. They’ve lagged behind in expanding to other worlds and are envious of the ATPDS and REF. They consider themselves equal to the UN Spacy, but believe they will outpace it due to the use of protoculture. The flower of life grows here, but the planet is a fortress. They learned a lot of hard lessons from their war with the Robotech Masters and the EBSIS. It is believed that the Invid MUST know by now that they have protoculture and grow the flower of life, despite the fact that most of the fields are in caves underground, along with their protoculture matrix. The Southern Cross’s strongest relationships are with the CAN and the Decahedron Compact. Despite protests from the ATPDS, the Southern Cross sells refined protoculture to the exile colonies, which still use a lot of old Robotech Mecha. The Compact is one of the largest buyers of old EBSIS destroids and battloids.

The Southern Cross, despite its size, has a powerful military, all consolidated in its small territory, making an assault on the system a costly prospect for any organization in Human Space. But it has an inferiority complex as well, when it sees the sprawling Sentinels Alliance, and even the vast ATPDS, all because their region of space is fairly isolated, with few habitable star systems in reasonable range.

There are a few disturbing trends in the Southern Cross that need mentioning. First, not only is protoculture being smuggled, but the flower of life itself! The dried leaves of the flower work as a narcotic that induces visions and there’s a growing portion of the populace becoming addicted to this potent drug, which has now spread to the Compact as well. Children of some addicts are beginning to display what could only be considered psychic abilities.

Second, the UEG keeps pushing the envelope in protoculture research further and further. It has disturbed some of the older races, who see reflections of the birth of the Robotech Masters in the UEGs machinations and technology.

Currently, however, the Southern Cross is still a benign government, with its peoples’ best interest at heart, looking to expand and become a major power. But the feeling that something might be slowly beginning to rot at its core bothers many.

One other note, a small religion has grown up around Zor Prime, known as the disciples of Zor. The aging scientist clone has retired and claims not to be involved with the group actively, though he has spoken to them on occasions.

Relations with other governments:

The Sentinels Alliance and the REF: The UEG believes that the REF is little more than a puppet of alien races, using humans to put a friendly face on their machinations. Still, they envy their advanced use of protoculture and the might of their fleet, possibly the strongest in Human Space. The two governments do not trade much, as there’s little one has that the other needs. The UEG, and the Southern Cross Army in particular, still holds a grudge about the “meager scouting party” headed by Major Carpenter that was all the REF said it could spare. They’ve never truly believed that.

U.N. Spacy: The UEG believes that U.N. Spacy would like nothing better than to absorb the UEG, but knows better than to try. Beyond that, they have excellent trade relations and after all earth is STILL the home world of humanity. The UEG was prepared to fold into earth space and repel the Marduk invasion, but U.N. Spacy defeated them before final liberation plans could be laid down. There was a tense time when it was unclear whether the fleet would fold and “liberate” Earth anyway, since U.N. Spacy obviously barely up to the job of keeping Earth out of alien hands. U.N. Spacy officials have bristled recently at comments from the new Supreme Commander that they “can’t seem to keep earth from being nearly conquered every other Thursday.” Perhaps new management of the home world will be in order….some day.

ATPDS: The UEG respects the raw power of the ATPDS, but feels that the humans sold out by joining with the Aglians. In the minds of the UEG leaders, the fact that Terra did not unite with the Decahedron Compact and blow the Aglians out of the stars after they constructed those abominations called the Manhunters is baffling. Surely they must know that the Aglians only joined with humans to save their own rear ends after their inventions went crazy. What’s more, it’s obvious the Aglians pushed the ATPDS into agreeing with UN Spacy’s “No Protoculture” agreement. It was the one edge the humans had over them. If it wasn’t for the CAN and its new fleet, the Aglians would have had the humans in the ATPDS totally dependent upon them by now. Still their computer technology is worth trading, and the ATPDS has fallen in love with the Southern Cross’s laser resistant technology.

Decahedron Compact: The UEG is close allies with the D.C., they are approaching closer and closer to assigning a military pact. The Compact respects the martial, humanity-first attitude of the Southern Cross, and agrees with its interpretation of the Aglians (in fact they foster it every chance they get). The two trade a lot. The Southern Cross receives exotic technologies from alien species throughout the Hyades Cluster in return for protoculture. The Compact is trying to buddy up to them enough to convince the UEG to give it a protoculture matrix, but that won’t be happening any time soon. Recently, with more and more Manhunter incidents, and Invid raids as a result of the use of protoculture, the Southern Cross has sent an increasing number of military advisors into the exile colonies. Ports in the Compact and the colonies are, in fact, one of the few places that it’s relatively common to see Southern Cross ships and personnel outside of Southern Cross space. Further, the Compact and the colonies are the largest purchasers of old EBSIS equipment (and newly manufactured ones) through the CAN. The colonists feel a kinship toward the Southern Cross and it’s defiance of the larger powers, it’s willingness to go its own way.

The Robotech Masters: The UEG has a bounty on all Robotech Masters, their bioroids, and their technology. The Southern Cross actively follows all leads regarding their potential whereabouts and has engaged the Robotech Masters’ fleet twice in skirmishes that ended undecisively. Though aging and in disrepair, the Robotech Master motherships are still incredibly powerful. To match them, and make humanity safe for all time, that is a power that needs to be emulated. The other governments are foolish if they can’t see that for themselves.

The Invid: The UEG believes these “boogeymen” of space to be way overblown. Examination of an Invid shock trooper shows that it barely has the armor to match Southern Cross body armor! And these pastel, bug-eyed, ‘goo slurping ‘culture addicts CONQUERED the earth?!?! Somebody had to be asleep at the wheel that day. The Southern Cross has destroyed several Invid Clamships. Yes, they fight fierce, but they don’t have a head for tactics. Super Logan and AJACS pilots enjoy fighting Invid just for the increased kill count. They know the Invid are seething at their use of protoculture. So what? By all accounts, one REF officer, a mechanic, a couple vagabonds, a little girl and a crossdresser were instrumental in their defeat on earth. How scary could they really be? All those rumors regarding the Invid Space Hives super transmutation powers and command ships are obviously exaggerated. Their clam carriers don’t even have any guns! Wake us up when a real enemy shows up.

The Gorushan Empire: What little they know, they’ve learned from the Decahedron compact. They have some interesting technology, and they obviously know how to run an empire; by keeping your enemies guessing. Definitely a group to watch carefully.

The CCW: If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. The REF and CCW are trying to buddy up, it’s pretty obvious that the CCW needs the REF for SOMETHING! If it’s as powerful as it says it is, why bother with such a small fry on the cosmic scheme of things? Maybe this Transgalactic Empire is more of a threat to them than they’d be ready to admit. The gleam in the eyes of the diplomatic envoy at the Center Conference whenever the topic of protoculture came up wasn’t missed by UEG ambassadors, either.

The Transgalactic Empire: The UEG wasn’t fooled for a minute. They know an imperialistic military regime when they see one. These guys are DEFINITELY bad news. The UEG would prefer that they be someone else’s bad news. They’ve heard they have a bit of an insurrection on their hands. As long as that’s an issue, maybe this alien powerhouse won’t turn it’s eye towards Human Space. But…if they’re so bad…why do they act so much like us? Must be a coincidence.

The UWW: Too weird for words. Those freaks in the ATPDS that claim to use magic are bad enough, an entire galactic empire based off of it? That dog don’t hunt. Probably the biggest magic trick this group has achieved is in convincing the TGE and CCW that they’ll put a hex on them if they ever invade. That has to be the only reason one of the two hasn’t conquered them yet.

The Splugorth: The UEG believes EVERY WORD the TGE and CCW has said about them. The disgust (and fear) in their eyes was too obvious. They were probably holding back some. The fact that neither of these powerhouses has blown such a disreputable species from the stars by now is just proof that they are little better. Such a malignant cancer would not be allowed to take root anywhere near the UEG.

Manhunters: What needs to be said? They’ve declared that it’s us or them. Too bad for them. What’s needed is a joint expedition into the depths of the Hyades Cluster to eradicate this threat forever. The Manhunters have taken a heavy toll on the UEG’s closest allies, the Decahedron Compact, and the UEG will do what it can to make sure the Compact can not only defend itself, but strike back and strike back hard. If the Gorushan Empire is in the way, then they’ll just get rolled over. Once that job is done, then maybe the Aglians, the real monsters as far as the UEG is concerned, can be dealt with once and for all. They created the damn things with the intention of wiping humanity out. Just because they lost control of them and had to cut a deal doesn’t mean that they suddenly want to be our buddies. Why do only the Compact and the Southern Cross see the obvious?