Humanist Alliance Leaguebook

The Cat's Whiskers

Abling glanced from his place on the sidewalk at the buildings around him. In the darkness he noted the early traffic was already on the move. He pretended he was taking in the pleasant cobblestone streets and Grecian architecture as he once again used the window's reflections to see if he had picked up a tail. The only thing on the street was a cat, one of the thousands that Perth was so famous for. Experience told him that no one had followed him and he slipped into the Xeros Café.

The interior was tastefully decorated in artificial dark wood paneling, with deep green leather upholstery. Abling scanned the room, but only the commoner waiter was there, smiling politely. He slumped into a booth near the door, ordering a Gardenian Coffee from the amber display on the table. His eyes watched the street. A few more minutes and his ride would be here. Not even that traitor Minal knew about this escape route - or so he thought.

Glancing up, his heart leapt as he recognized Minal getting out of a protector vehicle across the road. Abling rose and fled from the café. With his head turned away he strode quickly along the street and at the first chance bolted into what proved to be a service way. He slowed as he entered into an open garage area filled with dumpsters. A large ginger cat appeared suddenly from underneath one and he only just managed to stop a reflexive kick in his surprise. Shocked at his own loss of control, he stepped into the darkness between the dumpsters and considered his next move. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he made up his mind to head for a door leading into the building next to the garage area. Seconds later his lock picks had made easy work of the simple lock. Pulling out a Sfika dart pistol, he entered the building, shutting the door carefully.

Moments later, out in the lane, the cat's eyes were just slits in the head lights of a large protector armored truck. Protectors in body armor and brandishing pistols leapt from the back of it. Moving quickly to the door Abling had just taken, one produced a silver key and opened it. They entered with weapons ready.

A short time latter the protector car pulled up in the alley. Minal got out along with a middle-aged woman. She spoke quietly over the electric hum of the vehicle's engines. "You need not concern yourself Minal, he will be grateful for his chance to do his part for the Alliance. Just as you are."

Nodding slowly Minal replied, "There's just one thing, Tym, how did you know he was in this building. You can't have cameras everywhere and Abling is good. He would have noted a shadow on his way to the café."

Protector Tym Gallyon smiled, "Sorry Minal, all in good time I am sure, but for the present I am afraid you must regard it as a state secret. Don't worry, the Alliance takes care of its own. Lets get out of the cold."

Some distance away Gallyon's surveillance expert watched as three cats leapt up on the hood of his car, a big ginger amongst them. He spoke to his aids through his headset. "Good work people, I am sure the director will be pleased. Bring the cats in. Have them rested and ready for the ball tonight at 2500 hours."

1.1 Land of the Philosopher Kings

The Humanist Alliance Leaguebook details perhaps the strangest league on Terra Nova. Created around the plans for the ideal community of its founder Yuri Gropius, it has grown and evolved, always aspiring to be the utopian society. The Humanist approach to life tends to be very different from that in other leagues, because those in the Alliance live by ideals that most outsiders would find impossibly invasive and oppressive. Humanists strive for the betterment of mankind through a combination of philosophy and science, and consider all members of society part of a greater whole. All members must thus act as best they can to work for the greater good. Humanist culture borders on a religious fanaticism for maintaining this utopian vision, and treats all difficulties with the sometimes harsh medicine of science.

In this society there is no such things as crime, rather there is "deviance born out of overly self-centered motivations." Deviants are treated like a diseased part of a living body - they are either healed or excised. For the most part, however, the Humanist approach to deviance control is very humane and there is little deviance when compared to the crime rates of other leagues. The price for this peaceful life is a lack of privacy and susceptibility to government powers of surveillance and inquiry that would never be accepted elsewhere on Terra Nova.

The Humanist populace is divided into three castes. They are based closely upon those proposed by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in his work Republic, as implemented by Yuri Gropius. The upper caste of Humanist society, known as the preceptors, has the task of guiding the league in its utopian vision. They are chosen for their intellect and ability to act for the betterment of all. The requirements to be a preceptor are so high that less than one percent of the Humanist population is accepted into this caste. The protectors form the second caste and are the defenders and monitors of society. They too are chosen for their great selflessness and devotion to the utopia. Protectors are also selected for their ability to fight, whether it be on the battlefield or in the battle of wits to catch deviants. The vast remaining majority become commoners, who work with the guidance and protection of the other castes.

Although the Humanist Alliance can still claim to be the most peaceful nation on Terra Nova, a land of health and prosperity for all, 250 cycles of Republican influence have not been without cost. The Republic's growing efforts to open up the Humanist way of life to their own values has polarized conflict within the Alliance at several levels. Secret plans and covert activities are all part of the effort by the preceptors and protectors to maintain Yuri Gropius' vision in the face of Republican sanctioned dissension to it. Unknown to all but the Illuminatus' Inner Circle, the secret Operation LongNight directs activities to help the Alliance survive Republican domination. For the general populace ,however, the recent erratic leadership from the league's ruling Illuminatus only adds to the uncertainty. The truth is that the Humanist Alliance has more to fear than the inevitable war to come with the North, for it must first win the shadowy war within to keep its way of life.

1.1.1 Contents

The Humanist Alliance Leaguebook gives Heavy Gear Gamemasters and Players all the resources they need to set roleplaying campaigns in the Humanist Alliance. Chapter 2 gives an overview of the geography, history and economics of the Alliance. It examines the melding of Plato and the science and technology of the 61st century, showing how this society has arisen. Chapter 3 discusses the social structure, main government bodies and other important established groups - including the major players in the secret war for The survival of the league. Chapter 4 looks at the Alliance's place in Terra Nova, and gives a detailed overview of the current diplomatic situation. Humanist views on their Southern neighbors tell of a struggle to keep their society whole and unsullied. Chapter 5 describes the seven cities of the Alliance and its most important regions. It provides information on the major personalities, and what the local economies and industries produce. Details about several of the major projects underway are given, including the designing of secret war machines. Chapter 6 looks at the makeup of Humanist culture and society, with a particular focus on its historical development and their philosophy of life. Chapter 7 provides rules on designing a character from the Alliance and details new equipment and archetypes. There is also information on specialized technology and campaign seeds. Chapters 8 gives a sampling of Humanist flora and fauna.

Welcome to the Humanist Alliance. Welcome to Utopia.