Most quangos were originally set up to move relationships with various Megacorps a step away from the government itself after protests about corruption. They also helped by taking money of the budget. However, many quangos now have a bigger role in the lives of some citizens than the government itself. The Office of Public Works … Continue reading Q is for: Quangos
P is for: Pills, stims and other illicit materials
Whilst many materials once considered illegal drugs are available for sale and regulated y the government, there's still a thriving black market for narcotics and other unsavoury substances. Stims are a perfectly legal substance, however their use is strictly regulated to prevent substance addiction. Because of this, pushers carry some at all times, knowing … Continue reading P is for: Pills, stims and other illicit materials
O is for: the Office of Public Works
One of the largest Quangos in the Pacific, the Office of Public Works raises funding and provides grants for artistic works and installations throughout the Islands. The OPW also works with corporations to source new artistic and architectural talent for new construction, and has been responsible for the start of many careers of young artists, … Continue reading O is for: the Office of Public Works
N is for: Nomads
The Nomads travel the open waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and many make their home in the waters of the IICP. Sailors, fishers, traders, the Nomads are all of these. They follow the currents to catch fish, they seed and farm banks of seaweed, they carry information and new hardware from port … Continue reading N is for: Nomads
M is for: Muses
Muses. Ghosts. Cybersouls. Muses are extremely advanced AI programs, bonded to an individual. In theory, they become an unconscious extension of the individual, a filter for the overwhelming amount of digital information accessed by an individual. With enough use, the intelligent algorithms can extend beyond consciousness, allowing a person to never fully sleep, as their … Continue reading M is for: Muses
L is for: Lagrange Stations
After ascent of the Beanstalk (or any of its rivals across the globe), the first stop is UPtown. From there, humanity is beginning to explore beyond the cradle. The first stops are the Lagrange habitats. The Lagrange habitats have been built in cooperation between the Megacorps, governments and the UN to provide humanity's first foothold in … Continue reading L is for: Lagrange Stations
K is for: Kathmandu Holdings
In recent times, it seems like Kathmandu Holdings has a stake in everything, everywhere you look, even though it doesn't have the funding of a Megacorps. Kathmandu Holdings owns a minor share in the Beanstalk, and funded jobs for foreign workers during its construction. They now fund some production of ship parts for future … Continue reading K is for: Kathmandu Holdings
J is for: Justice Department, what is your emergency?
Whilst the Department of Justice incorporates the judiciary, punitive system and investigatory bodies, it is the latter group that makes up the bulk of the Department. The main bulk of the Department is located in New Pacific City. From the central office, the administration of the various departments and collation of intelligence is run, … Continue reading J is for: Justice Department, what is your emergency?
I is for: Islandhopping
The territory that makes up the IICP is vast, covering many hundreds of natural and artificial islands and floating habitats, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The capital city, New Pacific City, stands atop a partially artificial island created through decades of engineering. With the Beanstalk based to the centre of the city, … Continue reading I is for: Islandhopping
H is for: Hardware
Where information travels across the datamesh faster than the blink of an eye, something has to keep it running, something has to help interaction with the vast mass of software. Where the wetware of life's physical bodies is cheap, where injury through accident and malice is all too commonplace, something has to step in to … Continue reading H is for: Hardware
G is for: Gangs
The gangs are a constant thorn in the side of law enforcement, with unending scuffles over territory, protection rackets and drugs often escalating quickly to all out street warfare. Of course the problem's a lot worse than that. The many vagrants that society now breeds in its youth, the loss of individuality and search for … Continue reading G is for: Gangs
F is for: the Five Dragons
The Five Dragons are five of the biggest and oldest Megacorps in existence, and each has a large presence in the Incorporated Islands of the Pacific Commonwealth. From cybernetic implants to home security security, from groceries to banking, from heavy manufacturing to global communications, the Five Dragons have a controlling stake in most areas outside of government … Continue reading F is for: the Five Dragons
E is for: EVE
For all the sanctions placed on AI research by the UN and the Bureaucracy, the IICP government makes use of an ever-evolving program codenamed EVE. Whilst in most senses not a true AI, the program, or series of programs, that makes up EVE is filled with learning algorithms, and over the last year or so … Continue reading E is for: EVE
D is for: Datawarfare
"He who controls the spice controls the universe." In a fully mesh-networked world, where huge amounts of data traverses massive networks every data, whoever controls that information has all kinds of power. And that's where the trouble starts. With so much information, knowledge and understanding of data control and handling is an important resource. From … Continue reading D is for: Datawarfare
C is for: the Church of the Machine
The Church of the Machine is the living embodiment of the term deus ex machina. They believe in the near future birth of an AI so powerful, it renders current reality moot, and heralds the start of a new age. Whilst plenty of people believe in an impending Singularity event, the Church does all it can to … Continue reading C is for: the Church of the Machine
B is for: Bureaucracy
You may have noticed that my plan to run updates throughout March hasn't gotten off to the best start. It's been a busy couple of weeks, but I'm getting back into it. Normal service resumes now! The Bureaucracy is the official government system for the islands of the Incorporated Islands of the Pacific Commonwealth, … Continue reading B is for: Bureaucracy
A is for: Any Given Day / Access Restricted
I had a couple of different ideas of how to start off the A-Z month, but a little bit of fiction seemed like a good fit. Then I had trouble picking just the one idea to flesh out. So you get two! "Shades." The smart blinds rolled slowly up the windows, revealing the bright … Continue reading A is for: Any Given Day / Access Restricted
A – Z March: Cyberpunk
A while ago I put together a cyberpunk setting to run in FATE, but I never really explored it beyond a couple of games. But I still have all the ideas in my head. So, for the month of March, I'm going to try and run a post every day detailing one thing about … Continue reading A – Z March: Cyberpunk
Razir – a continuation
(This piece is part of a work in progress, a continuation of a piece I wrote in 2014, where I spent 20 minutes writing what I had brewed in my head so far. I've since wanted to go back and rewrite that piece, make it closer to how I want it to be. I probably … Continue reading Razir – a continuation
Don’t call it a comeback
Because that would be far too premature! It's been about 18 months since I've posted anything to this blog, and maybe a year since I feel like I've written anything meaningful. But there's still the constant buzz in my head of ideas, I'm just a bit crap at bothering to write them down anywhere! … Continue reading Don’t call it a comeback
jot jot ïota 