Factions

==Description==
Several powerful organizations are vying for power, influence and on Icarus. These are known as Factions, and the true nature and extent of the relationships between one another and with Prospectors remains unclear. Some represent the nation-states of Earth, while others are quasi-governmental agencies buried in layers of bureaucracy. What is clear is that the contracted out to prospectors are all assigned by one faction or another.
==The Factions==
There are currently eight known Factions working to exploit and control Icarus and its precious exotics.
===American Coastal States===
“Paranoia lingers at the borders.”
After the slow-burning, mid-21st Century collapse of the United States into separate federations, the American Coastal States – or ‘The Coasts’ – abandoned most of the country’s central states to form “a new, true, blue Union”.
Half a century later, the ACS regards itself as a beacon of freedom and liberal values, while spending more on surveillance and military R&D than the other New Powers combined. Propelled by a curious combination of enlightenment, censorship and fear, the ACS have approached Icarus in the same conflicted spirit – intrepid yet mistrustful.
The ACS remains a contradiction, described by the Arkansas Defence League as ‘a noose around the heartland’, while others see it as a ‘bastion of determined sanity against medieval ambitions’.
By far the wealthiest of the ex-US federations, with deep connections to Larkwell Martinez, the ACS is the only North American presence on the planet.
===African Assembly===
“Keep out of our way.”
The African Assembly is a swiftly rising force in Earth politics, encompassing a majority of states in sub-Saharan Africa – a product of war and desperation rising from the ashes of continental strife.
The Assembly’s climb to power has been astonishingly swift, harnessing its huge potential to transform a continent in just a few decades. Its advancement on Icarus, in the aftermath of terraforming’s collapse, has been equally rapid, but it has been slow to shake old attitudes. After centuries of exploitation, its leadership still harbors hostility towards any outside influence, viewing groups like Sinotai with great suspicion.
The Assembly’s seat at the table is new, their confidence fragile. They wish to maintain their growth and will ensure it by whatever means they deem necessary.
===Mars Administration Authority===
“It’s our time.”
The Mars Administration Authority, often referred to simply as ‘The Administration’, remains a minor player in the Icarus political landscape. But the promise of exotics, and the extraordinary opportunities for development they seem to offer, has not escaped the attention of this fledgling colony.
Eager to grow and restless under UDA rule, the Administration is beginning to explore its options on Icarus.
===Sinotai===
“Someone has to run space.”
Sinotai is China's national space agency, ranking second only to the UDA as an off-world political force. Driven by the desire for power, prestige and innovation to ever deepen and extend its reach, Sinotai is one of the extraordinary success stories of the 22nd century.
Attacking ambitious off-world goals from 'an effective zero point', the agency proved its mettle in the mid-21st Century by putting the first humans on Mars, establishing Mars' first gigawatt power system, the first off-world fuel refinery, and many other ‘first leaps’.
Sinotai was a key player in the attempt to terraform Icarus, and few are the space-going organisations that do not rely on its power and capabilities to some extent. A common joke has it that it's impossible to do anything in space without them. A common complaint suggests this is exactly their strategy.
===South American Union===
“Win at all costs.”
Established in the late-21st century, the South American Union (commonly known as União or ‘The Unity’) gained immense off-world power from being the site of Earth’s first space elevator. This influence accrued most clearly in Brazil, which was not slow to exploit it, gatekeeping access to the Solar System – and now the Galaxy.
As a result, Unaio have grown extremely rapidly, gaining an overdeveloped sense of their own abilities and importance. Beneath their confidence, however, they are desperate to maintain their advantage, and see Icarus as a critical beachhead for their federation’s goals.
Allied with off-world mining groups like Inaris, it is clear that União has high ambitions for Icarus, and the exotics beneath its surface.
===United Development Agency===
“A puppet with power.”
Formed in the aftermath of Earth’s Climate Emergency, the United Development Agency brought humanity together in pursuit of a single, extraordinary goal – terraforming a planet beyond our Solar System. Then the dream collapsed, and disharmony and factionalism began to tear at the fabric of the organisation. Now it governs Icarus from afar via the Lagos Group.
In reality, the UDA is a vehicle of the New Powers – a way to maintain each faction’s post-crisis ascendancy while pursuing their individual agendas on Icarus. If there is truth to its appearance of power, it lies in the UDA providing a shield of legitimacy for faction activities, and enabling them to exclude other aspiring power players.
===Lagos Unit===
“It’s our planet, you’re just visiting.”
A sub-branch of the UDA tasked with overseeing Icarus, the Lagos Unit was formed during an emergency summit in Nigeria’s capital. Based in orbit around Icarus itself, far from the eyes of Earth’s media, it has only one goal: control of the planet – and the flow of exotics.
Due to its distance from Earth and conflicts between the New Powers – who, theoretically, direct the Lagos Unit through the UDA – it can be difficult at times to know exactly whose interests the Lagos Unit is serving.
It has several sub-branches, including Group 15.
===Group 15===
“The future will thank us.”
Group 15’s exact role and remit remain stubbornly ill-defined.
A sub-branch of the Lagos Unit known for mercenary behaviour, dirty tricks and questionable tactics during covert operations, it has also been responsible for conducting some of the most advanced research and study into Icarus itself.
The Group is exceedingly pragmatic, often contracting prospectors to perform its most dangerous tasks, as well as importing skills from Earth as needed. As an organization, they embody a single idea: the ends justify the means when humanity’s future is at stake.
Category:Lore