ALMACENAMIENTO Y TRANSPORTE .1 Control

The Taurus Academy was established in 2340 in response to the success of its sister company, The Aries Institute. Taurus takes off where Aries stops. All matters regarding combat and tactics are covered at the Taurus Academy. Taurus is equally exacting with its choice of pupils who are selected at the age of 3 to undertake 22 years of rigorous training. The Shi Yukiro are not happy with the Taurus Academy teaching rival Corporations from its main facility in Osaka, especially when under the tutelage of Comoros’ chosen masters, but the Independent Commerce Act of 2180 prevents them from openly opposing the situation. Taurus has produced some of the finest military minds, soldiers and Agents ever seen, and as a result has the backing of most of the Corporations. The Order of the True Faith aggressively oppose both Aries and Taurus for taking humans to levels that they would not naturally reach and placing great danger on the status quo of the Earth.

Taurus takes 20 pupils a year and from that selection about 12 graduate. Many die in field operations and as with Aries some are assassinated or die under mysterious circumstances.

Those who graduate from Taurus are usually obvious, they are incredibly efficient at what they do and are often cold and detached. Graduates from Taurus have seen their share of action and most have killed numerous times in the name of education. It is rumoured that Taurus capture and purchase dangerous individuals and use them for student training. The odd manner of Taurus graduates would suggest this is true, but it does not fit in with Comoros methodology, and the law has turned up nothing as yet. Additionally, as many of the high ranking law enforcement officers were trained at Taurus and Aries this theory seems to evade investigation.

Master Uesugi

Master of Melee at Taurus - Rank 8, Level 45, Shi Yukiro Samurai

Uesugi claims descent from the famous Uesugi Clan of ancient Sengoku Japan. He is a calm man of average build and is void of cybernetics although it is thought he is a powerful telepath. His manner is calm and he dresses in a traditional kimono. He specialises in the Ion Katana, for which he has become famous for pioneering entire new forms. Uesugi worked for the Shi Yukiro for most of his life ascending to Rank 8 before reaching a promotional plateau and retiring. Uesugi is a hands-on teacher and runs the Melee School. His physical approach to teaching has so far resulted in the death of 23 students, one of whom was the son of an Ai-Jinn Shadow CEO. This obviously bought great trouble to the Academy and Uesugi was nearly ejected as a teacher.

PLOT IDEAS

1. The Division is instructed to have a student tag along with them on a mission. He must not die.

2. A student has gone missing from the Aries Institute, possibly taken by a rival Corporation to discredit Comoros.

3. One of the missing Archons is thought to be controlling the Taurus Academy. Minerva once did a similar thing (see page 161).

4. Master Uesugi has had his Ion Katana stolen by an exceptional student whose gene therapy has made him mentally unstable. 5. Corporate Intelligence believes Comoros are subliminally altering the minds of the students to assist them in the future.

The Order have been blinded by their own dogma. There is no higher calling than the evolutionary success of the human race, and it is the responsibility of the Corporations to ensure that we continue as a race along this path. Even the jealous Shi Yukiro have seen this. Why can the Church not realize it?

Located on Mars, the Dreddoth Mining Colony accommodates approximately 200,000 people. The city of Dreddoth is mostly underground and inhabited mainly by the miners and technicians who work there. Some people choose to set up a permanent home on Dreddoth which is not discouraged but definitely not advised. Dreddoth exists due to the huge mineral seams located there which are easily mined. The pay is exceptional and Earth based Citizens down on their luck can literally turn their lives around by spending a few years mining ore. Originally machines were used to mine, which were equipped with advanced A.I. but after the disaster on Lunas this was never repeated. Dreddoth is owned by

Mars Mineral and Mining, a company which deals with all

Corporations on a level basis. Corporate activity on Dreddoth is not advised as MMM have a monopoly on local mineral supplies and a Corporation who puts themselves out of favour with them will find themselves seriously disadvantaged. Why the Ai-Jinn have not publicy swallowed MMM and made them into a subsidiary is not known.

STRUCTURE

The city itself is about 5 square km and mainly takes the form of long angular corridors 4 metres wide and 3 metres high. Occasionally the corridors open out into large communal zones which have seating areas and commerce stations (shops). The city is very functional and looks it. There is seldom anything that does not serve a direct, practical purpose. No effort has been made to make Dreddoth look appealing, it resembles the inside of a run down airport. Outside the city are enormous cliffs where the majority of the mining takes place. Huge scaffolds and gantries are fitted to the cliff sides and transport cars take miners up and down to the various mining shafts. Three Slave Class Cyberlins are maintained on Dreddoth, which are there for the serious work of boring new tunnels and shifting tons of rock. Despite being Slave Class they have been fitted with some basic weapons to deter would-be trouble makers.

THE POPULACE

The Citizens of Dreddoth are generally a miserable lot who lack clean air and sunshine. Disease is commonplace but mutations are rare. The mining community knows they will not be here long and just knuckle down to work. Those who have chosen to live here permanently must be queried though. There is something innately wrong about a desire to live in Dreddoth.

PLACES OF INTEREST

THEMINES- These have existed for many years and much of the tunnel networks are long abandoned. Dreddoth’s slum element resides in portions of tunnels making them hazardous to traverse and work in. Disused tunnels are dangerous places as those who get in trouble with the authorities or run out of money tend to flee

there. Rumours exist of small makeshift towns where Dreddoth’s cast-offs (exiles, criminals and the insane) live and scavenge. THECLAMPS- This huge cavern was originally where huge mining clamps were stored – hence the name. Now the vast caves are home to a thriving pleasure district where anything and everything is possible. The Lord of Dreddoth – Kalmir Sendat actively promotes decadence and debauchery, which he believes will one day make Dreddoth a desirable location for holiday makers, much like Vastaag. Accommodation here is cheap but scummy, sheet deposits are standard.

IMPORTANT PEOPLE

Kalmir Sendat – Lord of Dreddoth

Rank 6, Level 3

Essentially a mayor appointed by Mars Mineral and Mining. He has no open affiliation with any major Corporation and seems to have the success of Dreddoth paramount in his mind. Physically he stands at 6 feet with tight, curly black hair and a smart but loud suit. He is chatty and enthusiastic and is always willing to offer financial support to those with good ideas, as long as it benefits Dreddoth.

Hirstan Weller - Head of Mars Mining Operations

Rank 7, Level 3

The current head of Mine Operations for Mars Mineral and Mining, she is capable and efficient. She maintains two distinct sides to her life – a down to earth, hands-on mining expert and a smooth, steel fisted executive. She appears in her mid thirties with short brown hair and a trim but powerful build. Hirstan is only interested in making sure Dreddoth is as profitable as possible. She has no tolerance of time wasters but is always genial to visitors. PLOT IDEAS FOR DREDDOTH

1. A bizarre mineral has been found in the Southedge Mines which seems to be hibernating.

2. A unit of mining droids go rogue and set up their own camp. 3. An ambassador is visiting Dreddoth, your Division must guard

her.

4. An enemy Corporation attempts to take over Dreddoth. MMM asks for help.

5. Ancient technology is found deep in the mines.

6. Assault Telepaths are being held in PsiCages and forced to mine with their powers.

7. Criminals have fled to Dreddoth to lose themselves in the heaving populace.

8. Each year Antigravity Motor Sport racers compete on the surface for a fantastic prize.

9. Hostile life forms are found beneath the planet’s surface, their origins unknown

10. Illegal fighting pits are thought to exist in parts of the Colony. 11. Mutants have been found scheming in the mines.

12. Rebels refuse to work in the Northside tunnel, they won’t talk about it.

Why’d I stay? Oh, all kinds of reasons. For one thing, I’ve been here long enough to get used to it, and for another, in twenty years of mining I’ve made enough money to spend every night in the Clamps, livin’ it up like a Roman emperor. Got no Clamps back home. And and the other thing. There’s something wrong with me, like there is with a lot of the boys, though they’ll not talk about it and nor will I. You seen the slogan? ‘Six months can change your life’? Hah! You stay here a little longer, a lot more’ll change than just your life.

I FEEL THE FLESH STILL CLINGING TO ME, QUIVERING IN THE KNOWLEDGE